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MAGAZINE SUMMER 2026

FOOD SMARTS Meet some alumni who grow, cook, market, and serve fare that nourishes the body and soul. A PRESCRIPTION FOR KINDNESS Dr. Mara Gordon ’04 on eliminating shame and bias in healthcare.

PLUS A pop-up art show!

A Historic Transformation for Generations to Come

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Sacha Zimmerman P ’29 Creative Director Meghan Leavitt Contributing Writers Nicole Corea Loren Ito Hardenbergh P ’29 Victoria Tilney McDonough Ellen Ryan Michael Schuler Digital Producers Amber Lucia Chabus Anthony La Fleur P ’30 Sarah Randall

ONE S IDWELL F RIENDS, WHER E TOGETHER WE SHIN E. We launched Together We Shine in 2015 to enhance our mission for generations to come and we saw a groundswell of support from our community for this bold vision. Now, we are called to complete our vision in this culminating phase. As members of the community, you understand the value of education and the role that Sidwell Friends plays as a Quaker school in the nation’s capital. Together, ours is a vision of a sustainable, accessible, and extraordinary place of learning for generations of students to come: one Sidwell, where together we shine.

Join us in making this vision a reality.

Alumni Editors Ava Delasanta Kourtney Ginn Clayton Willis Contributing Photographers Aaron Brophy Tim Coburn David Dowling Wyatt McConagha ’27 Kevin Parisi Cameron Whitman LEADERSHIP

Head of School Bryan K. Garman Chief Communications Officer Bill Burger CONNECT WITH SIDWELL FRIENDS

@sidwellfriends sidwell.edu/magazine magazine@sidwell.edu

L E A R N M O R E AT SHINE.SIDWELL.EDU

NON-DISCRIMINATION AND TITLE IX Nondiscrimination Statement: Sidwell Friends School prohibits discrimination and harassment against any member of the School community on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, sex, personal appearance, genetic information, economic background, political affiliation, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Director of Equity, Justice, and Community Natalie Randolph ’98 has been designated to handle inquiries regarding discrimination and Title IX concerns, policies, and procedures. Her contact information is: Office Mail: 3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC 20016 Email: randolphn@sidwell.edu | Phone: (202) 537-8182 For assistance related to Title IX or other civil rights laws, please contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at OCR@ed.gov or 800-421-3481; TDD 800-877-8339.

Sidwell Friends Magazine 3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 202-537-8444 ON THE COVER Kiah Gibian ’08 photographed by Cameron Whitman.

Contents Summer 2026 Volume 97 Number 3

DEPARTMENTS 2

FROM THE EDITOR

ON CAMPUS

The Class of 2026 graduates; Lower Schoolers study a baby; Sidwell Friends celebrates Founder’s Day; the Middle School has a science fair; volunteers and alumni receive awards; and more. 28

THE ARCHIVIST

“From the Philos Files” 54

LIVING THEIR VALUES

“The Doctor Will Care About You Now” 57

CLASS NOTES

Reunion recaps, a veterinary honor, and a Tony nomination. 85

WORDS WITH FRIENDS

“Brain Food” 69

LAST LOOK

“All the Learners in the Building” FEATURES 32

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PLATE

Four alumni use food to solve systemic problems

and to grow sustainable communities. 42

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

An exhibition of work by Sidwell Friends seniors focuses on fine art.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

ON CAMPUS

From the Editor SACHA ZIMMERMAN P ’29

New people will come, but new ideas were already flourishing across campus this spring. For seniors, completing Upper School also meant completing a senior project, such as testing the water quality in Rock Creek Park or creating an escape room from scratch. The senior projects always shine a light on the zeitgeist of a given class. (To wit, senior projects in the 1970s included building a geodesic dome and teaching classmates how to tye-dye.) For three of this year’s seniors, Teddy Friedman ’26, Aditya Viswanathan ’26, and Patrick Jiminez ’26, the senior project meant enshrining their Upper School, the Harrison Building, in Lego (see “Only Learners in the Building” on page 69). After all, the Class of 2026 was the last senior cohort to go through the Harrison Building, as Sidwell Friends prepares to open the new Upper School to students this fall. For another group of seniors, completing Upper School also meant completing a unique portfolio of artistic works. In “Portrait of the Artist as a Young Grad,” 10 seniors exhibit their work and artists’ statements in a photo essay that captures their talents and

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026

vision (see page 42). The projects range from surreal scenes of giants and eyeballs to the everyday beauty and pathos of shoes and the Metro. Whatever the subject, all works demonstrate these students’ shear creativity and brash originality. Those qualities are shared by the alumni featured in “The People Behind Your Plate,” which explores the relationships between our food system and ourselves (see page 32). Writer Nicole Corea met with alumni in every aspect of the food chain: a chef, a farmer, a marketing executive, a restauranteur. Corea discovers that what each alum has in common aside from working in food is a higher purpose: ethical leadership. That means sustainable farming, low-carbon distribution, products with a mission, spaces for small minority businesses to thrive, and noticing all the ways the food chain interacts with society at a more holistic level. They are nourishing body and soul. That’s also what Dr. Mara Gordon ’04 brings to her medical practice—but instead of nourishing, she is healing the body and soul (see “The Doctor Will Care for You Now,” on page 54). Gordon tackles the problems she sees in the healthcare system by creating a new approach to medicine that she calls “body justice.” It’s a way of creating trust between a provider and a patient that eliminates shame and enhances care. The lessons of Quakism are baked in for these alumni. They let their lives speak in meaningful ways every day. And they aren’t alone. Upper School Counselor Patrice Copeland and Lower School teacher Eve Eaton are embracing that style of leadership, too—thanks to a fellowship from the National Friends Council on Education (see Meeting for Leadership” on page 14). Their work is a reminder that our Quaker school is part of a much larger community. We are independent—but we have Friends everywhere.

Anthony La Fleur

he 2025/26 school year ended as always with a number of celebrations. For the rising 5th and 9th graders, there was a new marker on their academic journey—a moment to savor achievements and acknowlege all they have already accomplished. For the Class of 2026, it was an even bigger moment, one characterized by completion: They have tackled all that Sidwell Friends can offer and are moving into a vast, bright newness. Graduation speaker Paul Goldstein ’94 encouraged the class to embrace that newness. In fact, he insisted the graduates quite literally be open to newness—by keeping their new dormroom doors ajar. He presented the graduates with bespoke door stops to keep their rooms open to any new people (and ideas) who might wander through.

ON CAMPUS

Thank you, Mary!

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Anthony LaFleur

Mary Dufour’s last 5th grade class threw a surprise party to celebrate her retirement and to show how much she meant to them.

Cameron W hitman

ON CAMPUS

Class of 2026

“It’s All Love” The head of school addresses the graduating Class of 2026. BY BRYAN GARMAN

uring a recent conversation I had with

imagine how we might act in alignment with spiritual

Student Government, the grade reps

rather than material goals.

expressed gratitude for Quaker education and challenged me, as good Sidwell Friends

students always do, to improve it. They also articulated a desire to learn more about Quakerism, wondering how it might address the moral failure and uncertainty of our moment. Faced with questions posed by artificial intelligence, climate change, war, and attacks on civil rights, young people are recognizing that a preoccupation with power and prosperity has impoverished our spiritual and political lives. They are searching for opportunities to live with purpose. How might Quakerism’s interrelated reliance on silence, peace, and love provide the resilience and resources we

To worship after the manner of Friends is to commit to discerning spiritual truths beyond what society typically reveals, to finding possibility not between either/or but in both/ and. Silence becomes the predicate for letting one’s life speak, to living, as George Fox aspired, “in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all war.” Think about those words. What does it mean to take away the occasion of all war? How would we need to reorganize our priorities, what assumptions would we need to question, to make war obsolete? Focused on consumption, social division, and violence, our culture neither prepares nor rewards us for leading an examined life committed to peace. A profane example

need to thrive in this moment?

has resurfaced in the nation’s violent anti-immigrant

To borrow from Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, early

“show no mercy” in its war against Iran and has callously

Quakers recognized that “the way out is in.” Meeting

boasted that an entire civilization might be eliminated.

for Worship and silence open access to an interiority

This unconscionable disregard for human life appears on

grounded in the immutable truth that each person

social media and betrays the most important truth you have

possesses inherent dignity and divinity. If prejudices

learned: There is that of God in everyone. If your Sidwell

and power relationships clutter the mind and burden

Friends education has done anything, I hope it has taught

the spirit, silence calms and quickens them, allowing

you this core testimony, which should inspire you always to

us to listen deeply to ourselves and one another and

imagine creative alternatives to violence.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

campaign. The United States has further asserted it will

ON CAMPUS

As Student Government recognized, Quaker education is imperfect, but it nevertheless opens the way to develop rare and sacred insight. Let this lesson and your light shine on as many people as you can. Embrace silence so that you travel inward and vow always to share your learnings outward. Refuse to offload conscience, consciousness, and humanity to artificial intelligence. Seek those elusive qualities that let our lives speak to the tremendous love and peace we are capable of co-creating. Be a witness for justice. Remember this advice from William Penn: “We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive, or gain by love and information. And yet we could hurt no man that we believe loves us … for if men did once see we love them, we should soon find they would not harm us. Force may subdue, but Love gains: and he that forgives first, wins.” Cameron W hitman

No matter how hopeless a situation might seem, the possibility of peace and the moral obligation to pursue it are always present. Always. Why? Because each one of you is a miracle. Each one of you is a divine and diverse person who,

Head of School Bryan Garman speaks to the graduating Class of 2026.

like everyone in the world, deserves peace. If you want to experience it, commit to loving as deeply and fully as you are able. The more love you create, the more peace there will be

The more love you create, the more peace there will be in the world. The more love you open yourselves to receiving, the more peace you will enjoy. ... Thank you for sharing so much love with us. We are a better school because you have been courageous enough to do so.

in the world. The more love you open yourselves to receiving, the more peace you will enjoy. As one of you offered from the silence of Sunday’s Meeting for Worship, “It’s all love.” Thank you for sharing so much love with us. We are a better school because you have been courageous enough to do so. On this last and most beautiful of your days at Sidwell Friends, know that every person gathered here extends our deepest and most sincere love to each of you. Pause for a moment to feel its depth. Today, it’s all love and it’s all good. I hope this energy will long inspire and sustain you in being

Cameron W hitman

the citizens and peacebuilders you are called to be.

Seniors walk in procession before receiving their diplomas. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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Congratulations to the

Class of 2026! asserted that failure doesn’t exist. “And what he means by that,” said Goldstein, “is that it’s only failure if you are unsuccessful on Monday and don’t show up on Tuesday, looking to learn from that experience.” In his remarks to the graduating class, Head of School Bryan Garman said: “Each one of you is a miracle, a divine and diverse person who, like all humans, deserves peace. Time and again, you have shown us that there is that of God in every one of you. Thank you for sharing that goodness and for answering it in others. Continue to welcome silence, seek peace, and love as deeply and fully as you are able. The more love you create, the more peace there will be in the world. The more love you receive, the more peace you will experience.”

Photos by Kevin Ribisi and Cameron Whitman

A gentle breeze danced through the trees and flowers at Sidwell Friends School as the Class of 2026 processed through campus for the final time, a world of possibilities ahead of them. Commencement Speaker Paul Goldstein ’94 offered much food for thought during his remarks, focusing on two main topics—the opportunities that come with failure and the importance of personal connection. Goldstein, who played professional tennis following a legendary college career at Stanford University and who is now head coach of the Stanford men’s tennis team, shared that the inevitable trials and tribulations of life— whether on a tennis court, in the classroom, or on a career path—are “where the good stuff is buried. You just gotta find it.” When speaking of failure, Goldstein mentioned legendary basketball star Kobe Bryant, who

Throughout: Scenes from the Class of 2026 on Graduation Day 6

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

ON CAMPUS

Above: Paul Goldstein ’94 delivers the keynote address.

The Class of 2026 weren’t the only Sidwell Friends students moving on. The 4th graders (the Class of 2034) celebrated the transition from Lower to Middle School in a joyful ceremony. Lower School Principal Adele Paynter praised the students on how deeply they care about learning, each other, and the world. She encouraged the class: “As you head off to Middle School, we don’t just want to celebrate today—we want to celebrate the journey that brought you here, because that’s where all the learning, growth, and memories live.” The 8th graders (the Class of 2030) excitedly marked their move from Middle to Upper School. Students reflected on their journey so far, and Garman said their class will be the first class to spend all four years in the new Upper School building, which will open in September. Middle

School Principal Allen Vandegrift commended the 8th graders’ success and offered some advice: “See challenges as opportunities, control the controllables, and don’t fall in line, but stand out.” As the Class of 2026 recessed out of Pearson Athletic Center and into the world, there was a keen sense of excitement, pride, and possibility. For many, Goldstein’s advice about the power of personal connection will resonate for years to come: “For the vast majority of you, your next step is to head off to college. My suggestion is that you utilize a door stop (during waking hours) for your freshman dorm room. An open door is an invitation—to connection, to new experiences, to the moments that will end up mattering most.” Goldstein then presented the members of the class with bespoke Sidwell Friends wooden doorstops as a parting gift.

“ An open door is an invitation— to connection, to new experiences, to the moments that will end up mattering most.”

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Schafritz de Zoysa

An Absent Friend At graduation, the Class of 2026 remembered a beloved classmate, Kieran Schafritz de Zoysa, who was killed in attacks that took place in Sri Lanka in 2019. He was just 11 years old. “His young life served as an example of what could be accomplished through compassion, curiosity, and intelligence,” Head of School Bryan Garman told the graduating seniors. “This precious and precocious boy made a tremendous impact on his friends and teachers. He possessed uncommon wisdom and insight for someone of his age, and he lives on in all of us.” To honor his memory, the Class of 2026 dedicated the Philos yearbook to him and thanked him for his infectious positivity. Kieran’s mother and Sidwell Friends alumna, Dulsi de Zoysa ’85, joined the families at graduation. Sidwell Friends is deeply grateful for the kindness and support that Dulsi has extended to the School and to Kieran’s classmates. Her heroic strength is inspiring. Express your love and gratitude for Kieran, one of the brightest lights we have known, by holding him and his family in the ght.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Cameron Whitman

Students perform in the annual BSU production.

And Still I Rise A School tradition, the Black Student Union production has been produced for more than 35 years! This year’s program, A Story of Resistance, was a cross-divisional, multi-racial, thought-provoking program written by students and based on true stories of resistance.

Courtesy SECRET

Courtesy of Dhulsini de Zoysa ’85

ON CAMPUS

Members of SECRET work on their electri car.

Vroom, Vroom Sidwell’s Electric Car Race Engineering Team (aka SECRET) recently participated in the Washington, DC, Electric Vehicle Grand Prix held at RFK Stadium. With its third consecutive run in the competition, SECRET showed commitment, confidence, and improvement in its car design, strategy, and overall performance.

David Dowling

ON CAMPUS

Mr. Q with his cast of characters in the Middle School.

Keeping It Cool in Middle School Theater Quentin Madia (“Mr. Q”) knows this much about teaching kids theater: It has to be cool. Madia, who joined Sidwell Friends as the Middle School drama teacher in 2024, explains that “cool” can apply to a lot in theater—acting out a battle on stage in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, helping to design and make costumes, or learning to safely wield power tools to construct a set. “Mostly, I think, the cool factor is about teamwork and community, about working together and supporting each other in class and during the long, complex, and exciting process of putting on a show,” he says. “I always tell my students, ‘If you’re going to do a show, DO a show!’ ” Middle School is a great age for kids to explore new interests, take risks, and build confidence, notes Madia. “It’s academically rigorous here at Sidwell; the arts should be, too,” he says. “Theater stretches the creative brain, which helps students develop crucial life skills like dedication,

teamwork, responsibility, problemsolving, and a work ethic. And, when kids feel heard, they get excited, they ask questions, they get motivated— and the joy flows from there.” Part of the cool factor also involves ownership. “When the kids see me and other adults get really into what we’re doing, they start to catch the bug,” says Madia, who has a posse of dedicated helpers for the fall and spring shows, including Admissions Office Manager Tannie Rey Zapata and Assistant Director of Auxiliary Programs Cate Woodward, who each helped in myriad ways, from creating props to working on ticketing, as well as Amal Charara, the Middle School librarian, who designs the shows’ posters. “With each show, more staff and students seem to get involved,” says Madia, “which brings an energy of excitement to the whole division.” Much of what is showcased in the fall and spring performances begins in the classroom. In a 6th grade class,

students might practice and present monologues in front of their peers or build and perform with puppets. A 7th grade class might focus on Quaker values through collaborative theater games or writing mini-scripts based on interviews with family members. An 8th grade class might involve writing sketch comedy for a “Sidwell Night Live” performance or learning how the set, lights, sound, and costumes can deepen the emotional tone of a play. This year’s spring musical, Shrek—a rollicking and laugh-out-loud good time—included two firsts. One, all 5th graders who auditioned were included as part of an ensemble, something made possible because the show was back in the bigger Caplin Theater; and two, the entire Lower School traveled to the DC campus for a special performance. As more kids—and adults—realize how creative, collaborative, and, yes, cool, Middle School theater can be, Madia continues to set his sights high: “Maybe a flying show next year? Think Mary Poppins floating down to the stage with umbrella and carpet bag in hand…”

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

ON CAMPUS

Anthony La Fleur

All around the world, countries celebrate spring in the traditions of their own cultures—through music, dance, art, food, color, light, or water. These celebrations most often focus on growth and new beginnings. To honor the many traditions of the season, this March the Lower School hosted its own Celebration of Spring. The inaugural event celebrated eight spring holidays included Holi (Hindu festival of colors), Nowruz (Persian New Year), Vaisakhi (Sikh spring harvest celebration), Songkran (Thai New Year), Losar (Tibetan New Year), Passover (Jewish celebration of the biblical Exodus), Yuan Xiao Jie (Chinese lantern festival), and the Spring Equinox (the first official day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere). Music teacher Matthew Stensrud worked with several Parents Association Affinity Groups, colleagues, and students to bring the festival to life.

Lower Schoolers welcome in a new season. 10

Anthony La Fleur

Hello Sunshine, Hello Spring

Students perform at the Celebration of Spring event.

“We wanted to make sure we didn’t miss any cultural celebrations,” says Stensrud, who added that he learned a great deal about his own students during the process of putting the show together. “Seeing students share with their teachers and peers the amazing traditional dances that they do within their own cultural communities was a real gift. We witnessed some unique talents and skills that we didn’t even know these kids had.” The assembly incorporated several dance performances, two of which included pairs of siblings, both dressed in traditional costumes. A video of a Lantern Festival performance in China showed phalanxes of red-clad dancers and musicians playing huge drums to wake up spring after a long winter. A slideshow spotlighted still-life paintings of colorful flowers in vases created by Sidwell Friends 2nd graders. A presentation about the traditions of a Passover seder featured kids dressed as a bitter herb, a shank bone, an egg, and a piece of matzo—the symbolic foods that commemorate the story of the Jews’ escape from slavery in Egypt. Keeping up the assembly’s interactive energy, preK

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

and kindergarten students were invited to jump over small, symbolic “fires” to recreate a Persian purification ritual performed during Nowruz that is meant to burn away sickness, negative energy, and bad luck from the past year. At the end of the program, students collaborated to answer riddles related to what they had learned during the global celebrations that were hidden in Chinese lanterns. If correct, the class got to keep the lantern in their classroom for the rest of the year. “There was so much happy energy in that room,” one parent said after the event. “Mr. S and the kids left us all feeling like we are all special individuals who make up one meaningful whole.”

“ There was so much happy energy in that room.”

ON CAMPUS

The year-long Baby Watch program at Sidwell Friends helps 2nd graders learn about human development, social dynamics, and empathy. The kids think it’s funny—and “crazy”—to imagine themselves as little babies who drink only milk, spend a lot of time on their tummies, and put almost anything they can grab into their mouths. But while they may not be able to picture themselves as infants, the School’s Baby Watch program helps students see with their own eyes how much a baby changes over the course of a school year. Once a month, each class gets a visit from one baby and parent so they can observe and learn more about their own origins, feelings, relationships, and one another. The program is supported by 2nd grade teachers Clare Beeny, Katie Burke, and Amie Wallace as well as Lower School counselor Kate McCracken. Beeny says the program is guided by some fundamental questions: How will observing a baby help 2nd graders imagine another person’s thoughts, feelings, and needs? In what ways can watching the caregiver-infant relationship model caring, responsive behavior for students? What connections can students make between what they notice in the baby and how they treat their classmates? With the baby on a blanket, surrounded by rattles, stuffies, and other toys, the students circle around to hear how the baby got its name, the story of its birth or adoption, and maybe some cultural traditions that occur as the baby grows. “Second grade is a time when students really start to expand their awareness beyond themselves and to the ’other,’” says Burke. “Seeing baby Ibrahim and his mother monthly helps the kids develop deeper skills around observation, navigating their own feelings, and thinking about empathy.”

When the students first met their classroom’s baby, Ibrahim, they focused on how tiny and cute he was. But as the months went by, they started to make observations and ask more pointed questions. “At first, when we met the baby, he lay on his blanket like a blob in the middle Baby Ibrahim delights the Lower Schoolers and teachers alike. of our circle. He was cute but he didn’t do much,” noted Henry ’36, a student in Burke’s class. “He’s gotten a lot more fun and curious during the year. Now he grabs our hands, and he especially likes to pull my glasses off my face.” After each visit, the students write and draw in their journals, which have turned out to be another record of sorts of the baby’s development.

Anthony LaFleur

Bringing Up Baby

“Ibrahim’s mom has been wonderful, answering the kids’ questions and explaining why, for example, babies can’t drink water when they are infants or why swaddling makes them feel safe,” says Burke. “For the kids, seeing Ibrahim and his mom helps them truly understand the depths of empathy.” Cece ’36, another 2nd grader in Burke’s class, has a younger sister in kindergarten at Sidwell Friends, and though Cece does not remember her sister as a little baby, she acknowledges that getting to know Ibrahim and his mother has made her a better big sister. “My sister got scared recently when we watched Percy Jackson—there’s this girl with snake hair—so I cuddled her and she felt safe,” Cece says. “I have a bigger heart for her because of baby Ibrahim.”

Anthony La Fleur

¡Delicioso! The 8th grade Spanish students teamed up to compete in an annual guacamole-making tradition in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Word has it, one team went all in on the hot sauce—turning unsuspecting faculty taste-testers into fire-breathing chupacabras.

Students show off their guacamole skills, SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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All three divisions celebrate Founder’s Day.

Founder’s Day Arrives on Campus On April 14, in full William Penn cosplay, Head of School Bryan Garman launched this year’s Sidwell Friends Founder’s Day by handing the ceremonial bell to Lower Schoolers, who rang it out enthusiastically. Garman tipped his pilgrim hat—“Hear ye, hear ye!”—and asked the alumni, students from every division, faculty, and staff for one thing: peace. “We could all use some peace, couldn’t we?” he said. As though in answer, a choral performance from each division followed with songs about friendship and love.

Then the annual Founder’s Day picnic started in earnest under a bright sky with an occasional cherry blossom bloom drifting in the breeze. The line for the massive balloon-like Astro Slide was dotted with students from every division. A group of seniors saw a small parachute (likely meant for the Lower Schoolers) and lofted it to the sky with huge smiles before huddling underneath as it floated back down to earth. Lower Schoolers ran across the DC campus with new face paint and cotton candy. Teachers served up hotdogs and hamburgers.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

(Coach Square was on salad duty, naturally.) Middle Schoolers had buddies from the Lower School to entertain. The jazz band infused the whole atmosphere with music. And alumni soaked up every minute. Alumni were also on campus for Founder’s Day. Earlier, alums like Kim Ford ’99, the CEO of Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, and Margaret Brown ’04, who leads the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) Nature Equity & Community Partnerships team, talked to students about how they went from Sidwell Friends to

Photos by Cameron Courtesy SECRET Whitman and Kevin Parisi

ON CAMPUS

a career in the arts, business, AI, science, politics, and more. Dozens of alumni spoke to individual classes. Keynote speaker Shaw McKean ’08, a serial entrepreneur, gave the students a four-point life lesson: (1) Confidence is earned; (2) Always zig when others zag; (3) Cultivate empathy; and (4) Embrace failure. He explained that bold ideas require confidence and originality, that successful businesses have empathy for their target audience or consumer, and that failure is a datapoint, not a finish line. “Hearing ’no’ means you are pushing your limits,” McKean said. “This is where the richness of life can be found.” Alumni return to campus to let their lives speak. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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Meeting for Leadership A Lower School teacher and an Upper School counselor finish a fellowship with the Friends Council on Education.

But Quaker schools are different: Quaker schools are part of a much larger community of sibling schools, each with a shared belief in simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equality, and stewardship (SPICES). This community is led by the national Friends Council on Education, which provides opportunities for growth and professional development that other independent schools simply don’t have access to. Take the Institute for Engaging Leadership in Friends Schools, a two-year fellowship in which participants conduct action research projects during a program centered on leadership skills, personal growth, and dialogue. The latest cohort of Institute fellows included two from Sidwell Friends: Eve Eaton, the Lower School academic support teacher, and Patrice Copeland, the Upper School counselor. Over two years, the pair traveled to Pendle Hill, the Quaker retreat center near Philadelphia, for four discrete three-day, two-night weekends of leadership training in a group of 18 participants—all of whom were also tackling action projects back at their home schools. Faculty and staff gathered from the Northeast, North Carolina, Iowa, and more to take on projects like using the city as a classroom, creating student-led diversity initiatives, supporting neurodiversity in the classroom, and facing the realities of being a parent who is also faculty or staff. For Copeland, the Leadership Institute was a reminder that impact doesn’t just occur in the classroom. “When [Head of School] Bryan Garman suggested I’d be good for this program,” she says, “my first reaction was, ’But I’m not a teacher.’” Yet, in a cohort of leaders comprising administrators, principals, admissions professionals, equity directors, and, yes, teachers, the message was clear: Every voice is vital. That very Quaker truth led Copeland to her research project: “Has Conviction or Proximity to Quakerism Improved Your Quality of Life or Outlook on the World?”

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Tim Coburn

Independent schools come in all shapes and sizes, with different philosophies, values, and pedagogy. Even the word “independent” brings to mind schools striking out on their own, fostering islands of education with unique parameters and emphases.

Copeland

Raised a Baptist in a Black community with Southern roots, Copeland had learned how to navigate Christianity, but she never felt at home with it. After a period in young adulthood of what she calls “spiritual resistance,” Copeland explored other religions and philosophies both as an intellectual and as a counselor; she wanted people of all belief systems to feel seen in her presence. Years later, she found herself at Sidwell Friends. And years after that, she first stepped onto what she calls the “sacred ground” at Pendle Hill—and felt a sense of serendipity. “I realized that I was quietly considering the ideals of Quaker faith all the time,” she says. “I thought about the SPICES as something that had become a practice in my daily life—not just at work. Was I better off because of them?” She even wondered, “Had I become a convinced Quaker without noticing?” But it was the next question that thematically galvanized her action project: “Were others at Sidwell Friends feeling the effects of Quakerism outside of school, too?” In a word, yes. After surveying 123 Sidwell Friends students and employees, Copeland found that more than two-thirds (67.5 percent) “believe their outlook on the world has changed due to their conviction or proximity to Quakerism.” More than half (56.1 percent) also believe Quakerism has improved their quality of life. “I count myself among them,” says Copeland. “I feel grateful for my proximity to Quakerism.”

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She also feels grateful for Quakerism. The Quakers were abolitionists at a time when denouncing slavery was radical, not to mention dangerous, and Quaker Meeting Houses often provided safe havens for Black people. That legacy reminded Copeland of the many Black churches across the South—like the one she grew up in—which played a similar role: “Enslaved people from the African diaspora sometimes walked miles in shackles to attend prayer meetings.” That sense of sanctuary and connection to ancestors seeking solace in religious places made her reconsider her relationship with faith. “My spiritual journey felt less like escaping Christianity and more like expanding my spirituality,” she says. And like those other safe havens: “Now I recognize my workplace as a place of safety, learning, allyship, inward worship, and promise.” Creating that kind of workplace is something Eve Eaton has spent a lot of time thinking about. As a member of the Head’s Advisory Board (HAB) at Sidwell Friends, Eaton has spent more than two years meeting with Head of School Bryan Garman and other representatives from across the School in a proactive effort to create a more inclusive, sustainable, and joyful workplace. The team worked with a professional consultant to survey the community and then propose cultural experiments based on the results.

will offer participants as well as interested members of the community a relevant CTL-hosted book club and seminar series. “Teaching is often an individual endeavor, yet many educators agree that the most meaningful professional growth comes through reflection and collaboration with peers,” says Eaton. “Creating intentional space and time for teachers to come together and reflect on an aspect of their practice begins to build a community of learners focused not only on subject-area expertise but also on the art and science of teaching.” Eaton also visited Moorestown Friends School in Burlington County, New Jersey, to explore how Quaker education works elsewhere, learned about best-practices and risk-taking, and then reconnected with her colleagues at the Leadership Institute on breaking down silos. She says the whole experience made her a better leader. “It has given me different ways to approach situations,” she says, adding: “People don’t always realize the opportunities that being part of a Friends community brings.”

One finding showed that 76 percent of respondents “wanted more intentional opportunities to connect with others outside of their division/department.” HAB then came up with 23 experiment proposals, many of which focused on collaboration, like a program where faculty shadow each other, a day where sports coaches visit classrooms, and dedicated time for teachers across divisions to work together.

The program will have three cycles throughout the school year. Two of the cycles will feature partnerships or small groups that will observe each other in the classroom and share ideas, and one cycle

Cameron Whitman

Eaton, a teacher who has been at Sidwell Friends for 25 years, was eager to create a hands-on program that generated teacher collaboration. Working with the School’s Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), Eaton’s Leadership Institute action project mapped out a “low-stakes, non-evaluative teacherobservation” initiative, a blueprint for the “Teacher Partnership Program.”

Eaton

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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As 8th graders rounded out their final year in Middle School, they took the slogan “think globally, act locally” and ran with it. For the firstever 8th grade science capstone project, students applied their studies in energy, chemistry, earth systems, and climate change to take on an issue of environmental concern directly impacting their community. Choosing a “test and build” or “research and advocate” initiative, the projects included coding for tracking solar panels, manufacturing water-filtering pipes, and fabricating protective footwear for dogs. Others hosted sewing workshops and community cooling stations while some chose to engage members of the School community on issues such as car-idling, effective green spaces, composting, and building design.

Anthony LaFleur

“We wanted 8th graders to apply the scientific skills they have accumulated throughout Middle School in a meaningful context,” says Middle School science teacher Gabriel Koo. “The project requires students to come up with a research question centered

A student explains his science project.

Anthony AnthonyLaFleur LaFleur

A Science Capstone Creates Agents of Change

8th graders display their science projects.

on environmental stewardship, execute some experimentation or research on the issue, and then give back to the community by implementing a solution to start moving the needle.” Middle School Science Teacher Badia Albanna ’92, P ’24 added: “It was lovely to watch the students take ownership of a problem and make it their own. And I was pleased to see the comfort they showed discussing their problems and then working with teachers, parents, and peers.” One student, whose project focused on the effects cheap clothing can have on the Potomac River, demonstrated how a single load of laundry containing certain materials can shed large amounts of microfibers that make their way to the river. “I presented my project to a 5th grade class, and they all decided that they’d tell their families that they didn’t need to wash their jeans after each wearing,” she says. Another student spoke about inspiring his neighbors to install rain gardens to help control stormwater runoff during local flooding. Overall, students reported that the projects gave them the opportunity and freedom

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

to do independent and creative work. “It was fun to collaborate, brainstorm and test out ideas, laugh at the potential solutions that totally didn’t work, and then try to come up with something better,” says one student who worked on a project related to the 240 million gallons of sewage that spilled into the Potomac in January. “Many of the topics my students tackled fell outside the scope of our Middle School curriculum,” says Koo. “Rather than asking for my input and a solution, the students wanted to share their ideas and problems, which was enough for them to come to a realization. I saw so much growth in real time.” Even after these students step up to Upper School, many of their projects will be embraced by the next class of 8th graders. “Scientific solutions can take a long time, even generations of study,” says Albanna. “We asked our students to be explicit about what did and didn’t work in their projects, so that next year, our new crop of 8th graders, if they choose, can take up the baton of an issue and ponder alternate local solutions.”

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The 6th grade explored the Quaker testimony of Community by creating a collaborative installation of sculptural tree forms, “Community Trees,” a mixed-media sculpture. Under the guidance of art teacher Eliza Bright, each homeroom class made their own tree, and all five were displayed in the Kogod Arts Center during the spring art show. Students worked in groups and constructed their respective sculptures by joining large branches and wrapping them with materials such as fabric and yarn, emphasizing texture and color. Once assembled, the trees formed a forestlike environment, symbolizing how individual and collective contributions can combine to create a strong, supportive community. This project was inspired by the works of Richard Hunt, Sheila Hicks, and Chakaia Booker, artists who use scale, texture, and raw materiality to build powerful sculptural forms that speak to community, resilience, and interconnectedness. Bright’s classroom opens to the southern light of the Wetlands Courtyard, and her curriculum aligns with the ethos of environmentalism imbued in a Friends education.

Photos by Aaron Brophy

Trees of Life

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Cameron Whitman

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The 50th Newmyer Awards: The Spirit of Service Lives On The Newmyer Awards recognize extraordinary commitment and service within the Sidwell Friends Community. Imagine all the volunteers who—daily, weekly, yearly—help make Sidwell Friends the unique and incomparable community that it is. Then think about 50 years’ worth of those volunteers lovingly and creatively giving their time and energy to contribute to the fabric of the School. Each year, the School celebrates Sidwell Friends community members with the Newmyer Awards. Recipients of these meaningful awards are parents and alumni who “have made the greatest contribution over a sustained period of time to the values of Sidwell Friends and the life of the School community.” The Newmyer Young Alumni Service Award recognizes a young alumni’s sustained commitment to volunteer service, and a contribution is made to a nonprofit organization of the recipient’s choice. “I think Mom and Dad felt like they were grateful and happy to be the beacons and also rather humble about that because they knew that so many others also did such extraordinary work for the School,” says Lory Newmyer ’76 about her parents, Ginger and Jimmie Newmyer ’37, in whose names the program was established. To date, more than 250 volunteers have received the award and their ties to the School remain strong. Lory Newmyer’s sister, Elsa Newmyer ’72, P ’06, ’09, adds, “Every year, I am blown away by how many previous winners show up at the awards ceremony.”

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2026 Newmyer Award Recipients GAIELLE LATORTUE P ’24, ’26 For nearly a decade, Gaielle Latortue has been a kind and essential volunteer in the Sidwell Friends community. From opening car doors in the Lower School carpool lane to serving as all-School vice clerk of the Parents Association, she has approached every task with a deepseated belief that volunteering is more than just service; it is a way to nourish the environment that raises our children. JANIE SONG P ’21, ’24, ’26 Motivated by wanting to ensure that all newcomers feel as embraced as she did, Janie Song has—for the nearly nine years since her family first joined the Sidwell Friends community— dedicated herself to ensuring every parent, teacher, and student feels seen, welcomed, and supported. Whether as part of leadership within the Parents Association or as a member of Parents of Asian Students, she believes the heart of service lies in “small, consistent acts.”

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Nina Santiago’s journey as a Sidwell Friends volunteer began simply—she raised her hand to help organize her class’s 15th Reunion, believing it would be a straightforward task. That single act of service blossomed into more than a decade of dedicated volunteer work in a variety of roles, most recently, as clerk of the Friends Alumni Network Advisory Board. Known for her “thoughtful lens,” Santiago doesn’t just fill roles; she ensures that every initiative is viewed through the prism of equity, justice, and belonging. BETSY ZEIDMAN ’76, P ’20

Anthony LaFleur

NINA SANTIAGO ’98, P ’36

Betsy Zeidman—whose service to Sidwell Friends spans decades, coasts, and disciplines—has served as a formidable volunteer, from organizing local gatherings in Los Angeles to her deep involvement on campus since returning to DC. Through her unique ability to foster connection across generations, she has been a tireless ambassador for the School’s mission and is driven by her inherent belief in the power of a Quaker education.

May the Fourth Be With You! A long time ago (May 4, aka Star Wars Day), in a galaxy far, far away (the Bethesda campus), Rebel spaceships (car-poolers), striking from a hidden base (Lower School), have won their first victory (having more fun) against the evil Galactic Empire (the DC campus, which to its own detriment does not recognize May the 4th). The fate of the galaxy now rests with these young heroes.

Newmyer Young Alumni Service Award JENDAIYA HILL ’18

The Newmyer Awards were established in 1975 as a tribute to the years of remarkable volunteerism of Ginger and Jimmie Newmyer ’37. Use this QR code to view photos from the 2026 Newmyer Awards Celebration.

Anthony LaFleur

As a community organizer, environmental justice advocate, and “apprentice to the earth,” Jendaiya Hill’s life and work represent a beautiful commitment to the Quaker values instilled during her time at Sidwell Friends. In addition to her work in various organizations focused on environmental, racial, and economic justice, Hill spent two-and-a-half-years living nomadically in the American wilderness, witnessing the real-time impacts of climate change—from wildfire smoke to historic floods. In her work, she continues to choose collective well-being over personal profit.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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Reunion 2026 Joy filled the air as alumni returned to reconnect and reminisce. Reunion Weekend 2026 was filled with hugs, laughter, reconnection, and spirited reminiscing as classes, and in particular the Class of 1976, came together to celebrate their 50th high school reunion. Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for special events and receptions, open-door classes, a hard-hat tour of the soon-to-be-complete Upper School, a service project, and of course, the Senior Run—Sidwell’s version of a Pamplona-like running of the bulls!

Photos by Kevin Parisi

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

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SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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Distinguished Alumni Award Kevin Parisi

Four women received Sidwell Friends’ top honor this year.

DAA Award winners stand with Head of School Bryan Garman.

Amazing Alums During this year’s Reunion festivities, one dinner celebration featured the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Awards. Awards went to Michele Thoren Bond ’71, Marek Mirski ’76, Patricia Peyser Permutter ’81, and Elizabeth Wilkins ’01. Read about them below, and watch tribute videos

MICHELE THOREN BOND ’71 Bond began her State Department career as a student intern after graduating from Sidwell Friends. She worked there nearly every summer through college and grad school, before joining the Foreign Service in 1977. In 1974, she served on State’s emergency task force during the Cyprus crisis, helping to locate and protect American citizens in harm’s way. Bond retired as assistant secretary of state for consular affairs in 2017. Her overseas assignments included Guatemala, Belgrade, Stockholm, Prague, Moscow, Consul General in Amsterdam, and Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho. She received the 2015 Thomas Jefferson Award for outstanding service to American citizens overseas from American Citizens Abroad and the State Department’s 2010 Mary Ryan Award for Outstanding Public Service. Bond was the official face of U.S. adoptions during her tour at Embassy Moscow, meeting with Russian officials, and appearing on Russian TV and radio to

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counter false information about foreign adoptions. In 2010, after a massive earthquake in Russia, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton assigned Bond to lead an interagency initiative to accelerate the departure of hundreds of orphans whose adoptions by American families were nearly complete. In 2015, she spearheaded a successful international effort to resolve a two-year suspension of adoptions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which had stranded several hundred legally adopted children. An elected member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Washington Institute for Foreign Affairs, Bond is a former president of the Board of the International Student House of Washington DC, a residence for international and American graduate students. She is an honors graduate of Wellesley College and earned master’s degrees at Georgetown University and the National War College.

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MARK MIRSKI ’76 Mirski grew up in Northwest DC. Following his five years at Sidwell Friends, he attended MIT in Boston and then Washington University in St. Louis for a degree in medicine and a doctorate in pharmacology and neuroscience. Mark went to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore to complete medical residencies in neurology and anesthesiology, and thereafter to complete fellowships in neuroanesthesiology and neuroscience critical care. He was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins from 1991 to 1996. In 1996, he became the head of a neuroscience institute, Queen’s Medical Center, in Honolulu, Hawaii. After the successful creation and organization of an independent neuroscience clinical and research environment, he was recruited back to Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1999 to become chief of neurocritical care ICU and the division of neuroanesthesiology. As a clinical/research professor, his academic areas of interest include work on epilepsy, head trauma, pharmacology, and neurophysiology as it pertains particularly to critically ill patients. Mirski is deputy editor-in-chief of the highly recognized medical journal Critical Care. He has also performed medical missions overseas to provide care for several heads-of-state and other dignitaries.

TRISH PEYSER PERLMUTTER ’81 Perlmutter is a civil rights lawyer who is all about making the legal system fairer and holding institutions accountable. She’s currently the associate director for policy, outreach, and community relations at the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights. She leads efforts to fight bias and discrimination, teaching community members about their rights, while informing housing providers, employers, and other entities about their legal duties. Previously, Perlmutter was policy counsel at Partners in New Jersey. There, she successfully advanced new laws to protect survivors of domestic and sexual violence, wrote policy reports, litigated appeals, and championed reforms to the family and criminal court systems. Before that, she taught at Seton Hall University Law School, where she conducted impact litigation, including successfully challenging New

Jersey’s practice of punishing and isolating mentally ill prisoners, resulting in a sweeping overhaul of prison mental health care, disciplinary practices, and use of force in a multimillion-dollar settlement. Perlmutter began her legal career clerking for U.S. District Judge H. Lee Sarokin. She then practiced law at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and represented the first person to be sentenced to death under the federal drug “kingpin” statute, ultimately leading to his receiving a presidential commutation. Perlmutter is a proud alum of Sidwell Friends, where the saying “Let Your Life Speak” has always inspired her to work to repair our broken world, even in some small way.

ELIZABETH WILKINS ’01 Wilkins is the president and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, a think tank, student network, and society of likeminded changemakers dedicated to creating an economy and a democracy where prosperity and power are shared. Wilkins formerly served as chief of staff to the chair and director of the Office of Policy and Planning at the Federal Trade Commission, where she led the effort to ban noncompete clauses in labor contracts. Before joining the FTC, Elizabeth was senior advisor to the White House chief of staff and served on the Biden-Harris transition team. Wilkins spent five years serving her hometown in several senior leadership roles at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, including senior counsel for policy and chief of staff. She previously served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan and to then–Chief Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Before law school, Wilkins was a policy advisor in the White House Domestic Policy Council on urban policy and economic mobility. She began her career as a political organizer for SEIU 32BJ in New York City raising wages and growing power for building service workers. She holds a BA from Yale University and a JD from Yale Law School.

DAA TRIBUTE VIDEOS

Scan the QR code to watch the tribute videos of the awardees, or visit sidwell.pub/DAA.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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Let’s Dance!

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

David Dowling

The Caplin Theater came alive in May as the Upper School Dance Ensemble students performed their year-end showcase. With original choreography created by the students—and one piece choreographed by Upper School dance instructor Danielle Madrid—the show featured classical ballet, jazz standards, and modern dance. Here are some highlights from the performance.

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Something was different when Denise Coffin’s kindergarteners walked into her classroom on March 31. Unbeknownst to them, a team of art professionals, faculty, and staff had installed seven black-and-white paintings by the conceptual artist On Kawara on a wall over the weekend. Each painting showed a different date: January 1 through January 7, 1997. They were hung high and out of reach, at once striking in their appearance and yet easy to overlook. The work, called Pure Consciousness, has graced the walls of 30 elementary schools around the world since 1998— from Turkey and Finland to Bhutan and Madagascar. Sidwell Friends is the second U.S. school to host it. Kawara, who was born in Japan, lived in New York City from 1965 to his death in 2014. His works hang in museums and private collections around the world. The idea behind Pure Consciousness is that students ages 4 to 6 should “live” with the paintings. A requirement of the installation is that teachers and other adults not draw attention to the paintings or ask the students about their reactions to them. If students ask for an explanation, adults are directed to encourage the children’s own, unfiltered impressions. It’s the experience with the work that Kawara cared about most.

Anthony LaFleur

The Secret Paintings on the Wall

Lower Schoolers attend class with the Kawara paintings in the background.

For Coffin, the direct experience students had with the work typified the self-guided educational experience Sidwell Friends seeks to create. “Having this unmediated installation in the classroom where students were not given explanations or answers about why the paintings were here or what they meant provoked their own thinking, their own natural responses and ideas,” she says. “We often talk to the kids about silence, and how silence is not simply a break between sentences but an important space in and of itself. Living with the paintings without explanation for a month was like a silence between sentences—an opportunity for kids to prepare their minds and open their hearts in an organic way.”

According to the foundation that oversees Kawara’s estate and works, Pure Consciousness, which was painted on the dates shown on the canvases, reflects the lessons that children at this age learn about fundamentals such as letters, numbers, and time. The consecutive dates stand as a counting exercise, and the seven-day span represents a building block of the calendar. The paintings also illustrate size relations, as Kawara alternates between formats that differ by degree—slightly larger or smaller, darker or lighter. Lower School Principal Adele Paynter says the work epitomizes the “spirit of whimsy, joy, and creativity,” that teachers try to create each day. “It is just the kind of experience we want for our students.”

Only after the paintings were deinstalled on April 30 after their one-month residence and returned to New York City could the class finally talk about the seven rectangular canvases that had arrived mysteriously and left without notice. Coffin and her teaching assistant, Jesse Cresswell, reviewed photographs of the classroom with the students to discuss the experience, share ideas, and address lingering questions. They talked about seeing patterns, thinking about time, noticing how the classroom walls looked different, and wondering why the artist had chosen to use only shades of black and white.

Cameron Whitman

Cresswell says she is grateful to have been part of the history of the work. “The children had so many wonders about Kawara’s processes—both the physical process of creating the paintings, and also his ideation,” she says. “We laughed about the funny things the paintings might have ’heard’ us say or ’seen’ us do, and they wondered what the paintings had seen and felt in the other schools and if they brought anything to us without our being conscious of it.” SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

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SPRING

SPORTS WRAP Sidwell Friends varsity teams captured multiple conference and state titles in another strong spring season for the Quakers.

T ENN I S For the second year in a row, the boys’ and girls’ tennis squads won District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) team titles in May at the completion of the fourday tournament. Logan West ’01, the 2025 Racquet Sports Professionals Association coach of the year, leads both teams. It was the fourth consecutive team title for the girls, who won their Independent School League (ISL) conference title in the fall. In the singles final, Sara Abouzeid ’27 prevailed easily with a 6-0, 6-1 win. On the doubles side, Abouzeid teamed with Roxi Hodor ’27 to claim the title. This year’s win was the program’s ninth team DCSAA Championship and their fifth in the last six years. On the boys’ side, the Quakers clinched the team title in dominant fashion. In an all–Sidwell Friends singles final, Akshay Mirmira ’27 defeated teammate Boning Wang ’27 in a highly competitive match 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. Aiden Shen ’29 took third 26

place. The doubles final was also an all–Sidwell Friends affair with Mirmira and Wang teaming up to defeat Shen and Neel Prakash ’27 by a score of 8-4. It was the seventh DCSAA championship for the boys, who won their seventh consecutive MidAtlantic Athletic Conference (MAC) conference title.

L A C R O S SE The girls’ varsity lacrosse team, led by captains Sisi Kostorowski ’26 and Lexi Orr ’27, finished the season 14-4 overall and 5-1 in league play, and captured the team’s second consecutive ISL Tournament win under Coach Aubrey Whittier. In the ISL Championship game, the team rallied from an 8-3 halftime deficit, scoring nine consecutive goals to secure the title in an unforgettable comeback against National Cathedral School. Five players earned All-ISL honors: Kostorowski, Pilar Lynch ’27, Kate Horton ’28, Zoe DeGarmo ’28, and Paige Kitay ’29. Both Kostorowski and Lynch entered the 100 Goal Club.

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The boys’ lacrosse squad put on a late-season surge to defeat Jackson Reed 8-7 to capture the inaugural DC Lacrosse Classic under first-year coach Sam Mueller. Organized to create a city championship in the absence of a DCSAA tournament, the field comprised four teams: Sidwell Friends, Jackson Reed, Georgetown Day School, and Maret. In the final, Eli Solomon ’27 scored the winning goal with 1:52 left in the game. Team goalie AJ Greenberg ’26 was named the Championship MVP. The team finished the regular season with a 6-8 record (2-3 in the MAC).

B A SEB A L L The Quakers’ baseball team caught fire late in the season to finish with a 13-9 record, topping it off with a two-game sweep of first-place Potomac to earn a tie at the top of the regular-season MAC standings. In the first round of the DCSAA tournament, the Quakers were slated to face off against powerhouse Gonzaga. The Sidwell Friends team avenged a brutal 19-3 loss earlier in the season with a stunning 8-7 upset in the quarterfinal. The Quakers fell to St. Albans in the semifinals 6-4. The team was led by All-MAC selections Porter Speece ’26, Cody Encarnacion ’26, Tommy Levy ’27, and Daniel Pho ’26.

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T R A C K & F I EL D Though unable to repeat as DCSAA champion, the Quakers had a strong season and set new Sidwell Friends records in the girls’ 200- and 400meter races, the girls’ 4x100-meter relay, and boys’ shot put. In the MAC championships, the Quakers dominated the field events, with Lucas Schwinden ’26 taking the discus title, Elijah Schneeberg ’29 winning the high jump, and William Idoniboye ’28 capturing the long jump. Ian Condon ’27 won the discus competition and took second in the shot put. In the DCSAA finals, the boys’ and girls’ teams finished in 5th and 6th places, respectively. The Quakers’ 4x100-meter relay team of Avery Foxworth ’29, Emery Stover ’28,

CREW The crew team had another successful season on the water. The Quakers won the silver medal in the Senior 8 race at the VSRA Championship Regatta. It was the program’s fourth podium finish in the competition across all disciplines in as many years. Multiple boats qualified for the semifinals in the Stotesbury Cup Regatta for the fourth consecutive season as well. Team co-captain and coxswain Luca Kontoupes ’26 was named First Team All-State by the VSRA coaches.

THE UNSUNG HERO AWARD Lexi Orr ’26 Omar Burik ’26

THE WANNAN & FINE AWARD Autumn Fleary ’26 Louis Anderson III ’26

2026

Competing in the Upper Division in the ISL, the Sidwell Friends softball team got off to a fast start before finishing the regular season with a 7-5 record and fifth place in the conference standings. Entering the DCSAA tournament as the No. 3 seed, the Quakers won their first two games before losing to a strong St. John’s team 5-1 in the championship final.

Ayjan Dietrich ’29, and Cora Cherilus ’28 took the state title. Foxworth was also the DCSAA champion in the 400-meter race and placed second in the 200-meter.

HONOR EE S

S OF T B A L L

THE TYLER CHRISTIAN RUSCH AWARD Sisi Kostorowski ’26 Jude Kelly ’26 Photos by Wyatt McConagha ’27

G OL F Building on their success in the fall season, Sidwell Friends’ golf team finished third in the DCSAA Championship. Sophie Ochiai ’26 and Claire Kinnier ’26 took first and second in the girls’ individual competition, and Cyrus Rosenthal ’27 and Sachin Kundra ’27 finished third and sixth, respectively, on the boys’ side.

You can find more sports news at sidwell.edu/athletics and on X and Instagram by following @SFSQuakers.

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THE ARCHIVIST

From the Philos Files

1917 While early “class issues” of Friends School Quarterly— including this World War I–era issue— contained class prophecies and class wills, portraits of the graduates were not included.

BY LOREN ITO HARDENBERGH P ’29 Photos Courtesy Sidwell Friends Archives

While the beginning of the school year finds seniors decorating their cars with paint pens that wash away after the first heavy rain (#Seniors, #Let2Ri6e), the year ends with a tradition that promises to endure for decades to come. For more than 100 years, Sidwell Friends Upper School students have looked forward to that special day in June when they finally receive their yearbooks.

1917

1924

1944

The class of 1917 took it upon themselves to create the first, and as far as we know, only issue of The Owl. In addition to senior portraits and descriptions of each graduate’s school activities, The Owl contained senior superlatives such as “Biggest Bluffer,” “Most Easily Fussed,” “Most Blasé,” and “Most Sarcastic.”

After the success of The Owl, the June issue of Friends School Quarterly began fully serving the function of a yearbook. On this cover, the graduate sports a hairstyle popular during the flapper era of their high school years.

The name of the book was shortened to Quarterly over the years. This cover depicts a graduation scene on the rear steps of what was then known as Grayson House, leased by the School during the 1940s. It was purchased in 1955 and renamed Zartman House.

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THE ARCHIVIST

1970

1957 In 1957, Philos was born. Greek for “Friend,” the name has not changed in the seven decades since. the Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass books were the theme for this inaugural edition. “Just as a mirror cannot reflect everything in a room,” mused the editors, “a yearbook cannot represent every aspect of school life. Both can show only those things which will fit within their frames.”

1993 A “Medieval” theme inspired this unusual cover with a shiny metallic inlay. “Truly Kings and Queens, the seniors have left their mark on Sidwell,” observed the editors.

1998 This class’s senior year began with the opening of the newly renovated Harrison Upper School building and the Goldman Library, depicted on the cover. This edition was one of the first to be laid out in the computer room using PageMaker and PhotoShop instead of rubber cement and X-Acto knives.

The end of the 1960s was memorialized by this cover depicting the peace symbol being held by two hands. “Some will call this book a parody of school life,” wrote the editors in their introduction. “Go ahead and laugh; don’t let it worry you that we are serious.” They ended the book in true disillusioned-youth fashion—by thanking “the military-industrial complex.”

1976

1988

Fifty years ago, the yearbook staff used more than one color for the first time in the yearbook’s history.

The theme, “...And Life is But a Dream,” resulted in this memorably surreal yearbook cover.

1999 To depict their musical theme, the yearbook staff selected the then-pervasive compact disc to grace their cover. “With the dawning of a new millennium, and the ending of a truly superb one,” they wrote, “we decided upon the theme of A Platinum Year. There is no better way to conclude such a powerful and progressive period of time than with something as diverse, yet uniting, as music.”

2009 Echoing an advertising campaign that was ubiquitous throughout these seniors’ high school years, music returned as the theme for 2009. “We live our lives with music by our sides,” wrote the editors, “using it to define our moods, liven our gatherings, and convey our feelings.” SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

THE ARCHIVIST

2011 The theme of “SFS Illustrated” was chosen by this class, which was the first to use the new Pearson Athletic Center in the fall of their senior year.

2010

2013

The year that Hasbro crowd-sourced retiring the classic iron token in favor of a cat, seniors voted on a “Monopoly” theme to embody the playful and lively spirit of the class.

With Zartman House reimagined as a skyscraper, the Wannan Gym as a hotel, and the Fox Den as a diner, the cover of the 2015 Philos creatively depicted its “Hollywood” theme.

2020

2024

2026

Another board game graced the cover of the 2020 yearbook. “We chose this theme because with many twists and turns, obstacles, and great surprises,” wrote the editors at the onset of a global pandemic, “the Game of Life is symbolic of our daily lives.”

The yearbook returned once again to a musical theme, this time with smartphone music controls instead of the CD cover of 25 years prior.

This class of seniors are the last in a generation to have spent all of their high school years in the Earl G. Harrison Jr. Upper School Building.

The class of 2010 used images of campus buildings on the cover of its yearbook, all of which will have been transformed when they return for their next reunion in 2030. The Kenworthy Gym has been reimagined as the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, the Upper School Harrison building will be the Lower School, and the Fox Den will be in the Upper School.

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2015

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

2023 In the early 2010s with hashtags becoming commonplace, senior classes began creating theme words and phrases incorporating the numbers in their class year. The 2023 editors embraced the “2UP3R” theme on their comic-book inspired cover.

Be the Light, Brighten the Future. The Sidwell Friends Fund enables us to create meaningful experiences, from engaging extracurricular activities to transformative educational opportunities. v Your participation is important, and every gift makes a difference.

Make your 2026 gift today at sidwell.edu/give.

Grandparents,

Save the Date! Friday, October 2, 2026 at 9 a.m. Please join us for the Grandparents Virtual Back-to-School Gathering. Hear from Head of School Bryan Garman and learn about the upcoming year at Sidwell Friends School. Formal invitations will be sent via email in late August.

THE PEOPLE Behind the Plate

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Four alumni use food to solve systemic problems and to grow sustainable communities.

BY NICOLE COREA

Walk down the aisle of almost any American grocery store and you will find tomatoes from Mexico, cinnamon from Indonesia, quinoa from Peru, and more. Globalization has made nearly every ingredient available in every season. Yet the American food system is characterized by scarcity as well as abundance. It generates enormous wealth for a handful of multinational corporations while the people who grow, cook, and serve food remain among the most financially at-risk workers in the country. For four Sidwell Friends School alumni working across the food industry—a farmer in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, a restaurant owner in Oakland, a marketing manager for a global tea brand, and a shared kitchen founder in Baltimore—solving this imbalance lies at the center of their professional lives.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

The People Behind the Plate

SHARING DREAMS in a Shared Kitchen Kiah Gibian ’08 did not set out to work in food. She studied women’s and gender studies in college and spent years working at an intimate partner violence clinic, facilitating support groups and accompanying people through some of their hardest moments. The work was meaningful and relentless. Gibian began looking for avenues to support people’s overall well-being without being in immediate crisis work. Farming caught her attention first. She was drawn to the therapeutic value of being outside, the satisfaction of growing nutritional food, and the tangible connection between the land and human health. But as she got closer to agriculture, she found herself questioning the economics of it. The people growing the food weren’t making money. Neither, she would soon discover, were the people cooking it. Gibian entered the world of prepared food by helping a friend start a food truck and then by working in kitchens. Eventually she started her own mobile business, Wild Thyme. She joined a group called Chef Meetups, informal monthly gatherings for nontraditional food entrepreneurs in Baltimore. The majority were women of color running stands at farmers’ markets, operating food trucks, and working as private chefs. “Almost everyone there was told this story that they could create a food business and generate wealth,” Gibian says. “But over and over again, there were so many hoops to jump through and barriers to the industry that people would stall out or burn out.” During the pandemic, Gibian and a local chef, Cat Smith, who organized the Chef Meetups group, began collaborating with local nonprofits to cook and distribute

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The People Behind the Plate

“ What is happening is cultural preservation. We’re helping these minority women-owned businesses tell their stories.” KIAH GIBIAN ’08

free meals in South Baltimore. Smith had a new baby who often came to work with her in a stroller. One day, while the two chefs were degreasing a kitchen left in a horrendous state by the space’s previous occupant, the baby dropped his glass bottle, and it shattered on the floor. For Gibian, it was an inflection point: “Cat and I just looked at each other and were like, ‘This isn’t working. This space isn’t accommodating where we’re at in our lives. We’re cleaning up after other people in a way that feels gendered and disrespectful. There’s got to be a better version of this.’ ” So they built it. Our Time Kitchen is a shared commercial kitchen in Baltimore where small food businesses can rent space by the hour and scale their use as they grow. Gibian provides members with permitting consultations, advice on menu pricing, and guidance on where to sell their food. There is a medicinal herb garden out front—Gibian is also a birth doula—and a more experimental garden in the back, currently home to some fuzzy kiwi vines. There is a kids’ corner so members can have their children nearby while they work. And Our Time Kitchen members have 24/7 access to the space, which currently serves around 30 small businesses. Gibian recognizes the challenges these entrepreneurs face. She’s lived through them herself. “The profit margin for small restaurants is around 3 to 5 percent,” Gibian says, “and if you go through a season where it’s hotter than normal and you have to keep your AC running for more months of the year, that can chew out that percentage and leave you unprofitable. Small choices can have a big impact on the bottom line.” Helping other small food businesses survive those margins is genuinely hard work. But the more time she spends in the space, the more she understands what it’s really doing. “What is happening is cultural preservation,” she says. “We’re helping these minority women-owned businesses tell their stories.”

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

The People Behind the Plate

Growing Things THAT MATTER Alex Stewart ’04 says he was brought into farming “by true love.” He graduated from Northwestern University, went home to DC, and was, by his own description, living fecklessly—working in a bar, singing in cover bands, and eventually moving to New York with a rock group that included another Sidwell Friends alum. To pay the bills in the city, he worked as a gardener, tending to rooftop pleasure gardens for penthouses and brownstone yards. He found himself enamored with the idea of being a farmer. What he lacked was a plan. That plan arrived in the form of his now-wife, Susanna Thornton, who was moving back to her family’s farm in Southwest Virginia right as Stewart was leaving New York. Thornton’s parents had run a conventional dairy farm back when a two-person operation with a couple hundred acres was economically viable. Stewart moved down to the farm with her and has now been farming for over a decade. Thornfield Farm is a diversified operation where the rhythm changes by season. Thornton leads the vegetable and flower operations with a crew of five farmhands. Stewart manages the animals: 28 ewes, a ram, 58 lambs born in the four weeks before we met, half a dozen steers, and more than 100 egg-laying chickens. He tends to the chickens yearround, manages regenerative grazing rotations for the larger animals, and represents their farm-share program at farmers’ markets and pop-up stands. He has also been helping build something beyond the farm’s own fence line: local food sheds that provide a direct, more sustainable farm-to-table delivery system through farmers’ markets and other forms of community-supported agriculture. Thornton—who, Stewart is quick to note, deserves the lion’s share of the credit—has started two grower cooperatives in recent years: the Blue Ridge Flower Exchange, which allows flower farmers to pool products and sell through a shared online platform, and the Blue Ridge Farmer Collective, a similar structure for vegetable growers selling to restaurants and grocery stores. “It’s been exciting to start figuring out ways to build more durable structures without sacrificing the autonomy and flexibility of small farms,” Stewart says.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

The People Behind the Plate

“ Food is a right.” ALEX STEWART ’04

The value of local food sheds was proven in the starkest possible way when the pandemic hit. Thornton Farm was immediately able to pivot to a food distribution model that was safe and reliable. Hundreds of people who found themselves unable to get groceries were provided with fresh fruit for the first few months of lockdown. Stewart counts this contribution to community resilience as among the things he is most proud of. His memories at Sidwell Friends also center on community gatherings. Stewart jokes that he was “Meeting for Worship famous.” As is still the practice, the Upper School would gather once a week for 45 minutes of silence. The rule: If you are moved by the spirit to speak, you may. One Thanksgiving, Stewart delivered an impromptu poem about the food of the holiday. From then on, the poem became a yearly tradition. Stewart also speaks seriously about what those gatherings gave him: “Being together like that was incredibly important in giving me this sixth-sense appreciation for community.”

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

The People Behind the Plate

Marketing THE MISSION Grace Kohn ’18 has loved and cared about the environment since she was a child. She named every bud on the magnolia tree in her backyard. She was also, by her own description, a picky eater who loved animals and was conflicted by the concept of eating them. As a freshman at Wesleyan, a class on animal edibility served as her formal entry point into the food world. It traced the history of humans’ relationship with animals as food and the shift toward the modern industrial food complex. Kohn started the class as the only person in the room who ate meat. She left a vegetarian. “Everybody stood up and clapped,” she says. “They were so excited.” The course opened up questions she hasn’t stopped asking since. After graduation, she took her first job at Eat the Change Impact, the philanthropic arm of the company that would eventually become Just Ice Tea. The program awarded funding to like-minded organizations and nonprofits working to get better food into minority communities. From there, she moved onto the marketing team as the brand evolved, eventually landing in her current role focused on digital experiences and social media marketing.

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The People Behind the Plate

“ Just Ice Tea is working to make a product that’s better for you, the planet, and the farming communities we work with.” GRACE KOHN ’18

What drew her to the work, and what keeps her there, is the mission. “Just Ice Tea is working to make a product that’s better for you, the planet, and the farming communities we work with,” she says. That sense of impact has taken on very concrete meaning. Through the company’s fair-trade model, a premium from every bottle sold goes back to the farming communities that grow the tea, to be invested as those communities see fit. Much of that tea comes from what Kohn describes as the largest organic tea garden in the world, in Mozambique. She has also worked on an initiative at Just Ice Tea to raise

From Plate to Page Recently, two more food-focused alumni published books about eating sustainably. One will get you cooking, and one will get you thinking. Both are worth a look.

Taste of Sedona: Recipes from Red Rock Country Chef Gregory Light ’15 is on a mission to share his love for food and cooking with the world. After studying at the Cordon Bleu in Paris and working at Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, Light now heads his own culinary school and catering service, Lighthouse Kitchen, in Sedona, Arizona. Small groups arrive at Lighthouse Kitchen for an afternoon of cooking and learning— with an emphasis on seasonality as well as local, healthy ingredients. Then guests enjoy an elegant, three-course, candlelit dinner featuring local food and wines. Now, Lighthouse Kitchen is publishing its first cookbook, Taste of Sedona: Recipes from Red Rock Country: “Experience the culinary history of the Southwest featuring stories and recipes from the Lighthouse Kitchen. From elote to Navajo tacos, trout to bison, sikil p’ak to bread-and-butter ice cream sandwiches. Learn to cook and think like a Michelin star chef with all the tips and tricks to make delicious meals again and again.” Order a copy at chefgregorylight.com.

additional funds beyond the fair-trade premiums in order to build a health clinic for that farming community. Construction is almost complete, and a ribbon-cutting is expected later this year. The clinic will serve around 10,000 residents, providing proper sanitation, maternal care, and medical services to treat diseases like malaria, typhoid, and AIDS. This work is a direct expression of the sense of community responsibility Kohn learned at Sidwell Friends. “From the youngest age, we were doing service for others and thinking about people outside ourselves,” she says. “I think those things shape you.”

Hamburgers Don’t Grow on Trees: Raising Beef on a Family Farm with Kindness Liza F. Carter ’74, an environmental scientist, writer, photographer, and painter, has published a new book to inspire conversations about raising meat in ways that honor the animals, respect the farmers, and care for the land. Hamburgers Don’t Grow on Trees, recommended by animal behavior expert Temple Grandin, uses photography and narrative to trace the real-life journey—and life cycle—of one cow growing up on a farm in Vermont. It’s a children’s book that can be appreciated by all ages—as a story and as a guide to humane farming practices. “Some people think that kids can’t handle knowing where hamburgers come from, but as a scientist and a mom, I’m sure that they can.” Read the book: hamburgersdontgrowontrees.com. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

The People Behind the Plate

Building a BETTER RESTAURANT Finn Stern ’11 took his first job in food during his senior year at Sidwell Friends, when he chose to spend his senior project as a line and prep cook at Dupont Circle’s Restaurant Nora—one of the first certified organic restaurants in the country. After college, he moved to California and worked at an organization lobbying on behalf of environmental and agricultural causes. Finding himself burnt out by the work, he quit and took another restaurant job “just for fun.” He quickly fell back in love with it. Together with his wife, Stella Dennig, he opened his first restaurant, Daytrip, in Oakland, California. Daytrip made everything in-house, changed its menu daily, and offered meticulous service. In 2022, Bon Appetit magazine declared it the Best New Restaurant in America. It was also, Stern says plainly, not a successful business. The decision to close the restaurant was hard, but he maintains that it was the right call. “It was not feeding our souls or feeding our people,” Stern says. “We did the hard thing by closing something that worked in order to better support both ourselves and the people who worked there.” Daytrip was replaced by Daytrip Counter, and the differences are instructive. The menu no longer changes daily; it is fixed, focused, and priced for affordability. “We’re charging a quarter of the price but getting 10 times as many customers because of that.” Oakland, Stern points out, lives in the shadow of San Francisco—a different community with a different economic profile. Yet despite the dramatically lower prices, employee pay has gone up. The model is designed to scale and to be talked about publicly with legislators, nonprofits, and other restaurant owners. That public dimension matters deeply to Stern. “So often in legislative contexts, restaurant workers and restaurant owners are pitted against each other and against consumers,” he says. “We wanted to build a platform where everyone can work together, because we’re all on the same team ultimately.”

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The People Behind the Plate

He and Dennig have banded together with other local Oakland restaurants into a mutual-aid network: When any employee of a participating restaurant faces hardship, the group collectively steps in. A coalition of 12 restaurants carries a lot more political weight than a single restaurant. “One restaurant doesn’t have the ear of the mayor,” says Stern. “When we band together, we get the meetings.” He hopes the model of collective action spreads nationally. Stern is also blunt about what he wants the average American to understand about the people who work in food. “The humanity is stripped away from so many of us by serving others,” he says. “People working behind the counter aren’t really seen as other humans, and aren’t treated with a whole lot of respect,” he says. Respect was a value he took away from his experience as a high schooler working in the Restaurant Nora kitchen. “I’m still surprised at how much respect my coworkers gave this little 18-year-old who didn’t know anything.” That memory shapes how he leads today. “Food serves as a communal place to connect with other people,” Stern says. “It has a higher purpose in connecting us with each other.” That is what Stern is trying to build—a place where the people making the food and the people eating it are treated equally as human beings.

Nicole Corea is a writer living in Washington, DC, and the senior program manager for Food & Society at the Aspen Institute.

“ Food serves as a communal place to connect with other people. It has a higher purpose in connecting us with each other.” FINN STERN ’11

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Portrait of the Artist as a Young Grad Angela Ding ’26

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

JL Chretien ’26

An exhibition of work by Sidwell Friends seniors focuses on fine art. This year, 10 Upper Schoolers from the Class of 2026 worked on “sustained investigations” into their artistic practices. In addition to creating a portfolio of themed work, each student wrote an artist’s statement to pair with their pieces. “I have known these students since 9th grade, when they first took art classes in high school at Sidwell,” says Upper School art teacher Catherine Dunn. “They are all artists by choice. They’ve made the decision to pursue art in their lives for all kinds of reasons, each one personal and unique. Some are going on to study in college. Every one of them found something deep and lasting and meaningful in their pursuit, something that will never go away and will become a part of them forever. This group is outstanding in their commitment to the search.” On the following pages, you can see a selection of this dynamic, original work.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Angela Ding ’26 They say you are the sum of the people you’re friends with, that you live out their best qualities and exhibit who you surround yourself with. I am truly grateful for my community and words cannot describe the boundless love I possess for my friends. This project is my attempt to express my attitudes and convey my appreciation. I think there is something so precious in silent observation, in quietly noticing those around you and constructing a very personal perception of who they are. As I meticulously bring my subjects to life through portraiture, I’m met with a familiar face that I am always delighted to spot in the real world. I will eternally bring all the memories we’ve made together, wherever I go.

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PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Leo Soriano ’26 The Metro is a point of intersection, where different people and walks of life come together, mixing and mingling into a single shared experience. To me, the Metro represents independence, freedom, and exploration. People carry so many different stories, and I think it’s beautiful that DMV residents all share this place in common. In my Sustained Investigation, I hope to showcase the beauty of the DC transit system, and how something seen as routine is also filled with so much possibility.

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PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Ethan Huang ’26

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

The body of work largely examines my family and my childhood. After my grandfather passed earlier this year, I’ve been reflecting on a lot of my family. Simultaneously, as I approach the end of my senior year of high school, I’ve been thinking more broadly about my childhood and how I’ve grown. These parallel transitions have led me to look at many of my past photos. Through art, I hoped to capture many of the childhood and family photos I never fully appreciated. I often don’t try to get the drawings perfect to every detail, rather I like to highlight the key figures. I do this to mimic memory, which isn’t fully accurate and highlights the core parts. Moreover, I tend to emphasize shading and detail for the people in the photos and blur the background more to emphasize the people in my life. I believe this has been very helpful as a tool for reflection, pushing me to introspect before I move into a new chapter of my life.

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Yossi Rosen ’26

I explore the idea of how Ancient Korean art techniques influence present art in my pieces by drawing with a retrospective lens. I also explore the historical techniques of my ancestors and the technical discrepancies between contemporary and historical drawing styles. I learned the craftsmanship behind the traditional Korean art pieces in my aunt’s home and how they have influenced modern techniques in art. I learned about the intentionality and complexity behind each deceivingly simple artistic choice in a painting of a Goryeo Celadon, a type of Korean green-glazed ceramic. Through my sustained investigation, I learned the art of capturing emotional depth, even when it is in a colorless form like pencil. In doing so, I challenged myself to not hinge on the use of colors to capture emotional depth and to delineate the historical paraphernalia with vibrancy equal to the coarse gray naturalism of a Buncheong in a museum, a traditional form of Korean stoneware, with a blue-green tone.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

My art pieces are about reflecting on a recent loss in my life and how I have been viewing it. What comes to my mind when drawing or painting recently has been the themes of light and dark, reflection, and family. I would say that my art recently focuses on those themes, especially through self-portraiture and by highlighting healing and introspection. I think most importantly, my pieces have helped me through this healing process, which has made making art generally more difficult, because it reminds me of the loss. However, this has also made art a helpful healing process.

Sara Khoury ’26 48

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

PORTRAIT OFThe THEPeople ARTIST Behind AS A YOUNG the Plate GRAD

Astrid Virk ’26 I’ve been a very imaginative and whimsical person since childhood. An early memory I have in primary school that shows such traits was when I would get bored in class and start daydreaming about going to space - who I would meet, what I would eat, and so on. Now that I’ve freshly become an adult, I’ve reflected on how many fewer opportunities I have to be imaginative and daydream because I obviously have to stay very focused and in the present to guarantee myself success. But I do really miss having the time and space to exercise my whimsy, and that’s why I wanted to rediscover that part of myself through my sustained investigation. It’s centered around Mario Kart 8, my favorite video game, as I was feeling nostalgic and wanted to relive the worlds I once loved and knew so well. But what my sustained investigation actually delves into is how animals would realistically interact in these fantasy world environments, as I wanted to blend fantasy and reality. I’m having a lot of fun creating these pieces as I am simultaneously able to exercise my imagination of how animals would probably interact in these environments, while also researching how they would actually interact with certain elements. The more pieces I draw, the more I can see how much color affects mood as well. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Sophie Xu ’26 In this project, my goal was to highlight shoes, objects that people wear every day but are often overlooked. I tried to emphasize the main focal points through color and detail, experimenting with both an absence of color in one piece and an almost overwhelming presence in the other. I also aimed to create an in-depth work that may change when the viewer looks at it from a different perspective or for a longer period of time. Through the project, I attempted to give shoes a sense of individuality and allow them to be the principal feature of a piece instead of a background object.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Hedy Hao ’26 As graduation rapidly approaches, I have spent my last year at Sidwell reflecting on my growth as an individual both personally and academically. This development has been supported and sustained by those closest to me, my family and friends, and all those around me who have quietly shaped who I am. While the connections I have built will stay with me long after my journey at Sidwell ends, leaving behind this chapter means leaving the comfort of physical proximity and support around me. My art seeks to explore the complex dynamic of leaving behind something I cherish for the beginning of my new future and learning to live alone for the first time in my life. My pieces hope to recognize my gratitude for my past, my presence in the now, and anticipation for what lies ahead.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG GRAD

Eliane Soukou ’26 In this project I attempted to explore the different portrayals of gold and jewelry I have encountered within my lifetime. Growing up Christian, I was taught that these things represented vanity, greed, and overall bad morals. However, as I began to branch out and encounter other perspectives and ideas, I was able to gain a certain confidence in wearing gold jewelry and was able to challenge what I had been taught. I believe this growth is symbolic of my overall journey with my religion, learning more and learning how to differ.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

PORTRAIT OFThe THEPeople ARTIST Behind AS A YOUNG GRAD the Plate

JL Chretien ’26

When I create art, I like to honor the instinctual flashes in my mind of objects, environments, and feelings. They form into pictures in milliseconds; in many ways my art is an exercise in catching them, as they’re easy for me to forget and cast aside as meaningless subconscious output. I find that I get a lot more truth and joy out of them than careful introspection. I strive towards living in the moment and appreciating as much as I can about living.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

LIVING THEIR

The Doctor Will Care About You Now

For Dr. Mara Gordon ’04, casting off biases and embracing body justice is central to her practice. BY ELLEN RYAN

teen girl looks distracted and shifts in her chair at a clinic in Camden, New Jersey.

Dr. Mara Gordon checks the 17-yearold’s vitals. “So, M’kayla,” Gordon says with a smile, “do you plan to be a doctor when you grow up?” The girl half-grins and looks to the medical tools nearby. “I hadn’t thought about it,” she says. Then talk turns to blood pressure and enzymes, and the girl is notably more relaxed. Some physicians often ask patients, “Have you noticed that you’re overweight?” But Gordon has a different view of health—one that encompasses mental, physical, and emotional aspects. It includes building trust with patients; identifying and breaking dated racist, sexist, homophobic, and other barriers to care; and making patients active partners in their own health decisions. “So many patients think of a primary care visit as a fat audit,” says Gordon, who’s certified in family medicine. “When I made comments like that”—asking a patient about their weight—“I could see patients check out of the conversation. It took a long time to reframe my thinking, my whole approach.”

She came to view this reframed approach as “body justice.” Gordon herself didn’t plan to be a doctor until her last few months at the University of Pennsylvania. It was too late for pre-med courses, so the history and English major did a postbaccalaureate year of science at Bryn Mawr, then applied to med school while doing public health work with what was then the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative in Tanzania. As a med student at Penn, Gordon showed early signs of stepping outside the norms with her awardwinning research project on postpartum and perinatal depression. Her goal even then was to involve patients in the adoption of better decision-making tools. “Too often,” she says, “patients are kept at arm’s length. That is supposed to lend authority or credibility. Instead, it feeds into bias.” Gordon, a college journalist, found herself pulled between an interest in relationships and experiences and the corporate model of healthcare, which felt bureaucratic, hierarchical, and patronizing. It was tough to find time to write during med school, but she did manage to place articles in The New York Times and The Atlantic.

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Wanting an outlet for creativity after residency, she applied for and became the 2018/19 Health and Media Fellow at NPR and Georgetown University School of Medicine. Thus began an intense but refreshing year in DC: Living with her parents near Sidwell Friends, Gordon was teaching at Georgetown, practicing at a clinic in Northeast, and writing at NPR. Among the columns that resulted: “Telehealth Abortion Demand is Soaring. But Access May Come Down to Where You Live”; “Becoming a Parent Means Forgetting What I Learned in Medical School”; “Female Doctors Spend More Time With Patients, But Earn Less Money Than Men”; “A Medical School Tradition Comes Under Fire for Racism”; and “A Drug That Eases Miscarriages is Difficult for Women to Get.” “I saw so much that seemed wrong about healthcare in America, and it felt so empowering to write about it,” she says of that year. “It didn’t necessarily fix the problem, but it helped me advocate on those issues while doing tangible good for my patients.” These days, after helping to build a narrative medicine program at one of Rowan University’s growing medical complexes, Gordon practices at

“

LIVING THEIR

We all deserve to take up space and do things that make us healthy.” Cooper University Hospital in Camden, also affiliated with Rowan University. She sees patients in the underserved community three days a week while continuing to write for NPR—and putting the finishing touches on her first book, How to Take Up Space. As her learning, teaching, and practice have evolved, Gordon has come to see how much her training in family medicine fixated on weight and body size. The effect of physicians’ focus on body mass index (BMI) as the major metric of overall health turns patients off and drives them away. The message is that large is unhealthy, Gordon says, but actually, large can be healthy, while thin can be unhealthy. Moreover, strength training is critical for all bodies. “We all deserve to take up space and do things that make us healthy,” Gordon says. “That means people in their 80s, people living in large bodies. Exercise is for everyone.” “Dr. Gordon questions one of the last unabashed biases in medicine— against obesity—and challenges the profession to rethink its values,” says Dr. Douglas Reifler, dean of student affairs at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. “She reminds us that it is incumbent on physicians to transcend cultural biases—not reinforce them—and treat everyone with compassion and respect.” The physician herself is not immune to societal and medical messages. Gordon has tried (and quit) a GLP-1 medication for weight loss after starting a family and wonders about

feeling comfortable in a sleeveless dress at a formal occasion. But she has the privilege of shopping at farmers markets and exercising with a home gym, she says. If folks can’t walk to the corner store and find anything healthier than hot Cheetos, is it really fair to ask them to love their body? This is the basis of body justice: It means that body kindness and health can coexist rather than be at odds. You don’t have to be body positive, but you have to let go of shame versus taming your physical self into submission. “Body shame is so wrapped up in sexism, racism, ableism, class discrimination, and impossible beauty standards,” Gordon notes. Delving into these ideas has turned around her whole practice. Gordon’s book, due out next spring, comes as some in the medical community are joining in. Ideas bubbling up include: How can doctors become patients’ allies rather than antagonists? (Discuss improving blood sugar and blood pressure rather than numbers on the scale.) And the Food is Medicine movement, which supports more access to healthy food, is becoming more mainstream. (Some hospitals and nonprofits arrange to fill “grocery prescriptions” for patients.) Gordon may not have had medicine in mind during her time at Sidwell Friends, but the School was working its subtleties in ways that find expression in her reasoning and direction to this day. Former history teacher Ellis Turner “believed in me as a writer and thinker and helped shape my experiences,” she says. Former college counselor and English teacher Diane Scattergood was

another proponent, “putting no limits on my goals. She always said, ’How can we make this happen?’ All the faculty treated me like a human with ideas worth having.” Not to mention the Sidwell Friends precept that if one sees an injustice, one has an obligation to speak up and try to correct it. Gordon thinks about that one especially when seeing patients the age she was in the Upper School. “So many of my patients view adolescence as a rigid time, when you have to do what you’re told rather than explore your choices,” she says. Teens of color are often told they’re not going to succeed; many see themselves as limited. Asking, for instance, if a young patient plans to go into medicine as a career “is a tiny thing, but I want to treat everyone as people with full potential.” Speaking of full potential, what does this doctor think of the new generation coming into medical school? “It’s the Millennials and Gen Xers and Boomers who are un-learning diet culture,” she observes. “The younger ones don’t worry about others’ opinions so much; they dress for themselves; they feel good in their own bodies.” After a pause, she says, “Maybe rather than tell Gen Z things, I should ask for advice from them.”

Real Talk with a Doc

Read Dr. Gordon’s columns at maragordonmd.com/writing. Know someone who is living their values? Email suggestions to magazine@sidwell.edu.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CALLING ALL ALUMNI! Have you updated your contact information recently? Want to connect with a fellow alum, or see who is in your area? Interested in networking with folks in your industry?

Join the new Sidwell Friends Alumni Network Directory, a hub for connection exclusively for Sidwell Friends alumni. Questions? Check out the User Guide on the Directory homepage or reach out to us at alumni@sidwell.edu.

300+ ALUMNI. ONE REMARKABLE COMMUNITY. We want to pause and offer our deepest gratitude to the over 300 alumni volunteers currently serving the School. Volunteers provide the energy and expertise that allow our community to thrive. Looking to get involved or find new opportunities? We are eager to welcome new voices into our volunteer cohorts. If you are looking to give back for the first time, or a current volunteer interested in deepening your engagement, we would love to hear from you. Scan the QR code to learn more.

PLANNED GIVING at SIDWELL FRIENDS SCHOOL

We invite you to invest in an education that changes lives. Forever.

Please visit plannedgiving.sidwell.edu and consult your financial advisors about tax and other considerations. For more information, contact Amanda Meter, Senior Director of Individual Giving at (202) 537-8448 or shine@sidwell.edu. 56

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

In the 1960s, when students moved out of the Sidwells’ old wooden house and into their freshly built brick Upper School building, it didn’t take long for them to get comfortable in their new, sunlit classrooms.

CLASS NOTES At a moment when social media often overwhelms, proselytizes, or vanishes before your eyes, Class Notes humbly offers respite. Here, you have a lasting, curated, and quirky window into the lives of your fellow alumni. Whether you knew them then, follow them now, or never met, you are all Friends.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

1950 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

1951

Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

1953 GLORIA GIRTON ggat58b@orange.fr

1954 RICHARD NICKLAS rnicklas@mfa.gwu.edu

1955 NANCY ABOLIN HARDIN nancyhardin@gmail.com NANCY ABOLIN HARDIN: “I survived a pretty rigorous tour to Scotland, Wales, and the English countryside, followed by a few days in London, where I was joined by my favorite travel buddy, who lives in Florence. Weather ranged from freezing rain and wind in Edinburgh and Wales and the Lake District to a red-alert heat wave in London but did not interfere with long walks in beautiful surroundings and, in London, taking in some wonderful art and theater.” See photo above. PETER LUYKX: “Recently, I participated in a weekend festival where, in our ’Reading-Is-Magic’ booth, I read my fairy tale, The Good Village, to a few children. One 10-year-old kid kept interrupting: ’That couldn’t happen!’ I told him he would probably grow up to be a good scientist.” See photo above.

Courtesy Nancy Abolin Hardin

1952

Courtesy Peter Luykx

Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

LEFT: Nancy Abolin Hardin ’55 relaxes in her London hotel bar after spending a long but inspiring day at the Tate Modern and on a boat ride on the Thames to visit the Greenwich Observatory. RIGHT: Peter Luykx ’55 reads from his fairy tale, The Good Village, to children at a weekend festival.

THOMAS SIMONS’s wife Peggy’s October fall on the stairs made living in their four-level home impossible, so in February she and Tom moved across the Charles River to a good assisted-living place on a hill overlooking Boston in Brookline, Massachusetts. To pay for it, they sold the house in May. Now (in July) they’re still moving stuff, but there’s a tunnel with light at the end. Not cooking and other things, too, are fine; Tom’s given two talks and is organizing others. But they haven’t played canasta for 75 years and don’t plan to start.

1956 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu. MARNY MCCUNE CONCHA: “I am sorry I could not attend our 70th Class Reunion. So I am sending my best wishes to all who attended and also to those who, like me, were unable to attend. I remember my wonderful years at Sidwell Friends, from 8th grade through graduation. I treasure all the memories. Love to all.”

1957 ROBERT CROSMAN robertcrosman@gmail.com ANNE FORSYTHE BRIGGS: “In April, I had a weekend visit in Chestertown, Maryland, from Bonnie McBride Ham-

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

lin, who lives in Oakland, California, and her son, Seth, his wife Rosa, and their four children. After brunch on Sunday, we enjoyed watching my son in a performance of The Glass Menagerie. Paul was excellent as the gentleman caller, a role very different from his own personality. When first married, my husband Al and I lived in Berkeley, and later made frequent visits to California, often staying with Bonnie and her husband, Earl. Over dinner, she and I discussed living with somewhat diminished mobility and caught up about other classmates. We took a short walk on the boardwalk through the marsh to a pier on the Chester River, a wonderful setting for my retirement community. On Monday morning, we had breakfast with Dal, the brother of classmate Betsy Holmes Vilar, and his wife Peggy, Bonnie’s friend from Oberlin College. Then Bonnie drove with her family to her brother’s home in Chevy Chase. It was fun for two old friends to have this weekend together and to reminisce about old times.” ROB (BOB) CROSMAN: “I taught in many New England colleges, and then Alaska for 28 years before retiring to Berkeley, California, in 2013, where I met my partner, Stephanie Antalocy, also a Berkeley graduate. My book on Paradise Lost received a prize, and one on Shakespeare is even better. Now I’m working on a memoir called Daddy’s Boy. My son, Chris, lives in Palos Verdes, California, and has three

1950–1963 1954–1961 children: Luke, who just received a graduate business degree from Emory, and two 11-year-old daughters, Mia and Brooke. For 86 I’m in pretty good shape, mentally and physically, and get around on a bike.”

1958 ROBERT MYERS dr.rbmyers@gmail.com PEGGY PABST BATTIN battin@utah.edu ANNETTE EISENBERG STIEFBOLD and husband, Ed Bell, spent two weeks in Oslo and Bergen, Norway. While there, they attended a grandson’s wedding and celebrated Ed’s big 90th birthday with his Norwegian family.

1959 CLARK GRIFFITH ccgpa@ccgpa.com

1960

has been a big change. We do play croquet and bocce ball at The Sequoias though, so that has been a benefit for us. We’ll keep you posted.”

JODY HUTCHINSON-GRAFF mjodyh@yahoo.com

1963

1961

Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

1962 CHETT BREED chettbreed@gmail.com PETER AND MEME ENEMARK: “Our news is that we moved into a Continuous Care Retirement Community in July. The retirement community, The Sequoias, is in Portola Valley, California—a little over five miles and a little less than 20 minutes from our home in Menlo Park. The Sequoias is out in the woods—whereas we have had an easy walk to downtown Menlo Park for the last 12 years. That

As in life, so much is “remote.” The class of ’61 held a wonderful, witty, wise, and gemütlichkeit Zoom gathering Saturday afternoon Reunion Weekend. The meeting was deftly led by David (Chuck) Bresler, who has moved from Malibu to 50 acres in Timonium, Maryland, to be near his six kids and 10 grandkids. He is a leader in acupuncture and pain medicine, creator in the field of medicine and psychology, useful as a therapy for a distinguished client roster from California. A theme openly discussed were our mobility issues, those spouses who have died and the difficulty of moving on, and the prospect—or advent—of moving to assisted living. Judy Lemke Neimann in Arvada, Colorado, has had MS since college. She raised her family and grandkids, putting them through college and graduate school. Sally Pabst Hogenauer turned her nurse’s profession degree into hospice leadership and is now a community activist and loves the joys of being a gardener.

stuff before, this time I’ll tell you about Charlie Ann, our about-to-be 5-year-old granddaughter. It’s amazing to see how, all of a sudden, she’s her own person, speaking like an adult and knowing a lot about a lot of things. It’s off to kindergarten in the fall, and hopefully she will blossom. The other member of our family, besides our granddaughter’s parents, is Spike, the spicy chihuahua.

Sue Finan Ikenberry is still teaching at Georgetown Day School and led their “It’s Academic” team to TV fame! Her husband, Kenneth Ikenberry, an editor at The Washington Post, has sadly died. Carol Carpenter Esteban has lived and taught in Mexico and is now in Texas, where the politics are so abhorrent to her liberal democrat soul that she is in fight daily. Alan Eckert, in Sante Fe, is a pilot, per enjoyment, and photographer, who lost his lovely wife, Linda Saint Germaine. John Gunion, a wizard from the astrophysics world is in San Francisco. Sherman Robinson and his wife, Bunny, are in Washington, DC. News from Jennifer Rae in Toronto is that she is facing the wrenching struggles of family and friends with life-threatening illnesses. Lynn Povich appeared from New York and Marianne (Alix) Sacknoff from Maine. The Class of 1961 will gather via Zoom on the first Saturday of the month from 2:30–4 p.m. EST wherever you may be in the world! —BUNNY ROSENFELD

REU N I ON R ECA P

Class of 1961

MARGO LEE HOFELDT: “I’m sure we all agree that this year is flying by! Maybe I’m just too busy, which is the story of my life: Board meetings, Garden Club meetings, Orchid Society meetings, and more meetings, social events and theater, etc. Since I’ve elaborated on all that

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

MARY HELEN MARKLEY ROSSI: “Hello all! My husband, Bill, passed away in December 2022, and I have been traveling ever since. I’ve also published a children’s story Bullies, Blaze, and Bravery, which is described in my Sidwell Friends profile. I would love to hear from you!” See photo below.

1965 KEN LESURE ken.lesure@gmail.com

1966 CHRIS DEMATATIS cdematatis@aol.com RICHARD HOWARD: “Sorry to miss in May. I am still doing photography for magazines and colleges and nonprofit companies. I have just finished anoth er book, When Lobsters Reigned. I have been going out to see the lobsters off the Vinalhaven Island. There are 1,200 that live there. When the granite and fish went down, the last 40 years is what has saved the island. The book will be out in July. I live outside of Boston. Brett and I are

Courtesy Nancy Abolin Hardin

KEN LESURE: “A proud moment for the father of a new Ph.D.! My daughter Elizabeth received her doctorate in educational psychology from CUNY last month. In the photo we’re posing in front of Lincoln Center in Manhat-

LEFT: Mary Helen Markley Rossi ’64 had “an amazing experience of profound energy” upon meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. RIGHT: Ken LeSure ’65 and his daughter, Elizabeth, a newly minted Ph.D.

Courtesy Richard H. Howard

LOUISE BERRY STRAIT lbstrait@gmail.com

Courtesy Richard H. Howard

1964

tan where the ceremony took place. In 2011, Elizabeth taught English in the Upper School while a faculty member was on paternity leave. Since then, she has served as director of strategic learning at Berkeley-Carroll School in Brooklyn, New York. Berkeley-Carroll is a progressive, K–12 private school with much in common with Sidwell Friends. Her two sons are ’faculty brats’ like their grandfather was at Friends; the elder son will graduate next year. I continue to host monthly class meetings on Zoom. I encourage classmates to join our wide-ranging discussions ranging from reminiscing about our days at Friends, to facing the challenges of aging, to the joys of grandparenting, and even politics on occasion.” See photo below.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Courtesy Ken LeSure

Our daughter rescued him from the Humane Society and then after several years we became his caretakers (just like with her four cats). He is his own person, too! He has an adorable face and is very energetic even at the ripe old age of approximately 14 years. We love him and he loves us, but other people and other dogs… not so much—and everything is trumped if there is any cheese around. Be well and have fun everyone!”

Richard Howard ’66 on the lobster boat.

now at 40 years, and we have Miles, who is a writer, and Julia, who works on climate change for a foundation. Being at Sidwell Friends for two years was the best. I love all of you and the teachers.” See photos above. JIM SITES and his wife, Barbara, visited their son in Minnesota over the Memorial Day weekend. Unexpectedly, they ran into former Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer and visited with him about the 1982-season playoff game when the Vikings, led by Kramer, lost 21–7 to Joe Theisman and the Washington football club. (Washington went on to win Super Bowl XVII that season defeating Miami by 27–17.) The couple also toured Duluth and found it to be a magnificent city situated along the shore of Lake Superior. Duluth was reminiscent of San Francisco with its hills and steep roadways and proximity to water. In nearby Cloquet, they saw the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed gas station. It is still in use.

1963–1966 1954–1961

Half of those in attendance traveled to join the festivities. Valerie Szathmari Leksich flew in from Sacramento to the delight of those who had not seen her since our 35th reunion. Tim Smith arrived from Florida, as did fellow Sunshine State resident Allison Finn Browning. Ned Beach came down from Maine. Nancy Demuth Thompson and Duncan Hollomon were there from Massachusetts. Kiki Brown Oehlert flew in from Oklahoma, and Roseanne Hiatt Harris made the trip from New Jersey. Carl Eifler traveled from New York. Jon Sternberg interrupted his golf schedule to come down from Pennsylvania. North Carolina was the best-represented state with Debbi Fosberg Nelson, Anne Edelblut Hendrix, Tricia Lobban Wyche, and Leigh Teague (Diana Council Sweeney’s daughter) all in attendance. In addition to Kathy, Peggy, and Pete, others who made appearances from the local area were Jim Bergeson, Rex Brown, John Clifford, Amy Donovan, Suzy Ornstein Fleming, Don Ackad, and Chris Dematatis. Kathy and Chris gave updates on class members and the Class of 1966 Scholarship Fund. In turn, they were surprised by gifts from their classmates thanking them for their many years of work on behalf of the class.

Cameron Whitman Kevin Parisi

The Class of 1966 gathered from near and far to celebrate 60 years since their time at Sidwell Friends. Almost a third of our classmates savored a weekend of good food, good drink, and even better company. Local alums Kathy Paull Brown, Peggy McCurley Gilliam, and Pete Donovan once again graciously hosted opportunities for all of us to relax and chat in the comfort of their homes.

REUNI O N RECAP

Class of 1966

The Class of 1966 celebrates their 60th Reunion.

The 60th reunion weekend was thoroughly enjoyed by all and the conversations during the Saturday evening affair at Pete’s house eventually turned to an eager anticipation of our 65th in 2031. Many of our classmates grew up knowing that Kiki Brown Oehlert’s family owned a farm in Loudoun County, Virginia. What they probably did not know was that the Brown family’s ownership of Oakland Green Farm predates the Revolutionary War. News outlets as diverse as The Wall Street Journal and RFDTV have recently highlighted this remarkable fact on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The oldest building on the property is the cabin built by Richard Brown in 1731. The deed from Lord Thomas Fairfax is just one of the tangible pieces of history on the beautiful 200-acre working farm that is now stewarded by Kiki’s cousin, Sara Brown. —KATHY PAULL BROWN

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

Tony Farrell

Catherine Grace

sure it’s a joke... Anyhow, more of our adventure will be revealed in the future. Meanwhile, fellow Sidwell Friends friends, hope you’re surviving the crazy and ever so discouraging life in America these days. I have to say, despite the harrowing, life-threatening driving here, it is so pleasant to be watching Portugal ’football’ and not thinking about politics. Blessings to all.”

LEFT: Tony Farrell ’67 and Bob Kramer ’67 attend their 55th Harvard reunion. RIGHT: Catherine O’Neill Grace ’68

1970 MARGARET WEAVER STEEL mwsteel22@icloud.com I

Ms. Shakes peare, Pre sume

STEVE BATZELL swb.abacus@gmail.com

If the United States ever has a serious discussion about world politics again, this small but punchy book should be part of the adults’ conversation.

Rostow

Nicholas Rostow

George Weigel Distinguished Senior Fellow and William E. Simon Chair in Catholic Studies, Ethics and Public Policy Center Proportional to the Mischief is the book This book bridges the Nick Rostow was born to write. Blending gap between international deep experience with government, diplomacy, and law, Rostow makes law and U.S. grand strategy. a powerful case for understanding It explains the operation of international law as a set of core principles that should guide U.S. the international political and grand strategy in the future, as legal system and the principles they have for much of the past. At a time when the post–World on which the system rests. War II rules-based order teeters These include the international on the brink of unraveling, this book offers a desperately law that defines what a state is, needed path forward that what sovereignty is, what rights and is simultaneously wise, pragmatic, and idealistic. responsibilities inhere to all states, and David Wippman President Emeritus, Hamilton College; formerly Dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, and Professor of Law, Cornell Law School

Professor Rostow’s brilliant, scholarly, and entertaining book reminds us of the vitally important role of international law in American grand strategy. These topics are rarely addressed together, but, at a moment when the international order we have known for decades is breaking down, Rostow’s message could not be more timely and vital. For the expert and lay person alike, this is essential reading.

the operation of the balance of power. Grand strategy is most effective when developed consistently with these principles.

Proportional to the

Mischief

Nicholas Rostow is a Senior Research Scholar at Yale Law School and an Executive Partner at Zumpano, Patricios, P.A.

International Law and U.S. Grand Strategy

Robert Kagan Columnist, The Washington Post, and author of The Ghost at the Feast

JEFFREY COHEN: “Still working! Developing the historic Eagle Mill (1805) in Lee, Massachusetts, into more than 215 affordable housing apartments. Just celebrated with Beth our 12th anniversary!” 6407_Rostow_ProportionaltotheMischief_COVER_2026.indd All Pages

TONY FARRELL: “Bob Kramer and I had a wonderful time together at the 55th Reunion of the Harvard College class of 1971.” See photo above.

1968 ROLLIE FRYE rolliefrye@gmail.com CATHERINE O’NEILL GRACE: “Don and I downsized from our 1,400-square-foot apartment in Sherborn to a smaller, 1,000-square-foot place in Sudbury, Massachusetts, in September 2025. We’re on the fourth floor of a new building and absolutely love it. We’re 200 yards from the Concord line, so I nearly fulfilled my lifelong dream of living where Louisa May Alcott wrote Little Women. I am still working full-time for the Wellesley College alumnae magazine (magazine. wellesley.edu). I might retire by the time of our 60th Reunion, but we’ll see. Hope all is well with all of you in this crazy world of ours.” (See photo above.) 62

2/20/26 12:33 PM

NICK ROSTOW: “I just published Proportional to the Mischief: International Law & U.S. Grand Strategy (Carolina Academic Press, 2026).”

1969 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu. MARI HILDENBRAND THOMPSON: “My husband and I have been in the process of moving to Portugal for the past year. We’re finally here in search of a permanent rental while staying on a working farm/winery in an Airbnb in the small agricultural town of Acipreste in the Leiria Province. We have our D7 visas and have an October 23rd appointment with AIMA to establish residency. Fingers crossed. Our host Luis, his son Pedro, upstairs neighbors Daniela and Gilles have all been absolutely wonderful, helpful, and so kind, it makes the months of hair-pulling, frustrating documentation, and hurdles absolutely worth it. The people here are very friendly and pleasant—but once they get behind the wheel of a car, they morph into unrecognizable maniacs! Take it from someone who has driven in terrible traffic in the UK, Germany, Italy, and Mexico—these folks are the worst by far. Our host jokingly said that because the Portuguese are so pleasant in person, they get out all of their aggression driving. I’m not

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

BROOKS MARTIN: “After

practicing Family Medicine for 45 years, I just wrote my first, and only, book and it has nothing to do with the medical arena. I entered the rabbit hole of the SAQ, the Shakespeare Authorship Question, and the book is called Ms. Shakespeare, I Presume: The Case for Amelia Bassano Lanier. I used biography and literary criticism to show that this woman of Italian and Jewish heritage could have been the author of the works of Shakespeare and then used a new technique to show that she assuredly did write them. I examined the names of the different characters in the plays and found that her name, the names of her family members, and those of significant people in her life show up very frequently, either directly, or in the form of a camouflaging proxy name. This information was turned into a numerical result, which was then compared with similar data for other potential authors. A statistical analysis of this data shows that she is so far ahead of the others, especially William Shakespeare, that she must be considered the prime candidate to be declared the author of the works of Shakespeare. It also answers many intriguing questions. For example, why did Shakespeare, who was very creative with character names, use the name Antonio three times in non-historical plays, twice linked with the name Sebastian? There must have been a reason for this unusual pattern. Why were characters named William in non-historical roles universally derided? Many B R O O K S

Proportional to the Mischief

1967

T H E C A S E F O R A M E L I A B A S S A N O L A N I E R M A R T I N

1967–1971

MARGARET WEAVER STEEL: “Griff and I recently went on a trip to Asheville, North Carolina, with Courtney Murchison ’72 and her husband, Marc Seidman. We had a great time touring the Biltmore Estate and an even better time visiting with Laura Peery and her husband, Rob Morris ’69. As you know from the Sidwell Friends Magazine, Laura is an accomplished artist. We met in her home studio to view her process and workspace. So happy we were joined there by Chuck Sternberg ’70 and his wife, Louise Sternberg, who live nearby. Then the eight of us had lunch together and proceeded to the gallery where Laura and her group of artists display their work and sell it. It was a wonderful day of friendship and beautiful art.” See photos below.

BRIAN STEINBACH brian.steinbach@verizon.net

Reunion Recap on next page. TOM PLUMB continues to live in Trujillo, Honduras, and work for Hands to Honduras building schools and other projects, now totaling some 81 classrooms plus major renovations in other schools. There is some support from the Rotary Foundation, but most of the support for schools is provided by small donations. Any amount is welcome and tax deductible: Tom Plumb, Hands to Honduras, Inc., PO Box 1733, Port Isabel, Texas 78578. DANA SACK, on a similar vein, notes, that “as a member of Oakland Rotary #3, the third-oldest Rotary Club out of over 42,000 all over the world, I have been working on water projects in Ghana and Rajasthan in India.” MIKE WILLIAMS continues to live in England and is happily fully retired after a long IT career in the auto industry followed by a post-retirement four-year consultancy. He recently came to the United States for a family wedding in

Courtesy Margaret Steel

CHRIS TUFTY: “I didn’t travel anywhere like some of our classmates, but I did install a solar panel system for our house in Long Beach with a back-up battery! I love watching the Tesla app show me 0 KWhs from the grid! I thank George

MARY REYNER mary.reyner@gmail.com

As children, June Gatch Zaragoza ’72 and Cathy Gatch ’71 stand with their Foreign Service parents and others at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Israel, in 1957.

Vermont but managed to squeeze in time for visits with David Markun in Arlington, Massachusetts, and with Spence Porter, Mary Reyner, and Brian Steinbach in DC. JUNE GATCH ZARAGOZA: “Recently, I completed the project of a lifetime after inheriting the letters my parents wrote back home and to each other during their 35-year Foreign Service career. I wove together the story of their lives and self-published the book Parallel Lives and Shadows. (Key words include Foreign Service families, Arabist, and substance abuse.) I did much research into my mother’s Chicago origins. My father, a fellow writer, was much more forthcoming. It can be found as a free e-book and as an at-cost print book on Lulu.com. I make no money on it. The joy of holding the physical book in my hand came a lot closer to the joy of being a grandparent than I’d like to admit.” See photo above.

Chris Tufty

seemingly unanswerable questions become easily explicable when you postulate Amelia Bassano as the author. Jodi Picoult, who wrote about Amelia in her novel, By Any Other Name, was kind enough to write me a blurb for the cover.”

1971 Courtesy June Zaragoza

Go to sidwell.edu/classnotes and let us know what you’ve been up to.

Lang still for his physics class that taught me about photovoltaics, et al.” See photo below.

Courtesy Margaret Steel

KEEP IN TOUCH!

LEFT: Chuck Sternberg ’70, Margaret Weaver Steel ’70, Laura Peery ’70, Courtney Murchison ’72, Rob Morris ’69 CENTER: Top: Chuck Sternberg ’70, Griff Steel, Rob Morris ’69, Marc Seidman Bottom: Louise Sternberg, Margaret Weaver Steel ’70, Laura Peery ’70, Courtney Murchison ’72 RIGHT: Chris Tufty ’70 shows off his new solar system.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Class of 1971

Kevin Parisi

REU N I O N RECA P

CLASS NOTES

The Class of 1971 attend a reception at Sidwell Friends and meet Head of School Bryan Garman. FROM L-R: Deborah Mann, Nancy Gentzler Chaffetz, Julia Challinor, Michele Thoren Bond, Elizabeth “Buffy” Rhodes Reich, Mary Reyner, Elizabeth Scheuer, Brian Steinbach, Patricia Formant, David Markun, Charlie O’Neil, Bryan Garman, Ann Yoklavich, Ken McCauley, Kathy Jones Wimmer, Susan Mortell, Giselle Donnelly

We are a diverse class whose adolescence occurred at another difficult and divisive time in America, and we have sometimes approached our reunions with trepidation. During our time at Sidwell Friends, we saw two Kennedy assassinations, the war in Vietnam, Martin Luther King’s killing, the ensuing riots and burning of our city, and our Baby-Boom generation affecting many marketing, distribution, and communication efforts. We nonetheless shared that adolescence, and we accepted and appreciated our differences, although we may not have realized it at the time. A number of classmates got together early for a walk on the C&O Canal towpath on Thursday, but we officially kicked off our 55th Reunion Friday morning with a tour of the beautiful New Deal WPA murals located in the federal Wilbur Cohen building

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

due to be sold. Twelve class members came on the tour, which Patricia Formant arranged, with David Markun doing the promotion and registration. Later that day, some classmates visited classes on campus and toured the new Upper School under construction. Friday night, classmates came to dinner at the DC home of Mary Reyner and Brian Steinbach. Twenty class members and five spouses came from as far as Hawaii, California, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York, and from as near as a few miles away to see

Courtesy Mary Reyner

With more than 50 years of memories and growth, the class of 1971 came back to celebrate their 55th Reunion May 1–3, 2026. Because our 50th Reunion was during COVID and we could only gather virtually, classmates agreed that we needed at least one more Reunion in person. The response was impressive, a total of 30 alumni—41 percent of the surviving class—and six spouses attended throughout the weekend! As we have noted many times, Ken McCauley’s monthly Zooms have certainly contributed to our class cohesion and, this year, to the Reunion response.

Members of the Class of 1971 went to the Wilbur Cohen Federal Building for a mural tour. FRONT: Julia Challinor, Mary Reyner, Ann Yoklavich, Michele Thoren Bond BACK: Susan Mortell, Patricia Formant, Charlie O’Neil, Steve Craig, Elizabeth Scheuer, David Markun, Brian Steinbach NOT PICTURED: Alison MacLean Cassidy

1971–1973

Giddy-Up!

Immediately after the awards event, 25 classmates and six spouses gathered for dinner at the DC home of Katherine and David Bradley. Before dinner, the Bradleys had arranged to have a Zoom screen set up so class members who couldn’t get to DC were able to call in. Another six classmates “showed up” on the screen, and we chatted as if they were there. Throughout the evening, we reminisced and talked about our wide variety of interests, careers, and retirement activities. Our lives, work, and families are all different, but there is a common ethical, creative, and thoughtful thread—a nice tribute to our shared Sidwell Friends experience. Sunday was a mellow finish to the nostalgic weekend. Michele hosted a brunch at her DC home for those who remained. More conversation concluded that it was a memorable Reunion. The sun was shining as we stepped out on her porch and patio, reminding us of the cycles of growth from the past, to the present, and of that yet to come. — MARY REYNER AND BRIAN STEINBACH

1972 JOYCE JACOBSON joyce@brastedhouse.com NEAL WETZEL: “In October 2025, after we closed our inn for the season, we drove cross-country from Maine to San Francisco to see our three kids and two grandkids. It was our first cross-country drive since 1997. We visited five national parks (during the government shutdown) and coincidentally ran into a neighbor from our Maine town at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah, 2,600 miles away! Overall, we drove through 29 states, covering 9,000 miles over 33 days (13 of which were with our kids so there was no real driving). We visited several friends and relatives, but unfortunately no Friends. The biggest surprise were so many billboards for personal-injury lawyers especially in the Southwest! But a wonderful time enjoying the diversity of our beautiful country.”

BENJAMIN DAVIS: “Moved to near Quebec City in July 2025 where my wife was born. Started the process three years ago. Substacking when the muse calls and have a weekly podcast with Thinktech Hawaii. Gym three times a week. And making new friends.” LISA WEINSTEIN DEITCH: “My husband and I have been traveling to Los Angeles, Kauai, Madrid, and Yellowstone. I’ve also been painting and exhibiting my works with the Arlington Artists Alliance, including scenes from our vacations, such as my painting of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon.” See photo below.

1973 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

Lisa Deitch

Saturday included more activities on and off campus. Some people watched sports events, others went on another tour of the new Upper School. Many classmates attended the closing Meeting for Worship followed by the Distinguished Alumni Award presentations, where Michele Thoren Bond was one of the four recipients for her many years of service with the U.S. State Department.

Proud big sisters Linda Radue Wilson ’56 and Joanne Radue Burns ’57 sent in news of their brother, Peter Radue ’71, who received a distinguished alumni award from University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine in April. The university writes: “Dr. Radue is an equine veterinarian and co-founder of Damascus Equine Associates in Maryland. Following graduation from UGA, Dr. Radue completed an internship in large animal Peter Radue ’71 surgery at the Ontario Veterinary College before returning to Maryland to establish his practice. In addition to decades of service to equine patients and their owners, he has remained active in the horse industry, serving on the boards of the Maryland Horse Council and the Maryland Fund for Horses, and currently serves on the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Examiners.” Courtesy University of Georgia

each other for this first event. Classmates laughed, caught up, and enjoyed each other’s company.

Acrylic painting of Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon by Lisa Weinstein Deitch ’73. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES LIZA DONNELLY: “I was touched that a group of friends from our class (Katie Smith Sloan, Aprille Kniep Sherman, Soye Kim, Lydia White Adelfio, Cyndy Meyer, and Richard Foley) came to the screening of my documentary, Women Laughing, about women cartoonists at The New Yorker. Our film was an official selection at the fun film festival DC/ DOX in June. The film is making the festival circuit, and I try to attend as many of the assorted screenings in museums and libraries as possible. If you want to see if the film will be in your area, or to arrange a screening, here’s our website: womenlaughingfilm.com. Women Laughing will stream on newyorker.com in the fall.” See photo below.

LESLIE WOLF-CREUTZFELDT lcreutzfeldt@yahoo.com

age meaningful conversations in families and classrooms about food choices, animal welfare, and the environment. More broadly, I hope the book inspires greater awareness and compassion, and opens the door to a future beyond factory farming. The project was especially rewarding because it brought together both my science side and my artistic side. One real highlight was speaking with Temple Grandin for over an hour about the book and receiving her endorsement. I was also honored that it was longlisted for the Green Earth Book Award by the Nature Generation and named a 2026 Librarian Pick by the Children’s Book Council.”

EDITOR’S NOTE You can also see her book on page 39 in “The People Behind Your Plate.”

Courtesy Liza Donnelly

LIZA CARTER: “I’m excited to share the publication of my middle-grade nonfiction book, Hamburgers Don’t Grow on Trees: Raising Beef on a Family Farm with Kindness. The book offers a thoughtful look at where our food comes from through the story of Lima Bean, a calf raised on a family farm committed to animal welfare and sustainable practices. Through photos and text, it shows that animals can be raised for meat with kindness, respect, and deep care for the land. My goal was to document a humane, ethical approach to raising meat and to encour-

In the documentary Women Laughing, longtime New Yorker cartoonist and Sidwell Friends alumna Liza Donnelly ’73 sets out to explore her lifelong passion for women’s humor and cartooning by speaking, laughing, and drawing with a diverse group of women who create cartoons for the iconic magazine. Inspired by her acclaimed book Very Funny Ladies, the film also looks back at the fascinating history of, and evolution of, single-panel cartoons—from the 1920s, to the present—and it reveals how far women have come in a field historically dominated by men. WAMC’s Joe Donahue writes of the documentary: “I just adored this film. It’s damn perfect.” Check out womenlaughingfilm.com to host a screening, to find one near you, or to buy excellent cartoony merch!

The Class of 1973’s Katie Smith Sloan, Aprille Kniep Sherman, Liza Donnelly, Soye Kim, Lydia White Adelfio, and Cyndy Meyer celebrate Donnelly’s documentary, Women Laughing. Leslie Wolf-Creutzfeldt ’74 and Liza Donnelly ’73 at Women Laughing, Donnelly’s new documentary. 66

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Courtesy Leslie Wolf-Creutzfeldt

1974

Sketch Comedy

LESLIE WOLF-CREUTZFELDT: I attended the premiere of Women Laughing, a documentary by Liza Donnelly ’73 about female cartoonists for The New Yorker at the Society of Illustrators in New York City. A fabulous film!” See photo below. RONNI LINOWITZ JOLLES: “I’m still working, creating layered paper artwork, and showing my work. I’m also teaching in-person workshops and virtual classes. I honestly don’t think I want to stop until I can’t do it anymore. This art form I created is really accessible to anyone and very fun. I’ve done programs for veterans, elderly groups, company retreats, children of various sizes and ages, and adults of all experience levels. (My favorite students are those who think they have no artistic talent and are scared to try it!) Rob and I are doing well; living in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and our daughter, with our two grandchildren, lives in the DC area. (Our other daughter lives in New York and is an influencer; our son lives in LA and does stand-up comedy.) As I age, I try to live by these words said by Satchel Paige: “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was.” Not the strongest grammar, but it’s how I’m trying to live my life at this point. The number “70” can be so daunting and approaching rapidly, so who cares! I’m 55 and feeling good.”

1973–1975

1975 BURTON GRAY burrgray@aol.com ANN BIESTER DEANE abdeane@gmail.com

Ralph Williams (my music teacher at Sidwell Friends) remains a close friend in New York, and I see him regularly. I left New York City (after three decades at Columbia) and now live in Jacksonville, Florida. In addition to writing music, I continue to do economic research, working from home at the Andersen Institute for Finance and Economics. I probably should have mentioned that our first album began with two tracks called “Songs for Guillermina” dedicated to Sra. Supervia. The second one (QR code) sets a beautiful poem by Antonio Machado that Sra. had us memorize in 1975.”

BILL GLEW: “Andy Yarrow drove Merrell Waring and me to the Vercours Massif near Grenoble today to escape 99-degree Fahrenheit heat on the last day of France’s fierce heatwave. We had a lovely lunch on a restaurant terrace in

a town over 1,000 meters high and visited the Resistance Museum in Vassieux, a village that was destroyed by the Nazis in July 1944 but rebuilt, unlike the better-known Oradour-sur-Glane. Several hundred Resistance fighters and close to 100 townsfolk were killed there to quash an uprising following D-Day. Sobering indeed. So glad to have spent the weekend with Andy and Merrell as part of a summer escape from New Orleans.” (See photo above.) TIA POWELL: “It’s good to be ’youngold,’ old enough to step away from the busyness and stress of formal work, but young enough to still do what I love. I am writing a book on caregiving; 60 million American adults provide substantial care for another adult with complex chronic medical and/or cognitive issues. Thumbnail summary: They work hard and we should do more to

Class of 1976

THERESE ROSENBLATT: “Life is incredibly full and busy these days. I continue to practice psychotherapy almost full time and still get a huge amount of satisfaction from my practice. I also squeeze in a host of other activities that I love like travel, the performing arts, time with friends and meaningful time spent with my two grandsons. The only girls in our family apart from me and my mother, are the ones my sons marry. Recently, my husband and I took trips to the Azores and to Corsica. Corsica was an unexpected great pleasure. My grandchildren give me pure joy as they are supposed to. I work out a tremendous amount and very rigorously. My fitness level allows me to engage in a bit of denial about the aging process! I alternate my time between New York City where I mostly live, Scarsdale, where we raised our kids, and my beloved Martha’s Vineyard, where we spend much of the summer—thanks to COVID allowing me to work remotely when I have to.”

REUN IO N

ANN BIESTER DEANE: “I am still practicing residential real estate in New York City. It’s flexible enough that I can still enjoy my race car. I especially enjoy instructing novice drivers and coaching those more advanced. I love watching the lightbulb moments! I also recently earned my Certificate of Senior Advisors, which has been an asset, not just dealing with my 95-year-old dad, but also assisting clients who are transitioning, whether to an assisted living facility or downsizing.”

Bill Glew ’75 and Andrew Yarrow ’75 pose with a friend at Vercours Massif in France.

Kevin Parisi

CHARLES CALOMIRIS: “My opera, Gethsemane, was released this past year on DaVinci Classics (people can see my music blog, Akou, at panohoraensemble.com for detailed information about what we are up to). My next album, Philia, again with DaVinci, is coming out in a month. By the way,

Courtesy Bill Glew

THERESE ROSENBLATT therese.rosenblatt@gmail.com

support them. I’ve done dozens of interviews with caregivers. If any of you would like to participate, please let me know, at tiapowell57@gmail.com. I’m especially interested in those who care for siblings or family members with significant mental health issues. I happily spend a day weekly caring for my young granddaughter, and anticipate the arrival of her cousin in a few weeks.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Courtesy Adam Stern

Brian Muys

Courtesy Diane Thaler

CLASS NOTES

LEFT: Brian Muys ’77 in the Blue Ridge Mountains. CENTER: Diane Thaler ’77 and her brother David Thaler ’80 celebrated their nephew’s wedding in 2024. RIGHT: The Stern family in Washington in July 2026: Rachel Davis ’88, Ami Gordon, Adam Stern ’77, Mark Stern ’82

MARY ANN MCGRAIL mamcgrail@yahoo.com BETSY ZEIDMAN betsyzeidman@gmail.com PAMELA MEYER: “Hi classmates. It was great to see so many of you at our Reunion. My new book, How to Read the Room, is out, and I refer to one of our favorite teachers in it! I’d be honored if you’d read it and let me know your thoughts!”

1977 ADAM STERN adamcstern@aol.com AMANDA EASTMAN BUSCHI: “After 15 glorious months living in Pamplona, Spain, Neil and I purchased a home walking distance from our old town, Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Loved every minute of our time living abroad, but happy to be on the same side of the ocean as our daughter. Also thrilled to be so close to such a charming town. Visitors are welcome!” BRIAN MUYS: “Fresh off celebrating my 45th Dickinson College reunion with classmates, we enjoyed our annual July 4th sojourn with family to Maine

JEFF PIERSON: “I have written a book, a business novel called Battery Revolution about a brilliant materials scientist, two rival companies, and their struggle to introduce—and control—a wildly popular, AI-enabled energy storage system on the power grid. It’s the first book in a series of “edutainment” novels I hope to publish for students, professionals, and general readers.”

in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with life revolving around my 15-year-old son. It has been a challenging year in so many ways, and it has made me even more grateful for having grown up within the community and values of Sidwell Friends.” See photo below. HILARY NELSON JACOBS: “On a recent trip east, I met up with Brandel France de Bravo at the Association of Writers and Poets conference in Baltimore and had dinner with Bing Shaw and Bill Peyser where we recreated a photo from 1978 (swapping Bing for Brooke Lea). See photos on next page. BING SHAW: “I’m enjoying my new roles as grandma to baby Leo and lecturer at San Jose State University su-

1978 PETER MACDONALD pmacdona@skidmore.edu MISSY HOLBROOK: “A chance meeting! Last December, I was in Chevy Chase having lunch with my mother and found myself seated next to Donald Glew and his mother. It was fun to catch up and compare notes. Donald lives in Phoenix and has not recently attended a reunion. I strongly encouraged him to attend our 50th. I am still

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Courtesy Missy Holbrook

1976

and are excitedly preparing for a longplanned fall visit to Scandinavia. In the meantime, I’ve been volunteering on the National Park Service’s Preventive Search and Rescue and Trail Rover teams on the Blue Ridge Parkway and also serving on the nonprofit Weaverville (North Carolina) Foundation board of directors.” See photo above.

Missy Holbrook ’78 and Donald Glew ’78—along with each of their mothers!—had a chance meeting in May.

Courtesy Hilary Jacobs

1976–1980

LEFT: Hilary Nelson Jacobs ’78, Brandel France de Bravo ’78 CENTER: Hilary Nelson Jacobs ’78, Bing Shaw ’78, Brooke Lea ’78 RIGHT: Bing Shaw ’78, Hilary Nelson Jacobs ’78, Bill Peyser ’78

pervising graduate students doing their public-school internships in speech language pathology. Both are extremely fulfilling and rewarding! Last fall, Serrin Gantt and I went to see Hello Dolly! at Olney Theatre in Maryland. I thought Brooke Lea was a much better Horace Vandergelder!”

1979 KEENE TAYLOR keene@tayloragostino.com

normally rent out. Our last tenants left at the end of May, and the next tenant comes on July 1st for 18 months!”

1980 WILLIAM RICE williamrice63@gmail.com CLASS REPRESENTATIVE’S NOTE Our classmate David Hammond has passed away. Several of us remember him in our notes. See photo below.

VINCENT LAPIANA: “Hello Class of 1979! I hope you are all well! I continue to work in cybersecurity for the Software Engineering Institute in Arlington, Virginia, and hope to continue there for a few more years. Work and, together with my sisters, helping my parents, keep me very busy, but I amble or bike when I can around the Arlington Loop, Hains Point, the Capitol Crescent Trail, and the C&O Canal towpath on my an-

David Hammond ’80

ALICE MEADE: “My husband and I spent the month of June in the States. We normally reside in Paris, France, where we own an apartment. We also own a home in Somerville, Massachusetts, which we

LISA IANNUCCI: “Busy summer here at the Jersey Shore, with the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on the campus of Monmouth University, where I am a faculty librari-

Courtesy Missy Holbrook

cient, steel-framed Trek. I plan to run the Army 10-miler for the c. 20th time in October with the two goals of finishing before they run out of bananas and being able to bicycle home afterward. I enjoy following classmates and other Sidwellites on social media, and I stay in touch with good friends Bill Kahn and Larry Russell (but not as often as I would like). I look forward to connecting with classmates in the greater DC area in 2026 and going forward.”

an. There was a concert series, and I attended some of those as well as the dedication of the center on June 6, when we heard from the man himself. I continue to write about Bruce for Letters2You.net and will be covering these stories and more. This, of course, is in addition to my full-time job and advocacy work, which now includes weekly protests in support of marginalized communities. Hope all are well!” CHARLIE KUPFER: “David Hammond and I forged a friendship heavily based on a mutual love of punk rock music. In 1977, in 10th grade, he approached me and asked if I liked the genre. I was new to it, but enthusiastic, and I told him so. He recommended a program on the Georgetown University radio station, and we compared notes days later. For the next three years, David and I traded records, tips, and opinions on what was, to us, an important part of our teenage cultural development. I took his recommendations quite seriously; indeed, we both took punk rock seriously. We attended some shows together as well. I think back on our mutual interest with plenty of happiness, so it saddened me to hear of David’s recent passing. He was a true original who made up his own mind on songs and life, without ever considering following the herd. To me, that remains a highly praiseworthy personality trait.” WILLIAM RICE: “My first extended exposure to David Hammond was in 7th grade science class, where he dazzled me with his biting opinions on topics I knew nothing about: He disparaged Top 40 radio, something I had never heard of; he explained the significance of the

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES TOBA SPITZER: “David Hammond and I shared a love of 1970s punk music and culture, which we got to display on our shared yearbook page. While whatever existential struggles we were navigating were most likely quite different, it was good to have someone to express that with. May his memory be for a blessing. About me: This year, I made the somewhat momentous decision to retire from my congregation in the summer of 2027, which will bring to a close 30 years of being the rabbi of Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in West Newton, Massachusetts. This was the one and only congregation that I served after being

ordained by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in 1997, and it will be my last! I have no idea what retirement will bring, but I am looking forward to having weekends off and being able to travel in September and October.” PAUL SPORN: “David Hammond, Peter Hutt, Signe Allen Williamson, and I had four years of Latin in Upper School. By senior year, it was just the four of us in the AP class. It was a lot of fun, particularly with Mr. Wilbur leading us. David appeared quiet, at least to me, and quite reserved. Except when he wasn’t. He could be hysterically funny, if only

Class of 1981

Kevin Parisi

R EUN I ON RECAP

ear to which a man attached an earring, when I didn’t know that men wore earrings; and laughed at those who, when Monty Python was mentioned, replied that they liked ’him.’ I smiled but had no idea why that was the wrong answer. For the next six years David continued to be my acerbic guide to a bohemian lifestyle I would never embrace (except for Python). He was more of a critical observer than a participant in the follies and foibles of the high school social world. But as the reminiscences on this page testify, David created an impressive niche for himself as a cultural connoisseur. He will be remembered.”

On Friday, May 1, a glorious spring day in Washington, a large contingent from the Class of 1981 met at the Sidwell Friends campus in the early evening, observing what has changed, and what has not, in the 45 years since we graduated. Even more of us were at a wonderful party that evening generously hosted by Sonia Flanders McArdle in her home.

On Saturday, May 2nd, there was an event on campus, where four Distinguished Alumni Awards were presented—one of them to our own Trish Peyser Perlmutter. We said our goodbyes at the end of the weekend with a sense that something rare and quite special had occurred. I look forward to our 50th! —ANDREW SZANTON, 1981

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

1980–1983 occasionally, and had a razor-sharp wit, that British sense of humor that drew him to Monty Python. He and I shared musical introductions, and he brought punk rock beyond mainstays such as the Clash to my attention, most notably an obscure band called X-Ray Spex, known for their anthem Bondage Up Yours. Ah, the ’70s. RIP David.”

1981 ANDREW SZANTON aszanton@rcn.com ELIZABETH CHAMPLIN: “I so enjoyed our recent Reunion and many thanks to Sonia Flanders McArdle for hosting the class soirée Friday evening. I made it to the Upper School hardhat tour, the silent Meeting for Worship, and of course the class party all on Friday. Sorry to have missed the rest of the fun events, but it was lovely all around.” (See photo below.)

1982

LINDA GAUS gaushaus1965@verizon.net KATHERINE MACRAE DELL: “We had a whirlwind road trip through the mid-Atlantic region in May for both of our sons’ graduate school graduations. First stop, Philly, where our older son, James, received a master’s of education. We sometimes call him ’St. James’ for having the patience to teach middle schoolers! Second stop, DC, where our younger son, Tommy, received a combined J.D./MPH. He likes to talk a lot and is not bashful about expressing his opinions. I can’t imagine who he got that from! We had a wonderful graduation celebration in DC that included multiple family members from both sides and our very own Class of 1983 secretary, Linda Gaus, with her husband, Michael. I will definitely be heading back to DC and Philly in the near future, so would love to catch up with classmates in either city!” LINDA GAUS: “Now that our children are (mostly) grown, some of us in the DC area are gathering more often. Twice in the last few months, my husband, Michael Gross, and I have had the pleasure of seeing Sanjaya Krishna and the lovely Jesse Cowan, Mike Edson,

Elizabeth Champlin

JONATHAN LEVINE jlevine@sgtlaw.com

1983

Ainslie Binder, Molly Montgomery, Cassandra Dickson, Elizabeth Champlin—all from the Class of 1981— at their 45th Reunion.

and the lovely Leslie Spitz-Edson, and Patrick Hewes. Dru Gantt was supposed to join us the last time around but came down sick at the last moment. If there’s anyone else who would like to join the party, please let me know; we’d be glad to expand our circle, so we can discuss even more body parts that need replacing and aging parents.” PATRICK HEWES: “It was a busy year 2025/26, with highly rewarding but intense care for my aging parents. I was able to drive from suburban New York City most weekends last August and September to be with family in northern Vermont, with most excellent audiobooks, including one on Admiral Hyman Rickover, and hit no deer on the way. Work is busy as responders and survivors continue to be diagnosed with 9/11 exposure-related health conditions. I have been able to maintain contact with high school classmates including Sanjaya Krishna, Nick, and Dru Gantt.” RACHEL PASTAN: “I’m still here in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, where last year I helped open a new independent bookstore, Celia Bookshop. It’s been a fun challenge at this age to learn how to do a whole thing. I also got myself appointed to the town’s planning commission, where I continue to advocate for housing affordability. This, of course, is now a hot national issue, but things here continue to move very, very slowly. Relatedly, I’m publishing a new novel this fall, We’re So Lucky to Live Here, about a young theater director who moves back to her childhood home after her mother dies and tries to figure out how to afford to stay there. While not autobiographical, this book is closer to my life than others I’ve written. Among other things, it includes a high school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is not really at all like the one we did when we were seniors, but which certainly draws inspiration from it. I’ve been in touch with Susie Wilcox Dykeman who helped me find an acupuncturist in a time of need (thanks, Susie!), and I recently ran into Patrick Hewes in Chevy Chase, near where my dad lives. So nice.”

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

1985

Stage Light

JESSE LEVINE jesse@verdecommunities.com

1984 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu. Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman

This year, Ana Gasteyer ’85 starred as the rigid, finger-wagging villain Mildred Layton in the Broadway stage adaptation of the musical comedy Schmigadoon!—including a showstopping performance of “Tribulation.” Her work earned critical acclaim and a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Gasteyer and the entire production at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre are scheduled for an extended run—through January 2027.

1986 MAYA MACGUINEAS MacGuineas@crfb.org

Class of 1986

Nearly half of our class attended the 40th Reunion this spring! We dined, danced, and discussed our lives as if no time had passed. For those of you who could not attend, we missed you! In other news, Maya MacGuineas, Laura McGiffert Slover, and Meredith Davis Lamberton (along with Lucy Owen ’87) went on an adventure in June, walking the English countryside where they encountered many sheep.

LAURA MCGIFFERT SLOVER laura.m.slover@gmail.com

Kevin Parisi

R EU N I O N RECAP

Ana Gasteyer ’85

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Also in June, Laura’s, Marina McClelland’s, and Scott Oswald’s daughters—Avery Slover ’26, Lindsay Neal ’26, and Cate Oswald ’26, respectively—all graduated from Sidwell Friends. As they are the Class of ’26, and they will have reunions the same years as ours. Finally, our classmate Steve Irish got married this spring! —LAURA SLOVER

Courtesy Steve Irish

1985–1988

Sidwell Friends alumni attended the wedding of Steve Irish ’86 this spring: Eric Steadman ’86, Meredith Davis Lamberton ’86, Harry Lamberton ’86, David Williams ’86, Paige Lowe, Steve Irish ’86, Ben Macrory ’86, Marisa Ottolenghi Nightingale ’86, Horace Howells ’86, Than Christie ’86

1987 TIP COFFIN tip@teamcoffin.com LAWRENCE STERN: “It was a wonderful Brown University reunion (our 35th! How can that be possible?) over Memorial Day weekend 2026 in Providence, Rhode Island. In addition to catching up with lots of dear classmates from college, I had a special mini–Sidwell Friends reunion at one of our official Brown events (as several of us went to Sidwell Friends and then Brown together, too). Representing just some of our Sidwell/Brown alum this year in person: myself, Courtney Carr Hamilton, Matt Hoffman, and James Heltzer!” See photo on right.

1988 CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON c.c.l.anderson@gmail.com RACHEL STERN DAVIS racheldavis813@gmail.com RACHEL STERN DAVIS has had a year of reconnection with Sidwell Friends alumni from across many class years. Rachel is the director of production for

Courtesy Lawrence Stern

TRACI COHEN DENNIS recently received the 2026 Blenda J. Wilson Diversity in Education Award. This award recognizes a full-time faculty member who has made a significant impact on students through advancing social justice and intersectional awareness, and who has made meaningful and sustained contributions to the education of students in the Michael D. Eisner College of Education (MDECOE) at California State University Northridge. As a recipient of the award, Dennis was recognized for challenging deficit-based perspectives, fostering critical reflection, and supporting students in developing as socially just educators. The selection committee noted that her work reflects the core values embodied in Dr. Blenda J. Wilson’s legacy—fostering dialogue, advancing equity, and strengthening the MDECOE college community through inclusive and justice-oriented education. The committee also commended Dennis on her significant and enduring impact on her students and colleagues through her transformative teaching, her commitment to equity-centered pedagogy, and her unwavering dedication to preparing future educators to create inclusive, culturally responsive learning environments that honor students’ identities and experiences.

Carnegie Hall and greeted Ana Gasteyer ’85 who performed as Aunt Eller in a concert version of Oklahoma! with the Orchestra of St Luke’s on January 12. A few weeks later, on February 3, Rachel greeted Ben Shenkman ’86 who was there for the New York Premiere of the FX drama series Love Story, in which he played Edwin Schlossberg. On March 24, Rachel and her family joined the New York City Sidwell Friends alumni gathering at Madison Square Garden to see soon-to-be 2026 National Champions New York Knicks with Josh Hart ’13 play against the New Orleans Pelicans with Saddiq Bey ’18. At the Washington, DC, Stern family home on April 4, a Passover Seder included Rachel Stern Davis, Roger Pollak ’77, Karen Bralove (Middle School drama teacher, 1967– 1991), Adam Stern ’77, Mark Stern ’82, Mara Bralove ’89, Elie Fisher ’26, and Felix Fisher ’29. On June 6, Rachel joined the New York City Sidwell Friends alumni gathering at the Broadway musical Schmigadoon! with Ana Gasteyer ’85 playing the role of Mildred Layton. The very next day, the show earned the Tony Award for Best New Musical! And Ana earned a 2026 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Rachel is very happy to be partnering with Christopher Anderson as the new co-representatives for the Class of 1988. (See photos on next page.)

Sidwell Friends classmates and Brown University classmates connect: Lawrence Stern ’87, Courtney Carr Hamilton ’87, Matt Hoffman ’87, James Heltzer ’87.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Courtesy Rachel Davis

Rachel Davis

Courtesy Rachel Davis

CLASS NOTES

LEFT: Rachel Stern Davis ’88, Roger Pollak ’77, Karen Bralove (Middle School drama teacher, 1967–1991), Adam Stern ’77, Mark Stern ’82, Mara Bralove ’89 CENTER: Ana Gasteyer ’85, Rachel Davis ’88 RIGHT: Rachel Davis ’88 and her family attend a Knicks v. Pelicans game featuring Josh Hart ’13 and Saddiq Bey ’18.

1989 ELIZABETH WYATT ebwyatt@aol.com

1990 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

1991 TIM HANRAHAN tim.hanrahan@gmail.com

1992

It was all the more special to be there for classmate Paul Goldstein’s inspirational commencement speech and to see many of our Class of ’94 friends in attendance cheering him on. Congrats to the Class of 2026!” (See photo on right.)

1995 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

1996

MAX MOYER: “Some summer news: I have a new book coming out on August 5th. It’s called Frostfall: The Shattering, an epic fantasy and Book 2 in my Tempest Rising Series. I had a signing at the Barnes & Noble in Fairfax on August 8.”

1998

Reunion Recap on page 76.

SAMANTHA STAFFIER BURMAN samantha.staffier@gmail.com

1993 CASEY COLMAN HASSENSTEIN caseycoleman30@hotmail.com

1994 Ali Mohamadi

BETSY STOEL estoel@gmail.com

ELLEN CORNELIUS ERICSON eccornie@gmail.com

Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu.

EMILY PASTER emily.paster@gmail.com

ALI MOHAMADI: “It was with pride and joy that I watched my daughter, Caroline Mohamadi ’26, earn her diploma from Sidwell Friends in early June.

1997

Ali Mohamadi ’94 celebrates the next generation of Sidwell Friends alumni with his daughter, Caroline Mohamadi ’26, at her graduation this spring.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

ALISON FRIEDMAN: “I’m in my fifth year as executive and artistic director of Carolina Performing Arts at UNC Chapel Hill (go Heels!). This February 2027, we are launching a new arts festival: ’All. Together. Now.’ The four-day festival will bring together global artists with students, researchers, and community members from across the region through performances, conversations, jam sessions, exhibitions, and participatory experiences. This is a unique collaboration across UNC and the broader Research Triangle (Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill) region. Mark your calendars for February 18–21, 2027, and come visit us down south! The lineup will be announced this August here: carolinaperformingarts.org/all-together-now. (See photo on page 77.)

1989–1998

Kevin Parisi

REUNI O N RECAP

Courtesy Tim Hanrahan

Class of 1991

The Class of 1991 celebrates it’s 35th Reunion.

More than a dozen members of the Class of 1991 gathered Friday and Saturday on campus and at Surfside. The attendees included a contingent of DC and Baltimore locals, some folks from New York and California—and Daid “Wawa” Walendowski, who came all the way from Poland. David is now by far the tallest member of the class—and may have been unrecognizable to some on account of his height—were it not for his “Wawa” nametag. It was great to see him after all these years. Some classmates put on hardhats and took the tour of the new expanded campus. Altogether, classmates who attended at least some of the various class events included: Shelleye Bailey Lee Boyle Liz Holleman Brown Jon Bulman Amanda Derryck Castel Che Chisholm Dahomey Coleman Christine Gansler Dunn Tim Hanrahan Kevin Johnson

Phillip Kronstein Cynthia Lake Minh Le Dorothy Mares McCuaig Laura Dine Million Justin Murphy Lisa Sherman Dawid Walendowski Sean Walshe

—TIM HANRAHAN

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Class of 1996

Courtesy Alex Keeling

Kevin Parisi

REU N I O N RECA P

CLASS NOTES

Courtesy Alex Keeling

Members of the Class of 1996 celebrate their Reunion under the balloon arch.

Friends celebrate their 30th Reunion.

For our 30th Reunion, the Class of 1996 showed up in decent numbers! Everyone enjoyed being on campus Friday night. Several carried on the party with some late-night karaoke! On Saturday, we met at Cactus Cantina for lunch and took over the bar’s seating area. Kim Wood Hayman graciously invited everyone to her beautiful home later that afternoon for drinks, snacks, and to watch the Kentucky Derby. From there, we carpooled back to Sidwell Friends for the dinner under the tent. We wrapped up our time together at Acqua Bistecca across from Sidwell Friends, where we caught up some more before, (nearly) closing the place down. It was so great to see everyone. Let’s make it an even bigger party next time! —ALEX KEELING ’96

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Ali Mohamadi

1996–2004

2002 CAMILO ACOSTA cbacosta@gmail.com

with trauma through Brainspotting and EMDR for the past 12 years. I recently added DC to my license so that I can now see clients via Telehealth in the city that still has my heart <3. I can be reached at hello@katieplumb-lcsw.com.”

2000 SINTANA VERGARA severgara@gmail.com

2001 REUN IO N

ELIZA ORLINS eorlins@gmail.com

Courtesy Rachel Patterson

KATIE PLUMB: “I am a licensed clinical social worker in California, working

2003 DAN WINIK daniel.winik@gmail.com

2004 Want to be a class representative? Contact alumni@sidwell.edu. SARAH WAXMAN: “I had a baby! My wife and I welcomed our second baby, Eden Simone Binler Waxman, on March 26 at Georgetown University Hospital. She was delivered by Sidwell alumna Dr. Margaret Burke ’05. Eden is a delight and we are thrilled to share this joyful news with our community.” See photo on right.

Courtesy Sarah Waxman

LEMA KIKUCHI lema.kikuchi@gmail.com

Class of 2001

Antosh Cimoszko

1999

Kevin Parisi

Alison Friedman ’98 announces new arts festival, “All. Together. Now.” on local station WRAL News in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

RACHEL WILSON PATTERSON: “My husband, son, and I still live and work in the DMV. Our son, Cameron, is 5 and he likes swimming, playing soccer, going to SkyZone, and painting. We are enjoying watching WNBA basketball and looking forward to going on a few trips this summer as a family.” See photo on right.

LEFT: Rachel Wilson Patterson ’02 enjoys time with her husband and son. MIDDLE: Sarah Waxman ’04 and her wife welcomed baby Eden to the word this March. RIGHT: Modi Oyewole ’05, at the Jordan Golf Fall 2026 campaign for Swang, highlighting the next generation of golfers and the communities shaping the future of the game.

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Deborah Smith

Courtesy Adam Stern

Micah Hendler

Paige Fremder of Hey Next Paige

CLASS NOTES

FAR LEFT: Joni Miller ’06 stands with her husband, Thomas Schneider, and their son, Archie, in one of their favorite parks, Rosedale Conservancy. CENTER LEFT: Daniel Chow ’07 and his wife welcomed a baby, Joshua Eric Chi Ming Chow. CENTER RIGHT: Some good vibes from, Elias, Micah Hendler ’07’s son. FAR RIGHT: Robia Smith-Herman ’07, Allix (Wright) Snyder ’07, Hilary (Rocks) Ruhe ’07, Cara Wilner ’07 with Nia Goettner (daughter of Robia Smith-Herman), and Alexandra Nicoletti ’07

2005 ALLIE LEVEY allie.levey@gmail.com MODELE “MODI” OYEWOLE: “Since leaving entertainment, I’ve been building SWANG, a Los Angeles-based company exploring what happens when golf becomes a cultural platform. What began as a weekly meetup in Los Angeles has grown into a company trusted by brands like Jordan Brand and Callaway to help shape golf ’s cultural future. We’ve also been fortunate to raise angel capital from an incredible group of sup-

porters, including fellow Sidwell alumni Sam Powell, Omar Soliman ’00, and Nick Friedman ’00. It’s been especially meaningful to see the Sidwell community believe in what we’re building.” See photo on previous page.

2006 JOHN SANDERS jsanders36@gmail.com JONI MILLER is running a leading DMVbased ecological landscaping company, Native Conservation Landscaping,

with her husband, Thomas Schneider, focusing on the design, installation, and maintenance of native plants and environmentally beneficial landscapes. Most recently, they designed and installed the memorial garden at the new Upper School in memory of Joni’s sister, Michaela Miller ’02, and to all those we have lost too soon. Currently, they live in Cleveland Park with their son, Archie (6), dog, Poppy (7), and cat, Bagel (7). See photo above.

2007

Class of 2006

Kevin Parisi

REU N ION

ALEX AKMAN Akman.alex@gmail.com

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

DANIEL CHOW: “Baby Joshua arrived just under a month early but has been both healthily and steadily growing over the past two months. It is amazing to see how fast he has changed, even in such a short amount of time. Brooke and I continue to do our best in adjusting to parenthood, even if some days feel as though he’s thoroughly outpacing us. Regardless, what a joy it has been to begin setting our roots back down in the DMV. It’s good to be home.” See photo above. MICAH HENDLER: “Life these days is full of meaning, challenges, and hope. On the personal front, my son Elias just hit 18 months and is excited about almost everything. His current favorite phrase is ’okie-dokie,’ which is the en-

2005–2010 ergy I think the world could use a little more of right now. Professionally, I have continued my work with the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, bringing together Israeli and Palestinian teenagers to sing and dialogue together—and am currently writing Impossible Harmony (HarperCollins, 2027), a book about what the chorus’s story means for our ability to connect and build community even in the most divisive times. Here in DC, I lead monthly Community Sings—free, drop-in group singing events that are open to everyone, no experience needed. If you’re ever back home, come sing with us. It’s the best. If any of this resonates—the book, the chorus, the sings, the okie-dokie energy—I’d love to reconnect. Community is how we’re gonna make it through to the other side of this time.” See photo on previous page.

years ago, and it has blossomed into an annual multidisciplinary celebration of Montanan innovation, resilience, and creativity. Come check us out: montanafestival.org. Last year, I left the venture-backed startup world to spend more time with my family, and I joined Highline Partners, a luxury builder, as CFO. My son is about to start kindergarten. In the summer, we are biking, hiking and camping, and in the winter you’ll find us skiing the cold smoke.” (See photo below.)

2008 AMANDA CHUZI amanda.chuzi@gmail.com

ROBIA SMITH-HERMAN: “The ’Killer Aunts’ gathered in Georgetown to celebrate the newest arrival of the gang, baby Ruhe! We are all looking forward to her arrival this summer!” (See photo on previous page.)

Foolishly Rushing In

Ania Bulis

LUMAY WANG MURPHY: “I just wrapped up the third Montana Festival in Bozeman with 800 people, 50-plus speakers, three James Beard-nominated chefs, two former governors, and one Taylor Kitsch. My husband and I started our nonprofit ideas festival a few

AJ PARKS jhpiv13@gmail.com COLIN HARRIS: “After almost a decade as a litigator, I have joined the Federal Communications Commission as an attorney advisor in the Satellite Programs and Policy Division of the Space Bureau. I am thrilled to be working on licensing and rulemaking proceedings as the Commission modernizes the regulatory environment to facilitate the buildout of American telecommunications infrastructure in space!”

2010 KAI ZHENG kaihuazheng@yahoo.com LINDSAY ELLIOTT-FOOSE and her husband, Gabriel Toledo Guerrero, welcomed daughter Avie in May. Avie arrived shortly after Lindsay, Gabriel, and dog Roo relocated back to Northwest DC after six years living in Brooklyn, New York. We are so excited to be closer to family, like Uncle Michael Foose ’17, and to introduce Avie to everything DC has to offer. (See photo below.)

Lindsay Elliott-Foose

SHAW MCKEAN: “I married Annie Graham (an NCS graduate and fellow former Cleveland Park resident!) in Malibu, California. A handful of Sidwell Friends graduates attended the celebration, including my siblings, Christian McKean ’09 and Kaye McKean ’12, as well as friends Zach Ratner, Shane Greenstein, Shoma Kimura, and Natalia Perina ’13. We live in San Francisco with our red lab, Grits, and make frequent trips back to Washington, DC. Please let us know if you ever find yourselves on the West Coast!” (See photo below.)

2009

LEFT: Lumay Wang Murphy ’07 interviews Ben Little, the CEO of Bridger Photonics, at Montana Festival. CENTER: Shaw McKean ’08 with his parents, siblings Kaye McKean ’12 and Christian McKean ’09, brother-in-law Jake Graham, and new wife, Annie RIGHT: Lindsay Elliott-Foose ’10 and her husband Gabriel welcomed their first child in May. SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

R EU N IO N

CLASS NOTES

Class of 2011

KEEP IN TOUCH!

Go to sidwell.edu/classnotes and let us know what you’ve been up to.

2012 SALENA HESS salenahess@outlook.com

Kevin Parisi

JOHN VERGHESE jjv2116@columbia.edu

2011 CAROLYN PEYSER carolyn.peyser@gmail.com CAROLYN PEYSER: “This spring I ran into Katie Kleiger at the grocery store in Baltimore and learned she was playing the lead role Emma in Everyman Theater’s production of Jane Austen’s Emma! I went to see the show a few weeks later and was blown away! Unfortunately, the show only ran

through June 14, but this fall, the theater will be producing Katie’s play Different Words for Happiness! She will be touring with another show so she won’t be in it, but I’m sure it will be amazing, and I highly recommend anyone in the DC, Baltimore area to go see it! It was also just great to catch up with Katie over coffee. We hadn’t spoken in years (like literally 15 years!), but it didn’t feel that way at all. I’m grateful for moments like this, that remind me of the special community Sidwell Friends creates.”

2013 CECILIA LAGUARDA xenia.cecilia.laguarda@gmail.com

2014 AVIKAR GOVIL avikar.govil@gmail.com

2015 EMILY MILLER emillerusa@gmail.com

2016

REU N ION

TALHA JILANI jilani-talha@live.com

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Kevin Parisi

Class of 2016

2011–2021

The Diamond Family

Kevin Parisi

REUNI O N RECAP

Class of 2021

Sam Diamond ’21

The five-year Reunion for the Class of 2021 was a great success. With about 30 Friends in attendance, it was a pleasure to reconnect with old classmates who traveled from across the country to celebrate the special occasion. Whether by enjoying silent reflection in Meeting For Worship, playing on the mini-golf course at Swingers in Dupont Circle, or dining and dancing at the barbecue and formal reception, the Class of 2021 had a wonderful time. We were inspired to see so many Quakers in previous graduating classes return to campus for their reunions and we know our attendance at our 10-year Reunion will be even better! We want to give a huge thank you to the Advancement Office for planning such an amazing weekend; we are extremely appreciative. Finally, we would like to hold in the light the family of Sam Diamond ’21, who we honored during Meeting for Worship at our first gathering back on campus. Sam was a kind and thoughtful person and was a friend to all; we were deeply saddened to hear of his passing, and we send our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and the entire Sidwell Friends community during this difficult time. —SPENCER TYSON

SUMMER 2026 | SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE

CLASS NOTES

2017

2020

SPENCER KEE SpencerKee21@gmail.com

TUNDAA DORJNAMJIM tdorjnamjim20@gmail.com

ALYA AHMED: “After about five years working in finance in New York City, I’m moving to California this summer to attend Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. I’m super excited to live in a new place and enjoy nice weather all year round! It’ll also be the first time my brother Ali Ahmed ’15 and I will be living in the same area since he graduated Sidwell Friends and moved out West.”

2021

ANANTH SHASTRI: “For the past two years, I have been working at a reproductive rights advocacy organization in Boston. This summer, my partner and I are moving to Dublin, where I will pursue a master’s in arts management. Hope all are well!”

2018 BROOKE HARRINGTON brooke.leahy.harrington@gmail.com

2019

SAM BJARNSON sambjarnason21@gmail.com Courtesy Rashi M. Gupta

Reunion Recap on previous page.

2022 RASHI GUPTA rashigupta704@yahoo.com VERA CHAUDHRY vchaudhry@uchicago.edu RASHI M. GUPTA: “After graduating from Vanderbilt University this spring, I’m getting ready for a big move to Cleveland! This July, I’ll be starting medical school at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. I am so excited for this next chapter. If any fellow Sidwell Friends alumni are in the Cleveland area, I’d love to connect as I settle into a new city and community.” See photo on right.

SOPHIE PEIKIN Speikin2019@gmail.com

Rashi M. Gupta ’22 and her brother Rohan Gupta ’21 at the Cleveland Clinic, where she is starting medical school; he is already a medical student at Wake Forest.

2023 WILL KOOPERSMITH willkoopersmith@gmail.com

2024 KEVYN ORR kevynduaneorr@gmail.com

2025 FRED BAO baofrederick@gmail.com

IN MEMORIAM

S AV E T H E D A T E !

Friendsgiving Wednesday, November 25 Graduates from the Classes of 2007-2022, join us for this year’s Friendsgiving celebration! Join fellow young alumni over drinks and bites and learn about the impact of Movers & Quakers. Movers & Quakers honors graduates of the past twenty years as emerging philanthropic leaders dedicated to supporting the School’s highest priorities.

sidwell.edu/friendsgiving 82

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

Stephen Anderson ’64 January 5, 2026 Susan Anderson ’60 July 19, 2026 Lawrence Aaronson ’58 August 1, 2026 Stanley Brown ‘56 July 19, 2026 Anne Mersereau Byers ’50 March 29, 2026 Sonali Chitre ’01 May 27, 2026

Samuel Kwang-Yeung Diamond ’21 April 6, 2026 Myrna Rees Fulton ’47 May 3, 2026 Ralph Hyde Jr. ’55 April 21, 2026 Joan Seymour ’58 June 4, 2026 Elizabeth Kelsey Vanden Heuvel ’51 December 23, 2025

WORDS WITH FRIENDS

Words with Friends: Brain Food

__ butter (skin care ingredient)

Novel ending?

Hawaiian root vegetable

12 Truman Capote’s bestie 15 Mountain stat. 16 Like NASCAR, but more European 17 Broadway legend Moreno 18 Symbol of sagacity 19 What you might eat in geometry class?

30 34

29 32 41

42 46

45 50

51 55

24 Texter’s possible reply to “Where was your old apt.?”

25 Anderson of WKRP fame

47 52

33 Flu-fighting grp. 36 Young _ 38 “Umbrella” singer to fans 39 Attempt 40 Laugh syllable 41 Basic dog command 42 Gen Xer’s onetime email, maybe 44 What you might eat in U.S. history class? 50 Hear that, at, at? 51 “There’s __ in team” 52 Begin 54 What you might eat in Chinese class? 57 Where the 2026 wint. Olympics were held 58 Tennis score after deuce, maybe 59 Very, very big deal 62 “I’m __ hurry” 63 The senior run at Sidwell Friends, e.g. 64 Pesters 65 RR stop 66 “__ Feel My Face” (The Weekend song)

57 60

26 What you might eat in British literature class?

32 Ready, __, go!

31 Backpedaling sounds

28 36

34 33

30 __-mo

21 One who lives in Muscat

ACROSS

Puzzle by Sacha Zimmerman

DOWN 1

“Prove it!”

37 B y__, those who observe but do not act

Writer Coben

43 Allow

“__ actually…” (nerd alert)

45 Horned herbivores

Cartoon store clerk

46 The best part of a Snickers bar, maybe

Those born in Baghdad

47 One of a buzzy brood

Slump in one’s seat

48 Ho Chi Minh City once

An octopus with two extra limbs

49 A medic’s impromptu field station?

“Boo” can be a __ endearment

53 2022 Cate Blanchett thriller

Caleb Carr novel about a psychiatrist

54 Bread (fr.)

10 Dental device kids are always losing

55 World clock std.

11 Like the shape of a famous office

56 Energy company Kinder Morgan Inc. on the NYSE

13 Windy City trains 14 Puppet suffix 16 “__ Fighters” 20 Keebler family footwear? 22 Org. with a magazine known for its photography 23 Sometimes one can be optical 27 Like some bonds 28 __ Heep 29 Pig’s home 33 When doubled, a dance 34 Aussie comic with purple hair and bedazzled glasses 35 Type of bank account

Outfoxed? Find the solution at sidwell.edu/wordswithfriends.

60 And so on, briefly 61 Coastal inlet

LAST LOOK

ONLY

in the Building

As Sidwell Friends prepares to open its doors to the new Upper School on the Upton Street property, three graduating seniors said goodbye to their beloved Harrison building in a hands-on senior project—with Lego: Teddy Friedman ’26, Aditya Viswanathan ’26, and Patrick Jiminez ’26 enshrined their Upper School with a perfect mini-brick rendering of each of Harrison’s three floors.

FIRST FLOOR THIRD FLOOR

Harrison’s first floor, featuring the cafeteria to the right and the lower level of the library to the left.

Harrison’s third floor, featuring lab spaces and more classrooms.

SECOND FLOOR Harrison’s second floor, featuring the main floor of the library, principal’s office, and classrooms.

SIDWELL FRIENDS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2026

SAVE THE DATE!

HOMECOMING WEEKEND OCTOBER 16–17, 2026 Mark your calendars for an unforgettable weekend as we celebrate Homecoming! Enjoy a look at Sidwell Friends today, celebrations of our athletics and academic programs, time to connect with alumni, and more!

sidwell.edu/homecoming

3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-2999

Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID

STAY FRIENDS! @sidwellfriends

Swish! Josh Hart ’13 shoots and scores for the New York Knicks during their historic 2026 NBA championship-winning game.