INDIVIDUAL ALUMNI NEWS & UPDATES
Congratulations to Debby Freed '80, who is participated in “The Blue Ridge Potter's Guild 22nd Annual Show and Sale”, featuring regional ceramic artists October 30-31, 2021 at North Cross High School in Roanoke, VA. Check out her work here.
Dmitri Resnik '84 has a new music album out, Still Out There, available at iTunes, Apple, Spotify, and more.
Josh Lozoff '89 participated in the 17th Annual XTERRA EX2 Off-Road Triathlon in Rocky Gap State Park this past July, placing 13th in his division.
Bradley McDevitt '89 has launched The Quotidian, a podcast dedicated to exploring the depths of the creative spirit in everyday people's lives. Check it out here and on Facebook.
Leah Sobsey '91 installed the photographic sculpture, Swarm of Butterflies, at Duke Raleigh Hospital. Watch this video to learn about the work, her inspiration, and her creative process.
Ayesha Ahmad '93 began her career as a full-time teacher this fall, teaching high school English in Albemarle County, VA (Charlottesville). She first dreamed about teaching back in her Middle School days with us. Ayesha is also still running her wedding and portrait photography business (now in its 12th year).
Matthew Young '95 is married with two sons and living in Durham. He has a website, www.dancingcarpenter.com, where he shareds his carpentry and remodeling business, as well as his artistic pursuits.
Jennifer Curtis '96 played several performances last fall with Diali Keba Cissokho. Keep up with her and view performance videos via her website.
Alison Hughes '96 has a young son who was in a severe sledding accident on Jan 17. To send love and support to the family and learn how you can help, visit here.
Sol Osterkatz '96 has left his position at RegEd after almost 20 years. He plans to take some time to spend with his family before exploring what comes next professionally.
Beth Littlejohn '99 is the Executive Chef of Carolina Flavors, which is now the in-house brand of prepared foods (ready to heat sides, soups and meals) for The Produce Box. Read about what she's up to here.
Shannon Winston '99 is delighted to announce that her full-length poetry collection, The Girl Who Talked to Paintings, was just published by Glass Lyre Press.
Eileen Meyer '00 works as a film editor based in Los Angeles, CA. Her most recent work includes the award-winning film Crip Camp (Higher Ground/Netflix), which won Best Documentary Feature at the Independent Spirit Awards and the IDA Awards, the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, and is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2021. She also completed Roadrunner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain, which premiered at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
Maggie Conner Jones '01 welcomed a son, Finnley Cash McKay, on November 5, 2021.
Jonathan Henderson '01 recently defended his dissertation and is headed to Maine in January to begin a new job as Music Professor at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.
Tommy Noonan '01 with spouse and alum parent Murielle Elizéon (and collaborators) taught American Dance Festival's "Dancing With" classes via Zoom last fall. This project followed the 2019 creation of the ADF-commissioned performance They Are All and is part of a unique 3-year project led by choreographers Murielle Elizéon and Tommy Noonan in collaboration with a diverse group of dancers living with and without Parkinson's, dance educators, physical and occupational therapists, and neuroscientists. The goal is to seed new perspectives on the positive effects of creative, mindful movement for those living with Parkinson's, and to lay the groundwork for a future formal research project. Find out more at movingthrough.live.
Suzanne Richardson '01 will be pursuing a PhD in creative writing at SUNY Binghamton with a focus on memoir this fall. She also had a new haiku published in Femku Magazine (page 15) in late July.
Maile Mercer '03, who is currently pursuing her PhD at NYU's Rory Meyers College of Nursing, recently published this piece exploring ways we might rethink and restructure the nursing profession to reduce burnout and improve the lives of nurses and patients.
Nathan Toben '03 took part in his first ultra race since the pandemic in early October in Western NC. Running 47 miles up to the summit of Mount Mitchell, along the Black Mountain Crest Trail and back, Nathan described the race as a rugged, self-supported, truly community-oriented event.
Holly Triplett Curtis '04 married Dan Curtis on December 21, 2019.
Jasmine Powell '04 is participating in Saxapahaw's Black History Celebration on February 12, 2022. These events are running (live and virtual) all month long in February.
Congrats to Robert Jentsch '05 and his wife Simone, who are first time happy parents of a daughter, Sofia Blue. Sofia was born on September 3, 2021 at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland. Robert also recently received his Executive MBA from the University of Maryland - Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Jason Hopkins Parker '05 recently relocated to the Triangle with his family.
Mary Kate Shapley-Quinn '05 married Mitch Stamm in September 2021 in Malahat, British Columbia.
Spencer Woodman '05 is reporter at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which led an investigation into offshore banking dubbed the “Pandora Papers.” Listen to the story on NPR (or read the transcript).
Andrea Love Young '05 runs a full service animation studio from her basement in WA, creating iconic work for commercials, short films and social media. Her work has been screened at film festivals around the country including the Tribeca Film Festival and the LA Shorts Fest. Watch her needle felted wool creations come to life on her website.
Nathan Case-McDonald '07, has opened the Way Out Bar with a group of friends in Chicago. And if you are in Chi-town, please check it out: It boasts one of two juke boxes in the city that uses 45's, and some incredible cocktails and delicious food.
Kathleen McLaughlin Quinn '07 and spouse Molly Quinn welcomed Sky Everett Wild Quinn on June 25, 2021. Kathleen and family also recently moved back to North Carolina, where she has started a private practice that provides therapy and mental health services to folks in the Triangle.
Los Angeles-based director Samuel Miron '08 has signed with production company Panoptica. Sam has worked with Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Jack in the Box, and Naked Juice, among others, and is known for his concise visual storytelling and adaptive aesthetic. Samuel kick-started his film career while still in film school. He co-founded a film company, Other|Side Pictures, which was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation and went on to direct a feature-length documentary, A New High, which premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival and was later sold to Netflix. His also has won a Telly for his work on a Jack in the Box ad campaign.
Lateef Mitchell '09 married Miryea Houston on October 22, 2021.
Writer and Producer Betsy Bertram '10 presented the film about her late father Scott Bertram, Captain Scott B and the Great Adventure, to close the Carrboro Film Festival on November 21. This poignant father-daughter adventure story takes you on a journey of the heart as Betsy follows the trail her deceased father left behind in his home videos and journals. Traveling from the mountains to the sea of North Carolina, she explores life's most vibrant ingredients — family, community, music, food, and a deep connection to nature, as she navigates the grief process and discovers the magic in each moment.
Morgan Linney '10 started a new job at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Postdoctoral Scholar. She recently completed her Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.
Miles Bonsignore '11 married Sarah Peterson on September 25, 2021.
Michael Rozier '11 shared that he and his fiancée Ellie built their first home in Madison, WI. He shared that he has been experiencing a health-challenge found to be Psoriatic Arthritis, an auto-immune condition with no cure. As he had planned to professionally pursue woodworking, along with his love for guitar, this was a hard blow. Fast forward to now, and he has found some relief and plans to launch an Etsy shop any day now! Michael has also launched a Twitch streaming account. If you'd like to check in and show your support, follow him here.
Katie Venters Shamoun '11 passed her poultry specialty board exam in August, and is now a board certified veterinarian and Diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.
Christopher Stevens-Brown '11 and his significant other Kelly, moved to New York City in October after a year in Boston.
Helen Tadese '11 may have only been at CFS for a year when she came to stay with the Lindsey-Mills family, but she made a big impact on many during that time. Since leaving CFS, she received a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Gondar in Ethiopia and a MA in Social Work from UNC-Greensboro. Helen is currently interning with Church World Service Greensboro. Helen also serves on the board of Hope for the Children Fund and plans to start a PhD program in the coming year.
Pippin Ke-Lind '12 is working as a Research Lab Tech for the University of Michigan.
Nicholas Lent '12 recently accepted a job as a Research Technician at Duke University and is relocating to Durham.
Jessica Alexander '13 was highlighted in the news for her Driveway Dances. Read the article here.
Rhiannon Faith '13 married Brendan Sanders on September 4, 2021 in Candler, NC.
Sydney Ray '13 celebrated the completion of her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
Rosie Valentine (Gould) '13 has launched a photography business. Check out this interview with them from VoyageRaleigh.
Anthony Berry '14 married Chelsea Staiger on September 18, 2021 in Westerville, OH.
Doug MacLeod '14 married Katie Treamer on September 25, 2021 in Durham, NC.
Lex Jin Coelho '15 got engaged to Seth Harrison.
Mason Dwinnell '15 recently got engaged.
Logan Wilson '15 started a new position as Administrative Assistant at Bridge II Sports.
Adelaide Rowe '16 began a new job as athletics coordinator at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh.
Molly Bahr '17 started school at Chiang Mai University in July 2021.
Selena Faith '17 is embarking on Quaker Voluntary Service as a 2021-2022 Atlanta Fellow! Selena recently graduated from Earlham College, where she double majored in sociology-anthropology and studio art with a focus in photography. She has a passion for learning about individuals and systems, and has taken many opportunities at Earlham to further these interests. She conducted health psychology research in Sweden, managed a student-run health club called Sexual Health Peer Educators, studied abroad in Greece with a focus in art, and branched out into her school's community by working on food access at her local Farmers Market. She is excited to bring her passion into the QVS community and her work at the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Campo Larrick '17 is embarking on Quaker Voluntary Service as a 2021-2022 Boston Fellow! Campo is excited to find themself at the intersection of service, spirituality, and intentional community. Campo earned a degree in social work at Warren Wilson College in May 2021 and studied indigenous social movements and community organizing throughout Southern Mexico in Fall 2019. They have been continuously drawn to work in food, environmental, and health justice. They are excited to meet the challenges and joys of working at the Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center this year!
Morgan Bellavia '18 will pursue an MSc in Business Management at the University of Edinburgh this year.
Cash Cole '18 is part-owner of the newly opened Franklin Motors and Beer Garden in Chapel Hill.
Anderson Proescholdbell '19 will intern as a Product Analyst this summer at WillowTree.
Taylor Andorfer '20 passed the state exam of the NC Real Estate Commission and earned her real estate license. She'll continue her studies at Queens University of Charlotte, but had this as a long-time goal.
GROUP ALUMNI NEWS & UPDATES
We had LOTS of alums participating in the 2021 College Ultimate Championships in Norco, CA December 17-20. Alums participating included: Matt Gouchoe-Hanas '14 (coaching), Conor Chickos '16, Daniel Garlock '16, Dillon Lanier '16, Seth Lee '17, Rosie Fisher '18, Kate Lanier '18, Nola Kim Mayer '18, Liam Searles-Bohs '17, Jason Manning '19, Gigi Paulig '19, Kevin Pignone '19, Matt Frey '20, Will Hassell '21, and Matt Lee '21.
Raleigh Ring of Fire won the 2021 National Ultimate Club Championship last October with a 13-12 victory, the first National Championship in their 30-year history! Teammates included Matt Gouchoe-Hanas '14, Sol Yanuck '14, Dillon Lanier '16, Liam Searles-Bohs '17, and Henry Fisher '14. Additionally, Augie Kreivenas, long-time CFS Ultimate Coach and parent of Griffin '19 and Sky '22, was inducted into the Ultimate Hall of Fame on November 1. Read more here.
Alums Jess Shell '97 (also a current staff member) and Jasmine Powell '04, along with current staff member and CFS parent Maggie Bradley, participated in Pairs in the Park, a collection of site-specific duets choreographed by Chris Yon and Taryn Griggs and presented by American Dance Festival in late July at the North Carolina Museum of Art Park.
STAFF AND ALUM FAMILY NEWS & UPDATES
Alum Parent Camille Berry was recently elected to Chapel Hill Town Council.
Former Summer programs sports camp instructor Ryan Firpo and his cousin Kaz Firpo are the screenwriters and story writers for Marvel’s The Eternals. Both are nephews of former staff member Chris Firpo and cousins of Kirsten Stajich Sardi '99.
Former Lower School Librarian Natalie Sapkarov Harvey, and her husband Kevin, welcomed their second child, Morgan Elise, on November 25.
Alum parent Jackie Macleod recently had an exhibition up at PS118 Gallery in Durham (owned and operated by current parent Dave Wofford). The show, The Magic of Patinas: Works in Metals by Jackie MacLeod, ran through December 23.
Alum parent Samantha Meltzer-Brody was recently recognized as one of Forbes 50 over 50: Vision for her important work on postpartum depression, women's mood disorders, and being an incredible chair of psychiatry and doctor.
Alum parent F. Caperton Morton, an independent audio producer and storyteller, just launched her website for Cow Hill Productions.
Staff Member and current parent Joanna Sisk-Purvis is serving as the music director for a new community theatre company in Chapel Hill/Durham called Stone Soup Theatre Co.
Alum parent Jane F. Thrailkill (Olivia '12 and Naomi '17 Truax) has published Philosophical Siblings: Varieties of Playful Experience in Alice, William, and Henry James.
Congratulations to current and former staff Joan and Henry Walker, who celebrated their fifty-first wedding anniversary on Dec 27, 2021. Additionally, Henry has published a new book of poetry, Child Development through Poetry, inspired by his grandchildren. Henry has added many new videos to his blog, Friends School, An Unofficial History. Content includes several current students as well as some vintage footage from former staff member and alum parent Lisa Fischbeck, including: Lower School Halloween Play, 1987; Don Wells Retires from CFS, 1987; and Staff Retreat CFS 1987, and John Gordon, and Catherine: Beijing, China.
Alum Parent Steven Young, MD, PhD was recently awarded $7 million for Endometriosis Research Center. Read about it here.
IN MEMORY
Becky Lang Clodfelter '84 left this world in August after being diagnosed with ALS in 2019. She was a fabulous artist and friend to many. Most recently, she shared one of her paintings with us for the opening celebration of the Performing Arts Center in spring 2019. You can read her obituary here. Follow her CaringBridge site for information about a memorial. And if you want to help raise awareness, you can participate in her shoe decorating project so that others never have to walk in Becky's shoes.
Former teacher Robert William Fulks Jr. passed away on June 27. You can view his obituary here, and send condolences to his son, alum Robbie Fulks '80.
Alum Yvette Bonaparte '79 shared that Mary Berry Grainger '79 died in July. Mary played basketball and made many friends in her two years in Upper School. You can read her obituary here.
Abby Rosenson Overton '87 (attended CFS from 1975-1982) recently passed away in hospice care. Abby was active in OdysseyStage, a local theater company, and they have posted highlights of her acting, a talent she shared with us at CFS (notably she was Bilbo in the Hobbit in 1981, among other roles). Abby leaves behind a husband, Ed, and two children. You can read her obituary online.
Win Shea, one of our original founding families, alum parent of Lisa '76, Sean '77, Ann '79, and Bon '80, and husband to former board member Charlotte, died this past December at home on hospice care. The family is active in Miami Friends Meeting (Coral Gables), and Win was an active tennis player well into his 80's.