TASIS TODAY Spring 2006
A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of The American School In Switzerland
Inside this issue: Theater at TASIS Misfortune on Everest Making Music Work Building Character 1 AlumniNews 41 PartingShot 40 38 Travel Connection 31 Alumni ReportonAlumniGiving Reunions 27 FinancialSummary 26 BoardNews 22 AroundCampus 4 LetterfromtheChairman of Letterfrom theHeadmaster 3 the 2 Board TASIS TODAY 6 Spring 2006 leavesalegacyofliving lifetothe fullest. Agreatteacherandmemorablecharacter inthe historyofTASIS 30 Tokyo,Idaho,Kosovo. Whatdotheyhaveincommon? 20 schoolinTicino. TASIS hasgreatsuccessopeningthefirstEnglish-languageelementary 18 needofarealplacetoperform. actandintegratetheaterintotheircurriculumdespitethecurrent From“streettheater”tomusicalsShakespeare,TASISstudents 14 singingandsongwriting. ataconcertinZurich1974andlauncheslife-long careerin AlumnaJeanieCunningham‘75meetsheridolsIke&TinaTurner 11 Mount Everestwithoutusingsupplementaloxygen,agoalsome thought FranYarbro ‘76wasthefirstAmericanwomantosummit Some Called ThemtheRomeoandJulietofColdWar: impossible… 8 thanthey everimagined. withHabitat forHumanityandcomehomewithmore TASIS students maketheirmarkbybuildinghomesinRumania 6 Making TimeLive Asking Questions.Getting RealAnswers Elementary SchoolTakesFlight Much AdoAboutSomething-TheateratTASIS Music Maker Abode ofSnow Building Character
BY HANSFIGI‘75 : BerthaSeifert,1905-2005 8
BY SIERRAQUITIQUIT‘07
BY Dr.M.D.AESCHLIMAN .
Mission Statement Publisher/Editor Sharon Figi TASIS is a family of international schools that welcomes young people from all Contributing Editors nationalities to an educational community Lynn Fleming Aeschliman ‘63 Hans Figi ‘75 which fosters a passion for excellence along 11 with mutual respect and understanding. Consistent with the vision of its founder, M. Crist Fleming, TASIS is committed to transmitting the heritage of Western civilization and world cultures: the Graphic Design creations, achievements, traditions, and Michele Kestenholz ideals from the past that offer purpose in the present and hope for the future. Photographic Director/ Seeking to balance the pursuit of know- Contributing Designer ledge with the love of wisdom, and Kim Nelson promoting the skills of lifelong learning, an appreciation for beauty, and the Production Assistant development of character, each school Yvonne Procyk combines a challenging academic program with opportunities for artistic endeavor, physical activity, and service to others. Believing in the worth of each individual and the importance of enduring 14 relationships, TASIS seeks to embody and instill the values of personal responsibility, Contributing Photographers civility, compassion, justice, and truth. Barton Ballard Hans Figi 20 Sharon Figi The TASIS Schools and Summer Programs Michele Kestenholz are fully controlled by a Swiss, independent, Kim Nelson not-for-profit educational foundation, the Lesly Seta TASIS Foundation, registered in Delemont, Sierra Quitiquit Switzerland.
Donations to the Swiss Foundation, as well as to the US TASIS Foundation, Inc., a 18 publicly supported, section 501(c)(3) non- profit, educational organization, are tax deductible to the extent allowable in the Cover photo by Kim Nelson: donors’ respective countries. Phillip Astein plays Touch- 30 tone in TASIS’ Fall Shakespeare production of As You Like It. Address Changes: [email protected] Alumni Office c/o TASIS CH-6926 Montagnola, Switzerland © Copyright TASIS Story Submissions: The American School In Switzerland [email protected] Printer: Lepori & Storni, Lugano V/2006 - 8500X Attention Sharon Figi From the Headmaster
hen Mrs. Fleming arrived in Ticino a half century Today TASIS is marked by diversity—with more than 50 ago, she planted a seed in the form of a winning nationalities represented among 380 students grades K-13— W idea: a boarding school that and yet we still boast an uncommon would bring together the best of unity. Th e School is as committed today American and European culture and as in 1956 to creating an educational values, providing students the chance community that draws the best out of to learn through close contact with students by surrounding them with talented faculty, all framed by a beautiful elements essential to a quality education landscape. Over the ensuing decades —people, facilities, and programs that she nurtured her idea along, feeding it, provide broad preparation for higher protecting it, and watching it mature education and for a life of ongoing into the school we see today. service in an increasingly needy world. We travel to sites near and far A seed bears little resemblance to the tree each year, providing students rich it will become. Yet even the tiniest seed opportunities to learn on-site and contains all the genetic information to spark in them an appreciation for necessary to direct its growth. Th e seed beauty and curiosity to know more. knows what kind of tree it will become. We teach languages, history, math, Mrs. Fleming’s original idea was that science, and the arts. But we don’t stop kernel, packed full of the critical themes there. Our school continually seeks that, sowed properly and in the right to instill in students those values that soil, have blossomed into the thriving, marked Mrs. Fleming’s original mission one-of-a-kind place called Th e American —responsibility, civility, compassion, School in Switzerland. and truth, among others. We are motivated by the belief that education Th ousands of students from all over that includes such values can make a the world have benefi ted from a TASIS positive diff erence, in fact, must make education. Like the rings that expand a tree’s girth each a positive diff erence in the lives of young people, no matter year, we add layer upon layer of students and teachers, their nationality. Some values don’t grow old, even after 50 while this tree grows more and more impressive with each years. passing year. After a half century, TASIS has stayed true to its roots. When were you at TASIS? Like the interior ring of a tree, you Sincerely, are still a part of us, and we still depend on you. Jeff rey C. Bradley, Headmaster
2 - TASIS TODAY From the Chairman of the Board
t is always a delight to be in touch with our alumni, with As we prepare a book on the history of TASIS for the 50th the high hopes that each of you is fl ourishing and “doing anniversary, I am reminded of many of the extraordinary teachers I TASIS proud”! It is also a pleasure to report on affairs and other personnel who have made TASIS the memorable and at TASIS. Each year seems to fl y by and here we are preparing life-transforming experience that it has been for thousands of our to celebrate the 50th anniversary of TASIS in Lugano at Arts alumni. Our new Headmaster, Jeff Bradley, has brought in some Festival Weekend May 19-21, after successful reunions in Tokyo, very fi ne new teachers to complement our veteran master teachers Los Angeles, and New York last fall, and Sao Paolo, Madrid, such as Cynthia Whisenant, Mark Aeschliman, Kay Hamblin, Horst and Istanbul this spring. We are pleased that so many alumni are Dürrschmidt, Paul Greenwood and Howard Stickley. As Henry planning to join in the festivities in May. My Adams said, though it is usually impossible mother at 95 is planning to stay alive to welcome to quantify, a teacher can affect eternity through as many alumni as possible to their alma the lives of his or her students. (John Wither- mater, so please don’t disappoint her! The spoon’s students at Princeton---including week leading up to the Golden Anniversary James Madison---had a crucial, benefi cial Reunion will see meetings of the new TASIS effect on the young American republic.) Board of Directors the Foundation Board, and I always fi nd it exciting to hear good reports the Development Board, all important Boards about the academic, athletic, and extracurricular with separate foci and responsibilities. endeavors of our students and to see the progress My mother, Founder and Director Emerita Mrs. of our students over their years at TASIS. We M.C. Fleming, has completed her donation aim to prepare them well for the challenges ahead of both TASIS and TASIS England Schools in college and adult life. and campuses into the TASIS Foundation, It is also exciting to see the new TASIS a not-for-profi t Swiss educational foundation. Elementary School take fl ight. To handle this During this past year, the Foundation Board expansion in Hadsall and Coach House, we has implemented changes in the governance have acquired, through the generous help of of both TASIS and TASIS England. These an alumni parent, Ca’ Gioia (ex-Gini), a building governance changes were put in place to overlooking the campus, and through bank further ensure the perpetuation of both schools, fi nancing are building Aurora, a new which was the objective of the Founder in classroom building above Ca’ Pietra, both donating these schools to the TASIS Foundation, for use by the High School. and consist of new Boards of Directors at each school. These newly-formed Boards of I am very pleased to welcome as head of Directors will play an increasingly important our Development and Alumni team, Hans role in governing the schools to keep them Figi, TASIS class of 1975, and his family to fi scally and scholastically sound, although fi nal responsibility TASIS. Supported by Frank and Mei-Ling Klein, Hans will be for the whole organization rests with the TASIS Foundation leading TASIS to new heights of alumni involvement and support. Board. This is a major sea change in the governance structure of Come and visit your school and see all the wonderful things that TASIS, following on last year’s work of preparing a Strategic are happening on campus for yourself! Plan for each school. These Strategic Plans and new Boards On behalf of my mother and myself I send all good wishes to of Directors will help the Headmasters guide the future of each of you, the schools. We are grateful for the dedication, talent, and support of the new Directors, who share in the daunting challenge of helping the TASIS Foundation perpetuate the special schools that are TASIS. Lynn Fleming Aeschliman Chairman of the TASIS Board of Directors
Spring 2006 - 3 Around Campus
Aurora The New Classroom Building on Campus
As part of the TASIS Global Village Campus Master Plan, we are nearing completion of the next building. We will have a handsome new classroom building ready for the start of classes in the fall. Th ere will be six spacious classrooms on three fl oors, with the top fl oor’s primary use as a temporary theater space, and a large cantina for storage and student laundry machines. As the school is growing, not only with the new Elementary School, but also in the Middle and High Schools, we need more space and Aurora will be a welcome addition to the campus for high school classes. Funding has come from bank fi nancing.
Other Changes on Campus Th e Art and Ceramic Studios will move out of Coach House up the hill to Ca Gioia, with its beautiful view over- looking the lake, mountains, and campus. Th is will allow room for the Elementary School to expand. For the same reason, the snack bar will be moved out of Hadsall to the new “Tuck Shop” next to the beach volleyball area. Th e parking lot will also be improved this spring, as will the entrance area to the parking. We are starting satellite parking near Grotto Cavicc to relieve the overcrowded parking problem. And for those alumni who lived on the top fl oor of De Nobili, you will be pleased to know that we completed a major renovation last summer and De Nobili’s top is beautifully transformed. Th e campus is looking ever more beautiful, but there is a long way to go and many challenges ahead to implement all of the Master Plan.
4 - TASIS TODAY The path from campus to Montagnola
Spring 2006 - 5 Building
Habitat for Humanity Character
by Sierra Quitiquit ‘07
5
abitat for Humanity is an organization built on the On arriving at the construction site, the project manager, Christi, concept of “sweat equity”. Volunteers willing to give greeted us enthusiastically with the little English he knew. We set to H physical labor build houses; those who receive a house work with our goal aimed at completing four already half-fi nished are involved in building it, as well as helping to build other houses in four days. As we moved from house to house a unique homes. Since Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 it has constructed story for each exposed itself. 3 over 200,000 houses. Recently, a group of 11 TASIS students, two Th e fi rst house was being built for an elderly couple whose teachers and I were able to participate in the life-altering and affi rming original house still remained on the property. Th e crumbling experience of working with Habitat for Humanity fi rst-hand. When brick pillars on the outside of the house were tied to adjacent trees we arrived in Bucharest, Romania, we were greeted with a large smile in a desperate attempt to keep the house erect, and scrap plywood and welcoming handshakes from the group organizer, followed by a served as the roof. It was obvious that these people were in dire need two-hour drive to Pitesti, where our journey was to begin. 1 of a safe place to live. We began our work plastering, drilling, and Th e fi rst day of our project started in a neighborhood twenty painting - motivated by the pitiful sight of a structure near ruin, minutes outside Pitesti. Before arriving on-site, we drove down a dirt which for this Romanian family had been home. 4 road littered with children’s shoes, plastic bottles, old newspapers, Th is particular site provided us with the entertainment of stray dogs and various other items you might imagine when donkey-drawn carriages and despite a lack of proper shoes, reading about the slums of Romania. I confess that the change jackets or anything else to off er minimal protection from the elements - of scenery from the beautiful hills of Ticino to the slums of endless singing, laughter, and an occasional soccer game from the Romania proved a realization somewhat diffi cult to grasp. Th e fi lth neighborhood children. Th ey endured the cold much better than these people live among was no longer a photograph or visual we did even with our warm clothing and a comfortable hotel representation on TV, but the reality on which we stood. 2 to stay in each night. 5 6
1 2 3
6 - TASIS TODAY 7 8
Th e second house, once fi nished, would belong to an old man who Th e fourth house was built for a family of eight who worked with us was eager to assist in the construction process. One could sense the in the construction. As we struggled to move our fi ngers, the cold immense gratitude he felt toward our group. We often made eye only motivated the family to complete the house faster. Th e father contact and the old man would give a slight bow, accompanied allowed me to enter the home in which they were currently living by a toothless grin. As we walked to the third construction site the - the one that we were replacing. Th e house was a combination of old man walked up the road toward us. We stopped when he reached cement, dirt, wood, brick, and metal scraps. Inside was a living us and waited as he took out a large bottle of orange soda, presented situation that the words “unbearably uncomfortable” do not justly it to us, and bowed deeply as he walked off . Th e fi nancial sacrifi ce describe. Th e father presented the house to me in a very matter of fact that bottle of soda represented to the man is painful to think about, fashion. At no time did I feel as though he were trying to elicit from and the kindness of his gesture touched each one of us profoundly. me emotions of pity. He was simply trying to inform me. 8
At the third construction site we met the old woman for whom You may believe that we bestowed a great gift upon these people the house was being built. She greeted us with great enthusiasm and through our eff orts, but would be mistaken if you did not consider introduced herself as Victoria Beckham. She laughed with a toothless the incredible gifts they shared with us. We helped to provide these smile and winked profusely at the boys in our group. Victoria proved people warm shelter for perhaps decades to come, but what we to be quite entertaining during the three days we spent completing received from them in return will be remembered forever. Th ey have her home. She took control managing the construction and praised none of the luxuries of life that we take for granted, but what they our work in Romanian. On the third day, the cold became unbearable do have is far more coveted than any physical possession. Th ey have for most of us and we spent the majority of the day huddled near the become aristocrats of happiness, the most desired of human ceramic stove in the back of the house. Mrs. Beckham came to our emotions. Th ey were able to achieve this level of happiness simply rescue with hot coff ee served in small, beautiful teacups. 7 by knowing that they will have a roof over their heads. 9
4 6 9
Spring 2006 - 7 Abode of
By Hans Figi ‘75 now All photos by Francys Yarbro and Sergei Arsentiev, taken during their 1998 ascent of S Mount Everest .
Fran was born in Hawaii and lived in Minnesota, Kentucky, and Philadelphia before coming to Lugano. She graduated from TASIS in 1976, went to Stevens Gollege and the University of Louisville, and then received a Master’s Degree in International Business from the American Graduate School of International Management (AGSIM) in Arizona. Fran climbed many Russian peaks, including the fi rst ascent of Peak 5800m with Sergei, (they named it Peak Goodwill), as well as Denali via the West Buttress, and many others. Even with all her climbing accolades, Fran had a burning desire: to be the fi rst American woman to summit Mount Everest without using supplemental oxygen, a goal that some thought impossible... Sergei was a Russian national hero because of his spectacular record as a climber. He claimed fi rst winter ascents of Peak Korzhenevkaya (7105m) and Peak Lenin (7134m), and was the Russian representative to the 1990 Everest Peace Expedition, for which he received the National Friendship Medal from President Gorbachev. Sergei earned the nickname “Snow Leopard” for climbing the fi ve highest mountains in what was then known as the USSR. He summited all three peaks on Kanchenjunga at the junction of India, Nepal, Some Called Them “Romeo and Juliet of the Cold War” and Tibet (the second or third-highest peak in the world, depending on who you ask) in a traverse, an achievement few men on this planet could Francys Yarbro, ‘76, was from the United States. Sergei Arsentiev was from accomplish and one that most experienced the Soviet Union. Th ey met in 1991 while climbing Annapurna, the notoriously high-altitude climbers would not even consider. dangerous 8091m peak in Nepal. Fran and Sergei were clearly in love from Sergei was an intellectual and an electrical engineer the start. In 1992 they were married after climbing Mt. Elbrus in Russia – the who assisted in manufacturing spy satellites in highest point in Europe - where Fran became the fi rst woman to ski down from Russia. Th is was not an ordinary man, nor an the summit. Th ey soon moved to America. ordinary climber.
8 - TASIS TODAY In 1998, Fran and Sergei set out to realize the summit ridge at about 16:00 on his her dream of being the fi rst American way to the summit, Fran’s pace being woman to climb Everest without the use of slowed due to the lack of bottled oxygen supplemental oxygen. “Accounts vary”, as and the already extended period at that they say. But this much is true: altitude. Radgapov reported he was on On May 19, Sergei and Fran climbed to the top at 16:45. About 17:45 during his Camp 6 on Everest, at an elevation of descent, Radgapov met Sergei and Fran on 8200 meters (about 27,000 feet). Sergei the gentle slope near the rocks just 100 m radioed that they were in good shape and from the top. were going to start their summit attempt Radgapov said he backtracked with them on May 20th at 1:00 am. Th e weather was for about 50m towards the summit, trying great (for Everest). to persuade them to turn back because it On May 20th, after spending a cold night was quite late and they would not be able at Camp 6, Sergei and Fran started their to make it down before dark. Sergei told summit attempt but turned around at the him not to worry because they felt good First Step when their headlamps failed. and had a cache below (between the First On May 21st, Sergei and Fran again stayed and Second Steps) including one bottle of at Camp 6, after ascending only 50-100 oxygen, a tent and some warm clothing. meters before turning around. Th is was Radgapov saw the cache during his descent a signifi cant amount of time at such an advanced camp – many would consider but related it was an almost empty sack it too much - but they were in shape, save for the bottle of oxygen. Later, their determined, and so close to their goal. extra tent was found over 1000m below, meaning that indeed there was no tent in Summit Day: May 22, 1998 the cache at the time Radgapov saw it. Sergei and Fran started around 2 am for the summit. Anatoli Shabanov, the leader Pictures later proved that Fran and Sergei of an Uzbekistani expedition, watched reached the summit. However, neither them with a 60x telescope from the base survived the descent. Fran was found camp. He saw them at 14:00 on the Second incoherent and barely alive by members Step (about 8750 m). Rustam Radgapov of the Uzbekistani expedition, several of Fran on the summit. (a member of the Uzbekistani expedition) whom temporarily abandoned their summit Her mother passed them on the steep snow slope under attempts in order to try to revive her. received (continued, page 10) this photo one year later. All photos, maps, and letters published here are the property of Dr. M. Yarbro-Garret and may not (See letter) be reproduced without express written permission. This is the first time they have appeared in print.
Spring 2006 - 9 The hand-drawn map Fran sent from basecamp to her 10-year-old son.
Dear Francis’ parents! I am one of mountain eers from Uzbekistan, who w My friends and I were inv ere at Everest mountain du oluntary eyewitnesses of Francis accident. ring May 1998. who saw Francis an Furthermore I was the From varied accounts it appears they d her husband Sergey alive. Our group was climbin last, descended to their cache as planned, but We had found Francis near “First Step” on g to the top of Everest. were forced to bivouac at least 2 more nights unconscious and frost-bitten. Our previo a ridge of the mountain. She was alive but high on the mountain without a tent. After us group gave her all p her their last oxigen cilinders. But all effort ossible help last day. They gave the fi rst night, Sergei returned to Camp 6 to very high altitude dur s were unavailing. By this time she wa fi nd that Fran had not arrived, and headed ing two days without a tent and oxygen. Th Please accept my deep and s being ata back up the mountain to search for her, never true condolence and is leads to death for all people. to be seen again. Sergei’s rope and ice axe were Returning from the top of Everest, I had fo epression of sympaty to Your family found near Fran’s body, suggesting he had und a few cassettes a . I pickedthem up just to make shure. I had developed th t a heoght of 8600 meters. attempted to move her by himself, and that they To my great surpris ese cassettes by the end of last year. had spent their last living moments together. e these were pictures Francis on the way to t of Francis. Some of them were th After failing in a noble rescue attempt Sergei he top of Everest and e pictures of pictures. They confirmed Francis had climbed toat thethe toptop ofitself. Everest I understood I had lost himself to the mountain as well. the unique Furthermore these were the last pictures of Francis. without oxygen. TASIS friends remember Fran as beautiful, I send them via Ameri can embassy in Uzbekistan, because I do athletic, and gifted. To anyone who knew her, use them by your own discre it is not a surprise that she chose a life fi lled tion. I also send You Francis’ tent. It n’twas know fou Your address. Please with adventure and challenge. And, in spite neering camps on the ridge. We had realized it belonged nd in one of mountai- of the Romeo-and-Juliet ending to Fran’s questioning of a lot of people. to Francis. This was established story, her life was well-lived, following her If you need any information concernin by passion to conquer those peaks whose name Syncerely yours g this expedition, please don’t hesitate to con in Sanskrit means ‘Th e Abode of Snow’, the tact me. abode that became her fi nal resting place. Ilyas Thkhvatullin
10 - TASIS TODAY Music Maker Jeanie Cunningham, ’75, has made her mark in the music business.
eanie Cunningham can sing and play the guitar like 1 nobody’s business. She’s lived a life full of musical achievement J with enough outrageous stories to fi ll a book – more than enough to earn her a profi le in her alumni magazine. “JC” was a senior at TASIS in 1974 when she headed off to Zurich for the weekend to see Ike and Tina Turner in concert. Jeanie and a dozen roses fi nagled their way backstage post- concert, and, after she gushed some words of adoration, was asked by Ms. Turner about her own musical ambitions. JC sang and played guitar for Tina right then and there - and ended up AWOL from campus for an additional 4 days. JC hitched a ride on Ike and Tina’s European concert tour as a 2 stowaway in their clothing van, becoming an unoffi cial stagehand until Ike & Tina left for France. A true TASIS legend. “I’ve gotten a lot of mileage from that episode” says Jeanie. TASIS reconciled that escapade with a suspension and laundry duty. Jeanie recalls: “With each sock I sorted, with each shirt folded, I kept thinking of Tina, and how I couldn’t wait to get back to Los Angeles to see her again. It truly started my whole career.” After graduation Jeanie returned home to California where she began working in the music business in earnest as a singer, and also as a songwriter. “Right after graduation from TASIS, I joined up with Ike and Tina Turner back in Los Angeles”, recalls Jeanie. “It was there 3 that Ike took me under his wing and showed me how to engineer a 24 track recording studio, how to program drum machines and keyboards, how to mix sounds, and how NOT
1) Jeanie with friend David Crosby in the recording studio 2) Jeanie on stage and on tour with Lionel Ritchie 3) JC with friend and mentor, Tina Turner
Spring 2006 - 11 to treat a band...(he was pretty hard on his band). Tina taught me how to sing and dance - without sounding like you’re bouncing up and down and getting too out of breath (it’s INTENSE diaphragm control). But I spent most of my time learning from Ike, who was always a perfect gentleman with me.” Tina’s performance of one of Jeanie’s songs, “I Can Take A Little Bit of Pain” on Th e Tonight Show, earned the newcomer her professional songwriting credentials. As JC tells it: “Between road gigs and record deals, I made my bread and butter by writing “rah-rah” songs for Fortune 500 companies for the past 20 years. I’ve written for corporations from Microsoft to Toshiba to Radio Shack to Chevron to...you name it, I’ve probably written for it. You know you can write when you’re asked to create ditties for products ranging from toilet seat covers to artifi cial heart valves. It gets pretty hilarious at times, writing about things you know nothing about.” Take rhythm, rock and blues and add a splash of soul. Somewhere in the mix, you’ll find the music of Jae Cie. JC (or “Jae Cie” as she is often referred to now – an appellation that resulted from her European tours) has released 7 cds and 2 concert videos. She has been the opening act for David Crosby, whom she considers one of her closest friends. “Traveling with Jan (David’s wife) and David was about as much fun as you can have. He’s as nutty as I am, so we got along very well.” “One day when I was back in L.A., David called and asked if I could drive over to his house; he had something he needed to talk to me about. I was a little worried, thinking that David was mad at me. “When I got to his house, he had a very stern expression on his face. I looked to his wife Jan for some kind of explanation, but her face was as serious as his. ‘Go into the music room’, David instructed. ‘On the far right of the guitar line is a guitar case. Bring it to me.’ Sure enough, there was a new guitar case in his music room, and I grabbed it and brought it to him. ‘Open it’. I opened the case. Inside was the most exquisite guitar I’d ever seen, with a smaller-scaled fret board that would’ve been perfect for my smaller fi ngertips. David, looking like the wisest of walruses, said with a twinkle in his eyes, ‘It’s yours. I had it made for you.’ I’ve used that guitar ever since, and gave my guitar to a young and gifted up-and-coming songwriter. Musicians do that. Th ey share their gear.”
12 - TASIS TODAY Jeanie toured with Lionel Ritchie on Tina’s recommendation, infectious”, says JC. “I found myself seeking out ‘alluvial fans’ replacing Sheila E. who was scooped up by Prince. “Lionel and glacial evidence in mountain ranges. (John) brought the taught me how TO treat a band--we loved him. Th ere was history of this planet into sharp focus with such fl are and style always food at rehearsals. Rehearsals were always paid. We fl ew that it was diffi cult NOT to learn from him. He was awesome!” fi rst class. We stayed in fi rst class hotels. It was marvelous. Even though I hadn’t reached the fi nancial success that Lionel And about Cynthia Whisenant, Jeanie remarks: “Of ALL the had reached, I learned from him that if you want to keep a teachers in my life, ‘Wiz’ (as we called her), gave me the most in band together, take good care of them. Pay them. Treat them that she taught me the JOY of writing. Many a night since TASIS with respect. I kept my band together for 14 years, and we still days, when I’ve been laboring through writing a song, I’ve occasionally will take a gig together at the drop of a hat.” thought about how her instruction has been the cornerstone of my work as a lyricist. I owe that lady a lot! (‘Wiz’ was From fear, to flying solo considered very ‘cool’ and ‘hip’ in those days, and exuded so But, for all her success in the music business, JC feels that much warmth and love to us students that it would’ve been one of her greatest achievements has nothing at all to do with impossible to fail her class!)” music. “I used to be terrifi ed of fl ying”, she says. “In 1994, I decided to conquer my fear by taking fl ying lessons. Not only JC credits the exposure at TASIS to many diff erent cultures did I get my private pilot’s license, but I also bought a Piper 180 with broadening her horizons, which in turn helped her in her Cherokee. I fl y all over the place and have even fl own Darby career. “Typically, most Americans believe the rest of the world Hinton (’75) with me!” She has even learned how to fl y a thinks the way Americans do--and by virtue of a lack of helicopter. “From fear, to fl ying solo, I developed a new sense of exposure we are often blindsided by our own ignorance”, she self and freedom...one of the most awesome accomplishments says. “Living in a foreign land, going to school with kids from in my life to this day!” other countries, and traveling around Europe impressed upon me that the United States, in all its glory, is not the ‘be all and Jeanie recalls TASIS teachers end all’ country that I grew up thinking it was. TASIS trained When Jeanie was asked which TASIS teacher aff ected her me to open up my eyes, my mind and my heart to other cultures most, she replied: “Th ere was not just one...there were THREE and ways of thinking. Th at proved invaluable to me as an teachers who really rocked my world at TASIS: John Logan, international artist.” John Watson and Cynthia Whisenant.” So, from TASIS yesterday to TASIS Today, Jeanie has had a long, “Th e fi rst day of (Logan’s) Comparative Religion class, he varied and successful career in a highly competitive business. gathered us outside (it was a glorious day), and Th rough it all, she has remained true to herself we sat in a semi-circle around him. He asked us and her ideals. Says JC, “One of the comments to describe who or what God is...and by the end made on one of the myriad of rejection slips I of that fi rst class I was hooked. It was the WAY received from the record companies was that he illustrated the diff erences in faiths, and yet the my music was ‘too preachy’, or ‘too moralistic similarities in their origins. Th e interactions, in tone’. Th ese comments came during a time the sharing of ideas and concepts, the open- when sex and salaciousness was what was asked ness and candor with which we were allowed for and received in songwriting. Bad behavior to express ourselves...it was absolutely eye was ‘in’, and I was expected to follow that trend. opening. My mother had died the year before Even Ike, for all his ‘nasty’ reputation, had a and I was furious with God and had turned my high ethical code in many directions, and I felt back on Him. Logan led me back, though he ne- that if a guy like Ike could maintain his integrity ver proselytized or preached. Instead, he let us on some levels, so should I. So, I resisted being do our own thinking and draw our own conclu- like the rest. I think this was my moral compass sions. I will always be in debt to him for that.” stuck in the North position.” And when JC “John Watson was nothing if not enthusiastic sticks to something, she sticks, as anyone who about the study of Geology, and his joy in it was knew her in 1975, or now, can attest. “Jae Cie” in concert
Spring 2006 - 13 Much Ado About Something -
heater has always been an important part of TASIS. enthusiasm for a continued Shakespeare production each fall At one time, Lynn Fleming Aeschliman, then Director we produced Much Ado About Nothing, with rented formal T of the school, was the impresario of summer tours of kilts and jackets for the men, and hand-made costumes for Europe, arranging for TASIS students to perform Shakespeare the women. Authentic music was researched for the dances, a in famous arenas and amphitheaters. Kay Hamblin, current practice that remains today. Th eater Department Director, also led groups of private high Th e Shakespeare program continues to thrive. We have school students from California and the East Coast to the performed Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, and As You piazzas and country courtyards of Europe for eleven years Like It, often with double-casting to accommodate student to perform street theater: white face mime, juggling, and interest in “walking the boards” at TASIS. Next fall opens unicycling. Following this, she wrote a book for Doubleday with Two Gentlemen of Verona. Th e projected musical is My entitled MIME, which was distributed internationally and Fair Lady. remains in print in England and on recommended reading lists for high school and college theater classes. “To study a Shakespeare play in English class, while being an actor in rehearsal and then in performance “Where else but TASIS can you play a rugby game in is a unique TASIS experience. By the time I graduate the afternoon and perform onstage in a Shakespeare from TASIS next year I will have memorized 4 play in the evening!” Josh Tucker, ‘05 Shakespeare plays and will have lived the “lives” In the old Hadsall Th eater, now a dormitory, all the old of the characters I have played.”- James Eichner, ‘07 “chestnuts” that high school theater departments do have Each year’s Shakespeare production is on the summer reading been produced: Th e Importance of Being Earnest, Our Town, list so that students can become familiar with the fall You Can’t Take it With You, Th e Man Who Came to Dinner, production. Many English and ESL faculty teach the play for Arsenic and Old Lace, and three Neil Simon comedies edited that fall as part of their course. Kay provides special materials together to make Hotel Suites. TASIS acquired the fi rst amateur for diff erent levels to help understand Shakespeare’s history European rights to Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile, and language as well as the plot and subtleties of the work. which remains a student favorite. An adventure into theater of the absurd was Th e Bald Soprano. Musicals presented were “I have learned that the lighting, costumes, and Oliver, Godspell, Fame, and Working. In a production of blocking created for a character bring out the power Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, a trapeze was hung of the character. Reading Shakespeare and performing from the rafters and actors spoke their lines while swinging the play in the process is a unique educational upside down, adding movement to diffi cult word play. experience that I have had only at TASIS”- A second-fl oor set suggested a small but eff ective ocean liner. Damian Kastil, ‘07 As casts and crew expanded, we outgrew the stage at Hadsall, We rent our Shakespeare costumes from Th e Royal which was just as well since structural problems forced us to Shakespeare Company Costume Hire in Stratford-upon-Avon. vacate the space. Th e last performance there - with the cast Th is has provided a new level of study of the history and and audience almost sharing the acting space - was the importance of costume. Men’s authentic Western gear has musical South Pacifi c. been ordered from Shepler’s in Texas, and two tailors in Ticino are making women’s costumes for Oklahoma! So, to accommodate audiences of 85-100 each night with casts of 30-40 students, the productions moved to a “temporary” “Reading a Shakespeare play becomes another experience tent structure. Th ough far less than ideal, our students have when watching it performed onstage. With our professional never wavered in their enthusiasm for putting on the next level sets and glorious costumes from the RSC, I feel I am production. Th e show must go on! What a thrill it will be getting a very special opportunity to more fully understand to have our new theater. Responding to Lynn Aeschliman’s the power of Shakespeare.” Julia Billings, ‘07
14 - TASIS TODAY Theater at TASIS
Even TASIS Elementary School students became cast join the many who have been part of the TASIS theater members for a brief but exciting moment each night in As program over the years. You Like It! Next, they will work with Mrs. Hamblin and Th ere is an ongoing commitment at TASIS to performing Mrs. Topodas to learn a dance for the opening of Act Two classic drama and musicals. It is an integral part of a of Oklahoma! We hope these same students will continue to TASIS education.
Spring 2006 - 15 “One of the most important things to me about TASIS has been my performance in theater productions. With Mrs. Hamblin as my director I have had the equivalent of a private acting class (we all have!). I will always respect and remember the work I have done and the characters I have created onstage at TASIS. I am joining a group of TASIS alumni who have shared an exceptional experience.”- Nola Seta, ‘07 The Players TASIS Th eater Director, Kay Hamblin Kay developed International Baccalaureate theater classes at Th e International School of Tanganyika in Dar es Salaam 12 years ago. She has attended conferences in Stratford-upon Avon ever since, taking students to IB workshops and to performances in the West End in London almost each fall. Th is year Kay will be teaching theater for the 6th year with TASIS England, exploring playwriting, acting, and attending 11 performances in 4 weeks in London and Stratford upon Avon. Th is summer she will be working with the Globe Educational Center in London and performing Twelfth Night at the Globe Educational Annex in London with her students having their London premiere!
Guest Artists Jonathan Morris, formerly with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, has a rich and varied professional background. We are very fortunate to have a talent of Jonathan’s stature training our vocal stars.
Derek Chappel, a former set designer at Covent Garden, has done sets and lighting for Twelfth Night and Oklahoma! He also gives our actors workshops in stage combat and fencing.
Todd Fletcher was the composer and director of MCF: WHAT a LIFE, which was presented at both TASIS Lugano and TASIS England. Todd remains a loyal co-director and musical partici- pant in many TASIS productions.
John Watts, a long time friend of the School, has presented excellent workshops for actors as well as off ering courses for the whole student body on acting, singing, literature, and fi lm. He has performed many memorable concerts as well.
Elaine Topodas will teach the choreography for Oklahoma! as a three-week Artist in Residence.
16 - TASIS TODAY No More Tent! One of the highlights of a semester at TASIS is a theater production. But it’s tough when you are working out of a very cold (or very hot, depending on the season!), small and drafty tent. Sadly, that’s been the “theater” since structural problems forced productions out of Hadsall 2 years ago.
TASIS needs a new theater. Badly. It will likely be one of the most highly used facilities on campus, and not only for theater productions. • Visualize a talented, aspiring young woman or man giving a music recital in a new theater having good lighting and acoustics, and comfortable surroundings. Contrast that to a performance in an aesthetically and acoustically-challenged gymnasium or tent where audience members endure bleachers instead of theater seats. • Imagine projecting the latest Harry Potter or Miyazaki movie to a theater full of animated Middle or Elementary School children. It might be the only “real” cinematic recreation they get in 5 months - while their friends “back home” have enjoyed all the new releases! • Picture a lecture by a visiting scholar (“Welcome to TASIS. Let me show you to our new theater where you will be speaking…”)
What else will it be used for? Debate. Dance. Faculty meetings. Student fi lms. Acting classes. Art exhibits. Community functions. Th ere is no end to the possibilities. Currently TASIS is over a third of the way to our goal of $2.3 million - a tremendous start. But we need your help now to complete the campaign. TASIS is looking for a bene- factor to provide $650,0000 for the naming rights to the theater itself. We have addi- tional naming opportunities available, including theater seats from $2,500 to $10,000. All donations, regardless of size, will be recognized on an attractive plaque prominently displayed within the new theater. Please don’t delay. Contact us today to fi nd out how you can be part of the legacy of the new TASIS theater, or to review the beautiful plans. Email TASIS Director of Development, Hans Figi, at hans.fi [email protected] or call +41 91 960 5301. You can also donate on-line at www.tasis.com/Switzerland. Click on “Development” and then “Giving to TASIS” .
Spring 2006 - 17 Elementary School Takes Flight
Conceived over 20 years ago by Lynn corner up the Collina d’Oro to the main diff erent nationalities and almost as many Fleming Aeschliman, and fi nally given campus. Th e children look adorable in languages. Plans were quickly changed to birth this year, the new TASIS Elementary their uniforms, walking in duck fi le across accommodate this unexpectedly large infl ux School has taken fl ight. TASIS has the fi rst campus to an assembly with the “big kids” of children, so the ground fl oor of Had- English-language elementary school in in the huge Palestra. sall House was chosen to house the classes, Ticino! Initially, the school planned for 15 children and it underwent an extensive renovation. During her remarks at the Elementary to attend the Elementary School, which Classes were combined K/1, 1/2, 3/4, School’s inaugural ceremonies in September, was to be housed in Ca Gioia (ex-Gini), and 5/6, with four homeroom teachers and Mrs. Aeschliman displayed a poster of the the newly acquired small modern building auxiliary staff for art, music, drama, ESL, Wright Brothers’ fi rst aircraft fl ight con- overlooking the campus. Because of its Italian, and PE. Th e Elementary School is taining the words “Work, work, work… popularity, however, the school opened fortunate to have excellent teachers who have fl y!” Its message exemplifi ed her theme with 45 children in grades K-6, with 15 enthusiastically embraced the rigorous of “Dare to dream big dreams, then work hard to realize them”.
As TASIS Founder Mrs. M. Crist Fleming says, the new Elementary School completes TASIS. She loves watching the children on the Hadsall playground across the street from her window at Casa Fleming. Th ere, nestled in the Gentilino hillside, children run and play - the sounds of laughter and cries of delight are heard as one rounds the
18 - TASIS TODAY Core Knowledge Curriculum and Core Gioia with its inspiring view over the campus, English program in the afternoon. Th is Virtues, both of which are also at the lake, and mountains). TASIS Elementary will approximate a bi-lingual program, and heart of the successful TASIS elementary expects 70 youngsters and will have stand- off er a wonderful opportunity for students schools in England and Puerto Rico. (See alone classes in Pre-K and grades 2 through 6. to acquire Italian and English together in www.coreknowledge.org for more details a rigorous academic environment. on this excellent, content-rich, sequential By September 2007, TASIS will off er an Pre-K-8 curriculum.) Italian Section in the Elementary and Middle As this long-standing dream of an Elementary Schools, another fi rst for TASIS; but then School at TASIS takes vigorous fl ight, where Expansion is planned for September 2006 again, TASIS has always been a pioneer to best develop this growing program on by adding Pre-K and taking over the ground in international education! Th is venture the campus is under careful consideration. fl oor of Coach House for Pre-K and K/1 will provide a required program taught in As Blake wrote, “What is now real was (the art studios will move up the hill to Ca Italian in the morning with an optional once only imagined.”
Spring 2006 - 19 Asking Questions
Tokyo, Idaho, Kosovo. What
Korab Lluka ’07, Kosovo Th ere are 200,000 people in his hometown which looks a bit like Lugano without the lake. Korab exclaims that, despite all the “cheek kissing” that goes on in Switzerland, there are fewer open displays of aff ection than he fi nds at home in Kosovo. He takes a look around and in a quiet voice confi des, “Th e Swiss old ladies can be really mean.” Within easy earshot of a member of the faculty, Korab says with a smile, “I like the way I learn at TASIS. Th e teachers are great!” He’s a good athlete,
Satomi Nakashima ’06, Japan Sato, as her friends call her here, didn’t speak a word of English when she fi rst arrived at TASIS six years ago. “My fi rst roommates were American, and I learned English from them. My second-year roommates were Russian and Spanish. I didn’t learn Spanish or Russian from them but I’ve learned a diff erent way of thinking.” What does Satomi like most about being at TASIS? “We share cultures with other people and have the chance to express our opinions openly with people from very diff erent backgrounds.” She started her 6-year stint in Switzerland after attending summer school at TASIS. Her friends were surprised that she had chosen to leave Japan to get an education in Switzerland – she was the only one in her class to study abroad– but “they knew I could do it.” When asked how her TASIS experience made her a better person, Satomi answers, “I am so sure that I became less selfi sh, because before TASIS I was the only child and my parents have been overprotective of me. I cannot act the same way as I did when I started to live with other girls the same age. I had to do everything by myself; of course, the teachers and prefects helped me but still I could not rely on my parents.” Satomi continues: “When I was in 11th grade they gave me the opportunity to become a prefect. It was a tough job. I’ve learned how hard it is to own leadership, but it was a great experience.” Her favorite food here? “Cheese!” she says. “I didn’t like cheese, but now it is one of my favorite foods! Especially Mozzarella.” After graduation, Sato plans to return to Japan for university. “I will still learn about international relationships,” she says. “But now I need to learn more about my own country.”
20 - TASIS TODAY Getting Real Answers do they have in common?
active on the soccer and basketball teams, and has traveled with the TASIS basketball team to the Canary Islands to play in a high school tournament where they won the cup! Korab appreciates that it is “calm, quiet and clean here” and he thinks it is safer than living in Kosovo – where his dad drives a bulletproof car after an incident a few years ago. But he looks forward to returning home to work in the family business after attending college in the US.
Hailey Anne Parsons ‘06, United States Hailey, or “Idaho,” as she is known at TASIS, is a senior in her second year. Lugano is a long haul from Caldwell, Idaho, the small farming community where Hailey grew up. “You could put 3 Caldwell’s in the Milan soccer stadium,” she says with a chuckle. Her friends asked her if she were going to have to “speak Swiss”. Two years ago Hailey Googled “European boarding schools” and came upon TASIS. She’s glad she did. “I’ve learned to problem solve and live with others who are diff erent from me. And I have learned so much more – both academically and socially,” she responds when asked what she has gotten the most out of TASIS. She is also head pre- fect, which has been a great learning experience, as well as the 2006 winner of the Cathy Clark Memorial Scholarship. Th ough she has often missed her family, Hailey has quite a list of experiences since coming to TASIS. When asked, “What experiences have you had at TASIS so far, especially through In-Program Travel, that may have enriched your life?” Hailey says, “I have been on an archeological dig in Rome, sailed in Sardegna, visited Dacchau and the museums in Munich, and been to Rhodes.” What does she like the most? “Being able to travel almost anywhere and having friends from all over the world,” she says. “I thought that all the cultures would be extremely diff erent, but there are so many similarities.” What does she like the least? “Chicken and potatoes!”
Spring 2006 - 21 The New TASIS for TASIS. He served on the TASIS Executive Board for eight years and as Interim Headmaster of TASIS England from 2004-2005. In September 2005, Mr. Board of Directors Gonzalez became Chairman of the newly- formed Board of Directors of TASIS s part of the transition to a new also newly-formed Board of Directors of England. Mr. Gonzalez serves on the governance structure for TASIS, the TASIS England. Her two children TASIS Foundation Board and has two A TASIS Foundation Board appointed graduated from TASIS. Her husband sons who attended TASIS England for all a new Board of Directors. Th is Board is Dr. Michael D. Aeschliman, scholar, writer, their pre-college careers. now responsible for the management of and professor at Boston University School Th e American School in Switzerland. of Education and the University of Italian Alex Korach, Licence de Droit and Ph.D., Meetings are held three times a year on Switzerland, is Curricular Advisor on the University of Zurich, is a founding campus. We are very pleased to announce TASIS Foundation Board, and, together partner in the law fi rm of Korach, Simonius this new Board, which consists of four with Mrs. Aeschliman, runs a program in & Partner, Zurich. Dr. Korach is a specialist TASIS alumni and professionals in the Tuscany every summer for University of in business law and serves an international educational, legal, and business world. Virginia Jeff erson Scholars. clientele. A Hungarian refugee to Switzerland in 1956, Dr. Korach is a fi ne linguist and Lynn Fleming Aeschliman, TASIS ‘63, Giovanni Barone Adesi, B.A. in Electrical very much a citizen of the world. Since Chairman, B.A. from Barnard College, Engineering, University of Padova, Italy; 1984, he has worked for TASIS as its legal Columbia University, is an alumna of M.B.A., Ph.D., Graduate School of advisor. Dr. Korach is a founding member TASIS and has worked in many facets Business, University of Chicago, is a citizen of the TASIS Foundation in Switzerland, of the TASIS organization, managing its of Canada and Italy, resident in Lugano and served as Chairman for six years. Dr. theater company, publications, fi lms, and with his wife, Kris, parents of a TASIS Korach and his wife Kathrin have two building projects on all of its campuses for alumna. Professor Barone-Adesi is currently children who attended TASIS summer many years. She served as Assistant Director Professor of Finance Th eory, and was courses. In addition to his work as a lawyer, of TASIS and Chairman of the TASIS formerly Dean, Economics Faculty, at the Dr. Korach is a board member of various Development Board before moving to University of Italian Switzerland, and Swiss and international companies, and Virginia where she ran an architectural Director of the Lugano section of the Swiss serves the Republic of the Marshall Islands restoration fi rm and served as director of NCCR in Finance. Previously, he was as its honorary consul in Switzerland. an elementary school. She has supervised Professor of Financial Engineering, City major architectural restoration projects in University Business School, London, and Dr. Berkley Latimer is one of the outstanding the USA, England (all the original buildings Professor of Finance, Faculty of Business, fi gures in American secondary education. of the TASIS England campus), Switzerland University of Alberta. Prof. Barone-Adesi is He attended North Carolina’s Davidson (the TASIS campus, as well as the development the author of over 40 refereed publications, College, where he majored in French and of the Campus Master Plan), and Italy, in major scholarly journals such as the graduated with highest honors---summa and has run summer camps in Switzerland Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He took and France, as well as co-directing a Economics, Journal of Financial and his Ph.D. in European History from Duke residential college in Lausanne, Switzerland. Quantitative Analysis, and the European University, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Most recently, Mrs. Aeschliman founded Journal of Financial Management. He is Scholar and a James B. Duke Fellow. For over the new TASIS Elementary School and the author or co-author of several widely thirty years Dr. Latimer has held teaching Tuscan Classical Academy, a university- used fi nancial models, including the most and senior administrative positions at level summer program for architecture and used model to value American options on U.S. independent schools spanning both painting, in collaboration with the University currencies and equities. He advises several the American continent and the horizon of Notre Dame School of Architecture and organizations on risk-management issues. of educational approaches: Westminster the Institute of Classical Architecture (NY). (Atlanta, GA), St. Andrew’s (Jackson, MS), Th e TASIS Foundation Board, on which Fernando Gonzalez attended Andover Stony Brook (NY), Lick Wilmerding (San she currently serves as Vice Chairman, Academy, Harvard College (B.A. in Visual Francisco), and since 1994, St. Paul’s School appointed her Executive Director of the Studies), and the Harvard Graduate School in Concord, NH, one of the country’s most TASIS organization in 1996, in which of Design. He started working at TASIS in prominent boarding schools. From 1999 role she served until the Foundation Board 1972 as Chairman of the Art Department. to 2004 he was the Director of the TASIS appointed her Chairman of the newly- Before becoming Administrative Director Summer Program (TSP) in Lugano. formed TASIS SA Board of Directors of the TASIS organization in 1997, Mr. At St. Paul’s School (SPS) Dr. Latimer starting in September 2005 and to the Gonzalez was Director of Development has held positions of major curricular and
22 - TASIS TODAY administrative responsibility, in addition to Army. With a passion for both teaching TASIS community, but also for setting an holding the McFadden Endowed Teaching and learning, Dr. Latimer provides a model example that would encourage others to Chair in History since 1994. He has been of the educator as one dedicated to learning become involved. John is on the Board of a Head of House, Director of Residential throughout his own life as well as teaching California’s Claremont McKenna College Life, and Chair of the Curriculum Committee others. Berkley is a classic “schools man”, (CMC) and several foundations. Th e that reformed the upper-school Humanities and lives with his wife, Peggy, in New CMC soccer fi eld is named after him. curriculum at the School. He is currently the Hampshire and Florida. He lives in Denver with his wife, Ann, Co-Chair of the School’s Sesquicentennial and three sons. John’s sister Barbara ‘74 Steering Committee, planning the 150th Gianni Patuzzo, a Swiss citizen born in also attended TASIS. Th eir parents gave anniversary activities for the School for Lugano, graduated in mathematics from the initial and largest gift to build the M. 2005-6. Dr. Latimer has been particularly the University of Geneva and worked Crist Fleming Library. Mother Mary Dell active in the international dimension of for fi ve years as a system analyst with a Pritzlaff is a loyal, generous friend of MCF education: fl uent in French, he has traveled large American computer company. He and supporter of TASIS. She is on the widely, chaperoning three SPS Classical then obtained an M.B.A. at INSEAD, in Development Board. Th e Pritzlaff /Fleming- Honors Program trips to Greece and a Fontainebleau, and subsequently served TASIS family connection has been strong two-week home-stay program in Leipzig, in multinational companies as business for over 40 years. Germany, and taught for two summers in controller, dealing particularly with Latin Poland. He is the Faculty Sponsor of the America, South Africa, and Australia. He Curtis McGraw Webster, TASIS ’75, is a Korean Society at St. Paul’s. He has a special joined TASIS in 1997 to serve as Financial music producer and philanthropist in New interest in technology-related issues, serving Director on the Executive Board, over- York City. His music production facility, on the School’s Academic Technology seeing the fi nances of the entire TASIS the Vertical Corporation, is a state-of-the- Committee. Dr. Latimer has served on organization. He is now Financial Director art recording studio which has played host accreditation teams or panels for several for the TASIS Foundation. to a wide range of musical artists, including schools in the USA and has been a member one with whom he has had a number 11 of the Test Development Committee for John Pritzlaff , TASIS ’72, runs Aviation U.K. and European hit. His work in the the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination Technology & Solutions in Denver, arts extends to theatre, in which Curtis in European History and an Examination Colorado. In 2001 he founded the Pritzlaff has written original music and worked on reader. He has served on several other Leadership Award, a fi nancial award which sound design for productions in New York important national education boards or recognizes a TASIS senior or PG student City and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe panels and was also a Captain in the U.S. not only for service to and on behalf of the in Edinburgh, Scotland. Curtis is the
Left to right: Dr. Berkley Latimer, John Pritzlaff, Fernando Gonzalez, Lynn Fleming Aeschliman, Curtis McGraw Webster, Giovanni Barone Adesi, Alexandra Heuman Wicki, Dr. Alex Korach, Gianni Patuzzo
Spring 2006 - 23 (continue from previous page)
Executive Vice-President of the Curtis W. McGraw Foundation, overseeing the non- profi t’s support of the arts, education, medical research, and social services. Of Director Lucio Rusca particular interest is HIV/AIDS outreach and research. A native of Princeton, New Jersey, he attended Princeton Day Retires School, the Lawrenceville School, and Th e American School in Switzerland. Besides serving on the TASIS Development Board and the newly-formed Board of Directors, Curtis supports a TASIS outreach program and escorts TASIS students on humanitarian and learning trips to AIDS foster orphanages in Romania. Curtis also serves on the Boards of the Patriots Th eater in Trenton, NJ, and Th e Blue Curtain Foundation, a group for the support of young performers and new music.
Alexandra Heumann Wicki, TASIS’80, was born in Germany to an American father and a German mother, but grew up in Ticino, where she attended elementary school, then TASIS for six years; she was the fi rst TASIS graduate to receive the IB diploma. She studied English Philology and Literature and Political Philosophy at the Swiss University of Fribourg, followed by an acting, dancing, and singing curriculum at the Lee Strasberg Th eatre Institute in New York City. During those Good friends Lucio Rusca and Mrs. Fleming years she regularly performed and worked in the fi eld of the theatre arts, and spent numerous summers as a counselor at e are very grateful to Ticino growth for TASIS, he found an island in TASIS. Her last teaching position was with attorney Lucio Rusca for his Ticino that was representative of the world. the European Film Actors School (EFAS) W loyal service to TASIS as a very Th e School was not “just a school” in the in Zurich where she taught for nine years. competent lawyer and as Director on the Swiss sense, but was an integral part of the Four years ago, Alexandra started a Swiss humanitarian foundation that suppor- TASIS SA Board of Directors for over 30 lives of its students, living as a family, with ts students in developing countries. She years. Signor Rusca’s relationship with education taking place beyond as well as and her husband Dr. Andreas Wicki live TASIS and Mrs. Fleming actually goes in the classrooms --- a global education in Zurich with their three young children. back to the beginning of TASIS in Locarno that introduced the students to Ticino, She has traveled extensively and is fl uent 50 years ago, when his father provided Switzerland, Italy, and other European in German, English, Italian, and French. insurance for the school. languages and cultures.
Lucio Rusca says he was not just our lawyer We are very grateful to Signor Rusca but felt like he became part of a large for his many years of wise counsel and family, imbued with the spirit of Mrs. dedicated service to TASIS. Fleming. During the exciting years of Grazie di cuore, Lucio!
24 - TASIS TODAY Distinguished Educator Joins TASIS Foundation Board
ager to increase its scope and resources paperback re-printings. He has written in a rapidly changing world, the numerous essays and reviews for publications E Foundation Board is pleased to such as Th e College Board Review, and his announce the appointent to its membership essay “Th e Strange Fate of the American of one of America’s most outstanding Boarding School” was published in Th e leaders in the fi eld of independent-school American Scholar (65, 4, Autumn 1996) education, David V. Hicks. and attracted wide notice and comment. With his brother Scot Hicks, he recently Mr. Hicks brings wide, various, and deep published a new translation of the experience to the TASIS Board. A graduate Meditations of Marcus Aurelius entitled of Princeton University (Phi Beta Kappa Th e Emperor’s Handbook (N.Y., 2002). and Magna Cum Laude), he was a Rhodes He is currently a chief educational Scholar at Oxford University and also consultant and Headmaster for the private studied Russian at the University of Moscow. educational company MERITAS LLC, He served as a U.S. Naval Offi cer and then working on schools in Las Vegas and Palm as a faculty member at the U.S. Naval War Beach. College in Newport, R.I., helped build middle schools in west Africa, and ran for Publications Commission (Washington), Mr. Hicks is married to a freelance fi lm the U.S. Congress from Westchester County, and the Advisory Council to the Princeton producer and they have four grown children. N.Y.. Mr. Hicks’s chief eff orts over the last University English Department. He was Th e Hickses reside in the mountain West, thirty years, however, have been devoted also a consultant to the TASIS Schools for where they are personally building their to independent-school leadership: he has the formulation of their Strategic Plans in own rural, ranch home, “West of the served as Headmaster of prominent schools 2004-5. He has received numerous awards, Moon,” near Harrison, Montana. from Texas to New Hampshire, including including the PAIDEIA Award for St. Mark’s (Texas), St. Paul’s (N.H.), St. Educational Leadership, the CIRCE “Times change, values don’t,” Mrs. M. Christopher’s (Virginia), and Darlington Institute Lifetime Achievement Award, Crist Fleming has liked to reiterate over (Georgia). He has served on several boards and the Key to the City of Rome. the years. Th e TASIS organization faces of trustees and directors, including the daunting challenges and exciting prospects Society for the Preservation of the Greek In addition to this vast practical experience, in the era of globalization, terrorism, and Heritage (Athens and Washington), the Mr. Hicks has been a distinguished theorist, an anarchic pop culture. Th e Foundation School Year Abroad program (Andover, commentator, and writer on educational Board believes that David Hicks will bring Mass.), the Chair of the Education issues. His book Norms and Nobility: A uniquely valuable experience and insight to Committee, Board of Governors, Campion Treatise on Education (N.Y., 1981) was deliberations and decisions about the future School (Athens, Greece), the Rhodes Scholar- chosen as the outstanding educational of the TASIS organization and is pleased ship Selection Committee (30 years), book of the year by the American Library that he has accepted its off er to serve. the U.S. National Historic Records and Association and has had two subsequent
Spring 2006 - 25 A new Headmaster and a new, expanded Board of Directors have Financial Summary brought fresh perspectives and should help continue to strengthen the positive fi nancial trend that TASIS is currently enjoying. Th e opening of the new TASIS Elementary Fundraising eff orts are becoming increasingly eff ective with the School in September 2005 was a great success, more widespread understanding that TASIS is now a non-profi t and will have a positive impact on the fi nancial entity. Alumni and parent fi nancial support of the School performance of the School for the academic continues to improve in 2005-6. We were very pleased with year 2005-6. Th e higher-than-projected number the notable conclusion of the capital campaign that allowed the of elementary students joining TASIS caused construction of the M. C. Fleming Library, which opened in last-minute adjustments in the program’s May 2004. Th e capital campaign to fund the much-needed new organization, physical plant structure, and theater is underway, with over a third of the US$2.3 million in the allocation of space. Th e changes were goal reached to date. successfully implemented, and, in spite of the As Th e American School in Switzerland celebrates its 50th additional costs incurred, a good return on Anniversary year I am pleased to say that applications and investment was generated. Th e current fi scal enrollments are stronger than ever, our beautiful campus is in year should show an improvement on the global wonderful condition and is poised for some noteworthy future fi nancial performance of the School in respect to the past, partly as additions such as the theater, and that fi duciary oversight and a consequence of the successful launch of the Elementary School. strategic planning eff orts for the future remain strong. Gianni Patuzzo, Financial Director
TASIS S.A. Cost Structure 2004-2005
Fundraising & Alumni 2%
Institutional Instruction Operating Performance (in Swiss Francs) Support 31% 2003-2004 2004-2005 31% Tuition Income (Summer & Winter) 18,930,447 19,851,764 Financial Aid -770,005 -662,074 Other Gains/Losses 151,953 24,012 Net Revenues 18,312,425 19,213,702
In-Program Travel Instruction 5,496,568 6,035,989 and Activities In-Program Travel and Activities 958,169 785,202 4% Auxiliary Services 5,882,573 6,076,026 Auxiliary Services Institutional Support 5,580,577 5,874,644 32% Fundraising & Alumni 390,175 449,804 Net Expenses 18,308,062 19,221,665
Fundraising Activity (in Swiss Francs) TASIS S.A. Income by Category 2003-2004 2004-2005 Alumni Annual Fund 177,733 165,402 Parent Annual Fund 146,250 323,000 Income from Endowment 27,017 26,598 Summer Programs Capital Campaign 352,000 343,000 18.3% Total Fundraising 703,000 858,000
Income from Winter Session 81.7%
26 - TASIS TODAY Honor Roll of Donors 2005-2006 Note: Reflects gifts received from January 1, 2005 to April 1, 2006 Th e American School in Switzerland’s Gift Club Program recognizes the outstanding and vital support of its generous contributors to the Capital Campaign and to the Annual Giving Program. TASIS is grateful to this enthusiastic group of parents, alumni, current and former faculty, and friends who have a particulary close association and loyalty to the School.
M. Crist Fleming Associates Global Village Associates Collina d’Oro Associates (Gift of $25,000 or more) (Gift of $10,000 or more) (Gift of $5,000 or more) Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Peter Appels Anonymous Mr.& Mrs. Richard H. Bell II PG ‘65 Mr. & Mrs. David Chan Mr. & Mrs. Stuart R. Brown Mrs. Holland Coors Mr. Christian C. Draz ‘70 Mrs. Ann Clark Ms. Jane H. Goldman ‘74 Mr. & Mrs. John C. Gage ‘60 Mr. & Mrs. Menno De Kant Governor & Mrs. Bola Tinubu Mr. John Pritzlaff III ‘72 Mr. & Mrs. David Mair Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Vaglietti Mr. & Mrs. William Snyder Dr. & Mrs. Lee Parsons Mr. Robert S. Perkin PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Waterman Mrs. Kathryn Pitner ‘62 Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ‘75 Mrs. Alexandra Wicki ‘80 Mr. & Mrs. Hans-Joachim Schmidt Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl. Inc. Foundation
Headmaster’s Associates De Nobili Associates (Gift of $2,500 or more) (Gift of $1,000 or more) Mr. Christopher Lynn Dr. & Mrs. Michael and Lynn Aeschliman ‘63 Mr. & Mrs. Sergey Atanasov Dr. & Mrs. Thomas and Karen Mauro Mrs. Ekaterina Babina Mrs. Judy Callaway Brand ‘63 Mr. Geoffrey Parker PG ‘67 Mr. & Mrs. Massimo Catemario di Quadri Mr. & Mrs. Neil Breton Mr. Robert Perkin PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Yau-Loi, Charles Chan Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Brewer Ms. Katherine Prentice PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Eric Chassagnade Mr. Paul Clegg ‘85 Mrs. Lesli Seta Mr. & Mrs. Chihming Chu Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd & Annegret De Vos Mr. & Mrs. Glen Solheim Mr. & Mrs. Young Joon Ham Mr. & Mrs. Afrim Ethemi Ms. Theresa Thompson PG ‘65 Dr. Jürgen Hambrecht Mr. & Mrs. Cornelius Fischer-Zernin Mr. Guy Tolman SH’59 Mr. & Mrs. Neil Lansing Mr. & Mrs. Stjepan Frigan Mr. & Mrs. Birger Topp Mr. Robinson Leech PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Rene Gilli Ms. Deborah Webster ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Tun-Jen Lin Mr. Robert Hixon Glore Mrs. Alexandra Wild Bianchi Mr. Ned Lynch PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Norman Goldbach Ms. Cari Wolk-Dane ‘77 Mr. & Mrs. Dominic & Diane Mauriello ‘85 & ‘84 Mr. & Mrs. Chang Sik Ha Ms. Elizabeth Yates ‘73 Mr. & Mrs. Ettore Petrini Mr. & Mrs. Charles Howell Mr. & Mrs. James Dennis Yeomans Mrs. Mary Dell Pritzlaff Mr. & Mrs. Sang Do Lee Leysin American School TASIS Parents Group
Mr. & Mrs. Michael Filser Dr. Maria Mangieri TASIS Associates Ms. Paula ‘Marnie’ Fulton ‘85 Mr. & Mrs. Richard Mastain (Gift of $500 or more) Mr. Jay Gillis ‘76 Mrs. Marie Matthews Anonymous Ms. Kathlene Howell ‘08 Mrs. Antje Milhahn Anonymous Mr. Ross Howell ‘05 Mrs. Melissa Moore PG ‘63 Mr. & Mrs. Bertil Akesson Mr. Steven Kampmann PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Niemeyer Mr. Ernest Clifford Barrett III SH ‘59 Mrs. Elena Kashtelyan Mr. & Mrs. Andriy Novak Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Bradley Miss Laura Katzman PG ‘05 Ms. Patricia Oxman ‘63 Ms. Ronica Bregenzer Mrs. Denise Katzman Mr. & Mrs. Gianni Patuzzo Mr. & Mrs. Paul Bright Dr. & Mrs. Frank Klein Mr. John Procter ‘98 Mrs. Martha Cone ‘64 Mr. Kenneth Koch ‘73 Mrs. Ruth Russell PG ‘67 Mr. Joseph Cook ‘64 Dr. & Mrs. Berkley Latimer Mrs. Nantanee Thevit Ms. Lara De Vido ‘89 Dr. & Mrs. Gasper Lazzara Ms. Anna-Katharina von Stauffenberg ‘05 Mr. Alex Echeguren PG ‘72 Mr. Thomas J. Litle ‘84 Mrs. Robin Weaver PG ‘65 Mr. & Mrs. Sergio P. Ermotti Mr. & Mrs. Dario Lucchini Mr. William B. Wigton PG ‘66 Mr. Ronald Farley PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. Frank K. Luederitz Mr. & Mrs. Hans Figi ‘75 Mr. & Mrs. Muratbek Malabaev
Spring 2006 - 27 Friends of TASIS Mrs. Sarah Di Lenardo Mr. & Mrs. Etsuo Kishi Ms. Amy Roesler ‘76 (Gift under $500) Mrs. Sonia Domingues Mr. Charles Kitsman ‘67 Ms. Joelle Ross ‘68 Mrs. Roberta Donnelly Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lane Ms. Andrea Ross PG ‘89 Anonymous Mr. Jeffrey Duckham ‘79 Dr. Alan W. Larson ‘64 Mr. & Mrs. George & Jane Salimbene Anonymous Ms. Olga Cabrer Duke PG ‘65 Mr. Howard Lovett Mr. & Mrs. Claudio Sartorelli Anonymous Mr. Nicholas Major PG ‘68 Mr. Michael Shanler ‘90 Mrs. Patricia Ingersoll Adams ‘63 Mrs. Laura Ehrich ‘73 Mrs. Leslie Evans ‘66 Mr. Peter Marti Ms. Lois Shapleigh PG ‘66 Ms. Mallory S. Lawrence Agerton ‘74 Mrs. Nina McKenna ‘73 Sir Peter Smithers Ms. Randi Allfather ‘73 Mr. Jon Fiel Mr. & Mrs. Andrew C. Merryman Mr. William T. Fleming ‘61 Mrs. Leslie Lishon Sosnowski ‘74 Ms. Shirin Amini ‘75 Mrs. Gina Milano ‘77 Ms. Sharon Spaulding FC ‘74 Mr. Eric Amundson ‘90 Mr. & Mrs. Greydon C. Freeman Mr. & Mrs. Nickerson Miles Mr. William Gage SH ‘63 Mr. Charles Howard Stickley Mr. Edward Armstrong ‘85 Mrs. Sharisse Miller PG ‘80 Ms. Barbara Swanson ‘62 Mr. David L. Bennet SSIF ‘67 Mr. & Mrs. Bob Gebhardt Ms. Cheryl Miller ‘90 Mr. & Mrs. Hiroshi Takahashi Ms. Libby Bingham ‘85 Mr. Michael Geier PG ‘63 Mr. Willard Morgan ‘67 Mr. & Mrs. Iwao Terao Mr. & Mrs. Alessandro A. Borghi Mr. James Cranston Gray ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. James Moroney III Ms. Ellen Terpstra ‘69 Mr. Paolo Brenni-Masoni Mr. Frederick Morris ‘62 Ms. Lindsay Green ‘64 Ms. Susan Thomson FC ‘70 Mr. Stephen Brooks ‘83 Ms. Emily Gurley ‘92 Ms. Diana Moyle ‘69 Mr. & Mrs. Willard Bunn Ms. Katie Murphy ‘74 Mrs. Elaine Timbers PG ‘68 Mrs. Elizabeth A. Hall Mr. Ken Tobe ‘90 Ms. Mary Rose Cafi ero FC ‘69 Mr. Erik Hallgrimson ‘91 Mrs. Mimi Trieschmann Nesbit PG ‘61 Ms. Leslie Stevenson Campbell ‘68 Mr. & Mrs. Simon Owen Williams Mrs. Christiane Van de Velde Ms. Stacie Hancock ‘90 Dr. & Mrs. Louis Vogel Mr. Alvaro Cardenas ‘92 Mr. Lee Himelfarb PG ‘65 Mr. John Palmer ‘64 Ms. Laura Carter SH ‘67 Mr. Charles E. Pannaci PG ‘66 Mrs. Melanie Waites ‘72 Mr. Clayton ‘Cliff’ Holley ‘80 Mrs. Gai Fleming Case ‘59 Ms. Rula Peinado ‘80 Mr. Henrik Wallberg ‘90 Ms. Stephanie Chang ‘93 Ms. Victoria Hsu ‘86 Ms. Jane Perry ‘65 Mr. & Mrs. David Warren Ms. Stephanie Cohen ‘83 Mr. Kimball E. C. Hull PG ‘66 Ms. Emily Phillips PG ‘64 Mrs. Susan Wenzel Mr. Gregory Cook ‘90 Mr. Phillip A. Hungate ‘77 Ms. Barbara Pierce ‘74 Ms. Cynthia Whisenant Ms. Ramia Cornish ‘76 Mrs. Rosanna Jaffi n Mrs. Lydia A. Potoczniak Tkachenko ‘88 Mr. Scott H. Whittle ‘71 Mr. Ronald A. De Angelis ‘96 Mr. Joseph Javornik Mr. Asif Rangoonwala ‘76 Mrs. Holly Wood Brown ‘87 Mr. & Mrs. Ronald A. De Angelis Ms. Anne D. Kaiser PG ‘66 Mr. William Reed ‘96 Dr. & Mrs. Armando Zanecchia Ms. Stephanie De Vos ‘03 Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence S. Kaplan Col. & Mrs. Curtis B. Reiber Mr. Toby A. Zorthian FC ‘70 Theater Campaign Note: Reflects gifts and pledges received up to April 1, 2006 Th anks to the generosity of more than 90 parents, alumni, staff and friends, over $750,000 has been raised so far for the new theater. Some naming opportunities are still available. TASIS is grateful for your support in helping us reach our goal. Naming Opportunities Donors Th eater $650,000 (Available) Grand Terrace $100,000 (Available) Lower Courtyard & Portico $100,000 Mr. Donald MacDermid PG ‘62 Stage $100,000 Mr. Robert Perkin PG ‘66 Entry Foyer $100,000 Mrs. Holland Coors Technical Booth $100,000 Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ‘75 Lights & Light Board $100,000 Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ‘75 Backstage $ 50,000 Mr. & Mrs. John C. Gage ‘60 Director’s Offi ce $ 50,000 Gov. & Mrs. Bola Tinubu Green Room $50,000 (Available) Dressing Rooms (2) @$25,000 (1 funded) Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Vaglietti (1 Available) Catwalks (2) @$25,000 (Available) Th eater-Angel Seats (30) @$10,000 (6 funded) Mr. & Mrs. Peter Appels, Mr. & Mrs. Richard Bell PG ‘65, Mr. & Mrs. Feyyaz Berker, Mr. & Mrs. David Mair, Mrs. Alexandra Wicki (2) Premier Seats (30) @$ 7,500 (3 funded) Mr.& Mrs. Richard Bell ‘65, Mr. & Mrs. David Mair, Mr. & Mrs. Hans-Joachim Schmidt Th eater-Lover Seats (35) @$ 5,000 (3 funded) Mr. William S. & Permele Doyle, Mrs. Kathryn Pitner, TASIS Parents Group Th eater-Fan Seats (40) @$ 2,500 (11 funded) Dr. Michael & Mrs. Lynn Aeschliman ‘63, Mr. Sergey Atanasov, Judy Callaway Brand ‘63, Mr. & Mrs. Stuart Brown, Mr. & Mrs. Eric Chassangnade, Mr. & Mrs. Chihming Chu, Mr. & Mrs. Tun-Jen Lin, Mr. Ned Lynch PG ‘66, Mr. Dominic ‘85 & Mrs. Diane ‘84 Mauriello, Mrs. Mary Dell Pritzlaff , Mr. Marco & Mrs. Lesli Seta, Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Waterman
28 - TASIS TODAY Honor Roll of Donors - Theater Campaign Note: Reflects gifts and pledges received up to April 1, 2006 Th eater Founders Th eater Patrons Director’s Circle (Gift of $25,000 or more) (Gift of $10,000 or more) (Gift of $5,000 or more) Mrs. Holland Coors Mr. & Mrs. Peter Appels Mr. William S. & Mrs. Permele Doyle Mr. Donald MacDermid PG ‘62 Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Bell II PG ‘65 Mrs. Kathryn Pitner ‘62 Mr. & Mrs. John C. Gage ‘60 Mr. & Mrs. Feyyaz Berker Mr. & Mrs. Hans-Joachim Schmidt Mr. Robert Perkin PG ‘66 Mr. & Mrs. David Mair TASIS Parents Group Gov. & Mrs. Bola Tinubu Mrs. Alexandra Wicki ‘80 Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Vaglietti Mr. Curtis McGraw Webster ‘75 Friends of the Th eater Th eater Fan Drama Circle (Gift of $500 or more) (Gift under $500) (Gifts of $2,500 or more) Mr. & Mrs. Jeff rey Bradley Mr. Eric Amundson ‘90 Mr. Sergey Atanasov Prof. Jack L. Cook Mrs. Gai Fleming Case ‘59 Dr. & Mrs. Michael & Lynn Aeschliman Mr. Joseph Cook ‘63 Mr. Gregory Cook ‘90 Mrs. Judy Callaway Brand ‘63 Mr. & Mrs. Hans Figi ‘75 Mr. A. Edward Cross Mr. & Mrs. Stuart R. Brown Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Howell Mr. Frederick ‘Fred’ Crumrine Mr. & Mrs. Eric Chassagnade Mrs. Laura Ehrich ‘73 Ms. Stephanie De Vos ‘03 Mr. & Mrs. Chihming Chu Ms. Kathlene Howell ‘08 Mrs. Sarah Di Lenardo Mr. & Mrs. Tun-Jen Lin Mr. Ross Howell ‘05 Mrs. Laura Ehrich ‘73 Mr. Ned Lynch PG ‘66 Dr. & Mrs. Frank Klein Mr. & Mrs. Bob Gebhardt Mr. & Mrs. Dominic & Diane Mauriello ‘85 & ‘84 Dr.& Mrs. Berkley Latimer Mr. & Mrs. Norman Goldbach Mrs. Mary Dell Pritzlaff Mr. & Mrs. Sang Do Lee Mrs. Kay Hamblin Mrs. Lesli Seta Mr. & Mrs. Dario Lucchini Mr. Howard Lovett Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Waterman Mr. & Mrs. Gianni Patuzzo Mrs. Lyn McKeaney Mr. Toby A. Zorthian FC ‘70 Ms. Cheryl Miller ‘90 Mr. & Mrs. Simon Owen Williams Supporters of the Th eater Mrs. Carol Solheim Sir Peter Smithers (Gift of $1,000 or more) Mr. Guy Tolman Mr. Charles Howard Stickley Mrs. Gail Breton Ms. Deborah Webster ‘66 Mr. Ken Tobe ‘90 Mr. & Mrs Yau-Loi, Charles Chan Ms. Cynthia Whisenant Mr. Henrik Wallberg ‘90 Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd & Annegret De Vos Mr. Scott H. Whittle ‘71 Legacy Society Announced or received bequests through wills and estate plans.
Mr & Mrs. Richard H. Bell II PG ‘65 Mr. Richard Jensen ‘73 Mr. Dieter Metzger ‘74 Mr. Nickerson (“Nick”) Miles (alumni parent) Mr. John Palmer ‘64
Live Today. Plan for Tomorrow. Strengthen TASIS’ Future. Making a planned gift to TASIS through your will or estate provides Plan today to be a vital part of TASIS’ future. To learn more about a future source of support for students, faculty, and programs, this and other giving opportunities, please contact us directly, and helps sustain all aspects of the School’s outstanding or consult your attorney or tax advisor. educational program. Planning a gift now through a will, trust, or retirement asset provision can enable you to establish an endowed fund or off er Contact: Hans Figi ‘75, Director of Development general support to the School after your death. Anyone can make Th e American School in Switzerland a planned gift of any size to be a part of the TASIS Legacy Society. CH 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland - hans.fi [email protected]
Spring 2006 - 29 Making Time Live: Bertha Seifert, 1905-2005 By M.D. Aeschliman, Ph.D.
Speaking of the libertine wastrels at the corrupt court of King Charles annual music award after her. In 1952, Bertha moved to the Kingswood- II of England, G.K. Chesterton said that such aristocrats and courtiers Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfi eld, Michigan, an institution famous for its failed to realize that the really noble life was living not to kill time, but work in the arts, retiring in 1967. In 1967, Bertha applied for a job at TASIS, to make time live. One of the great teachers and characters in TASIS and was interviewed and hired in New York by Mrs. Fleming. For the better history, Bertha Seifert made time live. She died recently, on October 1st, part of a decade she was the Head Resident in DeNobili, taught piano, music, 2005, at the Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Kissimmee, and German, played piano and organ for school and church functions, Florida; she was 100 years old. and was a noble senior mentor to TASIS teachers. She grew particularly close to Lynn and Michael Aeschliman. Bertha spent periods as a member of the A New Englander, born into an intensely musical German-American family, faculty at TASIS England and TASIS Hellenic, and in 1990 she was the chief Bertha graduated from Lawrence, Massachusetts, High School as pianist and music coordinator for Mrs. Fleming’s 80th-birthday celebration Salutatorian of her class in 1922. She was proud of the fact that a previous in Burgundy. She also had a long-term liaison with the Laudinella Hotel in Salutatorian there had been Robert Frost, whose poetry she knew well, San Moritz, where TASIS went for its winter ski term for many years. After her loved, and could recite. Bertha was already a gifted pianist in high school, retirement from TASIS in the late 1970s, she moved to the Laudinella, where and two weeks after her graduation she was an administrator and pianist-in-residence. In honor of her service to at the age of 17 she left to study in TASIS, the School annually gives its highest music award in her name. the great German musical city of Leipzig, famous for its associations Returning to the USA in the early 1980s, Bertha nursed her bachelor brother, a with its sons, Johann Sebastian distinguished chemical engineer, near Chicago for a year while he died of cancer. Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, Robert In the mid-1980s she was invited to live in Virginia with her long-time friends Schumann, and Richard Wagner, and Michael and Lynn Aeschliman and their children. Bertha spent several years for its great musical institutions, living with the Aeschlimans in the Virginia countryside, where she frequently the Leipzig Conseratory, the Choir played piano in the Aeschlimans’ log house near the Blue Ridge Mountains, of St. Th omas Church, and the and she subsequently lived with them for a year in Lausanne, Switzerland. Gewandhaus Orchestra, whose But increasing frailty and disability necessitated her move to the Lutheran Conductor while she was there was Good Samaritan Retirement Village in Kissimmee, Florida, where she the great Wilhelm Furtwangler. became much loved but lived with increasing blindness, deafness, and can- She was to stay and study in cer. Lynn Aeschliman kept in regular touch with her and the Aeschlimans Leipzig, living very frugally and visited her there at Christmas, 2004. without returning home, for seven years, 1922-1929. While there Crippled from birth by polio, Bertha walked with a cane; gifted with she studied piano with Robert perfect pitch, a phenomenal musical memory, and a world-class musical Teichmuller and Siegfried Karg- education, Bertha nevertheless had her musical career cut short by the Elert and played piano backstage Depression of 1929. But generations of students and colleagues, in Ken- for the Leipzig Civic Th eater; she tucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Switzerland, found in her a person also performed in Leipzig and as of enormous strength, integrity, talent, wisdom, and good humor. Even- far afi eld as Paris, and gave fi rst tempered, highly disciplined, pious, and utterly loyal and dependable, she European recitals of works by Mili lived by certain proverbs and virtues, some of them taught to her by the Balakirev, Alexander Glazunov, hard times in Germany and Kentucky in the 1920s and ‘30s: “Learn to Karg-Elert, Aram Khachaturian, admire people and not to envy them”; “Do the best you can with what and George Gershwin. you’ve got while you’ve got it”; “Enjoy working hard with people who work hard, regardless of success or reward.” A child of the Depression in Germany was terribly poor two countries, she once said that her roots were in “Bach and more Bach,” and politically anarchic in these years, and when Bertha returned home and something of the serenity of his genius was found in her constant to the USA in 1929 she arrived just in time for the stock market crash courtesy and kindness. At the end of her life, despite increasingly severe and the onset of the Great Depression. Having returned to the USA disability, Bertha declared herself happy at Good Samaritan Village. to Chicago in the hope of auditioning with one of its major musi- She had made time live, and her many students, colleagues, and friends--- cal institutions, she found that the Depression had made such oppor- many of them at TASIS---were the benefi ciaries. tunities extraordinarily rare. Instead, she taught piano and music at Bethel Women’s College in Kentucky from 1930 until 1936 when the College Her name be praised. closed its doors due to the Depression. In 1936 she moved to Walnut Hill, a girls’ school in Natick, Massachusetts, where she taught music and piano (M.D. Aeschliman, Ph.D., a former TASIS faculty member, is the Curriculum and led the Glee Club for fi fteen years. Th e School was later to name its Advisor to the TASIS Foundation. He knew Bertha Seifert for 34 years.)
30 - TASIS TODAY eunions in Tokyo, Los Angeles, New York, Sao Paulo, Jones ‘75, Dieter Metzger ‘75, and Jennifer Green ‘75 (who will Madrid, and Istanbul brought TASIS alumni together be extending invitations to all in the early ‘70’s). R from around the globe to celebrate our TASIS Golden Anniversary. As the following pictures illustrate, while we all As I wrote in my last @TASIS e-newsletter, please let me know come from diff erent places, we have the common bond of a [email protected] if you would like to serve your alma mater as a TASIS experience to bring us together this special anniversary school agent, school representative, or as an internship sponsor. year, and in the years to come. Also, please review our list of “lost” alumni on the web, under “Alumni News”, and please let us know the contact information A fantastic reunion was organized and run by Dominic for anyone listed. Mauriello ‘85 in Vail, Colorado. Ned Lynch PG ‘66 and Gina Van Hoof ‘96 are organizing Class Reunions in Lugano to Th ere are a large number of alumni whose email addresses coincide with our TASIS Golden Anniversary Weekend, May are out of date. Please forward your new email addresses to 19-21, and Peter Boynton ‘69 is organizing an exciting 10- us [email protected] so that we can keep you better informed day trek from Andermatt to Lugano for his classmates this about TASIS developments and provide you with updates summer. Also, Maggie Boyle ‘86 and Annette Rossi-Roetger on all-school and class reunions through our bi-monthly ‘86 are organizing a reunion for June 24, 2006, in Old Town e-newsletter, @TASIS . Your news and photos are always Alexandria, Virginia. For news on upcoming Class Reunions appreciated. We not only enjoy catching up on all of your please check our website www.tasis.com/switzerland. news, but also will enjoy sharing it with your classmates in the next issue of TASIS Today. Hats off to the following alumni who are also working hard on reunion arrangements: Judy Hallock Charlton ‘71 (invitations We look forward to hearing from you!
have been extended to the Classes of ‘70, ‘71, and ‘72 for a San With best regards from all of us here, Antonio reunion), Rick Mullen ‘77 and Jasmin Malekpour ‘77 (an August 2007 Lugano reunion), Nikki Pearson ‘95, Zeina Dr. Frank Klein Barkarwi ‘95, and Yeshe Luca Corono ‘95, Sophie Desplaces Director of Alumni Relations ‘92, Serge Maloubier ‘92, Seana Lee Goddard ‘84, and Andrew
Spring 2006 - 31 Tokyo 15.10.2005
Alumni attending the reunion: Clare de Graw ‘90, Yvette Rogers ‘69, Nanao Okazawa ‘93, Chune-jen Lien ‘94, Erina Ishihara ‘94, Hiroko Ogawa ‘93, Masako Taguchi ‘95, Yulun Hong ‘94, Makiko Sato ‘95, Yvonne Chiu ‘95, Kina Yachi ‘95, Toshie Yamashiro ‘96, Mana Morita ‘97, Yumiko Yamada ‘97, Daniel Yataro Martin ‘99, Yukako Ishimine TSLP ‘96, Kayo Morita ‘99, Shunichi Sayaki ‘00, Jonathan Smith TSLP ‘99, Ayano Tsukahara ‘01, Tessa Klein ‘01, Renko Kondo ‘00, Sachiko Oga ‘01, Tomomi Nagase ‘02, Atsuko Nobuta ‘01, Naoki Nishioka ‘04, Chiaki Washio ‘04, Kei Aikawa ‘04
Sachiko Oga ‘01, Ayano Tsukahara ‘01, Ayano Tsukahara ‘01, Masako Taguchi ‘95, Yvonne Chiu ‘95, Atsuko Nobuta ‘01, Tessa Klein ‘01 Lynn Fleming Aeschliman Hiro Ogawa ‘93, Bill Eichner, Erina Ishihara ‘94
Taiwan 22.10.2005
Taiwanese alumni, alumni parents, and current parents
Derek Chiang ‘96, Joeseph Chen ‘98, Nainai Chiang ‘97, Hao Hsuan Wang ‘98, Ko Heng Chen ‘98, Emily Chiang ‘96
32 - TASIS TODAY Rina Kawai ‘04 Ali Bannerjee ‘03 Ross Howell ‘05 Abigail Pfeil ‘05 Los Alex Rich ‘06 Angeles 12.11.2005
Mike Jackson, Pamela Carillo Jackson ‘69
A happy group...
Hostess Jill (Bailhe) Lane ‘66, Kate Woodword, Amy Mitton TE ‘93 Holly Danneman (alumni parent) Seanna Goddard Lee ‘84 Maria Catalina Llinas ‘96 Christina Nickel TSSP ‘99, TFLP ‘98
Jeff Nordstrom and Tania (Shetabi) Nordstrom ‘82 Mark Wilder TE ‘84, Hans Figi ‘75, Mehrdad Dabbagh ‘79 Dana Wilder Shirin Amini ‘75, Iman (Sahebdivani) Salehi ‘83 and Behzad Salehi Darby Hinton ‘75
Spring 2006 - 33 Masa Yo ‘04 Frank Ndieffe ‘04 Eda Aksoy ‘05 Eddie Goldbach 05 Masako Ogihara ‘03 Ekrem Selah ‘05 New Taisho Ito ‘05 Richard Mastain ‘05 York Can Doganci ‘05 Adam Mair ‘05 19.11.2005
Ned Lynch PG ‘66, Katie Prentice PG ‘66, Robert Perkin PG ‘66, Miles Prentice, Elisabeth (Acer) Crawford PG ‘66, Steven Kampmann PG‘66
Theresa Thompson PG ‘65, Rick Bell PG ‘65
Carissa Tjia ‘04, Elizabeth Heintges ‘04, Lynn Fleming Aeschliman ‘63, Carolina Roman ‘78
Robert Perkin PG ‘66, Lynn Aeschliman ‘63, John Pritzlaff ‘72, Dr. Frank Klein, Curtis Webster ‘75, Tom Fleming ‘61, Betsy Newell ‘58, Ann Clark (Alumni Parent), Donald MacDermid PG ‘62, Kathy Pitner ‘60 Tom Fleming ‘61
Masako Ogihara ‘03, Eda Aksoy ‘05, Sinan Uzan ‘04, Dr. Frank Klein, Melissa Klein ‘03
Ahmed Almudallal MSP Staff ‘05, Yu Inamoto ‘92, Paula Martinez Inamoto ‘93, Rei Inamoto Sharon Figi, Jennifer Webster, Erika Grossman ‘04, Alessandra Powell ‘05, ‘92, Dan Inamoto ‘96, Terrence Lloren ‘96, Eiji Tsuda ‘96 Curtis Webster ’75 Anna Aeschliman TE ‘98
34 - TASIS TODAY Alumni Honored
This is an excerpt from Lynn Fleming Aeschliman’s speech at the New York TASIS Reunion on November 19, 2005.
“...a major part of the future of TASIS rests in the hands of on the newly-formed TASIS Board of Directors. He always our alumni and I would like to take this special occasion shows a real concern for our students and participates to thank the many alumni and parents who have loyally in the TASIS In-Program trip to Romania to work with supported TASIS over the years with their time, energy, orphan children with AIDS. and fi nancial support. In particular, on the occasion of our 50th anniversary, we would like to recognize three alumni Th ese three TASIS alumni have contributed over three- who have supported Th e American School in Switzerland quarters of a million dollars to the TASIS Foundation over most generously over the years. the years. For their great generosity and exemplary dedication to the School, would Rob and Curtis please come forward. Since 1999, Jane Goldman, TASIS Class of ‘74, has made Unfortunately, Jane couldn’t make the reunion. Please join 5 generous donations. Jane runs both a very successful real- me in giving our three very generous and loyal alumni a estate business here in NY and her family philanthropic very special round of applause. foundation and serves as an honorary member of the TASIS Development Board. Th e Jane Goldman Study I hope each of you will support your alma mater in what- Room in our new library is a favorite place where TASIS ever ways YOU can, small and large throughout the years scholars can really concentrate in individual study carrels. ahead. It is our collective challenge to build and secure a lasting legacy for TASIS....” Since 1998, Robert Perkin, TASIS Post Graduate Class of 1966, has made 10 generous donations to the TASIS Foundation. In the past, Rob has modeled and acted in movies, done extensive reading and research in US history, and has even produced a CD! He is currently involved in his family’s foundation, which has supported both our Library and Th eater Campaigns and many other non- profi t organizations. Th e computers in the Robert Perkin Resource Room in the new library are a big draw for TASIS students.
Since the year of his graduation in 1975, Curtis McGraw Webster has made over 35 generous donations to the TASIS Foundation. Th e Curtis McGraw Webster Reading Room in our beautiful new library is a great place to study. In addition to his very busy schedule as a music producer Award winners,winners, CurtisCurtis McGraw McGraw Webster Webster ‘75, ‘75, and and Robert Robert S. S.Perkin Perkin PG PG ‘66, ‘66, and a philanthropist, Curtis chairs the Th eater Campaign with TASIS Foundation Foundation Board Board Chairman, Chairman, Tom Tom Fleming. Fleming. as a member of the TASIS Development Board and serves (not pictured: Jane H. GoldmanGoldman ‘74) ‘74)
Spring 2006 - 35 Saõ Paulo 11.03.2006
Ana Luiza Ferraz Tavares ‘04, Raphael Russo ‘05
Bill Eichner, Nina Sander ‘98 Thais Barros Beldi ‘02, Bill Eichner, Carolina Ranieri TSLP ‘97, Nina Sander ‘98, Larissa Benevides, Hans Figi ‘75 Giovana Franco ‘96, Camila Giannella ‘96
Hans Figi ‘75, Candelaria Castello Lloret ‘99, Beatriz Rodriguez-Inciarte ‘99, Samuel Castello Lloret ‘94, Bill Eichner Mireira Castello Lloret ‘99, Jean-Paul Pangalas Francesco Castello Lloret ‘94, Maria Perez Herce SP ’99 Silvia Perotti 99, Alfonso Roig ‘99
Madrid Carla Arimont ‘94 25.03.2006 and husband Salvador
Beatrice Rodriguez Inciarte ‘99, Bill Eichner, Hans Figi ‘75, Elisa Vives ‘97, Alfonso Roig ‘99, Silvia Perotti ‘99
36 - TASIS TODAY Istanbul 15.04.2006
Hulya Sen ‘92 with friend
Mrs. Sara Aytac, Aydin Aytac, Mr. Demir Aytac, Mrs. Sevda Aydin
Sertan Untut ‘98, Jeff Bradley
Ebru Buyuksahin ‘98, Bill Eichner, Can Pazarbasi ‘96, Jeff Bradley Zeynep Bilgic ‘01, Selin Turkman ‘01, Resat Onur Imamoglu ‘99
Mrs. Cakar, Polat Gulman ‘97, Abdurrahman Cakar ‘97
Dr. Michael Aeschliman, Nuri Besen ‘86 Lynn Aeschliman & Gaye Emçioglu Nuri Besen ‘86 & wife
Tugrul Celengil ‘94 and friend Levent Kocamaz ‘07 & mother, Hans Figi ‘75 Lynn Aeschliman
Meg Smith ‘01 Oya Aksin Adrien Aeschliman ‘01 Spring 2006 - 37 The TASIS Travel Connection new feature Highlighting hotels, resorts and restaurants with a TASIS “family” connection, offering you travel information and special alumni discounts.
This issue focuses on Turkey!
Dining seaside at the Maki Hotel in Bodrum
To be considered for inclusion in the next To receive special discounts at hotels, resorts or TASIS Travel Connection, send your information to restaurants listed in the TASIS Travel Connection, state [email protected] or mail information and good your TASIS affiliation when making reservations or quality photos on CD to TASIS Today Editor, inquiries. c/o TASIS, CH-6926 Montagnola, Switzerland. Istanbul Loft Restaurant Bar Opened fi ve years ago by chef/owner and TASIS alumnus, Umut Özkanca, ’96, the Loft is the place to go for drinks or dinner when in Istanbul. Umut studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York and is the youngest Turkish inductee into the prestigious Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. Th e Loft has a contemporary and fresh, new feel, wonderful international cuisine and a hip crowd. Local TASIS alumni meet every Friday evening in the cocktail lounge to socialize.
Contact Information: Located at the Istanbul Convention & Exhibition Center (Rumeli Hall) Lütfu Kirdar Kongre Ve Sergi Sarayi Harbiye/ISTANBUL Tel: 0212 219 63 84-85-86 www.loftrestbar.com (Turkish) www.icec.org/rumelimed.htm (English )
38 - TASIS TODAY Bodrum Area
Some TASIS parents are partners in the Maki Hotel, a boutique Maki Hotel property situated on a turquoise Aegean bay on the Southwestern coast of Turkey. Th e atmosphere is chic and stylish, and the hotel reportedly has the best restaurant in the area. Th is small seaside village is very quiet in the off -season, but does a booming business July through September. If you are looking for solitude and gorgeous weather, late spring is the time to visit. Some amenities available in the high season are water sports, seaside bar (waiters will serve you in the off season) and boutique. If relaxing by one of three quiet blue pools or lounging on a luxurious couch seaside sounds appealing, the Maki is the place for you. All guest rooms are appointed in a contemporary style and are set in lush garden surroundings. Contact Information: Special TASIS Discount: Kelesharimi Mevkii TURKBUKU BODRUM/MUGLA/TURKEY 15% off of room rate/10% off high season Tel: +90 252 377 6105 Fax: +90 252 377 6056 For more information and photos go to: www.makihotel.com.tr High Season; early July–early September (check website for exact dates) For reservations contact: [email protected] Baia Hotel Cemil Sönmez ’01 says the family’s Baia Hotel is located in one of the most beautiful bays in Turkey. Called Gundogan, it’s just 19 kms away from Bodrum city-center. Th e Baia Hotel is located right on the beach and has 220 rooms with 16 Suites, 2 Senior Suites, and 1 King Suite. Th e hotel facilities have central air conditioning; rooms have a balcony or terrace with seating group and sea view. Th e Aqua Park consists of outdoor and indoor swimming pools, with a two-section water chute. Th ere is a fi tness center, Turkish bath, sauna, spa, massage and whirlpool facility. Its shore is 400 meters long, 250 meters of which are reserved as a private sandy beach. Experience Turkey’s fi nest ski resort at the Hotel Monte Baia, also a Sonmez Tourism, Inc. property. With 192 rooms, the minimalist design of Hotel Monte Baia combines with a unique view to off er one of the area’s fi nest hotels. Ski in and out. If you prefer, relax in their Spa & Wellness center including massage, sauna, Turkish bath, solarium, indoor pool, jacuzzi, Hotel Monte Baia fi tness center and thirst-quenching Vitamin Bar. For nightlife enthusiasts a disco opens its doors each night.
Special TASIS Discount: 15% off of room rate/10% off high season High Season — Baia Bodrum: July & August High Season — Monte Baia: January & February
Contact Information: Hotel Baia Bodrum Gundogan Beldesi - Kizilburun Mevkii - BODRUM/MUGLA/TURKEY Tel: (+90) 252 387 9293 Fax: (+90) 252 387 7625 For more information and photos go to: www.hotel-baia.com. For reservations contact: [email protected]
Spring 2006 - 39 parting shots
Spring Break: Destination Tanzania
en TASIS students and two faculty members ventured to TTanzania to spend their two-week break on safari. Th e trip originated in Arusha and moved from the shores of Lake Natron to the Serengeti Plains, Ndutu Game Preserve, and the Ngorongoro Crater. Th e group camped most nights and spent their days pursuing elephants, giraff e, baboons, and wildebeest. At one point, they even shared their campsite with hyenas and lions. Th e trip, however, was not just about viewing wildlife. Th e TASIS group also had the opportunity to live with and learn from local tribes. While with the Maasai they explored a traditional healing cave, visited a primary school, and took a tour of a cultural boma. With the Hadza hunter gatherers, the group learned how to smoke-out honey from baobab trees, shoot a bow and arrow, and dig for root vegetables. Th is trip was an eye-opening experience and many expressed a desire to return to Africa.
hat an adventure! I cannot believe I saw an elephant, rhinos, & Mr. Curran with a beard! W - Daniel Dalmau '10
Story & photos by Peter and Sarah Curran, TASIS faculty members.
40 - TASIS TODAY ALUMNI 1
class news
TASIS CH, Lugano - High School
Sally hopes to visit TASIS again next training. Had never been there before Zaidman in Zurich. She is doing great 64 Joe Cook wrote to us in March year with some of the alums from so flew to Chicago and drove . . . and and has two kids”. • Gordon Kirkpatrick to say that he retired from Shell Oil ’65-’66. drove. Had a good trip and he seems is pleased to announce the arrival of two years ago after a 32-year career pretty well settled. Alex and Meghan Emily Simone, born on his birthday, in the petroleum industry, working and Kevin all back to school this August 5th, 8 lbs, 13 ozs., 21 inches. primarily in the finance and economics morning. Must get started on Alex’s Mother and daughter are both fine departments. His retirement came on 67 1 Willard Morgan’s Saint college search now. He wants to do and very, very beautiful! He is a happy the heels of his late wife Shirley’s Hollywood – a musical rockumentary Chemistry. Meghan going to Ireland and lucky man. death from breast cancer in 2001. He by him and Jerry Ziman, rocked for a week in September w/ Des for • Cornelia (Cobb) Norman-Petersen is currently doing contract work for the Bowery Poetry Club in NYC on her cousin’s wedding. Otherwise...it updates us that she now wears a Metrostudy. His job involves research Monday Sept. 19th. looks pretty quiet in the immediate “school nurse hat” at her local junior on new housing construction and total future. I am still unpacking but the re- high school. • Leslie Tolbert and housing inventories in the greater novation on the house is complete”. husband Paul are in the midst of Houston metropolitan area. Joe has • Pamela (Carrillo) Jackson wrote writing grants in order to fund their been dating a lovely lady (Mary Hillard) 69 CLASS REUNION, in to say that “Peter Boynton, Ca- science research. Their son Alex who who lives in Austin, Texas. Mary is a JULY 24-AUGUST 6, 2006 therine Steele Russell, Michael is a student at Washington University widow with two adult sons. They have Peter Boynton is organizing a Class of Nelson, Alan Forbes, Wendy Boyn- took the MCAT (medical admissions) been dating for 2½ years and plan to ’69 reunion comprising of a Swiss Hike ton, Craig Benton and Mr. Wilson exam in April and spent the summer travel to Lugano together next year. from Monday, July 24 – Wednesday, have been in contact. They have been in Sydney, Australia for a summer Joe’s children, Jay and Amy, are adults August 2, 2006 (10 days and 9 nights), skiing and rafting and sounding like abroad. and live in Houston. He has grand- and a Cinque Terre Walk from they are having all kinds of fun. Andy daughters, Katherine and Rachel. Wednesday, August 2 – Sunday, Wainwright has moved to New • Martha (Adcock) Zinger was back August 6, 2006 (5 days and 4 nights). Hampshire to teach, Holley (Han- in touch and gave us an update on her For more information, please contact son) Mattson and I got to visit and 70 Catherine Badin says, “It’s life so far. She told us that she earned [email protected]. In addition to organizing I love her home and family. We are not like I won the Pulitzer or anything, both a BA and MA in Psychology then his class reunion, Peter also took hoping that she will come out to stay but I must admit to getting a 3-second worked in psychodrama and private the time to volunteer and offer aid for a weekend with her daughter. Sue thrill from seeing my name in print in practice before getting a BSN. She is to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Harley is busy in New York and her the LETTERS section (p.4) of the TV now a psychiatric triage nurse. She • Celeste Clement wrote in earlier daughter is off to college. Corny has a GUIDE (Aug 28 – Sept. 3 issue)!” It’s this spring to say that she is desperately has been married for over 30 years new email [email protected]. her very first one! She continues, “I searching for an editor of children’s and has grown children. Her 24 year- Holley also has a new email gotta’ say that, more than anything, old is in China for a Humboldt State picture books to read several manu- [email protected]. Gordon I feel especially honored and humbled University class project. scripts from preschool age through Kirkpatrick has a beautiful new baby to be included in this particular issue age 10. She is still trying to follow her girl and seems very happy with life. ‘cause there’s also a tribute to Peter dream of getting a book published. Cindy (Grimes) Craig is enjoying all • Cindy (Grimes) Craig tells us, her kids and keeping busy. Yvette Jennings, who was my favorite 66 Sally (Stine) Rockholt and “What a year this has been. Just got (Brault) Rogers is finally getting reporter/newscaster. From never her husband visited TASIS recently back from Dubuque, Iowa. Kelso, our her home finished in Hawaii – Tom graduating H.S., being self-taught, and and were impressed by the campus, eldest, has just started at UD, stu- Mitchell helped her with the actively pursuing many good works finding it to be “as beautiful as ever.” dying Aviation Mgt / Commercial Pilot architecture. Pamela also saw Rebecca which he subsequently accomplished,
Spring 2006 - 41 ALUMNI class news
2 3 4
I can’t think of a better role model for wasn’t sure when she’d be able to Oztekin – (please see Fleming College us all...”. • Sarah Spitz is currently 72 Penny (Payakaniti) Johnston return, and so was safely stowed with Florence ’75) • Ethel (Burns) the Publicity Director at KCRW-Santa is living in the Atlanta area and keeps her parents in Va. • Dan Higgins’ Shockley wrote in to update us on her Monica, the number one public radio in touch with Glynis (Engisch) Sutter photography was featured at The Art life. For instance, her house move with station in Southern California. Sarah who, according to Penny, looks almost of Rock & Roll’s Only in America Art husband, Steve, and new appointment edits the program guide, is the station’s the same! Penny works at a commercial Exhibit this past July at the Seminole teaching 8th grade science to gifted corporate underwriter announcer, truck dealership that is going really Hard Rock Casino in Florida. This students at Mabry Middle School in and is one of the key fundraisers on well. Her son is in the Army Reserves. summer Dan worked closely with a GA. Good luck to Ethel! the air during pledge drives. She also He did two tours in Iraq and came number of musicians during the MTV produces two weekly shows, one of back earlier in ‘05. They hope that tapings of Nokia Presents Hard Rock which is very popular, called “Left, he won’t have to go back again, Live. The tapings showcase the best of CLASS REUNION – In The Right & Center,” featuring four political although he is still very much active with today’s music, from Good Charlotte, 75 Works - Please see note under Andrew pundits who have a substantive, swift training and other military obligations. Simple Plan, and the Bravery, to the Jones below. 2 • Bill Hargrave and savvy discussion of the week’s top When he is not performing his duties, Ying Yang Twins, Akon, and Mike shares this picture of himself and his news. Sarah and her team are about he is attending real estate classes and Jones. Work has since taken him to little boy, Joseph. Andrew Jones and to launch an ambitious schedule of New York, where he shot the grand hopes to get into the New York Real Dieter Metzger (’74) are trying “podcasts”, a new technology that opening of the Hard Rock Café Times Estate market. Since 9/11, she has not to organize a mid-‘70’s reunion. automatically downloads selected Square, to Cabo San Lucas for an had any opportunities to travel, but For more information or to express programs to one’s computer and then hopes to visit her family in Thailand intensive travel program, back to onto an iPod or an MP3 player. This is interest, please contact [email protected] later this year, if not, perhaps next Cancun, and then to Montego Bay. called “KCRW To Go.” Sarah recently Hans Figi met with several friends and year for sure. Dan hopes to get Carole Riordan, TASIS alumni during a trip through spent an evening with the parents of Kathy Gamble Pilugin, and Alison Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal California in February. 3 • Jeanie Furth to go to the reunion next year. reporter who was killed by Pakistani Cunningham, Shirin Amini, Darby • Dieter Metzger sang with the Choral terrorists three years ago. They talked Hinton and he got together for a CLASS REUNION! See note Society of Grace Church, NY, in a about the Daniel Pearl Foundation that 73 3-hour lunch in West Hollywood, under Andrew Jones ’75 below. series of terrific Christmas concerts seeks to memorialize Danny by way had a blast catching up and vowed of music. Danny believed that music this past December. This very able to get together again – hopefully at has the power not only to make, but chorus of over 130 voices performed the 50th Reunion in Lugano. Darby CLASS REUNION! See note to create, harmony. The Foundation 74 festive music for double choirs and left halfway through for an audition, also provides journalistic training and under Andrew Jones ’75 below. brass with an emphasis on composers but then returned to the lunch group sponsors lectures and local music Anne (Arnold) Guthrie reported that of the Renaissance — Palestrina, and had a few beers (none before the concerts (CNN’s Jeff Greenfield recently she was in New Orleans during the Zielenski, Scheidt, Praetorius, Hassler; audition!) He remains very involved spoke at an event). hurricane, but left town several days and the German Romantic era — in acting, as well as working with an later when it was obvious that things Mendelssohn, Rheinberger, Bruckner, advocacy organization he founded to were getting out of hand. Her home is Biebl. benefit child actors. Jeannie is in-tune in the French Quarter, which received • Diana Putman moved to Amman, with her music career – touring with 71 Steven Callan – see PG ‘72 little damage and didn’t flood. She Jordon this past August. • Kent the likes of friends David Crosby and
42 - TASIS TODAY
• Shahab Navab got married to Theater continues to be a huge part of a wonderful woman from Paris. Michelle’s life. She has been married They now live in New York City with for 14 years to her husband, Dean. 6 their 4 year old son, Shayan! 5 He Their son, Nick, is 20 and is enlisted in travels extensively for business and the Navy. Her eldest daughter, Alex, is is going to try to make it to the 50th 12 and her youngest daughter, Mandy, Reunion in Lugano. is 9 and has just started 4th grade. Nick has been married for a year and Michelle is expecting her first grand- child in October! 5 77 CLASS REUNION – In The Works Jasmin Maekpour and Rick Mullen are working together for a 80 Rick Coker tells us that he 30th anniversary class reunion in 2007. works in Albuquerque, NM at Bridgers For more information or to express & Paxton Consulting Engineers. Most interest, please contact [email protected] of his work is for the Los Alamos 6 • Michael Sweetnam sent us a National Laboratory. recent picture of himself with his four- • Allison (Kirby) Pryharski, now in teen year old daughter, Megan, upon California, told us that her daughter her graduation from 8th grade this is graduating from high school in past May. At the recent Georgia State California and she would love to bring Championships Megan won the silver her to Europe and show her the Montagnola campus. • Russ Williams medal in the 200 butterfly. writes, “I got a Master’s in computer science at UT-Austin in 1989. In 1993 I divorced. I did software work for Tina Turner and promoting her own produces private label luggage and Parviz Shahrokhi wrote in years and am now pondering new music and concert appearances. She bags for the likes of Patagonia, Land’s 78 to tell us that he is living in Tehran directions and life changes. Meanwhile End and many others. You probably also spearheaded a successful plastics with his wife, Mina and two children, I began volunteering, e.g. teaching own a bag made by his company and recycling project in the city of Los Shamim, aged 12 and Farid, aged 8. English as a second language, and don’t even know it! Farid Gazor was Angeles. JC has more energy that ever, He has a factory producing iron net opposing the dangerous antics of going to join Hans and Mohssen for if that is possible! Proving the theory wiring. He said that, since he had such the Bush Administration. I also began dinner but had a conflict. Farid owns learning the language Esperanto in that women continue to look even a good time and experience at TASIS, a large office furniture dealership in 2003 and have become rather active better years after graduation, Shirin he hopes to send his children to TASIS San Francisco that started to take in the Esperanto community (e.g. I was has been acting, producing films, as well. raising kids and generally flourishing off after the dotcom bubble burst recently the main organizer for the in Southern California. • Hans also (glad someone benefited from it!). annual US Esperanto Congress which saw John Luttrell in La Jolla. John has 4 • Henry Bilbao, also from the Bay happened in Austin in June 2005).” a successful personnel training business Area, owns a company that has been 79 Jeff Duckham lives in Fort that he started after getting out of producing music videos and other Lauderdale, Florida, but also has a commercial films for many years. His 3 home in Cape Cod, is married with two the corporate banking world. He con- year-old daughter is every bit as beauti- 81 Willa ‘Toddie’ (Lewis) Horne tinues to produce music, his first pas- ‘canine children’, owns a mortgage passed along that she and her family ful as you would expect a Bilbao to be! sion. They tried to reach Mike Brus brokerage firm, and in his spare time are doing “pretty well” in VA and that, Henry’s TASIS nickname of “Poodle” who lives in San Diego, to ask him to likes to play golf and generally enjoy despite some family health issues this would no longer apply, as his hairstyle join them, but had no luck. John stays life! He would love to hear from the year with her mother, all is good and in touch with Cosmo and TASIS Board is now quite restrained as you might Balmelli guys from 1979! Messages that her mother is recovering and member, Curtis Webster. suppose for a respected businessman can be sent to him via [email protected] getting stronger. Toddie is still teaching and father. • Daisy Bilbao Guevara • Jennifer (Mathiesen) Ito wrote in to 4th grade at the same school as she is very happy to have sent her 16 year say that she continues to communicate was last year, and she enjoys the old, Andrew, and her 17 year old, with Corina Kiefert Chester and Liz curriculum and teaching 4th graders – 76 Also while traveling through Ashley, to the TASIS Summer Program Lustig Beer. She is now living in for the most part! She says that she’d California, Hans Figi met Carolyn this past summer to experience a Kailua, Hawaii, and has three girls, 13, love to get to a TASIS function one and Tony Farwell, parents of current “fraction” of what she considers to be 11 and 6. Currently, she is at home of these days! • Nounou Taleghani student, Grant Farwell (’07) who “the best years of her life.” • Robert full time with them and helps out at wrote to tell us that she was recently held a reception in their La Jolla home D. Henry was delighted to announce her husband’s law firm inbetween recruited to work at Cornell’s new that attracted long-time TASIS friends the November birth of Frazar Patrick volunteer work and class meetings medical school in Qatar and that Alison Henderson and Marilee Henry. Baby weighed in at 8lbs 13 oz, and general housekeeping “stuff”. she is looking forward to the move. (Birchfield) Warfield who waxed- length 22”. Baby Frazar’s birthday was • Michelle Rohweder Wilden is happy NouNou will be taking a leave of nostalgic about ski term in St. Moritz 11/12/05, which means that his 8th birth- and is living in Utah. She graduated absence from Stanford so that she can and other fond memories of TASIS. day will be 11/12/13! Congratulations from the University of Utah with a BFA spend two years at Cornell teaching • Further north, Mohssen Ghiassi to one and all!• Fran Yarbro is the in Theater Education in May, 2002 basic science (her PhD background) as has for over 20 years had a very busy subject of a profile in this issue of and she is thrilled to be working as a well as helping to develop the school’s company outside San Francisco that TASIS TODAY (see pag. 8) Drama teacher at a local high school. clinical program.
Spring 2006 - 43 ALUMNI class news
7 8
9
82 Giulio Cavallo wrote in to say 83 Denice (Anderson) Gilling classes! Michelle says that she is 85 CLASS REUNION – Spring 2006 that he has been living in Paris for the visited TASIS England over the deeply committed to her community. Dominic Mauriello (see below) past 15 years but will soon be moving summer, where she attended 11th She is currently seeking admission to and classmates are organizing a class to Spain. • Kim (Waite) Niggel is grade before coming to Lugano for the College of Optometry - which is reunion and are working to pull currently in Wilmington, North Carolina 12th grade. As she told Director “very exciting and scary at the same something together for the spring of 2006 in Vail, CO. For more info., and enjoying the beach. She and her Emerita of Alumni Affairs, Kate time”. James “Carl” Nowlin (also contact Dominic at dominicvail@ family have been in the South for Woodward, “I really enjoyed seeing ‘83), Nicole’s father, has remarried the campus and having lunch, too. and given Nicole a new little sister, yahoo.com. • Saba Dell’oca and about 19 years and love it. Kim and her Alexandra Pucillo were married It’s hard to believe so many years have Olivia, who just turned one. James husband have 2 children, a daughter this past April in Como, Italy. passed!” 8 She also shared pictures is a respiratory therapist. One of the entering high school and a son who is of herself with her sister, Shelly, Congratulations!!! • Jacueline Del Val 10. She has been keeping busy with colleges of Optometry Michelle has is still living in Tampa, Florida where another TASIS England alumna, 9 plus applied to is UMSL (University of MO. work, horses, community organizations, photos of her and her son, and she works at Hillsborough Community and of course, her family. -St.Louis) which is very near to where College. Jacqueline writes that life is of Shelly’s son as well. Of her sister, Maureen (Mudd) Glaeser lives with • Domitilla Zerbone wrote in to Denice says, Shelly “is an excellent good and that she is enjoying spending her family. Kathy (Lennihan) Payan time with her 18 month-old nephew. give us the good news that she reads hostess and took very good care of moved to her neighborhood about 2 She happily helped her sister, Dianne the TASIS e-newsletter with great us. We also had a wonderful trip to years ago and has been working as a (Del Val) Pethtel (’83), her brother- pleasure (make sure you are getting Salzburg. My son actually ran into a Vet. Tech. • Dianne (De Val) Pethtel in-law and her niece, Samantha, move classmate of his while we were there. it – send us your email address!) and (see class of ’85 Jacequeline Del Val). from California to New Jersey this past Small world!” Denice works as an IT was very interested in attending the • Iman (Sahebdivani) Salehi got the summer. Jacqueline is thrilled that they Project Manager for WellPoint, Inc. January ski week in Crans Montana. e-mail from Tania (Shetabi) Nordstrom will be living a little bit closer to her and and has been with the company for She is interested in possibly coming ’82, who she sees from timetotime. is curious to know whether anyone from 13 years. She has been married to her with her husband, and she planned As she says, it is certainly nice to keep TASIS 1982-1985 is in the New Jersey to contact her schoolmates, Susan husband, Matt, for 16 years and her area. Jacqueline is also wondering if son, Robert, will be starting 8th grade in touch with old friends and she will (Sindoni) Wright, Jennifer (Hiscox) anyone knows the whereabouts of this fall. always cherish the memories she has Andrews and Karin Knolle to see if from TASIS. Suzanne Peterman, who was her • Michelle Nalty wrote in to let us any of them were willing to participate. roommate and close friend from know that she still keeps in touch 1982-1985, and Kim Crumley, a 7 She also shared with us the good with several friends from TASIS. Also, faculty member and friend. She news of her September 10 civil wedding. her daughter, Nicole, will be 9 in 84 CLASS REUNION – In The would love to be back in touch with She and her husband set up a new December, is in gifted classes at an Works Seana Goddard Lee has been them. Please send any information to company that does ship catering in A+ school. She typically enjoys playing working to try and get something the Alumni Office, [email protected]. Genoa. They provide hotel services on one sport per year and attending one organized! For more information or • Dominic Mauriello, in addition to board cruise ships, ferries and cargo creative class during the school year. to express interest in participating, organizing the class reunion, also wrote vessels. This year it is basketball and clay please contact [email protected]. in to say that he and Diane are still
44 - TASIS TODAY me know: Naomi Butler, Sandra Zalatimo has moved to Bahrain with Cuttler, Mark Dykes, Erik Dyrlie, his family. Joumana has 3 kids of her Rick Estes, Ron Estes, Martin Ford, own now: Yasmeen 6, Rakan 5, and 10 Susan McRae, Paula Moye, Smitha Tamara 2. Interestingly, she said that Rao, Babak Safizadeh, Paul Snyder, she met a friend of her husband’s Barbara Stacks & Yume Tolle. If you this summer in Argentina. He is from have any questions, please feel free Colombia and his name is Eduardo to email or call me. We’re looking Barco – and he went to Chateau des forward to a great reunion next Enfants as a kid himself. Small world!! June!” Maggie Boyle, 281-579-3407, • Channing (Gould) Sanderson [email protected]. • Karun announced in August that her husband Michael Sen-Roy was married this Stuart’s uncle (Bob Sanderson) just past January, finally “finding his soul- opened an incredible Italian restaurant mate”. Michael is still working for on 5th and Central called Bella Brava. NASA, in the Mission Control Center They brought over a chef from Italy and in that capacity he has been named Mario who is “fabulous”! traveling to Russia fairly often, which • Federico Stroppiana tells us his has been a real treat. Although Mi- family has become a ‘REAL’ family, chael is still racing cars, he is finding with the addition of Vittorio and Lea, less and less time for it. who were both born on April 12th of 2005. Things are hectic as they are still getting used to having and caring for 2 human beings! They have put 87Marella (Den Ouden) Verhagen traveling on hold for a while, at least wrote in to say that she, her husband, as far as fun traveling is concerned. He Micha, daughter, Romy (6), and son, has been traveling for work, but tries Matti (3) used to live in England, but to limit that as much as possible. moved back to Holland at the end living in Avon, Colorado near Vail as from a Metro station. Here are all the of 2003. They now live in a small they have for the last 10 years or so. details: We have a block of rooms town near Amsterdam and are really He recently started his own land planning (under group name TASIS) for $149/nt. enjoying it. 90 Eric Amundson was delighted and consulting firm, Mauriello Planning I think in general, people will be to announce the birth of his and his Group (catchy huh?). Diane, as of arriving Friday 6/23 and leaving Sunday wife’s first baby this past May. Eric September, has made a career change 6/25. Based on availability, they will looks forward to the next time he from the County Attorney for Eagle honor our rate for a few days before 88 Michael Brunnschweiler is able to return to TASIS for a visit. County, Colorado, back to private or after as well. If you’ll be staying at moved to Germany in February 2004 • Franca (Marena) Gullet tells us that practice. She and Dominic recently the hotel, please book your reservation when he took a new position with she and her husband look forward to spent some time with Heather and as soon as possible. You may call the Pratt & Whitney as the Senior Common the scheduled delivery of a little sister Holly Counter who live in Evergreen, Hilton at 703-837-0440 or call 1-800- Logistics Engineer. They are currently to son, James, on November 1st. CO. Heather, who is hilarious to be HILTONS. The address for the Hilton living outside of Kaiserslautern, about • Justin Weddle, as well as visiting around, stayed 3 weeks with them Alexandria is 1767 King Street, one hour southwest of Frankfurt. They the campus this September, gave us while she worked with an orthopedic Alexandria, VA 22314. If you would have thoroughly enjoyed their time out this update: He lives in London and is group in Vail. “Holly leads a very prefer a suite, they are offering $50 there so far and have taken advantage the Assistant Director of Admissions interesting life. She recently sold her above our negotiated rate, again of the location to travel throughout for Richmond College. He plans to home and cars and lives with her 6 based on availability.” (Maggie says Europe. They frequently visit Michael’s attend the TASIS reunion in the UK in dogs and husband in a yurt in the hills that you can book online at www. family, which are still spread out in the June and perhaps some others in the near Evergreen. She seems very content hiltonalexandria.com and click on four corners of Switzerland. spring, as well. His job takes him all with her new lifestyle. We would love “reservations.” Under the group • Pamela (Price) Danieluk is now around Europe – and recent trips have to hear from or visit with our old code, put “JAC” and it will honor living in Australia. She immigrated been to Paris, Brussels, Geneva, Zurich TASIS friends. We hope to see every- our $149 rate. Details for the reunion 2 years ago from her hometown of and Milan! one at the next reunion”. Diane’s dinner Saturday night are being Calgary, AB, Canada. She and her email is [email protected]. worked on. Payment will be collected family are going to move, however, in advance.) “Denise and I recently in mid-November 05, to Papua, New 91 Denise Evans wrote in to say went to the hotel to check it out and Guinea for her husband’s job! They that a chance reunion happened in 86 CLASS REUNION, JUNE 24, 2006 it’s a great location. The hotel is about shall reside in Port Moresby. She has Istanbul, Turkey in June of this year. A message from Class of ’86 reunion a 15 minute walk to the waterfront been married for eleven years and 10 Here is a picture of attendees who, organizer, Maggie (Hammad) Boyle: and King Street has lots of cute shops, have two children, a girl, Kelsey, who left to right are: Hulya Sen (‘92), “Hello TASIS Class of ‘86! Well, restaurants, etc. If you have a choice in is 10, and a boy, Harrison, who is 6. Denise herself (‘91), her brother, reunion plans are going well. It is airports, the Reagan National Airport • Joumana (Jaamour) Nazir shared Omer Esiner (attended ’89-‘93), and definitely set for June 24th, 2006. The (DCA) is the closest and you can take that she saw Ariana Neumann this Vanessa Gowland (‘91). Denise, reunion is in Old Town Alexandria, the Metro to the hotel. There are still summer in London. She also said that Hulya, and Omer had gone to a club minutes from Washington, DC. The some people I have had no contact still sees Michelle (Lakhdari) Wafia called Angelique, and ran into Vanessa. hotel is the Old Town Hilton on King with. If you can help me locate any (PG ’87) in Bahrain, as they live just All had fun talking about their TASIS Street and is right across the street of the following people, please let a few minutes away, and that Zeid days and catching up.
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92 CLASS REUNION 95 CLASS REUNION block form from these countries (such heads the new technology division. – Summer 2007 Sophie Desplaces – In The Works Zeina Barkawi, as Brazil, India, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Jeremy writes that his role as a sales recently chatted with Serge Nikki Pearson and Corona Yeshe China) for generations and cutting and marketing director has allowed Maloubier ’93 about organizing the Luca are all hoping to get something them into slabs, and polishing them him to spend more time meeting new TASIS class of ‘92, 15th anniversary organized for a Class of ’95 reunion. for re-sale on the world market. As the people and has also given him the reunion in the Bordeaux region of For more information, write to alumni awe-inspiring landmarks and artists chance to further develop his TASIS France around June of 2007. Classes @tasis.ch of Italy’s history show, marble and language skills in French, Italian, and of 91-92-93 please let them know if • Julie (Junker) Anderson recently other natural stone is woven into its Spanish, as well as develop his Greek you are interested or have ideas. As gave birth to her first child. John Tyler cultural heritage. Little by little most and Arabic skills. Jeremy hopes to get Serge is a wine specialist he is happy Anderson was born on February 10th of countries that have the natural reacquainted with some of his life long to assist in finding places to learn friends with whom he has lost track at 11:00 PM weighing 8 pounds, resource of stone have started to about viticulture in that region. There work the stone themselves and sell it of such as Chip Loy Gimse, Eiji Mark could be visits to cultural sites such as 13.7 ounces and measuring 21 inches Tsuda ’96, Nobuhito Kikukawa, long. Congratulations! • Margo Mc- on the world market, but if you visit Biarritz and Bordeaux to taste wines their plants you will see that almost all Earl Hain, Tara (Sinfield) Hawkins, and cheese. If you are interested, Climans wrote to tell us the great Neil Vaswani, Thomas Cotton, news that she has started up her of their machinery is Italian!” Margo’s please e-mail Sophie directly at: goal is to help make more of the Alice Cotton ’92, Gina Van Hoof [email protected]. own company from Asolo, Italy. She ’96, along with many others. has used her experience as a buyer in high quality stone available in Italy to resellers, architects, builders, designers, the natural stone industry to start her contractors, and artists around the own consulting services. Margo helps world. As the idea of importing stone Mike Fallon wanted to buyers in foreign countries, such as CLASS REUNION 93 may seem like a difficult undertaking 96 mention that he and his wife, Yvette, the United States, United Kingdom, – In The Works Gina Van Hoof (for just had their first child. 11 His name for some companies, Margo makes her news, see below) is working to put a and France, to buy marble, granite it her job to come in to help find the is Nicolas Alexander Fallon. He was and other natural stones directly from reunion together, likely to combine with born on Oct. 10, 2005 weighing 6 lbs. right material, communicate with Italy. Margo writes that “The stone the TASIS 50th Anniversary celebrations 11 ounces, 18.5 inches long. • Anna suppliers (in fluent Italian), negotiate in Lugano, May 19-21, 2006. For resources in Italy are amazing. Not Marutollo wrote in to update us that prices and payment terms, inspect more information, please contact only does the Italian countryside hold she has just moved to West Hartford, orders, organize shipment and customs, [email protected]. • Ronald DeAngelis CT to begin a new job teaching English some of the most beautiful marbles and supervise the loading of material. Jr. is living in LA, working at an art at The Ethel Walker School, an all-girls and granites available on the market, For more details, visit Margo’s site at: gallery, and painting in his studio boarding school. She also just started but stone from around the world can http://www.stone-resource.com. during his off hours, preparing for his her second master’s degree in English at be found here due to the evolution of • Jeremy Moncho was back in touch second art exhibit. • Maria ‘Masha’ Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School the world-wide stone industry. There and updated us on his life. Jeremy Tivyan wrote in with the following of English. She also spent last summer are so many countries that are rich is currently the Sales and Marketing update: late this summer, she and in Juneau, Alaska, studying Literature in natural stones but that have been Director for a large banking organization. boyfriend Ben went for a two week and Wildlife, as well as taking a short slower to develop the techniques of As both a banking analyst and vacation in Rome, Sardinia, and trip with Karen and Anna Josue extracting and working the material. technological engineer, he oversees Barcelona and the Languedoc area. Her (Class of ‘93 and ’00) to Las Vegas. Italy has been importing stone in raw IT banking development projects and second cousin lives on a catamaran,
46 - TASIS TODAY is accredited by Georgia State University 99 Ana Cristina De Attayde and some schools in the UK -- so he Mondin writes, “Our Princess has thought “why not?!!”. He has been in arrived!!!” You can view pictures of school since the middle of September Ana Cristina and Ricardo Mondin’s and it’s going really well. The people daughter, Nina Mondin, at the web- in Georgia are “some of the funniest, site: http://www.cssj.com.br/site/. Click most open and warm, friendly people” on “Bercario Virtual” and select the birth he has ever met and the food is date. Enjoy! • Resat Onur Imamoglu “amazing”. will complete his six months of military service mid-September. He hopes to attend a few reunions this year. Rina Kawai wrote in to say • Chiara Jasson graduated from 04 that she is having a good time in 14 15 Webster University in Geneva and is California. This summer, she got her now concluding a Ph.D. at the London driver’s license in Japan and worked School of Economics. • Joana Sommer- as a teaching assistant at an inter- kamp is engaged to Robert Van national school (her first job ever!). Gulik (TESS ’94, ’95), who she first 15 She also met many TASIS friends. met at TASIS England Summer School She says that school is lot of work, but in 1995. 14 They met again five years spending time with friends is lots of later in 2000 and fell in love. They plan fun. She is a mentor for Asian people to move to London by September. this year (like a peer helper) and it is a very exciting job! • Paul Moreno says Caroline Rothstein ‘01– see PG ‘02 that, though he misses the jazz and city life of New Orleans, he is never- theless enjoying Stanford University and the opportunity to listen to the 03 Frederic Drews would like University’s guest speakers, including so they sailed from Cagliari to us that she is now working as an to announce that he and Verena Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Rigoberta Barcelona. She loved the Dali museum international attorney in Houston and Moser got engaged on the 24th of Menchu. • Jacob Shure is in his in Figueres, as well as the little town would like to maintain contact with September 2005. The wedding will take sophomore year at Occidental in LA of Collioure and also Carcassonne, her fellow peers. • John Procter and place within one year in September and is enjoying himself. He feels as across the French border. • Gina fiancé, Vanessa Paige Kramer, will ´06. Congratulations!!! • Pedro Wilson though he is finally settling down Van Hoof recently caught up with tie the knot in May in Wilmington, shares that he just moved to Georgia, after a few hectic years. • Stanislav both Sasa Czernogorac ‘97, who Delaware. Congratulations to them the country!! He was in Brazil for about ‘Stas’ Strijitski is attending college in is finishing his master’s degree, and both! • Nina Sander wrote in October a year before going and wasn’t really Hamburg and studying Chinese. He Lizzie Jarvis ‘95, who has a cute to say that she had just returned from doing much, just surfing every day!! says: “Sounds crazy, but I have to do baby, Ella, who is 5 months old. She a wonderful vacation! She went to When he got to Georgia, he found it in order to study abroad in Shanghai still often sees Margo McClimans Spain, where she had a great time, out about an international school, for one semester next year. Otherwise ‘95 who resides in Italy. 12 Here is a then to Ibiza and Istanbul (where she “Caucasus School of Business”, which everything is going well here too”. picture of the four of them. met up with fellow TASIS classmates, Ebru Buyuksahin, Polat Gulman and Sinan Kosif). After that she went 97 Kevin McMenamin informed to Morocco and Holland and finished us recently that he lives in Seattle, WA, in Israel. In total, she spent 40 days where he has been living for over 3 traveling and it was wonderful! years. He currently works as a consultant 13 John Proctor and Nina were able to What’s The News? for Accenture. He graduated from meet up recently and say hi when he Purdue University with a B.S. in visited Brazil. • Catherine Trudeau Please send us personal and professional Materials Science & Engineering in came to visit the Lugano campus in updates along with current contact 2001, and he stays in touch with a May of 2005 – it was great to welcome few TASIS Alumni – including Patrick her back! She told us that she had information for the next issue of TASIS Matta, whom he sees at least once, graduated from Columbia College in if not twice, a year. Kevin’s website Chicago in Photography and was traveling TODAY! We would also like to include your is polmak.com/kevin.html • Meng- in Europe. She wanted to stop by and photos of TASIS alumni. Please identify each Lu Yang informed us that she is a see the campus again and all its graduate student at the University improvements. Catherine particularly person in your photo. of Southern California studying to liked the new palestra, as she had been become a television and film producer. at TASIS the year they were building e-mail news and photos to: [email protected] it and her dorm had been Monticello or mail to: (next door) – she remembers the 98 Yvonne Gierczyk, who attended noise made by the builders . . . there- Dr. Frank Klein, Alumni Office, TASIS TASIS in Lugano for her junior year fore she wanted to see the end result! CH-6926 Montagnola, Switzerland (Grade 11 in ‘97), wrote in and told She liked the new library a lot.
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• Christof Zanecchia earned business, finance, lending, and credit. stay and assist some of my neighbors, placement on the Dean’s List for POST GRADUATE He worked in Salt Lake City, Utah for but with word of water flooding into the spring semester of the 2004-05 5 years, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for the city from the broken levies, it was academic year at the Berkley College PROGRAM 2 years, and in Denver for about 7 clear that it was time to go. As I drove of Music due to his high grade point years. Then he joined the U.S. Small out of the city over the greater New average. Business Administration and moved to Orleans bridge with a car full of children 62 Allen Trask sent us wonderful Casper, Wyoming, where he has been and animals, I took one final look back news. His new granddaughter, Henrietta for the past 21 years. He likes living in at our sadly sinking city and knew it Wooten Griffin, was born on the the low-population state of Wyoming would be forever changed by the 05 Eda Aksoy wrote in early morning of March 25th, 2005 and he enjoys the small town life in external and internal forces that were October to say that its almost been weighing 9.1 pounds and measuring Casper. The weather, winds, and other ravaging it. Life can change in a day”. 2 months since she has been at UVA 21 inches. conditions are a deterrent for many Steven’s family were all safely evacuated and it’s great – although she does people living here, but he loves it. He – and we send them warm TASIS miss TASIS very much. She attended got married in 1986 to Judy, and says regards and support. • Brockman the 50th Anniversary reunion in New that “the married life is a good one Seawell wrote in to let us know the York in November. • Ross Howell, 66 CLASS REUNION, for me”. He also enjoys his career with good news that he got married on who is at UBC, recently celebrated his May 19-21 2006 Class reunion in the SBA, business, and banking and October 8 in New York, and that he 18th birthday. Many happy returns! Lugano next May 2006, at the time has liked the work and challenges. He and his bride are going to Florence for • Lauren Kocher informs us that of the TASIS 50th Anniversary is also involved with many small town the honeymoon. He hoped to see old she is still living in Switzerland! She is celebrations, May 19 – 21. Organizer organizations and clubs that keep him friends at the TASIS reunion in NYC attending hotel management school in is Monsieur Ned Lynch, who can busy almost every night of the week. on November 19. Caux, Montreux, in the French part of be contacted via [email protected]. • Rob Perkin is still involved with Switzerland. Her program comprises Come one, come all for your 40th music production and playing “Texas/ 3 years of school, with a 4-6 month and TASIS’ 50th! KC Style” Boogie-Woogie piano. He internship. • Levent Turkman tells would like to extend his very best 83 CLASS REUNION us that he has been busy with college, Steve Parker took some time recently, wishes to his class and the TASIS – In The Works Kate (Lewin) and moving into a house with Omer further to a note from classmate Ned community! Shamblott would love to get and Serdar. All is “very well”. Lynch regarding a **PG 66 reunion something off the ground. For more next May in Lugano**, to fill us in information or to express interest, on what he’s been doing over the please send an e-mail to alumni@tasis. years. He tells us that he went to the 72 Steven Callan was in New ch. Thanks. • Iman (Sahebdivani) University of Denver and graduated Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck Salehi tells us that she got the e-mail in 1970 and 1971 with degrees in and shares the following observations: from Tania Shetabi and she does economics and in finance. He loved “I rode out the storm in a secure see Tania from time to time and that college and the University of Denver building and came out into the after- it is certainly nice to keep in touch – as it’s a wonderful institution. From math to view the incredible destruction with old friends. She says she will there, his 30-year career has been in of our beloved city. I had intended to always cherish the memories she had
48 - TASIS TODAY TASIS from TASIS. She is also in touch 74 Lisa Maxwell wrote in June Stuart Porter on a regular basis, and with Tania Nordstrom, and just to say that she had lunch with Lynn FRENCH LANGUAGE they will be driving over to Frankfort, visited Nazli (’84) in Iran. She Miller and talked about TASIS summer Ky., to have lunch with Dr. John now lives in Los Angeles with her programs, amongst many other things! PROGRAM Stewart in the next month or so. husband – and hopes to hear from Lynn currently teaches theatre at Brock and Bob would like to get in any old friends. a public high school in Houston, touch with as many fellow PE 1968 and occasionally does professional students as possible! acting. This past August, Lynn acted 88 Emma Nicholas and George in 3 plays at The Alley Theatre in Nicholas share this photo of them- selves. They also say that they still see Maria Catalina Llinas wrote Houston during the HYPE (Houston SWISS HOLIDAY 96 another TFLP ’88 grad, Muhannad in to say that business school is over Young Playwrights Exchange) Festival. and she has just moved to Orange Abulhassan, who has a young baby Lynn, who now has an MFA in thea- Lucy (Hadsall) Hedrick wrote County, CA. She will be working in named Abdullah. 17 In photo, Emma 64 tre, writes that he owes his interest in to say that last June she became an investment management firm in is with husband, Brendan, and their theatre to the theatre course taught President of the Board of the Greenwich Newport Beach and would like anyone furry friend, Bailey on left. Mother Di by George Marchi at Fleming College. is on the floor beside husband, Mike, Arts Council, which is a very big to give her a call if they are in the • Charles Hodgkins (see Lugano in wheelchair, and George and his volunteer job. She has no regrets, area. class of ’71). Emma are behind, right. though, and still manages to find time to coach aspiring writers to publication and to work on her personal essays. 02 Caroline Rothstein, Class PROJECT EUROPE She has become a “born-again” yoga Agent, and both HS01 grad and PG 75 Kent Oztekin tells us that practitioner in the past 2 years. She 02 grad wrote in to share that she was his wife is the CFO for the University has also enjoyed traveling with her in Maine for the summer as a camp Research Foundation – which controls family to the Grand Canyon, Zion counselor at the overnight camp she the intellectual property that is 68 Bob Horner wrote in to say & Brice, Victoria, British Columbia, that every summer he manages to attended as a kid! Email was but a generated at UAB. 16 Here are he Seattle and Olympic National Park. get to Nantucket for about 10 days. weekly option, but she looks forward and his wife together: He has been going there for close to to being in touch with classmates and gathering and sharing news. 50 years now!! For the last 25 years or so, he invites his fellow PE 1968 TASIS CH FACULTY friend, Brock Foster, to visit. Apparently, they have a ritual they AND STAFF FLEMING COLLEGE perform every time they see each TASIS SUMMER other, the ritual of “The Quarter”. Ken Blessing (TE, TASIS) was in touch FLORENCE PROGRAM Bob explains the ritual like this: when with news this past spring. “Basically, they left Lugano in August 1968, one when I’m not traveling, I’m tending of them had a 1968 quarter. They Robert Van Gulik - (see class of ’99 my timber land and mountain, and pledged that every time they would see still working on the interior of the 73 Eloy Montenegro reports the - Joana Sommerkamp). • Emma one another, they would transfer the he recently moved to Miami after 10 Nicholas - (see TASIS French Language timber frame cabin Andrew and I quarter. One of them lost the original built on top of the mountain. I share years living in England. Previously, he Program). quarter, but years ago, Brock got the mountain with moose, coyote, lived in Venezuela where he was (and a Bicentennial quarter and put it in is still!) married and he has a daugther a plastic case. And so the tradition bear, and innumerable deer. I never and a son who are attending college continues to this day! Bob says that tire of the sunrises and sunsets on in Boston. He obtained his degree in LE CHÂTEAU DES he has the quarter until the next time top of the mountain, and the starlit Engineering in 1978 and is currently they meet, and then Brock becomes quiet removed from civilization (and working in telecommunications and ENFANTS the guardian. Over the years, the utilities). After three decades misplaced construction both in Venezuela & the friendship quarter has been to Hawaii, in the frenetic urban/education/ US. He is also a helicopter & commercial Alix Rogers ’91 (see TASIS England many parts of the United States, business scene, I may spend the rest pilot. He would love to get in touch fall on-line news, class of ’02 - Erin Argentina, Spain, Italy, Greece, of my life compensating. I endeavor to with his classmates. McFadden). Switzerland (1991), and other lands. keep balance in my life, still honoring Bob says that he sees his cousin, my blissful solitude, but also sharing
TASIS acquired non-profit status in 1996 when Mrs. Fleming donated the school’s assets to a trust – The TASIS Foundation – thus assuring the Did You Know ? school’s ability to flourish beyond her lifetime. Since tuition alone does not cover the cost of educating a student, a Development Office was established 2 years later to help raise funds for scholarships, program enhancements, curriculum enrichment, and to update and build new facilities – like the recently inaugurated Fleming Library and exciting plans for a new Theater. Things have never been better at TASIS, in part because of committed alumni, parents and friends of the school like you who generously provide financial support. For information on how you can give to TASIS on-line, please visit www.tasis.com/Switzerland and select Development, or call Hans Figi (’75), TASIS Director of Development, at 41-91-960-5301, or email: [email protected]. Depending on your country of residence your gift to TASIS may be tax-deductible.
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in the world around me. Wonderfully, ordinarily special time which he loved Upper School Head and teaches an and received a M.Ed. in interactive for three years the latter I have shared – especially the company of the most English course whenever he can. technologies, focusing on effective use in a loving relationship with a very gracious and warm Mrs. Fleming. Anne teaches English, history and of technology in the classroom. He then special woman.” Ken spends a lot of math in the middle school. Masters is received an Ed.D in Administration, time with his two children: “Kirsten Sara Borsgard Burke, who lives in definitely a school on the move; the Planning, and Social Policy, focusing on will be a senior next year. She loves Utah, tells us that she enjoys skiing upper school has grown from 300 to Technology Planning and Information Philly, loves Penn, loves the band, with daughter, Emily and spending 400 in the past four years and every Systems from MIT while working at and traveling with the teams. Andrew time with friends. Daughters Emily and boarding bed is full for the first time jobs in leadership training, acting as is working long hours building his Josefine go to Swedish school for two in years. Anne and Chris are especially the Teaching Fellow for David Perkins promising consulting business hours every week to keep the language delighted to be close enough to their (a specialist in how people learn) and (computer networks). However, his fresh and she only speaks Swedish to three children to see them frequently finally as head of Technology Planning real love is the wilderness. He’s a them at home – though it is good for and spend school vacations at their for the Center for Education Leadership rock-climber and extreme skier and them to also hear it from someone home in Maine. In between vacations, and Technology, where he helped has training in avalanche evaluation else, too! 18 Here is a picture of L-R NYC and the Hudson Valley provide write the Kentucky State Educational and wilderness emergency medicine.” Emily, cousin Louis and Josefine. abundant opportunities for adventures Technology plan as well as many Ken has long thought it was time for a of every variety. smaller district and school plans. return visit to the UK, and he and Rae Dr. Art Charles, head of TASIS- John’s dissertation focused on the hope to be able to make it there in the Lugano from 1987-1990, is beginning Candace and Simon Owen-Williams Boston Public School Systems. John next year or so. his fifth and final year as President of this year began their 8th year at their then took a job as technology director International College, a PK-12 day little day school in Southwest Virginia, at Belmont Hill School – an elite boys Lanny Breuer taught at TASIS school for 3400 students in Beirut, with Simon as Head of School and school (7-12) in the Boston area. Along from 1980-1982 and now lives in Lebanon. He is looking forward to Candace as IB teacher in English, the way, he was certified as a super- Washington, D.C. with his wife and another transcontinental bike ride Theater Arts and Dance. They would intendent as well as a specialist in boys. He is currently a lawyer there in the summer of 2006, and then love to hear from their old friends via research methodologies, international and in the past was Special Counsel to a few months off before looking [email protected] education, and multicultural education. to President Clinton, including having for another assignment. He sends John has been a statistical consultant represented him during the impeach- his best wishes to former students John (TH, TC, TE) and Agni Thurner to Superintendents, the Sioux in South ment. He is presently involved in many and faculty, wherever they may be. recently traveled with their family Dakota, and Manley Begay, a Navajo causes, including having served on the E-mail: [email protected]. back to Cyprus, where the two of leader who wrote his dissertation on Holocaust Memorial Council. He also 19 Dr. Charles is pictured with some them originally met. After working as all of the native leaders in America. currently represents former Russian of his IC (preschool) students. teacher, coach, vice-principal, Head of Minister Adamov, who is in jail in Bern Community Service and Travel at TASIS Agni Thurner (TC) has been working and waiting extradition to either the Chris Frost tells us that he and wife, Hellenic, then as Assistant Head- at the Harvard Business School for 16 United States or Russia. He taught Anne, are well into their fifth year at master, teacher, squash/tennis coach years now. She is now a manager of at TASIS between Columbia College The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, at TASIS Cyprus, then as Technology Building Services for the Executive and Columbia Law School. He says New York, located on the Hudson Director, teacher, and coach at TASIS Education Program that educates that those two years were an extra- River north of Manhattan. He is England, John went to Harvard CEO’s and company presidents from
50 - TASIS TODAY IN MEMORIAM Did You Know ? Diana Brookins Barrett, wife of by 3 brothers, Steve, Ron and Chris. He alumnus Ford Barrett SH ’59, died is preceeded in death by his cherished • TASIS alumni have contributed 967 gifts for a total on April 30, 2005 at Sibley Memorial parents, Noah Neil and Millie Hospital. She was a Washington Wynkoop. Kje was extremely close to of $1,543,571. These funds have been used to upgrade resident. Mrs. Barrett’s volunteer his mother, and never fully recovered classrooms, improve residential life, provide teacher endeavors partly revolved around from her loss 5 years ago. support, enhance the campus, and much more. selling and tending plants at the schools her sons attended, thus Richard Jensen ’73 As quoted by earning her the affectionate title of retired TASIS teacher Max Page • The PG Class of 1966 has the highest participation level “Plant Lady”. For five years, she ordered “Richard Jensen stands right before for giving, with 30% of the class members donating to plants from wholesalers and then me, just as he did in the four years the Alumni Annual Fund. sold the foliage at the annual fair at we lived on the Montagnola campus St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School in together. We had much in common, Northwest Washington. Mrs. Barrett, by nature and by nurture. We both Some classes have zero participation, but this can be a Washington native, grew up in loved music and practised it daily; he, remedied easily. TASIS is looking for one enthusiastic Noland’s Perry, an 18th century home the guitar and me the recorder. We on the Potomac, near Lucketts in gave concerts together, with my wife person from each class-year to volunteer as a Class Loudoun County. There, she helped Marcia playing the spinet. We went Representative. As a Class Representative you educate her father plant a formal English to concerts together, up on the tops and motivate other TASIS alumni on giving to help garden. She graduate from Foxcroft of mountains and down by the lakes’ assure a healthy, vibrant future for TASIS. The time School in Middleburg, attended Finch side. Though he was a student and I College in NY and graduated from was a teacher, we developed a sense commitment for this important role is very small – the William Woods College in Fulton, Mo. of camaraderie. We were unstoppably rewards, big. For four years before her marriage witty. We both wore gloves and in 1977, Mrs. Barrett worked as an swaggered with canes because it was economist at the Independent ‘English’ and because I had taught him Please e-mail the TASIS Director of Development, at Petroleum Association of America. to fence with the foil, not neglecting [email protected] or call 41-91-960-5301 for more Survivors include her husband of 28- of course the skill of ‘repartee’! information. years, two sons, Blair Hazall Barrett We both loved poetry and drama, and Hugh Comer Barrett, and a sister, especially Rostand’s “Cyrano de Jane Brookins, all of Washington. Bergerac”. It was the TASIS student- around the world. Agni’s language and give shows with her business, teacher relationship at its best and as I skills and extensive hotel experience White Ginger. They also wanted to Carol Jung, the Librarian and a House- hope it will always be—living together have served her well. She had been share the joyful news of the arrival mother at TASIS in 1964, passed and learning together, with mutual a hotel inspector for the Cyprus of a grandson in December. Life is away in the September of 2002 at the respect, with ever widening horizons, government for 7 years as well as good! age of 97. The Jung family ventured and with a joy that lasts us to the was an honors graduate of their hotel to Arlington, Virginia where they end of our lives. In his relatively short school. Agni also had attended two Robert Winer is teaching kids in conducted a solemn, quiet, dignified life, Richard lived through some very years of hotel school in Bordeaux. Washington D.C., who have been burial service next to Carol’s husband difficult times, yet he retained his Agni’s hobby is the history of food expelled from school due to drugs, at Arlington National Cemetery. vigor, his versatility and his panache and she has been the Vice President of fights, pregnancy etc. right to the end. “See you at the the Culinary Historians of Boston for a Herb Stothart, long-time TASIS reunion in Lugano in the Summer,” while now. She has now led groups De & Windie Fleming sent in an professor, died in Santa Monica in he said. What can I do but learn from to Cyprus, Crete/Greece, and Puglia update around the holidays. In April November after suffering a stroke. him and follow his good example.” on food history tours and is planning De was given a surprise gala to ho- Some of Herb’s fondest memories her next trip to Sardinia. Julia Child nor his 20 years of commitment and revolved around students and faculty started this group about 20 years dedication to Pine Crest School. Then at the Vezia Campus and on the art ago and her memory and legacy still in July, De made the decision to retire history trips he conducted. empower this group of ‘foodies’ to as Headmaster of Pine Crest School explore the mysteries of food history. in Boca Raton. Within weeks he was Kje Wynkoop ’69 passed away in Agni and John’s eldest son, Philip, is offered an incredibly exciting and December 2005. Kje lived in Colorado now 18 and will finish at Belmont Hill challenging position by Meritas, a where his family was originally from. next year. He spent this fall in the high company acquiring schools internatio- He was an avid farmer and raised Rockies of Colorado, living at 10,000 nally. This chairmanship has taken him alpacas. In addition to being a farmer, ft and participating in 7-10 day to Geneva where he is presiding over Kje had many hobbies over the years. excursions. He plays soccer, hockey, the integration of College du Leman Jonna, his wife, referred to him as the and baseball. Mark, their other son, is into the Meritas organization. Win- “Hobby King.” He loved to “putter,” 11 and loves school, reading, writing, die is still teaching at Pine Crest, and as he called it. He had been a member computer games, soccer, and karate. continuing to renovate her mother’s of the Colorado Orchid Society, “Tea on the Terrace” house in Englewood. They were also growing amazing orchids. He collected (Victor Roman, Richard Jensen, Max David Miller (TELP and Lugano) and very excited to announce the marria- stamps, enjoyed classical music, became Page) Mary Miller (Lugano) have made ge of their eldest son, Tristan (TE ’94) a Master Gardener for the state of the big move back to the States from to Marina. The wedding was in Costa Colorado, was a bee keeper, raised Mohamad Ghiassi ’75 had a success- Taiwan. They planned to spend their Rica! chickens, was a fine wine enthusiast, ful career in real estate development summer in Camden, ME, then would and a gourmet cook. Kje is survived in Tehran, Iran. He passed away in begin life in Charlotte, NC, where by his wife of 19 years, Jonna, his September 2005 after a short illness. David has taken up a new academic children Molly, 16 years, Tait 15 years, He was 49 years old. position. Mary will continue to travel and Elise 12 years. He is also survived
Spring 2006 - 51 Have your children or grandchildren live the dream of attending school or a special TASIS summer program in beautiful Europe. . . .
TASIS Schools Summer Programs
TASIS The American School in Switzerland TASIS Summer Program (TSP) Th e off ers a challenging college-preparatory TASIS Summer Program for Languages, academic year program on its Lugano Arts, and Outdoor Pursuits, based on campus to day students grades Pre- K-13 and the campus of Th e American School in boarding students grades 7-13. Boasting Switzerland in Lugano, off ers intensive over 50 nationalities, TASIS takes advantage language courses in English as a Second Language, French, and of its location in the heart of Europe to provide an outstanding Italian for 14 to 18 year olds. Students studying Italian may choose educational program with an international dimension. In addition to spend an extra week at the home of an Italian host family. Besides to a strong American college-preparatory curriculum, TASIS off ers language courses, the program off ers courses in Engineering, the International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, and ESL Digital Photography, Painting Ticino, a new course in Art History, courses, along with many travel opportunities. A winter highlight and TOEFL Review. Th e Program includes artistic activities, a is the annual January Ski Week when the School relocates for skiing, wide choice of sports, alpine activities, and weekend excursions in snowboarding, and ice-skating to Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Switzerland and Italy. Four-week and three-week sessions.
TASIS Th e American School in England, Th e Middle School Program (MSP), on frequently cited as the premier American the Lugano campus, is specifi cally designed school in the UK, off ers an American for students aged 11 to 13 to study English college-preparatory curriculum to day as a Second Language or French. Th e Program students from Pre-K through 12 and to provides appropriate academic challenges boarding students from grades 9 through and recreational activities for this transitional age group within 12. Located 18 miles southwest of London on a beautiful 35- a warm and caring community. Students must choose special acre estate of Georgian mansions and 17th-century cottages, workshops to attend two afternoons a week from Music and Drama, TASIS England combines an excellent academic program with Art, Special Sports, or Tennis. During the remaining afternoons, exceptional facilities for art, drama, music, computers, and sports. students participate in afternoon and weekend activities, sports, TASIS also off ers the International Baccalaureate, a full ESL and excursions. Four-week and three-week sessions. course of study, and Advanced Placement courses in all disciplines. Le Château des Enfants (CDE) is a summer program of learning and fun for 6 to 10 year TASIS Dorado is a coeducational day olds. Sharing the Lugano campus with TSP and school with English as its language of MSP, but with its own separate living and instruction in grades Pre-Kindergarten dining facilities, the Program teaches through the Sixth Grade. It is located English or French through lessons, games, activities, sports, and in Puerto Rico and off ers a top-quality art in a close-knit, caring, family-style community specifi cally academic program within the most modern physical facilities and tailored to younger children. Picnics, excursions, and camping attractive natural surroundings. trips are also off ered. Four-week and three-week sessions.
52 - TASIS TODAY Th e TASIS French Language Program Les Tapies Arts & Architecture Program (TFLP) off ers an intensive four-week session off ers an intensive 3-week design and for students aged 13 to 17. Th e Program is cultural experience for students ages 16 based in Château d’Oex, one of the most to 19. It is a hands-on study of French scenic alpine regions of French-speaking vernacular architecture and the functional/ Switzerland. During an optional fi fth week aesthetic relationship it shares with the students and teachers relocate to Nice to explore the French Riviera. landscape. Th e Program is for mature students who have a strong interest in the arts or who are considering a career in architecture, Th e TASIS England Summer School art, or design. Les Tapies' ideal location just north of Provence (TESS), based on the TASIS England provides extensive opportunities for excursions which draw on campus, off ers courses for students the cultural richness of this fascinating area. ages 12 to 18 in English Literature and Composition, Biology, Chemistry, SAT and TOEFL Review, High School Skills, Middle School Skills, and most high school mathematics courses which include IB Preparation components. Enrichment courses include: ShakespeareXperience, Architecture & Archaeology, Art Portfolio, Speed Reading, Musical Th eater, Th eater in London, Ensemble Th eater, Movie Animation, and Lights Camera Action. Sports take place every afternoon, and weekends include trips to Wales, Edinburgh, and Paris. Six-week, four-week, and three-week sessions Application Procedure with an optional week at the Edinburgh Festival are off ered. To obtain a catalog with application materials or for more TASIS English Language Program information, please contact: (TELP) is based on the TASIS England campus. It off ers intensive English TASIS Th e American School in Switzerland as a Second Language for students Admission Offi ce ages 12 to 18 along with sports every CH-6926 Montagnola–Lugano, Switzerland afternoon, and optional weekend trips to Wales, Edinburgh, Tel: +41 91 960 51 51 - Fax: +41 91 993 16 47 and Paris. Students share accommodation with TESS students e-mail: summer @tasis.ch and consequently have many opportunities to develop their or: [email protected] for academic-year applicants English-language skills in a relaxed setting as well as in the or classroom. Four-week, three-week, and seven-week sessions TASIS Schools and Programs with an optional week at the Edinburgh Festival are off ered. 1640 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA Th e TASIS Spanish Summer Program Tel: +1 202 965 5800 Fax: +1 202 965 5816 (TSSP) is an intensive one-month Spanish e-mail: [email protected] course for high-school students ages 13 to 17. Th e Program is based in the www.tasis.com beautiful city of Salamanca, center of the historic kingdom of Castile and home of one of Europe’s oldest universities. Six levels of Spanish are off ered from beginning to ______advanced, and all classes have a small student/teacher ratio. Th e Program includes travel to Madrid, Granada, Toledo, and the TASIS admits qualified students of any race, color, national and Alhambra. All students and teachers relocate to the Costa del Sol ethnic origin, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, for the Program’s fi nal week. national and ethnic origin in its admissions policies and practices.