Class Notes & In Memoriam
Alumni informed Shady Side Academy of the following notes, marriages, new arrivals, and passings this year, as of April 17, 2024.
Submit a class note, milestone, and/or memorial using the form below.
April 2024
Class Notes
Members of the Class of 2021 met in Dublin for St. Patrick's Day. From left, (bottom row) Paige Shea, Gabi Jegasothy, (middle row) Noah Strauss, Will Karet, Grace Uhlman, Jaya Patel, Max Wolfanger, (top row) Bennett Marsh, Makenna Wolfanger, Gabbie Bernier, Hugh Cochran.
Since she arrived on campus [at Hobart and William Smith Colleges], Eliyah Roberts ’20 has been harmonizing academic research and artistic energy. A double-major in Theatre and Music, she has authored research papers on music theory with her advisor, Associate Professor of Music Charity Lofthouse, performed in campus stage productions, and over the past year, worked closely with her Honors project advisor, Associate Professor of Music Mark Olivieri, to develop a deeply researched foundation for a passion project: a full-length Afrofuturist musical.
“I feel like I’m a storyteller above all,” says Roberts, “and the work I’ve done with Charity and Mark has helped me get my voice out there.”
Class of 1969 (Note from Jeff Winokur ’69)
Since our class’s 50th reunion in 2019, David Cannon has taken the initiative (thank you, David!) to host Zoom meetings every few months with a number of our classmates. Several members of the class of ’69 have made appearances, some more regularly than others. In addition to David Cannon, participants have included Ed Diamond, Jon Glick, Eric Allon, Terry Hunt, Jim Wolf ’70, David Batchelar, Bruce Herwald, Mark Rosenthal, Howard McClintic, David Geltner, Rick Lyon, and Jeff Winokur. Also spotted have been Sam Casey, Jim Silverman, Jeff Steigerwalt and David Jossi (sorry to anyone we’ve omitted!). It has been great to catch up and/or remain in touch with friends from long ago. If you’d like to join us for these virtual gatherings, please contact David Cannon at dccpgh@gmail.com. A few of us have already decided to do our best to attend our 55th reunion this coming fall. We recognize that school reunions are not everyone’s favorite way to reconnect, but we do hope to see some of you who have been on the fence about attending past reunions.
Class of 1968 Mini-Reunion
Andy Hanson was in LA visiting his son when he stopped by Fred Kaplan’s to reconnect with Joe Safier and Fred in Beverly Hills.
In Memoriam
Kenneth Barnard ’50 passed away December 27, 2023. Read full obituary.
Paul B. Woodruff ’61 passed away September 23, 2023. Read full obituary.
Wade B. Stoughton ’63 passed away April 4, 2024. Read full obituary.
Michael B. Weissman ’69 passed away March 24, 2024. Read full obituary.
Rev. Thomas E. Johnson Jr. ’73 passed away April 13, 2024. Read full obituary.
Family and Friends
Nicholas Lane, father of Adam Lane '89. Read full obituary.
Frank Joseph Paterra, father of Middle School Learning Specialist, Matthew Pattera. Read full obituary.
March 2024
Class Notes
Milestones
Grant Foley '11 and his wife Erin welcomed their son Owen Daniel Foley on October 14, 2023.
Sarah (Schiavoni) Catmur '07 and her husband, John, welcomed their second daughter, Audrey Grace Catmur, on January 6, 2024; their first daughter, Amelia Rose, was born in August 2020 and she's over the moon about being a big sister.
In Memoriam
William F. “Bill” Hill II ’51 passed away February 25, 2024. Read full obituary.
John L. “Jay” Pottenger, Jr. ’67 passed away February 23, 2023. Read full obituary.
Family and Friends
Robert J. Foglia, Former History Faculty Member 1966-1970.
Dr. Dick Katzin & Loretta Pollick Katzin, parents of Ricky Katzin ’78, Jamie Katzin ’80, and Gene Katzin ’90.
Carley L. MacDonald, Former Faculty SSA Junior School, Faculty Emerita, mother of Amy MacDonald ’79 and sister of Barry Leonard ’54.
Kristin Ifft Wells, SSA Trustee and mother of Chloe Wells ’23.
February 2024
Class Notes
From 2022 to present, Emory Anderson ’21 has served as the University of St. Andrews Football Club Marketing Representative, playing a pivotal role in elevating the club’s visibility. Notably, she amplified the club’s presence by extending its reach globally, especially in the USA, through strategic attendance at football showcases and the recruitment of prospective players. Emory’s efforts were not confined to administrative roles; she spearheaded successful charity football events, specifically aiming to nurture the growth of local girl footballers, thereby making a significant impact within the community.
Her commitment to fostering inclusivity and empowering young female athletes was further demonstrated through her volunteer coaching at the St. Andrews and East Fife Girls Football Club. Introducing strength and conditioning
sessions for local female youth players and actively coaching the U16 team, Emory aimed to expand the participation of girls in football while imparting valuable skills and knowledge, showcasing a dedication to gender equality in sports.
Read about her experience volunteering at the FIFA Women's World Cup.
Blake Lynch, J.D. ’03 is currently the editor for the Media Research team at OTR Global/BWG Strategy, an equity research firm. His third book of poetry, Hanging the Angels, will be published by Finishing Line Press on May 23, 2025. He lives in the Charlottesville, VA area with his wife, Jessie, and his daughter, Charlie.
Milestones
Caris (Gagnon) Cleveland '15 and Chandler Cleveland recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary! The couple met while attending Princeton University and were married on August 7, 2022, in Pittsburgh. SSA members in attendance included maid of honor Eliana Gagnon '19, Anna Matia '14, and retired Senior School teachers Mr. Stanley Nevola and Mrs. Michele Ament. The Clevelands currently reside in Pittsburgh.
January 2024
Milestones
In Memoriam
Henry “Jary” Wallace, Jr. ’61 passed away December 11, 2023. Read full obituary.
Randal E. “Randy” McCamey ’62 passed away November 19, 2020. Read full obituary.
Richard L. McMillen, Jr. ’62 passed away October 29, 2022. Read full obituary.
December 2023
Class Notes
Jay Palamides ’14 and Amber Shergill ’14 happily announce their engagement! Their story began in 2009 when they were both students at Shady Side Academy Middle School. Little did they know that the friendship that started all those years ago would become a love story that is destined to last forever. They got engaged in June 2023 in Napa, CA. They want to thank the Academy for bringing them together! Photography by: Jenna Wallace ’14
Alexandra Bodnarchuk ’08 currently resides in Minneapolis, where she is a choreographer who creates original original works for the stage and screen. Her second evening-length work, duet Rock, Paper, Scissors, premiered in March 2023 at the Southern Theater for a 3-night run. In May, Alexandra spent six weeks in New York City with mentor Andrea Miller as she prepared Gallim Dance, a contemporary dance company, for their spring season at the Joyce Theater. She also served as a production assistant. In June, Alexandra attended the Studium Carpato-Ruthenorum at the University of Prešov. This was Alexandra’s third time to Slovakia, but her first time formally studying the Carpatho-Rusyn language, culture, and history. Connecting with ethno-choreographers, costume makers, singers, linguists, etc., all of whom share a similar passion for the Carpatho-Rusyn culture, was incredibly inspiring to her. She looks forward to collaborating with these artists in the future.
Alumni Anand Sekaran ’86, Amol Doshi ’86, Marcelo N. Corpuz III ’86, and Marcellito Corpuz ’87 enjoyed spending time together.
Members of the Class of 1986 at the Steelers-Ravens game in October. Pictured left to right: Paul Henderson, Jay Alexander, Eric Letsinger, Jeff Gerlach, and Brendan McLaughlin.
Jeffrey Reese ’75 and Maggie Leech ’13 met at 2 a.m. while working in Lubbock, Texas. Reese is a transplant/procurement surgeon, and Leech is a surgery resident at Harvard.
Stephen Hennings ’71 writes: “After a long career in product development with Wilson Sporting Goods and my own company Brand 5 Sports – if you have played any racquet sport in the last 30 years, you have used a product I’ve worked on – my wife and I have set out on a grand adventure. We have moved south to enjoy small-town living in Paducah, Kentucky where we have found an 1882 Victorian Italianate home. A new world of restoration, antiquing, auctions, architectural salvage, and, of course, power tools! So many decades removed from the wonderful years I spent living at SSA and Croft.”
Shady Side friends and fellow Bayard House prefects Frank Morgan ’71 and Dan Appleyard ’72 hadn’t seen each other in 52 years. They finally had an opportunity to catch up in Liverpool, England, near where Dan now lives.
In June, Doug Campbell ’68 joined Tom Vilsack ’68 in Groton, Connecticut for the christening of the submarine USS Iowa by Tom’s wife, Christie.
Milestones
Kara (Tippins) Dor ’15 married Alex Dor on July 10, 2021, in Pittsburgh. The couple met at Kramer Books in Washington, DC. They are now expecting a soon-to-be daughter in December! SSA community members in attendance included Kate Mnuskin ’15 who served as a bridesmaid, father of the bride Bill Tippins ’81, and John Tippins ’78.
Larisa Katherine Bodnarchuk ’10 and Thomas Curtis Pfeuffer were married on November 19, 2022—a very cold, yet beautiful late fall day—in a traditional Byzantine Catholic ceremony at St. John Chrysostom Church, Pittsburgh. (Fun fact: it was the church Andy Warhol attended as a child.) A reception followed at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh’s MuseumLab on the North Side. The wedding party included maid of honor Alexandra Bodnarchuk ’08 and classmates Cassie Guerin ’10 and Meg Donnelly ’10. Other members of the Class of 2010 in attendance were Hannah Brown Borchik and Maria Costa. The bride is the daughter of Leslie and Paul Bodnarchuk, retired SSA Middle School faculty. Larisa is a 2014 graduate of Duquesne University and works as a digital marketing manager for ProspHire, a healthcare management consulting firm. The newlyweds honeymooned in Italy and Croatia, and currently reside in Pittsburgh with their exuberant and loving canines, Nyla and Nico.
Brooke (Gladstone) Curaudeau ’09 and husband, Alex, welcomed their second child, Spencer Leo Curaudeau, on May 26, 2023. He joins big sister Sophie.
Jim ’05 and Maura Ambrose welcomed a baby girl, Ann Frances Ambrose, on June 21, 2023 at 6:56 p.m.
Wayne Coleman Jr. ’05 and Kortney Holloway were married in Pittsburgh on September 23, 2023. SSA Friends in attendance included Ms. Sue Whitney, Annie Cunningham ’05, Amber Shergill ’14, and Jay Palamides ’14.
David ’05 and Emily Scott welcomed a baby girl, Lucy Carroll Scott, on August 8, 2023, at 6:25 p.m. She joins big brothers Petie and Ollie.
In Memoriam
David A. Hiles, M.D. ’51 passed away September 14, 2023. Father of Susie Hiles Giallonardo ’78 and Jim Hiles ’79 and grandfather of Dana Keene ’06 and Andrew Giallonardo ’08. Read full obituary.
Bruce B. Wilson ’54 passed away April 13, 2022. Read full obituary.
Donald A. Stone ’55 passed away July 23, 2023. Read full obituary.
Gerald B. Brandt ’56 passed away September 30, 2023. Read full obituary.
William McIlwain Robinson III ’59 passed away September 11, 2023. Read full obituary.
William "Bill" Gray Jr. ’64 passed away August 1, 2023. Brother of Thomas Gray ’66. Read full obituary.
John J. Donovan III ’65 passed away July 3, 2023. Read full obituary.
Jon T. Shehab ’67 passed away August 20, 2023. Read full obituary.
John Lee O'Nan III ’76 passed away December 16, 2022. Son of John Lee O'Nan II ’49. Read full obituary.
Marcia A. Holquist ’78 passed away September 3, 2023. Read full obituary.
Annicka Campbell-Dollaghan ’03 passed away June 11, 2023. Sister of Kelsey Campbell-Dollaghan '03. Read full obituary.
Family and Friends
James Edward Allen, father of Innovative Teaching & Learning Facilitator Jody Kokladas.
Karl F. Bruch III, father of Karl F. Bruch IV '10, Tory Bruch '10, and Judd Bruch '10.
Linda Colvin, wife of former bus driver Terry Colvin.
Barbara Forrester Egan, wife of the late Robert Egan '48.
Alex Gress, husband of Jen (Daily) Gress '93.
Stephen "Steve" W. Huba, husband of Catherine S. Vodrey '81.
Linda F. Johnston, mother of Assistant Head of Middle School Brian Johnston.
Thomas McCool, father of History Teacher Rachel McCool.