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1979 (2) (July 2001 to Jan. 2009 newsletters)

Class Notes Archives


----- From January 2009 AALFNY Newsletter -----

Michel Gelobter wrote that he "just started Cooler, a new company that connects consumers to solutions for global warming (www.climatecooler.com). He is living in Richmond, CA with his wife Sharron and 3 children (Troy, Rhys, Nathan). They go to the Ecole Bilingue of Berkeley."

Colette (Frank) Fraenkel wrote: "......I've been a full time substitute teacher in our school system for the past 6 years after leaving a banking carreer in NYC to go the full time Mommy route. Currently I'm in process of becoming an EMT (along with our son Skyler) while at the same time doing many other volunteer positions and "chauffeuring around". Now if only someone could pay me what I'm worth then I could afford a nice much needed vacation!
I keep in touch with Vicki Ortega and Isabelle Schiavi and of course my sister Robyn! I have recently found Elizabeth Segal and her sister Polly who are both living near LA still. I would love to hear from other long lost friends! Let's have a get together soon in NYC!"

● "The Bird Observatory welcomes back Danielle Le Fer, Ph.D. as the new Waterbird Program Director. Danielle was our Waterbird Field Biologist from 1998 to 2000 before leaving to pursue her Ph.D. At the Bird Observatory, she assisted with studies of California Gull and Forster’s Tern productivity and carried out botulism monitoring surveys. She also studied seasonal variation in Virginia and Sora Rail density in tidal marshes by trapping and tracking in San Francisco Bay sloughs and through call counts. Danielle’s doctoral research on the Great Plains Piping Plover population, which was listed as threatened in 1986, focused on how habitat quality affects reproductive success on the Missouri
River. Most recently a wildlife biologist for the Common Murre Restoration
Project at USFWS, she has enjoyed monitoring Common Murres and Brandt’s Cormorants, obtaining data on egg lay dates and reproductive success, deploying social attraction equipment onto Devil’s Slide Rock, and writing reports and manuscripts. Danielle told us, ‘I look forward to conducting research related to habitat protection and species recovery to generate effective policies and management decisions. I believe that habitat availability and quality are the critical issues facing wildlife, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.’ We’re thrilled to have her rejoin the Bird Observatory team.” (The Bay Bird Review, http://www.sfbbo.org/news/spring07.pdf)

----- From July 2008 AALFNY Newsletter -----

Georges Doo Kingué posted the following message at CopainsD'avant.com: "De retour à Douala (au Cameroun inutile de préciser) après une année sabbatique en Floride. Je suis toujours cablo-opérateur, toujours célibataire. Je suis un incrédule papa d'une petite Danny de 6 ans. Je ne suis pas spécialement nostalgique mais j'admets avoir perdu de vue certaines personnes sensas. C'est le far-west ici, mais c'est pas pour me déplaire."

----- From December 2007 AALFNY Newsletter -----

● For news on Jerome Bonnifay, click on link below.

Michel Gelobter is President of Redefining Progress, a leading public policy think tank dedicated to smart economics. His "prior experience includes professorships at U.C. Berkeley, Rutgers and Columbia University; co-founding the Community-University Consortium for Regional Environmental Justice (CUCREJ) as well as several grassroots environmental justice networks; a Congressional Black Caucus Fellowship with the U.S. House of Representatives’ Energy and Commerce Committee; and serving as Director of Environmental Quality for the City of New York. He presently serves on the boards of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Ceres; Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment; the Budget and Fiscal Policy Education Steering Committee; the Telluride Association; the Environmental Leadership Program Advisory Committee; Next Generation; and Redefining Progress." (From: Redefining Progress, http://www.rprogress.org/about_us/meet_our_staff.htm)

----- From June 2007 AALFNY Newsletter -----

Robert Frumkin wrote: "I'm living in Brooklyn with my two boys, Thelonious (9) and Bruno (7) and teaching Reading James Joyce's Ulysses at NYU, and Southerm Writers at St. Francis College. In the interim I have been a model in Taipei, Taiwan, a grape picker at Chateau Lynch-Bages in Pauillac, France, a sommelier at Restaurant Alain Chapel in Mionnay, France, Copy Chief for Food & Wine magazine, and a photographer. For my pictures of Iceland, visit frumkinblog.blogspot.com. For a picture of me with Mia Huyn, [click on link below]"

● "Born in New York City, Adam Lindemann grew up in an art collecting family. He began his own collection with African and Oceanic art and eventually focused on Contemporary Art, specifically work created in the last ten years. An active collector, he has canvassed the world’s art exhibitions, art fairs, galleries and private collections, following the art market boom of the last several years. A radio entrepreneur, his company, Mega Communications, has pioneered Latin radio in several U.S. markets as well as producing Latin music events. In partnership with designer Marc Newson, he is relaunching IKEPOD, a manufacturer of Swiss timepieces....." (From Amazon.com, http://www.amazon.com/Collecting-Contemporary-Adam-Lindeman/dp/3822849391)

Ignacio Pérez Caldentey is currently Member of Cabinet,
European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs. Prior to that, he was "...the Deputy Director of FRIDE. Joined the Diplomatic Corps in 1987 and has served in Cameroon, Paraguay, Brussels-NATO, Peru, Argentina and South Africa. Prior to joining FRIDE, Ignacio Pérez Caldentey worked at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe, Strasbourg. BA in Law by the Universidad Complutense of Madrid and MA in International Politics by the Université Libre de Bruxelles. His most renowned publications include: “Sudáfrica: un caso de desarme nuclear unilateral” (Real Instituto Elcano de Estudios Internacionales y Estratégicos, 2003); “La necesidad de un concepto estratégico europeo: una revisión del papel de la Unión europea en materia de prevención de conflictos y de gestión de crisis” (Observatorio de Política Exterior Europea, 2001); “La estructura de mandos y cadena de mandos actual” en España en la nueva estructura militar de la OTAN (Antonio Marquina, ed., UNISCI, 1998); “La ampliación de la OTAN y la cuestión rusa” (Instituto de Estudios Internacionales/PUCP, 1996); “El realismo y el final de la guerra fría” (Instituto de Estudios Internacionales/PUCP, 1996)." (FRIDE: Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior, http://www.fride.org/eng/curriculum/showcurriculum.aspx?id=845)

----- From December 2006 AALFNY Newsletter -----

● Click on link below for news of Paul Golub

Tatiana Ceccatto wrote: "Salut a tous mes anciens amis du Lycee - I live in Jacksonville, Florida now after having divorced twice (aie!) - I have three wonderful kids who are 22, 20 and 18 - my two youngest ones are in college and also work full-time. As for me, I am a Loan Consultant and I deal in commercial loans over a million, worldwide. I would love to hear from ALL of you who know and knew me. I am always online, so please, send me an email! Je me souviens de tous mes amis, Bettina Baudouin, Jean-Paul Prieto-Castro, Francesca Scarsini et Benedicte Floc'h (Rosenthal) en particulier! I will try posting a picture of me and of my kids. I hope all of you post pictures, too. Hugs and kisses."

● In October 2006, Dr. Nadine M. Orenstein, Curator in the Department of Drawings and Prints at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, gave a lecture titled "Scratches, Speckling, and Crooked Lettering: Rembrandt's Messy Prints."..... The talk examined the messy nature of Rembrandt's printmaking and suggested some sources for this messy aesthetic. The lecture took place in the Center for the Arts Cinema, Wesleyan University and was followed by a .....special viewing of the exhibition at the Davison Art Center.
(Wesleyan Art Center, http://www.wesleyan.edu/dac/exhb/current.html)

-----From February 2006 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Ignacio Pérez Caldentey wrote: "After six years abroad (last post was the Council of Europe in Strasbourg) , I'm back in Madrid where I'm Deputy Director of a growing think tank called FRIDE (www.fride.org). The main areas of interest are democratization, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian action and development. I've taken a leave of absence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and am enjoying very much my new job, working with a multimational and multicultural team and, of course, enjoying the Madrid sun again. I would love to hear from anyone from Terminale B and from class of 79 in general."

-----From June 2005 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Robin (Steinle) Tackman writes: "Since leaving the Lycee, I have studied abroad traveled a great deal. I recently found the Lycee's Alumni site and would like to be reacquainted with past students and friends."

-----From November 2004 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Osbert Blow sent us this update: "Osbert Blow MD, PhD, FACS, left after premiere to attend Columbia University where he majored in French language and literature. He received his MD and PhD from Duke where he met his lovely wife, Barbara Bennett Blow, RN, MSN, PNP. They traveled to Charlottesville, Virginia for his internship and residency in General Surgery. After a one year fellowship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Shock Trauma in Baltimore, they moved to San Antonio, Texas where Dr. Blow directed the Pediatric and Emergency Surgery program at University of Texas Health Science Center. He has published several manuscripts and book chapters and is a member of numerous Surgical Societies and was recently inducted into the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma. Dr. Blow has been the Chief of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, Kansas since August 2003. He and Barbara have four children. Alex, 12, Sam, 10, Audrey, 7, and Madison, 2 years old. His and Barbara's biggest interest is spending as much time with their children as possible. Osbert's mother still resides in New York City and sees the Lycee students all of the time and remembers when her son was at the school."

● From Holley Stewart: "Although Holley Stewart is Class of 1979, she left the Lycee after 4eme when her family moved to Washington, DC where she transfered into the American public school system. She holds a bachelor's degree in French history and literature from Harvard University and a master's degree in medical demography from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In a former life (pre-master's degree), Holley trained and worked as a professional actress based in New York City. After earning her MSc., she moved to South Africa and worked with the Medical Research Council of South Africa and the Africa Center for Health and Population Studies in Kwa-Zulu Natal on a school-based dual protection intervention against unplanned pregnancy and HIV infection. She returned to Washington, DC and worked with the Population Council on an evaluation of UNICEF-supported prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programs in Rwanda and Côte d'Ivoire) and on five research studies on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS. She is currently the reproductive health advisor on a USAID-funded project focused research and analysis, advocacy and dissemination and capacity building in Africa at the Academy for Educational Development."

-----From Winter 2003-2004 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Ignacio Pérez writes: “A quick couple of lines to let you know that I am now living in Strasbourg (since last September) where I work at the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, also a Spaniard. I look forward to hear from some of my former classmates of ' 79.”

Mia Hyun shares with us: “I am now living and working in Cambodia for an international development NGO, Oxfam America, as a Senior Policy Advisor on Poverty Reduction Strategies in the East Asia Region. Prior to that, I was in Viet Nam working with UNDP on addressing gender issues in public policy. I have an MBA from Boston University and am currently studying part time for a 2nd Masters in Development Economics through the University of London. I am married to a British citizen who works for the World Bank and have 2 children, a son (9 years) and a daughter (4 years.)”

Magali François writes: “Hello to all my friends from the Lycée. I have been very busy since graduation. I am currently married and raising three wonderful boys ages 12, 8, and 5. I also practice family law full time. I keep in touch with some of my old buddies such as Marie François Baker, Shawn Warren and Malika Négré. I would love to hear from some of you.”

Nadine Orenstein told us: “I recently curated the exhibition ‘Hendrick Goltzius Dutch Master: Drawings, Prints and Paintings’ at the Metropolitan Museum. I have just been promoted to Curator.”

-----From Winter 2002/2003 AALFNY Newsletter-----

● “Where is Class of '79? Phillippe Gouamba here .... looking for the rest of our team. I am here in NYC, wondering where everyone else is! I am married, one daughter (10), one son (5). I’m working for Skyline Windows as V.P. of H.R. My job keeps me quite busy. Where are, to name just a few of our friends: the Coletta brothers, Shawn Warren, Magalie François, Marie-Françoise Baker, Frederic Feller, Dr. Ozbert Blow, Charles Wolf, Adam Lindeman, Eric Jacobson, Mark Bengualid?? I could go on forever........if I have not mentioned you, please forgive OUR old age. Someone, please write in for our class. We cannot be forgotten!”

Nadine Orenstein is a curator at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Department of Drawings and Prints. She curated most recently “Pieter Bruegel the Elder: Drawings and Prints” (Fall 2001). Her next exhibition “Hendrick Goltzius (1558-1617): Prints, Drawings, and Paintings,” will open in Amsterdam in March and come to the Met in June 2003.

Ignacio Pérez Caldentey writes: "Just a few lines to let you know that I have moved from Buenos Aires to Pretoria, South Africa, always working for the Embassy of Spain. Pretoria is a small and well kept city, quite a change from Buenos Aires. The country is spectacular and fascinating."

-----From November/December 2001 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Philippe Dintrans est Consultant chez McKinsey & Company à Paris.

Daniella Lukashok MD and Michael Plottel '80 are happily married for almost 10 years and living in NYC with Julia 7yrs. and Jacob 5yrs. Daniella is a psychiatrist and Michael is an architect. Cynthia Moses, Bettina Baudoin, Grazziella Turolla, Daniel Sicart, Irina Tolstoy, Jean-Paul Prieto Castro are some of the people they keep in touch with.

-----From July/August 2001 AALFNY Newsletter-----

Vivian Penham is Director of Claremont Strings and Ensembles located in NYC. Claremont provides music for all types of receptions and events; they play jazz, swing, blues, latin, brazilian as well as classical music.

Ignacio Pérez works in the Spanish Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina as the Cultural and Cooperation Counselor. He writes: «It's a wonderful surprise to find about the whereabouts of former "Lycéens" and '79 classmates. Anyone from Terminale B of that year, please let me know.»







Top: Dr. Osbert Blow ('79), Bottom: Danielle Le Fer ('79)
Top: Dr. Osbert Blow ('79), Bottom: Danielle Le Fer ('79)

Top: Elizabeth Wishnick ('79); MIDDLE: Tatiana Ceccatto ('79) and her daughter Katie; BOTTOM:  Ignacio Pérez Caldentey ('79)
Top: Elizabeth Wishnick ('79); MIDDLE: Tatiana Ceccatto ('79) and her daughter Katie; BOTTOM: Ignacio Pérez Caldentey ('79)
TOP: by Adam Lindemann ('79); BOTTOM: by Nadine Orenstein ('79)
TOP: by Adam Lindemann ('79); BOTTOM: by Nadine Orenstein ('79)
TOP: Tatiana Ceccatto ('79); MIDDLE: Jerome Bonnifay ('79); BOTTOM: Michel Gelobter ('79)
TOP: Tatiana Ceccatto ('79); MIDDLE: Jerome Bonnifay ('79); BOTTOM: Michel Gelobter ('79)
TOP: Adam Lindemann ('79); BOTTOM: Denis Masquelier ('79)
TOP: Adam Lindemann ('79); BOTTOM: Denis Masquelier ('79)