The Term PotomacThe Alumni Magazine of The Potomac School • Spring 2012

Individual Accomplishment Zal Batmanglij ‘98 Zal Batmanglij Louisa Thomas ‘00 Thomas Louisa Sasha DiGiulian ‘11 Sasha DiGiulian Whitney Tymas ‘76 Jody Goehring Goehring Jody ‘99 Alex Ross ‘83 April 27–28, 2012

In just a few weeks, Potomac alumni will return to campus once again to celebrate and reconnect with classmates, friends and faculty. Join us April 27 and 28 to relive May Day, walk the trails you explored as children, and experience new traditions that help us grow as a community. ALL Potomac alumni, regardless of graduation year, are invited to come together for Reunion ’12. We will celebrate milestones for classes ending in 2 and 7!

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR ON FRIDAY, APRIL 27 7:00–11:00 pm: All-Alumni Cocktail Party and Live Music Join alumni and past and current faculty for a cocktail party in the Upper School’s Kettler Crossroads and Civali Courtyard. Don’t miss this musical extravaganza with:

Baron Tymas’75 Associate Professor of Music and Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at NCCU Kofi Burbridge ’76 The Derek Trucks Band and Tedeschi Trucks Band Oteil Burbridge ’79 Grammy Award-winning musician, Allman Brothers Band and Tedeschi Trucks Band David Moses ’76, drummer

These accomplished musicians first launched their band at Potomac in the 1970s.

To see the schedule and register go to www.potomacschool.org/alumni. Questions? Contact Laura Miller, Director of Alumni of Relations at [email protected] or 703-749-6356 II ■ The Potomac Term A Conversation Head of School Geoff Jones and Alumni Governing Council President Ann Renzy Maclean ’86

Tell me about the Strategic Plan and specifically about the goal around individual accomplishment. While our goal is to be continually strategic, peri- odically we engage in a deliberate assessment and planning process that involves the entire commu- nity. Some of the strategic goals represent continu- ing work that has been going on for some time; other initiatives are new. Our 2010-2016 Strategic Plan focuses on four goals: Transformative Teaching, Individual Accomplishment, Connected Community and Financial Sustainability.

Individual accomplishment builds on one of the great strengths of this School, which is the collaborative environment. You really can’t have a strong collaborative environment unless everyone is bringing forth his or her best effort. That is what we are seeking, and that has been the traditional strength of Potomac. You have to understand excellence from a large communal place as well as from the individual perspective, allowing each person to be more effective and inspiring to others.

Define what an “accomplished individual” looks like. We are not talking about an accomplished individual per se; we are talking about life-long learners. That is the baseline. The idea is that Potomac graduates will be broadly and deeply informed individuals who are contributors and leaders. This is not a passive process, it’s an active process. There will be milestones along the way and setbacks. In fact, the setbacks may result in more of an accomplishment than the milestones.

It sounds like the six alumni highlighted in the Strategic Plan Goal #2 magazine tell us something about individual accomplishment. Individual Accomplishment These alumni are exploring and developing their personal Expand break-through opportunities for interests and skills. That exploration leads to opportunities every student in the pursuit of self‐discovery, throughout one’s life and tells us something about how we wholeness and extraordinary achievement in and might pursue our own passions. At Potomac we have always beyond traditional academic categories. created an environment that allows individual accomplish- ment to emerge. You find your passion, and the job will create itself.

What would you like to say to alumni about the shared Potomac experience? I am so proud of the accomplishments of our alumni. We treasure all of you as individuals and as an im- portant part of our community. No matter where in your educational journey you joined us, or how long you stayed, you are part of the traditions that guide our work. One of our community’s strengths has been our willingness and ability to change with the times and yet be the School every alum would know from his or her own experience.

Spring 2012 ■ 1 ThePotomacTerm 1301 Potomac School Road, McLean VA 22101 Tel: (703) 356-4100 • Fax: (703) 749-6308 www.potomacschool.org

Head of School Geoffrey A. Jones

Director of Communications Jill Lucas

Managing Editor Johanna Droubay

Art Director & Designer The Potomac Term is published twice a year. Send letters, comments and article submissions Cissy Russell to the address on the left, or email to [email protected]. Alumni inquiries should be Photography directed to The Potomac School Alumni Office at [email protected] help Demetri Bowen us use our resources wisely. Email [email protected] with any changes of Robert Burke address (including for college students or adult children who have left home) or notice Brooks Kraft of missing or duplicate copies so that we may update our list. Thank you! Beecie Kupersmith Laura Miller Beth O’ Shea Loretta Sevier Departments table of contents 1 A Conversation: Head of School Spring 2012 and AGC President 24 Alumni Activities Your Alumni Governing Council Networking Opportunities Features Fall Frolics, Homecoming, Gatherings in NY, SF, LA 4 Individual Accomplishment at Potomac Thanksgiving, Christmas and more

34 News on Campus Alumni Profiles New Division Heads: Nancy Powell 6 Zal Batmanglij ‘98 and Jerry Kountz Speakers Talk Diplomacy, Origins of 9 Whitney Tymas ‘76 and Challenges to the Planet, Service and Economics 12 Jody Goehring ‘99

38 Athletics Highlights 14 Alex Ross ‘83 College Athletes 17 Louisa Thomas ‘00 22 Years of Accomplishments Football Wins MAC 21 Sasha DiGiulian ‘11 Post Season Awards 42 Alumni Connections 46 Class Notes 62 In Memoriam Individual accomplishment

otomac’s distinctive character was formed more than a century ago. Discovery, a child’s spontane- ous ability to explore and to engage the world through play, and the power of community to elicit each student’s greatest potential were the tenets that three women embraced as they opened Potomac’s doors on Dupont Circle in 1904. For generations since, these guiding principles have held true. And our character, values and ideals have remained steadfast. Yet our vision is never static: we continually assess our work, looking for ways to adapt, grow and improve. We understand that our students are enter- ing a world of constant change. They will need to be flexible, resourceful and Pinnovative thinkers. At Potomac, we create a dynamic foundation from which they can embark on a lifetime of learning, service and self-fulfillment. This issue ofThe Term focuses on individual accomplishment, one of the goals of our current Strategic Plan. As we look to the future, we are seek- ing to expand break-through opportunities for every student in the pursuit of self discovery, wholeness and extraordinary achievement in and beyond traditional academic categories. As we reflect on our present and our past we find numerous examples of extraordinary accomplishment. On the pages that follow are just a few of our many alumni who have followed their hearts and passions, who have demonstrated impressive individual accomplishment, and who have demonstrated great imagination in their lives’ work.

The outstanding achievements of our alumni speak to the time-tested power of Potomac’s educational model: a high bar for all students in the context of a

supportive learning environment.

Cindy Swope, French teacher since 1992

4 ■ The Potomac Term The joy of self-discovery, delight in exploring one’s emerging gifts, and the patient maturing of a deliberate practice— accomplishment Potomac excels at creating an environment rich in these foundational experiences.

Bill Cook, Assistant Head of School for Academics, teacher/ administrator since 1987

Innovation is not for the faint of heart. It takes tremendous courage to put forth 10,000 ideas, watch 9,999 of them fail, and then follow through on the one. At Potomac, it’s a skill that is not as much learned as it is lived.

Jonathan Lindsay, science teacher since 1999

Spring 2012 ■ 5 Zal Batmanglij ‘98 Batmanglij Zal Seeing and Being Seen

Writer and director Zal Batmanglij’s ’98 first feature film hits theaters April 27

ow might I describe Watch in 2012, Zal Batmanglij ’98 Washington Post. The attention piqued his mind? Kaleidoscop- has been on a wild ride since submit- the interest of Fox Searchlight, which ic,” remembers Dean of ting Sound of My Voice to the 2011 acquired the film in April 2011 and Faculty and English teacher Sundance Film Festival. The ultra-low- plans a nationwide release this year on Sheila O’Marah. “He would see budget film garnered significant buzz: April 27. multiple facets inherent in an idea, al- a “terrific and engrossing venture into Home for the holidays in late De- Hways looking to advance the complexity speculative fiction,” glowed theHolly - cember, after wrapping shooting on and depth of the subject.” wood Reporter; “bracingly ambitious” his second feature film, The East, Zal One of Variety’s 10 Directors to and “forward-thinking,” wrote The spoke with The Term before heading

6 ■ The Potomac Term Individual accomplishment

cannot be going off in a kaleidoscopic inside — the minds and communities of fashion if you want to get your work others might have something to do with done,” he says. “At the same time, it’s being transplanted from one culture to because I can run on multiple frequen- another at an early age. Born in France, cies that I can oversee and pay attention Zal moved with his family to the U.S. at to all the many different aspects of film- age 7. From then on he expressed an en- making.” thusiasm for engagement remembered What could this mean for Zal’s first clearly by all of his favorite teachers. film? It’s safe to say that Searchlight’s “He was very enthusiastic about support will give Sound of My Voice everything,” remembers retired sixth a fighting chance. After all, this is the grade teacher Jane Lorentz. “It doesn’t same studio that released indie hits matter what it was. Whatever he was Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, Sideways asked to do, he jumped right in and and Little Miss Sunshine. But Sound of gave it his all.” Such as rehearsing his My Voice is no Little Miss Sunshine. It Oscar acceptance speech. is darker, coarser — more akin to The “She made me practice it,” Zal insists. Wrestler and Black Swan (also Search- “First he would thank his parents,” light features), but made on a smaller budget and originally conceived as a se- rial for the Web. Voice is a fictional film “We’re really hungry to connect fully about two documentary filmmakers with human beings and also to have who infiltrate a cult intending to expose it. Along the way, one of them seems something real transpire between us and to fall under the spell of the cult leader, other people, but also us and the world.” who may or may not be from the future. “I am hungry for the authentic ex- perience, the unmitigated experience, says Ms. Lorentz, “then he’d thank some a raw experience,” says Zal. “I think we other people. Then I would make him all are. We’re really hungry to connect say, ‘And I want to especially thank my fully with human beings and also to sixth grade teacher.’” have something real transpire between Although Zal claims indifference on us and other people, but also us and the the subject of Oscars today, he feels pas- world.” sionately about the lessons he learned At Potomac, that affinity for con- in Ms. Lorentz’s classroom, which he nection expressed itself even in history remembers as especially strict and class. Retired Upper School history structured. “Sometimes people think back to LA for five months of 12-hour teacher Gail Nields remembers, “He that to be a creative person you have days in the editing studio. connected with the historical people to be really creatively free all the time,” For all the glamour associated with and what they were grappling with so he says. “I don’t think that’s necessarily Hollywood filmmaking, the act itself that history wasn’t just memorizing true. At least for me, structure and fair- involves less glitz than grit and guts. facts. History was understanding why ness and safety, emotional and physical, “It’s like the army. We wake up at 7 am people made the decisions they did. inspire more creative freedom. And and we don’t finish shooting ‘til 9 pm. And that makes for an extraordinary Mrs. Lorentz definitely taught me that.” We have 20 minutes off for lunch. It’s history student.” Zal’s job as a director, then, is to cre- an intense, regimented day. Your brain This longing to see inside — tobe ate a similarly safe space for his actors,

Spring 2012 ■ 7 Individual accomplishment

Mr. Morgan directing. I was like, clearly independent films would pick up our I’ve been mistaken and directing is a movies.” And although Zal is extremely lot more fun than acting. You get to grateful for and excited by this, he tell everyone what to do.” Which was doesn’t necessarily see Searchlight as his particularly appealing to Zal, who says one big break. he sometimes felt powerless as a child. “I think your big break is whenever “The really good teachers cultivate in you’re seen,” he says. “You really remem- their students a feeling of agency rather ber the times when someone sees you. than letting them feel powerless, which Your life comes into focus — from the of course they are.” kaleidoscopic to the focused. I felt that Perhaps even more meaningful to Jane Lorentz saw me, and it changed Zal than the bonds he formed with his my life. That’s another asset of Potomac: teachers were those he established with if one teacher does not see you, which friends. “I had some amazing friends happened to me many times, then an- at Potomac that educated me about the other teacher will. And then your life quality of people you can find out there leaps forward.” in the world,” he says. “We forged such intense, close, intimate relationships. I came out of high school used to that and then hungry to find that in college. And that was a major “I think your big break is whenever part of why I’m making movies today, because I you’re seen. You really remember the met [filmmaker] Mike times when someone sees you.” Cahill and then Brit Marling at Georgetown. We formed relation- who might be asked to cry, sing, dance ships that were very or make love in front of a film crew and similar to the relation- camera on any given day. “That’s pretty ships I had in high intense work that can easily devolve into school.” being really unsafe or emotionally way Now Zal and Mike too overwhelming. Part of what I do is Cahill find themselves set the parameters: these are the bound- among a small stable aries we’re not going to cross.” of up-and-coming Of course, there were instances in young directors being Zal’s Potomac career when he perceived groomed by Fox himself as outside of the safe inner circle Searchlight. “We were of some group or other. Although he so chuffed and happy pined to be an actor, he says he wasn’t just to do movies at cast in any good parts in the seventh Sundance. Little did and eighth grade plays. “So I spent the we know that the best entire time watching Mr. Moriarty and studio in the world for

8 ■ The Potomac Term Whitney Tymas ‘76 Tymas Whitney

Power Concedes Nothing Without a Demand

Spring 2012 ■ 9 Individual accomplishment

An Interview with Whitney Tymas ’76, Director of the Vera Institute’s Prosecution and Racial Justice Program

ore than 1 in full share of rights within our democ- Of all the actors in the criminal 100 American racy — to certain housing, jobs, public justice system, it’s the prosecutor that adults is locked benefits and, most importantly, to vote. wields the greatest power. Prosecu- up. We’ve got Imagine the aggregate impacts of black tors get to decide what and how many more people incarcerated than any and brown people disproportionally charges to file, whether to upgrade or Mcountry in the world. America held losing the right to vote. reduce charges, what types of plea offers more than 2.3 million adults in its These numbers are not some in- and sentencing recommendations to prison system in 2008. China came explicable anomaly. They reflect our make, and a host of other things. A lot second with about a million and a half. priorities and our policies. And viewed of the decisions that prosecutors make Russia was a distant third with less than in the context of our nation’s legacy of might not be the result of conscious rac- a million. We are the global leader when ism, but we all carry our biases. They’re it comes to putting our people behind deep, unconscious and internalized. bars. That’s shocking unto itself. Then And the impact, when you look at many you start breaking the numbers down thousands of cases, can be very harmful by who’s getting locked up: one in 30 and can result in vast societal disparity. men between the ages of 20 and 34 is The Prosecution and Racial Jus- now incarcerated. For black men be- tice Program is the first of its kind. tween 20 and 34, that number is 1 in 9. To help prosecutors do their jobs more This just happened. It is the result fairly, we work with them to look at all of steady growth in our criminal jus- Whitney and her brother, Baron of the points at which they exercise dis- Tymas ‘75 tice system over the past four decades. cretion. If we uncover areas of concern, And I had to get from Southeast Much of the prison boom was fueled by we work closely with the offices to find racism, there is a growing awareness Washington to McLean, Virginia, every the war on drugs. The result is a seri- that significant bias exists in the crimi- out what’s going on, why unwarranted ous situation with dire implications for nal justice system. It just does. I can disparities exist, and then to address day to go to Potomac, which was kind of everyone, but particularly for commu- say this with utter conviction, having them through the development of policy a trek across the world. I think I always nities of color. Not only do these com- been a defense attorney, having been where necessary. No one’s ever attempt- hoped I would do work that might make munities face the immediate hardship a prosecutor. Against that backdrop, ed this before. While people may have of disproportionate contact with law folks started scrutinizing judges and had hunches about how prosecutors do the world a better place. enforcement, they face ancillary conse- police officers. Recently, through Vera’s business, no one else has actually gone quences. For example, when people are Prosecution and Racial Justice Program, into these offices, analyzed the numbers labeled felons, they stand to lose more attention is now being directed towards and worked collaboratively to address than their liberty. They also lose their the prosecutor’s role. racial disparity.

If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation are men who want crops without plowing up the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. —Frederick Douglass, 1857

10 ■ The Potomac Term n June 2011, Whitney Tymas became director of the Prosecution and The environment in which pros- less justice and less safety for everyone. Racial Justice Program at the Vera ecutors make decisions has been I grew up in the ‘60s during a period I Institute of Justice, a nonprofit center for compared to the “black box.” So it takes of great civil unrest. I was, as a young a rare prosecutor to invite an organiza- kid, aware daily of the chasm between justice policy and practice. Tymas began tion in to look for areas of racial dis- the haves and the have-nots. I was also her career as a public defender with parity — one who is forward thinking blessed to have been born to parents who and committed to transparency and reinforced in me commitments to service the Neighborhood Defender Service of accountability. The first few jurisdic- and who talked about current events and Harlem. She later worked at the Office of tions we worked with were Milwaukee, told me why people were out protesting on the Appellate Defender in New York and Wisconsin; Mecklenberg, North Caro- the Mall every weekend. And I had to get lina; and San Diego, California. We just from Southeast Washington to McLean, as a prosecutor in Richmond, Virginia. started work in Manhattan this January. Virginia, every day to go to Potomac, She also ran the Gun and Gang Violence I definitely did not go to law which was kind of a trek across the world. school intending to be a prosecu- I think I always hoped I would do work Prosecution Program and the Southwest tor. I started out with the Neighborhood that might make the world a better place. Border Crime Program for the National Defender Service of Harlem, which was Potomac is special. It respects and District Attorneys Association. Tymas an experimental, completely innovative celebrates the individuality of each Vera project. NDS was the first office of young person, and it values each stu- holds a BA from Barnard and a JD from its kind to provide criminal defense to dent as a unique member of the com- New York University. indigent clients in a holistic way. It was a munity. I think the emphasis on creativ- community-based law office designed to ity and self-expression is very healthy, function like a private law firm, to deliver and the environment, the proximity to Stevie Wonder singing “Living for the the highest quality of services. We were trees and grass — those are wonderful City” — those were the anthems of my components to an education. And cer- youth. I couldn’t hear “Living for the City” tainly the relationships that I developed without crying as a kid. I had to turn the And I had to get from Southeast at Potomac have nourished me through- record player off. These cultural icons had Washington to McLean, Virginia, every out my life. an impact on the direction my life took. day to go to Potomac, which was kind of I have many heroes who are un- So in addition to the nameless heroes and known. I think that life for regular peo- ancestors who basically worked and died a trek across the world. I think I always ple is challenging. It always has been. for the likes of me, there were others who hoped I would do work that might make So my heroes are the people who have in a cultural context were so inspiring to the strength to get up every day and do many kids of my generation. the world a better place. jobs they may not want to do. They’re I remember growing up hear- people who are committed to helping ing Frederick Douglass’ statement: others in small ways and without get- “Power concedes nothing without a de- open and available to help our clients and ting credit. I don’t have a groupie bone mand. It never did and it never will.” This their families around the clock. in my body. I tend to respond in the statement emphasized how important it People are not going to want to same way to people who are famous as I is to work for your freedom. To agitate cooperate or participate in the admin- would to regular people. That’s a lasting when necessary. To make noise when istration of justice if they’re not being consequence of a childhood at Potomac, necessary. History has shown that this treated fairly. Witnesses will not want to surrounded by so many notable parents. may lead to a verbal or even a physical come forward. Communities just won’t It really demystified fame. struggle. But there is a measure of work buy in if historical tensions and mis- Listening to Aretha Franklin sing- and demand that’s always necessary for treatment continue. That will result in ing “Young, Gifted and Black” and people to achieve their own freedom.

Spring 2012 ■ 11 Jody Goehring ‘99 Jody Goehring

ody Goehring ‘99 is at the helm of a revolu- Well Suited tion. His location: New York City. His title: director of operations. His mission: to make As director of operations for buying menswear such a tailor-made experi- ence that the term “shopping” assumes a brand premium menswear label Alton Lane, J new identity. Jody Goehring ’99 does business Jody hopes to accomplish this fashionable feat by shaking up the retail industry with Alton Lane — the premium, custom with style. menswear label he joined in March 2011. Housed on the sixth floor of an unassuming brick building in Manhattan’s Flatiron district, the Alton Lane headquarters seems less a store and By Leah Faye Cooper ‘02 more a modern, distinguished gentlemen’s lair. Roomy leather furniture, hardwood floors and a sleek, well-stocked bar pro- vide the setting for Alton Lane’s cache of custom menswear services. “This is an experience,” Jody says of a visit to the showroom. “You’re not walking into some store where you flip through the racks trying to find your size. You come in, you

12 ■ The Potomac Term Individual accomplishment

have a seat on the couch, and you can ference is that Alton Lane’s appoint- garnered close to 300 new appointments have a scotch or a beer. The TV is on,” ments are as customizable as their suits. within a day of being published. And he says, pointing to a flat screen tuned At noon, a 22-year-old analyst can last year, the brand earned a coveted to ESPN, “and there are games and have a Coors Light while he picks out a spot on New York magazine’s “Best of music.” blazer; at 4 pm his managing director List,” which recognized Alton Lane as A first-time visitor steps into a 3D can watch C-Span and place an order one of the five best suiting outfitters body scanner that snaps close to 2000 for a tux. “They can have two separate in the city. In late 2011 the company pictures of his figure and stores his experiences,” Jody says. That perk is expanded to DC, opening a showroom virtual profile in Alton Lane’s computer drawing a growing number of clients situated in the historic Dupont Circle system. From there, an in-house tailor to the custom clothier, many of whom building that’s also home to the East cross-checks key measurements, and feel overwhelmed in a traditional retail Coast’s first Starbucks. the client peruses a vast selection of setting. Alton Lane recently hosted Potomac suiting fabrics and embellishments. Prior to joining the 17-person team School mixers at both showrooms. The Offerings include bespoke dress shirts, behind Alton Lane, Jody earned an fetes not only introduced alums to the blazers, slacks and ties, all fitting for the MBA from the University of Chicago brand, but were also a thank you of label’s core clientele of young profes- and was on a traditional post-business sorts from Jody to the school where he sionals who primarily work in business, school track working in investment and his brothers, Kirk ‘03 and Lee ‘09, finance or law. Clients can mix-and- banking at UBS. However, when his spent their formative years. Jody credits match the colors of their collars and friend, Peyton Jenkins emailed him Potomac with teaching him the prin- cuffs, opt for a mitre or no mitre, and in late 2010 about a position with the ciples he applies to his job daily, among pick their favorite hue of buttons. custom clothing company he’d founded them personal leadership and team- Falling into the attainable luxury with UVA buddy Colin Hunter, Jody based results. Generosity of spirit could niche, Alton Lane’s introductory suits soon traded finance for fine clothes. easily be added to the list, as Alton Lane start at $595 — roughly 40–60 percent Today, the University of Pennsylva- invests 10 percent of its profits in social below other premium brands, though nia alum is responsible for managing and environmental causes aimed at they boast the same quality. Several the complex supply chain that follows helping impoverished communities. The factors contribute to their relatively rea- a client’s order. The four-to-five-week fact that Jody doesn’t bring this up with- sonable price point, among them Alton process involves ordering fabrics from out being asked is much like a custom Lane’s elimination of the mark-ups that across the pond, shipping them to an Alton Lane suit. Classy. come with selling through high-end expert-tailor-staffed factory in Thailand, department stores, as well as a reliance and then sending the finished pieces on word-of-mouth to promote the com- to the same Massachusetts distributor pany rather than pricey ad campaigns. that houses looks from Zara and Gilt Thus, Alton Lane can offer their Thomas Groupe. From there, the garments are Ogilvy Suit for $695 while a similar shipped directly to a customer’s home. Leah Faye Cooper ’02 holds a mas- Hugo Boss ensemble costs about $1300, Though notoriously hard to impress, ter’s degree from Columbia Univer- sans customization. the fashion industry has started to sity’s Graduate School of Journalism “Something that you’d find at Berg- notice Alton Lane, and the buzz is pal- and was a recipient of the Richard T. dorf’s or Barney’s, you’re going to find pable. A feature in New York’s Gotham Baker Award for Outstanding Perfor- here,” Jody says, noting that the com- magazine and mentions on websites mance in Magazine Production. She pany sources high-end fabrics from like Forbes.com and Daily Candy have is currently a freelance writer report- Europe and invests heavily in perfecting driven considerable traffic to Alton ing on fashion trends and news for their signature pattern and fit. The dif- Lane’s site. A piece on UrbanDaddy.com Time Out New York.

Spring 2012 ■ 13 Alex Ross ‘83 Alex Ross Music That Speaks on Every Level An Interview with Alex Ross ’83, New Yorker music critic, best-selling author and emissary of classical music

hat do you re- And of course there was the John folk, a bit of popular. Music was just member about Langstaff factor — some of my most part of the fabric of life. It was not some music at Po- unforgettable early musical memories kind of elite endeavor, but it was some- tomac? were when he came for the Christmas thing anyone could do if they put their It was a fantastic music program. celebrations and led the singing of mind to it. WAllen Lentz was leading the program at Lord of the Dance. His voice was such You bought your first LP at age 10: that time. I remember that so many of a thrilling sound. I think he was very Anton Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony. the kids were involved. Allen was tre- much the architect of the music pro- Why did your interest in music mendously encouraging of my budding gram as it stood, with its emphasis on veer so much from the mainstream interest in composing, playing music and participation and on so many different at that early age? learning music theory and music history. kinds of musical traditions: classical,

14 ■ The Potomac Term Individual accomplishment

Well, I consider classical music main- stream, of course. For me it was what was playing in the house. [My parents] also took me to concerts, mostly cham- ber music concerts, around the DC area. I started buying records myself with money that I made from mowing lawns and cat-sitting and so on. My parents didn’t have any Bruckner or Mahler — the late Romantic composers. I started checking records out of the library, and then I decided I needed to own some of these symphonies for myself. Classical music was absolutely natural to me. It didn’t seem unusual or strange. It was music that spoke to me on every to know about the great Renaissance writer in the entire country who’s writ- painters, and Rembrandt and Van Gogh, ing full time about classical music for a lex Ross ‘83 has been the music as well as today’s painters. Likewise I national magazine. critic of The New Yorker since feel people should be more aware of the You’ve written that popular artists 1996. He is the author of The great history of music as well as what’s today do actually appreciate and A going on in the present time. Rest is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth draw from classical music. Century, which was a finalist for the Why don’t music lovers make clas- It’s always been that way. Before the th 2008 Pulitzer Prize and won the 2007 sical music a priority, the way art end of the 19 century, there wasn’t a real lovers make a point of learning distinction between what was popular National Book Critics Circle Award. His about art history? and what was classical. All the great com- second book, Listen to This, is a collec- A lot of people just aren’t exposed to posers of the previous centuries drew on tion of his essays for The New Yorker. it early on. In so many schools, there’s the popular music of their day. And then Alex says in his opening essay, “I hate a lack of a really good music education this division started to appear at the end ‘classical music’: not the thing but the program. There are some classical music of the 19th century, early 20th century. A name.” Music, whether classical or pop- institutions trying to give people some separate culture formed around popular ular is for Alex a central expression of of the information they need to under- music, and classical music [began] to the human condition, “It encompasses stand this music, which for the most withdraw somewhat from the main- the high, the low, empire, underground, part explains itself. When you sit down stream. And yet there have always been dance, prayer, silence, noise.” and listen to a Mahler symphony, the these strong links [between classical emotion is overwhelming. The narrative and popular music]. In the 1920s you is huge and compelling and sweeping had Gershwin straddling the worlds of level, emotional and intellectual, and I and doesn’t require a great deal of prior jazz and classical music. The same thing was somewhat puzzled to discover that knowledge to fall in love with this music. happened in the Second World War with all my friends didn’t feel the same. And But it helps to deepen your appreciation, bebop; there was a great deal of inter- I’m still puzzled by it, actually. I don’t and that’s what’s needed now. change between jazz and classical musi- know why classical music isn’t more And when you look at the media cians and composers then. And then in a part of everyone’s lives because it’s these days, it’s completely fixated on the 1960s you had the Beatles listening to such a powerful tradition. When people popular music and almost entirely avant garde classical music — John Cage think about the visual arts, they want ignores classical music. I’m the only and Stockhausen and so on.

Spring 2012 ■ 15 Individual accomplishment

So in every decade of the 20th century quite intimidating to confront a half- praying that I would someday get a job there’s been a very lively conversa- hour-long or even hour-long symphony. at The New Yorker, and that indeed tion between the classical and popular But if you drive the same path a number happened. I’m very lucky to have had worlds, and the same thing is going on of times in your car, you start to recog- a series of opportunities come my way today. A lot of [indie rock and pop art- nize all the landmarks along the way. It’s leading me to a job that I feel is abso- ists] were actually trained in classical the same way with a long-form classical lutely perfect for me. music. Joanna Newsom, Sufjan Stevens, piece. Bjork and the members of Radiohead I can’t tell anyone in advance what — they all have classical roots. And you kind of music they’re going to love. The have a lot of younger classical compos- really crucial thing is to go to a live per- ers today who grew up with pop music, formance. That’s where the music truly In The Rest is Noise, Alex lists Ten and they reflect it in their work. So this takes life. Recordings are wonderful, but Recommended Recordings for the conversation seems especially lively this is a living art form. Musicians are uninitiated as well as the seasoned right at the present moment. making their living almost entirely from concertgoer: How did Sonic Youth and Pere Ubu performances these days. So I definitely Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern, Pieces for change your perspective on popu- urge people to become part of the live Orchestra, Levine/Berlin Philharmonic lar music? performance culture because that’s how I was so absorbed in classical music it’s going to be sustained. And pay atten- (DG/ArkivMusic.com) when I was young that I wasn’t listening tion to living composers. Stravinsky, Rite of Spring and Petruska, to any other kind of music. Once I got to How did you succeed in mixing Stravinsky/Columbia Symphony (Sony) college, I became very involved in 20th- your writing career with your pas- century classical music — avant garde sion for classical music? Bartók, Concerto for Orchestra and Music for composers like Cage and Stockhausen I hadn’t planned on a journalistic Strings, Percussion, and Celesta, Reiner/Chicago who experimented with the kind of writing career. After college I was doing Symphony (RCA) music that bordered on noise. And then a little writing on the side, first for a I realized that very similar things were record review magazine that paid $2 Sibelius, Symphonies Nos. 4-7, Karajan/Berlin going on in neighboring areas of popu- for each review. But I got the free CDs Philharmonic (DG) lar music, in free jazz, in the kind of and was able to listen to a lot of music progressive end of rock. So the first rock and get a lot of practice writing, which Britten, Peter Grimes, Davis/Royal Opera House bands I ever listened to seriously were is very important. A little later I got a (Philips) Pere Ubu and Sonic Youth. That was a couple of freelance assignments from very exciting discovery, and from there magazines. On the basis of those, the Copland the Populist, Tilson Thomas/San my perspective widened enormously. New York Times became interested Francisco Symphony (RCA) I realized there’s so much in popular in hiring me as their junior fifth string music, not just the experimental end, critic. So I moved to New York in 1992. Shostakovich, Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9, but the much more mainstream zone, A couple years later I started getting Bernstein/New York Philharmonic (Sony) that I should be paying attention to. some articles in The New Yorker. It’s a Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time, Tashi (RCA) How does one begin to cultivate a paradise for a writer. So much attention N is devoted to the writing itself — the taste for classical music? Legeti, Atmosphères and Lontano, Nott/Berlin You can start anywhere. The idea is wonderful copyediting and fact check- Philharmonic (Teldec) to find a sound that catches your ear ing, the sense of freedom the editors give you to explore subjects that you and then to dig in and learn more. With Reich, Music for 18 Musicians (ECM) classical music, the key is familiarity. feel passionate about. And you get a lot So many people are used to a four- or of time to work on the pieces. I enjoyed five-minute-long song format. It can be that so much that I basically started

16 ■ The Potomac Term An excerpt from… Louisa Thomas ‘00 Thomas Louisa Conscience Two Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family—A Test of Will and Faith in World War I

By Louisa Thomas ‘00 pictured above (left) with her sister Mary ‘03

Corps of Engineers, had been wounded training camp in Texas flying flimsy orman Thomas by a German artillery shell on the west- practice planes. Yet she was proud of was expecting bad ern front in France. them all. Her relationships with each of news. His country was With two sons who were pacifists her sons were as complicated as theirs at war, his brothers were in and two sons who were soldiers, Nor- were with one another. danger, and he was the subject of man’s mother, Emma, had already felt Norman and his mother could do suspicion. Even so, the telegrams that anxious. Now she was beside herself. nothing to help Ralph on the western Narrived in the hot days of late August She had misgivings about Norman’s front. They could, however, go to Evan 1918 were worse than he feared. One pacifism and worried that his activism in Kansas. They left New York City on said that his brother Evan, a conscien- would get him in trouble. She believed August 28. As the train sped west, Nor- tious objector, had been hospitalized at that Evan’s hunger strike amounted to man dwelled on his brothers and the Fort Riley, a military training camp in suicide, and she had no idea what ex- demands of citizens and the state. “The Kansas, during a hunger strike against actly had happened to Ralph or where situation of Mother—Evan—Military— the draft. Then came word that another he had been taken. Even her young- myself has no promise of simplicity and brother, Ralph, a captain in the Army est son, Arthur, wasn’t safe. He was at ease,” he wrote to his wife, Violet.

Spring 2012 ■ 17 Individual accomplishment

Late in the summer of 1918, the being foreign could get a man lynched. exist amid plenty; that it is a perversion Thomas brothers’ conflicts were appar- Through his work as a Presbyterian of justice to be jailed for political rea- ent—and irreconcilable. All of them minister in New York City tenements sons; that Constitutional rights should believed they were fighting for freedom. and as an officer of antiwar organiza- be respected regardless of race or creed.” Evan had become a conscientious ob- tions, Norman had seen unconscionable He understood that these political, eco- jector to protest the government’s con- degradation and despair, too much nomic, and social problems were moral scription of life and conscience. Ralph inequality and too many abuses of problems, and he confronted those had enlisted in the army immediately power. American society had to change, problems publicly. He wanted others to after the United States declared war, and Norman thought, and he was starting to do the same. Arthur had followed several months believe he had a part to play. At the end of World War I, Norman later, answering President Woodrow became a Socialist. He would go on Wilson’s call to fight for “the privilege to run for president six times on the of men everywhere to choose their way • Socialist ticket, and he represented of life and of obedience.” Norman, too, democratic socialism until the day he wanted to make it possible for all men Brothers have always disagreed; fami- died. Though many of his goals for so- and women to pursue their own ends, lies have always fought. Some fights are cial reform, from civil rights legislation but he thought that violence under- bigger than others. When the Thomas to unemployment insurance, are now mined Wilson’s aims. So did the repres- brothers staked out their positions dur- law, he was not a good politician, and sive atmosphere at home, where saying ing that war, they had to reckon to an he always fared badly at the polls. His the wrong thing could land a man in unusual degree with the questions of failure as a politician, though, matters jail, and being radical, or being black, or how to live, what to fight for, and why. less than the reasons he traveled down They had to answer to one an- the path he did. He became a Socialist other, and they had to answer because he despaired at what he saw to themselves. That process and held out hope for something better. of reevaluating, explaining, He thought society had lost the balance defending, and acting on his between opportunity and equality, cre- beliefs during World War I ativity and security, the individual and changed the course of Nor- the community. He was convinced that man’s life. And after the war the capitalist emphasis on self-interest was over, he dedicated himself and profit engendered injustice, irre- to trying to help others change sponsibility, and class conflict, and that their own. it was perverse that money was treated Norman Thomas is now with greater reverence than the lives of largely forgotten, but for much workers. He was a pacifist before he was of the twentieth century it a Socialist, believing methods of force was commonplace to call him were antithetical to freedom. But his America’s conscience. In a spe- pacifism helped lead him to socialism, cial remembrance that ran two after he came to see war as the result days after his front-page obitu- and ultimate expression of capitalist ary in 1968, the New York exploitation. Times wrote, “He spoke to the As a politician he never managed feelings that most Americans (nor really tried) to put forth a coherent have about themselves: that political philosophy, except to say what they are a fair people; that it is he was not: not a Marxist, not a com- somehow wrong for poverty to munist, not a liberal, not a capitalist. At

18 ■ The Potomac Term times, during party battles, he tried to Courage was important, but what was anteed civil liberties. He harbored “a adopt a more orthodox socialism. He was necessary was courage in daily life—the profound fear of the undue exaltation of pessimistic about the state bureaucracy courage to judge right from wrong the State and a profound faith that the from the start, however, and he became and oneself before others. He thought new world we desire must depend upon less dogmatic after long and bruising freedom required the conditions that freedom and fellowship rather than fights with communists, of whom he would satisfy the basic needs of men upon any sort of coercion whatsoever.” was an early and determined opponent. and women so they might have the Despite his qualms, he believed that With his hand in many causes, he spoke chance to cultivate their own way of life, socialism represented the best hope for everywhere, in chapels and high school and so they might also treat others and a better world. gyms, atop soapboxes and on the stage at be treated by others with dignity and Madison Square Garden. He cut a strik- respect. ing figure: tall and thin, with a high fore- Norman’s faith in freedom of con- He thought society had lost the balance head and penetrating blue eyes. His voice science raised questions about citizen- between opportunity and equality, resounded, and when he made a point ship and responsibility that could not creativity and security, the individual he cut the air with the jab of a finger. He easily be answered, if at all. His brothers connected freedom to justice and justice answered those questions differently and the community. to human beings. than he did. No brother was always But that came later. When World War right, nor always wise nor always fair. Norman’s application to the Social- I broke out, Norman was an unknown Still, each understood that he was not ist Party was returned, “not because of minister, more extraordinary for his alone; he had brothers. the exceptions you wish to be recorded promise as a pastor than for his politics. upon, but because you have not filled Soon after the United States entered the out the other side.” Caught up in his war, he lost his church. He also lost his • statement of principles, Norman had faith in the aims and efforts of many forgotten to include his address and Norman Thomas was young, only liberals, including his old professor personal information. thirty-three years old, when World War Woodrow Wilson. Yet it was also a time The criticism that Norman was I ended. Yet his journey had already of discovery. Norman developed a new more concerned with listening to his been long. Its lessons, many of which sense of purpose and a new understand- conscience than attending to practical would remain with him always, were ev- ing of what makes men free: freedom of considerations has been leveled many ident in his application for membership conscience. Every person, he believed, times. But the accusation assumes that in the Socialist Party. He has been both has a conscience—a sense that he is he considered himself a solitary arbiter praised and disparaged for being an more than a creature of instinct, an of right and wrong, removed from the idealist or a utopian. He did have ideals, awareness of ultimate ethical ends—but mess of daily life. In fact, his conscience but he was less naïve about human na- not everyone is ordinarily free to heed was formed by practical experience and ture or about schemes of salvation than it. A person is not free while fighting in was responsive to it. He had a moral those epithets suggest. In the letter that war or living in extreme poverty. A per- instinct, but his convictions and actions accompanied his application, he wrote son is not free if he is censored or un- were also shaped by his family, friends, that he believed in the necessity of es- justly jailed. During the war, Norman’s school, and work, by what he did and tablishing a more just economic order own brother Evan was sentenced to life what he saw. His story is part of the than capitalism provided, but noted that in prison for refusing an order to eat. shifting intellectual, social, and religious he was applying with reservations. “My The politicians who led their coun- context of the early twentieth century. It accepting of the Socialist platform is on tries into World War I described it as a is also part of his family’s story. For the the basis of general principles rather war for freedom. But Norman became Thomas family, conscience was not an than of details,” he wrote. He was wary convinced that an ethical society could empty word. It made demands. not emerge from the inferno of battle. that the Socialists had not always guar-

Spring 2012 ■ 19 Individual accomplishment

The Thomas family, left to right: Emma (Jr.), Agnes, Emma (Sr.), Arthur, Welling, Ralph, Norman and Evan

twentieth century, the American gov- to ernment began to play a role in the lives the brave • of its citizens it had never played before. who went for conscience’ sake This book ends just after the end of New technologies, immigration, scien- to trench or to prison World War I. It has little to say about tific advances, religious conflicts, and this book is dedicated Norman as a politician, because Nor- ideological battles were changing the The dedication was to his brothers, man was not then a politician. It is world. There emerged a new language with whom he had so often disagreed. instead about his turn toward politics about the common cause of humanity That book was, therefore, a family story, and the experiences that shaped him and cooperation among states, women’s and so is this. It happens to be my own and his enduring commitments. He is suffrage, a new conception of civil liber- family—Norman Thomas was my great- the central figure in this story, but it is ties, and the groundwork of movements grandfather—but Norman took a more also a story about his family, and espe- to come. The most vivid manifestation expansive view of brotherhood, and so cially about his brothers. It moves from of that turmoil was a war that killed will I. In the Thomas brothers’ history, the crowded rivers of Bangkok to the nine million soldiers and sailors by the we all might find some of our own. clipped lawns of Princeton University, time the guns were silenced, lives lost in from the tenements of New York City the mud of Argonne, Verdun, Tannen- Reprinted from Conscience: Two to the West Wing of the White House. berg, the Somme. Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family—A It traces the fault lines between liberal After World War I, Norman wrote a Test of Will and Faith in World War I by Christianity and fundamentalism, civic book called The Conscientious Objec- Louisa Thomas. Copyright ©2011. duty and civil liberties. During the early tor in America. The first page read: Published by Penguin Press.

20 ■ The Potomac Term Sasha DiGiulian ‘11 Sasha DiGiulian

A Profile of Sasha DiGiulian ’11, winner of the overall gold medal at the 2011 Climbing World Championships

By Kyle Massey ‘11 Rock Solid

Spring 2012 ■ 21 I can only assume that she typed the message on her phone while dangling from a rope in some uninhabitable chasm of the American West. Fair enough. One does not rise to the top of a sport at the age of 19 by sitting around the house waiting to give interviews. When Sasha won the overall gold medal at the 2011 Climbing World Championships in Arco, Italy, last July, she enjoyed a fleeting moment of reflec- tion as she stood in front of the crowd and listened to the first chords of a familiar tune. “Standing on top of the podium with the American National Anthem playing was an incredible feeling of satisfaction and pride,” she told me, “not so much per- sonal, but more pride for the journey and for realizing that when you set your eyes on a goal and believe that it is possible, it is a truly momentous force that is pretty hard to hinder.” Of course, it would have to be about the journey, because what else really matters to the climber? Sasha’s journey began at the age of seven when she accompanied her older brother, Charlie, to a local climbing gym for his birthday party. As Sasha puts it, she found herself “drawn to the excite- ment of going higher and higher.” To watch Sasha go higher and higher is an exercise in disbelief and humility. As she contorts her 5’ 2” frame from one angle to another, always with three here is something have been explored, all the mountains points of contact to the wall, always with quite elemental to the task conquered and all the oceans crossed, her head tilted skyward, you can’t help of scaling an obstacle to see there remains a peculiar contingent of but imagine the effect this might have on what might be on the other side. humanity that seeks out the roughest your own knees, fingers and ligaments, The first time I grappled my way to of these former boundaries in order to not to mention your courage. Tthe top of our backyard fence as a child traverse them all over again, for fun. Under the tutelage of longtime coach to peer onto my neighbors’ property, I Just ask Sasha DiGiulian ‘11, who Claudiu Vidulescu, it didn’t take long sensed the same gratification Columbus emailed me this January to say she for Sasha to build a reputation within might have felt when setting foot on dry would have to postpone our interview. the tight-knit climbing community as land on the far side of the Atlantic. “I’m in a canyon climbing, and I don’t a precocious young talent. As she grew But now that all of the frontiers know if we will make it out in time.”

22 ■ The Potomac Term Individual accomplishment

more aware of this herself, Sasha found was incredibly supportive towards pics, but the addition of a new sport that her mentor instilled in her “a sense working with me and my schedule and typically requires that an old one be of determination that stems from some- helping me have my work done ahead of dropped, so for now, she waits. one else believing in your abilities to do time so that I wouldn’t fall behind.” In addition to that project, a deal with something. The most important thing I As for the dances, the birthday parties, one of her sponsors recently led Sasha find in sports, but also in everyday ex- the basketball games and all the other to the Geta Valley of Southwest China, periences, is self-worth and confidence.” requisite social gatherings of the high where she worked alongside other ath- For Sasha to take home the gold from school student? “Unfortunately I had to letes to promote climbing in the bucolic the World Championships, she bested sacrifice a lot of school-oriented social Chinese countryside. The Geta Valley is all other female competitors with her events because I was out of town most a five-hour bus ride from the nearest big combined score in the three main dis- weekends,” she said. “I am pretty sure city, Guiyang, one of the poorest cities ciplines of the competition: bouldering, that a lot of students weren’t totally sure in China. “Going out of my comfort sport climbing and speed climbing. what I was doing—just out there some- zone and into such an unfamiliar world Each discipline offers a slightly different where in the world ‘climbing.’ But all of made me respect and cherish the good brand of physical torment. my friends were always really supportive fortune that we have here in America,” “Bouldering competitions consist of of my ventures. Everyone at Potomac is she said. “It also made me more aware a series of problems that are shorter, unique and has something interesting of the different cultures coexisting in and your score is a composite of your that they aspire to, and climbing was just our modern world today.” overall performance on that series of what did, and still does, inspire me.” How will her life change when she problems,” she explained. The “prob- Having received her Potomac di- lems,” that she refers to are the various ploma and deferred acceptance to Co- nuances of the climber’s route to the lumbia University, Sasha finds herself “…when you set your eyes on a goal top of the wall, obstacles that she must in the midst of a gap year, although one and believe that it is possible, it is a encounter and circumvent with no prior that offers no respite from pursuing her knowledge of their locations. goals and serving the climbing com- truly momentous force that is pretty She continued, “Sport climbing com- munity. “I am interested in the develop- hard to hinder.” prises just one long route.” Competitors ment of climbing and its growth into again have no idea what type of obsta- more of a mainstream sport.” Serving returns to the classroom at Columbia cles they’ll be facing, and simply try to on the International Federation of Sport University in fall 2012? “A lot less travel- scramble as far up the wall as possible; Climbing Board as an athlete repre- ing, a lot more studying, but hopefully the highest up wins. sentative, Sasha has spent much of her not too much less climbing! I will con- Finally, speed climbing is the compe- time advocating with the International tinue to train at the gyms and compete tition that measures the climber’s ability Olympic Committee in hopes of see- in a more select series of competitions, to ignore the natural inclination not to ing climbing recognized as an Olympic and when I have time off from school, rush when clutching to a few protru- sport. At 19 she has plenty of time, but go on outdoor climbing trips.” sions on the wall at a perilous height. she remains determined not to miss Such a driven individual scarcely Honing her skills in each discipline the chance to compete on the sporting has time to look back on the physical while also attending Potomac required a world’s most venerable stage. tribulations of a young career, but when level of devotion that would be much to “As an Athlete Ambassador for the prompted, she remembers “broken fin- ask of an adult, let alone a young person IFSC, I represent the voice of the ath- gers and toes, ankle injuries, a broken enveloped by the social and academic letes in event planning, rules commis- back, some odd tweaks. But overall I’ve demands of a challenging independent sioning and general terms of conduct,” been pretty lucky.” school. “I did a lot of homework on she said. Sasha explained that climbing They say that good luck typically airplanes,” she said. “Potomac doesn’t is one of five new sports that remain follows the industrious. I doubt Sasha skimp on course load, but the faculty under consideration for the 2020 Olym- DiGiulian has ever lacked that quality.

Spring 2012 ■ 23 alumni activities Meet Your Alumni Governing Council

Who is on the Alumni Governing Council (AGC)?

Reed Landry ‘99 Vice President Adam Randolph ‘76 Geoff Burr ‘95 Andrew Warin ‘03 Secretary Sandy Gentles ‘94 Jamie Sullivan ‘96 Carl Lettow ‘85

Heather Wilson ‘96 Laura Miller, Director Stephanie Amann Caroline Kettler ‘05 of Alumni Relations Kapsis ‘01 Libby Huffman President Ann Renzy Cynthia Ivorian Jones Azali Kassum ‘91 Wilkinson ‘96 Maclean ‘86

Not Pictured: Lolly Cunningham ‘05, Caroline Dalton ‘03, Marie Henneburg ‘11, Taylor Manning ‘05, Eric Rosenthal ‘03, James Stump ‘91

24 ■ The Potomac Term alumni activities

What does the AGC do? he mission of the Alumni Association is to foster a sense to connect alumni with the School and bring members together. Tof community among Potomac alumni and to cultivate Additionally, the Council fosters communication between alumni relationships with other members of the Potomac community, and other members of the Potomac community. including current students, current and past teachers and admin- The AGC meets approximately every month, from September istrators, and current and past parents. The Alumni Association to May. Committees of the Alumni Governing Counsel include also encourages alumni to further the School’s welfare and pro- Executive, Reunion, Strategic Planning, Development and Young mote its values. Alumni. In addition the AGC hosts alumni events throughout To accomplish this mission, the Governing Council of the the year. Alumni Association proposes and conducts activities designed

How can I serve on the AGC? he AGC has approximately 20 members who serve two-year so that we can best serve the community. If you are interested in Tterms. Each March the AGC, as well as alumni, can nomi- serving on the Council contact Laura Miller, Director of Alumni nate themselves or their classmates to fill vacancies. We strive Relations, at [email protected] or (703) 749-6356 or for a mix of alumni that represent all decades and experiences any AGC member.

Alumni Networking Opportunities Q&A with Alumni Relations Director Laura Miller

How can alumni connect on the web and through our through Potomac’s social mobile App. And we know media tools? that alumni want to find out Alumni are using our what their fellow classmates facebook, Twitter, Flicker and are doing. A button on our LinkedIn media channels. School web page links to our And we have an amazing new facebook page, and to the alumni App for Android and 1,700 alums we’ve connected! Iphones that includes a people A great way to stay in touch— locator, event listings and an find out who’s moved, who’s easy-to-use online directory. had a baby, who’s doing what. The App has a cool feature What about networking called “Alumni Nearby,” so you for professional reasons? can find your classmates when Potomac people are help- you travel. ing each other professionally What do you find alumni through LinkedIn. We are also are most interested in? developing a mentoring pro- Washington area, which orga- I know you want to talk Alums tell us they want gram so that alumni can help nizes events twice a year for about Reunion 2012! to know what’s going on at each other with job searches networking opportunities. The Of course! We hope alumni School, especially how our and professional develop- program includes interesting from every class will join us sports teams are doing and ment. And this year we joined speakers and “Speed Network- April 27 and 28. To register, go upcoming plays and concerts. Net@Night, a consortium of ing,” a twist on speed dating! to our web page and click on You can find that information independent schools in the the Reunion button.

Spring 2012 ■ 25 alumni activities

Scotch and Suits

More than 100 alums joined the fun at the February alumni celebration at Alton Lane’s newest location on Dupont Circle. Thank you to host Jody Goehring ‘99 and his committee: Adam Randolph ‘79, Carl Lettow ‘85, Azali Kassum ‘91, Sandy Gentles ‘94, Geoff Burr ‘95, Heather Wilson ‘96, Jamie Sullivan ‘96, Reed Landry ‘99, Lolly Cunningham ‘05, Taylor Manning ‘05, Annie Harris Kettler ‘05, Caroline Kettler ‘05, Warner Lewis ’02, Pamela Barris ‘03 and Andrew Warin ‘03.

1 Carl Lettow ‘85 and Adam Randolph ‘76 2 Trenholm Boggs ‘99 and Sheila O’Marah 3 Roxanna Brandao, Christian Gomez ‘99, Mike Banks ‘99, Lauren Banks Amos ‘94, and Charlotte Hutton Cox ‘99 1

2

3

Potomac NET@Nights Networking Events

This year Potomac School’s Alumni Association partnered with several peer schools for two Net@Night events. In February author Pamela Meyer talked about her book Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception, with networking opportunities before and after her remarks. In March we offered Speed Networking, a round-robin career networking session. If you are interested in career networking opportunities call the Alumni Office (703) 749-6356.

4 4 Marty McNerney ‘03 and Jen Friedlander ‘92

26 ■ The Potomac Term alumni activities

Potomac Goes West: Two Great Cities, Two Great Events

In January the Alumni Office and Host Committees gathered with over 80 alumni in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The alumni community reconnected with each other, as well as with faculty, including Linda Anderson, Cort Morgan, Bill Peery and Sharyn Stein. Thank you to the host committees. San Francisco Host Committee: Rachel Dyke ’03, Patsy Dugger ’91, Todd Kincaide ’99 and Gary Hill ’79. Los Angeles Host Committee: Wilson Stiner ’04, Matt Kline ’01, CJ Fahey ’01, Danny Adrien ’96, Clark Landry ’95 and Davis Guggenheim ’79.

5 5 Leila Batmanghelidj ‘03, Andrew Duncan ‘03 and Linda Anderson 6 Rachel Dyke ‘03, Bill Peery, and Leila Batmanghelidj ‘03 7 Dabney Schmitt, Bill Peery, Cort Morgan, Linda Anderson, Sharyn Stein

6

7 The Christmas Revels In December Potomac alumni and families gathered for the 29th Annual Production of The Christmas Revels. Past Parents Greg and Susan Lewis produced the wonderful show. Alums Bill Hoffman ’79, Roxana Oppenheimer Day, ‘71, and Terry Winslow ’58 were part of the fabulous cast and crew. Potomac’s involvement with the Revels dates back over 50 years, when Revels founder John M. (“Jack”) Langstaff, music teacher and director at Potomac from 1955 to 1967, gathered students to create seasonal celebrations of the winter solstice and the rebirth of spring. Potomac students made up the children’s chorus in that first Christmas Revels and (along with many other members of the Potomac community) have acted and sung in every show since then.

Spring 2012 ■ 27 alumni activities

Thanksgiving Weekend @ Potomac

Thanksgiving weekend is always a wonderful time to come back to School. In November over 100 alumni returned for the 3rd Annual Landon Schmitt Memorial Run. 8 The following day, alumni ranging from the early ‘70s to the class of ‘11 enjoyed squash, soccer, and boys and girls basketball games with current students. That evening almost 200 alumni converged at the popular nightspot George for another annual gathering.

9 10

11

8 Tyler Stilwell ‘07, Charlie Lonaeus ‘07 and Brian Donovan ‘07 9 Dick Schmitt and Reed Landry ‘99 10 Rob Lee and family 11 Ann Bellinger ‘10 and Jake Gross ‘04 12 Alumni from the ‘70’s participate in the After-Thanksgiving soccer match. 12

28 ■ The Potomac Term alumni activities

13

13 Alumni Soccer 14 After Thanksgiving Gathering at George in Washington, DC

To see more photos go to Potomac Panther on facebook. 14

Spring 2012 ■ 29 alumni activities

Potomac in the City

For the third year in a row, Potomac alumni gathered in New York for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and fun. Jody Goehring ’99, partner at the men’s retailer Alton Lane, provided a wonderful setting to mix and mingle with faculty, including Bill and Ida Cook, and Alex Thomas. Thanks to our terrific Host Committee, which included: Maura Myers Bisogni ’00, Julia Bissell ’97, Jody Goehring ’99, Mike Kirkman ’03, Eric Rosenthal ’03, Lisa Shimamura ’90, Sophia Smith ’06, Cynthia Starr ’03, Josh Stinchcomb ’91 and Katie Stirn ’07.

15 Alex Thomas and Lindsay Smith ‘11 16 Sartaj Singh Ajrawat ‘02, Gigi Swift ‘02, Andrew Weisgall ‘02, Emily Morse Sower ‘02, and Patrick Eakin ‘02 15

16

30 ■ The Potomac Term alumni activities

17

17 Peter Lerman ‘00, Jon Darman ‘99, Susanna Mitchell ‘99, Ida Cook 18 Alice Fisk MacKenzie ‘78 and Stephen Hill ‘79

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Spring 2012 ■ 31 alumni activities

34th Annual Fall Frolics & Homecoming

Classmates, friends and faculty came to campus on October 15 to celebrate one of Potomac’s most beloved traditions—Fall Frolics! Alumni and their families enjoyed food, fun, games, prizes and shopping. The Homecoming football game against the Sidwell Friends School Quakers (a victory!) followed the frolicking. The Alumni Hospitality tent hosted by the Alumni Governing Council was a great place to gather to see friends and faculty, and to pick up a free T-shirt & other Potomac souvenirs! Lolly Cunningham ’03, Caroline Kettler ’05 and Taylor Manning ‘05 chaired this event.

19

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19 Jim Kapsis, Stephanie Amann Kapsis ‘01, and Bill Cook 20 Caroline Kettler ‘05 and Lolly Cunningham ‘05 21 Taylor Kettler ‘02

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32 ■ The Potomac Term alumni activities

Local College Gathering

The Alumni Office hosted a casual dinner this past November in Washington, DC for local 22 Katie Rosenberg ‘11, alumni college students attending Georgetown, George Washington, Howard and Trinity. Niya Watkins ‘11 , Dawn Faculty member Dawn Jefferson joined in on the fun as the alumni talked about their college Jefferson, Elle Leonsis ‘10, experiences, memories of Potomac and future aspirations. Lucy Gibson ‘11

22

Potomac Alumni Summer Gathering Potomac Alumnae enjoy a night of Fashion & Fun In August alumni in Washington, DC, gathered at Town Hall for the 3rd Annual Potomac Alumni Summer Bar Night. Hosts A group of alumnae spent a September evening viewing included: John Mullenholz ‘00, Diana Barris ‘07, Trenholm fashion for work and play at Saks in Tysons Corner, VA. Boggs ‘99, Phinney McIntire ‘06, Eddie Smith ‘98, Cameron Ten percent of all purchases made during the event Kilberg ‘98, Taylor Manning ‘05, Jamie Sullivan ‘96, Patrick went to The Potomac School Annual Fund. Thanks to the Harris ‘04, George Wisecarver ‘95, Andrew Warin ‘03, Caroline host committee: Anne Metcalf ’79, Ann Renzy Maclean Dalton ‘03, Sandy Gentles ‘94, Tracy Phillip ‘02, Jay Farrell ‘92, ’86, Azali Kassum ’91, Alexandra Fielding Wilson ’95, Win Huffman ‘01, Azali Kassum ‘91 and Jamie Stump ‘91. Libby Huffman Wilkinson ’96, Blair Farr Underwood ’96, Caroline Dalton ’03, Lolly Cunningham ’05 and Caroline Kettler ’05.

If you are interested in hosting an event in your city please contact Laura Miller at (703) 749-6356.

Spring 2012 ■ 33 news on campus Lower School Lunch Buddies Interview Nancy Powell, Longtime Potomac Teacher and New Lower School Head

Christopher: When you were dent. And every day, I get to comfortable helping kids think Charlotte: What do you do young what did you want to laugh! You can’t beat that! critically and do their best. when you are not teaching? be when you grew up? Maya: Was anything the Kids have such creative minds Mrs. Powell: I love to read in Mrs. Powell: I always knew same in your Lower School and are open to so many pos- my big green chair or go for I wanted to be a teacher. I [when you were a girl]? sibilities. long walks in my neighbor- haven’t told many people this, Mrs. Powell: No, my Lower How do you teach kids to hood. I like to knit when I but when I was 11, I used to School was very different. We think? have time. I also love to dance, have my own school in my all read the same books at the although I am not very good at basement. I would knock on First you model taking risks. same time. Our classroom When you take risks, you it. (Ask my children!) My very the neighbors’ doors and col- favorite thing to do is to spend lect preschoolers to bring to time with my husband, daugh- my school. We would read “When kids discover something for the ter, sons and son-in-law. And I books, play games and eat very first time, it’s magical. Every day love the beach. graham crackers. I learn something new from a Lower Claudia: What inspired you When I was in second grade to be the Head of the Lower my teacher’s name was Mrs. School student. And every day, I get School? Powell. Who would have guessed I would one day grow to laugh! You can’t beat that!” Mrs. Powell: I’ve had so up to be a second grade teach- many great role models. Some are teachers and some are er named Mrs. Powell? teacher taught everything; might not always be “right,” heads. Lower School teachers there were no special subject but sometimes you come up Kay: What is your favorite are the most caring profes- classes. We even had PE in our with amazing ideas. I make part of being the Head of the sionals I’ve ever met, and they classroom. I can remember my mistakes all the time, and Lower School? make me want to do the best third grade teacher pushing when I do, I hope it helps me Mrs. Powell: Of course the job I can. Mrs. Passarella, who the desks against the wall and to be a better thinker and kids are the best part. I think used to be Lower School Head, rolling out tumbling mats so learner. Another way to teach children are the most inter- hired me to teach first grade we could do gymnastics in our kids to think is by having esting people on the planet. at Potomac. She was always classroom. them explain how they get an Lower School kids are smart, so calm and patient, and she answer. We ask kids to explain funny and never boring. When Henry: Would you rather made teachers and kids feel their ideas about characters kids discover something for help a grown up think or a important and valued. She in books or explain their solu- the very first time, it’s magical. kid think? is the reason I’m here today! tions in math. And each time, Every day I learn something Mrs. Lewis was an incredible Mrs. Powell: That is such a they show that they are be- new from a Lower School stu- leader, and she helped teach- great question! I am more coming better thinkers.

34 ■ The Potomac Term news on campus

ers and kids grow in amazing at Potomac, I knew it was a the cool things that are going four character traits to be a ways. And Mrs. Davis inspires very special place. There were on. part of everything we do in me to keep growing and learn- groups of kindergarteners When I was little, the prin- and out of the classroom. Who ing. She’s so smart and so working in the hallway and cipal’s office was where you knows what they are? insightful, and we love sharing each one was happy and in- went when you were “bad.” Kids: Caring, respect, trust- ideas about kids. volved. I thought to myself, I’m glad that kids feel com- worthiness and responsibility. Michael: Did you work at “If I get this job, I’m going to fortable coming to my office (Answered in 10 seconds!) any other schools besides stay here for the rest of my ca- to share the happy moments reer.” I could see that Potomac Mrs. Powell: I also want to Potomac? in their day. I get lots of cup- work with the students and was an extraordinary place! I cakes, too. Mrs. Powell: Yes. My first was right! teachers to think about how teaching job was in Fairfax Charlotte: Don’t kids some- we can serve the community County teaching kindergarten. Charlotte: What is it like to times come to your office to in meaningful ways. Service I also taught first and second be the Lower School prin- have a loose tooth pulled? learning is a good way for kids cipal? grades at Hutchison Elemen- Mrs. Powell: Yes, some stu- to understand the importance tary. (I still see my teacher Mrs. Powell: Everyday is a dents think I’m a dentist! of helping others. Children friends from Hutchison.) I surprise! I never know what is can make a big difference. Maya: What do you want to taught first grade math and going to happen. I have more Plus, (I don’t know if I can reading as well as 5th grade at meetings than I used to, but accomplish with students this year? make this happen), I think we Little Langley. I try to get into classrooms as need some snow days! When I came to interview often as I can so I can see all Mrs. Powell: First I want our

Spring 2012 ■ 35 news on campus

Jerry Kountz, New Intermediate School Head

Georges County and was twice don’t have enough to do. nominated for The Washing- “Before SEED no one had ton Post’s Outstanding Prin- ever asked these students cipal award. Most recently, he to think. They had floated served as founding Head of through their previous schools with nobody to encourage “The Potomac them. They didn’t have role models. Although that’s a big kids understand struggle still, I watched these that you are students develop into enlight- responsible ened, academic individuals. That was the glory of things for you.” that happened at SEED.” Kountz is remembered at the SEED School of Maryland, SEED as “the type of personal- a public, statewide college ity that people gravitated to, preparatory boarding school whether you were 11 or 50,” for underserved students and according to SEED admin- the second SEED School in the istrator Anna Williams. His nation. was a participatory leadership Welcome For Kountz the biggest style where everyone was in- difference between the two volved in the decision-making schools is how adept Potomac process. hat’s up gentle- best for the kids?” That sense students are at self-managing. At Potomac Kountz has men? Pep of concern extends to the “The Potomac kids understand established an immediate rap- “ in your step teachers. “All of us know that that you are responsible for port with students and faculty. ladies—keepW moving. That’s a he’s got our backs,” said IS you.” Academic demands are He understands and appreci- great idea, let me know how humanities teacher Mike Fish- greater at Potomac but at both ates the adolescent journey as I can help.” Jerry Kountz, Po- back. “He’s a tough but humble schools students are dealing well as the nuanced balance of tomac’s Intermediate School leader who is really on top of with many of the same social support and challenge neces- Head, is working the crowd, things.” and developmental issues. sary for 7th and 8th graders to weaving among the students, Kountz joined Potomac last “Adolescents are adolescents flourish. Just as in his former asking questions, paying at- summer after a distinguished are adolescents. SEED kids school, Kountz is that center of tention. career in adolescent educa- are dealing with not enough, gravity for Potomac students Faculty heard early and tion. He has served as prin- some of our kids are dealing as they transition from the continue to hear often cipal of a number of middle with too much. Potomac kids elementary grades to high Kountz’s mantra, “What’s schools (grades 7-8) in Prince are fully scheduled; SEED kids school.

36 ■ The Potomac Term news on campus Distinguished Speakers Series

“Chinese are very curious about America,” Working for National Geographic is an said Conrad Wong, uncle of junior opportunity to witness firsthand the chal- Shing-Wai Koo and Intellectual Property lenges facing our planet and our com- Rights Officer with the U.S. Consulate Gen- munities, according to Ford Cochran, eral in Guangzhou, China. Wong, who rep- environmental scientist, writer and web resents the interests of the U.S. Patent and producer for National Geographic. Cochran Trademark Office, shared with students has reported on a wide range of subjects the role of US diplomats working abroad in for the Geographic and led National Geo- embassies and consulates general. He said the two questions he graphic Student Expeditions (including a trip to the glaciers and gets most often are, “Why is America so anti-China?” and “Why lava fields of Iceland with Potomac students).January 18 don’t you [America] get your house in order?” October 19

Principal of the SEED Public Charter When the Shriver kids came home from School of Washington, DC Kara Stacks school each afternoon, their mother focused her discussion on perception, always asked, “What did you do today— choice and effort. SEED schools are col- to help people?” Mark Shriver ’79, lege-preparatory, public boarding schools who runs U.S. programs for Save the that teach life skills as well as academics Children, said he got the same message and provide a safe environment for low at Potomac. Shriver spoke about the income students. Ms. Stacks became a DC high rate of poverty in the U.S. today public school principal when she was just 24-years-old. and especially the number of kids—one in four—that live with January 5 limited access to the things that the rest of us take for granted. February 22 Open Questions Forum

Open Questions, initiated in 2010 in partnership with the Harvard Club of Washington, are evening presentations featuring significant thinkers, explorers and creators. Integral to each event is the active engagement of the audience: Potomac students, teachers, parents, Potomac and Harvard alumni, and guests from the Evermay neighborhood.

Distinguished business leader, for- Renowned biophysicist Harold mer United Nations Under Secretary Morowitz spoke to the Potomac and General of Management, and Potomac Harvard communities on the ancient father Christopher B. Burnham led origins of life on Earth. Professor an exploration of our current complex Morowitz has spent a long and active global economy and the ongoing chal- career exploring the thermodynamics of lenges to world economic growth. As living systems and reasoning about the Vice Chairman and Managing Director likely conditions, about 4 billion years at Deutsche Bank, Mr. Burnham is well versed in world trends ago, that led inevitably to complex molecular configurations such as aging populations and declining birth rates, and the and adaptive systems. He explained to the audience, “Life is a resultant pressures on health care costs, pensions and social planetary property.” Under certain conditions, which Morowitz security. He asked students to consider how this combination of believes resembled those in our deep-ocean volcanic trenches, challenges will affect their lives.January 5 geochemistry gave rise to the emergence of life. November 2

Spring 2012 ■ 37 athletics highlights Commitment, Work Ethic Takes Potomac Athletes to Next Level

or scholar-athletes at The Potomac School, competing at a high level means achieving success in the classroom and e’re very proud of our student- on the sports field. About 15 percent of Potomac athletes athletes who have chosen to Fare recruited to play at the collegiate level every year, and many “W have achieved distinguished sports careers in college. In the last further challenge themselves by four years 27 student athletes went on to play Division I sports; competing at the collegiate level.” another 33 played at Division III schools. The colleges our gradu- —Cas Blanchard, Girls Athletic Director ates have chosen are as diverse as the sports they are playing: from the Ivies to the NESCAC, from the Big East to the Mountain

Our college-bound athletes: Matt Carney, Erin Cummings, Geoff Danilack, Cullen Hamilton, Cameron Kahl, Jack Kaplan, Geoff Keating, Lacy Rosse, Russell Schmidt, John Steele, Lauren Wackerle. (Not pictured: Ella Barnes, Grace Dewey, Devin Hill, Davon Hill, Casey Mann, Andres Rodlauer)

38 ■ The Potomac Term athletics highlights

22 Years of Potomac Varsity Sports 1990-2012

63 teams grades 7-12 21 varsity sports 100 Championships! 47 Mid Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAC) boys Championships 36 Independent School League (ISL) girls Championships 6 Mid Atlantic Squash Championships (boys) 2 Mid Atlantic Squash Championships (girls) Potomac won its first 9 Virginia State Championships championship— ISL Girls Tennis “Potomac’s success is all the more remarkable when you consider that our first —in fall 1991 graduating high school class was in 1990.” — Rob Lee, Boys Athletic Director

Pacific Sports Federation, lacrosse. Lauren now coaches Erin Cummings going to get out of it as much Potomac athletes are enjoying a U7 McLean Youth team and Colgate University — soccer as you put in,” he says to those the thrill of playing on the col- helps to improve the children’s interested in playing sports Her outstanding 2010 soc- legiate stage. fundamentals, assisting them at the collegiate level. —Alex cer season consisted of allow- The class of 2012 is no ex- just as she was assisted in the Prezioso ing just 6 goals in 16 games, ception: 17 athletes are headed beginning of a long journey and earned her a Washington to college to play such sports to lacrosse excellence. —Alex Post All-Met honorable men- Grace Dewey as football, basketball, soccer, Prezioso tion for goalkeeper. “It’s a lacrosse, cross country, track University of Delaware — great accomplishment for me and squash. The Current basketball Cullen Hamilton to be committed because it’s (Upper School Student News- A verbal commitment to College of the Holy Cross — a reward for so many years paper) has profiled a few who the University of Delaware of sacrifice and hard work,” committed early to the school basketball was “the best birthday present Erin said. “I’ve missed birth- and sport of their choice. When asked about how they ever,” says Potomac girls’ bas- days, school events, time with Excerpts from those profiles felt about Cullen’s commitment, ketball standout Grace Dewey. friends and vacations, and it’s follow: Cullen got nothing but praise “Being able to spend the next nice to know that the hard from his teammates and coach- four years doing something work paid off.”—Philip Saba es who lauded him for his work I love as much as basketball Lauren Wackerle ethic and selfless play. “Cullen is such a blessing.” —Chris Yale University — lacrosse is an outstanding young man,” Matt Carney Graves In the final stages of the re- said Coach Levi Franklin, Cul- St. Mary’s College of cruiting process, Lauren con- len’s coach since his sophomore Maryland — lacrosse sidered Brown, Dartmouth, year. “He is totally coachable, ee the names, sports Matt came to Potomac from Princeton and Yale. Lauren’s totally committed and a great Sand college choices Gonzaga in tenth grade and lacrosse career began in fourth teammate. It’s very rare to come of our Potomac athletes has had a prominent impact going back to 1991 grade with McLean Youth La- across a player with all those on the Potomac lacrosse team. on our website: www. crosse. Her club team compet- attributes.” Cullen was also get- “Lacrosse is a sport I have potomacschool.org/ ed against the top teams in the ting looked at by schools to play always had a passion for, so athletics/panther-alumni/ nation, so she knew that she football, including Wisconsin, I want to play it for as long index.aspx was ready for the tough com- Penn State and the University of as I can,” said Matt. “You’re petition of Division I college Virginia. —Anthony Correia

Spring 2012 ■ 39 athletics highlights

Football Wins MAC Title…Again!

Season Highlights:

n Panthers win state playoff game against Bishop Sullivan 42-19 with 4 touchdowns in 4 minutes; their 3rd consecutive playoff appearance and second straight final

n Panthers beat Flint Hill, 19-14, to win their 2nd consecutive MAC title

40 ■ The Potomac Term athletics highlights Post-Season Awards

Congratulations to the following athletes who were selected to the fall 2011 All State/All Met teams: Soccer All Met First Team: Casey Mann All Met Honorable Mention: Geoff Danilack

Tennis First Team All State: Kathleen Wilson

Cross-Country All State: Cope Whitney

Football First Team All State: Cullen Hamilton Second Team All State: Jalen Broome, Willie Crittenberger, Jack O’Brien, Russell Schmidt, Sean Spasoff; Honorable Mention All State: Tommy Duffy, Ryan Eckert, Devin Hill, Cameron Kahl, Johnny Read

“She leads Congratulations to the following athletes who were by example, selected to the Fall All League teams: setting the tone and pace ISL of play.” – Coach Emma Regan: Field Hockey Ross McEwen Casey Mann: Soccer Kathleen Wilson: Tennis

MAC

Geoff Danilack:Soccer Johnny Read: Football Willie Crittenberger: Football Russell Schmidt: Football Tommy Duffy:Football Sean Spasoff:Football Ryan Eckert: Football Jack Kaplan: Cross Country Cullen Hamilton: Football Adam Moses: Cross Country Devin Hill: Football Cope Whitney: Cross Country Cameron Kahl: Football Mike DeSantis: Golf Jack O’Brien: Football Mark Ramsey: Golf

Casey Mann, girls varsity soccer

Spring 2012 ■ 41 alumni connections

lower school

Kindergarten Elias M. Lerner (Renee Lettow Lerner ‘83 and Craig Lerner) Charles P. Lettow (Carl F. Lettow ‘85 and Alexandra Lettow) Madeline Schermerhorn (Sarah Kilberg Schermerhorn ‘95, Scott Schermerhorn) George R. Stoody (Anne L. Metcalf ‘79, John Stoody) Riley A. Schermerhorn (Sarah Kilberg Schermerhorn ‘95, Scott Schermerhorn) Josephine R. Stump (James F. Stump ‘91 and Sarah Stump) Natasha W. Edwards (Anita Winsor-Edwards ‘79 and William Edwards, Jr.)

1st Grade 3rd Grade Benjamin M. Gerkin (Allyson Bloom ‘92 and Daniel Gerkin) Caroline P. Dunn (Annabelle Redway Dunn ‘85 and Jackson Dunn) Nicholas W. Langman (Nicholas W. Langman ‘94 and Jennifer Langman) Emily H. Dunn (Annabelle Redway Dunn ‘85 and Jackson Dunn) Andrew C. Lay (Mark Lay ‘76 and Prentiss Vallender Lay ‘85) William C. Fearey (Paul Fearey ‘78 and Gretchen Fearey) Miles B. Malawer (Eric Malawer ‘92 and Erin D. Malawer) Anabel M. Kadri (Sarah McClure ‘82, Jamal Kadri) Louisa R. Tierney (Andrew Tierney ‘80 and Laurel Tierney) Marisa B. Kadri (Sarah McClure ‘82, Jamal Kadri) Finn E. Willems (Megan Bartsch Willems ‘84 and Rene M. Willems) Elizabeth W. McKean (David McKean, Jr. ‘82 and Jane McKean) Julia C. Winsor (Curtin Winsor III ‘78 and Deborah Winsor) Elisabeth V. Oskoui (Ramin Oskoui ‘78 and Katrina R. Oskoui) Sage S. Wolf (Steven S. Wolf ‘69 and Lisa Kelly) John W. Sagarese (Sarah Ewing Sagarese ‘85 and Mark Sagarese) William J. Schermerhorn (Sarah Kilberg Schermerhorn ‘95) 2nd Grade Isabel L. Tierney (Andrew Tierney ‘80 and Laurel Tierney) Theodore W. Gerkin (Allyson Bloom ‘92 and Daniel Gerkin) Elizabeth Winsor (Curtin Winsor III ‘78 and Deborah Winsor) Christopher S. Jarquin Manegold (Elizabeth Jarquin Manegold ‘82 and Raul I. Jarquin) Harrison R. Kehler (Charles Kehler ‘84 and Margaret Kehler) Jennifer L. Kitchen (Erik L. Kitchen ‘68 and MaryAnn Kitchen)

42 ■ The Potomac Term alumni connections

4th Grade 6th Grade Mikaela Catto (William Catto ‘78 and Kristina Catto) May K. Ausbrook (J. Keith Ausbrook ‘73 and Kate Ausbrook) Enrico B. Cecchi (Enrico Cecchi ‘85 and Andrea Cecchi) Courtlynne T. Caskin (Christopher Caskin ‘77 and Cameron Caskin) Holly U. Crowley (Ayse Uzer Crowley ‘85 and Kenneth R. Crowley) Hayden R. Cherouny (Merrell Redway Cherouny ‘82 and Preston M. Cherouny) Michael D. Johnson (Alisa Hyman ‘00) Sebastian B. Cox (Alison Vest Cox ‘81 and Kenneth B. Cox) Caroline K. Lay (Mark Lay ‘76 and Prentiss Vallender Lay ‘85) Rebecca W. Crawley (Anne Sprunt Crawley ‘69 and Drury Crawley) Anna L. Lerner (Renee Lettow Lerner ‘83 and Craig Lerner) Drury A. Crawley (Anne Sprunt Crawley ‘69 and Drury Crawley) Mary-Shea V. McDowell (Robert M. McDowell ‘78 and Jennifer McDowell) Lily E. Longwell (Natalie Washburn Longwell ‘86 and John H. Longwell) Jacqueline C. McElroy (Charisse Mortenson McElroy ‘91 and Michael McElroy) Isabella N. Sagarese (Sarah Ewing Sagarese ‘85 and Mark Sagarese) John W. Stoody (Anne L. Metcalf ‘79, John Stoody) Thomas J. Sharkey (Christine Rosenhauer Sharkey ‘83 and William Sharkey) Annabel L. Resor (James P. Resor ‘75 and Catherine Scott) Miles W. Wilson (Speke Wilson ‘79 and Julia Wilson) Katherine R. Newton (Virginia Young-Newton ‘83 and David S. Newton)

5th Grade Emelie S. Jarquin Manegold (Elizabeth Jarquin Manegold ‘82 and Raul I. Jarquin) David J. McKean (David McKean, Jr. ‘82 and Jane McKean) Ellen P. Oskoui (Ramin Oskoui ‘78 and Katrina R. Oskoui) Keeley L. Schulman (Andrew Saltonstall ‘82 and Tamara Saltonstall) Megan K. Sharkey (Christine Rosenhauer Sharkey ‘83 and William Sharkey) Megan M. Tierney (Christopher Tierney ‘79 and Ann L. Tierney) middle school

Spring 2012 ■ 43 alumni connections intermediate school

7th Grade 8th Grade Gwyneth C. Catto (William Catto ‘78 and Kristina Catto) Gabrielle M. Cecchi (Enrico Cecchi ‘85 and Andrea Cecchi) Margaret M. Ewing (J.C. Ewing ‘78 and Ruanne R. Ewing) Tyler K. Crowley (Ayse Uzer Crowley ‘85 and Kenneth R. Crowley) Claire M. Pitzer (Lavinia Lemon Pitzer ‘82 and Andy Pitzer) Catherine H. Frank (Randolph A. Frank, Jr. ‘72 and Susan Frank) Trey A. Schulman (Andrew Saltonstall ‘82 and Tamara Saltonstall) Catherine F. Mathias (Robert F. Mathias ‘77 and Sarah Mathias) Theodore L. Tierney (Christopher Tierney ‘79 and Ann L. Tierney) Konrad S. McKalip (Hope Jewett McKalip ‘81 and Frederick D. McKalip) Grace W. Moses (David L. Moses ‘76 and Daphne S. Barbour) Tobias M. Robinson (Farida Moreau Robinson ‘80 and Scott Robinson) Abraham H. Wilson (Speke Wilson ‘79 and Julia Wilson)

44 ■ The Potomac Term alumni connections

9th Grade 11th Grade Brooks Arundel (Peter W. Arundel ‘75 and Brady Arundel) Max R. Ausbrook (J. Keith Ausbrook ‘73 and Kate Ausbrook) Christopher Caskin (Christopher Caskin ‘77 and Cameron Caskin) Philip L. Bennett (Frank C. Bennett III ‘73 and Teri R. Bennett) Grace Cherouny (Merrell Redway Cherouny ‘82 and Preston M. Cherouny) Randolph A. Frank (Randolph A. Frank, Jr. ‘72 and Susan Frank) Maxwell M. Speil (Jane McAllister ‘70 and Steven G. Speil) John S. O’Gorman (Scott E. O’Gorman, Jr. ‘76 and Melissa O’Gorman) Joseph K. O’Gorman (Scott E. O’Gorman, Jr. ‘76 and Melissa O’Gorman) Caroline Resor (James P. Resor ‘75 and Catherine Scott) Emma Resor (James P. Resor ‘75 and Catherine Scott) Allegra R. Wilson (Speke Wilson ‘79 and Julia Wilson) Devon H. Winsor (Curtin Winsor III ‘78, Noelle Winsor) 10th Grade William Catto (William Catto ‘78 and Kristina Catto) 12th Grade Rosemary S. Ewing (J.C. Ewing ‘78 and Ruanne R. Ewing) Rebekah Ausbrook (J. Keith Ausbrook ‘73 and Kate Ausbrook) Adam J. Moses (David L. Moses ‘76 and Daphne S. Barbour) Cameron Kahl (Caroline Baldwin Kahl ‘72 and James A. Kahl) Anna E. Regan (Nina Howard Regan ‘78 and William R. Regan) Zachary Meza (Scott Meza ‘71 and Anny Lowery Meza ‘71) Sydney M. Robinson (Farida Moreau Robinson ‘80 and Scott Robinson) Emma C. Regan (Nina Howard Regan ‘78 and William R. Regan) DeLacy G. Rosse (Gray D. Rosse ‘74 and Caroline M. Rosse) Kip Strong (Henry L. Strong ‘72 and Kathleen C. Strong) upper school

Spring 2012 ■ 45 class notes Be Connected Class Notes is the most popular and well-read section of The Term. It provides a forum for classmates to share news of their personal and professional lives, ranging from accolades and personal accomplishments to news of births and deaths, and anything else fellow alumni might find interesting. We want to thank you, the alumni community, for sharing your news and photos with your classmates over the years. This section would not be possible without the leadership of the Class Correspondents. As you know, Class Correspondents serve a vital role in helping alumni maintain a lifelong affiliation with Potomac. Throughout the year, Class Correspondents gather class news and photos for the fall and spring issues of The Term. So when you get an email calling for class notes, make it a priority! Send your notes to your Class Correspondent, whose contact information is listed at the top of each class column. If no Class Correspondent is listed, send your class notes directly to [email protected] or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, McLean, VA 22101. Be a Connector Don’t be the class without notes! If your class does not have a Class Correspondent and you would like to fill that role, please contact Laura Miller, Director of Alumni Relations, at (703) 749-6356 or [email protected].

that a school pin was approved by the Geraldine Warburg Zetzel writes, too, have happy memories of my days at 1935 trustees. “Amazingly, I have vivid memories of my Potomac. The school was on California In 2011 David C. Acheson published years at Potomac — it was the best school Street, an easy walk from my home on the private correspondence of Harry S. 1941 of the five I went to in my peripatetic child- Bancroft Place. My best friend was Anne Truman and Dean Acheson under the title hood. Helena Fletcher lived immediately Commons, who lived next door to me. From the Yearbook Affection and Trust (Alfred Knopf). next door to my house on Tracy Place. We We walked to school together and, like “The Graduates of 1941 wish to dedicate walked to school together, and communi- Geraldine, talked endlessly on the tele- 1936 this, the first year book, to Miss Preston. cated between our bedroom windows via phone when we got home. Now I’m reliv- Through her guidance and encourage- some kind of means, too. My best friend ing those days as I watch my four-year-old The School celebrated its 30th Anniversary. ment the school has now become an was Helen Chapin Metz. I remember and 12-year-old twin grandchildren enjoy- Alma Mater which we shall always re- playing with her in Rock Creek Park. An- ing their nursery and elementary schools, 1937 member and love. We want to take this other vivid memory is Girl Scout activities attending Grandparents Day and watching opportunity to thank her. with Miss Seth-Smith, aka ‘Stalky.’” sports and musical events. 1938 My life currently is pleasantly busy with Gordon and I are coping with our 80’s with 1942 writing. A collection of poems, Map- exercise, reading, writing (he’s finishing a Class Correspondent REUNION YEAR 70TH ping the Sands, came out in 2010, and I history of the Manchester Yacht Club, John Dugger am working towards a second one. I go founded in 1892) and sporadic trips to 4970 Sentinel Dr., #106 Class Correspondent to ‘school’ at the Harvard Institute for warmer climates to escape New England Bethesda, MD 20816 Katharine Stanley-Brown Abbott Learning in Retirement and have been a winters. Our four children all live nearby, (301) 229-5425 3 Tucks Point Rd. founding member of Cambridge at Home, so we have the pleasure of seeing them [email protected] Manchester, MA 01944 an organization to support us elders who often. Happily, we spend most of Septem- Carol Preston became Head of School (978) 526-4436 hope to stay put as they age. I am an active ber each year on Nantucket, where I spent through 1961. [email protected] practitioner of Buddhism. Luckily — and all my childhood summers and still have Class Correspondent Katharine Stan- it is real luck! — I don’t have any major many old friends. 1939 ley-Brown Abbott reports, “In 1942, health problems.” There were boys in our class through nine girls were graduated from Potomac, Katharine Stanley-Brown Abbott fourth grade, but there’s no word from Ninth grade was reintroduced for girls. and today, sadly, there are only three left. writes, “My families are all living up and Brad de Wolf in Great Falls, VA, or T. I was delighted to hear from Geraldine down the Eastern Seaboard, so I can enjoy P. Plimpton in Florida. Nor have I heard 1940 Warburg Zetzel, who lives in Cambridge, their company and watch four grand- from Elizabeth Kline Grinnell, but I MA.” Minutes of a February Board meeting state children, three step-grandchildren and wish them all well.” six step-great-grands as they blossom. I,

46 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

Miss Preston was one of his teachers, in- troducing him to folk music, folk dancing 1949 and love of Old English traditions. And, of Class Correspondent course, she introduced us to much of that Laura Lee Larson as well. I still remember doing the sword P.O. Box 1139 dance with wooden swords, and the angel Clarksburg, MD 20871 Gabriel at the Christmas assembly, who (240) 401-4602 said to Mary, ‘Hail thou who are highly flavored!’ Tom and I also went to an eve- From the Yearbook ning sponsored by the Revels in which the We, the Class of ‘49, are proud to dedi- author Susan Cooper talked about a book cate our yearbook to Mrs. Abbott, in she had recently written on John Langstaff deep appreciation of the sincere interest titled The Magic Maker. It touches on she has taken in us, and our work. Her many aspects of his life, including his years never failing sympathy and warm un- teaching at Potomac. He is no longer alive, derstanding has enriched the year and but I find myself reminded of the richness made us all happier and more successful. of the traditions that he helped to pass on to so many people — traditions which 1950 were also part of our own Potomac expe- Day Ely Ravenscroft ’43 pictured with her daughter. rience. If there is a Christmas Revels in a From the Yearbook city near you, you might like to take it in.” Dedication to Miss Preston practice, as Director of the Rodiger Cen- Jerrie Kohlmeier Bartlett had some nice We want to thank you for all you have 1943 ter, and head pastor of Spirit Alive Fel- telephone conversations with Carol Exni- given us during our years at Potomac. Day Ely Ravenscroft writes, “Here’s a lowship. I have an improved outlook on cios Tucker recently. She lives in Tampa, What we have learned will help us to be picture from my daughter’s wedding. “ life this year because I have had cataract FL, but goes to CT in October and often better citizens wherever we may go. surgery on both eyes. What a difference! stays with Julie Merrell Harris on the 1944 I don’t think I’ve ever seen this clearly. way. She also attends the Penn Relays in I hope that your year has also been rich Philadelphia in April, which her son runs.” Class Correspondent with blessings.” Juliet Gill Davis 2237 48th St., NW 1946 “Tom and I take great pleasure each Washington, DC 20007 (202) 625-0614 Class Correspondent December in attending the Christmas [email protected] Jerrie Kohlmeier Bartlett From the Yearbook 316 S. 10th St., NW Philadelphia, PA 19102 Revels in Boston. As you may know, it We, the Class of 1944, would like very (215) 928-0506 much to dedicate this book to Mrs. Gibb, [email protected] was initiated here in the early 70’s who has helped to make this, our last year at Potomac, one of the truly happi- Nancy Hamilton Shepherd writes, “Tom by John Langstaff.” est we’ve ever had. and I take great pleasure each December in attending the Christmas Revels in Bos- 1945 ton. As you may know, it was initiated here in the early 70’s by John Langstaff. Revels 1947 1951 REUNION YEAR 65TH Cynthia Butterworth Burns has moved Sheila Cochran said, “I am so proud of and is now living in a senior resident com- my family — my two children (John and munity in Mesa, AZ, and would look for- Cary, both Potomac alumni) and my five ward to catching up with her classmates. grandchildren. Am still playing tennis Betsey Fulbright Winnacker writes, (never mind about the running I used “Things are good out here in mid-Mis- to do) and golf and enjoying watercolor souri! Five grandkids are thriving — fifth painting and leading some bird walks, as grader through senior year at Sewanee. My well as gardening.” son Matt and I are currently pulling hard for the Cardinals in the World Series.” 1948 From the Yearbook 1952 TH Significant Phrases of the Teachers REUNION YEAR 60 Miss Preston - “Here are my glasses.” Class Correspondent Miss Seth-Smith - “I’ll leave it up to you.” Louise “Beebe” Graham 218 N. Main Street Mrs. Price - “Now, girls.” Wolfeboro, NH 03894 Miss Joyce - “There ain’t no such (603) 569-2876 animal.” [email protected] Mrs. Gaby - “Taisez-vous.” Betsy Blair Douglas writes, “Just check- Georgiana Glenn Rodiger ’45 combines solstice and Christmas traditions Mr. Seeley - “No, girls, this is not a test. ing in with my class of ‘52! I’m still ranch- and is presented by a combination of pro- Miss Burkhard - “Fill up the paper.” ing and busy with church and community Georgiana Glenn Rodiger writes, “I cel- fessional and nonprofessional musicians activities. The family is multiplying at a ebrated my 80th birthday in February of of all ages who love to sing and dance. For great pace. Descendants include 28 grand- 2010 in Morocco just before they took to me, Revels brings up many memories of children and 20 great-grandchildren. the streets. I love Casablanca. I didn’t re- Potomac days — sword dancing, singing, Thus, I’m a matriarch of 74 (including tire to my easy chair...no way. I traveled snippets of nativity plays. Jack was not spouses)— at the age of 74. They pretty extensively and still work full time in my at Potomac when we were, of course, but much take care of my ‘spare time,’ with

Spring 2012 ■ 47 class notes

a little quilting and birding wedged in. I mostly we’re quite content at home. I write From the Yearbook the Bach Saint Matthew Passion. Holly and hope you all are thriving!” a bit, work in the garden and sometimes We, the class of ‘53 are proud to dedicate I spent a month in Spain last spring in Bar- Ann Walker Gaffney has lived in Brook- enjoy designing and making ‘art quilts.’ this yearbook to Mrs. Lee in sincere ap- celona and exploring the inspiring history of th th lyn Heights for 45 years and has the plea- Maybe I’ll have a party in 2013 to celebrate preciation of all she has contributed to 12 –15 century southern Spain during the sure of novelist daughter Elizabeth Gaffney turning 75 — it sounds like fun.” our school. The memory of her inspiring golden age of interconnected science, poetry, and her family living in a duplex in Ann’s Phil and Bettina Tierney are quite close teaching and outstanding example of architecture, music, philosophy and cooking brownstone. Son Walker lives in St. Louis to school both geographically and in know- true character shall always be with us. in Islamic, Jewish and Christian cultures. I’m — three grandchildren aged 3-15. Ann still ing its affairs. They have four grandchildren having fun playing with watercolor technique makes art and works for historic preserva- there and one more in the application pro- 1954 in paintings of light and patterns in vegeta- tion organizations. She has a long list of cess, not to mention Bettina and the three bles. One painting was accepted into a juried ailments but remains passionate about art, Tierney children. Phil and Bettina are on Class Correspondent show of the New England Watercolor Soci- the terrible dysfunction of Congress and the Grandparents Committee (nice lunch Elizabeth Knox Radigan ety. We’re almost finished with house tasks the state of the economy. For fun, she rec- two times a year), and Bettina checks in at 124 Laurel Lane — the usual needed maintenance and repair ommends 1930’s and 40’s movies on Turn- school when she can. The current headmas- Lancaster, VA 22503 — and had a wonderful visit from our son, er Classic Movies. A Walker Gaffney family ter is very able and available. It is a big job; (804) 435-1503 daughter-in-law and 2.5-year-old grandson: reunion in Montana included sister Betsy much of the school is new and heading to- [email protected] much Lego building and monster playing!” and her daughters Ann ‘71, Julie ‘73 and ward 1,000 students. They have maintained From the Yearbook Melissa Foster Bowerman passed away Lizzie Edgeworth ‘75 and brother Mal- the culture well despite the size. after a brief illness. Melissa carried the Elizabeth Sargent Knox “Tina” K-9 lory and his wife Diana Hardin Walker Louise “Beebe” Graham writes, “Your torch of first language acquisition for the Next School: Undecided ‘56. Best wishes for MMXII to all.” secretary continues happily in NH, now Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics Florry Hubbard Lloyd lives in Philadel- retired from teaching and involved with Signature Phrases: “Five-fifteen in the for more than 20 years. She was one of the phia, has four married children and nine the local community more than before. morning” and “Many Times” founders of the modern study of child lan- grandchildren who live in London, Sydney I serve on three Boards of Directors, am Pet Peeve: People who talk too much guage. Her work explored how children learn every aspect of language, but she was and Boston. She retired from teaching. busy with a thrift shop and fund-raising Where Found: Getting jokes explained especially famous for her research on how Jane Anderson Moon still lives in south- efforts through the Episcopal church, Desire: To dance the jitter bug decently children learn the meanings of words as they ern California, enjoying the mild weather which offers meeting and eating space to differ across languages. Her contributions to most of the time (except for the occasional over a dozen organizations, including two 1955 the study of child language and the seman- tics of words have been hugely influential, Gretchen Becker writes, “I went to Georgia recognized in her election to the American this fall to visit my first thesis advisor, whom Academy of Arts and Sciences last October. A Walker Gaffney family reunion in I hadn’t seen in years. We went through Chat- She was a wonderful colleague, “mother” to tanooga, and I had a wonderful lunch with many PhD students and a supportive critic Montana included sister Betsy and Liz Frazier McCallie, whom I hadn’t seen to all the Max Planck Institute for Psycho- since 1955. It’s amazing how long the bonds linguistics research staff. Her wide and deep her daughters Ann ‘71, Julie ‘73 and we forge in our youth stay strong. Otherwise, command of the literature on child language same-old, same-old. I’m trying to write an- was a valuable resource. She will be deeply other book, but it’s going slowly.” Lizzie Edgeworth ‘75 and brother missed as researcher, supervisor, supportive Sherry Downes writes, “My husband and I friend and warm soul. Mallory and his wife Diana Hardin have moved to Carleton Willard Retirement Village in Bedford, MA, near Concord. We 1957 Walker ‘56. Best wishes for decided the time was right and were able to sell our condo in Brookline, MA, fairly quick- REUNION YEAR 55TH MMXII to all.” Ann Walker Gaffney ‘53 ly. Our son Todd Bland and his family live in nearby Milton, Richard Bland is in DC and Edward and family are in Seattle. We have a new puppy called Madeline. She is a Coton chills and rain and wild wind storms that who provide four free or low-cost meals a de Tulear and very cute. She just reached her destroy mature trees). She writes, “We live week to community residents. Politics is six-month birthday. There are several people about 12 miles from the coast near New- an ongoing interest, especially now that here who have Potomac connections. One is port Beach, in the inland town of Orange, the whole country is struggling with what Ann Thoron Hale ‘43, whom we knew in which contains Old Towne in the center, a seems a paradigm change partially brought San Francisco years ago. My best wishes to all national historic area a mile square with by instant communications. My daughters my classmates.” houses dating back into the last quarter of live in NYC and NH. I have a foster son in Judy Young Flynn says she “would love the 1800’s. Because I always had a passion- NH also, so the seven grandchildren visit to have classmates’ addresses — I’m retired, ate interest in old houses, we have reno- when their busy lives permit. Keep the living with my husband of 50 years in Ponte vated one of those Old Towne properties news coming! “ Vedra Beach, FL. We have four children — built in the mid 1930’s, now a rental house Sorrel McElroy writes, “Not many two girls, both married, living on the north and studio. We had previously renovated changes in our life, which is good at our shore of Boston; two boys, one married, a 1915 house in the early 1980’s. My hus- age! We still have four grandchildren at living in Baltimore, and one single, living band retired 11 years ago, and I retired six Potomac. I love having the opportunity to in Copenhagen; plus six grandchildren. We years ago. We both enjoy the freedom to visit the school for our various games and play golf and tennis, travel and enjoy the sun! do what we want and follow our own inter- programs. It is absolutely amazing in every [email protected]” ests. I teach a couple of classes called Life way. They are lucky to be there.” Storybook in a program for older people 1956 (like us) at California State University at 1953 Fullerton — people are writing the stories Anne Palms Chalmers is still busy sing- of their lives. It’s fun and actually fascinat- Class Correspondent ing, travelling, painting and puttering, hav- ing to get to know so many people from Mary Murray Bradley Coleman ing retired from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt all kinds of places with quite varied past 22 Wildwood Drive book design in 2009. “The 30-voice Cam- experiences. I attend some classes too, bridge, MA, chorus, Musical Sacra, is fulfill- Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 Jane VanderPoel Lenzetti ’57 and husband, but most of my time is spent enjoying ing and challenging: we sang a marvelous (207) 741-2944 Edoardo home and family, including our two little [email protected] Christmas concert of complex baroque and dachshunds. We take occasional trips, but modern pieces just a month after performing

48 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

psychiatrists and psychologists about of our lives and the lives of our kids and 1958 the practical application of Spiritism in grandkids, too. It’s just one of the places From the Yearbook Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals in Bra- where John Langstaff’s great work is We the graduating class of 1958 are zil. Whereas the former is a textbook celebrated and lives on! Perhaps if there proud to dedicate this yearbook to Miss and reference book, Resources for Ex- are some New Englanders among us, we Archer and Miss traordinary Healing: Schizophrenia, could have a reunion at the Boston Rev- Bipolar and Other Serious Mental els next year.” Wilson in grateful acknowledgement of Illnesses is for patients, their loved ones the invaluable help both have given us. and health providers who are looking We are deeply indebted to them for their for direction in the effective treatment understanding and patience with us. of mental disturbances, which use psy- 1959 chiatric medications very cautiously. Both books provide models for integra- Liz Murray Platts ‘62 with Patsy Cushing writes, “I have finally re- tive mental health practices, which are grandson, Thayer Gray Platts. surfaced on this side of the Atlantic after bio-psycho-social and spiritual. Emma many years in France and now reside in received her doctorate in Transpersonal Liz Murray Platts and husband Greg Brattleboro, VT. Will I stay here? Very Psychology and has written four other became grandparents in November 2011 possibly, although 10 years in France ac- books on themes related to spirituality when grandson Thayer Gray Platts was customed me to a much milder climate, and health. Since 2001, she has spent born to Charlotte Gray and Chris Platts in and I wait to see whether I really want the half of each year in Brazil. Los Angeles, CA. Liz reports that semi-re- cold for so much of the year. But I am so in tired life in Washington, DC is great. She is favor of our Vermont politics, and I have 1962 looking forward to seeing many classmates at our reunion this spring. intentionally put myself into a community REUNION YEAR 50TH where I can sing wonderful music with Kate Douglas Torrey reports, “I’ve just Class Correspondent great people weekly. And the Upper Valley, decided that I will retire from University where I was for 30 years and where my sis- Deborah Johansen Harris of North Carolina Press this summer. I’ve ter, Bo (Cushing) Gibbs ‘61 lives, is not 30 Anderson Ave. been at the press for 23 years, 20 of them far. Apart from singing, I have embarked Holden, MA 01520 as director. It’s been wonderful and great on a course of mind-body health study that (508) 829-0980 Letter and Report on the Discoveries at fun publishing a lot of excellent books, and has me very excited, and I have two new [email protected] Herculaneum, with commentary by Carol now this feels like the right time to step grandchildren, Beatrice and Otis, who live Marianna Merrill Russell reports, Mattusch ‘62. aside and let someone else have a turn. in Brooklyn with their parents, Ben Cush- “Our two daughters have obliged their I’m not sure what’ll be next for me, but I’m ing Niles and Jean Burger (Ben teaches at mother by producing four grandchildren Carol Mattusch writes, “Letter and on the board of our local literacy council the New Design High School in Manhat- in three years. Rachel has an almost-4- Report on the Discoveries at Hercu- and want to give them more time than I’ve tan). Ben’s brother, Zach (Cushing Niles) year-old as well as year-old twins, and laneum by Johann Joachim Winckel- been able to in the past few years; we’ve got is based in Brooklyn as well but is seldom Katie had her little girl at the end of May. mann, with introduction, translation, a governor and president who need NC in there, as his work takes him far from the “D” column to get reelected; there are home. Soon he will head back to Haiti bike routes to explore and trips to take; to work on his music/film project called and our son, daughter-in-law and grand- Lakou Mizik (great music on YouTube, if “I've just decided that I will retire from son live nearby, so I think I’ll find lots of you are interested). A good family.I have rewarding ways to spend my time. Last just been in touch with Carol Langstaff the University of North Carolina Press year, Allen and I bought an old house, ren- ‘59, who is working away on a museum/ ovated it and now have moved into it (and dance project that takes place next month this summer. I’ve been at the press for this year, we hope to sell the former house. with her FlockDance company. And, lo and If you know anyone moving to Chapel Hill) behold, my landlord is a Potomac grad as 23 years, 20 of them as director.” I have to say that the idea of a 50th reunion well, Richard Epstein ’73. The world is stunning. How did that happen so fast?” comes ‘round. And ‘round: I have just Kate Douglas Torrey '62 finished Susan Cooper’s book,The Magic Maker, on Jack Langstaff and realize why I am here, in Brattleboro, singing at pub sings and watching mummers plays. The Of course, they are all beautiful and en- and commentary by Carol C. Mattusch, New job? traditions go deep when they ring true. chanting! I am only sorry they don’t live was published in 2011. Winckelmann’s Perhaps the cold isn’t so very important a bit closer than Brooklyn and Boston. controversial letter (1762) and report after all!” Better, however, than my son who lives (1764) display his knowledge of geology, New baby? in LA. He is getting married in June, and ancient literature and art, along with his 1960 I am currently in the process of figuring critical view of the Spanish Bourbon ex- New out how to fly out and house the whole cavations around the Bay of Naples. My outlook Annie Shields writes, “I am living in the family without putting us in the poor- introduction describes the context in mountainous part of Georgia, near Rome. house. We still have my mother’s house which these texts were written; identi- on life? I have a little farm and raise a few Icelandic in Ireland, but have put it on the market fies various politicians, academics and horses and chickens. I work as an English as we only get over for two weeks a year.” collectors; and points out the topics that teacher in a high school. Molly Warner, Wendy Wisner Hazard writes, “I particularly interested Winckelmann, ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- Anne Dunbar and I are planning a get- still live on a farm in Belgrade, ME, from artifacts to local customs to ancient together in May at Annie’s place near Cam- respondent, send your notes to him or her. and am at the University of Maine Au- papyri,” says Carol. “The 18th-century T bridge, England. I have one grandchild, gusta, where I teach history. Among my illustrations, particularly those from Contact information can be found at the top of nearly three. I love being a grandmother.” the Bourbon publication, Le Antichità courses is a history of the ancient and each class column. If no Class Correspondent is early modern world, and I’m ever mind- di Ercolano (1757-92), show how these 1961 ful of and grateful for the inspiration of monuments influenced contemporary listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. perceptions of the ancient world.” Emma Bragdon ([email protected]) Miss Moffit, Mrs. Clark and Ms. Stevens. org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, published two books in 2011. Spiritism Would that my students could gather and Mental Health is an anthology around and contribute to the stitching McLean, VA 22101. of essays written mainly by Brazilian of a magical tapestry! The Christmas Revels in Boston, MA, is always a part

Spring 2012 ■ 49 class notes

Deborah Johansen Harris writes, “I assignments in Sudan and the world’s of interim headmasterships (Washington/ am well and enjoying (pain-free!) double newest country, South Sudan; Egypt; and Sidwell Friends and Charlotte/Providence 1967 knee and double hip replacements from Republic of Georgia. Day), she and Steve have settled at Friends REUNION YEAR 45TH last year and the year before. No more Academy in Dartmouth, MA — a very Class Correspondent downhill skiing or running but lots of bike 1964 Potomac-like school. She writes, “We are riding, walking/hiking and cross-country very happy. Mr. and Mrs. Kimball are just Tom Macy skiing. My husband Ted and I took in Class Correspondent around the corner in Chatham, if we need 49 Orange St. Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts at Alison Peake any advice! And Janet Brown ’66 has a Nantucket, MA 02554 Tanglewood in the Berkshires last sum- 8 Park Pl. summer house just down the road.” (508) 228-1559 th [email protected] mer and celebrated my dad’s 95 birthday Hartford, CT 06106 Mike Mayer has left Washington and on Cape Cod. He is still pushing the en- (860) 951-8888 moved to VT. Tom Macy has volunteered to be the 2012 velope in his architectural design! With- [email protected] Class Reunion Chair and hopes to see all Lynne Marmet McCombs was spot- out full-time employment (I’m seriously of his classmates at Potomac on April 27 From the Yearbook ted on Potomac’s fields awhile back; her considering throwing in the towel on the and 28. daughter Julia was there coaching lacrosse. job market and retiring), I’m still active We are deeply indebted to Mr. Shiras for his as a volunteer in CASA (Court Appointed patience and understanding and for the in- After five terms,Charles Meeker recently Special Advocates), where I represent the spiration he has given all of us at Potomac. stepped down as Mayor of Raleigh, NC. rights of foster children in the court sys- He has stimulated us in such a way that we Thomas Sayre, also in Raleigh, is an ac- tem. I’m also on the board of Preservation will always strive to give the best of our- claimed sculptor. selves throughout our lives. Leaving behind Worcester, which works to preserve his- Caroline Killefer Thayer is taking a him the spirit of youth and vigor which he torical sites in the city. I dearly hope that year off from teaching elementary school has always personified, he goes on to teach all our classmates will be able to attend our Spanish to talented and gifted students so th and inspire. 50 Reunion on April 27–28. Liz Murray she can enjoy some fun adventures in Al- Platts has graciously offered to host our As we leave Potomac together, we, the class buquerque with her husband, Jack. Their class reunion dinner at her house on the of 1964, are proud to dedicate our yearbook two daughters are both in CA, one at Mills evening of Saturday, April 28. to Mr. Shiras, with thanks, appreciation and in Educational Leadership and one a fabric best wishes for the future years artist. 1963 Sturgis Warner still works in theater in 1965 NYC, mostly as a director with new plays. Class Correspondents John Wolf ‘67 He writes, “I work with playwrights de- Anne Williams Class Correspondent veloping scripts, direct and occasionally 152 E. 94th St., Apt. 5H Sallie Ayers Barker John Wolf writes, “January marks the produce. Life is good, though never easy New York, NY 10128 3 Nonquitt Ave. beginning of my third year residing here in the arts. I love what I do.” (212) 300-4362 South Dartmouth, MA 02748 in Wellfleet, on the outer Cape (as in Cape [email protected] [email protected] Cod). Having just turned 60, at an age Wendy Neel Ellsworth writes, “2012 will Lindesay Holdsworth Aquino is well 1966 when some are contemplating retirement take me back to Kenya with my nonprofit and busy, in spite of a kitchen floor slip- (whatever that is), my “day job,” which is to Umoja Uaso Womens Fund to work with up that resulted in a total hip replacement. say my business of refrigeration, restaurant the Samburu all-women village in N. She is fine now! Impressive news is that equipment service and general mechanical Kenya. I’ll be teaching beading workshops their son Felipe graduated from North- repair has me busier than I’ve ever been! there and around the U.S. throughout the ern Virginia Community College and is The music scene is a little slow in the off- year. My eldest granddaughter was just ac- now at George Mason as a junior. We all season; Wellfleet definitely isn’t St. Louis, cepted to Smith College. My mom, Mary commend Lindesay and Sixto for their and I find I must travel farther afield for Wilson Neel ‘32, is now living in Ormond dedication to Felipe’s challenges and his performing opportunities. Nevertheless, Beach, FL, near my sister Mary Neel Gil- successes. Lindesay also has done some this area is very artistically inclined, and bert ‘67.” even in the winter there are performance opportunities to be had. Among other projects taking place this winter will be a performance with one of the members of ROOMFUL OF BLUES at the newly- completed Wellfleet Preservation Hall. Though I was late getting my boat in the water this past summer, my sailing day charter business began to take off in the post-Labor Day fall season, an indication that it should do quite well this com- ing tourist season; hopefully, June this year won’t be the “Juneuary” we had last year! Also, I’ve been doing some com- mercial shellfishing to supplement my in- come. Our Wellfleet oysters are second to none. The foregoing is not a prescription for retirement; having made the decision to become “land rich and money poor” like Sprague Theobald ’66 visits Potomac School. most year-round residents, I don’t see that on the radar anytime soon... Son Alexan- Anne Williams ‘63 with two representatives of the Apada refugee camp Women’s Council, Northern der, well entrenched as a registered nurse Bahr el Ghazal State, South Sudan May 2011. Sprague Theobald visited Potomac in Jan- uary for the first time in many years. He was in the intensive-care unit at Denver Health Anne Williams reports, “I’ve been for- writing about our historic class! We can in DC speaking to The Explorers Club at The (the primary city hospital in Denver, Co.), tunate to have connected with Marisa look forward to reading her reflections at Cosmos Club in DC about his five-month is now contemplating graduate school, and Knowlton Domeyko, Edie Warner, Leni our next reunion. 2009 journey from Rhode Island through possibly a career in public health nurs- Chapman Preston and Harriet Sweeney Sallie Ayers Barker writes from the the legendary Northwest Passage to Seattle. ing. Brothers Steve ’69 and Andy ‘72 are in DC over the past year, in between work shores of Buzzard’s Bay that after two years Check out www.hitproductions.com. busier than ever in their medical careers,

50 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

and Sally is now a resident of Ashburn, Va., 1970 you, David, from your 1970 classmates! Magazine, also publishing in the luxury- now considered a suburb of D.C. The big Nimmie Addison Huber writes, “Don lifestyle segment. Still focusing on the trav- family news, however, is that our mother, Class Correspondent and I are up in Underhill, VT, where we el among other things — including private Agnes, who suffered a massive, debilitating Jane McAllister have just completed our fifth year at our aviation. What a hoot! I am in touch with stroke last March, is not only still with us 1948 Rockingham St. bed and breakfast, The Sinclair Inn. We Sarah Meeker Jensen out here in LA. It and doing far better than anyone expected, McLean, VA 22101 spent the first two years repainting, re- is quite something to reconnect after so but will celebrate her 90th birthday next (703) 536-7873 decorating and sprucing up our 1890 Vic- many years.” month! True to form, this will take place [email protected] torian house. We are very busy from May Jane McAllister writes, “Last year was at the Womens’ National Democratic Club; Class Agent until after leaf-peeking time in November. a difficult one, before and after my mom’s hopefully Nicholas Annikeef, father of fel- During the winter, we welcome a few ski- death in August at age 94. (Does anyone low ‘67 grad Tony Annikeef, will join Jane McAllister ers but mostly recharge ourselves and recall her occasional presence in the school us; he recently turned 99! My mother, (See contact information above) work on plans for the next season. North- orchestra, playing violin, most notably in in a supreme act of magnanimity, is not Bruce Fleming writes, “I’m on the board ern VT is beautiful. We are at the base of Noye’s Fludde at the Cathedral?) Soon after writing me out of the will for supporting of my younger daughter’s school here in Mount Mansfield so we have come to enjoy Mom died, I traveled with Steve and Max a Republican in the upcoming primary Baltimore (called Park), and the headmas- walks up old logging roads with our dog, ‘15 to CO to see Steve’s family and had a (Ron Paul).” ter, Dan Paradis, came from Potomac. He’s MacDuff. Two of our three children,Addi - wonderful visit with Dana Strong van a wonderful guy and a darn good head- son ‘02 and Andrew ‘04, are settled and Loon, who met up with us in Loveland. master. I am writing you from the plane working in Washington, DC. Our daughter, Max is enjoying Upper School at Potomac as I head back from a trip to San Fran- Lucy ‘06, is in the middle of a three-year and will travel to China with a school cisco and Napa Valley, CA, with my older master’s of writing program in NC. We group over spring break if it goes. Steve daughter. She is 21 and a senior at Colby closed up the inn and spent a warm week and I are wondering where we can travel College. She was just accepted into Teach in Washington, DC, over Christmas so we in that same time slot! Thanks to all who for America, so at least she will have a job could be with the children and many oth- sent or called with news.” for a couple of years!” ers in my family. One of these days, after Bill McElwain writes, “I’ll be skiing with Marion Neuhoff Hickman writes, “My our VT adventure, I will trade in my apron Garrett Jewett in March. We’re all well. husband, Simon, and I traveled the world and baking tins and return to Washington. Daughter Maria ‘05 is due back to work in 2010. I loved Vietnam especially. In We would love to welcome any and all Po- in Washington, DC, with Senator Dick 2011 we held tight to our house and prop- tomac friends, if they are ever up this way.” Durbin in a few months and will be liv- ing in our basement. For now she’s back in Chicago, where she’s living in an empty apartment, to help with the Chicago office, “Don and I are up in Underhill, VT, which is severely shorthanded. Son James Angus McIvor got married to Jennifer ‘09 is doing well in frozen Minnesota. He Kirk ‘73 on a paddle steamer on the Po- where we have just completed our loves Macalester College, where he’s major- tomac River in 1988. Here we are with our ing in Critical Theory and helping coach a daughter Skye born in Australia in 1992 fifth year at our bed and breakfast, high-school debate team on the side. He’s graduating from Waring School in MA. hoping to go to Germany this summer to Great stuff does happen! The Sinclair Inn.” solidify his German and is looking toward grad school after graduation, which is, 1968 Nimmie Addison Huber '70 shockingly, after next year.” From Sorrento, ME, Liza Noyes reports T. Barry Davis writes that he has been that her daughter, Anna, is in her first named Senior Advertising Manager of The year at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, from Weekly Standard magazine and Week- erty where we live in Vineyard Haven, MA. Marion Lowry writes, “My horse, Dolce, which she’ll eventually graduate with an lyStandard.com. This year we look forward to all and noth- won the Pacific Coast Horseshows Associa- ing. Son Julian is 25 and an accountant. tion’s ‘Horse of the Year’ in two divisions. MFA degree. Chip Hitchcock writes, “There’s noth- Daphne is studying jewelry making. She We have the use of two glorious perpetual ing new and exciting to report in my life. looks like I did in our Potomac yearbook.” trophies for the year. It’s a very exciting ac- However, anyone who was at Potomac dur- complishment in the highly competitive ‘A’ ing the Langstaff years may be interested David Holdsworth did not send news, level hunter/jumper circuit — especially to know that Susan Cooper has written a but you will likely read elsewhere in this since I was the rider in one division! After sort-of biography: The Magic Maker: A Term about the gift from his family— 25 years in the advertising business with Portrait of John Langstaff, Creator of through the estate of his mother, Mrs. David New job? American Express Publishing, I seem to the Christmas Revels. Cooper is a profes- (Ray) Holdsworth—that became the lead have a second career at the Robb Report sional writer who volunteered a couple of gift to the new Flag Circle Building. Thank New decades writing pieces of the Revels; she baby? gave a fascinating talk about this experi- ence a few years ago.” New outlook 1969 on life? Class Correspondent Alexander “Sandy” Dominick 8219 East Voltaire St. ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- Scottsdale, AZ 85260 respondent, send your notes to him or her. (480) 948-0887 T [email protected] Contact information can be found at the top of From the Yearbook each class column. If no Class Correspondent is “It is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.” listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. 9th Grade org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, McLean, VA 22101. (Left to right) Andrew ‘04, Lucy ‘06, and Addison Huber ‘02

Spring 2012 ■ 51 class notes

Nat Parker writes, “My significant other, specialize in geriatric care, which will fill Kate Bucknell Maguire writes that she is change for us. Simple, connected to the Jemille Williams, and I took an unusual a tremendous need and has come to be a “still living in London with her adorable outside and the weather, and focused on vacation last year. Her son is an F-18 Navy calling for me. My daughter Margot, ma- husband Bob and our 12-year-old heavy ‘important things.’ Boat is small (38’, so we pilot. His ship, the USS Ronald Reagan, joring in U.S./Russian foreign policy at metal drummer son, Jack. The older chil- have very little ‘stuff ’). I spend very little allows friends and family to ride with American University, had a fabulous year dren are musicians, too: Bobby teaching time on the computer, and we don’t own the crew on the last leg of a deployment. abroad in St. Petersburg. Daughter Nina and composing here in Lambeth, Lucy a car. Currently we are in Fort Lauderdale, After spending several days in Hawaii, we is headed to Harvard next year as a fresh- teaching and conducting in Caracas. I getting ready to go through the Bahamas joined the crew of the aircraft carrier there. man and continues her major involvement continue to feel certain that John Langstaff to the south shore of the Dominican Re- The highlight was departing Pearl Harbor. in épée fencing. I'm considering a move, is one reason all three of our children are public then to Panama. In the photo we The deck was crowded with aircraft and for part of the year at least, to my home in musicians!” She has just finished a 20-year, had a light air day sailing down the coast civilian ‘tigers,’ while the crew ‘manned Water Island, US Virgin Islands. I'm happy 1-million-word edit of the diaries of Chris- of FL, which allowed us to sit on the bow the rails’ in dress uniform. A Naval histo- to rent the place to friends and family as topher Isherwood. In her free time, she is for coffee and watch dolphins. If anyone rian detailed the devastation from the two well. Feel free to contact me!” preparing to run in the Rome marathon, has ever dreamt of doing this kind of waves of the surprise Japanese attack on visits Santa Monica a few times a year and thing, call me up and I will encourage you. December 7, 1941, and pointed out the lo- 1971 tries “never to miss an American summer, Really wonderful for kids: Isobel can iden- cations of the ships that were damaged or as much of the East Coast and Nantucket tify a bunch of birds, loves to help with all destroyed. I saw where my dad’s destroyer, Class Correspondent as possible, family and old friends.” sorts of projects and is exposed to all sorts the USS Downes, had been in dry dock Ann Edgeworth Rosamond Parker Smythe writes, “On a of practical uses of math, writing, science and bombed. He was then the acting CO 161 W. 15th St., Apt. 21 recent trip to Charleston, SC, for a Smythe and art. We visited Potomac over Hal- and had given the ‘Abandon Ship’ order. New York, NY 10011 family reunion, I reconnected with David loween and she climbed on the turtle and The Reagan’s crew came to attention, and (212) 633-2839 Morton ‘72 who lives in Mount Pleasant, llamas, while I tried to remember where no one spoke as we sailed past the USS [email protected] SC. He works for Trident Technical College things used to be back in the day.” Arizona Memorial. The only sounds were From the Yearbook and is thriving with his wife, a real estate from the engine and the flapping of the As our ninth grade homeroom teacher, lawyer, and two boys, aged 8 and 6. It was flags and halyards. I keep busy with work Mrs. Rose was there to usher us out. a pleasure to catch up in person with a Po- in Roswell, GA, singing with two groups Well, she certainly kept everyone on tomac classmate, which did whet my ap- and ballroom dancing — still mediocre. their toes. We are sorry that we could petite for the upcoming reunion. All goes My three sons are all doing great. Alex not give her a gold air conditioner to well for me in Medfield, MA. After five works with a consulting firm called North go in her boudoir as she wanted, but years of commuting to New York, my hus- Highland. Ben graduates this year from we hope she will accept this dedication band has taken a job in Boston, which is a Charleston School of Law. And my young- instead. welcome change. Our son, Jed, 24, has just est son, Zach, has returned for a brief visit taken an entry-level job with a law firm in We want to thank both Mrs. Hathaway from Phuket, Thailand, where he works as South Carolina with an eye towards apply- John Chester ’73 and his wife, Laurie during and Mrs. Rose for seeing us through. a professional poker player.” ing to law school next year. Our daughters their visit to India Adelaide and Louisa are in their fourth 1972 and second year in college. I continue to John Chester writes, Tony Hass and his wife Anna and his boys Henry and Will REUNION YEAR 40TH be busy with the house, yard and animals. Thanks to all of you who wrote in, and I were here in Woodstock, VT for the week- Class Correspondent look forward to hearing from the rest of end. We got together for brunch and had a Rosamond Parker Smythe you in future years.” wonderful, but all too short time catching 331 North St. up. This fall Laurie and I went to India for Andy Wolf writes, “I was disappointed Medfield, MA 02052 my cousin’s wedding, and spent about two that no other ‘72 alums showed up for the (508) 359-6959 weeks traveling. We even made it to the alumni soccer game over Thanksgiving (I [email protected] Pushkar Camel Fair. actually blended in pretty well with the Starting on the West Coast, Claudia Krieg- Class of ‘11), but am hoping you’ll make up er-Myers writes that she and her husband for it with a strong showing at our 40th!” 1974 Bill, who is a member of the Screen Actors Class Correspondent Guild, have been watching about 60 films in the past month-and a-half in prepara- 1973 Ann Brown tion for the awards season. She saw Jer- Class Correspondent 3724 Veazey St., NW Washington, DC 20016 emy Gordon ‘68 and Bobby Rock ’70 at Liza Gookin Hodskins the Rocks’ holiday party. For those of you 630 N. Irving St. From the Yearbook who are on Facebook, she has a picture of Arlington, VA 22201 Ann Shippen Brown’s page herself and Jay Leno posted from a New (703) 528-6751 Biting her fingernails…talking to David Powers ‘70 Year’s Day adventure. [email protected] Marla…Chevy Chase Club…”Hang in Lewis Butler is based in San Francisco, David Powers writes, “I’m living in there”…her dog Becka…her profile… where he continues to work as an architect. Ros Case…Tav… Jamestown, NC, where I run a small pho- One of his projects, a stunning renovation (202) 288-8444 tography business. People can contact me of a neoclassical Northern California [email protected] at (336) 207-0926 or dpowers12@hotmail. house, was in the November 2011 issue of com or visit me at the shop: Creative Snap Architectural Digest. He and his wife come Photography, 3120 High Bridge Circle, east every year to spend a month every 1975 Jamestown, NC 27282.” summer in Concord, MA. Class Correspondent Bobby Rock writes, “Son Charley, a se- Cecile Reinhardt Fenstermaker checked Margaret Griffin Begor nior in high school, has been accepted at a in from Naples, Florida where she lives 110 Bayview Ave. number of colleges and is waiting to hear with her husband, John. Her son Paul, Oxford, MD 21654 from others. Unfortunately, he had no in- 25, worked for the NBA upon graduating (410) 226-0006 terest in Hamilton College, my alma mater from college and is currently enrolled in [email protected] (and Jane McAllister’s). Daughter Geor- his first year of law school at Northwestern. From the Yearbook gia is interested in theater and hoping to Her younger son, Andrew, 22, is only two Bill Calfee ‘73 and family attend a program back east this summer.” hours away at Eckert College, where he is Margaret T. Griffin’s page… Bill Calfee writes, “Well, we have been Dana Strong writes, “I’m enjoying my new on the basketball team and majoring in Red Hair…Yale Sweater…breaking living on our boat for more than two life as a massage therapist and looking to communications. her diet at Farrell’s…bus perfect…love years, and it has been a wonderful lifestyle

52 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

math?...soccer…really nice…Easton… Curt over the holidays, both looking great. summer going to horse shows. Our son her twin brother…crazy…longest com- 1978 There was talk with both of organizing an will graduate from the University of New position in English…”Oh, I wish I ….”… Class Correspondent area mini-reunion, though given the oc- Mexico next year with dual engineering th Mrs. Szekeres…fighting with Squeaky… Julia Twiname Warder casion of our 35 reunion; perhaps we degrees. Our oldest daughter is a traveling freckles…Peggy NOT Katy…Peg. 10360 E. Cortez St. should push it back to the spring. I know nurse, currently working in Springfield, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 our local numbers now include Julie Ten VT. She just returned from a three-week 1976 (480) 661-7901 Eyck, who I believe has a child at the kayaking adventure off the Baja.” school, and Sally Anne (both of whom I Julia Twiname Warder writes, “I have Tony Poole writes, “It was great to host [email protected] have yet to see!). Looking forward to see- switched careers and am teaching elemen- so many ‘76ers at our home last reunion. Gigi Jefferson Chaapel writes, “I am in ing all of you at the reunion!” tary at a Title I public school in the Prince Everyone had a wonderful time catch- LA. Got married four years ago, and we are Nina Howard Regan has two daughters William County Virginia Public schools. ing up, sharing stories and checking out doing ministry for Jesus. I am ministering who are at Potomac. Emma ‘12 is a se- I love those children like I love my own, photos from our last Potomac yearbook. in preaching and music.” nior, and Anna ‘14 is a sophomore. “It has and teaching second and third grade is a Many thanks to Adam Randolph for pulling everyone together and to Broad- way Jackson for organizing a fantastic spread of food. Much has transpired since “On a recent trip to Charleston, SC, for a Smythe family we were all together. In July, I hosted Banknote 2011 — our eighth conference reunion, I reconnected with David Morton '72 who lives in on banknote technology (the technologies that prevent counterfeiting of the stuff in your wallet) attended by 600 delegates Mount Pleasant, SC. He works for Trident Technical College from 70 countries. 2011 was a busy year with extensive work in Europe and Asia. and is thriving with his wife, a real estate lawyer, and two This Christmas our family went to the Old Country and celebrated in Germany and boys, aged 8 and 6. It was a pleasure to catch up in person Austria — a truly amazing experience.” Whitney Tymas was named director of with a Potomac classmate, which did whet my appetite for the Prosecution and Racial Justice Pro- gram at the Vera Institute of Justice in June the upcoming reunion.” Rosamond Parker Smythe ‘72 2011. Read more on page 9.

1977 Paul Fearey’s 9-year-old son Will ‘21, is been a great experience all around. Would blast! I am on faculty at the University of REUNION YEAR 35TH in third grade at Potomac and is having a love to see our classmates again soon and Phoenix’s Northern VA campuses (there Class Correspondent blast. “In fact, he can’t get enough, as he will try to make the next reunion.” are four), and I teach online at Trident is in two Potomac after-school classes for University International. I also teach a few Wendy Arundel Mittie Brooks Rooney shares, “I am chess and hip-hop dancing! Also, my wife cello lessons on the side and love that, too. 11 Oak St., Unit 3 living in Bethesda with my husband Cur- Gretchen volunteers weekly, so we are all Suffice it to say, I’m pretty busy. I hope that Wellesley, MA 02482 tis. Our daughter Cate ‘08 will graduate in the Panther spirit! I hope to see you and each and every one of our classmates is (508) 246-6120 from Vanderbilt in May. Our son Tom is the rest of Mr. Rollings’ class at our 35th.” having a wonderful new year, and I hope [email protected] in seventh grade, but not at Potomac. We Ann Addison Freniere is still working have been very involved in the Children of to see you sometime whenever time per- Andrey Baxter Young and Lange as the middle school director of students Kibera Foundation started by former Po- mits! Love to all!” Johnson are the 2012 Class Reunion at Stone Ridge in Bethesda. “My daugh- tomac teacher and current candidate for Arthur Woolverton writes, “Sheri, Matt, Chairs and looking forward to seeing all ters, Katharine (15) and Maddie (12), are the Kenyan parliament Ken Okoth. As a Meg and I are still enjoying life in Cum- their classmates on April 27 and 28. happy in Montgomery County schools result we have had an opportunity to travel berland, ME. I am enjoying managing the and excelling in math, which is more than to Kenya as a family and spend time with marketing for Honeywell Building Solu- I ever did.” Potomac alum and current parent Merrell tions in the East Region, spending a lot of Brian Homet started a new job this year Cherouny ‘82. I also run into Wendell as a program manager for Fannie Mae. Miles and JC Ewing from time to time. “I spent some time with Tim Gould in I am still running a small PR shop in DC. Charlottesville over the summer and, along Life is good, but busy.” New job? with Chris Tierney ‘79, represented the Adrienne Slaughter’s family is doing over-the-hill gang in the alumni soccer well. “Joshua no longer attends Potomac. game the day after Thanksgiving!” We may revisit that great idea at a later New baby? Alexandra Clyde Meskan shares that time. He did have a wonderful year in all is well. Her twins, Madeleine and John, fourth grade last year, and his classroom New outlook are in fourth grade and are best friends was Mrs. Meza’s classroom with the loft. still and into school, sports, friends and So Josh attends Minnieville Elementary Tania Hendrick Coffey ‘77, Audrey Baxter everything else. School along with his sister Daria. They’re on life? in grades 4 and 5.” Young ’77 and Wendy Arundel ‘77 Wendell Miles writes, “Things are good on the Miles’ runaway train! Juliana (3.5 Robin Seidman Volock writes, “I am Wendy Arundel writes, “My classmates years) is thriving at National Child Re- currently living in Kiowa, CO, with my ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- Tania Hendrick Coffey, Audrey Bax- search Center and loves alternately schem- husband, John, and our many animals. respondent, send your notes to him or her. ter Young and Wendy Arundel cel- We have 2-year-old horses, a 5-month- T ing with, and tormenting, her brother. ebrated our 50th birthday year at Tania’s Temple is greatly enjoying Beauvoir. I am old horse, the mommy horse and three Contact information can be found at the top of ranch in Steamboat Springs, Co. miniature horses. I am currently learning bereft that he is not at Potomac, but Ann each class column. If no Class Correspondent is Correction: In the fall 2011 issue of The would not put him on the bus for Kin- how to drive my miniature so he can pull Term, Peter Tompkins was credited with dergarten! They both enjoyed the Winter a cart. We have four dogs, too. I have my listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. writing The Book of the Dead. The note own bookkeeping business. Our young- Revels! I had the great pleasure of seeing org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, should have stated that NYC author Ptol- Will Catto at the Fall Frolics! He was at- est daughter is the Bernallo County, NM, emy Tompkins wrote The Divine Life of tending with some of his children who are Rodeo Queen and won first attendant at McLean, VA 22101. Animals. at the school. I also ran into Mittie and the State Fair. She is running for the Eliza- beth Stampede Queen. We will have a busy

Spring 2012 ■ 53 class notes

time learning about new ways we can help companies, schools, hospitals and munici- 1980 palities save money on energy! Job takes From the Yearbook me all over. If timing is right, we will try Edith Liberty Demas’s page to hit our Herndon, VA, office around the time of the reunion!” Her red hair…has an eye for ski instruc- tors…dancing with her 50 pounds…her 1979 puppy, Travis….”Sarah! Sarah!! Sarah!!!.... Class Correspondent 1981 Speke Wilson Class Correspondent 7309 University Ave. Glen Echo, MD 20812 Julia Smith Lam (301) 320-2331 72 Maddex Farm Rd. [email protected] Shepherdstown, WV 25443 (304) 876-8475 Bill Hoffmann writes, “I am channeling [email protected] my inner ‘Bill Doswell’ as I am in a long Class Agent term subbing position at Potomac in 8th Andrea Rankin ’82 with family grade science! To top it off I am teaching Alison Vest in the same classroom where we had 8th 4432 Edmunds St., NW Some We Gave Them Names, is about if you happen to pass through Chicago!” grade class with Mr.D.... to top THAT off Washington, DC 20007 the experience of living with cancer.” one of my students is Speke Wilson’s (202) 494-1682 Andrea (Andi) Rankin writes, “My fam- son, Bram ‘16! I have memories of being [email protected] Julia (Smith) Lam writes, “I continue to ily and I moved to MT 10 years ago, and partners with Irene Higginson (then Whitney Field writes, “I am living in live in the lovely town of Shepherdstown, we have never looked back. We live in Hel- Howard) for the final lab project (I think Keene, NH. I am a grocery manager at the WV, and work at the National Cancer Insti- ena and love all that the state has to offer tute. Last year, I became an empty nester as — mountain biking, hiking, skiing and an my youngest son graduated high school and overall slower pace. I’ll be the first to admit went off to American University. My oldest that the restaurant variety is not what it could “I am channeling my inner ‘Bill Doswell’ son is in his last semester at West Virginia be, and Indian food is a must for trips to a University and plans on studying in Portu- big city. Like David, I have wondered where gal for a year prior to starting his master’s the time went and how it is that I now have a as I am in a long term degree. With both my boys in college it 10-year-old girl (Lea) and a 12-year-old boy inspired me to return to school, so I’m cur- (James). I work part time for the Office of subbing position at Potomac in rently a part-time student at university, but the Commissioner of Higher Education co- at the rate I’m going I will be the oldest per- ordinating the evaluation of a grant program 8th grade science! To top it off I am son to ever receive a diploma. Not that I’m called Montana GEAR UP. My husband, Phil, in any hurry, as it is all about the journey.” started his own law practice a few years ago. teaching in the same classroom where We enjoy the flexibility that these jobs give 1982 us. Here’s a photo of us in ID last summer. I we had 8th grade class with Mr.D.... “ will try to make it back for our 30th, seeing as TH REUNION YEAR 30 I think I have missed all the rest.” Bill Hoffmann '79 Class Correspondent David Tierney 1983 P.O. Box B Class Correspondent it was the final) ... I also recall Robert Brattleboro Food Co-op in Brattleboro, Pope Valley, CA 94567 Jennifer T. Webber Dempsey writing his name on the table VT. I have been there for the last 16 years. (707) 965-9727 8 Plymouth Rd. with the Bunsen burner.... oh boy... good This spring we are opening a new store, [email protected] South Portland, ME 04106 times!” it should be a fun and challenging time! Bennett Donovan writes, “I’ve been (207) 774-2206 I am with a wonderful man named Kirk living in Austin for the last 20 years. I am Ralph Savarese writes, “I’m still teaching [email protected] at Grinnell College in IA. My son, DJ, will who is a welder and heavy equipment me- married to Leslie for 11 years and have be attending Oberlin College in the fall. We chanic. He also Morris Dances and is an two children, Logan (7) and Jillian (3). I have been told that he is the first non-speak- amazing singer. I was married before and run a team of project managers and soft- ing person with autism — he uses a text-to- had three stepchildren who gave me four ware developers for an Austin-based cloud voice synthesizer to speak — to be admitted wonderful grandchildren. The two oldest computing company called Convio. We de- to a highly selective college. He is definitely grandkids live nearby, and we go on lots velop constituent engagement software for the first to try to live in the dorms. Pretty of adventures kayaking, fishing, and hiking nonprofit organizations. So if you’ve ever exciting stuff. He appeared a few years ago in the mountains. They call me “adventure registered online for one of those char- on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, and when Grammy.” My sister Elizabeth ‘79 lives ity walks, then you’ve probably used our Dr. Sanjay Gupta asked him, ‘DJ, do you right down the road with her daughter. My application. Our family enjoys the food, think autism should be treated?’ he typed, dad, Jonathan, who was head of the music, creativity and relaxed attitude that ‘Yes, treated with respect.’ He’s an amazing Upper School at Potomac, also lives right makes Austin a great place to live.” young man. I just can’t believe that I’m old down the road. My mother Augusta lives Reid Wilson writes, “I’m living in North- enough to have a kid going to college!” in Troy, NY, and my oldest sister Cassan- field, IL, and working for the man at JPM- Adria de Leonibus Black ‘83 and family dra ‘77 still lives in MD with her family. Mark Shriver, who runs U.S. programs organ in Chicago. Winter is always a bit My life is very full and happy. My best to Adria de Leonibus Black writes, “We for Save the Children spoke to the Upper crazy for me as both son, Alec, and daugh- all of my classmates from Potomac.” are in Old Town Alexandria, and I am School in February about the high rate of ter, Nina, are on hockey squads and a lot working at The Beauvoir School as their poverty in the U.S. today and especially Charlotte Matthews, Associate Profes- of time is spent at the rink. I, too, am still special events and alumni relations di- the number of kids—one in four—that sor of English at the University of Virginia, playing hockey once a week, although any rector. My first year not teaching in quite live with limited access to the things that says, “I’m living in Crozet, VA, with my cardio benefit is typically erased during the some time. We welcomed Wells Cunning- the rest of us take for granted. He showed husband Albert and two children, Emma post-skate gatherings at the local tavern. ham Black on August 1, 2011. He joins big how the problem for children has become (13) and Garland (10), two dogs and three So aside from worrying about my daugh- sister LuLu, who turned 3 in January. Hello worse over the last few decades and urged chickens. I’m teaching at UVA and at Hol- ter going into high school next year, life is to all classmates!” students to get involved. lins University. My third book of poems, good. Would love to hear from any of you

54 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

Alex Ross, classical music critic at The that he held Potomac, his teachers and his Jamie Stump writes, “I am an Alumni Zed Adams is a philosophy professor New Yorker, is the only full-time classical classmates in abiding affection. We often Governing Council member and proud in NYC at the New School for Social Re- music critic employed by a national maga- shared our recollections from that time, to report that my daughter Josephine (5) search. He writes papers on topics such as, zine. Read more on page 14. and those memories were always suffused is at Potomac in Ms. Murphy’s kinder- “Why your kids’ drawings really are less with friendship, humor, fondness and garten. She frequently gets to see Nonie realistic than Mrs. Cook’s drawings” and 1984 warmth: throwing the football with Car- Cameron, who is the Lower School Lan- “Why it’s important that ‘Blade Runner’ los, David and David; misadventures in guage Arts Resource Teacher. My younger was filmed at the Bradbury Building.” He Trevor Corson writes, “In addition to de- driving and parking in Georgetown with daughter Mary Parker (3) is at Country recently gave a series of sold out public veloping some new book ideas, I have been Richard at the wheel of the Big Green Day. All the Stumps, including brother lectures in LA titled “What if Esquimaux doing more teaching, and recently joined Farm Car; learning to appreciate great John ‘87 and his family, are doing quite had no words for blue?” the faculty of one of the most diverse inde- writing from Mr. Riley and arguing poli- well. Buckley Anne Kuhn Fricker, JD, GCM, pendent schools in the country, Brooklyn tics with Mrs. Nields; late nights on Mount Azali Kassum writes, “Planning our has a book coming out in February 2012. Friends School, to create an East Asian St. Alban, at Dane’s, at Antonia’s. In our last 20th reunion in the spring of 2011 was Here is a website with all the details: www. Studies program there. I am teaching be- conversation just a few months before he a great way to reconnect with so many theroadtogrowingold.com. ginning Mandarin Chinese language, as died, Richard told me how fortunate he of our classmates, including co-chairs well as Chinese and Japanese history, and Jen Friedlander writes, “I lived in NYC in the process I am developing a profound for most of my adult life, acting in mostly new respect for every teacher I’ve ever had, comedic roles which led into an improv/ including of course those who nurtured Chris Winland ‘94 was named sketch comedy show that I was in for three me at Potomac.” years. We even ended up filming a pilot, the interim director of the newly but our band broke up after lots of fight- 1985 ing, which led me to writing and perform- established Clean Energy Incubator at ing stand-up comedy. I think like Steven From the Yearbook Wright, but I have Sarah Silverman’s The ninth grade continues the tradition the University of Texas at San Antonio, naughty sarcastic/bitchy innocence. I have of a class play by presenting Bye Bye been performing for about seven years Birdie. The production was directed by so if anyone hears of a promising in comedy clubs and at private parties. I Mrs. DeLeonibus, ninth grade English just recently moved back to McLean, VA, teacher. this past August to be the chair of event early-stage clean energy company that planning and fundraising for The Stroke 1986 Comeback Center (because this is where wouldn’t mind getting started in Texas, my grandfather recovered from his stroke). Class Correspondent I always loved planning parties, and now I Holly Green Gordon send them his way. am taking my performing love and plan- 203 W. 102nd St., Apt. 4F ning amazing and meaningful events. I New York, NY 10025 am, by the way, recruiting people to be (212) 665-6655 on my event-planning and fundraising felt to have gone to Potomac and known Jamie Stump and Morgan Till, as well [email protected] committee, so if you know anyone who so many wonderful people there. Richard as Erika Melman and Richard Bland wants to do charity work please send them From the Yearbook was a good friend and a good man, and he here in Washington, plus everyone who my way. Also I still hope to check out the is missed.” managed to attend the festivities in April. The Potomac Community is a close and stand-up comedy scene in DC.” cohesive one. Caring for others and be- Just before the holidays, I was able to coming involved in many areas of the 1991 spend time in Raleigh, NC, with Kate Ry- Scott Mader has been living in Belize school are a part of life here. lander Morley and her daughters Abby for many years now. He has a real estate Class Correspondent and Elizabeth. And through my work with company there and is currently plan- 1990 Thea Lehming Brandt the Alumni Governing Council, I had the ning a three-day festival to celebrate the 3629-A Francis Ave., N. opportunity to attend our alumni event in end of the Mayan calendar on December Class Correspondent Seattle, WA 98103 San Francisco (co-hosted by Patsy Dug- 21, 2012. Here is a link to his real estate Danielle Kleman Porak de Varna (206) 245-5129 ger), where I also caught up with Jennie 737 Vine St. [email protected] McClelland! Denver, CO 80206 Class Agents (202) 380-5514 Azali Kassum 1992 [email protected] 2826 39th St., NW REUNION YEAR 20TH New job? Damon Moley writes, “It is with great Washington, DC 20007 Class Correspondent sadness that I write to inform you that [email protected] Richard Cobb Miller Houston has Ama Amoako Adams New baby? Jamie Stump died. Richard was the founding editor of 12 West Chapman St. 873 Vine St. The Current and a varsity tennis player. Alexandria, VA 22301 Herndon, VA 20170 New outlook He taught English at a private school in [email protected] (571) 294-8965 Honduras, studied in Italy, volunteered [email protected] Class Agents on the presidential campaigns of Presi- Ally Bloom on life? dent George Herbert Walker Bush in 1992 Tim Wisecarver 2090 Grace Manor Ct. and Senator Barrack Obama in 2008, and 5742 15th St., N. Mclean, VA 22101 worked for a national trade association Arlington, VA 22205 (703) 898-1044 ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- and as a researcher and writer for political (703) 385-5586 [email protected] [email protected] respondent, send your notes to him or her. and literary publications in Washington, T DC. He had been pursuing a doctorate Patsy Dugger and her husband, Isaac, Ama Amoako Adams writes, “I was Contact information can be found at the top of in American History at the University of still love living in San Francisco and will be recently elected into the partnership at Georgia. Richard was gentlemanly, affable happily joining the ranks of parents with Baker Botts and continue to practice inter- each class column. If no Class Correspondent is and charming and had an extraordinary the arrival of their first child, a little girl, national trade law. I had a great time see- listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. gift for acquiring luminous friends and in early March. Patsy will be taking some ing Shauna McBay Lonergan, who was acquaintances. I know from our many time off from her role at Ecova, a sustain- in town from Seattle with her beautiful org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, daughter, Skye. I also got to see Tamara conversations over these past decades that ability consultancy, where she designs and McLean, VA 22101. the years Richard spent at Potomac were promotes energy efficiency programs for Bechara a few times this past year in New among the happiest times of his life and utilities throughout the U.S. and Canada. York and DC.

Spring 2012 ■ 55 class notes

company: www.progressoshores.com/. will roll out this fall. He also wrapped up (202) 215-3756 Learn more about Scott here: www.couch- work on the U.S. Delegation of the Eu- [email protected] surfing.org/people/scottmader/. ropean Union here in DC, as well as en- Class Agent vironmental graphic design projects for Finally, Nicole Kleman Neufeld and Ally George Wisecarver several law firms around town and across Bloom are greatly looking forward to see- 1222 Michigan Ct. th the country. “We’re also in the process of ing everyone at our 20 reunion in April. Alexandria, VA 22314 erecting a signage and wayfinding pilot (917) 676-6875 project in Rosslyn, with the intention of 1993 [email protected] expanding it throughout the entirety of Kristina Cook writes, “Life is peaceful Arlington County. When I’m not at work, I Chris DeMuth, Jr. and family just moved and full of beauty in the mountains of love being a horrible influence for my two to a new home in New Canaan, CT. southwest VA. My husband, Adam, and I boys, William (5) and Andrew (3), and have lived here for 16 years now. We have consider my wife Claire to be a saint for 1996 two daughters. Emma will be 11 in May, putting up with my questionable antics for Class Correspondents and Rose is 7. Looking forward to our re- the past 9 years.” Chris Cramer union in 2013!” Perry (Aldige) Shure reports that 365 West 20th St., #3A Michelle O’Hara Levin writes, “I am Paige Mader moved to Boston with her New York, NY 10011 happy to announce the birth of our sec- husband, Felix, after finishing a master’s in (202) 492-3398 ond son, James Benjamin O’Hara Levin, architecture at Columbia. Cynthia Rob- Kate Irving ’94 with husband, Josh on their [email protected] who surprised us by coming at the end of wedding day inson and Jon Rivers ’94 had a baby girl, December rather than the end of January. Mia Whang Spikers’ girl Portia turned Chris Crampton, Jamie Sullivan and James Maxwell joined Christina Happily, all are well and his big (3.5 year Kate (Carberry) Irving’s wedding to 3 in September and Abigail Whitehead Bennison at Puffy’s Tavern in New York old) brother was able to wish this new little Josh Irving in April 2011 was a blur of and Clark Crain ‘92 moved back to to celebrate the engagement of Juliana man a happy new year!” happiness and she was lucky enough to McLean. Perry and her husband moved Bennison ’01 to Jeff Battaglia. A great share the day with her five Potomac bes- to Houston, Texas, last January, and their time was had by all, with the group shar- 1994 ties: Lauren (Banks) Amos , Michelle baby boy Benjamin celebrated his first ing fond memories of the Gum Tree field (Pollak) Landwehr, David Carpio ‘93, birthday on June 12. Class Correspondent and the Rolly Polly Hill. Jody (Morse) Al-Saigh and Gina Cor- Michael Wilhelm is living south of Yoko- Lauren Banks Amos dero . The following month she purchased hama, Japan, working as a head and neck 4207 Blagden Ave., NW an awesome house with her awesome hus- surgeon at Yokosuka Naval Hospital (even 1997 Washington, DC 20011 band and finished off the month of May though he is in the Army). He and his fam- REUNION YEAR 15TH (571) 594-6053 by completing her Counseling Masters at ily live up on a hill overlooking Tokyo Bay Class Correspondent [email protected] Hunter in NYC. Now she spends her days and can see Mt. Fuji from their neighbor- Class Agents resting and preparing for another group of hood. When not operating, he and his fam- Elizabeth Race Terborgh 121 Pembroke St., #2 Sandy Gentles worthy seniors to enter the college applica- ily are out and about in Japan enjoying the Boston, MA 02118 6215 Massachusetts Ave. tion process. Life is good. people, the food and the weather. He and (650) 248-5968 Bethesda, MD 20816 K.C. (Swope) Kourtz (kckourtz@gmail. his wife Sara have four kids: Andrew (9), [email protected] (703) 868-4033 com) finished her M.A. in English in 2007 Peter (8), Emma (5) and Abigail (3). “Sara [email protected] at Georgetown University. Shortly thereaf- has enjoyed being back where she grew Class Agent up, and I have enjoyed being able to see Perry Aldige Shure ter, she moved to Boston, where she now Chase Stock over everyone’s heads on the train. We are 2630 Centenary St. lives with her husband, Richard Kourtz, 1625 Shakespeare St. doing our part to help things get back to Houston, TX 77005 and their dog, Abby. For the past several Baltimore, MD 21231 normal after the earthquake and hope that (646) 765-5373 years she has worked as the program asso- (917) 751-1913 Mother Nature will leave Japan alone for a [email protected] ciate for technology at Facing History and [email protected] Ourselves, an educational nonprofit based while. We had fun seeing Gina Cordero Minu Arianne Aghevli is living in Bal- Rich Ellis, Abby Sulivan and Scott in Brookline, MA. She was married in June this summer when we were evacuated back timore City, struggling to maintain control Trabandt are the 2012 Class Reunion 2010, in Saint Martin, French West Indies. to Virginia. Hope to see some more folks over her two huskies, lab and 3-year-old Chairs and look forward to seeing their William Lamb ‘94 attended, and it was over this way soon.” daughter. She and her husband just came classmates on April 27 and 28. a wonderful time. Chris Winland was named the interim to their senses and decided to move out of director of the newly established Clean En- a row house to somewhere with a yard. She After more than a dozen years as a re- ergy Incubator at the University of Texas is a Veterans Affairs psychologist running porter, Will Lamb retired his notebook at San Antonio, so if anyone hears of a the methadone clinic at the downtown Bal- and pen in November to take a job “on promising early-stage clean energy com- timore Veterans Affairs hospital. Her hus- the desk” as an assignment editor at The pany that wouldn’t mind getting started in band (the same person she has been with Record and NorthJersey.com, a newspaper Texas, send them his way. He was also glad since NCS) is a record producer. “Weird and website that covers an expanse of sub- to be back in DC recently as part of the thing: I can still call roll from Ms. Street’s urban New Jersey outside New York City. Austin Chamber of Commerce’s legislative first grade. I realize this periodically...” He manages a team of four reporters and a columnist, and directs the paper’s cover- delegation, but can’t believe Metro is still Lauren Banks Amos writes, “I am liv- age of federal and state courts, in addition using farecards that demagnetize every Ali Jost ‘97 and husband, Michael Dax ing in DC, mentally adjusting to the fact Iacovone on their wedding day. to breaking news. He exercise’s his writing time he puts them in his pocket. that I am officially a soccer mom to an muscles by penning occasional pieces for Sam Young spent the summer solving the Ali Jost writes, “I am still living and entirely too tall 9-year-old. I am working Dwell magazine, which is ably edited by mystery of the abandoned silver mine (it working in Washington, DC. Last year, in behavior and social science research Sam Grawe. He and his wife Gina live with was Old Man Abernathy all along!), tak- I made the big move to leave my work and technical assistance for the American their cat, Scoop, in Jersey City, N.J. ing breaks only to tour Nicaragua and play at the Service Employees International Institutes for Research primarily serving drag queen bingo with Lauren Banks Union where I directed their immigra- federal, state and nonprofit clients. I just Matt Rowan recently became an asso- Amos at a local bar. tion campaigns and built my business as a entered my ninth year as an assistant track ciate at Gensler in DC, and is one of the professional life and career coach. I’m also coach at Potomac. If you haven’t seen the regional practice area leaders for product back in school to get my master’s in clinical changes on campus, I highly recommend design and studio leaders for our hospital- 1995 social work. In the future I hope to meld a visit! I enjoyed attending Kate (Car- ity design group. He led the team that just Class Correspondent the coaching and therapy work in a private berry) Irving’s wedding in April with created new nationwide prototypes for the Erin Vagley practice here in Washington, DC. More Gina Cordero, Michelle (Pollack) Comfort Inn and Sleep Inn chains, and 649 2nd Ave., Apt. 3H importantly, I got married in 2011 to my Landwehr, Jody Morse Al-Saigh and he is thrilled to report that the latter have New York, NY 10016 long-time partner Michael Dax Iacovone, David Carpio ‘93.” already begun roll-outs while the former

56 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

who is an artist and a teacher in the DC Trenholm Boggs recently called it quits and lives with his wife, Julie, in George- Jonathan Haworth Public Schools. Potomac friends like Lane and left Georgetown for the tony neigh- town. This fall, he and his three business 1925 N. Woodley St. (obviously), Heather Wilson ‘96, Matt borhood of McLean, where he now lives partners opened Mason Inn, a sports bar Arlington, VA 22207 Shuba ‘96, Nish Herat ‘95 and Jessica with his wife Avery. He spent the past year and live music venue in Glover Park. On (703) 307-3019 Martin Hayne ‘96 were at the big party. I traveling the globe for his job with the New Year’s Eve, Truman Morrison ‘03 [email protected] am really looking forward to seeing you all Government Printing Office and training and Willie Morrison ‘06 played at his Class Agent and catching up at the reunion this year.” his dog Lady on how to retrieve ducks that New Year’s Eve party at Mellon Auditori- Jonathan Haworth he shoots out of the air. um. Reed is in his seventh season as a high (See contact information above) 1998 Jody Goehring and his wife, Katherine, school wrestling official and continues to have a baby on the way, due April 20. serve on the Potomac Alumni Governing Class Correspondent After two years at UBS, Jody joined men’s Council. He enjoys seeing his fellow ‘99 Jessica Ohly bespoke clothing company Alton Lane as classmates on a weekly basis. 6650 Holland St. Director of Operations. In August, Alton Susanna Mitchell lives in Brooklyn, McLean, VA 22101 Lane expanded to Washington, DC, and NY, with her husband. She is an attorney (703) 402-9041 opened a showroom in Dupont Circle. Jody for the U.S. Department of Housing and [email protected] is regularly back in town and will be host- Urban Development. She spends time Zal Batmanglij’s first feature film,Sound ing a Potomac alumni “Scotch and Suits” with Jonathan Darman, Liz Seidlitz, of My Voice, hits theaters April 27. Read night at Alton Lane on Thursday, February Ashely Seidlitz ‘03, James Aldige and more on page 6. 23. Read more about Jody on page 12. Laura Reiter Fleischner. Christian Gomez graduated in De- Alyson Lipsky and Daryn Cambridge 1999 cember with an MBA from Wharton in live in Falls Church, VA, with their dog, Class Correspondents management and an MA from Johns Hop- Reginald. Alyson works at DAI, an in- kins-SAIS in Latin American Studies. He is ternational development firm where she Daryn Cambridge living in Logan Circle in Washington, DC, does health and livelihoods work in Sub- 2818 New Providence Ct. figuring out the next step, and he enjoys Saharan Africa. Daryn works at the Inter- Falls Church, VA 22042 running into Reed Landry, Trenholm national Center on Nonviolent Conflict, (703) 475-8195 Boggs, Keith Huffman and Daryn an educational foundation that encour- [email protected] Cambridge. ages the study and practice of nonviolent Reed Landry Keith Huffman graduated from Catholic civil resistance as a method of struggle. He Llia Domon ‘00 on her wedding day 3039 M St., #2 University Law School last spring, passed is also an adjunct professor at American Washington, DC 20007 the bar and now works at Mowry & Grim- University, where he teaches courses on Llia Domon writes, “I married my col- (703) 593-8916 son. He recently got engaged to Brooke education for international development lege sweetheart, Sean Hueber, in July of [email protected] Daley, his girlfriend of four years. and peace education. 2011. We tied the knot on a beach in HI. Zalika Murray ‘01 and her mother at- Class Agent Pamela Kasenetz is practicing Internal Dana Stroul is living in Washington, DC, tended the wedding. I also moved from Reed Landry Medicine at the Alexandria Primary Care and working on Middle East policy for the Ventura, CA, to LA just last week to accept (See contact information above.) Associates group in Alexandria, VA. She is Office of the Secretary of Defense. High- lights of 2011 include a work trip with Sec- a news producing job with KABC.” Steve Anderson and Term editor Johan- thrilled to be done with Residency! retary of Defense Gates to Iraq and other Turn to page 17 to read the preface to Lou- na Droubay welcomed baby girl Della In June 2011, Todd Kincaide received an countries in the region on his “doomsday isa Thomas’ first book, Conscience: Two on February 10. Former faculty Linda MBA from The Kellogg School of Manage- plane” and a vacation in Peru to hike the Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family — a Anderson seems pretty pleased with her ment. He currently lives in San Francisco, Inca trail. Test of Will and Faith in World War I. fourth grand baby. where he works for a young technology James Aldige lives in NY and works as start-up called Wednesdays.com, which one of five employees at an investment helps organizations schedule small group 2000 firm affiliated with Tiger Management. lunches for their members. On weekends, Class Correspondents he can be found in wine country at one of Last summer, he worked with Chris Maura Myers Bisogni San Francisco’s amazing farmers markets Soverow and the Schmitt family in 70 Pierrepont St., Apt. 1F or biking the Marin Headlands. helping to organize a NY fundraiser for Brooklyn, NY 11201 the Landon Schmitt Memorial Foundation, Reed Landry got married in September [email protected] and was grateful to solicit generous dona- tions for the silent auction from classmates Monique Pean (who has her own jewelry New job? line), Jody Goehring (shirts from Alton Lane) and Paul Trible (shirts from Led- bury). This past weekend, James spent a New baby? snowy Saturday in Greenwich Village with Susanna Mitchell, Laura Reiter Fleis- New outlook chner and Liz Seidlitz. They all agreed they miss snow days in McLean. Yorke Allen currently lives in Mclean on life? with his wife, Virginia Allen, and two daughters, Alice (2 years) and Annabelle (5 months). He is vice president at Jones ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- Lang LaSalle, a commercial real estate Trespondent, send your notes to him or her. company, in their Tysons Corner office. Yorke still keeps up with his racquet sports Contact information can be found at the top of and enjoys playing when he can. each class column. If no Class Correspondent is Sahar Batmanghelidj and her husband, Sam Miotke, recently welcomed their listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. baby girl, Bibi Batmanghelidj Miotke. org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, Sahar works on the TARP program within the Department of the Treasury. She looks McLean, VA 22101. forward to a full night’s sleep. Truman Morrison ‘03 and Willie Morrison ‘06 of The Morrison Brothers performing at The 9:30 Club

Spring 2012 ■ 57 class notes

Across the Pond, Kate Jackson Wendel- Down South, Rory Byrnes graduates Edwin Merrigan owns a Firehouse 2001 boe married Adam Wendelboe in April from the University of North Carolina with Subs franchise in Manassas, VA, and just Class Correspondents and is living in Cambridge doing a one- an MBA this May. completed his second Ironman in Cozu- Daphne Chester year MBA specializing in arts, culture and Stirling Kelso Neff lives in Austin, TX, mel Mexico. Edwin, Bradley Allen 41 5th Ave., Apt. 7C media management. She says, “As well as with her husband Josh and is a freelance and Stephen Gavula celebrated Matt New York, NY 10003 studying hard, of course, I’m playing water writer for Travel + Leisure and Food & Nim’s wedding to Julie Frasch at Wren (202) 360-0660 polo for the university, and producing a Wine, among other publications. She and Hall in Williamsburg, VA, on October 1. [email protected] TEDx Oxbridge conference this summer.” a handful of other Potomac alums will be Elissa Brown continues to work on sev- She sees Marian Smith on occasion, who Caroline Leith heading to Lina Gomez’s wedding in eral interesting projects in the documen- is living in London where she and her Marbella, Spain, in June. Lina and her fi- tary film world. She recently moved to 2818 N St., NW husband Dan Montalbano are currently Washington, DC 20007 ancé Roberto Clausell continue to publish Bozeman, MT, with her fiancé, Graham renovating a little Victorian house. Marian high-end city guides in Cartagena and Charles, who is a photographer, film- (202) 669-1723 works as an editor/writer for msnbc.com. [email protected] Bogota, Colombia. Check out their work at maker and Antarctic/Arctic expedition Bryan Bennett lives with his wife, Emily, lurecartagena.com. leader from New Zealand. They will be Stirling Kelso Neff in Washington, DC, and currently works married at her family home in Middle- 300 S. Lamar Blvd., Apt. 313 for Booz & Co. burg, VA, in September 2012. Austin, TX 78704 (512) 350-9108 Stephanie Amann Kapsis and her Juliana Bennison is a first-year medi- [email protected] husband Jim live close by in Alexandria. cal student at Jefferson Medical College Stephanie is a program director for Teach in Philadelphia. She is engaged to Jeff Hello from the class of 2001! If there’s any- for America. Battaglia, who is the CFO of an asset thing to be said about our class this year, John Ohly is working on the Committee management firm in NYC, and they are it’s that we are a very global group. Gradu- planning a Spring, 2013 wedding in FL. ates currently live all over the map, includ- on Oversight and Government Reform in ing the UK, Colombia, Hong Kong, Dubai, the U.S. House of Representatives and lives all over the U.S. of A., and, in the case of in McLean with his wife, Kiley. Laura Smith, on a 12-meter steel-hulled Whitney Petersmeyer Segneri is also sailboat making its way from Argentina to working for Teach for America in Boston the Caribbean. as the chief of staff to the president. Matthew Kline writes, “I was elected to Elena Knappen, also in education, is now the Venice (CA) Neighborhood Council in the Dean of her school in Brooklyn. September, returning to elected office for “After a long, long wait,” writes Steven the first time since I was sophomore class John, “my first novel, Three A.M., will fi- president at Potomac in ‘99. In my free nally be published on March 27. I shame- time I enjoy catching touchdowns from lessly beg you to buy it. I need bread! Also Adam Smith on the beach.” the book’s own merits and whatnot...” Golnar Oveyssi ’01 married in Tuscany, Italy last August Also in LA: CJ Fahey, working for Fox In- Carrie Johnson will graduate from The ternational Channels, and Valerie Stem- Catholic University of America, Columbus Golnar Oveyssi moved from London to pler, who is studying at the University of School of Law in May. After graduation, Dubai in September 2011 where she is now Southern California Marshall School of she will begin a one-year clerkship for a tutoring students in various subjects as Business. judge in the Anne Arundel County Circuit well as helping children with special needs. Court in Annapolis, MD. Skipp Calvert is also making a move In August 2011, she got married to Behzad West, noting that he “recently completed Andrew Duncan relocated during fall, Farsian in Tuscany, Italy. While Gol- a six-month deployment on board the USS 2011 to the San Francisco Bay Area. He has nar misses her family and friends back in Enterprise and is now moving to Northern really enjoyed being able to see fellow 2003 the States and in London, she is excited to California to become an instructor pilot grads Rachel Dyke ’03 and Leila Bat- start a new adventure in Dubai! Daphne Chester ‘01 and husband, Kevin Crowe flying the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet.” manghelidj ‘03 around town! Circling back to Laura Smith, she’s cur- rently the chief of the acquisition depart- Daphne Chester was married to Kevin ment on Geco Eagle for WesternGeco, a Crowe on August 20 at her family’s ranch geophysical services company. She’s get- in Ennis, MT, with Potomac friends ting married this summer. After that, she Whitney Petersmeyer Sengeri, says, “we are not sure where the winds will Elissa Brown, Alexa Andrews ‘02 take us!” and Alexa Rubenstein Rachlin ‘03 in attendance. They moved to Hong Kong Cecily (Hutton) Cutshall writes, “I a few weeks after the wedding and are live in Arlington with my husband Jason very much enjoying life in Asia. Daphne (we got married December 30, 2010) will start business school in Hong Kong while I finish up my master’s in conflict in July 2012. resolution. Still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, but I’m lov- Lauren Willard graduated with a ing the coursework and graduate in May joint-degree from University of Virginia with a focus on climate issues. I spent Law School and Johns Hopkins School last summer in Liberia (West Africa) of Advanced International Studies last doing community peace-building work, spring. She’s currently out in Pasadena, worked at the State Department in the CA, clerking on the Ninth Circuit for fall with European and Eurasian affairs, Chief Judge Alex Kozinski. She’s looking and am now working part-time with forward to moving back to DC next year, community dialogues in MD concern- where she’ll be clerking for Justice Ken- ing sea-level rise and associated risks nedy at the Supreme Court. to homeowners. I haven’t kept in touch very well with my Potomac School class- mates, but have aspirations of getting Pictured left to right: Lizzie Copson ‘01; Sara Blanchard Petchey, Past Faculty ; Elissa Brown together with other DC-ers soon.” ‘01; Kate Jackson Wendelboe ‘01; Emma Jackson ‘03; Marian Smith ‘01. Bottom row: Tom Cannell ‘01 and CJ Fahey ‘01.

58 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

real estate acquisition shop. He now works 2002 for a similar operation that concentrates REUNION YEAR 10TH on urban development and redevelop- Class Correspondents ment projects, while enjoying suburban life in Del Ray, Alexandria. Kate House Previti 1832 Belmont Rd., NW Britney Cuffee recently travelled to Washington, DC 20009 Kenya for an amazing two-week experi- [email protected] ence and was able to visit Ethiopia and Greece during her travels. Britney enjoyed Kate Buchanan the safaris, the sights and the people. th 221 East 76 St., 4C Britney is in her fourth year of teaching New York, NY 10021 at a high needs/Title 1 school in Prince (240) 476-6158 Emma Jackson ‘03 and Jenny Redding ‘03 George’s County, MD, where she teaches [email protected] pose for a picture in London, England Spanish. Meredith Murphy says, “I am still teach- Robbie de Picciotto moved to NY at the ing kindergarten at Potomac and I spent Jenny Redding writes, “2011 was a great end of the summer to work as an account three and a half weeks in Kenya this past year! I spent a week over the summer in manager at a large marketing and adver- summer working with the Children of London visiting Emma Jackson. We tising firm called G2, part of the WPP Kibera Foundation. I am also the 2012 spent time exploring the city, and I got to company. Class Reunion Chair and hope to see all see what was being prepared for the sum- Brent Locey recently moved to the Big of my classmates at Potomac on April 27 mer Olympics. In December, I got engaged Apple to work for Robert A.M. Stern Ar- and 28.” in NYC to Douglas Ullman. I am very ex- chitects. When he’s not soaking up all that cited for the next year and the wedding Alison Heyman ’03 and daughter, Emma is NYC, Brent tries to hold on to his bas- preparations that await.” 2003 Elizabeth ketball glory days and recently played in a Class Correspondents Eric Rosenthal is living in NY and work- league with Robbie de Picciotto. Alison Heyman (formerly Ayer) and her ing in commercial real estate. Eric contin- Aleem Ahmed husband, David, welcomed their first baby, 1624 8th Pl. Emma Elizabeth Heyman, on September McLean, VA 22101 10. Alison has been enjoying her mater- [email protected] nity leave and will be returning to her job “I moved to San Francisco in October Elizabeth Fabiani at Google in March. She is also very excited 301 West 22nd St., Apt. 36 to be matron-of-honor in Ashley Bender’s to work for Survival International, an New York, NY 10011 upcoming wedding! [email protected] Truman Morrison shared, “The Morri- international tribal rights organization.” Class Agent son Brothers Band, which features alums Leila Batmanghelidj ‘03 Andrew Warin Truman Morrison, Willie Morrison 900 Alvermar Ridge Dr. ‘06 and Julie Grass ‘04, headlined The McLean, VA 22102 9:30 Club in Northwest DC on January (703) 232-9311 19. Countless members of the Potomac [email protected] community were among the crowd of 600 ues to clean up after his roommate Kirk Kevin Mayer recently began his second in attendance, from former classmates Goehring, who is working in finance at deployment in Helmand Province, Afghan- Leila Batmanghelidj writes, “I moved Andrew Warin, Michael Murphy and to San Francisco in October to work for Metalmark Capital. istan. Kevin is a Combined Anti Armor Zach Leonsis to current high school Platoon Commander and expects to return Survival International, an international teacher Daniel Shannon.” tribal rights organization. I enjoy spend- 2004 home sometime around Labor Day. Cal Nannes writes, “I am more than Caroline Reid Peterson and her hus- ing time with ‘03 alums Rachel Dyke and Class Correspondents Andrew Duncan.” halfway through my first year of medical band, Mark, bought a house in Rockville, residency at the University of Maryland. Kathryn Johnson Pete Carrington writes, “I have moved I am training in an internal medicine and 2665 Prosperity Ave. deeper into the nether regions of south pediatrics combined program, meaning #117 Brooklyn, however I continue to work that I spend half of my training with adults Fairfax VA 22031 at Bedford Stuyvesant Family Center of and half of my training with children and (703) 969-4940 New Brooklyn Community Services as a social will ultimately be certified to treat all age [email protected] job? worker delivering therapy and assistance groups. Thus far, I have completed a wide Regina Lee to needy families in the area. My locale variety of rotations ranging from well visits 220 W. 26th St., Apt. PH6 has impeded my ability to see my Potomac New baby? in the office to taking care of critically ill New York, NY 10001 folks in the city. It was good catching up patients in the intensive care unit.” (240) 277-7503 with old friends Truman Morrison, [email protected] New outlook Frank Craighill and Squeek Scollari Over Thanksgiving, I was lucky enough over the break. Frank and I regrettably to get to spend time with Maya Jaafar Class Agents bought Redskins tickets and have been and her new fiancé, Sean. We caught a Mike Diamond on life? subjecting ourselves to their mediocrity gorgeous day and took advantage of it by 515 W. 52nd St., #12G throughout the fall. Also, I got a car that going on a hike on the Billy Goat Trail in New York, NY 10019 I can wear jean jackets in.” Potomac, MD. (301) 379-3013 ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- Dan Gavula is working on a project Luke Parker got married on August 5 [email protected] to his college sweetheart, Dana Black, at Trespondent, send your notes to him or her. in Kansas City, MO, building his field of Chris Moore dreams. the Newberry Library in Chicago. Marc 626A Bergen St., Apt. 2 Contact information can be found at the top of Lewis ‘02 was the best man, and Eric Brooklyn, NY 11238 each class column. If no Class Correspondent is Taylor was a groomsman. The ceremony (703) 622-3116 was performed by Ernie Mitchell ‘02. [email protected] listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. Juliet Dillard ‘05 and Genevieve Park- er ‘08 were bridesmaids. In attendance David Brady moved back to DC after org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, spending two years in Charm City pursu- were Meredith Van Tine ‘02 and Tyler McLean, VA 22101. Friedlander ‘02. ing a master’s in real estate development from JHU and working for a commercial

Spring 2012 ■ 59 class notes

MD, last spring and are having fun explor- through WfWI’s unique sponsorship pro- teach over 400 kids in grades four through ing life on the other side of the river. Their gram. I’m currently organizing our 2012 2006 six in two public schools: Houjing Elemen- son, Patrick, celebrated his first birthday trip to Rwanda and hoping that I will be Class Correspondents tary School and Oil Refinery Elementary in September and is keeping them busy! able to return again this summer.” Trevor Lewis School, located in Nanzi District. I decided Caroline enjoys being a stay-at-home mom Jimmie Guntle is attending a graduate 620 F St., NE, Apt. 1 to organize a pen pal exchange between my and working on freelance graphic design program in London studying international Washington, DC 20002 two public schools in Taiwan with public projects in her spare time. finance. He will be running in the London (202) 213-9767 schools in the United States. I truly believe Shevin Tantula writes, “After seven years Marathon this spring. [email protected] that this type of cultural learning not only opens these children's mind to the world, in Los Angeles—attending USC and work- Virginia O’Connell ing as a digital producer for magazine pub- but also improves cultural understanding 1755 Central Park Rd. #7301 and international relations. The impact has lisher Modern Luxury Media—I recently Charleston, SC 29412 relocated to London, where I am pursuing been amazing as I watch the enthusiasm (703) 328-2421 and excitement in my kids’ eyes.” a masters in International Tourism, and [email protected] enjoying the opportunity to travel around Europe.” Ryan Yonkman and wife and Mary wel- comed their new baby girl, Nora Eloise “I can’t believe we are all getting ready (Ellie), on December 26. for our 5th year reunion at Potomac! 2005 Time has really flown by.” Class Correspondents Zachary Leonsis ‘07 Charlotte Lawson 3247 R St., NW Washington, DC 20007 (202) 277-3119 From the Yearbook Jonathan Chu writes, “I am currently [email protected] Breaking it down on the outside, The working for Sughrue Mion, PLLC in Wash- ington, DC. I am also becoming a volun- Jordan Yarboro Potomac School looks like an institution teer EMT with Bethesda Chevy Chase 12950 Oak Lawn Place that produces fine young adults ready Rescue Squad.” Herndon, VA 22071 Annie Harris ’05 and Taylor Kettler ’02 on to take on any challenges that present (703) 946-1987 their wedding day themselves. However this year the year- Jeffery Diamond writes, “I am moving to [email protected] book is breaking down the entire school Beverly Hills and will be working for Wil- Annie Harris and Taylor Kettler ‘02 to show its individual components. liam Morris Endeavor, in lifetime pursuit Class Agent were married October 1 in Easton, MD. These components help make the stu- of becoming a Hollywood talent agent.” Taylor Manning Annie and Taylor met at Potomac as high dent a unique person with solid values Patrick Foust writes, “I recently moved 4912 Essex Ave. schoolers. After Potomac, Taylor attended and strong intellectual curiosity. With- to a new apartment in Arlington and have Chevy Chase, MD 20815 Southern Methodist University in Dallas, out these components Potomac would been working as a production assistant for (202) 431-0790 TX, and Annie attended Rollins College not have such a diverse but connected a small documentary film company based [email protected] community. out of Bethesda. I’m enjoying learning the ins and outs of the film industry and 2007 hope to apply this experience to a future in reality television production. I’ve also REUNION YEAR 5TH been supplementing my income with a job Class Correspondents at Georgetown’s newest dessert sensation, Patrick Foust Pie Sisters, which opened in January. Stop 1652 North 21st Street in and see me for a delicious slice of pie!” Apartment 2 BG Green writes, “Post graduation and Arlington, VA 22209 a national championship win in Women’s (202) 309-2620 Ultimate, I moved out of Northfield, MN, [email protected] and on to another FINE Midwestern city, Patricia Green Chicago! I am now teaching K–8 Spanish 2056 N. Leavitt St., #1R for Teach For America in Gary, IN. Half- Chicago, IL 60647 way through my first year, I have been (703) 347-1993 thinking about Potomac a lot and also new [email protected] and engaging ways to motivate my kids. I Class Agents get called anything from Ms. Green, to Ms. Spanish Teacher, to Ms. Lady on a daily Patricia Green basis. I have planned a quinceañera , had Lolly Cunningham ‘05 with a group of school children in Kayonza, Rwanda. (See contact information above) a kindergartner eat two markers, had 100 Zach Leonsis percent of my eighth graders learn how to Lolly Cunningham writes, “I’m still in Winter Park, FL. Though apart dur- 11231 River View Dr. conjugate present tense verbs!” working in development at Women for ing their college years, the two remained Potomac, MD 20854 Aaron Kur is busy working in NY and Women International (WfWI), a DC-based close and came back to the DC area to be (703) 506-4516 will be the Class Reunion Chair for Re- nongovernmental organization that helps together once again. Taylor is a develop- [email protected] union 2012. women survivors of war transition from ment associate at Kettler, and Annie works Brittany Carroll was featured in the Zachary Leonsis writes, “I can’t believe we crisis and poverty to stability and self- at The Bridal Salon at Saks Jandel in Chevy Fulbright newsletter, where she wrote a are all getting ready for our 5th year reunion sufficiency. This past summer, I had the Chase as their wedding and events coordi- piece about assistant teaching in Taiwan. at Potomac! Time has really flown by! After incredible opportunity to lead a group of nator and is working toward her master’s Here’s an excerpt: “As a Fulbright English four amazing years at Penn, I graduated donors to visit our programs in Rwanda, degree in interior design. The two reside Teaching Assistant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, from the College of Arts and Sciences and one of the eight countries in which we in Washington, DC. my experience thus far has not only been am now working for Monumental Sports & work. I was even able to meet my ‘sister,’ educational and culturally enlightening, Entertainment, right here in Washington, Angelique, the Rwandan woman I sponsor but also rewarding. I currently assistant

60 ■ The Potomac Term class notes

DC. I’m thrilled to be back home in the city [email protected] this semester as an advisor, serving as a will work for the Montgomery County gov- that I love and feel very lucky that so many Maggie Nelsen resource for anyone who is accused of an ernment on its transportation and biosci- members of our class have also decided to 207 East Street, NE honor offense. ence initiatives. return to DC for work after graduation. I’m Vienna, VA 22180 Suzanna Gluck (University of Virginia) Mauricio Palazzi (Babson) now lives in looking forward to seeing everyone soon!” (703) 938-8425 was accepted as an Echols Scholar and is Puerto Rico and has been working with a Chip Levergood writes, “I am working [email protected] studying at St. Andrews in Scotland for her political group called Estadistas Unidos, a with a company that is overseeing the con- Class Agent spring semester. group that encourages the absentee ballot struction of a large power plant in North- CeCe Conner ern Vietnam. In June I’ll be moving to 412 Prince St. Vietnam for the rest of the project, which Alexandria, VA 22314 will be three to four years. Outside of that, (703) 609-8836 life is pretty normal.” [email protected] 2008 Grier Barnes (Yale) helped start-up TEDxYale, an independently organized This January, Catharine Bellinger branch of TED talks. She has continued was named one of TIME Magazine’s tutoring at a local prison and also works “12 Education Activists of 2012.” Catharine at the Yale Writing Center. This semester co-founded the organization Students for she is studying in South Africa at the Uni- Education Reform (SFER) in 2009, while versity of Capetown and was asked to help she was an undergraduate student at Princ- out with the newly licensed TEDxUCT eton University. The organization’s mission (University of Capetown). is to mobilize college students to take an Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (Columbia) active role in education reform and to help is double-majoring in political science provide students in grades K–12 with a and Middle Eastern studies and is looking better education by encouraging current forward to having a paper on the political college students to work in the field. SFER economy of cigarette consumption pub- has 71 chapters in 28 states, and one of its lished in May in the Journal of Iranian student members was elected to a Califor- Studies. Alex Guntle ’10 beside her cross country team trophy nia school board in 2011. Read more about Ann Bellinger (Tufts) finished her first Catharine and her work with SFER at www. semester at Tufts and is on the pre-vet studentsforedreform.org/. Alex Guntle’s LaSalle University Division in favor of statehood activism and repub- track. 1 Cross Country Team won the Atlantic-10 lican values. John Bennett (University of Virginia) 2009 Championship. Mollie Sheerin (Bradley) is double- went to Honduras in January to help dig ir- Chloe Grishaw (William and Mary) is majoring in political science and criminal Class Correspondents rigation works for the village of El Canton. majoring in kinesiology with a minor in justice and double-minoring in sociology Isabelle Conner Clara Beyer (Brown) is majoring in psychology and is involved with Opera- and leadership studies. She will take her 412 Prince Street linguistics and working on a new blog tion Smile. police officer’s exam this semester and will Alexandria, VA 22314 project. She is the chief layout editor of Sarah Hunt now attends University of get her gun license along with it. (703) 682-1144 Post-magazine. Colorado. Paul Taylor is enjoying his sophomore [email protected] Jill Britton (Dartmouth) will be spend- Taylor Jones (Morehouse) is studying in year at Williams College, where he is Phillips Mitchell ing three months of her spring semester Valparaiso, Chile, for his spring semester studying math, physics and French and 324 Commerce Street working in Lima, Peru, for an anti-drug and has been working for Americans Elect, playing lacrosse. Paul enjoyed his summer Alexandria, VA 22314 program and will be spending the rest of a political nominating platform gaining internship in Shanghai, China, where he (703) 231-7288 her semester studying in Paris. momentum to be on the 2012 ballot. worked for an international financial con- [email protected] sulting firm. Paul says he is well-prepared Reilley Keane (Villanova) is majoring for college thanks to The Potomac School. in Electrical Engineering and was elected as scholarship chair for his fraternity Phi Catharine Bellinger ‘08 was named Sigma Kappa. This summer he will work one of TIME Magazine’s for Exelon Nuclear in Philadelphia. Claire Watson (Oberlin) is double-ma- New job? joring in neuroscience and cinema studies. “12 Education Activists of 2012.” She spent her winter term in Prague study- ing film, sound and soundscapes. New baby? Shivani Kochhar (Wesleyan) is double- Ian Blades is currently serving a two- Katie Chockley (Yale) is majoring in eco- majoring in economics and sociology. She New outlook year proselytizing mission for The Church nomics and American studies and leads a also works at the Wesleyan Writing Center of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in queer interfaith group, as well as “Athletes Catherine Lazerwitz (University of Uganda. He has lived in small, rural vil- and Allies,” a group for gay varsity and club Pennsylvania) is majoring in French and on life? lages and in the capital city of Kampala; athletes and their allies. will be interning with a local paper in Paris seen the headwaters of the Nile; ridden a this summer. She will also spend her fall Cece Conner (University of Virginia) ell The Term! If your class has a Class Cor- camel; and enjoyed meeting and teaching is majoring in English and minoring in semester in Paris. the people he has met. He returns from his anthropology. This summer she is doing Jessica Lee (Carnegie Mellon) is double- Trespondent, send your notes to him or her. mission in February 2013. marketing and public relations for celeb- majoring in math and physics and is a Contact information can be found at the top of rity chef José Andrés and his restaurant research assistant in the cognitive science 2010 company ThinkFoodGroup. department. each class column. If no Class Correspondent is Class Correspondents Enrique CuUnjieng (Colgate) is a Drew Morrison (Yale) is majoring in listed, send notes to: alumni@potomacschool. new member of the fraternity Phi Delta Tori McCaffrey economics and political science (urban Theta and is the secretary for the Colgate org or Alumni Office, 1301 Potomac School Road, 1001 Swinks Mill Road studies) and runs an organization, New Thirteen. McLean, VA 22101 Haven Action, which makes documen- McLean, VA 22101. (703) 821-2798 Isabella Gee (University of Virginia) taries for nonprofits and does advocacy has been working on the honor council work in the community. This summer he

Spring 2012 ■ 61 class notes

Human Values Forum, the Princeton De- bate Panel, and the Students for Education Former Faculty Carrita Thomas ‘11 is taking a gap year… Reform group. She was also recently initi- Chris Kloman writes, “I retired in 2005 ated into the sorority Pi Beta Phi. from Washington Episcopal School, having and loving it! She spent two months Harris Rosenblum is singing with Green started the WES Middle School in 1995. Envy, one of Tulane’s a Cappella groups. I’m currently a house leader with Habitat in Tanzania, teaching English to prison They will be recording a new album in the for Humanity (Northern VA), building spring (available on iTunes)! a 12-unit condo in south Arlington, and children ages 6 and 7 alongside nuns and Katie Sheerin (Ripon College) pledged shortly to embark on a new Habitat for Hu- to the Gamma Tau chapter of Kappa Delta manity program, A Brush With Kindness. other international volunteers. Sorority. I’m wrapping up a three year-term on the Vestry at St. John’s Episcopal Church here Kathleen Smith (Bowdoin) is enjoying in McLean, having been involved in their playing on the college’s soccer team. David Will (Princeton) was elected as the NPR internship application online, but Outreach/Missions program in particu- the vice president of Princeton College Re- any advice or information about Potomac lar. The church has been instrumental in publicans. This summer he will be work- people at NPR would be great!” building a trade school in the Dominican ing in DC as a law clerk for the Institute Republic. I continue to serve as Chairman for Justice. of the Education Committee for The Soci- Anneka Wilson (Columbia) is a finan- ety of the Cincinnati. I’m currently work- cial economics major and interned at Miu ing on a revision of the text Why America Miu during the fall semester. She is also Is Free, marketing the Revolutionary involved in Girls on the Run in New York. War Literacy Standards and La Route de l'Indépendance ... de Versailles à Yor- Yasmeen Zahar (Concordia) is majoring ktown, a French paperback “comix” about in environmental science and was elected the Revolutionary War. I continue to be as an Independent Councilor on the Arts involved with the Claude Moore Colonial and Science Federation of Associations Farm at Turkey Run, across route 193 from Council, where she represents the 18,000 Carrita Thomas with one of her students in Tanzania Potomac School. Pam and I have five ter- arts and science students at their monthly rific grandchildren in the Boston area, and council meetings. Carrita Thomas is taking a gap year… we continue to enjoy summers in Maine.” and loving it! She spent two months in Tanzania, teaching English to prison chil- Former fourth-grade teacher Anne Paris 2011 has two daughters, Hannah and Claire, Andrew Lee ‘11 dren ages 6 and 7 alongside nuns and other Class Correspondent international volunteers. She also traveled who are now 13 and 10. She’s living in Arlington and working on some writing Marie Henneburg Andrew Lee (University of Delaware) is to the Serengeti, Zanzibar, and the foot- th projects. She keeps up with many of her 4528 25 Road North studying Civil Engineering and playing hills of Kilimanjaro. Her next adventure students (who are now all in their 20s) Arlington, VA 22207 ice hockey. took place in Cusco, Peru, where she spent (703) 907-9823 2 months doing another teaching project. through Facebook, and she’d love to hear Conor McNerney is playing rugby for from all of them at [email protected]. [email protected] the University of Virginia and planning to In the spring she hopes to do an organic Class Agents join a fraternity in the spring. farming project in the Pacific Northwest. Carter Clarke Charlotte Morris (UC Davis) joined 7416 Georgetown Ct. Delta Gamma sorority and plays on the McLean, VA 22102 UC Davis women’s lacrosse team. Jorman (703) 300-1449 Heflin (UC Davis) and Charlotte remain [email protected] friends. BJ Jackson Ellen Overstreet is dancing with Hous- 2809 Laurel Ave. ton Ballet II after training for a year in San in memoriam Cheverly, MD 20785 Francisco. She danced in 24 of Houston (301) 322-4391 Ballet’s Nutcracker performances. In the [email protected] spring, she’ll go on tour to locations such Melissa Foster Bowerman ‘57 Sasha DiGiulian is the 2011 overall gold as Louisiana and Las Vegas. medal winner of the World Championship Claire Paganussi (Fordham) will be Arnaud de Borchgrave ‘67 in Sport Climbing—see article on page 21. interning at a fashion institution in New Julia Diamond (Skidmore College) is a York this summer. Mary Rust Clarke (Past Grandparent) certified “mediator” in the “Fight Club.” Jessica Parker interned with the Sierra Grandparent of Garrett ’01, Lauren ’05, and George ‘11 She helps students in conflict come up Club’s Beyond Oil campaign in the fall. with their own resolutions. She focused on media communications, Charlotte Eberle (Villanova) is major- research, and organizing around the Key- Read Devereux ‘58 ing in chemical engineering and playing stone XL pipeline and tar sands oil. She on the club lacrosse team. also worked at Busboys and Poets in Shir- Richard Cobb Miller Houston ‘90 Lucy Gibson absolutely loves George- lington, VA and spent two weeks visiting town University. She is a pre-med student Rachel Bloom (McGuill) in Argentina. Aysegul Akin-Karasapan (Parent) and a member of the club squash team. She started Middlebury in February. Mother of Sinan ’08 and Altinay ’12 Sarah Gimont writes, “I graduated from Giovanni Passamonti (University of Potomac last year and half-heartedly Edinburgh) is studying Ancient Mediter- searched for an internship with a Potomac ranean Civilizations. He is a skipper for the Joe Robert (Parent) Universities’ Sailing Club Racing Team. He alum working at PBS but in the end de- Father of Luke (5th) cided to get a summer job. However, I moved to Vienna, Austria with his family remember hearing that there were also Po- in early September. tomac alums working at NPR, and that is Madhu Ramankutty (Princeton) is the Frances Rowan ‘45 definitely something I am interested in for secretary for the Undergraduate Student this summer. I was planning on filling out Government. She is also a member of the

62 ■ The Potomac Term Enhancements to the Intermediate School Will Create Open, Integrated Environment

visitor to the Intermediate School between bells would find himself in a tight spot. The throng of students pressing their way onward to the next class requires some nimble navigation to get around or through. Five years ago the IS accommodated 150 students—today we are 190! But with a little imagination and funding we can truly improve our IS learning environment. Initial plans call for an outside covered walkway to relieve that hallway crowding, 2-4 new classrooms, a two-story “Gathering” that A th th will fit the entire 7 and 8 grades, tutoring spaces, two new art rooms (one for Middle School), improved entrances, and a courtyard “play” space and garden. These enhancements are all about addressing the unique needs of the early adolescent— academically, socially and emotionally. “The architects want to create a space that will feed the excitement and love of learning that characterize this age group,” said IS teacher Nancy Waller who brain- stormed with the architects, parents and teachers. As of March 15 we have raised $2.4 million for the combined Flag Circle Building/IS Enhancement project. Another $2.6 million will allow us to complete all of the enhancements listed above. We hope to raise enough to begin construction this summer. Thank you for your sup- port. Please contact Dabney Schmitt, Potomac’s Director of Development at (703)749-6330 or dschmitt@potomac- school.org if you would like to make a gift.

Spring 2012 ■ 63 “I Know My Mom Would Really Be Very Pleased” Lindesay Holdsworth Aquino ‘65

he next time you merge the space of the storage closet. For the onto Georgetown Pike from better part of a decade, Mrs. Holdsworth Route 123 and head west, take and her volunteers worked to set up Po- note of the large white house with tomac’s Archives, currently located in the the wraparound porch on your left, Engelhard Performing Arts Center. just beyond the Langley Mart. This The spirit of community was thriving property and its former owners have at Potomac. Mrs. Holdsworth enjoyed Tplayed a significant role at The Potomac the personal connections she made with School for more than five decades. In fact, parents, alumni and her children’s former the family’s gift of the Holdsworth home teachers. Daughter Lindesay ’65 recalls, has made construction of the Flag Circle “She loved the Archives. She had such building possible. The family’s generosity fun. She got so much pleasure out of it.” to Potomac also included the establish- Mrs. Holdsworth worked on the Ar- ment of the School Archives, helping to chives until the early 1990s, when illness ensure that the history of the School is prevented her from continuing. As her preserved and accessible to all for generations to come. illness progressed, she was faced with the decision of what to Built sometime between the late 1840s and early 1850s, the do with her house. After consulting with her children, Mrs. house at 1101 Chain Bridge Road was used during the Civil Holdsworth decided to leave the house and grounds to Po- War as a headquarters for a New York battalion, as well as a tomac. She worked with the School to craft an arrangement hospital. The attic and one of the bedroom walls were covered that would allow her to transfer ownership of the house to in pencil signatures of the military men who were either pa- the School, but live there for seven years and receive an an- tients or soldiers there. Later, the house served as a post office nual income. Mrs. Holdsworth died in 2009. The sale of her and general store for the small community of Langley. The house became the lead gift to Potomac’s Flag Circle Building property was believed to have been an inn at one point, due campaign. to its location as the last toll stop on Georgetown Pike before It is fitting that the Flag Circle Building will house the Georgetown. Farmers traveling to and from Georgetown to Archives that Mrs. Holdsworth established years ago. The sell their wares would stop at the house during their travels. building’s central location will make the Archives accessible to The small toll house across the street remains today. our many alumni and visitors. In recognition of Mrs. Hold- David and Ray Holdsworth moved into the house with sworth’s dedication to Potomac and extraordinary generosity, their three children Lindesay ’65, Kim ’68, and David ’70 in the School is pleased to name the Archives in her honor. This 1957. All three attended Potomac, as did their granddaugh- new, larger space will allow her work to continue in a facility ter Belen, who graduated in 1999. As a Potomac grandparent that has been designed specifically for the purpose of preserv- during the 1980s, Mrs. Holdsworth began volunteering her ing and displaying the history of Potomac School. time in the Development Office, assisting with stuffing -enve Ray Holdsworth was the second generation to be involved lopes and assembling mailings. Her interest in preserving the with Potomac, as her mother, Mrs. Edward A. Bacon, donated history of the School motivated her to take an Archives class Graham Field (our football field), in honor of her father, Dr. at the Library of Congress. Edwin Graham. All of us at The Potomac School would like to At the time, Potomac’s Archives consisted of several boxes express our gratitude to the Holdsworth family. Their gener- of materials, including photographs, objects and documents osity and deep commitment to Potomac will benefit students, dating to the School’s founding in 1904. These boxes were faculty and staff for generations to come. stored in a small storage closet off the Preston Gym. Mrs. Gifts of real estate, bequests, and other planned giving ar- Holdsworth and a group of dedicated volunteers took charge rangements afford significant tax benefits while allowing you of sorting, identifying and organizing, until they outgrew the to establish a lasting relationship with The Potomac School. space and moved to the Seth-Smith Building (razed during For more information, please contact Jinene Christian in the the 1988-89 academic year), which provided almost triple Development Office at 703-749-6326.

64 ■ The Potomac Term The connections Potomac alumni make as students are ties that bind. Wherever life takes you, Potomac will always say, “Welcome Home.”

Welcome today’s generation of Potomac students and teachers by making your gift to the Annual Fund.

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Spring 2012 ■ III The Potomac School NONPROFIT ORG. 1301 Potomac School Road U.S. Postage McLean, VA 22101 PAID www.potomacschool.org McLean, VA Permit No. 30

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IV ■ The Potomac Term