Class Notes

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1950s

Len Edwards ’59 reports: “Very little has changed in my life. My eldest grandson graduated in June from Menlo and is a freshman at Boston College. My second-oldest grandson is a senior at Menlo and co-captain of the Menlo golf team. Both are much better than I am or ever was. My son, Erik, is the managing partner at Cooley, a large law firm. I continue to read and write. For my publications, see Judgeleonardedwards.com.” Len also assists with Menlo’s mock trial team, noting, “They are terrific.”

Jim Mason ’59 has been retired for almost five years and lives in Mariposa with his partner, Laura. Jim and Laura enjoy traveling, mainly in California. For the last 40 years, Jim has volunteered at Henry W. Coe State Park in the Diablo Range and still spends two days a month there.

Though he no longer participates in hikes or foot patrolling, he still enjoys working in the visitor center, registering campers, and helping backpackers plan their trips. He is thankful for the wonderful care he has been receiving from the Veterans Administration, which has kept him, in his words, “upright and in pretty good shape for an old man.”

1970s

Members of the Class of 1973 enjoy a reunion in Sun Valley

John Whittaker ’73 and classmates Ray McFarland, Charlie Harding, Rob Block, Cliff Chapin, and Scott Taylor gathered for a 1973 reunion. Every five years or so, these alumni get together—usually to ski—and reminisce about their Menlo exploits of yore (which almost everyone remembers differently!). This October, there was no skiing, but they gathered at Charlie Harding’s new home in Sun Valley, Idaho, where they enjoyed hiking, fly-fishing, and a grand tour of the area led by historian Harding. Sam Wright, who usually joins the group, was vacationing in Greece and unable to attend.

Members of the Class of 1977 at SF Giants.jpg

1977 alums (L to R): Rob Richmond, Kevin Kilty, Darryl Page, and Chris Haft

Chris Haft ’77 and his classmates enjoyed attending a San Francisco Giants baseball game in July.

Will Sharron ’78 shared that he has reconnected with former Menlo teacher Russ Kubiak and now crews with him aboard his boat, Namu 3. A lifelong sailor, Russ has logged an estimated 89,000 blue-water miles, sailed and raced on countless boats, and even inspired fellow alumnus and Olympic silver medalist Bob Billingham ’77 to take up the sport. Russ, now 91, still sails regularly on San Francisco Bay, where Namu 3 is berthed, and is already eyeing some offshore trips for next summer. Will credits Russ, who led Menlo’s sailing club and taught alongside his wife, Brigit, with having a lasting impact on generations of Menlo students.

Russ Kubiak sailing on San Francisco Bay

1980s

After selling clothing and giftware lifestyle brand GAMAGO, Greg Long ’88 started a new home goods design company, Murmmr, which recently launched its first collection of products: three surprising crystal domed ashtrays. His next challenge is helping his wife, Ericka, with her granola business (Clusterf*ck™) as it sweeps the nation.

1990s

Alex Steinhart ’91, classmates Rob Noravian, Peter Dumas, and their families reunited at a performance by Alex’s band, the Love Handles, at the Port of Redwood City in September.

Members of the Class of 1991 gather in Redwood City

Jennifer Berger ’94 splits her time between San Francisco and Ventura with her husband, Michael Lattig. After more than 20 years as a media literacy educator, she and her nonprofit recently launched the Social Media Driver’s License, the first-ever social media literacy program designed for both kids ages 10 to 14 and their parents. The program aims to help families prepare for phones, social media, and the online world together, with the ultimate goal of improving teen mental health outcomes. Learn more at www.socialmediadriverslicense.com.

Jennifer Berger ’94 recently launched the Social Media Driver’s License, a groundbreaking program helping kids and parents navigate social media together and support teen mental health

Katie Dodd ’94 and Gina Merlone Marek ’02, both alumnae and current Menlo parents, ran into each other and Charles Hanson in the Menlo library.

Katie Dissmeyer Dodd ’94, Gina Merlone Marek ’02, and Dr. Hanson

2000s

Matt Wolf ’00 directed Pee-wee As Himself, which won Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special at the 77th Emmy Awards!

Nick Casey ’01 and Menlo Spanish teacher Janet Tennyson met up in Madrid this past summer.

Nick Casey ’01 and Janet Tennyson in Madrid

Erin Kravitz ’02 and Alden Conner ’02 recently toured the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) together, reminding them of their past scientific collaborations in Menlo’s biotech class. While Alden grew up to be a scientist, Erin abandoned her scientific pursuits shortly after Menlo. Nonetheless, they both enjoyed the tour and, of course, their time together.

In addition to giving birth to her third baby boy, Arielle Levi (Adelman) ’02 finished her PhD in Mind Body Medicine and launched the first and only Board-certified pediatric-focused health coach training program. They are training nurses, educators, and mental health professionals who want to change the lives of children and families.

Since leaving the Biden Administration, where he served as Deputy Special Representative for Guantanamo Affairs at the Department of State and Senior Coordinator for Afghanistan at the Department of Defense, Daniel Schneiderman ’02 has become an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security in its Middle East Security Program and a Senior Advisor with Exia Labs, a defense technology seed stage company.

Allison Terry ’02 and Merrill Balassone ’01 crossed paths at a government cyber tabletop exercise in San Francisco, where they learned they both work in public service across the street from each other!

Allison Terry ’02 and Merrill Balassone ’01

Katie Anderson ’03 and her family in London

Katie Anderson (Fogelsong) ’03, fulfilling her eighth grade yearbook prediction to take over Tiffany & Co. and rename it Katie & Co., founded a global diamond company, Katie Anderson Diamonds. She lives in Atherton with her husband and three children.

2010s

Andrew Schmitt ’13 married Stephanie Terpening (SHP ’12) this past August in Sun Valley, Idaho. The wedding included multiple generations of Menlo alumni: Glenn Baxter ’13, David Rozenfeld ’13, Julien Viret ’13, Michael Machlin ’13, Abbey Schmitt ’14, father of the bride Dave Terpening ’77, and Bob Tate ’76. Mother of the groom, Wendy Lazerson, noted, “Menlo friendships last!”