Class Notes
received a Lusk Memorial Fellowship from the Institute of International Education in New York City to study stone and bronze working in Carrara and Pietrasanta, Italy, an experience he continues to utilize around the world. A A
Following studies at CalArts, Donald Beagle (Don) ’72 studied with Radcliffe Squires at the University of Michigan. Don’s fifth book, Radcliffe Squires: Selected Poems 1950-1985, has been published by LP Press at Wake Forest University. Don did the cover-design and his 10-page introduction is followed by the finest poems selected from Squires’ books. Don’s poetry collection was published this year by LP Press at WFU, titled, What Must Arise: Poems. Reviewed by legendary critic and poet X. J. Kennedy, “…What Must Arise is worth the wait: an achievement both impressive and hugely enjoyable. Donald Beagle has the rare ability to involve the reader with the poem, revealing that things of which we haven’t been aware deeply matter to us. This book will surely be among the outstanding poetry titles of its year, if not, indeed, of its century….”
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Steve Ralsten ’72 writes, “After graduation, I became a musician turned technician and pursued a career in Entertainment at Disneyland for 11 years, followed by retirement from a 37-year career in TV and Films at Glen Glenn Sound, Paramount Studio, and Todd-AO. After surviving a heart transplant in 2016, I spend some of my time in volunteer work for other cardiac patients. I am busy photographing my new home area in Southern Arizona.” B Sharifah Carol Rosso (Carol L. Rosso) ’72 continues to improvise on piano Cosmic
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Chants by Paramahansa Yogananda, based on North Indian ragas as coached by Mala Ganguly. She writes poems, maintains her website, “Poems by a Devotee, a Life’s Retrospective Reflections on Divine Light, Love and Beauty,” while actively assisting seniors in maintaining three percent rent control in the Housing of Authority of the City of Los Angeles. She solicited the assistance of Congress members Becerra and Cedilla, who were successful in negotiating a three percent limit on rent increases for seniors. Rosso is currently participating in a CalArts online Poetry Workshop taught by Douglas Kearney. C Randy Balsmeyer ’73, title designer and visual effects artist, has been heading up Big Film Design in NYC since 2001. His latest big project was supervising the visual effects and graphics for Spike Lee’s 10-episode Netflix series, She’s Gotta Have It. The series will premiere on Thanksgiving this year. Balsmeyer has designed titles and produced visual effects for all of Lee’s films since his second film, School Daze, 29 years ago. He is also a long-time collaborator with Joel & Ethan Coen, Jim Jarmusch, and Martin Scorsese. C
least another five years. Bought a condo in Scottsdale in order to stay close to my granddaughter, Victoria (one of seven grandchildren), and am splitting my time between NY and AZ. I am now free to take on projects that look interesting, which I couldn’t do very easily for the last 30 years. More golf and tennis as well!” Bruce Green ’73 writes, “On May 27, 2017, I joined other CalArts alumni who had worked on the original Star Wars Film as part of Industrial Light and Magic’s 40th anniversary party. Fellow film school graduate Robbie Blalack ’73 founded ILM with others at the request of George Lucas. He flew in from Paris for the event. It was Robbie who originally recruited the many CalArts graduates who worked on Star Wars. Other CalArtians in attendance were David Berry ’73 and Chris Cassidy ’73.” D Michael Lassell ’73 writes, “Now that I’m ‘retired,’ I’m busier than ever, writing. My last published book for Disney Theatrical is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Broadway’s Aladdin. I am now putting the finishing touches on a commemorative book to celebrate The Lion King’s 20th anniversary on Broadway and have already begun tracking rehearsals for a forthcoming book on Frozen, Disney’s next stage musical, opening in the spring of 2018. Edward Rollin ’73 is a multi-instrumentalist in the Eddy Rollin Ensemble and member of the Screen Actors Guild for 20 years. In 2016, he won Best Actor at the Pocono Mountain Film Festival.
Tina Bennett-Kastor ’73 writes, “After publishing my book, Multiliterate Ireland: Literary Manifestations of a Multilingual History (Lexington Books) in the fall of 2015, I ended the last school year in retirement and am now Professor Emerita of English and Linguistics at Wichita State University. I have been able to resume drawing, painting, making music, singing, writing non-academic works, spending more time traveling with my husband (Professor Emeritus) Frank Kastor, and dandling grandchildren on my knees. Cameron Grant ’73 checks in: “After 32 years at New York City Ballet, I retired from two of the three jobs I had there. Gone are the daily rehearsals with the dancers and the concomitant solo performances, but I will remain as the NYCB orchestra pianist for at
Leda Siskind ’73 shares, “The Liar’s Punishment, my one act play about homelessness, finished a run at the Complex Theatre during the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June. My full-length play, All My Distances Are Far, is available from Stage Rights Publishing on Amazon. Involved with Theatre 40 (along with CalArts alum David Stafford) and Fierce Backbone—and looking forward to working with other L.A. theatres to develop my work.” Rachel Youdelman ’73 checks in: “I have a new website. Please visit rachelyoudelman.com.”
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