Passionate Pursuits
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Fall/Winter ’08/’09 Passionate Pursuits Friends’ Central Directions Fall/Winter ’08/’09 2008-2009 Board of Trustees From the Headmaster: Ann V. Satterthwaite, Clerk Peter P. Arfaa James B. Bradbeer, Jr. Adrian Castelli Dear Friends, Kenneth Dunn Kaye Edwards I have just finished previewing the George Elser feature articles for this edition of Jean Farquhar ’70 Victor Freeman ’80 Directions, and if you can set aside the Christine Gaspar ’70 time, I believe you will be as fascinated as Robert Gassel ’69 I have been by the collecting passions of Edward Grinspan William Fordyce ’52, Joanna Schoff ’51, Walter Harris ’75 Sally Harrison Rich Ulmer ’60, Rachel Newmann Karen Horikawa ’77 Schwartz ’89, and current student Blake Deborah Hull Bortnick ’13. In her introduction, our Michael C. Kelly editor, Rebecca Anderson, sheds some Matthew S. Levitties ’85 Craig Lord light on possible motives for collecting Hillard Madway and provides additional examples of col - Ed Marshall ’68 lectors currently devoting time and effort Carol Mongeluzzi Suzanne Morrison to a favorite pastime in the School’s midst By all accounts, William Fordyce was Jeffrey Purdy and for our community’s benefit. The a very private man, and after his gradua - Lawrence S. Reichlin interest a collector displays in sharing a tion he was mainly absent from our com - Marsha Rothman collection is particularly gratifying to a munity. In the end, though, through his Jonathan Sprogell James Wright School that both encourages and sup - thoughtful and generous gift he returned Barbara M. Cohen, Emerita ports individual interests and values to the School and revealed an important Joanna Haab Schoff ’51, Emerita connections among members of the part of himself. We are moved by his community. example and deeply grateful. 2008-2009 Alumni/ae Board Mallory Floyd '96, Co-President Aaron Selkow '88, Co-President Sincerely, Rachel Newman Schwartz '89, David M. Felsen Vice President Headmaster Bess Collier '96, Secretary Jeffrey Brody '98 Gail Carter Zuagar '97 Anne Dufour Clouser '50 Alice Hess Crowell '46 Andrea Deutsch '85 David Ellis '51 Melanie McCarthy Frick '94 Bill Georges '88 Ruba Habtemicael '96 Susan Kelsay '59 Peter Klein '87 Patrick Lord '90 Jane Cubberley Luce '68 Clio Mallin '96 Cover photo by Hilary Takiff Weiss ‘96. Latifah McMullin '99 Donald Reimenschneider '52 (Left) “Festival Float of Battle at Ujikawa Bridge,” CORRECTION Alexander Schall '86 Barbara Weinberg '79 by Katsushika Hokusai, circa 1820, from the Our apologies to Albert Carter Pottash ’65 who Jessica Zeldin '88 collection of Joanna Haab Schoff ’51. was left off of his class list in the 2007 –2008 Immediate Past President Report of Gifts. Andrew Newcomb '87 1 Head of School David M. Felsen Editor Rebecca H. Anderson Director of Communications Art Director, Designer Suzanne DeMott Gaadt Gaadt Perspectives, LLC Editor’s Note : Development Office Staff Lydia A. Martin Director of Development My interest in Friends’ Central collectors pursued a passion. Their collections are Linda Waxman Wasserman ’75 Director of Alumni/ae Affairs began with William Fordyce’s gift in the varied—everything from rare Japanese James P. Brennan fall of 2007. As David Felsen notes, prints to plastic Pez candy dispensers— Director of Annual Giving William Fordyce was not an active alum - and the reasons they give for what moti - Joel F. W. Price nus, and the depth of his loyalty to the vates them are diverse—the thrill of a Webmaster/Data Specialist School caught us all by surprise. Of chase, a need for order, a love of beauty Leigh Browning course I was fascinated by his extraordi - and a foreign culture. But all of their col - Assistant Director of Communications nary generosity, but even more by the lections provide windows into other M. Brom Snyder intense passion that he had invested in worlds and times because these collectors Development Office Associate collecting. As I started talking to other were moved, not just to acquire individ - Jody Mayer Alumni/ae Relations and Annual Giving alumni/ae, faculty, and students interested ual pieces, but to reach for more knowl - Assistant in collecting, however, I realized that edge. Denise Koehler Morris there is something very familiar—at least The spirit of inquiry shared by these Development Office Secretary to our community—about William five individuals is not unique to them as Monica Peterson Fordyce’s story. collectors. It defines every member of our Development Office Secretary William Fordyce amassed one of the exceptional community. Friends’ Central largest and most significant collections of School encourages its students and facul - Printer American musical theater sheet music ty to embark on a spirited quest for Garrison Printing Company because he was inspired by the genre—its knowledge and to develop a passionate Photography: Hilary Takiff Weiss ‘96, sound, its connection to an historical attachment to ideas. Our alumni/ae sus - Michael Tolbert, Leigh Browning, moment, its visual interpretation. Walter tain that spirit in the way they live their Rebecca Anderson Annenberg once said, “If it moves me, lives and in their enduring loyalty to the We welcome any comments, letters, photo - that [is] enough. Being moved is what School. We hope you enjoy this issue of graphs, and suggestions for future issues. collecting is all about.” Much like William Directions and that we’ll hear from you Please send all communications to: Fordyce, each and every one of the collec - soon. Your stories, your passions, keep Editor, Directions tors featured in this issue has rigorously Friends’ Central vibrant. Friends’ Central School Rebecca H. Anderson 1101 City Avenue Wynnewood, PA 19096 [email protected] Visit Friends’ Central on the web at www.friendscentral.org 2 Friends’ Central Contents Departments 4 Campus Log 4 From Philadelphia to Birmingham: The 2008-2009 Film & Lecture Series 32 6 ALL STOP: Conflict Resolution in the Lower School 6 12 Fall Athletics Wrap Up 14 Fall Arts Wrap Up Feature 29 In Support 16 Pixies, Posters, and Pez: The Passionate 32 Welcome Back! Pursuits of Friends’ Central Alumni/ae. 35 Alumni/ae News • Grace, Wit and Lines: Joanna Haab Schoff ’51 43 Notes from Friends • A Passionate Chase: Rich Ulmer ’60 • A World of One’s Own: 47 Transitions Rachel Newmann Schwartz ’89 48 In Memoriam • Pop Culture All In a Row: Blake Bortnick ’13 16 • A Lasting Legacy: William Fordyce ’52 48 14 Directions Fall/Winter ’08/’09 3 All School: Campus Log From Philadelphia to Birmingham: The Fall Film and Lecture Series For nearly five years, the Film and Lecture Series has introduced wide-rang - ing topics to the Friends’ Central commu - nity. Drawing largely on the School’s richly intellectual community of parents, alumni/ae, and faculty, the Series hosts evenings of music, film, politics, and his - tory four times a year. At this year’s first Film and Lecture evening, Everett Gillison (P ’10, ’13), Deputy Mayor of Public Safety in Philadelphia, addressed a full audience of FCS parents, faculty, and alumni/ae. First, though, he reminisced. “I remember cooking at the Pumpkin Fair. That was On September 8th Friends’ Central welcomed 1001 students and 251 faculty and the job for us dads!” Gillison said. staff for the start of its 164th academic year. There were 12 new teachers, administra - “Showing your kids that you care is the tors, and staff members, and 158 new students from pre-kindergarten through 12th most important thing you can do in your grade. Director of Admissions, Barbara Behar, noted at an opening faculty meeting child’s life. This community honors that that interest in Friends’ Central continues to be very strong, with at least 5 applicants and it has touched me and my family.” for every spot. Gillison’s compassion extends well Back row, from left: James McKeogh ’00 (Middle School math teacher), Brom Snyder beyond his children and Friends’ Central. (Development Associate), Sheila Rohrer (Middle School math teacher), Daniel Kennedy (Middle On this evening in October, he spoke and Upper School music teacher), Joel Windsor (Grade 5 language arts teacher). Front row, from with conviction about solving the most left: Margaret Perry (Science Department intern), Alice McBee (Grade 1 assistant teacher) Mary pressing security issues facing the city Fran Torpey (Middle and Upper School librarian), Nina Morton (Upper School science teacher), today by extending healing. “You can’t Danielle Kurliand (Pre-Kindergarten assistant teacher). Not pictured: Latonya Nesmith (Cafeteria overlook anybody. Even on your worst Staff) and Kristen O’Dore (Athletic trainer and physical education and health teacher). day, all you have to do is at least listen to their story.” For the skeptic, Gillison out - lined the Mayor’s very concrete plans that In the last two years, the Film and addressed the topics in his new book, The include collaboration with the police Lecture series has partnered with the Word of the Lord is Upon Me: The department, a reordering of the prison Friends’ Central School Distinguished Righteous Performance of Martin Luther system, and significant attention focused Scientist Program, to bring renowned King, Jr., as well as connections to the on re-entry. The plans are ambitious and scholars to campus for a public lecture 2008 presidential election. The following enthralling, and Gillison’s talk was a per - followed by a day visiting courses and day, he visited classrooms for discussion fect launch for this year’s season. working with the students. So far, and a close reading of King’s “Letter from Friends’ Central has enjoyed the National Birmingham Jail.” Rieder connected with Geographic Explorer in Residence, Wade the students in a unique way that enabled Davis, and Columbia University geologist, them to achieve an impressive level of Peter deMenocal. These lectures reinforce engagement with the material.