Oldfields Magazine Winter 2019

Page 1

WINTER 2019

C E L EBRATING O L DFIE LDS '

LAR G ENE SS OF HE A RT


Oldfields School is committed to the intellectual and moral development of young women. In a culture of kindness and mutual respect, we encourage each student to make the most of her academic and personal potential. We seek to guide each student to grow in character, confidence, and knowledge by encouraging her to embrace the values of personal honesty, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility. Fortezza, Umilitade, e Largo Core - Courage, Humility, and Largeness of Heart - are the core values and beliefs that define our school culture. Oldfields School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, financial aid programs, or athletic and other schooladministered programs. Š2019 by Oldfields School. Oldfields Magazine is published twice a year by Oldfields School. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Views expressed herein are those of the author exclusively. Oldfields is a private, nonprofit, educational corporation. Oldfields is an organization described in section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and all contributions to Oldfields are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Correspondence for Oldfields School should be addressed to: Oldfields School, 1500 Glencoe Road, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152-9321. Oldfields Magazine is a controlled circulation publication. Questions, comments, and address changes should be sent to Communications@OldfieldsSchool.org or Attn. Communications, 1500 Glencoe Road, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152-9321. Printed on recycled paper.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2018-2019 R. A. Edwards P'95, '98, Chair Nancy Palmer P'12, Vice-Chair Charles Driscoll, Jr. P'16, Treasurer Donald F. Obrecht P'16, Secretary Margaret Babbitt-Pierce '04 Richard C. Darrell P'06 Heidi A. duPont '95 Carol Hubbell Engebretson '72

AT HOME NIGHT

Lulu Laubenstein Good '72, Alumnae Association President Sheila Wiley Harrell '90 Debbie L. Hill '71 Charelle D. James '88 Peter M. Kangas P'21 Elizabeth Turner Love '90 P'20 Scott S. Menzies P'03 Annievive Crain Palm '76 David G. Perfield, Head of School Susan Silcox Repko '72 Gay Richardson Smith '68 Hilary Gardner Swain '72 Ramsay M. Whitworth P'19

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE STAFF Alicia Bowers P'17, Editor Brian Vinyard, Creative Designer Photography: Brian Vinyard, Alicia Bowers P'17 Contributors: Alicia Bowers P'17, Joan Carter '81 P'15, Anne Ragland Finney P'97, Reiva Kibbee, Ansley Smithwick

LOBBYING IN ANNAPOLIS


LEGACIES!

NEW FACES

IN TH IS ISSUE A Letter from David G. Perfield

2

A Heart for Service

3

Legacy Photo

9

School Updates

10

Barkley Smith Booker '93 P'21, '22 15 Alumnae Weekend

16

Largeness of Heart: A Student's Perspective

18

Ambassadors 20

OLD FRIENDS

The Largo Core Society

24

Oldfields Fund Update

25

Class Notes

26

Turning Points

34

Ralph O'Connor P'75

35

Class Agents

37


HELLO FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL DAVID G. PERFIELD In the Summer Magazine, I briefly mentioned “unselfishness” as being one of the initial guiding principles at Oldfields when it was founded nearly 152 years ago. When I think of someone being unselfish, I think of someone who is helpful to others, someone who is thoughtful and aware, and someone who finds a way to brighten a day. How fitting that the Winter Magazine highlights several of our community members who deserve recognition for their unselfishness—their service to others—and their Largeness of Heart ! My first visit to Oldfields was in September 2017. Almost immediately, I felt warmth and acceptance when I was greeted by students and adults in Old House. It’s hard to describe, but I felt “it,” and I’m sure if you’re reading this magazine, you are familiar with that feeling, too. Although I was only visiting for a short period of time, I felt welcome and accepted. There was a kindness that came from the conversations and interactions I was having with students, faculty, and staff. It was fulfilling and, admittedly so, somewhat contagious. I couldn’t wait to tell Lisa about the first impression I had of Oldfields. There was something that was drawing me closer…something I believe everyone who visits Oldfields for the first time finds wonder in—and something to which I knew my family would be drawn. Since the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year, my first at Oldfields, I am routinely reminded of the familiar “it” that is genuinely demonstrated throughout our campus on a daily basis. We live and work in an environment where kindness and service fuel the wonder that drives our healthy educational experience—one that families are constantly searching to find for their daughters. Yes, service is a graduation requirement at Oldfields. On one level, it’s a “have to,” but after living here for the past seven months, and witnessing all of the good that happens in a classroom, the hallway, at the dinner table, or at Morning Meeting, I would argue that service, better yet kindness towards others, is a “want to” at Oldfields. Did you know “kindness” is an integral part of our mission? Did you know “social responsibility” is part of our philosophy? When you combine them together, you end up with service. If you take the time to help others in need and strive to make a positive impact in this world, you are serving the greater good. At Oldfields, we aim to do this every day! I hope you take a few minutes to enjoy the stories and updates that follow. And, if you have a few extra minutes, share your Oldfields story with a neighbor, a colleague, or a friend. Maybe they have someone in their life who needs a place to live, learn, and grow. We have a place for them right here…

This world needs more girls from Oldfields! Warmly,

David G. Perfield P'30, '32 Head of School 2

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


By Ansley Smithwick, Associate Head of School We often get asked the questions, “What are the defining characteristics of an Oldfields graduate?” “What sets her apart?” “What is the value of an Oldfields education?” Obviously, there is no one right answer, but as a longtime member of this School community, I have noticed a common attribute shared by many of our graduates. It is expressed in the third credo of the Oldfields motto, Largo Core or Largeness of Heart, also defined as Unselfishness. I believe that this call to service is not mere coincidence. Our students may or may not possess an awareness of “giving back” when they arrive at Oldfields, but by the time they walk down Graduation Hill, most appreciate the constant care and concern bestowed upon them by their teachers, their advisors, their coaches, and their dorm parents, and as a result, our students begin to learn the value and importance of giving unselfishly to others. In addition, the opportunities for weekly community service are abundant at Oldfields, as can be seen in the centerfold of this magazine. Although twenty hours per year is now a graduation requirement, the idea of lending a helping hand has always been part of the Oldfields experience, and many students go well beyond their required hours. Our signature May Programs are often dedicated to service in a wide variety of places near and far­—Appalachia, local as well as inner-city schools, retirement communities, animal shelters, and Native American reservations. Students have also volunteered in places as far away as Belize, Peru, and the Bahamas. It comes as no surprise that after graduating from Oldfields, a substantial number of our alumnae have chosen to pursue lives dedicated to serving others. The altruistic spirit our graduates witnessed during their years at Oldfields is often reflected in their career choices and the importance of volunteerism throughout their lives. Oldfields women start nonprofits, become activists, serve through teaching, advocate for the less fortunate, and heal as doctors and counselors. They are changing the world, and the following are just a few of their stories.

WINTER 2019

3


Lucy Kemper Pieh ’59 From a very young age, Lucy was drawn to those who were facing challenges. Possibly her compassion arose from having a sister with cerebral palsy, or the fact that Lucy herself had dyslexia (undiagnosed in those days). She remembers Oldfields field trips that left lasting impressions—visits to local hospitals with Mrs. Hewitt and an assembly in which a blind speaker shared his experience. Her summers spent at a camp for disabled children solidified her desire to help others. Whatever the events that influenced Lucy, they ran deep, as she has spent her entire life nurturing, caring for, and loving those in need. Lucy struggled academically at Oldfields and at college due to her undiagnosed dyslexia, but that did not stop her from finding a way to help children in need. As the spouse of Milton School’s headmaster, she became a refuge for the students who struggled in any way. She had a way of reading people and an empathy which made her ideal for

this special role as a surrogate mother to so many. In addition to raising two biological children, she also adopted two special needs children. Eventually, she decided in her 40s to take advantage of her natural ability in caretaking and enrolled at Lesley College where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in human services and her master’s in counseling and psychology. Lucy found her true heart’s calling in hospice care. For over 30 years she has been volunteering full-time at a hospice care nonprofit. Her area of expertise is in helping children go through the grieving process. Lucy shares, “In times of transitions, such as when people are grieving, you see their true soul—all pretense is stripped away.” Who knows how many lives Lucy has impacted in positive ways through her personal and professional life? Oldfields is proud to call her an alumna. We are so glad that Lucy never gave up, and continued to follow her heart. The world is a much better place because of it.

Sue Lloyd Scannell ’61 When you meet Sue, you are blown away by the energy with which she approaches every situation. From moving six times in six years in her early marriage, to going back to get her master’s in education while a mother to three small children, followed a few years later by a degree in bio-medical engineering, all while teaching religion classes and acting in children’s theatre! And she has not slowed down yet. At a time when most people are kicking back and relaxing, Sue is busier than ever. Sue shares some of her activities:

get up in the driver’s seat, I found a new outlet for my time during retirement. I joined an organization called “Staying Put” in New Canaan, CT, which helps people stay in their own homes by helping with anything from changing a light bulb to shoveling snow. The biggest need is for drivers to medical appointments, hair appointments, grocery stores, and our local community center. I mostly help with driving and fixing computers, television remotes, printers, and all things technical! I learn a lot from helping others. I love getting to know the interesting people I drive. They are so proud of what they have done and pleased to be asked to share it.

Sue (upper left) still stays in close touch with the I think Oldfields' motto “Courage, Always an avid knitter myself, I inspired Oldfields community. Humility, and Largeness of Heart” may one of my passengers to go back have shaped many of my activities past and present, such to knitting—something that she hadn’t done for a long as volunteering as an EMT and riding on local ambulance time. This Christmas she made hats and mittens for her calls for 28 years! When it became more difficult for me to grandchildren. It brought back my memories of learning to

4

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


make complicated sweaters at Oldfields. I also remember helping fellow students make argyle socks for boyfriends. In those days, lights went out at 10 PM, so I taught myself to knit in the dark! A few years ago, a friend suggested I might also like to help people do their taxes. Sometimes I think I am spreading myself thin, but it is only for three months a year. I volunteer for AARP VITA, a country-wide organization. I really love doing it, although the new tax laws are proving to be a bit of a challenge. My church is also very important to me. I am a Eucharistic Minister which means I help give communion at Mass and at a local hospital. I do remember being driven by

Mrs. Marsman to church while at Oldfields. There were about five or six of us who attended the big church up on a hill looking over the town of Towson. I fondly remember getting hot fudge sundaes at a drugstore after Mass. I also remember Mrs. Marsman getting a speeding ticket and blaming us when the policeman pulled her over! The first impression people give often changes as you get to know them. I enjoy finding about what they enjoy doing and the interesting lives they live. Over a lifetime of service, her activities may have changed, but at the center of it all is a dedication to helping others. Sue is a wonderful example of a lifetime of Largeness of Heart!

Sandra Washburn ’71 It began with an African safari to Tanzania with her then 15 year-old daughter. On the flight home, Sandra realized that she had done herself and her daughter a disservice­— they had not gotten to know one true African. She made a promise to herself to return someday as more than a tourist. Years later a friend mentioned she was going to Uganda to help teach the blind. Sandra felt it was the universe telling her to go back, so she went along to help out an orphanage in Gulu for a few days. Nine years and 24 trips later, she is glad she did—and so are the hundreds (possibly thousands) of Ugandans whose lives she has changed.

computer access among the sighted, in 2013 the program expanded to be inclusive of sighted students. Programs include instruction in coding, robotics, art exploration, music, and a wide variety of STEAM topics in a way that allows the students to incorporate this knowledge into their daily lives. In 2018, a program to teach coding to the blind was launched.

Sandra’s organization opens access to technology for blind students via screen-reading software. Seeing a deficit in

earning an MBA at New York University. At age 50, she earned her Graduate Certification in Dispute Resolution

The proficiency of the students attending the program for the blind puts them at the highest level of the school. They achieve a pinnacle according to their own abilities because of this unique training and access to technology. Worthy of note is the fact that Oysters & Pearls also helps Sandra is the Executive Director another under-served population of Oysters & Pearls, which began in Africa—girls and women. At the as an educational program for the current time, more than 55% of their blind with an emphasis on using students are female! Through the technology to access academic education of visually impaired and material. It is estimated that there female students, Oysters & Pearls Sandra in Uganda with her nonprofit, Oysters & Pearls are over 350,000 blind people is breaking down limiting cultural in Uganda, and the majority of beliefs about the value of these two groups of people. them are under the age of 16. From the moment they are born visually impaired, no resources are spent on them. Sandra says that giving back is just in her genes. Her great Society sees the disabled as a burden, with no hope of grandparents were philanthropists, and being a child of contributing in any way. Sandra’s organization has proven the 60s, she always felt that it was her duty to affect social that theory to be unequivocally false. Oysters & Pearls’ change. After Oldfields, she went to college at Franklin programs are starting to institutionalize access to computers College in Switzerland and finished her undergraduate at the primary, secondary, and university levels to open up at Harvard Extension. She then worked in New York and opportunities for education and employment. Washington for Public Research Interest Groups, before

WINTER 2019

5


and worked on employment discrimination cases for the Okahoma EEOC. She loved this job, but her desire to work in Africa never left her. She remembers all the fun she had at Oldfields and says she treasures the long-lasting friendships she made there. Her god-daughter, Natalie Taylor ’00, attended Oldfields as well.

Her advice to our girls is to embrace every experience they have—there are life skills to be learned from them all. She also encourages them to remember that not everything has to be planned out; just be open to new opportunities that come your way. There is not just one path to success.

“ Embrace every experience you have—there are life skills to be learned from them all.” Jacquette McGhee ’98 Jacquette is a frequent visitor to Oldfields, coming back often to share with our current students her experiences working for the Department of Homeland Security as a refugee officer. Jacquette explained that Oldfields was her first exposure to an international world that took her beyond her suburban home. When she first met people from other countries, she wondered about the reasons someone would want to leave their country of origin. She began learning about the refugee crisis that was going on in the 1990s, and her interest led her to major in international relations at Pepperdine University. She credits boarding school for teaching her how to be independent, a quality she needed upon signing up for the Peace Corps following college. Jacquette shares in her own words why she chose this path and the role Oldfields played in it. I have been motivated to “give back” to society ever since attending the World War II May Program with

Mrs. Littlefield. While on the trip, I determined that it was my duty in life to do what I could to protect people fleeing their homes due to events that they could not control. Touring sites in Europe like Normandy, Auschwitz, and Paris, I was able to get a deeper understanding of the importance of sharing the stories of people like Anne Frank. We need to insure that persecution like she experienced could never happen again. I knew then that I wanted a career of public service, protecting the world’s most vulnerable. For 15 years, I have worked as a refugee officer for the United States Government. I have helped to resettle thousands of refugees from around the world in the United States and other countries by providing them protection through various means. The ability to change someone’s life because they fear persecution due to their race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or membership in a social group is the reason I get up every day. The fact that I can help change someone’s life by just doing my job is a success story. Oldfields gave me a framework on which to develop Largeness of Heart and set me on the path of community service for the greater good.

“ I have been motivated to ‘give back’ to society ever since attending the World War II May Program with Mrs. Littlefield.” 6

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


Sarah Walker ’02 It won’t surprise anyone who knows Sarah Walker to learn what she is doing as the Director of Friends of the Bridger-Teton (www. btfriends.org). The BridgerTeton National Forest contains 3.4 million acres of wildlands, wildlife, and watersheds in western Wyoming, comprising the southern half of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The residents go there to gather firewood, walk their dogs, fill their freezers, find solitude or adventure, and introduce the next generation to our great outdoors.

working with the Wyoming Wilderness Association, where she served as the Shoshone Wildlands Organizer and later as the Interim Director.

With rapidly increasing and diversified recreational use, debilitating federal budget cuts, and a public land transfer movement still underfoot, there has never been a more critical time to support our national parks, and Sarah has spent over a decade exploring, researching, and advocating for Wyoming’s public lands.

What Sarah remembers most of all about Oldfields is “the strong female teachers and leaders— Betsy Isaacs, Dennie Doran, Ansley Smithwick, and my mother. They were strong and compassionate women who set a high bar and a lifelong example of how to give back to the community. I was very lucky to have grown up with that caliber of role models. Hanging out with those teachers at my sister Sam’s wedding a couple of years ago really brought it back. Oldfields instilled a huge amount of confidence I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Those women made a really strong impression on me.”

After graduating from Oldfields in 2002, Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a master’s degree in natural resources and science education from the University of Wyoming. During her time in western Wyoming, Sarah studied songbird populations with the Conservation Research Center, sage grouse with Craighead Beringia South, native fisheries and big game disease with Wyoming Game and Fish. She also taught field education at Teton Science School. Sarah found her passion for community organizing and protecting public lands while

When asked how she got into a career of giving back, she laughed, “I probably wouldn’t be very good at corporate America!” Sarah says Oldfields instilled in her the ethos of giving back. Her mother, long-time faculty member Deetzie Dance Walker ’71, was the volunteer coordinator at Oldfields when Sarah was here, and Sarah started volunteering at Kid’s Place in the eighth grade. Most of her May Programs also had a volunteer aspect and were “hugely influential” in connecting her to the conservation world and the out of doors.

Sarah says she would encourage others to follow a career path in community service, “or at least test it out.” She thinks of Oldfields as being in the public service industry and advises current students to lean on the resources at Oldfields, learn about philanthropy, and give back.

"What Sarah remembers most of all about Oldfields is the strong female teachers and leaders...compassionate women who set a high bar and a lifelong example of how to give back to the community." WINTER 2019

7


Jenaba Sow ’17 Many of our recent alumnae have selected STEAM majors, such as environmental science, pre-med, nursing, and engineering, with plans to use their skills to help solve the world’s most pressing problems. One such student is Jenaba Sow ’17 who is now in her second year at Howard University majoring in software engineering. She plans to use her expertise to help marginalized communities, providing them with the tools of technology and computer skills which are needed to elevate them out of poverty. And she’s already started! Jenaba participates in Howard University’s Alternative Spring Break program (HUASB) which is committed to serving communities in need and involving students in meaningful service. HUASB connects students to the significance of their education and prepares them to be servant leaders for the nation and the world.

Instead of going to a Florida beach and having a traditional spring break, last year Jenaba worked in a coastal town in Florida that Jenaba (far right) with her friends at Howard was hard hit by last year’s hurricanes. She worked in a program for children who were kicked out of traditional school, teaching them computer skills and providing general tutoring, but most importantly, showing them by example what can be achieved. This year she is back at it—this time going to Puerto Rico to provide hurricane clean-up and food distribution which is still desperately needed in some communities who are not back on their feet following Hurricane Maria. Jenaba said that Oldfields’ community service requirement definitely planted some seeds. She remembers trips with Ms. Gilmore to support an organization called Marathon Kids which helped students work at their own pace to run or walk four marathons so kids could reap the benefits of training, rewards, tools, and resources to keep them moving.

Tess Selby ’17 Tess is one of those students who displayed compassion and caring from an early age. Her mom shared that for Tess's 10th birthday, she told her friends not to buy her gifts. Instead, they put money together and bought a goat for an African village through World Relief International. In high school, Tess was already going on mission trips abroad including Cuirim House in Nogales, Mexico. Extreme poverty and difficult conditions did not deter her— she loved working with the children. Tess also served at the Tess in Nogales, Mexico

8

Josephine Orphanage high in the mountains of Cusco, Peru. It’s not surprising that Tess was the recipient of the Community Service Senior Award at Oldfields, far surpassing the hours required! She credits her May Program at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she shadowed the Head of Pediatrics, for solidifying her career choice—providing health care in third world countries. Tess is currently a sophomore at Fairfield University in their Registered Nurse/ Nursing Bachelor of Science Program and just completed her white coat ceremony.

Thank you to all these wonderful Oldfields women for sharing their stories and for what you do each and every day. We are humbled and inspired by your Largeness of Heart! We know there are many more alumnae out there giving back in a myriad of ways. Please contact Alumnae@OldfieldsSchool.org, and let us know your stories!


FRONT ROW L TO R

B A C K R O W S E AT E D L T O R

Yi-Jia "Sandy" Chen '21 (sister Si-Jia "Nicky Chen '21)

Daejarie Jones '20 (sister Daylahni Jones '21, sister Dominique Young Mejia '04)

Ella Ratcliff '22 (sister Tayah Ratcliff '21, mother Barkley Smith Booker '93)

Daylahni Jones '21 (sister Daejarie Jones '20, sister Dominique Young Mejia '04)

Tayah Ratcliff '21 (sister Ella Ratcliff '22, mother Barkley Smith Booker '93)

Francisca Cuppen '19 (sister Annemiek Cuppen '17)

Vivian Love '20 (mother Elizabeth Turner Love '90)

Olivia Mahaffey '19 (cousin Constance "Stancy" Smith '21) Constance "Stancey" Smith '21 (cousin Olivia Mahaffey '19)

Briana Ginyard '22 (aunt Alicea Elloras '91) Nadya Firor '22 (great-grandmother Grace Binford Dinning 1922: cousin, Kathleen Dinning '80; cousin, Holly Dinning Smith '84) Katherine "Kit" Fisher '22 (mother Kate Freedlander Fisher '91)

Oldfields is a family tradition!

Si-Jia "Nicky" Chen '21 (sister Yi-Jia "Sandy" Chen '21)

WINTER 2019

9


A CA D E M I C U P D AT E S

Diversity Day Oldfields is committed to providing a safe space for our students to discuss the issues that matter the most to them. Diversity Day on February 6 gave them that opportunity. It began with a Privilege Walk during which statements were read by a facilitator, while the participants, who were standing shoulder to shoulder, were asked to take a step forward or backward based on their personal experiences. This activity visually demonstrates how people benefit or are marginalized by systems in our society.

SAT/ACT Preparation Program Spring means it is standardized testing time for juniors! In tandem with department chairs and a few faculty members, Academic Dean Christine Gilmore, history teacher Jeremy Jernigan, and Director of College Counseling Marissa Margosian have researched the optimal level of alignment between Oldfields’ curriculum and student preparation for important standardized testing.

Following the Privilege Walk, students broke out into eight small groups to discuss the following areas: • Every BODY is Beautiful­ ­­—Breaking Body Image Stereotypes • So You Think You Know Politics • Stereotyping • 33% of the 12% - Mass Incarceration and Police Brutality • Are you Beautiful in East Asia? • GSA: Rainbow Allies • Multiculturalism • What Gives you Hope? – Faith and Spirituality Students and faculty had the opportunity to choose the two groups in which they wanted to participate, and the resulting discussions were reflective, insightful, and respectful. A special thank you goes to faculty members Erin and Bez Wallace and the Diversity Committee for organizing this thought-provoking afternoon of sharing and learning. 10

The team has also rolled out a small pilot program incorporating a flexible, customized, and affordable standardized testing prep program to evaluate possible offerings for students in the 2019-2020 academic year.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


College Fair on Campus Director of College Counseling Marissa Margosian organized the first college and career panel on campus. All of our students chose to participate in one of five group discussions led by ten college representatives on the following topics:

nn nn nn nn nn

Visual and Performing Arts Health Sciences and STEAM Social Sciences/Humanities Athletics and Academics Undecided and That is Okay

Black Awareness Club

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day What a tremendous opportunity to have these valuable resources available to our students as they contemplate college and beyond!

Provoking, poignant, powerful, and polished—four adjectives that describe the presentation delivered by the Black Awareness Club (BAC) to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Math Competition at Oldfields! Calculus teacher Dian “Jude” Zhu, led the charge at the students’ request to have Oldfields host the first American Mathematics Competition on February 13. This national competition is designed to promote the development and enhancement of problemsolving skills. It is the first in a series of competitions that eventually lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad. We are extremely proud of the seven Oldfields students who initiated participation in this highly competitive arena.

WINTER 2019

With a deliberate mix of education and hard facts, artistry and performance, fear and hope, the BAC students used monologues, songs, original poems, and video clips to show the progression of the civil rights movement from the 1960s through the present. They began with a comparison between Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and concluded with the Black Lives Matter movement. Kudos to the BAC students and their faculty leaders, Carrie Hammond and Maribeth Littlefield.

11


ATHLET I C U P D AT E S Oldfields' Dynamic Duo 1,000 POINTS

Oldfields’ basketball team once again had a spectacular year with a final record of 10-3 in the regular season. However, this year was one for the record books thanks to our very own “dynamic duo,” D’ Naisha Bellamy-Greene ’19 and Morgan Gause ’19—so dubbed by the Baltimore Sun which did a story on the two athletes. Teammates and best friends since eighth grade, it seems appropriate that both athletes hit the remarkable milestone of scoring 1,000 career points in their high school careers within days of one another!

1,000 POINTS

Oldfields coach Bez Wallace has seen the teammates’ chemistry grow each year. Morgan is the team’s primary ball handler, averaging 22.5 points per game this season to go with 3.8 assists and 5.1 steals. D’Naisha consistently contributes 17 points, 3.5 assists, and 3.1 steals. Coach Wallace shares, “I am very proud of Morgan and D’Naisha for all that they contribute to Oldfields’ basketball. I am fortunate that I was able to help guide and support them in achieving an incredible milestone that will forever be embedded in the history of Oldfields athletics." Congratulations to the entire Oldfields Varsity Team on a job well done!

JV Basketball

Track—This small but mighty crew qualified for championships in the 4x200m, 4x400m, and 800m. Throughout the season, these runners continually improved their personal bests and pushed the limits of possibility.

Fitness—It takes a true athlete to continue to work hard when there is no game, no championship, no win—only a goal to grow stronger!

Varsity Basketball

Yoga—Oldfields’ yogis took their training to new heights, literally. On one of their field trips, the class was challenged to try traditional yoga postures in the air by using fabric to stretch, swing, and hang upside down.


A RTS U P D AT E S .

Winter Dance Recital As always, the Winter Dance Concert wowed the audience by mixing things up. From classic ballet to Kpop (a crowd favorite), Performing Arts Director Carrie Hammond and her dancers always leave the audience wishing the show could go on forever!

Triple Threat Artist Congratulations to Sylvie '19 for winning the Gold Key Regional Award for her digital art submission, "To Know You," in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards! This year there were 330,000 entries nationwide. Sylvie '19 entered three categories: poetry, drawing, and digital art in the Northeast Regional competition, winning Honorable Mention for both her poetry submission and her drawing submission! Good luck, Sylvie, at the national competition in New York in March!

Happy 30th Anniversary, Steel Magnolias Oldfields' Theatre Department took us right back to the 80s with the timeless story of Steel Magnolias. This particular play has a reputation for being a challenging one due to the large quantity of fast-paced banter among these six life-long friends, but Oldfields thespians did a marvelous job! A special shout out goes to Libby Shannon '19 who stepped in to take the lead role with only weeks to go until show time.

Congratulations also go to our Theatre Director Erin Wallace who really has a knack for casting and bringing out the very best in our actors. One last mention—the set was spectacular! This classic had the audience laughing and crying just like the movie did so long ago.


R IDI NG U P D ATE Riding Clinics

At Oldfields, we believe in providing a well-rounded education in the pursuit of developing the whole horsewoman. That is why we hosted three legendary equestrians this winter:

Eleni '21 qualifies for IEA Regionals

Kathy Kusner holds clinic in Oldfields Indoor Arena

• F ormer Olympian Kathy Kusner is a legend not only as a member of the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping team, but also as the first female jockey to ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup! • J oe Fargis is a United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Hall of Fame member and former Olympic show jumper, the only Olympic Equestrian to win two gold medals at the same Olympic games. • L inda Allen, renowned Olympic course designer and clinician, visited us in January. She loved her time here and looks forward

to returning. Linda shared, “There are so many opportunities for students to find or hone their particular passion…each one worked hard. It was rewarding for me to see a remarkable increase in confidence and ability from one day to the next. They got a taste of how much fun it is to accept challenges, master concepts, and make the journey of learning its own source of satisfaction. I’ve always believed developing horsemanship skills produces life skills along the way. A great two days and CONGRATULATIONS to each and every rider for a job well done! I’ll be looking forward to my return!” Thank you to everyone who participated and supported these wonderful clinics!

A DMISSI O N U P DAT E Meet the Admission Team

Our October Open House welcomed 20 families to our campus with over 72 campus visits throughout this admission season. Everyone knows once you visit Oldfields, you will feel the magic!

Tom Faxon, Senior Associate Director of Admission Karen Suckling, Admission Database Analyst Reiva Kibbee, Director of Enrollment Management Kimberly A. Brock, Receptionist & Admission Assistant Austen C. Hannis, Associate Director of Admission

This group is full of new energy and leadership this year, focusing on the stewardship of existing relationships with the School and cultivating new ones! They have been busy telling Oldfields’ story across the globe, around the country, and of course, in our own backyard—and the results have been phenomenal!

14

Head of School David Perfield and Director of Enrollment Management Reiva Kibbee traveled to to Mexico City, Mexico, in January to connect with educational consultants and other friends of Oldfields. They are looking forward to a trip to Asia!

The Moreno family and Head of School David Perfield and Director of Enrollment Management Reiva Kibbee in Mexico City

You, too, can work for Admissions. Just share your Oldfields story with the people you run into every day—you never know who might be looking for a wonderful little school that does big things for young women! Please direct anyone looking for new educational opportunities to contact Reiva Kibbee, Director of Enrollment Management at KibbeeR@OldfieldsSchool.org.

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


BARKLEY SMITH BOOKER '93, P'21, '22

Barkley Smith Booker '93 P'21, '22, Ella '22, and Caroline Bowers Evans '93

New Beginnings

Anne Blalock P'93, Past Staff, Ella '22, Barkley Smith Booker '93 P'21, '22, Tayah '21, and Dandy Blalock P'93

A True Oldfields Story As Barkley stood at the front of the theatre on February 1, poised to deliver a presentation to the OS community with her two daughters, Tayah and Ella in the audience as students, it was a surreal moment. Her life truly had come full circle. A tumultuous home life and poor academic performance due to undiagnosed dyslexia brought Barkley to Oldfields’ campus in the middle of her sophomore year. It was a new beginning for her, and she described it as being “set free.” The caring community, engaged teachers, and the small class sizes quickly began to have an effect, and her confidence began to grow. She made longlasting friendships (her best friend from Oldfields, Lacy Blalock Stahl ’93, was actually in the audience listening) and found a surrogate family. When money got tight after her parents’ divorce, the Blalocks invited her to live with them so she could continue at Oldfields. She loved babysitting the campus kids. Anna Littlefield ’07 was one of them! She loved the Oldfields traditions, especially Garden Party and Graduation. Current students got a huge kick out of the photos she shared from waaay back in the 90s! She credits OS with teaching her a strong work ethic and giving her the confidence to keep trying despite difficult challenges. She felt loved and was happy.

met her husband, and had her two daughters. However, that marriage ended in divorce. After some tough, but rewarding years building her career and raising her beautiful daughters, she met a wonderful man who reiterated the lesson she first learned at Oldfields, that she was of value and deserved to be loved. Tragically, two weeks into their marriage her husband had a stroke and died. It wasn’t easy, but she applied the skills she learned along the way and moved forward, forced yet again to embrace a new way of life. Life continued with birthdays and vacations, and her daughters were growing up healthy and happy. Then a cancer diagnosis sent her world spinning again. After two years of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, Barkley was cancer free, and she celebrated a hard-won new beginning. Now, as she stood on Oldfields’ stage sharing her story, she explained her choice to make yet another new beginning—moving from Louisiana to Sparks-Glencoe, Maryland, so her daughters could have the wonderful experience of going to Oldfields. There were so many lessons for our students in Barkley’s story, and they were listening closely. One lesson that came through loud and clear was that in good times and in bad, your Oldfields family will always be there for you. Thank you, Barkley, for sharing your story and your daughters with us!

Another new beginning—Barkley put herself through Louisiana State University by holding down three jobs. She graduated, WINTER 2019

15


ALUMNAE WEEKEND APRIL 26-28, 2019

F O L L O W Your H E A R T

BACK TO OLDFIELDS Good news! Registration and on-campus events are free! RECONNECT

with the classmates, faculty, and home you love! 4s and 9s, it’s your year to shine! Come celebrate your milestone reunions! And bring along your friends from all the other classes, too!

REGISTER OldfieldsSchool.org/AW QUESTIONS?

Email Director of Alumnae Affairs Joan Carter ’81 P’15 at CarterJ@OldfieldsSchool.org or call 443-662-1018


Oldfields Alumnae Weekend Good News! Registration and on-campus events are free! APRIL 26-28, 2019 FRIDAY, APRIL 26 8:00 AM-4:00 PM

Registration

“The Jungle” in Old House

8:00 AM-2:45 PM

Visit Classes

Rodney Hall

Class of 2019 Alumnae Induction

David Niven Theatre

Luncheon

McCulloch Commons

3:00 PM

Sports Practices

Athletic Fields

3:00 PM

Alumnae Ride (registration required)

Stable

Oldfields Happy Hour

“The Jungle” in Old House

School Musical

David Niven Theatre

10:05 AM-11:05 AM 12:00 PM-1:15 PM

5:30 PM-8:00 PM 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 9:00 AM-10:00 AM

Fun Run/Walk on the NCR trail

NCR Trail at Glencoe Road

9:30 AM-10:45 AM

Golden Alumnae Breakfast for 50th-80th Reunion Classes

Garden Room, McCulloch Commons

10:00 AM-2:00 PM

Herky’s School Store Open

McCulloch Commons

Candlelight Memorial Service

Immanuel Church

Picnic Lunch

Commons Lawn

1:00 PM

Reunion Class Photos

Commons Lawn

1:00 PM

Maryland Hunt Cup (Gates open at noon. Your tickets must be purchased in advance.)

Greenspring Valley

1:30 PM

50th Reunion Tour of Campus via golf cart with Head of School David Perfield

Old House Parlor

1:30 PM

Walking Tours of Campus with Student Ambassadors

Old House Parlor

2:00 PM

Spring Musical

David Niven Theatre

Class of 2009 Opening of 10-year Prediction Letters

Head’s House

The Oldfields Cocktail Party!

Miss Nan’s Library

CLASS DINNERS

Off Campus

11:00 AM-12:00 PM 12:00 PM-2:00 PM

5:00 PM-6:00 PM 6:00 PM-8:00 PM*

*Shuttle service available on Saturday evening to and from Delta Hotels Baltimore Hunt Valley and Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore Hunt Valley. Babysitting available on Saturday evening. Please contact the Alumnae Office at 443.662.1018 to reserve. SUNDAY, APRIL 28 8:00 AM-10:15 AM 10:30 AM-12:30 PM 2:00 PM

Church Services

Immanuel Church

Brunch

McCulloch Commons

Spring Musical

David Niven Theatre


Brianna Ginyard ‘22

Olivia Mahaffey ‘19

First-Year Ninth Grader

Five-Year Senior

Legacy Student

Dubious and Images Leader

OS Dance Company

STEAM Committee

JV Basketball Captain

National Honor Society

Admission Ambassador

Diversity Committee

Theatre

Field Hockey

Semi-formal Club

Model UN

Largeness of Heart A Student’s Perspective By Reiva Kibbee, Director of Enrollment Management In some ways my eight months working in the Admission Office has flown by, yet in other ways, it feels like I have been a part of this community forever! I’ve been listening, learning, and soaking up as much of that “Courage, Humility and Largeness of Heart” as possible. Living on campus, being with the girls 24/7, it doesn’t take long to realize what makes this place so special. I actually did feel it the very first time I visited campus, and that warm feeling

continued to grow as I learned that Each Girl’s Success and Largeness of Heart were not just taglines—I witness these phrases in action each and every day. It’s what motivates me to connect with as many potential students as possible. As I continue to write my Oldfields story, I’m forming my own definition of Largeness of Heart. I sat down with fiveyear senior, Olivia Mahaffey ’17, as well as a new legacy student in our 9th grade class, Brianna Ginyard ’22, to hear how their experiences have helped them understand Largeness of Heart. Here’s what they had to say:

Q. What’s the best thing about Oldfields?

OLIVIA: I think I came to realize it over the years (it wouldn’t have been my first answer when I started at Oldfields five years ago), but now I would say Oldfields is my family. The line is very blurred between my life inside Oldfields and outside of Oldfields. Oldfields is a way of life—even though I’m a day student, it’s still my family. My “go to people” are all here, and you always have someone in your corner. And I can serve in the same role for other people. The types of relationships you form are different at a boarding school. The bonds, the strongest bonds, I have are all here.

BRIANNA: Our community. It’s so small, but in large, we really do work together. You don’t have to hesitate to ask for help, because there’s always someone there willing to help out. That’s the best part.

Q. What does Largeness of Heart mean to you? BRIANNA: Largeness of Heart is putting others before yourself. So it’s like, you’re not having a great day, but you know you can get through it. When someone else is struggling more than you, you can decide to help them out before you deal with your own problems. It might turn out that they helped you too. So, Largeness of Heart is being open-minded about who you speak to and what you talk about. Autumn Scott ’21, Brianna Ginyard ’22, and Head of School David Perfield 18

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


OLIVIA: Constantly looking out for someone else and knowing the same is being done for you. Even if you’re not talking to anyone or reaching out for help, you know there are people that are keeping an eye on you—and it’s not forced. Largeness of Heart is learning how to care about people in a way that’s second nature. It’s normal here to have that type of compassion for your friends and even people you’re not close with—it’s having an awareness of people around you. If you notice someone is upset, regardless of how close you are to them, at Oldfields nine times out often somebody will stop and ask what’s wrong, not because of their own personal relationship, but just because they know it’s the right thing to do. Q. Give me an example of how you’ve experienced Largeness of Heart personally? BRIANNA: Today, I am sick. I walked into advisory, and my advisor asked if I was okay. I said, “No.” My advisor said, “I can tell.” Living closely with people every day, you tend to notice their facial expressions and learn their emotions a little bit better. When you notice something different, you question, “Is she okay? What’s wrong with her?” Then you wonder how you can address it (because you genuinely care about that person). OLIVIA: There are just certain parts of my day that don’t ever change regardless of what’s going on. Every day during extra-help, Ms. Davis, Olivia Morris, and I are all in Ms. Davis’s classroom, and we have a routine where we check in on how we’re feeling— even if we’re just sitting—we check in and eat snacks. It’s part of what we do every single day. The day feels incomplete without it. It’s a way of caring for other people, and it’s the simple things you take for granted that you’ll miss when you leave OS. Another example is when you leave Ms. Davis’s classroom she says, “Have a great day!” and she means it!

Olivia Mahaffey ’19 and teacher, Gaby Davis, during some down time.

I did care about the people in my life, but now it’s as though caring about the people is a part of me. My friends, teachers, and mentors are all people whom I care very deeply about, and it’s mutual. That’s something I took for granted for the first couple of years here, and now it’s something that makes me never want to leave! Q. Brianna, as a legacy student, did you see Largeness of Heart in your aunt? BRIANNA: I didn’t know anything about Oldfields, I just knew my aunt came here, didn’t like it, and left, but then realized that there was more here for her than back home, so she came back to Oldfields. I don’t want to repeat her path. I don’t have to leave to realize that what I have going on here is good. I know the small classes and closeness with my teachers keeps me focused. When my aunt suggested that I come here, I was all the way against it. She told me, “It really pushes you to do more. You have a better chance of going places.” So I agreed. The fact that she wanted me to go farther out of my comfort zone for my own good was her way of showing her Largeness of Heart. She wanted to see me grow.

Q. How do you think your individual understanding of Largeness of Heart will carry into the rest of your life? BRIANNA: Even before I came to Oldfields, Largeness of Heart was just a part of who I was. I’ve always been that person who says “Okay, but if you can do it a different way you can have a better outcome.” I found that people were coming to me to talk about different situations or to ask for advice, so that’s something that was built into me. So continuing at Oldfields, when people come to me, I’m always willing to give advice or give them a second view of something, someone else to depend on, someone who has their back. This is a skill that Oldfields will help me advance, especially because so many people are far from home and need help adjusting and getting to know things better. OLIVIA: With Largeness of Heart, it’s compassion and respect and all the good things. I regret that I didn’t learn it sooner, but I’ll have it for the rest of my life. Oldfields will be one of my home bases. I can’t imagine anywhere else, no other school, where I would have such strong admiration, respect, and close ties. When you have a large heart, you open yourself to care about more people and care more about people. Before I came to Oldfields, WINTER 2019

The two Olivias!

Thanks, girls, for sharing your hearts and thoughts with us! 19


AMBASSADORS N I C U r the R O F NG h a ts fo K N I T T I h your own hands like knnteittirnisg so rewarding. d ic a l C e e th in g w it D o in g so m Mercy Me t a U IC N e b a b ie s in th

T E A M Bloom E C I V Y S E R by English teacher Rebecca T I N U it te e le d te a m ! COMM rv ic e C o m m n . T h a n k s, happe n it y S e th e C o m m u to g iv e b a ck s ie it n u rt O f co u rs e , po y o f th e o p makes man

BIB

D R E A Murced S ’ E L I r- re so cy in u n d e LIOPH

ra o w e r o f li te s li k e th e M a r y la n d ta n d th e p rs ce e la d p n f u o ts a n ce O S st u d e n th e im p o rt d n a s d o o n e ig h b o rh k. Book Ban

20

d e n ts ELP H th e O S st u m o O fr T s g n so in g ! R A C I N Gmbined with smiles, cheeersex, traandboost needed to keep go e v e n t th e st a n d co ca l ch a ri ty A le m o n a d lo a t a rs e nn g a v e th e ru


OUR G N I NDS P E I R HEL F D E G G E e way when it comes to cascuriinngg L R U O th F h a s b e e n re a a c s le a d s

y e r B e ts y Is se lv e s. B e ts m e o f o u r m o st M a th te a ch ca n ’t sp e a k fo r th e m t so a ho ci d e n ce th al Rescue fo r th o se w x x y e a rs . It ’s n o co in o r e A n im im lt a B re a r e d o g s fo r o v u n it y se rv ic e p a rt n e rs lo ca l S P C A . m m d th e co r la u pop ARCS) an (B r e lt e h S and Care

NO

E D E D heart E N S D a ll th e WOR e h o u r fo r

a id b y th a ir e s! th re e g o t p se e th y Pace! if m e m il li o n y ld sa u o st w ju M is s L ib b y s e d t’ n th a Le , , rk e o b w o tr to th e ir arbara La th e y p u t in it h w ic k , B m S y le s ou, An We lo v e y

us, US N I P r o je c t L in L r fo T ts e k C n e ss . d e b la se ri o u s il ln PROJE tu d e n ts m a w o rr ie s! S d re n fa ci n g sk il ls ? N o k e ts to ch il g n n la ti b it n s k e id o v N p ro a ti o n th a t a n o rg a n iz

21


C T O R ows A F X T H E a smile, a kind word, kn are having a

s has when you la te ! W h o a lw a y n d n o ti ce s a , e m a n t to e m u a w n ll ’s a e e n w o e ry n eve meo h e f X is so bad day? C

IRTY! D S D HAN Farms, a

UR s t F r u it . to e s fo r F ir rr o u n d in g co m m u n it y ta o p G E T Y riO st e rv a su h e to th in in ght n g ry dug th e h u T h e se g ir ls e s fo o d fo r id v ro p t a n o n p ro fi t th

ALK W S S E ds e d th o u sa n ARKN

E D ess (NAMI) members join H T F O O U T onal Alliance on Mentaonl .Illn N a ti v e n ti O ld fi e ld s’ e ss a n d p re n re a w a e ic id to ra is e su


A L P L AY F U H E A R T cal

n g a t a lo V o lu n te e ri e n ts ts o u r st u d p re sc h o o l le w h il e g iv in g a in b e k id s a g y. r co m m u n it u o b a ck to

ESS N I P P A I N G HAssociate Riding Direcgtothre D A E R SP cr e a ti n e ss th a t e ! F ro m d k in d n , fr o m re m a g a z in f g iv in g a n T h e sp ir it o d e s co u ld fi ll th e e n ti p o st s o n so ci a l m e d ia e is exu sp ir a ti o n a l ca n d le li g h t v ig il — sh Ann Thal h e r d a il y in to , in g a ck ti S to o rg a n iz Happy , h it fa h is r Je w e a rt ! e n e ss o f H sh a ri n g h e rg a L r fo d ch il th e p o st e r

E A L S od that feeds the soul. e M Y P le fo n d th HAP rv in g p e o p e lt e rs a ro u o u t se h o m e le ss sh a il y B r e a d . m e th in g a b rs a t lo ca l la u g T h e re is so Our D re re d e n ts a lp e r s a n d u e st H s y ld p e p fi a O ld in g H a re a in cl u d B a lt im o re

G UNSUN S H E R O teEr nurses,

Cen O u r H e a lt h d B e c k y F o s te r , an a y, e v e ry A m y H a le ca ri n g a ll d e ll ! te ra st n o dem ts a s w so m e n ig h day—and

A R M y Kris W D N S A F E Aded to show Director ofe Sheacrdurwitork he

a ll th a ss d e ci e p h im a p p re ci a te y T h e Yo g a cl e th ch th in g to k e t ca n u e m m w so o h im s h W il li a m it h ri ce th a b y m a k in g e p u s sa fe ck s fi ll e d w so w e (n x d o e s to k e t so w a rm h u g . y made ho fe e l li k e a t a th ) e v w a rm . T h e a w in th e m ic ro b e h e a te d

G THE N I R A SH A G I C ck to M S D L a O L D F I E ice your free time and givoersb, Laura ad if a rt to sa cr o n A m b a ss It ta k e s h e u t th e se tw o A d m is si e n it d beyon wh b d l, n o a o e ch v S o r b you go a ome. a d le y ‘2 2 in g fa m il ie s fe e l w e lc H d n a 9 ’1 v is it a k in g o u r co m e s to m

It’s a fact—the Oldfields community will make your heart grow.

23


T H E LA RG O C O RE S O CIE T Y Largo Core, Largeness of Heart, is the name given to the society established to recognize those with the vision to include Oldfields School in their estate planning. As a member of the Largo Core Society, you will have an important impact on shaping the values and traditions of generations to come and will ensure a strong future for Oldfields. Your legacy will be an investment in the future of young women and our world. Anonymous

Jennifer Littleton '84

Ilana Feldberg Adelman '88

Elizabeth Turner Love '90 P'20

We also offer our appreciation to the following donors,

Mertze Anderson '75

Carlisle VanMeter Mayer '78 P'14

now deceased, who have provided a gift through their

Carol Atterbury '74

Susie and Scott Menzies P'03

estate in perpetual support of Oldfields School:

Edith Clark Bouscaren '71

Nena Adams Meurlin '97

Marian Culbertson Burke '63

Grace C. Mullen P'95

Anonymous (2)

Kim York McNamara '63 P'97

Jacqueline Thomas Carey '64

Dawn Danagher Peters '78

Martha Osborne Adams '48

Janet Coit Meegan '38

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carroll Carter P'81 GP'15

Susan Sillcox Repko '72

Marion H. Allen III P'92, '96

Gay Griscom Mehegan '56

Riley Chapin '83

Hawley and Wendy Rogers P'82 GP'12, '17

Carolyn Coit Bates '46 P'73

Terrence Nolan P'90

Pamela Prizer Chernick '66

Ron Romanowicz P'87, '89

Susan Brandau '30

Jane Morton Norton '26

Samantha Coker '90

Susan West Ross '64

Elizabeth Atkinson Bryan '39

Margaret Hamilton Riley 1911

Barbara Trotter Collins '77

Edith Salisbury P'90

Edward Cobb P'76

Armistead Rood

Ann Colville Murphy '87

Katharine duPont Sanger '62

Lara Burns Cunningham '65

Margaret Suter Rood '31

Pauline Combe-Clark '73

William and Cecil Scanlan P'93

Mary Elizabeth Eppes Cutchin '24

Maria Carter Satterfield '44

Janna Conti '81

Jane Isdale Schaefer '52 P'84

Tammis A. Day '69

Eloise Gilbert Savi '42

Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Darrell P'06

Sara Buck Schmader '82

Elizabeth Dickson '49

Jan Scott

Caroline Gouverneur Dillon '45

Beverly Bissello Sullivan '66

Carla Simmons P'92, '98

Reynolds duPont, Sr. P'62, '71 GP'95

Regina Johnson Tomlinson P'78, '80, '85

Michael and Barbara Simpson P'85

Cassandra Small Franklin 1899

Helen "Miss Herky" Travers

Taylor and Judy Smith

Stephen Fuller P'60, '62

Lily Dulles Van Pelt '26

Seashols N. Starks '71

Sandra Clarholm Gibson '58

Mary Mixsell Waldron '28

Cannon Simpson Stoffel '76

Susan Latimer Gibson '73

Ann Hickok Warner '54

Katherine Trautlein '81

Jane Goodale '44

Gretchen V. Welsh P'89

Margaret Ulle '78

Margaret Samson Harris '36

J. Michael Welsh P'89

Patricia Reese Vanderwarker '62

Elizabeth Lee Boothe Howell '20

Nancy Crompton Wendell '39

Vanessa Weber '73 P'16

Margaret Geary Johnson '60

Cynthia Bullock Woodger '49 P'82

Elizabeth Humrichouse Werth '37

Katherine Young Keck 1919

Natalie Riegel Weymouth '61

Elizabeth Eierman Kennedy '44

Elizabeth Wiley '88

Amanda Lake '82

Nancy Maslack Wolf

William and Margaret Littleton P'84

Mariah Sibley Wolffe '83

Duncan McCulloch III

Margaret McKee Elwood '75 Carol Hubbell Engebretson '72 Elaine Foster '51 Terrell Garrard '62 Helen Frederick Gray '51 Sheila Wiley Harrell '90 John and Faith Hawks Daphne Preece Hellmuth '55 Debbie Hill '71 Laura Hoskins '94 Kingsley FitzHugh Jack '64 Cory Jones Jackson '85 P'12, '13 Miriam Griffith Jones '52 P'87 GP'09 Susan Hadden Lawrence '65 Denise Alexandre LeComte '72 P'06 24

Robin Gimbel Senior '71

Katherine Wright '90

To learn more about The Largo Core Society, please contact Anne Ragland Finney P'97, Director of Development, at 443-662-1016 or at FinneyA@OldfieldsSchool.org

Lisa Wood Wright '84 OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


OLDFIELDS FUND UPDATE THANK YOU to all members of the Oldfields family who have donated to The Oldfields Fund from July 2018-January 2019! With your gifts, we are able to provide first-rate academic programs, engaging athletics and extra-curricular activities, and a sustained feeling of family. If you haven’t yet made your gift for the 2018-19 year, please make it today! The Greens are ahead of the Whites in the Green vs. White Oldfields Fund competition! Help your team secure victory by making your gift today!

GREENS! TOTAL RAISED BY WHITES:

TOTAL RAISED BY GREENS:

NUMBER OF WHITE DONORS:

NUMBER OF GREEN DONORS:

$138,579 134

$228,942 144

THANK YOU

for giving back to Oldfields!

WINTER 2019

25


CLASS NOTES 40s Elizabeth “Betty” Williams Gookin ’40 - We are still able to live in our lovely country place with our cute mutt, Elliot. We also have two cute great-grandchildren near my twin daughters. One daughter has twin sons close by.

50s Mimi Griffith Jones ’52 - Not much to write about, but am still praying for rain and for all who lost homes in the fires last summer. Jane Isdale Schaefer ’52 P’84, Past Trustee - Not the best year for me. I lost my son to esophageal cancer in May. In June I flew to Hawaii for his son's wedding. It was lovely. This summer was spent visiting my daughters in Maine and New Hampshire. Got to hear Greta Schaefer '84 sing with a band. Now getting ready to head back to Florida.

Eleanor “Boo” Dix Bistrian ’59, P’89 - Carol Janney McNiff ’59 and I share two grandchildren, Nora and Emery, children of my daughter Jordan Bistrian Regan ’89 and Frederick Regan, Carol’s son.

Florence “Fifi” Whitney Clark ’54 - Eight grandsons and one great-grandson. All are wonderful and happy.

60s

Marie-Louise "Wawa" Graham Ingersoll ’54 - This is a picture of my eldest son, Baird Standish, and me this winter at "The Great Get Together" in Lisbon, a Rhodes Scholar program. We loved Vinho Verde! Duplicate bridge, current event courses, and travel are my main interests.

Marquerite “Maggie” Tenney Embry ’63 - Still alive!! Lucinda "Cinda" Train Longstreth ’64 - Richard retired in May after 35 years of teaching at George Washington University. He was head of the Historic Preservation Program and has won many awards including a prestigious one recently for lifetime achievement. We spent four months in the Adirondacks— Keene Valley. I was in two shows, sold nine paintings, got two commissions for next year, and was briefly mentioned in a magazine article. Lucinda "Cinda" Train Longstreth ’64 in her painting studio Beirne Donaldson ’64 - Doing a lot of travelling. Enjoying the time with Wood. Would love to see old, dear friends. My cell is 973-476-0410.

Marie-Louise "Wawa" Graham Ingersoll ’54 with eldest son, Baird Standish, on a Rhodes Scholar trip to Lisbon Ruth "Bumble" Sizer Marshall ’54 - 65th reunion—OMG, we are old. Don't feel it even though I have COPD and use oxygen at night. This was all due to 68 years of smoking. Finally stopped two months ago. Pure hell, dying for a cigarette. I had a spot of lung cancer a couple of years ago and had radiation which seemed to take care of that little problem and figured that if it came back they could zap me again so I continued to smoke. It was the COPD that did me in. Awful addiction. Hope your back holds up, Wawa. I know I won't be able to make the reunion. Much love, Bumble

26

Gay Richardson Smith ’68, Trustee, and her grandson, Teddy

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


We had not seen each other since my graduation from Oldfields in 1966, and it was a joyous reunion. It strikes me as remarkable that a connection of that long ago can resonate so deeply this many years later. PAMELA HARTLEY BRAMHALL ’66

Pamela Hartley Bramhall ’66 - In September, I visited New Orleans where I spent an afternoon with Patricia "Tricia" Strachan ’67 at her historic home. She welcomed my daughter, Hartley, and me for champagne and scrumptious chocolate chip cookies. Now that's my idea of southern hospitality! We had not seen each other since my graduation from Oldfields in 1966, and it was a joyous reunion. It strikes me as remarkable that a connection of that long ago can resonate so deeply this many years later. I also had a reunion with Laura deCamp Shields ’67 this winter, and we plan to see each other this fall. She was in my wedding in '73, and a best pal while we were in school.

but then I get smothered by the answer of puppy love! Speaking of love, both husband Bill and son Anderson are well. Besides coaching, Anderson is now in George Washington University’s program of Legislative Affairs, and is doing well. Hope to see everyone back for Alumnae Weekend so you all can meet our wonderful new Head of School David Perfield! Carol Engebretson ’72, Trustee - We were fortunate to have the whole family home for Thanksgiving. Son Peter and Kelly McGinty were married the next day.

Carol Engebretson ’72 at her son's wedding Pamela Hartley Bramhall ’66 with Tricia Strahan ’67 in front of Tricia's historic New Orleans home

70s Sylvia Talmage Kissel ’70 - We have moved permanently from New Jersey to Florida. My husband has taken up golf, and we love it here. Hope my classmates are all well.

Natalie Morgan Macy ’72 - 2018 was a joy-filled year for our family! In May, our sweet little Hannah Macy was born to my son, Alex and his wife, Cecily, and big brother Jack! August brought the whole family together under one roof in a wonderful vacation house in South Dartmouth, Mass. In October, my daughter Louisa got engaged! Looking forward to more good times in 2019! Best to all in the New Year!

Deedie Clark Bouscaren ’71 - Traveled with classmate Margaret “Grace” Richards Coit ’71 to Andalusia and all the white towns from Seville to Granada. Later in June, I attended her son’s wedding in Alexandria, Virginia, where we reunited with Susan Gillette ’71. Seashols Starks ’71 - Wonderful trips to Israel, western US, and various southern states in 2018. Hope to see classmates in April 2019. Lulu Laubenstein Good ’72, Trustee - Meet Wagner (Wags to his friends), the newest member of the Laubenstein Good family! Must admit that at my age it is a little daunting to look down the barrel of non-stop energy that only a ten-week old puppy can offer! I often wonder what I was thinking, WINTER 2019

Natalie Morgan Macy ’72 with granddaughter, Cecily, and grandson, Jack

27


CL A S S N O TE S Hilary Gardner Swain ’72, Trustee - This has been a ridiculously busy past few months. In September, Frank was asked to give a speech on international trade and tariffs in China... so of course I had to go along! What an amazing trip, and totally different culture... so many stories to tell. In October we bought a house on the Magothy River, near the Chesapeake Bay and one hour from our house in DC, and by the way, less than an hour from Oldfields. It has been fun trying to furnish (mostly with IKEA), and Frank was a saint putting most of the furniture together. No way could I figure out the directions.

Susan “Silly” Silcox Repko ’72, Trustee - The last child graduated from Bucknell in May and just got a job and moved, so we are breathing a sigh of relief. We have three in NYC, one in Maine, one in California (married with 2 kids), and one in Arizona. Yes, six kids—two are my step-kids whom I have known for over 37 years. We spend most of the year in Arizona except when it gets to 116 degrees in August. Then I have to find someplace near water! I am still playing tennis, golf, and love to hike. There is always something to do here so please come visit. Annievive Crain Palm ’76, Trustee - My family, Anna, Tomas and Katy, and I took a quick trip to the Florida Keys in January— what a beautiful and fun place—an especially great family getaway. Back at home in Wimberley, we are reinventing a couple of new homes for our Heart of Texas Getaways. Great fun to be able to go shopping for rustics, antiques, vintage furniture, art, etc. Looking forward to a quick trip back to OS for February Board meeting and then back again in April for Alumnae Weekend. My husband, Tomas, is coming up with me for Alumnae Weekend. So excited to have him see our beautiful school. Also we are going to try to do some fly fishing Saturday or Sunday, anyone else interested?

Hilary Gardner Swain ’72 and Frank Swain at the Great Wall of China

Annievive Crain Palm ’76 and family in the Florida Keys

80s The sons of Hilary Gardner Swain ’72 rowing together

Two grandchildren of Hilary Gardner Swain ’72

Two grandchildren of Hilary Gardner Swain ’72 in Halloween costumes. 28

Desiree Lopasic Masterson ’81 - I've enjoyed almost five years in Guam as an Energy Program Manager for the US Navy. Photo is of a morning hike to the tallest peak on the island with my husband, John.

Desiree Lopasic Masterson ’81 in Guam OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


Marianne Merrin ’86 - Hello! I’m living in Issaquah, Washington, teaching four-year-olds at a progressive primary school. I was married this past summer and changed my last name back to Merrin. I have two sons, a 19-year old at Colorado School of Mines and a 17-year old senior in high school.

Barkley Smith Booker ’93 P’21, ’22 Barkley has recently moved back to Maryland from Louisiana so her daughters, Tayah ‘21 and Ella ‘22, can attend Oldfields! Read her inspirational story on page 15 and learn how her life has come full circle. We are thrilled to have them all as part of the Oldfields community!

Judy and Taylor Smith visit Esther Hebborn Reinerth ’87

Tayah ’21, Barkley Smith Booker ’93 P’21, ’22, and Ella ’22 Laura Powell ’93 - All is well. Still living in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Still working at the Junior League Thrift Shop. Ran the NYC marathon in November.

Judy Smith Past Staff, Laura Rogers Towne ’82 P’12, ’17, Jason Towne, Wendy and Hawley Rogers Head of School Emeritus P’82 GP’12, ’17

90s Sheila Wiley Harrell ’90, Trustee - I love getting the chance to visit Oldfields. David and Lisa Perfield are the perfect addition to the School. Their girls bring so much fun and spirit to the campus. Reminds me of the days of Anna Littlefield '07 and Maria Jensen '05 as babies when I was there! All is well in The Plains, VA. I love catching up with classmates and friends. Molly is now eleven, and Will is nine—where does the time go?! Hard to believe our 30th reunion is around the corner. Get ready, ladies!!

Bridget Read ’96, Addie Goldfrank ’96, Heidi duPont ’95, Trustee

Children of Sheila Wiley Harrell’s ’90 WINTER 2019

Heidi duPont ’95, Trustee , Bridget Read ’96, and son Harry Read Legare McCord at NYC Gathering 29


CL A S S N O TE S 00s Natalie Taylor Bily ’00 - I am currently living in Mount Pleasant, SC, with my husband and dog, The Dude. I own a gift and home boutique in downtown Charleston at 180 King St. Come visit! I was married on October 6, 2018. Charlotte Hess ’00 is currently in Aspen, CO, with her thriving knit-ware business called Isobel and Cleo. Ana Elias-Dag ’01 - I live in Fort Collins, CO, and work as a caring and dedicated nurse. I live with my wonderful husband Servet and our two children, Atticus (11), truly a gem of a human being, and his sister Zara (just turned 1) who is going to be just like her spunky mother—watch out! Jillian Besner Pahel ’00 - I live in Baltimore, MD, with my sweet husband Patrick and our precious son Grant Henry (2).

Marney Babbitt-Pierce ’04, Trustee - It was a busy fall for the Babbitt-Pierce family! In November we celebrated ten years of Girls on the Run of Northern Arizona at our annual 5K with over 1,000 participants AND we opened our new Bodega Pierce Winery & Tasting Room in Clarkdale, AZ. We spent December on our honeymoon in Chile and Argentina. Can't wait to see everyone in April at our 15th reunion!! Marney Babbitt-Pierce '04 and Michael Pierce at Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina.

Charlotte Hess ’00, Anna Elias-Dag ’01, Natalie Taylor Bily ’00, Jillian Besner Pahel ’00, and Atticus (Anna’s son) at Natalie’s wedding Lauren Brown Shapiro ’04 - On October 20, 2018, I married Randy Shapiro in front of friends and family In Baltimore, MD. My maid of honor was my Oldfields big sister and best friend of 18 years, Leah Carney ’03. Sarah Norman Traver ’05 was also one of my bridesmaids. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Randy and I as well my two stepchildren! GO GREENS!!!

Marcy Schnitzer Credidio ’06, Lauren Engle ’11, and Liz Palmer ’12 celebrating Lauren's engagement.

Opposing coaches, but still OS sisters, Taylor Franks ’11 Lauren Brown Shapiro ’04 and her husband Randy Shapiro

30

and Clark Courtney ’11

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


Check my bakery online and come visit Maine! www.creamedbakingco.com.

MEG OLCOTT ’13

Caroline Logan Cook ’05 - married Joseph Alan Kidwell, graduate of James Madison University ‘99 BBA, on October 20, 2018. They share their two sons, Logan (10) and Hudson (13). Together they own Big Art Design and Fabrication LLC. They also love their six pets: three cats—Kiwi, Biggie and Daisy; two ducks— Bernie and Mayonnaise; and one dog—Winnie. Go Greens!

Elizabeth "Ella" Mayer ’15 - I'm a senior film major who's taking 20 credits in the fall and spring semesters. This fall I'm working on a short independent study film, and in the spring I'll be working on my senior thesis film; either a documentary or an experimental film. With Hollins evacuating, I decided to do a surprise visit to OS! Ella Mayer ’15 with Director of Development Anne Finney P’97 Margaret “Ali” Hickman ’16 - Ali is spending her junior year in Prague. Taylor and Judy Smith visited with Ali in September.

Sons of Caroline Logan Cook ’05

10s Meg Olcott ’13 - I opened my first bakery and coffee shop on the coast of Maine this summer. Located on a popular tourist stop along Route 1, I enjoy blending the flavors of my experiences living coast-to-coast with my recently adopted new hometown of Wiscasset. Loving the coastal life, my family bought a small farm, and I hope to get back to riding soon. Check out the bakery online, and come visit Maine! www.creamedbakingco.com Claire Jermakian ’15 and Megan Machak ’15 continue to meet up wherever they can! Megan joined Claire and Joan Carter ’81 P’15 at Anna Littlefield ’07 and Past Faculty/ Staff Ryan Kirk’s wedding in Pittsburgh in October.

Margaret "Ali" Hickman ’16 with Taylor and Judy Smith in Prague Audrey Reynolds ’17 visited Pittsburgh to be a bridesmaid in Anna Littlefield’s ’07 wedding.

Anna Littlefield ’07 and Audrey Reynolds ’17

Megan Machak ’15, Claire Jermakian ’15 and Joan Carter ’81 P’15 WINTER 2019

31


It’s not until you leave OS that you realize how unique and special it is, because the wonderful community at OS is not something you can get just anywhere.

KELLIA K AR AMBIZI ’18

Savannah Ay ’18 - Savannah is attending Delaware State and is a member of the women’s soccer team. As a freshman, she scored in the extra period to give the Hornets a 1-0 victory over St. Peter’s.

Hannah Kulla ’18 - Hannah continues her cross country success at Ohio Wesleyan University. Way to go, Hannah!

Hannah Kulla ’18, far right, at Ohio Wesleyan University Savannah Ay ’18, playing on Delaware State’s women’s soccer team

Past Faculty/Staff

Kellia Karambizi ’18 - As you can imagine, I truly miss my second home (Oldfields) and am sure everyone from the Class of 2018 does, too! I am at Wheaton College in Massachusetts and am glad that I have gotten used to the new community and environment, but nothing can replace my second home. I miss all my friends, staff, and faculty. I am majoring in biochemistry, and I’m really trying my best to get involved on campus. For example, I was lucky enough to be in the Education Club which is a branch of our Student Governance Board. I am a member of different clubs and on the board of several. With all this involvement, I have seen how college can really get busy.

Taylor and Judy Smith are still traveling the globe and reaching out to Oldfields alumnae everywhere they go! They never fail to draw a crowd. Here are just some of the alumnae with whom they’ve recently connected:

My words of wisdom to this wonderful class—I know these moments you are going through can be sweet and bitter at the same time, but trust me they are worth it. One thing that I am sure every OS alumna can agree on is that they need to enjoy their time at OS while they still can because in a very short time, it will be slipping through their fingers. Also, it’s not until you leave OS that you realize how unique and special it is, because the wonderful community at OS is not something you can get just anywhere.

Lulu Laubenstein Good '72

Nicole "Nicky" Kyei '10

Wendy Noble Stafford '74

Bryanza Dean '10

Julia Cooter Cook '82

Ashley Lewis '10

Esther Hebborn Reinerth '87

Rayven Vinson '10

Jill Romanowicz Unruh '87

Vonneice Canada '11

Augusta Edwards '98

Margaret "Ali" Hickman ’16

Eonjung "Angeline" Kim '11

Taylor Smith draws a crowd in Philadelphia

Olivia Davis ’20, Kellia Karambizi ’18, and Kendall West ’20 32

Taylor with July Cooter Cook '82, Augusta Edwards 98, Nicole "Nicky" Kyei '10 OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


22. Megan Machak ’15

11. Madison Cole Reese ’10

21. Joan Carter ’81 P’15

10. Claire Jermakian ’15

20. Jillian Myer, Past Faculty

9. Banner Glenewinkel, son of Dealey Campbell ’98

19. Sven Jenson P’05, Past Faculty

8. Maribeth Littlefield P’07, Faculty

18. Julie Johnstone, Past Staff

7. Emily Acle ’09

17. Randy Littlefield P’07, Past Faculty

6. Audrey Reynolds ’17

16. Ryan W. Kirk, Past Staff/Faculty

5. Jacquette McGhee ’98

15. Kevin Yeager, Past Faculty

4. Dealey Campbell ’98

14. Nolan Warthen, Past Staff

3. Barbara Anne “Annie” Stephens ’17

13. Anna Littlefield ’07, Past Faculty

2. Maria Jenson ’05

12. Ellie Bledsoe, daughter of Jillian Meyer, Past Faculty

1. Natasha Oweh ’09

WINTER 2019

33

Photo by William Gray, Past Faculty

9 3

12 16

8

13

5 11 1

2

15

6

22 20

19

7 10 4

21

17

14

18 Check out all the familiar faces who attended the wedding of Anna Littlefield ’07 and Ryan Kirk Past Staff/Faculty— a true testament to the “family ties” that exist between Oldfields’ faculty, staff, students, and alumnae across the world and across the decades! Can you name them all?

CL A S S N O TE S


TURNING POINTS ENGAGEMENTS

Lauren Engle ’11 to Jordan Bowers

Caroline Logan Cook ’05, married Joseph Alan Kidwellon, October 20, 2018

Jane Westmoreland McIntyre ’06 on October 27, 2018

Paige Rabalais ’01, a son, Gus Rabalais Rojas, August 20, 2018

Caroline Barden Weller ’02, a daughter, Lucy Porter Barden, August 11, 2018

Parker Phelan ’12 to John Lewis Barrett Pitcher ’15 to Jon Laurence

MARRIAGES Natalie Taylor Bily ’00, October 6, 2018

Anna Littlefield ’07 to Ryan W. Kirk, Past Staff/Faculty, on October 27, 2018

BIRTHS Charlotte Hess ’00, Anna Elias-Dag ’01, Natalie Taylor Bily ’00, Jillian Pahel ’00, and Atticus (Anna’s son) at Natalie’s wedding

Lauren Brown '04, October 20, 2018, to Randy Shapiro

34

Allison Lurey Nixon ’06, a son, River Huxley Nixon on October 20, 2018

Ashley Vizzi Akridge ’99, a son, Knox Akridge, September 21, 2018 Caroline Parks Trout ’11, a son, Lucas John Trout Jr., on July 20th 2018 OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019


THE LAR GE H E A RT O F R ALP H O’CONN O R P ’ 75 A Truly Generous Spirit Oldfields mourns the passing of one of our most devoted and generous supporters, Ralph Sturges O’Connor (August 27, 1926 to December 30, 2018), father of Nancy O’Connor Abendshein ’75 and former Board Chair. Ralph had a very close relationship with Oldfields, and Oldfields wouldn’t be here today without his leadership in the 1970s. Ralph’s daughter, Nancy, came to Oldfields as a freshman. It’s a good thing she did, because almost right away, he was asked to join the Board of Trustees, just as hard times were on the way. Due to “increasing inflation and the declining enrollment of the 70s…as in the 30s, the very existence of the school hung in the balance.” (Feeling of Family) As Chair of the Oldfields Board, Ralph personally relieved the School of its obligation of the cost of the purchase of the adjoining Polvogt property and successfully recruited alumnae and parent donors to make gifts to relieve the financial situation and ensure the School’s future. A well-deserved plaque honoring Ralph’s School-saving efforts hangs today in the Admission Parlor in Old House.

" He was a big man with a big smile and a big heart." “In my response I was really speaking for all the faculty and staff who, at that point, were unaware of the crisis. I knew, though, that they would rally. There were no raises that year, and there were no complaints and no faculty turnover. But there was Ralph, that was the crucial factor. Without the leadership of Ralph O’Connor at that time, there would have been no Oldfields for future generations of young women past the 1970s. That is history. “He was a big man with a big smile and a big heart. He was filled with joy and enthusiasm. As I experienced Ralph as leader and a friend, it seemed to me that it was his love of people which motivated his generosity and commitment to Oldfields.

Hawley Rogers was Headmaster at the time. “Within a week of when I was appointed Headmaster in the late winter of 1975, Ralph asked me to do a cash flow projection for the coming year. A few days later I phoned to inform him that our financial position was so dire that the school would run out of funds to pay faculty and staff in February of 1976. During the course of that conversation he presented me with a choice. ‘You can call all the parents of the juniors in the school and tell them that you will find a good school for them or you can try to save the school.’ He asked me if I thought the school could be ‘saved’, and I said, ‘Yes.’

“It started, of course, with Nancy and his appreciation for what he felt Oldfields had done for her, and it radiated out to the girls and then to the faculty and staff who made it all possible. His support targeted faculty teaching in the teaching prize he endowed, teaching facilities in the form of the Biology Lab, and faculty housing in the form of the new Garden House. Just as important to him was endowment for faculty and scholarships. He did not want the school vulnerable as it was in 1975. In 1977 as the school began its journey of progress, as in the old Westerns Ralph could have ridden off into the sunset saying, ‘My work here is done.’ His work on behalf of Oldfields extended for four more decades.

“A lot of factors went into that quick response, most of which were emotional, but the one crucial factor was that Ralph was leading the Board, and I had absolute confidence in that leadership. He could have approached this existential moment in any number of ways. But his sensitivity at that moment was crucial. He gave me the gift of confidence through his confidence.

“Steady, faithful, always there with wisdom and encouragement, his generosity of spirit matched his generosity of support of all kinds. And he gave the gift of criticism in the form of observation. When he observed, you listened. And he was just as generous with his approbation. When you heard him say a hearty, ‘I agree,’ all was well. You knew he was backing you. Faculty who knew

WINTER 2019

35


him will tell you that when Ralph spoke with them, they felt understood and appreciated. All of us who love Oldfields will forever be in his debt.” A brilliant businessman with a distinguished career in oil and gas exploration and in real estate, Ralph also had a great sense of humor. In 2015 when he helped Oldfields buy a new bus to take our students on weekend activities and to games, his one proviso was, “Whatever you do, don’t let the Head of School drive the bus! The last time I bought a bus for Oldfields, George Nevens took it for its first drive and wrecked it.” Of course, we immediately took a staged photograph of the Head of School behind the wheel to send to him. Former Head of School Taylor Smith remembers: “Ralph befriended me as a rookie 22-year-old teacher right out of college in 1971. After I left Oldfields for a “career” in business, it was Ralph and Hawley who convinced me to return as assistant head in 1976. Even after Nancy graduated, Ralph continued to check in regularly. When I became Head of School in 2008, Ralph was the first one to call to congratulate me. He would always let me know when he was in town, and I don’t think he ever missed a Houston Gathering. At a time when many single-sex schools were floundering, he almost single-handedly kept Oldfields on a firm footing with his generosity and his sage advice.”

For nearly 50 years, Ralph remained loyal and generous to Oldfields. Perhaps his most visible contribution is the beautiful new version of Garden House, which was rebuilt in 2015 as four apartments for faculty housing. As the lead donor, Ralph named the four apartments for Oldfields folks who had special meaning for him: his daughter, Nancy; for Miss Herky; for former Board Chair Bill Rockefeller, father of Mary Rockefeller Burchell ’66 and Sally Rockefeller Bogdanovitch ’71; and for fellow Trustee Crawford Hubbell, father of Chris Hubbell McCambridge ’69, Carol Hubbell Engebretson ’72, and Cathy Hubbell ’74. When Ralph and his wife, Becky, came to campus to see Garden House in the spring of 2018, they confessed they were so excited about coming to Oldfields that they couldn’t sleep the night before! To say that Ralph made a tremendous difference in the life of the School from the day Nancy stepped onto the campus is a vast understatement. And it was Nancy’s experiences at Oldfields—what Oldfields did for her and what she did for Oldfields—that induced him to remain at the forefront of Oldfields’ champions for the rest of his life. We are all deeply indebted to Ralph O’Connor and his largeness of heart. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

I N ME M OR I A M Margaret “Peggy” Moore Perdew ’38, August 15, 2018 Margaret Henderson DeLamater ’42, October 1, 2018 Lela Griffin ’47, July 5, 2018 Patricia Simpson O’Kieffe ’61, August 13, 2018 Donna Doyle Sobeck ’72, September 18, 2018 Mary Elizabeth Ward Moore ’78, July 11, 2018 Christine Appleby Martinelli ’83, Past Trustee ’09-’13, February 18, 2019 Ralph S. O’Connor P’75, Past Trustee ’71-’77, Board Chair ’75-’77, December 30, 2018

36

OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE WINTER 2019 36


CLASS AGENTS Agents

Email Address

Phone #

Location

1945

Suzanne “Susi” Green Van Ells

702-871-4329 Seattle, WA

1947

Joan Stuart-Wortley Bishop

grandy@GWI.net

207-443-5082 Bath, ME

mibeach180@gmail.com

706-742-8940 Winterville, GA

1950

Martha “Billy” Isdale Beach 1952

Jane Isdale Schaefer

janeschaefer2@mac.com

860-535-3697 Stonington, CT

1954

Marie-Louise “Wawa” Graham Ingersoll

Wawa1000@verizon.net

610-688-5851 Devon, PA

fridamoore@aol.com

843-559-9144 Wadmalaw Island, SC

Mary Simmons Evans

mevans@raypoynor.com

205-447-5562 Birmingham, AL

Alyssa Boyle Starzyk

absmvy@gmail.com

618-719-6498 Edgartown, MA

1992

1993

Cynthia van der Nat Criscuolo

cynthiavandernat@hotmail.com 443-610-9697 Gainesville, VA

Alice P. Fendley

alicepfendley@gmail.com

540-788-3940 Midland, VA

Ngina Simpson Shulman

nginas@yahoo.com

301-213-9329 Bellevue, WA

kellyggoulart@gmail.com

813-435-8764 Miami, FL

Georgia Crawford Nettles

georgianettles@yahoo.com

843-532-8437 Mt. Pleasant, SC

Brynne Hartley Peck

ackdesigns@icloud.com

401-293-0442 Naples, FL 610-207-8708 Fleetwood, PA

Kelly Garrels Goulart

1996

202-328-3965 Washington, DC

Meredith Barto Filippini

mlfilippini@comcast.net

Adrienne Seligman

adrienneseligman@gmail.com 404-808-1152 Nashville, TN

Blair Sowers-Seal

sowerseb@gmail.com

mhc2@comcast.net

540-955-4541 Berryville, VA

toni.vreeland@gmail.com

410-960-3837 Bridgehampton, NY

1968

gaybesmith@gmail.com

315-794-4791 Vineyard Haven, MA

1970

Gail Southard Canzano

203-273-7287 Boise, ID

Lelei Jennings Coyle

443-735-4275 Ocean Pines, MD

1966

Gay Richardson Smith

leleicoyle@gmail.com

1991

j.carey@mchsi.com

1965

Antoinette “Toni” Carter Vreeland

Shelley Short Matthews

shelleysmatthews@gmail.com 713-877-0741 Houston, TX

Nena Adams Meurlin

nenaadams@hotmail.com

804-338-2533 Richmond, VA

Holly Perzynski

hollyperzynski@hotmail.com

206-719-0913 Bend, OR

Jill Kusner Rowlett

jillkusner@gmail.com

443-226-2504 Stevensville, MD

Wendy Stewart

navy2001@mac.com

443-253-1938 Baltimore, MD

860-232-3620 West Hartford, CT

Kathy Smith Guill

ksg510@icloud.com

713-304-0910 Houston, TX

1998

Seashols Starks

sstarks2@bellsouth.net

404-352-0500 Atlanta, GA

Anni Canseco Drinkwine

1971

lulu.laubenstein@gmail.com

215-836-9391 Wyndmoor, PA

zebracrazy@mac.com

610-909-3265 Devon, PA

1975

hopewelltoo@gmail.com

802-888-0822 Morrisville, VT

loggcabin@cox.net

757-714-4214 Chesapeake, VA

1976

Mollie Johnson Williams 1977

Barbara Trotter Collins

btc1959@icloud.com

830-895-2910 Kerrville, TX

1980

Andrea Anderson Gagnon

tilt1985@yahoo.com

207-459-0748 Alfred, ME

1981

Heather Wistar LaBudde

hlabudde@comcast.net

978-468-7242 South Hamilton, MA

Mary Ellen Power

mepower2@gmail.com

757-253-0052 Williamsburg, VA

adriennerusso1@gmail.com

443-414-7900 Columbia, TN

1982

Adrienne Russo Mach 1985

Pam Crowder-Thompson

Anne McIntyre Colclough Gigi Abel Long

simplyunutrition@gmail.com

910-398-8362 Grayslake, IL

Tiffany Blake-Anttonen

blakeanttonen@gmail.com

404-951-7677 Atlanta, GA

Victoria Hunter-Barrett

VictoriaHunter1982@gmail.com 508-322-9956 Nantucket, MA

2002

Ellen Jane “E.J.” Ruchman

eruchman@gmail.com

410-757-7473 Baltimore, MD

Catherine “Cat” Ford

cath.ford.341@gmail.com

386-689-1403 Durham, NC

alastair.brant@gmail.com

310-910-3664 Brooklyn, NY

Margaret “Marney” Babbitt-Pierce

Marney.babbitt@gmail.com

928-699-4121 Flagstaff, AZ

Courtney Brown Kibblewhite

courtneykibbs@gmail.com

406-348-2070 Billings, MT

2003

Brant MacDuff 2004

Katherine “Kady” McBrearty Paradise kadyparadise@live.com

571-379-6526 Mt. Pleasant, SC

2005

Katelyn “Katie” Hall

katelyn.anna.hall@gmail.com 443-254-7868 Washington, DC

Shavonne “Shay-Shay” Ward

sreneeward@gmail.com

646-259-2478 West Helena, AR

pamcrowder2015@gmail.com 410-823-3338 Baltimore, MD

Madeline “Maddy” Darrell Pahr

madelinedarrell@gmail.com

410-562-9904 Washington, DC

teenu@mac.com

520-991-9157 Tucson, AZ

Phoebe Larner

phoebe.larner@gmail.com

540-987-9650 Chicago, IL

202-360-3903 Washington, DC

Krislyn Payne

krislyn.payne@gmail.com

301-801-8537 Lanham, MD

805-710-2556 Grover Beach, CA

2007 2008

acolclough@me.com family4long@charter.net

1987

Jill Romanowicz Unruh

jillunruh@comcast.net

610-585-4334 Bryn Mawr, PA

Carolyn Ewing Woods

woodsymc@verizon.net

703-409-2999 Fairfax, VA

Barbara “Babs” Baisley

x00bab@hotmail.com

301-351-3818 Davidsonville, MD

Charelle D. James

charelledjames@hotmail.com

410-569-5741 Joppa, MD

1988

WINTER 2019

Erin Stevens Henrie

2006

1986

Teenu Agarwal-Hebbar

Irving, TX

2001

1974

Megan North

anni@drinkwine.us

2000

1972

Carol Atterbury

843-442-8920 Richmond, VA

1997

gcanzanophd@comcast.net

Lulu Laubenstein Good

Location

239-472-2040 Sanibel, FL

Cinda Train Longstreth Mary “Polly” Hyde Crawford

717-747-2809 York, PA

KduPSanger@aol.com

1964

Jacquelin “Jackie” Thomas Carey

Phone #

Hollyhillbeagles@yahoo.com

1995

1962

Katharine “Kandi” duPont Sanger

Email Address

Kelly Sanders-Karpulk

1994

1959

Elfrida “Frida” Barrow Sinkler

Agents

Catherine “Kate” Maddox

catherinemaddox@go.rmc.edu 443-799-6032 Chicago, IL

Caitie Cunningham

CaitieCunningham@gmail.com 410-303-7874 Brooklyn, NY

Derica Mayfield Jackson

derica08@gmail.com

443-421-5466 Towson, MD

Jennie “Jen” Taylor

JennieWestWind@gmail.com

410-419-5948 Lexington, KY

37


CLASS AGENTS Agents

Email Address

Phone #

Location

2009

Agents

Email Address

Phone #

Location

2016

Emily Acle

emilyacle1@gmail.com

410-627-7407 New York, NY

Katharine “Kate” Driscoll

katehdriscoll@gmail.com

814-808-6370 Boalsburg, PA

Angelica “Jelly” Jackson-Thomas

setjack3000@yahoo.com

703-586-8011 White Plains, MD

Samantha “Sam” Frazier

samcamfray@yahoo.com

301-776-0376 Laurel, MD

Charlotte Shapiro

cspshapiro@gmail.com

410-812-6553 Owings Mills, MD

Margaret “Ali” Hickman

hickmanm90@yahoo.com

908-205-9367 Plainfield, NJ

Kathleen “Katie” Walsh

bixietwist@yahoo.com

443-605-3133 Finksburg, MD

2010

Liz Poston

ejposton@outlook.com

540-687-4636 Montclair, VA

2017

Madison “Maddie” Cole Reese

mem.reese1010@gmail.com

443-907-2679 Elkton, MD

Celia Bowers

celiacbowers@gmail.com

410-472-6816 Sparks Glencoe, MD

Elyse Bruzdzinski

elysebruz@gmail.com

410-977-0219 Manchester, MD

2012

Young Louise Goodyear

ygoodyear123@gmail.com

504-330-7584 Marathon, FL

Kayla Lewis

kllewis@widener.edu

Alexandra “Ali” Towne

towne.ali@comcast.net

904-540-8823 St. Augustine, FL

Megan Rivera

mer2220@barnard.edu

201-946-7161 Jersey City, NJ

Louise Chapman

Louise.chapman@hws.edu

540-253-7726 The Plains, VA

Louis Ineza

louiseineza02@gmail.com

443-591-1548

Danielle Miller

daniannie27@yahoo.com

484-881-1650 Berwyn, PA

Kayla Sherwin

shainkay@gmail.com

863-738-0520 Lakefield, FL

Jordan Spivak

softballchik1062@aol.com

410-581-1345 Owings Mills, MD

Yushan “Wendy” Wu

wuyushan1999@gmail.com

Charlotte Mayer

cbmayer20@gmail.com

859-744-9341 Winchester, KY

Emma Preston

emmapreston@comcast.net

410-456-9401 Monkton, MD

Remy Branscum

remy.branscum@gmail.com

703-261-3660 Vienna, VA

Cameron Brooks-Miller

brooksmillerc@gmail.com

309-857-5257 Ann Arbor, MI

Vana Jovic

vjovic55@gmail.com

646-912-4331 New York, NY

Barrett Pitcher

bpitcher2950@gmail.com

410-472-1068 Sparks, MD

Margie Vricella

margylilly96@gmail.com

410-435-2262 Baltimore, MD

Carly Weinstein

wcarly123@yahoo.com

404-457-0643 Franklin, TN

2013

Philadelphia, PA

2018

2014

No Class Agent listed for your year? Volunteer to help keep your class connected! Contact Alumnae@OldfieldsSchool.org or call 443-662-1018.

2015

Share

your

Oldfields story! Do you know a girl who would benefit from the magic of Oldfields? nn Tell her why you love Oldfields! nn I nvite her to visit www.OldfieldsSchool.org and connect with the Admission team. nn Better yet, come for a visit and bring her along! It could be the beginning of a life-changing experience, and she will have you to thank!

7 Call 410-4

2-4

ool.org h c S s d l e fi it Old s i v r o 0 0 8 D 21152 rks, M e Road, Spa 1500 Glenco


IN MEMORIAM Margaret "Peggy" Moore Perdew ’38, August 15, 2018 Margaret Henderson DeLamater ’42, October 1, 2018 Lela Griffin ’47, July 5, 2018 Patricia Simpson O’Kieffe ’61, August 13, 2018 Donna D. Sobeck ’72, September 18, 2018 Mary Elizabeth Ward Moore ’78, July 11, 2018 Ralph S. O’Connor P’75, Past Trustee ’71-’77, Board Chair ’75-’77, September 30, 2018

WINTER 2019

39


NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT# 1608 BALTIMORE,MD

1500 Glencoe Road Sparks Glencoe, Maryland 21152-9321

STAY CONNECTED!

Spirit Games February 19, 2019 WWW.OLDFIELDSSCHOOL.ORG


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.