The Saints Life, Spring 2023

The Saints Life S T. S T E P H E N ' S A N D S T. A G N E S S C H O O L M A G A Z I N E

SPRING 2023

Saints Go Global!

Each year during spring break and early summer, Saints spread out across the globe to learn, explore, and serve. There were five spring break global trips this year: In Spain, Saints walked the famous Camino de Santiago, hiking trail that spans roughly 500 miles.

On a service trip to Panama, they visited schools and worked with children on various activities, explored a bat cave, snorkeled, and a took tour of a cacao farm.

This year was the 32nd year of the Normandy Exchange program. After a brief visit to Paris, Saints lived with French families in Bayeaux, attending school with their French exchange partners and visiting famous sites in Bayeaux and the Normandy beaches.

In Costa Rica Saints went to Trapice don Carmen and learned how sugar is produced from sugarcane, traveled to Corcovado to see animals in their natural habitat, and experienced a small earthquake during a soccer game—where the players just played on.

The farthest trip took students to Vietnam. They went to Lào Cai where they hiked, learned about making beeswax fabric, and visited the highest summit in the Hoang Lien Son range, Fansipan. The group also traveled to Ha Long Bay, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City, where the group explored the Cu Chi Tunnels.

2 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 3

WHAT'S INSIDE

8

32

FEATURES 8

GRASPING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CHAT GPT

12 LOOKING BACK AND TO THE FUTURE Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our Chapel and Performing Arts Center

16 FACE-TO-FACE Meet our new Lower and Middle School

MISSION 54 FINDING OPEN DOORS Laith Wallschleger '10 talks about football, acting, and his keys to success.

58 WHY AM I HERE? Jaimie Crumley '08 is “Illuminating the Unseen.”

ALUMNI FEATURES ing

Arts Center

32 THE GRAPE SLEUTH: LUCIE MORTON '68 38 PITCHING AND TOSSING HIS WAY TO SUCCESS The Entrepreneurial Journey of Ben Johns '74

44 MATTERS OF THE HEART Dr. Francoise Marvel '99 is changing lives with innovative technology.

48 BRINGING CREATIVITY INTO COMMUNITY Michelle Lopez '88 and Rudy Lopez '96 are siblings, business partners, and professors.

4 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

To help our students succeed in a complex and changing world, we seek to inspire a passion for learning, an enthusiasm for athletic and artistic endeavor, a striving for excellence, a celebration of diversity, and a commitment to service.

Our mission is to pursue goodness as well as knowledge and to honor the unique value of

IN EVERY ISSUE

Directors, LaNessa West and William “Bee” Stribling.

54

6 18 21 30 64 66 92 94

HEADLINER AN EPISCOPAL SCHOOL SAINTS IN ACTION SAINTS ATHLETICS ALUMNI CONNECTIONS CLASS NOTES MILESTONES IN MEMORIAM

each of our members as a child of God in a caring community.

COVER PHOTO Kindergartners learning how beavers build their dams in the Outdoor Classroom at the Animal Olympics. Photo by Johnny Shryock.

STAY CONNECTED

@SSSASsaints

@TheSaintsLife

The Saints Life Online sssasmagazine.org

SSSAS WEBSITE sssas.org

TAKING LEARNING OUTSIDE! THE SAINTS LIFE St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Magazine SPRING 2023 sssasmagazine.org Head of School KIRSTEN PRETTYMAN ADAMS Director of Communications JEN DESAUTELS Magazine Editor & Designer Director of Design & Production MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76 Director of Digital Media and Marketing MANDI SAPP Director of Brand Management and Marketing MARCIA MALLETT Alumni News ADVANCEMENT OFFICE Photographers JAMESON BLOOM '13 MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76 MARCIA MALLETT MANDI SAPP JOHNNY SHRYOCK OUR EXTRAORDINARY FACULTY Contributing Writers ANDREA DAWSON NATHAN PUGH '17 JESSICA YARMOSKY Questions/Comments MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76 mmaas@sssas.org To Update Your Contact Information or Mailing Preferences Please email atoman@sssas.org or call 703-212-2720.

Published by SSSAS for alumni, current parents, friends, and other regularly supportive members of the school community. © 2023 St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

As a related organization of the Episcopal Church, St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School respects the applicable policies and governing principles of the Episcopal Church pertaining to nondiscrimination.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 5

HEADLINER

Dear Saints “We've got you.” It is something we say here often—when celebrating or comforting a friend, when sharing messages in chapel, when counseling a student or colleague. As a member of this Saints community, we are committed to caring for one another as best as we are able. As a school we are purposeful in providing resources for both students and adults who may need support, ensuring there are opportunities to explore and practice emotional, physical, and mental wellness.

In early April our community came together across our three campuses for Saints Mission Day, a day which this year focused on how we care for one another and for ourselves. ES-12 students gathered in cross-divisional groups to participate in activities designed to promote conversation and reflection about wellness. Our older Saints sat on the ground with our younger ones, creating colorful sidewalk chalk designs while chatting, telling jokes, and sharing stories. Students and adults met support therapy dogs, learning how the dogs are trained to provide comfort and love to humans who need it most. Students played tag and board games, painted with watercolors, practiced meditation, and made smoothies. Our campuses were alive with energy, laughter, and fellowship; the day was a gift, a few precious hours focused solely on embracing joy and togetherness during what is always a busy time of year in a school.

The joy in being together, creating together, and caring for one another that day was evident. Even now, the feelings and warmth generated continue as an adhesive in this community, binding us to one another in that shared experience of taking a break and caring for ourselves. And now, as we head into these busy, full, final weeks of the school year, we each do so knowing that we are known and cared for; someone's got us.

Be well,

Kirsten Adams Head of School

6 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 7

Grasping Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT

BY MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76 All cartoons were written by ChatGPT and illustrated by Bing's AI image creator, unless otherwise credited.

Many of the world's greatest innovations

since that time to include intelligent

exist, the most talked about, powerful

were met with a mixture of excitement

supercomputers such as IBM Watson.

free chatbot, ChatGPT, was released by

and trepidation. U.S. President

You may have seen Watson beat top

artificial intelligence company OpenAI

Benjamin Harrison reportedly had

human champions Brad Rutter and Ken

November. According to ChatGPT CEO

the White House staff turn the lights

Jennings on “Jeopardy!”in 2011.

Sam Altman, within one week of its

off and on because he was afraid of

At the most basic level, a chatbot is

release ChatGPT helped more than one

electrocution. There was a fear that radio

a computer program that simulates and

million different users obtain unique

would turn people away from reading

processes human conversation (either

answers to their prompts and questions.

or conversing with each other, this

written or spoken), that allows humans

ChatGPT is an implementation of

fear amplified with the introduction of

to interact with digital devices as if they

the powerful GPT-3 (third-generation

television. The New York Times attacked

were communicating with a real person.

Generative Pre-trained Transformer)

the telephone, suggesting it would only

Whether you know it or not, you've

model. It is capable of answering just

be used to invade people's privacy and

probably interacted with a chatbot. For

about any question, writing cogent

make society lazy and antisocial. The

example, those helpful, or pesky, little

essays, helping with research assistance,

fear of computers was so severe that

windows that pop up on websites asking

learning a foreign language, and much,

“computerphobia” became an actual

if you need help. Chatbots can be as

much more. As a generative AI language

term. And now—just as we have learned

simple as rudimentary programs that

model, ChatGPT can understand natural

how to navigate and live with the pros

answer a simple query with a single-line

language inputs and generate human-like

and cons of the Internet—we have

response, or as sophisticated as digital

responses based on the input provided—

to evaluate the best and the worst of

assistants that learn and evolve to deliver

creating new and original content.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT

increasing levels of personalization as

in particular. Feelings are mixed and AI

they gather and process information.

is developing and changing at lightning

More advanced examples of chatbots

speed. Is it the tool of the future, or a

include Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa,

ChatGPT works using a deep neural

devil in disguise?

and Google Assistant. Other examples

network architecture that is based on a

of AI we encounter on a regular basis

transformer model and is designed to

includes facial recognition, predictive

process sequential data such as language,

What is an AI Chatbot?

How Does ChatGPT Work?

text, vehicle navigation, social media

making it particularly well-suited for

British mathematician Alan Turing

algorithms, spam filters, and fraud

natural language processing tasks.

was instrumental during World War

detection associated with banking.

ChatGPT is pre-trained on a large corpus

II in creating an electromechanical

Generative AI systems are capable of

of text data to learn the relationships

machine that could break the German's

creating new and original content that

between different words and phrases in

Enigma codes and later explored the

was not explicitly programmed into the

the English language. This pre-training

mathematical possibility of artificial

system, such as text, images, or music,

process allows ChatGPT to generate

intelligence in the 1950's. AI, the

speech (voiceovers), 3D models, and

coherent responses to a wide variety of

foundation for chatbots, has progressed

games. While a multitude of AI sites now

inputs.

8 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

skills on their own by pinpointing

Why did the neural network refuse to go on a date?

Because it was too busy training itself to recognize red flags!

When a user inputs text into ChatGPT, the system analyzes the

that students would use a chatbot to

amounts of information, they absorb

cheat. ChatGPT can generate slick,

all text, including explicit and implicit

well-structured, essays that are several

bias. Because of the surprising way they

thousand words long on just about any

mix and match what they've learned to

topic queried, from quantum gravity to

generate entirely new text, they often

Shakespeare. And, even scarier, each

create convincing language that is

essay it produces is unique, even when

flat-out wrong, or does not exist in their

it is given the same prompt again, and

training data.

it's nearly impossible to tell who wrote

To address these issues, researchers

districts quickly made the decision to

techniques and methods for improving

block student access to AI sites on school

AI accuracy and reducing the risk of AI

computers and networks. But attempting

hallucinations, but just like humans, AI

to ban a program like ChatGPT is not

generation isn't perfect.

only impossible, it also fails to provide students with the support they need to make good decisions, learn how

on the patterns it has learned during

to use new technology ethically and

the pre-training process. ChatGPT uses

appropriately, and be prepared for a

a technique called “masked language

constantly changing world. A critical

modeling” to fill in missing words

part of an educator's job is to help

in a sentence, and it also employs a

students fully understand the tools

mechanism called “self-attention” to

available to them.

help it understand the context of the

Now, far from being just a dream

input. The system can also generate

machine for cheaters, many teachers

text on its own, using a process called

are changing their tune and thinking

“unconditional generation.” This means

ChatGPT could actually help make

that ChatGPT can generate text that such as creative writing or poetry. But

education better. AI is an amazing tool Those hallucinations can be pretty trippy.

it's important to note that the success of ChatGPT's responses depends on the quality of the pre-training data and the sophistication of the neural network architecture. The more specific and detailed the question, the better the response.

Be Aware—AI Can Hallucinate An AI hallucination refers to a situation where the system produces an output that is not accurate or correct, but rather a product of its training data and programming. These hallucinations can be caused by a variety of factors, including incomplete or biased training data, errors in the algorithms used to process the data, or limitations in the AI system's ability to generalize beyond the data it has been trained on.

The Internet is teeming with useful, accurate information, but is also packed with untruths, hate speech, and misinformation. As Chatbots learn

it. In response, a number of U.S. school

are constantly developing new

input and generates a response based

is not in response to a specific input,

Initially, educators were concerned

statistical patterns in enormous

that can't be ignored, and fully informed teachers can guide their students to the most age appropriate and approved

AI and Education

tools through lessons, projects, and discussions. Since ChatGPT came on the

Technology innovation isn't slowing

scene, a plethora of online webinars and

down, it's only accelerating. OpenAI

workshops on using AI and ChatGPT

released a new subscription version in

have been designed specifically

March, GPT-4, and is offering an A.P.I

for educators. It's now evident that

(application programming interface), that other tech companies can use to plug GPT-4 into their apps and products. And it has created a series of plug-ins from companies like Instacart, Expedia and Wolfram Alpha that expand ChatGPT's abilities. OpenAI, Google, and Meta are building systems that let you instantly generate images and videos simply by describing what you want to see. Microsoft and Google have announced plans to incorporate A.I. technologies into their products.

Users will be able to use AI to write a rough draft of an email, automatically summarize a meeting, and pull off many other cool tricks.

Why did the teacher use ChatGPT in class?

To help her students learn about AI and give them a handy “GPT-ool” for answering tough questions!

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 9

users under 13 can use their program and that no one under 18 can use it without parental or school academic use approval, they don't supply a sufficient mechanism for enforcing it.

Colleen sees many positive ways ChatGPT and programs like it can be used, but is also aware of the concerns. Asking ChatGPT to write a paper is clearly plagiarism. However, there is a very good recommended program that helps the user to edit a paper they have written by tightening up their prose. Hemingway is an app that highlights run-on and complex sentences and common errors in yellow or red, adverbs and weakening phrases in blue, and green highlights mark over use of the passive voice.

But rather than telling the user how to fix the highlighted words and

Credit: JasonChatfield.com

sentences, the user has to take a generative AI is a teaching aid that

digital citizenship advisories have

can offer personalized tutoring,

been focusing on AI education,

unlock student creativity, and better

helping students to use the tool

prepare students to work with the

ethically and making sure they

ever-increasing number of AI systems

understand the pros and cons of

in the workplace that they will

using ChatGPT and other programs.

encounter as adults.

Lower School students are learning

The SSSAS MERIT (Making

through integration projects using

Education Relevant and Interactive

the online design and publishing

with Technology) teams have

program, Canva. Canva has an AI

designed a Digital Citizenship

image generator based on stable

Program to help students navigate

diffusion technology, which allows

digital media, the Internet, and

the user to generate photo realistic

programs like ChatGPT. The

images through an open-source

ethical considerations for using

text-to-image model. One project

ChatGPT include bias, privacy,

introducing students to AI involves

accountability, transparency, and

asking them to use Canva to create

the need for human interaction. By

an image to go with a story they have

taking these considerations into

written.

account, educators can ensure that

The Technology Department is

ChatGPT is used in a responsible

also concentrating on the privacy

and ethical manner to enhance the

issues surrounding AI programs.

learning experience for students.

“It's critical that everyone realizes

ChatGPT is designed to mimic

that many AI programs retain the

human communication, but it's

information a user inputs and

still an artificial tool. Therefore, it's

companies are very vague about how

important to be transparent about

that information is being used,” says

its limitations and capabilities and

Chief Technology Officer Colleen

to establish clear guidelines for

McNeil. “No one should ever input

appropriate interactions with the

personal information.” Colleen

programs.

also emphasized that although

The Middle and Upper School

10 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

ChatGPT's privacy policy says no

stab at correcting it. Each attempt is evaluated and the user can continue to make changes until the highlight disappears, learning in the process.

Generative AI has the potential to be an incredibly effective tool for teachers. Teachers can use AI to create personalized student learning experiences, seek out new activities and engaging project ideas, streamline administrative demands, and create educational content such as lesson plans and assessments.

For example, Lower School Teacher Michelle Bruch has used ChatGPT to plan lessons and help elaborate on ideas she has; to improve her writing of difficult emails and weekly newsletters to families; to edit her report card narratives for grammar and clarity; and to create presentations in conjunction with Canva. Lower School Technology Coordinator Kay Ossio has used it to help with the weekly Lower School newscast script. The Lower School Merit team asked ChatGPT to help rewrite the Technology Responsible Use Policy form to make it understandable to a Lower School student.

At the Upper School, Computer Science Teacher Tom Johnson says

ChatGPT not only writes code, but

As we use chatbots, it's imperative

does it really well. So well, he has

to remain skeptical, and see them for

shifted the way he teaches. Instead

what they really are.

of assigning code as homework, he is

In Kevin's Ancient Mythology and

asking his students to write more of

Modern World class they watched

it in class. Tom is also having more

“Percy Jackson and the Lightning

quizzes, presentations, and discussions

Thief,” and his students had prepared

in class, in addition to doing frequent

responses to a few discussion

check-ins with his students to talk

questions. After discussing a question

about their work to really gauge where

thoroughly, Kevin would ask ChatGPT

his students are coming from.

the same question. “The students

AI can also be very helpful with

judged each of its responses, with an

language learning, assisting language

eye towards factual accuracy to the

learners by generating interactive

movie and the myths, as well as the

conversations, language practice

depth of its analysis,” Kevin says. “I

exercises, and even creating new

think the consensus was that we were

dialogues based on a student's interests

impressed with its generally cogent

and level of proficiency. Upper School

responses, but acknowledged it was

Latin Teacher Kevin Jefferson has

inconsistently reliable.”

challenged ChatGPT in a number of to write fairly well in Latin. He input

its grammar was impressively sound—I

RE! EWA

B

had a passage that offered students key

They're smart, they're fast, and they never tire, But will they ever feel our human desire?

Perhaps they'll cure diseases that we cannot, Or help us solve the problems we've forgot, They'll drive our cars and fly our planes,

Of machines that rule, and leave us behind?

Will they be kind, or will they be cruel, Will they respect the laws that we've made as rule?

But one thing's for sure, it's up to us,

concepts,” Kevin says. He also heard

To guide and shape it, and gain our trust.

that ChatGPT was able to tell “story x in style y,” so his class asked the

So let us strive for a world that's bright,

chatbot to tell the story of Dionysus

ChatGPT version to what we had read

We've come so far in just a few short years, With machines that learn and wipe away our tears,

As we build and teach and watch it grow,

and practice for crucial grammar

lyrics. “We had a blast comparing the

Or will they simply be a helpful kind?

The future of AI is yet to be known,

repetitions for their new vocabulary

and the pirates in the form of rap

Will machines surpass the human mind,

But what of fears that fill our minds,

the students' new vocabulary words using them. “After some light editing—

The future of AI, what will it bring?

A world of wonder, or a frightening thing?

And make our lives simpler without pains.

ways. He discovered ChatGPT is able

and asked ChatGPT to write a story

“The Future of AI” written by ChatGPT

Why did the person cross-examine ChatGPT? Because they were skeptical of its answers and thought it might be a “questionable witness!”

Where AI and humans can both unite, With cooperation and understanding, A future of hope and promise landing.

in the Homeric Hymns.”

Kevin isn't totally sold on Chat GPT, and his thoughts mirror those of many educators. “It's been making me think more about Socrates and his insistence that people often claim to know more than they actually do,” Kevin reflects. “The output of ChatGPT often sounds so plausible and convincing, hiding inaccuracies in plain sight.

With the heightened awareness of misinformation in our society, I hope that I can instill a healthy sense of To a rap beat...

Dionysus, the god of wine and fun, He can teach us lessons, even when we run, So don't mess with him, or you'll be sorry, Respect and kindness, that's the true glory.

skepticism in my students. The more I learn about AI, the more I ponder how my next steps can use AI in class to practice critical thinking skills and prepare for the new world we will soon

be living in.”

Clearly, there's no hiding from artificial intelligence and no ignoring its impact. With a solid awareness of the abilities and limitations of AI, it can be very useful at work, at school, and at home. It's mind boggling to think about everything AI is capable of, but the largest issue may be grasping how these systems will affect our world before they become even more powerful. To do that we must learn everything we can about AI and educate future generations to utilize it in ways that will enhance their future and make it a dynamic tool for good and making the world a better place.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 11

Looking Back and to the Future Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of our Chapel and Performing Arts Center

BY MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76

D

uring the past 20 years, the

held chapels in the gym, and the

daughter to SSSAS where they joined

Chapel and Performing Arts

Black Box—which seats approximately

the classes of 2000 and 2003, and to

Center (CPAC) located on

150 people—was the only theater.

give back to the school by serving as

the Upper School campus has become

The performing arts program had

a member of the Board of Governors

pivotal to the St. Stephen's and St.

grown and was bursting at the seams.

from 1994 to 2000. For a school

Agnes School community and is one

Discussions surrounding the possibility

centered in the church, Fred felt a

of our iconic and most loved buildings.

of building a chapel and performing

chapel and performing arts center

Students, faculty, parents, alumni,

arts center began as part of the New

was long overdue and that it would

and friends have gathered in CPAC

Century Fund Campaign, which

greatly enhance the spiritual life of the

for chapel services, performances,

started in 1996 and consisted of two

students. Rita, who has six children—

assemblies, academic convocations,

phases. Phase I, a silent phase, was

all SSSAS alumni—served on the

award ceremonies, and other large

launched to help finance an ambitious,

Board of Governors as a member from

and small events. The cross on the bell

two-part building program outlined

1993-1994, as vice chair from 1995-

tower is the highest point on campus,

in the school's master plan. The goal

1996, and as chair from 1997-1998

in recognition of our Episcopal faith

for Phase I was to raise $5 million for

and again from 2003-2004. She and

and commitment “to pursue goodness

major renovations and additions on all

Fred were compelled to co-chair the

as well as knowledge and to honor the

three campuses, which were completed

campaign because they believed 100

unique value of each of our members as

between 1996 and 1999. Phase II, the

percent in the future of the school

a child of God in a caring community.”

public part of the campaign, targeted a

and the education it provides. “I

To this day, SSSAS is grateful to the

$6-million budget for the new Chapel

always wanted an even playing field

Saints community for supporting

and Performing Center.

for academics, the arts, religion, and

the New Century Fund Campaign,

Campaign co-chairs, Rita Meyer

sports,” Rita, who prides herself on

which provided the school with this

and Fred Barnes '60, were deeply

being a straight shooter, recalls. “At

exceptional place for worship and

invested in the success of the New

SSSAS your children not only receive

creative expression.

Century Fund. As a Saint, Fred

an excellent academic education, they

was delighted to send his son and

also grow strong roots and a foundation

In the 1990s, the Upper School

12 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Campaign Co-Chairs Rita Meyer (left) and Fred Barnes '60 (right), with former Head of School Joan Holden (center)

From conception, to construction, to reality.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 13

for their future, grounded in honesty,

ground on the project—a total of $10

integrity, spirituality, creativity, and an

million in gifts and pledges—was

the Saints community made CPAC

ability to lead.”

achieved by June 2001, and HITT

a tangible reality. But the building,

Contracting broke ground in the

which has provided spaces for chapel,

1999, hundreds of parents, alumni,

summer. As the construction progressed,

performances, and teaching as

and friends of the school came together

so did the level of excitement and

hoped, has also revealed countless

to celebrate the New Century Fund

anticipation. Rita believes the key

opportunities for enjoyment and

Campaign kick-off amidst balloons

to successful fundraising lies in

creative exploration surpassing

and music by the Upper School jazz

preparation. For her, one of the most

everyone's dreams and expectations.

ensemble. Fred and Rita announced the

rewarding parts of co-chairing the

As SSSAS prepares to break ground at

success of Phase I and launched Phase

campaign was meeting with potential

the Upper School in June for the largest

II, hoping to raise another $5 million in

donors. “Like me, at the heart of their

construction project in the school's

order to break ground.

support was an appreciation for the

history, we are motivated by the impact

During Homecoming Weekend in

By June of 2000, major leadership

The transformative support of

school's core values,” Rita says. “So many

CPAC has had on the campus and

gifts helped turn the dream into a reality,

people choose to give to their colleges,

look to the future with confidence and

prompting the Board of Governors to

but giving back to the school in which

optimism.

move the building project forward. Cox

they spent their primary and secondary

Graae + Spach architects were hired

years should be even more important.

the Saints Together: Our Campaign

and the design phase was set in motion.

That school helped lay the groundwork

for Community, we can catapult our

The plans included a bell tower, state-

for college and the rest of their lives.”

facilities to match the quality and

On April 9, 2003, more than 1,300

caliber of a Saints experience, with

of-the-art auditorium, classrooms,

With the community's support of

rehearsal spaces, a green room, and

members of the community witnessed

large, new academic general use and

storage facilities. The inside of the bell

the dedication and consecration

science classrooms, art studios, a

tower would be a sanctuary where the

of CPAC. Despite heavy rain, the

student commons and dining center

community could go to feel connected,

atmosphere was charged with joy and

to bring us together and enhance

comforted, and renewed, and resulted

enthusiasm. The ceremony included the

conversation and collaboration, spaces

in a beautiful, peaceful, and light-filled

blessing of the prayer room, named in

for planned group meetings, and a large

prayer room—perfect for contemplation

memory of The Rev. Emmett H. Hoy,

terrace for events previously held off

and reflection. The new building was

Jr, revered former headmaster of St.

campus. No doubt the new spaces will

designed to seat an audience of 500,

Stephen's from 1955-1975 and featured

create possibilities we haven't dreamed

more than three times the capacity of the

the beautiful stained-glass window, which

of, and like CPAC, it will be a journey of

Black Box Theater.

towers above the stage upon which the

discoveries we haven't yet imagined.

The benchmark figure for breaking 14 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

altar stands each week for chapel.

Renderings of the new Upper School renovation, clockwise from top: aerial view, the student commons, the terrace, the dining center, and a science classroom.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 15

FACE-TO-FACE

LaNessa West is looking forward to starting her new job as Lower School director in July. She radiates a presence that is calm and purposeful and describes herself as diligent, intuitive, and reflective. Family is everything to her. An only child with lots of close cousins, she grew up in the small town of South Boston, Va. She draws her core values and beliefs from her mother and the other two strong women who helped raise her, her grandmother and her aunt. She and her husband, Nathaniel, will be celebrating 25 years together in December, and she feels her greatest accomplishment has been raising their children, Nathan and Nadia, who are students at Old Dominion University. LaNessa finds family life motivating, but has always had an innate, internal drive that moves her to try new things—but nothing too risky, crazy, or adventurous! As a young student LaNessa was a voracious reader, who loved writing and being part of the yearbook staff. Her passions propelled her to study journalism at Radford University, where she dreamed of writing for Essence magazine. As she faced graduation, her professors often mentioned how hard it would be to find a job. It made her so nervous, she decided to go to graduate school for teaching to have something to “fall back on.'' After her first practicum experience in a kindergarten classroom, teaching shifted from her “fall back” to her future—she was hooked. For LaNessa, Lower School is the place to be! “It's hard to have a bad day when you enter a classroom, where the joy is palpable and the children always have a story to share, a smile, or an impromptu hug to offer,” she says. LaNessa's initial attraction to SSSAS was the mission statement and seeing the words “BE YOU” highlighted on the website. She finds the school's commitment to amplifying “goodness as well as knowledge” particularly admirable. During her first visit, she felt wrapped in a sense of community that made her feel welcome and at ease.

When she's not working, LaNessa enjoys reading, listening to R&B and hip hop, binge watching a good series, and tapping into her creativity through scrapbooking, making wreaths and arranging flowers. Something many people don't know about her is that she grew up singing in the school choir and her church. As a child LaNessa dreamed about what her first job would be, getting married, and having a family. A leader by nature, LaNessa joins our school in “a season of her life where success means finding some balance and being intentional about living her life with purpose, unbothered by what others think about her, doing what makes her happy and being all that God created her to be.”

LaNessa West

What one piece of advice would you offer anyone who asks?

Be selective in your battles, sometimes peace is better than being right.

What is the best compliment someone can give you?

Letting me know that I serve as a mentor, friend, and/or confidant.

What is your most treasured memory?

I have a few, but the one that stands out to me is when my husband proposed to me over the intercom at one of my former schools. It was the last day shortly after the students had gone home for the summer.

What in life makes you smile?

Warm, sunny days sitting on my porch, listening to the rain outside my window, and a beautiful autumn scene filled with red, yellow, orange, and brown leaves on the trees…

If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

It would have to be Oprah Winfrey, especially during her “talk show days.” Meeting and interviewing celebrities and people who all have their own stories to share would be an epic adventure. Her wealth and all the perks that come with it would be great, too!

What is the one place in the world you would like to escape to and why?

Going to Italy is on my bucket list because it seems to have so many wonderful things to experience - the culture, the history, and THE FOOD!!!!

16 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

FACE-TO-FACE

Incoming Middle School Director William “Bee” Stribling grew up on an orchard in Markham, Va., with his parents, six siblings, and a menagerie of dogs, cats, hamsters, cows, horses, chickens, and ducks. Named after his great grandfather, Bee also inherited his nickname–which has nothing to do with buzzing honey makers.

When his great grandfather was born in 1885, his 2-year-old sister couldn't say “baby,” but could say “bee bee.” The nickname stuck and was passed along. Bee's family is bursting with educators, including a great-great uncle who taught at Episcopal and a great aunt who taught at St. Agnes! His godfather was his middle school principal and his godmother was a beloved substitute teacher. After graduating from Mary Washington College with a degree in art history, Bee helped his parents run the family farm…until his step mother, who was a religion teacher at National Cathedral School, encouraged him to apply his gifts to a career in education. Bee started his career teaching seventh and eighth grade history at Browne Academy. He feels each day with a middle schooler matters! Bee says, “They are both jaded and bubbly and can focus on the smallest details and ask the biggest questions at the same time.” He wants to “do good in the world by making sure kids know they are seen, loved, and held capable of making meaningful contributions to their communities.” For Bee, success means knowing yourself and caring for those around you, which often means unlearning things in order to better understand your goals. As a lover of art and history, Bee is inspired by Willem van de Velde, J.M.W. Turner, Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock. If he could time travel, he would like to go back to important moments of change and be part of the discoveries and inventions that revolutionized the human experience. Bee and his wife, Nicole, have two children, Robert Mackay and Eleanor Marshall, who are so excited to be Lower School Saints! At home, Bee fills his iPad with books and reads every night.

William “Bee” Stribling What is something you could happily fail at?

Sports—I just love playing team sports. Of course, I love to win but the camaraderie is the reason to play.

What is your greatest strength?

I pride myself in noticing things—small things, changes in demeanor, etc. It's such a great skill to have when working with middle schoolers.

What is the best piece of advice you've ever gotten?

You're the best you've ever been but not the best you'll ever be. So, keep learning.

Their two rescue cats, Sylvester and George (who love to be awake all night!), keep him company. He enjoys a really good barbeque with all the yummy sides, running, and playing the bass guitar. As a bass player, he's not embarrassed to say he loves the band Weezer. The whole family loves to listen to music and enjoys hiking, camping, sun, and sand.

Where in the world are you the happiest?

Definitely around a campfire with friends and family.

For what in your life do you feel most grateful?

Having a family that has supported me because they knew I had something to offer to the world.

If you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

A frog. The combination of being amphibious and having serious 'hops' would be fun.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 17

AN EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

Nicole Eisenman,“Seder”(2010)

Why Are We Doing This?

The Meaning of Passover

BY SUSANNAH NADLER UPPER SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER

Each week during Upper

Hi, my name is Ms. Nadler, and even

of Passover. And as the car moved at a

School chapel, a member

though I've worked here for 10 years,

crawl, and we listened to our son wail

this is my first chapel talk.

for six hours in his car seat, I remember

of the community gives the homily. These are often powerful and personal reflections on their life experiences.

18 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Almost exactly five years ago, my husband and I were loading our new

thinking to myself, why are we doing this?

baby into the car. We were taking him

A Passover Seder, for those of you

to New York, to my mother's house, for

who haven't been to one, is like an epic

his very first Seder, a ritual meal that

combination of a holiday meal, an

marks the start of the Jewish holiday

English class, and a religious service.

There are readings, discussions, blessings, four cups of wine, and singing –and most of that happens before we even eat dinner.

The seder is a ritual meal that we do the same way year after year. And in that car ride five years ago, my first time bringing the next generation— literally wailing and screaming— home for Passover, the answer to my question—why are we doing this?—is that I ALWAYS went home for Passover.

In college, I grumbled about missing classes, but I did it. When I worked in California, I would still fly back to New York for the seder. And in that moment in traffic, with my crying baby in the back seat, I took a deep breath and imagined that all the other cars, inching along I-95, were filled with Jewish people, like me, all of us fulfilling an exodus ritual, all of us trying to make it home in time for the seder. And we did.

James Jacques Joseph Tissot, “Pharaoh Notes the Importance of the Jewish People” (1896-1902)

That's my identical twin sister, Reena, holding my son, bouncing him to the music of our Passover prayers.

Passover is all about Exodus, the second book of the Hebrew Bible. Here's a quick recap—think of it as Ms. Nadler's Sparknotes version of the Passover story.

For reasons that belong to a whole other story, the Israelites, who will become the Jewish people, settle in the land of Egypt. As they have children, and their children have children, the Egyptian Pharaoh feels threatened: this group doesn't fit in, and its numbers are growing. What if the Israelites somehow undermine his power?

Pharaoh's response to this worry is brutal: he forces the Israelites into slavery and orders that all their firstborn sons be drowned in the Nile. This horrific system of population control lasts for 400 years, until one Israelite mother, Yocheved, quietly rebels. She hides her baby boy from his killers and sets him on the Nile in a floating basket.

Thinking about my own two small sons, I'm amazed at Yocheved's desperate bravery: she sends her newborn out onto the water, not knowing if he will live or if she will ever see him again. And by

doing this she saves her son from murder

mom moved to D.C., and now my house

and her people from slavery: Pharaoh's

is the place where we celebrate Passover.

daughter finds the baby, names him

If you'll allow me to be totally honest

Moses, and raises him as her own.

for a moment: my feelings about hosting

All grown up, Moses encounters a

the Seder at my house are mixed. It

burning bush from which God's voice

always feels meaningful, but the seder

emerges. God tells Moses that he must

is long and takes preparation, there

lead the people of Israel out of slavery

are rituals and rules around food and

and into the promised land. Moses is

cleaning, my extended family can be

reluctant: he has a speech impediment,

stressful, and every year when Passover

for one thing, and he hates talking

comes around, as I'm cooking and

in public, but nevertheless he goes

scrubbing, and preparing, I have a

to Pharaoh's court and relays God's

moment like the one that I had in the car

demand: let my people go (slide). There

five years ago. I think to myself, why am

are more twists and turns in the story:

I doing this? It feels like we just did this

Pharoah refuses, there are ten plagues,

last year.

Moses parts the red sea, but, —spoiler

This feeling is complicated by the

alert—the people of Israel ultimately do

fact that Jews aren't supposed to just

escape Egypt. They become a free people

tell the Exodus story at the seder: we

on their way to the promised land.

are supposed to imagine that we are

The Passover Seder is our yearly

reliving the Exodus story. The rabbis

ritual to mark this transition from

say, “In every generation, we must

slavery to freedom. As Passover

see ourselves as if we personally have

approaches this year, I'm struck by how

come out of Egypt.” When I was a kid,

much has changed for me since my

this idea shocked me. We're supposed

older son's first Seder five years ago. The

to begin each seder feeling as though

pandemic hit, I had another baby, my

we are enslaved, and end each seder

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 19

AN EPISCOPAL SCHOOL “'Go home,' she says. The ghosts shudder, but they do not leave...

So Kayla begins to sing, a song of mismatched, half-garbled words, nothing that I can understand...Kayla sings, and the multitude of ghosts lean forward, nodding. They smile with something like relief, something like remembrance, something like ease.”

Kayla cannot make the ghosts “go home” because in this novel, and, I think, in life, there are some ghosts that must remain. We are all haunted by the violence of the past, and we are haunted in different ways, whether we ourselves or our ancestors have been victims, bystanders, or perpetrators of oppression—and sometimes we have been all three of these. thanking God for our freedom? How am

of you know, it's about a 13-year-old

I supposed to feel enslaved when I'm

boy named Jojo, who is half black and

just hanging out with family, reading

half white, and it's also a novel in which

texts and singing prayers, waiting for

ghosts are real. One particular ghost,

dinner? This disconnect, of course,

Richie, died when Jojo's grandfather was

stems from all the privileges I have in my

trying to save him from a violent lynch

own life and generation. I'm a straight,

mob. Richie refuses to stop haunting

white, relatively wealthy, American

Jojo's family, and his ghost becomes an

woman. Even though I do encounter

embodied symbol of a traumatic past

oppression—and sometimes it's related

that literally refuses to go away.

to my Jewishness—I walk through the

Some of the most interesting chapters

world with an extraordinary amount of

of this novel are narrated from Richie's

freedom and safety. What the rabbis ask

perspective, at least in my opinion.

us to do on Passover is to perform a kind

And it becomes clear that, to this ghost,

of radical, impossible-seeming empathy:

the handcuffs a policeman snaps onto

because our biblical ancestors were

Jojo's wrists, the forced labor of Jojo's

enslaved, we too are enslaved. Because

grandfather in Parchman prison, and the

they were freed, we not only remember,

chains of all three of the men's enslaved

we work to feel the deep relief of leaving

African ancestors, may seem to belong

oppression behind.

to different historical moments, but they

I've wrestled with this idea for years.

are all linked by a common thread of

Each year we thank God for freedom.

systemic racism. For Richie, the past and

And yet, each year, Passover rolls around

the present are the same. The modern

and we are again enslaved. We tell the

boy, Jojo, tries over and over to send

Exodus story over and over, but—what

Richie the ghost away, to send him to

is the purpose of celebrating freedom

heaven, to send him “home.” But in the

when we know we will have to relive our

very last chapter of the novel, Jojo and

enslavement again the very next year?

his little sister Kayla find that ghosts like

Isn't there some point at which we can

Richie are in fact everywhere, and they

just, you know, be free?

are never going home.

In ninth grade English, I've been

Here is how Jojo narrates the final

teaching the novel “Sing, Unburied,

scene, where he watches his 3-year-old

Sing” by Jesmyn Ward. Stick with

sister Kayla face a tree full of ghosts who

me—I'm going to connect it. As many

have died horribly:

20 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

So, what do we do with a traumatic past that refuses to go away? As I was discussing this scene with my ninth graders last year, I realized that Kayla's song to the tree full of ghosts reminds me a bit of what we are supposed to do at the Passover Seder. When the ghosts won't leave, Kayla performs an act of communion with them, an act of witness and empathy that acknowledges their pain and so, for a little while, relieves their pain. It's clear that the ghosts in the novel will never stop haunting Kayla and Jojo, but Kayla's song of witness gives them “something like relief, something like remembrance, something like ease.”

A week from today, in my home, my family and I will be singing Passover songs and prayers—reliving—radically witnessing—the oppression and freedom of the Israelites in the Passover story. And that, for me, at least, is the point of Passover. The overcoming of injustice and oppression—the movement from slavery to freedom—is never done. Each year we must tell the story, relive the story, sing to the ghosts that are always with us. And this year, my tenth year at SSSAS, when I finally got up the courage to speak in chapel, I'm grateful to you for listening and witnessing what Passover means to me.

Amen

SAINTS IN ACTION

VIOLINIST LUN LI VISITS THE MIDDLE SCHOOL Our Middle School musicians had the opportunity to hear live music at the highest level! They had a private concert and workshop featuring award-winning violinist

ACADEMIC CONVOCATION RECOGNITIONS At the Upper School Academic Convocation in February, the school recognized 19 seniors, including eight Commended Merit Scholars and one Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition.

Over 1.5 million students from about 22,000 high schools entered the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Students scoring in the top 5 percent nationally qualify as

Lun Li, accompanied by his pianist.

Students were able to hear him perform and ask questions about the music. Lun Li is a native of Shanghai, China and holds degrees from Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School. He is currently pursuing an Artistic Diploma at The Juilliard School where he serves as teaching assistant to Catherine Cho. Lun Li is sponsored by the Young Concert Artists.

commended scholars and students placing in the top 1 percent are finalists. Nine students were also recognized as National AfricanAmerican Recognition Award recipients, and one received the National Hispanic Recognition Award.

Finalist Merit Scholar: Carter Harris '23 Commended Merit Scholars: Seniors Alethea Callahan, Marina Gallozzi, Finn Hartman, Lily Hunsicker, Abigail Lowe, Abhay Mathur, Lauren Minor, and Manav Sabharwal National African-American Recognition Award Recipients: Annette Dunn '24, CJ Tillman '23, Charles Bounds '23, Chris Shorter '24, Matthew Bezuneh '23, Nya Mason '23,

TEAM ADVENTURE!

Raei Legesse '24, Rafiki Mwethuku '23, and

Cheryl Van Coverden's junior kindergarten

Taylor Grace Peterson '23

class wrote and performed “Team Adventure,” a play inspired by a science

National Hispanic Recognition Award:

lesson on shadows, a library lesson on

Isabella Garcia-Ippolito '23

sequencing, and the book “Rocket Writes a Story” by Tad Hills.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 21

SAINTS IN ACTION

MIDDLE SCHOOL SAINTS SKILLS The sixth grade Saints Skills class created boards on the different classes they took this year and presented them to the current fifth graders.

The Saints Skills include: Service,

LEARNING AND BONDING: THE ANIMAL OLYMPICS Some Middle School zoologists led the kindergartners through eight stations for a morning of Animal Olympics! Through games at each stop, the kindergartners learned interesting facts about animals. At the Polar

Academic, Innovation, Neuro, Tech and Teamwork, and Social. This project gave the sixth graders an opportunity to reflect on the year, work in groups, and practice their presentation skills.

Bear Plunge (where Aggie was a special guest), they waded through cold water with bare feet to better understand the importance of the thick layer of blubber polar bears have to keep them warm. At the Trunk Tug their challenge was to drag a heavy load a short distance with one arm to recognize how amazing it is that the African elephant can pick up a oneton weight with only its trunk. Other stations included Monkey Markers, Gorilla Grasp, Beaver Build, Wing “Wave,” Long Distance Leap, and Cheetah Chase. The event concluded with kindergartners and their new friends having a picnic lunch outside.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES The Upper School Women's Affinity Group hosted a professional women's career panel in celebration of Women's History Month. Four members of the Saints community talked about obstacles and successes connected to their career journeys as professional women. The panel featured: Head of School Kirsten Adams, Dr. Saadia Eltayeb (chemist and principal at ChemReg Compliance Solutions), Theresa H. Peterson (senior executive for GE Global Research), and Hilary Strickland (chief of staff at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition).

22 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

SAINTS IN ACTION

INVESTIGATING INHERITANCE PATTERNS Honors Biology students used biotechnology equipment to investigate the inheritance patterns of a gene that codes for a taste receptor protein responsible for sensing bitter substances.

They loaded, ran, and analyzed six DNA samples in a gel electrophoresis chamber to determine the genetic variation of each.

CELEBRATING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS WEEK The Middle and Upper Schools welcomed Dudley Edmondson, an established photographer, author, filmmaker, and presenter, to campus during Environmental Awareness Week. Dudley spoke about his work and took a nature photography walk with a group of Middle School art students. Dudley's photography has been featured in galleries and nearly 100 publications around the world. He was one of the first photographers to highlight the involvement of African Americans in the public lands system. He has also been immersed in the effort to help the conservation sector become more inclusive.

THE CLIMATE CRISIS Award-winning writer Noah Gallagher Shannon spoke to the Upper School about the climate crisis. Noah talked about his 2021 trip to Uruguay to find out how the country has transitioned from oil-dependency to a grid powered by 98% renewable energy in just 15 years. His New York Times Magazine article, “What Does Sustainable Living

At the Lower School alumnus Nat Gillespie '92 talked about his work

Look Like? Maybe Like Uruguay” focuses

with the U.S. Forest Service as their assistant fish program leader. With

on sustainability, courageous political

a focus on freshwater fish, Nat provides leadership in coordination

leadership, and the changing global

with the National Fisheries Program in developing and implementing

household. He also visited with our

fisheries related strategies, providing guidance, coordination, and

journalism students and Green Saints

direction among a large, geographically dispersed staff of nine regional

Leaders.

office fisheries programs.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 23

SAINTS IN ACTION

FIND THE DIFFERENCES Junior kindergarten students learned “Who Polluted the Bay?” during a presentation by Bryan Gomes from the organization ClearShark H2O. We challenge you to find ten differences in the photos!

24 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

SAINTS IN ACTION

ARTSTRAVAGANZA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS! For 20 years our Lower School students have spent a whole day celebrating the arts through a variety of interactive workshops.

This year's Artstravaganza included more than 26 regional, national, and international artists, dancers, musicians, storytellers, and puppeteers, who hosted 45-minute sessions.

Students were able to explore instruments in a hands-on workshop with some of our Upper School student musicians. They tried playing the steel drums with the Tobago Bay Calypso Band, learned to play the ukulele, partnered up for some flamenco dancing, practiced the art of Japanese calligraphy, joined Esperanto Bean for Hip Hop lessons, and enjoyed a magic show with resident magician, Associate Head of School Bob Weiman.

In addition to hands-on demonstrations and activities, students also had a chance to talk with the artists about their lives, learning how they discovered their passions, the paths they took to becoming professionals, and the dedication that goes along with mastering their crafts.

Lower School Music Teachers Rebecca and Matt Gehlhoff want to give the students a global arts experience, as well as helping the Lower School arts team to make strong connections with the local artists—and they have succeeded!

The day culminated with an outdoor concert by the go-go band Strickly Bizness.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 25

SAINTS IN ACTION

SAINTS WIN LOCAL AND REGIONAL ART & WRITING AWARDS Middle and Upper School Saints entered and placed in several regional and local art and writing contests. Eleven Upper School students received awards in the 2023 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, in association with the nonprofit organization Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. In regional competitions, Saints were recognized in three categories: Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention, for their photography, painting, ceramics and glass, digital art, mixed media, sculpture, and critical essay.

Three Upper School Saints were recognized at the Alexandria All City High School Exhibition for 2D and 3D art and 13 Saints were recognized for their prose, poetry, photography and 2D art in the Alexandria Library Teen Winter Creativity Contest.

Sophie Atkisson '23, “Daylight Reflections,” Painting, Scholastic Silver Key

Zoe Coval '23, “Walking With Yourself,” Digital Art, Scholastic Silver Key

Charlotte McNamara '24, “Can You See Me?,” Mixed Media, Scholastic Gold Key 26 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Elliot Desautels '25, “UFO Ceramic Clock,” Ceramics & Glass, Scholastic Honorable Mention

Hannah Floyd '25, “Candace,” Ceramics & Glass, Honorable Mention

Addie Youree '26, “Bird Stained Glass,” Ceramics & Glass, Scholastic Honorable Mention

Calysta Lee '23, “Strength And Confidence In Artistry,” Photography, Scholastic Honorable Mention

August Moon '24, “Baphomet,” Sculpture, Scholastic Honorable Mention

Codie Campbell '23, “Soul Crushing,” Mixed Media, Scholastic Honorable Mention

Ellie Minor '23, “Stillness,” Painting, Scholastic, Honorable Mention

SAINTS IN ACTION

Codie Campbell '23, “A Day at the Beach,” All-City Palette Award

Lily Adams '24, “Matter of Time,” All-City Palette Award

Justin Hill '23, “The Twist Out” All-City Palette Award

Theo Weiman '24, “ Unmasked,” 2D Art, Alexandria Library Gold

WRITING AWARDS

Ariya Harrington '26, “Parts of a Whole,” 2D Art, Alexandria Library Silver

Marnie Nichols '23, Scholastic Gold Key, Critical Essay, “Which Yet Survive, Abigail Taylor '26, “False Duplicity,” 2D Art, Alexandria Library Honorable Mention

Stamped on These Lifeless Things.”

Alexandria Library Teen Winter Creativity Contest: Ella Schneider '27, Gold, Short Story, “Paranoia” Olivia Nealon '27, “ Swimming Through the Night,” 2D Art, Alexandria Library Gold

Claire Poersch '28, Bronze, Poem, “If I Could Just Fly” Janney Cooper '26, Gold, Poem, “Breathe” Theo Weiman '24, Silver, Poem, “The Sweater With Yellow Mustard” Isaiah Faden '24, “Face Jug” National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition, Honorable Mention Isaiah's piece was one of 152 pieces selected out of 1,317 entries for the NCECA exhibition.

Evelyn Stackhouse '26, “ Disco Fish,” Photography, Alexandria Library Bronze

Ariya Harrington '26, Silver, Short Story, “From the Young Wife”

Reese Lai '26, “ At the Water,” Photography, Alexandria Library Honorable Mention SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 27

SAINTS IN ACTION

“MAMMA MIA!” This spring Upper School Stage One presented the musical “Mamma Mia!” Director Valerie Carlson worked with a company of 60 thespians in the spotlight.

The Director's Notes: “Mamma Mia!” is gearing up to celebrate its 25th anniversary, embarking this coming fall on a national tour of 35 cities across the United States (including Baltimore!). Since its premiere, the show has been presented all over the world— including a 14-year run on Broadway—and has been translated into 16 languages. The show in 2023 is as popular as it ever has been.

Why? The most obvious answer may be the enduring pop brilliance of the music, written by two of ABBA's members and turned into hits by the four-person supergroup. With incredibly catchy hooks and melodies, along with singable lyrics, the songs reflect all of the nuanced feelings and intense emotions that are a condition of being human—particularly a human in relationships.

The joys and sorrows of romantic love, of course, are part of that, but ABBA also sang of the love of parents for children, the deep affection that exists between friends, a nostalgia for our past, and the happiness that a relationship with music can bring us.

Judy Craymer, the originator of the idea for the show, saw all that and realized the music was “extraordinarily theatrical” (mamma-mia.com).

She brought a playwright, Catherine Johnson, onto the nascent project, and Johnson added the piece that would take ABBA's music from radio to stage: a joyful, hopeful story that encapsulates all of those emotions and relationships, centering them on a young woman who is trying to discover who she is and a mother whose life has not gone in the direction she expected.

The show celebrates the bonds of family, friendship, and romance, and teaches us (in an infectiously tuneful manner) that love doesn't always follow the rules…but it is always the right choice.

28 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

SAINTS IN ACTION

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 29

SAINTS ATHLETICS: WINTER SEASON

WINTER TRACK & FIELD SENIORS: ANDREW LAZARSKI, JONATHAN KHO, JUSTIN HILL, MYLES SANDY, TURNER MORE, MOLLIE KEMP, ISABELLA GARCIA-IPPOLITO

BOYS BASKETBALL Final Record: 15-13 Final IAC Standing: 2nd (Tied) Final VISAA Standing: 8th Advanced to the Sleepy Thompson championship game and lost a close game to nationally ranked Sidwell Friends. Big win on

MAPHL A Division First Team: Jonathan MacIntosh '24, Will Woodruff '23 MAPHL A Division Coach of the Year: Brian Fleury Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention: Trey Knott '24

WINTER TRACK & FIELD Boys VISAA Championship Meet Finish: 12th Girls VISAA Championship Meet Finish: 20th Justin Hill '23 set a new school record in the shot put. At the VISAA Indoor State

senior night against IAC rival Episcopal.

BOYS SWIMMING

ALL-IAC: Aiden Argabright '25,

IAC Championship Meet Finish: 5th

and Bradley Cruthirds placed 4th and 7th

Riley Jacobs '25

WMPSSDL Championship Meet Finish: 13th

respectively in the 55m hurdles. Chris

VISAA Division I All-State First Team:

VISAA Championship Meet Finish: 19th

Shorter '24 also placed 4th in the triple

Bryson Wilson '23

Evan Ingraham '25 broke the school record in

jump.

Championship meet, juniors Chris Shorter

the 200 IM and the 500 Free.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Final Record: 13-9 Final ISL A Division Standing: 2nd Final VISAA Standing: 12th Won the 27th Saints Invitational Girls

Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the Month: Evan Ingraham '25 VISAA All-State: Evan Ingraham '25 (500 Free)

WRESTLING Final Record: 4-8 IAC Tournament Finish: 3rd VISAA State Tournament Finish: 11th The Saints Wrestling program had four

Basketball tournament championship over

GIRLS SWIMMING

St. John Paul the Great and finished second

ISL Championship Meet Finish: 10th

wrestlers qualify for the National Prep

in the A Division of the ISL.

WMPSSDL Championship Meet Finish: 9th

Tournament, James Blackman '24,

ALL-ISL A Division: Belle Akeredolu '24,

VISAA Championship Meet Finish: 12th

Giorgio Corica '23, and Aidan Koch '24.

Nya Mason '23

Three school records were broken this

Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the

season:

Month: Giorgio Corica '23

Haley Lehman '25 broke the school record in

ALL-IAC: Giorgio Corica '23

the 200 free and the 500 free.

VISAA All-State: Josh Bauer '26,

The relay team of Lucy Perkins '26, CC

James Blackman '24, Giorgio Corica '23,

Jacobs '23, Elisabeth Carroll '25, and Haley

Aidan Koch '24

Lehman '25 broke the school record in the

Washington Post All-Met Honorable

200 freestyle relay.

Mention: James Blackman '24,

Alexandria Sportsman's Club Athlete of the

Giorgio Corica '23

ICE HOCKEY Final Record: 10-10-2 Final IAC Standing: 5th Final MAPHL A Division Standing: 2nd The Saints advanced to the MAPHL A Division Championship game against Gonzaga and played a great game, narrowly losing 3-4 in the final minute of the game.

ALL-IAC: Trey Knott '24 MAPHL A Division Player of the Year: Trey Knott '24

30 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Month: Haley Lehman '25 VISAA All-State: Haley Lehman '25 (200 Free & 500 Free) Washington Post All-Met Honorable Mention: Haley Lehman '25

state placers and also had three individual

TREY KNOTT '24

BELLE AKEREDOLU '24

GIRLS BASKETBALL SENIORS: LILLI BIONDI, RALEIGH SPEED, NYA MASON, LUCY PALMA

CHRIS SHORTER '24 AND TURNER MORE '23

CC JACOBS '23 AND KYLIE PAYNE '23

BRYSON WILSON '23

HALEY LEHMAN '25

COACH BRIAN FLEURY

GIORGIO CORICA '23 SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 31

Lucie

“Lucie brought her expertise, knowledge, and enthusiasm to bear in developing our path forward over the last 24 years. Her belief in what we wanted to accomplish and her total commitment to our dream has never wavered. We would not be where we are today without Lucie's contributions.” ~Stephen Rose, Rosemont Vineyards & Winery, La Crosse, Va. 32 AND ST. ST. AGNES AGNES 32 ST. ST. STEPHEN'S STEPHEN’S AND

Lucie holding a bottle of wine from Europe that has one percent of the Cunningham grape in it—a grape connected to her family that is now extinct in the United States. But Lucie has brought it home.

THE GRAPE SLEUTH Lucie Morton '68

BY ANDREA DAWSON As the camera follows Lucie Morton from an old Parisian vineyard to a wild cluster of roadside grapes on an island off the coast of Portugal, to her verdant family farm and vineyard on the banks of the Potomac River, one detail among many stands out: She is ardently curious.

Squinting through a magnifier

after lecturer, and international

looked back. Or how, soon thereafter,

vineyard consultant, Lucie couldn't

she was accepted to the Cours

help but be drawn into a story Stéphan

Supérieur Internationale de Viticulture,

was hoping she could shed light on.

a premier graduate program, spanning five countries, under the sponsorship

COAXING COCA COLA FROM TABLE GRAPES

of the world-renowned viticulture

Dabbling in documentaries is

26, she translated a seminal work by

but one story in Lucie's quietly stellar career. At 72, she has many to share.

department at the agricultural university in Montpellier, France. At her Montpellier professor Pierre Galet, cementing her role at the time as one of the nation's only ampelographers (a specialist in identifying grapes by

to discern the delicate patterns on a grape leaf, she observes thoughtfully.

Visiting with grape growers, vineyard owners, and even with a Frenchman seeking to identify a mysterious grape leaf prospering on his patio trellis, she listens intently.

An internationally renowned viticulturist, she has more than earned the right to indulge in showmanship, but she is far too interested in dirtying her hands—that is to say, studying and solving the problems inherent in growing grapes.

“I am a student of grapes,” she

Lucie visiting the vineyard of «The Azores Wine Company» on the island of Pico in the Azores archipelago. Photos in Portugal were taken by Stéphan Balay.

explains. “I just love the grapevine in all its forms.”

The camera in question belongs to French documentary filmmaker Stéphan Balay. Having immersed herself in the complexities and curiosities of turning grapes into wine for the last 50 years, as a research collaborator, teacher, writer, sought-

Like how, after graduating from

their leaves). In the early 1990s, she

the University of Pennsylvania with a

predicted the demise of a popular

degree in History, she returned to her

Napa Valley rootstock to phylloxera, an

family farm—Morland—at her father's

insect that destroys vine roots. Later,

request, knowing next to nothing

she discovered a new rootstock disease

about wine, to “look into grapes,” as

altogether—black goo, as she named it.

she remembers him saying. She never

Based in Charlottesville, Lucie

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 33

Lucie photographing vine leaves in Portugal.

is a problem solver not afraid to challenge convention. She has

ST. AGNES BEGINNINGS My St. Agnes experience was a big factor in my intellectual development. Back then, my procrastination was legendary and I was an academic underachiever.

A few key inspirational teachers and an all-girls situation helped keep me focused, intellectually stimulated, and able to take leadership positions in sports and student government perhaps more than a co-ed environment would have.

I struggled with grammar, but I remember my Advanced French class took me into the world of French art and culture. When I got to the viticulture program in Montpellier and fell in love with grape vines, my French classes at SAS are what really provided an invaluable foundation.

My time at St. Agnes also gave me the confidence to go into an environment with more men. The University of Pennsylvania was 20% women at the time, Oxford [where she subsequently explored 19th century Anglicanism] had almost no girls, and then I went on to Montepllier. It wasn't deliberate, but I welcomed going into a male environment.

encouraged her U.S.-based clients, for example, to plant vines closer together, the more traditional European approach. She views grape growing as equal parts science experiment and pure adventure. As a student in Europe, she gamely endured jokes about her plans to return home to Virginia and make wine from the popular juice and jelly grape, Concord. “Here is the Mademoiselle who will create coca cola from Vitis labrusca,” she recalls them teasing.

“For me, wine is all about, 'Gosh, why does it taste this way?

Where did the grapes grow? What are its roots like?'” she explains.

“I am most interested in understanding the history, evolution, and diversity of grapes and the vines they grow on.”

Not surprisingly, in 2018, when Stéphan wanted to interview Lucie for a documentary that would uncover the story behind the French government's ban, in 1934, of several American grapes, she was intrigued. That 2019 award-winning film—Vitis Prohibita—led to a second film collaboration with Stéphan, currently in the works, titled “Bon Voyage Vitis.” A precursor, of sorts, it follows Lucie across France, Madeira, the Azores, Missouri, New York, and her home state of Virginia as she explores how American grapes—many extinct and no longer grown in the United States—made the leap across the Atlantic to begin with.

Like all good problem solvers and researchers, Lucie's involvement in Bon Voyage Vitis has illuminated far more than the story she set out to investigate. She came to learn that her own family history is closely entwined with the outlawed American grapes. And one in particular caught her attention: a 19th century French American varietal native to Virginia but extinct in the United States named Cunningham.

In order to uncover its link to her family, she had to first understand its birth on American soil, its arrival and—later— repudiation in France, and why it vanished in the United States altogether. And what if, she mused, she could bring Cunningham back, returning a centuries old vine to its native soil?

34 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

“What Lucie is trying to do is so far out in front of everyone else. In her mind, not everything has to be chardonnay, merlot, or cabernet. She is always pushing the envelope for the future, always seeking the truth.” ~Jon Wehner, Chatham Vineyards & Winery, Machipongo, Va. THE FLOURISHING— AND VANISHING— CUNNINGHAM GRAPE Ever the history lover, Lucie revels in sharing what she has learned.

She begins with the Tidewater region of Virginia in the early 1600s, when the only grapes growing were from wild, native vines. As European colonists began to arrive, they brought with them their own native grapes— Vitis vinifera—and planted them in America. The grape ferrying continued for more than 200 years.

Maladapted to the American climate, these European vines slowly succumbed to a variety of fungal diseases and insects, like phylloxera.

But not before they had a chance to pollinate. Wind sent the vinifera seeds into the forest to interbreed with the wild American vines, which were naturally disease resistant.

In 1812, Jacob Cunningham, who happened to be the neighbor of one of Lucie's ancestors, noticed such a hybrid vine growing in his backyard in Farmville, Virginia, south of Richmond. Beside it sprouted another vine with noticeably larger, dark red grapes. Lucie's ancestor took a cutting to grow on his farm, calling it Cunningham.

Not only did European vines travel to America; the disease-resistant

Lucie in Ilha do Pico, Pico Island, Portugal

American hybrids made their way

ban list, it became illegal to sell wine

back to Europe, and to islands along

made from it and other American-born

trade routes in between. “They hopped

grapes.

a boat, jumped off in the Azores, and were taken on to Europe,” Lucie

Not everyone listened.

Local rebel farmers across France,

explains. Unfortunately, in the mid-

nonplussed by the order, continued

1850s, undetected phylloxera hopped

to cultivate them for personal

a ride, too. While the American vines

consumption. In the Cévennes

were impervious to its rampage, the

Mountains of central France, for

European vineyards were devastated.

example, they refused to rip out

Ironically, as many wine historians are

the vines they had so painstakingly

quoted as saying, in the problem was

planted and nurtured over decades.

the solution: Winemakers in Europe

“These were true grapes of resistance,”

began grafting their vines onto the

Lucie says.

disease-proof American rootstocks.

Despite their outlaw status, the

Crossbreeding also took place. The

defiant grapes continued to thrive

resulting healthy vines took hold.

in Europe. They were short-lived in

Thanks to Cunningham and

the United States, however. By 1900,

other American hybrid grapes, a

winegrowing in Virginia was moribund,

centuries-old European winemaking

and Cunningham disappeared. “There

tradition, which relied solely on fine

was no winegrowing culture to sustain

vinifera grapes, had been rescued. But

it,” Lucie says. “That was partly due

dissension was brewing, especially in

to Prohibition and partly due to the

France.

introduction of tobacco farming. The

“American vines were considered

minute tobacco came along, farmers

peasant vines. The wine was cheaper

were drinking whiskey and cider, not

to produce because the naturally

wine.”

disease-resistant hybrid vines were easier to grow,” explains Lucie. “They ran afoul of the establishment, whose main concern was saving the fine wine sector.” Overproduction was also a problem. In 1934, the French enacted a formal ban, ordering six American hybrids uprooted. Although Cunningham was not officially on the

HOMECOMING In 2006, France relented and lifted the ban. The American hybrid grapevines no longer have to be uprooted, but it remains illegal for the wine produced from them to be sold commercially. While rare across much SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 35

Lucie and Stéphan Balay in Charlottesville in March to continue filming “Bon Voyage Vitis.”

of Europe, Cunningham continues

and to the Foundation Plant Services

refuge for historic American hybrid

to grow, along with other American

at the University of California, Davis.

grapes, as she threads together the

grapes, like the popular Isabella. Back

I'm laying the groundwork,” she says

final pieces of the story. Of course, her

in Virginia, the matter of Cunningham's

with excitement.

ongoing consulting work with small

disappearance lingered in Lucie's mind.

First dibs also go to her nephew,

family estate wineries as well as larger

John Morton, who has taken over

organizations—and the ever-evolving

grape breeder Cliff Ambers, were

the nearly century-old family farm,

changes and challenges of growing

enjoying a prized bottle of 2017

Morland Farm & Vineyards. With

distinctive wine grapes—continue

Coteaux d'Aujac “Cuvée Cépages

Lucie's help, in 2020 he planted an

to energize her. Among her clients

Oubliés,” sent to her by Stéphan

acre of Chardonel and Chambourcin,

is fellow St. Agnes alumna Jane

(members of a “forgotten grape”

French-American hybrids, and restored

Kincheloe Wiles '73 and her son, Kirk,

association are gifted six bottles a

Morland's 1930s-era native vines—

owners of Paradise Springs Winery.

year). Pointing to the 1% Cunningham

Concord, Caco, and Niagara. Adding

With Lucie's oversight, they are

on the label, he encouraged her to

Cunningham, which she says will be

developing their second estate vineyard

track down the vine and bring the lost

suitable to many styles of wine, would

and winery site in Virginia.

variety back to Virginia.

be a triumphant conclusion to her

In 2018, she and her friend, the

A year later, she traveled to France,

transcontinental quest.

secured a cutting of the Cunningham rootstock, obtained the necessary USDA paperwork, and returned with it to the United States. That cutting is currently living in a greenhouse at Cornell University, undergoing strict quarantine protocols. Once

Mentoring young growers—and the new wines they will undoubtedly produce—energizes Lucie, too. In

THE NEXT CHAPTER

them, she experiences a back-to-

While Lucie awaits the

early years she spent toiling away at

Cunningham's release from quarantine, she has plenty to

the-future sensation, recalling the Morland, patiently experimenting with different varietals, enticing vines from finicky soil. “To turn this

released—within the next few years,

keep her busy. She is currently

she estimates—one of only two grape

wrapping up her third book, Grape

a new generation of winemakers

varieties native to Virginia will be

Rootstocks: From Earth to Wine. In

trained in oenology, that's exciting for

released, ready to grow and propagate

collaboration with Stéphan, she is

me,” she says. “My focus is to bring

once again.

also hard at work securing funding

Cunningham home, liberate it, sit

“I'm getting commercial nurseries

for the completion of Bon Voyage

back, and watch. And look forward to

lined up so once we have vines they can

Vitis. In the coming year, she plans

tasting those first bottles of homegrown

go to Missouri and New York, which

to visit Brazil, which has served as a

wine.”

have USDA germplasm repositories,

36 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

wonderful historic grape loose on

“I don't want to be a flying viticulturist, a personnage traveling the world and charging a lot of money. I love helping people save the family farm. I want to grow with a vineyard, work with its people, and be part of its changes.” ~Lucie Morton '68 Lucie and her assistant, Allegra Barnes, pruning vines at Lucie's home in Charlottesville.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 37

Pitching and Tossing His Way to Success The Entrepreneurial Journey of Ben Johns '74

BY MELISSA ULSAKER MAAS '76

“If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss…”

Ben Johns chose these words

and co-founder of SCOUT—a company

from Rudyard Kipling's poem,

that sells trendy, durable, affordable,

“If,” to accompany his senior photos in the 1974 St. Stephen's yearbook. From this quote, one could conclude that at the young age of 18, Ben was already prepared to take risks for a gain and unafraid of starting over if necessary. He spent the early part of his life surrounded by boys and men at St. Stephen's School and Washington & Lee University, but today he is surrounded by women as the president

38 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

brightly colored bags, with a brand that's centered around a kooky wirehaired dachshund. Although SCOUT offers bags in stripes and patterns any man would feel comfortable carrying to the beach, men are not their target audience.

None of this intimidated Ben or stopped him from pursuing a promising idea—he was willing to risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss…and some super cool bags.

Sitting in his SCOUT Office, Ben just happens to have his St. Agnes second grade photo at his fingertips and holds it up. “So, I'm the goofball on the right with the football and my tongue sticking out,” Ben grins. The Johns family were part of St. Stephen's and St. Agnes from very early in the school's history. His father, Ben Johns, Sr., was a science teacher at St. Stephen's from 1948 to 1958. He also coached football and tennis—and jumped in to help with other sports as needed. “I have a picture of him with what looks like the Bad News Bears football team,” Ben laughs.

“They didn't even have matching helmets or face masks.” Ben's mom, Betty, ran the St. Agnes bookstore from 1970 to 1977, and although only Ben and his sister, Page Johns Sullivan '70,

Top photo: Ben Johns, Jr., in second grade on the far left; bottom photo: Ben's father coaching football at SSSAS.

graduated from SSSAS, but his brother Randy '82 and sister Elizabeth '71 also attended. Years later Ben's daughter, Gussie '14, would also become a Saint.

In 1958 his father left SSSAS to teach at Episcopal High School, and the Johns lived there on the campus until 1989.

Ben spent first and second grade at St. Agnes, before attending St. Stephen's which started in third grade. He thrived and as high school approached he wanted to stay, rather than go to Episcopal. “I sort of begged my dad,” Ben says. “Sleepy Thompson had been coaching me since third grade and it was one of my dreams to play for him— he's one of my heroes and he greatly impacted my life.”

Ben was involved in school life, performing service through participation in the Red Key Club, serving as a Student Council representative all four years of high school, and working on the Scroll

Ben was also a three-sport athlete,

National Championships. He was also

yearbook staff in his junior and senior

playing football, tennis, and basketball.

the school's first tennis All American,

years. He fondly remembers Assistant

Although he was successful on the

National Doubles Champion and player

Headmaster Willis Wills, Lower School

football field—All IAC and All Met—

inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Principal Dick Babyak, Math Teacher

his aspiration was to play college

Marty Bamberger, Math Teacher

tennis. “My dad was a tennis coach at

at tennis camps, including two years

Henry Biddle, and French Teacher

Episcopal for over 15 years and they

working for well-known American

Rene Wenger. “I was probably his worst

named the IAC Tournament after

tennis coach Nick Bollitieri, who

French student, but I loved Mr. Wenger,”

him,” he says. Ben played tennis 4

brought his tennis camp to Episcopal.

Ben says. “He was a great guy. All those

years for Washington and Lee and

He also worked at Amherst College,

men often wore several hats and worked

led the team to back-to-back second

Gibson Island, and Belle Haven

hard to educate, coach, and shape us.”

place finishes in the NCAA DIII

Country Club. “I was playing a lot

During the summer, Ben worked

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 39

“When we got married, I went back to New York, Ben went back to Hot Springs. The longest we'd ever been together was on our honeymoon.” | Deb the defunct lumber-mill town of Bacova and turned his attention to refurbishing it. He opened a fiberglass screen printing company that put artist Grace Gilmore's wildlife designs on ice buckets, trays, tables, and the company's signature product, the Bacova rural mailbox. By the 1980s, Malcolm was looking to sell and Ben and fellow tennis pro Pat Haynes knew they didn't want to play tennis forever.

They shared entrepreneurial ambitions they wanted to test off the tennis court.

Ben and Pat bought Bacova in 1981, which at that time had 20 employees and sales of $500,000 per year. In 1996 their annual sales were around $50 million and they sold the company to Burlington Industries.

“The sale gave us the opportunity to exit the company,” Ben says. “But I'm really most proud of the fact that we Gussie Johns '14, who played lacrosse for SSSAS, was the goalie on the US Women's Lacrosse team that won the gold medal to the 2017 World Cup. Her whole family was there to support her.

Left to right: Ben, Deb, Bo, Tucker, Gussie, and Gibson.

created 500 new jobs in a very rural area of Virginia that had previously boasted the highest unemployment rate in the state.” And now, ironically, they do all of the fulfillment for SCOUT.

of tennis and I liked to teach—that

what he wanted next. He taught tennis

teaching gene runs through my family,”

at the University Club in Memphis,

Ben says. “My sister was an art teacher,

Tenn., and the Homestead in Hot

my other sister married a head of

Springs, Va. While he was at the

school, and my brother is a golf pro at

Homestead, fate brought him together

River Bend Country Club.”

with one of his tennis students, Malcolm Hirsh, who led him into the

The Journey to SCOUT Begins

next phase of his life, screen printing and manufacturing.

Ben left W&L with a bachelor's in

Malcolm was from a wealthy Far

commerce, business administration,

Hills, N.J. family who spent their

and management, but continued

summers on their farm in rural Bath

teaching tennis while he figured out

County, Va. In 1957, he bought

40 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

A Dynamic Duo After buying Bacova, Ben went to his first trade show in New York City, where he met Deb Waterman. A graduate of Cornell with a degree in textiles, Deb had landed a job with Vogue as an assistant fabric editor in a city she dearly loves. They dated long distance for five years. Deb recalls that the longest period of time they spent together was on their honeymoon. A match made in heaven? According to

“Deb's incredible energy and talent continues to raise the bar of excellence for our business and family. ”

| Ben Ben they are “polar opposites” and Deb

world of design, but there are so many

the bag was for sale,” Deb recalls. “He

incredible people here making change

said, 'Yeah, but it's just ugly.' I said,

in the world, and that's what our kids

'It's not pretty, but I still want it.' And

have been exposed to.” Those weekends

he said, 'It's like $450.' But I insisted I

they spent together resulted in four

wanted the bag.”

children, three boys and a girl—but

In the midst of an “aha” moment,

Ben says, “Deb's incredible energy and

Deb told Ben about the bags and

talent continues to raise the bar of

the wheels started turning. “Trend

excellence for our business and family.

in the world of fashion starts at

She is truly a unique creative force

the top and the bottom and meets

who inspires the people around her,

in the middle,” Deb explains. “We

accomplishing more in a day than I do

had an opportunity to create our

in a week.”

own bags, and make them prettier

says, “Someone asked me years ago

Deb served on two international

and make them more dynamic.”

if Ben and I agreed on things. I said

color boards and worked in color and

Neither Ben nor Deb had dreamed

'Nothing little, everything big.' And

trend forecasting for notable fashion

of working together, because they

that's the truth.” If Deb hadn't met Ben,

designers and brands. In D.C., she was

had always heard it's best not to start

she would have lived her whole life in

doing pop-ups at their pool house for

a business with your spouse. But in

New York. She has the same vibrancy

women in Washington, selling jewelry

this case, being at opposite ends of

and energy as the city she adores, and

made by her former boss at Vogue.

the spectrum worked. They clearly

her creativity is electric, zinging out of

“I started bringing things back from

respect and admire each other's

every pore.

my trips,” Deb says. “I had sold some

abilities. “I really wanted to build

For the next 15 years Ben and Deb

very inexpensive bags that I found

a business around Deb's creative

only saw each other on the weekends,

on Canal Street in New York. They

talents,” Ben says. “She had worked

because he was still growing his

cost me $3.25. They were huge, they

with and for designers her whole life.

business in rural Virginia and she was

smelled terrible, but they held a lot of

We knew if we could find the right

back and forth between New York and

stuff. All of my friends were knee-deep

product that we could work together,

Washington, D.C. “I'm very grateful

in kids and work and needed big bags.

with her on the creative side and

to have moved to D.C. to raise kids, I

I sold them all within two hours for

me on the business side. In those

think that Washington is a much more

$20 each.” On a trip to Milan, she saw

circumstances, we thought we could

balanced world,” Deb says. “It's not

a bag out of the corner of her eye that

build a business and, hopefully, be

nearly as inspiring if you are in the

was intriguing. “I went into this very

able to stay married!”

well-known designer store and asked if SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 41

“We both get such joy out of working with young people, mentoring and teaching them. If we're not laughing every day, then it's not a day at SCOUT.”

| Ben

a little unexpected. Dachshunds are

customers range in ages and stages

determined, strong, and focused, just

from kids to college students, to moms,

like our brand is, so we thought why

nurses, and teachers.

not name the company after Scout.”

Since launching SCOUT in 2004,

SCOUT has grown into an omnichannel brand selling through

Ben and Deb have discovered they

five channels of distribution, primarily

work well together and like their family

to over 1500 Specialty stores and

life at home, they have created a happy,

online through their ecommerce site

positive vibe at SCOUT. “We both get

and Amazon. They spend a lot of time

such joy out of working with young

focusing on who their customers are,

people, mentoring and teaching them,”

meeting their needs, and marketing

Ben says. “If we're not laughing every

to them through multiple channels.

day, then it's not a day at SCOUT.”

Social media became particularly

Their strategy to divide and conquer

important during the pandemic. SCOUT

has not only been successful, it's gotten

has a community of followers whose

better over time as their roles have

comments confirm the popularity of

become more defined and the staff

the bags, give insight into things they

has expanded to 40—36 women and

are looking for in a bag, and ask for

Deb had always wanted to name a

four men. “It takes a brave male to be

recommendations about which bags they

daughter Scout, after her favorite literary

with all these females,” Deb says with a

need. SCOUT's creative team constantly

character from “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

sparkle in her eye.

produces new on trend content to meet

This is Scout, the company's adorable namesake.

Who Is Scout, Anyway?

Then three months before she had

What sets SCOUT bags apart from

the needs of their loyal targeted customer

their fourth child and only girl, Demi

their competition? They are lightweight

base. “It's very important that we

Moore beat her to the punch. Deb and

and durable, they are wipeable and

continue to look where people are tuning

Ben called their daughter Gussie and

washable, and they are fashionable

in and where they're not as interested

decided to get a dog and name it Scout.

while being really functional—they fold

and adjust accordingly,” Deb says.

Deb had grown up with Dachshunds

completely flat to store easily. “They're

“From the conception of the product to

and really missed having one. Scout

not designed to be fancy schmancy, but

the time it goes out the door, it's very

was a crazy wirehaired Doxie that Deb

they're designed to bring some color

important that it stay authentically the

swears was part otter. “He was one of

and some fun and some pattern into

voice of SCOUT. And that's certainly a

the funniest dogs—really a curmudgeon,

your daily life,” Deb says. They sell

team voice, not just mine.” That voice

but so funny,” Deb laughs. “When we

large and small totes, coolers, lunch

is consistent and it's fun. Scout doesn't

were looking for a brand name, we

boxes, duffels, travel bags, storage

use professional models for their photo

wanted something a little irreverent,

bins and fashion accessories. Their

shoots, they use staff, friends, and

42 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

family. Deb and Ben celebrate the many

insurance wasn't on the same level

the fight against breast cancer year-

different talents and abilities of their

as Bo's. Ben and Deb heard about a

round. Each time a customer purchases

employees, which adds value to their

small discretionary fund the social

their pink check “Victoria Checkham”

social media and brand. “The key to our

workers at the hospital had access to

pattern, a portion of the proceeds are

success is our people,” Ben says. “At the

for families who were struggling, which

donated by Scout's Pink Check Fund to

end of the day, it's always about having

had never had more than $1,000 in it.

the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

the right people sitting in the right seats

Determined to help, they sent letters

on the bus.”

to 1,200 people telling them Bo's story

number of families—their biological

and asking for donations to honor him

family, a family of friends, a work family,

Ben and Deb Johns have created a

Deb and Ben with the SCOUT team at the Go Bo Wild Wild West party.

Giving Back

in his fight. The money started pouring

and the Go Bo Fund family. They

In the middle of an already hectic

in and the donations motivated Bo

didn't have to be alike in character or

existence, balancing raising their family

and kept him feeling positive through

be with each other every day of their

with work and business trips, life threw

treatment and remission.

marriage to have fulfilling lives and a

Ben and Deb a huge curve ball. At the

During the past 18 years, the Johns

strong relationship. In fact, building

age of 11, their son Bo was diagnosed

have put about three quarters of a

Scout together has been proof that when

with large B cell lymphoma, discovered

million dollars through the Go Bo Fund,

opposites do attract, they can make very

during a routine tonsillectomy. They felt

trying each year to raise $50,000 to

strong and successful business partners.

so fortunate to be living in Georgetown

$75,000 for the Georgetown MedStar

Their advice for anyone wanting to start

near the best possible pediatric care, and

University Hospital Emergency

their own business? “Love what you do,

very lucky to have incredible support

Family Relief Fund. Their fundraising

because any entrepreneurial situation

from their family, neighbors, and friends.

efforts include the annual Go Bo Go

is going to be more work than you ever

While Bo had everything he needed,

Party, a real celebration of life. They

imagined!” And if you take a risk and

they realized many of the children in

always choose a different theme with

lose, just be prepared to start again at

the ward were not so lucky. Family and

coordinating decorations and food and

your beginnings.

friends didn't live nearby and their

attend in costumes. Scout also supports

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 43

Francoise Marvel '99 and Corrie co-founders, Seth Martin and Matthias Lee Photo by Geordie Wood

Matters of the

HEART

Dr. Francoise Marvel '99 is changing lives with innovative technology

BY JESSICA YARMOSKY

Medicine is a vast, ever-changing field. The first physician probably practiced over 6,000 years ago, according to

medicine—than Dr. Francoise Marvel.

On any given day, Francoise wears different

ancient records. And for probably just as long, a debate has

hats—several of them. She serves patients as a

smoldered about whether the practice of medicine is pure

cardiologist as part of the Johns Hopkins Hospital

science—medical professionals applying deeply-learned

in Baltimore, Maryland, and core faculty of the

knowledge over and over; or whether it's an art, requiring

Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention

deep intuition and a sense that every patient requires

of Cardiovascular Disease caring for people with

different things from their doctors. The answer, as many

cardiovascular disease and genetic lipid disorders. As

medical professionals will probably tell you, appears to

an assistant professor, she also guides Johns Hopkins

be both. And perhaps no doctor better exemplifies that

University School of Medicine medical students, and

combination—of a vast knowledge base honed over many

medical interns, medical residents, and fellows as

years, and an individualized, intuitive, artistic approach to

they learn the science—and art—of cardiology. Those

44 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

two jobs would be enough for many, but

when she thought she might make a

and rigorous academics for a reason…

Francoise, as it may become clear, isn't

successful OBGYN. But along the way,

Those tough days were just preparing me

“many.” There's her work with the John

thanks to a family member's health

to be an incredibly productive person, a

Hopkins Digital Health Innovation

issues, months spent seeking answers,

contributor.”

Lab, which she helped start and now

and a drive to make life for all patients

co-directs. The question the lab tries to

easier—Francoise had what can only be

answer is simple: how can technology—

(appropriately) described as a change of

smartphone apps, wearable devices,

heart.

machine learning—help patients get better care and achieve better health?

A DIGITAL SPACE IN PUBLIC HEALTH In her current roles, Francoise makes thousands of micro-decisions a day,

LONG DAYS AND RIGOROUS ACADEMICS

To find answers, Francoise and a team

quickly and with confidence. That's a trait she's been honing for decades, so

of cardiologists, fellows, graduate

The foundation of Francoise's career,

it's no surprise that when she graduated

students, nurses, PhD.s, and premedical

of course, began when she started at

from SSSAS she knew without question

undergraduate students—pore over

St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in eighth

that she wanted to study pre-med.

studies and clinical trials, collaborating

grade. She credits her parents, Yvonne

Francoise says she evaluated other

with groups like the American Heart

and Hynson Marvel II, for giving her the

schools, but was drawn to the University

Association and the American College of

opportunity to attend the school. Her

of Virginia's mission, campus, and what

Cardiology.

five years there gave her the character,

she considered to be the best pre-med

knowledge base, and skill set to “be

training opportunity. She was also

patients or engaging in digital health

And when she's not taking care of

someone who was eager to be a leader

inspired by Saints alumni: “I loved how

innovation, Francoise spends the

and make change in the world,” she

many of my classmates and alumni, who

majority of the rest of her professional

says. “And I know that's a pretty bold

I was very impressed with, were there,”

time within the tech innovation and

statement to make,” she adds. “But I

she says. “I wanted to follow in their

entrepreneurial space. She co-chairs

think that's what St. Stephen's and St.

footsteps.”

the American College of Cardiology

Agnes is known for.”

Entrepreneurial Work Group and

SSSAS pushed her to be well-

The University of Virginia brought four years of intensive pre-med training

serves on the National American Heart

rounded—meeting high academic

and opened Francoise's eyes to the

Association Atrial Fibrillation System of

standards and also excelling on the

appeal, and potential, of the digital

Care Group Advisory Board. Francoise

lacrosse field and basketball court. “I

health space. And it inspired her to

also is engaged in disseminating the

could fill a day with everything from

take some time before going straight to

tech innovation to a broader global

learning across multiple subjects, to

medical school. “I was very interested in

community through her role as

training my body and my mind, to

getting involved in what was happening

American Heart Association's Section

networking and being part of a class

in the digital space,” she says, “but

Editor for Digital Health for the Journal

of people who were headed off to do

also from a public health epidemiology

of the American Heart Association.

wonderful things,” she says. She says

standpoint.” That interest brought her

She helps these groups innovate

her teachers and coaches, namely Kevin

to the University of Miami's department

around health technology, figure out how

Handel, Kathy Jenkins, and Bernadette

of Public Health and Epidemiology,

to scale helpful products, and partner

Kozlowsi, inspired her academically and

which at the time, was a leader in

with organizations and entrepreneurs to

athletically. (Kozlowski once allowed

the burgeoning digital health space.

bring health technology to the next level.

her to dissect a rabbit, rather than a

This was the early 2000s. At the time,

On top of all that, she's the co-founder

smaller fetal pig, because Francoise

smartphones didn't exist as we know

of Corrie Health, Inc., which makes an

wanted to explore anatomy more deeply

them— clinicians used personal digital

evidenced-based digital health platform

than a fetal pig would have allowed.)

assistants (PDAs), which were akin to

co-designed with Apple that has been

Classmates Katie Musser, Stephanie

small, handheld computers. For four

shown to improve patient outcomes and

Cheng, Stephanie Beyer, Caroline

years, Francoise worked on delivering

engagement after medical events like

Bellino, Summer Crabtree, and Regina

protocols for clinicians that could be

heart attacks.

Kline gave her support and friendship.

delivered at scale through PDAs, to

We'd all forgive her for being

And she credits SSSAS—where she took

help with adolescent health outcomes

exhausted, but Francoise seems

on several endeavors simultaneously—

in high-risk, low-income, minority

anything but. She is chipper, sharp, and

with her drive to succeed in challenging

communities. These communities tend

downright funny.

circumstances. “Some people say, 'You

to have poorer health outcomes, and

started a company during residency?'

Francoise's work with PDAs was meant

none of this seemed like it was ever

The answer is yes,” she laughs. “But I feel

to help bridge that digital divide. She

going to happen. A time when cardiology

like that's something [SSSAS] expected

says her time in Miami, during which

wasn't even on Francoise's radar. A time

from the beginning. You had long days

she worked on several national and

And to think there was a time when

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 45

of making it was incredible. “The

But after four years, she was ready to

experience of working with engineers,

apply to medical school, and wanted

coming up with something and realizing

to join the most tech-forward program

that if you work hard enough and get

possible.

the right people involved, you can get to that end result,” she says, “and design

MADRUGA AND MARVEL'S BLACK BOOK

something that helps other people, is incredible.” Those other people

That program turned out to be on the

who got the immediate benefit of the

opposite end of Florida, at Florida State

app? Francoise's fellow med students,

University in Tallahassee. Francoise

who used it regularly. “It was a great

wanted to train at a place that relied on

experience, and I learned a lot doing it,”

the latest technological advances. And

she says.

“

I realized I could be applying my passion and my interest for health technologies to empowering and engaging the patient at their bedside.

“

international projects, was fascinating.

FSU, it turned out, was the first program of its kind to train future doctors on

“ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY DAD IS A PATIENT”

touch-screen devices. “You could read, you could do different activities on it,”

By July 2012, Francoise's career path

Francoise says. “I thought that was so

seemed to be shaping up nicely. She had

cool and forward thinking.” She went

years of experience in public health, an

to Tallahassee ready to take on the

M.D., and an app under her belt. Then,

challenges of medical school—and then

it was off to Georgetown University in

some.

Washington, D.C., to begin a post-grad

It was at FSU that Francoise

year in the Obstetrics Department.

developed what would become her first

There, she worked across three different

app. The idea was simple. While in

hospitals and in the subspecialties

training, medical students often carried

of ultrasound and reproductive

around little black books, where they'd

endocrinology. But during that year,

take notes on cases, and then refer to

something profound happened. Her

those notes when treating patients. The

father became ill and was diagnosed

problem? “Doctors are really famous for

with cardiovascular disease.

having chicken-scratch handwriting,”

His diagnosis would upend

Francoise laughs. “A lot of times, I'd

Francoise's life—and her career plans.

look at the notes and be like, Gosh, I can

After her Georgetown post-grad year

barely make this out. I hope I'm applying

came to an end, it was no longer

this right.” Francoise thought there

obstetrics she had on the brain, it was

may be a solution in something that

cardiology. She decided to enter John

had hit the market just a couple years

Hopkins Bayview Hospital's internal

before—the smartphone. “I thought,

medicine residency program even

'Well, I have my phone here,'” she says.

though that meant redoing her intern

“Why isn't there something where I

year, often known as the most brutal

could just look it up?” The wheels kept

year of residency. (She would later go

turning. “Why am I using my own notes?

on to complete a three-year cardiology

What if I had the attending's notes? The

fellowship, receiving the highest quality

program director's notes?” she wondered,

training in the field.)

referring to the higher-level medical staff she was learning from.

Francoise's father became a patient at Johns Hopkins Hospital, one of the

Those questions culminated in an

hospitals in which Francoise completed

app called Madruga and Marvel's Black

rotations in Internal Medicine training.

Book, named for her and the program

Residency is notoriously tough, but

director, Dr. Mario Marduga, with

her father's diagnosis proved an added

whom she worked to develop it. The

challenge for Francoise. “I'm learning

app is a guideline to clinical “pearls”—

to become a doctor, and taking care

those nuggets of medical wisdom

of patients,” she says, “and all of a

that get handed down from trainer to

sudden, my dad is a patient.” After

trainee—and Francoise says the process

doing normal intern duties like rounds,

46 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Francoise would go straight to her father's bedside—which came with a stark recognition. “I realized for the first time that I hadn't really understood what it was like to be a patient,” she says. The amount of information her father received was overwhelming, even though, Francoise notes, he was smart and had attained a high level of education.

The solution came to her “like a lightning bolt,” Francoise says. “I realized I could be applying my passion and my interest for health technologies to empowering and engaging the patient at their bedside.” Too often, patients—especially those with complex cases—feel powerless and lack the broad medical knowledge base that can help them make informed medical decisions, and keep themselves healthy and out of the hospital. “I thought it would be powerful to give patients the tools they need to help them understand what they're going through in the hospital, and what their health condition is,” she says. “How to recover from something, what medications do, how to take their own vitals—and what do those even mean?”

And that's how Corrie began.

BUILDING UNDERSTANDING Co-founded with another Johns Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Seth Martin, M.D. M.H.S. and engineer Dr. Matthias Lee, Ph.D., Corrie's mission is to improve

Photo by Ryan Demo

Photo by Jessica Yurinko

patient and clinician engagement and

event, and delivers it to the patient

stroke in the U.S. And Francoise hopes

experience using health technology.

at the right time, when they're ready

that the impact of Corrie will someday

Put simply, Corrie's app helps patients

to take back control of their health.

touch patients who've experienced a

improve their health after they leave

Corrie connects to smart watches and

wide variety of medical issues and also

the hospital following a major cardiac

blood pressure monitors, and can track

help address cardiovascular risks, like

event, like a heart attack. Francoise was

patient's vitals and physical activities.

high cholesterol, before they lead to a

inspired not only by her father, but by

It reminds patients to take medications

health condition like a heart attack or

a slate of her own patients, who were

and about upcoming appointments. And

stroke, this is something called primary

often confused by what to do when

it also provides informational videos on

cardiovascular prevention. “The concept

they returned home from the hospital.

what heart disease is and the importance

is universal,” she says. “We want to help

She spoke of one patient, who had

of small lifestyle changes. Francoise

patients better engage with their health

underlying coronary artery disease,

mentions another patient, a young

experience and their understanding,

which resulted in a heart attack. In

man who was recovering from a heart

while managing a newly-diagnosed or

the hospital, medical professionals are

attack. “He said, Dr. Marvel, I was given

chronic health condition. We can do

extremely adept at treating patients

instructions, but not understanding,”

better.”

after heart attacks— “We're very good

she says. “And the difference between

at getting the issue addressed, even if it

Corrie and the current standard of care

study, patients who used Corrie had a

requires surgical intervention,” she says.

is that we can give plenty of instructions.

10 percent absolute lower risk of being

“We're exceptional at getting that done

But if we're really trying to change and

readmitted to the hospital within 30 days

effectively, and then getting necessary

improve people's lives, we've got to build

than patients who didn't use the app.

medication started while patients are

that understanding.”

And doing better, they are. In a recent

Francoise's days are filled with

in the hospital.” But where breakdowns

Currently, Corrie helps patients

not only the exciting discoveries that

in care start to occur is when patients

with coronary artery disease and is also

come with leading a burgeoning tech

are ready to be discharged. “The

testing a virtual cardiac rehab model,

company, but also the sometimes rote

patient who's leaving is getting a stack

which Francoise says is exciting. “We

tasks that come with being a dedicated

of paperwork,” she says. “He's super

started with just heart attack patients,

medical provider. If there's one thing she

confused about what he's supposed to

and we have now expanded so we can

wants people to know about her field, it's

do. He thought he came in with chest

serve more populations,” she says.

that innovative technology can change

pain after being what he considered to

That means people with heart failure

lives. “If you're a patient and you're

be healthy. And now he's leaving with

and those who have undergone cardiac

experiencing a health condition that you

three appointments, eight medications,

transplants and bypass surgery. And

want to manage better, technology has

and some sort of stent in his heart. He's

Francoise plans to expand Corrie

a role,” she says. “If you're a clinician

not sure what to do.”

to outside the heart unit, too. “We

and trying to figure out if you're doing as

absolutely see this growing beyond

you should…technology has a role there,

app takes decades of research and

cardiology,” she says. Corrie is currently

too.” If medicine is both a science and an

expertise around how to best care for

launching a clinical trial to study atrial

art, Dr. Francoise Marvel excels in both.

people after they've had a cardiovascular

fibrillation, the number one cause of

That's where Corrie comes in. The

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 47

RUDY LOPEZ '96, MICHELLE LOPEZ '88, AND AILEEN LOPEZ PUGH '85 AT MICHELLE'S “BALLASTS AND BARRICADES” EXHIBIT

BRINGING CREATIVITY INTO COMMUNITY Michelle Lopez '88 and Rudy Lopez '96 are siblings, business partners, and professors.

BY NATHAN PUGH '17

48 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

There are surreal moments of adulthood when you realize that family members exist in spaces completely outside of your own. For me, this is especially true when I've been able to see my aunt and uncle in their professional settings.

To this day, I still refer to the duo as “Tita Bunny” and “Tito Rudy,” respectively (the words tito/tita are Tagalog words for family, and “Bunny” is a childhood nickname for my aunt).

However, when I visited my “Tita Bunny” in Philadelphia in 2021, I wasn't just with the aunt who took me to see “Ratatouille” as a child. I was witnessing the performance art piece “Keep Their Heads Ringin' II” by Michelle Lopez: interdisciplinary sculptor, installation artist, and Associate Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Pennsylvania.

Similarly, when I attended the SSSAS Upper School for Academic Convocation this past February, I wasn't there to hear “Tito Rudy,” the uncle who'd make me the best birthday mixes on CDs. I was there to hear the speech of Rudy Lopez:

For Michelle, working with MFA

study in Cambridge in senior year; and

artists at the University of Pennsylvania's

John Palmer, who once called her mom

Weitzman School of Design features

to encourage her to keep acting after

long-form critiques by fellow artists and

performing a skit in class. Mr. Palmer

colleagues. She says that creating a space

also helped Michelle become a photo

to sustain those interrogations is vital.

editor for the yearbook and develop a

“I think one of the things I'm interested

photography club, activities she credits

in is, 'Where is the risk in the work?'

with developing her artistic eye.

Sometimes that risk is about you being

exchange with Roger Barbee, his ninth

That honesty, being vulnerable… you

grade English teacher, and a dean of

have to develop a community that feels

students. While discussing having to live

safe, so it's a negotiation of, 'Do people feel safe? Do people feel safe to be seen and to take those kinds of risks?'”

Although Michelle Lopez and Rudy Lopez have different careers in different industries, they're united by more than just family. Both are passionate about bringing creativity into their local communities, and both merge creative and educational practices together to help students better understand the world around them.

My family is one of the few Asian American families with a relationship with SSSAS that stretches across generations.

teacher, DJ, designer, and Assistant

My grandparents, Ruena Hernando

Professor at Virginia Commonwealth

and Rodolfo Lopez, immigrated to North

University.

America from the Philippines in the

It was thrilling to watch my aunt and

mid-1960s to work in the medical field.

uncle in their element—Michelle guiding

After the Marcos dictatorship disrupted

graduate students, friends, and anyone

plans to return to the Philippines, the

on the street through a conceptual

family settled into Virginia in the 1970s,

art piece that paraded through Philly

and sent all three children to SSSAS. My

historical sites, Rudy encouraging high

mother, Aileen Lopez Pugh, graduated

school students to balance academic

from St. Agnes in 1985; Michelle

achievement with personal growth. I

graduated next in 1988. Rudy uniquely

could see how the kindness they showed

attended three different versions of the

to me personally was also present in the

school: the co-ed elementary St. Agnes

roles as professors dedicated to creating

through second grade, the boys' school

and understanding art.

St. Stephen's until seventh grade, and

As a part of VCUarts' Department

then the merged St. Stephen's & St.

of Fashion Design + Marketing, Rudy

Agnes School through graduation in

says that he sees his academic work in

1996.

fashion and trend forecasting as a true

Both Michelle and Rudy say they

collaboration with his students. “I rely

developed close-knit friend groups that

on the students not just for perspectives,

they're still in touch with today. Both

but just to see what they're into. It could

also had teachers who had deep impacts

be everything from slang to fashion

on the way they understood themselves.

to music. That all translates into the

Rudy vividly remembers a classroom

seen as an artist, or as an individual.

Michelle recalls two English teachers:

fashion pieces I'm putting out and the

Suzanne Babcock, who helped run the

research that I'm doing.”

Madingley program which allowed her to

Michelle and Rudy at his SSSAS Commencement in 1996.

up to expectations of older siblings, Mr. Barbee turned to him and said, “Isn't that right, Rudy?”

“He saw me,” Rudy says. “I was kind of floored, because that wasn't a realization for me yet.”

Other elements of identity factored into Michelle and Rudy's time at school.

Being Filipino American during that time was a challenging experience for both siblings, especially while attending schools with a majority white student body.

“I was just trying to blend in,” Michelle says. “It was more of an erasure, I didn't try to claim any kind of ethnic identity at that time, it was just

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 49

“In the beginning [of my career], I was trying to make art that was in dialogue with an international scene. Now, I’m just trying to claim more space of who I am (being brown), in ways that feel slightly uncomfortable, because it is uncomfortable! Uncomfortable for me, because that’s not how I was conditioned, but I think with this new kind of climate, it does feel like an imperative.” ~MICHELLE

wanting to be like everyone else.”

Rudy remembers being ridiculed on the playground of Fort Ward Park for having “dirty knees,” and running to shower them in order to look like everyone else. At the same time, the dress code of St. Stephens also led him to be more curious about how to stand out with fashion; to not look like everyone else. “There was a weird duality—and that's fashion as well—wanting to be accepted by a particular group but also standing out,” Rudy says. “When we talk about assimilation, there's all of these weird influences and driving forces for an impressionable youth.”

All three Lopez siblings would go onto vastly different journeys after their times at SSSAS. Aileen went to the University of Virginia and would go on to become the CFO of Telebank in the 1990s before it was bought by E-Trade. She'd also raise me and my triplet siblings. Michelle would double major in art history and literature at Barnard. Attending galleries across New York City confirmed Michelle's passion for visual art, and she got an MFA from the School of Visual Arts, New York.

On a trip to visit Michelle in New York City, Rudy volunteered at his sister's fashion collective (the Organization for 50 AND ST. ST. AGNES AGNES 50 ST. ST. STEPHEN'S STEPHEN’S AND

“Blue Angel” | Michelle Lopez '88

Returning Fashion Interest), helping

Michelle found on a cross-country

prep garments, model sheets, and hang

road trip, esses is best known for

racks. The energy and excitement of the

their band-aid rings. The rings

event ignited his interest in fashion, and

made out of sterling silver or gold

went on to get a bachelor's in fashion

fashioned to look like band-aids

merchandising from VCU's School of the

wrapped around your fingers,

Arts. Rudy credits the influence of both

yet still function as wearable art.

of his sisters on his career path. “Aileen

Rudy describes wearing the ring

was very much a business, analytical,

as a potential “healing process,” to

banking career, where Michelle was the

externally embody pain that can

exact opposite,” he states. “So my path

often be internal.

was both worlds.”

Michelle's sculptures and

Bandaid ring from Michelle and Rudy's company, esses.

Michelle agrees. “People have this moment where the ring touches

installations have been both structurally

them in a way,” she explains.

bold and experientially evocative. In

“They're going through some kind

“Boy” (1999), she covered a full-scale

of pain, symbolic pain, and they

1970s Honda in animal leather; in

buy the rings as if it's this protector

“Blue Angel” (2012), a piece of crinkled

if they're going through loss, or

aluminum around ten feet tall leans

grief. If they're going through a

against a wall, signifying the wreckage

divorce, they remove their wedding

of airplanes in the wake of 9/11. Curator

ring and get a band-aid ring.”

Alex Klein notes in the book “Michelle Lopez: Ballasts & Barricades” that “In Lopez's hands, signifiers of power and authority—whether a flag or a piece of heavy metal scaffolding—become physically limp, rusted, crumpled, and deflated, suggesting that they are not as immutable as we first might imagine.”

Michelle tells me that her artistic practice is often a reaction to those feelings of self-erasure she felt growing up, and continues to feel as a Filipina woman. “[My work] has also been dealing with the trauma of invisibility.

How a suspended sculpture in a room can embody a kind of violence—one that's hovering there and abject, subversively silent,” she says.

Rudy had a variety of jobs related to fashion merchandising before becoming a VCU professor. He co-owned, planned, and designed the streetwear/sneaker boutique Henry in Richmond, and also managed the store Need Supply Co. With his wife Megan Lopez, he created the teen styling company High Prospect which eventually evolved into a childrenswear company.

A project that Rudy is very proud of, one continuing to this day, is esses. It's an independent ring company which he co-founded with Michelle in 2011 (he serves as the director, she serves as the designer). Named after a cursive sign

Both Michelle and Rudy have continued to grow their families over time.

Michelle has a son who's currently in the tenth grade; Rudy has two sons, one in the third grade, one born this past December.

The past few years have been prolific for both siblings. Michelle was awarded the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in May of 2019. In the same year, she opened the exhibit “Ballasts & Barricades” at Philadelphia's Institute of Contemporary Fine Art (ICA), one of her largest and most ambitious works to date. A site-specific installation taking full advantage of the ICA's 30-foot high ceilings, “Ballasts & Barricades” uses the fragment of a building to act as a counterweight to support a collapsing scaffolding system. As Michelle has continued her work as a professor, she's been intrigued by the idea of creating experiences, not just objects. “I think about the way that Mr. Palmer saw that drama kid in me,” she says. “I'm always trying to figure out how I'm performing, how I can perform things through

space. [“Ballasts & Barricades”] was about performing these gestures in space.”

Since 2017, Rudy has been teaching the class Fashion Forecasting at VCU. Despite the title of the class, Rudy makes sure students develop a historical understanding of cultural trends and societal changes. “Forecasting is identifying what's going out there in the real world, identifying the zeitgeist, identifying what's driving consumer behavior,” he explains. “It's not necessarily just fashion. What are the cultural changes? How is society shifting?” For students, the class may be radically different from what they're used to academically, since the class depends on developing and arguing for their perspectives. “It's unlike any other class my students take. It's much more conceptual thinking, a lot of it opinionbased,” he says.

For Michelle and Rudy, the past few years have been both difficult and rewarding as they notice the cultural shifts impacting their industries as well as communities. Michelle points to 2020, a pandemic year when both protests occurred over the murder of George Floyd and also anti-Asian hate crimes were on the rise, a turning point in her understanding of identity. “I'm sure so many minorities felt this, but after George Floyd, I felt an extreme

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 51

“One of my goals within our department is building a stronger community— through fashion, through events, through art.

My research and the work and the events I'm doing all directly tie into the students, because when there's a stronger community, there's stronger work done and better work created. ” ~RUDY

Rudy teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Arts amount of rage from all of my collective

but I think with this new kind of

experiences of being a minority,” she

climate, it does feel like an imperative.”

says. “That doesn't always come in the

Rudy says that the way he's

work, but I feel like now it's a priority for

approached his Fashion Forecasting

same struggles he went through growing

me, being more honest about who I am.”

class has shifted over the six years he's

up as an Asian American are still being

You can see this honesty in works

taught it. He's also felt like the way he

experienced by Asian American students

like the performance art piece I attended

brings his Filipino identity into his

today. Rudy and Michelle feel it is

in 2021, “Keep Their Heads Ringin'

career has changed. “Being younger I

important to speak up about the work the

II.” Michelle led a free walking tour

wanted to create something that other

school is doing, and the work that still

of Philadelphia's Independence Park,

people would like, it was never about

needs to be done.

featuring hundreds of people playing her

self identity or telling people who I am,

audio installation “Keep Their Heads

but I guess in an indirect way it is,” he

Ringin'” on speakers and phones. The

explains. “If I'm thinking about recent

audio featured ringings of a clock tower

projects, I think working at VCU and

bell as well as the words “ching-chong”

becoming a professor, working more in

and “ding-dong” repeated ad nauseam

research, there is a lot more thought in

near the site of the historic Liberty

things conceptually.”

Bell. The effect resembled a protest or

Michelle and Rudy both agreed

a funeral march, and the public display

that education can be a helpful tool in

of discomfort was purposeful. “In the

discussing these societal changes, and

beginning [of my career], I was trying to

that it's important to just be honest

make art that was in dialogue with an

about experiences with racism or

international scene,” she says. “Now,

oppression. That honesty even includes

I'm just trying to claim more space of

experiences from St. Stephen's and St.

who I am (being brown), in ways that

Agnes. When Rudy talked to the Asian

feel slightly uncomfortable, because it is

affinity group on the Upper School

uncomfortable! Uncomfortable for me,

campus after Academic Convocation,

because that's not how I was conditioned,

it reaffirmed for him that many of the

52 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

The urge for full honesty when it comes to creating art and existing in a community seems like a recent development for both Michelle and Rudy.

The ability to say how they really felt was a privilege that wasn't afforded to them due to factors completely outside of their control. Yet as professors working in the education field now, they both have the ability to use their platforms to inspire more vulnerable dialogues and more risktaking creative endeavors.

For Rudy, this means using his position within VCU to connect with the greater Richmond area, and create

SSSAS DEIB PROGRAMS During the last two decades, SSSAS has continued to mold and advance our programs to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, in which students can feel a sense of belonging—and we still have work to do.

While our community is intentionally diverse and that diversity continues to grow, the increase of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives that makes our school rich and vibrant also means that we, as an institution, have to be deliberate about how we provide support to and understanding of that diversity. With our mission and Episcopal identity at the core, we are constantly reevaluating what it means to be a place where all of our members can succeed in a complex and changing world and what we need to do to ensure that everyone feels like a child of God in a caring community.

Programs like affinity groups on all three campuses provide support for those that are from underrepresented and historically

Rudy speaking with the SSSAS Asian Affinity Student Group in February.

marginalized communities. Our respectful discourse program allows students to develop dialogue skills that transfer into everyday life opportunities to understand the many perspectives that exist at our school and in the world around them. Students participate in scheduled time to think, wonder, understand, and practice what it means to see the world around them with empathy and understanding.

The school recognizes that having adults in our community who model equity and inclusion is vital. Every adult member of the Saints community participates in cultural competency workshops to ensure that they have a foundation of understanding of what it means to work in a diverse community.

SSSAS also provides professional development opportunities throughout the year, so their competency is fueled by the confidence to serve each student in a way that makes them feel seen, heard, valued, and validated.

Creating institutional practices, community expectations, and having clear and transparent communication is paramount to ensuring our students and families not only feel at home at SSSAS, but also that they are an integral part of the fabric of our community.

a more connected academic

Michelle wants to encourage

space. “One of my goals within

everyone, including students

our department is just building a

currently attending SSSAS, to boldly

stronger community,” he says. “My

chart new paths for themselves.

research, work, and events that

“If you feel like there's an absence

I'm doing all directly tie into these

at the school, build something

students, because when there's

that fills that gap,” she says. “Build

a stronger community, there's

it for yourself, but also for the

stronger work done.”

community, because people will

Rudy is also finding new ways to connect with SSSAS.

most likely benefit.”

Just as Mr. Palmer recognized

In addition to speaking at

Michelle's creative potential of

Academic Convocation, last

Michelle and Mr. Barbie once

year he presented the Diversity,

“saw” the experiences Rudy was

Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

going through, both Michelle and

Award: a new prize given to the

Rudy are paying forward that

Upper School students who most

same generosity in education to

embody what it means to support

the next generation of students.

and actively work towards social

I'll forever call them “Tita Bunny”

justice. In collaboration with KiKi

and “Tito Rudy.” Seeing their work

Davis and SSSAS, the award was

as educators, I'm grateful to know

created by the Class of 1996.

that you don't have to be family

Rudy says it's important to bridge

members with Michelle Lopez and

the generation that experienced

Rudy Lopez to feel the impact of

the merger of St. Stephens and St.

their creativity and education in

Agnes and the generation going to

their communities.

SSSAS now.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 53

Finding Open Doors Laith Wallschleger '10 talks about football, acting, and his keys to success.

BY MELISSA ULSAKER MASS '76 Photo By Audra Oden Photography

54 AND ST. ST. AGNES AGNES 54 ST. ST. STEPHEN'S STEPHEN’S AND

W

hether or not they knew it at the time, Laith Wallschleger's

parents chose the perfect name for their tiny newborn son. “Laith” is Arabic for lion, and today their little boy has grown into a muscular 6' 4”, 250-pound man with an open, charismatic, and appealing personality. Like a big cat going after its prey, he too is laser-focused.

When he sets a goal, he goes after it with 100% dedication. In high school and college, he set his sights on excelling in football and making it to the NFL. Along the way he earned good grades, an athletic scholarship to University of Delaware, a bachelor's in finance with honors, and an MBA. But don't look for Laith on a football field or in an office crunching numbers.

You are more likely to find him in one of two places—in his closet turned home studio using one of more than 100 accents, characters, and celebrity impressions in his repertoire to record a voiceover, or on a set working on a TV show, film, or commercial.

Laith entered St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in sixth grade, following in the footsteps of his father, Kurt Wallschleger '76. Although Laith says his dad was “a wild guy back then,” he describes himself as a shy middle school student who tried his very best. “It was definitely challenging coming from public school to private school, trying to figure out who I was even though I had a bowl cut and my mom still dressed me,” Laith laughs. “I remember being unsure of myself and very sensitive to what other people thought about me, wanting to be cool and trying to fit in.

Athletics gave me the confidence to do my own thing.”

Big men and football run in Laith's family. His dad played defense at St. Stephen's and division three football at Hiram University, and his cousin, Dean

Muhtadi, played division one at the

20 of those. He posted 87 tackles, 14.5

University of Maryland and then played

tackles for loss, three sacks, and one

for the Packers and the Cardinals. Dean

forced fumble. He holds the record for the

is also well known for his career in the

most field goals blocked with six. In his

World Wrestling Entertainment ring

junior year he was named to the Delaware

under the name Mojo Rawley.

All-State College Football Team, but he

Laith remembers when he decided to

suffered a season-ending injury when he

really go for it as a rising junior at SSSAS,

tore the ACL and meniscus in his right

and spent the summer preparing for his

knee. Despite the injury and a year spent

“breakout football season” under Dean's

in recovery and rehab, Laith was named

guidance. He was determined to play in

to the Colonial Athletic Association

college and make it to the NFL, but it was

Honor Roll four consecutive years.

hard for him to gain weight. He spent

While playing as an eligible fifth-year

every minute of his summer working

senior, Laith completed his MBA but still

towards his goal. “In the morning I would

dreamed of the NFL.

go to the weight room to get a workout

After playing four successful seasons

in with the team, and then I would go

in Delaware, the Arizona Cardinals

home, eat something, and go do a tight

signed him as an undrafted free agent. “I

end workout with my coach, former NFL

was just with them for a mini-camp and

player Leonard Stephens,” Laith says.

pre-season in 2014,” Laith says. “In 2016

“Then I would eat again and workout

I started with the American Football

with my cousin, and do D line drills in

League Jacksonville Sharks, but they

the afternoon. I would go home, eat, and

folded after one season and I was traded

then play summer league basketball with

to the Washington Valor.” As Laith began

the basketball team.”

training camp with them, but realized his

Laith is grateful to his SSSAS football

heart wasn't in it. “I started wondering

coaches, Dave Holm and Richard Allison,

why I was killing myself to barely make

for believing in him. “I spent hours upon

ends meet and chase a dream that's so

hours in the film room with them trying

difficult to achieve,” Laith admits. “I

to put together these highlight tapes,”

only believe in doing things that I'm

Laith says. “They would help me

passionate about and I

copy all the DVDs to send to coaches

wasn't feeling it anymore.

around the country.”

So, I walked away and it was

His hard work paid off. In

a great decision.”

his senior year, Laith was a first team All-State selection as both a defensive end and tight end, first team All-IAC as a defensive end, named Outstanding Athlete, and broke the SSSAS single-season record for sacks with 21. He also recorded 112 tackles, with 46 for a loss, and caused four forced fumbles while recovering five. As a tight end on offense, he caught 15 passes for 423 yards. On special teams he blocked a punt, a field goal, and was special teams leader in tackles. Laith was also a member of the basketball, track, and baseball teams.

While playing for the University of Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens as a defensive end, Laith appeared in 26 games, starting in

Photo By Per Bernal

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 55

character. “That's how I discovered my

on football movies in the off season.

optimistic—drawing strength from a deep

Laith is grounded, positive, and

old man voice, which I've ended up using

“They hooked me up with this company

faith in God. “I believe that rejection is

a lot,” he says. “And doing that voice led

called Game Changing Films,” Laith

just God's protection,” he grins. “When

to discovering I could do an Optimus

says. “They did 'The Replacements,'

he closes a door, he wants you to keep

Prime, a Gandalf, and Liam Neeson!”

'The Longest Yard,' and 'Invincible'

walking down the hall until you find an

Doing voiceovers allows Laith to

with Mark Wahlberg, all the big football

open one.” Laith knows one thing for

work from anywhere, as the equipment is

movies. I did my first movie in Jackson,

sure, he's not a 9-5 kinda guy, so the last

portable. All he needs is to commandeer

Mississippi, called 'It's Time,' which came

thing he wanted was a job in finance.

a closet for his studio and he's ready to

out in 2018. Getting plugged in with

As a child and teenager, Laith had a

go. “You have to put some money into the

them eventually led to signing with an

knack for mimicking cartoons, actors,

set up, but after that you can avoid costly

agent in LA at an athletic agency.”

and commercials. He and best friend

studio time by doing it at

Adam Saddick '10 loved to imitate people

home,” Laith says. “I have

on TV “all the time, doing voices and

a $4000 microphone that

clowning around.” In college Laith took

Ariana Grande could sing

some theater classes and considered how

on, but I still use Audacity

his future could play out. “I was going to

because I'm a dinosaur

try and go to the NFL but if that didn't

and I have all these cool

happen, I was going to be a voice actor,”

little plugins and add-ins.

he says.

It would be expensive and

Laith believes that you have to invest in yourself to make it in any profession.

“I had no background in voiceover or

time consuming to start over with a different software.”

Just as Laith was going

acting, I was starting from scratch,” he

full-fledged into voice-

confesses. “I knew I had to learn the

over acting, another door

craft and what it was all about...and I'm

opened and fellow Saint

still learning today.” Since Laith had a

Theo Adams '10 was on

scholarship for University of Delaware,

the other side. “Theo called

his parents gave him some money they

and asked me to audition

had saved for his education, which

for a short film his father's

afforded him the creative space to enroll

[Ted Adams '82] production

in an online course, Such a Voice. “That

company was doing and

course taught me the craft of voiceover,”

I got the part,” Laith says.

Laith explains. His coach was award-

“The experience made me

winning voice artist Michael Yurchak,

realize that learning how

who worked with him on different

to act would help me be

character and commercial voices. While

a better voice actor, so I

Yurchak commands as much as $80,000

started doing both.” Laith heard that

According to Laith, football is one

for a commercial voiceover, Laith started

The American Academy of Dramatic

of the sports that works all the time in

on Fiverr, a freelance site, doing $5 gigs.

Arts was holding auditions and decided

Hollywood and the opportunities that

“I'm still on it today and I've completed

to try out. “I spent the entire weekend in

came his way gave him the success he

more than 1,000 s on Fiverr alone for

my room trying to memorize a couple of

needed to be financially secure. “I would

clients,” he confides. Of course, he's

monologues,” Laith recalls. “I didn't even

say the biggest thing about Hollywood is

charging more than $5 now.

know what a monologue was, it was so

that you need to have multiple streams of

raw. But I went in there and impressed

income,” Laith says. “To establish myself

his steadiest income stream. Some of

someone because they let me in for the

I did the voiceovers, commercial acting,

his voiceover clients include Sam's Club,

summer session.”

spokes work, some modeling work, and

Doing s paid his rent and has become

Staples, Dr. Pepper, Intel, Lamborghini,

Laith sees his years playing football

radio.” It's no surprise that Laith was

the U.S. Army, Burger King, Adidas,

as a blessing that has afforded him many

willing to hustle every day, all day—it's

ESPN, Spotify, Mercedes, and Dasani.

opportunities he would have otherwise

written in his DNA—and it paid off again.

What might seem like a challenge to

struggled to achieve, starting with

some is just plain fun for Laith. He loves

doing some stunts on some TV football

football commercials. One of them was

being asked to do a voice he hasn't done

shows and movies. While playing for

the Super Bowl NFL 100 commercial

before. One client asked if he could

the Jacksonville Sharks, then teammate

in which all the football legends are at

do a voice for a 200-year-old biblical

Tiger Jones told Laith about working

a banquet. Marshawn Lynch tries to

56 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

In 2019 he booked four national

steal some icing off a cake, knocking

easily. “You're constantly pitching

drew more on his intellect than his

the golden football decoration off the

yourself—each job you get you have

prowess in a kitchen. “They flew us to

top. Chaos ensues as the legends start

to earn, nothing is really given to you

Lisbon, Portugal to do the show with

playing keep away, tossing the football

and I like that challenge,” Laith notes.

Rob Lowe,” Laith says. “They put us

all around the room. Laith had the

“The big opportunities, like national

in this giant metal arm that swung us

pleasure of being the stunt double for

commercials, often come through

around the arena and we had to answer

Brian Urlacker and tackling Deion

your agents because with that much

questions one by one. That one was so

Sanders onto a fully set table. In the

money on the line everyone's going

cool, and I actually did well on it.”

Kyler Murray Rocket Mortgage “VR

to submit for it.” For voiceover jobs

When he's not working on his

Training” commercial, Murray throws

and other smaller acting jobs, Laith

career, Laith hangs out with his fiancé

a football that narrowly misses Laith's

hustles and pitches himself directly to

in Florida, where he has been living

clients. He constantly self-

since the Pandemic started. He recently

submits to active websites

joined the choir at his church. He says

like Backstage, Casting

he's not a great singer, “but why not

Frontier, Actors Access,

praise the Lord and learn how to sing as

LA Casting, and Casting

well?” He loves being outside, especially

Networks. “I always say you

out on the water, and going to comedy

are your best agent,” Laith

shows. “I went to a hypnosis comedy

says.

show and volunteered to get on stage—

In the beginning of his

that was pretty wild,” Laith chuckles at

career in Hollywood, Laith

the memory. “I rap-battled in Japanese,

felt insecure around “so

a language that I do not speak. I was

many insanely talented

convinced that a 300-pound man next

people.” He says he “put

to me was the best smelling person I'd

the stars on a pedestal and

ever smelled in my life and apparently

idolized them,” which left

buried my face in his armpit. I don't

him feeling intimidated.

think I'm gonna go back!”

But now he takes his core

Laith's chosen a lifestyle that can be

values and beliefs mostly

unpredictable and hectic. He admits

from scripture. “I found

he never knows what will happen

God in Hollywood of all

next in his life and sometimes that

places,” Laith reveals. “At

can be scary, but “other times it's fun,

SSSAS we had chapel every

really fun.” The three years he was

Wednesday, but something

in Los Angeles were really sink or

was missing for me. I had

swim. “Every single day I had no idea

the religion, but I didn't

what my schedule would be,” Laith

have the relationship. Now,

discloses. “It would change on a daily

face. Recently Laith was the stunt

because of my relationship with Jesus,

basis.” Laith experienced the stressful

double for Rob Gronkowski, a friend

I have the confidence and the authority

reality of trying to balance work with a

of his, for Fan Duel's Kick of Destiny

to walk boldly.”

class, personal development, reading

commercial. You know, the field goal Gronkowski missed.

Laith also did a hilarious

Laith has also been offered some

screenplays and scripts, rehearsing with

amusing jobs, including an appearance

scene partners, and learning the craft.

on season 17 of “Worst Cooks in

He points out that after one year in LA,

commercial for Kizik shoes—the

America.” He lasted to episode five, but

many hopefuls pack up and go home,

“hands-free” shoes—in which bodiless

only because he believes they thought

but he understands what it takes to be

hands keep hitting him for trying to use

he was funny and likable. “Bobby Flay

successful and says, “It's a marathon,

his hands to put on his “hands-free”

is awesome and the best part of that

not a sprint.”

Kiziks. The ad now has more than 40

show, hands down,” Laith says with

million views on social media. “The

enthusiasm. “The cooks actually do

stars in his eyes when it comes to

Kizik ad was wild,” Laith laughs at the

demos and teach you. I've never tasted

acting. It's a job he loves and feels

memory. “Although it was made out of

such good food in my life, but I'm still

passionate about. Yes, his career comes

sugar, the glass they smashed over my

truly one of the worst cooks in America!

with uncertainty, but he's obviously

head actually cut my forehead open, so

In the end, a mole sauce took me down.”

happy, centered in his faith, and all in

we had to stop for a few seconds.”

During the pandemic he did a game

for the win.

But finding work doesn't come that

Laith Wallschelger no longer has

show called “Mental Samurai,” that

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 57

But Why Am I Here?

Jaimie Crumley '08 is

“Illuminating the Unseen”

BY JESSICA YARMOSKY

I

t was September 1832.

In Franklin Hall in Boston's South End,

a woman stood and began to speak. Her name was Maria Stewart, and she was Black, born free in Hartford some 30 years before. She was a recent widow who'd supported herself by being a domestic servant, while devouring any literature and religious texts she could get her hands on. She was an active member of Boston's African Baptist Church, an outspoken feminist bent on encouraging Black people, especially women, to pursue education and demand political rights. A year prior, in 1831, she'd published an essay calling for her Black audience to “sue for your rights and privileges…Know the reason you cannot attain them.”

58 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

That day in September, she delivered a speech called “Why Sit Ye Here and Die?” In it, she railed against oppression, noting that while Black people in the North didn't have to experience the “horrors of slavery,” the racism they faced in the North was “little better than that.” She called for equal rights for Black women and the abolition of slavery.

While it's perhaps unsurprising that Stewart's speeches weren't wholly wellreceived at the time, that didn't stop her from continuing to speak for a radical upending of current societal values.

She'd go on to have a short but impactful public speaking career before turning to teaching and continued activism.

That day in September marked the first known instance of a woman—of any race—giving a public speech. She'd also be one of the first to address an audience of both men and women, white and Black–called a “promiscuous” audience at the time.

By the time she died in 1879, Stewart had cemented herself as a leading voice in the anti-slavery and women's liberation movements.

That day in 1832, Stewart couldn't have known just how monumental her speech—and her legacy—would become. And she certainly couldn't have known that almost 200 years later, her words would begin to answer some of

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 59

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

60 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

“I had a really great interest in religion, and what I liked about SSSAS was that it was a safe space to be able to have conversations about it.”

the multitude of questions an aspiring

multitude of other stories, lives, and

think about becoming an academic—

academic, Jaimie Crumley, had about

experiences wound tightly into the

she didn't have that profession on her

religion, race, gender, culture–and her

church's 300-year history. And that

radar yet. “But I did know I had a really

place amongst all of it.

means digging into centuries' worth of

great interest in religion,” she says.

well-preserved historical archives. “We

“And what I liked about SSSAS was

days in her office next door to the Old

want people to see us,” Jaimie says, “as

that it was a safe space to be able to

North Church, just a few miles from

more than just that one night.”

have conversations about it. That was

Jaimie spends most of her time these

something I was really excited about.”

where Stewart delivered that speech in 1832. Get to know Jaimie—a Black feminist intellectual historian whose path took her from St. Stephen's and St. Agnes to Massachusetts, to divinity school and a Ph.D. program, and then to a university professorship— and you'll quickly understand why her current gig at the Old North Church is the perfect fit. She's spent the last year as a research fellow with Old North Illuminated, a secular, private non-profit that works to preserve and interpret the history of the Old North Church, which was founded in 1723.

Jaimie's current research focus? Black and indigenous congregants and their experience at the church from the time of its founding through the nineteenth century.

These stories play a crucial role in understanding the complex history of the Church. But in the public eye, they often take a back seat to the Old North Church's most famous association.

In 1775, a silversmith named Paul Revere asked some of his friends who attended Old North to hold lanterns in the church's steeple, signaling whether British troops were approaching by land or by sea. And while Paul Revere's ride is a beloved story, it's part of Jaimie's job to educate the public about the

The content of my character Jaimie's path as an academic has been deeply influenced by her own experience with religion. Born in Germany to parents in the U.S. military, Jaimie moved to Virginia going into the fifth grade. Until that point, she and her family had attended Baptist churches, and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes was her first exposure to the Episcopalian faith. But Jaimie was drawn to it from an academic and historical perspective.

“I was really interested in religion and religious history,” she says. “I would read historical fiction on the weekends.”

In seventh grade, she was introduced to European history, and delved deeper into poetry and religion classes. Being able to marry history and religion was exciting. “I don't think that all of our peers who went to other schools got to have that combination,” she says. She fondly remembers Dr. Roberta Klein's freshman English class and says she was also influenced by her AP U.S. History class.

While she was growing as a SSSAS student, so was her fascination with how various faiths wove their way into everyday human experiences across centuries. But she says she didn't really

During a summer spent interning with Christ Church in Alexandria, Jaimie deepened her knowledge of the Episcopalian faith. “I ended up learning a lot more about what the church is today and what kind of work the Episcopalian church is passionate about,” she explains.

It was a preacher outside of the Episcopalian faith, though, whom she immortalized in her yearbook quote when she graduated in 2008: “Thank you for judging me and befriending me based on the 'content of my character,'” the quote began. Jaimie said those words, originally spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr., meant a lot to her at the time. But she now sees her choice to quote King—a broadly-known, popular historical figure—as telling about the somewhat limited scope of Black history, other than big names like King and Harriet Tubman, that she had been exposed to.

Now, she's out to change that.

“There were so few Black people who most of us know from history,” she says.

“And one thing that's been exciting to me about my work is that now I know how to find all these stories of Black women and their words. And I think that's really powerful.”

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 61

Shaping a future Jaimie's parents had both obtained

Questions and answers What does one do with a master's

college degrees later in life, when

of divinity studies? That was the big

Jaimie was in middle school. So when

question that hovered over Jaimie and

Jaimie began classes at Wellesley

her classmates at Yale Divinity School.

College in fall 2008, she may have

She began in 2012, when the tides of the

been a “traditional” freshman, but she

school were shifting. Jaimie's class had

still wasn't sure exactly what she was

more Black students than any previous

passionate about. “I actually was really

one in the school's two-century history.

interested in law,” she says. And of

Jaimie wasn't the only one questioning

course, her interest in religion hadn't

what she'd do with her future degree

waned. But she was concerned about the

in divinity. “All of the Black women

thing a lot of college students choosing

were like, what are we doing here?” she

a major are concerned about: money.

remembers. “Which was really funny.”

“I was concerned with how people pay

The traditional route after a master's

bills,” she laughs. “And it's really funny

in divinity is to become a pastor in a

because now, being a college professor,

church. “But a lot of us knew we didn't

my students are concerned about the

necessarily want to do that,” Jaimie

same thing. There's an anxiety of being

says. “So I think those years were a little

eighteen like, how am I going to shape a

bit challenging.” Challenging, because

future off of an interest in religion?”

Jaimie still wasn't sure exactly how to

Jaimie ended up declaring a major

apply her love for history and religion

in international relations, with a focus

to a profession. During divinity school,

on history and religion—a perfect

she became ordained in the American

reflection of her high school academic

Baptist Churches, USA, and served as

interests. And she knew she wanted to

an associate minister at the Alfred Street

continue studying religion after college.

Baptist Church in Alexandria, and then

“I remember I called my mother one day

as the director of Christian Education

to tell her, Hey, I'm not gonna go to law

at the First Baptist Church of West

school after I finish college. I'm actually

Hartford, Conn.

going to apply to divinity school.”

But, Jaimie says, she still had

Divinity school, Jaimie reasoned,

questions about society, gender, race, and

would allow her to deepen her study of

her place in the world, and she didn't find

religion in a practical way. Jaimie's mom

answers to them as a minister.

was confused, though. “She said, 'you

Instead, Jaimie found them in the

better figure out how to get a Ph.D. in

classroom in the texts and stories of

that,'” Jaimie laughs, “'because I don't

early American Black women, beginning

know what that's about.”

with her first-year American religious

62 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

history course at Yale Divinity School.

These classes were able to go much deeper than previous classes she'd had, even in college. “For the first time,” Jaimie says, “I was being invited to look at archival sources and to develop my own questions about the history of the religion in the United States.”

With that power, Jaimie began uncovering speeches and writings

by Black women from as early as the 1800s. These women's Christian faith inspired them to speak out against slavery, racism, and sexism. “Black

women were speaking in their own voices about certain political issues they were passionate about,” she says.

“But they were doing it using Christian language. And I thought that was really interesting.”

Interesting, especially, because Jaimie felt like these women in the past were asking the same questions that she was, in the present. “They were going into churches and community groups and political groups, and they were basically saying, I know I'm supposed to be here, but why am I here?...And I felt like I was doing that now.”

This question of inner purpose likely plagues all humans at one point or another. But Jaimie thinks the question could be more easily explored—and answered–if these early American Black women were given the same platform in history books as figures like King or Tubman or Sojourner Truth. “I felt a certain affinity with [these women] and I wanted to learn more about them, but I also wanted to teach young people about

them,” Jaimie says. “Because it felt like,

that Black women's roles in racial

her a hug, it just takes your mind off the

why do we not know that much about

reckonings didn't come out of nowhere.

really hard stuff that's going on in the

these people?”

And, she says, reading these women's

world.”

As she began learning more and

words and stories can help people today

Jaimie's path to the here and now—

more about these women, Jaimie's path

feel less alone. “So I wanted to try to

from SSSAS, to Wellesley, to divinity

forward became more clear: a Ph.D.

make sense of our present moment,

school, to a Ph.D. program, to a teaching

that would allow her to teach the next

and create a way for us to think about

position— has been shaped greatly by

generations of history and religion

what Black women have had to say

the forces that mean so much to her—

students. Her mother had been right -

about the pressing political issues of the

history, feminism, race, religion. As we

kind of. “It was funny. My mother had

time.” Looking specifically at abolition,

wrap up our conversation, I throw a

said, you have to get a Ph.D. in religion,”

Jaimie honed in on the question—what

hard question at her—what is it about

she laughs. “I got a Ph.D. in gender

is the relationship between Nineteenth-

religion, in particular, that compels you?

studies instead.”

century Black women's religious beliefs

Why have you spent years of your life

and our demands that slavery must end?

dedicated to understanding more about

Jaimie's pursuit took her to the

“We're people. We like to act like we have it all figured out, or like there's only one answer. And I think religion and the study of religion reminds us to be humble, that there's not just one answer, that there are multiple ways that people are shaped.”

University of California, Los Angeles, and its gender studies program. The five years she spent diving deeper into issues of race, gender, religion, and history culminated in her dissertation, “Tried as

By Fire: Free African American Women's Abolitionist Theologies, 1789-1880,” in which women like Maria Stewart played a massive role. What inspired her to write about early American Black women's abolitionist theologies?

Besides her discovery in divinity school of these crucial voices, she was also inspired by what was happening at that very moment, outside the classroom.

The 2020s have been rife with racial reckonings—and Black women, Jaimie says, have often been at the center of these conversations. “So what I'm trying to do [with my thesis] is to backtrack and figure out—how long is it that Black women have been at the center of these conversations, and what exactly have Black women had to say?,” she says. She thinks it's crucial for today's activists— and people in general—to understand

“We like to act like we have it all figured out” Jaimie's fellowship at Old North Illuminated will wrap up in June. At that point, she'll head across the country to teach in the Gender Studies and Ethnic Studies divisions within the School for Cultural and Social Transformation at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

In her classes on Black feminism, the history of abolition, Black women's history and gender studies, Jaimie and her students tackle tough issues across many historical eras. “Having to hear about so many horrific things that have happened across history to people, just because they were different…it's really difficult,” she says. She teaches her students to take care of themselves emotionally and physically as their studies deepen. For her, balancing her health and her academic pursuits means leaning on her spirituality—and her dog.

“I have a lovely dog who we got during the pandemic,” Jaimie says. “Just giving

it, its history, its implications?

She doesn't hesitate to answer.

“We're people,” she says. “We like to act like we have it all figured out, or like there's only one answer. And I think religion and the study of religion reminds us to be humble, that there's not just one answer, that there are multiple ways that people are shaped.”

And studying religion keeps her creative impulses sharp. “[Religion] forces us to tap into our more imaginative side. And I think that's something that I forgot to do after I was a little kid,” she says. “It allows us to keep ruminating on things, to be a little creative.” And another reason she's compelled by religion, is also a reason she finds it challenging.

“I'm really interested in the different ideas that people have had about God and how they shape the decisions they make,” she says. “Some people use their faith to feed the hungry. Other people use their faith to cause a war…I think that's part of the beauty of religion, and also part of the challenge of it.”

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 63

ALUMNI CONNECTIONS

ALUMNI REUNION

64 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

WEEKEND 2023

See more photos on our Flickr site!

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 65

CLASS NOTES

1955 ST. AGNES

is living in Alexandria, Va., so she will

Mary Niepold Horne: horne.mimi@verizon.net

be pleased to come to reunions and stay with him. She has two new great-

Joanie Davis Hackett reports that

Submitting News Your Class Ambassador would love to receive your news and photos! If you submit a photo, please be sure you are in it.

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grandchildren!

all is well out in Winchester, Va. She

Ann Lanyon Kaplan's husband Jay

says that both of her daughters are

died last year. She often sees her son and

now retired and traveling. Her four

his family in Ashburn, Va., and recently

grandchildren are finally gainfully

visited her sister Zoe in Florida.

Mary Niepold Horne and husband

employed.

Jean Androus Woodman has moved

Paul are pleased to be in Old Town,

from the Brandywine to Montebello

where they can enjoy the pleasures of

apartments in Alexandria, Va. and is

theater and concerts in Washington,

much happier there. She has caregivers

D.C. They enjoy visiting their eldest

who bring everything she needs.

daughter in Brooklyn, N.Y., and will soon

Joan Boguess Poland and Tommy

be going to see siblings in Philadelphia

are well settled in Williamsburg, Va.

for more music. In April, they'll be back

Joan is a docent both in Bruton Church

in Paris for three months, including their

and in Colonial Williamsburg. She

traditional Easter bike trip.

misses the beautiful Berry Plain farm, but a smaller place is a lot easier for

1958 ST. AGNES

them.

Julia Shields: habija@aol.com

Judy Nevins LeHardy is now living in Crozet, Va., not very far from her eldest daughter. She says her son, Ward,

Marcia Kendzie Evans shares that this has been a “great-grand”

reduce, or compress photos for emailing. We cannot accept screenshots of a photo on a website, or photos that do not have alumni in them.

JOHN MARSHALL '56

Get Connected!

Visit sssas.org/alumni to get the latest Reunion updates, check out our upcoming events, share your news, or update your contact information.

Join our Facebook and LinkedIn groups Check out our Saints Link networking platform at saintslink.org Visit Flickr.com/sssasalumni to see photos from our alumni

John Marshall '56 and wife Ginny report that daughter Peyton's

events.

husband, Paul Toutonghi, wrote a successful book concerning their son,

To Update Your Alumni Record Please contact Senior Director of Alumni Engagement Meredith Robinson at 703-212-2769 or mrobinson@sssas.org.

66 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Fielding Marshall '89, and the family dog, Gonker. The book, “Dog Gone,” was published in 2016 by Alfred A. Knopf and Netflix recently made the story into a film by the same name starring Rob Lowe as John, Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Ginny, and Johnny Berchtold as Fielding.

All 10 members of the extended John Marshall family, ages 11 to 85 years, were invited to the release party in Hollywood. On opening night in January, the new movie was the number one Netflix movie in the U.S.

year: she will be a great grandmother

ideal situation of having her own space

recognize as a group our imminent entry

to Harlan Allan Evans in June. Her

but having family nearby.

into our ninth decade. Though I feel

grandson, Stephen Evans, is deployed

From Julia Shields, “My big news

extremely lucky to be in good health and

in Poland and will return for a few days

is the birth of my great-grandniece,

splitting my time between two wonderful

for Harlan's birth. His wife remains

Ruth, daughter of my grandniece, Julia,

places, Ithaca and Vero Beach, I find I

stationed at Fort Riley, Kan. She also has

and husband Will. I am thoroughly

have to work with intent to fill the void

a grandnephew, Dominic, whose sister

besotted. We gathered for her baptism

left by Fred's death. I find myself more

arrives in June. Marcia and family are

on Thanksgiving Eve and watched

reflective, more intentional, and more

doing well. In return for the undeserved

Julia, Will, and Ruthie as Mary, Joseph,

accepting, I think. But mostly I'm more

compliments she gave to me, I would

and baby Jesus in the live-streamed

consciously thankful for great good

award Marcia with a loyalty award to St.

Christmas pageant.”

fortune. Fond wishes for a very happy

Agnes.

Karen Zimmerman Gudinas stays

Alas, this past year also saw the passing of our leader Eleanor Backus

80th year to each of you.”

Joni Edwards Jones still lives in

busy. Her son, David, and his family

Engh on August 15. Eleanor met every

a wonderful retirement community

were there for Thanksgiving. They spent

challenge throughout her life with

in Annapolis, Md., and is still selling

a day visiting the University of Florida

courage and grace. Eleanor is survived

real estate. This past year was trying

for Riley, who is a senior in high school.

by her sister Johan and her three

in several ways: business was down,

Granddaughter Danielle is an assistant

children and six grandchildren. We will

interest was up, and Joni underwent

to the assistant principal at her old high

miss our class president.

several operations. But she reports

school. She also bought a house with her

that her health is improving, her four

significant other this year. Grandson

1961 ST. AGNES

girls are all doing well, and she now

Tyler graduated from University of

Anne Williams: awilliam@bates.edu

has 10 grandchildren and six great-

Central Florida this past spring and is studying for his masters while

grandchildren. Joni also has a special In 2022, Sarah Sydnor Talbot

friend, Charlie, who loves to travel with

working for the Transportation Security

celebrated her eightieth birthday and

her and visits her on a regular basis. Life

Administration. Karen has signed up for

her oldest grandson got married in

is good at almost 80. Joni hopes the new

a family cruise with lots of friends and

Maryland, the latter of which resulted

year is great for all of her classmates.

family, her first trip since Jim passed

in a family reunion in June. The

away.

marriage ceremony was officiated by

Sandy moved to Pittsburgh to be near

Sarah's brother Buck Sydnor '65. Sarah's

their daughter and her family, which

celebrated two graduations this

youngest daughter, Theresa, eloped in

includes three boys aged 18, 17, and 12.

year: grandson Rick graduated from

August on a beach in North Carolina

Joshan has been in kidney failure for

Georgetown and grandson Will

in a ceremony that was officiated by

many years and has begun peritoneal

graduated from Hotchkiss. Another

her Uncle Bucky as well. December

dialysis at home. It is going well. She

grandson Walker was elected president

featured the birth of Sarah's first great-

and Sandy are looking forward to going

of his class in Bronxville. Sue and Bill

granddaughter, Madelyn. Sarah writes,

to their condo in Florida at the end of

continued their tradition of spending

“One more note about my life is that

January .

several weeks at Bethany Beach where

I started mentoring a foster child five

family members came for visits. They

years ago when he was six. Truman is

are resuming their cruises this spring

now 11 and is in his sixth home and,

after the COVID-19 hiatus.

Sue Peery Moore and Bill Moore

Joshan Backus Wise and husband

1962 ST. AGNES

hopefully, his forever home. At this

Robin Taylor Zoll shares: “When

Patty Bayliss Owens has started

point, I am the one person who has

my marriage just out of college ended

a small business renting out a small

been in his life the longest and it is a

in divorce, needing to support myself

fenced area of her yard to folks who have

joy watching this boy blossom. When I

and two children, I went to law school

no space of their own for their dogs. She

lived in El Centro, I was with him once

and practiced as a trial lawyer with the

also has a new career as an art historian

or twice a week but since I am now in

Office of the Public Defender, Baltimore

at her daughter's new art gallery,

Phoenix and his new home is in San

City, for 35 exciting and eye-opening

Nepenthe, in Collin Hall.

Diego, I try to see him several times

years. Now retired, I enjoy golf, book

Judy Kurtz Suor is living in a

each year plus as many phone calls as

clubs, art lectures, travel, and more time

retirement home where her sister

we can muster. My heart goes out to

with friends and family, especially my

Jan lives in Salt Lake City, but is

foster children, and I highly recommend

husband of 25 years (!), David Zoll '60.

contemplating a move back to

anyone with time on their hands to

Our four children and five grandchildren

Alexandria. Stay tuned!

consider mentoring one.”

are scattered in Austin, Texas, Vail and

Sally Engh Reger is now living in an addition to her daughter's house, an

Fair MacRae Gouldin writes, “Thank you, Anne, for encouraging us to

Aspen, Colo., Washington, DC, and Boston, Mass. In the words of Garrison

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 67

Robin Taylor Zoll '62 and Jean Hoppe Hurston '62

Anne Bodman '63

Keillor, 'the women are strong, the men

Susan Gulick Curry '63 Walda Cornnell Wildman shares:

are good-looking, and the children

“I'm looking forward to seeing everyone

above-average.' It was wonderful getting

in the spring. I don't have much to share

together with Jean Hoppe Hurston

but that–somehow–I have been very busy.

at her beautiful, ocean-front condo in

I'm in my second year serving on the

Virginia Beach. Would love to see the

South Carolina Board of Accountancy,

rest of you.”

and we had a complete overhaul of our

Jean Hoppe Hurston shares: “Robin

Accountancy Practice Act signed by the

Taylor Zoll and I started off the year

governor last spring which necessitated

right with a get together in Virginia

a complete rewrite of the regulations for

Beach, my home for 52 years now. Also

the Legislature to approve next session.

home to my three daughters and eight

That has been a lot of very fine detail

grandkids. My dear husband, Jim, is in

work (I don't worry that I need to do

the late stages of Alzheimer's. Sending

puzzles or something to keep my brain

my love and God's blessings to all our '62

sharp!).” I was happy to see Walda when

SAS classmates!”

1963 ST. AGNES

Stephanie Connor Pullen '63 and Susan Walp French '63 in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2022.

Margaret Fifer Davenport: margieinva@gmail.com Marion MacRae: mmmacrae@comcast.net Barbara Wiles Kreutzer and Andy

she came to Charlottesville and she says she enjoyed their visit “immensely” as well as a tour of Monticello. She has not done much painting this year but

able to attend and is sorry to miss seeing

says she hasn't been “really motivated.”

everyone.

During Christmas, she said, “One

Leslie Barnes Hagan, who kindly

fun thing was taking my 13-year-old

'63 are settled in Saint Albans, Maine,

offered to help with the reunion, said, “I

and 16-year-old granddaughters to

on Big Indian Lake, which she says is a

will be happy to help when the time for

Lululemon for Christmas shopping.”

welcoming town. An added bonus is that

planning comes around. The lockdown

Mary Tolbert Matheny writes,

they are closer to their children, who

and my cataract surgeries have kept me

“My children's lives are much more

live in Boston. They travel to warmer

housebound for over two years.” But

interesting than mine: In June my

climates in February for a few weeks

the good news is that as of this writing

son, Jason, who had been working in

and the summer time is full of fun and

she was just given permission by her

the Biden administration in national

friends. It's great to hear that she says

ophthalmologist to drive. So far it's

security and technology, was offered a

they are “holding their own health-wise

just during daylight but she says, “It's

position he had not sought, president

for now” and that “life is good.”

thrilling as I hadn't been able to drive for

and CEO of Rand Corp. My daughter,

about three years.”

Laura, wrapped up 25 years of teaching

Norvell Jones, who, with husband, Bob, spend most of the year at their

At last writing, Carol Simon Leach

at a K-8 school in Philadelphia and

home in West Virginia, wrote from

had gone through some very difficult

began working toward a master's degree

Falls Church where they spend winters.

times medically speaking, so it was so

in clinical counseling of children and

Norvell writes, “As they say, no news is

very nice to hear that she is so actively

adolescents. Between ending one career

good news, life is sweet and uneventful.”

working to stay healthy, with long walks

and heading into another, she made a

Unfortunately the reunion falls on their

(What? Two miles??). She is still doing

solo, cross-country road trip covering

wedding anniversary, so she will not be

her horse therapy as well. Inspiring!

7,300 miles in six weeks. As for me,

68 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

I continue to have occasional gigs in

his private school closed. She really

writing and editing–usually writing grant

enjoyed Christmas this year as both

cut her hair after 40 years! She says

proposals for nonprofit organizations to

her son and daughter were able to

she “saved a braid along with that from

submit to funders.”

be together with them on Christmas

Andy's favorite horse, Zane.” She says

day. She says that hasn't happened in

their dogs are “fine fettle.” In her colorful

fourteen years!

way, Anne writes about what she calls

I was happy to get a phone message from Margy Britt Lim. I could not

Anne Bodman tells us that she finally

connect with her before this went to

I see Althea Ball Morrissey is

her latest adventure: “When our blizzard

press, but she was visiting a friend and

thinking positively. She had major

commenced on the morning of Andy's

sounded hale and hearty!

surgery in mid-November to fix a break

colonoscopy—and who would want to

that had not healed….in a year! Now she

reschedule and go through the prep

difficult year with the loss of her son,

says “I already feel the arm is stronger

twice—I was the one who boldly took

Jamie (age 36), in an accident as he sat

and I'm doing more things that I had

command of our plow truck and carried

waiting for a stoplight to change. It is

been doing before, which is exciting!”

him safely home through buffeting wind

hard to imagine the hurt of that loss; it

Althea and hubby spend a lot of time

and snow and two icy hills.” Anne's note

is through her faith that she is making

babysitting grandchildren who are 6-,

closed with her saying, “Happy New

it through this difficult time. As you

4-, and 3-years-old. She says, “our Navy

Year and love from your meek St. Agnes

can imagine, Libbie's church is very

Commander son and his family with a

lamb, Blizzard Bodman.”

important to her. She enjoys singing in

4-year-old and an 18-month-old visited

the choir and playing games by zoom

in October. We expect another grandson

and Lowell have “just been plugging

with other parishioners. And she is kept

locally here to be born in June so that

along here in Florida enjoying our

busy, with grandchildren who live with

is a lot of excitement.” They do some

wonderful weather. Autumn is living

her. Grandson Sam and granddaughter

traveling around in California and enjoy

with us for eight to nine months in

Emmy play instruments for school

the fantastic weather of San Diego and

Woodbridge and has a job at Quantico.

events and have even written their own

being so close to the beach.

Sweet, darling dog, Katie, passed away

Libbie Shackleford Mull had a most

Louise Knox Livinghouse says she

songs; granddaughter Sarah loves to

Stephanie Connor Pullen tells how

January 11, 2023 after being so much

cook. I hope we will keep Libbie in our

much fun she had meeting Susan Walp

a huge part of our lives for 16 years.

prayers.

French in Nashville in April of 2022.

It's going to take a long time for us to

They spent a couple of days together

adjust.”

It was nice to hear from Susan Gulick Curry. She will miss the reunion

and found so much in common again,

As for me, Margie Fifer Davenport,

because she will be in Bali at that time!

especially that they “both love Jesus.”

my news is not nearly so entertaining!

Catching up with her life, she says she

Stephanie may have retired from being

I continue to represent the national

“settled in Ambler, Penn., after 35 post

a pastor, “but I still have the Holy Ghost

pickleball association (USA Pickleball)

office addresses.” She adds that she is a

fire in me for revival!” As for Susan, she

in promoting, teaching this wonderful,

full-time advocate for sustainable living,

is one busy lady, going from one meeting

fun sport. I am almost back to normal

founded an organic farm, promoted

to another and I caught her in-between!

after a back injury and hope to be

the Earth Charter and best stormwater

She hurriedly said, “my news is that I

playing again. You should know that I'm

management practices, and is now

have 12 grandchildren and now I am a

happy to advise any of you who may be

focusing on writing and water color

great-grandmother with the birth of little

interested in playing the sport or making

painting.

baby Lido,” who is the new light of her

it happen where you live! Other than

Sara “Sally” Godshall Peterson

life! And Susan, as you could imagine,

that, I'll mention that when I last saw

will also not be able to be at this year's

was excited about “finally” getting to see

my doctor he said he could attest that I

reunion as it is the same weekend as

Stephanie. She said, “We had a ball!”

was not a silly person. I responded, “But

the State American Baptist Women's

Dagmar Giffen Cosby says, “I can't

Ministries annual meeting. She says

complain. Life is good. I am designing

I LOVE silly,” at which time he took his mask and put it on sideways! See! Lots of

she will have to attend in her role as

like crazy.” (Designs by Dagmar

people love silly! I will end my comments

“our local area churches' Women's

designsbydagmar.com.) She went on to

with a wish that you will have a little

Association president.” Sara has been

say, “I went to Italy last summer with

silliness in your life! In communicating

filling a critical role in her daughter's

my two girls. Gobs of fun. We were

with our fellow classmates, I have found

family life as a “live-in nanny/tutor, cook

only there for a week. Went to Florence

that most are either hoping to come, or

and picker-upper for her and husband,

(thank you Mdm. Jinks) and Venice.

are sorry they will miss our reunion and

Andre's, three adopted kids, now aged

Had no idea how important Venice was

the chance to see and be with everyone .

10, 12, and 13.”

and that it ruled itself for 1,100 years.

And so many are wishing us good health

Joan Emerson Shoemaker has

Wowsers.” Dagmar is still playing bridge

and a great 2023. You can tell that even

spent the last two years in Maine

and says, “Otherwise I am kind of boring

after all these years and the many miles

homeschooling her grandson because

but love my life.”

apart, there is caring.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 69

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS: SOME SAGE ADVICE FROM GEOFF LAYTON '63 radical ideas for teaching grammar

there is also more than a little

(“Grammar for the Right Brain”),

sadness because I see my recent

which I developed while working at

achievements as something other

an alternative charter high school for

than the basis for an inspirational

at risk students in Chicago.

story. I can't deny the fact that there

I'll never forget the day I got

are some inspirational moments in

the news that my proposal had

a story of a nearly 80-year-old man

been accepted. It was this event

earning a Ph.D., however, I believe

that crystallized my decision

that my story has as much, if not

to become a full-time graduate

more, relevance as a cautionary tale

student. I had previously presented

to young people who must make

my “Grammar for the Right

momentous decisions that can

Brain” creation at several other

determine how they will live their

professional conferences. I had

lives, and I know from experience

also presented a unique approach

the consequences of making

to teaching Shakespeare (“Keeping

mistakes.

Shakespeare Real: Teaching In 1997, after years working in advertising, Geoff Layton '63 realized he wanted to pursue his passion and teach English. So one day he locked the door to his print shop, put the keys through the mail slot, and never looked back. Since then he has been teaching English while earning a master's in rhetoric and composition from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in writing and rhetoric from the University of Oklahoma in December 2022. His dissertation is titled: “Learning to Live a Rhetorical Life: A New Strategy for Teaching First-Year Composition.”

Why did you decide to pursue a Ph.D. so late in life?

There's a wonderful movie called “The Gods Must Be Crazy” that features a quest by an African bushman to return a CocaCola bottle that had fallen from the sky back to the gods whence it must have come, and I think that my decision to pursue a Ph.D. had a similar “inciting incident.”

I encountered an opportunity that was extremely unlikely for an aging high school English teacher.

In 2007 I was hardly a renowned teacher, but I had made a proposal to the Conference on College Composition and Communications (4Cs) to present my rather

70 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Along with feelings of pride,

as a means for rhetorical invention

I loved to read as a little boy

Shakespeare in the Inner City) at

and if allowed would spend every

the Southwest/American Popular

minute with a book. As a high

Culture Association and published

school student at St. Stephen's, in

“Connecting High School Students to

addition to writing book reports

Ancient Literature” in the magazine

for Mr. Wills, I was also composing

of the Colorado Language Arts

parodies of Chaucer for the school's

Society, but it was not until my 4Cs

literary magazine, “Emanon,”

presentation that Gerald Graff,

and of James Russell Lowell (“A

one of the foremost scholars in

Fable for Freshman” commenting

the field of composition pedagogy,

on the foibles of various teachers

recognized my potential and invited

such as Mrs. Betts). I ignored the

me to become a full-time graduate

obvious signs pointing to what

student at the University of Illinois at

direction my life should take as if

Chicago. And the rest, as they say, is

they had never happened, failing

history.

to follow up on winning first prize in a Brown University playwriting

How did it feel to finally complete your

contest and then leaving behind

Ph.D. after 16 years?

almost two years as editor and chief

There was naturally both pride

columnist for “Mutatis Mutandis,”

and elation, as well as relief. But

the magazine of the graduate

there were also feelings that I still

business students at the University

had unfulfilled goals and unrealized

of Chicago.

dreams. My response to the degree

I often wonder what would have

was not to rest on my laurels

become of me had I recognized

but rather to pursue getting my

early on the talents that God had

dissertation published. In addition

given me, which leads me to urge

to publishing a book, I intend to

current SSSAS students to pursue

publish articles in various journals

what they love and excel at when

of academic writing, rhetoric, and

they're young rather than waiting

composition. So, there is still a lot for

until almost the very last moment,

me to do.

when it is really all but too late.

1963 ST. STEPHEN'S

everything is good. Points of interest in

Thomas E. C. Margrave: tecmargrave@gmail.com

his benign life include marrying Diane in October…which means she actually

From Andy Kreutzer: “Barbara

said yes.

Wiles Kreutzer '63 and I are heading

David Speck shares, “Retirement

into our fifth year of lakeside (actually,

is still not an absolute term for me – I

rink side until April) retirement in mid-

remain on the Board of Directors of

Maine. While moving to a retirement

the Metropolitan Washington Airports

in Maine did draw some 'puzzled' looks

Authority (the governing board for

from friends and family, it has placed

Dulles and National airports) and that's

us just a few hours from our children

keeping me pretty busy. Over the past

and grandchildren in the Boston area.

almost three years I have discovered the

design for the book cover were done by

Regarding the three most frequent

mixed blessing of Zoom. On one hand

her daughter, Maisie. (helenintrouble.

questions: 'Do you like to ski?'...Yes;

it's easy to have a meeting and on the

com)

'What kind of boat do you have and do

other hand it's easy to have a meeting…

you like ice fishing?'...Yes. Ice fishing is

and there have been way too many. I

Holbein has moved to North Carolina

taking a drink on my bass boat in the

miss the human energy of sitting at

to be closer to her children and

summer. We are both doing well and, as

a table with other people, but neither

grandchildren. She continues to work

of this writing, looking forward to our

Marcia nor I have tested positive for

as an artist (LynnHolbein.com) and

60th Reunion at SSSAS.”

COVID, so I guess in balance it's a plus.

often sells her paintings to support

Geoff Layton has decided what he

We now spend about five months at

charities she believes in. Her daughter,

wants to do when he grows up, finally

our home in Massachusetts and the

Kate Rademacher, just published her

earning his Ph.D. in writing and rhetoric

rest of the year in Alexandria with the

third book, “Reclaiming Rest: Sabbath,

from the University of Oklahoma. To the

expectation of catching up with a lot of

Stillness and Solitude in a Restless

best of his knowledge, Geoff thinks he

deferred travel beginning this spring.

World.”

may have progeny, two sons in their 40s.

Until we see each other again, I am

The older one presumably is living with

sending virtual hugs and/or handshakes

Lynn in Cary, N.C., close to her daughter

his wife in a suburb of Madison, Wis.,

and slaps on the back. Best to everyone.”

and grandchildren. She has retired from

running guided bicycle tours in Illinois and Wisconsin, while the younger one

1964 ST. AGNES

is a physician's assistant in a clinic in

Belinda Lowenhaupt Collins : collins.belinda75@gmail.com

In other class news, Lynn Davies

Cherry Sampson Meyers lives near

her work as a CPA. Louisa Stansfield Bennett is still living in Arlington with her husband and has amassed quite a collection of rare

Groveland, Calif., living with his wife in Sonora and climbing very tall mountains

Wendy Sibbison '64 with her new book.

During the pandemic, members of

dolls.

the SAS class of 1964 met a number

Camille Heineck Mittelholtz is

of times a year through the marvel of

living in Annandale near her daughter

us who have been following Geoff's

Zoom. It was great to stay in touch and

and grandchildren. She volunteers

pilgrimage to his Ph.D. were thrilled when

catch up with what people have been

for charities working to address food

it finally came to pass because it was a

doing for the last almost 60 years!

insecurity and is quite active as a

on his days off.

Tom Margrave shares, “Those of

sign that neither the tornadoes nor the

In 2022, we read Wendy Sibbison's

parishioner at St. Barnabas.

brain-eating bacteria of Oklahoma had

historical novel, “Helen in Trouble,”

Suzie Hall Mindlin lives with her

gotten to him. In other news, I continue to

about her experiences in the summer

husband, Rod, in Cardiff by the Sea,

live in Upstate New York in Binghamton

of 1963 when a young teen desperately

Calif., near kids and grandkids, and

where Max the Wonder Dog and I are

needed an illegal abortion (see p. 75).

continues to consult and teach trial

reinforcements to the local Neighborhood

We all felt Wendy's description of a

practice, both on faculty of the Trial

Watch program. In addition to serving

school very like St. Agnes in the early

Lawyers College and privately.

two small Episcopal churches, I provide

1960's was both vivid and on target;

program leadership for disaster spiritual

Joe the bus driver really stood out.

to Minnesota to be near her children and

care for the American Red Cross National

Needless to say, the topic was timely.

grandchildren.

Headquarters. It is all virtual but I am still

Kirkus Reviews picked Wendy's book as

deeply involved in the spiritual concerns

one of the best books of 2022! Plus, she

South Carolina near her stepchildren

of those affected by natural and human-

has just won the North Street prize for

and grandchildren.

caused disasters. I also continue to be

literary fiction. This spring she will be

Nancy Zearfoss Lord and her

involved in local veterans' organizations.”

doing readings at Williams College as

husband live in southern Maryland

part of its “Women's and Gender Studies

in her parents' former house which

in Action” lecture series. The art and

they've been renovating. They now have

Bill Scarpino reports that, other than remaining dry in California these days,

Nicki Donaldson Mitchell has moved

Ginger Moore Herbert now lives in

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 71

six bedrooms and would love to host

still writes for the National Geographic

Jane Tinka Adams does not appear

members of the class either this year or

and the Journal of Science. They've been

to ever plan on slowing down and is still

next (our 60th). Now that she's retired,

exploring the Pacific Northwest in a big

involved in health care and she and her

she is pursuing her dream of being in a

Chevy pickup with a cool Alaskan pop

husband most weekends are ballroom

rock and roll band and is singing and

up that fits in the back.

dancing! Her daughters are not close by

playing keyboards in two bands. She says it is great fun.

Belinda Lowenhaupt Collins is living

Richard Flynt writes, “April and I see Tom and Anne Hoskot Kreutzer '65

so to see the grandkids they must travel.

Cynthia Corbin Sharpe reports,

as well as Randy Earnest '62 and Gibby

“After my husband's death I moved from

in Reston, Va. with her husband. After

Earnest at our monthly breakfast club

Arizona to Charlotte, N.C., in 2016.

retiring from the National Institute of

meetings, which cover all the local

My sister Beth lives here; she was in

Standards and Technology (NIST), she

diners in the Alexandria area. Tom and

elementary school when we were in high

started a new career as an Executive

Anne somehow keep up with their four

school. It's taken a while but I finally

Coach, which she loves. She also was

sons (including my Godson Christopher)

feel settled and Charlotte is really a

inducted into the NIST Gallery of

and hordes of grandchildren all over

very livable community. Aletha is in

Distinguished Alumni in 2021.

the country and at their lake house on

Houston and I see her often. This year

In the coming year, class members

Lake Kerr in Southern Virginia. We also

I have spent several months in Mexico

plan to continue their Zoom calls—and

were able to spend some nice time with

but primarily I seem to keep busy with

look forward to seeing more members

Andy and Barbara Wiles Kreutzer '63

dogs (standard poodles), knitting, and

of the class either on Zoom—or at an

in Maine last Fall. I still play a lot of golf

bonsai. Sincere wishes for good health

upcoming reunion.

and am the rhythm guitar player in a

and happiness to all!”

rock and roll band appropriately named

Susan Davis Haggerty shares,

1964 ST. STEPHEN'S

'The Hip Replacements,' playing gigs

“Thanks for helping us stay connected.

Richard A. Flynt: richardflynt1@gmail.com

mostly in Alexandria. I celebrated 30

That is the fun part of this job! I'm

years without alcohol last December,

generally healthy though not everything

and am active in the Virginia Judges

works properly. Due to the COVID

Maine, reports that he is starting a small

and Lawyers Assistance Program, which

lockdown I have 'retired' from all my

outdoor sculpture garden “down the

helps judges and lawyers suffering from

volunteer jobs and activities: teaching,

road” and that he and Janet celebrated

alcohol and substance abuse, as well as

reading to adults, master gardener,

their 54th wedding anniversary in

depression, anxiety, and other wellness

volunteer usher for symphony, Broadway

December. Chris is the former curator

issues.”

shows, attending lectures, theater,

Chris Crosman in Thomaston,

of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine.

Bill Parker and Anne are taking

book club. Now I'm figuring out what

1965 ST. AGNES

will be my next great adventure. My

Janet Vosper Dorman: lvn4smr@comcast.net

daughters are in Philly and St. Louis.

things one day at a time in Southwest

I'm considering moving to St. Louis to

Florida, having both survived COVID

From Janet “Lee” Vosper Dorman,

live near my daughter, son-in-law, and

and cleaning up after Hurricane Ian.

“Dear class of 1965 - Bravo! Y'all did a

grandchildren Evelyn (4) and Kent (2).

Flood waters were up to the garage door!

great job! After 49 years I have retired

My brothers Landon Davis '62 and

They needed a new roof and pool cage

from teaching. Now I am busy playing

Chad Davis '66 are still here in Virginia.

but are otherwise okay, as is their family.

bridge, thank goodness for Audible.

I'd be up for an in-person reunion, the

Things are returning to normal slowly.

Still have my daughter, Liz, and her two

sooner the better.”

Rick Palmer's days are filled

kids with me – never a dull moment!

with living without fixed schedules,

Isabel is playing softball like her mom

continues to be a superstar/rockstar

lots of reading of all genres, writing

and can't wait to learn field hockey (the

rolled into one in real estate in Northern

poetry and non-fiction, working in the

apple doesn't fall far from the tree). They

Virginia! She has over $1 Billion in

garden, meals with friends, Pilates,

do keep me busy and happy! Not ready

career sales, was named “Realtor of the

communicating with children, and

to have people throw dirt on me – so

Year – Northern Virginia Association

meditation. Rick has foregone smoking,

Onward!!”

of Realtors” in 2018, 2019, 2020, and

Donnie Chancellor Wintermute

gambling, and drinking alcohol for

I heard from Jan Walsh-Hohert

2021, a Living Legend of Alexandria,

37 years! He reports an enjoyable

about her new email and other stuff still

and Chamber of Commerce Business

life, except for the futility of the

in British Vancouver. I know she sent me

Leader of the Year. Donnie adds, “I am

Commanders and Nats!

more but I'll be darned if I can find it!

happily serving on the St. Stephen's and

Mike McRae and Ginny have lived

Susan Miller Ferguson sent me a

St. Agnes Board of Governors for the

in Ashland, Ore., since 1988, fixing

Christmas card, she is in Connecticut

sixth year. I am thrilled to report that our

up an 1897 cottage. Mike retired from

now. Like many of us she feels we need a

alma mater is stronger than it has ever

freelance writing in 2015, while Ginny

face-to-face sooner rather than later.

been, both academically and athletically!

72 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Mike McRae '64 and wife Ginny McRae

The head of school, Kirsten Adams, is

Mike McRae '64

Bill Culp '65 (right) attends a church service in D.C. celebrating fellow alumnus Tony Lewis's '65 (left) fifty year clergy ordination in the Diocese of Long Island.

Sally Hines writes, “In 2020, I

was married to Knight Kiplinger who

absolutely phenomenal! I am in my 44th

retired from the Manhattan D.A.'s

has a home not too far from me. Ann

year as a Real Estate Broker and have

Office, after 40+ years (a pandemic-

looks great and we have lots of fun when

been named “The Face of Alexandria

style retirement: I went skiing out West,

we get together, though Knight and I

Real Estate” by the Washingtonian

expecting to return, but never came

talk about real estate too much. I still

Magazine for the last five years.

back to the office). We spent over a year

work every day and manage two family

Amazingly, I still love the business! Peter

living in East Hampton, in the woods

real estate companies with properties in

and his wife, Jenny, have a 9-year-old

near the beach, staying remote. We felt

Virginia and Maryland.”

son, Carson, and a 13-year-old daughter,

lucky to have a retreat. Just as I was

Kinsley. Fortunately, they live only 15

retiring, planning to slow down, Ron

still in Florence after several months…

minutes away, so I see lots of them!

and some colleagues started a new law

our heaven. Ann Davis Spitler and

Our next reunion is April of 2025. The

firm. Now he's working like crazy. I'm

her Elizabeth are coming to visit us in

SSSAS reunions have been moved from

Office Counsel at the firm, and also

March! Yay! Samantha is still in London

the fall to the spring. Will see you then!”

teach at New York Law School. We're

and Drew is doing camera work in the

Ann Davis Spitler recently saw Anne

Missy Sumner Huggins says, “We are

going skiing in Utah this Friday. We're

movie business here in Atlanta. The

Hoskot Kreutzer, Sally Jones Brodie,

living again in New York City. Some

two of them spent Christmas together

Jane Matthias, Donnie Chancellor

things are getting more normal—my

in Florence which we thought was great

Wintermute, and Candy Michelbach

book club is in person again, teaching is

while we were home. Children finally

Ramelli for a group birthday celebration

largely in person, and the chorale I sing

bonding! So if any classmates get to

in Alexandria. Missy Sumner Huggins

in has resumed. So glad to hear all the

Florence, please do get in touch with us.

would have joined but she was hosting a

updates!”

We have lots of advice even if we don't

party in Atlanta!

Anne Hoskot Kreutzer submitted, “A

Sally Jones Brodie reports, “Last year my beloved husband Lawrence died in

happen to be in residence. Hugs to all.”

Liz Shortley Rogers says she is still

few of us tried to celebrate Annie Davis

April after about three years of surgeries,

working—funny that there are many of

Spitler's BIG birthday in December,

though he was strong and healthy, even

us who just can't stop! I am still working,

but she tested positive that day so

the surgeons said so. I live in a small

yes at almost age 75. It is my outlet.”

we selflessly carried on without her.

town in Florida, Jensen Beach, and have

Crummy timing. Tom and my children

turned 2.5 acres on the Indian River

and grands live in four different states,

Lagoon into my native plant paradise

so most of our traveling involves going

after removing all of the invasive species,

to them. We did get in a couple of river

but no Burmese python here! My idea

Tony Lewis at Tony's 50-year clergy

cruises last year, one on the Danube and

of a trip is going 1.3 miles to the Publilx

ordination in the Diocese of Long

another to Portugal, which were fun. Our

grocery store. On the topic of family, I

Island. Bill writes, “Tony and I became

classmates have written about dealing

have one daughter and she has a 7-year-

friends years ago at St. Stephen's,

with serious and varied life issues. I was

old son and a 9-year old daughter. I try

although I graduated from Cincinnati

struck by that, and also by everyone's

to see them in Delaware every couple

Country Day School. SSS played an

calm determination to deal with these

of months. Another tidbit—I see Ann

important part of my growing up years,

things as well as possible. It makes me

Miller Kiplinger in Florida periodically.

even though it was brief.”

want to have an in-person reunion!”

At one of our reunions I discovered she

1965 ST. STEPHEN'S William “Bill” Culp recently visited

Jim Chambers and Fiona celebrated

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 73

45 years of marriage. They are enjoying

Esteban, is an artist and just had his

Leslie Ferrell Kauffmann enjoyed

softball, pickleball, and lots of travel,

latest opening at 303 Gallery in New

a wonderful family reunion in Florida

including visits to their three sons and

York City with a party overlooking the

last summer with both of her children,

three granddaughters.

High Line.

her brother and sister, and the

Another one of our artistically

grandchildren. After years of not being

1966 ST. AGNES

talented classmates, Connie Mallinson

able to be together, it was a time she will

Carter Dudley Flemming: carterflemming@gmail.com

Alter, is preparing for a solo exhibition

always treasure.

in Los Angeles. We were proud to see

Star Bales Alterman and her

I have managed to eke out a few

the wonderful article about Connie and

husband, Hal, enjoy going to see their

notes from our classmates this year. I am

her art in the 2022 spring issue of The

three grandchildren in Connecticut

hoping that at this point in our lives, no

Saints Life magazine (sssasmagazine.

as often as they can. Star and Hal are

news is good news!

org). She will also be a featured artist

taking what sounds like a fabulous two-

in a new documentary being made

week trip to Alaska this spring.

Some of us gathered to celebrate our COVID-delayed 55th Reunion in April.

about artists who use plastics in their

Linda “Petey” Cosby continues to

While we had a smaller group than

studio practices to create awareness of

live in Annapolis, Md. and loves being

usual, it gave us the chance to really

the environmental impact. Connie has

close to her two children and their

chat with each other over dinner on

started her own Instagram “magazine,”

families in Davidsonville, Md. and

Saturday night at my house. It was great

ArtIQ (@ArtIQ_cm), where she writes

Winchester, Va.

to see classmates Diane Haldane, Susan

short critical reviews of some of the best

Susan Whittington says she feels

Whittington, Tina Bell, Chris Motley,

contemporary art. This keeps Connie

lucky that she was able to do some post-

Ann Martyn, Lee Vosbeck Hagan,

very busy and she wishes all our class a

pandemic traveling this year with trips

Peggy Johnson Hayes, Patty Jo “PJ”

peace-filled and healthy 2023.

to the Northwest, Montana, and Canada

Leary, Jeanette Tracy, and Liz Anglin

Peg Craig-Kennelly sends greetings

to see old friends and relatives, as well

Simmonds. I hope I remembered all who

from Florida. As usual, her reports are

as Acadia National Park, and a trip to

came from across the country! Some

filled with her wonderful sense of humor.

London.

of us went to a lovely luncheon on the

She reports that, “as aging goes, we

former St. Agnes School campus where

have arrived searching for lots of lost

well with her and husband, John, and

we heard from Head of School Kirsten

things and trying to remember where

“life is good,” for which she “knocks on

Adams and current students. We even

we parked the car.” Last year, she had

wood.”

received a Saints beach towel as a party

her final joint replacement and is now

favor!

Jeannette Tracy reports that all is

And I, Carter Dudley Flemming,

officially a “Bionic Woman.” She says her

am proud to be serving my 57th year

On a sad note, we received word

shoulders and hips are brand new and

as our class secretary. I have tried to

this year that three of our classmates

work better than the original ones she

give it up many times, but so far, no

had died. Our condolences go out to the

was assigned. She and husband, Dennis,

successors have been found. Mike and

families of Diana Worsley Pope, Cindy

don't do much traveling and haven't

I continue to visit our grandchildren in

Hyde Fawsett, and Sarah Brooks Cooke

gone “anywhere except to doctors'

San Francisco and Providence as often

Thorn. We will miss them, and will hold

appointments and the pharmacy to get

as we can. One highlight of this year

the memories of our SAS days with them

the latest jab in the arm.” But like all of

was attending the Cotton Bowl game in

in our hearts.

us, she says they are grateful for every

Dallas in January where my alma mater,

blessing and, “each day we are able to

and perennial losing football team,

walk, talk, and laugh is fabulous.”

Tulane, had a stunning season and

Sara “Pinky” Caples reports that she and her husband, Everado, have written a book entitled “Many Voices:

On a very happy note, Karen Bradley

was ranked #17 in the US and played

Architecture for Social Equity” and it

Burnett says she does have some “news

USC in the bowl game. They won in a

has just been published by London's

that is fit to print.” After being widowed

thrilling last-minute victory, and it made

RIBA Press. You can order it on Amazon

in 2020, a mutual friend introduced

up for all the years of bad games we had

now. The book contains much of

her to a widower and they got married

suffered through! Otherwise, I continue

their 30 years of work, plus work and

in January of this year. This was a

my volunteer “career” and am serving as

interviews with fellow practitioners

wonderful surprise to Karen, as she had

the chair of the Alexandria Federation of

that they admire. Pinky says it was a lot

expected to be single going forward. Best

Civic Associations this year, which keeps

to put in one small book, but it is their

wishes to Karen!

me on top of issues facing Alexandria

most personal statement yet. The new

Liz Anglin Simmonds says after

and its residents. Best to all the Class of

building they designed for the Louis

several health issues for her husband,

1966, and stay in touch when you can.

Armstrong Museum across the street

Terry, they are getting back out on the

from his house in Queens will finally

road in their beloved RV, “Tin Lizzie” to

open this spring. In addition, their son,

explore areas of the U.S.

74 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

1967 ST. AGNES Alice Reno Malone: tammyarm@aol.com

THE NEW ALUMNI BOOK CORNER

From Robin Coffin, “We have had an eventful year as it has been so nice to

Writers Pamela McRae Dux '67 and Elizabeth Herbert Cottrell '67 have

get COVID behind us, at least to some

given in support of creating a new space for books written by alumni, an

extent. Bob and I seem to alternate

idea Pam suggested to the Alumni Office. The new Alumni Book Corner

our time among grandchildren. I love

is located in Lloyd House on the Lower School Campus. If you have

my house in Boulder and try to get out

authored a book, please send a copy to Meredith Robinson, Senior Director

there at least every two months to see

of Alumni Engagement, so it can be added to our shelves! Here are some

my daughter, Treisie, and her children,

recent additions.

Benton (3) and Ellie (1). Benton has

Renowned architects Sara Caples '66 and husband

become quite the skier, so my job this

Everardo Jefferson have been designing for

season is to keep up. We are enjoying

underserved multicultural communities for decades.

Palm Beach and I am working hard on

Their recently published book, “Many Voices:

both my golf game and bridge game. Life

Architecture for Social Equity,” highlights how to

is good!!”

design for social equity through interviews with up-

KC Church is “doing well in

and-coming designers and case studies from all over

Colorado. I play a lot of pickleball and

the world.

bridge and still ski, grateful for my health. Happy 2023!”

Our 55th class reunion was this year, but Beth Grosvenor Boland was the only one to make it back to campus. She shares, “Still, I enjoyed the Classic Saints Lunch, chatting up some staff I've come to know, and shopping at the school store in Macan Hall, where I bought a 'Saint Agnes School Alumna' hoodie! Go Saints! Frank and I still have not been on an airplane since 2019, but we traveled quite a bit by car last year: to the Eastern Shore, Pennsylvania's Amish country, Williamsburg, and elsewhere, as far away as the Adirondacks. On another Upstate New York trip, I discovered that Jill Strachan was in Corning, N.Y. at the same time we were, to talk about her 2021 book “Waterfalls, the Moon, and Sensible Shoes” at a local bookstore!

We enjoyed breakfast together before her talk. In February Elizabeth Herbert Cottrell and I met with Jill to celebrate the publication of her book. Then, in June, I had lunch with Elizabeth to celebrate the publication of her new book. Elizabeth and I try to get together in person every two-three months.”

Elizabeth Herbert Cottrell reports that “publishing my first book (“Heartspoken: How to Write Notes That Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire”) last summer at age 72 was quite an adventure, and now I'm

Pamela McRae

Coming-of-age

Dux '67 writes

novel by Wendy

about spirituality,

Sibbison's '64,

gratefulness,

“Helen in

goodness, and

Trouble” was

hopes to inspire

picked by Kirkus

imaginations and expand hearts and

Reviews as one of the best books of 2022.

minds in her “Simple Books” series for both children and adults. She is

James Haley '60

publishing a book of poetry this year.

published his first

Elizabeth Herbert Cottrell '67 helps readers learn how to use a handwritten note as a superpower tool for connecting, comforting, encouraging, and inspiring others in her new book, “Heartspoken.”

book, “Buddy Green,” about a young man raised on a farm in Culpeper County, Va., at the turn of the 20th century. It traces his journey through the end of World War I. James says novel would not have been written but for the lasting influence of his St. Stephen's English teacher, Willis Wills.

“A Family

Casey Kennedy

Afloat” by Jim

Waesche '87 just

Toomey '79.

completed her

Follow Jim, his

fourth board

wife, Valerie,

book for kids

and two

about personal

children on a 22-month odyssey crossing

accountability and responsibility, diversity

an ocean and visiting 32

and inclusion, and body safety and

countries in their sailboat.

autonomy called “I'm the Boss of Me.”

learning more than I ever wanted

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 75

1967 Classmates Elizabeth Herbert Cottrell, Jill Strachan, and Beth Grosvenor Boland

Alice Reno Malone '67 with her two daughters Katie and Virginia

to know about book marketing. I'm

friendships with family and loved ones.

touched and overwhelmed by the

The highlights of my summer were our

positive response, and I'm daring to

Hampton Family Reunion, a wonderful

think in terms of igniting a Heartspoken

visit with Betsy Knox Peters and her

movement to encourage readers to pick

husband, Buck, in Seattle and Betsy's

up pen and paper and use the powerful

and my visit to Frances Pollak and her

tool of a handwritten note to nourish

husband, Ernie LaBelle, for what we

important relationships (heartspoken.

dubbed as the F.A.B. Slumber Party in

com/book). If anyone's book club reads

Jackson Hole. We wined and dined,

it, I'd be honored to join you by Zoom!

reminisced about the good old days,

I'm so grateful for Pam McRae Dux,

and had a fabulous time exploring The

Beth Grosvenor Boland, and Becky

Grand Tetons and Yellowstone by car, on

Orme Russell who have been my behind-

foot, and in a guided river raft. I am still

the-scenes cheerleaders and active

working part time in the IT department

in my Facebook group 'The Art of the

at Empath Health helping with their

Heartspoken.'”

electronic health (hospice) medical

Pam McRae Dux and husband Jon are enjoying a peaceful retirement in Missouri. They redid some structural

records conversion. It is such a gift to have more time to enjoy life.

Becky Orme Russell has been busy

projects in their home and celebrated

this year with her book club, seeing

their 13th anniversary. Pam continues

Hollins friends at their 50th Reunion

with Simple Books and had such a nice

here in Roanoke, church, and taking

response from SSSAS on establishing

care of her 4-year-old grandson. She

a space in Lloyd house for alumni

loved the Christmas card she received

authored books. She has one more

this year with “The BD” on the cover.

book to be published in 2023. It is a

Alice Reno Malone is still your scribe

poetry book and will join the seven

after 31 years, but loves hearing from

that she already sent for inclusion in

so many of you – more would be better.

the collection of alumni works. Having

“I helped my Dartmouth class celebrate

been able to sample life, live in so many

our 50+1 reunion this past June—great

places, and do so many different kinds

success, except I am now also the class

of work, Pam feels truly blessed. SAS

secretary for the Class of 1971. I've

prepared us to take chances, help others,

discovered I am good at finding people

and to know we have the capacity for

who go missing. Jim is back teaching

unique and fulfilling lives.

at UVA Law with no plexiglass, etc. and

When Alice Meyer thinks of her

I am working on family history and

SAS classmates, she thinks “how

early 19th century history of Virginia

extraordinary we are and that we have

and Kentucky in particular. Younger

known each other for over 55 years!”

daughter Katie is teaching preschool

Last year was a time of renewing

year-round in Nantucket and Virginia

76 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Alice Meyer '67 and Betsy Knox Peters '67

is a chef at Quinnatisset Country Club in Thompson, Conn. and a chef in Williamstown, Mass. when the course closes. I am also trying to pare down all the 'stuff' in the house—an only child of an only child of an only child has much weight to get rid of. Mary Sweeney Payne is correct—very few people want it!”

Mary Sweeney Payne writes, “we're snuggled down for the winter in Downeast Maine hoping this is our last one. Our plan is to put our sweet house on the market in the spring and start thinking about living in warmer climes. We love it here, but the house is becoming more than we want to manage. Winters are hard, although most of the year the weather is close to perfect. Our son, Dan, spent a month with us helping to clean and purge stuff we accumulated here over eight years – plus the detritus from consolidating two homes and one motorhome stored in our back barn. We have grandchildren and a great niece and nephew all planning weddings, so I am hoping to pass along some of the family china, crystal and silver. I continue to act as

the administrator for our Hollins 1971

nature lover!

seeing the boarding department again,

alumnae page. We have an active group

Helen St. John shares, “Last fall, I

and sharing stories with staff about

of 107 classmates who love staying in

made my ballet debut as a miming (and

when I lived there. At the reception

touch, and even hold Zoom cocktail

singing) Montague in a performance

it was great to see people from all the

gatherings. Several SAS sisters also

of Berlioz' 'Romeo et Juliette' with the

years. At our class party I met several of

went to Hollins, so we are able to stay

Atlanta Ballet and the Cathedral Choral

the St. Stephen's guys I had never met!

close. Mike and I adopted a new pup

Society.”

During the year, I traveled in my RV to

this year, a rescue from South Carolina,

Marcia Williams writes, “I have

sweet as honey one minute and a canine

moved to a suburb of Birmingham, Ala.

RV trip, I went to the Portland Blues

tornado the next. We are planning a

to be closer to my brother and sister-in-

Festival. I was catching up with life!

several week driving trip south in April

law. I have become a substitute teacher.

and May, combining visits with friends

Oh, one more thing…after all these years

1972 ST. AGNES

and a family wedding. Perhaps we can

I have become a real, confirmed (with

Edie Beardall Weller: ebweller53@Q.com

see some of my SAS sisters then. I would

a certificate signed by the Bishop and

love it.”

everything!), Episcopalian. I joined my

We “lost” Virginia “Ginger” Voorhees

Texas and twice to Taos, N.M. After the

Greetings to all members of SAS

brother's church when I moved here.

Class of 1972! The highlight of this

but she has been found again living in

It's probably no big deal to you all, but

past year was celebrating the 50th

Seattle. She spent the elementary grades

it means something to me. I love the

anniversary of our graduation with a

with the Class of 1967 transferring

Church, its beliefs, and the way it looks

wonderful reunion on campus last April.

to Madeira for high school and then

at ALL people as God's children. Say

We were blessed to have 20 members

going to Vassar. So pleased that those

hello to our classmates…we are special

of our class travel to Alexandria for

women who were our classmates but did

women, and I am proud to be one of

this occasion. The Alumni Office staff

not finish at SAS are still an important

them.”

and others made us feel very special

component of our class. She hopes to

Barbara Butler Leonard and Chip

and welcome indeed, with a beautiful

come East for her annual trip and we'll

have been traveling as well. Their sons

outdoor luncheon and a gala reception

try to gather.

and families live in Seattle, Denver, and

later at Head of School Kirsten Adams'

Austin, great places for them to visit

home. The following day we enjoyed the

1968 ST. AGNES

several times a year. They celebrated

incredible hospitality of Patti Lieblich,

Barbara Butler Leonard: bbleonard7@gmail.com

their 50th anniversary with a trip to

Marsha Way, Patty Herter Taylor, and

Oberammergau to see the passion play,

Brewster Taylor in an evening filled with

Susan Snodgrass Wynne and her

followed by a cruise on the Danube

stories, pictures, laughter (and probably

husband, Dubby, celebrated their 50th

past all those pretty towns ending in

some tears), and, of course, plenty

anniversary in December 2022 with a

Budapest.

of delicious food and drink! Sunday brought the chance for worship together

weekend in Virginia Beach. Susan has had two busy fundraising years. She

1971 ST. AGNES

in the Upper School Chapel (thanks to

co-chaired her 50th Sweet Briar College

Sara Kathryn Charlton: charltonryan@earthlink.net

Chaplain Sean Cavanaugh) and brunch at a café in Del Ray to cap the weekend's

Reunion and continues to help raise donations for the new children's mental

From Beth Ellis, “2022 found me

celebration.

health pavilion in Norfolk, Va. With the

joining the amazing group of breast

The past year or more has also

alarming post-COVID awareness that

cancer survivors. In April 2022, I

been one of transition for several of

one out of every four children needs

was diagnosed just as I was planning

us. Katie Clarke Hamilton, Susan

counseling, this is a national crisis every

to attend our 50th reunion. After

Adams Hinkle, Margaret Goldstein

community should address. Susan and

three surgeries and five weeks of

Janney, Eleanor Denegre, Olivia

Dubby are fortunate to live near their

daily radiation treatments, my latest

Heavey, and Ann Wade Thompson all

children and grandchildren in Virginia

mammogram in November showed no

have new addresses as they've begun

Beach. She'll miss reconnecting at our

signs of cancer. I was blessed that it was

a new chapter and/or moved into

55th reunion in April 2023, as she and

caught early. I am now back to playing

new opportunities (e.g., retirement,

Dubby will be on a cruise.

tennis with my very supportive group of

downsizing, new job). Margaret, Cindy

ladies.”

Peake, Katie Coleman Pruiett, and I are

Mary Leith Leslie and Dick have been traveling this year. Their

Sara Charlton shares, “I attended

trying out “semi-retirement” (whatever

Yellowstone winter trip was magical with

our reunion in the spring. It was great

that really means!). Several classmates

its pristine beauty (no crowds) and the

to see the few people from our year, but

have welcomed new family members,

many animal sightings, wolves, elk, and

I saw many from the class of 1972! Our

and others of us have said goodbye

bison, and they also did a Utah national

parties were so much fun. The Classic

to beloved ones. That included one

parks trip. Mary says she's turned into a

Saints lunch on the St. Agnes grounds,

of our own members—Anne Barrett

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 77

Terri Shelton '73

a blessing and have kindled the desire to be in closer touch with one another.

There's so much gratitude for those connections —past, present and to come.

Hey, classmates, just realizing it's only four years until our 55th reunion in 2027—mark your calendars now!

1973 ST. AGNES Marion Dawson Robinette: marion.robinette79@gmail.com Greetings from the Class of 1973!

Karen Franklin '73 with her grandchildren at their Christmas recital at their school, Good Shepherd Catholic School in North East, Maryland.

This year is our BIG 5-0. It is hard to believe it has been 50 years since we walked out with our diplomas. As diverse as our class is, we remain a tight and supportive group. We have a text group Dr. Terri L. Shelton '73, Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at University of North Carolina Greensboro, received the Hiram E. Fitzgerald Distinguished Engaged Scholar Award. This highly competitive awards program recognizes exemplary contributions to communityengaged scholarship at public and private higher education institutions. “These projects require a great deal of effort, negotiation, and thought to ensure that they are inclusive, mutually beneficial, and responsive to community needs,” said Engagement Scholarship Consortium President Lauri A. Van Egeren. “Our awardees show the world the possibilities of exemplary engagement scholarship.”

of 14 (out of 36 that is pretty good!) and still hope to increase that number. We want to hear from you.

From Marion Dawson Robinette, “Dan and I continue life on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In June Jane Kincheloe Wiles' son was married on the French Riviera. Afterward, I met up with the Mother of the Bride, Pam Zimmerman Brislin, and Jane for a Viking Wine River Cruise in Bordeaux, France. It was so much fun! We had wine tours and history tours. In September, Jane's Paradise Vineyard Wines were

Karen Franklin '73 with her son Darren, Laureen Jones Mullins '74, and her son Phillip Mullins '07 at the 2022 Alumni of Color Brunch.

featured at The Homestead so Pam and I joined Jane and her son and daughterin-law to celebrate. We enjoyed the warm weather and healing waters and of course the fabulous Paradise Vineyards Wine. It was quite an impressive group of winemakers and wine enthusiasts.

I am continuing to compete with my long-haired dachshund Stanley in scent work. We competed in our first scent

Cole, who passed away at home in San

trial in December and earned ribbons

Rafael, Calif. in March 2022. Last fall,

and qualifiers. He is a hound after all

four classmates were directly impacted

with a very good nose …. Husband Dan's

by Hurricane Ian—Linda Bauknight

granddaughter went to Camp Alleghany

Franklin in Venice, Fla.; Mary McEwen

this past summer. The family tradition

Fitzpatrick in Sarasota; Margaret

continues!!”

Goldstein Janney in Naples; and Julia

Karen Clausen Shields and husband

Kelly in Charleston. Although the storm

Mark have been traveling a lot with four

did some property damage, thankfully

children and two grandchildren (and

all four and their families were safe from

one on the way) in Monterey, Phoenix,

harm. Your prayers and outreach were

Nashville, and Arlington. They spent

much appreciated in that tenuous time!

three weeks touring Israel on their own

Our connections this year —both

and hope to go back! Karen works in

in-person and virtual —have truly been

78 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

the healing prayer ministry at The Falls

Karen Franklin '73 with her granddaughter, Emily.

Church Anglican and is particularly interested in the integration of faith and recent brain science as we understand more about our neural pathways. (Seems clear we're made to thrive in close connection with the God who made us and each other…duh!!!) And she suggests checking out their singer-songwriter son on Spotify—search for STRUAN! After 53 years, Claire Fisher Stock, who attended St. Agnes from kindergarten through eighth grade, has

roll in December and was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society last

Georgia “Doty” Heard '75

May. Karen enjoyed the Alumni of Color Brunch at last year's Alumni Reunion Weekend and had a great time with her son Darren, Laureen Jones Mullins '74, and her son, Phillip Mullins '07.

1975 ST. AGNES Effie Dawson 1973 classmates Liz Bostick, Leslie Treece Fairbairn, and Claire Fisher Stock.

effiedawson00@gmail.com Betty Boatwright Crowley retired from 15 years of teaching social studies (AP and regular World History) at Eastchester High School in New York.

She said she is enjoying the slow life and enjoyed a trip to Morocco in the

Georgia “Doty” Heard '75, is the

fall.

recipient of the 2023 National

Nabers Cabaniss Johnson continues

1973 classmates Jane Kincheloe Wiles, Marion Dawson Robinette, and Pam Zimmerman Brislin.

re-connected with her SAS classmates.

She is thrilled to rejoin the fold and looks forward to getting reacquainted with her childhood friends. Claire and her husband Bob, both retired, are long-time residents of Great Falls, Va. Their daughter Caroline is a senior at American University where she's studying international relations.

Madeline Cooley Flagler reports that her full first year at Tryon as head of education continues to be enjoyable and rewarding. She enjoys small town life. Her granddaughter, Olivia, is two in March and will be joined by a sister in February.

Meg Babyak Tucker reports life is best with her four grandchildren – her oldest granddaughter is a Ghany girl at Camp Alleghany and loving it!

A big “Thank You” to Jane Kincheloe Wiles for hosting wine tasting events for our classmates. We have such fun and she is so gracious. The wine is the BEST. Yum yum!!

Karen Franklin sent a picture of herself with her grandchildren at their Christmas recital at their school, Good Shepherd Catholic School in North East, Md. Karen is proud to report that her granddaughter Emily made the honor

Council of Teachers of English

to juggle time between Riyadh, Saudi

(NCTE) Award for Excellence

Arabia – where her husband, Chris,

in Poetry for Children. NCTE

practices law – her home in Warrenton,

established this award in 1977

Va., and her 93-year-old mother's home

to honor a living American

in Alexandria. Her son, Henry, and

poet for their aggregate work

his wife, Heidi, gave her a grandson,

for children ages 3-13. NCTE

Werner, in April.

recognizes and fosters excellence

Congratulations to Georgia “Doty”

in children's poetry by encouraging

Heard, the recipient of the 2023 NCTE

its publication and by exploring

Award for Excellence in Poetry for

ways to acquaint teachers and

Children. Doty continues to have an

children with poetry through such

amazing career as a poet. Doty lives in

means as publications, programs,

South Florida.

and displays. Doty is the author

Dori Babyak Chappell and her

of 20 books, as well as numerous

husband, Robert, live at Camp

professional books on teaching

Whitehall on the Mattaponi River, next

writing and poetry. Doty's next

door to her mom. Tori Garrett Jones

book, “Welcome to the Wonder

and her family and Rob and Fletch

House,” (co-authored with Rebecca

Brumley '94 are among the recent

Kai Dotlich) is due out on July 11,

SSSAS visitors. Dori saw Maggie Hoy

2023. Doty is a founding member

Ross Heckman and Hugh Hoy '72 at

of the Teachers College Reading

the memorial service in South Carolina

and Writing Project, where she

for Clif Titus. Dori and her sister,

offered professional development in

Meg, and their mom love attending

writing to hundreds of teachers and

Richmond alumni functions. At the

taught writing in classrooms and

last one, they saw Alexandria neighbors

schools.

Brooke Neer '68, Trace Carson '84, and Greg Burnard '77. Dori's mom's minister for the past several years is a grad, Chris Miller '05. Dori and Robert volunteer with the local food bank/ medical clinic and visit their daughter and family in Albuquerque as often as possible.

full-time work in June but still edits part-time for The Washington Post. Her daughter, Allison, who lives in Virginia Beach, got married in June.

Effie Cottman Dawson retired from

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 79

1976 classmates attending Elizabeth Bancroft's '76 memorial service. Front row: Tricia Jennings Kincheloe, Nancy Comb Cook, Sharon Huhn Dennis, Jayne Carson; Back row: Ruth Hazel Little, Amy Goers Rhoads, Mary Connally, Sheree Dobra Freda, Susan Archer Devine, and Kathy Wallace

1976 classmates Sheree Dobra Freda, Mary Connally, and Amy Goers Rhoads at Mary's daughter's wedding.

Amy Goers Rhoads '76 with her daughters, Aya, Tala, and Sarah.

Robert Martini, daughter Miranda Martini, and Mary Connally '76

Husband Dave and Amy Goers Rhoads '76

1976 ST. AGNES

and Charles Sims, Elizabeth Bancroft's

in New Haven, Conn., and my husband

Melissa Ulsaker Maas: mmaas@sssas.org

husband. “Elizabeth was definitely there

Eric's solo practice is busier than ever…

in spirit. We really missed her especially

So much for that retirement idea.”

The Class of 1976 was shocked and

since she was so looking forward to

Leslie Plummer is still living and

devastated to lose our dear friend and

attending after watching Miranda grow

loving Prince William County and has

classmate, Elizabeth Bancroft, on July

up. She was my Matron of Honor when

been renewed as an election officer for

3, 2022 to lung cancer. Elizabeth, wife

Bob and I were married in 1991. I still

the County, her favorite thing in the

to Charles Sims, mother of Charles

miss her so much.”

world to do. She says, “There's nothing

Royce Bancroft Sims and Caleb Coffin

Sharon Huhn Dennis writes: “Our

better than seeing someone's eyes, the

Bancroft Sims, and sister of Mary-

family enjoyed an epic adventure to

McLean Bancroft Jones '80, held a

Ecuador for the wedding of our son, Joe.

special place in our hearts and we will

We arrived early and hiked for several

an exciting year Dave and I have had!

miss her immensely. Our memories of

days in the Amazon Rainforest before

We added three new grand babies this

her are filled with love, laughter, happy

the wedding–truly amazing!

year for a total of eight grandchildren!

times together, and her genuine interest in and care of others.

Margaret Moreau writes: “Our family

very first time they vote.”

Amy Goers Rhodes writes, “What

They have kept us very busy helping out

has had quite a year. Our son, Casey,

and just having fun. We also purchased

was married October 1, 2022 at Aix

a fifth wheel camper and have put it to

daughter, Miranda Martini, was

La Chapelle Farm in Maryland in the

good use with trips to North Carolina

married to William Tenney on Saturday,

midst of Hurricane Ian. Our daughter,

to meet and help with Mia (born July

November 5, 2022 at Castle Hill Inn in

Pembroke, and longtime beau, Justin

23), Raystown Lake and State College in

Newport, R.I. Saints in attendance were

Dhyani, became engaged on December

Pennsyvania, Janes Island State Park in

Sheree Dobra Freda and husband Andy,

31, 2022 on the steps of the Lincoln

Maryland, Gettysburg, and some local

Amy Goers Rhodes and husband Dave,

Memorial. I am still a public defender

camping. We will spend several weeks

Mary Connally writes that her

80 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

them regularly. Their puppy is a big fan of the visits. Kim's mom, aka Murney, is living the dream, in so many ways, at Goodwin House. Kim writes, “The older memories are the strongest, so she was delighted to hear about our reunion.”

According to Leesa Dinwiddie Kerns, 2022 was non-eventful for the most part. Her dad celebrated his 98th birthday in August. Leesa and her husband continue to go between empty nesting and having a full house with two young adults. Their son (24) is working with the American Conservation Corps, Dennis family wedding in May 2022: Son Dave, Sharon Huhn Dennis, son Joe and new wife Katerina, Craig Dennis, and their twins Sandy and Jacob. a tech company and son Alex Bloom '11 is a partner in an entrepreneurial real estate venture with a best friend from college. So far, so good. They both live in Arlington so we are able to spend lots of time together. Couldn't ask for anything more.

1977 ST. AGNES Clara Bell Guess : edenhouse3@gmail.com Jenifer Shockley sent a reunion recap: “Eleven classmates and two Margaret Moreau and Karen Scrivanos Oztemel at Margeret's daughter's wedding.

beloved teachers, Sherley Keith and Becky Fox, celebrated the Class of 1977's 45th reunion with a luncheon

in Key West in Feb 2023 and a big trip circumnavigating Lake Superior in the late summer. We enjoyed attending the beautiful wedding of Mary Connally's daughter in November and catching up with her and Sheree Dobra Freda. It was also an honor to attend the memorial service for Elizabeth Bancroft and see many classmates. It was a beautiful service and a lovely way to remember her life and the joy she brought to mine. She is truly missed.”

Mary “Frizzle” Willis writes that she is retiring this year after running her own tiny Montessori school for 21 years in Boone, N.C. She says it is “bittersweet,” but she and husband John and are fine and looking forward to the spring.

As for me, Melissa Ulsaker Maas, I lost my 98-year-old mother, Patricia Ulsaker, in January. Son Jameson Bloom '13 is a UX designer working for

at Lloyd House, the former boarding department, on October 15, 2022. Mimi Beggs Larsen, who organized the event, did not make it. She was sick with the flu. Of all the rotten luck. Big thanks to Jennie Wills of SSSAS Advancement for hosting us and taking the class photo.

Hope to see everyone at our 50th! Go Greens! Go Golds! Go Saints!”

“The reunion was great fun!” writes Kim Keleher with perfect weather for sitting on the porch and catching up.

Kim's dog training business is doing well. She has switched to smaller dogs though she lets the occasional retriever puppy in. She loves puppies but also helps folks with dogs that have a tough time with city living. Kim writes, “It's really rewarding work. I'm always learning.” Kim and her partner, Tom, have four grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 18 months. Amalie and her parents live in D.C., so they get to see

traveling across the country to many of the national parks and wildlife refuges.

Their daughter (22) finished up twelve years of playing volleyball, including four years at the collegiate level, with her senior season at Bridgewater College.

She graduates with honors in the spring.

Elizabeth Goodwin Knights and her husband, Chet, are happily retired in the Northern Neck of Virginia (NNK) where she went every summer and most weekends. They recently spent three months RV'ing around the country visiting places from their bucket list.

Their youngest, Connor, is an EMT in Christiansburg. Their daughter, Kate, lives with her husband (and horse) in Bermuda, and runs an Airbnb next door to them. Chet's two oldest live in New England, giving them a good excuse for more RV trips to visit the grandkids. Her brother, Lee Goodwin '80 is retired and spends time going between NoVa and his NNK house and cottages near them.

Leesa writes, “It is so much fun getting together with his family of nine children and 18 grandkids.”

Deeme Katson shares, “It was wonderful to reunite with classmates and teachers in October on the SAS grounds. Conversations were lively and ran the gamut from old stories, family talk, and world events to the metaphysical.” She hopes some local classmates can meet up in 2023. Deeme was thrilled to sing in several excellent shows in the last year at Wolf Trap Barns and The Birchmere, part of various troupes paying tribute to the music of Linda Ronstadt, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Van Morrison, and Bruce

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 81

Susan Hepner Siegfried '77 and her family

Mimi Beggs Larsen '77 and her family at her youngest daughter's wedding.

I am in admiration of my fellow Saints.

They are a wonderful group of women that I am honored to know!”

Margaret “Margo” Hannifin is happily residing in Western North Carolina…in a VERY small town. Margie writes that it's “a bit like Mayberry, or Stars Hollow, for younger folks.”

She finally completed the interior renovations on her 1948 craftsman farmhouse. Yes, she lives next to a farm, the house used to be part of it.

Hopefully, she'll be able to get the exterior renovation started and finished

St. Agnes 1977 Fall Luncheon at Lloyd House - Top row: Carol Saberin, Glenis Pittman, Tammy McCrory, Katherine Dols.

Middle Row: Mary Brosnan-Sell, Deeme Katson, Harriet Yancey, Jenifer Shockley. Front Row: Kim Keleher, Becky Fox (former faculty), Sherley Keith (former faculty), Laura Coppa Springsteen. She continues to work

taekwondo since 2006 and has a great

at Williams Legal Group, a plaintiff-

group of folks she works out with daily,

focused boutique law firm which in

many who are of a similar age–“they

the last decade has been devoted to

say you don't stop training because

protecting the civil rights of those in

you get old, you get old because you

institutions or incarcerated. Her three

stop training!” Tammy has gotten

nephews and niece “continue to delight

into bicycling since her son got to

me, some here (McLean) and some

high school, and pretty much bicycles

away (Annapolis, San Diego, Japan).”

everywhere now (she rode 85 miles going

She writes that she's happy to have her

down to Gilroy for her monthly haircut).

Texas-area sister move back to join the

Sean is working as service manager in

four siblings living in the DMV; this year

a nearby bike shop - which is great for

they look forward to a visit from their

the whole family's bike maintenance

brother, the sixth. Deeme's thought for

and bike toy supply! Her husband, Ken,

2023: “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to

is a marathon open water swimmer,

none.”

having completed the triple crown

Tammy McCrory is still living in

(English channel, Catalina channel, and

Santa Clara, Calif. with her husband

Manhattan 20 Bridges), and is training

Ken and now 22-year-old son Sean.

for his next swim in New Zealand (Cook

She works as a scrum master/project

Strait). Tammy writes, “I had a really

manager for Venafi, a cyber-security

great time at our 45th reunion–it was

company. She has been training in

wonderful to see everyone and catch up.

82 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

this year. Margie writes, “I didn't realize till I moved here that all those big cities I lived in were anxiety inducing. Who knew? Funny enough, everyone here pretty much knows each other or are relatives. During renovations I had the pleasure of getting to know several. My contractor turned out to be a childhood friend of one of my fraternity brothers.

Fabulous! Hope I can actually make it to a reunion sooner than later.”

Susan Hepner Siegfried and her husband are now Nana and PawPaw to their two beloved grandchildren who live in Seattle, 2-year-old Remy and 1-yearold Isla. Their daughter, Angela, is enjoying staying home with the kids for now, and their son, Robbie, is a junior at Virginia Tech. Susan takes great pleasure in her job working on IT contracts at the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, her first full-time job since her son was two. She jumped back into the professional world full-time after he started college. Susan and her husband make frequent trips to Seattle to visit

Angela, her husband Ian, and Remy and

with her husband, Philip Graf. She can do

Isla. They went on pilgrimage to Israel

this and her work as an executive coach

with friends from church in February.

for individuals and teams all over the

She writes, “Life is full and happy.”

world thanks to COVID making virtual

Louise Duncan Sigety and husband

working so normal. She writes, “A benefit

Todd recently welcomed their first

from something awful – how resilient we

grandchild. Anna Katherine Redding

are.” When needed she travels to be face-

was born January 15, 2023, to their

to-face, but “I love my work and being

daughter, Kate, and husband Bryan

able to dive into the icy ocean, too. Yes,

Redding. Louise is thrilled to have Kate's

I am one of those cold water swimmers.”

family close by in Alexandria and son

Her children are grown and live in the

Nick and wife Alex not too far away in

U.S., her daughter in Bend, Ore. and her

Richmond. Louise continues to enjoy

son in Ithaca, NY. Her mother Charlotte

retirement from teaching and all of the

Dennis Marnane '55 and father live in

fun it brings, especially water aerobics,

the San Francisco bay area, and she sees

pickleball, subbing, and tutoring. But

them as much as she can.

most especially, Louise enjoys being a new grandmother.

Linda Scheer Williams reports, “Things here on the Outer Banks, N.C.

Anne Yoder writes, “I'm busier than a

have been relatively unchanged since

three-legged dog on ice!” Her son, Dylan,

I last checked in with everyone.” She

graduated from Appalachian State with

is still teaching statistics at Tidewater

a math degree and minor in finance,

Community College. Despite the

having competed on the track and field

movement back to the classroom post-

team throughout on athletic scholarship!

COVID, she is fortunate to still teach

She is one proud mama. He has his first

remotely, which allows her the freedom

post-graduate job working for a solar

to enjoy life on a sandbar. In the fall, she

energy company and seems to be loving

began teaching accounting for Southern

it. Anne is “crazy busy with teaching,

New Hampshire University and is

committee service, and research at

enjoying the change of pace. Anyone

Duke. Starting in May of 2022, I

following her on social media knows she

returned to travel with a vengeance:

is a dog mom to a crazy English Bulldog,

Woods Hole, New Haven, Wrightsville

Myrtle! This year they began competing

Beach, Asheville, Prague, London,

in the AKC Rally. Rally involves Myrtle

Toulouse, Chicago, San Juan Islands,

and Linda working as a team to navigate

Vancouver, and St. Louis. Phew! Happy

a course with numbered signs indicating

to sit a spell at this point!!”

different exercises to perform; like an

Mimi Beggs Larsen reports, “Our

Andy Sidle'78 thinking like William Shakespeare in NYC.

obedience exercise obstacle course.

youngest daughter was married this

Myrtle earned her novice title and has

summer to a wonderful fellow, and their

earned two of three “legs” toward her

wedding created a great photo op.”

intermediate title. Very few bulldogs

Glenis Riegert Pittman is moving

compete, and teaching her the various

to Texas. They are leaving Northern

signs without the use of treats or toys

Virginia and moving to a suburb of Dallas

reminds Linda why they are an anomaly

as her husband has started a new job

in the Rally world. But they have a great

there. When their house sells she will

time, and everyone has a laugh when

join her husband in search of a house in

Myrtle decides that she is “done” and

Texas.

sits down halfway through the course.

Kiki Marnane stays in touch, almost

Linda writes, “I continue to be blessed

daily, with her SAS best friends Jenifer

with good health, a wonderful partner

Shockley, Fran Robertson, Deeme

in Tom, and my sister just three blocks

Katson, and Harriet Slaughter Yancey.

away. The older I get, the less I want

She writes, “They are my solace and my

more, so I suppose wisdom comes with

laughter, and a reason for me to treasure

age.”

my St. Agnes years.” She lives mostly in

Katherine Dols is still acclimating

West Cork, Ireland in a house on the sea

to the new normal these days, thanks

to COVID—gaining (and now trying to lose) the “COVID 10,” working from home, realizing the only clothes she really needs are leggings and big shirts.

She writes, “It was wonderful seeing everyone in October! The class of '77 is such a great group of women!”

Clara Bell “CB” Guess has now been living in rural North Carolina for almost two years. She reports, “We had an estate tag sale in July and sold some but not all of the things in my parents' house.

We are hoping to finish emptying the house and sell it by December 2023.

We're also in the process of looking for a house in Wilson, N.C. My husband, Keith, daughter Julia, and I celebrated my birthday in August in South Carolina with daughter Meg and her family. Our granddaughter, Salem, made the visit extra special!”

1979 ST. AGNES Leslie Keleher Harris has sold her gardening business and is concentrating on her podcast, “Into the Garden with Leslie” (lhgardens.com/). She and her husband Jeff are spending their semiretirement ramping up their travel and keeping up with their six grandchildren.

1980 ST. AGNES Ann Hepburn Webb: the.webbs@verizon.net Happy 2023 to all! Can you believe that we just celebrated a major birthday SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 83

Leslie Keleher Harris '79 with her six grandchildren. last year? Celebrations continue, as

Sophia Phass Doulis celebrated the

Sophia Phass Doulis '80 with son Chris Doulis '16, daughter Catherine Doulis Meyer '12 and new son-in-law Jack Meyer. and Callie Doulis '17.

I compile our notes! This year brings

marriage of her daughter, Catherine

lots of news about travels and yes,

Doulis '12, to Jack Meyer. All of Sophia's

breathtaking in its natural splendor.

grandchildren!

children are “adulting” and working so

Granddaughter Lena Ann Ferrara,

she is an empty nester!

daughter of son Constantine and his

Elizabeth Kryder-Reid has had

wife, Katie, was born on July 15, 2022.

the great privilege to do a year-long

Susie Holleder Connors officially

sabbatical, including a five-month

retired on December 31, 2022, after 17

Lucky for Jessica and Terry, the new

Fulbright Fellowship in France (Feb-

years as the president and CEO of the

family lives nearby in Montclair, Va.,

June 2022). She is working on toxic

Brain Injury Association of America.

only 30 minutes away from them in

heritage—how we remember places

The board of directors created an

Fredericksburg, so they visit often.

of environmental harm and how do

advocacy award in her honor, and she

Jessica's daughter, Jane, continues

we think about the environmental

received many gifts from constituents,

to love living and working out West.

harm associated with heritage sites.

donors, and staff. Susie is enjoying not

Jane's travels have taken her to Maui,

In France, Elizabeth looked at the

working and expects the feeling will last

the Philippines, Costa Rica, India, and

ongoing environmental damage of

for a good long while.

Thailand. Jessica extends an invitation

WWI (mainly from conventional and

Tracy Nelson Geschickter is happy

to classmates who are ever passing

chemical artillery). After teaching back

and healthy in coastal North Carolina.

through Fredericksburg, to give her a

at Indiana University, Indianapolis in

She is planning a trip to Austin, Texas

call.

the fall, Elizabeth traveled to Hungary

with her brother, Scott Nelson '85, to

where she was able to take a short trip

visit sister Lori Nelson Cochran '81. Her

guys, what a year, or two, or three years

to the site of an industrial accident.

father will be visiting as well. It's the first

we've had! Initially I typed Class of 1908

She was joined by Grace, her youngest,

time their family has been together since

instead of 1980, which is telling, as

who was doing her fall semester of her

2016.

far as the length of time it seems we've

senior year in France). Grace is a great

Karen Mierke Hausfeld and husband

Puma Bridges Cornick writes, “Hi

lived in the last three years. By way of

travel buddy and research assistant!

Tim are enjoying retirement in South

updates, our daughter, Elizabeth '13,

Besides the teaching and research,

Chesterfield, Va. All of their grown

is living in Miami teaching high school

Elizabeth continues to row (along

children are in Virginia now, which is a

English, coaching lacrosse, and enjoying

with her husband Tom) and sing in a

plus. Granddaughter Sophie (11) is good

the climate. Keene '21, our son, is in

choir. Her middle daughter bought a

at EVERYTHING she tries.

his sophomore year at W&L, playing

100-year-old house in Indianapolis

Jessica Woodman Godwin reports

lacrosse and in his element. Carter and I

so they help her out occasionally in

that she and husband Terry visited

remain in Del Ray and are still adjusting

the ongoing renovations, and they are

Greece in February 2022. They spent

to being empty nesters! On a sad note,

looking forward to celebrating her oldest

four glorious days in Athens before

my Dad died at the end of March at 85. I

daughter's wedding in March. Elizabeth

boarding a Viking ship to take in many

hope this finds all of you well!”

says there is much to be grateful for in

islands and historic sites. In July 2022

this year of entering our seventh decade!

they traveled to Alaska, which was

84 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

1987 ST. AGNES Anne “Shelly” Webb: shelly.webb.108@gmail.com Hilary Vaughan Flanagan: hilvaughan@yahoo.com Many from the SAS Class of 1987 were present for the various celebrations and events at the SSSAS Alumni Reunion Weekend in April 2022, as we were celebrating our 35th year since graduation. It was hard to believe it Peter Katson '81 with his wife, Angela, and three sons during Christmas 2022.

had been that many years as everybody looks exactly the same! A highlight was meeting at the Lloyd House for a

to Japan in December to visit son Jimmy and spend Christmas together. Jimmy, who is a naval officer, was selected for Jessica Woodman-Godwin '80 with her new granddaughter Lena Ann Ferrara.

a position in the nuclear surface fleet after his recent graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. Because of his wife Angela's upcoming retirement

1980 ST. STEPHEN'S

after 38 years of military service (41 if you count ROTC), this was the first and

Bill Padgett shares, “I celebrated my 60th birthday by graduating Firefighter 2 class. I am now a volunteer fire/

last Christmas with three Katsons in uniform.

medic with Bumpass Volunteer Fire

1982 ST. STEPHEN'S

Department and Lake Anna Rescue.

Randolph Hollerith: RHollerith@cathedral.org

My son, Will, is the chief IT officer for a company that builds satellite computers

Norman Pappous has written

and power supplies. Andrew is finishing

a book, “Wall Street's Grand

his degree in marine transportation with

Deception,” and is developing an app

the specialty of dangerous liquid cargo

(SYFFT) for financial management

and will serve as a ship's officer in the

(wallstreetsgranddeception.com). He is

Merchant Marine. Chris is a senior at

interested in sharing his ideas with like

Virginia Tech in civil engineering and is

minded classmates.

going on to grad school there next year in engineering. My guys are doing well

1986 ST. STEPHEN'S

but they think I need to slow down some.

Never! I continue to work as a senior

In 2020, Dave Squires retired from

technician on gas, diesel, and electric

the Virginia Beach Police Department

agricultural equipment. In my off hours

to become the chief of police in the town

my three senior rescue Labradors and I

of Wrightsville Beach, N.C. Dave's wife,

enjoy the quiet and beauty of Lake Anna,

Ingrid, finished her career as a teacher

Va., where my “forever” waterfront

and is enjoying semi-retirement working

cabin is located. Best wishes to all of my

at the library. Their son is finishing his

classmates!”

fourth year at UVA and will be attending law school next year. If any members of

1981 ST. STEPHEN'S

the SSSAS community find themselves

John Leiner: jgl3a@virginia.edu

near Wrightsville Beach, Dave is always happy to say hello in person. The

Bill Thompson is using his engineering skills to assist his community in the Tampa area after hurricane devastation.

Peter Katson and his family traveled

Squires family wishes all a very happy holiday season.

morning breakfast. As we ate donuts provided by Hilary Vaughan Flanagan, we caught up on each other's lives and then toured the campus, which is now the SSSAS Lower School. Thanks to SSSAS for putting on such a great weekend.

In other news, Mindy DePalma Helms writes that she and her family are still loving life in the “farmlands” of North Carolina and she sends hellos and good wishes to all.

Cecile Lastelic Phillips, who was a big part of coordinating the reunion events, reports that her daughters, Carroll Phillips '18 and Lily Phillips '20, are doing great and it was awesome to have everyone home for the holidays.

Shelly Webb is living in Oakland, Calif. and is now an ordained Buddhist chaplain working for the San Francisco Night Ministry. Shelly and Alice Webb Brown '88 recently had lunch with their old coach and mentor, the legendary Marsha Way, and enjoyed reminiscing together.

Casey Kennedy Waesche shares that “my husband and I moved back to Falls Church to help raise my nephews, and we take our rescue dogs on all of our Airstream adventures when we get the chance to get out of town.”

Congratulations to Casey for the completion of her fourth “ITBOM” (I'm the Boss of Me) book for kids about body safety and autonomy (see p. 75).

Malika Rasheed continues her physical therapy work in neurology at Walter Reed Medical Center treating Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD, where she really enjoys working with U.S. military service members. She

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 85

this year. Claire left her role in the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, Office of Charter Schools, to take on a new challenge as the director of compliance and school support for an education management organization, Charter Schools USA. Claire's husband, Stephen, is in his 12th year as a full professor at N.C. State University. Their daughter, Grace, is a freshman at UNC Chapel Hill, and Greek with Alpha Phi, and son, Nicholas, is a junior in high school.

The family has enjoyed lots of travel, including pandemic travel to Greece, Spain, and St. Maarten. Claire serves as a volunteer member of the board of the charter school she founded, and still enjoys the arts, spending time in Members from the St. Agnes Class of 1987 met at Lloyd House for a morning breakfast to celebrate their 35th Reunion weekend in April 2022. and her family were able to travel in

Caregivers and the American Academy

Southeast Asia in 2022, enjoying the big

of Pediatrics. She travels from Cleveland

cities but connecting more with villagers

to Alexandria frequently to visit family

in the small towns they visited. It feels

and her son at EHS and would love to

wonderful to have classmates who are so

catch up with more area SAS friends on

active and talented in their families and

future visits!

communities!

Julie Eady Rao shares, “I've now lived in Los Angeles for five years. We recently

1988 ST. AGNES

finished building a home in Hawaii (and

Cristin Curry De Silva: ccdesilva1@gmail.com

would love to have friends visit there!), and my youngest child will graduate

Kathleen Hobson Davis is still working as a social worker and mental health advocate with Courage to

from Harvard this spring.” She's looking forward to the 35th reunion in April.

Michelle “Bunny” Lopez has been in Philadelphia for the past six years and has been teaching at the University of Pennsylvania at the Weitzman School of Design in the Master of Fine Arts program as an associate professor. She also has established her sculpture studio in Philadelphia.

Alexandra Scott Thompson shares that she and Gay's sister, Dorothy Gibson '82, became acolytes in December at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle.

Sabrina Gilmore Scanlon reports that she finally joined a band and they had their first gig in December. She says, “Only took me 40 years to make it happen!” There were a number of SSSAS alums in attendance and she's looking forward to many more gigs in the future.

Alexandra Scott Thompson '88 and Dorothy Gibson '82 at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle in December.

86 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Claire Jenkins Porter and family are celebrating 11 years in Raleigh, N.C.,

nature, reading, and keeping up with old friends.

Bethie Kane Knauer writes, “My son, Nate, is 12 and in seventh grade. He is involved in Tae Kwon Do and will be testing for his black belt in March. He is also involved in the Civil Air Patrol in Arlington. I am still practicing full time as a gynecologist/gyn surgery in Southern Maryland where my father started the practice over 40 years ago. My husband, Chris, retired as senior staff director for the Congressional Committee on Oversight and Investigation last October and is enjoying playing guitar and being home.”

Our deepest sympathies go to Bethie and Karen Snyder, whose mothers passed away in December.

1989 ST. AGNES Amanda C. Edwards: acefoto@aol.com Amanda Edwards reports, “I wish I had more to share with everyone this time around but no such luck. It would be tempting to make some stuff up, but the SAS Honor Code and all that.

I can (truthfully) report that Melanie Bartol Jones reunited with Jamie Junghans Shaw, Allison Walker Mowers, and Lisa Watson Burnes '90 last September at an amazing party Lisa hosted at Willie Nelson's ranch in Austin, Texas. Apparently the four of them had a blast dancing, celebrating, and reminiscing while Lukas Nelson,

The Mavericks, and Steve Earle provided

moved to Merritt Island, Fla. in June,

the live background music!

where my partner, James, and I bought

My favorite locker buddy Lori

a tiki hut on the water which happened

Erickson Boterenbrood is preparing for

to come with a house. We enjoy kayaking

her twins to go off to college and for her

and watching rocket launches off our

husband William's upcoming retirement.

pier. We were lucky to be at the center

The couple recently purchased a home

when Artemis I made its historic

in Old Town, where they will begin

launch.”

spending winters in 2024. Lori looks

Jody Carlberg Astrom writes that

forward to reconnecting with local

she “got to catch up and see Katie Quirk

Lambs and Saints.

Cigarran this year in Los Angeles and

My other favorite locker buddy

meet her husband. Their son is going

Tanya Dobrzynski dusted off her trusty

to school there and we got to enjoy a

karaoke machine in early September for

cocktail hour together and they hung

what turned out to be a rocking mini-

out with lil' Niko. I will look forward to

reunion hosted by Alexandra Woodman

more visits from them and reunions

Johnson and her husband Geoff Johnson '89. I was in town for a couple of weeks and Tanya, Angela Miller, and Christina Pfeffer Caporale all came out to play. For those who weren't there in person, I promise you were with us in spirit as we once again belted out the greatest hits of the 1980s. A handful of lucky classmates even received phone calls, FaceTimes and/or voicemails.

You know who you are. And you are welcome.

Alexandra Woodman Johnson and Geoff's son, Ben Johnson '18, possibly still recovering from our singing, has graduated from Gettysburg College and is now working with Teach for America.

He is also a certified EMT. Their other son, Nat Johnson '21, continues to throw beautiful ceramic pieces during his second year of college on an art scholarship, where he is learning the art of glass blowing. Additionally, Nat has added singer and songwriter to his repertoire and brought together seven young musicians for a DC-area gig last summer. Geoff is helping Beauvoir reach new fundraising heights as their director of Institutional Advancement and somehow found the time and energy to cycle 150 miles of the C&O Canal Trail last spring. Meanwhile, Alexandra continues to enjoy her work in elder care and proved an invaluable friend and resource to me as my father was in the final stages of his life last year. I will forever be grateful for the kindness and compassion she showed to my mother and me during an exceptionally difficult

Katherine Schupp Zeringue '90 and partner James at their new tiki hut in Merritt Island, Fla. time. Alexandra has picked up a few new hobbies which include sketching, painting and haiku writing. She also enjoys spending time with classmates Ashley Hanchey Bigelow, Wiley Shelor Hunnicutt, Gratia O'Rourke Barnett, Ann Tiedeman, Pammy Gill, Yasmin Tuazon, Tanya Dobrzynski, Christina Pfeffer Caporale, Angela Miller, and Kim Jefferson, along with Mike Trimble '89, Dwight Grimm '89, and Ian Jones '88.

As for me, I remain in LA and am learning to navigate the tricky “post” COVID freelancing landscape. It's very much one day/gig at a time. I have been lucky enough to see my LA neighbor Wesley Middleton '88 for lunches and such on a fairly regular basis. I've also enjoyed a couple of visits from Mridu Chandra who is busy researching her next exciting documentary film. All things considered, life is good.”

1990 ST. AGNES Aida Knowles: aidalongoknowles@gmail.com Sarah Goldsmith Campos: slgoldsmith@yahoo.com Katherine Quirk Cigarran: kciggo@gmail.com Katherine Schupp Zeringue shares: “I made a big life change last year and accepted a job with NASA's Kennedy Space Center. I continue to do historic preservation and archaeological work as their cultural resources manager. I packed up my condo in Washington, D.C., scooped up the bunnies, and

to also include Jenny Madigan Bright in the mix. My one big item of news is that I just got accepted into the wonderful 30-year-old equity theater in Hollywood called The Actors Co-Op!” Congratulations!

All is the same for Sarah Goldsmith Campos in London. Daughter Virginia is 11 and took her 11+ exams NovemberJanuary to determine which secondary school she will attend in September.

Keep the class notes coming!

1993 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES Caroline Worsley: caroline.worsley@gmail.com Stephen Lastelic: lastelic@gmail.com Gautam Gulati has rejoined the SSSAS Alumni Association Board and his son, Sai Gulati '28, started at SSSAS in the seventh grade. Gautam joins several folks from the Class of '93 who are now parents of Saints, including Cameron Argetsinger (3rd and 9th), Christian Ferry (9th and 12th), Steve Lastelic (3rd), Ian McGrath (2nd), and Chad Stackhouse (6th and 9th).

1996 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES LaKesha Bankston-Glover: ladybugdivinity@gmail.com Yumi Belanga: ybelanga@gmail.com Mark Elberfeld was given a Denis Diderot scholarship to attend the International Artists and Writers Residency at Chateau d'Orquevaux this coming summer. While writing will be front and center, so will the sights of Champagne-Ardenne.

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 87

Nicole Scattolini de Gier '00 with her second child, Max.

2000 classmates Lizi Donatelli, Randall Winnette, Margaret Dyson, Boupha Soulatha Inskeep, and Karen Owens celebrating their birthdays in Key West!

1999 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

Kate Gregg is living on the beach in

Hannah Prentice Traul: hannahtraul@gmail.com

Santa Monica. As reported last spring, she has published her first novel,

Erin McConnell is thrilled that all three of her kids (Alex '30, Charlie '32,

“Paradise City” (kegregg.com).

Megan Dean is living in Houston,

and Stella '35 Blaker) are Saints now

Texas and is busy with having two

and she is enjoying the one glorious

kiddos under 2! She is looking forward to

year that they will all be on the same

coming to our 25th Reunion next year.

campus. She is also enjoying catching

Chris Recla is living in the suburbs of

up with fellow alumni as part of her

Denver, Colo. with his wife Jen, 7-year-

position as vice president of the SSSAS

old daughter Savannah, and 5-year-old

Alumni Association Board, as well as

son Forrest. They are taking advantage

staying active in the school APT. On the

of remote work and plan to live their full

home front, her family recently joined

summer in their mountain condo where

forces with Erin's mom, Pam, to create

they can do plenty of mountain biking

a multigenerational family home in the

and outdoor living.

Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria,

Hannah Prentice Traul has had a

where both Erin and Pam are very

great time getting in touch with everyone

active in the community. They moved in

to work on the newsletter and got to

during Thanksgiving weekend.

attend the Sleepy Thompson Basketball

Garret Thomas '00 in Orlando with wife Melanie, daughter Mekhi, son Giancarlo, and granddaughter Nina Khi Simone Thomas.

Pender Ellett Graves is living in

Tournament this winter. The energy

Charlottesville, Va. and teaching at the

and excitement was fun to see and her

his granddaughter, Nina Khi Simone

outdoor preschool at St. Anne's-Belfield.

kids loved it, especially the TP that was

Thomas, born June 24, 2022.

She enjoys taking her kids that attend

thrown on the court for the Saints' first

STAB to see the varsity sports against

score!

Saints. In fact, one of their loving

Alison Hopkins Cairns and her husband, Peter, welcomed their first child, Margaret Grace (aka Maggie), on

teachers, Megan Grant, just moved to

2000 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

Peter's 40th birthday at Marien Hospital

Alexandria to teach at SSSAS.

Andrew Keen: andrew.keen.04@gmail.com

in Stuttgart, Germany, where Alison and

Elizabeth Donatelli: elizabeth.donatelli@gmail.com

Peter are currently stationed.

Julia Kelly is an accessibility

Tyler Gray continues to make Baton

specialist in the Office of Disability

Rouge, La. home, with his wife and three

Services at the University of Richmond.

Elizabeth “Lizi” Donatelli here with

In May she will complete her Disability

your Class of 2000 updates. It was a big

children. Great news to report: Tyler's

Resource Specialist Graduate Certificate

year for many of us who celebrated our

wife, Sarah, has made a full recovery

from Northern Arizona University.

first birthday in the next decade. I was

from breast cancer and Hutson (7), Ella

lucky enough to share my 40th with

(5), and Townes (2) are overwhelming

school at Browne Academy in

Margaret Dyson, Boupha Soulatha

him daily. Tyler was recently named

Alexandria, Va. and is completing her

Inskeep, Randall Winnette, and Karen

chair of the St. James Episcopal

certificate in school management and

Owens in Key West!

School's board, continuing a legacy of

Kim McCue is head of the lower

leadership from Harvard Business School.

88 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

This year, Garret Thomas celebrated a major milestone with the birth of

Episcopalian schooling for his family.

Andrew Keen now works at CGI

Caitlin Blair '04 married Andrew Fessler on April 10, 2022: Caroline Blair '11, Scarlett Bermingham '04, Andrew Blair '78, Sarah Blair '01 (maid of honor), Rachel Pollard Rodriguez '04 (bridesmaid), Taylor Rains '04, Caitlin Blair '04, Andrew Fessler, Brent Locke '04, Mary Downs Roberts '04 (bridesmaid), Alden Leonard '04, Kendall McBrearty '04 (bridesmaid), Kady McBrearty Paradise '04 (bridesmaid), Sally Griffith '04 time seeing each other, along with Julie Kogut Kasztenja, and all nine of their children, over the winter holiday.

It is with great sadness we end this update sharing the loss of our classmate Seth McClelland. Seth was an entrepreneur who invested in the NOVA/D.C. community, particularly the hospitality scene, where he was dubbed a “Nightlife Pioneer” and host to several Class of 2000 high school reunions. He will be missed.

2002 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES Madia Willis '00 and the co-founders of Black Paper Party with Kelly Clarkson.

Melanie Branting: msbranting@gmail.com Alison Henry: alisontay@gmail.com Virginia Pasley: vbpasley@gmail.com

Federal. His 2022 travels included

the Amazon Black Business Accelerator

England and Northern Italy.

Award, and a grant from Citi which

Nathaniel Savio and his family

was awarded on the Kelly Clarkson

moved back to the Washington metro

Show in December. Black Paper Party

area after seven years overseas. They

was also recognized by Bloomberg as

look forward to spending several years

one of the 50 innovative startups that

near friends and family.

“Rose as America Locked Down.”

Madia Willis has been busy

Nicole Scattolini de Gier had a

running start up Black Paper Party, an

second son, Max, a year ago, and

inclusive seasonal products company.

now lives in Chevy Chase. Maggie

This holiday season the brand was

Klousia Marquis moved to Maryland

available in Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx,

from D.C. a year and a half ago. Emily

Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Macy's to

Pfeiffer-Russell and Ed Russell live

name a few. The co-founders recently

in California again and are married.

won first place at The Workshop at

Nicole, Maggie, and Emily had a great

Macy's first vendor pitch competition,

Mary Humphreys started working as an attorney at Legal Services New York City's Staten Island office, where she represents low-income immigrant clients in removal defense, family visas, and other immigration matters.

She says she is enjoying both her new career and her new boat-centric commute.

Anastasia Morozova and Greg Featherman welcomed Augustus Michael Featherman on March 28, 2022.

Juno Woods, as of Halloween, is working in climate tech at Charm Industrial, focusing on automating SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 89

their carbon sequestration process.

Greenville, S.C. “While in Greenville, I

Last summer, they received a $14,000

met my now fiancée, Madison, and will

to Vancouver, British Columbia to

honorarium to build an art project,

be getting married June 2023,” Alex

pursue a master's in forestry at the

“Charismatic Metafauna,” for Burning

writes.

University of British Columbia. She

Man (an event focused on community,

Camryn Collette recently relocated

is researching how fiber-based food

art, self-expression, and self-reliance

2013 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

packaging materials break down and

held annually in the western U.S.).

Hope Gallagher Ogden: hope.gallagher13@gmail.com

decay over time in terrestrial and

Claire Malkie: clairemalkie@gmail.com

aquatic environments .The main

Brett Williams: brettwlms11@gmail.com

goal of the research is to develop a

2005 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES Eleanor Shaw: ewshaw87@gmail.com Emily Hewitt: ebhewitt@gmail.com

biodegradability evaluation system The Class of 2013 is in an exciting

for bio-based packaging materials

and eventful stage of life. As we

in the food industry, in hopes of

Congratulations to Lee Lisle, who

celebrate our 10th reunion, we raise

finding a product that proves to

recently earned his Ph.D. in computer

our glasses to the numerous weddings

be 100% biodegradable and truly

science at Virginia Tech specializing

we had, graduate and postgraduate

environmentally friendly.

in human-computer interaction in

degrees we gained, promotions

augmented and virtual reality.

we earned, babies we welcomed,

the Duke University School of Law in

companies we founded, and leaps of

May of 2023. After graduation, she will

2011 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

faith in motion. It's been a great year to

be moving to Boston to join the private

Mathias Heller: mfitzheller@gmail.com

be a Saint!

equity transactions team at Ropes &

Meredith Bentsen: meredithbentsen@gmail.com

2016 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

Sarah Lowe will be graduating from

Gray, LLP.

Fionn Fortune: fionn.m.fortune@gmail.com

2018 ST. STEPHEN'S AND ST. AGNES

in New York City since finishing

Haley Hassell: haleyahassell@gmail.com

Lindsey Ellison: lindseyel18@gmail.com

her masters in clinical psychology

Sarah Lowe: sarahelowe20@gmail.com

Charlotte Fontham: cfontham@gmail.com

from Columbia University. While at

Ja'Von Price: javonp17@gmail.com

Afua Nyantakyi: afuanyantakyi@medicalda.com

Danielle Mayall has been living

Columbia she focused her research

Hariel King: hkingphoto@gmail.com

on spirituality and non-traditional

Nicki Gray graduated with her

methods of cure, which led her in

master's in biohazardous threat agents

Annie Dyson graduated from

the direction of psychedelic assisted

and emerging infectious diseases from

University of Virginia and is currently

therapies and similar modalities. She

Georgetown University in May 2022

living in Nashville, Tenn., where she

currently works at Compass Pathways

and is currently applying to medical

works as a labor and delivery nurse at

coordinating Phase 3 clinical trials

school. She volunteers as a firefighter

Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

across the U.S., using psilocybin

and EMT in Fairfax, Va., and works at

Jadyn Chandler graduated from

assisted therapy for treatment resistant

SSSAS as a Middle and Upper School

Towson University with Magna Cum

depression. In addition, she is leading

substitute teacher and head coach of

Laude honors in December 2021 with

a pilot trial at the New York Psychiatric

the Middle School swim team. She

a bachelor's in sport management.

Institute, using breathwork-assisted

loves being back in the community that

In January of 2022 she moved to

therapy for cannabis use disorders.

formed who she is today and thanks

Atlanta and started her master's in

Danielle is passionate and really

her SSSAS family for welcoming her

sport administration at Georgia State

excited to be a part of the revolution of

back this year!

University. In September 2022, she

mental health treatments! Thanks for

Kathleen Connor moved to the

started a job working for Atlanta's NBA

United Kingdom and started a master's

team, the Atlanta Hawks, where she

in publishing media at Oxford-

works with the Brand Experience and

Emmy Award winning casting director

Brookes University. She will graduate

Activation Department!

for her work on “The Proud Family:

in September 2023, and she hopes to

Alexander Kramer graduated in

Louder and Prouder” and Disney's

find a job in the publishing industry

2022 from University of Delaware, and

“Elena of Avalor” animated series.

in the U.K. or U.S. She is really excited

is currently working on his master's in

Patrick Daly reports that he's

to spend more time with her extended

mechanical engineering. He is going to

been spending the winter in Ecuador

family in England and Ireland. She

spend this summer traveling through

exploring the Andes.

also looks forward to traveling during

Eastern Europe.

all of your continued support!

Tatiana Bull is now a two-time

Alex Freedman, a 2015 graduate

her year in England.

Emma Patterson graduated from

Kate Lucas recently moved to Texas

Catholic University of America with a

as senior director of sales for a global

to work at the Forensic Science Center

bachelors of science in environmental

power tool manufacturer and lives in

at the Latent Prints Division.

chemistry in 2022. Emma moved to

of the University of Georgia, works

90 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

saints in action

The Saints Fund provides an opportunity to contribute to the growth of our students.

When you get involved at SSSAS, our entire community benefits from your generosity.

Visit sssas.org/give or use the QR code to make your gift by credit card, bank draft, PayPal, or Venmo.

Thank you for your ongoing support of SSSAS and our tremendous faculty, staff, and students.

Gifts to the 2022-2023 Saints Fund must be received before our fiscal year ends on June 30!

Pawleys Island, S.C. about 45 minutes

from the Tisch School of the Arts.

working at an animal hospital in

south of Myrtle Beach and is currently

He graduated with a bachelor's in

Alexandria, Va. with future plans to go

working for Grand Strand Water and

drama and minored in applied theatre

to veterinary school.

Sewer Authority. She works at a water

(education) and child and adolescent

treatment plant as a water quality

mental health studies. Christian

the U.S. Naval Academy in 2022 with

analyst in the lab.

now lives in N.Y.C. full time. He

a bachelor's in operations research

Jack Siegel graduated with a

said it's great being in the city where

and was commissioned as a Second

bachelor's in political science from

everything is happening and to have

Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Amherst College in 2022. He then

a great community of fellow artists

She moved to Quantico, Va., where

moved to New York City, where he is

surrounding him. He works full time

she attended the Basic School and

working as a consultant for Altman

at NYU's Office of Undergraduate

then moved to Lawton, Okla., where

Solon.

Admissions by day while submitting

she is going to the Marine Corps Basic

auditions for film, television, and

Artillery Officer Course. She is moving

voiceover roles in his free time. He

to Emerald Isle, N.C. in 2023 where

is also venturing into online content

she will be working as an artillery

creation via YouTube soon.

officer in 2nd Battalion 10th Marine

Hariel-Deneen King moved to Baltimore, Md. this year.

Grayson Offutt graduated from University of Virginia in 2022 with a degree in psychology.

Christian Corpening graduated from New York University in 2022

Carroll Phillips graduated from

Lindsey Ellison graduated from

Regiment.

Bucknell University with a bachelor's in animal behavior. She is currently SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 91

MILESTONES

New Additions

Tony Jenifer '04 and Michelle, Maya, October 23, 2022

Chazzo Habliston '09 and Caroline, Mary Quinn, October 31, 2022

Alumni

Rachel Pollard Rodriguez '04 and Chris, Virginia Rose, January 21, 2023

Hope Gallagher Ogden '13 and Patrick, Faye Agnes, July 19, 2022

Rudy H. Lopez '96 and Megan, Isa Panella, December 29, 2022

John Cobb '04 and Jody, James “Jamie” Westbrook, November 28, 2022

Faculty and Staff

Kelly Williamson '99 and Christopher Porcelli, Marie “Joy,” February 15, 2023

Caroline Habliston Morris '06 and Taylor, Francis “Frankie” Calvert, February 3, 2023

Alison Hopkins Cairns '00 and Peter Cairns, Margaret “Maggie” Grace, March 3, 2022

Abigail Holden Ryan '07 and Daniel, Callum Robert, December 15, 2022

(Listings received prior to March 3, 2023)

Harry Floyd '07 and Annabelle Killmer Floyd '07, Ava Catherine, February 2, 2023

Matt Shiroma '01 and Christen, John Matthew “Jack” and Beatrice Leigh “Bea,” October 26, 2022 Michelle Dee '02 and Kyle Stuart '02, Camden James, October 18, 2022 Garry Burke '03 and Da'Yana, Dawsyn Ameera, September 4, 2022

Mary Quinn Habliston 92 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

Meike Cranford (Upper School English Department Chair) and Matthew, Arden Frederick, January 6, 2023

Maggie Taylor '07 and Derek Danner, Emma Lee, February 6, 2023

Rachael Creque (Director of Scheduling, Upper School Registrar and Attendance Manager) and Sherwin Carr, Zayn David Creque Carr, January 13, 2023

Amanda Goodhart Popeck '08 and Ben, Henry “Hank” Rea Popeck, November 30, 2022

Carolyn Fabros (Upper School Front Office Manager) and Rob, Madeline Lee, December 23, 2022

Isa Panella Lopez

Virginia Rose Rodriguez

Nathan Andes (Middle School Spanish Teacher) and Jessica, Caleb Price and Isaac Thomas, September 11, 2022

Marie “Joy” Porcelli

James Westbrook

Faye Agnes Odgen

Margaret Grace Cairns

Francis “Frankie” Calvert

Zayn David Creque Carr

Camden James Stuart

Callum Robert Ryan

Ava Catherine Floyd

Caleb Price & Isaac Thomas Andes

MILESTONES

Weddings (Listings received prior to March 3, 2023)

Alie Cline '09 and Andrew Worsley October 29, 2022

Alumni

Hunter Fairchild '11 and Katie Jordan October 14, 2022

Mala Soulatha '07 and Ben Mack October 29, 2022

Cat Doulis '12 and Jack Meyer September 17, 2022

Andy Rouhafzai '07 and Naomi Shagam January 27, 2023

Maggie Edmunds '12 and Angus McIntyre September 24, 2022

Jason Neithamer '08 and Brittany October 22, 2022

Monika Dammann '13 and Alex Andony December 3, 2022

Faculty and Staff Mark Gannon (Middle School English Teacher) and Sara Peters September 3, 2022 Staci Alario (First Grade Teacher) and Timothy Gilbride October 29, 2022 Ricky Drummond (Middle School Performing Arts Teacher) and Emily Stern October 2, 2022

Lila Samperton '08 and JJ Occi November 5, 2022

Ben Mack and Mala Soulatha '07

Monika Dammann '13 and Alex Andony

Lila Samperton '08 and JJ Occi

Sara Peters and Mark Gannon

Andrew Worsley and Alie Cline '09

Angus McIntyre and Maggie Edmunds '12

Timothy Gilbride and Staci Alario

Ricky Drummond and Emily Stern

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 93

IN MEMORIAM

In Memoriam (Listings received prior to March 3, 2023)

Charles Engh Sr. '56

Gordon Fillingame '61

brother of Gerard “Jerry” Engh '59

December 31, 2022

Alumni

and Sally Reger Engh '58, father of Andy Engh, Jr. '77, grandfather of

James “Jim” Harris '62

Douglas Lindsey '41

Charlie Engh, III '12, and Catherine

October 8, 2022

husband of Sara Ann McMullen

Engh '07, uncle to Kelly Holden '83,

Lindsey '43 (deceased), father of

Jason Engh '89, Jeremy Engh '91,

John Skonberg '63

Bob Lindsey '75, Ann Lindsey '72

and Jonathan Engh '93

December 13, 2022

(deceased), grandfather of Brittany

May 30, 2022 Arnold “Arnie” T. Phillips '63

Lindsey '06 November 29, 2022

Patricia “Pat” DeLashmutt Ford '56

brother of Tyler Phillips '61

sister of Betty Delashmut '56

January 27, 2023

Julia “Judy” Hamilton Harms '44

(deceased)

August 8, 2022

November 6, 2022

Permilia “Mina” Burgess

Gilmore “Bim” Wheeler '58

Eggerton '46

February 11, 2023

Diana Worsley Pope '66 sister of Bill Worsley '69

John Twombly '67

November 29, 2022 Barbara Pates Frisbie '59 Carla Spaatz Thomas '49

Tyler Suiters '87 Connie Clark Middleton '59

January 13, 2022

94 ST. STEPHEN’S AND ST. AGNES

September 18, 2021

August 6, 2022

December 13, 2022 Sarabeth Glascock Smith '51

July 9, 2022

January 7, 2023

January 24, 2023

Juli Keller McKinney '88 sister of Jacqui Keller '86, daughter of Debbie Keller (former staff ) February 3, 2023 Brian Bernhart '90 brother of Brendan Bernhart '88 November 11, 2022 Brian Woodward '91 November 16, 2022 Seth McClelland '00 son of Anne Thomas '79 (deceased), nephew of Griff Thomas '77, grandson of Henry Thomas '52 (deceased) November 12, 2022

Family and Friends David Wherry father of Kenneth Wherry '66 March 7, 2021 William Hamilton husband of Katie Clarke Hamilton '72 July 26, 2021 James Halbert husband of Rosa Ruckner

Michael Gerson

Donna Lafeve

father of Nick Gerson '16 and

mother of David Lafeve '90

Michael “Bucky” Gerson '13

(deceased), Don Lafeve '94,

November 17, 2022

and Ann Lafeve Snyder '03 January 12, 2023

Margaret Snyder mother of Richard Snyder '85

Joann Noonan

and Karen Snyder '88

mother of Brendan Noonan '93

December 3, 2022

January 22, 2023

Elizabeth “Beth” Irwin Kane

Kenneth R. “Ray” Augst, Jr

April 3, 2022

mother of Elizabeth “Bethie”

(former Board of Governors)

Kane '88

father of Susan Augst Roll '81,

Lawrence Brodie

December 30, 2022

Joan Augst Fox '83, John Augst

Halbert '68 2022 Alvin Hall husband of Cherie Cude Hall '57

husband of Sally Jones Brodie '65

'94, and Bobby Augst '95 Shirley Cooper

January 23, 2023

April 26, 2022

mother of Katherine Cooper Hoffman '87

Nancy Griffith

Caroline Johnston (former faculty)

January 9, 2023

wife of Kenneth “Ken”

August 3, 2022 Calvin “Vin” Neithamer father of Jason Neithamer '08 and Greg Neithamer '09 November 4, 2022

Griffith '60 Patricia Ulsaker

January 29, 2023

mother of Melissa Ulsaker Maas '76, grandmother of Alex

Ronald Smoker

Bloom '11 and Jameson Bloom '13

father of Tammy Smoker '93

January 10, 2023

February 5, 2023

SPRING 2023 THE SAINTS LIFE 95

400 Fontaine Street Alexandria, Virginia 22302 If the addressee no longer lives at this address, please contact the school: 703-212-2720 or atoman@sssas.org

Save the Date for the

2023 HALL of FAME Friday, September 29