Class Notes

Class Of 1948

Sister Susannah Malarkey and San Domenico just might have some young Malarkeys knocking at the doors!!

Known to her family, fellow classmates and life-long friends as “Sudie” (nick-named as an infant by her two older brothers) is presently living at Lourdes Convent in San Rafael, while “home base” Dominican Convent is undergoing some updates and extensions. She shared that her former classmates (Class of 1948), former Latin and Religion students from her teaching years 1960-1965 continue to build upon those early relationships, and happily noted, “we grow old(-er and wiser) together”!

She had occasion to take a family relative couple from Oregon around the SD campus a week or so ago; she said “they were astounded at the dimensions and beauty of the campus and of every part of those magnificent acres, from the dorms to the dining area to the classrooms, to the offices, to the amazing sports facilities, to the full cultural opportunities and spaces for music, art, drama, dance, to the friendliness and courtesy of everyone - students, teachers, staff - they met along the way!!” She is sure they are spreading the word in Oregon ...

Class Of 1963

Patricia Suhr Dawson

It has been a busy summer full of blessings for Patricia Suhr Dawson (class of ‘51). She was thrilled to attend her granddaughter’s college graduation. Susan graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and will be working as an ICU nurse in Boston.

From there Patricia attended the local high school graduation of her twin grandchildren. Brandon will be attending the University of Washington in the fall and studying chemical engineering. His sister Hazel will be attending the University of the Arts London and studying media communications.

Patricia continues to stay active by playing bridge, spending time with her family, and seeing friends like former classmates Louise deVries, Roberta Koop, Sue MacMillan, and Gail Wood.

Class Of 1956

Barbara Brovelli

She is still living on the ranch along with her daughter, granddaughter and 3 great grandchildren (16 year old girl and two boys, one 4 and one 7 years old). All’s well!

Class Of 1962

Elizabeth Birsch

She is scaling back from her work creating public sculpture. Her current pieces can be seen in the Sebastopol City Sculpture Garden and in Cloverdale’s Sculpture Trail.

Class Of 1963

Deborah Todd Heim

She has been working with Therapy Dogs, Inc, now called Alliance of Therapy Dogs since 2005 in San Rafael, where Dogs for the Blind is based. The organization is always looking for volunteers and support.

Suzanne Ragghianti

After 53 years in Oakland and 32 years teaching in OUSD, she and her husband, Kevin, moved to Santa Rosa in late May. They are enjoying life in NW Santa Rosa!

Class Of 1966

Sandra Fly Wong

She and her husband, Warner, continue to work with Meditation students online in India and now internationally. They are enjoying their 3-year old granddaughter who is learning to ski in Tahoe Donner where they currently live. They are grateful to live in the beautiful Sierra Nevada’s and enjoy nature’s abundant gifts.

Class Of 1968

Tess Kok Densmore “Yippee-i-ki-yay?” Tess shared when sharing that she pulled up stakes from Illinois and moved to the “Wild West!” She now lives at “The Ranch” in Oracle, AZ.

Jennifer Lawrence Strohmaier

Sends her greetings to the class of 1968, before and after. She moved to the Phoenix area in June 2009 to be closer to her sons and grandsons. Prior to leaving California, she became a self-taught medical transcriptionist/ business owner. (Giving thanks to Sr. Susannah for instilling in her a love of Latin). Additionally, between 1995 and 2009 she worked as a technical recruiter with a telecommunications company and in direct sales for a database producer which served public, academic, and corporate libraries. Otherwise she worked in corporate sales in several industries from 1973 upwards.

When not working her businesses, she enjoys being a member of the Sun Lakes Garden Club where she has the opportunity to socialize on garden day trips throughout Arizona and listen to guest speakers on a variety of gardening topics. She shared a quote by Linda Runyon (deceased) from www.

She also works at Essential Bodywear, where she helps make donations to Project Uplift where they help the “I Support the Girls” organization by collecting gently used foundations for women and girls. Currently any donations they receive are being donated to the women and girls of the Ukraine.

Sip and Celebrate ~ Alumni Holiday Reception

Prior to the 116th Tableaux performance on December 2, alumni and former teachers gathered together in the Dino Ghilotti Motta Visual Arts Center (Middle and Upper School Art Rooms) for some holiday cheer and wreath making. The art rooms not only smelled like a winter wonderland with all of the fresh greenery, but this multigenerational gathering was a lovely reminder of the many connections and camaraderie that the San Domenico Alumni share. The night culminated in a short walk over to Carol Franc Buck Hall of the Arts to watch another moving Tableaux performance and hear the beautiful choral arrangements that featured not only current students and teachers, but a still talented alumni, including our own Head of School and Class of alumna, Cecily Stock!

OftheField.com that was in a presentation at the garden club, “weeds (wild foods) are in every country of the world, so it’s beyond me why there is world hunger. An entire civilization is walking on their food.” and said the quote reminded her of San Domenico’s Garden of Hope and sustainability.

Class Of 1975

Denise Cossette McCollum

She and her husband Chuck met up with Hoonae Kim ’75 and Penny Nichols ’75 in August to discover the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. They had a tremendous time together getting close to nature and catching up.

Daughter/ granddaughter

Malia,

Class Of 1982

Estafania Fu

I fondly remember my memorable years as a boarding student there!

My daughter, Tanya Yeung is also a boarding student at San Domenico. She has attended San Domenico since she was a freshman and will graduate in 2023. We both credits San Domenico for teaching usr to be more independent and loving people. We are proud to be a part of San Domenico’s past and present.

Class Of 1987

Lisa Wolcott

She is still living in

Fairfax and working as a veterinary technician at Fairfax Veterinary Clinic. She has worked there for almost eight years. Lisa proudly shared that her daughter Daniela just graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a BFA degree.

Class Of 2004

Lauren Becker

Lauren celebrated her November wedding in Mill Valley with longtime friends since freshman year, (L-R): Kimberly Shannon ’04, Nicole Podell ’04, Alicia Bruckman ’04, and Maryam Khorasani ’04.

Class Of 2009

Nora Dalipi

Classmates joined each other for a mini reunion of sorts in New York!

(L to R) Shanna Kohn, Nora, Charlotte Kostelic, Daniela S. Class of ’09

Class Of 2019

Gabby Hu man

Shared that San Domenico formed her into a leader, whether she knew it at the time or not. SD gave her the experience she needed to become the president of her sorority, Delta Gamma, and the marketing lead at her school’s recreation center. She wouldn’t be the leader she is today without San Domenico.

Kade O’Reilly

For the entirety of his junior year, he was abroad at the London School of Economics (LSE) where he studied Finance and Economic History. In addition, he played on their basketball team and participated in a variety of clubs including the Business & Investment Group and Cooking Society. During his year abroad, he ended up traveling to over 15 countries. His highlights included mushing dog sleds and seeing the Northern Lights in Tromsø, Norway, traversing the Sahara Desert by camel, getting stuck in a multi-day blizzard in Iceland, and sailing to different islands off the coast of Malta. He recently finished his undergraduate degree at Bentley University in December 2022 and is moving to New York City in February to begin his career at J.P. Morgan.

CLASS OF 2021 Vincenzo Calcagno

Earlier this year, Vincenzo Calcagno, viola, and Bethany Bobbs, cello, produced and performed in a virtual benefit concert for the people of Ukraine. The concert also featured their friends and cohorts at The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music. They raised a total of $8,425.00, with 100% of the proceeds going to United Help Ukraine, an organization providing humanitarian aid and medical supplies to the people of Ukraine.

Both were also on the championship team last year.

Middle School

Emily Sklar MS’22

On November 19, 2022

Emily celebrated her Quinciñera with fellow Middle School alums serving as Damas in her Quinciñera court. Also joining in the fun was San Domenico Spanish teacher, Ms. Miranda! It was a beautiful occasion bringing together friends and family and connecting in celebration.

Class Of 2022

Piper Fleece and Jillian Bizjack

Piper and Jillian were on campus in November for a Varsity Girls’ basketball game against Redwood.

Randall Lawton (Former Faculty)

Elaine McChrystal Knapp ’45

Louise Lazarus de Vries ’51

Diane Johnston Paton ’53

Madelon Healy Montobbio ’ 61 on the passing of her husband, Mark Montobbio.

Sallie Werson ’ 63 on the passing of her wife, Eileen Wolfe.

Sarah Cope ’ 67 and Sue Cope Makovkin ’ 63 on the passing of their sister, Molly Cope Bell.

Susan Abbott Mumford ’67 and Katie Abbott Horn ’71 on the passing of their mother, Donna Abbott.

Debby Kocher Smith ’68 on the passing of her husband, Barry Smith.

Patricia Craven Sheehan ’54

Patricia Guy Waldron ’60

Marcia Johnson Stelling ’64

Jayne Brogan ’68