Spring - Summer 2002

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News Spring / Summer 2002 Volume XV, Number 1 Editor Jane D. McCarthy Design Timothy R. Ditch and Jane D. McCarthy Contributors David V. Babbott, Elizabeth A. Bowman, Monique L. DeVane, Alisa D. McCoy, Kurt R. Meyer, Samuel A. “Pete” Pond CdeP 1932, Sara Sackner, Joy Sawyer-Mulligan, and Peggy Whyte Photography Phil Channing, Elizabeth Reynolds Mahoney CdeP 1988, Jane D. McCarthy, Sara Sackner, Joy Sawyer-Mulligan, and Timothy O Teaque Cover Photo Cricket and Terry Twichell end 33 years of service to Thacher and enter retirement this summer

From the Head

Alumni Profiles

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28 The Tutt Bowl Winners: What’s Become of Them?

The Here—The Now

Campus Activities 5

Tea for the Twichells

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The Common Book: The Color of Water

10 Tidbits, Numeracy Puzzle 11 Grand Days with Grandparents 12 Gymkhana Weekend 14 Gymkhana Chapel Message: Shared Disasters 16 Spring Sports

Photo by Elizabeth R. Mahoney CdeP 1988

18 Commencement 2002 The Thacher News magazine is published twice a year by The Thacher School, and is sent free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of the School. In preparing this report, every effort was made to ensure that it is accurate and complete. If there is an omission or an error in spelling, please accept our apologies and notify the Head of School’s Office at The Thacher School, 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, California 93023-9001, call (805) 646-4377, or email jmccarthy@thacher.org.

Third Class postage is paid at the Oxnard Post Office.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to the preceding address.

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MEMBER

C Printed by Ventura Printing with soy-based inks on recycled paper.

21 Awards 22 Senior Exhibitions, College Matriculation 23 School Chair Address: Building a New School Year 24 Senior Banquet Address: A Time of Reflection 26 The Campaign for Thacher

30 W. Denys Purcell CdeP 1967 Building on Lessons Learned 32 Benjamin F. Carter CdeP 1974 Returning to His Roots 34 William S. Anderson CdeP 1976 An Enduring and Endearing Friendship 36 Erin J. Rosen CdeP 1988 Reading Between the Lines 38 David O. Amuda CdeP 1990 Opening a World of Opportunities 40 Joshua Jade CdeP 1991 The Beat Goes On 42 Cesar G. Gerardo, Jr. CdeP 1998 Inspired Wanderlust 44 William R. Barkan CdeP 2002 Overcoming Challenges with Panache

Alumni News 46 Bookshelf: I Was There: Rumor Fable Exploit 48 Class Notes 52 Obituaries 54 Reunion 57 Historical Society 59 Calendar

From the Head of School

Head The Here—The Now The Best Year Yet

The following remarks were given by Michael K. Mulligan, Head of School, at the conclusion of the All-School Banquet, May 30, 2002. Held on The Pergola under the pepper trees and served by the freshman class, the event is the final moment during which the whole student-faculty community is together, a natural book-end to September’s New Year’s Banquet.

ccasionally, parts of the school year—sometimes even at Thacher—can be characterized by an overwhelming sense of “Let’s just get this whole thing over with.” In saying this, I have no doubt that many of you, seniors especially, have felt this, especially as the year has gained momentum towards its end: as you meticulously crafted your college applications, as you prepared for your Senior Exhibitions and your final examinations, as you waded through your final weeks prior to graduation. And, there’s no embarrassment in feeling this impatience. How natural it is, while slogging through our present work, to look eagerly to the next challenge and opportunity.

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Michael Mulligan with Cowboy

by Michael K. Mulligan

this was indeed “the best year yet.” More of us, faculty and students, seemed to enjoy this year as it unfolded. Somehow we embraced each moment as it occurred. We celebrated each other’s company, we laughed together, we mourned together (even as the academic year was literally just beginning, on September 11), we gained strength from each other’s successes, and we found a sense of well being and achievement in the unique activities of this School.

I recall dances and Assemblies and even Formal Dinners where repartees, jibes, and retorts brought peals of laughter echoing through the Dining Room. I think of those electric moments at Gymkhanas and at any number of athletic contests throughout the year. (Consider for a moment about the stunning competitiveness and sportsmanship at the Cate Fall Weekend varsity soccer game, or the comefrom-behind-victory of the baseball team at the CIF semi-finals, or the Varsity Girls’ Soccer success in the playoffs.) Think of those moments which I know you experienced on your various outdoor expeditions—even in your discomfort— where you persevered despite the conditions (heat, cold, altitude, fatigue) knowing that the challenge, the growing itself, is ultimately what it is all about. I think of Leland Franklin, new to Thacher, trudging up Mt. Langley, croaking, “Mr. Mulligan, I am way beyond my limits.” Yet, he made that ascent and descent, and we both agreed that limits are not what we think they are.

Despite this most natural tendency, though, I think that this year has been qualitatively different for us as a School. Many of you—both seniors and underclassmen—have evinced an appreciation of the experience of Thacher in the here and now. I know this because you have told me so, and because I have watched you celebrate, in both quiet and boisterous ways, your time together—a healthy counterpoint to what I often hear alumni say when they return: “Oh how I wish I had appreciated what Thacher had to offer while I was here!”

My personal favorite moment of the School year (clearly a “here and now” kind of event) took place just last week on my camping trip.

After a long and beautiful horseback ride through the canopied oak forests and over the high portreros and mountain ridges of the central California coastal mountains, we worked our way down to the windswept, unspoiled beaches of Point Conception. Monique Gaskins, Matt O’Meara, Heidi Cole, Libby Rauner, Andrew Ma, Rob Bray, Amanda Grumman, and I raced down into the ocean, acquainted My friends, to enjoy what you have while you our horses with the charging sea and the dehave it: that is sublime, and it is living the best cidedly—from the horses’ point of view— kind of life. To be able to appreciate the mo- nerve-wracking surf. We met the seals as they ment; to find the beauty in each day; to hold arched their heads out of the waves to ask, nuance; to embrace success and failure and “Who are these strange creatures?” And we harmony and conflict as each unfolds: enlight- were even so fortunate as to look out upon a pod of gray whales spouting. enment begins in such gesture.

In looking back over this year, I can say with Monique and Matt raced hell-bent-for-leather some certitude that from my vantage point, down the coastline while Heidi Cole bareSpring / Summer 2002 page 3

backed on Classic down to the surf—and then raced back out twice as fast. (She decided that wisdom dictated it best to bail out on the beach before Classic did his 60-to-0 stop at the other horses.) Libby Rauner and I took our horses through the breaking waves out over their heads, which is, as you might imagine, no mean feat. We had to make it through that point where the waves were crashing over all of our heads. The horses weren’t so sure about that part. When we got beyond the breaking waves and in the deep, we slid off our horses backs, firmly grabbed their tails, and were given equine water tows as we—horses and cargo—rose and fell with the rollers, lifted from trough to peak through the cresting sea.

On this exhilarating trip, our small band of horse campers were fully alive, caught neither in anticipation of the future nor contemplation of the past; we were uplifted with energy and happiness. The ocean, the high-stepping horses, the seals and whales, the camraderie.

Could it get any better? It was a day of grace, to be sure.

Not to be forgotten, however, is that we were able to enjoy this experience because we had planned this trip for weeks, because we had ridden all day, and most importantly, because we were among friends who supported each other and looked for the best in each other.

And now to draw a not-so—subtle point: Great experiences and positive memories, harmony, happiness, and well-being in our lives are not a matter of luck. They don’t just happen. We had those experiences that day, and we’ve had a great year here because, by and large, we’ve been willing to work hard, to place our emphasis on the good, and to look for the best in each other and each situation.

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We’ve tried to make the right decisions (a School year with so few major problems? Fabulous!), to extend ourselves, to do the right thing, to try to live for what this School stands for. This has made all the difference.

I recently heard a story recounted originally by the Cherokee. An elder tells his grandchild that there is a fight going on inside himself. He says that it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil and is driven by anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, superiority, lies, and ego. The opposing wolf is all goodness: joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.

The child looks at the elder and says, “Which wolf wins?”

The elder replies, “The one I feed.”

Our happiness depends on that which we nourish inside of ourselves, where we put our attention, what we think is important, and how we spend our energy. It makes all the difference to who we are and who we become.

As a passage in the New Testament states: “Wheresoever your thoughts dwell, there so you live.” This year, collectively speaking, we have nourished the better part of ourselves and we’ve been rewarded with a sense of grace as a result.

As the School Head, I wish to thank you, the students, the seniors particularly, and this incredibly dedicated and loving faculty and staff for making an effort to feed only the good wolf.

This truly has been “the best year yet,” and it has been one, miraculously enough, that we were, collectively speaking, able to enjoy as it unfolded. As I said, that is sublime, indeed. e

Campus Activities

Tribute Tea for the Twichells On a Roll with Cricket and Terry Twichell

by Denise C. Miller with help from Janet Miller Cipriano CdeP 1978, Christopher “Kit” B. Miller CdeP 1980, and Nichole “Nicki” D. Miller CdeP 1983

The Twichell Clan: Katie, Molly with daughter Jordan, Jonathan, Cricket, Derick Perry with daughter Evan, and Terry

rederick C. Twichell, his wife Marian, and their three children, Molly, Jonathan, and Katie, arrived in Ojai, California, in 1969, seeking warmer winter temperatures among other things. It was not their original plan to make this move a permanent one but rather it was seen as a temporary venture. Then it would be back to New England or some place back East, to the more tried and true and to family roots. Terry was coming to Thacher as chairman of the Mathematics Department, bringing with him the experience of being a boarding school student at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts, and after Middlebury, returning to Berkshire as a teacher of mathematics.

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Kit Miller CdeP 1980 wrote: “I once spent a summer working with Terry in the Maintenance Department at School, cutting brush, hauling hay and furniture, and doing odd jobs.

Although not intellectually challenging to be sure, we managed to have fun doing everyday jobs; the work was always done on time and done right.

It was apparent from the first that Terry would be a welcome addition to The Thacher School faculty. He was comfortable and at ease, and the students who were in his classes Former Director of Annual Giving Nick Lefferts was on hand enjoyed his humor and expertise. for the Twichells’ Retirement Tea Spring / Summer 2002 page 5

“I’ve never figured out how Terry does it, and I’ve been a student in his classroom, a prefect in his dormitory, and a fundraiser on his telethons. He has a rare ability to instill his imagination and his energy into any task and, when it is completed, the work is invariably done with precision. More remarkable though is that students and co-participants are often surprised to discover that the process was lighthearted and often uproarious.

“I am sure I learned a lot in Terry’s freshman math class, but my enduring memories are of contests to see who could draw the most perfect circle on the chalkboard. Incredibly, Terry, who was both the loudest contestant and the only person with a vote, never lost.”

Terry and Cricket moved into the Upper School apartment when they first arrived at Thacher and shortly thereafter to the house on the hill where Terry could cultivate his garden and Cricket could cook for mobs, and they could both do their work as counselors and Jonathan Twichell CdeP 1983 (and his brother-in-law Derick Perry CdeP 1983, not pictured) tells tall tales of Twichell life at Thacher

writing articles about alumni for School pub- and they moved into the dorms that Terry lications, realizing a talent which she has de- oversaw. Although the change was welcomed, there was much to learn that first year. Terry veloped into an art. rose to the challenge, and he and Cricket The foreign students at Thacher were looking played an “integral part in making being a girl for a way to meet and share some of their in- at Thacher a great experience,” says Janet terests, foods, traditions, and concerns. Cricket Miller Cipriano, one of Terry’s dorm prefects and Terry opened their home to them and that first year.

Cricket became the advisor to the Foreign Student Club which met regularly and was an im- In 1983, Terry moved from the classroom to portant part of the School experience for many. the Development Office, first as Director of Cricket and Terry made a big and welcome dif- Annual Giving and Alumni Affairs and, in ference to these young people.

1986, to be the Director of Development; and he has remained in that capacity until now. He learned to make the telephone an extension of himself and could often be seen talking away, establishing contacts and renewing friendships. Fortunately, he didn’t give up the classroom entirely, teaching some mathematics when there was a need and willingly coaching lacrosse during the winter season. Even as the busy head of Development, Cricket Twichell: a lady of many hats however, Terry was always willing to help students. And his garden continued to grow, friends. Terry as head of a dormitory was firm; thanks to his determination and effort. Fresh he never compromised his principles of kindvegetables and flowers and grapes were—and ness, fairness, and truth, and his charges in the are—his relaxation and delight. dorm and in the classroom respected him and, importantly, liked him.

Both Twichells love the mountains. Cricket’s Cricket, meanwhile, was finding a place for admonition that “them hills is loaded with herself as well. Her house was always open varmints” has not stopped them from going and inviting, a bit of New England in the midon many Extra-Day Trips, walking to Twin dle of an orchard in Southern California. Her Peaks for breakfast, leading friends into the dry sense of humor often had us laughing at hills around Thacher. Those walks are enjokes and stories. Cricket became involved livened by explanations about local fauna and with doings in Ojai, becoming an active parflora and legend, and they are never dull. ticipant in Toastmasters where she learned to Golden Trout Camp, however, is an important overcome a reluctance to speak in public. And, part of the Twichells’ contribution to the as her children and family matured, she be- Terry’s New York Letterman’s jacket for 33 years School. Alumni families have joined Cricket of service to Thacher came more involved in The Thacher School. and Terry there for a week at a time, sitting She worked in the Admission Office for a num- We all agree that coeducation was a welcome around the campfire in the evening after a good ber of years, putting applicants and their fam- change at The Thacher School. In 1977 girls meal, reliving memories and forming new ones. ilies at ease. She began interviewing and were admitted to the School for the first time Cricket and Terry have helped make Golden page 6 The Thacher News

Trout a memorable experience for those who make their reservations early.

Today the Twichells have their own house in Ojai and grandchildren nearby. The house has an orchard and a garden to tend. The pocket gophers and Terry may have reached an agreement so that there will be vegetables and fruit to eat and enjoy. Cricket has flowers in pots to enjoy as well, and there is a spectacular rose garden. The sound of children laughing and playing adds to a feeling of comfort. It feels right.

Molly, Jonathan, and Katie will see to it that there is a tire swing for the young children to twirl on just as there was at Thacher. Nicki remembers “… raiding the Twichell kitchen for tasty after-school snacks, celebrating birthdays together, and always laughing.”

That will continue. The Twichell family has touched many people, making them feel welcome and encouraging them to set goals and Edgar “Ted” Rhodes CdeP 1965 roasts Cricket and Terry to reach for them. “There are not many people who have shared as much as we all have as faculty brats—both before we were students at Thacher and while we were enrolled at the School. It was a special time,” Nicki

Head of School Michael Mulligan with Cricket and Terry

says. Nicki is particularly grateful to Terry for having patiently taught her mathematics, without drawing a perfect circle on the chalkboard, and to Cricket for her warm and welcoming smile.

Cricket and Terry are now very involved with community affairs. Terry is a Rotarian, he and Cricket are involved members of the Ojai Museum, and both are active members of their church. Ojai and The Thacher School are fortunate that the Twichells decided that their move to the West should be a permanent one after all. It only took them 30-odd years! e Spring / Summer 2002 page 7

Campus Activities

Reading The Common Book James McBrides’ The Color of Water

henever any of Ruth M c B r i d e - J o r d a n ’s mixed-race children asked about her race she always told them she was the color of water. An extremely private woman, McBride-Jordan’s refusal to admit any detail of her past, marked her incredible journey from daughter of an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, to widow of two black men—including a Baptist minister with whom she founded a church in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn—and mother of 12.

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The Common Book for the summer of 2002 is Gretel Ehrlich’s beautifully written book, The Solace of Open Spaces. Written by a “local” author and Thacher friend (Ms. Ehrlich splits her time between Goleta and Wyoming, and she has spoken at Thacher), this selection was made because of the piece’s interdisciplinary nature, its potential for teaching and discussion, and its thematic relevance, namely: personal growth, the West, land, and its stewardship.

Ms. Ehrlich discovered the therapeutic qualities of the West in 1976, a time of personal crisis, when she moved from the East to a small farm in Wyoming to find peace of mind and inspiration. Originally, she had gone west to make a film for PBS; she returned to work with neighbors at cattleand sheep-ranching, taking pleasure in open spaces. She writes with sensitivity and affection about people, the seasons, and the landscape. Whether she is enjoying solitude or companionship, her writing evokes the romance and timelessness of the West. She’ll share more about The Solace of Open Spaces when she visits Thacher later this school year.

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The Thacher News

After her second husband died, McBride-Jordan struggled to put all 12 children through college and most of them through graduate school.

All of her children pursued successful careers in medicine, chemistry, education, journalism, and teaching, before they knew their mother’s maiden name. What is remarkable about her story—and that of her family—is not the prominent role race or religion plays in it, but a mother’s love for her children and how that love translates into their accomplishments.

by Yasmin T. Tong CdeP 1984

ligious home. In McBride’s world, humanity transcends race, class, and gender. Many are predisposed to categorize his latest book, Miracle at St. Anna, a work of fiction based on real events during World War II, as a war story, but it is fundamentally about the commonality of the human experience.

Miracle at St. Anna explores the subject [universality of the human experience] through the journey of two human beings who, on the face of things, have nothing in common: an illiterate black soldier from the American South, “a colossus of a man and a six-year-old Italian boy who has lost his memory after witnessing a horrible atrocity. In fact they are both innocents. And they are both victims.”

McBride is an awe-inspiring combination of diligence and creativity. He needed 14 years to collect his mother’s story in its entirety, and to interview family friends, siblings, and other relatives to complete The Color of Water, which was published in 1996. That same year he began work on his second book, and received not only the American Arts and Letters Richard Rodgers Award, but also the ASCAP Richard Rodgers Horizons Award, for his compositions for musical theater. As a musician, McBride is an accomplished jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger, who has written music for Anita Baker, Grover Washington, Jr., and other wellRuth’s eighth child, James McBride, chronicles known recording artists. He has toured with nuher story and his own—a struggle to make merous artists, including Little Jimmy Scott peace with his mixed race heritage—in the and Michael Jackson. best-selling memoir, The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to his White Mother. McBride managed to shoe horn a brief visit to McBride visited the Thacher campus this Thacher into his extremely busy schedule. He spring to talk about his work, his family, and appeared at the School shortly after winding his hopes. down a 39-day 30-city tour to promote The Miracle at St. Anna. Two days later he was McBride is the first author to appear at scheduled to leave for Australia for another seThacher in connection with the School’s new ries of appearances. summer book program, The Common Book, in which all students and faculty are responsi- McBride at Thacher ble for reading the same book, to encourage discussion and to provide a common reference McBride arrives at The Thacher School in a point. Works by living authors are chosen so bright yellow, rented convertible Mustang on a that the authors can be invited to the School to sunny Saturday afternoon when the heady interact with students and faculty. The Color of aroma of orange blossoms hangs thick in the Water is a popular selection among compara- air. “People are really casual here,” he says. ble community reading programs and is re- “Nobody in California dresses.” McBride, in quired reading at countless universities and contrast, is self-consciously stylish wearing a schools. fedora, suede tennis shoes the color of a Hershey chocolate bar, and a gold ring in his left McBride’s life and work radiate with the ex- ear. He is the epitome of 1940s jazz cool, howperience of growing up poor and black in ever, he seems out of place and out of step at Brooklyn with 11 siblings in a profoundly re- Thacher.

But McBride has much more to say about the morals and future of this country throughout the afternoon and evening he spends at the School. “You make a mistake when you commit to this American life of excess. We ask young people to change the world. We talk about peace and love, and going to school. Yet our heroes are people who have made avarice a high-class form of thuggery.”

As he is escorted to the auditorium, a faculty member drives by and yells at him, “I’d recognize that hat anywhere.”

“Were they talking to me?” he asks. “How do they know this hat? I have lots of hats.”

After a quick tour of the auditorium where he will be speaking later in the evening, he takes a look around at the three grand pianos, appraises the room where he will give his presentation and says, “This sure ain’t Brooklyn, man.” McBride is at home in the public schools of the South Bronx or the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn where he grew up.

“I share with them the same thing,” says McBride of those inner-city students. “There’s nothing unique about me. Success is relative. It is the result of learning how to fail, and that’s something that anyone can identify with.”

McBride’s ambitious schedule of concerts, book tours, and personal appearances would exhaust even the most energetic of people, and it is obvious that the hectic pace is taking its toll on him.

A non-smoker, he starts puffing on a cigarette within 10 minutes of arriving at the School, after a five-hour drive from San Diego.

When McBride greets his Thacher audience, the nearly-full auditorium responds with laughter. “It’s a pleasure to see so many white people, I mean nice people in the audience tonight,” he says. A less engaging and compelling guest would have run the risk of offending, but McBride instantly warmed up to his enthusiastic audience and explained the aftermath of his memoir among his family, specifically his mother (whom he still calls Mommy at the age of 46).

After giving his mother an advance copy of The Color of Water, McBride called to hear her reaction. On two consecutive days his sister answered the phone, “Mommy’s locked herself in the bedroom and won’t stop crying.”

McBride does not claim to have any answers to solve the world’s problems, but he does know how to fix cars. He reads how-to manuals to relax, and rebuilds cars in his spare time—he sold a ’63 Chevy and ’68 Volvo after completing the repairs. He re-writes everything, including letters and notes, and wastes no time sleeping: “I get up at 4:30 a.m., write for a couple of hours, and play [saxophone] for an hour.”

Towards the end of his speech, McBride shares his songwriting philosophy

McBride’s disciplined creative practice also relies on absorbing the details of everyday life. “I Finally, “on the third day, biblically, Mommy observe and listen at bars, restaurants, came out of the room,” explains McBride, and foundries, rock quarries, barber shops, everywith dry eyes gave her highly anticipated as- where. Listening is a big part of being an sessment of the book, her life story. “It’s artist.” okay,”she said.

These days, McBride is focusing more attenThe Color of Water created new opportunities tion to music since completing his second for McBride, personally and professionally, but book, and draws inspiration from a wide vait also helped his mother reunite with a close riety of musical traditions, including Jewish high school friend, and make peace with the klezmer, country and western, bluegrass, and sister she abandoned. That first book also en- jazz. “I’m partial to jazz, but country musiabled the author to meet and to establish a re- cians are the last real American songwriters. lationship with some of his Jewish relatives. They use real instruments and stories in their McBride is grateful for these opportunities, but songs. “There’s lots of humantity.” He tours is wary of the implications for his public per- New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania with sona. “People want to paint me into this corner a 12-piece jazz R&B band, of which he is the of being the Deepak Chopra of black-white re- leader, and travels around the country and inlations. Authors have a responsibility to share ternationally with a jazz quartet. A documenwhat they have to say with people. I accept it tary film about the 12-piece ensemble is in particular circumstances.” currently in the works. “I hate being a bandleader, but it’s the only way I can get my music “People want jewels of wisdom,” says played.”

McBride. “It’s real simple. Be nice to people.”

McBride embodies the contradictions of a man at odds with himself. Although he guards his privacy and inner thoughts, he has also written an extremely honest expose of his family and himself, which has sold more than 1.3 million copies. He is a reluctant role model who hates leading a band yet dreams of starting a youth marching band in Red Hook; cynical enough to admit that money is the primary motivation for his Thacher appearance, but enough of a dreamer to write a book about miracles and to perform his piano composition entitled “Nothing is Impossible,” for his Thacher audience. His music is hopeful, abrupt, and complex, much like the man himself.

McBride autographs copies of his book for juniors Mel Morris and Nikke Alex

While McBride tries to downplay his accomplishments—graduate of Oberlin College, Columbia’s School of Journalism, former staff writer for People Magazine, Boston Globe, and The Washington Post, best-selling author, and award-winning musician—he is after all, “just a dude from Brooklyn.” e Spring / Summer 2002

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Campus Activities

Tidbits Snippets of News

Budding Astronaut? In follow-up to the fall/winter edition of The Thacher News, here’s the latest about cover boy Ian Whittinghill ’03.

After hours of interviews over two day, Ian won first place in the aerodynamics/hydrodynamics category of the California State Science Fair for his home-built rocket that utilizes a combustion stability system he designed. He also Ian Whittinghill demonwon the Arnold O. strates his rocket assembly Beckman prize for best project of the year and the US Navy’s prize for best research paper in the Fair. And if all that wasn’t enough, Ian became an Eagle Scout this spring and he will serve as the Senior Class President starting in September. Way to go!

Early in March, The Thacher Masquers presented Oklahoma!, the Rogers and Hammerstein musical about courting in the Oklahoma Territory just before Oklahoma’s statehood in 1907. Music Director Greg Haggard worked wonders with the students’ voices for the familiar songs including “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’,” “The Surrey with the Fringe on the Top,” and “Many a New Day”; Dance Instructor Gallia Vickery’s special choreography during the song “Farmer and the Cowman” evoked the spirit of the American West during this transitional era. Jake Jacobsen’s worked with actors from every grade and honed their talents into a fine performance. As junior Lucy Hodgman noted: “The effect produced by the outstanding cast and crew of Oklahoma! was such that students went through their daily activities for quite a while afterwards singing or humming the songs from the musical. This should definitely be taken as an indication of the popularity of the musical and high quality of the effort of those involved.”

Numeracy Puzzle

consistent with our notion about the real situation: that each prisoner has a 2⁄3 chance of being Last issue’s numeracy puzzle attracted no contribu- released. tors (wonder why?), so we’ll give an explanation here and hope that our next puzzle brings more participation. Our intuition tells us (correctly) that this number is constant regardless of the guard’s utterances. So Here was the puzzle: why is this incorrect: “The Probability of A being released, given that the guard says B will be reThe Prisoner’s Dilemma leased, is 1⁄2?”

Three prisoners are locked away but two of them are to be released, and they know this. The identi- To examine this, consider the four outcomes: O1 = {A and B released with the guard announcing B’s reties of the two, however, are unknown. lease}; O2 = {A and C released with the guard anPrisoner A asks the guard to tell him the identity of nouncing C’s release}; O3 = {B and C released with one prisoner other than himself who is to be re- the guard announcing B’s release}; O4 = {B and C leased. The guard refuses and explains himself by released with the guard announcing C’s release}. saying, “your probability of being released is now 2 ⁄3. If I tell you that B, say, is to be released, then you These are the only four possibilities that are conwould be one of the only two prisoners whose fate sistent with the problem situation, so they must is unknown and your probability of release would have probabilities that sum to 1. consequently decrease to 1⁄2. Since I don’t want to probability of O1 is 1⁄3 and the probability of O2 hurt your chances for release I am not going to tell The is 1⁄3. But what about O3 and O4? Together they are you.” Is the guard correct in his reasoning? what’s left after considering O1 and O2, so P(O3 U 1 Clearly the guard is not correct in his reasoning. O4) must be ⁄3. For convenience, we’ll take the probability of O3 to be exactly half of this numThe parole board, let us say, has determined which 1 pair of prisoners is to be released (and let us say ber, ⁄6. they do this at random) so that the guard’s statement and A’s release are unrelated. In probability Now, the probability of A’s release given that the guard utters B’s name is: lingo, we say they are “independent events.”

P(O1) = P(guard says B’s name)

⁄3 = 2⁄3 The parole board has only three options: {A,B}, 1 ⁄3 + 1⁄6 {A,C} or {B,C} which, as suggested above, we will take to be equally likely. That is, the probability and we see that the guard’s announcement makes of any pair of prisoners being released is 1⁄3. This is no difference in A’s fate. page 10 The Thacher News

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Just before Extra-Day Trips departed in May, Head of School Michael Mulligan issued a challenge for groups to create their own camp songs for performance at Assembly following the trips. Three groups rose to the occasion to offer rearranged lyrics, various props and costumes, and amusing skits. The winners—the group that traveled to a Navajo reservation led

by Melissa Johnson (Admission) and Julie Manson (Casa advisor)—came out on top, thereby winning a group dinner. Let’s hope this idea catches on in the future.

For the second spring in a row, a pair of owls made their home in the upper reaches of the palm tree just west of the Dining Room. Administrators, students, and staff crammed into the offices of Peter Robinson and Chris Mazzola to catch glimpses of the parents roosting the eggs and feeding the two owlets after they hatched. When big and strong enough, the proud parents pushed their offspring off the perch to fly into independent lives of their own.

The New Puzzle Not only do we (typically) receive solutions to puzzles, we receive new puzzles, as well. This one was contributed by Richard Myrick CdeP 1939 of Washington, DC, and requires a fair amount of fiddling to get it! ___

___ ___

___ ___

___

___ ___

___ ___

___ ___

___ ___

___ Arrange the first 15 positive integers in the given pattern (each used exactly once) so that every entry is the difference (subtract smaller from larger) of the two entries just above it diagonally. For example, this would be a good beginning: 12

5 7

8 3

4

9 1

2 2

15 6

5 3

1 except that the values, 5, 3, 2, and 1 are repeated, and 10, 11, 13, and 14 seem to be missing.

Send your solution to Kurt Meyer in the Thacher Math Department via email at kmeyer@thacher.org, or via US mail at the School address. Good Luck!

Campus Activities

Grand Back to School Grand Days with Grandparents

ver 80 grandparents of current Thacher students arrived on campus Tuesday, April 16, for a twoday whirlwind event. Starting with the tour of the Library and Archives and ending with JV and Varsity sports, the grandparents were busy every minute.

O

Head of School Michael Mulligan makes an announcement at Assembly during Grandparents’ Days

by Sara Sackner

Performing Arts at Thacher were another highlight for the grandparents. This year’s program included performances by the Dance Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Chorus. All were then treated to a sumptuous buffet followed by dessert at the home of Head of School Michael Mulligan and his wife Joy Sawyer-Mulligan.

Mr. Mulligan thanked the grandparents for not only visiting the Ojai, but for sharing in their grandchildren’s unique experience at The Thacher School. He closed with thoughts of his own grandparents and the blessing of a grandchild-grandparent relationship—wisdom coupled with unconditional love.

Day Two! The grandparents arrived on camThe Library Direc- pus for an early breakfast with their grandtor, Elizabeth Bow- children and then tagged along to morning man, made a presen- classes. Some remarked that they hadn’t been tation about the history of The Thacher School and how our School’s Archives preserve this history. She demonstrated how objects, photographs, manuscripts, newspapers, a few strange toads, and dance cards were utilized during the years. Immediately after the presentation, grandparents were able to tour the Archives and see the broad scope of fascinating items in the collection and meet with the School’s Archivist, Alisa McCoy. According to Ms. Bowman, “Speaking to the grandparents is a highlight of our year because, in preparation for the talk, we are able to review how the use of the Grandparents chat between classes Archives has brought the School’s history alive for our students and how much in a classroom for decades and all were most we’re been able to accomplish. All this, to an impressed with the faculty and the enthusiastic audience appreciative of history.” student participation.

To round out the Thacher experience, vanloads of grandparents hit the trail to watch the Gymkhana.

And, many stayed on into the late afternoon to cheer on JV and Varsity Tennis, Baseball, and Lacrosse Teams. A special thanks goes to the Parent Committee who made these two days so memorable for both the students and their Grandparents! e

Grahammies, fruit, and milk remain the traditional after-Assembly snack

Spring / Summer 2002 page 11

Campus Life

Gymkhana Gymkhana Weekend Three Days of Yee-haw, Fun, and Festivities

by Jane D. McCarthy

ollowing two days of Trustee meetings, record-breaking numbers of families and friends joined students and faculty for the Annual Family Gymkhana Weekend and Auction. Friday afternoon was marked with English and Trail Riding Events along with Boys’ Varsity Tennis, Baseball, and Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse Teams playing against Cate (the latter two were undefeated going into these matches, each team beat Cate, and all of these teams continued on to post-season play). An Italian Buffet whet appetites for the Art Gallery Opening Reception and the traditional Cabaret of student acting, singing, and dancing.

F

Nearly 150 people gathered Saturday morning to dedicate the 38-stall Huyler/Myers Friendship Barn. John Myers CdeP 1929 gave the barn to recognize his 47-year friendship with Jack, as well as Jack’s service to Thacher during the past half-plus century. Generous friends of Thacher donated funds for site preparation and landscaping. Senior Jamie Hastings gave a roping demonstration while folks arrived; then dear Thacher friends told camping tales, horse stories, and of the closeness and friendship Thacher students share with each other, the faculty, and staff while participating in the Horse Program. Comments from Former Horse Department Directors Jesse Kahle and Bruce Oxley CdeP 1954, Executive Secretary of Paint Horse Association Ed Roberts, and Norman “Ike” Livermore CdeP 1928 made this a uniquely memorable occasion. Mounted on his steed, Cat, Jack proudly noted that this is the barn of his dreams.

Overall Team Totals

Jack Huyler CdeP 1951(H) and John Myers CdeP 1929 at the Huyler/Myers Friendship Barn Dedication Ceremony

Meanwhile, many juniors toiled over SAT’s and some folks hiked the surrounding trails with Cricket Twichell. Parents of juniors and sophomores met with College Counselor Maria Morales-Kent to start gearing up for the application and matriculation process that awaits their children. Those involved in the afternoon’s equine events readied their steeds by

Top 10 Season Riders

Top 10 Freshman Riders

1 Orange

5933

Jamie Hastings ’02

967

Conner Schryver

903

2 Green

5407

Conner Schryver ’05

903

Toby Nathan

567

3 Blue

5279

Luke Myers ’03

719

Lisa Frasse

557

Michael Dachs ’03

710

Michael Yun

446

Katherine Bechtel ’03

645

Becky Horton

430

Duncan Winecoff ’02

616

Hazel Ruiz

264

Eric Fiske ’02

569

Barrett Brown

254

Toby Nathan ’05

567

Zach Behar

245

Lisa Frasse ’05

557

Davie Connick

224

Phoebe Barkan ’03

494

Dillon Valadez

220

page 12 The Thacher News

festooning them with green, orange, and blue to show their team’s spirit.

Out at the Gymkhana Fields, spectators enjoyed the annual barbecue lunch and the rip snortin’ completion of the equine year for freshmen and older riders. Competition included rescuing, jumping, holding ribbons, and weaving in and out of poles and barrels, all performed with flying hooves racing against

Seniors Patty Abou-Samra and Ben Heilveil compete in the ribbon race

the clock. Conner Schryver earned Top Freshman Rider kudos while Top Overall Rider for the day was Jamie Hastings; Jamie also tied with the previous record for number of firsts placed in a single gymkhana (6), held for years solely by John Huyler, Jr. CdeP 1963. Katherine Bechtel ’03 and Michael Dachs ’03 won bridles for most promising sophomore or junior riders; Katherine was also awarded the Top English Rider prize. Eight students will soon proudly display their belt buckles made from the silver dollars they plucked from the sand at a gallop: Patrick Bates ’04, Becky Horton ’05, Toby Nathan ’05, Anne O’Donnell ’04 Conner Schryver ’05, Annie Strachan ’05, Dillon Valadez ’05, and Willie Wilder ’05.

Yummy hors d’oeuvres, a barbecue dinner, and fresh strawberry shortcake put smiles on

Emily Nathan ’03, Joy Bergeron ’02, and Ali Barbieri ’03 perform in Friday evening’s Cabaret

piece of furniture.

Another highly sought item was a “downhome ranch weekend” at John Myers’ Merced cattle ranch, where participants will ride the range, herd cattle, and enjoy glorious vistas of pasture and the Sierras. After tallying the proceeds, the Auction set a new high watermark for net proceeds: it netted over $85,000.

Annie Strachan ’05 rides Topeka in the sack pick-up race

The Chapel Service on Sunday morning featured the Chamber Singers and T. Newlin Hastings Jr. CdeP

1970 (father of Jamie ’02 and Shannon CdeP 1999) presenting his message entitled “Thacher: Inspiration to Leading a Great Life.” He spoke of how sharing disasters at Thacher bond the students and faculty; build self-confidence, self-reliance, and resiliency; and develop character in ways that few other schools can offer. The complete text of this engaging talk appears on page 14.

Various parent-student netters took to the courts for a full-blown tennis tournament.

When it came down to the final match, it was truly a family affair: Director of Special Gifts and Planned Giving David Babbott and son Ben ’05, edged out Nancy Babbott and son John ’03. And, as a parting shot for the Weekend, Jamie and Newlin Hastings CdeP 1970 were the high scorers out at the Trap Range.

This year’s Gymkhana Weekend was a whirlwind of family fun, smiles, and hugs that will long be remembered. e

the faces of bidders during the fast-paced, three-hour Silent Auction. Western garb, stays at exotic places, and darling puppies were among the hot items available. A new aspect of the Parents’ Auction was a “community-oriented” gift/donation, in which ten students names were chosen; in addition to receiving a gift certificate to the Pacific View Mall or Best Buy, a donation of equal value was made to Thacher for a fund of the winners’ choice. In this way, it’s hoped that the students will more fully understand the importance of benevolence, and, in time, will continue this effort on their own. During the Auction, a craft table kept the younger crowd busy creating all sorts of items such as masks, puppets, and drawings.

One of the Auction highlights was a cherry-wood table that English and Woodshop Instructor Bo Manson and John Bueti (father of Grace ’04) made in the Royal Barney Hogan Wood Shop.

Thoughtfully and graciously, parents purchased this table and gave it to the Library so that all Community members can see and appreciate the fine craftsmanship that went into creating this

“Faculty brats” and other li’l partners watch Gymkhana events Spring/Summer 2002 page 13

Alumni News

1939 Dick Myrick is living on Deer Isle, Maine, for five months. “Washington, DC, is just too darned hot in the summer.”

1942 Peter Arnold is still running his vineyard, building his own fly rod, and “contending with the biggest German wirehair pointer in God’s green acres.”

Class Notes

by Jane D. McCarthy

1970

1943 Jackie and Roy Holland have achieved a longtime goal: They sold their home in Wyoming and started wheeling fulltime on May 1. They plan to “roam the country, wherever the Lord leads us, working as volunteers at Bible camps and churches without concern for our home, since home will be with us all the time!” Happy trails!

Chris Henze and George Clyde, both CdeP 1959, enjoying Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny, France

1961 1945 Fortunately, Carlton E. (Gene) Russell is recovering nicely from quadruple by-pass heart surgery last October. “I’ll keep practicing maritime law in Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor until I get it right. Very sad to learn of Bill Webster’s passing.

He very much enjoyed returning to the School and the Ojai upon retirement.”

1946 Now that his daughter has taken over his pediatric practice in New York, Nick Cunningham has time to travel to Albania and Ethiopia. He’s also writing, and teaching people how to prevent child abuse. His wife is a child psychiatrist.

Casey Escher just finished adding additional bedrooms to his residence which his parents had originally built in 1965. He bought it back in 2000 and hopes that Thacher friends will come visit him in Napa Valley.

1966 Resurfacing in Irvine is Doug Grimes, who is working full time on a doctorate in Information and Computer Sciences. Life is much like “Dave Barry in Cyberspace.”

1967 Jim Swinerton joined a Zen Buddhist construction company last fall.

1947 Nancy and David Garden were the guests of honor at the Napa Valley Show Jumping classic on Saturday July 20. Members of the Napa Valley Community saluted the Gardens for their 30 years of stewardship in the Valley.

1949 Merrill Brown retired from Crane & Co. in 1997.

Even though he turned 71, he still enjoys competing in 10K races. He’s writing a book on graphic communications, and lectures at colleges on graphic design application. He seems to be busier now than when he was employed.

Another retiree who’s very busy is Bob Robbins.

He retired from his law practice in July 2000 and is living at an active retirement community called Lincoln Del Webb. With over 100 activities available there, “we all wonder how we had time to go to work.” page 48 The Thacher News

1969 Jesse Adams’s oldest son is finishing his freshman year at Stanford, and his two other kids are now in high school.

C. Scott Kennedy was impressed to hear a great collection of songs that Jim Munger wrote and recorded on a personal disc and sent to him! He also enjoyed having Marshall Milligan spend the night on a recent trip to Oregon and to hear from Peter Goodrich by email from Australia—he likes to ski Mt. Bachelor in Oregon!

Ames Anderson married Mary Anne Randl under the redwoods at Henry Miller Library in Big Sur on September 22, 2001. Fellow Thacher 1970 alums (John Boswell, Dave Gilpin, and John Wright) were in attendance. Mary Anne is an ESL teacher to adults; Ames is a general contractor.

They live in Pacific Grove and play music together as “Simple Pleasures.” They’d love to have visitors; they even have Aquarium passes!

1971 In his usual style, Todd Oppenheimer arrived late to the party by hatching his first child this year.

Abraham John (A.J.) arrived on May 29 and weighed in at 10 lbs, 2 oz. The very same week, Random House bought Todd’s first book about the injurious ways that technology has been used in America’s schools.

1974 Ciao, Bill Rubenstein! He spent the fall in northern Italy working as creative consultant on the film FERRARI, about the race-car legend, directed by Carlo Carlei. Bill did the English adaptation and rewrote the script on the set as the movie was being shot. The film will air on Italian television in 2002 and will be released internationally as a feature film. Now Bill is writing a feature script for New Line Cinema (set in 17th century France and Italy) and another for Partizan/Midi-Minuit, an Anglo/French production company, set in Vietnam and New Mexico. He maintains two homes in Malibu and Italy.

A baby girl, Lili, joined the home of Judit and Lance Ignon in April 2001; another baby is due in December. Lance and Toby Odell recently finished the AIDS/Lifecycle, a bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds for AIDS services.

1976 Adding to the offices at UCLA and Irvine, Don Osborne just opened one in Berkeley, CA. He’s found that helping college students select and apply to graduate schools is very fulfilling. Check out his website (premedhelp.com) that over 500 clients have already utilized.

Bill Anderson CdeP 1976 with wife Kelly and sons Max and Spencer

Stan Penton held a get together for Thacher Alums at his stables in Littleton, CO, on Saturday, August 17. The day included their Seventh Annual Country Classic Hunter Jumper Show. Normandy Farms has had the honor of providing the community equestrian training and services for 100 years. A rich history includes being a large farm, a stable for the lay-up of the Tivoli Brewing Company Draft horses, raising miniature horses as well as raising and housing race horses. Most recently some of the best horses… and riders in the area call Normandy Farms “home.” (www.normandyfarmandstables.com) After 18 years, Josh Rosenblatt and his wife Kate (Emma Willard 1976) decided to leave the congestion and humidity of Washington, D.C. and head for western Massachusetts. As of July 1 they are official New Englanders and only 1.5 hours from daughter Sarah, who is attending Emma Willard. Their daughter Ali may become a fiveday boarder at Benent School in Deerfield.

1977 Last Halloween, Helen and Meridan Bennett welcomed a baby boy into their family: Carson Wood Bennett.

Fred Burrows thoroughly enjoyed the 25th Reunion!

Brad Smith and wife Renee welcomed their first child, Noah Oliver, on May Day 2002.

1978 According to the LA Times of Thursday, May 23: Jeanne Tripplehorn and Leland Orser welcomed August Tripplehorn Orser into the world at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 8 oz…Jeanne and Leland met on the set of “Very Bad Things.”

1979 Joey (age 61⁄2) joined his father Glenn Glass at Golden Trout August 4-9. They were very excited about it but hoped other classmates and their families could attend. Little brothers—Nicky (4) and Evan (1) stayed home to take care of Mom and await their turn in the coming years.

LeLe Galer is finally feeling very at home in Pennsylvania after nearly two years since their move from New York. Alex is 11, Peter 9, Simon 6.

Take a gander at the photo of the three Williamson cowboys/children: Freddy 11, Hilary 9, and Hughes 6 (Katie and Fred Williamson’s brood). This was taken at the family’s annual summer trip to Colorado with grandpa (Norman Williamson CdeP 1951) and grandma, when horseback riding and fishing are the prime activities. “Freddy is looking forward to his campout pack trip into the wilderness with his dad and grandfather. All three love to fish and ride! Future toads? Katie went to Marlborough School (all girls), another great school. She may have something to say about Hilary when it comes time.

Our family resides in Pasadena. Our three children all attend the same school, Polytechnic here in Pasadena. We are busy with the usual school stuff, soccer, baseball, etc. Our lives got a little crazier this year, our children joined the Mammoth Mountain Ski Team. We were in Mammoth almost every weekend this season!”

Greg and Greta Lyders Greenway CdeP 1983 have a new addition to the family: Milo was born July 8, 2002. He weighed in at 6 lbs., 9 oz.

Milo Lyders Greenway, son of Greg and Greta Lyders Greenway CdeP 1983

If all went according to plan, the renovation on a house in Brentwood is complete and Bruce Somers moved during June.

Charlotte Lee Cole was born to Jarka KavnovaCole and Peter Cole on January 6, 2002. Jarka, who is from Czechoslovakia, also found time to complete a collection of handbags and camisole tops to be sold in Europe. Peter finished co-authoring a book, Christmas Trees, that is due in the fall from Chronicle Books.

1984 Bayard Hollins and his wife Karen have two little ones now. Jackson Wolfe Hollins arrived on March 26, 2002 and big sister Samantha May Hollins, is very fond of him. They reside in the small town of Millbrook, NY. Freddy, Hilary, and Hughes, children of Katie and Fred Williamson CdeP 1979

The Robert S. Livermore, Jr., family still resides in Arizona with four horses and five dogs. Alex (11) is playing basketball and is her 5th grade class representative. Jason (19) is in the business program at ASU. Now that he’s the new Class Representative, he’s heard from the Orricks, Nick Harvey, Leydecker, and others.

According to Carol McConnell CdeP 1981, Sara Livermore Dunsford sang the “National Anthem” at the Napa Valley Show Jumping Classic on Saturday July 20. Sara impressed the audience with her remarkable range and inspirational vocal talent.

1981 The next time you’re in Nipomo, check out John Godfrey’s second nursery on Thompson Road: Lone Pine Nursery.

1982 Paul and Louise Rose Curcio relocated their family to Portland, OR. “We will miss sunny southern California, but look forward to the beautiful surroundings of Oregon. Ryan is now 16 months and Michael is three.”

1983 All is well with Sibyll and Rodrigo Catalan. Son Nicholas turns two in July and, as of May 7, he’s a big brother to Sophie. Congratulations!

Number 2 child for Margi Richards Barrie is Mya; meanwhile, Drew is almost four. Margi’s husband Scott runs the recently expanded “Down Home Furnishings” to include custom furniture and Indonesian imports. Margi kept her day job running the local GAP in Jackson, Wyoming.

Peter Thacher’s three kids in two years have moved his hairline back a bit, but he hopes “y’all come visit in Savannah!”

1985 Sarah Konrad finished her doctorate in Geology last fall and is currently working part time as a post-doc while pursuing her dual racing career in Cross Country skiing and road cycling. She visited with both Kate Wright CdeP 1986 and Tony Thatcher while racing in Bozeman, MT, and with Sarah Peapples after a race near Boulder, CO. By the way, Tony and his family moved into a new house and have plenty of room for guests.

Melissa and Seth Shaw added a daughter to their family in mid-August. Savannah joins older brother Seth (2) at home in Lakewood, CA. Dave Griffith loves medical school at UCSF.

1986 Julie Huntington de Polo is busy with kids and community service. She volunteers for the California Commission on Children and Family in Napa, and chases after Olivia (2) and Sydney (3) who is already playing soccer.

Spring / Summer 2002 page 49

Campus Activities

Living Shared Disasters

Thacher: Inspiration to Leading a Great Life

s I think back upon the motivating inspirational talks which I have heard from this pulpit over the years, I am honored to be here with you in this Outdoor Chapel overlooking this gorgeous valley.

A

I feel particularly blessed to have with me at this gathering, three generations of Hastings, especially my Dad, (Snooks, as he was called when he was here in 1934 as a Thacher student) who, with my uncle Bob Hastings [CdeP 1929], started the whole Hastings clan acomin’ to Thacher. I am also so pleased to be joined here today by so many of my masters (as we called them in my day): Jack Huyler, Terry Twichell, Jesse Kahle, Chuck Warren, Marvin Shagam, Bob Miller, and Bob Chesley.

Their presence here provides evidence of their long love and commitment to all of us and to this School.

I was asked yesterday, “How come they picked you to give this talk?” and I have thought about that ever since. My only answer is that to the extent that my love for Thacher is any criteria, I may, in fact, be overqualified for the job.

It has come to me, standing here, that I would not be doing my job well, if I did not recognize that perhaps the most important thing you need to take in from my talk is the awesome view behind me. So I hope I can take up just enough of your time so that you can appreciate fully for a few minutes the unbelievable gift afforded to us as parents, students, and faculty. We are all blessed and honored to be sharing the gifts of this School and this Valley.

In preparation for this talk, I visited this Chapel a few weeks ago, wandering up the path, like you did today. I was struck by the bronze plaques that are placed in The Pergola honoring those Thacher boys who have been lost. You see, prior to this Chapel being built, The Pergola was first constructed after World War I as a memorial to those 12 Thacher boys who lost their lives in that War. And then, since the first World War failed to end all wars, there was added unto it a second plaque to those 12 who were sacrificed in World War II and finally the memorial to those two Thacher boys sacrificed during Vietnam. They all represent rightly those who have gone before us, those who sacrificed, and more important—in whose memory it is the Thacher tradition—to live better lives, to make a difference in this world, and to be men and women of character. We page 14 The Thacher News

by T. Newlin Hastings CdeP 1970

cannot help but by their sacrifice to be so mo- chamiso-covered hillsides, or packing at sunset tivated. over the Topa Topa into the Sespe, or even sleeping soundly under the stars with the And then in the late forties, this Chapel was sounds of their horses, which they love so added to the Memorial Pergola. These rock much, munching in their feed bag on the tie and rough-hewn benches were carved out of line nearby. this mountainside. This, Thacher’s Outdoor Memorial Chapel, is about as churchy as Although I nostalgically remember these times Thacher gets. I only now wish I had spent a and I trust that they do in fact happen, what bit more time here when I was a student. This Liz and I have heard from our kids are more Chapel, together with The Pergola, the Study like…

Hall (or School Building as it used to be called), and the horse barns seem to evoke the Tim Lu, class of 1999, whose horse simply fell soul of the School. It is here in this Chapel that off the Phelps Trail from underneath him and we have been asked to consider aspects of life careened down the mountainside. Fearing that much greater than the daily tasks at hand. We somehow he had killed his horse, Tim found have gathered in this Chapel over the years to later that his trusty steed had, in fact, died of a remember Thacher founders and teachers heart attack. when they have gone on. We have read during Annual Reunions those classmates names Or Trinity Sudweeks CdeP 1999, who, on a who are no longer with us. camping trip, was rolled over in her sleeping bag by a mountain lion.

As I prepared for today’s talk, I asked myself as Alumnus and Parent: What is it that makes Or Jamie Hastings [’02], Brady Johnstone Thacher unique? Why in heaven’s name did [CdeP 1999], and Cam Schryver camping at Liz and I send our kids so far away to 10 Sycamores to awaken with all the stock Thacher? simply missing. They spent hours and hours tracking them for several miles down the First, I have a secret that you will never hear canyon. And upon finding their now unloved from Monique and the Admission Office, but steeds and undertaking a several-hour hard which I believe is the unpublished life-changing ride bareback to return to camp, they had a ingredient of the Thacher experience. It is what new definition for saddle sore.

I call shared disasters.

Or that famous trip led by Ben Carter [CdeP Now I know some of you may still be under 1974] with Headmaster Ted Sanford. On their the idealistic delusion that horses and camp- way over to the Sespe, George Arnold’s horse, ing must be the neatest thing a 14-year-old Judy, was stung by a bee and after raising a could ask for. That what you saw yesterday in fuss, proceeded to run all the way back to the “Big Gymkhana” (the culmination of a Thacher. To his credit, Ted Sanford became the year of practice and training) seems remark- one on foot for the rest of this trip. As if this ably like perfection accomplished. But I can weren’t enough, later in the trip, their mule, assure you that there were more than a few Wendy, lost her footing on a steep shale trail, disasters as these Thacher students worked and careened down the mountainside, dumped with their horses up to the Big Gymkhana. her entire load and received too many lacerations to continue and was left with enough You were told by Ms. DeVane and Mr. Mulli- food and water until Jesse Kahle could come to gan that mucking corrals and mastering the doctor and to retrieve her. By chance, an A horse, packing, and camping would be so Camper Trip happened along consisting of meaningful. We have heard over and over Walt Foster, David Livermore, and Rob Montagain that there is something about the out- gomery [all CdeP 1973] who instructed Ben side of a horse that does great things for the in- how to pack a riding saddle since Judy’s pack side of a kid. But I am here to tell you that saddle had been damaged beyond repair. Now before it affects the inside of the kid, it will they had a second walker and this must have first likely affect the outside of the kid—usually seemed less and less like a horse-pack trip. in the form of scrapes and bruises—the almost cruel and unjust punishment between beast Then there are those marathon pack trips with and man. I have not once heard my kids de- Mr. Warren. Four passes and peaks in four scribe a magical morning ride on these days. Has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it? The

first day they topped Cottonwood Pass at 10,900 feet. Then climbed Cirque Peak at 12,400 and New Army Pass at 11,000, and finally up to Mt. Langley at 14,040, all in just four days. And all nourished by meals consisting of a few measly power bars.

And the School calls these Extra-Day Trips.

Doesn’t that sound nice? As a parent, you probably figure that it is great that they give the kids an extra day off from school. Somehow I think if the kids were naming these trips they would have some other names such as “extra-pain trips” or “a whole lot less than a week trips.” Whatever they call them, clearly, all arrive back at Thacher to tell of challenges not only survived, but overcome and mastered to everyone’s surprise. My wife, Liz, has a saying: “If it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger.”

But this education of shared disasters does not end when one graduates. There is the now infamous Golden Trout Alumni Camp, headed for so many years by Terry and Cricket Twichell and Brian Driscoll.

There, too, are memories of beginning to spend a delightful overnight with Liz and the kids together with my classmate John Broome and his kids, high up at Cirque Lake…only to be attacked by the most violent thunder and lightning storm of our lives. Trees exploded within a stone’s throw; burros and children brayed and screamed; and John and I won our first packing race to find lower ground.

So why would a parent consciously choose to send a loved one into the midst of such disasters? It may be that we didn’t have a clue about this reality. But I venture to guess that we, on our own, would not have the faith on a daily basis and at this precious age to let my own children face such difficulties; to experience real hardships while we watch… to experience the thrills of victory AND the agony of defeat.

We, in fact, would not knowingly let our kids do half the things for which we have signed waivers here at Thacher… waivers so that they can have the Thacher Experience. How much easier it is for us, alumni parents, but how much greater faith you the—spouses and parents without prior Thacher connection— make such a leap. I can assure you that, given your faith, your kids are having the ride of their lives!

to leave this world a little better than we found it. This is an inner quality of mind and spirit and if per chance we miss this challenge... if we allow self centeredness to deny the world of the fruits of our calling, then in fact we will be robbed of both future usefulness and hapAnd yet we are motivated by the overwhelming piness. desire to allow our kids to be prepared for, as Sherman D. Thacher is quoted, “Living a Reverend Lewis goes on with a second key ingredient to living “happy useful lives” which is happy, useful life.” ‘like unto it.’

What is it that Thacher does to serve this lofty To have and to hold empathy towards others. goal?

To identify ourselves with the sorrows and joy First, and perhaps most obvious, is the and hopes and struggles, the ups and downs prospect of exposing kids to the educational of our fellow mortals. What can I do to make inspiration so consistently provided by the your life richer? To raise the hopes and strugThacher faculty. As Mr. Mulligan is so great gles of those around me, especially those less at describing, the Thacher faculty serves both fortunate than me. How can I be of service? as role models and mentors to the students. This spirit of giving is “indispensable to great living!” All men and women who we recogTheir enthusiasm is infectious. Their demands nize to have lived truly great lives, have posare testing beyond the limits kids would set for sessed this spirit. themselves. And their support assures successes that are builders of confidence. This is inspired And it will not happen overnight. It doesn’t begin when you finish school or join a church, teaching! or magically appear when you become a parNow unless you think for two seconds that the ent. Such generosity of spirit must be develteaching I am talking about is limited to the oped as you grow and mature. I believe that classroom, I found an informative a talk given these goals are very well achieved by the time

by Dr. Deutch from Berkeley to the school Thacher seniors graduate. back in 1939. He asked, “Who were the teachers who made the greatest impression on you? If you listen carefully to the blessings showWhose instruction you still recall? Whose ered upon our graduating seniors from notes teaching has to some extent entered into the gathered from the Thacher faculty, you will very bone and marrow of your lives? These are hear less about their accomplishments for their the teachers who projected their own rich own gain and more about their character and selves into their teaching… and thence into our contributions to Thacher and the community, leaving Thacher a better place than they found lives.” it as freshmen. The lack of self-centeredness is I know I am preaching to the choir as I ask completely evident. You will be struck, as Liz you to consider the relationship between fac- and I have been, just how unique and in fact ulty and students at the barns, on the “authentic” each graduating senior has begymkhana field, on the climbing wall or rock, come. We, as parents, having sent our kids on the athletic fields, in the photo lab or studio, here, have the utter joy and fascination to kayak surfing on river or ocean, packing to the watch our kids become amazingly well-preSespe or Sierra, in the outdoor theater, dance pared to live happy and useful lives. studio, or trap range. The list is endless but this inspiration is alive and well at Thacher. So in parting: It reminds me of some lines from some Country Western songs: “How can I miss you, if you won’t go away?” or “If the phone doesn’t ring, its me.” Ah! This is the price of raising independent kids.

But Sherman Thacher’s goal is actually loftier. • To you, the faculty gathered here, I sing praises for the gift of your lives to those of He asks us to lead “happy, useful lives.” ours; In searching for the key to this goal, I was struck by a talk given by Reverend Henry • To you, Thacher parents, I compliment you on your faith and courage; and Lewis at the event of Thacher’s 50th Anniversary. He asked the question, what is it “that produces truly great living?” Truly great liv- • To you, Thacher students, I urge you to have the ride of your lives, to take stock of all that Liz and I have been asked constantly over these ing! When I read that, I couldn’t help but think is given you, and to take a bit of time to recpast seven years, “How could you send your that this summarizes almost everything I want ognize the gift of this magical time and place child away, right when they need you the for our kids. Lewis describes the two key inin your lives so that Casa de Piedra will, in most?” But while our kids have been at gredients for such great living and if you will fact, “never fade from your hearts.” e Thacher, I must admit that, at least for Liz and bear with me I will paraphrase his thoughts. myself, it is us, left home alone, who are making the big sacrifice. Right as we hit middle First is to understand that we are incredibly age, our kids are off and we must go it alone. blessed to be alive. And out of this blessing we have debt both to ourselves, and, if you like, to And once our kids get here, they are so happy. the powers that brought us to pass to make the noblest expenditure of ourselves… To try They never seem to call.

Spring / Summer 2002 page 15

Campus Activities

Three undefeated Condor League Championship Teams Baseball Team plays in CIF Finals One Tony Dunn Award

Sports SPRING

by Joy Sawyer-Mulligan

Owili Eison ’03 smacks a line drive at a home game this spring

Baseball

Junior Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse

Coaches: Rich Mazzola and Robert Torres Captains: Jimmy Madigan ’03 and Charlie Munzig ’03

Coach: Diana Garcia Captains: Claire Faggioli ’02, Laurel Peterson ’02, and Stephanie Hubbard ’02

Fused by a magical combination of camaraderie and iron will, this team achieved one of the finest seasons in Thacher’s history, a tradition that spans well over a century. Their undefeated 9-0 Condor League Record swelled to an astonishing 17-game winning streak, besting all baseball records in Ventura County in the past 20 years and propelling them to the CIF Championship game in Long Beach. Recognizing the sagacity of Head Coach Rich Mazzola, the CIF named him “Baseball Coach of the Year.” [Please note the letter on page 17 written about this Team.]

Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse Coaches: Emily Etchells and Peter Robinson Captain: Brooke Toeller ’02

Predictions, schmedictions: losing too many seniors last year to count, this team might have been relegated to “It was a building season”-ville. But no.

Added to the powerhouse captain (and ultimate MVP) Brooke Toeller were junior scoring threat Annie Wheatley, backed up by the invaluable Bessie Hatch at midfield and veteran keeper Carrie Blayney, who more than once kept the Toads in the game. “The sophomore class—eight strong—provided tremendous strength,” said Coach Etchells— and that group included Jennie Tucker, who was selected to the Pacific-West Under-19 squad to represent the region at the nationals over Memorial Day weekend. Outstanding leadership by Brooke was bolstered by the experience and dedication of the other seniors, Charlotte Lord, Laura Neville, and Bea Staley. Continued their coach: “No question that one of the spring’s highlights was a resounding stomping of Cate here on Gymkhana Weekend, after two close matches earlier in the season.” Most Improved Players were sophomores Sabrina Lee and MacKenna Chase. page 16 The Thacher News

Everyone on this Team would agree that the highlight of the season came in their final game, in which the girls beat Midland 11-10. (Said Coach Garcia: “It’s a good thing I don’t have a weak heart!”) Senior Evan Dawson was leading scorer, followed by juniors Jackie Au and Jacey Roche and sophomore Elizabeth Jackson. Top defenders included Captain Hubbard and sophomores Steffi Rauner, Jessica Cornwell, and Kelly Percival. Though not technically a JV player, freshman Chandler Pease played in nearly every game. “We witnessed great improvement in each ensuing game,” said the coach. “Better still, we got the most out of many players, not just a select few.”

for the Division IV CIFs, broke the 36-year School record in the mile with a time of 4:25:69, and also finished an amazing third in the 1600M finals. Also qualifying for and then competing in the CIFs were Annie O’Donnell and Katie Frykman (both in the mile), each of whom achieved personal bests during the competition. “The great team spirit this season can be directly credited to our captains, who effectively and enthusiastically led a slew of new runners who decided to test themselves,” said Coach Perry.

Winning the David Lavender Trophy for Most Improved Runner was Julien Rhodes; taking away The Track Cup (high-point girl or boy and MVP) was Katie Frykman, an every-time member of the 4×400 relay and someone “who tried many different events—and successfully!” according to her coach.

Icing on the cake: these athletes also won a Tony Dunn Sportsmanship Award.

Freshman Girls’ Lacrosse

Varsity Boys’ Tennis

Coach: Phoebe Larson Captains: Chandler Pease and Cindy Sorrick

Coach: Jim Kasser Captain:Tim Stenovec ’02

“It was a great season full of high energy,” said Coach Larson of her spring with the 15 girls who came out essentially to learn the sport. Repeated drills and improved skills proved fairly proportional, as the girls learned about ground balls and the crease.

“What was most exciting was watching their hard work pay off by their participation on several pivotal JV games. As a coach, I was so impressed with how quickly the girls took to the sport. There is some fabulous talent in this enthusiastic group.”

Although no one watching had any nails left after the last point was scored, the concluding Condor League match of the season against Cate—which came down to the final set—saw Thacher emerge victorious and undefeated in season play, securing the Condor League Championship for themselves and, by extension, the School. Match play outside of the League featured victories over tough opponents that included Oakwood, Ventura, St. Bonaventure, and Viewpoint. Stellar singles play by Tim Stenovec and Troy Pollet ’03 was certainly part of the Team’s success; but so was their partnership when the two joined forces in doubles when they competed through the first round at the prestigious Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. Tim and Troy also played together in the CIF doubles playoffs, while Ali Arastu ’04 represented CdeP in the singles playoff. As a Team, Thacher qualified for the CIF’s but lost in the opening round to a talented team from Crossroads School.

Track and Field Coaches: Derick Perry CdeP 1983 and Theana Hancock Captains: Andrew Poole ’02 and Hilary White ’02

In the Condor League meet, both teams finished second, with John Babbott and Katie Frykman voted MVP, sharing the honors with two Cate runners. The intense and speedy John, in the process of qualifying

Junior Varsity Boys’ Tennis Coach: David Johnston Captains: Robert Brownell ’02 and Jose Estrada ’02

May 9, 2002 Richard Mazzola The Thacher School

The members of this Team cheerfully made the most of their afternoon time, putting together a record of 6-4 over the course of their three months together. With 20 players rotating through the Team’s roster, the sheer numbers out for the squad proved that tennis has never been more popular here at the School. The true measure of this Team’s success, though was neither in the number of players manning the courts, nor in the Team’s winning record. Look rather to the sheer enjoyment these boys had out there, whether giving their all in a heartbreaking loss to Cate (tied 99 in sets lost by 6 overall point), or emerging victorious over those same Rams in the midst of a six-match winning streak. “Lots of energetic fun” characterized the group, according to their coach, who watched as the lads apparently developed and refined rules for a fast-emerging game called “Xtreme Tennis.”

Gentlemen:

Kayaking

It is a tremendous blessing to watch young men play who love the game. Mr. Sullivan loves the game of baseball. His character, however, is what shines both on and off the field. He is the first to be courteous while behind the plate toward the umpire, the pitcher, and the other players on BOTH teams. He continually demonstrates good sportsmanship. Mr. Sullivan prefers others over self. Mr. Sullivan is the only catcher that I have observed who takes the initiative to pick up the opponent’s bat and hand it to him. He helps the other team by throwing their bats back toward their dugout. (Most catchers have the “Get it yourself!” mentality toward the opposing team.) He is honest and humble as evidenced by his quickness yesterday to take personal responsibility for a play that went “bad” (“That play was my fault.”). The pitcher, Graham, also did the same thing on another play, taking personal responsibility for a play that went “bad.” It is completely refreshing to hear honest evaluation and a mature acceptance of when things go well and when they do not...and the ability to recover and keep going. There was no blaming; no excuses; no sullen “attitude”; there was personal responsibility. Mr. Sullivan is constantly “talking” to the infield—calling plays, and offering words of encouragement and guidance from behind his catcher’s mask. He is alert and bold in his playing. He is highly competitive while recognizing the individual dignity of the other players involved in the game. He shows constant thought to the game at large rather than seeking personal glory in individual plays. Both times that I have spoken to Mr. Sullivan after the game, he has been polite, sincere, and genuine. He acts like a gentleman, both on and off the field. He has had great eye contact and conversation skills with me—a total stranger. It is refreshing to watch and speak to such a fine young man. He is an exemplary leader on your team. It is a genuine pleasure to watch him play. It is a genuine pleasure to watch your whole team play.

Coach: Kurt Supplee

Armed with the goal of each Team member’s becoming sufficiently skilled to have successfully attempted at least one river trip by season’s end, this group was “full of zest and zeal,” as witnessed by their leader, day in and day out, from the pool to the ocean to the rivers of the lower Sierra. To raise money for their adventures, the kayakers hosted a roll-a-thon during Family Weekend, which witnessed participation by many; junior Kyle Dumont set a record of going under and coming up 67 times. Incidentally, Kyle, Cameron Goodman ’04, and Robert Neville ’04 recently embarked on Thacher’s first summer kayaking camp, a tour (de force) of Northern California’s waterways, led by Mr. Supplee.

You make Thacher fans out of your opponents.

It was a genuine pleasure to watch your team play at Grace Brethren High School yesterday afternoon. I am the lady who spoke with you after the game. My name is Pam Gill. My daughter attends Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village. I spoke to you after the Oaks Christian baseball game, too.

As I said yesterday, our family has two daughters—no sons—but we love to watch baseball being played by young men who love the game. We specifically came to see your team play against our friends’ team yesterday. We do not live close to either Oaks Christian or Grace Brethren, but we remembered your fine team and welcomed another opportunity to see you play. We were not disappointed.

As a parent and a teacher, I must tell you again how impressive your team is. Your coaches are excellent...and encouraging—a great combination. The coaches did not demean, yell, degrade or humiliate the players. On the contrary, the coaches kept their cool during tense times, and encouraged and inspired the team to keep focused and on track. Your players demonstrate true teamwork. You work together as a team; you encourage each other as a team; you inspire each other as a team; you play hard as a team; you are focused as a team.

When you come on the field, it is evident that you have a love for the game and the desire to win. You win with honor and graciousness.

I wish that I could single out each of your players individually, but sitting in the stands, the best opportunity to observe your team is through your catcher, Mr. Sullivan. Not wishing to single him out and not praise the other team members, I hope that you will allow me to use Mr. Sullivan as an example of the integrity I have now observed twice on the ball field.

I wish that you all could sit in your opponents’ stands and hear the words that they say about you and your team: “They encourage each other.”

“They are constantly talking to each other while up at bat. I wish our team would do that!”

“They came to win.”

“The catcher is excellent. Look how polite he is.”

“Impressive.”

“Our team needs to take a lesson from Thacher.”

“Wow!”…

My daughter and I appreciated the sincere courteousness of #8 [Owili Eison] when he thanked us for coming to watch you play. The pleasure was all ours. Thank you for the genuine pleasure of watching a fine team composed of fine coaches and players play the game of baseball.

Nick Horton ’02 competing in the Roll-A-Thon during Family Weekend

We look forward to future opportunities to watch you play.

Blessings to you!

Mrs. Pam Gill for the Gill Family

Not only did Thacher’s Baseball Team enjoy a winning season, the Team won admiration from fans

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Senior Exhibitions Hints that the school year was drawing to a close came late in April when seniors presented their year-long findings on a topic of their choice during a three-day weekend of Senior Exhibitions. Community members filled their “dance cards” with selections as wide-ranging as architecture to the role of women in Islamic culture; from hydrogen fuel cells to organic ranching; from nanotechnology to the sociology of lying. Seniors employed various audiovisual aids—including barbecues and foreign cars—to share their research and display their Hilary White presents her Senior expertise Exhibition on photography of multidisciplinary/dimensional topics. After spending the weekend attending a variety of presentations, Missy Peterson (mother of Laurel ’02 who considered whether Esperanto is page 18 The Thacher News

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the language for us all) wrote: “This was absolutely the best of many Thacher weekends!

What a treat for senior parents to see such accomplishment in their child and in their child’s friends! The Senior Exhibition has so many merits…we learned in three days as much as in three weeks of school—easily. It was a spectacular event.” Next year’s seniors are already narrowing their thinking about their projects which they will work on earnestly once autumn arrives. A complete listing of this year’s Senior Exhibitions appears on page 22.

Advanced Placement Exams Next on the docket were Advanced Placement exams. Nearly 300 exams were administered to 129 students in 19 disciplines. Many seniors took three or more exams. Results indicate that two-thirds of the exams received four or five points on a five-point scale, thereby earning the students four college-credit units per exam and advanced standing when they matriculate to college.

Extra-Day Trips Whether kayaking across lakes, hiking transSierra trails, clearing non-native brush species from Santa Cruz Island, or horseback riding on a Central Coast Ranch bordered by the ocean and Los Padres Forest, everyone enjoyed their own style of Spring Extra-Day Trips. The treks weren’t, however, without incident. Several bands of horses broke camp

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and headed back to the barn after only a few days in the Sespe, thereby requiring their riders/packers to hoof it. When Highway 33 closed south of the pick-up point for the A Camper trip, they got to hike an extra 12 miles out of the Sespe. Regardless of the “shared disasters,” students and faculty returned with favorite memories of riding horses through crashing ocean waves, spying migrating whales spouting, and swimming in cool fishing holes to relieve achy muscles.

Vespers On Memorial Day eve, Head of School Michael Mulligan read the names of Thacher students who died while fighting for America’s freedom. History Chair David Johnston then shared his perspectives on the process of living well: 1.) cultivate your garden; 2.) create yourself; and 3.) be kind. A brief discussion of these points follows. While gardening, St. Francis of Assisi was asked how he would spend the rest of his day if he knew he would die that evening; he replied, without hesitation, that he would continue gardening. David suggested that we spend our lives doing what is fulfilling and has value in its own right; that the various activities of life should be blended and in harmony for an ideal life in which each aspect reinforces and contributes to the fulfillment of the central purpose. To create ourselves, he suggested that we have the courage and insight to determine the purpose of life and determine it for ourselves. Finally, David suggested that

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people be kind to others since our actions are the one sure form of immortality. He concluded his advice this way: “Every act of individual self creation has an effect, however slight, on the context in which we all live together; the nature of your acts—whether cruel or kind or neutral—determines the nature of your immortal legacy. The more your acts are kind, the more they will influence others to be kind…and will live beyond you and along with those…[to] become our shared gift to future generations—again, our shared immortality.”

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of our lives or give us a clearer understanding of who we are.” He suggested to seniors that they are rising into the work force at an advantageous time in which technological, biological, and medical advances are skyrocketing, thereby opening new frontiers for exploration and discovery. He urged seniors to seek or study areas of “forbidden knowledge” and to develop a balanced character of virtuous attributes while managing scientific abilities for the betterment of all creatures of the

School Year Ends The last week of School found students studying and taking final exams prior to the AllSchool Banquet, the one time of the year when awards are presented for outstanding achievement. In a departure from routine, this closing Banquet was actually held before all final exams were given and tallied since Thacher’s Baseball Team was playing in the CIF Finals in Long Beach during the traditional slot for the Banquet. Under the pepper trees on The Pergola as the sun dipped to the west, amid note-passing and freshmen serving, the entire community gathered to dine and to wish Thacher’s Nine good luck on the diamond. This chapter of the Cum Laude Society added its new members All-School Banquet head table: David Gal and the named academic, equine, and Marvin (Senior Class President), Robert Brownell Shagam Awards were bestowed. Finally, School (School Chair),Terry Twichell, Michael Mulligan, Chair Robert Brownell gave a thoughtful and Charlie Munzig (School Chair ’02-’03) farewell address to the student body; his thoughts can be found on page 23. world. The complete text of Dr. Sophocles’ talk appears on Thacher’s website: www.thacher.org.

Baccalaureate Service In a departure from Thacher’s traditional commencement festivities, the Baccalaureate Service was held Friday evening as the sun began its descent below the horizon. As birds soared overhead and horses brayed, Aristotle Sophocles, MD, gave an inspiring speech entitled “Mission Possible.” A physician, attorney, university professor, businessman, and owner of his own medical software company, Dr. Sophocles spoke of high school graduation being a defining moments that can “either change the course

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Joy Sawyer-Mulligan, who serves as the president of Thacher’s Cum Laude Society, announced this chapter’s newest members; a list of those members who “hold dear the qualities of excellence, justice, and honor” (the Society’s motto) may be found on page 20.

Other special awards followed and concluded the evening. While being an accomplished athlete is an integral part of earning The Elizabeth Helms Adams Perpetual Sportswomanship Award (often referred to as the award given to the best female athlete in the graduating class), athleticism is, by no means, this honor’s most important criterion. The commitment to excellence, teamwork, ability to elevate the play of others, and, above all, sportsmanship were key determinants in selecting Elizabeth Toeller for this Award. She served as Captain of both Soccer and Lacrosse Teams, won “Most Inspirational Player” kudos, was inducted into Ventura County’s Hall of Fame for Athletes, and was chosen for the Third Team All-CIF Team in soccer.

The Perpetual Sportsmanship Award follows criteria similar to that of the previous Award; this year it was presented to two senior male athletes. The first displayed steely-eyed determination and powerful leadership through championship seasons in soccer and lacrosse this year. Jaime Everett served as Captain of the Soccer Team, was voted “Most Inspirational,” and brought tremendous intensity to the level of play. He car-

Senior Banquet

From the Outdoor Chapel, seniors accompanied their guests to the Forest Cooke Lawn for the Senior Banquet.

The audience glimpsed into the keynote speaker’s tenure at Thacher when senior Claire Faggioli reiterated some phrases employed by Thacher’s teachers in describing her father’s studies here. She wove these tidbits into an amusing introduction of the geologist-turnedwinemaker-Dad with whom she’s grown up; it was a beautifully crafted introduction that brought smiles, laughter, and praise from him. Justin thanked the faculty and administration for creating a community that has “educated, nurtured, and mentored students in the Seniors Mercedes Farrell and Eita Hatayama arrive for classroom, on playing graduation fields, in the dorms, and in the outdoors, through times of ried that commitment to excellence and leadillness, injury, and personal ership onto the lacrosse field in the winter need.” The complete text of where, once again, he captained his Team to the Aristotle Sophocles, MD, shares his Baccalaureate Address, Justin’s speech begins on page 24. top of the Condor League and was placed in the “Mission Possible”

Spring / Summer 2002 page 19

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School. Whether in difficult Judicial Council cases or leading a particularly tempestuous Community Council Meeting, Robert has been fair and balanced and willing to hear and weigh all sides of every story… He will be missed for his fun-loving nature and his commitment to this School.”

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rived, arm in arm, to the wild applause and camera shutters of the enthusiastic crowd.

Once in place, Michael Mulligan explained that a statement—woven from what teachers, advisors, and coaches, and even other students have said throughout the years about the members of this class—would be read about each senior. The intent is to relate what these young men and women have meant to the Thacher Community, what special qualities they have brought to make Thacher the unique place it has been this year and the three years preceding because of their contributions, and what will long be remembered about them.

Each senior arrived at the podium to hear the remarks and bask in the adoration and appreciation that is felt for them. Seniors expressed the whole gamut of emotions—sadness to joy, fear of the unknown to pride, poise to nervousness—while listening to the comments. Following the awarding of the last diploma, the crowd sang “America the Beautiful,” and the seniors jumped, hugged, cried, and congratulated each other on becoming Thacher’s newest alumni. e

The Charles L. Tutt Silver Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility was awarded to Will Barkan because of his many accomplishments in all aspects of the School program despite personal challenges. From accomplished camper to talented actor, from determined athlete to dependable prefect, Will “is a really swell guy who brightens spirits and situations by his mere presence. He is a credit to Will Barkan receives The Tutt Bowl himself and our School.”

An in-depth Ventura County Hall of Fame. Jaime shared the profile of Will begins on Award with Will Barkan who is “inspiration in page 44. motion” on the Cross Country and Track Teams. He always did what it took to be a team Finally, The Thacher Cup was player by encouraging others around him; he presented to that senior who was always constructive, determined, and en- best demonstrates those qualithusiastic; and he put the Team’s success in front ties the School holds as central: his own. academic excellence, extracurricular achievement, moral The Newton K. Chase Community Service leadership, and concern for Award was given to junior Laurel Back for giv- others. “Without showboating ing of her time and energy by not only serving or self-aggrandizement of any others in the Community, but in organizing sort, she has quietly influenced others to participate in this School Program. peers and faculty in every class Robert Brownell was given the School Chair of which she’s been part, on Award “in honor of his kind, hard-working, every team on which she’s humble, earnest, respected, respectful, intel- played, in every dormitory in lectually engaged and interested, and unfail- which she’s lived. She has been ingly honest and honorable year leading the uniformly committed to excellence, eager to invest the energy requisite to its realization. Patient, kind, thoughtful, and Cum Laude Society wise, she has been a caregiver to those around her, supportElected in May 2001, their junior year: ing students of all ages, proStephanie Hubbard viding calm stability in the Youna Kim midst of any chaos. She is Stephanie Hubbard receives TheThacher Cup Claire Milligan warm and generous, and steady as a rock…She has been to us precious, solid, Elected in this, their senior year: and shimmering.” This year’s winner was Elizabeth Bradford Stephanie Hubbard.

Charlotte Lord Madeleine McQuillan Laura Neville Commencement Laurel Peterson Bright and early on Saturday morning, the junLeigh Salem iors swept the aisle to begin the CommenceLaura Slattery ment Exercises. Faculty followed and formed a Brooke Toeller gauntlet for the seniors to walk through. To Ronald Wu the strains of student music, the seniors arpage 20 The Thacher News

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Awards Perpetual Sportsmanship Award William Barkan James Everett Elizabeth Helms-Adams Perpetual Sportswoman Award Brooke Toeller The Newton K. Chase Community Service Award Laurel Back The Thacher Cup Stephanie Hubbard

The William Bishop Nixon Poetry Prize Iyana Reid The Nash Robbins Short Story Award Julia Robinson The Language Prize Stephanie Hubbard

The Morgan Ward Prize for Mathematics Claire Milligan

The Charles L. Tutt Silver Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility William Barkan

The Science Award Martin Sawyer (Physics) Jacqueline Au (Chemistry) Elizabeth Bradford (Biology) Claire Faggioli (Biology)

School Chair Award Robert Brownell

The Rensselaer Polytech Institute Award Christopher Cahill

The Edward R. Spaulding Tennis Cup Evan Dawson Timothy Stenovec

The History Prize Elizabeth Bradford

The George Beckwith Gymkhana Trophy (Blue Team) Benjamin Heilveil Duncan Winecoff The Bissell Gymkhana Trophy James Hastings The Vaquero Cup James Hastings The Charles Pratt Trapshoot Plate James Everett (47/50) Jesse Kahle Horse Camping Award Phoebe Barkan Best Camper Award Phoebe Barkan Katherine Bechtel The Marvin H. Shagam Award Laurel Back The Junior English Award Kylie Manson

The Darah Corbett, Jr., Studio Art Prize Laura Neville Rhode Island School of Design Award Tamima Al-Awar The Agnes M. Lord Music Award Youna Kim The Marcus Hele Dall Photography Award Erik Fiske The Harry Llewellyn Bixby Dramatic Cup William Barkan Stephanie Hubbard The Eric Bechtel Dachs Technical Theatre Prize Hugh Gordon The Munro Palmer Public Speaking and Debate Award David Gal The Hollister Wheaton Trapshoot Award Newlin Hastings, Jr. CdeP 1970 and son James Hastings (21/25)

The Jack Boyd English Award Stephanie Hubbard Madeleine McQuillan

Spring / Summer 2002 page 21

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Seniors

page 22

The Thacher News

Senior

Senior Exhibition

School Attending

Patty Abou-Samra Tamima Al-Awar Will Barkan Daniel Bartlett Chelsea Bauch Joy Bergeron Betsy Bradford Rob Bray Robert Brownell Heidi Cole Evan Dawson José Estrada James Everett Claire Faggioli Mercedes Farrell Erik Fiske David Gal Monique Gaskins Chris Grant Amanda Grumman Jamie Hastings Eita Hatayama Ben Heilveil Alex Herbert Nick Horton Stephanie Hubbard Bobby Kellogg Youna Kim Jane Kwett Max Leeds Charlotte Lord Alex Lurie Andrew Ma Maddy McQuillan Claire Milligan Dan Moore Laura Neville Laurel Peterson Andrew Poole Libby Rauner Iyana Reid Julien Rhodes Leigh Salem Laura Slattery Matt Spille Bea Staley Tim Stenovec Maggie Tillman Brooke Toeller Zoë Towns Noël Vietor Nathan Wallace Natalie Warren Daniel Weems Hilary White Duncan Winecoff Ronald Wu

Modern Furniture and Architecture Che Guevara Osama bin Laden Israel and Palestine: the Roots Picasso and Goya Fashion Retailing and Merchandising Yucca Mountain String Theory Hiroshima Writing a Screenplay Sleep Disorders Stealth Technology Retinal Rivalry: How the Horse Views the World Mass Extinctions Social Anxiety Disorder Biometric Technologies Arab-Israeli Peace: Dream of the Past or Vision of the Future?

Public Education/ Public Policy Economic Revolutions Starting a Colt Organic Ranching Leading Musical Ensembles Plato The Psychology of Deceit Special Operations Forces US Space Program Shark Attacks Opera Teaching Autistic Children Institutionalized Violence Ancient Roman Popular Entertainment California Government 20th Century American Architecture Translation and Adaptation ETA: Ethnic Violence in the North of Spain Nano-machinery The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Enneagram Esperanto: Can It Speak for Us All? Germany and Italy: Automobile Design and Culture Stem-Cell Research In The Rain Forest Renewable Energy Sources Land Development and Conservation The Changing Role of Women in Saudi Arabia Psycho/social Gender Comparison The Plight of Native Americans in US History Christian and Islamic Fundamentalism Muslim Influence on Spanish Architecture Martyrdom in Islam Film Noire Designs for Modern Living: The Los Angeles Case Study Houses Physics of Paragliding Pheromones Nikola Tesla: His Life and Works Man Ray, Cindy Sherman, and Annie Leibovitz: A Photographic Study 12th Century France and the Notre Dame Cathedral China: WTO or No?

Otis School of Design The Academy of Art Colorado, Boulder UC Santa Barbara New York University NY Fashion Institute of Technology Bowdoin UC Berkeley Northwestern UC Berkeley Trinity College (CN) U of Illinois Naval Acad. Prep. School Cornell Carnegie Mellon Emory Brown Pomona Wheaton Cazenovia Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Pomona St. Johns, Santa Fe Stanford Davidson Stanford UC Santa Cruz Georgetown McGill University of Southern California Dartmouth Northwestern Colorado, Boulder Brown Stanford UC Santa Barbara Brown Yale Whitman Dartmouth Santa Monica Lehigh Dartmouth Colorado State University Trinity University (TX) Emory Colby New York University UC Berkeley Columbia UC Santa Cruz Trinity University (TX) Colorado College Colorado, Boulder UC Santa Cruz Whittier University of Pennsylvania

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All-School Banquet Building a New School Year

ell, we’ve done it, another year has passed us by. I stand in stark disbelief that my four years here are coming to an end this Saturday. The whole situation is rather bittersweet.

While it is sad to say goodbye to a place that has become as much of a home as my real one, and people who are as much of a family as my own, it is also exciting to think of the new possibilities we will be presented next year. On that note, I want to thank you, the graduating class of 2002, for a wonderful four years.

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Over the next couple of years, you will all be witness to changes that occur on the Thacher campus. Change may be something some of you are afraid of, but rest assured it can be a good thing. Some of the changes you may be seeing when you come back to visit are the new student center and the new performing arts center. Even though Thacher may undergo some cosmetic changes, it will still remain the same place you have grown to cherish and respect. The values—honesty, fairness, kindness, and truth—that you have come to know and love are the same values that your fathers and grandfathers learned here. As the juniors become seniors, the sophomores become juniors, and the freshmen become sophomores, there will certainly be a different feel to the campus.

Let’s not forget how great the School has felt this year and try to duplicate those great times next year and beyond. Make friends with people you don’t know or don’t have anything in common with; reach out to the faculty for help and guidance—they are here because they want to be and because they value each of you. Take a class in something you may not know a lot about: challenge yourself. Enjoy your Senior Exhibitions. Do a project of which you can be proud for many years to come. I think it’s important to pass on the friendship and mentorship that you received upon your arrival at Casa de Piedra to next year’s freshmen. Remember, they will have many of the same qualms you had when you first came here.

by Robert S. Brownell ’02, School Chair 2001-02

course of next year. I would like to offer you some advice on dealing with your senior year.

It is a busy time, but I ask you to find time to do the things you haven’t yet tried. Set goals and make lists, whatever works for you. As I said in my September speech, it is important to try new things. I promise you that your year will go by quicker than you would like, and soon Charlie will be standing where I stand.

So I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors next year and I implore you never to lose sight of your goals.

Sophomores, as juniors next year, you will be given new responsibilities as well as an increased workload. It will be a time of high stress with the threat of college applications looming on the horizon, but I promise you will make it through in one piece. Just remember to have fun once in a while and take a step back to look at the big picture. You are no longer wise fools and so you should not act like them.

Freshmen, you will be filling the shoes of this year’s sophomore class. While the responsibility of having a horse is now optional, you will be given new responsibilities in its place. You will no longer be able to use the “but I’m a freshman” excuse for instance.

Seniors—or, should I say, freshmen—I think back to my first day on campus when Michael Chang [CdeP 1999] took me to my “room.” It seems so long ago that we were just frosh, and here we are again, as freshmen. While we won’t be together for the next four years, which is a good thing for I fear that that would have a negative effect on our sanity, I will definitely be sad to see us go our separate ways.

Next year and for the years after, our lives will be full of opportunities, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The lessons we have learned here at Thacher over our four years will be crucial to our success both as people and as students.

University will be a novel experience; I, for one, don’t know what I’ll do without Formal Dinner. As we move out of Thacher, because after all, we are all just “interchangeable units” as Mr. Robinson has said, there will be a class stepping up to fill our shoes. I like to think that we have left some pretty big shoes for them to fill. e

I speak now to you, next year’s senior class. It is all on your shoulders as of now. The quality of next year will be your responsibility. You will be the ones to set the tone during the Spring / Summer 2002

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Address Senior Banquet Address A Time of Reflection

t is an honor and a pleasure to be able to speak to you tonight in celebration of the graduating Class of 2002. When Michael asked me if I would make this address, I warned him that I tend to get emotional in events such as this. But I am sure that I am not the only person here tonight who is feeling a surge of emotion.

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Each one of us, whether we are parents, family members or friends, fellow students, members of the graduating class, faculty, or administrators, will feel waves of emotion… bursting elation, relief, overwhelming pride, sadness, and incomparable joy, to mention a few. This very special event, your graduation from The Thacher School, generates these emotions. Not to be overly dramatic, it is an event that marks the threshold of what will arguably be one of the most important transitions in your lives: the transition from high school to college.

I realize that the members of the graduating class may not be too interested in sitting through another speech. You may be concentrating on tomorrow and the days beyond. You may not even be listening. If you aren’t, I understand. If you are, I thank you.

Many of you may be thinking about tomorrow’s ceremony. In only a few short hours you will receive your diploma. You will walk to your seats. Your diplomas will be stacked on the table and one by one your name will be called. As you know, it is a random process. There is no predetermined order.

Consequently, one of you will be last. It will be an agonizing wait for that “lucky” last person. The lucky one will think that their diploma is lost, that they forgot to take an exam, that some infraction that they aren’t even aware of was discovered, that they won’t graduate. I know all these feelings, because I was the last person to get a diploma at my graduation 33 years ago in 1969.

Whoever that last person will be, I feel for you, and for your family; however, let me assure you that the emotional scars will heal in time. It may take years, but you will recover.

As we anticipate tomorrow’s ceremony, many of us will reflect upon the changes that have occurred to you, the graduates, in four short years. There is the obvious physical evolution from boys and girls to young men and young women. There is the transformation in your mental and intellectual capabilities. And there page 24 The Thacher News

by Justin M. Faggioli CdeP 1969

is the transformation in your outlooks on the world and breadth of perspective that you have accumulated as a result of your Thacher experience.

These transformations are partly the result of the natural process of maturing and your individual efforts. They are also the direct result of the relationships you have developed with Thacher’s faculty and the administrators. In addition to the graduating class, it is the faculty and administration of The Thacher School that deserve special recognition tonight.

While I do not want to be presumptive, I believe that I speak for the parents, families, and members of the graduating class as I thank you, the members of Thacher’s faculty and administration, for all that you have con-

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• Become comfortable with uncertainty • Value the richness of your Thacher experience • Understand others as well as yourself • Serve others Become comfortable with uncertainty Your future will be full of uncertainty. You will be able to control some of it, much of it you will not. Sometimes you will feel anxious about the array of options. Other times you will be excited by the potential inherent in the choices.

Many people avoid uncertainty because it is uncomfortable. They strive to control every aspect of their lives; however, in trying to exert control, they often limit the ultimate outcome and overlook many opportunities.

Thus, learning to accept uncertainty helps position you to take advantage of a broader spectrum of opportunities. You will learn to accept the uneasy, queasy feeling of the unknown.

You will also realize that as long as you have a good idea of where you are going and what you hope to achieve, the path will usually become clear even if it isn’t readily apparent from the onset. Ultimately, you will see that by embracing uncertainty you will be better prepared to deal with life’s challenges than by retiring to the illusory safety zone of an overly controlled existence.

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tions of hatred, oppression, and discrimination. Peaceful homogeneity is being achieved in certain regions while there is the hardening of differences in others. The chasm between the advantaged and the disadvantaged continues to widen. These stalemates occur at all levels of the society, from the macro to the micro.

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few of you can safely drive golf carts and some of you have difficulty in remembering when it is time to stop wandering. But we can now disregard these minor flaws.

You are more than ready to move on. You have already discovered your own paths and are anxious to begin the journey. All of you have I do not pretend to have the answers, nor can the ability to contribute to our world in whatI be particularly insightful in a few short min- ever manner you choose. We share in your exutes; however, in many of these instances, I citement and are thrilled to be part of it. think that much good could be achieved Members of the Class of 2002, tonight is your through mutual understanding. night. Tomorrow will be your day. An exciting Part of the problem stems from the fact that future beckons you thereafter. We give you our many of the protagonists are so entrenched in heartfelt congratulations and extend our best their own ideologies that they do not want to wishes for your futures. e understand the plights or positions of their supposed adversaries. Thus, I think that it is essential to take the time to understand the situation from the other person’s or group’s perspective when you are confronted with potential conflict or by a stance that seems foreign to you. Mutual understanding will lead to mutual respect, however begrudging. Mutual respect will ultimately provide common ground upon which problems can be solved.

This is not to say you must necessarily agree with the competing perspective. It is to say that by understanding others you are more likely to reach a reasonable resolution. In addition, you may develop a richer understanding of your own sense of self and will be less inclined to belittle or dismiss the beliefs of others.

Value the richness of your Thacher experience

Serve others

No, this is not a pitch for money! Most of you have packed up your things and will return to empty rooms for your last night as a student of The Thacher School. Our cars are groaning under the weight of four years of accumulated stuff that must be dragged home, sorted, and cleaned. Even though you are focused on tomorrow, in the hours that remain, take some time to reflect upon what you have learned and accomplished while here at Thacher.

Think upon your experience at Thacher. All members of the Thacher Community have, in their own way, helped to serve others. It is inherent in the culture of the School. It is also a deep-seated value that extends beyond the boundaries of the School. As you live your lives, I encourage each of you to continue with this tradition. You have the skill, the aptitude, and the interest to help others.

As you reflect upon your time at Thacher, you may realize that few of your peers have received equal preparation in terms of education, a sense of community, understanding people, and developing a set of personal values. This is a tremendous privilege, one that should be cherished. It should not be taken lightly, abused, nor taken for granted. Use this privilege, this advantage, to your and others’ benefits. And remember that honor, fairness, kindness, and truth are the cornerstones of any society, regardless of one’s spiritual orientation.

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Almost every segment of our society is begging for assistance from qualified, motivated, enthusiastic people like yourselves. It doesn’t matter whether it is at the local, regional, national, or international level as long as you conscientiously serve for the benefit of others.

With a little effort you can have noticeable impact. With a significant effort you can have a substantial effect.

Serving others has its own selfish reward. You can’t help but learn. It also gives you a tremendous feeling of accomplishment. Importantly, it provides an example for others to follow.

I would like to conclude by redirecting our attention to the Class of 2002. While at Thacher, The world and its peoples are a complex you demonstrated your strength of character, melange of cultures and beliefs. Some peoples your keen sense of humor and fun, your intelare rapidly assimilating cultures while others ligence, your convictions, your depth of unare needlessly reveling in centuries-old tradi- derstanding, and your patience. Unfortunately, Understand others as well as yourself

Spring / Summer 2002 page 25

The Campaign for Thacher

Campaign Investing in Thacher Continuing the Legacy

nvestment in The Thacher School has been going on since 1889, when Henry Farnham’s father entrusted his son to the care of Sherman Day Thacher with the goal of preparing young Henry for Ya l e . I f m o n e y changed hands, it was secondary to Samuel A. “Pete” Pond the essential investments: a family investing in an educational vision, a teacher investing in a student.

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In the ensuing 113 years, the same investments have been made countless times as new students and families have joined the School community. Each Thacher class has been both unique and representative of the School’s transformative power. My class—a weird and scrawny group of 12 boys ranging in size from Roy Makepeace at 5′2″ to George Livermore at over 6′—is a fine example of the alchemy that takes place at Thacher when the wisdom of adults is invested in bright young people.

For the first time we were on our own, overwhelmed with a sense of independence. What a wonderful feeling! Responsible only for a room in the Smut Joint (now dignified as Olympus) and a horse, we played soccer, tennis, and baseball, made new friends, explored the Sespe, and studied as need be. We were free to invest our time as we saw fit. At least it seemed that way.

Our parents saw the situation differently, of course, as did Mr. Thacher’s faculty. Unbeknownst to us, there was serious business at hand. Homework assignments, though sometimes onerous, gave only a hint of the preparation that went into the academic program of the School. The thrill of sharing a trail with best friends—both human and equine— masked lessons of self-discipline and responsibility. The outcome of our games at recess lunch and after classes never seemed to matter as much as teamwork and sportsmanship.

Every Thursday night we sang the words; during the rest of the week, in myriad ways, we learned their meaning: Honor and Fairness and Kindness and Truth.

These opportunities for lessons did not happen by accident. They were a product of many page 26 The Thacher News

by Samuel A. “Pete” Pond CdeP 1932

investments, beginning with Mr. Thacher’s contribution of 42 years of leadership and his vision of the unique value of combining an outstanding academic program with Western values and traditions in a small residential community.

Faculty members, many of whom invested their entire adult lives to the enterprise, were extraordinarily committed to their students and their profession. From my era, I think of O.E. McBride and Doc Lowry, who helped establish the Thacher tradition of advising students outside of class. I think of Eddie O’Connell who came to the School every week to teach us wrestling and boxing in the ring on the third floor of the Upper School. I think of Herr Cooke (Forest H.) who contributed so much to the literary life of the School and captured its essence in his “Thacher Litany,” describing “the seven best teachers” so eloquently: “Your horse; the library; a lonely trail; a fair game; the friend you most admire; corrected mistakes; curiosity.”

When the alchemy was complete for the class of ’32, our parents were pleased with the transformation of those 12 scrawny Smuts, who went on to become four lawyers (two of them ultimately judges), an airline pilot, a banker, two doctors, an architect, a retailer, an educator, and a diplomat—and life-long friends.

The School and time do not stand still.

Thacher has grown, and now brings in nearly 70 new students each year. The costs of running a first-rate program have grown as well.

As a result, the ranks of investors in Thacher have swelled to include thousands of alumni, parents, and friends who are committed to the long-term health of this distinctive School.

Thacher depends on all of us as investors, be we parents, faculty, students, alumni, friends, trustees, or even a few horses. If we continue to invest generously, the returns of the Thacher experience will accrue to many future generations.

Giving to Thacher: Frequently As What is The Campaign for Thacher?

The Campaign for Thacher is a milestone effort to secure the resources necessary to strengthen Thacher’s programs and facilities and to safeguard its financial well-being for future generations. Begun in 1999, it is a comprehensive campaign that seeks gifts for both the operating budget and Thacher’s endowment to support the people, programs, and places that make Thacher unique.

Why is it called a “comprehensive campaign”?

In a comprehensive campaign, all gifts to Thacher—including those to the Annual Fund, to the Endowment, to building projects, and to special needs—count towards the Campaign’s goal. Thacher depends on a strong Annual Fund and hopes to make it the foundation for this Campaign. We hope that you will support the Annual Fund throughout The Campaign for Thacher. If you are able to do so, we hope that you will make an additional contribution to a renovation or building project, or to the Endowment.

Every gift is appreciated and helps to insure the present and future strength of the School.

What is the Annual Fund and why is it so important?

The Annual Fund is the umbrella for the four funds that are supported by the Thacher family: Alumni Fund, Parents’ Fund, Grandparents’ Fund, and Past Parents’ & Friends’ Fund. The combined gifts to these Funds are the total raised each year for the Annual Fund. Because tuition alone does not meet the full cost of a Thacher education, the School depends on the Annual Fund to cover approximately 15% of the School’s operating budget.

Your tax-deductible gift to the Annual Fund helps balance the budget and moderate tuition increases. The School uses these gifts in the year they are contributed, enabling Thacher to support the best faculty, financial aid for its students, the physical plant, and the Horse and Camping Programs.

What is an endowment?

Endowment funds are similar to savings accounts or other financial assets that generate income through wise investment of the principal.

Although most of this income is used to offset

Honoring Friendships A Special Thank-You

by Sara Sackner

hen medicine is practiced well, the doctor and patient relationship is primary.

Another relationship of great importance is between a young doctor and his men-

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ked Questions costs in Thacher’s annual operating budget, gifts to the endowment do not count towards the Annual Fund. In addition to its general endowment, Thacher has over 170 named endowments designated by their founders for specific purposes. A new endowment can be created with a founding gift of $25,000. Whether you create a new endowment fund or make a gift to an existing one, you are supporting The Campaign for Thacher. Endowment funds that support faculty salaries and financial aid are among the top priorities for this Campaign.

What if I want to give to a capital or building project?

Thacher is committed to maintaining and improving its historic facility in ways that support its program but never overshadow its ranch culture. Building projects will commence in accordance with Thacher’s Campus Master Plan; funds for both building costs and for establishing sufficient endowment for on-going maintenance must be in hand before new construction begins. The first project to be addressed will be the renewal of the campus center, including the construction of the Thacher Commons and an

tor. Dr. John Saidy, father of John CdeP 1979 and Tom CdeP 1982, has been blessed with both experiences in his long career. In a serendipitous moment, these significant connections sparked a wonderful gift to The Campaign for Thacher.

only had his two sons graduated from Casa de Piedra, so did his friend and senior associate Dr. Oscar Hills CdeP 1934 and his two sons, Oscar CdeP 1973 and Stephen C d e P 1 9 7 7 . D r.

Saidy knew that there could be no better way to honor Oscar W. Hills Dr. Hills, who passed away in 1989, than with a gift to Thacher.

Last August, Dr. Saidy received an unexpected call informing him that a longtime patient, Hazel Baumeister, had passed away and that he was to distribute half of her estate to his choice of worthy causes. “It’s an amazing experience to be a philanthropist of this magnitude,” Dr. Saidy remarked. “Not much is known about Hazel, a former executive secretary who passed away Dr. Oscar W. Hills was born in Chefoo, China, from Alzheimer’s, leaving no heirs.” where his father, also a doctor, practiced medicine. He returned to Pasadena, California, a Dr. Saidy immediately thought of Thacher young boy with an English accent (from his govamong several other fine institutions. Not erness) and complete control of Mandarin.

Following his time at Thacher, Dr. Hills attended Yale and Harvard Medical School, and worked Hannah Uscinski ’05 (Hong Kong) and at the Mayo Clinic where he and Dr. Saidy met.

Montana Caset ’05 (Argentina) “Dr. Hills was well-educated, not only because of the fine schools he attended, but because he continued to study throughout his life. He was very pragmatic and incisive in his thinking. A good bridge player, he was also one of the great sports fans of all times, favoring the Red Sox and 49ers for many years. Dr. Hills loved the outdoors, both hunting and fishing, and remained Arts Center, the renovation of the Hills Dining much more interested in the natural world Hall, and the relocation of the Chase Infirmary. than in man’s monuments.”

Other priorities include the construction of additional faculty homes and the renovation of Dr. Saidy came to California several years after The Hill, the Lower School, and the Casa de Dr. Hills; they practiced at Stanford, UC San Piedra Dormitories. Your gift for a particular Francisco, and in private practice together. building or renovation of existing facilities supThrough the years, their professional and perports The Campaign for Thacher, but is not sonal friendship grew. In honor of Dr. Hills, credited toward the Annual Fund.

Dr. Saidy directed $100,000 from the Hazel Reed Baumeister Trust to The Thacher EnWhat if I want to include Thacher in my estate dowment for scholarships. The School sends plans? a special thank-you to Dr. Saidy for sharing the best of medicine and philanthropy.

There are several ways that you might consider remembering Thacher in your estate plans. One of the most common is through an outright bequest or by naming Thacher as the beneficiary of your retirement plan. Planned gifts such as If you are interested in learning more about Charitable Remainder Trusts or The Thacher planned giving, or any other ways to support School Pooled Income Fund may allow you to The Campaign for Thacher, we invite you to make a larger gift to Thacher than you thought contact: possible and potentially enjoy benefits such as increased income, reduced income taxes, or reThe Alumni and Development Office duced capital gains or estate taxes. Irrevocable Phone 805-646-4377 planned gifts made during the Campaign are www.thacher.org credited to The Campaign for Thacher at their alumni@thacher.org e present value.

Spring / Summer 2002 page 27

Tutt Bowl The Tutt Bowl Winners: What’s Become of Them?

This issue of The Thacher News features recipients of The Tutt Bowl Award, one of Thacher’s most prestigious honors presented to a graduating senior each year. The Tutt Bowl honors integrity and responsibility rather than academic, athletic, or leadership qualities that are the hallmarks of most school awards. These winners, by means of their character and ways in which they conducted themselves throughout their tenure at Thacher, embody the ideals of a Thacher education.

The prize dates back to 1963 when Mili, the wife of Charles L. Tutt CdeP 1907, honored qualities that she had always admired in her husband. According to Mrs. Tutt, “regardless of the situation, Charley demonstrated integrity, responsibility, fortitude in the face of adversity, and of consideration for others.” It is awarded to a senior (or two, on occasion) who displays these exceptional “second scoreboard” characteristics. Each spring, Thacher’s faculty submits nominations for this Award; each nominee is discussed at a Faculty Meeting, and the slate is whittled down to several candidates. The faculty then votes, and the winner is announced at the Senior Banquet the evening before Commencement.

The Head of School commends the winner by giving the audience a glimpse of the candidate’s character and how he or she has overcome some sort of adversity while maintaining integrity and considering others’ needs and feelings. The Tutt Bowl recipient receives a silver bowl engraved with the key features of the Award, and the winner’s name is memorialized on the brass plaque beneath The Tutt Bowl that resides in the Alumni Room showcase.

The first recipient was Bruce B. Donnell CdeP 1963, a young man from Sonoma, California, who matriculated to Columbia College, where he earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French. He became a theatre and screen director and has worked internationally (Austria, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and Canada) as well as in the States (San Francisco, New Jersey, New York, and, most recently, Santa Fe, New Mexico), directing various plays, musicals, and operas. He also serves on the boards of several foundations and sometimes works at The Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. The most recent winner is William R. Barkan CdeP 2002 who hails from San Francisco and will enter the University of Colorado at Boulder this fall. During his senior year, he earned the Eagle Scout designation in Boy Scouts, captained the Cross Country Team, which helped him win the Perpetual Sportsman Award, and won the Bixby Dramatic Cup. Intrigued by the diversity of characteristics displayed by various Tutt Bowl winners, we sent questionnaires to all recipients. Although we didn’t hear from every recipient (only bare sketches are included for some), those who replied allowed us to develop this theme for the magazine. We hope you find their stories as intriguing to read as we found them to research and to chronicle.

Deneys Purcell

Ben Carter

Charley and Mili Tutt

The Tutt Bowl Winners Bruce B. Donnell ”I was surprised to receive the Bowl as I did not know it existed. I had not expected to win any award; an athletic award was out of the question (suffice it to say that enduring four years of recess baseball is not my favorite memory of Thacher…). My interests at the time were not as widely shared as they might be today. Having been raised on a ranch in northern California, I, of course, loved the outdoors and horses and still do. I did, however, feel a strong pull towards the arts. Receiving the Bowl so unexpectedly seemed to make it all right at the time to feel as differently as I did from many of my classmates. I think back with gratitude to some of the teachers (and later friends) who sparked interest that are central to my life today and encouraged me to follow my own muse: Donald MacDougall, Fred Lamb, Gui Ignon, Michael Ehrhardt, Marvin Shagam, among others. Donald ignited my love of theater and languages. I was never a great painter, but Gui would let me spend my Saturdays in his studio happily applying paint to canvas and listening to the Met broadcasts. Despite Michael’s best efforts, I was never much of a pianist, but I have managed to continue a career at the Metropolitan Opera for over a quarter of a century. I have become something of a specialist in the operas of Richard Strauss (I directed Der Rosenkavalier for the Met tour to Japan last spring and have directed obscure Strass operas that no one else knows or does for the Santa Fe Opera). I received my first Strauss recording from Fred Lamb, which I still have. I think that he might have thought it was not quite proper just to give it to me so it was, “the best record in my collection going for 25 cents!” So that all started with Fred. Anybody who has been at Thacher in the last generation knows what it means to have been lucky enough to know Marvin and how he remains a part of your life; I am so glad that my nephew and niece [Nathaniel Faggioli CdeP 2000 and Claire Faggioli ’02] were at Thacher when he was there. To pursue my interests I did go as

1963

Bill Anderson

David Amuda

Cesar Gerardo, Jr.

Erin Rosen

Joshua Jade

Will Barkan

Alumni Profiles far away from Ojai as I could (New York), but the values I learned at Thacher, like my wardrobe, have not changed very much since I graduated. I remain close to some classmates and faculty members and their families.

I am always amazed by the “Shangri-La effect” of Thacher and Ojai when I return in that no one seems to have aged at all.

Bruce earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in French from Columbia College. He worked in the press office of the United Nations for two years as an alternative service to Vietnam (he was a conscientious objector), then lived in Geneva for three years. He moved to Santa Fe a decade ago to work as a freelance stage director. Bruce’s brother-inlaw Justin Faggioli CdeP 1969 is serving on Thacher’s Board of Trustees.

Archibald M. Look Archi was born and raised in California until his family moved to Japan when he was seven; he attended an all-Japanese elementary school that continues to serve him well in his work today.

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“I came to Thacher, sight unseen; a school, chosen by my parents, with an older brother already attending. The decision for me to attend Thacher was one of the best of many good decisions made by my parents in my best interest. I treasure the memories of the horses and camping while at Thacher, as I treasure the friendships, both fellow-student and faculty I had the honor of making while there. The memory stands out when my previously abused and wary horse, Dixie, learned that she could trust me and we could work truly as one.

The pepper trees on the Pergola are a lasting memory! Thacher taught me the importance of having one’s own values and being true to them. I also found that the joy of learning was not just in the classroom, but during discussions at the round dining room tables, while on horseback, or around the campfire.

“I was one of early recipients of The Tutt Bowl, so I did not know much about the background and meaning of the Award until afterwards.

Thacher, at the time, was in a state of change, with a new headmaster and new policies, etc.

I was in a state of flux, working out what I stood for, what my core values were. My receipt of The Tutt Bowl was a validation to me, that my values were correct and that I may be using the right compass as I travel down the road of life.

“What makes Thacher special to me was the blending of the love of the outdoors with the love of learning and instilling in me the desire to do my best in what I do.”

Archi attended the University of Pennsylvania because of its strong Oriental Studies Department. He lives in Tokyo and works for a Japan-

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The Thacher News

W. Deneys Purcell CdeP 1967 Building on Lessons Learned

by Robert W. Johnson CdeP 1967, Harvey R. Kaslow CdeP 1967, and Jane D. McCarthy

’ll never forget my first thought as I rose to receive The Tutt Award… ‘What is a Tut [sic] Bowl?’ I believe I was thinking along the lines of Egyptian antiquity at the time. I really had no idea what the Award was for or why I had won it; however, when I saw Norm Livermore’s [CdeP 1966] name engraved on the Bowl, the value of the Award immediately went up in my estimation.”

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Being only the fourth person to receive The Tutt Bowl Award, Deneys Purcell’s puzzlement is similar to the reaction of many Tutt Bowl winners profiled herein. During the nascent years of the Award in the sixties, Community members weren’t aware of the characteristics being honored; and even though it’s better known now—some call it “The Good Guy Award,” coined by Campaign Director Brian Driscoll—it’s still a surprise for recipients since it’s determined by faculty vote and is kept secret until the Senior Banquet. Each profile describes that initial puzzlement of the recipient that then grows into an appreciation of the great honor in being selected for this Award. As Deneys recalls, “My greatest joy in receiving the Award was not in trying to deduce what I had done to receive it—since it appeared to me that I had done nothing—but in realizing that the teachers I admired and loved had seen fit to bestow this honor upon me.”

The “love affair” between Deneys and Thacher actually began when his brother, John—nine years his senior—attended Thacher. During periodic trips home, John recounted tales of outof-control horses, stormy camping trips, practical jokes, and epic soccer victories. From age six, Deneys counted down the days until he, too, could become a Toad. Once on campus, Deneys was not disappointed, even while suffering a severe, two-month bout of homesickness. Thankfully, Bob and Denise Miller were pros at nursing young boys from this mal-

ady while developing a fondness for the fun of Thacher: getting bucked from horses but immediately remounting; being the perpetrator and “perpetratee” of practical jokes; and surviving outdoor adventures even though they don’t transpire according to plan.

On a hike to Ostrander Lake in Yosemite with Marvin Shagam, for instance, Deneys and five or six classmates camped out in a snowbound cabin for a week. They made good use of their plight, however, by tobogganing the surrounding hills and skidding across the frozen lake by day, and cooking their dinners over the fire by candlelight in the evenings.

Deneys also remembers the night he spent under a tarp outside a barn near Pine Mountain because of his allergy to hay. While the others slept soundly and warmly through the thunder, sleet, and snow that arrived that night, Deneys slept in his boots since they were so wet and frozen that he couldn’t pry them from his feet. When he finally saw his toes two days later, they were black and—thanks to Fred Lamb’s reading to students of the first ascent of Annapurna—Deneys was convinced that his toes would soon require amputation.

Deneys was wrong, fortunately, and all 10 metatarsals remain in place.

And, on a horsepacking trip into the Sespe, Deneys learned firsthand why the lead rope of a pack animal should not be tied to the pommel of one’s horse. The mule he led stumbled and fell off the side of a narrow trail, down into the canyon; the mule and gear survived, but in marginal shape.

As many Thacher students agree, outdoor adventures at Thacher are critical to maturing into independent adulthood; classroom academics are equally important and often just as challenging. The excitement of classroom learning came as an unexpected and joyful surprise to Deneys. Before Thacher, school was “a long dull slog.” In junior high—early in the school-busing program—he was bused from his Pasadena home across town to a school 30 times the size of Thacher. “Although it was a most valuable education in its way—opening my eyes to the width and breadth of society, both in racial and socioeconomic terms that I had never before been aware of—the academic part of school continued to be a boring, meaningless duty.” Thacher changed that. Learning suddenly became exciting to Deneys. Teachers taught in new ways; he found the material ab-

sorbing, the teachers passionate. “Fred Lamb turned European history into a gothic horror story,” he recalls. “His descriptions of flesh being stripped off heretics with red-hot forceps appeared in my dreams at night. Mr. Chesley’s demonstration of kinetic energy that sent chalkboard erasers flying past my head kept me on the edge of my seat (and my eyes forward) and Mr. Nicholson’s readings of the experience of giving birth, written by a new mother of his acquaintance, helped me realize the power of the written word for the first time. His readings of MacBeth literally made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.”

That joy of learning never died for Deneys. He matriculated to Dartmouth College, ostensibly majoring in Engineering and Art. His “minor” was rowing, and he was rewarded for the long hours of training by winning the US National Rowing Championships in 1971; that summer, he represented the US in the European Rowing Championships. Deneys worked variously as a photographer, handyman, mailorder clerk, and draftsman for the next five years before enrolling at Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1975. He received a master’s degree in Architecture in 1978 and married Polly Bell—his true love to this day—the following year. Even though he has attended top-flight schools (including UCLA for an MBA in the mid-eighties), Thacher remains the most intensely exciting academic experience he ever had, “mainly because it was the first time I experienced the sheer thrill of learning.”

Beyond the outdoor and academic rigors of Thacher, Deneys appreciated the moral challenges that Thacher offered. He remembers a trip to Baja California with Marvin and several other students to build a well and houses for a small village. Some classmates bought beer one evening and invited Deneys to partake. He was caught in a dilemma of knowing it was wrong to break the bond of trust with Mr. Shagam, but he also felt he couldn’t say “No,” to his friends. He compromised by going along and pretending to drink when he actually didn’t.

(Many years later, Deneys saw this as an embarrassingly “Clintonesque experience.”)

Somehow, Mr. Shagam discovered what had occurred and talked to each student, individually, to find the truth. “He asked me if I had drunk beer the previous night. I realized that though I hadn’t drunk, I had failed as badly as any of my classmates by participating and not speaking up for what I thought was right.

So I said I had drunk the beer and suffered the consequences. But I learned a lesson on that trip about the allure and dangers of remaining silent on issues of moral conviction for the sake of being accepted. I never told anyone at Thacher this story so I’m fairly sure it didn’t figure into The Tutt Bowl decision.

“In the end I never did figure out why I was given the honor of receiving The Tutt Bowl.

My fantasy is that it was awarded to me because I so completely absorbed the Thacher

experience. Thacher did for me what I hope a school will do for my children in their high school years: show them the excitement and joy that can be found in learning, and help them make the sometimes difficult transition from adolescence to young adulthood by exposing them to challenges—academic, moral, and physical—which they will meet, sometimes successfully, and sometimes not. In the process, I hope they will learn, as I did, to trust and to have confidence in their own abilities.”

Deneys and his wife Polly have three children: Claire, 14, Nick and Sam, 13. They live in Hidden Hills, a small, rural suburb in the western hills of the San Fernando Valley, accompanied by their dog, Jasmine, and horse, Kobe (Deneys still can’t handle the hay in the barn, though…). Deneys is a principal of RBB Architects, an 85-person architectural firm specializing in healthcare and university architecture that he began 18 years ago when he and Polly first moved to Los Angeles. A few years back, the Purcells spent a week at Golden Trout Camp, where they enjoyed hiking to the top of Cirque Peak and the nearby lakes. It was a nostalgic trip for Deneys since he and some classmates were the among the first visitors to GTC after it was acquired in 1966.

“Mark Gahagan, Bob Kendig, Howard Lewis, Mr. Peter Reid, and I spent our first week as Thacher graduates clearing out disused buildings and making minor repairs before driving the 1000-mile gravel road known as the Alaskan Highway to spend our summer in Alaska. GTC is just as beautiful as it ever was; quite a treasure for Thacher and its students and alumni.” e

ese manufacturer of precision production equipment that is used in the assembly of integrated circuits and electronic components.

He is currently the Director of the Corporation and Manager of the Disco’s International Strategy. Archi and his wife Sophie have two children: Archibald (16) and Mari (14).

TokyoLooks@aol.com, amlook@disco.co.jp S. Lawrence Holmgren, Jr. “Shortly after moving to Telluride, I contracted with the town to remove the old ‘Cog Train’ from the Broadmore Hotel in Colorado Springs and bring it to Telluride. The purchase of this train was facilitated by John Tutt CdeP 1958, whose family was involved with the Colorado Springs Resort. Owing to John, a few of us were invited to stay at his Mother’s house.

I told John that I had been awarded The Tutt Bowl at Thacher which he relayed to his mother. Mrs. Tutt was thrilled to meet a recipient of The Tutt Bowl which she had donated in honor of her late husband, one of six Tutts to attend Thacher. It was a thrill for me to gain some insight and history of the Award.

1965

“The work on the train was exhausting and incredibly greasy. It contrasted sharply with the luxury and hospitality of the Tutt home. After finishing work for the day I showered, extensively scrubbing my dirty body. After dinner, exhausted, I climbed between the white satin sheets provided on the guest beds. Mrs. Tutt was a great lady and wonderful hostess; but I’m afraid that, in spite of my cleansing efforts, my lasting impression was a dark, full body, greasy outline on her white satin sheets.”

Larry graduated from Stanford University, and, while searching for the ideal career, attended the Golden Gate School of Bartending in San Francisco. In an effort to utilize a scholastic degree, he joined with former Thacher teacher, John Dixon, in the purchase of a bar in Telluride, CO. Although originally intended to be a short excursion outside the mainstream, some 30 years later, he’s entrenched in Telluride “and loving it. Thankfully, no longer in the bar business.”

Norman B. Livermore III, MD “To receive The Tutt Bowl was to be honored for true character and was a mark of highest esteem from the faculty… [It] gave me a strong sense of pride in who I had become and gave me a boost of confidence that I would continue to show good values in the future. While I know that my winning The Tutt Bowl did not specifically influence what I did with my life, it certainly did bolster my self-confidence. Such a mark of honor frequently reminds me of who I was then and makes me regularly measure who I have become. The values that I strive to uphold every day are embodied in the wording of The Tutt Bowl description, and the knowledge that the most important adults in my life at that time chose me as that embodiment continues to encourage me to strive for the best. These

1966

Spring / Summer 2002

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Alumni Profiles are the values that I, in turn, am hopefully now teaching my daughter as she moves through Thacher and prepares to give the world what she has to offer.

“After attending Thacher, I attended Dartmouth, graduating in June of 1970 with a major in Engineering Science. I thought I wanted to be an electrical engineer…but when I became aware that the real work would likely be collaborating on more esoteric projects, I decided to become a doctor. I was accepted to UC San Francisco, where I finished in 1974. I chose orthopedics because I enjoyed relating to active patients and getting them back on the sports fields or other active venues. I finished my orthopedic training in 1979, and then a fellowship in Spinal Surgery finally in 1980. I worked for a year as an Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California at San Francisco before finally entering private practice in Walnut Creek in July of 1982, where I have been ever since.

“I recently made a great and difficult change in my life, as I split from the medical partnership of which I had been a part for 20 years and opened my own individual practice. My former partners were making business decisions that I, personally and singularly, felt were unwise and against my values. Therefore, with the love and support of my family and with the help of my wise and talented wife, I made the very difficult decision to go out on my own. But the morals and ideals which both Thacher and my family helped me to develop have kept me moving in the right direction, and I have regained the satisfaction of treating patients which I had lost in the bigger, revenue-oriented practice setting.

“I strongly feel that it is the Thacher faculty, both past and present, who deserve the greatest of thanks for making my experiences, and those of students after me, so rich and empowering. The independence which Thacher students develop, not only from their parents, but also from the security and predictability of suburban life, as they struggle to deal with their horse responsibilities and learn how to deal with inclement weather while camping in the wilderness enables them to seek beyond the normal confines of standard learning venues.

They can then get more out of their college experience and can better prepare themselves to give back to their communities and to the world. As my daughter continues to thrive at Thacher and I find our experiences there in a strong parallel, I am increasingly thankful that I was lucky enough to do and feel what she is doing and feeling. My Thacher experience was a gift of the highest value, for which I thank the faculty, and, of course, my parents. Receiving The Tutt Bowl just crowned my wonderful four years of memories and spurred my to try to continue to evidence those personal values and ideals which the Bowl represents.”

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The Thacher News

Benjamin F. Carter CdeP 1974 Returning to His Roots

robably not a typical farmer, Ben is up by 6:00 a.m., grabs some toast and yogurt and bolts out the door to start the crew at 7:00. No day is typical given the diversity of commodities grown by BENDEN (short for Ben and Denise). After checking on the rice, wheat, safflower, beans, alfalfa, vegetable seed, plums, and cattle, Ben retreats to the house around 8:00 or 9:00 p.m.

P

by Brian N. Beckham CdeP 1974

to pursue an MBA at The Wharton School, at University of Pennsylvania. Here his concentration was in strategic management and his supporting studies were in finance and accounting.

Career moves took him through some highpowered and high-tech doors: Morgan Guaranty Trust Company in New York; The Mac Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Apple Computer in Cupertino, California.

Something about family ties, an opportunity to become self-employed, and the tranquil meandering flow of the Sacrament River Valley must have been calling him home. In 1993, Ben and Denise founded BENDEN Farms and by 1994, he and the family would be full-time on the farm in Colusa County. The following year, Ben’s father became ill and passed away at which time BENDEN expanded its operation to include that of Ben’s parents. In addition to the aforementioned grains and produce, this 3000-acre farm includes a warehousing operation and the Home Ranch Duck Club.

After leaving the Ojai in June of 1974, Ben started down a long academic and business path that would lead him full circle He is active in a number of civic and private back to his family farming roots in Colusa organization including Chairman of the Board of the Sacramento River Conservation Area, County, California.

Fellow, California Agricultural Leadership ProIn the fall of 1974 Ben would head off to an- gram, Director of the 44th District Agriculother “farm”, Stanford University, to com- tural Association in Colusa, Rotary mence studies, which would concentrate in the International, California Farm Bureau, and Los thermo sciences with supporting studies in Caballeros. Ben is an instrument-rated private physical sciences. He added Italian language pilot, which helps when making frequent trips studies to his plate to allow for a sophomore between Palo Alto and Colusa.

Stanford aboard program in Florence, Italy.

It’s quite an impressive résumé and track During his college days in Palo Alto, Ben re- record over the almost 30 years since Ben’s ceived the prestigious Mary A. Earl McKinney days at Casa de Piedra. But what experiences Prize for Writing from the School of Engineer- and stepping-stones encountered at Thacher in ing. The subject was “An Alternative Braking the early seventies guided him to those future System for the San Francisco Cable Car.” If accomplishments? Was it his upbringing in a most people knew how the old system worked, strong, traditional family-farm setting, innate they probably would not have ridden the Hyde intelligence and drive, or something else more Street line. Other highlights were spending six elusive learned perhaps at Thacher? Answer: months at Stanford’s campus in Florence; serv- Horses and camping trips. ing as president of his fraternity, Delta Kappa Epsilon; and playing the tuba in the renowned Ben arrived as a freshman with more horse experience than most in his class. He also had a Stanford Marching Band. secret weapon to boot; her name was Lollipop.

Upon graduation (on time!) Ben joined the This gentle, little (14.2 hand) sorrel mare was work force with Chevron USA, Inc. in their just plain sweet and forgiving. Well-trained and Southern California division as a Design Engi- trusting, she was Ben’s pride. Going out to feed neer. It was there that Ben met and married in the early misty morning Ben would call to Denise Jennings who was an engineer for Tex- her and Loli would inevitability nicker her aco. After three years it was time to rejoin the good day. She was short enough and Ben was academic realm. A change of coasts leads him tall enough to pull off the old west stunt of

dred feet below the trail, staggered to her feet and seem to wait in blind submission for what would happen next. Hours later and with Herculean efforts the little band was again on its way minus one pack animal. Wendy was left with food and water, with instructions to another passing Thacher group of “A” Campers to get help from School. But now forced to pack on “Calliope,” Mr. Sanford’s less-thannoble bloodlines mount, Ben would have to fight the gear all the way to the next stop at Pine Mountain. The event may be best summarized in Mr. Sanford’s own words: “The boys had been wonderful all along, argumentative and contentious with one another when things went well, as is the natural tendency of 14-year-olds when unobserved in their natural habitat, but level-headed, generous, and uncomplaining whenever things were difficult.

An example of this was Ben, our young packer.

His patience never wore thin no matter how exasperatingly often it was necessary to stop and repack or adjust the loads or how much criticism this occasioned. One occasion, when Ben recounted some of his favorite memories; it seemed frustration must surely result in a bareback riding the trails behind campus under blowup, he paused as though deciding, then, of a full moon with a few discrete classmates. all things, giggled, explaining, ‘This is ridicuThese freshman jaunts were not necessarily lous.’” sanctioned by rule or regulation. But with some bold ambition coupled with some basic Perhaps the final blow as recounted by Ben “Smut” luck, a few boys could wrangle their was when their group pulled into Pine Mounmounts and slip out in the cool evening back tain, expecting a well-organized food drop that lighted by natural moon for a commanding would replenish their diminishing supplies only view of the Casa de Piedra Ranch and the Ojai to find: 14 loaves of rye bread, 5 loaves of Valley below. Or, great hearty breakfasts of white, 2 dozen dinner rolls, and 100 tea bags! bacon and fresh eggs hot off the campfire in Even 14-year-old boys know “Man does not the Sespe. Nothing like the long rides of an live by bread alone.” After the experiences of Extra-Day Trip to make hunger really kick in. that trip, it would be safe to conclude the boys It was on such a horse trip that Ben discov- had turned the corner to becoming men. ered what it was like to face adversity. His freshman Extra-Day Trip was chaperoned by Ben served as a Prefect in the Lower School the new headmaster, Ted Sanford. Now Mr. Dorm his senior year, the same dorm where Sanford entered the School with about as much his son Brian resided as a freshman last year. horse experience as the least experienced fresh- Ben was a member of the Horse Club, Gun man. Jack Huyler in his The Stamp of the Club, Outdoor Committee, Thacher Tutors, School reprints Ted Sanford’s account of that and Glee Club. He was also a member of the challenging pack trip. Nine boys, two pack an- “Honeytones,”a five-member vocal group imals, and Mr. Sanford were to ride for five whose performances delighted the student days through the Sespe (via the Mutau) to Shei- body and faculty. Other members were Peter deck campground, where they were to be met James, David Graham, Hank Wagner, and

by Jug Reynolds and The Green Machine to John Pickering. Who could forget their punbe driven back to campus at the end of a pleas- gent rendition of “Horses and Manure”? ure-filled horse-camping trip. If one thing could go wrong, then everything would go wrong Ben Carter hit the mark in several other areas with for this Thacher Trip #13! From forget- as well. He won the Charles Pratt Trap Shoot ting to pack milk for the planned menu of pan- Plate junior and senior years, the Dawson-Milcakes on the first morning to several wrecks bank Rifle Trophy senior year, The Bissell with the pack animals, this trip would test the Gymkhana Trophy for high-point rider junior metal of each member of the group. Ben was and senior years, and The Vaquero Cup for the only member who could throw a diamond riding, shooting, and gymkhana his senior year. hitch or had any advanced knowledge of how On graduation weekend, Ben’s family was ento care for the stock. On the third day out, Ben joying lunch at a corner table in the Hills Dindirected the group to stop in order to adjust the ing Room when his father stood up and load on Wendy, the pack burro. No sooner had toasted Ben and his sister Ann as “the finest Ben stepped off to the upper side of the narrow crop Carter Farms had ever produced.” Both shale trail, then Wendy lost her footing rolling Ben and Ann were dumbfounded, as praise over and over down the steep embankment, such as this was unheard of from Ben’s father. jettisoning her load generously over the mouncontinued on page 47 tainside. Finally she came to rest several hunvaulting into the saddle with one push off her rump. She was already trained as an excellent trail horse but Ben added regular Gymkhana events to her options. This horse was smart.

She learned to pull a cart in just six weeks under Ben’s careful training. Jesse Kahle offered many well-placed pointers but this was a capable team on their own. Ben and Lollipop were among the first to reach bareback rider and horseman, and later, Top Horseman. Ben capitalized on the vast knowledge that Jesse Kahle imparted. Hour after hour of just plain hanging around the barns or doing chores with Jesse would allow some of that time-tested “black magic” to seep into the boy. Jesse, today at age 95, commented at the Gymkhana this May that training of a horse requires a firm but gentle and understanding hand. The horse, he explained, has to know who is the boss, but also has to trust the boss. A fair amount of patience was required when teaching a young horse. Ben and Lolli caught the essences of that wisdom.

Nori is married to Marion Orrick “Mo”; they have a daughter, Whitney, who is beginning her junior year at Thacher this fall. Nbl3@onemain.com W. Deneys Purcell He earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth, received a master’s from Harvard in 1979, and an MBA from UCLA in 1985. He is the principal architect with RBB Architects in Los Angeles.

He and his wife Polly have three children: Claire, Nicholas, and Samuel. They live in Hidden Hills. dpurcell@ rbbinc.com. Please see profile beginning on page 30.

1967

John D. Gilpin “Last fall my mother moved from our Northern California home of 50 years to a condo nearby. She found The Tutt Bowl (slightly tarnished, but shiny after some polishing) and the statement that Mr. Twitchell said at the honors ceremony. It was a memory of a very proud moment of my youth and a reminder of what values and beliefs that have been important to me. The values of high integrity and responsibility have helped me through difficult times, celebrating successes, making important decisions, being a positive role model, and improving my community.

1968

“After Thacher, I graduated from Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, in 1972 and received an MBA from Stanford in 1974. I have worked in the field of finance, doing commercial and investment banking at US Bancorp and currently as the senior financial officer of a privately owned Twin Cities building supply company. I have been married to Cindy for 29 years living in the Twin Cities area for that time.

We have two children: Michael, a high school senior in the college selection process, and Megan 14, a high school freshman. Our family enjoys water and snow skiing, biking, tennis, gardening and travel. We take annual trips to Northern California to see my family including my brother David CdeP 1970 and cousin John Barkan CdeP 1967, who provide updates on Thacher. It is wonderful that Thacher continues to recognize and reinforce the values and beliefs bestowed in The Tutt Award. Such qualities are so needed to be supported in today’s turbulent world. So many of my friends at Thacher and since are equally deserving of the same recognition.” jlgilpin@cs.com Marshall C.Milligan “I was so painfully straight and naïve that I can’t help but believe that the faculty gave me the Award out of sympathy. The quote on my senior page says it all: ‘What a belief in the rightness of things!’ (Ellison) I guess that sort of stood out in those days.

1969

“Let’s be honest; the late sixties were dark days for those who trade in traditions, relationships, and values. It is baffling to realize that, in spite of those times, the traditions, the relationships, and the values are what we recall most fondly today.

Spring / Summer 2002

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Alumni Profiles “Being a parent has brought these recollections to the fore. I watch scared kids become Thacher students—on stage, on a camping trip, at Assembly, on the fields, speaking or singing at chapel, presenting a Senior Exhibition, just bantering with faculty—and the richness of our shared experience brings tears to my eyes.

“How fortunate we all are, to have found our way to Thacher and to have each other as lifelong friends! How impressive are the many ways we have used what we learned to help others!”

Marsh earned his BA at Yale in political science, but really enjoyed architecture, history, and literature. He earned an MBA at Stanford and spent 20 years in banking. He is now the Retired President and CEO of the Bank of A. Levy, and serves as President of Thacher’s Board of Trustees.

He is married to Gretchen; they have two daughters: Lucy CdeP 2000 (Princeton), and Claire CdeP 2002 (beginning at Stanford this fall). They live in Santa Barbara. mgmilligan@worldnet.att.net Thomas W. Ames, Jr. Tom is a selfemployed commercial photographer who lives in Norwich, VT. He has three children. www.thomasames. com

1970

James B. Allis Jim earned a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth and a master’s from the University of Pittsburgh.

Assistant Professor at Hope College in Holland MI. He is married to Jeri, and they live in West Olive, MI. allis@hope.edu

1971

Hans Peter Nielsen Hans developed a mortgage banking business that he sold last year; now he enjoys playing with his grandson. He spends time in Mexico and Washington. “Sharing The Tutt Award with Jim Allis was a moment I’ll never forget. Truly a wonderful time at Thacher. Much better than college life. My hero is still Newt Chase.”

1971

Hans graduated from Claremont-McKenna Men’s College in 1975 with dual majors in economics and psychology. He spent one year at Claremont Graduate School with Peter Drucker. Hans and his wife Nancy have a daughter Jessica and a grandson. The live in Bremerton, WA. Thomas S. Thacher Tom earned a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and attended UC Davis. He is a Software Developer. He is married to Joanne (a mobile veterinarian) and they have one child, Adrian (16). They live in Fallbrook, CA.

1972

Senior Class The faculty liked everyone in this great class, and couldn’t designate one specific winner.

1973 page 34

The Thacher News

William S. Anderson CdeP 1976 An Enduring and Endearing Friendship by Harry D. “Peter” Conkey III CdeP 1979

hen I was asked to write about my old friend Bill Anderson, the first thing that popped into my mind was how my time at Thacher might have been different if I never met Bill. That was possible, after all, simply because of our age difference. When I arrived at the School in the fall of 1975 as a Smut, Bill was beginning his senior year. If not for those nine months in which he presided over Lower School as my Head Perfect, I might never have had the good fortune to have him as a life-long friend.

W

when necessary, approachable, someone you could count on in a rough patch when you’re 2000 miles from home. He was genuine and completely unselfish. In short, a true friend, who happened also to be my Prefect. At a time when a three-year age difference seems infinitely greater then most periods in life, he made me feel a contemporary.

In the years following Thacher, Billy and I remained close and, once again, my friend and mentor was always there for me. He tried to recruit me to Bowdoin (where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Government in 1980) and spent time helping me learn about the school. (Unfortunately, “exceptionally bright” had not yet materialized and I wasn’t able to gain admission!) He worked for US Senator George Mitchell from Maine after graduating from Bowdoin. While earning a master’s degree in Journalism from Boston University in 1984, he welcomed me to stay at his apartment in Boston when I was interviewing for my first job in the real world. I recall that I didn’t actually have a bed to sleep in, In many ways, but rather a mattress on the floor, which was Billy was the perfectly fine because Billy didn’t have a bed eiideal mentor for me. You see, he didn’t par- ther. He, too, slept on a mattress on the floor, ticularly like horses; nor did I. He appeared probable because by this time this “old” man (from the perspective of this 14 year old) to had come down with a bad back. be exceptionally bright, particularly in the humanities. I wasn’t exceptionally bright in Then, predictably, life’s evolution took over. anything and I needed an example of what Billy moved back to his hometown of Los An“exceptionally bright” was. He was political: geles and earned his Juris Doctorate from a California-style Democrat who enjoyed ar- UCLA in 1988. There were weddings, folguing with conservative Republicans (even lowed by children (ever the mentor, my wife though he came from a very Republican fam- Brooke and I have two boys, just like Kelly ily!). I was in the process of being raised a and Bill), and before we knew it, fortieth-birthconservative Republican from the cornbelt day parties (his long before mine, of course.)

(Illinois) who did not know anything about And always during these occasions Billy reCalifornia-style Democrats. He was an ex- mained more interested in learning about how ceptional athlete who wore “Coach I was doing, and then how we were doing, Wooden” sneakers and was captain of the than talking about himself or how he was Varsity Basketball Team. I was a long and doing. Over the years he has remained perhaps lanky 5′10″ who aspired to make the Fresh- the most unselfish person I know. He is most men Basketball Team even though I had no certainly one of the kindest; and he remains to idea who Coach Wooden was. Luckily, dur- this day the friend I most admire. ing my “formable” freshman year that followed, my room was next door to his in the Billy’s extraordinary energy and commitment hallowed first floor hall of the Lower School! to his family and community continues today.

He now works with his father, brother, and My memories of Billy during that school year sister in the family’s business, Topa Equities, are poignant. My “mentor” recruited me for in Los Angeles. He also serves on the Boards of the Religion Committee and inspired my in- Directors for Mellon First Business Bank, terest in journalism (the subject of my senior Urban Box Office Network, and Southland project three years later). He was absolutely Title Company. Finally, he is Vice-Chairman what a Senior Prefect should be to a Smut: of the Weingart Center Association, a facility kind, forthright, able to dispense discipline for the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

Looking back, I now know that during those impressionable nine months in my earliest year at Thacher, Billy’s example inspired me to earn The Tutt Bowl upon graduation three years later. My mentor exemplified Thacher values of honor, fairness, kindness, and truth, and I know that I set my sights on The Tutt Bowl largely because Billy too had earned it.

As I prepared this memoir of my old friend who received The Charles L. Tutt Bowl in June of 1976, I talked with him frequently about his Thacher days and how much receiving The Tutt Bowl meant to him—then and now. He agreed only part way with my appraisal of his horsemanship. Agreeing that he was not much of a horseman, he nevertheless admitted to “wonderful memories of rides on my sweet, old (and slow) horse, Trixie.”

Billy spoke of “the incredible sense of community which taught me (more than any other educational experience) personal responsibility and a love for learning.” He talked fondly of his teachers, like Marvin Shagam “who inspired a sense of mental curiosity and a strong interest in politics and law (particularly during Watergate).” He recalled his memories of being part of the debating society and remembers vividly Bonnie Robinson telling him “he needed to be a little less competitive with his opponents!”

And, of course, there was (thank goodness!)

Billy’s beautiful wife Kelly. Billy told me his favorite memory to this day was meeting Kelly at Thacher during the first year of the Emma Willard exchange in 1974. They met in a French class taught by a Emma Willard teacher who was French and, as Billy recalls, “a little snobby.” Sometime during the first week of class the teacher proclaimed the girls “brilliant” and all of the boys “a little stupid.” Despite the apparent intellectual gap, the two of them became great friends during the exchange, and later, while they both attended Bowdoin and then lived and worked in Washington D.C. Today, life’s incredible journey continues with Bill’s older son, Max, at Thacher (his younger son Spencer is 12). I occasionally receive a voice mail from my old pal describing a current Thacher experience he is having while visiting Max that brings to mind memories from our CdeP days. Billy told me of the enormous feeling and impact of having Max attend Thacher.

He talked about how proud he and Kelly are of Max and about how special it is to know that he is in “a place that holds many special memories for both of them.” And once again, ever my mentor, we, too would love to follow and have our children be fortunate enough to experience Thacher.

What an extraordinary life-long friend my mentor has become, and how fortunate I am to have his example and his friendship even to this day, all those many years later. e

Benjamin F. Carter “I was very surprised and honored to be chosen for The Tutt Bowl. I was not a stand out leader in my class and felt there were many others who were worthy and deserving.”

1974

“Some of my fondest memories at Thacher: Taking Mr. Twichell on an airplane ride over the School and the Sespe at 17 years of age with the ink still wet on my license; taking my parents on a wagon ride on Family Weekend my freshman year after teaching my horse to pull a wagon in just six weeks, followed by crying as I watched my parents leave; and bareback rides under the full moon.”

Although trained as a Mechanical Engineer with an MBA from Wharton, Ben has returned to his roots on the family farm (and then some) in Colusa County, California. He married Denise Jennings (former engineer for Texaco) and they have two children: Brian ’05 and Kendra (11). carter.b@colusanet.com. See Ben’s profile that begins on page 32.

Frank W. Tyler Frank attended Claremont-McKenna, but we have no further information.

1974

Guru Amrit S. Khalsa né David Marvin “My strongest memory of Thacher is the smell. On a cool evening when things were very still and there was a slight breeze coming up the valley carrying a hint of sage and orange…that has stuck in my mind…along with the time I tried to smoke a pack of Camels in 20 minutes…”

1975

Amrit studied religion at Princeton and attained a bachelor’s degree in 1981. He became very interested in yoga and eventually became a Sikh. He continues to practice yoga and meditation and teaches. He has started two companies: President of HealthScribe, Inc. that provides medical transcription services to hospitals. His second and current position is with First Ring, which provides customer service outsourcing to large corporations. Both companies’ labor pools are in India, which offers challenges of cross-cultural, global business.

He married Ong Kar and they have two children: Saibhang (14) and Sat Mandir (12). They live in Herndon, VA. Guru.Amrit.Khalsa@ usa.net William S. Anderson ”I was proud to have received the Award but I remember being a little awed by it just the same.

1976

“I remember that incredible smell of orange blossoms after an afternoon practice, the view of the sun going down from the Pergola, sitting for a few minutes at the outdoor chapel on an early morning after feeding my horse.

“I was in the last all-boys class, and I’d say without a doubt that all of the changes brought on by coeducation, along with all of what the

Spring / Summer 2002

page 35

Alumni Profiles Mulligans have brought to Thacher, have made Thacher a much better, richer, brighter place.”

Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bowdoin College in 1980; a master’s degree in Journalism from Boston University in 1984; and his Juris Doctorate from UCLA in 1988. He works for Topa Equities, Ltd., in Los Angeles and serves on the boards of Mellon First Business Bank and Weingart Center Association. Bill and his wife Kelly have two sons: Maxwell ’05 and Spencer (12). bill@topa.com. Please see Bill’s profile that begins on page 34.

Bradley L. Smith Brad is conducting research on “smart” drugs, or molecular therapeutics to correct biological errors that cause cancer in order to restore normal regulation to the patient’s cellular systems. A detailed Alumni Profile on Brad’s work was included in the Fall 2001/Winter 2002 issue of The Thacher News. He earned a bachelor’s degree in biology at UC Santa Cruz in 1986 and a doctorate in biotechnology from Stanford in 1990.

1977

He and his wife Renee live in Marblehead, MA, and their first baby, Noah Oliver, arrived this year on May Day. blrsmith@mediaone.net Bradley N. Hanson “Some of my favorite memories are the many great trail rides I took over the years with classmates such as John Hoover, Steve Benioff, and Kurt Huebner. I believe Thacher is a special place because of its ability to mix a great academic environment with a commitment to exploring the outdoors. I think also it is a wonderful way to teach kids how to take responsibility for their own lives.

1978

“The Class of 1978 was such a good class, with so many outstanding people it never occurred to me that I might win. I was surprised and very happy.”

Brad grew up in the Bay Area. His parents chose Thacher because of the strong outdoors and academic program. After Thacher, Brad had two separate college years abroad in Quito, Ecuador, and in Madrid, Spain, where he attended the University of Madrid. He earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley in 1983 in Political Science and Spanish Literature, and an MBA from UCLA in 1989. He worked for Franklin Templeton Private Client Group for his entire 18-year career; first as a municipal bond trader, then mutual fund sales manager in Southern California, then last year as Vice President and Portfolio Consultant for the Franklin Templeton Private Client Group.

He loves to travel to such places as Africa, Cuba, and Europe. He also plays golf and tends to his rose garden, an important task for the “City of Roses,” otherwise known as Pasadena, where he lives not far from Cal

page 36

The Thacher News

Erin J. Rosen CdeP 1988 Reading Between the Lines

y fondest memory of Erin is reading poetry together outside of the old Student Union Building (aka SUB) and in the old Thacher library.

William Butler Yeats or Robert Frost set the tone for a pleasant dining experience, regardless of the dinner menu. Some may think it odd to associate Yeats and Frost with food; more importantly, I associate those poets with one of the nicest young ladies that I have ever known: Erin Rosen.

M

We have kept in touch intermittently since we graduated and never skip a beat when we talk. More importantly, we do not solely recollect the days of yesteryear. The insights we gained from reading poetry together remain a compass for our lives in uniquely different directions, albeit paths whose relevance allows them to easily be bridged through correspondence. Thacher fostered our love for poetry and helped it flourish.

To Erin, Thacher is a place where it was possible to achieve a balance between the personal and the communal. “By providing hours on end for independent thought, solitude, and reflection, Thacher allowed me to attend to my personal pursuits, whether they were academic or creative or simply introspective,” Erin recalls. “At the same time, Thacher provided an incredible community of friends. Whether in the dorms or in the Dining Hall, during sports, or between 9:30 and 10:00, in the middle of chorus or camping, I was always delighted by my friends. This balance between the personal and the communal is something I have tried my best to recreate in every stage of my life since Thacher.”

Erin finds similarities in experiences at Thacher and her ongoing engagement with poetry. She describes poetry as a medium that is both intensely personal and a vehicle for creating community. When she was young, Erin’s mother

by Mark A.T. Holman CdeP 1986

copied poems in calligraphy script and tacked them on the refrigerator door for the family to memorize and recite at dinner. At Thacher, the serenity made understanding poetry a palpable experience. Among her most vivid memories of Thacher were the evenings she spent, alone in a classroom, putting together a paper on Yeats for Mr. Robinson. Although she can’t remember what the poem was, she recalls working far too long on it– she even needed an extension–because she couldn’t stop analyzing it. A concerned Mr. Robinson suggested she should make hard decisions earlier in the analysis; although she agreed, the time flew.

Erin was having fun.

In her senior year, Erin tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during the first game of the soccer season. Rehabilitation in those days meant six months on crutches, confined to chairs and couches; it allowed, however, for extended time to read. She became particularly interested in writers who grew up outside the U.S., including Nabokov, Czeslaw Milosz, Kundera, Marquez, and Paul Celan.

What impressed her most was not only their ability to write fiction and poetry, but to discuss the changing economic and social conditions in their native countries.

Influenced by the extent of knowledge from which these writers could write, Erin decided that even though her heart was still tied to literature, she should try to learn as much as possible about areas of study more unfamiliar to her. Her first freshman class at Stanford was Chinese, which she describes as another study of poetry. For example, the word for “good” is the picture of a woman with a child; the word for “peace” is the symbol of a woman under that of a roof; the word for “leisure” reveals a crescent moon peeking through a crack in a door.

Intrigued by what she glimpsed of the Chinese culture through the language alone, she enrolled in Chinese history, politics, religion, and literature to learn more. By the time she realized that East Asian Studies was a major, she had nearly completed all the requirements. She added on a co-terminal degree in International Policy Studies, and focused on the rise of income inequality in contemporary China.

During her second year at Stanford (1989)— post-Tiananmen Square—Erin was introduced to the poetry of Bei Dao. Born in 1949, Bei Dao was a teenager at the start of the Cultural Revolution. He served briefly as a reluctant but hard-working Red Guard when he would

have preferred studying at university. Assigned to a factory in Beijing, Bei Dao began writing.

He joined the active underground poetry movement that not only provided him with a community of writers but also access to a network by which foreign literature was shared among readers hungry for something other than Maoist propaganda. Since the libraries and universities were all boarded up, the few copies of non-Maoist literature were circulated according to a strict schedule, with each reader possessing a book for only a few hours. Later, during the brief relaxation of political controls that followed the close of the Cultural Revolution, Bei Dao and a few friends founded the first independent (non-political) poetry magazine in China, Today. Collectively known as the “misty poets,” the founders of Today both asserted and inserted a sense of self into the public discourse, thereby creating a completely new cultural genre in China. In his famous poem, “Answer,” Bei Dao wrote what became a mantra both for his generation and then later, for the students in 1989: “I—do—not—believe!” At a time when Maoist China was replete with groupthink and propaganda, Bei Dao’s statement was radical and liberating. He was immediately propelled into fame and this phrase became as central to the time as Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.” During the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989, students marched with posters quoting Bei Dao’s poetry, and thus he was seen to have incited the demonstrations.

Bei Dao happened to be overseas at the time and has remained in exile ever since. In 1992, Erin wrote her senior thesis on Bei Dao’s poetry and its political importance in China at the time of Tiananmen.

informal literature—and how it is perceived by the rest of the world. Through her concern regarding Taiwan’s position in international law, she began considering law school. She found a job with a joint Taiwanese/US law firm and worked on a project involving Taiwan’s effort to reconstruct its alcohol market in order to improve its bid for the World Trade Organization (WTO). Although nearly a teetotaler, she became fluent in the Chinese terms of trade for whisky; she helped draft legislation and attended meetings with the Ministry of Finance to lobby for its passage. Although in over her head since she hadn’t yet attended law school, Erin discovered another passion: the field of international negotiation and mediation. The summer after her first year of law school, she worked for an international law firm in Beijing, also on issues involving the WTO, but this time, as it pertained to China’s bid for membership. Meanwhile, she continued studying Chinese, translating poetry during her free time and reciting poems to entertain her friends and unsuspecting neighbors.

Law School

Although Erin experienced the frustrations that typically accompany the first year of law school, ultimately Boalt provided Erin with what she loved about Thacher–a time for challenging personal study, and a fantastic community of friends. In her second year, she wrote an article on the Violence Against Women Act to fulfill her membership requirements for the law review; it was selected for publication the following summer. The editing process reminded her of being back at Thacher as professors’ office doors opened to her and she had opportunities to engage with professors and Evaluating Education in the States and Her other students about the intricacies of her Own Education in the Far East topic. She was pleased to find that these deAfter graduating from Stanford, Erin worked bates often focused on the nuances of language from 1992 until1995 evaluating programs at- and principles of interpretation, topics that tempting education reform. Her largest project often came up in her explorations of poetry. involved a program sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) that And Back to Poetry gave public school teachers a year’s sabbatical from their teaching duties to take courses of With most of her law school requirements fultheir choice at a sponsoring university. The filled by her third year, Erin took the opportuteachers met on a weekly basis with professors nity to take a few courses on Berkeley’s main and the other teachers from their site to discuss campus. Words cannot describe the shock Erin current issues in the humanities–everything experienced when, upon visiting the Asian from postmodernism and historiography to Languages Department, she learned that Bei Dao multiculturalism and feminism. Each teacher was to be a visiting professor on the campus durdeveloped curriculum materials based on the- ing her last semester at Boalt. It had been a decade ories they had studied. To Erin, the ACLS pro- since she had written her senior thesis on his pogram provided teachers with the same balance etry, and she had kept apprised of his exile, first that she appreciated at Thacher—that is, time in several different countries in Europe and then for private study as well as opportunities to across the States, making his home finally in engage ideas in a communal setting.

Davis, California. But she had not imagined he would be teaching at Berkeley while she was a Travelling a lot for work, Erin earned enough student there. Bei Dao’s course, ¨Modern Chifrequent-flyer miles to make her first visit to nese Poetry,¨ focused on three interlocking asAsia in 1996. In Taipei, she studied Mandarin pects: first, the socio-political history of China, in the mornings and worked in the afternoons, including the conditions leading up to Mao and initially volunteering at two economics think the changes that occurred after his death; sectanks. She became interested in Taiwanese continued on page 47 identity—both as it is expressed in official and

Tech. Brad hopes to take a sabbatical after 20 years at Franklin Templeton. bhanson@frk.com Harry D. Conkey III Peter earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Denison University in 1983. He is a builder for HDC Partners LLC in Chicago. His wife’s name is Brooke; they have two sons: Harry (7) and Donald (5). hdc@earthlink.net.

1979

Anand “Arnie” S. Tolani Anand came to Thacher from Hong Kong, where his parents still live, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Deepak CdeP 1977.

Theirs is a Hindu family living in the Chinese culture. Although he’d never ridden a horse, he rode all four years at Thacher. Anand attended UC Davis and now works as a computer software engineer for Yahoo. He lives in Saratoga with wife Rie; they have two daughters: Sarah (12) and Shannon (9). anand@four11.com

1980

Captain Kenneth A. Chance Ken earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics in 1985 from UC Santa Barbara; he then earned a master’s degree in Russian/Ukranian Area Studies from Kansas University in 1995. He works as a Russian & East European Area Specialist in the US Army and is presently stationed in Naples, Italy. He is married to Coleen and they have two children: Cole (12) and Kendall (8). chancekc@ compuserve.com

1981

Daniel E. Ryan Dan attended Davidson College and graduated from UC Davis. He lives in Baltimore, MD. Dryan2000@aol.com

1981

Jennifer A. Drescher Jennifer earned a bachelor’s degree in business from UC Berkeley in 1986. She serves as Director of Marketing for SRS Labs Inc. in Santa Ana, and she lives in Huntington Beach, CA. jenniferd@srslabs.com, jennifer@ srswowcast.com

1982

Janet Carroll Richardson “I was very surprised and amused to receive The Tutt Bowl as it was a running joke in our class as to who would be the recipient. I was also proud and honored. I remember my family almost didn’t make it as they were delayed in LAX and, when my Dad called Mr. Shagam to tell him of the delay, Mr. Shagam told him he should make every effort to get to the awards ceremony. My family did make it, and they were very proud.

1983

“My favorite memories of Thacher are picking and eating avocadoes and oranges; riding bareback to the reservoir; and singing ridiculous ditties with buddies. My only regret about my high school experience is that I did not appreciate it enough while I was going through it.

Every time I return to Thacher, I have an increased love and appreciation of the place.”

Spring / Summer 2002

page 37

Alumni Profiles Janie majored in history at Middlebury because she fell in love with history after having Jerry Fleishhacker as a teacher at Thacher; she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She taught Spanish and history at Cate for three years before earning her Juris Doctorate at Stanford; she graduated in the top 10% of her class. She now works as Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco. She serves as president of Thacher’s Diamond Hitch Club and as Class Representative. She is married to Weston Richardson CdeP 1980; they have two sons: Frederick “Jack” (5) and Samuel (3). Janie_Richardson@ci.sf.ca.us Elizabeth (“Beth”) K. Roberts Farley “As I was musing over Thacher and what The Tutt Bowl meant to me, I wondered if the majority of these winners were first born. As I watch my own first born as he struggles with parental expectations (spoken and unspoken), I remember my own childhood. Going to Thacher meant a lot to me. As a horse ‘fanatic’ and a strong academic student, I knew (as my parents did) that going to the local public high school was not an option. I was overjoyed to be accepted to attend Thacher.

1984

“My senior year was one of great turmoil.

Being a part of the infamous class of ‘84 (‘Sheahan’s Revenge’) created an interesting dichotomy. On one side were the students who were being judged and on the other side were their peers acting as sentencing judges.

“Did it surprise me to receive The Tutt Bowl?

Yes… and I treasured that Award for years, listed it on my résumé, and polished my silver bowl often. Now, it simply is part of who I am.

As a business owner, wife, and mother, I make choices every day that reflect integrity and responsibility. I agonize for days over some decisions that really should take hours. Why? Just a part of me and who I am.

“Thacher is a treasured piece of my character and upbringing. Camping trips, the Horse Program, Wednesday afternoon trips into Ojai, watching lacrosse, soccer, and basketball games, dances, plays, services at the Outdoor Chapel, late night chats in the dorm, Formal Dinners, graham crackers and milk at Assemblies, Beaux Arts balls, gathering on The Pergola, every teacher I had contact with, all of these memories evoke emotions. Perhaps I will be able to finally attend a reunion (in two years), and yet knowing all the changes that have occurred physically on campus and all the teachers that have come and gone, will I be able to evoke those memories as clearly as I can just reflecting here at my keyboard?”

Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UC Davis in 1988. She is the owner of Futurekids of Snohomish County (technology in education franchise). She and her husband Jim live in Kirkland, WA, with their two chil-

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The Thacher News

David O. Amuda CdeP 1990 Opening a World of Opportunities

by Andrew R. Shakman CdeP 1990

Even as he excitedly received the acceptance letter from Thacher, David knew he was facing a significant challenge. He was moving from the crowded Los Angeles public schools to the contained Thacher community and its remote campus. As a new sophomore, he was entering a close-knit group of returning students with established relationships. There was also an age gap—David, at 14, was over a year younger than his Thacher peers. Most significantly, David had to confront the unexpected loss of his foster mother the summer before he matriculated at Thacher. This had a profound Let me intro- impact, but did not shake David’s resolve to duce you to move to Ojai.

David Olufemi David found Thacher to be very demanding Amuda. academically and recalled that it was difficult Known to his “getting used to the routine and the structure f r i e n d s a n d of life…It just felt overwhelming. I had doubts classmates for about whether or not I could keep up, or h i s h u m i l i t y, whether I deserved to be there.” d i p l o m a c y, friendship, com- To make matters even more complicated, just munity spirit, months after starting at Thacher David learned and integrity, the Los Angeles County Department of ChilD a v i d h o l d s dren’s Services wanted to assign him to a difhimself to daunting personal standards. He’s not ferent foster home and remove him from prepared to declare any kind of victory yet— Thacher. David’s recollection of the situation to do so would be inconsistent with the quiet belies his natural diplomatic instincts: “They determination at his core and contrary to his bal- approached the situation using the same soluanced, self-disciplined approach to life. It might tion they use for everything else. In my case it also contradict lessons learned in his youth about was different. I was in a good home and wasn’t a problem. They didn’t know who I was. inevitable adversity.

Their actions were well-intentioned, but misDavid was raised in South Central Los Ange- guided.” les, a first generation American of South Korean and Nigerian descent. Neither his natural Thacher protested the Department’s plan and mother nor his natural father was closely in- a hearing was scheduled in the Los Angeles Juvolved in his upbringing. Instead, David spent venile Courts. David thought he would attend most of his childhood in a loving, stable foster the hearing alone with a court-appointed casehome where he developed close familial bonds worker; he prepared himself mentally for the possibility of withdrawing from Thacher. He with his foster parents. had underestimated Thacher’s resolve. HeadDavid was an exceptional student and stood master Bill Wyman, then-Assistant Headmaster out among his peers at James A. Foshay Ju- Michael Mulligan, James Greene (President of nior High School. One of his teachers, Wil- Thacher’s Board of Trustees), and several other fred Smith (the uncle of Thacher graduates administrators surprised David by attending Chaka Small CdeP 1991 and Gatsha Small the hearing. A Better Chance representative CdeP 1992) recognized David’s potential and Michael Anderson also attended the meeting to referred him to A Better Chance, the Boston- demonstrate his organization’s support of based organization that provides educational David. opportunities to talented students of color through recruitment into some of the nation’s David will “never forget my case being called most outstanding secondary schools. David by the court clerk and seeing the impressive made the decision to apply to Thacher based entourage of supporters behind me.” He on its sincere enthusiasm about his candi- wasn’t the only one impressed by the strong showing of support. The Judge, surprised by dacy. e never expected to win any awards at Thacher, let alone The Charles L. Tutt Bowl. He believed he’d “been fairly anonymous” and not “a standout in a class of overachievers.” He even states, emphatically, that 12 years after Thacher he “hasn’t accomplished much so far.”

H

such a crowd for a seemingly routine case, invited introductions. When his turn came, Michael Mulligan offered an impassioned, impromptu speech about David’s academic merits and enumerated the reasons why he should be allowed to pursue an education at Thacher.

parted—but not for long. He returned a short while later—this time brandishing a gun—and proceeded to steal their money, the keys to the Thacher van parked at the trailhead, and a peanut-butter sandwich. The gunman warned them not to follow or he might “shoot them in the leg.” In hindsight, David finds this comment somewhat amusing, an odd threat indicative of more bark than bite from this “polished” criminal. When he and Emma Lipton reached the Lone Pine Sheriff to report the crime, David recalls it was “like the first big thing that had ever happened to them.” Certainly it was a big deal for Bill Wyman, too.

His well-meaning vision of mountaintop serenity proved ironically inaccurate for David.

After hearing from the Thacher contingent, the Judge commented that this was an unprecedented level of support for a youth in the L.A. foster care system. She ruled that Thacher would have temporary custody of David.

Shortly thereafter, Bill Wyman introduced David to Carmen and Jack Robertson, longtime Thacher family members in Ojai. They became David’s official foster parents and David continued, on course, with this Thacher education. David reflects, “I’m ever grateful After two nights in a Lone Pine Hotel, David that people cared enough to fight to keep me at regained his confidence and returned to the mountains. He was still only 15 in actual years, Thacher.” but perhaps a few years older in experience David had a very successful Thacher experi- after the ordeal. David ended up spending the ence, excelling academically and competing in entire summer at Golden Trout—including a cross-country, basketball, and baseball, each number of nights alone in the wilderness. at the varsity level. During his junior year, David’s seven-person cross-country team be- David took much from his Thacher experience. came the first Thacher team to qualify for Cal- After so much instability in his life, he says, “I ifornia Interscholastic Federation State Finals never felt relationships were indefinite. I in the School’s history. The team finished thought there was always a beginning and an end. Starting at Thacher I began to see there fourth in the statewide competition. was longevity to relationships.”

David was known among his classmates for his endless supply of “cheesy” bad jokes. He David graduated from Thacher in 1990 and exhibited deep affection for groan-inducing, enrolled at Santa Clara University. Peers recon-the-nose, low-quality humor. David found ognized David’s leadership strengths and great amusement in the reactions provoked by elected him as a senior class senator, one of the these jokes and was motivated to deliver more. top posts in the Santa Clara student governThey became a signature trademark, a bit of ment. He was also the Chair of the Student Afshowmanship from an otherwise quiet indi- fairs Committee that oversaw all campus student groups. David studied mechanical envidual. gineering and helped found the Santa Clara David’s Thacher experience reached its student chapter of the National Society of metaphorical peak in the summer of 1989 in Black Engineers, an organization that seeks to the Sierra Nevada. He’d intended to return to increase the number of black engineers in the Los Angeles that summer, but Bill Wyman U.S. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of touted the clean air and tranquil setting of the Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. mountains as a better alternative to the rougher side of Los Angeles. David accepted David decided to join a large firm where he a summer position at Golden Trout Camp. could put his mechanical engineering knowledge to use. In the spring of 1994, he accepted He soon found himself in a stock truck, with an offer to join Eaton Corporation, a Fortune no air-conditioning, traveling towards Lone 500 manufacturer of electrical power distribuPine, accompanied by Thacher’s burros. After tion equipment. After training in North Carcompleting camp set-up with a group of stu- olina as a technical sales and marketing dents, David was scheduled to spend several engineer, David transferred to Los Angeles to nights alone at the Camp until the caretaker be closer to his family. He worked with enterarrived for the full summer season. He had prise customers helping them acquire largereservations about spending so long by him- scale industrial control systems. After three self, three miles by foot and ten miles by car years David determined it was time for a career change out of sales into manufacturing engifrom the nearest town, Lone Pine. neering.

Faculty member Emma Lipton was set to depart the next day so she and David made a In 1998, David became a manufacturing engifinal supply run to Lone Pine. As they returned neer in the Simi Valley, California, semiconto Camp they discovered fresh footprints in ductor test equipment division of Schlumberger the late spring snow and found a man inside Ltd. For the next four years, he focused on the lodge. He claimed to have lost his way in manufacturing processes and quality managethe snow and David and Emma provided dicontinued on page 47 rections and said goodbye. The traveler de-

dren, Ethan (8) and Julianne (1). elizabeth farley@hotmail.com Seth R. Shaw “Thacher takes students and teaches them to approach life’s travails with grace and dignity. I hope I am doing the same.” Seth attended Thacher as A Better Chance student. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1990. He works with the LA County Probation Department. His wife Mellissa is also a Deputy Probation Officer. Mellissa and Seth added a daughter to their family in mid-August. Savannah joins older brother Seth (2) at home in Lakewood, CA. shawsnlakewood@attbi.com

1985

Julian N. Pridmore-Brown Julian earned a bachelor of science degree in Environmental Planning from UC Davis in 1991. He is a pilot for United Airlines and lives in Bend, OR. julian@pridmorebrown.com

1986

Alexandra Wyle Eastman Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Colby College in 1991, followed by a master’s degree in animal science from Cal Poly Pomona in 1993. She earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from UC Davis in 1997.

She lives in Salinas and works as a veterinarian. She is married to Tim, also a veterinarian.

They have one child: Devin (2). awyle@aol.com

1986

Brian A. Lewis Brian earned a bachelor’s degree from Lawrence University in 1991. He works as Director of Educational Services, Graduate Division at Northwestern University. He lives in Evanston, IL rocafuerte@mindspring.com

1987

Erin J. Rosen “My Thacher years coincided with a very difficult time for my family. During this vulnerable time in my life, the faculty offered a great deal of care while also treating me with enormous respect.

Mrs. Bird made me cookies during my first week at Thacher, and Ms. Mulligan made me a graduation dress during my last week! Mr. Robinson challenged my faith, and our soccer coach always made us remember the big picture. I will always be extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity and kindness.

1988

Erin’s favorite Thacher memories: “Being awakened for morning horse stall cleaning by Emily Loomis, only to find that it was the middle of the night and she was sleepwalking; Mr. Lamb’s lectures on movies; graham crackers on The Pergola; being a new sophomore and going through an evening orientation with Mr. Shagam, myself, and all the freshman boys; finally reaching the Tassajara hotsprings with the Coleman camping gang and eating the monks’ freshly made peanut butter; putting someone’s mixed tape into a boom box at the SUB and having a school dance; munch outs; sharing poetry with Mark Holman; Wednesdays; my friends’ sense of humor. My favorite memory of all has got to be dancing to George

Spring / Summer 2002

page 39

Alumni Profiles Michael with the Ladies of The Apartment, a ritual we all should repeat at least on a yearly basis.”

Erin earned a bachelor’s degree in East Asian Studies from Stanford in 1992; she then earned a master’s degree in International Policy Studies from Stanford in 1996. She earned her Juris Doctorate at UC Berkeley’s Boalt School in 2002. rosenerin@hotmail.com. See Erin’s profile that begins on page 36.

Robert C.C. Morrill “I was completely shocked to receive the Award. I mean, I literally nearly fell out of my chair and onto the lawn. Later, the meaning of The Tutt Bowl seeped in, and I felt incredibly honored that the faculty had decided that I exhibited the traits the Award reflects. It’s interesting because the faculty and the community had really helped me develop the qualities they were rewarding. Another aspect of my reaction was guilt, actually. I pored over a couple of incidents in my time at Thacher when I felt I hadn’t exhibited leadership and/or good ethical decision-making. Those incidents are ultimately an important part of developing a strong character. If you don’t voice an unpopular opinion in a group when you feel you should, for example, the next time you are in that situation you’ll have all the more courage to do so.

1989

“The aspect of Thacher that influenced me most was the sense of community. Of course, I had some adolescent rebellion going on, and I felt that this or that policy was horrendously unjust, but I was certainly very aware while a student at Thacher that for the most part it was an excellent community. The value placed on people, character, education, and the environment was uniquely nurturing. It’s ironic because I was very shy in high school, and that shyness kept me from delving into the community in some ways. However, Thacher drew me out and had a profound effect upon my values and relationships. Part of the reason I became a high school teacher is that I found the social and intellectual environment at Thacher so stimulating. The School was tremendously helpful to me as a developing teenager. I still frequently recall memories of my four years at Thacher: long runs with Fred Coleman, long debates with Ellen Kohler, long rides with Geoff Clarke, and the strong ties and important experiences with my classmates.

“One of my main goals is to build the sort of community-oriented school with the kind of goals and values and approaches that I prize so highly. Another goal is to write more fiction.

As a teacher I always feel that I can prepare more and read more, so it has been difficult for me to find time to write short stories and, of course, The Great American Novel. A teaching goal of mine is to continue to find avenues to integrate technology into my classroom in a meaningful fashion.”

page 40

The Thacher News

Joshua Jade CdeP 1991 The Beat Goes On

he beginning of JJ’s career at Thacher could have been smoother.

From struggling with grades, social pressures, and homesickness, to simply not knowing how to prioritize in a boarding school environment, JJ felt he was a few steps behind his peers and “perhaps just a little more countryish.” From afar but in concert with his advisor, JJ’s mother grounded him from his skateboard for poor grades, and forced him to “endure” tutorials in Spanish and typing. The tables started turning after two years, though, and the extra work finally started paying off. By the time he graduated, JJ was a very strong student academically, a star athlete, Prefect, and great friend and role model to his peers. More importantly than the external accomplishments, the struggles of the first years at Thacher helped JJ develop a remarkable work ethic and sense of responsibility that have stayed with him ever since.

T

by Benjamin Freeman CdeP 1991

for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. JJ also gave private percussion lessons, played in several bands, and put out two independent albums with local groups with whom he played.

JJ’s next stop was graduate school at the California Institute of the Arts, where he earned a master’s degree in multi-focus percussion.

By working in non-musical pursuits—the interdisciplinary and theatre departments—he was qualified to become the technical director of a theater company called About Productions, based in Los Angeles, that has taken him to Chicago, Seattle, and Canada.

Right out of school he became the Technical Director for a highly regarded (and very controversial) performance space called Highways. Started in the late eighties by internationally acclaimed performance artist Tim Miller, Highways was at the forefront of National Education Association controversy in the mid-nineties; Joshua helped produce 250 performances in one year in what is often referred to as “the peace corps of theatre, the hardest job you’ll ever love.”

As in his past, JJ wasn’t content with just one very demanding job. To keep busy and current with his music and drumming, he formed a band, performed with the LA Philharmonic in their Green Umbrella series, and was hired for recording sessions in the Capitol Records building. He also took various freelance lighting design jobs and performed with his improvisatory chamber music ensemble “NiceFollowing Thacher, JJ studied music perform- Jaquet.” ance and education at Lewis and Clark in Portland, Oregon. During his time there, JJ Following Highways, JJ became the Produccontinued to distinguish himself in his aca- tion Manager—and later the Assistant Prodemic field, while further defining his values gram Director—at the Skirball Cultural Center and ethics. “I felt doubly obligated (because in Los Angeles. Dedicated to exploring the conof receiving The Tutt Award) to be a better nections between the age-old Jewish heritage person—from the smallest gestures or inter- and American democracy, the Center offers edactions, I am deeply aware of my responsibil- ucational outreach, museum exhibits, private ity to be the best that I can be.” In the eyes of events sites (weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, and many who have worked or spent time with corporate events), and performances from him, JJ has done this with remarkable every genre. Joshua handles the myriad details on performance day to ensure that all of the aplomb. artists, musicians, dancers, speakers, performFor three years after graduating from Lewis ers, and the staff and crew as well as the puband Clark, JJ worked for Millennium Enter- lic attending the event have the best possible prises as their international music representa- experience. He especially enjoys working with tive, stage manager/sound technician, and diverse organizations and credits Thacher with customer-service agent. He kept up with his broadening his perspectives and expanding his true passion by serving as the Principal Per- acceptance of people, particularly since he cussionist for the Rose City Chamber Orches- came from a more “culturally-limited state, tra and the Assistant Principal Percussionist Idaho. That extended outlook has allowed me

with The Tutt Bowl Award. Naturally, he was quite surprised to be the recipient. In his words, “My reaction to the Award was one of the most emotional experiences of my life. I was certain that I knew who should be given the Award and when that person was not named, I was pretty shocked, and then to have the realization that it was me in their place just absolutely blew me away.” His classmates, esThough his public endeavors are significant, pecially me, thought Joshua was the perfect JJ’s personal and behind-the-scenes accom- choice. e plishments are the most impressive aspects of his character, in my mind. As a long-time friend, I have always been impressed with his incredible commitment to family and friends, somewhat oddly coupled with a fierce sense of personal independence. As long as I can remember, JJ has been a pillar in his circle of family and friends, acting variously and with equal capacity as friend, mentor, and counselor. An example might be a Thacher memory that actually occurred two years after he graduated. He drove straight through from Portland, Oregon, to Ojai to see his sister Cami [CdeP 1993], the Captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, play against Cate in a big rivalry match. “I don’t remember who won but I remember how proud I was to see my sister command the field and the shared experience we had for being apart of such a strong tradition, both on and off the field. It must have been challenging for Cami to follow in my footsteps at Thacher, but I think that having that shared experience has strengthened our already strong relationship.” A few years later, Cami met her future husband, JJ’s best friend and roommate from college, and JJ served as her Man of Honor. to work with organizations that represent a wide array of Angeleno voices from the Gay Performance Community and the elder Jewish Community to the Mexican-American Community…I only see my horizons expanding as a result of the seeds sown at Thacher to seek new experiences and interact with people of various backgrounds.”

JJ has always been insistent on standing on his own—paying his own way and making his own connections, ever conscious of the privileges he has been awarded from his schooling.

Although JJ and I speak infrequently, at best, he is someone I know I can always call on; he’s a friend who will always be there when it counts. I hoped that he would consider the same of me and last Thanksgiving, it came to pass. JJ visited me in the Bahamas where I now teach at the Island School. Just after he arrived, I told him Cami had called to inform him that their father had passed away. Although the news tainted his visit, our long-term friendship, respect for each other, and understanding of the family dynamics seemed to help him handle his disparate feelings of sadness and sorrow of his loss, mixed with his joy and excitement of seeing Jenny and me in our new home in this gorgeous tropical paradise.

JJ confessed to me once that, outside of Thacher, he never felt as though he had a lot of friends, but he felt he always had great friends.

Likely that’s because he is such a good friend to others; his personal attributes of integrity, respect, and generosity have set him apart from his peers for many years, and, perhaps most significantly and eloquently, when he was recognized upon his graduation from Thacher

Rob was born and raised in San Francisco. He majored in Literature/Creative Writing at UC Santa Cruz and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993. He then spent six months living in Seville, Spain, before earning a master’s degree in English/Creative Writing at Northern Arizona University in 1996. He teaches 11th and 12th grade English at the Harker School and coaches cross-country. He lives in Los Gatos, CA. robm@harker.org David O. Amuda “‘Did I just hear my name?’ That quote summarizes my surprise at receiving The Charles L. Tutt Bowl for Honesty and Integrity. I vividly recall spending countless minutes staring at the names on the various honorariums hanging on the walls on the dining hall while eating meals.

I never thought that my name would accompany those who came before me.”

1990

David graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and then spent seven years in technical sales and marketing and manufacturing engineering roles with two Fortune 500 industrial firms. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Business Administration at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. doamuda@aol.com. Please see David’s profile that begins on page 38.

Joshua Jade (né Carley) JJ earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Lewis & Clark in 1995 and then a master’s degree from California Institute of the Arts in 2000.

He is the Production Manager for public events at the Skirball Cultural Center and lives in Venice, CA. jjade@skirball.org. Please see Joshua’s profile that begins on page 40.

1991

Kwabena Serebour Kwabena was born in Liberia. He had to attain citizenship and a passport from Ghanian Supreme Court to be granted a visa to be educated in the US; he also had to promise he would return home to help the nation. As of 1993, he was teaching mathematics in Suame, Kumasi, Ghana. He hopes to return to the US for college someday.

1992

Javier Delgadillo “I was completely surprised to receive the Award. My parents were very proud of me and it made me happy that my name would be up on the wall for future generations of Thacher students to see.

1993

“I saw Thacher as a way to improve my life in the long run, and judging by my position, the gamble paid off. So I showed up never having seen the campus nor meeting anyone in my class. I did talk to one fellow ABC student, Don Flores CdeP 1993, before arriving at the School as well as conversations over the phone with Ms. Sawyer-Mulligan.”

Javier grew up in Compton (“Yes, the Compton that all the ‘gangsta’ rappers rap about”) and

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Alumni Profiles had planned to continue in the local school system. He was accepted to Thacher as an A Better Chance student after being turned down at Webb. Following Thacher, Javier received a bachelor of science degree in Computer Science from Stanford in 1997. He works as a Software Senior Engineer at Netscape Communications Corporation, developing security/encryption technology in Netscape products. He lives in Mountain View; his hobbies include salsa dancing, basketball, and tennis. javi@netscape.com, javi@cs.stanford.edu Laura A. Brinton “I was quite surprised [to receive The Tutt Bowl]. I never thought of myself as standing out for any reason. I knew I stood out in the Riding Program, but I mostly attributed that to my very tall horse! I didn’t know anything about The Tutt Bowl until that night when Mr. Mulligan read the history about it. I was very impressed with what it stood for; I was completely floored when he read my name as the recipient.

1994

“One of my favorite memories of Thacher was a surprise birthday party my senior year put on by my freshman section and fellow seniors in Casa. I was caught totally unaware by their generosity and creativity.

“The best skill I learned at Thacher was problem solving. It was important in school and extremely important in my line of work. Also, I found that bonds made with friends at Thacher are stronger than any other. Even though we all went to different places, it doesn’t seem to matter. When I saw my classmates at my fiveyear Reunion, it was just like we had graduated. Everyone had changed, but there were so many things in common from experiences at Thacher that it seemed hard to grow apart.”

Laura grew up in Jackson, WY, where she became addicted to riding horses. She still rides and competes, despite endless hours spent at school. She chose Thacher because of the Horse Program and outdoor quality of the School. Following Thacher, she attended Colorado State for her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. She spent a summer working for CSU’s Biotechnology lab on a few projects involving in vitro fertilization. There were also projects using sexed semen in cattle to get the desired sex in the offspring. Last summer she was the assistant trainer on a horse farm in Sun Valley, ID. She is presently living in Fort Collins while completing her doctorate of veterinary medicine at Colorado State. She hopes to do an internship at a large equine hospital, followed by a surgical residency.

Lbrinton920@cs.com Catalina Saenz “Thacher had a huge impact on my life. It literally changed the possibilities for what my life could become and I am forever grateful.”

1995 page 42

The Thacher News

Cesar G. Gerardo, Jr. CdeP 1998 Inspired Wanderlust

t seems fitting that a Tutt Bowl recipient should feel undeserving of the Award.

After all, one who exhibits integrity, responsibility, fortitude in the face of adversity, and consideration of others does not typically wish to call attention to these traits, but rather considers them a normal part of life, for which everyone should strive. The same is true of Cesar Gerardo, Jr., the 1998 recipient of the prestigious silver cup. I don’t think anyone in CdeP 1998 was surprised to hear Cesar’s name announced for The Tutt Bowl Award on the eve of our graduation, except perhaps for Cesar himself. After four “post-Thacher” years, Cesar still believes that the virtues listed by Mrs. Tutt are goals many people strive for, but can never fully attain. In this way, he goes on, The Tutt Bowl is more of a challenge than an Award: “to become what it claims you already are.”

I

by Ryan M. Meyer CdeP 1998

on Family Weekend as an example of a welldone I-search project. He had certainly not procrastinated, and it didn’t seem he ever would.

Cesar involved himself in quite an amazing number of activities at Thacher, on top of an impressive academic load each and every semester. Most people I have talked to mentioned the fact that Cesar seemed to pour himself into everything he did regardless of how much he took on and seemingly never spread thin.

Whether training a new mustang, getting rides to his Filipino martial arts classes, studying Chinese, playing pool with friends after checkin, or even rehearsing for the spring musical, Cesar always seemed happy with what he was doing, and never afraid to take on something new. On top of these, Cesar devoted himself to the freshman boys in the Lower School Dorm. His good nature, dedication, and inquisitive mind made him someone you’d like to include in whatever you were doing.

The pattern has continued beyond the Thacher years. Cesar completed majors in Anthropology and Psychology in three years, while supporting himself with a 30-hour-a-week job. He finished every semester in his sophomore and junior years with honors, and graduated with the Distinction in Scholarship label. Beyond this, Cesar immersed himself in Filipino, becoming a local star in traditional theatre and dance productions with roles from a Muslim warrior to a singing Filipino worker singing to Perhaps those of us who know this Philippines- his wife from overseas. born Hayward local would modify that statement, insisting that Cesar continues to meet As though Spanish, Chinese, Tagalag, and Engthe challenge of being what the Award right- lish weren’t enough for him, Cesar arranged fully proclaimed him to be. While his interests to spend his final academic semester in Vietand pursuits tend to change frequently, we nam, broadening every horizon he had. As we know that he will apply himself diligently in would expect, Cesar immersed himself in all whatever new pursuit he has before him with aspects of the Vietnamese life and society. He unbridled enthusiasm. He regards any new has returned home from his refreshing break task or problem as an opportunity to learn and from American culture officially graduated and grow, inevitably expanding his horizons and officially unemployed. his circle of friends and admirers.

When Cesar’s parents ask him, ”What are you I think the faculty of Thacher recognized this going to do with a BA in anthro and psych? fact early in Cesar’s high school career, realiz- Analyze fossils?” his characteristic reply is ing that with academic freedom he would only something like “Heck, sounds like fun! It’s excel. After all, not every Thacher freshman more of a plan than I’ve got.” Some recent would be trusted with a research project (the graduates might approach their lack of a famous freshman “I-search”) on the topic of “plan” with a sort of desperate anxiety, en“procrastination.” Cesar, however, was hanced by parental badgering and social presgranted permission to pursue this marginally sure to have a focus, but not Cesar. Instead he academic project, and the very next year I seems to relish the uncertainty in life, taking watched him present his project to the parents comfort in the fact that he can not only excel

in whatever situation that presents itself, but that he’ll have a great time doing it.

Cesar has been receiving academic distinctions for as long as he’s been in school, and its clear that he places little importance in them. This was probably part of the reason he was so eager to finish school and get out into the world. Unlike his academic achievements, however, Cesar cannot ignore the implications of The Tutt Bowl regardless of what he ends up doing. He may wonder why the silver bowl sits on his desk, and not the desk of any other good-natured person, but the rest of us know that Cesar was not only the most deserving of the recognition, but that he was up to the lifechallenge it presented him. e

Catalina was A Better Chance student at Thacher. She matriculated to Wellesley College. csaenz@wellesley.edu Peter F. Marlantes “No other period of my life was as defining as my time at Thacher. I learned and grew into the person that I am today, and I am so grateful that I became me at Thacher and nowhere else. Receiving The Tutt Bowl at graduation was recognition of my devotion to the School that had given me so much over my four years as a student. When I attended my five-year Reunion, I was struck by what an amazing experience Thacher had been. It was incredible, albeit a little strange, to see all my old friends in the dorms again. Of the 12 schools and universities that I attended, Thacher is the only one I continue to feel loyalty and gratitude.”

1996

Peter was born in Portland, OR, but lived in five countries before coming to Thacher. He matriculated to Haverford College, but spent one year at the University of Salamanca in Spain and 1.5 years at UC Santa Barbara, before graduating with a Business Economics degree. For about two years, he’s been working with a consulting firm in Los Angeles. He plans to do graduate work in the future. pmarlant@ hotmail.com Nancy P. Moser Nancy attended Macalester College for one year and graduated from Georgetown University. mosern@gunet.georgetown.edu

1996

Christopher W. Labbe “The Tutt Bowl was the best Award I have ever received; it was a great honor. To be recognized for honesty and integrity is truly an honor. My time spent at Thacher and, more specifically, with Mr. Swan shaped me into the person I am today. He taught me, whether he knows it or not, that with hard work and honesty, integrity will follow.

1997

“I chose Thacher because, quite frankly, my dad and brothers went there. I had no idea that the horses would change my path in life and point me into the agriculture world I am in today. I wasn’t the ideal Thacher student when it came to the books or grades, and definitely wasn’t off to any Ivy League School. I remember many parent-teacher conferences in Mt. Olympus about my grades and how I was spending too much time at the barns. But, I pulled my grades up with determination and help and came through. If it weren’t for Thacher and the Horse Department’s belief in me, I would not be where I am today.”

Chris was born and raised in Portland, OR. He studied Animal Science at Montana State University in Bozeman and received his bachelor’s degree this spring. He hopes to manage a cattle or horse ranch, or acquire one of his own some day. cwlabbe@montana.edu

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Alumni Profiles Cesar G. Gerardo “The Tutt Bowl can only be appreciated as a challenge, rather than an award of success—a challenge to become what it claims you already are…sometimes, the most important things in life are those that can fit inside little trophies from little schools.”

1998

Born in Manila, Philippines, Cesar was raised in Angeles City until his family immigrated to the Bay Area in 1988. He spent a semester in Hanoi before completing his bachelor’s degree at UC Berkeley in Anthropology and Psychology in 2001. He also worked as a lab assistant for two years in an entomology/virology research laboratory while finishing his degrees.

Kaliador18@yahoo.com. Please see Cesar’s profile that begins on page 42.

Alexander L. Kitnick “When they called my name [for the Tutt Bowl], I had to maneuver through all the people in their folding chairs beneath the massive tent on the Forest Cooke Lawn. I was quite nervous but felt good about it. The next day I felt a little burdened by it, like I had to uphold all these lofty virtues that had been bestowed on me. In retrospect, however, I am greatly honored by it. It serves as a kind of reminder of what we can aim for. “

1999

“I liked Thacher because it’s filled with interesting, interested people. I like to come back to Thacher occasionally to see some people and get a tangerine from behind Maintenance.”

Alex is attending and majoring in College of Letters—an interdisciplinary major focusing on the history, literature, and philosophy of Europe—at Wesleyan in Middletown, CT. He chose this major because it coincides with his lifelong interests and seemed so vague that he could never answer the question of what to do when he gets older. He returns to the Carpinteria/Santa Barbara coastal area each summer to work for the Santa Barbara Independent and the Environmental Defense Center. He spent a semester of his sophomore year in Spain. Long term, Alex is considering a career in journalism and/or education. akitnick@wesleyan.edu Jonathan R. LePlastrier Jon initially attended UC Santa Cruz and then transferred to Santa Clara University; he’s studying computer science. jleplastrier@ scu.edu

2000

Nichole R. Silverman Nicki followed in two older sisters’ footsteps by coming to Thacher. While visiting them on weekends and seeing how friendly the students were, she decided to come to Thacher.

2001

Her favorite memories: “I loved going to school with my sisters. I think we must have set some kind of record for having three siblings at the

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The Thacher News

William R. Barkan ’02 Overcoming Challenges with Panache

his year’s Tutt Bowl recipient is the epitome of the qualities stressed

by Mrs. Tutt in giving this Award for he displays integrity, responsibility, fortitude, and concern for others despite adverse situations or personal difficulties. The comment read in awarding his diploma this June sums up Will Barkan’s impact on the School and what will long be remembered by this Community:

T

by Jane D. McCarthy

deciphering signs. Will was eight when he was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease, a condition characterized by loss of central vision that diminishes visual acuity and color perception.

Peripheral vision is better, but no cure exists for this genetic form of macular degeneration.

Despite this malady, Will has accomplished more in his 18 years than many adults; he thrives on challenges and hard work and embraces all that life offers.

When Will applied to Thacher, he wrote of the cloud’s silver lining in living with his visual impairment: maintaining a positive outlook on life and a good attitude towards activities, both academic and extra-curricular; respecting and helping others with disabilities or difficulties in achieving a goal; and becoming self-reliant and independent. Will demonstrated these No stop-watch characteristics throughout his Thacher career will catch time in every aspect of his endeavors: elapsed between a need • Will was a dependable, conscientious Prefect who balanced dry wit with consistent expressed and concern and care for all of his charges, even Will’s stepping in prickly situations. His sense of the deliin to do what cate equilibrium between justice and comneeds doing: passion and his willingness to stand up wash the dirty cookie sheets at Open House, quietly but firmly for what is right made a race to the side of a fellow runner—or comdemonstrable difference in the quality of petitor—crumbled in exhaustion to do a this school year. bonafide EMT check, provide the name of an obscure rock specimen on a geology field trip, get the Whisperlites going in the frigid morning • With a marvelous range of voices and accents, Will enlivened our stage with some air of a Sierra backpacking trip (after having memorable performances. Specializing early organized the expedition), pitch a line to anin his career in some interesting butler roles, other actor who’s momentarily forgotten what Will branched out into Shakespeare in As comes next in the script, or create the perfect You Like It and ultimately accepted the chalpoignancy through a character he’s playing. lenge of the role of the narrator in Dancing Stoically, even heroically, Will provides serious at Lughnasa, where, as Michael, he took us stuff when the going gets rough—yet Saturday back into a dream summer of his childhood.

Night (or Senior Night) Live and Monty Will’s talents and dedication made him a Python routines reveal the other side of Will: Masquers mainstay throughout his years at his steel-trap mind, talent for bulls-eye mimThacher and earned him the Bixby Drama icry, and razor wit keep us rolling in the aisles.

Award.

Will was born with his sleeves rolled up and his running shoes tied; he’s perpetually ready and eager, determined to live life in the most com- • As an impressive, dedicated athlete, Will’s leadership for our Cross Country and Track plete way possible. Lagging far behind, we, his and Field Teams inspired teammates to run admirers, simply watch his heels, beating a faster, jump higher, and never give up. He steady rhythm up hill and down, leaving clear wouldn’t hesitate sacrificing some of his perand definitive prints that will last a long, long sonal goals for the good of the team. Even time. when injured this spring and unable to compete, Will was determined to help his teamThis comment does not, however, mention that mates by encouraging them to improve and Will is legally blind. His vision is 20:350, and enthusiastically cheering them on. He shared he must hold printed material within a few the Lettermen’s Perpetual Trophy upon gradinches of his eyes to read. He sees in basic uation. shapes and colors and sometimes has difficulty

Will loves the outdoors and is a proficient skier, rock climber, backpacker, whitewater rafter, and canoeist. Boy Scouts offered him opportunities to indulge in these activities while teaching young Scouts and learning from older ones. Just after Christmas 2001, Will reached the highest rank of Boy Scouts: Eagle Scout.

Fewer than three percent of all Scouts attain this level in which a rigorous set of standards must be completed, including six continuous months of troop or patrol leadership. This was especially difficult while boarding at Thacher and being absent from his troop in San Francisco.

Beginning this fall, Will plans to major in environmental education or political science at the University of Colorado at Boulder. At some point, Will wants to trek the 1,560-mile Pacific Coast Trail from Baja to Canada. He thinks it will take five months, but his athletic and wilderness training will help him overcome any untoward events along the way. If they don’t, his humor surely will. e

School all at the same time. Winning The Tutt Bowl is another favorite moment. I was so surprised and happy at the same time. It meant so much to me. I also think that one of my lasting memories came from my very first dorm meeting freshman year in Casa. Mr. Manson opened the meeting by saying, ‘It is a known fact that someone in this room will be a bride’s maid at someone else’s wedding, and someone here will be the godmother of someone else’s child…’ I remember looking around the room. I didn’t know anyone. I barely even knew anyone’s name. It’s funny that this made such a lasting impression on me, but when I tell this story, a lot of people ask about Thacher. And I always add, ‘It really is so true.’

“The friends that you make at Thacher are such unique people. Now that I’m in college, I realize that Thacher people really are a different kind of people. There’s no others like them.”

Nicki just finished her freshman year at Scripps College in Claremont. nsilverm@ScrippsCollege.edu William R. Barkan Will followed in the footsteps of his father, John CdeP 1967 and his older brother Andrew CdeP 1998 to Thacher; his sister Phoebe will be a senior this fall. Upon receiving The Tutt Bowl, Will said, “I was gratified to be chosen for this very special Award. I tried to live a moral life, and it felt good to realize that others, especially the faculty, noticed.” william.barkan@ colorado.edu. Please see Will’s profile that begins on page 44.

2002

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Alumni News

Brittany L. Sanders CdeP 1996 I Was There: Rumor Fable Exploit

by Jane D. McCarthy Santa Monica: Bonnie & Morgan Press, 2001, bonniemorganpress@hotmail.com Youthfulness with a sophisticated side Adventurousness with an attachment to home, family, and friends Discipline with an easy-going style Passion with equanimity These comparisons describe Brittany Sanders’s characteristics and contributions to The Thacher School Community. Such phrases apply equally to Brittany’s most recent work, I Was There, a collection of personal truths and perceptions, contrasts and creativity.

“I Was There, Brittany Sanders’s little anthology jewelbox of an artist’s book, is a veritable wondercabinet, brimming over with daft marvels and somber delights—stories, drawings, rumors, fables, photos, dreamscapes—all of them exquisitely fashioned and sumptuously presented. The ‘Kinda Sutra’ by itself is kinda priceless—at any rate well worth the price of admission for the whole thing. So: Quick!

Don’t Tarry! You be there, too!”

—Lawrence Weschler author and New Yorker Contributor Handmade and mouldmade papers from France, England, Germany, and Japan in shades of blue, white, and taupe…

Letterpress-printed so one can feel the text embossed into the page…

The Dialogue between woodcuts from the twenties and modern line drawings interspersed with text…

A book that brings emerging writers and artists together with established writers and artists, such as Rick Ridgeway, Anne Lamott, Mark Salzman and Naomi Shihab Nye… A book that gives equal attention and recognition to both art and text…

A book that brings the art form of the handprinted, hand-made book to a contemporary setting.

And, throughout all, a sensual experience of texture, text, and intrigue: pop-up poems, hidden booklets of gems, and love notes written between the lines…

The pieces within I Was There can be read as individual stories or as collections within a narrative, moving from Rumor (youthful innocence; unclouded views of experiences) to Fable (fantastic truths; deeper understanding through page 46 The Thacher News

experience) to Exploit (frontiers of thought; no objectivity in truth). Contributions in the Rumor section include Anne Lamott’s “Tummler’s Dog” about a child breaking through her fear of dogs; Mark Salzman’s “A Case Study: The Pre & Post Brain of a New Father” the author’s changed brain after the birth of his daughter; and Aracelís Girmay’s CdeP 1995 “Girl Medusa” about the sexual discovery of a young girl. The Fable section includes the pop-up poem “Another Brittany using a 1939 Apology” by Lau- Vandercook letterpress to rel Braitman CdeP create I Was There 1996 in response to Richard Wilbur’s poem “Apology”; Oscarwinner Richard Chew’s perceptions while filming Woodstock; and a return to reality in Rick Ridgeway’s “A Jungle Mirror” in which he writes, “for the first time in my life I had seen Homo Sapien. For the first time in my life, I had seen who I used to be.” The Exploit section begins with a letter written by Albert Einstein to Dr. Eric Barrett (Brittany’s grandfather) and ends with the upbeat poem “Big Head, Big Face” written by Naomi Shihab Nye, who “is always looking for more connection and peace among people of the world.” Throughout the book are paintings and drawings by Ashley Thayer CdeP 1996 and the continual theme of personal experience.

One of the most heart-breaking stories in the book is “A Packet of Letters” by the artist and Brown University Professor, Walter Feldman.

Walter has taught at Brown for the last 50 years, and it was at Brown that Brittany encountered his class, “Art of the Book,” which introduced her to the world of artist books and led to this project. “A Packet of Letters” is about Walter’s experience as a young soldier at the Battle of the Bulge. “It was, as we now know, the last bloody thrust of the Nazi armies in Europe.” Wounded and frightened, Walter’s only consolation was the letters he received from his mother, an illiterate immigrant from Eastern Europe who learned to read and write in order to stay in touch with her son. Upon

transfer to a hospital in Paris, Walter writes, his “two most precious possessions, my jump boots and my packet of letters disappeared.

They never turned up again.” After the death of his mother in 1981, Walter discovered an old stenographer’s notebook in his mother’s attic. “At some level, as a child, I must have known that my mom, called ‘Fegele’ or ‘Little Bird’ was illiterate. As a young infantryman I had not the maturity nor time to question the miracle of her letters. The old notebook was her practice book…The list of words and phrases that she practiced over and over were revealing of hopes, of silent prayers, of an aching heart.” The last practice letter in her steno pad bared her most private feelings: Dearest Kids, her I am alon and I am so lonely for you I know I have know rite to say that but it is so woth can I do I love you very mouch your mother see you soon The narrative journey of I Was There is propelled by images of the New York Skyline as it moves from dawn to nightfall. The series of photographs, titled “Crossing the Upper New York Bay: A Passage from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island, June 11, 2001,” are by Stefan Hagen, who rode the Staten Island ferry every trip in the course of a day and pointed his camera at the Manhattan Skyline. For each journey back and forth on the ferry, Hagen took a single photograph with the shutter left open for the duration of the 16-minute trip. Hagen writes, “After the exposure, an object is no longer clearly defined. Even the skyline becomes a vague cloud. What stands out are repeating occurrences of the waves in the back of the ferry, the lines of the sun and the lights of the city after sunset. Distinct shapes appear only if these lights were present at a single moment in time. The focus of this series is the quality of light, its general color as well as its momentary character.” Perhaps most evocative of all are the abstract lights of the World Trade Center photographed exactly three months before 9/11.

When Brittany arrived at Thacher early in May to discuss her book, she had just finished hand binding the last copy of I Was There, a threemonth-long task. She had taken little time off except to teach a class on bookmaking during Departmental Weekend in February. This project nicely caps a chapter of her life that began continued on page 47

Ben Carter

Erin Rosen

David Amuda

continued from page 33

continued from page 37

continued from page 39

The crowning achievement of Ben’s four years at Thacher was receiving The Charles L. Tutt Silver Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility.

He says he was surprised but honored to have been chosen for the Award, claiming he was not a stand-out leader in the class and felt others were more worthy and deserving. Ironically, if one reads the inscription it is apparent why Benjamin F. Carter would be the choice.

ond, the work of over 30 key modern poets— most of whom Bei Dao knew personally— who have transformed the genre of Chinese poetry; and finally, the skill of “close reading” whereby students learned to analyze poems in a “reverse-funnel” approach, from the words outward to meaning. Outside of class, Erin was a frequent attendee at Bei Dao’s office hours.

At first he seemed a bit overwhelmed by her 10 year’s worth of questions; but by the second week, Somehow Ben’s return to his roots set the path upon viewing that day’s list of questions, he smiled for his wonderful and diverse life. From farm and said, “You’re really interested in this stuff, laborer to engineer to management consultant aren’t you?” to high-tech manager to agribusiness owner (really another way to label a farm laborer!) During office hours one day at the end of the semester, Bei Dao asked Erin why she hadn’t spoPerhaps the words of “The Banquet Song,” ken more in class that day. She replied that she sung by so many of diverse backgrounds and had found the poem for that day to be quite long career paths in life, can help to explain why and difficult, and that because she had translated Ben Carter was chosen for The Tutt Bowl. the poem into English, she had a hard time going back and forth quickly between the two versions. Bei Dao expressed his surprise that May old Casa Piedra not fade from our hearts, she had translated the poem; Erin just shrugged Till our hearts cease their restless tattoo! and said that she had translated all the poems May honor, and fairness, and kindness, and truth they had read thus far so she thought it was natBe ours till life’s struggle is through. ural to translate this one, too. Bei Dao looked May the stamp of the School even more surprised; he was quiet for a moment, Be the stamp of our lives and then said, “Well, we should see if we can’t Whose honesty carries us on, get them published.” Subsequently, Bei Dao To do the best work in the world that we can arranged for the translations of 30 to 40 poems Till the best we can do is all done. e to be published in the March 2003 issue of New American Writing, for which he will write the preface. Erin never imagined that any kind of publication would result from taking Bei Dao’s class, and she feels lucky to have the opportunity to continue to work with him and his poetry.

ment. In his free time, he became involved in his community as a basketball referee for the California Interscholastic Federation and the local YMCA.

Erin’s interest in poetry and China endures; as at Thacher, she continues to seek experiences that provide her both with personal and communal sustenance. She completed the Bar Exam this summer and will clerk for a federal judge in southern California this coming year. When asked how she felt when she was awarded The Tutt Bowl, she said that although she wasn’t certain what the Award meant, she was very humbled to have received it. As she explains, perhaps the humbling feeling arises “because The Tutt Bowl is meant to recognize something intangible and seemingly elusive, yet also something essential about a person. It is quite humbling to step back and consider who you are, to think at the end of the day upon the summation of a day’s flights of emotion, and fancy, and impulse, and to try to assess who it is that is now falling asleep. Knowing one’s own weaknesses and failings, it is even more humbling to think of others considering your character, and then honoring it. This realm of thoughts leaves me with a deep sense of undeservedness. And yet gratefulness, too.”

David looks back and views his Thacher experience as “exceptional [good] fortune”, and his post-collegiate years as a time when he was “operating without a safety net.” He needed to become self-supporting the moment he left college and had to forgo some enrichment opportunities in the process.

Bookshelf continued from page 46

even before Thacher. Being the daughter of two documentary filmmakers (Academy-Awardwinners Terry Sanders and Frieda Lee Mock, daughter of long-time Thacher chef Lee Quong), Brittany traveled extensively as a child, worked in various film-related projects, became an accomplished photographer, and garnered commendation for her artwork. Her camera became the means for discovery and capturing stories, be it her eleventh-grade photo essay “Break the Mirror” a look at the similarities between the old and young; her Senior Exhibition “Artists of Ojai;” her Brown thesis, a children’s book, Pickle the Parrot, about a lonely parrot in Los Angeles who dreams of flying with the wild LA Parrots; or her latest work, I Was There. Throughout these projects, Brittany demonstrates artistic sensibility and natural talent in the visual arts balanced with a deep understanding of human perception that is remarkable for one so young.

David notes a common theme between his academic and professional experience. He was attracted to Thacher, Santa Clara University and his two employers because they each had strong values. Thacher and Santa Clara each stressed community service, integrity, and leadership. Eaton and Schlumberger were both companies that “allowed him to be honest.”

One of the reasons he left sales, however, was because he found it trying on an ethical level.

David notes, “I always adhered to my own personal code of values but that can be a liability in the work place.”

While continuing with Schlumberger, David decided to continue his education. He enrolled in evening certificate programs at UCLA Extension in Manufacturing Engineering and at Cal State Northridge in Production and Inventory Management. That experience cemented his plan to pursue an MBA and he applied to a number of top business schools in 2000. David was accepted everywhere he applied and selected University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, based on the cultural fit, moving east once again in 2001.

David is now focused on expanding his international experience. He recently returned from an MBA trip to Asia and plans to study abroad in Barcelona next spring. He’s considering postgraduate opportunities in South America.

With seven years of work behind him, David’s taking more chances and doing those things that will build his global perspective. He claims he doesn’t “have a clear vision for the future, but [is] headed in the direction he wants to go.

I’m doing something different that will pay off.”

When will he finally believe he’s accomplished something significant? David considers the question carefully and responds: “I will feel that I’ve been successful if I can help someone else achieve success the same way others helped me to beat the odds.”

While David may still anticipate adversity, he’s proven his ability to overcome obstacles as Leaf through I Was There. Savor each nuance, Erin’s manner of living has been—and will con- they arise. His quiet focus and solid values treat every sense, and explore others’ percep- tinue to be—intellectually stimulating poetry have taken him from South Central Los Anin motion. e geles to a world of opportunity. e tions and truths. e Spring / Summer 2002 page 47

Sarah Lavender Smith wrote: “Here’s some exciting news…Raul Pacheco and his band Ozomatli won the Grammy award in the category Best Latin Rock/Alternative. Our classmates remember when he was in the Homeboyz band at Thacher. Way to go!”

1989 Beth Grossman Besch and her husband, Holger, are delighted parents of Katya (Katherine Annecy Besch) as of September 2, 2001.

Keep a lookout for a Fruit of the Loom TV commercial featuring JP Manoux.

Cinzia and Mark Holman are celebrating the birth on August 8 of their daughter, Maya. She weighed in at 6 lbs., 14oz.

JP Manoux CdeP 1989 with girlfriend Susan

Mark Holman CdeP 1986 with new daughter, Maya

Lupe Nickell sent this photo of some “younger” Toads at the May Wine Tasting event in Napa.

They are, from left to right: Jorge Motoshige and Lawrence Hollins CdeP 1992; Justin Stephens CdeP 1994; and Guadalupe Nickell,Ty Gabriel, Jung Lee, and John LaGatta, all CdeP 1992

If you need to talk with someone in the legal department at Hewlett Packard, ask for Jennifer Brown Rogers. Son Max is 4 and another baby arrived not long ago.

1993

1987 Lyn Dawson CdeP 1989 shows off a just-caught cutthroat trout

Julie Osterling and Natasha Rosenblatt are thrilled to announce the birth of their son, Reuben Rosenblatt on April 18, 2001.

Children update from David Bressie: Mackenzie (4), Gillian (2), and Jacqueline (5 months). The girls stayed at home for the Reunion, but he brought photos so all could ooh and ahh over the cuties.

Because Michele Barnett Berg started a new job at the State Department as Senior Advisor to the CFO on Human Capital issues in Washington this spring, she didn’t make it to the Reunion in June.

Besides, she and her husband had to visit family in Sweden before their first child arrives early in the fall.

1988

1990 Jennifer Utman Sommer’s life changed dramatically on August 6, 2002, when a baby girl arrived on the scene. She’s taking an LOA from her work at Food and Wine Magazine in Brentwood, CA. Also in Jennifer and husband Mark’s family is a lab named Charlie.

Even though Win Burleson is still working on his doctorate at MIT, he finds time to go sailing.

David Van Slyke is nearly done with his second novel and looking for a publisher. More news at dvsgames.com.

Cindy Casteñeda and husband David happily announce the birth of another son: Tomas Aidan Fanning.

Daniel Declan Fanning (2) with new brother Tomas (2 months).They are the sons of Cindy Casteñeda CeP 1988 and David Fanning

Newlyweds Doug and Denise Daniel CdeP 1993

1994 According to his parents, Will Scoular left the Texas plains to fly planes in Alaska.

Betsy Taylor Schamberger is still living in Allentown, PA, and working in Reading, PA, as an environmental consultant. She and her husband Pat will be visiting Montana this summer to see family (James Taylor, Jr. CdeP 1985, Susan Taylor Hance CdeP 1982, Deborah Taylor McAtee CdeP 1981, and James C. Taylor, Sr. CdeP 1955). She’d love to hear from any other East Coast Toads!

Jaime Araujo was recently promoted and is moving to Paris. New contact-details to follow, but suffice it to say, “I’m very excited!”

There’s no moss growing under Denise Daniel’s feet. She’s had a very exciting summer in Fort Collins, CO, building gas chromatographs, and training for her first marathon. A week later, she walked down the aisle to marry Doug Morland, a teacher from Estes Park. The following weekend they moved into their new house in Brighton. Congrats on all accounts!

Fiona McLaughlin, daughter of Mike and Christine Carter McLaughlin CdeP 1990

1992 Hope Kyle was very excited to hear about Thacher’s online means of keeping in touch with the School and fellow classmates, especially since she’s living and working in Jamaica. She moved from Chicago in March of last year and has found the experience very rewarding and interesting. Her teaching load includes ninth and twelfth grade English, Algebra 2, and a World History course to ninth graders. She loves the endless warm weather as well as a wonderful Jamaican man, Lennox. They plan to marry sometime next summer. Nice to know you’ve resurfaced and are doing so well!

Nick Mast matched with his Numero Uno choice for his Orthopaedic Surgery residency at the University of Utah! Good choice on both parts!

Meredith Bressie loves her work at BAT architects. She has some interesting projects such as the National Audio Video Conservation Center for David Packard and the Library of Congress.

Michael Isaac is in the Santa Barbara area with his Chesapeake named Hobie. He’s “uncut, so if any of you out there happen to have another Chessie female, do look him up. He’s quite a looker. He likes playing with the cat and going for long walks on the beach. Hobbies are retrieving and chewing on shoes. Look us up if you are in town.”

Laura Brinton recently completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree with a specialty in large-animal medicine at Colordo State University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Now she’s completing a post-graduate internship at the Specifically Equine Clinic in Buellton, CA. Maybe she won’t be such a stranger to campus now that she’s on California’s central coast. lbrinton920@cs.com Laura Brinton CdeP 1994

page 50 The Thacher News

Justin Stephens is living in St. Helena (Napa Valley) and has been working for several wineries in various capacities for nearly a year now: “I finally found what I want to be a part of and do. If anyone is ever interested in visiting Napa let me know (707-963-2908).” He’s seen Alex Slawson CdeP 1995, Tim Carter CdeP 1993, Jung Lee CdeP 1992, and Max Stepanian CdeP 1995 quite a bit. He spent August in New York for a wine event and hoped to see Sara Robboy. Sara is working in the advertising industry. She’s doing business development for TBWA/Chiat/Day in Latin America. She travels through the region a fair amount and uses her Spanish.

According to his folks, Josh Kurlinski is looking at graduate school in computer science.

Rika and Nate Toll continue to enjoy Georgia, especially now that spring is in the air. The climate is amazing. They visited Abby Ramsden in Santa Rosa, CA, when there to celebrate the graduation of the first service dog that they raised for Canine Companions for Independence.

Mary Everett still lives in Denver, CO, and loves it. She’s one quarter away from having a Masters in Sports Management. She’s currently an intern with the Colorado Rapids soccer team and continues to play soccer on a semi-pro women’s team.

Diana Garcia CdeP 1995 and Mary’s brother Bill Everett CdeP 1992 were visiting when Mary penned this note.

1995 Margot Goodan runs into a lot of Thacher folks such as James Kirkpatrick in San Francisco, who is studying for his degree in Tribal Law. She also saw Tony Leung, who is working as a volunteer at the Steinhart Aquarium, taking care of injured birds. Jamey Ramsey Palmer is pursuing a degree in Interior Design in New York City, but planned to spend part of August in Jackson Hole. He hoped to see Annie Jack, Jason Hui, and Wil Reniers. “We all had Jamey pegged as an actor, but he seems to have chosen a different profession.”

Margot also bumped into Zac Clammer; he is currently volunteering at his local soup kitchen, but he’s interested in pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.

Annie Jack loves living in Jackson, WY. She’s working and playing hard, enjoying the mountains and community that surround her. “Just got a home and a dog, so it looks like I’ll be here for awhile!!”

Emily Wilson has a new job and home at Midland School in Santa Ynez. She also has an eightweek-old Australian Shepherd puppy named Cyrus.

The new Head Athletic Trainer at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA, is none other than Jed Siebel. Nicholls State is a smallish—about 7500 students—Division I school deep in the Cajun bayou country, including alligators. Jed is excited about this great opportunity before making ATC scale and thinks it will provide a more solid background for a transition to graduate school.

1996 “Thanks to Thacher, I had a job training two Arabian stallions,” wrote Alexia Allen. In May, she started tracking cougars for the Washington Fish & Wildlife Department.

Olivia Roanhorse is settled in Chicago for now.

She wants to get an MAT in Elementary Education and teach a little. Her email address is roanhorse@hotmail.com.

1997 As of Monday, March 4, Erica Moore is a married woman; the lucky guy is Norbert Morvan.

Best wishes to the happy couple!

Mark Forte graduated from Morehouse College in May 2001 and enrolled in the Prudential California Realty Course.

Amy Purdie graduated in June from Carleton with a degree in mathematics. She’s hoping for a job with the National Parks as she still enjoys camping.

Neil Daniel Lancefield presented his thesis entitled, “An Economic Analysis of Converting Claritin to Over-the-Counter Status” (Reed College’s own brand of Senior Exhibitions), thereby earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in May. Margrit Lent graduated, with honors, from Colorado State University in May 2002, with a double major in Zoology and Equine Science. She started an internship at a thoroughbred farm in Kentucky in July.

According to his folks, Ryan Kurlinski is considering graduate school in alternate energy engineering.

1998 Jennifer Silverman graduated from Stanford and is engaged to be married.

Vanessa Theroux graduated from college and is “off to rock the world!”

Margarethe Javellana just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, NY. All done with her academic life and starting her “real world” path is Alexis MacDonald. She completed her bachelor’s with a degree in philosophy from Oxford and now she’s pursuing acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. Jolly good show, Alexis!

Brendan Bechtel hosted an informal Class of 1999 BBQ/Party in the Bay Area over the summer. He can be reached at bbechtel@middlebury.edu.

One of the juniors at Arizona State is Chris Holland; he’s working on becoming a landscape architect. He spent six weeks in Europe last summer studying the landscapes from the past, and hopes to get an internship this coming summer. He’s also adopted a more active lifestyle and has lost over 100 pounds.

Alex Kitnick bumped into Dan Lancefield CdeP 1997 about a year ago on a street corner in Madrid, and went on to paddle boats together and take in the Spanish nightlife. More recently, Tim Liu opened up his house for a New Year’s Party and many people attended.

Jamie Abou-Samra is happy and full of news. She reported that Shauna Nyborg is enjoying her time with the Kiwis in New Zealand. Katie Isaacson and Mary Craver are next door in Australia. Kim Cahill is in love. Evan Kanaly is in Spain. Mollie Gardner is somewhere in Africa, and Sarah Sawyer is still in Paris. And, Catherine Pinkerton was married in August!

Sarah Bruss is majoring in Environmental Studies and East Asian Studies with a focus on China at Bowdoin in Maine. As of now, she plans on being a teacher.

2000 Margaux Lloyd spends her dance time as a member of Goucher’s Choreographie Antique. This spring they performed at an historical dance conference in New York City. The professional company New York Barque asked Margaux to audition for them when she is done with school.

Ella Goodbrod took the year off to transfer schools and play. She went on a NOLS course in Baja, became certified as a Wilderness EMT, and worked at a food booth at the Olympics. She’ll start at Prescott College next fall. Ella reported that Juliette White spent the spring semester in Hawaii, sailing, and learning about ocean life.

According to his parents, Seth Kurlinski just finished his sophomore year at Bates College in Lewiston, ME.

2001 Matt Cohen is at USC, on the lacrosse team, and is a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi.

August 22 was the first day of school for Claire Chouinard at the Otis Art Institute of Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. Best of luck, Claire!

1999 Eliza Gregory worked hard to finish her junior year without collapsing. She studied in Cuba in June and worked in NYC over the summer. She hoped to see anyone who was in the area.

Recent CdeP 2001 graduates Hannah Carney, Lily Mitchem, and Meredith Walker continued on page 53 Spring / Summer 2002 page 51

Alumni News

Gordon D. Stott (CdeP 1928) Gordo came to Thacher from Pasadena, and attended all but his senior year here.

He worked in banking, investments, and management. He is survived by his wife Betsy of Farmington, CT, and three children: Peter, Janet, and Sarah.

Dugald MacGregor CdeP 1930 passed away on September 30, 2001. Dugy was known for his athleticism—especially on the track and baseball diamond—but he was the best tilter and saddler on the First Gymkhana Team.

He was one of the best campers at School and was awarded the KKK Camping Cup at Commencement for being the best camper as voted by his fellow A Campers. Dugy also served as secretary of the Bit and Spur, and on the Indoor, Outdoor, and Camping Committee along with the Committee of Ten. He matriculated to the University of Washington and graduated from USC, having majored in business and accounting. He lived in Colorado Springs and is survived by his brother James CdeP 1936 and son Scott CdeP 1967.

Stable Manager and Prefect. Jim matriculated to Yale and was attending Harvard Law School when World War II began. He served in the 324th regiment of the 44th Infantry Division of the Army in France, Germany, and Austria. He was an intelligence officer and then a captain at the War’s end; he received two Bronze Stars. He served as vice president of McCormick & Baxter Creosoting Company from 1945 until his retirement in 1987. He was a member of Waverley Country Club and a past member of Lake Oswego Hunt Club, The Racquet Club, and The Arlington Club.

Jim is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Laura Allen; four daughters: Anita Galloway, Sandy Mack, Nancy Bennetts, and Laura Wiley; and nine grandchildren.

F.J. Denis Beatty CdeP 1937 died February 2002. While here, Joe was thought to be the Upper Upper’s candidate for the Robert Taylor of Thacher. He participated on the First Soccer, Second Baseball, Track, Tennis, and Shooting Teams.

As well, Joe served on the Tennis, Ojai Tournament, and Indoor Committees and the Committee of Ten. He then earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Arts (architecture) from Princeton. He worked as a sports consultant/trip coordinator for Unravel Travel, a Roger Scattergood (CdeP 1930) Roger at- company he and his wife Martha started. They tended Thacher for his junior year before he at- lived in San Francisco and have two daughtained his bachelor’s degree from Haverford, a ters: Deirdri and Victoria. master’s from Harvard, and a bachelor’s of law Edward R. Foote CdeP degree and MCP from the University of Penn1941, who attended sylvania. Roger is survived by his wife ElizaThacher for his two upbeth of Kennett Square, PA. perclass years, has died.

According the 1941 El James A. MacGregor Archivero, “Edawa” has CdeP 1936 of Portland, “done as much to eduOR, died July 4, 2002. cate the School socially During his three years at and in the ways of the Thacher, Jim became a great world as the School champion rider and polo player; he also was has done to educate him.” His versatility was known as a practical apparent: he appeared as Benjamin Franklin joker and pleasantly sur- in a movie of the same name, he was a licensed prised folks as “the cra- pilot, he had in-depth knowledge of the Rolls ziest boy” they’d ever met. In addition to being Royce, and he was an expert teller of tales, inan “A” Camper, Jim distinguished himself by cluding “anecdotes about Boston debs” whom winning letters in nearly every sport (soccer, he knew. His charm, wit, and smoothness entennis, baseball) and serving on the Pack and deared him to all. He matriculated to Boston Saddle Club, Committee of X, Outdoor Com- University and received his bachelor’s degree mittee, Ojai Tournament Committee, and as in 1947; he then earned a master’s from Yale in 1952. Ed had hoped to attend his 45th Repage 52

The Thacher News

union, but he was producing John Irving’s The Cider House Rules in Dorset, VT for Miramax. He remembered his time at Thacher as being “happy, constructive, and contributing to freedom of thought.” Ed lived in Charlotte, NC, and served on the Board of Directors of the International Film Seminars. He was predeceased by his wife, Nancy, and his two children: Cassandra and Abbot; he is survived by four grandchildren.

George F. Zaninovich (CdeP 1947) George’s wife Betty informed us in August that her husband died November 7, 2001. He attended Thacher for only his freshman and sophomore years (1943-1945). They lived in Dinuba, CA. Robert Austin Smith, MD CdeP 1948, who attended Thacher for his junior year only, died in April 2002. He matriculated to USC for his undergraduate work; he earned his MD at the University of Louisville, and did post-doctoral work at UCLA. He had an orthopedic surgery practice in San Pedro. Robert and his wife Paula have four children: David, Rachael, Sara, and Leigh.

Eugene Macy Barton CdeP 1952 attended Thacher for his senior year only, but distinguished himself in Dramatics, Glee Club, and on the athletic field. Nicknamed “Racy Macy,” he succeeded in firmly establishing himself as an integral member of the class with his “South of the Border” humor and unforgettable mannerisms. Although he was devoted to the Smoke Shack, Macy displayed his athletic prowess by taking letters in track, basketball, and soccer; in the last, he played the key center position and occasionally made “famous” head shots.

Macy matriculated to Stanford. He worked for Computer Sciences for several years and became Vice President of Finance for the Communications and Data Processing Division. He then worked from Hughes Aircraft in a similar position until his retirement in April 1993. Initially, he and his wife Norma moved to Boise, ID, where she had been raised. Not fond of the cold weather, they moved to Jalisco in the Lake Chapala District of Mexico. This was a very happy move for them and they made friends with other ex-patriots of the US and Canada who reside there. Norma informed Thacher of Macy's passing in April 2002.

Douglas M. Boyd CdeP 1955 died in February 2002. During his two years at Thacher, Doug played on the First Soccer Team and rode for the Green Gymkhana Team, acted with the Masquers, earned B Camper status, and served on the Indoor (chair), Outdoor, and Library Committees. He dreamed of studying architecture at Yale; indeed, Doug became an Eli and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1959; he also earned an MBA from Stanford in 1962. He worked as a Real Estate Builder and lived in Balboa, CA. He is survived by his wife Jean, and three children: Heather, Matthew, and Elizabeth.

Class Notes continued from page 51

In July, Michael Hammer, Chelsea Bauch ’02, and Peter Frykman completed a 737-kilometer pilgrimage through Northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela.

Michael Hammer and Peter Frykman, both CdeP 2001

Faculty News: Past and Present

Thacher Friends Marion Ballou—grandmother of Katie Ballou Calhoun CdeP 1983 and Sanford IV (who worked as an intern in Thacher’s riding program in 1989-90), and mother of the late Sanford Ballou III CdeP 1952—died in January 2002. Jack Huyler remembers Marion and Sanford Ballou II driving from Pomona to Thacher in a Stanley Steamer, and Sanford sending off a cannon ball on the Upper School on the occasion of his son’s commencement.

Edith “Edie” Thacher Dane, daughter of Hilda B. and William Larned Thacher, died on Sunday, June 23, 2002. She was born on campus on May 4, 1913; she attended Vassar College and settled in Sierra Madre, where her maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John George Blumer, were of the original group of residents when they arrived in 1886. She is survived by her children: Bill of Albany, CA, Frank of Forestville, CA, and Nancy Dane Pena of San Jose.

Saul Pick, father of Mark L. Pick CdeP 1971, died May 8, 2002. He was one of the largest land owners in Hollywood, built the Cinerama Dome, redeveloped a corner of Sunset and Vine, and turned the abandoned Columbia Studios into the biggest independently owned television and movie facility in Los Angeles, the Sunset-Gower Studios, of which Mark is now the managing partner. e

Greg Courter with bride Mara and daughter Sienna

Mara and Greg Courter enjoyed their happy marriage at Kent Denver School, where Greg is the Director of Admission. His girls' lacrosse team played an undefeated season and ranked #1 in Colorado; Greg was named Coach of the Year by the Denver Post. Sadly, Mara died on September 1, 2002, of melanoma. Greg has adopted Mara’s daughter Sienna, and they plan to stay at Kent Denver.

Joining Greg at Kent Denver are Annie and Nick Lefferts; Nick is teaching English.

Speaking of English, George Pratt was named the English Department Chair at Sagehill Academy in Costa Mesa; Sydney Robertson is teaching history part-time.

As of this summer, Sarah and John Reimers have a daughter: Molly. John is teaching at Brentwood.

Rae Ann Sines loves her new life in San Francisco, teaching at University High School. She’s sharing her apartment with Abby Davis who is applying to graduate schools in hopes of becoming a nurse practitioner.

Marilee Lin came out west to attend Catherine Pinkerton's wedding in mid-August and to catch up on news of her former students and advisees.

Margo Buddhu has returned to Monica Ros (where her sons are students) and is teaching third grade.

On campus...

Marc and Phoebe Larson welcomed Audrey into their family in May. Other couples who are expecting babies in mid-September: Jason (Admission) and Megan (English) Carney, and Austin (History) and Alison (Study Skills) Curwen.

Spring / Summer 2002

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Reunion weekend 1932

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1952

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1997 Spring / Summer 2002 page 55

Alumni News

Reunion Memorial Service Meditation Remembering the Journey

by Rev. D. Andrew Kille, PhD CdeP 1967

and have now reached the end of their journey in this life.

good we have received, and the evil we have suffered.

We bring the memories of the events, the places, and the people we cherished. Often those memories get more rosy as time passes– did we really trounce Cate so completely?; were our grades really that good?; did we really handle that horse so masterfully?; was our sense of humor really funny?– maybe we don’t We have re-called, calling again to memory always remember exactly how it was, but if it some of the most formative years of our young wasn’t that way, it should have been! lives. It has been fascinating to me to overhear the fragments of conversation around campus– We bring the memories that occasioned later this was my room, there was where that revelations—the “aha!” made possible by mateacher lived, that wasn’t there before, we turity or experience that enabled us to say, didn’t have grass on the playing field. Appro- “that’s what happened; now I understand!” priately enough, much of what we have done in the past two days has centered on our own We bring the memories we might wish we didpersonal concerns, our own experiences, our n’t have; the ones not often shared or retold particular friends, and special places. of the hurts we endured, the pain that we caused, intentionally or unintentionally, the The word “sacred” means “set apart.” And mistakes made and opportunities missed. so, in this place set apart from the rest of the campus, in this time set apart from the rest of We bring the memories we don’t know we the weekend, we gather to triangulate our have—some just below the surface, waiting memories, to put them into new perspective. only to be evoked by a word, a sound, a smell The psychologist Paul Pruyser once remarked (think of the smell of the ground this morning that the psychological function of God is to after the rain), others imbedded deep in our remind us that we are not it. being without our knowing. We don’t see it, but perhaps others see it in us. The Stamp of Perhaps it is the fair valley in its loveliness be- the School has been the stamp of our lives fore us or the firm mountains in their silence more than we can ever know. towering over us; At times we may sympathize with what Rita It may be the feeling (as one of my classmates Mae Brown meant when she said, “one of the expressed it) of being able to sit here and feel keys to happiness is a bad memory,” and yet, the earth turn beneath us; we have come after a while to understand that there are things in this life far more important Perhaps it is a sense of the history and tradition and more enduring than happiness. and continuity of this School; It is the capacity of memory to preserve, susIt may be the felt presence of God, the divine, tain, and heal human life that Elie Wiesel, the the eternal, or whatever names we may use to Holocaust survivor and writer, alluded to in speak of that dimension within which we live his 1986 Nobel lecture: and move and have our being and are deeply, fundamentally and irrevocably bound each to Without memory, our existence would be bareach, known and unknown, past, present, and ren and opaque, like a prison cell into which yet to be. no light penetrates; like a tomb which rejects the living. ...if anything can, it is memory that In so many ways we are challenged to remem- will save humanity. For me, hope without ber that we are not it. And so we bring our memory is like memory without hope... memories together, to see them anew in broader perspective. We offer them up in these Remembering is a noble and necessary act. The moments. call of memory, the call to memory, reaches us from the very dawn of history. No commandWe bring the names and the memories of those ment figures so frequently, so insistently, in the who have died; who traveled with us for a time Bible. It is incumbent upon us to remember the

It is through remembering that human communities sustain and reconstruct themselves— remembering is literally “re-membering”—a gathering together of all the scattered members of the body. Each of us carries a word in the eternal telling of a story of this community; we each carry a piece of this Thacher in our hearts and our souls. Our memories preserve, renew, and reshape those pieces.

t is perhaps most fitting that by tradition we climb the hill to this place at the end of our time of retuning to the School. Over the past days we have re-experienced this special place called Thacher. We have told the stories (some of them getting quite hoary by this time); we have renewed acquaintances (when did they all get so old?); we have revisited the places (at least the ones that still exist).

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page 56 The Thacher News

One piece that I carried forward from this place was a love for camping and the outdoors, and over the years I had many opportunities to take groups of young people backpacking. Out of those experiences came these words that I share with you now: Lord, I thank you for the journey and for the journey’s end.

Lord, I thank you for the mountain, for the rocks, the trees and land.

Lord I thank you for the people and the moments that we’ve shared On the journey, on the mountain, in the people You are there.

Holy journey; holy mountain; holy people.

You are there. e

Alumni News

Historical Society News Times Change…and Stay the Same

by Elizabeth A. Bowman

he rich history of Thacher is evident in the school archives and on display throughout the year in exhibits, open houses, alumni and family events.

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To give you a snapshot of how things have changed—or not—at the School, here’s a look at some points in time.

100 years ago: Riders try polo for the first time at Thacher, though tennis, claims the Archivero, was again the most popular game at the School. Among the clubs available during this year which have now disappeared:The Shakespeare Club,The Trappers (6 wildcats caught), Fencers, and The Camera Club (pictured here)

50 years ago: Camping is stymied by poor weather, but the gymkhana team triumphs in Colorado

25 years ago:The impact of co-education is felt in admissions, in sports, and in camping. Anne Green CdeP 1978 was one of the first eight girls to receive a diploma;Willard Wyman is doing the honors

75 years ago: A new library is being built and has an opening planned in November [library opened officially in January 1928] Spring / Summer 2002

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Calendar

Thacher Gatherings and Events

Fall 2002/Winter 2003 Monday, September 9

New Year's Banquet Tuesday, September 24

Santa Barbara Gathering Friday-Saturday, October 4-5

Autumn Board of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, October 8

New York Gathering Thursday, October 10

Washington, D.C. Gathering Tuesday, October 15

San Francisco Gathering Thursday, October 17

Pasadena Gathering Friday-Sunday, October 25-27

Family Weekend Wednesday, November 6

Chicago Gathering Thursday, November 14

Orange County Gathering Friday-Sunday, November 15-17

Cultural Weekend Friday, December 13

Holiday Concert Saturday, January 11

Winter Alumni Day Friday-Saturday, January 31-February 1

Winter Board of Trustees Meeting Friday-Sunday, February 14-16

Departmental Weekend Mounted Color Guard before Thacher’s semifinals Baseball match: Katherine Bechtel ’03, Alex Herbert ’02, and Jamie Hastings ’02

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