CLASS NOTES
professor at the University of Florida, is the author of numerous scholarly books about Brazilian immigrants in the United States. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009. Mary Siegel Bleiberg ’62, Riverdale, NY, started in a newly created position at Queens Library in 2013, where she is serving as senior vice president of institutional advancement and development. Mary oversees the private, philanthropic and public grant-based funding for the library. Earlier in her career, Mary worked for 10 years at The After-School Corporation as vice president for policy and program development. Diane Bienstock Setchen ’65, New York, NY, continues to run Fancy That, the custom event invitation company that she founded more than 40 years ago. No matter what the occasion, Diane uses her expertise to create unique, personal, custom invitations for every one of her clients. Ronnie Levine ’66 has long had a fine-arts career, but she just published an art mystery novel, The Ice Cream Shop Detective, which is set in her home village of Tarrytown, NY, and was inspired by her friendship with a police detective. Describes Ronnie, “I created a fictional case of art forgery and murder in which an artist helps her cop friend tell lesser imitations from masterpieces. Things get far more dangerous than she expects. It’s about quality in art, set in a cozy mystery with a bit of romance.” www. theicecreamshopdetective.com
Candy Kugel ’69 is celebrating 30 years as co-owner of Buzzco Associates, Inc., an animation studio on Bleecker Street in New York. The company produces commercials, TV programming and segments for such clients as Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, MTV, HBO and ABC. Additionally, the company has created more than a dozen award-winning independent short films, many included in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art. Candy’s many triumphs in animation include a Daytime Emmy Award in 2008 for outstanding writing in a children’s series with Between the Lions. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, the organization that awards the Oscars.
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1970s
s Andrea Frierson ’72 has written a new solo show, Me & Ella, which she performed in early November at 54 Below. A “singer’s coming of age” story and part tribute to the “First Lady of Song,” the show is currently being seen by audiences at various venues across the country. Andrea’s other Broadway credits include The Lion King, Once on This Island, Bring in ‘Da Noise/Bring in ‘Da Funk, For Colored Girls..., as well as Marie Christine at
Lincoln Center Theatre. Andrea was most recently seen in Grace, a one-woman show, and she is currently working on an illustrated memoir, How NOT to Fall off a Broadway Stage. She keeps in touch with several former classmates, especially singer/actor Michele Mais ’72. Monica Belag-Forman ’74 continues her trail-blazing career in the fashion and apparel industry. She spent 17 years at Magaschoni, a luxury global designer and cashmere lifestyle brand, serving as president and CEO until 2013. Earlier this year, Monica took her business expertise to nail polish company Color Club, where she is serving as president.
s Jill Cannon ’76, New York, NY, reconnected with US science teacher John Roeder at a recent Teachers College workshop for STEM teachers in New York City. The chance encounter encouraged Jill to observe John’s Active Physics class at Calhoun and gather some ideas for her current research on interdisciplinary curriculum related to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math). Jill taught art and Advanced Placement studio art at NYC public and charter high schools in Harlem for several years. But in the last three years, she has transitioned to art education in community programs and museums while serving as chair of the Region 8 WINTER 2015