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Elizabeth (Friedman) Coley ’79 achieved a long held goal and published her debut novel with HarperCollins in March 2013. Released as a young adult novel domestically and an adult novel overseas, Pretty Girl-13 has been called a psychological thriller. French, Spanish, United Kingdom, Russian, Czech and Slovakian editions are available, with more translations to come. Liz is now hard at work on her next writing projects. The new career comes just in time, as her oldest sons prepare to finish college (Ian – Northwestern ’13 and Connor – Caltech ’14). As soon as almost-15-year-old daughter Kate gets her license, Elizabeth will be at loose ends, saved only by writing deadlines. Jim Bradbury ’91 and family
Mara and Noah Sachs, father Todd Sachs ’92
Cindy (Cohen) Marten ’84, Country Day’s 2011 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, is the new Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. Cindy worked at Central Elementary for 10 years, where nearly all of the school’s students qualify for free or reducedprice lunch and 85 percent are learning English as a second language. She is a proven educator who has demonstrated that schools, even in the highest-poverty neighborhoods, can be turned around for success. Jamie (Leach) Coates ’89 has been living in London since 1999. She and her husband, Darryll, married in the Highlands of Scotland in 2006, and their son, Dylan, will be 3 in June. Jamie is a global client managing director for Starcom MediaVest Group, a global communications agency, and balances a four-day work week running a global client team with family time. Her work involves travel to a variety of countries around the world. Jamie also keeps connected to her Southern California roots as a founding board member of the USC Alumni Club of London. Jim Bradbury ’91 lives in beautiful Idaho and enjoys being active with his wife, Leah, and two children, Van and Gwen.
Tesse (Roberts) Rasmussen ’94 welcomes baby Andre Beck Rasmussen
Todd Sachs ’92 is a writer and producer living in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Judy, have 9-month-old twins, Mara and Noah. Tesse (Roberts) Rasmussen ’94 and her husband, Mike, welcomed their first child, Andre Beck Rasmussen, on May 22, 2013 at 9:06 am, 7 lbs, 0.5 oz, and 21.5 inches. They are extremely proud parents and excited for this new chapter in their lives. Anthony Anastasopoulos ’96 (last name change to Karnazes) and his wife, Martha, are proud parents to a baby girl named Athena Martha Karnazes born on April 20, 2013.
AnthonyAnastasopoulos (Karnazes) ’96 and family
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Sebastian Guerra ’96 along with his wife, Laura, welcomed Lucas who was born on October 17, 2012. Lucas joins big sister Camille.
Alumni Class Notes Nikki (McIntyre) Blackman ’97 and her husband, Mark, married in September 2010, recently welcomed their first child, Hayes Cedric Blackman, on February 1, 2013. He joins Nikki’s stepchildren big brother Miles, 11, and big sister Marley, 9. Nikki says that Hayes has changed their world for the better and they are so in love! Nikki would love to hear from old friends. Feel free to email her at nblackman9510@ gmail.com. John Kollus ’97 and Melinda (Shaffer) Kollus ’97 live in San Diego. They are the proud parents of 22-month-old twins, Declan and Gwendolyn. John is manager of strategic investment accounts for Thomson Reuters and enjoys spending his free time competing in amateur golf tournaments. Melinda is a full-time mom and current board member for North County Mother’s of Multiples.
Lucas Guerra - father, Sebastian Guerra ’96
Liz Griffiths ’00 has recently moved back to San Diego and started an educational technology company, Building Blocks Media. She is passionate about promoting the arts in education. In February 2013, her company released its first iPad app for early childhood called Musical Paint. Adam Hirsch ’01 and Shelby Emmer were married on July 21, 2012, at the Brentwood Country Club. After honeymooning in Maui, Adam returned to Deloitte Consulting LLP, where he is a consulting actuary, and Shelby to Kehillat Israel Preschool in Pacific Palisades, where she teaches. They currently live in Los Angeles.
Nikki (McIntyre) Blackman ’97, husband Mark and baby Hayes Cedric Blackman
Jeni Noerenberg ’01 married Greg Bartley on April 13, 2013. Their wedding ceremony was held at St. Gregory the Great Church, and their reception took place at the Prado in Balboa Park. Michael Simkin ’01 and his wife, Sherri, welcomed baby boy Oliver London Simkin into the world on October 22, 2012. Michael spends his time in Los Angeles working in film production with Zac Efron and “trying to groom Oliver into the next Zac Efron despite the unfortunate looks of his father.” Maiya Chard-Yaron ’02 was a student-athlete at Columbia University, serving as co-captain of the softball team in 2004 - 2006. Following Columbia, she attended the Jewish Theological Seminary and earned a master’s degree in experiential education, completing her thesis on emerging adulthood and Jewish identity in the context of participation in the World Maccabiah Games. From 2009 to 2012, she was the Hillel program director at Davis and Sacramento and in July 2012 moved to Washington, D.C., to start a new job as the director of educational engagement for Hillel at the University of Maryland, College Park. In
John Kollus ’97 and Melinda (Shaffer) Kollus ’97 twins, Declan and Gwendolyn
Adam Hirsch ’01 and Shelby Emmer
S um mer 2013
ALUMNI 2013: Class Notes
ALUMNI 2013: Class Notes
Alumni Class Notes
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