June 2021

Letter from the Director of Alumni Relations 

 
 
Hello Friends,
 
It is hard to believe that in ten short days the 2020-2021 academic year will come to a close. This year has been one of the most challenging and rewarding years we have seen at Friends. With all the obstacles we have faced, one constant has been the importance of the Friends community. The campus is buzzing with excitement for the final days. Students will be able to have in-person moving-up ceremonies and the seniors will have an in-person graduation at Central Park’s SummerStage. While it has been a unique year, and we continue to adapt to the changing requirements brought on by the pandemic, we have hope for moments of normalcy in this season of celebration. 
 
I know you will join me in celebrating not just our graduating students, but our faculty and staff who have worked tirelessly to provide the exceptional Friends education throughout the pandemic. Their resilience and adaptability have demonstrated their professionalism and commitment to the School. We applaud them too.
 
Warmly,
Annah Heckman ’15 
Director of Alumni Relations
 

Faculty Spotlight | Taylor Hodges ’11

 
 
 
Taylor Hodges ’11 is a second grade teacher at Friends Seminary. 
What do you recall about your first day at Friends Seminary as a teacher or student?
“Honestly I can’t remember my first day at Friends, having entered the School in Kindergarten. But I think that I always knew that I wanted to come back. My goal, once I knew I wanted to be a teacher, was always to come back and work here because I had such a positive experience at Friends.
My first day at Friends as a teacher was so warm, so kind, and so comforting. I was coming from a school down the block but there was something about seeing people who had taught me and now being their colleague, that made it feel like I had been there the entire time.” 
 
Click here for the full story.

Class Notes 

 
Class Notes are shared on a monthly basis here in the Alumni Update. Are you celebrating a milestone? Moving to a new city? Finally learning French? Please reach out to your Class Secretary to share your news and look out for it in a future Update. 

Class of 1946

We are sorry to share news of the passing of Martha Kiser Wayt. Please join us in holding her and her family in the Light. 
 

Class of 1955

Shared by Gail Tirana
 
We had a Zoom reunion on May 15.  Nine of us: Art (in PA), Ellen (Westchester), Gail (NYC), Jackson (MD), Julie (San Fran.), Liz (NYC), Paul (NJ), Peter (NYC), Tony (LI) (and Polly was almost there from FL—next time).  The Zoom geographical advantage! There was not a moment of hesitancy—it was as lively as when we are having dinner together (an annual habit). Liz reported that the pandemic online teaching group at Friends that day was inspiring, and the Latin colloquium was hugely impressive. Our conversation ranged from managing during the pandemic (and we all were fortunate), including best book read, to optimism or pessimism about the country and world. Classmates wrote after that we should do this more often, and Jackson summed it up with, “That we didn’t end until 9:30 PM or so indicates how reluctant we were to leave one another’s company; and there are very few peer groups in my life like that.”
 

Class of 1962

Shared by Randall Nichols
“Randall Nichols achieved 20,000 cryptograms (CM) solutions (SOLS) for the ACA.
American Cryptogram Association (ACA) is devoted to classical cryptography posting up to 650 cryptograms per year in 75 different cryptographic constructions (secret writing systems) in ~ up to 20 different languages. Some of the problems are all mathematical with different bases. Some completely unknown systems (about five per issue - six issues per year). Solvers may use computers. Some of the old-timers still use paper & pencil. I can’t bring myself to completely convert to a computer because we lose the “why” and “how” to outthink the other constructors (CON). The ACA organization was started in the late 1930s. Membership now represents ~130 countries—all ages and no discrimination. The only mission is to solve cryptographic problems for fun and a strange desire to help others do so. We held our first virtual convention in 2020 where we heard about a second solution of the famous Beale ciphers and a second validated solution of the Zodiac cipher.  We get some really interesting stuff to ponder.”

Class of 1996

We are sorry to share news of the passing of Eric Jelin. Please join us in holding him and his family in the Light. You can read his obituary here. 

Class of 1998


Adam Dressner  has made a shift in careers and is working as a painter. He shared, “I made the video during lockdown (about his journey to painting) and I wanted to share it with the Friends Seminary community. Here is a link to the video: https://youtu.be/JP-8ih_GxVc” 
To learn more about his work and his art, click here.

Class of 1999

Lucy Lang is running for Manhattan District Attorney. You can read more about her campaign here. 
Jesse Laymon is running for election in the 26th City Council District in Queens. You can read more about his campaign here. 

Class of 2000

Reported by Fred Isquith
“Brandon Lotti and wife Alexandra are excited to welcome their son James, born last August! He is the most adorable personification of entropy they could have asked for.”

Class of 2001

Andrew Ousley created and curates “Death of a Classical” a series of “wildly unique and clandestine classical music and opera experiences, taking place in crypts, catacombs, and more.” To sign up for his newsletter and find out about upcoming concerts click here. 
His upcoming show, Hymn to the City, is a “once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the greatest city in the world.”
 
 

Upcoming Events

Save the Date
*Please note, facilities will remain closed to visitors until further notice. This may impact future events. Visit www.friendsseminary.org for updates on school closure.
 
  • Alumni Meeting for Worship | Wednesday, June 9, 6-6:30 PM
  • An Alumni of Color Gathering—Building Community, Fostering Connection | Thursday, June 17, 6 PM

School News and Announcements

An Important Message from Principal Bo Lauder

Dear Friends,
 
As a Quaker school community committed to the testimony of peace, we grieve whenever strife and violence erupt in our world and when people are singled out for being who they are, people who have every right to walk this city, this world in Peace. Click here to continue reading
 
 
 
 
On May 15 we celebrated our Emeritus honorees, Linda Chu, Gloria Foti, Robin Hoffmann, Rochelle Itzen, Jack Phelan, Phyllis Trout and Tom Radigan. If you missed the ceremony, no worries! You can watch the full ceremony here. 
 
 
 
 
Linda Chu's niece is putting together a keepsake book of quotes from students whom Linda has taught over the years. Linda is the longest tenured teacher in the history of the School. If you would like to contribute a memory or express how her teaching has influenced your life, please email your quote to forlindachu@gmail.com by Sunday, June 20. Photos with your quotes are appreciated.  
 
If you would like to share a thought or memory for another of the honorees—Gloria Foti, Robin Hoffmann, Rochelle Itzen, Jack Phelan, Phyllis Trout and Tom Radigan—please email aheckman@friendsseminary.org by Sunday, June 20. 
 
 
 
 
It is with abundant pleasure that Friends has announced that after a wide, comprehensive and collaborative search, Kirsti Peters, a teacher of social justice, a former division head, author and consultant to schools as well as corporations, will join Friends next year as Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Please click here to read the full letter sent from Principal Bo Lauder on Friday, May 14.
 
 
 
 
Congratulations to our Seniors! Click here for the College Matriculation for the Class of 2021. Do you see your alma mater?
 
 
 
 
The School is attempting to diversify the professional art that hangs on its walls, much of it given by parent artists through the years.
 
Above is a glowing print by the young artist Marcus Leslie Singleton, a tribute to the Dogon Tribe of Mali. We are lucky to have a second print in a different color way. The tribe is actually made up of three sub-ethnicities, totaling somewhere between 400,000 and 800,000 people. Singleton is interested in the Dogon’s religious practices, which consist largely of veneration of their ancestors and spirits that roam the earth.
 
 
 
This year more than 100 students have participated in the after school performing arts program.
Head of Performing Arts Steve Borowka reflects, “This year more students have been involved in the performing arts than in any other year in the last decade. These productions have given students a sense of purpose and connection at a tough time.”
 
In April, the spring musical Working, based on the book by Studs Terkel, was released. It is an exploration of a diverse range of jobs and occupations based on actual interviews and included a great score with songs by Stephen Schwartz, James Taylor, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Micki Grant. Also in April, Middle School students in Grades 5 and 6 presented a play, The Family Business, by Alex Strum and directed by Drama Teacher, Kathryn Maslack. To learn more about the performance, click here.
 
On Thursday, May 13, the entire school community was invited to attend an evening of reflection on race that featured culminating work by Upper School students. Under the guidance of Steve Borowka, students gathered stories of racial experiences from members of the School community over the course of the academic year and transcribed them. They then turned those stories into powerful recorded monologues on the diverse ways in which people have experienced race at Friends and elsewhere. 
 
The interactive evening included informative and insightful conversation with the student actors and others. Of note, this program was inspired by race-related programming sponsored by CPEJ over the last year as well as the Black@Friends Instagram account. To view the performances click here.
 
 
 
 
Former Faculty, Ron Singer has written another book, The Real Presence. The Real Presence is a political novel, and it can be considered a sequel to Uhuru Revisited: Interviews with Pro-Democracy Leaders (Africa World Press/Red Sea Press, 2015), another book by Ron Singer. Like Bob Shepard, the American character in The Real Presence, Singer served with the Peace Corps in Nigeria in the mid-1960’s, during the lead-up to the Biafra War. Since then, he has written a great deal about African politics, history, economics, and culture. Much of the inspiration for The Real Presence comes from the author’s personal experience.
 
The Real Presence is Ron Singer’s 14th book. Many of Singer's poems have been anthologized and/or set to music, and four items have garnered Pushcart nominations. He has also written the librettos for two (performed) operas.
 
From 1976-2008, Singer taught English in the Middle and Upper Schools at Friends. He very much appreciates the support the School always provided, which kept his writing aspirations from falling off the back of the stove.
 
You can read more about the book here. 


 
 
We’ve lost track of some of our Friends. Here is a list of lost alumni by class year. All students are organized by the class year they would have graduated high school.  Please take a minute to browse through. If you are one of the “lost,” please submit your information via the form or by logging on to the website. If you see someone you know, please forward this link to them and encourage them to get in touch.

Alumni Job Board

 
Looking to hire a Friends Seminary grad?
Send your job posting to aheckman@friendsseminary.org. The job description will be posted in the next Alumni Update. 
 
Become a Career Volunteer 
Career Volunteers are Friends Seminary alumni who are willing to be contacted by fellow alumni to share their professional experience, knowledge and advice. Career Volunteers may act as coaches, supporters or resources. If you are interested in working with a Career Volunteer, click here. If you are interested in becoming a Career Volunteer, please contact aheckman@friendsseminary.org.
 

Campus Visitor Policy

Alumni visitors are most welcome at Friends, but at this time the school facilities will remain closed to visitors to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff. To see what campus looks like please check out the virtual tour; to engage with faculty and staff, contact Annah Heckman ’15. You can stay up to date with everything Friends by following us on Instagram or Facebook!
We hope to open our doors to you again as soon as it is safe to do so. In the meantime, we hope that you will continue to engage with your community. Please check out the events page, the Facebook group, Instagram page and the alumni update to find out other ways to connect with your fellow alumni! 


 
Friends Seminary | 222 East 16th Street | New York, NY | 212.979.5035