The search for the next head of school continues

Transcription

The search for the next head of school continues
September 2008
Published by John Burroughs School for Alumni, Parents and Friends
The search for the next head of school continues
Now that the Board of Trustees has set the process of finding a new head into motion, the search
behind the scenes is getting really serious.
A framework in place
The first half of 2008 was all about gathering
community input and establishing a plan for finding a new head of school. That included naming
the Board of Trustees’ Search Committee, finding
an outside search consultant, gathering the community’s thoughts about the qualities desired in a
new head of school and then culling all the information gathered into a 44-page Information for
Candidates document. The document provides a
detailed summary of Burroughs, including sections
on the school’s history and philosophy; the campus;
the master plan and finances; the admissions and
college counseling picture; students, faculty, parents
and alumni; school programs (including curriculum); and strengths, challenges and expectations
for the next head of school. In the supporting Executive Summary, the Search Committee identified
important attributes for the next head of school,
namely:
• Student focus
• A teacher-educator
• A philosophy consistent with that of JBS
• Social and communication skills
• A thoughtful, careful leader
• A spirit of commitment
Shortly after the preparation of these documents,
and at the recommendation of our search consultant, Educators’ Collaborative (EC), the Search
Committee named two advisory committees, which
will provide additional insight into the qualities
and chemistry leading candidates might bring to
Burroughs. With one committee representing faculty, the other representing the larger Burroughs
community, advisory committee members will
interview semifinalists and finalists in the fall and
share their individual impressions with the Search
Committee.
Members of the Faculty Advisory Committee are
chair Margaret Bahe (Science), Barry Albrecht ’96
(English; Athletics), Jon Bang (History), Rachael
Barnes (Math), Bill Gilbert (Spanish), Daniel
Harris (History; PE/Athletics), Bob Henningsen
(English), Jim Lowe (Classics), Andrew Newman
’87 (Fine Arts) and Ellen Port (PE/Athletics). In
addition to representing a range of disciplines, they
represent varied ancillary functions from department chair to director of diversity and multicultural
education, from college counselors to coaches, from
coordinator of student activities to faculty sponsor
of the model United Nations program. Their tenures range from two to 29 years, and several members wear multiple hats, adding additional insight as
alumni and parents of current students or alumni.
Likewise, members of the Community Advisory
Committee represent a range of perspectives and
eras. They include current and former members of
the Board of Trustees, Alumni Board presidents
past and present, a Parents Council president,
the chair of the Search Committee that named
Keith Shahan, the current president of the student
body and chief justice of the Student Court. The
members are Valerie Bell (cochair), Jim Maritz ’69
(cochair), Kris Brill Asaro, Ellen Leschen Bremner
’67, Roz Johnson, David Kemper, Jim Knight, AhnChun Min, Amol Pai ’09, Diliane Charles Pelikan
’91, Tim Philpott ’83, Liesl Schnuck ’09 and Steve
Trulaske ’75.
Identifying candidates
A tribute to
The Shahan Years
Saturday evening, May 16, 2009
Though the details of a special celebration in honor of
Dr. Keith ’62 and Marcia Williamson Shahan ’62
are in the early stages of planning, the date has been set.
Please mark your calendars and plan to join the rest of the
JBS community as we celebrate a remarkable era and wish
the Shahans the best in their retirement.
With the internal framework in place, the JBS
Search Committee has temporarily stepped out of
the picture, allowing EC to market the position,
follow-up with candidates and determine which
educators have the qualifications that Burroughs
has determined are essential to the school. At the
helm of EC’s efforts are Katherine Betz and James
Maggart, both of whom are former heads of independent schools. In addition to contacting all
heads of NAIS and ISACS schools and placing
advertisements in professional publications, they
have called into play their many associations after
long careers in education to identify and contact
potential candidates.
In general, they have found the landscape to
be fairly typical as far as openings are concerned.
Of the 1,300 to 1,400 independent schools in the
country, about 100 of them are looking for heads.
The schools reflect every size, every mission and every grade level, with some really top-notch schools
in the pool, according to Maggart. “There are not
a lot of schools of Burroughs’ caliber, but there are
certainly some,” he says.
As of early July, 60 candidates had expressed interest in the Burroughs position. They are men and
women from all over the country and include a few
international candidates. Some strong candidates
are experienced heads and some are rising stars.
Betz says that 65 percent of all new heads last year
were first-timers in the position.
The decision
EC will cull the pool to the 20 or so most viable
candidates and present their names to the Search
Committee in September. At that point, the
Search Committee will review and further refine
the list and begin the interviewing process, conducting quiet and more public interviews on campus and visiting the home schools of the final two
or three candidates. Likewise, the advisory committees will interview the four or five semifinalists
and the two or three finalists, and the community
will have the opportunity to meet the candidates
and provide input before the Search Committee
advances the name of a candidate for final approval
by the Board of Trustees.
Throughout the process, members of the Search
Committee have made clear their intent to make
the head search as transparent as possible. “The JBS
Search Committee is more conscientious in that
sense than any school I have ever worked with,”
says Maggart. If you have questions or suggestions,
please direct them to [email protected].
For the most up-to-date reports on the status
of the search for a new head of school, visit the
Search Committee pages on the Burroughs website
(www.jburroughs.org).
I
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D
2 3
4 5 6 8 9
The Stamper Library
Super-mileage vehicle
Faculty profile
2008-09 Leadership
Class of 2008 graduates
Alumnus profile
Alumni notes
E
From left, seniors Emily Thaisrivongs, Pierre Guo and
MaryJo Maliekel proceed down the aisle in the school’s
83rd graduation ceremony. For more photos from the
Class of 2008’s final weeks as Burroughs students and
for the list of where they are going to college, see pages
6 and 7.
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 2
Our Students
Friday, May 9th & Saturday, May 10th
A judge determines the fate of Claire Harrison
in the JBS Players’ production of Brian Clark’s
“Whose Life Is It Anyway.” From left are Teddy
Maritz ’08, Michael Foster ’08, Sarah Pearson
’09, Russell Browning ’10, Sam Ferguson ’10, Jessen O’Brien ’08 and Sarah Soffer ’08.
Saturday, May 10th
Jake Banton ’10 plants a median bed on Market
Street in downtown St. Louis. Jake was one of
several JBS volunteers to participate in the annual
Gateway Greening project. The Montgomery Plan,
the student committee that promotes service to the
local community, sponsored the event.
Week of May 11th
September 2008
This is not your grandmother’s library
Once a quiet haven for solitary study, nowadays the
Stamper Library practically vibrates with activity.
In it, students research, discuss, interpret, elaborate, question… and then do more research. “It’s
almost like a lab,” says library chair Linda Salisbury
Mercer ’74. “Students go to Drey Land to learn
about trees. They go to the library to learn how to
research trees or Hurricane Katrina or the Civil
War or whatever else interests them.”
On a typical school day afternoon, one group
of students hovers around a computer working on
a Powerpoint presentation, while another group
relaxes on couches to discuss a book. A librarian
helps a student in the stacks; another librarian introduces a class of eighth graders to research techniques, and a solitary soul seated at a carrel studies
for a history test. Students rearrange the furniture
to better suit their study needs. They move from
one table to another and back again. And at the
circulation desk, they check out not only books,
but laptops, video cameras, DVDs and audio books.
The printers are humming, and the photocopy machines are straining.
There can be no doubt that the library is a vibrant and active spot on campus, and use of the
library continues to rise each year. Student visits to
the library increased by 35 percent last school year
(compared to the 2006-07 school year) and doubled
since 2003-04.
Certainly the collection itself, which rivals that
of any small college according to Mercer, has much
to do with library usage. Yet, as impressive as the
collection of 27,438 books, 179 print periodicals
and 1,286 DVDs and audio CDs may be, the library
boasts an equally impressive collection of online
resources with more than 14,400 online periodicals
and 75,000 electronic books to which the students
also have access both from home and at school.
Access to wireless computers is also a draw.
“The trend of our students to gravitate to online information is not lost on us,” says Mercer,
and acquisitions in recent years have reflected the
trend. JBS librarians carefully evaluate which print
sources to add to the collection while weighing
those selections against the benefit, but increased
cost, of digital books, periodicals and databases.
“Although we purchased fewer books this year,
we have not compromised the quality of the collection, focusing squarely on topics taught by the
faculty and projects assigned to the students,” says
Mercer. “Many of the best publishers are introducing even more promising new online resources in a
variety of formats, which we are evaluating for the
curriculum and the community in general.”
With so much information available online, the
library has taken on an ancillary role as a computer
lab of sorts. Computer use in the library was up
52 percent last year (as compared to the 2006-07
school year), up 200 percent since 2001-02. The
library, with the help of the computer technology
department, supports 41 computers — 33 of which
are laptops that run on a wireless network — for
student use. Librarians teach the required research
From left, Alex Abramson ’11, Jack Welsh ’11, Philip
Dearing ’11 and Katie Smith ’11 gather around one of
the laptop computers, which are available to check out
for use in the library.
skills course for eighth graders and the media literacy unit for seventh graders. While the librarians
continue to maintain and improve their abilities to
train students in the skills of research and in finding resources for answering many types of questions,
they have also had to develop computer troubleshooting skills, software application expertise and
networking savvy.
Nonetheless, librarians remain connected to the
human side of what they do. “We’re not only ‘over
there’ in the library shelving books,” says Mercer.
Librarians get to know students as soon as they arrive on campus. They teach required courses as well
as research skills to classes brought to the library
to work on specific projects; they go on field trips;
they are student advisors; and they collaborate with
departments on special projects.
One such collaboration, the English department’s Outside Reading Program, has them doing
what they like best — reading, discussing books,
sharing the love of reading that they hold dear
and establishing relationships with students. “Our
heart remains in literature, reading and the love of
learning,” says Mercer, and that love is reflected in
the Stamper Library’s fine collection of fiction and
literary nonfiction. “We always try to expose kids
to the wonderful literature that is out there, so that
even when they are bogged down in assignments,
they can turn to a good book for a break.” Mercer
is particularly proud of two special collections in
the library: the collection of alumni works and the
John and Virginia Acker Collection of works by St.
Louis writers. These collections can be viewed on
the library’s online catalog, iLink.
Certainly laptops and their vast information capabilities have a home in the JBS library, but when
it comes to curling up with a good read, nothing
replaces a book.
If you are interested in the resources available to the
JBS community, visit the library’s home page at
http://jburroughs.org/library/index.html or contact
Linda Salisbury Mercer ’74 at [email protected].
At Bio Drey Land, senior counselors and ninth
graders stretch a net across Sinking Creek to collect
fish and then analyze food chains in the creek.
Above, Morgan Weisman ’09 and Andrew Truetzel
’09 discuss a project with library chair Linda Salisbury
Mercer ’74.
Varied seating arrangements— from comfy couches to
tables and chairs to secluded study carrels— provide
options that are adaptable to students’ study needs.
September 2008
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 3
Our Students
Burroughs’ first super-mileage vehicle yields 98 mpg
The super-mileage vehicle’s pit crew overcame
mechanical difficulties at a state competition in
Warrensburg, MO, to have the Burroughs car compete, realizing 98 mpg on the race’s only bio-diesel
fuel.
In fact, the 11 students who took the school’s
first SMV to the competition at the Missouri Safety
Center relished the challenge, working under pressure to re-engineer their damaged vehicle on the
spot. After resolving brake trouble in the safety
check, their SMV advanced as one of ten vehicles
that would compete in the race. (Seven SMVs did
not make the cut.)
Then, when the students powered up the vehicle in the pit, the 5.8 hp diesel engine proved
too much for the bicycle chain and sprocket system. With faculty sponsors relegated to hands-off
involvement on race day, the students rose to the
occasion, working against the clock to convert to a
Among the members of the JBS team that built the
school’s first super-mileage vehicle are from left Emily
Purvines ’11, Dan Barton (Industrial Technology),
Davis Camp ’08, Will Smith ’11, Michael Gans ’11,
Peggy Davison (Math), Christy Phelps ’09, Rebecca
Meier ’11, Eric Knispel (Science), John Reck ’08,
driver Tommy McKone ’11, Johnathan Mell ’09, Jim
Roble (Science), Jake Banton ’10, Jacob Mulcahy ’11
and Brian Connor (Industrial Technology; Theatre).
Members of the team who could not participate on race
day were Robert Chapman ’08, Stella Dee ’08, Eric
Hanson (Math), Samantha Lund ’10, Rachel Maddux
’08, Najja Marshall ’10, Tyler Moon ’11, Brandon
Neal ’08 and Cameron Smith ’10.
Friday, May 16th
From left Brandon Neal ’08, Davis Camp ’08, Robert
Chapman ’08 and Johnathan Mell ’09 work on a
1/4-scale prototype of Burroughs’ super-mileage vehicle.
belt system by the 3 p.m. deadline. The car was on
the track at 2:30 p.m., completing 11/2 laps — to
the team’s enthusiastic cheers — before breaking a
bearing, rendering the vehicle undriveable and out
of the running.
The point of the competition was to produce the
vehicle that would go the farthest on a liter of fuel.
The Burroughs team of about 19 students designed
and built the vehicle using a pull-start diesel engine and bicycle parts. To make the vehicle more
environmentally friendly, the team formulated the
competition’s only bio-diesel fuel, the vegetable oil
by-product of commercial deep fat fryers. Though
emissions smelled a lot like french fries, the Burroughs vehicle yielded 98 miles per gallon.
The students learned a great deal in their maiden race. On the ride back to St. Louis, they were
already redesigning their vehicle for the 2009 competition. They have since gained Student Congress’
approval for the Super-Mileage Vehicle Competition Club and will begin work on the next generation shortly after school starts in September.
“It was great to see how the students worked
together to resolve their problems,” said faculty
sponsor Dan Barton (Industrial Technology). ”They
tackled the obstacles head on. They worked together under pressure. They didn’t give up.” And they
brought home the sportsmanship award.
Schober receives Presidential Award for Science Teaching
Physics teacher Mark Schober was honored at a
National Science Foundation ceremony in Washington, D.C. as the Missouri science teacher to
receive the Presidential Award for Excellence in
Mathematics and Science Teaching.
After an initial selection process at the state
level, a national panel of scientists, mathematicians
and educators recommended teachers to receive the
Presidential Awards. Mr. Schober is one of 99 recipients representing all 50 states and the District of
Columbia. The award alternates each year between
kindergarten through sixth grade teachers and seventh through twelfth grade teachers.
“The award is a tribute to my teacher mentors
and Burroughs’ commitment to supporting professional development, for which I am deeply appreciative,” said Schober, who has taught introductory
physics to eleventh graders and astronomy and
meteorology to seventh graders at Burroughs since
1996. He also is webmaster and communications
manager for the local Physics Teachers Organization, and he serves as practitioner, workshop leader
and curriculum editor for
the Modeling
Instruction
Program, the
only high
school science
program to be
rated exemplary by the U.S.
Department
of Education.
Schober has
a bachelor’s
degree in physics and mathMark Schober (Science)
ematics from
Concordia
College (Moorhead, MN) and master’s degrees in
physics and secondary education from Miami (OH)
University.
Amy Rosenthal ’09 dances with one of the elderly
residents at the “Senior Prom” at Bethesda-Dilworth
Nursing Home. The JBS Montgomery Plan sponsored the activity.
Friday, May 16th & Saturday, May 17th
The Young JBS Players produced Edgar Lee Masters’ “Spoon River Anthology.” Above, Ali Boettcher
’13 (in foreground) and Jason Gusdorf ’12 were
Dora Williams and Walter Simmons, two of the
seventy characters portrayed in the play, which is a
collection of epitaphs of residents of a small town.
Friday, May 30th
Anne Martin (Fine Arts) signs Emma Compton’s
’12 yearbook on Field Day as Jing Qiu ’12 peaks
over Emma’s shoulder.
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 4
Our Students
September 2008
Kim Bouldin-Jones
Rebuild a hospital? How hard can it be?
Myles Moody ’09 placed third in the triple jump in
the Class 3 state track meet.
Athletic highlights
Burroughs was well represented at the state
track meet at Lincoln University in Jefferson
City, and Myles Moody ’09 brought home a
third place finish on the triple jump. Other athletes to compete were Grant Wallace ’11 (110
hurdles) and Nick Evens ’09 (3200 run). Grant
and Myles also raced as members of the 4x100
relay team which included Max Witt ’10 and
Jacob Witt ’08. The girls team sent Alyssa Mizell
’08 (pole vault); Lea Johnson ’11 (shot put);
and Jane Plegge ’10, Caroline Min ’10, Armani
Tatum ’09 and Alyssa (4x100 Relay).
In tennis, Burroughs hosted the District meet,
where the Bombers finished second to Clayton
by a margin of 1/2 point. Forrest Richmond ’09
advanced to the individual state tournament in
singles, and John Stillman ’10 and Alex Goel
’10 advanced in doubles play, where they lost in
the opening round to the eventual state champions from Thomas Jefferson.
Senior meets the president
Hody Nemes ’08 participated in the United
States Senate Youth Program in March. The
program for elected school officers provides a
college scholarship for two students from each
state plus a political science trip to Washington,
D.C.
In comments at morning assembly on April
3rd, Hody talked about his trip to D.C., which
included meetings with U.S.
senators and
President
George Bush.
He segued into
a discussion of
the importance
of school leadership and used
the opportunity
to encourage
students to get
involved by entering the upHody Nemes ’08
coming student
elections. Hody
served as chief justice of the 2007-08 Burroughs
Student Court.
Health teacher Kim Bouldin-Jones didn’t like
what she saw at Hiwot Feledge Hospital in northern
Ethiopia, so she decided to fix it.
“I had to do something,” she says. “No way could
I work at Burroughs and go home and live my life as
normal. I had to make this happen. How hard can
it be?”
Truth be told, working by e-mail in the U.S.
to rebuild a hospital in Ethiopia has been harder
than she expected. But for an eternal optimist who
teaches part-time, mothers young children and
advocates for global disease prevention, a few obstacles may have slowed the process, but they haven’t
thwarted her resolve. She fully intends to break
ground on a new wing to the hospital this fall and
later build several clinics in surrounding areas.
In her life away from Burroughs, Bouldin-Jones
is an internationally recognized educator who has
traveled to Africa and South America to evaluate,
design and implement programs to stem the tide
of HIV infection. A member of the Global AIDS
Roundtable in Washington, D.C and chair of the
Global Health Network in St. Louis., Bouldin-Jones
advocates an in-the-trenches approach in which
decision makers get to know the culture before they
make recommendations. “Think tank people are
approaching the problem based on situations in a
vacuum,” she says. “I prefer to go on the ground,
work with the people, and see what works and what
doesn’t.”
It was in her role as an HIV consultant that
Bouldin-Jones first visited Hiwot Feledge Hospital
in 2005. The hospital was in such ill repair that
damaged wood floors exposed dirt from the ground
beneath. The hospital had electricity, but no
plumbing, and waste removal consisted of a bucket
at the foot of each patient’s bed. Men and women
recuperated — or died — in wards of 30 people,
with no curtains for privacy, and family members
did not have a chair on which to sit. With only 225
beds serving a population of 7 million people, Bouldin-Jones found patients in the last stages of their
illnesses. The mortality rate was high. But because
Hiwot Feledge was the best that the region had to
offer, the patients considered themselves fortunate
to have a bed. Bouldin-Jones — who teaches in her
classroom that one person can make a difference —
decided that in the case of Hiwot Feledge Hospital,
she was that one person.
When she talked with members of the hospital
staff, they advanced a few simple requests — three
ear thermometers, five IV poles, six new stretchers. … “No, no, no,” she told them. “I want you to
think bigger than that.” After another round of
modest proposals, the doctors and Bouldin-Jones
finally settled on a renovated facility that included
plumbing, sewage, a 25-bed addition, a dressing
room and shower for employees, a computer with
Internet access and some used medical books. In
addition, Bouldin-Jones plans to spearhead the construction of four clinics in outlying areas to serve
people in the early stages of disease.
Part of the challenge in executing her plan has
been that Hiwot Feledge is a government hospital.
“At first, I thought I could recycle used medical
equipment from the U.S., but high tariffs made
that plan cost-prohibitive, and the Ethiopian
government would not budge on the tariffs. “I decided it was less expensive to buy the equipment
in Ethiopia, but then I had to figure out how to
get the money into the hands of the right people.”
Ethiopian law required that all donations be admin-
Health teacher Kim Bouldin-Jones makes annual visits
to Africa, where she is spearheading the effort to rebuild
the Hiwot Feledge Hospital in northern Ethiopia.
istered by the government. Bouldin-Jones needed a
new law that would enable her to give directly to a
nonprofit on behalf of the hospital.
It wasn’t easy, but Bouldin-Jones got the law. She started with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, the director
of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and
the only academic to have been repeatedly ranked
among Time magazine’s most influential people. He
put her in contact with the head of the Millennium
Project in Ethiopia, who put her in contact with
the minister of health in Ethiopia. “It took a lot of
e-mails, but the minister of health advanced a resolution that made it possible to donate directly to a
hospital through a nonprofit organization.” The law passed.
The next hurdle came in finding a partner . “I
didn’t want to raise money without having somebody in Ethiopia to make it happen.” Through
another round of e-mails, she connected with A
Glimmer of Hope Foundation, which builds schools
and hospitals in Ethiopia. A Glimmer of Hope has
agreed to provide contractors in Ethiopia, who will
manage the Hiwot Feledge project.
“I’m three-quarters of the way there,” says
Bouldin-Jones. “I think the money will be the easiest part.” She now has to put on her fundraiser hat
and has formed a nonprofit, Medical Facility Aid,
to gather the $1.75 million the project requires ($1
million for the hospital and $250,000 for each of
three clinics). Bouldin-Jones states that $1.75 million for anything medically related in the U.S. is a
drop in the bucket, but in Ethiopia it will get the
job done. Since the Ethiopian economy functions
on a cash-only basis, she wants to have enough in
hand to start improvements soon. Once the project
is finished, the government has agreed to run the
clinics and maintain the hospital, allocating money
to sustain them with a limited staff.
And so during her summers off from teaching,
the mother of three hands over family responsibilities to her husband and travels to Africa for
anywhere from two to six weeks. “I look at this as
my legacy,” she says. “This is my career, and I want
to have something tangible to point to when I ask
myself, ‘what have I really done?’”
How hard can it be?
September 2008
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 5
On Giving
A warmer, more personal approach to Senior Assembly
As tradition would have it, Senior Assembly on
May 29th had the seniors sitting on the stage, facing the student body and listening to remarks from
their class president, the faculty member of their
choice and their headmaster. The context was
familiar; the content reflected a recent change in
focus.
Several years ago, Headmaster Keith Shahan
(who, by the way, delivered the senior class president’s speech at his Senior Assembly in 1962) decided the standard approach focused too much on
individual accomplishments. “We mentioned everyone by name, listing all the National Merit Scholars, the commended students, the best students in
English, the best students in biology, and where
they were all going to college, as if the accomplishments and the colleges they would be attending
were the most important things,” says Dr. Shahan.
“In reality, what’s important is the seniors and who
they are, not what they have accomplished and
where they will go to college.”
And so, for the past several years, Dr. Shahan
has opted for a speech that reflects a more personal
side to the class’s six years at Burroughs. He asks
for input from the faculty and the students themselves and drafts a talk that captures the nuances,
the quirks, the strong personalities, the uncomfortable situations, the highlights and low points, the
inane and the sublime. This year, he read passages
from a student’s seventh grade Drey Land journal;
he shared anecdotes from the class’s six years at
Burroughs, and he talked about the students who
joined the class after seventh grade and those students the class had lost, specifically the tragic loss of
Sameer Talwar, who died in a car accident in 2006.
He acknowledged that students in the Class of 2008
had faced more tragedy than deserving of their
years. “These events do not define you, but they
will prepare you for life more than most classes,” he
said.
An especially rich Senior Assembly tradition is
that of having the class choose its faculty speaker
for the assembly. A list dating back to 1959 had
Bill Vibbert (former history teacher) giving the
speech in the then new Haertter Hall; another history teacher, Dr. Mark Smith, delivered the 2008
speech, offering six pieces of advice, beginning
Thank you, Capital Campaign donors
Recent Senior Assemblies have focused on the class’s
six years at Burroughs rather than on individual
accomplishments. Speakers direct their comments to the
class, and the seniors have a good laugh at their own
expense.
with perseverance. “I’m in favor of it,” he said.
“The perseverance of your class has impressed me.
Every year that you have been here, it seems that
something has gone horribly wrong. Yet, despite
these tragedies, or maybe because of them, you persevered. You did not let those incidents define you,
either on a personal level or as a class. In so doing,
I think you have learned one of the best lessons in
life, although I shudder to think about the cost at
which you learned this lesson.
“An American president gave this advice about
persevering through difficult times: ‘Greatness
comes not when things go… good for you, but the
greatness comes… when you are really tested, when
you take some knocks, some disappointments,
when sadness comes, because only if you have been
in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.’
“I think if that president could see you now,
he would say, as I will now say, that your class has
known disappointment and has experienced sadness, but that you have achieved greatness. Yes,
yours is a great class. Ok, don’t get too excited, the
president who said that was Nixon, and he said it
on the day he resigned. But today your class sits
atop a high mountain. No matter what life throws
at you in the upcoming years, remember how you
got here— remember to persevere.”
Alumni and parent leadership in place for 2008-09
Thank you to the alumni and parents who have
accepted leadership positions for the 2008-09 school
year. They are:
Board of Trustees
Carr Trovillion, president
Todd Schnuck ’77, 1st vice president
Andrea Stolz LaBarge ’70, 2nd vice president
Ben Rassieur ’72, treasurer
Eve Riley, secretary
Michael Banton ’77, Don Bassman, Sue Engelhardt,
Scott Harris ’70, Gianna Jacobson, Roz Johnson,
Michele Lowe, Steve Lowy ’64, Steve Maritz ’76,
Pam Marshall, John Meyer ’76, Ahn-Chun Min,
John O’Connell, Steve O’Hara, Jerrie Plegge,
Susan Sherman, Mary Beth Soffer, Mary Stillman,
Steve Trulaske ’75 and Hardy Washington
Alumni Association Board
Diliane Charles Pelikan ’91, president
Jeff Wright ’71, vice president Ellen Sheffield Pace ’83, secretary
Kathy Rainey Bussmann ’75
Cathy Yates Carlson ’84, Bob Cranston ’61,
Jack Engler ’63, Allison Flynn Engelsmann ’95,
Beth Shuter Herbster ’85,
Tim Philpott ’83 (ex officio), Kris Margherio ’96,
Bill Mastorakos ’73, Scott McNett ’79,
Alice Lowenhaupt Montgomery ’68,
Zac Mueller ’00, Sue Morrison Rapp ’54,
Maureen McGarity Sheehan ’86,
Peter Strassner ’77 and Brian Swift ’95
On May 15th, Burroughs hosted a reception and
dinner gathering unlike the school-sponsored
events we typically hold.
Under a large tent on the
Shahans’ lawn, major contributors to the Master Plan
Capital Campaign enjoyed a
somewhat wet spring evening
and an update on the campaign.
Jim Kemp
Jim Maritz ’69 opened the
evening by recognizing the
dedication that Dr. Shahan has shown to the
school by conceiving and implementing a comprehensive Master Plan for Burroughs’ future.
Dr. Shahan provided an update on all that
has been accomplished since 2000. Those projects include the creation of the school’s Master
Plan, the Jim Lemen press box and bleachers,
the renovation of Leland Field and the Skippy
Keefer Track, the opening of the Clayton Road
entrance and field hockey field, the Sisler baseball stands, and additions to the dining hall
and the field house. Unseen but important and
very costly, he added that Burroughs also has
completely replaced all of our underground infrastructure and utility service (gas, power, water,
cables, etc.).
Most importantly, Burroughs has added more
than $6.5 million to its endowment in the form
of endowed faculty chairs, endowed funds and
endowed scholarships. There is no greater means
to fight rising tuition costs than through a strong
endowment. We have purchased an additional
7.5 acres of property in landlocked Ladue,
thereby securing our future at the Price Road
location. Dr. Shahan closed the evening by thanking
all of our donors. To date, more than $30 million
has been given to support the Master Plan. He
also thanked the key capital campaign volunteers who chaired the dinner, Susan and David
Sherman ’77, Michele and Jim Maritz ’69 and
Michelle and Steve Trulaske ’75.
Everything Burroughs has accomplished has
been made possible by the philanthropic support
of our donors.
The Campaign is far from complete. There
are still buildings to build, updates to be made,
scholarships to fund and properties to pay for.
But for now, Burroughs wants to say “thank
you!”
— Jim Kemp
Director of Advancement
Ext. 256 at 314/993-4040
or 800/264-4045
[email protected]
Parents Council Board
Cathy Carney, president
Case Baum, vice president
Carolyn Pearson, secretary
Heather Winsby, treasurer
In addition to the executive committee, the
Parents Council Board includes 19 committees
and six grade level committees.
Among the guests at the event for major contributors
to the Master Plan Capital Campaign were from left
Jeff and Lotta Fox, Michelle and Steve Trulaske ’75
and Susan Sherman.
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 6
Graduation 2008
September 2008
Class of 2008
Where do they go from here?
The Class of 2008 graduates
Senior Assembly faculty speaker
Dr. Mark Smith (History)
Graduation speakers
Stella Dee ’08 and Hody Nemes ’08
Invocation/benediction
Peggy Fiala (Principal of Grades 7 & 8)
Families who graduate
The administration and faculty thank the
parents of graduates for the parenting they
have done, for their generosity in terms of gifts
and volunteer hours and for entrusting their
wonderful children to John Burroughs School.
The school wishes to especially recognize the
parents, who — after the graduation of their
children in the Class of 2008 — also “graduate,”
having no younger students at the school.
Richard Abrams and Robin Ver Hage-Abrams
Tom and Nancy Albus
Jeff and Sima Baker
Michael and Sheryl Bauer
Alan and Carol Bornstein
Marc Bush and Anne Taussig
Stephanie Carter
Roger and Teri Cohen
Bill and René Costello
Jon ’68 and Peggy Edwards
Linda and Steve Finerty
Lisa Fordyce
Wes Fordyce
Rock and Debbie Foster
Robert and Laura Fraley
Jason and Anna Fu
Carl and Marlene Gentile
Dave and Charlene Gottlieb
Dave Gustafson
Rajiv and Jahnavi Handa
David Harris and Michele Lowe
Tim and Celia Liberman Hosler ’75
Terry Hu and Cindy Chen
YingWen Huang and Min Yao
Elkin ’75 and Beth Kistner
Bala Krishnamoorthy and Rajamma Krishnamurthy
Craig and Andie Stolz LaBarge ’70
Joe and Paula Lampen
David Lawton and Amanda Beresford
Elaine Leibold
Joseph Leibold
Keith and Nancy Liberman
Harry and Jennifer Lim
Michael and Susan Maddux
Marin and Mirela Marcu
Jim ’69 and Michele Maritz
Bill ’73 and Lisa Mastorakos
Neil Miller and Marcy Lifton
Claudia Mitchell
James Mitchell
Jim ’66 and Mary Moog
Adnan and Alma Murselovic
Richard and Ethel Neal
Alan Nemes and Fawn Chapel
George and Beth Niesen
Dennis and Alise Liberman O’Brien ’67
John and Anita Drosten O’Connell ’72
Timothy O’Neill
Jim and Leslie Peterson
Omie Pittman
Teresa Ragland
Mark and Barb Ravenscraft
Bill and Jacquie Reck
Adam and Anna Salaber
Rob and Sandi Seigel
Rich and Kathy Simon
Glenn and Priscilla Stone
Denise and David Stookesberry
Jake ’77 and Deb Stromsdorfer
J.J. Stupp ’74
Wendy and Suvit Thaisrivongs
Barrett Toan and Polly O’Brien
Eric and Barb Tremayne
Paul and Simona Tripodi
Merrill and Monique Spann Wade
Alan and Robin Weinberger
Kurt and Sally Weisenfels
Ron and Paula Wepprich
Richard and Marjorie Wnuk
American University
Aaron Seigel
Art Institute of Chicago
Franny Toan
Indiana University at
Bloomington
Nick Barry
Justin Westfall
Auburn University
Martha O’Connell
Johns Hopkins University
Monica Harris
Barnard College
Julia Miller
Loyola University Chicago
Kayle Leibold
Bates College
Claire Lampen
Loyola University New Orleans
Petey Edwards
Boston College
MaryJo Maliekel
Miami University (OH)
Daphne Benzaquen
Maggie Niesen
Boston University
Jonathan Lim
Bowdoin College
Emily Kim
University of Chicago
William Bush
Peter Cohen
Michelle Hwang
Jessen O’Brien
Anna Tripodi
Clemson University
Trevor Souers
Colgate University
Jenny Wnuk
University of Colorado at
Boulder
Teddy Maritz
Connecticut College
Vicke Fu
Dartmouth College
Pierre Guo
Nathan Gusdorf
University of Denver
Alex LaBarge
Ted Maritz
Parker Mastorakos
Clay Tremayne
DePauw University
Katie Stookesberry
Zach Weisenfels
Duke University
Stella Dee
Michael Naclerio
Earlham College
Sam Fordyce
Furman University
Alex Reed
The George Washington
University
Alyssa Mizell
Georgetown University
Wendi Hu
Hamilton College (NY)
Rachel Rothbarth
Harvard College
Rachel Maddux
Tim O’Hara
Aimee Wang
University of IllinoisChampaign
Brian Chin
Devin Fraley
Lee Weinberger
University of Miami (FL)
Amanda Dupont
Jayson Stewart
University of Missouri Columbia
Lauren Wepprich
Morehouse College
Alex Wade
New York University
Alex Boehm
University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
Davis Camp
Northwestern University
Katherine Dearing
Nicole Salaber
Jordan Stone
Oberlin College
Emily Thaisrivongs
Oxford College of Emory
University
Chelsey Carter
University of Pennsylvania
Bahja Johnson
Lior Melnick
Max Riley
Mitch Stromsdorfer
Pomona College
Jeremiah Steuterman
Rhodes College
Kavi Patel
University of Richmond
Melissa Finerty
St. Louis University
Eldar Murselovic
Claire Ravenscraft
Toi Shelton
Sewanee: The University of the
South
Tee Rassieur
University of Southern
California
Zara Abrams
Jane Stupp-O’Neill
Southern Methodist University
John Reck
Stanford University
Janani Balasubramanian
Tufts University
Bill Kistner
Sarah Soffer
University of Tulsa
Brandon Neal
Vanderbilt University
Margot Danis
University of Vermont
Caleb Liberman
University of Virginia
Ally Asaro
Robert Chapman
Maggie Kistner
Wake Forest University
Chelsea Albus
Rahul Handa
Washington and Lee University
Ben Hosler
Christa Peterson
Washington University in St.
Louis
Natalie Bornstein
Andy Gottlieb
Ioana Marcu
Molly Moog
Jacob Witt
Megan Wright
University of Washington
Drew Gustafson
University of Wisconsin Madison
Lindsey Bauer
Bill Costello
Abby Siwak
Yale Univesity
Dominick Lawton
Hody Nemes
Class of 2008 Captions for photos on page 7.
1 Michael Naclerio steals a quiet moment from responsibilities as a senior
counselor at Bio Drey Land. 2 Megan Wright hugs Elaine Childress
(principal of grades 9 and 10) on the seniors’ last day of school, April
30th. 3 Ally Asaro (number 7) handles the ball in the soccer team’s final
game of the season. 4 Members of the class of 2008 chuckle during Dr.
Keith Shahan’s speech at Senior Assembly. 5 Jordan Stone (on left) and
Tee Rassieur give the thumbs up before a Field Day tug-of-war against a
pumped-up sophomore team. 6 Caleb Liberman welcomes help as he gets
ready for graduation. 7 Hody Nemes and Stella Dee make a last-minute
run-through of their graduation speeches. 8 Max Riley and Alex Reed wait
their turn to proceed down the aisle. 9 Sarah Soffer accepts her diploma
from Dr. Keith Shahan. 10 From left, Tim O’Hara, Brandon Neal,
Mitch Stromsdorfer, Jayson Stewart and Aaron Seigel celebrate after the
ceremony.
Page 7
John Burroughs Reporter
September 2008
1
2
3
Class of 2008
The JBS community
felt the void when May
Projects took seniors
off campus, but they
came back for athletic
events, AP classes, a picnic with their parents and
Senior Assembly, and
then officially celebrated
the end of an era with
their graduation on June
5th. See page 6 for photo
captions.
4
6
5
7
9
8
10
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 8
September 2008
Our Alumni
Looking for alumni
We like to hear what our alumni are doing. In this issue of The Reporter,
we feature Terry Schnuck, who after 20 years in the family’s grocery
business made a dramatic — in the true sense of the word — career change.
In the fall we plan to feature alumni who have made ground-breaking
contributions in the medical field. We know we have alumni who fill the
bill, but we welcome your help in identifying them. Please send your
ideas to [email protected]
From left Josh Harris ’89, Mark Summerlin and
Seal perform at a private gig at Paramount Studios
in January. Josh is the son of Joel ’57 and Marcia
Harris.
Josh Harris ’89 performs with Seal
Out of the blue, Josh Harris ’89 got a phone
call from Seal last December.
The two-time Grammy Award-winning British soul singer known for his hits “Crazy” and
“Kiss from a Rose,” knew of Josh’s work as a
music remixer and producer. One thing led to
another, and Josh soon was playing keyboard
as a member of Seal’s band in a handful of live
shows.
A music major from Lawrence University,
Josh played in bands in Chicago and Nashville
before ending up in the New York City area to
focus on record production. As a remixer, he
takes an artist’s original recording and mixes
it with altered beats and music to create a new
version of the same song for a different market
segment. “The remix is supposed to grab an audience of people who may not normally listen
to that genre,” he says. “The original goes to
a certain batch of demographic listeners. The
remix is supposed to grab a whole new group.”
Music labels ask numerous producers to remix
an artist’s song and then choose a few versions
for release to radio stations and DJs.
Josh, who was twice nominated as Remixer of
the Year by International Dance Music Association, explains that his trademark style features
rock guitar and keyboards, often with completely new beds of music at a different tempo. Such
was the case in his remix of Seal’s current single,
“The Right Life.” “The only thing preserved
from the original was the vocal,” says Josh. “Seal
liked the sound of it. He called to tell me he
thought I had hit on something and to find out
what my skill set was.”
When Josh told Seal that he played keyboard,
the singer offered him the chance to audition to
play in a handful of private and corporate shows.
Josh got the job and has performed with Seal in
Las Vegas, Berlin, Puerto Rico, Grand Cayman,
Los Angeles and New York.
“I don’t like to get ahead of myself,” says Josh,
“but I look forward to the possibility of future
collaborations. We’ll have to see where that
goes.” Until then, Josh will keep on producing
music from his Dover, NH studio, and he will,
no doubt, stay close to his phone.
Mid-life career move has Terry Schnuck in show biz
At the age of 50, Terry Schnuck ’71 decided the
time was right.
He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do in his
business and legal career. After earning an economics degree from Tulane, an MBA from Washington
University and a law degree from St. Louis University, he’d worked for a couple of years with a law
firm in St. Louis before joining Schnuck Markets
Inc. as secretary and general counsel. There, he
and his five siblings grew the company into a $2.4
billion supermarket chain with 107 stores in seven
states. In his role as general counsel, Terry oversaw several major acquisitions, the most notable
of which was the purchase of the National Food
Stores chain which nearly doubled the size of the
company.
Yet, despite all his success in business, deep
inside Terry Schnuck beat the heart of a thespian
and the nagging desire to produce Broadway shows.
“I’d always had a passion for theatre and musical
theatre, in particular,” he says. “I was the kid who
put on puppet shows and plays, and my family
religiously attended the MUNY.” Terry performed
at Burroughs and in college and was involved with
a group of students who put on musicals at the
Kirkwood Amphitheatre during the summers. After
college, he considered an acting career, but decided
that business better accommodated his desire to
have a family.
Then, in his 40s, after joining the MUNY board,
Terry realized how much he missed musical theatre.
“I got to thinking: ‘If I die without having the time
to exercise this creative side of my mind, I don’t
think I’ll die a happy person.’” Terry got serious
about a career move and started laying the foundation. “It made sense to do this while I was still
energetic and productive and had plenty of time to
see something come to life. The process of producing a play from scratch can easily take six or seven
years. I didn’t like the time horizon if I waited until
retirement to get started.”
Terry took the leap. He broached the subject
with his wife, Sally, who guessed his intentions
before he got the words out of his mouth. She has
been 100 percent supportive, as have his siblings,
though “at first, they were shocked and surprised.”
Since leaving his relatively comfortable position with the family business, the middle Schnuck
son has reinvented himself with apparent ease and
considerable success. As a producer, he calls into
play his legal and business backgrounds every day.
“Each new show is a new business, and you are the
CEO. You have to raise money; find a director; secure a theatre; hire designers, a marketing team and
a general manager; review contracts and deal with
unions. The producer is basically the person who
brings it all together and makes it happen.”
And happen it has. In just six years, working
primarily from his St. Louis home, Schnuck has
produced such Broadway musicals as “Spring Awakening,” which claimed eight 2008 Tony Awards
(including that for Best Musical) and the upcoming
“Ace: The Musical” as well as recent revivals of
“’night, Mother” and “The Caine Mutiny CourtMartial.” In addition to his Broadway productions,
Terry Schnuck ’71
Terry is executive producer of the “Manhattan
Monologue Slam,” which he calls “Masterpiece
Theatre” meets “American Idol” for actors. He also
remains active in St. Louis theatre, serving as chair
of the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis and on the
boards of The MUNY and the Professional Theatre
Awards Council, which annually bestows the Kevin
Kline Awards.
For him, the decision to change careers was a
good one. “It’s been an adventure,” he says. “I’ve
never looked back.”
Credits
Since leaving the family’s grocery business
in 2002, Terry Schnuck has produced or
co-produced one off-Broadway and six
Broadway shows. Among them are:
“The Homecoming”
2008 Tony Award nominee for
Best Revival of a Play
2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for
Outstanding Revival of a Play
“Spring Awakening”
Eight 2007 Tony Awards
including that for Best Musical
2007 Drama Desk Award for
Outstanding Musical
“The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial”
2006 Drama Desk Award nominee for
Outstanding Revival of a Play
“Ministry of Progress”
Off-Broadway
“Enchanted April”
2003 Tony Award nominee for Best Play
John Burroughs Reporter
September 2008
Page 9
Our Alumni
Alumni News and Notes
1958
Don’t see your note?
The notes, marriages, births and condolences on these
alumni pages were received before June 30th. If you do
not see yours, please check the next issue.
1939
50TH REUNION
September 26-28, 2008
Organizers: Susan Rench Corrington, Mary O’Reilly,
Judy Lorenz Tisdale, John and Judy Hunkins Woods &
Bert Wunderlich
1961
Peggy Bebié Thomson writes, “I had the pleasure last
summer of again visiting the Swiss Engadin — walking the
familiar trails through meadows and woods and the foothills
of the mountains, meeting up with the long-cherished
wildflowers, riding the trains across the stone bridges built by
my grandfather, spending time with my childhood friend. It
was a joy.”
1943
65TH REUNION
September 5-7, 2008
Organizers: Mary Fuller Bearman, Loy Ledbetter,
Ann Niemeyer Maritz, Emily Freund Ullman,
David Volk & Hal Wuertenbaecher
moved from their home of 56 years to be near relatives in
Hammond, LA. Upon leaving Larchmont, NY, Theora
was honored by the Historical Society as a founding
trustee and board member for almost 27 years and by the
mayor of Larchmont and supervisor of the nearby town
of Mamaroneck. She was recognized by the Jay Heritage
Center in Rye, NY, and by her chapters of Philanthropic
Education Organization and Daughters of the American
Revolution, among others. She also was honored by the
Village of Larchmont as she sang the National Anthem for
the 31st time, opening July 4th festivities.
Ninety-two alumni, parents and friends of
Burroughs participated in the 18th Annual JBS
Golf Tournament on May 8th at the Norman K.
Probstein Golf Course in Forest Park.
Bob Cranston writes, “We recently moved to Innsbrook
Resort, about 40 miles west of St. Louis. Golf, tennis,
swimming, sailing, hiking, horses, etc. Beautiful place to
live. Plenty of room. All classmates welcome!”
Mike Luedde recently published Breakfast with the Island
Mystic: Parables for a New Christianity, which is available
from Amazon.com.
Ben Senturia authored a chapter on the nuclear
weapons freeze campaign in Peace Action, a 2007 book
commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Committee
for a SANE Nuclear Policy. He also co-taught a one-year
course for conservation groups in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Ben took a ten-day trip on the Amazon River in
December of 2007.
1944
Theora Pierce Hahn reports that after two floods (March
and April 2007), she and her brother, Ray Hahn ’38,
Golf and friends
From left are Harry Imster ’83, Tim Philpott ’83
(parent and immediate past president of the Alumni
Association), and Bill Mastorakos ’73, holding Ellen
Sheffield Pace ’83.
1963
Barbara Deem Anderson recently visited Frances
Wells ’64. Frances shows her paintings at Barbara’s gallery
in Maine, as well as at her own gallery in Piermont, NY.
Barbara reports that her son, Peter, graduated from Island
High School this year and will attend the University of
Maine-Farmington in the fall.
1964
From left are Scott Thomas ’87, Matt McDonald
’87, Kevin Bauer ’87 and Andrew Newman ’87
(Fine Arts).
1945
Carol Hill Timson reports that she and her husband,
George, have moved to Springfield, MO, to be nearer some
of their children. “We’re still skiing in Colorado, biking,
hiking and floating the Current River. Lucky I guess.”
1948
60TH REUNION
October 10 & 11, 2008
Organizers: Rusty Johnson, Callie Costen Martin, John Meyer,
Judy Johnstone Scott, Joan Weir Stradal & Bob Stupp
1951
Margaret Stark McKinney writes, “I’m very thrilled to
have our grandson, Blake Maune, entering Burroughs this
fall as a seventh grader. He’s a great boy, and I think he and
Burroughs are perfect for each other.”
1953
55TH REUNION
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Organizers: Peter Fischer, Liz Brandon O’Herin,
Susie Berger Philpott, Caroline Meyer Sant,
Leigh Strassner & June Maune Teasdale
Susie Berger Philpott was one of ten St. Louis Women of
Achievement for 2008. Susie was recognized for education
enrichment.
1956
Missouri State Representative Rachel Storch ’90 recently
presented Joe Edwards with an Outstanding Missourian
Award. Rachel said, “Joe Edwards’s vision has helped to reshape the Delmar Loop. … Joe’s accomplishments exemplify
the power of a single individual to drive positive change.”
Edwards founded Blueberry Hill, the St. Louis landmark
restaurant and music club. He also founded and chairs the
nonprofit St. Louis Walk of Fame, which honors famous St.
Louisans. He restored and re-opened
the historic Tivoli Theatre, built the
Pageant Concert Nightclub, opened
the Pin-Up Bowl and the Flamingo
Bowl, and is currently constructing the
Moonrise Hotel, which is scheduled
to have a grand opening in December
2008. He also has facilitated the
historic renovation of numerous
buildings in the St. Louis area. In
addition, Edwards is leading efforts
through the Loop Trolley Company
to implement a fixed-track, vintage
trolley system in St. Louis.
From left are present parents Bren Souers and Sally
Wallace Shinkle ’79.
Walter Metcalfe was recognized as Man of the Year by the
Variety Children’s Charity of St. Louis.
1966
Actor Godfrey Pflager reports that he has achieved a
life goal. He appears in the upcoming film, “The Last Film
Festival,” in which he plays a priest and appears in the same
frame as Dennis Hopper.
Nancy Leyhe Allen writes, “Great
to see Craig Schnuck, Heidi Frey
1957
Mary Marsh Smith writes, “I am still enjoying memories of
our wonderful reunion. Golf game is improving.”
Margo Wood is the dean of graduate studies at the
University of Southern Maine. Her daughter, Hannah
Friedman, and her husband, Greg, each broke their left leg
skiing on the same mountain, the same trail, five weeks
apart. Margo writes, “Why do people ski?”
Currier, Barb Bohren MacLeod,
Judy Harris Rawson, Jim Moog
and Jack Goralnik at the assembly
honoring Terry Karl as the
Outstanding Alumna. This was a well-deserved honor for
our incredible classmate whose speech brought everyone to
their feet.”
1968
40TH REUNION
October 10 & 11, 2008
Organizers: Debbie Deutch, Jon Edwards,
Alice Lowenhaupt Montgomery & Kathleen O’Keefe
Golf Tournament committee member Allison Flynn
Engelsmann ’95 presents gifts to the winners of
the championship flight. From left are David King,
Davey Desloge ’94, Allison, Tim Liebe ’94 and
Mike Todorovich ’93.
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 10
News
Alumni continued
1969
Kay Holekamp was featured in the May 2008 issue of
Smithsonian Magazine and in the March 28th issue of the New
York Times in articles about her two decades of research on
hyenas — both at Michigan State University, where she
teaches, and in the field in Masai Mara, Kenya.
1971
Elizabeth Harris Christmas writes, “I will be celebrating
Renovation of the Kerry S. Kuehner Fine Arts
Building began the day after graduation and should
be completed before the opening day of school. Central to the refurbishment is the addition of a glassenclosed gallery space in the breezeway between the
dining room and the fine arts building. Other improvements include a fire-protection sprinkler system
for the building and all new mechanicals. The fine
arts department plans to christen the gallery space
with a curated show featuring the school’s permanent
collection.
September 2008
the first birthday of my first grandchild, Aiofe Luan
Mahoney, an adorable little girl who reminds me entirely
too much of me.” Elizabeth recently received the The F.
Wm. McCalpin Pro Bono Award from Legal Services of
Eastern Missouri. Elizabeth is a solo practitioner, working
predominately in the area of family law. For nine years, she
was a contract attorney with the State of Missouri Division
of Child Support Enforcement. She has argued family law
cases before the Missouri Appellate Court and the Missouri
Supreme Court, and she is a member of the Family Law
Committee, the School Law Committee, and the Juvenile
Law Committee of the Missouri Bar.
Lou Hoerr writes, “If a rematch of the 1970s vs. 1980s
men’s soccer game occurs, I would happily referee. Kudos to
Ann Lemp as the recipient of the JBS Distinguished Service
Award.”
1972
accepted a new position, organizing the charter of several
large five-star cruise ships from U.S. cruise companies to
serve as accommodation and hospitality centers for the
World Cup 2010 in South Africa. He writes, “The job
is almost a dream come true as it allows me to combine
my know-how in the law, my international contacts and
my sports and entertainment background all in one huge
project. Having just turned 50 myself, I had always wanted
a role outside of consulting and strictly law, and this is it, at
least for the next two years.” Michael reports that he will be
travelling to the U.S. during 2008 and 2009 and hopes to
see many JBS alumni.
1976
Linda Holekamp reports a “fabulous and unforgettable
50th birthday celebration at Union Square Cafe (New York
City) thanks to the kindness of anniversary celebrants
Peter and Lindsay Gaebe Keller ’76 and the world’s best
restaurateur, Danny Meyer ’76.
Laura Lewis Meyer has been named administrative
director of The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park
in Kirkwood, MO.
1977
Tracey Beisman Leigh writes, “Still running private
massage therapy practice, teaching yoga and empty nesting.”
Her daughter recently graduated from Wesleyan, and her
son is a freshman at University of Texas (Austin).”
Leslie Desmond lives in Sweden and southern California.
Join us on campus
She is an international horse training coach and author/
producer of horse handling and riding DVDs and audio
books.
Kuehner Gallery Opening: 4 to 7 p.m.,
October 10th
1973
35TH REUNION
October 10-11, 2008
Alumni Picnic: 11 a.m., October 11th
Alumni Soccer Tournament: 11 a.m., October
12th
Fall Play: 8 p.m., October 24th & 25th
Grades 7-12 Choral Concert: 7:30 p.m.,
November 12th
Unique Boutique: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., November
22nd & 23rd
Grades 9-12 Jazz Band & Orchestra Concert:
7:30 p.m., November 25th
Holiday Program: 5:30 & 7:30 p.m., December 18th
A new web site is coming
The school is upgrading its website, focusing
on navigation and the “external” pages. Please
stay tuned for the new site, which should go
live this fall.
Organizers: Margaret Altvater Clark, Cicely Jordan Drennan,
Joe Dreyer, Peter Edison, Bill Mastorakos,
Jane Devine Pilkington & Ellen Witscher Trovillion
Lynn Yerges Buhl writes, “It was fun to see classmate Ellen
Witscher Trovillion here in Annapolis in March and then
to see Boo (Sarah) Morse at the JBS Washington, D.C.
Director of Communications
and Community Relations:
Ellen Leschen Bremner ’67
Organizers: Dan Busse, Anne Knight Davidson,
David Hatfield, Kris Samuels Holmes, Jeannette Huey,
Mark McCallum, Wendy Behrens McGowan, Joe O’Keefe,
Mary Jones Otto, Steve Schmid, Wendy Larimore Turner
& Lisa Holekamp Yost
1979
Eric Porterfield is a media/broadcast network consultant
living in State College, PA, and working in New York City,
London and Washington, D.C. He lives with his fiancé, Sue
Wilson, and their four kids.
William Shearburn has opened a branch location of the
1974
The William Shearburn Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. Check
out the gallery’s web page at www.shearburngallery.com.
David Busse and his wife, Mary McCormick, are featured
in the book Crowded Maze by Randy Steinman. Crowded
Maze is a collection of 25 “how we met” stories, as told by
news, weather and sports broadcasters from across North
America. David is quoted in his story as follows: “She was
hanging out the door, shooting from our old helicopter and
I said, ‘That’s the kind of girl I’m going to marry someday.’”
Mary is president and CEO of MBI Media in California and
Arizona. David is a news photographer and satellite uplink
operator at KABC-TV in Los Angeles. They have been
married since 1983 and have two grown children.
Holly Thayer Eggert writes, “I continue to mentor young
women to be devoted wives, mothers and homemakers.
My husband, Charlie, is enjoying training for a bike race
in France in July. Our oldest, Charles, graduated from
Washington University last year and now works for a
biomedical company in Manhattan. Melissa is a senior at
Vanderbilt University.”
of Eleanor A. Maynard, LLC, and serves as outside general
counsel to several organizations and nonprofits.
Editor: Lynn Phelps
We welcome your leads for alumni feature stories and
alumni news. You can reach us by phone (314/993-4045
or 800/264-4045, ext. 264) or by e-mail
([email protected]).
30TH REUNION
October 10-11, 2008
party in April. Boo used to live in Annapolis. I’m sorry we
didn’t overlap. We talked about getting back to St. Louis in
October.”
Eleanor Maynard has opened a law practice, Law Office
John Burroughs School publishes the Reporter
for distribution to alumni, parents,
parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty,
staff and friends of the school.
1978
1975
Gen Obata’s bands, Raven Moon and City Folk, have
played at many St. Louis area venues. He’s also busy making
artist’s quilts for an upcoming show in Glen Arbor, MI. Gen and his wife, civil rights attorney Rebecca Stith, have two
daughters. Emma is a St. Louis University sophomore and
Taylor is a Clayton High School senior.
Michael Siebold, foreign exchange student during the
1974-75 school year, reports that he is an attorney at the
firm Arnecke Siebold in Frankfurt, Germany. In addition
to being a senior partner at his law firm, Michael recently
1983
25TH REUNION
October 10-11, 2008
Organizers: Nancy Schnuck Diemer, Ellen Sheffield Pace,
Tim Philpott & Clark Thomas
Matt Estill writes, “I had fun sightseeing with my son, Peter
(age 7), and Jim Probstein and his two daughters in New
York City over Thanksgiving weekend in 2007. I am still
playing weekly indoor soccer in Ithaca, NY. I’m looking
forward to an alumni soccer match over reunion weekend in
October.”
1984
Steve Werner has opened a restaurant, Bici Cafe, at the
corner of Pershing and Jackson Avenues in University City.
Check out the restaurant’s web page at www.bicicafe.com.
1985
Carole Sams Hoemeke relaunched her event solutions
company as Social Specialties in April. Carole will be the
camp captain for crew for the Atlanta three-day breast
cancer walk for Susan G. Komen for the Cure in October.
Christine Sterkel Sturgill reports that life is busy and
entertaining with 21/2-year-old twins. She writes, “Stella
and Haley enjoy visiting cousins Hope and Hannah Sterkel.
They also are pals with Lavanda Caldwell Wagenheim’s
duo, Caldwell and Sarah Virginia.”
Lavanda Caldwell Wagenheim writes, “Our family has
spent the last four years in Auburn, AL, where my husband
has been attending the Auburn College of Veterinary
Medicine, and I have been teaching seventh grade English.
We are sad to be leaving the Auburn community, but
excited to be returning to our farm in Tuscaloosa, AL.”
John Burroughs Reporter
September 2008
Memorials & Tributes
Alumni continued
1988
Organizers: Nancy Cohen Anderson &
Christine Freeland Roper
Indrajit Choudhuri has completed medical training in
New Jersey in cardiology/clinical electrophysiology. She
specializes in implantable cardiac devices.
Wendy Dunaway Wall writes, “I have relocated to Portola
Valley, CA, and am enjoying the warm, sunny weather and
all of the outdoor activities that the area has to offer.”
1991
Stacy Clay was recently elected to the University City
school board.
second baby, Olivia Michelle Johnson, on April 17th. The
race team I manage, Stevenson Motorsports, was racing in
Mexico City. I flew to Mexico on the 16th, flew home on the
17th to have the baby, flew back to Mexico on the 18th, won
the race on Saturday, and flew back home on Sunday the
20th. The first win for the team, the second baby for us. Our
son, Connor, waited for me to come home from a race in
Daytona. Unfortunately, Olivia did not. I missed the birth
by six hours.”
1993
15TH REUNION
October 11, 2008
Organizer: Kim Svenson Weas
Yuki Noguchi reports that 2008 is a big year for her. “I’m
Sarah Law (at
left) recently
completed an
internship in
Madras, now
known as
Chennai, in the
south Indian state
of Tamil Nadu.
She has been
working as a
researcher for
Paterson
Consultancy, an
Indian brokerdealer investmentadvisory house
that dates to 1892.
Sarah worked on
20TH REUNION
October 10-11, 2008
Mike Johnson writes, “My wife, Cheryl, and I had our
Indian markets and issues of securities.
2003
5TH REUNION
Friday, November 28, 2008
Organizers: Fiona Fordyce, Kellen Townsend,
Jessica Trotter & Jeanne Trulaske
Sam Altman was featured in the May 5th issue of
Newsweek in an interview about his company, Loopt, which
provides a service that lets people with GPS-equipped
mobile phones share their real-time locations with friends.
The article said, “Altman, who just turned 23, has now been
CEO of Loopt for three years, during which the company
says it has lured ‘hundreds of thousands’ of people who
let their phones beam their locations to friends, and vice
versa.”
getting married to the marvelous Christopher Libertelli,
and we bought a new house. I’m currently still editing at
the Washington Post, but I’m moving over to NPR soon as a
correspondent.”
1994
Jessie Guth Ripper reports that older brother, Jacob, and
little sister, Joanna Grace, born June 22, 2007, are doing
well together. “We are still living in St. Louis. I am enjoying
my career with World Wide Technology.”
1995
Franklin Huang was featured in a news story on the
Washington University website (www.wustl.edu). Franklin,
who holds a doctorate from Harvard and recently earned
his medical degree from Washington University, has started
an internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General
Hospital.
1997
Daniel Tsai is a network administrator with QIAGEN
GmbH. He lives in Germany.
1998
10TH REUNION
November 28, 2008
Organizers: Michelle Leontsinis Reisner,
Andrew Schlichter & Jenny Veraldi
1999
Karl Rapfogel and Lee Todorovich pulled a very heavy
and very unconscious man from a burning vehicle after a
serious car crash near Karl’s home in Portland, OR. Without
regard for their own safety, Lee and Karl leapt into action,
extricating the helpless man and carrying him to safety.
Once the injured man was clear of the fiery wreckage,
Christine Edwards began CPR and Karl extinguished
the fire as they waited for the fire department to arrive.
Meanwhile, Emily Miller warned approaching traffic of the
danger by standing in the road and waving her arms wildly.
2001
In May, Zane Wells completed his master’s degree in
architecture from the University of Southern California, Los
Angeles. Before pursuing his master’s degree, Zane received
his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Miami University
(OH) and then spent 11 months as an intern at Behnisch,
an architectural firm in Stuttgart, Germany. Zane is now
employed at HKS, an architectural firm in Beverly Hills,
CA.
Page 11
While on vacation with his family, history teacher Dr. Mark
Smith (above) took Barbara Smith (they’re not related)
up on her offer for a behind-the-scenes tour of the White
House. Barbara, who holds bachelors’ degrees in economics and political science from Wake Forest University,
works in the White House Counsel’s office. Barbara writes,
“It was such a pleasure to see Dr. Smith and his family; I
know him well from the many hours we spent working on
the JBS World (I was co-editor in chief my senior year at
Burroughs).” Of her work in the Counsel’s Office, Barbara
says, “It is an honor to work for the President, a man I
greatly respect, and the Counsel’s Office provides a unique
perspective on the legal issues the Administration faces. I
was a junior at Burroughs on September 11, 2001, and the
President’s response to those events stirred in me a passion
for politics and a deep admiration for President Bush. At
the time, however, I could not have imagined having the
opportunity to work at the White House. Unfortunately, my
service in the White House ends when this President heads
back to Texas in January, but I am, Lord willing, law school
bound after this.”
Correction
November 15 - 30, 2007
The following gifts, received between November
15-30, 2007, were inadvertently omitted from the
last Reporter. We apologize for the omission.
In Memory of Mrs. John G. Buettner
Betsy and Jack Biggs ’62
Sherry and Chuck Mill ’60
Tricia and Jack Phillipe
To the Eddie Cissel Memorial Scholarship Fund
In Memory of Edward W. Cissel, Jr. ’74
Sally Cissel Greenwood and Perry Bascom ’54
Sarah Greenwood ’89
To the Lt. Tom Costen Memorial Scholarship Fund
In Memory of W. Tom Costen ’81
Bertram B. Culver III
In Honor of James W. Alverson
Lynne and Scott Johnson ’65
In Memory of Theodore D. Drury ’44
Kathryn J. Drury
In Honor of James G. Forsyth III ’76
Kim and Joe Blomker
In Memory of Gordon F. Frey
Douglas and Anne Albrecht
Robert Bushyhead ’66
Mrs. Gordon Frey
Brad and Barb Thach
In Memory of Richard W. Gordon
Fritz Gebhard
In Memory of Jason K. Lohr ’91
Betsy and Jack Biggs ’62
Laura and Steven Busch ’95
Sanjaya Gupta ’91
Barry, Pat and Kate Oxenhandler
Tricia and Jack Phillipe
Ray and Anne Ritchey
Pat and Ken Schutte & Samantha Schutte Davidson ’93
In Memory of Claire D. Mather
Doug and Anne Albrecht
D.J. and Nancy Schnuck Diemer ’83 Marilyn and Bernard Edison ’45
George and Anna Lee Grone
Maggie and Ron Holtman
Pam and Rush James
Dave Lyons and Denise Lyons
Mrs. John E. Mackey and Family
Kris Margherio ’96
Mr. and Mrs. Steve Mathes ’74 and Family
Margery S. Nax
Bob and Anne O’Connell
Jane and Ernest Rouse
Mrs. Donald O. Schnuck
Sally and Terry Schnuck ’71
Julie and Todd Schnuck ’77
Mr. and Mrs. Richard V. Snyder
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Sobbe
Mr. and Mrs. J. Edgar Withrow
In Honor of Betty McCarthy ’36
Mary Frances Hazelton
To the Thomas M. McConnell Scholarship Fund
In Memory of Thomas M. McConnell
Tom ’62 and Molly Herbst McConnell ’62
In Memory of Dr. Charles K. Sibley
Mary Jane Gray, M.D. ’41
In Honor of Dora Tickner
Lynne and Scott Johnson ’65
In Honor of William M. Vibert
Lynne and Scott Johnson ’65
In Honor of Robert L. Walker
Lynne and Scott Johnson ’65
In Honor of Thomas E. Yager
Lynne and Scott Johnson ’65
2004
Rachel Fowle graduated with honors from Tufts University
this spring with a double major in child development and
classics. She received the child development department’s
award for high scholarship and promise in teaching. Rachel
has taken a job in Newton, MA, where she will teach first
grade.
Scott Nelson spent three months in Australia during the
spring of 2007. He was working on a special project for
Vision Australia (Society for the Blind). Scott graduated in
May with a degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to
complete his master’s degree in May of 2009.
Lauren Zuckerman graduated from the School of Public
Affairs at American University in Washington, D.C. She is
working for the Investigative Project on Terrorism.
Continued on page 12.
John Burroughs Reporter
Page 12
Memorials & Tributes
April 1 - June 30, 2008
September 2008
Alumni continued
2005
Condolences Continued
Lucy Eldredge Bailey ’68, Robert Eldredge ’69,
Elizabeth Eldredge ’72 and Barbara Eldredge ’72 on
In Memory of Jean Dazey Baker ’47
Joellen and Richard Bennet ’47
In Memory of William N. Bean ’52
Elizabeth and Bob Wood ’53
To the Ray Beckman Soccer Field Fund
In Honor of Raymond P. Beckman
John L. Gerlach II ’56
Tom Hardy ’65
Arthur F. Kerckhoff III ’69
Asma and Hashim Raza ’84
In Honor of John W. Brophy
Anonymous
James M. Chleboun
The Soffer Family
In Memory of Mrs. John G. Buettner
Christopher A. Mill ’62
In Honor of Chelsey Carter ’08
Anonymous
In Honor of the Class of 1992
George and Mary Vournas
In Honor of the Class of 2008
James M. Chleboun
In Memory of Mr. Richard L. Daly
Richard and Julia Nash
In Honor of Margot Danis ’08
Anonymous
In Honor of Peggy Fiala
James M. Chleboun
In Memory of Dr. George R. Gay ’48
Betsy Bowen Boles ’48
In Memory of Dr. Ronald K. Grady
Jim and Jan Stevens
In Memory of Randall P. Hess ’67
Laura and Allan Goodloe, Jr. ’67
In Memory of Susan Buder Horan ‘36
Betty Funsten McCarthy ’36
In Honor of Terry L. Karl ’66
Emily & C. B. Gebhard
Rich and Mary Weinstock
In Honor of Georgeann Kepchar
Anonymous
James M. Chleboun
In Honor of Claire Lampen ’08
Anonymous
To the Stephen McKee Lewis Library Fund
In Memory of Stephen McKee Lewis ‘76
Dr. J. Eugene Lewis, Jr.
In Honor of Caleb Liberman ’08
Anonymous
In Memory of Jason K. Lohr ’91
Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Dolson
William M. Lochmoeller ’90
Amy George Rush ’92
In Memory of Doryce McCauley
Robin and Kim Bozark
To the Thomas M. McConnell Scholarship Fund
In Memory of Thomas M. McConnell
Christopher A. Mill ’62
In Honor of Barbara M. McKinney ’54
Sue and Dick George
Kip and Sue Morrison Rapp ’54
Joseph and Gail Steiner Trigg ’55
In Honor of Walter L. Metcalfe, Jr. ’56
John J. Hamilton III ’74
In Memory of Charles D. Mill ’32
Christopher A. Mill ’62
In Memory of Charles and Marian Oldham
Bosey and Tad Foote II ’55
In Honor of Leslie Peterson
Anonymous
In Memory of CMDR Christopher Riley ’88
Charles P. Derleth, Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas T. Kouchoukos
Rob Kouchoukos ’88
In Memory of Robert T. Riley, Jr. ’80
Amy C. Jones ’80
In Honor of Peter Schandorff
Anonymous
James M. Chleboun
The Soffer Family
Bonnie Baine Tollefson ’74
Continued on page 13.
Lety Dell’Asin, AFS exchange student from Italy
during the 2003-04 school year (above, left), is studying
international relations in Florence. She writes, “Last
February, I met Diana Barry (above, right) in Florence,
where she was spending a semester abroad as part of her
program at Tufts.”
2006
Sam Fowle was recently inducted into Pi Tau Sigma, the
mechanical engineering honors society at the University
of Michigan. He will be spending the next six months
participating in an engineering co-op at Toyota Motors
Engineering and Manufacturing of North America in
Kentucky.
2007
Brett Gall played Division I water polo as a freshman at
George Washington University.
Ana Llewellyn, who is pursuing a bachelor’s of fine arts
degree at Penn State, is a member of the MUNY ensemble
for the 2008 season.
Marriages
Andrew Tesch Miller and Dorey Edinger ’94 on September
29, 2007.
Andy Lampert ’95 and Melinda Shopsin on September 2,
2007.
Melissa Daniels ’98 and Timothy Peterson on September
8, 2007.
Births
To Harry ’83 and Ginger Imster, a son, Harlan Harry
Imster, on March 14, 2008.
To Andy Gelle and Sarah Greenwood ’89, a son, Duff
Greenwood Gelle, on May 19, 2008.
To Mike ’91 and Cheryl Johnson, a daughter, Olivia
Michelle Johnson, on April 17, 2008.
To Dan ’92 and Kathleen Bomze, a son, Nathaniel Seizo
Bomze, on April 18, 2008.
To Colin ’92 and Krista Creel, a son, Cole Robertson Creel,
on March 29, 2008.
To Michael and Julie Heineman McGinley ’93, a son,
Sean Thomas McGinley, on July 21, 2007.
To Michael ’93 and Claire Todorovich, a daughter,
Katherine Todorovich, on February 26, 2008.
To Jim and Jessie Guth Ripper ’94, a daughter, Joanna
Grace Ripper, on June 22, 2007.
To Mike ’95 and Jackie Stolze, a son, Brady James Stolze,
on May 12, 2008.
To Woody and Heather Hawk Lalumondiere ’96, a
daughter, LeeAnn Corine Lalumondiere, on May 7, 2008.
To Ted and Suzanne Moore Rafferty ’97, a daughter,
Reese Lennox Rafferty, on February 19, 2008.
To Kyle ’97 and Carrie Goodloe Chapman ’98, a son,
Hall Chapman, on November 4, 2006.
To Andy ’98 and Cary Murphy, a daughter, Winifred Gray
Murphy, on April 5, 2008.
To Johnny ’98 and Beverly O’Neal, a son, Jackson John
O’Neal, on July 12, 2007.
Condolences
Condolences are offered to:
Bob Maune ’47, Emily Maune Eddins ’76 and Blake
Maune ’14 on the death of their son, brother and father,
Grant Maune, on May 26, 2008.
Ann Frielingsdorf Haack ’58, Bill Frielingsdorf ’61 and
Sally Frielingsdorf Nikolajevich ’69 on the death of
their mother, Anita O. Boettler, on April 21, 2008.
Peter Mayer ’63 on the death of his mother, Mildred Mills
Mayer, on April 4, 2008.
Continued
the death of their father, Donald Herbert Eldredge, on
June 7, 2008.
Richard Braznell ’72 on the death of his mother, Barbara
M. Braznell, on March 29, 2008.
Eleanor A. Maynard ’74 on the death of her mother, Mary
Maynard, on December 26, 2007.
Rick McGinley ’74, Mary Duffy McGinley ’77 and
Mike McGinley ’79 on the death of their brother, Peter
McGinley, on May 11, 2008.
Arthur Rosecan ’75 on the death of his brother, Jeffrey
Rosecan, on May 6, 2008.
Ann Unterberger Smith ’79 on the death of her mother,
Helen Unterberger, on April 4, 2008.
Hugh Protzel ’81 on the death of his father, Harvey
Protzel, on May 9, 2008.
Jeremy Goell ’82 on the death of his father, Robert
Stephen Goell, on May 8, 2008.
Emily Lane Arneson ’83 on the death of her father,
Clinton W. Lane, Jr., on June 2, 2008.
Anthony Gorman ’83 on the death of his father, Vincent
Anthony Gorman, on April 9, 2008.
John Grady ’78, Mark Grady ’80, Lynn Grady ’84, Anne
Grady Cearlock ’86, Mackenzie Grady ’11 and Jack
Grady ’13 on the death of their father and grandfather,
Ronald K. Grady, on June 13, 2008.
Mary Schmitz Santen ’84 on the death of her mother,
Elsie Kemp Schmitz, on May 1, 2008.
Bob Esther ’87 on the death of his father, James Donald
Esther, on April 14, 2008.
Bryan Jones ’94 on the death of his father, Thomas L.
Jones, Jr., on February 22, 2008.
Meghan Trulaske ’97, Jeanne Trulaske ’03 and Steve
Trulaske ’75, on the death of their father and brother,
Robert J. Trulaske, Jr., on April 23, 2008.
Obituaries
The Reporter includes alumni death notices as soon as
possible after notification has been received. We make
every effort to contact survivors so that we can include
a tribute that reflects the deceased’s life and accomplishments. Unfortunately, we often must rely on limited and
outdated information, and the result is that some obituaries are much more complete than others. Survivors and
friends of the deceased can help by sending information
(e.g., obituaries from other publications, programs from
the funeral service or other tributes) to Nancy Cusanelli,
John Burroughs School, 755 South Price Road, St. Louis,
MO 63124 or to [email protected].
1930
Dr. Alfred Gellhorn died on March 24, 2008. He was
94 years old.
Dr. Gellhorn was born to Dr. George Gellhorn
and Edna Fischel Gellhorn, a founder of the League
of Women Voters and John Burroughs School.
He was a graduate of Washington University
School of Medicine and became a physician-scientist, teacher and mentor who brought reforms in
graduate medical education, primary care and minority access to education. He was a pioneer in oncology at Columbia University from 1943 to 1968,
when he became the director of the medical center
and dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He also served as director of
medical affairs for the New York State Department
of Health, vice president for Health Affairs at City
College and was founding director of the Sophie
Davis School of Biomedical Education of City
University and Gateway Institute for Pre-College
Education in New York City’s public high schools.
Dr. Gellhorn also was a board member and advisor
for the Aaron and Irene Diamond Foundations and
a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.
The school extends its condolences to Dr.
Gellhorn’s family including four daughters, five
grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His wife;
another daughter; and his sister, Martha Gellhorn
’26, preceded him in death.
John Burroughs Reporter
September 2008
Memorials & Tributes
Alumni continued
1936
died on June 9, 2008. She was
90 years old.
After graduating from Burroughs, Mrs. Bacon
attended Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. She
devoted most of her adult life to her family as a
homemaker and mother.
The school offers condolences to Mrs. Bacon’s
survivors including a son; a daughter; a brother,
John Lively ’40; and a sister, Dorothy Lively Weidle
’42. She was preceded in death by her husband and
another sister, Ruth Lively Curran ’39.
Virginia Lively Bacon
1936
Susan Buder Horan died on May 13, 2008. She was
89 years old.
After attending Burroughs, Mrs. Horan graduated from Vassar College with a bachelor’s of arts
degree. Mrs. Horan’s large family kept her busy, and
she was a frequent volunteer at Villa Duchesne,
Mary Institute and St. Louis Priory. Additional interests included gardening, reading, nature, sewing
club, her Bible study group and Syndicate.
The school offers condolences to Mrs. Horan’s
family including her husband of 66 years, Joseph
Horan; five daughters; two sons; 18 grandchildren,
two of whom are Genie Burke ’92 and Danny Burke
’99; and 13 great-grandchildren. She was preceded
in death by a brother, Eugene Buder ’34, and a
sister, Antonia Buder Wiegand ’39. Mrs. Horan was
a member of the John Burroughs Society, which is the
school’s gift and estate planning recognition society.
1941
William Petring Outten
died on June 8, 2008. He
was 84 years old.
After graduating from Burroughs, Mr. Outten
enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving the duration of
World War II. After the war, he was employed as a
Greyhound bus driver. He and his brother, Burnett,
founded the Wm. P. Outten Co., which manufactured and distributed tray stands to hotels and
restaurants. He also worked as chief expeditor for
the Olin Corp. in the early 1960s and for May Co.,
in charge of the telephone systems for Famous-Barr
stores in the St. Louis area.
In 1990, during the onset of de-regulation in the
telecommunications industry, Mr. Outten successfully challenged the Missouri Public Service Commission, winning the right to re-sell AT&T service.
He started the Hillsboro Telephone Co. and provided inexpensive calling rates within specific areas
of Missouri.
Mr. Outten was an avid driver and lover of automobiles, and he was the proud owner of one of the
first Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles in the U.S.
The school offers condolences to Mr. Outten’s
family including a daughter, a son; and three brothers, two of whom are Burnett Outten, Jr. ’38 and
Warren B. Outten ’45. He was preceded in death
by his wife, Sally Douglas Outten ’45, and another
brother, Henry Outten ’39.
1942
Betty Watkins Blair died on March 4, 2008. She was
84 years old.
After graduating from Burroughs, Mrs. Blair received her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College.
She and her late husband, John B. Blair, traveled
the world, residing in The Virgin Islands and Spain
before settling in Key West, FL. She was an artist
and avid reader.
The school offers condolences to Mrs. Blair’s
family including her daughter, her step-daughter,
Page 13
two grandsons and a step-grandson. She was preceded in death by a sister, Nancy Watkins Howell
’39, and a brother, Willet Watkins ’44.
In Memory of Jean Morrison Schultz ’48
Betsy Bowen Boles ’48
In Memory of Mr. Marvin Ralph Simon
Julie and Steve Mathes ’74
1955
Nicholas Barry Papin died on May 7, 2008. He was
70 years old.
Mr. Papin served in the U.S. Army and attended
the University of Missouri after his army service.
For most of his career, he was a salesman in the
medical instrumentation industry.
The school offers condolences to Mr. Papin’s
family including his wife and two brothers, one of
whom is Gerard Papin ’52.
In Honor of Abby Siwak ’08
Sheila Greenbaum and Gary Wasserman
Rubyn Wasserman ’05
In Honor of Jeremiah Steuterman ’08
Anonymous
In Memory of Sameer R. Talwar ’08
Anonymous
Boeing Company
Bob and Linda Salisbury Mercer ’74
In Honor of Franny Toan ’08
Anonymous
In Memory of Robert J. Trulaske, Jr.
John W. Minton, Jr. ’46
1967
Randall Hess died
April 1 - June 30, 2008
on April 11, 2008. He was 59
years old.
Mr. Hess, a longtime resident of Ketchum, ID,
was the owner of White Otter Outdoor Adventures, a white water rafting business operating on
the Upper Salmon River. He died from a fatal fall
into the Snake River Canyon while scouting the
river for rafting excursions.
Mr. Hess was a respected guide and boatman,
who was known for his generosity and willingness
to donate rafting trips for community charitable
events and for his participation in numerous volunteer activities, including the Winter Special
Olympics.
After graduating from Burroughs, he attended
Dennison University as an undergraduate and then
received a master’s degree in forestry from Southern
Illinois University. He was an instructor in several
outdoor wilderness schools and worked for a time
on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
The school offers condolences to Mr. Hess’ family including a sister, Linda Hess Larkin ’59, and a
brother, Terry Docter Hess ’65.
JBS staff member
Marvin Smith, a member of the plant operations
department for 27 years, died on April 15, 2008. He
was 62 years old.
Mr. Smith was born in Long Beach, CA. He
took training as an auto mechanic, earning a degree
in body and
fender work.
Before settling
in St. Louis,
Mr. Smith
worked as a
marine machinist, where
he learned
much about
rotary and
reciprocal engines powered
by steam. He
later translated
that knowledge to keep
the schools’
Marvin Smith (Plant Operations)
60-year-old
boiler that
heats the main building running, and his training
in auto mechanics was called into play almost daily
in maintaining Burroughs small fleet of lawn mower, buses, vans and pick-up trucks. Though he had
been seriously ill for several years, Mr. Smith continued working until just weeks before his death.
The Burroughs community offers its condolences
to Mr. Smith’s family, including his wife, Penny
(formerly of the plant operations department), a
daughter and two sons, one of whom is David (also
of the plant operations department).
In Memory of John Vormehr
Anonymous
Peggy Fiala
To the John Wesley Scholarship Fund
In Memory of John W. Wesley
Evalyn S. Rogers
In Memory of Robin Frey Wilson ’62
Christopher A. Mill ’62
In Memory of Tim Wnuk ’00
Charles P. Derleth, Jr.
In Honor of Jonathan S. Wolff ’04
Sheila Greenbaum and Gary Wasserman
Rubyn Wasserman ’05
Please keep us informed
Whether you’ve moved or just want to provide an update of your activities, please mail or
e-mail your news and address changes. Sending your address changes will ensure that you
receive your mail and will reduce our postage
costs. Send your news to Alumni Office, John
Burroughs School, 755 South Price Road, St.
Louis, MO, 63124, or send e-mail to alum.ofc@
jburroughs.org.
Name _______________________________
Class year _____________________________
E-mail ________________________________
Address _______________________________
City/State/Zip _________________________
Phone ________________________________
News _________________________________
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CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
Please join us for the
JBS Alumni Picnic
11 a.m.
in the quadrangle
Saturday, October 11th
An event for alumni and their families
Following the picnic, at 1 p.m., the varsity football
team will play Lutheran South.
RSVP to 314/993-4045, ext. 264
or to [email protected]
Classes holding reunions this weekend include
’48, ’68, ’73, ’78, ’83, ’88 and ’93.
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ST. LOUIS, MO
PERMIT NO. 672
DATED MATTER
Published by John Burroughs School for Alumni, Parents and Friends September 2008
A group of seniors returned to Drey Land one last time to fulfill May Project requirements. Some of them were counselors for
Bio Drey Land. Others, like Davis Camp (above), built trails in the Pioneer Forest. For more photos from the Class of 2008’s
final weeks as JBS students, see page 7.
August 2008

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