Sundial Winter 2014

THE

SUN DIAL Winter 2014

The Magazine of The Ethel Walker School

Walker’s & Residential Life

New Dorm Opens • Belonging • Faculty & Innovation

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PUBLISHED BY The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 860.658.4467 | www.ethelwalker.org HEAD OF SCHOOL

Elizabeth C. Speers P’16

EDITORIAL BOARD DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Nan Flanagan ’93 CONTRIBUTORS

Jane Rae Bradford, Brock Dunn P’16, ’20, Nan Flanagan ’93, Kristin Flyntz, Leesa Lawson, Sarah Ludwig, Elyssa Michael, Sara Jane von Trapp, Bessie Speers P’16

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TAKE NOTE, OUT & ABOUT

Lisa Frisbie ’77, Cara Woods PROOFREADING

Nan Flanagan ’93, Kristin Flyntz, Katie Kelly, Leesa Lawson, Tom Speers P’16, Sara Jane von Trapp, Cara Woods PHOTOGRAPHY

Liss Couch Edwards ’07, Crystal Begleiter P’14, Nan Flanagan ’93, Kristin Flyntz, Lisa Frisbie ’77, Jill Harrington, Sheri Schmidt, Tom Speers P’16, Tyler Varsell, Cara Woods ADDRESS CLASS NOTES TO:

The Development Office The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road, Simsbury, CT 06070 Or submit via email to: alumnae@ethelwalker.org SEND ADDRESS AND EMAIL CHANGES TO:

alumnae@ethelwalker.org DESIGN

John Johnson Art Direction & Design

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PRINTING

Eastern Printing THE SUNDIAL MAGAZINE IS PRINTED WITH VEGETABLE BASED INKS ON FSC CERTIFIED 10% POST-CONSUMER FIBER CHLORINE-FREE PAPER STOCK.

22 19 The Ethel Walker School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origins in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other Schooladministered programs.

26 32 In This Issue 2

Message from the Head of School

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Note from the Chair of the Board of Trustees

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Walker’s Board of Trustees Meet Three Trustees

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Centennial Campaign Walker’s Hosts Ribbon Cutting for New Dorm

On the cover: Emmy Begleiter ’14

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Walker’s & Residential Life

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Belonging: The Power of Residential Life to Create Connections and Academic Success

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The New Dorm

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Dorm Parents and Their Favorites

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The Power of Community

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Bell Library: A Hub for Academics, Information and Culture

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Bell Library Café Gets a Makeover from Parents Association

20 Faculty & Innovation 20 Science Solves Mysteries

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20 Walker’s Takes 21st Century Learning to New Level with Grant from Edward E. Ford Foundation 21 Innovations in Brief 36 Alumnae News 22 On Campus & Beyond

36 Walker’s Out & About

22 Opening Days — Walker’s 102nd Year

40 Message from Alumnae Board President

23 Three Seniors Named National Merit Scholars 23 Walker’s Hosts NAIS President and Thought Leaders 24 Family Weekend 2013 25 Students Travel to the United Nations

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25 This Year’s Margaret Huling Bonz Women of Distinction Speaker

40 Alumnae Board 41

“Alumnae Perspectives Panel” Focuses on Tech, Engages Students with Tweets

42 Take Note Updates and News from Your Walker’s Classmates and Friends

26 Mountain Day 76 EWSPA News 27

Service Learning

28 Celebrating Holiday Traditions 31

Equestrian Update

From the Parents Association President 78 Walker’s in China

32 Athletics Gives Back 80 From the Archives 34 Annual Giving Update Fund for Walker’s: An Investment with Immediate and Tangible Returns

Inside Back Cover: Planned Giving Corner

WINTER 2014

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M E S S A G E

F R O M

T H E

H E A D

O F

This fall, Tom Speers and I traveled to

S C H O O L

Those who have been to China will

Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Dalian,

concur that the cities are immense,

and Beijing for Walker’s first trip to

intense, and fast-paced, making even

China. In preparation, our daughter, a

New York City seem like a small town. It

sophomore who is in her third year of

is no wonder our students from China

Mandarin, tried mightily to teach us

arrive in Simsbury and may at first feel

some simple phrases. Despite our

disoriented without the lights and

inability to master this melodious

ambiance of the big city. And it is no

language, we were greeted with

wonder that many of them gravitate to

extraordinary hospitality. While there is

the Starbucks in town (yes, there are

much to share about our trip, the single

Starbucks in China!) for the familiar feel

most inspiring element was the degree to

of home.

which education is so highly respected.

This value is deeply engrained in the Chinese culture in the most sincere and beautiful way. We were truly moved by the honor and respect that is accorded to education, teachers, and everything

Whether our students hail from near or far, Walker’s is, in addition to a place of learning, a home away from home.

What makes us feel at home? The poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “Home is where one starts from.” From our earliest moments, “home” is linked to a sense of safety and security, a place where our physical and emotional needs are met,

associated with schools. I wanted to

where we are seen and valued and cared

“bottle” this value, as the teachers in our

for. Whether our students hail from near

country, and certainly at Walker’s, deserve this same

or far, Walker’s is, in addition to a place of learning, a home

reverence and respect.

away from home.

Over the course of seven days, we visited with current

Part of what has ensured our success for more than 102

Walker’s parents, a few prospective students, and a school

years is our ability to lean into our founder’s vision of

with which we will form a partnership. Being a leading

creating a close-knit community where students and teachers

American girls’ boarding school requires that our students

learn about and from each other, in part by learning to live

receive a global education. This entails providing learning

together. And from here, our students step into life and

opportunities that take our students to far away places, as

leadership beyond Walker’s, equipped with a sense of both

well as attracting students from around the world. As a

community and self.

result, Walker’s entire community gains from diversity of thought, perspective, and experience.

Since 2007, Walker’s boarding enrollment has increased more than 32 percent. Our commitment to an “all in” residential life has never been stronger or more apparent—as evidenced by the new dormitory. While we currently have an excellent mix of 62 percent boarding and 38 percent day students, the School’s rhythms are guided by its commitment to a boarding school ethos. You can see from the sidebar on the next page, “From Dawn to Dusk at Walker’s,” that our residential life program is indeed robust.

Our choice to operate first and foremost as a boarding school is deliberate and intentional, and our residential philosophy benefits all of Walker’s students.

According to The Association of Boarding Schools

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(TABS), there are a number of advantages to a boarding school ethos: • Students are immersed in a setting that promotes the camaraderie of common experience, friendship among peers, and a trust and honesty with mentors and adults that endures for a lifetime.

• Statistics reveal that boarding school graduates, on average, attend the nation’s finest universities and arrive at college better prepared for both the academic rigor and social challenges that universities present.

• Boarding schools cultivate in students a “calibrated

Walker’s from Dawn to Dusk: A Student’s Perspective

independence” through an unparalleled setting for

I love living at Walker’s. All day, every day, we interact

learning how to live with and among peers, and

with our teachers and dorm parents in a variety of ways, so I feel they really know who I am: what I like, what I’m

provide countless teachable moments for mentors to

good at, when I need extra support or encouragement, or

reinforce the myriad lessons of both school and life.

just want to talk. And we have fun together, too—it’s a

Walker’s approach to residential life ensures that students learn independence, collaboration, organization, confidence, and compromise—all of which are critical to becoming a successful adult.

great feeling to know that I’m part of this community, which is really my family away from home.

We walk over to the School with our faculty dorm parents, and the entire community breakfasts in Abra’s Dining Hall.

Some of our dorm parents teach my morning classes,

Supporting this is an environment that is caring,

and when I go to Bell Library, Miss Ludwig, one of our

nurturing, and fun. Dinners at faculty homes, day

dorm parents and our Dean of Library and Digital

student-boarder exchanges, families hosting international

Services, is there to greet me.

students, students babysitting for faculty children—

The community comes together again for lunch. If it’s a Tuesday, I’ll have lunch with my advisor and fellow

all of these connections, and countless others,

advisees. This is the day we celebrate any birthdays at

contribute to our sense of community, and of home.

the School. I love when the dining hall erupts in “Happy

So, as the Chinese saying goes,

Birthday!” It’s loud and celebratory and really fun.

“欢迎来到沃克之家。这个世界属于你!” (“Welcome to your home at Walker’s. You matter here.”)

One of Walker’s most enduring hallmarks is our

Every Wednesday we have an all-School assembly in the chapel or Ferguson auditorium. We may hear from an amazing off-campus or alumnae speaker, or one of our clubs may give a special presentation. Wednesdays are game days in the afternoon. Students and faculty always

ability to equip girls academically and socially for college

come out to support our athletes with a lot of Wildcat

and life. We are fortunate to have a community that,

spirit on the courts and the fields.

like a microcosm of the best of Chinese culture, offers extraordinary hospitality and warmth alongside a deep respect for learning and education.

Thank you for your continued support. We are grateful for the many ways in which you continue to

During afternoon classes, I again see many of our faculty dorm parents.

Whether I’m playing a sport, or acting in a play, or playing in the orchestra, I’ll be coached or directed by a dorm parent or teacher.

Everyone reunites in Abra’s for dinner each evening, then study hall is from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Our dorm parent

invest your time, talent, and treasure in Walker’s

or proctor checks in on us regularly, providing assistance

students and faculty and … our home.

if we need it, and helping to ensure we stay focused.

Free time is from 9:00 to 9:45 p.m. If I’m not visiting friends, I’m usually with my dorm parent and other girls, watching TV, baking, or doing other fun things.

When it’s time for lights out, our dorm parent checks

Elizabeth C. Speers P’16 HEAD OF SCHOOL

in on each of us before saying goodnight.

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B O A R D

O F

T R U S T E E S

Note from the Chair of the Board of Trustees

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Walker’s community for your continued support and friendship. Due to several generous donations, we opened a new dormitory this past fall, and addressed multiple deferred maintenance issues while providing our students with a beautiful environment for learning and thriving. The campus has never looked so inviting and picturesque.

On the fundraising front, we have a Fund for Walker’s goal of $1.7 million for FY’14, which ends June 30, 2014. Many of you have already responded, and I thank you for being an integral part of our community. Your participation is essential and deeply appreciated.

Walker’s Centennial Campaign continues to progress. Phase II was completed with the new dorm and we now have our sights set on the rest of the Campaign, which includes building our endowment and also a transformational bricks and mortar component, the Centennial Center.

I hope you will plan a trip to campus this spring to enjoy Reunion Weekend, or during the summer when travel brings you to New England.

We would love to show you the Walker’s of today, and I know that you will be proud of your School.

I hope you will plan a trip to campus this spring to enjoy Reunion Weekend, or during the summer when travel brings you to New England.

Stuart M. Bell CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

2013-2014 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Stuart M. Bell

Renée Alexander P’13

Sarah Gates Colley ’75

Laura Mountcastle ’74

CHAIR DALLAS, PA

EX-OFFICIO PRESIDENT, PARENTS ASSOCIATION WILBRAHAM, MA

CROSS RIVER, NY

ANN ARBOR, MI

Sarah House Denby ’72

Amanda R. Pitman ’90

BARRINGTON, RI

EX-OFFICIO PRESIDENT, ALUMNAE BOARD NEW YORK, NY

Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’69 VICE CHAIR NEW YORK, NY

Lynn Allegaert ’64 EDGARTOWN, MA

Harriet Blees Dewey ’60, P’86

Elizabeth Sivage Clark ’67, P’04

Bruce Backman P’16, ’18

RIDGEFIELD, CT

TREASURER CHICAGO, IL

AVON, CT

Ann Fay Barry P’14 Christopher L. Brigham SECRETARY HAMDEN, CT

WOODSIDE, CA

Timothy R. Bazemore NEW CANAAN, CT

Kate Crichton Gubelmann ’67 PALM BEACH, FL

Spencer Lampert P’14

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Katharine O’Brien Rohn ’82 DARIEN, CT

GREENWICH, CT

Cythlen Cunningham Maddock ’63

Elizabeth C. Speers P’16

PALM BEACH, FL

HEAD OF SCHOOL SIMSBURY, CT

Lynn Sheppard Manger ’59

William Wrigley, Jr. P’14

NEW YORK, NY

CHICAGO, IL

Elizabeth Rockwell Cesare TRUSTEE EMERITA SOUTH NORWALK, CT

Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85 TRUSTEE EMERITA GREENWICH, CT

B O A R D

O F

T R U S T E E S

Meet Three Trustees Bruce Backman P’16, ’18

Laura Mountcastle ’74

Bruce Backman, father of Walker’s students Phoebe ’16, and Meredith ’18, is the Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer at KPMG. Bruce received his undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut and his M.B.A. from Cornell University. He resides in Avon, CT. An active member of the Walker’s community and loyal supporter of the School, Bruce has served as the Chair of the Parents’ Committee for the Fund for Walker’s since 2010.

Additionally, he has served for two years on the Board of Trustees’ Finance Committee, and most recently as a member of the Development Committee.

Laura Mountcastle ’74 joined Walker’s Board of Trustees in the fall of 2012.

A former Vice President of the Suns, she has kept in touch with her Walker’s friends and classmates, and is excited to be a part of the energy and momentum at Walker’s today. Previously the Vice President of Investor Relations and Treasurer for CMS Energy in Michigan, Laura currently serves on the board of a foundation that provides residential and educational opportunities to underserved children in Cambodia. She also volunteers at a Head Start pre-school outside Detroit, MI. Laura received her undergraduate degree from Trinity College and her M.B.A. from Yale University School of Management.

In her free time, Laura enjoys travel, skiing, biking, and golfing. She resides in Ann Arbor, MI.

Katharine “Kit” O’Brien Rohn ’82 Katharine “Kit” Rohn ’82 received her B.A. degree from Dartmouth College, with a major in visual studies and a minor in environmental studies.

Kit has worked for the National Audubon Society, Conservation International, where she was a founding member, and for Inform, an environmental research organization.

She was President of the Darien Audubon Society, volunteered at New Canaan Country School and with Darien High School’s Parent Association, and coached youth lacrosse and ice hockey. Today, Kit volunteers at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium, Audubon Connecticut, and serves on New Canaan Country School’s Alumni Council and the Parent Committee at Westminster School.

Kit served as Walker’s Class Representative from 1983 to 1984, as a member of the NAG Committee from 1987 to 1988, and on the Alumnae Board from 1994 to1995.

She is the sister of Caroline C. O’Brien ’84, and the daughter of Katharine S. O’Brien, a former Walker’s trustee who served on the National Campaign Council during the “One Vision, Many Voices” Campaign.

Kit is married to Robert “Rob” L. Rohn. They have two daughters, ages 22 and 20, and one son, age 17.

Residing in Darien, CT, Kit enjoys painting, bird watching, hiking with her three dogs, playing ice hockey and gardening.

Taylor Lampert ’14 with mini-horse Rio, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, and Board Chair Stuart Bell lead the School community to the new dorm ribbon cutting site.

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T H E C E N T E N N I A L C A M PA I G N F O R T H E E T H E L WA L K E R S C H O O L

Walker’s Hosts Ribbon Cutting for New Dorm Under bright blue skies on Friday, September 20, Walker’s faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumnae, and invited guests gathered at the site of the School’s new dormitory to celebrate with a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony. Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Town of Simsbury First Selectwoman Mary Glassman, Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Elyssa Michael, Vice President of the Student Body Madison Glass ’14, and James W. Kinnear S’47, P’69, ’71, all gave remarks about the new dormitory as a special milestone for the School’s history L-R: Madison Glass ’14, Trustee Elizabeth Cesare, James Kinnear S’47, P’69, ’71, and Bessie and its residential community.

Speers P’16, Head of School, share a smile after the ribbon is cut.

The ribbon was cut by James Kinnear, husband of the late Mary Tullis Kinnear ’47, P’69, ’71, after whom the new dormitory’s Commons Room is named.

Mrs. Kinnear served on the School’s Board of Trustees from 1984 – 1987. A devoted student and alumna of Walker’s, she was a member of the Campaign Council of the One Vision, Many Voices Campaign, Chair of her 45th and 50th Reunions, and a Class Correspondent. Mary and James raised four children, including two daughters who attended Walker’s.

A lunch reception for the participants and guests followed the ceremony.

Trustees Elizabeth Cesare, William Wrigley, Jr. P’14, and Sarah Denby ’72 celebrate the new dorm dedication.

CENTENNIAL CAMPAIGN CABINET Sarah Gates Colley ’75

Constance Lavino Bell ’48, P’72, ’75, GP’12, ’14

James W. Kinnear S’47, P’69, ’71

CHAIR

Roberta Gerstell Bennett ’53

Alice Kerr Moorhead ’61

Margot Campbell Bogert ’60

Elizabeth Nash Muench ’55

Alexandra Badger Airth ’83

Ann Watson Bresnahan ’69

Celeste Royall Niarchos ’64

Ann Fay Barry P’14

Thomas C. Brokaw

Lorna Sargeant Pfaelzer ’56

Lisa Pagliaro Selz ’69

C. Austin Buck P’79

Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85

Deborah Bell Spoehel ’75, P’14

Claudia Ramsland Burch ’68

Elizabeth Rauch Rainoff ’53

Ronald Spoehel P’14

Holly Legler Cortes ’91

Margot Treman Rose ’80

CO-CHAIRS

Amey Amory DeFriez ’45, P’67, ’69

Donya Nagib Sabet ’90

Aileen Turnbull Geddes ’56

Abra Prentice Wilkin ’60

C. Hugh Hildesley P’85

Terese Treman Williams ’55, P’80

Lucy Rosenberry Jones ’59, P’80

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James Kinnear S’47, P’69, ’71 addresses the crowd.

A celebration lunch on the lawn follows the ribbon cutting.

The following are excerpts from remarks made by Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 and James Kinnear S’47, P’69, ’71.

BESSIE SPEERS P’16 Head of School

It is not every day that a school builds a new dormitory. The last dormitory dedication on this campus took place 48 years ago when Cluett opened its doors in 1965. So this is indeed a big deal! Today, we celebrate the vision and conviction of a great team of trustees.

The placement of this building creates balance between the academic side of our campus and the residential area. If you stand right here, you can actually feel this building “smiling” back across the path and lawn to Beaver Brook. At the same time, it nestles into the landscape, standing tall and proud, as if to say, “I am ready to be a home to the stories and laughter, to friendships and fun times, to students from all over the world, to their dorm parents, and families for generations to come!”

In some ways, the new dorm is reminiscent of the old Cluett, in that it resembles a big, rambling house with lots of character. The best part is the community this dorm brings us—we now have the beginning of what is fast becoming a residential village—a friendly New England village.

an alumna, a parent, and a trustee of Walker’s, associations we remember fondly today.

Nostalgia, however, may whet our interest, but it is not really why we give a beautiful building like this. We give because we understand the importance of a secondary school education, and the realization of what it means both to the students, and to the societies of which we are a part.

We give with the knowledge of what a building like this can provide for the future: a safe and comfortable home for both students and teachers; a meeting place for friends who will be friends for life; and a place to enjoy “crumbly buns” on a Sunday morning.

Walker’s has served its students well for over 100 years, and with this building, will do even more for the generations to come.

JAMES W. KINNEAR S’47, P’69, ’71

At a school like Walker’s, dormitory life provides as many learning opportunities as are found in the classroom. At least that was my experience. And I know that experience was shared by my wife, Mary, who is remembered in this Commons Room.

According to her, the crowning achievement of her years at Walker’s was her consumption of “crumbly buns” on Sunday morning with her friends in the dormitory. She was

A table displays photos and the yearbook of Mary Tullis Kinnear ’47, P’69, ’71, James Kinnear’s wife and Walker’s alumna for whom the Commons Room is named, along with her favorite “crumbly buns,” which she enjoyed eating while at Walker’s.

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Walker’s & Residential Life

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Belonging THE POWER OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE TO CREATE CONNECTIONS AND ACADEMIC SUCCESS

It’s often overlooked. The connection between making

use and depression. Feeling connected also promotes pancakes with peers and academic achievement. But school collaborative learning—a hallmark of 21st century skills. connectedness improves academic success, including scores School connectedness offers a chance to teach the vital skills on standardized tests. Plenty of research concludes that of communication, leadership, and flexibility. connectedness—that sense of emotional and social wellWalker’s has also committed bricks and mortar, because being—is a strong factor in academic and lifelong success. buildings play an important role, too.

Walker’s strong Residential Life program is creating even Walker’s designed the new dorm to inspire these deeper connections between all members of the community: connections. Cozy common spaces welcome students into boarders, day students, faculty, staff, and dorm parents. The the building. Comfy chairs surround the fireplace. The large goal is for students to experience as many strong connections kitchen space is ideal for group cooking. Four faculty as possible. “This year, there’s an even bigger variety of apartments serve as cornerstones: each has a spacious living cultural and recreational activities on and off campus,” says room that opens to a roomy kitchen. It’s an ideal floor plan Elyssa Michael, Dean of Students and Director of Residential for the upcoming Battle of the Chef’s Night—a culinary Life. To achieve this goal, she’s also contest that requires students to making sure dorm parents and student creatively use a secret ingredient. And proctors log more training hours than it’s not just the interior that offers School connectedness in the past. common spaces; the new dorm also offers a chance to teach National research has examined has outdoor balconies, with the vital skills of everything from the positive effects of breathtaking views of the new athletic communication, school connectedness on healthy selffields and Heublein Tower. esteem to its role as the strongest Day students are as involved as leadership, and flexibility. influence in reducing drug and alcohol boarding students. It’s not uncommon

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for Brock Dunn P’19, ’20, Head of Middle and Upper School, to hear parents say they cannot tell the boarders from the day students. “They’re fully involved in weekend activities,” adds Dunn. “There’s no divide.”

Dorm parents are not the only ones involved in community events. Faculty and staff, both on- and offcampus, build deeper connections too, hosting in-home dinners. Admissions, Technology, and the Bell Library are also involved. It’s all planned so that each and every encounter, whether attending Macbeth at Hartford Stage or a dance at another school, provides students with a bedrock sense of belonging.

Students design the activities that help nurture these connections. “The students are the catalysts,” Michael says. “I just help with logistics. We have 100 percent student buy-in.”

There’s a balance of both on- and off-campus activities to ensure creative and original connections. Reading ghost stories on Halloween night at Debby’s House (Head’s House) and activities in the local community are always popular, such as trips to Flamig Farm, the Community Farm of Simsbury, and the Fidelco Guide Dog Association. Students also participate in community service. Special Olympians storm Walker’s athletic fields every month, and train alongside Walker’s athletes.

Recent Connecticut research shows how strongly parents value connectedness. Douglas Lyons, President of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, recently spoke on campus and cited a survey of 900 independent school parents. Given just months after the 2009 decline in the stock market, the survey asked two questions: “Given the current financial uncertainty, will you be re-enrolling your children at their independent school next year?” For those

L I F E

L-R: Lex Lochner ’15, Chloe Silverman ’15, and Athletic Director John Monagan

parents answering yes, the second question was: “Why?” Among the most commonly reported reasons parents said they would re-enroll: “The role of the school community as a positive, countercultural influence in my child’s life,” and “My child feels safe in every way . . . physically, socially, emotionally, and psychologically.”

These are real, face-to-face friendships, not online, and they foster that sense of belonging that is critical to success.

“No one can offer more connectivity than independent schools,” Michael says. She makes sure that, in many ways, from movie marathons to birthday parties, “students know someone who cares is right there.”

Walker’s efforts increase daily, bolstered by research and the results seen on the students’ faces.

L-R: Aurora Naughton ’16 and Emily Peairs ’16 enjoying downtime in their dorm room.

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The

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new dorm This fall, the School’s largest construction project since 1987 was completed, and students moved bags, comfort items, clothes, and bedding into the new dorm. Located between Smith and Cluett, and complete with 38 beds, four dorm parent apartments, and cozy common spaces, the new dorm enhances residential life and is proof of Walker’s forward momentum.

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W A L K E R ’ S

A view from outside of the new dorm, looking into Kinnear Commons.

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Dorm Parents and Their Favorites Brooke Haynes How long have you been a dorm parent?

DORM: CLUETT

Three years.

Favorite activity you created?

Easter egg hunt in the Walker’s Woods and Harry Potter Marathon, complete with snacks, trivia, mani-pedis, and costumes.

Favorite Food? Cheeseburgers!

Favorite part of being a dorm parent?

Dorm parents, students, husbands, kids, and pets make up a big family that shares food, stories, laughs, and tears. I can’t imagine my life without my Cluett Family.

Caitlin Cowan DORM: SMITH

How long have you been a dorm parent?

First year at Walker’s, fifth year as a dorm parent at boarding schools.

Favorite activity you created?

The first night we made magnets to use on the washers and dryers. It was a way for everyone to know who was using a particular machine. The girls started clapping and cheering. Those magnets are now decorated and in the laundry room being used with every wash and dry!

Favorite Food? French Fries!

Favorite part of being a dorm parent?

I get to hear about their exciting weekend, be there when things get a little tough, help the girls study for a test, and I get to lie back and watch a movie with them. One of the greatest parts about working at a boarding school is you get to help teach the girls life lessons, not just lessons in the classroom. Many of the greatest lessons students learn are in the dorm setting. I truly love being a dorm parent!

How long have you been a dorm parent?

This is my sixth year.

Samantha Gadsden DORM: THE NEW DORM

Favorite activity you created?

Making candy apples each fall. It is always a mess, but so much fun.

Favorite Food?

Butternut squash soup and mac and cheese!

Favorite part of being a dorm parent?

Creating a “home” for the girls. Our students are so busy with sports, classes, homework, and activities. It is great to be able to give them a place to unwind at the end of the day. That is the time when some of the best conversations happen.

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“

I discovered on arrival that my “new girl” came from Hawaii. Talk about experiential learning! And one of my roommates came from California.

Another was one of eight children...and I thought five was a large family! The last was a New Yorker, and we have remained in close touch. Our suite-mates soon became an important part of the group, a real delight for us. EWS has remained a most important part of my life, and various roommates and other classmates have stayed in touch, both through reunions at school and at other gatherings around the country.”

Amey Amory DeFriez ’45, P’67, ’69

“No matter whether you are a day student or a boarder, we are all a community and we share a home at Walker’s.”

Morgan Locandro ’16 (DAY)

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The Power of Community

My roommate-inspired Walker’s stories revolve around my burgeoning interest in cross-cultural communication from the time I walked into Beaver Brook in 1966 as a Freshman. My roommates included the first EWS student of color. I also roomed with the E.S.U. (English Speaking Union) student from the U.K. who taught me English traditions and to love saying “super” with a Brit accent. Despite divergent paths as roomies throughout the year, we discovered common ground in our love of learning and our awareness of the similar ways in which a Walker’s education would ground our futures. My life continues to be enriched by those experiences in residential life, which allowed diversity in the midst of community.

The Reverend Kathleen McCombe ’70

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DAY STUDENTS AND BOARDERS DOESN’T MATTER HERE AT WALKER’S. DAY STUDENTS ARE ALWAYS VISITING IN THE DORMS, AND BOARDERS ARE ALWAYS STAYING WITH DAY STUDENTS.

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Tricia Smith ’16 (DAY)

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Walker’s Residential Life program is special because it makes Walker’s feel like home. In the first couple of weeks, after dorm activities and the community dinners, girls will have formed such tight bonds with teachers and other girls that they will begin to call them family. Participating in community service (offered on Saturdays and Sundays) also brings us together. There is a special feeling you get when you wake up on a Saturday morning to travel with friends to FoodShare or the Community Farm of Simsbury to do service, knowing that you and your friends are helping someone in need.

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“In times of need, when you feel the most isolated, the Walker’s community really stands by you and makes you feel important, no matter what.”

Kestrel Thorne-Kaunelis ’15 (DAY)

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Kennedy Hilliard ’14

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I came to Walker’s during fourth form year as a new girl and shared a room with three other girls in a bedroom suite on the second floor of Beaver Brook, over the front door. Most of the girls had already been there for three years, but Sally Heyburn from Louisville, KY, was also new. Sally and I bonded over our newness and choir; we both loved to sing. For the first several weeks, Sally and I were quite terrified, being new, but everyone was so nice, including our Being a boarder has “old girl” roommates. In senior helped me flourish both year, one of my roommates was socially and academically Joan Kennedy, a caring, bright because I am surrounded person who was a lot of fun and by people who support had a good head on her shoulders. me at all times.

Joan knew all about the New York Claire Graham ’15 scene and was a good golfer; she (BOARDER) invited me to come to Rye and play Apawamis. After Walker’s, I went to Smith, along with 11 of my classmates. We were so well prepared — Walker’s had prepared us like racehorses.

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Sylvia Gates ’42

“The Residential Life program is fun because you get

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Walker’s Residential Life program does more than create a second home for us; it also helps to create a second family.

Every weekend consists of on- and off-campus activities.

We can go off-campus to meet people from other schools and to make new connections. But, it’s the on-campus activities that are really meaningful.

Whether it’s the Coffee House, at which students perform in Bell Library or at community dinner in a teacher’s home where girls laugh and eat with the teacher’s family, a tight bond is created between everyone. The activities within the Residential Life program make us feel safe, comfortable, and happy in the community.

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Alissa Lopez ’14

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closer with everyone you live with. I feel more of a bond with my classmates here than at my old school.”

Liza Phillips ’17 (BOARDER)

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Bell Library: A Hub for Academics, Information, and Culture On music night, students line up to perform at the open mic. The venue: Bell Library—an unexpected event for a library. It’s part of the vision that arrived with Sarah Ludwig, new Dean of Digital and Library Services.

Ludwig is on a mission to make the library a cultural and academic hub—a place where the entire community comes to learn beyond the usual studying. Her mission also includes the traditional goal of increasing reading. She believes, “If you put the right book in students’ hands, they’ll make time to read.” In her “Book Talking” series, Ludwig lines up all the new books and invites middle school classes to her two-minute teaser on each book. Students pick a book to read over break and then make their own video trailer. “It gets students talking about books,” she says.

Students can also attend the upcoming “Writer” series, where outside poets and writers come to Bell Library to read their work and talk about the writing process. This kind of cultural programming helps students “think of the library as a place of life and vitality.” There’s also Game Night—a chance for students to test their wits. And she’s planned new programs that allow food and drinks when the Library Café opens daily in 2014.

Ludwig is also making Information Literacy a reality. She works with faculty and co-teaches classes on research skills— everything from citations to copyrighting. She sees that

Sarah Ludwig teaching research skills.

SARAH LUDWIG PRESENTS ON THESE TOPICS: Enhancing Reading Programs with Technology Minecraft as a Learning Tool

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because students today have access to so much information, they’re often overwhelmed. Information Literacy teaches students how to find the best information and assess the quality of that information. “These skills will change the way our students approach a research project. They’re critical skills for the 21st century.”

Recently, Ludwig co-taught an Asian Studies class, showing students how to use some of the most reliable resources from the history database. Students learned the difference between print and web sources and how to spot built-in bias. The goal is to have teachers weave these research skills into the classroom curriculum.

Research shows that students from schools with strong libraries often have better test scores. (Independent School Magazine, Summer 2013).

Ludwig has redesigned the library’s website to make it iPad-friendly. Now students can access databases and catalogues, request books, and view an events calendar from anywhere, 24/7.

How will Ludwig know if it’s all working? She’s formed a student-run Library Advisory Board. They’ll let her know what they need: Whether it’s more charging stations, more Game Nights, or a broader selection of snacks and teas to go with Tolstoy.

View students’ original book trailers at http://tinyurl.com/obye6fd

Walker’s and Avon Old Farms School students perform during Open Mic Night at Bell Library. L-R: Brant Battiston, Hannah Tuckner ’14, Cole Gibson

• Connecticut Educators Computer Association (CECA) • American Association of School Librarians (AASL) • Connecticut Library Association Support Staff Conference (CLASS) • American Library Association (ALA) • Computers in Libraries (CIL)

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Bell Library Café Gets Makeover from Parents Association In the fall, the Parents Association spearheaded a makeover of the Library Café to create a warmer, more engaging space for students and the larger Walker’s community. Parent volunteers worked diligently to refresh the cafe's look.

The newly refurbished space invites myriad activities, from studying to relaxing, from open mic nights to participation in cultural programming. The café debuted its new look, including refreshed paint colors, curtains, and new lighting, in November.

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Science Solves Mysteries Forensics is a science elective for juniors and seniors that applies real-world techniques in the lab. Its goal is to give students an overview of the forensics field through a combination of guest speakers, lab work, and case studies. It incorporates physics, biology, chemistry, math, and psychology. Throughout the year, students learn how to calculate the angle of a blood spatter; analyze DNA and fibers, including hair; dust for fingerprints; examine soil and glass; and solve crime scenes. It’s a growing It's a growing field for field for women, and part of Walker’s women, and part of ever-growing STEAM program that Walker's ever-growing guides curriculum.

Recently, students completed a STEAM program that project by taking a backwards guides curriculum. approach to collecting evidence. They learned how to properly document a crime scene by creating their own crime scene and thinking about the placement of evidence in order to photograph, sketch, and create an observation and evidence log.

Students learn through hands-on experience. “Students enjoy the moments of discovery and learn the importance of observation,” says science teacher Caitlin Cowan. “They connect the puzzle pieces to form the big picture.”

Even parents got involved. When they arrived for Family Weekend, Cowan had a bone and a packet of hints waiting for them. Working alongside their child, they determined the gender, race, and height of the victim—just by analyzing bones.

It’s important for students to see the knowledge they are gaining applied to real-life scenarios. Cowan has invited two female detectives from a local police department to do a lab with the girls this spring. In addition, she’s invited an FBI agent, a forensic chemist, and a recent alumna, Ema Graham ’12, who attends the renowned University of New Haven’s Forensic Science Program in Connecticut to speak to the students.

Walker’s Takes 21st Century Learning to New Level with Grant from Edward E. Ford Foundation Assistant Head of School Stephen Dunn spent the fall conducting research that will ensure the School’s programs continue to prepare students for the ever-changing global work environment. Dunn spent a significant portion of his time conducting interviews with other schools, innovative companies, thought leaders, and colleges, as well as academic research. Based on his findings, the School aims to pilot a unique program that will ensure Walker’s remains on the cutting edge of preparing students to lead. This groundbreaking work was made possible by a $50,000 grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, which was matched by a donor. The grant helped fund Dunn’s research and, once a program has been developed, will also fund professional development and training for faculty and staff. The next issue of the Sundial Magazine Stephen Dunn, Assistant Head

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will publish Dunn’s research and delve into how this will play out for Walker’s.

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Innovations in Brief Chemistry and Biology Students Engage with Astronaut Over the course of their time at Walker’s, it’s critical that students are exposed to women in myriad fields, especially non-traditional fields like engineering. Chemistry and biology teacher Sandra Quinlan found a great role model for women in engineering: astronaut Karen Nyberg, an aeronautical engineer, mother and a quilter, who happens to have spent the last six months in space. Chemistry and biology students in both Middle and Upper School followed Nyberg on Twitter as she orbited earth on the International Space Station. While Nyberg researched bone density and ocular health, just a few of the many human research projects she conducted in space, students learned along with her. Students also studied 3D printing, imagining possibilities such as creating skin for burn victims and artificial limbs. Quinlan notes, “When there’s a compassion component to engineering that improves the world and the lives of people, our students are fully engaged.” Both projects support Walker’s STEAM initiative with a real-world understanding of science.

Dystopia: The Movie “Big brother, doublethink, and newsspeak.” Juniors in Honors English knew more than these words when they finished George Orwell’s 1984; they understood dystopia. English teacher Scott Frey wanted to add a visual element, so he asked students to pair up and create their own nightmarish vision of the future in a two-minute film. Unlike Orwell, students couldn’t use words, only images. Each pair of students began with a premise, then created storyboards. They spent two weeks shooting and editing their videos.

Recruiting a large cast was a challenge with everyone’s busy schedules, so epic extravaganzas gave way to smaller casts.

“Dystopia, historically, is a powerful vision of the future that’s also a window into current society,” says Frey.

As if to underscore his point, one student’s film shows leaflets bearing headlines of deadly heat waves, water shortages, and crop failures.

Walker’s Observatory Showcases Wonders of the Night Sky It’s a good year to be a teacher whose passions are physics and astronomy. The Leonid Meteor Shower and ISON comet arrived in November, followed by the Geminids Meteor Shower in December. The fall has been chock full of astronomy events, and astronomy and physics teacher Dolan Patrick has had a busy season organizing real-time star gazing for students, allowing them to make connections through the phenomena they see all around them, not just during class. Walker’s VanGemeren Observatory is the ideal astronomy classroom. Patrick frequently organizes trips to the observatory, located at the ridgeline above campus, close to the Old Cluett site. It’s not unusual to find students and other Walker’s community members viewing the wonders of the night sky at 5:00 a.m. While the early morning hour may seem crazy, Patrick offers students a chance to see firsthand what they’ve been studying in class. Not online, not on YouTube, but in the sky above them. The pancake breakfasts at Debby’s House (Head’s House) that follow help coax people out of bed.

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Opening Days — Walker’s 102nd Year Walker’s campus hummed with possibilities and potential as new and returning students from all over the world began the 2013-2014 academic year and fall athletic season.

Opening Day activities included orientation, field trips, parent dinners, and special Chapel events to start the new year. During Opening Chapel on Monday, September 9, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 spoke about the importance of being an engaged community committed to local, national, and global issues.

Student speaker Lauren Nicholson ’14 encouraged her peers to recognize the power they have to shape and create their futures: “We forget that a painting does not start as a masterpiece and that revered sculptures start as nothing more than clay. It is a fact that we are all individual and original works of art, masterpieces in the making.”

Faculty speaker Sarah Edson, Dean of Academic Technology and Innovation, empathized with new students’ feelings of nerves. She shared her personal stories of stage fright, and the impact of feeling unconditional support before a challenge: “As the year gets underway and challenges arise, and they surely will—in the classroom, on the fields, in the studios, on Dogswood Day, anywhere in your lives—remind yourself that you have what it takes to face those challenges.

You do. And, no matter what happens, you will never be without support from all of us. Before, during, and after.”

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Three Seniors Named National Merit Scholars The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) and College Board recognized three Walker’s seniors for exceptional academic performance on October 4.

Alexa Lowe ’14 achieved a PSAT that Alexa Lowe ’14, Lauren Nicholson ’14, placed her among the top five percent of and Meredith Pellon ’14 more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2014 competition. Meredith Pellon ’14 was selected as a National Hispanic Recognition Program (NHRP) Scholar, which identifies academically outstanding Hispanic/Latino high school students. Lauren Nicholson ’14 scored in the top three percent of more than 160,000 Black Americans who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Walker’s Head of School Awarded Fellowship in Leadership at Columbia University Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 has been awarded the prestigious Klingenstein Heads of Schools Program Fellowship from Columbia University. The program addresses the complex educational and leadership skills that heads of schools need as they balance the work of ceos, fundraisers, and educational experts, in a changing school environment. The program offers the time and resources for training in the company of peers.

Walker’s Hosts NAIS President and Thought Leaders solutions to pressing challenges, all of which remains Walker’s hosted “A Conversation About Independent a compelling value proposition,” Chubb said.

Schools,” featuring the President of the National Association Following Chubb’s presentation, Walker’s hosted a of Independent Schools, John Chubb, Ph.D., on December 9. panel discussion on the future of Chubb is optimistic about independent schools that included independent education based on “Schools that will be Douglas Lyons, Executive Director empirical evidence that independent successful in the future of the Connecticut Association of schools change lives and graduate Independent Schools, and Dr. Pamela strong students who are also good will be those that have a T. Reid, President of The University of people. “Independent schools create clear sense of mission, St. Joseph’s, Dennis Bisgaard, Head of mission-driven, values-based strong values, and aim to School, Kingswood Oxford, and Head communities that provide crucial social, serve all students.” of School Bessie Speers P’16. Abby emotional, and academic support.

Reynolds ’13 joined the panel to Additionally, they have the freedom –John Chubb provide a student’s perspective. to experiment and innovate creative

L-R: Douglas Lyons; Head of School Bessie Speers P’16; Pamela T. Reid, Ph.D.; John Chubb, Ph.D.; Dennis Bisgaard; Abby Reynolds ’13; Stephen Dunn, Assistant Head of School.

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Family Weekend 2013 Walker’s parents and family members converged on campus October 18 for Family Weekend. Guests participated in classes, met with teachers, and attended presentations.

Chapel and a variety of receptions were held against the backdrop of a beautiful New England autumn.

Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, and Brock Dunn P’19, ’20, Head of Middle and Upper School spoke during Family Weekend. Here are excerpts: Family weekend is a special time for the School. Parents, thank you for the energy you bring us. We admire your courage, especially those of you who have entrusted your daughters to us as boarders and from farther away.

BESSIE SPEERS P’16 HEAD OF SCHOOL

In the science lab, we, as students, once dissected frogs to get a better understanding of their digestive system. Today’s kids dissect frogs virtually, on iPads. Computer simulated frog dissection eliminates the need to actually carve up a real frog to learn basic biology.

BROCK DUNN P’19, ’20 HEAD OF MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL

Student Body President Elizabeth Turner ’14 asked her fellow students to “Take everything that sits on your shoulders that causes you to bend over, and … just … slow … down.” To watch her full speech titled “Rest, Refresh, and Run the Race,” visit The Ethel Walker School’s channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkgrPMh19YI

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Students Travel to the United Nations Members of the Model United Nations Club and faculty advisors Mary Hendrickson and Ken Poppe travelled to the United Nations in New York City on November 7. The group met with representatives from the Ethiopian Mission to the U.N. to discuss political topics and international affairs.

Information gathered at the meeting with the Ethiopian Mission helped to inform the proposed resolutions the group presented when it participated in a Model United Nations conference at The University of Hartford in December.

Students attending included Duyen Bui ’16, Avalena Everard ’16, Ece Gezer ’16, Mary Kelley ’16, Meher Khan ’15, Jennifer Lin ’14, Catherine Liu ’17, Joyce Liu ’16, Aurora Naughton ’16, Alyssa Nazmi ’17, Claudia Ru ’16, Kayla Scinto ’15, and Nida Shaikh ’15.

Art Teacher Grace Epstein Receives Humanities Award Walker’s art teacher Grace Epstein was awarded the 2013 Natalie Galbraith Chair for the Humanities on October 30. The award recognizes a faculty member for distinguished performance in the classroom, and for contributions to the life of the School.

As a classroom teacher, Epstein excels in her ability to develop the artist in all of her students. Since she joined the Walker’s community in 2005-2006, her contributions to the School include her involvement in the Middle School Garden and Knitting Clubs. She created an organic garden and henhouse on campus, which provide fresh food for students and faculty. She will oversee the campus apiary once it’s built. Epstein also organizes art shows and receptions for local and alumnae artists in the Bell Library Art Gallery.

An avid supporter of the arts, Epstein’s influence extends beyond the Walker’s community. She is a member of the Connecticut Watercolor Society, the co-founder of the Connecticut Valley Calligraphers, and has exhibited with the Canton Artist’s Guild.

The Natalie Galbraith Chair for the Humanities was endowed in 1984 in honor of former Head of School Natalie Galbraith Mitchell. The chair is awarded for a three-year term to a faculty member who has served at the School for at least five years.

Edna Adan Ismail, This Year’s Margaret Huling Bonz Speaker Pioneering women’s health activist Edna Adan Ismail, best known for her work as the founder and director of the Edna Adan University Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland, spoke to the Walker’s community as this year’s Margaret Huling Bonz Women of Distinction Speaker’s Series speaker. Ismail’s hospital is responsible for a drastic reduction in maternal mortality in the region. She is also a former Foreign Minister and Minister of Health and Welfare for Somaliland. She has traveled worldwide with the World Health Organization (WHO), working for women’s rights.

During her October 9 visit, Ismail spoke about the condition of health, education, and gender inequality in Somaliland. She encouraged students to recognize the power of courage and determination in achieving their dreams, even if they are against all odds: “I hope that you are grabbing this opportunity that you have in your country with both hands,” Ismail said.

The Speaker’s Series is made possible by an endowed fund created in June 1999 through the contributions of generous donors in recognition of Margaret Huling Bonz, who served as Head of School at Walker’s for 11 years.

The series brings distinguished women from a variety of professions to campus. Past speakers include Faith Middleton and Gloria Steinem.

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Mountain Day On October 15, students, faculty, and the School mascot Wally the Wildcat hiked Talcott Mountain to Heublein Tower to take in the panoramic views of the Farmington River Valley below.

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Service Learning Students Reflect on the Power of Giving Service Learning is a pillar of a Walker’s education. From working at a local farm to training alongside a Special Olympian, students learn they have the power to positively impact the local and global community.

Reflections on Harvesting Crops at the Community Farm of Simsbury “I not only learned about the farm and how they donate food, but I also learned that there are great ways [in which] we can help others and feel good and proud about ourselves.” –Nedah Ibrahimi ’15

Special Olympics training

Reflections on Foodshare “Last Saturday at Foodshare, we packaged four tons of sweet potatoes that eventually would have been thrown away. It was an eye-opener to do what many volunteers fulfill each day, but for many more hours. It’s great to know that the work we did helped feed the less fortunate and make a change within the greater Hartford area. I commend Foodshare for all their hard work over the past 30 years. I encourage other girls to volunteer so they can also be a part of the fight against hunger.”

–Marissa Pitter ’15 Reflections on Training with Special Olympians “Special Olympics opened my eyes to the fact that anyone and everyone can be an athlete. Each time I went, I felt myself bonding with the athletes and helping them to be confident with themselves and their plays … This project was a great learning experience for me and helped to further my passion [for] helping people with a disability.”

–Kennedy Hilliard ’14

Second Chance Ranch

Other community service projects include ServCorps, Empty Bowls, Reading Corps, Habitat for Humanity, Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, the soup kitchen at Christ Church Cathedral, and Second Chance Ranch Horse Rescue.

Empty Bowls

Community Farm of Simsbury

Foodshare

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Celebrating Holiday Traditions

The entire School community gathers in the Chapel for Thanksgiving Vespers.

Each year, two holiday concerts are held in the Chapel, one for the Middle School and one for the Upper School.

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Holiday Vespers

Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 reads to faculty children during Holiday Vespers.

Holiday Ride

The Grapes perform during the Holiday Ride.

Equestrians don holiday attire for the seasonal ride.

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WALKER’S FOCUSES ON EQUITY ISSUES Dr. Sheri Schmidt, Walker’s Director of Equity and Social Justice (right), co-led a workshop, “Unmasking Racism,” with Joan Edwards (left) from Kingswood Oxford School. The workshop was part of a professional development series sponsored by SPHERE, a consortium of independent schools in the Hartford area whose mission is to create cultural diversity in admissions, hiring policies, and school-administered programs. The workshop was held November 19 at Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor.

STUDENTS MEET THERESA YOUNGER Walker’s students meet Theresa Younger, President of the Permanent Commission for the Status of Women in CT, during Grab the Torch camp over the summer. L-R: Isabel Beeman ’16, Nell Shea ’16, Theresa Younger, Lian Nicholson ’16, Talia Basch ’15, Kat Kelly ’16.

WALKER’S HOSTS EDCAMP CT FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING In August, over 100 educators from independent and public schools from all across the New England region flocked to Walker’s to spend a day in an “unconference,” a teacher-driven professional development day called EdCamp.

Mallory Green Pasquariello, Assistant in the Dean of Students’ Office, wed at the Chapel in October. Students flocked to the ceremony to wish her well and pose for a photo with Mallory and her husband, Jason. The Pasquariellos are dorm parents in the new dorm.

Taylor Lampert ’14 and Her MiniHorse Certified for Therapeutic Use

Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, teacher Brooke Haynes, and Middle School students celebrate Halloween.

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Taylor Lampert ’14 has found a creative way to combine her two loves: helping people and working with horses. After a full year of diligently working together on cues and commands, she and her miniature Appaloosa, “Rio,” have been certified as a therapy team. Lampert is hoping they will bring a little happiness to patients in nursing homes and hospitals.

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Equestrian Update Walker’s hosted two IEA shows this fall, and the Upper School team was champion at both. Money raised at the shows benefited “Ride for the Ribbon,” a non-profit that raises funds to fight breast cancer. The team was also champion at Fox Crossing and placed third at Windcrest.

Walker’s also hosted a USHJA Trainer Certification Program with clinician Rita Timpanaro. Students audited and participated in the two-day clinic as well.

Many riders continue to combine their love of horses and service by volunteering at Second Chance Ranch, a local rescue organization.

The Equestrian Team gave a live presentation to the entire community, demonstrating dressage, stadium jumping, equitation, hunters, and jumpers.

HIGHLIGHTS: • Tori Arute ’14 qualified for Harrisburg and Washington in the high juniors and placed at the finals.

• Caleigh Thompson ’14 attended Medal and Maclay Finals.

• This year’s qualifiers for the New England Equitation Finals were Phoebe Backman ’16, Hannah Tuckner ’14, Sarah Gordon ’14, Taylor Duerr ’14, Jackie Flynn ’15, Caleigh Thompson ’16, and Jessica Brighenti ’15.

• Surina Techarukpong ’16 and Savannah Barry ’14 attended the Princeton Jumper Show and ribboned well.

• Jackie Flynn ’15 participated in the Emerging Athletes Program this fall and was one of 16 riders selected in the country to participate at Nationals.

Tori Arute ’14

Bob Cacchione (left), founder of the IHSA, educated students on the value of riding for colleges with IHSA teams.

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Fall Athletics Gives Back

Jr. Varsity

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Dig Pink

Each year, Walker’s and Canterbury’s varsity volleyball teams play a spirited Saturday night game to support

the Cure. Proceeds from concession sales are donated to the cause. This year, the game was played at Canterbury. Many Walker’s girls traveled to the game to cheer on the EWS team.

Play for the Cure Play Day Now in its third year, Walker’s hosted Play for the Cure Play Day with 12 field hockey teams from public and private schools, grades 5-9.

More than $2,260 was raised through concessions sales and website donations to help the fight against breast cancer.

J.V. Field Hockey

Pumpkins sold by the J.V. Field Hockey team

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J.V. Field Hockey

Mimi Duran P’18, Varsity Field Hockey Coach

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ATHLETIC AWARDS CT INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE ALL-LEAGUE Field Hockey Kestrel Thorne-Kaunelis ’15 Alexis King ’17 Keeley Duran ’18 Sally Yao ’15 Honorable Mention Field Hockey Lila Reynolds ’15 Marissa Pitter ’15 Volleyball Katelyn Jo ’15 Chelsea Strong ’15 Alena Zafonte ’15 WOMEN'S WESTERN NEW ENGLAND PREPARATORY SCHOOL SOCCER ASSOCIATION Eleanor Ross ’13 Veronica Garcia ’18 WESTERN NEW ENGLAND PREP SCHOOL Field Hockey All-Stars Alexis King ’17

Amber Carter ’15

NEPSVA Volleyball New England All-Stars Allegra Davis ’14 Kennedi Rookwood ’15 Chelsea Strong ’15 Alena Zafonte ’15 FOUNDERS LEAGUE All-Stars Field Hockey — Kestrel Thorne-Kaunelis ’15 Volleyball — Allegra Davis ’14 BOSTON GLOBE All-Star Soccer Team Selection Veronica Garcia ’18 The Varsity Volleyball Team presents coach Jill Harrington with flowers and sweets to celebrate her 100th win.

Kestrel Thorne-Kaunelis ’15 Wally the Wildcat

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Fund for Walker’s: An Investment with Immediate and Tangible Returns A Conversation with Senior Director of the Fund for Walker’s, Sara Jane von Trapp potential investors and lenders want to know that alumnae and other constituents have a vested interest in the School’s financial stability. We’re seeking 100 percent participation from current parents, faculty, and staff, and are working to increase alumnae participation, as well. Last year, 22 percent of alumnae gave a gift, which is low compared to peer schools. This year’s goal is $1.7 million, up from $1.6 million for fiscal year 2013. Anyone who hasn’t yet contributed can do so by June 30, 2014.

Q: Tell me a bit about your background, and what drew you to Walker’s.

A: Prior to joining Walker’s, I spent 12

years at co-ed and single-sex independent schools, and at a college, in roles that have included institutional advancement, development, and communications. At most schools, one person has oversight for all development functions. Here, I am able to bring a specific and strategic focus to Walker’s annual giving initiatives, while collaborating with other development experts, each of whom has their own area of focus. Additionally, I’m developing programs to increase parent engagement with the School, which is exciting and rewarding.

Q: What is the Fund for Walker’s?

A: The Fund for Walker’s is our annual

Donors are investing in the Walker’s experience, including the quality of education and the daily operations of the School.

giving program. We’ve renamed it so donors are clear about what their investment supports. There is a direct correlation between meeting our annual fund goal and balancing our budget. As a school community, each of us has a role and a responsibility in helping to achieve our goal.

Today, the Fund for Walker’s comprises eight to nine percent of the School’s budget. When our costs increase, as they do every year, we cannot simply “downsize” without compromising the unique value of an independent school.

This includes smaller class size and the formative connections students develop with teachers who teach, coach, advise, and serve as dorm parents and mentors. There are limits to how much the School can raise tuition to defray increased costs and remain competitively priced. The Fund for Walker’s helps to address these needs.

Q: Why is the Fund for Walker’s important?

A: An investment in the Fund for Walker’s provides

immediate and tangible returns. Donors are investing in the Walker’s experience, including the quality of education and the daily operations of the School. The return is the School’s ability to pay competitive teacher salaries, and for utilities, grounds, and facilities upkeep, supplies for the girls, sports equipment, financial aid, and more.

Many people don’t realize that our annual fund participation rate can affect grants and financial ratings; 34

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Q: What’s underway to increase engagement and participation?

A: Cara Woods, our Director of Alumnae

Affairs, is working closely with the Alumnae Board to increase alumnae connectivity and giving.

To encourage all parents to invest in the Fund for Walker’s, we’ve launched the 100 percent Class Challenge. Each class that reaches 100 percent parent participation will win an ice cream social. We also piloted “Behind the Scenes at Walker’s” to give new and returning parents a deeper understanding of their daughters’ school experience. Held the Thursday before Family Weekend, highlights included attending a dance, singing or ceramics class, an in-depth look at the advisor/advisee relationship, and attending a STEAM class featuring students Crystear Liu ’14 and Lian Nicholson ’16. Parents toured the new dorm, learned more about the School’s financials, and during dinner at Debby’s House (the Head’s House), learned how the Centennial Center will transform Walker’s. Feedback was very positive, and we’ll definitely do it again next year—stay tuned!

Q: Are students working with you?

A: Yes. Bessie Speers is educating a group of students, called

the Head’s Council, about the business aspects of running a school. A number of them have signed up to work in the Development Office. They mail gift receipts, look up alumnae information, write thank you notes, and make thank you calls. Philanthropy begins at home, and these students are learning that giving to Walker’s after graduation is a form of “paying it forward.” Hopefully, we’re establishing a predisposition toward giving that will extend to and beyond the Walker’s campus once they become alumnae.

A N N U A L

G I V I N G

U P D A T E

ALL TOGETHER, NOW.

Giving to the Fund for Walker’s feels as good as getting a hug from your best friends. And your investment in the School’s mission is critical to help prepare girls to lead today and for a lifetime.

Your gift matters, because we’re all in this together.

Online:

www.ethelwalker.org/onlinegiving

By mail:

Development Office c/o Fund for Walker’s The Ethel Walker School 230 Bushy Hill Road Simsbury, CT 06070

By phone:

860.408.4259

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Simsbury, CT – January The ever-popular Annual Walker’s Young Alumnae Pizza Party was a resounding success once again.

Graduates from the Classes of 2012 and 2013 returned to campus to catch up with faculty, with each other, and to share their wisdom with current Walker’s seniors about the transition to college. Socializing over pizza was in Kinnear Commons in the New Dorm; dessert and the panel discussion about college was in the Cluett Pit.

L-R: Amy Crescimmano ’13, science teacher Dr. Julia Sheldon P’20, Hannah Jones ’13

36

Young alumnae spend time catching up.

Tori Petrilli ’13 and archivist Priscilla Jackson P’02

L-R: Olivia Aker ’14, Sophia Rodriguez ’14, Sarah Lowry ’14, Taryn Anderson ’14

L-R: Jill O’Brien ’13, Dr. Sheri Schmidt, Director of Equity and Social Justice, Ameena Makhdoomi ’13, Jacinta Lomba ’13

Panel of young alumnae answer student questions about college life.

L-R: Emilee O’Brien ’13, English teacher John Groff, Monet Clarke ’12

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San Francisco, CA

Encinitas, CA

Class of 1960 in San Francisco: Mary Anne Margaretten, Margot Bogert, Tania Stepanian

Ellen Krimmel Besobrasov ’78 and Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 in Encinitas, CA

Flushing, New York – August One of the most popular Walker's regional events, this year's U.S. Open match was another success, enjoyed by alumnae and their families.

Emily Eckelberry Johnson ’82 and family

Shasha Osbourne ’01 and April Bolton Mwangi ’00

Seal Harbor, Maine – August Hosted by Ariana Rockefeller Bucklin ’01, Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87, and Deborah Rush ’77, alumnae enjoyed a private tour of the breathtaking Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden followed by a cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres by the frog pond.

L-R: Matthew Bucklin, Ariana Rockefeller Bucklin ’01, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Tom Speers P’16

Cherie Sanborn Weed ’86 and Kelly Schuler Norcia ’86 with Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87, one of the three hosts for the Rockefeller Garden Tour, Seal Island, ME WINTER 2014

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New Canaan, CT – October “Cocktails & Conversation with Two Heads of School” was hosted by Liz Jack Ghriskey ’63, Kemi Lickle O’Donnell ’79, Ashley Lickle O’Neil ’78, and Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85. The event featured Bessie Speers P’16, Head of The Ethel Walker School, and Timothy Bazemore, Trustee of The Ethel Walker School and Head of New Canaan Country School.

L-R: Ann Marenakos ’81, Kit O’Brien Rohn ’82, Lita Toland ’79, Ashley Lickle O’Neil ’78, Kemi Lickle O’Donnell ’79, Debby Coward Smicka ’78

Tom Speers P’16, Kit O’Brien Rohn ’82, Marion (Maru) Morton Brown ’44

Annabelle Reid ’78

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Pamela Johnson Gammill ’87 and Barbara van der Kieft Latimer ’88

Trustees Timothy Bazemore and Letitia McClure Potter ’55, P’85 with Judy Johnson P’87

Trustee Harriet Blees Dewey ’60, P’86 with Liz Jack Ghriskey ’63

Head of School Bessie Speers P’16

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Boston, MA – December Walker’s alumnae Frances Haffner Colburn ’54, Amey Amory DeFriez ’45, P’67, ’69, Mary Lotuff Feeny ’83, and past parents Pam Kohlberg and Curt Greer P’10, hosted A Festive Evening with Friends at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 shared recent School news with guests, and spoke about Walker’s innovative STEAM curriculum.

L-R: Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Frannie Haffner Colburn ’54, Amey Amory DeFriez ’45, P’67, ’69, Jesseca Delahay Ferguson ’67

Jamiah Tappin ’00, Andrew Noble, Brittany Coons Noble ’02, Erin Grimshaw ’00

Kimberly Greenlaw and Crystear Liu ’14

Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Tom Speers P’16, Brooke Gaffney Redmond ’90

Follow us on Facebook and see photos from Walker’s events! www.facebook.com/ethelwalkerschool

L-R: Chelsea Keyes ’10, Katherine Conlon ’10, Abby Reynolds ’13, Stephanie Sponzo ’14 WINTER 2014

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A L U M N A E

N E W S

Message from Alumnae Board President

Returning to Walker’s these days is always an amazing experience. The Alumnae Board recently convened on campus for its fall meeting, which included an update from Assistant Head Stephen Dunn on his initiative, “21st Century Walker’s,” and its potential to transform learning for Walker’s students. Our weekend on campus included a tour of the new dormitory, which is even more impressive than the images and plans we had seen just last year. As part of our fall visit, the Alumnae Board hosted its annual “Alumnae Perspectives Panel,” which focused on technology and communications. Panelists Lamonda Williams ’87, Katherine Hypolite ’04, and Liss Couch-Edwards ’07 shared valuable personal and professional wisdom to a full house of juniors and seniors. We all were reminded of the powerful network and support that exists among Walker’s alumnae.

With the Centennial Campaign well underway, we continue to connect with alumnae through local and regional events such as “A Conversation Between Heads of School” in New Canaan, CT, at which Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 and Trustee Timothy Bazemore, Head of New Canaan Country School, shared their perspectives on independent education today. In December, alumnae gathered for a festive evening at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, MA and in January, others convened in Palm Beach, FL. We hope to coordinate more regional events, such as our spring and summer happy hours, over the next few months.

If you are interested in scheduling a visit to campus to talk with the students, or if you have ideas about how the Alumnae Board can improve our interactions with alumnae, please write to me at arp308@yahoo.com or contact Cara Coscarelli Woods, Director of Alumnae Affairs at cwoods@ethelwalker.org.

Download the Walker’s Alumnae App for Free!

Features include: • A searchable alumnae directory • A map of alumnae near you • Alumnae event information • News from campus • Instant access to Walker’s social media channels • LinkedIn networking

Until the next time I see you at Walker’s,

It’s free, secure, and easy to download to your iPhone, iPad, or Android.

Amanda R. Pitman ’90 PRESIDENT, ALUMNAE BOARD

2013-2014 ALUMNAE BOARD Amanda R. Pitman ’90

Caryl Van Ranst Dearing ’60

*Elizabeth West Glidden ’87

Jamiah Tappin ’00

Stay in touch!

PRESIDENT NEW YORK, NY

MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA

EAST HADDAM, CT

MALDEN, MA

www.ethelwalker.org

Leander Altifois Dolphin ’95

Katherine Hypolite ’04

Catherine Terry Taylor ’79

HARTFORD, CT

PROVIDENCE, RI

PROVIDENCE, RI

Mary Lotuff Feeny ’83

Molly Love ’64

Gwendolyn Wood Wisely ’96

Carter Margison ’07

BRISTOL, RI

LOCUST VALLEY, NY

RUMSON, NJ

SECRETARY NEW YORK, NY

Lindsay Flynn ’05

*Susan Jensen Rawles ’82

Tracy Himmel Isham ’85 VICE PRESIDENT CORNWALL, VT

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WASHINGTON, D.C.

RICHMOND, VA

Elizabeth Borland Blodgett ’91

Ailsa Veit Foulke ’87

Deborah Rush ’77

LAKE FOREST, IL

NEW YORK, NY

COATESVILLE, PA

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*New AB Member

A L U M N A E

N E W S

This Year’s “Alumnae Perspectives Panel” Focuses on Tech, Engages Students with Tweets Juniors and seniors proved the power of technology to communicate instantly. Using the hashtag #ewsalums, students tweeted their impressions during Walker’s annual “Alumnae Perspectives Panel” which focused on technology and communication this year.

Creating and sharing original content during the event did more than demonstrate the topic; it met students in a channel in which they are most comfortable—social media.

Dean of Academic Technology and Innovation Sarah Edson led the panel discussion with three Walker’s alumnae: Katherine Hypolite ’04, Liss Couch-Edwards ’07, and Lamonda Williams ’87.

All three women work in the fields of technology and communication and have hands-on experience. They advised students on the ways technology could best serve good communication in the real world.

Students and panelists engaged in real-time conversation via Twitter during the panel.

Members of the 2013–2014 Alumnae Board WINTER 2014

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Take Note 1940

1944

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1941

Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014. We hope that you will return to Walker’s to celebrate with friends!

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Sophie Chandler Consagra has had a

1945 1942 Sylvia Breed Gates 01659 SW Greenwood Road Portland, OR 97219-8301 503-636-6305 sylviagates@comcast.net I noticed a lot of news about grandchildren, so I decided to post news about three of my eight grandchildren.

My oldest grandchild, Katie Fitzgerald, recently graduated from UC Berkeley and is a volunteer with the Peace Corps.

She will volunteer in the Ukraine for two years. Katie’s twin brother Matthew graduated as Honor Captain of the Corps at West Point in June and is now at the United States Army Ranger Training School. Christopher graduated from the University of Oregon, he is working in San Francisco and keeping up with sports broadcasting activities in the Stanford area.

Martha “Molly” Darling Bell 363 East 76th Street, Apt. 19C New York, NY 10021 212-744-8264 molly@kirkpalmer.com Amey Amory DeFriez wrote, “I stay in touch with Dottie Hirsch Loebl, the great communicator, and hope to see Payne Payson Middleton and Sophie Chandler Consagra this fall.” Amey also remarked that the recent communications from Walker’s should make us all so proud with a balanced budget and such wonderful college acceptances. Amey added, “Bessie is the best.”

Margie Auger Kennerly sold her place

in Connecticut since going North became a bit complicated; however, she still plans to get up North and visit her family. She hopes friends will visit her in Naples as her door is always open.

1943 Caroline Berry Laporte 5 Timber Lane, Apt. 222 Exeter, NH 03833 clapor@verizon.net

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bit of a tough summer. She had a nasty fall while vacationing on Nantucket and was flown back to New York. I hope to catch up with her some time soon.

When in Naples, Diana Dempsey continues to have an annual lunch with Margie Auger Kennerly and Maxine Porter Arnold ’44, and they only talk about Walker’s.

Penny Hall Porter remembers the first 20 years of her life and all of the trips back and forth from New York to EWS, camps, and college and meeting her father at The Commodore, a restaurant.

Where has the time gone, she wonders.

She still lives in Arizona, while her children, nine grandchildren, and three great grandchildren are scattered and live all over the world. Penny continues to write books for all ages and enjoys teaching The Joy of Reading when invited.

She sends her love to all of you.

Dottie Hirsch Loebl had a wonderful

Jane Cole Graves notified me that her

For the next edition of The Sundial, I would like to include news from the women of the Class of ’42. After all, we are fast approaching 90, and deadlines loom. All email replies are welcome.

books attracted national attention and critical praise for his original style. In 1961, he won the Carr P. Collins Award from the Texas Institute of Letters and was nominated for the National Book Award that same year. He is survived by Jane Cole Graves, two daughters, Helen Cole Graves and Sally Graves Jackson, as well as 4 grandchildren.

husband John Graves died on July 31, 2013. She shared excerpts from his obituary: As a child growing up in Fort Worth, Texas on his grandfather’s ranch, John was keenly interested in the landscape around him. He graduated from Rice University in 1942. He went on to serve as a Captain in the Marine Corps during World War II until being wounded by a Japanese grenade on the island of Saipan. After teaching English at the University of Texas, he received his master’s degree from Columbia University in 1948. While a graduate student at Columbia University, his first short story Quarry was published in the New Yorker. Through the 1950s, he continued to publish fiction and his

trip with a number of family members through Montana, stopping at Glacier National Park in Whitefish, MT and continuing to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. Dottie said, “The scenery was glorious.” She has seen Hannah Griffith Bradley, and she remarked that Hannah is always a good sport and cheerful. In addition, a couple of Dottie’s grandchildren have had the pleasure of boogie boarding off Hannah’s beach. Dottie also spoke to Grace McGraw Parr on her way to Iceland and Greenland. Gracie is certainly a veteran and enthusiastic traveler.

Payne Payson Middleton mentioned that her oldest grandson age 26 is getting his master’s degree from Tulane

Take Note University, and her youngest, only twoyears-old, understands English and responds in Italian. She also said she is just back from Italy which was very hot, but she did enjoy swimming in the warm sea and visiting with old pals. In August, she traveled to Maine to celebrate her brother’s 70th birthday. Remember, he was that darling little boy who stood in a chair with his parents watching us graduate? Payne tells me she stays in touch with Loise Baldwin Chapin, Sophie Chandler Consagra, and Sally Wells Whiteley a.k.a. “Thumper.”

Janice Tompkins Spurr spent time at her refuge in Maine this summer. Her four children are thriving with six grandchildren in college, four of whom play lacrosse. Janice looks forward to watching their games. She spent Columbus Day weekend on Nantucket for her family’s annual Columbus Day reunion; a lovely time to visit the island with no tourists. She has lunch frequently with Bea Weeks Bast who says she is slowing down but is in good spirits.

Sally Wells Whiteley wrote, “This has been a wonderful Santa Fe summer season with its world famous opera up to its usual excellence. There have been many parties, and visitors and now the leaves are turning, and there is a chill in the air.” Sally hopes to get back East to visit her 92-year-old sister in Boston and then continue on to New York. It would be great fun to see you Sally!

1946

A view of the School's barn through snowy trees

1949

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014. We hope that you will return to Walker’s to celebrate with friends!

1953

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1947 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1948 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1952

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1950 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org g

Susan “Susie” Kleinhans Gilbertson 18 Buttonwood Road Rumson, NJ 07760 732-842-2057 svwg@comcast.net The older you get the sweeter they are— what are they? Reunions, of course!

1951 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Our 60th Reunion was very special. At first we numbered 10 alumnae who were returning for the Class of 1952 Reunion, but because of last minute schedule

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Take Note Rock Country of Sedona. In August, I visited Hanover, NH for my oldest grandson’s 21st birthday while he and classmates were enjoying “Sophomore Summer” at Dartmouth College.

Dartmouth’s campus is so lovely, and we even visited the Dr. Seuss Room in the Baker Library.

I spoke to Lisa Miller McElhinny often over the summer, and her highpoint was her son Jamie’s wedding at her place in Sun Valley, Idaho. The wedding was a small, family affair which fortunately occurred before the fires. Although they were evacuated, their home was spared, thank heaven.

Debby’s House (Head’s House)

changes only seven arrived to campus.

All things considered, seven was still a very good number, and we felt like the “Lucky Seven” to be back on campus.

Once seated at dinner, to quote Betsy Rauch Rainoff, “We had a huge opportunity for shared conversation enhanced by our two long distance travelers: Q. Bloch Cook and Rusty Hodgman Huff.” We just picked up from where we left off 60 years ago; basically, in a most comfortable and pleasant way. Our honorary classmate at the table for the evening was the esteemed Connie Lavino Bell ’48, who shared with gusto stories of mischief and fun and some buried secrets (no bodies!) in the wooded 1950’s campus at EWS! Bessie and Tom Speers and their fine team maneuvered us through the schedule seamlessly. Friday evening we enjoyed cocktails overlooking the new sports fields, followed by a gourmet dinner in the Beaver Brook living room.

Saturday we enjoyed the Q and A with the Big Seven giving us a glimpse into the school today, the maypole dance, the class parade around the circle and into the Chapel, a sublime concert by the choir, music performed by the Grapes and band, alumnae awards and, of course, the school song which left not a dry eye in the house. We all went to lunch in Abra’s dining room and after, in the blink of an eye, we were gone again!

The school is most impressive, and the 44

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campus is truly cozy—a far cry from our day! The addition of Bessie’s house (recently named Debby’s House) and faculty homes, complete with kids on bikes and their pets, makes for a very warm atmosphere.

Attending from the Class of ’53 were the following: Bobbie Gerstell Bennett, Q. Bloch Cook, Rusty Hodgman Huff, Missy Kitchell Lickle, Betsy Rauch Rainoff, Jeannie Ballentine Riegel, and yours truly. Those who,

unfortunately, could not make it at the last minute were Nancie Magee Bourne, Molly Goodyear Gurney,

and Trish Sudler Stimpson.

On a personal note, post Hurricane Sandy, summer was a bit strange at the shore. There are still too many who are homeless. Those who owned homes in flood zones had to rebuild and are required to increase the height of their foundation by 4 ½ feet. Those who hold out against EPA requirements are subject to eminent domain. To add a double whammy to the area, this fall Seaside Park experienced a devastating fire that wreaked havoc on the boardwalk. Most of the beaches were able to open to the delight of those of us who enjoyed them, however.

In June, I enjoyed a trip to Sedona, AZ for my oldest son’s birthday. Always a treat to be with him, especially in Red

Mary Schwerin Ritter spent the summer in NYC dealing with some health issues. She was fortunate to stay at her daughter Nina’s apartment with her granddaughter, Morgan. Morgan was taking courses at the Pratt Institute in readiness for her stint at graduate school and was wonderful company for Mary.

They spent most weekends in Bay Head with the rest of the family. Mary has seen other “Walkerites” in New York, including Jeannie Ballentine Riegel and Betty Richards Tripp ’54, and has availed herself of the many joys only NYC can provide: bus and boat trips around Manhattan Island, and visits to museums in Brooklyn. I do not know about you, but Mary’s energy is enviable and leaves me huffing and puffing!

Suzy Patterson reported that she is still alive and quite well in Paris. Her small flat on Rue Saint-Dominique overlooks the church Saint-Pierre du Gros Caillou. Suzy truly loves Paris and when she first arrived wanted to stay forever. The city grabbed her heart strings, and she made her career there.

Her “hood” offers a plethora of parades of children from five different area schools and an international community surrounds her. Within walking distance from her flat, there are pharmacies, bars, bistros, and the Eiffel Tower. She goes to many art exhibits all over the city and enjoys the cinema; especially at La Pagoda, an antique, Japanese theater. The only negatives associated with living in

Take Note Paris are the difficulties involved in maintaining ancient structures and crime. She said that a couple of her friends were mugged recently, and that was pretty scary. The good news is she is considering a trip to Florida soon after the New Year. She still has her place in Dayton, OH and visits old friends there every summer.

Rusty Hodgman Huff wrote, “Hi Susie,

I loved seeing you at our 60th. Our class picture is so special, and everyone looks just the same. A grand group! On and off from June until Labor Day, I was with our six families, and in August spent two weeks in Canada. Great fun for a Granny. Love to everyone.”

Jeanne Ballentine Riegel emailed,

“Summer certainly did fly by! I had a wonderful trip to Turkey in June with my daughter Jenny and her family. I was delighted to get a glimpse of Betty Flanders Foster in Madison in August, she looked terrific and was delightful as always. I am looking forward to hockey games this fall as all five grandsons play.

I am so fortunate to have all my children near. That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Take care. Love, Jeannie.”

Writing from Northern Michigan, Pam Price Houk said, “I hope everyone is well. We are still hiking and kayaking the wilds of Northern Michigan, but head for home soon (sob!). xx P. Houk” Bobbie Gerstell Bennett told me she keeps busy with her husband Bob, their house, and their life in Princeton, NJ. Bobbie enjoys being on the board of Princeton University’s McCosh Infirmary, a position she has held for many years. Also, they get to see their daughter Laura quite often being so close to NYC.

I am happy to report all is well in the Nancy “Missy” Kitchel Lickle

household. Missy was kind enough to give me a lift off the New Jersey Turnpike, waving my little Dial flag, and drive me up to Simsbury to the Simsbury 1820 House. We enjoyed many giggles along the way.

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REUNION

Betty Richards Tripp 18 School Street Stonington, CT 06378 860-535-0432 bettyrichards36@gmail.com Ursula Bitter Ulmer sent warm greetings to everyone and wrote, “I live in Zürich, Switzerland, a gem of a city, at the end of a long blue lake, with views of the Alps in clear weather, and accessible forests for hiking at the end of almost every tram line. So my love of outdoor life is more than nourished. Indoor life involves being the director of admissions for a school training Jungian analytical psychologists and a small private practice.

I go to Watch Hill, RI, every summer to get my fix of the ocean and my U.S. friends (especially Betty) and relatives.

Once a year I visit Cape Town, where I lived for eight years among the oceans and mountains, to keep in touch with the creative/destructive clash of cultures and the courageous friends I love. My visit inspires and keeps me humble, sort of ‘fixes’ my perspective. Two sons and two grandsons also keep me challenged and thoroughly entertained. My health is holding. Health is the challenge of so many around me, and I see with what grace, strength and humor they sprinkle the hardships. I hope I can do half as well when such trials come my way.”

In addition, I am doing all the usual things which sound boring but are very pleasant: dinner, bridge, errands, walking the dog, and reading. A quiet life but a good one. I am happy to report that all is well with my family. In addition to my two children, I have four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren including a new baby girl named Quinn. I keep up with the “Greats” on Facebook which is fun. They are growing like weeds; don’t see enough of the ones who live in San Diego, but they will probably be here at Christmas.“ According to Elodie Huntley Tilney, summer in Vero Beach was not as bad as Florida summers can be. She and Bud enjoyed lots of good reading and their favorite restaurants without the seasonal crowds. Quite a few northern friends have returned early since it was hotter in Vermont than in Vero Beach. They are now quietly preparing for the winter residents to appear.

Elodie’s granddaughter, Luna, is now 12 and has begun 7th grade. Alex, who is 23, started seminary in Denver. Also in Denver are Elodie Jr. and her husband, both ordained ministers as well as their other son, Peter (25), who is a chef in the area. Elodie Jr. also teaches Ancient Greek at the Denver Seminary.

It seems that a Vero neighbor of Elodie’s is also a summer neighbor of Patsy

“After 40 years in the Northwest, I finally got to Alaska,” Polly Barnes Hester wrote. She continued to write about Alaska’s wondrous mountains, glaciers, bears, eagles, otters, whales, and salmon. “We’re off to the California desert for the winter. Life is wonderful!

We are so lucky, she added.”

From Memphis, Nell Rainer Levy reported, “I had a hip replacement in October, 2012. The operation went very well, but getting it was another matter; it is a complicated and long story. Prior to surgery, I quit playing tennis due to pain, and have not taken it up again because I lost some of my sense of balance and do not want to fall.

Walker's Chapel following superstorm Nemo in 2013 WINTER 2014

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Take Note Glenn Shannon Whipple recounted,

“On the first of June I flew to Houston to see my son and his family whom I had not seen since last August! I’ve never gone that long without seeing them, but living in Ruidoso, New Mexico, makes it hard to slip down there easily! Had a wonderful, relaxed five days with them since they were out of school and just ‘chilling!’

In July, my daughter Emily and I set off on our 7th annual mother/daughter trip.

This year we went to Boston and Maine.

During the trip, I shared some good back and forth emails with Jane Cluett Dorm

Blun Deetjen in Maine. A nice EWS

connection.

Betsey Barrett Phillips communicated from New Hampshire, “Our summer was busy with lots of wonderful things to do, but I’m happy to have my life back now that summer is over. In November, my husband Chuck and I are going to Tanzania to visit friends who are supporting an orphanage in Arusha, Tanzania. We’re sponsoring one of the little boys in the orphanage, and we’ll get to meet him for the first time. We’ll also get to go on safari for a few days. By the time we return, skiing will be on the agenda. It’s what we love to do most with our grandsons, who are fortunate enough to have parents who both work at Sunday River Ski Resort in Maine.”

Next spring, we’ll get in our RV and head for a 2-1/2 month trip to the Southwest. Other than that, I spend a lot of time being politically active with the NH Democratic Party and with local politics, outdoors in the garden, on the tennis court, or at the local swim club.

I’m thankful that we live in a community of friends where always there’s someone to play with.”

Now a summary from Anita Larsen Fivek, “Life seems to be all about grandchildren: the oldest, Matthew works for Google in California; Ginny teaches Pilates and works for a hospital in Boston; Kate is getting a master’s degree at the Chicago Art Institute 46

THE SUNDIAL

(hoping Karen Bisgard Alexander will look her up); Sarah has worked with Bob Ballard on the Nautilus and is pursuing her Master of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island; Tim teaches and coaches at a private school in Alexandria, Va.; Mike is working on his Master of Arts in Economics at Indiana University; Forbes graduated from Babson College and now lives in Aspen where he tends bar and skis; James, his brother, graduated and is an intern with a financial company in New York City; finally, a second Sarah is a student at Drexel University, and her two younger sisters go to Westtown School in Pennsylvania. The 11 grandchildren range in age from 16 to 32 and have done so well. No one married, to date.

No complaints.

Now for news about my children. My youngest daughter bought a beautiful second home in Breckenridge, Colorado.

My middle daughter has a second home in Little Compton, Rhode Island, and my oldest daughter does a lot of volunteer work and lives in Hopewell, New Jersey.

I still play golf and work out three times a week. Although I am frustrated that my handicap has gone from a 4 to a 15, I still love the game. Bill my husband of 16 years will be 85 in January; he is legally blind and very hard of hearing.

We have decided not to go to Florida this year. I treasure every day with Bill as I don’t think there will be many more.”

McCurrach Talcott, Katie Auchincloss Porter and played phone tag with Patsy Blun Deetjen;

unfortunately, our schedules never meshed and I did not see any of them.

However, Emily and I had a delightful time, albeit we were in Boston during a record heat wave. We walked the Freedom Trail and spent an air conditioned afternoon in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. We drove up the coast of Maine and saw beautiful scenery, hiked in Acadia National Park, and dined wonderfully on lobster every chance we had! We picked up Emily’s oldest son (Jack, age 11) from Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, spent the night in Kennebunkport, and then flew out of Boston back to Denver where Emily and her family live.

I had a long-time childhood friend and Smith College roommate and her husband out for a weekend, in August. I had seen her only a few times since she had married 50 some odd years ago and moved to Midland, so we had a lovely time catching up. It’s amazing how friends pick up where they left off when they share long time connections and memories. My husband was very good natured about it all since he didn’t know either one of them at all!

Just as we were looking forward to our 6th annual family reunion at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs over Labor Day, my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with early stage two, but high grade breast cancer. Blessedly, it is contained, but required immediate

Take Note chemotherapy. So their family could not join us. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. She is just 45, too young to have this hanging over her head. Although my daughter-in-law and her family could not join us, we had a delightful time at The Broadmoor. My grandchildren are fifth generation Broadmoor guests (I started going there in the mid 40s with my grandmother!) and each year we build and share many memories.”

From Mary Stein Dominick, “Fall season is glorious on Aspen’s western slope and at 8,000 feet above sea level.

This year the colors are various, late in coming, and almost at peak by the first of October. Tomorrow, I fly up to Bozeman, MT to attend my youngest grandchild’s Grandparents’ Day at his country school. I am looking forward to the day, and spending time with my son, DeWitt, who is a fluvial geomorphologist.”

Katherine Somerville Steele shared that life is “just the usual ‘rocking along’ as they do in the Delta.” In the late summer, Katherine and Ed Hunter spent a week with daughter Liz and her family at Lake George, NY and took a trip to Saratoga Springs, NY.

community with lots of amenities in Plymouth, Massachusetts. She enjoys being a member of a very active Glee Club and misses it during the winter when she is in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Bette’s four children live in Idaho, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Alaska. Soon, she plans to visit her daughter in Alaska who at age 43 just finished her doctorate.

Helen Harvey Mills mentioned that she had a really fun lunch at the Arts Club of Chicago with her sister, and Fillmore and Barbie Mayer Marks. She laughed and said that Miss Darling always comes up in conversation as does May Day dances and many other fond memories.

Helen proclaimed, “I’m obsessed over my oldest grandson Lucian’s college searches.

His interest in computer engineering suggests the University of Indiana, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terra Haute, Indiana, where advanced students work on prototypes for small companies and design medical devices.

In addition, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (MA) sounds superb. Ethel Walker’s prepared us to get in almost anywhere.”

Bette Van Deventer Gibson phoned

with news that last year she moved from her rural home in New Hampshire to a

In a recent phone call, Barbara Mayer Marks mentioned her lunch in Chicago

with Helen (see above). Barbara’s son, Will, his wife and their three children are spending the year in Barcelona, Spain where they will learn Spanish and delve into the culture. Barbara and Fillmore hope to join them for a visit later in the school year.

Karen Bisgard Alexander wrote, “After two trips to New England, I find myself longing to see the red fall leaves on maple trees, rugged stone walls, and eat sweet clams. Instead, we have acres of corn, retreating ash trees, and lots of fresh water that doesn’t have that same salt air smell of the ocean. The summer was spent with grandchildren, and weepy daughters as they thought about sending their cherubs off to college and boarding school. How different the experience is with Skype and cell phones. When we were left on the steps of Beaver Brook, we were virtually cut off from our parents with the exception of occasional letters and telephone calls from home. Now children can easily Skype, text, email or post on Facebook reports about every class, friend, and event. Oh, well. I’m learning Tai Chi, which I love, but I have a long way to go before my chi is satisfied.”

As for me, Betty Richards Tripp, I am pleased to report on two very special events, the first of which was a June trip to Chicago with Frannie Haffner Colburn hosted by Karen Bisgard Alexander at her outstanding Mies pied-a-terre overlooking Lake Michigan.

We had a wonderful lunch with Helen Harvey Mills at the Arts Club of Chicago, now housed in an architectural gem of a new building with its interesting art collection. We admired the Art Institute’s new Ancient Art Galleries of which Karen had been so much a part from planning to completion, saw many of the city’s sight, including the Millennium Park and also had an architectural tour along the Chicago River.

In August, I was thrilled to meet Maria Salome Casanova Aguero’s son,

Katherine Somerville Steele ’54 with her husband Ed Hunter, daughter Liz and grandsons Yves (9) and Leland (7)

Sergio, wife Bobbie and their son Alexis when they were visiting in Stonington, CT from Los Angeles. We had hoped that Salo and her husband, Sergio, would

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Take Note

L-R: Alexis, Bobbie, Sergio (son of Maria Salome Casanova Aguero ’54), and Betty Richards Tripp ’54

join us from Miami; instead we all spoke on the phone and took photos.

Also in August I was happy to see Ursula Bitter Ulmer in her house in Watch Hill, RI with its wonderful ocean views. Together with her houseguest, we shared a delicious dinner, had interesting conversations, and a chance to see her son and his family also visiting from Switzerland.

How lucky I am that, from time to time, Frannie Haffner Colburn invites me to Boston. Next week we shall meet to attend a lecture about Cuban architecture (we were both in Cuba in 2012) and a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance. I always have a fine time and return home brimming with new knowledge as well as an update on Frannie’s many interesting travels.

Finally, I was sad to learn of the death of our classmate, Virginia “Pidge” Wack.

Excerpts from Virginia’s obituary mentioned, “Virginia Wack Wood died at home in Scottsdale, AZ on Friday Oct. 7, 2010. She was married to Robert M. Wood of Sheridan and Sam J. Campbell of Nashville, Tenn. (deceased).

Virginia, owner of Goldwood Farm, was a highly successful breeder of Arabian Show Horses. Her accomplishments included six National Championships, six Reserve National Championships, and she was the only breeder in the

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Arabian Industry to date, to win two National Futurity Filly Championships with two different horses.

Pidge is survived by a daughter, Diana W. Kenyon; three stepchildren—Sam J. Campbell, Deidra C. Gessner, and Christopher M. Campbell; two grandchildren—Kailee A. Kenyon and Lea S. Campbell; a brother, Ward Wack and a sister Carol Bauer.”

1955 Letitia “Tisha” McClure Potter 44 Rockwood Lane Greenwich, CT 06830 203-869-6069 lmpotter@earthlink.net Life brings us moments of both joy and grief, and these two opposites have touched the lives of our classmates. It is with sadness I report the recent deaths of two dear family members of our classmates. Susan Salant Wierdsma’s husband John passed away peacefully and pain-free on October 14 after a long illness. I remember John as a warm and friendly man. Susan and John had many years together, and she is fortunate to have numerous children and grandchildren from their blended families. We send much love with sympathy to you all.

Bryan Gill, Liz Nash Muench’s beloved son died suddenly and unexpectedly in May, the night before he was to give a workshop during Walker’s Alumnae Weekend. Those of you who came to our 50th Reunion will remember that Bryan and his wife Gina opened their house to give our class a splendid, festive dinner. Their hospitality, delicious dinner, and visit to his art studio created a wonderful, unique evening. Recently Bryan reached a pinnacle of success in his artistic life, making prints from cross cuts of old trees. His last work is a lengthy print of a Ming dynasty temple pillar. To see a video of Bryan working on this piece Google The Ming, Bryan Nash Gill (http://vimeo.com/75055262). His prints bring to view the story of the lives of these diverse wood pieces. A collection of his work can be found in Woodcut, the largest selling art book on Amazon in 2012. Liz mentioned that anyone who is inclined to honor Bryan, can send a gift to The Center for Contemporary Printmaking, 299 West Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850. Bryan’s creative, loving soul is missed deeply by Liz and his family, and we wish them peace and healing.

And now as life often does we move onto a lighter note—class notes. Our class has been travelling and often by boat, it seems.

After four months in Spring Island, SC, Meg Doubleday Buck and Austin

visited Berlin, Germany and then cruised on the rain-swollen Elbe River, ending in Prague. This summer many Bucks clustered in Montana at the Lazy E-L Ranch. Austin said Meg is enjoying working on needlepoint now that they are at home.

Joined by her son Bill and granddaughter Kaitlin, BJ Russell Broda travelled to Kansas to visit a family farm in Lyndon, her family in Lawrence, and friends in Topeka. She did not travel by boat, of course. I suspect she was showing her granddaughter her roots. By December, she hopes to be in the Hartford area, catching up with Bill’s family, and planning to drop by Walker’s. BJ added

Take Note it has been a perfect fall to walk her three month old yellow Lab. BJ, enjoy your new companion.

Cheery to hear from Natalie Fesenmyer Emery. Guess what? Natalie is taking ballet lessons. She admitted, “it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” Her instructor danced with several major companies and is a history professor, specializing in classical ballet. And yes, she is still driving in auto events.

Jenny Stewart Chandler

enthusiastically reported that she had her second hip replaced and “feels human again.” Now Jenny can really enjoy golf, walking, and be pain free. She can’t wait until 2015, our 60th Reunion.

An email from Carol Large Calhoun updated the activities of her daughter Sarah who owns and oversees Felicity Sweets, a four-star boutique at 579 Tremont Street in “The New South End” of Boston. I certainly am going to have to check that out—yummmmm.

Presently, Sarah is displaying a half-dozen of Carol’s paintings in her shop. Carol’s work is also on view in a four-person Autumn Invitational show at the Jackson Gallery in Middlebury, and at the Creative Space Gallery in Vergennes, both Galleries are in Vermont. Carol must be painting a lot. I reported last time that Hope, her other daughter, is in San Francisco, working at The Stone Clinic, an orthopedic clinic, but I just learned that she commutes by bicycle from Sausalito to the other end of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Little Shop of Horrors in October. Tina is enjoying the only girl in her family and wants to “stick around” to watch Lauren’s plans unfold. Amazed by reading about today’s Walker’s, she commented, “Not just studying and going to classes any more, the students seem to be taking on the world’s problems by participating in all kinds of activities outside of school.”

place with many civilizations coming and going for millennia. Corsica was my favorite. Cruising is easy with no packing/unpacking at every stop and no transportation hassle once on board port of call. The rhythm of the days is relaxing on board with interesting trips ashore. We were fortunate to get the whole family together on Captiva Island with activities for everyone. It was magical.

I caught Tanis Higgins Erdmann just as she had returned from a cruise and was about to have house guests. I was sorry not to see her as she could not attend a Walker’s reception with our Head, Bessie Speers and with Trustee and Head of New Canaan Country School (NCCS), Tim Bazemore at NCCS. Their conversation involved the fast evolving directions in education and how schools are adapting to new ways of learning with the influence of technology.

I am grateful to those who sent in news.

Thank you, and I am hoping to hear from the silent ones next time.

Meanwhile, may you enjoy good health and happy days.

More cruising travelers were Terry Treman Williams and Joe who travelled from Paris through Burgundy and into Provence, enjoying France’s l’art de vivre.

Of course, they spent a few days in Paris.

After, their summer days were spent in the mountains of North Carolina.

Philip and I also boarded a small boat, this time in Palermo Sicily to tour the islands from Malta to Minorca with an emphasis on their prehistoric sites. The western Mediterranean has been a busy

1956 Adrianne “A” Massie Hill 2771 Peachtree Road NE #10 Atlanta, GA 30305 404-846-0407 travelinghills@gmail.com Phoebe Haffner Andrew wrote from Seattle that she and her family had a quiet summer at their home on Saltspring Island in British Columbia, Canada and is glad to report that everyone is well.

One of our peripatetic classmates, Margaret “Peg” Peck Blosser who lives in Aiken, South Carolina, has enjoyed several trips with her husband,

After years of reveling in hiking trips Tina O’Neil Lyons has decided to shelve her walking/hiking shoes to “see the world by ship.” In September, she and Dan sailed with the American Cruise Line in the San Juan Islands, a part of Washington state. Their three sons and wives are thriving. Four grandsons have moved up to the University of Arizona or high school.

Their only granddaughter Lauren (8th grade) continues to love the prestigious Orange County School of the Arts and is performing, singing, and dancing in The A snow covered Walker’s barn

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Take Note Denver, since I last wrote. In particular, a Viking Rivers cruise on the Danube took them to Budapest, Bucharest, and Belgrade where much of the rebuilding of eastern Europe is taking place. When we were studying history, so much of that part of the world was inaccessible to us for travel or for study; we learned of the bombing and destruction of western Europe, but as tourism expands globally, it would seem that the various governments in the East are eager to capitalize on it. Peg and Denver have a large combined family so their trips take them to various spots in the United States for visits. A new dog, a Doberman, from the local SPCA has joined their family.

Nancy Lanphier Chapin from

Chatham, Illinois, is trying to get me into the 21st century! She wrote that she had downloaded the Ethel Walker Alumnae app which she finds very interesting. For peace of mind, the app is only accessible by alumnae and lists only the information that we have provided.

Nancy and her husband, Chick celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary at the end of June. She remains on the Abraham Lincoln Association board, but has curtailed her other volunteer activities somewhat. She has, however, expanded her “farming” activities by purchasing a John Deere tractor!

Another “frequent flyer,” Aileen “Missy” Turnbull Geddes who lives in Oyster Bay, New York, took the time to email me from their boat on the Dalmatian coast! We will talk.

Melinda, “Linen” Miller Greenough

sent a great note from her home in Sheridan, Wyoming as well as a picture of her on horseback. Linen and her husband, Doug have family scattered throughout the country including one grandchild in southern Mexico and a great-grandchild in Rapid City, South Dakota. Linen is in close touch with her sister, Lisa Miller McElhinny ’53, and her husband, Wilson, who live in Ketchum, Idaho. She wrote that her newest passion is a little Haflinger threeyear old colt, and she broke him in herself. Also, after years of riding Western, she has a college student teaching her how to ride English and training her in dressage!

Dorothy Doubleday Massey sent a

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A long note arrived from Gail Sheppard Moloney, who continues to enjoy extensive travels, both to visit family and to explore. Gail is in Myanmar, formerly Burma, right now with two longtime friends and then will continue on to Shanghai where she said, “My youngest daughter is teaching in a Chinese high school, accompanied by her husband and five children! A far cry from a small village in Vermont!” Gail divides her time between Greenwich, CT and Vero Beach, FL. Carol Keeney Munro sent a news-filled

Linen Miller Greenough ’56, out for a ride.

Nancy Lanphier Chapin ’56 and her new John Deere.

her son, Paul from Hawaii as well as Mary’s German exchange student. A well earned celebration, Dorothy! Remember when we both worked, and you often worked on the Sabbath? Dorothy mentioned with great relief that her godson, a career officer with the U.S. Department of State, is safe after all personnel were evacuated from the American Embassy in Yemen when protesters attacked the embassy last summer.

delightful note in mid-August from her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She wrote, “All good at this end although there are not enough hours in the day nor days in the week (yes, I work on the Sabbath)! My family is well and thriving.”

Dorothy lives right next door to her daughter, Mary. This month, Mary, her husband Sam, and their son, Jackson plan to celebrate Dorothy’s birthday in Cabo San Lucas. Joining them will be

note from Naples, Florida, where she and Dick live in the winter. Carol wrote, “I spent lots of time in the Thousand Islands (did not see Lorna this summer...sad) but did see lots of Betsy McNally who is in great shape. Dick and I were in Alaska, Montana and New Orleans in between seeing our grand kids in various places. Two grandchildren are of college age, and one is a freshman at (do I dare say?) Miss Porter’s! Our three boys are busy. John is Headmaster of Fairfield Country Day School (where our son, Gordon Hill, was a student in the early 80s). Douglass, still works at the Nature Conservancy in the Adirondacks, Keene Valley, NY. Our third son, Mac and his new wife, Hillary are in Jackson, Wyoming. Dick and I love being involved here in Naples and doing everything, I think!!”

Edith “Edie” Radley sent a cheery note from Edgartown, MA where she lives, and said that she had enjoyed a great summer with nieces and nephews visiting her. She especially enjoyed the visit from her niece, Katy Gray, daughter

Take Note of Edie’s late sister, Elizabeth “Liz Radley Anderson ’53. Can you imagine a nicer aunt? She is on her way to celebrate HUGE birthdays (we have all met those this year!) with a school chum in Connecticut.

Sara Cavanagh Schwartz who lives

in West Chester, PA wrote a most interesting note. Sara wrote, “My husband, Sandy, and I still publish our newspaper, The Horse of Delaware Valley (www.horsedelval.com), which keeps both of us very busy.” Just as Dorothy Doubleday Massey works on Sunday, so do Sara and Sandy! She continued to say, “I have a beautiful garden with perennials that keep it colorful throughout the spring, summer, and fall, and are complemented with annuals.

Last spring, my son, Frank, built me a koi pond with a fountain at one end of the garden; the sound of tinkling water is refreshing and lovely. My homebred Avilord won another race this year and has placed fourth in two races. I get huge enjoyment from my homebreds, and have another filly, who, although temporarily hurt, will hopefully race next year.” Sara keeps up her golf with a group from the Church of the Advent once a week during the summer, and in the winter may be found at the Palm Beach Polo in Wellington, FL. Sara and I had talked a few years ago about trying to get a group of us from our class to play somewhere, somehow! Hold that thought!

saying that I often quote, but I did find it on the internet and now can affirm that it is true! In September I personally had three good things happen to me, all related to our class at Walker’s.

A couple of years ago Serena Stewart mentioned to me that she is a fan of the Atlanta Braves, our home baseball team, which narrowly missed this year’s league playoffs, and that she wanted to come to Atlanta to see a game. We had such a good time with her when she visited a couple of years ago that a date was set for her to come here this year in early September to see a game against the New York Mets. We did have fun; never enough time to talk as much as we would like, but I can say first hand that Serena looks great and is now in Paris and Madrid with some friends from Hope Lodge in New York, where she continues as a faithful volunteer.

Shortly after Serena left, Mal and I set forth for France, one of our absolutely favorite countries. In preparation for the trip, I had emailed Clarina Schwarzenbach Firmenich to inquire about a good time of year and a spot to visit in the south of France, an area we knew only slightly. At the same time, I wrote to the late Emily “Bonnie” King Harrison’s first husband, Jean-Francois deGautret and his second wife, MarieFrance, who live in Paris to see if they were still on holiday in the country and to see if we might be able to meet.

Virginia “Gigi” Pearson Smithers

recalled that she had a lovely “family reunion” with her sons’ families including their two grandsons, Drew, an aspiring musician in Nashville, TN and his “significant other,” and their 23 yearold grandson and his two-and-a-half-year old daughter, their first GREATGRAND and our only “grand-girl.” Gigi and Kip divide their time between John’s Island, Vero Beach, and Wianno on Cape Cod, which they call “Camp Wianno” as it offers all kinds of interesting courses and activities. My own memory of Gigi is one of a very creative and artistic girl. She remains so.

“Good things come in threes.” An old

Bonnie and Jean’s first child, Hillary is my goddaughter, and we have always stayed in touch with both Bonnie and Jean-Francois. The deGautrets invited us to spend a weekend in Provence with them as we planned to stay in Nice for three weeks. Clarina and I talked on the phone the minute we arrived in Nice, but, naturally, as house guests, we could not make any plans. Shortly after we arrived at the deGautrets’ house, Jean mentioned that Clarina had called us, but said that she would call back the following week. I was sure, then that even though she was on vacation near Aix-enProvence, not far from where we were, we would not have a chance to see her.

BOOKS WE ENJOYED The Class of 1956 recommends the books they enjoyed reading: Phoebe Haffner Andrew: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Steven Greenblatt; On the Nature of Things by Titus Lucretius Carus Linen Miller Greenough: Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.; The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri Missy Turnbull Geddes: Stone’s Fall and An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Pears Serena Stewart: Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson; Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden; Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth by Riza Aslan Gail Sheppard Moloney: My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor Dorothy Doubleday Massey: Blowback by Valerie Plame and Sarah Lovett; Spider Woman’s Daughter by Anne Hillerman Adrianne Massie Hill: From Beirut to Jerusalem by Thomas L. Friedman In addition, several classmates mentioned the works of Canadian author Alice Ann Munro, the recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature and the 2009 Man Booker International Prize.

On Saturday as the four of us were visiting on a porch just before lunch, in walked Clarina!! She and Jean had arranged this date, totally without our suspecting, and I can’t begin to say how exciting it was. We had last seen Clarina in Geneva in 2000, and the deGautrets in Paris in 2007.

Clarina Schwarzenbach Firmenich

looks absolutely wonderful, the same lovely smile and manner, full of interesting conversation, and great shared

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Take Note memories. She wanted to know about many of you, and although she has not been back to Walker’s, it really seemed a short time ago that we were all there together. Clarina has two sons: Patrick and his family in Geneva where she lives, and Antoine and his family in Singapore.

And so, my comment about “threes”: Serena, Clarina, and the deGautrets/Bonnie. Good things.

Mal and I continue to enjoy living near our older son, Mal, and his family in Atlanta. Our son, Gordon, a bachelor lawyer in Denver, remains our family workaholic! We enjoyed a visit to Seattle in May where Phoebe and I joined friends for dinner, one evening. We share a lovely group of mutual friends and try to get to Seattle at least once yearly.

We remain happily involved at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip here where we both sing, volunteer, and take some classes. I am just finishing my third year on the Chapter (vestry) of St. Philip’s and have enjoyed the experience greatly.

Bridge is part of our life, too; we even played in France with the deGautrets!

Atlanta continues to grow, but, sadly, with more and more cars. It is a city that badly needs good public transportation and smaller cars. The cars in Europe reminded me of Angry Birds as they effortlessly buzzed along taking less than half the space of ours. We try to walk to the shops as much as possible and planted ourselves across the street from the Cathedral when we moved here. My piano partner, Linda Bath, and I continue to play two pianos, try to get together at least weekly, and I can’t help but think that a lot of music, singing, playing, and enjoying came straight from Miss Sala, Toni Grunschlag, and Walker’s. That thought crosses my mind often when singing during the weekly Evensong service on Sunday afternoons.

A blanket of snow covers Beaver Brook and the Chapel.

Elaine Humphreys Hewitt, Evie Bardeen Leach, Nancy Sherwood O’Hearn, Anne Machold Rooks, Mary Laird Silvia, and Lynn Fentress Underhill. They are with us in spirit.

Please stay well! We are in “those” years which always seemed so far in the future but aren’t any longer.

1957 Sandra “Sandy” Lipson Ryon P.O. Box 1134 7201 Wilkins Lane Chestertown, MD 21620 410-778-4238 slryon@aol.com In the last issue of The Sundial, I saw “A” Massie Hill ’56 had asked her classmates what books they’d especially enjoyed. This seemed like a great idea, so in my email asking for Take Note news, I also asked for book recommendations.

Wouldn’t it make Miss Hunt and Miss Ashe proud to know what enthusiastic readers we’ve turned out to be?

Karen Peterson Earle wrote, “We are

As this is the last set of notes for 2013, let us remember those classmates who are no longer with us: Connie Irwin Bray, Cookie Schutt Brown, Pat Pfaff Gonset, Bonnie King Harrison,

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happily ensconced in our Amagansett, NY house now that EVERYONE HAS GONE HOME!!! We love the fall here.

I would love to recommend books: just finished Canada by Richard Ford—a

wonderful writer. Tried Saul Bellow for the first time with Herzog—unusual, to say the least!! J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace, Kevin Power’s The Yellow Birds and, particularly, Katherine Boo’s Behind the Beautiful Forevers, all beautiful for different reasons. I know everyone must have read Citizens of London by Lynne Olson. Still Talk to Pat Day Storm almost every day.”

In September, Trudy Beebe Miller inquired about Mort’s health (more about that later) and said that David was recovering from the spinal surgery he had in July. She added, “Except for a weekend in Marion, MA with family members for a wedding, we had a nice, relaxing summer.”

A note from Angie Pell Jernegan said, “Still teaching history at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College three days a week and fox hunting as much as I can. Had two wonderful days of hunting with Betsy Rauch Rainoff ’53 last week. Betsy came from Southern Pines, NC, and we had a great time. She always brings good luck, and we saw more game than I had seen in along time. Went to Geneseo, NY for my niece’s wedding this summer (it started with a fox hunt) and then went up to Lake Muskoka in Ontario, Canada to visit with Carroll Davis Manol and her husband, Thom.

She is as beautiful as ever and took excellent care of my kayak, so I spent

Take Note some time on the water, which I love.

My granddaughters are more active than I. My eldest is in her second year at UVA and the next is a senior at Trinity. She went to New Zealand on an exchange program for a month and went bungee jumping. Braver than her grandmother!

I have a “niece,” a cousin’s daughter, at EWS so it looks like I’ll be going to graduation in a few years.”

Mimi Gibbs Piper reminisced, “Jimmy and I have had some eventful times this summer and fall. Jimmy turned 80 in August. We joined his two daughters, and one three year old grandson in California to celebrate his birthday. His third daughter just gave birth to his first granddaughter in October. My five grandchildren are in Denver and Baltimore. The two oldest girls are at Washington and Lee University with the older one graduating in May. I don’t know how we got so old! Fortunately, Jimmy and I are both well, although our recent trip to Greece, the islands, and Istanbul was a little too rigorous. We had beautiful weather, a great guide with Odyssey, nice people, magnificent views and sunsets, but a lot of climbing on big rocks and ruins. Our next short trip will be to New York City for my 75th birthday! The Denver Waxters are joining us on Thanksgiving, so both families will be together for the first time in five years. That will be the best birthday present I could hope for! We love being able to see Sandy and Mort and hope to have a good day sailing this week on the Chesapeake, a trip that we won at an auction for the Irvine Nature Center.”

According to Jinny Tilt Sammis, “We still spend a lot of time in Randolph, VT as we still run the Three Stallion Inn, the lovely Montague Golf Club, our residential real estate project at historic Green Mountain Stock Farm, and our commercial projects at Exit 4 off I-89 in Randolph. We are also still in Greenwich as church, business, and family keep us there as well. We lost part of our family to Ketchum, Idaho this summer. Our son’s family moved out of Greenwich for a less stressful lifestyle, and they seem to love it out there. Lucky for us, they were

able to spend over five weeks with us in Vermont this summer before they moved. Fortunately, our daughter’s family is still in Greenwich. I continue to sing in my church choir at St. Barnabas Church in Greenwich, and its concert choir. Can’t seem to pull myself away quite yet. Good recent reads—Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D., The Forgiven by Lawrence Orborne, and Traveling Light by Max Lucado. I see Kenny King Howe and Tisha McClure Potter ’55 often here in Greenwich. Both seem very well. Also, I naturally talk to my sister, Priscilla Tilt Pochna ’59, a great deal. She is in good shape. Hello to everyone.”

Pat Day Storm wrote, “Howie and I just got back from eight days in Cabo San Lucas, which was totally relaxing and fun. Now crazy about infinity pools!

Always in touch with Karen Peterson Earle, and we are planning our annual birthday trip to New York as Karen described in the last Take Note. I will celebrate my 75th birthday on January 12, and the celebration will include dinner at the Colony Club organized by Karoozy. The group is always the same: Karen and Victor, my sister Dinah Day ’62, and six other childhood friends. The last book I read was The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva. Howard and I love stories about grisly murders.

Randy Furlong Street conveyed, “As

In a phone conversation with Mary Fentress Grumhaus, she said that all

usual, my news is basically of travel. I did get to Uganda in July and saw their fascinating gorillas and chimpanzees. We visited four national parks which gave us a very diverse look at the country. It is beautiful with beautiful people, but all of it (wildlife included) is still trying to recover after the devastation that was created by despotic governments. They have a long way to go, but have made good progress as result of the economic benefits of ecotourism. To this point, I am healthy and well but, at our age, that can turn in an instant, so nothing is taken for granted. I am truly blessed! I read every word of The Sundial and continue to yearn to be a student at the school now! It seems to be at a very good place and is thriving during these challenging times.”

I had hoped to see Lisa Dobbin Sherwood in Nantucket this summer, but she ended up with a ruptured appendix. Scary! She had great care in the little hospital there, although it was a long recovery. She especially enjoys books about gardening; such as, Rosemary Verey: The Life and Lessons of a Legendary Gardener by Barbara Paul Robinson and Elizabeth Lawrence’s Gardens in Winter.

She also likes Michael Pollan’s books and those of Simon Brett, a British mystery writer. We discussed our admiration for Andrea Wulff, who wrote The Brother Gardeners and The Founding Gardeners— both books are fascinating.

was well with her. She and David were leaving for Sun Valley for a mini Princeton University reunion. They took a barge trip through the Loire Valley of France with several other couples including Lorna Sargeant Pfaelzer ’56 and her husband. They also spent three nights in Paris and went on a guided Hemingway walk and read A Moveable Feast. She also reread The Great Gatsby after seeing the terrible recent remake of the movie. It must have been made to appeal to the younger generations; my children and grandchildren who saw it loved it. Mary’s recent favorite books have been Citizens of London, Tell the Wolves I’m Home by Carol Rifke Brunt, Where’d You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple, and Trapeze by Simon Mawer, about women in Special Operations during WWII. As for me, life in Chestertown, MD continues to be stimulating and fun. Our children, grandchildren, and Harry, our Jack Russell, continue to be a joy to us.

In August, Mort had open heart surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. It was lovely to be able to spend the first night with Jimmy and Mimi Gibbs Piper before moving into Mort’s room in the hospital.

Anyone who has been through open heart surgery knows that it’s a long recovery, but Mort’s progress has been encouraging. This has allowed some time for reading! I was amazed to realize that

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Take Note I’ve already read 47 books this year. A very good companion for Citizens of London, which several of us read, is The Churchills: In Love and War by Mary S. Lovell. Some of my favorites titles have been The Gift of Years: Growing Old Gracefully by Joan Chittister, Walter Isaacson’s book about Steve Jobs, The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe, and The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown, about the crew at the University of Washington who won the gold medal at in the 1936 Berlin Olympics against all odds. It’s fabulous even if crew isn’t necessarily your thing. I also read all eight of the books in Louise Penny’s Chief Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries series while Mort was recuperating—very entertaining and well written.

1958 Barbara “Barbie” Welles Bartlett 4853 Congress Street Fairfield, CT 06824 203-259-2346 barbiebartlett@aol.com

1959

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Lynn Sheppard Manger 8 East 81st Street New York, NY 10028 212-772-3068 nathypertension@aol.com Happy Fall! Last fall we tried collecting news only once a year as it seemed to be very successful we will continue with that practice. Therefore, I will save the news I received for the Spring Edition 2014 edition of The Sundial.

Meanwhile, a reminder that our 55th Reunion is coming up in May 2014. I am hoping you will join me at Walker’s to visit with classmates and to see the new dorm, which is quite fabulous. We also have to replant our class tree as the last one was lost in the big storm. Luckily, we still have the plaques to place at the base.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday

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season. I will be back to you all in February for all your news.

1960 Phyllis Richard Fritts 910 Ladybug Lane Vero Beach, FL 32963 772-234-7096 prfitts@earthlink.net News from Margot Campbell Bogert of her fabulous trip in May with Mimi Gardner Gates to Dunhuang, China to see the Buddhist caves there. Mimi is on the Board of Dunhuang and is a real force in the conservation of this worldclass site. Dunhuang is in western China and on the Silk Road; over 800,000 people a year visit this area. We had a fascinating and delightful time with Mimi. I also saw Tania Whitman Stepanian and Mary Ann Schoenberg Margaretten in San Francisco in September. It was a treat to see them both.

I received an email from Ellen Corroon Petersen and she questioned, “My grandson will be 13 in December—when did we get so old? Marilyn Hodges Wilmerding, Nanno Carpenter Bienstock, and Margie Field all came

for lunch toward the end of the summer.

I do keep up with Nanno, but it was wonderful to see the other two. I joined the Advisory Council of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center so I will be travelling to Texas twice a year. Does anyone in our class live in Austin?"

A brief note from Gen Miller Elkus said “hi” and she sends hugs to all.

Abra Prentice Wilkin mentioned that in May she cruised around Sicily and then enjoyed a family wedding in Tuscany in June. After, she spent most of the summer in Lake Geneva, WI. She says she is happier “seeing America first” what with travel being what it is today, especially in Europe.

News from Harriet Blees Dewey, “I continue to try and keep track of our 15

grands. We have four in college and three who are applying to college. I am amazed they have become so old, the oldest are 21 years old and the youngest is nine years old. We enjoyed a trip to Croatia this summer, and I urge people to go. It is beautiful, charming, and very unspoiled with lovely people and great food. I continue to enjoy my time on the Board and could not be more proud of the school Walker’s has become. The academics are top notch, and the energy and enthusiasm of the students make it a wonderful place. If you haven’t been back in a while, stop by the campus.

Doing so, will make you feel good. I have enjoyed working with Abra and Margot. They have given so much of their time and talent to the school as have many of the class of ’60.”

Clara Perkins Stites reported her new young Border Collie is learning a lot about sheep as is she. She had a nice lunch with Frindee Aldrich Maher in Boston on the day of the Boston Marathon, but subsequent tragic events distracted them from further plans.

Bea Vander Poel Banker emailed,

“All is quiet. At our age that is fine with me. Busy working on our hospital system. The world is changing especially in health care. All is prevention today.

Always fun to see my four children and grands. Any classmates coming to NYC give a call. I am very impressed with Walker’s. What a job Bessie is doing.

Love to all.”

Susan Riegel Shierling Harding

wrote, “Just returned from NYC, a last minute plan to meet a friend who came in from Israel. We had a wonderful visit and perfect weather. My life keeps careening along with book club, bridge, sewing, three finance boards at the Unitarian Universalist Church, and workouts with a personal trainer 2x/ week so I won’t fall, and if I do, I’ll be able to get myself up! My daughter and her partner are enjoying their beautiful house in the Hollywood Hills. She edited the movie The Way Way Back, a comedydrama. Her next movie was just bought at the Toronto Film Festival, and she is

Take Note working on a third movie. Her career is blooming, and she is happy.

have homes here, and then Christmas with our son in Needham, MA.”

Still waiting for you all to visit me in San Diego. I’m off to Sedona in a couple of weeks, New Orleans the beginning of December, and San Francisco in January.

I stopped my smoking habit when we were back for our 50th and am still off them. Thank you CMVR!!!”

From Lucy Williams Irwin, “My husband and I chair a book sale for our church’s country fair. Lots of fun but also lots of intense work. I am turning into Miss Mead! I have notes on the same sized white pad of paper she always carried with her, and I am one jump short of the pencil and pad rubber banded to my wrist! Now I write it down to remember it and there are notes everywhere. I cannot be alone. We are enjoying a slower pace of life these days.

John is still working, but taking more time here and there. With my daughter Lisa and her family from Oregon, we will spend 3 days in NYC before Thanksgiving seeing the sights and then to LA in January to be with my son’s family. We are lucky that John’s family all live close by. Hugs to you all!”

From Caryl Van Ranst Dearing, “Still on the Alumnae Board and will be visiting EWS in November for meetings.

Saw Christy Hoffman Brown for lunch while she was visiting The Vineyard (Martha’s Vineyard). The island is slowing down now, and the weather has been divine, even some nice beach days. I am still playing mahjong, bridge, and exercising this body. I also will teach a knitting class at our art center come January. Hoping to get away in early 2014, but am busy with family and friends. I see quite a bit of Patsy Kelly McCornack ’54, sister of Kim Kelly Cutler ’61. Patsy and I knit beaded jewelry and play mahjong together. We will spend “Turkey Day” with family on The Vineyard since some of our children

1961 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1962 Sage Dunlap Chase P.O. Box 238 Elkins, NH 03233 603-526-4788 sagedunlapchase@gmail.com Margaret “Margie” Holley Sparks 101 Bellant Circle Wilmington, DE 19807 302-655-1969 Margaret.holley@cox.net A recap of the Class of ’62’s “Forgotten Fiftieth,” New London, New Hampshire, September 2013. Hosted by Sage Dunlap Chase and Lisa McCluney Delafield:

Our “Forgotten Fiftieth” in New Hampshire exceeded our wildest expectations! We were able to re-establish contact with 35 classmates, many of whom have not been in touch since graduation!! Nineteen actually attended the reunion. Unfortunately, five who had planned to come, including Margie, could not at the last minute due to various crises.

The Class of 1962 in New London, New Hampshire, September 2013: Back row, L-R: Mary Goodyear Glenn, Elaine Schmid Petersen, Holly Fulton, Diana Daggett, Pam Kirwin Heintz, Sage Dunlap Chase, Lisa McCluney Delafield, Jeanie Hunt Van Nice, Suzy Fox, Lisa Barrett, Cathie Smith Leonard, Abby Aldrich Record Front row, L-R: Harrah Lord, Quinta Symonds Bodin, Betsy Balis Goodyear, Susan Carkhuff Evans, Dinah Day, Sally Willard, Susan Rand Whitlock

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Take Note 1963 Cythlen “Lynn” Cunningham Maddock 1160 North Ocean Boulevard Palm Beach, FL 33480 561-844-9231 cythmad@aol.com

1964 Sundial in the snow

We spent three nights and two days catching up with each others’ lives in a relaxed environment—talking, laughing, eating, drinking, hiking, kayaking, and not getting enough sleep! Most everyone came away pleasantly surprised at how easily we reconnected, and very respectful of what our classmates have experienced, given the tumultuous social and political changes that followed our graduation. Interestingly, the focus was less on reminiscing and more on sharing who we are now and how we got here!

It was more about US than about our families; very little Granny-bragging or talk about spouses, either past or present.

And we all really liked each other!

Everyone agreed that the Paths Taken, submitted by email ahead of time, was instrumental in creating a congenial and intimate tone for the gathering. Also, it allowed those who couldn’t physically attend to participate indirectly. Most of us left feeling proud of our classmates and excited about continuing our Walker’s friendships into our “golden years”!!

Those who had planned to come but for one reason or another could not were: Margie Holley Sparks, Sally Bryant Dean, Penny Johnson Wartels, Linda Aldrich and Valerie Vidal Hewitt. Sara Hall Fargo, Chrystal Thomas Schivell, Marcia Corbin, Linda Hale Bucklin, Anne Wakefield Leck, Louise Ingersoll Tausche, and Susie Ferst Renfrow. All were with us

in spirit, however!!

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Cynthia Higgins Roby Cote d’Azur 100 South Street, Apt. 117 Sausalito, CA 94965 415-332-6556 croby@earthlink.net Sylvie Brooks reported sad news, “My sister Anne Strong Allen ’62 died of cancer in April. I was one of her last visitors. Vinnie Chase was the loyal friend she has always been and let me stay at her house in Concord, MA. Vinnie also drove me into Cambridge to see my sister. My visit with Anne was perfect in all aspects. I felt thoroughly connected and really was taken aback when she died the next day. Yet I got to see her, very special as I live so far away.

My being able to see her made losing her easier to deal with. Her husband and five children survive her. Her youngest child, Gwei, a Chinese girl that Anne and Charley adopted at age 3½ is mentioned in the obituary that Cathie Smith Leonard ’62 and Dinah Day ’62 wrote for Anne. Over 500 people were at Anne’s funeral. She had contributed a great deal to the Boston and Cambridge communities and will be sorely missed there as well as by her own family.”

Dottie Ferguson Corbiere said, “My news somehow does not change much!

I always say I will retire soon, however, I just met with this semester’s robotics elective course, and it was SUCH fun.

As long as I am learning new things and having fun it is hard to quit. Two of my four grandchildren are at my school and I can choose what and where I teach, so I gravitate to their classrooms and do some really neat technology projects that I integrate with the curriculum. Private

schools will soon price themselves out of existence except for a mighty few. The twins will go to public school, and it breaks my heart not to have them with the older two, but we have great public schools too! I still do a lot of private tutoring which I enjoy; I enjoy having the ‘$$’ to take the family to Sanibel for a week in March.”

Haydee Diaz-Camacho von Sternberg sent a copy of a joyous

holiday newsletter. Sadly, she lost her mother in early December last year. But that sad news was lightened by pictures of a splendid young man named Dylan who must be her grandson. After 29 years, she retired from the Chapin School last year with wonderful celebrations with “extraordinary colleagues and faithful friends.” Not much time passed though before Haydee was back at work. She works four days a week as a math specialist at the Poly Prep Country Day School in Park Slope, NY. She also was elected to the General Council of the St. Francis de Sales Association, which requires her to attend council meetings in Paris twice a year!

A happy note from Lisa Palmer who reported, “In the smallish artsy town of St. Petersburg, Florida, I’m an ‘Auntie Extraordinaire’ to my niece, her husband and their two boys. I am back to packing lunches, going to games, car lines and, oh boy, doing laundry! Best, I get to take the boys to museums, music and on trips.”

In September Suzy Sivage Borland reported, “I have just returned from Florida after meeting my new grandson who is five days old. He is the son of my youngest child, Sam, and joins his two sisters to round out the Sam Borland clan. Jack and I are having fun traveling to various places around the world. This year we went to New Zealand, Cuba, Scotland, and a boat trip down the Danube. I am kind of looking forward to staying home for the rest of the year.

All in all things are pretty good. We are lucky to have our children and grandchildren nearby (in Chicago and Florida). I am feeling truly lucky.”

Take Note It was great to hear from Lea Austen Hooker. A San Francisco native, she now lives in Sparks, Nevada. In September she shared, “Daughter Annie and Andrew opened a second gallery in Incline Village, NV which made for a very hectic summer. They’re taking a well-deserved vacation now in Italy and Switzerland. I’m watching their FOUR dogs, which have a tendency to suddenly all start loudly barking, plus one cat.

Also, my son Sam has moved here now.”

financé Thalita will be married in June in Miami. Next year’s Christmas card will have some new faces. Wendy Frey Textor and George came to the gallery for a coffee when he was celebrating his 50th reunion at the Holderness School.

No grey hairs there and such fun to see them both. I had lunch with Vinnie Chase a few weeks ago. She looks wonderful as did Wendy, so I think we are doing well at fending off the blue hair and triple chins.”

Another exciting year for Carla Meyer!

She noted, “Chuck and I are still both doing well. Two dogs, three cats, and six horses, so I’m never retiring! So far this year, I’m working with Cate Blanchett on a George Clooney film in Berlin called The Monuments Men. I ended last year with a film called Broken Horses, although fortunately there weren’t any.

I’ve been prepping the lovely Rosamund Pike for the David Fincher film Gone Girl. Chuck and I went on a wonderful cruise of the Baltic, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Stockholm.

In Sweden, we visited friends who have a beautiful farm—thousands of acres of trees.”

In October, Wendy Frey Textor wrote to say, “We are a week and a half back from the 1,000 Islands and I am recovering from knee surgery. The Textor family is doing well. We have had a big year with our youngest getting married in San Francisco in August. I was determined to get a Frey family photo as my sister Susie (Susie Frey Luetkemeyer ’61), and I have grown our family from three siblings to 25 people. And tomorrow that number will increase to 26 when my daughter-in-law Helen delivers another Textor. Most of us live on the west coast, but Katy and her family are still in the “Big Apple”. Everyone loves coming to Douglas Island in the 1,000 Islands and, yes, we need more beds. This is a nice problem to have.

Helen Dickerson Millar

enthusiastically reported, “I am proud and delighted to announce that I am a newly certified Rosen Method Bodywork Practitioner. I started my journey with Rosen sessions in 2007 and have now completed the certification training.

Rosen Method Bodywork is not (yet) well known here on the East Coast, and I am now one of the seeds that are expanding this work in the Hudson Valley. Please visit my website (www.riverhealingarts.com) for more information. It’s been a deeply important and fulfilling training that has brought me insight into my own gifts and connected me with a community of people who are healing the planet.”

Lots of good family news from Patsy Ladd Carega who wrote, “Two new babies on the way, both scheduled for February. It should be a busy month with one in New Hampshire and one in Hong Kong! My son Marco and his

George continues to carve his shorebirds, and he is very good at it. We both act as caretakers on our island in the summer.

It is a lot of work, but we do enjoy it, and it keeps us healthy and moving. We love to have friends visit because we stop working and pretend we are on vacation.

While traveling to George’s 50th reunion at the Holderness School, we stayed with Jean Beebe Carter and Jim. They are in Concord, MA and were able to get all seven of their grandkids and their mothers over to meet us. They are a charming and adorable group of people who showed us how to do cartwheels and soccer kicks and handstands. Jean and Jim are also in great shape. They were off to hike in France for two weeks.

I met Patsy Ladd Carega at her gallery in New Hampshire. We talked about our upcoming 50th Reunion which is May 16-18, 2014. It would be

so great to have a big turnout so everyone should put it on your calendars now.”

Dane Nichols reported that through a serendipitous series of truly fortunate events, she is poised to move back to Georgetown (her hood and community of origin). After renting in Washington, D.C. for 10 years and owning in Watch Hill, RI, she decided to reverse the equation, to owning in D.C. and renting in Watch Hill. Dane sold her Watch Hill house in five weeks, and found the perfect house in Georgetown; just a few blocks from her daughter, Dane Towell, who is a LEED certified interior designer. This is exciting for both of them because they share a lot (besides a sense of humor), are very close, and enjoy many of the same things—movies, popcorn, M&M’s, and long walks with younger Dane’s giant Labrador. Dane exclaimed, “I love living in Georgetown, it’s a great place to be.”

Dane also mentioned that she recently became Vice Chair of the Ocean Conservancy and is on the board of the D.C. Environmental Film Festival. In addition, she is active in Rachel’s Action Network, a group of women philanthropists in conservation, which she helped found 13 years ago. Rachel’s Action Network supports pro-environment, women candidates for office.

As for me, after more than 40 years, I sold the family home in Sausalito last summer. I am lucky to have found some nice new ‘digs’ still in the community!

My sons are wonderful. Eldest Jay and wife Ali live in Atlanta. He has two children: ten-year-old Madison and oneyear-old Ryan. Son Nick lives and works nearby. Retired from my ‘real’ job at the Marin County Board of Supervisors for a few years, I now work one day a week for the Sausalito Historical Society downtown. Along with historical ephemera, I dispense essential information on the community. Stores, restaurants, community events, history, and maybe most importantly, the location of the bathrooms!

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Take Note 1965 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1966 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1967 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1968 Kimberley Smith Niles 14 McLains Woods Road Groton, MA 01450 978-448-9279 kimniles@hotmail.com Claudia Ramsland Burch said, “‘hi’ to the Class of ’68. Missed seeing more of you at Reunion. Would love to catch up.”

Cate Lord 30363 Hilltop Drive Evergreen, CO 80439 720-220-9140 catelordrd@aol.com Greeting from Cate: Hi Everyone! Many thanks to those of you who responded to my plea for news.

It is always a treat to hear from you. As you may know, it was a challenging summer for Colorado and for my home town of Evergreen. We had the fires in June, the worst of which were in Colorado Springs. We needed windshield wipers to clear the ash from our cars for nearly a week. A small fire in Evergreen burned several hundred acres but was contained without loss of property. The epic flooding in September left part of downtown Evergreen flooded and washed out two major roads. At home, we had an adventure with a minor leak in our new roof. The night of the heaviest rains (2 inches per minute) Tom and I climbed up on the roof with a tarp and bricks. It was raining so hard we could barely see each other six feet away.

We did tarp the leak and the living room rug and wood paneling dried out three days after the rains stopped. Our damage was minimal, but it will take a long time for the Front Range area to recover from the devastation. In September, I took my daughter Molly to Nova Scotia and the trip was amazing. We were not expecting six sunny days and felt so lucky with

perfect weather. The Nova Scotians welcomed us wherever we went and never failed to ask us about the floods once they discovered we were from Colorado. We discovered the Canadians know a great deal more about the U.S. than the U.S. knows about Canada.

This summer, a letter sent from Walker’s began with the following: “It is Walker’s tradition to ring Chapel Bells in memory of the School’s departed alumnae, family, and friends.” With much sadness, I report the deaths of two of our classmates, Lynn Howard Maxwell and Ingrid Kaufmann Hamilton. A wonderful letter from Walker’s celebrated Ingrid’s life and a memorial was held in the chapel October 30, 2013. Both classmates will be missed. This is one aspect of the class secretary position Katy and I don’t find enjoyable. Katy and I hear about it right away and share our sadness. Then we relive it when we write to you.

On a cheerier note, here is the news from our classmates: From your other class secretary, Katy Murphy Ingle, she shared the following: “Bill and I had a wonderful summer, going often to sail at his family’s cottage on a lake in southern Wisconsin. In fact, I just finished a painting of the view to match the one I did last year of the cottage (they’re both on my website,

Claudia Ramsland Burch ’68

1969

REUNION

Katherine “Katy” Murphy Ingle 918 Windsor Road Glenview, IL 60025 847-724-8560 Katymi47@gmail.com

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Katy Murphy Ingle ’69 with “The Murphy Clan” at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. From left: Katy, Bill, Sis, Ted (brother), Mark, Liz (sister)

Take Note www.ingledesign.com). Bill is now semiretired and we are getting reacquainted after three years of him working all the time—including weekends! In August, my siblings and I organized a week-long Murphy family reunion with our significant others in Cape Cod. It was so much fun that we hope to do it again.

Greetings to everyone!”

Jill Reighley Christensen shared much happy news, “I have another grandchild—up to four now! Rob and Lexie had their first in June, Susan Reighley Brooks. They call her Susie (after Lexie’s mom), but it’s nice to have the Reighley name in there too. It’s also nice that they live close enough (just over an hour away) so I can see her often. My other three: Eliza (6), Henry (4), and Abbott (2) are all on the East Coast which is much too far! However, we had a month together on Nantucket this summer, and I will have the whole gang together in Florida for a week over Thanksgiving. I guess I can’t complain.

I’m still working with Wes, playing lots of tennis, and some bridge. Time keeps marching on; a little too fast sometimes.

Fortunately, my health is good, and all the family is doing well. For that, I feel truly blessed. I hope to see you and many other classmates at our 45th Reunion next spring. Has it really been 45 years? Yikes!”

Evie Carter Cowles reported, “All is well here. We still live in Free Union, VA where I am riding, painting, photographing, and gardening. My husband has cut back to working only three(ish) days a week and traveling more. We spent a long time this summer at our place in Montana and will be off to Argentina in January for fishing and photography. The kids and four grandkids are all doing great as well.”

Our former class secretary Susan Nichols Ferriere never fails to send news. She noted, “We were out of town briefly, but at just the wrong time to submit news as we were grappling with all kinds of electronic difficulties of the kind no one expects any longer. Our experience proves that email, and such,

can malfunction; and malfunction BIG TIME! Hopefully, this means that next time around we will have fascinating news to report about our fairly quiet lives. We spent the spring and summer receiving a succession of visitors from mostly abroad, with a few U.S. friends coming, too, but got no further than Pittsburgh—a place from which returning home proved to be quite an adventure. In fact, I am surprised that we are not there still!”

I tracked Anne Sprole Mauk down on Facebook, and it was great to hear from her. She wrote, “Can you believe it will be 45 years! Although I am enjoying life, change is a major player in the future— most likely all for the good despite how difficult it can be. After 23 years at the same hospital, I have resigned due to many problems with financing which directly affected how I would need to practice. Just too many nights and weekends! As a result, I am moving to a private practice for part-time pediatric sick call. Hopefully, my time will increase over the year so I can reap more benefits! Over the next year, I will be separating from my husband. We remain good friends, just taking different paths, so I will see what single life brings. For the most part, my kids are happy and enjoying their respective talents/jobs.

My youngest, Maddie, with CF bravely moved to San Francisco; she has had a few hospitalizations, which are hard on her and me being so far away. Luckily, her spirit keeps her going in a positive direction! I send good wishes to all my classmates and look forward to our reunion in May!” Ana Victoria Mestre has reclaimed her

maiden name and shared, “I am so sorry that I haven’t written in so long! I really enjoy hearing about everyone. However, these have been a tough few years. Since I last wrote, I got divorced after 35 years of marriage. Although it has not been easy, I do think I am beginning to feel as if I did the right thing. At this point, my only regret is the alimony I have to pay which means no retirement in the foreseeable future! At the same time, mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

She is still with us, so we are very fortunate, but the treatment has been brutal. The good news is my 34-year-old son found himself and is now in medical school at Cornell! He and my wonderful daughter-in-law and grandson are finally close to me. My terrific daughter continues living in London with my 4-1/2 year-old prince. She is pregnant and will soon grace me with another grandson! As you can imagine, my life is on an airplane not only for work but for family.

I retired from Citibank in 2007 and now work for UBS International. Thankfully with the same client base. After the divorce, I moved to Westchester, NY but drive to the city daily. I am planning to attend our 45th Reunion in May and hope to see as many of you as possible!

Besos.”

Ana Victoria Mestre ’69 and her “English Prince” (left), and “Italian Stallion” (right)

We heard from Martha Scott Mouer who communicated, “Our youngest child graduated from college in May, and she plans on going to graduate school to get her nurse practitioner’s license. Our two sons are gainfully employed, and we count our blessings! John and I are retired and enjoy some travel in between taking care of my mother who has Alzheimer’s, and volunteering for Hospice, and the local homeless shelter. I have lunch with Jill Reighley Christensen every couple of months and we always have fun! Life is good!”

It was great to hear from Laurie Cherbonnier Nielsen who shared some unusual news; “I am in London for my parents 70th wedding anniversary! I am giving them a party at 5 Hertford

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Take Note Street, the current hotspot for London’s gilded youth. They are in fine fettle.”

Mally Cox-Chapman reported lots of happy news, “Our daughter Lucy got engaged and will be married next May to her long-time, wonderful boyfriend. We are having a happy time planning the wedding together. They have set a date of May 18, 2014, so I will miss Reunion: however, I will raise a glass to you all.

After giving up writing to enjoy my business for the last 15 years, I worked nights for the last two years and have just brought out my third book called By the Water’s Edge: Gardening on an Island in Maine. Writing it was sheer joy. I had given up writing because of all the silence that surrounds writing, and because I hated the commercial game.

This book had the smallest ambition, but somehow, by being a gift to the community, has been hugely satisfying.

To the surprise of my co-author, a photographer, and me, the first limited printing has sold out, but should be back in print soon. Somehow retirement doesn’t feel possible because I absolutely love working with family foundations, and don’t know how I would fill the time.

I am trying to imagine other options.”

Last, but definitely not least, we heard from Andrea Marshalk Scheyhing who said, “Peter, Lily and I are off to Moab, Utah tomorrow to NOT hike in the two national parks, but find fun and adventure horseback riding, flying above the great landscapes, and hiking off the beaten tracks! Love to all!”

The above were wonderful responses and hearing from everyone really brightens our day, so thank you. Katy and I send our love to each of you and we hope you will have a wonderful holiday season. Heartfelt wishes for a very happy New Year!

1970 Gail Chandler Gaston 202 East 75th Street New York, NY 10021 212-744-0070 GCGaston@aol.com 60

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1971 Jean Hamilton 661 Bering Drive, Unit 201 Houston, TX 77057 713-785-6817 witchofendor@earthlink.net

1972 Joanna Betts Virkler 15826 Lake Ridge Road Charlotte, NC 28278 704-588-1959 Joannav2000@aol.com

Sophia Treadwell, the youngest of Joanna Betts Virkler’s ’72 eight grandchildren

It’s exciting to announce that our second off-site reunion will be October 15-19, 2014, at Pawley’s Island, SC. So far, we have 21 classmates signed up! We have rented a delightful little inn right on the beach. The inn’s capacity is 24, so we may end up with a waiting list. Any classmates riding the fence, so to speak, should contact me as soon as possible.

Our organizing committee includes Dee Dee Roach-Quarles, Jane Hadden Geisse, Karen Brooks, and Lisa Harrington Foote. Since many of us will

be celebrating our 60th birthdays this year, we’re going to try to come up with some (wildly inappropriate-ha!) way to honor the occasion. Suggestions welcome!

From Dee Dee Roach-Quarles, “Being in 7th grade at age 59 is tougher than I ever imagined; however, twelve-yearold Adira is doing her best keeping me active. Adira still does karate and piano, but life feels a little less hectic this year because these are her only extracurricular activities.”

From Barklie Eliot: “Hello to all my ’72 classmates. Not much to report now, as my children are in that in-between time between college and adulthood. My daughter is finishing her Master’s in Speech Therapy and my son, who had been working, is taking a break because of repetitive stress injury from computer use. Having dealt with this myself, I cannot overemphasize the need for correct ergonomics, stepping away from the screen regularly, and cultivating an active lifestyle. I still teach at Saint Edward’s School (29 years now) as head of the English Department; my husband still works as a nurseryman, and we still live at the same address. We are models of stability (or you could argue inertia). I put my energies into my job, my health, my garden and yard, and my friends. My one huge regret is that most of my family is north of the Mason-Dixon, and I don’t see them as often as I would like. I keep meaning to go down to the Keys to see Beryn Frank Harty, but it just hasn’t worked out yet. I love her butterfly jewelry project—I have lots of butterflies in our trying-to-be-a-natural-habitat yard, and applaud her embrace of the beautiful but fragile environment that is Florida.

Beryn Frank Harty sent this update: “I am a Florida Native Plant Society representative for the five year reviews for the State of Florida’s Division of Parks and Recreational Lands, Land Management.

These take place on-site at lands owned by the State of Florida for public recreation and conservation purposes, such as State parks. I have already participated in one review for land managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation committee in the Florida Keys, as well as one at Kissimmee State Park. My next review is at the Oleta State Park in North Miami Beach, FL. We enjoyed the Annual Fantasy Fest parades and celebrations in Key West at Halloween! Sending hugs.”

Take Note Cynthia Anderson Barker mentioned,

“Our son, Ethan, is 16 and a junior in high school. I know I am way behind most of you. We will soon be making the obligatory trek to look at colleges. When fall comes, I think of our classmate Karen Brooks who lives in Heath, Massachusetts. Such a beautiful place for fall colors. I would love to be on the East Coast at that time! Here in California last summer was very mild. I only swam in the ocean twice! I am involved in many upcoming events to help our state stay on track. One such event is to help fund get-out-the-vote efforts in lowincome communities. Another is to elect our former Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, to the Board of Supervisors of Los Angeles County. There is always much to do and so little time. I look forward to seeing many of you at our next off campus reunion in the fall of 2014.

News from Mimi Mead-Hagen mentioned, “I had a fun time seeing Peggy Washer Hellebush and Charlie Hellebush this past August. We had stopped by their home two years before on a college tour, and she suggested that we look at Hobart College. I thought it sounded familiar, we did visit, and it was great. My son, Harry, is now starting his second year there. I have twisted Peggy’s arm to visit us at Hobart or have us for dinner or help with calls with regard to general Hobart advice as her daughter went there. So great to have her nearby!

I have seen Christy Claggett when we take my younger son to squash tournaments in Baltimore. It’s been so much fun to reconnect with her, too.

If any classmates/schoolmates are in Princeton, NJ give me a call.”

Jill Englund Jensen wrote: “I am a nurse practitioner working in the Emergency Department—thank goodness I don’t do pediatrics as Joanna suggested. I am halfway through my Doctor of Nursing Practice program and hope to graduate before we meet in October. I became a grandmother in March to Joshua, who lives with his parents in Michigan. My son, the Navy pilot, was reposted from Japan to the U.S. in January 2014. He’ll be attending

Top Gun training and will live in Lemoore, California for a while. I am looking forward to having him closer. I am still playing with my bees, which have had a tough year with our changing weather. I also have three rescue dogs; Dug is the latest addition. I am really looking forward to finishing school and having some free time. Between school and full time shift work, I don’t have enough time for the fun stuff. I am really looking forward to our 60th Reunion, and hope that I don’t have to do school work this time around.

Regina “Reggie” Scruggs said that after her year-and-a-half journey to Little Rock to work at the University of Arkansas, she has returned to Houston, TX in May 2013. She is currently seeking her next opportunity while contemplating semi-retirement. Regina wonders if she will take one more broadcasting job in order to make it to her 40-year anniversary in radio in 2015.

Meanwhile, she is enjoying seeing old friends again. She is happy to report that she reunited with her younger sister in Atlanta in November 2012, for her sister’s 50th birthday. They hadn’t seen each other in 16 years, so the lesson learned is that it’s never too late to reconnect with family!

in Peekskill as a premium—I was one of the lucky few to be in the chorus that day—such an honor). My kids are all well, no grandkids yet, but there’s time.

The important thing is they’re all happy.

Look me up on Homeaway (http://www.homeaway.com/vacationrental/p3320070) if you ever need a place in western Mass!”

Finally, Babbie “Babs” Epple Melka sent a note that said, “Terry and I were married January 1, 2013, on top of Rendezvous Mountain at the Jackson Hole Ski Resort. Terry is on the ski patrol there, and it is our old stomping ground from past lives. I relocated my pharmacy, Roadrunner Apothecary, in February 2013. Our outdoor wedding reception was June 29 on the Walton Ranch, where we live (so we could crawl home!). I can’t see retirement in the near future, but I can dream can’t I? If any of you are in the area, please get in touch!”

Karen Brooks wrote, “This summer I

achieved a goal I’ve been working towards for the last few years; however, a house fire, kids moving out, rebuilding, Mom’s passing, and my clearing out and inheriting a lot of her stuff prevented me from moving. Finally, I moved into my studio and now have a pretty successful vacation rental in my big house in western Massachusetts. It’s been so nice to see the place getting used and loved by people from all over the world: a surgeon from Jerusalem and her family, a young family from Kenya, another from India, and many others. They’re getting to experience the sheep farm with its ups and downs, ins and outs, and I get to have little kids running around again which has been wonderful. I’m still playing music (if you’re in the Northeast, you probably heard some of the WAMC fund drive with the Pete Seeger concert

Babbie (Babs) Epple Melka ’72 marries Terry Schramm on January 1, 2013 at the top of Rendezvous Mountain in Jackson Hole, WY.

1973 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

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Take Note 1974

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Vanessa Guerrini-Maraldi Wilcox 580 West End Avenue New York, NY 10024 212-877-3413 vgmwilcox@nyc.rr.com Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014.

We hope for a great showing from our Class of 1974 and look forward to reconnecting on campus!

1975 Doris “Veda” Pendleton McClain 425 South Hubbards Lane #373 Louisville, KY 40207 502-384-7041 veda_mcclain@yahoo.com I spent several weeks this summer traveling with grandchildren in Arkansas and Georgia. I spent two days at a water park with all six of them (the oldest is eight and the youngest is 17 months). What a joyous and exhausting time! I remain in constant contact with Nyoka Browno Woods as we work to solve the problems of public education. She is doing well with her children and grandchildren.

Debbie Bell Spoehel said, “My

daughter, Elizabeth, is a senior at Walker’s, so I have been up at School several times in the last year, the last time for the Ribbon Cutting for the new dorm. The balconies at the rear of the dorm look out toward the year-old turf fields and Talcott Mountain. I see Sarah Gates Colley both at School and in Florida, along with Kathy McCarthy Parsons. I love that Facebook has put me in touch with so many Walker’s friends. I’m looking forward to our next reunion in the spring of 2015 to be able to catch up with y’all in person. I am hoping I get to see most of you there!”

Jeanette Poillon shared, “It has been a

few years of transitions for us—most recently, our oldest daughter started college in Los Angeles, and our youngest has started high school! We are beginning 62

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to prep our home of 23 years for sale in an attempt to simplify and to move closer to Boston and to the highways that take us to our lake camp in Maine.

Needless to say, we are crazy busy, but also fortunate to be able to stay healthy and happy. I send my warmest regards to all and extend an open invitation to call and stop in if anyone is passing through Sherborn (while we are still here), Boston, or Lincolnville. Take care.”

Juliette Creque Scobie emailed, “I currently reside on Lake Wylie, SC, with my 16 year old son, Cameron, and 24 year old daughter, Teal. I spend a lot of time in New Delhi with my husband, Jim. My daughter, Nicola, is getting married this November.”

Cyndi Donn Tessler reported, “All here

in Virginia Beach is well. I just sent my baby, David, off to college at Drexel University in Philadelphia. It is difficult adjusting to the empty house. I’m glad my husband and I are having a harder time than my son. We try not to cry when talking to him. My older son, Aaron, is a senior at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. I talk to Carol Hoffman Jason all the time as she lives a few minutes away. We were recently looking at the yearbook from 1974 and laughed so hard. Where did the time fly?”

Lisa Nissenbaum happily stated,“ After living in Scottsdale, AZ, for over 20 years, I jumped at the chance to buy a horse farm in Williston, FL. Though retired from the family jewelry business, my new farm is all the work I need or want.”

then you have a sense of the general stress level among seniors and their families. Fortunately, this is my last round of college applications. My son graduated from Brown University this past spring, and my older daughter is applying to business school.

Allison Wanamaker’s daughter is a senior at St. George’s School and hoping to pursue environmental studies in college. She wrote, “After flying over 2,000 miles and driving over another 1,000 miles along the California coastline and environs visiting colleges, my daughter queried: ‘Mom, how about EARTH University in Costa Rica?’”

Returning from a week in Vancouver for a Women in Business seminar, Wendy Chamberlain Navarro took the time to write, “Life continues to be pretty magical in wild, wonderful Mexico City.

We’ve just finished our rainy season so the air is clean and everything is green and lush. Since we live in the heart of the city, our “yard” is on our rooftop.

This year we planted all succulents, cactus, and palms, and it’s divine. We basically live on the roof on weekends— we even have a grill up there!

The highlight of this year so far was our trip to Italy. Mario and I spent a week driving throughout Sicily, a week in Rome, and a week on the Amalfi Coast.

A FABULOUS TRIP!!! My sister Jen ’81 and her husband met up with us for the second half of the trip, and we had an absolute blast!

1976 Lisa Weber Greenberg 35 Westland Road Weston, MA 02493 781-647-7768 Lwgreenberg@gmail.com Hello all! I am in the throes of the college application process with a senior in high school. If anyone happened to see the article in the NYT about the common application site being down,

Wendy Navarro ’76 in Rome

Take Note We will spend Thanksgiving in Philadelphia (brrrrrrrr) with Mario’s family (30+ counting just our generation and our kids) and my son, Sean and his girlfriend, and Kit will join us from Austin, TX. I’m sensing this will be a good one!

To all of my classmates, please let me know if you are ever in the D.F. You always have a place to stay!”

Larke Woods Wheeler mentioned that she and Ray just celebrated their 24th anniversary. Her daughter, Callan is a senior at Auburn University and is studying Interior Design. Her son, Walker, is a freshman at the University of Georgia and busy on the dive team. Last, but not least, her youngest, Josephine, is a sophomore in high school. She can’t believe she is one step closer to being an empty nester.

1977 Lisa Bourget Frisbie 2 Caryn Lane Weatogue, CT 06089 860-416-2428 academicinsight@aol.com

Lisa Bourget Frisbie: “Fun news! In

August, I was offered a position in the Development Office at Walker’s. It is nice to be back on campus and witness firsthand all of the fantastic things that are happening: new turf and athletic fields, new dormitory, talented teachers, and excited students. However, I struggle with trying to understand Wally, Walker’s wildcat mascot. We never had a Wally!

Oh, well! When you don’t understand something, embrace it, and that is what I have done.

Recently I have experienced being an ‘empty nester’ since both of my children are off on various adventures. My son is a junior at Trinity College, and he is enjoying life in Rome for the fall semester. While he is running around Europe, my daughter is spending the fall semester of her junior year in high school in Colorado at the High Mountain Institute (HMI). Although not for every student, HMI is an amazing program and I highly recommend it for any high school junior.”

of women worldwide, by providing educational and leadership workshops, a library of resources for positive action, and the sharing of our heart’s wisdom.

Learn more about Caroline’s vision by going to www.sheltertoshelter.org and www.travelingpostcards.org.

Bathsheba “Sheba” Veghte emailed,

“I’m still in Mill Valley, CA and finally back to painting after a hiatus raising my three girls. My oldest Olivia is a sophomore at the University of Pennsylvania. My other two daughters, Minna (17) and Sarah (14), are high school students at The Urban School of San Francisco. My newest works are large, figurative paintings on aluminum which can be seen on my website: www.bathshebaveghte.com. I see Lisa Lorillard Halsted regularly and keep in touch with Wendy West Brenninkmeijer and Lucy West Engebretson.”

Deborah Rush Two Sisters’ Farm 400 Fairview Road Coatesville, PA 19320 610-380-9312 tusis@aol.com

A surprise reunion—Nancy Smith Klos ’77 dropped in on Catherine Cecil Taylor ’77, at her home in Eugene, OR.

Wally, Walker’s wildcat mascot

If you have not been following Caroline Lovell and her The Women’s Wisdom Initiative (including Traveling Postcards and Shelter to Shelter), you are missing out on an inspirational movement. The Women’s Wisdom Initiative (WWI) is a non-profit organization created in 2013 to empower women through creative action and to fight against the oppression

Bathsheba Veghte’s ’77 painting of “Sarah in Blue Coat.” Oil and pastel on aluminum—72" x 52"

Susan Griffin Yonkers, Class of ’77

wrote that she became a grandmother in October!

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Take Note out of the classroom. As you have read in the last issue of this magazine, our class won the prize for the most people back for Reunion Weekend, and we surely made our presence known in numbers and noise! Thanks to Ashley Lickle O’Neil for her efforts to reach out to as many of us as could/would be found.

Those who came back (including Audrey Hamer who came from Norway!) had a great time, and we are already hoping to increase our numbers for our 40th in 2018! I am happy to take over for Ashley as our class correspondent for the next five years.

Susan Griffin Yonkers ’77 holds her first grandchild, Henry.

I attended a Walker’s event in NYC in June where Atoosa Pezeshgpour Mamdani, Dolly Hall, Catherine McCurley Donnally, Ryland Burnett

1978 Katharine Swibold 29 Independence Street Tarrytown, NY 10591 914-524-9624 KSwibold@aol.com It was my real pleasure to attend our 35th Reunion in May, to reconnect with classmates, to see the beautiful campus, and to learn about the amazing things our current students are doing in and

and we caught up with each others’ lives.

I hope Cathy and I were able to convince Atoosa, Dolly and Ryland to come back for the 40th.

In an effort to build on the momentum of the reunion, we are planning a MINIREUNION IN NYC (SLUMBER PARTY!) on JANUARY 24, 2013! STAY TUNED TO YOUR EMAIL FOR DETAILS TO COME! If you are looking for a way to stay connected in the meantime, join us on

The Class of ’78 celebrating their 35th Reunion.

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Facebook. We are 34 strong on the EWS Class of 1978 group. I share posts from the Walker’s Facebook page, but it would be great if everyone shared their family photos and news about their lives here too.

I have been enjoying working full time in the Barnard College Development Office for the past five years. I am in my 6th year as a member of the Board of Education in Tarrytown and was just elected to the Board of the Alumnae Association of Smith College. I am happy to have my own reasons to go to Northampton since my daughter, Hannah Swibold Becker Smith ’15, is spending her junior year abroad in Barcelona. She is a Spanish major and a member of the Smithereens, one of Smith’s cappella groups. We look forward to visiting her in February! Our son, Adam Swibold Becker, is a 2012 graduate of Skidmore College and is living in NYC and working as a customer service associate at Livestream, a job he is enjoying. We are thrilled that he and his girlfriend are able to pay the rent on their small studio and support their love of live music and good food.

My husband is an attorney who has worked previously for firms, but now is happy in a solo practice in Tarrytown doing commercial litigation. We have lived in Tarrytown for 21 years and love

Take Note 1979

REUNION

Karin Polcer Bdera 24-03 86th Street East Elmhurst, NY 11369 718-429-7594 pinkwalk@gmail.com

Ashley Lickle O’Neil ’78 pictured with her family in Kennebunkport, ME. L-R: Colby (21), Tyler (19), Pierce, Ashley, Sammy, and Morgan (24)

the community, the Hudson River, and being close to NYC even though we don’t take advantage of it as much as we’d like.

Ashley Lickle O’Neil emailed, “Greetings from Rowayton, CT, where empty-nesters Pierce and I have been living since 2011. We moved toward the water two years ago after 21 wonderful years in our New Canaan home. Life in the seaside town of Rowayton is so enjoyable as it has a year round vacation feel!

Where is our female flock now? Morgan is at Polo Ralph Lauren in NYC for her second year after graduating from the University of Richmond. Colby and Tyler are both at UVA (4th and 2nd year) which simplifies our visits and thrills me to death as I went to UVA too.

I am so happy our girls ventured south and now fully understand why I encouraged them to do so. Life is good down there!!

As I had been overloaded with the move to Rowayton and completely restoring our home in Kennebunkport, Maine; the dust has settled, and I divide my time between running our family’s life, volunteering with our Norwich Terrier, Samantha, at psychiatric hospitals throughout the area doing pet therapy, working part time for my dad’s publishing business, and now learning how to play golf and paddle tennis. I love a challenge, and life is never dull!

I LOVED the response we got for our 35th Reunion! We are shooting to get together again for a NYC “sleepover” in January. Hope to see many again and a few long-lost faces too! Stay tuned!”

Laura MacIntyre Shaw mentioned,

“Rich and I are still in New Jersey where we enjoy early morning walks along Round Valley Reservoir with our Lab Bonnie. We celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary this year with our family at a gorgeous lake house in Maine. I am still working as a technical consultant and most recently completed an executive reporting iPad application for AT&T. All four of our girls have graduated from college. Our oldest Clara finished law school and is now an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx. She and her husband had baby Eliza in March. Yes, I’m a grandmother! Our daughter Emily is working in Maine as a technical project manager and plans to marry her Dartmouth sweetheart in July. Her twin Margaret is a graduate student at MIT studying aerospace engineering. Our youngest Anna is spending this year managing an orphanage in Ghana, but will return in January to complete her master’s degree at NYU. After a few months of empty-nesting, we decided to host a foreign-exchange student from Ghana. So it’s back to meetings at the high school. The craziness of life kept me away from the 35th Reunion, but things will surely settle down before our 40th, right? Best wishes to everyone!”

From yours truly, I am enjoying retirement! I spend a lot more time doing the things that have been abandoned in the past; such as, traveling (trips to Aruba and an upcoming trip to Cuba, with a group of Seven Sister graduates), reading, crocheting, fundraising, walking for breast cancer, and spending time with people, and really listening to them. Nick and I celebrated our 24th anniversary last month, and we are both looking forward to the upcoming 35th Reunion at EWS. To remind everyone of those years, the photo is from our Senior yearbook—one photo that makes me glad that I DON’T look exactly the same as I did back then!

Karin Polcer Bdera ’79 in the “good ol’ days.”

From Eve Chilton Martirano: “I have a freshman at Loyola Marymount University, a sophomore at The Berkshire School, a 10-year-old who keeps me running, and twin 15-year-old stepsons who do not stop throwing balls and

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Take Note tracking mud all over. Recently, I went to my daughter’s JV Soccer game at EWS. Bessie Speers is doing a terrific job moving EWS forward. The campus looked great. After 25 years of living in Manhattan, I love living in Rye, NY. Hoping to see some old friends at our 35th Reunion this year! The 100th Anniversary celebration was a lot of fun.”

And I’m delighted to report that my daughter, Katie Murphy, is a member of the EWS Class of 2017 and a thirdgeneration Dial (go, Dials!). The fact that Katie is playing varsity field hockey as a freshman caused her parents to double-check her birth records, but it appears the DNA is a match. Scientists are flummoxed.

From Marisia Jimenez: “As you should know I became a Naturopath and own a Wellness Retreat in my country, San Jose, Costa Rica. You can visit my company, Asclepios Wellness & Healing Retreat, on my website www.asclepioscr.com.

This summer I had a lot of work; nevertheless, I took a vacation and went to Europe for a month and travelled to Paris, Budapest and Vienna.”

Congratulations to Denise Morales Richardson, who recently was named Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, Division of Math and Sciences at Laney College in Oakland, Calif. Prior to this appointment, Denise was a political science professor for 12 years, and during the 2012-13 school year, served as Faculty Senate President. Denise is married to neurologist Dr. Brian Richardson and is the proud mom of three adult children: Christyn (24), Brian II (22), and Lauren (18). Christyn just began her first year of law school, and Brian II and Lauren are both in college.

Denise loves living in the Northern California Bay Area and still sings when she can.

Margot Ross Rose saw Elliott Buck Thomson this summer in Maine and

Marisia Jimenez ’79 and grandson

Nancy Mack von Euler in September reported, “I was at the Council on Foundations conference in San Diego and who should sit down across the table from me? Cecilia Clarke! She’s the new CEO of the Brooklyn Community Foundation (www.brooklyncommunityfoundation. org). So cool! Go EWS!”

1980 Ann O’Reilly 110 South Road Winsted, CT 06098 860-738-4442 ASOR1@aol.com

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reported they had a blast hiking and golfing. Margot and her husband, Boykin, still live in Charleston, SC, while their daughter, Sarah, lives in NYC. Their Australian Shepherd puppy, Cooper, is keeping them very busy.

Margot is hoping to see more of Brooke Hummer Mower and Tracey Mueller Biedron, since both have kids at the College of Charleston!

Lué McWilliams had the red carpet premiere of her latest award-winning movie, Naked as We Came, on September 12 in NYC. “Making the movie was a wonderful experience—such a great group of creative people committed to this very special project,” she said. For information on how to see the film near you, check out the website www.nakedaswecamethemovie.com.

Connor Murphy, son of Marion Leger Murphy ’80

Marion Leger Murphy wrote, “Connor

and Alexandra are juniors in high school and 17 years old. They are at King Low Heywood Thomas, a private school in Stamford, Conn. They are starting to look at colleges that have programs for their sports. Alexandra is competing in Big EQ, 3'6" Equitation and is starting Junior Jumpers. She was 10th in the Zone 2 Maclay Regionals. She just finished PHA Finals, Talent Search Finals, and Medal Finals. She had great rounds in all the finals, especially for her first year. She has qualified for Maclay Finals and will go to Kentucky the first weekend in November. Her ‘Road to the Maclay’ will be with her trainer, Frank Madden, and a few other lucky girls from Old Salem Farm, where she rides.

She was Champion on her jumper at the Ox Ridge Show and in Lake Placid.

Connor has been very successful in his baseball season. He traveled to Georgia, Fort Myers, and to many other tournaments this past summer. He hopes to play D1 baseball in college. I am always on the road, but feel blessed.”

Take Note Principal Harpist of Hartford Symphony for the 2013-14 season. I’m spending a lot of time in Connecticut and Florida these days, traveling between both, as my husband has gotten a job on the east coast of Florida, where we’ve had a second home for the last three years.

1981 Veronica “Roni” Leger 91 Fayerweather Street #3 Cambridge, CT 02138 617-547-4130 veronical@alum.mit.edu

Alexandra Murphy, daughter of Marion Leger Murphy ’80, with her horse Pollux (aka Perfect Pauly)

Susan Knapp Thomas emailed, “My summer harp camp, Connecticut Valley Harp Intensive, held at EWS, just completed its fifth year. This summer, we welcomed our first international camper, a student from Luxembourg. I’m preparing for and performing four solo concerts in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Palm City, Florida this fall. As you can imagine, this schedule keeps me practicing quite a bit. I’ve been appointed for a third year as Acting

1982 Eve Agush Costarelli 16 Porter Road Natick, MA 01760 617-879-6062 AdamAnt_Eve@hotmail.com Our class, the Class of 1982, has always felt as if we lived under a bit of a magical star. Not that we haven’t had our share of life’s challenges—it’s just that we knew we had something very special at Ethel Walker’s and we have honored that over the years with a great deal of gratitude.

And the parents of ’82 had a good deal to do with keeping that star shining come rain or clouds. They loved EWS as much as we did, and Parents’ Weekends were far more than a dutiful visit—it was always exciting due to their spirited personalities! They were a vibrant part of the mix.

On those wonderful Parents’ Weekends, we would wait to see Mr. and Mrs. Howland arrive with Leila’s wonderful Golden retriever, Binger, in tow. The Callahan’s would arrive with Courtney’s retriever, Spotswood. Animals were as welcome as the parents as befits the spirit of EWS! We’d wait to see what sensationally sporty outfit the outgoing Mr. Eckelberry would wear. We couldn’t wait for Tracey Denney Hritz’s mom, the impossibly beautiful and sophisticated Fern Tailor DeNarvaez ’49 to hold court in the smoking room and enchant us with her stories and naughty wit! It was always special to see sweet Mr. Bourne hug Ashley. We knew he would have enrolled at EWS if he could have because he missed her. Eve Agush Costarelli’s parents would trail after her with a love in their eyes that was seemingly beyond the capacity of two mortal souls. We couldn’t wait to hear news of the upcoming Olympics from the fascinating Mr. Gowen. And

Friends from the Class of 1982 gather to support Kit O’Brien ’82 and her family at her father’s (Donal Clare O’Brien) memorial service. L-R: Jean Brigham Chant, Lee Gowen Marine, Leila Howland Wetmore, Ashley Bourne Dewey, Emily Eckelberry Johnson, Hooey Stewart Wilkes, Courtney Callahan, Hope Wickser Lufkin and her sister Lita Wickser Toland ’79

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Take Note there was always a flurry of activity when Mr. Reifler arrived holding a pyramid of packages for Tracey. He would have brought her the Hope Diamond if he could have and laid it at her feet like a goddess. That’s how our parents were.

They were made for us! Sure, they had their faults—but the spirit of their love was pure.

A few weeks ago (over thirty years later) we were given the opportunity to remember, deeply feel, and honor that special parental love. And this grace came through Kit’s (Katherine O’Brien Rohn ’82) beloved father, Donal Clare O’Brien. When we were told that he had passed—we all dropped everything and make our way to New Canaan for his memorial service to support her, her sister Carrie (Caroline O’Brien Thomas ’85), and the rest of the O’Brien’s.

There we were, all lined up in a row like we were back at Chapel at EWS. It was a comforting image to export to a different time and place. As Kit walked up the aisle with her family, she saw us and caught her breath; she seemed to breathe in our presence. There were thanks in those beautiful, compassionate eyes of hers—eyes that were so like her father’s.

And an incredible story was about to unfold during the service about the power of a single human’s spirit to make the world a better place. As school girls, we had known we were in the presence of a magnificent man, but now we would see the heights to which his spirit had scaled. And instead of being saddened by this gathering in Mr. O’Brien’s honor, we would leave deeply inspired. For death has no power to cut off the river of good a soul has created in a lifetime.

The spirit of love and inspiration indeed flowed through the entire service. Mr. O’Brien’s deeds during his lifetime had an epic quality to them. And as a man happiest in or on water, it was clear that even as a youngster, it was the set of his sail, not the force of the gale that would inform his life. A Hotchkiss classmate spoke of Mr. O’Brien in almost magical terms. When he arrived at Hotchkiss, the friend said that he began to collect

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wounded animals thereby creating a magical menagerie in his dorm room. It featured a horned owl and a baby woodchuck among many others. But the classmate said the magic wasn’t simply the menagerie. The magic was the way in which the whole campus conspired to allow this wildlife sanctuary to safely flourish. From the headmaster to the students (especially his roommate!) to the cleaning staff—Mr. O’Brien had wooed them with his pure heart. The critters may have been irresistible, but Mr. O’Brien’s goodness was even more so!

This was to become the recipe for his spiritually successful life.

It may be no surprise that he was Chairman of the National Audubon Society for fifteen years and on the board for twenty-five. His tenure on that board and others are full of epic accomplishments on behalf of birds, fish, animals, and their habitats. He pulled people to him like a magnet, all in the spirit of a good cause, whether it was a single wounded animal or rescuing the wild salmon population from the brink of extinction.

Another of his secrets is best revealed through the Audubon’s head, who was quoted in the New York Times as saying, “Birds don’t know about state boundaries,” said David Yarnold, the organization’s chief executive. “Donal was always urging Audubon to think the way birds see the world…”

That ability to see the world through another’s eyes, whether human or animal, is the incredible gift Mr. O’Brien has left to his family and the Ethel Walker family, as well. There is no greater treasure than that. Looking back, each of our parents, no matter what class, brought their gifts to us and our classmates on those long ago Parent’s Weekends. Whether they are still with us or not, maybe even estranged, their spirit of love is still in us. Thank you, Mr. O’Brien for your shared gifts. Your great love will always flow through the campus like a beautiful river that is seen through the eyes of the heart.

—Courtney Callahan

1983 Anna Perkins de Cordova 2406 New Hackensack Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 845-452-3045 Ade_cordova@hotmail.com Greetings Class of ’83! As your class correspondent, I love hearing from you!

With our 30th Reunion just behind us, we have a long stretch ahead where there will be few formal reasons to get together and keep in touch. If you happen to be with an EWS friend or relative, snap a picture and send it to me to include in these pages. I also love those holiday photos of travels, pets, family, etc. Don’t be shy!

Also, a plea to update your email address. If you do not get the occasional email from me, you are not on my list, and I would love to add you. Just send me a message at ade_cordova@hotmail.com. If you know the email of classmates, kindly forward my email to them, or encourage them to contact me.

For those of you on the “College Tour” circuit, I am still in Poughkeepsie, NY right next to Vassar College and love visitors. For those of you who are collecting stamps in your National Parks Passports, I am the horticulturist for the National Park Service (NPS) in Hyde Park, NY. The Hyde Parke NPS is home to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Home and Presidential Library, Vanderbilt Mansion, Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site, Top Cottage, and so on. If I’m not furloughed, sequestered or otherwise derailed at work, I can be found by asking almost anyone in Green and Grey where I might be, and they can employ a giant black walkie talkie to track me down. Think quaint, not ridiculous.

Exciting news from Emily Lawrence Walberg: “I married in June, surrounded by friends and family. David and I are living in Quincy, MA and I am working as the Manager of Alumni Relations at the Dexter Southfield School, in Brookline. Love to my ’03, classmates hope everyone is doing well.

Take Note

Big Red Sox baseball fans— Emily Lawrence Walberg ’83 and husband, David, at Fenway Park.

Sue Geer Shea sent greetings to everyone from her home in Matunuck, Rhode Island. She said, “My husband and I (remarried) have a Graphic Design company. I work for a Chamber of Commerce as the Events Coordinator/ Manager. My daughter Torrey is 20, and in college, and my son Grady, is 16.

I have gotten together with Kelly Finn Mazo the past two summers as her father has a beach about 12 minutes from our house in Charlestown, RI. She’s doing great!

Of course, I see my cousin Carolyn Lulu Ramadon Augur. We have been spending the past several Thanksgiving holidays at her home in Milford, CT. Facebook has been a great place to reconnect with old friends. My niece got married two years ago in Simsbury, so I was able to drive by the old joint and show my kids where I went to school.

That was pretty cool. Hard to believe it’s been 30 years. My Walker’s days seem so clear and recent in my mind. Time certainly does fly by.”

Tina Marcotulli made it to Simsbury from London for our 30th Reunion, combining the trip with family visits in the Northeast. Since that whirlwind effort, she has had even more excitement: “In late June my husband got a new job offer from State Street Corporation in Quincy, Massachusetts so instead of moving to Birmingham, England (from London where I had been living the past 3 years) we switched gears and prepared to move back to the United States.

Unfortunately, my husband had to give three months notice so at the end of July I came back to the U.S. alone with our two girls (Lidia, almost 9 yrs old and Adriana, 6.5 yrs old) to look for a house to rent and register my girls for schools in the suburban Boston area. We finally settled on a place in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and although our lease started on September 1 our furniture got stuck in customs. In the meantime, we were in temporary housing in Boston, so for three weeks I was commuting every day to take/bring the girls to/from school. My husband finally made it out here in mid-September, and we are slowly settling in and adjusting to suburban living. If there are any alums nearby, please do get in touch as prior to moving to London I had lived in the NYC for 20+ years, so this is a very new experience for me.”

1984

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014. We hope that you will return to Walker’s to celebrate with friends!

1985 Elizabeth “Betsy” Potter Giddings 14 South Shore Lane Albany Township, ME 04217 860-805-8711 dearepg@aol.com

1986 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1987 Elizabeth “Liz” West Glidden 40 Stocking Lot Road East Haddam, CT 06423 860-808-4232 Lizwest8@gmail.com

1988 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Margo Cummings wrote in, “I am sorry I could not attend Reunion weekend; I was working on launching a new business. My new enterprise is Zesscom, www.zesscom.com. After eight years teaching at an international boarding school in Switzerland and five years freelancing, I was hired by a former student, Vikram Bhatnagar, to join his startup IT company as director of communications and training. Zesscom is based in Switzerland with an IT team in Mumbai. They provide solutions for web design, mobile app development, ecommerce, creative services, and social media marketing. I encourage you to support a couple of budding entrepreneurs by liking their Facebook page and reading Margo’s blog on the company web page. Let her know if Zesscom can help your business. In my free time, I’m busy learning Hindi and watching Bollywood films to prepare for my first business trip to India this fall.”

Melissa Loree: “Our mini-reunion was in Concord, MA, home to Henry David Thoreau and Walden Pond. Given their literary significance, we paused to appreciate a few of our amazing English teachers; such as, Mrs. Nelson, Dr. Leonard, and Mr. Groff.”

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Take Note 1989

REUNION

Fiona Cox 1133 37th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 206-605-5355 fionaccox@aol.com Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014.

We hope for a great showing from our Class of 1989 and look forward to reconnecting on campus!

I can always count on Dore Atwill Kesterson to reach out with what she has been up to! She announced, “We left our girls for the first time for 10 days in Arkansas, with their grandparents, so that we could go to GREECE! I had told the girls in January, while studying Europe that I would love to go back, and that I would REALLY love to go to Greece. However, I didn’t see that happening anytime soon. My husband had to go for work, and what a fine time we had. An amazing and inspiring place and people.”

staffing, and leadership. It’s a big change from my first job as a marine biologist working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea! I have recently gotten into X-fit which has become an addiction, and I love the physical challenge it brings.

Needless to say, combined with the mental challenge of a corporate job and two small girls, I’m staying out of trouble. Hope the everyone in the EWS community is safe and sound.”

1990 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1991 Sarah Keefer 777 South Eden Street Apartment #503 Baltimore, MD 21231 443-326-9357 Sarah6369@gmail.com Karinna Perez-Rubio Levy replied to my e-mail to tell me that she and her family are still living in Greenville, SC, and working very hard on Amanzi Tea, the tea company she and her husband started seven years ago. Their twins, Anaballe and Samuel, just turned six, “going on 16!;” recently, they declared to Katrinna they are NOT babies!

Just being girls—Reilly and Cameron, daughters of Lynette DeVries Baker ’91

Dore Atwill Kesterson ’91 atop the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

Dore helped me track down Lynette DeVries Baker and here is what she has

A family beach day—Karinna PerezRubio Levy ’91 and family

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been up to: “I have been living in the Atlanta area for the past 15 years, and recently celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. We have two daughters, Reilly age 8, and Cameron age 4, who are at such a great age; anything out of diapers is a great age! A few years ago, I took on the challenge of being the V.P. of Southeastern Operations at Jacobs Engineering Group, a global firm of about 65,000 people. It’s an exciting opportunity that has certainly allowed me to develop my skills in communication, financial operations,

Melissa Daglio Burns wrote, “My film, Cancer? Seriously? about breast cancer survivorship will be entering the 2014-15 Film Festival circuit, and I am very excited about the awareness it will bring. I know most us either are or will soon be 40, so if you haven’t already, please go get your mammogram! I am on to a new venture and opening a creative lab for all ages in the spring called The Wonder Project. My daughters, ages 7 and 9, are keeping me busy, as well. We have been thrilled with our move to the Atlanta area a few years ago.”

I have enjoyed following Allyson Wainer’s voyages on Facebook, she has been quite the traveler! She wrote, “This past year we welcomed Ethan Taylor to

Take Note our family, and he is a joy! We also moved from Ethiopia to Jordan and are enjoying exploring the Middle East. We are looking forward to visiting Petra, the Dead Sea, and Israel. I am still working as an Education Foreign Service Officer with USAID. This summer we were in the U.S. visiting family and traveling.”

Alicia Kelly Benedetto 6 Little Bear Drive Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 917-622-9946 Acbenedetto15@gmail.com Erika Santos Haupt Korb welcomed her second little boy, Caden Indiana Korb. He was born at home on January 23rd and weighed 10lbs, 8oz.

Kate Flanagan Shoss ’97 and sister Nan Flanagan ’93 in Saratoga Springs, NY during Columbus Day Weekend

1994

REUNION

Kristin Jones Brown wrote, “It’s been a great year. I got married to Michael Brown on April 7, so we are almost exactly at our first anniversary. I also changed jobs. I am working at the agency that partners with the Department of Children and Families in the foster care placements department.

We live in Daytona Beach, FL with our dog and two cats.

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org The children of Allyson Wainer ’91— Mary, Beza, and Ethan

Thank you for your updates and please, if anything exciting happens during the year that you want to share with Walker’s, just shoot me an email and I will be sure to include in the next Take Note.

1992

Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014. We hope that you will return to Walker’s to celebrate with friends!

1995 Alexandra “Ali” Townson 666 West Ferry Street Apartment 26 Buffalo, NY 14222 alexandratownson@hotmail.com

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

1996 1993 Mimi Morrison Harrison 120 Riverside Boulevard Apartment 3E New York, NY 10069 212-769-2254 mimiharrison@me.com

J. Drusilla Carter 13 Falknor Drive Manchester, CT 06040 860-634-7519 jdrusillacarter@gmail.com

1997 Karen Crowe 220 Boylston Street Apartment 1109 Boston, MA 02116 617-875-7240 Kcrowe79@gmail.com

Kristin Jones Brown ’97

1998 Brooke Berescik-Johns 118 West 75th Street Apartment #3A 646-483-9383 BrookeBJohns@gmail.com

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Take Note 1999

REUNION

Vivienne Felix 242 Varsity Square Bowling Green, OH 43402 484-597-0633 Viviennefelix@hotmail.com An appeal from Meaghan McLean Boisfeuillet: “Class of 1999, we need updated addresses to make sure that you receive you 15th Reunion packets! Also, we need volunteers for Reunion and someone to help fundraise for the class of 1999. Currently, I am the only one and would like others to help. For your contribution to the Fund for Walker’s, I suggest a symbolic gift of $19.99, or better yet, a $199.90 pledge. I am not sure if I can make Reunion Weekend, but we should try throughout the year to catch up at mini events. Please suggest best locations, if you want kid-friendly gatherings, or if you want classy nights out. Any and all types of gathering suggestions are welcome.”

seasoned Nantucket girl, hosted a wonderful day-after brunch and an afternoon on Madaket Beach surrounded by friends and family. It was the perfect finishing touch to the most memorable time in my life. Now, a year has passed, and I can say all the wedding dust has settled, and life falls back into place.

Getting ready to say goodbye to summer, welcome the arrival of autumn, and prepare for another long New England winter! Sending my love to all my Walker’s ladies!”

2001 A Nantucket wedding, 2012—Lacey Millar Bradley ’00 and husband, Justin

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Alicia Little Hodge 142 Hampton Avenue West Hartford, CT 06110 860-970-9156 alittlehodge@gmail.com

2002

Lacey Millar Bradley emailed, “We are

now coming up on our first year anniversary this month, and I still remember the graduation as if it were yesterday. Justin and I were married September 29, 2012 on Nantucket where we met and continue to live. The day was everything I wanted and needed it to be. Justin and I had everyone near and dear to us in one place, who could have asked for more? I was lucky to have my dear friends, both Walker’s ladies, with me to share my perfect day: Sarah Heinemann and Kelley Citroni. We danced the night away and spent the evening together until the wee morning hours laughing, reminiscing, and sharing stories. My dear Sarah, who too is a

into at the 100 Men of Color Gala Event —Shayna Whyte ’95. Had an awesome time catching up! Can’t wait to see her again!

April Bolton Mwangi ’00 and Shayna Whyte ’95 rendezvous at the 100 Men of Color Gala.

2000 Allison Quigley 151 Bunker Hill Avenue Stratham, NH 03885 603-247-0784 abatw@yahoo.com

April Bolton Mwangi: Look who I ran

Holly Jackson 2032 47th Street Astoria, NY 11105 860-593-1081 hjackson17@gmail.com

From left, Sarah Heinemann ’00, Lacey Millar Bradley ’00, Kelley Citroni ’00

Caitlin Turner Laffan said, “Currently, I’m a S.A.H.M. in East Haddam, CT. I just had my second son in May, so I’m a momma to a four-month-old and a three-year-old. The boys’ names are Reed and Cale respectively. Loving life and spending my free time (ha!) running or gardening. I still miss Walker’s and love to see all my sisters doing well!”

Take Note First, congratulations to Julia Howles and Henry Johnson on their engagement, and congratulations to Hillary Rohback and Zane Johnson on their marriage!

My little guys—Cale (3) and Reed (4 months), sons of Caitlin Turner Laffan ’02

2003 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Emily Lawrence Walberg exclaimed, “I just got married! I also have moved, to the Boston area.”

2004

REUNION

Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Marielle Vigneau-Britt wrote, “I have had a wonderful and productive year in Los Angeles! I starred in my first two feature films over the summer. They are both independent feature-length films, and the second one stars Dick van Dyke!

I am so proud of these movies and I can’t wait until they are completed and I can share them with everyone. They will both be submitted to film festivals this fall; hopefully, I will be making some festival trips early next year to help premiere them. Recently, I have had the joy of seeing many of my Walker’s friends, including a combined birthday weekend with Diane LaPosta on Nantucket, which Alle Shane and Andrea Coggins Toivakka joined us for. I am happy to have Emily Sappington with me on the West Coast now, and we both intend to fully take advantage of the proximity! I also got to see Julia Howles in NYC recently, and caught up with all that is going on in her exciting life. I miss my Walker’s girls every day, and am so proud of what everyone has accomplished in the last few years!”

2007 Carter E. Margison 85 Memorial Road Apartment #505 West Hartford, CT 06107 860-839-0770 carter.margison@gmail.com Emily Casey 446 Cedar Lane New Hartford, CT 06057 860-489-4700 feelflowfree@gmail.com

2008 Kathleen Kirby 425 Coppermill Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 860-882-2195 kathleenangelinekirby@gmail.com

2009

REUNION

Katherine “Katie” Reid 1016 River Haven Circle Apartment N Charleston, NC 29412 860-810-7519 reidkt25@gmail.com

Mark your calendars! Reunion Weekend is May 16-18, 2014. We hope that you will return to Walker’s to celebrate with friends!

2005 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

2006 Alle Shane 9609 Mockingbird Trail Jupiter, FL 33478 561-309-6883 Alle.colen@softrock.org L–R: Marielle Vigneau-Britt ’06, Diane LaPosta ’06, Emily Sappington ’06

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Take Note Katherine “Katie” Reid: “Hello fellow EWS ladies! I have recently moved to the beautiful city of Charleston, SC where I have quickly fallen in love with all things southern including, biscuits, and grits and gravy. This July I accepted a position as the project coordinator for the Charleston Digital Corridor located in downtown Charleston. I organize and coordinate member events, including the iFive:K, Corridor BASH, and other networking opportunities.

I am a recent summa cum laude graduate of High Point University in North Carolina with a B.A. in Human Relations. While pursuing my degree I have gained a comprehensive knowledge in non-profit funding, project management, communications, marketing and interpersonal & group dynamics. A Connecticut native at heart, I will always call Connecticut home and look forward to future alumnae events!”

2010

2012

Sydney Satchell 25 Hawthorne Lane Bloomfield, CT 06002 860-922-9034 sydneysatchell@gmail.com

Jordana “Monet” Clarke 81 Brewster Road Windsor, CT 06096 Clarke@college.harvard.edu

Marianne Pettit 10 Flagstad Road West Hartford, CT 06107 860-521-7029 12pettit@cardinalmail.cua.edu

2011 Kelsey Ballard 80 Pilgrim Road Windsor, CT 06095 860-688-9589 Kelseyballard11@gmail.com

Ellie Bell ’12 and Hannah Meehan ’13

2013 Your class needs a Correspondent!

Contact alumnae@ethelwalker.org

Stay Connected with Walker’s Wherever You Are The Ethel Walker School wants you to keep in touch! You can easily find us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and on our own website at

www.ethelwalker.org.

Catch up with old friends and discover new ones on Facebook by logging onto our page at

www.facebook.com/Ethel WalkerSchool.

Twitter @ethelwalkersch.

Follow us on

Ethel Walker School Alumnae and Friends.

Find us on LinkedIn at Ethel Walker Ski Team with School mascot Wally the Wildcat

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Take Note Births & Adoptions

1954

VIRGINIA WACK WOOD

1991

1963

CATHERINE JACOB MACLAUGHLIN

1969

INGRID KAUFMANN HAMILTON

Allyson Wainer Ethan Taylor Mulualem, October 20, 2012

1997

Erika Santos Haupt Korb Caden Indiana Korb, January 23, 2013

2002

Caitlin Turner Laffan Reed Patrick Laffan, May 23, 2013

Marriages & Unions 1972

Babette Epple Melka To Terry Schramm, January 1, 2013

1997

Kristin Jones To Michael Brown, April, 2013

2000

Lacey Millar To Justin Bradley, September 29, 2012

2003

Emily Lawrence Walberg To David Walberg

In Sympathy FRANCESCA CLETO AMATO, Mother of Mimi Duran P’18, current EWS Staff and Grandmother of Keeley M. Duran ’18 JOHN C. BIERWIRTH, Father of Marion Bierwirth Woolam ’69 and Susan Bierwirth Arbios ’74 VIRGINIA LEE CUDDY CLAYBERGER, Former EWS Staff EDWIN ERIKSON, Grandfather of Madeline J. Ross ’18 JOHN S. GATES, Father of Susan Gates Cooper ’73 and Sarah Gates Colley ’75 EDWARD GLENZEL, Grandfather of Sage K. Tourigny ’15

2006

Hillary Rohback To Zane Johnson

EDWARD JOHN GLOFKA, III, Brother of Haley A. Glofka ’14 JOHN ALEXANDER GRAVES, III, Husband of Jane Cole Graves ’45 LORNA CARMEN GREENE, Former EWS Staff

In Memoriam

LEAH C. KELLOGG, Mother of Liz Climie, current EWS Staff

1932

ELIZABETH WADE SEDGWICK

EDGARDO MENENDEZ, Father of Dr. Ezequiel Menendez, School organist

1935

CHERRY SHAW SWORDS

1935

PHYLLIS GERRY WILLIAMS

1937

NANCY MARSHALL STREBEIGH

1939

NANCY HERRON CHERRY

1944

JOAN WESTON WHEELER

1946

BARBARA HURFF CHRISTENSEN

ELIZABETH SKINNER COOK REED, Daughter of Elizabeth Hubbard Cook ’44

1946

LOUISE BROOKS WILLARD Sister: Diane Brooks Deeley ’48

BEVERLY SWAY-BENEDICT, Mother of John Sway, current EWS Staff

1950

ISABEL FARRAR deSIZNAY Mother: Isabel Greenlee Farrar ’28 Sister: Mary Farrar Hatchett ’60

ROSEMOND JOHNSON VALENTINE, Grandmother of Tim Cuzzone, current EWS Staff

1951

CYNTHIA BOOTH JENNINGS

DARLENE NICHOL MONTGOMERY, Former EWS Staff NORMAN FAIRLIE NELSON, II, Father of Fraser Nelson ’77 DONAL CLARE O’BRIEN, JR., Husband of Katharine S. O’Brien, Former Trustee, and Father of Katherine O’Brien Rohn ’82 and Caroline O’Brien Thomas ’85

JOHN R. WIERDSMA, Husband of Susan Salant Wierdsma ’55

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F R O M YO U R 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 PA R E N T S A S S O C I AT I O N P R E S I D E N T

This fall, the Parents Association arranged for

The Bell Library is also evolving in our students to see Macbeth performed at exciting ways, including a recent makeover of Hartford Stage. Originally written in the the library café. The enhancements will help 1600s, Macbeth has endured for centuries, in to create a multi-purpose space that large part because it explores archetypal encourages community-building activities themes that remain relevant today. Through such as socialization, arts and culture countless adaptations and interpretations, the programming, live performances, and play’s essential truths are fundamental to its learning events. Refreshed colors, window perpetual appeal. treatments and artwork combine with new This combination of adaptability and lighting, comfy seating, and room dividers to enduring relevance reminds me of create a versatile, warm, and functional Walker’s. Everywhere is evidence of the space where students can engage with each “...many unique ways in which the School continues to other and the community in multiple ways. elements combine to evolve to meet the needs of current and In Macbeth, many actors brought form the totality of a future students, including our iPad individual characters to life in service to Walker’s education, program, new athletic facilities, and the the larger story. Likewise, many unique and to provide an magnificent new dormitory. Assistant elements combine to form the totality of experience that remains Head of School Stephen Dunn’s “21st a Walker’s education, and to provide an relevant and enduring, Century Walker’s” initiative will ensure experience that remains relevant and the School’s curriculum continues to able to withstand the enduring, able to withstand the winds of prepare our girls to meet the demands of change and the test of time. We see winds of change and higher education and a global workforce. countless examples of this commitment in the test of time.”

The Centennial Center will be built on action every day. As parents, we can the foundation of Walker’s core values participate and contribute in numerous and traditions, and framed by best practices ways, even as we encourage our daughters to do the same. in modern learning. At the heart of all these efforts is Bravo, Walker’s! a collective commitment to providing students with Warmly, opportunities that will enable them to shape this community, and others, throughout their lives.

Reneé Alexander, P’13 PRESIDENT, EWSPA 2013-2014

Opening Day Parent Dinner

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E W S P A

N E W S

2013-2014 BOARD Reneé Alexander P’13 PRESIDENT

Lori Savino P’16 & Emma Bird P’16 SECRETARY

Grace Niland P’15 TREASURER

Susie Vanaria P’14, Kim Foster P’18, Ramla Shaikh P’15 CO-CHAIRS, ALL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Amy Paul P’16, ’18 CHAIR, US COMMITTEE

Amy Paul P’16, ’18 HEAD OF CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

Lori Savino P’16 & Emma Bird P’16 Throughout the year, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 hosts a series of breakfasts for current parents called “Breakfast with Bessie.” Different topics are covered during each. In the photo above, the series focused on STEAM.

US DAY & BOARDING PARENT LIAISONS

Carol Ross P’18 CHAIR, MS COMMITTEE/MS PARENT LIAISON/VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Ayesha Dewan P’17, Bing Han P’18 INTERNATIONAL PARENT LIAISONS

Renee Coleman-Mitchell P’17, Ayesha Dewan P’17 OUTREACH COMMITTEE

Renee Coleman-Mitchell P’17 WELLNESS COMMITTEE

CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

2014 Katrina Turner P’14 and Crystal Begleiter P’14 2015 Leslie Silverman P’15 and Pat Olesh P’15 2016 Tracey Backman P’16, ’18 and Sally LaBonte P’16 2017 Troy Mitchell P’17

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P A R E N T

Walker’s in China: Five Cities, Six Receptions, Seven Days

P A G E S

Sundial in Beijing (Forbidden City)

• Current parents graciously hosted receptions in every city, at which Bessie and Tom Speers deepened relationships with current Walker’s parents and met prospective families and students.

• Head of School Bessie Speers P'16 was the featured speaker on a panel about independent schools and all-girls education. The conversation with families interested in attending U.S. boarding schools was sponsored by Admissions Consultant Vericant.

• The cultural value and respect accorded to educators and education in China far exceeds that to which we are accustomed in the U.S.

Shenzhen: Johnson Zhang, Tom Speers P’16, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Jane Wu, Susan Zhang (family of Anna Zhang ’14)

Guangzhou: Tom Speers P’16 and Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 with dinner hosts Ying Li and Wendong Xu (parents of Becky Xu '15)

Shanghai reception hosted by Justin Liu and Laura Wang (parents of Catherine Liu ’17)

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Sunday, November 24 Beijing

4 5 Sunday, November 24 Dalian

3

Friday, November 22 Shanghai

2 Thursday,

Tuesday,

1

November 21

November 19 Shenzhen

Guangzhou

Shanghai: Tom Speers P’16, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16 with Helen Cheng and Simon Li (parents of Alice Li ’15) at Shanghai Gezhi Junior High School

Dalian: Wei Liu and Zili Cheng (parents of Crystear Liu ’14) with Tom Speers P’16 and Head of School Bessie Speers P’16

Beijing: L-R: Qiang Lou, He Chen (parents of Sherry Lou ’16), Tom Speers P’16, owner of Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Chunying Kai and Hao Zhang (parents of Jinghan Zhang ’15)

Shenzhen: Tom Speers P’16, Head of School Bessie Speers P’16, Hong Yang, Ye Qian, (parents of Candace Qian ’16) WINTER 2014

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F R O M

T H E

A R C H I V E S

Residential Life in the ’40s Beaver Brook, the main building on campus, was once a dorm (top). Today, it is primarily an academic building complete with the Abra’s Dining Hall and administrative offices. Old Cluett (below), perched on the ridge line above campus, was a stately house with peaked roofs and nooks

and crannies for studying. Today’s Cluett is nestled in the trees on the main side of campus and boasts a sleek, modern look with an open garden in the center. While much has changed—especially the bricks and mortar components— the friendship and camaraderie girls experience at Walker’s remains steadfast (above photo).

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TH E

WALKER ’ S A LUMNA L OUISE B ROOKS W ILLARD ’46 L EAVES G IFT TO S CHOOL IN HER E STATE R ESULTING FACULTY H OUSING E XPANSION

PL AN NE D

IN

GI VI NG

CO RN ER

The Ethel Walker School community was saddened to hear that our beloved alumna, Louise Brooks Willard ’46, passed away at her home on April 28, 2013. A native of Springfield, MA, Louise was the daughter of Marie Louise Brooks and John Cummings Brooks, Vice President of the Monsanto Chemical Company.

While at Walker’s, she was president of the Music and Recital Clubs and was on the Pepper Pot Board and Service Committee. Always fully engaged with the life of the School, Louise enjoyed her time at Walker’s and life-long friendships with classmates.

After completing three years at Walker’s, she went on to graduate from Vassar College.

Louise married Henry K. Willard, II of Washington, D.C. in the Congregational Church in Nantucket, MA on September 1, 1950. They were married for 62 years and had two sons, Henry and John. One of Louise’s classmates who lives in the D.C. area recalled fondly, “The Willards entertained beautifully, hosting large parties in D.C. and later in Shepherdstown, WV. Many people would drive no small distance to attend and to enjoy their company.”

Louise was a very active volunteer. She was president of the Shenandoah Garden Club in Charles Town, WV, Senior Warden of Trinity Episcopal Church in Shepherdstown, WV, and trustee of the Washington National Cathedral Association, just to name a few of her many volunteer efforts.

Last summer, Louise’s son and executor, Hank Willard, contacted Jane Bradford, Senior Director of Gift Planning, to let her know that he would be sending paperwork in connection with his mother’s bequest to Walker’s. Hank spoke of the deep affection his mother had for The Ethel Walker School, and shortly after that conversation, the gift

Jane Rae Bradford Senior Director of Gift Planning

arrived in full.

It was a fortuitous gift because administrators at the School had recently noticed a residence for sale that not only abutted campus, but also sat among other faculty homes along Sand Hill Road, overlooking the playing fields.

Suddenly, the possibility of acquiring this property was

If you are interested in making a planned gift to The Ethel Walker School, please contact Senior Director of Gift Planning Jane Rae Bradford at 860-408-4260 or jbradford@ethelwalker.org.

within reach due to the thoughtful, timely bequest from Louise Brooks Willard ’46. On October 25, 2013, Walker’s completed the purchase (see photo). This home now houses a faculty member and his family.

The Walker’s community is grateful for Mrs. Willard’s legacy and for all of the bequests we have received from alumnae, parents, and friends over the years. Bequests

Also, visit our planned giving website at www.ethelwalker.org/ support-walkers/ planned-giving.

are gifts that stand the test of time, ensuring the long-term stability and growth of The Ethel Walker School.

Please join this illustrious group of donors who have included The Ethel Walker School in their estate plans. Each gift, in its own way, makes an impact on the quality of life experienced by our students and faculty.

For more information, contact Jane Rae Bradford, Senior Director of Gift Planning at 860-408-4260; jbradford@ethelwalker.org, or visit our Planned Giving website at http://www.ethelwalker.org/support-walkers/planned-giving.

When making any philanthropic commitment to Walker’s, please be sure to include your attorney and/or financial advisor in the conversation to ensure the transaction is arranged with respect to your individual requirements.

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SIMSBURY, CT PERMIT NO. 21

230 Bushy Hill Road • Simsbury, CT 06070

C L ASS E S E N D I N G I N 4 A N D 9

Reunion Weekend!

Save The Date • May 16–18, 2014

If you're interested in volunteering for Communications and Fundraising Committees, please contact Cara Woods, Director of Alumnae Affairs at cwoods@ethelwalker.org, Heidi McCann, Director of Reunion Giving at hmccann@ethelwalker.org, or visit ethelwalker.org/reunion.