Beth Poole Parker '86, Tom Woodrow '96 and Stoney Cox '96
Park Ave. art
The best aspect of my new position at Crystal is catching up with adult alumni whom I either taught or admitted to school as long ago as thirty years. Sure it is corny to say, but I do feel a parental bond to scores of our graduates, and I am always delighted to share in their dreams, hopes, and occasionally, their hardships.
A week ago Alison and I traveled to New York City for a few days of coffees, lunches, dinners and a great party with regional graduates. Derek Snyder '00 and I had a Starbucks Park Ave. (expensive!) coffee together and talked about the scary world of high finance. I had lunch with Fleur Speigle Brown 93 ' in a funky 1954 deli on Wall Street. You know the type: lots of chrome, vinyl covered seats, Formica tables and really good food. Fleur was married just over a month ago. Congratulations, Fleur! I invited Julie Bridgham '90 and Tom Woodrow '96 to join me for lunch one day. I wanted them to meet because they are both film producers, and I thought a little Crystal networking would serve them well. She has produced an award winning documentary, "Sari Soldiers" about six very strong young woman in Nepal during the Maoist revolution. Tom's award winning "True Adolescents" follows a coming of age story shot in the beautiful wilds of western Seattle. Tom and Julie had plenty to talk about. Later that same day I had a meeting with our party host, Phil Enan '96, to lay final plans for the Thursday alumni party. Phil is a wonderful host, has a beautiful "party" condo, and is a good friend to Crystal. Lunch with Stoney Cox '96 at Rue 57, a great restaurant by the way, was dominated by his remembrances of middle school and high school. Barbara Close '80 and I had a date and time, but sadly she got a cold and thought better of driving into the city and feeling miserable. Next year, Barbara! I had coffee with Jayne Howard '79. She currently works for The Leadership Program in NYC public schools and is the Lead Trainer for in-class enrichment. Her specialty is conflict resolution between and among faculty and students in the South Bronx. She keeps her SAG and AFTRA memberships current and is always looking for gigs on stage. Matt Margolin '01 and I ate in a tiny Mexican restaurant on 3rd and enjoyed some of the best quesadillas ever. Matt is hard at work in Senator Schumer's office as his financial analyst.
I met alums from an earlier period: Rosamonde Drabkin Morgan '59, Kathy Langendorf Abbott '69 and Dianne Ingle Farley '69 who enjoyed the party, and I hope they return next year. Over the course of the evening at Phil's, I caught up with Jessica Berkeley '92, who is in her tenth year of teaching (Go Jessica!), Sidney Bialek '79, whom I immediately recognized because of the best curly hair in the world. Katie Meehan Conway '98 and her husband, Shane, stopped by to catch up with friends. Rebecca Miller DuMaine '88 will be looking for a teaching position in Northern California when she, husband Marc and the kids move in June. Deena Parnass Kleinman '86 has been a successful event planner and had lots of great ideas for next year's alumni event. Elizabeth Guttierrez Lee '90 and husband Josh also joined us. I reminded her about her stunning performance in 6th grade during a talent show as lead singer for the Supremes knocking out "Stop in the Name of Love." She nailed it but some how has memory loss! Elizabeth Poole Parker '86, Head of the Rug Department at Christie's, joined Lindsey Snyder '03 who now works at the auction house. The best voice in the world, Lee-Ming Zen '02 and his lovely wife Jennifer also attended the party as did Amanda Grove Holmen '83 . Britt Myers '96 got away from his professional recording studio, where he works up to 80 hours a week, long enough to enjoy a bit of the party. And then there were the '03 gals, Lindsay Snyder and Allison Rozwat who braved all of us old folks and enjoyed the evening.
We will do it again next year!
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