Alumni Spotlight
K
Katie Winter, Class of ‘80
atie entered Palm Beach Day in the
Fourth Grade in 1975, where she
had a class of wonderful friends,
several of whom she remains in touch
with today, including Alison
Kent Bourke and Matthew
Baird in New York City, Lucy
Anthony Webster in Palm
Beach, and Meg Steward
Campbell in Maine. Katie
met her husband James
Shulman when they were in
college; they were married in
1994. James runs a non-profit
(ARTstor) that makes almost
a million digital images of art
available on line for teaching
and learning. Katie is the
mother of three girls, Kaiulani
(8), Camilla (6), and Emma
(3), and she runs her own
architectural practice in New
York City.
What are some of your
fondest memories of Palm Beach Day?
I have fond memories of Field Day - the
competition between the Pelicans and
Flamingos. I enjoyed eating outside on the
grass, participating in the school play, and
Mr. Greco’s speech class.
After leaving Palm Beach Day what
schools did you attend to continue your
education?
I left PBDS after eighth grade and I
attended Saint Andrew’s High School
in Boca Raton. I received a BA from Yale
College and a Masters of Architecture from
Yale School of Architecture in New Haven,
CT.
When did you decide that you wanted to be
an architect?
Thinking spatially always made sense to
me, and I felt strongly pulled to the field
because I could see how different modes of
problem solving (sculpture or ornament or
narrative or structural engineering) come
together in figuring out what to do with a
spatial problem.
Would you describe the steps that led to
opening your own firm?
While I was working at a firm that mostly
did high-end residential work, I won a
competition to do portable play pieces for a
community garden in Queens. This led me
into working with some inner city schools
in the South Bronx on my own time. When
8
November / December 2008
the amount of work on playgrounds and
school libraries no longer “fit” into my off
hours, I decided that I couldn’t do both
and that I was interested in working on
Kate Winter with her daughters
projects that reached a larger community
than a single family house ever could.
When House and Garden wrote about you
as a “Tastemaker of the Year” last year,
they cited your work as having “a spare
abstract quality” which you make with a
“sculptor’s instinct for mass and void and
the transformative imagination of a child.”
Do you think that that’s an accurate
description?
I try to keep things simple - like a lot
of modernists, I do believe in the
famous credo of Mies Van der Rohe,
that “less is more.” I have a very
controlled use of color and pattern
in my work and that’s often a way
of surprising people and challenging
their expectations. I also tend to use
natural materials and juxtapose them
with the manmade. That contrast and
the use of color and pattern stimulate
the children’s imagination. I think
through the site as a series of “rooms,”
each with a specific use or character.
The city children who use these
yards frequently come from crowded
homes and very structured school
environments. Thus it’s important
that these yards offer them not only
the opportunity to engage the natural
environment but also the chance to
simply move freely.
How do you manage working and raising
three children?
Please tell us about some of your projects? Living in a city is so efficient and that helps
A lot of my work seeks to take advantage
a lot. My office is only three blocks from
of spaces that are “in between,” and
home and a few blocks from my daughters’
under-utilized. We’ve turned parking lots school. It isn’t always easy to figure out
into landscaped play areas or roof-storage
what shoes to wear on a day when I’m
sheds into libraries. One school in the
going from a construction site in the South
Bronx had a wonderful view of the George Bronx and to a school event on the Upper
Washington Bridge from the roof, and we
East Side, but trying to do both is a pretty
built a play area that takes advantage of
familiar routine to all working mothers.
the views. Almost all of these projects seek Not having to spend time driving around
to integrate a library or classroom or a play helps, as do cell phones and a blackberry.
area into the education program - that’s
It allows me to be getting lost on a path
part of what makes it interesting for me.
in Central Park with my girls at the same
So, for example, when we did a library for time that I’m getting a plumbing contractor
a pre-school at a prestigious private school back to a job site or convincing the New
in Manhattan (Horace Mann), it meant
York City Building Department of why a
working with the school’s directors and
job should go through. But I always wish I
teachers to see what educationally could be could spend more time both at home and at
happening in a library for kids who aren’t
work. There is never enough time. I guess
able to read. Those are the kind of puzzles that is the challenge of having so many
that are really interesting to solve spatially. things you’re passionate about.
Since we do both landscape architecture
and architecture there is always an idea
Looking back over your years at Palm
about the outside whenever we are
Beach Day, what do you think were the
working on the inside and visa versa.
most valuable aspects of our school?
On that same school library we couldn’t
I had a wonderful class of friends and a set
actually access the outside, so we brought
of teachers who made it all exciting and
a tree inside and put lenses on the light
fun. It also gave me a great sense of school
fixtures that were embedded with leaves,
as a safe and interesting place - something
so that what’s outside the windows is
that I often think of when I’m working on
linked with what’s inside for the kids.
projects for schools today.
‘63
A
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John Garvan has recently moved back to
Connecticut from California to be closer
to his family. He is the Director of Capital
Giving at Avon Old Farms School in Avon,
CT. He frequently visits with his daughters
Emily and Sarah, who live in the New York
City area.
in attendance included Cyrus’ brother
John ‘89 as the best man, Caroline Koons
‘92 and Blair McCracken ‘92. Cyrus is
currently an Assistant State Attorney for
Palm Beach County. They reside in West
Palm Beach.
‘71
The wedding of Cindy Weisfisch and
Jeffrey Gomez took place on Sunday,
August 31, 2008, at the Chateau Vaux-leVicomte, an historic property located in
Maincy, 55km southeast of Paris. Cindy is
a graduate of the hotel and management
program at Cornell University.
Jocelyn Boyce lives in Stuart, Florida,
where she recently completed her second
year as the land appraiser for St. Lucie
County. This past spring her daughter,
Morgan Bettex, graduated from Columbia
University School of Journalism with
a New Media concentration. Jocelyn
regularly visits with friends in West Palm
Beach and she would welcome a call if
anyone is in the area, 561-772-5711.
‘85
Robin Grubman is engaged to John
Campbell. She is a graduate of the Art
Institute of Boston. Robin is the artist and
proprietor of The Reef Boutique on Worth
Avenue in Palm Beach.
‘93
‘94
Judd Cherry is currently finishing his first
independent screenplay after co-writing
Spider-Man 2 and working on The Pink
Panther, Night at the Museum, and Tropic
Thunder. Judd is living in Marina Del Ray
in California.
‘95
t
e
s
Eric Carnes ‘91 was a groomsman. In
attendance was cousin Kathy Carnes ‘95,
aunt Terry
Carnes,
PBDA Fourth
Grade
teacher,
and Martha
Dyal, who
was Branch’s
First Grade
Branch and Carly Ferguson
teacher.
Branch is a graduate of Cardinal Newman
High School. He earned a degree in
psychology from Auburn University in
Auburn, AL. Branch is employed at Cypress
Capital Group in Palm Beach. He and Carly
are living in Lake Worth.
Daniel Gorfine is engaged to Shilpa Gupta;
they will be married in Providence, RI in
February, 2009. Danny graduated from
George Washington University Law School
and the Johns Hopkins School for Advanced
International Studies with a JD/MA in 2007.
He is working at Covington & Burling, LLP
in Washington, DC and living in Old Town
in Alexandria, Virginia. Danny says hello to
fellow Palm Beach Day alums.
Michael Ciklin and Angie Kruger were
married this September in Las Vegas.
‘90
Michael is a 2002 graduate of Princeton
The marriage of Greg Boner to Alexis Sklar University and he recently received a
John “Jebb” McCracken married Jordan
took place on Sunday, May 25, 2008, at The JD/MBA degree from the University of
Evert on August 23, 2008, at Islamorada
Breakers in Palm Beach. Greg earned a
Florida. Michael is an analyst for MGM
in the Florida Keys. He is a graduate of
bachelor’s degree from George Washington Corporation.
The Benjamin School and the School of
University in Washington and a master’s
Engineering at Vanderbilt University in
degree in architecture from Tulane
William Tylander married Jane Pedersen
Nashville, TN. He is vice
University in New Orleans, LA. He is an
at Bethesda-by-the-Sea
president and portfolio
architect with Ceebraid Signal, a real estate on December 29, 2007.
manager at Cypress Capital
management and development corporation His sister Liz Tylander
Group in Palm Beach. They are
in West Palm Beach. They are living in
‘98, Grant Mashek ‘95,
living in West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach.
India Foster ‘95, and
Alex Ives ‘93 were in
David Marulli and Pamela O’Sullivan
attendance. Will and Jane
‘98
are engaged and plan to marry in early
moved to Copenhagen,
Copley Ricca is currently
December. David is CEO of Worth Realty
Denmark in December
enrolled in a two year master’s
Inc., a commercial and
of 2008, where
program in Publishing at New
residential real estate
he is attending
York University. She graduated
company, where Pamela is
Copenhagen
Cum Laude from Georgetown
an associate. She is active
School of
University in 2005, and she
in Habitat for Humanity.
Business,
worked for Ralph Lauren
They will live in West
studying
Corporation for two years
William and Jane Tylander
Palm Beach.
informational
before starting her master’s
systems.
program.
‘92
Cyrus Toufanian and
Harley Chivers were
married on June 7, 2008,
at Bethesda-by-the-Sea in
Palm Beach, followed by
a reception at The Sailfish
Club. PBDay graduates
‘96
Cyrus and Harley Toufanian
Branch Ferguson married Carly
Blankenship on October 18,
2008, at Trifecta Horse Farm in
Point Clear, Alabama. Branch’s
brothers Matt ‘89 and Tad ‘91
were the best men and cousin
Liz Tylander just completed a documentary
film called Garden Cycles Bike Tour, the
result of a 2,000 mile, three month bike ride
to Montreal, where she and two friends
documented community agriculture. Along
the way they visited thriving inner-city
gardens, innovative suburban farms and
Continued next page
November / December 2008
9
management, and advocacy to families and received an
children in Queens, NY.
Honorable
Mention for
Continued from previous page Joey Goodwin recently stopped by the
All League
school to say hello to his former teachers.
Boys Soccer,
rooftop vegetable plots as they chronicled
He is a graduate of The Benjamin High
the Service
the way we put food on our table.
School and Fordham College in New York
Faculty
City. He owns a men’s clothing line called
Award, and
Unruly Heir. Check out his collection at
the Suzi
www.unrulyheir.com.
Daniel Fuchs
Oppenheimer
Merit Award, in recognition of outstanding
community service. He is a freshman at
‘01
the University of Michigan in the School of
Jesse Stoll graduated from the University
Engineering in Dearborn, MI.
of Miami in May, where he majored in
Business Management with a minor in
Music Business. Jesse is working for concert Grace Gunkel graduated with honors from
Hershey High School, where she received
giant AEG Live at their Florida office,
an award
Liz Tylander
where he spearheads festivals and special
in physics.
(http://womensgardencycles.wordpress.
event development, venue acquisitions,
She was
com) Liz has been living and working
and marketing. He was selected as one
captain of the
in Washington, DC, as an arborist and
of the individuals in the annual Billboard
lacrosse team.
hanging out with Cecilia Royal ‘98. She is
Magazine celebratory “30 under 30”
Over the
currently in Chile, living and working on
feature, which highlights thirty of the rising
summer she
an orchard/vegetable farm for six months. talents in the music industry.
spent time
traveling with
Nicole
Vogel
received
a
bachelor’s
degree
‘04
her family
Grace
Gunkel
in
Advertising
Design
from
Syracuse
Savannah Wentley had a great freshman
in Europe and working at the Hershey
University
in
Syracuse,
NY,
where
she
year at Auburn University in Auburn, AL,
Country Club. She is a freshman at East
where she is presently majoring in fashion received the Elisa Ribbat Memorial Prize
Stroudsburg University in PA.
for
the
outstanding
senior
in
advertising
marketing and design, with a minor in
design.
She
recently
stopped
by
the
school
history. Savannah started attack for the
Emily Guttmann graduated from the
to catch up with former faculty.
Auburn women’s lacrosse team, where
Alexander W.
she earned the Offensive MVP award.
Dreyfoos Jr.
Savannah really enjoyed playing against
‘05
School of the Arts,
former classmate Marina Barbieri ‘04 at a
Katie Bruno graduated from Cardinal
where she was a
Newman High School, where she was
member of the
the president
National Honor
of the debate
and Tri M Music
team, president
Societies. She
of the Future
received many
Business Leaders
awards including
of America, and
Most Outstanding
captain of the
Junior and
lacrosse team
Senior (Vocal
Emily Guttmann
for her junior
Department)
and senior years.
and, as a senior,
She received a
Most Outstanding Officer. She sang the
Palm Beach Post
national anthem for her graduating class
Savannah Wentley
Pathfinder award
at the Kravis Center. This past summer
for debate, and
Emily spent
tournament at Florida State University. She many sports
Katie Bruno
time traveling
is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
awards. Katie is a
with family and
This past summer she returned home to
freshman at Catholic University of America
friends. She is
take summer courses, surf, and train for the in Washington, DC.
a freshman at
fall lacrosse season.
the University
Fletcher Daves graduated from Cardinal
of Colorado in
Newman High School, where he was a
‘00
Boulder, CO.
member of the varsity swimming team for
Angeline Gauntt received her bachelor’s
three years and swam in the regionals. He
degree from New York University in May
Cloe Mimun
is a freshman at Palm Beach Community
2007 and her master’s degree in social
graduated from
College.
work from NYU in May 2008. She is now
The Benjamin
employed by the New York Foundling
High School,
Hospital’s Foster Care Prevention program, Daniel Fuchs graduated from Blind Brook
High School in Rye Brook, NY, where he
where she provides counseling, case
Alumni Notes
Cloe Mimun
10 November / December 2008
where she received the Sun Sentinel and
Palm Beach Post awards for volleyball. She
is a freshman at Susquehanna University
in Selinsgrove, PA. Her sister Cara ‘00
received a masters degree from Savannah
College of Art and Design in Savannah,
GA.
Bridget Hardy is a freshman at the
University of Southern California, where
she is majoring in Environmental Studies
with an emphasis in business. She is a
member of Delta Delta Delta, UNICEF, and
Best Buddies. She would like to spend a
semester studying at the USC Institute, on
Catalina Island.
Emilia Monell graduated from the
University of Miami Online High School.
She was the
Valedictorian for
the Class of 2008
and the recipient
of the Principal’s
Award. Emilia
is a graduate of
the IMG Nick
Bollettieri Tennis
Academy. Over
the summer
she traveled
with her family
to China. She
is a freshman
Emilia Monell
at Columbia
University in New York City.
a freshman at Lake Forest College in Lake
Forest, IL.
Michelle and Brittany Rattinger
Michelle Rattinger graduated from the
Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of
the Arts with academic honors and she
received the Principal’s Award. Over the
summer she spent time traveling with
her family in Europe. She is a freshman
at George Washington University, in
Washington, DC.
Chessy Ricca graduated from Cardinal
Newman High School, where she received
‘87
Kevin Yamamoto graduated from the
William T. Dwyer High School, and he is
attending the John Roddick Total Tennis
Academy in San Antonio, TX, for one year
before going to college.
Births
Alex Condon and his wife Kate are
delighted to announce the birth of their
second child, Phoebe Grace Condon, born
on May 24, 2008. They also have a daughter,
Lily. Alex works for JP Morgan in London,
UK.
‘91
Graham Ober graduated from Brooks
Alana Latorra Borland and her husband
School in North Andover, MA and he is
attending the University of Pennsylvania in Brent are excited to announce the birth of
Mia Sophia, born on September 26, 2008.
Philadelphia.
They are living in Delray Beach. Aunt
Bradley Pliskow graduated from Suncoast Nicole Latorra ‘89, is a kindergarten teacher
at PBDA
Community High School’s magnet
.
program with two degrees, one for Math,
Science, and Engineering, and the other, an
International Baccalaureate. He received
numerous academic and athletic awards
including the Principal’s Honor Roll and
Top 10 MSE awards for all four years.
He was a member of the National Honor
Society, Junior Engineering Technical
Society varsity team and captain of the
varsity lacrosse team. He was admitted as
a sophomore to the University of Florida’s
Mia Sophia Borland
Honors Program.
Brittany Rattinger graduated from the
Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the
Arts. Her writings were published in two
publications, including the Anthology of
Poetry. Brittany also received an award in
history. Over the summer she spent time
traveling with her family in Europe. She is
the Cardinal Newman President’s Gold
Medal and Excellence in Art Award and
numerous other
awards. Chessy
spent July
and August at
NOLS Outdoor
Leadership
School in
Wyoming. She
was recruited to
play lacrosse at
Rollins College
in Winter Park,
FL, where she
is majoring in
Chessy Ricca
Studio Art and Art History. Chessy thanks
her teachers at Palm Beach Day for an
outstanding art education and lacrosse
skills.
‘92
Zach Read and his wife Brooke celebrated
the birth of their second child Briggs in
May. Older sister Lizzy is having a blast
with her younger brother. Zach is in
residential real estate in San Francisco and
he works for Alain Pinel Realtors. They are
living in San Francisco.
Zach and Lizzy Read
P a lm B ea ch D ay A c ade m y
Seaview Campus
241 Seaview Avenue, Palm Beach, FL 33480
(561) 655-1188 Fax (561) 655-5794
Flagler Campus
1901 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33418
(561) 832-8815 Fax (561) 832-3343
The Bridge is published by Palm Beach
Day Academy to inform its community
of the activities of the school, its students,
faculty and parents. Editor Richard
Tummon and Alumni Director Rosemary
Cove invite your suggestions, reactions
and comments regarding The Bridge.
www.palmbeachdayacademy.org
November / December 2008
11
Alumni Remember
PBDA’s History
Mrs. Close & Mrs. Mendoza are
Gathering Photos and Anecdotes
to Tell the Story of PBDA
P
alm Beach Day Academy’s history
reaches back to the early part of the
20th Century. But, most of us are
only aware of the small fraction of the story
that we have witnessed. Alumni, Hilary
Mendoza and Barbara Close are working
to change that. They are researching and
writing the history of Palm Beach Day
Academy from its beginning as a Palm
Beach school in the 1920’s and as a West
In Memoriam
Peter A. Closi ‘03 passed
away on June 11, 2008. After
graduating from Palm Beach
Day School, Peter attended
Cardinal Newman High
School and The Benjamin
School. He is survived by his
parents Dale and Liz Ann
(Butler) Closi ‘79, brother JT ‘08, sister
Catherine ‘10, and his uncles Buck ‘69,
Taylor ‘72, and Critt Butler ‘74. Peter was
the grandson of former Palm Beach Day
School Headmaster, Walter H. Butler.
Anthony Baker was killed in a
small plane crash on July 9, 2008. He
was a philanthropist, architectural
preservationist, and pilot. Anthony served
on the Palm Beach Day’s Board of Trustees
from 1992 through 1994. He was the father
of Asia ‘00 and Callie ‘01, and the brother
of school parents Pauline Pitt and Kane
Baker. He was a trustee of the George
F. Baker Trust, which has generously
supported the school’s Capital Campaign
and Annual Giving Fund for many years.
Joseph Nicholas Minor ‘06 passed away
on October 21, 2008. Nick
was a senior at Suncoast
Community High School
in the International
Baccalaureate program.
He is survived by his
parents Joe and Juanita,
grandfather Oliver
Williams, brother Adam
Minor, and sisters Jennifer Teske, Amanda
Trivett and Paige Sheppard.
Bulldog Outreach
Continued from front page
Queen’s Lane Beach on the north end of
the island.
In addition to this community service
effort, PBDA students are involved in
Palm Beach School in 1981, up to today.
They have already gathered hundreds of
photos which can be viewed under the
“History” link, which is under the “About
PBDA” link on the menu bar on the school’s
website.
Alumni are invited to join us on November
28 here at school for an Alumni Wine
& Cheese Party. Mrs. Close and Mrs.
Mendoza will be on hand to scan your
favorite photo memories - so gather them
and bring them along.
Alumni Wine & Cheese Party
Please Join
Mr. Greco, Mrs. Close, Mrs. Mendoza
& Other Faculty
Friday, November 28th
Palm Beach Campus
241 Seaview Avenue
5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Spouse or Guest is Welcome
Please bring your old photos to be copied
and added to the School’s Archives
RSVP to [email protected]
or call Rosemary Cove at 561-832-3308
12
November / December 2008
many other grade-level and school-wide
outreach projects. Currently, the school is
conducting a Used Book Drive, which will
continue until the end of November. Please
clean out your bookcases and help children
in need.
Beginning in January, Bulldog Outreach
will begin its annual clothing drive.
www.palmbeachdayacademy.org
Palm Beach Day Academy
Website
Visit the website for access to
up-to-date information.
Flagler - “Flagler Focus”
Seaview - “Seaview Update”
Under the homepage “Bulletin” link
Username: bulldog
Password: pbda
www.palmbeachdayacademy.org
Alumni
Send Us your News
to Alumni Director Rosemary Cove at
[email protected]
The
Bulldog
School Store
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