Forever SSA

Lauren ’96 and Jason ’89 Kushner celebrated their son Dylan ’30's Bar Mitzvah, surrounded by family, friends, and a strong showing of SSA alumni and current students. The event was a beautiful and memorable celebration. Pictured from left to right are: Blake Stanton ’96, Ryan Kushner ’96, Todd Green ’89, Paul Ejzak ’89, Nick Stupakis ’89, Laura (Bromberg) Kreiger ’96, Kate (Brillman) Kassab ’96, Lauren (Pinsker) Kushner ’96, Diane (Sherer) Weissman ’86, Scott Weisman ’89, Irv Firman ’88, Eben Adams ’89, Jason Kushner ’89, and Lauren (Droz) Lieberman ’98.

Cate Peebles ’97 returned to Pittsburgh on Saturday, February 8, to celebrate the release of her latest poetry collection, The Haunting, published by Tupelo Press. The event, held at Bottom Feeder Books, was especially meaningful as the bookstore is owned by fellow SSA alumnus Mike Seamans ’01. The Haunting is a collection of feminist-horror visitations, incantations, and possessions that defy traditional boundaries of poetry and prose. 

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Members of the class of 2000 in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From left: Henry Martone, Dr. Zak Weidner, Ashley Bower, and Jamie Antoniono.

Shady Side Academy lifer Taylor (Wood) Clark ’16 returned to the Middle School to share how her passion for volunteering—sparked in eighth grade—has shaped her life.

In her presentation during Assembly on January 29, Clark spoke about her commitment to animal welfare and her work with Strayhaven Animal Shelter, where she serves as a board member. She highlighted the vital role shelters play in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals, as well as the many ways students can support their local shelters, from donating supplies to volunteering time and advocating on social media.

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Izee Powell ’21 has become a key player for the Dartmouth women's hockey team, embracing the demands of Division I athletics. A junior defenseman, she tallied six goals and nine assists last season, though she prioritizes hard work and team impact over stats. 

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Maeve Kelley ’23 has become a standout swimmer at Amherst College, earning All-American and NESCAC Freshman of the Year honors after a record-breaking first season. Now a sophomore, she continues to push herself, expanding into shorter events while remaining a key contributor. Her dedication was evident in a rivalry meet against Williams College, where she won both the 200 freestyle and 200 butterfly. As she prepares for the NESCAC and NCAA Championships, Kelley stays focused on growth, embracing each race as an opportunity to improve. 

Bentley Weiner ’92 has carved out an extraordinary career in the world of sports media, blending her passion for storytelling with her love of athletics as Vice President of HBO Sports Documentaries. In her role, Bentley is at the forefront of acquiring, developing, and producing compelling sports stories that captivate audiences worldwide.

Her recent projects highlight the breadth and depth of her expertise. From the exhilarating big wave surfing series 100 Foot Wave to the inspiring documentary short 38 at the Garden, Bentley consistently brings powerful narratives to the screen. She also oversaw the critically acclaimed two-part film Tiger, which explores the life and career of golf legend Tiger Woods, as well as Hard Knocks: In Season with the AFC North. The latest installment of this beloved series features the Pittsburgh Steelers, a storyline sure to resonate with her hometown roots.

Bentley’s dedication to her craft and her ability to shine a spotlight on both iconic and untold stories in the world of sports serve as an inspiration. Her work embodies the ethos of Shady Side Academy—leveraging creativity, authenticity, and innovation to make a meaningful impact.

Bradley Harrison '96, came to the Middle School on Veterans Day 2024 to talk to the 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students about his time in the Navy. 

SSA Swim teammates Chris Foster ’88 and Kathleen (McKinney) Liston ’87 met up at The La Jolla 10-Mile Relay Swim. Chris lives in San Diego and is an avid ocean swimmer and Kathleen came down with the Menlo Masters swim group. Cold water but warm hearts, and a spontaneous reunion that hopefully repeats itself. 

Originally founded as an independent nonprofit, “Let’s Chow” was established in 2020 by U.S. Navy Lieutenant and Judge Advocate Jordan Foley ’07 to empower veterans and military spouses with culinary skills, providing a path to sustainable careers in the culinary industry post-service. Through its Food Truck Training Program (FTTP), “Let’s Chow” offers veterans and military spouses a full suite of support, including culinary and business training, marketing guidance, event booking, and one-on-one mentorship, equipping participants to launch and grow their own food businesses.

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Woody Rosenbach ’78 shared a photo from an SSA Class of 1978 mini meet-up that in took place in New York City. Pictured, from left to right, are Marc Lhormer ’78, Rosenbach, Bill Gurtin ’78, Bill Tisherman ’78, and Jim Finkel ’78. While the group was together, they FaceTimed with Mac McConnel, former SSA Senior School French teacher, cross country coach, and advisor.

Anastasia "Annie" (Rygle) James '06, Director of Galleries & Public Art for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, recently curated an art exhibit featuring four works by iconic Pittsburgh-based sculptor Thaddeus Mosley. The pieces, entitled, “Cross Current,” “Interior Decipher,” “Rhizogenic Rhythms” and “Illusory Progression” each stand 7 to 9 feet tall. The exhibit is part of an effort to bring more public art Downtown.

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Last summer, Olivia Coyne '17 and three of her classmates in Trine University's biomedical engineering program were awarded a patent for their protective prosthetic sleeve, RipStop. They designed RipStop to improve the daily lives of lower-limb amputees.

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Last spring, Charles Beares III ’55 published a memoir titled "Men Enter Car First," which offers a fascinating look at his self-proclaimed "colorful" family history. The book covers two exciting worlds: the amusement park business on his father’s side, connected to West View Park, and the vibrant circus life on his mother’s side.

Read more here. 

Research Psychologist, Award-Winning Professor, and International Keynote Speaker Alison Fragale, Ph.D. '93 recently added Author to her impressive list of titles, publishing her first book "Likeable Badass: How Women Get The Success They Deserve" on September 3. 

Read more here. 

Zachary Kaufman, J.D., Ph.D. '96 was recently awarded the 2024 Human Rights Champion Award from Million Lives Genocide Relief Fund and the Genocide Survivors Foundation for his "unwavering commitment to human rights and supporting survivors of genocide and other mass atrocities." 

Read more here. 

Abby Bodenlos '04 is one of six student-athletes to be inducted into the Allegheny College Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2024. While at both Shady Side Academy and Allegheny College, Abby excelled in Softball, even returning to coach at SSA for a while.

Read more here. 

Nicole Basta ’99 was named the 2024 Rising Star Awardee by the Sabin Vaccine Institute in recognition of the work that her team has undertaken to prevent a wide range of infectious disease threats and to ensure that vaccines reach those who need them most. Nicole is currently an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair in Infectious Disease Prevention in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. 

Hans Kellner ’63 has fully retired from NC State University as of July 1, 2024. In May he delivered a lecture on the historical sublime in Lisbon at the International Network for Theory of History. On his return, he had his hair cut with his grandsons, Teddy and David Potter. 

On July 12, Tom Rea ’68 gave a talk at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History called “Discovering Dippy: The Dinosaur that Changed the World.” The talk was part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the discovery of Dippy, or Diplodocus carnegii, a legendary dinosaur named in honor of Andrew Carnegie, whose finding sparked widespread fascination and fueled today's global dinosaur craze. 

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Josh Wymard ’85 and David French ’85 ran into each other on vacation in Key West, Florida. 

Chris Harchelroad ’11, Frank Brown ’10, and Nicholas Gasbarro ’11 graduated together from Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. 

Danielle Perelman ’13 is making her mark as an award-winning producer in the theatre, television, and film industry. This April, Danielle became a Tony Award-winning producer for her work with the plays “Stereophonic” and “Appropriate.” 

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On June 27, Melissa Riggins ’21 competed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in the women’s 1,500-meter run.

An All-American student-athlete at Georgetown, Melissa set a school record in the indoor mile with a time of 4:29.02 this NCAA season. She also earned a fourth-place finish in the NCAA outdoor 1,500m competition.

Porter Markel ’21 was recently named captain of the U.S. Naval Academy’s ice hockey team for the 2024-25 season.

Porter served as captain of the ice hockey and baseball teams during his senior year at Shady Side. He is now a defenseman on the Navy hockey team and was an alternate captain last season as a junior. The Navy team plays in Division 1 of the American Collegiate Hockey Association and went to nationals in 2022 and 2023.

On June 13, Talking Heads' Chris Frántz ’70, along with bandmates David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, and Jerry Harrison, stopped by "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." 

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In a historic moment, Gwyneth Philips '19 was recently drafted by Ottawa as the 14th overall pick, making her the first goaltender selected in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) draft and the first Shady Side graduate to play in the PWHL.  

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In May 2024, Kevin Fedarko ’83 published his second book, A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon, which details his 750-mile odyssey on foot through the heart of America's most magnificent national park with his good friend, the National Geographic photographer Pete McBride. 

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Board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Albert Lin ’97, P ’36 will be recognized as a Medical Honoree at the 2024 Bone Bash Gala presented by the Arthritis Foundation on October 4, 2024, at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. 

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Megan (Abell) Littlewood ’07 and husband Councillor Sam Littlewood are pleased to announce the birth of their son James Henry Littlewood on May 7 in London, U.K. 

Timothy Sayles, M.D. ’85, Capt. United States Navy Medical Corp-Ret., was named an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology on the faculty of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. Tim and his wife, Barbara, reside in Norfolk.

Louis Leff, M.D. '77 was inducted as a Master of the American College of Physicians, recognizing his remarkable contributions to internal medicine, surrounded by family members Grace and Sam '09 Leff, Susan Leff, Mara (Leff) '07, and Matt Koperwas.

Additionally, Louis and his daughter, Mara, co-published an article titled 'Calculated Medicine: Seven Decades of Accelerating Growth' in the American Journal of Medicine, providing a thorough review of the field's evolution, from historical origins to modern applications like machine learning and AI, and its potential impact on health care disparities.

Read their work here. 

Alison Linares Mendoza ’20 delivered an inspiring student address at the University of Pittsburgh's undergraduate commencement on April 28th. Her words resonated with graduates and guests alike, marking a memorable moment in their academic journey. Expressing gratitude and excitement for the future, she shared plans to work on NASA's Artemis V mission in Colorado. You can view her speech in the livestream of the commencement here.

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.”

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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.

Molly (Loughney) Melius '01 is committed to helping provide environmental startups with the legal advice they need to be successful. 

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Jatara McGee '11 returned to Shady Side Academy on Monday, April 22, to deliver the address at the 2024 Cum Laude Society Induction Ceremony during Senior School community assembly in the Richard E. Rauh Theater of the Hillman Center for Performing Arts.

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Members of the Class of 2000 recently met up in Snowbird, Utah for their annual ski trip. From left, Ashley Bower, Zak Weidner, Henry Martone, and James Antoniono.  

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.

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.

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.

Patrick Gallagher ’05 and his wife, Jaclyn, welcomed their daughter, Willa Eileen Gallagher, to the world on December 19, 2023.

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.

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.

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.