Westover Magazine | Winter 2025-2026

MOTTO COGITARE. AGERE. ESSE.—To Think. To Do. To Be.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Carrie Loyd ’05

Director of Strategic Communications

COPY EDITOR

Kimberly Banti

DESIGN

Char Davidson

Small and Mighty Creative

COVER PHOTO

Tom Kates

MAGAZINE

CONTRIBUTORS

Polly Fredlund P’25 Head of School

Emily Badger

Advancement Services Manager

Sara Cipot

Advancement Projects and Events Manager

Nancy Florio

Director of Library and Archives

Mara Keggi Ford

Director of the Westover Fund

Melissa Hallas

Advancement Services Coordinator

Abby Leyson Communications Associate

Mary Risner

Chief Development Officer

Marla Truini P’09

Families Liaison, 9th & 10th Grade Class Dean

Alexis Zimmerman ’12

PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Kates

Abby Leyson

Lindsay Osborn

Caleb Portfolio

Sam Williams

Westover School empowers young women to lead lives of consequence.

OUR CORE VALUES Strength of Character Women’s Empowerment Passion for Learning Community

WESTOVER SCHOOL 1237 Whittemore Road Middlebury, CT 06762 (203) 577-4646 alumnae@westoverschool.org communications@westoverschool.org

Please contact communications@westoverschool.org with any corrections, errors, or updates. Corrections will appear in the next issue.

ON THE COVER

Meghan B. ’26, this year’s student First Head of School, stands in Sally Port. The Lantern symbolizes the light within each student. As a 1910 edition of The Lantern asked, “Will not all of you then, contribute some of your light, to make our Lantern burn more brightly?” At Westover, Meghan and every student bring their light to make our collective Lantern shine brighter. To be seen, to be known, to be boldly you. That is what keeps Westover’s light burning strong.

INSIDE COVER PHOTO

Head of School Polly Fredlund P’25 and the 2026 Student Heads of School jump into the new school year.

Letter from the Head of School

Polly Oppmann Fredlund P’25

There is nothing more powerful than relationships built around a shared purpose. These connections spark an energy and joy that is palpable—and nowhere is this more evident than at Westover.

Our founder Mary Hillard and Westover’s architect Theodate Pope Riddle exemplified this spirit of shared purpose. Rooted in a lifelong friendship, they laid the foundation for a school guided by a vision of what was possible for girls and women.

Today, we carry their legacy forward, harnessing the transformative power of education to envision a world bigger and bolder than the one before us.

Westover is an educational environment where every student is inspired to reach their full potential. Innovative programs such as the Westover Institute, the Oxford Tutorial Program, and the Teaching and Learning Center for Academic Engagement are elevating the student experience.

These initiatives draw on the best of Westover, from our legacy of academic excellence and

the power of small, to the advantages of a girls-centered environment. The educational blueprint guiding Westover forward is rooted in our origin story and builds on the strengths of flagship programs such as Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), the Rasin Center for Global Justice, and Financial Independence, Readiness, and Empowerment (FIRE).

These remarkable programs and their stories are featured throughout this issue of Westover magazine, and I am excited for you to explore more about Westover today. Together, these programs provide students with pathways to pursue their passions, cultivate leadership, and prepare to make a meaningful impact on the world.

I am grateful to be leading our extraordinary school onward with purpose, and the momentum we have built comes directly from each of you. Your engagement and belief in our students and the mission of Westover are guiding us toward a bright future. We know that when we invest in the promise and potential of the next generation, anything is possible.

Westover is on the rise.

Letter from Board Chair

Kim Hoagland ’69

This is evident in the energy of daily life on Corridor and in the classrooms, the countless achievements of our students and faculty, and the dynamic growth in enrollment, including 88 new students this year. You can see it firsthand in the vibrant photographs and stories of Westover today, captured in this issue of Westover magazine.

This success is no accident. Westover’s faculty and staff remain squarely focused on the future, providing innovative programs and limitless opportunities that are second to none. Head of School Polly Fredlund has embraced her role with a combination of joy and urgency that continues to propel Westover forward. Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees has worked diligently to ensure that our beloved school and its mission—to empower young women to lead lives of consequence—are firmly in place for generations to come.

The north star of my service on the Board is Westover’s future. I am here for the generations of girls who will walk these halls long after I am gone. While I am inspired by my personal history at the school through my grandmother, Esther Ward Kimball ’18, and my mother, Cynthia Kimball Hoagland ’42, my own

sense of purpose is not anchored in the past, but rather grounded in a steadfast belief in the promise of what lies ahead. I am committed to ensuring that the world has Westover—an education that prepares generations of women with the wisdom, leadership, and resilience to shape a better world.

My own years at Westover in the late 1960s, much like today, were shaped by a world in flux. Marked by social change, cultural shifts, and global uncertainty, including evolving gender roles, the Civil Rights Movement, and political upheaval, those formative years for my generation demanded courage, adaptability, and critical thinking.

Today’s Westover students also face a world full of complexity and uncertainty. That is why the world needs Westover now more than ever. With each graduating class, we send forth young women equipped with intellect, confidence, and agency, ready to lead with purpose and build a more just and sustainable world.

In these pages, you will see a school alive with purpose, joy, and ambition. I hope you will join me in supporting Westover, so that together we can ensure its mission continues to shape the scholars, leaders, and changemakers our world needs most.

Westover School Board of Trustees 2025-2026

Alison (Kim) Hoagland ’69 Chair of the Board of Trustees

Lata Bhopale Williams ’81 Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees

Tatiana Fonseca DaSilva ’07 Secretary

Susanne Charbonneau Carpenter ’93 Treasurer

Greta Atchinson ’02

Alisa Berger P’22

Henry C. Burns III Aaron Cooper

Jane Markey Culver ’04

Sheena Hill Dillon ’04

Caroline Campbell Edwards ’66

Xiania Foster ’95

David Greco P’17

Lemon Allicin Lodge

Brenda Mallory ’75

Amma Osei ’01

Jennifer Sabatini ’93

Karen Ross Senich ’86

Westover School Senior Team 2025-2026

Polly Oppmann Fredlund P’25 Head of School

Cristin V. Gordon Executive Assistant to the Head of School

Tianna Lall-Emard Director of Enrollment Management

Carrie Loyd ’05 Director of Strategic Communications

Mary Risner Chief Development Officer

Phil Salmon Chief Financial and Operations Officer

EX-OFFICIO

Polly Oppmann Fredlund P’25 Head of School

Sarah Bird P’22, ’26 President of the Families Association

Domenique Harrison ’08 President of the Alum Association

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Charlotte Beyer ’65

Joseph Molder P’80, GP’19

Dr. Catherine Stines Associate Head of School

Editor’s Note

Carrie Loyd ’05 Director of Strategic Communications

The Westover Magazine is back, and we are thrilled to share this edition with you. Inside, you will find stories that bring the Westover mission to life: programs that stretch students to think in new ways, traditions that connect us across generations, and the moments of curiosity, courage, and joy that shape daily life on campus.

This magazine reflects the heart of unconventional excellence. You will meet students diving into Westover Institute seminars, shaping ideas in the Oxford Tutorial program, experimenting in labs and studios, and finding their voices in classrooms that encourage deep thinking and bold questions. You will see how programs like WISE open doors to new strengths and pathways. And throughout these pages, you will get a sense of what it feels like to learn in a community that truly believes in the potential of every student.

This edition also celebrates the Westover spirit that connects every generation of our community. The traditions that have guided this place from the very beginning continue to create an environment where students are seen, known, and encouraged to be boldly themselves.

You will hear from alums who are carrying this spirit into the world. Their achievements remind us that the curiosity and confidence nurtured here continue far beyond graduation, reaching classrooms, hospitals, boardrooms, studios, and many other places where thoughtful leadership and imagination matter.

As you turn the pages, you will discover a portrait of our community today: vibrant, joyful, inspired, and full of heart. Years from now, this magazine will serve as a snapshot of this moment in Westover’s story. For now, we simply hope you enjoy reading about the people and programs that make Westover such an extraordinary place.

Charting Westover’s Academic Vision

by

Westover’s legacy of academic excellence has been built generation by generation. Each cohort of students and faculty has expanded upon the achievements of those who came before them, envisioning a world bigger and bolder than the one before them.

As I stepped into my role as Head of School at Westover, one of my first priorities was to articulate a shared academic vision—one that honors Westover’s rich traditions while boldly charting a course for the future. I began this process by meeting individually with each teacher, listening deeply to their insights, experiences, and aspirations. I then convened a core group of educators to reflect on the best of Westover and imagine the essential elements of a vision to inspire generations to come.

At Westover, the academic vision serves as a compass, guiding what we value, how we teach, and the kind of thinkers we seek to develop. It points us toward our true north, articulating the school’s aspirations for teaching and learning. It defines what students should know and value, while shaping the culture and priorities of the institution. More than curriculum alone, it reflects how the Westover community engages with knowledge, inquiry, and growth.

The following outlines the core elements of Westover’s academic vision:

• We believe in the power of a girls-centered learning environment, knowing that when every athlete, mathematician, activist, and student leader is a girl, anything is possible.

• At Westover, we aspire to create an educational environment where every student is inspired to reach their full potential, equipped with the skills, knowledge, and values to amplify their intellect and voice to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

• We envision a transformative educational experience that celebrates and empowers every individual, placing our students at the center of their learning journey. We empower students to

drive their own academic program, fostering a spirit of intellectual exploration that encourages curiosity, problem-solving, a global perspective, deep empathy, and strong communication skills.

• Our curriculum is designed around big questions, encouraging students to engage in understanding complex issues and equipping them with the skills to develop innovative solutions.

• The development of habits of mind and heart is a cornerstone of our educational mission. We foster multiple perspectives, critical thinking, the evaluation of evidence, empathy, and effective communication, preparing students not only for academic success but also for a purposeful and meaningful life beyond the classroom.

• A global perspective is ingrained in the fabric of our curriculum, providing students with the tools to navigate an interconnected world. Through the Rasin Center for Global Justice, we aim to elevate global thinking with an emphasis on a diverse student body, robust exchange program, and curriculum and programming that shapes a global identity.

Through Westover’s core academic curriculum, flagship programs like Women in Science and Engineering (WISE), Raisin Center for Global Justice and Financial Independence Readiness and Empowerment (F.I.R.E), academic initiatives like the Westover Institute and Oxford Tutorial, and educational partnerships with Challenge Success, this vision comes to life. Students develop the mindset, resilience, and skills to engage with the world’s most pressing challenges and to imagine new possibilities.

Academic excellence is one of the key reasons families seek schools like Westover, and our newly articulated academic vision provides a roadmap, guiding teaching, learning, and the development of engaged, confident, and curious learners. Read more about how this vision is coming to life, shaping students who think differently, lead with confidence, and bring fresh perspectives to the questions that matter most.

ACADEMIC VISION IN ACTION

WESTOVER INSTITUTE

Associate Head of School Dr. Catherine Stines leads the Westover academic team in putting the vision into action.

The Westover Institute reimagines the traditional boarding school model through innovative Saturday morning programming that allows students to pursue their passions. Serving as both an incubator for the school’s signature programs and a hub for intellectual exploration, the Institute engages students with “big questions” that inspire critical thinking and challenge them to consider the world in new ways.

Each course is framed by a central guiding question and designed to encourage students to become active participants in their learning. Courses span a wide range of topics ranging from law, environmental sustainability, leadership, service learning, media studies, global health, arts, technology, well-being, and more.

At the start of each school year, students sign-up for Westover Institute classes. The program includes over thirty classes that are divided into four sessions: two sessions in the fall semester and two in the spring semester. Each course meets for four Saturdays from 9am-12pm. Courses are graded pass/fail, removing the grade and opening up curiosity. Westover students are required to take at least one Institute course annually, though many choose to sign up for as many as four. This structure allows students to explore a variety of interests throughout the year while keeping the experience both engaging and purposeful.

The Institute’s model makes it possible for courses to be taught not only by Westover faculty and staff, but also by alums, students, and outside facilitators who bring specialized expertise and fresh perspectives. In addition to supporting the school’s signature programs, including the Rasin Center for Global Justice, WISE, and the F.I.R.E. program, the Institute empowers members of the Westover community to design, teach, and engage in courses based on their passions and interests. This ensures the curriculum remains dynamic, relevant, and student-centered, reflecting both pressing global issues and the lived experiences of the community.

Sample course offerings showcase the Institute’s creativity and breadth. Students might explore environmental sustainability in Adventures in Beekeeping, examine legal thinking in Law in Action: Legal Jargon in Everyday Life, or test their strategic skills in Queen of Hearts: Poker, Risk, and Strategy. Other courses include Motion Without Borders: Dance Traditions Around the World, Fast & Fearless: Flag Football, Into the Wild: Outdoor Adventures and Leadership, and Generosity Lab. From ensemble playwriting to the art of mah-jongg, each course offers students a pathway for curiosity, collaboration, and discovery.

Snapshot >>> Westover Institute Courses

What’s Up Westover Podcast: Production & Design

Ever wondered what it takes to create your own podcast? Podcasting has become a dynamic and influential medium for storytelling, with over 4 million podcasts worldwide. Join the What’s Up Westover podcast team by learning production and audio design, developing your storytelling skills, and discerning what information is most important for your audience.

Swiftology 101: The Sonic Tapestry and Impact of Taylor Swift on American Society

How does Taylor Swift’s music, persona, and influence reflect and shape the values, identities, and social dynamics of contemporary American society? This interdisciplinary course explores the cultural phenomenon of Taylor Swift within the context of American Studies. As one of the most influential figures in contemporary popular culture, Swift serves as a focal point for analyzing various aspects of American society, including music, media, gender dynamics, celebrity culture, and social movements.

Current Events: Reading Between the Headlines

How do we make sense of today’s fast-moving, often polarized news cycle? In this Institute, students will step back from breaking headlines and take the time to read thoughtfully from respected news sources such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and The Economist. Focusing on print journalism, students slow down to engage deeply with the material and uncover the stories behind the stories.

Global Health: Viruses, Vaccines, & the Geography of the United Nations

What can the world’s response to disease crises teach us about cooperation, conflict, and the making of history? This session offers a dynamic introduction to the field of global health, with a focus on security and diplomacy. Students will explore how health has influenced historical events and international politics, examine current global health challenges, and participate in an interactive simulation of a global health crisis.

The Science of Imagineering

How do science, engineering, and storytelling combine to transform raw mechanics into unforgettable experiences? If you’ve ever visited a theme park like Disney World or Universal Studios, you’ve experienced how physics, engineering, and storytelling combine to create immersive rides. In this Institute, you’ll step into the mind of an Imagineer—exploring the science and creativity behind designing attractions that thrill and inspire. Through hands-on projects, you’ll apply STEM principles, collaboration, and design thinking to prototype your own theme park ride, turning imagination into reality.

Lean in Girls: Leadership in Action

What does it mean to lead with confidence, courage, and authenticity? Students are encouraged to expand their understanding of leadership through the Lean In Girls curriculum. Grounded in self-awareness, confidence-building, and inclusive values, this Institute will help students recognize their own strengths, challenge limiting stereotypes, reframe failure as growth, and take bold steps toward meaningful goals of personal growth as leaders.

When Curiosity Leads the Way

Thu Ha N. ’27 and the Westover Institute

by Carrie Loyd ’05, Director of Strategic Communications

When Thu Ha N. ’27 first arrived on campus as a new sophomore from Hanoi, Vietnam, she expected boarding school to feel unfamiliar. What she didn’t expect was how quickly Westover began to feel like home. “During orientation, I met people from countries I’d never been to,” she said. “One of my first dinners was spent teaching each other phrases in our own languages. Everyone got along despite our differences; that was my first impression.”

That sense of connection as a part of Westover’s global community became a defining part of Ha’s experience. But it wasn’t until the sophomore class trip that she truly felt she belonged. Classmates gathered at the home of Autumn Cloud-Ingram, the Director of the Rasin Center for Global Justice, roasting marshmallows, playing tag, singing in the car, and even convincing Sophomore Class Dean Marla Truini P’09 to join a round of “light as a feather, stiff as a board.”

Sitting around the fireplace, laughing on the floor with her friends, Ha realized something simple and powerful: “I knew that we sophomores had each other’s backs.”

Inside the classroom, Ha found another place where Westover shaped her confidence. “Let’s just say my writing needed lots of work when I arrived,” she joked. Instead of struggling alone, she met with her teachers each week for individual conferences, a model that defines a Westover education. Ha reported she became a “conference warrior,” meeting with faculty as she learned to revise, rethink, and take academic risks. Draft by draft, her confidence grew.

“Having teachers who made time for me, who cared enough to guide me through every messy piece of writing made all the difference,” Ha said.

Today, she describes Westover in one word: voice. “In every class, we’re encouraged to find our voice. Discussions are lively. Debate is normal. Everyone becomes more confident advocating for themselves. The culture at Westover dismantles the fear of speaking up.”

If the academic program helped her find her voice, the Westover Institute gave her a creative home.

Last year, instead of taking just the required singular Institute course, Ha enrolled in three. She explored service learning, needle arts, and raku pottery, courses that would be nearly impossible to find in a

traditional schedule. This year, she’s diving into French cooking and improv comedy. “The Institute is my true creative outlet,” she said. “It lets me try art forms I’ve always been amazed by.”

Ha’s love for the program led her to step into a leadership role as a student head of the Westover Institute, a position that blends her entrepreneurial spirit with her creative curiosity. “I see the Institute as an incubator where teachers get to test cool, crazy ideas that don’t fit into traditional academic categories,” she said. “It’s living proof that there is room for innovation in education. Creative educators make passionate students.”

What excites her most as a leader is expanding the program with student input, ensuring the Institute continues to evolve and surprise. “We want to explore new interests, try new formats, and open doors for students who might discover something they never knew they loved.”

Westover has also pushed Ha to explore new challenges, like joining the chess team. She shared that she started as the weakest player and ended the season with her best tournament performance, training each afternoon under math teacher and chess coach Ben Lewis, a chess international master. “Over time, my pattern recognition improved. I can’t wait to get even better this year.”

She’s also proud to have co-organized Westover’s first-ever TED-Ed conference with friend and classmate Midori U. ’27. Under Ha and Dori’s leadership and encouragement, students took the stage to share personal stories, ideas, and passions, letting their voices be heard.

For Ha, Westover is not just where she learned to write stronger essays, lead a conference, or outthink an opponent on the chessboard. It is where she discovered the power of her own voice and the joy of a community that wants her to use it.

As she looks ahead to the rest of her Westover journey and the next season of Westover Institute offerings, Ha is driven by the same belief that welcomed her on her first night at dinner: When people show up with curiosity, courage, and kindness, they can build something extraordinary together.

Oxford Tutorial

Westover is a school fueled by academic excellence and the power of small, where students understand what it means both to know and to be known. As we look toward the future, we are building an academic vision rooted in these enduring values.

The Teaching and Learning Center for Academic Engagement exemplifies this ethos—a dynamic lab that merges research with practice. It reimagines the traditional learning center by expanding academic support and resources for multilingual learners, while also serving as a vibrant hub for research, educational partnerships such as Challenge Success, and signature programming, including the Oxford Tutorial Model.

Now in its second year, the Oxford Tutorial program is an academic initiative that formalizes Westover’s long-standing tradition of one-on-one and smallgroup meetings between students and teachers, complementing the core academic program. These 30-minute tutorial blocks, held three times per week, give students and teachers the opportunity to engage deeply with academic work, including ideas,

Lamp of Learning

The School’s motto, which translated from Latin means “To Think, To Do, To Be.”

readings, and problem sets. Modeled after the tutorial system at Oxford and Cambridge universities, the program emphasizes personalized learning through individualized and small-group instruction.

The university model has been thoughtfully adapted to extend and enrich Westover’s conferencing tradition, placing student–faculty dialogue at the heart of academic life. At the core of the Oxford Tutorial Model is personalized attention. Students are encouraged to view themselves as active participants in their education, cultivating confidence as thinkers and collaborators. By prioritizing student voices and providing personalized mentorship, the program equips students with the skills to think critically and the confidence to participate boldly and thoughtfully in the academic arena.

Initiatives like the Oxford Tutorial build on the best of Westover, enriching students’ academic experiences and preparing them to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Named so because Mary Hillard traveled west and over the hill from her previous school, St. Margaret’s

Tudor Roses

The year the School was founded.

WISE

Women in Science and Engineering

Research from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS) indicates that graduates of girls’ schools are six times more likely to consider majoring in math, science, and technology—and three times more likely to consider engineering—compared to girls who attended coeducational schools.

Programs like Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) have played an important role in supporting this trend, empowering generations of Westover students to explore and excel in STEM fields. The WISE program at Westover School is a pioneering STEM initiative founded in 1992 by then Director of Faculty and Math Teacher Ann Pollina and Head of School Joe Molder through a collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Looking ahead, sustaining and expanding flagship programs like WISE is key to preparing students to lead, innovate, and make an impact in a rapidly evolving world.

Today, WISE Director Ashley Bonet is following in Head of School Ann Pollina’s footsteps, inspiring the next generation of Westover students to step boldly into the world of STEM. WISE has grown into a four-year curriculum that blends rigorous academic study with hands-on, real-world problem-solving. All students begin with a foundational Creative Problem Solving course which challenges them to apply science, engineering, and design principles to human-centered challenges. As they progress, students explore advanced electives such as Biomedical Engineering, Renewable Energy, Robotics, Metaphysical AI, AP Computer Science, Biotechnology, and more while engaging with mentors and industry experts.

In its thirty-third year, the program continues to shine. In 2025 WISE students participated in the Connecticut Lieutentant Governor’s Computing Challenge, themed “Coding for Good,” creating technology-based solutions to address women’s mental and physical health. Thirty-five students submitted projects, including a task-tracker app to remind students to take breaks and manage the stress of balancing highschool life; wearable dri-fit technology that adjusts temperature to alleviate menstrual cramps, knee pain, or backaches; and a mirror that displays words of encouragement to improve self-confidence and self-concept. These projects showcase how WISE students apply their computer-science skills to realworld issues while keeping empathy and innovation at the center of their work. Students in Biomedical Engineering also traveled to the Yale School of Medicine to study neuroscience in the Cushing Center while honoring the legacy of women in medicine, and Dr. Nancy Hopkins, retired MIT professor of molecular biology and a trailblazer for women in science, visited Westover to share her wisdom and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Next for WISE: exploring partnerships with leading research colleges and universities—such as the University of Connecticut, Rensselaear Polytechnic Institute, Smith College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—to ensure our students are fully prepared for the next level of STEM education. Westover is cultivating the next generation of female innovators and leaders in STEM, providing students with an environment that empowers them to explore their passions and develop the skills to make meaningful contributions to the world.

And Then It Clicked

Christia K. ’28 Finds Her Path Through WISE

by Carrie Loyd ’05, Director of Strategic Communications

For Christia K. ’28, STEM wasn’t something she expected to love. In fact, she didn’t know it was something she was interested in at all until she stepped into Creative Problem Solving (CPS), the required introductory course in Westover School’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program. What began as a required class quickly became the course that changed the way she saw herself as a student.

“At first, CPS was just a requirement,” Christia said. “I didn’t really know what it was. But once I started the projects, everything became exciting.”

The class challenged her to think differently: collaborating with new classmates, testing ideas, building prototypes, and learning through trial and error. In one memorable project, her group constructed a towering structure made entirely of note cards, a few books, and tape.

“It blew my mind that cards could stand that tall,” she said, laughing. “I didn’t think it would work. And then it did. I had never done anything like that before.”

The moment the structure stood, something clicked. CPS wasn’t just about building; it was about confidence, communication, and realizing she could solve problems she didn’t know she was capable of tackling. As someone who arrived at Westover as a reserved, new student, Christia shared that the class pushed her outside her comfort zone in the best ways.

“We had to talk to each other to make the projects work,” Christia said. “That’s how I learned to communicate and become more outgoing. Looking back, that class helped me become the person I am now.”

And it opened a path she didn’t expect: STEM. “I didn’t

know I liked STEM until CPS,” she said. “But once I took the class, I felt like, ‘OK, this is what I want to do.’”

This spring, Christia is enrolled in Biomedical Engineering, another WISE course, and this time, she chose it herself. “I want to become a dermatologist,” she explained. “So I’m trying to take as many related classes as I can.”

Her confidence in the classroom grew alongside her curiosity. Biology was harder than she anticipated, but instead of giving up, she developed new studying and note-taking strategies, met with teachers for conferences, used Oxford Tutorial blocks, and learned how to advocate for herself.

“I wanted to understand what I was learning. I didn’t want to just give up,” Christia said. “Teachers always made time for me. If I needed help, they were there. Even if I just wanted to do my homework together with them, they were there.”

Now, Chemistry is clicking, Biomedical Engineering is on the horizon, and STEM feels less intimidating and more inspiring. But her growth is larger than academics. The same student who once described herself as shy now describes herself as confident, social, and deeply connected to her school. “I made so many friends here, friends I’ll have forever,” she said. “CPS helped with that. Volleyball helped with that. Traditions helped with that. I never thought I’d be this outgoing.”

When she chooses one word to describe Westover, she doesn’t hesitate: community. “When I think of Westover, I think of everyone standing in the circle at AA Germans,” Christia said. “All of us together. Because that’s what Westover is.”

We Want to Be Revolutionary Meet Westover’s First and Second Student Heads of School

by Abigail Leyson, Communications Associate

At Westover School, leadership is not reserved for a select few. Student leadership is everywhere. In fact, 95% of students identified as leaders in our community during the 2024–2025 academic year.

If there is one group that symbolizes what student leadership looks like at Westover, it is the Student Heads of School. Chosen by students, faculty, and staff, eight seniors serve as the voice of the student body. They are the ones keeping traditions alive, guiding conversations, and sparking joy at key moments like Assembly.

This year, the school’s community elected Meghan B. ’26 as first student head of school and Zuri K. ’26 as second student head of school. And if you ask them, they are not just here to lead. They are here to make change.

“We want to make Westover what we always envisioned it to be,” Meghan said. “Zuri and I want to be revolutionary.”

“The alums who have been in our positions every year before us, especially Logan Altenburger ’25 and Zoe Goldman ’25, really did a great job in their roles and made me feel like what I want to do is possible.”

responsibilities partnering with the Student Senate and Westover faculty and administration.

“It feels simple to us because we do it so often,” Meghan laughed. “But even my parents ask, ‘How do you do that three times a week?’”

For Zuri, the dream started freshman year, when she saw the Student Heads of School announce the beloved tradition Heads Holiday with a video that brought the entire community together. “I just knew I needed to be a part of that,” she said.

“It’s

just a good feeling when people come up to you and ask for your advice. I feel like that’s why I wanted to have these leadership positions, because I want students to feel comfortable with me—to trust me—so I’m glad that I am able to voice their concerns and be their advocate.”

– Zuri K. ’26

Their leadership journeys at Westover started early: Meghan was a class representative and a spirit head, while Zuri was a Rasin Center representative and a proctor. Those roles provided experience on how to advocate, take initiative, and work as a team. Now, as student heads of school, they put those skills into practice three times a week in Red Hall—speaking to over 200 people at Assembly––and in their additional

While Heads Holiday is still to come this year, the anticipation is high, and Meghan and Zuri promise to make it memorable.

Looking back, both seniors see just how far they have come. “Since my freshman year, I’ve become more outgoing and emotionally mature,” Meghan reflected.

“Leadership at Westover taught me how to manage my time, take care of myself, and know that we have the power to make change.”

For Zuri, her growth came in learning patience and empathy as a proctor. She gained new perspectives by simply remembering her own experiences as a new boarder at Westover, which helped her connect more deeply with others.

As the Class of 2026 steps into its final year, Meghan and Zuri stand at the forefront beside their fellow Student Heads of School, leading with passion, perspective, and a revolutionary spirit.

Challenge Success and the Power of Educational Partnerships

As part of Westover’s commitment to academic excellence, the school has established an educational partnership with Challenge Success, a nonprofit affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. The two-year partnership has provided an opportunity to build on Westover’s strengths, with the Teaching and Learning Center for Academic Engagement serving as the hub for the Challenge Success School Partner Program.

Challenge Success was founded by Stanford Professor Dr. Denise Pope whose research on student stress, mental health, and engagement has helped expand the very definition of “success” in education. The program helps schools create environments that prioritize academic achievement, student well-being, and a sense of belonging.

The organization works with schools through multi-year partnerships that assess practices, policies, and climate using surveys and data from students, staff, and families. These insights guide actionable improvements while elevating academic excellence. Challenge Success also provides professional development and partners with school leadership to design policies, build community understanding, and foster a shared vision of meaningful success.

Westover has leveraged this educational partnership to drive meaningful organizational change and launch programs such as the Oxford Tutorial Program and the Westover Institute. Over the first year of the partnership, Westover conducted the Challenge Success student and faculty survey to establish baseline data on well-being, workload, and engagement. Survey findings guided adjustments to the academic schedule, including block rotations, Oxford Tutorial placement, and exam cadence, and sparked faculty and staff discussions on meaningful homework and stress management.

In the second year, the focus is shifting to deeper implementation and cultural change. Homework practices are being reviewed across departments to ensure assignments are purposeful and sustainable, while student and faculty engagement initiatives—such as assemblies, advisory prompts, and parent communications—provide insights, results, and strategies. Department heads are receiving training to integrate Challenge Success principles into course design, assessment, and leadership. Curriculum and co-curricular programming are being aligned to promote balance, belonging, and deeper learning rather than “busywork.”

By collaborating with national thought leaders and partnering with organizations such as Challenge Success, Westover nurtures the curiosity, confidence, and character that empower young women to shape the world.

Ready to study the following topics in colleges near and far

Class of 2025!

The Class of 2025 leaves a lasting mark on Westover, having championed and modeled a school culture that is inclusive, collaborative, and intellectually vibrant. This accomplished group of students earned acceptances to a wide range of colleges and universities—a reflection of their academic excellence, leadership, and the values shaped through their Westover experience. The list below includes all institutions where members of the class have chosen to matriculate.

American University

Amherst College

Boston College

Boston University

Bryn Mawr College

Cornell University

Dickinson College

Eckerd College

Endicott College

Frankfurt School of Finance and Management

Franklin & Marshall College

Gettysburg College

Harvard University

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Loyola Marymount University

Muhlenberg College

New York University

Northeastern University

Penn State University

Princeton University

Quinnipiac University

Rice University

Rutgers University

Skidmore College

Smith College

Springfield College

The University of Tampa

Tulane University of Louisiana

University of British Columbia

University of California - Davis

University of Connecticut

University of Delaware

University of Denver

University of Hartford

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Maryland Eastern Shore

University of Toronto

University of Vermont

Wellesley College

Orchard Ceremony

May 30, 2025

With rain in the forecast for Graduation morning, the Class of 2025 made sure tradition lived on by gathering in their Orchard Ceremony attire for the iconic petal toss photo in Quad. The next day, after Graduation

Class of 2025 116th Graduation

May 31, 2025

Few classes in Westover’s history have graduated anywhere other than the Quad. But when rain soaked campus on the morning of the Class of 2025’s ceremony, the graduates brought the magic without missing a beat. Determined to follow the traditional path across the bricks, each student carried a white umbrella as they gracefully processed from the Main Building, through the Quad and Sally Port, and into the Fuller Athletic Center. There, the community surrounded this remarkable class with immense pride that echoed from every corner of campus. Not even the rain could dampen the spirit, the joy, or the power of the moment.

“ Last Friday, during Lantern—a super-secret tradition that I won’t spoil for you—I found myself mesmerized by the tiny embers rising from the fireplace in Seven Sisters. They danced into the night air, flickering and swirling erratically, unrestrained and vibrant. At that moment, I realized that they perfectly represented our class. Each of us carries our own spark, our own warmth, and our own direction. We’ve ignited each other, illuminated these walls, and now, we’re floating into the world—brilliant, unpredictable, and full of potential. And just like those embers, though we may drift apart, we carry the same fire that once burned brightly together.”

- Bahar Atayeva ’25, Senior Class Speaker

“ The road ahead is filled with limitless possibilities. Take with you what you’ve learned here about your own strength and the collective good you’ve helped to cultivate, and bend that arc of the universe closer to justice. You know the way, and we have every confidence in your power to do good in the world. May grace and courage follow you, dear Class of 2025, as you go forth into this world that awaits you—ready and ever so prepared for all that lies ahead.”

- Head of School Polly Fredlund P’25

Reunion Weekend 2025

June 6-8

Reunion Weekend brightened up campus with the collective spirit of generations of Westover alums. From joyful hugs with lifelong friends to late-night dorm room memories and the familiar cadence of walking through campus, it was the moments, both big and small, that made the celebration meaningful.

Lumina brought the community together in a way only Westover can, with alums lining up for Chapel Line just as they once did and singing familiar songs that filled the space with nostalgia. The Westover Institute sampler offered a glimpse of the School’s newest academic signature, with courses like Swiftology, belly dancing, and public speaking inviting alums to explore, connect, and learn together. More than anything, the weekend was a testament to the enduring bonds, shared memories, and distinctive traditions that make Westover home, no matter how many years have passed.

Reunion Weekend

The Alum Association Awards

June 6–8, 2025

Each year, the Alum Association Board of Governors proudly honors members of our community whose lives and accomplishments embody the very best of the Westover spirit. This year’s remarkable honorees were celebrated during Reunion Weekend. Read on to learn more about their inspiring achievements.

THE 2025 MARIA RANDALL ALLEN ’42 VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD

This award recognizes an individual whose significant service and steadfast dedication have strengthened Westover and its community.

Honoring those who exemplify loyalty, generosity of spirit, and a deep commitment to the school’s mission, this year’s award was presented to Elisabeth “Beth” Smith Golden ’65 on the occasion of her sixtieth Reunion. For decades, Beth has been a devoted leader, lending her time, talent, and expertise to advance Westover’s mission and foster enduring connections among alums, students, and friends of the school.

Beth’s volunteer legacy is remarkable in both scope and impact. She has served as class agent, class secretary, Reunion chair, and phonathon volunteer, as well as on the Board of Governors from 1998 to 2006, including terms as secretary and chair of the Networking Committee. Twice elected to the Board of Trustees (2006–2015 and 2018–2021), she co-chaired the Committee on Trustees and helped guide the Inspiring Women Campaign as Steering Committee co-chair. She also played a key role on the Centennial Task Force, ensuring the school’s milestone celebration was both meaningful and memorable. Beyond Westover, Beth has brought her skill and passion for philanthropy to organizations such as New Canaan Country School, Hope for Darien, and the Fairfield Community Foundation. Through her tireless service, she has strengthened the bonds of the Westover community and set a lasting example of leadership, dedication, and love for the school. As classmate Martha Bacon Martin ’65 shared in presenting Beth with this award, “Maria would be as proud as I am to present Beth with the Maria Randall Allen ’42 Volunteer Service Award!”

Martha Bacon Martin’80, Elisabeth Smith Golden’65, and Head of School Polly Fredlund P’25, following the presentation of the Maria Randall Allen ’42 Volunteer Service Award.

“I thrived on Westover’s culture of traditions, academic rigor, our beautiful campus, and, most importantly, the lifelong friendships I made here sixty years ago and counting. So, how to repay for those life gifts? Giving my time and enthusiasm for the project seemed to be a good way to start—volunteering to uphold the dear traditions on and off campus.”

– Elisabeth “Beth” Smith Golden ’65, Recipient of the Maria Randall Allen ’42 Volunteer Service Award

THE 2025 DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUM AWARD

This award honors a Westover graduate five to fifteen years out who embodies the school’s mission through intellectual curiosity, creative achievement, integrity, and a commitment to community.

This year’s recipient, Felicity Sheehy ’10, returned to campus for her fifteenth Reunion to be celebrated for her extraordinary accomplishments as a poet and a scholar. Currently a PhD candidate at Princeton University, Felicity’s work bridges artistry and scholarship, earning her recognition as an emerging voice of her generation.

Her chapbook, Losing the Farm (2021), won the Munster Literature Centre’s international chapbook prize, and her poems have appeared in The New Republic, The Southern Review, The Irish Times, The Yale Review, Poetry Ireland Review, and many other leading literary journals. Felicity’s writing has garnered awards and scholarships from prestigious institutions, including the Academy of American Poets, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, and the Fine Arts Work Center. Named to Narrative magazine’s “30 Below 30” list in both 2019 and 2020, she now serves as artist in residence at the Arthur F. Kinney Center for Interdisciplinary Renaissance Studies at UMass Amherst. A graduate of Yale and Cambridge, she has taught English in the U.S., the U.K., and France, carrying the Westover spirit of intellectual engagement and cultural connection into every facet of her work.

“And most importantly, this school taught me how to care about other people. Whenever I’m working with one of my undergraduates, I think about how I was treated at Westover: how I was supported, encouraged, and appreciated for who I was. I’ve done my best to give my own students the kind of attention and compassion I experienced in Bruce Coffin’s seminars, or Ann Pollina’s calculus class, or Alice Hallaran’s adventures in Outdoor. As I said, Westover has been a gift in my life, and it’s a gift I try to pay forward.”

– Felicity Sheehy ’10, Recipient of the Distinguished Young Alum Award

THE 2025 WESTOVER AWARD

This award, established in 1954, is presented by the Westover Alum Association to a person associated with Westover whose tangible accomplishments are significant and who, in life and in spirit, has exemplified the school’s motto: to think, to do, to be.

This year’s recipient, Carolyn Wilson ’85, returned to campus for her fortieth Reunion to be honored for her outstanding leadership, professional achievements, and commitment to fostering creativity, inclusion, and growth on a global scale. As senior vice president of human resources for The Walt Disney Studios and head of learning for The Walt Disney Company, Carolyn oversees HR services for more than 6,000 employees and directs company-wide learning and development initiatives. Her leadership has been pivotal during Disney’s expansion, including the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm, helping to guide the company through dynamic growth while cultivating a culture where talent can thrive.

Carolyn’s work reflects the very essence of Westover’s motto. She has championed a modern, flexible approach to learning that builds critical capabilities, delivers relevant and high-quality content, and fosters an environment where creativity, quality, and diversity are central. By developing future leaders and creating an engaging, inclusive workplace, she has ensured that Disney’s workforce is inspired, empowered, and prepared to move forward with a focus on innovation and excellence. Through her vision, dedication, and integrity, Carolyn advances one of the world’s most recognized brands while living out the values of a Westover education and leaving a legacy that inspires.

“Westover was life-changing for me. It gave me the tools to shift my thinking—from How do I fit in? to What are my gifts, and how can I use them to thrive? Westover helped me discover my purpose and gave me the confidence to pursue it. It isn’t just a place where you receive an education; it’s where you build a foundation for life. It’s where teachers become mentors, friends become family, and dreams truly take root.”

-Carolyn Wilson ’82, Recipient of The Westover Award

THE 2025 DR. MIRIAM DECOSTA-WILLIS SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARD

This award honors an alum whose advocacy, activism, and leadership have made a significant impact in advancing social justice. Established in 2022, the award celebrates the legacy of Dr. DeCosta-Willis, Westover’s first African American student, a trailblazing academic, author, and activist who believed that education was a powerful tool for giving back.

Dr. Crystal Pemberton Howe ’00 received this award for her transformative work in education and her enduring commitment to equity and inclusion. Her achievements reflect not only personal dedication but also the values and mission of Westover as she builds communities where all voices are heard and every student can reach their full potential.

Crystal has embodied Westover’s motto—to think, to do, to be—throughout her career. As Westover’s former Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, she worked to create a more inclusive and equitable community on campus, laying the foundation for continued progress in this vital work. She has since expanded that mission as the cofounder of the G.O. B.I.G. Foundation and the G.O. B.I.G. charter school in Charlotte, North Carolina—an all-girls, STEM-focused school dedicated to intellectual growth, socio-emotional learning, and the cultivation of lifelong scholarly habits. Through her leadership, Crystal inspires young women to embrace curiosity, think critically, and lead with confidence. Through her work, she ensures that her students will have the skills, the courage, and the vision to shape a more just and equitable world.

Crystal could not be on campus for Reunion Weekend and accepted this award virtually.

THE 2025 ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

The 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame honors a Westover alum whose accomplishments in sports—both during and after her time at the school—demonstrate exceptional skill, leadership, and dedication to athletics.

This year, we proudly induct Jennifer Jankowski Persico ’95 in recognition of her remarkable achievements on the field, court, and beyond. At Westover, Jenn was a three-sport varsity athlete, contributing to field hockey, volleyball, and lacrosse. She captained the undefeated varsity volleyball team in 1995, earned the Westover Sportsmanship Award in 1994, and was honored with both the Senior Athletic Award and the Anneke Rothman Field Hockey Award. She also served as second Athletic Association head, a role that showcased her leadership and commitment to the school’s athletic community.

Outgoing First Head of the Athletic Association Paige Nieminen ’25, Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee Jennifer Jankowski Persico ’95, and outgoing Second Head of the Athletic Association Olivia Brown ’25

At Guilford College, she set an NCAA record for consecutive lacrosse games with at least one goal—a testament to her consistency, competitive spirit, and love for the game. Post-college, Jenn channeled her passion into coaching field hockey, volleyball, and softball at Rumsey Hall in Washington, Connecticut, and played a pivotal role in launching the girls’ lacrosse program at Pomperaug High School in Southbury, Connecticut, serving as its first head coach. Today, she continues to share her love of sports by supporting and encouraging her own children as they grow as athletes. Through her achievements, mentorship, and lifelong dedication to athletics, Jenn embodies the spirit of the Athletic Hall of Fame and serves as an inspiring example for the Westover community.

“Always remember: The relationships you build here—the friends who cheer you on, the teachers who push you, the teammates who pick you up—those are the things that stay with you long after the tests are graded and the uniforms are packed away.”

– Jennifer Jankowski Persico

’95, Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee

Reunion Weekend 2025

Celebrating the milestone classes ending in 0 or 5

Profiles in Doing Powered by Purpose

Dr. Jin Lee’s ’04’s Path in Healthcare

by Carrie Loyd ’05, Director of Strategic Communications

Dr. Jin Lee ’04, a proud Over, is shaping the future of healthcare at the intersection of science, technology, and social impact. A mom of three, neuropsychologist, entrepreneur, and investor, Dr. Lee has devoted her career to improving outcomes for women, children, and patients with autoimmune disease. Today, she serves as CEO and Co-Founder of IMIDeology, a national clinical network providing personalized diagnosis and care for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. She also advises and invests in early-stage health technology companies across the country, helping bring innovative, evidence-based therapies to patients who need them most.

Her journey from the University of Pennsylvania to earning her DPhil at Oxford, to being named a Presidential Leadership Scholar by four U.S. presidential centers, reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and service. But she traces its beginnings back to Westover, where she found belonging, confidence, and the belief that women can lead in science and society. That foundation, she says, continues to shape her work every day.

Tell us your path since Westover and how it shaped what you do today.

Since Westover, I’ve been grateful for the foundation it gave me—confidence in my voice, resilience in the face of challenges, and the belief that women can lead in science and society. That spirit carried me to the University of Pennsylvania, where I double majored in Biology and the Biological Basis of Behavior, and then to Oxford for a DPhil in Experimental Psychology.

My career has taken me through health insurance, hospital systems, and global pharma, always focused on how innovation can improve patient lives. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of investing in healthcare startups and serving on nonprofit boards.

I’m humbled to have been named a Presidential Leadership Scholar by four U.S. presidential centers Bill Clinton, Lyndon B. Johnson, George Bush, and George W. Bush and one of the 100 Most Impactful Women and Allies shaping the future of biopharma, healthcare and science; but what matters most to me is building IMIDeology to serve patients with autoimmune disease, while raising three children.

What inspired you to found IMIDeology, and what impact do you hope it will have on patients with autoimmune conditions?

It took my husband eight years to finally receive a diagnosis for his autoimmune condition—despite my nearly two decades of experience working across hospital systems, health insurance, and pharma. That painful journey inspired me to found IMIDeology, a national clinical network built on a multidisciplinary team of rheumatologists, gastroenterologists, pain specialists, and mental health experts.

Our mission is twofold: (1) to educate and empower patients by building community through free monthly support groups, our annual Bridging Autoimmune patient forum, and collaborations with scientists and advocates—including the launch of the book Living with Fire: A Patient’s Guide to Thriving with Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases; and (2) to expand access for underserved patients by connecting them to innovative, no-cost therapies through clinical trials. Find more info at imideology.com.

You’ve worked across healthcare startups, investment, hospital systems, health insurance, global pharma companies—what excites you most about this stage of your career?

What excites me most at this stage of my career is the opportunity to focus on the problems that matter most to me personally and professionally. I often advise others to work on something that will motivate you to get up every day. For me, that means autoimmune health (where 80% of patients are women) and rare pediatric genetic disorders such as Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Both areas are marked by 8+ year diagnostic journeys, no cures, and profound impact on families. I see these challenges as opportunities: I founded IMIDeology. com to reimagine autoimmune care and now serve as a board member for the Consortium for Understanding, Research, and Education in X-linked Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CureNDD.org). These missions directly touch my greater family, align with my expertise, and fuel my drive to keep going.

How did your time at Westover spark your interest in science, leadership, or service?

I feel very grateful that Westover welcomed me just a few years after I immigrated to the U.S. and was still learning English. It was a community that gave me belonging, encouragement, and opportunities that shaped the rest of my journey. I’m grateful to former Science Teacher Alice Hallaran, who mentored me through an independent science study on eye exercises, and to former Music Instructor Mrs. Bonnie Havery, who helped me find peace in chapel music and welcomed me into the handbell ensemble. I’m thankful to former Photography Teacher Mr. Michael Gallagher for teaching me to love photography and to pause and notice beauty in everyday life. He even attended my wedding years later with several Westover classmates.

I’m grateful I had the chance to spend a few months as an exchange student in Jordan, which opened my eyes to global perspectives and gave me friendships I still cherish today. Westover’s close-knit community gave me a safe space to make mistakes, discover my purpose, and begin building the foundation for a career in healthcare. Most importantly, it showed me the power of mentorship and allyship to transform lives.

Profiles in Doing Stitching History

How Susanna French ’90 Helped Bring the Suffrage Movement to Broadway

by Carrie Loyd ’05, Director of Strategic Communications

When the Broadway musical SUFFS needed historically accurate suffrage sashes, the production turned to Susanna French ’90, a writer, web strategist, and costume creator whose career has never belonged to just one field. Susannah designed and constructed sixteen sashes for the show, researching authentic fabrics, colors, and typography to bring the spirit of the suffrage movement to life. Onstage, those sashes act as visual signatures, marking political alliances and personal transformation as the story unfolds.

Her path to Broadway wasn’t linear. After graduating from Westover School, Susannah studied journalism, later moving into digital content strategy, higher education communications, and web design. Yet the common thread has always been creativity—whether she’s restructuring a complex website, writing for print and online publications, or hand-stitching period costumes. To date, she has created more than 800 sashes for women around the country, each with a personal story and purpose.

Today, her career continues to bridge the technical and the artistic, proving that creativity and analytical thinking are powerful partners.

You’ve worked across so many fields— journalism, health care, higher ed, web design, and even Broadway. What ties these experiences together for you?

Being creative is how I stay sane. In every job I’ve ever had, I’ve been lucky enough to do just that, be it building websites, writing stories, or sewing costumes.

What was it like contributing to a Broadway production like SUFFS? How did you approach balancing historical accuracy with theatrical storytelling in their design and execution?

I’ve always put great effort into making sure that everything about my sashes is as historically accurate as possible, from the color and texture of the fabric

to the typography. The costume designers used them as a starting point to help tell the story of how each character evolved throughout the show. They created more elaborate fictional sashes as the story progressed as a way to show that growth, but mine were the most realistic—and therefore the simplest. I provided the accuracy, and they provided the storytelling!

Of all your professional roles, which project or accomplishment has been most meaningful to you, and why?

Oh, definitely the sashes. I’m extremely introverted and deal with a lot of anxiety, so sending my sashes out into the world is one way I participate in the larger world. I’ve made more than 800 of them by this point, and every customer has her own unique reason for buying one. They entrust me with their stories in a politically dangerous time, and I honor that trust.

You’ve balanced both technical expertise and creative work. How do those two sides of your professional identity feed each other?

I’m a nerd and spend much of my time in my head. If I’m not paying attention, I could spend all day in a flight simulator or obsessing over web design—but that way lies madness. I need to work with my hands at least as often as I work with my mind. I’ve taught myself analog skills like medicinal herbalism, weaving, stone carving, Reiki, needle felting, and archery, but I also love geeking out about all of that online as I seek out people who know more about those skills than I do.

Were there particular teachers, classes, or traditions at Westover that inspired your love of language, research, or design?

At Westover, I was completely focused on preparing for a career in the Air Force. It didn’t take long to realize that wasn’t where I belonged, and it was some time before I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. But teachers like Rachel Bashevkin, Tom Hungerford, Bruce Coffin, and Sharon Corrigan were patient with my disorganized work and supported me as I learned to make sense of the world and myself. And I’m so grateful that I was allowed to take flying lessons as a senior “sport” and go to Space Camp for my ISP.

What’s next on the horizon for you? Any new projects or dreams you’re excited about?

I’ve been asking myself that question every day for months. My daughter just started her first year at Boston University, so we have a newly empty nest. It’s a remarkable turning point for every family, but for me, I feel a shift in focus coming on, and I’m not sure where it’ll take me. I’ve been holding off on a project I started back in 1993 when I found hundreds of letters my great-great-grandfather wrote his Quaker girlfriend (my future great-great-grandmother) during the Civil War, and I feel a tug back in that direction. I let life get in the way of publishing those letters, but given the political climate right now, his wry observations feel more relevant than they did when I first read them. I think young people might find it comforting and empowering to discover how someone their age handled another of America’s darkest times.

A Century of Spirit

Celebrating 100 Alison Barbour Fox ’43

by Abigail Leyson, Communications Associate Bahar Atayeva ’25 and Kendra Graf ’25

In 1943 Westover students lined up in a single file outside of North Office to speak on the phone with family back home.

In 2025 they FaceTime from Westover’s Quad.

When Alison Barbour Fox ’43 met with Kendra Graf ’25 and Bahar Atayeva ’25 at her home in Hamden, Connecticut, she wanted to know all about how campus life had changed—and how much had stayed the same. As editors of The Wick, the students came ready with notebooks and questions. But it was Alison’s reflections—on friendship, theater, singing, and service—that brought their conversation to life.

A New York native and an eager student, Alison’s Westover story began as a freshman boarding student in the fall of 1939. While on campus, she joined a handful of Westover’s clubs: dramat, debate, Le Cercle Français, art, Spanish, and French. She played volleyball for the Overs and held leadership positions in her extracurricular arts: associate editor of literary magazine The Lantern and Second Head of Glee Club. Befitting her charisma, Alison’s senior quote in Coagess, Westover’s yearbook, was, “Character makes its own destiny.”

THE CHAOS AND THE CHARM OF BOARDING SCHOOL

Unlike the movies, boarding school does not consist of neatly made beds, historic buildings, and old-fashioned libraries. According to Alison, charm and chaos filled her days at Westover. “Well, I know one thing—my roommates played tricks on me, because I was sort of a goody-goody. So naturally, I was just meat. They threw my clothes out the window into the back area where nobody went—where there were furnaces and all that. I don’t remember how I got them back. I think I must have just snuck down and retrieved them. But you know, even though they were playing tricks on me, it didn’t upset me. It was fun.”

Alison’s experience with her roommates had its ups and downs. In an early letter to her mother, she described one of them as “tidy, enthusiastic, and really good all around.” Beyond the playful teasing, Alison was an active boarder who enthusiastically participated in Corridor plays and other performances.

Even with a strong sense of community at Westover, Alison—like any boarder—felt pangs of homesickness from time to time. In a letter home during the winter of 1942, she wrote longingly, “School would be perfect

if the Barbour family (including the dogs) could move in…” Still, Alison made Westover her own, finding joy and connection in these yellow buildings.

Current Westover students share a timeless tradition with Alison: homework procrastination and weekends turning into social marathons. In another letter written to her mother on April 26, 1941, Alison confessed: “Haven’t done a lick of work all weekend… Just been lazin’ along and chatting with everyone.” Some things never change—like the frantic sprint of Sunday night study hall for all that was blissfully ignored between Friday evening and Sunday’s dinnertime.

A CLUB FOR EVERY CURIOSITY

Outside of the classroom, Alison found herself on stage. In Westover’s dramat club, she embraced the thrill of performance, auditioned for plays, and found herself effortlessly reciting line after line in front of her audiences.

Alison’s letters home glowed with the fun of the dramat club, recalling again and again the thrills, games, and unforgettable energy the club filled her days with. She remembered her dramat club tryout clearly, writing to her mother about how she played a mischievous boy who kicked a football at a minister’s head. Although she was not sure how she had done or whether she received a role, the excitement of trying something new shone bright.

Alison also filled her time with the French club and the Secondary School Society for Cooperation (SSSIC). She attended parties, movie nights, and international discussions––even joining a group visit to the Cheshire School, where she watched the 1937 film La Grande Illusion with classmates in December of 1941, the weekend of Pearl Harbor.

Student connection is an undying passion of Westover students, whether it be in 1943 or 2025, and clubs continue to be an essential part of Westover’s student life. The SSSIC has made room for clubs such as Model UN, which travels to Washington, D.C., annually to work with students around the country on global topics and affairs. Other clubs that Alison participated in, like French and Latin, have evolved into courses for students to take. Likewise, dramat is no longer a club, but a year-round afternoon activity for students to choose between theater and theater technology.

THE LANTERN AND THE SPARK OF STORYTELLING

Alison was not just a student—she was a storyteller. As associate editor of The Lantern, she helped craft a place for student poetry, short stories, and artwork, among others, to live. A proud moment for Alison in

The Lantern was seeing her own story, “The Fountain of Youth,” published at seventeen years old. “You don’t know how funny it looked to see my name amongst the editors,” she wrote home after her piece was published.

“The Fountain of Youth” captured the summer before her senior year at Westover, spent alongside her neighbor, Sally. Together, they attended golf tournaments, pulled weeds out of neighboring gardens, quietly knitted, and, when it rained, played endless rounds of cards.

Today, The Lantern hosts similar student work and remains entirely led by a student editorial board. Each year when a new issue is published, students race to grab their copies, scouring the pages for their friends’ names––and hoping to spot their own.

SERVICE AND STRENGTH THROUGH DORCAS

While Westover often felt like its own bubble, protected and self-contained, the outside world inevitably found its way in. During Alison’s years at school, the threat of war loomed. In letters, she wrote about how some of her classmates talked about leaving if war was declared. She was unsure if that was the right response. “Their worrying wasn’t going to do them or anyone else any good,” she reasoned, even as the news from abroad grew more serious.

The attack on Pearl Harbor made the outside world all the more real. Alison had been at a conference with the SSSIC when the announcement came. Drills and safety precautions became part of daily life—fire drills, air raid drills, and flashlights issued to lieutenants. Despite all these precautions and uncertainty in the air, Alison insisted that no one on campus gave into fear. Instead, they threw themselves into helping however they could.

Alison was a part of Dorcas, the “little sewing circle” that raised money for charity and, during these times, often sewed bandages for the war. Alison helped organize Red Cross fundraisers, raising $270 from a single event—almost $6,000 in today’s money.

Consistently, Alison’s letters and memories revealed that even in a time shadowed by war, students found ways to connect, whether it be through art, performance, or language. To bolster school spirit, Dorcas continued to host Germans and other plays. One major project was putting on a play called “Charm School,” a comedic production that filled the campus with laughter and positive energy. Alison had a significant role and, while she confessed some nervousness beforehand, she ultimately pulled it off without a problem. “Everyone laughed through the whole thing,” she proudly wrote home.

THE JOYS OF GLEE

Alison’s eyes lit up with excitement every time she talked about singing in Glee Club––a central part of her Westover experience. When asked about her favorite tradition, she didn’t hesitate: “Anything that involved singing,” she laughed.

In the early ’40s, the Glee Club looked different than it does now at Westover. Students performed locally, including performances in Westover’s consortium of boarding schools, and traveled internationally. With such high stakes, students were required to audition annually. In a letter home, Alison expressed her nerves leading up to tryouts, “Brrr, I’m almost as scared as last year.”

Alison’s love for singing didn’t end at Westover—she carried it with her into college and beyond. In fact, she shared a little-known story: She took the stage at New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

HYMNS AND HEELS: CARRYING THE FLAME FORWARD

Alison recalled how students would line up the main Corridor––from North Office to the dining hall––with heels at the edge of the carpets, holding their glee hymnals level and still. Originally, Chapel was a daily religious service deeply woven into students’ lives beyond the daily gatherings. While Chapel has since become Lumina, the tradition of processing the full length of the main Corridor lives on today.

In her letters home, Alison described attending a visiting minister’s talk about the church and participating in bible lessons to prepare the girls for their confirmation. She described early morning services, like Easter sunrise, when seniors and Old Girls sang hymns together at 3:45 a.m. before heading to church at dawn: “I am still sleepy from it,” she joked to her mother.

As Alison recounted the meaningful aspects of her time at Westover, again and again, she mentioned the Chapel line and singing together with Glee as they processed. To this day, the Lumina line is led by the Glee heads, and often Lumina commences with the beautiful chorus of Glee from the balcony above. From shared community songs to consistent reminders of heels kept at the edge of the carpet, little aspects from Chapel’s past weave themselves into the daily experiences of Westover today.

THE ART OF WESTOVER’S GERMANS

The extensive history behind Westover’s Germans seeps into almost every crevice of the school and its stories. Although the exact origin of the term is

unknown, historically, a German is a small social dance or performance. Often in Westover’s context, Germans included a theatrical performance and singing.

School traditions took on magical qualities through Alison’s eyes. She loved the Germans, each centered around a different, often whimsical theme. One in particular stayed with her vividly: the West German. Alison often painted the backdrops for the school Germans, remarking how much time and care she put into the scenery for each performance. “It couldn’t have been sweeter,” she wrote, painting a picture of decorations that transformed the stage into a landscape straight out of The Wizard of Oz, complete with little squishy houses and towers draped in green. “Of course, I loved those books,” she wrote. “So that made the German even better.”

In Alison’s early years, she participated in the Over German, themed “Under the Water.” In a letter to her mother, she wrote: “Saturday we had the German. It went very well, even though the dance wasn’t very good. The scenery was really quite beautiful…” Alison went on to share how each time she helped create Germans scenery, she and her peers would write notes to the seniors on the back of each person so that when the performance was over, seniors would run onto the stage and scour the scenery for notes written to them––a memory that made Germans all the more special for her.

To this day, Germans remain a vivid dance performance, pitting the Wests and Overs against each other in friendly competition and with each spirit team choosing a theme, just as they did in the 1940s.

UNIFORM MISHAPS

Alison enjoyed the uniforms required by Westover, writing home about the buttons and the fabric that made up the dress. Like every student, however, Alison had her fair share of uniform mishaps.

Alison recalled a memory clearly: showing up in the wrong uniform for study hall. As Alison recalled, she needed to be in her daily uniform, complete with all the buttons and belts, to begin her day in study hall. When she arrived, she found herself standing out against her classmates, as she had accidentally worn her sports uniform when getting ready.

Miss Clark, the teacher in charge of the study hall, marched her upstairs and asked her to change immediately. Flustered, she scrambled to fix it—missing buttons, tangled belts, and all—while the entire hall (and an exam) held their breath for “little Alison” to get organized. When she ran back downstairs, Miss Clark noticed her tangled, unbuttoned clothing and sent her

right back to her room to tidy up once more. Laughing at the memory, Alison said, “Everything worked out in the end.” She made it back, fully dressed, and the exam went on. It served as a reminder that even in a place built on structure and tradition, being human—and a little messy—was part of the experience, too.

EDUCATING WOMEN WHO LEAD

When asked what a girl-centered education meant to her, Alison replied with a laugh, “You did not have much of a choice, right?” In the 1940s, attending an all-girls school like Westover was not just about preference— it was one of the few avenues where young women could fully access academic resources, leadership opportunities, and a focused learning environment.

After graduating from Westover, Alison pursued a bachelor’s degree in European history at Bryn Mawr College and received her master’s from the University of Hartford. She admitted that her decision came as a surprise to her family: “My family, they were rather surprised that I went to Bryn Mawr. I was studious, but I don’t think they were very keen on that.” Reflecting on the experience, she added, “There was just no thought of me ever going to a co-ed college.”

Alison’s story highlights the enduring value of a girlcentered education, a space that not only nurtures intellect and independence but also empowers young

women to pursue paths they might not have imagined for themselves.

A LEGACY THAT LIVES ON

Alison’s services to Westover do not go unnoticed. She remains a dedicated and active alum. From 2004–2006, she served on the Board of Trustees, represented her class as a peer fundraiser and class secretary, and volunteered at several Reunion weekends. Most honorably, she has created her own Westover legacy by giving back to her alma mater. Today’s Westover students are impacted firsthand by Alison’s generosity with the rock climbing wall in the Fuller Athletic Center and contributions to the Endowed Mosaic Scholarship and Westover Fund for the past forty years.

As the last sips of lemonade were enjoyed between Alison, Kendra, and Bahar, they shared moments of laughter and excitement––promising to send recent issues of The Wick and The Lantern for Alison to read the current stories and works of Westover students.

Sitting across from Alison, it is clear that the moments made at Westover can connect alums of any class to one another. From hearing about her travels abroad to seeing her glow when recalling Westover memories, her life experiences have shaped who she is today: a tenacious woman filled with joy and love for the people who have impacted her over the past 100 years.

Exploring the Wilds of Quebec Westover Students at The Kenauk Institute

by Abigail Leyson, Communications Associate

This summer, Amy D. ’26 and Andra W. ’26 traded classrooms for canoes as they headed north to Montebello, Quebec, Canada. The two Westover juniors spent a week immersed in ecological field studies through The Kenauk Institute Junior Internship Program, a hands-on opportunity to explore conservation science in one of North America’s largest private nature reserves.

“I learned what research and field work are really like. Time, effort, and patience all go into the work—and that’s what gives you the best outcomes.”

– Amy D. ’26

Westover’s connection to Kenauk runs deep, with special thanks to the generosity of Mari Harpur ’67. This program offers students unique access to research experiences typically reserved for collegelevel scholars.

Mari shares her love of nature conservation with Westover by supporting a partnership between the school and the Institute, allowing a pair of students or a group of three to attend every year since 2018.

In collaboration with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, The Kenauk Institute leads conservation initiatives and provides environmental education for schools and universities across the globe.

“After taking AP Environmental Science at Westover, I wanted to see what field research was really like,”

Andra shared. “Kenauk was a great way to see what college students are doing as I begin my own college journey.”

Life at Kenauk was structured around research projects, but never predictable. Mornings began with 8:00 a.m. wake-ups and hearty breakfasts before long days of data collection, discovery, and outdoor exploration. Evenings closed with well-earned dinners and reflections on the day’s findings.

Amy and Andra contributed to four major projects, each designed to help better understand and protect the reserve’s ecosystem:

• Milfoil project: snorkeled and kayaked to map milfoil, an invasive water plant, so conservation teams could later remove it

• Loon project: surveyed lakes to track loon populations, recording nesting pairs and breeding behaviors

• Turtle project: used drones and tagging to study painted turtle basking habits, noting differences between males and females

• Moth project: collected data overnight by photographing and measuring moths, contributing to Kenauk’s growing inventory of native species

From sunset swims after long days in the field to hands-on encounters with conservation science, Kenauk offered Amy and Andra an unforgettable summer. Their experience reflects what makes Westover special: opportunities that inspire curiosity, resilience, and readiness for the future.

Now back at Westover for their senior year, both students carry forward lessons that go far beyond science.

“It was fun and fascinating to learn new things and see how passionate the interns were about their projects,” Amy reflected. “Even working with insects made me more open to experiences I might have been uncomfortable with before.”

The Architecture of Belonging Corridor Across Generations

From its earliest days, Westover’s main building has shaped the rhythm of life on campus. Its distinctive design brings together classrooms, gathering spaces, and dormitories under one roof, reflecting founder Mary Robbins Hillard and architect Theodate Pope Riddle’s vision of harmony between living, learning, and community. Generations of students have walked these halls, finding both independence and connection in a setting that is at once grand and deeply personal.

While the details of life on Corridor have changed over the years, shifting from radios, handwritten letters, and movie nights on a shared TV to Wi-Fi, Netflix, and FaceTime, the feeling remains the same. The sense of belonging that begins here has been shared by Westover students for more than a century. Within these timeless halls, friendships form easily, laughter echoes across decades, and every student leaves a mark on the place that shaped them—some literally, on a hidden archive that lives within each closet. Supported by caring faculty and student proctors who ensure that every resident feels seen, known, and valued, life on Corridor continues to embody the heart of Westover.

Deaths

Edith McLane Edson ’44, P’68

April 24, 2025

Anne Corkran Nimick ’46 June 12, 2025

Joan Ross Bolling ’47 March 17, 225

Ellen Grimes Noble ’49 January 20, 2025

Gayle Nin Rosenkrantz ’49 July 18, 2025

Sarah Rand Winton ’49 June 19, 2025

Elizabeth Velie Bovey ’50 January 28, 2025

Passages

Ann Skelly ’61

April 4, 2025

Edna O’Hara ’62

May 13, 2025

Jennie LaMonte ’78

May 9, 2025

Kristin Martinkovic White ’91 February 11, 2025

Tessa White ’96

July 26, 2026

Weddings

Courtney Bliss ’14

To Mathew Kinney

June 7, 2025

Brittany McDonald ’16

To Nathan DeLuca

July 12, 2025

Births

Margaret Cook Jackson ’05

Juniper Lynne Jackson

August 27, 2024

Melissa Arsenie ’06

Henry Michael Surette

June 17, 2025

Danielle Harrison Logan ’08

Solenne Gray Logan

January 2025

Myriam Kelly ’11

Liam Lanier

May 22, 2025

*As of August 2025

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Class Notes

1956

Secretary needed!

Suzanne Reitz Weinstein had a lovely Easter earlier in the year while settling into her new home. She shares, “Dear Westover School classmates, I am now (after lots of ups and downs) in assisted living in Newton, Massachusetts, with my seventeen-year-old cat and lovely helpers all night who supply me with supper, supplies, and help in the morning. Easter Sunday I had two guests come to my apartment. Coffee table was set up, and we had a festive lunch with ham, chicken potpie, coffee, and cupcakes—and Caroline, the cat, purred with pleasure. Love to you all at Westover.”

1957

Lavinia Meeks ’57 laviniameeks@gmail.com

Dorie Milner Pease shares, “I still keep active with volunteer work, raising money for our Employee Appreciation Fund and chairing our DEI committee, now named the Inclusion Committee for obvious reasons.”

Dorie also shares the news that Elizabeth (Betsy) Darling White’s husband, George, passed away on August 6, 2025. The following is an excerpt from his obituary: “No account of George’s life would be complete without mention of the love of his life, Elizabeth (Betsy) Conant Darling, whom he met in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1955, and to whom he was married for sixtyseven years. Betsy traveled the world with him, was his partner in building the O’Neill and enjoying most of the things he loved in life—opera, art, food, and sailing—and shared his life with their family.”

Sharon Anderson Smith keeps busy seeing family and friends. Brother Scottie found his only child, a daughter, when she searched for him through the PBS ancestry program! Granddaughter Ainslie and her beau, Cade, of Ilano, Texas, eloped and expect a baby in January or February 2026. Stepdaughter Trudi and her husband, Warren, and daughter, Pearl, age eighteen, visited from Houston, Texas. Sadly, Pearl was diagnosed with a brain lesion and was told she has only two more years to live, as the lesion is inoperable. She goes to MD Anderson, one of the best hospitals in the country. Sharon’s son, Ian, and wife, Laurie, also visited from Richmond Hill, Georgia.

Barbara Edwards Hicks writes that she and Paul visited daughter Nessa and her partner, Stephen, in Kingston, Rhode Island. Nessa’s daughter, Anna, was there, as well as her son, Tim, and his fiancée, Eilidu, who plan to be married in Scotland in May 2026. Barbara and Paul hope to be well and able to attend.

Mary-Rose Hickey Cooney visited daughter Alexandra and husband Doug, who rented a house in Italy in a lovely area not far from Pisa. Mezzie and friend Sally will visit again in Goa, India, adding in Nepal and Mezzie’s birthplace, Nainital. All are well. Daughter Georgia is remote teaching her brother Aiden’s son, Gus, who is

dyslexic. Aiden just bought his forever home in Somerset, where everyone plans to spend Christmas.

Best wishes to everyone, and I hope to hear from more of you!

1958

Marcie McCormick Porter ’58 mmporter@fairpoint.net

Penny Jackson Trask ’58 ptrask3@gmail.com

Marcie McCormick Porter sends apologies to you all for our failing to reach out to you last fall, but life intervened, as it does these days. And this time Penny is with her extended family reunioning on Cape Cod, a very happy time.

Marcie shares, “For my part, I am slowly recovering from months of moving from our wonderful big old house to a small condominium in Belfast, Maine. All good, just hard. Steve and I are doing pretty well overall, but I was in charge of logistics and renovations during our protracted move, which gave my bossy side lots of leeway. Next time, Penny and I will give you more time to respond and hope for more news.”

A group from the Class of 1958 got together for lunch in Cape Cod in July 2025: Anita Burroughs Fahy, Lucy Lisle Murray-Brown, Selden Dunbar Illick, and Jane “Penny” Jackson Trask.

Penny Jackson Trask had a fabulous trip to Cape Cod filled with family, one of whom was Emily Jackson Anderson ’12, with Penny’s wee great-grandson. That was followed by lunch with Lucy Lisle MurrayBrown, Anita Burroughs Fahy, and Selden Dunbar Illick

Emily Taylor Ambler writes, “I am still enjoying living in Jackson, Wyoming, but

not physically able to do all the athletic activities I used to love. It’s called aging. I have given up winters here and take a few months in Carlsbad, California, where one of my daughters lives. My husband has died, but I am loving living with a guy I dated from West Point way back when. You never know, do you? Hope all is well with our classmates.”

Nancy Hopkins visited Westover School with Selden Illick ’58.

Selden Dunbar Illick shares, “On April 4, 2025, Nancy Hopkins, PhD, came to Westover with me to meet with students in Westover’s Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Program and other exciting programs for women in science at Westover. Thanks to the fabulous organizing and scheduling with Chief Development Officer Mary Risner, WISE and any interested students had the opportunity to meet and talk about their interests in science with Nancyan American molecular biologist and the Amgen, Inc., Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy, and the American Academy of the Arts and Sciences. A Pulitzer Prize-winning book about Nancy’s groundbreaking, pioneering change for women at MIT, written by Kate Zernike, called The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science, gives an excellent description of the challenges she and her colleagues were up against. Nancy was so gracious to give her time, and the Westover enthusiasm from

students and faculty alike was palpable! Truly, an unforgettable day!”

Sally Love Saunders writes that she is still writing a lot of poetry and reading it in different places. She came out with a new book of her poetry. She has to get eye surgery, but she had a knee replaced, and it was a great success. She still loves living in San Francisco.

Peyton Chapman Horne ’58 visited her niece, Peyton, in Portland, Oregon, with her granddaughter, Bela, and daughter, Selden.

Peyton Chapman Horne wrote while visiting her niece, Peyton, in Portland, Oregon, with her granddaughter, Bela, and daughter, Selden. She writes that it is a memory she will cherish in her dotage.

Anita “Nita” Burroughs Fahy wrote as she was about to go visit Penny on the Cape with Selden Illick and, hopefully, Lucy Lisle Murray-Brown, a much-anticipated reunion. Nita says that she hasn’t much news except, “I see my children and grandchildren as often as I can; they either come to me or I visit them.” That is always good news.

Mary Brereton Frost says that “with better health this season, I’ve gone forth and back to Sunnyside, California, where our children, their children, and their children return in the summer! Still, I’m grateful to live in assisted living at Covenant Living of Keene, New Hampshire, and able to take advantage of opportunities with many great late-in-life friends: book group, play reading, poetry, attending musicals, walks… If my well-being continues, I may even dust off my ‘YogaKids’ and offer it in memory care this fall.”

Helen Potts Palmer writes that she “moved to a senior care center into my own apartment. Girls and I thought it was for the best. I like it here, right near Anne. Just as well, as I have heart problems. I got a pacemaker, so I am much better. I spent fifteen days in the hospital and a few weeks

in rehab. I wasn’t sure I would ever make it home.” But she did, and we are very glad.

1959

Secretary needed!

Mary-Clarg Seymoour Garfield writes, “We are now looking for assisted living places to move into within a year. Michael is on dialysis three days a week, which is life-changing for both of us. We are blessed with supportive children and grandchildren to help when needed.”

1960

Priscilla White Givan ’60 pwgivan@gmail.com

Margaret “Lawrie” Perry Diack-Wilson writes, “I am blessed with good health. My therapy dog, Rosie Roosevelt, and I go to the hospital twice a week. Otherwise, I garden and read and travel.”

Elise Clement Cutler shares, “I have had macular degeneration since 2010 and get excellent care in Portland, Maine. I still drive to the YMCA, the bank, and the grocery store, but poor Tony has to lug me around a lot. Thank god I am about to inherit some money, which will accommodate us nicely in our dotage. Been broke for too long. I hope everybody is well and not too fearful of losing our democracy!”

Priscilla White Givan shares, “The older I get, the faster time passes! I keep thinking that I need a few more days in the week! My daughter and I are fortunate to be traveling together to very interesting places. We returned from the Antarctic in February. Before that, we cruised to Polynesia. Our next trip in September 2025 will be a fabulous cruise to Scandinavia and surrounding countries.

We both make our homes in Southern California and are living very busy lives. I am playing lots of golf and lawn bowling, and enjoying so many new friends in the Laguna Woods community! I continue to work on my watercolor painting.

My son and his family are still residing in Rhode Island. We travel east a few times a year for wonderful visits with them, as well as with my grandson and his family, who live in Maryland. It is delightful and exciting to be a great-grandmother!

I attended Reunion weekend in June, and it was a huge success! Head of School Polly Fredlund and her very capable staff worked nonstop all weekend to make sure that every need was attended to and every school tradition experienced by the returning classes. Amazing! Hugs and love to my class members!”

1961

Secretary needed!

Ellen Thayer Vahan shares, “News here was/is the Palisades fire (west Los Angeles, California), which decimated so many houses. We are on the edge and were evacuated for over a week. We were fortunate, as we had someplace to go. Great concern as to whether the house would be there—with ninetyplus-mile-an-hour winds, all bets are off. We are home, although there is a layer of ash on everything. Everyone knows someone who lost everything, and now we all have a ‘go bag.’ What would you save if you only had a few minutes? Pets and passports seem to be high on the list. Stay safe.”

1963

Nancy Reeder El Bouhali nancyb@cyburban.com

Adelaide MacMurray-Cooper adelaidemacmurraycooper@gmail.com

Lyn Bremer Chivvis shares, “I still give massages every week to some, less often to others. I tell people that someday getting a massage will be like brushing your teeth: There’s just so long you’ll go without!

Beecher (aka Art) is a full-time professor at CUNY-Baruch, teaching MBA students and some seniors as well. Chris Chivvis is still at Carnegie Endowment for World Peace, as director of American statecraft.

Nancy Reeder El Bouhali ’63, Nicky Johnson Weaver ’63, Devon Chivvis, and Lyn Bremer Chivvis ’63 at the Harvard Five Opening in New Canaan, Connecticut

Devon has premiered The Harvard Five: A Story of Love, Architecture, and aDesign Revolution in California and, of course, in New Canaan. Both your class secretary, Nancy, and Nicky Johnson Weaver roommates from New Girl Corridor, came to the New Canaan screening. [Secretary’s note: The film is artistic and informative, creative in choice of material, and revelatory in its interviews. Each frame, seen on a large movie theater screen, is a striking photograph.]

Dana is still a journalist at This American Life on NPR. She married her sweetheart, Talia, last fall in a garden in Brooklyn. A wonderful celebration of love and marriage!

We seem to be running a roadhouse here in New Canaan, the benefits of which are that we get to see different relatives and friends as they pass through on their way to various vacation spots, mostly Cape Cod and the Vineyard. It’s great fun to reconnect with all. On July 1, we drove to Bethesda to celebrate Uma’s sixteenth birthday, a significant milestone to those of us who grew up in Maryland.”

Enid Fraser Robinson says, “Our brood is trickling in this week to join us in Portugal for the big eight-oh...

A touch of exciting news: our eldest grandson, Xander, passed his Common Entrance exams and gained a place at Sherborne, where he will start in September. The other three—Eliza, Lochlan, and Raef—are beetling along happily, with Lochlan the next in line for Common Entrance a year from now!”

Polly Hayward Griffith writes, “Our news is heat! A drought and an excessive (by our standards) heatwave in England, the former mostly in the northeast around York, sadly. We have to remind ourselves not to fuss too much, as we’ll be moaning about the rain and mud next winter!

After the success of a family reunion in Portugal two years ago, we did it again: twenty-two of us in Tuscany in May. The ages ranged from eighty-two to six, and everyone had a good time (though perhaps if we stayed another week, we might not have been so harmonious)!

Jon and I did it all by train, though we hired a car in Florence to get around at the house: York to Paris (a quick trip to Notre Dame, which is as lovely as advertised); Paris to Turin to Florence; a week at the house; back to Florence and then along Lake Como to Turin; over the Alps on the Bernina Express (Google it; wonderful!) to Zurich; an overnight train to Amsterdam, and then the Eurostar back to London and York. And now we will spend the rest of the summer recovering. All-in-all, a splendid adventure.”

Nicky Johnson Weaver came to The Harvard Five opening in New Canaan, where she grew up, and said she recognized many of the people referenced and interviewed in the film. After visiting New Canaan, Nicky was planning a quick trip to Westover to see the lovely Quad (in front of the old biology and chemistry labs), which Nicky dedicated to her mother, Jane Eads Johnson. Nicky’s present to herself is a new old house in Tennessee, which she bought, and has embarked upon the “home renovation journey.”

Beth Markham Nicholson ’63 with her family, Liam, Brett, Naomi, Melina, Savannah, and Phil

Beth Markham Nicholson celebrated her eightieth birthday in January! This fabulous start of the year was followed by Melina and family coming together in Tucson for many adventures. She writes, “One of my favorite activities was taking everyone to the Kitt Peak Observatory for the nighttime tour. Just seeing the stars with our naked eyes was a treat. I had forgotten that the night sky,when unpolluted by light or dirt or atmosphere, lets stars sparkle like diamonds.

This was a big year in my horse world. I lost two much-loved retired horses in the spring. Then I decided that Rico was twenty-five and I could lose him at any time, so what the heck, I got a new young horse. Tali, a PRE (Pura Raza Española), or Spanish horse, is a nine-year-old gelding. He is sweet, sensible, and has smooth gaits, even if I am still building my communication skills with him. The barn and its wonderful people are my happy place in this crazy world.”

’63 and David

Lolly MacMurray-Cooper shares, “As of February 2025, our family and friends continue to sustain us and enrich our lives. As I write, son James and his family are staying in our New Hampshire house for the long weekend, enjoying perfect snow!

David’s letter highlights some extraordinary family reunions that provided not only beautiful settings in Oregon, Tennessee, and New Jersey, but the chance to catch up with far-flung family members. They were so much fun, and now there is a movement afoot to celebrate my eightieth birthday in Colorado in August!

Great-grandchildren Felicity and Asher on his actual birthday, Feb 18. Asher and Felicity are the children of David’s granddaughter, Hannah.

Last June 2024, we took the last Road Scholar grandparent trip with my youngest grandchild, Colette. We went to the Georgia banks to study sea turtles, and she loved it.

Learning alongside one’s grandkids is unforgettable, and our six trips with my six different young ones have been extraordinary. Meanwhile, since David’s myasthenia prevents all but family trips, I set out to find new travel companions. A Viking cruise down the Seine in October with brother Worth’s wife, Connie, was a real treat, and the Normandy beaches were unforgettable.

Life at Brookhaven continues to be very stimulating. I am active in the literary magazine and on the music committee that brings outstanding performers to our

splendid new concert hall. Recently, we heard the Lydian Quartet. Last fall, David and I were invited to hang a joint show of our travel photography from the last ten years or so, a very rewarding process! And in early February, I gave a lecture on Julia Margaret Cameron. She was a mid-nineteenth-century Englishwoman who was given a clunky early camera for Christmas in 1863. Within sixteen months, she was exhibiting haunting portraits of English people, both humble and famous, around the world. I worked on this for two years, David helping greatly with the slides, and happily, it was well received.

Beyond Brookhaven, we continue to spend quiet time in New Hampshire, where we enjoy the peace as well as the chance to welcome family and friends. My grandchildren—Max, Gavin, and Emily in Denver, Colorado, and Gabe, Russell, and Colette in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey— are all growing so fast that I visit as often as I can.

David is bravely dealing with his condition, and I try to help without hovering. Living where we do, with most material needs looked after, we both have time to read and enjoy the company of numerous close friends who surround us. I was forced to give up the prison visiting that gave me such pleasure and new understanding, but my prisoner was assigned to a new prison out of reach.

I still serve on the board of the Boston Camerata, a world-renowned music ensemble, but I am discouraged at how difficult it is today to raise money for the arts. I’m exploring other ways to work in the community, probably with food insecurity.

We do feel fortunate, but we still ache for the troubles in the world. At our ages, there is not the energy there used to be to plunge into righting wrongs, but I try to keep informed and aware and support the many causes I’d like to help. I’ve been accused of being a terminal Pollyanna, but I do feel it’s essential to keep hope alive. Anything less is surrender. This country is full of decent people who will make their voices heard and effect change.”

Robin Reath Graves shares, “So here we are, Robin and Gay, two old bats figuring out how to do eighty gracefully! Beautiful visit with dear Gaylen Morgan in Blue Hill, Maine, with her beautiful family and amazing grandchildren.

Gaylen Morgan ’63 with cockapoos Badger and Rufus

I lived with Gay for three years at school and truly love her so! We do see each other in Cambridge now and again, but this visit was one of the best! Our cockapoos are cousins, from the kennel that Feather suggested. Badger and Rufus are the best dogs ever. Eighty can be and is tough! But we felt lucky and fortunate yesterday!

Newsflash: Son Porter Fox was just nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for his recent book, Category Five. He will be speaking at Aspen Institute on climate change.

Yes, my other two children are equally successful in life—in other ways that are not publicized!”

From Lyn Chivvis: Hurray for Porter! As I’ve said before, Category Five is fantastic, and I’m so glad he’s getting the well-deserved recognition. His determination to get out the info about climate change is so graphic and so well written. I recommend this book to everyone who can read.

Need a lawyer? A friend in Tokyo? A designer?

Julie Slocum Dahlgren writes, “Summer has been busy. Just got done as a controller for an international fly-fishing championship for women and youth. [Your class secretaries are looking forward to the “whole story” of this adventure—with pictures, of course.]

Julie and Tess continue to help build bottle schools in Guatemala. This is such an inspired way to contribute, teach, and make the world a better place! Thank you, Julie and Tess, and those who create something out of nothing and give people love and hope.”

Holly Lewis Lentini shares, “My news for this year is very sad. My husband of almost fifty-seven years, Joe, passed away on February 7, 2025. You never would have known that he was sick for the last twenty years. He had a very optimistic and happy nature and fought to the end. I have four grandchildren in college this fall as well as one who is a sophomore in high school. Two grands are at Wake Forest, one at Colorado State, and one at Clemson. I am still living in Florida and keep busy at the moment with family matters.”

1965

Elisabeth Smith Golden ’65 bettie47golden@gmail.com

Pamela Weiss writes, “I was hoping to be able to join you at this Reunion. Unfortunately, I was hospitalized for pulmonary infections. This year was vicious in Pennsylvania for pollen, dust mites, and mold. Just recently got released from the hospital, but unfortunately I am stuck at

home for the next few months alternating between several different types of breathing machines. I wish you all the very, very best, and hope to see you all at our next Reunion. Love and miss you all, Pam Weiss.”

Elizabeth Smith Golden shares the following message to her classmates: “I have just finished reading the 2024 Westover magazine and was pulled into the stories and lives of our accomplished and interesting alums of all ages! My enjoyment softened my resistance to saying yes to Advancement Projects and Events Manager Sara Cipot’s kind invitation to herd you kitties—to create a page of memories and information for the inimitable Class of 1965. For this issue, it is too late to organize such a feat, but, hopefully, your whistles will be whetted by my abbreviated report from our sixtieth Reunion in June—and you will determine to participate in the 2026 issue.

While we assembled an enthusiastic cohort of about twenty of us, it was a smaller showing than all of our other gatherings, and those who did not make it were sorely missed. Our classmates have always been unusually linked together, so, when we are down a number, the chain feels compromised. One of the many subjects we parsed was the prospect of our eightieth birthdays in 2027, when we need to consider many years of association and friendship with an epic celebration.

I think a questionnaire to record your thoughts on where we might meet and what you think has been successful so far would be helpful as we put together

a small group to plan our fun. My vote, which I shall submit right now, is to find a casual country resort where we may all stay together, exercise together, dine together, etc. Migis has been mentioned— the Goldens are actually having a family birthday there in 2027, as it ticks a lot of boxes for assorted ages and interests, like ours. I imagine that some of you have other ideas, and please let us know! Just e-mail me, and your thoughts will be seriously considered.

It was only months ago when we stalwart members of ’65 gathered at our dear alma mater for a three-day sixtieth Reunion celebration. There are a number of new staff members in the Development and Communications arenas who were determined to set a standard for Reunion that will be hard to follow. Despite the sporadic chilliness and rain showers of New England June, we were unscathed due to thoughtful provisions of tents, golf carts, delicious warm foods, and ample beverages.

Although we were offered the opportunity to actually sleep in triples on Senior Corridor (now air-conditioned), we chose to stay at the iconic Wyndham, although some of the younger classes availed themselves of the dear reminiscence of the main building!

Although we were a relatively small group of septuagenarians, we enjoyed a nostalgic and stimulating schedule of lectures, meetings, ceremonies—and partying! And we marched into Chapel, and no one fell! A number of our class members participated in presenting various aspects of the events. Charlotte Byer kicked off the weekend by presenting a lively, but not too depressing, discussion of pre-mortem financial and family planning. Charlotte entertained and mentored us, having encountered all the scenarios through her career. It was a heads-up warning to get organized—enhanced by her sense of humor.

In addition, donors were thanked for their various contributions over the years, and permanent testimonials were installed to honor those who have believed in our school and who have contributed over many years to its future. There is so much that is improved and hopeful at Westover, thanks to our new leadership, that we should all be inspired to support the institution and the concept of “girls schools”—increasingly challenged. We attended the annual Alum Association

award presentation and were blown away by the lives and accomplishments of our Westover alums. There was a thoughtful and inspiring book talk by Head of School Polly Fredlund and the legendary Bruce Coffin. There were examples of the much-heralded new Westover Institute— curriculum that girls may choose as Saturday classes for short-term exposure to new and current subjects, which will pique their interest for future studies. The intent is that such academic programming will appeal to faculty, applying students, their families, and the educational community in general, as well as inspiring pride in our alums.

Polly Fredlund already knew how special ’65 was, so she honored us by inviting us to have dinner at her house and even included her charming husband, Cam—lucky guy. The fact that it was their anniversary made it exceptionally special! We had a great time, including a Zoom call with a few of our absentee classmates, who we thank for joining us, and then we unintentionally missed the gathering at the Seven Sisters bonfire. Oh well, next time?

Of course, the deep purpose of these events is to reminisce with old friends and rekindle our long-standing relationships. In addition, to see our school with new energy, yet old familiarity, was very meaningful to us all. We felt confident that, with our current and hopefully increasing resources and talents, we shall recover from the slump of recent years, and we’ll be Westover proud forevermore. If you have met Polly Fredlund, you’ll believe it!

Please participate in planning our 2027 gathering! All best to all of you!”

1968

Secretary needed!

Elizabeth Reed writes, “It’s been another year of nomadic life, moving between Block Island, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts and a small town on Florida’s west coast. The year’s highest high point was a trip to Glacier National Park, a Christmas gift from my husband, which included a June hike in fresh snow. The lowest low point: I won’t get started on politics, in which I am active and engaged with occasional time-outs to recharge my batteries. Via email, I’ve been delighted to reconnect with a fellow former ‘Subversive’—our small outlier Westover cohort—to recall memorable

times in that unique community and hear of her remarkable career and life trajectory. If other former Subversives read this and are so inclined, please contact me at sido@mit.edu.”

Cynthia Perry Colebrook shares, “Teddy and I are now living in Ocala, Florida, as of August! We hope to see many friends in the southeast.”

1969

Gayle Garivaltis-James

’69 gajjames8850@verizon.net

Wilder Dominick Witt shares, “The Witts continue to thrive, even in our ‘getting old’ age. We have great friends here in St Petersburg, Florida, and we’re all very active. We still travel a lot. Our big trip in 2025 was a Seabourn Cruise to New Zealand, Australia, and Indonesia; more trips later this year. Major lifestyle change: sold our St. Petersburg home and moved to a St. Petersburg condo—all in three weeks. It’s great! Kids are doing well: daughter in the Denver area. Married, two littles. Crazy surgeon life. Son in Nashville. Married. Three cats. Crazy musician life.”

Gale Duncan Simmons shares, “Bill and I have lived in Mexico for eleven years. We built our home here and moved in about a year and half ago. We are enjoying the endless sun and more leisurely pace. Have also seen a lot of the country by car. Not being in too much of a rush, we go to the beach and spend the night on route. We live at 6,000 feet on a high plateau in central Mexico, four hours north of Mexico City and about nine hours from Zihuatanejo. We have a five-year-old granddaughter, Lucille Grace Rumsey, in Burlington, Vermont, who we enjoy visiting, and our youngest daughter, Julianna, got married at the Colony Club in NYC last December. It was a very festive Christmas wedding. Life is good! This summer, we will all meet in Kennebunkport, Maine, for a week at the beach. I always enjoy reading about our class, so keep on communicating. If you come to San Miguel de Allende, please call—we would love to show you around.”

1970

Secretary needed!

Susan Mohn shares, “I’m still getting used to my ‘new normal’ life since Butch’s passing in 2023. I’m so blessed to have family and so many wonderful friends

who have helped me through! I got the kitchen remodeled last year, as well as the study. Glad that work is all done! I’m also now back in the saddle again and really enjoying the riding. I never have outgrown my love of horses! It was so wonderful to connect with the classmates who made it to our fifty-fifth (yikes!!) Reunion! So many memories revisited with those there! Thanks to Caryl Beyer Steele for getting me off the dime to attend! I send my love to you all. Stay well and happy!”

Carlyle (Carky) Claypool Conrad shares, “Sorry to miss our fifty-fifth, love to all! Wonderful tribute to sister, the late Charlene Claypool Hansen ’64, with Westover friends attending her life’s celebration service in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Busy with nine grands; the eldest got married in July and the youngest in one year!”

1971

Lisa Stockwell ’71, P’11 lisabstockwell@gmail.com

One of the benefits of being over seventy—after decades of building careers and raising kids—is that we have a lot more freedom. If we have grandkids, we can see them as often as we want. If we’re working, and we’re lucky, we have more vacation time. If we want to zone out the rest of the world, we’re allowed that space.

So, I wasn’t surprised to hear from only a few classmates this year. I’d like to imagine everyone is off having fun or enjoying family, friends, or alone time.

I did receive several updates to share and hope that those I didn’t hear from are saving their stories for our fifty-fifthth Reunion next summer.

Karen Kjorlien Phillips, Anne Lloyd du Pont, Susan Clark, Katy Angstat Rahe, and Nancy Reighley Cavanaugh all noted that they hope to make Reunion. Since we missed our fiftieth, I hope many more will come, since I plan to be there!

Katy Angstadt Rahe wrote, “I am still very involved with Pet Partners as a volunteer pet therapy team, along with my golden retriever, River. We visit high schools during exam time, visit special needs classes in elementary and high schools, a local hospital, and several senior living

facilities. I am also one of the evaluators for new teams that want to be therapy teams and renewing teams. River is the 2025 Pet Partners Pet of the Year. We were the top fundraisers in a six-week period in March–April.

I am a grandma, a.k.a. Bibi, to six grandchildren! My husband, Rod, and I are blessed as they all live in Connecticut and NYC. On July fourth, almost all of our family was able to come together in the Thousand Islands. We are both very involved at our church, as I am on our prayer and caring teams, and Rod is on the mission team. We are grateful for our church family. We went to the Galapagos last February, which was an amazing trip, and this September we are going to Scotland and then on a church mission trip to Croatia and Bosnia in October. We are grateful for family and friends and seem busier than when we were working.”

Sarah Carleton Wechsler sent an update, noting she won’t make Reunion. She reports, “We like to travel and have been on several Rick Steves trips to Europe the past few years. Last year, our family went to Japan on our own after our daughter graduated from medical school. She is now a resident at UNC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Our son works at a bank in Dallas and is contemplating business school. I continue to volunteer as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and always have projects of some sort to work on. We spend time in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, every summer. No grandchildren or inlaws yet for us. I am grateful for good health and mobility and lots of other things!”

Martha Dailey Iacovelli is happy to note that she recently had breakfast in Chatham with Hilary Higgins Parker. “It is our yearly tradition. Hilary and I love our time together and remain great friends! We still live in the country in Louisiana nine months out of the year. We spend June and the fall in Chatham on Cape Cod. Two kids, three grandchildren, and old friends are up there, so it’s very busy, but lots of fun. One son lives down here in Louisiana, and another lives in San Diego. My mother is almost ninety-eight and is at home. I am running everything with her seven caretakers. She lives in the pasture next to us on our farm. Mom is very sweet, and that makes it a pleasure to care for her. Ernie and I went with good friends to Iceland last September. We hiked on

glaciers and loved the beautiful scenery. The people were great, and so was the food. I still walk, bike, volunteer, and work in my garden as much as I can. It is very social out here in the country. We have supper clubs and entertain at home, because we are far from the city. My goal is to paint more this year.”

Anne Lloyd du Pont writes, “I’m still here, so that in itself is a miracle. I’m still living in Kansas City, and both my children have moved back here in the past five years. My daughter, Alexis, is an architect and spent fifteen years in NYC. She is working parttime for a firm here and in the remodel and renovation business with her husband. They have two babies, Theo and Byrdie. My son, Leo, is a lawyer and spent twenty years in NYC and Dallas. He opened his own shop here in KC, focusing on real estate. He and Jules have a one-year-old, Anna, with one more little girl due in mid-January. As for me, I am still working part-time, still making art, babysitting… and trying to make sense of this world we find ourselves in. It feels a bit like a flashback to the late ’60’s and early ’70s. Hard to believe we are actually regressing. The never-ending plight of man. I’m hoping to arrange my life

Because even Chapel Line runs smoother with your support.

to join everyone at the next Reunion. Hi to all my long-lost buddies.”

Tanya Kazanjian writes, “Mary Rhode and I had a fabulous trip to China in May. I hadn’t seen her since 1972, so fifty-three years! I quit my last job in March and am in the process of publishing my first novella, Dear Natalie. It is metaphysical fiction. I publish my poetry on my website, Starseed Projects.”

Nancy Reighley Cavanaugh says, “Not much new, but life is good. Glad to say I have no health issues. I took all my family to HF Bar Ranch in June. It has been the highlight of the summer. My sister was also there with her family, so there were twenty-three of us in total. Getting on and off the horse is a bit more challenging, and my knees were talking to me at the end of a two-hour ride, but it was worth it! It was such fun seeing the cousins together—a very special trip. I am in Nantucket for most of July and August, and my daughters and grandsons will be visiting on and off. I hope to see everyone at our fifty-fifth!”

As for me, Lisa Stockwell, I’m still working, but it feels like AI is out for my job. With client work slowing down, I’ve written a home rebuilding guidebook for victims of natural disasters who’ve lost their homes. Over thirty years ago, I was publishing a home improvement magazine when the Oakland Hills fire destroyed over 3,000 houses and apartment units, and I collaborated with local contractors to write a shorter version of this guide. I should have dusted it off a while ago, since more and more communities are losing homes to wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. I hope this more comprehensive book (along with an online magazine) can be a useful resource for at least a few people. Beyond work, I’m loving my role as grandma to four grandkids (ages four to seven) and enjoy having my three kids living close by. My boyfriend, Douglas, and I are trying to fit in as much traveling as possible, not knowing how many good years we have left to explore. We’ve been to Mexico, Argentina, and France over the past year, enjoying the diverse landscapes and lifestyles and imagining if and where we could retire abroad, if necessary. Life in California is still very good, and I can’t imagine leaving family behind, so hopefully this country can pull itself together! Mom died in April after ninety-eight-and-a-half years of good living, and Dad (same age) is still doing well in Boulder, Colorado, spending most of his time writing at his computer. If I enjoy their longevity, I’ll be around for at least a few more Reunions. But in case I don’t, let’s try to get a big group together next June!

1972

Secretary needed!

Gretchen Handy Hernandez writes, “Rob and I just celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary. We have known each other for many years, so it seems like much longer! We have four granddaughters between us; three were born within six months of each other, keeping us happy and busy. Rob’s career was spent as an editor at National Geographic magazine, and although he is retired, he continues to lecture a few times a year on their ’round-the-world jet trips and the Lindblad Explorer. We will be traveling to Antarctica this fall and to the Chilean Fjords in February.

Jeannie Pearce held a mini-reunion last June at her Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, home, where I loved catching up with

classmates Marianne Tompkins Kassab Robin Tilghman Stevens Joanie Gerster and Annie DiSeasa McHugh. Nothing beats the camaraderie of old friends from Westover days.

Before we know it, our fifty-fifth will be upon us… where does the time go?”

1973

Secretary needed!

Rosemary Furse Taylor shares, “Life is full as Paul and I hit the retirement years in Virginia Beach. We bought a fabulous house together during Covid (a deal) that sits on a cliff over the Lynnhaven River in the Chesapeake Bay area. The swimming pool is wonderful in hot summers when we are not on Fishers Island. Paul has a life of boats. My delights are swimming and cooking wonderful, mostly vegetarian, meals.

Married five years now, with six grandchildren who keep us traveling to help their parents out! Exhausting and fun, they now range from two–eleven years old. Five boys and one girl.

Please come visit, all 1973 friends! Love company, and this is a retreat-type house!”

1974

Susan Boynton ’74 sboynton365@gmail.com

Holly Kennedy Romano has been widowed for close to three years. “Like yesterday and forever all at once.” She is busy volunteering at Stamford Hospital on the cancer floor, gardening, and dealing with the endless list of household maintenance that we can all relate to! She keeps her “fitness age” at fifty-nine by working out six days a week and clocking a weekly marathon. Phew! I need a nap after my walk.

Kim Lawrence and Elaine are half-empty nesters. Lily just moved into NYC to start medical school. Carly is busy, as usual, teaching. Elaine is still loving her work, which Kim appreciates, as someone has to pay the bills. Kim must be swimming laps all day in the new pool. Sadly, her sister, Kristen Lawrence ’69, is battling cancer in Colorado. She reminds us to enjoy what we have every day. Wise words, Kim!

Marcia Neidley Lynch has published her first book of poetry. You can find Dear Miss Tickle: Poetry and Art for the Young at Heart on Amazon. She suggests it as a great book for grandparents to share. Westover education lives on, as Bruce Coffin gave her some stellar advice, and Rich Beebe wrote a blurb for it. Congratulations, Marcia!

Darcy Cullen Stephens downsized from her Sonoma home to a fifty-five-andolder community up the road in Oakmont. Lucky them! She loves it and is having a blast with golf, pickleball, and pools that she doesn’t have to maintain. Her two children and three grandchildren are close by. Life is good for Darcy!

Ed and I (Susan Boynton) have been having fun this summer holding grand camps in Vermont. Our older grandchildren (four to eight) have been coming to Vermont sans parents for a week of camping, hiking, and unlimited sugar. Lots of fun, but a week of recovery for us after they leave. We had a great European trip in early summer and are planning a California road trip this fall after a Los Angeles wedding. Darcy, we are coming for you! Life is good, and we do not take our wonderful life for granted. Don’t be shy, fellow classmates. I want to hear from you. Anytime!

1975

Secretary needed!

Brenda Mallory writes, “It was great to join fellow 1975 classmates for our fiftieth Reunion! We are all still recognizable in spirit and in appearance and enjoyed catching up. Our memories, however, have dimmed, and we had several amusing conversations trying to recollect specific events that we all were part of. That added some fun to the evening. I am continuing to enjoy not working after leaving my position in the Biden Administration, but beginning to think about the next phase of my journey. I am pleased that it will include serving on the Westover Board of Trustees, among other mission-focused activities. The rest of the summer will include time with family and friends at the beach, on a lake, and a few weeks in Italy.”

1976

Beth Lubrano Dwyer ’76 beth_dwyer@verizon.net

With two weeks’ notice, the call went out! Thank you to classmates who were able to respond. I have enough to fill in a few gaps. It has been a crazy busy spring and summer for all. Deirdre Sullivan, Mihae Lee, Kristin Hartley, and I (Beth Lubrano Dwyer) celebrated the class of ’75’s fiftieth Reunion in June. It was super to see everyone and got us all thinking about our fiftieth next June!

Deirdre Sullivan and Ed just celebrated their fifteenth anniversary! She just got back from a trip to London to visit with her son, Owen. Deirdre’s other son, Mac, and his fianceé live nearby, so Deirdre gets to see them often.

Eliza Montgomery Zimmerman and her husband, Peter, are thoroughly enjoying their retirement. Following them on social media is a ton of fun, as they have been travelling extensively. One of their two children lives nearby, and the second is in Los Angeles. Eliza just had a visit with Vickie Darlington Yoder, who had traveled from her home in North Carolina to Saranac Lake. Vickie also stopped in to see Cathy Stewart in Vermont as she was making her way north! I had the pleasure of attending Cathy’s daughter, Amy’s, wedding in Vermont in June. A beautiful day, a beautiful bride, and a happy couple.

Anne Edmonson Kerr is still loving living in New Hampshire! Anne is selling real estate in both New York and New Hampshire! A lot of mileage on her car! She now has three grandchildren (via daughter Chauncey) who are living in New Canaan, and daughter Samantha is in the Big Apple! Anne is happy to have them back on the East Coast. Anne says her door in New Hampshire is always open to any Westover visitors.

Cathy Bushkoff Collins wrote from the fishing camp way up north (in Canada, I think), where she goes annually. Cathy is quite the fisherwoman who shared a picture of the two-pound bass she caught. Cathy’s family is all well. Both of her daughters are happily married, and her husband, Rip, will retire after forty years at Alta. Cathy is still working at the library and hopes to also retire in a year.

former science

Kristin Hartley is celebrating living in Bath, Maine, for two years. She loves her home and new community and welcomes visitors at any time. Deirdre and Ed paid her a visit while they were Downeast! Kristin also had a visit from former Westover Science teacher Alice Hallaran for a night. Kristin said it was so fun walking through the botanical gardens and partaking of Alice’s knowledge, fifty years after being at

Westover. Kristin’s daughter has moved closer to mom and is now in Topsham, Maine. Kristin continues her work with BARR. Most of the schools she works with are in Maine, but there are some in Kentucky and North Carolina, just to liven things up. Kristin and Mihae Lee have done ’76 proud as members of the Westover Board of Governors.

Westover alums from the Classes of 1975 and 1976 at Sebago Long Lake Music Festical in Maine: Jessie Cogswell Tichko ’75, Deirdre Sullivan ’76, Annette Quezada ’76, Kristin Hartley ’76, Mihae Lee ’76, Elizabeth Lubrano Dwyer ’76, and Susan Dubin ’76.

We recently had a gathering of ’75 and ’76 at our place in Bridgton, Maine. Those that gathered were myself, Kristin Hartley, Deirdre Sullivan, Annette Hall Quezada, Susan Dubin Nahley Jessie Cogswell Tichko, and a few husbands. We attended the opening night of the Sebago–Long Lake Music Festival at the Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, Maine. Mihae Lee is the music director. She performed with an amazing ensemble, which included her husband, Bill, on French horn. This has become a fun tradition, and we welcome fellow Westover friends to join us.

The Dwyer household has been busy as ever. Our youngest was married in May in Greenwood, Iowa. Paul and I took three weeks and drove with stops along the way. Grace and Ben live just across the Missouri River in Omaha. It was a beautiful (and cool) Midwestern spring day. We were blessed to a have a huge number of family make the trek to celebrate with Grace and Ben. Paul is back to work part-time as the director of the Money Minders program through the Southern Maine Agency on Aging. We play golf and see our grandsons often.

We are celebrating thirty-five years together. We are taking off for England and France in September, which is very exciting. We’ll be in London, Normandy, and then Vannes, France, to attend our niece’s wedding.

Please mark your calendar for our fiftieth Reunion in June 2026. Preliminary planning has begun. It would be amazing to see as many of the class as possible. Cheers!

1977

Anne Spencer Holm ’77 aholm_us@yahoo.com

Lori Carroll is working part-time for a geologist in Sonoita, Arizona, where she’s been for the past twenty-one years. She travels to festivals in her Nissan camper van, which she has nicknamed the “tomato paste can” van, since it is red and tiny and gets really hot and spicy in the Arizona summer. When Lori is home, she enjoys spending time with her thirteen-year-old pit bull and several feral cats.

Rosa Gatling Williams ’77 with Cynthia Bellamy ’78 and Leslye Betz Rucker ’79 at the Hampton Jazz Festival

Rosa Gatling Williams is looking forward to retiring in a few years from her job as a surgical physician assistant at a major hospital and spending more time with her bonus grandchildren, Kole, Dane, and Sage. Rosa’s daughter, Brittney Williams ’06, will be an attending next year. Rosa traveled with Cynthia Bellamy ’78 to the Hampton Jazz Festival in Virginia. Even though Mary Jane Mitchell Hemmings can no longer be with them, Rosa knows that Mary Jane would want the trips to continue.

Elizabeth “Beth” Gilbert and her husband, Ned, still live in York, Maine, and are delighted that their daughter lives in nearby Portland. Beth’s frozen yogurt and ice cream shop has been in business for thirty-six years. She sees classmates Amy Tauchert and Mary Duncan often. Beth volunteers at three theaters, so she enjoys attending lots of free performances!

Bill and I (Anne Spencer Holm) are living full-time in Sharon, Connecticut, and feel blessed to live close to our children and grandchildren. I can’t believe our fiftieth Reunion is coming up in two years. Tempus fugit!

1978

Shotsie Bissell Wilson ’78 shotsie.wilson@genmills.com

Emily Renz Barron is still enjoying retirement, volunteering, and traveling.

Carrie Swan Buccowich is still in Milwaukee with hopes of moving back east. She is active in the environmental field— advocating for its protection and living in harmony with nature.

Big news for Tibbie Uhl, as she became a grandmother, which she is still wrapping her head around. Her daughter, Emily, gave birth to the adorable and sassy Ruby Lucretia on May 29. No normal “grandma” titles for Tibbie. Ruby will call her “Tib.”

Susu Cook Scott and family have had a few milestones this year: “Twenty years at our church, where my husband, Simon, is the rector. Our oldest daughter, Sheila, graduated from sixth form (last two years of high school in the United Kingdom). After a gap year working and volunteering, she’ll go to university to become a social worker. Her sister, Rosie, will start sixth form and study animal care. I’m now working for a charity supporting care-experienced students at the University of Cambridge. It’s rewarding and great fun to be around these amazing young people.”

Teddy Burr Zeleznik is now retired thanks to the mandatory “golden” U.S. State Department ripe retirement age of sixtyfive. For the past six months, Teddy has enjoyed wandering through Chisinau, Moldova; historic Hastings, U.K.; the Greek and Roman ruins mecca of Plovdiv, Bulgaria (even the local H&M department store’s basement had an extensive Roman wall,

as did hery guest house in the breakfast room); and Batumi, Georgia. Soon, she and a friend will embark on a post-retirement celebratory cruise to ports from the U.K., Norway, Greenland, Iceland, and Canada, ending up in New York.

After choosing to be off Facebook, Christine Gamble Brooks has been creating a piece of art every day. “A great way to spend my time.” (Note from Shotsie Bissell Wilson: I have seen her work, and it is beautiful!) Christine and Shotsie had a lovely visit when Shotsie came to Flagstaff for work. Short and sweet visit, dinner, and the next morning a walk in the woods with the dogs. Looking forward to seeing each other again.

Christine also keeps up with Nina Sperry Cobb, looking forward to having their paths cross. She keeps tabs on Davina Tucker Dickinson, Janey Boardman Romney ’79, and additional Westover women from other years on Instagram.

Debi James Case is getting ready to go back to work for the tax season. Lester is officially retired now. On a sad note, her sister, Faye, in Texas, passed away after a long, hard battle with cancer, but Debi knows Faye is at peace now.

Carla Skinner Malstrom has been working a lot of international flights and shares on Facebook where she is off to next. She loves to explore wherever she is. Carla is also very involved with the Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.

As for me (Shotsie Bissell Wilson), life in Colorado is still magnificent. I had to have a second shoulder surgery in December, but I am now getting back to all the activities I love. We adopted a six-yearold Siberian husky who lost its owner, so Dunkin’ now has a playmate. Not used to all the husky shedding, but I just look at it as “magical fibers.” I am still doing what I love with General Mills. Google the word “Doughminator,” and you will see me pop up. Pizza Cat and I will start our whirlwind tour in August, so you will be seeing more adventures from us.

1979

Sarah Bliss Seamans ’79 sbseamans@comcast.net

A few of us have updates with retirements and new grandbabies to report. Some of

our class will gather in late September at Westover to remember our classmate, Nancy Harvey Hoft, as we rededicate the benches in Chapel Circle in her memory.

Ann Cluett Kaplan writes, “The only exciting news is that we have pulled the trigger and we are going to build an ‘age in place’ firstfloor bedroom and bathroom, and now we are scrambling against deadlines since tax credits for solar panels are going away December 31. I cannot believe that we have come to this point in our lives when we are planning for the no-go years. However,

we are having fun in the go-go years with golfing, skiing, gardening, and traveling (September 2025), including biking in Spain.” Ann also saw Leila Tighe and Sarah Bliss Seamans during the year for catchup visits.

No matter your team, we’re all on the same side when it comes to supporting Westover. MAKE YOUR GIFT TO THE WESTOVER

Boston area over the summer with Leila Tighe and Sarah Bliss Seamans when she was in the area seeing her daughter and grandbabies. Cathy writes, “I am happy to be putting down my Latin grammar books and my red pen so that I can spend time in New England with all the new grandbabies!”

Leila Tighe writes, “I am a grandmother! Hunter Hall Howard was born October 4, 2024, to my daughter, Madeline, and sonin-law, Jon! My sweet Bernese-Cavalier, Aletheia, just turned six. I am planning another scuba dive trip to the Grenadines in November 2025. Still practicing psychotherapy in this crazy world in my still-home, Beantown. Stayed with Ann Cluett Kaplan in Portland, Maine, and we jointly babysat for my grandson while my daughters ran a half-marathon. I also had lunch in Boston with Cathy O’Shea and cannot get over how quickly we can pick up our friendships with other Westover girls!”

Jodi Summit writes, “Marshall and I think we may have found a way to slowly ease ourselves out of the fifty to sixty hours per week we each work putting out our weekly paper, The Timberjay. We recently hired a new full-time managing editor, who will be taking over part of my duties and part of Marshall’s duties. We are looking forward to not being in the office five days a week, having more time at home, and visiting family and friends.” Jodi, along with their mutt, Loki, continues their running adventures and is training to once again do the Ely half marathon in late September, which allows dogs to run the race, with water bowls at each aid station and special treats at the finish line.

Jodi Summit ’79 and her dog, Loki, in the half-marathon; September 2024

Jodi also writes, “Our son, Max, is happily settled into a full-time instructor/ faculty position in Michigan State University’s entomology department, where he is teaching classes on soil ecology, agriculture, and integrated

pest management for ballfields and golf courses (turf grass).”

Caroline Barhydt Francis writes, “News… still working! Loving being a grandmother to our four grandsons—we have been lucky to see lacrosse and baseball games and swim meets this spring and summer in Virginia, where both sons live with their families. We are so lucky to have our daughter somewhat close by in Boston, where she is working on a PhD in education policy and research. Dave and I are having a blast exploring a lot of Boston with her!” DJ Lewis-Agostino is feeling grateful after attending her niece, Kendra’s, Westover graduation on May 31, 2025. Kendra is continuing her education at Smith College. Kendra hosted tours at Westover throughout the summer, along with working at the fromage shop and the bakery owned by Kate Truini-Redin ’09. DJ has loved being so connected with Westover these past four years. She writes, “My husband, Joe, is retiring by mid-2026! Yay! We are looking toward his retirement and have been looking at homes in southern Delaware. Excited to be closer to the beach in two locations. We had a great time on our last year’s vacation in Turks and Caicos to celebrate Joe’s birthday and my transition to consulting.”

As I (Sarah Bliss Seamans) write this and compile the news from fellow classmates, I am grateful for all of the connections and friendships that endure through the years. I continue to be busy with my “adopted” Afghan family, who have lived in my area since early 2022. It is amazing to see all of their accomplishments and progress, especially all of the English that the four-and-a-half-year-old speaks after attending a local Head Start program during the school year. I also spend lots of family time in Maine, especially with my grandson, Riley, who will be two in November 2025, and my dad, who is ninetyfour. It is fun having our son, daughter-inlaw, and daughter all living in Maine.

1980

Victoria Bucknall Silsby ’80 vnsilsby@gmail.com

Sandra Nichols Nash ’80 sandy@cliffjump.com

Sarah Knowles Dent ’80 with her husband, Dan; daughter, Sally; and daughter, CC; at Alex’s graduation from St. Lawrence University; May 2025

Sarah Knowles Dent shares, “It was wonderful to be back on campus for our forty-fifth! We were a small crew but enjoyed catching up with one another as well as with Mrs. Rothman, Bruce Coffin, and Alice Hallaran. Hope many of you are able to head back to Middlebury for our fiftieth! Life continues apace here in Portland, Maine. I’m enjoying my work in Waynflete School’s development office after fourteen-plus years at Dana Hall. Best to all of you, and look forward to Reunion 2030 (!).”

1981

Sonja Lindgren ’81 sblindgren@msm.com

Meg McClellan Mary Clark Price, and Jody Bates Bliss reconnected at the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland, Maine, in July. Meg says, “It was great to see each other and to be surrounded by live music, although we talked almost as much as we listened.”

Liz Hausman Lycke writes that she is still living in Montauk after many, many, many years of being there, and that, although it is quite a popular and crowded summer resort area, it has still retained its incredible natural beauty. She takes full advantage of the walking trails and all of the beautiful water to swim in during the summer. Liz works in real estate for Corcoran, and she and John still run their

home watch business. Their son, Jack, lives in New York, so they are able to see him often. Liz promises to make her very best effort to make our Reunion this year and looks forward to seeing all of us.

Faith Thomson Chandler was very excited to have attended Beth Walker Mecke’s daughter’s wedding on Cape Cod in June with Sandy Nash ’80. Also at the wedding was Kathy Mitchell ’84. Beth, Sandy, and Faith have kept in touch regularly over the years. Faith and her husband live in the Boston area and are enjoying spending more time in the city. Faith counts herself lucky to have both daughters living in Boston, too. She says, “Thinking of you all!”

Amanda Thacher writes, “I’ve enjoyed seeing Westover sisters near and far this year: Ana Hauser Burtnett and Sonja Lindgren (travel adventures in Arizona), Meg Thayer (visits in Washington, D.C.), and Martha Beretta Mainiero (drinks and dinner in Providence, Rhode Island). Daughter Olivia is married and living with husband, Jake, in LA. Son Asher is living in Providence with his lady friend. Both adult children are making their way through, gainfully employed, and much loved! My job at Boston University keeps me busy and traveling to cities across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. I love spending time in my garden and in the ocean whenever possible. Oh, and as an alumna of a certain age, I’m loving the birds at my bird feeder! Hugs to all.”

Ana Hauser Burtnett writes, “What a wild ride life has been! I have officially retired from practicing in internal medicine as a physician assistant. I can thank COVID-19 for that, and at first, it was traumatic. Feeling a little lost, I threw myself into my small village (yes, I live in an actual village in Vermont), working at our village food shelf, standing outside in the wind, rain, and snow to support the community through that crisis. I now volunteer with our local emergency preparedness group to educate and help our rural community navigate the series of natural disasters and emergencies we are finding ourselves in.

When not working with the town, I am a writer full-time, on my own time. I have published three short pieces in a local anthology and participate in Montpelier’s PoemCity, which happens each April. I’m currently working on my second short story, which I am going to release into the

world by the end of the year—that is the hope, anyway.

As far as family life: My son is a Marine and returned from the Middle East, where he was floating in the Red Sea. Much of what he was doing we didn’t know about until he was home, which is a good thing. Our fingers are crossed that he will no longer be deployed.

Life is full and steady, and if anything came out of COVID-19, it was that I am now in regular sisterly contact with Sonja and Amanda. We Zoom, we watch movies together remotely, we have visited each others’ homes and acquainted ourselves with each others’ natural environments, and we have had amazing travel adventures. Most recently to Arizona, and we have dreams of Scotland! I hope everyone is well, and I look forward to reading my fellow sisters’ news.”

Maggie Bakewell Eldredge writes, “I changed jobs and now head up payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable for a company called Learn. Learn is a regional education service center. We serve multiple school districts, as well as multiple magnet schools. I was hired to bring about a culture change and to innovate business practices. This past February, I slipped on the ice and seriously injured my head. Still working through post-concussion symptoms. For fun, I paint and have actually created some incredibly noteworthy pieces. My initial year at Westover, I spent hours practicing and taking classes in painting and drawing. I put it to the side for far too many years. But now I’m excelling in my craft. So, basically business by day and art by night. My family is doing well. My daughter just finished her master’s in social work at Fairfield University and is carving out her future career. The best lesson in life I have learned (perhaps a little later than I should have) is self-care. I’m still learning this, but what a game changer and absolutely for the better.”

Morette Robarge Orth says hello to everyone and reports that all is well in Kent, Connecticut. Morette and her husband, Brian, celebrated their thirty-fourth wedding anniversary in August. They are enjoying spending time between Kent and southwest Florida, near Boca Grande. Their daughter, Ariel, will be turning thirty in October. “Wow, does the time fly.” Ariel is a veterinary technician and absolutely

loves helping animals. Morette is enjoying keeping in contact with Linda Cook Maloney and wishes they lived closer to each other. She hopes everyone from the Class of ’81 is doing well.

Linda Cook Maloney writes, “Hey, Class of ’81! It really feels like ‘long time, no see’! I was pretty disappointed about missing our Reunion in 2020, but maybe that will make our forty-fifth all the more special! Not too much new to report from Ohio. Been a little busy helping my daughter, Lauren, settle into her first house. It’s about twenty-five minutes away. Much closer than when she lived in Florida! I spend my time working with my brother, Steve, at our family-owned self-storage business. Just celebrated our thirty-fourth year of owning it. I also enjoy some crafts and dinners out with friends. Church and bible study round out (and enrich!) my life. It may not sound like much to some, but I’m happy and consider myself lucky to be so. Looking forward to June 2026!”

Meg Thayer ’81 with her grandson, Tyler

Meg Thayer writes, “Reconnecting with ’81 classmates is always a treat. This year, thankfully, Amanda Thacher continued with her routine work travels to D.C., offering us regular visits in the flesh, and when Sonja Lindgren came to town, we had a really cozy catch-up over coffee and tea in DuPont Circle.

Our D.C. Westover book club is in its eleventh year. In addition to reading great books, our book club (classes 1965–2008 represented, including my cousin, Elsie Walker ’65, and ’81 classmates Mandy Roberts and Ginny Jewiss) continues to nurture Westover reflections and connections. We were thrilled when Head of School Polly Fredlund joined us for our April meeting.

With multi-generations of family nearby, including two-year-old grandson, Tyler— thrilling to reach “Lola” status—I’m grateful for the many opportunities of escape, renewal, and fun. Work continues with its offerings of challenges and rewards; I’m thankful to be employed. So many in the D.C. area have lost their jobs and the vital role of helping others (USAID, Voice of America). A holiday greeting from a cousin during the pandemic remains a featured element of my kitchen as a daily reminder to myself to extend to others, and I extend here to all ’81 classmates: ‘Wishing you and yours peace, love, and undaunted patience.’”

Ginny Jewiss and her partner, Geo, also live in D.C., “a rather surreal city at the moment.” She writes, “I work at Johns Hopkins, teaching and organizing public humanities events in Baltimore and D.C.— an ongoing effort to rebuild trust in higher education, build community, and foster meaningful exchanges. I get back to Rome whenever possible and never tire of exploring Europe. Thanks to my rowing club on the beautiful Anacostia River, I start my mornings here amid herons, egrets, and bald eagles. And I have recently started oil painting, which brings back many happy memories of Trudy Martin and Beth Clarke.

I had a lovely visit with Sonja Lindgren in the spring and get to see Meg Thayer, Mandy Roberts, and other wonderful Westover women at our D.C.-area book group. This past year, I took Bruce Coffin and Tom Hungerford’s fabulous online Brothers Karamazov class, a real treat!”

Jody Bates Bliss is not retired (!) yet and splits her time between Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Georgetown, Maine. She loves her time in both states—and the flexibility, as she serves as a Master Law of Attraction certified coach. She supports women in individual coaching who have felt the need to perpetually try harder their whole lives, whether that is from a replacement child position or the silent expectations of others. They are ready to stop trying so hard and just be. She speaks at colleges and to groups in an effort to share “what I wish I knew when I was twenty.”

Jody also reports that her daughter, Courtney ’14, was married on June 7, 2025, to Matthew Kinney in Killington, Vermont. Liv Burns Knies ’14 and Stuart Lemay ’14 were also present.

Martha Beretta Mainiero says how nice it is to live in Rhode Island, where she sees Amanda Thacher and Mandy Neilson Kane She has heard from Ana Hauser Burtnett, Ginny Jewiss, and me, and hopes to see us all sometime soon. Martha has just gone part-time at work, which should help improve her work-life balance!

I (Sonja Lindgren) am struck by how connected members of the Class of ’81 are to each other and also to alums from other years. I have enjoyed visits to Westover friends in New England and D.C. this year, as well as travels to Thailand, Arizona, and the Pacific Northwest. One of my goals for the year ahead is to take sewing lessons so that I can indulge my love of thrifting and textile arts in new ways. It is always challenging to find time, but I, too, keep aiming for work-life balance. The struggle continues.

Our forty-fifth Reunion is coming up this spring. Several classmates wrote that they are looking forward to it, so I hope to see you there!

1985

Secretary needed!

Heather Lundy Macdonald ’85; Yaishna Santchurn ’08; and Heather’s daughter, Emily Meyrick Macdonald ’19

Elizabeth Preston DeVos writes, “I’m still living in Litchfield, Connecticut, staying busy as an active volunteer in the community and enjoying life with my now fairly ‘adult’ sons: George is heading into his senior year at Loomis Chaffee; Edward is a sophomore at Dickinson College; and Charles has just begun a graduate program at Vanderbilt). I was sorry to miss the Reunion—we were away on a family

holiday. If you ever find yourself in the northwest corner, I’d love to connect.”

1987

Secretary needed!

Lara Schmidl-Simandi stopped by campus in August and gave the Advancement team a life update. She calls herself a formative experience engineer. Lara has been a lifelong Montessorian in many presentations, from starting Guadalajara, taking her to Austin, Texas, and then to Maine to start a Montessori forest classroom. She is now back in Texas, where she has continued her Montessori journey, including running her own Montessori school for fourteen years and raising two children, Paloma (an urban forester) and Nadine Doyle (who paints about it).

1989

Secretary needed!

Dayna Kaltman shares, “I am living in Nevada with my mom and cherish the time we have together. Life is precious, and to be healthy and happy is the best gift of all. I wish that for all of my dear friends and family each day! I can’t believe it’s been decades since we were out in the Quad at Westover singing hymns. My wish is that everyone is happy in whatever path they were guided on. Love hearing from people on Facebook and seeing those beautiful Westover smiles!”

Wheaton Bullock Mahoney writes, “Just celebrated my thirtieth anniversary with my husband, Patrick. Shannon Mahoney ’88 is my incredible sister-in-law, with wonderful cousin Sara Barley ’90. Our son is at Middlebury College, and our daughter is in the throes of college searching. As for my photography, I had three portraits shown at the Association of International Art Dealers in NYC’s Park Avenue Armory this past spring and have been accepted for a portfolio review in Santa Fe this coming fall. Hope everyone is well. xoxo”

1990

Marra Stankus Francis-Clifton marrafrancis1234@yahoo.com

2024–2025 has been another great year for our class. We continue to share the highs and the lows, good book recommendations, and laughs—always laughs.

Eliza Wolcott Brown shares that their daughter, Lily, graduated high school and started at Lafayette College last fall and their son, Alexander, is a junior boarding at Westminster School. They took a family summer trip to the South of France and then up to London, where she was able to catch up with Sarah Jones Garcia! She writes, “My husband and I are getting used to being empty nesters, but it makes it easier when both of your kids are happy.”

Devika Singh loves being reconnected with our class for both the life reflections/ updates and book recommendations. She continues to greatly enjoy her career in infectious diseases at the University of Vermont, with a focus on sexual health and HIV. She says, “Recent meaningful mentor endeavors include working with medical students interested in the lives of women living with HIV across northern New England. Living in Vermont translates into opportunities for my family (partner, Teresa, and thirteen-year-old daughter, Kiran) to stroll into the backyard and potentially encounter bears or bobcats. Recent travel highlights included leaving family behind to take some solo soulful hikes through Acadia National Park in the fall of 2024.”

After twenty-four years at the United States Senate, Erica Watkins retired from her position as their deputy chief counsel for employment in July 2024. In between ferrying her thirteen-year-old twins, George and Charlie, to various activities, she is enjoying learning pickleball and mahjongg. A highlight of her year was traveling with her family to Paris and London in April 2024 and getting a chance to catch up with classmates Sarah Jones Garcia and Patty Brown Lea and their families. Sarah hosted everyone for a fabulous Easter brunch in her garden. This past summer, Erica travelled to Iceland with her mom.

Sarah Jones Garcia reports having a record year for a Westover Class of ’90 visitors to London, England, with three: Alice Roche Winthrop, Patti Brown Lea, and Erica Watkins! She’s happily in her twenty-sixth year of living in London and closed the year out by watching her twelve-year-old son sing on stage with Sir Paul McCartney at a concert this year. She also came across the pond for our twentyfifth Reunion.

Tracy James lives north of San Francisco in Marin County. She’s a life coach who loves helping others find balance and clarity through restoring relationships with themselves and nature. She spent time in French Polynesia this year exploring indigenous traditions and the diversity of beauty across different islands. She’s happy that I (Marra) am now working in San Francisco to get to see me more!

Johnna McArthur writes that her country home in the foothills of the Catskills “continues to surprise me with a series of updates and renovations, aweinspiring nature, and a brilliant community of neighbors. I’m also so happy to be reconnected with my Westover sisters via our chat group and had a great time at our Reunion this summer, where we got to share our successes, embarrassments, and heartbreaks in person.”

Jennifer Geoghan had a big year: She was mother of the bride to Fiona and is now mother to a doctor in training as Lola starts medical school at Temple. We all think she has a gift for flower arrangement that she has kept hidden forever. Jenn made it to Reunion, as did Jennifer Baron Brandt, Jillian Evans-Beauchamp Franciscovich, Shonda Murray-Link, Erika Watkins, and myself. We descended upon Jennifer Brent and spent hours laughing at her home in Watertown. She joins the empty nester’s club with her baby, Josie, headed to college.

I was fortunate to have had dinner with Tracy James and Alice Roche Winthrop in San Francisco at the start of the year. Alice’s big news is that she and her family moved back to Connecticut after thirty years in California. As for me, I have started a new role that I can only describe as my dream job: I am the chief medical officer at a women-led women’s health biotech start-up called PinkDx. I am so excited about and proud of what we are building. Bryan and I continue to live in San Antonio and travel to visit our kids, who are all around the country and the world. We spend as much time at the lake as possible during the warm months. As always, we have an open-door policy, so please let me know if you will be in San Antonio anytime soon.

Secretary needed!

1991

Elizabeth Kostojohn writes, “I still live in Arlington, Massachusetts, with my husband, John, and son, Iain, who will be a senior in high school. We’ve spent the summer visiting colleges, which has been both fun and exhausting. I’m already wanting the college application process to be over, and it has hardly even begun. This week, I am looking forward to seeing Lindsey Shuford Collins in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We try to get together for lunch every few months. I miss my Westover friends, and I wish that more people lived in the Boston area.”

2000

Sue Broomhead Taylor ’00 sbroomhead@gmail.com

Nikki Sieller Warnek ’00 nicole.sieller@gmail.com

From Nikki Sieller Warnek: “Hi, Class of 2000! As I sit down to write these notes, it’s hard to believe it’s already been six weeks since our twenty-fifth Reunion weekend! I’m still riding the wave of joy and gratitude from those incredible few days. It was wonderful to reconnect with classmates, see the great things Westover faculty and staff are doing, relive some of our funniest memories, and, of course, breathe in that unmistakable Westover smell.

Not much has changed for me since the last update. The kids are growing fast (almost twelve and ten now), and our CrossFit gym keeps growing, too. I get together with Sarah Schipul Swift whenever we can. One of my favorite meetups was last winter, when we each drove halfway (from NYC and Philadelphia) to grab lunch, walk around a mall, and catch a movie—just like old times! I was also thrilled to see Christina Shields Fink and Rachel Clement over the July Fourth weekend in D.C. It had been at least fifteen years since I’d last seen Rachel—and, no surprise to anyone, her twelve-year-old son is already taller than me!

Huge thanks to everyone who sent in updates this year. Without further ado…”

From Katherine “KK” Hamner Cooper: We are still in Guilford, Connecticut. Shaw

LESS

NETWORKING. MORE ‘OH MY GOSH, IT’S YOU!’

Join Westover Connect and rekindle the friendships that started it all. Log in today at WestoverConnect.org

is nine now and going into fourth. At the beginning of July, we adopted a puppy named Gus, so he’s pretty much our whole world at the moment!”

Rhiannon Rhodes ’00, Bill Pyles, Ameliaranne Sutton ’00, Katie Aldrich ’00, Caitlin Lampman ’00 at Ameliaranne and Bill’s wedding near Bordeaux, France; October 2023

Ameliaranne Sutton ’00 and Bill Pyles visiting the snow monkeys in Japan; March 2025

From Amelia Sutton: “After spending a year planning my wedding in France, I

yearned for another creative outlet, so I launched my next two projects: 1) Fifty Before Fifty, a personal challenge to travel to fifty countries before turning fifty; and 2) TheNeighborhooders.com, a hyperlocal travel journal that highlights the best neighborhoods around the world. And I’m fulfilling my lifelong dream of being a forty-three-year-old influencer plugging @TheNeighborhooders, so comment, like, and subscribe! Lastly, we got our eightyear-old rescue dog’s DNA results back: Reggie is mostly chihuahua and shih tzu, with a little poodle and Maltese mixed in. He’s still a 100 percent good boy.”

From Talaria Haast Andemicael: “I’m thrilled to be living the East Coast life again, this time with my husband and two girls. California was fun, but Connecticut has always been home.”

From Alia Hussain: “I’m still in The Woodlands, Texas. My concierge pediatric practice is about five years old now and growing. I specialize in newborn house calls, developmental pediatrics, and ADHD. My kids are fourteen, ten, and five years old. We just came back from an amazing trip to Switzerland. My kids’ favorite was getting to see the Matterhorn and eat cheese fondue!”

Alia Hussain ’00 and family in Switzerland

From Becky Gregory Friedman: “I’m living my best life under the Florida sun, where I’ve spent the last eight years with my husband and two kids: Maxwell (eight) and Charlotte (ten). I split my time doing what I love most: painting custom gouache portraits and helping families through in-home dog training. Life these days is a creative, tail-wagging, joy-filled adventure!”

From Crystal Pemberton Howe: “This summer has been an exciting one for the G.O. B.I.G. Foundation. We cosponsored two all-girls STEM summer camps that I’m especially proud of. The first was in partnership with the NASCAR Hall of Fame Foundation, which hosted its firstever Girl-Powered Week Camp during the week of July 28. We were honored to recommend ten girls from our network to attend and dive into hands-on STEM activities in such an inspiring setting. The second was the very first Camp Invention–Girls’ Edition to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thanks to a partnership with the Red Backpack Foundation and the National Inventors Hall of Fame, we be hosted approximately eighty girls for a week of creative exploration and innovation at Honor Preparatory Charter School starting July 21. These camps were a reflection of our foundation’s mission to empower and inspire girls in STEM, and I’m excited about what’s ahead as we continue to expand our impact.”

From Sue Broomhead Taylor: “By the time you read this, I will be nearing the end of my PA school journey and rejoining the world of grown-ups! What specialty I end up in is still to be determined, but I’m excited to move on to my next adventure. Family life is busy as always. My youngest, Jordyn, is almost two-and-a-half. She’s smart, sassy, and such a joy to be around. My oldest daughter, Larissa, is entering her senior year at Texas Tech and will be graduating with a degree in psychology. We’re also excited to see where her journey takes her. I loved seeing the pictures of everyone at Reunion. I wish I could have been there to catch up, but hopefully I’ll make it to the next one.”

From Sarah Schipul Swift: “I had a great time seeing everyone at Reunion and loved staying in the dorm (with my family)! All’s well with the Swifts: finally on summer break, enjoying the lake in New Jersey as a little break from Brooklyn. Have loved getting to see my favorite Warneks several times this year! Best wishes to everyone!”

From Rhiannon Rhodes: “After ten years in southwest Florida, my husband and I finally had enough and moved just a wee bit away to central New Hampshire. I swore many years ago that I’d never live in a cold climate again, but I guess this is just a testament that people can, in fact, change. So far, we’re loving life on our thirteen acres in the woods. The only traffic we see is turkeys and porcupines, and our neighbors are foxes and bears. We’ve got the gardens going, and next year I hope to have bees. I find that the winter isn’t so bad when you work from home and don’t have to worry about leaving the house. Then again, I find that true about most things.”

From Shelby Mastroianni Neal: “As you know, I have made a career change! I went back to school for my master’s in occupational therapy. I am working in an acute care hospital setting and loving my new role. All is well with my family! Ethan is starting sophomore year of high school, and Eliza is going into eighth grade. It was great seeing so many of you at Reunion!”

2003

Karimah Gottschalck ’03 meetkarimah@gmail.com

Danielle Stewart Knope ’03 danielle.s.knope@gmail.com

Emily Overholser Gruber writes that her family visited seven countries in ten days this summer and ended their time at Disneyland Paris, which was a great time. This opportunity gave her kids (ages fourteen and twelve) a chance to experience England, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and France to see which countries they want to go back and spend more time in.

Colette Opsahl Fennessy and Jess Garasino Vargas and their kids met up this summer in East Lyme, Connecticut, for campfire s’mores.

Sarah Welinsky Hoffman writes that after a much-needed pause to recharge and enjoy the end of the school year and start of summer with her kids, she recently earned her Certified Fundraising Executive credential and has stepped into a new role as associate vice president of development, Fairfield, at Connecticut Children’s—the only health system in the state 100 percent dedicated to kids. She is honored to support access to exceptional pediatric care in her community. She loved seeing Amanda Newberg Thomas at school pickup during the year, as she taught art at her daughter’s school. Most recently, summer brought a dim sum and Broadway date with fellow history nerd Liz Kveton (Operation Mincemeat = highly recommend!). If any Westover alums in Fairfield County want to learn more about the work at Connecticut Children’s, she would love to connect!

Danielle Stewart Knope and her family enjoyed a few visits throughout the year with Emily Pomeroy Schneider’s family—it is especially fun seeing their kids have fun together! In June, Danielle, Sarah Bronko, Lindsay Bell, Karimah Gottschalck, Liz Kveton, and Amanda Newberg Thomas enjoyed a getaway to Playa Mujeres, Mexico.

2005

Jennifer Hart ’05 jenniferhart87@gmail.com

Nikki Tourigny ’05; Nikki’s son, Asa; Amanda Zheng ’05; Jennifer Hart ’05; Kimberly Kruge ’05; Audrey Tiong ’06; and Audra Coulombe ’05 in Switzerland

Although Jennifer Hart was sad to miss the official Westover Reunion this year, she was thrilled to reunite with some beloved Westover friends in Switzerland. Nicole (Nikki) Tourigny, Amanda Zheng, Kimberly Kruge, Audrey Tiong ’06, and Audra Coulombe joined her atop Mount Rigi— affectionately known as the “Queen of the Mountains” in the canton of Schwyz—for a joyful celebration of love, friendship, and community. Jennifer would be so happy to welcome more Westover friends to Zürich—come visit!

Margaret “Murphi” Cook Jackson ’05, with her daughter, Juniper, and Annie Peterson ’05 Audra Coulombe is also happy to report that she just ate lunch!

2006

2016

Secretary needed!

2020

Anja Demiraj shares, “Will be graduating with my master’s in health policy from Yale in May 2026. Got engaged this past March!”

2021

Madeline Abate ’21 msmaddiej18@gmal.com

Sabina Wilson writes, “I took a semester off from college and was a magician’s assistant in Christchurch, New Zealand, for a few months. I helped him develop a new magic trick and audition for Netflix. Also took a road trip around New Zealand’s South Island.”

2022

Secretary needed!

Anastasia Meyer shares, “In 2024 I transferred to Butler University to study dance arts administration and hopefully become a professional ballet dancer. I then experienced a serious hip injury that required four surgeries. I spent spring 2025 recovering at home and taking a multivariable calculus course online. The future remains unknown.”

Liz Goodenough ’65 Explores the Power of Memory & the Books of Presidential Childhoods

by Alexis Zimmerman ’12

Liz Goodenough ’65 is a proud Over, originally from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. She has devoted her career to uncovering how early experience shapes individuals. For Liz, Westover was more than a school. It was the place where new and geographically diverse stories began to be shared—and where she continued to discover the power of reading. Now a senior lecturer in Arts and Ideas in the humanities at the Residential College, University of Michigan, a position she’s held since 1993, she has co-edited with Marilynn Olson of Texas State University What the Presidents Read: Childhood Stories and Family Favorites. Seven years in the making, this book reflects her lifelong interest in the intersection of memory, narrative, and childhood imagination.

“Entering boarding school at fifteen was unsettling,” Liz recalls. “Like producing a book, life suddenly demanded a new self. I no longer felt pressured by a culture of fast cars, country clubs, and looks. But Westover’s thick walls did not protect me from the challenges of making friends, elections, roommates, or wondering what Westover’s motto might mean to me.” Westover offered her a rigorous intellectual atmosphere that helped her redefine herself and develop skills such as close reading and careful writing. Miss Newton’s class on Moby Dick showed Liz how Melville could express the infinite and the unfathomable.

This foundation in literary analysis and historical reflection shaped her work on early reading habits. What the Presidents Read doesn’t just explore reading as a pastime. It delves into how stories, legends, and childhood play forge presidential identity—and, in turn, national memory.

“As Harry Truman framed it, ‘All leaders must be readers.’”

She points to presidents like George Washington, who embodied American ideals of physical prowess and selfreliance, and lesser-known figures like James Garfield, who rose from canal boy to college president through an “insatiable intellect.” Even the creation of the White House library by Millard and Abigail Fillmore reveals how favorite books have long been entwined with civic life.

Liz is particularly attuned to how collective memory— societal remembrances and mythologies—plays out in both politics and adolescence. Her own Westover recollections capture vivid moments. ”Time at Westover, like a term in the White House, featured startling news and constant tasks,” she says. From Welsh rarebit (“I was shocked this school expected us to dine on U.K. bunnies”) to the arrival of the Beatles, Liz remembers the daily

collisions of Westover culture, routine, and relationships that defined her teen years.

“Secrets flashed in whispers,” she recalls, comparing the intensities of adolescence to the pressures of presidential politics. During her New Girl Weekend, the Cuban Missile Crisis loomed. A year later, she was sitting in Study Hall when the news of President Kennedy’s assassination was announced. “These touchstones connect me forever with Westover classmates,” she says. That same spirit of connection—between past and present, childhood development and adult becoming— permeates her work.

In one full-circle moment, Liz recalls trying to contact the Bush family for the book. At her sixtieth Westover reunion, classmate Elsie Walker ’65 asked why she hadn’t reached out—then promptly sent the book to her cousin, President George W. Bush.

Liz’s journey from an inquisitive student navigating Westover’s halls to a scholar shaping how we understand childhood reading reflects the enduring impact of a Westover education. Her story is a reminder that the curiosity sparked here can grow into a lifetime of inquiry, creativity, and connection.

Inspiring Women Live Here

Brilliance on Every Shelf

As part of our Corridor refresh this past summer, Head of School Polly Fredlund P’25 added six sets of bookshelves mounted on the walls around Corridor, each filled with vibrant coffee table books celebrating accomplished women in the arts, culture, sports, sciences, photography, and the performing arts. Now, every stroll to class includes a moment of discovery. When inspiration or curiosity strikes, students can stop to flip through pages, take in the images, and borrow books for a spark of brilliance.

Each title honors the voices, creativity, and achievements of women from many backgrounds, reminding us daily that brilliance takes countless forms.

Want to bring that same inspiration into your own home? Visit your favorite independent bookstore and pick up a book that shines a light on extraordinary women and the legacies they have created. Here are some titles to inspire you.