CRMS Magazine Summer 2024 by Colorado Rocky Mountain School

Garden to Bar Fork Page 8

Summer Magazine

CRMS

is published by

Head of School

Jeff Leahy | jleahy@crms.org

Director of Development

Mark Bell | mbell@crms.org

Director of Annual Giving

Tim O’Keefe | tokeefe@crms.org

Alumni & Parent Relations Manager

Danika Davis | ddavis@crms.org

Marketing & Communications Manager

Beth Smith | bsmith@crms.org

Director of Enrollment & Tuition Assistance

Molly Dorais | mdorais@crms.org

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

500 Holden Way, Carbondale, Colorado 81623 970.963.2562 | www.crms.org

CRMS Mission Statement:

Colorado Rocky Mountain School cultivates a learning environment in which students discover their potential to excel as individuals, contribute to their communities, and thoughtfully participate in the world we share.

Values RESPECT | RESPONSIBILITY | EXCELLENCE

Cover photo: Garden Director Heather McDermott P’26, ‘28 working with Agenda Co-President Charlie Dockendorf ‘25 in the garden this spring. Photo by Kelsey Brunner

The Anxious Generation

The Holdens' vision for Colorado Rocky Mountain School was that it could serve as a “curative” to an American culture that was increasingly focused on efficiency and ease. It would do so by providing adventurous teenagers a sense of responsibility and appropriate levels of challenge to develop a greater connection to themselves and others. It is a vision that has stood the test of time. The landscape teenagers navigate today may be different than the Holdens' mid-century America, but the fundamental solutions to their experience remain the same.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about teenage mental health. A book that is getting a lot of buzz in educational circles is Jonathon Haidt’s The Anxious Generation. Haidt examines significant shifts in American society and he first drew a lot of attention in 2006 with his book The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom. Following this effort, he co-wrote The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure.

With Anxious Generation, Haidt sees a world, on the heels of a global pandemic, where overprotective parents seek to shield their children from experiences that would lead to discomfort and adversity. This climate is coupled with a teenage generation that has only lived in a world occupied by smartphones, and consequently shallow relationships.

"Our community has always believed, and continues to believe, that the best form of self-care comes from that sense of responsibility to others, working together, and having genuine opportunities to contribute."

As with any book that attempts to capture broad trends, the experience is overly generalized. While Haidt might be simplifying the problem by villanizing parenting trends and smartphones, even if he is partially correct, his observations affirm the value and relevancy of a Colorado Rocky Mountain School community and program today. We remain committed to the central idea that college-bound students need to spend their high school years formulating their personal values and the non-negotiables in their lives. They need the experience of feeling connected with others and known by others without technology.

The need to develop self-sufficiency, self-reliance, and a commitment to others, is the same today as it was in the 1950s. Our community has always believed, and continues to believe, that the best form of self-care comes from that sense of responsibility to others, working together, and having genuine opportunities to contribute. The school’s Jossman academic building, art quad, Bar Fork Ranch, and the surrounding Rocky Mountain West continue to serve as classroom environments that foster resilience and strength through appropriate levels of challenge and adversity. The adage, “How you spend your time is how you spend your life,” is particularly relevant to the impact a CRMS education can have on the students who fully immerse themselves in the program.

Our fall book club will focus on The Anxious Generation. We'll host in-person sessions at CRMS and online via Zoom, welcoming parents and alumni. Specific dates will follow later this summer. These discussions allow us to explore meaningful passages, share expertise, ask questions, and reflect on how the book's insights relate to Holdens' vision for CRMS students.

Jeff Leahy Head of School

Creative Interims

Faculty members Kayo Ogilby and Olivia Pevec led a Bluegrass music Interim in February. Many students learned new instruments and performed at All School Meeting and at Steve’s Guitars in Carbondale.

Prom

Students Calise Wanko '24 and Maia Cullwick '24 helped organize the first ever prom.

David & Goliath CRMS’s Mountain Bike Team won the 2023 Division 1 Colorado State Championship for the first time last fall. They bested schools with enrollments 10 times our size!

Advocacy In Action

This spring students in the Environment Club advocated for legislation with House representatives at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver with faculty member Kayo Ogilby.

Literary Forces

Student writers and artists published two editions of The Pearl literary magazine this year, showcasing student poetry, commentary, and short stories.

2 Seniors Become D1 Athletes

The Class of 2024 boasts two NCAA Division I athletes next year: Amelie Ogilby ‘24 will swim at UC Santa Barbara and Ben Oldham ‘24 will nordic ski at the University of New Hampshire.

CRMS SkiMos in Norway

Tiernan Pittz ‘24 finished 30th in the vertical race and 14th in the sprint race at the Skimo (Ski Mountaineering) Youth World Cup in Molde, Norway in March. Athletes from 15 countries competed.

Buzz Cuts for Beth CRMS students and faculty shaved their heads in support of History teacher Beth Krasemann who was diagnosed with cancer in September.

COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL

Oystermeister Thrives

The series of 7 “Oystermeister” competitions nurture community and tradition through diverse outdoor and athletic events.

Climbing On Top Again

The CRMS boys won the 2024 Climbing State Championships and the girls finished 2nd. The combined climb teams boasted 50 climbers this year!

Award-winning Photography

Campbell Habel ‘26 (top photo) and Isaac Sterling ‘26 (bottom photo) were each awarded the Silver Key for their photography work at the regional level in the National Scholastic Art Award ceremony held at the Denver Art Museum. The competition comprises over 4,000 submissions and only a few hundred were jury-selected.

Academic & Community Award Winners

The CRMS Academic Excellence Award is conferred on a student whose academic performance during the year demonstrates remarkable consistency at the highest level of achievement. The intent of the award is to reward those who have rewarded us in our classes—both students and faculty–who achieve a level of excellence matched by the values of scholarship we all hold dear, and who study with intensity, motivate themselves and others, and genuinely celebrate learning in all aspects to its fullest. This year’s Academic Award winners are: left to right Tiernan Pittz ‘24, Nick Ingram ‘25, Payten Jenrich ‘26, and Angela Suarez ‘27.

The CRMS Community Award is the highest recognition the school community can bestow on a student. Those who receive the award embody the enduring values that have been at the core of the school since its beginning—respect, responsibility, and excellence. The award recognizes individuals for their responsibility beyond themselves, for their willingness to work for the benefit of all, and for the legacy, through example, that endures in the memories of everyone. This year’s Community Award winners are: Charlie Dockendorf ‘25, Ethan Flynn ‘26, Rafael Navas Jimenez ‘27, and Maia Cullwick ‘24.

Garden Director Heather McDermott and Bryan Garneau, Director of Food Service.

to Garden

Bar Fork

For CRMS student Olive Brule, potatoes served at the Bar Fork have become so much more than a simple side dish. “I walked into the cafeteria for dinner ready to eat whatever they put in front of me with no thought when I realized these were the potatoes me and my friends had harvested,” she says, recalling a fun day that fall on the garden crew with friends, laughing over fake country accents as they worked, clad in dirty overalls and

Students get their hands dirty with the unique CRMS Garden to Kitchen program.

By Ali Margo

wielding pitchforks. “It was a simple thing, but experiencing the food cycle firsthand is so fulfilling. Potatoes never taste better than when you dig them from the ground with your own two hands. It’s so rewarding to put so much work into a specific crop–watering, transplanting, potting–and then to watch all your peers enjoy it in their meals. It makes me feel like part of something bigger.”

"What we're doing is rare for a high school in terms of integrating the garden and kitchen programs for students to learn what a farm-totable collaboration is truly about."

HEATHER MCDERMOTT, GARDEN DIRECTOR

"If I can inspire even one or two kids a year to be passionate about food, to introduce them to new foods they've never tried before, that's what it's all about."

BRYAN GARNEAU, DIRECTOR OF FOOD

The CRMS garden program has been around for over 30 years and comprises 4 acres, including a small orchard, greenhouse, root cellar, composting program, and a new bee apiary. The garden produces over 15,000 pounds of food each year, “an insane amount of food,” says Heather McDermott, Director of Garden Program, who estimates that it provides between 30-40 percent of the vegetables used by the kitchen. About 80 percent of the garden’s crops can be used and stored throughout the school year, including butternut squash, cabbage, potatoes, onions, beets, and carrots. “The

SERVICE

goal of the garden program is to educate students on the tenets of sustainable agriculture within the context of the larger food system, so they get a sense of the broader picture,” McDermott says.

During McDermott’s decade-long tenure, the garden has doubled in size, expanding across the river to include a pumpkin patch, orchard, and native trees and shrubs in addition to existing plant and vegetable crops and almost doubled its food production. This year represents a pivotal point for McDermott with the actualization of her longtime vision for

a Garden to Kitchen Collaboration program, made possible in part by Bryan Garneau, Director of Food Service.

Garneau, a former executive chef at Meat & Cheese in Aspen, joined the CRMS staff in 2023 with a background in sustainable farming, a stacked resume in farm-to-table culinary arts and a lifelong passion working with locally sourced ingredients. “When Bryan came on, he was eager to collaborate. He was excited to work with the garden, and to make it an integral part of the kitchen. He also shares my vision to educate and inspire students about the entire food production process,” McDermott says. “What we’re doing is rare for a high school in terms of integrating the garden and kitchen programs for students to learn what a farm-to-table collaboration is truly about. What we do is very unique.”

The Garden Program kicks off in January with the Service Crew and the Active Program and students participate in planting seedlings, preparing the greenhouse, labeling, pricing, and preparing

to new foods they’ve never tried before, that’s what it’s all about.”

"There's a lot of pride that comes with being involved in the whole process from planting seeds to seeing it on the plate."

BRYAN GARNEAU, DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICE

over 8,000 plants, including vegetables, flowers and herbs for the annual Plant Sale in May. After spring break, students work with McDermott outside doing field preparation, learning about compost, soil sustainability, germination, seed production and cutting production. Summer interns assist to maintain and grow food

all summer long. “We are a full-time, year-round program which is essential to produce the amount of food we do,” McDermott says. In October, the culmination of the entire food production cycle is celebrated at the Harvest Dinner, a garden to kitchen showcase served with locally sourced foods. Finally, students decorate the old CRMS truck to sell the pumpkins they harvested for Halloween. The desire to take the garden program to the next level with a true garden to kitchen collaboration turned a corner when Garneau came on board late last school year. “I came into this role with a lifelong passion for local and seasonal food. To pivot from being an executive chef to taking more of an educational role accentuates what I really care about,” Garneau says. “If I can inspire even one or two kids a year to be passionate about food, to introduce them

Garneau spent a lot of time as a student himself in the garden at the University of Montana where he studied Sustainable Food and Farming and spent as much time as he could doing every internship he could get on the university-owned farm. He worked his way up from dishwasher to working every station at a fine dining restaurant in Missoula and built a skill set that would lay the foundation for the rest of his career. He went on to work at several top farm-to-table concept restaurants in Denver before landing in Aspen where he catapulted to Executive Chef at Meat & Cheese Restaurant and Farm Shop at age 29. “It was incredibly rewarding and life changing on so many levels, but after seven years, I took a step back,” he says. Garneau was ready for a change when he discovered this unique opportunity at CRMS. “I can still have my hands in farm-to-table food, but I can pay it forward to this generation of kids. To be able to educate them about the entire process of food production at a time when most kids are more dissociated from food than ever is so rewarding. If I can inspire them, it’s like coming full circle.”

Garneau also has the benefit of collaborating with McDermott on purchasing specific seeds for future crops and with plans to expand the program to include fermentation and sourcing whole animals from local ranchers. “I love being able to walk into the garden in the mornings and pick some oregano for chimichurri for dinner that night, or to teach kids how to make pesto from whatever we harvested that day. To have access to a garden like that is like a playground for a chef, but to be able to share it with these kids is so rewarding,” he says.

At the heart of it all for both McDermott and Garneau are the students. “I’ve seen what it can do for students to be involved in growing food. Having that sense of ownership, and the comradery of working together toward a common goal creates a strong bonding experience. There’s a lot of pride that comes with being involved in the whole process from planting seeds to seeing it on the plate,” Garneau says. “That’s why I fell in love with it. It’s truly inspiring.”

For Brule, the lessons she’s learned in the garden program have been life changing. “Before I was involved in the garden program, I had no concern or thought about what food I was eating and where it came from. I had such a disconnection from the sources of my food,” she says. “Being so close to where my food grows made me pay more attention. I know that my vegetables are grown from a natural seed, in soil, without any of the scary unknowns. There is no secret to our garden. There are no hidden ingredients. This has inspired me to become more involved in what I eat.” When it comes to offering students an educational experience that is truly unique, CRMS is proud to be one of the only Garden to Kitchen high school programs in the country to plant that seed.

Previous pages: Pippa Spaan '25 and Isaac Sterling '25 working with Bryan Garneau, Director of Food Service; a garden service crew harvesting last fall. This page: Hunter Liu '27 harvesting onions. Opposite page: the famous "pumpkin truck"; a garden service crew in beekeeping gear.

15,000 pounds of food produced annually at CRMS

8,000 plants sold at annual Plant Sale

2,000 pounds of food donated to local charities

60 Year-old Bar Fork Getting an Update

The Bar Fork—named for the Pabsts’ ranch on which the school exists— was completed in 1964. In 1994, it was expanded to include the gym and fitness center, and the servery and kitchen were remodeled in 2020. Now 60 years old, the beating heart of CRMS life is ready for its biggest facelift yet.

On June 10, 2024, construction began to renovate and expand the Bar Fork building and provide elevated and enhanced spaces for dining, classes, and student meetings. With the exception of the kitchen space that already had a full refurbishment, the entire building will be renovated, and a second floor will be added above the dining area on the eastern half of the building.

The project will be completed in three phases designed to minimize impact and disruption to students for the duration of the project. Our intention is for the entire CRMS community to enjoy the newly completed space when students return from Spring Break 2025.

Highlights of the new Bar Fork Student Center include:

• An expanded and open dining area with a bright & airy interior

• New second-floor meeting spaces for student activities

• Second-floor exterior gathering space

• Updated classrooms & enhanced student art gallery

• New school store & mail room

• Day student locker area

• Updated outdoor dining area

“I could not be more excited about what this new and improved Bar Fork Student Center will provide our students and community and what it means for the future of Colorado Rocky Mountain School. The future Bar Fork will facilitate dining and community gatherings, celebrate the school’s long association between the garden program and our food service, and enhance and nourish the connections that are so vital to our identity as a community.”

JEFF LEAHY, HEAD OF SCHOOL

From top left: Historic photo of Bar Fork dining room; Pete Louras P'00, Cory Hardie Ritchie '92, Jeff Leahy, Stan Wattles '80, and Mags Miller '90 ceremoniously start the demolition this summer; David Tanner '74 photo of the Bar Fork in 1973; rendering of the two-story dining area; an exterior rendering of the future Bar Fork (opposite page).

10 Years of Braj Has Helped Change School’s Culture

by Beau Toepfer ‘24

Even though I’m a senior, it’s my first Monday All School Meeting, or ASM. The CRMS barn is packed full of all 200 plus students and faculty, and we just finished the agenda of speeches and announcements. I recall an ominous email I received right before the meeting, “You all [seniors] throw on your cloaks as soon as it goes dark.” Suddenly someone pulls the hood of my sweatshirt over my head and I follow the mass of seniors, lanterns in hand and cloaks over head, down to the front where I try to follow along for the first ‘Braj’ ceremony of the school year.

While that particular Braj ceremony resembled an occultish religious ceremony to scare the freshmen, all the previous ASMs for the past 10 years have had a Braj ceremony. Every Monday, someone writes a speech and picks a student or staff member who they believe deserves this award. Following that, they pass

a massive copper sheet metal ‘B’. The rules, or ‘commandments,’ of passing on this prestigious award include:

a) One cannot pass the Braj Award onto the same person twice b) Whoever passes on the Braj has to offer a speech shedding light on the kindness or exceptional acts for which they are awarding the Braj to the new recipient

c) The recipient must wear/keep the chain for the week Nic Reitman ‘14 created the Braj award a decade ago, and gave students and faculty an essential opportunity to express themselves and their gratitude. Thanks to him and his peer Jamison Orr ‘14, who encouraged him to make the Braj a tradition, the community of CRMS has grown closer with people being able

Rachel Morse

Ethan Flynn ‘26

Carol Hu ‘25

Dylan Baker ‘25

to congratulate each other on their achievements in a setting that brings light to the recipient as a person.

The Braj provides an opportunity for more growth and self reflection in the CRMS community. Alongside some other ASM traditions, like practicing mindfulness or senior speeches, the Braj offers more opportunities for people to grow and reflect on themselves.

“It provides a weekly moment of gratitude,” Kayo Ogilby, CRMS faculty and the mastermind behind ASMs said. “Whenever we practice gratitude in our lives it has so many rewards and benefits as individuals and as a community.”

Not only does it show gratitude during the meetings, but it helps students focus on being more altruistic in their day-today lives.

“[The Braj] definitely steers students one at a time towards looking at things with a ‘gratitude’ lens,” Matt Bowers, a CRMS faculty who was the first recipient of the Braj, said.

As the Braj has evolved over the years since its inception, it has fostered a student-centric and student-driven community. The Braj adds yet another outlet for students to speak up and recognize those in their community, as well as be as altruistic and caring as they can be.

“[The Braj] created a dimension of a student-based and student-created idea that helped steer the ship away from dry institutional logistics into a community of risk-takers,” Ogilby said.

Reitman has passed on an important legacy to students today. Students like junior Dylan Baker (two-time Braj recipient) have to maintain this legacy through both their personality and behavior, but also by helping the community and energy around the Braj grow. The Braj is a quintessential aspect of CMRS tradition. It has evolved to become something closely associated with CRMS culture, bringing students and faculty together to tighten the connection between community members.

“It’s like a golden tagalong,” Baker said, “It’s like the sidecar to the motorcycle. It’s always important to have those side cars and those additions and the fluff and glitter to keep things interesting and entertaining.”

Read more about Braj history: www.crms.org/blog

Betsy Bingham-Johns

Cici Wen ‘26

Nancy Draina

BJ Sbarra

Clemente De Hoyos

Wren Groves Benedict ‘25

Charlie Dockendorf ‘25

Kate Deardorff ‘24

Hank Cerrone ‘25

Mark Wood ‘27

Graduation 2024

This page: The Class of 2024; Head of School Jeff Leahy leading the graduation walk. Opposite page: Scarlett Carney '24 & Reece Thomas '24; Tiffany Zhang '24 & Carter Lairson '24; Max Seitel-Hays '24 & Ben Oldham '24; the graduation procession passes the Barn; Scarlett Kerr '24, Stewart Corona '24 & Skylar Picard '24; Leo Helzberg '24 receives his diploma; Tiernan Pittz '24 & Amelie Ogilby '24; members of the graduating class Renee Ramge photos

The Class of 2024 conducted senior projects on six continents this spring, learning about topics including water law, indigenous cultures, migrant work, journalism, engineering, politics, volunteering, and more.

Isla Brumby Nelson studied environmental education at Prescott College’s Kino Bay Center, Mexico. “This is a green turtle that was tagged through Kino Bay Station’s turtle monitoring program.”

Rodrigo Quiroga interned with the local soccer club, Roaring Fork United, supporting administration, hosting goalkeeper trainings, helping coach, and refereeing.

Beck Jennings photographing Victoria Falls and African wildlife in Zimbabwe.

Amelie Ogilby studied Great Barrier Reef ecology and conservation in Australia.

Skylar Picard plays with a student at the Montessori-based C.O.O.L. (California Ocean of Learning) Preschool in California, during her Senior Project as an early childhood education teaching assistant.

2024 CRMS College Acceptances & Matriculation

Bold font indicates matriculation

Adams State University

Auburn University

Bates College

Boston University

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

California State University, Chico

Chapman University

Colgate College

Colorado College

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mountain College

Colorado School of Mines

Colorado State University

Connecticut College

Davidson College

Drexel University

Eckerd College

Elon University

Emerson College

Fort Lewis College

Grinnell College

Hamilton College

Indiana University

Kenyon College

Lewis & Clark College

Loyola Marymount University

Macalester College

Michigan State University

Montana State University

Northeastern University

Oberlin College

Ohio State University

Oregon State University

Oregon State University, Cascades

Pepperdine University

Pitzer College

Providence College

Reed College

Regis University

Rollins College

San Diego State University

Santa Clara University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Skidmore College

St. Lawrence University

St. Olaf College

Tulane University

University College Dublin

University of Alabama

University of Arizona

University of California, Davis

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of California, San Diego

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Irvine

University of Colorado, Boulder

University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

University of Denver

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Louisville

University of Miami

The University of Montana

University of Nevada, Reno

University of New Hampshire

University of North Carolina, Asheville

University of Oregon

University of Puget Sound

University of San Diego

University of Tampa

University of Tennessee

University of Redlands

University of Richmond

University of San Francisco

University of St Andrews

University of Southern California

University of Utah

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Westminster University

Western Colorado University

Wheaton College

Whitman College

(HS)2 Program In Its 18th Summer

HIGH SCHOOL, HIGH SCHOLAR, PREPARES FIRST-GENERATION AND/OR LOW-INCOME STUDENTS TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE

Thanks to our collaboration with CRMS, our 18th summer program kicks off this June as we bring 75 students to the Roaring Fork Valley. Joining us from public and charter schools in Denver, Fort Worth, New Orleans, New York City, (and two Carbondale students!), (HS)2 students come to campus for five weeks of academic classes, college prep, and outdoor adventures. Their three summers at (HS)2 aim to prepare them to succeed in college with STEM-based skills, a family of driven peers, and a space to see the light and power in their own voices.

This year, third-year scholars will again work with biomedical engineering doctoral students from Purdue University and second years will study computer science. For our Career Workshop, we’ll welcome several (HS)2 alums to share insight from their STEM careers.

The (HS)2 class of 2023 is celebrating acceptances to colleges like Stanford University, Dartmouth College, UPenn, and more. We look forward to welcoming several alumni back this summer as faculty and staff.

The generous spirit, student volunteers, outdoor access, and campus resources of CRMS are central to (HS)2. We appreciate you sharing in our mission, and are proud to be extending CRMS’ impact in the summer months with our extraordinary (HS)2 students.

(HS)2 is within reach of our annual fundraising goal of $630,000, and your generosity goes a long way. You can support these inspiring scholars at hs2.crms.org/donate.

— Annie Oppenheim, (HS)2 Program Director

New Trustees

Lorna Moore, Ph.D.

2024–25 CRMS Board of Trustees

Stan Wattles ‘80, President

Mags Miller ‘90, Vice President

Ravi Venkateswaran ‘69, Secretary

Ken Wanko P’24, ‘26, Treasurer

Eric Alden P’03

Chris Babbs P’88

Sean Bierle

Ellen Brooks P’23

Brian Davies P’19

Alicia Dewey P’22, ‘26

Mike Flax ‘63

Emma Juniper ‘03

Andrew Karow P’22, ’25

Pete Louras P’00

Dan Martinez ‘77

Andrew Menke

Lorna Moore

Johnny Richardson ‘70

Cory Ritchie ‘92, P’20

Meeting Dates

September 13-14

December 6-7

February 14 video conference

May 9-10

Lorna has a long and lovely history with CRMS and the Roaring Fork Valley. Lorna attended the CRMS summer session in 1963 and taught at CRMS for three years. Her husband, Bill Moore ‘60 served as a trustee from 1989 to 1998. Her mother, Betty Grindlay, served as Chair of the CRMS Board of Trustees in the early 1970s. Lorna has a PhD in Biological Anthropology and Human Genetics, taught Anthropology courses at the University of Colorado, Boulder and downtown Denver campuses from 1974-2007 while, except for a 5-year stint as Dean of the Graduate School at Wake Forest University from 2007-2012, maintaining an active research program focusing on pregnancy complications at the University of Colorado School of Medicine since 1974.

Andrew Karow P’22, ‘25

Andrew Karow is a CRMS current & alumni parent, an avid outdoors person and an engaged member of the Carbondale community — living in the valley since 2016. He has a strong sense of giving back, serving on multiple not-for-profit boards, including acting as Chair of the Ross Montessori School Board in Carbondale, Colorado during the pandemic. Andrew has been with Alpine Bank since 1996 and currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer overseeing IT, security, digital, cards, payments and deposit operations.

Departing Trustees

The Colorado Rocky Mountain School community extends its sincere gratitude to Garett Bjorkman ‘06, Peggy Corcillo, P’19, ‘21, ‘21, and Luke Falcone ‘11 who recently completed their terms on the CRMS Board of Trustees. We thank them for their dedicated service and contributions to CRMS during their tenure as trustees.

Garett served as a trustee from 2020 through 2023 helping the school successfully navigate the COVID pandemic. Garett brought business and financial expertise to the Finance and Building & Grounds committees.

Peggy joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 and served as the Treasurer from 2021 until 2024. Her wealth of experience in the financial world has helped keep the school financially sound as it moved through the pandemic and into a comprehensive campaign.

Luke joined the board in 2017. He served as the chair of the Building & Grounds Committee, and served on the Governance and Marketing Committees.

24 Years of Trailblazing Service: Darryl Fuller

Darryl Fuller’s passion for outdoor education and commitment to the community has left an indelible mark at CRMS. He has shaped the experiences of countless students and elevated the school's cherished outdoor trips and bike team. After 24 years of dedicated service, Darryl and his wife Susan are moving off campus.

As Outdoor Program Director from 2000 to 2022, Darryl became known for organizing transformative wilderness trips and professionalizing the longstanding program.

Darryl also established the school's bike team in 2010. Under his guidance, the CRMS bike team flourished, competing in regional races and earning recognition for their dedication and skill. Colorado Cycling League executive director Kate Rau says, “[Darryl] has shepherded the team to include some of the best technical riders who express an innate sense of joy for an array of outdoor endeavors.”

Beyond CRMS, Darryl has been an advocate for outdoor recreation and environmental conservation. He has served on various boards including the Carbondale Environmental Board, the Bicycle Pedestrian and Trails Commission, We Cycle, and The Bike Project.

On May 21, 2022, Darryl's journey took an unexpected turn when he slid 1,000 feet while skinning up Cathedral Peak. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and a broken leg, and was unresponsive for three months following the accident. Today, Darryl is back in the gym, skiing, and riding bikes, and his strengths and abilities continue to grow.

Last summer, the Colorado High School Cycling League honored Darryl with the Trailblazer award. Shortly after CRMS won its first-ever mountain biking state championship. The award recognizes trailblazers who have persevered through challenging circumstances, overcome adversity, and are inspirational role models.

Though his days of leading wilderness expeditions and coaching the bike team may have ended, his impact on CRMS and the local community remains profound. Longtime colleague and former CRMS Active Program Director, Diane Hackl, said it best:

“Darryl is truly the consummate professional, a wonderful blend of vision, hard work, joy, and compassion. CRMS has been blessed to have him for 20+ years. He elevated an amazing and beloved program. We can't thank you enough, Darryl, for the dedication and care you have given CRMS.”

— Beth Smith

Alumni Weekend Photos

From top left to right: John Stickney '57, Suzanne deLesseps '64, Chris Morrison '64, Ellen Clark Anderson '64, and Dr. Jim Gaw '64 celebrating the Class of 1964's 60th reunion; Lori Gavette & Greg Bartlomiejczuk '04, Dave Phillips '99, August Thurmer '99, Seth Cobb '99, Mandy Irwin '99 & Kristen Tingue '99; Class of 1974 grads; Bill Anschuetz '74, Sarah Kimme, Ellen Boswell '74; Andrew Still-Baxter '04, Ali Still-Baxter, Megan Westfeldt '06, Patrick Westfeldt, Eva van Bahr & Pete Olenick '02; Michelle Gomez '86, Yollie Toya '84, Jennifer Lowe '84, Ann Hodel '83, Charlotte Kroher '84; 50th reunion Class of 1974; Brian Muller '74, Jeff Platt '74, Erin Connell '74, David Tanner '74; Megan Westfeldt '06 & Ali Wade Cottle '04

CRMS Alumni Class Notes

Class Notes are edited for space, clarity, and style. Share details and photos of special occasions and professional achievements in your life by going to www.crms.org/alumni/ alumni-information-update

1954 • 70th

Ford Sayre

I moved to San Francisco last fall.

1957

Susan Jay Dean

I am delighted to report that after 27 years as a professional real estate agent, I am retired! I am now able to go for coffee with friends, attend a concert or just hike in the Red Rocks. No need to travel with a laptop. My focus is spending time with friends and family.

1959 • 65th Reunion

Ed Maynard

Unfortunately my twin sister Sue Maynard France ‘59 passed away in November 2022 from cancer. After CRMS she married and lived in Ennis, Montana. I live in Fairbanks, Alaska in the summers and

with my wife of over 58 years in Gallatin Gateway, Montana. We have spent most of our lives in Alaska and raised 3 boys who also live in Alaska. We do not like -40 to -60 degree weather any more. We both still downhill ski at Big Sky, Montana.

Jackie Eschenmoser-Willimann

I became a great grandmother on July 12th, 2023! This is a photo of my great grandchild Lina Eschenmoser - 5 months old, with her parents Khadidja & Thomas Eschenmoser in Lausanne, Switzerland. Good luck to my favorite school in the USA and to all of you ! Take care — kind regards from Switzerland.

1960

John Chase

I visited my brother, Addison Chase ‘65 and his wife, Penny, at their retreat in Cartajima, Spain in January 2024. For variation, I booked passage on a ferry from Portsmouth, England, to Santander, Spain. Following medical advice, I applied an anti-nausea scopolamine patch before boarding. Wrong move! After events which I

don’t remember, I woke up in a hospital in LaRochelle, France, having been evacuated from the moving ferry by helicopter. Addison arranged a flight back home from Paris, but my bag ended up in Portsmouth. The outcome: I returned to recover the bag at the end of February and finally made it to visit Addison and Penny. Otherwise, not much of note to report.

Ursula Goodenough

My brother Dan died this year in hospice of a stomach cancer that swept through him; a huge loss for us all, but we were blessed by his beautiful soul. I continue to work on science projects and in the Religious Naturalist Association and live next to the ocean on Martha’s Vineyard. www.religious-naturalist-association.org. The photo shows 4 of my 5 children, their spouses, and 6 of 9 grandchildren. Talk about blessed!

1962

Arthur Hughes

Stasha’s daughter Iliana (Ingrid and my granddaughter) turned 16 in March. They all live in New Paltz,

New York. Iliana worked in an arts program last summer. I have an exhibition of landscape paintings at the Prince Street Gallery, 547 W 27th St., 5th Floor, Manhattan from Dec 31–Jan 25, 2025. Reception Saturday, Jan 4th at 3pm-6pm. I’d love to see you all there for a catch up! Nearby is a recent sample of my work. Contact me arthurhughes.net

Alix Mitchell Sullivan

Not much has changed and at this point, that’s a good thing! Attaching the appropriate number to my age seems absolutely ridiculous! But on Monday, I’m having cataract surgery so I guess it’s true. My husband is still fine and recently hit the magic five years, so all is well.

Carol Sandersen Hughes

All the interesting things our classmates are doing! I find myself increasingly homebound due to MS and several injuries. So far, I have few regrets about my life; I have volunteered for some great causes, we have traveled, and we ran a successful business for 33 years. We have three amazing children and three beautiful grandchildren. Our granddaughter will graduate from Emerson College next month, having finished in three years.

Thanks to advances in medicine, I was able to fend off the worstcase manifestations of MS for a lot of years, so I feel grateful for the life I have been given. Dick and I celebrated 60 years of marriage this year. Who would believe that our class age is 80? I don’t feel a day over 79!

Ingrid Hughes

I continue to stand every Saturday with a protest group called Women in Black here in New Paltz, N.Y. where I live. We have been protesting the genocide in Gaza for the last six months. I also volunteer in N.Y. State prisons with a program called the Alternatives to Violence Project, a terrific program founded by incarcerated men after the Attica

From top left to right: Ford Sayre '54 in San Francisco this spring; Maureen & Ed Maynard '59; Ursula Goodenough '60 & family; Brad Havice '58 with a car he built at CRMS; Lina Eschenmoser, granddaughter of Jackie Eschenmoser '59; artwork by Arthur Hughes '62

uprising nearly 50 years ago. And I spend a lot of time hiking in the Hudson Valley, where I live, often with our daughter, Stasha. And a reminder to my classmates that my book about our son’s life, schizophrenia and death, Losing Aaron, is available at Amazon and other bookstores.

Helen Muller

I had a full year beginning last May. Travel mainly for retracing my family’s footsteps for my memoir of my parents. Now 10 years in the making/writing. I was in Georgia and Armenia last summer where my dad had been on a scientific expedition 90 years ago. Then to Istanbul, Turkey where my mother and her family escaped to after my grandfather was released from the concentration camps at the end of 1933. Then to Israel where my aunt went after Turkey - when it was still Palestine….went to Bethlehem and Jerusalem and the Jordan River… places where unfortunately I cannot go now (and Haifa and the border with Lebanon). In September I went to visit my 95 year old aunt in London and her adult children - my three cousins. Returned to NYC and saw Arthur Hughes ‘62 and Lanie! Also some relatives and my editor and other family and friends. Enough for now!! Hope to see more of you soon. Love to all from Helen.

Kate Fanshawe Rosenburg

I haven’t been traveling much as of late, but continue to work as a bookkeeper for a variety of clients. Interestingly, I work for the Enneagram Prison Project in Los Gatos. They have educational classes in the Enneagram process in a number of prisons in the US and abroad hoping to reduce re-entry into the prison system. I have six wonderful and interesting grandchildren, including Zander Turner ‘25 who is a current junior at CRMS. And I enjoy spending time with their families. Nature is my respite and I often find myself outside taking in the wonders around me. 80 feels like what?? So far so good!

1964 • 60th Reunion

Al Frederick

After CRMS graduation, I knocked around a few years doing a variety of things but mostly finding out what I did not want to do. I went back to school and graduated in Chemical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Later I got an MBA from Colgate Darden Business School, University of Virginia. I then worked in the semiconductor business in Silicon valley. During my career, I spent a year living and working in Japan and Switzerland and 5 years in Scotland. I married Judy in 1973. We had a girl, Kathleen, and a son,

Christopher. After 30 years of working, we retired to the Reno-Tahoe area of Nevada. We have enjoyed traveling, RVing, hiking, fishing, golf and living life.

Ellen Clark Anderson

I have been in the Sacramento area of California full time since about 2015. Life is good, family nearby, like to write and converse with people, so call and keep in touch. I wrote an historical fiction, Lumber Queen, about a friend of my grandparents and mother. It is available on-line in different places. I was a late matricualator from college…2003 Plymouth State University, Plymouth, N.H. BA degree in Painting & Drawing, and minor in Art History. My career is mostly in various aspects of studying and practicing Christian Science: administrative, and then as a Christian Science nurse, and now as a branch First Reader. I have three grown children and they are all raising their children. I travel to New Hampshire regularly, where I am from, and yet have spent most of my life in California. I am planning to make it out to Carbondale for the CRMS reunion June 14–15! Maybe see some of you there! Love chatting with folks so please keep in touch.

Jim Gaw

This is my 45th year of teaching at CRMS, and I still love it. CRMS is a delightful place to live and teach. For me, it is a wonderfully supportive community. For many years I taught chemistry, biology, and environmental science; however, for the past 12 years, I have been teaching only chemistry. I still lead fall & spring trips, but not the afternoon work crew & sports — I need more time to keep myself physically fit. With my wife, Khara — who taught drawing and painting here for many years — we raised our two children who graduated from CRMS in 2000 and 2003. Our daughter moved back to Carbondale a few years ago and comes to our house almost daily to visit our cats, go for walks along the Crystal River, make sure we are doing our weight training routines properly, raid our refrigerator, etc. We are doing well. We had a delightful trip to Puerto Morelos, Mexico for spring break, and we look forward to our son & his family coming to visit in June. I continue to hike, bike, and ski, and we hope to see all of you for the 60th reunion in June!

Louis Jaffe

Probably the headline is that greeninfo.org, the nonprofit I co founded in 1996, is still going strong, with a staff of fifteen, in California and four other states. I still serve on the board and am the only person from its early years still attached to the organization. GreenInfo does mapping and geographic analysis—these days nearly 100% online—for environmental orgs

From Left to right: "Lumber Queen" novel authored by Ellen Clark Anderson '64, Jim '64 & Khara Gaw, Artwork by Suzanne deLesseps '64, Ellen Clark Anderson '64, Judy & Al Frederick '64

large and small. My personal career making maps has wound down, but I’m still passionate about photography as I was at CRMS. I live with my partner Katharine in San Francisco, with retreats to Point Reyes, California, and in the summer to my home town of Virginia Beach, Virginia. In the Bay Area, Sidney Mullen ‘63 and I occasionally get together. I can be reached at louis@overlookmedia.com.

Suzanne deLesseps

I continue to explore my art, looking for new paths and expression. Still working in pastel, oil and gouache. I paint mainly landscapes with a recent foray into abstract pieces focusing on color, graphic shapes and patterns. I lost my husband of 52 years in February 2023 so I am on a new life journey. Listening to country music while wandering down back roads, I’ve been inspired to write my own “songs” drawing on memories from the last 50 years of shared passions and adventures. Looking forward to our 60 year high school Reunion this June 2024! Life is good.

1965

Adele Hause

2023 was another great year for me, particularly because I got much better acquainted with Emma Danciger, mother of Matt Danciger ‘85. We became water buddies at the Hot Springs. Got to Tucson in November and broke my tibia which meant I was rather unsuccessful at getting alums together although Emily Pollock '67 and Marty Twichell Rotter ‘69 and Mary and Jim Ostrem ‘71 visited me in the hospital. I am enjoying John Woodin ‘70’s mom’s book Home is the Desert, which any person visiting Tucson should read as the Woodin family was key to founding of the famous Desert Museum. Back home in Carbondale in May and visitors are welcome. Son Eric Hause ‘81 is with me here now and Heather Hause Froelicher ‘77 is busy with a great agriculture project on the Sewell Ranch.

David Strouse

Way back a long time ago, in 1965, I spent the spring working on a walnut coffee table for my parents. It confirmed my love for woodworking, which I have now been actively doing during retirement. I have set up a wood shop in my garage and most days I can be found there doing something. The big thrill is that my grandkids are also old enough to start getting some enjoyment out of it. All else is good for me these days. Above are a few of the things I have recently made.

1966

Topher Delaney

Greetings from the Garden City by the Bay or Bandit Town depending on how you engage with your community. So I decided to move our studio from San Francisco. I drew a circumference of 30 miles + started the process of locating a site + there was Vallejo … as I am over 65 …. I could commute to San Francisco by Ferry for $4.90 cents one way or a whopping $9.00 round trip for a glorious 1 hour ferry ride with internet access if needed through the waters of Richmond Bay. Thus transportation was accommodated. The next aspect of locating a large studio + grounds to experiment with plant material is cost of purchase. Vallejo is again in our favor when we made the actual purchase in 2015 due to its legacy of bankruptcy stemming from Vallejo’s inability to service pensions of civic employees as the main employer the U.S. Navy had left town. We purchased a terrific studio in the historic downtown + a bit of land with a cleaned + cleared automotive garage. Next the pandemic.. which led to my creating Virgie Giles Victory Garden. I must say that this has been the best time of my life being here in this community of every ethnicity + with a magnificent bookstore ALIBI + a little symphony + a very strong presence of artists, many long standing burners (burning

man)+ good farmers market as an independent spirited community. I have shifted focus from creating large scale public art installations + private + Institutional commissions to being essentially a photographer + curator.

I was delighted to share with Rowdy + Mercedes our really terrific exhibition EVERYDAY HEROES supported by Saint Supery Winery / Napa Valley. There is some irony of time here…years ago @ Barnard I was the EDITOR of the Literary Magazine… +I was also the curator of photography for the African Hall @ the Natural History Museum under the direction of Professor Colin Turnbull. I enjoyed the challenges of editing + curating to support writers + photographers in the best light possible.

Fast forward 55 years… The irony is that I am back where I began so to speak. So all you alums out there.. I am in the process of curating a publication.. which I spread across several media platforms… DIRTY GIRLS: the GROUND BREAKERS. This first publication is focused on the west coast of the USA w/ 42 women being featured. The next 6 focus respectively on Western

States/South Western States/ SouthernStates/Midwestern States/ Northeastern States/ + yes Hawaii.. islands unto themselves. I am all ears + emails for suggestions of women who have been or are presently engaged in significant hands in the dirt breaking ground literally + metaphorically. The women represent a broad spectrum of how to handle dirt so to speak. We...that is Calvin Chin my business partner + myself have developed an excellent podcast GARDEN THE KNOWLEDGE streaming on all traditional platforms. I research + interview + Calvin is a magnificent sound engineer. Each woman will be interviewed for this podcast. I also have very active Facebook + Instagram accounts under my own name topher delaney which I have developed. The photographic compositions of growth in our garden are coupled with writing from poets + authors whom I find inspiring + intriguing. I really want to emphasize our resilience + our determination + our knowledge learned from our time of being here present on this earth. In my case a chronicler of the nature of art + the reality of dirt + all that might suggest to you.

Woodwork by David Strause '65

Jenny Anderson

Slogging along with my rickety car-wrecked body gradually deteriorating in spite of never-ending efforts to make it better. Oh well. I can still drive and I can still take photos. The “hikes” are short enough to be called short walks. Still, you can do a lot with a Subaru. Last summer I was finally allowed by granddaughter Sophie ‘s father to take her on her long-delayed trip to Canada. It was a week shorter than the others, but we packed a bunch of fun into those two weeks. And it turns out she is a budding naturalist! We spent lots of time seeking wildlife, teaching/learning how to identify birds, hours waiting for some little brown bird to show itself so Sophie could play with the bird book. She was most excited about her first belted kingfisher. Sophie was patient with her old grandma, waiting for me to recover from a painful stretch on a walk, even finding the rock or stump for me to sit on. We actually did get to walk to the Peyto Lake overlook, where you gaze down on a wolfshaped turquoise lake surrounded by those jagged and layered Canadian Rockies. The timed entry into Glacier NP allowed us to stop at every pullout that interested us. I have never been able to do that in the 50 years I have visited that park. She stood under waterfalls

and gazed close range into the ground squirrel’s eyes. Unlike every other time I’ve been to Glacier, we did not see any mountain goats. She made up for it by finding three bears. Traveling this year included the trip with Sophie, a trip to Nevada to shoot the annular solar eclipse, and five trips to the northwest to visit kids and grandkids. I stayed with Louisa’s kids for three weeks while she walked the Camino in Portugal. We had a good time together, spending time at the beach and watching Sophie’s soccer games. I spent Thanksgiving in Fernie, BC with the entire family and celebrated two Christmases, one in Fernie and another in Portland. Have spent some time this year reconnecting or attempting to reconnect with old friends. There are ongoing brunch get-togethers with CRMS people when Les Andrews ‘68 or Steve Barru ‘67 come to the area. Those are always fun. I’m getting to know some of these people better than I ever did at CRMS. Others are college or work friends, lost for 30–50 years. When I reconnect, it is great fun. Some relationships keep going. Others fizzle out. I guess that is the way it is supposed to be. Next week I am going on a cruise! This is NOT something I ever thought I’d do. Actually the whole thought of being trapped in a floating hotel with a

whole bunch of people for a week seems awful. But, my daughter Louisa is turning 40 and at 40 she wants her family and close friends to take a weeklong cruise with her, so I will drive to Tampa, Florida and will get on that huge boat. The trips to and fro will involve many bird refuges and a few other sights, perhaps including a solar eclipse, depending on my timing. I have no reservations, so it just depends on whether I am close at the time. I already have the gear because of the eclipse last October. Enough. My life is essentially the same thing over and over again. Hope all are well and having a good time.

Bart Chapin

Arriving here tomorrow are two quilts made by Emily for our fourth grandchild due in April, the first for our daughter. A kind and generous person, Emily, thank you. Things are busy here in mudville. Very little snow this year but plenty of rain and mud. We are building a geezer addition to the house with the hope that we can stay here longer. I hate to think that way but so many of our friends have not planned their demise very well. Just back from two weeks with our son and family in Belize. I drove there in the 1970s and not as much has changed there as in neighboring Yucatan. Very friendly people wherever we went.

Mountains teach Sue Maffei Plowden '74 resilience at sea

Sue is professional sailor, writer/journalist, and media specialist based in Rhode Island. She has been involved in international sailing events including America’s Cups from 1992-2021, the Whitbread/Volvo Ocean Race, and world sailing championships). "I grew up on the water, so being in Colorado opened my eyes to mountain life and other experiences….river kayaking, climbing, hiking in Canyonlands, senior project at Arcosanti in Arizona, bike trips…activities a bit out of my comfort zone. CRMS gave us the tools and skills to learn to handle ourselves in those situations." Read more at crms.org/blog.

Lucy is volunteering for a women’s rights organization, and I am still building automated fire poles and trying to keep boats and the infrastructure going, a losing battle, I fear. I missed a visit with Nora this summer but with some luck, she will be back in Maine again this summer. I now have four different bikes and I hope to get out on one of them tomorrow, the only gap between rainstorms in the next week. All the best to everyone. Any and all welcome here anytime.

Mike Kitchens

In 1970 I drove from SF to Panama through Belize (British Honduras at the time) and the jungles of Guatemala. I don’t know what the hell I was doing. But a chance to see things, many of which are gone now. Good to hear from you. Will we get together again?

Wendy Blake Stagg I do spend a lot of time remembering and questioning; who is this woman I seem to be now? All those things we discovered when we traveled, when we were younger, such good memories, and so difficult now to figure out how to get a sense of place. As to what I am up to it’s basically not much, total contentment with the “same old, same old.” No traveling really beyond visiting the New Zealand family, and a couple short trips in the plane.

Went to visit friends in Minnesota who had purchased a small island outside of Ely, where they have built a home where we saw a great northern lights show. The thing that would best qualify as news is that our fourth grandchild, third granddaughter, just turned one this week and joined the family.

Tamim Ansary

Good to hear how life is going for y’all. So much of what you say resonates. The world unraveling, the earth shifting. Bracing for fascism, writing them postcards. I spent a lot of time in Kentucky this year with my sister who’s sinking into memory loss. But: in the last year and both my daughters got married, Jessamyn finished the film she’s been working on for ten years, younger daughter Elina won a scholarship to Cornell where she’s now getting an MFA. Two years ago, she started teaching art to two girls in Afghanistan by Zoom; late last year, they both managed to get out, got to America. My wife Debby retired from organizing huge conferences about employee ownership just before the pandemic lockdown started— just in time: she took up fabric art. What used to be her study is now her workshop. When I met her, we were twenty-something year-olds, and she was a clown in a theater troupe called Make-a-Circus which performed for children all around northern California. Now she’s joined a theater troupe of fellow geezers who perform for children in kindergarten and first grade in schools around this city. A year or two ago, after publishing “ Sinking

the Ark, I declared myself “retired”. People asked me what I was going to do, now that I was retired; all I could think to say was, “I don’t know. Write, I guess.” And that’s how it’s been. The world keeps moving faster, I seem to keep moving slower, but writing is still what I do. Out there in the larger world, things are looking ever more apocalyptic. Wildfires every summer, blizzards crippling travel every winter, wars everywhere. The Taliban rule Afghanistan again. Closer to home, my peer group is thinning out. I’m sure y’all know what I mean. Fifty years ago, I remember, I was driving to Oregon with my mother, in part to attend a dear friend’s wedding. I told my mother I could feel myself entering a new chapter of my life because every week or two, it seemed, I was receiving news of yet another set of friends who were getting married. My mother said she knew what I meant: she too felt herself entering a new chapter of her life; except that in her case, the news she kept receiving was of old friends dying. There’s been a lot of that for me in the last year and a half too. This new chapter is not melancholy, it’s more…reflective. Friends I always expected to run into again down the road I now never will; but It’s not tragedy: this is what normal looks like. Used to be, for me, the main question moment to moment was, what should I do next? And the vaguer cloud beyond that: What Are My Long Range Plans? Now what preoccupies me more is: what have I been doing all these years? So I read, I write, I putter in my garden, I hungrily devour news from my kids, and for news of my ever diminishing cohort of life companions. Take care, my friends. Till next year.

Merlyn Ruddell

Wow, refreshing, inspiring to read all these. I live out here way west in Kauai, Hawaii, where so many people around me have lost sight of the imminent danger of fascism pretty much underway in a multitude of countries and of trembling at the

brink of losing our human habitat. People who could be lining up at the polls to stave off this hell-onthe-way are riveted on whatever their issue of passion, the “soap” du jour, all of which seem pretty petty by comparison backing an irrelevant candidate or even turning away and not voting at all. I keep hoping some powerful opinion leaders will come out and encourage us all to steer clear of the Putin minions before it’s too late. Anybody know Taylor Swift? Or Oprah? C’mon ladies! Oh and this does bring us around to CRMS. We had an education, don’t you wish everybody did? On the personal front, it’s a joy to be alive. I woke up at 6 am to the light and beauty show in time-lapse mode from my bedroom, a screened-in porch, birds and sunrise and the roosters (who badly need voice lessons). My elegant 11 hens are laying blue eggs, gardens growing and orchards are putting out coconuts and avocados and citrus. I am majoring in home repairs and upgrades after the house sprung indoor leaks from Christmas rains. Wishing for a world that works for everyone and sweating out November... Sending love to you all remarkable, creative, kind co-alumni!

1967

Brad Ansley

I know we kinda slipped over into the last half of the 60s rather than just one year. I feel your pain. The USA doesn’t seem the same. Dylan wrote The Times They are a Changing only seems like they’re changing back in the wrong direction! I was so proud of America when Obama got elected TWICE! But it seems like to some degree it stirred up a hornet’s nest of hibernating bigots, bandits and imbecilic people who think they’re victims all the while living in the top percentiles in the world and with no desire to help those less fortunate or different. All I can say is go vote for Biden who’s actually doing a great job considering

what he’s up against. Strike blows for democracy. Get rid of the electoral college! Make Election Day a national holiday! Restore Roe! Do it!

Peter Mullen

One hundred percent agree. We need to do what we can muster — getting newbie voters to vote, giving confidence and courage to those who have been oppressed that their voice is necessary as a brother or sister! Here in PA with my good friend Mel from 30 years friendship, we’ve collaborated with those who seek to see equity for all, to study the many painful facets of our country’s history, together, and who are becoming active in pursuing the course we thought the country was on — to celebrate the beauty of what democracy can allow when we seek justice. Book studied, Color of Compromise, has one basic premise: To do nothing in the face of injustice, is an act of injustice in itself! There is much injustice surrounding us through the leaving of what these banned books say, unsaid. We can — we are able to, and allowed, by law, and roused from sleep, by mercy — to speak up with courage. This is something I struggled with for many years. But having spoken up and noticed reverberations, I am encouraged to continue, even more persistently. Much love to all…

Harry Van Camp

While I haven’t kept track, the Wisconsin Bar Association has recently congratulated me for my 50th anniversary of practicing law. Not sure that is something to be proud of but it was thought provoking when I received the notice. I have one trial left in August, maybe another appeal and then I’m done. My three kids each have a son and a daughter. We all enjoyed a Christmas vacation together on the beach in Mexico. The winter here in Wisconsin was too warm. Even though it was very comfortable, it concerns me that climate change will impact us all sooner than expected. Susan was diagnosed and treated for

Tamim Ansary '66

breast cancer mid-year last year. Fortunately, it was found early as a result of a routine mammogram. She recovered well and is as strong as ever. I would love to see you all. Hopefully, we can gather for another CRMS reunion!

Nancy Eliot Ulett

It’s been another odd Maine winter with basically no snow (yet). Usually at this time I would still be under several mounds of plowed snow in my yard, but no, nothing, My daffodils are coming up! But… we still have March and April to go. Not a lot going on here, my younger son, Teddy was with me last summer while working in Bar Harbor. He’s back in LA now going back to his real work as a script writer for Reality TV. My older son, Eliot, is still in St. Louis with his wife and my two grandkids...now teenagers! I have been dabbling in my artwork a bit this winter, a couple of new ‘Found Art Fish’ and I’m working on another hooked rug. I never reopened my studio/shop after Covid, but I still exhibit/sell my work around the island. Work has been slowed due to old, arthritic hands (too many years of power tools) and macular degeneration is slowing me down a bit, some days better than others...watch out for the old lady in the ancient Subaru with the seeing eye dog hanging out the window! Still working in the summer doing change over cleaning in 3 AirBnB’s and planting my little garden, and of course my 6 ‘allowed’ pot plants (which I never liked, but fun to grow and give away) My two kitties, a 15 year old tabby and a 5 year old Maine Coon make sure I get up in the morning to get breakfast(s) and let them out to play for the day. They are my best buds. Again, anyone headed to Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, stop in to say “hi”, or even stay, if you don’t mind a couch. Brad, I forgot we are pretty much neighbors. Happy Spring and a great year to all (now all we have to do is get through it in one piece!) I was looking at some pictures of

Carbondale online...crazy! I think I just want to remember it as the tiny place we rode through on Potato Day! (and I still don’t know what it means to ‘miss potato’ our question that day).

Tracy Fitz yes what is lifewhere can we live who can we live with where is there water where is there land and food! how about making solar panels and batteries instead of guns and bombs why not ending support for the patriarchy hubeings huwus peeps people going to be a a longer than our current lives before things stop getting hotter music harmony modulation dance haven’t we passed the era yet? i want my pill

white skin today black skin tomorrow red skin the next, maybe a pill to change my sex too or every few minutes

Hi Adele :) see you all aways no punctuation, tracy

David Nutt

Time marches on here in Maine, too. We have had 3 major storms this winter changing the landscape in western Maine and down here along the coast. And very little snow and lots of rain and warm temps. “The times they are a changin.” The tentacles of these

changes reach into the soul of the way of life in Maine. The cost and regulatory constraints on rebuilding destroyed infrastructure can be staggering at times. So much of the economic life of Maine is seasonal - winter stuff in the north and summer stuff along the coast. I could go on and on but… My life carries me along with projects on boats, projects in the house and on my property and especially time with my four kids who are no longer really kids. Pruning the apple trees in my modest orchard and attempting to put more life back into wild apple trees surrounding the fields. Getting ready for the garden and the first planting of greens in the hoop house in early April. It is so warm already I’m sure I could go out today and prep the soil. I find myself back on the planning board as I want a hand in shaping the town’s path forward. Four grandkids now — it is hard not to wonder what their world will be like as the future encroaches. Things Judy and I tried to have our kids understand when one came to us and said “Daddy, mommy, it’s not fair”. We would always reply “you’re damn right it’s not fair and you have no clue how good you have it”. And we often said “If we all do a little bit more than our share it will all get done”. And we should do our best to live a life where we produce more than we consume.

Steve Barru

Hello from Vietnam! As always, I have enjoyed reading what people have been up to in the last year or so. On the personal front, about a year ago my Vietnamese partner and friend, Minh, began providing support (mostly helping with Vietnamese-English interpretation at the start) for the owner/operator of a small travel business from the Czech Republic. Mila specializes in tropical beach destinations for people from a land bound country with cold winters, and Hoi An, where Minh and I live, is one of Vietnam’s premiere seaside tourist destinations. Mila and Minh have

definitely hit it off, and Minh has accompanied a number of Czech groups visiting a variety of destinations in South East Asia. Mila has been in the business for about 30 years now, and in addition to some income, Minh is getting on-the-jobtraining from a pro. What enormous good fortune for Minh. It has been a genuine delight watching his new career unfold in the last year. In the meantime, Minh jumped through various bureaucratic hoops required and is now an international tour guide licensed by the Vietnamese government. When he is not busy with one of Mila’s tours, he is developing relationships with Hoi An travel businesses and working on offering services of his own. All of this does not have much direct impact on me. Mostly it means I have more time on my own at home, more time for photos, reading, playing with the dogs, and puttering - nothing wrong with any of this. In fact, last summer I gave up the last of my remote editing clients, a Chinese research institute with an academic journal, and as far as I am concerned, that is the end of gainful employment for me. In many ways the most stressful part of my life is the time I spend keeping up with news from the country of my birth. Good lord, what a shit show. These days I try to limit my exposure, less news, more peace of mind. I am going to be in the Denver area for 10 days or so in May — hoping to catch up with some CRMS folks in the area during that trip.

Kathy Lovett Moritz

I am currently halfway through a 5 week solo road trip through India, north to south. Definitely not a relaxing trip, but very interesting to see such an intense place from a non-tourist perspective. The Indians can’t believe I can travel freely on my own without fear, but they don’t realize how much safer it is here than the US! Such a breath of hope to see that there are still places in the world that embody tolerance, acceptance, respect,

kindness of one another. Such a difference from our violent, polarized, political world back home. The crazy state of our country is on full display to the world! Agree with Steve: total shit show!

Chris Thomson

Skiing down the mountain last March my phone rang. The Grand Canyon said they had a launch date in 10 days. I said “I’ll take it.” That night I tested positive for COVID. I didn’t recover in those 10 days but was no longer contagious so I decided to launch on another 15 day solo kayak trip and let the canyon heal me. April 4th I started paddling down the river in the Roger Paris river boat I built in ‘66. Right away I realized I had no balance and my reflexes were on an alarming time delay. I tipped and hit my head hard on a rock. I got a bad concussion which made all my symptoms way worse. I took it easy for the next few days paddling short distances and recording lots of flute improvisations. Then I tipped again and the current ripped my boat out of my hand and separated us. I was extremely cold. I was stranded with nothing. It was snowing and there were very few other trips on the river. I thought this might be the end. It was getting dark. Then I saw some rafts. I screamed for help. They found my boat a mile downstream but told me they thought it best if I rode with them to Phantom ranch and hiked out. I reluctantly agreed. They were a luxury trip. They gave me a cot and warm sleeping bag, fed me gourmet food, and let me accompany them on hikes complete with very informative archeological and geological lectures. The hike out from Phantom was glorious. The park service kindly helicoptered out my treasured boat. It was a wonderful trip, though not what I had in mind. It’s been 11 months now and I’m still struggling to recover from my long COVID/concussion symptoms. Life is good! I’m once again applying to every Grand Canyon launch date lottery for my next attempt.

Sarah Cooper-Ellis

Many have reflected on what sustains you through challenges of aging. I find it comforting to hear others’ stories and be reminded that we’re all in the same choppy river. Christopher Thomson, thank you for describing your adventures so that we could be there with you. And after all that, Life is good, and you’re pursuing your next launch. I too sustained a head injury, more than a year ago now, while doing what I love most — walking alone in the woods looking at plants. When I stood up from where I’d crouched for a closer look, I lost my balance and went over backwards where my head met my rock. At first I thought-they told me — recovery should take X number of weeks or possibly months. Instead, the changes from impact have merged into other unexpected changes. See Jill Bolte Taylor’s My Stroke of Insight. Mysteriously transformative. Not recommending knocking your head on a rock, but if you do, I recommend seeing what can come of it. While some abilities may wane, others may arise.

K.C. Clendening

I love hearing from everyone. I am still very much plugged into AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) on a daily basis. I go to meetings on Zoom and have been for 4 years. I continue to have cancer which is rare and aggressive. I had another surgery in September at Hopkins which supposedly got rid of the immediate cancer but it came back. I started a cancer Tx program. Chemo and radiation will not touch this cancer. I am hoping to find clinical trials that will address it. I am doing infusion treatment now. I have a lot of gratitude now and hope.. I work at a slow pace. I have a cart I walk to the mailbox with daily and I try to stay in the moment. I have good friends that are wonderful, supportive and loving. I can not ask for more.

In living color: Design journey of Alicia Keshishian '74

Based in Washington, D.C., Alicia works as a creative director and designer making custom rugs. "I’m third generation in the rug business with my grandfather Mark Keshishian starting the business in the early 1900s, including providing rugs to the White House for many years. So rugs have been swirling around my entire life. One day in New York I pointed out a rug store and said to my friend “You know, my family’s been in the rug business for generations.” We walked into the store and I felt like I was home and I knew designing rugs is what I wanted to do."

1969 • 55th Reunion

Lolly Lewis

I continue to celebrate and facilitate amateur music-making through my nonprofit, Amateur Music Network (amateurmusic.org). Join me for Song Circle, our monthly online sing-along! I also find deep satisfaction in my other role as a recording producer. The highlight of the last year was a recording of Mahler’s

Fifth Symphony at Skywalker Sound with the Bay Area’s Cambrian Symphony. (transparentrecordings.com)

Anni

Macy Shelley

Last year I designed and my husband co-wrote, edited and published a 200 page coffee table book on the first 100 years of Seattle’s Broadmoor Golf Club. It was a fun and rewarding project. This year we’ll do a centennial book for another golf club in the area. Next year we’ve contracted to do a centennial book for our former golf club, where we were members for 30 years. After living in Seattle for 46 years, in the same house for 31, my husband and I decided to move to Whidbey Island, about an hour north of Seattle. It’s been a marathon for sure. We moved in mid-January and landed in a friend’s spectacular rental on the beach. Our Seattle house sold very quickly in early February which meant we could look for our new house. We found a place in early March for a really great price. We had a bunch of work done and moved in April 5th. We love island life and are settling in nicely.

Mary Kuntz

Doing well, as well as both my kids and grandchild. Starting to be more and more involved with ceramics. I’m taking a trip to the Big Island again, to go rafting down the Yampa, and up to Alaska at the end of June/early July. Then will be home the rest of summer and early fall if anyone is visiting the west coast come and stay in Santa Cruz with me.

1970

Alexander (Carey) Marvin

I entered CRMS as a junior in the fall of 1968, but unfortunately I didn’t graduate with my class in 1970. Nonetheless, I look back at my brief time at CRMS fondly. I hope to attend the 55th reunion coming up next year.

Cori Snobble

I’ve been in Portales, N.M. for 40 years as of February. Husband John Montgomery was hired by Eastern New Mexico University and still works there. I have 3 grandchildren, 1 boy (15), and 2 girls (1&2). Am planting a hackberry at the BWD site for Arbor Day on April 21. I have been associated with Blackwater Draw Site (Clovis) for 30 years presenting programs in the grade schools and Gatekeeper at public events. Still gardening and belly dancing.

Sands Hall

Sarah Swinerton ‘70 and I attended LeeAnn Eustis’ fabulous celebration of life last spring, and it was great to see Kin DuBois ‘68 (we played a couple of songs together!), and LeeAnn’s kids, who are of course so not kids, lovely Leslie and super-talented Evan. And Adele Hause spoke so eloquently—just a beautiful afternoon —which ended in rain, and a spectacular rainbow. Six years ago I published a memoir, Reclaiming my Decade Lost in Scientology (yup!), an audiobook read by the author. I have two albums of my songs: Rustler’s Moon and, as of this past November, Sturdy Boots. I’ve won a number of awards for

an essay published by Alta Journal about the plagiarism scandal hounding Wallace Stegner in his novel Angle of Repose. Right after the pandemic I directed a production of Tiny Beautiful Things by Cherly Strayed for Sierra Stages in the delightful town I call home, Nevada City, CA. I was a professor of English & Creative writing at Franklin & Marshall College; retired, I still love to teach and do a lot online. I’m in regular touch with Swin. I’d love to hear from classmates; contact me through my website sands@sandshall.com.

Jock Mackinlay

I retired from Tableau Software in January 2023. An unexpected retirement present was being elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). I’m deeply honored for this recognition of my visualization research at PARC and my contributions at Tableau Software, including getting to produce my PhD dissertation. I’m also enjoying my third act, which includes NAE committee work, traveling, and volunteering. Here is a photo of me and my wife Polle Zellweger at the National Cathedral for the NAE black tie banquet for the NAE class of 2023.

1971

Catherine Wyler Hayden

Our class missed our 50th due to covid altho we had great Zoom Calls....I hope we can rally the troops for our 55th..we’re no spring chickens but it is time to make hay while the sun shines...see y’all in 2026...xo

Left: Anni Shelly '69 & Jeff walking at Whidbey Beach, Jock Mackinlay ‘70 and wife Polle Zellweger, monohull sailboat of Tom Boyce '71, Jim Ostrem '71

Jim Ostrem

Hi all, I’m mostly retired, right now enjoying a two week drive from Tucson to Vancouver, BC and back with my wife Mary to visit our son. Not much new to report. Love being retired and having time to ride, garden and work on trails in Rico, Colorado during the summer. We’re still splitting our time between Tucson in the winter and Rico in the summer. Gardening at 8,000 ft is a challenge but you can grow sweet corn if you get it in early enough and have a little luck with the last frost of the season. We moved to Barrio Viejo in downtown Tucson a couple of years ago and love being in this part of town. Give us a shout if you drive through on Hwy 145. Jim 520 229 9598. Cheers to all!

Jonathan Siegel

I’m another year wiser & apparently older.

I enormously enjoyed a paddle down the Grand Canyon last summer, and continue practicing as an Architect...one of these days I’ll learn how to do it. Endlessly busy with grandparent duties here and in England where the little ones live among wild bluebells in a converted 17th C barn. I enjoy cheesemaking, and of late am taking up lathe work (bowls), in addition to mushroom hunting and fly-fishing and the annual cycles of gardening and canning. Turning 70 in the Grand was enriching insofar as noting the scale and time frames involved made my age quite relative - grinning at the lessons of time and space. Beyond such pleasures, I’m immensely saddened by world and national affairs - having worked briefly in Jerusalem I can only wish for a lasting unity and whole peace for all of humanity - if we’re big enough: “keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them”. (thanks Wells for the lessons well learnt). And Wells was the Shakespeare teacher who “forced” us to memorize wonderful lines which have stayed with me all these years. What a gift! The quote I made was from Othello - - - I

saw it in London at the Globe a few years back, and wept as the lines I knew so well were spoken from that exquisite stage.

Risto Lappala

Quick update. We continue to enjoy sailing in Mexico during the winter months but had a short season this year. We bought property in Prescott, AZ, and are in the process of building a small ‘Net Zero’ house. One of my bucket list things has been to design and build a house for us. Two and a half years of property search and numerous house plans have resulted in being almost ready to pour footings. Many sleepless nights but am enjoying the challenge. Beat to all. Fair Winds, Risto

Tom Boyce

Currently on solo ocean passage to Europe aboard Willow, a 42’ cutter rigged monohull sailboat.

1973

Meredith Strauss

Textile artist and importer with a lust for fabric, and travel, while supporting artisans to continue creating their handmade products! Connect with me on Facebook @ meredith.strauss or Instagram @ meredithstrauss

1974 • 50th Reunion

Bob Kelly

I am retired now, from my acupuncture work as of Covid, so that means I’m working all the time on my various houses and projects. My partner, Stacey, and I spend the winters on the big island mostly on our community owned 90 acre farm (and music venue) near Pahoa, but also on our west side get-away from the rain house in Waikoloa. May through Christmas is spent mostly in Hereford, Az at our newly built house with a view of miracle valley (Mexico) but also up in Denver to manage rentals on the front range and check in with my two kids (19 and 21) who have taken over the townhome there while they figure out their lives.

So I seem to be a handyman, project manager, treasurer for the hui out here in Hawaii, and still landlording though slowly converting active management to other less engaging ownerships. Healthy for the most part I’d say we are living the dream. Life is more precious than Gold.

Davidson Tanner

Carol and I are well and continue to live on the lake in Afton, MN. We have been taking some road trips in our retirement and got to see the eclipse down in Indiana — beautiful view — stunning! Have been meeting up with a few CRMSer’s in Bluff, UT, in May for hiking and swapping stories in the campground. Participants include: Guy and Terry Gelfenbaum ‘74, David Harvey ‘74, Jim Doolittle ‘74, Janine (Missy) King ‘75, Steve Barru ‘72, & Cyndy Tanner and Jill St. Jacques ‘75 , have shown up for the fun. Looking forward to seeing all of my ‘74 brothers and sisters in June! Here’s a photo of our 40 year reunion in 2014. Cate Barrera ‘74, Sue Maffei Plowden ‘74, Julie LeCorgne ‘74, Kim Anker Paddon ‘74 in front of the New or Old Girl’s Dorm, I could never remember — the one to the right as you approach from the main campus. About to head into our 50th this June!

Chris White

Still alive and still working. Roosting in Fort Bragg, California, a small town on the north coast experiencing controversy about being named after a slave owning confederate general. So it would cost about

$6.5 million to change the name. Is it worth it or should we pave a couple more streets or hire a few more teachers? Hmmmm...Work is for a very large Medicaid managed care organization in LA County. Has a noble mission of helping the most needy and I am encouraged to take my lunch break. What more could I ask for from a job? Peter and I just had lunch with some excellent oysters down at the Noyo harbor. Life is good. Traveled to the midwest to see the eclipse. It was worth it! But I have used up my travel budget and won’t see you all in June so I am a bit sad about that. I hope you all have a good time.

David Harvey

Been working part time, skiing, backpacking and fishing. I have a junior in CRMS, Kira ‘25, and her sister, Megan will be starting as a freshman in the Fall. Looking forward to our 50th reunion in June.

Ellen Boswell Schiefer

I am doing well and enjoying life. Looking forward to seeing everyone at our 50th high school reunion back on campus in June!

Gina Hardin

I moved from Denver to Lyons — a tiny town in north Boulder county, close to Rocky Mountain National Park, about 3 years ago — and love it. Tons of live music, beautiful places, friends, my 3 kids and 2 grandkids are in the area. I still love hiking, backpacking, skiing, alpine and cross country skiing. Actually, I’m in Glenwood now on the way to backpacking in the canyonlands.

Ellen Boswell '74, David Tanner '74 retirement

This fall I’m doing a Refugio trip in the Hungarian alps! And then some weeks in Italy with Bill (Living Apart Together). So, as the Mexican toast goes, I have ‘Salud, amor y pesetas y tiempo para gastarlas.’

Jim Doolittle

Lisa and I moved to Dolores Colorado after finding a beautiful property in the Dolores River Valley north of town in 2018. I retired from my custom cabinet business of 40+ years and have spent my time working on the property, building a short term rental and hosting guests. Being a photographer

since CRMS, I decided to start a real estate photography business here in Southwest Colorado the past couple of months. So far it couldn’t be going better. For fun in warm months, I mountain bike, hike and do some landscape photography. In winter, I ski in Telluride as much as I can.

Julie Bethell LeCorgne

I am a Bahamian, living with my husband Parker in New Orleans for the past 46 years. We have two children 41 and 32 years old, two grandchildren 9 and 7, and a black labrador. I manage my family business in the Bahamas. This includes managing marinas, rental properties and retail. I enjoy most all watersports, hiking, yoga, pickleball, hunting and fishing, gardening and photography. We travel when time allows. I’m hoping to start writing an historical novel about my Bahamian family in the near future.

Susan Maffei Plowden I’m currently offshore, we’re a day out from Azores, so can only offer

up a couple of photos. Sort of sums up this past year…traveling while I can & it’s no coincidence that both these trips were with old CRMS friends: Cate Hayden Barrera ‘74 at Dolomites, Italy, September 2023; Melina Wall White ‘74 in Revelstoke, B.C., Canada, February 2024.

Yochanan Kreizel

My life journey has made a dramatic turn from my CRMS days! About 45 years ago I returned to my Jewish roots and became ultra orthodox shabbat observant, moved to the lower Hudson valley in New York, learned biblical hebrew and Yiddish, studied Talmudic law, got married, had 4 children, 7 grandchildren; divorced after 35 years, (just got married again this past week). CRMS was a watershed time that prepared me for my current lifestyle and choices. I learned how to work hard, tried new things: cross country ski racing and white water kayaking. Struggled academically. Roger Paris taught and lived excellence... While my lifestyle is

Cate Barrera ‘74, Sue Maffei Plowden ‘74, Julie LeCorgne ‘74, Kim Anker Paddon ‘74 at their 40th in 2014, Bob Kelley '74, Julie LeCorgne '74, Yochanan Kreizel '74 and family

CRMS exposes Muffy Ritz '75 to lifelong joy of skiing and coaching

Muffy is the Nordic Ski Coach, program director, and Founder of the Vamps, the largest, longest-running Nordic ski program in the U.S. for women with 125 skiers. Says Muffy, "CRMS taught me how to be a strong-willed person, especially in the outdoors and in athletics. Wilderness session showed me that I could do more than I ever thought I could and that I could endure some hard, uncomfortable times such as sleeping under a flimsy tarp in a downpour, hiking for 14 miles after three days of no food, waking up to over six inches of snow at 10,000 feet, having to eat sardines because that’s all that was left. I was exposed to all types of skiing at CRMS – alpine ski team with Roger Paris, XC skiing and mountaineering with Dutton Foster, Rich Furze, Larry Paleo, and Steve Bunnell, ski jumping with some crazy faculty members, and more! These experiences showed me that I could do just about anything on two skis." Read more at crms.org/blog

completely different now I appreciate nature, hiking and accept people who live very different lifestyles. I would love to join the reunion, however most activities would be off limits: eating (I only eat kosher), Shabbos (Friday night and Saturday restrictions) etc. Just to bring my life down to earth, I did continue to XC ski race until 1979; I did graduate from the University of Vermont in 1981; I worked with computers for many years in infrastructure, mostly with servers and networks. However, after getting divorced, diagnosed with Prostate cancer and getting laid off, only within three months I made a career change and now I do tutoring in the local schools teaching Yiddish speaking children, English and math! CRMS is and was a great place, all the best, Yochanan (John) Kreizel.

1975

Daniel Humphreys

Hello to classes 1974–1977.

Emily Bray

I’m still living on our farm in Boulder County. Spring is here and planting of our organic gardens is underway. I was fortunate to have a visit from Jill St Jacques ‘74 & daughter Kati last summer, an absolute delight. Dinners with David Lowe ‘76 and Mindy Owensby ‘77 over the last years have made me feel very connected. I’ve visited Suzanne

Stewart ‘75 at her home in WA several times over the last years and look forward to our next get together. I am forever grateful for our life long lasting friendship. This Fall/Winter we will visit Kenya and Tanzania, safari and birding, a journey I have long looked forward to. I look forward to connecting with the class of ’74 at their reunion this year as I will be in the Valley at that time. And a shout out to the class of ’75 for our reunion next year. Which of you will show up? It would be a delight to see many!

Marya Zimmet

maryazimmetmusic.com

Harry Heafer

I’m still working at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department as a Senior Environmental Health Specialist dealing with all kinds of solid waste and sanitation code violations (I call it the “underbelly” of Lincoln) and on our HAZMAT/ Emergency Response Team. Looking at giving it another year and then finally retiring next March or April. Hard to believe it will be 30 years by then. Our son and daughter are doing well and not living with us! :) We’re fortunate they still live here in Lincoln, but even then we don’t see them very often. We have granddogs but no grandkids, unfortunately. Looking forward to getting some traveling once retirement comes.

1976

Maureen McGrath

I’m working as a realtor in San Diego. My daughter lives near Walla Walla, Washington. I plan to retire there in the next several years.

1977

Tim Kinzler

Celebrating 65 years of life, 45 years in real estate in SE Florida, maintaining fitness at Lifetime Fitness Club. Fun travel to GA, SC, and NC at the end of 2023. Was a pleasant surprise hearing from Steve Kern ‘77, and reaching out to his son in NW per a real estate career. Thank you to Kent Bullard ‘76, Danny Martinez ‘77 and Sandy for connecting.

Heather Hause Froelicher

Hello out there! Life in Carbondale has changed radically post Covid but the mountains still stand and for now the rivers run. I have retired and love finding time to read, do yoga, ski all kinds of skis, hike, love my family and volunteer at a local regenerative farm named Seed Peace. My husband, Franz Froelicher ‘72, and I manage to get to Alaska every summer for 10 days off the grid which keeps us energized and hopeful. Love to all y’all in the Class of ‘77!

1979 • 45th Reunion

1980

Naomi A. Rose

I am a marine mammal scientist at the Animal Welfare Institute in Washington, D.C. I have been married to Chris Parsons, a British cetacean biologist, for 21 years. We have three cats and no kids, and we both travel all over the world for our work (when pandemics allow), often together. I enjoy history, science fiction, fantasy, biking, and gardening.

Andy Reeves

Practicing neurology but easing into retirement. BJJ blue belt now — I’m the old guy in the class! Playing guitar, building guitar pedals, sculpting, roasting coffee. I’m busy! Connect with me on LinkedIn.

1982

Leila Gass

I’ve retired (at least for now) after 23 years with the U.S. Geological Survey, and am now living in Littleton, CO. I’m looking forward to spending time with my boyfriend and exploring more of Colorado. Regular trips to Tucson to visit my pony, friends, and the gorgeous desert will remain on my agenda, and once the dust settles I’ll look into the many volunteer opportunities around here. And I hope to keep reconnecting with my CRMS community, whenever the chance arises!

Bella & Emily Bray ‘75, Heather Hause Froelicher ‘77, Andy Reeves '80 received his Blue Belt

Elizabeth Kiggen

Hey, folks! I recently moved back to New York from Florida, and man, am I happy with that decision. My time at CRMS NEVER leaves me, and the achievements I had there in 1982 forged my road forever. CRMS students form a bond that lasts a lifetime. My adventures on Wilderness, kayaking with Mark Clark , hiking the desert with Gene Hebert and gritting my teeth to take that next step, that courage I developed during my time at CRMS has given me confidence to “get to the top.” I remember when I was applying to The New York Times and thinking, “I will never be able to do this.” And after 50 phone calls ending in rejection and tears, I got my shot. I became a reporter for the New York Times.

And Newsday, over 10 newspapers in the Tri-state area, an editor position at Young Miss Magazine, an assistant producer role at PBS and my own TV show about what I love the most, animals. CRMS taught me

to care about others, so I put that to work as a public relations officer for the Democratic Congressional Committee.

I worked at New York City Council and now work as a Spanish interpreter for the Department of Homeland Security, the US Department of State and the US Department of Justice. I learned one thing: Never Believe Anyone Who Tells You You Can’t Do Something. 15 miles a day with 100-pounds on my back and CRMS taught me that. Never Give Up!

Kate Bennis

This year we are empty-nesters, which means more time to do work I love. My communication coaching and training practice continues to entice me — each and every client is a new whole field to discover. And now I have more time for theater and writing. I’ve been working on a TV mystery series--sort of a “cozy mystery” like the BBC stuff but set in rural US. And am co-creating an all-women’s production

of King Lear — I’ll play “Queenie.”

The kids are in college studying archeology and human rights. And Hal and I can go on business trips with each other. We are shocked, absolutely shocked, to be turning 60 this year. I read a great article this morning asking that each time we use or see the word, “aging,” we substitute the word “living.”

So that’s what we are doing at 60: living!

1983

Robert Ford

40 years — wow, where’d the time go! I just finished an MA TESOL journey this Spring working with 2nd language learners at the intersection of academic technology and disability studies. But my passion remains with healing, so I am hoping to start my PsyD this year specializing in MDMA assisted trauma therapy. Love (and deepest gratitude) to the teachers, staff, and community of CRMS!

Michelle Peterson I completed my 30th year taking care of the City of Seattle’s trucks and backhoes trailers and whatever else is made of metal and moves. My yoga teaching business is still in practice, with two groups of long time, dedicated students. My husband, John continues to be successfully self-employed with his business, Blockplane Carpentry.

John and I continue to be very involved with The Mountaineers Club here. John graduated from the Basic Alpine Climbing course last summer while I taught navigation, scrambling, snowshoeing and yoga for the Foothills Chapter of the club. I will follow John this coming year, having been accepted as a student into the 2024 Basic Alpine Course. John has fallen in love with rock climbing and is a fantastic teacher. While not as passionate about it as he is, I love learning from him at the indoor rock gym and the occasional outdoor rock climb. Mostly, on Sundays, I am found somewhere

Top row, left to right, Trustees Stan Wattles '80 and Cory Hardie Ritchie '92 on campus last fall, Leila Gass '82, Michelle Peterson '83 & husband John. Michelle Peterson '83 at 40th CRMS reunion, Jennie Baker '84, Mark Byers '84 and family

around Mt. Rainier National Park scrambling up the smaller peaks surrounding “The Big One.” This was also the year of my 40th high school reunion! Jeeze! Early August, I drove to Colorado, sleeping in my 4Runner along the way. I still love CRMS and my classmates. They are all such beautiful, amazing beings. I was thrilled to reconnect with Lee Reed ‘83!

Later, in November, John and I flew to Florida to drive home his new Unimog.

I was blessed to meet up with Elizabeth Agar ‘82. She’s been great about staying in touch for 40 years, and we finally were together in person.

David M Edwards

2023 brought many changes and opportunities for growth. I relocated from Florida to our family property in Maine as a single man. I reinvented myself after 10 years of sobriety and have begun a new career as a Recovery Coach and Interventionist. Doing lots of hiking and photography, I would love to connect with any classmates david@davidedwards.com

1984 • 40th Reunion

Jennie Baker

I have been living in Portland, Oregon, for more than two decades

and I have lived in eight different states since graduating from CRMS; and have had several strange jobs along the way. I am currently a concert producer and stage photographer. My boyfriend of 13 years, Ben and I have a live rock band singing project called the Low Bar Chorale, and we are heading north to perform at a music festival — Salmonfest — in Alaska this summer.

Mark Byers

I’m a parish priest in Connecticut. Married 22 years to an LCSW/ therapist, three daughters, one in college, one about to be in college, one still in high school. Photo is with my family at church last Xmas.

1985

Fran Page

I taught dance, yoga and choreographed Little Mary Sunshine and Working in the 80s. I was also married to Sam Holden and took care of Anne Holden the last three years of her life.

1988

Matthew George Miss the good times.

Rachel Duncan

I am a Financial Therapist based in Denver. I specialize in helping impulse spenders learn to trust themselves and finally approach

their money without fear.

I am married, have two children and two cats, and I love to sing to unsuspecting audiences around Denver. I also hang out with Erin Howard ‘00 any chance I can.

1989 • 35th Reunion

Molly Bozzo

My family is busy and thriving. My son Luca is studying biology at Santa Barbara, surfing, playing

bass in a band, and generally loving life. My daughter Sofia is a first year student at UC Davis and is a Division I water polo player. She is learning how to manage her timebalancing school, training, and fun. My husband Andy was recently promoted to battalion chief for Contra Costa County Fire. And I am still working at Stevenson School. My father Steve Bunnell (former faculty member) is 86 years old and lives with his wife Mary Ann in Seattle.

Hardy Griffin '91 is editor, translator & award-winning author

During the pandemic, Hardy thought about what he could do to serve the literary community, and helped start Novel Slices — a nonprofit literary magazine devoted to novel excerpts from unpublished novels. He works to help new writers get their work agented and published. In 2022 Hardy won the Grand Prize for Unpublished Books from Eyelands Book Awards. He recently published that work of fiction, Broken Kismet, in 2023. Read more at crms.org/blog

Kevin Clarke '92 and daughter Zelda in the Adobe last summer, Tad Whitaker '94, Rachel Duncan '98

CRMS launches Seth Cobb '99 into animation career

After college, Seth worked for a small animation studio as part of Fox ABC doing on-air graphics. He currently works for Blur Animation Studio doing their visual effects and computer animation in 3D modeling. He continues to do a variety of projects, recently video game trailers such as Love, Death and Robots, Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Divergent (2014).

Says Seth, "I just love being able to have fun doing art and get paid for it. My job is doing what I love and having ownership in what I create. Being an artist in an industry that is constantly evolving and changing provides a ton of creative opportunities which is really fulfilling. A past large project I worked on was the movie 'Top Gun: Maverick.' I was the computer graphics supervisor for that film."

1994 • 30th Reunion

Tad Whitaker

Live in San Francisco, work in cybersecurity and do lots of endurance swims and bikes with Jon Keller ‘94 . https://www.linkedin. com/in/tadwhitaker

1998

Gwyther Bultman

Not a ton new to report — Holding it down in Brooklyn, I’ve been at the same gig managing rock ‘n roll bands for the last 20+ years.

1999 • 25th Reunion

August Thurmer

I spent the better part of my years after CRMS developing my craft as a cinematographer and getting established in the film industry. Most recently my love for the outdoors and my career have come together and I am focusing on conservation storytelling with an intersection in social justice and mental health. Aside from my main role in life as a father and husband I have been working, as a cinematographer, to craft stories that spark

conversation about wild places for Patagonia, Protect our Winters, The Long Beach Aquarium of The Pacific, and CNN’s explore parts unknown.

Jon Muir

As I have been for almost 20 years now, I’m a wildlife biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. I run the Klamath Watershed wildlife staff (a small but great group of folks) from Lakeview, Oregon. Meanwhile, my wife Autumn (also a wildlife/habitat biologist and owner/proprietor of Larkmuir LLC, a consulting company in the natural resource space) and I are raising two boys that keep us on our toes and make every struggle in life worthwhile. Cooper (age 11) and Colt (age 8) are growing into fantastic young men currently kicking ass on their respective hockey teams, carving the slopes of our local ski hill (Warner Canyon, the best kept secret in the west when we get the snow), and performing at the top of their classes. With two dogs (including a Labrador that fills the role of my assistant at work most days), and a brood of chickens on the way, we’ve got our hands full around a house/homestead that we have invested greatly in creating. We look forward to an ever growing garden this summer and good times spent fishing in the local streams and lakes and a full hunting season this fall. All my best to the Class of ‘99, and CRMS.

Katie (Stevenson) Cabrera

I am living in Northern NJ near NYC with my husband and two daughters, 9 and 7. They are avid skiers so we are hoping to make a trip west next ski season! I work at a clinic as a nurse practitioner in developmental pediatrics and also have my own practice on the side.

Kelli Keith

The sunset picture includes my husband. We went to a concert inside of a glacier, with instruments made of ice. In January, I went to the Dolomites in Italy to compete for US Alpine Masters in the Winter

Jack Tolan '05 finds true success enriching lives with music

Not all music careers start on a soccer field.

However, when Jack Tolan ‘05 witnessed his high school teammates Nick Forbes ’05 and Chris Sellers ’06 playing guitar on the soccer field at CRMS, it sparked his interest in the social music scene. Initially he drummed outside the Bar Fork and learned guitar from anyone who would teach him. Music teacher George Weber fanned that flame as a band leader and coach over the next three years.

In his senior year, Jack had to give a solo performance in the CRMS Barn to the entire school. “It was terrifying and profound and made me less shy,” he shares. At the time, he had no inkling that he would eventually play over 850 shows and pursue music as a professional career. Read more at crms.org/blog

World Masters Games, which is the equivalent of the Olympics for all Masters winter sports (age 30+). My best finish was a 5th in the W3 age class in Slalom. While there, I enjoyed visiting sites throughout Switzerland, Austria and Germany that I’d always dreamt of seeing. I continue to serve as the President of the Rocky Mountain Masters ski series located in Colorado. My husband and I recently also bought our first house and adopted a puppy.

2001

Lera Nichols O’Sullivan

I graduated from Oregon Health and Science University with my MD on March 22, 2024. I matched into Emergency Medicine residency and will be a doctor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison for the next three years!

Hubby Matthew, dog Nelson, and kitten Maeby are joining me in the land of cheese!

2004 • 20th Reunion

Rachel Anne Sibley

My wee daughter and I reside in Austin, Texas beneath sprawling, ancient oaks. We run an AirBnB in their back property called SoCo Treehouse (come visit!) two blocks from live music, spring fed pools, and the greenbelt. I continue to work in technology, ethics, and regenerative design. I dance and garden as much as possible.

Lila Hemsell

I live in Tacoma, WA with my partner Sam, (a Colorado boy), two kids, Shailesh (9), and Tariq, (6), and old kitty Misha. I’m a writer and English teacher and volunteer with Climbers of Color hosting BIPOC climb nights at my gym.

2005

Savannah Berlyn Anderson (Ricehill)

In April I changed my sole proprietor business to an LLC, and now It’s called Savannah Berlyn Photo & Design, LLC. My dad and I just joined 3 Rivers Art Gallery and will be showcasing our fine art photography. I’m thrilled to announce the launch of Focus and Framed: Portrait Studio and Art Gallery in downtown Sioux City, Iowa. This venture marks the realization of my dream to showcase my photography and take portraits. I am excited to introduce ‘Focus by Savannah’, a passion project set to debut with a ribbon skirt exhibition in April, celebrating community members. This new chapter allows me to continue pursuing my love for photography in a meaningful way. www.linkedin. com/in/savannahberlyn

2006

Katie Brimm

The organization I co-founded, Farmer Campus, just received an award for the Western Region Outstanding Projects for our Wildfire

Resilience for Farmers educational program. We are launching an online course and collection of case studies on Climate Resilience in just a few short weeks. I’m now a Public Voice on the Climate Crises Fellow through Yale University and the OpEd Project, with articles placed in The Progressive and in the SF Chronicle, advocating on behalf of young farmers and climate & wildfire resilience I was invited to La Via Campesina’s 8th International Convergence in Bogotá, Columbia where I represented Real Food Media as a Correspondent. I interviewed over 25 different peasant and indigenous farmers from all over the world who are working on issues like women’s rights, agroecology, climate justice, queer rights, and land reform. The photo above is me bottom left in the black shirt kneeling with a contingent of international farmers in Bogotá, CO. I’m headed into my 4th summer at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English Master’s Program!

2007

Claire Noone

We are having so much fun with our little Hazelnut, in awe of her unfurling like a fern in the sun! Hazel Noone-Myers ‘42 is a proud Pearl with her alumni parents Claire Noone ‘07 and Hank Myers ‘07 and godparents, Vallee Noone ‘04 and Charlie Boyne ‘11

2009 • 15th Reunion

2010

Freddy Newton

Still living in Broomfield CO. I still play lots of hockey goalie; I’m in ~4 different adult hockey leagues here in Denver Metro. Working at NorthSide Tavern in north Broomfield! Otherwise no big news from me!

2013

Benjamin Buisman

I am currently working in the IT department of a bank in Austria, and visited Jackson, Wyoming for the eclipse on April 8th.

2014 • 10th Reunion

Benjamin Buisman '13, Matt Norrdin & Jackson Carter '14 on campus this spring;

Emma Jane Cooley '16 blossoms in creative spaces

Emma found a passion working with art as a metalsmith, botanist, painter, printer, and designer. She recalls, "My two years at CRMS helped me not just find myself, but be unabashedly who I was. I became more independent and blossomed into a person I never knew I could be." Read more at crms.org/blog

2016

Kai Putney

I just graduated from Champlain College last semester with a BS in Graphic Design. I’ve been on the job search looking to start my career in my field. I’ve also been reminiscing recently about CRMS and all the fun we had — would be great to see everyone again sometime!

Steven Liu

I’m excited to share that I’ve just graduated from law school in 2023! It’s been an incredible journey filled with challenges and triumphs. As I transition from student to professional life, I’ve had the unique opportunity to join Plug Power’s legal team. This role is providing me with invaluable experience in the clean energy sector, blending my passion for law and environmental sustainability. Looking ahead, I am eager to make a positive impact and contribute to meaningful change. I plan to focus on litigation in New York, advocating for justice and the rights of individuals.

2019 • 5th Reunion

Soren Putney

I’m excited to share that last November, I accepted an offer to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and as of today, I have received full medical clearance. I will be moving to Malawi in June where I will serve as an environment & food security educator! #PeaceCorpsMalawi

Katherine Winship

Just graduated from Eckerd College, and is currently pursuing freelance writing and a graduate degree in museum management.

2020

Luke Penton

I am doing well and am excited to graduate from Denver University in June with a BA in studio art. I have continued to compete in IFSA big mountain competitions throughout my four years at DU as an officer of the DU Freeride Club. The Freeride Club has introduced me to some of my closest friends and brought me to amazing venues such as Grand Targhee, which is coming up this weekend. Outside of skiing, I decided to pursue art and have been working on developing a strong body of work. I am

looking forward to next quarter and especially this April. On April 12th, I have an exhibit opening at the DU Davis Gallery that will feature artwork from myself and my friend, Zac Abero. The exhibit is titled “Portals” and will feature a variety of art including sculptural work, mixed media paintings, ceramics, and various immersive digital elements.

2022

Josie LeCompte

I am happy to announce my study abroad plans for the upcoming school year. I will spend the fall in the Mediterranean at the University of Nicosia in Cyprus. I will still have the normal 6-week winter break that DU has before hopping over the Pacific to the University of Otago for the spring semester. The amazing study abroad program that DU offers is a huge reason I choose to come here and I am excited to take full advantage of it. I am excited to take some classes abroad that DU doesn’t offer to take full advantage of my new environment. I am planning to finish both of my minors and finish up the common core requirements while abroad so when I am back for senior year I will just have to finish my journalism major.

Current & Former Faculty, Staff and Trustees

Bobby Rosati

Congratulations to math faculty member Bobby Rosati and his wife Roz on their new baby girl Sofia Francesca Rosati born August 8, 2023.

Steve Bunnell

(former faculty member) Lives with his wife Mary Ann in Seattle. He spends his days walking the dog, riding his bike around Greenlake, and getting espresso shots at his favorite local coffee shop, Diva Coffee.

Nita Grace (Bunnell) Pettigrew I taught English (and music) and supervised dormitories from 1971 to 1981 and went on annual Spring Trips every year. My children, Thomas Bunnel ‘87 and Molly Bunnell Bozzo ‘89 , graduated from CRMS. I would like to stay in touch with the school, get information about happenings, and make contributions when I can.

Class notes in this issue were received by April 19, 2024.

Elliot Norquist with his sculpture Centennial in 1976 and 2024; The Rosati family

In Memoriam

This list represents members of our community, that we know about, who have passed since Summer 2023. To celebrate everyone’s life to the fullest, a complete listing of available obituaries can be found at www.crms.org/alumni/in-memoriam. To honor someone by placing them on this list, please contact Danika Davis, Alumni Relations Manager, at alumni@crms.org.

Charles M. Moore Honorary Alumnus ‘84 Former Trustee — July 29, 2023

Kevin P. Clarke ‘92 September 2023

Carolyn H. Rollins ‘58 November 20, 2023

Martha Treichler Former Faculty — November 28, 2023

David C. Perez ‘72 December 3, 2023

Nora Fisher ‘59 December 24, 2023

Photograph by Meredith Ogilby

Marlyn Fiscus

CRMS Staff 1953–1998

Marlyn and her family were driven from eastern Colorado in 1940 by drought and crop failure. They lived in Wyoming for a few years, and in 1944, moved to Jerome Park where they stayed until 1956 when Marlyn worked for CRMS.

Marlyn came to work at Rocky Mountain School during graduation week, 1956, and was for several years cook for the summer work camps. When her kitchen responsibilities grew, Marlyn moved to the school and lived in a trailer parked across from the Log House. There she, Lyle, and Dawn stayed for eight years, surrounded by Marlyn’s famous flower garden, and the hustle and bustle of the campus.

“Hands-down the master baker!” says one of Marlyn’s co-workers.

“An indefatigable worker…Marlyn embodies a work ethos that puts even Rocky Mountain’s philosophy to shame. The quality and nutritional value of her backed food are unexcelled. Some of her recipes are seventy years old; some are from hard times and require no eggs - and make use of bread crumbs.”

From The First Twenty-Five Years, published by Colorado Rocky Mountain School July 1979