PV Alumni News April 2007
PINE VIEW FOUNDATION
ALUMNI NEWS APRIL 2007
2621 MALL DRIVE
SARASOTA, FL 34231
lauragr@comcast.net
PVFAlumniNews@yahoo.com
www.pineviewfoundation.org
My thanks to all of you who updated your files and also all of you who sent me contact information on some of the lost alumni. I know that they are happy to be found and I am happy to have correct emails or addresses. The database is important to us and may become more important as once again we fight for gifted education funding with the State of Florida. It certainly helps to be able to back up with facts and figures the success of Pine View. Keep those updates coming.
REUNIONS:
CLASS of 1987
Hi everyone - I have created a web site for us to plan our reunion: www.pvclassof87.com BEWARE - I am no web site developer. :) This is only the beginning and it's very basic. Please forward this web site to all of our classmates that you have contact with. My email is on the web site and my phone number. First order of business is choosing a date so we can book everything else. Everyone please throw in your two-cents for the date - late summer before school starts, or later when its cooler and there's less chance of a hurricane...... There are quite a few of us here in town so we expect a perfect turnout!> I look forward to hearing from all of you! Jennifer Jannopoulo Halloran
CLASS of 1997
Planning is underway for the 10-year reunion of PV class of 1997! Amber Marcellino, Andrew Samson, and Roberta Rothschild are working on the details, but we need to hear from you -- the proposed dates are December 22-23, or December 29-30, 2007, in Sarasota. Send your date preference to Amber at amber.marcellino@gmail.com and bookmark www.pineview1997.com, the official reunion website, for details and fun. Hope to see everyone this December!
SEND US YOUR NEWS AND UPDATE YOUR FILE
A reminder. Each newsletter costs us about $.70 to mail including printing and postage and it costs us about $.50 to $.70 if the letter is returned to us because you have moved and not notified us. Email is easier and cheaper, but please put us on the notification list if you change emails. We love doing the newsletter and hope to keep it cost effective.
You can submit updates (just address changes or life updates) at http://www.pineviewfoundation.org.
Notes from a former PV teacher:
I'm Cathy Wojtkun and taught 4th Grade at Pine View--the best years of my teaching career. I couldn't wait to get to PV in the morning, and didn't want to leave at the end of the day! I still visit the school twice a year, once in February and again in August--just in time to get the PV Agenda Book for my next year's classes and appointments! It reminds me of those exciting years!
Presently I teach gifted classes from Kindergarten to middle school in 5 different schools...VERY different from the gifted education offered in Florida! I'm in Nashua, New Hampshire, and have visited many PV students who have made New England colleges their alma mater.
I'd love to hear from any of my former students--my email is ticker103@msn.com...
CLASS OF 1973
MIKE PIKE did not graduate from Pine View but was in the first Alpha class. His parents moved to NC at the end of his sophomore year. I quote: I'd gone to school with half of those kids since we were all in elementary school. There were only 30 kids in the Alpha class, but I'd known 2 (John West and Pete Hull) since wee were in Miss Wilder's first grade class at Phillippi Shores. Jeff Hays and I met in 4th and were in the same Boy Scout troupe. Some I knew from Mrs. Rohr's (I can't remember the spelling) violin classes starting in 4th grade. Of course Sarasota was a much smaller place back then, but it always amazed me that they could pick kids from the whole county and I would already know so many of them. Anyway, it was a great time in my life, much better than my school experience either before PV or after.
BOB DEPREE writes that he does receive the newsletter and enjoys it but doesn't see much news about the Alpha or Beta Class any more. Bob, Send me an update. Start the ball rolling.
CLASS OF 1977
Margaret R. Eggers writes:
My husband John and I will celebrate our 21st anniversary this April. We've lived in Oceanside CA for about 15 years now and really enjoy it. I work full time as an independent environmental consultant and teach Geology and Oceanography part time at the local junior college. We have taken lots of trips within California to Owens Valley, Yosemite. The Sierra. Anza Borego etc where I enjoy the rocks and John takes large format photographs (black and white yes, like Ansel Adams check out his work at www.johnclark.com ). I built John a darkroom in the house so he does all his own developing and printing. Life is good in San Diego County for a geologist (me), a chemist (John) and a schnauzer (Weston).
CLASS OF 1980
LINDA GRIFFIN PANDRAZ BHAJAN did not graduate from Pine View but attended and would have been class of 1980. She loves to keep in touch with her former classmates. She is currently married and living in Lake Park, FL with her husband and two children. She is assistant sales manager for Office Max.
MIKKI HOCHMAN LANE writes: I did not graduate from Pine View but I was part of the class of 1980. I have been married to David Lane for almost 18 years now. David is the Lighting Director and one of the Technical Directors for the beautiful Paramount Theatre in down town Rutland, Vermont. We have two great kids: Ellory male 11 years old is a budding engineer and theatre techie, Olivia- female- 8 years old is the artsy one. She loves anything to do with being creative. She is auditioning for Annie Jr. in March.
I work at the Middlebury College Museum of Art (mlane@middlebury.edu) or if you want to check out the college website www.middlebury.edu . I love it here! In my spare time (what is that?)I have just begun an acting career with a local sixteen-year-old directing prodigy. I am in my third production with him and I am having a blast. When I have a chance to be at home, I dabble in my studio, play with the kids, and attend to the various pets...2 dogs, a cat, a turtle, hamster fish. I would welcome hearing from any one... Cindy Mason? Mike Humphries? Julie Rothstein? Joe Bai? Carolyn Stopher? Beth King? Allan Houzer, Anyone.
DONNA PARZIALE MILLS (another 1980 class mate that did not graduate from Pine View) She attended PV from 1971 3rd grade to 1978 and then transferred to Sarasota High. She writes:
I am married to David Mills a wonderful husband and father to our 5-year-old daughter Rachel. I am a homemaker and take care of my family, our 10 acres, 2 dogs, 3 goats and future horses. We live in the country in Dade City, Florida about 45 minutes from Tampa. We are in the process of adopting two children (God Willing) and building a guest house on our property for my Mother to be closer to us. David and I are active in our Church, both of us in Children's Ministry. Before I "retired" from my career after Rachel was born I was a Network Administrator and Technical Writer. I also did a lot of computer training everything from Intro to Windows to Advanced Network Administration. Being a Mom is harder and much more rewarding. David is an underground Utilities Contractor and Rachel is a kindergartener. She started K5 a year early and is currently reading on a 1st grade level and doing 1st grade math. She's bright, energetic, challenging and a real joy. Life is wonderful. We are blessed.
CLASS OF 1982
John G. Crabtree graduated in 1987 from the University of Florida with a BA in English and in 1990 with his JD from the University of Florida College of Law. He is married and has twins, John and Faith. John is an attorney in the Miami area.
CLASS OF 1983
RONALD WEBER graduated in 1986 from Duke University and then the Emory University School of Medicine in 1990. He did a residency in Ophthalmology at UC San Diego in 1994 and currently makes his home in Atlanta, GA. In 1999 he married Neta Mappa and has two children Lion now 19 months and Ari now three months. Ron writes: I am now an ophthalmologist practicing as a partner in Thomas Eye Group in Atlanta. I have been in Atlanta since 1996 and we now live in Grant Park in a house built in 1896. It is under constant renovation. I used to have hobbies like fitness, mushroom hunting and camping, but now I am immersed in daddy hood. When the boys are a little older, maybe I can have hobbies again! Perhaps they will even want to go mushroom hunting with their Dad.
CLASS OF 1985
LORETTA LORA FARRELL KHAYAM writes I am currently living in Fairfax, VA with my husband, Kevyan, two daughters, Noosheen (15) and Taraneh (8), our dog Roxie, five birds (3 parakeets and 2 cockatiels) and one fish. I teach math at Fairfax High School where fellow PV alum Emily White (graduated in the early 90's but I can't remember the year) teaches English. We were both astounded to find that not only were we both from the same town in Florida, but we were both PV alumni. Since we teach in the 13th largest school district in the US and over 20,000 school-based employees (over 150 just in our high school) I thought it was amazing to find another Python fan at the school I am at. One of the "missing" alum is my brother Gavin Farrell (90) He is currently living in Baltimore MD with his dauschaund and he works at the Peabody Conservatory Prep School.
CLASS OF 1986
JOHN "STAR" WORMWOOD ALEMAN graduated in 1991 from the University of Florida with a BSBA in Finance. She is married to JB Aleman and is currently living in Miami Beach, FL. She is a Senior Director of Information Technology for Ryders Systems and she writes:
I just had my second son (Evan Braulio Aleman) in October. Big brother Jake named him Alligator and we all had to call him that for a couple of months. He is just as fat and smiley as he can be and we are all crazy about him. I'm back at work and trying to find that balance again. We are still living down in Miami Beach and this is my 13th year at Ryder.
GILMER MCCRARY HEITMAN IV graduated in 1992 from Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in geology and in 2005 from the University of Alabama School of Law with his law degree. He is married and is an attorney in Sarasota with the firm of Abel, Band.
DAVID LAMOTTE writes:
I'm writing from Guatemala at the moment, where I visited a preschool in the village of Tzanchaj this morning, which was built with donations from my concerts. I have bee making my living as a touring singer/songwriter for 16 years. My wife and I founded a little organization to help with school projects in Guatemala two and a half years ago and it has grown beautifully. The most fun part, of course, being the part I got to do this morning. Go play with kids in a school that wasn't there two years ago. If anyone is interested in learning more about it, the website for the project is www.pegpartners.org .
I did a show in Boston a few weeks ago and my old best friend and first girlfriend Michelle Limoges Grimes walked up while I was loading in. She had traveled far with her brother to come to the show while I was on a rare trip through New England and it was great to catch up with her a little. I also had a good talk with Chien-Li Chung in early December, letting him know IŒd love to hear about it if folks are gathering up some time for any kind of a reunion. (David would have graduated in 86 but his family moved in 84)
CLASS OF 1987
SCOTT MORGAN graduated in 1991 from the US Military Academy with a BS in Political Science and History and from the University of FL in 2001 with an MA in Political Science and in 2004 from the University of Paris with a Masters in Security Studies. He is married to Kendra and they have a son, Evan, 2 years old. Scott is currently the Assistant Army Attache at the US Embassy, Pretoria. He is looking forward to the 20th reunion.
GABRILLE PACK VARIOT attended the Savannah College of Art and Design with a major in painting and elementary education. She is married and living in Alabama. Looking forward to the reunion.
INES LOPEZ SCHROEDER Looking for information about the 87 reunion. She is currently living in Connecticut.
RHODA KENNEDY graduated from New College in 1991 and from thee University of Florida in 2001 with her Masters degree in Architecture. She is currently working in NY with Deborah Berke and Partners Architects.
CLASS OF 1989
SHELLY CASTNER ROHL wrote Feb 07: Last summer we (husband Chad, son Emerson -7 and daughter Indira 3) relocated to Western North Carolina. For the past 6 years we have been running a non-profit animal sanctuary. We moved more that 60 animals to our new location on 35 acres in the mountains (Small plug here 0 check out the Blue Heart Sanctuary at www.blueheart.net ) and spread the word to your friends. It was no small undertaking but with all the developments going in around us and threats of hurricanes it was time to find a more suitable location. We absolutely love the area we have moved to (not far from Asheville) and our property is everything we have ever wanted. The change of seasons is amazing. We are surviving our first winter (I was born and raised in Sarasota) and the kids are having a blast with the few snow days we have had so far. I think I am reliving the parts of my childhood I missed out on sledding down our hill is the best. Overall, life is good.
Marchelle Porter Brain writes:
We have some news to share: We now have a daughter, Madeleine Julie Brain, born on August 18, 2006. Stephen "Chris" will be graduating in May from UC Berkeley with a PhD in Russian history. I was freelance editing until I had Maddie, but now I am fortunate to devote my time to her. Stephen just accepted an assistant prof position at Mississippi Sate starting in the fall, so we will be moving this summer.
CLASS OF 1992
TIM AIDLIN writes:
For the past ten years I've been living in Seattle, Washington, working as a graphic designer. My current role is as a "Design Evangelist" for Microsoft, which finds me designing nest-generation software and websites as well as speaking at conferences throughout the US. My wife, Tami, and I welcomed our beautiful first daughter this year and have been catching up on sleep ever since. For moiré details, visit my personal blog at http://systims.spaces.live.com. I hope old friends will feel free to contact me at tim@taidlin.com.
CLASS OF 1993
AMELIA PEARCE says that she is planning on moving back to Sarasota the summer of 2007 for her job. She is excited about the move and promises to remember to send me her new address.
CLASS OF 1994
PAMELA STRUMPF NORDEN MD1973 graduated in 1998 from Brandeis University with a BA and then attended Tufts University where she received her MBA and a medical degree. She is now living in Atlanta GA with her husband Andrew and is a practicing dermatologist.
CLASS OF 1995
CHRIS POCK is the drummer for a major rock band. They will be featured on an upcoming episode of MTV's My Super Sweet 16.
Class of 1996
JENNIFER ERIN SCOTT graduated in 2000 with a BA in bioethics and in 2003 with her JD from the UCLA School of law. She is currently an attorney in Sarasota with the law firm of Jones Day,
CLASS OF 1997
MELISSA MACE writes that she would like to get back in touch with the Pine View family. Melissa attended Pine View grades 5-9 (1989-1994). Her family moved to Chicago in the summer of 1994 and she finished her high school through a private school's independent study program (Clonlara School) allowing for travel etc. As the program did not require on campus attendance, PV was her last campus school.
DEBORAH CHASE MORRIS graduated from the University of Arizona in May 2001 with a BA in Anthropology and a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology. In May 2001 she graduated from the University of Florida with her Medical Degree and is currently a resident physician internal medicine at the Eastern Virginia Medical School while her husband Tod Morris completes his medical residency at the neighboring naval hospital.
LINDSAY CHASE is the Chief Resident of Pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta
AMINA BALDWIN NAUJOKAT is living in Hamburg, Germany. In Nov 2004 she graduated with her MD from the University of Hamburg is currently an oncology resident in Hamburg. She married Jens Naujokat in July 2006. Her parents and her brother were there for the festivities.
RANDY RIGGS just had one of his film shorts accepted into the Sarasota Film Festival.
"Spaceboy" was well received and it is a coup to have been accepted with the number of entries submitted to the Festival. For those of you who have not heard of our festival it is now rated as the 8th largest film festival in the United States and growing each year.
ADAM ROSIN graduated from USF with a degree in Decision Informational Science and currently works in Sarasota for Hoveround Corporation.
Class of 1998
KATHERINE SCOTT will graduate from Stetson Law School this May.
Class of 1999
DUSTIN BARZELL WRITES: It's been 8 years since I graduated from Pine View and I thought it was time to give an update for the newsletter: I graduated from University of Colorado in '03 and moved to New York in '04 to begin law school at New York University. I'll be graduating this May and taking the NY bar exam this summer. In the fall, I'll be moving to Tampa to begin a federal clerkship on the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. After that, I'll be moving back to New York to begin work as an associate at the law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton. If anyone wants to contact me, especially those of you living in the Tampa area, please do so: barzell@nyu.edu.
LAUREN STUART FORSTER is a tax accountant with Ernst and Young and is living in Atlanta Georgia with her husband Chad.
Class of 2000
JEREMY GLASSMAN graduated from the New York University, Tisch School of the Arts with his BFA in Film and TV in 2004. He is currently in California and trying to raise money for an independent film that I have written and will direct. The budget is $200,000 and he is searching for investors.
EMILY GOLLNICK married Tobias Slabaugh (also PV 2000) on July 7, 2006 in Sarasota. Tobias is in the United States Marine Corps with plans to make it a career as an officer and they are stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland. Emily is finishing her MA in Psychology-Counseling and moving on to become a licensed psychologist at Loyola College in Maryland. She hopes to work with military families and couples.
Class of 2001
SKYLAR ZWICK graduated in 2005 with a BS in Communications and a BA in Psychology from the University of Miami and in 2006 with a Master of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. She is now in El Paso, TX and is an anchor and reporter for a CBS affiliate, the KDBC 4 News CBS.
DANIEL BASS is currently attending University of Florida Dental School
JEDEDIAH SHOEMAKER graduated in 2005 from Florida State University with a BS in Economics and a BA in film Theory. He writes:
I moved to Los Angeles in 2005, where I've been working on set both behind and occasionally in font of the camera since. I got into the union for what I do in Jan of this year. Most of the films I have worked on are viewable on imdb.
LEN ASLANIAN is now also in California in Studio City.
Class of 2002
TRISTAN ANKERSTAR graduated from John Hopkins University in 2006 and is currently working with the Longboat Key Financial Group. He is planning on law school. In the fall of '06 he was in the play "The Odd Couple" at the Riverfront Theatre in Bradenton.
BRADLEY CHASE graduated from Rice University in 2006 and is pursuing his PhD degree in quantum physics at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
Class of 2003
MEAGHAN SCHATZMAN WILLIAMS writes:
I just wanted to give PV an update on me. I am currently a student at MCC, graduating in May of this year with my AA in Liberal Arts. I will be attending Manatee Techinical Institutes Law Enforcement Academy program as well as USF to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice, to become a police officer and eventually land a job with the Sheriff's department in Sarasota or Manatee County as a forensic technician. I am currently working is Sarasota for RBC Centaur Bank as a teller, but things may change soon as I plan on moving to Bradenton as the end of January. For those of you that don't already know, I was married on October 10, 2005, to Richard A, Williams of Bradenton, FL (formerly of Highland, MI) and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Bradley Michael on March 15, 2006. Bradley will be turning one year old in just a few months. As for new things in our live, my family, as I previously mentioned, is moving to Bradenton and we will be gaining a new member of the family upon our move: a dog. We currently have a cat but felt that it would be better for the little one to get a dog. Life is great.
PETER MILLER is studying at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA and working on a liberal arts degree.
JAKOB NIKOLAI SCHERER is in his third year at Brigham Young University studying psychology. He returned last May from Belgium and the Netherlands where he was on a mission for his church for two years.
CLASS OF 2005
KATHLEEN JODOIN is currently studying at the University of Florida and working on a doctorate of Pharmacy due in the year 2012.
ZACHARY GLANTZ is studying at the Boston University in biology and pre-veterinary looking to graduate in 2008. He works now in the East Boston Animal Hospital and hopes to enter veterinary school in the fall of 2008.
CLASS of 2006
DANA HELENE DUMAS is currently a freshman at Georgetown University and is majoring in government and minoring in English. She is interning with Vern Buchanan,
NEWS FROM PINE VIEW
EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM: Thirty students in the Class of 2006 completed the Senior Externship Program at Pine View School. Participating students had the opportunity to be involved in professional work situations in careers they are seriously considering. Students were selected based on recommendations, resumes, and interviews, and were expected to demonstrate maturity and responsibility in addition to academic competence. Students elected this course for one or two semesters of their senior year. The professionals they worked with included: attorneys, surgeons, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, orthodontist, anendocrinologist, psychiatrist, oncologist, anesthesiologist, dermatologist, physical therapist, veterinarian, computer technologist, state attorney, photographers, sports editor, editorial page editor, fashion editor, interior designer, recording engineer, meteorologist, marketing executive, accountant, personal trainer, clergyman, and restaurateur. In addition to class work and onsite work, students researched their careers and produced a variety of professional presentations to students and adults.
MINI GRANTS : The Pine View Foundation sponsors mini-grants to teachers at Pine View each year providing $350.00 grants to individual teachers for class projects that would not otherwise be funded by the school. Twenty mini grants were sponsored in the fall of 2006.
SCHOLARSHIPS have been established through the foundation in honor of Sol Malinsky, Kenneth Bowermeister, Aaron Korotie, Elizabeth Herman, Alexee Bellavic Osborn, Patrick Coelingh, the Class of 1996 and a friend of the foundation, Bruce Butler. These are presented to graduating seniors each year.
Pine View was established in 1969 as a full time gifted. We will soon celebrate our 40th anniversary. Currently there are over 180 staff members and 2209 students enrolled in grades 2 through 12. The Class of 2007 has 150 students with a total of 743 students in the high school.
Pine View is being threatened again this year as the state legislature planned to cut funding for high school gifted programs. A concerted effort by Pine View parents and supporters of gifted education was made and the legislature is reconsidering. More work will be necessary to keep the gifted funding. You can get updates at: www.pineviewassociation.org and at www.floridagiftednet.org .
CLASS of 2007
Graduates this year will be attending the following Universities:
Brandeis U
Georgia Institute of Technology
School of Art Institute of Chicago
Catholic U
Harvard University
Dartmouth U
Manatee Community College
Southern Methodist U
Emory U
Mass Institute of Technology
Stanford U
Florida Atlantic
New College
U of Alabama
Fl Gulf Coast U
Northwestern University
U of California at Berkeley
Florida State U
Occidental University
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Polytechnic University
U of Central Florida
Rhode Island School of Design
U of Florida
George Washington U
Rollins College
U of Miami
Georgetown U
Saint Leo U
U of Pennsylvania
U of So Florida
Vanderbilt U
Wake Forest U
Yale U