Class of 1956
Jed Davis ’56 and Director of Alumni Relations, Michael Mudho after a lovely dinner in Maine.
As reported by Ed Carroll ’56
Friends Seminary flew Rachel and me from our home in southern Arizona to NYC to attend the naming of a Friends Seminary room after me as the first African American to graduate from Friends. I was one of 23 to graduate in 1956 and the only student of color in the whole school although my presence was the result of efforts by parents, some alumni and some faculty to improve the educational and social outcomes of a Friends education by bringing some diversity into the school population.
I entered Friends in the ninth grade in 1952, seven years after the end of WWII. My father had been an Army Chaplain serving Negro troops in our segregated military during the entire war. He resigned his commission to take an offered position as a Field Secretary with the National YMCA in NYC in 1945, which resulted in the family moving from Washington, D.C. to Harlem, one of the few places a Black person could purchase a home in NYC. I doubt any of my fellow students were aware of the systematic racism and housing segregation in NYC. I’m sure alums returning for their 10th reunion are gob-smacked by the growth of the Friends campus, but what enthralled me was the cultural richness and diversity of students, faculty and programs.
As reported by Gretchen “Gretty” Dumler ’56
School started last month. I'm not even going to mention the NYC heat/humidity wave(s); but nowadays, the school is air-conditioned...can we even hardly imagine??? Thank God for that, and for all the other "improvements" down there. I'll stop chirping about them if you guys will send some money to the school.... or leave FS in your will—a great idea, as it costs us nothing! Look into it, please.
One thing you may not know [about Friends]: we were honored to have Eddy [Ed Carroll ‘56] in our class—the first Black person, which did not happen again for 10 years—and now students-of-color make up 40% of the student body!
I had pizza with John Schwartz ’57 last month. We've gotten to be friends, being the sole members of our respective classes who regularly come to Reunion, both being New Yorkers. John has a dwelling not too far from me out here on Long Island. We both attended a stunning "class" on Homer's Odyssey, taught by the remarkable Maria Fahey. I was so impressed that—months later–when a handsome green frog took up residence in a puddle on top of my compost cover, I called him Odysseus. Where might he have traveled from... and where did he voyage after leaving my compost? I miss him. Sic transit..... right?
Class of 1957
As reported by John Schwartz ’57
Glenna Ferris Burckel ’57 died March 17, 2023 in Manhattan, Kansas. At Friends, Glenna served on both the Stove and Oblivion student publications, was active in the Cercle Francais, and played the role of Mary in the Christmas pageant our senior year. After college at Mt. Holyoke (including a junior year in France), she taught French at St. Margaret’s Academy in Connecticut, then obtained a Master’s degree at Boston University and taught at the University of Oregon and at Kansas State University, where her husband, Robert Burckel, whom she married in 1967 and who survives her, had a distinguished career in mathematics and is now Emeritus. Bob’s career took them to Universities in Germany during two academic years (and Glenna became fluent in German as well), but they called Manhattan, Kansas their home for many years.
In other news, Deirdre (Malone) Westgate ’57 traveled to Copenhagen from her home in France earlier this year for a reunion of her Swedish family and attendance with her cousins at a performance by her daughter, jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux. Madi will be at the Kennedy Center in D.C. on September 20 in a double bill with Judy Collins, and in Atlanta in November. Speaking of Madeleine, I (John Schwartz) was enjoying the jazzy sound system at the new CupSoul Cafe on the southeast corner of 3rd Avenue and East 16th Street in New York (which was a drugstore with a soda fountain when I started at Friends), when I heard Madeleine’s rendition of “Dance Me to the End of Love.” The owner was impressed that I had gone to the school only a few steps away with Madi’s mother.
Class of 1967
Pierre Lehu ’67, Ken Dodge ’67 and his wife Maureen stopped by 16th Street to visit Friends.
Class of 1975
As reported by Francesca Bruno ’75 and Adam Owett ’75
From Mrs. Gordon Rich POA ’75 (MaryAnn)
Whenever I hear the term "lifelong friends", I smile. I don't think there is a phrase that describes friendships beyond life. Yet that is what we have. My sons and I have the pleasure of continuing Gordon's close friendship with both David Hirst ’75 and Gil Fleitas ’75. Our families reunite in NYC, California, Hong Kong and beyond. Maybe we have started a new trend—longer than life friends. Our older son, Maximilian, is married with two sons and practicing law in northern New Jersey. Our younger son, Alex, lives in Houston and spends his time running several businesses. The acorns don't fall far from the father tree. Both our sons are active in the Gordon A. Rich Scholarship Foundation which Gordon's investment banker friends established upon his tragic death in 2000. We select approximately seven students per year to receive up to $50,000 in college aid. If you know a bright, hard working high school senior who has a parent working in the financial services industry and needs money for college, please check out gordonrich.org. Stay well.
Fondly,
MaryAnn Rich
Class of 1977
Director of Alumni Relations, Michael Mudho with Heidi Reavis ’77 and her husband in New York City.
Class of 1992
Friends Seminary is sad to share that Lila Margulies '92 passed away on July 12, 2023 after a long illness. Lila’s obituary can be found here.
Class of 2000
Fred Isquith ’00 has recently started a new litigation attorney position within the New York City Comptroller's office. Fred is responsible for developing and coordinating litigation strategy with the New York City’s Corporation Counsel. He negotiates pre-litigation and litigation claims in both state and federal court in an attempt to limit New York City's risk exposure.
Class of 2005
James (Frankie) Thomas ’05 released his latest book, Idlewild last month. Idlewild is a story about a tiny, artsy Quaker high school in lower Manhattan where students call their teachers by their first names, there are no grades, and every day begins with 20 minutes of contemplative silence in the Meetinghouse.
Class of 2006
On June 16, Naledi Semela ’06 married Jaliz Albanese The reception followed at Kaia Wine Bar.
Pictured (Left to Right) Jordan Grant '06, Naledi Semela ’06, Henoch Derbew '03 and Justin Bain '06.
Class of 2008
Rachel Sard '08's INSOFAR exhibit is on view at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center through January 28, 2024. To learn more click here.
Class of 2009
In July, Francesca Acocella ’09 was promoted to Senior Director of Student Life at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City, from which she earned her JD in 2016. Francesca is now in her final year of a Master of Social Work program. Francesca also married Alexander Almada on September 10, 2023 and was happy to celebrate with Friends classmates
Pictured (left to right) Jemana Theis ’09, Joel Hochman ’09, Francesca Acocella ’09, Tory Brewster ’09, and Samantha Hansen ’09.
Class of 2010
On September 16, Ethan Putnam ’10 married Alicia Vicioso.
Class of 2013
Max Friedlich '13 made his Off-Broadway debut at SoHo Playhouse last month with his new play JOB, starring Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman. JOB will run until October 8. Click here for more information.
Pictured (left to right) Performing Arts Teacher, Steve Borowka and Max Friedlich '13
On September 27, he returned to Friends to speak to Steve Borowka’s Upper School Playwriting students. He provided insight into his writing process, fighting discouragement, and the joys of theater. Max gave a candid recount of his move to LA and working in social media and how it inspired his one act play. In the four year journey to the stage, he turned out nearly 80 drafts and acknowledged the grueling rehearsal process and previews. He also talked about the surprising ways actors handled his work, their artistry and intuition with the subject matter, and learning to let go of elements in plays that he once found non-negotiable.
Class of 2014
Afemi Banx ‘14, Middle School Administrative Assistant, helped alleviate first-day jitters in the Middle School with a thoughtfully curated Affirmations Wall for all to enjoy. Included on the Affirmations Wall was an interactive display of balloons that, once popped with a thumbtack, burst with your very own written affirmation that you were able to take with you. She refilled the wall throughout the day so there would be balloons for everyone who entered.
Pictured (left to right) Director of MS and US Library Services, Adrienne Almeida, and Afemi Banx '14.