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Oak Leaves Spring 2010
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Spring 2010oakleaves
Learning forthe Love of it:AFS StudentsFollow Their BlissAlumni in the WorldArchive ScrapbookClass Notes
$500,000 by June 30We’re not there yet.
Will your Annual Fund gift put us over our goal?
Every Annual Fund gift supports the learning lives of our students and theteaching lives of our faculty. Your participation in the Annual Fund is
one of the most important gifts you can give to the School.
Gifts must be recieved by June 30, 2010 to be counted in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.Give online at www.abingtonfriends.net
Annual Fundthe AFS
Alumni in the World
1
20Alumni Events22
27 Class Notes
In Memoriam
26 Archive Scrapbook
Oak Leaves is a publication of the AFS Development and Communications Offices.
Richard F. Nourie Head of SchoolDebbie Stauffer Associate Head of SchoolJon Harris Assistant Head for Institutional AdvancementJudy Hill Director of Communications, EditorGabrielle Giddings Assistant Director of DevelopmentJenny Bornholdt Hammond ’86 Director of Alumni Affairs
Peapod Design Publication DesignDavid DeBalko Cover Photo
in this issue
Life at AFS:Six Month Scrapbook4
10 Learning for theLove of it
31
In this issue of Oak Leaves, we take a close
look at several AFS students because our
students as learners are at the very center
of what we experience everyday at AFS.
Because AFS is such a distinctly encouraging,
empowering place for children, our
community hums with their initiative and
ambitious ideas. We take students seriously–
we listen to them, argue with them, help them
grow ideas into reality and have a profound
respect for them, for who they are and who
they can be. In return, in this environment of
relative freedom and informality, our students
respond to our very high expectations of their
engagement and respect for each other, the
work at hand and their teachers. In our main
feature in this issue, you’ll meet students who
represent a community of amazing young
people who are empowered by this
community and our vision for education,
who in turn greatly enrich this place.
In preface to this issue, I’d like to lift up
Meeting for Worship as a central and
particularly meaningful place in our students’
lives. It is a gift of space for reflection,
exploration and deep sharing that has been
particularly meaningful in our Upper School
this year. Our students’ lives are busy. They
carry an ambitious academic load in which
they read and write significantly more than
their peers in many other schools and they are
passionately involved in the arts, athletics and
service. Their world is hyper-connected, with
very little space that is free from the reach of
friends and entertainment. Meeting for
2 OAK LEAVES SPRING 2010
letter from the
If teachers are the heart of the AFS community, then our students are surely itslifeblood. In their fresh encounters with the curriculum, each other and lifeitself, they richly energize our community, surprising us often with their insight,compassion, resilience and ability. All of us who teach do so because of acommon love of ideas, learning and a passion for sharing those gifts in others.But what truly sustains us as teachers are the many ways in which our lives areenriched by our students.
head of school
range has been wide, from shared sorrows
and tears to the leavening that only the
sharp sense of teenage humor, silliness and
irony can bring.
In a meeting this winter, a senior stood to
speak of the juxtaposition of the horrors of
the earthquake in Haiti with the miracles
that were happening there every day as
people were being found and rescued in
situations that had seemed utterly hopeless.
From there, many students shared
reflections on the theme of miracles, from
unexplained graces and improbable
recoveries among family to the limits of
physics, in all the vast knowledge we have of
how the universe works, to explain any of the
true mysteries of the cosmos. The meeting
ended with the powerful testimony of a ninth
grade girl, which began with some thoughts
tinged with shy humor and led to an inspired
declaration that each of us is a miracle, that
our ability to know each other is a miracle,
that we should treasure the ever present
miracle of the sacredness of daily life with
each other.
In another recent meeting that was filled
with shared testimony about family, a junior
girl closed the meeting by sharing a recent
late night conversation with her father. First,
she remarked that she was really enjoying a
new depth of relationship with her dad which
was opening up in nighttime conversations
in the kitchen. He had said something
particularly meaningful to her that she
wanted to share with everyone. He had
shared with her that at her age, there was a
strong impulse to fall in love with a person,
with a cause, with a passion. But he
cautioned her that most objects of our even
fierce love can be transitory in our lives,
particularly as teenagers. He shared with
her that his hope for her was that she first
fell in love with her own soul. It was a
beautiful message.
And so our lives are enriched in many ways
by the students who so fully inhabit them.
What a gift we have in a community that
allows for such rich sharing and connection.
It provides a deep foundation for a life of
both meaning and accomplishment.
Rich Nourie
Head of School
Worship is a uniquely quiet, familiar and
welcome space in their busy weeks.
This year, Upper School students have been
richly reflecting and sharing their lives and
ideas in this well-worn space of the
Meeting House. We have a senior class this
year that is particularly well-connected with
the other classes in Upper School, making
for a wealth of relationships and an
encouragement of many voices. Students
have been exploring profound themes over
the last several months, from death and loss
to friendship and the unpredictability of
everyday life. The emotional and intellectual
3
“We take students seriously–we listen tothem, argue with them, help them growideas into reality and have a profoundrespect for them, for who they are andwho they can be.”
Halloween »Every year our students (and teachers) arrive
at the annual Halloween parade in dazzlingly
creative attire. This year we welcomed hot
dogs, skeletons, the Mona Lisa and the Mad
Hatter, among others. Meanwhile, over at
the Early Childhood Division, the Fall Fair
was in full swing, with wagon rides, easel
painting and plenty of games.
6month scrapbooklife at AFS:
4 LIFE AT AFS: SIX MONTH SCRAPBOOK
5
»
november
Spelling BeeUpper School actors and tech crew took on The 25th Annual
Putnam County Spelling Bee for its fall musical production. Can you
spell H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S? The audience in the Muller greeted this
comedic tour de force with side splitting laughter. The production
was also nominated in six categories in the Philadelphia Cappies
(Critics and Awards Programs for High School Theater).
WinterfestThe entire school community packed into the
Hallowell Gym for this beloved AFS tradition.
Middle Schoolers helped our youngest students
decorate a tree and a Hannukah table. Lower
School students sang seasonal songs, the jazz
band kept the tempo up and our Upper Schoolers
performed skits and recited the traditional
Winterfest poem.
Santa Lucia Celebration »Early Childhood Teacher Jeanette McLaughlin led
her students in a traditional Santa Lucia Day
procession of her native Sweden. Jeanette took
the role of Santa Lucia, accompanied by maidens
in white dresses adorned with silver tinsel, a
gingerbread boy and dancing elves.
»
december6 LIFE AT AFS: SIX MONTH SCRAPBOOK
Marshall ConcertFor a change of pace, we
welcomed a capella group
Dischord to perform the
annual Marshall Concert in
honor of the memory of
Diana Parks Marshall ’61
and her mother, Virda Parks
Marshall. In an eclectic
program, the group sang
songs by Taylor Swift,
Michelle Branch and others.
Haiti Relief »Students throughout the School responded
to the devastating earthquake in Haiti by
holding fundraisers of various kinds. Sixth
graders baked cookies in the Meeting House
kitchen and held a bake sale, while 10th
graders brought in confections and sold
them to their classmates during break.
Donations were also collected during athletic
contests in the Hallowell, and a group of
seniors launched a taskforce where they took
on household chores for AFS families to
raise money.
7
Martin Luther King, Jr.Day of ServiceFor the second year in a row, more than 300
community members gathered on January 19
for a morning of service in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King. The day began in the Meeting House
with songs and poems presented by students.
Volunteers then dispersed to numerous different
service projects, some on campus and some in
the surrounding community.
»
january
Korean Students Visit AFSFor four weeks, AFS hosted 20 visiting
students from South Korea. The students
joined classes in Lower and Middle School
every morning and spent afternoons
studying English. During their stay, the
students stayed with host families, several
from within our own community.
Colonial Job FairThe fourth grade hosted a colonial job fair, transforming their classrooms into a bustling
Colonial Job Fair, with cabinetmakers, seamstresses, ship builders and more explaining their
trades in impressive detail to an enthusiastic crowd of Lower School students and visiting parents.
Lower School Spirit Day «Lower School children were invited to cheer on the Girls’ Basketball team at a home game in the
Hallowell. Half time games, an appearance by the Roo and cheers led by our AFS pep squad all
added to the excitement.
»
february
Arts Day »Every other year, AFS comes together as a
community to celebrate a particular facet of
the arts. This year we focused on women in
the arts, with a performance by African
American dance ensemble Kulu Mele and a
recreation of Judy Chicago’s famous Dinner
Party installation in the Stewart Lobby. The
table settings, which represented notable
female artists, were made by students in
Early Childhood, Middle and Upper school
and paid homage to such diverse artists as
Frida Kahlo, Julie Andrews, Joni Mitchell
and Maya Angelou.
Snow FootballWith many inches of snow on the ground,
we took the opportunity to play snow
football with students in the Middle School.
Yes, it was cold, but boy was it fun!
»
Pirates of Penzance «The Middle School production of the Gilbert
and Sullivan comic opera The Pirates of
Penzance entertained and engaged
audiences with its lively word play, farcical
plot turns and stirring tunes.
PRIDE AssemblyUpper School PRIDE presented a special
assembly to celebrate Black History Month.
With a lively lineup including poetry, dance
and monologues, the students celebrated
the achievements of a diverse selection of
African Americans.
»
march
Red LineSax Quartet «Students in three of our
divisions had a special musical
treat when the classically
trained Red Line Saxophone
Quartet visited campus to play
some of their extraordinarily
diverse repertoire and to work
with our student musicians in
several masterclasses.
Candlelight Dinner «Juniors and seniors gathered before Spring Break for Candlelight Dinner, an annual rite of
passage where seniors pass the torch of leadership to the junior class at a moving ceremony
in the Meeting House preceded by a dinner in honor of the Upper School faculty.
9
learninglove of it
FOR THE
AFS STUDENTSFOLLOWTHEIR BLISS
n last fall’s Oak Leaves we focused on our faculty and themyriad ways they are inspired to extend their professionaldevelopment at AFS. We wrote about a faculty “on fire” withthe possibilities of lifelong learning; through critical friendsgroups, a multicultural pedagogy project and a lively technologycohort. For this issue we decided to turn the spotlight on ouramazing student population and share with our readers someof the ways students use the resources around them to pursuetheir passions and discover lasting interests.I
“ACTIVE, FULLY ENGAGED LEARNERS…living their lives with, energy,conviction, and joyful curiosity.”
That’s where the dilemma began. Who would
we feature? Step into any classroom on
campus and you will find young people taking
initiative, actively seeking what they need to
accomplish their goals and digging deep into
the areas that reward their growing sense of
themselves as learners, thinkers and leaders.
AFS is uncommonly rich in experiential
learning opportunities that allow students to
take ownership of their work and develop a
powerful sense of agency and possibility. This
begins as young as Early Childhood with its
emergent curriculum approach where the
eagerly expressed interests of our youngest
students become the core of each unit,
expanding in an organic way as the children’s
curiosity and enthusiasm steers the learning
in different directions. It continues in Lower
School, where the nurturing and development
of each student’s individual voice is central to
the curriculum and opportunities for public
speaking and performance are intentionally
built into the school day. In Middle School,
students embark on independent science
projects that give them freedom to explore
ideas and educate their peers, while eighth
grade independent study (EGIS) project
launches students on a months-long
investigation into a topic of their own interest,
be it blacksmithing or sushi making, writing
a rap song or learning the tango.
In Upper School, opportunities for
independent learning multiply, with students
encouraged to follow their burgeoning
interests through the curriculum and beyond. If
a subject beckons them but does not appear on
the course list, often students can work with a
teacher to get the resources and instruction
they need. Our high schoolers have completed
Independent Studies in Portuguese,
engineering design, Scottish literature and
20th-century totalitarian regimes, to mention
a few. The Senior Independent Project offers a
culminating experience where students on the
cusp of graduating leave campus to learn more
about an area of the working world that
fascinates them. Our soon-to-be-graduates
have rebuilt houses after Hurricane Katrina,
worked in the wardrobe department of the
Pennsylvania Ballet and shadowed a forensic
scientist. And that’s just for starters.
Our students also connect with experiences
both within and beyond AFS through our
innovative ECCO (Exploring, Connecting,
Committing to Opportunity) program.
Working in partnership with advisors, teachers,
students and parents, Marnie Christian, the
director of the ECCO program, connects
students to summer study and enrichment
programs, internships, travel opportunities
and other ways to complement and extend
their academic program. Launched in 2008,
ECCO has already yielded a rich variety of
student experiences, including homestays in
Chile and Argentina, photojournalism study in
France and participation in WHYY’s Young
Journalist’s Camp.
At AFS we believe in the benefits of experiential
learning as a powerful way to develop initiative,
engagement and leadership. We believe it be-
cause we see what happens when you open up
possibilities beyond the walls of the classroom.
We see students who are alive with curiosity,
confident in their ability to take effective action
and eager to reach for new challenges.
All the students you will meet on these pages
are active, fully engaged learners who are
living their lives with, energy, conviction and
joyful curiosity. Some have gone above and
beyond on independent projects in the
classroom. Others, with the encouragement
of their teachers and advisors, have found
their voices on issues that matter to them
and discovered leadership skills they hadn’t
known they possessed. Still others have
sought out extra challenges, using lunch
breaks, weekends and vacations to pursue
their dreams. We are enriched by all that they
bring to our community, and they in turn gain
from the varied gifts and talents of those
around them.
We share these students’ stories knowing
that they are just the tip of the iceberg, a few
among many, many students who every day
inspire those of us who spend our days at AFS.
They are the reason we feel confident saying
that we prepare our students not only for
outstanding college careers, but also for lives
fully lived. These students are not passively
receiving instruction. Far from it! They are
following their passions, reaching for new
experiences and welcoming every day with a
sense of purpose and meaning.
11
LEARNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT
Some of what I saw was pretty scary, and some was sad. And the waypeople fought their diseases and lived with dignity in spite of them, wasmiraculous–the opportunity to witness that firsthand was life-changingforme. That experience has reinforcedmy desire to go intomedicine. Toseemedicine in action and to interact with people and see how they reactin joyful and painful situations taught me a lot about human nature. Iwant to eventually go to med school but first I want to major in Englishor philosophy because I think it’s the human aspect that’smost important,helping people. I’ll learn the science in med school.
What are you doing for your Senior Independent Project?
Elisabeth: For SIP I’m going to be building, restoring and sailing tallships at Penn’s Landing. I love sea stories andmaritime adventures. I’veread every Patrick O’Brien book and Horatio Hornblower novel. It’sso fascinating! It’s not just that I’m into ships; I also love ‘Star Trek.’ It’sthis idea of people being willing to follow a captain into the unknown.These things all hold that same mystery. It’s a testament to theconnection between human beings. My tech theater experience will bereally helpful and since I’m small I’ll be able to climb up into the rigging.
Your interests are so wide ranging!What do you attribute that to?
Elisabeth: I really think it’s the teachers at AFS. They’re not afraid to letyou be different. The way they approach learning is, ‘I think this isinteresting and I love it and I want to share it with you.’ I didn’t thinkI’d be interested in learning about World War II in Drew Benfer’shistory class, but he presented it as ‘Look at these amazing, bravepeople I admire and let me share their stories with you.’
ELISABETH Lugano12th Grade
An AFS student since PreK, senior ElisabethLugano is fascinated by science. She thinks she’d liketo be a doctor, and to test out that hunch she took part inDrexel University’s highly competitive Mini Med Camp lastsummer. But Elisabeth also loves English and philosophy.One of her favorite classes is theater tech and she’sperformed on the stage as well as in the wings. This springElisabeth will be building and restoring tall ships for herSenior Independent Project. According to her advisor, RustyRegalbuto, “Elisabeth exhibits the true joy of learning.Given all that she is involved in, and the difficult course loadthat she has, she remains a positive, upbeat and energeticforce for good within the community.” What stands out forUpper School English Teacher Peter Gaines is Elisabeth’skindness: “She is so generous in the way she shares what sheknows and sets a positive tone. She makes room for herpeers and honors them for who they are. She’s a kid who iseffortlessly brilliant and an incredible writer, but at the endof the day what’s important to her is that the people aroundher are affirmed and having a good time.”
What subjects first started to grab your interest at AFS?
Elisabeth: It started with English because something that’s importantto me is empathy and the human experience. With English I was ableto experience lots of emotions and points of view that I hadn’texperienced myself, like anger and true love. So to live other lives wasreally interesting to me. Science as well, because I feel like the humanbody is so complicated it amazes me we even exist.
Tell me about the Mini Med camp you participatedin last summer.
Elisabeth:The program took place atHahnemannHospital in CenterCity. In the morning we’d have a lecture by a doctor at the hospitaland in the afternoon we’d do rotations, which changed every week—ER, pathology, mortuary, things like that. I saw C sections, hearttransplants, amputations, cancer surgery, brain surgery, everything.
Want to know what EXPERIENTIAL
EDUCATION looks like?Meet some of ourINSPIRING STUDENTS.
12
13
Tell me about your interest in becoming a veterinarian.
Eryka: I decided I wanted to become a veterinarian when I was nine. Ihad just gotten my new puppy, a miniature schnauzer, and I wanted toknow how to take care of it and be the best parent I could be.When I was12 my mom called up our vet and I worked there for the whole summer.Now I work with a veterinarian once a week, shadowing what they do. I’mnot allowed to do any of the actual procedures, but I can watch them. I’veseen a lot of spays, neuters, declawing. I watch what they’re doing and theyexplain everything to me. I’ve never been afraid of blood, so that’s not aproblem. I want to be a small animal vet or at least stay in the medicinefield. I’ve always been around animals and thought of them like family. Ifigure I can be a vet if I just keep doing what I’mdoing and take some extraclasses. I’ve always liked science, and biology is my favorite class.
Community service is also a big part of your life.
Eryka:Yes, I joined the Community Service Council at the beginning ofthe year. We meet once a week at lunch to talk about upcoming serviceprojects. I got Distinguished Community Service in February. I havearound 70 hours at this point. It’s fun to help others and it’s the rightthing to do. I ran the School’s Babypalooza this winter where we hadpiggybanks set up in the lobby and students put in money to see theirfavorite teacher get a pie in the face. I went out and bought all the babysupplies with the money we raised and just delivered them lastweekend to Cradles to Crayons.
And you’re an athlete, too?
Eryka: I do track and field. That’s pretty much every day but I can’t goevery day because I have cheerleading on Thursdays. Cheerleading takesup a lot of my time. It’s usually Thursdays for two hours and Saturdaysfrom 11 to 1 and Sundays from 3 to 5 and then competitions on weekends.We compete for trophies and awards and you do a big performance—tumbling, backflips, that sort of thing. You go against other people inyour level. I’ve been doing that for four years. I like that it’s competitiveand you learn new stunts and tricks. I really just got my back tuckdown two months ago. It’s taught me how to do everything. It’s a lotof teamwork.
What are your plans for the summer?
Eryka: This summer I have a college tour and Cradles to Crayons askedme to be a student leader for their summer program. They only pick 12to 15 students and I’ll see if I can fit that into my schedule.
“Eryka is a dynamo,” says her advisor DonKaplan.“She is always positive in advisory; alwayssuggesting ideas, always interested and excited tohear what others are saying, as well. Even thoughEryka is new this year, you wouldn’t know it. She isvery much a part of the 9th grade, and in class sheis conscientious, hard working and focused. At thesame time, she is funny and just plain friendly. Sheis also respectful, confident and motivated. She isgoing to impact whatever world she enters; I ampositive about that!”
An athlete and a cheerleader, Eryka lovesscience and is already actively pursuingher interest in becoming a veterinarian.Recently Eryka was one of two 9th gradersnationwide (out of 10 high school winners) to beawarded an A Better Chance Excellence Awardbased on her demonstrated academic distinctionand contributions to her school community.
ERYKA Bradley9th Grade
Tell me how your interests have evolved in your time here.
Gabe: In Middle School there were things I thought I liked or likedat the time but as I’ve gone through the Upper School I’m changingthe things that I like to do. I realize I like to be creative. In MiddleSchool sports was a big thing. Now I’m in the spring play [playingMr.Bingley in Pride & Prejudice]. I dance–break dancing and hip hop. I liketo write a lot, especially poetry and I also performed this year atSnowstorm andMonsterMash [where student bands perform for fun].
How has being at AFS developed your talents?
Gabe:You’re surrounded by somany different kinds of people here. Atassemblies in themorning you canmake announcements and be funnyabout it. A lot of different things interest me and there are a lot ofopportunities here. There are people around who accept you and willbe supportive. I feel like AFS has helped with confidence. The schoolpromotes public speaking and being comfortable with yourself andwho you are. I find that I’m also confident in what I can’t do. And it’sokay. You don’t feel like you need to do more. You’re just confident inyour abilities.
You’re also a leader. Can you talk about that?
Gabe: I’m co-clerk of the junior class. I would never really havethought of applying but I’m inspired to lead here. I feel like peoplehave encouraged me and I saw the possibility in myself because of theway I interact with my peers. I talk to every group of people from alldifferent grades. I think I could make a good leader because I’m notignorant about a specific group of people. People feel comfortable with
me. And my AFS experience has helped me with that. As a co-clerk Irun grademeetings and I sit down and talk to Brian Cassady, our gradedean, about how the grade is doing. Someone may be stressed outabout college so we’ll decide to have a meeting about that, that kind ofthing. Right now we’re planning activities for the end of the year. Partof my job is to gauge the grade and where it’s at and think about stepswe need to take and bring ideas to our respective advisors.
Did attending the Sports Challenge Summer Academyhelp you as a leader?
Gabe: It was an interesting experience. I was really into basketballthen, though my interests have since shifted. It kind of reinforced alot of ideas I already had. But it also gave me some different outlooksand reminded me about things like making sure everyone’s included.
And working at the Zoo, what did that teach you?
Gabe: I realized I didn’t really know what I was doing. I realized youhave to be willing to volunteer the information. I can be a shy person.You have to be willing to go up to someone and say, ‘Hey, do you wantto touch an elephant tusk?’
What kind of relationships do you have with your teachers?
Gabe: I know as a freshman I was kind of nervous but now I realizeyou can just talk to them, even about a sports game on TV. You buildcertain relationships with teachers and they becomemore your friend.Being taught by a teacher you can have a banter back and forth with—but not one that distracts—is great.
Thoughts about the future?
Gabe: The future’s so hard! A lot of people have a clear direction but Idon’t know. I think I’d like to do something creative like acting orjournalism. But there are so many different things I’m into. I figurewhatever I do choose I can still maintain the other things I like to doon the side.
GABE Sansone11th grade
Athlete, actor, dancer, rapper, poet.Gabe Sansone is equally at home on the basketball courtand the Muller stage. According to his advisor, TonyGodwin, Gabe is “intentional about this balancing act andhe does it really well.” At AFS since 6th grade, Gabecontinues to enthusiastically explore the options thatschool and life have to offer. Through his commitment toperforming, both acting and with a band, Gabe shares hiscreative and humorous talents frequently with his peers.Last summer, Gabe interned at the Philadelphia Zoo andtook part in a SportsChallenge leadership camp inDelaware. Gabe is co-clerk of the junior class.
14 LEARNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT
When did you start playing your instruments and why?
Lucy: I started cello in 3rd grade. It wasn’t that my parents aremusicians and said, ‘You have to play!’ It was that I really wanted toplay. In 2nd grade a string group came to our school and the cellistcame to our class and after that for almost six months I was askingevery day, ‘Can I please play the cello?’
Eleanor: I started piano in kindergarten and violin in 3rd grade. Iremember listening tomy dad playing the piano and deciding I wantedto play it.My parents are sort of musical—my dad is at least. Sometimeswe go to music concerts and I heard a violin play and I really liked it.
How much do you practice?
Lucy:My lessons are an hour and so my practices are about 40 or 45minutes. In school we’re a bit ahead of everyone else in our grade sowe usually go into a separate room. Lori gives us sheet duets topractice and we also have duet books to go through.
Eleanor: On a normal week I practice maybe five times for violin, alittle less for piano. It’s hard to balance two instruments with homeworkand sports. My piano teacher comes to my house, though, and he makesit really fun. We do a lot of jazz stuff but classical music too.
How do you keep motivated to practice?
Lucy: There’s some reminding from my parents. Mostly, ‘Have youpracticed your cello today, Lucy?’ Also, my teacher wants all the detailsright. She can tell if I haven’t practiced.
Eleanor: It’s more fun the better you get. It’s nice when you have a coolpiece of music you’re going to try or something new or a hard part you’reabout to master.
Do you see music in your future?
Eleanor:Not professionally. Maybe I might have a couple of friends thatI’ll play with and I might hire myself out in high school. But I don’tthink I’ll play at a professional level.
Lucy: I really want to be an author when I grow up. I’ve written sixstories already. I think I’ll keep going with the cello though.
What are your favorite subjects apart from music?
Eleanor: I love all my school subjects. I really like math.
Lucy: I like math, too. I think actually lots of people groan when you sayyou like math but once you get into it, it’s fun. I got a new cello teacherthis year and she’s really good. She connects math a lot to music so shehas me figure out, for example, if an eighth note is at this speed whatwould the dotted quarter be.
Tell me about your recent environmental initiative.
Eleanor:Kristan,my advisor and science teacher, told us she’d found eightglass bottles in the trash can after a facultymeeting.We were doing a uniton recycling so for our Powerpoint we made this one slide where we hadpictures of glass bottles and trash cans and the slide said, ‘We have learnedfrom an anonymous source that there were eight glass jars in a trash canafter a facultymeeting.’Wepresented thePowerpoint at a facultymeeting.
Lucy: I was a bit nervous about it, but we had already recorded the scriptso we didn’t have to actually say much.
ELEANOR Avril & LUCY Silbaugh6th grade
If you’ve attended a Middle Schoolconcert recently you’re sure to havenoticed Eleanor Avril and Lucy Silbaugh.Eleanor has been gracing theMuller stage for a whilenow. While still in Lower School she was an invitedperformer at Middle School concerts, bringing astrikingly mature talent to both the violin and the piano.Lucy is in her first year at AFS but already she is a muchvalued presence as an accomplished cellist. “They bringsuch enthusiasm to everything they do,” says StringsInstrument Teacher Lori Saidi. “They could be playing‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ or ‘Hot Cross Buns’ andit’s as if they’re playing the most advanced piece. Theyjust love what they do so much and they’re always askingfor new music and exploring music together.”
15
Eighth Grade Independent StudyEvery year, 8th graders participate in an independentstudy project which starts in late January andcontinues until EGIS Night in May. Guided by theirclassroom teachers and advisors, students select topicsof interest that they explore in depth. A student mightstudy Gaelic, self publish a book, build a rockingchair or learn a traditional Indian dance. EGIS is anadventure in learning, research and presentation andstudents show extraordinary dedication to their chosenprojects. That’s certainly the case with Sydney Bierhoff,who chose to build and decorate a dollhouse for herEGIS project. “She started building it in Novemberand she has put an amazing number of hours intothis project,” says her advisor, Middle School ScienceTeacher Roseanne Sessa. “It is an intense project,and Sydney’s engagement is terrific. She’s very selfmotivated. My hope for every student is that they willfind something they can passionately engage in fortheir EGIS project, that they’ll surprise themselves andfind a new element. I don’t think Sydney could havedreamed she’d have found that level of engagement.She’s very proud of her work.”
What have you taken away from the experience?
Sydney: I guess really learning to stick to a certain project and followsomething that interests you.With every part you’re one step closer soyou can’t give up. If we mess up I know we won’t make the samemistake next time. I’ve learned to be really organized. I had to planout the dollhouse before I got to start. You have to organize yourthoughts to figure out what makes more sense to do first.
There are parts that aren’t as fun as others. The main thing I wantedwas to do the interior so when the exterior was done it was far morefun. When friends and family help you with it you also get to bondwith them. I wanted to make something I can keep.
What’s your relationship with your teacherRoseanne like?
Sydney: Roseanne and I are actually pretty close. When we werepicking our projects she was really easy to get to know and really easyto talk to. Then when we started picking projects she was reallysupportive and she talked with my parents. She would always comeover and even when it got hard she would never complain. She wouldkeep me motivated, though I’m a pretty motivated person.
Tell me about your EGIS project.
Sydney: At the time I wasn’t sure how hard it would be. I was goingto focus on the interior but first I had to build the exterior. Roseannecame over and helped me and my mom get everything together.My friend Maria helped me too. My mom’s really good atwallpapering. Roseanne andMaria are good at fitting it together. I dideverything else.
How long have you been working on it?
Sydney:We’ve worked on it for more than 100 hours at this point. I’malways building up the interest in it. We just finished wallpapering sowe get to move on to the carpet. People I’ve talked to who wallpaperhouses helped me and they said it’s harder to do a dollhouse becauseit’s smaller. I have to sand everything and paint everything. It’sstressful but I’m really dedicated to the project. We had toindividually shingle the entire roof one by one.
SYDNEY Bierhoff8th grade
16 LEARNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT
Known as an outstanding athlete and arespected leader, Manish Kurien is also a“voice of reason,” according to his advisorCyndi Silverman. A member of PRIDE sinceMiddle School, Manish is skillful at approachingcontroversial discussions and giving perspective.“Manish sits back but also leans forward at thesame time into discomfort and he pushes othersto lean into discomfort by adding his point ofview, which is always one that is so honest andso forthright that it brings other people to thatpoint,” says Cyndi. “He always rises to the top ina leadership role. He’ll bring a project to fruitionor give an idea that will move somethingforward. He’s an individual but he loves beingpart of a community and is always wanting tomake our community better.” Director ofStudies for 11th and 12th Grade Peter Gainescalls Manish “completely without ego” and “awonderful, humble kid who is always acontributing team member.” Manish will attendDavidson College in North Carolina in the fall.
Tell me how your athletic career at AFS began.
Manish:As a freshman I started off the year with soccer. Coming in twoweeks before school began to practice helped me find my place and gotme connected with seniors.
How did you develop as an athletic leader?
Manish: It wasn’t until the end ofmy sophomore year that I began to takea leadership role in soccer. I think I was a little intimidated but my classhad always had a good relationship with the seniors and in myjunior year I really took on an active role in the team. It was the same withbaseball. In fact I think my relationships with seniors really helped me tofind my place and gave me confidence both academically and athletically.
Can you talk about your involvement with PRIDE?
Manish: In the second semester of my freshman year I started going toPRIDE and I got exposed to ideas of multiculturalism and diversity andfound a way to speak about things I’ve experienced in my life. I wasn’tborn in this country and I’ve lived in many places. In PRIDE I was ableto express my views and gain insight from others’ points of view.
How did that evolve?
Manish: Jeanne Quarles [former AFS Director of Multiculturalism]really helped me in my sophomore year. She encouraged me to go to theStudent Diversity Leadership Council conference, and it was there thatI first understood fully the ideas of diversity and of people who aresimilar but also different discussing things that are not easy to discuss.Jeanne inspired me to take a leadership role. I’m so glad she encouragedme and pushed me to do that. When I was a junior I went to the SDLCconference inNewOrleans and Jeanne askedme and another student topeer facilitate a group discussion. That was a great experience, to be ableto lead people I wasn’t necessarily that comfortable with. It pushed meout of my zone.
Here at AFS you’ve not only led but helped others lead, too.
Manish: It’s hard for me when I see other people struggling to lead. It’snot an easy job to be a leader especially when you’re trying to get peopleto open up. I tell people that if you can pluck the right chords theconversation will automatically start to flow. The key to being a leader isyou want to be strong and appear unaffected by situations but there aretimes when it’s necessary to open yourself up first to show you’re notafraid to have people judge you. People start to feel comfortable andslowly things start to move forward. For me leaning into discomfortmakes me comfortable because I know others are also uncomfortable.When you talk about deeper things it’s a great way to create a connectionand actually get to know a person in depth.
How did the Men’s Group Develop?
Manish: As soon as we got back Greg Wilson and I started to build abond withMarc Thompson [AFS School Counselor]. He challenged usto find a way to bring something back from SDLC to AFS. That’s wherethe group developed from. Wemeet every three weeks or so. The topicsare not typically preset and they cover a broad range, but we’ll oftentalk about girls, problems in our personal lives, how we’re doing inschool, managing time, athletics, academics, even world issues. It’s acomfortable place to talk.
MANISH Kurien12th grade
17
Middle and Upper School Music Teacher Chris Buzby is knownfor his indomitable enthusiasm and positive spirit. A whirlwindof energy, he has inspired hundreds of students to find the musician within.Chris in turn finds himself inspired by the students who every year seek himout for extra musical challenges. This school year, two groups of studentsstand out for him.
The AFS Sax Quartet bridges the divisions with two 8th graders(Thomas Mulvey and Tom Gurin) together with two UpperSchoolers (Greg Wilson and John Contosta). The four have beenmeeting once a month at lunch with plans for performing Charles Mingus’“Boogie Stop Shuffle” at the Upper School Spring Concert. The quartetrecently had the chance to take a master class with the professionally trainedclassical Red Line Sax Quartet when they visited AFS in March. “Not only didthey hold their own with the Red Line Quartet in their master class, but theRed Line guys were downright impressed with their playing ability andmusicianship!” says Chris.
AFS SAX Quartet& WOODWINDQuartet
18 LEARNING FOR THE LOVE OF IT
“It’s been an awesomeexperience that has allowedme to challenge myself innew ways.”John «
“With the quartet youget to maintain your voiceand individuality.”Greg »
“I think music is probably third of allthe things I like to do. First wouldbe food, second academics and thirdis music.”Tom «
A group of 8th grade girls—Arielle Toub, Ahngelicia Watson,Maddie Vouros and AlisonLove—approached Chris afterthe winter concert to see if theycould work on some chambermusic together for the MiddleSchool Spring Concert.The group meets three times a month.“Not only are they getting a chance tolearn and perform some ‘challenge’music,” says Chris. “They each areenjoying an opportunity to performtogether as friends and budding youngmusicians in a smaller setting than theconcert band. To me, this is truestudent initiative in action!”
19
“It’s a passion we have, even if it’s one more thing onour schedules. It’s something we can continue withand grow on.”Maddy »
“I like all the different perspectives. When you’re byyourself it’s fun but it’s a completely different feel.When you’re together it’s so much easier to reallyenjoy playing to the best of your ability.”Thomas «
“The pieces are alot of fun. It’s achallenge, but nottoo challenging.You have to have agood time with it.”Arielle
“We’re not all atthe same skill levelbut we all try tocontribute. Someplay harmony, somedo volumes, somearticulation.”Ahngelicia »
»
“In piano all thekeys are laid out.With theclarinet, you havecombinationsthat make a note.You have to pieceit together.”Alison
How did you become involved?When the quake hit Haiti, I was determinedto find my way there. I am just a college artstudent, without a vast array of credentials,but I had to get there. My friend’s brother,Peter, was organizing a relief missionthrough The Relief Foundation Inc. I calledPeter and told him I was in. I had never feltmore confident about any decision in myentire life.
What prepared you for this?Honestly, I had never done anything like thisbefore, but taking French for years (up to AP)helped me immensely. John McCabe built anamazing foundation for my French at AFS.Out of the 120 relief workers, maybe 10 of usspoke French, and two or three Creole. Ihadn’t reviewed any French for about fouryears, but it came back to me. I had noproblem communicating with the Haitianswho spoke French and it was an amazingfeeling to be able to bridge the barrierbetween the children and the relief workers.
I am a theatre and drawing major in college
and am doing an independent study with
artist John Thompson. During my last
meeting with John before I left for Haiti,
he said: ‘Bring your pencils, bring your
sketchbook, and have it on you at all times.
I promise you, you’ll be happy you did.’
My sketchbook became nothing less than a
sanctuary for the children. Their pens and
pencils graced the pages upon pages of my
11.75 x 16.5 Moleskine. I saw and felt
miracles happen amongst those pages.
alumni in the world
20 OAK LEAVES SPRING 2010
“What I had notprepared myself forwas falling head overheels for the countryand its people.”
Can you describe your time inHaiti and what you worked on?We were there for five days and stayed at TheNew Life Children’s Home, in Port au Prince.New Life is run by two incredible Americanwomen: Miriam Frederick, director of WorldHarvest Missions Outreach, and herdaughter Sherrie Chastain. They started itin 1977 and have been saving hundreds ofchildren from the remote villages of Haitiever since. There were 120 of us on achartered plane, made up of translators,
Julia Wise ’06A recent AFS alumna talks about her involvement in the relief effort in Haiti
physicians, nurses, teachers, politicians,religious leaders and art students. Webrought with us medical supplies and foodand clothing. Altogether we had over 40,000lbs of aid supplies for Haiti and nothing wasleft behind. Included in our cargo, were babyincubators that were put into use as soon aswe landed. We literally saved lives as welanded. It was unbelievable.
We stayed in tents within the compound,and we did it all, from clearing rubble tohanding out supplies, most of which wasdone outside of the compound. We workedin the city of Port au Prince and in moredesolate and remote areas where the Malariaoutbreaks have been explosive. We workednonstop for the five days we were there. Itwas beyond exhausting, but even morerewarding, and in every way possible. I didn’twant to leave. Not one person from ourgroup wanted to leave. I wish I were stillthere right now.
What were some of thebiggest surprises?I knew that I would see and feel devastation.I knew that I would work with children andbabies who’d just received amputations (Ilost count the first day) and would see andsmell death at every corner. I had “prepared”myself, to the best that any 21-year-oldcollege student could. What I had notprepared myself for was falling head overheels for the country and its people. Fromthe moment I stepped foot on New Life’sproperty, I was surrounded, hugged,kissed and held by the most loving andextraordinary children I had ever met in myentire life. I lived with them for five days. Wedanced together, prayed together, laughedtogether and cried together when it was timeto say goodbye. I expected to be The Rescuerin this situation, but I was rescued. Thesekids changed my world and imprinted theirhands upon my heart forever.
What affected youmost deeply?Without question: The Haitian way of life.These are people who have nothing. Beforethe quake, Haiti was the poorest country inthe Western Hemisphere. Now it is below thelevels of poverty and beyond. And the thingis: They don’t complain. Mind boggling, isn’tit? It became my way, too, and I becameattached on a very deep and personal level.
I really only noticed this upon our return toMiami. One 45-minute plane ride later andwe were back. There was no time to adjust,whatsoever. I was hit with advertisements,convenience stores and water fountainseverywhere. I felt so disoriented. ‘What is allof this for?’ I thought to myself. ‘Why aretheir half-full bottles of water in the trash?Don’t these people realize what hashappened?’ And then it hit me: Haiti wasalways happening. It was as if everything hadchanged and nothing had changed, all at thesame time. Haiti has always been in sufferingin her own world with no one to help. Andup until this point, I had been in myseparate world.
The Haitians brought me to life. They taughtme what is real and what is and isn’t worthcherishing. And above all else, they showedme how compassion can heal the woundsthat go far deeper than those on the skin.We, as Americans, are so bombarded withtechnology and material possessions that welose sight of what life is. Immediately uponmy arrival back home, I felt an absence of thecompassion that made me feel complete inHaiti. And I realized that despite ouroverabundant ways of living, we still findways to suffer. I have everything, and live ina palace of a country, and yet I am stillsuffering, mentally and emotionally. Myworries are all about the future, all of thetime. I have a paper this week, I have fourexams next week, and g-d forbid my GPAdrops below a 3.8. It is all about the surface.
Do you have plans to return?Oh, absolutely. I left my heart in Port auPrince, Haiti and not just a piece of it. I leftall of it. If I could, I would be there as a fulltime relief worker. But I am a full-timestudent here. I have to remind myself that Istill have a life, here with my family andfriends, my school and my career. It is so
hard. I feel a sense of devotion andbelonging to Haiti and her people. I amreturning in mid-June. We have someincredible projects in the works, particularlywith the Clinton-Bush Haiti Relief Fund.Their Hurricane season starts aroundthat time, but we will persevere. We arenow Haitians and the Haitians are nowour family. And no one stands in the wayof our family.
21
“And then it hit me:Haiti was alwayshappening. It was asif everything hadchanged and nothinghad changed, all atthe same time.”
alumni events
In AFS tradition, the 50th Reunion Class
(Class of 1959) was invited to lead our
Commencement procession.
In attendance at the afternoon tea
preceding the ceremony are (L to R):
Diane Morton Arbaugh ’59, Carolyn Lindig
Laumer ’59, and Kathryn Lindig Moser ’59.
« The Class of 1989 gathered on Wed. Nov.
25, 2009 to celebrate their 20th Reunion.
Pictured L to R: front row: Kim Levin
Kraemer, Renee Kashuba, Julie Simon
Paris, Rachel Moses Sollberger, Rachel
Lizerbram Sandler; back row: Elizabeth
Shope, Erik Nathan, Allison Kanofsky Berg,
Michael Frank, Tammi Schwartz Van
Hollander, Nicki Toizer, Sylvie Viola,
Michael Hecht, Dina Silver Pokedoff,
Adam Cooper, Stephanie Gleit Weinstein,
Wendy Wills Leon.
Not pictured: Andrew Arno
«
The Class of 1959 celebrated their 50th Reunion on the weekend of May 30 – 31, 2009.
Pictured here are the attendees: Deborah Tyson Zimmerman, Suzanne Sachs Hunter,
Kathryn Lindig Moser, Gail McDowell Peake, Sherry Dunham Clark, Shirly Goetz,
Arlene Wattis Gates, Joanna Gillies Jong, Martha Yoder, Carolyn, Lindig Laumer,
Doris (DeeDee) Wilson Perry, Diane Morton Arbaugh
Note: We apologize to the Class of 1959 for accidentally omitting their Reunion pictures and captions in
the Fall 2009 Oak Leaves.
«
23
HomecomingHomecoming is still one of the more popular events for alumni on campus.
Held on Wed. Nov. 25, 2009, alumni of all ages attended our breakfast,
meeting for worship and soccer game. Even the rainy, cold weather could not
keep our die-hard soccer players away
Following the Meeting for Worship, the Class of 2009 Class Gift was presented by
Chrissy Benner ’09 and Shana Judd ’09: a bookshelf quilt in memory of Director
of Libraries/Technology (and class of 2009 advisor) Rosy Montgomery.
«
In December 2009, representatives from
Abington Friends School participated in
the annual National Association of
Independent Schools People of Color
Conference. This time, it was held in
Denver. The Alumni Office took advantage
of the opportunity by inviting our Colorado
alumni to a reception hosted by alumna
Amy Wynn Pastor ’94.
Pictured here are (L to R): Jenny Bornholdt
Hammond ’86, Rebecca Van Buren ’68,
Cherine Morsi ’00, Jane McVeigh-Schultz,
Amy Wynn Pastor ’94, and School
Committee member Mitch Sargen (father
of Joshua ’01 and Michael ’04).
«
« On February 25 and 27, AFS hosted two
gatherings on the West Coast: a first for
AFS! On the 25th, alumni and current
teachers met for dinner at Ponzu in San
Francisco. Alumni in attendance were
Philip Reiff ’87, Jocelyn Upshur ’89 and
Irvin Owens (’94). On February 27, Allison
Kanofsky Berg ’89 generously opened her
Beverly Hills home to alumni of the LA area.
Pictured at the LA gathering are: (back row
L to R): Josh McVeigh-Schultz (’95),
Hal Lublin ’95, Director of College Guidance
Larry Wilkins, Jody McVeigh-Schultz ’01;
(front row L to R): Dana-Lee Schuman ’99,
Allison K. Berg ’89, Nelson Diaz (’90),
Max Kleinman ’03
Alumni Basketball Game »Our annual alumni basketball game took place on January 2, 2010…with a new twist.
This year we were joined by some current parents who happily joined in the friendly
competition. Those in attendance were: Angelica Adams ’09, Teacher/Coach David Bass,
Omar Carrillo ’03, Michael Cohen ’03, Julian Cruz ’04, Scott Erman ’86, David Fields ’91,
Michael Gaines P’21, Tony Houston ’90, Steven Jacobson P’15, Steven Keefer P ’08 & ’10,
Teacher/Coach Wayne Kurtz, Christopher McPeak P’12 & ’14, Stephen Morgan ’90,
Broderick President P’21, Frank Sanchez ’03, Ben Slater ’00, Marc Thompson ’88, Robert
Topkis ’87, Jonathan Wessel ’03, Jeffrey Worthington P’08, Julia Worthington ’08, Jennifer
Braude ’91, Sarah Caldwell Caratini ’92, Teacher/Coach Steven Chadwin, Aaram Isah ’03,
Reggie Johnson ’94, Cherine Morsi ’00.
24 ALUMNI EVENTS
» Our Philadelphia Alumni event this year was
“strikingly different” as we headed down to
North Bowl on N. 2nd Street in the Northern
Liberties section of Philadelphia. Alumni in
attendance were: Jocelyn Faulkner Casey ’97,
Michael Cohen ’03, Randall Collins ’05,
Catherine Fanelli ’04, Stephen Feder ’05,
Jenny Bornholdt Hammond ’86,
Kathy Alter Hazen ’84, Laura Manno ’03,
Michael Morris ’88, Cherine Morsi ’00,
Liz Myrtetus ’07, Maryrose Mrytetus ’05,
Matt Nunn ’05, Stewart Rodes ’03,
Robert Sklar ’88, Jared Solomon ’97.
On March 10, 2010, alumni and friends met
at Moore Brothers Wine Company in the
Gramercy/Flatiron district of New York City
for our annual NYC Alumni event. Greg
Moore himself conducted the wine tasting as
our Sommelier. Alumni in attendance were:
Rachel Albee ’03, Jillian Apfelbaum ’01, Jenna
Arnold ’99, Jill Berger ’74, Philip Block ’01,
Chris Cantley ’86, Mitzu Carr ’83, Rachel
Chernoff ’01, Linda Devitt ’66, Jeanie
Engelbach ’86, Ellene Felder-Scharnott ’79,
Sally Fenley (former Music Teacher), Zachary
Gitomer ’07, Mark Green ’85, Jenny Bornholdt
Hammond ’86, David Leeser ’88, Laura
Manno ’03, Susan Salesky Rudin ’57, Adam
Schorsch ’03, Tori Schorsch (’07), Brian
Spiewak ’03, Sally Walker ’57, Jason Walker ’85,
Melissa Ward ’03.
«
26 OAK LEAVES SPRING 2010
archivescrapbook
Moments in AFS History(1697 – 1897):(The following is a consolidation of our AFS
Historical Timeline, contributions from William
Kashatus ’77 and from Abington Friends
Meeting and School: 1682 – 1949 by Horace
Mather Lippincott.)
• Early 1700s: Jacob Taylor is the first
recorded teacher or Master at the school
and George Boone (uncle to Daniel Boone)
was Clerk of the Meeting and a
“noteworthy schoolmaster.”
• 1784: The school moved into the small
two-story house next door to the Meeting
House, now the caretaker’s home.
Enrollment for the entire school was
around 40 students, and classes for girls
were conducted upstairs, boys down.
School convened here for more than 100
years, offering primary level education only.
Teachers were provided a small house and a
cow as inducement and an annual salary of
sixty-eight pounds.
• 1827: A schism within the Religious Society
of Friends was felt locally in the Hicksite
Separation. AFS affiliated with the rural
Hicksite branch, which opposed the
Orthodox Friends in the City of Philadelphia.
The School continued to provide the only
education offered families in the area; the
Public School Act of Abington Township
would not take place until 1834.
• 1857: Lucretia Mott, an attender at Abington
Monthly meeting often visited the school
and shared stories about the Underground
Railroad with school children until her death
in 1880.
• 1867: Women join the faculty. Annie
Shoemaker, the school’s first feminist, is
remembered for her determined fight for
equal pay for women teachers.
• 1883: The school went from Kindergarten
through 6th grade and enrolled 59 girls and
36 boys. Edith Atlee presents the idea for a
co-ed boarding school to extend to the
twelfth grade to provide serious preparation
for college. It would be built on the triangle
of land across from the Meeting House. This
ushers in the era of expansion for the School.
• 1887: The first session of the Boarding
School opened in September 1887 with Louis
B. Ambler as Principal and Jessie M. K.
Gourley as Matron in the newly constructed
building (now known as the Triangle
Building). Principal Louis Ambler served for
25 years.
• 1889: There were over 100 students
enrolled necessitating a series of additions
to the school building. By 1891, there were
approximately 150 students with one third of
them boarding. Graduates attend University
of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College.
• 1897: Athletics become a formal part of the
school program in 1897. Boys’ teams
included football, basketball and baseball
and they played at an interscholastic level.
Girls played field hockey, basketball and
lacrosse “strictly on an intramural level.”
1869
1890
1900
1897
In 1697, John Barnes – friend of William Penn and George Fox – donated atract of land (approx. 120 acres) and a significant sum of pounds “for andtowards erecting a meeting house for Friends and towards the maintenance ofa school.” This is the beginning of Abington Friends Monthly Meeting andSchool as we know it today.
Christopher Ammon ’75Christopher Raymond
Ammon, 52, passed on
Jan. 15, 2010. Son of
Ruth Szucs and the late
Raymond Ammon.
Brother of Gregory. Significant other to
Rose Mazurek.
The Ammon family had several points of
connection with Abington Friends School
as Chris’s mother Ruth worked at AFS in
Middle/Upper school as a secretary; his
brother Gregory also attended AFS for a time.
Chris entered AFS in 1966 in the fourth grade.
During his time here at AFS, he played soccer,
basketball and baseball. In his eleventh and
twelfth grade years, he was elected co-captain
of the Varsity Soccer team. His yearbook entry
states, “During classes, Chris usually chooses
to keep his thoughts to himself; but such is
certainly not the case once he is out on the
athletic field, where one constantly hears him
yelling.” After graduating, he returned to AFS
once again to coach JV Basketball. SteveSmith ’79 shares, “I hadn’t thought about
Chris in years but he was our JV basketball
coach. Jeff Purcell, Danny Jordan, Cliff Brock,
Chad Ewing, Eric Witzel, Steve Dansy...who
else? Can’t remember. Chris was our very
kind and patient coach.”
Chris is also remembered for his outgoing
personality and kindness. A memorial
remembrance hosted by Deborah StetserBurpee ’75 and Richard Robinson ’75 was
held on March 21, 2010 in North Wales, PA.
See Class Notes for photo and alumni in
attendance.
Helen C. DeckerHelen C. Decker, a 58 year resident of Rydal,
passed away on January 6, 2010 in her home
surrounded by her loving family. Helen’s life
was devoted to the caring support of her
family and friends. She also enjoyed serving
the community in various capacities. Born in
Philadelphia to the late Swithin T. and Louise
(Montgomery) Chandler, Mrs. Decker was a
1947 graduate of Germantown Friends
School. In 1949, she received an Associates
of Arts degree in early childhood education
from Centenary Junior College. Mrs. Decker
volunteered for Meals on Wheels at
Abington Memorial Hospital for more than
25 years. She also served on various
committees at Abington Friends School, the
William Penn Charter School and Abington
Memorial Hospital where she helped with
the June Fete through the Women’s Auxiliary.
She was a member of the Abington
Presbyterian Church for more than 20 years.
Helen’s many interests included her love
and appreciation of nature and wildlife,
music, art and travel which included her
treasured seaside vacations with her family.
She was also an avid sports fan. Helen was
the beloved wife of T. Frank Decker (former
employee at AFS) for 58 years and the loving
mother of Vickie Decker Rosskam AFS ’71 of
Abington, Wendy Decker Ambler AFS ’73 of
Glenside and Ted Decker and his wife Sue of
Ambler. She was the devoted grandmother
of Joe and Jessica Rosskam, Jamie Ambler,
and Ted, Tim and Katy Decker. Her funeral
service was held on Saturday January 16,
2010, at the Abington Presbyterian Church.
There was also a Friends Meeting for
Worship in memorial of Mrs. Decker on
Saturday January 23, 2010, 2:30 pm at the
William Penn Charter School. Contributions
in her memory may be made to the
Pennsylvania SPCA, 350 E. Erie Ave.,
Phila., PA 19104 or to the William Penn
Charter School.
31
Adelbert Mason, Headmaster1966 – 1977
With sadness we share
news of the death of
former AFS Head of
School Adelbert Mason,
who passed away on
March 18, 2010, at Foulkeways in Gwynedd,
PA, at the age of 87. Bert, as he was known
to friends, was Head of School at Abington
Friends School from 1966 until 1977. “Bert
Mason is truly revered in the recent history
of Abington Friends School,” said current
Head of School Rich Nourie, “for his gentle
wisdom, his deep care for individuals and for
the community and for the vision with which
he brought AFS into its contemporary era of
coeducation and of a vastly expanded
campus and academic program. He is
fondly remembered with deep respect, love
and appreciation.”
An excerpt from the obituary written by his
daughter Faith:
“In 1966 Bert became the headmaster of
Abington Friends School in Jenkintown, PA.
At that time it was an all girls’ school, and
he was asked to assist in its becoming
coeducational and to lead a campaign to
raise money for a new building to replace the
old school. As one faculty member said of
him, “He was the epitome of a Quaker
headmaster”. As headmaster, he brought his
own knowledge of academic excellence, his
love of music and sports, and his deep
concern for students. Each Wednesday he
spoke in the three school meetings for
worship.” The complete obituary may be
found online: http://tinyurl.com/BMASON
A Friends memorial Meeting for Worship
was held on Saturday, April 10, 2010 at the
Abington Friends Meeting House in
Jenkintown PA.
in memoriam
Marian “Bunny” Johnston(Renniger) Matheson ’57
Elkhorn, WI – Bunny
Matheson, 70, of
Elkhorn, WI died Sunday
November 22, 2009 at
Mercy Hospital in
Janesville after a courageous battle with lung
cancer. She was born in Philadelphia PA to
Herbert and Bertha Johnston on August 12,
1939. She met her first husband Bayard
Renninger in college at Penn State. Bunny
and Bayard married on December 29, 1961.
Parker Pen brought them to Janesville in the
late 1960’s. After losing her husband to
cancer in 1983 she met and married Ken
Matheson on October 4, 1985. Together they
lived on Lauderdale Lakes in Elkhorn, WI.
Bunny did what she loved. She was an
antique dealer at On the Square Antique
Mall in Walworth WI and the Fuzzy Pig in
Whitewater. She also owned rental property
in Door County and loved to spend time
there. Throughout the years she enjoyed rug
hooking, quilting, knitting, curling, and
playing bridge. She was a very loving, caring
and loyal mother, wife and friend who will be
dearly missed by those she touched. Family
and friends were the fabric of her life. Below
are the thoughts and memories from her
classmates who knew her best.
Thoughts from the Class of 1957:
“Dear Class of 57, Where does time go? Can
it be 53 years since we said ‘good bye’ to
Abington Friends? Now we are saying ‘good
bye’ to another class mate, Bunny. We all
have our separate memories of our happy, as
well as our stressed times at school. But we
all carried away the strong influence of the
Quaker Meeting, the power of silence and
the ability to focus. [as well as Miss Bickley’s
influence] This is what AFS gave us that has
held us together in spirit. Life has many ups
and downs; its easy and hard times. One
does not get to our age and not have had all
sorts of experiences. But, I can see Bunny as
she was in the 1950s, in her camel’s hair
coat, long scarf, smiling face, and blond hair
as we talked while walking to the bus stop on
York Road after school. How interesting
these are the memories that have never left
me….when so many others are gone in the
wind…I know you all join me in sending
condolences to Bunny’s family.”
– Sue (Salesky) Rudin
“I remember her laughing, outgoing personality
throughout high school and beyond. She
visited us in Canada one summer at our
summer cottage; we swam in the clear waters
of Lake Huron, lounged in the sunshine
(probably wearing baby oil and iodine as a
‘sun screen’) and picnicked with my summer
friends among the dunes behind the cottage.
My ‘Canada friends’ (mostly Michiganders)
with whom I spent every summer enjoyed her
thoroughly and were genuinely sad to see her
go home… I remember her advising me:
‘...if you and Don are delaying a much-desired
adventure or special event until the children
are grown or your lives are less busy or for any
less-than-imperative reason, DO IT NOW, for
you may never have the opportunity.’ I never
forgot her advice.”
– Nanci (Lindig) Quillen
“My memories of Bunny Johnston Matheson
are from two very different times. The first,
while a student at AFS is of a young classmate
cheerful, friendly and fun. The second much
briefer but vivid, nonetheless is as a result of
attending our class of 57’s 40th reunion.
Meeting Bunny again after so many years, I
found her to be a friendly, thoughtful person.
In addition as we talked I became aware of
another interesting side of this woman. She
had cultivated a wide knowledge and
appreciation of beautiful period furnishings
and antiques. Although I could not have
predicted this particular course for her that it
happened is the essence of life’s wondrous
adventure. The road that each of us follows
can reward, surprise and delight those who
make connections after a long separation.
It is one of the great benefits that the AFS
experience continues to offer. Recollections
of Bunny show that she had endeared herself
to us, that we remember her fondly and that
we will miss her.
Very best wishes to all my classmates and to
our beloved AFS”
– Diana Post
“… I still (have the image) of Bunny , the ’57
classmate with her friendly and warm
personality, relaxed, happy to live and ready
to enjoy all good moments of life, popular
with everybody, such a happy disposition!
Before leaving me in July 1957 she wrote in
my yearbook that she hoped she would come
to France some day and that the first thing
she would do would be come and see me....I
guess I was still waiting for her to stop by. I
am aware it is completely unrealistic and that
time has passed by but I feel that when you
have known people so young they remain
young forever in your head and heart no
matter the change occurred.”
– Gaby Tubach
“Losing our beloved classmates is shocking
each time one passes on. Those who are
gone live in years of special memories we
made together.
Seeing Bunny so happy, the last time we
were together, makes me especially pleased
to have attended our reunions. All those we
have ‘lost’ enhanced my life, as all of you
have. Being part of our class was one of the
most important and enriching experiences
of my life. Thank you.”
– Sigrid (Wasum) Gilbert
Sid SpikeSid Spike, devoted husband of Doris (nee
Robins) – former AFS School Nurse; dear
father of Barbara Burnetski (Lawrence);
beloved grandfather of Dana Boccella
(Kevin) and Jamie Burnetski. He was a
Veteran of WWII. Contributions in his
memory may be made to your favorite charity.
32 IN MEMORIAM
Please submit obituary announcements
of the greater alumni community to
the Alumni Office. Submissions are
welcomed with or without a photo (at
300 dpi or greater). Electronic files are
preferred and may be sent to
alumni community outreach networkACORN:
Just you. No solicitation. No kidding.We want to know about you. No strings attached.
Our goal:to contact every single alumnus/a. By phone. Online. And we’ve already begun.
Why participate in ACORN?The more we know about you, the easier it is to make connections with fellow alumniand to today’s AFS.
Here are some interesting facts already discovered through our phone call conversations:• An AFS octogenarian alumna is a big fan of NCAA Basketball “March Madness” and was thrilled tosee fellow alumni Rob Keefer ’07 and Jason Love ’06 playing in the tournament.
• A 1947 alumna broke the gender barrier and was the first woman to receive her A.B. degree fromUPENN-Wharton Business School. She continued on to receive her master’s degree from Wharton as well.
• A pioneer in radio broadcasting, a 1945 alumna received her master’s in English with a minor inCommunications from UPENN (before the founding of the Annenberg School for Communication)and went on to interview Eleanor Roosevelt and Richard M. Nixon.
Have YOU participated in ACORN yet?Go ahead. Pick up the phone. We’re listening.Or fill out your form online today! http://tinyurl.com/AFSACORN
575 Washington Lane, Jenkintown, PA 19046
Calendar HighlightsCommencementJune 11, 2010
Hank FaulknerMemorial Golf OutingAugust 30, 2010
Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage
PAIDBensalem, PAPermit 182
