Ned Diamond returns to CSUS

Ned Diamond took CSUS by storm in 1995 when he began teaching math to middle schoolers under the firm but gentle mentor, John Newberger. In his six years with us, Ned taught math with a creative passion. He actually made math come alive for our son, Christopher '04. While teaching, he coached MS girls JV volleyball, HS JV boys soccer and HS JV boys basketball with excellent results.

And then in 2001 he decided to take a walk about and see what life was like in South America. Ned settled in Buenos Aires and taught math and coached at the Lincoln American School for three years. He learned to speak Spanish, dance salsa, play guitar and developed a deep love for the local soccer team, River Plata.

Ned returned to the Bay Area to pursue his interest in mathematics: fascinating stuff like real analysis, complex analysis, linear algebra and abstract algebra. He graduated with an MA in mathematics from San Francisco State University in May, 2009. He was getting ready to return to CSUS!

But before Ned came back home to Crystal, he met his wife to be, Adina, in October , 2005. Now happily married, she is a nurse at San Francisco General, and Ned adroitly took the place of his former mentor, John Newberger when he retired. Don't you just love cycles.

Welcome home, Ned.

Alumni visitors at Crystal

Our daughter, Jennifer Draper Carson '86, visited us with her daughter, Cate. She is just four months old and one of the best babies ever. Remember, I am her grandfather! Jennifer joined me on campus and helped me meet and greet visitors to our second admission open house. The highlight of the afternoon was finding Fred Gortner '82 and his family. His two children are applicants for fall 2010, and I certainly hope we have more Gortners on campus in the future. As always it is fun to have our alums on campus for any reason.

CSUS Fine Arts Alumni getting involved

The Fine Arts Department is reaching out to connect with our CSUS Fine Arts alumni. Our arts alumni can bring a vast wealth of information and experience to our current community, and we hope to make more connections in the years to come.

The year began with the Alumni Art Exhibit, which featured five visual artists; Selma Hartog Alderson (attended CSUS in1954), Susan Nightengale ‘69, Linda Anderson Schenck ’60, Justine Drennan ‘07, Eliza Reisfeld ’07. This event is the first of several connections planned this year.

Last week, Noelle Goodman Morris ‘03 taught a Physical Theatre class to Maggie’s Performance dancers to help them relax, improvise and rid themselves of inhibitions. Ben Fisher ‘04 will come in to teach the Middle School fall play cast the art and magic of stage combat and assist Kate Tomates in the last weeks of the show, just in case her baby decides to come early!

In November, JT Horenstein ‘92 will give a workshop to the entire dance department. And, finally we have three dancers who will be a part of the first ever CSUS Alumni Dance Company; Bryce Robertson ‘02, Noelle Goodman Morris ‘03 and Stephanie Reisfeld ‘04.

If you are part of our Arts Alumni or you are now involved in the arts and would like to share your talent and experience with our community, please contact Maggie Fongheiser Fine Arts Department Chair. mfongheiser@csus.org or (650) 342.4175. Thank you.

Drinks with Draper in New York

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!