TRUEBLUE Challenge

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Now through May 4 your Annual Fund gift will support girls’ education at SBS and will be DOUBLED by generous SBS Trustees.

Clarita Kushelevitch Kaufman

Clarita shared her treasured photos, along with stories of her years at Mary A. Burnham with Hayley Descavich ’08, Associate Director of Advancement during their visit in NYC.

Lynda Laun

I would love to hear from my Mary A. Burnham classmates. My snail-mail address is: 916 Huron Avenue, Apt. 508, Sheboygan, WI 53081, and my email address is: sealionq1@outlook.com.

Vicky Chesterley

Beverly Bramon Brandon

Looking back on a year of adventure. Summer in Rhode Island, traveling to Niagara Falls, and a family trip to Cannington, Ontario. There we saw the historic Brandon Log Cabin built by my husband’s great great grandfather in the early 1800s — still standing! Here’s to more fun in 2023.

When I was at Burnham from 1965 to 1968, it was a very different world. We were allowed to go to the movies on Friday and Saturday nights, so I saw pretty much all of the movies that came out during the time. We weren’t allowed to wear pants to classes unless it was below zero outside — or maybe below freezing? Probably below zero since it didn’t happen often. My knees were chapped all winter.

Joyce Cornish Suter

I've really enjoyed keeping in touch with women from all the classes around mine, like Ann Arnold ’67 MAB, Gana Browning ’66 MAB, Karen Schragger Kline ’68 MAB, Kristin Frost ’69 SBS, and Mona Malkin Heck ’67 MAB. They are all friends from long ago.

Sharon Calkins Hubley

My husband, Peter, and I recently traveled to Egypt. Our trip was fabulous. We even got to ride camels! I always keep the wonderful memories of my time at SBS locked in my heart. SBS changed my life in so many ways.

Sharon Calkins Hubley ’72 and husband Peter celebrate their 40th anniversary

Nan Fischer

Nan shared news of her recent book, A Monthly Guide to Growing a Sensational Garden in Northern New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains With everything one needs to know from planning in the winter, to sowing in the spring, to harvesting food and flowers throughout the growing season, she includes important tasks and information interspersed with a compendium of articles published over the years on growing in that unique area. Her go-to guidebook applies to the semiarid short-season gardens of northern New Mexico and further up the Rocky Mountains.

Nan, who lives in Taos Pueblo, NM, has decades of growing experience in the southern Rockies and has written extensively on the topic for many publications including Mother Earth Gardener, GRIT, and the Taos News. She has graciously donated a copy of her book to the School's library.

Margaret “Gigi” Altmiller McIntosh

Director of Advancement Susan Mattei and Associate Director Hayley Descavich ’08 visited Gigi in Center Valley, PA, to present her with the Distinguished Alumna Award. Gigi was a nationally ranked equestrian with her sights set on the Olympics when a jumping accident in 1999 resulted in serious injury. After hundreds of physical therapy hours, Gigi got back on a horse. She was one of four women to make the U.S. Paralympic Equestrian Team and compete in the 2016 Rio games.

Patricia Thorn Heaton

Tricia is the founder of The Island Hopper, an international luxury travel business. Tricia hosts women’s creative retreats in Europe and America. In 2023 Tricia will be bringing three groups of 20 women to a magnificent villa in Lucca, Italy.

The Island Hopper guests will take art and cooking classes and go on Tuscan field trips. Fun highlights of the trips include swimming in the Mediterranean in Cinque Terre and going on a sunset Prosecco tour of the Carrara marble quarry. Tricia is also hosting a fun filled creative retreat in her hometown of Dorset, Vermont in July. The group will tour Edith Wharton’s home and have a private dinner in the gardens of Lincoln family home.

Tricia affectionately refers to her business as “The Magical Sisterhood of the Traveling Women”. Gay Busk Thorn ’74 will be joining one of Tricia’s Tuscan trips. Tricia 100% believes her days at Stoneleigh-Burnham have played a huge role in her business plan.

“I loved my three years at SBS and treasure the friendships I made there. Living and learning amongst my peers as a teenager motivated me as a student. I am a big believer in single gender education. I believe the same principles of success enhance groups of women who travel and learn together. I want every guest to have a wonderful international experience. I also wish every woman to leave our trips with new female friends, more confidence, and the joy of celebrating their creativity.” www.theislandhopper.com @triciaheaton

Donna Lynn Jordan

I am still living in central New York and still enjoying real estate. I love seeing my SBS sisters and their families on social media. We are heading to Florida shortly for some warm R&R. Can't wait for summer and more time at our little summer cottage on the river!

Sonya Lamonakis

Sonya gave Hayley Descavich ’08, Associate Director of Advancement, a tour of the famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn. Sonya is a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Heavyweight Champion and is ranked formally No. 1 in the women’s heavyweight division in the World Boxing Council. When she is not boxing, she is an NYC middle school math teacher.

Sonya’s boxing nickname is “the Scholar.” She values education and believes boxing is a hobby whereas teaching is her career. When asked about her Stoneleigh-Burnham education,

Sonya’s response was, “It really helped keep me focused.” Her advice to current students is “Stay focused and be on the right track. Never do something you don’t want to do and don’t love.”

Jackie Trombley

Jackie celebrated her wedding October 15, 2022, with her SBS friends and classmates Sofia Sorvino, Tarah Watson Shepard, Megan O’Neil Chornyak, McKenzie Rollins, and Ella Bernard Frank, all Class of ’01. (photo left)

In NYC, Clare Callaghan ’12 and Joyhdae Albert ’01 joined Hayley Descavich ’08, Camille Mireku Estrella ’07, Ashley Daigle ’10, and Trustee Joyhdae Albert at a young alumnae meet-up.

Laura Newton

Laura is chef and owner of the Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe in Deerfield, MA. Opened in 2018, her bakery strives to use local ingredients and create an inviting environment for the community. Owning a bakery had been Laura’s dream since high school, and SBS students enjoy getting treats there on the weekends. Stop by and support a Stoneleigh-Burnham alumna when you visit Western MA!

In October, the Leadership Council and Board of Trustees spent a class day on campus. Along with their meetings, guests attended classes and enjoyed lunch in the Dining Hall with student members of STARS (Student Alumnae Relations Society). A recognition dinner was held that evening for the School’s 1869 Society members celebrating their generosity and the completion of several SBS capital projects that were funded with alumnae and parent donations. Pictured here L-R: Leadership Council member Paul Schipper, Trustee June Coolidge Scott ’83, Trustee and Leadership Council member Dr. Denise Bruner ’70, Leadership Council member Charlotte Lewis-Hankus ’72, Drew ’24, Gabby ’24, Trustee Barbara

Mayo Llewellyn ’69, Trustee and Leadership Council member

Darcy McCormick Tarbell ’70, Trustee Dr. Mary Maloney '69, Leadership Council member Hank Tarbell, Kathryn ’24, Sadie ’23, and Doreen ’25.