CRMS Magazine Summer 2023

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

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

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER

Aimee Yllanes | ayllanes@crms.org

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

Molly Dorais | mdorais@crms.org

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

500 Holden Way

Carbondale, CO 81623 970.963.2562 | www.crms.org

The CRMS Newsletter is published by Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Summer 2023

Over the past few years, our community navigated the uncertainty of a global pandemic and the retirement of some beloved individuals. This year we say goodbye to Diane Hackl. She has been instrumental in developing and leading an active program that serves the health and well-being of our students.

Last year we had an opportunity to emerge from underneath the shadow of mask mandates, regular COVID testing, and social distancing requirements. These experiences risked leaving us feeling untethered from common work and experiences. This year has been a full year of normalcy. Returning to our community gatherings and our collective work has enabled us to embrace some of the important lessons we learned. We embrace with a sense of gratitude and respect some of the traditions that we missed during

the pandemic. It is the daily and weekly rituals, the collective focus on scholarship and companionship, that ground us and allow us to fulfill our commitments to each other. Boarding schools in general ask a lot of each individual. This audience is likely to agree that Colorado Rocky Mountain School has always asked and expected a bit more from every member of the community than at another school.

On this spring’s student admit day I shared John and Anne Holden’s educational plan. They envisioned CRMS as a place for “college-bound [students] who possessed a spirit of adventure” to spend the time between home and college developing “the inner resources.” Modern easy living left these inner resources unnurtured or underdeveloped. They wanted students to have enthusiasm for their scholarship and activities

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

outside the classroom. They shared the importance of a faculty who could harness, cultivate, and enhance that enthusiasm.

Despite the years and events that separate the Holden’s original vision and where we are today, so much of what they believed in still resonates. On the surface, CRMS is a much different school. Our programs, size, and facilities have changed from the version that began in 1953 when the Holdens first arrived. Yet, what remains unchanged is the purpose of the educational plan, one that would develop an attitude towards work and community.

In the 1950s CRMS welcomed springtime by embarking on an adventure to what were then remote places in the West. We don’t pile in the back of the green truck and head

to Santa Fe as a part of our spring trip excursions any longer. Today’s vehicles are large, white 14-passenger vans called “fat boys.” But we still go out on adventures and our students journey into remote places. More importantly, it is the companionship that these trips invoke that is equally a true purpose to the adventure.

This commitment to others is one of the “inner resources” that John and Anne envisioned developing. We have the potential to find it as students traverse canyon country by foot, bike, or paddle. Students will also foster their “inner resources” sitting around a meal that they carried to their campsite and cooked together. Diane Hackl has enthusiastically shepherded our outdoor program to help us gain these outcomes. Yet, to exclude the rest of the program would miss the point.

The outdoor trips make much of our dialogue around “inner resources” clear and understandable. Yet we also see transformation happen on campus throughout the day and week. The classroom, household jobs, work program, and sports teams, are also places where students can bring a “spirit” to their work and explore their commitments. Zoom can’t replace that capacity to direct those inner resources and enthusiasm that we are fostering and developing in the context of a larger community. If there is a highlight to share for this year, it is just that. We have an unbridled opportunity to engage in our work together.

Jeff Leahy, P‘18, ‘21 Head of School

Jeff Leahy, Head of School presents a diploma to Sophie Pike ‘23

A LIFE OF MEANINGFUL WORK

The CRMS Active Program & Diane Hackl's Leadership

by Katie Hyman

“John and Anne Holden innately understood the importance of connecting with place, work, challenge, and play as a means to feed the mind, body and soul. The CRMS Active Program has become a place where we can push ourselves in any number of realms – skill, courage, compassion, grit – pushing to expand our capacity to live full, meaningful lives.”

Diane Hackl, the Director of CRMS’s Active Program for the past eleven years, who will be retiring at the end of this academic year, shared these words of affirmation and inspiration several years ago at an annual winter celebration of the school’s afternoon sports and work crew program. A slideshow reel from the year’s sports programs and work crews accompanied the celebration, flashing images of students caked in dirt, plucking potatoes from the school’s garden beds; students scaling the gym’s climbing wall, spotted from below by their peers; students peeling away old rubber tire tubes from the rims of bike wheels and replacing them with fresh tubes; students skiing through fields of fresh snow. The expressions vary. Some students are smiling or laughing.

Some are deep in concentration. Some are even grimacing. These slideshows become the visual record of the Active Program’s effect on mind, body, and soul.

The Active Program encompasses not only the school’s afternoon sports and work crews (which alone includes over 30 different offerings), but also formal dinners, Wilderness Orientation (a ten-day backpacking trip for all new CRMS students) and the February Interim programs, Spring and Fall trips, all-school student work days and daily household jobs program. Most of the school’s extra-curricular, non-residential life programming is contained under the auspices of the Active Program.

According to another speech of Diane’s, “CRMS was built on a vision of collected effort–John and Anne Holden asked students and faculty alike to be the dreamers, the builders, and the beneficiaries of a place committed to learning and community. The Holdens wanted CRMS to be “an antidote for modern easy living.” They wanted to create a place where learning and work went hand in hand. Active was rooted in the “can do“ attitude of rolling up your sleeves and getting things done.”

Diane herself is the epitome of this roll-up-your-sleeves, “can do” attitude. Tracy Wilson, CRMS’s Climbing Program Director and a member of the History faculty, explains that “Diane values and

PAIGE FREEMAN Director of

Active Curriculum

appreciates people, but it doesn’t stop there. She’s exceptional about letting people know that they matter and their work matters. Diane will say, ‘When can I meet you? How can I help?’ She shows up.” In this way, Diane exemplifies the very qualities that make the Active Program so meaningful.

direction, Diane was keen to appreciate the program’s history and its commitment to honor the ethos of the Colorado Rocky Mountain School. Diane explained that her job has been that of a guardian, nurturing the fundamental strengths and underlying structures of the program.

After growing up in Southern Oregon, Paige moved to Utah to pursue her passion for rock climbing and skiing. While attending the University of Utah, she acquired a BA in Geography in addition to her WFR and EMT licenses. This coursework led her to a decade of work as a ski patroller with summers as a whitewater raft guide all across the West. After moving to Carbondale, Paige went back to school for her master’s in education at Western State Colorado University. Paige has been a homeroom teacher, co-director of the Outdoor Education program, and Project Manager at Aspen Country Day School. She is thrilled to begin her new role as Director of the Active Curriculum at Colorado Rocky Mountain School starting this summer.

The glamor of powder skiing and rock climbing at CRMS are made possible by off-season lunges, box jumps, and pull-ups. The hard-work, discipline, follow-through, and grit promoted by CRMS’s Active Program, and truly by Diane’s very example, are the foundations that build toward the fun, the joy, the meaning, and the lasting lessons. In fact, sometimes it is an embrace of the mundane in a world of hyper stimulation that can be the source of profundity.

Diane, who began her outdoor career as a raft guide for a Colorado-based outfitter, Humpback Chub River Tours, and then worked in the field for Outward Bound, has always had an eye for adventure and a deep appreciation for learning in the natural world. Diane’s work leading the Field Studies Programs at Earlham and Sterling Colleges along with her administrative work for the Colorado Watershed Assembly and her efforts to start the North Fork Valley Montessori School, all contributed relevant professional experience to her role at CRMS. From the get go, Diane navigated smoothly between maintaining a global vision for the Active Program and attending to the daily details.

When asked about how the Active Program has evolved under her

Although the program may not have dramatically shifted directions or goals in the past decade, the world itself has changed.

In 2012, when Diane stepped into the role of CRMS’s Active Program Director, Instagram had just been acquired by Facebook, Snapchat was a year old, and Tiktok was a few years off; visual social media has increasingly tethered us to our screens and phones. The Holdens’ vision for CRMS as an “antidote to easy modern living” feels all the more visionary and relevant in this technological landscape. And while the Holdens’ mantra may lose its poignancy with repetition, the implications are actually quite radical. “Easy modern living” is not an innocuous foe, but rather a venom, a toxin requiring treatment, intervention, an antidote.

The antidote CRMS offers is a great mixture of things. It includes genuine connection to people–conversations between students and their math teacher while sitting in camp after paddling thirty miles down the Colorado River. It includes genuine connection to place–finding a route through the slot canyons of Escalante, weaving between prickly pears and junipers, or sitting at the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers after walking past the cows grazing in

What’s your favorite thing about active?

LUCY INGRAM, 11TH GRADE

“Nordic skiing and cross-country running teams encourage me to improve myself in new areas. I am challenged, and they always cheer me on!”

the North Pasture. It includes hard work–building new turnpikes and bridges along the trails of the White River National Forest and mopping the Bar Fork after breakfast. It includes time to be still, to be quiet.

Students new to Colorado Rocky Mountain School begin their first year with a ten-day backpacking trip through either the Frying Pan Wilderness or Maroon Bells Wilderness. They carry all of their food and pack out all of their trash. They sleep under tarps tied down with bowline knots and taut-line hitches. They work with the Forest Service on a three-day trail building crew. They purify their own water after scooping it out of clear streams. Sometimes they even fish and forage. And toward the end of their ten days in the wilderness, the students complete 24 hours of solo living and reflection.

For many if not most, this 24 hour solo experience will be the first time in their lives to have spent that many continuous hours alone without

FRITZ SIMMONS, 9TH GRADE

“I

digital technology of any sort. And for many, it will be the only time in their lives to do so, a profound opportunity in and of itself.

Certainly the solitude could elicit personal epiphany, and this might be the dream outcome, but for many the solitude is a simple, strippeddown experience, not of boredom per se, but rather an experience of an unmediated here and now. Silences filled with birdsong and squeaking pikas. Stars naked in the night sky.

Even though each student completes their solo individually and alone, the Wilderness Orientation and the solos, in particular, unite the incoming CRMS students in a shared experience (one shared by all CRMS students before them as well).

When the world shut down in the Spring of 2020 as a result of COVID, CRMS was able to make and implement plans over the summer to reopen the school in-person for the fall semester. Programs and protocols were modified, outdoor

classrooms were erected. CRMS moved forward, and according to Diane, the Active Program was largely untouched. But this explanation understates Diane’s incredible effort and visionary creativity to be able to operate the program within an entirely new set of constraints.

In a time when students all over the world were losing so much, the preexisting outdoor emphasis at CRMS as well as the innate qualities of the ranch campus allowed CRMS to be an island of some normalcy. The holistic benefits of the Active Program were more apparent than ever.

To pivot so effectively and efficiently to address COVID safety concerns was no small feat, of course. CRMS administrators and faculty members worked together to plan and respond.

Fortunately for CRMS, collaboration and collective effort have been central to the school’s ethos from its inception. And one of the qualities that was mentioned about Diane time

love to climb and Jaymeson and Bobby make it super fun!”

after time in speaking to her colleagues at the school was Diane’s proclivity for collaboration.

Jennifer Ogilby, Dean of Students and Diane’s colleague on the “Ed Team” (a group of administrators representing academic, residential, and active programs) shared, “Diane is absolutely about collaboration. She can get along with everybody. She tries to find solutions that will satisfy everyone. Diane recognizes that the more people are on board, the more we all thrive when we’re working together.”

Peter Benedict, the River Program Director and a member of CRMS’s math faculty, shared a similar sentiment, “Diane sees the best in people. The thing that always strikes me the most is her ability to engage people in problem solving. Parents

and students alike come to her with challenges and then she offers options and engages the students in problem solving the situation. And because of her caring, nurturing manner, people jump on board with that process.”

There’s no more obvious example of cooperative effort than a “fire-line” on a CRMS river trip. Each afternoon of the trip, when the boats, piled high with gear bags, pull into the camp eddy, a line up of wet kayakers eagerly greet the rafts. Diane is often found at the oars of one of these rafts (as an experienced and exceptional river woman, she has been a key member of Fall and Spring river trips since joining CRMS in 2012. She’s guided CRMS rafts down the San Juan, Ruby Horsethief, Deso-Grey, the Dolores, and, notably, high-water Cataract

Canyon). Slowly and methodically, the students and teachers in the fire-line unpack the rafts, passing each piece of gear–stoves, tables, propane tanks, dry bags of personal gear, groovers, water jugs, etc.–from outstretched hands to outstretched hands, up the line and into camp. It is tedious and repetitive, but also satisfying, necessary, efficient, and communal. If the trip happens to be one that Diane is on, then a slew of games and a bag of costumes will be among the items passed up the line.

In recent years on her kayak Spring Trips on Desolation and Grey Canyons, Diane, along with Kayo Ogilby, have taken to hosting a “River Prom” on the shoreline of the Green River on the final night of the trip. Students, sun-kissed and weary after a week of kayaking, pull sequins and feathers out

of the costume duffel and drape their acquisitions over their puffy jackets and around their headlamps, ready to make one more magical memory on the river before the trip is through.

Prior to the renovation of the Welcome Center, Diane and Darryl Fuller, CRMS’s longtime Outdoor Program Manager, worked together in a small office above the Holden House. Among topographical maps and drawers of field guides, they shared ideas on how to expand student leadership, enhance the outdoor program’s reflective curriculum, and better support the faculty in their roles as trip leaders. Diane notes, “Having Darryl as a colleague for all those years was tremendous. I learned an amazing amount from him. I was the happy beneficiary of his years of experience.” Together, Diane and Darryl worked with faculty to promote meticulous risk management within their programs and encourage trip leaders to cultivate strong cohesion and culture within their trip groups in order to facilitate transformative outdoor experiences.

Diane explains that she’s seen her job largely as “supporting faculty and coaches and leaders to pave the way to make the execution of their roles and teaching easier.” So for her, the natural question becomes, “how can I help?”

Diane recognizes that a million mundane details go into facilitating the beautiful, powerful moments on CRMS trips and during afternoon actives and work crews. A self-

proclaimed “sticky-note queen,” Diane shares that she is a person with lists: today’s list, this week’s list, and the long-game list.

Diane’s lists are far-ranging and very specific. For example, “determine when the cows are coming to campus in the Spring to coordinate with the horses that need pasturing,” or “count tablecloths for formal dinner,” or “order the white paint for the soccer field lines.” These unglamorous tasks are the foundations of a successful Horse Program, a meaningful formal dinner, and a spirited soccer game.

With Diane as one shining example, students and faculty at CRMS develop the reflex to always look for ways to help out. Peter Benedict explains, “You can ask students to lend a hand and they will offer their help. They see the power of many hands making light work. There’s a truth to teamwork for getting things done at CRMS.”

In a recent conversation reflecting on her tenure and upcoming retirement, Diane shared that it will be “bittersweet to leave the piece of my career that has been the most rewarding.” She explained that “it is a job that encompasses all of the elements you would ever want: there’s challenge, there’s purpose, the colleagues you work with, the students. The fullness of it all will leave a gap.”

A gap that certainly won’t be felt only by Diane. Jennifer Ogilby effused, “Diane has so many qualities that are beyond professional, qualities

Renée has worked in the world of experiential education since 2011 as a classroom teacher, a bootson-the-ground wilderness guide, and as a program director for various outdoor programs around the world. In every role she has occupied, she has centered three things: the student experience, support of her leaders, and risk management. She continues to center these things in her role as Outdoor Programs Director at CRMS and particularly loves that the concept of Crew resides at the heart of our model for community here, facilitating an easy transference of heart-based skills between on-campus life and trip life.

RENÉE THIBODEAUX Outdoor Program Director

that make up an incredible human being, friend, person to be alongside. She infused every aspect of what she was doing at CRMS with this compassionate philosophy of always assuming good intentions and always working for whomever. She is a great defender of all things and all people.”

CRMS will greatly miss Diane. As Peter Benedict points out, “Diane is the best oars person CRMS has ever had. She knows how to be in the right place with her raft where the water will work for her. Though she is strong,

she chooses to be graceful.” Whether rowing again with CRMS in the future or guiding her own craft down life’s rivers, Diane will work in perfect harmony with the water.

Reflecting on the state of the CRMS Active Program and its future, Head of School, Jeff Leahy, commented, “There is no question that after eleven years of leadership under Diane, the Active Program has never been in better shape for the next director, Paige Freeman. Paige will officially join the CRMS community at the beginning

of July, and true to form, Diane is already working with Paige to ensure a seamless transition.” Paige will join current Outdoor Program Director, Renée Thibidoux, in the active office.

Colorado Rocky Mountain School is appreciative of the path that Diane has steered for over a decade, and CRMS is excited about the next steps in the journey to be traveled with Paige and Renee’s leadership.

SPORTS ACCOLADES

Congratulations to the entire CRMS climb team for leaving it all on the wall at the State Competition in February

The JV Boys, JV Girls and Varsity Boys teams all placed 1st. Varsity Girls placed 4th

Individually, Tuco Williams ‘26 placed 1st, Kai Young ‘23 placed 2nd, Tiffany Zhang ‘24 placed 3rd, and Ethan Flynn ‘26 placed 3rd

Maia Cullwick ‘24 placed 5th in a National Big Mountain competition at Grand Targhee Resort

Ben Oldham ‘24 competed in the Junior National Nordic Championships in Alaska and was named All-American top 10 in three of his races

Nina Villafranco ‘25 competed in the Junior National Nordic Championships in Alaska

Amelie Ogilby ‘24 placed 14th at Junior National Swimming meet

Vitti Gortan ‘24 placed 1st at Varsity Intermediate Pom Finals at National Championships in Orlando

Tiernan Pittz ‘24 claimed the U18 Men' s Colorado Skimo Championship

NEW INTERIM OFFERING: JOURNALISM AND PODCASTS

Charlotte Oakley, CRMS Teaching Fellow

This was the inaugural year for the KCRMS Radio interim, created and led by CRMS faculty members Juanma Martin Cespedes and Charlotte Oakley. Five CRMS students had the opportunity to learn about radio, podcasting, and journalism in the Roaring Fork Valley - ultimately culminating in creating their own podcasts. CRMS partnered with KDNK community radio and Adele Craft, Program Manager of the Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program (AZYEP), to create a two-week curriculum that taught students about the principles of news and journalism, the hard and soft skills required to conduct exciting interviews, and about general radio production in the valley. During Interim, the group visited KDNK community radio, The Sopris Sun, Aspen Public Radio, Aspen Daily News, and the Sol Theatre Company. All groups generously hosted our students and shared their work and missions with us. Read the full article on the CRMS Blog.

5POINT DREAM PROJECT WINNERS

In its 13th year, the 5Point Dream Project is a community outreach program that encourages high school students to develop projects that they believe will make a difference in the lives of others as well as their own. The Dream Project continues to support and believe in young people and the diversity of the projects they choose to pursue.

This year, Jacob Sam ‘24 and Kai Young ‘23 will each receive a $2,000 scholarship to push and explore their personal boundaries while living their own best adventures. Additionally, Ava Lerner-Sprunt ‘23 received a micro-grant.

To learn more about their projects visit the CRMS Blog.

Students working with AZYEP Program Manager Adele Craft in the on-air studio at KDNK.

JACOB SAM ‘24

KAI YOUNG ‘23 AVA LERNER-SPRUNT ‘23

NEW COURSE OFFERING: VIDEOGRAPHY AND ANIMATION

The Videography and Animation course description makes an ambitious claim: “this course is for any student seeking complete creative freedom.” Calvin Bates, the teacher making this bold claim, explains, “I view making a movie as having complete creative control over what your audience is experiencing. You choose the visuals, sound, and what the actors say.” According to Calvin, when it comes to animation, in particular, “the only limitation is your imagination. There’s really no limit to what you can express.”

Calvin’s goal with Videography and Animation is to give his students the skills and tools to effectively express what they are hoping to. With the right mix of visual and auditory tactics, Calvin believes that his students, like the directors and cinematographers they study, can tell a story and make their audience feel joy, anger, sadness, or any number of emotions.

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES

MAKAI YLLANES ‘23 was awarded a full merit scholarship to the Park School at Ithaca College where he plans to major in Documentary Studies and Production.

Left to right: Seniors ESTELLE WHITE, AYA TESORO, MAKAI YLLANES, BENNETT JONES, AND EMMANUEL RUIZ were awarded the rigorous Colorado State Seal of Biliteracy along with their high school diploma.

Read the full article on the CRMS Blog.

CLASS OF 2023 - COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

The University of Alabama

Arizona State University

University of Arizona

Barnard College

Boise State University

Boston University

Brown University

Cal Poly San- Luis Obispo

Cal Poly - Humboldt

California State University-Sacramento

University of California-Santa Cruz

Champlain College

Chapman University

Clarkson University

University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado College

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado State University

University of Denver

Elon University

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Florida Institute of Technology

University of Florida

Fort Lewis College

Franklin University Switzerland

Georgetown University

Gonzaga University

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Hawaii Pacific University

Ithaca College

University of Kentucky

Lake Forest College

Lewis & Clark College

Louisiana State University

Loyola University Chicago

Marist College

University of Miami

Montana State University

The University of Montana

Northeastern University

Northern Arizona University

Oregon State University

Oregon State University - Cascades

University of the Pacific

Pitzer College

Pomona College

Pratt Institute

University of Puget Sound

Purdue University - Main Campus

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Ringling College of Art and Design

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design

Roger Williams University

San Diego State University

University of San Diego

University of San Francisco

Santa Clara University

Savannah College of Art & Design

The University of the South

Suffolk University

Syracuse University

The George Washington University

The New School

University of Oregon

University of Utah

University of Vermont

VERTO Ltd

Warren Wilson College

Washington State University

Western Colorado University

Western Washington University

Westminster College - UT

Wheaton College - MA

Whitman College

Willamette University

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 SASHA FIELDER ‘26, LOGAN HERNANDEZ ‘25, LUCY INGRAM ‘24, AND BENNETT JONES ‘23.

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: MAYA MENCONI ‘23, FRITZ SIMMONS ‘26, EJ BECKER ‘24, AND PIPPA SPAAN ‘25.

GRADUATION: CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, forty-four seniors embarked on the next chapter of their lives. Excitement rose as students received flower crowns and boutonnieres. The graduation process, led by Jeff Leahy, wove its way from the art complex to the graduation lawn where families, friends and faculty gathered to celebrate. The ceremony included a welcome from Jeff Leahy, faculty speakers Dan Pittz, Renée Thibodeaux and Ashley Smith, student speakers Ava Lerner-Sprunt and Maya Menconi, Academic and Community Award presentations, music by Chantel Hope, Wheeler Padgett and Makai Yllanes, and awarding of the traditional leather diplomas.

CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2023!

Clockwise from top left: Moss Oppenheimer, Willa Berry, Oliver Helzberg, Makai Yllanes and Wheeler Padgett, Ava Lerner-Sprunt, Paige Walor and Mayan Schmidt

SENIOR SYMPOSIUM

SPRING COFFEE HOUSE

Aisha Kuban

Watts Brooks

Hannah Gorton

Senior Music performing Sweet Child O’ Mine

Max Seitel Hayes ‘24

Tiernan Pittz ‘24

Hank Cerrone ‘25 and Colton Scherer ‘24

NEW TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHTS

EMMA JUNIPER ‘03

Occupation: Tech Executive at VC-backed Fintech

Background: Entrepreneurship and startups, business management and operations, health and wellness. Lived and worked in nine countries.

Education: B.A. in environmentally and socially sustainable international development through government and business, Clark University

What inspired you to join the CRMS Board?

Jeff’s warm invitation inspired me to join, along with my deep gratitude for the ways CRMS shaped me into the woman I am today through my experiences as a student, mentorship from faculty, and lifelong friendships.

What do you value most about CRMS?

That it cultivates the whole human and supports a student in growing into a well-rounded and aware leader, empowered with strong values and purpose, a sense of self, and a lifelong community.

What are you most excited about while serving as a Trustee?

I am excited to (re)connect with the CRMS community and leverage my professional skills, network, and experience to support this amazing community of faculty, students, parents, trustees, and alumni.

CORY RITCHIE ’92, P’20

Occupation: Mother, investor, volunteer in the areas of conservation, youth sports, and education

Background: Cory is a supporter of environmental causes, bilingual education, and equal access to youth sports. Cory’s been involved in the start-up of the Bijou Spanish immersion school, the South Lake Tahoe chapter of Girls on the Run, and the Tahoe Fund. She has volunteered for numerous organizations, and is a founding member of Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Queen of Hearts Women’s Fund.

Education: M.A., UC-Davis

What inspired you to join the CRMS Board?

I am inspired to serve as a trustee to give back to the school that did so much for my family. I worried there was no way my daughter’s CRMS experience could live up to mine, but in many ways, hers surpassed mine. I saw her curiosity ignited, her sense of adventure fostered, and her kindness appreciated.

What do you value most about CRMS?

At CRMS, meaningful challenges allow students to fill in the blank, “if I can do ____, I can do anything.” That experience is different for everyone. For me, it was spending ten days in the wilderness. The education I received at CRMS equipped me to go out into the world with competence, confidence, and a desire to leave it a better place.

What are you most excited about while serving as a Trustee?

I’m most excited about having lunch in the Bar Fork, seeing it abuzz with activity, the students lit up about learning. My daughter said she was inspired every day at CRMS. It is clear to me that the special magic that made my two years there the most impactful of my entire education is alive and well today. My goal is to ensure that the next generation of alumni can say the same thing.

KEN WANKO P‘24, ‘26

Occupation: Investment Banking

Background: Systems Engineer, Corporate Finance, Engineering and Investment Banking, Corporate Acquisition, Corporate Leadership, Strategic Planning

Education: B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan; M.B.A., Duke University

What inspired you to join the CRMS Board?

When I was asked to join, I immediately thought that it could be a great situation for me to use my skills in finance and valuation to help CRMS build on its success and help ensure its bright future for years to come. Also, since we are new to the Roaring Fork Valley, I believe that the relationships I am able to develop as trustee will ingrain us in the CRMS community to a much greater extent.

What do you value most about CRMS?

I believe the aspect of CRMS that I’ve come to admire and value most is its inclusive nature. Based on everything I’ve seen and heard from my daughter Calise’s experience, the student body and faculty all feel a sense of home and welcome at CRMS. This culture allows the students to be themselves and experiment with ventures that may be incredibly difficult at a different type of school.

What are you most excited about while serving as a Trustee?

Honestly, I am just excited to get involved. This is a place and school we now call home, to be a more integral part of it is very important to myself and my family.

2023-24 CRMS BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Stan Wattles ‘80 PRESIDENT

Mags Miller ‘90 VICE PRESIDENT

Ravi Venkateswaran ‘69 SECRETARY

Peggy Corcillo P’19,’21 TREASURER

Eric Alden P’03

Chris Babbs, P’88

Sean Bierle

Garett Bjorkman ‘06

Ellen Brooks P’23

Brian Davies P’19

Alicia Dewey P’22, ‘26

Luke Falcone ‘11

Mike Flax ‘63

Emma Juniper ‘03

Pete Louras P’00

Dan Martinez ‘77

Andrew Menke

Johnny Richardson ‘70

Cory Ritchie ‘92, P’20

MEETING DATES

September 22 - 23

December 1 - 2

February 16 (online)

May 10 - 11

ANNUAL FUND Impact Today

When you give to the CRMS Annual Fund, you create extraordinary academics, leadership, and service. Your gift to the Annual Fund benefits all aspects of the school.

You can make a gift to CRMS:

•Online at www.crms.org/giving

•From your Donor Advised Fund

•From appreciated stock/securities

•From your retirement plan (QCD)

Consider making a gift before our fiscal year ends on June 30.

create extraordinary

ENDOWMENT Sustaining the Future

This year Fonda Paterson established a new endowed fund to support the arts at CRMS. The Paterson Shanzer Endowment honors her late husband Charles Paterson and her father-inlaw Steve Shanzer. Both had a tremendous impact on CRMS by starting the silversmithing program in the jewelry Hogan.

Gifts to the CRMS Endowment make a lasting impact. Learn more about how you can make an endowed gift at www.crms.org/giving

CAPITAL PROJECTS Enhancing Campus

This winter, Brett and Jamie Suma P’26 made a gift to upgrade the CRMS Fitness Center. The new equipment will benefit the health and well-being of the entire CRMS community and help athletes become even more competitive in their sports.

LEADERSHIP DONORS CREATE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT

Leadership-level giving to CRMS makes a transformational impact. Thanks to you, CRMS students discover their potential an We are grateful to those who gave a gift of $5,000 and above this year.

John Robert Alden Foundation

Towne Allen ‘69

Alpine Bank

Sue Anschutz-Rodgers

Geary Atherton ‘68, William Knox Holt Foundation

The Austin Memorial Foundation

Garett Bjorkman ‘06 & Christine Bjorkman

The Boston Foundation

Tate & Marcia Bowers

James & Elizabeth Bramsen

The Brico Fund

Althea Brimm

Ellen Cherin

Nick Cherney & Tricia Eagling

Mark & Jeanie Clark

David Douglas '67

Susan Dumont

Luke Falcone ‘11

Stephen Fitzpatrick ‘66

Flax Family Foundation

John & Mary Lou Flynn

Anne McNiff Gwathney '78

Janny Goss

Frederic C. Hamilton, Jr. ‘73, The Frederic C. Hamilton Family Foundation

Bush Helzberg

Jamie Helzberg

Benjamin Hindman ‘02

Zhijie Zhang & Hong Ji

Larsen Fund

Heidi & C.J. Morton ‘84, Guardian Scholars Foundation

Jamie & Brett Suma P'26 with Jeff Leahy (center)

MARK BELL Director of Development

PLANNED GIVING Leave A Legacy

Thank you to the 83 Holden Circle members who have included CRMS in your estate plans!

To learn more about including CRMS in your estate plans, please contact Director of Development, Mark Bell | mbell@crms.org.

HS2 SUMMER PROGRAM Empowering Access

[HS]2 is a STEM-based, college access program for first-generation and/or low-income students of color. Students come from public and charter schools in New York City, Denver, Fort Worth, and New Orleans, and attend [HS]2 at no cost.

ColoradoRocky MountainSch

Students apply to [HS]2 during the fall of their freshman year, and upon admission, commit to attend the program for three summers in Colorado.

nd passions. They become lifelong learners and thoughtful citizens.

The Oppenheimer Family

The Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation

Fonda Paterson

Ilsa Perse ‘66

Evelyn Petschek ‘68

Ramelle Cochrane Pulitzer ‘68

Dorothy Reed ‘68

Cory ‘92 & Ryan Ritchie

Margot Ritz ‘75

Gunnar Sachs ‘90

Bill Savage, Jr. ‘71

John Stickney ‘57 & Lee Beck

Thomas Sullivan ‘17, The Sullivan Family Foundation

Brett & Jamie Suma, The Knight Family Foundation Thendara Foundation

Lynde B. Uihlein ‘63

John & Sarah Villafranco

Stan Wattles ‘80, The Howard Bayne Fund Anonymous (3)

Mark has spent the last two decades in the independent school world, serving in a variety of roles. Most recently, he was the Director of Advancement & External Relations with ASSIST, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization that matches academically talented international students with American independent secondary schools. Prior to that, Mark was Director of Advancement at Aspen Country Day School, leading a successful $50 million capital and endowment campaign. He also worked in development with Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco, and Phillips Brooks School in California. Before working in development, Mark taught Humanities and ran the Off-Campus Programs at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire. He also taught English at the Miller School of Albemarle in Virginia. Mark lives off-campus with his wife, Whitney, and their daughters, Charlotte and Mary.

[HS]2 LOOKING FORWARD TO 17TH SUMMER Opportunities to Support Still Available

by Annie Oppenheim, [HS]2 Program Director

The [HS]2 Scholars will return to CRMS for five weeks of living and learning in the Roaring Fork Valley beginning in late June. This will be the High School High Scholar Program’s 17th summer here on campus. Thanks to our work and collaboration with CRMS, the program continues to flourish. A total of 75 scholars will be on campus from public and public charter schools in Denver, Fort Worth, New Orleans, New York City, as well as three local students from the Roaring Fork Valley. While here, scholars will engage in a rigorous STEM-based academic course load and enjoy the myriad extracurricular offerings on the CRMS campus and beyond.

As students return for another summer of personal and academic growth and adventure, we are excited about the continued programmatic innovations we will deliver to the scholars.

This summer, 3rd Year scholars will work with two biomedical engineering postdoctoral students from Purdue University to design a microfluidic device to test water quality and contamination levels using differing sensors. Students will couple their scientific learnings with broader ethical and leadership conversations around clean water access, a defining issue and conflict for this generation. 2nd Year scholars will continue to engage in a computer science course, but this year conversations about Artificial Intelligence will be central to the curriculum.

[HS]2 program alums working in STEM careers will venture back to Carbondale for our 3rd Annual Career Workshop where we will feature careers in medicine, psychology, and engineering. Finally, we are excited to again welcome our most diverse faculty and staff in the program’s history, including seven program alums.

[HS]2 is doing meaningful work at CRMS and we are within reach of our annual fundraising goal of $625,000. Your generosity goes a long way, and you can support these inspiring scholars with a gift at hs2.crms.org/donate.

CRMSALUMNIWEEKEND

JOIN US • AUGUST 4 - 6, 2023

We look forward to welcoming you back to campus for a full weekend of events. Please join fellow alumni on campus for laughter, bonfires, stories, and adventures as you reconnect in CRMS style.

Registration is open!

www.crms.org/alumni-weekend We can’t wait to welcome you back!

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

1956

John Borden

Greetings. In 1953 I joined John and Ann Holden’s family to drive out in the International truck to help start the school. My plan was to return to Vermont at the end of the summer. I decided to stay and attend my remaining three years of high school at CRMS. It set the stage for the years since in ways both simple and complex as I’m sure it has for all school attendees since then. Change in the world beyond 1953 has been more than anything that ever could have been foreseen. My current full-time work

is in science and engineering toward climate change mitigation with a focus on habitat protection to maintain as much species diversity as possible. The heat is on. I encourage those who read this to make the best effort to continue learning and protect SpaceShip Earth as well as you can with the skills you have. Kind regards compatriots.

1958

Conrad Smith

Pictured below is my daughter Deirdre & my Norwegian granddaughter Irja. They helped me find the 1842 mountain viewpoint for the first published illustration based on a sketch made within the Rocky Mountains. One of my former students made a half-hour PBS documentary about that effort called “Morfar’s View of the Winds.” My peer-reviewed article about the research is titled “Visual Research in Graphic Novel Form.” Life-long fascination with words & images continues.

1959

Susan Jay Dean

I have retired from active real estate

after 27 years! This means more walking in Cottonwood Canyon and Red Rock Conservation Area. I still carry many lessons from John and Anne Holden plus the many good teachers we had. CRMS gave me many gifts which I am grateful for to this day!

I am the happy mother of 3 sons, 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandson (a second one will arrive in July 2023, in Lausanne, Switzerland). I am getting old so good health is a major issue for all of us! Sometimes I meet Cathy Galitzine ‘60. Switzerland already has more than 100,000 war refugees and we are such a small country!

John Borden ‘56 in Zion National Park

Jaqueline Eschenmoser

Conrad Smith ‘58 daughter Deirdre and granddaughter Irja

1960

I am still kicking in Denver, doing non-profit accounting jobs and hoping to go to Ireland this fall. I wish the best for everyone!

Ursula Goodenough

I am a retired biology professor and I live on Martha’s Vineyard, with my children and grandchildren. My son conducts the San Juan Symphony in Durango. The past year has been consumed with all that’s entailed

in publishing a book. The new edition, The Sacred Depths of Nature: How Life Emerged and Evolved www. sacreddepthsofnature.com. Love to you all. I am 82 years old and my exciting news is becoming a great grandparent for the second time! No more big travel projects! I think very often back to my senior year at CRMS where I have wonderful souvenirs!

Andy Gould

Rita and I made a nostalgic return visit in January 2020 to Monteverde, Costa Rica. We enjoyed visits by my sister, my daughters, and my grandsons, and continue to spend summers in Flagstaff and winters in Patagonia, AZ. I love Pete Seeger’s song, “How do I know my youth is all spent, my getup and go has got up and went? In spite of it all I’m able to grin to think of the places my getup has been.” CRMSers might resonate with a quote from John Muir: “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.”

Lynn Leopold

I am about to head to Costa Rica with my sister, Kat Bradley Bennett ‘67, for 2 weeks of birding and volunteering in a botanical garden/research station. We were there 4 years ago, before Covid, and this is our first trip back. My year has flown by. I’m a year older (how did that happen?), but still living at my beloved Woodlot, splitting my own wood, still serving on some boards, committees, and volunteering. Life is good. Other than two brutal cold snaps, it’s a winter without snow. Rain instead, which is living up to the climate prediction model. Cheers to all.

Jaqueline Eschenmoser ‘59

Jim Amos

Ursula Goodenough ‘60 and family and the cover of her book.

Lynn Leopold ‘60

Vicky McLane

We did not travel last year. I am more than involved with the League of Women Voters and I am working with local groups on various oil and gas issues. Our 13 1/2 year-old Australian Shepherd passed. Now we have an 8 year-old Australian Shepherd with a mixture of Malamute in him. He has already pulled me off my feet twicethe last time left an amazing bruise on my arm. He is so bright, but needs a gentle leader to keep him under control on walks.

Bill Moore

My news is brief with a quiet past year. We took a trip to Jordan and Egypt in January, got Covid, did a bit of skiing, went off to Italy in May to visit my sister, volunteered on my favorite narrow gauge railroad, did a jeep trip over several 12,000 ft passes in the San Juans, spent a month at our mountain cabin doing lots of hikes, and a week at a wonderful lake in Wisconsin, and happily babysat grandkids, watched Lorna finally take some initial steps toward retirement. Just glad to still be here. Best to you and the class of ‘60.

Michelle Rosenbaum Lesser

I lost my beloved Afghan, Jake, very suddenly in October and was totally unprepared for his passing. I haven’t made peace with it yet. My home is much too large without him, and I am thinking of selling. I’ll see what the summer brings. This has been the coldest, longest winter in twenty-three years. I can’t wait for it to warm up. I keep waiting for the sun to come out. I have done some replanting of my gardens. It always looks much better when the empty spots are filled in. Aside from being arthritic everywhere, I am fine with few complaints.

Catherine de Schulthess Galitzine

Took a boat trip along the coast of Iceland. The most beautiful country: volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, waterfalls, northern lights, coastline with black sand beaches and puffins in the cliffs. In the fall I went to Jordan and Israel. Jordan has incredible Roman ruins, notably Jerash, which is one of the most well-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. The Nabatean city of Petra has been on my bucket list for decades. I have a new grand-son, George, 5 months old now. Over the Christmas holidays I was with my son Cyril, daughter-in-law, Theo and George near Boston - very lively with two grandsons now. I often visit my husband in the Institution where he lives nearby.

Pat Stein Spitzmille

I cross-country ski on Lake Dillon, hike and kayak when my knees cooperate, and continue to travel to interesting places. Headed to French Polynesia to snorkel and kayak in warm waters. I am part of a reading program where my dog and I visit schools and the children read to the dog. It’s amazing. Lynn Leopold ‘60 and I had a great time remembering our years at CRMS, the enduring friendships that formed there, and the amazing impact the school had on us. If there is going to be another Class of 1960 reunion, we should not wait until 2030, since it’s quite likely that many more of us will not be here. Maybe in 2025!?

Mary Whitford Graves

Most of the class of 1960 turned 80 years old this year. Mostly, I feel I am 65.I keep on hiking the hills and parks in SFO. I read mysteries and keep up with the New Yorker and the NYT.

I attend performances of the opera, symphony, ballet and the theater. I traveled to be with the kids, grandkids, and siblings which means covering the country. I spent 10 days in NYC visiting with friends, family. Otherwise, I enjoy my life here in California. You, my CRMS peers, remain vivid in my memory along with all that was my CRMS experience. How fortunate I was to have had it. Good health to you all.

1961

Bill Parzybok

Enjoy being back in Colorado after 20+ years in the Seattle area. I live in the Black Forest (NE) of Colorado Springs with great views of Pikes Peak near kids and grandkids. I read a lot and am in two book clubs. I am a big fan of “lifelong learning” so I am taking some fascinating college courses (on DVD’s) from “The Great Courses Company”. I’m fortunate to be in good health and happily married. Still have very fond memories of my years at CRMS.

Barry Schrumpf

Howdy 1961 classmates! In 2022, Elaine and I celebrated our 50th anniversary. Our daughter Jenn, son Matt, and grandson Wyatt live

close by. This June will mark my third retirement from Oregon State University. I reconnected with Jo Ganong Beachy ‘61 and saw pictures of her beautiful jewelry, and with Bruce Everett ‘61 and his great portrait of Jack Snobble on horseback. I enjoy connecting the dots of my life’s journey from aerial photos my mom showed me in grammar school, to Jack’s geology class, to a student worker job in range management, to study of satellite imagery for resource analysis, to field inspections for seed certification. A great run.

1962

Ingrid Blaufarb

I am enjoying life in the Hudson Valley, where I hike a lot and spend time with my daughter and her family. Also stand on the street corner with like minded friends decrying racism, militarism, the destruction of the environment and other issues as they arise. I would like to remind my classmates that my book about my and Arthur’s son, and how he lost his life to schizophrenia is available from Amazon. It’s called Losing Aaron, published under my full name, Ingrid Blaufarb.

Madge Gordon Gleeson

Greetings from Lummi Island. I’m in adventure mode. Sailing in Norway, Washington, D.C. for my granddaughter’s high school orchestra was performing at Kennedy Center. Next up, a computer graphics conference in Los Angeles in August and a trip to China in October to see my older daughter. My younger daughter and her family live in Seattle so we have been able to resume a full schedule of family activities. In

between trips (OK, cabin fever), I am doing the usual yard work associated with island living in the Northwest and exercising shovel skills refined by digging ditches at CRMS. Best wishes to all!

Carol Sanderson Hughes

Dick works part-time as a handyman. We have three kids and three grandkids. Last October, we took a two week trip with Viking on the rivers between Budapest and Amsterdam. Being in Germany helped me to put my German heritage and the stories my father used to tell in perspective. Seeing all the castles on the Rhine and the grape vineyards covering all the hillsides were amazing. I joined a couple of French conversation groups and now speak French three days a week. I’m making new and interesting friends including a woman who went to the same school I did in Paris, not at the same time. Amazing!

remain busy running my ranch and raising Reined Cow Horses. I have just finished my 15th year teaching skiing at Telluride. I started the Silver Skiers, a program for seniors, and I also teach kids. I went to Europe this past year, including a Viking River trip on the Danube, a two week Viking Cruise in the Baltic last May, and Thanksgiving in Copenhagen visiting my grandson. My mantra this year was from Klaus Obermeyer who is still skiing in Aspen at age 103. “You only get old when you stop skiing.”

Alix

Mitchell Sullivan

My husband was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. Airlifted to the hospital in Seattle and admitted as a terminal patient. My beloved Maltese, Sydney and I moved into John’s ICU room 24/7 for two months. Washington is a “right to die” state. However, when his doctor ran John through the scanner he was in remission! Permission to pull the plug was rescinded. After rehab - feet never touching the floor for two months really does a number on muscles!John came back to the island and........ the pandemic began. Gosh it’s been such fun! We’re still bouncing between the island and MT near Glacier Park. If anyone’s in the neighborhood, say hello!

Julie Pierce White

I had a fun catch up with Helen Muller ‘62 at the CRMS reunion last August. I

I live on Osage Nation in Oklahoma. I left the USA to live in Mexico in 1989 and stayed for 16 years. Last home there was the Sierra Tarahumara in my tiny log/adobe house, no electricity or indoor plumbing for 10 years! Returned 2005 with four horses and 8 dogs, settled on 80 acres, inherited from my Osage/Omaha grandfather

Christi McRoy

(allotted 1906). The Osage Tribe suffered the “Reign of Terror” from 1910-30 when many Osages, including my great uncle, were murdered for their oil wealth. Martin Scorsese’s film on that history, “Killers of the Flower Moon” will be released in Oct. Both my children live near CRMS. I would love to hear from any classmates by email or mail.

1963 REUNION

1964

Ellen Clark Anderson

I love hearing from classmates. Enjoying helping out at Sacramento care home part time. Like re-doing my home in a modest Colonial style. Also appreciating nature, art,and reading. Best wishes to all.

1965

John S. Bainbridge, Jr.

trait in our union. Theresa’s a hit with my children, and all four grandchildren adore her. . . . St. Martin’s Press tells me that the trade paperback edition of my book, Gun Barons, will be released on November 21. Not to resist a shameless urge for self-promotion, I had a website designed: https:// johnbainbridge.com. Now to find another writing project to satisfy my agent and keep me trouble-free. Or maybe it’s time to drift into idle contentment.

Bart Chapin

Wick and I shared a love of motorcycles. I am still working parttime, designing and building automatic slide poles for fire stations. Lucy is working for non-profit organizations. We have three grandchildren with whom we gathered recently in Puerto Rico. Our daughter is running the wound clinic at the local hospital and is married to a wonderful woman PA. I loved our school and that is due to our teachers, the beauty of Mount Sopris, the Spring trips, adventures, work, and fun, values and ethos and growing up together. CRMS - and you- was part of the luck I have had. If you come to London let me know. A table is waiting for you. As am I.

Art Davis

Last summer, a month after my book “Gun Barons” was published, I married an exceptionally fine woman whose character contains an admirable measure of forbearance, a valuable

This photo is of Pat and I with our two daughters Anna and Erica, and our four grandkids Estella, Maverick, Scarlett, and Adeline. One daughter is currently the director of Chevron Oil Co.’s Global Integrated Supply Chain. The other is a criminal defense attorney here in Minneapolis. Pat and I have both been retired for a number of years. Email me if you’d like to be in touch.

Retirement continues to be rewarding, working in my wood shop, working in my garden, spending time with grandkids and family. Life is good!

1966

Jenny LeCompte Anderson

I am sad to hear of Wick Moses’s passing. Recently I traveled on a road trip to Key West, through the deep south, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and Kentucky. I visited relatives and an old friend and his wife. The birds in Florida were a joy

David Strouse

Art Davis ‘65 and his family

HELEN J. MULLER ’62

Professor, Community Organizer, Author

Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana

Currently Residing in: Albuquerque, NM

Education: BA in Cultural Anthropology, University of Wisconsin Madison; Masters in Public Health, University of Hawaii –Honolulu; PhD in Organizational Theory, University of Southern California

Occupation: Worked with a non-profit doing community organizing around public health, professor of organizational management at the University of New Mexico for 25 years, and currently working on a memoir

What’s the most rewarding part of your work, writing a memoir of your parents Nobel Laureate Hermann Muller and Thea Kantorowicz, a German Jewish refugee? Meeting people that I never knew I would meet. Traveling to places, I never thought I’d travel to (like Russia). Being able to articulate the extraordinary lives that my parents lived under very difficult socio-political circumstances and illnesses. Recognizing that my dad’s warnings about the deleterious effects of radiation hold true even today.

How did CRMS play a role in your professional, personal, or community life? Experiential learning was something big that I took away and applied to my outlook on life, teaching and research. I was heavily involved in sports at CRMS (soccer and skiing) and the outdoors. CRMS introduced me to the Southwest and Native American culture. That’s one of the reasons I chose to work in New Mexico because there’s such a large concentration of Native Americans here. I partnered with Native students to pioneer a course on American Indian business and management. We did it experientially and wrote case studies from our interviews with Native American businesses. That experiential learning came from CRMS.

How has your experience at CRMS influenced what you are doing now?

The Holden’s educational philosophy was similar to my parents’ in that they wanted to cultivate and educate the whole person and utilize the outdoors to achieve that. When I was a professor, my classes were experientially oriented. We did field studies of organization. Students analyze the dynamics of the organizations they worked in. I was in a male-dominated college, and I pioneered gender and cultural issues in organizations and management. For me, learning by doing has been a lifelong pursuit.

To view the entire interview visit the CRMS Blog

to photograph and time with my older daughter Louisa and the grandkids was wonderful. My younger daughter had a baby boy named after my father and he’s as cute as a bug. Svalbard in July was a fantastic trip. Lots of ice, polar bears, walruses, arctic foxes, puffins and other sea birds, whales, and seals. I have met fellow students for brunch twice this year. Still sad about Dave Westerbeck. Guess this will happen more and more.

Tamim Ansary

Wick and I connected over hourslong conversations by phone, trading anecdotes and learning about each others’ life journeys. I was so looking forward to another long chat with him. My eldest, Jessamyn, has finished her film about soul singer Lee Fields. It premiered at several film festivals. There was a gallery opening at the Worth Ryder gallery at U.C. Berkeley —the group was the Afghan American Writers and Artists Association, and my younger daughter Elina had three (amazing!) pieces in the show. Rest in peace, Wick, I’m sorry I missed you. And to the rest of you, greetings and good wishes. Hope all is going well for you.

Susan Meiselas

It is always hard to summarize a year, but I feel fortunate to still be engaged with photography—either producing shows of past work or books. Looking back is a luxury to try to make sense of my path. I remain active supporting the next generation of global documentary storytellers through the Magnum Foundation, which took me to both Kathmandu and Beirut. The world is in such turmoil but our fellows are dedicated to sharing creative and critical eyes from their

unique perspectives. It is an on-going challenge with AI looming in our visual landscape now!

Ilsa Perse

I’m so sad to hear about Wick. We didn’t exactly travel in the same circles at CRMS but he did make me laugh. Years later, when I lived in Berkeley, he called and teased that he was in the neighborhood and could he come stay with me? I remember making excuses why he couldn’t when he burst out laughing saying he was only kidding. Talk about feeling like a fool! A few years ago we met for lunch in Portland, and had a really nice visit. Of course, now I regret not staying in touch. The sad thing is that as we age, this keeps happening with more and more frequency. Wish I were a bit more philosophical about it all.

Nat Shipman

I’m so moved. “Charlie Mo,” alias Charles Wicker Moses ‘66, was a true true friend. He was the catalyst behind “The FAB TURN COATS. I will carry him fondly in my memories until I can join him and David Westerbeck, Fitz, and Nick in paradise so we can rock it up through eternity.

Marty (Merlyn) Wenner

I am mostly retired and feel some remorse for not having given all my time and energy for the last 60 years to working to prevent climate change. We had some pretty good hints back in the 50s. I’m living here on Kauai, doing all I can for the folks that stop by in our lives. I’ve been dancing in the madeover garage for fun and exercise. I fancy myself as a sort of a super foods chef, making tonics (golden milk with turmeric and coconuts from our garden) and yummy

chocolates with medicinal mushrooms (no psilocybin, I know what you were thinking) and ashwagandha... I am waiting for Chef’s Table to seek and find me!

1967

Steve Barru

I was saddened to hear of Wicks passing. In 2019 I spent a day with Wick at his Carbondale home, surrounded by cats, records, and his awe-inspiring sound system. Wick was the DJ for an evening listening to his music selections. It was the chance to talk, reminisce, and tell stories of our lives that made that 24 hour encounter so delightful, so special. I have now lived in Vietnam for seven years. My partner Minh and I have set up a company and opened a very small coffee shop. A very small coffee shop. Visitors to this part of the world, welcome!

Debra Brittenum

I read Tucker’s piece. I identified! Wick saw us! Tucker learned from Wick to see music, community, wisdom. Curious, I started with Elvis and Blue Suede Shoes. Tucker’s entry. Listened. Thought, i’ll find all that music to create a Wick Walk playlist for Bretta. It’s a whole lotta electric guitar. Only lawyers know how many laws have been broken. That meditation on Wick’s passion for music and sharing filled the emptiness and deep down sad place. If you are curious to hear the music, contact me. I’ll send the Wick Walk playlist. It is too long for here. Jimi Hendrix made the cut for Lou Fender and color. Once, I stayed over in Carbondale. Wick played lots of music. He took me on a tour of the station. Less than a year…

K.C. Clendening

This year has been boring but I did a few things. Daily I exercised by watching TV “Sit and be fit.” I still go to daily AA meetings and do service on zoom. I went to a goat social where you can sit and hold baby goats for an hour. We had a boat party where we cruised around the bay at dusk. I go to the local botanical garden monthly which is close. My friends like to camp in their vans and RV. I go for the food.. I read a lot and take frequent naps. I also work in the yard..Boring but some days exciting. My best to everyone.

Sarah Cooper-Ellis

Three years after Abijah (second husband’s) death at the beginning of Covid, I’m emerging from the pit. Presently, I’m on a train bound for Maplewood, NJ where one son and family live, looking forward to catching up with a 10 year-old grandson. Haven’t done anything this bold in three years. Think I’ll drive to Nova Scotia this summer. Anything’s possible, and if not now, when?

Grateful for good fortune, friends, family, and the beauty of the world and beyond. Sap’s running and the first-run syrup is tasty. Look me up if you’re in southern Vermont. https:// www.scooperellis.com

David Nutt

Sorry to hear about Wick’s passing. Many great memories of our times at school and beyond. Life in Maine carries on. I will be fully retired this spring. I just started building a rowing dinghy but it will be for my own use. Somehow I still manage without Judy. My son Jasper and his wife and 2 kids live with me so that is time together all day every day. I see my

C.J. MORTON ‘84 Pays it forward supporting access to quality education

For C.J. Morton ‘84, the key to making the world a better place centers on access to quality education. His own educational experiences led him to a passion for helping young people attain an education that builds wellrounded people who make a positive impact in the world.

Raised by his grandfather Craig Sandahl in Des Moines, Iowa, C.J. didn’t always stay close to home to learn. As an avid adventurer and entrepreneur, his grandfather took C.J. sailing and traveling worldwide, learning all along the way.

“My grandfather instilled in his kids and grandkids that education came first and was very important,” says C.J. “So he made that available to us and was adamant at a young age that we each get the best education we could.”

That love of learning and traveling led C.J. to attend his first year of high school in a unique setting – the seas of western Europe.

When the year at sea ended, school staff recommended Colorado Rocky Mountain School as the next logical step for C.J.’s education. CRMS’s educational model of small classes, close student-faculty relationships, and outdoor experiences resonated with C.J. When visiting the school for the first time, he said he felt that something spoke to him at CRMS.

Before his grandfather passed away in 2017, Craig groomed C.J. to lead the family’s foundation that supports student scholarships. Since 2012, the Guardian Scholars Foundation has helped over 30 young adults who have been in the foster system complete their undergraduate degrees. “My grandfather always said investing in education is the best thing we can do to train up people who can go out and make a difference in the world.”

In 2022, C.J. started looking for other ways to impact young people by providing them with a solid education. At his wife Heidi’s suggestion, he revisited the impact CRMS had on him and how they might give future students a similar life-transforming experience. As a result, they have pledged an annual gift of $80,000 to CRMS scholarships and financial aid.

To read more about C.J.’s generous gift, visit the CRMS Blog.

daughters frequently as they are only 2 hours away. My oldest son and his family live in Berkeley and he teaches kindergarten in an inner city school in Oakland. Still skiing frequently in the winter and sailing in the summer but somehow kayaking has slipped by the wayside excepting a few summer paddles on the ocean.

Dr. Warren Perkins

Ellavina and I are living quietly in Flagstaff. Our children and grandson all live within a few miles of us. Most days I am walking, reading, and writing for hours. I feel CRMS prepared me well.I was sorry to hear about Wick. Like Tamim, I talked to him more often in the years after graduation, on several occasions, about the school, Carbondale, his travels in the Arizona forests, his recovery from hepatitis, cancer, dangerous living (despite the bikes). He was always thoughtful and generous. At some point he engineered a public debate with Nick (teacher from England) on the question of whether rock was actually music. He had me from then on.

Harry VanCamp

Susan and I visited my son, Wesley and family in Hyattsville, Maryland. Last spring we bought a very tiny tent camper. We had great fun camping and canoeing at Wisconsin State Parks or State Forests. I spent much of the time fishing and working with Susan in the garden. Generally, life is good. As for me….my son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, Ellis, lived with me for most of last year while they were remodeling a home they purchased here. It was great having all that activity after living alone for the past

22 years. I had dinner a few weeks ago with Adele Hause, John Woodin ’70, Marty Twitchell ’69 and other Tucson alums. Adele Hause is amazing. She just keeps on going…and going…and going!

1968

Geary Atherton

1969

Warren Anderson

I’ve been skiing a lot in Jackson.

AO Forbes

Catherine and I love being in the Texas hill country (see Redbird.farm on Instagram for details); still consulting and running the family foundation; 8 grandchildren (ranging from 10 to 21 years old); fond memories of CRMS.

Dede Reed

In 2021, my husband Colin Ferenbach and I sold our apartment in NYC and bought a house in Rockport, Maine. Sadly he died last October. I will be spending winters in Basalt and summers in Maine. I have 11 grandchildren, eight of them live in Colorado! I am busy with photography and hope to get back to writing soon. I’d love to catch up with anyone who might be in Maine or in the Roaring Fork Valley.

I have resisted these alumni calls for years but now, I am ready... I retired from CRMS after 36 or 37 years... (I am not bright enough to be that accurate). Still teaching an advanced political geography course at the high schools one night per week as part of Tomorrow’s Voices, a non-profit we started 23 years ago... to see if we might cajole high school kids to engage in issues of social and environmental justice... It is a perfect amount of time to teach at our/my ripe age of 71...I have 5 grandkids who are sheer delight... I am playing classical guitar a lot and starting to record another batch of my own songs... My CD has a vacillating number of followers on Spotify between 4 and 11. Janice is retired too and loves intermittent contact with education as she is on the board of a local Montessori school. We are biking, skinning up the mts. in Aspen, and loving easygoing runs coming down...We see our kids frequently and Nick Forbes ‘05 teaches at the middle school here and coaches the high school soccer team which won a state title two years ago... a remarkable feat... I have grown overly maudlin at 71... and profoundly miss our class, and feel so lucky to have been at CRMS with you all and at the time we were there...I think we timed it well...I have seen Dutton Foster on and off and actually taught a class together.. and have thanked him for his inspiration and humor... Just spent an evening with Wick Moses a complete audiophile... he sat me in a chair with speakers aimed with

laser-like accuracy and played Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and more... such a sweet time, and he was to come to my house this month but so sadly passed away last week...He had pictures of the knife ridge with Gene Hebert walking insouciantly across no rope, pictures of Canyonlands with CRMS students decked out in carefully choreographed primitive apparel, as in jeans and denim shirts... no fancy pants...I was in awe as we had such sweet reminiscences.... I am, on most days, in a state of profound appreciation... for the generosity that has been afforded me in my life... the amazing friends and teachers and the experiences, and... CRMS was the crucible where we found our passions and the generous souls, all of whom exponentially expanded my sense of what is possible in life... so thanks and please come see us... we have beds and they are in rooms too…

Mary Kuntz-Cote

I spent 3 weeks in the fall in Nice, the Alps Maritimes, and then over to Bordeaux and the southwest coast and a few days in the Pyrenees, visiting old

Mary Kuntz ‘69, Wendy Morgan ‘69, & Jeff Moran ‘69

friend- family from my college days. Rosie made me a grandma in early December (instead of mid-January as expected) to a very cute and smiley baby Ella. My much loved younger daughter has also emerged from the underworld, to my great relief. I have been throwing and hand building ceramics. Now the torrential rains seem to have stopped, It’s back to starting up a vegetable garden and weeding all the rest. And I hope to take some wildflower hikes soon. A trip to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas a little later in May.

Lolly Lewis

(amateurmusic.org) in 2017 and we’re going strong, with a mission of musicmaking for all. I’m still producing recordings, specializing in periodinstrument classical music: I’m very excited about a Bach cello suites recording that will be coming out this year, and I’m finishing up a beautiful Schubert violin sonatas recording that was performed on pianos from the early 1800s. I still love swimming in San Francisco Bay. I got an awesome new knee last year! Life is full and I’m so grateful for every day.

Doug Lewis

I am enjoying semi retirement with Jenny, my wife of 45 years. We split time between our home in Duluth, MN and a beachside condo in Vero Beach, Florida. Our three kids are all independent and we have five grandkids. Still feel that I need to return to CRMS once before life ends and just see it. Haven’t been in the neighborhood since I was a teenager.

Bruce Ourieff

Retirement? Haha. I founded a nonprofit, Amateur Music Network

Connie and I are continuing to do well. I am no longer flying charter

for Sunwest but I am flying nearly weekly for the San Luis Obispo Sheriff however; doing patrol, search and rescue etc. As far as ranch owning adventure; we need to repair or replace our main well. We do have a smaller standby well which is supplying us with adequate water but no reserve. Will be getting the sick well reopened... we hope. My kids are well and healthy. Trauma surgeon son in training at Sinai in Chicago is applying for fellowships in trauma. He and his wife Allie are coming up on one year of marriage. We dog sat for two weeks in March while they went on vacation. Pediatric surgical PA daughter has moved to Austin to head up the opening of the new Texas Children’s Hospital which will be Austin’s first and only level I trauma pediatric hospital. She is doing some management, but does not want to give up her clinical work, which she adores. I am clearly feeling my age as I approach 72, something I could never have imagined even 4 years ago. I just realized I am now 10 years out from my lymphoma; which I guess means I am cured rather than in prolonged

Alex Morley ‘69 and the CRMS Coast Group

remission. I just can’t quite make that jump mentally. Still tending to look over my shoulder at that episode in my life.

Marty Twichell

Appreciation of the gifts of getting this far in our lives (we’re old... and what a gift that is!!), appreciation of our influencers, delight in watching kids and grandkids thrive and just a bigger sense of togetherness than we may have had in our times at CRMS. I, too, would like to see everyone more. Adele Hause came to Tucson in February and that was a great excuse to round up some CRMSers and celebrate her. John Woodin ‘70, Emily Rosenberg Pollock ‘67, Jim Ostrem ‘71 & Mary, Nellie Bracker ‘76 were all present. Since I’m actually retired, I don’t know why I’m so busy, but I’m doing lots of stuff that I love. Training yoga teachers, teaching some senior fitness classes and yoga, planning to be a gardener, getting out camping and backpacking, enjoying the company of my kids, grandkids and boyfriend are some of my current priorities. Much love to everyone.

Ravi Venkateswaran

I am still on the CRMS board as a trustee of the school and it’s an exciting time as the school is doing well and about to undertake a new capital campaign. I continue my annual travels to India. This year, my daughter also came for a short trip in early January and we made a tour of northern India visiting the famous town of Haridwar on the Ganges as well as New Delhi. The highlight was visiting the Taj Mahal for the first time. It’s impressive to say the least. We also went to Jaipur, Rajasthan and enjoyed the Rajasthani cuisine which is famous.

1970

Jock Mackinlay

I retired in January 2023 after more than 18 years at Tableau Software where I got to use my Stanford PhD to help Tableau further its mission to help people see and understand data.

Corrie Snobble

I sent a Christmas card photo about events at BWD (Clovis site) in July. I continue as Gatekeeper at public events like atlatl throws. l held my granddaughter in early January. She was too early and fragile last May. I garden and landscape for friends and butterflies. Spent a few days in September with Danika identifying early CRMS photos, memories of childhood and faculty brats. I bellydance around Portales. Son and son-in-law are in the Air Force.

1971

Tom Boyce

Still based out of Miami with our DeepStream Design executive office and residence in a penthouse of the condo building I designed and built 20 years ago with the love of my life Sheila. Biking 50 miles a weekend when in Miami. Often found ocean passage making on our 42 foot pilothouse cutter rig sailboat which we use to demonstrate the rugged anodized aluminum frame system, supporting solar panels, I designed as the basis for our extensive product line used by architects, landscape architect, hospitality and transportation clients to break the throw away cycle of competing products.

As the world opens up I’m again traveling for work on radiology AI, but this year may be my last on the lecture circuit. Discovering the world with our two young grandkids who live nearby keeps us vivacious. I still paddle, ski, and hike; memories remain fresh of good and crazy times with friends doing those at CRMS.

Lynn Leopold ‘60 & Kate Bradley’70.

Raym Geis

I spent my 70th birthday in Vienna dancing at the Habsburg Palace.

(Ted)

Hi all! Liz and I continue to enjoy our dual life. October-April aboard our Pearson 367 sailboat exploring the warm waters of Mexico. Summer months in the Pacific NW aboard our 32 foot power boat. Lots of time with our sons and granddaughters.

MB, trail building, and gardening when we are in southern Colorado for the summer. If you happen to pass through Rico on Hwy 145 give us a shout!

Well, well, I turn 70 in a week; Heather and I will be celebrating it on a trip to Fairbanks with hopes of seeing the Northern Lights, but keeping our toes and noses. I became an orphan last year; that contributes to feeling older as well. Heather and I are delighted to be (Contra) dancing regularly again (we go for a week of it in England at the end of March). We are enjoying our seaside community of Pacific Grove. I volunteer at a 19th century Lighthouse on the Big Sur coast, watch otters and other marine mammals and birds, bicycle, sail, and get in some backpacking in the Sierras (and, in May, on Kauai with Heather and my sisters).

Happy to be healthy and active. I continue to practice architecturepractice not having yet made perfect; it’s a process. Recreation includes gardening, cheesemaking, mushroom hunting in high alpine terrain, fly fishing, and this summer will also include a paddle trip down the Grand Canyon. Grandparenting also figures in, with my wife as co-conspirator. Our 3 year-old granddaughter taught me the joys of microgreen tasting, as she impatiently plucked carrots and radishes as soon as they sprouted.

Kirk Visscher

Almost turning 70 is a real coloring book for memories and re-writing history. I loved my time at CRMS even though I turned away from academics and turned towards rustic communal arts-based living. The outdoors is important and beautiful to me but I did not ascribe to the outward bound conquering-it-nor-ourselves vibe.

David Wyler

Hoooo, turning 70 this summer. That’s a big one. Doing well though, getting a lot of road cycling while Mary and I are in Tucson for the winter, then gravel/

Crossed the latest age barrier with trepidation... but everything seems to be working ok. Spent 2 weeks skiing in Japan, a bucket list item

Mary Hoagland-Scher

Risto Lappala

Jim Ostrem

Jim Ostrem ‘71 with the kids in Amsterdam

Jonathan Siegel

Catherine Wyler Hayden

now crossed off. I can’t keep up with my sister, Melanie, who is off to Antarctica for the second time! My family is growing with my first grandchild and all is good! Use it or lose it, as we know!

1972

Alexander Whitaker

Involuntarily retired; adjusting to life on a fixed income.

Mary Wilmer Mills

We’re well in NorCal, climate disasters aside. We still cycle, hike, travel, etc. After 52 years in Texas, we moved my Mom close to us. She just turned 99! In Feb we were in The Valley to ski, snowshoe, and be with family. In March we had a fun visit with Karen Kidwell and her husband Henry. Wick’s passing was a real shock and incredibly sad. We will be back for Wick’s 8/6/23 memorial in the Barn and look forward to seeing “old” friends. Sending hugs to my CRMS buds.

1973 REUNION

Thomas Bingham

Life is a rollercoaster. My wife Sara and I have two beautiful children (Sam and Leah, 30). Leah works in NYC and has two dogs--one hers and the other is Sam’s. Sam got a PhD in physics, space weather, and a Postdoc at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. He was a fun loving mentor to friends who enjoyed travel, hiking, skiing and sports, yet he took his own life three years ago this summer. It is out of the blue for over 50% of these situations and often a conversation stopper. We have great kids and like

talking about them. I’ve been teaching skiing at Park City and caught up with some folks Max, Tom, Heidi, and had lunch with Debbie Lente-Jojola ‘73 in Albuquerque. Looking forward to the same kind of fun at our August reunion.

Carol Baumer Piirto

Would love to hear about you all. But not planning to come back to Colorado for a while. Be well.

Debbie Lente-Jojola

Retired fr civilian Federal Govt. service within the Dept of Interior. Love this life with my husband of 40 years, 12 grandchildren and two great granddaughters. Heidi Estin Wade ‘73 I am looking forward to our 50th reunion. I stay in touch with Tom Bingham ‘73, Thom Mitchell ‘73, Max Sturgis ‘73 and Nat Cooper ‘73. I’m going camping and mountain biking in Ridgeway with Nat next week. Paul and I have 5 granddaughters who all live in the Roaring Fork Valley..... Lucky us. Hope to see a bunch of y’all next August 4-6 . . . CRMS is still exceptional as is the Roaring Fork Valley.

Semi-retired civilian Federal Govt. service within the Dept of Interior in August 2022. Keeping busy with yoga and pickleball, I can’t believe how free I feel. Had an awesome visit from Tom Mitchell ‘73… after 50 years. I look forward to seeing other classmates at the reunion. Well wishes to classmates for our 50th reunion. I am hoping that classes ’72, ’73, and ’74 will reunite as we did years ago. Sad about Susanna Block, Gail Vagneur and Wick Moses passing. I miss friends from all three of those years. These days, I take care of my Dad, 93, who’s still very sharp. I’m exploring how to marry quiet time and productive time. I’ll really need to carry what I learn into my 2023 traveling. I’ll be meeting my sister in Ganeshpuri, India, where we’ll attend a meditation retreat called “Pilgrimage to the Heart,” and then we’ll go to Auroville, where she lives. Next, I’ll hang out with some Buddhist nuns, getting strong while helping restore the paths and bridges of their Buddhist peace park in Maryland.

1974

David Harvey

Backpacking with Megan (13)

Wende Ely White

Hannah Laufe

My husband, Richard, and I moved to Santa Fe, NM, in October of 2021. We live about 20 minutes outside the city on 2 acres of land, and we can see the Ortiz mountains through our back windows. There is always something exciting going on in Santa Fe. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, let me know, and we can get margaritas together!

to be in the mountains again. John & I are driving to Idaho in June to raft Middle Fork of the Salmon, and then heading to the Dolomites in Sept to hike with Ben and Cate Barrera ‘74 Love catching up w/our CRMS crew!

Barry Schrumpf

In 1974 we moved to seven acres, raised our family and now other wildlife.

1975

Harry Heafer

I’m still working for the LincolnLancaster Co Health Department in the Waste and Hazardous Materials/ Emergency Response section. Doing code enforcement to help protect the public’s health and the environment. I’m hoping to retire soon. In the meantime I’m working on rebuilding our deck and finishing our basement after living in our house for 30 years or so. I would like to make more time to practice my new hobby of wood turning. Hopefully get the deck and basement done then make time to do some turning. And of course trying to

get in some traveling would be nice too!

Charles Rockwell

Retired.

1976

Keith Alexander

Moved to Cortez about six years ago and am enjoying the best of both worlds - canyon country and the mountains!

Douglas Carman

I am 30 years as a pediatrician at Kaiser in the Los Angeles area. Retiring at the end of this year. After an overly active outdoor life, my right knee gave out. Now I have a new one and look forward to being able to carry on skiing, backpacking and golf. I was in Aspen in September for the wedding of a niece. Had breakfast in Carbondale. I had not been there in a very long time. Quite a change.

Jefferey Coates

I got more from my CRMS experience than I could’ve imagined.

All’s well, and I’m still living in RI. I’m winding down my event work in the sailing world and shifting to leading some sustainability initiatives in our town. But making time to enjoy travel while we can. I did a ski trip to Jackson/Targhee with Melina White ‘74 in March- a lot of fun and always great

Sue Maffei Plowden

Spring Trip L to R: Gina Barnhardt Hardin ’74, Carol Rogers-Tanner, David Tanner ’74, Terry Friedman Gelfenbaum ‘74, Bill (Gina), Guy Gelfenbaum, Jim Doolittle ’74.

Melina (Wall) White ‘74 and Sue Maffei Plowden ’74

1977

Tim Kinzler

student softball competition), spring trips, musicals, skiing, kayaking, . . . as well as students, faculty and faculty children. Looking through pictures from the past is a resonant reminder of our extraordinary adventures, which are so wonderfully normal to the CRMS experience.

Mally Mechau

1981

Andy Floyd

Recently moved north to Palm Beach Gardens/Jupiter, Florida. Passionately selling real estate now for 44 years, celebrating 36 years of marriage this year. Active member at Lifetime Fitness keeping fit with swimming 1-2 miles a day. Annual visit with Danny Martinez ‘77 and great to see others doing great!

1979

Mary Pelletier

I am living in Hartford, Connecticut. Rather than sporting recreational rivers, I advance strategies to conserve and revive healthy, functional ecosystems that surround streams. Deciphering the degradation of nature in our neighborhoods has been a fascinating - albeit not lucrative endeavor. I found an old shoebox filled with boxes of color slides taken (1976 - 79) of CRMS community. These slides reflected a marvelous spectrum of activities (faculty vs

I’m now a retired health magazine publisher, living with my partner in Palisade--my children educated & safely flown. Going through my correspondence, at 62, I came across letters from an old CRMS room mate, Natasha. She led my son, Homer, in his teens, across white rivers frothing with crocodiles in Costa Rica and she was extremely generous and truthful. Thank you Pat for placing us together. It’s about the people. The people we meet at CRMS--if we are lucky-these, follow us closely throughout our lives. Telling us the truth. This becomes so important, because not everybody can--or, will. The school has been a golden thread running through our lives--remember to stay in touch. It is about the people.

1980

Tracy Ehrhardt Massa ‘80

My twins, Ethan & Erin, 16, and learning how to navigate our new normal as we live without David who died on October 15, 2021. They graduate high school in 2024 and I’m definitely thinking about moving back out west. Oh and we have a new member of the family named Mak from Bobby Troup!

I just took a position as the Culinary Director for Sun Valley Culinary Institute. I will be heading up their professional Culinary Program and running their curriculum for their enthusiast program and their events. If you know of anyone that wants to learn about becoming a professional chef send them my way or stop in to say hello.

1982

Kate Bennis

We had such a wonderful time at our 40th Reunion last summer! I brought my daughter, Anya, and a friend of hers. We river rafted, hiked, ate at the Smithy, and shared stories. So wonderful!

Leila Gass

Though I miss the desert terribly, I’m happy to be living in the Front Range, near the Rocky Mountains again. I’m still working for the US Geological Survey, mapping land cover and

change (mrlc.gov). It was wonderful to be at CRMS for the 2022 reunion, and I’m thinking of going back this year.

1983 REUNION

Ann Hodel

I had a fun reunion this Spring with Tom Newhard ‘82, his wife (our far

left), and my partner Melissa! Loving life full time in Carbondale! And very much looking forward to the 40 year reunion in August ‘23!

Daniel Piburn

The most gratifying chapters in the last 40 years have been the 30+ with Giselle, my wife, and the 25 years as householders for our kids, Coleman (24)and Amelie (18). I’m 20 years into a thriving Massage/Bodywork practice. I often find myself in the theater, designing Sound, or I’m at our public radio station, KSFR spinning Jazz, or I’m in the garden. I still love to fish, I’ve become a hunter, and I still love my chickens and turkeys in the backyard. Soon to be empty-nesters, I’m so proud for our kids and looking forward to adventuring with Giselle!

Peterson

John and I are working on bagging the 100 sub-peaks of the Mt. Rainier area, it’s fun getting to know “Our Mountain.” I volunteer with instruction of Snowshoeing, Navigation and Scrambling courses with the Mountaineers Club. This January was my 30th anniversary doing the heavy metal repair and fabrication for the City of Seattle Fleet. I am grateful that I love my job today more than ever before. I have many wonderful coworkers and am very comfortable at work. I teach yoga on Saturday mornings, and functional fitness classes to seniors. I am planning on attending the reunion in Augustdriving to Colorado to hang out for a few weeks, again.

Nelson Jay

In anticipation of the class of ‘83 official 40th in August, Julie Urvater ‘83, Michelle Petersen ‘83, and Nelson Jay ‘83 recently met at Squirrelly Workshop in Seattle. Fun to catch up and dream of a reunion weekend. Nelson put CRMS work crew skills to use building tables and benches for Squirrelly, wife Tiffany Jay’s art school for kids and adults in NE Seattle.

Ann Hodel ‘83 with her partner Melissa, Tom Newhard, and his wife.

Michelle

Kate Bennis ‘82 and friends at 2022 CRMS Alumni Reunion

Julie Urvater ‘83, Michelle Petersen ‘83 and Nelson Jay ‘83

1984

Jennifer (Hendrick) Lowe

After ten years teaching in Switzerland, I’m “retiring” and heading back to Colorado for a while. It’s been a great adventure and has become my second home so I’m sure I’ll be back. After one more summer exploring parts of Europe, I hope to spend the next chapter of life adventuring, volunteering and enjoying friends and family. I’m looking forward to enjoying the Wilderness and wide open spaces of the West. I’ll be based out of Colorado Springs helping my mom but will be traveling a fair amount and online tutoring (science) to pay for groceries. Here’s to changing it up!

and costly reality. She lives in Carmel, California with her husband Andy (24 years in August). She is the head of the elementary and middle schools at Stevenson School and is a very proud mama of both Luca (almost 20) and Sofia (17).

Kelly Price

Kelly has been leading the fight to reform criminal justice systems that send innocent survivors to jail in NYC and NY state at the helm of the organization she founded, Close Rosie’s (www.CloseRosies.org). Rosie’s is the Rose M. Singer Center, the all female jail on Rikers. Kelly Grace led the #ByeCy campaign that foreshadowed the #Metoo movement to force the former Manhattan DA out of office, and inspired other women in NYC like her friend, Lindsey Boylan, who brought down Andrew Cuomo, to take on other tyrants and predators masquerading as public officials. Here are Kelly and Lindsey on the steps of City Hall in 2020 calling for Vance to step down with the NYC Council women’s caucus.

1991

Hardy Griffin

Shawn Striegel

Living back in Los Angeles after years in NYC. Anyone coming through, look me up!!!!

1989

Molly Bunnell

Molly Bunnell, class of 1989, is facing the reality that both her children will be in college in the fall— a sobering

Hardy is the founding editor for Novel Slices, a literary journal dedicated solely to novel excerpts.

Jonathan Vimont

Like so many others, 2022 was a rollercoaster. Broke my back in February but oh so lucky, no surgery -> rigorous P/T and was hiking the highest peak in Yellowstone National Park by July. Sabbatical had us in BC & Canadian Rockies all summer in our RV. Said goodbye to Uke my B. Collie of 15 years. My son got engaged in February!

1993 REUNION

Josh Lange

Life is great in Carbondale! My family and I officially moved here in May of 2022 just in time for an amazing summer in the valley. My son, Kauri (3)absolutely loves it and we are feeling pretty darn blessed to be here! We just had a stellar ski season and are ready to get our bikes on the trails soon! I’ve been slowly running into old CRMS classmates and teachers from back in the day, which is really wonderful. Hope to see some of you

Jennifer Lowe ‘84 in Morocco - Sahara Desert

BRIMM '06

Educating and Connecting Farmers Amid Challenging Times

This spring, Katie Brimm ‘06 spoke with students during an All School Meeting in the Barn about her work with farmercampus.com. Recently, she was awarded a Public Voices Fellowship on the Climate Crisis from Yale University.

Katie grew up on a small ranch in Snowmass, Colorado, with horses, chickens, and goats. You might guess that she loves the outdoors and the environment. And she does. Yet, her experiences at CRMS and in college challenged her views on people, the environment, and food. Consequently, she’s found a unique and meaningful career that connects all her passions.

Katie’s path to new perspectives began with influential teachers at CRMS. A.O. Forbes ‘69 helped Katie connect her love of the outdoors with global issues. “A.O. opened my eyes to privilege and class and those that don’t get the privilege of outdoor access,” Katie said in a recent phone conversation. Mark Clark exposed her to eastern philosophy and a larger understanding of the human condition. At the same time Dave Meyer illuminated the US’s involvement in world affairs, and Amanda Leahy helped Katie become a better writer.

“I always had a strong connection to the land and place and a strong work ethic,” says Katie. CRMS helped enhance those qualities and set Katie up for college. “My parents told me I had to go to college so I wouldn’t end up digging ditches. The irony is that I ended up ‘digging in the dirt’ as a farmer anyway.”

To read more visit the CRMS Blog.

soon at this year’s 30th! Yikes time is a flyin’...

1995

Katie Browne

Hi! This is my husband Kris and I last fall at the Crystal Mill. We moved back to Carbondale in 2019. It’s so nice to be near my mom again and live in this

awesome community. I’m a textile artist and printmaker and I teach classes in dyeing, block printing, and sewing. I like to ski, hike, make art, and in the summers I grow a flower garden with plants I can use to dye textiles.

1998 REUNION

Ariel Ross ’98

I’m living in Oklahoma, teaching at Oklahoma State University, riding bikes, knitting, sewing, researching earthquakes, sheepherding in the West, and working with my husband, Seth on a book about the history of bicycles in Oklahoma. Our son Mark is going to be at CRMS in the fall!

2003 REUNION

2005

Savannah Berlyn (Ricehill) Anderson

I started a new job in February 2022, at HoChunk Renaissance, the official language program of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska as the Media and Design Specialist. My husband and I got married on June 4, 2022.

Katie Browne ‘95 with her husband Kris

2006

Landon Newton

2007

Emily (McDonald) Ball

We are so very pleased to announce the birth of Felix Larsen Ball on 12/10/22! He is a joy and rounds out our family perfectly. Silas is excelling at his new role as big brother - many adventures to come!

Claire Noone and Hank Myers

Landon Newton (and her camera) met up with Beda Calhoun ‘06, Donielle Kaufman ‘06, and Eden Ferry ‘06, on (one of the few) sunny days in LA this January. They yapped about plants, erosion, and materialities of the 4th dimension.

Claire Noone ‘07 and daughter Hazel

Claire Noone ‘07, and Hank Myers ‘07 welcomed their daughter Hazel Maxwell Noone-Myers (Future Class of 2042) in January with Godparents Vallee Noone ’04 and Charlie Boyne ‘11. This lucky girl has CRMS in her blood!

2008 REUNION

Callie Maron

I will be graduating from Naropa University with a Masters in Wilderness Therapy this May and plan to build a therapy practice to help people find belonging with themselves, the Earth, and the rich web of life on this planet. I’m beginning to see how my education at CRMS, my BA in Geoscience, and my work in permaculture are all coming together!

2010

Jaren Carlson

I’ve got some exciting news to share about the company I founded getting acquired. You can read more at www.pairin.com

Pictured above: Eden Ferry ‘06, Donielle Kaufman ‘06, and Beda Calhoun ‘06.

Savannah Berlyn (Ricehill) Anderson ‘05 at her wedding June 2022

Frederick Newton

I started a new job this year in the Solar Industry with a company called ImpactEnergy. I’m helping people in Denver & the greater metro area convert to clean energy!

Thomas O’Shea

Settling into life in Upstate South Carolina after leaving Asheville, NC where I had been living since 2011. I’m working as a licensed geologist on a variety of site assessment and compliance projects in the Southeast. The most joyous news to share from 2022 is that I married my wife, Sarah on July 9, 2022!

2011

Miranda Harty Price

I recently finished my Masters of Social Work and now work as a Crisis Services Clinician on my local crisis lines. I am also a Certified Peer Counselor and have been working on the Washington Warm Line as a Shift Mentor and Phone Worker for three years. I am currently working towards getting my Independent Clinical Social Work License which involves several thousand hours of work with clients.

2012

Riley Addington

I’m excited to share that my fiancé and I recently closed on a home in olde town Arvada! Sarah and I will be getting married this September too in Silverthorne! Right now I’m also involved with the Shadow Mountain Bike Park Project.

Kelsey Freeman

I recently moved to the Bay Area to study international policy through

a Knight Hennessy Fellowship at Stanford. Reach out if you’re in the area!

Raleigh Gambino

All the same for me, I’m still living in Topanga, CA. and still working in film.

2013 REUNION

Eli Bontrager

For about a year and a half I’ve been an R&D Engineer at Medtronic under their Cranial & Spine Technologies/ Restorative Therapies division, and have been living in Thornton for about 3 years.

Timothy Collins

I’m in Colorado working for Sierra Nevada Corporation building the Dreamchaser space plane! Read more at https://www.sierraspace.com/ space-transportation/dream-chaserspaceplane/.

on my website jamesfishersmith.com or via https://www.linkedin.com/in/ jamesfishersmith/

Samuel Shaw

I’m currently working with High Country News and Boulder Weekly as a regional reporter!

James Fisher-Smith

After graduating CRMS I attended Reed for two years, dropped out, and traveled until I settled in Brooklyn where I currently live with my girlfriend Maya and our three cats. Maya and I met at a gallery I managed in the Lower East Side which sadly closed. Currently I am painting a new body of work for an upcoming exhibition. I hope to connect more with CRMS Alumni, the best way to reach me is instagram, catch my work

2014

Alexis Jones

I just transitioned into a full-time career in photography and creative direction. I’ve had my photos published in three magazines, and will have two more features in publications this year! I mostly work with the queer and trans community doing portraiture and group shoots capturing queer and trans kinship and care. I’m also working on a hair design license so

Artwork by James Fisher-Smith

I can do HMUA work in addition to creative direction and photography. No new family members, although I did just get three baby chicks (who feel like new little babies) I’m planning to raise for eggs and meat.

2015

Clair Johnson

I’m living in Bend, Oregon teaching at a Forest preschool. We are outside year round in the snow and weather with 3-5 year olds. Feels very CRMS style to me! New this past year.

Isabella Rettenwander

At the end of 2022, my oncologist found an irregular lymph node during my ultrasound at Duke University Hospital. Unfortunately, a biopsy confirmed my thyroid cancer was back. On March 16th, I had a third neck surgery to remove the mass. I’m currently resting and recovering. The good news is the results from the pathology report were in my favor! With upcoming physical therapy

sessions and lots of healing, I’ll be back to conquering my dreams soon!

https://gofund.me/f338fe35

JACQUELINE LAROUCHE ’12 Excelling in Biomedical Sciences

Education: BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Occupation: 5th year Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering and Scientific Computing

What’s the most rewarding part of your work?

Sophie Kornick

Has a production company.

2016

Angus Harley

Currently living in Squamish, BC enjoying the beautiful skiing and kayaking opportunities this part of the world has to offer while continuing to pursue river conservation work and advocating for free-flowing rivers.

The most rewarding part of being a scientist, engineer, and student is when I conceive, design, and perform an experiment and it “works”, meaning that the data is clean and consistent and we learn something new that moves the field forward.

In what ways does curiosity play a role in your professional, personal, or community life?

Curiosity is everything in my career: I get to come up with research questions and how to test them, conceive potential therapies for improving health span and tissue regeneration, and I am constantly learning and applying new research technologies and techniques.

How has your experience at CRMS influenced your choice of what you are doing now?

CRMS made me a more adventurous and open-minded person, and it helped establish my excitement about learning.

What advice would you give current CRMS students?

Say yes to opportunities that you’re excited about, even if they seem daunting.

What’s been a highlight since graduating?

A more recent highlight has been racing bikes at the domestic pro/elite level.

Alumni Bikepack Iceland for Geology Film

Iceland – the famed land of fire and ice. Any earth scientist dreams about traveling to the mythical island nestled in the north Atlantic. However, its prestige extends to an exceptional degree in the world of geology. Iceland is the product of hot spots (a hole in the earth’s crust that creates a volcano) and divergent margins (the volcanic rifts that create the world’s ocean basins) existing in the same place. The rocks and topography of the island demonstrate some of the most riveting and monumental geologic processes in the world.

Last July, Aden Berry ‘22 had the privilege of traveling to Iceland with CRMS geology teacher Kayo Ogilby, Ellie Urfrig ‘22, Bryn Peterson ‘21, and Tristan Trantow ‘23 to “Bikepack Divergent Margins”. It was an undoubtedly harsh, yet glorious introduction to the world of bikepacking (a marriage between backpacking and off-road cycling).

The impetus of the trip was to film the second episode of the Earth Science Adventure Diaries – a YouTube series that seeks to tell earth science and geologic stories through the lens of adventure. For the first episode, Kayo traveled with CRMS alumnus Bryn Peterson to Castle Valley, Utah for his senior project. They told the story of evaporite deposits left by an ancient seaway by climbing a spire in the area.

To read more visit the CRMS Blog

Leo Tonozzi ‘16

I’m working at Revel Bikes in Carbondale now.

2017

Will Fontana

Tracy Wilson, Will Fontana ‘17 & Joe Pehoski

Will stopped by campus in April with his boyfriend Joe Pehoski on his way to Tulsa, Oklahoma for paramedic training. He is currently a firefighter with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Fire Department.

June 30, 2022 was my final day working for the University of San Diego in the TRiO Student Support Services program as a STEM Retention Specialist. I enjoyed working with the close-knit professional staff team and supporting the students as they moved a step closer to realizing their academic and career goals. Seeing the students and some of the professional staff move forward with their goals motivated me to do the same, so… I’m happy to announce that as of August 15, 2022, I’m an Associate Systems Test Engineer at Cubic Transportation Systems!

Andres Rivera

CRMS faculty member Kayo Ogilby, Tristan Trantow ‘23, Bryn Peterson ‘21, Ellie Urfrig ‘22, and Aden Berry ‘22 bikepacking in Iceland

Mini Zavala

I graduated from CU Denver and I am now a Surgical Technician/assistant at an optometrist surgery center. I live in Denver full-time. I have a beautiful white husky named Polo.

2018 REUNION

Lily Kraft

I just graduated from Pitzer College in December with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Legal Studies. I now live in San Francisco where I work as a Move Instructor for an organization called Project Commotion. We use movement to support children with their physical and emotional developmental needs! All my best.

Ruby Marker

I live in LA now and work on the Warner Bros Lot as a PA on the HBO Max show The Sex Lives of College Girls.

McKenna Palmer

I am currently in my Master of Real Estate Development Program at ASU, and I’m expected to graduate this May.

2020

Rhett Baldwin

First in Bozeman at MSU, then transferred to Salt Lake City for Nursing School, graduating 2024.

Nicole Peirson

I ran my first ever marathon in Big Sur California at the end of April. I ran for a really cool non-profit organization called Every Mother Counts which helps provide resources for maternal health care for women

everywhere. You can read more about it here: https://fundraisers.hakuapp. com/nicolepeirson-BigSurMarathon https://everymothercounts.org/

2021

Shun Miyawaki

I joined the U.S. Marines and I’m an 0311 infantry rifleman. I’m a reservist so once I’m done with all the training, I’ll try and be a firefighter.

Connor Zane Mullally

Doing a chemistry internship over the summer then going abroad to Berlin!

2022

Cole Kokish

This winter I was a line cook at Cloud 9 on Higlands. That’s been really challenging and fun. I love cooking and am becoming quite passionate about food :)

Santiago Quiroga

I’m pursuing my undergraduate degree at CU Boulder.

Faculty & Staff

Dick and Carolyn HerbFormer Faculty

Are good, living in Ashland, OR having moved from Bend, OR a few years ago. Theatre, for which Ashland is rich, was our chosen alternative when Dick lost his eyesight. Other than that, we’re aging, becoming riotously forgetful, live in a 55+ community (avg age 82), drive the speed limit (mostly 20 mph around Ashland). We’ve given up our beloved Green River canoe trips for le Boat. Irelands’ Shannon River is

scheduled for Sept. We le Boated the Lot River in France a few years ago. Our 20-year-old grandson is coming along this year to keep us afloat.

Julie Wiley

In March, I traveled to St. Andrew’s, Scotland where we met Madeleine Rogers ‘21 and played a round at the New Course. Madeleine is currently a sophomore at St. Andrew’s. Also in our foursome was my husband Peter and my son Andy Wiley ‘20, who flew from his study abroad in Barcelona, Spain.

Class notes in this issue were received by April 19, 2023.

Missed the boat? Send us your class notes for a future newsletter.

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

1953 - 2023

DARRYL FULLER CONTINUES RECOVERY

It’s hard to believe but here we are, one year after Darryl’s accident. First off, thank you to the CRMS community near and far for all the love and support sent our way over this last year. It has made this journey more bearable to know you were with us in spirit.

We came home to CRMS December 17th. While Darryl missed one heck of a ski season his spirit remained high. We were able to start Nordic skiing right away and did so throughout the season. He continued going to PT, OT and speech therapy along with cranial/chiropractic work, strength training and more recently Hyperbaric treatments with stem cell therapy.

Darryl is doing great and has continued to get better every step of the way. He is stronger and cognitively better every day.

We are now focused on riding bikes! As the season has just started, we are hoping to get out for longer rides. With a brain injury one of the last things to get better is the speed of reaction. We are sticking to bike paths and easy rides into town for now and navigating familiar routes.

We remain in our home at CRMS for now with the support of the community. We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity to allow Darryl the time to continue to heal.

- Susan Jordan

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

CRMS

CONNECT with CRMS. Submit a class note, connect on social, or stop by campus.

REUNITE with classmates and faculty at Alumni Weekend, August 4 - 6, 2023.

MOTIVATE by volunteering for an event or sharing your expertise with a class or program.

SUPPORT faculty and students in the extraordinary CRMS experience through making a gift to CRMS.

IN MEMORIAM

This list represents members of our community, that we know about, who have passed since Summer 2022. In order to celebrate everyone’s life to the fullest, a complete listing of available obituaries can be found on our website at www.crms.org/alumni/in-memoriam. To include someone, please contact Danika Davis, Alumni Relations Manager.

Scott Bowie P’96, ‘00, Former Trustee | May 9, 2023

Bill Moore ‘60 | May 8, 2023

Barbara Ross, Former Faculty | April 22, 2023

Sandra Cannon ‘79 | March 9, 2023

Wick Moses ‘66, Former Faculty | February 23, 2023

Scott Hutchins ‘03 | January 28, 2023

Marc Grandbois ‘80 | January 12, 2023

Gale Gates ‘73 | October 25, 2022

David “Buck” Westerbeke ‘67 | October 5, 2022

Will Cockrell ‘10 | August 10, 2022

WICK MOSES ‘66

January 22, 1947 - February 23, 2023

reprinted from The Sopris Sun

Sopris Sun last year. “The summer of ‘67 was the last summer I spent back east and I never went back.”

It is with heavy hearts that the community bids adieu to Wick Moses, a fun-loving man who played a great role in the shaping of Carbondale’s culture.

Wick came to the Roaring Fork Valley in 1963 as a student at Colorado Rocky Mountain School. He came by train from Springfield, Massachusetts, with a head full of dreams, an electric guitar and amp and a Sony transistor AM radio. After graduating in 1966, Wick studied history at the University of Denver, got immersed in the hippie scene and discovered a love of FM radio and stereo sound systems.

“I am still wearing the CRMS school uniform — jeans, and a flannel shirt,” he joked during an interview with The

He returned to CRMS to teach in 1970 and later opened a record store on Main Street which expanded to Aspen before closing in 1980. Wick and Pat Noel were the dual managers of KDNK when it first came on the air in April 1983. He later served on the station’s board of directors and was an avid supporter (leveling honest criticisms at times) for the past four decades.

Wick also performed at the very first Mountain Fair and was part of the fair’s early leadership and sound direction. “The thing about Mountain Fair was that it carried on that whole idea of a group of volunteers coming together to create something. That really was a big driving force in the town,” Moses told The Sopris Sun.

After Wick followed “love and money” back to Denver in 1988 and returned to the Valley in 1992, KDNK had moved its transmitter to Sunlight Peak and

now had valley-wide coverage. In the ensuing years, he hosted a jazz show, sold underwriting and did production work and engineering for the station until his retirement in 2012.

As well as an audiophile, Wick was a motorcycle enthusiast and traveled the American West. He watched Carbondale grow and change along with new technologies and expressed gladness in 2022 at seeing young people continue to come to the area and be involved in creating community.

“One of the things I think about during the whole time I have been involved with Carbondale is that there was this incredibly fascinating cast of characters that came here. The place attracted some really unusual and unique people. For the most part, they were really good people.”

A celebration of life will be held August 6, 2023 at the CRMS Barn.

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

Colorado Rocky Mountain School

1953 - 2023