written into law as I write this. It was in this spirit that I first authored Al u m n i Sp o t l i g h t the Annual Report of the USA, in 1995, which is a guide for American citizens Meredith Bagby, Class of ‘88 about where our tax dollars go and which attempts to explain some of the larger eredith entered Palm Beach Day I was hooked. I remember watching his economic trends we face as a nation. The in Second Grade in 1981 and debates with Carter – even at that early age book was published for four consecutive graduated with her Ninth Grade --and arguing with my grandmother who years. I will be writing another edition this classM in 1988. She is a teacher, and author was an old-fashioned southern Democrat. year. of six published works which include As a math fan, in college I majored in Through the report, I was able to become We’ve Got Issues: A Young Adult Political economics and decided to marry that study an advocate for government responsibility Guide and The Annual Report of the USA, a to my love for politics. It was the era of in spending, working as a commentator widely acclaimed book that analyzes the big deficits and worry about American for CNN, authoring two other books on U.S. budget. Meredith is regarded as an competitiveness abroad. I became generational politics and working on the expert on trends among the youth. She has interested in how we as Americans could President’s Commission to Strengthen testified from a youth perspective before Social Security as well as testifying at the members of the U.S. Congress, including National Bipartisan Commission on the the Senate Finance Committee, the Future of Medicare. Bipartisan Commission on Medicare, and the President’s Committee to Strengthen Why should young people be involved with Social Security on economic issues facing political issues? Americans. She lives in California. Young adults today should have a great What are some of your fondest memories of deal of hope in the political system. It was Palm Beach Day? the youth vote that helped Barack Obama win the primary, as well as the general Mr. Greco vociferating, word-for-word, election. There is a new generation rising Julius Caesar, making 7th graders “get” to the highest echelons of government. Shakespeare. Mr. Skinner leading us in While we have crisis in our country – on his Latin jingles “…when conjugating almost every level – we also have an verbs, declining nouns --and picking unusual opportunity to be heard. Simply, daisies– you gotta first get hold of the old ways, the established institutions the stem!” Mr. Butler using the phrase better understand our economic situation, have collapsed and it is time to make some “pussy-foot around the sticky wickets” on a broad level, so that we could do new magic in this dusty world, as Thomas -- in describing what his favorite historical something to make our future more stable Wolfe might say. figure Napoleon, did not do. Mr. Bayless and friendlier to real growth. Right now, I am trying to get young bounding over his podium --always people interested in politics through balanced precariously on its edge— You’re the author of six publications, including founding a “guerilla civics” program punctuating Kubla Khan, with his big The Annual Report. Tell us what motivated you for high-schoolers. We teach them about hand. to write this report? current political issues and then get them Overhead projectors commanded by As a student in the mid-90s who studied up on their feet debating. By the way, I still Mrs. Close and Mrs. Bayless. Lines of blue economics, I was made to be worried. It use my notes from Mr. Greco’s speaking and red ink leading to solutions and then was a time when our professors warned course! disappearing on the purple palms of their of deficit spending, over-indulgence and Looking back over your years at PBD, what do hands. Pink uniforms with the maroon rampant consumerism. you think were the most valuable aspects of our trim. Penny loafers. Our names in black Many of these warnings, sadly, have come school? ink on gymnasium dresses over white to pass in recent months. Today, America PBDS gave me many gifts – in some bloomers, from another era. A crisp blue faces, perhaps, its greatest economic ways too many to count – from a great blazer with the emblem of a yellow palm crisis. What is deeply unfortunate is that foundation in math, writing and reading tree. we could see much of this economic to teaching me to be a physically fit adult tragedy coming decades ago. Some had through the every-day-sports program. But After leaving PBD what schools did you attend the foresight. But our republic requires above all – and specifically for me – PBDS to continue your education? more than that. Reform in America usually gave me an opportunity to learn writing in I went to a local public high school – Palm comes as a tide and not a trickle. an intensive way. I remember the weekly Beach Lakes. And then went to Harvard In this way, I am focusing my career essays that Mr. Greco required of us. Mr. College and Columbia Law School. on translating complex financial and Greco took the time to sit with each of us demographic trends into easily digestible individually as he read our essays aloud. When did you realize you were interested in information for the average person. I want It could be a harrowing moment for a finance and politics? to help explain some of the more complex kid, as he sat with his big red pen poised I have always been fascinated by politics, issues we face as a nation--consumption to strike out a split infinitive, a wrongly largely because it was the dinner topic of versus savings, the role of our education used pronoun, a sentence ending in a choice in my family. When I was seven, I system in the new economy, the coming preposition-- or worse – a fragment. But it met Ronald Reagan and was bowled over reformation of our entitlement programs was an absolutely invaluable experience. by the majestic grandfather-figure. Shortly (Social Security and Medicare) or the (Fragment) And you learn right then and thereafter he began his presidential bid and regulations of financial markets being there – words are everything.

March / April 2009 9 A l u m n i No t e s ‘77 Lisbeth Barron has joined as partner years. She and her husband Skip have and three rounds of competition. ZocDoc at Centerview Partners, an investment been married for two years, and they is an online free banking advisory practice and private enjoy scuba diving, traveling, watching service to book equity business movies. doctor and dental based in New appointments York. Lisabeth has After graduating from Garrison Forest instantly. It serves an MBA degree (1987) and Hobart and William Smith 60,000 patients from Harvard Colleges (1991) with a BA in English, per month in Business School Suzanne Strasser worked for MTV Manhattan and and a BBA in Networks and Conde Nast in New Brooklyn and offers international York. She is currently working as the an average of 4,000 business and West Coast head of sales for Google TV, appointments finance from a new product launched by Google in per day. Cyrus Cyrus Massoumi Florida Atlantic 2007. She has lived in LA since 2004. graduated from University. Lisbeth Barron Suzanne is in contact with Alana Henry Wharton School of Previously she was ‘85 and Merrilee Holt ‘84, who also live Business at the University of Pennsylvania a partner at Bear Sterns and headed up its in LA. Thanks to Facebook, Suzanne has and completed his MBA at Columbia corporate finance practice for clients in the reconnected with many classmates. She University. He lives in New York City. entertainment industry. Prior to that, she would love to hear from others. You can was head of the media and entertainment reach her at [email protected]. ‘95 corporate finance team at SBC Warburg for Stefanie and Andrew Cove (‘99) celebrated North America and Latin America. ‘81 their grandfather’s eightieth birthday Lisabeth will be involved in expanding the The marriage of Sally de Marcellus and on January 11, firm’s Media and Entertainment advisory Olivier de Sury took place on Saturday, in Melbourne, practice. August 9, 2008, at Holy Comforter-St. Australia, with Cyprian Church in Washington, D.C. Her their parent’s ‘88 sister, Mary Le Gouellec ‘88, was the Rosemary and Carter Dillard is teaching law at Loyola matron of honor. Sally lives in Paris and Harvey Cove University in New Orleans, LA. He also has works for the Organization for Economic ‘61. Rosemary a research fellowship with the Optimum Cooperation and Development in Paris. is our PBDA Population Trust, in Manchester, UK. Development ‘85 Director, and ‘84 Adam Lynn is a rabbi at the University Harvey a former Mary Ullman Maupai was unable to of Pennsylvania Hillel. His wife Ruthi, PBDA trustee. attend the Wine and Cheese in November teaches parenting classes in Philadelphia. Stefanie is a sales but she wanted to express her thanks and They have five children ranging from Andrew & Stephanie Cove catering manager memories to Mr. Greco, Mrs. Close, and 9 years – 14 months. They spend their at The Little Nell Mrs. Mendoza: summers in Israel, and each year Adam in Aspen, CO and Andrew is a computer To Mr. Greco, she writes that her English travels with students to South Africa, programmer for Naughty Dog, a Sony writing skills paid off immensely as a Poland, Prague, & Israel to expose them company, in Santa Monica, CA. grant writer for non-profits, helping her to Jewish history. Adams‘s brothers David secure close to a million dollars in funding ‘88 and Peter ‘93 are also rabbis. David Jordann Miller and Raymond Weingartner for various organizations. Thank you for lives in Jerusalem with his wife Keren and are engaged and plan to marry in May, teaching me the correct use of punctuation. their (soon to be) five children. Peter and 2009. Jordann graduated from Babson To Mrs. Close, she writes that she finally his wife Regine also live in Israel with College. She is the designer of Jordann learned her numbers. As an Executive their three daughters. Jewelry and the owner of JEM Jewelry. She Director for a YMCA in Richmond, VA, she is the aunt of Jackson Miller ‘21. had to master the numbers and actually ‘91 came to like them. To Mrs. Mendoza, she Hans Holland has received a Master Tad and Mae Ferguson celebrated the says her Spanish actually did come in of Science in Computer and Electrical birth of their son, Thomas C. Ferguson III, handy when she lived overseas for three Engineering from the University of Miami. born at St. Mary’s Hospital on January 15, years in Paris (when she traveled to Spain, He credits Mrs. Close for his career choice 2009. her Spanish was not pretty, but it did get and states that he is living proof of her her fed, helped her to make a reservation, dedication to her profession. Hans is the Cyrus Massoumi, the CEO and co- and of course find the bathroom! Mary Chief Technology Office at StoryBoard founder of ZocDoc, won a $100,000 is currently working as the Director of Consulting, an IT consulting company grand prize in Forbes’ Annual “Boost Development for Safe Harbor, a domestic based in Boynton Beach, where he and his Your Business” contest, beating out 1,500 violence agency in Richmond. She has been wife Lauren live. other entrepreneurs over eight months working for non profits for the past ten

10 March / April 2009 Bertles ‘03, at Nick & Johnnie’s in Palm Student Association as Marketing Director. ‘96 Hunter reports that he is looking forward Diana Sarko is continuing her post- Beach, and many fellow PBDA alumni to summer travel and that he is especially doctorate work in neuroscience at and friends. After his graduation from enjoying Latin. Hunter’s sister Katie ‘14 is Vanderbilt University with Dr. Kenneth Richmond in May 2010, he hopes to pursue in 4th Grade here at PBDA. Catania, a MacArthur Fellow. She recently coauthored an article for “Scholarpedia” Jack Rau graduated from St. Mark’s School with Dr. Roger Reep of the McKnight Brain in Southborough, MA and he is attending Institute at the University of Florida (see the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. ). “Scholarpedia” Algernon Roberts graduated from Gould is like “Wikipedia”, but it’s actually peer- Academy in Bethel, Maine; he is a freshman reviewed, just like a scientific journal at Montana State at Bozeman. article submission. Each article is written by experts in the field. After an article is reviewed and accepted, other people can ‘07 modify the content of the submission, but Peter Turchan ‘04, Dale Closi, Ben Gramentine, a junior at Saint Andrew’s Fritz van der Grift ‘03, & Blair Brandt. any modifications have to be approved by School (Boca), was a member of his the authors/curators. school’s delegation to the Harvard Model a career in residential and commercial real Congress in February. HMC is the nation’s estate. Blair can be reached at (561) 309- oldest government simulation conference ‘98 6353 or [email protected]. run exclusively by undergraduates at Christina Matthews is engaged to Harvard College. While in Boston, Ben Benjamin Macfarland; they will be married ‘04 and hundreds of high school students in Palm Beach in the Spring. A graduate of Ashley Jones, a sophomore at Rollins from across the nation engaged in open the University of College majoring debates, caucuses, trials, press conferences, North Carolina in in economics, was and testimonies, and became thoroughly Chapel Hill, NC, a debutante at the immersed in the purpose and function of she also graduated 54th International American government. in April 2008, with Debutante Ball at a diploma from the the Waldorf-Astoria Benjamin Finney is a junior at Forest Hill Florida Culinary Hotel in New York on High School in the Environmental Science Institute. She is December 29, 2008. Academy. He has received High Honors currently working The proceeds benefit for the past 3 years and is enrolled in AP as Resource the Soldiers, Sailors, Statistics, AP English Literature and Honors Development Marines, Coast Guard Chemistry. In the Environmental Science Officer at the and Airmen’s Club. Ashley Jones Academy he takes Marine Biology and nonprofit center participates in Science Fair. Last year his for the homeless Benjamin Macfarland & Christina Matthews Emilie Finney is a sophomore at project, the study of mercury in fresh water - The Lord’s University of Central Florida. She is an fish, received a first place in the county Place. She was an organizer of Sleepout honor student studying graphic design level competition. Ben is also an active 2009, an event to raise awareness about with a minor in animation. She holds a member of the Science Honor Society. He homelessness in Palm Beach County, held part time job in a printing company on played freshmen football, played tennis his at the Meyer Amphitheater on February 6. campus and among other tasks, designs sophomore year, and is swimming this year. Christina is applying to graduate school logos for their customers. She is involved Ben also enjoys surfing, fishing and for the fall, seeking a Masters in Public in an organization called the Lead Scholars. hunting. This summer he is applying for a Administration. Her interest is nonprofit Through this organization she is an advisor Continued next page management. Christina is the daughter of to a group of freshmen students, helping current PBDA trustee, and former Board them adjust to their environment. She also president, William M. Matthews ‘67. has to perform 10 hours of community service per semester with schools or adult ‘03 communities. For fun she does intramural After graduating from Deerfield Academy volleyball, & soccer, and sings twice a Pa l m Be a c h Da y Ac ad e m y in 2006, Blair Brandt enrolled at the week in an a capella group which just University of Richmond, where he plays won a competition in Gainesville in late Se a v i e w Ca m p u s February. She plans to participate next 241 Seaview Avenue, Palm Beach, FL 33480 on the Men’s Lacrosse team. He is majoring (561) 655-1188 Fax (561) 655-5794 in Business Administration, Leadership year in a semester overseas in Scotland for the Edinburgh Festival and to study Fl a g l e r Ca m p u s Studies, and Law in the Liberal Arts. He 1901 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33418 spent the fall semester of 2008 studying architecture and art. Emilie is very excited (561) 832-8815 Fax (561) 832-3343 abroad in Spain and traveling through about her studies and loves her life at UCF. The Bridge is published by Palm Beach Europe. This past summer, Blair worked Day Academy to inform its community at Christian J. Angle & Associates, Inc., a of the activities of the school, its students, ‘05 faculty and parents. Editor Richard boutique-style real estate brokerage firm Tummon and Alumni Director Rosemary Hunter Morgan, a pre-med student at Cove invite your suggestions, reactions in Palm Beach. He will be working for the FAU Jupiter, was recently elected to and comments regarding The Bridge. firm this summer as a realtor-associate. He the Executive Board of FAU’s Resident celebrated his 21st birthday with Preston www.palmbeachdayacademy.org

March / April 2009 11 Alumni Notes Continued from previous page Sa m a n t h a Mi l b a u e r ‘05 Re p o r t s o n

science internship at Scripps Institute and Pr e s i d e n t Ob a m a ’s Inauguration hopes to deepen his knowledge in science. anuary 20th was a day filled with a lot different races, ethnic groups, and locals He plans to apply to the University of of History. President Barack Obama was was very interesting. It was great to see Florida in Gainesville. sworn into office as the 44th President America come together as one, after months Jof the United States of America. I had the of issues that have kept the country in such Former PBDS teacher Susan Terens opportunity to be in Washington D.C. to unrest. This proved to me that America is Gilbert writes that after thirty-one years experience this amazing event. I was in one country, made up of people of different of teaching, the last twenty-one years D.C. for a program with 5,000 other college religions, backgrounds, and beliefs, that being overseas, she has retired from students. We had the can bring all of the pieces the Department of Defense Overseas chance to meet Colin together as a whole. Dependent Schools. She and her husband Powell, Luke Russert, When president Obama moved to Colorado to be close to her and Al Gore as well spoke to the country mother and two sisters and have settled as hear them speak. on the day of the in a lovely golf community in the foothills Each of them gave us inauguration, he said that west of Denver. a different message. we would come together Having listened to all of and fix what we needed to these amazing people, fix. We would move on as In Me m o r i a m I realized that the one country and not worry Jordann McCracken passed away opportunity I was given about the past but rather unexpectedly on December 15, 2008, at the was one of a lifetime. move on into the future. age of 27. Our condolences to Jebb ‘96. With so many After the Ceremony, it people attending the was time to get ready inauguration, it was for the Ball that I was really hard to know attending. Although what to expect. I had it was not one of the the privilege of having “official” balls, it was an . . . for our children, a ticket to the actual ceremony. Getting experience that I will treasure forever. I there at 9:00 A.M. was perfect. I went was able to celebrate my trip to D.C . and for their future, through security and was waiting for have a wonderful time. The experience of the ceremony to begin. Standing around attending the Inauguration was one that I for our planet thousands of other Americans from would not change. The 2009 Palm Beach Day Academy Parents of Alumni 2009-2010 School Calendar If your child/children Important Dates Dinner and Auction no longer live at home, please forward a current address First Day - September 8 where we can send them Winter Break - December 18 Saturday, April 25, 2009 copies of The Bridge Classes Resume - January 5 Silent Auction - 6:30 P.M. Spring Break - March 12 Dinner and Live Auction - 8:15 P.M. Classes Resume - March 29 www.palmbeachdayacademy.org Bridge Ceremony - June 9 Commencement - June 10 Al u m n i Fa m i l i e s Palm Beach Day Academy Jo i n Us f o r Th e Au c t i o n A Full List of Major Dates is available at Alumni, Past Parents and Grandparents www.palmbeachdayacademy.org/docs/0910PBDACalendar.pdf who would like to attend the auction Web Site and honor Mr. Matthews should contact Visit the web site for access to the Development Office at 832-3308 to up-to-date information. The request an invitation. We’d love to see you there! Flagler - “Flagler Focus” Bulldog Seaview - “Seaview Update” Al u m n i Under the homepage “Bulletin” link Send Us your News Username: bulldog School Store to Alumni Director Rosemary Cove at Password: pbda M,W,F 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. [email protected] www.palmbeachdayacademy.org Tue, Th 2:30 - 3:30 P.M.

12 March / April 2009