Review Midwestern Heart. Global Mind. The Magazine of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall
FALL / WINTER 2019
A New Chapter: LFA Welcomes the De JesĂşs Family
A CELEBRATION OF PHILANTHROPY
PARENTS WEEKEND
8 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT LFA
Review Midwestern Heart. Global Mind. The Magazine of Lake Forest Academy and Ferry Hall
FALL / WINTER 2019
10 JC COWART STUDENT CENTER DEDICATION
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REVIEW FALL 2019 HEAD OF SCHOOL José M. De Jesús P’22
PRODUCTION Alex Stevenson
DEAN OF COMMUNICATIONS Grace Kim
PRINTING John S. Swift Co., Inc.
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Robert J. Buckla, Ed.D. PHOTOGRAPHY Ruth Keyso Grace Kim Pfoertner Photography
CONTRIBUTORS Rob Buckla José M. De Jesús P’22 Hannah Keller Ruth Keyso Sarah Hill Lorelee Hood P’23 Rita Schulien MacAyeal ’87 Barry Reszel Christine Ryder P’15, ’17 Garry Sloan P’19, ’21
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE 847- 615-3284 gkim@lfanet.org ADMISSION OFFICE 847- 615-3267 admission@lfanet.org ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT OFFICE 847-615-3268 rkeyso@lfanet.org
The Review is published two times a year by the Office of Communications at Lake Forest Academy, 1500 W. Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045. Telephone (847) 615-3210. Fax (847) 615-4840. Third class postage paid at Lake Forest, Illinois. POSTMASTER: please send change of address notices to Alumni Office, Lake Forest Academy, 1500 W. Kennedy Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045-1047. All the words and photos contained herein were written or taken by the editor, unless otherwise noted. Opinions express in the Review are those of the authors. No material may be legally reproduced without the written consent of the editor and Lake Forest Academy. ©2019, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest, Illinois. All rights reserved. Lake Forest Academy supports and adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
FERRY TALES
Women of Distinction
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After the All-School Meeting on Friday of Alumni Weekend, the 2019 Women of Distinction recipients joined Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 for cake and a celebration of Ferry Hall Day. l-r: Life Trustee Loretta Kalnow Kaplan ’73, Terry Hall ’67, Ann Ridge ’71, Phebe Carter Hethcock ’54, Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22, Cecily Barnett Meers ’69, Harriet Arpee Sherman ’54, Beth Petit Shaw ’75, Life Trustee Charlene Vala Laughlin ’64
Table of contents Departments Ringing the Bell 6 Ferry Tales 32 Alumni Events 36 Alumni Class Notes 38 In Memoriam 46
Features Lifelong Learning: Professional Development at LFA
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A New Chapter: LFA Welcomes the De Jesús Family
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Alumni Weekend & Reunion 2019
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FRONT COVER The De Jesús family pose in Wood House. back, l-r: Andrea and José De Jesús; front, l-r: Joaquín and Bela De Jesús (Photo credit: Pfoertner Photography)
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MISSION STATEMENT Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.
2019-2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES This year’s Fall Play was a modern reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s “MacBeth.” Performances took place during the week of Parents Weekend. (Photo Credit: Pfoertner Photography)
Mr. John S. Marlatt ’65 Chair Mr. Jim C. Cowart ’69 Vice Chair Ms. Jessica P. Douglas ’96 (Harms) Secretary Mr. Charles T. Cooper ’96 Treasurer Mr. Duane C. Jackson ’01 Member At Large Mrs. Marianne Silver Member At Large
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Mr. Todd E. Altounian ’86 Mr. Bruce W. Anderson ’70 Mrs. Sylvia Barros ’90 Mrs. Molly Pearson Campbell ’04 Mr. Patrick J. Carroll II ’87 Mr. J. Patrick Corsiglia Dr. Ahmed Farag Mr. Gregory P. Glass Mr. Haji L. Glover ’92 Mr. Ned Jessen Mr. Scott W. Kaeser ’96 Mr. Allan M. Kaplan ’72
Mr. Thomas B. Kelley ’65 Mr. Ted Kovas Mr. Rumi Kuli ’93 Mr. Scott Meloun ’77 Ms. Bethann Moritz (Filip) Ms. Katherine Gray Pollock ’70 Ms. Tatyana I. Pramatarova ’05 Ms. Emily Sammon ’91 Ms. Ramona Sequeira (Shaw) Mr. Amish S. Shah ’92 Mr. Xiong Yin
LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 (Photo credit: Pfoertner Photography)
Recently, during an admissions talk, a prospective parent asked me what I felt made LFA most special. Given the 100+ entry conversations with faculty, students and staff in which I had asked a similar question, I felt uniquely prepared to answer. What makes LFA so remarkable is the people that inhabit it. Whether they are logging an expense, preparing food, teaching or coaching, the dedication and deep love that my colleagues have for LFA is impressive. Our community comes together with a common purpose: to support the learning and growth of the remarkable students we serve. Meeting hundreds of alumni over the last few months makes it clear that having great people at LFA is nothing new. I have loved hearing stories about roommates who went from being strangers to best friends, people who played football together and are now life-long friends, and artists who were inspired by their teachers. Our work at LFA has never been more important. At a time of great national division, it is imperative that communities such as LFA show what is possible when talented and caring people unite with a common purpose. It is my goal not only to celebrate and nurture this community-building at LFA, but to partner with other organizations and become a resource for peer schools seeking to bring their community together. Meanwhile, we will maintain the highest of academic standards as LFA continues to be a place where students will feel loved and challenged enough to be their very best selves. It is an honor to lead this wonderful community and to build on the long-standing traditions of LFA and Ferry Hall as we chart a new course for our beloved Academy. Thank you for your support in these first steps of my tenure. I hope you enjoy learning more about our school in the following pages. Best, José M. De Jesús Head of School
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Welcome New Trustees DR. AHMED FARAG P’22 Dr. Ahmed Farag P’22 is an American Board Certified Diagnostic Radiologist, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada and President of Diagnostic Imaging Specialists of Chicago. He is also a senior member of the Society of Thoracic Radiology and a member of the American College of Radiology and the Radiologic Society of North America. A native of Montreal, Farag has lived and practiced in the Chicago area for nearly 20 years. He earned his bachelor’s in human physiology, M.D., and Master of Surgery degrees from McGill University in Montreal. His post graduate placements include McGill’s Royal Victoria, Montreal General and Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospitals. From 2000-2009, Farag provided diagnostic imaging and counseling services to the patients and physicians at Lake Forest Hospital and its imaging facilities. In 2009, he launched Diagnostic Imaging Specialists of Chicago to provide comprehensive, fully digital women’s imaging services. He has also worked as an independent consultant and lecturer and serves or has served as a volunteer on the boards of the Primo Center for Women and Children, Lake Forest Country Day School, and the Friends of Prentice at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He and his family live in Lake Forest.
ALLAN KAPLAN ’72, P’03, LT Life Trustee Allan Kaplan ’72, P’03, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Iowa before following his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps into life insurance sales as an independent producer. In 1984, Kaplan joined his family’s firm, managing it until 2017, when it merged with Robinson Financial Group. His professional credentials include Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He is or has been active in the following volunteer organizations: Chicago Estate Planning Council (member); Association for Advanced Life Underwriting (member); Village of Northfield (retired trustee); and Lake Forest Academy (Life Trustee 2004 and former trustee FY1991-1999). In addition, he was inducted into the LFA Hall of Fame in 2013. Kaplan and his wife, Life Trustee Loretta ’73, P’03, a graduate of Ferry Hall, live in Northfield and have four children. Their eldest, George, graduated from LFA in 2003.
TED KOVAS P’21 Ted Kovas P’21 grew up in Winnetka and attended St. Paul’s School before earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Dartmouth College and his MBA from Harvard University. His professional background includes work as an investment banker with Bear Stearns in New York, at Gryphon Investors in San Francisco, and as a partner at Lake Capital, a private equity firm in Chicago. Kovas is currently president and principal of The Bode Companies, where he is a private equity investor. His previous volunteer service includes the Lake Forest Country Day School Board of Trustees, where he was Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee. Kovas and his family live in Lake Forest.
XIONG YIN P’23 Xiong Yin P’23 received his LL.B. and LL.M. degrees from Beijing University, where he was a doctoral candidate in international law. In 1989, he went to the United States to do research and to study at the University of Maryland and at Harvard Law School, where he earned an LL.M. degree. Before returning to China, he practiced law for over five years at Baker & McKenzie in Chicago, where he worked for numerous foreign clients doing transactions in China and represented Chinese clients in the US. While working full-time at Baker & McKenzie, Yin earned his J.D. from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law. He is admitted to the Bar in China and also in the State Bar of Illinois. His years of practice have been focused on the areas of corporate, transactional, and international law plus mergers and acquisitions. Yin lives in Beijing, where he is a partner at the Tian Yuan law firm. 6
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THANK YOU
PHILANTHROPY IMPACT REPORT 2018–19
Dear Members of the LFA Community, One of the gifts of serving Lake Forest Academy as Chair of the Board of Trustees is that I am afforded numerous opportunities to be present among our students and faculty on campus. What I see is a vibrancy among our students, faculty and staff that might be matched in other places, but certainly nowhere bettered. That’s inspiring to me. Seeing our world’s future leaders—engaged in the classroom, studying or socializing in the newly-dedicated JC Cowart Student Center or performing on a stage, court or field—motivates me to do my part at this time and in this place to ensure they have every support possible to explore their limitless potential. It makes me think back to LFA’s first benefactors, readying the Academy to open its doors in 1857, and the myriad hard-working women and men across more than 160 years since then who all shared the same desire—help prepare the next generation to succeed in making our world a better place. I invest as a volunteer and as a philanthropist at Lake Forest Academy because LFA inspires me to do so. And more importantly, I join with Head of School José M. De Jesús and the entire Academy community in thanking you for doing likewise. This is our time in history to “inspire and invest” and help impact that which lies ahead. Thank you for your commitment to the Lake Forest Academy mission. With gratitude,
John Marlatt ’65, Chair, Lake Forest Academy Board of Trustees
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Parents Weekend Caxy Families Celebrate Parents Weekend 2019 More than 275 parents, guardians and other Caxy family members visited campus on October 18 -19 to celebrate Parents Weekend. On Friday, parents attended mini-classes and a discussion between Academy families facilitated by Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22. The day concluded with a social hour with the Deans Council and Parents Association Board members in Reid Hall. The LFA Theater Department presented its updated staging of William Shakespeare’s “MacBeth,” this year’s Fall Play, in The Cressey Center for the Arts. Among the highlights of Saturday’s program: • Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs Lusanda Mayikana P’14 led a multicultural book club discussion on a Head of School Symposium-themed book, “Easy Street: The Anxieties of Affluence by Rachel Sherman.” • Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso facilitated a young alumni panel who reflected on their LFA experience. • Library Director and Archivist Rita MacAyeal ’87 featured the history of Ferry Hall in celebration of the sesquicentennial of the school. • Executive Director of the Global Youth Leadership Institute and Executive Director of the Stuart Center for Global Leadership Matt Nink led a session about curricular travel at LFA. • Dean of Communications Grace Kim presented on how to make the most of the LFA website. • The LFA Caxys took to the gym, fields, pool and ice for an afternoon of athletic competition. • Guests explored the Student Art Show before the orchestra and choir closed out the weekend with their performances during the Arts Extravaganza.
Boarding parents socialized during a luncheon in the Garden Room.
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Spanish Teacher Nöelle Balson greets visitors to her classroom.
Parents visit the set of “MacBeth” and discuss acting lessons with Director of Theater Matt Boresi.
Parents conducted a lab in Chemistry.
Young Alumni Panel Alumni Panel: How LFA Positioned Me for Success
l-r: Chris Gorter ’06, Evan Walters ’15, Liz Peinado ’08, Allison Stankowicz ’12, and Winnie Uluocha ’04
The Academy proudly welcomed five alumni to campus during Parents Weekend to speak to current parents and students about their path to LFA and the skills that served them well in college and in the working world. The Parents Weekend Alumni Panel: How LFA Positioned Me for Success included the following alumni: Winnie Uluocha ’04, Healthcare Attorney, McDermott Will & Emery; Chris Gorter ’06, Principal at Borealis Strategic Capital Partners; Liz Peinado ’08, National Director of Recruitment, SAGA Education; Allison Stankowicz ’12, Trader at PEAK6 Investments; and Evan Walters ’15, Fulbright Scholar, English Teaching Assistant in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Thank you to our alumni representatives for sharing their knowledge and experiences with the LFA community.
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$20 Million Scholarship and Faculty Support Initiative Launched at LFA: $12.5 Million Secured At A Celebration of Philanthropy held on campus on November 1, Lake Forest Academy launched the public phase of a three-year initiative to secure $20 million in endowed student scholarships, faculty chairs and professional development funds. The Inspire & Invest Initiative, co-chaired by Trustee Patrick Corsiglia, P’15, ’17, ’20, and Board Vice Chair Jim C. Cowart ’69, is a significant symbol of LFA’s commitment to ensure financial aid is available for students and families with need. The fundraising initiative is also designed to enhance resources directed to the recruitment and retention of great teachers—the soul of a great independent school. More than $12.5 million of the $20 million goal has been secured during the Initiative’s leadership phase, which began in February 2018 under the leadership of Head of School Emeritus Dr. John Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18. This total includes 34 new endowed scholarships, three new endowed faculty chairs and six new faculty professional development endowed funds created through the generosity of alumni, parents, alumni parents and grandparents. LFA plans to complete the Initiative in January 2021.
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l to r:Research scientist Dr. Thomas Brickler ’06, Trustee Greg Glass P’18, ’21, Trustee Patrick Corsiglia P’15, ’17, ’20, and Board Chair John Marlatt ’65
l to r:Trustee and Board Vice Chair Jim Cowart ’69, Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22, Harold H. Corbin Jr. Chair in Environmental Studies Kevin Hagen
The Initiative is a direct response to the 2018 LFA Strategic Plan that calls for an increase in the school’s endowment to $50 million or more by 2021, according to Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22. As of the close of the 2018-2019 fiscal year on June 30, 2019, the market value of the LFA endowment exceeded $41 million. “Inspire & Invest is an investment in students and faculty,” says Co-Chair Jim Cowart. “Simply put, LFA employs great faculty which attract great students. Great students help us attract great faculty.” For a limited time, Trustee Gregory Glass P’18,’21 is granting a $25,000 bonus to LFA when any donor establishes an endowed faculty professional development fund. Professional development funds help underwrite continuing education and summer research opportunities for faculty—a key to the recruitment and retention of teachers and staff members.
Donors enjoy good food and company at A Celebration of Philanthropy on Nov. 1 in Reid Hall.
At the Inspire & Invest public launch on November 1, research scientist Dr. Thomas Brickler ’06, a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, highlighted the role of LFA’s stellar faculty to successful scholarship, offering examples of how LFA teachers Dr. Kerry Cedergren P’13, ’17, Jennifer Madeley P’11, ’14 and retired faculty member and Life Trustee Gloria Harper P’93 inspired him as a student. “I still, to this day, when I come across a hard decision, or even a lab experiment, I sometimes think, ‘What would Dr. Cedergren do?’” Brickler said. He expressed gratitude to LFA for “allowing me to take an interest of mine and develop my thoughts along the way. I always had a great support system here.” Trustee Ramona Sequeira P’17, ’19 11
Dr. Thomas Brickler ’06
Trustee Ramona Sequeira P’17, ’19, with her husband Doug, announced their commitment to establish an endowed professional development fund for teachers in mathematics, science and computer science. She said, “the faculty at LFA made such a huge difference in our kids’ lives that we wanted to find a way to give back. They took the time to understand who our kids were and how they best learned and then they created an environment that just inspired our kids to be the very best they could be.” More than $3.48 million in endowed scholarships have been secured in a period of 21 months since the start of the leadership phase of the Inspire & Invest Initiative. The scholarship drive was infused with $1 million in matching funds from Board Vice Chair Jim Cowart ’69 and his wife, Janet. The matching challenge was fully realized in September. “One of the first things that our family noticed when we came to visit LFA for our shadow day was the incredible diversity here,” said Karin Fink P’22, ’23. Karin and her husband, Nick, announced the establishment of a new need-based scholarship on November 1. “But the most important thing that we noticed right after that was how the school’s diversity is raising the bar for everybody and making all students better students and people. It’s diversity of perspectives that better prepares our children for a world of differing thought and opinion and diversity of experience that opens our children’s eyes to the world.” More information, including alumni videos, is available at www.lfanet.org/inspire.
Karin Fink P’22, ’23
Adrienne and Herb Kamin ’52
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If you wish to discuss ways to participate in the Initiative, please contact Vice President of Advancement Robert J. Buckla, Ed.D., at rbuckla@lfanet.org.
Dena and Jeff Perry P’19, ’22 with Trustee Jim Cowart ’69
Ferry Hall alumna and Alumni Advisory Board member Ann Ridge ’71 and the Irving Park Trio entertain guests at A Celebration of Philanthropy.
l-r: Head of School José De Jesús P’22, Harold H. Corbin Jr. Chair in Environmental Studies Kevin Hagen, Michael Lentskevich ’20 and Lauren Salliotte ’20, Dean of Faculty Tom Johnson
Hagen Installed as Harold Corbin Endowed Chair In a special ceremony during the November 1 Celebration of Philanthropy, Dean of Faculty Tom Johnson, students Michael Lentskevich ’20 of Minsk, Belarus and Lauren Salliotte ’20 of Lincolnshire, Ill. joined Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 on stage as he installed Science Teacher Kevin Hagen as the Harold H. Corbin, Jr. Chair in Environmental Studies. The Corbin Chair is one of six chairs endowed through generosity of alumni, parents and friends. The current holders of the faculty chairs are: the Dr. Ray Bird Master Chair in English held by Dr. Patrick Finnessy, The Sidney E. Ainsworth Chair in Mathematics held by Paul Makovec, the A. John Huss Jr. ’58 and Ruth S. Huss Endowed Chair in the Humanities held by Steve Ryder P’15, ’17, the Ned and Lynn Jessen Chair in the Humanities held by Bill Dolbee P’04, ’10 and the Edmund J. Rendtorff Chair in Science held by Erica Wood. LFA has secured commitments for three additional chairs that are in the process of being funded through the recently announced $20 million Inspire & Invest Initiative. The Corbin Chair was established in 1969 by a group of former students to honor a beloved teacher and the head of school from 1951 to 1969. Hagen follows Dr. Ruth Smith P’15, ’18 as its holder, which includes a three-year appointment and annual professional development stipend. Corbin chair holders are challenged to advance their understanding of the environment and enhance the science curriculum. “Some of my greatest experiences with students are outside of the classroom,” said Hagen. “Whether it is on the court coaching, at a museum in Chicago on a field trip, exploring a state park or leading students in the rainforests of Olympic National Park and Costa Rica. The most important thing that I can do in my life as an educator is to motivate students to become independent thinkers who can problem-solve in creative and collaborative ways.” Lentskevich recounted an LFA curricular trip to the West Coast that gave a “city boy from Minsk, Belarus” a heightened appreciation of nature. “When we returned from a tiring night hike around in the forest surrounding the camp, Mr. Hagen refused to simply go to bed. He took us out in the dark to observe the beautiful night sky filled with shining stars above our heads. Never did I think that I would appreciate something as abstract as the nighttime constellations. It was in that moment that I understood what Mr. Hagen sees in nature, and I’m eternally grateful to him for showing all of us a piece of that beautiful world.” Salliotte shared her discoveries under Hagen’s tutelage that may guide her potential collegiate and career path. “Mr. Hagen has inspired me the most to go out and make an impact on the world. As a future business leader, I’m going to take his lessons with me forever to find a balance between economic growth and sustainability.”
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Campus View On August 26, 2019, the students, faculty and staff participated in a historic All-School Handshake inside The Cressey Center of the Arts as rain poured from the skies. Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 during his opening speech said, “rain brings blessings in my culture.” The 2019-2020 school year started with a new take on an old tradition.
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Lifelong Learning: Professional Development at LFA LFA offers various professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to pursue advanced degrees, attend conferences and plan curricular travel to enhance their work in the classrooms and around campus. Specific endowed and expendable funds are available through the generosity of donors who support LFA’s teachers in their continuous professional growth. Last year, Math Teacher Arman Banimahd was busy balancing his roles as a teacher, coach, dorm parent and club advisor at LFA while taking three graduate classes. Banimahd was pursuing a master’s degree in software engineering at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis., and in his words, “miraculously” graduated this past spring. Banimahd teaches computer science at LFA, and his courses in advanced software engineering management have helped him teach practical solutions to software development in his classes. Banimahd believes that for students who plan on pursuing computer science, knowledge about how to program is not enough. Hours and resources can be wasted if engineers do not communicate properly with their clients. In one of his classes, Banimahd asked his students to write a piece of code to calculate a minimum account balance in their programs. While the students may have been trying to achieve the same goal, a slight difference in using “minimum” versus “min” in the wording made the difference between a working code and one that needed debugging. As the year progresses, Banimahd plans to apply more management lessons from his graduate studies to his programming classes.
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Asst. Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs and Spanish Teacher Tameka Carter is passionate about intellectual emancipation, a concept that reinforces the reciprocal learning process between a student and a teacher. Carter is writing her dissertation on exploring the possibility of intellectual emancipation for high school students of color for her doctorate in education from DePaul University in Chicago. She says, “When we take students of color out of the country through a study abroad program, they experience emotions of liberation and confidence. As an international school, we understand global citizenship and preparing our students for intercultural experiences.” Carter completed a pilot study in 2014 by taking 12 students from Chicago Public Schools to Spain. The students visited another peer school and traveled to see historic landmarks while practicing their Spanish. Curricular travel, Carter says, prepares students to face differences with a growth mindset. Carter has presented her study at the Dewey Institute, SOKA University of America, and educational conferences around the United States. She hopes to create more opportunities at LFA for students to practice their Spanish and learn more about the merits of traveling abroad.
History and Social Science Teacher Aviral Pathak is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to coursework with a focus on history and theory, Pathak has taken advanced graduatelevel classes in comparative politics, international relations and sophisticated research methods. In spring of 2020, Pathak will defend his dissertation on the relationship between two key theories of individual freedom and practices of government in India, which he argues emerged in the 1970s against the backdrop of a broader crisis of political thought and practice.
After obtaining her master’s in educational technology at Concordia University in Chicago this summer, Science Teacher Debbie Witmer chose to continue her studies right away and is currently working on her doctorate in curriculum and instruction, also through Concordia University. She is fascinated with how people learn in the classroom and how to assess different instructional strategies using technology. In her chemistry classes, Witmer uses virtual labs to show students how to conduct experiments, and is excited about how virtual reality may enhance the learning experience.
Pathak approached his studies with a mixed methodology, from reading books to doing field research in India by interviewing youth counselors, town planners, and members of the public in 2015 and 2016. His research has won several awards at UIC, including the Department of Political Science’s Best Research Prize and the Graduate College’s Chancellor’s Graduate Research Award. He has also presented at workshops and conferences all around the United States. Going forward, he hopes to create unique elective classes at LFA while pursuing academic publications to engage the general public.
Witmer appreciates that LFA’s professional development program offers opportunities for her to grow as an educator as a whole. She has participated in professional development as an advisor and attended the Carney Sandoe Women’s Institute last summer to grow as a female leader in education. In addition to Witmer, English and Journalism Teacher Mandy Byron, Visual Arts and Mandarin Teacher Yue Chen, Asst. Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs and Spanish Teacher Tameka Carter, Spanish Teacher Marianela Gonzalez, English Teacher Kim Graham, and Senior Asst. Dean of Admission and Asst. Director of Financial Aid Emily Wagner all attended the conference in Boston, Mass., last year.
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Mints Grant – Science Teacher Mathias Kerr and History and Social Science Teacher Sam Wold each received a Mints Grant from The Mints Professional Development Fund, an endowed fund established in 2004 through the estate of Tom Mints ’45. The grants fund individual faculty projects that ultimately benefit LFA’s curriculum in various ways.
Sam Wold traveled to Denmark, Norway and Iceland during the summer of 2019 to learn more about the Vikings and their history, as well as human rights advocacy in Scandinavia. His journey took him to Copenhagen, Denmark, Oslo, Norway, and then Stockholm, Sweden. On his way back to Chicago, he stopped in Iceland, and met an LFA family at a hidden waterfall! The trip provided Wold a great overview of Viking history and the misconceptions that people have about the people. As he teaches his history courses, he hopes to clarify the historical and cultural impact that the Vikings have left on global history. In addition, during the trip, he gained new ideas from the photography museum Fotografiska in Stockholm for LFA’s human rights courses. The photography museum had a superb exhibit from James Nachtwey who built his career on documenting war zones and focusing on injustice and social issues. During the academic year, students in LFA human rights courses will research and closely analyze Nachtwey’s photography while also taking their own photos.
At the 2017 Cornerstone Society and Richards and Tremain Society Celebration, French Teacher Steve Ryder P’15, ’17 and Science Teacher Erica Wood were installed as endowed faculty chairs. Ryder is the A. John Huss Jr. ’58 and Ruth S. Huss Chair in Humanities and has been at LFA since 1985. He recently took a trip to Europe, traveling to Germany, France, and the United Kingdom to walk in the steps of his parents who had fought in World War II. His father flew 34 missions over Germany while his mother worked night shifts decoding German messages. In Munich, Ryder visited Hofbrauhaus, an early meeting place for Nazis, before traveling to Nuremburg to learn about the Nuremburg trials. He also stopped by the Durnbach Royal Air Force Cemetery, where Ryder’s uncle who passed away at the age of 20 is buried, before reflecting on the past at the Dachau concentration camp. He then traveled to France for a five-day tour of Normandy, including the five D-day landing beaches, before ending his journey in England with a visit to the Royal Air Force bases. Ryder is grateful that he had the chance to travel to historic sites with personal familial significance, and the knowledge and perspective that he gained have been invaluable when covering these historical topics in French 3 and AP French.
This summer, Mathias Kerr joined an expedition with the 5 Gyres organization to explore the Galapagos Islands. The group collected trash on beaches and discussed the effects of plastic pollution. They also went on hiking and kayaking trips to observe land and animal diversity. As a biology teacher, Kerr found the experience inspiring. He made connections with people devoted to increasing awareness about plastic pollution and making changes in the areas of education, health, consumerism and legislation. At LFA, Kerr has already started to implement some of the exercises that he participated in on the expedition into his curriculum. Earlier this fall, Kerr and his students collected sand samples at a local beach and categorized the trash found by size. As the year progresses, Kerr is also planning to share reading material from the trip with his students to discuss how plastic pollution affects biodiversity.
In late October, Academic Records & College Counseling Office Manager Shannon Bradac, Visual Arts and Mandarin Teacher Yue Chen, Science Teacher Kevin Hagen, Executive Assistant to the CFO Jackie Leib, History and Social Science Teacher Ackim Mpofu and Dean of Students Office Manager Teresa Zaiff traveled to China to visit the Greentown School on the Zhoushan International Campus. The school currently enrolls over 900 students from 1st to 12th grade, and 80% of the students are boarders. The LFA faculty and staff met with the schools’ principals, made dumplings while participating in the international fair bazaar and visited sacred Putuo Mountain. Yue Chen describes the visit as an informative way to practice dialogue with educators in another country. Chen says, “We were joined by three teachers from Belgium, and it was a great experience to meet people from different backgrounds. We truly experienced multiculturalism by seeing how a peer school in another country works together.” LFA thanks Hui Jian Zhang and Ying Young P’22 (pictured above in group photo), parents of Jack Zhang ’22, for their hospitality in Shanghai.
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A New Chapter: LFA Welcomes the De Jesús Family
The De Jesús family stand on stage with Board Chair John Marlatt ’65 during the Investiture Ceremony on October 19, 2019.
A year ago, José M. De Jesús promised to meet with every faculty and staff member in his first semester as Lake Forest Academy’s 30th Head of School during his visit to campus as a finalist in the Head of School search. Fast forward to December 2019, and he has already met with over 100 members of the 125 employees at LFA. The past fourteen months have whipped by as the De Jesúses finished off their work and school years in New York City, packed and unpacked their lives, and settled into the newly renovated Wood House on campus, all while meeting over 1400 members of the LFA community. As the first semester comes to a close, the rapid-fire speed at which the De Jesúses have been moving seems to be finally slowing down. The transition has been smooth for both the family and LFA, and the De Jesúses have developed their individual routines as members of the LFA community. While juggling Head of School duties, José also acts as a co-advisor with Associate Head of School Bill Dolbee P’04, ’10 and co-teaches US History with History and Social Science teacher Chris Dozois ’84, P’17, ’21. Meanwhile, wife Andrea teaches English 9, and daughter Isabela, or Bela, keeps up with her studies as a sophomore and swims for the LFA girls and boys varsity swimming teams. The youngest De Jesús, Joaquín, has quickly made friends with his classmates at Lake Forest Country Day School. José and Andrea are both first and foremost teachers, and they find joy in learning with their students every day. As a US History teacher, José is fascinated by the perspectives that LFA students bring into the classroom. “Sometimes I catch myself saying “As Americans…” and I have to stop and back up. I have taught US History for years, but teaching the subject at LFA opens up a world of possibility and discussion because of the diversity of our student body. I learn with our students about how various countries might view the US and its history in comparison to how we usually teach it. I have been learning a lot as I work with the students, Bill Dolbee, and Chris Dozois, and that’s important to me. I struggle when I feel like I’m not growing or learning, and that’s definitely not the case here.” Andrea echoes her husband and says that the learning environment at LFA feels more tailored to each student. “New York can be an intense, high-powered place for any industry. Even in education, students are pushed to succeed and achieve, rather than develop as individuals. At LFA, our curriculum is challenging, but it’s a better match for our students as they grow.”
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Kathryn Githinji ’22, Bela De Jesús ’22, and Ellie Wang ’22 in the Formal Gardens.
Joaquín and Bela help elementary school students build bridges during the Harvest Hope event on November 9, 2019.
Academic and social pressure can sometimes make high school tricky to navigate, and Bela recalls that she was nervous about coming to LFA as a new student. “It’s one thing to come in as a freshman to a new school, because at least everyone in your grade is new with you. But I’m a sophomore, and I wasn’t sure how I would get to know everyone. Now, I can say that it’s been amazing. Preseason helped me bond with my swimming teammates quickly, and my teachers push me in my academic work in ways that I can handle. I love my classes, even the subjects that I’m not strong in, like math.” Bela often participates in the weekend activities for boarders, from riding a van for a bubble tea run to watching movies in the dorms. She has sleepovers in the girls’ dorms, or hosts friends at Wood House. She says, “I feel like I have gotten closer to my friends at LFA in a shorter period of time than when I was in New York. We study at night together or go off-campus for an activity together. And Joaquín is the most social, charming kid ever so he has gotten
Andrea meets parents at the social hour on Friday of Parents Weekend.
to know a lot of people at LFA, and even plays soccer on the turf field. We are both adjusting really well and that’s thanks to the community here.” José feels validated in the decision to come to LFA as his family members forge friendships with different members of the community. His mother in particular has connected with the Sodexo facilities staff, and the family attends athletic games, concerts, and recently, the Harvest Hope service event at the AJ Katzenmaier School in North Chicago. In addition, in just a short period of time, the family has experienced some of LFA’s biggest celebratory events, including Alumni Weekend & Reunion, Parents Weekend, A Celebration of Philanthropy, and of course, the Investiture Ceremony for José. Friends, family members, and mentors of José from New York City and all over the states visited LFA for the Investiture Ceremony on October 19, 2019. The visitors were struck by the beauty of LFA’s
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José and Andrea De Jesús volunteered with members of the Parents Association at the Harvest Hope event on November 9, 2019.
Andrea teaches English 9 in Reid Hall.
campus and its buildings, and met with students, faculty and staff, alumni, parents, and trustees. The ceremony featured speeches, alumni and student performances, and a medallion presentation, and José’s guests were incredibly moved by the entrance of students carrying flags representing the international diversity of LFA. For Andrea, the ceremony was a culmination of José’s journey as a leader as well as a symbol of the future of LFA. She says, “I felt overwhelming pride and humility. José has been my best friend for 21 years, and that’s half of our lives. To have our friends and family members at LFA, and have them share in this LFA moment was emotional. It was important to me that our children witnessed the various parts of LFA coming together and how we fit into the school’s future. It came together in a powerful, but also fun way. It’s a moment that we will never forget as a family.” As 2019 comes to a close, José looks forward to sharing what he has learned from his entry plan interviews with the LFA family soon. He does hint at two features of LFA that the faculty and staff overwhelmingly cherish: the diversity at LFA and its sense of community. José continues to absorb all the stories of the people of
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Bela takes notes during her math class.
LFA, and he is excited to plan for a vision that brings LFA together and forward as an institution that peer schools can learn from. His ultimate hope is that anyone at LFA can be her, his, or their best self. José’s aspiration already rings true for Bela as she continues to attend club meetings, study for exams, and practice with her teammates. Though she still finds the dynamic of her dad as Head of School “weird sometimes,” she loves having common topics about LFA that are relatable to everyone in her family. In early November, Bela and Joaquín visited New York during a weekend to visit family. Bela found the visit comforting, but also strange, because “it wasn’t like I was home. I didn’t think that I would feel that LFA would be home so quickly. I still love New York, because I grew up there, and I definitely miss being able to just walk outside to get seven different types of cuisine in a two-block radius. But it’s not home anymore. The visit made me realize how happy I am to be here, at LFA.”
INVESTITURE CEREMONY See the full ceremony, photos and press coverage at www.lfanet.org/investiture.
Head of School Jose M. De Jesus P’22 and his mother pose after the ceremony.
Board Chair John Marlatt ’65 and De Jesús after the presentation of the medallion.
Students carried flags representing the international diversity of LFA during the procession.
Excerpts from the Head of School speech: To the students, I pledge to never forget that in the end all we do is about you. To fight for you to have the opportunity to excel while staying whole. To the parents, I pledge to never take for granted your decision to send your children to us every morning. It is a sacred trust that I also make as a father each day. To the alumni, I pledge to listen to your stories, to learn from them, to share them. To keep the spirit of Ferry hall and LFA alive by honoring where we come from. To the faculty and staff, I pledge to do all I can to help you shine, to help the school grow through your creativity, brilliance and hard work. To the trustees, I pledge to partner with you in securing the programmatic and financial future of this remarkable place. You’ve bestowed an incredible honor and responsibility, and I will dedicate my heart and mind as we walk these amazing souls to their libraries. And to my family and friends - I pledge to be there for you no matter what. 21
ALUMNI WEEKEND
& REUNION
2019 Alumni return to reunite and to meet the new Head of School
l-r: Sean Bryan ’89, Elisa Gutierrez ’06, David Beattie ’69, Nadine Rubinoff, Stan Howard ’69
More than 280 alumnae, alumni and their guests, representing the graduating classes from 1949 to 2019, visited campus for Alumni Weekend & Reunion on September 19-21, 2019. Alumni Weekend is LFA’s annual celebration of 5-year reunions as well as the opportunity for alumni and guests from all class years to be welcomed on campus. “We re-named Reunion Weekend a couple of years ago. It is now known as Alumni Weekend to communicate the message that all Ferry Hall alumnae and Lake Forest Academy alumni, regardless of class year, are welcome to attend. I have heard from a number of our alumni who say they want to come every year to Alumni Weekend,” said Hannah Keller, director of alumni reunions.
l-r: Ted Wilson ’74, Hugo Sonnenschein ’74, Milton Green ’74, John “Randy” Spellers ’87, Robert Reuss ’74, Bancroft O’Quinn ’72
The 2019 weather included some heavy rain, but nothing dampened the Caxy spirit and the resolve of the Ferry Hall alumnae. This year’s reunion had special highlights – a celebration of the 150th anniversary of Ferry Hall’s doors opening, a dedication of the JC Cowart Student Center in honor of Vice Board Chair Jim C. Cowart ’69 and his family, and the recognition of Ferry Hall Women of Distinction and LFA Hall of Fame members. Hall of Fame inductees Phil Collins ’69 and Jim Cowart ’69, and this year’s Women of Distinction, the Ferry Hall Task Force and Advisory Board, were honored during the Saturday night program. Sean Bryan ’89, co-chief creative officer for global advertising agency McCann New York, and Stephan Jacob ’99, co-founder and CEO for Salt Lake City-based outdoor gear company Cotopaxi, spoke to students in class on Friday of Alumni Weekend.
Members of the Mirutenko family attended Alumni Weekend to honor the memory of their daughter and sister, Tanya Mirutenko ’09. Pictured are Roma ’10, Natalie P’09, ’10, and Wasyl P’09, ’10.
The weekend kicked off with golf at The Glen Club, followed by a lunch sponsored by the Richards & Tremain Society. Friday evening merriment took place at The Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest, Miramar restaurant in Highwood, and Point and Feather in River North in downtown Chicago. Saturday daytime highlights included a multicultural dialogue with Dean of Pluralism and Mulitcultural Affairs Lusanda Mayikana P’14, and a question and answer session with Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22. Alumni also enjoyed a family picnic, craft beer tent and LFA athletics. Reunion year alumni who passed away were remembered during a non-denominational memorial ceremony led by the Reverend Jamie Morrison P’16, ’18, ’18. View Alumni Weekend photos at https://www.lfanet.org/reunion and https://lakeforestacademy.smugmug.com. 22
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Alumni, students, and faculty come together to discuss topics at the multicultural dialogue. Pictured l-r: Vernon Richardson, Assistant Dean of Pluralism & Multicultural Affairs and Modern & Classical Languages Teacher Tameka Carter, Maame Addae ’14, Rhyann Robinson ’14, Gail Gadberry ’85, P’14, Vice President of Advancement Rob Buckla, Graham Lin ’20
DEERPATH INN
l-r: Henry Meers ’65, Dolores Donohue Fishleigh ’64, Life Trustee Charlene Vala Laughlin ’64, Chair of Board of Trustees John Marlatt ’65
l-r: George Harmon ’59, John Dille ’59, Tom Carr ’59, and Mac Harris ’59
MIRAMAR
l-r: Nirali Dalia ’98, Stephan Jacob ’99, Janis Dickman ’99, Carter Chapman ’94, Adrian MacLean Jay ’94, Jason Smith ’99, Anjali Kumar Bharadwa ’99, Sandra Jacob
l-r: Leslie Steiner Johnson ’79, Greg Glyman ’79, Tom Johnson
POINT & FEATHER
l-r: Mbasa Mayikana ’14, Chris Karamanos ’14, and Malcolm Chaka’15 reconnect with History Teacher Matt Vaughn
Members of the LFA Class of 2009 celebrate their 10th reunion: l-r: Thomas and Deirdre (Walsh) Emery, Tory Gordon, Sandy Meers, Megan Kozak, Felix Ouyang, Waiwai Kim
Mark your calendar for Alumni Weekend & Reunion September 25-27, 2020. Milestone years are those that end in 0 or 5, but everyone is welcome! 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 If you would like to volunteer to serve on your reunion committee or for more information about the weekend, contact Hannah Keller at hkeller@lfanet.org or 847-615-3233. 23
JC Cowart Student Center Dedication
front row, l-r: Lil Hamman, Heather Cowart, Jefferson Cowart, Janet Cowart, Loring Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18, Peggy Fox; back row, l-r: Lou Ann Crisler, José M. De Jesús P’22, Jim Cowart ’69, John Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18, John Marlatt ’65
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The JC Cowart File
JC Cowart Student Center Dedicated In the midst of Alumni Weekend 2019, Lake Forest Academy dedicated the JC Cowart Student Center in honor of the extraordinary volunteer efforts of Jim C. Cowart ’69, who with his family is also among LFA’s most loyal and generous philanthropists. Cowart, vice chair of the LFA Board of Trustees, also celebrated his 50th reunion while on campus for Alumni Weekend. “Jim Cowart and his family are true believers in the LFA mission. Jim has supported his belief in the Academy by investing generously through time and philanthropy,” said Head of School José M. De Jesús. “In addition to serving as a leader on the Board of Trustees since 2011, he committed leadership challenge gifts to rehabilitate the Corbin Academic Center and Korhumel Wing and to help construct the Reyes Family Science Center. ” The JC Cowart Student Center is a hub for both day and boarding students to study, work on group projects or socialize with friends during free periods. Since the 34,000-square-foot facility opened in August 2016, it has become a vibrant place for campus activities and events. The JC Cowart Student Center, designed by architect Peter Witmer P’14, is also home to the Stuart Center for Global Leadership, sponsored through the generosity of Jim Stuart ’59. Cowart was joined on campus for the September 21 dedication by his wife, Janet C. Cowart, who traveled with him from their home in Laguna Niguel, Calif. Also, present were the Cowarts’ son and daughter-inlaw, Jefferson C. and Heather Cowart of St. Paul, Minn., as well as the sisters of Jim Cowart, Lou Ann Crisler of Provo, Utah, and Lil Hamman of Orem, Utah.
The JC Cowart Student Center at Lake Forest Academy is named for Jim C. Cowart ’69, Janet C. Cowart ’69 and Jefferson C. Cowart. The Cowart Center is named, in part, in honor of Jim Cowart’s exemplary volunteer service and leadership at the Academy: Vice Chair, Board of Trustees (FY2019-20) Co-Chair, Inspire & Invest Initiative (FY2018-20) Executive Committee, Board of Trustees (FY2014-20) Co-Chair, Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees (FY2014-20) Member, Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees (FY2012-20) Member, Ad Hoc, Head of School Transition Committee (FY2019-20) Member, Committee on Compensation (FY2020) Guest lecturer in LFA classes (FY2002-present) Co-Vice-Chair, Head of School Search Committee (FY2018-19) Previous Board of Trustees service: Education Committee, Financial Sustainability Subcommittee, Governance Subcommittee and ad hoc Budget Committee
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Hall of Fame & Women of Distinction 2019
Philip Norris Collins ’69 Lake Forest Academy Hall of Fame – Service to Society A legacy philanthropist in your adopted city of Naples, Florida, you continue the altruism practiced by your grandparents, who protected Keewaydin Island, founded Naples Community Hospital, and set the stage for future generations of the Norris/Gaynor/ Collins family to make a difference in the community. Following in their footsteps, you seek to better your locality. Your gifts of time, talent, and resources to the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Youth Haven, and the YMCA are a testimony to your generosity. As a renowned real estate professional, you are a high-profile consultant to buyers and sellers of homes. With unquestioned integrity, top-notch negotiation skills, stellar marketing expertise, commitment to world-class client service, and unsurpassed discretion, you achieved an enviable track record of success. Through your personal devotion to Naples, you helped sustain the prestige this maritime community enjoys. Today, Lake Forest Academy honors your accomplishments, applauds your service, and thanks you for your abiding philanthropic support of your alma mater.
Jim C. Cowart ’69 Lake Forest Academy Hall of Fame – Service to the School As an inquisitive boy growing up in Texas, you found your way to Lake Forest Academy. There, your world expanded. You enjoyed academic success; you were mentored by remarkable faculty; you matriculated at Pomona and Harvard. While your intellect and ambition led you on a professional journey as a successful businessperson and entrepreneur, your heart returned you to LFA. In 2011, you joined the Board of Trustees and, through various leadership positions, enriched the school community with your knowledge, experience, and generosity. Your record of philanthropy at the Academy is legendary. Your investment in the school has transformed the physical campus while bolstering the endowment, thereby ensuring a firm financial foundation for generations to come. The Academy will be forever grateful for your fidelity to the school and your boundless financial support. The Lake Forest Academy community today honors your accomplishments; celebrates your service; and salutes you as one of the school’s leading benefactors and strongest advocates.
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Ferry Hall Task Force and Advisory Board Ferry Hall Women of Distinction From Head of School José M. De Jesús’ speech at the September 21 ceremony: The Ferry Hall Woman of Distinction was established by Lake Forest Academy in 2004. It is awarded each year to women who have achieved distinction in volunteer or professional pursuits, and who serve as role models for Lake Forest Academy’s student community. Interestingly, this award was initiated by the work of the Ferry Hall Task Force, a group of Ferry Hall graduates who were assembled in 2003 by my predecessor Head of School Emeritus Dr. John Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18 and members of the Board of Trustees. What followed was more than six months of thoughtful and inspiring interactions with Ferry Hall women from a broad range of class years, backgrounds, and hometowns. The group’s collective answer is found in many traditions that LFA embraces today, such as white and yellow teams for the House Cup competition, and Move-Up Day, to name a couple. The Academy’s estate plan recognition society bears the name of Miss Eloise Tremain, Ferry Hall’s principal from 1918 to 1945. We also dedicated the Ferry Hall dormitory for girls in 2012 in honor of our Ferry Hall history and legacy as well as the extraordinary women who attended Ferry Hall. These integrations and advances are direct results of the Task Force and Advisory Board’s efforts and advocacy. That’s why this year – in connection with the 150th anniversary of the opening of Ferry Hall – we honor the 19 women who made up that Task Force and its next genesis, the Ferry Hall Advisory Board, as 2019’s Ferry Hall Women of Distinction.
Mary Anne Ameter ’61
Terry Hall ’67
Charlene Vala Laughlin ’64
Beth Petit Shaw ’75
Anne Bloomberg ’59
Phebe Carter Hethcock ’54
Cecily Barnett Meers ’69
Harriet Arpee Sherman ’54
Keena Dunn Clifford ’64
Loretta Kalnow Kaplan ’73
Happy Tomson Pross ’56
Nancy How Speer ’59
Janet Wemmer Crawford ’61
Jeanette Cullinane Kinsella ’57
Ann Ridge ’71
Judy Wax Lavine Saslow ’55
Evan Gaines DeRenzo ’69 Posthumously awarded to Muriel Burnet ’40 and Pamela Norris ’71
l-r: Cecily Barnett Meers ’69, Beth Petit Shaw ’75, Life Trustee Loretta Kalnow Kaplan ’73, Phebe Carter Hethcock ’54, Terry Hall ’67, Life Trustee Charlene Vala Laughlin ’64, Nancy How Speer ’59, Harriet Arpee Sherman ’54, Ann Ridge ’71 27
Reunion Class Portraits Alumni Weekend 2019 1959
1968/69
LFA Class of 1959, 60th Reunion: seated, l-r: Rusty McKay, Jim Stuart, Jim Kohl; standing, l-r: Jerry Millhon, Mac Harris, George Harmon
Ferry Hall Class of 1968, 1969-50th Reunion: seated: Lyssa Mashek Piette ’68; standing, l-r: Sally Sewell Wightman ’68, Marcia Yancey Donnelly ’68, Cecily Barnett Meers ’69
1954
Class of 1954, 65th Reunion: seated, l-r: Harriet Arpee Sherman, Margo Pinney Norris; standing, l-r: Phebe Carter Hethcock, Ann Stebbins Sidles 28
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1969
LFA Class of 1969, 50th Reunion: seated, l-r: David Dolkart, David Dienner, Bruce Lutz, Tim Graham; standing, l-r: Jim Cowart, James Sheppard, David Beattie, Phil Collins, Stan Howard
1974
Class of 1974, 45th Reunion: seated, l-r: Jodee Collins DeBates, Victoria MacCarthy, Gertie Kalnow Chisholm, Jane Neukomm McCollum, Beth Pontarelli Darling; standing, l-r: Milton Green, Jamie Garard, Ted Wilson, John Fahey, Robert Reuss 29
Reunion Class Portraits Alumni Weekend 2019 1979
Class of 1979, 40th Reunion: seated, l-r: Suzanne Rowe, Susan Stouder, Rachael Sokolowski, Jennifer Cohen Shneiderman; standing, l-r: Herb Garcia, Keith Harris, James Karney, Mary Russo, Roland Torres, Raj Gupta
1989
Class of 1989, 30th Reunion: seated, l-r: Sean Bryan, Jane Zarse, Demetrios Santers; standing, l-r: Ari Good, Michael LaVista, Tim Seston 30
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1994
Class of 1994, 25th Reunion: seated, l-r: Daniel Cepeda, Sid Gupta, Priya Khokha Jacobson, Scott Stone, Joon Han, Phil Atteberry ’93; standing, l-r: Rachel Dietzler Padrón, Danette Riehle Gioia, Mary Gust-Damitio, Mary-Audrey Proops Atteberry, Adrian MacLean Jay, Carter Chapman
1999
Class of 1999, 20th Reunion: l-r: Anjali Kumar Bharadwa, Stephan Jacob, Meredith Warton, An Duong, Joe Block
2009
Class of 2009, 10th Reunion: l-r: Sandy Meers, Megan Kozak, Todd Zafirovski
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Ferry Tales
Artifacts on display, l-r: dresses belonging to students Elizabeth Buell and Margaret Wylie (1880s-90s); school desk belonging to student Fanny Atteridge (ca. 1870); school blazer (ca. 1960s); diaries belonging to students Ella Clark and Nellie Beecher (1871); Ferry Tales yearbooks (1919-40s); campus scenes from sketchbook belonging to student Grace Colehour (1887).
Celebrating the Education of Women: A Ferry Hall Sesquicentennial Exhibition By Rita MacAyeal ’87, Library Director and Archivist This fall marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of Ferry Hall on September 22, 1869. To honor this historic milestone, Lake Forest Academy partnered with the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff to present a month-long exhibition on the history of Ferry Hall. Through photographs and artifacts the exhibit offered visitors a close-up look at all things Ferry Hall— from ivy covered campus buildings to cherished school traditions. At the opening night presentation, attendees learned about key events in the history of the school as well as the stories of some notable alumnae and former teachers including Hollywood star Jean Harlow, medical scientist Florence Sabin, and U.S. Secretary of Labor Francis Perkins. Drawing from all eras dating back to the late 19th century, the exhibition images depicted all aspects of school life including academics, extra-curricular activities, sports, social gatherings, special traditions, and dormitory living. The wide array of images afforded glimpses into a world gone by – one in which girls wore long dresses and wide-brimmed hats to play tennis in 1892; donned bloomers and sailor
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suits for a lively tug-of-war contest on Field Day in 1915; or decked themselves out in white cotton button down shirts, plaid Bermuda shorts, bobby socks and loafers to meet the boys from LFA on Calling Day in 1960. Among the oldest artifacts on display were two student diaries dating to 1871and a desk used by one of the first students at Ferry Hall. There were hand-drawn and watercolor painted campus scenes from an 1887 student sketchbook, which brought the 19th century campus into vivid color. Also on display were two faded yellow and white “class color” ribbons that had been tied to a spade used in 1902 on Ivy Day (a precursor tradition to Move Up Day). Some of the images and textual information from the exhibition were also added to the History Center’s permanent digital exhibition for ongoing display to the public. During Alumni Weekend, a group of Ferry Hall alumnae had the opportunity to tour the exhibit and view the digital displays and happily reported finding pictures of themselves and their classmates among the many photographs! Later in October, the History Center generously lent their display cases and mannequins to LFA so the exhibition could be presented during Parent’s Weekend in the Reid Hall Taylor Gallery.
Ferry Hall alumnae and LFA students pose for a photo in the former Ferry Hall Chapel, which is now a privately-owned home in Lake Forest l-r: Ferry Hall Prefect Elizabeth Campisi ’20, Shaliya Heard ’20, Dolores Donohue Fishleigh ’64, Ann Stebbins Sidles ’54, Marcia Yancey Donnelly ’68, Charlene Vala Laughlin ’64, Jane Neukomm McCollum ’74, Beth Pontarelli Darling ’74, Gertie Kalnow Chisholm ’74, Nancy How Speer ’59, Terry Hall ’67, Margo Pinney Norris ’54, Jodee Collins DeBates ’74.
The sesquicentennial exhibition proved a wonderful way to share the history of Ferry Hall with the greater community while celebrating the enduring legacy of young women’s education that continues at Lake Forest Academy today.
Alumnae view local and Ferry Hall artifacts at the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff.
Artifacts on display, l-r: mascot Montie (or Monty) established in 1948 and awarded annually to the winning team on Field Day; framed Good News newspaper announcing the building of new dormitories in 1929; the Westleigh Cup given by Mrs. Louis Swift and used for Field Day from 1909-1928 (sitting atop a stack of bound school catalogs from 1893-1901).
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Ferry Hall Luncheon
This year’s Ferry Hall Luncheon on September 21 was a wonderful celebration of all Ferry Hall alumnae, but particularly Women of Distinction, the members of the Ferry Hall Task Force and Advisory Board. The afternoon included reminiscing among friends and remarks by Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 and Task Force Chairperson Nancy How Speer ’59. This year’s Ferry Hall Prefect Elizabeth Campisi ’20 shared her thoughts about the Ferry Hall legacy. The meal was followed by a trip to the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff, as they were featuring an exhibit curated by LFA archivist Rita Schulien MacAyeal ’87, and the Ferry Hall Chapel, which has now been converted to a private home.
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Nancy How Speer ’59 talks about the beginnings of the Task Force and the role of Ferry Hall alumnae in the Academy.
Many Ferry Hall women – spanning 1954 and onward – gathered to celebrate the Sesquicentennial and Women of Distinction.
Friends from the class of 1954 page through their yearbook.
LFA Prefects joined alumnae for the lunch and ceremony. l-r: Jazmin Montes ’20, Sophie Waimon ’20, Kayla Kuehmann ’20, Jaiyenan English ’20, Elizabeth Campisi ’20
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Excerpts from Ferry Hall Prefect Elizabeth Campisi’s Remarks My name is Elizabeth Campisi and I am thrilled to be your 16th Ferry Hall Prefect. It was wonderful meeting so many of you at the tea after Move-Up day this past spring, and I am delighted to have this opportunity to speak with all of you again today. Tomorrow is an exciting day in Ferry Hall history as we celebrate its Sesquicentennial Anniversary; that is 150 years! It is amazing to see how Ferry Hall’s legacy and traditions still live on today here at Lake Forest Academy through Bird and Sargent House (which I am a proud member of), Move Up Day, our beloved Monty the bear, and, of course, through all of you. Before we get started, I would like to take a moment to extend a warm welcome to our new Head of School Mr. José De Jesús and his family. We are so excited to have you all with us! The Ferry Hall luncheon is another important tradition here at LFA, as it provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the positive impact Ferry Hall alumnae have on the community at large. Being this is Ferry Hall’s 150th anniversary, it is only fitting we are honoring the Ferry Hall Task Force and Advisory Board this year, as our Ferry Hall Woman of Distinction. It is because of these trail-blazing, intelligent, and determined women that the legacy of Ferry Hall is alive and well at the academy. If it wasn’t for all of you, I wouldn’t be standing here today. We offer you our gratitude and most heartfelt congratulations.
Ferry Hall Prefect Elizabeth Campisi ’20
So, let me share a little bit about how I found my way to LFA. I was born and grew up in Connecticut with my parents and my older sister and best friend, Christine. Right before I started my freshman year of high school, she left for college and, because of my father’s job, we left for Lake Forest, Illinois. It was an anxiety inducing change to say the least. Even though I spent all of my academic life in private school, we somehow thought it was a good idea to give the local public school a try. Well, since I am standing before you today, we can all see how well that went for me. Truthfully, it was just fine, but I wanted more than fine. I was looking for a community where I could not only form a close relationship with my peers but also make a connection with my teachers; a place that gave me the opportunity to meet and interact with people from all over the world; a school that allowed me to participate in all the things I love. I transferred to the Academy my sophomore year and found my home. From cross country to the musical to our social service club, Interact, I always found an encouraging community that, wherever I went, was ready to cheer me on, boost my confidence, or lend a helping hand. This sense of support is seen every day as one walks through the halls and is greeted by warm smiles, a genuine “how are you” and an occasional fist bump letting you know that when you give of yourself to the LFA community they will reflect this kindness and passion back towards you, thus illuminating how the spirit of the Ferry Hall women still remain strong and present today. That said, we know many changes have obviously taken place since September 22, 1869. However, one tradition that has remained the same is the high value placed on intellect, character, exploration, love of learning, kindness, and, of course, community. These Ferry Hall values not only hold a special place in my heart, but they also resonate with many LFA women in many different ways. In honor of Ferry Hall’s 150th Anniversary, my goals as Prefect for the year will be simple, yet poignant; to carry on the Ferry Hall legacy. I will make sure to pass on Ferry Hall history to the freshmen during seminar and will share anecdotes about its traditions so that students may form a more personal relationship with a time and place that may, at the moment, seem so distant from themselves. I will also continue to encompass the Ferry Hall values so strongly cemented in its legacy by spreading the support, kindness and positivity that has been shown to me by my peers and especially my teachers. I’ve had faculty take time to ensure I got a lunch when they knew I did not have time to eat or sent me an email when I was home sick to assure me that my work could wait. These seemingly insignificant acts of kindness mean everything to students. Historically, there was a Ferry Hall tradition called May Day where every May 1st a senior girl was honored for her charm, intelligence, and popularity. It would be wonderful to carry on that tradition by celebrating those who take the time to spread good will through their generous spirit. Whether writing these people a simple note of thanks or going out of your way to be extra kind to another, we can continue to embrace and expand the Ferry Hall spirit. Thank you all so much and again congratulations to the Ferry Hall Task Force and Advisory Board on their well deserved recognition. Happy Sesquicentennial Anniversary Ferry Hall!
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ALUMNI EVENTS Young Alumni Gathering in Menlo Park, Calif. Norases “Saint” Vesdapunt ’07 hosted a group of young alumni for a happy hour at his Robinhood office in Menlo Park on July 25, 2019.
l-r: Dannie Ko ’05, Dr. Tom Brickler ’06, Dr. Saint Vesdapunt ’07, Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso, Felix Schildorfer ’13, and Felix Ouyang ’09.
Alumni & Friends Picnic 170 alumni, alumni parents, trustees, life trustees, and their families gathered on campus on Sunday, August 18, 2019 to welcome Head of School José De Jesús and his family to the LFA community. The picnic, which took place in the Formal Gardens behind Reid Hall, included balloon and caricature artists, a magician and a stilt walker, and plenty of delicious picnic fare and great conversation. Visit www.lfanet.org/alumni-events for additional photos.
Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 greets Life Trustee Monique Pittman-Lui P’05, P’12 and her son, alumnus Nyalia Lui ’12.
Architectural Walking Tour LFA alumnus and award-winning builder Rodger Owen ’68 and his wife, Janet, hosted a small gathering of alumni and current parents for an educational walking tour through the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Chicago on September 29. Award-winning landscape architect Scott Byron paired with Rodger to discuss the process of building a custom home and companion garden and to tour participants through some of the city’s most beautiful residences. The event concluded with brunch at Vinci on Halsted. Visit www.lfanet.org/alumni-events for additional photos.
Host Rodger Owen ’68 welcomes guests to his home and prepares them for the tour. l to r: Alicia Cressey ’03, LFA Head of School José De Jesús, landscape architect Scott Byron, Owen, and Beth Petit Shaw ’75. 36
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College Dinner Series University of Illinois
Washington, D.C.
on October 16, 2019
on October 29, 2019
clockwise from bottom left: Oscar Li’ 19, Jacob Leib ’18, Asst. Dean of Advancement/Dir. of Annual Giving Christine Ryder P’15, P’17, Julia Knauz ’19, Tonya Muzhylko ’19, John Pan ’15, Zhenya Dubavets ’18, Margeaux Adam ’17, Dir. of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso, Blake Cedergren ’17, Haibo Gao ’18, Clint Shi ’18
clockwise from bottom left: Natalie Nunez ’17, Shaena Wright ’18, Emily Xu ’18, Eric Sorensen ’78, Dima Zaiets ’18, Brett and Andie Emshoff Nelson ’96, Mike Petersen ’96, Alex Putnam ’97. Not pictured - Janet Wemmer Crawford ’61, Art Crawford, Director of Individual Philanthropy Garry Sloan P’19, ’21
Duke University
Elon University
on November 4, 2019
on November 5, 2019
clockwise from bottom left: Anna Markey ’18, Danny Luo ’19, Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso, Alex Jackson ’19, Zhuri Bryant ’17
Chris ’18 and Katy Morrison ’18 with Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso Mason Schilling ’18
Wake Forest University
Northwestern University
on November 6, 2019
on November 14, 2019
Ava Ascroft ’19 and Becca Dee ’18
seated, l-r: Angela Zhou ’18, Sneha Pamulapati ’16, Tony Luo ’19, Elizabeth Christoph ’18; standing, l-r: Dr. Kerry Cedergren P’13, ’17, Sarah Hershenhorn ’17, Rishi Rudivaka ’17, Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso 37
class notes 1943 Nancy “Dee Dee” Bradley Schmidt is living in McLean, Va., on a farm with her two dogs and horse, and is surrounded by her friends. Her son John, daughter Kitty, and grandchildren Caroline and William are nearby. She wishes she could have made Alumni Weekend & Reunion, and hopes to hear from her classmates!
1946 Nancy Howland Washburne remembers her years at Ferry Hall and starting the day by reading Romans 12 in the New Testament. She calls them “the good days,” and she sends her best wishes to all.
1947 Litta “Willie” Williams Sanderson turned 90 this year. She wonders about her classmates. She continues to take water aerobics four times a week and plays bocce ball when the courts are open during the season. She still misses the D.C. area, though she continues to be very happy at Rossmoor, Calif. She lives near her eldest son with his grown kids. She sees them when they are home from college or work. Maria, her youngest, is studying dance at Chapman University and is preparing to be a teacher. She recently went on a trip to Panama to teach. She greatly enjoyed helping the girls there prepare for a production; the girls loved her and her help. Litta still cherishes her time at Ferry Hall and everything she learned therein. She also continues to wonder about what happened to the Tiffany windows in the chapel.
1952 Betsy Wheeler Hill is still living in Knoxville, Tenn., and loving it. She travels every chance she gets and is still able to get around well; a trip to South America was her most recent excursion. She still has her two little dogs. She also goes to Wisconsin once a year in the summer time. Life is good and she has been blessed
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with great health. She still keeps in touch with several old friends, including Anne Buehler Baker ’50, Walter Corky Hellyer and John Goodwillie. They all seem to be doing well.
1955 Art Erickson was in Nairobi, Kenya during Alumni Weekend & Reunion this year and could not attend. He would like to hear from his classmates. Art is currently a board member at the Erickson Company; Park Avenue United Methodist Church; Good News Movement; John Perkins Foundation; Leadership Foundations; and Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation. The Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation holds seminars to help equip global leaders for “surthrival” in cities. Learn more at www.urbanventures.org.
1961 Dean Conrad retired several years ago and has done a lot of travel. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and an MBA degree in marketing from the University of Pennslyvania. In between his studies, Dean traveled to Washington, D.C. to work in fundraising and administrative areas for congressional representatives, Ronald Reagan’s campaign and Lyndon B. Johnson’s campaign. Dean ran for the House once, but did not win. He did, however, work hard for his brother’s successful run for the U.S. Senate. After graduation, Dean worked with cooperatives in the Amazon area of Brazil for three years. He then returned to Bismarck briefly before working for the state of North Dakota. He later worked as an internal and external auditor for an electric and natural gas cooperative before joining the Lutheran Social Services to help refugees settle in the states.
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Dean and his wife Pat have been married for 49 years. The couple had seven exchange students live with the family, and even attended two of the students’ weddings later in life. Dean and Pat have been to 44 countries, and they now live in a small self-drive motor home to explore the U.S. For the last twenty or so years, Roger Meade and his wife Candace have enjoyed a nomadic life driving between bases in California, Virginia, Tennessee and Texas. This last year, they decided to slow down, and sold their Virginia house and downtown Austin condo; instead, they added a very remote base in rural Tennessee on Reelfoot Lake, a National Wildlife Refuge located on the Mississippi Flyway. Roger calls it a great spot for photography and has changed his hobby from race track driving to taking critter photos. When the bald eagles arrive for the winter at Reelfoot Lake, he takes some photos before migrating the 2,300 miles west to Saratoga, Calif.
1962 Susan Williams Lord de Alonso reports that everything is quiet in Chile. She continues to publish posts on her blog on medieval Spanish cuisine. Daughter Cristina is studying for a doctorate in public health at Harvard University in Boston while son Santiago is working for Preworks in New York City. Her cats are majoring in throwing objects off the desk into the waste paper basket. Their aim is improving immensely much to Susan’s chagrin.
1965 LFA trustee and First Amendment lawyer Tom Kelley was honored by the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition (CFOIC) in September for his long history of court battles in defense of freedom of expression and the public’s right to know. Tom was presented with the Jean Otto Friend of Freedom Award on September 10. Tom has served as an attorney for The Denver Post, other news organizations, and the Colorado Press Association.
He is a past president of CFOIC (1997-2013). Tom is of counsel at the law firm of Killmer, Lane & Newman. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and a law degree from the University of Denver. He is the recipient of numerous honors, including the Champion of the First Amendment Award from the 2019 ABA Forum on Communications Law; the 2018 First Amendment Leadership Award from the Media Law Resource Center; and Tom was named Law Week Colorado’s Lawyer of the Year, 2013. He was inducted into the Lake Forest Academy Hall of Fame in 2015.
1966 Mike Boe is tired of the bitter cold of Lake Michigan and is considering a move to San Francisco. Mike’s younger son is completing his Ph.D. and then finishing his final two years for an M.D. degree.
1971 Anne Winton Black and her husband Rick enjoy being retired. Rick is addicted to saltwater fishing at home in Rhode Island and also in Florida, where the couple vacations each spring. This time of year finds Rick back in his woodworking studio in an old mill building not far from Narragansett. He is in the midst of six different commissions right now, the largest being a 10 foot dining table and the smallest sets of beer and whiskey flight trays. Each project consists of something unique so he is never bored. Anne is still on the National Council at Avon Old Farms School, a private day and boarding school in Avon, Conn. When she was Associate Director of Development, she was the staff liaison to the council, which was made up of 60 or so volunteers. She finds it fun to be on the “other side.” Her four young grandsons give her and Rick great joy. Fortunately, they all live in Massachusetts so the visits are fairly frequent. They are aged nine, six, three and three, so it is always loud and lively when they are around. While it is great fun, she and Rick also enjoy the quiet when the kids go home!
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class notes Rick and Anne went on an 11-day cruise to Panama with friends last February. The ship went as far as Gatun Lake, but they added a ferry excursion to go through the canal and into the Pacific Ocean. Going through the canal was fascinating; they were able to reach out and touch the walls in one of the narrowest parts. The story goes that if couples touch the wall, they will be together forever. As Rick and Anne will be celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary in 2020 and the 50th of when they first started to date, she guesses that she has a good head start on forever! Anne has unfortunately not been in contact with many classmates, except for Linda Langpop Graham. She and husband Bruce now live in Cass City, Mich. Linda found her true calling later in life and is a Presbyterian minister. She has two small churches in Cass City that she serves. Albeit very distant from her high school years, Anne remains grateful for the three years she spent at Ferry Hall. She is grateful that the Academy seems to be thriving and still providing a marvelous educational experience for young women and young men. David Lemons has been retired for the past eight years and is enjoying his time. He stays in touch with his classmates and is always looking for more from his time at LFA. Marc Silverstein and wife Sandra live in Charlotte, N.C. Marc is the general counsel for Gorelick Brothers Capital, a real estate investment firm. Marc’s daughter recently accepted a position as an associate professor at Loyal University in New Orleans, La. His two sons live in Austin, Texas and work for a software company and a law firm. Marc and Bruce Robertson see each other regularly for LFA lunches.
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1972 Bert Webbe attended the early October wedding of Madison Groenings and Kevin Northrup in Bonita Spring, Fla. Madison is the daughter of Tom Groenings ’73, and family members Charlie Groenings, and John Groenings ’70 also attended. During the festivities, Bert had a conversation with a fellow Prefect Phil Collins ’69 which was a special addition to the celebration! Bert maintains connections with freshman roommate Merrill J. Ferguson, who has been enjoying his surroundings in Bend, Ore., since moving there over two years ago. He has graciously invited LFA alums to visit!
1977 Chris Karney just started his 34th year with the City of Chicago Police Department. He is currently assigned to the Strategic Decision Support Center in the 20th District. The SDSC supports officers in the field by giving them real time information. Chris and his wife just welcomed two new grandkids; Chris’ wife’s son and daughter-in-law had a set of twins. The couple also has a four-year-old who recently discovered the joy of a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
1979 Raj Gupta writes that it was fun to reconnect with several classmates at the Class of 1979’s recent 40th reunion - lots of great memories!
Gift Planning
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Is there a tax-wise way to give a second home to LFA? By Garry Sloan P’19, ’21, Director of Individual Philanthropy
I recently became aware of a real estate quandary that could have a not-for-profit solution. An alumna and her husband owned a second residence that was purchased nearly 30 years ago and had significantly appreciated in value. When the couple had children at home, the house was a favorite summer getaway. However, over the years, they found themselves going less and less to the house. They had been thinking of selling the property for years, but the impending capital gains tax held them back. It happens more often than you might think. Properties such as houses, apartments, condominiums, vacation homes and even rental or commercial properties constitute a significant percentage of many people’s assets. What to do with these assets when they are no longer needed or wanted can be a complicated question. Many people do not realize these properties represent an important opportunity for charitable giving. Almost any type of marketable real estate, including a residence, vacation home, a farm, rental and commercial property or undeveloped land may be given to charity. There are also many ways to gift real estate, each with unique advantages depending on the property and individual situation. In some cases, an
outright gift of real estate can allow you to make an immediate charitable impact while benefiting from significant tax savings. You can also gift real estate through a will or living trust without affecting your current economic situation. Using property to fund a charitable trust can be a means of avoiding capital gains tax while generating income for you or your loved ones, with the remainder benefiting charity once the trust terminates. A retained life estate may make it possible to gift your home to charity and realize an immediate tax benefit while continuing to live in the home for the remainder of your lifetime. There are numerous factors to consider when gifting property, such as the type of property, your tax situation and your personal objectives. These factors will determine which strategy is most beneficial in your situation. If you are interested in learning more about charitable gifts of real estate, contact Garry Sloan at 847-615-3287 or gsloan@lfanet.org. As always, we encourage you to discuss your plans with your financial adviser or attorney. More information about gifting real estate is available on our gift planning website — lfa.givingplan.net.
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class notes 1983
1987
Liz Farwell married on July 26, 2019 and held her reception at Reid Hall on Lake Forest Academy’s campus. LFA alums from ’83 in attendance were Ursula Bailey, Michelle Duenas Mowery and husband Phil Mowery, Myron Ford and wife Rose, Maurice Holmes and wife Michele, Chuck Matthews, and Liz’s brother Todd Farwell ’89.
Kelly Perine’s feature film “Manipulated,” a tense who-done-it thriller, recently premiered. He also wrote, directed, and starred in the short film “Is You Is.”
1989 Beatrice Rose Casini reports that costume design is taking over her life; she worked nine shows this year. She recently received two Jerry Herman award nominations for Excellence in High School Theatre. Her son Logan Malcolm Vincent Wolf is nine and wonderfully wacky. Beatrice still lives in Pasadena, Calif., and has a drafty old place in beautiful Ireland too. She invites friends to come visit.
1984
Friends from the Class of 1984 gathered to reconnect in September. l-r: Frederika Davies Walsh, Jon Tan, Jim Kolliopoulos, Michelle Twine-Reeves P’14, Chris Dozois P’17, ’21, Elizabeth Hayman Sherman, Amy Slocombe Hathaway, Maria Papadimitriu Pentzas, Barb Freund Gitkin, and Lisa Vogel Hedrick.
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1993
2000
Cappy Lau started working for Motorola Solutions Inc. in 2019 as a strategic services offer manager. This is her second round of working for Motorola; she previously worked there from 1999 - 2003 where she launched the first Bluetooth wireless products globally. She likes to spend her free time volunteering with the Rotary of Chicago Cosmopolitan Club in Chicago’s Loop. She lives in Bloomingdale, Ill., with 8-year-old daughter Isabella Rose and parents Richard and Laura, who finally returned home after being global expats for years.
Rudolph “Rob” Leytze recently got engaged to fiancé Molly O’Loughlin from Independence, Iowa. Molly is currently studying occupational therapy at the graduate school of Allen College in Waterloo, Iowa. Rob is a marketing specialist for BankIowa in Cedar Rapids. The couple will be married in Cedar Rapids on January 2, 2021.
2003 Samantha Symon-Rabicoff and husband Isaac Rabicoff just moved to the D.C. area. She is working as a middle school science teacher in Alexandria, Va. She would love to hear who else is in the area.
2007
Cappy and Isabella build spacecraft designs at the Adler Planetarium with particular attention to mass and surface area to elevate the craft with wind in the photo below.
On September 7, 2019, Meghan (Pesch) Mutlu married Basar Mutlu in Chilmark, Mass. Daniel Pesch ’81, P’07, P’08, Ellen Pesch P’07, P’08, who served as Parents Association President during 2007-2008, Ryan Pesch ’08, and Emily Lin attended the wedding. Meghan and Basar live in Houston, Texas together and both work as engineers for an energy construction company.
1998 Matt Dewar is publishing a new book called “The Mindful Breathing Workbook for Teens” through New Harbinger Publications. Malii Watts Witten got married this fall and she reports that it’s a super happy time. She is based in San Antonio, Texas, where she works as an inclusion trainer and consultant; visit www.EngageBetween.com to learn more. She would love to connect with alumni in the Lone Star State!
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class notes LFA Alumni Connect
Want to network with LFA and Ferry Hall alumni? Find contact infomation for a former classmate? Search for Caxys who live near you? If so, download the free LFA app at https://www.lfanet.org/alumni-app or search “Graduway” in the App Store. The LFA app is a great tool for socializing and networking with others in the LFA-FH community. It’s easy to download and use on both Apple and Android devices. Simply enter your email address (if you have multiple addresses, use the one at which you receive the monthly alumni enews from LFA), create a password, and you’re in! You can search alumni by Name Geographic region Class year Industry Questions? Call Director of Alumni Engagement Ruth Keyso at 847-615-3268.
LFA Classes of 2015-2019 Join your friends and favorite faculty for this annual LFA tradition! Tuesday, January 7, 2020 Reid Hall, Garden Room 11:30 a.m. Please RSVP to Rachael Josephsen at rjosephsen@lfanet.org or 847-615-3298.
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2012
2015
Jessica Gunderson and her fiance Mike Sciortino announced their recent engagement on August 22, 2019 at the Walt Disney World Resort. Jess and Mike met and began dating at Lake Forest College in 2013.
Karisma Chhabria is currently in India on a Fulbright Fellowship for medical research. She will return to Chicago next July to matriculate at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine as a member of the Class of 2024.
2018 Suzanna Newton, Head of School Emeritus Dr. John Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18, and Ian Strudwick at the Bowdoin vs. Connecticut College soccer game on October 12, 2019. Ian plays for Bowdoin.
2013 Charles Gallagher was recently promoted to 1st Lieutenant in the US Marine Corps. He is currently deployed in Africa.
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in memoriam 1942 William Lee “Bill” Campbell, aged 95, of St. Joseph, Mich., died September 27, 2019. Bill was born to George and Katherine (Upton) Campbell. He attended Lake Forest Academy. He continued his education by earning a bachelor of arts from Western Michigan University. On November 5, 1945, Bill married Mickey Williams of Benton Harbor, Mich. They had a son, John, and a daughter, Ann Campbell-Hays. Bill started his career as a teacher at Edwardsburg High School, where he was also the first football coach and led the team to a championship win. Bill relocated to Paw Paw High School, where he was inducted into the school’s hall of fame for coaching the 1956 championship football team. He finished his career as sales manager for Shepherd Products in St. Joseph. His lifetime love of sailing started at an early age on Lake Michigan, which was always his favorite venue. Bill was one of the first sailing instructors at the St. Joseph Junior Foundation. For most of his adult life he supported the foundation, serving on the board of directors for many years. His sailing legacy continues there as an honorary board member. He and Mickey were active members of the St. Joseph River Yacht Club, where he served a term as commodore. Bill sailed all over the world until he was 92 years old. For many years, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean on board a cargo ship that carried the sailboat to destinations that included Sardina, Italy. He participated annually in the Chicago to Mackinac race for over 30 years. Known to many friends as “Soup,” Bill enjoyed playing tennis with Mickey at the Southshore Racquet Club. They were avid downhill skiers, traveling in winters to Colorado. In later years, Bill spent winters in Jacksonville, Fla., with daughter Ann and her family. He is survived by his daughter and grandchildren Sarah, Alex and Will. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son; brother Don; and sister Margie Phemister. Natalie A. Danielson, aged 95, of Eau Claire, Wis., passed away on May 23, 2018 at Country Terrace Assisted Living. Natalie was born to A.O. Ayres and Florence (Schuette) Ayres on May 2, 1923 in Eau Claire. She was a magnificent woman who lived a life 46
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devoted to family, country, and her faith. Her community volunteerism was legend, active in and leading so many organizations, they are too numerous to mention. She was tireless in her political involvement, especially when her father Dennis served on the Eau Claire City Council, and in the Wisconsin State Legislature. Natalie was active, walking at least two miles a day, rain or shine well into her 80s, winning a Buckshot Run Award for her age group as a senior. She was an avid golfer, and a devoted Brewers fan to the day she passed. Somehow she had time to be a great cook, and her 1949 Singer sewing machine hummed continuously. In later years, she took up needlecrafts, and her cross stitch creations are works of art. She took in her children’s friends as if they were her own; it was common to find their friends had come to visit her, not them! Natalie lived well, loved well, and will be missed very much. Natalie was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dennis B. Danielson, brother Owen Ayres and great grandson Eric Crosby. She is survived by her four children: Susan (Lee) Crosby, Mary (Charles) Byrd, Mark, and Bil (Teri), three grandchildren: Amy (Patrick) Campbell, Tally Danielson, Johnathan Torres, and one great granddaughter Zoe Campbell. She is further survived by three step grandchildren Heather Pauls, Robin Berens, and Michael Crosby and numerous nephews and step great grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Fred (Kathy) and sisters-in-law Barbara Bieber and Janice Ayres.
1943 Alice Robertson Peterson, aged 87, of Deerfield, Ill., passed away on December 23, 2014. She was the wife of Gustav H. Peterson and the late Dwight Venell; loving mother of Dwight “Chip” (Ruth) and Douglas (Julia) Venell, Alison (Terry) Moon, and Alexis Bradley; loving stepmother of Tom (Linda) Bradley, Barbara (Jim) Donahue, John (Peggy) Bradley, and Richard Bradley; and grandmother and great grandmother.
1945 Joan Dixon Keller died on April 18, 2019 at her home in Westwood, Mass. Joan was born on September 11,
1927 in Springfield, Ill., the daughter of Noah and Louisa Dixon and sister of Noah M. Dixon. Joan attended Ferry Hall and graduated from Brown University with a degree in English literature in 1949. After college, Joan joined the junior executive training program of Filene’s department store in Boston. In 1952, she married Oliver Keller Jr. in Springfield, Ill., where they lived until their move to Tallahassee, Fla., in 1967, followed by a move to Gainesville in 1975. Throughout her life, Joan was a wonderful athlete and excelled in swimming, tennis and golf. On her 90th birthday, she eagled a par-4 hole. She was also very active in her communities, participating in the Junior League, Garden Clubs, Beyond War and the Colonial Dames. Joan and Ollie lived in Atlanta, Ga., for nearly 40 years before moving to New England in 2017 to be closer to their daughters. Ollie predeceased Joan in 2008. Joan embraced life and loved people. She made lasting friendships with people of all ages and those from all walks of life. She was adored by her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Her newest friends from the Foxhill community brought her great joy and happiness and her long time Michigan friends gave her continual love and enjoyment. In the last 20 years she thoroughly enjoyed playing Bridge. She loved good books, The New York Times and the PBS News Hour. Beautiful music, independent movies, birds at her feeder and Michigan summers were important in her life. Joan is survived by her two daughters, Alison Keller Townsend (Charles) and Louisa Keller Paige Miller (Robert). Her grandchildren are Charles, Claire and Peter Townsend, Sarah, Sam and Georgia Paige.
1946 John Odell Todd, Jr., aged 90, passed away on August 26, 2019. He grew up in Wayzata, Minn., and soon moved to Evanston, Ill. He graduated from Lake Forest Academy in 1946. John was an enthusiastic, involved member of the LFA
community during his student days. Most notably, he was the editor-in-chief of the Caxy his senior year. Extracurricularly, he played varsity tennis and was a member of the JV football team, the Orange and Black basketball team and the Orange and Black track team. He wrote for the school newspaper, The Spectator, and was a member of the Fishing Club and the Camera Club as well as president of the Chess Club his senior year. Known to his classmates as “Senator,” John made an indelible impression on his classmates in his two years at LFA. After graduation, he matriculated in the first class at Amherst College after World War II ended. After graduating from Amherst in 1950, he attended Wharton School of Business where he earned an MBA in finance. Soon after, he reported to the Newport, Rhode Island Naval OCS program and then served three years as a Navy lieutenant during the Korean War. Some assignments brought him to San Francisco where he then decided to begin his civilian life. John began his business career as a data processing salesman at IBM. His first challenge was to lead the installation of the largest computer system to date on the West coast. Success in this project led him to a promotion and a move to the regional office in Los Angeles, where he developed a control inventory system for IBM, which, at the time, was the largest software application program the company had ever undertaken. After leaving IBM, he worked for the international management consulting firm of Cresap, McCormick and Paget for nine years to integrate their data processing network in the West. He concluded his career by starting “The Todd Organization” with his father. Their new firm served 50 large companies by developing non-qualified pension plans funded with life insurance for top management. In this role he was affiliated with the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for 22 years. In 1958, John married Ann Avery in San Francisco. John and Ann celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this last March. In retirement, Ann and John traveled around the world three times and made many domestic sojourns through the years. Ann and John lived in 47
in memoriam La Canada Flintridge, Calif., for 44 years. John was active on many committees and organizations around the Pasadena area for over 20 years with the Tournament of Roses Association. In 2007, the couple moved to the senior retirement community of White Sands in La Jolla, Calif. John joined the local Rotary Club and followed his interests in finance by serving as Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee and on the board of Benevolence Fund at White Sands. John is survived by wife Ann and their two sons, John III (wife Cheryl and sons John IV and Andrew) and William.
1949 George E. Wallis passed away at his home in Oslo, Norway on March 1, 2019. He is survived by his wife Grete Strom Thorvildsen ’51, his daughter Lucia Wallis Smith, his granddaughter Olivia and son-in-law Vance Smith in Trenton, N.J.
1950 Robert Lindsay Scott III of Hillsborough, Calif., passed away late on the evening of October 1, 2019. He died peacefully in the comfort of his home, surrounded by loved ones. Bob was a beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather and was known for his kindness and generosity. He was a friend to many and was regarded for his sense of humor and wit. Born in Evanston, Ill., on July 23, 1931, he graduated from Lake Forest Academy and Trinity College. He proudly served his country as a captain in the US Air Force. Following his military service, Bob met his wife and best friend, Mary Alice Robertson. They established a home and raised their family in Hillsborough. As his family grew, Bob cherished the role of patriarch. He enjoyed a lifelong career as a stockbroker and served on the board of directors of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. in Chicago for many years; he also served on the Board of California Pacific Medical Center. He was a dignified member of the San Francisco Golf Club, Cypress Point Club, the Valley Club of Montecito, and the Burlingame Country Club. He was an active leader in the US Seniors Golf Association. In addition to golf, he loved hunting, fishing, scuba diving and dominos. “Cowboy Bob” was also a member of 48
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the “Frontier Boys.” Bob will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary Alice; his sister, Carol and her husband, Ray, and their whole family; his three children, Laura (Steve), Robert IV (Yvonne), and John Edwin II (Eileen); his seven grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and his beloved goddaughter, Carey McIntosh D’Alessandro.
1951 Donald Casper Apeland, aged 86, loving husband and father of three, passed away on July 17, 2019. Don was born on March 28, 1933 in Waukegan, Ill., to Anna Louise Casler and Casper Apeland. After graduating from Lake Forest Academy, he left for Dallas to attend SMU where he received both his bachelor and law degrees. At SMU, he met and married Suzanne Elise Dranguet. Together they raised three children, traveled extensively and enjoyed many lifelong friendships. In business, he enjoyed a long career as a petroleum landman and resident council for Lone Star Gas, General American Oil Co., and Pitts Energy. He was always eager to assist and mentor younger colleagues in their career choices guiding them through important decisions. Don had a passion for the outdoors and especially the mountains of Colorado. In his youth, he was a camper and counselor at Cheley Camp in Estes Park where his family would enjoy many memorable summer vacations. Throughout his life, he hiked and climbed most of the mountains of the Rocky Mountain National Park area including Longs Peak. Don was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Suzanne Dranguet; his mother and father, Anna Louise and Casper Apeland; his sister Betty Burgess; and infant child, Karen. He is survived by his son Chris and wife Melissa, and their children Andie and Matt; son Lincoln and wife Judy Niven; daughter Laura and husband Robert Mullins and their children Zack, Maggie and Carrie.
1952 Robert L. Nathan, aged 85, passed away on September 10, 2019. He was the beloved husband of Susan (Wimmer) Nathan; loving father of Hope Anne Nathan; son of the late Irving and Edna (Goodman)
Nathan; brother of Warren (Joan) Nathan; and brother-in-law of Lynne (late Dan Hudson) Wimmer and the late Gayle Wimmer.
1953 Robert “Bob” Edward Young Gramm, aged 83, of Scottsdale, Ariz., passed away peacefully surrounded by his five children on January 14, 2019. Bob was born in Chicago, on September 10, 1935 to Walter and Dorothy Gramm. He later moved to Arizona in 1968 to head the sales division of his family’s company Great Lakes Carbon Corporation. After the sale of Great Lakes Carbon, Bob started a printing business, Gramm Graphics. Bob enjoyed his life surrounded by his five children, and also on the tennis court. Known in the Valley as “Legs”, he and his doubles partner Jim Merriman held many southwest USTA tennis titles. Bob is survived by his five children Tiffney Kitawaki, Kelley Audrain, Kimberly Abbott, Colton Gramm and Tyler Gramm; nine grandchildren Emi, Yuji, Shinji, Ellen, Nicolas, Allison, Laurel, Chloe and Alex; sister Dorothy Campbell and brother Patrick Gramm ’48.
1955 Anthony Rosenwald was born on October 22, 1936. He passed away on June 23, 2017.
1958 George Johnston Ames passed away on June 6, 2019. George was born on July 28, 1940. He attended Alamo Heights, Texas Military Institute and then Lake Forest Academy. Afterwards, George enrolled at Tulane and later at Trinity University. In 1963, George met Annabell Ellen Sweeney and the couple married in 1967. George and Annabell had two boys, Edward and George Scott. George’s professional career varied from being a stock broker to an airline steward. He later joined Sweeney & Company, a wholesale grocery company, eventually becoming the president. In the 80s and 90s, George worked in real estate and helped Annabell with her retail stores, Apropos and Hanley-Wood.
George was a member of the Texas Cavaliers, the San Antonio German Club, the Merry Knights of King William, and the Order of the Alamo. In recent years, George served on the board of Villa Finale, the organization behind the historic preservation of Walter Mathis’s home in King William. George joins his son, Edward. He is survived by the love of his life, Annabell; son George Scott and daughterin-law Meredith, grandchildren Henry and Madeleine; daughter-in-law Sarah; brother Gene and sister-in-law Ellen, niece Elizabeth and nephews John, Gene, and Stephen; and their spouses, children and grandchildren.
1959 Charlotte Elise Masini, aged 77, of Hancock, Mich., passed away on November 13, 2019. She was born in Livingston, Tenn., to the late Samuel Baxter and Elise Elizabeth Smith. Charlotte graduated from Ferry Hall, and received a bachelor’s degree in business from Duke University in Durham, N.C. Charlotte devoted her life to her husband and raising her three boys. She was an avid reader and an amazing cook, and loved spoiling her grandchildren. As her boys entered secondary school, she began a successful career with 3M as an accountant. She retired from 3M in 1995. Charlotte was a giving soul who served her church, her friends and her family. The Masini family would like to express their deep gratitude and appreciation for the Portage Pointe Staff who have provided Charlotte with care and love over the last five years. Her sons are grateful to their father, Joe, for his love and devotion to Charlotte for the last 56 years. Charlotte was preceded in death by her older brother, Steve Smith and younger sister, Marcia Smith. She is survived by husband Joseph E. Masini; children Mark Masini and his wife Judi; Jon Masini and his wife Stephany; Scott Masini and his wife Keri; grandchildren Connor, Lauren, Robbie, Nicholas, Camryn, Jake and Anthony; Sister-in-law Judy Smith and her children Amanda and Scott Walker. 49
in memoriam Thomas “Tim” O’Brien passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the Bay Bluffs Nursing Home in Harbor Springs, Mich., on October 24, 2019. Tim grew up in Winnetka, Ill., graduating from Lake Forest Academy in 1959. He attended college at Georgetown University and went on to obtain his MBA from Arizona State University. After managing JC Penny stores in the southwestern US, he moved to Michigan to work in the family-owned Gately’s Furniture chain of retail stores. He was a civic-minded business owner who served numerous community organizations in each of the towns where a store was located. He was married to Lynda Branscombe for nearly 50 years. They lived their entire married life in the State of Michigan raising children Melissa, Sean and Timothy. Tim was known by all as a caring and charismatic husband, small business owner and devoted father. He had a smile that would light up any room and he never once said a cross word about anyone. Tim was an avid tennis player, golfer, sailor and later in life a skier. His interests were clearly driven by activities he could participate in with his friends, children and grandchildren. He loved spending time at his family cabin in the Wausaukee Club where he was most comfortable with a scotch in his hand gazing out over Elbow Lake. Tim is survived by his wife Lynda O’Brien, his three children, their spouses and his grandchildren: Dave & Melissa (O’Brien) Fields, Charlie and Meredith, Sean & Sarah O’Brien, Katherine and Ansley, Timothy & Erica O’Brien, Hayes and Calen. Tim “Harry” Samuel Temple, beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, son-in-law and friend, passed away on March 23, 2019. He is survived by his wife Mary; son Tim (Tai); son Mike (Lourdes); daughter Wendy; daughter Jenna (Travis); son Jack; brother Bill (Jan); 10 grandchildren; several nieces, nephews and cherished friends.
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1963 John “Jack” Edmund Binyon passed on September 8, 2019. He was born July 8, 1945 in Chicago, to the late Mary and Hal Binyon. He attended the Latin School of Chicago, Lake Forest Academy and Cornell University. He began his career as a restaurateur at his family’s restaurant, Binyon’s, on Plymouth Court in Chicago, and carried on the family’s legacy flourishing with his own iconic restaurants across Chicago. He will be remembered as an avid horseman, world traveler, bon vivant and hospitality legend. He is survived by his brother Hal III, and his children Sara and Duffy Binyon.
1964 Lloyd “Lonnie” Milburn Borrett, Jr., aged 74, of El Paso, Texas, died on October 31, 2019. Lonnie was born on June 14, 1945 in El Paso. Lonnie graduated from Lake Forest Academy, and he received a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in 1971, where he was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Lonnie was awarded the Bronze Star while serving in Vietnam as a second lieutenant. Professionally, he was a financial advisor for 47 years. Lonnie is survived by his wife Ann Borrett. Lonnie was preceded in death by his father Lloyd Milburn Borrett, Sr., and mother Elizabeth Howe McGill.
1975 Bonnie Sue Ackerman Coker, aged 63, passed away on November 10, 2019. She pioneered and ran a support group in Sarasota, Fla. She provided guidance and help to Ostomates while running an in-home business that provided ostomy covers. In addition to being a smart business woman, Bonnie was also involved with animal rescue organizations. She is survived by her husband, Ross, of 26 years, and her son, Jack, who lives in Chicago. She is also survived by her mother Beverely, sister Joy, and her brother Jay.
Academy Fund 2019-2020 Goal: $1.77 million by June 30, 2020
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IN THIS ISSUE
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Philanthropy Impact Report 2018-2019 pg. 7 LFA Launches the Inspire & Invest Initiative pg. 10 A New Chapter: LFA Welcomes the De Jesús Family pg. 18 Alumni Weekend & Reunion 2019 pg. 22 Class Portraits pg. 28 Alumni Class Notes pg. 38
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