Dear Friends,
It is with deep sadness that I share that Philip Schwartz, revered teacher, mentor, colleague and friend, died yesterday, November 30, 2023, at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx.
During Phil’s forty-eight year tenure at Friends, he touched the lives of thousands of students, mentored countless teachers and advised five principals.
We will share a more comprehensive tribute to Phil in next month's newsletter. In the meantime, we hold Phil and his family in the Light.
Phil's wife, Val, would love to receive any stories about Phil. You can share them by writing to her at the address below:
Dr. Valerie Wise
PO Box 51
Obernberg, NY 12767
Please see my opening letter to the December Alumni Newsletter below.
Dear Friends,
As the year draws to a close and we enter this season of gratitude and hope, I am thankful for your support of Friends and the myriad of ways this support comes to life. Whether you are a donor, volunteer or someone who keenly stays up to date with news from your Alma Mater, it is an honor to be your point of contact and keep you connected with the School. Meeting with many of you (and your children) during last month’s God’s Love We Deliver bag making (pictured above), or at the Thanksgiving Assembly, reminds me of how special Friends Seminary is. Later this month we will have Alumni Career Panels which offer our current Grade 12 students a chance to learn about the career paths of your fellow alumni and provide an opportunity to network. The Alumni Council will soon send out a survey to collect the most up to date employment information from our alumni community which I hope will allow for greater engagement and preparation for future events and volunteer opportunities. I wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season, and as always, I encourage you to reach out with any concerns, questions or Friends Seminary related inquiries.
In Stewardship,
Michael Mudho
Director of Alumni Relations