beyond the classroom
TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES IN WHICH STUDENTS EXPLORE, ENGAGE, AND DISCOVER THEIR CONNECTIONS TO THE WORLD
Catlin Gabel is an independent, non-sectarian, progressive coeducational day school serving 787 students from preschool through 12th grade. Its roots go back to the Portland Academy, founded in 1859. The school occupies 67 acres on Barnes Road, five miles west of downtown Portland, and a neighboring eight-acre East Campus currently used for offices and the Community Arts Program for adults.
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Tim Bazemore
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL
Kama Bruce
ASSISTANT HEAD FOR STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Sara Nordhoff
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Allison Dobscha
DIRECTOR OF EDITORIAL CONTENT, CALLER EDITOR
Ken DuBois
duboisk@catlin.edu
ALUMNI DIRECTOR
Rebecca Allen allenr@catlin.edu
WEB AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Hannah Lee
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tea Bear, Allison Dobscha, Ken DuBois, Hannah Lee, John Oribello, Jewell Sparks, Dave Whitson
CATLIN GABEL SCHOOL
8825 SW Barnes Road
Portland, OR 97225 (503) 297-1894 catlin.edu
COVER
On a spring 2025 Global Education trip, Upper School students hike along an ancient pilgrimage route in the Kumano region of Japan. Story on page 5
Contents
Carry Your Courage
Head of School Tim Bazemore’s Graduation Address to the Class of 2025
Voices From the Playground
Community members share thoughts and feelings about the new play space
Breaking Away in the Alpine Air Middle School students practice expedition behavior in rural Eastern Oregon
Journey of Reflection
A global education trip in Japan becomes a trek of self-discovery
From the Classroom to the Capitol
Students studying ecosystems and species loss find their role as agents of change
Traditions: The Senior Parade
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
A profile of our graduates and their college choices
Campaign Update
The community creates a lasting tribute to the Head of School
Of Note: Winter-Spring 2025
Board Profiles
Alumni Profile: Dr. Stephen Lezak ’11
The environmental justice advocate on finding a connection to the landscape at Catlin Gabel
Head of School Tim Bazemore’s Graduation Address to the Class of 2025
Carry Your Courage
Congratulations Class of 2025!
As you know, every year we host a Distinguished Alumni Awards assembly, where we are introduced to an impressive range of talented graduates. Honorees have included a research scientist, civic leader, author, federal judge, filmmaker, environmental engineer, and more. I am always impressed by the wide range of interests and achievements they represent—and the purpose and joy with which they share who they are and what they do. They’re engaged, enthusiastic, and passionate. They convey the belief that their life is an adventure!
Who our alumni become or what college you attend is not about what Catlin Gabel wants you to do, or what others expect of you. It’s about each of you charting your own course—using the agency you have developed here and at home to define who you want to become.
You have the same skills and attributes as those alumni honorees. Your teachers, advisors, coaches, and family have fostered in you the qualities found in our mission: compassion, curiosity, love of learning, and responsibility.
You share another quality from our mission: courage. You have the will to face fear, grief, insecurity, doubt, and conformity—and to take risks, be yourself, and do hard things.
As Catlin Gabel graduates, I hope and believe you will exercise that courage when it matters most to:
• Choose the hard right over the easy wrong
• Say no when you know it needs to be said
• Be curious and willing to change your beliefs
• Be vulnerable and open yourself to judgement
• Be honest with others and risk relationships
• Admit with humility when you are wrong
• Be kinder than necessary because you always can
• Recognize your biases and how they diminish others
• Act on your beliefs despite disapproval or danger
• Speak against injustice and share compassion
• Name dishonesty and seek truth
• Fight for the powerless because they need champions
Courage is not about fearlessness, it’s about heart— from the Latin cor and the Old French word corage French/Cuban author and feminist Anaïs Nin captured this meaning when she wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
May you have an expansive life, full of wonder and daring, hard work and quiet reflection. You’ll take skills and knowledge with you as you leave Catlin Gabel. I hope you will especially carry your courage.
Voices From the Playground
“The former playground was a magical place for generations of students, so when we began visioning the next playground it was important to keep that same sense of wonder and joy. The team has done a great job incorporating student, parent, and faculty input. As a parent on the committee, I especially valued faculty ideas—our teachers are the main ones observing how our kiddos play every day, and what they need to ensure everyone is safe.”
-Afton Walsh, Catlin Gabel parent and alum; Walsh Construction Project Manager
“If you believe, like we do, that play is the work of childhood, then a playground is important. This space offers students the opportunity to build friendships, negotiate feelings, engage with curiosity, and build a sense of independence and competence. We are fortunate to have such beautiful and supportive spaces for students to learn and grow.”
-Nick Zosel-Johnson Head of Beginning & Lower School
During last year’s fi fth grade class trip to Seattle, students visited playgrounds around the city, gathering first-hand intel. They created prototypes of their favorite playground elements, and their observations helped inform the new design.
“It allowed me to connect with the future generations of Catlin by helping design something that will be on campus for a long time.”
-Rosie Lowes ’31
“It was really fun because I got to feel like I had an impact on designing the playground. I was able to research something that I was interested in, and I was able to have my heart put into the design.”
-Sierra Clawson ’31
student cOntriButiOns
PlaY = learninG & deVelOPMent
Members of the Catlin Gabel community share what the new Beginning & Lower School play space means to them
“Our donors and volunteers have made this new playground possible in record time. I’m so grateful and amazed at how this community pulls together. This playground is the beginning of a renewed commitment to health and wellness that will carry through with the Community Center, currently under construction. I’m proud of all of us for making this happen—together we soar!”
-Nicole Rinetti-Clawson Chief Advancement Officer
“The final design represents a lot of thoughtful work by the entire Catlin community—students, faculty, parents, grandparents—to take the best parts of the current playground and add new elements that were maybe not an option 30 years ago. It’s great to see the ways that students are currently playing incorporated into the design, with the stream in the sandbox and a climbing/ boulder ‘mountain.’ It’s also nice to see a memory of the Covid era wiped away with the soccer fi eld restored as part of the project.”
-Harry Miller ’05
Catlin Gabel parent, alum, and trustee
Students celebrated the old playground during its final days. Listen to a few memories of what it meant to them. sendOFF in stYle
Funded WitH lOVe
BY BETH VALLARINO ASSISTANT HEAD OF MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TRIP CO-LEADER
Breaking Away in the Alpine Air
In rural Eastern Oregon, Middle School students practice collaboration, communitybuilding, and expedition behavior
Fluffy powder and bluebird skies were the unforgettable backdrop for outdoor exploration, fun, and memorymaking during Anthony Lakes Adventure, a Middle School Breakaway that took students to the state’s highest elevation ski resort (7,100 feet) in Eastern Oregon. A renovated historic country schoolhouse, nestled at the foot of the Elkhorn Mountains, served as our home base and the central hub for students’ community building, meal-making, rest, and relaxation.
Middle School Breakaway is a four-day, multi-grade, experiential learning experience designed to help students and teachers "break away" from the usual classroom routine. The overall goal is for both groups to learn something new together, fostering collaboration and growth, and the Anthony Lakes Adventure focused specifically on building community and developing expedition behavior. Themes such as reciprocity, environmental justice, conscious living, outdoor craftsmanship, self-resilience, creative problemsolving, self-awareness, and discovery were all woven into the week’s learning objectives.
“Students came away with new skills, a stronger sense of self, deeper connections to their peers, and lasting memories of challenge and joy.”
Students spent time snowshoeing along crystalline tracks high above alpine lakes and beneath towering granite peaks. They faced their fears and tackled ski runs like “Rock Garden” and “Avalanche,” navigating knee-deep powder and mastering speed and flight over terrain park jumps. Zack, an experienced 7th grade skier shared, “You could jump, and even if you fell, it wouldn’t hurt because of all the powder. I had the courage to try a bunch of new tricks.” Students also soaked in a natural hot spring, immersing themselves in 186-degree water. “The icy wind contrasted with the hot spring water,” says Smriti, a 6th grader. “But I didn’t really notice the cold, because it was so fun to be surrounded by friends.”
As the trip drew to a close, students came away with new skills, a stronger sense of self, deeper connections to their peers, and lasting memories of challenge and joy. “It was fun to learn from my peers,” said Gabbie, a seasoned 7th grade skier. “I had a lot of fun skiing with all of my friends, and getting to know them better.” Sixth grader Amir, a beginning skier, shared, “At first I was really nervous when I started my skiing lessons. After practicing and going down some hills, skiing became really fun for me.”
The Anthony Lakes Breakaway was more than just an adventure: it was an experience that reminded everyone of the power of nature, the value of community, and the growth that happens when middle schoolers break away.
BY JOHN HARNETIAUX Upper School Dean of Students
Journey of Reflection: A Trek of Self-Discovery in Japan
Hiking along ancient pilgrimage routes, students get in touch with themselves, each other, and their surroundings
As we descended into a lush valley in the remote village of Ōmata in Japan, having just completed over 20 miles and 7,700 feet of elevation gain in one day (all in the pouring rain), I was reminded once again: Students can rise to the occasion . And this group was taking this maxim to a whole new level. Of the numerous outdoor and global education trips I’ve led for Catlin Gabel, this was one of the most meaningful I have had with students—but perhaps not for the obvious reasons.
We were trekking over 90 miles on foot during our two-week global education trip exploring the Kumano region south of Kyoto, one of the most culturally and spiritually significant areas of Japan.
In the densely forested mountains of the Kii Peninsula, we had traveled over pilgrimage routes that have been used by priests, monks, nobles, emperors, and laypeople for thousands of years. Exploring our essential question—What is the difference between religion and spirituality? —students engaged in traditional prayer rituals at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, asked probing questions about deities, lit incense to honor family members who had passed, and took the same arduous steps pilgrims before them took with the hopes of karmic transformation.
The paths through the mountains were physically and mentally demanding, but the “occasion” the students rose to was the hard work of engaging in the process of connection—with themselves, with each other, and with our surroundings. They went without phones or computers for two weeks, lived in tight quarters, and journaled extensively about what they encountered. They tended to their aches and pains, responded to one another’s needs (especially under duress), and
displayed awe at the natural beauty and incredible spiritual history around them.
One evening, we held a conversation about each religion's approach to the concept of suffering, and students shared stories of times they navigated adversity and the sense-making that occurred afterwards. In our circle, each student shared their story and met each other’s expressions of vulnerability with empathy and understanding. They reframed their experiences of suffering as core aspects of their identity and, perhaps, as a connective part of the human condition.
These connections were my true source of pride at the journey’s end—even more than the arduous miles and elevation gain. I was proud of them for suffering, laughing, crying, asking deep questions, telling stories, sharing meals, sitting in silence, playing games, joking, praying, singing, and rejoicing in their accomplishments.
I was proud of them for allowing themselves to be so deeply human.
From the Classroom to the Capitol
In an Upper School science course, students explore their connections to the natural world— and their role as agents of change
by megan mclain upper school science teacher
In an era when environmental issues can feel overwhelming or abstract, students in the Biodiversity & Conservation course are finding real-world relevance through immersive, experience-driven learning. Guided by the principles of progressive education, this class engages students not only in understanding the biological complexity of life on Earth but also in exploring how they can be agents of change in conserving it.
At its core, this course is an exploration of the intricate web of life and humanity’s role within it. We begin by building a foundation in species identification on Catlin Gabel’s campus, focusing on native Oregon plants, animals, and fungi. From there, students investigate how biodiversity is measured and why it is essential for the health of the planet and human societies as well. This understanding lays the groundwork for deeper questions: What is causing biodiversity loss? What does effective conservation look like? And who is responsible for carrying it out?
These questions extend beyond classroom discussions, as the course encourages students to deepen their understanding and consider their role in civic and environmental issues. During the unit on endangered species, for example, each student selects a species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and researches the ecological, economic, and political factors threatening its survival. Then they analyze the conservation strategies in place, propose improvements, and reflect on what the world stands to lose if the species disappears.
This spring, students’ research in this course came to life during a visit to the Oregon Zoo, where they explored the zoo’s recovery efforts for species like the California Condor and the Rodrigues Flying Fox. They connected their classroom knowledge with real conservation practices and even presented their findings to peers, standing just steps away from the animals they had studied. It was a vivid reminder that science doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it is part of a larger story of ethics, policy, and public engagement.
Throughout the course, students also examined the roles of international, governmental, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in global conservation efforts. After classroom
investigations into treaties like CITES, domestic legislation like the Endangered Species Act, and the work of NGOs like World Wildlife Fund, students were challenged to apply this knowledge to real-world contexts. They considered how conservation effectiveness is shaped by geography, infrastructure, funding, and—perhaps most importantly—community support.
One unforgettable experience this spring involved a collaboration with the Oregon Bird Alliance (OBA). Students from our class and the Honors American Environmentalism class, taught by Patrick Walsh, met with an OBA Advocacy Program leader to learn how community action can influence biodiversity policy. Equipped with knowledge and passion, many of our students traveled to Salem to meet with state legislators. They advocated for wildlife-friendly infrastructure, beaver coexistence, and other bills meant to protect Oregon’s diverse ecosystems—legislation that would have once seemed distant but now felt urgent and personal. Their thoughtful, informed advocacy contributed to real legislative progress—an empowering experience for young conservationists.
Through these experiences, students go beyond simply studying ecosystems or species loss—they connect with these issues, engage in meaningful dialogue, and take informed action. In the process, they begin to see themselves not just as students of science, but as active stewards of the natural world.
Opposite page: At the State Capitol in Salem, they
Above: Students select an endangered species to study, and share their findings with peers.
met with legislators to advocate for bills that protect wildlife and ecosystems.
SENIOR PARADE
MAY 23, 2025
For generations, Catlin Gabel seniors have come together each spring to march through the Fir Grove, past the Paddock, and into the Quad, cheered on by well-wishers along the route. For many in the class of 2025, it was a trip down memory lane: One-third of them started school in the Beehive a dozen years ago.
CONGRATULATIONS! CLASS OF 2025
by the numbers
There are 81 students in the class of 2025. Class members will attend 56 different institutions. 22 states and three countries (Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are represented. Two students will take a gap year or semester.
college choice
American University
Arizona State University
Babson College (2)
Boston University
Brown University (2)
Bryn Mawr College
California Polytechnic State University–San Luis Obispo
Carleton College (3)
Champlain College
Chapman University (2)
Colorado College (2)
Cornell University (2)
Duke University
Emerson College
Emory University
Fordham University
George Washington University (2)
Georgetown University
Grinnell College (2)
Haverford College (2)
Lewis & Clark College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
New York University (2)
Oregon State University (3)
Pitzer College (3)
Princeton University
Purdue University
Reed College
Rhode Island School of Design
Rice University
Santa Clara University (2)
Scripps College
Seattle University
Skidmore College
Stanford University (2)
The New School
The University of British Columbia
The University of Texas at Austin
Tufts University (4)
University of California–Irvine
University of Colorado Boulder (2)
University of Michigan (2)
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania (2)
University of Richmond
University of San Diego
University of Virginia
Villanova University
Washington State University–Vancouver
Washington University in St. Louis
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
William & Mary/University of St. Andrews
Joint Program
Williams College (3)
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Eagles Soar Campaign Update
Honoring Tim Bazemore’s
Legacy
With the Bazemore Lobby, the community creates a lasting tribute to the Head of School
As we approach Tim Bazemore's last year as Head of School, Don Vollum ’84 and Alix Meier Goodman ’71 kick off an effort to honor Tim and his service to Catlin Gabel. For the past eleven years, Tim has been the heart and guiding hand of Catlin Gabel, leading us with unwavering dedication and vision through some of the most challenging and triumphant years in the school’s history. His leadership has propelled the school to enhance and better align its curriculum, expand its physical
footprint, and grow its reputation nationally. His commitment to fostering a nurturing environment leaves an indelible mark on students.
As we embark on a year of thanks and celebration in recognition of Tim’s tenure, we are thrilled to announce an initiative dedicated to raising funds in his honor. These funds will support the new Community Center for Athletics and Wellness and the dedication of the Bazemore Lobby—a hub of welcoming and connection, and a fitting testament to Tim’s enduring belief in the power of community.
Don and Alix, both proud alumni and parents of alumni, have served Catlin Gabel on numerous boards and committees. They are joined now by fellow alumni and parents, Maria Pope ’83 and Peter Beatty, Eric ’83 and Tiffany Rosenfeld, Eli and Robin Janssen, Mark and Ingeborg Holliday,
Tom ’87 and Megan ’87 Shipley, and David Recordon ’04 in generously contributing nearly $200,000 to launch this thoughtful initiative.
Don and Alix invite fellow Eagles to help reach the goal of $500,000 to bring the Bazemore Lobby to life.
Make a gift at catlin.edu/bazemore .
“We have to have the courage to ask ourselves questions and answer them honestly. That’s the only way we can continue to grow and improve.”
TIM BAZEMORE
Name a Space— Create a Legacy
From classrooms to fitness studios and gathering spaces, our new Community Center for Athletics and Wellness offers special naming opportunities at various giving levels. Visit campaign.catlin.edu to learn more and make your mark.
PROJECT TIMELINE
COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ATHLETICS AND WELLNESS
2020 WINTER Opsis Architecture firm selected
2021 SPRING Stakeholders’ feedback on building design
2021 FALL Barnes Road site location chosen
2022 SPRING Project design begins
2024 SPRING Walsh Construction Co. selected
2024 FALL Lead donor announced and 80% of funds raised
Eagles Soar Fundraising Update
2025 SUMMER Construction site preparation initiated
2025 FALL Groundbreaking Ceremony
2025 WINTER Construction begins
2027 SPRING/SUMMER Grand Opening
At the Lower School Lunar New Year celebration, students welcomed the Year of the Snake with lion and dragon dances, songs, recitations, and a traditional shadow play.
(1) Students led informative and engaging assemblies honoring Black History Month, Neurodiversity Celebration Week , Women’s History Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Mental Health Awareness Month
For the Honeybee Love Parade, preschoolers created signs with words and pictures that expressed kindness, love, and friendship.
(2) Many students competed in the BPA Regional Science Bowl, with five taking First Place and advancing to Nationals in Washington, D.C.: William Spry ’25, Simon Weil ’25, Aashi Dixit ’26, Alvin Zhang ’26, and David Kong ’26.
(3) Forty-six Upper School student performers, musicians, designers, and technicians presented sold-out performances of the musical Mamma Mia! In Cabell Theater.
As part of Woodshop class, kindergarten students built, painted, and installed signs to welcome bees to one of the many pollinator gardens on campus.
(4) Students planned and led the Upper School Diversity Summit and the Middle School Leadership for Change Summit.
(5) The Lower School Oregon Battle of the Books team won First Place at the Regional Competition in the grade 3-5 category and advanced to the State Tournament in Salem.
Individual Honors: Seniors Sana Shah and Tyler George were named National Merit Scholars; Jiya Mehta ’26 received the Congressional Award Gold Medal; Katie Jin ’26 was selected for the U.S. Senate Youth Program; and Teresa Walsh ’25 finished first in the Alto Voice Category at the OMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest.
(6) The Mock Trial team advanced to the State Championship, where they argued a case about defamation, misinformation, and AI-manipulation on social media.
The robotics team, Team 1540 The Flaming Chickens, finished in the top three alliances at Districts and advanced to the FIRST World Championship in Houston.
At the Northwest Science Expo, five students were distinguished with high honors and special awards: Lexi Ye ’26, Jiya Mehta ’26, Azalea Colburn ’26, Aashi Dixit ’26, and Lily Wang ’25.
(7) Students in every grade ran, walked, or jogged to support the CG Fund and the Playground Project at the annual CG Fun(d) Run
(8) For Medical Day in the Middle School, eighth graders spent a day exploring skills alongside medical professionals—most of them Catlin Gabel parent volunteers.
(9,10,11) All-community events this spring included Spring Fest, the Rainbow Parade, and our second annual Juneteenth Celebration
(12) Renjen Teaching Excellence Grants were awarded to Herb Jahncke, Joey Grissom, and Tea Bear, and the Tal Honorarium for Differentiation was presented to Alex Juarez, Enrique Escalona, and Sia Haralampus
5-6 Grade Basketball: For the first time, 5th grade boys and girls were invited to join competitive basketball teams along with 6th grade athletes.
7-8 Grade Basketball: The Girls Blue/Silver team made the League Playoffs and earned third place, and the Boys Blue team went undefeated and won the MCL League Championship.
(13) 5-8 Grade Track and Field: The boys and girls team won the MCL District Championship and set eight school records.
(14) Upper School Swimming: For the first time in school history both the girls and boys swimming teams were District and State Champions. At State, the girls team set a record for most points scored at a State swim meet and took first place in the 200y medley relay, 200y freestyle relay, and 400y freestyle relay; Tia Chakrapani ’27 took first in the 200y individual medley and 100y butterfly; Summer Whittle ’28 took first in the 50y freestyle and 100y backstroke. At State, the boys took first place in the 200y freestyle relay and 400y freestyle relay, and Adam Li ’25 took first in the 200y individual medley.
Upper School Basketball: Girls Varsity finished seventh in League with Sydney Perlewitz ’27 earning an All-League Honorable Mention. Boys Varsity finished fifth in League with Riley Nordhoff ’25 named to the First Team All-League; Isaac Robinette ’25 named to the Second Team All-League; and Owen Caughey ’25 earning All-League Honorable Mention.
Upper School Tennis: Girls Varsity took first in Districts and fourth in State, and Boys Varsity took second
in Districts and third in State. Jiya Mehta ’26 and Amanda Perez ’26 were the State Champions in girls doubles. Elise Kim ’25 and Ann Crosby ’25 reached the second round at State. Zareh Gonzalvo ’27 took third in State for boys singles, and was the singles District Champion.
Golf: Vishaka Priyan ’26 was girls District and State Champion, setting a 36-hole (2-day) State Tournament record and tying the State record for best first-round score.
Baseball: Nate Kagen ’26 was named to the First Team All-League; Nico Howlett ’25 was named to the Second Team All-League; and Ben Halvorson ’25 received All-League Honorable Mention.
(15) Upper School Track and Field: The girls team won the District Championship and tied for seventh at State, and the boys team placed fourth in Districts and 17th at State. Ella Bulkley ’26 was District Champion in the 100m and 200m and named District Female Track Athlete of the Year. At State, Caroline Mauro ’25 was champion in the high jump for the fourth consecutive year; Neva Scott ’27, Eleanor Hall ’27, Ella Bulkley ’26, and Caroline Mauro ’25 placed third in the 4x100m relay and set a school record. Teddy Ratliff ’26 was State Champion in the pole vault and set a school record.
Four Catlin Gabel coaches were named 2024-25 Coach of the Year by the Oregon Athletic Coaches Association: Hedy Jackson, Boys Tennis Section 8 Regional Coach of the Year (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska); Peter Shulman, Boys Soccer; Chris Dorough, Girls Soccer; and Danny Weinberg, Boys and Girls Swimming.
Board Profiles
BOARD LEADERSHIP
MARK HOLLIDAY, CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A Board member since 2015, Mark graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in economics. He is the president of the investment fund Goshawk Capital, and has vast experience from his involvement with ten corporate boards. At Catlin Gabel, he has served on the Creative Arts Center, Finance, Advancement, and Audit and Risk Management committees, and currently serves as the Eagles Soar Campaign co-chair with his wife Ingeborg Holliday.
NITESH SHARAN, TREASURER
A board member since 2021, Nitesh holds a bachelor’s degree from Case Western Reserve University and an MBA from the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. He is CFO at SoundHound AI, responsible for strategy, global finance, legal, and intellectual property. Previously he was vice president and CFO for Nike’s Global Operations & Technology function. Nitesh is a board member of the Alzheimer’s Association Oregon and SW Washington chapter.
MARC HILL, TREASURER
Marc graduated from the University of Oregon with majors in marketing and management. He was the CEO of The United States Playing Card Company, The Coleman Company, and Stella and Chewy’s; he retired in 2024. Marc has lived all over the world and is fluent in German. He has vast experience in public and private equity-backed companies as a CEO and board member, and mentors young professionals as a member of the Young President’s Organization (YPO).
KATE WARREN HALL ’93, SECRETARY
Kate is a graduate of Catlin Gabel who has served on the board since 2018. She received a bachelor’s degree in economics and an Executive MBA at the Babson College F. W. Olin Graduate School of Business, and her degrees were earned while she was also working for Cascade Corporation. She joined ESCO in 2014 to work in Mergers and Acquisitions, and joined their board in 2016.
INCOMING TRUSTEES
We welcome our incoming 2025-26 Trustees, who offer their time and expertise to support the Catlin Gabel community and excellence in education.
DEEPTHI MADHAVA
Deepthi holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering. She is a partner at Oregon Venture Fund (OVF), a venture capital firm backing startups across Oregon and Southern Washington, where she plays a key role in sourcing, evaluating, and supporting early-stage investments. Prior to joining OVF, Deepthi spent over a decade in global leadership and consulting roles at Deloitte.
HENRY “HARRY” MILLER ’05
Harry is a Catlin Gabel lifer and attended The College of William and Mary, graduating in 2010 with a degree in history. He is a partner at Fore Property Company, a vertically integrated real estate organization that is one of the country’s largest multifamily developers; with Fore, Harry has built over 2,500 apartment units in the Portland Metro area.
ANGELA PATRICK
Angela holds bachelor’s degrees in history and accounting from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Science in management from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. She is a CPA and has held senior finance and accounting positions at Nike in the U.S. and Europe.
She began her career at the accounting firm Arthur Andersen in Dallas and Chicago.
DON VOLLUM ’84
Don is a managing partner of Vista Ridge Capital, a private equity investment firm based in Portland. He previously served on the Catlin Gabel Board from 2008 to 2011, and again from 2021 to 2022 as the Endowment Committee Chair. Don has served on the Endowment Committee since 2012 and has also served on or led endowment committees for Providence St. Vincent Foundation and the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon.
JACOB WINKLER ’05
Jacob studied political science at Brown University. His career has focused on building companies from early to growth stages, most recently as CMO of Brandlive, a SaaS platform for video streaming. Previously, he led growth marketing and product management at Nike’s internal startup incubator, and was an early employee of the cellular access company Range Networks. He is now an independent investor and consultant.
KYMBERLY HERBST, EMPLOYEE FORUM PRESIDENT (EX-OFFICIO)
Kymberly received her BFA in acting from the University of Southern California. She was on the founding board of two theater companies, where she also acted, directed, and taught children’s theater classes for ten years. Kym arrived at Catlin Gabel in 2016 and was an interim Middle School and Upper School theater teacher before stepping into the role of Registrar.
DIANA MANTERNACH ’26, 2025-26 CGSA PRESIDENT (EX-OFFICIO)
Diana has attended Catlin Gabel since sixth grade. As a captain on the cross country team and the former student government treasurer, she has experience with leadership. She also leads the Middle Eastern Affinity and Appreciation Club, and plays the tenor saxophone in the Jazz Band. During summer Diana enjoys refereeing lacrosse and gardening.
OUTGOING TRUSTEES
For their service to the school, generosity of spirit, and commitment to the mission of Catlin Gabel, we thank our outgoing trustees.
MAT ELLIS
Mat has been a board member since 2022. He is an entrepreneur, investor, mentor, advisor, and CEO who has worked for Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola, and Goldman Sachs. He founded and ran Cloudability from 2011 to 2019. Mat has served on various boards that focus on education in the U.S., U.K., Ethiopia, Colombia, and Vietnam. Recently, he founded FasterBetter and is a managing partner of Sunny Ventures.
ALEX HO, PH.D.
Alex has served on the Board since 2016. He earned a B.A. in biology from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in cell and developmental biology from Oregon Health & Science University. Born into a Taiwanese family and raised in Tokyo, he has utilized his multi-lingual skills and scientific background as a consultant for Japanese and Taiwanese companies to promote and market technological products and ideas in the U.S.
NKENGE HARMON JOHNSON, J.D. ’93
Nkenge has been a Catlin Gabel Board member since 2016. She received a B.S. from Florida A & M University, an MBA from Trinity University, and a J.D. from Howard University School of Law. She served as a strategic staff member in communications, campaigns, constituency outreach, and legislative matters for several members of Congress, and as a deputy assistant United States trade representative in the Obama administration. She is president and CEO of the Urban League serving Oregon and Southwest Washington.
INDIRA NALLAKRISHNAN
Indira has been a board member since 2015 and served as Chair of the Board from 2020 to 2023. She graduated from University of California San Diego with a pre-law major and a minor in ethnic studies. Indira worked for the U.S. Embassy
in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for its Commission on Educational and Cultural Exchange, and contributed her expertise to the Singapore American School. She is a member of the Tufts University President’s Council.
ENEIDA NEMECEK, M.D.
Eneida has served on the Board since 2019. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Puerto Rico, a master’s in epidemiology from the University of Washington, and a master’s in business administration and healthcare management from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She is a professor of pediatrics and medical oncology at OHSU, directs the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, and co-directs the Northwest Marrow Transplant Program at the Center for Hematological Malignancies of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute.
MAUREEN REED, FACULTY-STAFF FORUM PRESIDENT (EX-OFFICIO)
Maureen earned a B.A. in English and art history from Rice University and master’s and Ph.D. degrees in American studies from the University of Texas. Since 2018, she has taught Upper School English and social studies at Catlin Gabel. Her career includes teaching at Lewis & Clark College and Minnesota State University, as well as a Fulbright lectureship at the University of Regensburg in Germany.
TYLER GEORGE ’25, 2024-25 CGSA PRESIDENT (EX-OFFICIO)
In addition to serving as CGSA President in his senior year, Tyler served as a co-class president in his freshman year and treasurer in his junior year. He was a Catlin Gabel student ambassador, Communicare Club leader, and captain of the Mock Trial team, and competed on the track team. He will be a Jefferson Scholar at the University of Virginia this fall.
See the full roster of Catlin Gabel 2025-26 Trustees at catlin.edu/trustees
Incoming Trustees From Top, Left to Right: Deepthi Madhava, Henry “Harry” Miller ’05, Angela Patrick, Don Vollum ’84, Jacob Winkler ’05, Kymberly Herbst, Diana Manternach ’26
The scholar and advocate on environmental justice, climate politics, and finding a connection to the landscape at Catlin Gabel
Dr. Stephen Lezak ’11
Were there teachers or experiences at Catlin Gabel that had a lasting impact on you and influenced the journey you’ve taken as an adult?
Oh, yes. There were the people who were explicit about mentoring me and being there for me, and then there were the teachers who I only realized in hindsight really had my back— the folks who took me to task when I screwed up and did it in a way that was a huge learning opportunity for me. People I think a lot about today are Clint Darling, John Wiser, and Hannah Whitehead, and also Pongi [Carol Woodbridge], who got me into big trouble one time and it was really good for me.
The outdoor program was seminal for me. My work now is deeply connected with environmental issues, and it was the outdoor program at Catlin, starting in Middle School, that
inculcated in me a love and an appreciation for wild landscapes. And my work really is in service of a lot of those landscapes that I felt such a strong connection to going on these trips.
And, arguably, all of Catlin has a latent connection to the landscape: the geography of the campus, the layout of the buildings, the year-end class trips in the Lower School…all of it has a tacit conversation with the Pacific Northwest.
Much of your study, research, and writing centers on Indigenous climate justice. How do you define this issue?
For me, Indigenous climate justice is about understanding that reconciling our place in our homelands requires attending to multiple issues at the same time, and that the abuse and
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The abuse and exploitation of the landscape really should be viewed in context with how that same land was stolen….There are real problems if you view one without the other.
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exploitation of the landscape really should be viewed in context with how that same land was stolen from its native stewards over the last 200 years. There are real problems if you view one without the other.
Your work in this field has largely been carried out in small villages in the Alaskan subarctic. What was it like to be immersed in these communities?
I’m still there a lot—I average probably two months a year in Alaska—and it’s really inspiring to spend time with these people. These are communities that went through almost unimaginable hardship in the last 150 years, and the fact that they’ll still turn out to have a huge celebration when the boys basketball team wins a big championship, to me, is pretty extraordinary. It’s really beautiful.
One of the lessons that I take away from my collaboration with these communities is a perspective on what it means to endure hardship and maintain a sense of purpose and community and connection. It is something that contrasts very starkly with the fatalism that is very common in American cities when people talk about climate change in very dark and even apocalyptic tones.
Your research in high integrity carbon finance has taken you to other parts of the world, such as Mongolia. What draws you to that very different type of environmental issue?
It’s so different, isn’t it? In some ways it’s really left brain, right brain. The work I do in partnership with Indigenous communities is focused on adapting to climate change. And then I get to do this other work which
is focused on preventing climate change. So the work I do on climate finance focuses on how you get money for worthwhile climate projects in a way that doesn’t cut corners and exaggerate impacts.
Carbon credits have been a largely failed experiment in what I would think of as climate finance. And a lot of the work that I do now at Berkeley focuses on how to separate the wheat from the chaff—how to salvage this failed experiment and recognize that there are really important things out there in the world, like protecting forests, that are worthy of funding.
With your writing in mainstream publications such as The New York Times and The New Republic, you’ve established yourself as a public scholar, as opposed to the “ivory tower” type. Why is it important to you to take that position?
It’s like if a tree falls in the forest, does it make a sound? And if I publish a paper in an arcane scholarly journal and no one reads it, maybe it’s satisfying to me to have written it, but I can’t count on it doing anything in the world. I had a mentor at Oxford who told me that once the paper is published, your work is halfway done. The other half of the work is bringing the ideas out into the world where they can make a difference.
I was working on an op-ed earlier today, actually. And I rearranged a sentence to eliminate a to-be verb, and realized there’s a direct line between that edit made today and me sitting in Dant in 2007 in Clint Darling’s English class. That’s an example of a Catlin education: it shows up in expected and unexpected ways.
ABOUT STEPHEN
Research Fellow, University of California, Berkeley, Goldman School of Public Policy (since 2024)
Program Manager, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford (since 2020)
Ph.D. Candidate and Gates Cambridge Scholar, University of Cambridge (2019-24)
Research Consultant and Lecturer, University of Oxford (2018-20)
Fellow, Rocky Mountain Institute (2021-24)
Expert Reviewer for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report (2023)
Member of the Climate, Energy, and Environment Policy Committee, Joe Biden 2020 Presidential Campaign
Earned a BA from Oberlin College (2015), MA in Environmental Change and Management from University of Oxford (2017), and Ph.D. in Polar Studies and Geography from University of Cambridge (2024)
CLASS NOTES
send us your news
We are pleased to publish all Class Notes submitted by alumni or their class representative. Notes and photos may be submitted at any time through the online submission form at catlin.edu/classnotes
1954: Maggie Michelitch and friend
1977: Classmates Laura Bachman, Paula Podemski, and William Penniston
2003: Nathan Krishnamurthy and family
2009: Christopher Skinner and family in Bahrain
2007: Classmates Stephanie Roe, Susannah Gibbs, Madeleine Miller Torresy, and Andrea Moerer recreate the time capsule burial
1977: Paula Podemski’77 and Richard Wolff
1975: Ann van Ofenheim
1976: Penny Hannegan and granddaughter Vera
54 Maggie Michelitch writes, “Hi, Margretta here, now I go by Maggie. Celebrating my granddaughter’s high school graduation reminded me of my 8th-grade graduation at Hillside, where the Gilbert and Sullivan musical was produced by Mrs. Givler and Schauff. My mother made a beautiful yellow dress that I was very proud of, as it had many layers of slips to make the skirt hang out just perfectly. Many years later, but I still remember sitting in class and having the eraser hit me as I was talking, and Stoddard Malarkey’s math class that made no sense to me. Moving away overseas from Portland, I lost touch with many classmates, but I still have those memories of the camping trips and Schauff’s English and Social Studies classes we had, and they helped me throughout my life. Thank you, Catlin Gabel Caller, for keeping me in touch.”
1963 CLASS REP: Jennie Tucker, jtucker@oregonwireless.net
63 David Avshalomov reports, “My most recent big musical news is that last September we flew to Shanghai, invited by the Shanghai Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. I guest-conducted the amazing Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, a world-class ensemble, in a full concert of highquality Chinese-style symphonic music that my paternal grandfather, Aaron Avshalomoff, composed and conducted there in the ’30s. It was a wonderful experience, though Shanghai was deadly hot and we had almost no freedom to explore. The concert was a decent success, got good local reviews, and I had a number of tightly-controlled local media interviews; the orchestra, during a generous five rehearsals(!) responded well to my seasoned conducting and firm knowledge of the scores, which I had conducted previously in 1997 in Moscow with a recording orchestra there, along with my father Jacob, for the Naxos label. For me, coming out of retirement as a conductor (as I did to guestconduct my local Santa Monica Symphony in 2021), it was a peak experience. Randi came along, supported me totally, and managed to get some sightseeing and museum-going in, courtesy of our sponsor, a local businessman and amateur Avshalomoff historian, while I was rehearsing. They are now working on a revival production of Aaron’s symphonic stage play with chorus,
‘The Great Wall,’ in a cooler season in 2026. We are hopeful.” Bruce Byerly shares, “My tarnished scholastic record at Hillside. Finally caught up with what I learned there in college. Having fun playing music with cousin George (Thompson). By the way, who was our French teacher? Madame Griswold is my answer. It was all Greek to me.” Duncan Murray and Saundra Murray share that they are enjoying their 21st year of retirement in Eugene. “We’re both active in our church and Duncan has been very active in county and state politics. Over the past years we’ve travelled to Scotland (eight times), the rest of the U.K., Greenland, Iceland, most of Eastern and Western Europe, quite a bit of the Mideast, Africa, and Asia, and are looking forward to visiting the Baltic states next year. We have well grown kids in Colorado, SoCal, and NorCal, and a grandchild in Colorado. We’d love to hear from any of you and would enjoy seeing you if you’re out our way.” James Tompkins shares, “I’m no longer the ‘pretty young thing’ that I used to be. All quite sad but totally expected. So far I’ve taught and directed for a small studio; ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was nicely received. On another note, I’m directing a one-woman show about four Kentucky women. Five or six people will be taken from the audience to perform the other characters that are needed. The script will be projected onto a screen above the ‘new actors’ who can refresh their lines. The lead is moving to Washington D.C. where it has more of a chance of success.” Jennie Tucker writes, “Hello, Catlin Gabel and Hillside Kids—Yes, you are still a kid in my mind since I haven’t seen you in the adult stage. A few scraps of my news: Here in the Blue Mountains for 32 years! Amazing that this place has offered me just what I have needed going into my senior years. Decided that I am fully retired and not painting houses anymore but still pruning fruit trees in the spring. Due to a pair of abused knees, have given up horseback riding in the surrounding mountains. I continue to fish the Powder River west of Baker City with my dear Charlie and we work in the woods as needed. I love it here on Summerville Heights and just maybe, maybe I will have the pleasure of greeting you and making sure your tummies are full of good food. Who’s next in line?”
64
David McBride writes, “Sixty years on (writing in December 2024) from Catlin’s graduation, some reflections and a nod
of gratitude are in order. I performed poorly at Catlin, though Catlin performed well for the most part. Gloria Zeal’s rollicking English classes demanded critical thinking and creativity. The unflappable Latin master, Miss Belden, managed to train me, despite my contrary efforts, in the study and the structure of that elegant language. This learning was the foundation for my study to full fluency in Chinese, and modest capability in Japanese, a few years later, bringing extraordinary enrichment to my career and life. Though I squandered precious opportunities at Catlin, still the Catlin environment aroused in me a restless, narcotic desire to think and learn, and a love of sharing learning with others (especially my two daughters). I also enjoyed running barefoot on the track and swinging on the rings in the Barn. For all this, my sincere thanks.” Stephanie Cohn and Patrick Cohn ’63 just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.
65
Marth Hart writes, “The Class of ’65 will celebrate a 60th reunion this year. We plan on a dinner event on Saturday, September 20th, and hope to tempt as many classmates as possible by that time. We also would like to attend the Pine Cone Lunch as a group.”
68
Robin Schauffler reports, “Since I retired, I’ve become immersed in the issue of homelessness in my own neighborhood (Multnomah Village) and citywide. I work alongside a number of organizations, but especially with two: Street Books, a street library for people living outside and at the margins; and Friends of Multnomah Safe Rest Village, a group of volunteers supporting people in the nearby transitional shelter with meals, activities, and connections to local businesses and organizations. If you’re interested in becoming involved with these projects or with the wider issue of homelessness, feel free to contact me at schaufflerr@gmail.com or robin@streetbooks.org.”
1969 CLASS REP: Steve Bachelder, steve.bachelder@gmail.com
72
Dirk Bergman sha res, “My debut novel, ‘Alicanto Firebird,’ is out on Amazon. A young artist tries to find his place in the world amongst the social and
political turmoil of 1973 Chile. It has almost nothing to do with where I ended up, with Allen Schauffler ’73 and Dave Weiss ’73, on their senior class project trip to Tierra del Fuego.”
1973 CLASS REPS: Debbie Kaye, djek53@aol.com; Ted Kaye, kandsons@aol.com; and Steve Swire, sswire@gmail.com
73
Scott Director reports, “My wife Carol and I just returned from a three-week trip/excursion in Southern India— specifically the towns of Bangalore (nine million people), Chennai (also nine million people), and Madurai (close to nine million). We were there as part of two Indian weddings—our son-in-law’s (Indian) brother was married (in Bangalore) to his long-time sweetheart, and a first cousin of our son-in-law was married (pre-arranged) in Madurai. Our brother and sister-in-law live in Chennai, and we were with them when we were not taking part in the very elaborate wedding festivities. It was an awesome experience.”
1975 CLASS REP: Len Carr, carrl@catlin.edu
75
Ann van Ofenheim sha res, “After 47 years of teaching in Oregon, Italy, and Virginia, and culminating in 26 years teaching middle school math at OES, I have finally retired! In my retirement, you can find me most days on the Willamette River paddling outrigger canoes. I am looking forward to celebrating our 50th year high school reunion in the fall!” David Seres writes, “Although I was only officially at Catlin for middle school, my classmates and teachers from that time remain deeply important to me. You saw something in me, and I think of you often. I have had a fulfilling career as a physician in a fascinating and complex niche called medical nutrition, where we provide nourishment intravenously to people with intestinal disease or damage. In addition to that, I have been involved in medical ethics, education, and research. This year, I will be retiring from clinical practice as Professor of Medicine at Columbia University. Over the years, I have become a recognized expert in the field. Just this past year, I received a lifetime achievement award from one professional organization and was
elected to the board of another. I plan to continue working to strengthen scientific credibility in the years ahead. Most importantly, I have had the great good fortune of sharing my life with an amazing wife and partner. We recently celebrated 44 years of marriage, and I look for ward to spending much more time with her.”
1976 CLASS REP: Hester Buell Carr, hbc58@aol.com
Hes ter Carr reports, “Since retiring from nursing in 2020, I keep being surprised by how busy I am—how did I live my life and work full time all those years? While we still have the energy, Len and I have been traveling—hiking in Scotland, rafting the Colorado through the Grand Canyon, and, coming up in September, biking in Nova Scotia. We also spend a lot of time with our daughters and grandchildren, which gives us great joy. I also volunteer with the SMART reading program in Portland Public Schools, and continue to play music, occasionally performing locally. 2026 marks 50 years since our class graduated from Catlin—where did the time go? If you have ideas or would like to work with me on a reunion gathering, please get in touch at hbc58@ aol.com.” Geoff Fitch shares, “I hope we can all get together for our 50th reunion next year! Wishing you all the best.” Penny Hannegan writes, “Greetings Class of ’76. As for me, I have been living in Boulder, Colorado for the past 43 years with a few years spent living in Australia, Cleveland, and New York. I am now retired from a career as one of the Directors of our local Housing Authority developing affordable housing here in Boulder and recently as the Hiring Specialist for our local elections. My husband and I are happily retired spending our time touring the country in our converted Sprinter van with frequent visits to Madison to visit our new baby granddaughter. We’re loving the retired life and even plan a visit to see James Meigs in Vermont this summer! We visit Portland every year, usually to participate in the week-long Cycle Oregon, and would love to see all you classmates next fall for our 50th reunion!”
1977 CLASS REPS: Laura Bachman, lbachman413@gmail.com, and Paula Podemski, ppodemski@hotmail.com
77Laura Bachman writes, “Hello friends from the Class of ’77!!
Paula Podemski and I are thrilled to be your new class secretaries. HUGE thanks go to Kelley Brand, who handled this role for many years. We have tried to update the email list as best we can, but if you see this in the magazine but haven’t received emails from me this year, please reach out: lbachman413@gmail. com. REMINDER: There are fun reunion activities planned for the weekend of September 18-20. Mark your calendar and please join us!”
Gaëtane Leus shares, “I hope everyone is doing fine! Here life goes by, sometimes just too fast. We are now grandparents of six grandchildren, enjoying every minute (also the minute the parents are picking them up :-) ) with the little ones. We also learned that life is too short to get upset with people who aren’t worth it! So, stay happy and enjoy life.”
William Penniston shares, “This year my book, Newark Public Library, part of The Images of America series, was published by Arcadia Publishing. It follows my book, Newark Museum of Art, published in the same series in 2023. Both of these were fun books to do—not serious histories, but full of some wonderful photographs, and both of them are salutes to two institutions that I have been professionally involved with for the past 30 years.” Paula Podemski reports that she retired after 32 years with Seattle Opera. “It was a wonderful run and a terrific career, but it’s time to do some traveling and enjoy my new life as a married person,” she writes. Paula wed Richard Wolff on December 27, 2024. She is in close contact with fellow Seattleite and CG classmate Laura Bachman and was visited in late June by William Peniston, who was in Seattle on his way to his family reunion. Paula looks forward to seeing fellow classmates at the reunion in September.
1978 CLASS REPS: Ken Naito, kennaito@comcast.net, and Peggy Schauffler, schaufflerp@catlin.edu
78
Darroch Cahen writes, “This spring I was again the skipper of the NOAA research vessel SILIQUA. While conducting research on pelagic fish, the Rose Festival fleet passed by. My favorite was the USCG T/V EAGLE.” Dave ’78 and
Colleen Maslen ’88 report, “We just sobbed our way through the Catlin graduation for our third son, Paul ’25. He follows Jimmy ’20 and Arlo ’22. So grateful they were able to attend this wonderful school.” Lucy Park writes, “I am finally retired from my work as a hairdresser, and I am about to get shoulder replacement surgery, but I should be good to go for ski season.”
1983 CLASS REPS: Traci Rossi, traci.j.rossi@gmail.com, and Adrienne Wannamaker, adrienne@wannamaker.com
85
Lis a (Marshall) Freeman sha res, “Just celebrated 14 years as co-owner of Portland’s Freakybuttrue Peculiarium with my partner, Mike Wellins. It’s been a wild ride, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Come by and visit!”
86
Christy Conklin and Dover (now Paloma) Norris-York spent Memorial Day weekend together in the Bay Area where Christy has lived for the past 27 years. Christy is an artist and author working on ecological themes; her book, The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis, is coming out in paperback this fall. She and her husband, Richard, are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year with a trip to the Outer Hebrides of Scotland to show their kids where they met. This fall, Will (18) is off to UBC in Vancouver, and Gemma (23) is starting an MSW program at Boston University. Paloma is an attorney in Multnomah County’s Public Defender’s Office, and her husband, Bill, continues his long career at Intel. Their four daughters—Laryssa (29), Shayla (27), Deja (25), and Emily (23)—are all going strong. She writes, “Old friends are the best friends!”
1990 CLASS REP: Pippa Arend, pippaa@gmail.com
1992 CLASS REP: Melanie Novack Piziali, melaniepiziali@yahoo.com
92 Langley Allbritton launched www. aicommsconsulting.com, a consultancy focused on helping companies drive employee engagement during IT AI rollouts. She believes
the competitive edge will ultimately be defined by how well people grasp and grow with the technology. Langley invites you to reach out if you need help educating and inspiring employees about a new AI technology. Her work also includes educating those using AI about the enormous resources needed to support AI; she is actively looking for donors and organizations to connect that are focused on clean, sustainable heating and cooling technology to reduce the AI burden on Earth’s precious resources.
1996 CLASS REPS: Daniel Karlin, danielkarlin7@gmail.com, and Trace Hancock, tjhancock@gmail.com
1997 CLASS REPS: Katey Flack, katey.flack@gmail.com, and Phoebe Wayne, phoebevwayne@gmail.com
1998 CLASS REP: David Shankar, david.shankar@gmail.com
2000 CLASS REP: Alex Youssefian, ayoussefian@gmail.com
2001 CLASS REP: Tyler Francis, tyler.p.francis@gmail.com
02
David Roe sha res, “My first child, Eric Roe, was born last summer; he’s just starting to walk now and loves books already. I also started a long-term position at MIT last month as a principal research scientist in the math department. Along with Eric, I live with my wife and two dogs in Somerville, MA. Hoping that everyone from Catlin is doing well!”
03
Nat han Krishnamurthy reports, “After living in New York and California, we recently moved our family back to the Portland area. Jaclyn and I have two kids, Mia (5) and Max (1), and we’re enjoying reconnecting with old friends in the Pacific Northwest!”
2004 CLASS REP: Hannah Aultman, hannah.aultman@gmail.com
04
Emi ly Tjuanakis welcomed a second daughter, Marianna, in September 2024. Emily and her husband
Ade, and their two daughters, still live in San Francisco. Andy Young reports that he loves being back in Portland and is the Chief of Anesthesia at St. Vincent.
2005 CLASS REP: Donna Canada-Smith, donna.canadasmith@gmail.com
2007 CLASS REP: Rob Kaye, robert.e.kaye@gmail.com
09
Christopher Skinner and family are embarking on an exciting new adventure: after four wonderful years in London, the family will be moving to Bahrain in August 2025, where Christopher will continue to grow a career in strategy, digital, and finance. On the personal side, daughter Kira just turned one, and son Finn is wrapping up his reception school year. Christopher is eagerly awaiting the big reveal on the new CGS playground in the fall.
2013 CLASS REP: Alexandra van Alebeek, alexandra@vanalebeek.com
2014 CLASS REP: Chris Park, parkcgs@gmail.com
2019 CLASS REPS: Miles Asher Cohen, milesashercohen@gmail.com; Layton Rosenfeld, sparkyrosenfeld@gmail.com; Sydney Nagy, sydneycnagy@gmail.com; and Helene Stockton, hlfstockton@gmail.com
2020 CLASS REPS: Annika Holliday, annika.holliday@icloud.com, and Eamon Walsh, eamonreedwalsh@gmail.com
2023 CLASS REP: Ben Rosenfeld, benro@stanford.edu
in memoriam
The Caller is honored to print In Memoriam notices for alumni and family members. Notices may be submitted at any time through the online submission form at catlin.edu/inmemoriam
Lois Schnitzer
Longtime Catlin Gabel supporter Lois Schnitzer passed in March 2025. Lois was mother to Rita Philip, Gayle Romain ’67, Sandra Schnitzer ’71, Mardi Schnitzer Spitzer, Jill Schnitzer Edelson ’81, and Dina Schnitzer ’84, and grandmother to 13 including Bryan Rosencrantz ’92, Laura Rosencrantz, Marc Lippman ’01, David Lippman ’03, Lauren Edelson ’10, Brooke Edelson ’12, Zaina Edelson ’15 and Stella Rose Meier ’20. For nearly six decades, Lois and her late husband Leonard Schnitzer were major contributors, especially to the Art Barn, Creative Arts Center, James F. Miller Library, and East Campus expansion. Lois championed the first 8th grade Graduation Celebration in the Barn in 1978 where she sewed rainbow striped ties for Schauff and the male teachers. She also generously gave her time and resources to many local organizations, including the Jewish Federation, Oregon Jewish Museum, OHSU, Portland Art Museum, and the Oregon Symphony. Lois will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her.
Priscilla Cowell
Former teacher
Morris Galen
Father of Solana Galen ’71 and Candace Galen ’72
Mary Gleason ’63
John Keyes
Father of Heather Hofield ’90 and Christopher Keyes ’92; former college counselor and trustee
Glenn McMath
Husband of Dickey (Beatty) McMath ’76
Albert John Ochsner III
Father of Elizabeth Ochsner and John Ochsner ’86
Herb Semler
Dr. Herbert Joseph Semler, a pioneering cardiologist, inventor, and entrepreneur, passed away peacefully at home in July 2025. Dr. Semler held a distinguished 60-year career as Oregon’s first cardiologist in private practice, affiliated with St. Vincent Hospital. Dr. Semler and his wife Shirley were regular attendees at Catlin Gabel’s annual Grandparents and Honored Guests Day and generous benefactors of the school, specifically supporting the sciences with the Dr. Herbert & Shirley Semler Science Building in the Upper School, as well as many other campus needs like the Shirley and Dr. Herb Semler Tent which is frequently used for events. Dr. Semler is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Shirley Lesman Semler; his two daughters, Shelli J. Semler ’74 and Jill S. Rubinstein ’77; his three sons Gregg T. Semler ’76, H Eric Semler, and Matthew D. Semler; along with his cherished 15 grandchildren including graduates Max Semler ’11, Kate Rubinstein Hazzard ’12, Jennifer Rubinstein ’14, and Anna Semler ’22, and one great-grandson.
Virginia Polits
Mother of Bill Polits ’78
Carol Denison Santesson ’57
Mother of Mark Santesson ’91
Cornelius Sullivan
Father of Maura Sullivan ’87, Megan Shipley ’87, and Patrick Sullivan ’93; father-in-law of Tom Shipley ’87; grandfather of Fiona Shipley ’23 and Alex Shipley ’25
Catherine (Nelson) Thompson ’47
Julie Brush Wheeler
Former teacher
Rick Woodard
Husband of Chris Woodard; father of Sarah Woodard ’02 and Sam Woodard ’06
Community Center for Athletics and Wellness
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 • 11:30 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
MAIN CAMPUS
Catlin Gabel and Jordan Schnitzer ’69 cordially invite you to the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Community Center for Athletics and Wellness. Let’s mark a significant milestone and express our gratitude to the generous supporters who helped bring this vision to life.
A brief program at the build site will be followed by a reception with a light lunch and refreshments at the Cabell Center Patio.
Kindly note that the terrain at the build site is uneven, so appropriate footwear is recommended.
Please RSVP
catlin.edu/ccaw
