OakTree Times

F A L L | W I N T E R 2 0 1 3 - 1 4

Ensemble ActSHARING THE SPIRIT OF POLY MUSICALS

Inside :Hollywood in the iPad® age

Coyote ambassadors

Advanced Placement Chinese

OakTree TimesF A L L | W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

Ensemble

Act

Hollywood in

the iPad® Age

Four artistic disciplines, more than 100

performers and technicians, and one

loyal audience uphold Poly’s musical

theater tradition.

Four alumni reflect on the past,

present, and future of the

entertainment business.

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Features :

A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R T H E P O LY T E C H N I C S C H O O L C O M M U N I T Y

Advanced Placement Chinese comes to the Upper

School … The War Photographers screening … Students

flock to fencing team … and more news from Poly.

Second-graders discover international friendships

with help from a few furry ambassadors.

Highlights from Poly’s fall athletic teams ... all Varsity

teams qualify for playoffs ... 24 All-Prep League athletes

... one Prep League title.

Poly Events … Annual Fund at work … Class Notes …

In Memoriam … plus alumni profiles: Eric Haskell ’69,

Colleen Chien ’91, and David Wiseman ’99.

Upper School teacher and coach Chris Schmoke

gives advice to his 15-year-old self and reflects on the

meaning of Poly.

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The Patio

In the Classroom

Panthers in the Zone

Poly Connections

P.S.

Departments:

ON THE COVER:

Cole Porter’s Can-Can (1970)

OAK TREE TIMES EDITORIAL STAFF:

Leslie Carmell, Director of Communications

Michelle Feynman, Communications Officer/Photographer

Jennifer Godwin Minto, Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS:

Amanda Edwards ’92, Irene Mason,

Debbie Reed, and Thomas Sale.

Gina Sabatella, Photographer

Stay Connected

facebook.com/poly

twitter.com/polytechnic

twitter.com/polyalumni

04 H E A D O F S C H O O L M E S S A G E

A slice of Poly life

With this issue, we introduce a new format for the OakTree Times, one that

emphasizes Poly’s vibrancy. On the following pages and in future issues, you will

find a dedicated news section, The Patio; a close-up on teaching and learning

called In the Classroom; multiple feature stories; athletic profiles and team

recaps; and our new Connections section for alumni, parents, and friends.

Given the daily life on our campuses—and the extraordinary pursuits and

contributions of our extended Poly community—the OakTree Times inevitably

captures only a slice of Poly life. Yet as that theatrical term suggests, when

rendered faithfully, a slice of life can be representative and illuminating.

In this issue, we put the limelight on the spring musical, a defining

interdisciplinary experience treasured by many alumni and a tradition that

continues to connect students across campus and across years. As we prepared

this story, we received many more memories from alumni than we could

include in the magazine. I encourage you to visit the Poly website to read them

all and to see more photos from musicals past and present.

These pages also highlight people and programs that make Poly a vital

experience and tell but a few of Poly’s compelling stories. As the alumni

participants in our recent entertainment roundtable (see page 18) discussed, we

live in a time of abundant outlets for storytelling. We encourage you to listen

to Voices of Poly on our website, follow our athletics on Twitter, or read about

campus news online or in the pages of the OakTree Times.

Deborah E. Reed

Head of School

“ These pages also highlight people and programs that

make Poly a vital experience, and tell but a few of Poly’s

compelling stories. ”

05T H E P A T I O

Poly’s Upper School Chinese language program has grown steadily since 2010, adding a new course level each year. This past fall, Upper School teacher Lois Chung off ered an AP course, enabling students to take seven years of Mandarin, beginning in sixth grade.

“We really believe in cultivating global citizens here at Poly,” says Chung, “and learning a language is one of the best ways to learn another culture. Especially for our students who have studied Spanish and know English—if they add Mandarin, they can communicate almost anywhere in the world.”

The study of Mandarin demands many hours of practice and memorization, particularly because speaking

and listening have no relationship to reading and writing. “For students, it’s like focusing on two diff erent languages at the same time in order to progress,” says Chung.

For the eight students enrolled in Poly’s inaugural AP class, the challenge is invigorating. “We pride ourselves on the linguistic obstacles we overcome,” says senior Simone Abegunrin. “We write lengthy essays, we analyze movies, we talk about the college application process, we compare and contrast American and Chinese education systems.At this level, we are directly applying the Chinese culture to our own lives and seeing how Mandarin interacts with the world around us.”

The Patio

Poly introduces Advanced Placement Chinese Language and Culture

Instructor Lois Chung, third from right, with Global Initiatives Program students in Beijing

06 T H E P A T I O

The Patio

Nineteen new faculty and staff members joined our community this year and recently completed their fi rst semester at Poly. A distinguished and creative group, they bring a broad range of skills and experiences to the school. Among them is a former member of the Nigerian Olympic basketball team; a triple major in behavioral neuroscience, molecular biology, and biochemistry; and a volunteer counselor at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.

New faculty and staff join Poly

As part of Poly’s Global Initiatives Program, GIP coordinator and faculty member Rick Caragher invited Steve Kochones ’84 to discuss his fi lm, The War Photographers, with the Poly community last November. The fi lm was commissioned by the Annenberg Space for Photography and debuted last March with the exhibit WAR/PHOTOGRAPHY: Images of Armed Confl ict and Its Aftermath. The fi lm explores the work of six accomplished photographers who have documented confl icts past and present, in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Vietnam to South Africa. Kochones answered questions from students about his career, the process of fi lmmaking, how diff erent cultures tolerate the depiction of war, and the men and women who serve as our eyes on the battlefi eld. Speaking to his Poly audience, he remarked, “Thank you for coming to take a look at this fi lm—the fi rst time it’s been screened at a school. It’s good to have it shown to the next generation—those who will lead the way we go in war and in peace.”

Steve Kochones ’84 screens The War Photographers at Poly

© David Hume Kennerly

Read more about new faculty and staff at

www.polytechnic.org/webextras

When English teacher and coach Laura Holmgren first launched Poly’s competitive fencing team, she thought the group would likely attract 10 or 12 students. Six years later, Poly’s team ranks as one of the largest in the area, with almost 50 students participating. They compete in United States Fencing Association (USFA) tournaments throughout the region, against both schools and fencing clubs that include fencers of all ages.

“The great thing about fencing is that it’s not age-specific,” says Holmgren. “Sometimes the kids are matched against other students, but sometimes their opponents are much older. It’s also a sport where girls compete successfully against the boys, and it allows for many different body types. All of this makes for some great life lessons.”

The USFA ranks fencers A through E (A being the highest), with the vast majority of fencers being unclassified. Last year, five Poly students earned their E rankings—an outstanding accomplishment and a testament to the maturity and dedication of Poly’s program and players.

Holmgren describes fencing as “a very strategic sport—you have to decide quickly, on your own, how to respond to your opponent. There’s a counter move for everything, which requires a lot of analysis and problem-solving.” Perhaps this is one reason the team has attracted

so many Poly students. When asked what makes her the most proud, however, Holmgren responds, “We have an outstanding reputation for our sportsmanship and behavior. Other

teams and clubs are always asking us to tournaments because our kids

are so gracious.”

The Patio

Students flock to fencing team

This past fall, Middle and Upper School students headed for the hills (and the ocean, desert, and rivers) for Poly’s annual Outdoor Education trips. The multitude of activities included mountain biking in Mammoth; sailing and marine science off Catalina Island; sustainable living at Jameson Ranch in Glennville; river rafting on the Klamath River; and backpacking to the Havasu River waterfalls in Arizona.

Poly takes to the

wilderness once again

Emily Gifford ’14

“ We have an outstanding reputation

for our sportsmanship and behavior.

Other teams and clubs are always

asking us to tournaments because

our kids are so gracious. ”

– LAURA HOLMGREN

07T H E P A T I O

08 T H E P A T I O

The Patio

Last October, Ana Marie Acosta ’14 became the third student in Poly’s history to be crowned Rose Queen, joining Aliya Haque Coher ’95 and Jennifer Halferty Johnston ’97 who also served during their senior years. According to the Tournament of Roses, Ana was selected from more than 900 Pasadena-area young women who participated in the Royal Court tryouts, which focused on a combination of qualities, including public speaking ability, poise, academic achievement, and community involvement. 

At Poly, Ana is captain of the Varsity equestrian team and a cabinet member of the Girls Service League. She hopes to pursue a career in neurosurgery. 

Poly senior Ana Marie Acosta

named 96th Rose Queen

Award-winning writer Cornelia Funke, author of the Inkheart trilogy, kicked off the annual Poly Book Fair last October with assemblies for the Lower and Middle Schools. Funke talked about the writing process and answered lively questions from her audiences. More than 110 families attended opening night of the Book Fair, and more than 50 books were donated to Mother’s Club via the third grade community service project.

Last November, fifth-graders participated in their annual mercado, or market, practicing their Spanish while “shopping” for a variety of donated food items. The fun curricular activity also has a positive impact in the community: With the food donations that Poly collected, 25 families at the Healthy Head Start program in Pasadena received a box full of staples and enough food to have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal.

Poly celebrates the 32nd

annual Book Fair

Fifth grade mercado doubles

as food drive

09I N T H E C L A S S R O O M

In the Classroom

Three years ago, when Suzie Arther ’89’s second-graders were in kindergarten, they helped launch a unique learning network, the Coyote Project. The brainchild of Middle and Upper School art teacher Jim Barry, the project gives Lower School students a chance to connect with peers in places as far-fl ung as Mali, France, Cyprus, China, India, and Brazil.

The project centers around a corps of stuff ed coyotes sent from Poly to join other students around the globe. Arther’s class recently sent a welcome package to their counterparts in Senegal, the newest location to join the group. This particular coyote was well equipped for his journey: In addition to a class letter, Arther’s students created juice boxes, sandwiches, and other foodstuff s from paper, along with a book, blanket, and pillow to ensure the coyote’s comfort en route.

To date, the Coyote Project has reached 11 countries beyond the United States. Using the project’s multilingual website, children share photos of themselves taken with the coyote, as well as coyote stories and photos of themselves acting out simple math equations with their fi ngers. “The goal is to get kids to communicate with each other and to feel like having friends around the world is a natural thing,” says Barry. “We use math as a communication tool because

numbers are the same in all languages.” Needless to say, anticipation runs high in Arther’s class whenever there is a return package to be opened or an email to be read from another country.

Barry, who has a degree in anthropology and spent fi ve years living in Senegal, personally makes all the international connections, sometimes through Poly parents and often through the work he does helping schools in other countries with their websites.

In Arther’s classroom, the interdisciplinary benefi ts are enormous as well as a lot of fun for the children. “The project incorporates writing, reading, math, geography, map skills, art—you name it!” she says. “It prompts my students to ask all kinds of questions.” Second grade classes taught by Jenine Almahdi and Joanne Hwang also participate in the project. As a result, Barry estimates that at any given time, there are about a dozen coyotes traveling around the world. Says Arther of these furry emissaries and the connections they inspire: “It helps my students develop understanding, empathy, and compassion. They learn to see themselves in many diff erent children and communities around the world.” 

Second-graders send coyote pals around the globe

Learn more about the Coyote Project at

www.polytechnic.org/webextras

AEnsembleOn the evening of March 17, 1961, the curtain rose, literally, on what would soon become a community-wide tradition at Polytechnic School—the Upper School spring musical. The evening’s production, Good News, set on the fictitious campus of Tait College in the Roaring Twenties, tells the story of football star Tom Marlow and studious Connie Lane who fight and woo, surrounded by flocks of sorority girls and a horde of “big men on campus.”

Above: Poly’s first musical, Good News (1961), included these “Varsity Drag” dancers. Front row (left to right): Joan Schirtzinger Palmer ’63, Holly Smith Jones ’63, Posy Anderson Smith ’64, Sara Eddy McCracken ’63; back row (left to right): Judi Kennedy Hersey ’62, Janice Finch Schumacher ’62, Nancy Kennedy Monjo ’63, Robin Riley Martin ’64. Right: Brenda Chen ’16 and Brandon Lew ’15 in On the Town (2013)

10 F E A T U R E

Act FOUR ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES,

MORE THAN 100 PERFORMERS

AND TECHNICIANS, AND ONE

LOYAL AUDIENCE UPHOLD

POLY’S MUSICAL THEATER

TRADITION

11F E A T U R E

12 F E A T U R E

The original program in the Poly archives shows a large cast of principal characters supported by no less than three choruses totaling 40 students. Another 21 students served as set builders, stage crew, and other supporters. The faculty production staff included Vivian Young, who led Poly’s theater department for 33 years, along with other teachers who oversaw music, technical direction, art direction, and programs. Three parent committees assisted in the areas of scenery, choreography, and costumes and props. From the very beginning, Poly’s Upper School musical was an ensemble eff ort.

Today, that spirit continues, supported by robust programs in theater, vocal music, orchestral music, dance, and design. Each spring, a quarter of the Upper School student body participates in the production—as actors,

dancers, set and lighting operators, front-of-house volunteers, and myriad other roles. A loyal audience of fellow students, Lower and Middle School children, teachers, alumni, families, friends, and even local neighbors make the play’s brief run an annual sellout. After 52 years, the Upper School musical remains a major highlight of Poly’s spring semester.

The spring musical for 2014 will be Cole Porter’s Kiss Me Kate. Poly previously produced the show in 1996 and 2004 (pictured, with Lauren Libaw ’05 as Lilli Vanessi and Ryan Braun ’04 as Fred Graham).

Bobby Burrows ’85, Eugene Bahng ’88, Ben Massey ’86, Jon Nalick ’85, Peter Koetters ’86 in Oklahoma! (1985): The

fi rst musical to be staged in the new Garland Performing Arts Center. The show was produced again in 1995 to

celebrate the building’s 10th anniversary.

See more musical photos and read more alumni

memories at www.polytechnic.org/webextras

13F E A T U R E

ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALLThe idea of the ensemble runs deeper than production

statistics: It is the fundamental teaching tenet of Poly’s theater program. “We like to use a quote from Konstantin Stanislavsky as a touchstone,” says Performing Arts Department Chair Cynthia Crass: “’Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.’ Students hear that from third grade on. Whether we’re talking about a play, a dance production, or a concert, to be successful, the performers must give themselves over to what is best for the group. We spend a lot of time working on these ideas in rehearsal, and we hope it fosters some profound life lessons.”

In many ways, the department’s ensemble commitment mirrors Poly’s larger commitment to service. Participants are encouraged to help each other in whatever ways they can regardless of their assigned roles. Costume repair and laundry, for example, are communal tasks throughout the show’s run. Students come to the theater to sew or iron during their free periods or on the weekends.

Teachers also focus firmly on process before product. While the overall aim is to produce a good show, the true purpose of a Poly musical is self-discovery. The stages of planning, rehearsing, building, and performing a musical

offer countless opportunities for students to grow and learn. Broadway-style music challenges classical dancers and instrumentalists to expand their repertoires. Technical crews must transform a blank stage using both time-honored stagecraft techniques and solutions of their own devising. And the list goes on. “Adolescents are continually looking for ways to think about the world, investigate adulthood, and express themselves,” says veteran teacher Tina Cocumelli. “We try to offer them a safe place to take risks and to join in something larger than themselves. Hopefully it’s a defining experience that they will remember for years and years.”

MANY ART FORMS, ONE WHOLEProduction of a comedy or drama requires a relatively

small number of moving parts: director, actors, and technical crew. Musicals, on the other hand, bring together many different artists—actors, singers, dancers, instrumentalists, as well as technicians, all led by a team of directors in charge of different areas. By opening night, these disparate elements must come together as a whole.

Poly is fortunate to have a veteran faculty team in place; most have worked together for more than 20 years. In addition to Tina Cocumelli, who generally serves as theatrical director, and Cynthia Crass, who acts as one of the principal choreographers, the group includes Alan Geier as musical director and Ria Kubota as orchestral director, with technical direction by Richard Sherrell and Tom Allard. This year, Danielle Pigneri rounds out the group as Poly’s new dance instructor.

The team’s first challenge each year is to select a title, a task that requires extensive deliberation. Each teacher assesses the strengths and difficulties of any given candidate from the perspective of his or her particular craft. Together they arrive at a choice that will both challenge and capitalize on the talents of the current cadre of Poly students.

“Over a four-year period, we aim to give students distinct experiences with four different types of musical theater,” explains Crass. “This year’s seniors, for example, did Beauty and the Beast as freshmen, a Disney fantasy show. They followed that with Sweeney Todd, probably

“ MY FAVORITE MEMORY IS OF THE MOMENT BEFORE EACH

SHOW WHEN THE CAST GATHERED IN THE DRAMA ROOM.

THE FEELING OF UNITY IN THE GROUP—SHARING FINAL

NOTES, FOCUSING ON THE SHOW, AND ENCOURAGING ONE

ANOTHER WAS EXTREMELY POWERFUL. ”

—Stewart Dorsey ’02

Little Shop of Horrors (2009) featured a pit band instead of the usual orchestra. Left to right: Alan Geier, Eli Chau ’09, Kevin Geier ’09, Julian Albinski-Euler ’11 [in back], Rob Hayes, Austin Jenkins ’09.

14 F E A T U R E

Sondheim’s toughest piece. Then last year, we did Bernstein’s On the Town, an incredibly challenging show because most of the story is told through dance, and the music is really difficult. This year, we looked at our group and asked, ’What haven’t they done yet?’ We chose a Cole Porter musical, Kiss Me, Kate, that offers a ’play within a play’ experience [Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew], as well as a wide variety of music and dance—jazz, swing, folk, modern, tap. It will be great fun for both the performers on stage and the orchestra in the pit.”

With a title selected, the production team must establish a style concept for the show. “The concept provides a touchstone for our individual work,” explains Geier. “When we did Sweeney, for example, we chose not

to be realistic. We wanted a very austere look. As a result, instead of using the pit, we put the orchestra behind a scrim so that nothing came between the actors and the audience. With a shared concept to guide us, we can each concentrate our specific disciplines and come up with ideas to help express the common goal.”

Once a show is cast and rehearsals begin, the task of weaving together a complete production becomes even more complex. Actors must gracefully incorporate three different crafts—acting, singing, and dancing. They must explore the time period and the psyches of

their characters. Designers and stage crew must devise a way to evoke a basketball court in one scene or a church sanctuary in the next. Dancers must analyze choreography in minute detail, focusing not only on individual steps, but also on how to navigate a crowded stage without major collisions. Ultimately, everyone must come to

Little Shop of Horrors (2009): Stage operators Aubrey Walker ’11 (who also provided the voice of Audrey II) and Bowen Zhang ’09 emerge to take their bows during curtain call.

14 F E A T U R E

“ I WANT MY OWN CHILDREN TO HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCES

ONE DAY…A PLACE WHERE THEY LEARN HARMONIES AND

JAZZ HANDS, HOW TO ENUNCIATE AND STAND FIRM ON

TWO FEET, UNDERSTAND HOW ENSEMBLE IS ANOTHER

WORD FOR FAMILY. ”

—Gillian Thomas Kessler ’92

Guys and Dolls (1990)Guys and Dolls (1982)

15F E A T U R E

understand the play as both a text and a living, breathing act of performance.

“We see students apply the same intellectual curiosity and acumen as they do to all their Poly work,” says Cocumelli. “They come armed with extraordinary text analysis skills from their English classes. They bring historical perspective from their history classes. They divvy up the research and teach each other, whether about meat pies in 19th century London or navy bases in the South Pacific.”

When opening night arrives, the audience may not realize they are watching hundreds of small ideas and individual creative choices made throughout the strenuous rehearsal process. “It takes a lot of compromise, a lot of generosity, getting it all to come together in a unified way.” says Geier. “But this allows our students to learn what it really takes to produce a great show. It’s not just about the creation of art—it’s about collaboration. You’re working together to create something meaningful and beautiful.”

THE GLEE EFFECTOver the last two decades, a major shift has taken place

in theater programs at the collegiate level. Musicals, once eschewed as low-brow, now command major resources and attention. Institutions such as Michigan, Ithaca, Carnegie Mellon, NYU, UC Irvine, and others offer highly-compeititve musical theater programs attracting

applicants from across the country. A major movement toward show choirs, a capella groups, and musicals has

grown across the U.S., typified by television shows like Glee and The Sing Off.

Given its 52-year history with musicals, Poly has long recognized the value of such

experiences. “Poly has a century-old commitment to theater, as well as a strong musical theater tradition, thanks in large part to Vivian Young,” says Cynthia Crass. “Our costume collection dates back to the ’40s and

was sustained by generations of parents. In the early years, they got together and sewed these rich and

beautiful pieces.” Today Poly is the beneficiary of endowed funds that support replacement or

strategic expansion of the collection each year.

Guys and Dolls (2005)

Janna Wennberg ’14, Beauty and the Beast (2011)

16 F E A T U R E

A milestone in Poly’s thriving program came in 1984, with the construction of Garland Center for the Performing Arts. Up to that point, musicals used the small stage in what is known today as Founders Hall—a complicated proposition with a cast of 60-plus adolescents. Among other features, the new center provided a generous proscenium stage, complete with an orchestra pit, technical sound booth, and wing space, as well as dressing rooms, scene shop, and costume storage.

Since then, Poly’s performing arts program has only continued to diversify and grow. “When I arrived in 1979, I was the only music teacher for both the Middle and Upper Schools,” says Alan Geier. “I offered two classes and had four people in my first choir. Today, students are able to participate not only in an orchestra, but also

in chamber music, Jazz Band, plus courses in music theory or appreciation. We offer four levels of dance. Theater coursework covers not just acting but things like playwriting and theater history. The popularity and success of the Upper School musical flows from an advanced, multifaceted program that has grown to be an integral part of Poly.”

TREASURED MEMORIES AND TRADITIONSLike so many Poly traditions, the spring musical

builds community—connecting students, teachers, alumni, and parents across generations. In the early days, mothers and fathers, often Hollywood professionals themselves, volunteered to design scenery, gather props, or choreograph dances. Today, they continue to help out behind the scenes, mending costumes, doing hair and makeup, and feeding hordes of hungry cast and crew members on performance nights. The musical brings upper- and lowerclassmen together to work on a common project, and it creates bonds between the Upper School and the Middle and Lower Schools. During The King and I, younger students joined the cast to play the royal children. For The Music Man, Middle School band members doubled as the band coached by con artist Harold Hill.

Jane Davidson ’11 and Katie Antonsson ’11 prepare for Beauty and the Beast (2011) in the Garland dressing rooms.

The philosophy of Poly musicals has always been “Everybody Plays.” Before the construction of Garland in 1984, the small stage in what is now called Founders Hall could get very crowded. Shown here: the cast of South Pacific in 1971.

Behind the scenes, the “pre-show circle” remains a powerful tradition: Cast members gather each night in advance of the show to warm up, discuss adjustments, and recognize each other’s contributions. Many cite this experience as a highlight in their Poly careers and appreciate the opportunity to read congratulatory messages from alumni of musicals past.

“At events and reunions, I hear again and again how the musical remains a defi ning memory for so many alumni and families,” says Head of School Debbie Reed. “It’s an experience that ties all of us together. We enjoy

the wonderful, quirky, sometimes unexpected talent of individual players, while also celebrating the entire group and a labor of love that would not exist without the cooperation of many, many participants.”

For students, the skills gained as technicians, actors,

dancers, or instrumentalists often continue to shape their professional and personal lives. Twice in thelast decade, Poly’s Performing Arts Department has surveyed alumni and received stories from teachers, surgeons, entrepreneurs, lawyers, MBA students—as well as those active in the entertainment industry—about lessons learned onstage and backstage. Among those was one graduate whose words provide a fi tting dénouement: “I saw fi rsthand how the magic of opening night put the countless hours of rehearsals and hard work into perspective and made them seem completely worthwhile—and this same principle applies to many of the most meaningful things in life.” Bravo. Encore.

17F E A T U R E

“ FROM THE METALLIC GREEN AND SILVER ENSEMBLES WE

WORE IN ’WE’RE IN THE MONEY’ IN 42ND STREET ... TO THE

COLORFUL AND RATHER LARGE WIGS, BLACK PLATFORM

SHOES, AND HUGE HOOP SKIRTS WE WORE IN ONCE UPON

A MATTRESS, WE ALWAYS LOOKED AMAZING. ”

—Meghan Thornton ’06

See more musical photos and read more alumni

memories at www.polytechnic.org/webextras

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2010). Left to right: Hassaan Shahawy ’12, Anna Gilman ’11, SaraLee Steiner ’10, Shelley Garg ’13, Jenna Lomelli ’11, Kate Chulay ’13, Natalia Ramirez ’10, Catherine Lehman ’13, Katie Morgan ’10

Sarah Bartlett Wilson ’96, Anna Christy Stepp ’94, Philip Schneider ’96 and others in 42nd Street (1994)

00 S E C T I O N N A M E

FOUR ALUMNI REFLECT ON THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

Hollywood in the iPad® age

18 F E A T U R E

19F E A T U R E

Are the outlets for storytelling changing from traditional models in this era of new technology?

Adam Stone: One of the trends in the business right now is that great creators, actors, and artists have moved to the television space to work on great dramas. As a result, the drama in the feature space has been in decline. It’s probably the first time in my memory that people, especially those within the Hollywood community, perceive working on a TV show as interesting as, and well-regarded as, working on a film.

David Stone: Over the last five or six years, we’ve had this massive expansion in the cable side of the television industry, and then there are all the streaming outlets. Each one wants a piece of programming that’s going to define the identity of their network the same way The Sopranos became a brand identifier for HBO, or Mad Men did for AMC. Then you have Netflix making a really authoritative statement with a show like House of Cards, with all the elements that define premium, like a recognizable star [Kevin Spacey] who really, at the end of the day, is a movie star. So you have outlets for ideas that otherwise were harder to find homes for. You wouldn’t find a home for a show like Enlightened on the Fox Network.

Mike White: It’s all cyclical, but right now it feels like TV is a place where you can do more truly original stuff. I think

you can in features, but you have to really hit the bull’s eye; you have to be very smart about it and approach it from the standpoint that you really have to thread the needle. Everybody has a different end game. For me, it’s to be able to do work that I’m proud of, and to get the resources to do it is a victory in itself. I want to be responsible to the partners I make something with; I want them to make money. But at a place like HBO, the criteria for success is a little bit more in the vagaries, and that allows for a show like Enlightened. In the feature business, the sense of what is a hit has gotten so big that there’s not enough reason to make movies that look like they could just do okay anymore.

On October 31, Poly hosted an alumni roundtable discussion on the state of the entertainment industry. Held at The Athenaeum at Caltech, the event was the second in a new series that brings Poly graduates together to share their experiences, insights, and achievements in the many endeavors they pursue after graduation.

Moderator Adam Stone ’96, president of production at Vertigo Entertainment, who assembled the panel, both led and participated in a lively conversation between his brother David Stone ’00, a television packaging agent at William Morris Endeavor and graduate of USC Film School’s Peter Stark Production Program; writer, director, actor, and producer Mike White ’88, who has worked on acclaimed television shows Freaks & Geeks and Golden Globe winner Enlightened, which he co-created, co-produced, acted in, and directed for HBO, as well as films like School of Rock, Nacho Libre, and The Good Girl; and Sean Bailey ’87, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production.

The discussion, made all the more entertaining by White’s choice to wear an elephant costume (it was Halloween, after all), ranged over myriad industry topics. Below are some of the highlights.

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How are production and distribution models shifting?

Sean Bailey: The movie business as we historically know it—going to a theater and buying ticket—has some real challenges for smaller movies. As people adjust to a world where they can get movies or shows over iTunes or Netflix, the appetite to go pay fourteen or fifteen bucks to buy a DVD has gotten smaller and smaller. The decline of the DVD business has been a major hit to us. The other thing that’s happened for smaller movies is that in local markets around the world—China, India, Germany, France—we’re seeing their production and storytelling abilities really start to elevate. They’re telling stories specific to their markets that are culturally relevant, with stars their communities know. So for us to go compete with a $20-million drama in France where they have a $20-million movie where all the jokes are perfectly timed and connect to that culture, it gets very hard for us. What can we do better than anybody else in the world? For Hollywood, that’s spectacles—these grand, huge, entertainment propositions. So it becomes really scary because there are so many chips on these bets.

David: With the big studios, we’re beholden to a certain set schedule: theatrical movie release, then a particular window, then DVD and Blu-ray, then video-on-demand. But what you see with a lot of young entrepreneurs now is they’ll go to Sundance or somewhere with a movie, and you’ll see really interesting deals where the movie is sold simultaneously to a few theaters, and you can get it on the same night on iTunes. You’re starting to see hybrid models that I think are very interesting for the future of more narrative-focused, writer-director-oriented storytelling.

What does it take to break into entertainment?

Adam: I always tell people, “Don’t get into the business if you don’t have a thick skin, if you can’t create something out of nothing, or if you’re not a self-starter.” What do you think are the most important qualities for someone who wants to make a name for themselves in the business?

Sean: Perseverance and commitment—all the things great entrepreneurs have across the board. The ability to go in and think of a reason why a big studio should do something, make a compelling case for it, and then be relentless in pursuing that case. You have to adjust, invent, sell, and never tire.

Mike: I think in the entertainment business you have to be both crazy and sane. You have to be a dreamer and think outside of the box—for lack of a better cliché—but at the same time, there’s a lot of money involved and a lot on the line, and you have to be able to work both sides of that equation. You have to take risks but also be a person people can trust enough to put their faith and their money and careers in.

What are your thoughts on the future of the industry, and what advice do you have for Poly students?

Sean: We’ve seen real consolidation around the five or six major media companies, so I think it’s a really ripe time to go be an entrepreneur in Hollywood, to really look at what does storytelling look like, how can I do things a new way? There’s huge disruption happening in terms of how storytelling gets to an audience, and whenever you see consolidation, those big companies inevitably become a little slower and little more bureaucratic. In Silicon Valley, history is written every year about two people in a garage changing everything, and I think that’s going to happen to storytelling. I think someone’s going to come up with a way to tell stories using existing social media. I think we’re going to see another [Orson Welles’] War of the Worlds moment, when we actually believe something is happening because we believe in this digital universe. I think something’s going to blow our minds, and I’m excited about that.

David: I agree with that. The only nuance I give is to make sure you understand the fundamentals before you revolutionize all of it. There will be someone who doesn’t adhere to that at all and says “I don’t need to know the history of this business to turn it all on its head,” and they’re going to be right. But for the vast majority, make sure you have those basics before you move forward.

Mike: To bring it back to Poly, I really think Poly provided me with a work ethic that has been useful to me throughout. As a writer, you have to be a self-starter, and the work ethic of Poly and being able to succeed at Poly—I think those things have definitely been a part of whatever success I’ve had. If you’re a Poly graduate and your focus is the entertainment business, you’ll be able to put those skills to use. 

21P A N T H E R S O N T H E F I E L D

The Varsity cross country team benefited from senior leadership

which balanced the inexperience of freshman runners. The team

battled through a string of injuries and pulled together behind

the inspired performances of the younger runners. The Panthers

finished their season by qualifying for the CIF-SS finals, led by

senior Evan Gancedo, who qualified for the CIF-State finals,

finishing sixth overall.

Under new head coach Chris Schmoke, the Varsity football team

(8-3) returned to postseason play after a two-year absence. The

Panthers won their first eight games of the season, mixing a

dynamic offense and stout defense en route to a second-place

finish in the Prep League. In its first year back as a part of Poly Athletics, the Varsity girls

golf team (3-2) made huge strides. Eleven girls joined the program

and renewed Poly’s competitive spirit in the sport of golf. They

finished the season with three straight victories, while freshman

Angela Liu qualified for the CIF freelance tournament.

The Varsity girls tennis team (12-4) was the definition of

consistentcy throughout the fall season. With a combination of

veteran leadership and solid newcomers, the Panthers finished

second in the Prep League and made it back to the first round of

the playoffs.

Year after year, Poly’s fencing team grows in both the number

of athletes and the team’s skill levels. Led by head coach Laura

Holmgren, the 2013 Varsity fencing team found great success,

with numerous fencers placing at various tournaments

throughout the season. The program also produced its first

collegiate signee: Senior Emily Gifford signed her letter of

intent to fence at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Cross country

Varsity football

Varsity girls golf

Varsity girls tennis

Varsity fencing

The Panthers enjoyed a terrific fall athletic

season. Every Varsity team qualified for

the playoffs and produced a total of

24 All-Prep League athletes, in addition

to one Prep League title. Poly teams won

an astounding 74 percent of their games

and matches, surpassing last year’s total

winning percentage.

PANTHERS

IN THE ZONE

Poly’s volleyball program has experienced great success in recent

seasons, and the 2013 Varsity girls volleyball team (17-7) wasn’t

any different. The Panthers began their season by winning the

Poly Invitational and finished tied for second in the Prep League,

highlighted by an impressive win against Chadwick.

Varsity girls volleyball

A year after winning Poly’s first ever CIF championship in water

polo, this year’s Varsity water polo team (22-6) achieved a perfect

10-0 to win the Prep League title. They made an impressive

playoff run, culminating with a berth in the CIF-SS semifinals.

Varsity boys water polo

22 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

This past September, a group of more than 40 Poly alumni, parents of alumni, and friends gathered for a special viewing of the exhibition, “A New Sculpturalism: Contemporary Architecture from Southern California,” at The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA in Downtown Los Angeles. Architect Warren Techentin ’86 guided the group through the exhibition, explaining architectural theories and concepts behind the models. Included in the exhibition was work by Warren’s firm, WTARCH, and by Thom Mayne, a current Poly grandparent and father of Rich Mayne ’82. The exhibition, which opened last June and ran through September, examined the work of 38 major and emerging practices in Los Angeles architecture of the past 25 years. After spending time in the museum, guests walked around the corner to FarBar for a casual happy hour and continued conversations.

MOCA exhibition featuring

Poly alumnus

Scott Collins ’82 and Rich Mayne ’82 with former Director of Development Diane Binney

Tanner Johnson ’10, Chloe Gaffney ’08, Jamie Morrison ’08, Mimi Beá ’10

Events

On a Friday evening last July, alumni from a wide range of class years, along with friends and spouses, gathered for a seaside happy hour at Sonoma Wine Garden in Santa Monica. The event was an opportunity for the more than 30 in attendance to reconnect with classmates, as well as meet others from the Poly community in the Los Angeles area.

Annual alumni receptions in New York have been a priority for Head of School Debbie Reed and the Alumni Association. The gatherings serve as great opportunities for alumni, parents of alumni, and friends residing on the East Coast to hear updates from the school, stay connected with classmates, and make new Poly connections. This past October, nearly 50 alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, and former faculty and staff gathered for a reception with Debbie Reed at the home of Alan and Ilona Nemeth Quasha ’85. The alumni in attendance spanned the Classes of 1954 to 2009.

Summer Westside Happy Hour

Annual New York Reception

23P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

Stan Hales ’57 and Hannah Frank ’05

Last October, a group of 30 alumni, parents of alumni, former faculty, and grandparents gathered together at the home of Erick and Marion Mack ’47 ’47 in Palo Alto. Guests spent the evening on the Macks’ garden terrace, enjoying the late autumn evening while catching up with classmates and friends. Head of School Debbie Reed shared updates from campus and the life of the school, highlighting programs and activities taking place back at Poly.

Palo Alto Reception

The Poly alumni community extends beyond those who studied as students at the school: It also includes parents and grandparents of alumni, as well as former faculty and staff. Earlier this year, a few former teachers and staff members came together with the goal of forming a group focused on providing opportunities to stay connected with the school and with each other. In May, nearly 30 enthusiastic participants met for an organizing meeting. In October, they gathered again for a casual luncheon and heard from Poly’s archivist, Barbara Bishop, who showed

photos of the lunch guests that were taken over the past decades at school. Still in its early stages, the group, going by the name Poly PoPs (for Poly People of the Past), is planning social and community outreach events and communications, all with the purpose of maintaining their Poly connections.

If you taught or worked at Poly and would like to be involved, please contact the Alumni Office at alumni@polytechnic.org.

Former faculty and staff reconnect through new group

Row 1 (seated, l to r): Annamarie Mitchell, Jolly Urner, Gretchen Gantner, Ann Nelson, Elizabeth Lanski Row 2: Marie Assaf, Susan Grether, Joyce Kressen, Linda Massey, Carolyn Fox, Celinda Pearson, Susie Wilson, Sally Barngrove, Brian Wright Row 3: Dorothy Wooddell, Lou Fox ’55, Howie Farer, Dave Ivory

Events

24 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

Philanthropy

At the whiteboard in a Lower School classroom, students are diagramming sentences using a document camera and an interactive pen. Thanks to the technology, they experiment quickly with diff erent word combinations, share their work easily with fellow students, and fi nd lively solutions together.

In the Middle School, mobile carts follow students from class to class, providing iPads or laptops as needed. Students create music projects in GarageBand, learn how to program robots, explore the Earth’s rotation cycles, and research topics for their next debate. It is a time for self-refl ection and discovery, laying a foundation for the Upper School years.

In the Upper School, all freshmen participate in a mini-course designed to build skills for online coursework, which are increasingly critical for college. Through practical experience, they begin to answer such questions as How should I interact with the instructor when we aren’t face to face? and What apps or software must I master in order to fl ourish in an online environment?

Throughout the Poly campus, these and other technology experiences have become part of the very fi ber of education,

always in support of the learning process. “We’re preparing students for a world we can’t fully envision now,” explains Laura Holmgren, Upper School education technology coor-dinator. “We are so fortunate at Poly to have the resources to help our students become confi dent, creative users of technology, even as it advances. But beyond any particular device or program, our goal is to give students the fl exible, adaptive thinking skills they will need to succeed as the world and technology change around them.”

Poly is able to make this commitment to its students thanks to loyal philanthropic support, and especially to gifts given through Poly’s Annual Fund. By coming together with thousands of Annual Fund gifts of all sizes, parents, alumni, and friends enable Poly to sustain programs that are extraordinarily diverse, ambitious, and inspiring—including the technology program.

“This is an exciting time in Poly’s history,” refl ects Director of Technology John Yen. “Technology is making the world smaller and more accessible to our students and allowing us to create or explore in ways that were once unimaginable. We’re grateful for a generous community that keeps Poly always moving forward in every arena.”

Technology: One example of the Annual Fund at work

To learn more about the Annual Fund and its impact,

please visit www.polytechnic.org/annualfund

25P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Brecken Armstrong Kelsey ’95 volunteers at a fall 2013 phonathon.

Poly Connections

Philanthropy

Debbie Reed’s tireless efforts have made Polytechnic School a stronger, more vibrant community in every way. When she retires on June 30, 2014, she will leave a campus that is newly equipped for a second century and carefully restored to preserve the best of Poly’s history. Over the last 12 years, she has demonstrated great caring and insightful leadership in all her work with students and their families, along with faculty, staff, and the greater Pasadena community.

To honor Debbie’s legacy, the Poly Board of Trustees is working to establish the Deborah E. Reed Scholarship Fund, with the goal of providing full tuition for two Poly students each year. “Although much of her work during her tenure focused on our campus, the students are Debbie’s real focus and priority,” explains Board President Dale Harvey. “We thought it would be fitting to recognize her contributions with a scholarship fund that will enable students to be part of this community to which Debbie has given so generously of herself.”

To participate, please contact Colin Allen, director of major gifts and planned giving, at callen@polytechnic.org or 626-396-6342.

The results are in, and fall phonathon volunteers once again made a tremendous difference for Poly and the Annual Fund. A total of 56 parents, alumni, and parents of alumni pitched in, making more than a thousand  calls and emails that resulted in $167,476 in gifts and pledges from 236 members of the Poly community. This outstanding accomplishment and team effort surpasses last year’s fall phonathon totals.

There’s still time to join the group effort—spring phonathons will take place on March 18 and 20, 2014. In the words of volunteer Aliya Haque Coher ’95, current Poly parent and chair of the Annual Fund Committee of the Alumni Board, “It’s a great way not only to support Poly, but also to catch up with classmates and see other alums. We always have experienced volunteers on hand to help new callers and to provide support throughout the night. It feels good to know that we’re contributing to this wonderful educational experience that is Poly.”

Interested in volunteering? Contact Katherine Goar, development officer, annual giving and alumni relations, at kgoar@polytechnic.org or 626-396-6335.

Fundraising underway for a

scholarship to honor Debbie Reed

Kudos to fall phonathon

volunteers!

26 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

Lucy W. Harrell ’39 My daughter and

I entered the local Salmon Derby. We

entered four King Salmon and won all sorts

of trophies. It was a blast! Daniel Crotty ’51 I continue on the board of the local

irrigation supplier. Water and California

remains a very big issue. Susan Straubel Champion ’52 This year, we have taken

cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska

with our children and five grandchildren,

traveled to the East Coast and St. Laurence

River, and have taken trips to our San Juan

Island home. I’ve still been playing a little

bridge and golf two to three times per

week. Robert Campbell ’53 and Darilyn

“Dee” Deane are closing in on their 53rd

year of marriage. Their three children have

found careers on both coasts ranging

from nuclear energy to pharmaceuticals

while raising three grandchildren. After

attending Stanford, Bob was project

manager during the construction of

Foothill College in Los Altos. In 1978, Bob

and Dee created a computer systems

company serving Southern California

clients and helped found two organizations

supporting homeless families with children.

Starting in 1999, Bob co-founded and

was president/CEO of the San Diego

North Economic Development Council,

representing an area with a population

of more than one million. Today, he is

chair of the regional agency designated

to provide transportation services for the

handicapped, elderly, veterans, and other

underserved populations throughout the

region. Edward Wolcott ’56 I have a new

grandson, Darien Warner Wolcott, born

March 7, 2013.

Charles Gates ’67 I attended Poly for

nine years, from kindergarten through

eighth grade. I was very happy there and

still remember everyone pretty clearly.

In 1963, my family moved to Santa

Barbara. I continued my education at

The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey,

Yale, and University of Pennsylvania with

a Ph.D. in classical archaeology. My wife,

Marie-Henriette, is also an archaeologist,

specializing in the Ancient Near East. We

have two adult daughters, now living in

Boston, Mass. In 1990, after 11 years in

Chapel Hill, N.C., we signed up for one year

at Bilkent University, Turkey’s first private

university in Ankara. I began writing a

blog about the daily life in Turkey:

www.ankarascribbler.blogspot.com.

Recently, my long-in-the-works historical

mystery novel, “Escape from Smyrna,” was

published. Greetings to all classmates from

the Class of 1967 who were with me in

those pre-high school years! Best wishes

from Ankara. Geoffrey Knox ’67 My

eponymous communications firm, Geoffrey

Knox & Associates, is going strong in New

York City after 20 years. Our firm helps

progressive nonprofits make the case for

social justice and advancing goals globally

on issues such as HIV/AIDS, women’s

sexual and reproductive rights, and LGBT

equality. But what a surprise when I found

out that our wonderful summer intern from

Columbia University’s master’s program in

communications practice was a Poly

alumna! Noy Nimakorn ’05 spent her

junior year at Poly as an AFS student from

Thailand. Having been an AFS student

myself in 1966, I couldn’t have been

more pleased to discover our shared

connections. We both agreed that we had

to study harder at Poly than anywhere else

in the world, but it was well worth it.

Toni Valpredo Rudnick ’69, Marnie Barrett ’69, and Pam Venable Sutton ’69 (pictured left to right) had a Class of 1969

“mini-reunion” in Reno, Nev. on Sept. 8.

Pam’s studio, Crystal Wind Glassworks, was

featured on the Reno Open Studios Art

Tour, and Marnie came to help out for the

weekend. Toni stopped by the event on her

way back to Walla Walla, Wash., from

Class Notes

1939-1959

1960-1969

Classes of ’99, ’94, ’89, ’84, ’79, ’74, ’69, and ’64

Mark your calendars now

for Poly reunions!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Visit www.polytechnic.org/alumnievents

for more information.

Class Notes Editorial Policy:

The editorial staff gives preference

to those class notes that come from

primary sources. We reserve the right

to edit class notes (primarily because

of space considerations; occasionally

for clarity). We do not have the

resources to fact-check class note

entries; therefore, we cannot be liable

for inaccurate or false information

that may inadvertently find its way

into a class note. We thank you for

your understanding.

To submit a class note, send an emailto classnotes@polytechnic.org.

27P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

managing her summer business, the

Truckee River Raft Co. After 15 years in

Arroyo Grande, Marnie retired from the City

of Grover Beach and relocated back to the

Santa Barbara area in the fall.

Philippe Tusler ’72 Our eldest, Sophie,

is married and living in Brooklyn, N.Y. They

design, configure, and support archival

systems for art museums and libraries.

Our younger daughter, Charlotte, is in

her last year of veterinary school at U.C.

Davis, where she hopes to specialize in

animal ophthalmology. Needless to say,

we are very proud of them. Meanwhile,

I just ended five years with Southern

California Edison, where I was in charge

of software quality at the San Onofre

Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). Since

the plant has been decommissioned, so

have I. I miss seeing the surf at Trestles

every morning. We’ll see where the next

chapter takes me. I look forward to seeing

all of you at the next reunion! Debbie King Donahue ’73 My “baby” has started

college at Texas A&M University, and I

am now an empty nester. Michele, her

husband, and their three children live

near me in Houston, while Andrea and her

husband live and work in the New York City

area. The real estate market in Texas has

been amazing this year, which has been

a real blessing. If you are in the Houston

area, give me a call! Mark Rapaport ’73 I hope that my classmates are healthy and

happy. Kathleen Wheaton ’75 At Poly,

I was awarded the John Manley English

Prize at the end of ninth grade. I have

worked mostly as a journalist and travel

writer, including 12 years in Spain and Latin

America. My first short story collection,

“Aliens and Other Stories,” a loosely linked

collection about exiles of Argentina’s dirty

war, won the 2013 Washington Writers

Publishing House Prize for fiction and was

published this past October.

Class Notes

1970-1979

Thirty-four years ago, Eric Haskell ’69 was appointed by the Department of French at Scripps College, where he quickly became known for both the intellectual depth and the entertaining flourishes of his lectures. An expert on French culture and interdisciplinary humanities, as well as the director of the Clark Humanities Museum at Scripps, Dr. Haskell has now joined the ranks of some of the world’s other great creative minds—Marcel Marceau, Audrey Hepburn, T.S. Eliot, and Rudolf Nureyev, to name a few—as a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). He was awarded the honor by the French government in July, followed in November by the country’s complementary award, the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the Order of the Academic Palms). Together these prizes attest to Dr. Haskell’s unwavering commitment to art, research, and engaging, thoughtful teaching, a path inspired by his Upper School French teacher at Poly, Renée Bel Geary. “Madame Geary dedicated herself to the task of exposing her students to the infinite riches of studying a culture other than their own,” he says. “Her rigorous training and discipline, inextricably linked to the quest for perfection, as well as her joy for sharing knowledge, have had a life-long influence on my teaching and scholarship.”

Monsieur Didier Wirth, Commander of the Order of the Arts and Letters (Ordre des Arts et des Lettres), inducted Scripps Professor Eric Haskell (left) as Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres at the Château de Bénouville, Normandy, France this past July.

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

Eric Haskell ’69

M O R E P H O T O S A N D M E M O R I E S F R O M A L U M N I A T W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

28 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Colleen Chien ’91 explored everything from sports to journalism to academics as a Poly student. Much later, she realized they were all paths to the same end. “Through being on The Paw Print, hanging out with friends on the tennis court and track, and from my teachers and peers, I learned how to think critically and on my feet,” she says now. That ability took her through an engineering degree at Stanford, law school at UC Berkeley, and a series of career moves enviable for their dynamism and variety: law firm associate, fellow at the Stanford Center for Law and Biosciences, Fulbright Scholar in investigative journalism, strategy consultant and spacecraft engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. In 2007, she took a position on the faculty of Santa Clara University School of Law, a job she’s currently on leave from after being appointed senior advisor for intellectual property and innovation in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. For Chien, this new assignment is a dream job and a chance to make a real difference. “Academics are a great source of problem-framing and early stage ideas. Many and perhaps most ideas don’t work, but some of them have the potential to change the world. I think of policymakers as not only idea-generators but also the commercializers of great ideas, whose job it is to bring solutions to big problems and get them over the finish line.”

Poly Connections

The Fay brothers, Todor ’77, Jonathan ’81,

and Benjamin ’86, were among a host

of brave alumni playing a mix of current

Poly Varsity and JV athletes in the alumni

soccer game on July 5. Photo courtesy of

their sister, Lisa Fay Matthiessen ’78.

Fulton Collins ’85 has been named the

2013-14 international chairman of the

Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO),

to which he was first exposed as a Poly

student and many parents were members.

Fulton is chairman and CEO of Network

Communications, Inc., one of the largest

U.S. publishers of local printed and online

magazines for the real estate market. He is

a third-generation YPO member and joined

the YPO Lone Star-Dallas Chapter in 1998.

Class NotesA L U M N I P R O F I L E

Colleen Chien ’91

1980-1989

Classes of ’99, ’94, ’89, ’84, ’79, ’74, ’69, and ’64

Mark your calendars now

for Poly reunions!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Visit www.polytechnic.org/alumnievents

for more information.

29P O LY C O N N E C T I O N SM O R E P H O T O S A N D M E M O R I E S F R O M A L U M N I A T W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

Joseph Mathews ’91 We welcomed our

third son, Sam, on Aug. 29.

Adam Warren ’92 I am blessed to have

amazing friends like these! (pictured left to

right) Tod Kanegae ’92, Amber Tyson ’94,

Tara Newman ’92, Adam Warren ’94, and

Lauren Arnault ’94.

Jonathan Kidder ’93 has been named

interim head of school at Park Day School,

a K-8 progressive school in Oakland, Calif.

Previously, Jon was assistant head of Drew

School in San Francisco.

Larry Perkins ’95 and Nichole welcomed

Dagny Mae Perkins on August 5. She

weighed 7 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 inches long.

Joshua Callahan ’96 Jess and I welcomed

Alex Jay Callahan to the world on July 21. It

sounds like the past year has produced a

big crop of Class of ’96 offspring—no doubt

a lot of new little faces to meet at our

next reunion! We are enjoying life in San

Francisco, although I do my best to stay a

Dodgers fan.

Scott Steuber ’96 On Oct. 3, Rachel and

I welcomed our daughter, Colette Louise

Steuber, who weighed in at 6 lbs. 15 oz.

and measured 18.5 inches.

Nine ’98ers (that’s 11.25% of the class)

had babies in August and September, and

they are all girls. Six of the nine are class

couples! Griffin Booth ’98’s son, Walker

Otis Booth, was born on June 6. On Aug.

31, Vicki Chan Kim ’98 and Peter Kim had

Elie Joy Kim.

On Sept. 8, Jane Bryson ’98 and Jeremy

Milo had Emma Jane Milo.

Khori Dastoor ’98 and her husband,

BenJoaquin Gouverneur, welcomed Soraya

Inez Gouverneur on Sept. 8. She was born

at Alta Bates in Berkeley, Calif. BenJoaquin

is an engineer working for Tesla Motors.

Khori is a program officer for the Packard

Humanities Institute. They live in Oakland.

On Sept. 15, Nicky Chuck Sweeney ’98

and Ryan Sweeney ’98 had Hanna

Elizabeth Sweeney.

On Sept. 19, Jennifer Wang ’98 and Sean Dougall ’98 had Annika Brynn Dougall. On

Sept. 20, Ariana Kahn Tice ’98 and Dane Tice ’98 had Rhedyn Lyra Tice. John Prescott ’99 and his wife, Hallie, welcomed

daughter, Nora Christine Prescott, on

Dec. 2, 2012.

Poly Connections

Class Notes

1990-1999

30 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

After two years of training to qualify, David Stone ’00 is competing in the 2014 Boston

Marathon in honor of Jamen Amato ’03,

who passed away from Hodgkin’s

Lymphoma in 2009. David and Jamen were

close friends and played soccer together

at Poly. As part of the race, David is raising

support for the Leukemia & Lymphoma

Society through Team In Training.

Megan MacLennan ’03 and Jonathan

William Crowley were married June 15, at

The Wauwinet, a hotel in Nantucket, Mass.

The couple met at Bowdoin College, from

which they graduated.

Stuart Siciliano ’03 and Alison Murray

Harden were married July 13, at The Beach

Club in Santa Monica, Calif.

Lt. Stephen Huffman ’04 is flying F/A-18

Super Hornets with Strike Fighter

Squadron 32, the “Swordsmen.” His

squadron is assigned to the aircraft carrier

USS Harry S. Truman, which deployed in

July and will return next spring. Pictured is

Steve piloting his plane on the flight deck

of the Truman. Catherine Karayan Wilbur ’04 Gregory

Wilbur and I were married in May just

across the street from Poly at The

Athenaeum at Caltech. Greg and I met at

NYU Law. My brother, Paul Karayan ’02,

and my cousin, Emily Dickinson ’16, were

in the wedding party. Jason Nagata ’04,

Marc Takei ’04, John Pearson ’04, Natalie Varner Matson ’06, and former faculty

member Celinda Pearson were also in

attendance. Greg and I currently live in

Washington, D.C., while I finish my two-year

clerkship at the United States Tax Court.

Since moving here, we’ve bumped into four

Poly alums. Please let us know if you’re in

town! We’d love to see you.

Seth McCurry ’05 I graduated from King’s

College London with a master’s degree in

environment in development in January. I

completed my dissertation on the potential

of high-tech aquaculture projects as

development schemes, with a specific

focus on Madagascar and the Maldives.

After spending a month recovering from

my incredible and exhausting summer,

I moved to Indonesia. I am now living in

the remote Sumatra province of Bengkulu

(visitors welcome), where I am helping

to set up a sea cucumber farm for the

Orange County-based company Innovare

Development and Consulting. I am also

documenting my adventures in Asia on a

blog: soloinsumatra.wordpress.com.

Logan Tiari ’05 and Jennifer Regas-Riewerts ’07 were married on July 27.

The wedding party included Alexandra Bakaly ’07, Joanna Hardy ’07, Madeline Goldberg ’07, Winston Mi ’05, Steve Clark ’05, Christiaan Strong ’05, and

Nicholas Regas-Riewerts ’05.

Class Notes

2000-2011

31P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

Poly Connections

Molly Nelson ’06 I’m working at an

independent school for children with

learning disabilities in Culver City, Calif. Grace DeVoll ’07 is an assistant to the

executive producer of the TV show Arrow.

She spends her days scheduling, phoning,

and editing, and her nights nursing her

beloved TV blog, tubetoptelevision.com.

Her search for bloggers has put her back

in touch with many writerly Poly ’07 alumni,

including Hannah Withers, Willie Myers,

Mary Gumport, and Elise Kuo. Grace

recently got paid to write for TV and she

ran a mile, both for the first time. She isn’t

sure which is a bigger accomplishment. Caitlin Latta ’07 recently started

graduate school at USC’s Rossier School of

Education. She is pursuing her master’s in

postsecondary administration and student

affairs and loves the program so far. Matthew Szeto ’07 I am doing my second

year of law school at NYU School of Law.

While I like New York, I’m hoping to practice

back in Los Angeles. Samantha Chau ’09 I graduated from the University of Southern

California with a bachelor’s degree in

health promotion and disease prevention

studies, and finished my master’s degree

in global medicine in December 2013. Elizabeth Chau ’09 graduated cum laude

from the University of Southern California

with two bachelor’s degrees in international

relations and East Asian languages and

cultures. Olivia Russak ’11 A year into her research assistantship

studying adolescent development and

biological risk markers for schizophrenia,

Olivia now serves as lead undergraduate

research assistant in the ADAPT Lab

(www.adaptprogram.com) at the University

of Colorado, Boulder. Next semester, Olivia

will be studying abroad in Durban, South

Africa, researching local perceptions of

and accessibility to mental health care. She

plans on using this data for a senior honors

thesis in clinical psychology.

Class Notes

During a PolyConnect lunch talk last October, David Wiseman ’99 not only discussed his art, but he also brought a little bit of the great outdoors inside. From delicate botanical drawings to bronze and porcelain light fixtures, sculptures, and other pieces, Wiseman’s work is inspired by actual nature and by “the depiction of nature in patterns and motifs from cultures around the world, like stonework in traditional Korean homes (hanok), pre-war Viennese wallpaper and textiles, Indian jali screens, Turkish mosque tiles, yakuza (Japanese mafia) tattoos, and Haida animal paintings.” All of these influences combine in his ethereal, organic designs, which occupy private homes, retail stores, and, most recently, West Hollywood’s public library and the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, where he just sent a large chandelier. Wiseman, who attended the Rhode Island School of Design, found returning to Poly very gratifying. “I took a less conventional route than many, and I remember feeling a little ambivalent about this when I was a student. As an alum, I hope to offer a unique perspective about choosing a career in the arts or perhaps devoting one’s efforts to other causes one is passionate about.” His advice for aspiring artists would be well heeded by everyone else, too: “Make and create. You have to overcome the fear of being bad at something.”

A L U M N I P R O F I L E

David Wiseman ’99

Photo by Mark Hanauer

M O R E P H O T O S A N D M E M O R I E S F R O M A L U M N I A T W W W . P O LY T E C H N I C . O R G

00 S E C T I O N N A M E

Josephine Smith McWilliams ’35

May 22, 2012, Hanover, Vermont

Josephine was born Dec. 24, 1919, the

daughter of Frank and Nelle DeWitt Smith,

in Pasadena. She attended Poly from first

through ninth grade. On June 26, 1940, she

married John McWilliams ’31; they were

married 62 years. Soon after their wedding,

they moved to Pittsfield, Mass., and then

Williamstown, Mass., before retiring in the

Woodstock, Vt., area in 1974. Josephine

was involved in the Berkshire Garden

Club and was a member of the Junior

League. She was an avid needle worker.

She is survived by her four children, John,

Patricia, Carol Gibson, and David; seven

grandchildren; two great-granddaughters;

and four nieces and nephews. She was the

sister of Gertrude Smith Calmer ’29 and

Harvey Dewitt Smith ’29.

Harry F. Hopper, Jr. ’36 June 17, 2013, Chevy Chase, Maryland

Harry was born on March 26, 1921, in

Pasadena, where he graduated from Poly,

and later the Catalina Island School for

Boys. He interrupted his matriculation at

Dartmouth College to volunteer for the

American Field Service before the United

States entered World War II and served

to support the British army in the Middle

East and North Africa. Harry returned to

the United States and served as a Navy

corpsman, instructor to the Marines.

Following graduation from Dartmouth

College, he attended the Johns Hopkins

School of Advanced International Studies.

Speaking fluent Arabic, he started his

40-year career in the Middle East in 1950

as a commercial attaché with the U.S.

Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After

serving the State Department, he worked

at ARAMCO, Trans-Arabian Pipeline, and

as a manufacturers’ representative in

Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Jordan. Harry

is survived by his wife, Adriana Fucile

Hopper, and his children, Nataly Hopper Berckmann ’68, Harry F. Hopper III,

Edmund J. Hopper, Laurence F. Hopper,

and Albert F. Hopper. Harry is also

survived by his sister, Jane H. Ware ’39;

12 grandchildren; and two great-

grandchildren. Harry is predeceased by

his brother, Wilbur M. Hopper ’37 (godson

of F. Dan Frost ’36), and sister, Florence Hopper Boom ’42.

Frederick J. Carr, Jr. ’38

August 22, 2013, Encinitas, California

Frederick was born Jan. 6, 1923, in

Wisconsin. His family, including his sister,

Mary E. Scales ’33, moved to Pasadena

in 1929. Frederick was a graduate of

Poly, Catalina Island School for Boys,

and Harvard College. In World War II,

he served in the Army Air Corps and

spent 19 months in Tunis, Tunisia as

a communications officer in the Army

Airways Communications System,

becoming detachment commander there

with four officers and 140 airmen. He

founded Carr, Beedle, Hastings & Dennis

Insurance Agency and Brokerage firm. He

was active in community services, serving

as president of the San Marino Kiwanis

Club for two terms and as president of

the Monte Vista Grove Kiwanis Club of

Pasadena. He also served as president

of the Independent Insurance Agents

and Brokers Association of Pasadena. He

and his wife, Kathryn, moved to Encinitas

in 1986; they both loved the beach life.

In the winters, they enjoyed many ski

vacations with their extended family to

Mammoth, Vail, and Snowmass, as well as

abroad once to Switzerland. As members

of Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, both

were avid tennis players and golfers. Also,

during retirement years, Frederick and

Kathryn traveled around the world. He

was predeceased by Kathryn, to whom he

was married for more than 60 years. He is

survived by their three sons, Frederick III,

Kenneth, and Thomas, and by three

grandchildren. He is also survived by his

second wife, Nancy Noble Carr, whom

he married in April 2011. They had dated

70 years earlier, when Frederick was

attending Harvard.

Benjamin Haines Shattuck ’43

June 28, 2013, Evans, Georgia

Born in Los Angeles on March 26, 1928,

to Charles Henry Shattuck, Sr. and Bess

Haines Shattuck, Ben was the younger

of two sons, including Charles Henry Shattuck, Jr. ’38. Ben attended Poly for

seventh through ninth grade, followed by

Cate School, and he graduated from San

Marino Prep School in 1946. He attended

the University of California, Berkeley,

graduating with a degree in business

administration in 1950. While at Cal, he was

a proud member of Delta Kappa Epsilon

fraternity, The Skull & Keys, The Scabbard

and Blade, and the Beta Beta Club. In

1950, Ben married Ann Waynick Ruble and

started their family of four daughters while

living in San Marino. Ben spent time with

his family skiing, backpacking through

the Sierras, and bird hunting. In 1950,

Ben enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served

during the Korean War as an officer on

the submarine USS Blackfin until 1953. His

professional career began in sales. He then

worked as a broker for Mitchum Jones &

Templeton, and ultimately in investment

management with National Securities &

Research Corp. In 1968, Ben began his long

tenure with Capital Group Inc., retiring in

1990 as senior vice president of American

Funds and vice president of Capital

Research Management Company. Ben

is survived by his wife of 22 years, Mary

Richards Yort Shattuck, four daughters,

and three stepsons. Ben and Mary lived

in Sonoma County until relocating in

Poly Connections

In Memoriam

32 P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

We extend our condolences to the

families and friends of those listed

below and hope this section assists

those who wish to honor their Poly

classmates and friends. Poly publishes

obituaries as space allows when we

receive notice that an alumnus/a or

former faculty or staff member has

died. If we have neglected to list

someone, please send us biographical

information, which we will print in

a subsequent issue. Please note:

Listings include those received

through September 2013.

00S E C T I O N N A M E

2010 to the Augusta, Ga. area. Ben is also

survived by 18 grandchildren, eight great-

grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Jean F. Ducommun ’46 June 11, 2012, Novato, California

Jean was born Feb. 28, 1931, in

Alhambra. He enjoyed camping trips

to the mountains and deserts with his

children and had an endearing sense of

humor and love of cats. He is survived

by his four daughters; loyal companion,

Maureen Ahsani; sailing buddies Ben and

Diana Landis and Lennart Anderson; and

caring ex-wife, Carol Ducommun. Jean

was predeceased by brothers Edmond Ducommun ’33 and Alan Ducommun ’31,

and sister Patricia L. Frey ’49.

Ruth Stewart Martin ’46

June 20, 2013, San Marino, California

Ruth passed away peacefully in her home

surrounded by family. Ruth was born in

Los Angeles on Nov. 17, 1931. She was

a fourth-generation Californian, as her

great-grandfather, Lyman Stewart, moved

west and was the founder of Union Oil

and co-founder of Biola University. She

leaves behind a large family, including

three children, Leslie Martin Thompson,

W. Lawson Martin III, and Laura Stewart Martin Stone ’81; 14 grandchildren;

eight great-grandchildren; her sister

and brother-in-law, Barbara Stewart Jameson ’48 and Frank W. Jameson;

their children, William S. Jameson ’82

and Ruth Jameson Pasqueletto ’83;

and many cousins. Ruth was raised in

Pasadena, where she attended Poly

from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Her high school years were spent at the

Master’s School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. She

attended Pomona College, lived in San

Francisco several years with friends, then

moved back to Pasadena where she

married William L. Martin II ’44 in 1953. She lived in San Marino for

most of her adult life and was active in

many community groups and volunteer

endeavors. She was also an award-

winning actress in various community

theater groups, including the San Gabriel

Community Theater and the Nine O’Clock

Players. In her later years, she enjoyed

spending time with family, working with

computers, gardening, reading, and

meeting monthly with a group of her

community theater friends.

Calvin Wells ’46 August 15, 2013, Santa Ana, California

Calvin was husband to Mary Wells and

brother of Jonathan B. Wells ’52 and

Mary Wells Jenks ’44. He also is survived

by seven children, 14 grandchildren, and

two great-grandchildren. Calvin moved to

Pasadena from Pennsylvania and attended

Poly before attending Fountain Valley High

School in Colorado Springs, Colo. After high

school, Calvin attended the University of

Virginia on a football scholarship. After his

freshman year, he enlisted in the Marine

Corps and served two tours of active duty

in Korea. He left a decorated Marine and

enrolled in and graduated from Claremont

Men’s College, where he played baseball

and football and joined the wrestling team.

He and Mary started a janitorial business

before they opened a drapery business

that supported the family until he retired

a few years ago. Calvin enjoyed spending

time with his children and family. He

coached his children’s sports teams and

started off-road racing with his oldest son.

He raced in desert events in California,

Arizona, Nevada, and Baja California, with

his biggest victory in the Baja 1000.

Jean Fonda Shank ’53 September 4, 2013, Santa Monica, California

Born in Van Nuys on March 21, 1939,

Jeanie was the daughter of Robert Charles

and Mary Cossar Fonda of Pasadena.

Jean attended Poly from fifth through

eighth grade. Following graduation from

Ethel Walker in Connecticut, she attended

Hollins College in Virginia, University of

California at Berkeley, and University

of Southern California. In 1962, Jeanie

married Gene Kelly Shank, with whom

she spent 51 years. They raised four

children together in Santa Monica. She

enjoyed entertaining family and friends,

playing tennis, and tending to her rose

and vegetable gardens. Jeanie was an

active member of the Junior League,

Westside Guild of Children’s Hospital, and

particularly, St. Matthew’s Parish School

and Church. She volunteered at the St.

Matthew’s Thrift Shop, was a leader of the

Altar Guild, and participated in Helping

Hands and Saints Alive. Jeanie is survived

by her loving husband; four children,

Katherine, Peggy, Skip, and Mary; and

seven grandchildren.

Phyllis Hansen Heistand

August 10, 2013, Port Murray, New Jersey

Former faculty member Phyllis Hansen Heistand died of complications from

multiple sclerosis. Phyllis was born on

April 4, 1937, in Waseca, Minn., to Martin

and Hazel Hansen. Phyllis attended

Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and

moved from Stillwater, Minn., to California

in the early 1960s. She earned her

teaching credential and began teaching

at Town School in San Francisco, where

Jolly Urner was then head of the Lower

School. In 1972, Jolly was director of Poly’s

Lower School and encouraged Phyllis to

come to Poly, where Phyllis taught fourth

grade from 1972 to 1985. In 1982, she met

and married David Heistand ’66, whose

mother, Margaret, worked in the business

office at Poly for many years. In 1985,

Phyllis and David moved to Stephensburg,

N.J. Phyllis was an active member of St.

James’ Episcopal Church in Hackettstown,

N.J., editing their monthly newsletter,

coordinating the English as a Second

Language program, and creating the

community’s mystery parties with a fellow

parishioner. She loved her dog and she

counted birds for Cornell University in the

winter. She was an associate of the Holy

Cross Monastery in West Park, N.Y., active

and engaged there with many friends. In

the last few years, despite her difficulties

with MS, she worked on playing the Irish

harp. She is survived by her husband,

David; her brother, Paul; and two second

cousins.

Poly Connections

33P O LY C O N N E C T I O N S

34 P. S .

P.S.Chris Schmoke

I come from a family of farmers on one side and factory workers on the other, none of whom went to

college. I was one of the kids who didn’t recognize that college was an option—I thought my ticket out

would be the military. Then I had a chemistry teacher in high school who made a big impact on me.

He and my football coach said “You could get a scholarship and go to college.” Once I decided I was

going to do that, I never wavered in my major. I was always going to be an educator, and I was always

going to teach science.

Ha! Number one would be: Don’t wear red parachute pants. And if your sweatshirt has no sleeves, but

14 zippers that don’t unzip anything, you probably don’t need to wear that combo. But really, I was an

anxious student in terms of the social aspects of school. I played sports but was also into music and

acting and that was definitely not cool. Trying to balance that and not care what anybody thinks, that’s

part of adolescence and growing up. High school was something I endured, but it helped shape me as

a teacher, and I don’t know that I would trade that.

Partly because I had such a hard time liking my teachers and staying interested in school, I carry a sense

of responsibility to be entertaining—I take it seriously. I tell a lot of stories, and I make lots of analogies

that relate back to what we’re doing. Kids everywhere have the same needs: They want to know that

you’re interested in them beyond teaching them the difference between velocity and acceleration.

Last year when my oldest son was diagnosed with diabetes, the way the community rallied, I’ve never

seen such support. It reaffirmed what my wife and I already knew, which is that Poly is a real community.

It’s about families and passion and diversity and creativity and everybody is welcome and everybody’s

gifts are valid. The biggest hope or question I have is how can we translate this to more schools, more

places, more environments so that every kid has these opportunities.

What was your high school experience like? Did it factor into your

decision to become a teacher?

If you could give your 15-year-old self some advice about surviving

high school, what would it be?

What is your style and teaching philosophy?

Has being a member of the Poly community changed your life?

Q:

Q:

Q:

Q:

Chris Schmoke, a Michigan native, arrived at Poly seven years ago. After earning a degree in science education at Northern Michigan University, where he was also captain of the football team, Schmoke was a public high school science teacher, department chair, and coach for 11 years before heading west. Schmoke teaches Upper School chemistry and physics and is head varsity football coach and head track coach.

P.S.

with Chris Schmoke

Panthers in the Zone

Class Notes and Alumni Profiles

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