RE Log Fall 2016

FALL 2016 RansomEverglades LOG

The FUTURE of STEM at Ransom Everglades

RANSOM EVERGLADES LOOKS AT THE FUTURE OF STEM RANSOM EVERGLADES

THE FUTURE OF STEM AT RANSOM EVERGLADES Mr. Bowden 60 years at RE Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 Head av of School Penny Townsendh invites a you to attend ALUMNI WEEKEND 2017

The following classes will be honored for their milestone reunions: Class of 1967 Everglades 50-Year Reunion Class of 1967 Ransom 50-Year Reunion Class of 1977 40-Year Reunion Class of 1987 30-Year Reunion Class of 1992 25-Year Reunion Class of 1997 20-Year Reunion

Weekend activities include our signature spring cocktail party, athletic and family activities, campus tours, the Head of School Luncheon, the presentation of our distinguished Alumni Awards, individual reunion receptions, and spending time with current and former faculty members.

For more information visit: www.ransomeverglades.org/REunions If you are interested in serving on your reunion committee or have any questions, please contact the office of Alumni Relations: Vicki Carbonell Williamson ’88 / 305 460 8826 / [email protected] Danielle Phillips Retchless / 305 460 8859 / [email protected] Table of Contents Ransom Everglades Log Fall 2016 Link to the photo galleries: https://ransomevergladesschool.smugmug.com

FEATURES 4 From Scrububs... to Ransom Everglades School 4 A tale of two pieces of property and one noble history

STEM at RE 12 RE’s most esteemed faculty explain how a new STEM facility can transform educational opportunities.

The Fruit of a Strong STEM 19 RE alumni have excelled in operating rooms, robotics laboratories, classrooms, research facilities and computer labs around the world. 12 DEPARTMENTS From the Pagoda 2 From the Everglades Campus 28 On Campus 30 Student News 32 Sports 36 Alumni Events 38 New Talent 42 19 Class Notes - Alumni 46 Additional Notes 61 In Loving Memory 62

The Ransom Everglades Log Executive Editor: Amy Shipley Contact Us: Associate Editor / Photography Director: Ransom Everglades School aims to connect, inform and Suzanne Kores Office of Communications engage readers in the life of Art & Design: Kim Foster 3575 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Ransom Everglades School. Contributing Editors: Thomas Willis ’04, T: 305 460 8212 Vicki Carbonell Williamson ’88 E: [email protected] It is published by the Contributing Writers: Penny Townsend, To change your address or remove yourself Ransom Everglades Rachel Rodriguez, Adabel Diaz-Rivera from our mailing list, please send an email to Office of Communications. Photographers: Suzanne Kores, Carl [email protected]. Kafka W: www.ransomeverglades.org/page/Publica- tions-Archives

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 1 From the Pagoda Realizing our unlimited potential

I believe that this may be one of the best and most exciting Log magazines ever produced by Ransom Everglades. It showcases the power of people and ideas that have helped grow and evolve our school during its first 113 years, and it sets our sights on what is an exciting future. It reminds us that the quest for excellence never stops. Come along with us as we look back and reflect, while embracing our seemingly unlimited potential. We start by unearthing the noble history of La Brisa, a 6.9- acre waterfront property contiguous to the Ransom Campus, which we purchased this summer. As the leadership of the school considers how to incorporate that magnificent land into our Upper School, it’s encouraging to discover from local historian Arva Moore Parks that it, like RE’s original campus, carries a rich tradition of learning, public service and respect for the natural world. La Brisa will help Ransom Everglades flourish for the next 100 years. It will allow us to strategically upgrade our historic – and aging – Upper School campus. The first step in that process is monumental: constructing a state-of-the-art STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) building. We hope to break ground early next summer. As architects get to work and plans begin to take shape, we sat down with some of our most accomplished science and mathematics faculty to understand their vision for a new facility, and how it can help them even better prepare our students. They have much to contribute, and we are thrilled to share their dreams with you (page 12). They believe we are investing in far more than a physical structure. An intelligently outfitted STEM building will enable us to attract the best and brightest faculty from all corners of the United States, even the world. It will enhance Head of School Penny Townsend our curriculum, taking advantage of the latest designs for effective learning, collaborative spaces and scientific and mathematical research. It will help us further incorporate technology to ensure there are no boundaries on our students’ talents and the faculty’s vision. We look forward to this project with enthusiasm because we know the fruit of a great STEM program changes the world. We’ve witnessed it among our own graduates. So many of

2 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 our students have succeeded by summoning the spirit of inquiry they honed in our curriculum, guided by the expertise and mentoring of our faculty. Our STEM alumni are making a difference in medicine, at research universities, in government, at nonprofits and in the private sector around the globe. A library could hardly catalogue the successes of all of our alums; we selected a few of our most notable achievers to feature in this magazine: Maurice R. Ferré ’79, who has combined innovative technology and cutting-edge medicine for decades to So many of our students have enhance the quality of life for many; Roland Samimy ’86, who has used his expertise in coastal systems science to find creative succeeded by summoning the solutions to complex environmental problems; and Ana Albir ’00, who has applied technology strategically to allow students spirit of inquiry they honed in our to create and share their work easily and safely online. We also highlight the work of Daniel Steven Sanchez ’93, who curriculum, guided by the expertise designs medical robots that roam hospital corridors to help physicians work better and more efficiently; Marc David and mentoring of our faculty. Our Sanders ’84, a mathematician who spent years designing online courses that make challenging math subjects comprehen- STEM alumni are making a difference sible and accessible; and Stacy Blain ’85, an esteemed cancer researcher and university professor who teaches, does cutting- in medicine, at research universities, edge research and, most recently, has entered the corporate realm to turn her theoretical expertise into real-world solutions. in government, at non-profits and in All have made a difference in their fields, and in people’s lives. Please see their stories, beginning on page 19. the private sector around the globe. It’s a joy as a lifelong educator to work at a school that defines excellence as continually raising the bar. These are truly exciting times to be at Ransom Everglades. I look forward to helping our students, faculty and school continue to realize their unlimited potential.

Penny Townsend Head of School

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 3 From Scrububs to La Brisa ... to Ransom Everglades School

4 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 From Scrububs to La Brisa ... to Ransom Everglades School

A tale of two pieces of property, and one noble history Adapted from the works of Arva Moore Parks by Amy Shipley Recent photographs by Suzanne Kores

Paul Ransom, it turns out, wasn’t the Ransom Everglades School and will be only turn-of-the century pioneer in gradually incorporated into the Upper South Florida who left a legacy rich in School campus in the coming years. education, public service, environmental When the property became available for concern and community outreach. There purchase, RE’s school directors and ad- was also the lovely couple next door. ministrators acted decisively, having for Kirk and Mary Barr Munroe, years admired the lush tree can- who could see what later be- opies, vast lawn, fresh-water came Ransom Everglades’ The Munroes spring, dense mangroves Upper School from their opened their homestead, and waterfront access front porch, matched of the adjacent prop- Ransom’s now then known as Scrububs, erty. They believed legendary determi- to all of their neighbors – the seven-acre nation to influence expanse perfectly the students at the from the wealthy and prominent, fit the blueprint Adirondack-Florida to women, children, blacks, for the next 100 School with an years at Ransom equally powerful Bahamian immigrants and Everglades. commitment to the Seminole Indians – But the pur- Coconut Grove com- chase didn’t merely munity at large. at a time such inclusion enhance the school’s The Munroes opened defied social future. RE directors their home, then known also found a perfect as “Scrububs,” to all of their norms. match when they peered neighbors – from the wealthy into the past. and prominent, to women, children, The Munroe’s use of La Brisa blacks, Bahamian immigrants and reflects and even amplifies the school’s Seminoles – at a time such inclu- proud tradition of service-oriented sion defied social norms. Even before leadership. Ransom led his earliest students into “We couldn’t pass up the opportunity the Everglades and on sailing excursions to buy this beautiful property,” Head of on Biscayne Bay, Scrububs had become School Penny Townsend said on June a center for progressive thinking, and a 14, 2016. “The purchase will allow us to meeting place to discuss books, com- improve our facilities, add vital greens- munity issues, wildlife protection and pace and continue our long tradition of environmental preservation. respecting, protecting and learning from The history-rich land, now known as the treasures of Old Florida and Miami’s La Brisa, was acquired this summer by precious coastal ecosystems.”

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 5 The Munroe’s use of “We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to buy this beautiful La Brisa reflects and property,” Head of School Penny Townsend said on June 14, even amplifies the school’s 2016. “The purchase will allow us to improve our facilities, proud tradition of service- add vital greenspace and continue our long tradition of oriented leadership. respecting, protecting and learning from the treasures of Old Florida and Miami’s precious coastal ecosystems.”

6 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 The Scrububs’ most famous owners When they reached Coconut Grove, the newlyweds took one look around and fell Kirk Munroe was born in Wisconsin in love all over again – this time, with to a Harvard-educated father and the land. wealthy mother who devoted their lives In January 1887, Kirk and Mary Barr to service as Christian missionaries. Munroe purchased a bayfront tract that Munroe followed his father to Harvard, belonged to Kitty and George Roberts but dropped out after only a year and and included a simple, barn-style home. headed west, eager to explore the In a hand-written note, Kirk Munroe American frontier. He made his way to explained the origin of the property’s Mississippi, then the Dakotas, Montana distinctive nickname, an intentional and Washington state. In 1876, he be- and comical butchery of “suburbs.” The gan working as a reporter for the New local environs, he wrote, consisted of York Sun, submitting dispatches about “rugged rock, primeval forest, dense General Custer, Little Big Horn and undergrowth matted with a tangle of Native Americans. He worked as an pines and palmetto scrub…. Suburbs! It editor for Harper’s magazine for young is more like a ‘Scrububs.’” people, then devoted himself to writing, Added Munroe: “With that utterance becoming a prolific author lauded for the house name of this abiding place his children’s works. Munroe found became unalterably fixed.” his way to Florida through another celebrated novelist; in 1881, he was Serving the community at invited to the winter home in Scrububs Jacksonville of Harriett Beecher Stowe and her The Munroes The new settlers in Florida family. Two years later, sought to establish joined a small commu- he married Mary Barr. nity; barely 100 pioneers The family of Mary the cultural life of called Coconut Grove Barr Munroe had Coconut Grove, promoting home around that moved to Galveston, time. Kirk Munroe, Texas, from Scotland access to education, who immediately be- when she was better circumstances for came the young town’s two, but her father less-fortunate residents most famous resident, suffered from the had already made his change of scenery; and the protection fortune through writing he died of yellow fever of the natural and had little interest in within three years. Her chasing personal suc- widowed mother, Amelia environment. cess. Instead, the Munroes Barr, moved the family to sought to establish the cultural New York, where she began life of Coconut Grove, promot- tutoring students and writing to earn a ing access to education, better circum- living. Sixty-seven books later, Amelia stances for less-fortunate residents and Barr had established a reputation as the protection of the natural environ- one of the finest writers of that era. ment. The Munroes jointly founded the Her daughter learned independence, Coconut Grove library, providing many forbearance and industriousness from of its original books from their per- her mother – traits that benefited her sonal collection at Scrububs. For nearly when she and her young husband, Kirk three decades, Kirk Munroe served as Munroe, traveled to Lake Worth, Fla., president of the Coconut Grove Library on a wedding trip, then sailed on to Association. He loved to entertain lo- South Florida. cal boys by inviting them to Scrububs, reading from his novels and telling them

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 7 La Brisa: 1837 to present

1837 to 1856 John Dubose, lighthouse keeper on Key Biscayne, built a home on the mainland located at “Sassifras Hammock on the Big Spring.”

Peter Johnson, a native of Sweden, operated a stories. Fellow pioneer Charles Pierce in their camps in the Everglades to comptie starch mill on the shores of Biscayne described Munroe as “the most enter- help mediate disputes. He was always Bay, probably at the location of the “Big Spring.” taining man I had ever met.” The couple welcomed. (Comptie starch was an extraction from the roots also founded a literary club for Coconut The Munroes also sought protections of a small plant called Grove’s black residents, and directed for birds and animals, becoming the re- the Zamia floridana.) efforts to found the first library in the gion’s first animal-rights activists. Mary black community. Barr, the first president of the Coconut Mary Barr Munroe helped found Grove Audubon Society, challenged visi- Coconut Grove’s Housekeepers Club, tors to Scrububs when they wore bird and a similar club for girls called the plumage of any kind; she was known for Pine Needles Club. There, she read to plucking egret feathers from hats and the girls excerpts from great classics and offering impromptu lectures on the eth- Zamia taught them handiwork and crafts. She ics of such adornment. also invited girls from the black commu- Her husband shared her passion. nity to Scrububs for stories and cookies. When Kirk Munroe, the founding 1868 She babysat many of those children to vice president of the Florida Audubon Edmund Beasley, one of Coconut Grove’s earli- assist their mothers while they worked, Society, encountered an injured est residents, filed an application for 160 acres and offered medical services to manatee that had been har- of land that included the property now known as families in need. She also pooned in the tail, he nursed 3551 Main Highway. In a 1943 article by Mary ensured that a beloved The Munroes it back to health for six Barr Munroe, she described the Beasley house as companion who for years also fraternized weeks, then petitioned a log cabin thatched with palmetto leaves. The worked at Scrububs was for the first animal- article also recalled the existence of ruins from provided for. When she with local Seminole protection legislation in Beasley’s old stone chimney on the grounds of died, Mary Barr Munroe Indians, seeking to Florida. Munroe’s ef- the Ransom school. left Alice Burrows a forts helped persuade title to a new home on understand their needs the state legislature Charles Avenue. and culture – another to make the penalty The Munroes also for killing a manatee fraternized with local practice that defied $500. Seminoles, seeking to the custom of The Munroes also understand their needs and enjoyed transforming the culture – another practice the time. rough growth surrounding that defied the custom of Scrububs into tropical flow- the time. They invited Seminole ers and fruit trees, even winning families into their home. They urged prizes at local exhibitions for their them to collect fresh water from a spring citrus cultivation. A box of Florida or- near the bay that was considered one of ange blossoms plucked from one of the Scrubub’s most valuable assets, and pro- Munroes’ trees helped persuade Henry vided unfettered access to the property’s Flagler to extend his railroad to Miami, vegetable garden. A famous Seminole the Miami Metropolis reported. During chief known as Big Charlie camped with the Spanish-American War, drinking his family on the Munroes’ lawn. The re- water from the spring was sent daily to lationship between the Munroes and the a U.S. fleet anchored in Key West. Seminole community grew so strong, Kirk Munroe spent hours fishing and Kirk acted as something of an ambas- sailing on a 35-foot sailboat that he sador for the tribe to the U.S. govern- named Allapattah, an Indian word for ment, frequently visiting the Seminoles alligator. In 1887, Scrububs hosted the Mary Barr Munroe

8 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 La Brisa: 1837 to present

1875 Anna Beasley (widow of Edmund) won on an official patent for the land after a Yale Med School graduate named Horace Porter sought the rights to it, claiming it had been abandoned.

1877 John Frow, one of 10 children of Cape Florida lighthouse keeper Simeon Frow, purchased the Beasley homestead for $100. That purchase gave him the distinction of being the first person to buy land in the Grove. 1884 Katherine “Kitty” (Frow) Roberts and her husband George Roberts were assigned the La Brisa tract of land after her brother John Frow subdivided it and sold it. George Roberts owned the Cocoanut Grove Fish Depot. Kitty was active in civic activities; she helped found the Housekeepers Club and was a member of the Miami Pioneers Club.

1920’s Coconut Grove land ownership map 1886 Kirk and Mary Barr Munroe were in Key West when they heard of another Munroe – Ralph Munroe, no relation – in Coconut Grove and came up to investi- gate. They liked it so much they looked for a piece of land. They bought the land, then made their property a centerpiece of Coconut Grove life for 35 years.

1920 John and Eleanore Semple bought Scrububs for $100,000 and immediately tore it down, replac- ing it with a Mediterranean-style mansion crafted by architectural firm Kiehnel and Elliott, and later adding a guest house for $2,000. The Mediterranean style became popular throughout Coconut Grove and Scrububs Kirk Munroe Coral Gables.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 9 La Brisa

1949 Minna Field Burnaby, the niece of the entrepreneur and store-founder Marshall Field, was born in Paris, raised in Washington, D.C., and Maine, and lived in England until the death of her second husband. She returned to America, bought La Brisa and attended St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Seminole visitors to Scrububs

1993 2008 James and Sheila Gray restored the property, La Brisa LLC adding a brick patio and flagstone tile, and transforming the rooms inside the mansion by 1995. 2016 Ransom Everglades School 1997 Julie and Juliana Field Ryan Investment LTD Source: From Scrububs to La Brisa: A History of the Property and Residence, 3551 Main Highway, Coconut 1951 Grove, Florida, by Arva Moore Parks and Ilana Dawn Drucker; and Miami-Dade real-estate records. Henry and Julia Field. Minna’s son Henry was a world-renowned, Eton- and Oxford-educated anthropologist, archeologist, author and adviser to Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman. The Harvard-educated Julia Allen Field, who earned a PhD at the Institute of Advanced Studies of Walden University, was a lion tamer and zoo director at the Crandon Park Zoo on Key Biscayne. The Fields formed the Junior Explorers Club, inviting neighborhood kids who kept snakes and reptiles as pets. At the end of their lives, their home fell into great disrepair.

Residence of Kirk Munroe

Julia Allen Field

10 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 first meeting of the Biscayne Bay Yacht A century later Much like today, the land shot up Club. Kirk was the BBYC’s first secre- in value. Just over 40 years later, tary, serving under commodore Ralph The Munroes were surely the most trans- Pittsburgh industrialist John Semple Munroe (no relation). The BBYC yacht formative owners of the Scrububs land, paid $100,000 for the property he regatta – the first organized cultural but others played significant roles in renamed La Brisa – the breeze. Nearly event in South Florida, is still held an- shaping Coconut Grove as a community. 100 years and five owners later, Ransom nually in Coconut Grove on George John Dubose, a former South Carolina Everglades School paid $27.6 million Washington’s birthday. senator-turned-lighthouse-keeper on for the land, with a charitable donation Key Biscayne, was the first to build a from an anonyous donor that put the Scrububs before Ransom Everglades home on the land, settling on the prop- actual price at $34 million. erty in the 1830s. By 1877, the parcel, as That purchase reunited two pieces of By 1893, the Munroes had built a part of a larger tract of land, was sold for land once considered part of the same wooden boathouse, South Florida’s first the first time. parcel, and which share a similar, noble tennis court, a tool shed and servants’ John Frow, also a lighthouse keeper, history rooted in learning, service, cottage, and added a porch, second forked over $100 for it. Frow transferred outreach and respect for the surround- story, windmill tower, new roof and a section of the land to his sister Kitty, ing world. windows to their home. In February of who was active in civic events in Coconut that year, on the day that the Biscayne Grove, and her husband George Roberts, Bay Yacht Club held its annual regatta, and they sold it to the Munroes in 1886. the Munroes met a young man who had been advised by his doctor to travel from the cold winter of Buffalo, N.Y.; he Arva Moore Parks – a native Miamian, historian, suffered from a kidney disorder called preservationist and community leader who taught Bright’s Disease. history at the Everglades School for Girls – has That man, Paul Ransom, presented a authored, coauthored, edited or contributed to letter of introduction to Kirk Munroe more than 30 books and documentaries, including from a mutual friend. Kirk and Mary the City of Miami’s official history: Miami The Munroe spent days entertaining him, Magic City. During her six-year tenure as chair of taking him around Coconut Grove, serv- the Coral Gables Preservation Board, she helped ing him dinner at Scrububs and even preserve some of the city’s most important introducing him to Julia Tuttle, who was landmarks and established relationships with then trying to convince Henry Flagler members of the Merrick family. Widely honored to extend his railroad to Miami. The for her writing and activism, she was awarded Munroes’ hospitality was so genuine, the an honorary doctorate by Barry University and bay water so beautiful, and the environ- named an Alumna of Outstanding Distinction by ment so seemingly restorative, Paul the University of Florida and University of Miami. Ransom decided on that very trip to She was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame purchase a plot of land. for Florida and Coral Gables, and was named the He eyed the land adjacent to the home Robert B. Knight Citizen of the Year and first of his new friends. When Munroe real- George Merrick Award of Excellence winner by the ized his deed included that property, he Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. The Florida sold it to Ransom for $1,300. A decade Historical Society honored her as the Caroline later, after dabbling in education by B. Rossitter “Outstanding Woman in Florida bringing students for winter tutoring to History.” She spent 18 months as pro bono acting his “Pine Knot Camp,” Ransom opened director and chief curator of the new Coral Gables the Adirondack-Florida School. The Museum, and two years as chair of the board. Her ethic he preached from the start, teach- latest book, George Merrick: Son of the South ing his students to put more in the world Wind, was published by the University Press of than they took from it, Kirk and Mary Florida in 2015. Barr Munroe had modeled for years.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 11 Dreams are turning into tangible plans as its faculty and academic programs for years to come, Ransom Everglades School prepares to Ransom Everglades School is forging ahead with the first commence work on a long-awaited piece of an ambitious plan to renew and improve its STEM building on its Upper School century-old Upper School campus. campus as early as next summer. The award-winning global design firm of Perkins + Inspired by the success of the Will is hard at work fashioning a center of innova- Middle School revitalization a decade tion that will bring 35,000 ft² and three stories of ago, counseled by a national accred- flexible learning spaces into the heart of the Upper itation team and determined to ensure School campus. There will be open, adaptable class- that its facilities match the excellence of rooms to enhance opportunities for collaboration and

12 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 creative thinking, and dedicated laboratory spaces Designs will be unveiled by the spring of 2017; to facilitate long-term experimentation and the following pages will let you know why partnerships with local universities. it matters. The end result will be a transformative We’ve spoken with some of our most building whose façade will blend in with esteemed math and science faculty to the existing architecture while capturing learn how a new facility can help trans- a sense of the greater Miami community. form educational opportunities at Ransom It will be a certified green facility, using Everglades. Here’s what they have to say: less water and energy, harvesting natural light and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 13 Paul Natland ’02 Science Department BS George Washington University

It’s more important than ever to prepare students for a world that’s changing. If you go back not even 10 years, as an example, the first iPhone was released in June of 2007. You likely could not have imagined then that our phones could process data the way they can now, and such technological progress is only going to become more astounding as time proceeds. It is not an option to merely prepare students for static content areas; we have to arm them to be creative thinkers so they are equipped to work with science and technology as it changes. To be successful in the future, these skills will be a necessity and we need a space that accom- modates these changes. Ransom Everglades is all about experiential learning and getting students doing things hands-on, but we don’t have dedicated lab space where kids can explore, do independent research, or try to tackle vexing problems on their own. If we were to get such a space that encourages self-discovery, our students’ imaginations could be the limit. If we have rooms that can change as science evolves, innovative spaces that – rather than limiting Ransom Everglades is students’ curiosity, cause their curiosity – it would give us the opportunity to better prepare them for the uncertainties ahead, and maybe even help project science forward. We could all about experiential have them coming up with experimental ideas, doing independent research in between class learning and getting periods, and maybe even publishing articles on work they’ve done at the school, or in collaboration with a nearby university – in other words, doing work that would complement or per- kids doing things haps even rival what’s going on at the university level. The more we can test their boundaries intellectually, the more we can better prepare them for a world that’s constantly changing. On hands-on, but we a different note, if you think about when people of any age enter into a science museum, they inevitably experience a feeling of awe. There are so many exciting things that almost seem don’t have dedicated magical as you immerse yourself in the space. You see different demonstrations, displays that are interactive, and experiments that really bring out the kid in everyone. If you had a space lab space where kids at Ransom Everglades that looked and felt like that, harboring elements that organically got people thinking about science – and about what science actually is – it could really spark their can do independent curiosity. One of my favorite quotes from Einstein is that “imagination is more important than research or try knowledge.” We want to have an environment that really can spark their imagination, perhaps turning what may be a small flame into a raging fire. The world needs this. We need people to to tackle vexing solve the world’s myriad problems in different ways than we can even currently imagine. It’s going to take quantum shifts in thinking, and we need to help give students the ability to make problems on their own. those quantum shifts.

14 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Imagine the power of spaces for collaboration, spaces for innovation, Bob DuBard Science Department and spaces for BS University of Missouri experimentation There’s a movement afoot now called project-based learning. I’m really excited above and beyond about it. Students gravitate toward real-world stuff. If something is authentic, if it’s actual, if they can get their hands on it, it makes a big difference. That experience what we currently of coming up with an idea and trying to solve a problem, really making something, actually crafting a project – instead of everything being on paper and very academic have. That would – offers a rich educational experience. It’s something students crave. Frequently, students express a preference for this over the virtual reality that so much of their catapult us to a new lives have become. Having authentic experiences gives them real-world skills that help them when they start tackling real-world jobs. Of course, we have this back- level of education. ground, all the way back to Paul Ransom, of experiential learning, of learning by doing. And having a STEM building, a building where there are dedicated spaces that encourage students to build, create, make – would extend that experiential-learning tradition. This is something we talk about in the department all the time: how wonderful would it be if we had sufficient dedicated space to pursue genuine innovation or pursue original research in our labs, in our classrooms, in our work spaces. We’ve done very well – I don’t want to create the impression that our parents, our benefac- tors, our leadership or the school in any way have slighted the science department over the years. Recent improvements to the campus in other areas such as the pool, those things needed to be done. They’ve made the school a better place. But the science and math departments together represent the logical next step for equipping our students for the future. We’re kind of scattered right now, tucked in corners; but we’ve got some excellent equipment, extraordinary teachers, and excited students. It would be wonderful if we could boost those things with a space in which vision was built into the whole experience. Imagine the power of spaces for collaboration, spaces for innovation, and spaces for experimentation above and beyond what we currently have. That would catapult us to a new level of education.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 15 It is no longer about having just scientists working together on Jean Duty a biology project, but Mathematics Department Chair 12th-Grade Academic Dean you have a scientist, BS Barry University a math person and an Two years ago, we read a book called Where Good Ideas Come From, which talked artist, and they will about this idea of shared space. Sharing space with people of different backgrounds not only gives you new ideas, but it also helps those ideas grow and become fruit- all see the same ful. That’s what I’m really looking forward to in a new space, a new building. One of the benefits that we already have in the math department is shared offices. With data differently. As a that sharing of office spaces, you find that ideas bubble up and bump against each other, and that is how you grow, how you learn, how new ideas get generated and result, we might new programs get started. Right now students have this space outdoors in the Quad, which is great; I think they share a lot of good ideas there. And there are students who actually solve some will spend time in the math office, hanging with us just because they like math and really big problems. want to share their thoughts about it. But I do think it will be more free flowing and productive if students with various different interests, different talents, different ways We want to solve of looking at the world – if they all have a chance to share a new academic space. If we do it right, it will foster critical thinking and creativity. I don’t believe everything them here at Ransom needs to be a product in the end. Thoughts, to me, are products. If we can encourage our students to think openly and critically about the world, and put them in an envi- Everglades. ronment where they are constantly getting feedback and input from their classmates and teachers, then we’ve done our job. We could create courses that would invite the art people or the social sciences people in to the STEM building. The building would be great for those oriented toward math or science. We want them to be curious, and we also want to foster a creative spirit. You can get trapped into thinking that everything is based on the numbers, that that’s the only truth there is. It’s not. I believe that we are starting to realize that it takes a group of people with diverse backgrounds to solve problems. It is no longer about having just scientists working together on a biology project, but you have a scientist, a math person and an artist, and they will all see the same data differently. As a result, we might actually solve some really big problems. We want to solve them here at Ransom Everglades.

16 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 We can do serious, publishable, award- winning, first-rate research in a facility right here on the grounds of Ransom Ken Mills Head of the Upper School, former Science Department Chair Everglades, if we BA Williams College, MST Rutgers University only had a building Before anybody had ever coined the phrase “experiential learning,” Paul Ransom was to fully tap into the already doing that, and it’s a tradition we’ve continued – sailing on the bay, hiking in the Adirondacks, exploring the Everglades. We believe the bay, as well as opportuni- potential of our ties available in the community, at the University of Miami or FIU, are really an extension of our laboratory opportunities. We already do interesting, cutting-edge things students and faculty. here at Ransom Everglades, but we want to amplify what we’re doing with a new space. Right now we’re sitting in a lab that’s also a classroom; when it’s being used as a classroom it can’t be used as a lab. A new facility would provide teaching spaces that allow us to set up experiments that go not just for 50 minutes, but for several days, a whole semester – maybe even a year or more. That’s something we’re really excited about, anticipating how we might be able to take organisms from the bay, or chemistry experiments from the University of Miami, and leave them up and running so that we can collect data over a long period of time and not have those projects interrupted, or – even worse – not even started because we have another class coming in in 50 minutes. A smart new facility that has all kinds of flexible space, big labs, small labs, classic classroom spaces, Harkness spaces, a variety of spaces, will be critical to what we envision doing with our students in science. We imagine a science facility being a place where the science students feel at home – just like the students in acting class feel at home in the theater, or the football players feel at home on a football field. We really want to create an environment where the scientists feel comfortable in a true research facility because, ultimately, science is about doing research. It used to be that research was considered the domain of the PhD, but that’s not the case anymore. We have unique resources here at Ransom Everglades with regards to our students and teachers. We can do serious, publishable, award-winning, first-rate research in a facility right here on the grounds of Ransom Everglades, if we only had a building to fully tap into the potential of our students and faculty.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 17 Robert “Doc” Crabtree Science Department BA College of Wooster, MS Ohio University, PhD Clark University

If Ransom Everglades is going to stay at the forefront of education, science education being part of that, it has to stay current in terms of its facilities, its faculty and how it teaches. All are important. When I started interviewing for a secondary school position many years ago, I toured many of the schools in the area, and the one thing that Ransom Everglades had that was far superior to any of the other schools was its space, its facility. It wasn’t tightly packed into a cramped room where you could barely fit 19 desks, and struggle to set up laboratories. It was wide-open space and, at the time, it was innovative space. We evolved and kept up with the times, but, many years later, the school has grown. We have simply outgrown our present space. Not only do we need to forge ahead with new thinking in terms of how to best teach sci- All of the STEM ence, but we also need more room, more classrooms, to be able to continue what we disciplines offer have done so well for so many years. The right building would be another landmark like the pool, like the renovation of the gym. When I first came here, we didn’t have a opportunities to gym. The pool was falling down, and had to be replaced. Now, it’s science’s turn, and math, technology and engineering as well. When teaching science you need laborato- solve critical, global ry space. You need space for kids to come in, do hands-on work, do experiments, and so forth. More so today than ever before, kids need their own private space to work problems, issues on projects of their own. They need a given area where they can do self-exploring in terms of devising their own experiments, exploring their own ideas – under guid- dramatically affecting ance of course. Student-oriented research spaces and presentation spaces where they can work on how they are going to present to the public, to their classmates, are very all of us. Ensuring our important. That’s the next step: allowing students the independence to do their own students’ success research projects, perhaps as a continuation of work they do through internships over the summer. All of this is on mission at Ransom Everglades. In all of the scien- in these fields could tific disciplines, it’s all about giving back, it’s all about doing something to provide for the larger community. All of the STEM disciplines offer opportunities to solve criti- not be more closely cal, global problems, issues dramatically affecting all of us. Ensuring our students’ success in these fields could not be more closely aligned with the vision of the school, aligned with the with Paul Ransom’s original vision. vision of the school, with Paul Ransom’s original vision.

18 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 THE FRUIT OF A STRONG STEM: RE AlumniSuccess

Ransom Everglades alumni in STEM fields have excelled in operating rooms, robotics laboratories, classrooms, research facilities and computer labs around the world. They have improved lives and saved them. We’ve chosen six distinguished alumni to illustrate RE’s wide-ranging success in STEM, telling their stories in the coming pages. Read about science and technology entrepreneur Maurice Ferré ’79; coastal systems scientist Roland Samimy ’86; tech innovator Ana Albir ’00; robotics engineer Daniel Steven Sanchez ’93; mathematician Marc David Sanders ’84; and cancer researcher Stacy Blain ’85.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 19 MAURICE FERRÉ ’79 CEO and Chairman at INSIGHTEC Boston University School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine Boston University, Master’s in Public Health Bennington College, BA in Biology

Memorable teacher, class: Annette Beame Hedke, Algebra 2 science technology When you look at him now, moving from one cutting- edge medical technology company to another, accruing various awards and recognitions, appearing in newspaper stories, giving the commencement address at Ransom Everglades, one might conclude that everything MAURICE R. FERRÉ touches turns to gold. Or that the son of six-term Miami Mayor Maurice A. Ferré traveled an easy road to success. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ferré’s extraordinary work merging medicine and technology to create innovative, life-changing devices and methods for treatment is a testament to the power of dreams and determination, not privilege or pure genius. In his youth and early 20s, Ferré often stumbled more than he soared, yet he stayed the course on a long journey that began at Ransom Everglades where, he said, he had to work harder than most of his peers just to get average grades. His achievement since has been anything but average: Ferré was honored last spring with the Ransom Ever- glades Founders’ Alumni Award for Distinguished Service As a student, Ferré endured a battle with dyslexia, which caused to the Community, which is given to an alum who has him to fall behind in elementary school and at Ransom Everglades, helped to fulfill the vision of the founders of the Ransom where he occasionally brought home report cards dotted with Cs and Everglades schools by showing deep community con- and Ds. He never aspired to politics because he believed himself a cern and demonstrating honor, courage and leadership. poor public speaker. And his dream to attend medical school after He had previously received the prestigious Ernst & Young receiving a BA from Bennington College seemed as if it, too, would Entrepreneur of the Year award, among others. never materialize: he collected two years of rejection letters be- “I consider myself truly blessed,” he said. “It’s not always fore finally winning acceptance to the Boston University School of about being really smart or talented. I would submit, Medicine. Yet once he got in, he knew he would make it through. He it’s more about discovering your passion and having the found hope and inspiration in the public service of his father and perseverance to see it through.” the humanitarian efforts of his great aunt, Sister Isolina Ferré, a nun who dedicated her life to serving the poor and needy and became known as the Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico. Before her death in

I feel like everything I had done before prepared me to do this.”

20 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 2000, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from international group that connects business leaders with youth- President Bill Clinton. Ferré trained his eyes on her example, ful entrepreneurs; and Boston University, his alma mater. He not on perceived limitations. created scholastic programs in robotics and engineering for inner-city schools in Miami, and assisted aspiring business “She really inspired me,” he said. “We were very close. She was leaders through mentorship efforts. a human being who did amazing things … to better mankind. I felt like I needed to do something to make this a better world.” He enjoyed those ventures, but was lured to the helm of the Israel-based INSIGHTEC because of its bold and exciting Added Ferré: “I got inspired by the sciences and STEM. I be- ambition: using ultrasound for non-invasive surgical proce- came determined to overcome my limitations and set my goal dures, particularly of the brain, that otherwise could not be high by getting into medical school – it really fit into the whole performed. The work seemed to offer Ferré the chance to finish idea that I could do something good with my life.” what he had started using 3D-medical imaging. He had gone Two years into his medical education, Ferré met a handful of from creating images of the brain as a medical student, to pioneers in the world of supercomputing at the Massachusetts tracking and then repairing tumors as a young man, to figur- Institute of Technology. Those relationships would change the ing out how to get inside the brain without cutting to attack course of his career. Convinced supercomputers could revolu- diseases. tionize medicine, Ferré took a two-year sabbatical to combine “This changes the whole dynamic of how we look at the brain,” his burgeoning medical education and parallel-computing tech- said Ferré, who commutes to Israel from his home on Key nology to hone the new science of 3D-medical imaging, which Biscayne every few months. “It’s a vehicle to open up ways to provided an in-depth look at brain function and problems. The treat brain disorders… I think we’re on the cusp of major break- work proved so promising Ferré started his first company even throughs in cancer therapy.” before he had earned his Doctor of Medicine and Master’s in Public Health from Boston University in 1992. Though the technology remains under development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this summer approved the After receiving his doctorate, he returned full-time to his start- company’s ultrasound treatment for essential tremors. Ferré’s up, then called Visualization Technology. He served as founder voice leaped when he talked about the treatment’s promise and and chief executive officer for nearly a decade, expanding the potential, offering new hope for those suffering from previ- imaging technology he helped develop as a med student to offer ously inoperable or deadly diseases. As he sat in the Dan Leslie surgeons the ability to use 3D images in the operating room to Bowden Library during a recent visit to campus, he leaned track tumors. The technology that Ferré developed is now con- forward in his chair, spinning through details, unable to sup- sidered standard of care in the treatment of brain surgery. press a grin. In 2004, he took the technology a step further as the co-founder “I thought I was done” with my career, he said. But “I feel like of his next company, MAKO Surgical Corp. Ferré and his part- everything I had done before prepared me to do this.” ners added robotics to their mix of medicine and technology, using guided instrumentation to allow doctors not only to see Added Ferré: “It’s OK to fail. If you have a deficiency in some- the anatomy better, but also to repair it. MAKO grew from a thing, turn around and use it as an asset. Never be satisfied. tiny start-up to become the world leader in robotic orthopedic There’s so much more to do – keep driving and improving. surgery, transforming the way knee replacement is performed. Do something good. Do something to make a difference in the The company was acquired for $1.6 billion in 2013 by Stryker, world.” a world-leading medical device company. INSIGHTEC’S focused ultrasound After that transaction, Ferré device treats patients with essential settled into retirement – or so he tremor, a movement disorder. thought. He devoted himself to his family – wife, Maria Dolores, and four children, Isabella ’10, Camila, Maurice ’13 and Antonia – while working on three volunteer boards: the Everglades Foundation, an organization focused on the restoration of the Everglades; Endeavor Miami, an

I feel like everything I had done before prepared me to do this.”

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 21 ROLAND SAMIMY ’86

Senior Research Manager, Coastal Systems Program at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth School for science Marine Science and Technology University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, PhD coastal systems science Tufts University, MS water resources engineering, MA environmental policy, BA English and architectural history

Memorable teacher, class: George Kasyan, eighth-grade science, Dr. Robert “Doc” Crabtree, Anatomy and Physiology

ROLAND SAMIMY will tell you, quite directly, that his life’s work revolves around addressing one vexing environmental problem: How much water is flowing, and how much … ahem … organic material is it carrying? So simple, yet so complicated. As population growth has soared, nu- As he mulled his future, he tried to pinpoint his pas- trient-related waste production has climbed with it, and much of that sions. Samimy had moved to Miami from Brooklyn waste is seeping into our water supply – whether through groundwa- with his family at age four, spending his boyhood years ter flows, rivers and drainage canals or stormwater drains – wreaking sailing, surfing and, eventually, swimming and play- environmental, economic and aesthetic havoc. ing water polo at RE. Water and the natural world had These sorts of issues captivate Samimy, who regularly travels between always motivated him. Could he combine his interest in South Florida and Massachusetts as the senior research manager of environmental protection with the problems of marine- the Coastal Systems Program at the University of Massachusetts- habitat destruction and water quality? He could, he Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology – which is at realized, but at a cost. the cutting edge of its field: nutrient management and coastal habitat He re-applied to Tufts for graduate school, then loaded restoration. up on the civil engineering and science courses he had “People’s lives depend on the health of these coastal systems,” Sa- mostly avoided as an undergrad. mimy said. “People don’t realize how closely we are connected to the “It was harder than hard,” he said. “I lived in constant natural environment… The trends are all downward in terms of water fear of failure for 3 1/2 years. It was my walk through quality, and they’re downward in terms of water quality because of the valley of death.” what’s coming from the land.” He emerged four years later with dual master’s degrees When fresh or salt water is contaminated by an excess of nutrients, in water resources engineering and environmental scientists working with engineers can dilute the concentration by policy. He worked as a hydrologist, learning the ropes bringing in more water; remove it by adding natural filter feeders over 10 years in environmental consulting and a couple such as shellfish; or reduce the flow of it at the source. The solutions four-month stints with researchers in Antarctica. He are simple in theory, but cost-effective, real-life fixes require a chal- eventually earned his PhD in coastal systems science at lenging intersection of science, economics and politics. UMass as he worked on the largest estuarine restoration “I love to deal with complex, multi-dimensional problems and find program in New England. out how to solve them,” Samimy said. “The road to where I am has been very twisted,” he said. Samimy’s most interesting problem as an undergraduate at Tufts “Nothing I’ve done in life has been very straight or clear. University was a big one: figuring out what to do with his life. Though At times it was really tedious, hard and frustrating, but he had enjoyed science and math at Ransom Everglades, he majored it was short-term pain for a lifetime of really interesting in English and architectural history, with an occasional and hesitant work and a chance to contribute positively to society in venture into the STEM subjects. He took the LSATs and applied to my own meaningful way.” law schools, but ultimately couldn’t imagine spending his days in law libraries and courtrooms.

I love to deal th complex, multi-dimensional That level of support I received from Ransom problems and ﬁnd out how to solve them. Everglades as the new student was incredible.

22 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 ANA ALBIR ’00 Founder and CEO of Moondrop Entertainment Stanford Graduate School technology of Business, MBA Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS Physics

Memorable teacher, class: Caroline Mathis, AP Physics

“That’s my favorite part of this company,” she said. As they create technology, they stay in touch with technology. There are video confer- ences once a week. Albir’s employees share code via the latest apps such as Github. They exchange ideas and updates using Hipchat. She’s also proud of this: Her company is 50-percent female. “That’s rare with a technology company,” she said. Albir conceived of Drawp as the federal government began to regulate the internet to protect children’s data in the 2000s. She ANA ALBIR’S senior year did not get off to a smooth start. As she settled into classes wanted to create a safe and easy platform and prepared to take her SATs, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. It turned out for children to share their designs, drawings to be benign, but she missed nearly four months of school preparing for and recov- and other works with family members and ering from surgery. Adding to the challenge: Albir was new to Ransom Everglades; teachers. her family had moved from Colombia the previous summer. Drawp does that. Some 400,000 families Thanks to the cooperation and support of her teachers and counselor, Albir man- have accessed Drawp for their children, and aged to complete her work for a host of difficult classes – sometimes from home or the teaching version of the app is available the hospital – while winning acceptance to the Massachusetts Institute of Technol- in 17 languages and used by 35,000 schools. ogy and graduating on time. Albir’s passion for technology is rooted in What she learned that year influenced her approach as chief executive officer and her love for scientific theory. She majored founder of Moondrop Entertainment, a technology company that develops and in physics at MIT before getting her MBA at distributes the increasingly popular children’s design and delivery app known as Stanford. Drawp. “I remember thinking it was very beautiful understanding why a rainbow is certain “I had to work from home – I couldn’ t go to school,” Albir said. “That level of sup- colors, why a lightbulb turns on, why certain port I received from Ransom as the new student was incredible. To get all that help cords in music go together – that is science,” for somebody who hadn’t even been there throughout high school, to me, that was she said. “My interest was aesthetic, really. I extremely lucky. That’s why I love Ransom Everglades.” just thought it was beautiful…. I do think an Albir tries hard to provide similar support to her employees at Moondrop. Though equation is more beautiful than a program.” she employs a staff of just 10 employees – one of whom is her sister, Manuela Yet there is something beautiful about using Albir ’10 – they literally span the globe. She prefers to tap into commitment and programming to allow children to use tech- talent where ever she can find it, rather than demanding her employees work in the nology safely. same building, or even the same country. “I love planning,” she said. “I love strategy… Albir is based in San Francisco. Her sister works from New York. The company’s I like making and growing things. What is in- director of marketing lives in Atlanta. Engineers are based in Puerto Rico, Macedo- credibly encouraging is to see [our compa- nia, Nepal and Pakistan. The company’s designer is in Colombia. Its quality assur- ny’s] progress. There’s been a lot of growth.” ance tester is in California.

I love to deal th complex, multi-dimensional That level of support I received from Ransom problems and ﬁnd out how to solve them. Everglades as the new student was incredible.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 23 DANIEL STEVEN SANCHEZ ’93

Director of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at InTouch Health Harvard University, BS Engineering Sciences, Electrical and Mechanical

Memorable teacher, class: Dr. Walid El Khoury, engineering Multivariable Calculus and Fractals

Sanchez has been designing robots since he arrived to Harvard in 1993. While working towards a double major in electrical and mechanical engineering, Sanchez landed a job at the school’s robotics laboratory, where his passion took off as he helped graduate students complete their dissertations. “I stayed in that robotics lab the whole time I was at Harvard,” he said. “I wanted a career in robotics.” He knew he had found his life calling in his earliest days at Computer Motion, a Santa Barbara-based Vita is one of DANIEL STEVEN SANCHEZ’s most dependable colleagues. He company that hired him out of college, when he never goes anywhere without his stethoscope. As he makes hospital walked into a laboratory at a company warehouse and rounds, he is always on schedule – down to the minute. He collects data watched a robot perform surgery on a pig. That, he faster than most, and absolutely never forgets a patient’s name. thought, looked cool. Robots were already assisting in Vita, who stands five feet, six inches tall, has a screen for a head, a touch- many industries – why shouldn’ t they also help physi- screen on his chest and glowing wheels for feet. He is a robot or, more cians work better and more efficiently? precisely, a Virtual and Independent Telemedicine Assistant. At Computer Motion, which later merged with Sanchez, Director of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at InTouch Intuitive Surgical, Sanchez helped create robots that Health in Santa Barbara, has helped create and refine the internal enhanced the fine-motor skills of surgeons, using architecture of various robots including Vita, some 200 of which provide magnification and scaling to allow them to perform patient care at hospitals worldwide. Sanchez holds more than two dozen surgeries in the tiniest of regions with the tiniest of patents related to robot design, a technology so cutting edge that one of instruments that couldn’t otherwise be performed by Sanchez’s patents governs the “social behavior rules” for medical robots. hand. The company is now worth $24 billion. Vita’s most important function is to assist with quick assessments of “The surgeon could comfortably sit down, look at a stroke patients, for whom speedy care and accurate diagnoses are criti- magnified view of the anatomy, and mimic what he cal, but the robot can help in a variety of other ways. “The most reward- would do in open surgery,” Sanchez said. “You can ing thing is that it’s improving people’s lives and saving lives,” Sanchez operate on blood vessels that are 1 millimeter in said. diameter.” Thanks to internal hospital maps, obstacle-detection technology and 3-D In 2007, Sanchez joined InTouch Health and began cameras, Vita can buzz through hospital corridors and perform many working on the Vita project. Sanchez spends his days tasks without human assistance. Vita carries an electronic stethoscope thinking about how to make Vita even more useful to and high-definition camera with optical zoom. By bending its head close doctors and hospitals. It’s a rewarding thing, living out to a stroke patient’s eyeballs, Vita offers a physician at a remote location your boyhood dreams while helping people around access to an eye scan that offers critical information. the globe. Doctors, who can guide Vita remotely, communicate directly with pa-pa Vita “is saving lives,” Sanchez said. “It enables more tients by speaking to them through the screen on Vita’s face. people to get care, when they wouldn’t [otherwise] be able to get specialist care.”

The most rewarding thing is that it’s improving people’s lives and saving lives.

24 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 MARC DAVID SANDERS ’84

Senior Director of Digital Learning Strategy at Stanford University Stanford University, PhD Mathematics Amherst College, BA Mathematics

Memorable teacher, class: Dr. Walid El Khoury, AP Physics math

Math came easily to MARC DAVID SANDERS during his tenure at Sanders’ courses targeted advanced students not challenged by the Ransom Everglades, so it was a bit surprising that a fresh- traditional high school curriculum, but they also attracted inter- man-year course on mathematical logic at Amherst turned ested adults, pre-teen prodigies – and even a U.S. soldier based in into a primer on pain and suffering. Iraq who wanted to get a jump on his education. The classes proved so successful, Stanford later started one of the first online high “I was just destroyed,” he said. “It was not fun. It was as frus- schools in the United States. Many of his original classes, Sanders trating a mental activity as it could possibly be. I got a real said, continue to be used. understanding of what it’s like to struggle in math.” As he was designing courses, his experience matured into exper- Sanders struggled, persevered, survived – and emerged tise, allowing Sanders to make a number of career leaps at Stanford loving math all that much more. Sanders went on to get his during his 18 years there. He currently serves as the Senior Direc- bachelor’s degree in math at Amherst, then his doctorate at tor of Digital Learning Strategy in the Office of the Vice Provost Stanford after producing a dissertation on a subject that, for Teaching and Learning, now devoting more time to leadership judging by its title, would leave most of the rest of us … well, issues than calculus problems. He encourages scientists and math- destroyed: Classifying Spaces and Dirac Operators Coupled to ematicians to develop excellent written and spoken communica- Instantons. tion skills so they can convey complex messages with clarity. He “The problem with math is that it’s incredibly hard – until works with Stanford professors to develop online course content to you see one little thing, and then it becomes incredibly easy, benefit both students and the school, serving the public good while and you don’t understand why you were confused before.” leveraging the creativity of the teaching faculty. Out of Sanders’ collegiate confusion blossomed a career that’s Still, he never left his math roots behind. Many problems he solves helped bring math’s most complex topics to people around daily don’t contain any numbers or mathematical symbols, yet they the globe in clear, engaging online courses. After a few require that he tap into his educational foundation. years as an assistant professor at Dickinson College and the Math “is a wonderful space to let your brain exercise,” he said. “It’s University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Sanders returned all just good stuff that you can apply in lots of other areas, even ar- to northern California and began designing online courses eas that don’t deal with numbers. For students … be good at math. in math for exceptionally bright high school students. He Be good at thinking critically, analyzing and synthesizing.” created classes in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, real analysis, differential equations and abstract algebra. His efforts helped push Stanford University to the forefront of the online education craze. Students... be good at math. Be good at thinking critically, analing and synthesizing.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 25 MARCSTACY DAVIDBLAIN SA’85NDERS ’84 Assistant Professor at SUNY Downstate Medical Center Columbia University, science PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology Princeton University, BS in Molecular Biology Memorable teacher, class: Dr. Robert “Doc” Crabtree, Biology

start-up biotech company, ConCarLo Holdings LLC, working to develop a drug designed to interfere with a particular cell action that leads to the spread of cancer. “It’s a new venture,” she said. “It’s doubled what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis.” Blain started the company in September 2015 after she and her research team discovered a method of inhibit- ing a particular protein in a cell that causes it to divide when it should not. Though the discovery involved substances invisible to the naked eye, it was large in significance. “We’ve been studying one protein, one little complex, for 20 years,” Blain said. “It is the culmination in the sense that, once you knew how it worked, you could find out how to block it. It’s a turning point.” Academics do research, but they don’t develop drugs. The desire to find a real-life solution to the problem she unraveled through the lens of a microscope led her to found the start-up – a task, she said, that has brought daunting new challenges. STACY BLAIN describes herself as that kid in science class. She was the student who refused to part with her dissection kit at the end of her sev- “My learning curve is almost vertical every day,” she enth-grade year at Ransom Everglades, taking it home over the summer said. “That’s pretty cool. I like the fact that I’ve opened to more closely examine the disemboweled frog and other organisms. a whole new door…. I’ve been very lucky in my career that I’ve had these opportunities.” A few years later, she was the kid in the back of Dr. Robert “Doc” Crab- tree’s biology class, resolutely executing her own experiments by putting Those opportunities started in her youth, then con- fruit flies under a store-bought ultra-violet light to see whether she could tinued at Ransom Everglades School. From RE, she change their eye color or wing length. went on to earn a bachelor’s in molecular biology at Princeton, then a PhD in molecular and cellular biol- She was also the girl who spent hours peering into a microscope in her ogy at Columbia. She began her career at the Memorial backyard in Kendall. She imagined that, when she had children of her Sloan Kettering Cancer Center before moving to SUNY own, she would attend to them between experiments. Downstate, where she revamped and modernized the “I kind of have that life now,” said Blain, a mother of three children be- school’s cancer curriculum as she delved deeper into tween the ages of nine and 16. “Except my lab isn’t in my backyard.” her research. Blain actually splits her time between two laboratories near her home “I was the beneficiary of a really good STEM educa- in Brooklyn. She is an assistant professor at SUNY Downstate Medical tion,” she said. “I’m a big believer in STEM: You’ve got Center, where she specializes in cancer research while teaching a cancer to keep kids engaged. You’ve got to keep them fired curriculum at the center’s medical school. She also labors at a new, up... There are future scientists in those classes.”

I’m a big believer in STEM: You’ve got to keep kids engaged... there are future scientists in those classes.

26 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 INSPIRE STUDENTS TO LEARN. SERVE. EXPLORE. EXCEL. And join our esteemed Swenson Society

Your planned gift, such as a charitable bequest, trust, or gift annuity, helps support current and future students as they experiment and explore ways to challenge themselves personally, academically and physically for future achievement in college, careers and life. When you choose to extend your generosity in this way, you become a member for life of Ransom Everglades’ Swenson Society.

Your Ransom Everglades legacy will live on through their limitless potential.

To learn more about planned giving opportunities at Ransom Everglades School, please contact Greg Pollard, Director of Advancement, at 305 460 8820 or [email protected].

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 27 From the Everglades Campus

At the Middle School Learning the meaning of REspect

Part of developing middle school students who are both empathetic and involved community members requires exposure to the values and traditions of a school. At Ransom Everglades, those concepts are both encompassing to its members and im- perative to the development of community participation and involvement as it relates to the mission of the school. The advisory program in the Middle School reflects the following themes: in sixth grade, REspect for Ransom Everglades; in seventh grade, REspect for self; and in eighth grade, REspect for the community. The three themes allow us to bring to life an the understanding of Paul Ransom’s letter and the Everglades Creed, the documents we all hold dear to the tradition of the school, from a perspective that is built upon student development. It also allows for engagement in the activities we cherish during the first semester, which include the delivery of Thanksgiving baskets to the Rolle Community Center and, of course, hosting over 300 youngsters for St. Alban’s Day. The second-semester advisory program is designed to continue those themes, but with a different approach at each grade level. In eighth grade, advisors will be asked to choose and take a task that is reflective of project-based learning and contributes to the community – either at RE, or the greater community. In seventh grade, activities and discussion will mirror one theme taught in American History: the struggle for acceptance. In sixth grade, students will participate in service projects that allow them to understand the significance of service as a student at Ransom Everglades. We hope this approach, fully and thoughtfully integrated into our curriculum, helps us begin the important process of preparing our students to leave the world better than they find it.

Rachel Rodriguez Head of the Middle School

28 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Hablamos Español Connecting to Miami and the world

It is no secret that Spanish is an essential survival skill in South Florida. The language is spoken and heard everywhere in the city every day. Our local economy and our ability to connect with our surrounding communities depend on being proficient in English and Spanish. This trend is rapidly becoming the case in many other parts of the United States as well. The most recent research shows that Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing minority group in the United States. In fact, more than 50.5 million Hispanics, the majority of whom are Spanish speakers, live in our nation. We are incredibly excited to begin this year with a newly enriched Spanish curriculum in the Middle School, which will provide our students with the speaking and comprehen- sion skills needed to help them thrive as future leaders in our communities. At Ransom Everglades, we want to prepare our students to meaningfully contribute and participate in a global world by fostering a strong connection between our students and our city of Miami, as well as with our culturally diverse nation. With these goals in mind, we endeav- or to produce graduates who are proficient in English, Spanish and a third language. Starting with the Class of 2023, the new Spanish program requires each entering student to take Spanish for at least three consecutive years (sixth through eighth grades). Sixth graders will be placed according to their abilities, from the novice (Level 1) to the advanced (Level 4), and we anticipate that many Heritage learners will be able to take the AP language examination at the end of eighth grade. At the Upper School, students will be encouraged to broaden their language skills by taking more advanced Spanish language courses, other subject courses taught in Spanish, and/or commencing a new course of study in another foreign language. The Middle School Spanish Program’s main focus is communicative success. It provides students with multiple opportunities to develop all linguistic competence skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. We will develop the students’ speaking proficiency in the target language through different interactive activities and student-centered instruction. Students will use authentic materials to learn about current events, diverse perspectives and historical influences. Experts agree that students engage more when they talk about topics that are relevant and current. Therefore, all units, activities, lessons and assessments will include meaningful context and interdisciplinary connections. Furthermore, all units integrate the 5 C’s of the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the 21st century: Communication, Culture, Connections, Comparisons and Communities. The program is anchored on three pillars that are internationally recognized for their academic rigor, innovation, and reliability: the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ Proficiency Guidelines, the Curricular Plan of The Cervantes Institute (Spain), and the College Board’s Spanish Language and Culture curriculum. Our collective goal is to make the Spanish learning experience an incredibly fun and fulfilling one. We are confident that our enhanced program will both challenge our students and help them appreciate the language’s richness and usefulness. Once they embark on this journey, our students will be amazed by their ability to connect with a community that includes more than 400 million Spanish speakers worldwide, and new opportunities will present themselves to them. ¡Saber español abre puertas!

Dr. Adabel Diaz-Rivera Director of Global Studies

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 29 On Campus Honoring a Campus Legend Dan Bowden feted for 60 years at RE; 87th birthday

Alumni dating back to the 1950s came. Miller announced that he and his fam- and former board chairs Blanche Former heads of school, board chairs, ily – matriarch Sue and siblings Stuart August, Judy Weiser (on behalf of the faculty and longtime friends showed up, Miller ’75 and Leslie Miller Saiontz late Sherwood “Woody” Weiser), Hal many flying across the country. Some 400 ’77 – would donate the first $1 mil- Kendall ’54, Robert Stone, Dick Lampen, admirers of all ages gathered to honor lion to establish The Dan Leslie Bowden Ed Soto, Ghislain Gouraige and Miller. legendary teacher Dan Leslie Bowden on Fellowships for the Humanities. The $5 Andrew Ansin ’81, Vicki Carbonell June 4, 2016, for his 60th year at Ransom million endowment will enable up to 10 Williamson ’88 and Jon Maksik ’61 of- Everglades and 87th birthday. As they juniors annually to pursue summer stud- fered heartfelt reflections on Dan Bowden filed into Anderson Gymnasium, Mr. ies in the arts and humanities outside of as a teacher, mentor and friend. Bowden greeted nearly every attendee per- South Florida beginning in 2017. “Mr. Bowden, you represent everything sonally, sharing recollections and posing Upon reaching full funding, the pro- that is great at Ransom Everglades,” for pictures. News reporters and television gram will expand to support two full-time Miller said. “You are a direct link to a rich cameras captured the event. faculty members in the humanities and a history, and you’ve built a legacy for this “I don’t feel that it’s so much a matter of future gathering lobby in a new humani- school to rest upon. Your soul and your their honoring me, as they figured promi- ties building named after Dan Bowden. passion are pillars of Ransom’s future.” nently into my life, forever and ever and The gathering space will feature plaques of Nancie Sturges, an RE grandparent ever,” Bowden told Miami’s Channel 10, all of the Dan Bowden fellows and a bust and former parent, closed the evening by “and I am rewarded that they remember of Dan Bowden. thanking Mr. Bowden. who I am.” “I cannot think of any more eloquent “All of those memories are our way Jeffrey Miller ’79 emceed the celebra- way to express my gratitude than the clas- of holding onto someone we all love,” tory evening, which featured personal and sic ‘thank you,’” Bowden said. Sturges said. “Dan Bowden is Ransom video tributes to the school’s most revered The crowd included former Head Everglades’ greatest treasure and truly a former faculty member, as well as a giant of School James B. Young (1978-85) priceless work of art.” birthday cake. Midway through the event,

profoundly influenced by math and sci- Beirut, Lebanon, where he had served as ence teacher Dr. Walid El Khoury. principal since 2001. A Happy Reunion “For a lot of us who went into math and Arnold found a phone number for El science, he was a big part of that,” said Khoury and called him from a corner of Class of ’86 brings a Elana Oberstein-Harris ’93, a physi- his operating room late one afternoon. He cian. “He’s a down-to-earth individual wanted to get reacquainted and extend beloved teacher back to RE who really cared. He made those subjects an invitation to return to RE, but hadn’t fun.” considered the time difference. El Khoury, David Arnold ’86, a surgeon, recalled awakened in the middle of the night, the first day El Khoury, who taught at answered the video call in his pajamas. Ransom Everglades for 18 years, walked He could not believe his eyes or ears. The into his physics classroom. He spoke softly Class of ’86 wanted him to return as a and with a thick accent. “It took him about special guest. 30 seconds to show us all he could think “I am touched, overwhelmed and faster than any of us,” Arnold said. “He humbled,” El Khoury said on the Ransom instantly had us mesmerized … Everyone Campus at the April 30 Head of School who was lucky enough to have been Luncheon, where he was recognized. taught by him was in awe of him.” “Without any hesitation, I said yes. It was Yet no one knew what had become of to me like someone in love reuniting with this teacher who had shaped so many his first love, and the emotion that comes students’ lives. with it.” Arnold, Oberstein-Harris and Liz El Khoury spent Alumni Weekend Members of the Ransom Everglades Koreman Landau ’86 began searching with former students before returning to Class of 1986 realized they had much in online, determined to bring El Khoury Lebanon. common as they prepared for their 30- home for the 2016 Alumni Weekend. They “This was from the heart,” El Khoury year reunion last spring: many had been found him at Brummana High outside of said. “It touched me very deeply.”

30 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 A Great Alumnus Recognized Greg Glass ’82 receives Head of School award Class of 2016 Celebrates Seniors go out in style at 112th Commencement Valedictorian Erica Scott ’16 urged members of the Class of 2016 to hold onto their authentic selves, and speaker Maurice Ferré ’79 encouraged them to follow their passions with perseverance during Ransom Everglades’ 112th Commencement on May 27, 2016. Before a hail of blue and green RE balloons descended on the graduates from the rafters at the Lewis Family Auditorium, William Glass ’16 was recognized as salu- tatorian; Mariana Sanchez-Medina ’16 received the Head of School Award; Ahan Malhotra ’16 claimed the Faculty Cup; and Owen Zighelboim ’16 received the Paul C. Ransom Founder’s Cup. Head of School Penny Townsend be- Scott also received the Marie B. Swenson Founder’s Cup, annually given to the senior stowed the Head of School Award on Greg girl who has demonstrated integrity, courage and leadership. During her valedictory ad- Glass ’82 in April 2016 during a luncheon dress, she recalled her earliest days at Ransom Everglades when fitting in seemed more on Alumni Weekend that drew more than important than standing out. 200 attendees. Glass received the award “Back then, we did a lot of things the same,” the Stanford-bound Scott said. “A lot of us because he “has done a little bit of every- were afraid to be different.... Those were the dark ages; now, we’re in the renaissance. thing,” Townsend said. “When finished, “I’m absolutely blown away by the diverse talents and passions of this group,” she said. he’s gone back and done it again.” “I love that everyone has a thing, something they really love and do well.” The Head of School’s Award recognizes Head of the Upper School Ken Mills called the name of every senior, summoning them alumni whose commitment and service across the stage to receive their diplomas from Head of School Penny Townsend and out- to the school serve as an inspiration to all going Chair of the Board of Trustees Eric Mendelson. alumni. Through their leadership, honor, Mendelson reminded those gathered that Ransom Everglades “has been, continues to attitude and dedication, they have left an be and will always be the most sought-after school in Miami.” Townsend ticked off some indelible mark on Ransom Everglades of the myriad achievements of the 147-member senior class – all will attend one of 66 School and its future. four-year colleges and universities after receiving more than 500 offers of admission. Glass, whose job allowed him to “It’s impossible to list all that you did during your time at Ransom Everglades,” she live anywhere, moved his family from said. “We’re grateful for how you have enriched our lives, and our school.” Pennsylvania to Miami so his two children, Ferré, who received the 2016 RE Alumni Founders’ Award for his service to the Miami- Elizabeth and Will, then entering high Dade community through his businesses and volunteer work said his persistent pursuit school and middle school, could attend of his passion – to help people – allowed him overcome various obstacles. (See full story Ransom Everglades. Elizabeth graduated page 20.) in 2013, Will is Class of 2016. Since his re- Through companies including INSIGHTEC and MAKO Corp., Ferré combined his turn to South Florida, Glass has served as medical background and interest in technology to bring forth innovative procedures that a member of the alumni board and helped have improved countless lives. identify and engage Legacy Alums. He “The ability to keep a dream alive, even in its darkest days, has really served me well,” represented alumni in the head-of-school he said. “If you are fortunate enough to find a passion that really captures your imagina- search and as part of the SAIS accredita- tion, find the fortitude and courage to see it through.” tion, and created the Mangrove Society. The ceremony concluded with a benediction by Dan Leslie Bowden, the Advisor to “Mr. Glass has provided invaluable the Head of School who was honored for his 60 years at Ransom Everglades at a special support to Ransom Everglades School celebration on June 4, 2016. through a range of volunteer and ser- representative. On campus, he has been the vice efforts,” Townsend said. “He’s been Each year the Head of School’s Alumni Award “jacket master” for the RE Band for the past involved in rallying alums, raising money, for Distinguished Service is given to an two years. (The boys of the RE band wear assisting with sports teams and the RE alumnus or alumna whose commitment and green blazers, reminiscent of the ones worn Band, and helping with REEF.” service to Ransom Everglades School and its at the Ransom boys’ school.) He helped He also has been an annual fund alumni are an inspiration for the entire school revive the football program by organizing Benefactor for seven years, contribut- community. To nominate a worthy alum, alums and driving support. Mr. Glass also ing a Chairman’s level gift – $50,000 please go here http://www.ransomeverglades. has served as the official “weigh master” – for the new pool. Mr. Glass served org/Page/Alumni-Award-Nomination or email at REEF since the inception of this alumni on the Benefactor Committee for the [email protected]. Annual Fund and was a Class of ’82 fundraising event four years ago.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 31 Student Ne

Strings students spread their wings under director Li

A dazzling spring performance and recent group: Buttrick, Isabel Almade-Sabate All-County Middle School String Festival. accolades for RE’s young strings students ’21, William Brodsky ’21, Julia They will perform under renowned con- demonstrate the tremendous growth Buckner ’20, Javier Garcon ’21, ductor Robert Longfield at the University and enormous potential of the program Isabella Marquez ’22, Gabriel Mora of Miami Frost School of Music’s Gusman directed by Jessica Li, who joined RE in ’22, Zoe Sawatari ’20, Nikhil Shesadri Hall at 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23. 2014 after receiving her master’s in music ’21, Alexander Van Lidth ’22, Justin Li came to RE from Westminster from Yale. Wong ’21, Noah Zaldivar ’22; Andres Christian School, where she had been The May orchestra concert at Swenson Soto ’21; Julia Buckner ’20; and orchestra director at the start of the 2014- Hall was highlighted by a violin solo by David Lehr ’20. 15 year. She received her BA in music at Zachary Buttrick ’20, and the per- In September, Middle School students Ian the Manhattan School of Music. In other formance of the Ransom Notes quartet Barnett ’23, Branden Cabrera ’23, music news, RE’s award-winning band - Mercury Sawatari ’17, Laura Liu Isabella Marquez ’22, Nikhil Seshadri will kick off its 20th-anniversary year ’19, Ashlyn Cowgill ’19 and Zachary ’21 and Clara Villalba ’21 won seats in under director Jon Hamm with a recital Vuong ’19. The audience also enjoyed an 80-piece honor orchestra that will be on Oct. 27. Check the school calendar for works performed by the advanced strings featured at the 7th Annual Miami-Dade more information.

RE student’s work displayed at U.S. Capitol

Lea Broudo’s “Head in the Clouds” portrait will remain on display at the U.S. Capitol through next summer following a June ceremony in Washington, D.C. The work, a portrait of classmate Debbie Ajagbe ’17, can be viewed in the Cannon Tunnel, which connects the Capitol with the Cannon Congressional building. Broudo ‘17, was honored by Florida Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as the winner of her office’s Congressional Arts Competition, and flown to Washington for the recognition. Each spring the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent. “As a former Florida certified teacher, I know that encouraging the next generation of South Floridians to be active in the arts adds another level of vibrancy to our community,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “… I’m proud of each of these young artists.”

32 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Middle School students leave Coconut Grove better than they found it

In its inaugural year, the Ibis and Egret Honor Society in the Middle School lived out Paul Ransom’s service- driven mission, raising nearly $2,000 for worthwhile causes and organizations; donating over 1,000 pairs of socks for Camillus House; and collecting supplies for the homeless in Coconut Grove. Students in the society raised more than $1,100 and bagged groceries for Feed the Grove, which helps provide meals to local families on major holidays, while also collecting shampoo, soap, deodorant, brushes, combs and detergent for the Shower House Ministry. The group also donated nearly $500 to Eartheasy to send LifeStraws – mini- Both outreach efforts are administered by the Greater water purifiers – to Africa. To commemorate the year’s efforts, the society also St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Coconut Grove. created a plaque for the Class of 2020 that hangs in the Middle School atrium.

‘The most beautiful classroom you can imagine’

Twenty-seven students led by photography teacher Matt Stock captured breathtaking photos of the Northern Lights after midnight, swam in the famous Blue Lagoon, visited a school in Reykjavik, saw Icelandic ponies and launched snowballs in lava fields during their March 12-20, 2016, trip to Iceland.

The trip’s highlight came at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where Stock and his students landed at 10:30 p.m. after a mile-and-a-half hike. At about 12:30 a.m., students spotted the hazy greenish band and started taking photos of the famous aurora borealis.

They didn’t get back to their hotel until after 4 a.m.

“It really felt like a gift from the universe,” Stock said. “The cameras record it better than you can actually see it ... 27 kids were all out there freezing on a glacier lagoon, screaming with excitement when they saw it.”

Stock and the students were joined on the trip by Jen Carey, RE’s director of educational technology, and science teacher Cecilia Calleros ’94. Other RE student groups traveled to Spain, China, Montreal and Philadelphia during the school’s spring break.

“They got to learn in the most beautiful classroom you can imagine,” Stock said. http://smu.gs/2cKa7WB

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 33 Student Ne Emma Ronzetti ’17 and Laura Students’ business plans lauded Zaidenberg ’17 created Access-Able, an app designed to help people with disabilities Alex Pissinou Makki ’17 finished second in the Miami Herald’s Business Plan to enjoy restaurants or other venues. Challenge for high school students in May, topping all but one Megan Zou ’18 was recognized for in a field of 104 entrants with his plan for a Smart-BagPack StudentArtDepot, an online platform and that sends out electronic alerts when students forget items. marketplace for student-created works of Three other RE teams, more than any other school, placed in art, conceived by a student artist. Natalie the top 12. Fredman ’17, Alejandro Sannia ’17, Makki’s backpack is designed to track and manage its Corey Kraftsow ’17 and Jacob Sokol ’16 contents so students don’t lose school supplies or forget designed TryIt!, a mobile app that curates to turn in homework. Makki, a student in Jen Nero’s AP instantaneous fun. Instructors deliver on- Microeconomics class, got the idea because he had a child- demand lessons in anything from painting to hood friend who always lost track of stuff in his backpack. Latin to lacrosse.

Public school board commends RE students

“When I read about what the children at Ransom were doing in terms of civic engagement, I thought that it was a great opportunity to bring them to the school board to talk about their project,” Regalado said.

Glottman and Zoe Tolon ’17 designed the site while other students worked in pairs developing the content. They used a variety of public sources to lay out each candidate’s stance on various policy issues. “From the teaching perspective I noticed a real transformation in the classroom of students really becoming engaged with this project,” Cooper said, addressing the board. “ It’s a good example – there’s a lot of talk in education about project-based learning, learning by doing projects like this.” Said Bishopric to the board: “It was really nice when I sat down at lunch to hear The Miami-Dade public school board School board member Raquel A. Regalado, people talking about our voter guide, voted to recognize Ransom Everglades who authored the resolution, invited talking about real issues ... seeing young teacher Greg Cooper and his AP U.S. Cooper and his students to appear in front people becoming engaged in politics. I Government and Politics students for of the school board in May, commend- think our discussions in the classroom the online voter guide they launched in ing them for creating the fact-based web and socially became a lot more in-depth February 2016, passing a resolution stat- site, which was designed to provide an and informed, and I was really proud to be ing that the class was “to be commended antidote to the inflammatory rhetoric part of a project that could do that.” for helping create informed voters in accompanying the 2016 presidential race. http://smu.gs/2cZ1KG2 Miami-Dade County.” Cooper and Alexa Bishopric ’16, Sarah Kirke ’17, Franklin Civantos ’17, Josh Glottman ’17, Jason Perez ’17, Dylan Demello ’17 and Paul Kalandiak ’17 attended.

34 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 2017 National Merit Semifinalists Ransom Everglades’ 2017 National Merit Semifinalists: Thorstein R. Andreassen, Twenty-two seniors were named 2017 National Merit Semifinalists in September, rep- Lea Broudo, Eric Y. Cai, Kavya resenting the highest number ever at Ransom Everglades in the 60-year history of the Chaturvedi, Owen S. Dyke, Sylvia prestigious competition. The students will continue in the competition for some 7,500 Ebenbach, Benjamin A. Freeman, National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million that will be awarded next spring. Ryan M. Guillen, Anne E. Gutierrez, Matias Junghahn, Paul T. Kalandiak, Only one percent of students who take the Preliminary SAT during their junior year are Joon Young Kim, Adina E. Kruijssen, recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. Delilah M. Lubarsky, John H. Mistele, “We are extremely proud of all of our National Merit Semifinalists,” Head of School Chloe A. Namias, Timothy O’Brien, Penny Townsend said. “Each has worked hard to achieve this honor and truly deserves Cristina B. Otero, Juliana L. Ramirez, it. We applaud each one, and also recognize the incredible teachers and challenging cur- Alejandro F. Sannia, Lauren S. riculum that together allow our students to achieve and excel.” Simkovic, Clara C. Simmons.

Holocaust survivor thanks RE class Elie Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate who died in July at the age of 87, sent a thank-you note to students in Ransom Everglades’ ninth grade just days before his death, expressing his appreciation for the collection of tributes they had sent at the end of the last school year after reading his book, Night. More than 60 ninth graders contributed poems, drawings and letters. Jenny Carson ‘03, the World Civilizations teacher who compiled and sent off the 67- page book of tributes, couldn’t believe her eyes when she picked up the letter in her school mail box upon returning from a summer vacation. She had heard of Wiesel’s death during her trip – and wondered whether he had ever received the mailing. “I looked in my mail box, and there happened to be a letter from him,” she recalled. “It gave me chills.” In the letter to Carson’s and Jeremiah Rosenfels’ classes, Wiesel wrote, “I am moved to learn of the effect that my memoir, Night, had on you. As a writer, nothing is more important. From your words, it’s obvious that you are very sensitive to the darkness of which I wrote.” Wiesel, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, wrote nearly five dozen books and helped found the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., and New York Human Rights Foundation. He personally signed the note.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 35 RE Spts The best in a decade Raiders baseball overachieves in spring 2016

Led by a surprising ace and a strong cast of seniors, RE’s baseball team exceeded even players’ expectations as it put together its best season in more than a decade. The 2016 squad won just its second district playoff game since 2004 and advanced to its first South Florida Baseball Conference championship in the game’s eight-year existence. “Everybody pulled together,” Coach Kenny Perez said. “There was no ‘I’ in that team; from seniors to freshmen, everyone played as one.” A team that hadn’t won even half of its games in 12 years posted a 14-7 record. The improvement grew out of voluntary off-season workouts that attracted a crowd of players and helped build a bond that extended through the spring. Seniors Steve Vinson, Sam Bolduc, Rick Suarez, Sam Chaneles, Ryan Moralejo, Ilan Lindenfeld and Danny Halula welcomed the younger players and led by example. Alumni coaches Alec Hyde ’11 and Thomas Willis ’04 provided additional leadership. Vinson, the team’s Most Valuable Player and a second-team All-Dade selection, excelled on the mound, finishing 7-3 with a 2.19 earned-run average, 61 strikeouts and six complete games. Bolduc led the team in every statistical category, batting over .400 with an on-base average of .430. Suarez hit .365 and drove in 15 runs. Said Perez: “It was a fun ride.”

Three in a row RE girls win another state title in water polo

Six Ransom Everglades players scored to lead the girls’ water polo team to its third straight state championship. This wasn’t RE’s most talented cast of players ever, yet it might have been its best team. The 9-6 victory over Olympia (Orlando) High on April 16, 2016, proved a testament to dedication and togetherness – and it gave RE girls’ water polo its seventh state title in eight years. “They were a diamond in the rough – deep in the rough,” Coach Eric Lefebvre said. “They had to work on a lot. The amazing thing is, they all did it collectively. As a group, they all improved so much.” In the final, Elle Futernick ’17 scored three goals; Sofia Carrera-Justiz ’16 added two; and Carolina Carrera- Justiz ’18, Mya Wright ’17, Isa Reyes-Capo ’16 and Ande Edmunds ’18 each scored one. The girls started the season with two losses in their first three games, but they ended it having a dance party in the locker room during the championship final – as they waited out a two-hour rain delay. The girls preferred to crank up the music rather than quietly ponder the day’s stakes. “Fun works better for this team,” said goalie Claire McDowell ’16, an All-Dade first-team selection. “It loosens us up. When we are stressed, we psych ourselves out.”

36 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 First-team All-Dade RE Athletes Spring 2016 Heather Boehm ’16 tennis Michael Holtmann ’17 tennis Antonio Mora ’18 tennis The top athletics program Debbie Ajagbe ’17 discus Anne Gutierrez ’17 pole vault in Miami-Dade. Again. And again. Will Danon ’17 water polo Jason Gould ’17 water polo Ransom Everglades won top-program honors for the third straight year in Class 5A- Sofia Carrera-Justiz ’16 water polo 1A last spring – an achievement that reflects the depth and overall excellence of the Isabela Reyes-Capo ’16 water polo school’s athletics program, and the commitment of students and coaches. water polo RE also claimed Male Athlete of the Year (Michael Colonna ’17) and Female Claire McDowell ’16 Athlete of the Year (Sofia Carrera-Justiz ’16), giving the school a stunning sweep of Eli Ramos ’16 lacrosse the top three awards in Miami-Dade County high school sports. Erin Bakes ’18 lacrosse RE took home 13 awards overall during the May 2016 Miami Herald ceremony that Leticia Cohen ’17 lacrosse cemented the case that RE educates the whole student, producing disciplined student Bridget Turner ’16 lacrosse athletes who understand the value of hard work, personal sacrifice and teamwork. Calliste Skouras ’19 lacrosse Because most students arrive as sixth graders and remain through graduation, RE builds all of its programs – academic, athletic and artistic – by teaching and training Catherine Kolski ’18 lacrosse from the first day of sixth grade. Michael Colonna ’17 volleyball RE’s success under Interim Athletic Director Andy De Angulo was on full display at the event at Jungle Island; Kyla Valls ’17 was named co-Swimmer of the Year with Gulliver’s Kelly Fertel; Doc Crabtree won Girls’ Cross Country Coach of the Year; Colonna won Class 3A-1A co-Soccer Player of the Year; and Dave Villano ’79 shared Boys’ Soccer Coach of the Year honors. Carrera-Justiz won Girls’ Water Polo Player of the Year; Eric Lefebvre, Girls’ Water Polo Coach of the Year; Erin Bakes ’18, Player of the Year in girls’ lacrosse; and Bridgette Laskey, Girls’ Lacrosse Coach of the Year. Villano and Lefebvre were named finalists for the overall Class 5A-1A Coach of the Year. Erica Scott ’16 and Andrew Geraghty ’16 finished as finalists for Female and Male Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Departing AD Claude Grubair was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and girls’ volleyball coach Mauricio Diaz earned the Leo Suarez/Walter Krietsch Courage Award.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 37 Alumni

More than 400 alums join AlumniWeekend Weekend More than 400 alumni returned to Ransom Everglades for Alumni Weekend April 29-30, 2016, enjoying special dinners and dabbling in events ranging from cocktail parties to soccer games to an art history lecture. Reunion attendees traveled from all over the world. A very special thank you to Irina Erickson ’66, who flew in from Germany,Robin van de Kreeke ’86, who came from Australia, and Stephen Hughes ’76 who made it from Spain. The Class of 1986 flew in revered former teacherDr. Walid El Khouri from Beirut, Lebanon, as its special guest.

The 50-year reunion classes kicked off the weekend with intimate brunches on the Everglades and Ransom campuses. Most alums joined the festivities at an opening cocktail Jordan Kaiser ’77, Trustee Jeff Miller ’79 and Beth Kaiser ’76 reception Friday in the Lewis Family Auditorium courtyard. After various reunion dinners, many returned to campus early Saturday for the annual Alumni Regatta, won by Pam Kelly ’86 and Michiel “Monkey” van de Kreeke ’88. That began a day of fun: Kids’ events at the pool. An alumni-student water polo game. An alumni soccer game. An art history class with Jose Rodriguez. A Head of School luncheon that drew more than 200 attendees.

The reunion classes raised nearly $100,000. The 1966 Everglades women had the highest participation percentage going into Alumni Weekend (57 percent) and the Class of 1996 had the greatest number of alumni participants with 52 alumni gifts (42 percent). As a whole, Ransom Everglades reached its goal of 30-percent alumni participation in Annual Giving from all reunion classes. Visit https://ransomevergladesschool.smugmug. com/20152016/REunion-Weekend-2016 for photos of the various festivities.

Be sure to save the date of April 28-29, 2017, for Alumni Weekend 2017. RE Classes of 1967, 1977, 1987, 1992 and 1997 will be celebrated and all alumni are welcome! Art history class with Jose Rodriquez, Fine Arts Department Chair.

Sailing alums celebrate 2016 Regatta Champs Pam Pennell Alumni water polo players took on current students in the Ansin Pool Kelly ’86 and Michiel van de Kreeke ’88

Alumni soccer brought out a great crowd once again, including 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Chris Moore ’76

38 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Link to the photo galleries: https://ransomevergladesschool.smugmug.com/

Ransom Class of 1970 46-Year Reunion, L-R Ransom Class of 1971 45-Year Reunion, Sean Killian ’70, Steve Pearson ’70, Phillips L-R David Skipp ’71, Jose Lorida ’71, Williams ’70, Jeff Freundlich ’70 and Chris Haub Chris Stiger ’71, Mark Harrison ’71 and Ransom Class of 1966 50-Year Reunion in the Pagoda ’70. Front L-R Timothy Greenfield Sanders ’70 and Don Berg ’71. Front Row L-R Alec Jones Gervasio Lamas. ’71 and Grady Neale ’71

Class of 1976 40-Year Reunion at Monty’s hosted by Rudy Prio Touzet ’76 and his wife Lydia. L-R Robert Thomas, Jamieson Thomson Thomas ’76, Brian Dan ’76, Cecilia Dan, Everglades School for Girls Brunch honoring the Class of 1966 50-Year Reunion and Rudy Prio Touzet ’76

Class of 1991 25-Year Reunion Dinner in the Pagoda

Class of 1986 Dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab. L-R Samantha Greene Brous Class of 1996 20-Year Reunion at the family home of Claudia Miyar ’96 ’86, Christy Hertz Schurr ’86, Head of School Penny Townsend and event host Seth Nachman ’86

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 39 Link to the photo galleries: Alumni https://ransomevergladesschool.smugmug.com/ Events

RE’s varsity baseball team welcomed 20 alumni players spanning four decades to the Boys More than 40 RE Alums and family members organized a Day of Play for the students & Girls Club of Miami-Dade for the third-annual alumni game in January 2016. The alumni of the Overtown Youth Center in April. The afternoon brought two communities team showed off a lineup with legends from the Class of 1983 to youngsters from the Class together as one, and RE is grateful to Alonzo and Tracy Mourning for introducing us of 2015. to this community treasure. REACH Too (Ransom Everglades Alumni Can Help Too) is already planning next year’s repeat event. To get involved, contact Danielle Phillips Retchless at [email protected].

Ilan Arboleda ’93 unveiled his documentary “Thank You On April 28, 2016, the following sports stars were inducted into the RE Athletic Hall of Fame: Matt Rose ’86 (football and For Your Service” at the Lewis tennis), Christopher Robert Moore ’76 (soccer), Christopher Browne ’01 (football, basketball and baseball), and the 1990 Family Auditorium in March 2016. Girls’ Volleyball Championship Team. We are already planning for the 2017 celebration and are accepting nominations at Ilan also spoke with students http://www.ransomeverglades.org/Page/Athletic-Hall-of-Fame-Nomination. about the film, which focuses on the mental-health crisis in the military and takes aim at the failed policies that result from a superficial understanding of war trauma. Arboleda worked for three years on the documentary, visiting 54 cities and interviewing 275 people. “The films I make are all about social disruption,” he told RE Upper School students. “We look to make films that can be a catalyst for change.” Added Arboleda: “This film is a direct extension of what I learned here at Ransom Everglades.”

More than 40 RE grads in the New York area gathered for an RE Alumni Connections event at The Park in Chelsea in May 2016 to hear from a distinguished panel of guests, includ- The Alumni Association celebrated the fifth-anniversary of the Ransom Everglades ing: Tara Narula ’93, Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Hofstra University Epic Fishing Tournament (REEF) in May 2016 with smashing success: the day of Northwell School of Medicine, Associate Director of the Cardiac Care Unit at Lenox Hill family fun on and off the water raised $27,000 for the RE waterfront and $8,000 Hospital in Manhattan, and medical contributor to CBS News; Michael Toccin ’03, Vice for Breakthrough Miami. Since its inception, more than $125,000 has been raised President of Global Sales, KaufmanFranco; Colleen Soriano Weinrich ’96, US Agency to support Ransom Everglades, with an additional $25,000 for Breakthrough Miami. Facebook; and Janet Wu ’83 (moderator) multi-media journalist, adjunct professor Andres Sequero of Passing Gas claimed the day’s biggest catch, bringing in a at Emerson College and OpEd contributor to the Boston Globe. NYC Alumni Committee 39.4-pound dolphin. Member Alicia Halegua ’00 and her committee organized the networking event that mirrored our Miami series. To participate in future events in NYC, please contact Alicia at [email protected].

40 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 A Golden Homecoming “Our mission is about giving Ashleigh Johnson ’12 returns to campus more to the world than you take from it, and I think she’s done exactly that.” – Head of School Penny Townsend

During question-and-answer sessions with Interim Athletic Director Andy De Angulo on the Upper Campus and Head of the Middle School Rachel Rodriguez on the Middle School campus, Johnson also shared details of her experiences at the Olympics and encouraged RE’s student body to dream big. “At Ransom, I learned to work hard,” Johnson told the Middle Schoolers. “I learned to appreciate the opportunities that I had and to make the most of them, and I learned to reach out to the people around me if I needed help or someone to Ashleigh Johnson ’12 and Chelsea Johnson ’14 with Middle School students lean on. Ashleigh Johnson ’12 visited Ransom away is that the gold medal is amazing, Everglades before and after winning a gold but it’s the other things … honoring her “That’s something I really wanted you medal in water polo at the 2016 Summer mother, the balance she brought to her guys to take away from your experience Games in Rio de Janeiro. Cheered on life, being a hard-working student. here – don’t be afraid to reach out to your by her mother, Donna Johnson, sis- friends or your teachers or your coaches “Our mission is about giving more to the ter Chelsea Johnson ’14, and a host or your family. If you need help, ask for it, world than you take from it, and I think of other family, friends, fans and admir- and you’re going to make it as far as you she’s done exactly that.” ers, she made nine saves as she and want to go.” her Olympic teammates easily defeated Hungary in front of a standing-room-only crowd of about 600 during a pre-Olympic tune-up at the Ansin Pool in June. When she returned in September, she received a standing ovation and roaring cheers on both campuses. She answered questions, showed off her gold medal and gamely attempted taking selfies with the entire Upper School student body from the stage of the Lewis Family Auditorium. She later posed with more than 400 Middle Schoolers on the floor of the gymnasium. Head of School Penny Townsend got choked up introducing Johnson. “When you get to introduce a former student who has done what she’s done and who actually embodies all we hope for in our students, you get emotional,” Townsend later told the media (four television news stations and the Miami Herald showed up). “She’s an amazing young woman. … What I hope the students took

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 41 New Talent Ransom Everglades is pleased to have of those years spent in 2014-15 and was club sponsor for Girls as a department head. Who Code, the Diversity Action Team bolstered its faculty this summer by add- While at Southwest and Gay Straight Alliance. She previously ing accomplished teachers in a number of Miami, Mr. Diaz taught worked at Miami Jackson Senior High, disciplines. We are thrilled to continue to physical education and where she was named Rookie Teacher of decrease class sizes while enriching the philosophy; coached the Year, and taught speech and debate, educational experience for our students. football and soccer; creative writing and English. Ms. Ellis re- The faculty members we attract from and led the boys’ varsity volleyball team to ceived her BA in journalism from Georgia around the nation and world allow our state titles in 2003 and 2008. Since 2012, State University in 2009, and worked to- students to thrive during their years at RE Mr. Diaz has served as assistant girls’ ward her MA in Caribbean Ethnography/ and beyond. volleyball coach at Ransom Everglades, Literature at Florida International helping the team win the 2013 state University. Frances Alexander championship in Class 4A. In the spring arrives to the English of 2016, he was honored with the Leo Bailey Farrell joins department from Suarez/Walter Krietsch Courage Award the Upper School sci- the Friends School by the Miami Herald. He previously ence department and of Baltimore, where served as head women’s volleyball coach takes on leadership of she taught English. at St. Thomas University. He earned his RE’s dance team. For Previously, she served BS in physical education from Florida the last year, Ms. Farrell as an English-language assistant at the International University. has been the science de- Lycée Boissy D’Anglas school in Annonay, partment chair at Democracy Prep Public France; a seventh-grade English teacher at Paul Elkins comes to Schools in Bronx, N.Y., where she has SEED Public Charter School in Baltimore; Ransom Everglades in taught chemistry and computer science and an English, humanities and Arabic the newly created post since 2013. A Teach for America corps teacher at Shaw Middle School at Garnet- of Associate Dean for member advisor, she received an Amgen Patterson in Washington, D.C. In 2010, Student Activities; he Fellowship for demonstrating achieve- she served as a teacher at the Better World also joins the physi- ment in STEM fields. As a volunteer at the NGO in Cairo, Egypt, and grant writer for cal education depart- Bronx Preparatory Charter School for three the Children’s Cancer Hospital of Egypt. ment as a sailing instructor. Mr. Elkins years, she served as a speech and debate She is proficient in Egyptian Arabic and has taught a variety of science courses, judge and chaperone, and coached a pair fluent in French. She attended American twice served as science department of debaters to a national championship. University in Cairo, and received her BA chair, and acted as a dean of students at She choreographed and taught ballroom- in Middle Eastern languages and civiliza- six schools. Mr. Elkins also has coached style dances for the Bronx Prep Artistic tions at Northwestern University. football, soccer, lacrosse and alpine ski- Showcases, while assisting with chore- ing; participated on leadership teams and ography for the musical Dreamgirls. She Blair Elizabeth Betts many school committees; and worked received her BS in chemistry at Stanford comes to the college on everything from residence life to University and MS in teaching at Fordham counseling office from crisis management to student-leadership University. Beijing, China, where programs. Mr. Elkins has extensive she served as a college experience as a sailor. He was a four-time Gabriel A. Girado counselor for Due West U.S. National Turnabout Champion and arrives to Ransom Education, which sup- competitor in the Newport-Bermuda and Everglades to teach ports and assists Chinese students apply- Marion-Bermuda Blue Water races. Mr. social science in the ing to American colleges and universities. Elkins earned his BA in biochemistry from Middle School after She previously worked as an academic Harvard University and pursued graduate a diverse career that advisor at Florida International University work in biology at the University of New included clerking for and assistant director of admissions at Hampshire. a federal appeals court judge, working at the University of Miami, University of the U.S. attorney’s office in Philadelphia Pittsburgh and Fenwick High in Oak Danielle R. Ellis and teaching high school math and science Park, Ill. Ms. Betts, a graduate of Shady Ellis joins the English at Pinecrest Preparatory in Miami. Most Side Academy in Pittsburgh, received her department faculty recently, Mr. Girado was a permanent BA in International Studies at California after seven years as substitute at the Middle School, where he University of Pennsylvania and her MEd an English language assisted in developing curriculum. Mr. from the University of Pittsburgh. arts instructor at Girado received his BA in political science two public schools in at Florida International University and Mauricio Diaz joins the physical Miami-Dade County. At Robert Morgan JD at Villanova Law School, where he education department after 16 years at Educational Center, a magnet school, she participated in the Hispanic American Southwest Miami Senior High, with four finished runner-up for Teacher of the Year Law Student Association and Coalition Advocating for Rights and Dignity.

42 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Douglas Heller ’80 increased the enroll- Conn.; Miami Beach; and in Coconut arrives to the Upper ment of female stu- Grove at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club. School as a member dents in AP-level As a teen, Logan was a member of the U.S. of the science depart- courses. At Miami sailing team, winning one U.S. national ment faculty. As a Palmetto, she coached title and qualifying for the 1987 420 world senior lecturer at the students for the U.S. championships in Australia. While earn- University of Miami Physics Team, the ing his BS in secondary education and MA since 2005, Dr. Heller taught chemis- Barry University Olympiad and National in education at Old Dominion University try, organic chemistry and biochemistry Science Bowl, and also served as site in Norfolk, Va., Capt. Logan led his college courses while co-writing the textbook coordinator and coach for the SECME teammates to several NCAA sailing cham- Visualizing Everyday Chemistry (2015) Competition for Science. She sponsored pionships as varsity skipper. He has been and mentoring graduate students in writ- the Equal Access Club and was a sci- a Coconut Grove Sailing Club member ing and public speaking. Prior to that, he ence teacher at Breakthrough Miami at since 1979. spent two years at Florida International Ransom Everglades. She received her MS University, serving as a program manager and BS in physics at Mahatma Gandhi James A. Oxsalida of the International Forensic Institute. He University in Kerala, India, where she was joins the mathematics also worked as project manager at IVAX a University Merit Scholar and minored in and computer science Corporation in Miami (2000-01) and Arch chemistry and mathematics. department at the Development Corporation in Chicago Middle School. For the (1996-98), and co-authored four articles Michael Laughlin past two years, Mr. that have appeared in scientific journals. joins the Upper School Oxsalida has taught Dr. Heller earned his BA in chemistry mathematics and geometry and pre-calculus at St. George’s at the University of Kansas; his MBA in computer science Independent School in Collierville, Tenn., finance and economics, and MS and PhD department after three while coaching the girls’ middle-school in organic chemistry, at the University of years at the University basketball and track teams. Prior to that, Chicago. of South Carolina in he taught math as part of the International Columbia, where he taught a number of Baccalaureate curriculum at Mystic Valley Patrick Houlihan math courses – pre-calculus, business Regional Charter School in Malden, Mass., comes to Ransom calculus, college algebra and elementary while also serving as an assistant coach Everglades as as- education development – while working on the varsity baseball, cross country and sistant director of toward his MA in mathematics. As a high basketball teams. He previously worked athletics and assistant school and college student, Mr. Laughlin in the admissions of office of his alma basketball coach. was very involved with the math team and mater, Emmanuel College in Boston, He taught physi- Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, and where he received his BA in mathemat- cal education and served as middle- looks forward to contributing to those pro- ics and secondary education. He also was school basketball coach at Belen Jesuit grams at RE. A scuba-diving enthusiast, founder and president of Saints Giving Preparatory School in Miami for three Mr. Laughlin served as interning divemas- Back, a Boston-based organization that years; prior to that, he was a substitute ter at Adventure Sports in Auburn, Ala., coordinated service activities at Children’s teacher and assistant varsity basketball overseeing and demonstrating the under- Hospital Boston. coach at Hewlett-Woodmire School water diving drills of beginning students. District in Hewlett, N.Y. Mr. Houlihan He received his BS in applied mathematics Julie Pappas Smith assisted the Hofstra University men’s with a concentration in biology in 2011 at joins the Middle School basketball team as a graduate assistant Auburn University, where he worked as a as a dance instructor. coach; directed Belen Jesuit’s basketball tutor and eventually tutor coordinator at Ms. Pappas Smith camps for two years; and played in col- the Math Tutorial Center. brings extensive expe- lege at Northwestern University, where rience from the worlds he was a Big Ten Scholar-Athlete and Captain Joseph L. of dance, theater Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner. Logan III joins RE’s and youth performing arts. She recently He received his BA from Northwestern; physical education served on the faculty of the Miami City his master’s in physical education from department and sailing Ballet and as a summer faculty member Hofstra; and a master’s in educational program, extending a for the Boston Conservatory of Music, leadership from St. Thomas University. diverse career on the and taught tap, ballet and musical theater water that has included at the University of Miami. Ms. Pappas Anita Joseph joins the Upper School captaining catamarans, racing sailboats Smith also worked as dance director of science department faculty. For the last and serving as a sailing instructor for the Bedford Youth Performing Company decade, Ms. Joseph has taught all levels yachts up to 50 feet. He also has directed in Bedford, N.H.; choreographer and of physics at Miami Palmetto Senior sailing programs for youths in Manhasset director for the Miami Childrens Theater; High in Pinecrest, where she significantly Bay, N.Y.; Greenwich, Conn.; Darien, and show and thespian choreographer for

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 43 New Talent Gulliver Preparatory and Florida Christian and his JD in 2011 at the University of Academy (2013-16); New Hampton schools. She performed in Broadway and Michigan, where he also received a mas- School (2009-12); Groton School (2001- off-Broadway productions and appeared ter’s in urban planning. 09) and Holderness School (1998-01). in a number of movies and television She was among the first classes of girls shows as a featured dancer or vocalist. William Tran arrives at Phillips Exeter Academy, where her She received her BFA in musical theatre at to Ransom Everglades parents taught; she matriculated to the Boston Conservatory of Music. with experience as Williams College, receiving her BA in a college counselor, American Studies. She received her MAT Bruce Robbins assistant director of ad- in secondary education at the University arrives to Ransom missions and English of New Hampshire and earned a CAS Everglades as an teacher. He served as in Administration, Planning and Social experienced AP social an educational consultant Collegewise in Policy at Harvard University. sciences teacher and Irvine, Calif.; assistant director of admis- boys’ varsity basketball sion at Connecticut College; an admissions Greg Pollard, Director coach. Mr. Robbins reader at Pomona College in Claremont, of Advancement, coached boys’ varsity basketball at high Calif.; and English teacher at Los Angeles- brings a wealth of schools in California and Indiana and area charter schools. He most recently experience from the spent one season as a men’s assistant at worked as a strategy consultant for Due world of independent St. Francis University in Fort Wayne, West Education in Beijing, China. Mr. schools, a major public Ind. He won 10 league or conference Tran received his BA in media studies/ research university and championships over two decades and critical studies from Pomona College. the private sector. Mr. Pollard has worked compiled more than 300 victories. Last as the regional director of major gifts at year, Mr. Robbins taught social sciences/ Lindsey Scott Phillips Exeter Academy; director of major human rights at the Wildwood School Wagner brings gifts at the University of Virginia; as- in Los Angeles; in the decade prior, he extensive experience sistant vice president at Wilmington Trust served as social sciences department chair working in St. Louis Company; and, most recently, director of at San Dimas High. He also taught and University’s office of advancement at Kimball Union Academy coached basketball and cross country admission to Ransom in New Hampshire. At Kimball Union, at Canterbury High in Fort Wayne and Everglades. Wagner he coordinated campaign initiatives, the Burris Laboratory School in Muncie, Ind. served as the school’s East coast program annual fund and special funding projects, Mr. Robbins received his BS in social coordinator, managing a recruitment ter- helping raise between $2-14 million an- studies at Ball State University in Muncie. ritory that consisted of the entire Eastern nually. Mr. Pollard earned his BS at the seaboard while conducting more than University of Delaware. Virgilio Alfredo 50 admissions interviews in the fall of Sklar ’98 assumes 2015. While reaching 100 percent of his Raymond Stewart, a full-time post at admissions goal and reviewing more than Chief Technology Ransom Everglades 600 applications, he also worked as vice Officer, helped trans- after a year as a chair for the New England Area Regional form information private tutor and Representatives group and executed the technology systems substitute teacher Jesuit Excellence Tour to 16 high schools at The Park School at RE. A former attorney advisor at the in Florida. He also served for three years in Massachusetts, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as admission counselor, managing an where he served as director of informa- in San Francisco, Sklar served as com- eight-state territory and providing coun- tion technology, and The Potomac School munity law and policy fellow at the seling to applications in areas of admis- in Virginia, where he was director of Center for Collaborative Change in sion, financial aid and housing. academic technology infrastructure. He Newark, N.J. He worked as a law clerk also brings extensive experience in the at the Environmental Law Institute in SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM private sector. He has coached basketball Washington, D.C., a legal intern at the and assisted with student government, National Wildlife Federation in Ann Marty Taft Elkins, and worked as an adjunct professor at Arbor, Mich., and an instructor at The Director of College Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Princeton Review. At the University of Counseling, brings Mr. Stewart received his BA in sociology at Miami Miller School of Medicine, he co- experience from six the University of California, Berkeley, and founded the Diversity in Medicine lecture independent schools his MA at San Francisco State University; series, assembling the inaugural lecture over three decades. he is pursuing an EdD at Columbia on health disparities in the treatment of Mrs. Elkins has served University. LGBT patients. Sklar received his BA at as director of college counseling, head Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson of school, teacher and coach. She was School of Public and International Affairs, director of college counseling at Shadyside

44 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Faculty Performing and Development Visual Arts Your gift will help fund the ongoing RE offers many forms of visual and professional development activities performing arts in an integrated program of that are a mainstay of RE’s coursework and co-curricular activities that extraordinary faculty. develop a full range of skills and talents.

Greatest Need Athletics Every aspect of RE’s Athletics are an integral part operation affects our overall of a student’s education at RE. quality. Gifts earmarked for Our goal is to foster a passion Greatest Need often do for sports while instilling a the greatest good. lifelong work ethic.

Financial Aid Technology RE offers generous financial support Ransom Everglades is to ensure that we enroll a diverse integrating technology more and talented student body. The comprehensively in teaching school offers $5 million annually for and learning. Your gift will help financial aid and tuition remission. us accelerate this process.

THE FUND FOR RANSOM EVERGLADES supports all areas of the school and makes a meaningful impact on the current needs of Ransom Everglades. Your gift touches every student and faculty member, every day.

Make your gift online at www.supportre.org

For more information about making a gift to Ransom Everglades please call 305 460 8215 or email [email protected].

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 45 Class Notes Ransom School Jim Ryder writes, “I’m still enjoying and where if you told people about things retirement, doing a little legal work like television, they wouldn’t believe you. 1953 occasionally in the contracts area. For (Enough adventure and stories for a book, pleasure, still active in photography. but too much to fit into this space.) I now Bart Durham is a personal-injury at- I was a major contributor to the Ransom live deep in the jungles of New Hampshire torney in Nashville, Tennessee. He started Yearbook and newspaper during the where I am still involved with one aspect in the 1960s and early ’70s as an assistant 1950s. A few weeks ago, I made my first or another of education – which I find U.S. district attorney and assistant state visit to Alaska on a small photo workshop. fulfilling and continue to love. On my days attorney general. In 1975, he opened his We stayed at a lodge near Sterling, Alaska, off, you might find me meditating under a private practice in Nashville, Tenn. His set on the Kenai River. The lodge was tree, reading a good book or sitting on the son Blair and his team of personal-injury our base and each day we went different deck with my sweetheart, my wife. You lawyers spend their time prosecuting directions. On one day we photographed might also see me shooting hockey pucks insurance companies. More information scores of eagles, including these. What a across my deck. (I’m the old guy in a local on the firm can be found at sight! Depending on who you ask, these ice hockey league … a little bit slower but http://www.bartdurham.com/ eagles were either fighting or partaking in still shoving, laughing, sweating and hav- Bob Pendleton and his wife Elsa retired a mating ritual. Still thrilling.” ing fun with the best of them!) That’s it for in 2000, sold their house in the Mojave now, but if I can’t make it to our 100th- Desert and became full-time travelers. year reunion, I’ll try to write again then. They have driven their pickup truck to P.S. Hello to Mr. De Carlo, who I hear all of the states and Canadian provinces, was at the reunion, to Mr. Stokes and Mr. and spent about a year and a half, on Bowden. Also hello to all others from my and off, traveling by train in Western class and times, whose records are now Europe. They often spend summers in kept in some archeological journals.” Canada and winters in South Texas. They chronicle their journeys on their David Schmitt, see John Engle ’66 “Open Road” website at http://www.bobandelsa.com/. Elsa has 1964 self-published three books and is working 1967 Tom Griggs and his wife Janet visited on a fourth, and Bob has self-published an Dan Brock writes “My wife (Margaret) campus last April while in town from San autobiographical memoir. and I have lived in North Carolina for the Francisco. Tom and Janet continue to be last 33 years. She just retired as a physi- strong RE supporters even while living cian/faculty member from the Wake 1958 on the West Coast. They hosted NorCal Forest University School of Medicine; I alums at the Press Club this past spring in Edward G. L. Carter, a great nephew am still in the commercial aviation/airline San Francisco where their company Taste business, having consulted in the field for of Ruth Ransom, continues his nine- Catering is involved. year labor of love, working on the home the last 17 years. I have renewed my inter- in Thailand he has dubbed The White Bill Schaefer officially retired in June est in music playing guitar and bass in dif- Elephant. He notes the Thai flag included 2015. He welcomed his second grand- ferent settings. At present, my instrument a white elephant about child, Amelia Louise Kavanagh, into the of choice is the upright bass, and playing 100 years ago. Carter world Oct. 26, 2015. music that I had never heard of until about has also helped build a three years ago … old time, mountain restaurant, and his home music and blue grass. In November, I am includes a three-bedroom 1966 traveling to Florida for a Rock Review guest house and many Jon Engle writes “After with former band members from the treasured items, including graduating from Ransom, I 1960s. Jane Margulis ’67, was our lead this trunk made in 1896 for Aunt Ruth by went to a small liberal arts singer from 1966-67. The motto for the Louis Vuitton. college in Vermont, and after Rock Review is … ‘If the song was written finishing college did quite a in the last 50 years … we don’t know it.’” bit of traveling. These travels included an across-the-U.S. trip with former student Jim Searle and his wife Patti have been David Schmitt ’66, as well several devoted to raising awareness for autism. journeys into third-world countries. In They are the founders of the worldwide the latter, I’ve crossed through jungles organization Expect a Miracle 2 (EAM2. and deserts where there were no apparent org). The vision of this organization is roads and ended up in places that haven’t “to encourage everyone to believe and really changed since biblical times – expect miracles for their loved ones who where fields were still plowed with camels are angelically different.” EAM2 provides and oxen, where electricity was unheard of hope through financial aid to children and

46 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 firms, Mallah Furman, where he started the first African-American student at as an intern in 1973. Working his way Ransom, paved the way for further families coping with the unexpectedness up the chain of command, Artie was changes the following year: the Ransom of autism in order to identify challenges, admitted into the partnership in 1988. In School and Everglades School for Girls facilitate solutions and educate for desir- November 2015, the partners of Mallah began their merger to become Ransom able results. Through their work, individu- Furman finalized a strategic merger Everglades School by 1975. als such as their son Jonathan, a senior with EisnerAmper, one of the country’s at Palmetto High School in Miami, have top 20 accounting, tax and consulting Bill Walker’s latest novel, success stories to share. Jonathon has firms. Mergers take lots of hard work and Abe Lincoln On Acid, was been invited to give a TED Talk in Coral time; however, that didn’t stop Artie from released on July 1, 2016. Gables. Jim continues to be grateful for planning many adventures with his be- It is the sequel to the his connection to Ransom School and loved family. From attending the installa- bestselling novel, Abe faculty member Dan Bowden. He and tion of the Christo Floating Piers project in Lincoln: Public Enemy Patti attended the Class of 1966 Reunion Lake Iseo, Italy, with his 90-year-old mom No. 1. Here’s a sneak peek last year, and will take an active role in the and four generations of Ungers, to a fam- at the book: “There are Class of 1967 50-Year Reunion in April ily reunion at the Unger family camp com- whispers even now that 2017. He recently attended Mr. Bowden’s pound located in Closter, N.J., the Ungers Abraham Lincoln never poetry reading at The Palace in Coral always look for opportunities to play really died, that a voodoo Gables. together. Artie also invests countless hours spell cursed him with a terrible eternal life in civic involvement working with Mount … But the truth is even stranger than the Sinai Medical Center Foundation; Miami rumors ... Watched over by a vengeful J. 1969 Jewish Health Systems; City of Miami Edgar Hoover and held in a secret location Kai Jelstrom writes “celebrated 66th Beach; Business Network International; near his old Springfield home, Lincoln re- birthday this June and I am blessed with and Miami Beach Chamber of awakens in the 1960s, and finds himself good health and a 36th wedding an- Commerce. Artie’s daughter, Samantha thrust into an era even more turbulent niversary! Still ‘working’ after all these Unger Katz ’97, is also a graduate of than the Depression…” years! Thirty-six years as a food broker in Ransom Everglades. Unfortunately, none Florida. Call on Food Service Distributors of the grandkids are local so they can’t Everglades School for Girls and Operators all over Florida. Enjoy take advantage of the RE legacy that Artie meeting people at trade shows from and Samantha so proudly cherish. Miami to Jacksonville and Tampa to 1963 Naples. I have a home office in Orlando Judy Walker McGuirt where my wife Anna and I enjoy taking 1972 reports that her daughter, our grandson to Disney parks frequently. Gary McKart writes that he still Jamey, served on the char- Two daughters successful at careers in works for Lee County as the Preventive ter-flight crew that took the voice-over acting and trade show model- Maintenance Coordinator. He is in the Denver Broncos to the 2016 ing and expositions! Outside interests in second year of the Florida Retirement Super Bowl in Santa Clara, home remodeling, exercise, weather, local Drop program; his last day is January Calif. The Broncos beat the traveling in the SE and serving others in 30, 2020. Last year, he traveled to the Carolina Panthers, 24-10. Jesus’ name!” Dreams Mayan Riviera Hotel to attend his niece’s wedding, then went on to Thelma Gabler Rohan writes, “My Vancouver, B.C., to visit the happy couple. husband Michael and I are trying to 1970 He finished that trip with five nights on find some of the sleep that we lost at the Steve Pearson writes about the 2016 the famous river walk in San Antonio, Tex. Republican National Convention last week Alumni Weekend that “it was great to in Cleveland. What a time we had making reconnect with classmates that could at- history with all of the Florida delegates. To tend, and I think this year’s joint reunion 1974 be chosen one of 99 in the state is a won- of the Ransom classes of ’70 and ’71 was derful honor. This was a dream-come-true a real success. Special thanks to Mark and Justice Wendell experience for a lifelong political junky. Nat Harrison for hosting a fun party at Graham won When I’m not politicking, I enjoy watch- their ranch as an additional activity to the reelection as a county ing our third generation grow. We have dinner. Wishing all of you happiness and judge in the Aug. 30, the blessings of eight grandchildren and good health.” 2016, election. He they all live in PC. We have seven hand- served on the RE some boys and one beauty of a girl.” Board of

1971 Trustees Arthur “Artie” Unger is a partner with from 1985- one of South Florida’s premier accounting 88. Wendell,

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 47 Class Notes and animal-rights activities. Currently a a mecca for the Arabian horse. Who knew 1965 vegetarian and working my way to vegan. that the shoreline of my youth would I am planning to spend one month in Aix- give way to the skyline of the McDowell Gretchen Barnes Annan reports: en-Provence next spring by myself, so all Mountains, and the palm trees would “Retirement continues to be wonderful tips and suggestions are appreciated.” morph into cactus. In pursuit of great with plenty of outdoors activities here in landscapes and beautiful horses, my trav- Jane Margulis, see Dan Brock ’67 Western Colorado and in neighboring els take me to extraordinary places and I Utah. Ron and I are avid bicyclists, hikers meet fascinating people – a blessed jour- and pickleball players. We also love to 1970 ney, indeed. As I think back to those days travel. Our most recent trips have been on South Bayshore Drive, I realize the to Israel for our pilgrimage to Baha’i holy Melinda Cowen writes, “I am still living importance of the lessons I learned and places, to Ireland for hiking and biking, and working in Miami. My daughter left the memories I made. And all is good.” and to Germany for Ron to see where his for college in my old stomping grounds, ancestors lived. Since our grandchildren, Washington D.C., in the fall. Life will Dorothy Matheson writes: “After not ages seven and four, live in Ontario we surely change. Cree McDougal Scudder having used my graduate degree in educa- have to see them as often as we can. In ’70, Gail Beckham ’70, and I are slowly tion for many years, I started private tu- our spare time, we try to contribute to our beginning to think about planning the toring in Miami, where I still live, a couple rural community by volunteering at our Everglades Class of 1970 reunion in 2020. of years ago, and am thoroughly enjoying local hospital and assisting with a GED Yep, it will be 50 years, girls. Although it. I tutor students and adults in only two program. Once school starts, our Baha’i it’s a long way off, we need to get started, subjects – Spanish and English. I also children’s classes begin, which keeps me based on past experience. We are looking remarried two years ago, after being single busy as well. Ron and I wonder when we for a few people that have disappeared on for 17 years!” ever had time to work. Life is full with us, too. Please go to our page on Facebook faith, family and friends.” – Everglades School for Girls Class of Cree McDougal Scudder reports that 1970. Or else email us at melinda@ she is healthy and happy, and a grand- cowendesign.com, creescudder@gmail. mother of two lovely little girls: Henny, 1966 com or [email protected]. two, and Blake, six months. She is the Anghelen A. Phillips writes, “I live We need you! mother/mother-in-law of four marvelous in an old colonial silver town in Mexico young adults, who keep a smile on her called San Miguel de Allende, known Darryl Larson writes, “I have heard it face, regularly. And she is married to Ned, as both an artist colony and a ‘Unesco said that as time passes our memories who has kept her laughing for the last 38 World Heritage are the true test of how our time was years. She paints to keep herself sane! Site.’ Mexico is a spent. Some of my memories of time at noisy country full Everglades remain so clear that it’s hard The Rev. Deborah London Wright of fireworks, fiestas, to believe it all happened so long ago. It’s recently celebrated the 37th anniversary and bells, all of evident that the experiences, the teachers of her ordination in the Presbyterian which bring out the and the classmates were extraordinarily Church, USA. In 1978, she became the child in all of us, meaningful, and vibrant memories linger first clergywoman in San Francisco. After and I love it for that with me still today. I was blessed to have eight years in the pastorate, during reason. Angie con- exceptional classmates who, I am sure, are which she obtained her PhD in histori- tinues her career as sensational women in whatever slice of cal theology, she joined the staff of her an artist, which she life they are living. Following high school, alma mater seminary and later became a started in Port- I stayed in Florida and became more corporate chaplain. She serves now as a au-Prince Haiti involved in the world of Arabian horses principal consultant in PneuMatrix, where in 1971. While living in Haiti she was – it wasn’t long before that world opened she mentors pastors in Adaptive Change completely enamored with the ambiance the door to a life and a journey that I never Leadership and Positive Deviance. She of the gingerbread houses and, without imagined. Because of the horses, I started notes that every 500 or so years, formal artist training, she began sketch- traveling to competitions and cultivated a Christianity blows itself up like a volcano ing various homes in pen and ink. Her circle of friends around the country – soon and reinvents its way of being in the works developed into a book published in I started dabbling in photography and in world. Working in the midst of the current 1975 called ‘Gingerbread Houses Haiti’s the mid ’80s video production. I real- volcanic upheaval is her greatest and most Endangered Species.’ Angie’s work helped ized that my interest in photography and invigorating challenge. Deborah lives in restore these historical structures and video production was actually a budding Sausalito, Calif., and takes full advantage brought her recognition throughout the business trying to birth itself. I decided to of hiking open space trails, and using her Caribbean, Europe and the United States.” listen to my heart – I transitioned from clergy discount at the wineries! what I was doing, and put all my effort Maria Elena Prio writes: “I am living into forming and cultivating my business. in Miami and practicing entertainment Today, I live in Scottsdale, Ariz., which is law. I am very involved in animal rescue

48 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 ’76 is all around us … The next time you wanna do something Call James Franklin to see if it’ll be a good weather day To run with Laurie Lasseter, or… Andy Strauss recently published a book Ransom Everglades to take out the Rob Koeppel souped-up on the non-surgical treatment of scoliosis ride gliding along Cherry pre-casted called, Your Child Has Scoliosis: Now 1975 highways What Do You Do? Bruce Anapol introduced his son Connor Passing the theatre with a Sheldon to RE this past May. Bruce and Connor Jeri (Waxenberg) Wolfson is honored Deckelbaum production were visiting from Northern California. to have 17 works from her Collection of Listening to Theo Etzel’s book-on-tape Women Modernists (“Invest your Heartbeats Wisely,” …avail- Jose Tamayo Herrera graduated from displayed by able at Amazon; $7.99 Kindle download) Ransom School in 1975, then attended The Wolfsonian …or listening to Betsy Berg’s talent do- the Georgia Institute of Technology in Museum FIU. The ing a broadcast the civil engineering program. After a show, which can …or admire your Hugh Flax-done teeth career change to international finance and be seen during munching on Lou Dessaint’s avocados marketing, Jose moved to the University Art Basel, is titled …’76 is all around us of Miami, where he graduated in 1980. “The Pursuit of Want to stay at a Lisa Cole Hilton He engaged in post-graduate diploma Abstraction” and …designed by Jack Plunkett studies at the University of Florida’s runs Oct. 7, 2016, …owned and operated by Rudy Prio Warrington School of Business, Florida through Feb. 26, 2017, with a VIP open- Touzet Banking School, and at the University of ing Oct. 6, 2016. Here is a brief on the …hung with Jamie Thomson and Miami’s International Banking School show: “In the first half of the twentieth Tommy Weinkle art? of the Southeast. That rounded out century, when science and philosophy …or have a coffee in the lobby “Hyphen” the major components of his academic fostered an understanding of the world restaurant courtesy of Nina Slotkin background. Involved in international defined by objectivity, materialism, and overlooking remodel job by Mahoney banking for nearly 30 years, Jose worked reason, many artists cultivated new Baggs with many global entities – Sun Trust, forms of spiritual expression that resisted …’76 is all around us Regions Bank, Banco Nacional do Brasil, these secular currents. The Pursuit of Florida International Bank, Venezuelan Abstraction presents works that invoke Maybe you’re wearing a “Bravelet” from International Finance Corporation and spiritual crisis and renewal as central to Sue Crocker’s daughter Banco Mercantil International. Since the modern experience, drawing on the …after a procedure by Seth Rosen or leaving international banking, his ef- fine and decorative art holdings of The Peter Mayotte forts have been devoted to FCA - EU, Wolfsonian-FIU, The Jeri L. Wolfson …or doing some budgeting and manage- a private international consortium of Collection, and the promised gift from ment with Lisa August companies involved in merchant banking, The Mitchell Wolfson Jr. Collection of …or litigating with Brian Dan, trade, finance, real-estate investments, Decorative and Propaganda Arts.” Mike Karcher, Davis McDonald, global-money management and interna- Tom Noto, Michael Fryd and Art tional trade. Other noteworthy interests Lieberman or Mike Guilford … include the creation of FUTSOC – an 1976 …or hanging out on the boat with Betsy elite youth soccer club devoted to player Following is a toast given by Roger Burnett development, college player placement Soman at the Class of 1976 40-Year …or yacking it up with Alice Greenfield, and professional-player negotiations. Reunion, which was hosted by RE board Chris Ryder, Margaret Hoeveler, The 2015-16 season had the FUTSOC chairman Rudy Prio Touzet and his Chris Moore, Amy Thompson, Deb ENIGMA U18/19 squad finish the season wife Lydia at Monty’s Raw Bar in Coconut Turner or David Aronow. ranked No. 1 in the United States. Jose Grove. Let’s take a moment and send …you’ll see that ’76 is all around us. also is the father of three sons, Francisco, our thoughts and prayers to those who Carlo and Armando, all college graduates couldn’t be here, chose not to be here … Thank you in advance for tonight. I and working in family businesses and and to those families of our fellow class- am humbled at our depth, breadth, other activities. Jose is involved in numer- mates who have passed away. I wrote intelligence, perceptiveness, humor and ous charities and philanthropic efforts, a short but sweet tribute to some pretty intensity, and of our collective ability to and currently lives in Broward County. outstanding people. It’s called “’76 is all do GOOD and to do WELL. I’m impressed with our ability to laugh, talk, attain Stuart Miller. See Jeff Miller ’79. around us” and I’m going to try to deliver it in Steve Hughes’ sotto voce, in Jeff greatness (or at least attain “very-good- Zuckerman-inspired perfect iambic ness”) and to attract great mates. I’m pentameter. thankful for our time together.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 49 Class Notes Weather it was LUCK or SKILL that U.S. through different eyes. We’re hoping brought us here tonight, I wouldn’t want for visits from Georgia Penn Noble ’74, 1979 to be any place else with any other group Kate Sullivan Lindseth ’75, Kathryn Maurice Ferré was honored last spring of people. Before I end this toast by asking ’83 and David Villano ’79 and other with the Ransom Everglades Founders’ my wife Joann to lead us in a mighty cho- RE pals ready for some fabulous Catalan Alumni Award for Distinguished Service rus of “God Bless America,” I’d like to ask paella and glass of cava. As we travel to the Community, which is annually us all to lift our glass and toast each other around Spain we plan to look up Señor given to an alum who has helped to fulfill and to 40 years … to ’76! Steve Hughes ’76 in Madrid and any the vision of the founders of the Ransom other RE alum on the continent who may and Everglades schools by showing deep enjoy reminiscing for a moment or two concern about his or her community and about our school on the bay. Feel free to demonstrating honor, courage and leader- send suggestions or look us up if you are ship. See story on page 20. passing through. You can find us in the RE online directory. Salute!” Jeff Miller. See Melissa Krinzman ’86 Jeff Miller announced at the June 4 tribute 1978 to Dan Bowden that The Dan Leslie Lauren (Keith) Katz resides in Bowden Fellowships in the Humanities Pembroke Pines and has been working are being established with a $1 million Christopher Moore was inducted into as an artist at VIVID Visions Artistry. She donation by the Miller family – matriarch the 2016 Ransom Everglades Hall of Fame paints with exciting colors using acrylic Sue Miller and siblings Stuart ’75, Leslie for soccer. His teammates Jose Tamayo paint and gauche, creating bright, engag- Saiontz ’77 and Jeff – to enable up to 10 ’75, Blake Alders ’79, Fritz Alders ing art work. Her subject matter is drawn juniors annually to pursue summer stud- ’74, Rob Alders ’76, Steve Sawitz ’75, from nature (particularly birds and fish); ies in the arts and humanities outside of and David Villano ’79 joined him at the humorous cartoons; and photos of nature South Florida. See story on page 30. ceremony on April 28. His former coach and fantasy. Each piece is one of a kind. and close friend Jim Beverley ’62 shared Ellen Malinin Carpenter writes “I’ve She paints on many surfaces: canvas, some words about his accomplishments moved from UCLA, where I was a profes- wood, mirror, glass, etc. as his presenter. Former coach Lawrence sor of psychiatry and bio-behavioral Higgins traveled all the way from Boston Megan Walker Rose writes “Marina science, and chair of the undergraduate to join in honoring Chris. Angleton ’78, Nancy Coudriet Bolen Neuroscience Interdepartmental Program ’78 and I met in June for a mini-reunion to the National Science Foundation of our own on SoBe. We’ve been great in Washington, D.C., where I serve as 1977 friends since our RE days, have kept in a program director in the Division of Lisa Ingraham writes “I moved from touch and always Undergraduate Education. I help to dis- South Florida about 10 years ago and live enjoy our time perse about $110 million dollars in grant in Atlanta now (specifically Roswell, Ga.). together. Among the money to improve science, technology, I’m still with Arby’s in Consumer Insights, three of us we’ve lived engineering and mathematics teaching at going on 25 years now. I don’t have any in many interesting undergraduate colleges and universities kids but I do have two sponsored kids – places since leaving across the country.” one in Ethiopia (went to visit him in 2013) high school, includ- and one in Mexico. In my spare time, from ing stints in Calif., Va., N.C., Tenn., Ga., September to May, I teach with a minis- Nev., N.Y., Pa., Tex. and London. We’ve 1982 try called Bible Study Fellowship. They earned two MBAs, have been awarded Greg Glass, father of Elizabeth ’13 and have about 1,100 bible classes world- nine Emmys, raised five children (three Will ’16 received the Head of School wide. I have the privilege of teaching the already college grads) and have kept our Award during Alumni Weekend’s April 30 Sandy Springs-GA class. We’ll kick off in sanity and sense of humor through all of Head of School luncheon, an event that September with the Gospel of John. Be it! Currently Marina is founder and execu- drew more than 200 attendees. The award blessed!” tive producer at an international produc- honors exceptional service to Ransom Everglades and the local community. Leslie Saiontz. See Jeff Miller ’79. tion company Right Angleton Productions, based in Miami. Nancy divides her time Glass has devoted countless hours to the Lisa Shaw writes “We packed up our between Raleigh, N.C., and Caswell Beach, school and local causes, rallying alums, Boulder, Colorado, life last July and put N.C. She has a makeup and skin care raising money, assisting with sports teams it in storage as we undertake a European business. I live in Richmond, Va., and am and the RE Band and helping with the adventure: living in Barcelona, Spain. My currently the chairman of The Jenkins Ransom Everglades Epic Fishing (REEF) children, Sophia (15), Charlotte (12) and Foundation, a health care foundation that tournament. See story on page 31. Owen (12) and I are soaking up new ways serves the underprivileged in my commu- Harrison Murphy reports that he is of living and engaging with other cultures. nity through The Community Foundation. still living in Northern Virginia, waiting Living abroad during an election year has We wish all the best to our fellow 1978 for his last child to graduate from high added another perspective as we see the classmates!”

50 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 school (Class of ’19). His other kids are Ewen Harrison writes, “At a ripe middle in college at Barnard and the University 1984 age, I graduated from medical school in of Oregon. Harrison still runs the compa- Spencer Green sends an “up- May and have just started residency in nies he founded over 23 years ago. He is date from the wilds of Los Angeles: Family Medicine in Portland, Or. I can continuing to travel extensively around the BUMPERSTICKER, a musical I co- trace my interest in medicine, health and world with his new partner, Olivia. He let created with Gary Stockdale – in which nutrition to the great teaching from Doc us know that he sailed the British Virgin each song is based on or inspired by, yes, Crabtree at RE. Previously I was work- Islands (where he used to live); helicop- actual you’ve-seen-them-all-your-lives ing as a professor at St. John’s College in tered into the Grand Canyon; and island bumperstickers – premiered at this year’s Santa Fe. I have a wife, Monika Cassel, hopped in the Greek Isles – enjoying life Hollywood Fringe Festival; one critic and two daughters, Helen, 13, and one day at a time. noted the production ‘could be transported Phoebe, 10.” Ben Owen was pleased to hear about the to any London or New York stage without RE boys’ soccer team winning the state raising one eyebrow.’ (Which would, in- title (having been a part of the team that deed, be very nice.) I am currently writing was last at states in 1979). Ben is work- commentary for the movie site MoviesTO. ing as the Technology Director at Oak Hill com; articles for The Huffington Post; School in Nashville, Tenn., where he has and have had plays produced by St. Louis’ been for the past 12 years. Both of Ben’s Theatre Lab, Chicago’s Hobo Junction, children have graduated from Oak Hill and and Los Angeles’ Sci-Fest LA. And that’s moved on to secondary school. Daughter one hundred words. Now.” Mia is in seventh grade, and son, George, in 10th. 1985 Maria Toyoda writes, “We moved to Howard Srebnick, a Boston in June 2016, where I took up a Miami criminal defense Melissa O’Neill Albert has lived in position as Dean of the College of Arts attorney, won a U.S. beautiful Seattle for the last 25 years. After and Sciences at Suffolk University after Supreme Court victory Connecticut College she moved to San 13 great years with terrific colleagues at last March when the court Francisco, then to Seattle for graduate Villanova University. In 2015, we returned ruled by a 5-3 margin that school at the University of Washington, for half a year to Japan, this time in criminal defendants are allowed to use un- and never left. She and her husband have lovely Fukuoka, on an international public tainted assets to pay for the lawyer of their two boys, ages 10 and 12. Currently she policy fellowship. We’re enjoying New choice. The Black, Srebnick, Kornspan has a startup called Tousled.me. The com- England, closer to where Mike’s family is & Stumpf partner, who represented Sila pany is using technology to disrupt the in Newport, R.I., and in perilous proximity Luis in a health care fraud case, persuaded salon and spa industry, bringing beauty on to lobster rolls, $1 oyster shots and clam the majority that the federal government demand. There are a few RE alumni out bellies. I’m still doing some work with for should be barred from freezing funds that there and she’d love to see more – even if the IMF and trying to keep my toes in the aren’t tied to an alleged crime just passing through. research pool. The Brexit has suddenly http://bit.ly/1VXVkrV. Stacy Blain, assistant professor of made my research life very busy. And pediatrics and of cell biology at SUNY OMG, my sons are 10 and 15, now. Thank Downstate Medical Center, was selected goodness for sound-insulated basements.” 1983 to join more than 180 cancer researchers Florence Ferre writes “I am thrilled to from prominent research institutions in 31 Betsy Wise tell us, “I’m in the third year tell you I have a new job as a management countries to study cancer’s complexity as of my branding and advertising consul- consultant for North Highland Consulting. part of “The Halifax Project,” representing tancy, Wise Branding Group. Business is I travel a lot all over Florida focusing on the first global initiative to bring together booming, and while I’m proud of my big transportation related projects.” the best cancer scientists and research- clients (Medtronic, GE, Bacardi) my dear- ers from around the world. Dr. Blain est is Miami Theater Center, because I get Steven and Karen (‘86) Langer fondly worked on one of 12 teams of scientists to work with inspiring alum, Stephanie remember their mother Lois, who lost her that each focused on a different aspect of Ansin ’90. Our services run the gamut, battle with cancer in March 2016. Lois led cancer biology. The teams spent two years but we specialize in verbal brand strat- the first auction campaign to raise capital reviewing what is known about cancer’s egy – an expertise born from a love of for Ransom Everglades in 1979. Over the complexity to design a ground-breaking language fostered by RE, and – no doubt past 15 years, she was able to create and “broad-spectrum” therapeutic approach – Dan Bowden. My twin boys, Max and enjoy countless memories with her two that will be aimed at many prioritized Jack, are four, now.” granddaughters and three grandsons. She targets simultaneously with the goal of is survived by Hart, her loving husband of maximizing success and, eventually, eradi- 55 years. cating cancer. See story on page 26.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 51 Class Notes 1986 Ann Flipse writes, “I am an adjunct Roland Samimy reports that “while and thoracic surgery at the University of instructor at Florida State College at I am still working for the University of Michigan. His interests include the use of Jacksonville. Last summer, I spent two Massachusetts-Dartmouth, School for mechanical circulatory support for heart weeks in Italy and one week in London. I Marine Science and Technology, I am failure and shock, critical care and heart am just beginning research with a profes- really excited to share that a Co-PI and transplantation. Additionally, he is the sor at UNF looking at the link between I were recently awarded a $973K grant division chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at sensitive responding and children’s social- from the USEPA to study the role of oyster the Ann Arbor Veterans Affairs Hospital. emotional outcomes and preventative propagation in improving nutrient related intervention with high-risk populations; Kiki Haralambides Kerrigan is now water quality in impaired estuaries. This intervening with families for modifying sharing her longtime passion of cooking study will be undertaken in a small estu- early risk factors for later behavioral and with the creation of Kiki’s Soups in the ary in southeastern Massachusetts. We social emotional problems in children; and Chicago area. Kiki explains on her website are researching shellfish as an in situ strategies for building an internal capacity that “Kiki’s Soups is a direct culmination soft solution to nutrient management in to respond effectively in caregivers. of my desire to live an authentic life. Born impaired estuaries because of their high I recently attended my 30th high school in Miami to a first generation Cuban filtration rates and their ability to re- reunion, and it has been the highlight of mother and a father with a rich Greek move water column particulate nitrogen my year so far. It was moving to see every- heritage, my passion for cooking began and enhance sediment denitrification. The one again, and get to know, a little better, at my mother’s side, where I learned to big challenge from a scientific and envi- the person each has become. I am so glad cook at a young age. Her poignant story ronmental management point of view is I attended this great event. Thank you!” of being displaced from her native ‘home’ quantifying nitrogen removal through har- deeply impacted my commitment to vest vs. filtration/deposition and sediment creating a sense of ‘home’ through food denitrification as well as overall effect on and frequent gatherings with family and water quality. Currently, there is no quan- friends … My background is in art history titative nitrogen removal data to gauge and I worked for years as assistant direc- the efficacy of shellfish based approaches tor at Richard Gray Gallery and liaison to in shallow bays and we are planning to fill the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa through- that data gap to make it easier to use this out the installation of his internationally approach in other impaired estuaries, be renowned Crown Fountain. Work would it in New England or elsewhere. In three often continue over a meal of Teriyaki years, when we are done with our study, Salmon, a Moroccan Tagine or Lamb you’re welcome to join us up north to eat Stuffed Peppers and glass of Rioja at my the experiment. Ha!” See also story on house. In a well-prepared meal, artistry page 22. Pamela Pennell Kelly took first place in and food go hand in hand. I hope you will the Alumni Regatta with Michiel van de find that true in the soups I have created Kreeke ’88 during Reunion Weekend in 1987 for you. Real food. Simple ingredients. April. Great flavor.” Jonathan Haft is on staff at the Melissa Krinzman partnered with Jeff University of Michigan Health System as Carlos Watson launched a new late Miller ’79 to found Krillion Ventures Associate Professor of Cardiac Surgery, night TV show on PBS called Point in Jan. 2014; just over two years later, Anesthesia Director, Extra Corporeal Life Taken. The show is designed to assemble the venture fund has made 17 start-up Support Program and Associate Director, smart, interesting guests to debate issues investments and is worth $50 million. Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units. Dr. Americans care about — and to disagree The Miami Herald featured Krinzman in a Haft is very well known for his work with without being disagreeable. Point Taken front-page business section story on Feb. Sam Larkin, the first patient in Michigan airs on PBS at 11 p.m. on Tuesdays. 28. http://hrld.us/1pkSTDn ever discharged with a SynCardia tem- porary total artificial heart in 2014. This Matt Rose was joined by classmates May, Larkin returned to the University of Seth Nachman, Ben Kalstone, David Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center Arnold, David Clark, Scott Sakoff, for a heart transplant. The surgery per- Kevin Bryd, Michael Lederman, formed by Dr. Haft was a unique national Roland Samimy, Lance Geller and triumph in efforts to replace the failing William Holly as he was inducted into heart as heart disease grows and donor the 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame for football hearts remain scarce. Dr. Haft joined and tennis. the faculty in 2005 after completing his training in general surgery, critical care,

52 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Eliza (Srebnick) Weber reports: “I’m 21) were by my side through it all. After Vicki Carbonell Williamson was still living in N.Y.C. going through having my daughter Sarah appointed to the CASE Commission on with my husband move into the dorm at UT (Hook ‘em!) Alumni Relations. Jon and three this fall, I thought dealing with a (partly!) beautiful kids. I see empty nest was my biggest challenge. But 1989 Bonnie (Brooks) on Christmas night I discovered a lump in Sharon Halstead Coleman cor- Jonas ’87 often my neck, and 2016 began with multiple responds with faculty emeritus Jackie and we just went to surgeries and a diagnosis of both Diffuse Collaso. In a recent communication, she our 25th reunion at Large B Cell Lymphoma stage 3 and shared that she is the author of a new Penn. I also had a Follicular Lymphoma stage 4. After many book, Only What You Need, A Memoir. great time visiting hospitalizations and chemo, I am now in The book is available on Amazon. Jon Haft ’87 in complete remission! I’m continuing to Ann Arbor, Mich., have IV infusions for a year and a half, Vinnie Falco married Natalie Robbins this spring. If you though, and hope to remain cancer-free at in 2014 and is currently living in Miami are in N.Y, drop me my two-year mark. I began writing about Beach. He published “Beast” in 2016. a line at [email protected]. Looking it at my CaringBridge site and have heard forward to seeing everyone at our 30th from many Miami friends through this reunion next year.” and Facebook. It has been such a blessing 1990 to hear from everyone! Carlos Dominguez writes, “I’m thrilled Eugene Williams writes, “I still can’t to announce that my business partner believe it’s been 30 years since I gradu- Rob Koreman writes “Everything is David Savir and I recently launched ated from RE. I am a high school assis- great with me and my family. Our daugh- Element Pointe Advisors, an indepen- tant principal in central Virginia. I will ter Samantha is headed off to Dartmouth dent SEC registered investment adviser. celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary in College this fall which means we are going Element Pointe serves as both a multi- October. I have one child and she will be to be empty nesters ... Strange concept family office and a boutique wealth man- attending college in the fall.” but nice nonetheless. My wife, Lynne, is agement firm.” the CMO of a start up in Washington D.C. that specializes in cyber-security educa- 1988 tion. I am still flying for American Airlines 1991 out of Miami and enjoying the seniority Chris Auxier and Andrea Auxier that I have on the A320.” ’92 returned to Miami with son Riley, 12, and daughter Milena, 11, in August Michiel “Monkey” van de Kreeke is 2016. Chris accepted the position of currently working as senior project man- COO with Miami-based real estate firm ager for Bermello, Ajamil and partners in Fifteen Group, located in Midtown. Coconut Grove, heading the development Andrea will remain in her position as Vice of a private island in the Bahamas for President of Business Development for MSC Cruises. He’s also enjoying riding New Directions, a behavioral health plan his bike ride to work, and sailing with his company based in Kansas City, which three kids: Sebastian, eight, Hans, six, allows her to work from home. Given the and Colette, two. As a member of the RE suddenness of the move, they will be rent- alumni board and past chair of the RE ing a house on Key Biscayne for a year or alumni annual fund, he wants to thank all two before finding a permanent address. RE alums for their continued support of Although very sad to leave Colorado, Chris the school. and Andrea are excited to return home to David Evans writes, “Kate and I had Miami and reconnect with old friends. our second child, Heath James Evans, in Jarrett Posner and his wife, Pamela October of last year. He is doing great. His Posner ’92, in August opened their first Kevin Hochman was named the second- big sister Oona, now three, is really enjoy- hotel, the Halcyon in Cherry Creek, Colo. most influential chief marketing officer ing having a little brother. We just had our The Posners work in real estate and reside in the world behind only Phil Schiller at first stint navigating preschool applica- in New York City. They are the parents of Apple in a marketing study co-authored tions in San Francisco for Oona. That was Jordan, Stella and Morgan. by Forbes. Hochman has been the CMO a trip. I’d love to commiserate with other at KFC US for two years since departing Ransom Everglades alumni in the Bay Procter & Gamble. The 4th Annual CMO Area about what that process can be like.” Influence Study said Hochman has “made waves.” Andrea Pullen Herzer writes, “The year 2016 has brought a lot of challenges my way, and I am grateful that my husband 1992 Mark and our three ‘children’ (ages 14, 20, Pamela Posner, see Jarrett Posner ’88

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 53 Class

1993 Notes Ilan Arboleda’s presentation of his film Tara Narula “Thank You for Your Service” (page 40) recently sent 1994 to the alumni community in March 2016, in a picture Angie (Aiduck) Erickson has been was strongly supported by members of of her newest living in Frisco, Tex., for almost five the Class of 1993. Pictured are Melissa daughter, years with her husband Kevin. They have Vick, Aliza Stern, Ilan Arboleda, Layla, proudly three-year-old twin daughters, Morgan Amy Sayfie Zichella, Catherine Irvin outfitted in and Kaitlyn, and one-year-old daughter Block, Lola Arellano Pegg, Christy de RE gear! Last Lauren. Angie is a director of student ex- Zarraga Roos, Mariana Santiesteban spring, Tara served as a panelist on the RE perience for University of Phoenix and her Pesin, and Becky Haggard McCarron. Alumni Connections in N.Y.C. (See page husband leads the management consult- In other news, Ilan married Rojika 40.) ing practice at Credera. Antanesian on July 19, 2016, in New York Rafael E. Millares writes “My two sons City. are thriving, Delio is 10 and Rafael Jr. is 4. I sold my shares in a previous law firm that I had co-founded and I started a new law firm named Millares Law Firm P.A. Thankfully, my staff and I are incredibly busy as the firm experiences very positive growth. Our practice areas are personal injury (auto accidents, wrongful death, slip and fall), social security disability and criminal defense.” 1995 Maria Andy- Tettamanti pens the award- winning Miami- based lifestyle Becky Haggard McCarron was honored University of Miami’s Miller School blog, thewordy- last March as a Woman of Substance of Medicine. Stephanie Sayfie girl.com. Maria and Style at Destination Fashion Aagaard ’88, Director of Major was recently 2016. Becky was introduced that Gifts, Corporate Relations, featured on CNN evening with former professional Marketing and Events for news in a seg- basketball player Shane Battier as The Buoniconti Fund and ment focused on her escort. The event raised money the Miami Project to Cure bloggers’ influ- for The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis, organized and co- ence on the retail Paralysis, the fundraising arm of The chaired this very success- sector. She was Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the ful evening. also interviewed on Sirius XM’s Wharton School of Business channel where the topic of the business of blogging was explored. A pioneer in Miami’s blogging scene, Maria also teaches others how to blog with her online classes. As of late, she is focusing on growing her brand as a digital influencer. When not busy Spachatting, she’s taking care of her two small children, Ava and Yiani, and college sweetheart/husband, Sebastian. Ivette Rodriguez Hernandez Millares & Company. In addition, with his Hernandez lives in Miami Springs with brother Ruben Millares ’98 and Luis de son Yandro Hernandez, an up-and- la Vega ’98, Javier will be releasing the coming tennis player. She works at Delta long-awaited, self-titled rock-n-roll album Media, Inc., a media buying agency, as a Chicken Liquor later this year. national account manager in the company’s Miami office. Samantha Unger Katz writes “Our family grew this year with the birth of our Colleen Soriano Weinrich is happy to second daughter, Poppy Suzanna Katz, 1996 share that she and her husband Glenn on March 25, 2016. To give Poppy and Veronica Alcorta writes, “This past welcomed their first daughter, Fiona her big sister, Elsie, some more room, June, I joined Bulgari (LVMH) at their Rose Weinrich, to the world on June 30, we moved to Brooklyn. This also puts us Latin American corporate office based in 2016. They live in Brooklyn in a neigh- closer to our distilling business, New York Miami. I am working as merchandising borhood known as DUMBO. She works Distilling Company, which is now in its manager for the jewelry, watches and ac- at Facebook managing the company’s fourth year. Come join us for a cocktail if cessories categories for Bulgari boutiques relationship with advertising agencies. Her you’re in town.” See Arthur Unger ’71 in Latin America. Previously, I was an husband Glenn is in music label market- advertising and marketing manager based ing at Spotify. Colleen served as a panelist in the company’s U.S. corporate office in for the RE Alumni Connections in New 1998 New York City. I am excited about rejoin- York on May 18. (See page 40.) Cody Courbier moved back to Miami ing the brand, which has a rich heritage of after 11 years living and working in New 130 years of Roman inspired jewelry and 1997 York City where he was an investment luxury goods.” banker with Merrill Lynch and Goldman Enrique Conde and his wife Annette had Sachs. He recently joined Millares Asset Ingrid (Seroppian) Corona works as a baby girl, Celine Marie, on June 1, 2016. Management, a RE alumni-run firm that marketing manager for Citizens Bank, Older brother Lucas is very excited. manages assets for ultra-high-net-worth doing digital marketing for the bank’s stu- clients across the country, adding new dent loan suite of products. She is married Giselle Ferro Puigbo writes, “Our family depth and experience to better serve the to Salvador Corona, and they have two is now living in Brooklyn, N.Y. We are company’s clients. boys. Alejandro, five, entered kindergar- enjoying getting to know our new city. ten in September. Jordan, known by the Amaya, our daughter, is about to turn Ruben Millares and his partner Antonia nickname Jordi, is two. The family lives three years old, our son Santiago is start- Wright added a beautiful baby boy, Otis in Medfield, Mass., which is about 40 ing eighth grade in the fall, and our young- Mars, to the universe on December 29, minutes southwest of Boston. est son Diego passed away earlier this 2015. Over the past 15 years, Ruben spring. We want to thank the RE com- has helped build and grow his family’s Nelly Farra is the Founding Miami munity for being so incredibly supportive Director of Babson WIN (Women CPA firm, Millares & Company, and of our family; with our new move to N.Y., wealth management firm, Millares Asset Innovating Now) Lab, which brings comes new beginnings too. My husband, women to the forefront of Miami’s en- Management. Millares Asset Management Andres Puigbo, starts a new job this fall has been ranked as one of the fastest- trepreneurial economy. It was created by as Technical Director at Brooklyn Friends the Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial growing RIA firms in the country for School. I have been loving my role as Vice the past two years by Financial Advisor Leadership (CWEL) at Babson College as President of Development at Blue Engine, an accelerator that provides female entre- Magazine. The two firms work in tandem an education nonprofit based out of New to provide their high-net-worth clients preneurs with an inspiring community York, an opportunity that prompted our and a rigorous, experiential process that with a truly holistic view of their financial move. We all miss Miami and the RE lives and help them reach their goals. In catalyzes innovative thinking and enables community very much!” them to successfully launch or transform addition to his work life, Ruben is proud businesses. WIN Lab Miami was success- to announce the release of his latest, self- Javier Millares and his wife Adriana titled rock-n-roll album Chicken Liquor fully launched on March 30, 2016. The welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Camille Miami Herald featured Nelly for her work with fellow alumni band members Javier Alina Millares, into the world on July Millares ’97 and Luis de la Vega ’98. as director. For more information visit: 20, 2016. In addition to being a new http://bit.ly/2bEm7uO father, Javier has been diligently work- Virgilio Sklar is among the newest mem- Albert “BJ” Stieglitz has been named ing the family business, Millares Asset bers of the history and social sciences dean assistant chief in the Foreign Corrupt Management, which was recently ranked partment at Ransom Everglades. Virgilio Practices Act Unit of the Fraud Section of the 12th-fastest growing RIA in the is excited to be back at RE as an educator! the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal country by Financial Advisor Magazine. (See bio on page 44.) Division. He and his wife Amanda, The firm currently advises high-net-worth along with their daughters Caroline, four, clients implementing holistic financial and Elizabeth (“Ellie”), three, reside in planning along with the family CPA firm Arlington, Va.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 55 Class Notes Alejandro Miyar was featured in an 1999 NBC.com news story “Young Latinos 2000 Jerri Hertzberg Bassuk reports that of the Obama White House” in August. Andrew Bennett reports that he founded she and husband Larry Here is an excerpt from the story, which BarEye, a way to buy drinks at bars for Bassuk ’00 welcomed noted that the Obama administration has yourself and people around you, with their second son, Jordan included more Latinos than any previ- the support of former NFL and Miami Harley Bassuk, into the ous: “Miyar was born in Mexico City and Hurricanes linebacker Jonathan Vilma. world on August 22, raised in Miami. Politics was not a focus The company is launching its new point- 2016. Older son, George, in his house, though his grandfather was a of-sale integrated version in Miami and, is almost two and loves political cartoonist in Cuba. ‘I was always Andrew hopes, New York. his little brother! intrigued by him,’ Miyar said, ‘and the Erika Gragg Dobkin and her husband, shadow of the Castro regime definitely Jason Dobkin, gave birth to a son, Sam Alex Cachaldora had an effect on my family.’ When Bill Lawrence Dobkin, on December 29, 2015. reports that he is Clinton spoke at his middle school, Miyar Many Ransom Everglades alumni got the proud father of decided to learn more about the political together to meet Sam this spring, includ- Theodore Alejandro process. He began his public service in ing Sarah Brewer Grein ’00, Lillian Cachaldora, RE local government and found himself ‘smit- Peters Osborn ’00, Katie Muraro Class of 2032, who ten with the game.’ Miyar played a key Pedroso ’00, Lindsey Zohn Parker ’00 was born on April 6, role in Obama’s 2008 victory, as regional and Ashley Zohn ’00. 2015. Alex says he communications director in Florida for and wife Amanda the campaign. ‘It was the opportunity of Scott Fuhrman is President of Florida are “the happiest a lifetime,’ Miyar said, ‘and I put a lot of Bottling Co., a third-generation family parents ever.” pressure on myself to do the job we had business located in Allapattah that bottles to do. And everything we did in English, organic fruit juices. Scott served as a we did in Spanish as well.’ Miyar served in staffer for Senator Bill Nelson on Capitol the administration as a national spokes- Hill, a deputy to the national treasurer for person for the U.S. Department of Justice Senator John Kerry’s 2004 Presidential (DOJ). A graduate of Haverford College campaign, and also was among the young- and the University of Miami School of est members of President Barack Obama’s Law, he now works at the prestigious National Finance Committee. In the Oct. Camilla Corbit and her husband Trey Fox Rothschild law firm in Miami. Miyar 30 primary in Miami-Dade County, he welcomed their second son, Cason believes that it is critical for Latinos and secured the Democratic nomination for Sanford Hazelton on June 20, 2016. Big Millennials to get involved in the politi- Florida’s 27th congressional district. He Brother Trey, 21 months, is thrilled! cal process. ‘If you don’t take an interest is now running to replace longstand- in politics, politics will take an interest ing Republican Representative Ileana in you,’ he said. ‘Those people who are Ros-Lehtinen. Scott’s platform includes disenchanted with things happening at equal pay for equal work, protecting the federal level, they have an opportunity Social Security and Medicare benefits, and to have be part of process. I am a liv- common-sense gun safety legislation, such ing case study of a person who had little as closing the terrorist gun show loophole involvement in politics before - and was and re-implementing the ban on military- able to serve in the campaign and in the style assault weapons. administration.’” Gina Ciraldo Stabile and husband Daniel welcomed their daughter, Siena Loretta Stabile, to the world on March 24, 2016. They live in Miami Beach with their dog Rocco. Gina is chief executive officer of CosMedical Technologies, a skin care company, and Daniel is a partner at the law firm of Shutts & Bowen.

56 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Christian Fong and his wife, Daniella, announced the birth of their first child, Christian Alexander Fong, on April 21, 2016. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces and measured 21 inches. Christian is an attorney in Miami and practices corporate, commercial and entertainment law. Michael Mijares writes, “Recently married to my beautiful wife Gabriella Braga Megan Bradley Rose entered the in March 2016. She was a Gulliver gradu- 2001 University of Miami Sports Hall of Fame ate, but we’ve decided without a doubt Christopher Browne was inducted last spring with eight other inductees, in- that our future children will be attend- into the 2016 Athletic Hall of Fame for cluding former NFL stars Kellen Winslow, ing Ransom Everglades!! I just started football, basketball and baseball. Chris was Jr., and Willis McGahee. A state tennis my second year of orthopedic surgery reunited with former football teammates champion at Ransom Everglades, Bradley residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital/ Grant Souviron ’01, Michael Feinberg Rose was a two-time All-American at University of Miami and would love to ’01 and Chris Courbier ’01, all pictured Miami who set the school record for victo- cover RE athletics one day. Go Raiders!” in the photo held by Grant. ries in one season (44 out of 46 matches in Hillary Lewin Tuvia writes that “On Josefina Farra married Aaron Talone, 2000-01). March 29, 2016, my husband Guy and I from Moorestown, N.J., on May 21, had our second baby boy, Elijah Lev. Our 2016, at Epiphany Catholic Church. The 2002 first is two-and-a-half, and his name is reception took place at the Adrienne Arsht Danielle Rudy Davis recently oversaw Ariel.” Center Knight Concert Hall. Josefina’s sis- the planning and coordination of the meter, Nelly M. Farra ’96, served as maid morial for The Greatest, Muhammad Ali. 2003 of honor. Josefina reports that she is Davis has worked on the planning of the Jenny Carson is teaching social sciences an assistant professor of surgery within event for the last eight years in her role as at Ransom Everglades after a summer the Division of Endocrine Surgery at Vice President at Boxcar Public Relations enjoying her family and friends - includ- the University of Miami Miller School in Louisville, Ken. Davis managed all ing Ashley Zohn ’00 - and cruising the of Medicine. Her clinical practice in- media relations for the international event, Baltic. volves thyroid surgery, minimally invasive which included a 19-mile processional parathyroid surgery and laparoscopic ad- and televised memorial with eulogies from Michael Green was married to Jessica renalectomy. Her clinical interests include Pres. Bill Clinton, Billy Crystal and Bryant on December 13, 2014. He also celebrated benign and malignant diseases of the Gumbel. Davis lives in Louisville with her a five-year work anniversary at Gunster thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands, husband Drew and three children – Drew, (where he is an associate in the firm’s as well as multiple endocrine neoplasia five; Reese, two; and Blake, seven months. business litigation department) in June (MEN) syndromes. 2016. Marcel Laniado writes, “My wife, Marielis, gave birth to our first son, Luis Rodrigo Zamora Teran went to Babson Mauricio Laniado, on Wednesday, July 13, College, graduating 2007 in with a 2016. We are all doing great and falling bachelor’s degree in finance and econom- into our new routine as a family.” ics, then went on to get his MBA at the Incae Business School in Nicaragua. He got married on March 19, 2016, in Nicaragua, joined by a handful of friends from Ransom Everglades: Marcos Azar, Michael Lluria, Arturo Pedroso, Raul Boesel, Luke Samson, Ronald Lacayo, Rodrigo Zamora, Diego Zamora, Manuel Carreño, Danny Ruiz (see photo next page). Rodrigo has remained in Nicaragua working for his family’s business – a financial group in Central America that is headquartered in Miami (www.lafise.com). He reports: “I am very proud of social work that as a family we are promoting in the Central American and Caribbean region. We created the

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 57 Class Notes 2004 Lauren Feingold is partnering with Olympic soccer gold medalist Hope Solo as she and business partner Ashanty Williams introduce a new high-performance nutrition bar – the Shanti Bar – to the market. The product is 100 percent raw, vegan and organic. Feingold is the chief executive officer of Organically Raw, the Miami-based company that launched the Shanti Bar and aims to become the leader in high-performance, high-protein, nutrient-dense, raw superfoods. “We want to create a revolution whereby sports Zamora Teran foundation in 2009 to help we show you how to wear them, where and active performance nutrition is fu- improve education in Nicaragua. We have to buy them, and how to bring these key eled by natural sources and superfoods,” had remarkable results (www.funda- pieces back into your wardrobe rota- Feingold told the Miami Herald. You can cionzt.org). We are also on Facebook, tion season after season. It’s our goal to read the story here: Instagram and Twitter as Fundacion help you feel informed, comfortable, and http://hrld.us/28YRcpM Zamora Teran.” Babson Video: https:// confident in your fashion choices from the youtu.be/y-3wjanDhPo CNN en Español: casual everyday skinny jean to the elegant Ray Lloret and his wife Frances https://youtu.be/E47jvw9PCZM evening gown — at any price point.” welcomed their first Michael Toccin and his wife Alexandra Margo Lederhandler Zolkind flew child, Camila launched Stylists to a T online this past home to Miami from New York City with Marie, to the May. Michael and Alex have both been her baby, Levi, for the first time since his world on involved with the fashion for as long as birth in May. Waiting to welcome her May 28, anyone can remember and have followed family were (from L to R, all Class of ’03): 2016. Ray is their passion for fashion throughout their Jessica Shore Pomeraniec, mom to an associate professional careers. They have unveiled a Andrew (2) and Matthew (5); Morgan at Gaebe, new website and are on Facebook, Twitter, Sendzischew Shane, mom to Dylan (2 Mullen, Instagram and Pinterest. In their own months), Margo and Levi; Danielle Katz Antonelli & words, “Stylists to a T is a fashion blog Squires, mom to Ari (1); and Laura DiMatteo. that cuts through the noise of seasonal Greer Haim, mom to Charlie (7 months) trends and highlights the essential items and Oliver (2). David Trujillo took over this summer as for your closet. As your personal stylists, general manager of the restaurant Spasso – a two-minute walk from Ransom Everglades – to extend an exciting trek through Miami’s dining scene following his graduation from Boston University, where he majored in hospitality management. His first job out of college: beverage

58 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 director/operations manager at the trendy EPIC Miami hotel as it prepared to launch. 2009 From there, he went to Twist South Beach, Alex Hamm is a singer-songwriter for where he served as general manager, and the Los Angeles-based rock duo Miracle then to Miami Beach’s Eden Roc, where Monday, which recently completed a he was wine steward. He has brought a southwestern U.S. road trip. Formerly range of engaging events to Spasso, from known as “A Few Good Years,” the band live music to deejays to karaoke nights to features Alex on guitar and Michael game-day Sundays. RE faculty, students neighborhood. This past May I partici- Coverly on bass. The duo was affiliated and friends flocked to Spasso on Aug. 19 pated in the Our House event hosted by with the Vans Warped Tour ’16, with to cheer Ashleigh Johnson ’12 on to an Brillhart Architecture and Gretel Home. the young L.A. artists serving the tour as Olympic gold medal with the U.S. Olympic Three furniture pieces I designed and built volunteers and performing their original women’s water polo team. The Miami while attending the Center for Furniture music to enthusiastic gatherings along Herald and NBC Channel 6 showed up. Craftsmanship in Rockport, ME, (2012- the way. The band sold hundreds of CDs “We really want to work our curb appeal 13) were displayed at the Brillhart home and various Miracle Monday shirts and to offer a happy and fun place to dine and in the Spring Garden neighborhood. other merchandise. Fans in several cities spend time,” David said. Included is a photo of the piece ‘Cupid’s enjoyed the live performances and posted Bench’ displayed amongst other items at their support on the band’s Instagram 2005 the event. In my spare time I crew on an page. Miracle Monday produces 100 Etchells sailboat and play ultimate Frisbee percent of its music, recordings, perfor- Wifredo Fernandez is now working at on Key Biscayne.” mances, CDs and merchandise. FIU, and is helping develop a new university-wide startup initiative. He is in charge Zachary Skipp reports that he earned his Matt Hoffer-Hawlik showed off his of Innovation and Economic Development MFA in Film and Television Production command of facts on the game show at the university. from the University of Southern California Jeopardy! on July 6, defeating two op- School of Cinematic Arts and moved from ponents and winning more than $29,000. Alex Vara is a fourth-year orthopedic Pasadena to Santa Monica. He has ac- Hoffer-Hawlik, who attended Yale and surgery resident at Beaumont Health cepted a job as an Agent Trainee at United works at the investment bank Outcome System in Michigan. He will be applying Talent Agency in Beverly Hills. Capital in Boston Mass., took home for an upper extremity fellowship in this another $2,000 but was eliminated the coming year. He looks forward to coming 2008 next night. Hoffer-Hawlik, the brother back home in a few years! of current RE student Carson Hoffer- Claudia Curiel recently won an Emmy Hawlik ’19 as well as RE alums Kevin 2005 Award at the 58th Emmy Awards for The Hoffer-Hawlik ’15 and Michael National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Hoffer-Hawlik ’11, said the passion for Courtney Lenner was promoted to of the National Academy of Television knowledge that helped him secure a spot Technical Project Manager in August Arts and Sciences. This was her first on the show was inspired in part from 2015 after five years at American Express. Emmy nomination as well as her first win. his four years of experience on the RE She completed her MBA at the University Claudia is currently working as a reporter Academic Team, which won several state of Florida in July 2016. She is living in a and anchor for Telemundo in Washington, championships during his tenure. He also Miami and recently got engaged to Sean D.C. During her time as a journalist in competed on the RE Geography Team and Comroe, an attorney from Philadelphia Washington, Claudia has served as mis- the Academic Competitions Team at Yale. who went to University of Miami Law tress of ceremonies at several high-profile School. Their wedding will take place in events and covered a range of stories from Katie Kralievits urged RE students Miami in March 2017. the recent immigration crisis, special during an assembly in April to do some- invitations from the White House and the thing about the disparity in healthcare 2006 historic Papal visit. that exists around the world, investing their efforts in substantive programs Brett Simon reports: “In June 2015, Scott Cypen moved back to Miami to rather than short-term relief efforts that I graduated from a two-year Masters accept a job working in compliance for the often have little impact. Kralievits is a in Architecture program at the Royal University of Miami’s athletic department. research assistant to Dr. Paul Farmer at Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Scott recently interned at RE in the athlet- the Boston-based Partners in Health, a Architecture in Copenhagen, Denmark. ics department while getting his master’s medical non-profit that partners with Additionally, I attended Danish language in sports management from UM. Scott local organizations and ministries of night classes and became fluent in Danish. now happily resides in Coral Gables. health in 10 countries to provide quality I still listen to Danish audio books to stay healthcare to those living in poverty. “I current. Since last October I have been think we can all agree Katie is living Paul working at McKenzie Craft, a custom mill- Ransom’s mission,” Head of School Penny work company located in the Allapattah

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 59 Class Notes

Townsend told the student body. “We know access to good health is one of the biggest challenges in the world.” A 2013 graduate of Notre Dame with a master’s degree in global health, Kralievits spent a year in Zambia working for Catholic Relief Alexandra Levitt gathered RE alums that work for J.P. Morgan in New York City on Services. She noted that, while short trips July 14. She, Jane Kislak ’09, Stevie Baron ’02, Cat Levy ’13, Eva Ainsley ’88, to impoverished nations as part of human- Julia Baldino ’11 and Max Belinsky ’10 showed up to Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant, itarian efforts may seem noble, they often where they exchanged RE memorabilia and enjoyed getting to know one another. Alex accomplish little. She encouraged students reports that RE alumni represent three of J.P. Morgan’s four lines of business: asset man- to seek ventures founded on the four S’s agement, consumer and community banking, and corporate and investment banking. – sufficient staff; necessary stuff; safe and sterile spaces; and strong systems. Just as Sydney Wade writes “After spending two the senior partner, which is what I am cur- important, she said, was having the right seasons (2014-15) as a public relations rently doing. While I work full time in the mindset. She urged students to hone a intern for the Baltimore Ravens, I moved gallery’s sales department, I also am an sense of cultural humility, recognizing that back to Miami in March 2016 and began artist that does photography. I currently they would never be completely culturally working for the Miami Dolphins as a live in Brooklyn, N.Y.” competent. And she encouraged them to communications coordinator. In my role, I walk with people, rather than just provid- assist with the organization’s overall coming aid. “In a global health setting, we munications strategy, interview requests 2012 need to accompany those with whom we for players and coaches and generate cov- Eyvana Bengochea was profiled in work,” she said. erage for our off-field events in the South the Columbia Spectator last spring. The Florida community.” campus publication noted her contri- Jenna Rennert is currently the Associate butions to the school as a cheerleader, Beauty Editor of VOGUE, where she president of the Columbia University writes about all things skin, makeup, 2011 College Republicans, member of the hair and nutrition. She lives in New York Will Bales and his Team Hypershock, Undergraduate Recruitment Committee with her fiancé Daniel Adler and their which included Tyler Bond ’11 and Alex and founder of Columbia College Student Insta-famous French bulldog, @lolathe- Mattaway ’11, made it to the round of Ambassadors. “I have gotten so many frenchiepuppy. They will tie the knot this 16 for the second straight season in ABC’s opportunities that I could have never November at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Battlebots, an elimination competition dreamed possible without Columbia,” Garden in Coral Gables, Fla. that aired on Thursdays throughout the Bengochea, an art history and political summer, pitting robots against each other. science double major, told the collegiate Alan Schimmel, see Will Bales ’11 Team Mohawk, which included Greg newspaper. “I have tried to help in what- Bales ’17, Alan Schimmel ’09, Tom ever way so that more students graduate Carina Zito was recently promoted to and Max Bales, Connie Ryan, Korey Kline feeling as incredibly happy and fulfilled as Senior Account Executive at 360 Public and Christian Chiriboga, defeated two I am.” Relations, a full-service consumer public other robots in its first match before being relations agency based in Boston, Mass. eliminated. Ashleigh Johnson received a hero’s welcome at Ransom Everglades just six weeks Carina is a member of the 360 Healthy Amelia Grant-Alfieri is now a Science before winning a gold medal at the 2016 Living team and supports the Ball can- Teaching Fellow at The Barrie School in Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro and two ning, MegaFood, Lightlife and Krusteaz Silver Spring, Md. accounts. weeks after. See story, page 41. Tatiana Suridis writes, “While still in my second semester of senior year Amanda Rolle graduated this past May 2010 at Columbia in 2015, I began working from Loyola in New Orleans, La., and will Morgan Harvey is attending graduate part-time as a gallery assistant at the begin her Masters in Criminal Justice, also school at the University of Alabama. She is David Zwirner Gallery in New York. After at Loyola. working towards her Master of Science in graduation, I began working full time, and Communication Disorders. within nine months of working full time, I was promoted to be the sales assistant to

60 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 2013 Aliza Perez writes “I will be entering my fourth year of undergraduate studies at Boston College. My major is biology and I am in the pre-med tract. At Boston College, I am a health coach and mentor for Latino students as well as pre-med students. I am the public relations representative for the Photographed are members of 2016 at the Head of School Luncheon during Alumni Cuban-American Student Association as Weekend where they were welcomed to the Alumni Association with RE pins. well as member of Fuego, Boston College’s Latin dance team. I studied abroad in Faculty/Staff Venice International University during the summer of 2015. I am a part of Phi Eta Gila Aloni was invited this spring to to conduct STEM research under the guid- Sigma Honor Society and The National contribute to a peer-reviewed academic ance of a professor and with the help of Society of Collegiate Scholars. After I journal published by the South Atlantic a graduate student. The opportunity was graduate from B.C. in May 2017 I plan to Modern Language Association. Her article, facilitated by Dr. Niki Pissinou, parent of work for a year and then apply to medical “From Medieval to Pop Culture: An Old- Alex Pissinou Makki ’17. Jean worked school. During the summer of 2016, I took World New Text, the Golem of Prague – A with FIU professor Leonardo Bobadilla physics and worked with a dermatologist.” Traveling Monster/Hero” was included and graduate student Tauhidul Alam on in a special issue devoted to texts as fractals in robotics. The goal of the project Sam Singer earned honorable mention memoirs. Aloni’s paper studies an Israeli was to develop a method for a robot to Pac-12 Academic All-American status graphic novel as a mnemonic device in the interact with an unknown terrain using for the second straight season as a junior form of comics. fractals to help it navigate that terrain. It guard at the University of California. He remains ongoing. Jean reports that the started nine games at guard, averaging Michelle Black recently served as a experience was educational and exciting, 19.9 minutes, 3.7 points and 2.5 rebounds. Fairness Reviewer for the College Board allowing her to dive deep into a subject The Bears made it to the NCAA tourna- SAT Writing and Language forms. Michele that always fascinated her. She noted ment last March, losing in the first round. was tasked with reviewing SAT test forms that the opportunity to research and use specifically for anything that could be the programming software, MatLab, will viewed as discriminatory, and determin- inform her teaching of mathematics, and 2015 ing whether the forms included words or offered a special thanks to Dr. Pissinou for The innovative, scientific and often bub- concepts that may not be familiar to all providing the opportunity. bling or exploding dishes prepared by chefs students regardless of culture, gender, age, David Lanster and Kelly Moran were on ethnicity, etc. She joined 19 other review- display at a host of historic and interest- ers on the SAT. ing Miami locales – Coral Gables Merrick House, Soho Beach House, LAB Miami, Jennifer Carey has been accepted to Miami Beach Botanical Garden, Locust present at the National Association of Projects and Deering Estate over the sum- Independent Schools’ annual conference mer. The company the pair started as RE in March 2017 with Sarah Hanawald, juniors – DK Culinary Ventures – executed Executive Director of the Association a Traveling Dinner Series called “Axis.” The of Technology Leaders at Independent team “popped-up” at various venues across Schools, and Kelsey Vrooman, Director of Miami, serving up signature 16-course Instructional Design and Technology at menus to 18 guests each night. NAIS. They will present on, “Technology at your Service: Building a Mission-Driven Technology Department.”

2016 Ann Goesel, faculty emeritus, celebrated Welcome Members of the Class of Jackie Collaso, see Sharon Halstead her 90th birthday on August 25. Ann en- 2016 to the RE Alumni Association! ’89, see Cristel Marin, see George joyed the day with family and friends at a Congratulations to you all! At this time we Kasyan luncheon at the Pagoda hosted by Head of would like to announce your class agents: School Penny Townsend. Many longtime Will Glass, Dimitri Godur, Alyssa Jean Duty took part in the National RE colleagues joined the festivities. Here Lloret, Ahan Malhotra, Mariana Science Foundation’s Research she is with Penny Matthews, Penny Sanchez-Medina and Owen Experiences for Teachers program, which Townsend and Dan Bowden. Zighelboim is designed to give teachers an opportunity

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 61 Additional Notes James McCrink presented his paper, businessman and was responsible for the “The Dynamics of Resistance: Michelle construction and operation of numerous Cliff’s ‘No Telephone to Heaven’” at the fuel stations located between the Florida 14th Annual South Florida Latin America Keys and Central Florida. Although his and Caribbean Studies Graduate Student work ethic was seconded by none, Warren Conference on April 22, 2016. The event always found the time to spend with his was co-hosted by the University of Miami, family. Warren had an immense passion Florida International University and for fishing and hunting, which he shared Florida Atlantic University. McCrink also with his family. Warren was always the took part in a panel discussing renditions happiest when he was either offshore sail of film and literature in Latin America and fishing or in the woods hunting. Along the Caribbean. the way, Warren made many friends who loved and respected him. Warren Monique Regis celebrated the success was always available and willing to help of her cousin Brianna Rollins, a native any friend in need. On August 4, 2016, Miamian who claimed the Olympic gold Warren passed away. He is survived by his medal in the 100-meter hurdles in Rio de George Kasyan celebrated his 70th wife Janice Sands and his two sons Curtis Janeiro this summer. birthday this past summer with close fam- Sands and Charles “Doc” Sands. ily and friends. Pictured are John Lewis, Matt Stock was one of 33 artists from Stephen Willard Ragsdale Shaw ’64 Ginny Onorati, George Kasyan, across the United States chosen by the (January 16, 1945 Jackie Collaso, Greg Siegler and Alina Department of the Interior to represent - June 18, 2016) of Mendoza. the National Parks for their Centennial an- Stuart, Fla., passed niversary in a year-long display. You can away from heart fail- Sandra (Nino) Lacayo married Freddy see Matt’s image from Biscayne National ure while vacationing Lacayo on July 2, 2016. They have four Park if you are traveling through the in California. Steve children. Sandy’s are Sebastian (U.S. Atlanta Airport; the photo is in Terminal T was born to Marie Army) and the nine-year-old boy her North, around T-13. Ragsdale Shaw and husband is holding in the photo. Freddy’s Harry Lee Shaw of children are Isabella, five, and Isaiah, nine. Vicki Carbonell Williamson ’88, see South Carolina and raised in Larchmont, The ceremony and reception took place in Class of 1988 N.Y. He attended Orme School, Mayer, Doral. Sandy’s son Sebastian walked her Ariz., and graduated high school from down the aisle in his blues uniform. It was In Loving Memory the Ransom School. He received a BA a very special day! Harriet Brown Grinnell, from The College of William and Mary, a former faculty member, where he was a member of Lambda Chi died on June 13, 2016. Alpha fraternity. He received an MBA Mrs. Grinnell taught from Loyola University in Baltimore, Md. at Everglades School Steve also attended the New York School for Girls and Ransom of Finance and served proudly in the Everglades for a number of United States Marine Corps. Steve began years and her three daughters his career in Baltimore before moving to – Sara Grinnell Smith ’69, Barbara Stuart in 1983 with Wilmington Trust as Grinnell ’68 and Sue Grinnell Baskin Chief Investment Officer. He later retired ’67 – graduated from Everglades. She be- from Northern Trust. Steve touched many Cristel Marin and Jerry Exum continue gan her career teaching history, geography lives with his calm, generous and thought- to enjoy ballroom dance. They partici- and government, and soon switched to ful demeanor and his strong work ethic. pated in a show on August 20, gracefully English. She was pleased that a middle- He loved history, all things Civil War and sweeping across the dance floor entertain- school writing award was named after WWII, sailing, and was a life-long scuba ing guests. Former RE colleagues Jackie her, and was surprised to learn that it was diver, exploring globally. Steve served Collaso and Carmen Shershin were in still being given a few years ago. Ransom his community in several nonprofits and attendance. Everglades was an important part of her was active in many organizations. He was life and her daughters remain grateful for predeceased by his parents and brother, her years at the school. Ned. Steve is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary-Jim Shaw of Stuart; and his Warren Matthew Sands ’80 was born two children, Stephen Stovall Shaw of on June 30, 1962, and was the son of Marathon, Fla., and Lee-Berkeley Shaw Dorothy Sands. Warren was a Miami of Washington, D.C. He is also survived native and extremely industrious at an by his brother, Harry (Berta) of Bellevue, early age. Warren became a successful Wash.; stepmother, Jocelyn of Fairfield,

62 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Conn.; sister, Jill Woolworth (Rick) of Greenwich, Conn.; brother, Gray (Karyn) of Berkeley, Calif.; and sisters-in-law, Ann- Meade Simpson (Bob) of Virginia Beach, Va., and Nancy Hawthorne (Bagley) of Kenbridge, Va.; and many cherished niec- es, nephews, cousins and their families.

John “Jack” Worrilow ’40, age 95, died peacefully early on July 1, 2016, at the Lebanon VA Medical Center. He was the son of William Henry Worrilow and Pauline Emma (Light) Worrilow with widespread community interests having served as Mayor of the City of Lebanon from 1965 to 1972. An officer of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Worrilow served on active duty with the Fifth Marine Division for WWII and was recalled to (L-R) Morris Broad, Emma Broad ’19, Laura Alonso-Gallo, John Bussel ’87, Ann Bussel, Debby Bussel ’79 and active duty for the Korean War. He retired Steve Goldin from the Corps after a quarter century of service. He was employed by Lebanon Steel Foundry as corporate secretary, assistant to the president and a director for Ransom Everglades mourns nearly 30 years until the Worrilow Family sold their half interest in the Company. Mr. Worrilow was also a former trustee of passing of esteemed benefactor Lebanon Valley College, a former board Ransom Everglades School mourns the passing of an esteemed member of the Miami community and member of the Pennsylvania Dutch huge-hearted benefactor, Morris Naum Broad, 81, who died on September 1, 2016. Through the Council, Boy Scouts of America and a merit badge counselor. He was awarded Shepard Broad Foundation, where he served as chairman, Morris gave generously to Ransom Everglades the Silver Beaver, the Boy Scouts’ highest School, launching the Annual Alumni Scholarship Endowment Fund and acting as the driving force be- award at the local level. Mr. Worrilow was hind the Broad REACH Pool, a five-lane, 25-yard pool open to underserved members of the community. also a recipient of the Kiwanis Outstanding Morris intended that the scholarships assist students who could not otherwise afford an RE education, Citizen Award. In addition, he was acknowledging the value RE provided various family members who attended or graduated from RE, in- Lebanon Community Library President cluding: Daniel Bussel ’78, Deborah Bussel ’79, Karen Bussel Berman ’83, John Bussel, Melissa for a period. His many other community interests included: president, PA League Sheppard Broad ’89, Kenny Broad ’84, Elaine Broad ’86, Mark Kayton ’84, Matthew Kayton of Cities; president and campaign chair, ’84, Pamela Kayton ’92 and the late Elliot Kayton ’96. Morris was born April 11, 1935, in Burlington, United Way of Lebanon County; board Vermont. He was the son of Shepard and Ruth Kugel Broad. Morris moved to Miami Beach at age five member of WITF; and member of Zion with his parents and sister Ann. Morris attended Miami Beach High Lutheran Church. Head of School Penny and went on to graduate from the University of Miami, where he Townsend had the privilege of meeting Mr. Worrilow, an alum of the Adirondack- was a founding member of its Zeta Beta Tau chapter and funded a Florida School, on a trip to PA last year. scholarship that supports students who contribute to community Jack had many fond memories of AFS life. After serving in the Florida National Guard, Morris returned to and was extremely proud of his affiliation. Miami Beach, and became the third employee of American Savings He and Mrs. Townsend became immedi- & Loan Association, the first state-chartered savings and loan ate friends and corresponded via email Morris and Anita Broad in the country. He rose to become president, building American regularly. Savings into a $3-billion institution with 57 branches. Morris quietly helped people from all walks of life and countless others through his philanthropy. He flourished in his roles as Chairman of the Shepard Broad Foundation and Vice President and Director of the Ruth K. Broad Biomedical Research Foundation at Duke University School of Medicine, carrying on the philanthropic legacies of his parents. He and wife Anita Earnest Broad spent recent years engaged in philanthropic work together and enjoying their grandchildren, Ransom Everglades students Emma ’19 and Sara ’23. He extended his love to family, friends and many others. He was “Uncle Morris” to countless people.

FALL 2016 Ransom Everglades LOG 63 2016-17 Alumni Calendar

Wednesday, November 23, 2016 Saturday, January 28, 2017 Friday, April 28 – Saturday, April 29, 2017 Young Alumni Cocktail Party Alumni Baseball Alumni Weekend Classes of 2002 – 2013 Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade Ransom 1967 – 50-Year Reunion Honoring Class of 2012 5-Year Reunion 2805 SW 32nd Ave, Miami, FL 33133 Everglades 1967 – 50-Year and Class of 2006 10-Year Reunion 10 a.m. RE 1977 – 40-Year Reunion Taurus, 3540 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, RE 1987 – 30-Year Reunion Miami, FL 33133 Saturday, March 2017 - TBD RE 1992 – 25-Year Reunion 8-10 p.m. Annual REPA Auction RE 1997 – 20-Year Reunion Gymnasium | Ransom Campus Friday, November 25, 2016 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13, 2017 Class of 2006 – 10-Year Reunion Ransom Everglades Epic Fishing The Pagoda | Ransom Campus Friday, March 17, 2017 Tournament (REEF) 7 p.m. TEDxCoconutGrove Biscayne Bay and Upper School campus Lewis Family Auditorium | Ransom Campus Thursday, December 8, 2016 2-8 p.m. Bowden Reading, “A Christmas Memory,” Swenson Hall Saturday, March 25, 2017 6 p.m. REACH Too Project A Day of Play Thursday, December 15, 2016 Overtown Youth Center Annual Alumni Holiday Party 450 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136 Important links for updated information Toy Drive for REACH Too Ransom Campus Wednesday, April 5, 2017 RE Alumni Webpage 6:30-8:30 p.m. Alumni Board Meeting www.ransomeverglades.org/alumni The Pagoda | Ransom Campus Thursday, January 19, 2017 8 a.m. Facebook Group New York City Reunion Ransom Everglades Alumni Group Yale Club Alumni Spring Weekend LinkedIn Group 50 Vanderbilt Ave, New York, NY 10017 Thursday, April 27, 2017 Ransom Everglades School Alumni 6:30-8:30 p.m. Athletic Hall of Fame Dinner The Pagoda | Ransom Campus Dates are subject to change. 7 p.m. (by invitation)

64 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2016 Coming Soon . . . The REPA Thirty-Third Annual Party & Auction

March 2017, TBD 7 p.m. until . . .

Henry H. Anderson, Jr. ’38 Gymnasium Upper School

Great Food . . . Great Music . . . Great Auction Items . . . Great Friends . . .

Stay tuned for more details! R a n som E verglades L Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Miami, Florida 3575 Main Highway Permit No. 1727 Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 www.ransomeverglades.org

305 460 8800 og | R a n som E verglades S chool | FALL 2016