Our Mission
The Clayton Education Foundation advances the School District of Clayton’s culture of academic excellence and helps students reach their full potential by:
• Funding classroom innovations
• Providing increased access to educational opportunities, and
• Promoting lifelong connections for alumni.
2021-2022 Board of Directors
Officers
Foundation Staff
Alex Berger III (‘67), President
Kyle Hogan (‘02), Vice President
Bruce Abrams (‘67), Treasurer
Judy (Meyerson) Gorin (‘81), Secretary
Board Members
Gregory Ellston (‘79)
Benjamin Hochman (‘98)
Robert Kerr (‘80)
Lilly Gutwein Scharff (‘95)
Ex-Officio Members
Nisha Patel, Superintendent, School District of Clayton
Kimberly Hurst, Director, School District of Clayton Board of Education
Sandi Straetker, APR, Executive Director
Meredith Reese, Administrative Assistant
Thank You for Serving
Todd Dufour (‘97) Marta (Toczylowski) Martin (‘08)
ON THE COVER: Members of Clayton High School’s Class of 2022 celebrate graduation.
Dear Friend,
We are so grateful for your support of the Clayton Education Foundation. Because of YOU, we’re able to help School District of Clayton students by:
• Funding classroom innovations;
• Providing increased access to educational opportunities; and
• Promoting lifelong connections for alumni.
CEF funding goes beyond what tax dollars cover to ensure that Clayton students are always able to pursue excellence.
So, whether you funded Teacher Innovation Grants, attended the Alumni Hall of Fame, helped a family through our Food & Essentials Drive, donated to our General Fund, volunteered at the Alumni BBQ, gave to the Rick Beard Endowment for STEM, or nominated a Distinguished Educator, YOU made everything we did this year at CEF possible!
Thank you for your continued support! You’re Always a Greyhound!
Alex Berger III President, Board of Directors Sandi Straetker, APR Executive DirectorNew Elementary Library Books
In May 2021, CEF raised $22,500 to fund the Dr. Sean Doherty Book Collection at the Captain, Glenridge, and Meramec Elementary School libraries in honor of the retiring superintendent. The brand new books selected by our librarians have begun hitting the shelves, to the delight of our students. It’s another example of your donations to CEF making a daily impact on Clayton students!
Internet Access for All Students
Not every student’s family can afford internet service, but it’s a vital tool for learning. That’s why the CEF Rick Beard Endowment funded internet hotspots for 20 School District of Clayton families this year. Established by his family to honor the memory of Rick Beard (‘78), the Beard Endowment supports science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) projects throughout the District.
Supporting Families in Need
The School District of Clayton’s PTO and CEF joined forces once again in October 2021 to support District families in need with our Food & Essentials Drive. Thanks to your generosity, 75 families received assistance. You filled each building’s food pantry and gave $7,023, which provided food support during school breaks and aid for other family emergencies, such as school supplies, utility payments and rent support.
Your Donations at Work
Blandford Jennings Award
Emma Baum (‘22) received the CHS English Department Blandford Jennings Award, named for the legendary English instructor. Emma, pictured here with her proud parents Melissa and Kevin Baum, is majoring in English with a Creative Writing concentration at Denison University. The accompanying $500 Blandford Jennings Award Scholarship was made possible by a generous bequest to CEF from Alumna Mary Louise (Frey) Hickman (‘44).
Greyhound Graduate Scholarship
Jessie Lin (‘22) received the Clayton Education Foundation’s Class of 2022 Greyhound Graduate Scholarship. The winner is randomly selected from all graduating seniors who have registered for the Clayton Alumni Association. Jessie is using the $500 award at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is majoring in Biochemistry on the PreMed track. Jessie is pictured here with her proud parents, Wei Lin and Fang Yang.
Adzick Field Dedicated
Dr. Scott Adzick (‘71) threw out the ceremonial first pitch to formally dedicate the CHS multi-sport facility named for his father, legendary history teacher and baseball coach Nick Adzick. The ceremony, held April 23, 2022, recognized the many generous donors like you and community partners who made the field renovation possible. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Columnist and CEF Board Member Benjamin Hochman (‘98) emceed.
$50,000 for Clayton Classrooms
Thanks to you, Clayton Education Foundation Teacher Innovation Grants allow teachers to try new materials, inventive methods, and unique experiences to improve student learning. These projects go beyond what tax dollars cover and help ensure that Clayton teachers are able to implement advanced teaching methods and creative ways of educating our students. Including this year’s grants, more than $383,000 has been put to work in classrooms throughout the District since 2009.
Carmen Marty Meramec Elementary Denise Stouffer Glenridge Elementary 3-D
Scott Osborne, Bridget Landgraf, Tracy McKenna Meramec Elementary
Cara
Kimberly
Emily Berkbigler Meramec Elementary
It was a great day to be a Greyhound! Alumni from across the decades turned out for the Alumni BBQ presented by Sugarfire Smoke House. We’re grateful for the support of Sugarfire and our other sponsors: Straub’s, Chartwells, J. McGraugh’s Bar and Grill, and Gladys Manion Real Estate. The Classes of 1980, ‘81, ‘85, and ‘86 celebrated reunions that weekend. And the Greyhound football team won in overtime, defeating Principia 44-36!
2020 and 2022 Clayton Alumni Hall of Fame and Distinguished Educator Awards
Class of 2020 honorees
On April 22 and 23, 2022, alumni, educators, family and friends gathered from all over the world to honor the outstanding achievements of 19 CHS graduates and six former faculty members. They all bring pride and inspiration to the School District of Clayton, the community and society.
Class of 2020
Elaine “Ilana” Zarembka Belmaker M.D. (‘63)
Arlen Chaleff (‘59)
Diane Wendt Dossin (‘72)
Amy Feder (‘97)
Marc Cahill Frost (‘70)
Morton A. Levy M.D. (‘53)
Michael E. Marks (‘69) **
Patricia Silver (‘67)
Jack Tuholske (‘72) *
Cynthia Wolken (‘97)
2020 and 2022 Clayton Alumni Hall of Fame and Distinguished Educator Awards
Class of 2022 honorees
Class of 2022
Katherine Bernhardt (‘93)
Jairus Byrd (‘05) **
Chuck Cohn (‘04)
David Garfield (‘74)
Larry Gellman (‘66)
Claudia Newman (‘84)
Vanessa Merit Nornberg (‘93) **
Steven Prstojevich M.D., D.D.S., F.A.C.S. (‘78)
John Rosenfeld M.D. (‘70)
Distinguished Educators
Suzanne Billhymer, English/Photography
Nick Otten, English/Theater
Rex Rice, Physics
CEF Board President Alex Berger III emceed the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, held at the Clayton High School Auditorium.
* Posthumous Inductee ** Unable to attend
2020 and 2022 Clayton Alumni Hall of Fame and Distinguished Educator Awards
Gifts Up to $99
Richard Aach ‘51
Bruce Abrams ‘67
Ruth Alpers
Michael Askuvich
Barbara Katz Bilkert
Robert Bohm, Gateway Marketing LTD.
Kassandra Braidwood
Rachael Brightfield
Susan Bronw
Arlen Chaleff ‘59
Class of 1981
Emily Clayton
Angela S Clayton
Heather Corcoran
Janet Crews
Shannon Davis
Barbara Demba ‘51
Joanna Dinsmore
Krystle Disney Sue Fishman
Vincent Flewellen ‘89
Marshall “Mickey” Fox ‘58
Julie and Leonard Frankel ‘67
Nikki Freyman
Julie Geissler
Marisa Gelfand
Zach Goldkamp
Rebecca Epstein Goldstein
Stephanie Goodall
Marguerite Grady
Genevieve Gurney
Lilly Gutwein Scharff ‘95
Maureen & Randell Gelzer
Tem Hiesberger ‘59
Barbara Atkins Hughes ‘52
Laura Jue
Mary Kaiser
Liang-I Kang
Kelley Karandjeff and Elias, Xander, and Phil Kilbridge
Sara Karpman
Brian Katz
Jennifer Kaufman
Amber Kempf
Diane and Jerry (‘85) Kopp
Barry & Sherilyn Rubin (‘66) Krell
Ashlyn Lackey
Lindsey Lang Soleita Lee
Jeffrey Lerner ‘65
Nancy W. Litzinger ‘58 Nicole Loiterstein Sam & Susie Luten ‘76
Robert Maesaka
Melissa Markwort Raychelle Martin Liz McCandless
Jamie McKenzie
Lois Morganstern Rita Mukerji
Jessica Niehaus
Jo Ann Novoson ‘68 Stormy Orlin Susan Pellegrino Robert & Ann Marie Kerr Niloofar Piri Candice Powell Ed & Meredith Reese Debbie Reilly
Donna Rogers-Beard Guillermo Rosas Emily & Rob Rosenfeld
Sally M. Rosenthal Dan & Allie Rossini Pete and Donna Rothschild Rebecca Rubin-Schlansky ‘01 Julie Scherck ‘80
Roger Scherck Drs. Michelle & Paul Schultz Karin Schute
Laura Seelbach
Julie Shapleigh
Elizabeth Shook Stacy & Greg Siwak Rick Knox & Marian Steen
Sheila Stewart
Julie Stiles Sandi Straetker Scott & Harriet Summers
Jennifer Tillstrom Cathie Weeks Steven B. Weinreich Katie Wolfe Julie & Greg Yawitz Branden Yee Vivian Zwick
Gifts From $100 to $249
Anonymous
Anil Aranha
John Banjak
Allan Barker ‘65
Vincenza Bellone
Alex Berger III ‘67
Mary Bower
Janet Boyer
Samuel Broh
Robert Cohen
Caroline E Day
Deanna, Michael & Noel Donovan
Kristin Fauss
Seda Follis
George Fonyo
Jennifer Gauvain
Maureen & Randell Gelzer
The Gillette Family Nan Kalish Goodman ‘66
Steve & Judy (‘81) Gorin
Jessica Graetz
Claire Scharff Greenwald ‘63
Kathleen Gunn
Kamal Gursahani
Michelle & Scott Harris
Steve Havera
Jamie Helmkamp Cathy Hermann
Julian Hess ‘65
Benjamin Hochman ‘98
Norton Hoffman ‘57
John Daniel “Dan” Hogan ‘60
Kyle Hogan ‘02
Ben Holman ‘90
Sam (‘53) & Pat Hopmeier
Jennifer Horst
Claris Advisors LLC
Tahnee Jackson Whitlock
Amy Jennings
Jim Katzman ‘79
Jon & Cathie Kessler
Iesha King
Barry & Sherilyn Rubin (‘66) Krell
Pamela Lyss-Lerman
Tom (‘86) & Stephanie Gillette (‘86)
Madlinger
Leslie Mason ‘66
Virginia McDonald Sandy Menchella
Taylor Millman Tina & Rob Murtha Barbara & Michael Newmark Erica Orrison
John W. & Inez E. Pahlmann Jack Pahlmann ‘58 Bill Patten ‘69
William Pegram ‘69 Jill Sauter Penney ‘48 Gabriela Rosianu Amy Rubin Dana Sandweiss
David Schiff Mrs. Geraldine Schiller Josephine & Lewis Schneider Tessa Schneider
Bruce Sherrod ‘81 Steve & Miriam Singer Sanford Spitzer ‘47 Lauren Talley Marcy Vana Letetia Vuong
Jerome “Jerry” S. Wade ‘65 Kami Waldman
Susan Werner Kelly Weygandt Rob White
Jerry Wischmeyer ‘59 Heather Wohl
Ann Wroth
Joanne Yawitz Farkas Peiyu Zhang ‘18
Gifts of $250 - $999
Ann Alpers
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Bernstein Ron (‘69) & Suzy Crasilneck Amy & Nathan Fields David Garfield ‘74 Dustin Hausladen Jeffrey & Kimberly Hurst John & Polly La Duc ‘63 Marcus Laster ‘94 Erin Linnenbringer Bonnie Mann David Meyer ‘86
Andrew Nadin
Christie Pickrell
Georgia Prstojevich
Kristin (‘88) & Jim Redington
Luz Robles-Razzaq
Dorothy Robyn Patricia Silver ‘67 Amy Wilson
Gifts of $1,000 - $9,999
Sonia, Charlie (‘11) and Carolyn (‘14) Beard Dave & Carey Buriwck
Cardinal Investment Advisors
Andy Cohen
Barbara Berg Cohn ‘60
Elizabeth Davis
Mr. & Mrs. Tom (‘97) Eidelman
The Ellston Family Claudia Joyce
Jim Koman, Elm Treet Funds LLC
Bruce (‘80) & Sally Levy Greg Wendt ‘79
Gifts of $10,000 - $49,999 Clayco CRG
Marks Family Foundation
The Staenberg Family Foundation Gifts of $50,000 + Centene Charitable Foundation
In Honor of
Suzanne Billhymer
Andy Cohen
Rebecca Rubin-Schlansky ‘01
Clayton Alumni Hall of Fame Honoree
Lori (Crasilneck) Hope (‘72) Ron (‘69) & Suzy Crasilneck
Charles Oberholtzer, CHS teacher
David Garfield ‘74
Hall of Fame Honorees
Steve & Judy (‘81) Gorin
Maxine Spitzer Hess (‘35), Dolores Block Grollman (‘46), Julian Hess (‘65), Julie Hess Saipe (‘99), Jennifer Hess Himmel (‘03), Henrietta Saipe (‘34) Julian Hess ‘65
CHS Grad Emily Hochman’s Dedication as a Teacher Benjamin Hochman ‘98
David Garfield ‘74 Claudia Joyce “Friends holding history” with whom I attended both Bellevue and McMorrow elementary schools. Sherilyn Rubin Krell ‘66
The Laster Family Marcus Laster ‘94
Morton Levy’s Hall of Fame Induction Bruce (‘80) and Sally Levy
Larry Gellman’s Hall of Fame Induction Leslie Mason ‘66
My 3 Children: Steven ‘78, Ann ‘82, Michael ‘88 and to honor the opportunities CHS gives its students. Georgia Prstojevich
Nick Otten, 2022 Distinguished Educator Honoree Kristin (‘88) & Jim Redington
My Classmates (1947) Sanford Spitzer ‘47
In Memory of Rick Beard
Cardinal Investment Advisors Sonia, Charlie (‘11) & Carolyn (‘14) Beard Vanguard Charitable Dave & Carey Buriwck Jennifer Gauvain Ashlyn Lackey Julie Scherck
Marilyn Morrison
Alex Berger III ‘67
Carole Schroeder
Arlen Chaleff ‘59 Tem Hiesberger ‘59
Doctor Edward Berg Barbara Berg Cohn ‘60
Wilma Sue “Cookie” Moenkhaus
John Daniel “Dan” Hogan ‘60
Jerry Kopp
Barry & Sherilyn Rubin (‘66) Krell
Our Mothers - Joyce Gillette & Carol
Madlinger
Tom (‘86) & Stephanie Gillette (‘86) Madlinger
Uncle Rick Stormy Orlin
Bill Penney ‘46 Jill Sauter Penney ‘48
B.J. Sanford Spitzer ‘47
Ken Epstein
Jerome “Jerry” S. Wade ‘65
Danny Rudman Jerry Wischmeyer ‘59
Mahendra Patel, Dr. Nisha Patel’s Father
Bruce Abrams ‘67
Alex Berger III ‘67
The Ellston Family Steve & Judy (‘81) Gorin
Lilly Gutwein Scharff ‘95
Kyle Hogan ‘02
Sandy Menchella
Kristin Redington ‘88 Ed & Meredith Reese
Amy Rubin
Stacy & Greg Siwak Sandi Straetker
Robert N. Rubin
Michael Askuvich
John Banjak
Dr. & Mrs. Michael Bernstein
Robert Bohm, Gateway Marketing LTD.
Angela S Clayton
Julie & Leonard Frankel ‘67
Anne & Sheldon Harber
Claris Advisors LLC
Jon & Cathie Kessler
Diane & Jerry (‘85) Kopp Sandy Menchella Lois Morganstern
Barbara & Michael Newmark
Sally M. Rosenthal Dan & Allie Rossini
Pete & Donna Rothschild Dana Sandweiss
Roger Scherck
Josephine & Lewis Schneider
Stacy & Greg Siwak
Rick Knox & Marian Steen Scott & Harriet Summers
Lauren Talley
Steven B. Weinreich Julie & Greg Yawitz Vivian Zwick
Corporate Matching Contributions
Boeing Cigna
S H Cowell Foundation
100% of the Clayton Education Foundation Board of Directors made contributions in 2021-22.
Donor lists are updated/accurate as of 6/30/2022. We apologize for any errors or omissions.
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
Please share any updates to this list at cef@claytonschools.net We apologize for any errors or omissions.
CHS Alumni
(‘40) Norma (Cohen) Scallet, October 26, 2021 (‘42) Donald Waldemer, August 16, 2021 (‘43) Audrey Jane (Glick) Friedman, July 1, 2021 (‘43) Joan Thaler, August 1, 2021 (‘45) Joe Duever, November 11, 2021 (‘45) Gerene (Crews) Hecht, October 4, 2021 (‘47) Susan (Stampfer) Marcus, January 14, 2022 (‘48) Irving Lee “Buddy” Cooper, May 12, 2022 (‘48) Thomas I. Marx, June 15, 2021 (‘49) Robert Heckmann, February 19, 2022 (‘49) Carol (Walker) Miller, April 11, 2022 (‘50) Elizabeth (Pollak) Cupples, March 6, 2022 (‘50) Sally (Ellis) Ellston Shocklin, November 14, 2021 (‘51) Robert Crawford Jr., July 6, 2021 (‘51) Murry Aaron Marks, January 21, 2022 (‘52) Jean (Schaefer) Oksner, April 2, 2022 (‘52) Lou Anne (Soffer) Winters, September 7, 2021 (‘53) Jean (Ainsworth) Likes, January 14, 2022 (‘56) Carol (Waldman) Cohn, August 25, 2021 (‘56) Jerry Kopp, February 17, 2022 (‘56) Albert Rosecan, February 20, 2022 (‘57) Mary Jo Hilker, January 16, 2022 (‘58) Sondra “Sonni” (Seeger) Mauze, May 7, 2022 (‘59) Carole (Blives) Schroeder, October 24, 2021 (‘63) Joyce (Adelstein) Sonn, June 22, 2022
July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2022
(‘64) Andy Rochman, July 7, 2021 (‘66) Karen (Qually) Howell, February 3, 2022 (‘66) Susan Sprague, January 30, 2022 (‘69) Rabbi Clifford Librach, November 18, 2021 (‘70) Renee Judith Deall, March 22, 2022 (‘70) Steven Stiffleman, May 10, 2022 (‘74) Phillip Gary Ostapowicz, September 2, 2021 (‘92) Pamela Curtis, September 23, 2021 (‘11) Ellen “Ellie” Christine Reed, March 8, 2022 (‘16) Antony Pace Farias, August 13, 2021
CHS Faculty & Staff
Worth David (CHS Principal, 1968-72), June 1, 2021 Clifton “Earl” Hopper (CHS Biology Teacher, Basketball and Cross Country Coach, 1965-2002), August 10, 2021 Marilyn Morrison (CHS French Teacher, Foreign Language Department Chair and Coordinator, District Gifted Education Coordinator,1968-98), January 22, 2022
CEF offers many ways to donate in honor or in memory of a loved one. If you would like more information about making a tribute or memorial donation to help the School District of Clayton always pursue excellence, please contact Executive Director Sandi Straetker at sandrastraetker@ claytonschools.net.
DONATE
Help us continue to provide these experiences and opportunities by donating today!
• Go to ClaytonEducationFoundation.org/Donate
• Send check to CEF at 2 Mark Twain Circle, Clayton, MO 63105
• Please scan here to make your gift online at ClaytonEducationFoundation. org/Donate
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Mark Twain Circle | Clayton, MO 63105
St. Louis, MO