Winter 2018 Surgere

MAGAZINE

LAUREN GIBBS ’02 JOURNEY TO THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS

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Where in the World Will Westridge Lead You? WESTRIDGE WOMEN LIVING LIVES OF IMPACT ABROAD Page 5

LOOK INSIDE Ranney Award recipient, alumnae event photos, class notes, & more Winter 2018

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All Star-Alumnae Where in the World Will Westridge Lead You?

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Letter from the Alumnae Board Chairs

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Westridge Connections

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Ranney Award Winner Julie Frantz ’67

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Leadership & Loyalty Event

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Working in the world of sports

Head’s Note

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ALL-STAR ALUMNAE

05 WHERE IN THE WORLD? International alumnae

News & Events Class Notes Remembrances

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RANNEY AWARD WINNER

Julie Frantz ’67

Winter 2018 /

Surgere

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18 ALUMNAE NEWS CLASS NOTES

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Reunion Weekend photos, Updates on our alumnae events, campus visits, and more.

As someone who has spent much of my adult life abroad and raised a family of global citizens, this edition of Surgere is close to my heart. But in addition to addressing geographies, our theme of “where in the world will Westridge lead you” spans vocations and passions. The following stories feature alumnae living around the world and those working and competing at the highest levels of the sports world. Additionally, alumnae news and updates demonstrate Westridge women living diverse lives of impact and interesting lives of the mind.

Having worked in many schools, I can tell you that the bonds of the Westridge sisterhood are without compare. No matter how far you roam or how different your lives, Westridge women stay close. That you continue to nurture relationships within your class, and often across generations, is a testament to the indelible nature of this community with its powerful shared educational and community values. Your continued support of each other and the school are central to Westridge.

I hope to see many of you in March for Alumnae Weekend. If you are not able to join us, I hope you will reach out through the Westridge Connect (see page 24) online platform, so that you may discover alumnae near you or with shared personal or career interests that may spark another Westridge connection. And wherever you are in the world, I hope you will join our virtual Olympics viewing party as we cheer on Lauren Gibbs ’02 in the bobsled competition (see page 2). What an incredible feat and incredible story, but wholly believable if you know Lauren!

Surgere,

Elizabeth J. McGregor Head of School 01

All-Star Alumnae

IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS 02

Westridge has long been known as a great place for scholar athletes to excel; a school where serious students are encouraged to join a sports team and where top athletes are supported in balancing the rigor of the classroom with the rigorous training and schedule demands required of highly competitive athletics. Westridge sees athletes advance to college-level play each year and some, beyond.

This edition of Surgere highlights a few young Westridge alumnae who are currently making their mark in the world of sports.

Winter 2018 / Surgere

CHEER HER ON in the

Pyeongchang games!

February 18-25

ADVICE FOR WELLNESS AND BALANCE: Find something you truly love to do and surround yourself with the right people.

LAUREN GIBBS ’02:

Member, 2018 U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team Lauren Gibbs was a Tiger standout in track & field and volleyball, but even she didn’t dream about where she will be competing this winter: in a bobsled at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. In fact, at age 30 she hadn’t even watched a bobsled race when an acquaintance at a Denver gym encouraged her to enter the Olympic bobsled trials happening a few weeks from then. (The friend was stunned by Gibb’s squat lifting and deadlift skills—315 pounds and 405-425 pounds, respectively).

Despite her age and lack of history with the sport, the competitor in Gibbs was intrigued by the idea of seeing the Olympic Training Center. Much to her surprise, she made that first cut and her life changed overnight. She has trained and competed full-time for the past four years, ending up second overall in the World Cup competition along the way to qualifying for the Olympics. Today, Lauren is one of the United States’ best “push athletes,” the member of the two-woman bobsled team who powers the sled at the top of the run, “holds on for dear life,” and brakes at the finish.

Lauren is a member of the Westridge Athletics Hall of Fame and her name is emblazoned on two banners in the Hoffman Gymnasium. Brown University recruited her for track and field, but she followed her passion to play volleyball there instead (their gain—she took All-Ivy League Academic and Second Team All-Ivy League honors, served as team captain, and graduated with more than 1,000 career kills).

After college, Gibbs earned an MBA and worked in corporate America until that fateful workout. The rest is Olympic (and Westridge!) history.

WHAT DID WESTRIDGE TEACH YOU THAT YOU STILL RELY ON TODAY: That I can accomplish anything as long as I am willing to work for it. I always felt empowered at Westridge.

ADVICE TO ATHLETES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF THEIR SPORTS: You have to decide you really want something and you have to be willing to make sacrifices.

ADVICE FOR WESTRIDGE STUDENTS: Decide if it is something you want and if it’s worth it, you’ll find a way to do it. And also – be kind.

You can follow Lauren’s adventure on Instagram (lgibbs84) and read her blog, which aims to inspire others to go after their dreams and help people understand that struggle can often foster opportunity, at www.huffingtonpost.com/author/lauren-gibbs.

Photo credits (including cover): Molly Choma

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EVAN GARLOCK ’09:

Coordinator, Corporate Partnership Services, Dallas Cowboys Evan began interning for a variety of sports teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Nationals, and the LA Sparks, during her summers at Vanderbilt University.

“Somehow the crazy hours and never-ending list of bizarre requests did not deter me, but rather further affirmed that sports was the business for me,” said Evan. She loves being able to use the power of the Cowboys brand to make a positive impact on others by introducing someone to their first game or bringing partners and players together to host community events. She says that her “biggest challenge thus far has been learning how to explain the way a professional team works to someone who does not live and breathe sports.”

Evan Garlock (third from left) with members of the Corporate Partnership Sales and Service team on the sidelines during a Cowboys - Giants game.

CORNELL BANTA ’11:

Freelance, Sports Broadcasting As a freelancer, Cornell is involved in many different aspects of sports broadcasting, working with three of the four professional sports teams in Dallas: the Cowboys, the Rangers, and the Stars.

She started working for the Cowboys as a college intern, and worked her way up to production stage manager. She also works as graphics operator for the Rangers and as game day audio assistant for the Stars. Cornell’s biggest challenge has been overcoming sexism and ageism in the sports world, where most of the crews consist of men over the age of 30. “It frustrates me but also fuels my fire,” Cornell said. “I am proud that I am the youngest and a woman in these work environments.”

CLAIRE MILLER ’09:

Manager, Fan Development, Los Angeles Dodgers Growing up a multi-sport athlete, Claire decided early on that she wanted to work in the sports industry. She attended the University of Miami to major in sports administration and took advantage of the easy access to collegiate and professional sports teams. She interned and volunteered for university athletics, the Miami Dolphins, and the Florida Panthers among others while in college. It was this extensive experience prior to graduating that landed Claire her first job out of school as a public relations associate with the Dodgers. She has been with the Dodgers for nearly four years now, and can’t make it through a home series without having at least one veggie Dodger Dog.

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Competing or working in competitive athletics? Let us know at alumnae@westridge.org or update your profile on Westridge Connect so that we may add you to our expert database for alumnae and students looking for advice in the field.

Winter 2018 / Surgere

will Westridge lead you?

As part of our strategic plan, Westridge is focusing more and more on helping our students prepare to be global citizens. The Westridge sisterhood currently spans 29 countries in five of the seven continents! Read on to learn what some of our worldwise Westridge women have to say about living overseas, and the Westridge lessons they’ve taken with them. And if you aren’t already on our map (see page 7), please join the Westridge Connect online networking platform so that alumnae traveling to your part of the world can connect with you as well.

Visit www.westridgeconnect.peoplegrove.com.

Zandie Brockett ’05 BEIJING, CHINA

Independent Contemporary Art Curator Seven years ago, Zandie decided to pack her “malcontent New York gallery-girl” bags and move to Beijing. The bourgeoning creative community made up for the fact that she had no job, friends, or Mandarin skills, and she immediately fell in love with the city and its people. Today, she is invigorated by her job presenting the thoughts and alternative perspectives of the artists around her. Zandie credits her career in arts to Katie Sivers and the camera she received in 7th grade. “Photography,” she said, “was the first lens through which I was challenged to perceive the world differently.”

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Madeleine Coulombe ’84

Nina Guo ’11

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Head of English, Ivanhoe Girls’ Grammar School

Freelance Singer and MA Student at Universität der Künste

Madeleine loves the quality of life in Melbourne, which has been voted the most livable city in the world for the past seven years. Madeleine said of her life in a suburb of Melbourne, “if we go one direction we are in the bush with amazing wildlife, open-air markets, and wineries. Or a train ride takes us to the center of Melbourne with art galleries, beautiful parks, performance venues, and restaurants.” As a teacher, much of what she models and shares with her students reflects her time at Westridge, which she says, “instilled in me passions for women’s rights, intellectual rigor, creativity, social justice, and community service.”

Nina, a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in classical voice, was inspired to move to Berlin by the large following of a music scene that values contemporary and new works, particularly those that use extended technique and theater. She is currently pursuing an MA in Sound Studies and Sonic Arts, studying sound as a concept. She is busy learning about sound technically (microphones and computers), artistically (experimental music and installation pieces), and theoretically (cultural impact).

“I still use the skills I learned at Westridge of how to read, listen, and discuss in a critical thinking environment,” says Nina.

BERLIN, GERMANY

Virginia (Ginny) Clapham Mees ’78 THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS

Communications & Engagement Communications Strategist, The Fifth Business In 2009, Ginny and her husband Paul moved to the Netherlands to raise their youngest son close to family. “I have Ms. Luedtke to thank for my writing prowess,” says Ginny. “As a communications professional, it is truly the main tool in my arsenal.” With one car and six bikes, Ginny’s family enjoys riding through the comprehensive freeway system of bike paths in the Netherlands (which means “lowlands”).

She loves the proximity to so many countries and cultures and the beach life in the summer. She says that Westridge taught her, “flexibility, self-confidence, self-reliance—all of which have served me well in the transition to another country.”

Eda Reed ’12 TAMALE, GHANA

Clean Water Advocate Eda works as an expansion coordinator with Saha Global, an organization dedicated to helping residents of the northern region of Ghana gain access to clean water by turning it into a business opportunity for women in rural villages. She works directly with women in villages to help them set up chlorinating businesses that provide affordable clean water. “I never saw myself enjoying a standard 9-5 desk job, even at Westridge!” says Eda. She credits the life science classes at Westridge for encouraging her to pursue a dual degree in Environmental Science and Biology at Colby College.

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Winter 2018 / Surgere

Maral Tavitian ’13 YEREVAN, ARMENIA

Journalist, CivilNet Digital Media

Maral Tavitian interviewing United States Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, in June.

One week after graduating from USC with a degree in journalism, Maral hopped on a plane to Yerevan to work for Armenian online newspaper CivilNet. Her stories have covered a range of topics including refugee integration, women’s rights, and national security. Maral says this experience has deepened her relationship to Armenian culture and history, and that she has developed a profound connection to the language, people, and customs. “Westridge taught me never to place limits on my potential as a young woman and gave me the confidence and intellectual foundation to excel,” said Maral.

Hatti Woakes ’53 FISHGUARD, WALES

Secretary, North Pembrokeshire Transport Forum

Hatti Woaks (center) wtih Arriva Trains and Fishguard Youth Group personnel.

After living and working in Northern Rhodesia, Canada, Zambia and Nigeria, Hatti and her husband, Mike, settled in Wales in 1990. The warmth of the Welsh people confirmed they made the right decision. At the Transport Forum, Hatti has been instrumental in making positive changes to her community, helping secure the provision of additional train services to Fishguard. Hatti credits Westridge for nurturing her lifelong love of learning, including a career in librarianship, and for instilling in her a passion for history, thanks to the teachings of Miss Edmundson (later Mrs. Herrick), who she recalls saying back in the 1950s, “We aim to prepare girls to face a world of change.”

NORWAY NETHERLANDS (3) SWEDEN (2)

FINLAND UNITED KINGDOM (20)

GERMANY (9)

SLOVENIA

FRANCE (4) CANADA (14)

PORTUGAL ITALY (2) BARBADOS

Alumnae

ABROAD

JAPAN (5)

GREECE

SPAIN (2)

MEXICO

AUSTRIA

CHINA (2)

GHANA INDIA

TAIWAN HONG KONG (2) PHILIPPINES (2)

SENEGAL NEW ZEALAND ARGENTINA

SOUTH AFRICA

AUSTRALIA (8)

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letter from the 201 7-201 8

Alumnae Board Chairs elcome to a new year at Westridge!

Your 2017-2018 Alumnae Board is grateful for the continued opportunity to serve a remarkable community of Westridge women. Inspired by this year’s convocation speech, “Our Search for Wellness and Balance,” given by Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor, we invite our alumnae, amid the endless busyness, to stop and take a breath to reflect and connect over our shared “Surgere” roots. Throughout the year, Westridge will share tips for wellness and balance, and we encourage you to share your ideas with us as well. In addition, we will continue to bring you opportunities to connect with the Westridge community.

PAUSE AND REFLECT • M eet fellow alumnae and hear their stories. Their experiences give us the precious opportunity to pause and reflect on our own Westridge memories and the significant ways in which we were shaped by our time at 324 Madeline Drive.

• A ttend a class reunion for a trip down memory lane together.

Share your news with alumnae near and far in Surgere’s Class Notes.

• V isit our beautiful campus and witness how the important and influential work of Westridge continues in today’s girls.

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Westridge Alumnae Board members pictured (front row from left) include: Senior Class President Jane H. ’18, Rebecca Synott ’06, Teri Wilde ’69, Board Chair Emily Ko Wang ’93, Shahbano Nawaz ’98, Lynn Tsuboi Saito ’63, and Liz Seitz DeRobertis ’94. Back row: Vice Chair Emily Miller Karlekar ’95, Tara Friedlander Dunlap ’02, Karen Huante ’79, Dhari Balvin Thein ’86, Andrea Mills ’72, and Monica Oller ’91. Not pictured: Dana Icaza Banta ’01, Gibson Banta ’07, Jennifer Heintz Lulla ’95, Michele Shibuya ’86, and Catherine Christian Schultz ’71.

CONNECT AND HELP • S ee old friends and meet new ones at Westridge Alumnae Readers Book Club meetings, networking events, regional gatherings, and our annual Alumnae Weekend festivities!

• J oin Westridge Connect to help provide Westridge women with mentoring, networking, job and internship opportunities, and give a warm welcome to new students and those who are relocating to your area.

• G ive to the Annual Fund to support the Westridge difference that is seen by the empowering education girls receive today and by the lasting impact of a Westridge education, as seen through our alumnae.

• H elp secure Westridge excellence for future generations of girls to come with a gift to our Endowment.

Westridge alumnae span many generations and follow diverse paths, and yet upon reflection, our stories are often the same: by teaching us to be our best, bold selves, Westridge has made us who we are today.

Surgere,

Emily Ko Wang ’93 Chair Alumnae Board

Emily Miller Karlekar ’95 Vice Chair Alumnae Board

Winter 2018 / Surgere

Lynne McKelvey ’53 and Hilary Whelan Reyl ’85

To join Westridge Connect and learn about alumnae, internships, jobs and more, visit https://westridgeconnect. peoplegrove.com or contact Lisa Vandergriff at alumnae@westridge.org.

“Hilary went to Westridge a generation after I did, in large part because I had gone there (her parents were dear friends of Lynne’s). But now our age difference has disappeared. We are merely—and mainly—two writers grappling with words. By happy coincidence our two novels—her second, my first—were published within weeks of one another—a fact we both find amazing,” said Lynne McKelvey ’53.

Lynne recently published her first novel, A Real Daughter, and thanks Hilary in the acknowledgements. For more information, visit http://www.arealdaughter.com.

Hilary Whelan Reyl ’85 recently published her second book; a young adult novel, Kids Like Us, about a boy on the autism spectrum who falls in love with a neurotypical girl. For more information, visit https://www.publishersweekly.com.

“Westridge is a timeless influence. The fact that Lynne and I were there during different years hardly matters now. What remains is that Westridge gave us the belief in ourselves to become writers. I am lucky to share such deep roots with Lynne, and I’m proud of both of us for persevering.”

– HILARY WHELAN REYL ’85

Chloe Obico ’11 and Julia Knoerr ’17 After hearing alumna Chloe Obico ’11 (front right in photo) speak during the Alumnae Luncheon Speaker Series last March, Julia Knoerr ’17 (third from left in photo), a senior at the time, utilized Westridge Connect to contact Chloe. This led to a summer internship for Julia at This Bar Saves Lives, a nutrition bar company with a philanthropic mission to combat malnutrition around the world.

“I had a really valuable and interesting experience there, and I enjoyed working with Chloe,” said Julia. “She is a member of the marketing/ PR team, so I was able to learn about an area I didn’t have previous experience in and to help with a variety of tasks. It was cool learning more about the day-to-day operations of a start-up, and to participate in the team-centered, collaborative atmosphere that exists at This Bar.” Chloe, digital marketing and PR manager at This Bar Saves Lives, had this to say about Julia: “She was a stellar intern because, although she had no experience working in a startup, she was ready and willing to jump into anything and everything we gave her. She learned quickly and had a great attitude about helping everyone out.”

On providing internships for alumnae: “It keeps the Westridge community alive long after graduation and ensures that organizations and businesses are tapping into the amazing talent that Westridge has to offer.”

Sally Chung ’15 and Paige Lurie ’11 “Coming from a small school on the opposite side of the country, you can imagine how eager I was to find out about other Westridge graduates in the D.C. area. (Through Westridge Connect) Paige Lurie ’11 and I bonded over our Westridge experience, even though we had not known each other in high school.

With my questions about pursuing a career in law, Paige was very helpful and extremely honest. She offered insight into whether it would be better to go straight into law school after undergrad or have work experience, what other career options exist in the legal field, ways to find jobs and internship opportunities related to law, and summer programs to look into. Meeting Paige reshaped my way of looking at my future (to look at it with a more open-minded framework). I am sincerely grateful to her for taking time to meet with me and I hope the connection that we formed through Westridge Connect encourages my peers and other alumnae to reach out to each other for coffee or for a chat on the phone. Who knows what awaits? The new friendships you’ll make!”

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DON’T MISS

2018

Friday, March 9 & Saturday, March 10

The Class of 1947 celebrated their 70th reunion during last year’s Alumnae Weekend

RETURN TO CAMPUS FOR A FUN-FILLED WEEKEND WITH WESTRIDGE ALUMNAE! If you have yet to RSVP and would like to attend, please email alumnae@westridge.org to register today and reserve your seat at Saturday’s luncheon.

Westridge Alumnae Affairs is currently working with Class Reps/reunion organizers to plan additional gatherings for the classes of 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1978, 1973, 1968, 1963, 1958, 1953, 1948, 1943.

Please be sure we have your current contact information so you’re in the loop!

Friday, March 9 2:15 P.M. Gathering of the Classes of 1968 + 2026

depiction of a woman’s decision to put her needs before those of her family’s at the end of the nineteenth century.

5-7 P.M. Greek & Roman Alumnae Cocktail Reception

3-5 P.M. Campus Tours Westridge Tigers Lacrosse game Master Class #1 – Watercolor Art Class J oin Lower School Art Teacher Val Trimarchi at the lily pond behind Ranney House to try your hand at watercolor art. Val will showcase sketches from her book Breathe, and invites you to stay for as little or long as you like!

Master Class #2 – Behind the Scenes Theatre Tour J oin Director of Theatre Brandon Kruhm for an exclusive tour of the Performing Arts Center’s stage, scene shop, costume shop, and tech booth as students prepare for opening night of The Wizard of Oz! Space is limited to 15 alumnae.

Master Class #3 – The Cutting Edge (STEAMWork Design Studio) J oin STEAMWork Design Studio Coordinator David Prince for a demo featuring the state-of-the-art laser cutter.

Participants will learn about the new equipment and translate a hand-drawn image into a plywood laser cut-out.

M aster Class #4 – Perspectives on Motherhood: An Examination of The Awakening J oin Upper School English Teacher Katie Wei ’94 in a discussion about the novella, The Awakening, Kate Chopin’s 10

Saturday, March 10 10:30 A.M. Coffee & Registration

10:45 A.M. Alumnae Speaker Event – Stay tuned for details!

11:30 A.M. Class Photos

12 P.M. Luncheon & Program Honoring the 2018 Ranney Award Recipient Julie Frantz ’67

Sunday, March 11 11 A.M.-1 P.M. Women Who Shaped Pasadena Walking Tour – meet at Pasadena Central Library

Winter 2018 / Surgere

RANNEY AWARD Julie Frantz ’67 Westridge is pleased to announce the 2018 Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna Award will be presented to Julie Frantz ’67 during the Alumnae Weekend Luncheon on Saturday, March 10, 2018.

The citation for the award reads as follows: To honor Mary Lowther Ranney this award is given annually

by Westridge School to an alumna whose life embodies the spirit of the Westridge motto, Surgere Tentamus, and who, by her commitment to her chosen path, her dedication to lifelong growth and learning, and her habits of heart, mind, and action is an example and an inspiration to the Westridge community.

ulie Frantz, a Westridge ’lifer’ from the class of 1967, graduated from Stanford University, followed by law school in Oregon where she was one of five women in her class. She has been a trailblazer, visionary leader and mentor in all realms of her life.

Dedicated to strong advocacy for the indigent, she became the first woman to head the Portland office of the Metropolitan Public Defender, and subsequently the first woman partner in the civil litigation firm of Schulte, Anderson et al. She led the Oregon Law Foundation which provides funding to organizations that support access to justice and civic education. In 1992, Julie was the first woman elected President of the Oregon State Bar in its 57 year history. She was appointed to the Multnomah County Circuit Court in 1994, where she became one of its presiding chiefs, and elected President of the Oregon Circuit Judges Association by her statewide colleagues.

In 2014, Julie was named President of the National Association of Woman Judges, the first from Oregon, an organization whose mission is to ensure access to and equal treatment in our courts, protect individual rights under the rule of law, and promote the advancement of women and minorities in the legal profession. Human trafficking, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), and the importance of an independent judiciary are among the key issues addressed.

Last spring, Julie was the recipient of the Justice Betty Roberts Award by Oregon Women Lawyers for her pioneering efforts, mentoring of women, and service to the community.

On a different note, Julie was the first State of Oregon women’s racquetball champion in 1977.

In recognition of her dedicated service and collaborative leadership, Julie has received the Oregon Women’s Political Caucus ’Hero’ award, the Distinguished Graduate Award from her law school, her county’s bar association Award of Merit, the Fred A. Stickel Public Sector Award, and Oregon Episcopal School’s award for trustee excellence for her leadership as board chair during a time of transition.

Julie has been a passionate community volunteer, serving on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, I Have a Dream Foundation, Meals on Wheels and her children’s school.

She has actively engaged in delivering meals to seniors for two decades, building houses locally and internationally in Ethiopia and El Salvador, coaching high school mock trial teams, and annually organizing Take Your Child to Work mock trials for hundreds of kids from diverse backgrounds and through NAWJ’s Color of Justice program. To celebrate her 60th birthday, Julie invited 35 women friends to help build a Habitat house in Portland.

Julie, who recently retired from the bench, lives with her husband in Oregon where she enjoys outdoor adventures, theater, bicycling, kayaking, travel and time with her grown children and her broad family of friends. She continues with her volunteer activities as well as an active mediation practice. As part of her ’rewirement,’ as she refers to it, Julie is preparing for a Habitat build in India.

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Douglas Garrett and Susie Arnett Garrett ’72, Catherine Christian Schultz ’71 and Stan Schultz

Westridge Celebrates Leadership and Loyalty Westridge School’s annual Leadership & Loyalty donor recognition event was held in October at the Athenaeum, where guests mingled during cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before hearing from Chairman of the Board of Trustees Francis Park, Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor, and ASB President Ashley W. ’18.

The 2016-2017 alumnae winners of the Herrick Bowl and Owen Trophy were also announced at the event. For the third year in a row, there was a tie between the Class of 1947, led by Reunion Organizer Priscilla Dunn Flynn, and Class of 1953, class representatives Gwen Garland Babcock and Cynthia Crawford Berne, the classes with the highest percentage of participation in giving to the Westridge Annual Fund. Coincidentally, both classes have won the award nine times.

Current parent Felicity Huffman with Darrell Chulay Banta ’77, Stephen Algermissen, and Elizabeth Huntley Algermissen ’77

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The Nancy H. Owen Trophy, awarded to the class making the largest dollar contribution to the Westridge Annual Fund in a given year, also went to the Class of 1947 for their gifts totaling $13,827.

Winter 2018 / Surgere The evening ended with a performance by the Glee Club, led by Upper School Choral Director Paul Stephenson.

The annual Leadership & Loyalty event celebrates members of the Westridge community who have supported the Annual Fund at the Ivy and The Lamp Circle level ($1,500) and above; loyal donors, who have made Annual Fund gifts in at least 10 of the last 20 years, including the 2016-2017 school year; members of the Madeline Society, who have remembered Westridge in their estate plans; and, supporters of the Campaign for Our Second Century. Please note: starting in 2017-2018, the Ivy and the Lamp Circle level has changed to $1,913, in recognition of the year Westridge School was founded by Mary Lowther Ranney.

Westridge Appoints

Past parents Ava Megna and Smooch Repovich Reynolds ’75

DIANA BERNAL O’LEARY as Director of Advancement

Past parents Bill and Li Gong

Alan Stanford and Janet Morse Stanford ’55, Head of School Elizabeth J. McGregor, Laurie Stanford Turner ’82, and David Turner

We are pleased to announce that Diana Bernal O’Leary, a fundraising executive with more than 20-years experience, including in Pasadena, joined Westridge on January 3 as director of advancement. Diana’s experience includes overseeing annual fund, planned and major gifts, campaigns, foundation support, alumni relations, and parent programs. For the past six years she has served as associate dean for development and external relations at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Prior to this she worked as the VP for development at 89.3 KPCC and as an assistant development director at the LA Philharmonic. Please stop by Pitcairn House when you are on campus to say hello and help us welcome Diana to our community.

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Alumnae Luncheon Speaker Ariane Helou ’99 On October 18, Westridge welcomed Ariane Helou ’99 back to campus for the Alumnae Luncheon Speaker program, through which three to four alumnae a year speak about their career path with juniors and seniors.

Ariane holds a BA in Classical Languages from UC Berkeley, a master’s in Comparative Literature from Brown University, and a PhD in Literature from UC Santa Cruz.

She currently works as a lecturer in the Department of French & Francophone Studies at UCLA. In addition to her work as a UCLA faculty member, Ariane is a professional dramaturg at the Santa Cruz Shakespeare festival, her home theater company during the summer season.

With a love for theater that began at Westridge, Ariane talked to students about her work as a dramaturg and how she got her start in professional theater while pursuing an academic career.

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Parents of Westridge alumnae in the Class of 2017 (front row, from left) Anne Dorsey Long, Lynn Chu, Christy Rodarte, Anne Otter, and Janice Low. Back row: Debbie Silva, Linda Peacore, Tonya Dobine, Jimmy Lee, Susan Jackson, and Carolyn O’Donnell.

Westridge College Care Package Mailing Parents of Westridge alumnae from the class of 2017 returned to campus in October for a college care package mailing sent to Westridge’s most recent graduates. Parents gathered in the historic Pitcairn House living room for coffee, breakfast, and conversation before helping assemble the packages. The work went quickly as a dozen parents stuffed packages with a Westridge laundry bag, laundry supplies and tips, and other treats.

Heather Pidcoke ’83 Speaker Event On September 25, Westridge welcomed to campus Dr. Heather Pidcoke ’83, recipient of the 2017 Mary Lowther Ranney Distinguished Alumna Award. Unable to attend Alumnae Weekend in March, Heather visited campus to officially accept the award. She spoke to Upper School students about her notable medical career, with a photo presentation entitled “My Meandering Journey,” which touched upon her early years living with family in Brazil and Spain, her years at Westridge, Georgetown University, Mills College, Keck School of Medicine, University of Texas, and her work as a noted researcher in the field of trauma medicine.

Winter 2018 / Surgere Young Alumnae Circle Annual Holiday Brunch D.C.-Area Alumnae Gathering Our Washington D.C.-area alumnae met on November 18 at Barcelona Wine Bar in Cathedral Heights for dinner and conversation with alumnae of various class years.

Attendees, pictured here (clockwise from left to right) include: Paige Lurie ’11, Allie Myers ’14, Whitney White ’14, Sally Chung ’15, Stephanie Smith ’67 and husband Will Strang, Zoe Hartman Hamilton ’03, Catherine Hillard ’61, Mary Douglas ’65, Nan Edwards Pickens ’84, Kate Moore ’69, and Elise Post ’06.

Not pictured but also in attendance: Dierdre Coppage ’80 and Director of Alumnae Affairs Lisa Vandergriff.

Westridge 21+ Alumnae Gather Westridge School’s Young Alumnae Circle 21+ members gathered on Black Friday at Nick’s in Pasadena for food and beverages.

A mix of local alumnae and those returning home for the Thanksgiving weekend were invited by Westridge to catch up with former classmates and fellow alumnae.

Top: Clare Schneider ’13, Elena Vega Fujioka ’13, Julia Kuhlman ’13, and Amanda Matthiessen ’13 Middle: Alexandra Chindris ’09, Emilie Hahn ’09, Sabrina Elfarra ’07, and Kyla Coates ’07 Bottom: Chloe Obico ’11, Amelia Brooks ’11, Emily Pipes ’11, and Catherine Readick ’11 Not pictured: Charlotte Hall ’11, Julia Matthiessen ’14, Amy Voorhees ’12, and Lisa Vandergriff, director of Alumnae Affairs.

For more information about Westridge Alumnae events, please contact Lisa Vandergriff at (626) 799-1053, ext. 244 or alumnae@westridge.org.

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Young Alumnae Circle Annual Holiday Brunch Camrin Farmer ’09 with Taylor Callobre ’08

Class of 2017 members Hannah Kim, Katie Kelman, Quincy Foster, and Julia Otter

Class of 2017 members (front row, from left), Julia Knoerr ’17, Olivia Silva, and Sabreen Lyman with Simone Gottlieb (back row) and Sierra Lyman ’13

(front row, from left) Jordan Cruz ’15, Madison Bender ’15, and Katie Bender ’18. Back row: Rachel Kartin ’15, Catherine Harrington ’14, and Kate Gillmore ’14

Class of 2012 members (front row, from left), Dorie Bailey, Erin Wong, and XXXX Hannah Erskine. Back row: Ari Sharfstein, and Hana Jun

Save the Dates Upcoming Campus Events Alumnae Weekend FRIDAY, MARCH 9 & SATURDAY, MARCH 10 + reunion celebrations for classes ending in “3” and “8” MARCH 10-12 Spring Musical - The Wizard of Oz

Westridge Alumnae Readers Book Club Dates MARCH 21, 2018 Charlotte Perkins Gilman – The Yellow Wallpaper + other stories 1892 MAY 16, 2018 Madeleine Thien – Do Not Say We Have Nothing 2016 JULY 18, 2018 Nathalia Holt – Rise of The Rocket Girls 2016

When planning both local and regional events, we send invitations based on current addresses, so please be sure your information is up to date in our database!

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For more information, contact Lisa Vandergriff, Director of Alumnae Affairs alumnae@westridge.org • 626.799.1053, ext. 244

3rd Annual College Connections Fair and Parade MAY 18 College Counseling and Alumnae Affairs present the 3rd Annual College Connections Fair and Parade on May 18. This festive event gives Upper School students and parents the opportunity to connect with college-age alumnae, graduates and faculty/staff members who share first-hand knowledge about the higher education institutions they’ve attended.

Summer Winter 2018 2017 / Surgere

BROOKE LARSEN GARLOCK ’70:

Why I Support The Campaign for Our Second Century y years at Westridge awakened my intellectual curiosity. The faculty inspired me to work hard, question, and to think outside the box. Westridge made me a life-long learner—every time I take a trip, go to an art museum, or visit an architectural site, I am reminded of my history courses with Rosemary Lonergan, who encouraged her students to study source material, visit a battle site, see relics in a museum, and to draw our own conclusions about history.

When our family decided to create our fund for The Campaign for Our Second Century endowment campaign, Edward and I sat down with our daughter, Evan ’09, to discuss giving options.

Evan was immediately drawn to support faculty enrichment and continuing education. Evan and I both believe that the Westridge faculty made a significant impact on our educational experiences. She credits Katie Rothenberg Wei ’94, Kristen Kittcher, and Willa Greenstone for teaching her to write—a skill she uses daily in her job with the Dallas Cowboys.

With approximately $2 million outstanding toward its goal of raising $15 million for the school’s endowment, The Campaign for Our Second Century is projected to be completed by the end of the 2017-2018 school year.

Growing the endowment to achieve financial sustainability and flexibility is the school’s highest institutional priority. To date, it has grown to more than $28 million (as of 11/27/17), adding more than $1 million in income to the Westridge budget each year. If you are interested in learning how you can join Brooke and her family in supporting the campaign, please contact Director of Advancement Diana Bernal O’Leary at (626) 799-1053 ext. 264, or doleary@westridge.org.

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1939 Katherine Nevins Schwarzenbach (Pomona, CA): “See you Alumnae Day.”

1943 Ansley Newman Carnahan (South Burlington, VT): “Currently I have embarked on the study of law. Vermont State awards law degrees after four years of study, and if you pass the bar exam. As my law advisor says, I may not make it to Esq., but I will know a lot about the law.”

1953

1959

Jean Patton Ashcraft (Brentwood, CA): “We live in a wonderful retirement community and love to travel. I still enjoy gardening and cooking. I’m still playing golf twice a week and lots of bridge. We see our families fairly often as they are all in the area or close by.”

Elizabeth Pyle Chandler (Desert Hot Springs, CA): “I am still in Desert Hot Springs. My new hobby is weight training and weight loss. Sound exciting? It’s not. Don’t know about playing tennis again. Big? This getting older thing is a new world. My daughter, Karin, is 54 now.

She has a successful private practice as a MFT specializing in children in Menlo Park. She is beautiful. My son, David, lives in Santa Cruz and is 50. He is doing training to be a nurse. He is beautiful too. Unfortunately, I have no grandchildren. My last show of paintings in January in Houston, TX was really very good! It surprised even me.

Remember Sysyphus. Oh, and Piglet. Love, Betsy”

Katherine Burford Swan (Santa Fe, NM): “Living in ’Land of Enchantment!’ I love Westridge.”

Virginia Bigelow Burke (West Hills, CA): “After spending 28 summers in Boothbay, Maine, Alan and I decided to spend more time at home in West Hills. We celebrated our 60th wedding anniversary with our daughter and son-in-law, our son, and our two grandsons with a wonderful trip to Alaska—a dream come true for us all.”

1950

1955

1949

Georgianna Bray Erskine (Pasadena, CA): “Making a trip to Sri Lanka and Southern India with daughter Eugenia Erskine Jesberg ’77 was a real trek. Daughter Martha Erskine Del Principe ’81 met me in Paris with Ofelia for a week of French life including a wedding in Brittany. Hannah Erskine ’12 is now at USC Marshall School of Business and continues her work with Juanita in ceramics when she can!”

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Susan Straubel Champion (Corona Del Mar, CA): “Took my children and grandchildren to Tanzania for Christmas 2016— fabulous!! Hubby too! Travels to our home in San Juan Islands spring through summer—still enjoying golf and bridge.

Wonderful reunion in Oxnard last September with Poly and Westridge classmates put on

by Marguerite (Gigi) Poulson McWilliams ’55.”

Isabel Travis Pulvers (Pasadena, CA): “No complaints! Enjoying retirement. Greetings to all!”

Susan Hazeltine Connell (Pasadena, CA): “One woman show at Lois Lambert Gallery in Santa Monica 2017.”

Cynthia Nash Hummel (Billings, MT): “At the end of December 2016 our family (son Eric and wife Krista, son Karl with wife Lauren and their daughter Charlotte) also Dave and I, met up in Kalispell, Montana where we celebrated Eric’s swearing in ceremony to being a judge.

Shortly after that I flew to Sri Lanka where I spent three weeks with my Australian sister-in-law.

Subsequently we flew back to Singapore where I met up with Dave. Then he and I cruised northward for two weeks visiting Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong. In May I spent two weeks with son Karl in Germany to celebrate his 40th birthday with special friends in Berlin and ’our’ town of Burgstädt, which is located south of Leipzig in former East Germany. This is where I had organized a school exchange in the ’90s and where Karl attended high school for a year.

After Karl flew back home I took the train to Berlin to meet up with Dave. We then flew to Belarus (east of Poland) where we joined a group and spent the next two weeks visiting cities in Ukraine and Moldova (east of Romania). In August, we spent 10 days in New Mexico starting in Albuquerque, then exploring the area around Santa Fe (Los Alamos, Pecos National Historical Park, Bandelier National Monument), concluding with a couple of nights in Taos. Early October we flew to Palau, an island east of the Philippines and north of New Guinea. There we joined a cruise for two weeks where we visited isolated islands along the coast of Papua New Guinea. The trip ended up in the Solomon Islands from where we flew to Brisbane, Australia and subsequently back to Billings. At this point we have visited 160 countries. As you can imagine we have future trips planned, but I’ll save those stories for another time. Meanwhile I continue to play tennis twice a week, exercise regularly at a nearby gym, enjoy gardening for about five months and try to keep my ’German’ brain humming by reading lots of books in German.

We are very excited about the pending birth of our second… and last… granddaughter in early March. She will join her sister, Charlotte, who turns six in December. I always look forward to reading updates about classmates and hope there will

Winter 2018 / Surgere be space in a Westridge website for easy access. All the best for a Happy New Year. —Cindy” Susan Sumner Sullivan (Fallbrook CA): “I spent a week in Paris for a ’total immersion’ in French language, art and culture with a few friends. In May, Paris was in full bloom!”

1961 Susan Higginbotham Rehm (Oakland, CA): “I lead a very quiet life living in a senior center in Oakland. Daughter Sarah is five minutes away and daughter Elizabeth visits from Oregon every few months. My health is variable but I do the best I can.

Would love to see classmates.

Three grandchildren, Jackson, 21 Ellie, 18 and Mary 15 are still my favorites. —Sue”

1962 Whitney Smith Applegate (Carmichael, CA): “I had the most wonderful time at the Westridge reunion weekend—our 55th. I saw many friends from my years at the school for the first time—the best week—end of the year for me!”

Cheri Colby Langdell (Pasadena, CA): “We’re expecting our son Sebastian’s first child, a son, due on my birthday, Nov. 3rd and are also happy to announce Sebastian’s now teaching full time at Vassar teaching a freshman seminar, Chaucer & Shakespeare. We’re also very proud of Melissa CampbellLangdell ’99, who with her wife Alene, also an Episcopal priest, adopted Genesis Ruiz, 13, last year. The Reverend Melissa Campbell-Langdell is rector of All Saints, Oxnard and is active in diocesan work in the L.A. Episcopal Diocese and in mission work, advocating for the homeless in Oxnard and surrounding towns and a popular parish priest.”

Margaret Bothwell Walker (Port Orchard, WA): “Our travels to California are increasing, now that our son’s family have moved to Silicon Valley for work. It is a joy to stay in touch with classmates, by phone, email, Facebook, and this year even in person. That 50th reunion kicked off some wonderful reconnections.”

Alasya Nathason West (Eagle, ID): “I still love walking, small hikes <5 miles, riding bikes, riding horses and sailing. Grateful.”

1964 Diana De Mers Fourney (Morgan Hill, CA): “Enjoying retirement.

Traveled to France, Spain, New England, Canada in 2017. Also, frequently travel to NY or NJ where children and grands live.

Life is good! Warmest regards to my Westridge classmates.”

Carol Horton Hawkins (Hollister, CA): “All is well in the Hawkins family. Three grandchildren between 18 months and 15 years.”

1967 Cynthia Ziegler (Santa Barbara, CA): “Dear classmates, Adored our recent 50th reunion. There is endless fascination and learning in everyone’s individual story.

Yes, it always seems to go by too quickly. I have mixed emotions when I return to Pasadena, regarding the ups and downs of my family. But I always leave our reunions flooded with happy chemicals from the joy of seeing you all again and sharing. I was in France for two months in early summer, visiting the birthplace of my great grandfather, Alphonse Ziegler. I took trains through the Rhine valley and the Rhône Valley and landed for a month on the Mediterranean in a rented apartment. Love the Cote d’Azur!

Already booked for next year.

Every August for many years I have camped for a month at the Isthmus of Catalina Island. Did it again this last summer. It is so

clean and fresh and nurturing, but this 68-year-old may have done her last bit of camping for this lifetime. Heading into winter with lots of goals in mind. Wish me luck!” (1)

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1968 Judith Wesley (Los Angeles, CA): “I retired after 25 years as a film editor and editorial supervisor, then 15 years of teaching collegelevel writing. I just finished a second book of poetry. The first book was Living in Freefall. Am now volunteering in reading, high school/college prep, and teach writing workshops. I volunteer to assist high school students and teach creative writing workshops in Los Angeles.”

1969 Kate Godfrey (Palo Alto, CA): “In the summer of 2016, my husband, Rob Colley, and I had a lively and fun visit with my sister through the American Field Service, Judy Manning Skinner ’68, and her husband, John, at their home in Vancouver, B.C. Judy was born and raised in Barbados, but now is a Canadian citizen as are her children and grandchildren.

John also is from Barbados. The two spend part of the year in Vancouver and part in Barbados.

Much laughter ensued when Judy pulled out her photos from her year at Westridge and with my family. Our husbands hadn’t seen pictures of either of us in our Westridge ’unis’ or in some of the less-than-flattering styles of the era.”

1970 Laurie Barlow (San Marino, CA) shared news of a great trip to Cuba in April. “Since the doors are now open and everyone’s packing a bag, I thought I’d jump in. It’s not just in Havana, but in the Cuban landscapes out in the hinterlands, where one gets a sense of the Spanish colonial culture that’s still extant.

I then spent two HOT, humid September days in the Puuc region outside Merida, Mexico in Yucatan investigating the Mayan ruins of Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, and Labna with a group of folks on an archaeological expedition via the Maya Exploration Center.

October involved an architectural excursion to the Monterey peninsula for a professorial conference held at Alisomar; the campus is comprised of wonderful historic Julia Morgan buildings. Of course, I also made a point of exploring Pacific Grove where I stayed with friends, toured the Carmel Mission and took the 17-mile drive and Cannery Row, with a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium over a gorgeous week of fall weather!

Hope you have a wonderful New Year, and much love!”

Jennifer Zoff Lamb (St. Helena, CA): “I have just returned from a remarkable wine cruise with several of Herb Lamb Vineyards friends for 10 days starting in Barcelona and continuing up the Rhone River in France from Arles to Lyon. From tasting tapas and cavas in Spain to discovering the source of the amazing wines of Provence, Chateauneuf de Pape and Hermitage, to celebrating the 2017 Beaujolais on the eve of its release, it was a fun-filled, tasty and educational look at the birthplace of renowned wines 19

from southern Spain and France.

For those of you who may have thought about joining us but just couldn’t manage to fit it into your schedule, we have great news!

We have another trip planned with a focus on the foods and wines of Tuscany May 20 - 26, 2018. It’s half cooking school and half travel opportunity to visit wineries, olive oil producers, local markets and ancient cities, led and taught by the local women in the village. Did I pique your interest?

Get more information at www. herblambvineyards.com.” (2)

1972 Frances Fleming (Lynnfield, MA): “Greetings from New England.

I greatly enjoyed spending this past summer in Laguna Beach.

I had an opportunity to see Barbara Davis Reynolds in both Newport Beach and at the track at Del Mar. Gale Pierose Olson stayed with me for a week which was a treat. She and I have been getting together in Montana each spring, for several years, to go trail riding and rejuvenate (no cell phones, TV, etc.). I hope we can get a good turnout for our 50th reunion in 2022! —Francie” Ena Gilbert Estes (Las Vegas, NV): “My big family is in constant motion. Sadly, I lost John in January 2011 after 34 years together. I moved to Las Vegas

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Class of ’71

Class of 1971 members, enjoying tapas at Rice restaurant in Pasadena include Mary Russell, Debbie Lawrence, Susie Frank, Julia Tyson La Grua, and Barbara Beckham.

in 2014 where my youngest son, Grant, is an electrician. This last weekend Grant was married to his soulmate, Ruth. Big sister Linnea, a clinical psychologist, her husband Michael, and my oldest grandchildren, Trinity, an 8th grader, and Reeve, a 6th grader, drove in from Carmel, CA. The big brothers came from all over. Chad, a farmer, drove in from Auburn, CA. Gavin, a GM of a brewery in Arvada, CO flew in while his twin brother Brett, a systems manager of a pipefitting company, wife Rechelle, and my youngest grandchildren, Kirra, a 3rd grader, and Kai, a 1st grader, drove in from Orange, CA with Beau, an estimator at the same pipefitting company, who came from Anaheim, CA. It was a wonderful celebration of life where the whole family, including Auntie Jeanne Clark, were in attendance. It was a whirlwind of relatives, friends of many, many years and a tremendous amount of love. My love to my classmates and many apologies for missing the big 45!”

1973 Paula Pomerantz Feinberg (Camarillo, CA): “Nothing new to share—looking forward to our 45 reunion this coming spring!”

Nina Warner (Culver City, CA): “Our class continues to thrive and enjoy life. Got to see Cathleen

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Chandler Eckhardt who hosted a weekend in Santa Cruz with Lindsay Morse Bennett, Terry Gamble Boyer, Katie Clark, Sarah Wheeler Cobb, Sarah Weller King, Cole Rowan and I. Some alums have been super intrepid travelers (including but not limited to) Terry Gamble Boyer, Sarah Wheeler Cobb, Sarah Weller King, Tina Oldknow, Paula Pomerantz Feinberg, Diane Egelston, Reavis Ward, Judith Blanchard Sacco, Susie Lasell Zientek (from Stonehenge, France, Italy, Israel, Mexico, Alaska, to New Zealand, Norway, South Africa); got all kids through college (Diane Jones Bates, Alison Buell) and Lisa Fiedler Fryman welcomed her grandparent status, with Bella Patton; saved historic buildings in San Marino (Alyce Minsky); and worked on song writing (Cole Rowan). Our class continues to be active making our voices known politically (perhaps all of us); supporting those in need (Cathleen Chandler Eckhardt, Janey Odell, Sarah Weller King, Louisa Crowley, Terry Gamble Boyer, Susan Regas, Nina Warner, Gabrielle Woods); serving our environment (Rosemary Howley, Sarah Weller King) and creating farms (Sarah Wheeler Cobb, Debra King Grady) teaching (Paula Pomerantz Feinberg, Betsy Lasell Lebo, Susan Seager, Maggie Skillen, Katie Clark) starting businesses (Cynthia Bennett West – Devon’s Drawer) and surviving hurricanes

3 (Toni Lance – St. Croix.) I hope we can circle back for our 45th reunion this March.” (3)

1976 Jane Wheatcroft Wiser (San Francisco, CA): “Loved reconnecting with my friends at our 40th reunion last year!”

1977 Lisa Ehrenreich Cooper (Greenwich, CT): “I’m doing great and still living in Greenwich with my husband, Wayne and three kids, one of whom is still a junior in high school and going through the awful college process.

The other two, Alessandra and Bennett, are away in DC (George Washington University) and Richmond, VA (University of Richmond) and loving life.

Bennett is bringing home a puppy for Thanksgiving so we will have another youngster in the house. I’m still working at Chief Executive Group in business development and enjoying keeping busy. We recently acquired Corporate Board Member media from the NYSE which is a nice complement to the business. I got to see Susan Griffith Mackenbach in September and had a blast with her sharing old times. I hope to see Cynthia Chilcott in January and will be in LA looking at schools for Kenton and hope to see a number of good Westridge

Winter 2018 / Surgere friends then. I miss my Pasadena girlfriends!”

The Class of 1987 celebrated their 30-year reunion on September 16

1978 Eve Rappoport (Venice, CA): “Hey class of ’78! Our 40th reunion is in March! I would love to see all of you in Pasadena over Alumnae Weekend. Let’s get together! Let’s catch up! Contact me at ejrappo@ gmail.com.”

1979 Joan Griffith Malloy (Pasadena, CA): “Moved to the Linda Vista part of Pasadena (love the area).

Daughter Bayley at C.U. Boulder.

Son Griff at Cal-Poly SLO.”

1980 Susan Anderson (Oakland, CA): “Two boys in college, celebrating my 10th year at HRS (HeadRoyce School)—now as Garden Teacher/Manager. Fluffing the empty nest and readying for the next adventure. Grateful for Westridge experience.”

1983 Kacey Riley (Altadena, CA): “Enjoying the last few months with my son before he heads off to Regis University in Denver, Colorado to begin a new chapter in his and my life. Where did the time go?”

1986 Marlene Pray (Doylestown, PA): “While it was not always my experience attending Westridge from 4-12 grades, I am deeply grateful for the bold language and emphasis that Westridge today places on gender equity, racial justice, environmental justice and diversity & inclusion. It has been a brutal year, 2017, for many in our nation, and I am proud to be a Westridge alum resisting injustice, tyranny, oppression and white supremacy.”

The Class of 1992 held its 25-year reunion on November 11

1987 Victoria Scher (Pasadena, CA): “Life is good!”

1991 Wendy Schnee Withers (Agoura Hills, CA): “I enjoy living in Agoura Hills with my husband, Dan and two kids, Madeline (11 years) and Davis (9 years). I work full time at the Orthopaedic Institute for Children in downtown Los Angeles. I would love to hear from Westridge classmates.”

1992 Nicole Lomas (South Pasadena, CA): “I recently moved to South Pasadena with my husband, Nils, our daughters Mila (age 6), Isadora ’Izzie’ Simone (age 4), and our cat, Laika (named after

4 the Russian dog on Sputnik 2).

I am a licensed clinical social worker and I have worked with at risk youth and vulnerable populations for over 20 years. I recently left my work as a clinical supervisor to return to school.

Currently, I am a student at USC working to earn my doctorate in social work. The USC DSW focuses on social change through Social Innovation. My husband recently returned from India

where he was completing his Fulbright research on dementia and music/reminiscence therapy.”

2002 Hallie Preston Greene (Carpinteria, CA): “Sallie Karen and Annie Elizabeth Greene were born April 7, 2017, joining big brother Henry and officially outnumbering their parents!” (4)

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Laura Medina ’15 (left) and Sheridan Marsh ’16 (right) with College Counselor Marcie Robinson at Harvard.

2003 Morgan Muir Callahan (San Francisco, CA): “I’d like to share that I’m due to give birth to our first baby (a girl!) at the end of November 2017.”

Lauren Amling Castillon (Manhattan Beach, CA) welcomed her first child—Joaquin Francis Castillon—on June 16, 2017.

His middle name is in homage to her maternal grandmother, Frances, who was a strong and independent female figure in her family’s life. (5)

2006 Sophie Rengarajan (Pasadena, CA) is currently a graduate student in the UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program. She successfully defended her PhD in neuroscience this year and will graduate from medical school in 2019. She also recently became engaged to Dr. Reese Isaacson.

They plan to wed in 2019.

2007 Clare Y. Sherman (San Diego, CA) received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University in May 2017. She is currently interning for a year in emergency-room medicine at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in San Diego, CA. Elise Wall (Altadena, CA): “I was married on July 1st, so we’re now Mr. & Mrs. Zachary and Elise Wall. This summer I received my Master’s from the UCSB Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. I double specialized in Pollution Prevention &

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Erica Wu ’14 and Director of College Counseling Lynn O’Grady at Princeton.

Remediation, and Energy & Climate. I’m now researching policy and energy systems for the Institute for Energy Efficiency.”

2009 Alexandra Chindris (Costa Mesa, CA): “This year I finally started my dream job as a public defender! I work in Orange County and my basic job description is that I provide legal representation for all indigent people in Orange County. If they are arrested and have charges filed against them and they cannot afford an attorney, an attorney from our office is appointed to represent them.

I have about 80-100 clients of my own at any given time and I represent them free of charge from arraignment (day 1 entering a not guilty plea) all the way through trial! It’s challenging and rewarding and (I think) the best job in the world!”

2011 Caitlyn Cheleden (Charlottesville, VA): “I am finishing my third and final year at the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville. I will graduate in May and join Skadden, Arps,

Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as an associate in Manhattan in the fall.”

Victoria Corbisiero (Chicago, IL): “I am currently studying my MM in piano performance with Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman’s former accompanist, Paul Ostrovsky. He also was a student of Emil Gilels and Yacov Flier at Moscow Conservatory.

In the past year I have performed the works of Chopin and Scriabin at Steinway Hall, NYC as well as at the Orford Arts Center in Canada, the Meiori town center in Italy, and Pianoforte studios in Chicago. I am also a student of Matti Raekallio at Juilliard and am intending to study the Prokofiev sonatas with him.”

2012 Elinor Haddad (Los Angeles, CA): “In August, I began working for Los Angeles Public Counsel in the Women and Girls’ Rights department. We are currently working with the Alliance for Girls in the Bay Area to create a Los Angeles county-wide coalition of girls’ empowerment and service organizations.”

2013 Simona Brooks (Chicago, IL): “I’m in my first year at The University of Chicago Law School.”

Please send class notes and photos for the summer edition of Surgere by May 15 to alumnae@westridge.org.

Winter 2018 / Surgere

WESTRIDGE HAS LEARNED OF THE DEATHS OF THE FOLLOWING ALUMNAE

Catherine Hibben Montgomery ’36 Westridge recently learned of Catherine’s death in 2009. When a student at the school she was vice president of Mask and Brush.

Ann Shlaudeman Stringfellow ’41 Ann passed away March 18, 2015 at her home in Rolling Hills, CA. During her years at Westridge she served as editor-in-chief of Inlook and received “highest junior” in the 1940 Awards. Following graduation, she attended Bryn Mawr College, UCLA, and the University of Arizona. She was preceded in her passing by her husband, Bill and son, Alex. She is survived by a son and daughter and three grandchildren.

Clara Buffum Mackie ’45

Thayer Conley Whitehead ’54

Clara died on April 28 at the age of 89 in West Brandywine, PA. She grew up on a citrus ranch in Pasadena. She attended both Polytechnic and Westridge. While a student at Westridge she served as head of Riding Club. After graduation she attended Briarcliff Junior College and after graduating in 1947 she became secretary to an executive at Towers, Perrin, Forster & Crosby. She loved to travel. She married Donald Mackie in 1957 and lived in Glens Falls, NY for 24 years until Don’s untimely death in 1981. She is survived by her two daughters and two grandchildren.

Clara was a member of the Westridge Madeline Society.

Thayer passed away after a short illness on June 2 at the age of 80 in Twyning, England.

She attended both Polytechnic and Westridge, graduating in 1954. At Westridge she was president of the Current Events Club, chair of the Assembly Committee, and was described in the yearbook as “one of the most traveled members of the class.” After graduation she attended Stanford University. She is survived by three children and six grandchildren. Her husband Tim, predeceased her, as did her sister Madelaine Conley ’46.

Terry Gridley Crays ’58

Westridge has learned that Evelyn passed away July 10, 2004.

Terry passed away at the age of 69 on July 30, 2010. While a student at Westridge, she was a member of the Glee Club, Riding Club, Volleyball Team, and head of Baseball. She went on to attend UC Berkeley and UCLA.

Susan Williams ’53

Anne Sumner Pratt ’58

Susan died November 7 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease in Trinidad, CA. When a student at Westridge, she was captain of the Greek team her senior year, sang in the Glee Club, was a member of Mask & Brush, worked on Spyglass, and played varsity basketball and volleyball. In the late ’60s she moved to Northern California to a beautiful property of seven acres filled with redwoods. She personally cleared the land between the trees and planted grass. It was a lovely setting for weddings and other events. Her many friends remember her as having a great sense of humor. Her sister, Elizabeth Williams ’65 died in 2007.

Anne passed away in July, at home, with hospice care in Fallbrook, CA. While a student at Westridge, she was a member of Student Council, Glee Club, and the president of Art Club. Following graduation, she attended Bennett College. Her sister is Susan Sumner Sullivan ’59. She is survived by her husband, Bill.

Evelyn Cooper Murphy ’46

Elizabeth Noble Dalby ’42 Elizabeth passed away peacefully March 29, 2016 in Tucson, AZ. At Westridge she was head of Greeks, a member of the Athletic Association, and played on the volleyball and tennis teams. After Westridge she attended Mills College and later the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Despite early onset legal blindness in her 30s, she became an accomplished watercolorist and enjoyed classes and activities involving the arts. Having a gentle spirit and genuine interest in other people, she was known by friends as “Kent.” She was predeceased by her husband of nearly 60 years, Bill. She is survived by her daughter and son, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren.

Susan Downing DeKatona ’60 Westridge was notified of Susan’s death on September 22 after battling Alzheimer’s, by her husband Roger. Susan and Roger were married 56 years. They met when they were 23

18 years old and had lived in Chico, CA for many years before moving to New Mexico in 2002. Although Susan did not graduate from Westridge, she had fond memories of her Westridge days. After graduating from high school, she attended Cal State Northridge and Shasta College. She is survived by her husband, two children, and one grandchild.

Christina Rose ’64 Christina passed away on October 22 in Pasadena, CA. Her classmate and friend, Susan Hauk, reported “She wished to leave this world peacefully and quietly— no ceremony or donations. May you all keep her in your thoughts.” Christina had scoliosis and pulmonary issues. At Westridge Christina was on the American Field Service Committee and was described in her yearbook senior page as having a “soft voice and gentle smile.” In the 1964 50th Reunion Memory Book she noted her greatest memories of her six years at Westridge were of her classmates whom she regarded as lifelong friends and of the many special teachers who challenged and encouraged her. After Westridge, she attended Pasadena City College for two years and transferred to the California Institute of the Arts in LA receiving her B.F.A. in 1970. She worked for NBC for 22 years as a costumer and simultaneously, got a job at PCC as the staff Graphic Artist. She left NBC in the early

’90s continuing her work at PCC. As a retiree, she continued to work with the PCC Library Archives on various college history projects.

Louisa Jane Judge ’65 Louisa passed away on June 14 in New York City after battling pancreatic cancer. In the 1965 Inlook Louisa is described as having a “quiet friendliness.” In her 50th Reunion Memory Book she wrote: “I have very faint memories of my years at Westridge..that time in life is so transitional and for us, the whole world was in transition. There were the simple things like Mrs. Taylor’s lettering class, sitting on the lawn and talking about art, music, and our dreams of being free after graduation. Then there were the larger issues like the Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and John F. Kennedy’s assassination.

I was a graduate who didn’t attend college. I went into the world to study music, design, and be a mother to three boys. I was a free spirit who has lived a wonderful life with stories yet to be told. I think some of the teachers I had at Westridge encouraged me to be brave and follow my intuition…great lessons most schools never teach.” Her sister is Augusta Judge MacDonald ’67.

vitality in so few inches.” At Westridge Patricia served as art editor of Inlook and co-chair of Red Cross Council. She went on to UCLA. Her love of art and history led her to a study of Ancient Egyptian Art, and she fulfilled a dream in 1997 of traveling to Egypt and walking through the Valley of the Kings.

She married in 1976 and in 1977, they moved to the Santa Cruz area. She had an 18-year career working in the HR department of UC Santa Cruz. She is survived by her husband, Tom, two children, and two grandchildren.

FACULTY AND STAFF Gerry Fallon Gerry died September 9 of Alzheimer’s Disease. He taught in both the foreign language and history departments at Westridge in the 1970s and 1980s after he earned a master’s in Psychology at CSU Los Angeles. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1963 and chosen as an observer and official secretary at Vatican II in Rome. He also served as assistant pastor at St. Luke’s Church in Temple City, CA. He was an active organizer in both civil rights and the peace movement during the 1970s. He is survived by his wife and former Westridge faculty member, Mary Connor, her two children, and four grandchildren.

Froylan Corales Patricia Virgadamo Conerly ’67 A celebration of Trish’s life was held on July 30 at the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. She is described in the 1967 Inlook as “so much

Froylan died July 20 of cancer. Froylan was a long-time Westridge employee who worked on the maintenance crew from 1981 until his retirement in 2013.

Have you joined Westridge Connect?

Particularly as our alumnae navigate college and early career years, one of the best ways to maintain—or make—connections to others in the Westridge community is with our new networking platform, Westridge Connect.

Similar to LinkedIn, but exclusive to the Westridge community, Westridge Connect allows alumnae to directly reach out to fellow alumnae, faculty/staff, and parents to seek or share knowledge about colleges and universities, serve as mentors, post internships or jobs, inquire about careers, business or travel information and more. We recently invited rising seniors to join the network, and during their senior year the Class of 2018 will utilize Westridge Connect as they consider applying to various colleges and universities.

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The strength of Westridge Connect is in the scope of connections and outreach, and your participation will enhance the network. We encourage you to visit Westridge Connect to explore the site’s features and become members to share your knowledge and make new or renew connections for yourself. Visit https://westridgeconnect.peoplegrove.com.

Summer 2017 / Surgere

ARC INTERIOR TRANSFORMED into Dynamic Learning Commons Thanks to Alumna and Alumna Parent Support ecember 5 marked the grand re-opening of the Joan Irvine Smith ’51 Academic Resource Center (ARC), which had been closed since June for a significant interior renovation designed to evolve the space into today’s expanded vision for a library—a dynamic learning commons.

While still home to books and places for quiet study, the Learning Commons now supports current styles of learning and studying, which include more collaboration, content creation, and technology. It features portable, flexible furniture that can be rearranged to fit the needs of different work and study groups, interactive touch screen panels with collaborative learning systems, a dedicated Lower School area, and a covered study and seating area on the Herrick Quadrangle patio.

Francis Park, Janet Morse Stanford ’55, Elizabeth J. McGregor, Alan Stanford, and Laurie Stanford Turner ’82

This project was made possible through the generous support of alumna Janet Morse Stanford ’55 and her husband Alan, and the Wagener family (Sophie ’13).

“It was particularly meaningful to have alumnae and their families support this project,” said Elizabeth J. McGregor, head of school. “This support demonstrates the connections that exist across the generations. It also demonstrates the value we place on being a vibrant learning community, preparing our students for their futures and preparing our school for future generations of Westridge girls. We are grateful for their generous support of this space, which is at the very heart of our campus.”

We invite you to stop in for a tour so that you can witness firsthand how the remodeled space has transformed student engagement and learning.

Elizabeth J. McGregor and Janet Morse Stanford ’55

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Pasadena, CA Permit No. 1986

324 Madeline Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105

In tribute to the many generations of Westridge women excelling in athletics.