fall 2016
Looking Forward The Ellis Community Looks Back on the Past 100 Years and Forward Toward the Next 100
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Please forward address changes to: The Ellis School Office of Alumnae Affairs 6425 Fifth Avenue • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 • 412-661-6796 • alumnae@theellisschool.org
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annual report
robin newham retiring
presenting the ellis centennial laureates
six women, three generations, seventy years
from the head of school
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campus news
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noted and quoted
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commencement 2016
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reunion 2015
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alumnae events
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class notes
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milestones
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Robin Newham Head of School Diana C. Hurd, M.B.A. Director of Marketing & Communications
Jennifer Boughner Director of Development & Campaign Director Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 Director of Alumnae Affairs
FR OM T H E H E A D O F S C HO O L As I write my Ellis story, I am starting my 36th and final year more than a century after Miss Ellis founded The Ellis School in 1916. It seems like yesterday that I received a call from The Ellis School to schedule an interview in the spring of 1981.
I had applied just one week prior, because I knew the
radio in the studio was always on, and the girls were
outgoing teacher, Susan Castellano, with whom I taught
always busy. My first group of seniors, the Class of 1982,
at Carnegie Mellon University’s Saturday Pre-College
was a force to be reckoned with. They spent the year
Art Program. I was teaching Drawing and Anatomy
putting me through my paces, so the interview process
in the program. Susan had replaced Ceil Lieberman, legendary Pittsburgh artist and Ellis art teacher, who had retired two years before Susan was hired. Susan was expecting her first child, and she planned to be a stay-at-home mom. Susan had told Mrs. Frances Koch, then Director of Upper School Studies (and a legend herself) all about me, saying I was the right teacher to carry forward the excellent Ellis art program. I was “put through the
proved to be a prelude to teaching that senior class! I was a grade 10 Homeroom Teacher with Judy Callomon (History Teacher, Department Chair, and another legend), and the sophomores listened to her far better than they listened to me. The Ellis campus looked different—what is now the grass-covered courtyard was a driveway loop, and girls were dropped off or picked up under the zig-zag canopy. Miss Hasson, school receptionist and guardian of Ellis keys, sat at the reception desk just inside the door and knew literally every person’s name. Mr. Kuhar, a stocky, cigar-smoking custodian, strolled the halls calling everyone “Teach”— students and adults alike. The Lower School, grades K-4 at that time, was located in Arbuthnot House, and my current office was the kindergarten classroom. I remember clearly entering the Ellis faculty lounge
paces” for four hours on
that was always billowing with cigarette smoke (yes,
interview day. I met with
smoking was permitted and common in the early
Mrs. Koch, Lu Wenneker (College Counselor/Art
1980s) and felt somewhat intimidated by the likes of
Department Chair/Art History teacher), Headmistress
Librarian Edna Jones and teachers Pat Palermo (Music),
Janet Jacobs, and a host of others. In addition, on the
Margaret Jenkins (grade 4), Mark Walker and Dee
following Saturday morning (very snowy as I recall), Mrs.
Malter (Science), Judy, Lu, and many other veteran
Koch came to Carnegie Mellon to observe me teaching
teachers who were impressive educators and self-assured
my pre-college class. She strolled around the room,
professionals. I felt young, naïve, and far less assured
nonplussed by the nude model posed in the center of the
than my colleagues, but they always treated me as part of
space. Monday morning I was offered the Ellis position.
the group. It was a transformative moment in my career,
When I started my career at Ellis that August of 1981, I was 29 years old and newly married. Pat Crosby,
and that is when my blood began to run Ellis green. In April of 1983, my first son Christopher was born,
Ceil Leeper Sturdevant, and Charles Altman all joined
and I was the second Ellis teacher in the School’s
the faculty that same year. I taught studio art (including
history to take a maternity leave and return to full time
drawing, painting, printmaking, jewelry making, and
teaching in the fall (Physical Education teacher and
other crafts) to students in grades 8 – 12 who were eager
Department Chair Bonnie McConnell was the first).
to learn and made teaching a true labor of love. The
When Lu Wenneker headed west to California with her
2 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
husband Jerry in the summer of 1983, I was asked to
In September of 2013, I was appointed Interim Head
teach Advanced Placement (AP) Art History. I had a
of The Ellis School and then in December became its
dual degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Studio
fourteenth Head of School. We have accomplished so
Art and Art History, so I jumped at the chance. In 1984,
much and continue to evolve. The Ellis Athletic Field, a
I added AP Studio to the arsenal of AP courses at Ellis.
dream for so many years, became a reality in the fall of
In 1986, I was invited by the College Board to be an AP
2014. Our sights are now set on other capital initiatives
consultant, and I traveled two times per year to cities
such as the Middle School and Library. In the past
in the Middle States region, instructing new AP art and
three years, we have balanced the budget, increased
art history teachers. My second son Craig was born in
enrollment, and strengthened our programs. Ellis’ next
December of 1987—the day after I gave my December
century is brimming with remarkable opportunities
exam in AP art history. Mrs. Koch visited me in the
to fulfill our mission of preparing, empowering, and
hospital with a gift and an envelope with my exams to
inspiring girls through an excellent education in an
grade. The show must go on! My third son Chad was
all-girls environment. Ellis is, and will remain, a regional
born in May of 1990. By this time, my husband Bob and I
asset.
had recognized that the only girls in my life would be my Ellis girls. I cherish this symmetry in my world. I lovingly taught Studio Art and Art History at Ellis
There are so many wonderful people I have come to know over my decades at Ellis—too many to list here considering the generations of colleagues, mentors, and
until 1998, when Rebecca Upham, then our wonderful
friends past and present. I will note those Ellis titans who
Head of School and now an Ellis Trustee, appointed me
preceded my time at Ellis who I had the great honor of
Director of the Upper School upon Judy Callomon’s
meeting: beloved Headmistress, Helen Moore; Music
retirement. Those were big shoes to fill! The current
teacher, Kay Stolarevsky; and artist, Ceil Lieberman.
Hillman Family Upper School Building was completed
There are thousands of Ellis girls and women who
five minutes before the start of the school year in
I’ve known and loved over time, some with whom I’ve
September of 2000; the paint on the walls was probably
maintained contact or who contact me out of the blue—a
still wet. It was an historic moment for Ellis.
thrill beyond description. I am sincere when I write that
As Upper School Director, my teaching was replaced with significant administrative responsibilities, but the opportunity to have an impact on the entire Upper
I have been blessed to be part of this wonderful Ellis community for so many years. It is an awesome moment when one finally
School division and its students and faculty—even the
approaches retirement. It’s a state of being that seems
entire school—was both exhilarating and fulfilling.
so far in the distance during your early career, and then,
I recall so many milestone moments in the world that impacted our Ellis community in my 15 years as Upper School Director: the death of Princess Diana, the 9/11 attack, the market collapse, the earthquake in Haiti, Arab Spring. The students in our “Ellis bubble” were always attuned to the world’s tragedies and triumphs, and their teachers always encouraged the habits of mind to intellectualize and understand the world. They taught methods that ensured the girls’ worldview always
poof! It’s here. I have new adventures on the horizon with my grandson Kolton, (yes, I continue to be surrounded by boys in my own family). Yet, green and white will never leave my system, and Ellis will remain an enduring part of my life. My composite Ellis education, amassed over 36 years, has prepared, empowered, and inspired me to be a lifelong learner with ties that bind and knowledge that strengthens. Thank you, Ellis, and, here's to a great Centennial year in 2016–2017!
included matters and ideas larger than themselves.
Head of School
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 3
CAMPUS NEWS AWARDS STEAM Powered Girls Congratulations to STEAM Powered Girls, the Ellis Middle School robotics team, who took 3rd place out of 23 teams at a competition at Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy on December 12, 2015. The team demonstrated exceptional teamwork and problem-solving skills. STEAM Powered Girls is an all-girls team composed entirely of Ellis students that fosters love for and engagement in technology in a supportive and fun environment.
Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair Three Upper School students took honors at the 77th Covestro Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair. More than 1,200 students from more than 100 schools in Pennsylvania competed for more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes and scholarships.
Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Eight Middle and Upper School students took top awards at the state level Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS) Competition at Penn State. PJAS is a statewide organization designed to stimulate and promote interest in science among its members through the development of research projects and investigations.
Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards Once again, Ellis students have had an incredible showing at the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, demonstrating the power of the Ellis Visual Arts Department to support exceptionally talented art students. Fifty nine Ellis students in grades 7–12 captured 80 awards: 18 Gold Keys, 23 Silver Keys, and 38 Honorable Mentions.
4 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
SPEAKERS
Mr. Arun Gandhi
Dr. Debbie Gilboa
Dr. Deane Marchbein
On April 6, 2016 Ellis welcomed Arun
Robin Newham welcomed Ellis parents to
Ellis alumna, Dr. Deane Marchbein ’68,
Gandhi, grandson of the legendary
a Dine and Dish event on April 12, 2016 for
spoke to Upper School students at the April
Mahatma Gandhi, who continues his
a family-style dinner followed by a lively
20, 2016 Cum Laude Society Induction
grandfather’s work on non-violence. Mr.
discussion with parenting expert, Deborah
ceremony. Dr. Marchbein was President
Gandhi spoke at a special assembly for
Gilboa, MD. Dr. Gilboa is a parenting and
of the United States Board of Directors for
Middle and Upper School students.
youth development expert renowned for
Doctors Without Borders.
her no-nonsense prescriptions for character development.
SERVICE LEARNING Grade 1 Food Pantry Students in grade 1 joined the fight to end hunger by raising money for the Kids Campaign to End Hunger. Cynthia Moore, Director of Community Education for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, gave an in-class presentation about food insecurity, the Food Bank, and how students can get involved. The students then took a field trip to visit the Food Bank.
Lower School Mitten Tree Each December students in third grade start the winter season by inviting the Ellis community to decorate their Mitten Tree. Once the tree is full of warm winter mittens, hats, and scarves, the students decorate boxes used to deliver the items to local families in need.
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 5
ATHLETICS
BASKETBALL
FIELD HOCKEY
A Winning Year! In fall 2015, the Varsity Field Hockey team defeated Shady Side Academy for the second year in a row to secure the 2015 WPIAL Class AA Girls Field Hockey Championship title. Additionally, the Varsity Basketball team was recognized
CREW
SWIMMING
for their stellar season when Athletic Director Shayla Scott unveiled their new WPIAL Class A Section 4 Regular Season Championship banner.
SOCCER
SOFTBALL
TENNIS
CROSS COUNTRY
TRACK AND FIELD
LACROSSE
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PERFORMING ARTS
LS MUSICAL - THE LION KING KIDS
GRADE 6+7 PLAY - BAKER STREET IRREGULARS
Under the Bright Lights Ellis girls took to the stage and shared their talents again this year. The Lower School musical featuring grade 4 students was The Lion King Kids. In the Middle School, grade 5 wrote, directed, and presented a play about the history of Ellis that celebrated the Ellis Centennial, while grades 6 and 7 presented Baker Street Irregulars, and grade 8 performed the musical Into the Woods. Upper School productions included Dixie Swim Club
KINDERGARTEN PLAY INDIA
GRADE 3 PLAY SHOW ME THE MONEY
and Beehive: The 60s Musical.
US MUSICAL - BEEHIVE: THE 60S MUSICAL
GRADE 1 PLAY - ELLIS ENGINEERS
GLEE CLUB SINGS NATIONAL ANTHEM AT PNC PARK
GRADE 8 MUSICAL - INTO THE WOODS
US PLAY - DIXIE SWIM CLUB
LS & MS STRINGS PERFORM AT HEINZ HALL
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 7
EVENTS
Dream Big Members of the Ellis community gathered at Bakery Square (thanks to Brian Hicks and Walnut Capital) for the second annual Dream Big event. The event was titled “The Emerald City” after The Wizard of Oz and featured the beloved Ellis colors of green and white. This special celebration of Ellis included silent and live auctions, dancing, and refreshments. Nearly $20,000 was raised through auctions and ticket sales. All proceeds
Centennial Kickoff On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, The Ellis School officially kicked off its Centennial year celebrations with a ceremony where Mayor Bill Peduto and Councilman Dan Gilman presented the School with proclamations in honor of the 100-year anniversary.
City of Pittsburgh Declares Ellis Day Head of School, Robin Newham reads the City of Pittsburgh’s proclamation declaring January 19, 2016 Ellis School Anniversary Day. Councilman Dan Gilman presented Ellis with the proclamation honoring the School’s 100-year anniversary.
benefited the Ellis Fund. Dream Big 2016 co-chairs Lisa Bennington and Marissa Hicks, auctioneer Kristen Kalson and many other parent volunteers worked tirelessly to make this event a success. There truly is no place like Ellis! Amanda Sauer ’94 and Kristin Udvari
Michael Haggerty, Catherine Haggerty, and Jennifer Boughner
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Patrick Koeppl and Susan Allison
Jaclyn Macedonia and Kristin Kalson
Vivian Loftness, Beth HAMMER Genter '77, and Ellie Genter ’14
END OF YEAR Lower School Closing Exercises Lower School students celebrated the end of their year with Closing Exercises on June 3 by wishing the grade 4 students good luck as they move on to Middle School.
Students in grade 3 perform a song as apart of closing exercies
Grade 4 students perform.
Middle School Closing Exercises Grade 8 celebrated the end of their Middle School careers with Closing Exercises on June 7.
Mishon Levine, Lela Krackow, and Ricarda Hill win the Junior Scholar Cup
The Class of 2020 performs Time After Time.
Upper School Awards Assembly As part of Closing Exercises, Ellis students and faculty honored graduating seniors for outstanding academic achievement, sportsmanship, and service to the community.
Meredith Norris Scherer, winner of the Foster Art Award, with Polly FOSTER Mullins '59.
The Class of 2016 sings the Ellis alma mater
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 9
2015–2016 goodbyes
Retirements
NOTED
and
NANCY HAYES KILGORE ’65 was the winner of the 2016 Vermont Writers’ Prize. Her story, “A Thousand Half Loves,” is about a small town in Vermont, but at the
Ellen Bedell, Ph.D. After 25 years of inspiring legions of Ellis students to pursue anthropology, archaeology, and other social sciences, Ellen Bedell decided to retire at the end of the 2015–2016 school year. Her vitality would make one think that this is an early retirement, but loyal Ellis alumnae across decades speak fondly of their time in her classroom.
Melissa Dodge After nearly 28 years of devotion to Ellis students, Melissa Dodge retired from teaching to pursue other interests. A talented teacher of both English and French, Melissa has worn many hats at Ellis and how lucky for us that she wore them so well.
Vicky Jordan At the completion of her eighteenth year as a devoted member of the Ellis World Languages Department, Vicky (“Dr. J”) decided to retire in order to pursue her many interests, including travel, reading, writing, research, swimming, cooking, online teaching, and the list could go on! She may have to plan for retirement from retirement.
Marilyn Okonak Marilyn has taught English in both the Middle and Upper Schools during her three decades at Ellis, and added history to her repertoire in recent years, but it is grade 6 English for which she is best known—and loved. She expertly guided thousands of young readers and writers with her knowledge of literary analysis, her patience, her love of teaching, and her ever-present sense of humor and distinctive laugh.
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center is the love story between the primary characters, Mona and Frank. Ellis alumna, HEATHER HILLIARD ’93, is now a published fiction author. Having previously published in her field about bioterrorism and homeland security, she now ventures into bringing that world of crime and mystery to readers. You can order through her website for a discount or purchase her book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any ebook distributor. Ellis alumna and current Ellis parent, AMANDA SWANK SAUER ’94, is leading the way for female football officials. Amanda was featured in a December 2015 PostGazette article. Ellis alumna, SARAH CURTIS HOOPER ’95, is launching her new restaurant concept, Pie for Breakfast. When Pittsburgh native RACHEL EKSTROM COURAGE ’98 decided to pursue a career in the literary world, she did what any aspiring professional would do—she moved to New York City. She’s back, and writing the book (actually, it’s a website) on the city’s ever-expanding literary scene. Created and developed by Rachel; her husband, Nick (a publishing consultant); and her colleague, Katie Kurtzman (a book publicist), www.littsburgh.com officially went live in August 2015. Congratulations to Ellis alumnae KATIE O’MALLEY ’02 and LAUREN BYRNE
CONNELLY ’02 for making Pittsburgh Magazine’s 2015 40 Under 40 list! Honorees were chosen based on their professional and personal accomplishments, combined with their dedication to making a difference in the Pittsburgh region. The Bob O’Connor Neighborhood Leader award was presented to LAUREN BYRNE
CONNOLLY ’02 from the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. Congratulations to Ellis alumna TORI ORR ’12! On April 16, 2016, Tori accepted the “Engineering Success Award/Scholarship” at the 39th Annual AUCC Dual Degree Engineering Awards Ceremony. Ellis has another NCAA Division 1 athlete! BRITTANY ELLIS ’15 joined the Radcliffe Heavyweight Crew as a coxswain at Harvard University.
QUOTED FACEBOOK Tia WASHINGTON ’86 What a well deserved honor! I love The Ellis School. I am a proud graduate from the class of 1986. Although I graduated 30 years ago, I continue to cherish the memories of my experiences there. Here’s to another 100 years! Go, Ellis!!! Lynn PITCHER Tracey ’76 Congratulations to a WONDEROUS school from a proud 1976 graduate! Beth Corning This is where Gigi has spent the past seven years. A life-changing experience. She is the president of the upper school student body ... what a great way to leave this extraordinary experience. Thank you Ellis 4 providing such a magical and yes, empowering experience for our daughter. Lorraine Kiger Ellis was an incredible journey for both of our daughters and our entire family. We treasure every moment. We appreciate all of the wonderful teachers, coaches, and staff who made our experience so special. Our wish is that Ellis has many more years of providing young girls with a strong foundation for success. Happy Birthday Ellis... We love you! Rebecca ATKINSON ’11 Happy 100th to the place that made me who I am today! I’ll always be grateful for my time there and the amazing faculty and staff that work so hard to make Ellis special. Nancy Clifton Ellis is a very special school and I am proud to have been part of the faculty for 24 years. I know that the teachers there now will continue the wonderful tradition of excellent teaching and Jack Gaddess is a prime example of that. Zoe LI ’08 “Students will say what makes Ellis for them is their teachers.” And that is the truth! Endless gratitude and respect for Sara Sturdevant, Amy Yam, Katherine Koenig and all the teachers who made Ellis such a defining and amazing place.
2016–2017 hellos
TWITTER Amber CHAUDHRY ’10 Special shoutout to @theellisschool on this international women’s day. I can never be grateful enough for my all-girls education. I am so lucky that it reinforced my appreciation and admiration for my fellow women and their unique strengths, to view them as sisters and friends rather than competitors. I am thankful for that bond and for my best friends. Jean YANG ’04 Thinking of my teachers at @TheEllisSchool who helped me find my voice and taught me the importance of paying it forward. #ThankATeacher Kaitlin CLARK ’05 Thinking of my fave teacher of all time Mrs. Newham @TheEllisSchool who taught me what it means to be a citizen of the world #ThankATeacher Janet EDWARDS Anti ’68 As a 65 yr old alumn, I #sayyestoEllis b/c Middle & Upper School sports planted life long appreciation for fitness. Thanks @TheEllisSchool! Denise LaRosa I said YES because as an educator & mom of 2 girls, I know the value of the @TheEllisSchool mission #sayyestoellis Emily Scott I said yes because @TheEllisSchool creates friendships & a support system that are second to none! #SayYesToEllis Jackie Mroziak Because @TheEllisSchool empowers girls by giving them a voice. #SayYesToEllis
New Trustees Elisa Lenore Lucke Elisa Lucke is the Director of Operations at the Squirrel Hill Health Center, a growing network of Federally Qualified Health Centers. Elisa moved to Pittsburgh in 2014, after serving as a key contributor in developing performance optimization recommendations for both federal agencies and commercial healthcare providers while at Booz Allen & Hamilton in Washington, D.C. While in this role, she earned her Master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. She grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Hathaway Brown, a college preparatory school for girls.
Jill J. Swensen Jill Swensen is a Principal and LEED Accredited Architect at Stantec, and a leader in their science and technology division. Throughout her 20-year career, she has designed millions of square feet of teaching and research facilities for premier higher education institutions. Jill is a regular national presenter on Science & Engineering facilities at Tradeline and was a keynote speaker at the 2015 R&D Magazine Lab of the Year conference. She has a master's of Architecture from Syracuse University and is a U.S. Green Building Council member.
janera solomon janera solomon is the Executive Director of Kelly Strayhorn Theater, a historic live arts venue which presents progressive, evocative new works in dance, music, film, education, and cultural programming. Recognized for her transformative leadership and contributions to the revitalization of East Liberty, janera managed the merger of Kelly Strayhorn Theater and Dance Alloy in 2011. An experienced curator, janera developed the First Voice International Black Performing Arts Festival produced by the August Wilson Center for African American Culture in 2007. janera was recently featured in Pittsburgh Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People in Pittsburgh.
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 11
2015–2016
ANNUAL REPORT
On the following pages, you will read the names of the people who contributed to a strong tradition of philanthropy by making gifts to The Ellis School last year between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. It is our pleasure to share with you these incredibly supportive alumnae, parents, employees, and friends who represent every facet of the Ellis community. What you won’t see in these pages is what they’ve made possible: the access and opportunities their contributions create for Ellis students and faculty every day. If you haven’t been to campus in awhile, we hope you’ll come visit soon and see for yourself. Thank you to all who hold up Ellis—with your time, talent, and generosity.
ELLIS FUND PARTICIPATION
$153,117
$245,558
$57,790
$46,595
$5,695
Trustees
Alumnae
Current Parents
Parents of Alumnae
Current Employees
100%
17%
42%
8%
78%
EITC DONORS
OSTC DONORS
The following companies made gifts totalling $126,170 to Ellis during the 2015–2016 fiscal year:
The following companies made gifts totalling $56,000 to Ellis during the 2015–2016 fiscal year:
Allegheny Mineral Corporation Blue Danube Incorporated Bridges & Co., Inc. Campbell Transportation Company, Inc. Duquesne Light First Capital Corporation, Inc. Mistick Construction, Incorporated Philadelphia Insurance Companies Simpson & McCrady, LLC UPMC Health Plan
Dollar Bank HM Insurance Group Mercedes Benz of Pittsburgh PA Partners for Education, LLC UPMC Health Plan
12 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
LEADERSHIP GIVING 1916 Founder's Society ($25,000+) Susan + David Brownlee The Burke Foundations Partnership Patricia GRABLE Burke ’46 Margaret MATHIESON Conver ’73 HM Insurance Group Mistick Construction, Incorporated Kathleen OLIVER Parker ’43 The Pittsburgh Foundation
Head of School Society ($10,000–$24,999) Anonymous Janet EDWARDS Anti ’68 Paul & Dina W. Block Foundation Susan + John Block Duquesne Light Edith ELIGATOR ’77 Catherine + Michael Haggerty Henry John Simonds Foundation Marcena WATERMAN Love ’56 Blythe JONES Lyons ’73 + Jed Lyons Helen Mathieson Patricia + M. Robert Mistick Susan SCHUMACHER Morris ’62 + James Morris Courtney + Charles Muse Carol OSTROW ’73 Philadelphia Insurance Companies Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group The Rust Foundation Amanda SWANK Sauer ’94 Colleen DAILY Simonds ’95 + Henry Simonds Ellen + Russell Swank UPMC Health Plan
Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program
Arbuthnot Society ($5,000–$9,999) BP Corporation North America, Inc. Campbell Transportation Company Inc. Anita Courcoulas + Ira Gumberg Dollar Bank B. Jean Ferketish + David Thomas Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Lilian Fisher Kristina + Peter Gerszten Shanan GUINN ’93 Sally FLANNERY Hardon ’55 Elsie H. Hillman Foundation The Hillman Company Diane + Craig Markovitz Mercedes Benz of Pittsburgh PA Partners for Education, LLC Susan Petersen + Stefan Frembgen Sally RIAL Phelps ’58 + Richard Phelps Kimberly Roberts + Stanley Ference Carolyn HIRT Salzman ’71 Carrie LEVINE Schiff ’83 James M. + Lucy K. Schoonmaker Foundation The Shore Fund Simpson & McCrady LLC Hilary Tyson + Charles Porter Hannah BRUSH Van Horn ’57 + Neil Van Horn Valentina Vavasis + Benjamin Speiser
Ritu Thamman + Andrew Watson
Fifth Avenue Society ($2,500–$4,999) Allegheny Mineral Corporation Susan Belville + Lawrence Wood Devon GAFFNEY Cross ’74 Paula + Francis Daily Carmela + Matthew DiAndreth Eden Hall Foundation Audrey Hillman Fisher Foundation Lilah Hilliard Fisher Foundation Laura SMITH Fisher ’73 Leslie + Hans Fleischner Elizabeth HAMMER Genter ’77 + David Genter Constance ELLIS Heppenstall ’79 Susan Berman Kress + Douglas Kress Nimick Forbesway Foundation Delia + Timothy Parks Barbara AARON Rosston ’80 Michelle + R. Mark Rust Juliet Lea Hillman Simonds Foundation Rose + William Strickland Rebecca Upham + William Viner
Kentucky Avenue Society ($1,000–$2,499) Susan Allison + Patrick Koeppl Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 + Charles Altman Bernadette + Richard Ardemagni Bartlett Foundation Amy + Michael Bernstein Blue Danube Incorporated Caroline BLOCK BP Foundation, Inc. Karen + Richard Brean Bridges & Co., Inc. Alice BRITTAIN ’73 Sarah ALTMAN Bumsted ’95 Margaret MARSHALL Carothers ’63 + F. Peter Carothers Catharine MELLON Cathey ’85 Chu Investment Counsel, Inc. Connie + Donald Coffelt Jacqueline + W. J. Davis The Double Eagle Foundation Victoria NIMICK Enright ’83 Jean DAVIS Falk ’56 Michelina Fato + Carl Snyderman First Capital Corporation, Inc. Linda CRAWFORD Fisher ’70 Dawn + Chris Fleischner Nancy CONEY Forhan ’80 Mary Louise + Henry Gailliot Lili + George Geiser Albertha Graham Diana DREW Harbison ’70 Frances + James Hardie Ginnae HARLEY ’88 Sandy GLOCK Harrington ’64 HB Retirement Marissa and Brian Hicks Lucinda MCILROY Higgins ’65 Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe ’58 Suzanne PROPST Honeycutt ’67 Hudson Community Foundation Charles Humphrey Wendy Huntoon + Amro El-Jaroudi William S. Janes Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh
Kristin + Richard Kalson Usha Rani Karumundi + Gopala Amarnath Ramineni Debbie + Frank Kim Lee WHITEHILL Landes ’62 Eileen HALPERN Lane ’64 + Nicholas D. Lane Elizabeth + Jeffrey Lawrence Victoria Lee + Otto Chu Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64 Vivian Loftness Jaclyn + Michael Macedonia Jenny RYAN Machak ’72 Richard King Mellon Foundation Marion BECKER Miller ’54 Amy SUCCOP Millin ’87 Norlene + James Mitnick Mary RUST Montgomery ’65 Bonnie McKNIGHT Murphy ’67 The Muse Foundation A. Kennedy BECKWITH Nelson ’73 Rona Nesbit Robin + Robert Newham Vivian + Minh Nguyen Elizabeth + Douglas Nury Mildred GOLDSMITH Palley ’74 Marni + Jonathan Pastor Penn Psycare, Inc. Ann RUNNETTE Piper ’60 Gillian PORTER ’09 Lisa Porter + Robert Davis Marisa PORTER ’05 Beth Prairie + Todd Underwood Sylvia CONEY Price ’74 Margot COPELAND Pyle ’52 Hannah + Robert Rierson Abby SMITH Rumsey ’70 Shirley + Murray Rust Ann KILCHENSTEIN Scharpf ’79 Schwab Charitable Fund Susan Schwochau + John Delaney Jane SEGAL ’73 Helene MONTGOMERY Shafran ’85 Masako SHIONO ’78 Heather GREEN Skurek ’01 Susan BERGER Smerd ’57 Anica REED Smith ’61 + David Smith Patricia DOOLITTLE Staley ’62 Cynthia STRAUSS ’72 Bayh SULLIVAN ’02 + Matt Pekar Gayle Tissue + Yiannis Kaloyeropoulos Barbara SCHEETZ Todd ’54 Bina Toor-Sandhu + Rajinder Sandhu Nancy Watson Susanne + John Wean Marina + Robert Whitman Jacquelyn + Timothy Wolfe Louise Kay CHILDS Woodside ’87 + Nevin Woodside Stanley + Darlene Zin
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 13
FINANCIALS
We are pleased to report that the financial condition of Ellis is sound due to strong enrollment and prudent endowment management. While tuition covers 75 percent of the cost of an Ellis education, donations to the Ellis Fund help complete the funding necessary for the School to provide superior academic, art, and athletic programs; attract and retain top faculty; and maintain a diverse student body. Thank you for your continued support.
Summary of Fundraising Gifts
2015–2016
2014–2015
$660,207
$449,810
$1,664,270
$1,250,481
$182,170
$181,889
$2,506,647
$1,882,180
Trustees
$153,117
$93,515
Alumnae
$245,558
$138,285
Current Parents
$57,790
$69,474
Corporations
$16,245
$112,507
Foundations
$112,507
$63,853
Grandparents
$19,701
$9,495
Parents of Alumnae
$46,595
$41,846
Current Employees
$5,695
$7,122
Former Employees
$1,999
$2,113
Friends
$1,000
$7,510
TOTAL
$660,207
$449,810
$25,145,448
$26,841,855
Ellis Fund Gifts and Pledges Capital and Special Gifts EITC/OSTC TOTAL GIFTS
Operating Income (as of June 30)
Endowment (as of June 30) MARKET VALUE
14 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
EMPLOYEE DONORS The following faculty and staff made gifts to Ellis during the 2015–2016 fiscal year: Anne Marie Adler Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman ’70 Kris Arnoni Kelly Basil Jen Boughner Leah Brennan Sara Brooke Janice Burgett Andrea Christian-Michaels Lisa Citron Karen Compton Michelle Cook Susan Corbesero Patricia Crosby Louis D’Abruzzo Helen Daley Melissa Dodge Ashley Dotson Patrick Fägersten Juliette Farrell Jeanne Franko Susan Freudenberg Jack Gaddess Regan Gibney Elizabeth Goldberg Jessie Hainesworth Edith Hazlett Elisa Hill Erica Holtgraver Tim Howard Diana Hurd Sharon Jackson Patricia Jones Victoria Jordan Janemary Karuga Alison Kissel Cheryl Kotowski Carol Krescanko Jennifer Lakin Cara LaRoche Amy MacKAY Larsen ’95 Lauren Laschon
Sara IMBRIGLIA Leone ’94 Beth Leu Lauren DROZ Lieberman ’98 Henry Luck Camille Mackey Bonnie McConnell Brooke McLane-Higginson Kimberly Mechling Jean Mercier Stephen Mitchell Isabelle Moldovan Jacqueline Mroziak Robin Newham Jessica Nolan Petra Obley Marilyn Okonak Karen Oosterhous Patricia Persun Samuel Rauhala Diane Reckless Anna Redcay Amy Rigsby April Roberson Shannon Rohr Michelle Rust Emily Scott Shayla Scott Stacy Sherman Amy Sidari Jeri Simon Ceil Sturdevant Sara Sturdevant Bayh SULLIVAN ’02 Whitney OKONAK Sunday ’98 Cyndy Tabor Kristy Tomashewski Linda Tonetti Dugan Kassandra Wadsworth Richard Walker Teresa Wilson Amy Yam
mark your calendars
2016–2017 Admission Events Grades 1−12 Open Houses
January 26, 2017 8:30am
April 25, 2017 8:30am
June 15, 2017 8:30am
Pre-K & Kindergarten Information Session
ELLISIAN SOCIETY
April 20, 2017 The Ellisian Society recognizes individuals who have named The Ellis School in their wills or have provided for the future financial strength of Ellis through planned gift vehicles such as life income trusts, gift annuities, life insurance policies, or other special deferred gift plans. Anonymous (3) Alice SNODGRASS Beckwith ’49* Dorothy BRADLEY Brown ’34* Alice REED Buchanan ’39 + Gibson Buchanan* Judith COHEN Callomon ’54 Anita Courcoulas + Ira Gumberg Margaret BREWER Dowler ’33* Linda CRAWFORD Fisher ’70 + Benjamin R. Fisher, Sr.* Fred W. George* Jacquelyn Gregory-Rauzan + Charles Rauzan Julia HOWARD Grimstad ’57 Sandra GLOCK Harrington ’64 Suzanne PROPST Honeycutt ’67 Kelly BREEN Hunt ’92 Janet Jacobs* Jane + Lee Klingenberg Eileen HALPERN Lane ’64 + Nicholas Lane
8:30am
Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64 Blythe JONES Lyons ’73 Mary Louise HEIDENKAMP Magnus ’41 Mary KINTER McEldowney ’37* Kathleen OLIVER Parker ’43* April EILER Pinney ’60 Jennifer RODMAN Dawson Purdom ’60 Christine HEITZENRODER Quillian ’91 Elizabeth Reese* Eleanor B. Scheetz* Carolyn SHI ’97 Joan DODDS Shrader ’32* Anica REED Smith ’61 + David Smith Mary Jane SHUMAN Stewart* Sylvia and John Van Jura Sarah KING Wilmer ’58* *Deceased
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 15
WHY I SUPPORT ELLIS Shanan GUINN ’93 is an impassioned supporter of the Ellis Fund. She gives multiple times a year and through various channels. The way Shanan sees it, “The longer I’m away from Ellis, the more I realize what a special environment it is. Ellis truly set me up for long-term success in my career.” Further, Shanan says,
as well as greatly benefiting The Ellis School. “It’s my opportunity
“It’s the old adage that at
to do good in two places at once” says Shanan. “I can support my
Ellis, young women do
industry and make a significant contribution to Ellis, which is
everything—from serving
important to me personally.”
as class president to running the sound board for musicals to being the star athlete on the athletic field. At the time, I wasn’t aware of what a tremendous edge my Ellis experience would give me in the male-dominated career I’ve pursued.”
“Whether it’s a sustaining gift of $10 a month while in college or a major gift once established, we Ellis alumnae have an obligation to make sure Ellis has the best teachers, facilities, and opportunities for girls.”
It was during Shanan’s time at Ellis that
Shanan also gives back to Ellis through donating her time and
she developed her love for art, history, and politics. “If I wasn’t in
talents. At the end of the 2015-16 school-year, Shanan joined her Ellis
the Fred C. Babcock Library studying, you could find me holed-up
classmates Monica BROWN Gurbach '91 and Heather HILLIARD '91
in the art studio, working on my latest creation,” recalls Shanan.
on the Ellis campus to co-teach a mini-course. These accomplished
It was because of Shanan’s favorite Ellis teachers and classes that she developed a sense of how intertwined history and politics really are. Most importantly, she learned that if you want to make a difference in the world, you have to get involved. Her spirit of
alumnae talked to Ellis students about their careers and their life experiences. They also shared how Ellis has impacted them into adulthood. Spending time with Ellis classmates is another thing Shanan
engagement led her to Washington, D.C. for college and then to the
loves. She still maintains many close friendships from her time at
White House, where she served as an intern, assistant scheduler,
Ellis. Of these lifelong bonds, Shanan, says, “Even if we don’t talk for
and advance person.
a year, when we do get together, we start right where we left off.”
Today, Shanan is the Head of Strategy & Planning,
Giving back to Ellis has become one of Shanan’s biggest
Communications & External Affairs at BP, where she has to directed
passions. She truly believes that she—and all Ellis alumnae—have
gifts to the Ellis Fund through their political match program.
the duty to repay the gift of their Ellis education. “Whether it’s
Shanan also makes personal gifts to Ellis, which are matched by the
a sustaining gift of $10 a month while in college or a major gift
BP Matching Gift Program. By giving through multiple channels
once established, we Ellis alumnae have an obligation to make sure
several times throughout each year, Shanan impacts her company’s
Ellis has the best teachers, facilities, and opportunities for girls.
corporate social responsibility and community involvement levels
Ellis is special, and we need to make sure it stays that way for the
next 100 years.” Matching gifts are a great source of additional contributed revenue for The Ellis School. Ask your company’s human resources department about their matching gift program, or call Regan Gibney at 412-661-6796.
16 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
Giving back is giving forward Now is the time to invest in the next generation of Ellis girls. Your support provides rich and wide-ranging opportunities for every student at Ellis. The Ellis Fund, comprised of hundreds of unrestricted gifts, that help offsets yearly operating expenses. A gift to the Ellis Fund ensures that we can continue to prepare, empower, and inspire each and every girl through an excellent education in an all-girls environment for another 100 years. Make your gift today at www.theellisschool.org/give.
ROBIN NEWHAM RETIRING FOURTEENTH HEAD OF THE ELLIS SCHOOL TO RETIRE IN 2017 In January 2016, The Ellis School announced that Robin
and was formally hired as Head of School in December of that
Newham, fourteenth Head of School, would retire from the top
year. Under her leadership, the School balanced its budget,
leadership role at the conclusion of the 2016–2017 school year.
increased enrollment, launched a campaign, built a first-class
Robin Newham’s career as a professional educator has spanned 42
regulation athletic field, and made critical administrative and
years, with 36 of them at Ellis. “The excellent position of the School
faculty hires. “Robin’s legacy of achievements is matched only
means that Ellis is on the right course and will continue to thrive,”
by her commitment to the students, whose best interests, growth,
said Robin in an open letter to the community. She had openly
and development have informed all of Robin’s decisions and actions.
shared her retirement timeline with the trustees when appointed
Reassuring a nervous first grader, encouraging a budding Middle
Head of School in 2013.
School science student, advising a sophomore artist, mentoring a new
Robin began her career at Ellis as an art teacher in 1981. “I am, at my core, a teacher in every role that I have undertaken, and sharing my love for teaching and learning continues to be central to my
teacher—Robin cherishes and excells in all of these roles. This attitude is part of her vision of the kind of school she knows Ellis to be.” Ellis is conducting a national search to identify the fifteenth
work,” said Robin. “I am very proud of my service to Ellis. Each
Head of School and will have new leadership in place for the
position has its joys and challenges, and in every role, supporting
2017–2018 school year. The search committee includes trustees,
the development of girls has motivated and inspired me.”
alumnae, parents, students, faculty, and community leaders, and
Chair of Ellis’ Board of Trustees, Courtney Muse, praises Robin and the impact she has had during her tenure. “It would be hard to overstate the contribution Robin Newham has made to Ellis. Her
is supported by a national search firm. Robin will remain Head of School through the end of the 2016–2017 school year to maintain constant, consistent leadership during the busy Centennial year.
service encompasses the better part of four decades; her influence
“Ellis is a superior school, and we should all take pride, both in
on the Ellis community spans generations. In her roles as teacher
her century-long past of educational excellence for girls and in her
and as administrator, Robin has inspired, mentored, and led
bright future,” says Robin. “I enjoy every moment of representing
students, teachers, administrators, and alumnae with grace, wisdom,
Ellis in this leadership capacity—with alumnae, parents, faculty,
and humor,” says Courtney.
trustees, friends of Ellis, and, of course, with students. Ellis girls and
Robin taught Studio Art and Art History for 15 years before becoming Director of the Upper School, a role she held for an additional 17 years. In 2013, she became Interim Head of School
18 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
young women have kept me inspired for almost four decades. This is a gift that I have cherished and will continue to cherish, for years to come. My greatest hope is that I will have given back as much as I have been given."
“My greatest hope is that I will have given back as much as I have been given.”
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 19
COMMENCEMENT 2016 The Class of 2016 joined a powerful network of nearly 4,000 alumnae when they processed across the courtyard to receive their diplomas. In this historic Centennial year, the graduates and speakers reflected on themes of identity, overcoming struggles, and Ellis sisterhood.
GIGI NIESON, STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT, CLASS OF 2016
“Questioning what it means to be a woman in our society, and the fundamental question, how do you define the word “girl,” is not an easy question to answer, even in today’s more fluid society. Ellis, I hope you keep challenging this idea of what it means to be a girl, especially in an all-girls environment, to progress with the times, and in fact to lead that change.”
ISABEL BROOKE, PRESIDENT, CLASS OF 2016
“It is alongside these people that I have honed my curiosity and sharpened my ability to scrutinize. Yes, we can be a tough crowd, but it’s because of our dedication to justice and truth. It is our ability and will to institute change that makes me so proud to be a member of the Class of 2016. As we take the next steps in our lives, I beg that we do not quiet our voices. Continue to ask why, venture into unchartered territory, and keep that brazen attitude.”
JEAN YANG ’04, COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
“I didn’t grow up used to being the best at everything. Something I loved about Ellis was how the community supported us in achieving our personal best, rather than becoming the best person in the world. The challenge is to not forget what you are capable of. So go out there. Do things worth doing. You will struggle. You should struggle. But if anyone is ready for it, it’s you.”
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 21
29 girls accepted to
95%
20
indicated that they were very well counseled and supported through their college process
different states plus the District of Columbia are represented on the admit list
79 colleges and universities
100% of those who sought college merit scholarships received awards
90%
of the class will be attending a top-choice school
40%
of the class is choosing to enroll in a “Most Selective� school according to Barron’s categories of selectivity
WE ARE PLEASED TO CELEBRATE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE CLASS OF 2016. This incredible group of 29 young women has been accepted to 79 schools and will be enrolling in 25 different colleges and universities that are reflective of their individual talents and dreams. Allegheny College American University Barnard College Bates College Boston College Boston University Bowling Green State University Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Case Western Reserve University The Catholic University of America Chatham University University of Cincinnati Cleveland Institute of Art Colby College Colby-Sawyer College Colgate University Columbia College Chicago Connecticut College Cornell University
University of Dayton University of Delaware DePaul University Drexel University Duke University Duquesne University Emory University Fordham University George Mason University The George Washington University Hamilton College Ithaca College Kent State University Kenyon College La Salle University Lehigh University Lewis & Clark College Longwood University Loyola University Chicago Maryland Institute College of Art
School of the Art Institute of University of Maryland Chicago Miami University Smith College Millsaps College Spelman College Mount Holyoke College Syracuse University University of New Hampshire Temple University New York University The New School University of North Carolina Towson University Northeastern University Tufts University University of Notre Dame University of Vermont Pennsylvania State University Villanova University University of Pennsylvania Warren Wilson College University of Pittsburgh Washington University in St. Louis Pratt Institute Wellesley College Purdue University Wesleyan University Quinnipiac University West Virginia University University of Redlands College of William & Mary Reed College The College of Wooster Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Xavier University Robert Morris University Saint Francis University Saint Joseph’s University Schools in bold have students matriculating in the fall of 2016.
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 23
ELLIS FACES Please join us in welcoming new employees to our community as well as congratulating returning employees who’s roles have changed as they take on new opportunities at Ellis. ADAM BISNO, M.PHIL., UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY Adam Bisno comes to us from Swarthmore College, outside Philadelphia. Before Swarthmore, Adam was a teaching fellow at Johns Hopkins University and instructor for Putney Student Travel, in France, where he led seminars on international relations and architectural history. In addition to a B.A. from Swarthmore College, Mr. Bisno holds graduate degrees from Johns Hopkins and the University of Cambridge. His particular interests include modern German cultural and economic history, as well as theories and practices of teaching expository writing to adolescents and young adults. KEITH BRYNER, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING Keith comes to Ellis with an extensive background in college admission, having held Assistant Director of Admission positions at both Carnegie Mellon University and American University. Keith is a magna cum laude graduate of Allegheny College and has a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Keith has a daughter in grade 1.
TARA CATONE, MIDDLE SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER Tara Catone, previously a long-term substitute in our Middle School Physical Education program, is now our Middle School physical education teacher. She will join the grade 7 team as an advisor, and she will continue with Middle and Upper School coaching responsibilities. Tara holds a Bachelor of Science in Education: Health and Physical Education with a minor in Coaching from Slippery Rock University, and she is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). Currently, she is the running back for the Pittsburgh Passion Women’s Football Team. KIM DEBALDO, PRE-KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT TEACHER Kim DeBaldo joins our pre-kindergarten team as an Assistant Teacher. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Slippery Rock University and a master’s in Elementary Education from Duquesne University. Kim taught for 15 years in the North Allegheny School District in the areas of physical education, second grade, and kindergarten. After raising her four children, Kim returned to teaching as a preschool teacher at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Preschool and has been a substitute teacher in the Fox Chapel Area School District. LUCY DELANEY, M.A., COLLEGE COUNSELING ASSISTANT Lucy Delaney will join Keith Bryner, Director of College Counseling, in supporting our students through the college process as the new College Counseling Assistant. Ms. Delaney recently moved back to Pittsburgh from Atlanta, where she was a faculty member in psychology at The Art Institute of Atlanta. After completing her master’s in Clinical Counseling Psychology, Ms. Delaney worked in community mental health before transitioning into higher education. She is a Pittsburgh native and alumna of both Penn State University, where she has a B.A. in Communications and Women’s Studies, and Antioch University of Seattle.
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ASHLEY DOTSON, DEAN OF STUDENTS Ashley Dotson has served as a Dean in the Upper School for the past two years in addition to her teaching responsibilities. This year, she will move into the Upper School Dean of Students role full time. This will allow her the opportunity to work more directly with all of the Upper School students and families as she focuses her attention on our advisory program, student life activities, and oversight of the academic progress of all students.
KIM HARDIN, MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH AND HISTORY TEACHER Kimberly Ripple Hardin joins The Ellis School as a Middle School English and History teacher. Kim graduated from The University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Public Relations, later earning a certificate of advanced study in English education. She previously taught middle and secondary English in the Penn Hills and Hampton Township school districts and also served as a substitute at Shady Side Academy in both the middle and senior schools.
ALYSSA TREMPUS KINNEY ’07, MED, ENROLLMENT COORDINATOR As a graduate of the class of 2007, Alyssa Kinney is thrilled to return to Ellis. Alyssa attended American University for her bachelor’s in Sociology and the University of Pittsburgh for her master’s in Education with a focus on Social and Comparative Analysis. She was most recently employed with Planned Parenthood of Western PA as their Community Educator, providing health and safety lessons to students across Pittsburgh. In her role as Enrollment Coordinator, Alyssa will focus on event management as well as coordinating the strong Ellis network of parents, alumnae, and current students to welcome our prospective families and future Tigers.
BRIAN KRUGLE, TECHNICAL THEATER DIRECTOR Brian Krugle is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Science and currently serves as the Vice President of Business Intelligence Services for Altius Healthcare Consulting Group. For the past 16 years, Mr. Krugle has been heavily involved in the local arts scene as a board member, actor, and stage manager for the New Kensington Civic Theatre. He has worked with Apple Hill Playhouse and has been the sponsor and producer for the Valley High School Drama Club since 2008. Prior work experience outside of theatre includes the Information Technology division of Giant Eagle and the National Robotics Engineering Center at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Krugle will guide set design and construction at Ellis in collaboration with our Performing Arts faculty.
DENISE LAROSA, SECOND GRADE TEACHER Denise LaRosa, previously a long-term substitute in pre-kindergarten, joins the grade 2 faculty. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Radford University and graduated from Carlow University with a Master of Education degree in Elementary Education. In addition to teaching, Denise is the Founder and CEO of Mom Talk. She has written her first children’s book, Empty Shoes, and looks forward to writing many more.
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 25
MICHELE LOMBARDI, MS, MIDDLE SCHOOL/UPPER SCHOOL COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER Michele Lombardi joins The Ellis School as the Computer Science teacher in both the Upper and Middle Schools. A recent New Jersey transplant, Michele started her career teaching Middle and High School Math. Teaching computer science allows Michele to mix her technical background with creative outputs and encourage the naturally inquisitive nature of her students. She has a B.S. in Mathematics with a minor in Computer Science and an M.S. in Learning Technologies with a concentration in Game-Based Learning. Mrs. Lombardi will teach Introduction to Computer Science and Computer Science II in the Upper School.
LYNETTE MACLEOD, SCHOOL NURSE Lynette MacLeod has 19 years of experience as a nurse and has spent most of that time in pediatric home healthcare in Pittsburgh. Lynette most recently worked at a family practice in the East End as a working nurse manager. She is married to Ken and has three children—a 19 year old daughter, 16 year old son, and a 12 year old daughter. Lynette is looking forward to serving Ellis as the School Nurse.
DEJANA SMAJIC, MA, SIXTH GRADE ENGLISH AND HISTORY TEACHER Dejana Smajic joins the Ellis faculty as our new grade 6 English and history teacher. Dejana has taught sixth and eighth grade English at Falk Laboratory School. She holds a master's of Arts in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh and a Bachelor of Arts from Allegheny College in English with a minor in History. Dejana is fluent in Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian. Dejana has demonstrated expertise in teaching the writing process, including designing engaging lessons on the general conventions of language.
JOSHUA SMITH, PHD, UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH Dr. Joshua Smith is a published academic author who taught courses at Pennsylvania State University from 2008 to 2016, ranging from technical communication and basic rhetoric to surveys in Shakespeare, British literature, and literary genre. Before beginning work on his master’s and then doctoral degrees in English from Pennsylvania State University, Josh worked in the publishing industry and theatre. Josh obtained his bachelor’s from Columbia University and is thrilled to be joining The Ellis School. He will teach a section of grade 9 Western Literature and all sections of American Literature in the junior year. He looks forward to working with students and their families.
CIERA YOUNG, COORDINATOR FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION Ciera Young comes to Ellis from the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, where she served as a Youth Employment Coordinator. She is a recent graduate of the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs program and a former resident of the Bible Center Church’s outreach ministry. Currently, Ciera serves on the board of the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh (ULYP-Greater Pittsburgh) as the Civic Engagement Committee Chair. She enjoys writing, travelling, and gardening. Ciera is from Columbus, Ohio and she came to Pittsburgh to study at Chatham University, where she graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Cultural Studies and International Studies with a minor in film.
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PR E S E NT I NG T HE E LL I S S C HO O L’ S
Centennial Laureates As part of the School’s Centennial Celebration, this dynamic and diverse group of women was chosen to represent the school’s 10 decades, as well as the varied accomplishments of Ellis alumnae.
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 27
Eileen HALPERN Lane ’64 Eileen is a wife, mother, and grandmother with a long history of volunteer service in Pittsburgh’s Jewish and general community. A life-long learner and avid researcher, she has written articles
Deane MARCHBEIN, M.D. ’68 Deane is president of the United States Board of Directors of Medecins sans Frontiers/Doctors without Borders. She recently retired from Massachusetts General Hospital,
on Soviet Jewish women, the status of women in Pittsburgh’s
where she was an anesthesiologist. She is now devoting all of
Jewish community, and Jewish immigration to Western
her time to Medicins sans Frontiers/Doctors without Boarders
Pennsylvania. She is currently working on a book profiling 21
(MSF), which she joined in 2006 to work as an anesthesiologist
Pittsburgh Jewish women. A founder of the Komen Pittsburgh Race
in their surgical program in Ivory Coast. She has worked as an
for the Cure, she has served on many nonprofit boards, including
anesthesiologist with MSF in Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti,
chairing the Family Health Council (now Adagio Health), and she
Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Burundi, and
was the first woman president of Rodef Shalom Congregation.
as a medical doctor in Libya, Lebanon, and Guinea.
Eileen also served as chair of the Ellis Board of Trustees and was given the Sarah Frazer Ellis Award in 1999. Eileen is a graduate of Goucher College and the University of Pittsburgh.
“I attended Ellis on the cusp of the women’s movement, and its supportive all-girls environment was an important element in building the character, capability, values, and experiences that have guided and sustained me throughout life.” – Eileen
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Deane is a graduate of University of Wisconsin and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
“Ellis instilled curiosity and a love of learning. I continue to reap the benefits of that mindset.” – Deane
Kathleen McMORRAN Murray ’70 Kathy is a highly skilled and creative business leader specializing in angel investing, business development, and coaching. She is owner of McMorran Strategists, LLC, created after her career at Aetna and PwC.
Carol OSTROW ’73 Carol is the producing director of The Flea, the award-winning off-off-Broadway theater located in New York City. There, Carol has produced over 100 world premiere productions and is overseeing The Flea’s capital campaign for a new three-
She has been an angel investor in numerous startups, immediate past president of the Harvard Business School Women’s Association of New York, chair of Executive Forum, and engaged in numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She is a graduate of the Harvard Business School AMP and the University of Rochester, where she is now a trustee.
theater performing arts center opening in spring of 2017. Carol was producing director of the Classic Stage Company, founder of The Powerhouse Theater and also has served as an adjunct professor of theater at Vassar College, Chatham College, and McGill University. Carol is a new trustee of Vassar as well as a new board member of The MacDowell Colony, the oldest arts colony in the U.S. She also is a member of the Yale Drama School
“At Ellis, I learned critical thinking...an advantage that has lasted for the rest of my life. I have checked with most of my female senior corporate colleagues and most everyone had some all-girls education in their background, so yes, an all-girls education has made a difference.” – Kathy
Board of Advisors, a board member of LAV (an acrobatic dance collective in Brooklyn) a trustee of Central Synagogue, and serves on the Boards of Directors of the National Psoriasis Foundation and the Sag Harbor Partnership. Carol holds a B.A. from Vassar and a M.F.A. from the Yale Drama School.
“At Ellis, I saw girls and women being empowered because there were no boys in the classroom. When I went to college, I had a leg up. I was more mature intellectually, so without fear, I was able to be who I wanted to be early on.” – Carol Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 29
Barbara AARON Rosston ’80 Barbara has worked as a linguist for the government, as an
Darcy FRANK Mackay ’85 Darcy is president of CBRE’s Global Workplace Solutions,
environmental lawyer, and as a strategic consultant for nonprofits.
West Division. In this role she is responsible for CBRE’s global
She served as chair of the board of two independent schools
occupier clients headquartered in the Western 13 United States,
in Palo Alto, CA—Keys School and Castilleja School (an all-girls school)—and was instrumental in leading both through strategic planning processes and campus expansions. Her nonprofit work centers largely on children. She currently serves on a variety of nonprofit boards, including the John Austin Cheley Foundation and Challenge Success. Barbara is a graduate of Vassar College and the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Management, Transaction Management and Strategic Consulting services. Darcy specializes in portfolio optimization, corporate strategic planning, and organizational change and design. Creating alignment between business and real estate strategy, as well as insightful portfolio planning and execution, forms the core of her work. She is a graduate of Harvard University and received her master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
“Simply put, going to Ellis empowered me. Ellis allowed me to find my voice, to lead and to take risks. An all-girls education continues to be important, and Pittsburgh is lucky to have Ellis provide that opportunity to the next generation.” – Barbara
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including the provision of Enterprise Facility Management, Project
“I teach my own children that we are all born with gifts. Ideally we choose to embrace them through hard work. I trace this notion to Ellis—to my math teacher, Beth George, who taught me the value of hard work and focus.” – Darcy
Kelly BRENT Schoeneman ’89 Kelly is the COO and partner at WorldDealer, Inc., a Pittsburgh
Sara SUTTON Fell ’92 Sara is the CEO and founder of FlexJobs, an award-winning,
agency that provides multi-channel marketing to the retail
innovative career website for telecommuting, flexible, freelance,
automotive industry.
and part-time jobs. Sara had the idea for FlexJobs in 2006 while she
She is also a director for Women-Drivers.com, a subsidiary of WorldDealer that provides ratings, reviews and research for marketing to women auto shoppers. Prior to helping start WorldDealer, Kelly was a media buyer for JW Messner, a Michigan-based advertising agency that specializes
was pregnant with her first son, after she experienced first-hand the frustrating search for professional jobs that also offered flexible work options. Having also co-founded an entry-level employment service in 1995 with fellow Ellis classmate Rachel BELL Robards ’92, she has
in automotive marketing.
long been passionate about helping people find jobs that make
“What I remember most fondly about Ellis are the teachers. They had not just a passion for teaching, but they had a real passion to see their students succeed. I firmly believe the strong independence and belief in self that started at Ellis has continued throughout my life and career.”
for Work Flexibility, an advocacy initiative, as well as Remote.co, a
their lives better. In that spirit, Sara is also the founder of 1 Million
– Kelly
resource for remote companies. Sara is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and in 2014 she was named one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders.
“My advice to Ellis students is take advantage of the opportunities that Ellis offers! It’s a special environment, and the educational, artistic, athletic, social, and other programs are unique and will only help broaden your views on the world.” – Sara
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 31
Tomar Pierson-BROWN ’97 Tomar is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law at the University
Shira TOEPLITZ Center ’01 Shira is a political editor at The Boston Globe, where she oversees
of Pittsburgh, and Director of the School’s Health Law Clinic. The
a team of reporters who cover City Hall and the presidential election.
Health Law Clinic is a medical-legal partnership between Pitt Law
Previously, she served as the politics editor and a writer for CQ Roll
and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. In this capacity,
Call, Capitol Hill’s top news source on Congress.
Tomar supervises certified legal interns handling case matters stemming from the social determinants of health impacting Children’s low-income patient families. She also teaches an interprofessional seminar, in which nursing and law students have the opportunity to engage in collaborative problem-solving on matters of public health policy. Prior to her return to Pittsburgh, Tomar was a clinical instructor at UDC David A. Clarke School of Law and an attorney with the Children’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of Denison University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
“More so than other schools, Ellis doesn’t just educate the mind—it educates the young woman. Ellis teaches you how to learn, how to love learning. The value of an Ellis education is proven time and again through the successes of our alumnae.” – Tomar
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In 2014, Shira was a resident fellow at The Institute of Politics at Harvard University—one of the youngest professionals ever to receive that honor. At Harvard, she hosted and produced a weekly seminar on gender, media, and the 2014 midterm elections. Shira regularly appears on cable news and radio programs to offer political commentary and analysis. She graduated from Northwestern University in 2005.
“I wouldn’t be nearly as confident today if it weren’t for the lessons and life skills I learned at Ellis: critical and creative thinking, the importance of doing your homework, and the courage to question absolutely everything.” – Shira
Elizabeth ROSS Radigonda ’02 Elizabeth is an assistant professor at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Jean YANG, Ph.D. ’04 Jean completed her Ph.D. in Computer Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2015. She recently
She joined the music faculty in 2008 and currently teaches Musicianship, Jazz Musicianship, Jazz Vocal Improvisation, private lessons, and runs the Jazz Singers Ensemble. She is also involved in the University’s common core curricular committee, as well as being an academic advisor.
finished her postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School and joined the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department. Jean has interned with Google, Microsoft Research, and Facebook. Her research focuses on programming languages.
Outside of the University of the Arts, Elizabeth maintains
Jean holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Harvard
an active private teaching and coaching studio specializing in
University and M.S. in Computer Science from Massachusetts
everything from classical to pop and rock. Elizabeth also maintains
Institute of Technology.
an active performance schedule. In 2009, Elizabeth formed the Elizabeth Ross Quintet and regularly performs throughout the Philadelphia area. Elizabeth received her B.A. and Master of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts.
“If it hadn’t been for my experience at Ellis, I may not have pushed so hard for people to listen and to make space for listening to all women.” – Jean
“I loved the academic challenges. I learned that reaching your personal best was the most important thing. I loved the arts. The music and arts classes opened my eyes to a world of possibility. I loved the faculty. I model my teaching style after many of the teachers I had while at Ellis. And lastly, I loved the friends I made there.” - Elizabeth Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 33
mark your calendars
2016–2017 National Preview Launch Events Wednesday, November 30, 2016 Washington, D.C.
Thursday, December 1, 2016 Washington, D.C.
Lani LAZZARI ’12
February 2017 San Francisco, CA
Lani is President and CEO of Simple Sugars, a company
Los Angeles, CA
that makes handmade, all-natural skincare products specially
March 3, 2017
formulated for sensitive skin. The Pittsburgh-based company has grown into an international
Baltimore, MD
phenomenon with a team of 22 employees. Lani’s products are sold online and in more than 700 retail locations. While the company catapulted to success after Lani’s appearance on Shark Tank in 2013, she founded Simple Sugars in 2005 when she was just 11 years old. By
March 2017 Naples, FL
2015, the company had reached more than $5 million in sales. Lani was accepted at George Washington University, but decided to forgo college to run her business.
“Ellis really taught me some very important skills that most people don’t learn until they get to college, if ever.” – Lani
Friday, March 24, 2017 Boca Raton, FL
April 21, 2017 Pittsburgh, PA
Spring 2017 New York, NY
May 2017 Boulder, CO Denver, CO 34 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
T H E E LL I S F UN D
Ellis parent, Kristin Kalson, tells us why it is important for her family to give back to the Ellis Fund. Make your donation online today at www.theellisschool.org/give. In early April my husband, Rick, and I had the unique
Every step along the way, the Fine Arts teachers
opportunity of enjoying some quality time with our
lauded Madison’s abilities, eased any self-doubt
daughter, Madison, Ellis lifer from the Class of 2013,
with which she was wrestling, and most importantly,
while she was studying in Florence, Italy for her spring
permitted her to take risks with her art within the safe
semester. Madison is a fashion design major at The
confines of Ellis. As she travels to various countries
Fashion School at Kent State University. The program
throughout Europe during her semester abroad, Madison
at Kent State is one of the most highly regarded and
is now seeing much of the art she learned about in her
competitive fashion programs in the country. One may
survey class. Madison has regularly communicated with
ask the question: how does an Ellis student, whose
her Ellis art teachers about the art that she has seen at
parents do not have any artistic talents—or for that
museums all over Europe. It is clear that her mentors
matter any practical drawing or sewing knowledge—
from the Ellis Fine Arts department will be invaluable
decide that she wants to begin her career in the cut-throat world of high fashion? The answer is quite simple and rests in the capable hands of the Ellis Fine Arts faculty. It was during Madison’s tenure at Ellis that then Lower School art teacher Ms. Mel Applebaum gave Madison permission to use a sewing machine. Ms Applebaum was the first to recognize Madison’s desire to sew and draw, and she gave Madison the opportunity to explore and pursue her passions. Upon entering the Middle School, Ms. Linda Tonetti Dugan similarly understood Madison’s goals, and constantly encouraged Madison to delve further into her artistic side. Madison’s artistic creativity deepened in high school. There, she blossomed while being nurtured and challenged in her two AP art courses. Ms. Belle
confidantes for her throughout her life. Rick and I are beyond grateful for the support, encouragement, and passion that these teachers instilled in Madison beginning over a decade ago and which continues to this day.
We firmly believe as Ellis parents that one of the best and most effective ways to show our gratitude and appreciation is to contribute to the vitality and future success of Ellis in any way we can. We hope other parents will join us in thanking their daughters' inspiring teachers by making a generous gift to the Ellis Annual Fund in honor of the unending dedication the faculty bestow on all of our daughters.
Moldovan inspired Madison to use her sewing skills to complete her AP Studio Art portfolio. Ms. Sara Sturdevant was instrumental in igniting Madison’s love of art history during her senior year when she took AP Survey of Art.
Kristin Kalson Parent of Madison, Class of 2013 and Hadley, Class of 2022
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 35
REUNION
2015
2
1
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME
SARA FRAZER ELLIS AWARD 4
3
CLASS OF 1965 PT 2
CLASS OF 1965 PT 1 5
6
CLASS OF 1970 36 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
CLASS OF 1975 PT 1
8
7
CLASS OF 1975 PT 2 9
CLASS OF 1985 10
CLASS OF 1990
CLASS OF 1995 12
11
CLASS OF 2005 1 Pamela PROPST Campbell ’65 with her husband, Richard, and Head of School, Robin Newham 2 (L to R) Shayla Scott, Director of Athletics; Lynne ERICKSON ’65; Susan ALLEN ’65; and Cynthia SHERMAN Denison ’65 3 (L to R) Pam PROPST Campbell, Carol RANSON O’Keefe, Sally RORHER, Molly RUST Montgomery, Cynthia SHERMAN Denison, Joan SLESINGER Logghe, Viginia “Gigi” TODD Prindiville, and Nancy WANDERER 4 (L to R) Susan Allen, Karen BLOCK Johnese, Tally CRAIG, Gretchen CUPP, Susan DICKEY Gilmore, Lynne ERICKSON Jacobs, Annette HANNAH Dunkleman, Adina LAMBERT, and Anne LITCHFIELD
CLASS OF 2010
5 Elizabeth SUCCOP Altman and Kathleen McMORRAN Murray
9 (L to R) Allison DRASH and Tracey STEFFORA
6 Lisa HURITE Fischer, Susan CREIGHTON, and Blyth STEERE Bailey
10 ( L to R) Umbreen IDREES Mohammad, Britt KEEFER, Megan MARKS, Amy MacKAY Larsen, Charles Altman (honorary member of the Class of 1995), Elissa McCARTHY Tessier, Lynnette MORRIS Malone, and Nikki WRIGHT Lusk
7 Susan CREIGHTON, Lisa HURITE Fischer, Blyth STEERE Bailey, Jean DRUCKER Reznick, and Karen KRIEGER 8 Back Row: (L to R) Ann CANCILLA Gaudino, Saily JOSHI, Gecole HARLEY, Erin KELLY, Christine SPADARO DeFilippo, Louise MITINGER, Carin CARNEY, and Mary Louise STOUGHTON. Front Row: (L to R) Lara WASHINGTON Thomas, Helen SCHMIDT, Ginnae HARLEY ’88 (honorary member of the Class of 1985), Nina KOROS Cavalier, Elizabeth STEELE Connolly, and Amy WALTERS
11 ( L to R) Paige COCHENOUR Houser, Emily ATKINSON, Kaitlyn HELLNER-BURRIS Boatright, Jessica BOPP Dawson, Amy GOODRICH, Olivia RETENAUER and Jessica DEMOISE 12 ( L to R) Marina RUSHCHAK, Julie YU, Emily SCHERER, Seema SAUL, Lauren MONGELLUZZO, Molly SOFFIETTI, and Charlotte CLARK
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 37
ALUMNAE EVENTS The 2015–2016 school year was packed full of regional alumnae events as Head of School, Robin Newham, toured the country and met up with Ellis alumnae in various major cities. Check the Ellis website at www.theellisschool.org to see when we will next be coming to a city near you!
NEW YORK CITY december 3, 2015 | home of colleen simonds ’95
Robin Newham, Head of School, with Alexandra GRUBBS ’03
Erin Meade ’00, Robin Newham, with Jessica LEU Hoy ’00
Meg HARDON ’79, Molly LAUFMAN Hemphill ’65, and Sara Jane Pacque-Margolis ’77
Facing out: Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64, Andrea ZIN ’04 and Colleen DAILY Simonds ’95
Margaret SCHERVISH ’09 and Anne HAZLETT ’09
WASHINGTON, D.C. november 5, 2015 | catch 15 38 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
Laura HAZLETT ’07
YOUNG ALUMNAE ICE CREAM SOCIAL january 6, 2016 | the ellis school
Samantha SYME ’16, Sanjana ADURTY ’16, and Talia LESHKO ’16
Robin HEITNER Koffman ’87 and Susan SHAPIRA ’92
Claudia PENDLETON Penwell ’91 and Monica NAMAN Boyles ’91
Whitney PATROSS ’01, Frances CHEEVER ’01, Jeanette NERI Quinlan ’01 and Patrick Griffin, son of former staff member and alumna, Sheila MCCREERY Griffin ’66
Nathalie HASSOUN ’16, Kayla KING ’16, Abigail THORNTON ’16, Mari-Elyse BLUESTONE ’16, Isabelle GENTER ’16
Sam Rauhala, Physics teacher, Ramita RAVI ’13, and Sahar SHAIKH ’13
Sarah KUNKA ’08, Emily Kunka, Sandra HARTKOPF ’08, and Sophia HARTKOPF ’02
Bob Newham, Lauren Laschon, Robin Newham, Diana HOLLIDAY ’66, Jennifer Boughner
NAPA VALLEY Molly BAIR ’15
february 20, 2016 | rutherford grill Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 39
NEWPORT BEACH
BOSTON
february 27, 2016 | home of amy walters ’95
april 29, 2016 | russell house tavern
Alexandra MUSE Ehrlich ’85, Ann Lee GRIMSTAD ’88, and Gecole HARLEY ’85
Lucy PERKINS ’07, Connie CHAN ’07, Elizabeth KYSEL ’14, and Robin Newham
Back Row: Robin Newham, Danielle MASON ’09, Kristen SIEFERS ’88, Connie CHAN ’07, Lucy PERKINS ’07, Sallie Belle DAVIS ’76, Virginia WILSON LaPlante ’48, Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe ’58, Mary H. Grant, Clarissa ERVING ’59, Richard W. Grant, Shira TOEPLITZ Center’01, and Maeve McALLISTER ’14. Kneeling: Elizabeth KYSEL ’14, Jennifer Boughner, Sruthi MULUK ’15, Brittany ELLIs ’15, Norah KARLOVICH ’11, Joan MORRIS DiMicco ’91, Carrie GILMORE Wagner ’92
Robin Newham, Head of School
Amy WALTERS ’85, Alison WALTERS Sakara ’80, Robin Newham, and Gecole HARLEY ’85
Virginia WILSON LaPlante ’48 and Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe ’58
Caroline KELLEY ’10, Alexandra MUSE Ehrlich ’85, Courtney LESOON ’08, and Amy WALTERS ’85
Mary H. Grant, Former Head of School; Robin Newham; and Richard W. Grant
Robin Newham, Courtney LESOON ’08, and Caroline KELLEY ’10
Clarrisa Erving ’59, Robin Newham, and Elizabeth KYSEL ’14
40 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
PITTSBURGH may 19, 2016 | maggie’s rum farm
Marjorie McMAHON ’01 and Elizabeth COHEN ’09
Danielle BELLOWS ’97, Tomar Pierson-BROWN ’97, and Allison BERGER Garcia ’97
Forefront: Wendy WOLF ’67, Marjorie McMAHON ’01, and Adina LAMBERT ’65 Julie STRICKLAND Gilliard ’02, Robin Newham, Deena Hower
Justine MERRIMAN ’08, Tiona JONES ’08, Molly SCHNEIDERMAN ’08, Sunaina RUSTAGI ’08
Corrina BURNS ’90
Priya DHAR ’02 and Elizabeth ROSS Radigonda ’02
PHILADELPHIA may 12, 2016 | brick and mortar
Liam Carstens, Carly REED ’02, and Alice CURTIS Cline ’02
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 41
CLASS NOTES Submit Class Notes Online The Office of Alumnae Affairs wants to hear from you and share your news with your fellow Ellisians! Have you recently earned a promotion? Won an award? Started a business? Married or had a child? Ellis Magazine's online Class Notes form makes it easy for you to share your news and keep in touch with your classmates. Class Notes must come directly from the graduate who has news to report. Notes are edited to fit available space. Log on at www.theellisschool.org/classnotes today.
Class of ’38 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org.
Anne WILSON Baker ’42 and her daughter, Anne, in Santa Fe.
My name is Mary Janet HYLAND Cotter and I cannot remember the exact years that I attended The Ellis School, but I do remember what a support system I had there. When I was about 17 years of age, I lost my mother and everyone at Ellis showered with me love. My father was not even sure what to do, but the staff and other students made sure I knew that I had a home away from home. I will always be grateful for all the kindness and have fond memories of many good girlfriends while at Ellis.
Class of ’42 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Anne WILSON Baker: I find it hard to believe that at this moment I am 91 years old, healthy and still playing 18 holes of golf three or four times a week. Since graduation from Ellis in 1942, I have graduated from Wells College, married, produced four wonderful children who produced three fine grandchildren, enjoyed a full volunteer life—and lots of golf. Ellis was a positive start to a positive life.
Class of ’43 Class of 1954 Graduation. Front Row: (L to R) Judith COHEN Callomon, Jettie BERGMAN Johnston, Barbara MULLEN Bothe. Back Row: (L to R) Joann SHEDDAN, Rolinda WINSTON Moss. Rear: Judith ALLEN Voelkel
42 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Marian BABCOCK Carter sent a note. She has two sons and two daughters, six grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren! She reached a milestone by celebrating her
90th birthday. She also believes that her graduation from Ellis was the last one from the original school on Ellsworth Avenue. Sara Frazer Ellis, herself, addressed the senior class. She remembers the music that they walked into for their commencement at Church of the Ascension, which still stands on Ellsworth Avenue. Quote from the front page of their yearbook:
“Because of the condition of the world these days, the seniors could not see fit to devote all the time, effort, and money involved in editing a professional yearbook. We did not want to be forgotten altogether, however, so we leave this scrapbook in memory of a difficult but appreciative class.” The yearbook was written and illustrated by hand. Oh, there are a few pages devoted to the underclassmen, but it mostly contained printed photos of their plays, the Valentine Dance, a troop marching down Ellsworth Avenue, day-to-day life at Ellis on the front porch of the school, and even a few of seniors sunbathing. The beautiful book ends with a photo of each senior on graduation day with the ubiquitous Ellis hat and bouquets. Through the Jeep Drive, and the selling of war stamps and bonds each morning, The Ellis School purchased 19 Jeeps for the war effort.
Class of ’44 Ruth SHAFFER Loughney-Mook 2052 Valley Road Bedford, PA 15522-4108 Greetings from the Class of ’44! Sally SMITH McFeely reports that she is living in Winter Springs, FL. She’s still a Steelers fan, has a cat, and she is still driving. Sally also says she has not been in Pittsburgh for three years, but she still remembers the fun we had in the good old days while at Ellis. Ruth WICK Manson has some very sad news
to report. She lost her sister, Katherine. Also, Ruth’s husband, Bob, had to have his left leg amputated. He got along pretty well with his prosthesis for over a year however, he had a second fall and heart attack and died Jan. 6, 2015. Ruth is living in Redstone Highlands, at the Greensburg, PA campus. Catharine HAYS Curry writes that she goes to chair yoga every week and is a volunteer in the art gallery at a local park. She’s also interested in the saving of the Hays’ ancestral home (Hardon Place) in Munhall, PA. She also has four great grandchildren, ages 2 ½ to 7. Constance “Fifi” BROWN Berkley is living in the same house in Bethesda, MD with three rescue dogs. Her son, Jack, is not far away. She plays bridge, does some gardening, takes some noncredit courses at Montgomery College and would love to see us all again! Barbara LEECH Childs says that she is still living the good life on the farm. No animals left, however, except wild ones. Her health is fine and her children and grandchildren are well, too. She spends happy hours doing watercolor painting and still does a bit of gardening. Elizabeth BLACKBURN Taylor is still living outside Denver with five children nearby. She also has 15 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She no longer raises donkeys and only has one dog. She remembers Barbara LEECH Childs as her school friend from Ellis. Ruth SHAFFER Loughney-Mook is living halfway up a mountain in a little cottage on the property that was once a summer home. The original house burned down about 20 years ago. Last March my son, Patrick Loughney, his wife, and daughter, Katy, took me to Orlando, FL. My sister-in-law, Vilma Loughney, came up to Bedford in May and we traveled all around visiting relatives her daughter, Amber, in Tennessee; her son Brad Bailey; and his wife and children. In June, I had a big 89th birthday with the kids riding my horse and swimming in the pond. However, in August, I had a big surprise—colon cancer! I got rid of that, and in October, I went to the loveliest luncheon ever at the Ellis Reunion. It made me feel young again being at Ellis once more. Another good thing: the American Legion in Everett, WA just gave me $4,000 for my charity, Fix-a-Pet. We help people in the area get dogs and cats spayed and neutered. That’s it... My love to all the Ellis girls.
Class of ’45 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or
alumnae@theellisschool.org. Margaret HEARD Perkins: We have three sons, five grands—four grandsons and one granddaughter. All are fine. I will always consider Pittsburgh to be my home though we moved to Connecticut when I was 16. I will always love our class and Pittsburgh. Best, MHP.
Class of ’46 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Patsy GRABLE Burke still starts laughing when she tells the story about helping Cordelia SCAIFE May. Cordie was required by her mother to select stewed fruit every day at lunch. Wonderful for the digestion. Dutifully, Cordie selected stewed fruit for lunch every day, but she despised it. Friends to the rescue, as Patsy tells it. Next to their classroom, where they ate lunch in the old house on Ellsworth Avenue, was a bathroom and every day someone flushed the stewed fruit down the toilet to save Cordie.
Class of ’49 Barbara MAYNARD Hattemer barbhat@infionline.net Tina RUTLEDGE Edwards: Having my stepsister Nancy LUKE Griffen in my class was very special and having only seven other girls in our graduation class made all of us feel very privileged to be at Ellis. Anne BECKER Egbert remembers her time at Ellis very fondly. When she was soon to go to the 7th grade, her father announced, “We’re moving again!” Horrified at the news, she thought she couldn’t start over for the umpteenth time. Nevertheless, her mother dropped her at the door her first day at Ellis, late, and with no uniform. She had to go up to the door by herself. With her hand shaking on the knob, it suddenly opened and Peggy LOVE Stevens exclaimed, “Look everybody, Anne’s here. We’ve been waiting for you,” and enfolded her into a lasting friendship. A most happy memory. Sally KENNEDY Fownes remembers Ellis as a very happy place. She had wonderful friends there and her teachers were great, especially her favorite teacher, Mrs. Hill, in the 5th grade. Sally road her bike to school every day with her then-best friend Betty FOWNES Fingelly, who, in the future, was to become her sister-in-law. Another classmate, Marty SNOWDON North, became her step sister-in-law. She has such
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 43
fond memories of going to school with both of them. Sadly, Sally died Feb. 1, 2016. How happy I was to have spoken with her during the fall of 2015. Martha SNOWDON North: I was not at Ellis for my high school years, but I do remember Ms. Simonson’s 4th grade class. We were on the fourth floor of a building on Ellsworth Avenue. If we got 100 percent in spelling, we were privileged to walk down the outside four-story fire escape at 3 p.m. Scary, but definitely something to aim for. I don’t think that at this time of my life I would want to do that! Barbara MAYNARD Hattemer: I did indeed learn a significant lesson at Ellis the last day of my senior year. Everyone expected me to receive the cup for outstanding student—the one who received the highest grades and excelled in sports. I had been President of the Ellis Athletic Association for three years and did receive the award for the highest grades. But I did not receive the cup! I was stunned. One of the teachers singled me out and said, “The cup is given to the person who has the highest ideals in athletic and scholarly achievement. You worked too hard for good grades and played too hard to win.” I never forgot what she said. Whenever I was tempted to be less than a good sport, I remembered her words and altered my behavior, so it turned out to be a blessing after all.
Class of ’54 Class of 1954 Reunion in 1999: (L to R) Jettie BERGMAN Johnston, Nancy JOHNSTON Schmitt, Anne REYNOLDS, Diane KING Potter, Barbara SCHEETZ Todd, Mimi HOWARD, Judith COHEN Callomon
Betsey BOSELL Potter 1120 Huffman Road PMB 586, Suite 24 Anchorage, AK 99515-3561 Thanks for the memories… Jean ARMENTROUT Foley: I remember so fondly our years at Ellis. Amazing teachers: Ms. Bond drawing stick figures of how people lived in the Middle Ages; Mrs. Amundsen and French; Ms. Fairlamb, who taught me a lifelong love of words and literature; and many others. Most of all, I remember our class—our small number who were like sisters. Weren’t we lucky? And to go to such a beautiful house to learn! Betsey BEESON Owens: My fond memories of Ellis were a great group of classmates, Ms. Tilley, Ms. Downey, Ms. Fell and Mrs. Zirkle. I loved all of the athletics—especially field hockey—and our bunny suits! Fond memories of the Glee Club and the great old house on Fifth Avenue. Loved the horse hair hats and red roses and “Pomp and Circumstance” at graduation. There are a lot of hysterically funny times that cannot be mentioned, but
44 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
laughing bouts were a favorite of mine. Jettie BERGMAN Johnston: There are so many fond memories for me at Ellis that it’s hard to choose among them. I can start with scary Mrs. Amundson and her classroom temper tantrums. Sweet Ms. Soule, who let us get away with murder; funny Mrs. Hogg; and, of course, dear Ms. Tilley. I don’t know how well they would fare in today’s world! I certainly can’t forget Ms. Hasson who knew everything about us and the School. I remember our walks to the Armory in the rain and snow for basketball practice and games long before a school van. What fun we had in the lunch room with some of our pranks—Bee Dee’s avocados and Betsey BEESON’s hard-boiled eggs! How about our times in the study hall for either homework or detention to work off our demerits with Ms. Mantell proctoring—boring! How special we felt being seniors and using the front stairs in the mansion and wearing our own clothes on Fridays! FUN, fun, fun! It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since our wonderful Ellis days. Some of my memories are still so vivid that it seems like yesterday. My five years at Ellis were my happiest of my schooling—I loved it. Mary BLAIR Simmons: Where has the time gone? The rare time I remember was when Mrs. Downey caught me under the radiator looking for the eraser we had been tossing. Similarly, Ms. Benson and a snowball. We had some wonderful times—very lucky we were. Barbara CHASE Mayer: If it had not been for Ellis I would not have been accepted into Westover School in Connecticut and on to college. It was very rewarding to have many friends and a good background for life. The funniest time that comes to mind—not sure I should say it. We were in the old house that Ellis first had—they had little glass boxes for fire drills and we knew one of us was going to set it off one day. She did and we filed out. The classmate confessed. Nancy JOHNSTON Schmitt: It is hard to believe that Ellis is 100 years old. What a wonderful school it is! I feel fortunate to have had two ‘sojourns’ at Ellis—first, as a young teenage student (four years), and later, as an employee (Alumnae Secretary) for nine years. The opportunity to have experienced the school from two vantage points made me appreciate Ellis all the more. I was provided a solid education by a dedicated faculty and, just as important, I made hundreds of friends I will remember and value always. Happy Birthday, Ellis!
From our most Ellis of all Ellis graduates, Judy COHEN Callomon reminisces:
I will go to Florida for four months, as I do each winter, continuing my work down there.
Ellis, 1954 - Fifth and Negley
My “kids” are great. My two daughters (Susie SWARTZ Perelman ’82 and Holly SWARTZ ’80, both Ellis graduates) live here with their families. My son, Peter, and his wife, Joan, live in Austin, TX. My seven grandkids are scattered. Oldest works for IBM in Boston, two are in college (Brown University and Washington University), two are at Shady Side Academy, and the younger ones are in elementary and middle school in Austin.
Front Hall - Ms. Tilley to the left - Red and Green Study Halls to the right - Ms. Hasson in the middle - The glorious staircase with the stained glass windows celebrating women - The room under the staircase - The faculty having recess, tea or lunch - Playing basketball in the cage in the snow wearing “bunny suits” and “bunny hats” - The death of Ms. Stevenson our Senior Year. - Being told by Ms. Fairlamb that I had a “good” answer my first year—no one had told me that before! - Friends—several of us have stayed in touch. Because I moved to Pittsburgh during my sophomore year, I will always be grateful to my classmates for making me feel welcomed. Some of these memories were new to me. Who did set off the fire alarm? Thanks for sharing. I know some of our classmates are ill and our thoughts go out to them. We were indeed blessed to have experienced education Ellis style. Until next year…prayers for peace.
Class of ’55 Dede WEIR Wills dedewills@sbcglobal.net Hi everyone. Happy 100th birthday, Ellis! Zoe ADDENBROOK Garlin writes: I am now and have been living in Gilbert, AZ, outside Phoenix, for 20 years. I have three children living within 15 minutes of me. My fourth child is living in State College, PA, with his four children. I have two older granddaughters, one in Ohio and one in college in Georgia. I have been widowed for six years. I met a man on Match.com (the only one I ever responded to) over two years ago. It is now so much fun going to the movies, out to dinner, and having someone to cook for. I’ve done little traveling. I am retired and volunteer in the church office and at the info desk in the hospital. It will be fun receiving the alumnae magazine and finding out where everyone is. Nellie Lou JAFFE Slagle writes: I am still an exhibiting artist living in Pittsburgh. I just came off a very successful show at the gallery that represents me here (Michael Hertrich Art and Frame). Michael has been my wonderful dealer for the last 18 years and is hugely supportive of my work.
Julia MATHEWS Trelease writes: Memories of Ellis: knitting argyle socks in the 50’s; Mrs. Amundson calling us “hussies” in French class; setting off the fire alarm and being punished by stamping the school name and address in all the new hymnals; bunny suits; Ms. Tilley saying, “Young ladies of Ellis”. We were the last class to receive our diplomas from her.
Madaline WENTWORTH Baker ’55 surrounded by her family in Pagosa Springs, CO.
Madaline WENTWORTH Baker writes that she and her family still summer at their ranch in Pagosa Springs, CO. Last year they took a trip to Spain that included a great barge trip. They continue to go to Mexico in January to enjoy sun and warmth. Their most favorite thing is to visit their kids as often as possible. I, Dede, am happy to say I’ve been able to see Julia MATHEWS Trelease twice this year. My daughter, Beth, and I went to visit Julia in August. We all went to watch the Arlington Million horse race. Great fun! Julia came to visit in October for Beth’s wedding. It was so special to have her with us for such a happy occasion. Please keep on sending me news whenever you have it. Best to all of you!
Class of ’56 Alice GEALY Morigi 952 Ackerman Avenue Syracuse, NY 13210-3034 “My three years at Ellis were a joy. I was a bit dazed by life events, but my classmates were so kind and fun. I was sorry not to graduate with you. Hugs to one and all,” from Pia (Jennie) LINDSTROM. “My memories of Ellis include standing in line for lunch and wondering if we’d get the wonderful rectangular slice of ice cream with the delicious fudge sauce! Being able to use the front stairs as a senior. French with Mrs. Amundson, who told me NOT to take French as a College Board exam, for I wasn’t a good student and felt it was the same as learning Latin—until I went to Paris with Hollins
Fall 2016 ELLIS MAGAZINE | 45
Natale and Connie TITZEL Rusconi ’58 during Christmas 2015.
Abroad and realized the language could be useful! Gym and Ms. Benton—off the record we thought her a dried out “old lady”. That she taught Latin added to that impression. My favorite class was art, and looking through our ’56 yearbook made me cringe—what dreadful drawings. [For which, as Assistant Art Editor, I, Alice, share the shame.] My most rewarding experience was the arrival of Ms. Hamilton, who had been to Hollins (I think) and who helped me get accepted there. I did like wearing uniforms and not having to think what to wear. It’s the best idea! I was more interested in horses than in clothes. What fun, to break out the old yearbooks and have a laugh at all our pictures!” said Barby CLOSE Strömstad. Quick flash memories from Marcie WATERMAN Love: “Standing when an adult came into the classroom; Ida’s incredible chocolate sauce (has anyone the recipe?); lunch in Mrs. Zirkle’s biology lab; study halls in those beautiful rooms; all Upper School assemblies in those same rooms; the thrill when we first were seniors going up the front stairs under the beautiful stained glass windows; school plays in what had been the carriage house; Ms. Hasson’s caring demeanor… oh, so many vignettes are flashing through my head!” [Marcie has established a grant at Ellis to enable a junior to go to a developing country on a program to empower girls and women. See the Fall 2015 Ellis Magazine for details.]
Sally RIAL Phelps ’58 with her grandsons, Tony Leonard III, and John Leonard.
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“For me, the most pleasurable times at Ellis were spent with the Glee Club and Ensemble,” wrote Augusta LEE Parrington. “I remember very vividly a concert with Shady Side Academy—singing with a group of males had its appeal. But what I remember best about that evening was that my father [writer Lawrence Lee] was narrating “A Lincoln Portrait” by Aaron Copeland with the Pittsburgh Symphony with Andre Kostelanetz conducting. Mother [artist Musier “Sandy” Lee] had a hard time, wishing to support us both, so I advised her to go see my father, which she really wanted to do anyway. I went the next evening to see him. I also loved reading the various novels and poetry in English. I could always lose myself in those books. I wonder if some of them are even read today. (If it weren’t for the BBC, I doubt some would see the light of day now.) A teacher who made an impression on me was Ms. Band, who offered some tricks about test-taking that I used the rest of my academic career. Then there was Mr. Huston. He let it be known I was the only Democrat in the class, a fact I’d kept carefully hidden! I also loved the night a group of us went to serenade him at his home. He was going through a tortuous divorce at the
time, and was pleased and embarrassed by the attention.” Unique in Alice GEALY Morigi’s remembrance is an Ellis occasion she experienced after her graduation. “During two years at Chatham College, my scholarship job was complete charge of the extensive costume collection, which included real clothing from the latter 1800s and the early 20th century. When, in 1957-58, a Pittsburgh newspaper needed photographs for an article on the lives of young women before World War I, I was consulted on costumes, models, and a place for the photoshoot. Tall, slim, blond Sue and dainty, dark-haired Kate, friends from the Chatham College drama department, fitted into several ensembles perfectly, and Ellis, so dear, so familiar to me, would provide the perfect backgrounds. It was arranged with Ms. Hasson that we have use of the house on a Saturday morning. Arriving early with gowns, undergarments, hat and jewelry boxes, I set up a dressing room in the erstwhile Ms. Stevenson’s room, under the grand staircase beyond the Great Hall fireplace. Then, in living silence, I was free for a time to wander the rooms of the main floors as though I were truly a family guest during the house’s golden years. Too briefly, the glories of carved and polished woods, damask or scenic or Lincrusta wall coverings, veined marble fireplace surrounds, stained glass windows large and small, oriental carpets, glinting chandeliers, were mine alone. Behind my closed eyelids today the pretty girls are still poised on the lower steps by the newel post, in their beaded chiffon evening gowns and long kid gloves, laughing together in soft white muslin with lace insets, below the mahogany overmantel in the formal dining room (Red Study Hall); perched with open leather-bound books on moss-cushioned window seats in the sunlit library (Green Study Hall)… the enduring warmth and comfort of that handsome old house yet enveloping us in memory, as during my student days so long ago.”
Class of ’58 Sally RIAL Phelps sallyphelps@aol.com Sally RIAL Phelps: This has been my year of “trip around.” Fell over on my exercise ball and banged my back. Fell into a 4 1/2 foot empty water fountain at the Padres baseball stadium in San Diego with some body damage. Fell into a shallow pit of soft earth while touring a construction site at Dick’s granddaughter’s new house, etc., etc. A soft bed and physical therapy have been on my schedule since May. I am finally back to painting and golf.
The good news is that my children, grandchildren, step-children, sisters, and brother came to my 75th birthday celebration last weekend. We had a weekend of festivities. All smiles. It was wonderful fun! Ann EBBERT Sullivan had a similar party for her 70th, so this party was a copycat of hers! The Class of 1962 at Wellesley had a mini-reunion at our house in Pinehurst. A weekend of house tours of my friends’ houses; a lecture at Sandhills Community College on the future of affordable education; a day in Seagrove, the pottery area of North Carolina; and an evening concert with the North Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra. One of our classmates brought the Orchestra to North Carolina, and she has started a music education program in the public schools to complement the music the families are hearing. Who would like to have an Ellis Mini-Reunion? Where should we have it? Cape Cod, Pinehurst, the East Coast of Florida? Southern California? Other? Margo CONDERMAN Arnold: As some of you know, I had a stroke May 5 en route to Beijing. We were 600 km from the North Pole. Three hospitals later, I was discharged at the end of May and have been doing occupational therapy two times week ever since. Initially, the whole left side of my body was paralyzed. My recovery has been amazing!!! Doug, true historian that he is, documented it on our Facebook pages and on a separate Shutterfly report. The best news is that I am scheduled for a driver evaluation Dec. 18th!!!! So should be back driving after the first of the year. I am profoundly grateful. How about a reunion in Washington, D.C.? I’m actually hosting Connecticut College’s Holiday Gala at the Cosmos Club Dec. 10. Edith LIEM Sul: Fall prevention: Walking the dog without falling in winter is another hazard to beware. I took a yoga class at our senior center, where the emphasis was to prevent falls. I am now considering a tai chi class, which is less rigorous. Susan HIGINBOTHAM Holcombe: Glad to hear that you are recovered/recovering from your May accident. You pick spectacular places for a fall into a four-and-a-half-foot pit! I wonder how many falls/accidents we have had. I was corresponding with Connie TITZEL Rusconi to see if she was in London in September. Turns out she was nursing a broken foot. Her son-in-law ran over her foot with his car. I had to tell her that in July, our son-in-law stopped his bicycle suddenly, causing me to run into my husband and then him, with both Arthur and I taking spectacular falls on the bike path.
Fortunately, no terrible breaks, just bunged up shoulders for a month. I was thinking about my strongest memories of Ellis. That is a hard question. There are so many memories that it is difficult. Perhaps more generally, Ellis gave me a form of freedom to think and question along with helping me to develop a civility and respect for others. In the classroom there were many extraordinary teachers. Elizabeth Buckmaster and Margaret Band, who taught us how to think about the literature we were assigned. This stays with me in my 70s, when I now have more time to read novels old and new. Others, like Marilyn Thornton, taught us how to analyze historical experience and to engage critically with current events. Ms. Tilley and Ms. Hamilton modeled different types of female leadership. Ms. Hasson modeled a generous and caring spirit, and her joy in what she did for us as Ellis students taught me that the reward of a good deed may simply be in the generosity of spirit that accompanies it. And structured activities like the Ellis Guild, ostensibly just about charity, went way beyond charity to get us to think about justice in the world.
Doug and Margot CONDERMAN Arnold ’58
We are getting ready for the end of the year, and will be heading off to London on Dec. 22 to spend Christmas there with our son Arthur and his family. Another family is going to Cuba for Christmas, and the third to Canada to engage in cross-country ski practice. It has been a good year, despite all the silliness and danger around us. Lynn REED Orr: I really don’t have much news. Like most of the class I guess, I had a big birthday this year. The only thing different about mine is that the Ligonier Highland Games were the same day as my birthday and I had “Happy Birthday” played for me by the massed bands on the field. Also, all three of my sons and their wives were there, along with my sister and brother-in-law and my special friends. Since it was also the day of my clan’s annual meeting, there was a dinner that evening and it was like a big party. My youngest son, Tom, played the guitar and sang for us at the dinner. We had been to his 50th birthday in Los Angeles in April! That’s it!
Class of ’59 Polly FOSTER Mullins 5421 Kipling Road Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Mary Louise MEYER Dyer wrote: So many memories through the 13-and-a-half years I attended Ellis. I started in the old school on Ellsworth
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59 Basketball Team: Back Row: Coach Lay, Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson ’59, Christine MATSON McGown ’58, Margie BIERWORTH Anderson ’59, Anne DONALDSON Frederick ’59, Sally RIAL Phelps ’58, and Louise SCOTT Moore ’59
Sally ARMENTROUT Majak, Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson, Jean BABCOCK Harbeck, Gerry EVANS Tuten, Ellen Jane McCASLIN Srodes, and Luise MALLINGER Erdmann. Back row: (L to R) Clarissa ERVING, Suzi ARNSBERG Diacou, Éva BORSODY Das, and Penny PORTER Meyer
Avenue; a wonderful big room with lots of windows. First grade was wow—big time! Round tables with elephants on each table with those big fat pencils. Gerry EVANS Tuten and I in the back corner trying to put on our brothers hand-me-down black buckle boots while all the other girls were slipping into their pretty red pull-ons. Then there were the girls with the braids, Jeanne BABCOCK Harbeck, Carol SCHARFE Widing, and Linda ROST Whitman. We learned to read Dick and Jane and probably lots more. Fourth grade was big time again with uniforms—we thought that was cool. Dodge ball was it, then? Or was it Capture the Flag? Louise SCOTT Moore was the captain always; she was really good! Those little French boys in the French reading book; the eye of the sheep; Ms. Hasson, the air raid drills in the basement; lunch in the cellar classrooms, you hoped no one had tuna, if you had the next class in that room; Ms. Fell; Ms. Band; black bean soup; field hockey; the front stairs for the seniors only; saddle shoes; term papers; aprons we made; Mrs. Wick; Mrs. Hogg; hic haec, hoc, green and white teams. We learned so much and most of all, we learned that we could do anything we wanted, and that was before Betty Freidan. Friendships we formed that have lasted nearly 70 years. That is a long time. Thanks, Ellis. I can’t think of a better way to have grown up. Nancy BOWSER McConky: I don’t have much to contribute, but Mary Louise would kill me if I didn’t send you something. 1. Salk polio vaccine 2. Humming in Mademoiselle’s class 3. Sucking lemons through peppermint sticks at the Ellis Fair 4. Glee Club concerts at Kiski singing Broadway theater songs 5. Standing on my head with my legs spread apart and having people somersaulting through them in gym class 6. Playing jacks in the VA room Best memory ever—the lasting friendships that were made at Ellis. Mary Louise, Linda, and I will always be “best friends forever.” Louise SCOTT Moore: Here are some of my recollections of Ellis as a young student. These are stream-of-consciousness: School Location: Bottom of Negley Hill My house: Top of Negley Hill Simplicity of school dress: Green uniforms, white sleeve shirts, black and white saddle shoes Headmistress Ms. Tilley: All incorrect roads
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led to Ms. Tilley’s bench Literature Class: Read and discuss “A Tale of Two Cities” Mrs. Hogg’s Latin Class: Conjugate those Latin verbs Ms. Lay’s P.E. Class: Team players in all sports: field hockey, basketball, softball Being on Student Council: Guiding fellow students Drama Plays: “Wind in the Willows” with Bonnie BASKIN Lundeberg as Toad of Toad Hall and me as Ratty Possibility of choosing cafeteria food over my lunch box: My favorite: a vanilla square of ice cream topped with hot fudge sauce Slumber parties with classmates Treasured relationships with teachers and students: Never lost, never forgotten Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson: One of the most potent memories of Ellis I have is the daily “bike pool” from our Shadyside neighborhood. There were many from the class of ’59 who lived within blocks of one another: Hetsy and Lolly BELL, Carol SCHARFE, Polly FOSTER, Suzi ARENSBURG, Wendy WARD and Barbara O’NEIL come instantly to mind. Each day, I would bike to the twins’ house at the corner of St. James Street. Mr. and Mrs. Bell were always so gracious. In retrospect, I wonder what they really thought about the bikers barging in on their breakfast. Polly and I were the stalwarts. The others came sometimes. The group of us would take off along the streets and alleys toward Ellis which was then at Fifth and Negley. We often referenced our phantom friend Mergetroid Magillicutty, wondering where he was. After school, sometimes we’d head down Walnut Street and get a 10-cent lady lock at what is now Prantl’s Bakery. Almost every day, we’d end up at the twins’ house for an hour or so of TV laced with ginger ale and chocolate chip cookies. Again, I wonder what Mrs. Bell thought of us interlopers every day. The only time our TV choice was modified was when she wanted to watch the Army-McCarthy Hearings. Of course in those days a family had only one television, and that was a big deal. My family didn’t have one until I was in much higher grades at Ellis. I don’t know how many years this “bike pooling” went on – probably from 5th grade until Lolly and Hetsy went away to boarding school in 10th grade. Being a part of the Ellis community was definitely enhanced by our biking! Suzi ARENSBERG Diacou: No news on selling any abode or my slowing garden work despite more to do alone, but big news for my husband, Alec: the grade school he founded,
the Rosalyn Yalow Charter School, opened in the Bronx Sept. 1, 2015, for 212 kindergarten and first graders. These initiates get chess, fencing (well, nerf swords at first), arts, Singapore math, and Common Core literacy. I’ve been buying children’s books for a library. Our sons are in heavy academia again: Ari is in law school at night; still reading applications to the Patent Office by day. Niko is taking pre-med classes; Alexander is a first-year med student. Multiple cases of exhaustion, and we’ll be doing Alexander’s June wedding to Raven, ourselves, here at home. Jean BABCOCK Harbeck: I remember thinking we were awesome when we baked our yellow cake according to the fractions we had learned for Mrs. Wick in 6th grade. I remember always being in the B section and knowing the other class was smarter. I remember crowding around the little T.V. in 5th grade to watch Queen Elizabeth become queen. I remember memorizing Bible verses to the letter and correct punctuation with Mrs. Jarret and Shakespeare with Ms. Band. Nancy BOWSER always had the best cursive penmanship and probably does to this day. I remember Peter Pan with Ms. Fell and taking piano lessons with her. I remember “Lead on, O King Eternal” and graduation and the bouquets we carried with our white dresses. I remember Ms. Pierce and what a witch she was. Thursday was black bean soup day and my favorite of all. I remember we all wanted to sit near Hetsy and Lolly so we could have a chance to share their awesome chocolate chip cookies. Dodge ball and the Whip were a regular on the playground when we could go outside and Luise MALLINGER Erdmann always beat me at ping pong in the basement. Lemons with peppermint sticks were the 4thgrade staple at the Guild fair and the only raffle I ever won was a fruit basket in 7th grade. We all learned about the birds and the bees from Ms. Benson. And how could I forget how we terrorized poor Ms. Fulton in sewing and Home Economics. I made stewed apricots for years, and my mother had to have my dress finished by her seamstress because after eight weeks, GerBer [Gerry EVANS Tuten] and I could still not thread a sewing machine. Learning to read in 1st grade with Mrs. Harvey and having the whole class laugh at my oral recitation of is-land for i-land. The goldfinch is still my favorite bird and I bet we all could still name which each of us had. I remember feeling very sad when I had to leave in 10th grade and I still had not made the A section. Enough said… our youth was magical! Polly FOSTER Mullins also reminisces: There were nine members of the Class of ’59 in our neighborhood within five blocks of one another,
who walked or rode bikes to Ellis School together! These friendships have lasted our entire lives! And what I remember so clearly is our graduation each year! All of us would buy or sew a white “party dress” to wear for graduation! On graduation day, we would go to each other’s gardens to pick flowers and make our own bouquets to carry. The entire school—kindergarten through 12th grade—would walk from the Ellis School campus at Fifth and Negley across the street with police stopping traffic (which made us feel very important) to the Third Presbyterian Church on Fifth Avenue. Walking into the church and marching down the aisles singing “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” from youngest to oldest! The Glee Club sang “Pomp and Circumstance” and “Land of Hope and Glory”. A joyful occasion. What a powerful setting and lasting memory! The ceremony was a simple way to bond the student body together! And I still run into Ellis alumnae, who remember those happy graduation days!
Class of ’60 Cynthia SCOTT Amerman cynthiaamerman@gmail.com Wendy MYERS Heinz writes, “Things are good here. We had the Swedish kids and the Virginia kids here for a great Chautauqua, NY visit last July. Our grandson, Chase is off to Kenyon College next fall for lacrosse. This is his senior year at Langley High School. His sister Kate is 12, and our Swedish granddaughter, Sofia, will be three in April. We enjoy them all!” See Wendy’s Ellis memories at end of ’60 class notes... From Adrianne (Annie) ACHESON White: March 5, 2015, I was blessed with an addition to my family—my great granddaughter, Freyja Mir Korpi. She is beautiful, as is her mother. Freyja’s parents are my grandson, Gunnar, and his wife, Aizer, and life is good. Gunnar has been in the National Guard since he graduated from high school and was working at Polaris Industries in Roseau, MN, while he took a course in diesel engineering. He has just enlisted in the regular Army and will be in Fort Benning, GA, training for Special Ops Airborne. Gunnar’s brother, Gage, has graduated from high school and is studying diesel engineering as well. Grandma Marnie (Annie’s daughter) is still working in Roseau, MN, at Polaris, and Great Uncle Mike (Annie’s son) is doing well in Virginia since his stroke three years ago and has a good job that accommodates his disability. I spent the summer shuttling between my house and my friend, Harold’s, gardening and dancing, and will be joining
At the Renwick Gallery and in the Patrick Dougherty’s Shindig: Front row: (L to R) Gerry EVANS Tuten, Éva BORSODY Das, and Penny PORTER Meyer. Back row: (L to R) Clarissa ERVING, Sally ARMENTROUT Majak, Abigail BAYLES Wiebenson, Luise MALLINGER Erdmann , Jean BABCOCK Harbeck, and Ellen Jane McCASLIN Srodes
Class of 1959 at the 1948 Ellis Commencement: Front Row: (L to R) Sally ARMENTROUT Majak, Lolly BELL Hetherington, Carol SCHARF, Gerry EVANS Tuten, Lynne ARROTT Colcombe, Hester BELL McCoy, Barbara O’NEIL Roeder. Middle Row: (L to R) Linda ROST Whitman, Wendy WARD McSwigan, Anne WEIR, Polly FOSTER Mullins, Helen DENNIS, and Blythe BICKLE Edwards. Back Row: (L to R) Jeanne BABCOCK Harbeck, Louise SCOTT Moore, Mary Louise MEYER Dyer, and (Unknown) with Ms. Gillespie
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Harold in Florida in December for more dancing. I am doing very well since my hip replacement two years ago. Other than that it’s just the usual cat duty (three of them) and organizing my house, sorting through stuff I don’t need anymore (and there is a lot of it). A neighbor watches my cats while I’m in Florida. We’re having the usual aches and pains associated with getting older, but are generally very well, says Kay ROCK Boyd. “In May, we went to Texas to visit the two baseball parks there. (25 down; five to go!) and to visit family. We took a leisurely drive to Oregon to visit daughter Betsy and her family, and Bob’s brother and his family. We really enjoy seeing the country at our own pace. We’re looking forward to Thanksgiving, when we will be 14 at the table! Son Rob and his family will be here, as will Bob’s sister and her husband. Should be fun to have a houseful. Daughter Katy lives in St. Louis and it’s great to have her close by. We see her (and our grand dog) often. We’re thinking about a trip to St. Petersburg (the cold one!) and the Baltics next year. Meanwhile, we enjoy going to the theater and symphony and continue to be active at our church. A memory of Ellis: Mrs. Hogg telling me she couldn’t believe I was so bad at Latin, when my mother was so good at it. Funny thing is, she had told my mother that she would retire before she’d teach the child of anyone as bad at Latin as my mother was! Boy, I hated that class, but it turned out that it’s been useful! Who knew?” “Life is still rolling along for us as it has been,” reports Lynne PARKHILL Feely. “Harry doesn’t even want to discuss retiring from his job at the Federal Department of Education, and even though I retired from American University, I took another job with a small construction consulting firm as their senior project engineer. Memories of Ellis? The years I spent there were some of the best of my life.” From April EILER Pinney, “part of a little poem”: “We thought there would never be another grandchild and then there was one. Grandpa will be 90 when she is 10. Grandma will be 90 when she is 17. Nevertheless, Zena is here, plump and beautiful, looking us in the eye and asking ‘Now What?’ More news: There was a big wedding and a trip to Alaska. Now for my Ellis memories. Suddenly my
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8-year-old granddaughter has a passion for soccer and wants me to play with her, which brought back memories of my Ellis days. It has been 59 years and two broken feet since I kicked a ball, but I try. I entered Ellis in the 7th grade. Everyone but me knew long division and French. And everyone but me had played soccer. I don’t think I was very good, but I tried hard. It was the first time I ever played a team sport, and I loved it. Control the ball, dribble and pass, use the inside of your foot to shoot. I was a dancer before I went to Ellis and never a natural athlete with quick reflexes like Sally WATERMAN Woodroofe and Wendy MYERS Heinz. I remember how in awe of them I was in 7th grade and every sport thereafter. I remember that year more than any other. (Is it because that was the year I woke up from the long sleep of childhood? Was it the year I learned to love Shakespeare and the Bible? Or was it a year of culture shock?) I felt like the left wing, artistic, intellectual, country bumpkin when I went to Ellis. Memory is odd. I remember my first Ellis year (7th grade) and last year (12th grade) and not much in between ,except a French teacher who hated me. But I think I was happy most of the time and entered Smith College confident that I was a good writer.” Wendy MYERS Heinz - My favorite time at Ellis was in the 5th grade with Mrs. McVicker. She was the greatest teacher. She told us there would be a moon landing and she was RIGHT! The moon landing happened 15 years later! She was so interesting. She had us put a tooth in a Coke bottle to see how soft drinks ruin teeth! She introduced us to books and ideas, and she respected and loved us all. I just loved her. My favorite stories surround athletics. I loved field hockey and played center forward. I was the captain of the Green Team. I enjoyed traveling to other schools for games. During one game that we played at Sewickley Academy, I ran so hard and fast that on the bus on the way home, I almost fainted. But, I still loved it and couldn’t wait to get back to the next game! I guess that the athletic field was the area that helped to build character for me. I learned to persevere no matter how difficult the struggle got. I also learned to deal with disappointment. Playing hockey and basketball was energizing and challenging and exciting. After graduating from Ellis, I went to Bucknell University as an English major, and later earned a Master of Divinity at The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. I served for 20 years as a Presbyterian pastor in Western New York, until my recent retirement. The lessons that I learned on the athletic field stayed with me during the challenges of the ministry. Thank you all for your news that rings true for so many of us, and for your memories. I
must have slept my way through Ellis, and suspect my hearing loss was present then to some degree. To Kay ROCK Boyd, Mrs. Hogg taught my mother Latin, too. She may have found someone who was worse than your mother/you (i.e., me) in her beloved subject, but was embarrassed to say so, because I don’t remember a single comment. I stopped Latin after 9th grade, but am very grateful for having received, however resistantly, the “underpinnings” of French and Spanish. I could even read the sign in my Tarom (Romanian) National Airlines plane on my honeymoon that said, “Rugam nu fumati.”
Class of ’62 Diana DICKEY Joss sunlightbasin@gmail.com Laurie BATCHELAR Culbertson, in spite of a repeated hip dislocation, is active swimming, volunteering, and spending fun times with her grandchildren. She fondly remembers Mrs. Moore’s English class. Nancy DAVIS Alley writes that within a few months, two of her daughters have moved closer to home; one with two little boys, ages 1 and 6—she is thrilled. Nancy remains deeply involved in ministry to women. Her memories of Ellis were “most meaningful with regard to the friendships she made there.” Gez EBBERT’s dear mother, Lowrie WURTS Ebbert ’39, died in October 2015. We shall all miss her. Gez has been back in Pittsburgh for six years, loving it, and all of her volunteering. She recently bought my mother’s, Betty BECKWITH Dickey ’37, apartment! Kathie HANNAH Walker and Rob continue splitting time between Beaumaris and Delray, FL—actively involved in everything! Bunny MUNTER Kerr and Tom are loving retirement and their condo, and recently traveled to Cuba. Bunny loves duplicate bridge and is working on her chess game in order to keep up with her two grandsons, ages 7 and 9! Candy McCRADY Rost and Bob love life in Boca Grande, while looking forward to a three week trip to New Zealand in February 2016. Her most favorite person at Ellis was Miss Hasson as many of us would agree!! Susie SCHAEFER Pettler and Don so enjoy their retirement with many happy times at the cottage with their grandchildren. Barby SCHMIDT Wickwire and Emerson are loving their life in Boca Grande, FL. As they have for many years, the fall was spent in Florence. Barby and I have been remembering many funny things—one of which is the
oft-told tale of Judy REED Scott borrowing everyone’s watches in Home Ec class at the Liberty School. After putting them all on, she approached Ms. Fulton and asked for the time. Another story is of Judy (again) getting her arm stuck in the Kotex machine at the old school, and poor Durham had to come into the Girls Room to extricate her. I was there and to this day, I still dissolve! Marty VOGT Snyder and Skip split time between the North and Vero Beach with lots of fun with their four grandsons. When she thinks of Ellis, she appreciates its smallness and the special friendships. Kathy ROSEN Hurwitz and Larry are enjoying their winters in Florida with four grandchildren close by and summers in the Hudson Valley near two other grandchildren. They had a wonderful time with Ann PARKER Demong and Peter to “celebrate our friendship, a gift of our years together at Ellis.” Kathy adds that they were good years for her, “encouraging me to grow as my own person.” My sister, Susan DICKEY Gilmore ’65, and I took a barge trip with our families (our third) in southern France in June 2015. There were fourteen of us, and seven were Ellis girls!! Ellis has been such a large part of my life—friends being the most important and wonderful! Thank you all for your news—as always.
Class of ’63 Muffin MARSHALL Carothers carothersmm@gmail.com Ellen TIM Shields: Here are some of my memories, in no particular order. I can begin with my preschool days at Ellis. There were boys as well as girls in the classes. I often wondered if those boys, who were in our grade level at Shady Side Academy, ever admitted to having been Ellis students?
Kathy HURWITZ ’62 and husband, Larry with Anne DeMONG ’62 and Peter in Arles.
Perhaps you remember when Ellis was in Shadyside, and we used to walk from Ellis to Liberty School for Home Skills Education. Without any adult presence, it was a great time to talk about all kinds of subjects, often not appropriate for school grounds. On one memorable walk, all talk was about who had read Peyton Place, and what it all meant. How grown-up we all felt, having hidden away the book at home to read behind closed doors, and now on our walk we could discuss it like “adults.” Do you remember the fair that Ellis held each year in the garage/gym at the old school? The real money maker was the treat comprised of a lemon with a peppermint stick stuck in
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its top. As you sucked the peppermint stick, the lemon added a lip-smacking, tangy taste. I may try this treat on my grandchildren this summer. Can it compete in its simplicity with Starbursts? How about the Indian Nickel drive to raise funds for a charity? No wonder there was shortly a shortage of the nickels. And today the funds from selling that collection would make any charity happy. Coin collectors would drool. I always regretted the timing of the Schools move to the new buildings. We never got to use that beautiful staircase as seniors. Even though I had one like it at home, I always thought that descending those stairs made every senior appear much more regal and important. Somehow, as seniors passing through the center door at the new school, the experience lacked any majesty. I have so many memories connected to Ellis and I will always be grateful for my education there. Ellis made college so much easier. I could research and whip up a 20-page report with footnotes and a bibliography without any problem. And we used a typewriter with carbon paper and gallons of white out. I did often trade ironing my roommate’s skirts and shirts for her skill typing my paper. When did I miss typing class at Ellis? Susan WILNER Butler Plum: I remember in 7th or 8th grade, when we were still in the old building, many of us objected that Ms. Fell chose the hymn that we were to sing when we walked down the aisle at commencement. It was supposed to be “Lead On, O King Eternal,” but many of us sang “Lead On, O Kingly Turtle.”
(L to R) Daughter Lucy, son Andrew, husband Clem, Barbara DEBEVOISE Dinsmore ’64, and daughter-in-law Kathleen. The star of the show—granddaughter, Genevieve (2).
Jennifer GILL: Yes, Class of ‘63… I remember a wonderful creative time I experienced at Ellis, just before the Prom of 1962 during my junior year. That year, I was asked to create a number of images on poster boards to be placed strategically around the dance floor. These images were made not with a computer, not with a camera and enlarger, not with cut-outs pasted onto the poster board, not by sketching randomly and then painting with watercolors, but with small images that were translated into graphic squares. You know the kind with hundreds of little tiny 1/8 -inch squares, which I drew on top of the images? Then, my next step was to draw with a ruler a 2-inch, proportional graph onto the blank poster board, and, finally, square by square, I enlarged the images. Whew! The images translated well, so I was told by fellow students. I don’t even remember the content of any one of them, but I do remember the amount of work that went into the final product. Does anyone remember what the
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images looked like? The final irony of the story is that when I went to collect them after the prom, they had disappeared. Does anyone know where they went? Hmmmmm? Suzanne WEINBERG Bursaux: Below, please find some tidbits from my walk down memory lane. 1) History class with Ms. Dienes, in which through her heavy Hungarian accent (a refugee from the 1956 revolt), she referred to Napoleon I II as Napoleon the turd. 2) German class of six students, with another Hungarian refugee, Mme. Vietorisz: her sweet demeanor and patience with my perfect pronunciation (better than her own) and nonexistent grammar (she fixed that and opened the door to speaking the German language.) 3) Admiring, with other classmates, the Rev Hugh Clark’s shiny black Corvette with red leather interiors as he drove away from school. 4) Being a lazy and bored fullback during field hockey. 5) Ms. Hickman in English class, reprimanding our classmate Hart HEYWARD for wearing eyeliner, saying she looked “poorly embalmed.” 6) Nightmarish memories of trying to switch to so-called new math in 11th grade, preparing us for the (yet unknown) digital age. 7) Skipping the lunch line with a bag lunch, which mother prepared, of German black bread and yummy beef sausage and a Golden Delicious apple from the Shenandoah Valley. 8) Being President of the Boar’s Head Players, playing the caterpillar in “Alice in Wonderland” and saying “Whoooo are Youuuuu?” 9) French Club: Playing Monsieur Jourdain in Moliere’s “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” and mother bringing the president of the Alliance Française to admire me (!!), saying “Monsieur, ma fille n’est pas pour vous!” 10) Playing a lead in Blithe Spirit, but do not remember which role. 11) Playing Bach then (and now) and being ridiculed for pronouncing his name correctly (as opposed to ‘bock’ which is a kind of beer). Kaffie WHITE McCullough: I remember at the old school, Ms. Gray was our gym teacher and she was from the South—drawl and all. She had the proverbial whistle that all gym teachers have, and we were in a fenced-in area that I think we called “the cage.” It was winter and very cold. Ms. Gray blew her METAL whistle, and the whistle stick to her upper lip. She didn’t know how to deal with that, being from the South where nothing froze. So she
just pulled it off her lip and lost a layer of skin. It was awful at the time—but became something we teased her about it once time had gone by. Sandy MYERS Spiewak: Mrs. McVicker (5th grade) saved my academic career at Ellis and probably beyond. She patiently tutored me and a few others (no names to protect the innocent) most Saturdays and as long as it took to get me through the 5th and 6th grade. Whenever anyone asks what teacher made a difference in my life, her name always comes to mind. I never thanked her enough for believing in me and helping me realize I could do anything I wanted and was willing to work hard for! What a valuable teacher and special person she was. Thank you, Mrs. McVicker!!! Muffin MARSHALL Carothers: Do you remember the lunchroom/homeroom in the old school in 8th grade? We were tossing an apple around while Ms. Purcell went to the teacher’s room to wash her hands. She had been addressing envelopes and could not stick her tongue out to lick the flap; she delicately applied some spit to the back of her hand and then ran the envelope over that spot. So, we were bored waiting for her to return and a little game of catch ensued, until someone managed to get the apple out on the front porch roof through an open window. Ms. Purcell was aghast to find Marsha MINER Martin head-and-shoulders out the window, retrieving the apple. We were all assigned an essay on “Proper Lunchroom Manners for the Ellis School” to be turned in the next day in math class. Before class started, we turned in our essays and Ms. Purcell asked us what our parents thought of our behavior. Ann DOAK Dillard responded that her mother laughed! That ended the discussion and we got down to math right away.
Class of ’64 Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard susan.s.leonard@gmail.com Marty MANN: I am still dithering with retirement but put that on hold by spending much of the summer on the Vineyard. Just completed an art history course at URI and am still volunteering on the chemo unit of a local hospital. Don and I have been dabbling in local politics and like the energy of the people we’ve met as a result. I tried to quit my book club because I want to read what I want to read, but, they wouldn’t let me. May try again if current curriculum takes a nose dive. Was at a meeting last week where Chrissie MITCHELL Bascom ’62 was present. She is as active, funny, and gorgeous as ever and is doing a lot of good
things for local causes. Don and I are headed to California in February to get away from another potentially horrendous New England winter. Love my trips to Sewickley to see my 97-year-old Mom who is doing great, and my younger sister and her family in Oakland. Hung out in Lawrenceville with my niece in June 2015—very cool, and some swell restaurants. Love the city, but not the location. Pattie RICHTER Hunt: It’s been a great year for us with the birth of a new grandson, Waylon Jack Hunt, Sept. 19th 2015. He makes number four: two boys in Westchester and two girls here in town. We spend lots of time babysitting. The other highlight was our cruise to the Baltic this summer. We so enjoyed the Scandinavian countries and were in awe of St. Petersburg. I never would have imagined being in Russia back in the days of the Cold War.
Terry CHAPMAN ’64, Kerry BRAND Shelby ’64, and Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64 at the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
Nancy BELL Rockey: Had a wonderful visit, as always, with Jamie and Kerry BRAND Shelby in Avalon in September 2015. They have a beautiful new addition to their house, which is great! Other travels were Sanibel, FL, for a week with my sister, Judie BELL Clark ’61; an annual trip to Bethany Beach, DE, with all the family, and a first-time trip to Italy for two weeks. Busy with family and our seven grandchildren. Three of them are now teenagers and the youngest two are just 3 years old! Jane STERN Walmsley: Things are busy here as ever, which I guess is good. Most important, everyone is fine. Nigel and I are planning a short trip to Provence in late October 2015—a few more rays of the sun and some good French food before we hunker down for a London winter. My company is co-producing another play—this time, a new stage adaptation of “Around the World in Eighty Days,” which will open at the St. James Theatre in London on Oct. 26, 2015, and run over Christmas and the New Year. We’ve got eight actors playing 100 different roles, so it should be fun. The competing attraction for me is that Katie (who lives in New York City) is expecting her second baby in early December, so Nigel and I are planning to be there for the big event, and we look forward to plenty of family time over the holidays. Memories of Ellis from Jane include: 1. The excitement of being on stage at Carnegie Hall in Mrs. Wenneker’s wonderful production of “The Tempest.” 2. English classes with the amazing Ms. Hickman, who taught us in her inimitable way what “irony” was, and made us see the world a little differently.
Marlene TRIARE Guieu ’64 and Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard ’64 visiting in Paris.
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3. Studying peacefully in the library one day, until one of our classmates came in to tell us that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. 4. Everyone gathering around the TV, which had been set up in the Assembly Hall, and being allowed to watch the Pirates beat the Yankees in the thrilling final game of the 1960 World Series. 5. School lunches surrounded by pals and with plenty of laughter. Barbara DEBEVOISE Dinsmore: We are lucky to have our kids so close by - Andrew in Wilmington, DE (working for Sen. Chris Coons), and Lucy in Philadelphia (a horticulturist at the Morris Arboretum). Clem is still working and I LOVE not working. Sandy GLOCK Harrington: Most of you probably remember being a guinea pig during Salk’s controlled experiment of his polio vaccine in Pittsburgh schools. Ellis classmates remember being in Mrs. Shaw’s classroom one warm spring, when we looked out the open windows and saw the wooden-sided station wagons disgorge nurses, vials, and those dreaded inoculating needles. That began two years of bloodletting and inoculations. Tumbling mats were placed on the rec hall floor for fainters. Dr. Salk gave me a shot. When my family went to Connecticut the summer after 2nd grade, I had to go to the Greenwich Department of Health building to have my blood drawn and shipped to Pittsburgh. Eileen HALPERN Lane: As far as this past year, it has been a busy one, filled with travel, the joys of grandchildren, and work on a book profiling 21 Jewish women from Pittsburgh that have impacted the political, educational, social, and cultural life of Pittsburgh and its Jewish community. We had a phenomenal trip to South Africa and Namibia last winter. Namibia, the former German South-West Africa, was particularly fascinating and beautiful, from its exquisitely beautiful red sand-duned deserts, to rugged Skeleton Coast, cities that retain their German culture and language and amazing game parks. We visited with our grandchildren in Latvia, Boston, and Pittsburgh, but best of all was having them all together at a Club Med in Florida in early spring. I went on a girls-only golf trip to Scotland this summer, which was terrific, even if my golf wasn’t! Joined a house party of friends at a chateau in southwest France, and also managed to squeeze in several trips to London over the course of the year. And at year’s end it will be back to Latvia to celebrate the holidays with Oskars, Erica’s precious little 4 year old, and his family there.
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It is great to be in touch with all of you. Thank you so much for your input, on class notes and reading suggestions. I was lucky enough to spend five days with Marlene TRIAIRE Guieu in Paris in September. She is retired and making beautiful hand-painted silk pieces. Her children, Ariane and Julien, are happily married. Ariane has twin 5 year olds in the bilingual school in Paris. Julien has a daughter and a son. I also attended the Genghis Khan exhibit in Philadelphia with Terry CHAPMAN and Kerry BRAND Shelby. I’d love to see more of all of you. We talked of getting together at the 100th anniversary celebrations. I hope we can.
Class of ’65 Carolin KIRKPATRICK Dick a2carolin@gmail.com To celebrate our 50th reunion, the Class of 1965 created a booklet in which each classmate could write about themselves. Here are some excerpts. Rosamond PHELPS Baiz: Not much has changed in our lives aside from some family additions. We are still growing grapes and making wine in a beautiful place on the water. We produce about 1,500 cases of wine, merlot, cab franc, pinot noir, chardonnay, and even a bubbly, along with some rosé. I have two very funny and fun granddaughters, Rosamond Lea Bliss and Claire Hazelden Bliss, 3-and-a-half years and 8 months old, who live up the farm road so I am with them daily. Pamela PROPST Campbell: I feel that my time at Ellis was a great chapter of my life. I would do it again in a heartbeat, although I do think I would find the academics much more difficult now! My children are great, no real changes there. Son Jay and his wife, Gina, live in Villanova, PA. Jay is a pollster working for Peter Hart Research. Daughter Karin is the curator of contemporary art at the Joslyn Museum in Omaha, NE. We’ll visit her for Thanksgiving. Lucia SPINELLI Celedonia lives in Mobile, AL with her husband Richard, but they do visit Pittsburgh to see her brother Bill and his family. Gretchen CUPP: From Ellis days onward I have enjoyed writing; words are my friends. These days I write grants for the nonprofits on whose boards I sit. There was a lot of discussion about Ms. Hickman during our reunion in October; some loved her and some loathed her. I was in the former category, although her scorn could wither anyone. One phrase I particularly
remember was an admonition about “glittering generalizations” in a paper of mine. I had the chance to use that once when evaluating a student’s writing, and I felt her looking over my shoulder approvingly. I worked with her on “The Ivy,” regular English classes, and AP English senior year. She taught me a lot about writing, for which I’ll always be grateful. I suspect she had her demons, and I remember her fainting and being carried out of class while I watched from study hall. Cynthia SHERMAN Denison: To put it simply, I am very much the same person I was in 1965. After thirty years of teaching, I still love horses, art, and theater. Lindy KIRKPATRICK Dick: Besides being an Ellis alumna, college graduate, wife, mother, business owner, medical photographer, librarian with a masters in library science, and grandmother, Lindy also placed 9th in the Boston Marathon in 1999 in her age group. “Life is good.” Joan O’NEIL Dugdale: My husband Glen and I have lived in Greenville, DE since our marriage in 1966. We have two married children (Bill and Devon) and five grandchildren ages 5 to 13. Glen retired from Morgan Stanley 13 years ago, which enables us to spend time at our second home in the Turks and Caicos islands. I’m very sorry to miss our 50th! Annette HANNAH Dunkelman: If I’d had a choice, I would have graduated from Ellis, where I started in kindergarten, instead of the Master’s School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. Boarding school was like being sent to prison compared to the free childhood I spent in Pittsburgh. I remember: burning my bedroom rug up because Linda and I wanted real ashes in our Science Fair Etruscan tomb and didn’t think to use my Taylor Burner hearth; fainting on the gym mats after having blood extracted by Dr. Salk’s polio team; sticking our heads in our lockers to save us from the impending atomic bomb and getting stuck in party spider webs; getting hit by Carol’s dodge ball ASAP, so I could get out of the recess cage and play horse tag instead; chatting with Ms. Hasson at her wooden desk in front of the grand staircase at the old school; making our fair booth really look like Dimling’s Candy Shop on Walnut Street; Mrs. McVicker inspiring me to explore the world by making scrapbooks of the United States; Ms. Hickman giving me detention for laughing too much; not being able to memorize poems that don’t rhyme, and making me wear a yellow armband so I’d experience what it was like to be persecuted for your heritage. I liked singing “Sixteen Miles on the Erie Canal” and working backstage for Ms. Fell’s operettas. Mrs. Bachman and Mrs. Lieberman introduced
me to abstract art I went to Rhode Island School of Design for illustration and then California Institute of the Arts for a masters in theater, graphics, and toy design. I also became a lifetime art teacher myself, though my job differed in that it was in a large public high school. I’ve been with my illustrator, Civil War author, musician husband for almost 50 years. We have a wonderful son who, with his wife, just had a baby girl, so the generations continue. Marni MADDEN Eaton: I still live in New Hampshire, on the side of Mount Kearsarge. We own about 150 acres and are growing hay on some of it, and the rest is supporting the wildlife! My oldest son lives just down the street in my parents’ house that he and his wife have completely remodeled. They have three adorable children, ages 7, 5, and almost 3. My other son lives in town as well! My stepson just bought our other house around the corner. He will live there when he is not in Mexico. My stepdaughter lives in Presque Isle, ME. Everyone is happy, so I couldn’t ask for more! I retired from teaching 12 years ago and spend my time (after four years of working at a veterinary clinic) taking care of my husband, two cats, three dogs, and two horses, reading, quilting, and am involved with our church in various capacities. Susan DICKEY Gilmore: I am still working (Pam Campbell is, too) full time, still heading out to Wyoming a couple of times each year, and enjoying my girls and their families - Elsbeth and Jamie in California with Sam (10) and Megan (8); Carrie and Rob in Boston with Marshall (3) and Nora (2); Emma and Dave currently in Salt Lake for the year, then back to Pittsburgh in 2016!!
(L to R) Carrie GILMORE Wagner ’92, Emma GILMORE Kieran ’96, and Elsbeth GILMORE Iannone ’91 and Susan DICKEY Gilmore ’65 in Avignon
We had a terrific family trip this summer – a barge trip in France – with 14 of us (including Anne LITCHFIELD)! Susan ALLEN Hess Guttenstein: I have been so fortunate. My own trajectory is so unexpected that it is hard to describe. I did social evaluation research for quite a few years. Then, in my 40s, I went back to school, became a psychotherapist with a focus on helping people heal from trauma—usually severe childhood trauma. That I have done with great pleasure for 20 plus years. Then, to my surprise, I studied a healing approach that is spiritual at its core. I remember being flippant, if not dismissive, about spirituality for many years. Ah well, now it is at the center of my life. The 10-acre place here in Ontario is called “Strong Hollow” and is becoming a spiritual healing and retreat centre. It is a place that holds a deep stillness and it feels to me more and more as I have lived here for
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three years that nature is an active part of whatever happens here. And as I get older, I am beginning to experience an open-hearted kind of love and a deep appreciation for community. I am glad I have lived long enough for this to be true. Molly LAUFMAN Hemphill: I am still living in Washington, D.C., in a little red house on Olive Street, and I continue to teach 4th grade at the National Cathedral School (NCS). I have been at NCS since 1980, and I’ve also worked in admissions and was the interim director of the Lower School three years ago. I have two step-daughters, Sarah HEMPHILL ’84 and Alice HEMPHILL Kearney ’86. My husband, their father, died in 1992, and the girls and their families are the joys of my life. Sarah lives with her husband and three children in Newton, MA, and teaches high school biology, in Everett, MA. Alice and her husband also have three children and live in Duxbury, MA. Alice is an art therapist. Cindy McILROY Higgins: Life is good. Since our twentieth reunion, our family has expanded from five to 14. My husband, David, and I have been married 46 years and have lived in Colorado the entire time. We love it out in the West with the big skies and majestic peaks. It is the perfect setting if you love nature and outdoor sports. Our daughters are all married and each one has two children. They live in San Francisco, San Diego, and Todos Santos, Mexico. Although I only went to Ellis for four years, the education I received there has served me well and I am very glad I had that opportunity. I have many fond memories of those years. Well, maybe there were a few not-so-fond ones, like sweating over writing themes for Mrs. Hickman or getting in trouble with Mrs. Moore for skipping German class with Lisa MILLIGAN. Lynne ERICKSON Jacobs: For more than 40 years, I have been a potter. You can check out the following website: www.lynnejacobspottery.com. My son, Peter, lives in Denver with his wife and my three amazing granddaughters, Maddie, Kilian, and Delaney, who are lovely girls, bright students, and talented theater kids. My daughter, Ruth, is getting her doctorate at the University of Edinburgh in a program called Music and the Word. And my husband, Bruce, is as he says, a “forced retired airline captain” and Boeing-trained simulator instructor. Bruce, who has flown all over the world, would love to still be flying. Karen BLOCK Johnese: Actually my greatest life adventure occurred during my Ellis years,
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when I had the opportunity at age 17 to live in India for 10 weeks as an exchange student. From those experiences in India, I developed the skills to become a world traveler, a salesperson, an occupational therapy aide on a psychiatric ward, a teaching assistant in a classroom for hearing impaired children, an employee for the welfare department, received a master’s in education to teach the hearing impaired, and became a social worker. I also ran the community affairs for the Post-Gazette and helped to found a public access studio for contemporary glass art, which became The Pittsburgh Glass Center. It is now known internationally, and besides two fantastic children, is my greatest achievement. Besides business travel and grandkid time, I volunteer as an ESL instructor, serve on the board of a nonprofit working with homeless families, and help raise money at the Unitarian Church that I recently joined. This is my first-ever foray into a religion, and I am enjoying my new very liberal friends and our social justice efforts. Our comfortable home faces the prairie and backs to the foothills of the Rockies. The sun shines in Colorado a lot. Life is good. Nancy HAYES Kilgore: In 2011, I published my novel. Yay! It only took twenty years, but I did it. Ms. Hickman would have been proud. Actually, it has been Ms. Hickman’s encouraging voice that I’ve heard for so many years as I slogged along in my writing career. And ironically, after I finished the nth revision of Sea Level , I suddenly remembered that my first ambition in life, when I was at Ellis, was to be a novelist— forgotten/denied, because how impractical is that? (So I became a minister!) Adina LAMBERT: I attended Ellis for only junior and senior year, and yet I know that those 2 years had a profound effect on my life. For this I am extremely grateful. Over the years, I’ve been an elementary school teacher and, in 1993, became a licensed psychologist. I retired in 2013. We live in an apartment in Center City Philadelphia—three blocks from the Liberty Bell and within walking distance of restaurants, concerts, theatre, etc. Life in the city is wonderful. I enjoy reading, exercise (yoga), playing piano, and I am a volunteer tour guide at Philadelphia’s City Hall. My husband, Michael, and I have two daughters and five grandchildren and a house in Melbourne, FL, where I spend most of the winter. Joan SLESINGER Logghe: Michael and I have lived in New Mexico since 1976, where we’ve built our own house. We have three children and four grand kids—one a step-grandson—and our
youngest is expecting her second child. Our life has been family and these six acres, where we then built two more houses. I have worked part time teaching poetry and creative writing at UNM- Los Alamos, The Santa Fe Girls’ School, Ghost Ranch, and ArtWorks. I have been poet-in-the-schools through various programs since 1983 and have published about eight books of my own, plus countless books of student poetry. From 2010 to 2012 I was Santa Fe’s poet laureate. To read more, check out my website and blog: www.joanlogghe.com or thepoemdifferent.blogspot.com My youngest daughter, her husband, and child have moved to Pittsburgh. Leland is going to Duquesne University for a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The circle comes around. My brother, his wife, and my niece are thrilled. I love our world, poetry, friendships, and nostalgia. I think nostalgia is a Pittsburgh ailment. I tried to shuck it off, but Pittsburgh seems like a virus—so many connections. And now I have more reasons to return! Molly RUST Montgomery: My husband, Donald, and I are currently retired and offline much of the time on an island in Canada with no internet. We spend the rest of the time in Maine, FL, and Pittsburgh with our three kids, their spouses and our six grandkids. We lead a very casual life, full of family and appreciation of life’s gifts. I had a bookstore in Pittsburgh for 25 years, and we still are part-owners in a restaurant there, The Hartwood Restaurant. Donald and I have been married for 46 years, and I feel so fortunate to have met him. Ellis was my favorite school, and I did not want to go away to boarding school. I loved my classmates and most of the teachers. Kathleen CONNELLY Murphy: Understanding special geometry, perceived symbolism, and how to diagram a proper sentence were some of my best life lessons from Ellis; my future would not have been the same without them. My attending a school with required uniforms, no boys, and no school bus rides was a social blessing for me; my future would not have been the same without that simplicity and lack of distraction. Learning and socializing within a community of gentile ladies was important for my soul. Good friends were always good, even when we were bad. There were no mean girls, no bullies, no prejudicial pack-leaders. How I love you all for that. Susan NADLER: A prolific poet, who has a highly successful career in the music industry, has just made her debut in the Children and Young Adult book market with the release of
Silfa, A Fairy Tale. The book is available in paperback and eBooks, and can be purchased online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble Books and TaylorandSeale.com. Carol RANSON O’Keefe: My life has been much more exciting than I could have ever dreamed of! I loved my years at Ellis, where I could concentrate on learning and not on who was going steady with whom or what I would wear to “fit in”. I feel that I thrived in the atmosphere of “girls only” learning and will always remember my teachers there. Even though I spent sometimes four hours commuting back and forth to Ellis each day from Sewickley, it was worth it. I received my nursing degree in 1976 and have been a pediatric nurse ever since, telling people “I don’t do adults”. While in Laguna Beach, CA, I became very involved at the Presbyterian Church and started doing mission trips to Mexico and Africa in the mid-90s. The lure of going to Uganda every year on mission trips and my aging mother brought me back to Sewickley in 2004. It was wonderful to be in a fantastic, friendly neighborhood and to be involved in my church. I became head of the mission team’s health education program and taught reproductive health, postpartum care, and HIV/AIDS to men and women in Uganda who really held a lot of superstitious beliefs about these subjects. I also reconnected with Ellis classmates who lived in Pittsburgh and became an avid Steelers and Pirates fan!! Since my mother’s death in 2014, I decided to move back to California to be closer to my two granddaughters, Kaya, 6, and Layla, 4; my son, Peter, his wife, and my daughter, Elizabeth, and her fiancé in Truckee, CA. Gigi TODD Prindiville: Had a career in the travel industry in New York City before marrying and having three sons. She now has three granddaughters and a step-grandson. Gigi’s husband, Maurice, died in 2008, but she says, “I look at my life these days as seasons – some good, some bad, but they all change – and I’m now in a new and better one. I’m enjoying spending time with my grandchildren. My oldest, lives just an hour away in Rockland, ME, and my younger two live in Marblehead, MA. My youngest son, Josh, is in California pursuing his dream of breaking into the film business, and after six months of looking has finally landed his first “real” job working for a company that makes those 30-second shorts on the internet that we all love to hate before we are able to get to the main video we want to watch. Growing old is so much fun—I’ve decided I’m going to stay forever young in my mind and tell my body it needs to catch up
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down the road. (I don’t think it’s listening to me these days…) Caran FOLLANSBEE Redington: I have been living in western New York since 1980 and retired seven years ago from teaching French and German at a small inner-city school 33 miles away. I loved the experiences and loved the teaching. Retirement is now filled with family, gardening, playing the piano, walking, swimming, and reading. We are very lucky to have our daughter and son-in-law and two grandchildren 15 minutes away from us in Jamestown, NY. We also have two sons and a grandson in New Mexico. I feel very fortunate to have a close-knit family. We see a lot of each other, even the New Mexico family members, partly because of the schedule that teachers are fortunate to have. All my kids teach. My daughter is an English teacher, my eldest son teaches English and Philosophy at a charter school in Albuquerque, NM, and my youngest son teaches elementary school art in Las Cruces, NM. Sally ROHRER: I worked as a flight attendant (we were called stewardesses then) for Pan American World Airways, based in New York City. I went to Europe most of the time, traveling to London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Rome, but also to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, New Delhi, Karachi, Beirut, and Tehran. It was relatively safe in the Middle East then. I was lucky to have seen those places in peacetime. My most fulfilling occupation was as a freelance photographer in Santa Barbara, CA. I lived there for nine years after attending the Brooks Institute of Photography, graduating in 1993. I moved to Raleigh, NC, in 2005 to be with my family. I’m now employed by RTI International, interviewing people for various health studies, and I love it. Also, I volunteer for a women’s shelter. I know that our jobs don’t define who we are. However, taken in total, the point of it all was to further my education, and I think I still have so much more to learn. It all started at Ellis and with you, my fellow classmates. You are my roots. Krissy MILLER Seel: After 35 years in Indiana, Bernie and I decided that it was time to uproot and move to our beloved Tampa-St. Petersburg, FL, area. We made our vacation destination our permanent new home. So we packed up two of my looms, the dog, and way too much stuff, and headed south. We really do love it here. The winter months
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are great. We enjoy the palm trees; 360 days of sunshine; the blue, blue water; and beaches. And lots of family and friends come down to visit. A few things I’ve learned from the move: First, we really don’t need all the stuff that surrounds us. As a corollary, moving deserves its rating as one of the top five stresses anyone can face in life. We were exhausted. But on the positive side, it’s exhilarating to start one’s life over on a lark, to “just do it.” We’re glad we did. Lea HILLMAN Simonds: I am still in Pittsburgh most of the time, where I serve on the boards of the Carnegie Museums and Carnegie Mellon University, as well as some smaller arts and literary organizations. I have seven grandchildren—soon to be eight—so as often as possible, I travel to New York City and the West Coast to try to keep up with them. Linda GAISFORD Tedder: The most precious thing that I received from Ellis is the incredible value of friendship. We moved many times over the years and no matter what, it has been the old and the new friends that have seen us through. Remember all the incredible fun times we all had? I send my love to all. Nancy WANDERER: As I think about my life, one word keeps coming to mind. That word is “gratitude.” I am grateful for each twist and turn of the last 67 years. Growing up in a small town, gave me the complete freedom to play in the woods, ride bicycles all over town, and come home from school for lunch. Adding Ellis to the mix in my sophomore year made my childhood, and especially my education, complete. Gail STEWART Will: I still teach French as a substitute, which is the perfect schedule for me, and I tutor. I love to read, garden, and take classes. However, I especially enjoy visiting my kids and grandkids. Julie and husband, Mike, live in New York City, where Julie is a senior editor for Harper Collins. Andrew and his wife, Leanne, live in Weston, CT, with their three kids, Henry (5 years), Kate (3 years), and Sam (10 months). Andrew is the comptroller for X.L. Global.
Class of ’67 Markie HUNSIKER bonsaimark@yahoo.com The HUNSIKER family wishes a Happy 100 years to the fabulous Ellis School. Markie HUNSIKER continues to treasure the values that were instilled in her: the love of learning, the synergy of physical and mental exercise, and spirit.
Melissa HUNSIKER ’69 says: I am so thankful for all of my wonderful years at Ellis. I treasure the friendships and all of the amazing teachers we had. The countless memories will be with all of the Hunsiker sisters forever. “Oh, Ellis School, Fair Ellis... “ Thank you! Love, Lissie HUNSIKER Mary HUNSIKER Fritz ’73: Ellis brings back many cozy memories of feeling safe and loved….sisters everywhere and many wonderful friends who I’m still in touch with. I learned a long life lesson that a woman can do whatever she wants to do…which I share with my twin girls! Love, Mary HUNSIKER Fritz Susan HUNSIKER Howard ’75 treasures the education she received at Ellis! In particular I want to thank Mr. Guy for inspiring me in literature and writing. Ellis leaves me so many cozy memories of sitting in a classroom on a snowy day, not being able to sleep due to excitement the night before the Ellis Fair, or running to my mother at the head of the carpool lane to share with her all the treasures I had learned that day.
Class of ’68 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Elizabeth DEVITT James wrote: I am really enjoying retirement, and living in the Missouri Ozarks. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how beautiful it is here. About two acres of our property is wooded, and I’ve been building a trail, a little at a time. My husband, Dave Rumley, just finished his 4th round of cancer treatment in two years. He is feeling stronger by the day, and we hope we’ll be done with cancer for a while now. I am thrilled that my daughter Tracey and her family now live closer. They live only 85 miles away, so I get to visit often with my grandchildren, Corbin, 6, Jaeda, 4, and Evie, 6 months.
Class of ’70 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Suzanne WEINTHAL Somers: Hi! I have a couple memories for you. I remember “Suzie Ellis” at the weekly assembly. We all had to polish our shoes and look extra nice to earn the right to have her in our room for the week. I remember Ada and Miller. I remember being
in first grade at the church and moving into the new Ellis School. We were the first 1st Grade in the gray building! Yes ,lots of birthdays and cupcakes. Mrs. Moser’s fish tank full of guppies that we all got to take home at the end of third grade. Yellow and white-lined paper learning to write cursive. The Ellis Fair. Mrs. Lieberman’s art room full of her masterpieces while we did whatever we were doing. Mrs. Stolarevsky and her skirt she made out of her husband’s ties and going to Syria Mosque for the Pittsburgh Symphony concerts. And most important, Ms. Hasson. Lowrie EBBERT Reiter: I remember being in the old school on Fifth Avenue in the mid 1950’s. Over the mantlepiece in the 1st grade room, there was a painting of George Washington, who seemed to be staring right at me. It was very scary at age 6. Making a nosegay with flowers from my mother’s garden for May Day, I think this was or could have been for graduation.... But I maybe I’m wrong. For I was only 4 or 5 years old. Also, I do remember all of the classes at school being escorted to the gym, where Mrs. Moore announced JFK’s assassination. Everyone was stunned and began to cry. All of us were dismissed from school. It was a very sad day for our school community.
(L to R) Elizabeth DEVITT James ’68 with Corbin (6), her son-in-law, Jaeda (4), and her daughter, Tracey, with Evie (6 mos.) on a camping trip in Arkansas.
Ann COHEN: I remember “Oliver Twist” and how much fun it was to produce. I remember Dr. Feingold and going through sex education classes. I remember how regal and dignified Helen Moore was and how unbelievably kind and without judgment Claire Hasson was. I remember Sara Hickman until the day she died. Until then, we had continued to correspond and she continued to inspire me. I remember finding every excuse to cut gym whenever I had cramps, but I ended up loving the sports at Ellis and Ms. Harrison. I remember eating as many cookies as I could at recess and bringing all my mother’s quarters for Rice Krispies Treats. I remember a small dinner at Francoise McCREARY’s home for senior French class following the murders at Kent State. We all wept. I wore a black armband at graduation because we were a nation with blood on our hands [from the shootings at] Kent State and the Vietnam War, and wearing that white dress didn’t acknowledge anything about the world that we were going into. It was a comingof-age and I felt that we couldn’t ignore the world and the world would not let us ignore it— even though it seemed Ellis didn’t want to deal
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in the world and wanted to remain a protected cocoon. Despite all that, I learned how to use my voice and my brain and to care deeply about many in my school world. Michelle GIRTS: I remember being in the audience for Greek tragedy plays—so fine to see what we were reading about in dramatic form! And I enjoyed the talented dancers we had in our class and the two above us. I remember long lunches and reading in the library, because the library was such a comfortable place to explore. I remember reviewing chemistry for hours with Mrs. Malter, who – bless her heart – was willing to put in lots of 1-on-1 time to help me get through the class, since I had missed three months due to mono as a junior. No question, Ellis teachers care and put in the extra effort! That formed the basis for my scientific career, although I didn’t know it then. I remember damaging the door of my mother’s car right by the teacher’s break room, trying to negotiate the angles behind the school in order to get into student parking—providing some comic/tragic relief, no doubt. I remember reading the great poetry that classmates wrote for our various “extra” publications. I can’t remember the newspaper names, but they were fun to publish. I remember juggling Russian with Spanish and French—and always finding the right word in the wrong language when called upon! I remember marveling at how my math teacher, Mary Oliver, could make trigonometry interesting, and my European history teacher focused on causative forces, not just dates and people—which has forever framed my way of seeing the world. I remember the friendship of Susan FRYMIRE McKay, with whom I visited to participate in some event, and commuting to Shady Side Academy with her for the first coeducational class offered, which I think was music appreciation; and Parie MILLER Duggan’s kindness as a mentor or whatever they were called during my first days on campus. I remember Liz SUCCOP Altman’s always humble, gentle sense of humor—refreshing in the competitive environment. I remember laughing with Fran CREO in French class—she always had amusing stories, with an international setting. I remember going riding with Peta WYLLIE, such a natural with horses; and visiting Princeton with Kathy McMORRAN Murray—so impressed with her study discipline, but found out that she had fun, too….
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I remember Andrea HAIRSTON’s elaborate doodles, her multicolored macramé creations that were so finely woven, and singing songs while she played her guitar—“listen to this one.” I remember Susie GILBERT Tabor, also one of the gentle spirits with a fine, wry sense of humor that would surprise in the midst of a serious moment—just the relief that was needed. For some reason, I remember the Saturday morning we took SATs. It was cool and sunny, with summer in the air—like a promise of things to come. I could remember more, but that’s all for now.
Class of ’71 Meryl RECTANUS Thomas ptaqueen@hotmail.com Meryl RECTANUS Thomas: I was only an Ellis student for three years, but I have some fond memories for sure. The first is the times spent with classmate Betsy HAVERSTICK Pugh and Jane McGOUGH Chaney ‘70. The trip to Washington, D.C., will always be in memory—I didn’t know you could do so much in such a short time! I had never had such small class sizes, so that is memorable. Also, the memory of everything Ellis offered was amazing—silver class, mythology, etc. A wonderful 3 years— thank you, Ellis!!
Class of ’74 Sally CONEY Price sallyprice10@gmail.com I received lots of newsy emails this year from the Class of 1974, many of whom reported being in touch with fellow classmates and other Ellis alumnae. Tinky FRANCOMBE continues to amaze with her musical and literary talents. In June, she celebrated the release of a new book, published by W.W. Norton, to coincide with the Bicentennial of Waterloo. According to Tinky, The Sage of Waterloo has “some unusual rabbit philosophy, interspersed with history.” Tinky still lives in Brussels and has stayed in touch with Louise ARNHEIM, who is in the Washington D.C., area. To learn more about her music, check out: www.leonafrancombe.com. Midge GOLDSMITH Palley sent an update from Singapore during a Far East trip that included a week in Myanmar, just after the country’s elections. She said she’s been in touch with Devon GAFFNEY Cross, Carey SCHACH North, and Marcy CONNELLY Gookin, and saw Peggy MALLINGER Haynes in Pittsburgh during a visit in September. Midge is still living in
London and still working in the arts. She is currently chair of the Tate Gallery’s Patrons, and has stayed involved in art education projects both at the National Portrait Gallery in London and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Last year, she curated a show on artists’ response to war and conflict ,called “CONFLICT: Art and War” at the Contemporary Art Society in London. Her older two boys live in New York City and her youngest is in his second year at Penn. As for me, I moved to Spring Island, SC, in May—a beautiful spot between Beaufort, SC, and Savannah, GA. I am still working full time at my public policy consulting business, but I do so from an office overlooking three miles of marshland, so I’m not complaining. My work takes me fairly regularly to New York, where my daughter is living, and to Washington, D.C., where my son lives, so it all balances out quite nicely. To our mutual surprise, Annette GANASSI and I discovered that we will be neighbors in South Carolina. Though still in Pittsburgh for now, she and her husband own property and a dock in Beaufort, SC, and plan to build their home there. What an unexpected place to find an Ellis classmate! Ronnie ROCHER Schmerling, also in Pittsburgh, wrote that she became a grandmother for the second time in September and loves all the fun and games of grandparenting. She has seen Karen KRIEGER ’75 many times, and the two of them had lunch together with Judy COHEN Callomon ’54 this summer. My last note came from Peggy MALLINGER Haynes. Peggy has been the enrollment manager for Cheley Colorado Camps for the past three years. She and her husband live at the camp in Estes Park, CO, from mid-May to mid-September and in Monument, CO, the rest of the year. Their oldest son (26) works at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, and their youngest (24) has gone back to school. Peggy had recently connected with many Ellis alumnae including Linda APTER Mates, Marcy CONNELLY Gookin, Andrea ROBINSON Ross ’75, Midge GOLDSMITH Palley, Judy AARON Penner ’78, Susie AARON ’76, and Barb AARON Rosston ’80. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2016 for the Class of 1974 and another successful 100 years for Ellis!
Class of ’76 Nancy McALLISTER nmcallister@thebenjaminschool.org Christine BALDWIN Williams: I have so many fun and fond memories of Ellis. From Mrs.
Wenneker directing us in the freshmen play, “Lysistrata,” (a little scandalous, but such fun!) to Mrs. Baker pushing us just a little more in P.E. (crazy, scary doing gymnastics for the first time in 9th grade!) And field hockey! What was that sport? A sport I grew to love; to finding my voice in Glee Club concerts and stretching (literally) in Mini Courses like Yoga with Pam KLINE’s mom and playing bridge in the science lab with Mrs. Malter. So many fun assemblies, too. Senior year brought great privileges, like the senior corner and patio area in the library. (Mrs. Jones was ever ready to help too.) The seniors vs. faculty hockey game at the crack of dawn in our pajamas was fun, feeling like such a grown-up and made me realize graduation was coming too soon. Our field trip to D.C. with Melinda MOLYNEAUX Edwards still in curlers on the bus ride down. I mean a girl has to look good in our nation’s capital! And there was always kind Ms. Hasson there to help. She was our lifeline to the outside world from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.! She knew the answer to everything. She was our Google! Working on yearbook was such an honor, and I still enjoy looking back at them. I still have my spring uniform that I had everybody sign. Lots of good memories, but probably my favorites were made outside the classroom, just sitting in the hallway that was the gateway to all points: the office, teachers’ lounge (what did they talk about in there, and did they eat lunch like we did?), cafeteria, and auditorium, back out to the front one way, and the library and lab to the left, and lockers and classrooms and the walkway to the gym to the right. I loved all the windows, which let in so much light, and the ledge we sat on. All passed by, sometimes joining in, as we talked and laughed and laughed some more. We had silly jokes and teased each other. A little singing, a little dancing, and did I mention laughing? We just had a lot to say! And four years went by so quickly! Before we knew it, there we were in our long white dresses and pretty white hats. Such an accomplishment and such an honor. Four wonderful years of making great friendships, learning amazing things, growing intellectually, emotionally, and socially, and being nurtured by great teachers and supportive staff and administrators like Ms. Jacobs, Mrs. Koch, Mrs. Wenneker and Mrs. Callomon. A once in a lifetime experience that I will always be grateful for and remember fondly. Thank you, Ellis! Happy 100th!
A fun Thanksgiving with 27 McAllisters: (L to R) Susan McALLISTER ’81, Maeve McALLISTER ’14, Grace McALLISTER ’08, Nancy McALLISTER ’76, Jamie McALLISTER ’96, Margaret McAllister’85 and Jenna McALLISTER Gannon ’99.
Nancy McALLISTER: My two favorite teachers far and above were Mrs. Ceil Lieberman and Mrs. Thompson. Ceil was this super-cool, very petite, always tan artist/teacher. She lived in Squirrel Hill and they had a place in Puerto Vallarta. She loved Mexico. I was invited over a couple of
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times to their Squirrel Hill house. Her husband was lovely, and Ceil had a studio that felt like being in a tree house. Her work was fantastic, vibrant, and mostly abstract. She was a great jewelry designer as well, and I took her course in jewelry, too. My father would get the silver bill and cringe! She was a one-of-a-kind teacher. Demanding, a bit feisty, and she instilled a love of art in me. Mrs. Thompson was very laid back. She used to sit at the edge of her desk to teach our class. She was so exciting to listen to and, while I didn’t particularly love history, she made me work harder than I might have with another teacher. I really learned how to write a paper from her. She also had at least two sons, and they would visit from time to time. They were cute!! He he... I also remember that one of the things we used to do was sit on the window ledges that covered the heaters. Of course our backs were freezing on the cold glass, but our fannies were warm.
Class of ’77 Jean ROMUALDI Bongiovanni jeanbongiovanni@howardhanna.com I remember Mrs. McVicker, our Middle School math teacher, would recite the story of Tikki Tikki Tembo to us when we had a few minutes at the end of class. Also, I have fond memories of playing field hockey in the morning, smelling the macaroons that the Nabisco Company was baking. That smell still brings me back to Mrs. Vassar’s gym classes!
Deborah CHAPMAN Edwards ’81 and Denise CHAPMAN Martinez ’80
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Jenny HOUSTON wrote: Some people can look you in the eye and know just how you are faring—Ms. Hasson had that in spades. In my many memories of Ellis, I think of Claire Hasson as the anchor and the head of our wellbeing. Others worried about our academic progress or fund raised to build new labs, but Ms. Hasson worried about how you were actually doing. If you forgot your lunch, she’d give you money that you would pay back. She knew when you were really sick and needed to go home right away, or you’d be ok in the infirmary for a while, or you should return to class and stick it out there. She was there late when it was snowing hard and everyone had already gone, and I was still waiting. And when I was old enough to drive, she would send me home early when the snow looked threatening, as I had a longer commute to Rosslyn Farms. She watched us grow and approved. She was always there and had our back. She was marvelous.
Class of ’79 Annamaria FATO annafato@yahoo.com Anna FATO: I will share my memory of two teachers, Mrs. Massey in math and Mrs. Callomon in history class. Arriving at Ellis as a scholarship student in 9th grade, from a public grade school, I was not at all prepared for the rigorous curriculum, especially math and science. I went to Mrs. Massey after the very first “D” in my life, and she helped me to understand what the correct answers should have been, and why. At the end of our meeting, she drew a line through the middle of the “D” and told me, “Don’t worry, Anna, you have just earned an A.” Mrs. Callomon, without me asking for it, came up to me after one of our first papers was assigned and whispered in my ear, “Don’t worry about the deadline. Take as long as you need to finish this project.” Of course, I handed it in on time, I felt so motivated. The teachers made Ellis so very special to me, as well as my lifelong Ellis friends who continue to come visit me here in Zurich each year! Meg HARDON: I think my fondest memory of Ellis is acting in a one-act play with Liz MITINGER Locke. It was called “Still Life,” and Mrs. Wenneker cast Liz and me as the leads in this farce after we auditioned together and our chemistry was hard to resist. We were jealous lovers (of course, Liz got to play the femme fatale and I had to play the jealous man.) We were such good friends that it was easy and funny to act these roles, but at the same time very hard to keep from cracking up on stage— particularly when the audience was howling. In fact, I remember Kenwyn HEIM McGowan and Anna FATO laughing harder than anyone else during our performance and for weeks afterward, you two asked me to say repeatedly, “I’ll murder you. I’ll murder you, yet!” This was when my character thought Liz’s character was unfaithful. I remember it all to this day and, generally quiet, Headmistress, Ms. Jacobs came to us after the play to say she had never laughed more in her life! Fun, fun, fun.
Class of ’81 Deborah CHAPMAN Edwards Deborah.Edwards@bnymellon.com Elizabeth JOHNSON Barnes writes, “Life is good! James and I will celebrate our 28th anniversary this year. After graduating from Duke and serving two years as a Teach for America corps member, my daughter, Sarah BARNES ’08, joined Goldman Sachs in New York City. My son, Jerome, graduated from
Washington University in St. Louis and works with Doorways to Dreams Fund in Boston. Jerome is also a recording artist, songwriter, and producer (artist name: Rome Alexander). My son, Justin, is a junior at DePauw University, as well as a professional DJ and music producer. I enjoyed careers in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors, but am now relishing my retirement (lots of travel and riding horses and my Harley)! My work as a private mathematics teacher and tutor also keeps me busy.” Deborah CHAPMAN Edwards: The great thing about being an “urban nomad” is sharing experiences with family and friends. I recently returned to Egypt and gave my sister, Denise CHAPMAN ’80, the whirlwind tour of Cairo, Hurghada, and Aswan. We then headed over to Dubai to catch a comedy show featuring Dave Chappelle and Trevor Noah. It was quite an experience to sit behind the royal family and strangely be connected by American comedic humor. Big news about my daughter Charniece EDWARDS ’12 is that she will graduate from Howard University in May 2016. Alainna EDWARDS ’13 plans to grow her lifestyle YouTube channel from the current 42,000 subscribers and continue her studies as a senior at George Washington University. My son, Brandon, continues to find joy in expressing himself through music, acting, and contemporary art.
Class of ’82 Sarah PETTENGILL Hart sarahphart@earthlink.net Happy 100th birthday to Ellis! It was great to hear from some of our classmates. Jane LOVE McGraw wrote with an update: “Jay and I have Janie graduating from Wake Forest this year; Libby a sophomore at Georgetown; and Virginia a senior in High School. We are almost empty nesters!” Jane remembered being part of the lacrosse team with wooden sticks and field hockey uniforms, and Mrs. Vasser leading the charge as coach. She said, “We were very good and had a lot of fun! Maybe it was the first lacrosse at Ellis... but not sure?? Sure felt that way!” Allison DAVENPORT Simmons wrote: “I’ve been living in Los Angeles for the past 20+ years... gulp. My two wonderful sons, Christopher, and Cameron, are active in sports (basketball and baseball) and are in 10th and 8th grades, respectively. My husband and I are both in the television business. I’m a development executive at Black Entertainment Television, and my husband works in the feature story department at Warner Bros. I have many
wonderful memories of Ellis, but one of my favorites is taking Mrs. Wenneker’s AP Art History class. She was such an amazing teacher! It was one of my favorite classes, so much so that I ended up majoring in art history at Princeton. Wishing everyone from the class of ‘82 all the best!” It was great to hear from Frances DESMONE, who recently moved back to Pittsburgh. She said, “I moved back to Pittsburgh three years ago after many decades in Massachusetts. It’s good to be home, as much as I miss the sea. It’s an hour more daylight, believe it or not. My favorite Ellis trip would be a toss-up between our ski trip to Seven Springs and the Shakespeare Festival in Canada. Did anyone ever sleep on those trips? Bus rides, tons of food, out roaming around. Most of my memories are when we were getting into trouble for something or another. I realized how lucky we were to be exposed to so many experiences as kids. I really do like theater in the round. One of my favorite teachers was Mrs. Vasser. I learned a lot about dedication and teamwork from her that has sustained me over the years. I learned Tai qi in gym when she came back from China which affected me greatly. I’ve since gone on to get my masters in acupuncture from the New England School of Acupuncture in Watertown, MA. I practiced on Martha’s Vineyard for 10 years before moving to Pittsburgh. I’ve been working at MageeWomens Hospital for over two-and-a-half years. I’ve just launched my private practice, Navigating Wellness, LLC, teaching self-care, natural first aid, and acupuncture.”
James Barnes (husband), Justin & Jerome (sons), Sarah BARNES ’08 daughter, and Elizabeth JOHNSON Barnes ‘81 in Puerto Vallarta
Eileen WALSH Matthews wrote with an update: “Brian and I have been in Atlanta for 20 years now. Our son Brian is 13 (where did the time go?), I am now freelancing as a media buyer after running the media broadcast department with the same company for 16 years. Our company merged with another large media company that eventually closed down the Atlanta office. The bright side of that was no more 2+ hour commutes (Atlanta traffic is hell on earth) and I now get to spend more time with our son. I also got back into tennis big time, and that has been great. I was back in Pittsburgh for my dad’s funeral in September and drove by Ellis. WOW is all I can say, but as I drove by, all those wonderful memories came back to me. In my mind, I could still see the little gray house that once was the Lower School. So many good friendships and great memories from Ellis.” I got a nice message on Facebook from Laura McSHANE who said, “I have been working at University of California Santa Cruz for 15 years now—time really flies! I’m the graduate
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student adviser for the Music Department. I’m also the operations manager for the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony, and an orchestral percussionist who does a lot of classical and musical theater performances in the Bay Area. Still a spinster (Ha! There’s a word you don’t hear much these days!), but I’m celebrating my first anniversary with a great guy, so who knows? I live in Santa Cruz with my cat, Dixie, who is the apple of my eye. I haven’t been in touch with too many other alumnae, except on Facebook, but I have been able to get together with Wendy REMPEL Loreti when I’m back in the ‘Burgh. Coming up on my five-year diagnosis of breast cancer, and I still seem to be cancer-free, so that’s cool. Ellis memories: Lots of great teachers, like Mr. Miller, Mrs. Malter, Mrs. Callomon. There was the time I sang a slightly racy song for the senior talent show, and Headmistress Mrs. Koch was so disappointed in me, she wouldn’t look at me for the rest of the day! The class trip to Stratford, Ontario, to see Shakespeare plays. People were up in arms because the school said we couldn’t wear jeans on the trip. There was that theater of the absurd show put on by Wendy and Alex FISHER, and of course, the Jenneker productions. And one time, Carol KENYON and I, in our senior year, actually left school one afternoon (gasp!) to go and see a movie that was a Blue Lagoon rip-off. Good times!” My sister, Nancy PETTENGILL Bushnell ‘77, and I were talking about Ellis memories and we both had the same one from the Lower School—playing the jumping game during recess with Mrs. Francombe. We also talked about the 8th grade operettas—hers was “H.M.S. Pinafore” and ours was “The Mikado” Black Entertainment Television,—Mrs. Stolarevsky did love her Gilbert and Sullivan! In the upper school, we remembered how cool it was to go to senior coffee and have the senior corner in the library with Mrs. Jones. I really enjoyed everyone’s memories—the school trips and Mrs. Vasser seem to have made the biggest impression on our class. I also look forward to hearing from the rest of the class in the next few years! Here is to the next 100 years for Ellis!
Class of ’83 Lauren THOMPSON lthompson@bbdconsulting.rocks For this Centennial Issue, special memories of our time at Ellis were contributed. One of mine was the Winterim class I had with Mr. Miller in which we read Charles Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby and watched the movie. It was great fun—made even more special when we turned
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over the directions for our final written exam only to find the paper said, “There will be no final exam for this class!” I also loved that we actually got in the fountain at Point State Park for one of our senior class pictures. The friendships I made at Ellis were invaluable to me—in fact, I was ecstatic to celebrate my milestone birthday this year in Las Vegas in October with Carrie LEVINE Schiff and a large group of friends. And I visit Claire HANDLEY Stevens ’84 in London as regularly as I can. Heather BERSCHLING Levitt says her funniest memories were of the trip to Stratford. She adds, “I also remember the etiquette presentation/class we had in Middle School— how to walk up/down stairs, how to shake hands properly and cross your ankles; what a riot! And, of course, how in 5th grade all of us were secretly reading and passing along Judy Blume’s book Forever.” Heather’s most meaningful memory was “when we were in Physics—Mr. Walker asked me to visit the 2nd grade to talk about how you can make a magnet produce electricity. I’m not sure how I made it manageable for them, but what sticks in my mind is what a boost of self-confidence it gave me—knowing that he selected me to do it, and that this was one of my earliest memories of public speaking. I did it in front of Molly LAUFMAN Hemphill ’65, who was one of my favorite teachers. I was nervous to do it but it all worked out great—and I was very proud of myself for doing it.” Bianca FALBO observes, “The best life lesson Ellis taught me was about being a lifelong learner. From my teachers, I learned to be intellectually curious, to not be afraid of making mistakes, how to learn from those mistakes, and that education should take a person out of her comfort zone. These are the values I try to pass along to my undergraduate students now.” Carrie LEVINE Schiff contributes, “My favorite subject was Mrs. Callomon’s Senior Seminar. In-class essays and a paper due every week for the teacher who always expected excellence and never gave a free pass made the class challenging. Senior Seminar was special because spending those hours in the Gallery with my favorite teacher and friends that I had known forever in one of our last classes together capped my time at Ellis in a way that went far beyond what we learned.” Susan SLATER Ellenberg writes this update: “Enjoying serving in public office, looking for further avenues to advance education policy! Had a wonderful reunion with Hope WEDEMEYER Salzer, who is also a public education advocate, and hoping to work with her in the near future.”
Anne ALTER: One of my fondest Ellis memories is Freshman Initiation. My big sister, Mary Lou FOLEY ’81, draped me in a bed sheet, handed me a tub of margarine, and pinned a sign on me, which read, “It’s not nice to fool...Mother Nature!” Does anyone remember that commercial? Initiation—so silly—and so much fun.
Class of ’85 Ann CANCILLA Gaudino ann.gaudino@yahoo.com Louise MITINGER shares: I draw on my Ellis education every day in one way or another. Having some background knowledge and appreciation of my students’ cultures from Mrs. Callomon’s and Mrs. Newham’s classes and an understanding of my own country’s political system from Mrs. Thompson’s classes has helped me immeasurably in this career. I remember Mr. Miller’s dedication to give up his lunch break to teach us Paradise Lost. My sisters and I are so grateful that our parents valued our education so much that they took up the challenge of a long daily commute to get us to and from Ellis every day. Gecole HARLEY writes: My junior year of college, I enrolled in a foreign exchange program in Spain. I lived with a family, and one afternoon my Spanish sister knocked at my bedroom door and said that she thought my sister from the United States was on the phone, but she couldn’t be sure because of the language difference. I was confused and then worried. It was a time when the cost of overseas phone calls was high, and besides, a phone call from my sister could only be terrible news.
coffee; Mini Courses; France; 8th grade operetta; debate assembly; Upper School freshman orientation. Susan DAVENPORT Austin recounted the infamous Stratford trip: The chaperones would not let us leave our rooms and had to hire a guard to keep an eye on all of us. One of my roommates wanted to call home and we convinced her that reading from the Bible would be better. Of course, most of us no longer had Bibles in our rooms. As such, I had to leave the room to go to another room to get a bible. Mrs. Koch immediately came up to me to remind me that we were not allowed to leave our rooms. When I explained that I simply wanted to go get a Bible, she was, of course, speechless and beyond apologetic. Barclay KRAFT Stone writes: Most of my memories were from Lower School—Ms. Molly LAUFMAN Hemphill ’65, Mrs. Susan SAYERS Crane ’55, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. Huff. The School’s 60th Anniversary in 1976 was a big one for me and our 4th grade Christmas play in which Jessica WILK was Santa!! The rest of us sang “We are Santa’s Elves, filling Santa’s shelves with a toy for each girl and boy, oh we are Santa’s Elves!” We did a lot of awesome things in 3rd grade: wrote and colored a cookbook (still have mine!) and learned how to make shoe-fly pie and dried apples. I also loved dressing up as Laura Ingalls. The 8th Grade operetta was really fun, too. Joy AMMER Irwin added: I sure couldn’t sing, but the 8th grade operetta was a lot of fun! I think I was a sailor.
“At Ellis.”
Ann CANCILLA Gaudino: I was a “lifer” at Ellis, attending from kindergarten through 12th grade and have so many memories. My favorite memory is the simple joy of playing in the kindergarten playground that was in the side yard of the Arbuthnot house. It was filled with trees, bushes, grass, and flowers. In the center, there was a large, old weeping willow tree that blossomed beautifully in the spring and adorned the slides, swings and see-saws with flowers. It always felt like the most beautiful, peaceful place on earth to be a child.
(It might surprise students now to know that there was a public telephone booth at Ellis.... before there were cell phones.)
Class of ’87
My sister, Ginnae HARLEY ’88, spoke in a hushed voice that was barely audible over the scratchy phone line. “Where are you?” I asked, noticing that it was the middle of the afternoon in the United States.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, thinking the worst. “I can’t decide whether to go to Cornell or UVA...” My sweet sister made a call from the telephone booth at Ellis to ask me my opinion about her college selection. We laugh about it now, but at the time, it felt like life and death. Rhianna Elizabeth WIGGINS reminisces about her favorite things: senior cut day; senior
Weez Kay CHILDS Woodside weezkay@aol.com Weez Kay CHILDS Woodside: When I started thinking about my memories of my time at Ellis, the first things that came to mind were all of the plays that I had the pleasure of performing in, beginning with my role as the butterfly in “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” in kindergarten. All of the plays in Lower
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Maggie DAUER Marquette ’90 holding the Flat Stanley that Tracey JACOB Rizzo’s ’90 daughter, Rymer, mailed to her from Florida.
School were based upon literature including “The Pet Show,” “The Golden Goose,” “Mary Poppins,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Alice in Wonderland”. I will never forget my entrance as Scrooge during our final performance for the whole school. There was such a roar of applause that I had to wait what seemed like minutes before I could deliver my first line. What a thrill!
poorly written they were unreadable, even to our 16- and 17-year-old minds. I think Miss Greco even unassigned them and we spent the rest of the Mini Course discussing the merits of the Western canon novels that we had read earlier in the year. (Ms. Greco probably spent the rest of the summer basking in her success at having molded so many young and discriminating minds!)”
In Middle School, there was “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and our 8th grade operetta, “Finian’s Rainbow” in which I had the female lead of Sharon McLonergan. I had dreamed of starring in the operetta ever since seeing my first one in 4th grade.
Amy SUCCOP Millin began to realize that attending Ellis was a “privilege and not an option for most.” She wrote of Ellis’ impact on her “understanding and commitment to community service and inclusivity work. Much of this learning was done under the guidance of Ms. George, and my work with Guild would set the course for my professional and personal life. I also spent every free minute in the gym or on the athletic field. I have strong memories of grabbing a jelly sandwich and running to the gym to shoot hoops during lunch and then slipping into my next class just as the door was closing. Just as much time was spent on the field hockey and lacrosse fields. These athletic experiences strongly influenced my life, as I went on to play college sports and now coach girls’ high school basketball and lacrosse.”
I also thought of the two teachers that made me want to be a teacher, Mrs. Susan SAYERS Crane ’55 and Mrs. Jenkins. I loved all of the pioneer literature in 3rd grade, especially the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I even found out that I shared Laura’s birthday, Feb. 7! Mrs. Crane was kind to me and understood my life in a single-parent household, since she was raising her girls as well. Mrs. Jenkins was strict, but I never doubted her concern for me, and I was so well prepared for 5th grade. Losing these two great ladies in the last year or so has been difficult. I recently contacted our Lower School gym teacher, Mrs. Francombe, via email to tell her how much I enjoyed the “jumping game” at recess. She would swing a rope with a rubber ring at the end and see who could jump without hitting the ring. Our reward for winning was simply to tie up the rope and carry it inside for next time and the pride of accomplishment. She is now 92 and living with her daughter in Belgium. Martha RUNNETTE’s best memory was Ms. Palermo’s 5th grade music class. “We were all taught a song that had soprano-alto harmony, and one by one, she asked us to come up and sing the melody on our own while she played the piano. When my turn came, I timidly asked if I could sing the harmony part, and she said, ‘Yes.’ I’m not sure if I even sang loud enough for her to hear, but I remember that being the first time I sang by myself with others watching/listening. I recently joined a ‘rock choir’ in Denver and all the great memories of choir performances and special shows we did in Middle School came right back. Ms. Palermo will always be one of my favorite teachers for her passion and love—for music and for us.” Kate KRIZAN remembers a Mini Course on romance novels that Ms. Greco offered junior year. “We all thought it was hysterical and couldn’t wait to read Danielle Steele books for credit. Then we got to class and started reading the books—they were TERRIBLE! So
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Class of ’90 Alissa MANCUSO Poole alissampoole@verizon.net Many of us were sorry to miss our 25th reunion but enjoy staying in touch through Facebook. Risha SHETTY has been in Hong Kong for seven years and plans to stay at least a few more. “The kids are doing great and loving living in Asia. It’s been a crazy adventure that we don’t want to stop.” “I was sad to miss our reunion,” wrote Erika FARRELL Phenner from Chicago. She is busy with Will (6) and Harrison (4), who are “dedicated Steelers fans like their mom.” Erika returned to work this year as the photography director for Douglas Elliman and is training to become a cycle instructor. Eden BADERTSCHER moved to Amherst, NH, but continues to telecommute for her Bostonbased job. Her son is in a mixed age 3- to 6-year-old Waldorf kindergarten, and Catie is at Amherst Middle, where she plays field hockey and will be captain of the NH Champs team next year. “I found out that I carry the CHK2 gene for breast cancer, and for any of you who know my family history, you will not be surprised that I opted to quickly have a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy, which I was getting ready for right at reunion time. My recovery is going well and I definitely made the
right decision.” Kristen BELZ Ornato was celebrating her anniversary during reunion weekend. She works for KidsVoice in Pittsburgh, where she provides legal support to children outside of their child welfare case and works with Cate RICKARD Axtman ‘89. Kristen has a 1st-grade daughter and a “very active almost- 3-year-old.” Also in Pittsburgh, Tammy YONAS Williams accepted a new job as an emergency nurse at Shadyside Hospital this year. She and Mike will celebrate 20 years in May and stay busy with David (16), Danny (15), and Tori (13). Amy HAMMERSCHMIDT Oliver is home with Matthew (5) and Emma (3) and “loving all our adventures together.” She is still singing with Bella Voci, a community-based intergenerational women’s choir, which recently recorded a Christmas music CD and has a busy concert schedule this year. Wendy YODER Beach remains outside D.C. in Takoma Park, MD, with “Brian (13-year anniversary this year) and two girls, Carmella (9) and Zoe (5). I’m working as director, brand marketing, at Choice Hotels. Life is good!”
Michele MAVISSAKALIAN moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan with her husband, Joe Bakhash, and son, Noah (4), in August 2015. She recently launched Angel Films, a production company “focusing on corporate communication, primarily training videos and recruiting videos so it’s a perfect blend of my recruiting expertise and my love of storytelling that was launched at Ellis and inspired by Mr. Altman, who I will always regard as the reason I love the theatre.” Michele was featured in a U.S. News & World Report article offering tips on salary negotiation to first-time job seekers. In Chicago, Jo LANG Kim is “still busy with work (directing perinatal mood disorders services for a local health system) and keeping up with my brood of martial artists/musicians/ artists/skiers/climbers—now ages 11, 9, and 5. Dabbling in a little writing on the side and feeling grateful for all the good writing skills I learned at Ellis.” Courtney RATNER Grote accepted a job with the North American retail division at Amazon this year. She continues to love Seattle and is “so fortunate to be surrounded by my family, which has fully migrated here from Pittsburgh.” Willow is in 6th grade, and Sam is in 3rd. In Philadelphia, Corinna BURNS is “still scrapping as a theatre maker, which continues to mean working a series of odd jobs to earn my keep.” She is excited that the text
of a solo theatre piece she created about 18 months ago, called “Internet Stalker,” will be published in the next issue of the literary journal Hotel Amerika. Cara CONNOLLY Carpien is in Winston-Salem, NC. She returned to work this year as a part-time RN in a medical plaza and floats between nine different clinics. She has twins in 4th grade, a 2nd grader, and a 4-year-old. “I am still looking for my groove with work and all the kids’ activities, but I enjoy being back in the workforce.” In Florida, Tracey JACOBS Rizzo is busy with her three daughters and their travel soccer schedules. “We traveled this past summer to watch the Women’s World Cup and saw the U.S. play.”
Will Poole, Ryan (11) and Kelly (8), and Alyssa MANCUSO Poole ’90
Allison COBB Hussey is enjoying island life in Hilton Head, SC, where she stays busy with her real estate business and her kids, George (9), and Charlotte (8). “Funny that the royals, Kate and William, copied our names and in the same order.” Allison caught up with Megan McTURK Lemieux last spring when Megan was in town for spring break. “It was so fun to catch up! We hadn’t seen each other in about 30 years.” Our Leslies – Leslie BYERS-Tarlo and Leslie PAIK – wrote to say they had nothing new to report. “I’m enjoying having a ‘boring, peaceful’ life,” said Leslie BYERS -Tarlo from Pittsburgh. “If anyone is in New York, let me know,” wrote Leslie PAIK. From Alissa MANCUSO Poole – Will and I celebrated our 15th anniversary with a trip to Cancun in November. Ryan (11) started middle school this year and is busy with sports and homework. Kelly (8) is in 3rd grade and loves gymnastics and all things animals, including our 2-year-old beagle. I’m writing for freelance clients (I’m forever grateful for the amazing skills I learned at Ellis) and volunteering with PTA and Girl Scouts. Have a great year!
Class of ’92 Marni McCHESNEY Mohr marnimohr@gmail.com Roberta SENATORE writes about Ellis memories this way: “Everyone is going to say green sheets, but also... the baked potato bar! And the unusually friendly campus squirrels!” Marni McCHESNEY Mohr: Gosh, when I think of Ellis, so many things come to mind. I think of green and white and how after wearing those colors for 13 years in a row, I’m hesitant to wear them in combination again. Thankfully, the school where my kids attend (and my
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husband’s alma mater) has green and white as their colors and a Wildcat as their mascot, so I feel right at home. When I think of Ellis, I think of growing lima bean sprouts in kindergarten and having friends try to convince me that a Ho-Ho was actually a beehive. I remember learning how to write in Ms. Wilson’s class, how tough Mrs. Jenkins’ class was, and getting the chance to sing a solo in the 4th grade play. I remember Mrs. Francombe walking around the playground each and every day and working so hard to be able to get all the way across the rainbow shaped bars. And lots and lots of kickball and “Red Rover.” Mrs. Crane and her nurturing spirit and love for her students truly stands out when I think of my Lower School years.
Alex SINGER McKim ’94, Liam, and Drew biking in the Netherlands.
Carter, Jay, Emily HOWSON Broadbent ’94, and Cora at Wrightsville Beach, NC.
When I think of the awkward years of Middle School, I think about how Ellis was an amazing cocoon to go through the teenager and preteen years. Being surrounded by girls and ripping out pleats in our uniforms, under which we wore boxers, was a great way to focus on our education and not all the other things that can dominate a preteen and teenager’s thoughts. I think about looking at all of the neat rocks, like mica in science; dissecting frogs; and Mr. Walker blowing my mind explaining the concept of “light years” and how the light we see from stars may have already extinguished. Then there were operettas after operettas... Ms. Palermo’s way of showing her love, attention, passion, and dedication for music and us girls. Mrs. Vassar teaching us yoga and meditation—so ahead of her time. Then there are the Upper School years, where teachers like Mrs. Free and Ms. Greco taught us to read critically and write, write, write, and write even more. I developed my love for “ious” words studying with Ms. Greco for the SATs. I still love to use words like nefarious, pugnacious, and obsequious. Mrs. Thompson kept us in check and taught us the terror of using Carmex. My A P Physics class had just 3 people in it, and I can clearly remember Mr. Walker teaching us about vacuums. Then there was freshman initiation where I was pulled out of my AP Physics class to quickly learn Kenny Roger’s “The Gambler” which after being dressed like Dolly Parton I was shoved on to stage and forced to sing in front of the entire Upper School. Thank goodness Sarah MIDDLETON and Erin TESONE were by my side. “The Gambler” is one of the songs that I sing to my kids at night, because I can still remember every word. I can still smell the art rooms—the paint, the clay, the paper mache. I can still smell the fresh-cut grass on the playing field. I loved
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playing sports at Ellis, loved “game day,” and loved the opportunity to play with such enthusiastic coaches and smaller teams, which meant we got great individualized attention and more playing time. So many things to love and remember about Ellis— some of my oldest and dearest friends are those from Ellis. I think about Judy Callomon and what an incredible teacher, head of school, and woman she was when I was there. She brought AP Comparative Government to light for me. She made it interesting and told us stories with such wonderful color and background, the facts and information were seared into your mind. She helped foster and develop a love and interest in the world outside of our own—the past, the history, other cultures. I truly believe that her ability to reach us and teach us about different countries and parts of the world are one of the main reasons I was interested in applying to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. I thought she was a fantastic teacher and I learned a great deal from her, but beyond that, she was an incredible person to me. She was able to look at me and just KNOW when something was going on, when I was going through a tough time, or that something wasn’t right, and she cared enough to check in and talk to me. She asked the tough questions. Those abilities are qualities and skills that I will always admire and respect, and ones that I hope to have and be able to do for others. It’s that kind of nurturing, that kind of caring coupled with rigorous education, that I think of when I think of Ellis. Teachers were focused on what was important and taught us to push ourselves, question things, think critically, and stand confidently as a woman and as a person—that one’s focus should be on “to be, rather than to seem.” Proud to be an Ellis lifer!
Class of ’94 Melissa POLACHECK Filipovic m.polachek@gmail.com Emily HOWSON Broadbent writes: “My son, Carter, just started his freshman year at Allegheny College. My daughter, Cora, will be two in March. I am loving being a stay-at-home mom, while doing some volunteer work for HEARTH, an organization that helps homeless single moms and their children get back on their feet. And I actually ran into Sarah BARENSFELD Rizk where our kids take swim lessons. I recognized her right away. Looks exactly the same as she did 25 years ago!” Alyssa BURRELL Cowan reports: “We recently completed an 11-month renovation of our house that required us to move out temporarily, so we are very, very happy to be
settled back in again. Annie is in 2nd grade at St. Edmund’s, and Liam is in kindergarten. They are loving school. Both kids played soccer this fall. Annie continues to be an enthusiastic Irish dancer. I’m still working as a legal trainer for the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network. We’re looking forward to a trip to Sweden this winter.” Alex SINGER McKim has been busy this fall with work and her sons’ soccer. This past August, her family went to the Netherlands. Biking was one of their favorite parts of the trip! It has been a busy year for my family, too. Will turned 2 years old in July and started school at Mt. Lebanon Montessori this fall. He’s really enjoying it. We’ve enjoyed some play dates with Sarah BARENSFELD Rizk and her girls. I’m still involved with animal rescues in my free time. Will participated in his first rescue when we pulled a boxer from a Beaver, PA, animal shelter and drove him to meet his new home in New Stanton. We’ve also enjoyed some traveling to Northern California, the Jersey Shore, and Nevada. We’re looking forward to seeing the Rockettes next month in New York City!
Class of ’96 Kathleen GRIFFIN Borgstrom katie.arrott@gmail.com Emma GILMORE Kieran: Lower School - getting ready every year for the holiday play. Middle School - play sports against other schools for the first time. Upper School - late night Glee Club rehearsals and long bus rides for away games. Leslie ROBINSON and I agreed that our favorite memory from school was the Mini Course trip to Italy during our senior year with Robin Newham and Rick Walker. It was an incredible trip with a really fun group of Ellis girls.
Class of ’97 Tomar BROWN tomarbrown@gmail.com I am humbled to have had the opportunity to read and reflect upon the memories of my classmates for this historic issue! When we were in Middle School, the Class of 1997 was one of the largest Middle School classes Ellis had ever had—I think there were 50 of us! Our homeroom teachers, Ms. Okonak, Ms. Boag, and Ms. Schultz were exceedingly patient with us as we moved through those middle school years. Rachael KAGHIN-SHIELDS’ memory of
swinging on the swing set by the art rooms with Elizabeth HOOVER and Emily BOAG Bongiovanni captures the wonder of those years perfectly. My own Ellis memories are numerous and fond. I remember visiting Ellis for a day in the first grade and Maria VONDAS Connelly and Danielle BELLOWS showing me around. I remember singing with the sisters, cousins, and aunts in our 8th grade operetta, “H.M.S. Pinafore”. I loved that the Middle School teachers would sing a song from that year’s operetta, dedicated to the students, during the 8th grade graduation. Erika JEFFERSON’s daughter AJ is a 2nd grader at Ellis. Erika writes, “It is so much fun to see life and Ellis through her eyes. It’s great to see some of the same faculty and also fellow alumnae on campus. I get to bother Whitney OKANAK Sunday ’98 on a regular basis and bump into Sarah ALTMAN Bumsted ’95 and Amy MacKay Larsen ’95 frequently. It’s such a special experience to be on campus, continuing to connect with Ellis women across the generations.” Heather HANCHAK Moss writes that what she remembers most is the family-like and supportive atmosphere at Ellis. “I will always remember Dr. Bedell and our freshman year, when we had our first archaeological dig.” I, too, remember participating in the dig, alongside Alicia EBBITT McGill and Linnea SOSKE Kuberry. It was such a remarkable experience! Erika JEFFERSON relayed similar feelings about our incredible education. She said, “I often reflect on the academic and intellectual foundation that was laid during my time at Ellis. Ellis taught me how to learn. That probably sounds simple; but knowing how to acquire, process, analyze, and utilize new information in an expeditious manner has significantly shaped my career and my approach to life. This skill is the primary reason that I have chosen Ellis as the academic institution to educate my daughter. Ellis educates women in a way that allows us to educate ourselves for the rest of our lives.”
Heidi HOLZAPFEL ’97, Danielle BELLOWS ’97, and Meredith MENDELSON ’97
“For me,” Heather HANCHAK Moss continues, “the unique support I received while I was running track at Ellis and representing Ellis all over the country and world was unbelievable, and I am so thankful.” She shared with me her memory of several students, fans, and friends making silk-screened Ellis T-shirts in Ms. Newham’s art class. The cheering section came out to support her wearing “Go, Heather!” Ellis shirts. Allie LEE shared with me memories of her
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adventures in hair color during high school. “I remember that, despite our uniforms, there was plenty of space to be off-the-wall, to be creative and expressive. I do remember Mrs. Judith COHEN Callomon ‘54 watching me walk into school with the new bright red or bleached hair, with a look of patient humor on her face...Ellis was great at making me feel like all options were open to me—in hair color or otherwise.”
Nicole TAKAHASHI Dolan ’98 with her twins, Lucas and Joyce.
Heidi HOLZAPFEL reflects, “The connotations of being an Ellis Girl have shifted over time for me. When I was in college, it meant not being hesitant to offer my opinion. Just after college, it meant having already cultivated leadership and teamwork skills. As I progressed into my professional life, the confidence that had been instilled in me by the greats like Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Judith COHEN Callomon ‘54 blossomed and became part of my identity. More recently, while completing my MBA and becoming an entrepreneur, all of these honed traits pulled together to help me to become very successful in business as well as life. I wouldn’t trade my Ellis Girl badge for anything! Except maybe a lifetime supply of Squibbs…” “I have many great memories of my days in an Ellis tunic (and later, a kilt and blazer),” writes Marsha BROWN. “I enjoyed the Green and White games, Mini Courses, and hanging out in the sophomore and senior lounges (as juniors we had the carrels, but we were essentially, for all intents and purposes, homeless). Ultimately, though, I think the most valuable things I gained from my Ellis experience were what I learned about myself and about life. Mrs. Thompson said it best one semester, when she wrote in my interim comments, ‘Marsha continues to march to the beat of her own drummer.’ Although she may have been a bit frustrated by my antics, I believe my independent spirit was embraced by Mrs. Thompson and many others at Ellis, including Mrs. Judith COHEN Callomon ‘54, who pulled me into her office at least once a week during my sophomore year. By being given the right balance of encouragement and guidance from the faculty and staff at Ellis, I was allowed to develop a unique identity as a determined and ambitious young woman. I also developed a strong independence and a belief that I could achieve great things in life, provided that I worked hard.” Rachel KOTYS Kemrer remembers her bold decision to come to Ellis for just one year…her senior year! “It was my favorite year of school ever! The women in my class were gracious and kind…the teachers were inspiring, and I started learning how to be comfortable being myself.” Heather HANCHAK Moss agrees. “I
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tell everyone I that I am who I am as a result of the experiences I was fortunate to have while attending Ellis throughout Upper School.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Happy 100th birthday, Ellis!! We were so blessed to grow up with you.
Class of ’98 Kate POLACHEK Ciarimboli kpolachek@gmail.com Nicole TAKAHASHI Dolan wrote in to share some Ellis memories and update us on her family: “Happy Birthday, Ellis! With 13 years of memories to pick from, it’s hard to narrow them down. The ones that stand out the most are the teachers. One of my most memorable teachers was Ms. Grimes. I had her for 7th grade math, and she just had so much zany energy. She had an imaginary friend named Bradley. Any time the door swung open on its own, she would say “Hi, Bradley!” in the middle of her lesson. And she’d give us Bradley’s Brain Busters for extra credit. I think I did them all even though I didn’t need the points because they were that much fun. And I still sometimes sing the “Magic Number 9” song she taught us. Even after I graduated, I still kept in touch with Mr. (Tall/Science/Mark) Walker up to his passing. I remember that in 9th grade, he seemed terrifying. I think one of my classmates even dropped Physics, deciding to take it later when she could “handle” him. Unfortunately for Mr. Walker, a senior spilled one of his secrets, letting us know that he was “meanest” to his favorite students. And that’s when I realized it was all an act and that he was actually a pretty big softy. But the act got the job done. If I hear anyone say something like “heat rises” or “cold travels along the rod” or talks about centrifugal force, I immediately cringe and think, “Oh, they just failed Mr. Walker’s class.” Back in the present, Lucas and Joyce turned 2 this past November. They’ve been busy going to Story Time, learning sign language (for fun), going to the zoo, being Phil and Lil from “Rugrats” for Halloween, and going on a trip to a Japanese house and garden to get in touch with their roots.” Rachel EKSTROM Courage shared, “I’m delighted to be living in Pittsburgh, though I’m back in New York frequently on business. I’m a literary agent and founder of Littsburgh, a new community and resource for writers, readers, and publishing professionals with strong Pittsburgh ties, and I’d love to get together with my fellow Ellisians to talk about books and life and reminisce about daily snack time!” Tamar Krishnamurti Glass just sent notes
- “Paul and Teddy and I are doing well, still living in Highland Park, and expecting a new addition (a baby boy) to our family in mid-March! Work (and play) keeps us all busy. Paul works for a startup that makes gecko-inspired adhesives, and I continue on at Carnegie Mellon University as an assistant professor working on medical decisionmaking research and have been traveling to Africa to do fieldwork on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV. Teddy is a total riot and keeps us all laughing. I love seeing Ellis alumnae whenever I can—I’m just thrilled that Rachel EKSTROM Courage and her husband moved back to the ‘burgh. And I had lunch with Dara HALL Mendez last Friday—it was the highlight of my week! “ I, Kate POLACHEK Ciarimboli, have had a fun-filled year squeezing in as many travel adventures with my family as possible. We took our usual trips out to the West Coast, shared some beach time with more family in Stone Harbor, and took a great New England road trip. On our New England trip, we sought out some really fine swimming holes, from a few favorite ocean beaches, to a rocky river in Vermont, and the gorgeous Newfound Lake in New Hampshire. My daughters, Juliette and Annabel, are still raving about their first canoe adventure on the lake. This fall, we welcomed a sweet boy, Rudyard Basil, into our family. Juliette and Annabel were delighted to be a part of the homebirth and can’t get enough of their new little brother.
Class of ’99 Alicia KACHMAR aliciakachmar@gmail.com Sarah JORDAN Rosenson: It was an exciting fall for my family as my daughter, Molly, officially became an Ellis girl! She is in kindergarten and loving every day. She’s also very excited about getting to wear a uniform every day.
Class of ’00 Courtney SYSKOWSKI courtneysyskowski@gmail.com Hello all, and congratulations to Ellis on 100 years! I heard from a couple of classmates who haven’t written in some time. What a treat! Dana PRUSZYNSKI keeps busy by managing Hepatica florist in the Regent Square area of Pittsburgh. Hepatica, a woman-owned business in its 33rd year of operation, works within a wide variety of floral realms, such as day-to-day arrangements, weddings,
mitzvahs, showers, and holiday décor. “Every floral project is custom-designed for each client and their individual order. I love that my work includes such attention to detail and creative brainstorming. It’s very satisfying and very unique work.” Some of Dana’s favorite activities at the shop include ordering weekly flowers from Holland and orchestrating floral plans for weddings. “Collaboration is a big part of our team’s creative process, so I feel in my element when I get to take an idea and transform it into something tangible and lovely.” When she’s not directing floral event installations, she enjoys visiting with Katy SWARTZ Kurd, Erin MEADE, Julie TROMPETER Taub, and Lily BONGA ‘02. Nicole VELEZ writes: I am excited to be back in Pittsburgh after finishing my residency and fellowship in Boston, MA, and Providence, RI. I’m working as a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in private practice. My husband, Alec Templeton, is originally from Annapolis, MD, and is an architect with AE7 in the Strip District. We had a baby boy in February 2015, Oliver Templeton, and it’s been more fun than we could have imagined. It’s so nice to have family nearby.
Lauren FISCHER Schultz ’00 and family
Katy SWARTZ Kurd sent us a photo from early September in Cape May, NJ, “Where a few of us had a little reunion of our own! We all traveled to the shore to have a girls’ weekend, some coming from as far away as Santa Fe, NM, and London, England! It was a blast!” Great photo, ladies—so glad that you were able to make it happen! Fifteen years seems like only a few minutes, right? Sarah McNEIL writes: “I officially settled into California life this year as an Oakland homeowner, literally two blocks away from Marley ORR Reilly ’00 and her husband, Gabe. I’m still working at the county hospital, teaching family medicine residents and delivering babies. I also run TEACH, the Bay Area abortion-training program, which keeps me pretty busy. My sister, Emily McNEIL Moylan ‘02, moved back to Australia last summer; she and her husband, Andrew, are expecting their first baby in December, and I can’t wait to be an aunt!”
Gabe Reilly, Marley ORR Reilly ’00, and Sarah McNEIL ’00 on a hike in the Berkeley hills.
Here’s one we haven’t heard from in a while! Lauren FISCHER Schultz writes: I am in Chicagoland— the Western Suburbs to be specific. I work for McDonald’s Corporation on the Menu Innovation Marketing Team; basically, I do new product /platform development for McDonald’s USA. Currently working on a very big initiative called ‘Chef Crafted,’ which is a new premium menu at McDonald’s where customers get to choose their ‘curated recipe,’ then protein, then bun.
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Nicole VELEZ ’00, Melissa RAIMONDO Morris ’00, Erin MEADE ’00, Gretchen STICKLE Simon ’00, Rebecca MAGYAT ’00, Katy SWARTZ Kurd ’00, and Tricia STALEY ’00.
Promising so far and will likely get rolled out nationwide next year. Never thought I would be doing this, but I love my job. I have two kids now: Mary (2-and-a-half) and Bobby (10 mos.). Total bundles of joy. On the side, I am big runner (have four marathons under my belt and am hoping to do Pittsburgh in May), I am a passionate cook, a wine aficionado (or just drink it heavily), and I blog about all of the above.” A couple more tidbits I’ve picked up along the way: Abby SADOWSKY Bolton and her husband welcomed a baby boy, Bear, in October. Mom and baby are doing well! Rachel GORDON is finishing up dermatology residency at MD Anderson/UT Houston and is looking for a job. She’ll probably stay in Texas, but is thinking about the Burgh too. I bet Nicole would love to have a fellow Ellis dermatologist around! I am still in Chicago, and have transitioned roles within Political Science at Northwestern University so that I’m doing the overall department management as well as working with graduate students. It has certainly kept me busy! Moved very close to Wrigley Field this summer, which has been fun. Our dog, Peanut, enjoys the many snacks left behind by the passing crowds! Best wishes to all, and here’s to Ellis’ next 100 years!
Class of ’01 Shira TOEPLITZ Center ShiraT@gmail.com Jessica BENN Hortman is in her 10th year in education, primarily teaching mathematics. She was inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for Key Women Educators last spring. She is also a mother to a kindergartener and a preschooler. Anne CLARK is working toward licensure in architecture and landscape architecture and currently living in Los Angeles. She is missing Pittsburgh and scheming ways to get back permanently. (She adds: “Send all job offers to my Gmail.) Heather GREEN Skurek and her husband welcomed a baby girl, Claire, to the world on Nov. 16. They are happy in Columbus, OH, where Heather has started a wine consultant business.
Courtney SYSKOWSKI ’00 and her boyfriend, Craig, enjoying Chicago’s lakefront.
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Lauren INDOVINA, based in New York City, will continue her career as a director for film and television in Los Angeles for production studio PSYOP in 2016. This year, Lauren was featured in an art publication and became a member of the
Directors Guild of America. She is currently working with J.K. Rowling and completed a 20-foot tall dinosaur for Rowling’s “Imaginary Friend” exhibit. She learned the craft of creating huge things under the divine tutelage of the amazing Belle Moldovan, Linda Tonetti Dugan, Robin Newham, and Ceil Sturdevant. The sculpture will be displayed at the V&A Museum in London in 2016. Lauren caught up with successful 01’ alumnae, Jeanette NERI Quinlan, Frances CHEEVER, Stephanie BROFF, Dorothy HOOVER, Cristine DAVIS, Sparky BOOKER, Whitney PATROSS, and Sophie KLAHR, with whom she continues to collaborate with including a film called “Prolific” for women’s rights, which Lauren directed and Sophie wrote the spoken poem for. Lauren’s parents, Joe and Susan, are great. They will move to Ellsworth Avenue in what Lauren calls an “architectural retirement home thing.” Cheers to the city of Pittsburgh for blooming and inspiring. Natalie FONG enjoys working as a freelance camera assistant and still photographer in Los Angeles, CA. Her work varies, mostly between music videos, movies, commercials, and television. She also continues to work with children with autism. Sophie KLAHR’s first collection of poetry, Meet Me Here at Dawn, is forthcoming from YesYes Books in 2016. She is employed as a private literary manager for an artist, but also keeps a toe in the music business. If you want to find her, look in Los Angeles or Brooklyn. Whitney PATROSS followed her job out to San Francisco in October 2015 and is excited to explore the West Coast. She misses living in D.C. with Meghan NIGBOROWICZ, but is happy to be close to Francie CHEEVER and Jeanette NERI Quinlan, who know all the best Steeler bars in the Bay Area. Shira TOEPLITZ Center and her husband, Eli, have settled into their new home in Boston. She enjoys her new job as political editor at The Boston Globe, where she helps coordinate the news organization’s 2016 elections coverage. She especially enjoys Boston’s accessible and diverse arts scene, including the palatial Museum of Fine Arts. She’ll happily go with any Ellisian who comes to the Hub. Kat WANG is engaged to be married this summer with Anne CLARK by her side as maid of honor. Her fiancé, Dan, is regrettably a Patriots fan. They will continue to reside in neutral territory (Chicago) until opportunities beckon them to Pittsburgh. Suggestions welcome. Morgan ZIPF-Meister is living in Brooklyn with
her husband, Kent. She works for the School of Visual Arts and has returned to the theater as well. Earlier this year, she was nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Lighting Design and had the opportunity to travel to Detroit with a show she directed and was acting in.
Class of ’02 Kiely LEWANDOWSKI kiely.lewandowski@gmail.com Lily BONGA: I received the flyer asking to write something about memories or nostalgic times at Ellis. At Ellis, I first stepped into a darkroom, learned to draw a still life, throw a pot, mountain bike, and excavate an archeological site. Here I am, 13 years later, working abroad as an archaeological artist, mountain biking around and still maintaining the friendships I made in Upper School. Sure, college and graduate school helped me develop the interests and strengths, but they began at Ellis. And I even managed to learn a foreign language. Thanks, Ellis! Nell COX Yates: The moment that really defines the learning that I had at Ellis was my senior year, when as an advanced ceramics class, we participated in wood firing at the Center for the Arts. This very physical and long firing process is one that is rare for a ceramicist, let alone Upper School seniors. But Ceil Sturdevent was determined to give us a hands-on learning environment that went beyond the studio. Working all night long, we camped out by the kiln, stoking it and prepping the wood. I remember peeking in through the peep hole to see my piece ablaze in hot white flames. This was when I knew ceramics was what I wanted to do with my life. The fire was burning in the kiln and inside of me. Today, I work as a ceramic artist and teach high school students in Los Angeles, CA. The work I did in the studio at Ellis not only taught me what it meant to be a learner, but also a creative thinker, an artist, and a teacher. Julia TOAL: I had performed dance routines for many an Ellis assembly throughout the years, but the one that most stands out was one I performed senior year. It was a modern dance choreographed to Sarah McLachlan’s “Hold On.” It wasn’t a classical dance; it was raw, and vulnerable. I was nervous to share myself like this with my community. But afterwards, I received such an outpouring of love and support and respect for my craft. A teacher left a note in my locker that said, “The most beautiful dance I’ve ever seen.” I was blown away! I realize now what a safe space Ellis was. A space where you could freely
express yourself and your ideas, and where people not only accepted raw vulnerability, but applauded it. Ellis provided a safe holding space for me to express my emotions, and now, as an art therapist working with adults with schizophrenia, I try to recreate that same feeling of safety in the art therapy studio, so that others can do the same.
Class of ’04 Lorrie KIGER lorraine.kiger@gmail.com This past year has flown by so quickly! I survived the long hours and steep learning curve of my intern year as a pediatric resident physician at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. My husband and I certainly enjoy having a little more free time during my second year to explore the new restaurants popping up all over Pittsburgh. We played on a kickball team this fall and just started our indoor field hockey season with Steel Styx.
Dana PRUSZYNSKI ’00
I was excited to hear from several of my classmates this fall. I’ve included their notes below: Yvette CENDES recently sent an update: “I am very busy in Amsterdam writing my PhD thesis in radio astronomy, which I plan to submit mid-2016. When not analyzing radio signals from the stars, I write astronomy articles that have appeared in Astronomy and Discover magazines (if anyone is really curious- http://discovermagazine.com/2015/ june/14-anomaly-from-above).” About Ellis, she remarks, “It always amazes me to think how I still remember all the words to the Frank Sinatra songs from our 7th grade concert, ‘Lucky in the Rain,’ the Macbeth soliloquies from 9th grade English, and countless others. I also remember the school song, but my mind will always slide down the scale on the words ‘together’ and ‘treasure’ out of solidarity for petty rebellion.”
Heather GREEN Skurek ’01 with her husband Ben and their new daughter, Claire.
Yana CHUDNOVSKY Warshafsky writes, “I’m still working for the Pennsylvania attorney general’s office. Mike and I are excited to be welcoming a baby boy at the end of January. I think my favorite Ellis memory was our trip to Chesapeake Bay in 8th grade. Mrs. Leigh Ann Shaver and Mr. Gregg Stone were the best!” Tanya RYZIK Portny writes, “I’m currently in my 5th year working at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School MBA program office as the data analyst. I’m taking advantage of the classes available to me and doing some Java programming through the university. I also became certified in Les Mills Bodypump and have been instructing fitness classes at
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Class of 2005 at Niagra Falls in 2004. Back Row: (L to R) Rachel GRUBBS, Kaitlyn HELLNER-BURRIS, and Emily ATKINSON. Front Row: (L to R) Samantha PASTRICK and Jessica BOPP.
Drexel University since the summer. I recently celebrated one year of marriage (this past August) with my husband, Brian. It’s been a great year, but certainly included some adjustments, since he is in law school. Life in Philadelphia has been wonderful! I’m not sure I can name a funniest Ellis memory; there were many! I do remember sitting in the lunchroom laughing over something silly with Yana, Hannah, and Addie... I lifted my head as I laughed, and when I brought my head back down, I knocked my face off of a Sprite can and split my lip! We continued to laugh and ran to the bathroom. I have several favorite teachers, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Yam, Ms. S. Sturdevant, Mr. Zedolik, Dr. Bedell, and Mrs. Newham. Mostly because of their great personalities, but also because of how much they taught me! Crime and Punishment was pretty good, it was in Mr. Z’s class, and you know how dynamic he made a book! Also because of its association with my Russian background. My favorite place was probably the clay room. That’s where I first learned spinning and have really loved it ever since!” Gorana SMAILAGIC Kolar moved to Chicago last year, where she is working at the University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. At the Polsky Center, Gorana supports entrepreneurship efforts across campus by empowering students and researchers to test the commercial potential of their ideas. Although Chicago is no Pittsburgh, Gorana is grateful that it is centrally located, which allows her and her husband to frequently visit family and friends in Pittsburgh and beyond. Her favorite Ellis class was Dr. Free’s English class, because she had the ability to take us back in time and make us feel and understand the context of the stories and novels we were studying. Anne THIBADEAU Greene is an attorney in Pittsburgh and on June 23 had a son named Wylie. “I really loved the focus on writing and literature offered at Ellis. When I was traveling abroad during college and law school, I was always able to find a library (or beg my mom to mail me books) and feel very connected to home.” I’ve also seen a few other classmates in the last few months.
2005 Graduates: Jessica BOPP, Emily ATKINSON, Kaitlyn HELLNER-BURRIS, Rachel GRUBBS, Samantha PASTRICK, and Jennifer PARET.
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Brett and I (Lorrie KIGER) traveled with Kate ROBB to Dallas for Katie GRUNST Vining’s farmhouse wedding in June, where I had a chance to catch up with Farial AWAN. She loves living in Los Angeles, where she works in public relations. In October, I ran into Katherine WALTER and her sister, Kristen WALTER Sobel ‘05, on Walnut Street. Katherine currently lives in Chicago and recently traveled to Thailand.
She is busy planning her upcoming wedding. Katherine LINZER’s favorite Ellis memory was visiting pen pals in West Virginia in 4th grade. She is still living in Chicago and working for McKinsey in healthcare, with a focus in Medicaid innovation. She had some local Ellis sightings this year, including Gorana SMAILAGIC Kolar and Neeta KANNAN ’05. She is traveling to India during winter break to be a bridesmaid in her friend’s wedding in Bombay. Lizzy DeVITA writes, “I just graduated from the Yale School of Art in May with an MFA in sculpture. I’m currently living and working as an artist in Brooklyn, and have a solo show forthcoming in February at The Chimney in Bushwick.” Meagan KRUMAN writes, “Some of my favorite memories during my 13 years at Ellis: playing “Oregon Trail”, Laura Ingalls Wilder Day, the Lower School Halloween Parade, Heritage Day, Library Class, the 7th grade Williamsburg trip, the archaeological dig, playing field hockey, and the homecoming dances. I’m sure there are many things I’ve left out, but these are always the first things that come to mind when I try to explain Ellis to other people. Of course, my friends from Ellis have remained some of the most important people in my life, and it always surprises others how close we still are. Even if it’s a random email or phone call, staying in touch has never been difficult, and it’s always easy to pick up where we left off. Currently, I am living in San Francisco. California is beautiful, and I love having friends visit—most recently I saw Gorana SMAILAGIC Kolar and Brittnee WALKER. Always happy to see more friends when you’re on the West Coast! Whenever I’m back home, however, I try to stop by and say hi to the amazing faculty that I still keep in touch with.” As for my own fondest Ellis memories: I will never forget checking out Eric Carle’s “The Tiny Seed” from the Lower School library every week, laughing hysterically as Mrs. Lamonde jumped from the 1st grade classroom window onto the roof to retrieve a frisbee, or wearing the fabulous costume my mom made for my part as Turkey Lurkey in the 2nd grade class play. Mrs. Mauch inspired her 3rd graders to love Western Pennsylvania history; Mrs. Shaver and Dr. Free honed our writing and analytical skills. Under the tutelage of Dr. Jordan, Ms. Lynch, and Mrs. Friedman, I developed a passion for both the Latin language and science, an unlikely combination. As Mrs. Kozusko often would remind our field hockey team during practice, “This ain’t no rinky dink day school!” Ellis is much more than a school. It is a mindset.
Class of ’05 Adrienne ATTERBERRY atterberrya@gmail.com Katie HELLNER-BURRIS Boatright continues to enjoy life in Northwest P A . She and her husband, Cory, reside in Grove City, PA, and are now a proud aunt and uncle to Ryan Douglas Becker born November 8, 2015. Katie recently changed jobs and now works as an associate veterinarian at Butler Veterinary Associates in small-animal general practice and emergency medicine. Katie looks back fondly on her time at Ellis. She enjoyed acting in the winter plays under Mr. Altman, including “The Museum,” “The Crucible,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Women.” Despite long nights of studying, which sometimes ended in delirious tears or laughter, Ellis provided Katie with lifelong friendships. It was at Ellis that she met her best friend, who would stand by her as maid of honor on her wedding day. Katie enjoyed attending the Class of 2005’s 10th year reunion in October 2015 and showing her husband what being an Ellis girl was all about—mostly food, of course. She looks forward to the next reunion and hopes even more of the class can attend!
Class of ’06 Molly ONUFER m.e.onufer@gmail.com Carolina VELEZ: After graduating from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan, I worked at a corporate law firm in midtown for a year. However, I am pleased to announce that I am now working at Microsoft as an advocacy manager and could not be more thrilled! The role ties together my legal background, mediation work, and research in decision science. The job is as a point person between the clients and the technical side, mediating escalations and contract disputes. I started this past July and am so happy to be with this company, where there are so many opportunities! This year I was able to visit Jane SCHMIDLAPP in Hermosa Beach, CA, Britnai NUNLEY in Charlotte, NC, Rachel ROSS in Seattle, WA and see Kate MASON perform at the Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin, TX. Paulette CUTRUZZULA is very excited to announce that she and Geoffrey Dreher got married Dec. 6, 2014. We had a terrific reception at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial in Pittsburgh. Paulette also said that she is currently in her third year of medical school in Philadelphia. Geoffrey graduated medical school in the spring and is currently doing his
residency at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
Class of ’08 Alessandra HARTKOPF sandra.hartkopf@gmail.com Leela CHENGAPPA: The best life lesson I learned at Ellis is that women are amazing. I went out into the big, bad world thinking women held an equal place in the workforce. I quickly learned differently. Knowing the importance of women has taken me far and I do my best to spread this lesson in any way that I can. Never underestimate the power of a good group of girlfriends! Simone COSTA: Ellis does traditions very well. I remember the grade-specific activities from Middle School (E^3, the Medieval Fair, the influenza unit, the 8th grade debate) fondly, as well as morning assemblies during senior year, when girls would announce where their friends had been accepted to college. Finally, graduation, after 13 years at Ellis, was so momentous (the hats!). Sandra HARTKOPF: When I think about my childhood, Ellis plays a prominent role in my happiest moments and some of my strongest friendships. Ellis served as my home away from home. No community has ever felt as nurturing and enlightening as Ellis was for me. I’m so thankful to Ellis for providing me with the strength to be myself and with unbreakable bonds. Sarah KUNKA: I remember attending a few Upper School classes as a prospective student. As soon as I saw the enthusiastic teachers, the interesting courses, the small class sizes, and (most importantly) a group of young women who were confident and fully engaged in learning, I knew that Ellis was where I belonged.
Lesley KIGER ’06 and Holland BANSE ’06 and Genny Kozusko doing what she does best!
Bo LEBOW: The best life lesson that Ellis gave to me was to never be afraid to ask questions and speak up for what you believe in. I attended a large college after graduating from Ellis, and I never feared sitting in the front row of a 300-person lecture and raising my hand to ask a question. I allowed the knowledge gained to trump any embarrassment I might have felt from doing so. THANK YOU, ELLIS! Courtney LESOON: I can’t think of one particular moment that defined my time at Ellis. I just remember feeling fundamentally changed by my experience there. AP Art History was my favorite class and inspired me to study the history of art in college and graduate school. Without Ellis, my life would be profoundly different.
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Zoe LI: One of the best feelings was walking into Ms. Sturdevant’s room whether it was for class, for some of the best mentoring and conversations I’ve ever had, or to simply sit with all the art on the wall and get inspired. I now live within walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so that’s become my new sanctuary, but it is still Ms. Sturdevant’s energy and voice that I think of.
2011 WPIAL Field Hockey Champs
Samantha SCHOPPER: When you’ve known a group of girls as long as we’ve known each other, it’s hard to pick just one memory. But senior year is the most memorable for me. Senior prom, our trip to Stratford, senior prank day, and ALL of the smiles along the way are what I remember most when I reflect on my time spent at Ellis. Here’s to 100 more years, Ellis!
Class of ’12 Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU kaloyeropoulou@gmail.com “The activity that best represents my time at Ellis,” writes Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU, “was Laura Ingalls Wilder Day in the 3rd grade. My mother painstakingly sewed me my very own pioneer dress, complete with a red bonnet. We went to Mrs. Mazur’s classroom and danced a jig and ate venison stew. But then the next year, my friend in the grade below me asked to borrow my dress, and a tradition was born. Once I started the 5th grade, Mrs. Mazur let me come back as an ‘expert’ on Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a student every year borrowed my pioneer dress. By 9th grade, I was a student helper in the 3rd grade classroom a few times a week. And those connections between the students in different divisions and my time in the 3rd grade classroom are what I look so fondly back on during my time at Ellis.“ Justine KANDRA: One of my most memorable experiences was being backstage before an Ellis production. The excitement was palpable in the costume and makeup rooms downstairs (or maybe that was all the hairspray). Weeks of rehearsal had led up to these moments, and although I may have been nervous, it was reassuring to be surrounded by wonderful friends who supported each other through it all. 2012 Lifers (Front to back): Maria MONGELLUZZO, Mallory THOMAS, Miranda COOPER, Cristina WURZER, Jennifer ODLE, Mary HAZLETT, Anna Maria SICENICA, Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU, Elena AMBROSINO, Abby MAXWELL, Allison BENNETT, and Charniece EDWARDS
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Abby MAXWELL: My happiest memory of my time at Ellis was my junior year, when the varsity field hockey team beat our rival, Shady Side Academy in the playoff semifinals. They were ranked #1 and we were #4, but Coach K always told us, “On any given day, any team can beat any team.” I’ll never forget how the whole school came out to support us that night under the lights on Shady Side’s field. We went on to
win the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship (against a team with five boys on it) and made it to the first round of states. I’ll always be grateful to Coach K for what she taught me during my four years playing for her. Jennifer ODLE: One of my favorite things was playing with the “bug” on the playground in Lower School. We pretended it was an airplane or a bus going somewhere far away. Another favorite memory is when we went on the trip to Linsly Outdoor Center in 5th grade. We stayed in bunk beds, made applesauce, and learned origami. It was a really beautiful time of the year. It was our first big trip together as a class. Tvisi RAVI: Classes, friends, and clubs—they were all very important to my Ellis experience. But perhaps where I had the most fun was on stage. I spent many evenings rehearsing for the next Ellis show. I was generally a quiet person, but the stage allowed me to be someone else for a while. Some of my most memorable times at Ellis were the few minutes before a show begins. Everyone’s getting dressed—putting on wigs, getting their makeup done. Just before the show starts, everyone in the show gathers around in a circle. The actors, the stage crew, the director- we are filled with energy and emotion. I was always nervous beyond belief, but so incredibly excited. It’s certainly a feeling I will never forget.
Class of ’13 A class correspondent is needed! Please volunteer to keep your class connected by contacting the Office of Alumnae Affairs at 412-661-6796 or alumnae@theellisschool.org. Lucille CRELLI sent an email: “My favorite memories were anything involving the Visual Arts Department! Mrs. Moldovan and Mrs. Sturdevant really helped me shape who I am as a person now, and I am really grateful.” Lucy just finished her third year at Rhode Island School of Design.
HER VOICE
will always be heard.
HER INDIVIDUALISM will always be respected.
HER TALENTS
will always be nurtured.
HER DREAMS
will always be celebrated.
HER SPIRIT
will never be stifled.
MILESTONES (L to R) Julianne CUTRUZZULA Beil ’03, Andrea CUTRUZZULA Gorney ’02, Paulette CUTRUZZULA Dreher ’06, the bride, Holland BANSE ’06, and Lesley KIGER ’06.
(L to R) Kaitlin CLARK ’05, the bride, Lauren FREY ’05, and her sister, Kristen FREY Knepp ’03.
Marriages
New Arrivals
Katherine GRUNST ’04 to Jason Vining on May 30, 2015
Rachel SMERD ’91 had a son, Eli Moses Shuster, on October 20, 2015
Tanya RYZIK ’04 to Brian Portny on August 31, 2014 Lauren FREY ’05 to Andy Fondak on September 6, 2015 Paulette CUTRUZZULA ’06 to Geoffrey Dreher on December 6, 2014 Simone COSTA ’08 to Matt Biegler on May 24, 2015
Abigail SADOSKY Bolton ’98 had a son, Bear Young Bolton, on October 9, 2015 Kate POLACHEK Ciarimboli ’98 had a son, Rudyard Basil Ciarimboli, on November 12, 2015. Joy RICASA ’99 had a daughter, Josephine Anne Legradi, on February 8, 2016 Heather GREEN Skurek ’00 had a daughter, Claire Montgomery Skurek, on November 16, 2015 Nicole VELEZ ’00 had a son, Oliver Templeton, on February 23, 2015 Anne THIBADEAU Greene ’04 had a son, Wylie Greene, on June 23, 2014
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Jessica BOPP Dawson ’05 had a daughter, Keira Noelle Dawson, on April 8, 2016
Sarah KUNKA ’08, Simone COSTA ’08, the bride, and Sandra HARTKOPF ’08.
Anne THIBADEAU Greene ’04 and her son, Wylie, at the National Aviary in Pittsburgh.
Sarah RUTHERFORD ’08, Sandra HARTKOPF ’08, Kristin GENSZLER ’08, Simone COSTA ’08, the bride, Tiona JONES ’08, Sunaina RUSTAGI ’08, and Sarah KUNKA ’08 celebrate at Simone’s wedding.
In Memoriam Lindley REED Hunter ’37 on May 12, 2015 Anne GLOCK Etienne ’38 on June 3, 2015 Marguerite HILLMAN Purnell ’38 on March 26, 2015 Lowrie WURTS Ebbert ’39 on October 22, 2015 Nancy SWEENEY Perry ’39 on March 20, 2015 Alice PAINTER Thompson ’39 on September 6, 2015
Sally KENNEDY Fownes ’49 on February 1, 2016 Ann EWING Carrick ’55 on October 2, 2015 Judith BEALL Young ’55 on April 28, 2016 Mary Jo IKELER Scott ’61 on May 27, 2016 Kristin GRELLER Smith-Dufala ’69 on August 16, 2015 Anna McGHEE ’07 on October 15, 2015
Marjorie LEECH Woods ’41 on April 22, 2015 Elsie HILLIARD Hillman ’43 on August 4, 2015 Sally HILLMAN Childs ’45 on June 10, 2016
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SIX WOMEN, THREE GENERATIONS, SEVENTY YEARS: A FAMILY’S ROOTS GROW DEEPER
Although the address of the school may have changed in the 70 years since Nancy and Barbara GILLIES first came to Ellis in 1947, followed by cousin Molly RUST Montgomery in 1952, the heart of Ellis has not.
history interwoven with Pittsburgh history. Becca's aunts’ stories are rich with references to Pittsburgh landmarks, local schools, and the names of Ellis teachers and alumnae. The oral histories reveal common themes: respect, academic excellence, and joyful lifelong relationships built in and out of classrooms and on the playing field. Nancy (and sister Barbara, who passed in 2000) started kindergarten in the 1940s and has many fond memories of playing field hockey
Just ask their cousins and great-nieces Rebecca “Becca” Rust,
in the 50s—the same sport that her cousin Hannah plays today. “I
Class of 2019, and her sister Hannah, Class of 2021; or Michelle
remember field hockey and Latin class most vividly,” says Nancy.
Rust, Head of the Middle School and mother of Becca and Hannah.
“My field hockey teammates and I helped and supported each
“It’s wonderful to have my daughters and aunts tell Ellis stories to
other throughout our classes—they were quite rigorous—and I
each other, and to hear the common experience of feeling supported
continued to play at Sweet Briar College.” she recalls. “In the fall,
as individuals,” says Michelle. “Our family is very close, so watching
I went to field hockey home games at the University of Virginia.
my daughters have the same opportunities their great-aunts did
Once, during halftime entertainment at UVA, I had an opportunity
to receive a rigorous education and develop lifelong friendships is
to hit a hockey ball. I sent it flying into a pizza box!” Nancy’s cousin
meaningful to all of us. Ellis is a community of students, parents,
Molly remembers sports at Ellis in the 60s fondly, as well. “We
colleagues, and alumnae that has become part of our family—it’s a
were on sports teams with older students, which was also really fun
real gift. For us, Ellis is our shared and common background.”
because the classes were small so all of the girls could participate.
To explore the family legacy stretching back over 70 years, Becca interviewed her great-aunts in-depth about their time at Ellis, and asked her mother about her choice to both work here and send her daughters here. A fascinating portrait emerges of family
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I remember friendly competition with Ligonier, Sewickley, and Winchester,” Molly continues, “and we had tons of school spirit.” Becca also carries on the athletic tradition, participating in soccer, basketball, and the track and field teams at Ellis.
history opened up, Michelle took it because, she says, “I love the faculty’s engagement with each other and with the students—the environment is really alive with curiosity and inquiry, and the students are a joy to teach because they love to learn.” She later extended to full time, and in 2013, she became Head of the Middle School. Michelle enjoys seeing friendships develop in classes and activities centered on learning. “Academics here are very handson, with real-world applications for science, math, and history. I love hearing laughter from the students as they work in science lab together, or ask questions in history class,” she continues. The engaging academic environment and committed, inspiring
“Fostering an environment where girls love to learn and enjoy being
teachers at Ellis are referred to frequently in Becca’s interviews.
at school is very rewarding. The faculty nurture and encourage
“Latin still comes back to me after all of these years!” Nancy says,
each individual, and we are privileged to witness girls developing
laughing. “I remember my sixth grade teacher was exceptional, and
confidence and leadership.”
I still remember questions from my tenth grade history test.” Molly’s experiences ten years later were the same. “I remember
Integrity and development of girls’ potential has always been a part of Ellis’s “heart,” as Molly calls it in her interview. “The
the names of every single one of my teachers—really, really good
wonderful thing about Ellis was we knew the teachers respected us,”
teachers who inspired us and taught us critical thinking,” Molly
Molly reflects. “And if a teacher that you look up to respects you,
says. “Most people can’t say that. Thanks to Ms. Hickman (her
you learn to respect yourself. They taught us that hard work pays
seventh grade teacher at Ellis), I developed a love for memorizing
off; perseverance pays off; and the importance of good values and
poetry and majored in English at the University of North Carolina.”
honesty. The honor system in the School meant a lot to me. There
At a time when only 12 percent of women attended college in
was a strong sense of integrity at Ellis. Teachers could walk out of
Nancy’s era and 35 percent in Molly’s, both were college graduates
the room; we were trusted during tests, and we were trusted to be
and Nancy completed a second degree in nursing. “Ellis really
honest if we were struggling or needed support.” The values Molly
prepared us for college,” both women agree. “The tests, the field
developed during her Ellis years carried on throughout her life and
trips, and the teachers’ investment in us as individuals made all of
career. Molly’s entrepreneurial spirit combined with her love of
the difference,” Molly says.
literature—both nurtured at Ellis—led her to open an independent
Ellis’s academic and athletic environment compelled Michelle Rust and her husband Mark to tour The Ellis School when they relocated from Baltimore to Pittsburgh. Michelle says they knew right away that Ellis was the one. “Rebecca was entering kindergarten, and as she skipped down the stone path to Arbuthnot, I knew it was the school for her—I could see her here,” Michelle says. She was impressed by the poise of the Ellis senior who spoke to
bookstore with a friend in Pittsburgh. The bookstore was open for 25 years. “And to this day, I manage people using those values and expect those values. When I ran my bookstore I said to my employees, ‘we are on the honor system here—you are responsible to report if you or someone else did something wrong.’ The atmosphere of integrity at The Ellis School affected my whole life.” The Ellis School’s location in a vibrant Pittsburgh community
parents at the open house, and knew this was something she wanted
also connects Ellis students to the wider world. Nancy grew up
for her daughter. For her husband, the fact that the school looked
in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood post World War II and
at each student as an individual, measuring all of their strengths,
attended Ellis from kindergarten through tenth grade. She told
was important. An athletic family, the rock climbing wall in the
Becca stories of shopping at Schiller’s Pharmacy—still open
gym was not only an added bonus, but a symbol—the Rusts felt Ellis
today—on Walnut Street with friends from neighboring schools.
encouraged each girl to try new things, to be a better person as part
After attending Sweet Briar College in Virginia, she returned to
of a larger community and world, and to have integrity—just as their
Pittsburgh for her nursing degree. Nancy was one of the first lay
aunts had experienced.
women to graduate from the Carlow College Nursing Program,
Ellis ultimately became the school for Michelle to continue her passion: teaching. Michelle is an alumna of the all-girls Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. and a graduate of Vanderbilt. When a part-time position teaching
known then as the Mt. Mercy Nursing Program. She credits her Ellis biology teacher with inspiring her to go into nursing. Even in retirement, the Ellis alumna remains active in the community, overseeing a church nursery every Sunday attended by about 128 children ages four and under.
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“Our family is very close, so watching my daughters have the same opportunities their great-aunts did to receive a rigorous education and develop lifelong friendships is meaningful to all of us.”
Molly RUST - front row, center with jacket
– Michelle Rust
Nancy GILLIES - front row, second from left with white glasses
In 1951, Nancy’s cousin, Molly RUST Montgomery, began
this day. And another Ellis friend just called and wants to move back
pre-kindergarten at Ellis. Though she left Ellis after ninth grade
to Pittsburgh because this is where she feels her closest friends are.
for a boarding school in Virginia, she says, “Ellis was my school,
We have a very close class and the friendships have lasted almost 70
Ellis is my love.” She considers it her alma mater and attends all
years. When we get together, it’s as if nothing has changed—everyone
Ellis reunions. Molly grew up on Murray Hill Avenue in Squirrel
is completely open and honest with each other. There is really just
Hill, close to the School’s old location on Fifth Avenue and Negley.
complete welcoming and friendship. It’s wonderful.”
Molly recalled to Becca, “I remember walking down Negley with my best friends, our books carried in a sort of big trunk instead of backpacks.” Pittsburgh’s families were a huge support to Ellis then, as now: “I have enduring friendships and memories of the wonderful families in Pittsburgh who have supported Ellis, and how the Ellis community supported Pittsburgh’s economy and arts and culture in general. Lea Hillman was in my class and the Hillman family has meant so much to Pittsburgh, a wonderful example to live by. ‘Function in disaster, finish in style’ I say.” All three generations of Rusts emphasize the relationships built
The family’s legacy is even more poignant in The Ellis School’s Centennial Year. Nancy was present for the 50th anniversary of The Ellis School. “I do remember when Miss Ellis came to school on the 50th Anniversary, and they brought her to the hockey field that was on the corner of Kentucky and Fifth where we had a huge picnic celebration.” All of the Rust women are proud of their family’s independent spirit, and the aunts enjoy watching Becca and Hannah develop their potential by following in their footsteps. The oldest Rust daughter, Becca, is not only an accomplished athlete, but she is also in the feminist club and enjoys photography. Hannah
at Ellis that sustain them through their lives. Molly says, “I’m still
plays field hockey, is a talented dancer, and is excited to participate
in touch with my entire class, and we have our reunion every five
in the upcoming eighth grade operetta. All three generations
years. We had the best reunion ever this year,” she continues. “We
celebrate their connection to community as part of The Ellis School
have dinner at a classmate’s who lives close to the school, and other
extended family.
classmates stay at the homes of those of us who are local. My best friends are from Ellis. I remember in fifth grade, my teacher said that a new girl named ‘Weezie Wells’ was joining our class and could I please take care of her…and she is still one of my very best friends to
82 | ELLIS MAGAZINE Fall 2016
Many thanks to Rebecca Rust, Class of 2019, for conducting these interviews.
More power to her Thank you, Ellis, for year after year educating and empowering amazing girls who grow up to be even more amazing women. Your graduates have made the world a better place.
— UPMC Health Plan salutes The Ellis School on its centennial.
www.upmchealthplan.com
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Happy 100th birthday, Ellis! On October 5, 2015, the entire Ellis community—including current students, factulty, staff, and administration—gathered on the athletic field to commemorate Ellis’ 100th year with a community picture.
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