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1950s
1954
Dana Spicer McCown shares, “I have a small publishing company and during the lockdown, I used the time to write my memoirs. They are entitled, Dana June: A Leap into the Unknown, published by my own StoryBridge Press. It was a lot of fun recalling the past, but finding the right pictures was challenging. I encourage anyone to do it as a gift to family. After being a textile artist working in weaving for 40 years, I found that my loom wouldn’t fit when we moved to an apartment in 2012. Further downsizing was required. The research I had done on the Indian woven textile, Telia Rumal, meant that I had an important collection of the work. At my stage in life, it was important that I found a good home to keep this textile. I was very pleased that the Brisbane Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art acquired most of my collection for safe keeping. We have been very fortunate here in Queensland, Australia that the government put in strict regulations during the pandemic. We are back to a very normal life, back to the theatre, and restaurants. There have been very few deaths here, most coming from people arriving on cruise ships and then spreading to nursing homes. But immunization is in full swing here, and hopefully the rest of the world will be helped to acquire doses. We must not get complacent and be very thankful for those hard-working frontline workers.”
1959
Emily Crandall moved from Pittsburgh to Switzerland when she was a sophomore at WT. Justine ‘Tina’ Diebold Englert and Emily wrote to each other frequently. During the pandemic, Tina found Emily’s letters (55 in total) and looked her up online. They reconnected this last spring and now write to each other each day via email. Tina shared, “It’s a fun story of long-lasting friendships established at WT many decades ago!”
Rachel ‘Gay’ Knake Haines writes, “Spent the pandemic writing a children’s book about my therapy dog Oliver – all proceeds go to Child Protection Center and Suncoast Humane Society.” Purchase The Love of Oliver.
1960s
1965
Eleanor Levinson Peris shares, “I continue to volunteer with Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss in New Jersey. I also work as a Peer Coordinator for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for kids in foster care. I’m also involved in a Saturday Fun Club, helping resettle the refugees in New Jersey. It provides English as a second language classes, homework help, games, and arts and crafts for the children. I continue to walk, bike, swim, and play golf during the spring, summer, and fall. Now that we are vaccinated, we’re hoping to start traveling again with friends and family.”
1970s
1971
Helen-Jean Asquine Fazio is a former art gallery owner, college educator, and currently the Principal at HA Fazio Associates, LLC, a management consulting services business. Helen has owned Shih Tzu dogs for more than 20 years and has meticulously researched the history of the breed. She has a passion for traveling, and Helen and her family would never dream of traveling without her Shih Tzu, Raja, the narrator of their book, The Journey of the Shih Tzu: From Prehistory to Present, From Asia to the World.
1976
Stacy Jannis Tamerlani shares, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 45 years since I left the hallowed hallways of WT. After graduating from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in 1980, I moved to New York City and Washington, D.C./Silver Spring, MD, and ended up with a 40+ year long career in commercial film, television production, animation, and graphic design. Although I’ve been now slowly toying with the idea of retirement, last year I did the animation for two high-end documentaries, one on Arctic science and the other on John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. This year, I helped the University of Maryland receive a $5 million NSF grant with a marketing video that explains their proposed quantum computer network.”
1980s
1981
Stephanie Wishnev and partner Lynn Kowalski stopped by WT to celebrate Reunion before embarking on a 334-mile bicycle journey from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. This trip is part of their larger goal of cycling across the United States.
1990s
1996
Under the leadership of Keshira haLev Fife and Sara Stock Mayo, Kesher Pittsburgh launched an anti-racism initiative. V’ahavt/a (Hebrew for “and you shall love”) is a nine-month cohort-based program which enables 22 participants to explore anti-racism within a Jewish framework. Between April and December 2021, national experts, including consultant Annie-Rose London, will guide the group through webinars, chavruta-style discussions and opportunities for study.
2000s
2006
Don Mike Mendoza shares, “I launched a national podcast called Producing While Asian that accompanies my blog of the same name. I am a brand ambassador for Unapologetically Asian, a grassroots organization created to spread awareness about Asian discrimination and activism. I currently sit on the American University Alumni Board, and I am part of The Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh and The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. In September, I completed the 334-mile bike trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. in four days.
2007
Each year, Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP recognize 40 outstanding individuals under the age of 40 whose creativity, vision, and passion enrich the Pittsburgh region. This year’s class includes associate alumna Felicity Ansonia Williams, 32, Programs and Policy Manager and Special Assistant to the President and CEO at the Hill Community Development Corporation.
2008
Matt Arffa, writes, “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Lovasik. He was a wonderful man and a great teacher. I had the joy of spending four years with him in his Upper School Latin classes. I remember having great discussions on philosophy and life, in between practicing our declensions. Mr. Lovasik was always passionate about our personal and professional growth. I am thankful for the years I spent with him. Requiescat in pace.”
2009
Kevin Nguyen continues teaching English as a foreign language in Japan for the fifth year. He recently made time to be involved in the theatre arts again. In July 2021, he participated as an ensemble member in Theatre Mangekyo’s devised production, Disconnected, playing the characters Ceri (F) and Ran (M). In addition to being an ensemble member once again, Kevin will also be stage manager in the production’s second phase.
Kevin as Ceri (L) and Ran (R) in Theatre Mangekyo’s production Disconnected.
2010s
2010
The First Tee – Pittsburgh (FTP), an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people, highlighted Miranda Santucci in their May newsletter. Miranda’s dad introduced her to golf while he was a volunteer coach with FTP and then 12-year-old Miranda was allowed to tag along. Upon entering WT’s Upper School, Miranda became a volunteer coach herself to teach the program’s golf skills and its core values to younger kids. She credits FTP for helping her mature into an adult with confidence and life skills. Miranda attended Allegheny College, where she was on the golf team. She graduated in 2014 with a degree in managerial economics and now serves as an internal auditor for PNC Financial Corp. Miranda is a member at Diamond Run Golf Club in Sewickley, where she is the reigning Women’s Club Champion.
2011
Dayna Scott Jenkins recently decided to leave her job as a director to devote all of her time and attention to Dayna Scott Events (DSE). Dayna strives to provide stylish, personalized, budget-friendly weddings and events. She and her team go all-out to be prepared for the unexpected so her clients can enjoy their day without distraction. In August of 2020, she won a 2020 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award. Dayna shares, “My passion is planning, and I’d love to help you enjoy your perfect day!”
2012
Allyson Bartlett writes, “So devastated to hear of the loss of Ken Lovasik. I had him for Latin in 2010–2012, and he was always one of my favorite teachers. We would always love his stories and the anecdotes he shared with us in class. He was always so insightful and caring. He mentioned before he taught at WT that he worked with hospice patients, and after having two grandparents go through hospice, I wish I could have thanked him more for all that he did. On more than one occasion, he would talk with me about how happy he was when the class would do well in Latin, and how excited he was to share the topic with others. He was an inspiration and a beloved teacher. My heart goes out to his family in their grief.”
2016
Carrie Mannino’s documentary play, It Couldn’t Happen Here, focuses on the Pittsburgh and Jewish communities in the aftermath of the antisemitic massacre at the Tree of Life building on October 27, 2018. The play was awarded the Yale Playwriting Award. Read more about It Couldn’t Happen Here, and join us on campus on January 20, 21, or 22, 2022 to see the Upper School performance of this work.”
2017
Emma Famili shares, “I graduated from WT in 2017 and am completing my graduate degree while working for the government and directing a nonprofit. I am the program director for ACEing Autism Pittsburgh. ACEing Autism is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to honoring and celebrating all abilities through affordable, accessible, and adaptive tennis programs.”
In their Research Science Class at WT, Jack Waters and Jacob Dubner developed the Oral Rehydration Tube (ORTube), a 3D-printed device to combat diarrheal diseases. Now the pair have incorporated ORTube as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and hope to expand ORTube access to communities in need.
2020s
2020
Zoë Soteres and Mitchell Dubin partnered with City Theatre Educational Programs to secure the live-performance and streaming rights for Jason Robert Brown’s 2001 musical production, The Last Five Years, through Music Theatre International. The musical is about two characters navigating a relationship that just isn’t working. The production, from the orchestra to the stage crew, was comprised of student artists from multiple corners of the Pittsburgh area. Zoë, a freshman studying acting at DePaul University, starred alongside Jason Schmidt, a 20-year-old Chicago native and sophomore in Carnegie Mellon University’s musical theater program. Zoë shared with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “It’s one of the things I’m most proud of, that we found young artists that are motivated enough to do this essentially by themselves. I just think that it’s so important to encourage young people to get into the arts to get more innovation in the arts, and it’s our job to do that.”
Zoë (L) with co-star Jason (R) performing in The Last Five Years.
In Memoriam
The following members of the WT community will be missed by their classmates, friends, students, and colleagues. We offer sincere condolences to their families.
Alma Simon Balter ’35
Margaret Bunting Mills ’36
Dolores ‘Dee’ Kaufman Gluck ’44
Rita Gottlieb Levis ’46
Ann Brownell Orgel ’47
Mary Cosgrove McKean ’48
Adlyn Hollearn Hickey ’50
Helen Lee Henderson ’57
Carol Heape ’65
Mary Kress Pringle ’69
Rachel Clement Paulsen ’81