www.andover.edu/classnotes so clean—and the sunsets are so magnificent, you really have to see it to believe it. Word has it he’s been sleeping under the Northern Lights. Elizabeth Campbell Kelly reported that she and hers are doing great. She’s celebreating her one-year anniversary for her company, Hudson Garden Studio, has installed a few gardens big and small this year and is gearing up for the start of a new season. She’s been focusing on native plants and ecological plant communities. Her son, Eli, is already going into first grade and daughter Eve is starting nursery school. Alexandra London-Thompson is still working as the Director of Drama at Miss Porter’s, and this past week also signed on as the Executive Director of the Chilmark Community Center (an organization running a camp and wonderful summer events for the entire family on Martha’s Vineyard). Her husband, Peter Stray, finished his first film, Canaries, as writer and director - it premiered at FrightFest in London to high acclaim. Their son Jasper just started first grade at his performing arts school. The family had an amazing summer on Martha’s Vineyard, in London, and spending a week at the Edinburgh Fringe watching as much theatre as possible. Not is Alexandra excited that his first film is done and making the festival circuit, but it has given her the opportunity to reconnect with Lon, who has generously been advising us on possible film festivals and distribution. Margot Stiles went to a conference in China for work (on ocean conservation), and passed through Hong Kong, where she had a lovely reunion Janet Pau and Chris Woo. The group had a great time swapping adventure stories, and eating delicious food (because, Hong Kong). Frank Georges just started a new job as an assistant teaching professor at Northeastern University in the Economics department. I’m glad to be back in Boston and am teaching three new classes. Kira Kimble is working as a doula in Charlotte, NC. Occasionally, she has the opportunity to work alongside Anayah Barney Sangodele-Ayoka ’00 who is a midwife there. Rafi Kalichstein and husband Josh Rose’s FORM Design Studio is beginning an exciting project in Miami and is continuing to work in TX and CA, as well. Their daughter Skylar has just been accepted to a new contemporary/ballet company and is studying dance with some extraordinary people: they are very proud! Skylar has just begun school at the Marlborough school, 7th grade. New adventures. Her parents are entrenched in the alltoo-thick waters of the digital age (as she has just gotten a phone!). Life is so much more complicated for our children than it was for us, Rafi reports. He and Josh have been SCUBA diving a lot from Catalina to Tahiti. They are taking Skylar to Israel for a cultural Bat-Mitzvah experience next March. Melissa Weste Gaydon has been busy running her cupcake business, Kiss My Cupcake, with husband, Dan in Australia. It has been keeping the gang busy in an enjoyable way. She has also gotten
back into horse riding, especially sporting. The best thing about the sport as opposed to dressage is that she can ride with her entire family, which includes her husband and 4 daughters, 2 of which are the age we were when we started at PA! Their eldest, Jocelyn, is 15 in year 10 at school and will get her L-plates next year (learner’s permit to drive). She’s really a young woman. Then, there’s Makayla 13 almost 14 in Year 8 who’d probably love to go to PA if it wasn’t half a world away. She’s planning on becoming a neurosurgeon. Emily is 10 in Year 5 and plays a mean game of soccer. Danika is 9 in Year 4. She’s the actress of the group. Perhaps Lon will find a film for her to star in. Melissa “Weste” misses everyone from PA a lot. She never wants to leave Australia, but wishes it wasn’t at the ends of the earth, so she could physically see everyone more often. If you find yourself Down Under, do get in touch! And that about wraps it up for the class of 1995 this round. For those of you who would like to be included in future class notes, please feel free to contact your class secretaries and we’ll make sure you get your close-up, Mr. (and Ms.) DeMille. For now, onwards and upwards! Here’s to great friends, the bonds that never break and as always, to you.
1996 John Swansburg 396 15th St. Brooklyn, NY 11215 john.swansburg@aya.yale.edu
1997 Tommy Ryan Boston, MA etomryan@gmail.com Rebecca Sides Capellan 1270 Fifth Avenue, Apt. 10T New Yourk, NY 10029 rebeccasides@gmail.com Victoria Salinas Oakland, CA Salinas.victoria@gmail.com
We begin this edition of notes with some tragic news. As most of you likely know by now, sadly Nicholas Rieser passed away unexpectedly in September from an undiagnosed heart problem. Sam Dyer spoke at his service, which was also attended by Socrates Kakoulides, Jon Mohraz, Kelley Hicks, Shirley Mills, Olga Massov, and Wick McLean ’96. After attending Amherst and playing professional minor league hockey, Nick worked in finance in New York since the early 2000s. He leaves behind a wife (Ilene), and twin daughters (Hannah and Lily). We are creating a book of memories for Ilene and the girls. If you have stories
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and photos of Nick you’re able to share, please write it addressed to Hannah and Lily, and message it to Kelley Hicks on Facebook or email kelley.hicks@ gmail.com.” Hopefully this book will help his family throughout this incredible loss, by commemorating our experiences with Nick. His family has asked that gifts to Andover be donated in Nick’s memory to the Ice Hockey discretion fund. In other news, our notes are a bit brief this time around, on the tail of our 20th Reunion in June 2017 and the hefty fall class notes that followed. Earlier in 2017, Jack Quinlan joined the San Diego Sheriff Search & Rescue unit along with his horse, Wilmot (no relation to Wilmot Kidd), and got engaged to his fiancée, Diana Robbins. Congratulations, Jack! After rolling off his class secretary duties, he continues to volunteer on the Andover Alumni Council and with reunion planning. Krystle Dunwell, spent the Fall counting down the days to the receipt of her MBA at Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business and Management and planning several weeks of celebratory international travel. Joaquin Escamille reported that Chayapat “Boom Boom” Kambhu and his wife recently made the move from Hawaii to New York City. We are all looking forward to more of an update from Boom Boom regarding this new chapter for him. In August, Julia Galaburda Henderson and Andy Henderson welcomed their third son, Winslow “Win” Henderson. He joins big brothers Silas and Elliott. Hillary Dresser Seith made the visit north in no time to welcome the sweet fellow. Amy O’Neal finished her MFA in Writing and Publishing at Vermont College of Fine Arts in the Spring, and is relocating to the Boston area, where she had previously lived for seven years and practiced law. She is awaiting the publication of her first novel. Vanessa Buia, an art advisor based in Andover | Winter 2018
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