Summer 2019 Newsletter

CRMS

Letter from the

HEAD OF SCHOOL

The other day one of our elementary-aged faculty children dropped off a survey with two columns (“yes” and “no”) and asked me to continue the work that he had started; he shared that the purpose of his poll was to know how many students and faculty were interested in a weekly newspaper at CRMS. I assured him that I was up to the task and managed to get some additional lines in the “yes” column before returning it to his mother. This young man still has several years before he enrolls at CRMS, but he is often speaking to me about the school over dinner or as a spontaneous drop-in to the office. His ideas often come in the form of gathering input, such as the poll mentioned above, or organizing a “fun” day or a pumpkin-carving activity for the students. Other times he offers me advice on how we might improve the students’ daily experience, such as by not allowing technology (cell phones) on buses, because “it would be more fun to sing while the students are on the road.” What I have noticed is that his thoughts consistently fall into one thematic category: everything that he proposes is about building connection and a strong culture around community experiences. Even his latest idea, a disco concert (which was not readily embraced by our co-agenda presidents), fits within this overall vision, and the importance of connection and community is certainly one that would have resonated with John and Anne Holden.

HEAD OF SCHOOL Jeff Leahy // jleahy@crms.org

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Heath Hignight // hhignight@crms.org

ALUMNI & PARENT RELATIONS Beth Smith// bsmith@crms.org

COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING MANAGER Aimee Yllanes // ayllanes@crms.org

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS Molly Dorais // mdorais@crms.org

Colorado

John and Anne sought to develop a school that would provide “meaningful work” for the students. In other words, they wanted to provide CRMS students with a strong sense that they were an essential part of a larger whole and that the work that they would be a part of would be connected to and sustain the school community. The Holdens recognized that teenagers need to have a sense of purpose beyond just attending classes. They believed that a CRMS-type high school could achieve the progressive-school ideal of preparing young adults with the skills and knowledge they will need later in life, while at the same time honoring the current needs of teenagers by giving them the confidence and self-awareness that comes from being a part of a deliberate and supportive community. The Holdens’ notion of school appeals to me on so many different levels, and it is also very unlike my personal experience.

I remember merely trying to survive high school as I navigated my way through the long hallways of a large public school to attend my classes and other obligations. The school still has an excellent reputation, but beyond a pep-rally and prom, nothing about its environment, schedule, and learning opportunities were explicitly designed to encourage individuals to be a part of a larger, deliberate community. Instead, it was a place we went to for our school work and our connection to it did not extend much further; we essentially went about our day after school in relative anonymity and disconnected from the broader community.

In contrast, at CRMS our trips, work crews, household jobs, and formal dinners have always brought us regularly together, and in recent years we have purposefully designed programs to support connecting each individual to our larger community. A few examples of this include all-school meetings, senior symposiums, the Oystermeister competition, and senior speeches. Another new initiative is the student-led conferences during which underclassmen assess their progress and discuss their learning goals with their advisor and a pair of seniors who are there to provide wisdom and guidance. At each of these venues, the community gathers to be a part of the “meaningful work” that is going on at CRMS.

To close out the academic year we just recently held our Thursday evening underclassmen awards dinner

followed by a Saturday morning graduation ceremony on the lawn in front of the Barn. In both cases, faculty and staff line up for the students so that we can say goodbye to each of them one final time before we go out on summer break. I like the idea that the traditions we have developed align with our founders’ counter-cultural vision that CRMS would be a place where lasting connections are forged and where each departing student knows that they have been cared for and appreciated.

I am excited to share a new practice I have taken on in recent years as it has proven incredibly valuable for me and by extension the school: an invitation to each of our seniors to sit down with me individually to discuss their CRMS experience. This new tradition began as a way for me to make sure that I had some time with each senior before they graduated from CRMS. The list of questions I ask the seniors who take advantage of this opportunity (about 90%) have evolved, but the four areas that I am most interested in are the times and places in the program where the student feels seen, heard, known, and challenged.

While I find value simply in the personal experience of meeting with our seniors, professionally it allows me to take on the role of an anthropologist at the school. I believe the information that I collect serves a larger purpose by giving me an opportunity to learn from the students in what ways the school culture has been powerful in their lives, which program areas have served them well and the areas where we have room for improvement. I can only imagine the young faculty child mentioned above would approve. I share this information with the trustees and faculty but do so anonymously to ensure that students can be as real and authentic in their comments as possible. I also conclude every meeting by allowing the seniors to share whatever is on their mind – good or bad – that they would like for me to know. It won’t surprise anyone who has been a student at CRMS that often the students share that this school has “shaped them,” how kind and caring the community has been for them. It is the everyday gestures and attention that they receive from their peers and the adults in the community that has made a difference in their lives. These are important outcomes, and it is what happens when “meaningful work” is being done.

THE RESIDENTIAL GOOD LIFE

In college, students are generally expected to live on their own in a residential community. They’re expected to manage their distractions, get to class on time, study well, ask for help if they need it, and get along with roommates. Such skills don’t always come naturally, and at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, a large part of the residential program includes preparing students to thrive after high school.

“Research says that the high school years are indelible and hugely marked on us because of the way the brain is developing,” says Jennifer Ogilby, Dean of Students. “It’s a tremendously impactful time in our lives. At CRMS, our students are living in a community, forming bonds with each other and teachers. They’re gigantically ready for it, and the experience is deep and raw.”

LIVING THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE

CRMS has seven dorms, with nearly 60 percent of students boarding at the school. Students are housed by grade and gender in residences that range in size from eight to 20 students. Each dorm has a student “dorm head,” who is responsible for creating the culture and tone for the dorm. A dorm head’s highest purpose is to serve as a liaison between students and staff.

“It’s important for students to have someone in the dorm that they’re more comfortable with and are on the same level with,” says junior dorm head Vince Kunawicz. “It’s important that someone has that responsibility to say hey, if you have problems or ideas for activities, come talk to me, and I can talk to a dorm parent, and we can work things out.”

While every dorm has attached or nearby faculty lodging, each dorm

also has a rotating set of four to five “dorm parents” who are staff members or teachers that oversee a dorm on a rotating basis. Although dorm parents take their role as seriously as a parent would, the word “parent” is a bit of a misnomer.

“This age is a time when teens are seeking out adult mentors who aren’t their parents,” says Director of Residential Life BJ Sbarra. “We fill an important role. We’re here to provide guidance and help them figure out what it is that they care about, what’s important, what they are going to stand for, what their values are.”

Ogilby calls the dorm-parent style “objective parenting,” and Sbarra agrees.

“Parents often ask, how do you get them to clean their room?” says Sbarra. “We’re not their parent. We have a different relationship with them, but the number one component of the program is that we want our kids to feel cared for and supported and give them what they need to succeed while they’re here.”

Most students also have a roommate. Sbarra, Ogilby, and the admissions office staff meet for hours annually to pair up new roommates based on student questionnaires and knowledge about the students. Returning students can request roommates, and the committee tries to honor those requests when possible. Roommates serve an important role in the residential program.

“The bond between two roommates is really strong,” says Christi Ashenden, junior dorm head for the Crystal dorm. “Your roommate knows you better than anyone else. They always know where you are in

your life. That relationship is really important. And for boys too. They love the roommate bond they have.”

Sbarra admits that for some students living with a roommate for the first time can be hard. To that end, at the beginning of the year, all assigned roommates sit down and draw up a roommate contract, including elements like what’s okay to share, pet peeves, and how they’ll manage conflict. The contract provides the groundwork to refer back to as the year progresses. It’s part of an intentional piece in the residential program to teach life skills that will serve students well long after they’ve left CRMS.

“In our program, they’re learning to live on their own, resolve conflict, manage little things like how much time they need in the morning to get up for breakfast,” says Ogilby. “These are things that everybody faces at some point. They’re age-appropriate challenges.”

LIVING THE HEALTHY LIFE

The CRMS residential program is structured around helping students develop healthy habits, and both dorm heads and dorm parents play an important role toward that goal.

“I like to say that in the dorms is where life happens,” says Sbarra. “We’re a college-prep school so they’re gaining a lot of skills and building a degree of autonomy that they wouldn’t necessarily have if they were living at home.”

Good habits and work skills are reinforced nightly. All students are expected to be in their dorms by 7:30 p.m. on weeknights. The evening starts with dorm jobs.

“Everyone is exposed to different

kinds of work to make sure the dorm is clean,” explains Kunawicz. “Someone’s going to have to clean the bathrooms, clean the common room, wipe down the tables, sweep the hallway, mop the floor.”

While the evening also includes a study period where students are building important academic and time-management skills, the dedicated time also includes a social component with a nightly dorm meeting.

“This is the time where everybody in the dorm comes together,” says Ashenden. “It feels really important because the faculty genuinely want to know how we’re feeling and how we’re doing. Their role is a lot deeper than just showing up at 7:30 p.m. They’re there to support us, and we all trust them and share a lot of ourselves with them. They really do feel like parents.”

Dorm meetings are times for students and dorm parents to connect, discuss important life issues, and build relationships.

Sometimes dorm parents will lead discussions on school values such as gratitude or curiosity. Other times they’ll share important parts of their lives.

“CRMS students are used to reflecting and self-assessing,” says Ogilby. “They’re really well practiced and skilled at sitting in a group, listening to one another, not having phones out, and being respectful of group meeting time. It’s pretty remarkable in today’s adolescent world.”

During the weeknights, lightsout happens at 10:30 p.m. This combination of structure, dorm responsibilities, and relationships anecdotally pays off. Ogilby has heard reports that compared to other college freshmen, CRMS students are steady and balanced when they get to college. They know what they need to do and have independence. Sbarra has also seen the fruits of the program pay off.

“Sometimes you have to take the longer view,” he says. “Students don’t always get it while they’re here, but a lot of students come back a few years later and thank us. The boarding program helps students become individuals who can live in a community and respect each other. A lot of students don’t get that experience until they go to college. It gives our students a leg up.”

Not all structure and rules are popular. Freshman and sophomore students have their phones taken away on weeknights to help build healthy technology habits, while rules regarding visitation in the dorms are generally considered too strict. It’s an opportunity for constructive dialogue between students and staff.

“We give them a lot of trust and responsibility,” says Sbarra, “but we do have rules and expectations too. Teenagers are naturally pushing up against boundaries and asking the whys. We help them understand the whys and create a solid foundation for them to build on.”

LIVING THE FUN LIFE

Residential life isn’t all rules and skill building. It’s also a time of fun. On Wednesdays, the work stops at 9 p.m. for Captain Miercoles, a school-wide tradition where everyone stops to blow off steam and participate in an all-school game or activity. Miercoles is so popular that even day students return to campus to participate.

Dorms regularly plan their own activities as well. On the weeknights, activities might include going to 7-11 for slurpies or celebrating birthdays. On the weekends dorms have more flexibility to plan events and co-mingle between the dorms in the boys’ dorm that might look like a video game competition. In the girls’ dorm, there might be a dance party. On a recent night this spring, a girls’ dorm visited a boys’ dorm to give the boys a makeover. Bonfires, bakeoffs, barbecues, dorm Olympics, ski trips, and movie nights all keep the students engaged and having fun on the weekends.

“They’re always creative and trying different things,” says Sbarra. “I walk into a dorm sometimes, and I’m like OK, what is this random thing you guys have done? For a lot of us dorm parents, the dynamic nature of teenagers really keeps it fun.”

LIVING THE COMMUNITY LIFE

Ask a CRMS boarding student for a word that defines the Residential Life Program, and they’re likely to use the word “family”.

“People in the dorms become your family because you’re always with them and you have to rely on them. That’s really special about the Residential Life Program,” says Kunawicz.

That word isn’t confined to peers, either. Ashenden notes that the relationship students build with their dorm parents is vital. “You’re never alone. Anytime you need help, there are 16 other girls along with the dorm parents who want to help you. Everyone knows what’s going on in each other’s lives, which is really powerful. It’s like having a larger family.”

Sbarra attributes that strong bond between adults and students to the size of the school. “Because we’re a

small school, what makes us stand out is just the individual care, attention, and support that we can give our students. We work incredibly hard to help students succeed. That’s one of the big things we pride ourselves on, for every student to be successful in their high school experience and be ready to go on to what’s next.”

Like most relationships, family can have its ups and downs, and learning to use their voice and work through conflict is an important goal of the residential program.

“There’s a lot of personal change and learning that can come from living together like that,” says Kunawicz. “It’s a very special kind of learning environment when you’re living with people who come from other

parts of the country and world. Sometimes you learn what annoys you and bothers you, but you can also find out what kind of people support you and how to find those kinds of people.”

In the end, Sbarra sees the residential program not as a separate entity in the school but as an extension of the work and values going on at the school every day.

“Relationships are everything at this school,” he says. “In the dorms, we continue to build on all the things going on in other parts of the school to help students develop to be selfsufficient, critically-thinking young adults.”

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

INTERIM

Interim week takes place in mid-February when students and faculty alike are itching for a break from the long 3rd quarter. This year, there were 19 offerings – some long-standing traditional options as well as a few new options. The offerings this year included: Raku: Ceramics on Fire; Fluid Wood: Discovering Canoe Craft through Woodworking; Damascus Bladesmithing; Silversmithing and Casting Found Objects; Glassblowing; Ski Design & Building; Animated Music Video Production; Fly Tying and the Art of Angling; Wintercount; Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Level 1 Certification; Grand Canyon Photography; Outdoor Leadership and Wilderness Medicine; Joshua Tree Trad Climbing; Grand Canyon Horsepacking; New York Arts and Service; Spanish Language and Culture in Oaxaca, Mexico; Volcanology and Island Chain Succession in Hawaii; and Coastal Ecology of the Gulf of Mexico.

SENIOR PROJECTS

Senior Project is an integral part of a student’s final year at CRMS, requiring students to exercise self-reliance and responsibility. This project forms an essential aspect of the transition from the relatively comfortable and familiar school community to the world beyond. Successful completion of the project is a graduation requirement.

Each senior organizes and carries out an independent, three-week project away from school and home, in which he or she works under a master, an employer, or with an organization. Upon their return to campus, seniors present their real-world learning experiences to peers, family, and a jury made up of students and faculty. Both the quality of the project completed and an oral presentation (a pivotal opportunity to exhibit publicspeaking skills) are evaluated, as is a reflective essay designed to help students chronicle their reflections and learning experiences.

Some projects this year included: Working with the Oda Foundation in Nepal, Studying Coral Reefs in Belize, Volunteering at the Logan Center for the Disabled, and Teaching English in Costa Rica.

AWARD WINNERS

The CRMS Academic Excellence Award is conferred on a student whose academic performance during the year demonstrates remarkable consistency at the highest level of achievement. The intent of the award is to reward those who have rewarded us in our classes - both students and faculty – who achieve a level of excellence matched by the values of scholarship we all hold dear, and who study with intensity, motivate themselves and others, and genuinely celebrate learning in all aspects to its fullest. This year’s Academic Award Winners are: Sarah Teague ’20, Willa Schendler ’22, Zane Mullally ’21, and Josiah Utsch ’19

The CRMS Community Award is the highest recognition the school community can bestow on a student. Those who receive the award embody the enduring values that have been at the core of the school since its beginningrespect, responsibility, and excellence. The award recognizes individuals for their responsibility beyond themselves, for their willingness to work for the benefit of all, and for the legacy, through example, that endures in the memories of everyone. This year’s Community Award Winners are: Luke Penton ’20, Bryn Peterson ’21, Aden Berry ’22, and Sophia Jacober ’19

COFFEE HOUSE

Spring Coffee House rounded out the year with an incredible evening of music and camaraderie. Some highlights included a performance of La Flaca by Ramón Torva, Mayan Davis, Robbie McKellar, Dan Pittz, Juanma Martín, and George Weber. The Advanced Music group also played an entertaining encore of Escape (The Piña Colada Song). It was a family affair when Kayo Ogilby was joined by his niece Sophia Jacober ’19 and daughter Laia, who performed Boots of Spanish Leather by Bob Dylan, and Joey and the Bananas closed the show with a groovy rendition of Low Rider.

COMMENCEMENT - CLASS OF 2019

On June 8, 2019, 40 seniors prepared to embark on the next chapter of their lives. Everyone was excited as the girls were given their floral crowns, and boys were pinned with boutonnieres. The graduation procession, led by Head of School Jeff Leahy, wove its way from the Welcome Center to the lawn in front of the Barn, where anxious families, friends, and community members gathered to celebrate. The ceremony included a welcome from Jeff Leahy, faculty speakers Bobby Rosati and Dan Pittz, student speakers Noah Goin and Baxter Waltermire, Academic and Community Award presentations, the traditional leather diplomas were handed out, and student music was played throughout. Dave Meyer gave the charge to the class, which included his words of wisdom to “not cheat yourself.”

Development Update

We are fortunate at CRMS to live an abundant life that is woven throughout our school’s tapestry. From a mountain sanctuary to a timeless tradition of honoring service, our students thrive in this wild and open space. With renaissance art offerings and a grounded and unique community, high school has never been more impactful and profound. And when you consider the dedication of the loyal and extremely talented faculty, it comes as no surprise Dr. Jim Gaw ’64 and Mark Clark

are completing their 40th year of teaching at CRMS. As the end of the 2018-19 fiscal year draws to a close (June 30, 2019), please consider Giving Boldly to this year’s Annual Fund and help make a lasting and meaningful difference. To all of you who have already supported this important fund, we greatly thank you. If you have yet to join us, thank you in advance for your consideration. Please visit crms.org and click on Donate Now in the navigation bar at the bottom of the page.

Leadership-Level Annual Fund Gifts

Each year we ask supporters who have the financial capacity to consider joining us at a leadership level of giving. The success of the Annual Fund is founded on the principle of many donors contributing to the cause, and we are incredibly grateful for those donors who can give in a leadership capacity with a gift of $5,000 and above. The following donors have already committed a leadership-level gift to this year’s Annual Fund, and we want to recognize and thank them for their generosity. Please consider joining these impactful donors and help lead the way.

Eric & Deborah Alden

Alpine Bank

Dr. Charles F. Babbs, Summer ’62

Ralph Beck ’73, Beck Foundation

Garett Bjorkman ’06

James & Chelsea Brundige, Congdon Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of The Denver Foundation

Huabo Cai & Zhiyan Xu

Tony Cherin ’58

Nick Cherney & Patricia Eagling

John & Susanne Clark

Sherri Draper & Will Ferry

The Michelle and David Fries Charitable Fund of the Ayco Charitable Foundation

Paul and Grace duPont Engbring

F. Charles Froelicher Colorado Academy Donor Advised Fund

Stephen Fitzpatrick ’66

Frederic C. Hamilton, Jr. ’73

The Holmstrom Family Fund LLC

Daniel Hsu & Sandra Kan

Louis Jaffe ’64

Mingwen Jiang & Fang Liu

David & Laurie Joslin

The Knight Family Foundation

Peter Levine & Martha Blackwell

Jian Li & Zhengxia Chan

Isa Perse ’66

Evelyn Petschek ’68

Maury & Elaine Radin Philanthropic Fund at The Jewish Foundation of Memphis

Dorothy Reed ’68, Thendara Foundation

Cory Hardie Ritchie ’92, The Foresight Fund held at the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation

Margot (Muffy) Larsen Ritz ’75, Larsen Fund

Gay A. Roane

Timothy Sampsel & Ann McAlpin, Wild Waters Foundation

John Stickney ’57 & Lee Beck

Tim and Jane Sullivan

Samuel Tripp ’97, The Grace Jones Richardson Trust

Richard Turner & Britta Erickson

Lynde B. Uihlein ’63, The Brico Fund

Yidong Wang & Xin Rong

Gurdon & Stan ’80 Wattles, The Howard Bayne Fund

John & Sarah Villafranco

William Knox Holt Foundation

Hui Xie & Huilu Dai

Anonymous (3)

Alumni participation in the Annual Fund is critical to the school’s overall health and success and shows a strong belief in CRMS and its mission. Thanks to the talent of our resident blacksmith, Olivia Pevec, we were able to gift a hand-forged CRMS-stamped bottle opener each week during the month of April to any alumni donor who supported this giveaway. Thank you to the alumni who made 67 gifts during this timeline and for joining in our social media efforts to promote and celebrate The Great Alumni Challenge and winners. For any alum who has yet to make a gift to the 2018-19 Annual Fund, please consider doing so and joining this group of alumni supporters.

YESTERDAY TODAY FOREVER

Please consider including Colorado Rocky Mountain School in your estate or retirement plans in the form of a simple bequest or beneficiary. Your Planned Gift today helps ensure that CRMS is Forever.

Farewell and Welcome

After 11 extraordinary years, I am transitioning from CRMS to Habitat for Humanity. I have been humbled and honored by the hundreds of personal relationships I have enjoyed and shared with donors, alumni, parents, students, and my colleagues – it has honestly meant the world to me and my two daughters (Sunni ’18 and Belle ’19). I also hope for many of us that it does not end here, and I look forward to staying in touch for the months and years to come. I want to personally thank each one of you for this extraordinary experience – it has truly been a highlight of my personal and professional life.

Contact Heath Hignight, Director of Development, for more information.

hhignight@crms.org

970.963.2562

I also feel incredibly good about the baton I am passing and am confident the current Development Team will work seamlessly with Heath Hignight, our new Director of Development, and that their successful history and institutional knowledge married with a fresh perspective and new skill set will benefit the department and school tremendously. Please help me in welcoming Heath and thank you in advance for your continued support and connection with this very special school.

BOARD OF TRUSTEE SPOTLIGHTS

special. The setting simply makes it easier for the people to excel. A great teacher in a grass hut can accomplish more than a mediocre teacher in a crystal palace.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your new role as Trustee?

CRMS is at a formative transitional moment. People who have been at the heart of this institution for decades are retiring. Societal challenges and expectations are changing. The preservation of the school’s unique characteristics and strengths while navigating a changing social environment presents great opportunities as well as challenges.

ERIC ALDEN

What inspired you to join the CRMS Board of Trustees?

I have been intrigued by CRMS since my son enrolled there twenty years ago. There is an energy about the school that is both exciting and inspiring. When the opportunity arose to become involved in the school, on the board, I could not let it pass me by. Being a part of the energy and excitement of this school offered a chance at fulfillment that I could not turn down.

What do you value most about CRMS?

CRMS provides a unique educational experience in a unique setting. This experience is a result of the people who work and teach here. Their dedication to holistically nurturing the growth and development of the students entrusted to their care is what really makes CRMS special.

A beautiful setting and a vibrant quality of life add an inspirational aspect to the educational experience here, but in the end it is the people that make this school

Fortunately, we stand on the shoulders of a long history of inspirational leaders. Times of change are exciting times. The opportunity today is to be involved in transformations beyond simply embellishing or enhancing the existing school program while preserving the core attributes that make CRMS the unique institution that it is. This is an opportunity that I am excited to be involved with.

ANDREW MENKE

What inspired you to join the CRMS Board of Trustees?

Reflection about the formative moments in my professional and personal life motivated me to reconnect in this unique way. I’m deeply grateful to CRMS for inviting me to join its learning community back in 1995, and for imbuing in me an appreciation for intentioned, mission-congruent education. In so many ways, CRMS expanded my horizons about what’s at the core of wholechild education and how profound student growth can be when educators focus on building habits of the mind alongside habits of the heart. And, my children grew up on CRMS’s campus; our son was born there. They attended the CRMS preschool and consider their experience on campus and in the Roaring Fork Valley essential to who they’ve become as human beings.

What do you value most about CRMS?

I think it was John Holden, CRMS founder, who said that CRMS was an antidote to modern, easy living. In our accelerated, hyper-connected world that is more interdependent than in any time in human history, the world needs students who value inquiry in equal measure with action, and curiosity that drives results. CRMS graduates are self-reliant with the competence and confidence to make a difference in their communities as engaged citizens.

What are you most excited about as you embark on your new role as Trustee?

It is an honor to join CRMS’s Board of Trustees, and I look forward to partnering with the board, Jeff and his leadership team, and other school stakeholders to explore and chart the exciting next chapters of CRMS.

2019- 2020 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

RAVI VENKATESWARAN ’69, President

VIRGINIA NEWTON, Vice President

LISANNE ROGERS, Secretary

TONY CHERIN ’58, Treasurer

ERIC ALDEN

ELIZABETH (LIBBY) BOHANON

CHELSEA BRUNDIGE

GRACE ENGBRING

LUKE FALCONE ’11

MIKE FLAX ’63

MICHELLE FRIES

SUZI MCKINLEY ’96

ANDREW MENKE

MARGARET (MAGS) MILLER ’90

JANE SULLIVAN

STAN WATTLES ’80

meeting dates

SEPTEMBER 20-21, 2019

DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

FEBRUARY 7, 2020 video conference

MAY 15-16, 2020

CLASS NOTES

Class Notes are edited for space, clarity, and style. Share details and photos of special occasions and professional achievements in your life by going to www.crms.org/alumni/staying-in-touch/ update-your-information/

1958

Conrad Smith

My wife Sophronia of 55 years died peacefully in her sleep 30 months after she was given three months to live with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Our older daughter Melisande, 55, lives in suburban DC where she is an internal medicine MD. Our younger daughter Deirdre lives in Bergen, Norway where she works as an administrator at the University of Bergen (speaking only Norwegian). Our older granddaughter Elfrid, 21 has completed the first year of medical school in Trondheim, Norway, where tuition is free. She earns money for food and rent by teaching sex education classes in public schools and by serving as home health aid for the elderly. Her 18-year-old sister Irja (EARya) has one year left in gymnasium. Still

backpacking at 78, but with considerably lighter loads than a couple of decades ago. Finally retired at age 76 as professor of journalism at the University of Wyoming, but still get much satisfaction keeping in touch with dozens of former students. Everything considered, I like age 78 considerably more than adolesence, but it would be nice to get back my 18-yar-old body.

1959

Alison McKelvey Clayson

Jim and I are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary this year. Still settled in Paris. I continue to work as an independent writer/editor for the United Nations, especially UNESCO, and I am enrolled at the conservatory for harpsichord and viola de gamba lessons. Especially loving the ensemble work. Jim is professor emeritus from the American University of Paris and continues to be active in academic conferences and journal contributions. We would welcome contact with any and all members of the CRMS community who pass through Paris, and we give a shout out to fabulous Lisa Raleigh and family who have visited recently. Sending love to all.

1960

Jim Amos I spend most of my time volunteering for several non-profits. Also look after

aged and disabled relatives. The nice thing about retirement is that you can do what you think is important and not worry about making a living! This may have been before your time at CRMS. The school store sold the short leftover paper from WW2 (8” x 10.5”). The dorms had war surplus wall mounted desks (officer’s field desks). We camped using war surplus shelter halves and mess kits. Happy memories - watching you and Ursula [Goodenough] playing the piano for the Mozart Requiem! Madrigals, what’s that?

John Chase

Liz and I remain in Belfast, ME, where I am writing from my office above Chase’s Daily--the restaurant run by my brother, Addison, and his family. Addison and daughter, Phoebe (the baker), are CRMS alums. I was “retired” as treasurer of our local rowing organization and am now sorting through family documents. One interesting surprise was finding that Liz and I share a common grandfather--10 generations back. Another memory came from correspondence reminding me that Mary (Whitford) Graves and I had been skiing at Portillo, Chile, during a Peace Corps respite. I sing with a men’s a capella group meeting weekly. Liz and I haven’t been traveling much due to the demands of her cancer treatments, but fine meals, friends and the arts have us perking along pretty well. Belfast is truly a great place to live.

Dick Durrance

After spending most of my life trying to capture photographs that told stories about people living in the far corners of the world, I now spend most of my time walking the streets of Carbondale taking pictures with my iPhone that tell stories about what is going on inside of my head. I post pictures and thoughts like this one more-or-less monthly. If any classmates are interested in receiving them, send your email address to dick@ dickdurrance.com and I will add you to the mailing list. When I came upon this

frozen puddle, it looked like an eye to me, a reminder of how much our vision is shaped by the multitude of lenses our experiences create as we journey through the chapters of our lives. Are any of you finding that to be true as well?

and winters in Patagonia, AZ. I continue volunteering at Patagonia Lake State Park. Rita and I are both on the board of Friends of Sonoita Creek, our local HOA board and we enjoy singing with the Santa Cruz Singers. My summers in Flagstaff involve more fabulous hikes at various elevations and occasional camping and biking at the Grand Canyon. I tutor at the Literacy Center and volunteer with Friends of the Rio de Flag and the Willow Bend Center for Environmental Ed.

Mary Whitford Graves

some classmates who left us all too soon, and say that they are in my thoughts and memories: Pat White, Starr Lanphere, Hester Holbrook Abrams, Tom Dickenson, Bill Sam Caldwell, Sheila Ryerson, Boyd Holbrook and Jim Meyers. Finally, thank you all, dear classmates, for writing. I love hearing from you and believe as we grow older, our need for connection never wanes, but grows.

Michelle Rosenbaum Lesser

Cathy de Schulthess Galitzine

We spent time in Cuba and loved the people, music, architecture and original art expression, such as Fusterlandia near Havana. In September we visited Moscow and St. Petersburg, taking the Russian boat trip between the two cities. I visited Kiji Cathedral built in the 15th century - all wood and NO nails. This has been on my bucket list since I first visited Russia in the mid ‘70s. We are traveling to Abou Dhabi and Bhutan in May. There are archeological sites in Abou Dhabi to visit and the Louvre has a “branch” there. I continue helping my god-children in India to go to school, graduate and find jobs. It is positive when I can help one woman at a time to make it out of dire poverty. The smallest set-back, such as health issues or a family funeral and their lives collapse. Even when the young women have found jobs my help isn’t over.

Ursula Goodenough

The past year of living full-time in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard has been blissful in every way. Wonderful to be liberated from expectations and let being alive take over.

Andy Gould

I continue living a bi-altitudinal life with my partner Rita, summers in Flagstaff

My husband of 52 years, Nick, and I enjoy our retirement years, remaining in San Francisco, attached to the rich cultural life of the city. We are glad for our second home in Napa Valley that gives us an inviting place for the grandkids to visit. My grandkids are 4 and 7, and I’m so happy to have them. We travel near and far, mostly together. This past year we visited northern CA in our camper for hiking in the old growth Redwoods; spent a month in London attending theater, opera, ballet, museums, and historical sights; spent two weeks in Cuba touring the island, meeting and talking with Cubans-wonderful music everywhere. I am glad I kept my Spanish fluent since the peace corps, participating in a weekly Spanish conversation group. I’m active in my local AAUW chapter, and a Director for an annual chamber music festival in Napa each August.

Lynn Bradly Leopold

Life stays engaged and full for me in Ithaca. I travel to Ireland every summer to visit dear friends, spent a week floating through Dinosaur Nat. Monument last June and am returning for the same trip this year, with my son, Eben Grace ‘87. I keep busy with local initiatives: the Finger Lakes ReUse, Inc. and the Discover Cayuga Lake/Floating Classroom, and serve on several watershed/water quality boards. I want to take the remaining space to remember

All is fine in the California desert. We’ve had an usually wet and cool winter, and the wild flowers are in massive bloom and are beautiful. The mountains are snow capped and the lower hills green. I think I’ll stay here a while longer. Jake [dog] does fine and is so tall and beautiful. He travels well and is (mostly) very well mannered. I love having him. I still play the piano but with more difficulty as I have severe arthritis. And I still garden.

Bill Moore

It’s been a quiet year for Lorna and me. We still live in our home of 30 years in Denver. I’m retired, but Lorna continues her research into high-altitude pregnancy at the Ob-Gyn department of the CU Medical School. We traveled to Mexico last year and just returned from two weeks in Morocco where we rode camels, camped in the sand dunes, walked the souks (old market places), spent nights in riads (old 3-story homes built around an open courtyard) and saw many interesting sights. I still volunteer at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, take yoga classes, will become a grandfather for the second and third times this summer, ski several times a year, take an annual 3- or 4-day backpack with friends in Utah’s Canyonlands, chase steam locomotives from time to time, and spend summers at a family cabin high in the western Colorado mountains where I hike to my heart’s content.

Robin Rymer

Active year for us. Our two children live in NYC and Anchorage with a total of 5 grandchildren. Ages 11 - 6, 3 boys and 2 girls. Very active and lots of fun. Next year the Alaskans will move to Equador for a full year of immersion in its life and language. Her Pediatric practice will resume upon her return. It should be quite an experience for all of them. Our son’s family continues to love New York and they all thrive there. Marilyn and I had a pretty active travel schedule: Patagonia on a trek with Alex Honnold and Conrad Anker just before “Free Solo” came out. Also a short trip aboard the Queen Mary 2 for a transAtlantic crossing followed by 5 days of plays in London. Not too much skiing this year due to injuries which should be healed by next year. Marilyn is nearly retired from her vice president’s position in neuroscience at the University of Kansas hospital. I have closed my corneal surgery practice but enjoy learning of all the new procedures and activities which continue to improve people’s lives.

Pat Stein Spitzmiller

I continue to mentor my two “first generation” young Hispanic women at Colorado Mountain College. Both of them have a powerful incentive to excel in their classes despite the many issues they face (DACA, applying for Green Cards, raising their children, and working various paid jobs). I continue to feel rewarded and inspired by their motivation! Last August we boarded an exploratory ship in Longyearbyen, Norway and headed to Frank Josef Land in the Russian Arctic. Climate warming was evident everywhere as we saw the melting ice sheets and animals who had a harder time traveling via sea ice. My friends and I sea kayaked and hiked while visiting the islands. The Arctic has a stark beauty that increasingly draws me to it, perhaps it is my realization that this wilderness is disappearing. I send love to my classmates.

1962

Ingrid Blaufarb Hughes

My book about my son, Losing Aaron, is available from Amazon.

Christi Mueller McRoy

A lot has happened in the last year. After a bad fall on the ranch, my husband John died on May 3. It has been a tough adjustment, and great loss. Trying to run the ranch alone has been quiet a challenge. As a result, I have the ranch JC Heart Ranch in Montrose, CO, on the market and hope to downsize. We had a wonderful Celebration of life back in Grand County, with so many friends and family there to support and celebrate John’s amazing life. In January at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, there was a great tribute to John at the Freestyle Reining. After some wonderful words read by our Steamboat friend Larry Barnes, a Colorado trainer Aaron Ralston rode my good show horse Steady Step to Garth Brook’s “Dance”, and then I got on and rode, a bit intimidating in front of 4,000 people be such a wonderful tribute. I have been blessed to remain healthy to continue to ride and also teach skiing in an epic snow winter at Telluride. I also got to

ski with old friends near Chamonix, France in late March. It was a great trip with skiing and two days in Salzburg, Austria visiting family. As I prepare for three grand-children graduating from High-school this year, it seems like just yesterday that we were all gathered at CRMS graduating. How could it possibly be 57 years ago?

Helen Muller

I went to Moscow in September as part of my book/memoir project “The Nobel Laureate and the Beautiful Refugee”. I am retracing my parents footsteps as they escaped totalitarian dictatorships and engaged in path breaking science.

1963

Lynn Boyer Kearny

My husband Cress Kearny ‘63 and I just moved from Oakland, California where we lived for 40 years back to northern New Mexico, where I grew up and where we have lots of family: Mothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. Cress grew up in Montrose, Colorado, a 4-hour drive from our new home. We both look forward to many trips and hikes in northern New Mexico, the San Juan mountains of Colorado, the four corners and the canyon country of southern Utah. We would love to hear from and see old friends from CRMS. Our new/ old adobe home has lots of room for guests.

1964

Cathy Stern Lichtmann

I’ve been retired for 4 1/2 years but still do some subbing at the library where I last worked. I tutor a first grader in a Detroit public school 2 mornings a week and volunteer as a master gardener. I spend time quilting and reading. Last September my middle son got married at a winery in Sonoma, Ca. They live in Chicago where he is a labour attorney. My oldest son lives in New Orleans with his wife and two children, aged 3 1/2 and 5 1/2. My daughter, a chef, lives in Christi

Portland, Or. In order to see them we travel a few times a year. At least we can take a train to Chicago!

1965

Ben Barney

I welcomed 2019 with one illness upon another; winter flu, spider bite and ear infection. Being older allows for it. Last year I spent close to a month in Europe and most in Germany. Did spend additional time with friends in Paris, France and Oslo, Norway. Thought I would final visit Ireland but ran out of time. This year outside of two weeks in Vermont with Mark Huessy’s family I will be in Lukachukai and the Southwest. Have started to turn toward the more serious reading from novels. Now reading Gandhi Before India. Might take more time with some of the books read while at St. John’s College 1966 to 1970. Between my cell phone and laptop I managed to delete the group contact list of the class of 1965 some years back. It took me a long time to collect email addresses in order to reach out again. It is yet in the process. There are many places and events to be part of around the Southwest so if you head this way let me know. You are welcome to visit.

Christopher Harkness

Greetings all. True to form, despite feeling regretful about being so out of touch, I’m submitting this at the last moment. For all practical purposes I retired a year or so ago when I migrated from Palo Alto to Los Angeles: I had no good response when my partner, who had long ago moved to Palo Alto to join me, proposed that we move here so that she might help to raise her granddaughters. I still do a few hours of web-based therapy with Stanford graduate students they were my main client base, but otherwise I’m still figuring out what to do with myself. My son, recently married, resides in Whitefish, MT. He forecasts a grandchild in the near future, which gives me joy. I have so far avoided social media, but I would be happy to

see and/or correspond with any/all of you: chipharkness@gmail.com. I travel with some regularity to the SF Bay area, Montana, and to NYC.

David Strouse

Continuing to enjoy retirement and grandkids, put in a complete wood shop including a lathe in my garage.

1966

Jenny LeCompte Anderson

I keep working on my photography skills. Traveling a bunch this year - to Tanzania, France, and the Yukon as well as many trips to Jackson, WI to see Grace Anderson, who turned 100.

Tamim Ansary

Hi Classmates, Good to hear from/ about you all. My wife Debby retired at the beginning of this year, just as I was finishing a book I’ve been working on for six years, so we celebrated by embarking on a 4,400 mile road trip through the southwest because Debby had never seen the Grand Canyon. We stopped in Flagstaff and had dinner with Warren Perkins and Ella. Great to see you guys, Warren. My daughters are in New York, immersed in the arts. No grandchildren, yet. I hit seventy last fall, so time may be running out. Rowdy Yates, you’re the youngest looking old man I’ve ever seen. I’m guessing there is a picture of you hidden away in a closet somewhere in which you look like Keith Richards. As for my book, it’s called The Invention of Yesterday, it’s a cross between a history

and a theory of everything and it’ll be out this fall. If I never write another, then I guess I’m retired today. But I won’t know until a few years hence. ‘Til next year.

Bart Chapin

Lucy and I had planned to take another road trip west but ended up staying here for the winter. Next year will be different! Our normal schedule of staying here for the summer was upended by a wonderful trip to Norway, a country with a functioning government. We stayed with Kristin and Ivar at their place in Oslo and ventured out to their amazing place on their familyowned island south of Oslo as well. In between the two Sandvik visits we rendezvoused with a couple from here on their sailboat. We picked up the boat in Bergen and went south with them for a week travelling up several fjords along the way. We constantly wondered why the US could not function in the Norwegian way? Great health care, amazing public transportation, and so many other good things. Right now Lucy and I are working at least part of every day on the boat readying it for a late May launch. All welcome for a sail if you happen by this way. Lucy is working for GRR, Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, something that is ever more needed. She also puts in time raising funds for the restoration of the local lighthouse. I am still working very part time building fire poles, the kind fire people slide down. Not just the pole but fire proof doors surrounding the pole actuated by a servo drive and some other electronic stuff. I sold the 1953 BSA and the 1938 Velocette so I am no longer with bike. Instead I bought a fat bike and put studded tires on it for winter fun. Only managed one day of downhill skiing but it was a perfect day and I am still in one piece. All well and good here. Feeling very lucky for my life, friends and family.

Mike Kitchens

I have been lucky to see CRMS alumni this last year - in Santa Fe, and Tucson… with Bretta Rambo, Deirdre Golani (dole), Melanie Wyler in Northern California. Had one of the most wonderful trips to The Sonoran Desert with Bretta, Deirdre, Emily, John Wooden, Kit Vagneur, Joan Ham and Cherlize Theron. We were fortunate to find a lot of peyote buttons even though the search was impeded by a rare 10’ blizzard. I’m not sure it snowed, but it seems like a white vision in my memory - oh, did I say White Buffalo. We were fortunate for some great cooking. In other news I finished a draft of a manuscript. It’s significant because I finished something. Not sure if and what I will do with it. Love to all of you.

Steve

Yes, that’s me, the old geezer on the right, making up for balding up top with facial hair. Simply wasn’t going for the comb-over. I crossed the 70 threshold just over a year ago. Everything seems to be working except for a couple of creaky knees. I have, however, suffered for many years with alumnus incognitus. Fortunately, thanks to Chapin and Yates, I am in recovery and hope to continue with my recovery in the coming years. After having visited Bart’s neck of the woods off and on for many years thanks to Nan’s sister having a house (now sold) on Harpswell Neck, I realized that

Chapin was a stones throw away on Arrowsic Island. We hooked up this past October and we got to meet Lucy and see their place. Then, with a wedding invitation in Santa Fe this past Saturday, we met Yates for a two-hour breakfast. Nan and I are still in Dallas. I retired a few years back and two years ago we moved into a new house that Nan and I designed, fulfilling a dream we’ve nurtured for many years. Nan has her sewing room where she quilts and makes clothes for herself, our two grandkids and others. I negotiated a shop out back as part of the move where I make a lot of sawdust. Our grandchildren, Hattie and Wyatt, live here in Dallas. Hattie is 5, Wyatt 2-1/2 (going on 5 it seems). We spent time on a property about 100 miles east, with a lake and a house I built back in 1991. We also spend time in Black Hawk, CO, where Nan’s family bought a house back in the late 40’s: about 45 minutes west of Denver at 8200 ft. Not a scenic destination, but a great base for day trips to those. Nan and I turned the wedding trip into an adventure. On the way we visited Caprock Canyon State Park and Palo Duro Canyon State Park, both in Texas. Been in the vicinity a zillion times going back and forth to Colorado, but had never stopped until now. Then after the wedding we headed west for Mesa Verde, Canyonlands and Arches. Over 50 years and I’d never been back, but this completed the Great Circe for us as we’d done Bryce, Zion and The

Grand Canyon and couple of years ago.

Wick Moses

How interesting to read all of your life’s stories and adventures and family life. Who could of imagined back then that we would be so interconnected after all these many years and different paths?! My days of long-distance motorcycle trips and camping are in the rear-view mirror now. I’m SO glad that I racked up those thousands of miles when I did, since my body and my wallet won’t let me do it now. I’ll leave the adventures to you all... Last year was when Shangri la turned into Shang Grenade here! We had a terrible Winter with little snow and a short Spring Gulch season followed by a parched Spring and, perhaps symbolically, on July 4th, the fire erupted on Basalt Mountain. We had heavy smoke and hot temps all the way into late August. I discovered what they mean when they say “older people should remain indoors” - “What a drag it is….”. In October, we went back to Shangri La with lots of rain and way colder temps and we were rewarded with a great Winter with fantastic snow whose coda is still lingering on. The ebb and flow of it all! In spite of the usual slings and arrows and middle-aged bulge, I am having the best life I have ever had! Cat catering hit a record high last year and my three sons are a delight and a hoot to spend time with. After those 38 years of sales, its’ refreshing to hang with a species that is way beyond us in figuring the meaning of life out! I have not become a hermit yet and, now that so many of my contemporaries have died or disappeared, I have a certain status for having been very involved with Carbondale’s big transition in the 70’s to what it is now. It has become quite the center of artistic activity and, compared to back then, when the Mountain Fair and Potato day were the big events, we now are awash with activities almost every night! We now have 3 sushi bars - what a long ways from Larry’s Little Supper!

Ilsa Perse

For over a year we were waiting for a decision from the Oregon Supreme Court in our David and Goliath battle against Waste Mgt. Inc, and on the last day of February, we found out that we won! The Supremes didn’t beat around the bush and gave us clear wins on all the issues that we argued, all based on very complicated Oregon land use laws. Alas, we know that the largest garbage company in the world isn’t going to just sit back and take the loss, and indeed they have already begun their campaign to work around it. But beating them in the highest court was more than satisfying. We just wish we could get this over with. Ten years is a long time to spend thinking about garbage. Spoiler alert-we all make too much of it. The rest of the year seems kind of a blur, overshadowed by the expiration of warranties on various body parts. A new hip is being installed in a couple of months. I am looking forward to being able to pick things up off the floor again. Simple needs at this point in life. In November, Jake and I had a wonderful dinner with Susan Meiselas in NYC. My gallery is still hanging in there in the megalopolis of McMinnville, which has become a tourist town because of the booming wine industry. A very mixed blessing. I’ve exhibited my fiber work in a few shows this spring. I wish I could spend more time on that part of my life and less time on worrying about landfills and the environment and the depressing state of affairs here and every place else. It feels like we are always waiting for the other shoe to drop. And usually it does. Who knew there would be so many shoes? Always good to hear what everyone is up to.

Priscilla Wearin Wagener

In my defense when your email came I was in NZ celebrating 4 birthdays in 2 weeks. My 3 grandchildren are Kiwis so getting to see them is a BIG deal and involves a lot of happy chaos. I am still in Boulder, still working part time at

the yarn store with the tongue twister name (try saying Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins three times without stumbling). In October of 2018 I lost my husband and best mate of 47 years to the ravages of cancer. His ashes are in my study but I know his spirit is on a mountaintop plotting his next adventure. My current adventure is getting my head around all things financial and rueing the day I said “sure hon, you do the finances, I’ll do the animals.” He was good at it, I am ...learning.

1967

Brad Ansley

2018-19 was quite a year of highs and lows, all of which are now tinged with the sadness of living on the earth without Roger Paris. Knowing him was like having a personal relationship with Jacques Cousteau. Always smiling, always humble and always doing amazing things in the natural world. Dan Dole and I rode up to his cabin at the same time as Dave Nutt in hopes of a chance encounter. But it was not to be. Even though I’ve only seen him a few times since 1967, he was frequently in my thoughts. From a selfish point of view he will always be as I last saw him about 25 years ago at the Headmaster’s house on a gorgeous day in his short shorts and fleece pullover, lean, tanned and ready for the next adventure. Now he’s off on the adventure we are all destined to make. We also lost Kathy’s Dad in January of 2018 and sold the farm in Happy Valley, Blount County, TN, the past January, two pieces of life’s puzzle we can never get back except in our hearts, minds and photographs. On the happier side we’ve made two trips to the Seattle area to visit our son Kieran who’s a nuclear propulsion engineer in the Navy in nearby Bremerton, WA soon to be deployed on a sub in Bangor, WA. I didn’t know there was a Bangor out there. What an incredible place for a water lover like me. I lived in the NYC area for over 11 years and was never able to hold in my mind an accurate map

of the waterways around Manhattan and Long Island. The complexity of Puget Sound would take a lifetime to learn if then. On one trip we took a sunset cruise on the 70’ former racing sailboat Obsession that was built at the yacht yard where I worked in NY. We will be making more trips out to that marvelous place. Our daughters are doing very well. Kate is married and the events coordinator at the Knoxville Convention Center. Her husband, Chase, is the Brew Master at Smoky Mountain Brewery. Danielle is teaching 7th grade in Johnson City, TN. Kathy gets all the credit for these 3 amazing people. I just sit back and admire them. I am in the process of putting together a new shop, all my tools being in storage after the sale of the farm. It’s on a little country road called Old Reservoir Rd so the shop will be called the “OR”. I’ll have a place to tinker and build and stay busy. I’ve got some designs waiting to be realized and some boats to refurbish and customize. Before the sale of the farm Kathy and I moved into a sweet little craftsman bungalow built in 1918 in Maryville, TN and have rescued two dogs; a female terrier/dachshund named Abigail and a Brittany/heeler mix named Danko. They pretty much run the joint. Maybe we can figure out how to make the reunion in August…

Steve Barru

I am now well into my fourth year of more-or-less retirement in Da Nang, Vietnam (I still do a bit of editing work that provides mad money for travel and overpriced dinners in places like Hong Kong). While I continue to enjoy life here, I am somewhat at loose ends about the future. Vietnam simply does not have any kind of visa arrangements for retirees - there is no easy way to become a long term resident with kind of stability that offers. I live from visitors visa to visitors visa. I can do this indefinitely, but it requires a certain amount of effort and is not an especially satisfying way to live. In any case, this is a

long, involved conversation I am having with myself, one that I am not going to inflict on you. I will be back in the US in September of this year (exact dates to be decided). My first trip back since April 2016 - making the last three years the longest I have ever been out of the US at a single stretch. I will be in Denver and Colorado for a couple of weeks, and spend time back east - the Boston area, western Mass and Baltimore, as it stands now. The actual itinerary is still up in the air. If there is anything CRMS related that I could plug into, please let me know. And if any of you are planning to travel in Vietnam or elsewhere in SE Asia, please be in touch. The big 70th is coming up fast, another three months or so to go. I am an accomplished complainer and put my expertise to use whining about various aches, pains and other afflictions, but the fact is all of my problems are minor. I remain healthy and active. What a blessing! Vietnam is now growing explosively, GDP is expanding at 7% to 8% annually. This is decidedly a mixed blessing. Life becomes more comfortable in some respects, more creature comforts, better infrastructure, but development also means more pollution, more traffic, more congestion. <sigh> Da Nang is one of the country’s development hot spots, but it remains a beautiful place.

Kat Bradley Bennett

After 4 years of hard work, the adult ESL program I started in Longmont closed due to lack of adequate federal funding. I moved on to the local community college where I was teaching one hybrid class. I decided to officially “retire” and start taking my state pension and immediately after that kicked in, I was offered to teach a fully online class, which I took. Both classes are training teachers and both make use of my Master’s studies. The hybrid is training people who want to teach ESL to adults, either here or abroad. The online class is for adult educators in general. There’s a lot of learning and brain theory involved, but

practical applications as well. So, I have officially failed retirement! I’m finishing out my basement so my youngest son can live with me and I’m charging forward into my 70s envirgorated and engaged in teaching. I’m still dabbling in nature photography, but the basement project has my house in chaos as the moment so I have no studio in which to really work at it. Cheers to all!

Bernie Brown

Hello young and old alike, I can say this until tomorrow when I join my geriatric friends. Damn, 70... and my CRMS days seem like yesterday. Heading out on Spring Trip to the Canyonlands in a cattle truck with the stockracks down. Ahh. Life without OSHA... Life is good here in Hereford Arizona (or what Emily calls “the boonies”??) Our little 3 and a half acres is truly our little paradise. We have a home in Digos, Philippines that we don’t get to as often as we’d like. The trip there’s a bitch for this soon to be old fogie, but fantastic once we’re there. Many palm trees and amazing flora. And oceans so clear and blue. We’re planning on going back in October. There’s a small house on the property that Berlyn’s dad lives in and caretakes for us. Seven grandkids and counting. Newest addition was our little 11.5 pound granddaughter Raegan. She’s almost two now and a real pistol. For an old cowboy tinkerer, I’m actually becoming kinda handy at remodeling. Just finished our new kitchen and you wouldn’t know this old guy that’s all thumbs did it My latest venture is refurbishing old cast iron wood stoves. My first completed project was a really beautiful parlor stove, and it’s gorgeous. Holler if you need one ?? I’m blessed to remain in good health, and feel like I can tackle anything that I could 40 years ago, it just takes longer. So enough BS from this soon to be old guy. Stop in if you’re ever in the hood. I am always cooking something luscious on my smoker.

K.C. Clendening

I am well and still living in Delaware. I retired last year and got bored and went back to work 4 days a week as a Mental Health Social Worker as opposed to a Substance abuse Social Worker. I still work in a methadone clinic but only with the mental health now. Yesterday we did have a small tornado and it carried away a number of chicken houses. My road was closed going to work because of a chicken house spread out all over the road. I am about to pick up a coin for 35 years of sobriety. That is a amazing to me. That is the most successful I have ever been. I will be there in August at CRMS. More to come in August.

Sarah Cooper-Ellis

We have a new-to-us ten year-old border collie. We enjoy the early morning and late night skies here in Putney and look forward to exploring the beaches of the Florida panhandle next winter and the brooks in Nova Scotia next summer. Hug our honeys, do good work, and carry on with our heads up and our lungs and hearts open.

Tracy Fitz

Well, recovering from life and life in death and old age. House in Brooklyn, filled, (mortgage still going strong!) (rental and roommates), one cat passed the other, ?? rallying, me rallying. What’s next? Don’t know. Current - work 1 day a week at long term care HIV, Brookdale University Hospital (past 19 years)- acupuncture without needles, (was with until the nurses decided to take them away????). Still no integrated medicine. Still healing by hospital, drug companies, industrial medical complex, what is life anyway but a small part of the universe. Let’s see - need a secretary, media aid, and assistant but need to be satisfied with a cat.

Bretta Rambo Maack

I’ve had some wonderful times with CRMS friends this past year. Emily and I met in Chicago for the pre-Broadway

opening of Pretty Woman where we were able to immerse ourselves in the theater world, attending rehearsals and going to the opening night festivities. Rowdy’s surprise birthday extravaganza was great fun. You can only imagine the many stories shared about Rowdy’s antics over the years. When I asked him how he’d ever live down the story that involved Viagra, Ambien, streaking and the First Lady of Mexico, he replied, “Who would want to live that down?!”

Emily’s 70th on a Dude Ranch in Arizona was a fabulous celebration with people coming from far and wide...a true testament to what a good friend Emily has been to so many. And this winter we got to visit John Woodin’s ranch near Tucson, which was spectacularly beautiful. Mike Kitchens, Deirdre Dole and I get together whenever we can to plot our next mini-reunion. Walt and I spent a good part of January in Indonesia with a group of friends. We hung out in a beautiful villa in Bali and then chartered a boat for 12 days of snorkeling in Raja Ampat. It was a truly amazing experience to be in an area that has some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. There were times that we were swimming with thousands and thousands of fish amidst a stunning array of corals of every imaginable shape and color. Every day was a new adventure. We are adjusting to being a family of three after the death of our son Morgan a year and a half ago. We’ve helped form a harm reduction task force in our community to address the growing opiate epidemic. It has been heartening to see health care providers, law enforcement, local schools and many others be willing to work together to face this devastating public health crisis. We are grateful that so far we are in good health and able to maintain our active lifestyle. I’m looking forward to being on campus for the reunion in August. Hope to see some of you there!

Kathy Lovett Moritz

This has been a year of FINALLY

finishing up all the work and clean up after the big flood 6 years ago. It’s been a long road, but should be over in the next few months, which will be a HUGE relief. I am still working, still enjoying working in alternative health care and treating patients, and hoping to fit in a bit more travelling in the near future. It will be nice to go back to just one job, instead of work, construction, and flood clean up! It has been nice to have our “mini reunions” here in Boulder whenever Les Andrews comes into town; it’s good to catch up with everyone over brunch in between reunions. My son and daughter-in-law and 2 grand kids still live in Glenwood Springs, so it is nice to be in the valley fairly frequently. It never gets old driving through Glenwood Canyon and then seeing Mt Sopris loom over everything in the valley; it is still a magical place after all these years. Once the flood cleanup has finished, there will be room for anyone coming through Boulder if you need a place to stay, so call if you are in the area!

Peter Mullen

Greetings to all, and thanks for your many personal commentaries. My lovely wife Edel from Germany and I went to Hawaii for 16 days. Never wanted to return. Why? I retired, end of year. 3 sons live within an hour and a half, Timothy, Jeffrey, and Simon. Simon married in 2017 and Katie will have a baby in July, we will be grandparents! Wow did

that take forever. Here is Roger, what a memory, I always loved him - his focus, his willingness to care for… I don’t mean to make myself the center of attentionsomebody grabbed this picture of me with him behind… and Nick - what was his last name?

David

Nutt

All is well in Maine. We have had a great winter with lots of snow in the Maine mountains but unfortunately not so much down on the coast. Great skiing at Sugarloaf this winter with more days on the mountain than in the past. Our oldest son, who lives in Oakland and is a 2nd grade teacher at the Monarch School, also in Oakland, finally got married iin March. After a perfect wedding we grabbed 10 outrageous days of skiing at Squaw Valley and are already planning a trip back next year. Our other son is getting married here in Maine in June just before he starts his residency program at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Family Medicine. Still waiting for the grandkids! I am still busy with my boatyard stuff with 17 boats to get varnished and painted and organized to get in the water in late May and into June. Summer should find us sailing some on the coast of Maine and doing some hiking in the mountains to the north. Life is busy and life is good.

Warren Perkins

It is great hearing from everyone and about all the amazing things you are doing. I have nothing to brag about this year: no big travels, no publications (I keep writing fiction, for some reason). The family is well, though we lost my mother in January at 98. Three years ago I started hiring Spanish-speaking grad students to tutor me, just to prove that it is possible for old brains to adapt to such a task, and that is one recent continuing accomplishment that I am proud of. We had a very pleasant visit with Tamim Ansary and Debby in March. I was so sorry to hear that Roger Paris died.

Emily Rosenberg-Pollock

This year I watched Rowdy turn 70. I’ve met up with Bretta Rambo, Mike Kitchens, Deirdre Dole, Kit Vagneur, Joannie Ham, Harry Van Camp, Wade Wykert, and Nat Shipman. I was in NYC for my son’s Broadway opening of Pretty Woman and had my first non-desert Thanksgiving in Connecticut where it was well-below “0”. In late September I’m heading to Hamburg, Germany for Pretty Woman (again) and then hopefully a 10-day excursion in Italy with the boys and their husband/wives. I’m still quilting, being “hounded” by a 4-year old mutt, Rory, and swimming under the stars 4 mornings a week. Life is good. I have no complaints. So far I have found the 70th decade to be not much to write home about! However, my children threw me a fabulous party with friends from everywhere! It was spectacular!

Christopher Thomson

Life is good! Just like at this time last year, we are in a frantic rush to finish creating another 21’ tall forged sculpture which we will drive to Chicago next month. The one that has been on display there on Iron Street has gotten good response but so far no buyer ($125K) so we’ll probably be trucking that one home with us. Artistic exchange has always been the basis for Susan and my 40 year marriage. Now that our daughters both live in Santa Fe we have time for more of it. Susan has become a serious photographer. We love creating magazine ads together and working on her photos in photoshop. I bounce my sculptural ideas off of her on a daily/ hourly basis. She is a master at the art of dealing with clients, running our business, explaining our work, and managing me. At a recent college lecture I describing my creative process for both iron forging and wilderness flute improvisations and how they are the same. Afterwards a young professor came up to me and said “You do know intuitive art is now considered a bit

passe?” Perhaps I am too, but what can I do? It is what I love doing. Last month I finished producing a “Grand Canyon Solo” flute CD. I listen to it all the time while driving/working. I’d be happy to give one to any of you who sends me an address.

I’m grateful to be a part of a new season of adventure and to hear about your lives and adventures.

Dave Westerbeke

Hey everybody got a two-year-old grandson Beckett and my daughters family is living upstairs in Mill Valley. I fixed up the basement they want to know what to call me so I thought Grand Master Pa. Hasn’t really caught on playing a lot of music working on a third CD. I bought a Pro Tools recording studio which means lots of brain twisting trying to figure out how that works. I paid off the house after 33 years. Sorry to hear about Roger and good to hear about the rest of your adventures.

1969

Marty Twichell Rotter

Harry Van Camp

Greetings all, I’m now over a year past a knee replacement and I can finally say I’m glad I did it. However, that resulted in missing a number of CRMS gatherings which I’m not so happy about. Funny, Roudy seemed SOOO much older than me when I was at CRMS. How can it be that I missed attending his 70th birthday when mine is just months away? I loved going to his wedding and the celebrations of CRMS friendships that the wedding and last reunion provided! For my 70th, my entire family including kids and grandchildren will be jumping on Amtrak and heading west to Glacier Park. With train travel such an important aspect of my youth, I wanted to pass the experience down a generation or two. Hopefully, it will be as interesting to them as it was to me so many years ago. This weekend will mark yet another annual passage of the seasons. The winter ice has vanished from the lake. We will be putting in the pier, and preparing for a season of boating, sailing, and fishing. As always,

Since I am coming up on my 50th high school reunion, I have been thinking about CRMS and trying to get to Carbondale this summer. I have been in Tucson since 1980, working, raising children, blowing through 2 marriages, enjoying the desert, going back to school to be a yoga teacher, retiring from 30 years with City of Tucson Parks and Recreation, getting and staying sober, teaching senior exercise classes, enjoying being a grandmother of 4 awesome young men and generally having a wonderful life! It’s funny for me to think that I am now 25 years older than my dad was when he taught at CRMS. I had fun being a faculty kid and riding horses with the Snobbles, being taught silversmithing by Steve Shantzer, going up Mt Sopris and to Canyonlands and babysitting for the Strickers, Hauses and Eustises. Being a student at the school for 2 years before we moved away introduced me to things that influenced my life. That’s my news!

1970

Edward Merritt

Retired as president of The dolores State Bank after 41 years. enjoying traveling

and spending time with our kids and grandkids.

1973

Rebecca Furr Ivester

I hope all are well there at the school and around the globe wherever alums may be. These days I’m teaching Cognitively Based Compassion Training CBCT whenever it works to offer the course, traveling to see our grown children, playing my flute, spending time with my dear husband, working, sailing or traveling, or just being lazy, and studying Buddahisim + Meditating. We’re just back from a Lojong retreat in India. I’d love to hear from/host classmates.

Ely White

Cntinuing to live in Hobe Sound, FL, near my dad who is in good shape. I do miss the mountains and the snow, the trees and the rivers. I feel I’m getting smarter as I age -tes, wiser. But I’m using my brain better. Are you (my generation) finding that too?

1974

David Harvey

I have two girls, Kira 11 years and Megan 9 years in DC as well as a girlfriend in Basalt, so I have been travelling between Washington DC and Basalt a lot this past year. That allowed me to do some skiing and visit old friends like Ross in Colorado....also climbed the highest mountain in Ethiopia, Ras Dashen, and explored Belize. Did quite a bit of Fly Fishing with my son, Evan, (CRMS ‘09), since we are both in between jobs.

Alicia Keshishian

Isn’t life just so unexpected? Twists and turns along the way keep everything fresh. I continue to design custommade-to-order carpets, create textile designs and teach color workshops. Teaching color has been more fun than I could have imagined so I spend much of my time focusing on the workshops. Travel is still necessary to still my

itching feet so went diving in Indonesia this year. Off to the Caribbean for birthday celebration and intend to be in Carbondale come August!

David Tanner

Carol and I are enjoying being snow free for almost 3 weeks here in Minnesota early May. Life is good. Carol’s semiretired doing 2 days of private practice therapy a week. I continue to work in the printing industry and Daughter Sarah is a 3rd grade schoolteacher who is also engaged to a swell guy. Carol and I will be making the trek out for the Alumni Weekend this August to see my beautiful classmates for our 45th. Hi to the CRMS Family out there.

1975

Harry Heafer

Both kids married now, our son a year ago and daughter 4 years ago. Karen retired two years ago after 40 years of teaching, i’ve got 4 or so to go, sooner if our government policies don’t lead to another economic crash. I’m still with the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Center as an Environmental Health Specialist enforcing environmental codes and a member of a Hazmat/ER team. hoping to start gently back into some traveling again.

1977

Dan Martinez

Looks like I am finally leaving the State Department after more than 20 years in the Foreign Officer...

Sara Bunn Shifrin

I’m a research librarian in the little Northern Michigan town of Charlevoix. Visit!

Elizabeth Larsen Von Der Ahe

I am living on the Big Island of Hawaii, still working as a nurse and occasionally midwife, spending time in Wyoming at my family ranch, and really enjoying seeing my CRMS friends - this past year

it’s been Mindy, Josh, Juliana, Danny (virtually), and Matthew. About to buy land and use some of the skills I learned at CRMS to create a little sustainable Eden here for myself. I’d also like to invite any classmates who want to go to Burning Man to hit me up - I work there most years as a nurse and I’d love to show you around!

1980

Andy Reeves

Update from Planet Reeves: I’m still a neurologist / epileptologist practicing in Minnesota, I still play guitar a lot, and I build guitar amps and effects pedals for fun and profit. I’m a grandpa now, having welcomed grandson Xander into the family. My wife and I do Krav Maga martial arts quite a lot to stay in shape. Our youngest is 17, and in a year she will be in college--the empty next is about to arrive! Life will be...different, I’m sure. So far we are all healthy and we stay pretty happy.

Stan Wattles

Joined the CRMS board on 9/18!

1982

Craig Shoemaker

My career in the food industry started at CRMS by working in the kitchen. I spent 17 years in operations with DQ, Denny’s, Pasta House & Cracker Barrel. In 1996 I moved into the corporate world at Cracker Barrel in quality assurance and purchasing. In 2005 I moved to Atlanta with at Arby’s corporate headquarters. I am currently Director of QA systems for food safety. All the kids are grown and Jane & I are empty nesters and enjoy traveling.

1983

Michelle Pulsifer Peterson

I am going into my 27th year of being the only woman welder for the City of Seattle Fleet Management Division. The experience of being an aging female in

a culture dominated by men continues to be a challenge. Fortunately, my “exit strategy” of teaching yoga is picking up momentum. I opened my own yoga business 3 years ago, leaving behind contract teaching at commercial studios. Aspiration Community Yoga is paywhat-you-will classes, with an emphasis on therapeutic movement for aging and aching bodies and minds. This fills my heart and engages my ever-questing search for more knowledge. 9 years into teaching, I love how it enlarges my community and well being. I love seeing pictures of Sopris on Facebook, CRMS friends- one day I will get to see it in person again. Many blessings, Michelle

1986

Aaron Kampfe

Aaron Kampfe and his husband, David, live in Bozeman Montana with their 11 year old son Amos. For the past three years, Aaron has been a writer, editor, and account executive for Western Home Journal, an architecture, design, and construction magazine. The previous four years, he was based in Minneapolis and a partner in medical device start up company. Prior to that he owned and operated an international adventure travel company for 18 years.

1987

Dierdre McCreery Baker

Loving life in North Shore Massachusetts with my husband and two teenage daughters. I’m the Innovation and Digital Specialist for a K-6 school district and helping kids find their passion.

Julia Orth

Still in Zurich, working with Ticketmaster Switzerland. Enjoying the lake and the mountains - all is well so far. Come visit if you’re ever in Switzerland!

1988

Cheyla Samuelson

Hi everyone! We are still in Berkeley with Sofie, our 10 year old. Cheyla is in her 5th year at San Jose State University in the Spanish section of World Languages and Literature, while Nico continues at the Archeological Research Facility at UC Berkeley. We like to ride our mountain bikes and get out in the Sierra Wilderness as often as possible.

1993

Robel Teklemariam

I have been in Japan for a while now. Living in Nagano with my wife to be and 2 kids. Family life is great and the little ones are getting to enjoy the snow and mountains. The snow here is beyond belief which is why I stayed after my first trip here 12yrs ago. I am part owner and manager of Shiga International Ski School here. I get to work doing what I love to do the most. If anyone comes out this way, feel free to give me a heads up.

1994

Joseph Starnes

I recently moved back to Boulder from Portland, OR with my wife Shahin and two boys, Huxley (3) and Julius (6). Everybody loves the blue skies and access to outdoor fun. I continue to run Onda Global, my 10 year-old language translation and international marketing company and am currently involved in 3 other start-ups.

1995

Rachael Hilberman Mueller

My biomarker (son) is turning 10 this fall. Incredible! This thing called time.... We live in Bellingham, WA, and love it. I am currently between work and loving that too! I’m allowing myself to dig into creating life with science (antarctic, physical oceanography), writing, parenting, sailing, qigong, healing, and visits to the great outdoors. I’m unsure what the future will bring but see great

potential in it and am looking forward to meeting its kindness! I’m finding the promise of kindness to be good medicine for circumstances in a world that can feel rather harsh. I wish that this promise of kindness is felt deeply within our community, and beyond. Perhaps we can make it so, together....

Erin

I’ve moved...again...to Prescott, AZ. I’m so glad to be out west where the sun shines so often. Andy left the military behind and we’ve started a new chapter in our lives. We started a soap company called the Constellation Soap Company (constellationsoap.com) and a part time blog, There’s Something Better (theressomethingbetter.com). We’re living the slow life, homeschooling our 2 kids, 5 and 9, and are taking short trips whenever we can. Maybe next year we’ll be able to get out to see the school. I’ve been dying to see it!

1996

Kayla

We are happy to be back in Colorado and would love to connect with any of you who are in Salida.

2000

Liz

After trying different jobs as an attorney for the past year, I finally realized it was a poor fit and left the profession to work with a small, local tourism business and to work on my own health coaching business. (www.scerf.com).

2004

Ross

Howdy. Hope all is going well in Carbondale these days. I’m moving, and so I figured I should let y’all know of my change in address, which will be, as of June 1st: 1173 First St Monterey, CA 93940 This June marks the end of my second year teaching middle school History at Santa Catalina in Monterey,

where I will be returning in the Fall. Happily the reason for the address change is because I’m moving in with someone - and since she is our school’s Alumni Coordinator she was insistent I contact my old schools to update them. :) If CRMS ever has events down here in Monterey I’ll be happy to drop by!

2009

Nick Joslin

I’m entering my final year of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University.

2012

Raleigh Gambino

I graduated from University of Colorado Denver in 2017 with a BFA in Film and Television Production (Don’t go there). I did freelance cinematography and assistant camera work in and around Denver for a year while spending most of my summers as a raft guide in Glenwood Springs at Blue Sky Adventures (fun company). I moved to Los Angeles, aka Topanga, 6 months ago to continue my personal education while working in the film industry. It’s never comfortable but sometimes worth with. I often reminisce about my time at CRMS and my values

IN MEMORIAM

as an outdoors lover hold more true than ever. Each day I work goes towards my future life off-grid, far far away in the mountains.

2013

Josh Carter

Just graduated from Quest University and planing to spend the Winter in Nelson skiing and persuing various personal interests.

Jess Timms

I have been living in Ketchum, ID this winter skiing and working for the Sun Valley Film Festival.

2014

Riley Ames

Riley and Ashley Smith, CRMS’s Director of Counseling celebrating during Carbondale’s First Pride Parade in May.

2016

Forrest Doherty

I am currently a research assistant in college working on upgrading a class 4 50 watt Ti: Sapphire laser system. CRMS can prepare you to do the cool things that you want to do.

Angus Harley

This summer I am pursuing internships with American Whitewater and PTSD Veteran Athletes, both as a result of my love of kayaking found at CRMS.

Class notes in this issue were received by May 31, 2019.

This list represents members of our community who have passed since Fall 2018. In order to celebrate everyone’s life to the fullest, a complete listing of available obituaries can be found at www.crms.org/alumni/memoriam.

John Clark, Former Trustee, Parent & Grandparent of Alumni

Randolph Brown, Former Head of School 1976-1983

Thomas Congdon, Former Trustee, Parent & Grandparent of Alumni

Roger Paris, Former Faculty 1964-1979

Martin Maldonado, Staff Member 2008-2019

Thomas G. Moore ‘57

Eric Calhoun, Trustee & Parent of Alumna

Ed Marston, Former Trustee & Friend of the school

Ellen LeCompte ‘68

Wendaleigh Heavner West ‘78

Margaret Graham ‘65

Charlie Paterson, Friend of the school

PARENTS