The Magazine of The Thacher School
Spring/Summer 2026
17
OPEN HOUSE, OPEN HEARTS The weekend party everyone is invited to
22
WALKING THE WALK
Student-led efforts build community through nature
26
TAKING THE STAGE
CdeP 2026 joins the alumni ranks
CONTENTS 17 • Home is Where the Quesadillas Are Good food, all friends, and no phones or shoes
17
are the hallmarks of Thacher’s weekly tradition known as Open House.
22 • Walking the Walk avid Thele and Sebastian Carr CdeP 2026 posed D
a simple, yet profound challenge to the Thacher community: grab some friends, hit the trails, and connect with each other and nature.
22
26 • Taking the Stage s they head out to college, career, and beyond, we A
salute the Class of 2026 and their final days as students at Casa de Piedra.
O N & O FF C A M P U S
A L UM N I & COM MU N I T Y N E W S
01 • On the Ground
30 • Alumni and Community Gatherings
Head of School Jeff Hooper reflects on the 2025-26 school year.
03 • In Case You Missed It A social media glimpse into our days spent together at Casa de Piedra.
04 • The Pergola An assemblage of noteworthy school and community intelligence.
09 • Outside Outlooks Visiting scholars, artists, and experts impart their wisdom and experience.
12 • Scoreboard
55 FRONT COVER Shoes line the porch of the Head of School home during Open House, Thacher’s weekly on-campus community party.
2 spring/summer 2026
Highlights from the winter and spring sports seasons.
Highlights from the many moments of connection this spring, including Reunion Weekend in June.
44 • Class Notes ews and milestones sent to us N by our alumni readers.
49 • In Memoriam Remembering those we've lost.
55 • The Best We Can Do Phoebe Barkan CdeP 2003 reaches new heights in paraclimbing.
ON THE GROUND A Message from Head of School Jeff Hooper
D
ear Friends, Greetings from Ojai, where we have just wrapped up an exciting, productive, and fulfilling 2025-26 school year and celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2026 at Thacher’s 137th commencement ceremony.
While it is always difficult to say goodbye each spring—both to our seniors who are ending their Thacher student experience and to our returning students who are leaving campus just for the summer—we are quickly bolstered by the return of hundreds of Thacher alumni during Reunion Weekend just one week later. This year, we welcomed over 300 back to campus, and it was a wonderful reminder that the relationships built here do not end when a graduate receives their diploma, but rather it is a lifelong connection to this place and to the classmates, teachers, horses, trails, and all that make the Thacher experience so meaningful, memorable, and unique. Any Thacher student, teacher, or alum will affirm that one of the ways those relationships are fortified is through shared experiences in the wilderness, and this spring’s EDTs were no exception. Along with my “partner-in-climb” Felicity Howe Arnold CdeP 2000, my group’s collective commitment to a long and fun drive was rewarded with the spectacular, singular scenery of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah. Our adventure included arches, slot canyons, and waterfalls, as well as the Peek-a-Boo and Spooky Gulch Loop—vistas that provided the perfect backdrop for camaraderie, self-reflection, and just the right amount of silliness to keep us smiling through the challenges.
The Thacher School 1
ON THE GROUND Speaking of the outdoors, I am excited to share with you the work of two Class of 2026 now-graduates, Sebastian Carr and David Thele, who saw an opportunity to inspire more people in our community to connect with and in the surrounding nature that we are so lucky to have at our back door. I invite you to learn more about them— along with the many other academic, artistic, and athletic successes that abounded this spring—in this edition of Thacher Magazine.
As we settle into the quieter summer days here on campus, I find myself already looking forward to welcoming students back in late August, along with our newest Toads—the Class of 2030! Until then, I wish you well and send my best from Ojai, where we hope to see you again soon. In Community,
Jeff Hooper Head of School Jeff Hooper leads the processional of faculty into the 137th Commencement Ceremony.
2 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
ICYMI At Thacher, intentionality, genuine connection, and joy take center stage, and our social media shares a glimpse into our days spent together at Casa de Piedra. Follow along, like, and share to spread the word!
THACHER Spring/Summer 2026
@thethacherschool (Main School Account)
@thachercdep (Alumni Account)
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Carly Rodriguez ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Scott Nichols CLASS NOTES/IN MEMORIAM EDITORS Aimee Brown-Nelson Scott Cooper DESIGN Bacio Designs PHOTOGRAPHY Scott Nichols Holly Roberts Carin Yates HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeff Hooper DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT AND PLANNING Jorge Delgado DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT: PHILANTHROPY, GOVERNANCE, AND STRATEGY Jeffrey D. Berndt DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT: ALUMNI AND DEVELOPMENT Sara Billings
Thacher is published twice a year by The Thacher School, and is sent free of charge to alums, parents, and friends of the School. Every effort is made to ensure that contents are accurate and complete. If there is an omission or an error, please accept our apologies and notify us at the address below. Copyright © 2026 The Thacher School Third class postage is paid at the Oxnard Post Office. POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to the following address. Editor, Thacher Magazine 5025 Thacher Road, Ojai, CA 93023 thacher.org thachermagazine@thacher.org 805-640-3201 x266 How to Submit Class Notes Online: thacher.org/mythacher/alumni E-mail: alumni@thacher.org
Thacher is printed by V3 using an environmentally friendly waterless printing process, soy-based inks, and recycled paper.
The Thacher School 3
THE PERGOLA
HOLIDAY CAMPOUT On the evening before the spring holiday, students were invited to camp out on Upper Field. They brought pillows, blankets, air mattresses—and even a bunk bed!—onto the field for a cozy night under the stars before spending their day off together enjoying activities on campus and in Santa Barbara.
4 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
The Thacher School 5
THE PERGOLA
ANY QUESTIONS? Among the many unique and meaningful educational and community moments at Thacher is Senior Exhibitions weekend, a dynamic display of our students’ learning and passions, and this year was no exception. With three days of thoughtful 30-minute presentations from each senior, the teaching, learning, fun, camaraderie, and pride were on full display.
SURF AND TURF Now in its 14th year, Winter Camping and Wellness Weekend is a mid-year opportunity to enjoy the myriad benefits that even a brief time spent in the out-of-doors can have towards our collective wellness. 6 spring/summer 2026
A BLUE LIGHT AND A BLACK HOLE Thacher’s Observatory is once again making significant contributions to the scientific community through its astronomy research program. Director of the Thacher Observatory Dr. Jon Swift and the School’s astronomy research students provided measurements of a new phenomenon which manifests as a fast burst of blue light from distant galaxies. Their measurements in the nearinfrared part of the spectrum, known as “z-band,” were unique to the study and helped the authors develop a new explanation of this phenomenon which involves a supermassive black hole shredding a star that wandered too close. This work is making a big impact in the scientific community, and we’re happy to share the news that our students played a significant role in that work.
DREAM COME TRUE This year’s Winter Musical was the long-running adaptation of Les Misérables. Delivered by a cast of 30 students over two nights, the Performing Arts Center was brought to life with their dazzling acting, singing, costumes, fight choreography, and presence. Bravo!
THINK FAST Congratulations to our Toadal Robotics Team for earning the Think Award at a February FIRST Tech Challenge event. Given to the team that demonstrated evidence of use of the engineering process, lessons learned and implemented related to the design of the robot, trade off analysis/cost benefit analysis, and mathematical analysis used to make design decisions, this award was based on the content of the Toads’ portfolio, and we are so proud!
The Thacher School 7
THE PERGOLA
MUSIC & MOUNTAINS Few vistas in Ojai are as breathtaking as the Outdoor Chapel at sunset, the perfect backdrop for the beautiful music of several talented students who treated us to an evening concert at dusk.
WOMEN OF THE VALLEY On display at the Ojai Valley Museum earlier this spring, the “Women of the Valley” exhibit featured women from many different parts of the Ojai Valley over the past 100 years and included work from current and former Thacher students, including the oral history interview work of Margaret Zhang CdeP 2024, Joe McGonigle CdeP 2023, and Elle Feira ’27 through her Winter Independent and related internship at the museum this past fall. The exhibition also featured three generations of women in Thacher’s long-time executive chef Lee Quong’s family, including his wife, Chan Sue Lim, their daughters, Feelie Lee and Freida Lee Mock, and their granddaughter, Brittany Sanders CdeP 1996. Thacher History Department Chair Dr. Russell Spinney, along with Lee and Sanders, spoke on a panel at the museum about their work on this project and on the importance of family archives in preserving history.
UNDER THE SEA
8 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
This year’s Spring Sing was the Broadway musical based on the animated Disney classic The Little Mermaid. In this informal, annual “all-whoaudition-get-a-part” production, students take the lead in casting and directing, making for a fun and silly night of entertainment for all.
OUTSIDE OUTLOOKS VISITING SCHOLARS, ARTISTS, AND EXPERTS SPARK NEW IDEAS AND INSPIRATION
Toad Tunes Thacher alumna Nan Macmillan CdeP 2013 held two special performances showcasing her newly recorded works during her visit to campus in January. She graciously played songs from her debut full-length album, From Both Eyes, and fielded questions from students and community members. Blending folk with synth-pop elements is not easy, but Macmillan was at ease with her unique tones and enchanting voice.
Courtesy of the Taniya Endowment Fund
Beyond the Icon Thacher students, faculty, staff, and guests gathered in community for Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January, examining the ethos and impact of Rev. Dr. King, the legacy of the civil rights movement, and all efforts for more just futures through a moment of shared learning. Following inspirational opening remarks and a keynote address by James Joyce III titled “Beyond the Icon: The King You Thought You Knew—Revealing the Unseen Depths of Dr. King,” the community dispersed to participate in workshops led by Thacher faculty, special guests, and a current student on topics such as Geographies of Protest Music, Equitable Access to Water, Strategic Resistance, Education for Liberation, Sports and Equity, and more. Following the workshops, Thacher students served as panelists and volunteers (including the Thacher Chamber Singers) at the MLK Day programming at the Libbey Bowl, hosted by the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation. This year, Thacher faculty and students were fortunate to serve on the organizing committee of this long-standing community event alongside educators and youth from local schools and members of the City Council.
Think Globally, Act Locally Ojai Mayor Andy Gilman visited with members of Thacher’s Public Policy Club in January to discuss city affairs and help us learn a bit more about our local government. The Thacher School 9
Football and Fashion Kyle Smith, the NFL’s inaugural fashion editor, spoke to athletes and aspiring fashionistas during an X-Block in February about his influential role consulting and advising franchise teams and individual players on their pre- and post-game style choices. “Styling is a strategy, so what do you want to be known for, who are you off the field, what are your interests, and what rooms do you want to enter?,” Smith asked as he displayed examples of NFL players and their clothing choices that help craft those narratives.
Courtesy of The William H. Orrick Jr. CdeP 1932 Lecture Series
Being Bolden
This April, Thacher welcomed decorated athlete, trailblazer, mentor, and advocate Blake Bolden to campus. Bolden is an NHL and NCAA hockey reporter and analyst, a regular contributor to ESPN’s The Point, and an analyst for NHL Network, Amazon Prime, NBC Sports, and Sportsnet. In 2020, Bolden joined the LA Kings as a Pro Scout and Growth & Inclusion Specialist, becoming only the second woman to scout in the NHL. She played college hockey at Boston College, serving as team captain her senior year, before continuing her career professionally in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League and National Women’s Hockey League. Off the ice, Bolden is dedicated to mentorship and advocacy in sports. She founded the EmBolden Her Mentorship Initiative, providing opportunities for young female athletes in the US and Canada. In addition to her all-school talk, Bolden spent time with varsity athletes and members of the Black Student Union and Female-Aligned Student Association.
Courtesy of the Anacapa House Visiting Fellows Program
Made possible by a donation from the McCloskey Family Charitable Foundation
From Blockbusters to Butter Pecan Jon Berg and Will Gluck shared stories from their impressive careers in Hollywood, how they added Ojai Ice Cream ownership to their list of credits, and why the entertainment industry needs young minds to keep it on the cutting edge. Thankfully, their visit also included a delicious post-talk ice cream treat. 10 spring/summer 2026
At Its Core The science department was honored to welcome back Liam Kirkpatrick CdeP 2017 as part of our Anacapa House Visiting Fellows Program. Kirkpatrick was one of the Thacher Astronomy Program’s first students and produced seminal work while still in high school. He is now a PhD student at the University of Washington in Earth and Space Sciences. We learned more about ice cores and climate science than we could have imagined, and the time he spent with students was nothing short of inspirational.
Courtesy of the Anacapa House Visiting Fellows Program
Courtesy of the Anacapa House Visiting Fellows Program
Spring Scholar In late April, Anacapa Scholar Professor Howard French returned to Thacher to meet with humanities and journalism students to discuss the shared experiences of members of the African diaspora in the Americas, as well as to learn more about his career as a professional author and journalist on the history of Africa and its role in shaping the modern world. French is the author of acclaimed academic texts, including Born into Blackness (2021) and The Second Emancipation (2025).
An Education in Optimism Dr. Deepika Chopra specializes in bridging holistic practices and evidence-based science to cultivate selfmastery tools that help clients, couples, and organizations harness their own sense of lasting happiness, resilience, optimism, and success. During her visit, she spoke to the on-campus community and met with smaller student groups. Dr. Chopra holds a doctorate in clinical health psychology, with a special interest in mind-body connection, sensorybased visual imagery, color therapy, innovative cognitive behavioral strategies, and methods to increase optimism and resilience. Dr. Chopra completed a double postdoctoral fellowship at both the University of California Los Angeles and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and has been an integral part of the wellness community for over a decade. Made possible by a donation from the McCloskey Family Charitable Foundation
The Thacher School 11
WINTER
SCOREBOARD
Girls Basketball
Boys Basketball
Coach Tyler Ortiz credits the captain leadership of seniors Bea Lageschulte and Tenzing Lama for the team’s 10-8 season last winter. Setting the tone for the team, the two captains helped secure two big wins over Cate, and a stunning come-from-behind victory against Newbury Park Adventist Academy, during which Lageschulte drained a game-winning three-pointer for the win. Somehow not content with that exciting finish, the Toads ended the season on a high note by defeating Fillmore (#1 seed in CIF Division 7 Playoffs) on their senior night by 14 points.
One of the largest contingents of graduating seniors in 2025 left the boys basketball program wondering who would step up to fill crucial roles. In retrospect, it never should have been a question when one examines the larger-than-life personalities who stepped on the Voit Gymnasium’s court this season. Seniors Craig Watkins, Aidan Lee, and Spencer Jacobson played their hearts out all season. Juniors Abel Janes, Lachlan Chow, and Oscar Oro brought intensity and physicality to the court. Finally, the synchronicity and contributions from sophomores Levi Burden Hahn, Caleb Conarroe, Evan Murunga, and Nnamdi Odenigbo made for an exciting game each and every time.
Notable accolades and awards found their way to the team, including a Team MVP and All-Tri-Valley 1st Team honors for Lama, and an All-Tri-Valley 2nd Team honor for junior Marguerite Laub. Addy Yoon ’28 garnered an All-TriValley Honorable Mention, reflecting her team-leading scoring for the season as she had multiple games with 20 or more points. Excitement is building already for next year’s squad of tenacious and disciplined players in juniors Laub and Sienna Karlen, along with younger teammates Stella Saxe ’29 and Euan Kim ’29.
12 12 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026 2026
Finishing with a 10-8 record, Coach Jason Carney wrote of his team, “Five different players received votes for MVP amongst the team. It goes to show how many guys were making sizable contributions to our success.” Several players received top honors in the Tri-Valley League as follows: Murunga to 1st Team; Oro and Odenigbo to 2nd Team; and Lee, Conarroe, and Jacobson all with Honorable Mentions.
Boys Soccer Notching several exciting wins at home against tough opponents, the boys soccer season proved to be “outstanding” by Coach Juan Sánchez. “The seriousness, the camaraderie and collective buy-in, and genuine joy the team brought each day were remarkable and ultimately the foundation of our success,” Sanchez said of the 13-6 group. Led by captains Omar Sosa CdeP 2026, Alex Keeling CdeP 2026, and Jayden Li ’27, the boys soccer program enjoyed a third place Frontier League finish, and a 13-7-1 overall record. Ultimately falling to Rio Hondo Prep in the Final Four Semifinals, the team celebrated its deepest run in many years. Theo Martin ’27 deservedly received the Frontier League Goalie of the Year award, as he only allowed 26 goals against during the entire 21-game season (including postseason). Several members were named to the Frontier All-League teams as follows: Jungbin Yoon ’27, Keeling, and Li were selected for 1st Team; Alec DiLullo ’28 for 2nd Team. Looking ahead to next year, Coach Sánchez is fortunate to keep a solid foundation of a team, as only five seniors are graduating from the squad.
Girls Soccer Perseverance, grit, and determination all help describe a girls varsity squad who set out to defend their CIF Championship title from last season. Several factors worked against the team from the outset, such as injuries and a shuffle of teams in the league, but what resulted was a team who proved to Coach Edgar Arceo their character and stalwart love of the game. Arceo quoted one of his players to underscore their passion for their team and for the game this way: “On the field, I would say the chemistry is more intense and competitive. However, it truly is rooted in love—love for the game and each other. Off the field, the team is also loving. From team breakfast to preseason, being on this team has brought me joy. The dedication everyone has to soccer is [truly] admirable.” Ten players from the 6-9-6 team received coveted Tri-Valley All-League nominations: Elise McLoughlin ’27, Georgia Browning Cdep 2026, Lola Clemens ’27, and Annikka Zhou Cdep 2026 named to the 1st Team; Arden Brailer Cdep 2026, Bodil Clark Cdep 2026, Charlotte Mullennix ’28 named to the 2nd Team; and Gina Li ’27, Lu Rodriguez ’27, and Kea Woltag ’28 receiving Honorable Mentions. Looking forward to next year, expect big things from named captains Clemens, Rodriguez, McLoughlin, and Mia Gaona ’27.
The The Thacher Thacher School School 13 13
SPRING
SCOREBOARD
Track and Field In Coach Sarah DelVecchio’s 30 years of track and field coaching experience, she’s never had a larger team than this year’s squad of 40 athletes. Several graduating seniors will continue their track and field careers at Middlebury College, Colorado College, and Washington University in St. Louis. DelVecchio selflessly credits the team’s captains of seniors Mateo Escalante, Chloe Hamilton, and junior Lola Clemens as the driving forces keeping the spirit and organization of the team positive during the season. The camaraderie helped propel nine of Thacher’s athletes into the postseason. Of note were the exceptional performances where historic Thacher records were challenged, and in some cases, broken. Alec DiLullo ’28 ran the third fastest 800m time in Thacher history; Addy Yoon ’28 broke the School’s long jump record; Hamilton ran the third fastest 3200m and the fourth fastest 400m time; and finally Rafa Kelliher CdeP 2026 set a new school record for the high jump at 6’7”, a height that should remain unchallenged for the foreseeable future. Notable mentions of dedication, grit, and positivity were earned by Jane-Owen Coleman ’28, Charlie Clarke ’27, DiLullo, and Yoon. A tremendous group of graduating seniors will be missed: Kelliher, Hamilton, Escalante, Lucas de Clercq, Arden Brailer, Jackson Headley, Bodil Clark, Jackson Hancock, Annikka Zhou, Spencer Jacobson, and Quinn Armstead. 14 14 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026 2026
Baseball Thacher’s baseball squad finished 7-7 on the year. Four ninth-graders started throughout the season and made valuable contributions all along the way. Kendo Takahashi was second in innings pitched, led the team with a 2.17 ERA, and struck out 21 batters while walking only two. Sam Disner started every game and hit .324. Max Parker caught 61 innings behind the plate, and Matthias Lee was quite impressive with his steady play in the infield. Sophomores Moustapha Abou-Samra Winningham and Max Ho demonstrated significant growth during the year and will be counted on in the coming years. Junior captain Henry Preloger had an outstanding season with 11 extra base hits and three home runs. On the mound, he struck out 44 batters in 28.1 innings and pitched to a 3.21 ERA. Sophomore Amos Lageschulte hit .350 with 10 RBIs while playing a key role as a pitcher and infielder. Junior Cael Parker hit .333 out of the cleanup spot as a designated hitter after suffering an injury in the first game of the season that restricted his ability to play the field. A season wrap-up wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that Thacher beat Cate twice this season, marking seven consecutive wins over the Rams. It is also of note that Preloger and Lageschulte earned 1st Team Tri-Valley League honors. Cael Parker was named to the 2nd Team. Captain Abel Janes ’27 and Takahashi received Honorable Mention recognition.
Boys Tennis After falling short by several games in the D5 Playoffs in 2025, Thacher’s boys tennis team had their sights set on another playoff run coming into the season. Their aim proved true, prevailing over Oakwood for their first Division 6 Championship in more than ten years. Drawing on a strong core of players who had been key contributors to last season, juniors Paolo McCarrey and Declan Reenan, and seniors Austin Du and Alex Keeling, the team was confident in their ability to compete to their potential. The Toads got a major boost from the ninth-grade class, adding Gavin White, who played on the singles side, as well as Max Meister and Vivaan Naidu who teamed up to help out on the doubles side.
Seniors Sajan Khaira and Jake Lim played valuable roles with several solid performances in doubles. Junior newcomer Lachlan Chow and returning junior Beckett Frisina played well and helped the team through the early parts of the season. Thacher’s doubles teams of Jayden Li/Ryan Lee, McCarrey/Keeling, and Naidu/Meister propelled the team to the CIF Finals. Top-seeded Thacher battled against Liberty League Oakwood School in the Championship match at The Claremont Club. Only one match was ceded on the day to the #1 Oakwood doubles team. Otherwise, top-notch skill and tenacity carried the day for the Toads. Notably, White battled back from 0-4 to win 6-4; Du fought off several match points to win 13-11; and each of them capitalized on the momentum and won their second singles matches. At the end of the day, Thacher won 11-7 and claimed the Division 6 title.
The The Thacher Thacher School School 15 15
Boys Lacrosse This year was another good season for Thacher Boys Varsity Lacrosse, propelled by an optimistic preseason under the leadership of senior captains Aidan Lee, Jackson Slaughter, Max Laird, and Craig Watkins. “Unfortunately,” as Coach Tim Sullivan wrote, “it wasn’t long before the team was bitten—hard—by the injury bug, and within just a few weeks, the squad had been depleted by season-ending injuries to all three of its first-line offensive midfielders and one of its starting short-stick defensive middies.” Still, the team put together a resounding home victory over Cate (the clear highlight of the season) by coming back from a 4-1 halftime deficit to win 6-5 on Upper Field. The win was a demonstration of the resilience of the team, and the boys carried the same never-say-die mentality throughout the rest of the season. Receiving All-Channel League honors are as follows: Watkins and Slaughter named to 1st Team; Laird and Lee named to 2nd Team; and Sammy Parkes ’28 named as an Honorable Mention. The absence of some expected cornerstone players allowed the next generation of Thacher lacrosse athletes to assume a degree of responsibility earlier than anticipated. Sophomores Parkes, Levi Burden Hahn, Garrett Bush, Cruz Natori, and Heaton Bray all gained meaningful varsity experience. Next year’s team will thrive under the leadership of captains Marlow Rogers ’27 and Sam Dachs ’28, as well as the rising senior group of Bates McCluer, Will Green, and Andrew Liu.
Girls Lacrosse First-year Head Coach Brett Bearrows had her hands full this season, most notably to fill the goalie role on her lacrosse team. Thankfully, a number of players stepped into that role and performed admirably, especially Marijah Smith ’28 who had ten saves in the first game of the season alone. Abby Munzig ’27, Bea Lageschulte Cdep 2026, Charlee Johnson ’27, and Euan Kim ’29 all took a turn in the goal at some point during the season, each rising to the challenge of playing a new position. Proudly, lacrosse is one of the sports at Thacher that attracts new players each year, all of them hungry to develop skills and be a part of a close-knit team. All of the players found opportunities to contribute in major ways, with many of the new players earning a starting spot on the roster. Elise McLoughlin ’27, Nell Lieb ’28, and Charli Coyle ’28 are shining examples of that dedication. Additionally, Macy Maxwell ’27 became one of the cornerstones of Thacher’s defense, and Talia Egrie ’27 helped to fill the gaps left by injury and illness throughout the season. Phoebe Jin-Ngo ’27, Hannah Housden Cdep 2026, and Lageschulte each scored more than 20 goals on the eleven-game schedule, earning each of them top honors in the AllChannel League. Named to 1st Team All-League are Jin-Ngo and Lageschulte; 2nd Team are Housden and Munzig; and 3rd Team honors go to Egrie and Sylvie Thorne ’27.
Beach Volleyball Coach Sayra Trejo’s season-long strategy of forcing opponents into longer rallies against a young-but-seasoned Beach Volleyball team proved to be a solid one. Fielding a dozen athletes, this year’s team was one of the largest groups to assemble on the School’s sand courts. Sophomores Ori Ouermi and Jaylah Castro led the offense as the #1 pair, refusing to be intimidated by older, more experienced opponents on the schedule. Other standouts include fellow sophomores Eileen Ruan and Wendy Ngai, juniors Emma Gan and Lila Pinizzotto, and seniors Cata Brown and Vicky Sandoval. Tri-Valley All-League honors were bestowed to Castro and Ouermi for their outstanding offensive and defensive prowess during the season. 16 2026 16 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
H me
is Where Quesadillas Are On most Friday or Saturday evenings throughout the school year, you’ll find a small group of students and faculty working together to throw a party. Spikeball, ping-pong, board and video games, movies, and music are always on the activities list. Quesadillas, candy, and—of course—chocolate chip cookies are always on the menu. And the best part? Everyone’s invited.
The Thacher School 17
S
ince the early 1990s, Thacher has been hosting Open House, welcoming the school community into the Head of School home for a night of games, food, friendship, and connection. Firmly rooted in tradition now more than 30 years later, Kara and Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25 continue this beloved event, opening their home and hearts to all students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors on almost every weekend of the school year. Phones are left behind to help guests remain present, shoes are left on the porch to help keep the carpets clean, and everyone pitches in to tidy up at the end of the night. Kids move freely from kitchen to yard to sofa and back, socializing and snacking in between games of chess or Bananagrams. “Open House is more than just a tradition, it’s a crucial tool in the construction of a culture in which each student belongs and matters,” said Jeff Hooper, head of school. “Seeing the house packed with students from every grade and colleagues from across the departments reminds me that the strongest bonds in our community are often built in the simplest ways— through shared food, genuine conversation, and the open doors of a home.” A recent survey showed that more than 50 percent stay at Open House for an hour or more, with residents of Casa and Los Padres dorms staying the longest. When asked to rank their favorite things about Open House, students overwhelmingly cited “talking and hanging out with friends” as their top pick, followed closely by food.
18 spring/summer 2026
No Open House is complete without freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, which are sometimes made with eggs collected from the Thacher coop.
“Open House has become an event I look forward to each week,” said Austen Faris CdeP 2026 and the 2025-26 school chair, speaking to us just a couple of weeks away from her Thacher graduation. “Just this past week, when I was in the backcountry, all we could talk about on our final day was how excited we were for a warm cookie from Ms. Hooper and the best ‘crunchwrap supreme’ from Mr. Hooper. It’s an event that will always bring everyone out and fosters such great school-wide bonding with a shared love of board games, Mario Kart, Spikeball, and food!”
An important and relatively recent evolution, many Open Houses are also now co-hosted by the members of a Thacher student group or organization who help to decorate, plan activities, and prepare and source the menu. This year’s Big Gymkhana Family Weekend Open House was co-hosted by ISAT (International Students at Thacher) and featured karaoke, a crepe station, a screening of the movie Flow, and flags from around the world. Other recent collaborations involved Astro Club (featuring astrophotography displays), and the Black Student Union’s observation of Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day, among many others.
Open House is more than just a tradition, it’s a crucial tool in the construction of a culture in which each student belongs and matters. — JEFF HOOPER , head of school
Head of School Jeff Hooper is often on “’dilla duty,” turning out dozens of his special snack wraps on demand during each Open House gathering.
FOR THE GREATEST GOOD In addition to the fun and friendship, Open House often includes an opportunity to support our local and global community. The epistolary (defined as “told through letters”) table provides space, materials, and an opportunity for community members to write letters in support of important people, organizations, and causes, such as homebound Meals on Wheels clients supported by the HELP of Ojai, deployed service members through United Soldiers and Sailors of America, and Friends of Fieldworkers families as collected during the Latinos Unidos-hosted Open House. “Planning and hosting Open House is an honor and a privilege,” said Ms. Hooper. “It’s one of the most fulfilling and joyful parts of my job, both in my Events and Hospitality role and in my role as ‘Ms. Hooper.’”
The Thacher School 19
SEEN, SAFE, AND SUPPORTED While the community benefits of Open House are many—an inclusive social gathering for all students, a place to connect over food and fun with trusted adults, an opportunity to unwind after a challenging week of academics and extracurriculars—its benefits also highlight the reality of weekend nights for most teenagers outside of the Thacher gates, which can often be premised on risk-taking behavior involving substances, vehicles, and/or social exclusivity and hierarchy. Open House aims to create a desirable social space that feels welcoming and comfortable for every student, as well as younger faculty children, visiting family members, and anyone else.
During the 2025-2026 school year, a number of student groups and organizations co-hosted Open House, sharing their passions, cultures, and identities with the community. Among those represented were:
“As a parent of two Thacher Toads, one who graduated in 2022 and one who graduated just last month, it was so comforting knowing that not only did they have a safe place to spend their weekend nights among friends, but that it was also actually one of their favorite places to be,” said Tracy Mallory P ’22, ’26. “Among the many things I’ll miss about Thacher will be seeing a photo of them at Open House or hearing from them about their weekend fun on campus.” As we wrap up another school year full of Open House weekends, the Class of 2026 is feeling especially sentimental about this aspect of their Thacher experience. “It’s a space full of joy and laughter that you can hear all the way from the Dining Hall,” continued Faris. “Personally, it will be the event I miss the most in college.”
THACHER ASIAN STUDENT SOCIETY Diwali and Lunar New Year Celebrations QUEER STUDENT UNION LATINOS UNIDOS Hispanic Heritage Month BLACK STUDENT UNION Black History Month FEMALE-ALIGNED STUDENT ASSOCIATION Women’s History Month ASTRO CLUB INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT THACHER
20 spring/summer 2026
Epistolary Table
You’re invited to
OPEN HOUSE! Follow along for a night of fun, food, and friends.
Video Games
Legos
Epistolary Table Fireside Chats
Movies Chess Table
Candy
Cookies
Food
Games & Crafts PingPong
Shoes
Spikeball Cornhole
Quesadillas
The Thacher School 21
the
22 spring/summer 2026
WALK
In the spring of 2025, an email went out from David Thele and Sebastian Carr, two members of the Class of 2026, to Thacher students, faculty, and staff. “David and I are creating a new activity for everyone called Weekly Wilderness Walks. Every week we will send out a hike or destination on the Thacher trails. The challenge is to go to this destination or along the hike and take a photo with two other people, (remember to stay in groups of three everybody), and enjoy the outdoors as you go.” The first walk, to the second river crossing on The Horn Canyon Trail, kicked off what has now become a weekly Thacher tradition.
D
avid and Sebastian’s vision was simple, yet profound: a curated list of treks to be completed, offered as both guided group excursions and independent adventures. For those who could not make the scheduled departures, they were encouraged to gather a group of friends— adhering to the “rule of three” for safety and fellowship—and capture a photograph of the journey.
These photos, shared in a communal digital drive, serve as a living map of the collective movement. Whether it is a faculty member with their children or a ninth grader discovering the backcountry for the first time, the incentive is clear. From a coveted Thacher Trail Crew sticker to 3D-printed trophies and the promise of a celebratory meal for those who completed eight walks, David and Sebastian have garnered excitement and engagement, and embodied the true mission of the outdoors: turning rugged terrain into a bridge for community and character.
We were looking for some way of getting people who didn’t have as much experience in nature out in the outdoors. — D AV I D T H E L E C D E P 2026
A GATEWAY TO NATURE The genesis of this endeavor was rooted in the Thacher ideal of the “greatest good.” David and Sebastian recognized a subtle divide; while some students arrive at the School as seasoned backcountry travelers, others view the vast wilderness of the Los Padres National Forest with a mixture of curiosity and hesitation. “We were looking for some way of getting people who didn’t have as much experience in nature out in the outdoors,” David shared, reflecting on the program’s inception. “We wanted an easy entry point for people to explore nature with friends, and we thought that giving them a targeted walk to complete every week would make this as simple as possible.”
David Thele and Sebastian Carr started Weekly Wilderness Walks in the spring of 2025 as a way to encourage exploration of the outdoors and community connections. The Thacher School 23
By removing the barriers of planning and navigation, these two young leaders have inspired dozens of students who may not have otherwise experienced the Ojai wilderness to connect with classmates and teachers they may not have known. On a steep switchback, grade levels and social circles fall away, replaced by the shared rhythm of steps and breath and the collective encouragement of the group.
In the Thacher community, we emphasize that no one hikes or rides the trail alone. The greatest good is magnified when people work in concert toward a common purpose. Whether it is the bond between a rider and their horse, student collaboration in the classroom, or teammates on the field, we are defined by our interconnectedness. David and Sebastian have modeled this beautifully.
Walkers were encouraged to take a photo on the trail to document their participation. Included here are just a handful of the many permutations of students, faculty, family, and friends who joined a Weekly Wilderness Walk this school year.
FINDING THE HIDDEN EXTRAORDINARY Education at Thacher is often about discovery—the moment a complex theorem clicks or the first time a ninth grader successfully communicates with their horse. For David and Sebastian, this manifested literally during a trek to a nearby hidden waterfall. Cascading just beyond the periphery of our daily routines, the waterfall was always there and required only the initiative to seek it out to guide others to its base. It reinforced a vital truth: we are privileged to live in a place where the sublime is a mere walk away, provided we have the eyes to see it and the boots to reach it. 24 spring/summer 2026
“Having a partner makes it a lot more fun to go on the walks ourselves, makes it more fun to announce new walks at Assembly, and makes it easier to think of different ways to get the Thacher community into the amazing wilderness we have in our backyard,” said David of working with Sebastian on this long-term project. Their synergy at Assembly has become a highlight of the week’s announcements, earning cheers and excitement when they stand and introduce themselves and the Weekly Wilderness Walk. Their infectious enthusiasm, bolstered by the recognition of fellow hikers, reminds us that leadership is not a solitary burden, but a shared joy. “With their Assembly announcements, David and Sebastian heightened awareness of the historic trails that surround our
I hope to leave behind a legacy of getting people to explore the outdoors, regardless of their experience doing so.” — D AV I D T H E L E C D E P 2026
campus, and their guided walks inspired many members of our community to get out and explore, said Dr. Seth Boyd, director of teaching and learning and faculty advisor to the Thacher Trail Crew. “Their love for the outdoors has been contagious and, as they graduate, they are leaving behind a special legacy.”
A LEGACY BEYOND As David and Sebastian look ahead, their eyes are on the horizon— not just for the next trail, but for the impact they will leave behind. In an era where it is “easier and easier to just stay indoors all day,” their mission has never been more critical.
3D-printed trophies were awarded to those who completed several walks.
“I truly hope that WWW is a tradition that is here to stay in some form or another,” David reflected just a few weeks before graduation. “I hope to leave behind a legacy of getting people to explore the outdoors, regardless of their experience doing so.” At Thacher, we do not measure success by the heights one reaches alone, but by how many others they bring along for the climb. Through Weekly Wilderness Walks, David and Sebastian are ensuring that every member of our community can embrace the beauty and benefits of being in the outdoors, one step, one sticker, and one hidden waterfall at a time. The Thacher School 25
Class of 2026
Senior Banquet The night before graduation, the Class of 2026 gathered with their families and friends to eat, dance, and celebrate the end of their time as Thacher students.
Class of 2026 Award Recipients
Commencement Speaker Sarah Konrad CdeP 1985
26 spring/summer 2026
School Chair Award Austen Layla Faris
The Thacher Cup Lucas Martin Florian de Clercq
The Charles L. Tutt Bowl for Integrity and Responsibility David Owen Thele
The Thacher School 27
Commencement
28 spring/summer 2026
CLASS OF 2026
Matriculation Amherst College Barnard College (2) Bates College Boston College (2) Brown University Carleton College (2) Chapman University Colby College (2) Colorado College (3) Columbia University Dartmouth College (2) Denison University Hamilton College Harvey Mudd College Indiana University Bloomington Kenyon College
Loyola Marymount University McGill University Middlebury College Mount Saint Mary’s University Los Angeles New York University (3) Northeastern University Northwestern University Pitzer College Santa Clara University Skidmore College Stanford University The City College of New York Trinity College Tufts University (2)
University of California, Berkeley (3) University of California, Santa Barbara University of Chicago University of Colorado Boulder University of Pennsylvania Wharton School University of Southern California (2) University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Vassar College Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis (2) Wellesley College Yale University
The Thacher School 29
COMMUNITY GATHERINGS This year has kicked off with special events and connections across the country. We had a Formal Dinner in New York City, community hikes, and over a dozen GOLD events for our Graduates of the Last Decade. We hope to see you during the 2026-2027 school year!
SEATTLE COMMUNITY EVENT Ford Sutter, Brian Kelly CdeP 2001, Howard Kroehl P ’28, Sunmee Park P ’28, Erin Mellet, Siddartha Naidu P ’29, Nitya Jain P ’29, Kevin Schmidt CdeP 2001, Jamie Fenton, Heather Kelly CdeP 2001, John Carey CdeP 2015, Liam Kirkpatrick CdeP 2017, Diana de Forest, Maya Barraza, Kipper Berven CdeP 2015, Carmaig de Forest CdeP 1975, Heidi Bennett, Shravan Rajasekaran CdeP 2013, Scott Cooper, Russell Bennett CdeP 1979, Ellie Heldridge CdeP 2024, Vivienne Long P ’25, Omar Barraza CdeP 1990, Tammy Heldridge P ’24, Matt Stenovec CdeP 2004, Emma Balina, and Samantha Lloyd-Knauf.
NEW YORK ALUMNI “FORMAL DINNER”
Chloe Cussen CdeP 2021, Jackson Hollins CdeP 2020, Maxine Tamas CdeP 2021, Kennedy Roberts CdeP 2021, and Maggie Sonenshine CdeP 2020. Martha Gregory CdeP 2006, Barrett Brown CdeP 2005, Tim Stenovec CdeP 2002, Clay Pell CdeP 2000, and Clinton Lowe CdeP 1999.
Brad Callander CdeP 2013, Head of School Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Peter Schmidt CdeP 2017, Emma Robertson CdeP 2016, and Sarah Voss CdeP 2016. 30 spring/summer 2026
Justin Myles CdeP 2013, Thacher faculty member Françoise Kasimirowski, Nnaemeka Okonkwo CdeP 2022, Fidel Lopez CdeP 2012, Nevin Bernet CdeP 2016, Julie Park CdeP 2010, and Ezinne Okonkwo CdeP 2024.
May Walton CdeP 2018, Libby Hatton CdeP 2018, Avery Bearden CdeP 2016, and Olivia Driscoll CdeP 2018.
Benita Chan CdeP 2007, Joe Wyatt CdeP 2007, Simon Wu CdeP 2007, and Sam Rhee CdeP 2009.
Harry Hayman CdeP 2014, Antoine Laurent, Joanna Knutsen CdeP 2014, Lili Boyle CdeP 2014, and Auden Ehringer CdeP 2014.
Martha Gregory CdeP 2006 and Barrett Brown CdeP 2005.
Brian Lee, Maddie Lee CdeP 2025, Souta Sato CdeP 2023, Jayden Lee CdeP 2025, Vinnie Park CdeP 2023, and Justin Park CdeP 2024.
Amanda Brown CdeP 2010, Mia Voevodsky CdeP 2014, Julie Park CdeP 2010, and Lauren Zakarian-Cogswell CdeP 2010. The Thacher School 31
WASHINGTON, D.C. GATHERING Jeff Berndt P ’20, ’21, Cara Dienst CdeP 2017, Colin Kirkpatrick CdeP 2019, Brendan Glenn CdeP 2017, Preston Brailer CdeP 2019, Pierre Weil CdeP 2017, Chris Grant CdeP 2002, Kennedy Moore CdeP 2024, Clare Bilek CdeP 2019, Adanna IwuAnyanwu CdeP 2024, Abby Lecrone, James Day CdeP 2020, Amya Bolden CdeP 2020, Head of School Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Cecelia Bauer, and Charlie Munzig CdeP 2003.
Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Adanna Iwu-Anyanwu CdeP 2024, and Kennedy Moore CdeP 2024.
Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Hal Hallett CdeP 1963, and Alex Lampros.
BOSTON GATHERING
John Lewis P ’23 and Steve Griggs CdeP 1963. Mark Petschek CdeP 1977 and former Thacher faculty member Tim Carey Jr. 32 spring/summer 2026
Erik Berndt CdeP 2021, Jose Burga P ’27, and Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25.
Ingmar Berg, Michèle Barnett Berg CdeP 1987, and Bryan Hooper. CdeP 2025: Kaili Chu, Jackson Harr, Nicolas Peyromaure de Bord, Mateo Nix, George Daniel, Johnson Ngota, Jeff Hooper, Julie Lui, Elina Chen, Henry Molfino, Eli Bouganim, and Pierce Kelly.
SANTA BARBARA GATHERING
Cherie Demopoulos P ’13, Marsh Milligan CdeP 1969 P ’00, ’02, Betsy Grether P ’99, ’01, ’03, John Grether P ’99, ’01, ’03.
Alison Greiner P ’26, ’29, Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Naz Sykes P ’29, and Kim Master P ’25, ’28.
Former Thacher faculty member Kurt Meyer P ’98, ’00, GP ’28 and Oakley Browning CdeP 2022.
Blue Caleel P ’29, Neil Harrison, Sarah Cetrulo P ’29, Erik Cetrulo P ’29, and Graham Duncan P ’27.
The Thacher School 33
OJAI COMMUNITY HIKE Special thanks to Alumni Council member Javier Quiroz CdeP 2010 for putting together this hike for our local Ojai community to enjoy the Topatopa Mountains together after Big Gymkhana Weekend! Sean Carr P ’26, Ladi Carr P ’26, Sebastian Carr CdeP 2026, Javier Quiroz CdeP 2010, Scott Cooper, Chad Carty, and Gwyneth C.
CDEP 1950-1960 LUNCHEON IN SAN FRANCISCO
Harry Miller CdeP 1958, Bob Gardner CdeP 1960 P ’99, ’00, Lee Follett CdeP 1953, Kirk Kirkham CdeP 1950, Jeff Green CdeP 1956 P ’86, Toby Rosenblatt CdeP 1956, Jeff Hooper P ’23, ’25, Jim Lipman CdeP 1952 P ’82, and Charlie Stephenson CdeP 1953.
34 spring/summer 2026
MARIN COMMUNITY HIKE Special thanks to Alumni Council member Wils Dawson CdeP 2009 for putting together this great opportunity for our Bay Area alums to get together for a hike around Bon Tempe Lake. Cynthia Kellogg CdeP 1999, Mark Hayne CdeP 1986, Gillian Kneass CdeP 1991, Bill Dawson CdeP 1972, Alex Montague CdeP 2009, Wils Dawson CdeP 2009, Iona Popa CdeP 2010, and special pup guest, Scout.
EMERALD BAY BEACH DAY Hosted by DJ Sigband CdeP 1995, we enjoyed a Thacher beach day in Laguna Beach with some sun, waves, and the best company around. Lloyd Sacks CdeP 1995, Andy S., Tim Hatch CdeP 1995 and son, DJ Sigband CdeP 1995, Carol McConnell CdeP 1981, Kris Zierhut CdeP 1990, Scott Cooper, Jonathan Feldman CdeP 1990, Stefanie Warren CdeP 1996 P ’28, Bob Johnson CdeP 1967 P ’16, and Tom Murphy P ’28.
VIRTUAL ALUMNI MUNCH OUT Thank you to our Alumni Council for putting together this Virtual Munch Out! We loved spending time with you all! Top/Left to Bottom/Right: Brísha Howe CdeP 2013, Scott Cooper, Faith Earley CdeP 2017, Lex Kirkwood CdeP 2014, Carmieshra Gorman CdeP 1991, Gillian Kneass CdeP 1991, and Chad Brown CdeP 1967. The Thacher School 35
GOLD GATHERINGS CHICAGO
Cyrus Leung CdeP 2022, Robinson Tong CdeP 2024, Ryan He CdeP 2025, Margaret Zhang CdeP 2024, Peter Robinson CdeP 2024, Alex Noh CdeP 2022, and Natalie Cheng CdeP 2022.
NEW YORK James Langan CdeP 2020, Grace Zhang CdeP 2019, Kennedy Roberts CdeP 2021, Alyssa Ruiz CdeP 2022, Jackson Hollins CdeP 2020, Bryan Yoo CdeP 2020, Yenny Salcedo CdeP 2023, Vinnie Park CdeP 2023, Danica Hernandez CdeP 2025, Medina Yusuf CdeP 2025, Justin Park CdeP 2024, Annie Wang CdeP 2024, Cecily Bush CdeP 2023, Talia Edwards CdeP 2023, Sophie Benello CdeP 2021, Chris Van Son CdeP 2016, Maxine Tamas CdeP 2021, Mateo Thacher CdeP 2020, Ian Zhang CdeP 2020, Malena Solin CdeP 2020, and Vincent Langan CdeP 2020.
ITHACA Luca Pieretti CdeP 2020, Christina MacCorkle CdeP 2022, and Jayden Lee CdeP 2025.
BOSTON Erik Berndt CdeP 2021, Emmy Daro CdeP 2019, Libby Galgon CdeP 2019, Keira Yin CdeP 2022, Julian Tinmouth CdeP 2023, Lizbeth Velasco CdeP 2021, Oakley Browning CdeP 2022, and Béa Pierrepont CdeP 2018.
36 spring/summer 2026
SAN LUIS OBISPO Kye Harned CdeP 2022, Claire Pata CdeP 2025, Louisa Tennant CdeP 2024, Lauren Mills CdeP 2022, Karla Ceja CdeP 2017, and Jitari Qalandar CdeP 2024.
MIDDLEBURY
HANOVER Eliza Goodyear CdeP 2022, Henry Mallory CdeP 2022, Journey Neulight CdeP 2023, Brady McGawn CdeP 2024, Jackson Harr CdeP 2025, Kaili Chu CdeP 2025, and Gage Grimes CdeP 2024.
Catherine Feira CdeP 2025, Lola Henderson-Thomas CdeP 2022, and Thacher faculty member Juliet Henderson.
PHILADELPHIA
CLAREMONT
Aden Mandel CdeP 2021, Skyler Nova CdeP 2021, Jay Jiang CdeP 2024, Abbey Alvarado CdeP 2020, and Vanessa Lu CdeP 2022.
Thacher faculty member Tyler Ortiz, Grace Yang CdeP 2023, Trevor Carson CdeP 2022, Ali Bennett CdeP 2023, Elena Townsend-Lerdo CdeP 2022, and Cody Lee CdeP 2023. The Thacher School 37
GOLD GATHERINGS
PROVIDENCE Grace Yang CdeP 2023, Nico DiLullo CdeP 2023, PJ Wrubel CdeP 2024, Fabiola Penafiel CdeP 2024, Elina Chen CdeP 2025, Grace Zhong CdeP 2024, Kosuke Mikitani CdeP 2023.
WASHINGTON, D.C. SAN FRANCISCO Griffin O’Neill CdeP 2018, Ian Dunne CdeP 2020, Jane Gamble CdeP 2018, Kyle Sun CdeP 2020, Cole Mason CdeP 2025, Gus Gamble CdeP 2016, Xavier Cardoza CdeP 2019, Tucker Bennett CdeP 2016, Anna-Liisa Eklund CdeP 2019, Alejandro Wilcox CdeP 2019, and Julia Hale CdeP 2021.
38 spring/summer 2026
Ginger Del Real, Preston Brailer CdeP 2019, Barkley Bennett CdeP 2020, Else Nye CdeP 2020, Mike Sanderson CdeP 2020, Abby Lecrone, James Day CdeP 2020, Jake Mitchell CdeP 2020, Amya Bolden CdeP 2020, Pierre Weil CdeP 2017, Clare Bilek CdeP 2019, Sedi Asase CdeP 2023, Tea Wallmark CdeP 2020, Eva Wendel CdeP 2023, and Adanna Iwu-Anyanwu CdeP 2024.
2026 THACHER REUNION We welcomed over 300 Thacher alumni and their guests to this year’s Reunion Weekend, which included trail rides, luncheons for the 25th, 30th, 50th, and 55th reunion classes, observatory tours, a Twin Peaks hike, an ultimate frisbee game, and seminars on topics including “Thacher of Tomorrow” and “Doing the Greatest Good.”
The Thacher School 39
40 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
REUNION
The Thacher School 41
REUNION
42 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
The Thacher School 43
CLASS NOTES
1979 ROB FRANKEL started his dream job
in Hilo, Hawaii on May 1. He invites all to visit him on your next sojourn to the Big Island and you can explore!
1952 JOHN VAN NORTWICK shares, “I am happy to report that I am still vertical at age 92. Hope to make it to Ojai in the future.”
1974 Alphabetically Speaking brings poetry
to life with twenty-six poems—one for each letter of the alphabet. From dandelions to baseball, and from zombies to iguanas, the works within this book offer pure delight. They are truly eclectic; some are brief, others lengthy; some weave stories, while others are utterly absurd. Yet every poem is engaging, cleverly crafted, and even provocative. In Alphabetically Speaking, poet REUBEN HALLER has unabashed fun with language. Find more at reubenhaller.com.
1985 ERIC GROSS, ALEX WYLE EASTMAN 1982 MIKE VOEVODSKY connected with
everyone and shared, “Dinner with SBH! The last time I saw [former Thacher faculty member] Stephen B. Hauge was at the end of junior year in 1981. Recently, MARIAN “MUFFET” HUNTINGTON encouraged me to reach out to him, and to my delight, we had a long catch up call during which he said ‘next time in NYC, please call.’ Which I did. We met for Spanish tapas along with my daughter MIA VOEVODSKY 2014 and her beau, Ben, just before a trip to London. Same high energy and spirited conversation at dinner as I remember. SBH has authored two books about a chimney sweep in London; yes, I got him to autograph them both. I also had breakfast (a late breakfast ... second breakfast) with GEOFF LIPMAN–always fun.”
Directed by MORGAN NEVILLE, the film, Paul McCartney: Man on the Run, played at the Ojai Playhouse this last February after its release, showcasing an intimate portrait of McCartney’s life after The Beatles. Check out the film on Prime Video and watch the interview conversation between McCartney and Morgan on YouTube.
1978
MARY PAREDES KARNES updates, “Now that my husband, Ken, is retired, we are bicoastal, going between Connecticut and Ojai. I just finished the fourth book in my ‘Wedding Planner Mystery Series’ and continue to also plan weddings. I have 18 weddings scheduled for 2026.”
HUNTER HOLLINS once again served as the welcoming committee for the newest Toads arriving at the University of Virginia. LINN WALLMARK 2025, Hunter, and ANGUS HARRIS 2025 enjoyed catching up as Linn and Angus embark on this exciting new chapter. The Thacher connection across generations never ceases to amaze! 44 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
1986, and JAVI ZUNIGA-GROSS 2023 all attended the California Rodeo Salinas last summer. Where else but a rodeo would Toads run into each other?
* INDICATES REUNION YEAR ALUMNI PROFILE
1994 RIKA HOWE TOLL and NATE TOLL are
ready for another adventure. After their youngest headed off to college last fall, they moved to Steamboat Springs, CO where Nate will be teaching science at Steamboat Mountain School. They will be living on campus which will be a full circle moment as they will be part of a boarding school again. They are looking forward to living close to family, mountain life, and all the snow!
A Bond Beyond Thacher BETSY BRADFORD PERETTI CDEP 2002 & VANESSA LU CDEP 2022 “Just answer the email,” says Betsy Bradford Peretti CdeP 2002. “You don’t need a perfect plan or even a job opening to be helpful. Sometimes, being a source of encouragement and coaching and helping to reframe someone’s skills and ambitions is all that’s needed.” Alumni have a tremendous resource in Casa Connections, Thacher’s career networking program. Alumni can work directly with members of the Alumni and Development Office, connect via Casa Connections on LinkedIn, or use Toad2Toad, an online database of alums to connect for personal and professional reasons. That’s where Vanessa Lu CdeP 2022 found Betsy and the friendship that ultimately led her to her first job.
1999 CYNTHIA KELLOGG, KIM CAHILL
PETERSON, MOLLIE GARDNER HECTOR, and KATIE RUSSELL summited the Grand Teton last August. It’s a view and photo we couldn’t not share with you!
A recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in neuroscience and criminology and minor in psychology, Vanessa entered into the recruitment cycle for a consulting position and quickly realized she lacked two important things: experience and a trusted mentor. Wisely, she turned to Toad2Toad and soon was in touch with Peretti, a partner at Bain & Company in San Francisco. “Thacher is a small, special place, and I have always wanted to be more involved…” said Peretti. She recalled how early in her own career she had the help of a mentor, and now it was time for her to provide the same resource to a fellow alumna. “Vanessa is incredibly bright, curious, and passionate about solving complex problems. She was so humble and was candid about where she felt she had gaps. Her work ethic was also obvious. She didn’t just ask for generic advice. She was deeply engaged, kind, and possessed an infectious energy that made our conversations a highlight of my week.” “She gave me confidence and made me feel so deserving of every victory,” Lu reflected in a recent interview. “While I am beyond grateful that her mentorship helped me land an incredible job, I am even more grateful to have met her in the process.” Chronicling her recruitment process, there was a lot to learn about the world of consulting. Through her relationship with Peretti, Lu was able to hear from an expert in her field about what companies are looking for in applicants by reviewing case studies and other materials.
2000 JULIA ROMANO shares that she
embarked on a creative journey this year, adapting a poem into her children’s picture book, Step Outside, Barefoot. The book explores themes of mindfulness and the bravery required of both parent and child to engage with the world. It highlights the extraordinary wonders found within ordinary mornings and the delicate balance parents strike between the desire to protect their children and the hope that they will
“In consulting, we often talk about the ‘airport test’: Would you want to be stuck in an airport for 12 hours with this person when your flight is delayed? With Vanessa, I remember thinking it would be a stroke of luck to be stuck with her (and that anyone who had survived EDTs at Thacher could probably pass this test with flying colors),” Peretti recalled in her interview. Often, taking the first step is the most crucial. “Thacher’s close-knit community can especially be felt as an alum,” offers Lu. With 2,238 registered users of Toad2Toad, chances are good there is someone to connect with for career advice. If for nothing else, it’s nice to kindle and maintain a bond through the shared experiences Thacher provides. “Serving others and helping them reach their full potential is such a core part of Thacher. Looking out for each other doesn’t have to end when we leave Casa de Piedra,” Peretti concludes.
The Thacher School 45
CLASS NOTES
ALUMNI PROFILE
A Recipe for Resilience
venture out to meet the world. She has also been posting regularly to her Substack site, Mark Upon the Infinite: Parenting While Walking a Spiritual Path. All of this has been a way to stay connected to the things that matter most in a world that sometimes seems to have lost sight of meaning and purpose. She says, “In these wounded times, creative expression has been a most useful salve.”
MATT BREWER CDEP 2001 Sometimes one’s path in life winds its way towards a destination, rather than following a straight line. Such is the case for Matt Brewer CdeP 2001, who studied political science at Colby College, took a job in finance after graduating, then realized his true passion was in the culinary arts. He followed his then-girlfriend, now-wife, Elizabeth (Rauner) Brewer CdeP 2002 to Chicago, where he started cooking in a restaurant that would eventually earn three Michelin stars. Now he’s the co-founder and operator of Back Home Hospitality, managing over 300 employees in five of the Bay Area’s leading restaurants. Dedicated to creating spaces where food, design, and connection meet, Back Home Hospitality has earned a reputation for honest, ingredient-driven food in welcoming, thoughtfully designed settings—as their website describes, “chef-driven yet approachable, polished but never stiff.” “Our restaurants are meant to feel alive, engaging, and fun. There’s nothing I love more than walking into one of our spaces in the middle of a busy service and feeling the hum—guests, cooks, servers, and a great soundtrack all moving together,” says Brewer. Brewer recalls the chance meeting with his current business partner and chef, David Nayfeld, that was the genesis of their near decade-long culinary journey. Trained at the Culinary Institute of America, the James Beard Award-nominated Nayfeld refined his craft in world-class kitchens like Eleven Madison Park and Nobu. Together they started Che Fico, a California-inspired Italian taverna in San Francisco’s NoPa (North of the Panhandle) neighborhood in 2018. Known for handmade pastas, pizzas, housemade salumi, and Jewish-Roman specialties served with warm hospitality, Che Fico is housed in a century-old former stable reimagined by designer Jon de la Cruz and has become one of the city’s most vibrant dining destinations. Since then, they’ve opened several other restaurants in the Bay Area: Che Fico Parco Menlo, Bubbelah in Menlo Park, and Via Aurelia, Che Fico Pizzeria, and Golden Rule in San Francisco. Brewer’s mother kept an incredible garden of vegetables and herbs, something he credits towards his love of food and cooking. Browsing each of his menus reveals this passion for fresh and seasonal offerings from regional farms like McGinnis Ranch (Monterey), Star Route Farms (Bolinas), and Oya Organics (Hollister). “Thacher,” he continues, “taught resilience, and the restaurant business demands it in spades. Thacher put real challenges in front of you, young— academic, athletic, or my favorite, a tough horse—and you learned not to blink. You accepted them, worked through them, and kept going. That mindset shows up every day in this work.”
46 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
2001* MIKE DISNER shared, “We’re in our
third year in Mexico City and loving it! We’ve now got our eldest two boys at Thacher (Reagan ’28 and Samuel ’29), which has given us more opportunities to visit campus and reconnect with classmates, including ERIC BUTTS and NIKKI SILVERMAN BUTTS whose son Jabari is in Lower School with Samuel! As always, happy to host visitors before we move to Managua, Nicaragua next summer.”
CLASS NOTES
* INDICATES REUNION YEAR Gwendolyn and LEE WITTLINGER welcomed a new addition to their family in October. Welcome to the Thacher family, sweet Priscilla.
2008 MAX PILLSBURY moved to Kenai, AK
where he serves as a primary care doctor and teaches for the UW Alaska Internal Medicine Rural Residency. Annie and Max welcomed their first baby, Cameron, in August! Max updated, “Life is kind of like an EDT … with more work and diaper changes.”
2015 BEN CONNOR and SARAH VAN
SON got engaged this year! We are so excited to celebrate another alum wedding and wish them a lifetime of happiness together.
2002 MONIQUE GASKINS welcomed her little girl, Gloria, this past winter. We hope to introduce Gloria to Thacher soon!
2004 In September, KELLY PERCIVAL
relocated with her husband, Justin Shilad, from New York City to Oakland to start a new position as Deputy Attorney General in the Civil Rights office of the California Department of Justice. More importantly, on January 2, Kelly and Justin welcomed their daughter, Sorayah Nikke Shilad. Sorayah is already surrounded by so much Thacher love–95% of her belongings are hand-me-downs from BIANCA KISSEL RUSSELL’s daughters, and she proudly carries her middle name in memory of NIKKE ALEX 2003.
2006* In case you missed it, check out The
New York Times article written by KAGGIE ORRICK titled, “The Reality of Living With Wolves, Bears, and Mountain Lions.” Kaggie has done some incredible work on wolf conservation in California and how these new packs can coexist with communities, ranchers, and private landowners.
2016* DR. TYLER JAMES is a licensed 2013 CASEY LAWSON and husband, Paul,
welcomed their first child, Harper, into the world April 14, 2026! When she’s older, she is going to love visiting Thacher with her mom and dad!
JUSTIN MYLES received the 2025 Robert J. Trumpler Award for his contributions to observational cosmology. His research focused on his development of a new technique for calibrating the distances to galaxies, and one of his nominators said of him, “His research record and profile are at the core of what we need in order to make the upcoming generation of cosmological galaxy surveys a success.”
Florida dentist currently pursuing specialty training in orthodontics at the University of Florida. She recently advocated for Florida dentists and patients at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, meeting with legislators to support key oral health priorities. Dr. James was also selected as one of only two orthodontic residents in North America to serve on the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Board, where she helps advance initiatives and bring new perspectives to the organization. Although she did not initially envision a career in dentistry during her time at Thacher, it fostered the leadership, independence, confidence, and resilience that helped shape the dental professional she is today.
GRACE CALLANDER came to campus this spring to sit in on science classes and give a lecture about her PhD research. Grace recently received the 2025 Inflection Award as one of the best young scientists in the world working on breakthrough solutions to climate change. We are excited to share more about this research and the incredible work she is doing.
2014
Check out the new comic book written by ANNIE LEFEVRE, The Sign, published and available through Go Press Girl!
The Thacher School 47
CLASS NOTES 2017 BYNK CHANUNTRANONT and former Thacher faculty member BOB ST. GEORGE got together in Bangkok for a visit and meet-up! We love to see it!
LIAM KIRKPATRICK, a PhD candidate at the University of Washington, came back to campus this spring to host a talk for our campus community about the work he did in the Antarctic. Liam got his first taste of research as a Thacher astronomy student who helped start the monitoring programs at our observatory and attended multiple professional conferences. As an undergraduate student, he was drawn to ice core research, and hasn’t looked back since. Liam’s research has taken him to glaciers in Greenland, Alaska, Canada, and Antarctica, and to ice core labs across the U.S.
2018 JANE GAMBLE is enjoying the journey of toddlerhood with her two-year old, Jackson.
2021* SOPHIE BENELLO has been working as a lab manager of a psychology research lab at Barnard studying emotion regulation in children with Autism via fMRI imaging and psychophysiology.
48 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
* INDICATES REUNION YEAR
2022 What’s better than Spring Training at Clemson? When you run into another GOLD Toad there like LILY CLEMENS 2024 and LOLA HENDERSON-THOMAS!
2023 JEREMY BYWATER earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Region distinction for the 2025 NCAA Division III season! Congrats, Jeremy, on this huge accomplishment!
2024 We love to see our alums getting
2025 CATHERINE FEIRA, OLIVIA LONG,
JULIA BRESSIE, J YIM 2022, and JACK ZHANG 2022 enjoyed a Thacher x Stanford University x Santa Clara University dinner in January.
The Class of 2025 has impressed us with staying in touch! MARGOT EDWARDS, ELINA CHEN, DANICA HERNANDEZ, MEDINA YUSUF, SUKARI FRAIN, LANCE JIN-NGO, and GEORGE DANIEL enjoyed a shared dinner together in New York over Martin Luther King Jr. Day break.
together to share a meal. Here are some of our Chicago GOLD alumni: ALEX NOH 2022, NATALIE CHENG 2022, MARGARET ZHANG, ROBINSON TONG, STEVEN CHEN, RYAN HE 2025, and CYRUS LEUNG 2022.
OLIVIA THOMAS shares with us, “I joined the varsity rowing team, I have been DJing on the side, and have been working with a lot of alumni advancement/development lately! I currently serve as a Student Philanthropy Ambassador, which consists of similar work to being an Alumni & Development Head at Thacher!” JITARI QALANDAR just started a new job as a field researcher for the Cal Poly Strawberry Center!
ADRIANNE GONZALES is interning at the Field Station at Bard College and discovering his new interest in the sciences. He shares, “We have the Eel Project in Upstate New York, a hands-on research [program], and we are monitoring the eel population in New York State, especially during the spring season!”
IN MEMORIAM FORMER FACULTY Peggy Chase Margaret “Peggy” Spencer Chase (1945–2023) was a lifelong friend of Thacher: a faculty daughter, faculty wife, honorary member of CdeP 1962, alumni Reunion attendee, devoted mother and grandmother, counselor, and fiercely loyal friend. Peggy was the daughter of Newton and Elizabeth Chase. Her father, Newton Chase, served as Thacher’s fourth head of school, and Peggy grew up at Casa de Piedra during a period of significant change and growth for the School. Over her lifetime, she witnessed Thacher evolve through the leadership of six heads of school and saw the community expand through coeducation, increased diversity, service learning, campus reinvestment, and environmental stewardship. Though deeply immersed in Thacher’s traditions and values from an early age, Peggy herself was not permitted to attend the School, as girls were still sent away after the 9th grade during that era. After graduating from Smith College, she returned to Ojai to teach at OVS before marrying former faculty member Tim Carey. The couple later moved east, where Peggy earned her MSW from Boston College. Professionally, Peggy became known as one of the early pioneers in corporate social work, helping develop some of the country’s first workplace programs focused on alcoholism recovery and work-life balance. In later years, she worked as a corporate trainer while balancing family life between Ojai, Colorado, and the East Coast. Throughout her life, Peggy lived the Thacher values she learned so early in life. She spoke out fearlessly about wrongs and injustice. She lent a ready ear and gave help to anyone in need. She was also known to break into dance at any moment in the long, flowing, colorful skirts for which she was known. In short, as did many before her, Peggy believed in and embodied Thacher’s values of “honor, fairness, kindness, and truth,” of “never leaving a comrade in the ranks,” and doing so “until the best one could do was all done.”
Les Larsen
Brian Patrick Driscoll
Leslie “Les” Larsen Jr., who served on the Thacher faculty from 1963 to 1968, passed away on February 18, 2024. Les arrived in the Ojai Valley during a decade of profound institutional and social change, ultimately serving as a vital bridge between the School’s traditional roots and its burgeoning social conscience.
A Thacher parent and former member of the Thacher development team, Brian passed away after a short illness on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. Brian was one-of-a-kind. Born in Boston to John Cornelius and Barbara Sullivan Driscoll, he grew up in West Roxbury with his siblings, Mark, Eileen, and Maura. From an early age, he found great satisfaction in work and in contribution; whether shoveling snow for neighbors who needed to dig out their cars, delivering papers, working at Charlie’s Candy Store, peddling the Swan Boats in Boston’s Public Garden, or raising funds for The Thacher School, he found joy and meaning in being useful.
Educated at the University of California and San Francisco Theological Seminary, Les came to Thacher from a pastorate in Oakland. This dual background in the sciences and the spirit defined his tenure. At Thacher, he was a rarity: a faculty member who could navigate the rigors of the chemistry laboratory with the same dexterity he brought to senior philosophy seminars and his leadership in the school chapel. Les is perhaps most significantly remembered for his leadership of the “Open Future” program. Initiated in 1967, the program was Thacher’s first major step toward inclusivity, bringing students from underserved areas of Los Angeles to the campus. To Les, this was not merely an administrative duty, but a spiritual mandate to open the gates of the School to a broader world. In a moving tribute, his former colleague and friend Edgardo Catalan reflected on the specific, quiet strength Les brought to a campus that was often insulated from the cultural shifts of the 1960s: “He was a very kind human being ... I remember him in a Christmas service in the chapel; it was very moving. He had a Bible on the pulpit, but inside the Bible he had a poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and he read it to all the faculty. He was very much aware of the circumstances.” Catalan further noted that Les was a “sensible man” who believed deeply in the power of the arts and human connection. He recalled their collaboration during the summer programs, noting that Les “valued the arts as a very important factor in the education of those kids.” After leaving Thacher in 1968, Les and his wife, Nancy, continued their life’s work in education and social service, with Les serving as head of school at Westridge School in Pasadena and later working in Canada, El Salvador, and Seattle. Les Larsen’s legacy at Thacher remains in the “Open Future” he helped imagine: a school more deeply connected to the world and more compassionate toward the diverse experiences of others. He is remembered by his former students and colleagues as a man who found no contradiction between the laboratory and the pulpit, and who taught a generation of Thacher students that a life of the mind is incomplete without a life of service.
Relationships were the cornerstones of Brian’s life. He was a fiercely devoted friend, an exceptionally proud father of Liam Driscoll CdeP 2013 and Owen Driscoll CdeP 2015, and a loving and supportive husband to his wife of 35 years, Monique DeVane, who also worked at Thacher as our assistant head for external affairs. Brian understood the importance of showing up in good times and bad; he was never happier than when he was giving to others, often in unexpected and perfectly timed ways. A talented chef and enthusiastic gardener, Brian seemed to know when extra care or encouragement was needed and would often arrive with a special meal or orchid—sometimes both. Brian dedicated much of his adult life to providing opportunities for others so that they too could benefit from the types of people and places that changed his own life. Whether helping students, parents, alumni, colleagues—or just a friend of a friend who needed a hand—he listened deeply and responded with compassion and genuine care. Brian especially valued his years coaching basketball, running summer programs at Golden Trout, and advising students, during which he encouraged countless young people to discover their talents and find paths on which they could thrive. Brian inspired goodness and generosity and will be remembered for his warmth, perfectly sourced gifts, storytelling, and the many moments of love and care he brought to the lives of those around him. His keen humor, exuberance for life, and generous spirit will be dearly missed and will stay in our hearts forever.
The Thacher School 49
IN MEMORIAM ALUMNI Brewster Knight CdeP 1954 We recently learned from his brother, Louis Knight CdeP 1954, of the passing of R. Brewster Knight CdeP 1954 in November 2025. While at Thacher, Brewster was known as both a standout athlete and a larger-thanlife personality. His yearbook captured the humor and energy he brought to campus life, including his familiar morning refrain: “Has the Walker rung?” Together, Brewster and Louis became well known on campus for their humor, impersonations, and spirited presence around school life. Brewster excelled athletically during his years at Casa de Piedra. He earned his “A” letter in track during his sophomore year, starred in soccer and baseball, and served as captain of the First Baseball Team his senior year. He was also active in student leadership as a school prefect, member of Student Council, Notes Board member, and vice president of Letterman’s Club. Beyond athletics, Brewster was known for his creativity and curiosity, including his role as head of “Knight and Co. Glassblowers,” a fittingly colorful detail for someone remembered with such affection by classmates. After graduating from Williams College, where he majored in English, Brewster married Stephany Frank in 1958 and returned to California to begin his teaching career at La Jolla Country Day School. His years at Thacher left a lasting impression on him, and California remained close to his heart throughout his life. Teaching became the foundation for a life defined by learning, travel, and intellectual curiosity. Though initially trained in the humanities, Brewster later earned master’s and doctoral degrees in mathematics at Georgetown University. During his doctoral studies, he worked with NASA developing mathematical equations related to Polaris missile trajectories. Following teaching appointments at Georgetown and Catholic University in Washington, D.C., Brewster and Stephany returned to California, where he spent much of his career teaching mathematics at Chadwick School in Palos Verdes. Later in life, Brewster taught at the American College in Paris and used France as a base for extensive travels throughout Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. Even in retirement in Washington, D.C., he continued traveling and mentoring former students, many of whom credited him with inspiring their curiosity and lifelong love of learning.
50 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
Brewster is survived by his son, Cameron Winfield Knight; grandsons, Christopher José Knight and Brice Vincent Knight; and brothers, Eliot Spaulding Knight, Christopher Ridgway Knight, and Louis Aston Knight CdeP 1954.
Bruce Oxley CdeP 1954
Oxley CdeP 1978, and his beloved wife, Carol Oxley. He is survived by his son, David Oxley CdeP 1979; daughters, Jill Souto-Maior CdeP 1980 (Luiz) and Rachel Oxley CdeP 1989 (Dan); grandchildren, Will Oxley CdeP 2005 (Andrea), Sondra Haro CdeP 2009 (Denys), Kristina Souto-Maior, Austin Souto-Maior, and Taylor Eaton; and great-grandchildren, Amelia Haro, Lydia Haro, and Nash Oxley. Bruce will be remembered for his integrity and quiet strength, deep knowledge of horses, dedication to teaching, and unwavering commitment to his family. His legacy lives on through his children, grandchildren, students, and all who were fortunate enough to have learned from him—whether in the saddle or in life.
Michael Lawrence CdeP 1956
Bruce Norton Oxley was born on June 26, 1936, in New York City. He spent his early childhood in Darien, Connecticut, until the age of nine, when he moved with his parents to Rancho Santa Fe, California—a move that would shape the course of his life. At a young age, Bruce began taking riding lessons, igniting a lifelong love of horses that became central to both his career and identity. At Thacher, his horsemanship skills and deep respect for horses flourished through the Horse Program. He later attended the University of California, Davis, where he met the love of his life, Carol Lou Crowl. Bruce and Carol were married in Sacramento on September 19, 1959, and shared 64 devoted years of marriage marked by partnership, hard work, and love. Together they built a life rooted in family, ranching, and education. Following college, Bruce managed a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley for five years before moving his growing family to Etna, California. There, Bruce and Carol purchased a ranch and raised their three children: David Oxley CdeP 1979 (born 1961), Jill Oxley Souto-Maior CdeP 1980 (born 1962), and Rachel Oxley CdeP 1989 (born 1971). Ranch life, raising registered Herefords, and working with horses suited Bruce well, allowing him to combine his passion for horses with the values of perseverance, stewardship, and family. In 1976, Bruce took a sabbatical from ranching and moved his family to Ojai, California, where he returned to The Thacher School—this time as the head of the horse program from 1976 to 1978, and again from 1984 to 1991. Bruce taught horsemanship to generations of students, passing on not only riding skills, but also lessons in responsibility, patience, and respect for animals which he continued to impart to others throughout his life. Bruce was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, his daughter-in-law, Marganne Winter
We recently learned the news of the passing of Michael Anthony Lawrence CdeP 1956 in 2025. At Thacher, Mike developed an early interest in mechanics and spent much of his time in the school’s machine shop, rebuilding engines and working on automobiles and motorcycles. He was noted for his hands-on approach and enthusiasm for mechanical work. In addition to these pursuits, he was active in athletics, serving as manager of the First Baseball Team and participating in soccer and gymkhana. He was also involved in the art studio. Mike is remembered by his classmates and the Thacher community.
Lewis Marsten CdeP 1959 Lewis Alfred Marsten Jr. CdeP 1959, known to many as “Big Lew,” passed away after a life marked by humor, storytelling, music, and deep connections to family and friends. Born in San Francisco on November 8, 1941, to Marion Woerner and Lewis A. Marsten Sr., Lew grew up in Sea Cliff overlooking Baker Beach. He
attended Town School for Boys before coming to Thacher, and later continued his studies at the University of Arizona. While at Thacher, Lew became known for his energy, humor, and broad involvement in campus life. A talented runner and track captain, he competed in soccer and track while also participating in Glee Club, Octet, quartet performances, the Art Board, Indoor Committee, and student activities across campus. His yearbook captured the larger-than-life personality classmates remembered so well, describing his booming presence, humor, and memorable saxophone performances. Even then, friends recognized his gift for storytelling and entertaining a crowd. Lew’s love of speed and competition extended beyond school. Summers spent at Lake Tahoe led to hydroplane racing and eventually to a lifelong passion for thoroughbred horse racing and breeding, with horses competing successfully at Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows, and Santa Anita racetracks. Professionally, Lew worked for more than fifty years as a financial advisor in San Francisco. Outside of work, he was a classically trained pianist whose love of Chicago blues and performers like Muddy Waters could quickly transform a gathering into a lively singalong. Historian Kevin Starr once remarked that Lew possessed “one of the greatest voices in California,” a fitting tribute to someone remembered as much for his storytelling and conversation as for his accomplishments. Lew was also a longtime member of The Olympic Club, served as Commodore of the Tahoe Yacht Club, and spent many summers at the Bohemian Grove among close friends. Above all, Lew valued family. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ursula; his children and extended family; grandchildren; brothers, David CdeP 1962 and A.P.; and many lifelong friends. His stories, humor, and unmistakable voice will be remembered by generations who knew him.
Richard Spaulding CdeP 1959
strings drifting from his dorm room and described him as “a connoisseur of fine arts” who spent his time playing tennis, reading, discussing politics and philosophy, and listening to Elvis Presley records. He also participated in soccer, track, Glee Club, Chess Ladder, and Outdoor Reading. After Thacher, Dick enlisted in the United States Air Force and served in Vietnam. Upon returning home, he worked a season with the U.S. Forest Service fighting fires before attending UC Santa Barbara, where he earned a degree in history. He later moved to the Bay Area and pursued a law degree from Golden Gate Law School in San Francisco. Dick remained deeply engaged with the outdoors and the arts throughout his life. He was an accomplished guitar player, avid rockhound, and amateur astronomer. A longtime member of MIRA, he enjoyed trips to Fremont Peak and Chews Ridge to study the night sky. He also loved sports cars, especially Bugeye Sprites and Alfa Romeos, and spent many hours exploring back roads, ghost towns, and old mining sites throughout California. He is survived by his sisters, Carole Marks, Judy Hooper, Shayala Diamond, and Anne Basile, and by his brother, Steve Spaulding. He is remembered by classmates and family alike for his intellect, individuality, and enduring curiosity about the world around him.
Wilbur “Rob” Bailey CdeP 1961 We recently learned the news of the passing of Wilbur “Rob” Bailey CdeP 1961 in 2024. Rob brought an easygoing personality, adventurous spirit, and wide-ranging interests to his years at Thacher.
Richard “Dick” Frederick Spaulding CdeP 1959 passed away on December 16, 2023, at his home in Prunedale, California. He was 82.
While at Thacher, Rob participated in soccer, baseball, and gymkhana, and was active in organizations including Bit and Spur Club, Silver Dollar Club, Mop and Broom, Indoor Committee, Library Committee, and the Thacher Letterman’s Club. He competed on both the varsity baseball and varsity basketball teams and received a citizenship commendation during his time at school.
Born in Palo Alto on May 14, 1941, Dick grew up in Carmel and attended Sunset School and Robert Louis Stevenson before coming to Thacher. While at Thacher, he was known for his wide-ranging interests, curiosity, and love of music. His yearbook remembered the sound of guitar
His yearbook captured the atmosphere classmates associated with him: music drifting from his dorm room, surf magazines and travel posters scattered nearby, and conversations that could move easily from surfing and travel to school life and friendships. A dedicated surfer and outdoorsman, Rob brought a distinctly California energy to campus life during the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Following Thacher, Rob attended Stanford University. He remains part of the shared memories and friendships of the Thacher community.
Douglas Steel CdeP 1964 Dr. Douglas Lowell Steel CdeP 1964, a pioneer in ophthalmic surgery, passed away peacefully at his home near Charlottesville, Virginia, on April 19, 2026, at the age of 79, surrounded by his family. Born at Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C., Doug was the son of Dr. Lowell Frank Steel and Claudia (Williamson) Steel. At Thacher, Doug quickly became known for his broad involvement across nearly every aspect of school life. He served as a prefect, head waiter, chairman of the Rules Committee, and chairman of FACE, while participating in Debate Club, Camera Club, Mock & Broom, and student government activities. Athletics also played a major role in his years at Casa de Piedra. He competed in soccer, basketball, swimming, tennis, baseball, and track, captaining the J.V. basketball team and competing on the varsity tennis team. Doug’s classmates described him as someone equally comfortable organizing dorm life, debating school issues, competing on the athletic field, or photographing campus events. His classmates also remembered his “easy-going, smiling attitude” and the many friendships he formed during his four years at Thacher. After graduating, Doug attended the University of California, Berkeley, before earning his medical degree from the University of Southern California in 1972. He completed his internship at LAC+USC Medical Center and his residency in ophthalmology at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Professionally, Dr. Steel became an influential figure in the development of modern ophthalmic surgery. He served as an investigator in the landmark PERK study and was among the early surgeons to bring refractive and intraocular lens techniques into clinical practice. Over the course of his career, he served as clinical associate professor of ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine, chief of ophthalmology at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, and medical director of St. Vincent’s Eye Surgery Institute. In 2004, Doug moved from Los Angeles to Virginia, where he entered a quieter chapter focused on teaching and mentorship. He lectured regularly at The Thacher School 51
IN MEMORIAM the University of Virginia School of Medicine and remained active in golf, history, and community life. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Viktoria; his son, Tyler; daughter-in-law, Nicole; and grandsons, Henri Tyler and Andrew Christian.
Richard Grinnell CdeP 1965 Richard “Rich” S. Grinnell CdeP 1965, a fighter pilot, architect, and teacher, is remembered for a life defined by skill, creativity, leadership, and enduring friendship. He passed away after a remarkable life of service and accomplishment. Born in San Mateo, California, to Lawrence and Marian Grinnell, Rich attended Thacher where he distinguished himself across academics, athletics, music, and student leadership. He served as president of Masquers for two years, vice president of the Glee Club, and participated in the Honeytones, Art Board, El Archivero Board, Indoor Committee, and Mop & Broom. A talented athlete, he played varsity soccer and was remembered as a strong fullback on the field. His yearbook described him as someone whose “outstanding bass voice” anchored both Glee Club and the Honeytones, while also noting his willingness “to help a faculty member or student in any way he could.” Rich remained close with many classmates throughout his life, reflecting the enduring friendships formed during his years at Casa de Piedra. After Thacher, Rich attended Trinity College, where he majored in art and math before embarking on a distinguished career in the United States Air Force. First in his pilot training class and among the first ten pilots selected to fly the F-16, he helped shape a new generation of fighter aviation. Over the course of his career, he flew the F-106, F-4, and F-16 and served in assignments across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Colleagues remembered his calm leadership, precision, and high standards. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Rich earned a master’s degree in architecture and later taught architecture, sustainability, and solar design at St. Petersburg College in Florida. His work combined technical rigor with artistic vision, qualities visible even during his years at Thacher. Music, faith, and community remained central throughout his life. Whether singing in church choirs, 52 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
mentoring students, designing sacred spaces, or reconnecting with classmates, Rich approached life with warmth, humor, and generosity. He is survived by his wife, Lynn; his children Matthew, Tracy, and Ann; his sister, Betsy; his brother, Eytan; and extended family and friends across the country. He was preceded in death by his daughter Robin.
David Wray CdeP 1970 David Bryant Wray CdeP 1970 passed away peacefully on November 11, 2025, at the age of 73, with his wife, Ellen Benoit, by his side. A cancer survivor, he died from complications related to his treatment. Born in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Dr. Joe and Beth Wray, David spent much of his childhood abroad as his father worked in international pediatric and maternal health in Turkey, Colombia, and Thailand. Those early experiences shaped a lifelong curiosity about history, culture, religion, and people. His family shared a love of travel and exploration that remained central throughout David’s life. While at Thacher in the late 1960s, David developed many of the interests that would stay with him throughout his life, including travel, reading, spirited conversation, and a deep engagement with the wider world. He later attended Lawrence University in Wisconsin, where he designed an interdisciplinary major focused on tradition and modernity in the developing world. Following graduation, he traveled extensively throughout Latin America and beyond, often seeking out local culture and conversation wherever he went. David built a long career in publishing and financial journalism in New York, working as a copy editor and editor for publications including Forbes, Fortune, Financial World, Institutional Investor, and others. Colleagues respected his precision, intellect, and determination to get the facts right. He was particularly proud of his work on On the Brink, former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s account of the 2008 financial crisis. In 1988, David met fellow journalist Ellen Benoit during an editorial disagreement over word usage while both were working at Financial World. They married four years later and built a life centered around books, travel, cooking, and close friendships. David was an avid reader, passionate cook, body surfer, soccer fan, and enthusiastic traveler. In 1996, he and Ellen settled in Hope, New Jersey, where
The Archie M. Look Memorial Fund Established by a gift from the estate of Archibald M. Look CdeP 1964 Archibald M. Look CdeP 1964 spent his life connecting cultures, countries, and communities. His early years in Tokyo, where he attended a Japanese school as the only non-Japanese student in his class, sparked a lifelong appreciation for cross-cultural understanding. That global perspective shaped his service in Okinawa during the Vietnam War and carried through his decades-long career in Japan’s high-tech sector. Wherever he went, Archie brought warmth, intelligence, and cultural fluency to every interaction. Archie’s years at Thacher were foundational. Known for his horsemanship, leadership in student government, and love of music, he embodied the values of Honor, Fairness, Kindness, and Truth. He remained closely connected to Thacher throughout his life, attending reunions and keeping in touch with classmates around the world. Using a life insurance policy, Archie made a provision in his estate that established the Archie M. Look Memorial Fund—an unrestricted fund that honors Archie’s legacy by supporting programs and priorities that reflect the values he held dear: curiosity, global citizenship, and connection. The fund is open to additional contributions from family and friends and will continue to serve the School wherever the need is greatest.
they enjoyed country life and a close-knit circle of longtime friends. He is survived by his wife, mother, siblings, nieces, nephews, and many friends around the world.
Lars R. Shirey CdeP 1975 Lars Shirey CdeP 1975, whose motto was often “the life of Lars, always interesting,” is remembered by friends and classmates for his curiosity, humor, adventurous spirit, and gift for conversation. He passed away in January 2026. Raised in the Lake Forest area outside Chicago, Lars was a nationally ranked junior tennis player and among the early students coached by tennis legend Nick Bollettieri before the founding of his famed academy. While at Thacher, Lars was known as a strong tennis player and was well liked by classmates and faculty alike. Returning to campus for the CdeP 1975 Fiftieth Reunion last summer became an especially meaningful milestone for Lars. Friends recalled that attending the Reunion had been a personal goal during his later health struggles, and after the weekend, he spoke often about reconnecting with classmates and returning to Casa de Piedra. One friend remembered that on the drive back to Los Angeles, “he spoke of nothing else.” After Thacher, Lars attended both Vassar College and the Culinary Institute of America before traveling extensively throughout Europe, where he competed on the international tennis circuit and spent time in the South of France playing professional backgammon. Friends remember the remarkable stories that emerged from those years abroad, stories Lars was always eager to share during the marathon phone conversations for which he became known. Back in the United States, Lars built careers in both hospitality and technology, working in restaurants and bars in Houston, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York before transitioning into information technology. He later managed major projects for a division of Cendant based in Denver. Lars approached life with enthusiasm and curiosity, whether discussing cooking, travel, business ideas, or the latest gadget he was tinkering with. Friends also remember the affection he held for his daughters, Erica and Jannine, and the resilience and dignity with which he faced serious health challenges later in life.
After retiring to Breckenridge, Lars spent his final years in Newport Beach battling terminal lung disease. He is survived by his daughters, Erica and Jannine; sister, Eva; and brothers, Eric CdeP 1979 and John-Eric.
Thomas Roupe CdeP 1983 Thomas Allen Roupe CdeP 1983 passed away on January 25, 2026, in Houston, Texas. He was born on April 18, 1963, in San Jose, California. Tom grew up in Saratoga, California, before coming to Thacher, where classmates remembered his individuality, humor, and creative spirit. His yearbook reflected wideranging interests that included music, literature, friendship, art, and athletics, including soccer and baseball. Like many students of his era, he brought an independent energy to campus life and formed friendships that remained important throughout his life. After Thacher, Tom attended Stanford University, graduating in 1987 with a degree in art history that reflected his lifelong appreciation for art, architecture, and travel. He later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1993. While at Stanford, he spent a semester studying in Florence, deepening an interest in museums and visual culture that stayed with him throughout his life. A fifth-generation Californian, Tom loved the outdoors and remained active throughout his life. He enjoyed surfing, tennis, golf, pickleball, water polo, lacrosse, and baseball, and was an enthusiastic supporter of his local sports teams wherever he lived. Professionally, Tom built a successful career in finance and business, working with companies including Apple, Xerox, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, Aqueduct Capital, Avalon Capital, and Corient. He was also deeply involved in civic and nonprofit work in Houston, serving on boards and leadership groups connected to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Museum of Fine Arts, The Texas Heart Institute, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Rice University, and Alley Theatre. Friends and family remember Tom for his generosity, curiosity, humor, and deep loyalty to the people closest to him. He especially enjoyed time spent traveling, barbecuing, solving crosswords, playing cards, and gathering with family and friends. Tom is survived by his wife, Jessica; his children, Georgia Louise and Jack Thomas; his mother, Barbara Doyle Roupe; his sister, Julie Exley; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father, George Allen Roupe.
Bjorn Lynge CdeP 2018 Bjorn Wester Lynge CdeP 2018, a gentle soul who met the world with curiosity and delighted in its ironies, passed away on December 2, at the age of 26. In his final years, Bjorn proved that for him the word “writer” was not merely a profession but a character—a type of person possessing incredible sensitivity matched by an uncommon fearlessness and keen eye for life’s humor. Though an exceedingly polite soul who often found quiet refuge in reading and writing, Bjorn was an athlete and a mischievous prankster remembered fondly for his laughter—a natural bohemian in the vein of many writers before him. At the foundation of Bjorn’s literary talent lay a rare, if not utterly unique, constitution. There was something wild about him. Yet seldom has so much wildness been so deeply enmeshed in such acute sensitivity. During his childhood on Vashon Island, Bjorn’s penchant for perusing dictionaries and encyclopedias was famous among his teachers and friends. As his years gained on his vocabulary, Bjorn’s gifts matured into virtues, and his inquisitiveness expanded and affixed itself to those around him. There emerged in him an ability to neutralize the most awkward silence by asking a question so uncannily specific that it conveyed a certain reverence for its recipient, whose mind lay thus exposed like a vast library down whose corridors Bjorn had by chance been wandering. He also possessed the inborn ability to soften the mood of a room merely upon entering, and to cause it to erupt with laughter seemingly by doing nothing at all. Bjorn’s early love for classic literature made him no less worldly or stylish to his friends, whom he frequently inspired with both his effortless charm and eclectic taste in photography and music. A skilled soccer player, Bjorn was also enthusiastic about lacrosse, basketball, and surfing. His teammates at Thacher describe how on the field or court, Bjorn’s peaceful demeanor would develop into a competitive fire that was contagious to all those playing with him. As Bjorn matured, his strength and love for sport only accentuated his sensitivity. After graduating from Thacher, Bjorn enrolled at Colorado College in 2018. He studied English with a focus in creative writing, while his curiosity also led him to classes in philosophy, history, and literature. Bjorn was greatly admired by his classmates for his writing ability, and he found immediate recognition among his instructors for his literary potential. Although he offered keen critiques sparingly during class—often preserving his voice for witty interjections—his silent contributions via his writing The Thacher School 53
IN MEMORIAM were heard and felt immensely, and he found a comfortable place in the college’s literary magazine. Like his favorite authors, Bjorn’s writing eschewed florid displays for a refined authorial voice that was simultaneously wry and delicate. Though often philosophical and contemplative, his literary explorations unanimously built up to moments of explosive depth and clarity in which his personal awe at the world and its inhabitants—however flawed they might be—was undeniable, and proved his constant attention to and love for the small, almost imperceptible peculiarities of life. Beyond the classroom, Bjorn was valued deeply by his friends for his irony, insight, and, above all, his ability to listen attentively and sensitively both in times of cheer and when his friends were troubled. Between skateboarding and intramural soccer, Bjorn unconsciously won affection from others with his coy humor and spartan lifestyle, finding a mattress on the floor perfectly acceptable so long as he had access to the art—and people—he loved. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 2022, Bjorn’s creativity eventually took him to his ancestral home of Denmark, where he spent an autumn studying songwriting in the style of Bob Dylan and matched his voice to a six-string guitar. Upon his return, Bjorn vacillated between the East and West coasts, often with nothing more than a duffel bag and volumes of poetry and psychology, all the while pursuing the art of writing as was true to his nature. He found residence in Brooklyn, Seattle, and Boston before his passing in late 2025. Bjorn is survived by his mother, Martha Johnson, and his sister, Claire Lynge CdeP 2021. He is predeceased by his father, Dana Lynge CdeP 1974. Those who have known him will sing his song for years to come, and while his spirit frequently found fine expression through his pen, it was no less finely expressed through his life as son, brother, and friend.
PAST TRUSTEES Joan Kemper Joan Stover Kemper, a longtime Ojai community leader and former Thacher trustee, passed away peacefully at her home in Oak View, California, on February 26, 2026, at the age of 103. Born on December 8, 1922, in Chicago, Illinois, Joan was raised in Evanston and educated at Roycemore School, Sweet Briar College, and Northwestern
54 Spring/Summer spring/summer 2026
University, where she studied theater. Her early interest in the arts would remain a defining thread throughout her life. Joan lived in Illinois, Colorado, and California, building a career in public relations, marketing, and theater. After raising her children, she embarked on what a friend later described as a “reincarnation” as a Colorado cattle rancher, operating a horse and cattle ranch in Silt for a decade before returning to California and settling in the Ojai Valley in 1985. While discussing this decision with her sonin-law, Hal Lewis CdeP 1969, he made an off-handed comment that he thought she would like Ojai and should consider moving to the Ojai Valley. Little did either of them know what a perfect fit it would be for both Joan and Ojai. In Ojai, Joan became deeply involved in civic and cultural life. She served as executive director of the Ojai Music Festival and contributed to numerous organizations, including the Ojai Film Society, the Ojai Playwrights Conference, HELP of Ojai, the Ojai Valley Museum, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, and the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, which she helped establish in the mid-1990s. She also played a role in launching the “BRAVO” program, bringing music to local schoolchildren, and supported a wide range of community projects throughout the valley. In 2004, she founded Ojai Performing Arts Theater, which for more than two decades produced plays, musicals, and performances benefiting local nonprofits. Joan maintained a strong and lasting connection to Thacher. As Neal Howe CdeP 1969 P ‘13 recalled, “Even then, Joan carried herself with a rare warmth and grace … generous with her time, deeply wise, and unfailingly welcoming.” As a trustee and friend to many, she understood “how meaningful those Toad years could be for a family,” and remained closely connected to generations of students and alumni. Visits to campus and to Ojai often included time with Joan, whose hospitality and presence became a tradition for many. Howe described her as “a force of nature; spirited, generous, and endlessly engaged,” noting that she “made people feel seen, welcomed, and cared for.” These qualities defined her relationships across the Thacher community and beyond. Joan is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is remembered for her leadership, her advocacy for the arts, and the enduring impact she had on the Ojai Valley and the Thacher community.
Marilyn Christine Wallace Marilyn Christine Wallace, 75, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones on January 31, 2026. She attended Long Beach Polytechnic and studied history and music at UCLA. While there she met her late husband, Bruce Edwin Wallace. They went on to raise four children:
Elizabeth CdeP 1996, Benjamin CdeP 1999, Nathan CdeP 2002, and Alissa CdeP 2004. The couple settled in Ojai in 1991, and Marilyn became deeply involved with Thacher as each of her four children attended the School. She and Bruce advocated for and supported Gallia Vickery as she built the School’s fledgling dance program; working with Elizabeth Bowman and Mary Loney, Marilyn volunteered tirelessly in the library; she and Bruce served on the board as parent association chairs for the 2001-2002 school year; and they were even brave enough to host the unofficial post-graduation party in 1999, the year Benjamin graduated. Marilyn was widowed in 2002 when Bruce died in a tragic paragliding accident. She met her second husband, Maurice Chasse, while serving on the board of directors for the Ojai Shakespeare Festival. Marilyn loved the community of Ojai and often commented that even after more than 30 years, she still stopped in awe to take in the beauty of the Pink Moment. Over the years, she supported community enrichment projects including the Ojai Shakespeare Festival, the Ojai Music Festival, the new Libbey Bowl, and the local skate park. She loved literature and music, and was proud of her volunteer work with various Ojai arts institutions and the Thacher Library. Later in life, she became an avid world traveler, journeying to Machu Picchu, Petra, Nepal, and Bhutan. In her final years, she found delight in birdwatching, her garden, and spending time with her grandchildren. One of Marilyn’s proudest moments in her later life was seeing her eldest grandchild, Chris Wallace-France, matriculate at Thacher in 2022, becoming the fifth Wallace to attend the School. She wanted nothing more than to see Chris graduate with the Class of 2026—she would have been so proud. Their Grammy was in Chris’ thoughts as they delivered the benediction at the end of the ceremony. Marilyn is survived by Maurice, her four children, their partners, and eight grandchildren—with a ninth on the way.
SCALING POSSIBILITY WHEN PHOEBE BARKAN CDEP 2003 STOOD BENEATH THE LIGHTS OF SEOUL’S OLYMPIC PARK, PREPARING TO CLIMB AT THE IFSC PARA CLIMBING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS,THE MOMENT FELT SURREAL. The Thacher School 55
T
housands of miles from home, wearing a Team USA uniform and competing against the world’s best para climbers, Barkan found herself reflecting less on medals and more on the path that had brought her there.
“Five years ago, I never would have identified as an athlete,” she says. “I certainly never imagined I’d be traveling internationally with my family for sport climbing.” By the end of the competition, Barkan had earned a silver medal in her first-ever World Championships appearance. Yet for her, the experience was about far more than standing on the podium. It was about connection, creativity, and the adaptive climbing community that transformed a lifelong hobby into a calling.
To prepare, we create scenarios that are uncomfortable ... I do my best to stay calm and climb efficiently through them.” — P H O E B E B A R K A N C D E P 20 03
“I was just pretty excited to climb some amazing routes and connect with fellow adaptive climbing friends that I’ve met on the circuit,” she says. Barkan, who is partially blind, competes with a caller, a sighted climbing partner who communicates from the ground while she climbs. In para climbing for blind and low vision athletes—the only discipline in the sport that is team-based—the partnership is essential. Together, climber and caller develop a shared language and strategy to navigate routes neither athlete has seen up close before competition begins. “My caller needs to know my climbing style, and my visual deficits, so they can give me the most useful beta,” Barkan explains. “We develop a shared language to describe the holds so they’re easier to remember and reference. Sometimes we name them after foods—lemons, baguettes, croissants ...” The system is equal parts technical and imaginative. Before climbing, the pair studies the route from the ground, anticipating difficult body positions and sequences so Barkan can mentally visualize movements she cannot fully 56 spring/summer 2026
see. During competition, climbers only get one attempt at each route, which progresses in difficulty. They are scored based on the highest handhold controlled before falling or exceeding the six-minute time limit. “The routesetters are testing more than physical strength,” she says. “They want to see who can stay strategic, curious, and creative when things don’t go as planned.” That mindset—remaining calm in uncomfortable situations—has become central to Barkan’s training. Physically, she spends hours climbing, strength training, and conditioning her fingers. Mentally, she practices uncertainty itself. “To prepare, we create scenarios that are uncomfortable,” she says. “I do my best to stay calm and climb efficiently through them.”
COMFORT THROUGH COMMUNITY Long before international competitions, Barkan was simply a kid who loved scrambling outdoors. “If rock hopping across a creek were a sport,” she jokes, “that would totally be my sport.” She first tried indoor climbing at a birthday party when she was eight years old and was instantly hooked. Through her time at Thacher and college, she climbed recreationally outdoors, but it remained just one part of a busy life. After a change in her career path that took her away from teaching at a therapeutic garden program, Barkan found herself missing the disability-centric spaces and community. Her search led her to an adaptive climbing group at a local gym. “Even though I’d been climbing for years, I’d never known other climbers with disabilities or considered using adaptive strategies,” she says. “I found comfort, empowerment, and community through this affinity space in a time when I really needed it.” The adaptive climbing community also reframed the sport itself. For Barkan, climbing is inherently flexible and personal—less about perfection and more about problem solving. “Everyone solves a rock problem in their own way, based on what’s physically and mentally available to them in that moment,” she says. “It can be so freeing because it requires complete focus. There’s no time to worry about work, errands, or the state of the world.” A close friend eventually convinced her to enter USA Climbing’s Para Climbing National Championships in 2023.
She earned a spot on Team USA, and suddenly the sport that once felt purely recreational became something much bigger. Still, balancing elite competition with everyday life remains her greatest challenge. Barkan lives in Berkeley with her husband, 13-year-old child, and dog. She also co-owns a landscape design and garden care company called Plant Stars. Most days involve some combination of work, training sessions, time with family, and moments of recovery. “I love the hustle of finishing up a work meeting and biking off to the gym to train before eating dinner with my family,” she says. While this balancing act can be challenging, she hopes her daughter sees something valuable in that pursuit. “It’s so easy to feel like I’m short-changing something: work, training, or family. When I miss my daughter, I remind myself that I’m a role model and it’s important to show her that I’m a multifaceted person.”
ROOTS OF RESILIENCE Looking back, Barkan sees clear connections between her current life and her years at Thacher. Cross country and backpacking taught endurance and resilience. The Horse Program instilled patience, kindness, and an appreciation for flow state. Even physics class still surfaces on the climbing wall. “I owe my understanding of vectors to Mr. Warren’s physics class, which is wildly useful in climbing,” she says. Now, as she prepares for the upcoming World Cup climbing season, Barkan is also helping expand access to the sport itself. Alongside Olympian Kyra Condie, she is building a directory of callers for blind and low-vision climbers in hopes of reducing barriers for newcomers and competitive athletes alike. “Anyone who loves climbing and talking about movement can be a caller,” she says. “There are no rules—just any system that two people come up with.” For current Thacher students considering unconventional paths, Barkan offers encouragement rooted in curiosity rather than certainty. “Pursuing what you love—what you fall asleep dreaming of—is nothing to be shy about,” she says. “Even if you don’t feel like you belong, exploring what is possible for you, no matter how tiny, might build momentum or break a barrier in an unexpected way.”
Pursuing what you love— what you fall asleep dreaming of— is nothing to be shy about.” — P H O E B E B A R K A N C D E P 20 03 The Thacher School 57
The Thacher School 5025 Thacher Road Ojai, CA 93023 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OXNARD, CA PERMIT NO. 1215
Marveling at Half Dome in Yosemite National Park during a spring EDT. Photo by Justin Ayala CdeP 2026.