OakTree Times - Fall/Winter 2018-19

WINTER 2018-19

OakTree Times

INSIDE:

Garland gets renovated | Distinguished Alumnus David Ebershoff ’87

OakTree Times WINTER 2018

Feat ures : 10 Distinguished Alumnus of the Year

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Editor and best-selling author David Ebershoff ’87 sits down with The Paw Print to share his literary path.

14 Alumni survey results

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16 Garland renovation

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Voices from Poly reflect the value of a special space on campus, now significantly improved for decades more of accommodating community gatherings

The recent alumni survey provided valuable input that will help inform the direction of Poly’s alumni relations and other campus programs.

A P U B L I C A T I O N F O R T H E P O LY T E C H N I C S C H O O L C O M M U N I T Y

Departments: The Patio p.05 New evaluation program for Lower School … Upper School winter play … milestone anniversaries …

PolyYesterday

OAK TREE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF: Leslie Carmell, Director of Communications Michelle Feynman, Assistant Director of Communications/Photographer Jennifer Godwin Minto, Photographer Alistair Casey, Communications Coordinator Greg Feldmeth, Advisor Amanda Edwards ’92, Advisor

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In the Classroom A unique two-subject course provides a modern approach to traditional topics.

CONTRIBUTORS: Cynthia Crass, Katrina Damasco ’02, Kathy Ford, Austin Lee ’19, Harper Oreck ’19, Andrew Schneider, Katherine Vieser, Rory Xanders ’19 COVER: The Class of 2019 celebrates the completion of the new balcony in Garland Theater.

Poly Connections president’s message … alumni events … alumni

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Poly Experience Fund … Alumni Association

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profiles … Class Notes … In Memoriam facebook.com/poly twitter.com/polytechnic twitter.com/polyalumni

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Panthers in the Zone Poly’s Student-Athlete Leadership Council takes efforts beyond the playing field.

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P.S. Charlene Beerman shares her experience raising her family at Poly and working in all three divisions.

instagram.com/polytechnic_school

Head of

School

Many of my colleagues and most of our students might contend that community is an overused word in the independent school lexicon. Tightknit, close, intentional, and inclusive are also ubiquitous as well as apt descriptors that pepper our website, admission materials, and remarks.

Still, community and its frequent variants so profoundly define who we are that we would be remiss if we banished them from our vocabulary.

Right before the winter break, we hosted the 5– and 10-year Reunions. Some years ago, someone had the brilliant idea to invite the parents of the two reunion classes to join the festivities before our alumni trundle off to their respective dinners. Over and over again at these gatherings, I heard comments like “It feels like I am home” and “I’ve missed this.” The sense of community in the room was palpable and heartening. The years spent away disappeared for these families, and conversations picked up as if they had begun moments before. The Poly community was in full force.

Community is the ineffable quality that infuses and connects all of us. It is what binds our mission and credo gently and with resolve. Its broad shoulders provide support when we stumble, and its warm embrace holds us close when we need each other the most. Our community’s generous spirit creates an environment that welcomes everyone. Our united commitment to excellence reminds us that apathy and arrogance are countervailing winds that will drive us off course. It’s in the moments of recognition that something bigger than ourselves propels us to do our very best. Importantly, our community today is living proof of the courageous vision of our founders to embrace an active role in shaping our world.

This issue of OakTree Times will give you a taste of the vibrant, multigenerational Poly community. As you read, reflect on the magnificent tapestry that is continually woven over time, each generation marking its unique contribution to our Poly.

John W. Bracker 04

HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE

Read John Bracker’s latest blog post online at www.polytechnic.org/headblog

The

Patio

Lower School adopts MAP evaluation program

By Kathy Ford, Lower School assessment, instruction, and learning specialist Earlier this year, in an effort to further individualize instruction and improve learning outcomes, the Lower School adopted the Northwest Evaluation Association’s Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Suite. “As educators, we believe in continuous growth … we believe in reaching beyond traditional standards of excellence for the collective benefit of our students,” explains Kathy Ford, Lower School assessment, instruction, and learning specialist.

The MAP process allows faculty to determine each child’s strengths and needs, resulting in a more individualized approach to instruction. MAP data also reduces time-consuming elements of differentiated instruction by grouping students according to skill level and learning goals and suggesting instructional resources.

“The MAP Suite is just as informative for parents,” Ford adds. “After each testing period, parents receive a report of their child’s results. Learning areas within a subject such as math are noted (e.g., real and complex number systems, geometry, statistics and probability, and algebraic thinking). In addition, the report shows growth over time and projected proficiency. Three assessment periods per year ensure that everyone is routinely aware of student growth and can take timely actions to ensure progress.”

The assessment process itself is more efficient than traditional methods: The MAP reading assessment test takes 20 minutes to administer, where the previous program required up to 12 hours.

“The MAP Suite has the power to be a transformational teaching tool that will provide us with a level of student learning information that until now has presented

Lower School Spanish teacher Veronica Covarrubias works with a second-grade student.

challenges in time and practicality,” Ford says. “We believe in taking something that is already strong and making it exceptional. To accomplish this, we need the right tools.”

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Learn more about how Poly is integrating the MAP program at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

T H E PAT I O

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The

Patio

Upper School winter play features unusual set This year’s winter play, “Metamorphoses,” is a contemporary retelling of the myths of Ovid, written and originally directed by Mary Zimmerman. It is a story of the weaving and colliding between gods, humans, and nature to reveal our ability to change and transform. The play itself presented several challenges to the production team and the actors; the most perplexing issue was the central focus point of the playing space — a pool of water.

This was a technical challenge, not just in constructing the pool, but also solving the problems of the wetness on the stage around the pool, water temperature, and dripping costumes.

Adding to the beauty and mystery of the piece were original compositions by senior Lucas H. on piano.

What it took to bring “Metamorphoses” to the stage:

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students in the cast

DIRECTORS (Cynthia Crass and Tiffany LaBarbera-Palmer)

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TECHNICAL DIRECTORS (Richard Sherrell and Andrew Villaverde)

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Approximately

TECH CREW MEMBERS

300 gallons of water

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full loads of laundry per day

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MUSICIAN (Lucas H. ’19)

To see more images from the performance, visit www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

The

Seventh-graders spend time with local seniors As one of their community service Block offerings, seventh-graders visit the Del Mar Park Assisted Living Center to spend time with local senior citizens. After a short walk from campus, students are greeted by eagerly awaiting seniors for a morning filled with games like Scrabble or poker and jigsaw puzzles. The students join in arts and crafts projects, creating decorations that can be put around the center, particularly around the holidays. The seniors enjoy the student talent, which might include sign language, piano and violin performances, poetry recitals, cooking videos, and jokes and card tricks. During visits, seniors often tell stories from their past, and Poly students tell seniors what things are like today in school. Sometimes the students invite Poly first– and second-graders to accompany them. Over time, students typically find that they have made a new friend or two, all while gaining perspective on an age group with whom they might not normally interact and strengthening Poly’s relationship with the surrounding community.

“Watching the seniors make crafts with the second-graders was something that I’ll never forget,” seventh-grader Ellie K. says, reflecting on their December visit. “The second-graders were so gentle and loving toward the seniors, I never would have thought that people so different could have so much fun.

One thing that I enjoyed so deeply was talking to a resident named Kathy. Watching her face light up after I had signed the simple phrase ‘Hello, my name is Ellie’ was so amazing. It made me feel good seeing her so happy. It has reminded me of a book I used to read, and how I learned that filling someone else’s bucket would fill mine too.”

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Patio

Walking in LA

One morning during winter break, 10 seniors in the City of Angels English class — a doubleperiod elective centered around everything Los Angeles — met in the Garland parking lot at 6:30 a.m. and set out to meet their objective: to explore LA on a walk to the beach.

Eleven hours and 27 miles later, the group reached the coast in Santa Monica. They were joined on their granular look at Los Angeles by Nathan Stogdill and J.D. Gladden, who teach the course, as well as eight alumni and two parents.

Their trek took the group through Pasadena, into Highland Park, Glassel Park, and Atwater, then across the LA River into Silver Lake. They took Beverly Boulevard to the Los Angeles Farmers Market, where they stopped for lunch. From there they jumped onto Wilshire Boulevard and followed it to the beach at Santa Monica.

“Los Angeles is such a car-oriented city and sometimes Angelenos tend to ignore what they drive past,” senior Cole S. says. “I ended up gaining a better understanding of the geography, layout, and dispersion of different communities in Los Angeles. I also discovered that Los Angeles is virtually unwalkable, unlike cities such as New York or Rome. LA is so spread out … and is truly designed for vehicles.”

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T H E PAT I O

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The

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Milestone anniversaries The following faculty celebrated milestone anniversaries this year: 40 years Craig Fletcher — Upper School science faculty 35 years Steve Beerman — Athletic director; coach Allan Schaefer — Middle and Upper School visual arts faculty 20 years Jennifer Godwin Minto — Upper School visual arts faculty; Upper School yearbook advisor Richard Sherrell — Upper School performing arts faculty; Middle School speech advisor (L to R) Allan Schaefer, Jennifer Godwin-Minto, Richard Sherrell, Steve Beerman, Craig Fletcher

PolyYesterday Recent flakes from the sky above our campus reminded us that 70 years go — Jan. 11, 1949, to be exact — Pasadena was blanketed with a layer of snow. The day lives on in record books as the heaviest snowfall in Pasadena history. Six inches fell at Pasadena City Hall that day. Here’s what “The Big Snow” looked like at Poly!

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In the

Classroom

A novel approach to history Fulfilling a long-time goal, Upper School faculty members Laura Marion and Jose Melgoza found a way this year to create a unique interdisciplinary course, American Studies: AP English Language and AP U.S. History. In tag-team fashion, the two teachers present the course by breaking it down into themes rather than following the traditional chronological approach to history. As Melgoza explores historical themes, Marion weaves in relevant literature that supports the content.

When first exploring how best to integrate the courses, Melgoza and Marion tried to fit them together chronologically. “The idea was that Laura would orient her course to go along with mine. So if we’re studying the Puritans, they’re reading the ‘Scarlet Letter’ … something that goes along with that time period,” Melgoza says. “But as we started to dig deeper into the lessons that we wanted the students to take away, we started to realize that we were covering certain themes, and it was going to be much more effective and powerful to look at history through a thematic lens. We realized this is actually a completely different course, not just a minor adjustment.”

“The content in English greatly enhances my understanding in History, and vice versa,” Theo F. ’20 shares. “For example, we just studied Transcendentalism in history and then read Transcendentalist works by authors such as Thoreau and Emerson in English.”

Classmate and junior Olivia J. agrees: “The intersection between the two topics has made it so much easier and more enjoyable to learn them both. Looking at these topics from all sides gives me a much deeper understanding and greater empathy.”

With 19 juniors enrolled in the class, it is clear that interest is high. “The thing that I like the most about the course is how fluidly it combines history and English by separating the topics into themes,” Theo says. “We study the historical context of racism in America, from the first slaves to racism in a modern context, and then we can write about it. It’s fascinating to blend the two subjects, and taking the two classes together has given me a deeper understanding of the material being covered than if I had taken them separately.”

Combining topics as well as time has provided a better opportunity to explore ideas and has inspired lively discussions. “Despite the occasional two-hour class, I never find myself bored, and we have had some of the most interesting discussions I’ve been a part of in my high school career,” Olivia reflects. Through these exchanges, students are prompted to not only absorb but to truly process information in a new way. “One of the real benefits is that because of timing, you have to give answers in history. In English, it’s about teaching students how to find answers,” Marion explains. “They are figuring out a lot of things about history that normally we’d have to tell them because we’d have to move on, so it allows them to draw their own conclusions.”

Melgoza, Marion, and their students have embraced the unknown that comes with implementing a new course. “The students are a little nervous about the lack of chronology,” Marion says, “so we decided to do a review of everything we’ve done by taking all these different threads and putting them in order so they can see these things we did a month apart ended up next to each other. And we let the students decide how we’d continue the year.” After discussing the options, the students chose to continue with the thematic approach. “Because this is a new class, we are all still trying to find the ideal balance between so many aspects of the course … we are all learning and trying together!” Olivia shares.

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See Marion and Melgoza talk more about their unique approach to this course at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

IN THE CLASSROOM

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Distinguished Alumnus of the year David Ebershoff ’87 lends his ear and voice at Poly

BY AUSTIN LEE ’19 AND HARPER ORECK ’19 WITH AMANDA EDWARDS ’92

This fall Poly had the distinct honor to welcome author and editor David Ebershoff ’87 to campus for an inspiring visit as the most recent winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award. With four of his own highly successful books, including “The Danish Girl,” which became an Academy Award-winning film, and the New York Times bestseller “The 19th Wife,” David also has a remarkable editing career. In 2013 he became the first editor to edit the winners of the Pulitzer Prize in fiction and history in the same year, and books he has edited have received numerous other accolades, including the National Book Award, additional Pulitzer Prizes, the PEN/Faulkner Award, and Oprah’s Book Club.

Photo above: David addresses the Upper School from the Haaga House porch.

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Austin Lee and Harper Oreck visit with David in the Writers’ Center.

Whether poring over work by Capote, Mailer, or a breakout novelist, David has demonstrated an ear for authentic voice, which he offered to Poly Upper School students in classes taught

by Grace Hamilton and Cynthia Crass. The young writers sat rapt as David told of his path and process since his own days at Poly. The particular acclaim David has received as an LGBTQ writer encouraged students in Poly’s Queer-Straight Alliance to invite him for a discussion over lunch. In the evening, fellow alumni, friends, and current and former faculty joined in a dinner celebration in David’s honor. Throughout the day, David’s love of language and the power of writing was crystal clear.

The editors-in-chief of The Paw Print had the singular opportunity to interview David for their publication and share highlights from their conversation: Harper Oreck ’19: Could you talk about your time at Poly and how it influenced your career as you started writing?

David: Well, literally, I learned to read and write at Poly, but I learned to read and write in the more important ways here — to think critically, to write critically, to ask questions, to talk about books. Really, the language that I use even today in talking about books, writers, voices, and stories, I first learned at Poly in classrooms

and the English Department. And so all of that started here, and the same is true with writing. I started writing short stories when I was at Poly, and poetry, which was really bad, and I began to sort of figure out how to express myself through written language.

When I was at Poly, there was a literary magazine called Polygraph, and I was co-editor of that. Students would submit stories and poetry, and I would read them, discuss them, edit them, select them. I didn’t

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Alumni Board President Lori MacPherson ’85 presents David’s award.

know it at the time, but that was my first job as an editor. When I went on to become an editor at Random House, there were a lot of similarities. What I was doing — reading something closely, trying to understand what the author was trying to say, identifying why it resonated with me or not, and helping a writer reach his or her vision — I did here at Polygraph. So that had a huge impact on me as well.

Austin Lee ’19: Your second novel was “Pasadena.” Could you talk about how your experience living in Pasadena affected your writing career and, specifically, that novel?

David: I have written books that are historical, set in the past. I like to look to the past as a way of illuminating something about today, and Pasadena is in some ways that. Pasadena is a very historic community, especially for California, so it’s interesting to see what about it has always been here, what about it has sort of fallen away, and what its past can tell us about today — and so the setting is something to which I’ve always been drawn. For that book in particular, it came out of a place of where, after I graduated from Poly, I went to college on the East Coast and then moved to New York to work. I had

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been away from California for more than a decade.

I was feeling nostalgic for it and wondering more about where I’d come from. So for that book, I wanted to know more about the history of Pasadena, and that was in part the impulse to write it. But I’ve used Pasadena in everything I write. Obviously I lived here the first 18 years of my life, so even though I’ve gone far away, it’s still like home base, and my roots come back to here.

Austin: When I write, and I know when other people write, we sometimes struggle and hit a roadblock, and we don’t really know how to get around it. What is your strategy?

David: Before I wrote “The 19th Wife,” I wrote almost 75 percent of another book that I couldn’t figure out how to end, and I really kind of hated the only ending I could figure out. It was based on a historical story, and the ending was very, very unsatisfying. I struggled for a couple years with that book, and I wasn’t willing to give it up because I’d put so much time into it. My agent had read it, and she was supportive of it. But I just knew something was wrong, like in a fundamental sense, and I resisted and I resisted, and I finally put it away. I just put it in a drawer and moved on to “The

19th Wife,” which I had been thinking about for a while.

By putting it in a drawer, I just felt incredibly free to write “The 19th Wife,” which was a big undertaking.

But I just felt very free and loose because of that experience, so in some ways, I guess the lesson is to just listen to your gut about what a story is or isn’t.

There’s a lot to learn from failing, and it’s hard to experience, but by writing that manuscript that failed, I learned a lot about why it failed, what I hadn’t done, and why I wasn’t satisfied with it, and I could take that knowledge forward.

Harper: What do you think is the future for diversifying literature, and how do you think publishing companies and the literary establishment can help do that?

David: Publishing is at its best when editors are doing their best job and doing what I try to do, which is listen and read and pay attention to new voices, new stories.

When I was an editor at Random House, I would get emails every day from all over — literary agents I knew, but also writers, and a friend of friend of friend of friend. And I knew one of my jobs was to be open, because you don’t know where that new voice is going to come from, you don’t know who has something special to say until you read it. Even though the volume can be very high, I knew my job was to keep my eyes and ears open because it seemed to me that it was quite likely that a very unique voice was going to come from an unexpected place. One of my jobs as a book editor at a big publishing house was to represent the

reader. As a reader, I want to read something I haven’t read before, I want to hear voices I haven’t heard before, I want doors to be open that weren’t open.

So when I would encounter something that I hadn’t read before, I would really try to understand it and then make a case for why a big publishing house like Random House should publish it and why the newness was actually a really important quality.

[Pointing to a shelf] I see over here a book I edited, “Open City” by Teju Cole, which is a great, great book.

Teju is American. He was born to Nigerian parents in Michigan, and then when he was 2 months old, they took him to Nigeria, and he grew up there. “Open City” is a story of a half-Nigerian doctor in New York and the different people he meets and what they represent to him about his own past and to America’s past, and it’s a very philosophical novel. It doesn’t have a standard plot — it’s a very hard book to describe in terms of what it is about it. It’s one of those books where you just kind of have to read it. And so when I read it, I thought his story is not a traditional story, but I knew I had never encountered a mind like this — that this author’s mind was unique — and I wanted to play a role in bringing his voice to a larger audience. So that’s an example of what I would do, and I think that’s what publishers still can do. Q

See a video of the interview with David at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

David is joined by his family during the evening celebration (left to right: sister Kim Ebershoff D’Amico ’85; parents, David and Rebecca Ebershoff; David; and sister Kristine Ebershoff Finlay ’83).

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Poly alumni spoke …

The Poly Alumni Association conducted a comprehensive survey to understand what Poly alumni value most from their experience as students and how they would like to stay connected to the school. We are grateful to the 558 alumni across all generations of Poly’s history who responded.

Thank you, survey participants! We are excited to share some highlights of your thoughts and opinions here:

Who responded:

Panthers are well prepared: Poly ...

Developed my work ethic.

18-30 years old: 27% 31-50 years old: 38% 51-70 years old: 24% 71-90 years old: 10%

60%

32%

Made me a more well-rounded person.

50%

42%

6%

Encouraged me to develop my interests, skills, and passions.

90+ years old: 1% 44%

45%

8%

Gave me opportunities to work with students from diverse backgrounds.

Your Poly experience was dynamic:

11%

36%

39%

Taught me personal responsibility.

42%

“Thinking about your time at Poly, identify the greatest strengths of your experience.”

1 2 3 4 5 14

Academic program and college prep

49%

6%

Helped me become a more globally minded person.

21%

Top five strengths identified:

12%

49%

21%

6%

Taught me the importance of respect for others, myself, and my community.

38%

47%

10%

Developed my ability to be a leader.

Non-academic programs, electives, enrichment activities, Outdoor Education Culture and community Faculty and staff College counseling and support services

F E AT U R E

34% Strongly agree

43% Agree

16% Disagree

Strongly disagree

Poly means a lot to you:

96%

said their Poly experience was excellent or good.

86%

said their opinion of Poly today is excellent or good.

6%

N/A or don’t know

To what extent do you feel Poly accomplishes its mission to promote ...

You want more: 53%

Academic excellence 74%

20%

The dignity and uniqueness of each individual 36%

39% 28%

6%

Personal responsibility and service to others 28%

38%

Extremely well

25% Moderately well

Very Well

30% 30%

29% 29%

7%

Slightly well

26% 26% 25%

Not well at all

16% 9%

47%

Athletic events

Extended learning events

Professional affinity groups

Family-oriented groups

Community service opportunities

Regional affinity groups

Events with students and faculty

Music, art, and cultural events

Career networking

77%

Social happy hour or receptions

How do you stay connected to Poly?

Other

26%

45% 41%

You like to know what’s going on at Poly and with each other!

35%

21%

77% said they are most interested in receiving updates from their classmates and fellow alumni.

60% would like to see more alumni profiles.

48% want to see former and current teachers

Social media

Relationship with faculty/staff members

Alumni email announcement and e-newsletter

The OakTree Times magazine

Alumni events and reunions

Relationship with friends/peers

spotlighted in a profile.

Your teachers meant a lot to you, and you want to see more of them!

32%

reported they would like to see more of their former teachers at alumni events.

Connecting with Poly alumni where you live is important:

53%

suggested Poly provide more events in various different regions.

41% would like to hear more about curriculum and department changes.

38% feel Poly could provide more information about the school’s mission and initiatives.

In response to the valuable feedback we received, our alumni strategic plan will prioritize programs and opportunities that promote connectedness and meaningful engagement with the school and alumni community. Please reach out to Katherine Vieser, director of alumni and community relations, at kvieser@polytechnic.org or 626-396-6335 to share more about what is important to you as an alumna/us.

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More than a ‘house,’ Garland is a home

By Chris Schmoke, Upper School dean of student life, science teacher, Varsity football head coach, and Poly parent

My first visit to Poly was in the spring of 2007. I had applied for a position and was moving through the full day of interviews that is prerequisite to getting a job offer. I was enamored by the sprawling campus, the beautiful buildings, and the friendly people; but I did not truly recognize the uniqueness of this community until I stepped into the Garland Theater for my first morning meeting. Sure, I had been to more than my fair share of school assemblies, but this was different. Students and faculty alike filed into the seats, aisles, and walkways to gather as a community. Poems were read, student videos were shown, and speeches were made, all in the span of 20 minutes. The presentation was impressive, to say the least, but what intrigued me the most was the sense of respect and togetherness I felt as an outsider peering in. It was obvious that this was more than just a “school,” but was in fact a community where people genuinely cared about each other.

Upper School students participate in Rivalry Week activities in Garland Theater.

Garland Theater has become the central hub of the Polytechnic Upper School, as well as the broader school community. It serves as the first impression for many incoming students. Whether it is an open house for prospective families, a performance of one of our amazing performing arts productions, a Global Initiatives Program guest speaker, or a morning meeting during a visit to 16

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campus, Garland stands as a gathering place for all of the things that make Poly special. I often marvel when a Distinguished Alumni Award recipient returns to speak at a morning meeting. Every one of them starts with a fond recollection of his or her time spent in Garland. A story, an anecdote, or just a feeling of returning “home.” It is apparent that these alumni are instantly brought back, and both the student body and they feel a bond of togetherness — a feeling of wonder in experiencing something so new in a place that feels so familiar.

Over the years, I have witnessed some minor renovations and improvements. The more dynamic sound, the new seats, the improved lighting — all have added to the Garland magic and the overall quality of productions put on by our amazing Performing Arts Department and students. I am continually amazed to see students whom I had only known in physics or as a football player light up the stage in a dance or musical number. I have laughed along with the kids during a student-produced film that captures the creative comedy of adolescence. I have teared up listening to the unbelievable stories of hardship and inspiration from guest speakers. I sat feeling nervous but excited as a new Upper School parent listening to the fantastic opportunities my kids have at a wonderful school.

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As well as a gathering space, Garland has also served as an occasional classroom. A few years ago, Poly alumna and pianist Kait Dunton ’01 and her trio offered a masterclass for the Middle and Upper School jazz bands. Kait worked with the students on ways to approach improvising and how it can be thought of as having a conversation with fellow musicians. Students took turns playing solos and receiving coaching.

I have beamed with pride during honors and awards banquets recognizing the culmination of hard work by our students. And I have mourned with my community during tragedy. In good times and bad, Garland has been our gathering place for so many moments that have both informed and defined us as a community.

As times change and our society evolves, so too does the big auditorium that sits on our picturesque South Campus. Thanks to its most significant renovation yet, Garland Theater will have the capacity to seat the entire student body of the Upper School for the first time in recent memory. A winding lobby staircase and new elevator

that lead to a newly constructed balcony will provide the opportunity for even more people to enjoy the many events that take place within the four walls. State-of-the-art sound and lighting will offer seamless melding of performance and technology. The generosity of 56 donors, including 15 leadership gifts that propelled the project, has made these wonders a reality for the whole school community to enjoy.

As we look back at the wonder of Garland’s past, I can’t help but be inspired by its future. How many new experiences and memories will be made? How many new opportunities will it provide and inspire?

Members of the Poly community reflect on Garland Rick Caragher, Global Initiatives Program co-coordinator, Upper School history teacher, coach, Poly parent Garland has greatly enhanced the GIP’s efforts to promote and fulfill its mission “to foster an interest in, an understanding of, and a respect for the dignity and worth of fellow human beings and their cultures worldwide.

An understanding of the world calls for a willingness to learn through study, to reach out and communicate with one another in interaction, and to realize that we can help shape the future by service and listening.” Through the use of Garland (and the generosity of its caretaker, Richard Sherrell), we have been able to bring world-renowned speakers and highly acclaimed movers and shakers to our entire community. Garland has allowed us to hold 18

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events — whether a daytime assembly or night-time presentation or screening — that pack in more than 340 attendees. We aim to educate, empower, and engage our community about global issues, and Garland has allowed us to maximize many of these opportunities: In the past four years, we have hosted seven GIP events that each had more than 300 people in attendance. By hearing from these global leaders, we believe hundreds have been connected across cultural barriers, have had their knowledge greatly broadened, and have been inspired to be instruments of change. We look forward to the newly renovated Garland; we’ll be able to include more guests from other schools and the broader community and will benefit from state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.

Amanda Edwards ’92, director of donor relations, Poly parent I can remember Garland’s grand opening event in 1984, when my family was brand new to the Poly community.

Kids were so excited, running up and down the freshly carpeted aisles, testing out what it felt like to look out at the seats from the stage. I took it all in with no idea I’d follow my older sister in becoming a Poly student eventually. By the time I was in the Upper School, I knew the ins and outs of the whole building, as it was the home of some of my most fun and formative experiences at Poly: Wood Design and Painting classes still held in Garland at the time, Tina Cocumelli’s Speech class, learning the clarinet in sixth grade, Alan Geier’s History of Music, choir and glee club, acting ensemble, dance class, hours in rehearsal and performance for plays and musicals, and building friendships with students from all of the other grades. The smells of theatrical makeup and racks of costumes will be forever tied to Garland for me. Seeing my own kids develop a love for art and theater now couldn’t make me happier. To find a home in a world that’s all about creativity and risk-taking may be life’s greatest gift.

John Yen ’89, director of technology, Poly parent: As my fellow actors would attest, performing on the Garland stage was a special moment in our lives. As a student, I struggled to find my stride socially. Middle School was particularly rough for me, and coming into high school, I sought to reestablish myself in many ways.

Known primarily as an artist throughout my career at Poly, I was always drawn to the stage. With the opening of Garland and my interest in theater as well as painting, I found myself drawn to this building as a place made for me. Cast as a bottle dancer in “Fiddler on the Roof,” it was the first of many supporting dancer roles that I would take on in my stage career at Poly. My athleticism and desire to dance was a big part of my Garland experience.

Football provided an athletic outlet for me, and I immediately found a place for myself on the defensive line. Small in stature, I let my play and my spirit speak for themselves. But by junior year, I decided to leave the gridiron and focus more on dance. My teammates questioned my decision, but I knew where my heart was.

Dancing on the stage of Garland was where I felt at home and at peace. The combination of the physical

demands and expression was perfect. I remember the smell of the theater when it first opened, the red curtain, and those moments on stage before a show as we meditated and centered ourselves for our performance … and the energy we felt right after the last close of the curtain at the end of the show. The belonging and connections we made as schoolmates and performers were special.

I often wonder if talent is skill plus passion or just something we are born with. Garland, like the football field, was a place to explore and discover the truth behind this.

Greg Feldmeth, assistant head of school, History Department co-chair, Global Online Academy site director, Poly parent of alumni I was Middle School director when Garland opened, and I remember it having a great impact on campus life. Before Garland, all Middle and Upper School performing and visual arts classes were held either on the North Campus or in Gamble Gym. Assemblies and plays used what is now Founders Hall. Garland provided a home base for the arts and helped transform those programs.

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The production booth in Garland was rebuilt with new lighting and sound controls.

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Philanthropy

Get to know the expanding Poly A few years ago, parents of soon-to-be-graduates considered how they might help their children leave a meaningful legacy at Poly to reect deep appreciation for the many valuable experiences they had shared. Little did they know what a powerful change they could be sparking for the school community following in their steps.

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Experience Fund

The Poly Experience Fund — the result of that idea now established as part of the school’s endowment — offers assistance for the extra expenses beyond yearly tuition that come with participating fully in Poly life. Recognizing that many of the most formative opportunities in a Poly education require additional spending, both minor and substantial, the Class of 2016 and others have made the Poly Experience Fund a special priority in addition to annual gifts to the Poly Fund.

“As Poly tries to open doors widely for whomever is best suited to this education, we also need to fix our awareness

of how to be a welcoming community for every student,” says Ruth Zeronian Edwards ’84, a former trustee and Poly parent who helped conceive the idea for the Poly Experience Fund in 2015. Not only students with high need for tuition assistance have trouble affording all of the “extras”; many families’ finances are stretched as cost of living rises. “We were hoping the fund would help ease the way for everyone to benefit from the aspects of Poly that happen outside the classroom,” Ruth explains.

The Financial Aid and Advancement offices are committed to improving and expanding on the delivery

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of support for auxiliary school expenses so that students and their parents can focus on making the most out of the special Poly experiences themselves.

Growing donor interest in supporting experiences like summer internships, Global Initiatives Program trips, and other significant opportunities for students will expand the fund’s reach and long-term benefits. “We are excited to hear many Poly alumni also recognize the great value of growing this fund,” Director of Individual Giving Greg O’Leary says. “No one knows better than they do how important it is for every member of the student body to have a full ‘Poly Experience.’”

For more information, please contact Director of Donor Relations Amanda Edwards at 626-396-6343 or aedwards@polytechnic.org.

What you should know about the Poly Experience Fund:

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Established through directed gifts (separate from annual giving to the Poly Fund) Anyone may contribute to the Poly Experience Fund, now part of the school endowment.

All school-related costs separate from tuition are considered for assistance, including: Q

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After-school programs on campus Outdoor Education supplies and equipment

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Teacher-specified school supplies

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Athletic equipment

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School-day lunches, advisory group snacks, even Friday Middle School outings to Lake Avenue

Technology devices (laptops, scientific calculators, etc.)

Tickets to dances.

Director of Financial Aid Lindsay Morales helps deliver the assistance, but any Poly faculty or staff member can direct a request from a student or parent to her.

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Alumni Association president’s message Thank you to all fellow Poly alumni who were able to respond to this summer’s Alumni Survey. Your valuable feedback has helped the Alumni Board partner with Poly’s Alumni and Community Relations team to plan a full calendar of exciting programs to keep us connected to one another in 2019.

If you’ve not yet had the opportunity, I’d like to urge you to sign up on PolyConnect, the online networking platform that was recently launched as a resource to connect alumni with one another around professional endeavors and interests. The site allows you to easily reconnect with your classmates as well as to provide or receive career advice and mentorship. In addition to accessing educational and career resources, PolyConnect also allows you to join or create groups based on your own affinities. In the upcoming months, we’ll be organizing events for many of the affinity groups formed via the platform.

I also hope you’ll come back to campus this May for the many wonderful Reunion Weekend events offered. We’ll be presenting another ever-popular alumni panel, and there will be many fun opportunities to reconnect with fellow Panthers. Whether online or in person, I hope you’ll take advantage of the many ways to stay connected to the school and to one another. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like more information on these opportunities.

P O LYC O N N E C T NETWORK • MENTOR • LEARN

Where doors are opened Join the network today! polyconnect.polytechnic.org

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Events Keeping Poly alumni connected across the country Alumni, parents of alumni, and friends gathered throughout the United States and overseas. Interested in planning an alumni gathering in your city? Contact Katherine Vieser, director of alumni and community relations, at kvieser@polytechnic.org to learn how.

Westside Reception

Aug. 9

Alumni in College Lunch (Princeton)

Nov. 11

Alumni Appreciation Dinner

Aug. 22

New Orleans Dinner

Nov. 13

New York Reception

Sept. 27

Dallas Dinner

Nov. 14

Alumni in College Lunch (Barnard, Columbia, NYU)

Sept. 28

Alumni in College Fall Social

Nov. 20

Nashville Dinner

Nov. 29

PoPs Luncheon

Oct. 16

Alumni Cub Club Playdate

Dec. 16

Denver Dinner

Oct. 17

Young Alumni Holiday Mixer

Dec. 20

Chicago Dinner

Oct. 21

5– and 10-Year Reunions

Dec. 21

Alumni in College Lunch (Harvard, Boston College, Boston University, Brown, Tufts)

Nov. 1

Orange County Dinner

Jan. 15

San Francisco Reception

Jan. 17

Boston Dinner

Nov. 1

Alumni in Finance Affinity Event

Jan. 23

London Dinner

Nov. 6

Philadelphia Dinner

Jan. 29

... and across the pond!

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New York

Dallas New Orleans

London

Alumni in College fall social

PoPs Boston

Westside

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Dan Whitmore ’99

Annie Locke Scherer ’08

Mackenzie Sikora ’13

Panther Paths

For the brand-new PolyConnect platform, we interviewed Annie Locke Scherer ’08, Mackenzie Sikora ’13, and Dan Whitmore ’99 to learn about the rewards and challenges of their work, as well as how they are willing to help mentor and support fellow Panthers. Connect with Annie, Mackenzie, Dan, and nearly 400 other alumni on PolyConnect at www.polytechnic.org/polyconnect.

What does your current field of study or role entail?

Mackenzie: I am currently at Boston University in a two-year MFA program in painting. There are about 30 painters in my program, split between the two years, so there is a really nice community feeling for which I am grateful. The structure is pretty open-ended and mostly revolves around individual studio time and requires a significant amount of self-motivation. It is an incredible feeling to be surrounded by a group of people who are equally passionate about painting as I am. And while every day isn’t always sunshine and dank memes, the good days tend to outweigh the bad.

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Annie: I’m a researcher and teacher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. I specialize in robotic fabrication and computational design in architecture, and I teach a graduate-level architecture studio focusing on these topics.

Dan: I am the founder and president of Whitmore Rare Books in Pasadena. It’s a pretty grand sounding title for a small shop; we have just one other full-time employee and a handful of people who help out part time. My current role is to do pretty much everything, from negotiating new inventory purchases to packing and shipping when something sells to taking out the trash! As an entrepreneur, you need to be flexible and prepared to oversee all aspects of the business.

What is the most rewarding part of your studies or work?

Mackenzie: Being able (and required!) to create every day.

Not everything I make is successful or something that I am proud of, but nothing beats the feeling of waking up every morning knowing that I am actively engaged in my own growth as an artist and a human.

Dan: The most rewarding part of my job is discovering something unique or truly magnificent. We recently had the opportunity to purchase a letter written by Jack Kerouac to his mother while he was stopping in Denver on his first cross-country road trip, which would later form the basis for “On the Road.” Holding a piece of literary history in your hands, knowing that you have the only one, researching and teasing out new information from that document, these are the thrilling parts of the job. And, of course, the feeling of pride and pleasure when that book or manuscript ends up in the right collection, somewhere that it is truly appreciated.

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Annie: Most everyone (including myself) remembers “that one teacher” who took you under his or her wing, who made you realize you were more capable than you originally thought. Many people carry these lessons for the rest of their lives. After having experiences such as these at Poly, I hope to “pay it forward” so to speak. I strive to be that kind of teacher, “that one teacher” who can inspire and instill that confidence and help others realize their own strengths and potential.

What advice can you offer to fellow Panthers?

Mackenzie: I was a lifer at Poly, and as each new group of students was added to our class, I became increasingly insecure about my own level of intelligence and ability.

Poly is an amazing institution, full of so many gifted students, but I often compared myself too harshly to my classmates. It wasn’t until I left Poly that I realized how much the school had actually given me. Even to this day, I catch myself comparing my successes and failures to those of my peers from Poly and beyond. I suppose my one piece of advice is to heed the words of Teddy Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” But if you’re like me and find it impossibly difficult to avoid comparison, just remember that a 401(k) doesn’t guarantee happiness.

Dan: Follow your passion. Figuring out the areas that bring you joy and then seeking a career that connects with that is not an easy thing to do. But for those who manage it, the word “work” seems ill-suited to the job.

Annie: Do what you love — not what you’re told to love.

You’ll always regret what you didn’t do rather than what you did.

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Read the full interview at www.polytechnic.org/webextras.

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Class Notes Class Notes editorial policy: The editorial staff gives preference to those class notes that come from primary sources. We reserve the right to edit class notes (primarily because of space considerations and occasionally for clarity). We do not have the resources to fact-check class note entries; therefore, we cannot be liable for inaccurate or false information that may inadvertently find its way into a class note. We thank you for your understanding.

To submit a class note, send an email to classnotes@polytechnic.org.

1939-1959 William E. Taverner ’43 Lost a few more this year — Spud, Dulin, and Betsy. I’m still on this side of the grass and playing golf two days a week and practicing the other five! Last year, I shot seven strokes under my age at the Valley Club in Montecito, Calif. Q Cynthia Crawford Berne ’50 Daughter Katie Bern Ward is Poly’s sixth grade dean, debate league president, and sixth grade history teacher. Our grandchildren and loyal alums are Chris Ward ’12 and Brian Ward ’14. Q Susan Straubel Champion ’52 Both Chuck and I are still alive and enjoying life … TRAVEL, cruising, golf, and grandchildren! My only grandson, Chandler Keyes, graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in May, which required a great five days in Colorado to celebrate the occasion! Crystal Cruise in February to celebrate our anniversary and my birthday.

Unfortunately I ended up with pneumonia, and then Chuck fell and broke his hip — a disabled vacation to be sure! Q

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Julie Patton Barker ’53 A few members of the Class of 1953 — Karen Schirm Irwin, Julie Patton Barker, Patty Gooch Capps, Debby Anderson Burns, and Carrita Nobles Smith — had a very nice reunion this summer in Santa Barbara. We regret the school stopped having reunions for our individual classes!

My brother, Ken Patton, sent all his four kids to Poly, and my current neighbors’ twin boys graduated this year! Q

1960-1969 Sally Ellis ’69 Thank you Marnie Magee Barrett, Spike Booth, and Cobe Haskell for organizing the esteemed Class of ’69’s 50th reunion this coming spring. I hope to be there to see you all. It’s been a long time! I’ve lived in Washington, D.C., since 1980; I married Stuart Taylor, and we have two daughters, Sarah and Molly, and a 1-yearold grandson, Wick Taylor Bower. It’s wonderful to be a grandmother! Q

1970-1979 Laurie Farber ’73 I have been living in Baltimore since 2014, when my husband took a job at the University of Maryland Medical Center. I am doing academic coaching and tutoring at the Friends School of Baltimore and have a piano studio in my home. I have been taking some music courses at Morgan State University. Life is busy but fun! Let me know if you are ever in Baltimore. Email me at farberlaurie@gmail.com. Q Maggie Koenig Englund ’75 Maggie is semi-retired and living in Portland with her husband, Greg. She spends her time as an artist in residence for elementary schools and travels to Kenya with a small nonprofit providing education, medical care, and community development. Her grown children are both married and living on the coast. Q

Kathryn Nickel Levenson ’76 I always enjoy reading the notes from my big Poly family. I love working with Piedmont High School students.

As librarian, I continue to update our collection, now with a new grant for books of Asian and Pacific Islander interest. I am adviser for the Asian Students Union and coordinator for our “One City, One Book Readmont” program. I am building a closer relationship with our tech center as the district embarks on building a multimilliondollar STEAM building. Last year, I had a great time producing the 54th annual Bird Calling Contest. I enjoyed dining out recently with fellow school librarian Alison Anson ’78 and my sister, Cheryl Nickel ’79. My son finished at Harvard and is working on autonomous delivery vehicles at Nuro, Mountain View, while my daughter started at MIT, hoping to major in astronautical engineering. Q

1980-1989 John de Beixedon ’80 My eldest son, Francis, has been accepted to Duke University, and we are all so excited as this begins the second generation of my Duke experience. My youngest son, JeanLue, continues to excel at soccer as well as academics. For news about my eldest, Natalia, there is much to tell! Q Mark C. Kranwinkle ’82 Spotted Peter Mulder ’82 body surfing in Tofino, Canada, where he was spending a week honing his cooking skills with a French chef. Q

1990-1999 Bill Watkins ’90 I am sober 17 years and writing poetry, sci-fi, screenplays, and whatever else comes to mind. I do stand-up comedy as well and was at the Ice House on Feb. 10!

Find me at www.travelingpoet.net or at “Bill’s Poetique” podcasting. Go Panthers! Q

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Class Notes

Anne Quismorio ’91 My husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Eva Eidlin Quismorio, in June.

We traveled to Singapore in December to visit her uncle, Jim Quismorio ’90. Jim is the founder and CEO of Alto Partners, a multifamily office and global private wealth management firm based in Singapore. I am a rheumatologist with the Covina Arthritis Clinic, a private specialty practice based in Covina, Calif. When I am not working, I am learning French and traveling to Montreal, where my husband is an assistant professor of sociology at McGill University.

Pictured: Jim Quismorio ’90, Anne Quismorio ’91, and Eva Eidlin Quismorio. Q Richard Plotkin ’97 I’m excited to share that I was accepted into the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in Manhattan. I’m writing all sorts of songs with a variety of lyricists and working on writing a full musical as well. Q Harold Daumé III ’98 Harold has been elevated to full professor at the University of Maryland Computer Science Department. The honor occurred in June, the 20-year anniversary of his having been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout as a member of Poly’s Troop 5. Q

2000-2018

Claire Sadler Burton ’04 My husband, Brad, and I welcomed our first son, Clark Alexander Burton, to the family in September and couldn’t be more in love.

Sleepless nights are only a minor departure from being on call as a urology resident at UCLA. My sister, Joan Sadler ’07, is living with us and helping to look after the little monster while his parents are at work and she’s on a break from leading Backroads bicycle trips in Europe! Q

Want to read more updates and news from classmates and campus? Follow @polyalumni

Stirling Algermissen ’08 Stirling is a scientific applications software engineer at JPL. In August 2018, he was awarded the NASA Early Career Achievement Medal in data exploration, validation, and preservation tools for NASA missions and projects. Recognition is awarded to any non-government employee for unusual and significant performance during the first 10 years of an individual’s career in support of the NASA mission. Q George Hakimeh ’09 George married Laura Paige on Aug. 4, 2018. George and Laura live in Boston and celebrated a downtown wedding at the Bostonian Hotel overlooking Faneuil Hall. Poly alumni in attendance included Alexa Hudnut ’09, Justin Magsarili ’09, Alex Murphy ’09, Zach Murphy ’09, Julita Penido ’08, Chris Welch ’09, and Haynes Winkler ’09. Q

Katelin Radcliff Bannan ’02 My husband, Matt, and I welcomed our second son, Rhys Radcliff Bannan, in March 2018. Big brother Riley is a big fan so far! Q

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In Memoriam We extend our condolences to the families and friends of those listed below and hope this section assists those who wish to honor their Poly classmates and friends. Poly publishes obituaries as space allows when we receive notice that an alumnus/a or former faculty or staff member has died. If we have neglected to list someone, please send us biographical information, which we will print in a subsequent issue. Please note: Listings include those received through Feb. 15, 2019.

Elizabeth “Betty” Small Watson ’34 July 28, 2018, Fresno, Calif.

Betty was born to Margaret and Sidney Small on Jan. 15, 1920, in Grosse Pointe, Mich., where she grew up alongside her older sister, Peggy, and her younger brother, Sidney Small ’44. At age 16, Betty won the Women’s National Skeet Shooting Championship. She took the title away from her mother, Margaret Small, who had won the event the previous five years. Betty also became a pilot in her early 20s and flew planes just off the assembly line to their new owners across the midwest. She traveled across the country and the globe, beginning in her youth and lasting well into her 90s.

Most of her travel was done with her husband, Bud Watson, and they were joined by friends many times. Betty was a longtime member of the La Feliz Guild, benefiting Valley Children’s Hospital; the Fresno Garden Club; and various bridge groups.

She was a role model for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her positive spirit, living life to the fullest, her beautiful smile, and her love of family.

Sue Felt Kerr ’39 Feb. 18, 2018, Houston, Texas Well known in Houston as a portrait artist of houses, Sue had a thriving business with her eldest daughter drawing historic landmarks of cities in the United States and abroad. She wrote and illustrated five children’s books. A graduate in fine arts from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., her vibrant career consisted of positions at Vogue magazine, The New York Public Library, Cornell University, and as staff artist at Pioneer Press in the suburbs of Chicago. She is predeceased by her brother, Gaelen Felt ’35, and is survived by her husband of 70 years, Jamie H. Kerr; her four daughters; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Harley Higbie ’40 March 18, 2018, Detroit, Mich.

Harley was born in Detroit, Mich., Oct. 23, 1924,

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to Dorothy Scherer and Harley G. Higbie Sr. He is predeceased by his younger brother, Hugo ’42. His early years were spent in California, where he attended Poly and The Webb Schools. He loved playing quarterback for the football team and sailing. He trained in the Air Force as a weatherman at the University of Iowa. After the war, he graduated from Yale University in 1949. While pursuing his passion for skiing on the slopes of Zermatt, he met the love of his life, Lorraine Nichols.

They married soon thereafter in Woodstock, Vt., and settled in Denver in 1959, via Oklahoma City. An earnest and wise business man, Harley’s work took him from the natural gas business, to the citrus groves in Florida, then the stock market, and then his own investment business, where he helped many gain economic stability. His deepest career passion was creating a ski resort and town out of Pete Seibert’s amazing find of a mountain with fabulous snow and “back bowls.” Along with the original “Inventors of Vail,” he held the vision and dedicated the hard work of manifesting what is now Vail. For 18 years, Harley sat on the board and was the last surviving member of the Vail founders. Harley’s other passions included politics, education, and music. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine Higbie; four children; eight grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Diane S. Martin ’43 Oct. 1, 2018, South Pasadena, Calif.

Diane Stanton Martin was born in Pasadena in 1929. She attended Poly, Anoakia, and Westridge. Upon graduation, she attended the University of Southern California.

Diane was married for 43 years to Varick (Vic) Dey Martin Jr. She was a member of the Pasadena Garden Club and the Town Club and did volunteer work for the Junior League, Planned Parenthood, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and other organizations. Diane taught botany and gardening at the Los Angeles County Arboretum for 15 years.

Well known as a gardener, cook, and hostess, Diane loved her friends, family, dogs, and garden. She is survived by her two children and their families, including

three grandchildren. Diane’s siblings, Peyton Stanton ’30 and Parthenia Stanton McComb ’28, attended Poly, as well as her niece, Parthenia McComb Rath ’52.

Judith K. Bergman ’44 Aug. 19, 2018, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Judith “Judy” Kimball Bergman passed away peacefully in her sleep at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara on Aug. 19, 2018, with her family by her side. Judy was born on April 1, 1930, in Montclair, N.J., to Virginia and Lewis Kimball. She and her family, including her brother, Lewis Kimball ’41, moved to Pasadena in 1936. After attending Poly, Judy graduated from Smith College in Massachusetts with a degree in history.

Shortly thereafter she returned to California and went to work for Caltech, where she met and married her husband of 65 years, Gunnar Bergman. Judy was a devoted mother of two children, Charlie ’72 and Ginny ’76. After moving to Montecito in 1976, Judy began a decades-long career in real estate. She volunteered with the Pasadena Junior League and the Santa Barbara Music Academy of the West. With her friend Gay Bryant, Judy founded the annual Cate School Dog Dash, which ran from 1992 to 1994.

Proceeds from the Dog Dash funded the Cate School Child Care Center, which today serves Cate School faculty and Carpinteria families. Judy’s closest friend, Priscilla Dunn Flynn ’44, captured Judy’s spirit best: “Judy was a pioneer woman. If she had been in a covered wagon heading west, she would have made any camp feel like home, she would have solved every problem, she would have been fearless, and she would have loved every minute of it.” Judy is survived by her husband, Gunnar; her children, Ginny and Charlie; and her four grandchildren.

Elise Wear ’46 May 13, 2018, Alhambra, Calif.

Elise is predeceased by her brother, Alfred Thomas ’43. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Richard and Winnie Wear, parents of John ’04, Rebecca ’06, and Hannah ’09.

Pierre Prodis ’49 May 24, 2018, Carmel, Calif.

Pierre was a noted San Jose architect and civic leader for decades. He was an artist, storyteller, and gourmet. Founder and principal architect of Prodis Associates Architects AIA in San Jose, he designed numerous buildings and residences throughout Santa Clara Valley, including the St. James Park Office Tower, the Santa Clara teen and senior centers, and the Sacred Heart Community Service building in San Jose. He also served as the local associated architect for what is now SAP Center. At San Jose’s History Park, his projects included the Trolley Barn, Light Tower, and Gordon House. He is survived by his wife, Carol, and his children and grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Cynthia Lang ’52, and her three children.

Elaine P. Ward ’49 July 12, 2018, Shelburne, Mass.

Elaine Pottenger Ward was a life-long resident of Pasadena and San Marino. She was born Oct. 8, 1934, to the late Dr. Robert T. Pottenger Sr. and Helen Cornell Powers Pottenger Hops. Elaine attended Poly, Westridge, and Scripps College. Elaine was an active member of the Pasadena community; she was involved with fundraising for cancer research and participated as a coach and leader in the Southern California and national racewalking communities and as a USAA track and field official. Elaine founded the North American Racewalking Foundation and the North American Racewalking Institute. She published monthly racewalking newsletters, contributed articles to Masters News and Runners World, and published a number of books. Elaine is survived by her daughters, Laura McConnaughey ’76 and Daphne Gill ’79, and their families, including six grandchildren.

Sylvia Hewitt Eliot ’50 Jan. 3, 2019, Silver Spring, Md. Sylvia is predeceased by siblings Harvey Hewitt ’33, Melanie Hewitt ’43, and Ashley Hewitt ’47. She is survived by her husband, John Eliot ’48.

William “John” Walther ’67 2018, Keizer, Ore. Stuart O. Wilson ’67 Sept. 24, 2017, Corvallis, Mont.

William Banks ’76 Oct. 18, 2018, South Pasadena, Calif.

William Banks was born on Dec. 5, M O R E A L U M N I N E W S AT W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

1957, in Los Angeles to William W. Banks Sr. ’36 and Emilie King Spear ’47.

Bill grew up in San Marino and attended Poly, as well as San Marino High School, where he graduated both as a top student athlete and president of his senior class. Following his graduation, he attended UC Berkeley, graduating in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. In 1991, Bill and his wife, Robin, settled in South Pasadena, where they raised two sons, Alexander and Thomas.

Bill and Robin, who knew each other since their teenage years, were lucky enough to celebrate their 30-year wedding anniversary this past October. Bill was an avid and talented skier, cyclist, and sailboarder. Along with his athletic prowess, he enjoyed his sons’ athletic ventures, serving both as a coach and mentor to them and many others in the several athletic youth programs. He was a commercial real estate development professional with a highly successful 37-year career. Most recently, he served as vice president of real estate for Whittier Trust from 2012 to 2018 and as a former executive of EJM Development from 1995 to 2010.

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graduated from USC in 1992. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and an enthusiastic Trojan while on campus and continued his unwavering support of Trojan teams throughout his life. He was a commercial real estate broker, specializing in office leasing at Cushman and Wakefield and Colliers International. Kinden was a dedicated member of the Tournament of Roses, especially relishing his assignments to the football committee. He leaves behind his wife of 19 years, Kristin; a son, Connor; and a daughter, Caroline, of Pasadena.

In addition, he is survived by his parents, RoseMary Mitchell and Norman Mitchell; his sister, Carey McGowan of Nashville, Tenn.; and his brother, Jonathan Mitchell (Christine) of Orange, Calif. His nieces and nephews include Maclain, Michael, Bella, Audrey, and Lucy.

Dedrick B. Kon ’96 Oct. 21, 2018, La Crescenta, Calif.

Dedrick was an anesthesiologist and lived with his wife in La Crescenta. He passed away from complications related to a car collision earlier in 2018.

Margaret Rodiger Carey ’80 2018, Pasadena, Calif.

Leslie A. Pray ’82 Nov. 3, 2018, Claremont, Calif.

After graduating from Poly, Leslie received her bachelor’s degree from the UC Berkeley in 1986 and her graduate degrees from the University of Vermont (master’s degree in 1994 and doctorate in 1997). She was an uncommonly talented researcher and writer.

Although her graduate work was published in the prestigious journals Evolution and Conservation Biology, she remained an unassuming and humble scientist. Leslie authored dozens of scientific manuscripts, papers, and articles. In addition, she was working on a memoir, a novel, and several short stories at the time of her death. She was a brilliant, funny, and gentle soul who loved the outdoors, animals, writing, science, vegan cooking, and spending time with her loved ones. Leslie leaves behind her life partner, Betsy Hipple; her brothers, Ross and Max ’78, and Max’s wife, Stacey; sister, Marlene, and her partner, David; niece, Kelly ’09; nephews, Henry ’12 and Owen; and many friends she considered family.

Kinden E. Mitchell ’88 May 24, 2018, Pasadena, Calif.

Kinden was born in Pasadena on Jan. 10, 1972, to RoseMary Lynch Mitchell and Norman Mitchell. He attended Poly and Flintridge Preparatory School and

Ann Nelson, Poly’s Lower and Middle School service learning coordinator for 26 years (1987-2013), passed away on Feb. 20, 2019.

Ann will live on in the tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people she touched through her work building the service learning program at Poly and her work on the board with the Educators Consortium of Service Learning.

In her work and in her life, Ann never wanted the spotlight. She felt the people she helped deserved it. She was the same way with her art. She had a true artistic gift. She was very talented in many artistic media, her favorite being watercolor.

Her life was a true love story. She passed in the arms of her husband, Robert, exactly 54 years to the day of their first date when they were 16 years old in 1965. She left us much too quickly and much too soon, but her legacy is strong.

P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

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PANTHERS

IN THE ZONE Student-Athlete Leadership Council takes efforts beyond playing field The Student-Athlete Leadership Council (SALC) is an organization within Poly Athletics comprising studentathletes whose goal is to make a difference at Poly and in the community. The council’s focus is to provide a positive influence through student-athlete leadership on teams, as representatives in the Poly community, and by serving the Pasadena community at large. This year, SALC received a number of applications, and 19 student-athletes were selected. The students chose to divide themselves into three groups focus on spirit, education, and outreach.

The goal of the spirit team is to boost the Panther spirit at athletic events by encouraging the Poly community to support all of the sports teams. This group designs the student section T-shirt that is distributed to the entire student body at the beginning of the school year; they also organize tailgates. This fall they hosted a pep rally that celebrated all of the fall sports teams. The event engaged many students in the activities and allowed them to demonstrate their spirit and support toward their fellow student-athletes. They will continue to host tailgates throughout the school year to promote fan involvement and school spirit.

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PANTHERS IN THE ZONE

The education group has been working to provide resources for Poly’s student-athletes. They invited Jennifer Barnum Thayer ’92 to speak to the crosscountry team about proper nutrition for an endurance athlete. In the winter, they hosted guest speaker and Poly parent Andrew Friedman, president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, to speak to the community about his unconventional path toward an MLB front office career, the rise of analytics in sports, and the value in multi-sport athletes, which aligns with Poly’s philosophy. In the spring, SALC hopes to reprise last year’s college night, during which a panel of collegiate athletes from various levels shared their experiences playing sports in college.

SALC’s outreach team strives to make an effort beyond themselves and the campus. This group encourages Poly’s teams to volunteer their time beyond the confines of their field of play. For example, the cross-country team volunteered to hand out water to runners at the LA Marathon, and each year they run an Olympic Day with fourth-graders at McKinley School.

PANTHERS

IN THE ZONE

SALC member Rory Xanders ’19 reflects on a recent outreach experience In November, members of the Poly girls JV soccer team participated in a community service event run by Lineage Dance Company, founded in 1999

by Poly alumna Hilary Thomas ’94. Lineage is a contemporary dance company dedicated to raising support and awareness for nonprofit organizations, as well as to making the arts accessible to all demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds, including a class for Parkinson’s patients. I coordinated the team’s participation in this project; we would be stringing paper cranes and attaching them to umbrellas for a Parkinson’s convention in Kyoto.

As soon as we walked in, we were immediately welcomed by several of the ladies who worked with the Lineage Dance Company. They taught us how to string the cranes and assigned some of us to the task of connecting each of the strings to parasols. I loved seeing all of my teammates laughing and chatting as they worked together to string hundreds of cranes.

This event allowed us to bond more as a team while also supporting a local organization achieve their goal of stringing 14,000 origami cranes for the Parkinson’s convention.

During each sports season, the other members of the service team and I reach out to the sports teams to encourage them to participate in a service event as both a form of team bonding and a way to increase Poly student-athletes’ involvement in our local community. So far this year, in addition to the soccer team’s project at Lineage and the cross-country team’s distributing water during the marathon, the football teams volunteered at Hillsides, boys Varsity water polo went on a hike and collected trash, and boys JV soccer ran a clinic for kids at La Pintoresca Park. Our group will continue to promote community outreach among Poly sports teams with the hope that more will be inspired to dedicate their time and energy to local organizations.

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PANTHERS IN THE ZONE

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P.S. Charlene Beerman Since coming to Poly as a part-time coach in 1982, Charlene Beerman has embraced a variety of roles. Wellloved by the Poly community, Beerwoman (as she is affectionately known, differentiating her from her husband, Athletic Director Steve Beerman), reflects on what it is like to work in all three school divisions.

Q: You married your husband, Steve (Poly’s current athletic director), while working at Poly, and you raised two Poly alumni, Logan ’12 and Kyle ’14. What was it like growing your family in the Poly community?

Steve and I first met when we attended Arcadia High School. He was a couple of grades ahead. After college, I ran into Steve and Dale Rasmussen [a fellow Arcadia alumnus and now Poly’s director of facilities] at a restaurant, and they encouraged me to come work at Poly. I started coaching part time at Poly in 1982. I left Poly for a couple of years until a full-time position opened up in 1987. Since then, I have held various roles at Poly, including a Middle School advisor and a coach for volleyball, soccer, water polo, swimming and diving, as well as almost all of the Middle School teams. I am a mentor for SALC (Student-Athlete Leadership Council), and I help with the admission process.

I loved having my kids at Poly. They had exceptional teachers and made great friends, and we were able to see most of their extracurricular activities at Poly. Their cousins, who were a bit older, also attended Poly, so that was pretty special.

Q: What is something you love about what you do?

The students! I teach kindergarten, fifth grade, sixth grade, and eighth grade, and I coach high schoolers. The kinders give me hugs, the Middle Schoolers make me laugh, and the Upper Schoolers always impress me. It is so fun to watch these students grow over the years.

Q: What is something about Poly that has changed from when you started working here?

Poly started in pre-K back then and probably had about 125 fewer students. Since then, there are lots of new buildings, a parking garage, and a pool. Scott Gym was new back then.

Q: What is something on your bucket list?

I want to travel to Serbia. Both my grandparents were from there, and I’d love to visit that area, including Croatia and Greece.

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

My superpower would be flight so I would not have to sit in traffic.

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Inside: Panthers in the Zone

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Class Notes and Alumni Profiles

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P.S. Charlene Beerman

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