CLASS NOTES coming east in a few weeks for my little sister’s graduation—couldn’t swing two trips so close together.” • Lindsey Dawson says, “My wife is pregnant with our first, so I will be staying close to home!” • Clemon Courtney III says, “Wish I could be there with you nerds. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay NMH for prying my mind open with that know-bar. I’ve been living in Shanghai, China, since 2005. I’m teaching writing, test prep (SSAT, SAT/ ACT, etc.), and history, and I’m in the beginning stages of trying to start my own company here.” • Heather Heckman-McKenna writes, “With every passing day, I’m more frustrated that I’m not making it to reunion this year. I’m coming back from a serious accident that occurred on 2/9/13, and picked up a passion for skiing since it was one thing I could do through a lot of the injury. I’m finally through with surgeries, am in grad school, and live half time in Boston, half time in Provincetown.” • Addie Wyman Battalen lives in Arlington, Mass., and writes, “We won’t be making it out this time, but if you are ever in the Boston area, look me up!” • Melanie Sikes Bigalke says, “I am splitting my time between Eugene, Ore., and Seattle, Wash. Got my M.B.A. in 2013 in sustainable business. Am a consultant, coach, teaching fellow, and newly published [magazine] writer. Happily married, no kids (forever). Husband is just starting work on his M.A. in history from University of Oregon.” • Janna Blais Patterson lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Shawn, and three kids. She writes, “I’m really bummed to be missing reunion. We’re tentatively planning on being at Sacred Concert next year. Besides keeping my kids alive, I head up the charitable work through our local church, and I’m working on a novel.” • Anastasia Olynyk just got married and dropped in for a quick visit while on her honeymoon! She and her husband are in the process of moving to New Jersey. She writes, “No matter how many years may pass, taking that long drive along the highway through the autumn leaves and birches, watching the mountains rise up on the horizon, still feels a little bit like coming home. I carry a piece of NMH with me wherever I go.” • Genevieve Bergeret has been living in the Netherlands for four and a half years since leaving Japan. Her biggest passion is swing dancing, and she has recently made several trips around Europe
Kimmie Weeks ’01 declares Ebola is defeated in Liberia.
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to dance the Lindy Hop with friends. She writes, “It’s a time of transition for me, and reunion was the impetus I needed to start my next adventure. I’ll be traveling around the U.S. this summer to help determine if it’s time to move back to the States after being an expat for 11 years! Reunion was a great chance to re-connect and get to know classmates I didn’t know well, but now discover to have more in common with than not.”
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Northfield and Mount Hermon Josh Grubman joshuagrubman@gmail.com • Christopher A Zissi christopher.zissi@gmail.com From Christopher Zissi—Patrick Vincent
writes, “In March of 2012, I married my best friend, Kristy. I have an 8-year-old stepson, Jeffrey; together, my wife and I have a 2-year-old son, Carter, and in June we will be welcoming our third son, (Blake). We live in north central North Carolina. I began teaching physical education to elementary-age children in 2006 in eastern North Carolina. In 2008 I switched roles, as I began teaching middle-school health and PE. In 2013, I added middle-school athletic director to my résumé. Next year I begin teaching high-school healthful living for the first time. Also added to my roles will be highschool athletic director!” • Isaac Luria lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Rabbi Sara Luria. They’ve got two children and another on the way. He works at Auburn Seminary training faith leaders to do social justice work. He also took Luria as his last name on his wedding day with Sara—you might remember him as Isaac Goldstein. • Lydia Romano Barhight and her husband, Matt, welcomed their daughter, Caroline Quinn, on 3/12/15. They moved to Denver in the summer. • Jefferson Stewart writes, “I moved to Austin, Texas, from New York City this past year to start a mobile video-game company, Cloudyshark Studios. I ran into Luke Snelling the other day at the airport—he’s in tech, too, running his own marketing agency in San Francisco.” • James McGrail writes, “Chris Hiam and I connected in Florida, caught up on old times, and it felt like we never skipped a beat.” Claire Burnside Och writes, “My husband, John, and I will be moving to Mexico City in July! He works for the U.S. Department of State and received a two-year post working at the U.S. Embassy there. We are both very excited, and if there are any NMH alums in that city, I would love for them to reach out to me.” Lindsay James Forman-Murray writes, “My husband, Scott, and I are leaving New York this summer. We’re headed to Nashville, where I’ll be pursuing a Ph.D. in special education at Vanderbilt. We’re excited about the prospect of a yard, a dog, and a garden...three things New York has been particularly light on.” Avery Miller writes, “I graduated from Sarah Lawrence with an M.S. in human genetics, and currently work at Staten Island University Hospital as a cancer genetic counselor. I continue to live
in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with my boyfriend, Chris Steffens. I’m a passionate home cook and am always looking to re-connect with fellow NMHers for a summer picnic or concert. Last night I found myself sitting at a local restaurant one table away from Tesalia de Saram and her brother!” • Bryan Boone married Jodie Barnett of Brunswick, Ga., on 3/30/15 in a quiet ceremony in south Georgia, where they live with their two shepherds. Jodie and Bryan have taught for the last five years in the McIntosh County Public School District. • Last, but not least, our 15-year reunion is right around the corner. Mark your calendars and book your flights. See you on campus in June 2016, and have a great autumn!
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Northfield and Mount Hermon Danielle Henry Beale dhbeale@gmail.com Dr. Kimmie Weeks ’01, executive director of
Youth Action International, posted a photo on Facebook on May 15 proclaiming #LIBERIA # DEFEATED #EBOLA. Incredible work, Kimmie. A big shoutout to Evan Russell, who founded Empowerment Health, a nonprofit that provides cost-effective care for women and children in Afghanistan. He’s also working toward his M.D. and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University, which he hopes to complete next year. • Congratulations to Matthew Bamberg-Johnson for his production of The Johnny Cycle with The Speakeasy Society in Los Angeles; to Jesse Beecher for the documentary film Circus Without Borders, produced by Northern Light Productions; and to Deva Huggins, who recently performed as a backup dancer for Usher Raymond. • Vicki Wong married Teddy Cheng ’00 on 3/21/15 in Hong Kong. Jay Wilson married Olivia Tsipris on 5/30/15. Chris Russell married Chelsea Carmichael on 6/7/15 in Tyson, Vt. Jason Leahy married Kiley Manahan on 6/13/15, also in Vermont. • Sophie Barberich Ward and husband James welcomed a son, John Avery, on 5/7/15. Allan Olson and wife Prasra Pam Olson welcomed a daughter, Natnapin Madeleine, on 2/27/15—they moved to Los Angeles at the end of June. Brendan Connor and Keiko Achiwa Connor report that their daughter, Maya, is a healthy, happy little baby. They purchased a home in Westport, Conn., moving out of New York City. Toni Roberts
Vicki Wong ’02 and Teddy Cheng ’00 on their wedding day