Thacher Magazine: Spring 2013

The Magazine of The Thacher School * Spring 2013

THACHER

Our Daily BreadWhat We Consume, Where It Comes From, and What It Means to Us

CONTENTS

12

14

12 • Armchair WanderingReady to hit the Thacher wine trail? Jennifer S. Sommer CdeP 1990 decants a fanciful trip to see some of our winemaking friends.

14 • Eat. Drink. Learn.Whether in the Dining Hall or the classroom, on the trail or at work in our chosen fields, we do well to pay attention to what we put in our bodies, where it comes from, and what it means to us. Tuck in as we take a look at food and drink in the life of Thacher, and at the perspectives of some of the members of our community who play key roles in putting meals on the table.

ON & OFF CAMPUS

01 • View From OlympusOur incoming director of studies recalls some favorite Thacher meals.

02 • Up FrontWhat’s on the table this issue.

03 • Readers RespondYour compliments to the chef.

04 • The PergolaAn assemblage of noteworthy School and community intelligence.

ALUMNI & COMMUNITY NEWS

28 • GatheringsAlumni Day, Grandparents Days, and wine tasting in Napa.

32 • Class Notes, etc.Alumni news, milestones, and news from faculty, staff, and friends.

42 • In Memoriam

45 • The Best We Can DoGrilling for the greater good.

FRONT COVERThacher’s favorite baker, Robin Riley, says she’s only in it for the dough. Photo by Coral Von Zumwalt.

VIEW FROM OLYMPUS…

B

The Thacher School 1

enjoy the view as she and Monsieur pulled several large Tupperware containers out of the back of their car. Our menu consisted of baguettes with brie and ham, perfect apples, and for dessert, Ile Flottante—me-ringues in a crème anglaise with a bit of caramel lace on top. “How do you find it?” Madame Monteville asked as she watched me devour my portion.

“I love it,” I mumbled, mouth full. “It’s so French.”

2 JUST LAST TUESDAY, my husband, Brian, volunteered to man the grill at the barbecue to feed the sophomores after they finished their

ball boy/girl training for the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament. In the early evening sun, on the lawn in front of the tennis courts, I watched the sophomores sitting on the rock wall, enjoying their friends and the treat of a soda and burger on a formal dinner night. My 5-year-old daughters were playing hide and seek with their favorite sophomore boy. A few colleagues were sitting with me, trading stories of Tennis Tournament weekends of yore. “Remember how great stuff like this was when we were students?” Brian asked. I was a little too embarrassed to admit they’re still my favorite Thacher moments.

1 DAY FOUR OF MY EDT in the Hetch-Hetchy wilderness with Mr. Bird and Mr. Manson ended in a downpour. We’d been bushwhacking

for two days, pushed off our route by a wildfire burning nearby, and it had been tough going. After scaling what to my risk-averse, 17-year-old eyes was “like, a total cliff” and settling atop its mesa under the relative protection of some conifers, we turned to fixing dinner. Huddled under the “kitchen tarp,” I asked Mr. Bird what we were making. “Let’s do some pasta and a Caesar salad.” I giggled. Mr. Bird knew how much I loved his signature Caesar dressing. “If only,” I replied as he rummaged through his giant external frame pack. When he turned around he was holding two heads of Romaine and two fresh eggs, his bright blue eyes twinkling as he barked, “Who’s carrying the garlic?” Best Thacher meal ever.

Nectar of the GodsBy Blossom Beatty Pidduck CdeP 1992

BLOSSOM PIDDUCK HAS KNOWN THACHER as a student, faculty member, dean of faculty, and, beginning next year, she’ll assume the role of director of studies. Below, she offers a tasting menu, served in reverse order, of her five most memorable Thacher meals.

5RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE. Back in the day, no Thacher banquet was complete without a mixed greens salad served with raspberry

vinaigrette, that staple of late-80s California cuisine. While serving said salad at the Senior Banquet, I was so focused on my “raise right, lower left” mantra, I neglected to see a divot in the lawn that would unbalance me just enough to drip pink vinaigrette all over the shining bald head of the distinguished grandfather I was serving. As I mopped his head with my white shirt he looked up at me with a wry smile: “Thank you, dear. I’ve always wanted to look a little more like Gorbachev.”

4 WINTER 2009, SUNDAY MORNING advisee breakfast. I made pancakes and sautéed apples, sausage, and fresh-squeezed OJ from

Thacher oranges. After a leisurely meal we moved into the living room, where the girls snuggled with each other on the couch and watched cartoons with my toddler daughters. By noon, they started to get hungry again, so we whipped up some quesadillas and guacamole. Eventually I had to take my daughters upstairs for their naps. When I came back down, my advisees were piled on the couch, looking like a litter of puppies, cuddled together and fast asleep.

3 ON OUR WAY HOME from my AP French class’s trip to LA to see the fabulously odd film Delicatessen, we stopped at Leo Carillo

beach for lunch. We were all a bit cranky over the fact that Monsieur Monteville refused to let us eat at a fast-food restaurant. “He’s so French,” I complained with full eye-roll to my best friend. Madame Monteville spread a lovely quilt on the beach and invited us all to take a seat and

Two for 2: As Blossom enjoyed favorite Thacher meal number 2, her twin daughters played on the lawn above the tennis courts.

2 Spring 2013

UP FRONT…

WE’VE BEEN WHETTING OUR APPETITES for a food and beverage issue for a long time. Food is fulfilling. It is fun. And if, as they say, we are what we eat, food matters. Maybe this is one of the reasons conversa-tions about food and drink so often make the news: Should supersized soft drinks should be banned? Should you boycott Chick-fil-A? What about veal, foie gras, shrimp cocktail, or shark fin soup? What’s your opinion about the drinking age? Do you eat halal?

These things matter because our health, our values and traditions, and increasingly, the future of our planet depend on them. One place we see this is in the results of our biennial school surveys (see page 7), where students and their parents tell us they would like to see even more of the local, organic options that are already a mainstay of the Dining Hall fare.

Yes, we like to voice our opinions about food, however we don’t always agree, and these conversations are among the important ways we express and develop our communal values. One of the hot topics on campus this past year involved a proposal put forward by the Environmental Action Committee that Thacher join the Meatless Monday movement. The idea was that if the Dining Hall stopped serving meat on Mondays the School could reduce its carbon footprint and raise the profile of healthy and satisfying meat alternatives. Community meetings and lively discussions ensued, giving students a firsthand look at the complicated and often messy ways communities define and advance themselves.

Among the arguments on the pro side were the claims that the meat industry contributes disproportionately to the production of greenhouse gasses, that meat production is often inhumane, that Americans on the whole eat more meat than is good for us, and that reducing our depen-dency on it would encourage us to broaden our culinary horizons and find new sources of protein.

The opposing side contended that the Dining Hall should not so narrowly dictate diet, that the proposal disregarded the views of many students, and that it pursued laudable goals with a unilateralist approach that was not consistent with Thacher values.

In the end, a compromise was reached: Those who wished to eat veg-etarian on Mondays could opt for that. Those who would rather begin the week as carnivores could still do that. At last count, some 90-plus students signed on to the Meatless Monday plan. And in the process of chewing the fat as a community, students and faculty members alike had an opportunity to gain new insights into our own ideas and actions surrounding food, and into the processes through which we sustain—both literally and metaphorically—the Thacher community.

It is in this spirit of talking about food and drink that we offer this issue of Thacher. As we serve up the following pages, I think of Henry

A Bill of FareWhat’s On the Table This Issue

Students and parents alike appreciate the fresh, healthy organic produce that comes routinely from B.D. Dautch’s farm and other local growers to our table.


THACHERThe Magazine of The Thacher School

Volume 7, Issue 1Spring 2013

EDITORChristopher J. Land

ASSOCIATE EDITORJane D. McCarthy

ALUMNI EDITORSuzie Nixon

CLASS NOTES EDITORAaron Boydston

ARCHIVAL EDITORBonnie LaForge

DESIGNCharles Hess, design director

Lisa Lewis, designer

PHOTOGRAPHY David O. Kepner CdeP 2007, Christopher Land, Caitlin Jean Peterson, Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992,

Karleanne Rogers, Dana Vancisin, Coral Von Zumwalt

HEAD OF SCHOOLMichael K. Mulligan

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENTBrandon C. Doyle

DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONWilliam P. McMahon

Thacher is published twice a year by The Thacher School, and is sent free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Every effort is made to ensure that contents are accurate and complete. If there is an omission or an error, please accept our apologies and notify us at the address below.

Copyright © 2013 The Thacher School

Third class postage is paid at the Oxnard Post Office.

POSTMASTER: Please send form 3579 to the following address.Editor, Thacher Magazine5025 Thacher RoadOjai, CA [email protected] x264

How to Submit Class NotesOnline: blogs.thacher.org/classnotesE-mail: [email protected]: 805-646-1956 (fax)

Thacher is printed by Ventura Printing using an environmentally friendly waterless printing process, soy-based inks, and recycled paper.

READERS RESPOND…JUST AS ANY COOK WOULD rather hear sighs of contentment than complaints, we appreciate the positive mail we get. However, to keep things interesting we usually opt to share only correspondence that is critical of the magazine, offers a perspective we have overlooked, or helps us set the record straight. Since we didn’t get any of those kinds of letters in response to the last issue, we decided to share some of the praise.

SPLENDIDYour last magazine was a splendid publication. We alumni love such mailings. Please keep up the good work.

Jay Crawford CdeP 1950

A PHOTOGRAPHER’S EYEI just finished looking through the Fall 2012 Thacher magazine. As a Thacher parent, and photographer, all I can say is WOW! As always, the design and layout…even the choice of paper, was beautiful. Pamela’s environmental portraiture was show-cased through the innovative design. The portraits of Carolyn McMahon and Derf were wonderful; the portrait of Dr. Vyhnal in the observatory was inspired. The lighting, including those rare gray Thacher skies, with the gray rim of concrete and metal, the relaxed expression, all worked together to create a classic image.

Timothy Teague (Father of Anna CdeP 2007 and Patrick CdeP 2011)

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN READ THACHER MAGAZINE ONLINE?Remember that you can find this and past issues of the magazine in digital form online at thacher.org/magazine. In addition to the full text of each issue, you’ll find related bonus content and media.

Fielding’s introduction to Tom Jones, in which he likens an author to a restaurateur who must appeal to the tastes of his customers. He suggests that a table of contents, like a menu, affords the reader an opportunity to make an informed decision:

[It] hath been usual with the honest and well-meaning host to provide a bill of fare which all persons may peruse at their first entrance into the house; and having thence acquainted themselves with the entertainment which they may expect, may either stay and regale with what is provided for them, or may depart to some other ordinary better accommodated to their taste.

With that in mind, I invite you to peruse our table of contents and I hope you enjoy what we have brought to the table.

- Christopher J. Land, Editor

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PERMIT NO. 1215

The Magazine of The Thacher School * Fall 2012

THACHER

From Inquiry to ImpactCultivating curiosity, passion, and hard work to develop and share our best ideas.

THE PERGOLA…

4 spring 2013

CONVINCED THAT IT’S TOO LONG a wait between Fall and Spring Extra-Day Trips,

last year’s School Chair Joe Bell CdeP 2012 envisioned a mid-year weekend when the

whole School would go camping. That vision became a reality the second week of February

when 170 students participated in a mid-year Camping Weekend. The offered trips

stayed closer to campus than usual EDTs, some even setting up camp at Diamond Hitch,

but the goal was accomplished: a break in the routine spent together in the out-of-doors.

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Annie LeFevre ‘14 soaks up some sun after fighting her

way up the brambly approach to Reyes Peak during one of

this Spring‘s Extra-Day Trips.

Members of the cast and crew

backstage at the Thacher Masquers’

hilarious production of Spamalot. The

musical by Eric Idle and John Du Prez

is based on the motion picture

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

DAY IN AND DAY OUT, Thacher students catch rides

to nearby schools, retirement homes, animal shelters, and anywhere else they can make themselves help-ful. But this year, for the first time, Molly Twichell Perry CdeP 1985 and senior leaders Nu Xiong, Gracie Farese, and Jin Ah Jung spearhead-ed a Community Service Day, which they intend as an annual event to motivate and coordinate school-wide participation in efforts to serve those in need and better our community. Deemed a resounding success by organizers, participants, and beneficiaries alike, this year’s projects included a beach clean-up, trail work, gardening, painting, serving at a homeless shelter, and picking campus fruit to share with social service organizations. Among the many positive impacts reported, one of the orange-picking students was overheard to say, “No one at HELP of Ojai is going to get scurvy.”

COMMUNITY SERVICE DAY FIGHTS SCURVY AND MORE

THE THACHER MASQUERS PRESENT: SPAMALOT

TWO WEEKS OF CAMPING NOT ENOUGH

The Thacher school 5

THACHER MASQUERS PRESENT: CURTAINS

Jeff Hooper (right) will replace Blossom Pidduck as dean of faculty as Blossom takes over for Peter Robinson as director of studies.

THE GODS PLAY MUSICAL CHAIRS

SOME FRESH FACES WILL REPLACE others this fall in

Olympus. Having served as director of studies and assistant

head of school for three decades, Peter Robinson will return to

the classroom full time this fall, a move that students embrace and

eagerly anticipate. In addition to his work in Olympus, Peter has

maintained a presence in the classroom, teaching AP Art History

for the past eight years and instructing electives on such interesting

topics as film and Shakespeare. In the fall, he’ll return to his first

passion of teaching English in addition to art history.

Blossom Beatty Pidduck CdeP 1992, who has served as Thacher’s

dean of faculty for the past two years and English teacher for the last

nine years, will step in as the new director of studies starting this summer. Blossom matriculated from Thacher

to Amherst College, where she graduated with a BA in English and American Studies in 1996. She then earned

a master’s in education in English from Harvard University in 1997. She worked in Thacher’s Admission Office

for two years prior to teaching English at the Viewpoint School for five years before returning to Thacher.

Spanish and history teacher Jeff Hooper will begin a three-year term as dean of faculty this fall. A graduate of

Trinity University with a major in economics and a minor in Spanish, Jeff earned a master’s degree in Latin American

history from the University of Texas. Since joining Thacher’s faculty in 2002, Jeff has served as Thacher’s football

coach, director of the Senior Exhibition Program, and coordinator of the recently launched Capstone Consortium.

BIG GYMKHANA FAMILY WEEKEND

As usual, one highlight of the weekend was watching Silver Dollar Club hopefuls plucking coins from the dirt at a gallop. New members of the club for this year are freshmen Peter Ammons, Sam Butler, Peter Callan (left), Nick Johnson, and Colly Smith. Among the other highlights were performances by Thacher groups, including Dance Ensemble.

Find more detailed coverage of campus news at

thacher.org/news

THE PERGOLA…

COMMENCEMENT DAY: CdeP 2013

Writing in February on behalf of the Environmental Action Committee (EAC)

Leo Turpan ’13, one of its heads, offered the campus community this explanation

of the hog program, now in its second year:

WE HAVE BEEN RAISING three fantastic pigs out at Carpenter’s Orchard, using the

food waste from the Dining Hall. We picked the pigs up early this fall when they

were just 10-pound piglets, and now they have grown to be over 225 pounds. Due to the

shortage of food scraps created over Spring Break, the EAC has decided to send one of our

friends to slaughter since we wouldn’t be able to sustain three grown pigs over break. The

first weekend after break, we will host a luau to enjoy the amazingly delicious meat that we

have raised. Before you become disgusted, I would like to remind you why we have this pro-

gram. The pig program epitomizes a closed loop system, as we are able to raise our pigs solely

on the waste the Dining Hall produces. We are sending less waste to the landfill, using it to

raise healthy pigs, and creating learning opportunities for all students who wish to partici-

pate. By consuming our pigs we complete that loop as we know exactly what we are eating,

where it came from, how it was raised/treated, and what it was fed. So, this Wednesday

we are taking the largest pig to the butcher. We use an extremely knowledgeable butcher

who has worked in the meat industry for most of his life. If you want, you can watch

the butchering; it is a very powerful and interesting experience as the entire butchering is

completed before your eyes. I wouldn’t say that it is a sight for everyone, but if you are inter-

ested in coming to see how it works we will be leaving at 1:15 and be back around 4:00.

Cam Spaulding CdeP 1992 (top left) helped guide students through the process of preparing the imu (pit oven) and serving up a luau. As Leo (top center) promised, the meat was “amazingly delicious.”

VERBATIM: THE STORY OF OUR THREE LITTLE PIGS


EVERY SECOND YEAR AT Thacher, the tables are

turned and students assess the School. Parents are also surveyed in this ongoing effort to measure satisfaction and identify areas for improvement. This year’s survey gathered input from 244 students and from parents representing 168 house-holds. The good news is that overall student satisfaction showed an increase over the survey two years ago. “As much as we love to celebrate the high levels of satisfaction,” explains Dean of Students Sabina McMahon, ”what we value most about the survey is the light it shines on areas for improvement.”

The surveys ask students and their parents to rate more than 150 aspects of School life using a seven-point scale, where one equals “very poor” and seven equals “excellent.” Overall satis-faction ratings were well over six for both students and parents. A leverage analysis of the results provides Thacher with a report card of sorts that highlights areas where improvements will have the most impact on satisfaction. With the help of Pacific Consulting Group, Thacher has

been conducting these surveys in alternate years since 1998.

STUDENT SURVEY RESULTS: This year students reported overall satisfaction of 6.39 (out of 7), an increase from previous years. Students are most satisfied with their teachers (6.46) and least satisfied with the grading and homework (5.61). The areas that offer the greatest opportunity for im-provement are: activities, clubs, and community life; personal development and health; grading and homework.

PARENT SURVEY RESULTS: At 6.51 out of 7, overall parent satisfaction was higher than that of students, with parents showing most satisfaction with Thacher’s Outdoor and Camping Programs. Among the areas parents would most like to see improved are: availability of off-campus activities; support for student personal development and health; and community composition.

Armed with this new information, administrators and faculty are already at work on improvements for next year.

BIENNIAL SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS SUCCESSES, OPPORTUNITIES

ROBOT INVASION

THANKS TO MARK CdeP 1970 and Nikki Mahan, The Thacher School has beefed up its robotics program with the arrival of two NAO robots. These sophisticated and charismatic automatons have recently begun to carry out their mission among us, which is to ani-mate interest in Thacher’s Robotics Club and to further understand-ing of computer programming and the physics of movement.

TOAD MUSIC FEST

Seniors Sarah Ratsimbazafy (left)

and Nu Xiong perform a duet

THE PERGOLA…

8 spring 2013

SCOREBOARDS

FALL

BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRYCondor League Champions; CIF: 3rd Place Southern Section; 5th place in the State of California! Captains: Justin Myles ‘13, Shravan Rajasekaran ‘13Highlights: Outperforming expectations at Southern Section Prelims by finishing 3rd to qualify for state, and then finishing 5th in California to take their place as one of Thacher’s best cross country teams ever (1988 and 2010 teams finished 4th).

GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRYCIF: Southern Section Champions; 2nd place in the State of California! Captain: Melanie Reimer ‘13Highlights: Riding nine consecutive league meet wins to their third consecutive Condor League Championship, and winning the Sweepstakes Race at Mt. SAC for the first time ever.

VARSITY FOOTBALLRecord: 9-2 (3-1 league)Captains: Grady Jacobsen ‘13, JJ Ntshaykolo ‘13, Zane Schryver ‘13Highlights: After huge road wins against Faith Baptist (first time ever) and Joshua Springs (#1 team in Calif. at the time) this team made it to the CIF finals, the deepest playoff run in the School’s history. Kyrien Edwards ‘13 set a single season rushing record (1026 yards) despite missing 2 games. Zane Schryver ‘13 passed for 940 yards, second only to Sam Felton in 2004. Named to the All-CIF team were seniors Ntshaykolo, Schryver, Jacobsen, and Edwards, with honorable mention going to Leo Turpan.

FRESHMAN FOOTBALL Season/league Record: 0-2.Highlights: Despite a winless season, this team measured its success in easily defined accomplishments: a made tackle, a sack, a good pull block, a completed pass, a first down. In the process, the players learned and grew in the sport, thus laying the groundwork for the future of Thacher football.

GIRLS’ VARSITY TENNISCaptains: Shelby Luce ‘13, Kelsey Hartman ‘13Record: 12-5 (4-2 league)Highlights: Number 1 doubles team of Auden Ehringer ‘14 and Alex DeMopoulos ‘13 only lost 4 matches all season. After beating Laguna Blanca twice and finishing second in Condor League this team played three rounds of CIF finals.

THACHER’S CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS— girls and boys—recorded standout seasons that they capped with outstanding performances at the state meet. With one of the deepest and most talented teams in School history, the girls were top finishers in the prelims and champions of the Division V Southern Section. At the state meet against all the best schools in the California, the girls came up just short and finished second to perennial powerhouse University High School from San Francisco. On the boys’ side, accolades included winning the Condor League for the sixth straight time, finishing 3rd in the Southern Section finals (up four places from last year), and 5th overall in the state. As Mr. Coleman stated at Assembly,

“This team had the perfect blend of hard work and fun.”

BELOW ARE THE STATE MEET RESULTS FOR THE 5K (3.11 MILE) COURSE:

GIRLS

1) Melanie Reimer (19:38)

2) Brittany Holden (19:45)

3) Arianna Finger (19:57)

4) Julianna Childs (19:59)

5) Hutton Becker (20:41)

6) Georgie Becker (21:07)

7) Isobel Hayne (21:13)

BOYS

1) Simon Novich (16:29)

2) Spencer McCune (16:47)

3) Justin Myles (16:51)

4) Peter Callan (17:01)

5) Kevin Griffee (17:08)

6) Jack Richardson (17:50)

7) Shravan Rajasekaran (18:00)


JV GIRLS’ TENNISCaptains: Nu Xiong ‘13, Sarah Ratsimbazafy ‘13, Brisha Howe ‘13, Ana Urgiles ‘13Season Record: 5-1Season’s highlights: Beating Cate twice for the second year in a row.

VARSITY VOLLEYBALLCaptains: Maddie McMorrow ‘13, Ellie Hancock ‘13, Ciara Byrne ‘14Record: 5-20 (2-8 league)Highlights: A highlight of the season was the Family Weekend fundraiser for the March of Dimes put on by the players; each player sold hand-decorated T-shirts, along with homemade jewelry and baked goods to raise over $400. Even though they didn’t experience win-loss success, working for the greater good made for a memorable season.

JV GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALLCaptains: Alex Purcell ‘14, Kennedy Green ‘15Record: 2-15 (2-7 league)Highlights: Both wins came against Dunn. The team had some close games against Fillmore and played well at home against powerhouse Laguna Blanca despite missing starting setter and MVP Alex Purcell.

FALL DANCECaptains: Anna Fleming ‘13, Irene Limb ‘13Highlight: Working with Anacapa Scholar Cynthia Lee CdeP 1988, who introduced the dancers to improvisation, site-specific work, and Kathak (a form of classical Indian dance).

ROCK CLIMBINGSeniors: Alex Duncan, Ashley WachtellHighlights: The group tackled climbs at Banjo Cave and honed delicate moves on Prison Wall. A big highlight was a trip to Horse Flats in the Angeles National Forest to climb on the exceptional granite—camping out under the stars, and watching Cooper Penner ‘14 and Jackson Dolphin ‘14 work really hard to climb the difficult and mentally demand-ing Das Problem, where they showed some of the most inspired and dedicated climbing of the whole term.

YOGAHighlights: In addition to improving strength, flexibility, and concentration, and reducing stress, this group of energetic yogis applied their skills outside of our sessions by dominat-ing the school dance-off with yoga-inspired choreography.

WINTER BOYS’ VARSITY BASKETBALLCaptains: Evan Farese ‘13, Jack Weil ‘13Record: 13-6 (8-4 league)Seniors: Jack Weil, Evan Farese, Kyrien Edwards, Ian Muir Highlights: This overachieving bunch finished 2nd in the Condor League and made it to CIF quarterfinals. Game highlights included a convincing win at home over Cate to lock up a playoff spot; a just-missed, two-point loss against Besant Hill that was truly decided at the buzzer, and of course, two epic playoff upset victories. Seeded #25 heading into the playoffs, Thacher played a great first-round game against #8 seed Capistrano Valley Christian, winning by 11. In the second round, Thacher hosted #9 seed New Jewish Community High School and staged another dramatic victory, 55-42, thanks to great third-quarter defense fueled by a boisterous crowd.

BOYS’ JV BASKETBALLCaptains: Calum McGuckin ‘13, Andrew Combs ‘14, Alexander Yeagle ‘14Record: 6-4 (5-3 league)Highlights: This team had a great season, having the highest average points per game of any team over the last seven years. Meanwhile, strong defensive play drew compliments from opposing coaches for its movement and effectiveness.

BOYS’ FRESHMAN BASKETBALLMVP: Cole Anderson ‘16Record: 1-6Season’s highlights: Our one win over Fillmore was an excellent game, a two-point win where we played tough and pulled it out! Other highlights included several players making huge leaps forward in their understanding of the game and some spirited practice scrimmages.

GIRLS’ VARSITY BASKETBALLCaptains: Hutton Becker ‘13, Jasmynn Roman ‘13, Brittany Holden ‘13Record: 16-4 (5-1 league)Highlights: With outstanding senior leadership, this team consistently beat much larger public schools: Oxnard, Santa Paula, Westlake, Malibu, and San Marcos. Other highlights included two decisive victories over Cate and an overtime thriller versus Nordhoff, where Jasmynn threw up a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to send the game to OT and set the stage for a Thacher win.

GIRLS’ JV BASKETBALLCaptains: Mahagony Monette ‘14, Jin Ah Jung ‘13Season Record: 2- 9 (1-5 league)Season’s highlights: This was a good, productive season of successful teamwork in which players developed their ball skills, movement on the court, and of course, shooting. The team played several opponents twice and in each case outperformed themselves in the second showing.

GIRLS’ VARSITY SOCCERCaptains: Shelby Luce ‘13, Maddie McMorrow ‘13Record: 10-3-3 (6-0 league)CIF qualification: Lost 0-1 to Campbell Hall in the 1st roundHighlights: With its 12 scorers, this team delivered the most successful season in a number of years, ending its season in the first round of CIF playoffs. Undefeated league champions in the Condor League, they gave up only one game to another division 7 school and had only one loss at home.

GIRLS’ JV SOCCERCaptains: Emma Whitley ‘13, Casey Mulchay

‘13, Annika Bhasavanich ‘14Record: 9-0-1 (7-0 league)Highlights: Beating Cate 7-0 and 6-0. The team scored 38 goals over the course of the season and only allowed 3. Our final game of the season against Cate at home was also a highlight. Although the Cate team was not much competition and we won the game 6-0, the girls played with a ton of energy and we were able to celebrate an undefeated season after the victory. In the final moments of the game we played our three captains as a line of strikers, which was great fun.

BOY’S VARSITY SOCCERCaptains: Grady Jacobsen ‘13, Theodore “Theo” Richardson-Omamo ‘13, Conrad Troast ‘13Record: 8-2-2 (4-2-2 league)Highlights: The first game was one of the season’s high-lights because the boys adjusted and made an excellent comeback to beat a strong Fillmore team on the turf. Other highlights included Chase Van Kalsbeek ‘16 scoring the first goal against Cate, at Cate; against Grace Brethren, Carson Leydecker ‘13 dribbling from midfield, through five defenders; Grady Jacobsen ‘13 making countless saves in the back; and Theo Richardson-Omamo scoring the goal against Chadwick, switching the ball to his left and hitting a strong curve shot to the far post.

BOYS’ JV SOCCERCaptains: Jacob Nelson ‘13, Truman Hanks ‘14, Alex Morris ‘14Record: 6 - 3 - 2 (all league games)Highlights: In our first game of the season against Cate’s freshman/sophomore team our players were excited to play and the freshmen really showed that they could compete well.

THE PERGOLA…

FILMJeffrey L. Kimball CdeP 1974 announces that his film, Birders: The Central Park Effect, will be shown on HBO as part of its Summer Documentary Series. The film reveals New York City’s iconic park as a nature sanctuary for both birds and humans.

Where They Raced is a documentary series by Harry Pallenberg CdeP 1985 that explores the rich auto racing traditions of the Los Angeles area by visit-ing the old tracks, the cars that ran them, and the people who know their stories.

Richard H. Parks III CdeP 2000 created a docu-mentary called Music Man Murray that premiered on TV and online in April 2013. The film follows Murray Gershenz, 88, on his quest to sell the hundreds of thousands of records in his Los Angeles store.

Ink, a short animated film by Alessandra Waste CdeP 2008, premiered in Los Angeles and was awarded the USC Discovery Scholar Medal.

EXHIBITIONRon Gee CdeP 1971 and his wife and collaborator, Gar Wang, mounted a joint exhibition and received the Individual Artists Award from a regional arts council. They were also featured on the cover of Orange Magazine. Check out Ron’s work at rongeeart.com.

BOOKOh Fiddlesticks! is the name of the first children’s book by Tanji Dewberry CdeP 1994. The story follows young Sam’s struggle to recover the toy dump truck that was taken from him—and to manage his anger along the way. The book is available on Amazon.com.

MUSICToad Music Fest veterans Andrew Barkan CdeP 1998 and Polly Hall were awarded the 2012 ASCAP Foundation Joe Raposo Children’s Music Award. The duo, known for children’s music that inspires play while inviting thoughtfulness, was singled out for

their song When You’re a Dog, which is on their 2012 self-produced album, Up and At ’Em.

BLURB & SQUIB

10 spring 2013

Andrew Barkan and Polly Hall (top); cover couple Ron Gee and wife/collaborator Gar Wang (right).


FROM THE ARCHIVES

100... 50... 25.... YEARS AGO AT THACHERA Backward Glance Through the Pages of CdeP Publications

1001913:The Middle School gave its annual entertainment. A play was first presented in the Outdoor Theatre and afterwards a most delightful reception and tea was held in the Middle School building. The committee had decorated the place with borrowed finery from all over the ranch and so that much-be-rough-housed abode became a veritable bower of cozy corners and comfortable divans. All kinds of good things to eat were passed around and altogether it was the best tea of the year. (1913 El Archivero)

751938:The Thacher Notes reports that Beetleville had its annual Shack Open House. The most magnificent spread was offered by the “Orrickle,” which displayed not only a sideboard laden with a myriad of cakes and candies, encircling a huge bowl of delicious punch, but also a bat and three kangaroo rats. The “Erectheum” featured bottled pop, while the “Parthenon” presented punch and good cheer.

501963:Ray the Barber delivers pizza to hungry seniors as starvation lunches bring on a flood of orders to Poppa Tony. (The Thacher Notes, April 23)

Mr. Shagam entertains students in his apartment with tea and Chinese music. Tea time usually erupts into a heated debate on the “honor system,” “ban the bomb,” “Shakespeare vs. comic strips,” or anything at all. (The Thacher Notes, March 19)

251988:Camping food has changed very little over the years. In 1988, some common favorites were cold oatmeal with granola on top, chicken stir fry and rice, Top Ramen, quesadillas, tortillas, and of course, McDonalds. The most creative meals included “cold cream of wheat in the van sucked out of a plastic bag,” “grape jelly on Monterey Jack cheese,” “chocolate syrup on triscuits,” and “rice pilaf with oranges.” However, one somewhat twisted student conceded: “I am embarrassed to admit I love camping food.” (The Thacher Notes, May 25)

102003:Thacher gets new dating service: It is with nostalgic sighs and bounding excitement that The Thacher School parts with the Dining Hall’s dating machine and welcomes its replacement: a Holman Model #QCS3-950H stainless steel toaster. Hold onto your seats, folks, because this baby shoots out 1,300 slices per hour. Nevertheless, will it fill the role of our old toaster? Several Upper Schoolers think not, remarking that the speedy toasting allows less time to “hook-up” while waiting for a bagel. (The Thacher Notes, Feb 11)

52008:The true story behind the Mangled Measuring Spoon Award from the Mulligans’ Open House: Many years ago [c.1997], one of the kids was so eager to do a completely thorough job that when she was finished with the mountain of dishes, cookie sheets, and other assorted dirty stuff, she flipped on the disposal—and ground up the measuring spoons that had slipped down the drain. Ms. Mully hauled them out and decided to make them into an award that would go to whomever consistently helped out to the nth degree— maybe not every single week, but more than two or three times. (The Thacher Notes, March)

TWIN PEEKS

Whether it’s a shack party on Beetleville Hill or a study break in the Hill Dorm, good things to eat and drink are essential. Living it up in Mr. Dall’s Shack (top) are Otis Wickenhauser CdeP 1949, William Cowles CdeP 1949, Wallen Summers CdeP 1949, John Clise CdeP 1950, and Peter Wallace CdeP 1949. Near the site of that long-gone shack, seniors (L to R) Lucy Meyers, Casey Mulchay, and Brisha Howe enjoy some of Ms. Hooper’s dorm treats in the Hill Dorm common room.


In Winemaking There is Truth

what have drawn many fellow Toads into its allure? Could it be that by simply focusing on these I will find my own truth and courage to go into the wilderness of my intuition? Certainly these virtues are what have guided me throughout life, and perhaps by allowing my mind to explore these along with my passion for the grape, I will find the clarity to make my decision.

So, my thoughts continue to transport me on an imaginary road trip where I may glean lessons of honor, kindness, fairness, and truth from some of the state’s esteemed grape-growing Toads. First, on up to Paso Robles for lunch at Artisan (artisanpasorobles.com)—a true farm-to-table restaurant. There I meet Michelle Thacher, wife of Sherman Day Thacher’s grandson, Sherman. She shares that

ARMCHAIR WANDERING…

M Y GAZE EXTENDS PAST the Outdoor Chapel and across the blissful Ojai Valley vista. I am here for a momen-

tary reprieve as there are times in life when you just need to come back to your roots— especially now—and find the path to living a true, authentic life. Having flourished profes-sionally for the past 12 years at Food & Wine magazine, it has come time for me to decide if I am ready to take a risk and follow my true desire to branch out on my own. The signs have all pointed to leaving the known to venture into the unknown, even during a recent yoga class (yes, I am the stereotype Angeleno getting in her yoga and drinking her greens) during which the teacher quoted Alan Alda (and yes, the yogis quote celebrities): “You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover there will be wonderful. What you’ll discover is yourself.” Thankfully my wilderness of intuition is the Outdoor Chapel, where I turn for reflection during this time of decision.

A grasshopper hopping across the stone path catches my eye. In an instant I am trans-ported to Paso Robles and Thacher Winery, whose label features a familiar grasshopper, owing its legacy to the Thacher family crest. Further allowing my mind to wander, I think of those who have made Case de Piedra home and have taken their learnings here to pursue a life of the vine. Could it be that the very vir-tues of The Thacher School—honor, fairness, kindness, and truth—learned so long ago are

00 FALL 2012 12 SPRING 2013

winemaking is about “honoring your product, respecting the land, and being truthful about the vineyards which create the final product—without this you won’t find success.” Surely, other alumni who have made their homes in Paso Robles, such as Maggie Tillman CdeP 2002 of Alta Colina Winery and Newlin Hastings Jr CdeP 1970 of Hastings Ranch, one of the region’s premier grape growers, would concur. Perhaps, to build on this idea, a visit to the state’s original wine country is in order; Napa and Sonoma here I come!

Fremont Diner (thefremontdiner.com) seems to be the perfect next stop on this fanciful road trip. Its motto is, “Come on in. We get most of our ingredients from the farm out back and the rest from our friends nearby. Always.” Sounds like my kind of place and

Not to mention honor, fairness, kindness...and even some sage career advice. By Jennifer S. Sommer CdeP 1990

The ThAcheR SchooL 13

the perfect spot to imagine the next layer of wisdom from a few wine-producing/growing Toads. Over sweet and savory chicken and waffles, a roundtable would ensue. Joining would be “Happy Farmer” Gene Kirkham CdeP 1963 of Casa Nuestra, who shares that his “great hope is that the values [he] learned at Thacher are reflected here: stewardship of the land, earnest labor, respect for tradition, caring for the greater community, simplicity of lifestyle, and a healthy counterculture aver-sion to commercialism.” And on the same note, Josh Jensen CdeP 1961 of Calera Wine who, according to his winery’s site, “doesn’t ask why or how but sees the goal in perfect clarity and walks towards it.” David Marsten CdeP 1962 of Franz Hill Vineyard may even share with the group that “anyone with a vineyard teaches you the lesson that Mother Nature is anything but kind or fair. One has to deal with the reali-ties of what Nature decides to give you.”

And when it comes to honor, what better example than the historic handshake behind the partnership between the Heitz family and Martha and Tom May CdeP 1952 that has brought us vintage after vintage of Heitz Cellar’s Martha’s Vineyard? In nearby Oakville,

Friday night dinner at the National Wildlife Museum with trustees Erin Archer CdeP 1996, Brendan Bechtel CdeP 1999, Susie Bechtel, Bryan Beckham CdeP 1974, Cabot Brown CdeP 1979, Christine

Carter CdeP 1990, John Carver CdeP 1953, Cindy Casteneda CdeP 1988, David Chao CdeP 1984, Stacey Cowles CdeP 1978, Jennifer Crittenden CdeP 1987, Monique DeVane, Sasha Gifford, Henrique Guerra

CdeP 1989, Emily Hancock CdeP 1983, Doug Hodge, Lisa Kirkland, John Lewis, Jr., Bill Oberndorf, Louise Patterson, Phil Pillsbury Cdep 1967, Dudley Rauch, James Richardson CdeP 1969, Janie Carroll

Richardson CdeP 1983, Andrew Shakman CdeP 1990, and Sarah Lavender Smith CdeP 1986

Others in attendance: Helen Bechtel, Louise Beckham, Ray Canham, Jason Carney, Anne Cowles, Brandon Doyle, Brian Driscoll, Hanson Gifford, Henry Hancock, Jack Huyler, Ingrid Jacobsen, Jane Lewis,

Jane McCarthy, Mark Millstein, Amanda Minami, Michele Moehring, Joy Sawyer Mulligan, Michael Mulligan, Arthur Patterson, Blossom Pidduck CdeP 1992, Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992, Sharon Pillsbury,

Candace Powers, Weston Richardson CdeP 1980, Lisa Shannon, and Morgan Smith CdeP 1985

three generations of the Phillips family, including Bruce CdeP 1983, have been cultivating wine grapes since 1959 with a commitment to quality

that is rivaled only by their dedication to sustainability, thoughtful land stewardship, and giving back to the community. All of these farmers and grape growers have found success of the land can be hard fought but with Sherman Day Thacher’s core values, success can be sweet when approached with a sense of honor, fairness, kindness, and truth.

As David Marsten reminded me, “Theognis of Megara (6th century BC) said ‘wine is wont to show the mind of man,’ a common iteration of the ancient Latin aphorism, in vino veritas (In wine there is truth).” Reflecting on all this sage advice, I realize that Thacher has given us all the direction necessary to achieve a well-blended life and find focus in the everyday. And with these nuggets of wisdom, I have found that my own path is not that complicated.

My mind returns to the sun-drenched benches now under a rosé-hued pink moment, and I become yet again aware of my immedi-

ate surroundings. A new direction has become clear: Honor my heart, be fair to my passions, show kindness throughout the process, work hard, have fun, and in that I will find truth.

PostscriptI sit now in my corner office looking out on the Hollywood Hills and, calling upon my yoga practice, take a deep breath of relief and thanks as I found the courage to resign from my intense sales and marketing position at Food & Wine. Thankfully, I found the values of honor, kindness, fairness, and truth in the words I shared with my management and heard them in their understanding of my decision. And, I was rewarded by being ap-pointed the Los Angeles Correspondent for Food & Wine, allowing me to make the transition to my true love of editorial and in the process find a new path from the comfort of a home office. Thus, a sigh of relief and thanks for the continued lessons from the days oh so long ago under Thacher’s pink skies and on its dusty trails. So I am off on a new trail—one that gives me comfort in knowing the road behind and curiosity as I pave a new road ahead.

Gene Kirkham’s Casa Nuestra Winery in Napa (facing page); Maggie Tillman (above) of Alta Colina Winery in Paso Robles.

Eat. Drink. Learn.PHOTOS BY CORAL VON ZUMWALT

. A THACHER EXTRA-DAY TRIP, like Napolean’s army, moves on its stomach. What better proof than the School’s shopping list for a recent week of camping, which included 78 pounds of beef jerky, 100 pounds of gorp, and several thousand energy bars. But for Thacher as a whole, food is much more than fuel; one need only consider our annual banquets, Formal Dinners, and dormitory munchouts to know how food and drink nourish not only our bodies but our community and traditions. Even in the classroom, where comes-tibles may be discouraged, topics relating to food and drink inspire literature, occupy science, and drive history. And just as irrigation and agriculture fed the early march of civilization, so matters of food pro-duction, distribution, and consumption are folded into many of today’s most pressing issues of geopolitical security, environmental sustainability, and social justice. With all this in mind, we decided to serve up a bill of fare that highlights the importance of food and drink on campus, explores the present and future of food from a global perspective, and, because this is Thacher, compares two camp kitchens. Bon appétit!

16 spring 2013

PHO

TOS

BY C

HRI

STO

PHER

LA

ND

AN

D C

OR

AL

VON

ZU

MW

ALT

; ILL

UST

RAT

ION

BY

TAN

IA P

ARK

ER C

deP

1999

.

Culture of Consumption: A Thacher Alphabet Soup of Food and Drink

A...is for Avery’s Fruit Stand, a legacy of School Chair Avery Hellman CdeP 2011, which sits on the Pergola and offers students on the run a quick, healthy snack.

B ...is for Burrito Bet, Mr. Mulligan’s annual promise that if there is a student whose name he doesn’t know, the burrito (perhaps a Thacher burrito from Ruben’s in Ojai) is on him.

C ...is for clubs. Food- and drink-related clubs at Thacher include the Cheese Club, the Gourmet Club, the Tea Club. Of course, even the Chinese, French, and Spanish Clubs find ways to organize their gatherings around good things to eat and drink.

D...is for Dining Hall. Banquets, brunches, Formal Dinners, the Eat Local Challenge and Chef’s Tables, and of course cereal for seniors during wandering—it all goes down at the Hills Dining Hall, one of the more important hubs of School life. As per Holiday Banquet tradition, the freshman class carries in a “boar’s head” (in recent years fashioned from fruits and vegetables) as they serenade the School with the Boar’s Head Carol.

E...is for EAC. Much of the good work done by the Environmental Action Committee involves food, including beekeeping, composting, and hog raising.

F

...is for Farmers’ Market. Ojai’s is a popular Sunday destination for Thacher students.


G...is for graham crackers, which are still put out on the Pergola each morning (along with cartons of cold milk and fresh fruit). In a typical year, Thacher goes through 36 cases of them.

I ...is for imu: a Hawaiian underground oven of the sort used for the pig roast this spring. (See page 6).

J ...is for judgment, as in use your own when choosing between jicama and jell-O with whipped cream.

K ...is for kitchens. From dorm common rooms to faculty homes to the one in the Thacher Commons Tie Rail snack bar where students in the Life Skills class taught by Cam Spaulding CdeP 1992 produced this pizza, our kitchens see a lot of duty as students hone their culinary skills and satisfy late-night cravings. L

...is for lazy susan. As recalled by Nick Thacher CdeP 1963: “Roast beef was generally unknown in the Thacher Dining Hall; but it tended to appear, succulently, at dinners when the Board of Trustees arrived for their quarterly meetings. I recall one Dickensian occasion at my parents’ table when there was one large slice remaining after everyone had been served, lolling on the lazy susan in front of ‘the boys’ and passing before our hungry eyes at each rotation. There was a silent but unmistakable collective frisson of horror when the trustee nonchalantly helped himself to seconds; we learned a lot about trustees as well as good manners in that moment of anguish.”

M ...is for Martinelli’s, the bubbly of choice for School banquets. M is also for munchout menus, which vary across the sexes. For freshman girls these days, the fare runs the gamut from indulgent to sensible: cookie pie, nachos, carrots and hummous, chips and salsa, grapes. Boys, on the other hand, are apparently content with a less varied diet: pizza, with the occasional break for fried chicken or Thai food.

N...is for nutrition. See page 19.

O ... is for oranges (and olives), reminders of the agricultural beginnings of Casa de Piedra and inspirations for our school colors.

H ...is for hay and hay is for horses. Demonstrating this basic truth are Morgana ‘16 and Jerry English.

18 spring 2013

Q

...is for Quong, as in Lee. Nick Thacher CdeP 1963 recalls trail lunches packed by him and his kitchen staff: “dry white-bread sandwiches of ham, cheese, or something purported to be baloney; an apple or an orange—and, as a crowning treat, a pack of “Walnettos,” which must be among the worst forms of confection known to man or beast.”

S

... is for soft serve. Or self control. Suit yourself.

...is for Thachers serving up tennis and tea. Since the early 1900s, the Thacher family has been involved with serving tea and orange juice at the Ojai Tennis Tournament, which was founded by Sherman’s brother William soon after his 1887 arrival in town.

T

U

...is for unused. It’s an unwritten rule, but we usually don’t use trays.

V

...is for veggies. Thacher joined the Meatless Monday movement this year. Read more on page 2.

W

...is for the Walker Bell that rings five minutes before Formal Dinner; when rung, students may enter the Dining Hall and others should be walking. W is also for the wait at the waffle maker on weekends.

...is for Xenodokion, one of the colorfully named shacks that used to line Beetleville Hill, above campus. Before they were torn down in the 1960s, the student-owned shacks were known for their lively weekend parties and barbecues. As recalled by Anthony Arnold CdeP 1946: “It was just,

‘You want to go up to the shack?’ and we would. One of the great things to do, if you were lucky enough to win a turkey in one of the trap shoots, was to take the turkey up there and cook it.”

X

...is for ziplock bags, upon which most of us depend to carry our gorp and other victuals into the backcountry.

Z

P... is for pannino, which is almost always the plural, pannini, at lunchtime.

...is for Robin Riley (AKA “Robin the Baker”), whose prolific and irresistable pastries have made her the nemesis of Thacher dieters since 2001. See page 26.

R

...is for yeast and yummy. See R.Y

. An apple a day...plus a couple

of Pixies. Two of this year’s

Senior Exhibitions contained

high nutritional content. Juliana

Childs dug into organic farming

and Brittany Holden unpacked

public school lunches and

ways to make them healthier.

Meanwhile, the Thacher kitchen

has responded to a nutritional

challenge of another sort:

As food allergies among young

people have risen (up 18 percent

from 1997 to 2007), our Dining

Hall has adapted by providing

customized meals for students

with restricted diets.

20 spring 2013

TUCK DONNELLY CdeP 1967 Founder and former executive director, SeaShare, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Describe your role in the food industry.SeaShare develops working partnerships

within the seafood industry and leverages the financial contributions of individual, corporate, and foundation donors to enable low-income people to have access to highly nutritious sea-food products. The biggest challenge facing food banks and hunger-relief organizations in the U.S. is obtaining adequate amounts of nutri-tious food; they receive an abundance of junk food. SeaShare has been instrumental in help-ing change the focus of hunger relief in America from a problem simply filling bellies to one of filling nutritional needs. SeaShare only receives fish from fisheries that are certified as sustain-

able by the Marine Stewardship Council. We rec-ognize that all is lost if our fisheries disappear through bad management and over-harvesting.

What is the most pressing challenge facing you today in your work?

SeaShare’s most pressing challenge today is brand recognition. SeaShare is not a direct-service organization, i.e., we don’t provide services directly to individuals but instead provide our services to large food bank dis-tributors, mostly within the Feeding America network. As a result we are largely invisible to the general public, which frustrates our efforts to expand our donor base. The result of that is that we lose opportunities to provide more seafood to people in need.

How are you addressing that challenge?We are addressing that—as are many

nonprofits—by trying to improve our social

networking. That’s easier said than done and we welcome and are seeking outside expert advice on how to improve that aspect of our business. We know that the work we do tells a compelling story: At various times, SeaShare has been the single largest source of protein for hunger relief in America outside of govern-ment aid programs. We are challenged by how to get the message out to people who would gladly support the work we do, particularly at the level of efficiency at which we operate.

Do you feel that your Thacher experience influenced, equipped, or on the other hand failed to prepare you for the work you do today?

Reflecting on it after all these years, I think Thacher prepared me more for the work at SeaShare than any other single experience in my life.

A Growing ConcernGlobal Food Insecurity and What We Are Doing About It

A S ALICE MEYER’S AP PSYCHOLOGY students can tell you, food and drink anchor Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, right alongside other basics like breathing, sleep, and sex.

So, when it comes to feeding ourselves and our families, the stakes don’t get any higher. Which helps explain why some of the most pressing issues facing humans today have to do with food security. Thomas B. Cole CdeP 1987, a consultant to sustainable agriculture security and food production projects in both the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa, explains that food security is when all people at all times have enough food for an active, healthy life. Threats to food security come in many forms. Newsweek, for example, recently raised the possibility of a world without pasta, citing global climate changes and asking “what will we eat when the wheat won’t grow?” Making reference to megastorms, rising temperatures, and deepen-ing droughts, the story projected that wheat crops could decline by as much as 27 percent by 2050. Heightening the urgency of that scenario, the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Food Secu-rity projects that global food production will need to increase 70 percent by 2050 to meet the needs of a growing world population.

These forecasts are a call to action for anyone whose work touch-es upon food security. “Climate change is happening,” explains Cole,

“and it’s the communities around the world living in the transition zones that are receiving the greatest impact.”

In tackling these problems, the concept of food security offers analytical precision by distinguishing between availability of food,

access to food, and actual use of food—and even the stability of these measures over time. An example Cole likes to use is the Indonesian tsunami of 2006. Many aid organizations and govern-ments sent tons of food to aid survivors thought to be in danger of starvation. In reality, food production in the affected areas—most of which takes place inland—was very strong. The real problem was not availability, but access, as few survivors had the financial means to purchase the available food after the disaster. What was needed was not more food, but a mechanism for the market distri-bution of food. Had more people been considering this situation through the lens of food security, a very different response would have followed.

The value of food security analyses isn’t limited to sudden natural disasters on the other side of the world. Here in the U.S., our children are facing food-related challenges that range from poor nutrition to an epidemic of juvenile diabetes. Many of our citizens live where access to affordable, healthy food is so difficult that we now describe these zones as food deserts. And the list of challenges goes on. Some of the problem solving will fall to future Thacher graduates—many of whom are first introduced to these topics by Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992 in AP Environmental Science or via the team-taught Science and Society Seminar.

Meanwhile, many Thacher alumni are already at work in areas of food production and distribution. Below, a few report back to us about the challenges they see and how they are responding.


PETER DOWNEY CdeP 1977President, Discovery Bay Shellfish Inc. and Cliffside Oyster Co., Port Townsend, Washington

Describe your role in the food industry.Discovery Bay produces geoduck clams, pri-

marily for export to China. Cliffside produces Pacific oysters for Hog Island’s oyster bars in San Francisco and Napa. We produce about 150,000 pounds of geoduck and one million oysters in a good year.

What is the most pressing challenge fac-ing you today in your work?

Climate change is real, it’s here today, and we are spending millions and millions of dol-lars to respond to its effects. Ocean acidification has devastated natural spawning of oysters in the Pacific Northwest. Virtually all of the oysters planted on the West Coast today are spawned in hatcheries.

What do you wish more people under-stood about what you do?

Shellfish aquaculture is farming; probably the most sustainable farming ever invented. We are farming protein at the lowest level of the food chain. But instead of putting our animals out to pasture, the pasture comes to us with the change of every tide. And we do all this without the need for antibiotics, feed, hor-mones, fertilizer, herbicides, or pesticides.

People need to understand that their food does not come from Safeway or the Food Co-op. There is a general disconnection between food production and consumption that needs to be

addressed. We need to be more conscious of the blood, sweat, and tears that go into that carrot on your plate or the oyster slurped with a perfectly matched pinot gris. Spend a day with a farmer or a fisherman and you will get a whole new appreciation for the food you eat.

Do you feel that your Thacher experi-ence influenced, equipped, or on the other hand failed to prepare you for the work you do today?

Thacher taught me about leadership and responsibility to others, and reinforced my connection to the planet at a personal level. I’ve always lived close to the land. My environ-mental education began when my mother took me on a bird-watching expedition at the age of 5. Thacher was an extension of that lifelong relationship with the planet.

ALEXIA ALLEN CdeP 1996Founder, Hawthorn Farm, a diversified suburban farm near Seattle

Describe your role in the food industry.I use what are called permaculture prin-

ciples to create a year-round diet. For the past decade, my game has been to eat something from my land every day of the year. That game has expanded, and in January I completed a two-week challenge of eating only what my sweetheart and I gathered, grew, or hunted. I gained weight! Must have been all the goat milk custard with honey and duck eggs over hazelnut blueberry pie.

What is the most pressing challenge fac-ing you today in your work?

Patience. Seeds take time to germinate. Vi-sions take time to come to fruition. I will not live to see the full bounty that will come from the chestnut trees I have planted.

How are you addressing that challenge?Education. I wish to be a model of long-term

thinking. By shifting the culture around me to accept seasonal cycles, my farm (and, I believe, the human psyche) can flourish.


Most of us are several generations removed from a direct connection to the food we eat. I wish people paused before a meal to remember the source of nourishment, to acknowledge that we do not survive without it. Picture the wheat field in the toast.

Do you think that your Thacher experi-ence influenced, equipped, or on the other hand failed to prepare you for the work you do today?

My horse experience was vital. Horses are important on the farm, as teachers in their own right as well as accomplished compost producers! Much of my formal education lacked a productive element, and I wish I had learned more outdoor physical work as part of a well-rounded schooling. In my early days on the farm I would get frustrated and complain,

“I’m a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, and I can’t stack a woodpile!” It has been deeply satisfying to learn the basic necessities, a lesson imparted through many a Thacher camping trip.

Peter Downey’s oyster farming operation (left) and Alexia Allen’s outdoor oven at Hawthorn Farm, source of many hand-made pizzas and slow-roasted chickens.

22 spring 2013

PETER FRYKMAN CdeP 2001Founder and CEO, Driptech, based in Silicon Valley, California, with offices in India and China

Describe your role in the food industry.Driptech makes affordable drip irrigation

for small-plot farmers in developing countries. Drip irrigation is a technology that can im-prove crop yield while dramatically reducing labor and water consumption, especially for high-value vegetable crops. In Africa and Asia, small-plot farms produce over 80 percent of food consumed locally.


Around the world, over two billion people rely on small-plot farms for their livelihood, but most agricultural technologies are designed for larger Western farms. As populations grow and farms get smaller, we need to develop afford-able and appropriate technologies to address the needs of small-plot farmers.

How are you addressing that challenge?Driptech has reached over 5,000 small-plot

farms in India, Africa, and China with afford-able and appropriate drip irrigation systems, selling them sustainably through local dealers and partner organizations.


Over 70 percent of the world’s freshwater consumption is for agriculture, so helping farmers irrigate their crops more efficiently benefits all of us.

Do you feel that your Thacher experi-ence influenced, equipped, or on the other

hand failed to prepare you for the work you do today?

All the dorm and club announcements I made at Assembly were good practice for rural farmer meetings, where I have to communi-cate my message effectively to a large group of people who may not understand me or be par-ticularly interested. Studying abroad my junior year was also an amazing experience, which exposed me to a new culture.

Any further comments?I recently was honored with an opportunity

to present at the INK conference in association with TED, and my video can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/peter-inktalk.

RICH EVERETT P ’12, ’14, ’17Everett Family Farm, Santa Cruz County

What’s your connection to Thacher?Our connection starts with my father-in-

law Tom May CdeP 1952, who later taught at Thacher. He was followed by our oldest daugh-ter (Tom’s granddaughter) Hailey CdeP 2012, who was followed by Hannah ’14, our middle daughter) and now our youngest, Annie, who was just admitted to the class of 2017.

Describe your role in the food industry.We grow and raise the best-quality food and

animals we can, while replenishing the land which we are on, in order to supply our local community with really healthy and terrific-tasting foods.


We have experienced our driest January on

record and one of the driest Februaries ever. We are also experiencing 25-degree mornings and the same afternoon it will be over 70, not good for the orchards as they cannot tell if it’s still winter or it’s time to wake up for springtime!

Related to weather is our belief that our freshwater sources are a treasure that we need to utilize wisely. We are about four to five miles from the coast, and many farms in our area are experiencing salt-water intrusion into their underground water supplies. We are not there yet, but it’s a matter of time.

How are you addressing that challenge?We utilize well water here, so we are very

careful with our water supply. We try to keep overhead irrigation to a minimum and use drip irrigation throughout the farm when possible. We’ve installed new filters and timers on our mainline irrigation centers in order to maximize the effectiveness of our irrigation throughout the day.

In order to be here for the long run, the farm has to be financially sustainable. We know it’s worth the cost to support organic growing. At the same time, we work hard to figure out more efficient ways to organize the farm and keep costs in check.


In this country, food frankly is a bargain. The cost of growing crops or raising animals is high, yet the market dictates what things cost, which is as it should be, we suppose. However, we think that if people really understood the true cost of what it takes, for example, to grow a head of organic lettuce, they would be more willing to support the farmer with higher pricing.

Peter Frykman (at far right in photo at left) surveys another small-plot farm. For the Everetts, providing and enjoying good food is a community-building affair.


. Food Security Thacher-Style:

B.D. Dautch, local organic

grower and a familiar face at Ojai’s

Farmers’ Market, supplies much

of the fresh produce served in

Thacher’s Dining Hall. A couple of

times a week, Dining Hall Director

Richard Maxwell stops at B.D.’s

farm on his way to campus to load

his truck with freshly harvested

greens, tomatoes, veggies,

and herbs—whatever is in season.

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Gear Report: A Tale of Two KitchensYou can argue the relative pros and cons of backpacking and horse camping until long after the campfire goes out, but the fact is both methods of locomotion are intrinsic to the Thacher outdoor experience. And though we have these two traditions in common, when mealtime rolls around, there is no mistak-ing the two. Whether you are comparing philosophy, tools, or heft—you’re talking oranges and dehy-drated apples. On the one hand you have freedom to carry more equipment and heavier supplies; on the other, spartan self-sufficiency. Here, with the help of Director of Camping and Outdoor Programs Brian Pidduck CdeP 1992 and Horse Camping Director Rene Duykaerts, we unpack two trail kitchens, just as you might find them on one of this year’s Spring Extra-Day Trips.

A PACKER’S KITCHEN1. The basis of this kitchen is a two-piece pannier stove set. Made out of aircraft aluminum, the two bear-resistant units are fitted with detachable legs so they can go from mule back to being stand-alone camp furniture in seconds. The stove unit contains a two-burner propane cook top. 2. The “pantry unit” stores pots and pans, silverware, and cooking utensils organized in canvas pouches. Also inside are plates, bowls, and cups; staples (like flour, rice, and oatmeal); common spices and seasonings; coffee; tea; and cleaning supplies. In addition to the first aid kit, there’s also room for “plan-for-the-worst” supplies including basic tools and other McGyver must-haves: duct tape, baling wire, parachute cord, and safety pins.3. One of the first tasks of the cook upon arriving in camp would be to heat water for coffee, tea, and other hot drinks. Here, a new sock makes a serviceable oven mitt.4. Where the backpackers tend toward Nalgene bottles, whether mounted or afoot, Rene prefers to carry drinking water in the leather pouch he made and outfitted with a two-liter water bladder. 5. One of the benefits of pack animals is the ability to bring along heavier gear, like this Dutch oven, which is invaluable for baking and cooking in the backcountry. This is a nesting set with two sizes depending on the size of your group.

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24 spring 2013

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COOKING LIGHT1. We used to favor white gas stoves such as the MSR Whisperlite, but have found that the small butane stoves are easier to use for less experienced student campers. A and B campers eventually graduate to using MSR stoves once they develop the field maintenance skills. 2. Water filters, like this Katadyn model, are nice, and many of our faculty won’t camp without one, but our lightweight backpacking trips, such as trans-Sierras, just go with iodine, which provides water purification with less weight, bulk, and with greater efficiency.3. A perfect example of the integrated approach to backpacking equipment, the spork is simple and multi-functional.4. We used to teach the counterbalance method for hanging food from tree limbs. Nowadays we are required to carry bear canisters in the Sierra Nevada. They add weight but provide great security and are much easier than the counterbalance method. I do miss the ritual and practice of hanging food from tree limbs; there is something “Zen” about the practice . . . and over 26 years of hanging food, none of my trips lost a morsel to a bear.5. This cook set is an example of the type I would take on a weekend backpacking trip into the Sespe Wilderness. I love the small size, weight, and integrated handles. When backpacking in the Sierra Nevada, however, I favor my old school stainless steel MSR pots. They have a 2-liter capacity (good for feeding seven hungry students!), can take a beating, and I can also use them when cooking over a small fire or for baking brownies as a special treat.6. This particular knife is an exception to the integrated rule. I carry a camp knife anyway, but for a large group on a longer trip I really appreciate this miniature Sontoku knife with its plastic sheath. It makes slicing bell peppers and an onion for backcountry chili a dream.

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00 spring 2013

. “I’ve got just the thing for

you.” As she dreams up new

temptations, Thacher’s baker

Robin Riley likes to recall this

line from the movie Chocolat,

spoken by Vianne, the choco-

latier whose sweets change her

village for the better.

26 spring 2013

Clockwise from top: The victorious alumni-faculty soccer squad; always-popular trail rides; Coach Carney with Casey Wyman CdeP 2010.

IT WAS INDEED A WINTRY day with icicles ornamenting the orange groves on Saturday

morning, January 12, but that didn’t stop 150 alumni and their guests from returning to campus; among them Mac Jordan CdeP 1938, who added a horseback ride

to his day of activities at Casa de Piedra.Proving once again that they know how to have fun while succeeding

in their goals, the alumni boasted two wins against the varsity teams in the soccer (4-2) and basketball (56-52) games. Beyond field and court, alumni enjoyed the campus and mountain trails on horse and afoot, mak-ing the most of time with faculty and students throughout the day as fans, mentors, and advisors.

The Twin Peaks Trap Range was also a popular destination. High scores among alumni shooters and guests were: 20/25 Bob Johnson CdeP 1967, 19/25 Tyler Bartholomew (husband of Diana Garcia CdeP 1995), and 18/25 Quinn McMahon CdeP 2009. Cody Renfrew ’13 was the high- scoring shooter of the day, scoring 22/25.

Alumni: We loved having you here for this special day, and you are invited back any time!

WINTER ALUMNI DAY JANUARY 12

28 SPRING 2013

GATHERINGS…

The ThacheR School 29

BY APRIL, THE ICE IN THE GROVES was long gone and orange blossoms were in full bloom to welcome our

grandparents to campus. Even by California standards, the weather was beautiful, making it difficult for many of our East Coasters to move indoors for classes. The campus was bus-tling with 116 extended family members to join in this favorite event that has grown from a half-day of classes and a glass of lemonade to two days of much-loved and anticipated events.

Once again, Esther and Tom Wachtell (grandparents of Ashley ’13 and Lexi ’15) opened their home for a welcome lunch, which was followed by tea with Head of School Mi-chael Mulligan and a formal buffet dinner

shared with students and faculty members. From dinner, the grands were escorted to enjoy a Performing Arts Sampler, featuring the Jazz Band, Dance Ensemble, and Chamber Singers.

On Wednesday, our grandparents enjoyed a back-to-school experience with classroom dis-cussions in various subjects, an Assembly, and a peek at the riders’ impressive accomplish-ments preparing for the Big Gymkhana in May.

Lots of the visiting grandparents are Toads themselves, with many family members following their lead. Tad Williamson CdeP 1950 sported seven legacies on his nametag with Patricia Kong-Slater coming in a close second with six. The entertaining stories and history shared over the two days together

GRANDPARENTS DAYS APRIL 9-10

Clockwise from top: Teddy Williams ’16 with grandmother Bonnie Blackaller; Cici Williamson and Ellie Hancock ’13 (front), Emily Williamson Hancock CdeP 1983 and Tad Williamson

CdeP 1950 (back); Paul Cresanta ’13, Sandra Robbins, and her granddaughter Laney McGahey ‘13; Kallie O’Connor ’13, Kitty Bartholomew (aunt).

validated why so many relatives choose to attend Thacher.

It is with heartfelt gratitude that we thank Sofie Howard (Jackson CdeP 2012, Hayden

’16) for once again leading an extraordinary group of caring parents who went above and beyond to make sure this was a very special event from start to finish. Volunteers included: Kim Baldwin (Jackson ’14), Lauren Bearden (Ian CdeP 2012, Avery ’16), Cherie Demopoulos (Alexandra ’13), Sarah Ferranti (Spencer McCune ’16), Sasha Gifford (Katharine CdeP 2010, Marshall CdeP 2012, Ellie ’16), Heidi Evans Girardoni CdeP 1986 (Julia ’15), Jenny Gregory (Anne ’15), Julie Hale (Bailey Cypheridge ’15), Charmaine Herzig (Erich ’14,

Emma ’16), Jennifer Kelly (Declan ’15, Karl ’17), Susan Mirbach (Kenlyn ’15), Pamela Reiss (Sean CdeP 2010, Sasha ’15), Carrie Rheinfrank (Nevin Bernet ’16), Kim Robertson (Emma ’16), Paul and Caryn Schiff (Elliot ’16), Morgan Smith CdeP 1985 (Colly

’16), Carla Van Kalsbeek (Chase ’16), Therese Voevodsky (Paule CdeP 2012, Mia ’14), and Muriel Walker-Waugh (Aiden ’14).

30 SPRING 2013

GLORIOUSLY WARM WEATHER graced this spring’s Casa de Piedra Wine Tasting event in St. Helena.

Hosted by Justin Hunnicutt Stephens CdeP 1994, over 200 Bay Area folks joined the party in the new Hunnicutt cave, built into the hill-side above the Silverado Trail. Several wine tasting tables and platters of gourmet appe-tizers lined the concourses of the cave, leading to a large, open space for fermentation where Justin, Head of School Michael Mulligan, and President of the Board Andrew Shakman CdeP 1990 regaled the crowd with remarks about the building of the winery, the impor-tance of the Thacher community, and the progress of the School. Even after three hours of wine tasting and mingling, many alumni, parents, and friends remained, socializing on the patio, letting us know this gathering was a happy success.

Alta Colina: Maggie Tillman CdeP 2002

Casa Nuestra: Katrina and Eugene Kirkham CdeP 1963

Cole Bailey Vineyards: Bob Anderson (father of Cole Bailey Anderson ’16)

Darioush: Dan de Polo and Julie Huntington de Polo CdeP 1986 (parents of future Toad Sydney ’17)

Franz Hill Vineyard: David Marsten CdeP 1962

Glendale Ranch: Julie Dickson (mother of Rob CdeP 2001)

Hunnicutt: Seana and Justin Stephens CdeP 1994

Iron Horse Vineyards: Barrie Sterling CdeP 2008

Martha’s Vineyard: Thomas May CdeP 1952 and his daughter and son-in-law Laura and Rich Everett (parents of Hailey CdeP 2012, Hannah ‘14, and Annie ’17)

Merry Edwards Winery: Sandy Donnell and Justin Faggioli CdeP 1969

Nevada City Winery: Sarah and Peter Arnold CdeP 1942

Palazzo Wine: J.P. Webb CdeP 1995

Robert Mondavi Winery: Liz Moffitt (mother of Alex CdeP 2005 and Lucy CdeP 2006)

Rocca Family Vineyards: Mary Rocca and Eric Grigsby (parents of Giovanna CdeP 2012)

GATHERINGS…

Libations from 14 wineries were generously donated and poured by the following community members:

CASA DE PIEDRA WINE TASTING: APRIL 28, 2013

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Facing page: (top) Max Pillsbury, Will Oberndorf, and Barrie Sterling from CdeP 2008; (below) an audience assembles for the latest news from campus. This page: (top) Alumni and friends mingle at the table of the Darioush Winery (Dan and Julie Huntington de Polo) and Casa Nuestra (Katrina and Eugene Kirkham CdeP 1963); (left) class of ’06-ers Danel Vega, Lauren Church, Aubrey Wynn, Alysa Tennant, and Jenny Morrill; Board of Trustees President Andrew Shakman CdeP 1990 makes some remarks; Peter Arnold CdeP 1942 offers a sample of Nevada City wine.

.

MAC JORDAN celebrated his 92nd birthday, sharing, “March 4. Birthday. Fell. Sore. M.D. next after urgent care and x-rays. My middle name is Acetomorphine.” He is doing better now, though. A week later, on March 11, Mac and his son, PETER

’68, serenaded his granddaughter, EMILY ’12, on her 19th birthday, via cell phone. March 11 was also a big day because it was the anniversary of his reporting for active duty at Fort MacArthur, a.k.a. Pneumonia Flats. “Every ‘doggie’ has a tale about that,” Mac says.

JOHN ALFORD reports, “I have less and less time between doctor appointments.”

*1938

1940

GEORGE PFAU writes, “I retired from Morgan Stanley in July 2010, when I was 86. Now I find my new life as busy as ever. Between oil painting, reading, and traveling, life is full. My four children live nearby and we are together a lot. I find it hard to realize they are now middle-aged! In early 2012, I had a back operation and, during it, they discovered that my kidneys had failed. I am now on peritoneal dialysis which does its thing when I am asleep—amazing. In May, I fell at my youngest daughter’s graduation from Dominican University, where she earned her green MBA. I broke my right hip. After four months and almost back to normal, I tripped again and broke the other hip. I am on the road to recovery and should be ‘normal’ in six months. It’s sad that so many of our classmates have moved on. The Christmas card list gets shorter every year. All the best to those still standing!”

* INDICATES REUNION YEAR ^CORRESPONDING PHOTO ABOVE

00 SPRING 2013

1942

FARM TO TABLE DWIGHT MOORE CdeP 1963

DWIGHT MOORE and his two brothers (REAGAN ’63 and GEORGE ’61) were at Thacher over 50 years ago enjoying the epitome of a life he had already chosen: camping, playing soccer on the dirt at the New Field, horses, and a rural rather than urban atmosphere. His sons, DANIEL ’02 and DAVID ’04, also enjoyed Thacher, making their experience a family legacy. Just on the other side of the Topa Topa mountain range, in the town of Fillmore, Dwight manages a family citrus farm that has been around for 107 years. About his work, he writes:

I grow Valencia oranges. Valencia orange production is an industry in decline in California. Except for picking, I am the sole manager and laborer. Over the years we have, variously, picked our own fruit with our own labor, picked with association-managed crews, or used labor contractors. It is not for nothing that Cesar Chavez said, “The only thing worse than a grower is a farm labor contractor.” It would be simple to enormously improve harvesting for the laborer, the grower, and the packinghouse, but the major emphasis has been to prevent them from working cooperatively for fear of labor action.

I am currently under government pressure to spray for the Asian citrus psyllid. One psyllid was found a half-mile away, coincidentally next to a greenwaste dumping site. For Valencia growers in Ventura County, spraying is problematic because we completely depend on beneficials for pest control. In the five years that the psyllid has been in Southern California, we have been unable to stop the spread and, in fact, have encouraged it by combining quarantine areas and allowing greenwaste to be transported from areas of known infestation to areas free of the psyllid.

However, the pleasure I receive from my work far outweighs these challenges and any remuneration. It’s a truism that farmers live poor

but die rich. It’s by necessity that we are frugal, since we are subject to the vagaries of the market and the weather. It pleases me that my work is never done and that I can daily take pleasure in accomplishing a number of varied tasks. In the spring, there is nothing quite so wonderful as getting that first whiff of orange blossom.

32 SPRING 2013

CLASS NOTES…


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REID DENNIS^ first became interested in sea planes as a child, growing up in San Francisco, watching the Pan American Clippers flying in and out of the port at Treasure Island. Many years later, his interest was reawakened when he purchased a Grumman Mallard and dreamed of flying the early Pan American routes. The Mallard wasn’t capable enough so he found a derelict Albatross and spent several years restoring and upgrading it. Plans changed and, in 1997, Reid helped to re-create Amelia Earhart’s around-the-world flight with the Albatross as the chase plane—carrying cameras, reporters, and educational materials. Unexpectedly, this resulted in a world record! His Albatross was the first amphibious plane to circumnavigate the globe—with Reid piloting it most of the way. Recently, Reid donated the Albatross to the Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos, Calif. MIKE MARTIN recently came in second in both singles and doubles in the 85-89-year-old category in the National Masters Racquetball tournament in Tucson, Ariz. Mike’s youngest daughter, 27-year-old Megan, was married in Laguna Beach in September 2011, and now lives in Denver, Colo., very close to her parents.

NICK CUNNINGHAM writes, “Looking forward to our 70th reunion in three years. Meanwhile: tennis, string quartets, writing, whittling canes, walking Oz (7-year-old wheaten), washing dishes after gourmet meals by my wife Cathryn (a practicing psychiatrist), worrying about our family-owned dairy farm, and assorted hobbies keep me going!”

BOB GARDNER shares, “Since leaving Thacher, I attended UC Berkeley; served four years as a naval aviator; married; went to medical school at McGill University; did my psychiatry residency at the University of Iowa; and spent almost 40 rewarding years in the practice of general and consulting psychiatry here in beautiful Eureka, Calif. Nancy and I have eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. For more than a decade, retirement has been fulfilling. My best to the class.”

BROOKS CRAWFORD announces, “After 45 years, I retired from my private practice in December 2012. However, I still work at the University of California San Francisco Medical School as a clinical professor and co-director of the eye pathology laboratory—doing the pathology reports, teaching, and research—and have been asked to start an eye clinic at the St. Anthony’s free medical clinic in San Francisco. This is an exciting and challenging project and will not require any ‘night calls,’ a big relief for me.”

1944

1946

1950

1951


MILESTONES

Reid Dennis’s ’44 record-holding Grumman Albatross.

Read and submit class notes online at blogs.thacher.org/classnotes

MARRIAGES

KIM P. E. TURNER ’98 married Michael Winn in the Santa Cruz Mountains among the redwoods, late in the fall of 2012. Fellow Toads included Kim’s brother, JAMES ’94, officiant KATE KOCHENDORFER SMITH ’97, LOUISA FOOTMAN, and BRONWEN HALSEY MURCH. (photo 1)

BESSE B. GARDNER ’00 married her long-time love, Michael Gross, on September 29, 2012, in Sonoma, Calif. (photo 2)

H. CLAIBORNE PELL ’00 married Michelle Kwan on January 19, 2013, in Providence, R.I. Clay and Michelle cut their cake with Clay’s Coast Guard sword! (photo 3)

MATTHEW W. STENOVEC ’04 married Molly Margaret Ellen Smith in August on Bainbridge Island, Wash. In attendance from Thacher were MICHAEL STENOVEC

’10, TIM STENOVEC ’02, ALISSA RUSSELL, EVAN WERLIN, GRACE MALLOY, JIM SLIGH, JULIA ROBINSON, NED LINCOLN, and STEPHEN ROOKE. Photo: (L-R back) Jim Sligh, Evan Werlin, Michael Stenovec, Tim Stenovec, Matt Stenovec, Molly Stenovec, Laura Stenovec, Tori Amorello, Laura Fletcher, Jessica Marks, Harmony Paulson; (L-R front) Nate Cade, Dan Shaw, Isla Watson, Stephen Snyder, Noah Koerper. (photo 4)

BIRTHS

CLINTON C. LOWE ’99 announces the birth of his son, Clinton Lowe V. “We like to call him Cal. Fatherhood’s been great.”

LAUREN FRAIM ENGLISH ’00 and ALFRED S. ENGLISH ’00 welcomed their precious baby boy, Jack Henry English, into the world on September 10, 2012. “He has a wonderful disposition, is growing well, and makes us laugh every day.” (photo 5)

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CLASS NOTES…CLASS NOTES…

1952

*1953 1954

1955

FARM TO TABLE

EMILY THACHER AYALA CdeP 1990

EMILY THACHER AYALA CdeP 1990 is Sherman Day Thacher’s great-granddaughter. She and her brother, George, are the fifth generation of the Friend-Thacher family to farm in Ojai. Upon hearing about this special food-related issue, she answered some questions about work and life on a citrus farm.

Emily, tell us about your life at Friend’s Ranches. Our farm is truly family owned and operated, by two parents (my mom Anne and dad TONY THACHER CdeP 1958) and their two kids (my brother George and me). We have several pieces of property with different micro-climates. Tangerines are sweetest on our Matilija Canyon property; navels do well in the Ojai Valley’s East End. Our houses are located within the orchards and we constantly walk through the groves looking at how the trees are doing. In addition to the Tahoe Gold tangerines, avocados, W. Murcott tangerines, Dancy tangerines, navel oranges, lemons, and blood oranges that we routinely harvest and sell, we are also some of the main sales force behind the Ojai Pixie tangerine. Pixies are amazingly sweet and always seedless!

What are the most pressing challenges facing you today in your work? One challenge is exotic pests that are disease carriers. One such pest is the Asian citrus psyllid that is rapidly spreading around the globe carrying a deadly bacterial disease called huanglongbing, or citrus greening. Another challenge is the global market as Ojai land, water, and labor costs make it the most expensive citrus-growing land in the world.

How are you addressing that challenge? First, it’s important to educate people about why it’s important not to transport food and plants when traveling. This means don’t bring citrus to Ojai, even from LA! And, second, we are growing specialty, great-tasting, accessible, local fruits.

Do you feel that your Thacher experience influenced the work you do today? Ojai has shaped my whole being and Thacher was a big part of it as I grew up running amok on campus. I often wonder what percentage of our mail-order business is alumni and parents needing a taste of Ojai’s spring. They can take a peek at us and our farm online at friendsranches.com. Thanks!

CLARENCE KENT writes, “I have shared this report with some classmates but I want to give a bit more coverage, even though it’s a bit dated. Last year, on the very day of the reunion dinner, I was in Oxford. I found out that a small troupe was presenting Henry IV, Part I—the very same play we produced in 1952. While sitting in the front row, I was remembering my fellow thespians—some gone, some at the reunion, and some in other classes. In all, it was an eerie experience of connecting past and present, particularly as I knew that several of you were gathered that very day in Ojai.”

PETER VOEVODSKY^ shares, “We still live in Tucson. Son, MIKE ’82, is also here. His oldest daughter, PAULE ’12, is at George Washington University. We visited his youngest, MIA ’14, on Grandparents Days at Thacher in April. Mike has obtained the patent on a cure for wet macular degeneration—remember, you saw it here first! It could be ‘the next big thing.’ A homemade sports car I built and raced in the ’60s is back on the track. It disappeared 35 years ago and was discovered by a collector in a barn in Wyoming. It has been fully restored and we enjoy seeing him drive it in races for historic cars. I was interviewed by the Speed Channel at Laguna Seca on the car’s history. I don’t ride or rope or practice law anymore, which gives us more time for fishing at our place in Mexico. If you ever come this way we would love to see you.”

RIC LAURENCE says, “Looking forward to the opening of boating season on the San Francisco Bay and delta. I have several trips planned with other Marin Yacht Club members. The Sacramento Music Festival is almost in sight and then a 14-day trip to Alaska and Denali is in the works. Do not leave moss under your feet!”

MITCHELL LATHROP was re-elected president of the Metropolitan Opera National Council at the Council’s meeting in New York on March 8. Each year the Council auditions 1,200 to 1,500 young singers from the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, with between eight and 11 eventually being selected to sing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. The movie, The Audition, gives a close-up view of this work. Among the greats who have been discovered by the Council are Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Stephanie Blythe, and Sondra Radvanovsky. DAVID LAYLIN^

reports, “Busy with scientific exchange activities between the U.S. and Iran. I visit once or twice a year and spend much time in the wildlife parks and other protected areas. I encourage all to take negative Iran media coverage with a big grain of salt! There will be a mini reunion of the class of ’55 at the French Quarter Festival of New Orleans.”

34 SPRING 2013

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LEE MOTHERSHEAD is working with another past district governor to put on the District 5300 Rotary District Conference—an annual affair involving 62 Rotary Clubs from Southern California and Southern Nevada. It is a four-day affair and celebrates the good works of Rotary done in the district.

RUSSELL CALLANDER writes, “In May, I retire after 35 years on the district court bench. I have been blessed with good health, a loving wife, and great family, friends, and colleagues. I recognize my AFS year at Thacher as a wonderfully formative event in my life. I have watched the development of the School over the last half-century and applaud the excellence shown by the dedicated administrators and teachers. I greatly enjoyed our 50th class reunion and hope to return for the 55th! I delight in sharing the joys of our little New Zealand with alumni who make contact.” CHRIS HENZE^ reports, “The Kennedy Library has accepted my offer to donate the originals of my letters home as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Ivory Coast during 1964-66. I may have to redact certain passages! The edited

Photos (L to R): “Townsend Typhoon” sports car that Peter Voevodsky ’53 built with friends; David Laylin ’55 in Iran; Chris Henze ’59 in the Ivory Coast during the mid-1960’s

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collection is available in the Thacher library.” Chris also went on a family-history pilgrimage to Germany—read about it at blogs.thacher.org/classnotes. LYNN WHITE recently retired from Princeton with fancy titles (e.g., professor emeritus, senior research scholar) which just means that pay ended (though he is still doing research on Chinese politics and development, publishing four articles this year, and planning a book about the Philippines)! He and Barbara-Sue now return for winters to their native California, in Berkeley, although they are usually in Princeton, N.J., for spring flowers and autumn leaves. Thacher friends are always welcome to contact him.

BOB GARDNER shares, “Gretchen and I married off our two Thacher-grad daughters last summer at our place in Sonoma. MOLLIE ’99 married Bill Hector in July with warm and witty officiating by Michael Mulligan. They live in New York. In September, BESSE ’00 married Michael Gross. They live in Los Angeles but are about to be transferred to London for a year or so. Gretchen and I are delighted about the weddings... but also destitute.” JOHN JORDAN reports,

FARM TO TABLE

PHOEBE M. HALSEY CdeP 2003

I HAVE BEEN COOKING AT the Chez Panisse Café in Berkeley, Calif., for the past two-and-a-half years. What started as an intensive internship turned into a full-time position in the spring of 2011. Though I had not really considered pursuing a career in the restaurant industry prior to my internship, I was looking for a way to insert myself into the sustainable food movement and eager to learn how to cook; what better teachers than the chefs at Chez Panisse?

Since then I have worked my way up the first few positions of the kitchen ladder. I have, along the way, been responsible for all of the restaurant’s inventory, made lunch every day for the kitchen and office staff, worked in the prep kitchen cooking various dishes and preparing sauces for the evening service, and now I am a line cook working on the salad station.

I love working with my hands. Doing a tactile job that requires me to remain keenly engaged with my physical surroundings at all times is truly satisfying. The ingredients I work with and the menus the chefs write change daily according to the season, the farmer, the weather, and any number of other variables. Whether I am braising meat or dressing a salad, being attentive

to these particularities keeps me sharp. I continuously taste everything and this makes for dynamic workdays that never evolve in quite the same way.

I feel extremely fortunate to have been adopted by la famille Panisse. It’s a blessing to work with people who put an emphasis on quality of life, freshness, simplicity, deliciousness, sustainability, and community.

Above right: Phoebe making an eggplant and tomato tian in the summer of 2012; Left: Dana Berge, Alice Waters (founder of Chez Panisse and the Edible Schoolyard Project) and Phoebe on Bastille Day, July 14, 2012.


CLASS NOTES…

for four-and-a-half years, then Solar for eight years, and on to Commodore, Lucent/Agere, and now SRI. Could you have predicted this? Much of my wife’s family is nearby, which is a blessing. We have one daughter, one granddaughter, and love being grandparents.”

HAL LEWIS^ notes, “It was wonderful to see CHIP ANDERSON when he passed through Boulder this year.”

RON GEE and his wife and collaborator, Gar Wang, had a busy year in the arts. Besides showing together in a joint exhibition, they received the Individual Artists Award from a regional arts council and were featured on the cover of Orange Magazine. Check out Ron’s work at rongeeart.com. He and SCOTT REAM, who practically lives next door in northern New Jersey, are planning their own mini-reunion after four decades. MARK MASTHOFF writes, “After my freshman year at Thacher, I went to Laguna Blanca H.S., Santa Barbara City College, and graduated from UCSB. I spent 17 years

1969

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1966

“Finishing up what will probably be my last business consulting assignment. Looking forward to indolence and to a very late English spring. Still living in Twickenham and enjoying the rugby. Don’t see many Toads here, so visitors are welcome. I’m in London, not far from Heathrow.”

BRUCE DONNELL will be directing a revival of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro for the Santa Fe Opera this summer. Bruce has directed many productions over the years for the Santa Fe Opera and first worked there on the stage crew during the summer of 1967. That was a memorable summer in that the theater burned to the ground one night but the company moved into a high school gymnasium and did not miss a single performance. “The show must go on.”

SAMUEL FRENCH^ writes, “My wife, Gail, and I are living near Newtown, Pa., (north of Philly). I’m working at SRI making replacement ICs for the Department of Defense. Spent all of my working life in electronics, including Heathkit

FARM TO TABLE

GRACE BUETI MALLOY CdeP 2004

I’VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH to enjoy exploring small-scale agriculture and farming communities since graduating from Thacher. As a girl, the games I forced my sister, Belle ’06, to play with me and the dream house plans that I submitted to my parents always included a Laura Ingalls Wilder-inspired cast of farm animals. These days I am very lucky to live on a farm with many creatures, lately including a small herd of dairy goats, laying hens, a goat guard dog, a rotating cast of poultry, pigs, and cattle for butchering, and my husband, Dan. These beasts provide me with enough milk for a small raw dairy CSA, meat and eggs for our family and trade, protection from coyotes and mountain lions, and lots of love. A large garden and orchard give my sister-in-law and me enough produce to run a small farm stand and canning business.

This farming lifestyle accommodates my other job as a birth doula. As my inexperienced eyes see it, the more intimate we are with our food, the more interdependent our community becomes. Our haying, branding, and butchering days depend on the help of our neighbors. I see this in birth as well: The more we learn about ourselves as holistic systems, the more I see families turning to midwives and doulas for deeply supported, whole-person care in birthing. I now see that the core of traditional community structures is my favorite Thacher trait: kindness. Much-needed changes in our communities start with this one small quality.

On that note of change, we’ll be moving to a small homestead in the Ojai Valley next year. We’re hoping that we will have many Thacher students come out to this new land (perhaps through CAM SPAULDING’S ’92 amazing Life Skills class) to learn about farming, canning, and butchering, as well as to teach us a thing or two. See more at: jalamaroadfamilyfarmstand.com.


Turtle Conservancy. While our main offices are located in New York, we also operate a captive breeding facility and office located right down the road from Thacher. It’s apparently true—all roads do lead to Thacher. Since I spend much of my time within walking distance of the campus, I’ll have no excuse for missing our 35th reunion this June. See you there.”

MICHAEL CAHILL reports, “My family and I are living in London this year. The kids are wearing uniforms to school. Blair is completing her master’s in art, and I’m preparing another feature film—this one is to be shot in Mexico. London’s weather is a lot like San Francisco’s.”

PETER COLE writes, “As the head of creative construction, I am about to finish a two-plus year build-out of a sculptural restaurant in the lower east-side of New York City. Part of the job involves sourcing all the reclaimed wood, objects, and lighting used in the project—a natural evolution of my wife Jarka’s and my booth at the Brooklyn Flea. Our daughter is 11 and, besides selling her own wares at the Flea, enjoys karate, trapeze, and singing at high volume. Check out thestreetofgold.com.” THEODORE HEARD shares, “I have been living in Albuquerque, N.M., for almost 20 years and I have been an artist/painter for 17 years now. It is my joy and purpose—and a compassionate gift from God and Jesus. I am a recovering alcoholic with 24 years of sobriety—a daily gift. Two of my favorite authors are Fyodor Dostoyevski and St. John of the Cross. I give thanks to Thacher for all the great teachers and my fellow brothers and sisters, the students. I am grateful for all the teachers I have had in life, and I am grateful to be alive.” JAKE CUNNINGHAM shares, “Chatham Brewing has been making plans since winning the 2012 Matthew Vassar Cup for best craft beer brewery in the Hudson Valley. We are going to try to win again this year though it’s never been done before. Regardless of the competition outcome, we will be expanding capacity and moving to a larger space. We’ll have two functioning breweries under one roof as well as a nicely equipped tasting room. Plans call for expanding capacity by nearly 10 times and integrating a bottling or canning line. So you may see the Chatham Brewing brand in California sooner rather than later. Cheers!”

ERIC GROSS announces, “I made it to the big time: I am now, officially, one of three assistant coaches for my son’s U9 lacrosse team. Luckily, he is more talented than his father ever was. We’re 6 and 0 so far!” HARRY F. PALLENBERG reports, “Lots of changes in the past two years. Job of 15-plus years ended. Cashed a lot of unemployment checks and finally started getting my labor-of-love documentary series out there for all to see. See it at wheretheyraced.com. My daughter starts high school next year—makes me feel old.”

Photos (L to R): The family of Samuel French ’66; (L to R) CdeP 1969 Chip Anderson and Hal Lewis in Boulder; Bryan Beckham ’74 and his daughter Annie ’14 with Richard Winters at Road to the Horse competition

in the airline industry, traveling the U.S. and several countries, and then passed the Oregon and California state bars. After a year of volunteer service, I worked as a staff writer for Veterans Affairs and then served as a circuit court mediation coordinator/mediator. I’m currently employed as the dispute resolution coordinator for the Oregon Department of Human Services. I live in the West Salem Hills and spend my time off staying fit, pursuing my love of music, and plotting my retirement.” (See Mark’s full note in the online class notes.)

BYRON BROWN reports, “After 30 years in law enforcement, I became a parole/probation officer last year, with the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice in Portland, Ore.”

BRYAN BECKHAM ,^ his daughter, ANNIE ’14, and Richard Winters were at the 2013 Road to the Horse colt-starting competition in Lexington, Ky. Richard Winters is Thacher’s own

“artist in residence” and professional equine clinician who supplied the commentary for the event. His daughter, Sarah, was one of four contestants this year. What an honor! Annie was fortunate enough to train a colt with Mr. Winters last year at Thacher. JACK RODIE shares, “I just wrapped up a four-month tour of New York, Long Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut, acting as an investigator for a forensic structural engineering firm. I have been building structures for over 35 years and it is fascinating to study how and why buildings fail. It is also heartbreaking to see the extent of the damage and how deeply it has affected people’s lives and their communities. I am in absolute awe of nature’s power and the randomness of these natural disasters. When evaluating your charitable donations, don’t forget the victims of Hurricane Sandy—it is far from over and there is still a very real and desperate need. I hope to see many of you in June of 2014.”

DON OSBORNE reports, “Gearing up for med school application season—supporting premeds and allied health applicants to realize their dreams! I’m so lucky to get to work with ambitious students on a mission to serve.”

KENDRIC FOULTZ notes, “I was a pretty good basketball player at Thacher back in the day but my daughter, Kate, just finished a 14 and 0 varsity season as a freshman at Newbury Park. Title IX is looking good at this point.”

ROSS POPENOE shares, “After a somewhat unfocused career—that meandered through law, working in the large corporate world (Microsoft, Amazon, and others), and the not-for-profit world (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)—I’ve finally managed to combine my career with my passion for conservation and tortoises as the executive director of the

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38 SPRING 2013

CLASS NOTES…Photos (L to R): Justin Stephens ’94

with his family; Jason Hui ’95 in his shop; Daniel Villiers ’96 at his Mountain Valley center;

Cameron Boswell ’99 in India; Andrew Barkan ’98 and his wife, Polly Hall, singing a children’s song;

One of Clinton Lowe’s ’99 headshots; Lauren McCloskey Elston ’99 with her family in Aspen

J.P. MANOUX is working on a Canadian comedy show called Spun Out, a sitcom about a public relations firm filled with people who can spin everyone else’s problems but not their own. ANDREW TIDRICK shares, “I’m getting ready to start

‘Phase III’ of life: work, work, work to pay for some college! I’ve got a son at CSU in Fort Collins and my twin daughters are starting at UT Austin this fall. Feeling pretty darn proud. I’ll be closing my practice in Austin and returning to Colorado—Fort Collins too, where I grew up—to be near my father, siblings, and friends from years ago.”

BRIAN EMME writes, “We are happy to announce that I was selected for command of a U.S. Navy strike/fighter squadron. This is a pinnacle career achievement and I am both humbled and honored at the selection. In the coming month, I will learn the specific squadron and timeline for the tour. In the meantime, we are enjoying our time in Hawaii, and our 2-year-old and 5-month-old children are growing up fast!

TANJI DEWBERRY announces, “In November 2012, I launched my first children’s book, Oh Fiddlesticks! (See page 10.) Creating a children’s book has always been a dream of mine and the experience has been amazing. I have received a tremendous amount of support from my Thacher friends. Since the launch, I have been featured on local television stations in New York and served as a guest blogger for Lifetime Moms, the mommy blog for the Lifetime Channel.” JUSTIN HUNNICUTT STEPHENS^ sends his greetings to his classmates. He hosted a fantastic wine-tasting event in April at Hunnicutt Winery with 13 other alumni and parents who are involved in the wine industry. (See page 30.)

JASON HUI^ is using Kickstarter to expand the scope of his high-end flashlight business to include premium pens based around Montblanc cartridges. “For me, the writing experience is about feel. The feel of the pen in hand and the stroke on paper,” he says.

DANIEL VILLIERS^ is currently living in Weston, Mass., and is the founder and director of the first residential treatment center exclusively for the treatment of adolescent anxiety disorders in the United States. Located on 1,800 acres of property in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the program combines traditional psychotherapy with a range of recreational activities. Dan described that his experience at Thacher influenced the creation of Mountain Valley’s horse program, which offers equine therapy, trail riding, jumping, and gymkhana as one component of a holistic approach to mental health treatment, health, and well being.

CAMERON BOSWELL^ writes, “Along with fellow alumnus ROBERT GRETHER ’99, I recently traveled through northern India and Nepal for 15 days. The international experience was part of the two-year California Agricultural Leadership Program we started in the fall of 2011. After I graduate in June, I will be moving to Sydney, Australia, to work as marketing services manager for my family’s company’s operations in New South Wales. My wife, Cherilyn, and I are very excited about this move and the opportunities our two boys will have living in Sydney.”

ANDREW BARKAN^ and his wife, Polly Hall, shared the honor of receiving the 2012 ASCAP Foundation Joe Raposo Children’s Music Award. Andrew and Polly write and perform imaginative and playful children’s songs and have regular interactive shows around their home area of Santa Monica. To hear them sing, go to the online class notes at blogs.thacher.org/classnotes. To celebrate 10 years together, KIM TURNER married Michael Winn in the Santa Cruz Mountains, among the redwoods, late in the fall of 2012. Fellow Toads celebrating wtih Kim and Michael included Kim’s brother, JAMES ‘94, officiant KATE KOCHENDORFER SMITH ‘97, LOUISA FOOTMAN, and BRONWEN HALSEY MURCH. Mike and Kim are thrilled to now be living in gorgeous San Francisco after five frigid but exciting years in New York. Kim is loving her current work with the Fair Play for Girls in Sports project, litigating Title IX cases for low-income girls throughout California.

ERIN CAMPBELL notes, “I am graduating from law school this May at California Western in San Diego. After taking the bar this July, I plan to practice in either San Diego or Los Angeles.” CLINTON LOWE^ broadcasts,

“Hello Thacher community! I’m excited to announce the birth of my son, Clinton Lowe V, or Cal, as we like to call him. Fatherhood’s been great and I’m still acting as well; so those two things take up the majority of my time. Some of you may have heard that I worked on the NBC show Prime Suspect, which has since been canceled, but my career has marched forward with numerous television appearances and theater work, too. I’m excited to announce that I booked a series lead on a new show called The Hustle and we’ve already finished shooting the first full season. It’s about four friends from Brooklyn on the come-up in the music industry. I’m also very proud of my sister, VICTORIA LOWE ’08, who graduated last year from Bates College with a dual degree in American studies and dance—Go Vikky! LAUREN MCCLOSKEY ELSTON,^ her husband Ryan, 3-year-old Palmer, and 1-year-old London send their love from Aspen.

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BESSE GARDNER announces, “I (finally) married my long-time love, Michael Gross, at my parents’ house in Sonoma on September 29, 2012! Mike and I met as freshmen at UC Berkeley and have been living in Venice, Calif., for over seven years. In May, we’re leaving Los Angeles and moving to London for my job with Apple’s ad agency, TBWA\Media Arts Lab, where I’ll help run our UK office as strategic planning director for the EU.”

CYRUS BADER has been the general manager for Tiësto’s Musical Freedom label for a few years and has garnered one Grammy nomination, two gold records, and one platinum. In December, Cy was in Melbourne, Australia, to help produce a large music festival with Tiësto and other major artists, in collaboration with (RED)—aimed at stamping out AIDS. Cy says,

“Everyone here is really juiced and excited about the project.”

ALISON FLYNN is currently pursuing a life of mischief and mayhem as the evil overlord of Villainous Lair Comics and Gaming in San Diego, Calif. In her copious spare time as an entrepreneur, she is also seeking a master’s in computer science from SDSU.

EVAN WERLIN notes, “This June, I will be moving to San Francisco to begin general surgery residency at UCSF. I am excited to finally be returning to the best coast.”

MARGUERITE KISSEL shares, “I will officially begin fulfilling my dream of becoming a veterinarian this fall as a member of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, class of 2017!” CINDY SORRICK writes, “I am finishing up my second, wonderful yet challenging year as a veterinary student at Iowa State University (class of 2015) in Ames, Iowa. I love the profession I have chosen! P.S. I hope all of our March Madness fans enjoyed the Iowa State University win, as my school progressed to round two. Proud to be a Cyclone!”

KAGGIE ORRICK is living in South Africa and enjoying her work on a research base near Kruger, where she gets to track lions, cheetahs, and other animals on the preserve. One such animal—a hyena—she named Nautilus for its spot pattern that reminds her of our School’s beloved chambered nautilus. Recently, Kaggie was promoted to base manager and shares, “It’s ridiculously busy but I am still loving it.”

EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER, I have been fascinated with the creative process of cooking. I vividly recall my parents preparing meals that we enjoyed as a family when I was a child. I loved watching the raw ingredients transform into something delicious. As soon as I was granted access to the kitchen appliances, I hit the ground running. I never considered myself a particularly inventive person, but it was inspiring and fun to work with and explore the various dimensions of food.

After college graduation, I moved to San Francisco and discovered a city where food was not only an entity people took pride in, but was cherished and enjoyed to a degree that reawakened my childhood passion. I immediately knew I wanted to have a hands-on experience with this “foodie” atmosphere. I obtained a job as a garde manger cook at Firefly Restaurant in San Francisco and found myself immersed in a world of creativity and enthusiasm. I learned an incredible amount about the extensive

range of food preparation, and my love for cooking grew exponentially.

After a year and a half of working and learning from my head chef and other cooks, I decided to venture off on my own to explore the world of private catering. I began advertising my catering service, Dellacacies, through social media pages, family, and friends and within a matter of weeks I began working weekly with a few families. My appointments involve preparing several meals for a family that they can enjoy throughout the week. My goal is to approach food on a personal, small-scale level while relying on my own culinary instincts, experience, and the desires of my clients. My focus is having a collaborative relationship with clients while exploring new types of food preparation and genres. I have learned to respect and admire a variety of culinary backgrounds, listen to the interests of my clients, and share my admiration for food, which reminds me of its power to connect people from all walks of life.

FARM TO TABLE DELLA C. TAYLOR CdeP 2007


DAVID KEPNER says, “I’m working as a photographer in Los Angeles and New York City, where I’ve had the chance to keep in touch with many of my Thacher classmates. This past fall, I got the chance to shoot my first two fashion weeks, in New York and Paris, for Conde Nast and Paris Collective. This coming summer, I’ll be living in San Francisco so I’m sure I’ll be seeing many familiar CdeP faces.” BRIGID MCCARTHY and her very proud mother traveled to Seattle late in April, where they attended the Society of Research on Child Development conference. On Friday morning Brigid presented her findings on early markers for autism found in children who are twice as likely at risk for being on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) scale since they have an older sibling who is affected. She shared the stage with three others, all of whom are principle researchers with doctoral degrees working in various university settings; Brigid has conducted her research at UCLA. VIRGINIA SHANNON shares, “After graduating Middlebury, I launched right into a year-long training program for environmental campaigns called Green Corps. First, I was in Michigan City, Ind., working on the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign; then in Denver for a clean water campaign with Environment Colorado; and I finished up by running a ballot campaign to prepare for the election. Now, I am the state associate at Environment Michigan in Ann Arbor, running a campaign to increase local solar as well as a campaign against fracking. I have really fallen in love with organizing, being effective with strong leadership skills, and having a passion for the environment.”

KATHRYN TURNER graduated from UC San Diego in May 2012 with a degree in urban planning and is currently working for a nonprofit in Los Angeles dedicated to landscape design. It’s been a busy year for ALESSANDRA WASTE!^ Her short animated film, Ink, premiered in Los Angeles and was awarded the USC Discovery Scholar Medal. WILL STURGEON was the composer, writing and recording the entire fantastic score! After graduating from USC School of Cinematic Arts, Alessandra packed up and moved to Glasgow, Scotland. Talk about a complete change of scenery, though she did run into RITA WALTON, who was at St. Andrews for a semester, and they visited the Curwens on a trip down to London. Alessandra is now studying toward a master’s of design in animation at the Glasgow School of Art.

ANNE TURNER graduated from USC in May with a degree in mechanical engineering and is joining Boeing—following graduation—as a flight test engineer.

GEORGI DE RHAM^ had another Thacher class of 2010 gathering during Thanksgiving 2012 at the de Rhams in Bristol, R.I.! GEORGI, EMILY COMBS, LAUREN BOSCHE,

and SAM MEYER were joined by a Cornell friend. Though Sam was there for the weekend, unfortunately he had to leave early to catch a train. “We will get Sam in the photo next time!” LAUREL POOLMAN reports, “I am now a junior at George Washington University majoring in archaeology with a minor in biological anthropology. After my freshman year, I won the Biblical Archaeology Scholarship, which enabled me to spend six weeks working on a 3,500 year-old Canaanite palace in Northern Israel (Tel Kabri). I then decided to bum my way around a bit of the Middle East, traveling with a friend of mine through Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey. The next summer I received a National Science Foundation fellowship to work on a human skeletal collection at the University of Notre Dame. For this coming summer, I’ve been hired by some folks at the University of Chicago to return to Turkey and help with the zooarchaeology on the Bronze Age site of Zincirli Hoyuk.”

RAE MURPHY,^ SARAH BONEYSTEELE ’10, BRYANNA LLOYD, and EUNICE RUIZ ’10 enjoyed an afternoon of food and friendship in London’s Borough Market. Sarah and Eunice are studying abroad for a semester in London, Rae is studying for the year in Florence and Bryanna attends King’s College London. In Florence, Rae and her friends from Pepperdine visited ERIN ARCHER ’96 and experienced her wonderful hospitality.

• Shoot using your camera’s best photo setting.• Files should be 200k or larger.• Save photos as JPEG files.• Identify every person in the photo, state time and place, and suggest a caption.

We can accept good, old-fashioned prints as well. Unfortunately, we cannot accept photocopiesor images from magazines or newspapers.

TWO WAYS TO SUBMIT PHOTOS:

1. E-mail digital files as attachments to [email protected].

2. Mail prints or digital discs to: The Thacher School Alumni Office 5025 Thacher Road. Ojai, CA 93023

HOW TO SUBMIT DIGITAL PHOTOS:

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CLASS NOTES…Photos (L to R): CdeP 2008 Alessandra

Waste and Will Sturgeon at the screening of their film, Ink; Georgi de Rham ’10, Emily

Combs ’10, Lauren Bosche ’10, and a Cornell friend at the de Rham’s in Rhode Island; Rae Murphy ’11, Sarah Boneysteele ’10, Bryanna

Lloyd ’11, and Eunice Ruiz ’10 in London

40 SPRING 2013

MARVIN SHAGAM EXPRESSES GRATITUDE

When Mr. Shagam fell ill following surgery late in March, the constituency responded with missives, poems, cards, letters, e-mails, and tales of time spent with Marvin and the impact he’s had on our lives. Literally hundreds of folks—including students, alumni, faculty, and fac brats—sent love and good wishes for a speedy recovery. It worked! He’s getting stronger, moving around his cottage and campus more, and has been very touched with the compassion and sentiments you’ve shared. In that there is no way he can respond to all of the correspondence, Marvin asked that we include in this magazine his thanks and appreciation for all of you who have been in touch.


FACULTY, STAFF & FRIENDS…

HISTORY AND LATIN TEACHER AARON SNYDER and his wife, mathematics teacher THEANA HANCOCK SNYDER, along with big brother Gavin, welcomed twins to their family on March 27: Zoey Mikela (7 lb. 3 oz. and 19 inches long) and Luke Michael (6 lb. 10 oz. and 20 inches long). Gavin was very excited about the twins’ arrival because they brought him stuffed animals named Beato and Hank, the names he’d chosen for the twins.

Retired Spanish teacher ROGER KLAUSLER and girlfriend Linda Michaelis tied the knot at their families’ Thanksgiving feast last November.

Associate Director of Admission Rich Harris and his wife Ebele Okobi- Harris welcomed Nnamdi Onuora Afamefunna and his sister Udoamaka Amarachi Chenelo Ezinma to their family in November 2012.

Last summer, music teacher GREG HAGGARD composed the music for a new documentary, Ground Operations, about veterans returning and finding a new life in farming. The film was screened at the Museum of Ventura County in February, when Greg and guitar teacher Alan Thornhill per-formed some of the film’s music.

CHERYL AND RICHARD WINTERS cheered on daughter Sarah at the Road to the Horse competi-tion in Lexington, Ky., in mid-March. For the first time, two women competed against two men for the top prize of $10,000 for leading a green colt through an obstacle course.

CAM SPAULDING CdeP 1992 returned for his 12th year as varsity lacrosse coach and to teach two courses: “Perspectives on Nature” and “Life Skills,” which focuses on practical knowledge that everyone should know, ranging from bicycle and car repair to bread baking and primitive cooking skills. He just finished a wilderness first responder course in Portland, Ore., and will continue to manage Golden Trout Encampment this summer.

Other interesting classes offered this spring included Number Theory and Cryptography (KURT MEYER), Telling the Story: Narrative Variability in Selected 20th and 21st Century Fiction (JOY SAWYER MULLIGAN), Evolution (PETER SAWYER), Marine Studies (HEATHER GRANT), Veterinary Medicine (KRISTEN FINCH), Decisive Moments in History (HISTORY DEPARTMENT AND FRED COLEMAN), Pacific Rim History (SARAH DELVECCHIO), African Ameri-can Literature (DERICK PERRY), Jazz and American Culture (JOEL SOHN), Shakespeare (PETER ROBINSON), and Digital Painting (STEPHEN CARTER).

TRANSITIONSSince 2000, SANDY JENSEN has taught drama and directed the Thacher Masquers through countless plays and musicals that have made us laugh, cry, and cheer. He steps away from our stage to resume his

own professional acting career. After five years at Thacher, Senior Associate Director of Admission and Multicultural Outreach Coordinator AARON MIESZCZANSKI has accepted the position of director of admission at University School in San Francisco. After three years as theater technical director and English teacher, LIZ WITMER heads up to the Bay Area to teach at the Contra Costa Jewish Day School. After two years at Thacher, Associate Director of Admission RICH HARRIS and his family will return to the Bay Area this fall, where he assumes the director of communications role at Woodland School in Portola Valley. NICK VAN SANT, who stepped in to teach Spanish and English for two sabbaticals, moves on to the Pacific Ridge School (an independent day school of 500 students, grades 7-12) in Carlsbad, Calif.

Theana Hancock Snyder and Aaron Snyder with twins Zoey and Luke. Roger Klausler and Linda Michaelis celebrate their marriage. Below, L to R: Aaron Mieszczanski, Liz Witmer, Rich Harris, and Nick Van Sant.

IN MEMORIAM…

42 SPRING 2013

JOHN S. LIVERMORE CdeP 1935 ➤ Exploration geologist, mining executive, civic leader, philanthropist, conservationist, and devoted uncle and friend, John Sealy Livermore passed away on February 7, 2013.

Born in San Francisco in 1918 and educated at Stanford, John first became interested in geology on an oil exploration trip to Alaska. In 1952, he began his long career with Newmont Mining Corporation and, in 1961, he played a pivotal role in a gold discovery that changed mining history. John and Alan Coope found a major source of “microscopic gold” in Nevada. By 2008, this mining district was one of the richest in the world, having produced around $85 billion worth of gold.

Seldom acknowledging this historic achievement, John was a humble man who always lived modestly. Tall, lanky, and fit, he had no pretentions, dreaded giving speeches, deflected attention from himself, and avoided the public spotlight. He loved ideas, read books and articles voraciously, and was at home talking to “princes and paupers” alike. Despite his San Francisco roots, John was happiest roaming the high sagebrush deserts of Nevada, rock hammer in hand.

While at Thacher—as one of 12 Livermores over three generations to graduate from the School—John played soccer, baseball, tennis, and was on the track team. He was regarded for his “overpowering stature” and was an ardent

“Sierra style” rider and camper. He even shoed his own horse.Later in life, John managed Montesol, the Livermore family ranch and,

as a single man, he was especially close to his nieces and nephews. He loved going on long ranch expeditions, overseeing operations, and hosting large Thanksgiving and family gatherings. Always the optimist, John was quick to smile and tell a story. His energy and enthusiasm for life were contagious, he never complained, and all those whose lives he touched will sorely miss him.

DAVID E. BILLS CdeP 1940 David Edgar Bills passed away on January 31, 2011.

Born in Shanghai, China, Dave came to Thacher in his senior year and won considerable recognition within the year of his stay. During soccer season, he exhibited high spirit and drive and his classmates admired him for the effort he put into his activities. Though Dave was unassuming, he often announced his presence with a distinctively Americanized yodel, adding to the engaging and enthusiastic atmosphere of the Upper School. In addition to soccer, he was on the track team, in the Glee Club and Bit and Spur Club, and he earned a rating of B camper.

Dave was preceded in death by his first and second wives, his brother, and a son. He is survived by his two sisters, a son and daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. A memorial walk with the Omaha Walking Club was held in Dave’s honor soon after his passing.

ARTHUR B. DUNNE JR. CdeP 1942On October 7, 2012, Arthur Bergin Dunne Jr. passed away gently at his daughter’s home in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was 89.

A third-generation native San Franciscan, he was the eldest son of Arthur Bergin and Elizabeth MacArthur Dunne. At Thacher, “Bergie” was known for his continual jovialness, sincerity, sparkling sense of humor, and, especially, his versatility on the athletic field. He captained the basketball team, was one of the School’s best soccer and baseball players, and participated on the relay team. On the track team, Bergie once won 15½ points in one meet and his sportsmanship also won him many friends among Thacher’s opponents. He was an A camper, held several leadership positions, and was well-known for two hobbies: hoarding and eating food and collecting hats.

After Thacher, Arthur completed his college education at Stanford University, leaving midway to serve in the Navy during World War II as a Seabee. After graduation, he married Eve Rosamund Bordé of Santa Monica in 1953. Together they traveled the world as he pursued his engineering career, building many projects such as the tunnel housing NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain, Colo. Together, Arthur and Eve raised three children along with generations of Golden Retrievers, enjoyed golf, and remained devoted to their California roots and heritage.

Preceded in death by Eve, Arthur is survived by his daughters and son and their spouses, numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. He was laid to rest with Eve near the site of a Bordé pioneering family home. Arthur will be joyously remembered and dearly missed.

WILLIAM E. McCLATCHY CdeP 1943 William Ellery McClatchy, a world-class croquet player and the last member of his generation to oversee the family’s newspaper business, died September 20, 2011, at the age of 86.

When Ellery came to Thacher from Fresno, Calif., his chief interests were defending his hometown and advocating for the New Deal. He had success championing Fresno but, as an advocate for the New Deal, he found he constituted a minority of one. Ellery was also very interested in modern architecture and music as extracurricular activities. He contributed greatly to the musical life of the community by regularly offering piano recitals.

Ellery briefly attended Stanford University and served in the Army during World War II. As an architect, he spent many years in New York and Palm Beach, Fla., where he restored old barns as homes and specialized in developing passive-solar buildings. He was also active in the newspaper business that his great-grandfather founded in 1857, serving for 28 years as a board member and officer of The McClatchy Company and as co-trustee of family trusts.

As a nationally ranked croquet player, Ellery encouraged new players, supported development of croquet lawns, promoted the game at the international level, and hosted the prestigious Ink Grade Invitational tournament in Napa County. In 1995, Ellery was voted into the Croquet Hall of Fame and he received the Croquet Association’s President’s Award in 2005.

Later in life, Ellery returned to California and produced award-winning olive oil on a small orchard where he lived in Pope Valley. “He was a very warm person who threw very good parties,” said his nephew Will McClatchy.

“He was a very generous man.”


RICHARD D. LEUSCHNER JR. CdeP 1945 Richard Denicke Leuschner passed away on July 6, 2012.

Dick was born in Oakland and, after a year at Thacher, graduated from high school in Merced, Calif. He served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Korean War. His favorite activities were trail riding in the Sierras with his wife, Patt, packing with horses in the mountains, and serving as a member of the Merced Sheriff’s Posse. Dick was an avid hunter and spent time in Africa on safari. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, two nephews, and two nieces.

CHARLES F. GUNTHER CdeP 1946 Charles Frederick Gunther, born in San Francisco, son of Helen and Rear Admiral Ernest L. Gunther, passed away November 15, 2012, unexpectedly, while visiting with family.

As his father was a career naval officer, Chuck attended 12 schools before arriving at Thacher, where he backpacked, rode, won the Vaquero Cup, and truly relished the outdoor time. He was known for his ability to baffle others with his scholarly

vocabulary and his vast knowledge of horses. While Chuck was a leading intellect in his class, he was also very good-natured with a highly developed sense of humor.

He went to Williams College and, after his father died, graduated from Stanford in 1950 and then entered the Army. After an honorable discharge, Chuck traveled throughout Europe and met his wife of 59 years, Patricia Darrell. They lived in Germany for a few years where he worked as assistant political adviser on the Czechoslovakia desk at Radio Free Europe. They returned to the U.S. to start a family in 1957 and Chuck worked at IBM, GH Walker & Co., Shuman, Agnew & Co., and then Wells Fargo Securities until he retired in San Francisco at the age of 75.

After decades of waking at 4 a.m., Chuck cherished his retirement schedule by sleeping late, savoring a slow breakfast, devouring four newspapers a day, and taking rambling walks with his faithful dog, Holden. His deep love of fly-fishing took him out into the wild and he continued to ski every year. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; son, Harrison; and daughter, LLOYD GUNTHER DALLETT ’81.

ROBERT C. DEDEKAM CdeP 1947Robert Carsten Dedekam was born in San Francisco and passed away on March 16, 2011, surrounded by his loving wife and family.

Bob grew up in Ross, Calif., went to local schools, attended Thacher for a year, and graduated from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. He enrolled at Northwestern University, graduating with a degree in business administration, followed by two years of service in the U.S. Army. In 1952, he married his first wife, Mary, in San Francisco, while completing a degree at Stanford School of Law. In 1956, Bob and Mary moved to Humboldt County where he enjoyed practicing law until his retirement in the early 1990s.

With many passions and a strong sense of commitment to the community and civic duties, Bob was a member of the Eureka Rotary Club, the city planning commission, the Ingomar Club, the Eureka Inn board, and Vector Health. The organization held closest to his heart was the Humboldt Botanical Gardens. Bob was instrumental from the start of the gardens, served on the board, and was very proud of its Dedekam Family Ornamental Garden.

Bob was an avid reader, a passionate gardener, and world traveler. In 1965, Bob bought a ranch on Kneeland where he and his family enjoyed 25 years before moving to Redway, where they again enjoyed their homelife with a pool and many gatherings with family and friends. In 2000, Bob married his second wife, Nancy, and enjoyed over over 10 years of marital bliss.

Preceded in death by his first wife, Bob is survived by his second wife, his children and step-children, and numerous relatives. Those who knew Bob will remember him as a gentleman, humble and honest with true integrity.

RICHARD W. PIERCE CdeP 1949 ➤Dr. Richard Wilder Pierce, beloved father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on August 25, 2011, at the age of 79.

From an early age, Dick had a curious mind and an adventurous spirit. Growing up in Berkeley, he explored the tunnels beneath the Claremont Hotel and rode his Flexi Flyer down Telegraph Avenue. Dick continued to be venturesome at Thacher and was continually difficult to find because of his active nature. He enjoyed riding his horse, working on an old Chevolet, helping with the tennis tournament and theatre, driving the ambulance, and catching rattlesnakes in the Sespe.

Upon graduation from Thacher, he attended UC Berkeley and served in the Navy during the Korean War. A born sailor, Dick loved the sea, and would spend many years exploring its vastness. He was an avid reader, a lifelong student with a passion for education, and received many degrees. In 1970, Dick moved with his family to Santa Cruz to work at UC Santa Cruz while finishing his doctoral degree at Berkeley. In Santa Cruz, Dick was very proud of his involvement in the development of the Long Marine Lab.

During his retirement years, Dick loved to travel the world, spending three years in Russia with the Peace Corps. He enjoyed fine food, classical music, and laughter. He also took great joy in inspiring people to learn about the world around them, and he gave his children a deep appreciation for the richness and possibilities of life. His warmth, intelligence, and wry sense of humor will be greatly missed by his family and many friends. Dick is survived by his daughter, his son, and grandsons.

DAVID G. LAVENDER CdeP 1951 David Garrigues Lavender, fac brat, alumnus, and former director of development at Thacher, passed away February 16, 2013, at the age of 78.

David was born in Denver in 1934 and moved to Ojai in 1943 when his father, David S. Lavender, joined the faculty at Thacher as an English teacher, a position held for nearly three decades. David’s mother, Martha “Brookie”, worked as the School’s librarian.

As a student at Thacher, David was very active. From the 1950-51 Archivero: Although Dave was a day boy for three years, he spent a lot of his afternoons at school getting into a broad field of activities. He has played baseball and soccer throughout his four years here and is now a varsity letterman in both, being captain of the first baseball team. He has also obtained a goodly number of awards and prizes for his show of literary talent. He is now doing a fine job as Editor-in-Chief of the Notes. His horse interest seems to be more than his poor beast can take. “Texas” has been abandoned in preference to younger horses. After all, a top camper and gymkhana enthusiast should not be held back by his horse’s age. Dave has shown great ability in student government. Although his being a day boy prevented him from attaining a position in the past, he has certainly made up for the lost time this year.

David met his future wife, Valkyrie, during his junior year when her family

IN MEMORIAM…

moved to Ojai, and he subsequently invited her to dances on campus. Val says love blossomed the following summer in part because Jesse Kahle loaned her a horse so she and David could spend that summer in Ojai riding together.

David attended Bowdoin College, where he was an English major and Alpha Delta Phi fraternity member, and he married Val in 1957. He worked as an associate in the development office at Harvey Mudd College; as director of development at Carleton College in Northfield, Minne.; and as vice president of Colgate University.

In 1973, eager to return west, David began a seven-year stint directing The Alumni and Development Office at Thacher, and he lived in Ojai for the next two decades. While at the School in the 1970s, he advocated for Thacher’s transition to co-education, and was delighted that his two daughters, Martha ’80 and Sarah ’86, could attend Thacher along with their brother, David ’76.

David spent the later years of his career working as an independent consultant for schools and nonprofits. He also developed a second career in the late 1990s as an author. He wrote two books, a history of the Fountain Valley School and a profile of Carleton College’s coach Jack Thurnblad, and he breathed new life into two of his father’s books by writing additional chapters for new editions of One Man’s West and The Telluride Story.

But the book he probably had the most fun writing was his 2005 collection of essays called Fantasy Golf: A Search for Sanity. The book grew out of his longtime hobby as “the commissioner” of a fantasy golf league, which drew avid participants from around the country. In his characteristically irreverent style, he described himself and the book this way: “David G. Lavender has the second-highest handicap among members of the Northfield, Minn., Golf Club; this dismal circumstance reflects his lifelong lack of ability on the links. This book comments on his confusion and bewilderment over the illogical societal changes and many wacko events that have become an integral part of the American way of life.”

David was laid to rest in Telluride, Colo., where he and his wife built a second home. He is survived by his wife, five children, and numerous grandchildren.

ROWLAND “TOBY” RICHARDS JR. CdeP 1953Rowland Richards Jr., a civil engineering professor at SUNY Buffalo and a summer farmer in Waitsfield, Vt., died at his home in January 2013.

As a young man, Toby was a champion archer and won the 1950 World Junior Archery Championship held in Brussels. At Thacher, apart from frequenting the smoke shack, Toby was known for his love of literature, ranging from comic books to Don Quixote. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University, his master’s from the California Institute of Technology, and his doctorate from Princeton University. Toby’s wife, Martha (Patty) Marcy Richards, encouraged him to take professorship in her hometown of Buffalo in 1980, where Toby taught, wrote journal articles and book chapters, and conducted research on seismic soil mechanics. The highlight of his research career was his mathematical proof that soils behave like liquids under earthquake forces. Toby shared his brilliance in a book, Principles of Solid Mechanics. He was also intrigued by space colonization.

In 1960, Toby and his Princeton classmate, Peter Wallis, started to develop a ranch. However, Peter died soon after, before seeing their dreams come to fruition. Toby carried on and, with the help of many others, established the second-oldest registered Belted Galloway herd in North America.

Toby and Patty raised four children, instilling in them Toby’s romantic idealism and passion for actively conserving the early farmsteads of Vermont with soul-invigorating hard work. In his last years, Toby watched with great affection as his children assumed operation of the ranch and his grandchildren began to appreciate and enjoy the same landscape and ethos that drew him to Vermont over 50 years ago.

Toby is survived by his beloved wife, four loving children including JEAN R. DAMON CdeP 1993, 10 adored grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews including ANTHONY ROUSSELOT CdeP 1979.

FRIENDS

BARBARA “GINGER” Z. WILSONBarbara Z. Wilson passed away at home in Ojai on March 5, 2013.

Ginger was born and raised in Wisconsin and, after high school, attended Northwestern University where she met her future husband, John. They married in 1948 and lived in San Antonio, Texas, until a job with Standard

Oil brought them to Ojai where they raised five children, two of whom graduated from Thacher.

As a young child, Ginger dreamed of becoming a missionary. As a result, she lived a life of service in her local community, being active in several community organizations such as the Children’s Home Society, the Ventura County Symphony League, the Ojai Valley Garden Club, HELP of Ojai, the Ojai Valley Hospital Auxiliary, the Ojai Valley Museum, and the Board of Trustees at The Thacher School. She was also a longtime member of the Ojai Presbyterian Church, serving as elder, Chancel

Choir member, director of the Children’s Choir, docent for the Biblical Garden, and member of the Columbarium Task Force. In addition to cherishing family time, Ginger enjoyed bridge, golf, and all things musical. Her shining spirit and generous soul is dearly missed.

Ginger was preceded in death by John, her husband of 64 years, and is survived by her three sons, including SCOTT CdeP 1969 and CLINT CdeP 1983, two daughters, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

DAVID G. LAVENDER CdeP 1951

44 SPRING 2013

FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS, Bobby has catered large-scale Santa Maria–style barbecues as his gift to the Thacher Parents Auction. In a case of generosity begetting generosity, each year the parents who have won the bidding for these events have used them to welcome new parents and students into the Thacher community. It’s a fitting response, as Bobby is both an alumnus and a parent.

WHY DO YOU DONATE THESE BARBECUE EVENTS TO THACHER? I enjoy giving back to Thacher inreturn for all that was given to me,my daughter Christy CdeP 2001,and son Bobby CdeP 1996.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED DONATING THESE BARBECUES?Santa Maria–style barbecues go back to the turn of the 20th century. In Santa Maria, when we have a party it is usually a barbecue. In fact, it is as easy to put on a meal for five as it is for 50 as it is for 500. Really! So, we might as well invite the neighborhood. Santa Maria is a close-knit community—we enjoy getting together.

In the 1930s, my dad was elected Justice of thePeace in Guadulupe, ten miles west of SantaMaria. To celebrate, he put on a barbecue for theentire community—about 3,000 people. My mom couldn’t figure out how they afforded it! Also, as a member of the Elks Lodge, he was part of putting onbarbecues throughout the state for various functions, including Grand National Cattleman’s Dayat the Cow Palace in San Francisco and Veteran’sDay at the Veteran’s Hospital in Los Angeles. HOW MANY OF THESE EVENTS DO YOU RECKON YOU’VE PUT ON? I’ve been involved in putting on over 100 barbecues serving groups of 25 to over 200.

THE BEST WE CAN DO…BOBBY ACQUISTAPACE CdeP 1968

Bobby shares the legacy of his family and community by contributing

Santa Maria-style barbecues throughout the state of California. …

FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T BEEN TO ONE, WHAT’S IT LIKE?It’s quite simple. The night before, you washand soak your beans. (In Santa Maria, we likethe pinquito, a locally grown variety.) The beans are cooked with a ham hock or bacon, dried mustard, salt, and pepper. The meat, either a locally cut “tri-tip” or New York Strip (which Irecommend as there is less waste), is not marinated,just dressed with salt, pepper, and garlic salt. There is no secret sauce! Those are the two main ingredi-ents and the rest of the meal is even easier. You add your favorite tomato-based salsa, some salad, and garlic bread. That’s it. The barbecue is pulled on a trailer and is all-inclusive, except for drinks. Guests provide their own. WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING IT?It’s fun to do and always a good time with friends. ANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS FROM ONE OF THESE EVENTS?My most memorable moments were actually when Newlin Hastings CdeP 1970 (who lives just north of Santa Maria in Paso Robles with his wife, Liz) and I brought barbecues to Thacher while our kids were there.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF THE FOOD AT THACHER?I have two favorite memories. While I was a student, everybody complained about the food, but I thought it was outstanding. The kitchen staff and I were quite friendly and, the morning of graduation, when I arrived to eat in the dining hall, the cooks brought out a special bowl just for me. It was my favorite breakfast: cream chipped beef. Also, every year during the decade or so that my brothers (Leo CdeP 1959 and Jim CdeP 1961) and I were at Thacher, our dad brought the faculty 30–40 crates of artichokes from Guadalupe. As a result, I’ve always felt proud of parents who step up to donate to our School.

WHAT’S FOR DINNER TONIGHT?Tonight, I’m stopping at Harris Ranch on the Interstate 5 to have a steak, cooked medium, with a baked potato, sour cream, and salad with blue-cheese dressing.

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SAVE THE DATE!

THE THACHER WINERY Paso Robles, California

Sunday, November 17, 2013Noon - 4 pmHosted by Sherman and Michelle Thacher and featuring Thacher- related wines from the Central Coast.

With over 200 wineries in and surrounding Paso Robles, you may want to explore the region and make this Thacher community event central to a wine-tasting weekend.

Thacher Magazine: Spring 2013

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Transcript of Thacher Magazine: Spring 2013