Riverdale Country School Quad Winter 2019

Reunion 2018

WINTER 2019 /// VOLUME XLI /// NUMBER 1

Guess What Year?

Guess What Year? Can you guess what year this photo was taken? Send your answer to rgottlieb@riverdale.edu with the subject line “Guess What Year.� The winner(s) will receive a Riverdale prize.

ON THE COVER WINTER 2019 /// VOLUME XLI /// NUMBER 1

Homecoming ’18

CONTENTS

HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome 02

| Letter from Dominic Randolph Head of School

03

| Letter from Jessica Elghanayan Shell ’95 President, Alumni Association Executive Committee

04

Reunion ’18 Alumni from the class years ending in 3s and 8s, returned to campus to reunite, reconnect and reminisce with their classmates and former faculty.

Outstanding Events 04 | Homecoming/Reunion ’18 06

| Alumni Awards Ceremony

07

| Alumni Panel Discussion

14 | Riverdale Community Action Day

Riverdale Alumni 08 | Alumni Profiles 13

| College Destinations

15

| Rick Bates ’57 Speaker Series

16

| Class Notes

37

| Remembering Al Davis

Alumni Profiles Five alumni, from varied generations, chat about their careers and Riverdale.

08

14 QUAD is published by the Development and Alumni Affairs Office:

Riverdale Community Action Day Alumni, parents, students, and faculty volunteer their time and energy to support local community partners.

Ann Grasing, Chief Development Officer Robin Gottlieb, Director of Alumni Affairs and Institutional Engagement

Rachel Horowitz, Development Assistant Design: KCLcreative.com Printer:

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THE RCS COMMUNITY

Letter from the

HEAD OF SCHOOL February 2019

Dear Members of the Alumni Community, As you may have noticed, it has been a while since you last received a copy of Quad. Over the past few years, we have been re-evaluating our school magazine with an eye toward bringing you a more interesting, higher-quality annual publication. Rest assured that any changes to format will not impede the mix of stories and alumni news we strive to provide in order to keep you connected with one another and with Riverdale.

While our plans are not yet finalized, we do realize that a compendium of class notes and Riverdale updates is overdue, so we are pleased to share the enclosed with you at this time. We hope you enjoy the following pages of updates from your friends, classmates, and peers, and look forward to presenting you with an all-new Quad in short order. Until then, we will continue to keep you informed through our newsletters and electronic communications. (submit your email to alumni@riverdale.edu if you believe you are missing out!).

Cheers,

We will continue to keep you informed through our newsletters and electronic communications.

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Dominic A.A. Randolph Head of School

Dear Alumni, This year has gotten off to a wonderful start!

Both campuses are buzzing with excitement as the students are fully immersed in Riverdale’s abundant academic and extracurricular offerings. It was wonderful to see so many faculty, students, and alumni on campus on October 20 for another successful Homecoming/Reunion weekend. I hope that all of those who returned for Reunion were thrilled to reunite with old friends and faculty and to experience Riverdale’s beautiful campus.

RCS provides an invaluable academic foundation for which I am very grateful.

As you flip through this magazine and reflect on how much Riverdale helped you learn and grow, I encourage you to reconnect with and support the School in any way that is meaningful to you. There are a number of ways to get involved through volunteer opportunities and by contributing to the Annual Fund and R+ Campaign. No gift is too small, as we are looking not only to maximize funds raised but also to significantly increase alumni participation.

Sincerely,

Jessica Elghanayan Shell ’95 President Alumni Association Executive Committee

RCS provides an invaluable academic foundation for which I am very grateful.

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HOMECOMING/REUNION ’18

Homecoming/

REUNION 2018 The gray autumn day did not keep away the 1,200 alumni, students, parents, and faculty who returned to campus on Saturday, October 20 for Homecoming/Reunion ’18.

Alumni from the class years ending in 3s and 8s also returned to campus to celebrate their respective reunions. Everyone enjoyed reminiscing and reconnecting with one another, as well as participating in a full day of events and activities, which included: informative faculty talks, an awards ceremony, a panel discussion, lunch under the tent, class photos, and campus tours. The under-12 crowd enjoyed a magic show featuring “Magical Dave” Nieder ’95, as well as face painting and games.

Many participants also had the opportunity to cheer on the Falcons during the many winning athletic games against Dalton, including: Girls Varsity Soccer, with a final score of 1-0; Boys Varsity Soccer, with a 3-2 win; and Varsity Tennis, which was victorious with a final score of 6-0. Another big win this year was in Water Polo, with Riverdale winning over Trinity 16-3.

Above: Class of ’93

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Above: Diane Levbarg Klein ’68, Susan Poll Osnoss ’68, John M. Davis ’68 and Rick Klauber ’68

Unfortunately, RCS was not as lucky in Field Hockey, with a 0-1 loss to Holy Child, or in Football, which suffered a 0-9 loss to Hackley.

The Reunion festivities also carried over to many evening events.

The Classes of ’68, ’78, ’93, and ’03 started their weekend celebration early in New York City on Friday, October 19. On Saturday, October 20 the Classes of ’63, ’68, ’73, and ’78 enjoyed a lovely on-campus cocktail reception and dinner, while the Classes of ’83, ’88, ’93, ’08, and ’13 headed back down to Manhattan to continue their Reunion merriments. All in all, everyone who attended had a fun weekend.

Top: Class of ’78 Above: Joan Diamond Steinberg ’58, Alice Tetelman ’58, and Ursula Noether Blumenthal ’58 Left: Jay Elvove ’68, Alexander Arapoglou ’68, Thomas Tchang ’68, Steven Glusman ’68, and Neal Popper ’68 Right: Cheering for RCS

Above: “Magical Dave” Nieder ’95 entertains students

Above: Edmond Ezra ’63, Ira Grandberg ’63, Arnold Eggers ’63 and Peter Philip ’63

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HOMECOMING/REUNION ’18

Presentation

ALUMNI AWARDS

Stefanie Firtell Donath ’91

Congratulations to all the recipients of this year’s awards ceremony!

Ellen Nachtigall Biben ’83

Each year during Homecoming, Riverdale recognizes the accomplishments, volunteerism, and commitment of alumni through the following three awards: The Reunion Class Award, The Ernest McAneny Alumni Spirit Award, and the Alumni Achievement Award.

During the ceremony, the Reunion Class Award was presented to the Class of 1958 for its members’ unsurpassed dedication and enthusiasm, and their strong and meaningful connection to one another and to Riverdale.

Stefanie Firtell Donath ’91 was the recipient of The Ernest McAneny Alumni Spirit Award, which is presented to a member of the alumni body in recognition and appreciation of consistent, broad, and substantial service to Riverdale. Stefanie has been an active member of the Riverdale Alumni Association Executive Committee, was co-founder of Riverdale Community Action Day, is a Class Correspondent, co-chaired the Lower School Annual Fund, the Lower School Homecoming Committee, and the School’s Faculty Appreciation Day.

The final award of the day was the Alumni Achievement Award, which was presented to Ellen Nachtigall Biben ’83. The award is given to Riverdale alumni who have demonstrated exemplary service and outstanding personal achievement within their chosen field or endeavors. Ellen’s professional accomplishments include: being appointed to the Court of Claims by Governor Andrew Cuomo, sitting as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and being appointed by New York State Chief Judge Janet DiFiore as Administrative Judge of New York County Supreme Court, Criminal Term. In addition to her judicial duties, Ellen teaches Government Ethics as an Adjunct Professor at New York University School of Law.

Class of ’58

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THE RHYTHM OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

David Schulhof ’89, Drew Cohen ’86, Claude Kelly ’99, Jesse Harris ’87, and Nancy Marcus Seklir ’82

Jesse Harris ’87

he Third Annual Homecoming Alumni Panel Discussion, The Rhythm of the Music Industry, was held on Saturday, October 20, 2018. David Schulhof ’89, president of music at AGC Studios and co-founder of IM Global Music, moderated the panel. Panelists included: Nancy Marcus Seklir ’82, executive vice president, business and legal affairs for Columbia Records; Drew Cohen ’86, president and CEO of Music Theater International; Jesse Harris ’87, Grammy-winning songwriter, singer, guitarist, and producer; and Claude Kelly ’99, Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer. The panelists discussed how the music industry has changed over the years, whether artists are being paid less today, and the significance of online music services. After the discussion, Jesse Harris played a song from his latest album, Aquarelle, and then sang his Grammy Award Song of the Year, “Don’t Know Why,” which was on Norah Jones’ debut album.

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ALUMNI PROFILES

ALUMNI

Q &

A

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PROFILES Question and Answer

Bill Gardner is the son of D. Earl Gardner, who was a teacher, coach, dormitory head, assistant headmaster, and Boys School principal at RCS from 1920 until 1957. He grew up living on the Fieldston Road campus and is one of many who have attended the school from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. After Riverdale, he attended Bowdoin College, earning a BA in mathematics. He entered the Army in the fall of 1957 as an Army ROTC 2LT and later accepted a Regular Army commission. He retired as a Colonel in the Military Intelligence branch in 1982. He served in Vietnam, Korea, and numerous stateside assignments, including posts at the Naval War College and the Pentagon. A Master Army Aviator, he flew 1,523 helicopter and 2,265 fixed-wing hours, of which 352 were in combat. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, and nine Air Medals. He earned an MS in systems management from the University of Southern California while in the service. He was inducted into the U.S. Army’s Intelligence Hall of Fame in 1992. From 1982 until 2007, he consulted for various defense contractors. Bill and his wife, Kathleen Ross, currently live in Tucson, AZ. They have three children and five grandchildren. He has served as his RCS class representative for the last 20 years.

Q. WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO ATTEND RIVERDALE IN THE 1940S AND EARLY 1950S? A. There were, of course, three separate schools then: the primary school, which went through third grade; the Boys School; and the Girls School along the Hudson. The dormitory housed some 80 boys.

It was more structured, the Boys School started every day with a brief Chapel service – a hymn or two, a prayer, and announcements. We sat by class, with the seniors in the back rows by the main door.

There were outdoor plays, mostly Shakespeare, on the stage in front of the dorm, as well as the graduation ceremony. There was no question the quality of the teaching was absolutely first-rate.

There was a more stringent dress code than today.

Q. AS THE CHILD OF A RIVERDALE FACULTY MEMBER, HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE UNIQUE? A. Both my brother (Dan, Class of 1944) and I knew intuitively from an early age how blessed we were to get such schooling as RCS provided and did our best, apparently reasonably successfully, to behave accordingly. My father and I had an agreement early on that when we discussed goings-on at the School it would first be established whether he was speaking as my father or as the principal. Anything discussed, between father and son, stayed in the family and he recognized my other answers might be less than straightforward.

My classmates must have recognized this. They all told me then and over the years that they had great respect for my father. It was never an issue.

Also, my father arranged for me to board in the dormitory when rooms were available. I did this for several years, including my senior year. He and my mother would eat their evening meals with the dorm boys and that was often the only time I would see them for days at a time. I signed out on weekends to go the 100 yards to my home on campus. There was a Middle School master who did not know I was the principal’s son until the second semester. My father did teach me geometry and gave me a B+ despite my 89.6 average, citing his acute awareness of my less-than-diligent study habits, as I was at home most of that year.

Q. HOW HAS THE SCHOOL CHANGED SINCE THEN? WHAT HAS REMAINED THE SAME OR REMAINED TRUE TO THE SCHOOL’S ROOTS? A. It is now of course coed. The next biggest changes for me over the 65 years are the facilities and expansion. There are several new science buildings and the main building was expanded out over the Lower Field. The dorm was converted to a library and offices. There are the outstanding athletic facilities, including the gym and new pool.

The property south of what was the upper field was acquired, and was an asylum in my day. From what I have read and what I have seen, it is clear the outstanding education provided by Riverdale has not changed nor has its ability to develop outstanding, well-rounded students and find them their college of choice. It goes without saying that the quality, dedication, and professionalism of today’s teachers have not changed over the years.

Q. WHAT RIVERDALIANS OR RIVERDALE EXPERIENCE MOST INFLUENCED YOUR LIFE, ASIDE FROM YOUR FATHER? A. My father taught and served RCS for 38 years. He was not alone, however, in total service – most every teacher had taught or would teach there as long, if not longer. They were dedicated and professional, so very good with boys. They included Mr. Murray, American history, 40 years; Mr. Carney, English, 28 years; Mr. Luby, Latin, 30 years; Mr. Baldwin, classics, 34 years: Mrs. Guiney, Middle School, 44 years; Mr. Cobb, chemistry, 38 years; Mr. Klue, Head of the Lower School, 45 years; and Mr. Page, math, 37 years. I could go on, as there were many others, teachers and staff, who served so well and for such long periods. I cannot calculate the profound impact such outstanding and dedicated teachers and staff had on me. My father called them the “Old Guard.”

They not only taught me their subjects, they taught me integrity, professionalism, dedication, and caring.

As to experiences, it would be impossible to cite any one. The passing years have melded my life through graduation from RCS into nothing but fond memories of good friends, one super win as the School’s #1 tennis player, and excellent teachers. I did attend Camp Riverdale for three years as a camper and counselor. I had great experiences, and learned a lot of skills and self-reliance.

There were many teachers and staff, who served so well and for such long periods.

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ALUMNI PROFILES Q. HOW DID YOU GET INTO LITERARY MANAGEMENT? OF THE BOOKS YOU HAVE HELPED PUBLISH, WHICH HAVE BEEN THE MOST REWARDING FOR YOU?

KAREN GANTZ ’68 Karen Gantz is a literary property lawyer, literary agent, and president of Karen Gantz Literary Management. She represents such luminaries as Alec Baldwin (A Promise to Ourselves, Nevertheless, You Can’t Spell America Without Me), Floyd Abrams, Alan Dershowitz, Michael Cherkasky, and Kathleen Turner. She is also the author of Taste of New York (Addison-Wesley 1993) and Superchefs ( John Wiley & Sons 1996). Previously, she was appointed to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property at the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Currently, she sits on the executive committee and is a board member of the Nominating Committee of the Humanities (the New York branch of the NEH), and also on the Chairman’s Council of the New-York Historical Society.

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A. I started my law practice in the corporate law field and was particularly attracted to intellectual property because it was about ideas and the exploitation of ideas. I worked on real estate syndication deals at Proskauer Rose and was more interested in drafting documents for theater offerings, publishing, television, and film deals because of the subject matter. I hosted book talks around the city in independent book stores, raised money for Broadway productions and enjoyed helping authors create books from the glimmer of an idea to the finished product. There is something noble in creating a book that people can read. As Emily Dickinson said, “There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.”

Q. CAN YOU SPEAK A BIT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE RIVERDALE SCHOOL FOR GIRLS? WERE THERE ANY SPECIFIC TEACHERS OR CLASSES/ BOOKS THAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE YOUR CAREER? A. Riverdale was a nurturing place for me. Having come from a family focused on intellectual curiosity and high moral character, Riverdale helped continue my home values, developing a sense of resilience and determination to do my best. My parents were grateful for our formidable education since they also came from that kind of background where education was valued. Mrs. McGeer, my English teacher, demanded exactitude from us in our writing. While creative writing was not something that came easily to me, I found it helpful for analyzing poetry and dissecting Shakespeare.

Much of what I memorized in Hamlet and Macbeth I remember today. To be or not to be. She taught us to be: to be active, to make a difference in the world. Mrs. McGeer visited me my first semester at Vassar College, and I was really impressed that she cared so much for her students.

Q. HOW HAS THE SCHOOL CHANGED? WHAT HAS REMAINED THE SAME OR, TRUE TO THE SCHOOL’S ROOTS?

A. What has remained the same at Riverdale is encouragement of intellectual curiosity, independent thinking, and the sense of responsibility toward the environment and the land.

I think Dominic Randolph has transformed the school brilliantly. I have really enjoyed getting to know him while I have been an alum. There is much more focus now on critical thinking and analysis, good judgment, and character, and less memorization and a more expansive view of what a great education should entail, including clinics and innovative opportunities in and outside the classroom. Randolph’s focus on character, innovation, and grit is what makes Riverdale students so special.

Q. WHAT KEEPS YOU CONNECTED WITH RIVERDALE 50 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION? A. I attended public school in Harrison, New York, until ninth grade and yearned for a better education in literature and writing. I asked my parents to attend Riverdale because I wanted to become a better writer and reader of literature, and my parents and I felt that Riverdale excelled in that arena. I feel extremely connected to the School because I appreciated the opportunity to have a Riverdale education. I am so proud that my son, Benjamin, attended Riverdale and graduated from Columbia University. There is something special about the lessons learned and tools acquired while a young student that fare you well for life.

I enjoyed going to an all-girls school because I felt that scholarship and sports were focused on deeply without any distractions. After school, I chaired the International Affairs Club at the Boys School. In addition to becoming fluent in French, attending an all-girls Catholic school in Lyon, France or traveling with my class, and playing on the tennis team, I felt that at Riverdale, girls would speak up in class, and learn from each other and create deep bonds of friendship.

Recently, as my 50th Reunion celebrations were under way, several people who attended Riverdale asked if I would review their books, and I was flattered. I also enjoyed speaking on a publishing panel at the reunion.

Keith Levenson is a director, conductor and arranger for the theater as well as concert and television stages. Keith has conducted Broadway and national touring productions of Annie, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Who’s Tommy, Annie Warbucks, Big River, Chess, The Bridges of Madison Country, and the Tony and Grammy Award-winning production of Dreamgirls. Keith is also proud to have worked with many artists, including The Who, Kiss, Yes, Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, Gary Brooker, Billy Preston, Eric Burdon, Darlene Love, Peter Frampton, and Nigel Kennedy. In addition, Keith was the music and drama teacher at Riverdale Country School from 1980 to 1984.

KEITH LEVENSON ’78 Q. SINCE GRADUATION, YOU’VE HAD AN IMPRESSIVE CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS A COMPOSER AND CONDUCTOR, AMONG OTHER ROLES. WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS FOR YOU? A. One of the biggest highlights of my career is having the opportunity to conduct The Who’s Tommy with the Boston Pops and other symphony orchestras including The Detroit Symphony and The Chicago Symphony. I also loved conducting the first national tour of Jason Robert Brown’s Bridges of Madison County and, of course, over 3,500 performances of Annie.

Q. HOW DID RIVERDALE INSPIRE YOU TO PURSUE THIS CAREER? HOW DID IT PREPARE YOU? A. I was a pretty self-directed student and was always very involved in music and musical theater. I remember that Barbara Lesser, the Director of Upper School activities, was very encouraging and supportive, as was Richard Karman.

Riverdale offered so many electives that it allowed me to pick and choose what I was interested in taking.

The School also offered a safe place to be creative and to do the productions I was interested in. I do not think my career would have taken off as it did had I not attended Riverdale.

I do not think my career would have taken off as it did had I not attended Riverdale.

Q. WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO RETURN TO RIVERDALE TO TEACH MUSIC AND DRAMA IN THE 1980S? HOW DID YOUR RIVERDALE EXPERIENCE AS A TEACHER COMPARE TO YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE? A. I felt the need to give back and becoming a teacher allowed that. Jennifer Hayes, Chair of the drama/ arts department, offered me a place to try things out. I rarely heard the word no. I worked with the Middle School Chorus, Seventh Grade Piano Lab, and the Upper School drama department.

I must say, I had a very similar experience as both a student and as a teacher in that I was allowed to be creative and try out new things. Becoming a teacher at RCS was a natural transition. The Upper School had a terrific bunch of students, and I really enjoyed working on the student/faculty productions.

Q. DO YOU HAVE ANY PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL MEMORIES OF TEACHERS, CLASSES, FRIENDS, OR EXPERIENCES FROM YOUR TIME AT RIVERDALE? A. The most rewarding experience was writing and directing a show called Getting There. It was all original material that was done during Gordon P. Stillman’s last year as headmaster at Riverdale. There were 108 people in the show, which was held in the Perkins Auditorium.

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ALUMNI PROFILES

Q. AS A FOUNDING PARTNER OF TAO GROUP, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HEADING? A. I see that the design and décor of a venue will need to move forward in the world of social media.

Experiential moments will have as much equity and impact as food and service at times and we will be seeing a lot more hospitality venues spending more time and energy on that.

JASON STRAUSS ’93 Jason Strauss is a highly regarded hospitality industry veteran with 22 years of experience as a marketer, operator, and developer of nightclubs and restaurants.

A native New Yorker, Strauss has found success through numerous endeavors, and his mark on the hospitality world spans the United States and beyond. Strauss and his partners are behind some of the most successful nightclub and restaurant brands to open in the past decade, including but not limited to Marquee, TAO, Avenue, and LAVO.

Q. CAN YOU SPEAK A BIT ABOUT YOUR OWN TRAJECTORY AND ANY HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER? A. My partner Noah Tepperberg and I had owned restaurants and nightclubs in New York, but the real trajectory was 15 years ago when we decided to partner up with Marc Packer and Rich Wolf and open TAO in Las Vegas and I, as one of the partners, went to Las Vegas to open and manage that property. It took a big bet on Las Vegas, and it ended up being the right bet, not only for myself but for the company.

Q. WAS THERE ANY PERSON OR EXPERIENCE FROM RIVERDALE THAT HAD A LONG- TERM INFLUENCE ON YOU? A. Our class dean, Mike Michelson, had a really long-term effect on me. He was there during some very difficult times and mentored me through a lot of times when I lacked confidence or made mistakes, as any dumb high school kid would, and he was able to teach me life lessons that still help me to this day.

Q. WHAT IS YOUR MOST VIVID MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT RIVERDALE? A. I think my most vivid memory was playing football. Our sophomore year, we were fourth in the state and undefeated. I was one of only two sophomores on the team that year. By my senior year, becoming captain and playing football is a very fond memory.

After graduating RCS in 2013, Cam Clarke pursued degrees in human rights and philosophy and minors in African Studies and African-American studies at Trinity College, Hartford, CT. In addition to teaching at RCS, Cam has coordinated the International Hip Hop Festival at Trinity College, which highlights the educational and community-building aspects of hip hop. Hip hop educators and acts from all over the world are brought in for a four-day festival focusing on “love, unity, and having fun.” She brought her hip hop pedagogical interest into her classroom when she returned to RCS in 2017.

CAM CLARKE ’13 Q. WHAT DREW YOU TO A CAREER IN ACADEMICS? DID YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE AT RIVERDALE HAVE ANY INFLUENCE ON YOUR DECISION TO MOVE INTO THIS FIELD?

I have appreciated pushing students to think critically as a teacher and a coach.

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A. I have always been drawn to spaces of learning, whether that be in the classroom or in the other parts of institutions that make up the school environment. As a student, I was always appreciative of the intellectual challenges that I experienced in the classroom, on the volleyball court, and on the track, which followed me to my undergraduate institution. I came to academics because I wanted to help support students grow and develop the way that educators like Manisha Doran did for me. I was fortunate enough to have been taught by amazing people that I can call my colleagues today.

Q. SINCE RETURNING AS A PENN FELLOW, HOW HAS YOUR RIVERDALE TEACHING EXPERIENCE BEEN? HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE?

COLLEGE DESTINATION A. Teaching at Riverdale has been even more challenging than my student experience because all I do is in service of the students, whereas all I had to do was focus on me when I was a student. As a teacher and a coach, I have appreciated pushing students to think critically. My reality, also, has become being someone who students of color approach to unpack their experiences. A lot of their stories have mirrored mine as a student – feelings of not being seen and not having their histories reflected in our curriculum. As a student, I thought I had no way to highlight different perspectives to the community and I have chosen to do just that upon my return. I chose to help co-coordinate monthlong programming for Black History Month, Asian-American Pacific Islander Month, and Latinx Heritage Month with students to show them that they are important enough to be recognized and are supported in trying to do so. I am trying to create the spaces I wish I had as a student.

COLLEGE DESTINATIONS FOR THE

CLASS OF 2018

BOSTON COLLEGE (2) BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY (2)

ROCHESTER INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

BROWN UNIVERSITY (7)

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

SMITH COLLEGE

COLGATE UNIVERSITY (2)

STANFORD UNIVERSITY (3)

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY (5)

SUNY ALBANY (2)

CORNELL UNIVERSITY (6)

SWARTHMORE COLLEGE

Q. WHAT MOST EXCITED YOU ABOUT RETURNING TO RIVERDALE TO TEACH? A. I was excited most about building community within my classroom. The teachers I had at Riverdale who were most impactful were the ones who cared about me holistically, who tried to get to know me. I wanted to be that type of teacher for my students. It definitely helped that I was teaching my favorite subject! I felt connected with the material and excited to build connections within the mini-community of my classroom.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (3)

THE NEW SCHOOL

DUKE UNIVERSITY (3)

TUFTS UNIVERSITY (2)

EMORY UNIVERSITY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY (5)

TULANE UNIVERSITY (2)

Q. WAS THERE ONE RIVERDALE CLASS, PEER, OR TEACHER THAT/WHO WAS PARTICULARLY MEMORABLE FOR YOU? A. Two people had a huge impact on me, Manisha Doran and Shawn Redden. Manisha coached me in volleyball and track and was one of the few black women on campus. She is an amazing coach, the most amazing part of her being the care she gave to me throughout it all. Through injury and through microaggressions, she was there for me. I am fortunate to be able to coach alongside her and to call her my friend. Shawn was my favorite teacher at Riverdale. He was my ninth grade history teacher who focused strictly on project-based learning. I was capable of gaining knowledge in his class, with Shawn encouraging us to continue to dig deeper. He affirmed me as a learner and as a student of color in the space, as he never shied away from addressing moments of racial and gender discrimination. Both Shawn and Manisha pushed, encouraged, and empowered me. I hope to do for my students what they have done for me.

GRINNELL COLLEGE HAMILTON COLLEGE (3)

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO (7) UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN (3)

HARVARD UNIVERSITY (3)

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (8)

HAVERFORD COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY KENYON COLLEGE (2)

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY (2)

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS

MARYLAND INSTITUTE COLLEGE OF ART

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (4)

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN (2) VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY (4) NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (5) OBERLIN COLLEGE

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS (3)

PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY

WELLESLEY COLLEGE

PITZER COLLEGE

WHITMAN COLLEGE

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY

WILLIAMS COLLEGE

WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY (5)

YALE UNIVERSITY (2)

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ALUMNI PROFILES

Another Great Year for

Community Action Day The 10th Annual Riverdale Community Action Day was held on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The event, which takes place on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, had over 600 alumni, parents, students, and faculty participate in activities that support and strengthen existing relationships with several local partners, while simultaneously reconnecting with the Riverdale community.

A big “thank you” goes out to this year’s co-chairs: Edem Dzubey ’07, Betsy Goldin, Melissa Shapiro, and Elana Wexler Kobrin ’99, as well as the rest of the steering committee, for organizing an amazing day.

RCAD was established by Riverdale alumni in 2008 to teach students that service work in their communities does not end upon graduation. The only participation requirement is a willingness to give your time and energy by volunteering to support our local community partners, such as the American Red Cross, Bronx VA Medical Center, Hebrew Home for the Aged, Challenged Athletes Foundation, City Meals, and more.

THE DRIVES AND ACTIVITIES RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING HIGHLIGHTS: • 150 new/unopened gifts wrapped and donated to Ronald McDonald House • More than 100 flower pots decorated, planted, and given to the elderly residents of the Hebrew Home for the Aged • Over 85 cards created for veteran patients at the Bronx VA Medical Center • Approximately 1,600 children’s and adult books collected and 117 bookmarks decorated for Hunts Point Alliance • 144 toys with decorated boxes for the children at Rosie’s Theater Kids • 18 people donated blood, which will help some 51 people through the American Red Cross • 13 people cut their hair to make wigs for women and children undergoing cancer treatment, through Pantene Beautiful Lengths • More than 70 decorated canvas bags filled with food to be distributed through Hunts Point Alliance in the Bronx • Three boxes of cat blankets, towels, animal beds, pet food, and accessories collected for pets awaiting adoption at the Animal Care Centers of NYC • Approximately 95 bags of clothing donated to Goodwill • Over 150 electronic devices collected through the Sustainability Committee eWaste drive for recycling • Over 150 packages of menstrual hygiene products and candy created by Girls Learn International donated to POTS (Part of the Solution) • Nearly $1,600 raised for the Riverdale Teacher Enrichment Fund through the bake sale and Rice Krispies treat decorating

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BATES SPEAKER SERIES

• Nearly 500 bags of non-perishable food assembled and 110 holiday cards created for the City Meals on Wheels pantry • Seven bags of men’s clothing and a box of regular-size toiletries donated to the Bronx Shelter Project • 170 travel toiletries collected and donated to Ronald McDonald House • Nearly 50 pieces of arts and crafts supplies donated to Bronx House • Over 40 pieces of sports equipment collected for Mercy First • One game each of dodgeball and Newcomb (modified volleyball) was played in a gym packed with Riverdale students and athletes from the Challenged Athletes Foundation

Rick Bates ’57 Speaker Series

Established by the Class of 1957 in recognition of the admirable commitment of its dear friend and classmate, the Rick Bates ’57 Speaker Series aims to bring to the Riverdale community a distinguished expert whose body of work in the field of journalism, publishing, and/or related media reflects the integrity, philosophy, and vision of its namesake.

RICK BATES ’57

One of the original members of the Class of 1957, Rick made countless contributions to Riverdale throughout his 13-year tenure as a student – and continued to do so for decades thereafter. Rick served as class president in each year but one, as captain of the 1957 champion soccer team, as Student Council secretary, and as co-editor of the Riverdalian, the School’s yearbook. Beyond his enduring commitment and accomplishments, however, he was revered for his warm personality, infectious humor, and sincere friendship.

In Rick’s 1957 yearbook biography, his classmates noted their certainty that Rick’s work ethic and personality would lead to a bright future. And indeed they did. Following his graduation from Riverdale, Rick earned a BA from Yale University and an MA from Columbia University. He then embarked on a successful 50-year publishing career, which began at CBS Publishing and led him to a number of prestigious publishing companies before he joined Simon & Schuster, where he served as senior leader of the customer service organization and continued on in increasing capacities well beyond the company’s acquisition in 1998 by Pearson Education, from which he retired as Vice President of Program Management in May 2013.

Throughout this time, Rick maintained a central role in coordinating the activities and communications of his Riverdale class, one of the most active in the School’s history. Rick, who passed away on Saturday, February 2, 2019, served his Riverdale, Yale, and Columbia classmates; his military peer group; and his professional colleagues with the highest level of integrity, dedication, and selflessness throughout his life. It is for these reasons and more that the Class of 1957 chose to honor its “class president in perpetuity” by creating and funding the Rick Bates ’57 Speaker Series.

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 15

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

Class Notes PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1946 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

1947 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

1948 Victor S. Noerdlinger vnoerdlinger@comcast.net

1949 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

16 | QUAD WINTER 2019

1944

Richard Rosenblatt died peacefully at home on February 11, 2018 surrounded by his beloved wife and children. He attended Riverdale Country School, Staunton Military Academy and graduated West Point, Class of ’49. He was a pilot and OSI counterintelligence analyst in Europe, an instructor with the Foreign Legion in Algeria and a test pilot and aid to the head of the Strategic Air Command Depot in Casablanca, Morocco. His career then included industrial engineering, publishing, underwriting, and founding an advertising firm in New York. He co-authored the novel Black Gold Grey with Col. George Crall, USMC and won five gold medals in the senior Olympics in San Diego. Last year Dick published On Borrowed Time, a remarkable selection of 40 short story memoirs in which he shares dramatic events from a childhood in the south of France to encounters with movie stars, moguls, scientists, generals, explorers, athletes, crooks and sociopaths.

1945

Robert Hayes Reed passed away on March 9, 2018. He was a longtime resident of Wayne, NJ. After graduating Riverdale he received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and two graduate degrees from Columbia University. He was an employment counselor and later a supervisor for the New York Department of Labor for over 25 years. Bob enjoyed singing, acting, and history, and he loved to travel with his wife, Louise, whom he was married to for 56 years. Along with his wife, his three daughters, Amy Louise Eich, Susan Kay Dromsky-Reed, and Deborah Reed, and seven grandchildren also survive him.

1948

Stephen Reinhardt who was appointed to the federal appeals court in 1980, passed away on March 29, 2018. When at Riverdale he was known as Stephen Shapiro, changing his name when his mother divorced his father and remarried Mr. Reinhardt.

Suzanne Stafford Haynes Sword passed away March 2, 2018.

After graduating Riverdale, she attended Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA. Following Mt. Holyoke, she received her MD degree from New York Medical College in 1956 and interned at New Rochelle Hospital in New York City. Married to Richard O. Sword in August of 1953, she had three sons, Scott Charles Sword, USMC, deceased 1977; Marc Carleton Sword, and Daniel Courtney Sword.

1949

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 – 70th Riverdale Reunion

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES

1950

Arthur Dercksen ’48 sent us a memory of last visiting Paul Matsumoto, who passed away on December 27, 2017: “Paul came to RCS as a scholarship student knowing very little English. Look where the Riverdale experience led him. We had a chance get together when my deceased, Nell, and I attended the Hula Competition in Hilo (1995). While there I searched for both Paul and Robert Nagao.

I was only able to speak with Bob on the phone, but was able to visit Paul and his wife, Cora, since I was also seeing my U.S. Navy Submariner grandson (nuclear physicist).”

1951

Sad news from Dick Bernhard: “Our RCS classmate and my lifelong friend, W. Kent Montgomery, passed away in Worcester County, MA on February, 19, 2018. Our condolences to his wife Betty and their children.

My latest memory of Kent is the superb job he did organizing and publishing the 50th reunion booklet.”

Felix Santoni wrote: “I want to start by telling you of the wonderful experience I had when I returned to Riverdale on May 15, 2018 to address the Upper School.

It was an honor that I will forever remember. Rest assured that the School will forever live in my dreams and it was and continues as part of my life.”

Virginia Deane Abernethy writes: “To my surprise, I'm back on the talk circuit in a very mild way. The title of my forthcoming address is ‘Tying Together Immigration, American Incomes and the Birth Dearth. A Prediction in the Era of Trump.’”

From Australia John Lankester and his bride sent a kind invitation to their December 30, 2017 wedding with the note “This is our announcement of our intention to marry after a very long courtship​.

Even though we would like

everyone to be a part of this celebration, we know that time and distance make this impossible.”

Later, “Not much to report. We are still happy and healthy living the good life in Australia, one of the best moves I have made. Plan to cruise to Vancouver to visit with my family. Hope to catch up with a few of my West Coast classmates.”

Dorothea Hutton Scher reports: “Still rockin' and rollin' and planning my annual trip to Paris.

Jane Feder Gollin and I see each other for ladies lunch. At this point being vertical is an accomplishment, one that I have, so far mastered. Still chairing a poetry group (and writing) at a local library. Keeping up with French (I'm stubborn), though with little progress. I belong to a couple of French groups and go to Paris every year. All four adult grandchildren are doing well, as are my two daughters.”

Karl Heiser adds: “I had another July visit with Patricia and Charles Walther at their home in Suffern, NY. It was good to enjoy their hospitality and share remembrances.”

1953

We are sad to report that Thomas Herzog passed away on January 27, 2019.

Gail Fletcher Edwards sent in her following memories: “I have been thinking about three important Riverdale Girls School academic exercises that made their mark on me … and have shaped all my days: 1) In about third form, our English teacher needed to be away for about six weeks and to fill her place a teacher was brought in from Sarah Lawrence College.

Upon arrival (!!!!) she announced that in each of the six weeks we would read one of Jane Austen's books. (We were given the ‘complete’ Modern Library edition - I still have it and I have been rereading it lately.) That experience made me a reader for life!”

2) Miss Breguet's French classes.

French language (spoken, important), French culture, including a trip to the Met to see a gigantic special exhibit of French impressionist art. The cat (name escapes me) was always a part of the classroom experience.

So inspired, I majored in French/ Italian in college - I have “kept up” with them and being able to speak them has been a joy.

3) In sixth form, a study of opera was offered. Once we were into Don Giovanni, I knew that opera would be part of my life forever and so it has been.

And, I don't forget the wonderful teachers, starting with Mrs. Hope, Headmistress of the Neighborhood School, and straight through to graduation.”

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1950 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

1951 Karl R. Heiser krheiser@verizon.net

1952 Barbara Dean Schuler 17 Bronxville Road Bronxville, NY 10708

1953 William H. Gardner whginc@mindspring.com

Daniel Aubry writes: “Eighty ain't what is used to be. Still having fun.

Still happily married. Still making moolah, how bad is that?”

Walter Gans reports: “Like so many classmates, we continue to keep busy. I still practice arbitration as an arbitrator/mediator, and in recent times had several sports arbitrations, many involving doping issues in Olympic sports. We will be going to Vienna, Austria, where I’ll be arbitrating in a competition among law schools from all over the world. We then go to Prague, to visit a granddaughter who is taking a semester abroad there, with visits before Vienna and after Prague to England. I now have four grandchildren in college and one entering in August. Thankfully they all are quite close by, though the youngest is headed to Colorado!”

Bill Gardner adds: “Kathleen and I got to spend time with Walter Gans and his wife at our 60th reunion last year at Bowdoin.”

Kathleen and Bill Gardner ’53 with Walter Gans ’53 and his wife, Katherine

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 17

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1954 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1954 Nancy Bomeisler Nightingale nbnight@optimum.net

1955 Jane Samet Rogers jazzpiano77@verizon.net

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 – 65th Riverdale Reunion Frances Chambers Rogers passed away, on July 30, 2018.

After graduation from her beloved Riverdale, Fran attended Mount Holyoke College and settled in Nashville, TN. From 1987 to 2000 she was Director of the Westminster Presbyterian Church Inclusive Toddlers and Twos Program. Fran touched the lives of countless children and families.

Most recently, from 2001 to 2007, she worked as a monitor for supervised visitation and safe exchange between non-custodial parents and their children at the Exchange Club Family Center in Nashville.

She was a proud member of the Nashville Symphony and a member of the Nashville Symphony Association Board Education Committee

Leslie Wright Dow ’55

She is survived by her husband, Heber C. Rogers, her four children, Cameron, Amy, Barry, and Elizabeth, and ten grandchildren.

1955

Robert Pace Flack passed away peacefully on October 6, 2018, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Margo Krasne ’55

Leslie Wright Dow writes: “We moved from Charlotte, NC to St. Simons Island, GA. It is a good downsizing move for us. Living in a temp apartment until our cottage is renovated. Can’t find anything but that is okay short term.

“Yes, we’re all 80!

Chilling thought, isn’t it? But we’re still here and chugging along.”

Jane Samet Rogers ’55 and family

18 | QUAD WINTER 2019

Susan Merrill Doyle writes: “I've now lived half my life in England.

We came here in 1977 for my husband's job for two years, and eventually realized that this is where we

wanted to stay. Even after his death in 2002, I decided that my life was here.

“Of course I miss seeing my family as often as I'd like but manage to get back or have them here as often as possible. I have two sons and three grandchildren.

“I'm looking forward to hearing about everyone.”

Last year Margo Krasne’s noholds-barred memoir, I Was There All Along, came out. Available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle, it traces her life as she went from actor, to advertising producer, to sculptor and communication coach interacting with the greats and not-so-greats in each of her careers. As one reviewer wrote: I Was There All Along: A Memoir is Margo’s life story told with an impressive candor and clarity ... Intrinsically absorbing, inherently fascinating, impressively informative, exceptionally well written, organized and presented-a compelling read from beginning to end.”

Gail Slauson Flatto: “I was an elementary school French teacher in New Jersey after graduating from Vassar and have enjoyed positions as varied as social secretary for the artist Hans Hofmann's widow to selling printing on Wall Street.

“My husband and I spent 11 years in Naples, FL, where I was a trustee of the Collier Museum and founder of Live After Five, an arts performing group. I've lived in Boston almost 20 years where I continue to be happily involved as an Advisory Board Member of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

“My son Adam Flatto '81 is President and CEO of The Georgetown Group, a real estate development firm in New York CIty. My granddaughter is with an advertising firm in London and my grandson attends the Culinary Institute in Hyde Park, NY.”

Jane Samet Rogers writes: “I read Margo Krasne’s memoir. I am impressed with how well written it is and how I could identify with so much of what she experienced growing up in New York City. I have to admit I had a hard time putting it down. Congratulations, Margo.

“Ed and I are still enjoying retirement to the fullest. Annapolis is a wonderful place to live. My three children, their families, and now a great grandchild surround me!!!! I have three grandchildren in college.

“I am very grateful to enjoy good health so that I can continue to play tennis and have added the new senior sport that is all the rage ... pickleball. I taught piano for a lot of years while the children were growing up and am currently teaching piano to my granddaughter. Of course, she is the most talented student I've ever had! (No prejudice there of course.) I still am studying jazz piano, which is my passion.”

1956

Fellow classmate, Jay Barnett passed away on November 13, 2018. Jay was a trailblazing surgical dermatologist who pioneered new techniques of hair transplants and silicone. After Riverdale, he attended Amherst College and State University of New York Syracuse Medical School. Jay also served in the Air Force as a captain during the Vietnam War. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Donna, his sister Serena Weisberg, his children Franya, Dov ’94, and Channing, and nine grandchildren.

From Bill Borchard: “Jay Barnett was one of our class leaders.

He was always kind, very smart, popular, and a star athlete. He had a wonderful sunny disposition.

His passing is a great shock and a serious loss. I will miss him.”

From James E. Bernstein: “Jay was an exceptional person.”

From Robert Steinberg: “Jay was a great friend, though the miles

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES apart did not make a difference as close friends. He was the glue that kept a group of us senior Riverdaleians together. His departure really hurts. Love to Donna and the children.”

And from Nelson Guyer: “I'm so sad to hear of Jay's passing, the social and sports activates we shared will never be forgotten, his lust for life was enormous. Even though I have not seen Jay since our 50th reunion, I very much feel the loss.”

Jim Bernstein, known to his colleagues as Dr. B, is leading his company, Eniware, (eniwaresterile. com) as it launches the first-ever portable, no-power-required surgical instrument sterilizer this year to make essential surgery possible anywhere! Having celebrated his 79th birthday, he is looking forward to the next 20 years full of energy and enthusiasm and to putting RCS in the annals of global health!

Larry Ackman adds: “All is well with the Ackman family. Ronnie is still playing tennis with friends and occasionally with me. She is also a very fine pianist and still takes lessons. I am still in the Real Estate business as an investor in commercial property. I stay healthy by working out with a fitness trainer three times a week.

I also take singing lessons. We have initiated with WNET Public Television and Harvard Business School the creation, production and distribution of six 30-minute television programs whose goal is to improve business ethics, three of which have already been aired in 2017 and 2018.

“In the spring we are taking a tour of the Silk Road with The Yale University Travel Service.

We will be visiting Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan and see, among other cities, Almaty, Bishkek, Khujand, Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Ashgabat and Tashkent. We have seen both Xian in China at the eastern beginning of the Silk Route and Istanbul

at the western end where the spices, silks and jewels from the Orient were transferred to the ships brought by the merchants of Venice. They sold these goods to the royal courts of Europe and made a fortune. We have never seen the middle of the Silk Road, where the camel caravans crossed the deserts carrying all the riches of the Orient to Istanbul. That’s the purpose of this trip.”

Bill Borchard: “I am still working as a trademark and copyright lawyer. I am in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Myra and I have two children and three grandchildren, and we moved to a townhouse in Mount Kisco about one year ago. Life has been very good to us.”

George Liebmann’s new book, America’s Political Inventors: The Lost Art of Legislation, looks at the recent political developments, including the election of Donald Trump, revealing profound disquiet with the highly centralized political regime based on discretionary allocation of funds and powers to interest groups that has developed since the creation of emergency institutions after America's entry into World War l.

1957

Richard “Rick” Emmert Bates passed away on February 2, 2019.

After attending Riverdale, he received his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and earned his master’s degree from Columbia University. Rick was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force and served as an intelligence officer in Europe from 1963 through 1967. It was during this time overseas that he met the love of his life, Barbara (Delaup) Bates, a teacher from New Orleans, then teaching at a school on his military base in France. Barbara and Rick were married for 48 years, until her passing in April 2016. Rick spent his entire career in publishing, ending his career at Pearson Education in Old Tappan, NJ. He loved to read and amassed a large collection of books. He was

an avid runner, running nine New York City Marathons and one San Diego Marathon. He was also a lifelong, dedicated and passionate Yankee fan. Rick is survived by his daughter, Erica Bates, his son, Brett Bates, and his three grandchildren, Will, Jack, and Callie.

Steve Goldstein has published another book about China. For this book Steve and his co-author, Jean Oi of Stanford, did field research in a county in Shandong province, home of Tsingtao Beer. The title of Steve’s book is Zouping Revisited: Adaptive Governance in a Chinese County. It is available at Amazon.

This past summer the Zelniks visited Larry Johnson and Allison at their farm in Massachusetts.

See photo of the proprietors with one of their 10 horses.

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1956 Barbara Berger Goldman barbaraandronnie@aol.com

1957 Judy Austin judyaustin40@yahoo.com Rick Bates* Sue Jacobs Schaffzin craftyme33@hotmail.com Marty Zelnik panzel1@aol.com

In September Sue and Ed Schaffzin joined Lassa and Marty Zelnik at an outdoor Leonard Bernstein concert at the Untermeyer Gardens in Yonkers.

Marty wrote that the gardens are amazing, set among reconstructed architectural gems. The concert was outstanding.

Speaking of gardens, Warren “Gump” Golde and his wife, Jane Ellan, recently headed for the Canadian Rockies, where their town of Lewes, Delaware won the International Challenge. The competitors were multiple towns in Canada and one in Croatia.

Trained judges had visited all the competing towns and ultimately awarded Lewes in Bloom the grand prize: Communities in Bloom International Challenge Medium Population category. In addition Lewes landed a remarkable invitation. Warren wrote, “I just received an invitation to represent America in Bloom and Lewes, Delaware in Cervia, Italy, for the Cervia Citta Giardino-Maggio in Fiore, an outdoor garden festival.

When I founded Lewes in Bloom in 2002 with seven ladies I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would lead to something like this.

What an honor for our town!”

Gail Slauson Flatto ’55

Allison and Larry Johnson ’57 at their farm

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 19

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI Bill Bennett and Jean are doing well after a rough spell of ill health.

Bill wrote, “Jean and I were sorry to miss the recent reunion event, but greatly enjoyed the reports afterwards. For me, after 75 years of excellent health I ran into a spate of medical issues beginning with lung cancer and consequent surgeries. Prospects seem positive now, three years out, but it all kept me close to home during the RCS festivities.

Lassa and Marty Zelnik ’57

Sue Jacobs Schaffzin ’57 and Ed Schaffzin ’57

“Jean and I continue to live in Portland, Maine (it has now been 44 years). I have retired after a long career in independent schools, which began with a decade on the faculty at Riverdale.

That was followed by 20 years as headmaster of Waynflete School in Portland, then four years in the Pacific Northwest leading an association of schools, and most recently 18 years as Director of Independent School Accreditation for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Jean also taught at Riverdale and then developed a social work practice after our move to Portland. All good.

“Now our family is adjusting to the remarkable change of pace in our lives as we enter retirement.

Maine is a great place to be in this time of transition for us.”

Martin Peacock reported, “In my retirement I don’t think I do much that would be of interest to my classmates, except to go traveling from time to time. Julie and I got back in January from 10 days in Myanmar and nine weeks in Australia, where she was born and where I have a son, a daughter-inlaw, and two grandchildren.

Warren Golde ’57 delivering a speech

20 | QUAD WINTER 2019

“Australia is a great country, but not a place for discerning beer drinkers. Any Riverdale alumnus who has had to put up with the dubious concoctions sold outside the UK and who finds himself (or herself) in Herefordshire at any time is welcome to join me in the Salutation Inn in Weobley for a pint or two of Butty Bach — at my expense of course!”

Bob Johnson, who immensely enjoyed the Atlanta Braves’s baseball season, shared his activities. “I continue to practice law part-time at Munger, Tolles & Olson, which I joined in 1968. I was its first tax lawyer and served for six years as Co-Managing Partner of the firm. My practice is currently primarily in the area of executive compensation and corporate governance.

“Marilyn and I especially enjoy travel, theater, music at the Disney Concert Hall, and reading books.

In 2017 we visited Thailand and Myanmar with Hilary (our daughter) and her family. We regularly take at least two international vacations each year.

Every year we also spend a week in Sun Valley, Idaho, where we attend the Sun Valley Writers Conference.

We also have a small house at the beach in Ventura (which is approximately one hour north of Los Angeles).”

Tim Zagat and Marty Zelnik organized a surprise event in April 2018 to thank Rick Bates for his continuing efforts on behalf of the class. The group gathered for lunch in Manhattan at the Atlantic Grill. Bob Johnson and Maarten Meckman flew in from Los Angeles and Florida. Peter Ellis and Larry Johnson drove down from Boston. Jane Ellan and Warren Golde, drove north from Delaware. Others attending were Jeffrey Fisher, Bob Glauber, Tom Keiser, Richard Meade ’56, Ed Schaffzin, Doug Warwick and, of course, Tim and Marty.

In addition to the luncheon, several members of the group were able to attend the Yankees’ opener the following day. Those attending the game were Rick, Jeffrey, Doug, Marty, and Ed and Sue Schaffzin.

With us in spirit was Floridian Tony Capraro whose love of the Yankees dates to the time Joe DiMaggio roamed centerfield. Thanks to Tim, we were seated inside in the Audi Club, rather than in the grandstand on a raw day, where we were treated to an expansive buffet

luncheon while watching the Yankees handily win the game.

We sadly note that our classmate Andrew Glass passed away in November of 2017. Andy was born in Warsaw, Poland. After the war the family immigrated to New York City. Andy came to RCS after attending PS 6. After graduating from Harvard, he earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1970, he and his wife and three children moved to Portland, Oregon. Kaiser Permanente Northwest recruited him and he spent his entire career there.

Each year Marty Zelnik sponsors a lecture at RCS in memory of his brother, Reggie ’52, a distinguished professor of Russian history and politics at the University of California Berkeley.

Reggie was very active in the Free Speech Movement, and the lecture each year is tied to free speech.

The speaker last year was Jeffrey Tobin, a lawyer, who is on NPR and writes for The New Yorker. The lecture is for Riverdale juniors enrolled in the course Constructing America.

1958

David Lahm wrote: “Tim Zagat ’57 called last November to tell me that Riverdale currently has no trace, on paper or recording, of the School songs we used to sing. He asked if I could create a remedy for that and offered, generously, to fund the effort. I contacted Phil Proctor, who agreed to sing whatever songs I could supply for him. I remembered several pretty well and even had a paper copy of the Commencement Song that Mr. McAneny had given me (that’s another story.) It was written in part by Mr. Clough, who retired before we were old enough to have him as a classroom teacher.

I went to a studio and laid piano tracks, which we sent electronically to Phil in Los Angeles. He put on the vocals and when I delivered a CD to Tim, he had 50 copies made. That’s the story so far.

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES “Unfortunately I wasn’t able to meet Phil on his April trip to New York, where he recorded his memoir, Where’s My Fortune Cookie?

Next time, my friend!”

1959

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 60th Riverdale Reunion Geoff Howard writes: “The BIG news is that we will be having our (gulp!) 60th reunion gathering next summer at the home of Heidi and Ron Winston, possibly in late July. That’s the exact same home at which we had our graduation night party! Details to follow.”

Steve Miller writes: “Chicago is great. Incredible theater, worldclass museums, and the most beautiful architecture, culture, a beautiful lake, and weather changes (got tired of same weather in San Francisco) all add to a quality of life.” He adds that he welcomes classmate visitors and that “I still weigh 135,” which was his wrestling team weight a mere 59 years ago.

Trump. Continuing my previous research, I hope to launch a space rocket in the next year.” And don’t forget his other hat — reunion host extraordinaire!

Sticking with the world of entertainment, this from John Lahr: “I’m scheduled to have a staged reading at Lincoln Center of my play Nobody’s Angels, about Walter Winchell, Sherman Billingsley, and the Stork Club.

Jason Alexander has agreed to play Winchell. I’m learning that there’s no business like slow business.”

John promises that he’ll let us know when opening night is.

Micki Seligson writes: “I’m now a member of the Training Board of the C.G. Jung Institute-Boston,” where she’s teaching Stage 1 candidates a course on “A Jungian Approach to Fairy Tales.” Wow! Mick’s also done her share of traveling — a return visit to Iceland to see the northern lights and a visit to Squam Lake (NH) for the opening night of a new play by Jessica Hoffmann Davis ’61. And she stays in shape by swimming — “trying for every day.”

Mike Otten is clearly not afraid of daunting tasks! “I’m still excessively busy with my ’Fix the U.S. Political System’ initiative.”

Mike is working on this project with “a dynamite team of Harvard alumni” that he refers to as the “Gang of 11.” I know the Class of ’59 may not be of one mind politically, but I suspect that we would all agree that our system could use some serious fixing … and we wish Mike great success!

“Since I retired 10 years ago, I am enjoying doing what I want to do,” writes Moto Imai, expressing a thought I hope many of us share. Two of the things he enjoys doing are regular visits with his grandchildren, another thing most of us share, and "taking two or three mostly science courses” every semester at SUNY New Paltz, something probably not shared by the rest of us.

Wearer of many incredible hats — movie producer, writer, and rocket scientist — Ron Winston somehow finds time and energy for a very active life: “I’ve been actively producing my feature movie, Fighting Chance, which is about the love and friendship of a Jewish girl and a Nazi girl on the eve of World War II. I’m also writing a children’s book called Peter Grabbit, based on Peter, who has morphed into a bunny version of Donald

Geoff Howard continues: “Carole and I had a great trip to Israel and Jordan. I had been in Israel once before — exactly 50 years ago in 1968! At that time, I spent six weeks on a Kibbutz picking apples and pears ... and thought seriously about staying. I didn’t — and Carole is very happy for that — but it was great then and great to go back. It wasn’t the same — not the kibbutz, not Israel, and certainly not me — but it felt good.

“In my role as Class Agent, I recently had a delightful and extended email correspondence with Jane Chiang Sieh, who has lived in Brazil with her husband, John, for many years and they recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary! (Is that the Class record?) She wrote that they celebrated their 50th in Carmel with her family. Good for you and John — now on to your 60th!"

And in a bit of bittersweet nostalgia, Terre Alper Otto recalled her closest friends at Riverdale, some of whom are no longer with us: Nancy Stone Holoubek and Ann Stewart Jarvis among the girls, and "Albert Lee ’57, Jon Weber, George Pappadakis ’57, Arthur Lord,

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1958 David F. Lahm dflahm@gmail.com

1959 Micki Seligson 139 Cushing Street, #1 Cambridge, MA 02138 Geoff Howard howards@warwick.net

Class of 1957 luncheon attendees, from left: Warren Golde, Jeffrey Fisher, Tom Keiser, Bob Glauber, Maarten Meckman, Laurence Johnson, Peter Ellis, Rick Bates, Marty Zelnik, Richard Meade ‘56, Tim Zagat, and Robert Johnson.

Not pictured are Ed Schaffzin and photographer Doug Warwick.

The Class of 1958 at their 60th Reunion lunch in September, from left: Paul Jablow, Kenneth Burrows, Philip Proctor, James Gordon, Bennett Galef, James Marrow, Alex Garvin, and Daniel Silver.

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 21

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

Theodore Nemeth, Peter Parella, Ron Winston, Don Shea, David Sundaram, Tim Ratner, Jean Claude Proteau, Bob Kramer, Dick Keiser, Tim Gaydos – “And all of the boys on the Park Avenue Bus, that made the trip each miserable morning fun and silly.”

1960 E. Harvey Meer ehmeer@aol.com

Tim Ratner wrote: “On my way to a Dartmouth reunion in June, I had the welcome opportunity to visit Russ Ames at the lovely home in Westport, New York (at the south end of Lake Champlain) to which he and Peg had retired.

“Russ was directing the Lower School production of Iolanthe when I came to Riverdale for the sixth grade (c. 1953). I was delighted to be able to wear a velvet cape and march in as a Peer. Classmate Nicholas Freud (the grandson of you-know-who) starred as Queen of the Fairies!

Russell Ames, Former Faculty

“Later, Russ put together a small mixed chorus that did a wonderful Faure Requiem and directed many Upper School shows, including Girl Crazy our senior year. When I came home from the Air Force in 1970, I contacted Russ, and he led me to discover The University Glee Club of New York City, where I sang for 25 years. He is Accompanist Emeritus (after 33 years) and was also a prolific arranger and director of their hairy-leg shows. (They were doing Guys and Dolls my first year, and I had just played Sky with the Air Force theater in Germany.

Russ cast me as Sister Sarah!)

“Now at 88, Russ has lost a step or two getting around and, like others of us, can’t hear or see as acutely as before; but he has the support and friends he needs to help him get along alone just fine.

And when he sits down at the baby grand, all the years melt away, his face lights up, and the musical magic fills the room again.

“After a fine diner out at the Westport Yacht Club, my wife, Joyce, and I and Russ and his friends went back to the house for a perfect soiree of Broadway favorites – at a really elegant piano bar!

22 | QUAD WINTER 2019

“We traded many fond memories of our days together at Riverdale and beyond. He sends his love to all his Riverdale friends, and he knows that we send ours back.”

1960

Diane Duyos Vacca sent in an edited excerpt from one of her blog (vbiblog.com) posts from her trip to Sicily last summer: “In the historical center of Palermo, the doors of a 19th-century home are festooned with a defiant, antimafia banner. The city is waging a campaign against the mob that held much of the government in its lethal grip and compelled tribute from the city’s merchants, industries, and citizens. Palermo was a war zone plagued with assassinations.

“The city’s architecture reflects the mafia’s malevolence. Backed by their politicians, the mafia executed the ‘sack of Palermo,’ tearing down beautiful art nouveau mansions and ruining the beaches with rubble from the demolitions.

“The tide began to turn during the 1980s, when the judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino prosecuted hundreds of mafiosi.

Inevitably, the two were martyred in revenge killings in 1992. They became heroes whose names are known everywhere in Italy.

“But the two murders marked a turning point. Thousands of Palermitani went into the streets to protest the killings and bombings, and in 1993, they elected an antimafia mayor. Since then more than 4,000 mafiosi have been arrested.

“Palermo is regaining its old splendor and the mafia is in decline. Most of Palermo’s abandoned, historic buildings are being restored. Funds and property confiscated from convicted mafia bosses have enabled the creation of about 800 recreational and cultural spaces for the city.”

1962

Tim Millar writes: “I really enjoyed being at Riverdale with all of you, and the School prepared me well for a wonderful life of fun, travel and adventure (as we use to say in the Army, eh, Joe?). I volunteered to serve my country as an artillery officer in Vietnam, jumped out of perfectly good airplanes all over Europe and got out as a Captain after six years, then lived on the Costa del Sol, where I could see the coast of Africa on a clear day.

Spent almost 20 years working in Chicago and was president of a veterans association with 25,000 members. I skied in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and sailed in the Abacos, Hawaii and Florida Keys. I also scuba dived in the Caymans, Keys, Turks and Caicos, Hawaii and the underwater caverns of a billion gallon abandoned mine outside St Louis. I retired to Cape Cod where I’d been coming since 1946. I was Skipper of Boy Scouts of America Sea Scout Ship for a dozen years, led 100-mile bike treks, and now serve on the Council’s Executive Board and Eagle Scout Boards of Review. I also served on the Real Estate and Open Space Committee, the Harwich Conservation and the Harwich Bikeways Committee for 15 years – during which time we expanded the Cape Cod Rail Trail to the Chatham line, got a bike bridge built over the Mid Cape Highway, and saw much of the original CCRT repaved, widened and improved with rest stops, root barriers and crossing signals. I also worked as crew on a passenger ferry from Harwich to Nantucket.

My best to all of you and your families, and respects to the families of those we have lost too soon …”

Art Pryor writes: “Hello, all! My wife Pat and I have moved to Costa Rica, for all the reasons you move to Costa Rica. It’s been quite an experience. We are living in a rain forest at 1,700 feet elevation about two hours north of the Panama border. The wildlife and insect life here are unbelievable. If I’m not

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES working on a community project, I’m baking bread and pizzas.

But damn, all those years spent learning French! Does anyone but me remember Vahe Teriakian?

Hope you’re all well.”

Jon Leichtling graduated from Columbia Medical School and moved after his residency to San Francisco, where he established a practice in surgery. He reports that he’s still a busy surgeon with no intention of retiring for several more years. He says that a considerable number of his surgeries today are “robotic.” For those of us who remember Jon when he played the guitar, he usually prefaced a performance with “I have to be careful that I don’t get callouses on my fingers.

I’m going to be a surgeon.” He reports that he has no callouses on his fingers, achieved his goal, and still enjoys the practice of surgery.

Jon has two children. His son has a high-level job with Google, and his daughter is a professional violinist and psychologist. Jon sends his best wishes to all.

Andy Burger, also a physician, retired from his eastside New York City private practice some years ago, but reports that he is currently practicing about four days a week at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx as an attending physician, working with and training young doctors.

Andy went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and then trained. Andy and his wife, Barbara, raised four kids, one of whom, Alfred ’90, went to Riverdale and is now a physician at Mount Sinai/Beth Israel Hospital.

His other two sons are Michael, an environmental lawyer, and Charles, an attorney. Daughter Pamela currently teaches at CUNY. All seem well established in their careers and doing well.

Ken Chase reports that he lives on the other side of town (i.e., Manhattan) on Riverside Drive, around the corner and close to Collegiate Church. Over the years he has become a bit of a history

and genealogical “fanatic” (his term), reporting that he has some 4,000 books in his apartment and has traced his ancestry back hundreds of years to England, Ireland, and the Continent, including, but not limited to, King Edward III. He is Secretary of Sons of the Revolution and Secretary of the New Amsterdam History Center. He was an Elder of the Dutch Reformed West End Collegiate Church. Ken graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he also earned a Law Degree (LLB).

Peter Levinson built up a highly successful insurance business in White Plains, NY. He lived with his wife, Joan, in Stamford, CT. Several years ago, he merged the business with another company and decided to retire. He and Joan found a piece of property on Long Island Sound just outside of New London, CT. He reports that he greatly enjoys sitting on his second-floor deck and watching the ferries and Montauk Lighthouse. We wish Peter and his wife the very best in their new home.

Tom Franklin adds: “I can duly report that, at the age of 72, I have finally paid my last tuition bill to Tufts Medical School for #1 (and only) son. He is currently doing a residency at Barnes Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis.

“Not knowing what I really wanted to do when I graduated from college, I went to the guidance office and they steered me towards a journalism program at the Providence Journal in Rhode Island. (The kids got trained as reporters and learned how to teletype, and the newspaper got cheap labor with the hope that one or two bright kids would stick with the paper.) After about a year of this, especially in the off season, I found myself starting to doze off during school board meetings and realized it was time to move on. My dad became ill by that time and my mother begged

me to come back into the family publishing business, where I was quite successful until 1990-91, when there was a depression in my particular niche of the publishing world – travel books – hence, no money coming into the till.

“I shut down the publishing company, which coincided with a divorce, or more accurately a child custody suit. I must admit, I discovered that closing a nearly 50-year-old business when I did turned out to be a blessing in disguise. By five years later, what I had been publishing and selling in book form began to show up on the nascent internet as information available for free. Had I stayed in business, I would have walked away deeply in debt.

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1961 Lawrence Rosenbluth rosenbluth342@yahoo.com

1962 Joseph Pickard jpickard@oristanocapital.com Tom Franklin franklinus@aol.com

“I was basically broke for the rest of the decade, eventually finding a job, again in North Providence, hired to function somewhat as a “company doctor,” helping to consolidate and streamline the company’s operations. That experience provides me with much empathy for the millions who lost their jobs or businesses and lost their homes during the more recent crash in 2008. It took me 10 to 15 years to get back on my feet financially. The same is likely to be true for those millions.

“I could tell many more and funnier stories, as we all could, but that’ll have to wait till next year. Instead, I append an email exchange between myself and Al Rosiny, which recounts a little of life at Riverdale in the late ’50s/ early ’60s. I have always thought that Al was one of funniest members of our class, and remains so: “I write: ‘Hi Al, Thanks for passing along your note. It made me laugh at 5:00 a.m. this morning, and I always appreciate those who make me laugh. I remember going out for football on my re-arrival at Riverdale in the 10th grade. In retrospect, I think Coach Bertino made a good snap decision after seeing me for about 15 minutes on the football field, at which time

Joe Pickard ’62

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 23

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI he asked if I would like to be the team manager. This sounded pretty good. Hey, I might get to use my “executive” talents rather than my physical prowess. The role, I soon discovered, was collecting and hauling the dirty uniforms and wet towels after practice and games. He later appointed me team photographer – now this was more up my line – which required that I take the movies of the games from the roof of the new gym. At our 50th reunion I learned that Mr. Bertino would occasionally use expletives in connection with my moviemaking, especially when the ball-in-play went in one direction and the camera went in another direction. Maybe he didn’t understand that I was very nearsighted. But I did do it for several years, so I couldn’t have been that bad. Actually, I must have had talent since I was called back into service for the wrestling team. In retrospect, I don’t understand why I was never asked to be on the baseball team as well.’

“Al Rosiny responds: ‘I too was a manager (Varsity Basketball, junior year). I went out for football when I transferred in junior year, basically to spite my parents. I was so, so bad that, early in the fall, my father asked me (like Hank Greenberg and later Sandy Koufax) whether the coach would make me, as a Jew, play in games scheduled on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; I replied that I probably would not be playing on Shabbos (Saturday) either. I did say, though, that I hoped I would be able to get in the team picture (and I did).

‘As to your tenure, I remember that you asked each player what to list as their weight in the program.

That winter, as basketball manager and scorekeeper, I had one of our players rack up two personal fouls in a game in which he did not play (the Hackley manager had mistook his number for that of a foul-prone starter, and I failed to correct him).

I also recall watching Bertino go over the films meticulously, in slow motion, in reverse, seemingly

24 | QUAD WINTER 2019

sideways; I never heard a bad word about Franklin’s camera work.

‘On a semi-serious note, football was the best course I took at Riverdale. It helped to teach me humility, that there were some things that I simply could not do as well as other people. It taught me how to deal with frustration, because there were things that you had to try even if you knew you were lousy at it. It taught me to respect people for the talents they had, and to make allowances for other people’s shortcomings (as my teammates did for me).

It taught me that on a team you contribute what you can, even if you don’t get into the game. It taught me that some people in an organization are simply more important than others, and to live with that fact. And it taught me that even a highly successful grownup can be woefully out of touch with his surrounding circumstances – I remember a nervous Bertino throwing up in a bucket before the PMA [Peekskill Military Academy] game because his team was unprepared to play (we won 47-0).

‘From what I can tell, we are alI proud of our kids, all of whom seem to be doing well in life. I send my best to everyone in the Riverdale class of 1962 and hope you are in the best of health.’ ” Hunt Howell reports that he graduated from Oberlin College in 1966 with a diploma in one hand and a soon-to-be bride on his arm.

They were married the following week. Both followed up with graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania.

Hunt and his wife, Janet, lived and traveled extensively in Mexico while Hunt was doing research to complete his PhD. Hunt began his career ​at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture as an economist, but soon moved over to the ​Agency for International Development. From 1980 until his retirement in 2006, he worked for The Inter-American Development Bank, initially preparing and approving loans

to​ ​government-owned ​wholesale banks t​ hat in turn relent the funds through the local banking system to finance private sector investment projects. ​Since the mid-1990s Hunt has specialized in the “policy-based lending” side of the IDB’s business.

He has traveled extensively in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, ​ Columbia, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname. Though “retired,” he has continued working for the IDB on a consultant/contract basis.

Meanwhile back in Reston, Janet became a committed community activist. Finally she ran as a Democrat for an open seat in the Virginia State Senate in 1991, where she has served ever since.

She is now the ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee and is currently mulling over whether to run for another term in 2019.

Hunt and Janet have raised two sons, including Brian, 45, who works for the U.S. Forest Service’s forest health aerial survey program in Colorado, and their older son, Eric, 47, who works for a Washington-based firm on international development projects funded by USAID. From the Girls School, Katherine Misch Koritzinsky writes: “I still live in Madison, WI. I have my own language business, where we teach and personalize each language to fit one’s needs and desires. I do the French and my business partner does Chinese and we have a Spanish teacher. I also enjoy a little condo in Tucson, AZ where we escape in the winter and spring whenever we can. Husband, Allan, still works part time. Daughter, Carolyn, is a special education teacher and has two boys. My son, Chaim, is a rabbi in California and has three children. I am happy to entertain any graduates who come to Madison, WI at the University of Wisconsin.”

Also from Al Rosiny: “A few weeks ago I read that Paul Zimmerman, noted pro football pundit known as Dr. Z and longtime Sports Illustrated columnist, had passed away.

Paul was a friend of Al Puryear’s when they were at Columbia and he would come up to Riverdale occasionally to visit Al. One Friday night, he joined Al and a number of dorm kids to officiate at the PSAL Winter Track Championships at the 168th Street Armory. Paul and I were sent to set up the finish line stanchions for the 600-yard run. Neither Paul nor I knew where exactly where the 600yard mark was. We took our best guess as the runners pulled into the home stretch. We watched in horror as the lead runner, eyes closed and obviously familiar with the track, threw out his chest to break the yarn – that wasn’t there – as the runner behind him kept on running and broke the yarn 30 yards further down the straightaway. The good news is that there is some septuagenarian out there who set a PSAL winter track record that still stands – the 630 yard run. The bad news is that Paul and I never had careers as track and field officials.”

Joe Pickard adds: “Classic Al Rosiny. Al and I have been toasting the 12-6 (yes, Jeff Frackman ’61 missed two extra points) victory over Poly Prep since its 50th anniversary. It was a great win against all odds and continued the winning streak that ended at 52 after Calvin Hill ’65 graduated.

Please join Allen and myself with a libation and toast to the Riverdale Indian victory 58 years ago today against Poly Prep.”

Marty Lewis: “Herewith an update from sunny Italy and not-sosunny UK this winter! Margaret and I are doing well under the circumstances. She has had both knees replaced. Otherwise we are both in good health and enjoying seeing family and friends here. Our eldest granddaughter, Tashi, is now 18 and about to enter university to study music. Our second

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES granddaughter, Megan, is 14 and quite an athlete. Our twin girls Maddie and Mia, also play soccer (are girls taking over the world?).

Our grandson Charlie is about to go to prestigious Christ’s Hospital School in southern England.

“We have a website (http://www. lolmo.com) for our house in Italy and are looking forward to another rental season in the Tuscan sun.

“We would be glad to hear from anyone who is travelling in the UK and/or Italy and, of course, from anyone who is seeking that lifechanging experience!”

Bruce Schlechter: “I often note that I am very grateful for the life that I led. I was in the sixth grade in Manhattan when my parents explained that they didn’t wish to send me away to boarding school.

They felt that I was not smart enough to be accepted into Horace Mann but they thought I could make it into Riverdale.

“Where is Ralph Bent? It was a very good example of the right decision for the wrong reason that I am forever grateful for. My Riverdale friendships have served me very well since then.

“Thirty-six years ago I was the second person to live after I had an autologous (my own) bone marrow transplant. Before I retired in 2012, I self-administered a stress test because I was huffing and puffing.

Two new non-kosher valves, bypass surgery, and a pacemaker later I could match any of you car guys for a parts overhaul. Based on that history I feel that I am 98.6% good on my 70% base. But I am still here and enjoying everyday life.

“In the last year my photographer daughter Annie collaborated on a new coffee-table book entitled New York Behind Closed Doors that chronicles a series of New York City homes. My son, not to be outdone by his older sister, is currently the Director of Adolescent and Child Psychology at Bellevue. I hope to attend our next reunion/gettogether. With the exception of Paul Geiger I hope that none

of you are packing anything other than lunch. Please stay as well as Mother Nature, Medicare, AARP, and your spirit that quickens will permit.”

Lastly from Peter Kimmelman: “Life continues to be wonderful and very active. I am still immersed in working at least 50 hours per week as an asset allocator to some long-established families and foreign institutions. New York Stock Exchange board directorships (HSBC Bank/Republic National Bank for 32 years and Pulte Homes for 11 years) have ended but I carry numerous nonprofit responsibilities, including the chairmanship of one of the Smithsonian museums (Freer/ Sackler in Washington), and the executive committee and trustee for American Federation of Aging Research.

“My wife and I continue to share a passion for foreign travel.

Our daughter is married to a Norwegian investment banker and our son has his own tech company focused on big data and he recently married a Canadian.

Of course, the most important members of the family are our granddaughters, aged two and four.”

residential school for teenage boys in Litchfield, CT. “In 2005 Maria was diagnosed with early onset dementia. For some years she was still well enough to travel and was brave, uncomplaining, facing everything straight on with dignity and good humor, and always so much fun to be with.

“Maria and I were friends from age 6. We have been – were – each other’s closest friend all our teenage and adult lives. I miss her sorely.

“Maria’s husband, Dennis Nied, lives in Fort Myers, Florida. Their son, Jared, and his wife are chefs in New York City. Their daughter, Sarah, and her husband are teachers in Aurora, Illinois. Sarah’s daughter, Sylvia Maria, is five years old and looks exactly like Maria.”

Melissa Gordon reports: “Rachel Hadas had a poem in the Nov. 26 issue of The New Yorker and recently published several new books of poetry. One is called Poems for Camilla, after her grandchild. John Siffert attended her latest reading.”

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1963 Stephen R. Blank stephen.blank@att.net Peter W. Philip petersells@aol.com Paul K. Safer pksmd@msn.com

1964 John H. Jiler johnjiler@earthlink.net

1965 Melissa Gordon melmelg48@aol.com Gail Hart York86@aol.com

1964

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 55th Riverdale Reunion

1965

Barbara Hurewitz Aronson sent the following tribute: “Maria Waite Nied died on January 7, 2018, a week after her 71st birthday, and a month before her and Dennis’ 40th wedding anniversary.

“After Riverdale, Maria graduated from Oberlin. She earned an MSW from Smith College and an MPA from Columbia University.

She worked as a licensed clinical social worker in New York and Connecticut. In 2004 she retired as Director of Family Services at the Connecticut Junior Republic, a

A new book by Rachel Hadas '65.

Class of ’63 at the RCS Reunion dinner WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 25

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1966 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1966 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

The Class of ’66 is looking for a Class Correspondent. If you are interested, please contact Robin Gottlieb, Director of Alumni Affairs and Institutional Engagement at rgottlieb@riverdale.edu.

1967

1967

1969

Carol Nathan McKegney carolrsp@yahoo.com

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 50th Riverdale Reunion

1968 John M. Davis johnmdavis3@gmail.com

1969 Nancy Duff-Boehm nduff611@aol.com

1970 David Asencio david102251@msn.com Robert Kahn bob@kahnconsulting.com

John M. Davis reports: “I received emails from a number of people who were unable to attend the reunion in person, but wanted to be remembered to their fellow classmates. They include: Douglas B. Schaper, David Loeb, Nick Whitcraft, Malcolm Bersohn, Steve Strasser, Jeffrey D. Rosenbaum, John Zakian, Tony Adler, and Annie Woodrow.”

Class of ’67 at their 50th Reunion in 2017

1968

The class of 1968 celebrated its 50th Reunion with a full weekend of events. The festivities started with a kick-off reception on Friday, October 19, at the Yale Club, hosted by John Kao and Riverdale.

Over 20 members from the class attended the joyous evening.

“We have two sons, Billy and David, who have married in the last few years. David and his wife, Amy, are expecting a baby girl in March. So ... grand-parenthood! I hope she will like golf. Tentative name so far is Ruth Baby Ginsberg.”

From Bob Susinno: “I met with Tony Gardner, Greg Schwed and Don Pearce recently. We have an alumni recognition game that may be fitting in preparation for our reunion. If interested I will forward.”

From Mark Dappert: “Not much new here. My wife and I retired at the end of 2014, and are living here in Charlotte, NC.” Donny Duberstein writes: “Life has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. Phyl and I moved to Florida in 2015 and we are playing golf, etc. pretty regularly.

“I am still investing and am on the board of a public company, which keeps me pretty busy. (Mobetize, MPAY ... a mobile payment and money transfer company based in Vancouver).

Bob Sussinno ’69, Tony Gardner ’69, Greg Schwed ’69 and Don Pearce ’69

“Fortunately ... not too busy. We travel a great deal. Next trip at the end of November is to Antarctica for 3 weeks. We are looking forward to it.

Class of ’68, 50th Reunion Cocktail Reception, left to right, top row: Stuart Rubin, Frode Jensen, Jay Elvove, Rick Klauber, Steven Glusman, John Kao, Tom Mathewson, Neal Popper, Louise Schiffman, Jill Seligson Braver, John Davis, John Marcus, Alexander Arapoglou, Stan Stokowski, Bill Newman, Donald Barton. Seated: Andrea Belag, Lynne Rudie, Karen Gantz, Jane Karp, Carol Jacuzzi Lisai, Abdul Saki

From the Class of ’68: Louise Schiffman, Jill Seligson Braver, Lynne Rudie, Jane Karp, Andrea Belag, Carol Jacuzzi Lisai 26 | QUAD WINTER 2019

From the Class of ’68: Stuart Rubin, Stan Stokowski, John Davis, Neal Popper

From the Class of ’68: Rick Klauber, Bill Newman, Frode Jensen, Steven Glusman

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES Tom Elkind reports: “I retired from practicing law in 2017, and have become a mediator and arbitrator.

I always enjoyed resolving disputes more than litigating them, so I am now focused on doing that.

Since Lise and I are both now ‘retired,’ we have more time to travel, and have been taking long trips away from Boston in the winter to warmer places like New Zealand and Southeast Asia. I also have increased my sports travel with friends, skiing and golfing in the best places, and in 2016 I did a trek in Nepal to the Everest Base Camp. My daughter, Julie, is married and is the executive pastry chef at Batard, a Michelin one-star French restaurant in Manhattan.

My son, Dan, runs an auto repair shop in Waltham, MA. So, our cars are well taken care of and we can always get a good deal on great food in New York City.”

Lastly from Judith Cohen: “This fall while in New York for my mother’s 90th birthday, I was able to get together for a wonderfully warm dinner with Camille ‘Cissie’ Jensen Douglas, Marsha Gildin and Kathy Valyi. We could joke and talk openly – as if the decades hadn’t passed. It was a unique connection based on fundamental shared values. And two years ago in New York, I had a similar experience connecting for the first time in many decades with Cissie and Kathy, and also Greg Schwed, and then saw Nancy Duff-Boehm in San Francisco. We were able to just dive into conversations about our past … and current lives. A powerful reminder of the importance of lifelong friendships.

“And for those interested in what I’ve been up to for the past 40+ years: After graduating from Mills College (BA, sociology) in Oakland, CA, I entered the business world, getting an MBA and CPA, and was a tax accountant at one of the “Big Eight” CPA firms, Touche Ross (now Deloitte). There was a year I was the only woman in the tax department and in those years in business it was legal for clients to say they didn’t want women

working on their account. With the unlikely prospect of having a woman promoted to partner in the tax department (that would take another six years after I left) and with a specialty in retirement taxation, I left and joined Watson Wyatt (now Towers) – one of the largest HR consulting firms. This was the 80s and I got to set up the first 401k plans for a number of Silicon Valley companies as they were just starting. It was an exciting time. You would go to Silicon Valley and there would be tech companies next to farms.

With the huge growth of the tech Industry, I decided in the late 90s to join a communication firm in Sausalito, CA and worked on huge mergers and IP0s – the employee communications and internal branding. This was the dot.com boom, and we sold our smal communication firm to a New York dot.com public company, and like most .com companies in those days, this company didn’t survive. But with my technology clients in the middle of some big communication projects, I started my own communications firm, CoMotion Corporation and continued to run that for another decade.

“Along the way I married my best friend, Malcolm Gissen, 33 years ago. Malcolm’s civil rights work in Mississippi while he was in law school in the 60s and afterwards inspired me to find a way to give back. So 12 years ago, I started Handful Players, a performing arts nonprofit for underserved, inner city youth in San Francisco (www. handfulplayers.org). I continue to donate all my time as Handful Players’ full-time executive director.

This is really the culmination of all my different careers, enormously challenging and yes, rewarding. If any Riverdale classmates are in San Francisco, I’d love to reconnect.”

1971

Strategy Group, a marketing and communications agency with a roster of noted and emerging corporate clients and thought leaders. The Sterns enjoy spending time at their lake house in Chautauqua, New York, where they take advantage of the beautiful countryside and the summer programming at the Chautauqua Institution, which Susan describes as the best of college and summer camp! Check out the Institution’s history, activities and noted lecture series and let Susan know if you decide to visit the area. She loves reconnecting with her RCS classmates.

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1971 Jerry J. Fall fall.jerry@gmail.com Shami Jones McCormick shamimccormick@gmail.com

Allison Herman Basile writes from Brunswick, Maine: "Things are good with me; still have my private therapy practice, which I love; coordinator/ therapist for a mindfulness weight loss program at a local hospital. No plans to retire!! " Abby Preschel Kalan writes: "My apologies for not making our last reunion. I was in the midst of selling my home of 35 years!”

Wendy Grossman writes: “I don’t really have news. London. Write stuff. Twitter: @wendyg.”

Shami Jones McCormick adds: She and husband Daniel continue to adjust to life in Orlando. "We miss the Adirondacks, but are grateful for much kindness we’ve experienced here in Florida. Dan continues to work on recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2013 and is a warrior! I have some parttime work in the entertainment division of Universal Orlando and have had a few acting roles with a local company. In May 2018 I will be directing Bad Jews at Mad Cow Theatre in Orlando and am always working on writing projects. A short play I wrote was recently part of a New Play Festival in Miami, FL. It’s a brave new world!"

Susan Steinberg Stern writes: She and her husband Danny are now the proud grandparents of two grandchildren, Noah and Ella. She continues to lead Stern WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 27

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1972 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1972 Elizabeth S. Lasdon eslasdon@gmail.com

1973 Tony Melchior melchprod@aol.com

Liz Lasdon reported: “Over 25% of the Class of 1972 joined our 45th Reunion weekend festivities in October 2017, from Friday night cocktails to Saturday evening dinner. Geography was not a deterrent. The longest distance travelers included Kak Clyne Elzinga from Boise, ID; Jay Stern from L.A.; and Packy Rossbach from Seattle, who returned to RCS for the first time since he finished sixth grade at the Neighborhood School. The Reunion included lots of bonhomie, nostalgia, revelry and laughter. We are a fun class, well connected via our own FB page.

“As we near retirement age, here are some highlights of interesting second ‘careers’: Tracy Barrett is a prolific author of children’s and young adult books and a frequent Vanderbilt University tour guide in Italy; Janet Carlson is working on a literary treatment of Anguilla about the island’s history of independence and the family of our former classmate, Clyde Gumbs. Judy Lane presides over an NGO to support local grassroots organizations via

educational and health initiatives and micro-financing projects in a small corner of northern Tanzania (www.maasaipartners.org). Connie Rosenberg Hochman is in the final stages of completing her documentary of her mentor: In Balanchine’s Classroom.

“Sadly, Katherine Sutton-Smith Moyer passed away in December 2017, surrounded by her loving family. She lived a life of health challenges, beginning in our senior year. And yet, she always demonstrated tremendous physical bravery, emotional fortitude and spiritual grace in the face of adversity. Kate saw beauty in the world and recognized the good in people and situations, taking joy and expressing gratitude, wherever she went. Those present at the recent reunion were grateful to have had that last chance to hug her. Many classmates from Maine to Florida gathered on Saturday, January 27, joining family and friends at a very moving memorial tribute to Kate on the Hill Campus. We all left with a ‘stone of gratitude’ touched by her radiant smile.”

1973

On January 8, 2018, filmmaker Ann Michel hosted the sold-out premiere screening of her film Reversing Oblivion and panel discussion at the Center for Jewish History. Shot, developed, and produced by Ann and her husband, Philip Wilde (seated at Ann’s right), this New York City film documents Ann’s discovery of her family’s confiscated pre-World War II estate and her own GermanJewish heritage. Camera in hand, she heads to Silesia (now Poland) with Cornell University architecture students to envision a future for this charismatic ruin.

John Hollingsworth, aka John Caringworth, aka Michael Day, was a radical eclectic mystic who lived his 64 years of life with passion and fierce curiosity. Waking up to the truth of his existence and surrendering to each moment exactly as it is, was the compass that he lived and died by. On July 21, 2018 John died of pneumonia with his partner of 29 years, Dovida, by his side. Memories of John, and examples of his writing would be much appreciated. Please send to dovidagoodman@gmail.com.

Robert Dansker passed away on April 23, 2018 in Burlington, VT. He loved all kinds of music, cross-country skiing and ballroom dancing. He is survived by his partner for the last 16 years, Cathy, and his sister Susan.

Katherine Sutton-Smith Moyer ’72

Ann Michel ’73

Class of ’72, L-R: Kak Clyne Elzinga, Helen Sandberg Metzger, Dani Schulz Engler, Barbara Silberstein Keezell, Katherine Sutton-Smith Moyer, Kathy Marr Chesney, Liz Lasdon, Janis Gildin, Judy Lane, Elyse Fradkin 28 | QUAD WINTER 2019

Class of ’72, L-R: Steve Joffe, Andy MacPhail, Liz Lasdon, Barbara Silberstein Keezell, Helen Sandberg Metzger, Dani Schulz Engler.

Boys L-R: Tony Stern ’72, Larry Epstein ’72, Andy MacPhail ’72, and Steve Joffe ’72.

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES

1974

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 45th Riverdale Reunion Steven Schragis was featured in an issue of Tufts’s alumni magazine, where he was interviewed about One Day University (onedayu.com), which he launched in 2006.

Steven Schragis ’74

1975

experience in the entertainment industry, appearing on stage in New York, Las Vegas, Honolulu, and Memphis. He released a 45rpm recording in 1987 with the primary side featuring Ned singing “Blond-haired Blue-eyed Baby” and the flip side with “Tomorrow I Go Marry My Pillow.” His life experiences gave him material to feed his tremendous talent for storytelling. His film credits include two voice-overs in animations; Dig My Do, a 1990 ode to Elvis; and The Tune, a 1992 film in which Ned provides the voice of “Hound Dog”. In later years, Ned was an entrepreneur, at one time in the forefront of karaoke programs in New York City restaurants and later interested in the development of downtown Memphis. On returning to the Northeast, he devoted himself to the care of his mother, Kathryn, who survives him. Other family members who mourn his passing are his sister, Heather, her husband, Peter, and their daughter, Lily.

1977

Jonathan Beitler ’75 and Jonathan Dorfman ’75 hiking in Acadia National Park

1976

Edward Gore “Ned” Reynolds passed away July 4, 2018, Ned was born in New York City on Saturday, August 9, 1958. He attended Saint David’s and Riverdale Country Schools, followed by Fordham University. He lived in New York City, Rye, Harrison, Kano Nigeria; Las Vegas, Honolulu, Memphis, Greenwich, and Stamford. He was a talented craftsman with a particular skill in masonry.

Appearing as Conrad Birdie in a high school production during his senior year, he gained an affection for performing that lasted into his forties. He had broad

Fran Hoffinger writes: “Carol Lam is currently Senior Vice president and Deputy General Counsel at Qualcomm, the mother of four children, and was recently elected to the Board of Trustees of Stanford University (Carol graduated from Stanford’s Law School in 1985).

“I also heard from Cassandra McGowen, who joined Riverdale sophomore year and left at the end of her junior year. She returned to New York City for college and never left. She graduated from Pratt Institute with a bachelor of architecture degree and has practiced architecture for the last 40 years. She lives in Prospect Heights with her husband, who is also an architect. They have two daughters, two cats, and a rabbit. One daughter works as a preschool teacher’s assistant and the other daughter is a senior at MIT. Many thanks to Valerie Aubry for putting me in touch with Cassandra, who was part of our class’s West Side bus club (which

included Judy Scheuer, Tamara Gould Leuchtenburg, Valerie Aubry, Eric Pierce (who left RCS after tenth grade) and Michel Gill (who also left RCS early, after eleventh grade).

“I am also saddened to report the passing of our classmate Joan Granston in August 2017.

Joan was a professor of English at Queensborough Community College and had been a member of the United Federation of Teachers for 25 years.”

Fran Hoffinger added: “About 50 members of the Class of 1977 got together on Friday October 13, 2017 at the home of classmate Nancy Coles Goldstein to celebrate our 40th Reunion.

It was a magical evening, with a photo montage of our lives at RCS matched with a playlist of our favorite songs from the 1970s (created by classmate Henry Harteveldt), name tags with our yearbook photos created by classmate Simi Neger Matera, wonderful food and wine, a short ceremony recognizing our three classmates who were about to receive the Alumni Appreciation Award from RCS (Erica Lindenbaum Tishman, Mark Hostetter, and Ted Janulis), a lot of laughs and even a few tears when we saw the photos of our classmates who are no longer with us (Tim Seiden, Daniel Gumport, Paula Blank, and Joan Granston).

It was hard to believe that so many years had passed since we were walking down the hill on the Hill Campus to the Rocky theme, about to receive our high school diplomas.”

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1974 Donnamarie Barnes donnamariebarnes@gmail.com Roger Sherman rsherman@cyruscapital.com

1975 Jonathan J. Beitler jjbeitl@emory.edu Jeffrey J. Russell jjrussell@clearbridgeadvisors.com

1976 Daniel Easton mashfly007@aol.com

1977 Fran Hoffinger fhoffinger@hoffingerlaw.com

Patty Friedland Templeton ’77, Debbie Teicholz Guedalia ’77 and Linda Rasamny Kansao ’77 Jon Birnbach ’77, Jeff Salkin ’77 and Fran Hoffinger ’77

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 29

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1978 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1978 William McGowan bill@claritymediagroup.com

1979 Lori Tarnopol Moore dlmoore4@aol.com

1980 Dana Swinsky Cantelmo danaswinsky@me.com

On Friday, October 19, 2018, the Class of ’78 gathered for a kick-off reunion celebration hosted by Amy and Jon Gallen. Old friends and classmates, who came as far as Massachusetts, Florida and Vermont, were thrilled to be able to reminisce and reconnect at this well-attended event.

Attendees included: Lorinda Ash, Miriam Bender Birge, Theodore Casparian, Pamela Dalton, Michael Davis, Daniel Deutsch, Laurie Feld Foster, Ted Greenberg, Alex Justman, Lisa Goldstein Kaminir, Ronny Kaplan, Marjorie Dwoskin Knechtel, Jeffrey Lehman, Keith Levenson, George Markelson, Bill McCall, Bill McGowan, Carl Meltzer, Tony Meyer, Alan Mnuchin, Julie Pollitz, Paz Rheinstein, Wendy Merson Rich, Donna Avrach Rosen, Joanne Ruckel, Vicki Nichols Svanoe,

Julie Peterson McClain ’80 with her two sons

Loren Hecker Taufield, Pamela Tishman, Victoria Kent Worth, and Michael Zorek.

1979

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 40th Riverdale Reunion

1980

From Julie Peterson McClain: “It’s been a momentous year for me, most of it sad but some bright moments. Moved back to the Aspen area, where I plan to stay forever! Just started a new job with The Aspen Hope Center, a non-profit that helps people in crisis. I also still have my real estate license, so if anyone is planning to move out west … My mom, former mother-in-law, and stepfather passed away this year, after long struggles with stroke and dementia, as well as my 13-year-

Theo Spilka writes: “All’s well with me except that my grown kids are spread out too much for a parent who misses his kids. My oldest is working at the hottest restaurant in Brooklyn. My middle son, Marc, now lives out in California. His twin sister, Christine, lives in Princeton, NJ and continues to be a perfumer.

My youngest is 8 and I love it. I am 32 years in the beauty industry and have spent the last 26 years at Firmenich Inc. Finally, my passion and ‘life balancer’ continues to be competitive cycling. Since retiring from road running and track, I’ve rekindled the competitive spirit

Amy Pierce Brand ’80 and Dana Swinsky Cantelmo ’80 at Burning Man this past Labor Day where Amy heads off the science talks at the Dome!

Gathered at the wedding of Danielle Suchman ’09, are Dave Baum ’80, Jeffrey Suchman ’80 (father of the bride), Ellyn Alper Schoen, Anne Rothenberg Roberts ’85, Margo Simon Schumer ’82, Hillary Haberman Suchman ’82 (mother of the bride), Dean Shapiro ’80, and Meryl Poster ’82

30 | QUAD WINTER 2019

old labradoodle, Oscar. It is never easy to lose a parent, no matter how much you have seen him or her struggle in their later years.

On a happier note, my son, Ian, started medical school. My other son, Zac, is working as a software engineer.”

Rob Goldrich ’80 and husband Brian Rice and Dana Swinsky Cantelmo ’80 at Burning Man

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES with the bike. In 2017 I became a national age group champion for the second year in a row. My 2018 season just got underway with a time trial race against the clock and a 55-mile road race outside of Tampa, FL. I finished second in my age group in both competitions and in the top 15 overall.”

Niki Vorhaus Thran reports: “In addition to being an ER doctor in Vermont, I am chairman and founder of the Energy Committee, and a member of the Town of Hartford’s Energy Commission.

I also became a District Medical Director, supervising three ambulance services and two regional first-responder units.

I have amazing kids: Mandi, a recently published doctoral candidate, and Bailey, a freshman at UVA.”

Dana Swinsky Cantelmo: “Check out Rob Goldrich’s latest gig, The Leon Levey Foundation. And please sign on and help him help save my most favorite beach, Lighthouse Beach Eleuthera.

Hofmann as a painter, teacher, and friend. Sascha was recently appointed the Robert L. and Charlene Shangraw Professor of English at Lycoming College.

“I really enjoyed living in proximity to Karen Waddell, who has created the yummiest vegan treat, Reveri – check it out! Jill Solomon’s daughter Nikki Blank is also in the new (and yet old!) consumables industry, so paired with your frozen desert, try Sip City! Amazing! And thank you, Ken Fischer, for an awesome surprise visit this past month!”

Dr. Douglas Brophy became The Town School’s Head of School, on July 1, 2018.

1981

Sascha Feinstein has edited Understanding Hans Hofmann (Provincetown Arts Press, 2018), a book of reflections by his father, Sam Feinstein, on the revered abstract expressionist. The book offers a unique perspective on

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1981 Elizabeth A. Holoubek-Sebok eholoubek@aol.com

1983

Stephen O’Shea wrote in to say he was sorry to have missed the 35th Reunion, but he has been living in Tokyo with his family for the last 23 years.

Rima Fujita shared the link to her interview with the Dalai Lama and a journal of her travels to Dharamsala, featured in the June 2018, The New York Times style magazine, T Japan (written in English and Japanese) https://www. tjapan.jp/ART/dalai-lama-jun-18.

Lisa Burge Swotes lswotes@gmail.com

1982 Meryl Poster meryl.poster@ superbentertainment.net

1983 Eric Yamin eric.yamin@ubs.com

Stephen O’Shea ’83

Class of ’83, 35th Reunion party at Karoke Cave in New York CIty, on October 20, 2018

Rima Fujita ’83

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 31

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1984 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1984 Eve Reppen Rogers evejewels@earthlink.net

1985 Allison Unger Brody a.brody@elsevier.com

1986 Sanford E. Cannold Sandy.cannold@gmail.com

1987 Be a QUAD Class Correspondent*

1988 Stacy J. Grossman S144man@yahoo.com

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 35th Riverdale Reunion Karen Rivera Pancorvo and her daughter Katia were visiting New York and stopped by campus for a tour.

Mark Aaron reports: A rock and jazz band composed of RCS alumni, parents, and friends practices weekly at the Lindenbaum Center for the Arts.

The band, directed by music teacher Jane Getter, includes alumnus and parent Mark Aaron ’84, parents Graciela Meltzer (married to Neal Meltzer ’85) and Fritz Michel, and Gregory Flynn husband of RCS Head of School Kelley Nicholson-Flynn. The band, which goes by the name “Betty & Veronica” after the so-named Riverdale students of Archie Comics fame, has played at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village and is slated to appear in a feature film currently shooting that is a remake of the 1982 Barry Levinson classic, Diner.

1986

From Michael Baroni: “As president of the Charitable Fund (part of the O.C. Bar Assoc.), I was thrilled that we had our best year ever. But the highlight was on National Philanthropy Day. We received the incredible honor of Outstanding Philanthropic Group. The award recognized our work to support battered women and children, victims of human trafficking, underprivileged youth, and needy veterans. Hearing the stories of other honorees, and how they help people, made it the most inspirational and moving event I’ve ever been to.”

Tina Scott Polsky is now a Florida State House Representative, having won her first campaign for public office in August 2018.

She practiced as an attorney in New York and since moving to Boca Raton, Florida in 2005, has her own mediation practice. Tina is married to Jeff Polsky and they have a daughter, 18, and a son, 15.

Please feel free to stay in touch at: tina@tinapolsky.com

1988

Mary Purdy is happily settled in Seattle, WA, where she works as a registered dietitian with Arivale, heading up clinical training for fellow dietitians and providing nutritional counseling using personalized genetic data and functional labs to guide clients to improve their health and prevent disease. She is also the host of the web series and podcast, “Mary’s Nutrition Show: Where humor meets health.” She is also Chair of the Dietitians of Integrative and Functional Medicine, with over 4,500 members. www.MaryPurdy.co

Mary Purdy ’88

1987

The Class of ’87 is looking for a Class Correspondent. If you are interested, please contact Robin Gottlieb, Director of Alumni Affairs and Institutional Engagement, at rgottlieb@riverdale.edu.

Tina Scott Polsky ’86

Karen Rivera Pancorvo ’84

Betty and Veronica Band 32 | QUAD WINTER 2019

Class of ’88, 30th Reunion party at Dorrian’s Red Hand in New York City on October 20, 2018

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES

1989

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 30th Riverdale Reunion

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

1990

Henri Cauvin, has joined ProPublica, the New York-based non-profit investigative journalism organization, as a Senior Editor. Henri had been an editor at The New York Times and before that, at The Washington Post.

He lives in Montclair, NJ, with his wife, Rachel, and their sons, Gabriel and Julian.

1991

Heidi Cotton reports: “I’m a real estate broker in Beverly Hills, where I also live. I work under the Keller Williams banner, but I sell all over L.A. On occasion, I’ll use the word sophrosyne ... but never out loud. This summer I attended Tippy’s daughter’s bat mitzvah in Israel, where I was handed Tippy’s replete bat mitzvah binder to guide me through the occasion. I can assure everyone: Cipora still has the best outline.”

1993

1989

1998

Allison R. Rouse allison.rouse@gmail.com

Jessica Endelson Baum jessbaum@live.com

1990

Catherine Silver Smith catherinesilversmith@gmail.com

Jeffrey L. Korenman jkorenman@hotmail.com Kenny Yogev achikamyogev@gmail.com

1991 Stefanie Firtell Donath sadonath6873@gmail.com

1992 Laura J. Kleinman kleinmanlaura@yahoo.com

1993 George D. Creppy gcreppy75@gmail.com Alexis Densen Higgins alexis.higgins@gmail.com Class of ’93, 25th Reunion party at the Moxy Hotel in New York City on Saturday, October 20, 2018

1994

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 25th Riverdale Reunion

1998

Lana Jacobs Edelman lanarose@gmail.com

2001 Samantha A. Acunto ac.samantha@gmail.com Adam Brenner adam.brenner@gmail.com Alex P. Horn alexp.horn@gmail.com

Danielle J. Englebardt denglebardt@gmail.com

2002

1996 Cliff Bayer ’95

2000

David Rausnitz drausnitz@gmail.com

Brittany Podell Levin bpodellco@gmail.com

From Cliff Bayer: Welcome Jack Harrison Bayer, who was born on August 11, 2017.

Matt Balaban MattBalaban1@gmail.com

1994

1995

1995

1999

Lara Englebardt Metz larametz@gmail.com Tim Morehouse tim.morehouse08@gmail.com

1997 John C. Kirkham jckirkham@gmail.com Jaime Benjamin Trichon jaimebenj@gmail.com

Samara Fetto Gee samara.fetto@gmail.com Benjamin Z. Koblentz bkoblentz@gmail.com

2003 Adam R. Heller adamheller1@gmail.com Ariel C. Schneider schneider.ariel@gmail.com

2004 Brandon Cohen brandon.adam.cohen@gmail.com Cristina E. Haley crissy.haley@gmail.com

Class of ’98, 20th Reunion party at the home of Jessica Endelson Baum on Friday, October 19, 2018 WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 33

Congratulations to the Classes ending in 3s and 8s, which are celebrating their reunions in the 2018-2019 school year.

RIVERDALE ALUMNI

1999 PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

2005 Daniel A. Perelstein dperelstein@gmail.com Amy R. Schneiderman amy.r.schneiderman@gmail.com

Ali Kokot alikokot@gmail.com Michael Shelton michael.e.shelton@gmail.com

2011 2006 Tracy Dansker tdansker@gmail.com

Laura Berman laura.e.berman@gmail.com

2012 Eric B. Nusbaum ericnusbaume@gmail.com

Jay Dessy jbdessy@gmail.com

2007

Chloe Getrajdman cgetrajdman@gmail.com

Kate Lehrhaupt kate.lehrhaupt@gmail.com

2008 Michael Roberts michael.roberts@law.nyu.edu Andrew J. Taub andrew.james.taub@gmail.com Zoe Zetlin-Fishbein zzetlin@gmail.com

2009 Daisy Hackett hackett.daisy@gmail.com Josh A. Howard jh1003@gmail.com

2013 Khari Dawkins khari.dawkins@gmail.com

34 | QUAD WINTER 2019

Charles Curtis just had the second book, The Impossible Pitcher, in his sports and superheroes middle grade book series, Weirdo Academy, released

by Month9Books. The first book was rereleased at the same time with a new title: The Accidental Quarterback. Much of the action takes place at Strange Country Day, an idyllic private school that may have familiar elements.

Class of ’08, 10th Reunion party at the Malt House in New York City on Saturday, October 20, 2018

2009

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 10th Riverdale Reunion

2010

Mitsuko Alexandra Yabe, has been working in film production as a music editor. A few of her recent projects have been: the Rolling Stone documentary on HBO, and the film Sorry to Bother You. In addition, Mitsuko was featured in the film industry magazine CINEMONTAGE and was elected as the Eastern Region Alternate of the Board of Directors of Motion Picture Editors Guild last year.

2013

Saranya Vijayakumar svijayakumar@college.harvard.edu

2015 Corey Morrison dactadeo@gmail.com

2016

Ethan Gracer edagracer@gmail.com

2000

Travis Brady travis.brady@yale.edu

Gracie Phillips egphilli@gmail.com

2010

Lee Finkel Goldberg has left AMC Networks to represent entertainment clients at the law firm of Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein and Selz.

2014

Robert Proner robertproner@gmail.com

Alyssa J. Smith alyssajaclyn@gmail.com Danielle Suchman danielle.suchman@gmail.com

2008

Rebecca Levy Anikstein moved to Greenwich, Connecticut with her husband and three children. They are excited about this new adventure.

George Niedermayer niedermayergeorge19@gmail.com

Joshua S. Pearl josh@joshpearl.com

Ashley M. Rainford ashley.rainford@gmail.com

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 20th Riverdale Reunion

Christian Eggers cde2117@columbia.edu Jake Fallek jakefallek@gmail.com

2001

Josh Harmon returned to off-

Broadway with Admissions, a new play about the ideals and contradictions of liberal white America.

On February 20, 2018, Amanda Quaid and her husband, Noel, welcomed their beautiful daughter, Alma Matilda Vélez.

2004

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 15th Riverdale Reunion

Class of ’13, 5th Reunion party at The Parlour Bar and restaurant on Saturday, October 20, 2018

2014

Save the Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019 5th Riverdale Reunion

Classes ending in 4s and 9s will have their reunion in the 2019-2020 school year, beginning the weekend of October 18-20. Please Save the Date

CLASS NOTES

2017

Aliah Banchik had her senior project, a children’s book titled My Best Friend Lexi – about dealing with dyslexia – published through Kindle Bookstore. It is available for purchase on Amazon.

Zoe Schwartzman was selected as a First-Year Fellow by the Rockefeller Center for Public Policy at Dartmouth.

PLEASE SEND YOUR NEWS TO YOUR CLASS CORRESPONDENT BEFORE MAY 1, 2019.

2017

Jamal Woods helped code a game that currently has over 38,000 players and was mentioned in a New York Times article.

Jamal Woods ’17

Luis Perez lperezteak14@gmail.com Zoe Schwartzman zozococo20@gmail.com

* TO BECOME A CLASS CORRESPONDENT, CONTACT ROBIN GOTTLIEB Director of Alumni Affairs and Institutional Engagement (718) 519-2703 rgottlieb@riverdale.edu

Aliah Banchik ’17

IN MEMORIUM ALUMNI Richard Rosenblatt ’44 Norman Norwood Holland ’44 Mandell “Mandy” Ourisman ’44 Robert Hayes Reed ’45 Stephen Reinhardt ’48 Suzanne Stafford Haynes Sword ’48 Paul Matsumoto ’50 John R. Nichols ’50 W. Kent Montgomery ’51

R

Thomas Herzog ’53 Frances Chambers Rogers ’54 Robert P. Flack ’55 Jay Barnett ’56 Richard “Rick” Bates ’57 Andrew Glass ’57 Robert Lubash ’57 Maria Waite Nied ’65 Katherine Sutton-Smith Moyer ’72

Robert Dansker ’73 Michael Day ’73 (aka John Hollingsworth) Jeffrey Tuchman ’73 Edward Gore "Ned" Reynolds ’76 Joan Granston ’77 Neva Arno Weber ’86

Join Us Website Alumni: www.riverdale.edu/alumni Facebook @riverdale.alums Twitter @daar17 (Head of School Dominic Randolph) @rivfalcons (Riverdale Athletics) Instagram @riverdalealums

Vimeo Official platform for RCS videos https://vimeo.com/riverdalefalcons Livestream Official platform for RCS speaker series https://livestream.com/riverdale LinkedIn Riverdale Country School Alumni

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 35

Board of Trustees 2018-2019 Gwen Adolph Terri D. Austin, Secretary Ellen Nachtigall Biben ’83 David Blitzer, Treasurer Tory Burch John S. Castle ’91 Kenneth Eberts Karen Elizaga, PA President Sandra Kim Hoffen ’83 Rev. Dr. Mark Hostetter ’77 John Kao ’68 Michael A. Karsch Kass Lazerow Gary A. Lieberman Marc S. Lipschultz

Thomas K. Montag Anand More John A. Neuwirth Kathleen M. Pike Dominic A.A. Randolph, Head of School David Rhodes Allan V. Rose Daniel J. Rosen ’92, Vice Chair Jessica Elghanayan Shell ’95, AAEC President Deborah Sonnenberg Jamie Alexander Tisch Philip “Tod” Waterman III David Westin, Chair Kazumi Yanai

TRUSTEES EMERITI Michele R. Cohen Thomas C. Israel Brad S. Karp Jane Lisman Katz ’65 Peter M. Lehrer Linda Lewis Lindenbaum ’54 Dr. William C.W. Mow ’55 David N. Roberts ’80 Harvey Schulweis Robert A. Staub Thomas W. Strauss Jeffrey N. Vinik ’77 Eugene “Tim” Zagat, Jr. ’57 Ada G. Zambetti Richard S. Zinman

Alumni Association Executive Committee 2018-2019 Jessica Elghanayan Shell ’95, President Tiffany Austin Liston ’94, Vice President Peter R. Rosenblatt ’50 David F. Lahm ’58 Tony Melchior ’73 Roger Sherman ’74 George Anagnos ’76 Michelle Jacobs ’81 Susan Golkin ’85 Betsy Fields Hayes ’86 Amelia Levin Relles ’87

36 | QUAD WINTER 2019

Deborah Yamin Manocchia ’87 Shary Moalemzadeh ’89 Stefanie Firtell Donath ’91 Carolyn Braun Rosen ’92 Daniel J. Rosen ’92 Tara Pfeifer Englander ’93 Danielle J. Englebardt ’94 Paul Goldschmid ’96 Lara Englebardt Metz ’96 Liz Strauss Clyman ’97 Jessica Baum ’98 Rebecca Levy Anikstein ’99 Philip R. Michael ’00

Samantha Acunto ’01 Andrine Wilson ’02 Harrie Bakst ’03 Joseph Goldschmid ’04 Omari Ramirez ’05 Jenna Langel Witten ’06 Edem Dzubey ’07 Michael Roberts ’08 FACULTY/STAFF REPRESENTATIVES Robin Gottlieb Lorraine Mahony Ron Murison

Remembering

COACH AL DAVIS Coach Albert M. Davis passed away on February 6, 2019. He was 94. From 1953,

when he came to Riverdale, until his first retirement in 1987, and then during his second career as the school historian and archivist, which concluded only a few years ago, Al exemplified a life of service, a life dedicated to putting “the other person first,” one of Riverdale’s core principles since its founding in 1907. Al was a Riverdale coach, physical education teacher, advisor, dorm master, mentor to young faculty, and in continuous contact with alumni around the world for the 65 years of his association with Riverdale. He stood for effort and excellence, the joy of athletic competition and competitiveness, for sportsmanship, for team play, and for a life lived by example. He taught generations of students that “we” always achieve more than “me,” and that hard and committed effort, in the classroom, in the athletic arena, and throughout life’s struggles, matters enormously.

WWW.RIVERDALE.EDU | 37

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID S. HACKENSACK, NJ PERMIT NO. 79

Riverdale Country School 5250 Fieldston Road Bronx, New York 10471-2999 www.riverdale.edu

Show your Riverdale pride

and make your gift to Riverdale’s 2018-19 Annual Fund today!

With only a few months left until our fiscal year ends on June 30, we hope you will consider participating in the tradition of giving back to Riverdale. Your gift – of any size – allows us to provide transformative opportunities for today’s students, similar to those you experienced five, twenty-five, or fifty years ago.

Gifts of all sizes can be made online (www.riverdale.edu/donate) or gifts of $1,000 or less can be made via Venmo (@riverdalecountryschool).

Mail checks to: Riverdale Country School Development Office 5250 Fieldston Road Bronx, NY 10471 For more information, contact Marie Capasso, Director of Annual Giving, at 718-519-2723 or mcapasso@riverdale.edu.