Sewickley Speaking Winter 2011

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SEWICKLEY SPEAKINGT H E M A G A Z I N E O F S E W I C K L E Y A C A D E M Y



Entrepreneurship requires a careful balance of resources, acumen, and passion. Despite the risks involved, many of our alumni strike out on their own in search of fulfillment and success. Read some of their stories inside.

S E W I C K L E Y S P E A K I N G W I N T E R 2 0 1 1 S E W I C K L E Y S P E A K I N G W I N T E R 2 0 1 1

EdIToR Haley Wilson

CoVER Robert Edwards

CoNTRIbuToRS Lawrence Connolly

Greta daniels

Sharon Hurt davidson

Jennifer FitzPatrick

John Murphy

Winthrop Palmer

Mandi Semple

Susan Sour ‘55

Haley Wilson

PHoToGRAPHERS Greta daniels

Mandi Semple

James R. Wardrop ’57

Haley Wilson

dESIGN Richard A. Hooper

Third Planet Global Creative

www.333planet.com

Sewickley Academy does not discriminate on

the basis of race, gender, religion, national or

ethnic origin, or sexual orientation in the

administration of its educational policies,

financial aid program, athletic program,

or any other policy or program.

C Printed on 100% recycled paper that is processed chlorine-free.

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INSPIRING PARENTS To bE CHAMPIoNS oF EduCATIoN 2

FALL SPoRTS WRAP-uP 4

HAPPY bAbY CoMPANY: A NATuRAL CHoICE FoR PARENTS 6

CHRIS ANdERSoN AWARdEd EIGHTH CLARK FACuLTY CHAIR 7

A TASTE oF TuSCANY 8

JENNIFER MARKuS ’89 – PLANNING To SuPPoRT THE FuTuRE 10

VIPERS (booK TWo oF THE VEINS CYCLE) bY LAWRENCE C. CoNNoLLY 11

MAKING IT oN THEIR oWN TERMS: RodNEY ALTMAN ’00 & bEN bARNES ’95 12

REuNIoN 2010 14

SAVE THE dATE - REuNIoN 2011 17

SEWICKLEY ACAdEMY IS oN THE RoAd AGAIN! 17

SuSAN HouGHTALING 1949-2010 18

HoNoRING ouR TRuSTEES EMERITI 19

ALuMNI EVENTS / CoLIN WISE ’07 MEMoRIAL 20

CLASS NoTES 21

IN MEMoRIAM 32

INSPIRING PARENTS To bE CHAMPIoNS oF EduCATIoN

REuNIoN 2010MAKING IT oN THEIR oWN TERMS: RodNEY ALTMAN ’00 & bEN bARNES ’95

HAPPY bAbY CoMPANY: A NATuRAL CHoICE FoR PARENTS

CoNTENTS

Find Us on Facebook & TwiTTer Follow sewickley academy on Twitter and join the academy alumni group on Facebook to stay informed and connected!


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A PoWERFuL dRIVE To CREATE

Dear Readers of Sewickley Speaking,

In each issue of the magazine, we seek to provide interesting and relevant articles that will appeal both to our current families and our extended alumni family, and this issue is no exception. In the last several years, Sewickley Academy has increasingly focused on developing in our students the skills and talents that will serve them long after they graduate. Tony Wagner, in his compelling book The Global Achievement Gap, calls these 21st century skills, and they include critical thinking and problem-solving, collaboration across networks and leading by influence, agility and adaptability, initiative and entrepreneurialism, effective oral and written communication, accessing and analyzing information, and curiosity and imagination.

Building something where nothing previously existed is an exhila-rating process, one which demands this combination of 21st century skills, and which I think of, collectively, as entrepreneurial spirit: a powerful drive to create. In the Winter 2010 issue of Sewickley Speaking, we shared with you the creative impulse of a number of wonderful and compelling artists who got their start here at the Academy. In this issue we invite you into a world where the creative impulse manifests itself not in art but in building organizations and businesses that meet a range of needs and reflect the drive and pas-sion of Academy entrepreneurs from three different decades.

One of the greatest strengths of our school is the wide diversity of talents reflected in both our current students and our alumni. We all work in ways that are personally compelling, each of us adding to the mosaic that comprises the collective achievement of our community. It is remarkable to see what our graduates are able to accomplish, and it is exciting to contemplate what today’s students will do.

The key for students and faculty on campus, as well as for alumni, is to continue striving to achieve our full individual and collective potential. Working together, supporting one another and remain-ing connected through the network of relationships that are at the heart of what it means to be a part of this incredible community, provides each of us the opportunity to make lasting contributions. Ultimately, the excellence of the education provided by Sewickley Academy is reflected this way: in lives well lived that also serve to benefit others.

Sincerely,

Kolia O’Connor

Head of School

Love it? Hate it? Read it?We would love to hear what you think about this Sewickley Speaking. We may edit your letters for length and clarity, but please write!

Haley Wilson Sewickley Speaking 315 Academy Avenue Sewickley, PA 15143 [email protected]

LETTERSThe last Sewickley Speaking was the first issue I have read from cover to cover … I enjoyed the alums’ stories, especially Pittsburgh Perspectives ... It’s always interesting to read about the achievements of my classmates, and also to see the faces of today’s grads and learn where they’re going for their college education. No doubt we’ll be reading great things about them, too, one day!

Leslie Bates ‘75 Xenia, OH

On January 18, 2011, beloved Academy dance teacher Kurt Cerny passed away. A tribute celebrating his life and his 16 years at the Academy will appear in the summer issue of Sewickley Speaking.

In the meantime, we invite you to share your memories of Mr. Cerny at http://1838.co/kcerny

KuRT CERNY: 1955-2011


INSPIRING PARENTS To bE CHAMPIoNS oF EduCATIoN

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For years, our nation’s public schools have struggled to compete on the global stage, and we find our students outperformed in many subject areas. It is no wonder then that educational re-form is at the top of the list of priorities for each president’s term. Every year, the Department of Education spends mil-lions of dollars to launch projects that are aimed to improve the quality of our public schools - from initiatives to improve the quality of teaching, to programs to reduce the drop-out rate. “The majority of these initiatives are aimed at school improve-ment,” says Founder and CEO of GreatSchools Bill Jackson ’82, “but what if educational improvement isn’t just about school improvement? What if we began our reform by instead focus-ing on families and parents as instruments of change?”

Founder and CEO of GreatSchools Bill Jackson ’82.

So, in 1998, Bill, newly-married and soon to be a parent himself, launched GreatSchools.org. In its early stages, the site was a guide for schools in two counties in the Silicon Valley. But after earning the attention and financial backing of well-known venture capitalists and foundations, the project grew into an independent non-profit. The site then expanded to include all schools in California, then schools in five states. After four short years of operation, the site included schools from the whole country. By 2007, GreatSchools morphed into a broad-based consumer service that reaches one in three American families with school-age children each year – that’s 37 million unique visitors per year.

The mission of GreatSchools is simple and remains true to Bill’s initial hypothesis: “…to inspire and guide parents to become effective champions of their children’s education at home and in their communities.” The site is an all-encompassing educational resource for parents, hosting third-party reviews of schools, advice on choosing the best-fit school for your child, and articles on child development, learning disabilities, learning activities, and much more.

These probing questions, coupled with his experience teaching in the U.S. and China, led Bill to form the hypothesis that if parents were more actively involved in their children’s education, the quality of their education would improve, no matter how poor or mediocre the educational system. After graduating from Yale, Bill moved to south central China to teach English to first-year medical students, then moved back to the states to teach in Washington, D.C. Here, the evidence to support his hypothesis grew stronger. “In the classroom, I fully recognized the extraor-dinary importance of parents’ involvement in their children’s education. I saw how much better a child did in the classroom when backed by strong support at home, compared to students whose parents were not invested in their education.”

With this knowledge in mind, Bill moved west to San Francisco for a year-long fellowship with the Coro Foundation. In the early 90s, he made the move into the technology field just as the Internet was emerging as a communication medium. “Once I re-alized the potential of the Internet as a cost-effective, interactive, and personalized way of sharing information, I knew this was the medium through which we could inspire and guide parents to get them more effectively involved in their child’s education.”


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“Here at GreatSchools,

we want to inspire

parents to light ‘fires

of engagement’ in

their children.”

- BIll JACkSOn ’82

Founder and CEO of GreatSchools Bill Jackson ’82. Connecting with the parents and students GreatSchools serves, Bill Jackson ‘82 reads to children from KIPP Shine Prep in Houston, Texas.

Over the past decade, GreatSchools has undoubtedly become the leading online educational resource, and many of its projects are impacting the nation. In the fall of 2010, GreatSchools partnered with nBC and The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch Education nation Scorecard (http://nbcscorecard.greatschools.org) – an online tool that provides a concise, easy-to-digest view of a school’s educational performance at the

district, state, and national levels. “The goal of the Scorecard project is to give parents a high-level perspective of how our schools are doing and to get them thinking and asking questions about what we need to be aiming for.”

Bill is most excited about the GreatSchool’s College Bound project - an e-learning program for low-income parents that is funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, The Walton Family Foundation, and the Robertson Foundation. “The pro-gram guides parents on how to raise college-ready high school graduates, beginning in kindergarten.” Available in both English and Spanish at no charge, the program’s target audience is par-ents with “the will but not the way” – those who want the best for their children but who may not know how to support their child or are not familiar with the U.S. education system. Immi-grant families often fit this profile. “Many of these families come into the country because they want their kids to have a better life, but they don’t know how to make that possible. Many times the parents themselves may not have had an education beyond the ninth grade.” The program, drawing on new insights in brain science, provides parents effective ways to motivate their chil-dren’s learning, tips on how to communicate with their child’s

school, and advice on how to plan for college. Currently, 1,800 parents are participating in the pilot program and in the next five years, GreatSchools hopes to grow College Bound to have a reach of a million or more parents.

“Here at GreatSchools, we want to inspire parents to light ‘fires of engagement’ in their children. We want them to be able to see what their child enjoys and does well, and then be able to

encourage that passion and curiosity,” says Bill. “not only did my own parents do that with me, but it also happened during my education at the Academy.” Bill recalls an Academy fundraising presentation he saw as a Middle School student. Feeling that it was not of great quality, Bill asked Head of School Cliff nichols if he could design a new slideshow presentation. Despite Bill’s youth and inexperience, Mr. nichols agreed and gave him $100 to buy the supplies. “Sewickley Academy doesn’t just fill stu-dents with knowledge, it also lights sparks of personal engage-ment and commitment in each one of them.”

As president and CEO of a successful company with 55 employ-ees and a budget of $8 million, Bill has some advice for those venturing out to start their own business. “look for inspiration and insights in unexpected places.” For instance, GreatSchools has looked at Weight Watchers’ online programs for ideas on how to successfully get people motivated to achieve a goal. “let your passion guide you … I have had access to so much great education, so I’m passionate about the value of education. We’ve married this cause with the Internet as a medium and, turns out, it worked out pretty great.”

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Girls’ GolF

The varsity girls’ golf team recorded a number of firsts in its inaugu-ral year of varsity play. The Panthers captured the debut matches by defeating Butler and Hopewell at Allegheny Country Club (ACC). Micaela Becker ’13 posted the first hole-in-one in the history of the girls’ program on the 137-yard Hole 8 at ACC. Aja Happel ’11 won the WPIAL Individual Section Tournament at Delmar Golf Course with an 85. Bailey Clement ’13 and Lindsay Curran ’13 were consistent scorers for the team throughout the season. The team did remark-ably well, finishing with a 10-4 overall record and placing third in the section with an 8-4 record. Many thanks to Aja Happel ’11 and Rose Solomon ’11 who began their careers in the co-ed golf program and then become stalwarts in establishing the girls’ golf program.

boys’ GolF

This year’s boys’ golf team had a banner year. A record number of students (32) participated on the boys’ varsity and junior varsity teams. Will Hogan ’11 (73) and Joey Manzinger ’11 (75) finished in the top five in the WPIAL Section Tournament. In the WPIAL Indi-vidual Championships, Joey finished third with a 77. The Panthers captured the final five section matches to capture a sixth-straight section championship, finishing with an overall record of 13-4 and 12-2 in the section. In almost every match, a different player stood out as Jack Straka ’11, Brenton Atcheson ’11, Charlie Carbeau ’12, Jordan Milo ’13, and Keenan Hickton ’14 performed at a high level. In the WPIAL Team Semifinals, SA finished fourth with a 403, an aver-age score of a little more than 80 per player.

Girls’ Tennis

Despite the loss of a number of players from last year’s WPIAL cham-pions, the varsity girls’ tennis team had another outstanding season. The Panthers captured the section championship, finishing with an overall record of 18-7 and 11-1 in the section. Samantha Gohh ’14 finished third in the WPIAL Girls’ Tennis Singles Tournament to ad-vance to states. Caroline Ross ’12 and Maria Frischling ’12 also ad-vanced to the PIAA Tournament by finishing second in the WPIAL Doubles Tournament. The Panthers swept their first three matches in the WPIAL Team Tennis Tournament before falling in the WPIAL Championship match by a score of 3-2. In the PIAA Tournament, SA won the first two matches and lost in the semifinals by a score of 3-2. Maddie Moersch ’11 and Liz Dietrich ’11 finished their careers in fine fashion by capturing all three of their matches at No. 2 doubles in the PIAA Tournament.

cross coUnTry

Many talented runners have graduated from the cross country pro-gram over the past several years, resulting in a team of new, fresh runners this year. Tripp Bly ’11 and Ian Carroll ’11 led the team with

Andre Green ‘11 (front) and Jalen Lee ‘13 (back) compete in the 2010 WPIAL Cross Country Championship at Slippery Rock University.

Sewickley Academy’s first varsity girls’ golf team finished the season with a 8-4 section record. Row 1: Lauren Gedeon ’13, Aja Happel ’11, Rose Solomon ’11, Lindsay Curran ’13. Row 2: Taylor Lavella ’14, Bailey Clement ’13, Kelli Mackey ’14, Micaela Becker ’13.

Seniors Jack Straka, Joey Manzinger, Will Hogan, Brenton Atcheson, Jeff Tott, and Scott Bingman gather before their match against Winchester Thurston.


FALL SPoRTS WRAP-uP

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dedication and enthusiasm, and helped the “green” team achieve personal records through the rigors of a demanding varsity season. Maggie McClain ’14 had an impressive rookie season as she consis-tently finished in the top five in meets with two other schools.

boys’ soccer

A large and enthusiastic group of players greeted the boys’ soc-cer coaches in August. With a final record of 7-9-1 and 5-4-1 in the section, there was much accomplished this season. Seven freshmen made the varsity squad, and in a number of games, as many as five of the freshmen were starters. Albert Civitarese ’11 and Hamilton West ’12 were selected to the All-WPIAL Team. Teddy Zierden ’12, along with Albert and Hamilton, was named to the All-Section Team. The seniors on the team completed their soccer careers knowing that the fruits of their labor could very well result in plentiful seasons ahead.

Field Hockey

The 2010 varsity field hockey team far exceeded expectations this year. A final record of 13-4 and a tie for second in the section with a 11-3 record was accomplished through outstanding teamwork and camaraderie. The Panthers were an incredible 8-1 in games decided by one goal. Two of those games were victories against The Ellis School, the WPIAL Champion. A large contingent of Panthers fans applauded the efforts of the field hockey team in the WPIAL Semifi-nals Playoff loss to Greensburg Central Catholic. Emily Mistick ’11 was selected to the All-WPIAL Team. The eight dedicated seniors in-spired the team to play hard and with enthusiasm, and demonstrate poise under pressure throughout the season.

Girls’ soccer

This year’s girls’ soccer team achieved its full potential throughout the playoffs, competing in the championship games of both the WPIAL and PIAA. Meghan Torrence ’11, Erin Keller ’11, and Nudge Vaccarelli ’12 were voted onto the All-Section Team. Erin and Nudge were also selected All-WPIAL. Six different players scored the 11 playoff goals, showing true team effort. In the first game of the play-offs against Avonworth, the Panthers came from behind twice to win 4-3. Against Seton-La Salle, a first-half goal solidified a 1-0 victory. It was in the semifinal game that the Panthers beat Greensburg Cen-tral Catholic in a sudden-death penalty kick shoot-out. After losing to Shadyside Academy in the WPIAL final, the girls rallied to beat Conemaugh Township 1-0 in the first round of states. In the quarter finals, it was in the second overtime that an SA corner kick bent into the net to solidify the win, 2-1. To make it to Hershey, the Panthers beat Springdale 1-0 in a dramatic overtime period. The state final produced silver for the team, concluding an unbelievable season and a fun ride!

Jake Mulholland ’13 (right) fights a defender for possession of the ball. Later in the game, he scored a goal to seal the victory against Avonworth.

Rachel Yung ’12 (center) clears the ball out of the defensive half of the field in a game against Aquinas Academy. This year’s team tied for second in the section.

In the state championship game, Sarah Rooney ’13 (right) plays a long ball from the center mid position.


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lilli (Dell’Aquila) Cannon ’96, owner of Happy Baby Company and mother of four, is no stranger to juggling family and profes-sional life. Bouncing 2-month-old son Savian on her knee, lilli recounts how it was exactly that need for variety that drove her and her husband Adam to open their own specialty baby goods store. When lilli gave birth to her first child (son, Mad-dox, now 6), she was already very interested in the growing natural parenting movement. She was particularly interested in using cloth diapers, but was disappointed with the lack of variety and information avail-able for parents who wanted to take a more natural route with their children. “You had to order everything online back then, and you didn’t know what you were getting or how to use it. We went through a lot of trial and error.”

After Miles (now 5) and Juliet (2) were born, lilli was inter-ested in getting back to work, but unsure about how to make that transition while simultaneously raising three children. Given her now extensive experience with cloth diapers, lilli de-cided to open an e-store for cloth diapers and run it out of her home. She knew there was a demand for quality products and information in this field, but she had no idea quite how much. As it turns out, there was a huge demand for education regard-ing cloth diapers. “People want to use cloth diapers because they are cheaper, better for the environment, and better for the baby, but when parents are doing their research on the Internet, there is not adequate information out there to get them started.

Many people get confused or over-whelmed and just give up.”

Upon opening, Happy Baby Company positioned itself as the “we know you want to use cloth, we’ll help you figure it out” company. lilli and Adam con-verted their children’s playroom into a showroom and began meeting with expectant mothers and new families in their home to show them how to properly use cloth diapers. There was such a demand for these sessions that by the end of the first year, lilli had a six-week waiting list. The couple realized that Happy Baby Company had outgrown its original e-store and small showroom model, and this prompted them to open the store in

2009. luckily, Adam had extensive experience in the specialty retail industry and saw a real opportunity to provide a niche service to a growing community both in Pittsburgh and around the country.

The store has been a huge success. not only are people excited about the cloth diapers, but they are coming into the shop to

see other specialty items related to natural parenting, such as baby carriers. “People really want to see these options in person before they make a decision about the type of carrier they want for their newborn baby. When you only buy online, you have no idea what

you are getting.” lilli’s store provides people with an opportu-nity to explore these options in person and get a true education before making the purchase. “People can come here, bring their babies, try on the diapers, and try on the carriers. We can help them and ultimately make them happy.”

Despite the success of the Happy Baby Company, entrepre-neurship was not always on lilli’s radar. Following her years at Sewickley Academy, lilli went on to Rice University where she majored in Spanish and anthropology and then enrolled in Yale law School after a brief stint as an assistant in a law firm. She attended Yale for a year before realizing that law school was not a good fit for her. “My father was horrified, but I knew it was not for me.”

After leaving Yale, lilli returned to Sewickley and taught Span-ish in the Senior School at the Academy for a little over a year.

HAPPY bAbY CoMPANY: A NATuRAL CHoICE FoR PARENTS

Owners of Happy Baby Company Lilli ‘96 and Adam Cannon with their children Juliet and Savian.

“I really understand my customer base. As a mom, I understand the pressures on new mothers.”

- lIllI CAnnOn ’96

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On September 10, 2010, Senior School math teacher Chris Anderson was named the eighth Clark Fac-ulty Chair by the board of trustees and Head of School kolia O’Connor. Each year, the award is given to a teacher who displays a love of learn-ing, leadership, and a commitment to the community. The award was established in honor of Ham Clark’s 15-year tenure as head-master of Sewickley

Academy and his wife Ceci’s many contributions to the life of the school.

now in her 15th year at the Academy, Chris is known by colleagues and students as a passionate, thoughtful, and inspiring peer and teacher. With an advanced degree from Duquesne University, she has taught every level of mathematics in two divisions and has also served as her de-partment’s chair. In addition, she is active in the life of the Senior School, serving as an advisor to the Senior School student council for 10 years and the Gay Straight Alliance for five years. This year, she also stepped into her role as director of the new Employee Mentoring Program.

With 24 years of teaching experience, Chris has consistently demon-strated abiding passion for her career. A visit to any of her classes reveals a master teacher whose excitement about her subject is palpable and who transmits that passion to her students. She routinely participates in on-going professional development, whether it is to make better use of the SMART Board or other tools to support learning in the classroom, or to remain up-to-date on the latest advances in the teaching of her subject. Colleague John Basinger adds, “Since I started here, Chris has been the consummate professional. She constantly reworks her curriculum to keep it current, exciting, and relevant to the students.”

When asked about her life’s work, a look of fulfillment shows on Chris’ face. “My students fascinate me with their desire to learn. They are fun, refreshing, and exciting, and I truly can’t imagine finding a job I love more.” Chris is undoubtedly respected by her colleagues and the school community - making it only fitting that she is the recipient of the Academy’s highest honor.

CHRIS ANdERSoN AWARdEd EIGHTH CLARK FACuLTY CHAIR

Clark Faculty Chair recipient Chris Anderson with Chair of the Board Glenn Buterbaugh and Head of School Kolia O’Connor.


After her first year teaching, however, lilli had her first child and decided to stay home with him. Five years and three children later, lilli was ready for a new challenge. While her path to entrepreneurship may not have been direct, lilli attributes her ability to take on this new endeavor in part to her experience at Sewickley Academy. “College ended up being really easy because I was so well-prepared from high school. I was able to learn a lot more about things that inter-ested me rather than take core classes. I think the freedom to explore served me very well, and when it came time to figure out what to do with my life, I had a lot of the basic knowledge, fundamentals, and experi-ence I needed to make those choices.”

As for the future, lilli and Adam are carefully considering their options for the expansion of their business. “My husband would like to franchise, but I am more in-terested in developing a product of our own. However, that involves a whole new layer of learning that includes product development and patenting. That’s a lot of work for two people!”

The Happy Baby Company is clearly poised to grow as more parents are explor-ing their options when it comes to natural baby products and are looking for knowl-edgeable people to help them make those choices. “The one thing that really works in my favor is that I really understand my customer base,” lilli remarks. “As a mom, I understand the pressures on new moth-ers.” Through her personal experience, lilli can relate to the anxieties and concerns of her customers and has developed a thriving business to accommodate their needs. With customers driving in from as far as new York and Ohio, Happy Baby Company and its proprietor, lilli Cannon, have “naturally” filled a void for new parents in the region.

To learn more about Happy baby Company, visit www.happybabycompany.com or stop by the store at 5998-A Steubenville Pike, Pittsburgh, PA, 15136.

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A TASTE oF TuSCANYIn August 2010, Middle School science teacher Lisa Heberling traveled to Italy as the recipient of the Sculley Sabbatical. The sabbatical, established in 1997, provides support for one faculty member each year to undertake enriching global travel so that they may, firsthand, come to understand other cultures. The following is a personal account of Lisa’s experience.

Surrounded by breathtaking scenery, Lisa Heberling enjoyed organic farm-grown meals at the villa outside of Certaldo, Italy.

Frantoio olives are grown at Casale de Cotone, a villa set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside.

devoted to exploring the streets, museums, and shops in San Gimignano. A medieval city dating back to the 10th century, it derives its name from the Holy Bishop of Modena, St. Gimigna-no. A thriving tourist town with soaring towers, San Gimignano boasts flourishing works of art that adorn churches and mon-asteries.

Rested and enthusiastic for the next leg of my journey, I was met by a driver who would escort me to Certaldo where members of my organic cooking class would congregate. The eight of us continued on to a lovingly restored villa/farm with breathtaking scenery in all directions. My roommate, Adele, and I shared a charming little house that had been stocked with biodynamic unpasteurized milk, freshly baked bread, virgin honey and olive oil, and an array of organically grown products.

Our first morning we visited La Ginestra, an organic farm that grows, manufactures, and prepares a variety of products. Here, extra virgin olive oil is made from Frantoio, Moraiolo, and Leccino olives that are blended in equal amounts for a fruity flavor. Barley, millet, and oats are processed into cereal. Following the Tuscan farmer’s custom of extracting as much as possible from the land’s resources, La Ginestra produces

I have quietly yearned for many years to travel to the Italian countryside to explore my love of agriculture, the environment, and preparing quality food. A country girl at heart with wan-derlust for travel and local cuisine, I love to immerse myself in new cultures, make new friends, and learn as much as possible.

I arrived in Florence, Italy, on a hot and sultry day in August where I boarded two busses to San Gimignano. Once in the town, I discovered that my accommodations were not within walking distance given the terrain and luggage I was carrying, nor were drivers available. Not speaking the language and at the mercy of complete strangers, I confronted my first chal-lenge. I was directed to a local negozio (store), where a lovely woman enlisted the services of her husband, who kindly deliv-ered me to my destination, Casale del Cotone.

Casale del Cotone is a privately owned villa situated in the heart of the Tuscan countryside surrounded by vast olive groves and vineyards. While there, I had the luxury of rising early and wandering through the vineyards observing the day-to-day operations involved in tending to the grapes. Afternoons were


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Nocina, a dessert wine, made from the hulls of walnuts and sweetened with organic honey. The honey produced here uses the organic agricultural method that excludes synthetic prod-ucts to fight parasites that often attack bees. Instead, beehives are situated in woodland areas removed from the effects of pol-lution. Animals at the farm are treated with respect and fed solely with vegetable products of certified organic origin, ensuring the highest quality of meat. Af-ter we enjoyed a fabulous meal at the farm-owned restaurant, it was back to the villa to attend our first cooking lesson!

Tuscans are ahead of the game when it comes to gardening and purchasing locally grown pro-duce. Menus are dictated by the availability of food by season. It is not uncommon during an early morning walk to see spry elderly couples on extension ladders picking buckets of roadside blackber-ries to be made into jelly, pies, or used fresh – the best I have ever tasted, I might add. In addition, I was astounded by the commit-ment to recycle throughout the region. Refuse is to be meticulously separated. Plastic, metal, paper, and compost are sorted into individual containers. Compost not used by individual gardeners is actually picked up in compost trucks! An avid recycler, I vowed to do better upon my return and have held true to my conviction.

Our first foray in the kitchen produced a delicious meal of handmade tagliatelle with three sauces; bruschetta, melanzane e ricotta, and basil pesto with green beans and potatoes. The meals proved to be better than anything I consumed at a restaurant while abroad, and the camaraderie among my fellow classmates and teachers only added to the richness of the experience.

Interspersed among our daily cooking lessons were tours to various locales throughout the region. An excursion to Siena was truly a memorable event. The Duomo of Siena was almost overwhelming with its intricately designed façade, inlaid marble floors, and fres-coes. We were fortunate to view the marble floors as they remain covered for the better part of the year. Siena is considered to be Italy’s best-preserved medieval town with outstanding architecture and artwork, and a much less frenetic pace than San Gimignano. However, Florence proved to be the coup de grace. I was deter-mined not to depart Italy without first visiting the Accademia Gallery,


which is home to Michelangelo’s David. It is inconceivable to me that he created such magnificent work at the age of 29. The sculptures located in the Piazza Della Signoria were nearly as resplendent in their detail and magnitude.

Our final trip entailed a visit to Poggio Antico biodynamic farm. Biodynamic farming is based on the belief that soil is a living organism and its maintenance essential to the production of high-quality crops translating into better feed for livestock, and ultimately human beings. Poggio Antico runs its commu-nity farm based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, founder of anthroposophy and the fundamental principles of biodynamic farming. Steiner believed that gardening and farming should be viewed holistically, relating the ecology of the earth to the cosmos. Apparently there is much validity to his method as the unpasteurized milk, grape juice, and cheeses were incomparable!

On my final evening, I returned to Florence, leisurely strolling the streets and shops before an early flight home to my beloved country and family. I will be eternally grateful for the incredible opportunity to realize my dreams and discover a strength and resiliency in myself that may have gone undiscovered.

San Gimignano, a medieval city dating back to the 10th century, is a thriving tourist town that boasts flourishing works of art that adorn churches and monasteries.

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Being a lifer at Sewickley Academy has opened many doors for Jennifer Markus ’89, and led to lifelong friendships and connections. After moving around the country for several years after graduation, Jen found herself back in the region looking for her next adventure. She always had the idea that coming home to Sewickley was in her future.

While sitting in the Sewickley Starbucks having a coffee, Jen runs into her former Senior School history teacher Bill Barnes and gets a big hug. After spending some time talk-ing about her work on Sewickley Academy’s Alumni Council and making plans for regional alumni events, Jen heads to a meeting with business partner and classmate kirsten Recker Stripay ’89. The two recently started a company called Village Green, and are currently engaged in a business development and marketing program to promote the village of Sewickley.

The friendships and connections Jen made during her 13 years as a student at SA are part of why she moved back home, and also why she has made the decision to include Sewickley Academy in her will.

Even before turning 40, Jen was thinking beyond retirement and beyond her lifetime, which is remarkable considering most in her generation are just now building a retirement nest

egg. But Jen grew up in a household where conversations about planning and giving were part of the family di-alogue, so it was natural and reward-ing for her to plan a bequest to her alma mater. “My parents are both only children, and so am I. We often talked about the future,” she explains. Her parents, Bill and Carol, also grew up in independent and private schools and they taught Jen the im-portance of giving back.

As a Harvard alumus, Bill Markus still works with his alma mater to engage fellow alumni and support the school. In addition, as alumni parents, Bill and Carol continue to support Sewickley Academy every year. Philanthropy is simply a part of the Markus family culture, and Sewickley Academy is Jen’s philan-thropic priority.

The Markus family is not alone. According to the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, it is estimated that between $6.6 tril-lion to $27.4 trillion in charitable bequests will be made between 1998-2052. The profiles can be very different for each person or family who chooses to plan a gift beyond their lifetime, but the shared sentiment among most is that they care about the organi-zation and want to do something special.

Jen is honoring her experience at Sewickley Academy by leaving a legacy she knows will help ensure the school’s strong future. Sewickley Academy is grateful to Jen and all of the members of the Pillars Society.

JENNIFER MARKuS ’89 – PLANNING SuPPoRT FoR THE FuTuRE


The Pillars Society recognizes benefactors who have provided

for the Academy’s future through a charitable gift such as a

bequest, trust, or other estate plan. These are gifts that will

sustain Sewickley Academy’s tradition of excellence for years

to come. To see a list of the Pillars Society, visit www.sewickley.

org/pillarssociety.

If you would like more information about gift planning, please contact Director of Advancement Sharon Hurt Davidson at 412-741-2230 ext. 3042. You may also learn more by visiting the “Gift Planning” pages on www.sewickley.org.


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Sewickley Academy’s Lawrence Connolly is not only a well-regarded and award-winning Senior School English teacher, he is a nationally recognized author who has been publishing fiction for the last few decades, largely in the science fiction, fantasy, and horror genres. Until recently, this output has consisted primarily of short fiction pieces that have appeared in numerous literary magazines, journals, and anthologies. A number of these pieces have recently been col-lected and published in two anthologies: Visions: Short Fantasy & SF (2009) and This Way to Egress (2010). Those who prefer their doses of horror and fantasy in smaller drams will find plenty to choose from in either of these two collections. However, Mr. Connolly has been focused upon a more ambitious project of late, a trilogy of novels entitled The Veins Cycle. Book One of this cy-cle, Veins, was published to critical acclaim in 2008, and now Mr. Connolly has published Book Two of the cycle, Vipers, this fall.

Nominated for two awards since its publica-tion, Veins is a hybrid work of fiction. As the award-winning fantasy author T. E. D. Klein has noted, “Veins . . . [is] a supernatural novel that brings Native American magic to a crime thriller.” Set in southwestern Penn-sylvania, particularly amongst the rural land-scapes of nearly deserted strip-mining com-munities, this story focuses on the plight of a young man named Axle, a local boy who gets caught up with the wrong crowd. Venal gain faces off against larger, indomitable su-pernatural forces, and in the climactic wake of a devastating strip mine crater explosion, many of the bad guys get their due and Axle earns a second chance. Vipers chronicles, among other things, what Axle does with that sec-ond chance.

At the outset of Vipers, the strip mine explosion that concludes the action of Veins sets this new plot in motion. The first half of the novel focuses on the chain reaction this explosion engenders amongst an array of residents from nearby Windslow, a dilapidated mining town trying to remake itself as a recreational destination. The less desirable of this lot—petty crooks, teenage punks, flimflam entre-preneurs—stumble closer to the explosion’s enveloping aftereffects, most notably the deadly swarms of vipers the earth has released, as they either concoct new scams or seek to escape from earlier failed ones. While the occasional decent individual also becomes ensnared in the unseemly grit of this dark and violent world, the cen-ter of attention remains largely upon the intersecting and increas-ingly desperate behavior of these various miscreants.

Such scrambling amongst self-interested individuals provides ripe material for dark comedy, and there are some fine satirical portraits and twists of irony interspersed throughout the narrative. Yet, the de-fining generic elements of the novel’s first half, the eco-thriller and the horror story, give way in the novel’s second half to the more flex-ible (and in this case more hopeful) mode of fantasy, imagined here through the guise and intervention of Native American supernatural forces, the “skyborn guardian” Axle now included. Also on hand as the plot escalates to its crisis, is Sam, a mercenary female survivalist who has been enlisted by the dark forces that were awakened by

the explosion. With the ecological and moral equilibrium of this world hanging in the balance, Axle now re-enters the picture, and we find out by the novel’s end whether or not he and his fellow tutelary spirits are up to the task of setting things right. A suspenseful page-turner as well as a cautionary tale, this new offering from Lawrence Connolly is a hybrid in the best and simplest literary sense: it entertains and instructs.

“Vipers”, as well as its predecessor “Veins”, is available locally at Penguin Bookstore as well as at other retail book outlets. More information can be found at www.LawrenceCConnolly.com.

VIPERS: booK TWo oF THE VEINS CYCLE bY LAWRENCE C. CoNNoLLY

Senior School English teacher John Murphy reviews colleague Lawrence Connolly’s latest novel.

Lawrence Connolly releases “Vipers: Book Two of the Veins Cycle.”


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MAKING IT oN THEIR oWN TERMS: RodNEY ALTMAN ’00 & bEN bARNES ’95By Lawrence C. Connolly


Rodney Altman ’00

Rodney Altman ’00 is driving through the Hollywood Hills try-ing to get close to the Hollywood sign – the iconic display that, although visible from miles away, seems to disappear behind houses and trees as one approaches it. “It’s around here some-where,” he says, steering his silver Audi around a bend of hill-side homes. “It’s here, and I’m going to find it.”

Although he has been living in Hollywood three years, Rodney never had the time or the inclination to see the sign up close. But today, because a friend has asked, he’s determined to find a place where the two of them can stand beneath it. And there’s no doubt he’ll deliver. When Rodney sets his mind on something, he doesn’t stop until it’s achieved.

Consider his determination to become a filmmaker.

The passion began while he was attending Sewickley Academy, writing movie reviews for The Seventh Pillar and directing his first film, produced with equipment borrowed from Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Titled Room 101, the film featured classmates Natalie Flora ’00, Kirt Mausert ’00, Dan Solter ’00, Katie Flora ’03 and Assistant Head of Senior School Mr. Ken Goleski. The mov-ie was shot in the Senior School, and it convinced Rodney that he wanted to become a film major in college.

“When I started looking at film schools, I realized that NYU was going to be the place for me. And I was determined. I said to myself, ‘All right! I’m going to go there!’ Now as soon as I get in that mindset, when I say, ‘I’m going to get that thing,’ I know I’m going to keep trying until I get it.” But getting it took time.

In his senior year, after receiving an acceptance from the University of Pittsburgh, Rodney received what he calls “the official sorry letter” from NYU. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Rodney remembers thinking as he read the letter. “That’s not supposed to happen!” But then, as the realization settled in, his determination returned. He recalls telling himself, “OK. That’s fine. I will keep applying to that school until they take me. I don’t care if it takes me eight years. I’m going to go there.”

Rodney kept his goal in mind throughout his freshman year at Pitt. And then, as spring approached, he learned of a summer filmmaking course being offered at NYU. He applied, submit-ting Room 101 as a sample of his work, and this time the door opened. He took the summer program, and made such an im-pression that when he applied again, he was accepted as a full-time student in the undergraduate film program.

While an undergraduate at NYU, Rodney produced Echoes (2004) and Umney’s Last Case (2005). The latter was adapted from a short story by Stephen King. Both films won awards on the fes-tival circuit, with Echoes taking Best Cinematography at the Fusion Film Festival and Umney winning Best Cinematography, Editing, and Directing at the NYU First Run Film Festival.

After graduating, Rodney moved to Hollywood, where he has been living and working since 2007. He has learned firsthand that discerning a goal from a distance is not the same as reach-ing it. To reach a goal one must be willing to explore, take un-expected turns, and not lose confidence when the destination momentarily slips from sight. Opportunity might be waiting just around the bend.

“There it is!” Rodney slows the car. “I knew it!” The Hollywood sign is straight ahead, blazing white in the afternoon sun, and Rodney grins as if there were never any doubt. Once again, he has arrived.

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Elsewhere, on a road below the Hollywood Hills, a blue Toyota veers to the shoulder. A police officer pulls behind it, watching as the Toyota parks and then bounces in place. Something is definitely not right here. The officer approaches and looks in-side. The driver seems normal, but beside him, strapped into the passenger seat, sits a big blue fish in a woolen sweater.

Welcome to the surreal world of Ben Barnes ’95. The scene is from Ben’s short film Joy Ride, and it features the kind of left-field humor that was the hallmark of the videos and cartoons that Ben produced while attending Sewickley Academy.

Ben recalls how in 10th grade he started a video club with some of his friends, and although he managed to shoot a number of short videos by his senior year, there was little inkling then that filmmaking would eventually become his primary focus in life. Back then, creative writing and cartooning were his major outlets, and it was the latter (in addition to serving as editor-in-chief of The Seventh Pillar) that helped him secure a journalism scholarship to Kent State Uni-versity. But Ben soon felt drawn back to the world of film and video production.

“There is a cusp with creative people,” he says. “A point where a person feels he should be doing more. Mine came two years into college, when I took a semes-ter off to study at Pittsburgh Filmmakers.” That move led to studies in film production at the University of Miami, and then – in August 2001 – to Los Angeles, where he met Joel Huggins, the man who would become the co-producer of Joy Ride and a series of related shorts known collectively as Fish Out of Water.

“Joel and I were working in a record store,” Ben recalls. “And that’s where we came up with the idea for Fish. I drew a sketch of the character one day, and we started working on it as a proj-ect. We got the backing of a small production company, which helped finance the making of the Fish puppet, and the first film – the pilot of the series – came out in 2006.”

Three more films followed, all featuring Fish McCready (the fish out of water) and his human friends Tom Chestnut and Grogan Tumble. With the exception of the pilot, all of the films were independently financed, thus giving Ben full creative control, something that he feels is important in his line of work. “That’s one bit of advice I’d like to give. Don’t ever wait for anyone else to come along and ask you to do something. Just do it yourself because it’s really difficult to wait for others to make it happen for you. And never assume that other people are going to be as passionate about your stuff as you are. That’s just not true. If

you want to do something, you should just do it. That’s the key – entrepreneurship! You are in charge of the creative entity.”

Being in charge has served Ben well. The Fish Out of Water films have been official selections in the South-by-Southwest and Just For Laughs Film Festivals, and in 2010 Hollyshorts hon-ored two of the films with the Best Webisode Award. The series has also attracted the attention of television producers, most significantly at the Cartoon Network, where Fish just missed

being picked up as a regular program. Currently, the films can be viewed in their entirety at BenBarnes.net.

In addition to producing independent projects, Ben currently serves as film editor for the cable show Beta Records TV, which he has been working on since 2008. “I’ve gotten some weird advice over the years,” Ben says. “And one thing I keep hear-ing is that I don’t want to have a day job that saps energy from my own work. That’s why I’m happy to be making a living on the outskirts of the film industry. ”

For now, Ben seems to have found a balance that works for him. “People back home have this very reduced idea of what making it or not making it is. People think success is like an on-off switch, but it isn’t. I’m very happy about the last 10 years.”


Ben Barnes ‘95 and Fish McCready, the star of Ben’s “Fish Out of Water” series.

Mathew

Rudenberg

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REuNIoN 2010

Row 1: Chezzie Frothingham Wendin, Margot Childs Cheel, Sally Flower Getty. Row 2: Missy Ratcliffe Zimmerman, Helen Childs Burns, Rachel Davison, Susan Coyle Wardrop. Row 3: Joe Byers, Alison Floyd Melinn, Jonathan Gordon, Seth French, Sarah Fisher, David Graham, Trudy Oliver Hetherington. Row 4: Jim Oliver.

Row 1: Tom Stinson, Peggy Prine Joy, Jeffrey Gray. Row 2: Jacquelyn Casey, Jim edson, Debra Canter, Scott Ferguson.

CLASS OF 1975 – 35TH ReUnIOn Row 1: Susan Hawk Coy, Helen Anson Yourd, Richard Clark II. Row 2: Annie Selkovits Taylor, Caroline Coyle Greller. Row 3: Julia Canter Grimes, Mary Beth Ribar Matheson, Martha Prine, Patrick Minnock. Row 4: Jacque Swan, Rob Steers, Mark Schafer, Chris Lantzsch, Jeffrey Moersch, Dick Stoner.

IMPRESSIoNS FRoM REuNIoN 2010

“All in all it was a great weekend and wonder-ful to see ‘old’ friends. The school has changed a lot in 50 years, as have we. Kolia’s tour was wonderful, his enthusiasm contagious, and the Academy looks like it is prospering.”

TRUDY HETHERINGTON ’60


’60 ’70

’75

CLASS OF 1960 – 50TH ReUnIOn

CLASS OF 1970 – 40TH ReUnIOn

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CLASS OF 1990 – 20TH ReUnIOn Row 1: Claire Lang, Jennifer Gold Iserloh, Leigh Boens LeBoeuf. Row 2: Andras Vansca, Leslie Baltic Francis, Steve Morris.

CLASS OF 2000 – 10TH ReUnIOn Row 1: Daniel Solter, Megan Cawley, Francis Fincke. Row 2: Thomas Goodwin, Samir Ladani, nicholas Batyko.

CLASS OF 1980 – 30TH ReUnIOn Row 1: Cathy Bryan Farrell, Jenny Blaxter Hubbert, Amy Simmons Sebastian, Margot Moyles Curran. Row 2: Mark Otto, Amy Muse Lang. Row 3: Brian Wagner, Jim Bower, evans Gebhardt, Bill Atwood.

CLASS OF 1985 – 25TH ReUnIOn Row 1: ellen Goehring Skirpan, Todd Thompson, Anne-Marie Jordan Failla. Row 2: elena Foster Dryden, Tara Cuda. Row 3: Connie Standish, Todd Burtch. Row 4: Rebecca Taylor, Rebecca deHaven, Alan MacVicar, David Darby, Tom Jones, Kemp Fuller. Row 5: Jane Reynolds Griffith, Molly Machamer, Janet Scott Salsbury, Rodney Skirpan, Andrew Coburn.


’80

’00

’85

’90


In October, Sewickley Academy hosted Reunion 2010 for all alumni with classes ending in ’0 and ’5 celebrating milestone years. A record turnout of alumni attended the various events throughout the weekend. The kickoff gala featured perfor-mances by Family Affair (Lisa Baker Seymour ’77 and Henry Seymour ’75) and The Ninjaneers (Tom Medvitz ’97) as well as a visit from the newly reborn school mascot, the Panther!

Saturday evening’s festivities included dinner and karaoke with the Class of 1960 at the Sewickley Historical Society, a bonfire and cookout for the Classes of 1970, 1975, and 1980 at the home of Jim and Linda Edson, a party for the Class of 1985 at the home of Natalie Renda Mueller, cocktails and reminiscing for the Class of 1990 at the Edgeworth Club, an intimate get-together for the Classes of 1995 and 1997 at the home of Jonathan and Jennifer D’Antonio, and finally an informal outing to the Sharp Edge Bistro in Sewickley Village for the Class of 2000.

Thank you to everyone who helped to organize class parties, opened their homes to SA alumni from around the country, motivated their friends to come back for Reunion 2010, and participated in events throughout the weekend!

REuNIoN 2010 (CoNT.)

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3

5

2

41: “The Jades,” featuring Doug Rice ’70, Tom Stinson ’70, Jeff Gray ’70, and Scott Ferguson ’70, reunited to perform at the bonfire for the Classes of 1970, 1975, and 1980 at the edson family home.

2: nick Batyko ’00, T.J. Goodwin ’00, and Middle School teacher Lori Sherry reunite at the reunion kickoff gala.

3: The Class of 1985 poses for a group picture on Friday evening.

4: At their class party, emily Willets ‘50, Joan Bingham ‘50, Mary Lou Scholl ‘45, Susan Sour ‘55, and Polly Okie Walker ‘50 reminisce about their Academy days.

5: Members of the Class of 1960 look back at their class photos.


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SAVE THE dATE - REuNIoN 2011SEPTEMbER 30 & oCTobER 1

SEWICKLEY ACAdEMY IS oN THE RoAd AGAIN!

With less than a year to go, planning for Reunion 2011 is already in full swing. Classes have already begun planning their indi-vidual class events, but we need your help to make this year’s reunion a complete success.

If you are interested in helping to organize or host a class party, or if you wish to serve on a class committee, please contact Greta Daniels, director of alumni relations, at [email protected] or 412-741-2230 ext. 3044.

Check for Reunion 2011 updates at www.sewickley.org/alumni or by logging into the Alumni Portal.

Celebrating Class Years Ending in ’1 and ’6

’61

The Distinguished Alumna/us Award is given to a man or woman who has demonstrated the highest standards of achievement, leadership, and service that reflect the enduring principles of Sewickley Academy.

Past recipients of this prestigious recognition include:

Judge William Standish ’44 Victoria “Torie” Clarke ’77 E. Michael Fincke ’85 J. Stephen Mikita ’74

Please submit your nominations at www.sewickley.org/distinguished or you may write or call the alumni office.

These events are a great opportunity to catch up with fellow alumni, network, and connect with your alma mater! Please email [email protected] if you would like to attend or help coordinate an event in your area.

2011 Distinguished Alumna/us Award: Call for Nominations

The Sewickley Academy alumni office is traveling to the following cities this spring for alumni gatherings across the country. Mark your calendars!

• LosAngeles,California:April5-7• Denver,Colorado:April12-14• Atlanta,Georgia:April26-27• Charlotte,NorthCarolina:April28-29

• Cincinnati,Ohio:May11-12• Columbus,Ohio:May19• Austin,Texas:May31

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’91’71

’61: The undefeated girls’ field hockey team of 1961. ’71: Mr. Scott Carter with students from the Class of 1971.’91: The Class of 1991 on their ninth grade trip to Washington, D.C.


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dEdICATEd EduCAToR, bELoVEd CoLLEAGuE:

SuSAN HouGHTALING 1949-2010On August 31, 2010, Sewickley Academy lost a dear colleague, teacher, and friend when Middle School teacher Susan Houghtaling passed away from cancer. The following is a tribute written by her colleague and friend, Head of Middle School Susan Sour ’55.

“Don’t forget, I know karate,” Sue Houghtaling would say to ram-bunctious boys who others couldn’t handle. “You don’t want to mess with me.” Two minutes later, a hand laid softly on a shoul-der, she’d say, “John, honey, you need to do better.”

“Direct” is an understatement to describe Sue. If you didn’t want to hear the answer, straight-out and bald-faced, you had better not ask her the question.

“Principled” was the platform on which she stood taller than the tallest person at school. Ingrained in her (perhaps through her strong, Irish parents) was an indomitable sense of right and wrong. That is what she modeled in her lessons to students about the humanitarian issues in our national history and beyond.

“Integrity” was indeed central to her actions. She embodied it and she ex-pected it in others. She was surprised, disappointed – even angry – when it didn’t come back to her. “What are they thinking?” she would say in disbelief.

“Human rights” wasn’t a catch phrase limited to child labor laws and Rwan-da. For Sue, it started with the personal dignity sacred to each child, woman, and man as they made their way through the exigencies of everyday life.

Susan Houghtaling graduated from Douglass College, Rut-gers University, with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and later earned her Master of Arts in history teaching from the Univer-sity of new Orleans.

She began her career as a news reporter and broadcaster for a ra-dio station in lakewood, new Jersey, where her duties included hourly broadcasts of breaking news events and periodic features of special newsworthy stories.

In 1972, Susan married Bruce Houghtaling just as she made a career change to teaching. Joining the faculty at her alma mater, Mater Dei High School in new Jersey, she taught twelfth grade English, Spanish I and II, and was the sponsor of the school newspaper, the yearbook, and the student council.

Five years later, the Houghtalings moved to louisiana where Sue became the communications coordinator for St. Martin’s Episcopal School. She was responsible for public relations, and initiated the school’s quarterly magazine that continues today. She also sponsored the school newspaper and yearbook, and

taught Spanish I and II.

Sue, Bruce, and son Teddy (born in 1984) moved between the new York area and louisiana as Sue continued to teach Spanish and remedial writ-ing, and added western civilization and U.S. history to her list of teaching ac-complishments. At the Coast Episco-pal School in Mississippi, she became chair of the history department, a position that she also later held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School where she taught for six years.

The Houghtalings joined the Acad-emy community in 2004 when Bruce became the head of Senior School. Then in 2005, Susan became a Grade 6 world cultures teacher. In 2007, she moved on to teach her first love, U.S. history, to Grade 8. Her classes were characterized by her passion for the subject, energizing students to become analytical, creative, and fully engaged in projects on child labor laws and the Harlem renaissance.

Sue received a number of public accolades during her career, in-cluding the Allenberger Faculty Award for excellence in teach-ing, a yearbook dedication by students at St. Martin’s, and the opportunity to speak at momentous school ceremonies, such as the Academy’s Grade 8 graduation in June 2010.

Sue was respected for her deep concern for her students, their lives, and their learning, and her quick-witted sense of humor. She was feisty and fun, a person of strong fiber and fortitude, so clearly demonstrated in the final years of her life.

A scholarship fund has been established in Susan’s name. To learn more or to give, please visit www.sewickley.org/susan.

“Be someone who matters in life, rather than the timid soul who never gets in-volved in anything. Take the kind of risks that get you out of your comfort zone – that stretch you – that will allow you to explore and develop who you are.”

Susan Houghtaling Grade 8 Graduation, June 2010

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From time to time, the Sewickley Academy board of trustees acknowledges and honors the contributions of their former colleagues to the board and the school by designating them as members of the Trustees Emeriti. These individuals have previously served as trustees or ex officio trustees of the board and have demonstrated a strong and continuing inter-est in Sewickley Academy over many years.

This year, three former board members were honored as Trustees Emeriti: Nancy Bunce, Jeff Lenchner ’77, and Nancy Means ’72. The distinguished service and leadership of these three individuals have been instrumental in guid-ing the Academy and the board through many difficult and exciting challenges. They have consistently maintained the highest standards of governance and trusteeship, modeling for their colleagues the values of honesty, integrity, courtesy, responsibility, generosity, and vigilance.

Nancy Bunce, mother of Academy alumni Emily ’00 and Abigail ’03, served on the board of trustees from 1998 to 2007. She became secretary in September 2000, was elected board chair in May 2001, and served in an ex officio role after stepping down from the board. As chair of the board, she played an integral role in the search for a new head of school after Ham Clark. Current Board Chairman Glenn Buterbaugh noted, “Nancy did a phenomenal job of creating a committee that made the search process and transition to Mr. O’Connor as the new head of school as seamless as possible.” When Glenn was elected board chair in May 2005, he said he felt confident beginning his term in the fall of 2006 as a result of the thoughtful training and guidance

Nancy provided to him throughout the transition. “Nancy was instrumental in creating orderly transitions during times of great change,” said Glenn. “Sewickley Academy is forever grateful for her leadership.”

Jeff Lenchner ’77 is the father of two Academy graduates, Rachel ’08 and Aaron ’10. He served on the board of trustees from 2001 to 2010. Current Academy board member Craig Kinney ’77 admired Jeff’s leadership during the PICTURE THIS Campaign. “Jeff took his commitment to the PICTURE THIS Campaign very seriously and worked diligently to see the project to completion,” said Craig. “And, I can assure you, fundraising in our current environment was no easy task.” Craig also noted that Jeff always brought a calm and careful perspective to the boardroom. “Jeff’s concerns as a board member were always for the long-term stewardship of the institution.”

Academy alumna and mother of three Academy graduates – John ’00, Brandon ’03, and Mac ’09 – Nancy Means ’72 was a member of the board of trustees from 1992 to 2010, becoming secretary in May 2001. Academy parent and current board member Amy Sebastian ’80 describes Nancy as “a strong, consistent voice and supporter of our school from her days as an Academy student through her roles as a board member and parent.” As a board member, Nancy provided a strong institutional history and also an eye toward the future of the school. She was the vice chair of the PICTURE THIS Campaign and successfully raised awareness about the importance of building a strong endowment. Nancy was instrumental in strategic planning work for the Academy and the head of school search conducted in 2002-2003. “We are so very fortunate that Nancy chose to dedicate her time and passion to SA,” said Amy. “She has provided the strong leadership and gentle voice that our school has needed. The knowledge and experience that she possesses would be impossible to replicate.”

HoNoRING ouR TRuSTEES EMERITI

This fall, former trustees nancy Bunce, Jeff Lenchner ’77, and nancy Means ’72 were named Trustees emeriti for their exemplary contributions to the board and the Academy.

TRuSTEES EMERITI

Ms. Nancy M. bunce

Mr. Ronald E. Gebhardt

Mrs. Anne o. Jackson

Mr. William S. Hansen*

Mr. Jeff Lenchner ’77

Mrs. Nancy S. Means ’72

Mr. Hugh W. Nevin Jr. ’61

Mr. Frank C. Schroeder Jr. ’28*

Mr. Richard P. Simmons

*deceased



ALuMNI EVENTS

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41: Jared Weber ’04, Reed Schroeder ’37, Frank Brooks ’62, Mark Otto ’80, Rodney Skirpan ’85, Bill Wardrop ’55, Harton Semple ’60, and A. Todd Wilson ’81 represent Sewickley Academy alumni veterans at the Acad-emy’s 12th annual Veterans Day Assembly.

2. As the Academy’s newest alumni, Dan Petricca ’10 and nicole Dianzumba ’10 enjoy their first alumni event – the Alumni Holiday Party.

3: Over 20 alumni took on the current varsity squad during the annual Sewickley Academy alumni hockey game at Robert Morris University.

While the alumni players stormed out to a sizeable lead, with the help of a pair of goals by Mike Tully ‘09, the endurance level of the current varsity team allowed for a brief comeback. In the end, netminder nick Batyko ‘99 did not allow the varsity team to gain the lead, and the alumni once again came out victorious 8-6.

4. Classmates Hannah Pryce ’06, Brenda Gonzalez ’06, and Parry Macdonald ’06 celebrate the holiday season on campus.

CoLIN WISE ’07 MEMoRIALOn November 26, 2010, friends and family gathered at Sewickley Academy to dedicate the Colin Wise Memorial Courtyard in mem-ory of Colin Fawcett Wise ’07 (1989-2009). The courtyard, located between the Hansen Library and the Simmons Middle School, was conceptualized as a gathering spot on campus where students of all grades may come together to share friendship. The design of the space contains a number of circles meant to symbolize Colin’s unique ability to spread the spirit of friendship, trust, and inclusion to an ever-expanding circle of people. A circle of bricks contain-ing messages from Colin’s family, friends, and classmates provides a forum for remembering Colin while encircling a space that will continue his legacy of bringing people together.

At the dedication of the Colin Wise Memorial Courtyard, classmate and friend Pete Kendall ’07 sings a medley of Colin’s favorite songs.

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CLASS NoTES

1935 Betsy Rainbow Morse ’35 is still living in her home in Rochester, New York. She volunteers at Rochester General Hospital, doing hearing tests for newborns, working in the giftshop, and chairing the archives committee. She regularly talks to Mac Patterson (mother of Jeffrey Patterson ’66 and Cary Vaughan ’71) who updates her on Sewickley news. Betsy recently celebrated her 91st birthday in November with family and friends.

1936Caroline Sutton ’36 recently moved to a retirement community in South Setauket, New York, and writes that she is still making miniature ferry boats.

1945Several members of the Class of 1945 got together to celebrate their 80th birthdays. The party included Mary Lou Scholl ’45, Bill Herron, Fifi Rougraff ’45, Sybil Adams Her-ron ’48, Jim Adams ’44, Betsy Sutton Jevon

’45, Lewis Herron, and Dick Jevon ’45.

The Scholl family enjoyed a family vacation on the Mediterranean this past summer and celebrated Mary Lou Scholl’s ’45 80th birthday together.

1954Penelope Holbrook ’54 writes that she was sad to have missed her class gathering that was organized by Stephanie Culbertson ’54 and Margaret Adams ’54. “I would love to have seen them both and the rest of our class.”

1956Mary “Mimi” Chaplin Brooks Woodbridge ’56 just returned from five weeks in Romania and Turkey. You can check out her blog, Mimi on the Go, at www.mimiwoodbridge.blogspot.com.

1957Last September Dick Hull ’57 auditioned for, and was offered parts in an old-time radio hour show put on by the Freeport Community Players (Freeport is the next town over from Brunswick, Maine). In December they put

on three performances, preceded by two months of rehearsals. Dick was the “an-nouncer” in Act 2, explaining to audiences about upcoming skits and songs; played a (tough) inspector in a sketch about a private eye; and sang several songs with the rest of the cast of 40-plus people. “It was the first time I’d been on stage in front of an audience since the ninth grade under the watchful eye of Miss Hutchins!”

1962Kim Moller ’62, wife Tracey, and daughter Waverly visited Stephanie Rice Ellis ’62 in Kauai in July.

Sally Stites Owens ’62 and her husband John moved to Orlando, Florida, in Decem-ber 2010 for John’s new position as market-ing director for Outdoor Business Amuse-ment Associates (OABA). “We are excited about the new adventure!”

1966Despite a recent foot fracture, Caroline Edwards ’66 was thrilled to be able to walk up the aisle at her daughter’s wedding with

Mary Lou Scholl ’45, Bill Herron, Fifi Rougraff ’45, Sybil Adams Herron ’48, Jim Adams ’44, Betsy Sutton Jevon ’45, Lewis Herron, and Dick Jevon ’45 celebrate their 80th birthdays.

The Scholl family cruise. Back row: Chris Scholl, Rick Scholl, Mary Lou Scholl ’45, Mark Scholl ’74, Andy Schachter, Peter Scholl ’83. Front row: Brandon Scholl, Amanda Scholl, Cara Scholl, Lynn Scholl.


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A MArket for CreAtivity

When Nina Barbuto ’02 realized she was on track to graduate one semester early from her five-year architecture program at Carnegie Mellon Univer-sity, she packed her bags for Barce-lona to marvel at some of the world’s most famous and intricate buildings. A few months later, she hit the streets of london to do the same. As she explored the city on foot, one thing stood out – london’s natural market areas. From the Sunday Up Market to the Brick lane Market, nina could not help but notice how the markets played an important role in the life of

londoners. Within weeks of returning to Pittsburgh, nina and a friend laid the groundwork for the first I Made It! Market.

I Made It! Market is Pennsylvania’s nomadic indie-crafts marketplace. IMI partners with local craftspeople as well as community, arts, and non-profit organizations to make an impact in the communities we share. The first IMI was held at the Garfield Art Works with 15 vendors in April of 2007. Since the initial IMI, markets have been held in Garfield, Braddock, Hartwood Acres, lawrenceville, Highland Park, and just recently, the South Side. The South Side IMI boasted nearly 100 vendors, and the two-day event was a smashing success! nina is the creative force behind IMI and her co-founder Carrie handles the business side of the events. While nina does not person-ally make things for the market, in organizing IMI, she is certainly making things happen in Pittsburgh neighborhoods. nina and Carrie describe what they do as “urban acupuncture” – moving into different parts of the city to be the catalyst in the neighborhood.

What makes the IMI adventure even more impressive is that it is not nina’s full-time job. She is an architect at Front Studios, a firm that received critical acclaim for its design of the Glass lofts, the Fairmont Pittsburgh, and the Squirrel Hill library. nina also teaches part-time at the Waldorf School and The Studio at the Children’s Museum. In her spare time, she is launch-ing Awesome Studio and Gallery in downtown Pittsburgh. Similar to her graduate school days at Southern California Institute of Architecture when nina also worked at PUSH architects, nina admits that free time is the one thing she does not have.

nina is ever thankful for the Academy’s place in her education. She came to Sewickley Academy in Grade 6 (bringing along younger siblings Estee ’04 and Jimmy ’08) because the Barbuto family wanted a school that embraced creativity. Fond memories of Dr. Ed, Dr. Ferris, Mr. Wargo, Mr. lalomia, and especially Mr. Melodia are etched in nina’s mind. She recalls a conversa-tion she had with “Renaissance Man” Mr. Melodia who gently told her, “You can do anything.” She has never forgotten that vote of confidence, and clearly lives her life following Mr. Melodia’s mantra.

To read more, visit: www.imadeitmarket.com, www.awesomestudio.org, www.frontstudio.com.

nina Barbuto ’02, co-founder of the I Made It! Market, visits a vendor’s booth at the IMI Holiday Market in the South Side Works.

nancy Bennett Haynes ’66 with her husband, Jim, and daughter, Inslee.

the help of a crutch. Her other daughter finished her Master of Arts at the San Fran-cisco Art Institute last spring.

Nancy Bennett Haynes ’66 writes, “It has been a long time since I last wrote. I gradu-ated from ninth grade in 1963 and came back to graduate as part of the first graduating class from the Senior School. I have been living in Leesburg, Virginia, for many years. I retired from my position as senior assistant to Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA). My first husband Ron Dietrich passed away suddenly when our daughter Inslee was 2. I remar-ried Jim Haynes when Inslee was 6, and he adopted her much to everyone’s delight. Jim has grown children – a son Jay and a daugh-ter Janie - and we have four grandchildren (including a set of toddler twin girls) with another on the way! Jim is an aviation consul-tant and former Navy pilot. His company The Aviation Group (www.avgroup.com) assists with mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, marketing strategy, market analysis, and valuations. Inslee graduated a few years ago from Washington & Lee University. She is a wonderful artist and in recent years has focused on fashion illustration. She has an online stationery and fashion calendar busi-

CLASS NoTES

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Duncan Wilcox ’74 with girlfriend, Alex, in Australia.

Connie Wood Spencer ’74 with her husband, Chuck, and her newly adopted daughter, Ally, in Kiev, Ukraine.

CLASS NoTES

ness called Inslee By Design, which features whimsical, chic women. She was written up as “Editor’s Pick” in People StyleWatch and also in the German issue of Cosmopolitan. She also does a lot of very exciting custom work. You might enjoy checking out her cards, sta-tionery, and her illustrated Sketch Book blog at www.inslee.net. She includes my other loves in her drawings–my two dachshunds, Jemima and Eloise.

1971Jonathan Beales ’71 writes, “It’s been a busy year for me. Imagine seeing a familiar face from 39 years ago. I found Kelly Graham ’71 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The last time I saw Kelly was graduation day. Kelly has helped me adjust to the area. I also had a chance to catch up with Reed Schroeder ’71, another classmate and Cincinnatian. Our classmate Bart Kennedy ’71 died August 30, 2010, in Florida. An avid sailor, he worked for Ted Turner in the America’s Cup races and managed an interior design agency specializing in yachts in Fort Lauderdale. My son, Jamie was voted “best linebacker” on the Wyoming, Ohio, high school football team, with an undefeated season (9-0).”

1973David Sizer ’73 is living in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

1974Charles (Chip) Fletcher ’74 was recently honored with an award for climate change science at the U.S. Environment Protection Agency’s 12th annual Environment Awards Ceremony. Chip is currently the associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Hawai’i Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and is the author of numerous works related to climate change including, Living on the Shores of Hawai’ i: Natural Hazards, the Environment, and Our Communities.

Duncan Wilcox ’74 writes, “Have been living in Melbourne, Australia, after seven years in New Zealand in the wee town of Lyttleton where I had a restaurant called London Street. I’m having a grand time exploring Mel-bourne (Oz version of San Francisco) and its surroundings - Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley, Daylesford, Great Ocean Road - with British girlfriend Alex and Jack Russell terrier, Billie.

After 40 weeks gestation of paperwork and bureaucratic craziness, Connie Wood Spencer ’74 and her husband Chuck became the proud parents of a gorgeous, sweet, wonderful, 16-year-old daughter on Septem-ber 23. Ally Wood Spencer is an orphan from Ukraine who “comes complete with a sense of humor, a stubborn streak, and a sense of adventure.“ Connie writes, “She is just feisty enough to be trouble – sound familiar? We are always happy to hear from SA alumni in the D.C. area.”

1976Suzanne Genter Friday ’76 writes, “Hope this greeting finds everyone happy and well. This fall I passed the baton of president of the SA alumni council to a most capable Amy Muse Lang ’80. The position was a great opportuni-ty to reconnect with former (note that I didn’t say “old”) classmates and friends and an opportunity to meet many from more recent graduates. The school continues to impress me from the perspective of an alumna, as well as a parent. With our 35th reunion looming large this year, Liza Thornton ’76 and I intend to be relentless in our pursuit of class partici-pation. Mark your calendars for September 30-October 1! Bring your spouse or signifi-cant other, pictures of your kids or the real thing–whatever works to make the weekend fun and easy. See you in 2011!”

1979Amy Baribault Powell ’79 writes, “Some of us will be hitting the half-century mark this year. I celebrated mine over the Thanksgiving holiday week and it included two classmates. Rody Nash ’79 flew to Davidson, North Carolina, and slipped into a party thrown in my honor. It was a total surprise put together by my husband, Ron. Then John Edson ’79 and his family came to North Carolina for Thanksgiving and joined us at our house for an evening of laughs and football. It is amaz-ing how long and strong our SA friendships endure. On another note from Davidson, we are really enjoying watching Tom Droney ’10 play college basketball right down our street at Davidson College. We are season ticket

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Valerie Gaydos ’85 sails aboard the Windamere during the USS Constellation Cup Regatta and Fundraising Challenge in October 2010.

Charles Lang ’82 (back right) joined Susan Thomp-son Squires ’82 (back left) and her son, Charlie, for a birthday dinner at the top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas.

holders, and I was proud to see the fresh-man start in the season opener. If you come to town, I will be sure to get you seats for a game.”

1980Amy Muse Lang ’80 writes, “Our 30-year class reunion was a blast - and no one got detention! Fifteen of us made it in for the weekend (see class photo on Page 15). For more pictures, you can check out the class’ Facebook page, “Sewickley Academy Class of 1980.”

1982Lorilee Huizenga Beltman ’82 writes, “This year I’ll be teaching knitting in San Diego, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago, and on a knit-ting cruise to Alaska. If I turn up elsewhere near any SA friends, I’d love to see you.” Lorilee and her family are still living in Grand Rapids, and are sending their second son off to college next year. “Teenage boys are so much fun, we added another to our fam-ily, although just for a year. We’re enjoying an exchange student from Germany, who is

learning how to row with his new ‘brothers.’ Last month it pained me to drive through Pittsburgh without any time to stop, as we were on our way to the Head of the Schuylkill in Philly. I send warm greetings to classmates and former teachers.”

Susan Thompson Squires ’82 and her family celebrated her son’s 21st birthday in Las Vegas at the end of September. Classmate Charles Lang ’82 was also part of the cel-ebration. “We had a great week, and it was wonderful to meet up with an old friend. Lots of fun was had by all!”

1985Valerie Gaydos ’85 is pleased to announce that one of her publications, the Pennsylvania Political Report, which she owned and pub-lished since 1998 and which had been long recognized as the insider’s guide to state poli-tics since 1985, was acquired by the Pennsyl-vania Business Council (PBC) in September. Her company, Fifty-First Associates, LLC, will continue providing services in business and organizational development, legislative and governmental relations, and capital growth strategies for early stage businesses seeking angel capital financing. Valerie also plans to devote more time to PiPAC, a Federal Political Action Committee that she recently started that is dedicated to supporting business builders and independent private investors (www.pipacusa.org). In other news, Valerie sailed in the USS Constellation Cup Regatta and Fundraising Challenge on a Chance 30 sloop, Windamere, in October. “We came in second place!” The race supports education and preservation programs for Historic Ships of Baltimore.

CLASS NoTES

Lorilee Huizenga Beltman ’82 relaxes at Lake Michigan.

25


A Model Citizen reCeives Bronze stAr

As the first Sewickley Academy gradu-ate to matriculate to the United States naval Academy, Tony Innamorato ’03 studied mechanical engineering and graduated with distinction in 2007. He immediately began extensive training for navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD), which involves training in scuba diving, explosives, parachuting, shoot-ing, weapons of mass destruction, and more. “It took me almost two years just to make it through the pipeline and earn the qualification of ‘Basic’ EOD techni-cian … All that just to be a new guy,” laughs Tony.

For his first tour of duty, Tony reported to EOD Mobile Unit Eight in Sigonella, Italy. From there, he de-ployed to Afghanistan in August 2009. While in Afghanistan, he was appointed EOD Team leader – the highest responsibility that any EOD technician can earn. His team’s primary mis-sion was Improvised Explosive Device (IED) response. IEDs are responsible for 70-80 percent of all casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan. “To us, IED is a household acronym, but surprisingly, a lot of Americans have never heard of it,” says Tony. Any time an IED is found or suspected, his team’s mission was to disarm and dispose of the hazard in order to protect life and property. “If you have seen the movie Hurt Locker, you have an idea of the threat and the stress it can put on us,” he says. In the team leader role, Tony was directly responsible for all facets of IED response, including the safety of all person-nel on the combat operations.

Despite the risks involved, Tony showed bravery in the face of danger. Dur-ing his tour in Afghanistan, his leadership and expertise resulted in the neutralization of 30 IEDs. On one response mission, after exhausting all possibilities in disarming the explosive remotely, Tony was forced to make a manual approach. Because the IED was located in a small tunnel, he had to remove his body armor to maneuver himself into the tunnel to disarm the explosive successfully.

For his exemplary work in Operation Enduring Freedom, Tony was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in October 2010 by the Chief of naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughhead. Currently, Tony is stationed in Rota, Spain, with a new team focused on underwater mine disposal. He will serve in the navy for two more years, and although he is not sure what direction he will choose when his term is up, he says he will let this quote from Robert Heinlein guide his path: “Citizenship is an attitude, a state of mind, an emotional conviction that the whole is greater than the part … and that the part should be humbly proud to sacrifice itself that the whole may live.” Tony expounds, “I feel pas-sionately about contributing and I want to encourage others to do the same.”

Tony Innamorato ’03 (left) and his teammate, Harry Basnight (right) receive Bronze Stars from Chief of naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughhead (middle).

1987Tina Davis Clark ’87 and her family are enjoy-ing life in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. Tina writes, “Sydney (10) and Dylan (5) keep Gren and I busy. After many years of juggling motherhood, graduate school, internships, and volunteer work, I have finally earned my LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in North Carolina and hope to open a private practice in 2011. My specialty areas are trauma, domestic violence, and relationship issues.”

Bridget Regan Monahan ’87 writes, “I flipped through the last Sewickley Speaking to the class notes for 1987 and there was nothing! ‘Slackers...’ I started thinking. But I’d never sent anything in myself. So here it is. The last 20 years or so have been busy, crazy, fun, happy, sad, full of big steps forward and some steps back. You know, a pretty good life. I live in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with my husband Anthony and 2-year-old son Phineas. Warm hellos to all those from the late ’80s.”

1988Katie Heagy-Glass ’88 was recently invited to join the advisory board of the Silk Screen Festival, a non-profit group promoting Asian culture through the arts. Katie writes, “I am really excited to have an outlet to share my passion for Japanese performing arts.”

1989Steve Kavic ’89 writes, “I am alive and well and have been enjoying watching the Steel-ers games.”

1990Leslie Hakala ’90 is living in Los Angeles with her husband, Yale, and two boys, Quinn (3) and Owen (22 months). She works for the En-forcement Division of the SEC, and Yale works on visual effects for various feature films.

Ethan Stanton ’90 and his family pass long Minnesota winters skiing at Buck Hill, their local bump of snow outside the Twin Cities. (Buck Hill is where Lindsey Vonn started on her gold medal path.)

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CLASS NoTES

Ethan is a Buck Hill ski instructor and his three children are developing into fine down-hill racers.

R.J. Wiegand ’90 and his wife, Martha, welcomed their son and second child, Royce Conant Wiegand, into this world on October 19, 2010. “We recently moved back to Sewickley - just in time to witness firsthand the unbelievable community response to the fire that destroyed our family home in Edge-worth on September 15, 2010.”

Dana Pennetti McFarland ’90 writes, “Had a wonderful time at the reunion. It was great to

see everybody. It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years – everybody looked exactly the same. See you all at the 25th! I will definitely not be on crutches for that one.”

1991Linde Geissler Riley ’91 and her husband Neal welcomed twins, Gavin and Jordyn, on September 4, 2010.

1992Alexander McClure Ball ’92 wed Erica Mel-lisa Hanrahan in an elegant ceremony at the Heritage Gardens and Museum in Sandwich, Massachusetts. Fellow alums David Cappa ’92, Brennan O’Donnell ’92, Jamie Van Kirk ’92, Matthew Stevens ’92, CJ Reshmi ’93, and John G. Zimmerman III ’85 joined in the festivities.

Andrea Sirko-DeLancey ’92 writes, “This has been a year of change for me and my family. I accepted a position as the human resources manager at World Headquarters Operations with Carrier Corporation, a United Technolo-gies Company, in September. We relocated to the Hartford, Connecticut, area just as the

fall was really getting underway. My husband and I are loving life in New England and are working on getting settled before the snow flies, but I still miss Pittsburgh, which will always be home.”

Heather St. George Gibson ’92 and her husband recently left their home in Aspen to live in Orlando, Florida. “While we miss the mountain life, especially as the snow is now flying, we are enjoying finally being able to live in a house with a yard and our own four walls.” Heather is working for Best Buddies, a nonprofit that helps individuals with intellec-tual disabilities form friendships. “If anyone is

Members of the Class of 1990 Steve Morris, Ben Smith, Tom McCarthy, Dana Pennetti McFarland, Trish Wittekamp Danko, John McLean, and Leigh Boens LeBoeuf.

ethan Stanton ’90 skis with his two sons, Read (9) and Troy (4), at Buck Hill in Minnesota.

Alexander Ball ‘92 and erica Hanrahan wed in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

Royce Conant Wiegand, son of R.J. ’90 and Martha Wiegand.

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Mairen Anastassia Spanos, daughter of Matthew ’92 and Joanna Spanos.

Daphne Rose, daughter of Brian and Amie Rose Rotruck ’93 with Amie’s new book, Young Wizards Handbook.

Lydia Roberts Valentine ‘93 (center) crosses the finish line of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure and is greeted by sister Laurice Roberts ‘98 (left), daughters Kaia (13) and Kalia (5), mother Lorraine, and husband John.

bringing their kiddos to visit the giant mouse (Mickey), be sure to stop by and say hello. We’re learning the area and have found that there is more to offer than strip malls, and we’re happy to show it to others.”

Matthew Spanos ’92 and his wife, Joanna, welcomed their second child, Mairen An-astassia, on November 20, 2010. She was 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and 18 inches long. “We’re all very excited.”

1993With the retirement of his father during the summer of last year, Jonathan Glance ’93 has been managing Glance & Associates, an architecture and planning practice here in Pittsburgh and recently moved their office into downtown. Jonathan writes, “Through my work, I have crossed paths with other SA alums in the industry, including Kevon Copeland ’71 and Maggie Kopf ’91. My wife, Jody, has recently taken a position as medi-cal director of addiction medicine at UPMC Western Psych. Jody and I are expecting our second child in March, while our daughter Julia (4) is attending the Carlow Campus School Montessori program. D. Sculley ’93 and I get together regularly – especially during Steelers games.”

Amie Rose Rotruck ’93 and her husband Brian welcomed their first child, Daphne Rose, on September 9. Daphne was shortly followed by Amie’s book-baby, Young Wizards Handbook: How to Trap a Zombie, Track a Vampire, and Other Hands-On Activities for Monster Hunters on September 14.

This fall, Lydia Roberts Valentine ’93 com-pleted the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. She walked 60 miles over three days and raised $2,300 for breast cancer research in

honor of her mother, Lorraine. “It was amazing to cross the finish line and see my family! I plan to walk again in 2011 and would welcome company from anyone interested! Also, if anyone is interested in donating to support the cause, it would be appreciated. Drop me a line! Finally, this summer, I was able to catch up with former SA teacher Bob Eldridge, and that was great fun. Out here in the Pacific Northwest, there are not a lot of SA reunion opportunities. If anyone is around and would like to start an annual get-together, let me know! Take care!”

Anna Louise Durbin, daughter of Jason and Shana (Takahashi) Durbin ’94.


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Tiran II (7), son of ebony Wilson ’95.

CLASS NoTES

working with The Strategy Network, an Ohio-based political consulting firm, as vice presi-dent of business development. Currently, she loves the time at home with son Luke. Taylor writes, “In what little free time we have, we love coming back to Pittsburgh to visit family and go to Penguins games. It’s been a pretty amazing year!”

Nicole Aloe Keane ’95 and her husband, Pat-rick, are proud to announce the birth of their son, Tyler Harrison Keane, on August 17, 2010. Tyler joins his 2-year-old sister, Lillian, who is thrilled to have him as her new playmate.

Ebony Wilson ’95 writes, “Hello everyone! Wow, so much has gone on since I touched base with SA, I don’t know where to start. Let’s see, I moved to Florida in 2009 after accepting a position as counseling faculty at Hillsborough Community College - one of the largest community colleges in the country. As a counselor, I serve students who are struggling academically and personally. My children and I are enjoying the great weather here. On a more personal note, I have been led to a church I adore, and am getting remar-ried in March 2011. It is an exciting time in our lives and I look forward to what is to come.”

1994Shana (Takahashi) Durbin ’94 writes, “Jason and I welcomed our first breathtaking child, Anna Louise Durbin, on August 24, 2010. She was a healthy 22.5 inches, 8 pounds, and 11 ounces. We couldn’t have asked for a better baby!”

Lauren (Thomas) South ’94, husband Pat, and big sister Meg welcomed Julia Cameron South on March 18, 2010. She was 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 20.75 inches long.

1995Alex Alpert ’95 is the director of corporate relations for Wheaton World Wide Moving (www.wheatonworldwide.com), and was recently elected as the chairman of the Worldwide Employee Relocation Council’s (ERC) Young Professionals Task Force.

On November 28, 2009, Taylor Rath ’95 married Jon Deutschle in Sewickley at The Presbyterian Church. After an amazing hon-eymoon in Costa Rica, they settled into mar-ried life back in their home in Columbus, Ohio. Jon is currently executive chef at Marcella’s, a lively and authentic Italian cafe in Columbus’ Short North Arts District. Before the birth of their son (born August 14, 2010), Taylor was

Tyler Harrison Keane with big sister Lillian, children of Patrick and nicole Aloe Keane ’95.

Taylor Rath ’95 married Jon Deutschle at The Presbyterian Church in Sewickley in november 2009. Meg and Julia South, daughters of Lauren ’94 and Pat South.


29

T.J. Goodwin ’00, Beau Blaser ’95, Chris Hinkle ’95, and Michael Blaser ’20 celebrate the wedding of Dan Hinkle ’98 to Alyssa Theodore-Hinkle.

Victoria Bryn Wilmot with big brother Blake, chil-dren of Andrew and Alissa Cowden Wimot ’97.

Dan Usaj ’98 recently appeared in the award-winning short film, “The Commandment.”

1997Alissa Cowden Wilmot ’97, husband Andrew, and son Blake, welcomed Victoria Bryn into their family on October 25! Alissa writes,

“Andrew and I are finishing our residencies in anesthesia and radiology at Penn. I miss Sewickley, but we are happy in Philadelphia.”

1998A very Academy wedding: Dan Hinkle ’98 married Alyssa Theodore-Hinkle with Chris Hinkle ’95, J. Beau Blaser ’95, T.J. Goodwin ’00, and Michael Blaser ’20 in attendance.

After receiving his degree in theater from St. Lawrence, Dan Usaj ’98 moved to Los Angeles where he worked as a production coordinator for Access Hollywood for five years. Two years ago, Dan moved to Michigan to take advantage of the film incentives the state offered and recently joined the Screen Actors Guild. This past year Dan acted in The Reasonable Bunch with Demi Moore, Kate Bosworth, and Thomas Hayden Church; The Christmas Bunny with Florence Henderson; and The Commandant, an award-winning short film.

1999Julie Bevevino ‘99 and Brett Fulesday ‘99 were engaged in December 2009 and look forward to their March 2011 wedding. Julie received her Master of Business Administra-tion from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business last April and currently works as a category strategic planner for MatchPoint Marketing. Brett continues to work in the Economic Valuation Services department of KMPG in Pittsburgh. Julie’s recent bridal shower included Lisa Bevevino ‘02, Laurel Weller Noe ‘98, Crissy Hahn Storck ‘99, Elizabeth Bryson ‘99, Court-ney Nass ‘99, Alexis Beattie ‘99, Kennedy Stine ‘14, and former Senior School teacher Sharon Matthews.

2000Colleen Minnock Chulis ’00 and her husband Matt recently welcomed their son, Luke Mat-thew, into the world on August 30, 2010. He weighed 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and was 19.75 inches. They currently reside in Charlot-tesville, Virginia, where Matt is associate head coach of UVA mens’ soccer and Colleen is global director of linguistic validation for TransPerfect Translations in New York City.

Brett Fulesday ‘99 proposes to Julie Bevevino ‘99 in the Academy circle in front of Rea Auditorium.

Luke Chulis, son of Colleen Minnock Chulis ’00 and her husband Matt.


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CLASS NoTES

2001Wes Pegden ’01 and Maria Chikina were mar-ried July 31, 2010, at the Bronx Zoo in New York. Attending were Kelsey Pegden ’03 and Calder Pegden ’10, with music by Whitney Pegden ’05. Wes and Maria live in Brooklyn with their bright green Volkswagen camper van. Following his doctoral graduation from Rutgers in May, Wes was awarded a National Science Foundation Fellowship at New York University. Maria received her doctorate in molecular biology from Princeton and is working on a post-doc at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan.

2002Amy Aloe ’02 graduated from the Graduate School of Public Health at Pitt with a master’s in genetic counseling. She recently accepted a position at Baystate Health Center in her field. She moved to Northampton, Massachu-setts, at the beginning of January.

Clay Varney ’02 now lives in Washington, D.C., where he works for the Department of Defense. He finished a master’s degree in international security at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies in 2008, and was recently selected

for the American Enterprise Institute’s 2010 Summer Institute program.

On July 17, 2010, Pallavi Golla ’02 was married to childhood friend Mukul Patil in Dana Point, California. Many Sewickley alumni were in attendance. Jill Baughman ’02, Priya Gupta ’02, and Mona Prakash ’01 were part of the bridal party. Heather Michael ’02 and Kamal Nandra ’02 were also in attendance. Pallavi and Mukul currently live in Los Ange-les where she works as an analyst at a hedge fund. Mukul is a urology resident at USC.

Vergia Siovhan Norris ’02 recently became engaged to Bjork Christensen. The couple will celebrate their marriage with two wed-dings this summer, one in Chicago and one in Denmark.

2003Jacqueline Hastings ’03 moved to the Cayman Islands on a work assignment for Deloitte & Touche in January.

On September 20, 2010, Andrew Coleman ’01 and Kendall Thornburgh ’03 welcomed a baby girl into the world, Charlotte Grace Coleman. She weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces,

and was 19.5 inches long. Andrew is currently employed by Ernst and Young, and Kendall is finishing up her graduate degree in early in-tervention for children with disabilities at the University of Pittsburgh. The couple is living in Pittsburgh and plan on marrying in 2011.

2004Julia Deutsch ’04 writes, “Growing up and spending what seemed to be every waking moment in the halls of Sewickley Academy, it was hard to imagine life beyond SA. Sure enough, time passed, and I found myself in some of the biggest cities in the country. Physically, I became disconnected from my alma mater, but, emotionally, I remained a strong member of its community. It is with great excitement, then, that I find myself working a stone’s throw away from my longtime classmate and dear friend, Dana Mathews ’04, at Vanity Fair magazine in New York. Looking back on my days at the Academy, I remain so thankful not only for its renowned academic prestige, but for the countless number of remarkable people that it continues to produce.”

Vergia Siovhan norris ’02 and her fiancé Bjork Christensen will wed this summer.

Wes Pegden ’01 receives the rings from his groomsman and brother Calder ’10 at his May wedding. His sister Whitney ’05 looks on with her cello.


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WE WANT YouR NEWS!

Just married? Found a new job?

Took an exciting trip? Moving

away or back to the area?

Whatever your news is, we

want to hear it!

Send your news to:

alumni@ sewickley.org or post it

in the Class Notes section of the

Academy website.

lecture-based while the third term is desig-nated for independent dissertation research. She will finalize plans for her dissertation early this year.

2007Will Sutherland ’07 is “spreading the warmth” all over the Sewickley area with his firewood business, Deliver Me Timbers! He began small, collecting and selling the leftover end pieces from his family’s lumber business. “All that premium lumber produces end pieces that can be used for great firewood. My dad encouraged me to see if I could sell some of it myself, so I bought a load from him, started a little business, and made some phone calls. After a few years, I’ve developed a circle of regular customers who I see when I’m home from North Carolina. This Christ-mas, my brother Charlie ‘12 joined Deliver Me Timbers! and he will be running the business alone while I’m back at school and beyond. We both deliver and stack the stuff at folks’ houses over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and especially summer breaks. The wood is beautiful, and customer feedback is great.”

2009Patrick Joyal ’09 will conduct selections from Pierrot Lunaire, an integral work of 20th century music at Kenyon College in April. Not only is this the first time that this piece has been performed at Kenyon since the 1960s, but the selection of a sophomore conductor is also extremely rare. The music will be part of a senior music major’s compositional exer-cise, and will include a lecture on the nature and structure of the work.

Kimberly Hastings ’04 married Keith Knuppel this past summer in Sewickley. Father Tim Hastings ’77 and sister Jacqueline Hastings ’03 were both in attendance.

Dana Mathews ’04 is living in New York City, and believe it or not, thinks of SA every day. “SA has been a vital part of my life —the teachers who have mentored me (Mr. Connolly and Dr. Barnes to name a few) and the friends who have become my extended family — even in Manhattan!” Dana has been working at Conde Nast since graduating from Fordham College of Lincoln Center in 2008, specifically in the features department at Vanity Fair magazine. “One of the best parts about working at VF is the incredible staff, one of which is Julia Deutsch ’04. She sits 20 feet away from me in the production depart-ment. We have a lot of fun working here and there really is never a dull moment.”

2005Carolyn Devens ’05 is currently living in Can-terbury, England, doing a year-long conserva-tion biology master’s program at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent. The first two terms are

Kendall Thornburgh ’03 and Andrew Coleman ’01 with their daughter Charlotte Grace Coleman.

Julia Deutsch ’04 and Dana Matthews ’04 at the “Vanity Fair” office in new York City.


I N M E M o R I A M

As of december 31, 2010

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ALuMNI ROBERT W. CURRY ’35 Robert W. Curry ’35 passed away on September 25, 2010. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Catherine; his three children, Robert, Timothy, and Suzanne; six grandsons, John, nicholas, noah, Paul, Thomas, and Spencer; and by four great-grandchildren, nathan (deceased), Maximus, Owen, and lily Grace. He was cousin to David A. Nimick ’39, George G. Nimick ’42, and Reade B. Nimick ’42. He graduated from Sewickley Academy, and then from Greenfields Academy. He was a Si-U at kenyon College but left to drive an ambulance in north Africa with the American Field Service and was present at the battle of El Alamein. Robert joined the U.S. Army and worked in intelligence in Europe during the remain-der of WWII. He worked in the oil industry until moving to Tucson in 1971.

EVAN E. KOGER ’35 Evan E. Koger ’35, age 91, died november 23, 2010. He graduated from Sewickley Academy and from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree in 1939. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943, and served as an office assistant secretary of the war department in the Strategic Service Unit from 1941 until his honorable discharge at Washington, D.C., in 1946. He and Betty Beedle were married September 21, 1952. He was a retired cattle rancher. He is survived by son, Edward R. koger; four daughters, Vicky Dawson, Jane koger, Susan koger, and kay lauer; a brother, William Koger ’38 of Denver, Colorado; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Koger ’31, and a great-granddaughter, nealy Duerksen.

JANE MCINTOSH BLACK ’37 Jane McIntosh Black ’37 passed away on December 29, 2010. Born in Sewickley, she grew up on “The Hill” in Glen Osborne. She went to boarding school at Chatham Hall and attended Smith College, where she studied vocal music. Her love of music continued throughout her life. She sang in the church choir for more than 70 years and was active in several performing groups including the Pittsburgh Savoyards and the 8:40 group at the Edgeworth Club. She also served on the board of directors of the Woman’s Association of the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Child Health Association of Sewickley, and the deacon board of The Presbyterian Church of Sewickley. Jane was predeceased by her sister, Frederica McIntosh Massee ’38.

SALLY LYON SMITH ’37 Sally Lyon Smith ’37 passed away peacefully on May 30, 2010, in Sacramento, California. While at the Academy, she developed a love of art and drawing. After graduation, Sally attended the Ogontz School in Philadelphia and majored in art. She later attended the Pittsburgh Art Institute and studied under Dale Boatman in Florida, Abe nussbaum in California, and John Howard Sanden in new York City, as she continued her passion as a portrait artist. Over the years, Sally’s work has gained national recognition and appeal, and her portraits can be found displayed throughout the United States. Sally received numerous awards and recognition for her artwork. She was a signature member of the Society of Western Artists, a full member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and a signature member of the California Arts league. Sally was also certified by the American Portrait Society and is listed in the 1997-98 Who’s Who of American Women.

DIANE MAE HAWES SUMMERS ’46 Diane Mae Hawes Summers ’46 passed away on April 18, 2010, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Born in Chicago, she was a graduate of St. katha-rine’s in Davenport, Iowa, a Gamma Phi Beta sorority sister, and held degrees from the University of Illinois and Indiana University. She retired in 1981 from Davenport Central High School where she taught English. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Harold Hawes; her husband, Dennis; and is survived by her children, Cindy, Chris, and Carole; five grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

MOLLY FLEMING MARKS SPARKS ’56 Molly Fleming Marks Sparks ’56 passed away on August 2, 2010. Molly was sister of Herbert “Chip” Marks ’59 and Alice Marks Tiernen ’68. She is survived by her husband, John Sparks of Surprise, Arizona, and her two children.

EDWARD P. EVANS ’57 On December 31, 2010, Edward P. Evans ’57, formerly of Sewickley, died at the age of 68 from acute myeloid leukemia in new York City. “ned” as he was affectionately known by his friends and classmates, was a popular student and excellent athlete. He attended Sewickley Academy from 1946-1953 with his two brothers, Tom ’54 and Shell ’58. ned continued his education at Andover Academy and Yale University, receiving his Master of Business Administration from Harvard in 1967. ned demonstrated excellent corporate acumen and rose to become the chief executive officer of MacMillan Publishing, Inc., among his other major accomplishments. In addition to his outstanding business career, ned was one of thoroughbred racing’s leading owners and breeders. Evans owned Spring Hill Farm in Virginia, and his horses won more than 100 stakes races during his 30-plus years as an owner. Quality Road was among his best horses, earning more than $2.2 million, including victories in the Woodward Stakes and the Metropolitan Handicap in 2010.

ANALANA HAYS FREITAG ’61 Analana “A.B.” Hays Freitag ’61, of Edgeworth, passed away on September 4, 2010. She was the eldest daughter of the late Alexander Hays III ’28 and Analana Beeson Hays. She was the wife of the late larry E. Freitag; loving mom of kit Mueller, Analana H. Stanley, and kennedy Ocheltree; sister of Alexander “Hi” Hays IV ’57, Cynthia “Dingy” Hays ’67, Charles “C.B.” Hays ’71, and Kathrin “Robin” Hays ’73. She was a dedicated volunteer for kiwanis Club of Sewickley, and member of The Order of Eastern Star, and St. Paul’s lutheran Church. She was also the long-time dispatcher for Sewickley Heights Police Department.

BARTLETT KENNEDY ’71 Bartlett Kennedy ’71 of Fort lauderdale, Florida, passed away August 30, 2010, after a short illness. He is survived by his wife liz, his daughter lindsay, and his son Andrew. Bart and his wife ran the family business, kennedy Yacht Concepts, for many years in Fort lauderdale.


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FAMILY oF ALuMNI THOMAS R. ALLEN JR.

July 10, 2010 Father of Susan Van Voorhis ’89 and Charles E.C. Allen ’90

ADA BARKER WARDROP COMBES

December 27, 2010 Daughter of Connie Wardrop Combes ’67

JOSEPH D. KIRST II

July 4, 2010 Father of J. Daniel Kirst III ’75, Robert H. Kirst ’76, and Anne Kirst LaValle ’80

THOMAS W. MACK

October 12, 2010 Father of Christine M. Camper ’81, Janice L. Conard ’82, Sandra R. Cook ’83, and Thomas W. Mack Jr. ’89; grandfather of Sara ’12, Courtney ’15, and A. Bryson Cook ’22

RUTH ANN MEDVITz

September 22, 2010 Mother of Rebecca Medvitz Planiczka ’93 and Thomas Medvitz Jr. ’97

CHARLES A. ROTH

August 12, 2010 Father of Nina Roth Borromeo ’84 and Margot Roth ’86

HAY WALKER IV

July 21, 2010 Father of Katherine W. Bantleon ’78 and Elizabeth W. Mecke ’80; grandfather of Lyssa ’10 and David Bantleon ’14

CORRECTION: EMILY (FREW) OLIVER

April 16, 2010 Mother of Henry Oliver III ’54 and Charles Oliver II ’58

WILLIAM D. BRANT ’81 William D. Brant ’81 of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, died on August 14, 2010. He was born on January 31, 1964. Bill received his Bachelor of Science in 1985, and went on to earn his Master of Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. He was employed by the South Carolina State Chamber of Commerce where he worked as research and marketing manager. Bill was an avid Pittsburgh Penguins and Steelers fan and he loved his pet Welsh corgi, Teddy. He is survived by his father, William A. Brant of Hilton Head, South Carolina, his sister, Polly Davidson of Marion, north Carolina, and two nephews.

EDWARD CARL ALTDORFER ’88 Edward Carl Altdorfer ’88 died on June 17, 2009. He was the son of Patrick and Janis (lippenot) Altdorfer, brother of Patrick D. Altdorfer ’84, and loving uncle of Marius.

CHRISTOPHER JOSEPH TURNER ’07 On September 11, 2010, Christopher Turner ’07 transitioned from this life into eternity. Born on August 24, 1988, Christopher was a gifted young man, known for his unique ability to make everyone feel welcomed and special. While he attended Sewickley Academy, he was elected student council president. After transferring to new Brighton High School, he was awarded the American legion Boys keystone State Award, new Brighton Rotary Club Student of the Month, was a new Brighton High School letterman, and graduated with honors. He had also attended Robert Morris University. He is survived by his parents, leslie (Rose) Turner, and Elder Urban Turner, and sister, Elise Turner.

RYAN KROH ’08 On August 10, 2010, Ryan David Kroh ’08 passed away. He was the son of David and Terri lynn kroh; brother of Alexei and Brittany kroh and Shawn lindamood; and grandson of Glenda A. Shay and Dr. Dean and Esther kroh.

On September 10, 2010, students, faculty, and staff gathered to take the first all school photo since 1995!

SEWICKLEY ACAdEMY 2010

315 Academy Avenue | Sewickley, PA 15143

NON PROFITU.S. POSTAGE

PITTSBURGH, PAPERMIT NO. 4123

Sewickley Speaking Winter 2011

Documents

Transcript of Sewickley Speaking Winter 2011