Alumni/ae Notes

(Posted May 1, 2008)

1942
Eve Morrison
Harris and I are enjoying life at the Shore. We are near the ocean and the bay, close to family and friends, and we have no chores.

1946
Lidie Blair Hamilton
A lot has happened since last I wrote. We have two great-grandsons, one five, and one four months old. In January, Bill had many strokes but is doing really well now. He was in the hospital for a week and in rehab for three weeks. On June 27, we will be married 57 years and on June 29, I will be 82 years old. I'm still in contact with Sarah Leonard Leonardi and Marjorie Sudlow Kraekel after 62 years! It was June 8, 1946 when we graduated. All my love to you all.

1951
Allen Root
I am working full-time as a professor of Pediatrics. Janet is chairman of Arts & Humanities at Shorecrest Prep School. We have three children and seven grandchildren. All are well and active.

1954
Ken Anderson
I am retired, have been married for 53 years, and at the same address since 1965. I have one daughter, Holly, and two grandchildren, ages 14 and 20.

1955
Fran Sussman Israel
Just enjoying life in Southern California! My oldest grandson graduates from Abington Friends this June...How time flies! I continue to be the learning specialist and an assistant professor at West Los Angeles College. I enjoy it so much and the three-day- per-week schedule for two semesters leaves me lots of time to follow my hobby (tournament bridge), visit my family and travel. Have heard from Judy L. and Joann S. and would love news of other classmates!
 
Ann Krupnick
For the past few years, I have been taking advantage of Penn's Senior Associates Program and Temple's TARP. It is exciting to be on campus and to have the opportunity to audit classes. Travel and 11 (count 'em) grandchildren keep us on the go. Greetings to everyone in the Class of '55.

1957
The class of 1957, celebrating their 50th reunion on June 10, 2007.


Front row (from left): Norman Silverman, Norma Krechmer Gold, Sylvia Di Rocco, Anne Fry, Marlene Flanagan Milner, Janet Mendell Goldstein, Judy Waxman Monheit, Andy Amsterdam, Sue Ann Kahn, Judy Stephens Pokempner, Barbara Keyser Friedman, Gerald Zeigerman. Back row (from left): Jim Stokes, Ed Chernoff, George Milner, Michael Dickman, Earl Zipin Alan Cohn, Jerry Steingard and Smedley Lynn.

1958
Barbara Feen Newman
Lois Denis (Joy Hoffman) '59, and I reconnected after 50 years on Oceania's Nautica, sailing from Singapore to Sidney, Australia over the 2007 - 2008 Christmas/New Years Holiday. I'm planning to attend our 50th reunion and look forward to seeing all of you!


Lois Denis (Joy Hoffman) '59 and Barbara Feen Newman aboard the Oceania

Alan Schenker
Second granddaughter is due in March, a girl who will join Meera, her dad (Jeff) and mom (Michelle). Jeff is an assistant professor of mathematics at Michigan State University, East Lansing.

1960
Dennis Cornfield
We are proud to report that we are grandparents of a one-year-old baby girl named Nina. I am a hematopathologist at the Lehigh Valley Hospital.

1962
Ben Seltzer
I literally escaped from New Orleans, with my wife and our two younger sons, on August 31, 2005, two days after the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. After wandering around Mississippi and Tennessee for about a week, we returned to our former home in Bedford, Massachusetts so that my youngest son could go back to high school.

Our home in New Orleans was unscathed, but the medical area downtown where I worked was very heavily damaged. It would have taken years to rebuild all my research and academic programs so when my former colleagues in Boston offered to create a professorship for me at Harvard Medical School, I could hardly refuse. It's exciting and certainly stimulating to plunge back into this intense academic environment after so many years, but we do miss New Orleans very much.

Our family is also separated as a result of Katrina. My oldest son, Daniel, and his wife moved to Dallas. Daughter Jennifer is a psychotherapist in New York. Peter decided to switch to Temple and is enjoying life in center city Philadelphia where I grew up. Our youngest son, Nathan, after going to three different high schools, decided to return home to New Orleans where he is a freshman at Tulane.


1963
Ken Singer
Retired six years age after a fun and rewarding career as vice president of labor relations and general counsel of a Fortune 500 Company. Living on two acres in the high country of Prescott, Arizona with my wife of 25 years, two dogs, two motorcycles, and less hair. On the dark side, we continue to mourn the deaths of our two oldest children. We belong to a club we want no parent to join. That being said, Prescott is a truly wonderful western town for a visit, so anybody from the Class of '63 coming this way is welcome in our home. Our e-mail is singerassociates@aol.com 

1965
Barry Zitin
I'm still working as a psychiatrist at the Lahey Clinic, north of Boston, but my wife, Melinda, retired from her pediatrics practice a few years ago to pursue more artistic interests.

Our older daughter, Abigail, left her job in New York City (writing definitions for the Oxford English Dictionary), and is now working on her Ph.D. in English at the University of Chicago. Brita, our younger daughter, lives in Portland, Maine and works for the Maine Humanities Council, running their "Born to Read" its literacy program.

Melinda and I just returned from a dream trip to Antarctica - 12 incredible days on the National Geographic Endeavour, exploring parts of the remote seventh continent and watching whales, birds, seals, and, of course, penguins, penguins, and more penguins. If you get a chance to go, don't delay - it is changing rapidly. Teacher Olive would have been proud of me!

Melinda and Barry Zitin in the Antarctica.

1966
Susan Lonker
I am very involved with The Old Academy Players, a community theater where Grace Kelly and Robert Prosky performed as teenagers. I am fundraising chair and have performed in many shows, including the female version of "The Odd Couple," "I Hate Hamlet," Nunsense," and will be in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" starting in June. Enough self-promotion. The theater celebrated it's 85th anniversary this year. If you know any grantwriters who might be interested in helping for not a lot of pay (but can see all the shows for free!) let me know. The theater's website is: www.oldacademyplayers.org.

1967
40th reunion held on October 27, 2007


Susan Laboccetta Gallo
I had been living on Long Island since '83 and moved in 2000 with my husband, Tony, and children, Anthony and Gabriella, to Maui. We bought a Mail Boxes Etc. franchise and after a few years, I bought a vending business to have flexibility around my children's schedules. They are now 13 and 10. The weather is almost always great, but it does seem far from the East Coast and not quite like home.

1971
Janet (Miller) Eisenhauer
In August, Steve, Liz and I moved to Seaville in Cape May County. We now live closer to our older children and love it! Still working on the land preservation front by day, and have returned to crisis intervention work by night. Life is full and good. Still enjoying fond memories of our last reunion. Loving regards to all!

Catherine Barner (Meehan)
My husband, Bob Barner, and I are now living in San Francisco doing work that we love.  I am director of park projects for the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that supports the big national park here in the Bay Area.  I lead a team of architects, landscape architects and planners who plan, design and build transformational projects at Muir Woods, the Presidio, Alcatraz, Marin Headlands and other beautiful places throughout the park.  The Crissy Field project in the Presidio was recently featured with several other landscape projects at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.  The Museum Store on Alcatraz Island has won numerous architectural and exhibit design awards.  Bob enjoys his work as an author and illustrator of children's books.  He visits children at schools around the world.  In April, Bob will be speaking to several school groups in New Delhi, India - and I get to go along!

  
Bob and Cathie Barner in Venice, 2007

1972
Louis Massiah
Louis Massiah, founder of Scribe Video Center, a nationally known media arts education center, received the David Cohen Award, one of the 2008 City Cultural Fund grants from Mayor Nutter,. The Cohen Award is presented annually to an arts organization demonstrating a commitment to social and economic justice.

1973
Sam Stewart
I did not graduate in 1973. I went through 11th grade in 1971-72 and then my father was sent to Europe by his company. I attended a college in Sunderland, England in 1972-1973. I returned to the United States in the spring of 1973 and was admitted to Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in the fall of 1973 and graduated in with a B.A. in history and philosophy in 1977. From 1979 to the present, I have been a teacher, administrator and coach at four different schools.

1974
Paul Libiszowski
After two agonizing years I have finally finished renovating a 300yr-old house in the France, near Geneva, Switzerland. Still working in international development but more focused now on the fight to combat malaria in Africa. Had a great visit to FSS to talk to seniors about my career in November. Anxious to hear news of classmates. Looking forward to a 2009 reunion? Hopefully.

1975
Claire Moed
With a thriving Buddhist practice, I'm still in New York, writing and shooting experimental video while working a day job at a drug rehab agency.  Two short pieces got published this year:  "What I Saw the Day I Thought You'd Leave Me" was in Conduit's Moving Image edition and "How Insomnia Saved My Life Until the Night it Tried to Kill Me" was included in the anthology, Awake!: Reader for the Sleepless (Soft Skull Press).  Working hard to figure out a way to live part-time in Argentina with my partner, filmmaker Ruben Guzman.  Feel free to email as I never pick up the phone:  comoed@yahoo.com

1976
Donna Sadwin and Michael Hogan
After reuniting at the Class of '76 30th reunion, we are engaged to be married! A 2008 wedding is planned.


Donna Sadwin and Michael Hogan

Mack Vaksman
Suzie and I have given up the country life and have moved back up to the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh. We both wish you a tremendous new year ahead. God bless!

1978
Jennifer Cooperman
Married for nine years. Living in Portland, Oregon, for eight years. Two daughters, ages five and three. Lots of volunteer work for the City of Portland, Portland Fire Bureau, Northwest Pilot Project (a 501(c)3 that works with low-income elderly in downtown Portland), and various affordable housing concerns. I'm looking forward to returning to the working world in a year or so when my youngest starts school full-time. I do hope to come back East for our 30th.

1979
Alan Levine
I got married last year and Eric Rosenbloon '79, played the piano at thewedding. I am still living in D.C. and teaching at American University. Eric is still doing computer programming in the Philly area.

Virginia Price-Kusznir
Just a quick note to say "Hey!" I'm still at the IRS. No, not one of those people! I moved over the summer with my boyfriend of nine years, Teddy, after welcoming my second granddaughter on May 5. Now it's Alysia and her sister Alexandra. Grandparenting can be so cool: You get to give them back when it's time to change the diapers! Well, I'm longing to know how everyone is doing and where you all are these days. Call school to contact me.

1981
Charles Coant
I was recently named by Best Lawyers in America for 2008 and 2009, largely because of my involvement as co-counsel in a United States Supreme Court case, namely Apprendi vs.. New Jersey, in which we successfully argued that the Court declare New Jersey's Hate Crime law unconstitutional.

We currently involved in a high profile murder case, in which a police officer has been accused of killing his wife. All of the various pretrial motions have been filmed by CBS reporter Rosanne Ramkarran and producer Avi Cohen of 48 hours Mystery. It should be broadcast two to three months after the conclusion of the trial, which is expected to take place in September of 2008.

I am generally healthy, though struggling to get used to new bifocals....married, two kids, Chucky age six, and Angela age 13, both of whom participate with me in Karate....

I ran into Brian Sweeney, recently. Brian was with us until ninth or tenth grade. He is doing very well. He said he recently cleaned out his mother's house and came across Eric Blumenfeld's Bar Mitzvah tee-shirt, which prompted him to call me, and which, in turn, prompted me to write this email, wondering how my old buddy Blumenfeld is doing.... Parenthically, Brian correctly pointed out that I rarely received anything better than a "3" from English Teacher Janet Goldstein, and he is dumbfounded that I became a lawyer. You just never know.


(Left to right): Sonya, Chuck, Angela and Charles Coant '81.

1982
25th reunion, held during the summer of 2007

From left: Cary Lawson, Amy (Goldsmith) Golden, Wendell Pritchett, Cherie Turchi, Daphna (Gelblum) Nidus, Allegra (Browne) Coleman, Erica Abel, Mark Promislo and Scott Fuiman.

Adam Goldman
Married to Liv Ingrid Lakey '89 on June 2007 in a ceremony at Bartram's Garden.



1983
Cliff Yopp
Greetings Friends Select classmates. Received the Class of 1983 reunion flyer for June 22, 2008. Hope to see you there. My wife Kathy, and daughter , Zoe, who is 13, will be making the journey to Philadelphia with me. I have been in the US Coast Guard for sixteen years. We currently live in Mystic, Conn., and my office is located at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London. Prior to New London, assignments included Youngstown, N.Y. (Lake Ontario); Yorktown, Va.; Toledo, Ohio (Lake Erie); Portland, Maine and Cape May, N.J. I hope to be in the area on Saturday, June 21, so if any of you will be in town and interested in getting together, let me know. You can get my e-mail address from the FSS Alumni/ae Office. I wish our gathering could have included some of the years prior- and post-1983, so that I could see those people as well. Look forward to seeing you in June.


(From left to right): Kathy, Zoe and Cliff Yopp '83

Sam Cacia
I recently opened Cacia's Bakery and Café in Northern Liberties (719 North Second Street). Besides the bread bakery, we serve all kinds of hot sandwiches. Hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and Sundays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by for some great food.

1984
Franklin Green
Franklin Green and his wife Valerie, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Meredith Daisy. She was born on February 1, 2008 in Allentown, Pa., at Lehigh Valley Hospital, and weighed 7 lb., 4 oz.


Meredith Daisy Green

1985
Melissa J. Hafter
This past summer, my family and I traveled nearly around the world!  We had hosted a set of sisters from South Korea, and their family generously invited us to stay with them.  We spent three weeks traveling around Southeast Asia, stopping in Seoul/Incheon, Singapore, Johobaru (Malaysia), Kota Kinabalu (Borneo), and a teeny dive resort in the Celebes Sea.  It was a rough pile of airline flights for my kids, Sarah, eight, and Sam, five, but I think they enjoyed it.  They certainly ate like they did!  Sarah learned to snorkel and we found Nemo!  After Asia, we turned our sights on Mexico. 

When I was at Friends Select, I realized that if I ever had kids, I would try and make it so they could skip around or even find success in more than one language.  To keep a long story short, I speak only Spanish to my kids and we travel to Mexico so they can practice where everyone speaks their language.  We spent two weeks in Cuernavaca and the surrounding pueblos with a group that I hosted at a language immersion school.  It was a load of fun. 

We did spend time East as well, but Philly is way less exotic than Mexico or Asia! I pointed out school to the kids and we did some other touristy stuff, too.  One of these days I will actually bring them in.  We travel to the east coast from Colorado twice a year to see my folks and brother and his family. 

I am back in touch with Akiba Covitz and my cousin, Schuyler Beth Fishman, but no other folks from my class.  I did recently email Oakley Coburn to thank him for helping me wake up and smell the coffee!  It was fun to chat with him via email and see what he has been doing since teaching me how to write back in 1983! 

1986
Jussi Light
I got married November 2005 to Sabrina and we live in Oceanside Ca.  I've working as a marriage and family therapist in private practice since 2003, and I am doing really well.  I do a mixture of individual and couples counseling, along with group work, and I train and supervise new interns who are pre-licensed.  It is a very fulfilling and rewarding career.  I continue to be involved with my church as a youth pastor for the high schoolers and do the music on alternate weeks with my wife.  Incidentally, I've never put my guitar down in all the years since I played at Friends Select talent shows! 

My grandmother has lived with us for the past four years; she has moderate Alzheimer's and is turning 88 this year.  We have no kids yet....we'll see what happens!  Sabrina is starting her own business and just survived breast cancer this past fall. Thankfully, it was caught extremely early and the results of surgery and radiation were excellent.  My mom has moved out of the Philly area, as has my brother Fritz, who is getting his master's degree at Cal Poly, San Louis Obispo, in plant sciences. I don't get East much, but when I do, I sure eat a lot of hoagies, cheese-steaks, pretzels and the rest of the foods I can't get out here. Feel free to contact me at therapy@JussiLight.com or check out my website www.JussiLight.com or family blog www.sabrinajussi.com. 


Jussi and Sabrina Light

1987

The class of 1987 celebrating their 20th reunion on October 28, 2007.

1988
Cheryl Droffner
I'm currently living in La Honda, California (between San Francisco and San Jose) with my husband and two sons, Pioneer (three) and Simon (five months). I'm currently focusing on raising the kids, but I have worked as a technical writer (and will again soon).

Magen Kauffman
My husband, Andres Viroslav, and I welcomed a daughter, Ava Simone, in April 2007. Ava joins her brother and sister, five-year-old twins, Jonah and Talia.

We moved back to the Philadelphia area in 2001 and I am vice president and director of marketing for Brandywine Property Management, as well as co-founder with Alyson (Fischer) Schwartz '88 of Time Out!, an event planning company exclusively for moms. Time Out! won the Best of Philly award for the "Best Moms Club" from Philadelphia Magazine. Our Web site is www.time-out-moms.com.

(From the left): Jonah, Ava Simone and Talia

Lisa Burgese Fry
I am living in Cherry Hill, N.J. with my husband, Paul, and our two children, Zachary (four) and Samantha (seven). I work in sales and keep busy with my children.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our 20th reunion.


Aisha O'Connor-Fratus
I got married in 2005 and settled down in Center City with many animals and one husband. I privately tutor students in reading comprehension and writing while working towards reading specialist certification at Penn. In my spare time I row, ride horses, and show my purebred Anatolian Shepherd, Donut.

Jennifer Zarro
I have two children: Lucy Frank (four) and Asher Frank (two). I finally got my Ph.D. in art history in the spring of 2007.

1989
Anu Shinnamon
I've enjoyed reading the newsletter and catching up on my old classmates. I can't quite believe that our 20th reunion is not long away. I hope that I'll be able to make the trip to catch up with folks in person.

In 2000, after living in Portland, Oregon, for many years working in social service on issues of homelessness, I followed my parents' lead and "defected" to New Zealand (fleeing Bush). I finally went to medical school. Now I travel around the country doctoring in small towns. Presently, I am working in a small rural hospital on the West Coast of the South Island. When I'm not at the hospital, I can be found somewhere in the hills hiking, skiing or just generally taking in the beauty of this stunning country.

Karen Leonard-Young
After graduating from The Rhode Island School of Design, I earned my master's in pediatric art psychotherapy at Hahnemann University.  I practiced at The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, D.C., where I also became a certified Child Life Specialist, caring for the psychological welfare of critically ill children. I then moved to Marin County, Ca., near San Francisco, where I enjoy seeing all of my siblings and their new families! I currently deliver educational inservices to staff at Children's Hospital Oakland and UCSF Childrens Hospital on the importance of the creative art process to hospitalized children. 

My husband Michael (born and raised here in Marin) and I are so lucky to have our three-year-old daughter, Gracie. I've brought them both back to Philly for Lorenzo's pizza, which my husband loved! We hope to get back in the next year, only this time for a real Shore experience.  

My sister Liz and I have started a new business together in the last year.  It is a hair and skin care line for pregnant women, called Generation to Generation pregnancy products.  Nicole Fina Pisco and I don't miss a week of talking to each other on the phone, and are still best friends -- ever since first grade at Friends Select.


Michael Young, Gracie, and Karen Leonard-Young

1990
Laura Abrahams Schulz
My daughter, Anya, recently turned one year old, and is bringing my husband Keith and me much joy and adventure. I continue to work in Washington D.C. at the State Department on Middle East policy. I would love to hear from people who are in or traveling through the area.

Emily Fox
I'm overjoyed to report that my husband, Peter Scott, and I welcomed a daughter, Juliet Maeve Scott, on December 28, 2007. She was six pounds, two ounces and she is awesome and beautiful (and we are totally objective!).

Juliet Maeve Scott born on December 28, 2007

1991
Benjamin Presseisen
I spent the fall and winter in Mombai, India, attending Temple University's master's degree in business program.

Class photo. Ben Presseisen is in the front row, fourth person from the left.

Jane Shecter Saul
I am director of the Pennslyvania Film Office under the Rendell administration.  I still live in Philadelphia (I never left).  My husband, Bentley, and I have a 16-month-old son, Tommy, and a daughter due in March '08.

1992
The class of 1992 celebrating their 15th reunion on October 27, 2007


From left: Laura Henze, Amit Jerath, Holly MacMoran, Laura Nalbandian, Abby Thomas Zimmerman, Ms. Whitlock, Maddy Sauer, Dana Marinucci and Ted Greenberg.

Abigail Zimmerman (Thomas)
Abby Thomas '92 and her husband, Eric Zimmerman, welcomed their first child, Phoebe Hemingway Zimmerman, into the world on Saturday, January 26, 2008. The entire family (especially Tr. Anne Thomforde-Thomas) is delighted!


Phoebe Hemingway Zimmerman, born on Saturday, January 26, 2008.

Tara Berger (Nissenbaum)
I currently live in Chicago and work for Taco Bell as a marketing manager. My husband, Brent, and I just celebrated our fifth anniversary in October 2007. We received the best early anniversary present with the birth of our first child, son Jordan Kaufman Berger, born on September 29th, 2007.


Jordan Kaufman Berger, born September 2007

Rachel Zoe Schlacter Krasner
Was married to Brian Krasner on New Year's Eve at Congregation Rodeph Shalom and the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Center City among 365 friends and family, and then flew off to a glorious overseas honeymoon somewhere south of the Equator.


Rachel Zoe Krasner and Brian Krasner

Erik Nabors
Abbe, Riley and I will be moving to El Paso, Texas in March 2008. Abbe and
I will be working at Federal Correctional Institution La Tuna, and Riley will be working on learning to use the toilet and not eating paper.

1995
Jessica Gattinella
The Brandywine Ballet Company of West Chester has welcomed special guest artist Jessica Gattinella. Gattinella will set the Brandywine Ballet's spring performance of the George Balanchine masterpiece "Serenade," renowned for theatrical references to the inner workings of a 1930's Balanchine-led dance rehearsal. It was the first Balanchine ballet to be staged in the U.S.

Jessica is an authorized repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust of New York City which endeavors to preserve the artistic integrity of George Balanchine's works by providing Balanchine-trained repetiteurs to stage his ballets for qualified companies.

She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son and teaches for Pennsylvania Ballet's school program.

Adrienne Pancoe Cormier
My husband, Chris, and I are excited to report that we're expecting our second child at the end of June. Our two-year-old son, Harry, is quite excited to be a big brother. Enjoying work, life and family on Cape Cod!


From left: Stefan Pancoe, Alycia Pancoe '01, Deborra Sines Pancoe
Craig Pancoe, Adrienne Pancoe Cormier '95, Harry Cormier and Chris Cormier

1996
Nicole DiGironimo
Nicole is attending the University of Delaware for her Ph.D. in science education.

Margaret Robinson
Margaret graduated from the School of Law, Northwestern University. She passed the PA Bar exam and is working at Philadelphia Legal Assistance.

Ian Baguskas
An exhibition of Ian's photographic work is being held at The Ice Box, 1400 N. American Street, Philadelphia, PA. The show will run from February 23, to March 16, 2008. Opening reception is February 23, 2008, 6-9 p.m.

Search for the American Landscape

Natasha Waloff
I will be getting married on May 4, 2008 to my boyfriend of six years, Brian Baglin. After relocating from Washington D.C. two years ago, we are happily living in Old City, Philly. I am working in public relations and marketing. Hello to all my fellow 96ers! Hope to see a reunion one of these years!

Brian Baglin and Natasha Waloff

1998
Asaph Glosser
My wife, Hilary, and I had our first child, Eli Benson Glosser, in December. My wife and I moved from Bainbridge Island, Washington, to our new home in the Greenlake area of Seattle. After five years as a public policy consultant for the Lewin Group, I will be starting a Ph.D. program in political science at the University of Washington.

Eli Benson Glosser, born December 2007

1999
Kara Fichthorn
Kara has recently accepted a position as assistant director of career services at Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. Kara has also begun a graduate program at NYU in higher education administration.

Lacey Boland
I am thrilled to be spending the year volunteering and teaching ESL in Guatemala and China -- an unlikely combination, I know!

2000
Kate Fichthorn
Kate in in graduate school at the University of Vuirginia, pursuing a degree in communication disorders.

Julia Judson-Rea
Julia is a graduate student at the University of Pittsburgh in international development and non-profit management.

2002
Noah Herman
Noah recently appeared in Neil Simon's comedy, Laughter on the 23rd floor at the Broadway Theater in Pitman, New Jersey. Noah was active in Friends Select's drama program and co-founded the school's chapter of the International Thespian Society.

Jonathan Meter

An exhibition of Jonathan's photographs titled, "Neon Shine Through Smoky Eyes" was held at the Underground Museum at 519 South 4th Street in March.

Tracy Schreiber
I moved to Seattle to attend Cornish College of the Arts, where I graduated in 2006 with a bachelor's of fine arts degree in dance. I have stayed in Seattle, teaching dance and fitness to people of all ages -- from toddlers to seniors -- and have been busy working with various local choreographers around town.

Maria Porigow
I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 and spent a year working at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I'm now in New York, working as a staff nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell. In the spring, I will begin a graduate degree program at New York University for nursing administration.

2003
Allie Monaco
I am currently teaching first grade at Sandy Spring Friends School in Olney, Maryland and loving it. 

Cliff Smoot
I graduated from Johns Hopkins last May with a double major in Spanish and Sociology. Just before graduation, I raced in the National Collegiate Cycling Championship in Lawrence, Ks. I spent the summer working as a tour guide/translator/medic in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. These days, I'm living in West Philly and managing a bike shop in nearby Haddonfield, N.J. Check it out at www.freeridebikeshop.com

Marissa Sellers
I have spent the last two summers in Rwanda and Uganda, participating in theatre therapy with a group of foreign artists, as well as survivors of the 1994 genocide.



2004
Elizabeth Judson-Rea
Elizabeth will graduate in December 2008 from Emerson College.

2005
Hope Douglas
Today, Amy Gutmann officially declared that we (the juniors) are now seniors. Hey Day is one of Penn's famous traditions. The junior class marches around campus together wearing hats and red shirts. The juniors also all walk around with canes. After the procession, during which the senior class attacks the juniors with a shower of silly string, milk, mustard, ketchup, barbeque sauce, etc., the president announces that the juniors are now seniors.


(Left to Right): Andrew Williams '05, Hope Douglas '05 and Jack Cotter '05 at Penn.

2006
Ashley Devine
I am studying at Bogazici University in Istanbul, Turkey for the 2007-2008 school year. "Merhaba."

In Memoriam

Nadine Mitchell, FSS Faculty
on April 22, 2008

Carmela "Dolly" Cammarota Ruffu '55
on March 18, 2008

Jeff David '58
Gerald Zeigerman '57 (Ziggy) writes:

It saddens me to inform you that Jeff David died of the effects of a massive heart attack in New York City, where he lived, on Tuesday, March 25.

Ever since I first met him -- I was in ninth grade at Friends Select, he was in eighth -- Jeff and I were close friends. His charm was great and its effect on people mesmerizing. It breaks my heart to be the one to pass on this news, but I felt that many of you who knew him and delighted in his friendship would want to learn of his passing.

Jeff enjoyed a long and varied career as an actor, doing everything from theater and movies, to radio and TV and audio recordings. His credits are numerous. Even if you hadn't seen him in some time, you surely had heard him on TV and radio, even if you didn't know it was Jeff's voice. He might have been admonishing you to watch or listen to an upcoming network news broadcast or persuading you to buy perfume. He might have been telling you about a tasty hot dog or a ticket to a Broadway musical, educating you about the mating habits of some of the world's most endangered animals or informing you about the spy tactics secretively being used on our citizenry. Over the years, Jeff appeared on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and at some of the best regional theaters in the country, performing Shakespeare, Shaw, Duberman and Storey, among others.

Straight out of Carnegie Tech, Jeff found work as an actor. I was lucky enough to see him in many of his theater performances. Once, he was appearing in two plays simultaneously in New York, and it was a swift and exciting cab ride we took from the Lincoln Center area to the Village so he could walk onstage for the second of the two plays. He had the unusual distinction of being one of the few in his profession who never had to wait tables to make ends meet -- not that there's anything wrong with waiting tables.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Alexandra, his sister, Terry, class of 1961, and many, many friends. Including me.