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From the Fall 2011 issue of “Reflections”:

We were delighted to meet Bill Horrocks, who attended PreK at FFS in 1938-39, and would have graduated with the class of 1946! He stopped by to visit during Spring Fair last May. After retiring from a 40-year career teaching chemistry and conducting research at Princeton and Penn State universities, Bill has retired to Cape Cod with his wife, Joan, where they are sometime attenders of the South Yarmouth Friends meeting.

John Hoffmeier ’58 stopped by to visit and pick up his student file last spring. He has stayed in touch with Dan Dailey and George Dehne from his class.

Janice Mannal’s (’59) long career of running her family’s funeral business has been capped by a key honor. The Northeast Times reports that Janice has been named president of the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. Janice owns the Robert L. Mannal Funeral Home, a staple at Frankford and Tyson Avenues since 1937.

For those who were wondering, the Phillies “Four Aces” signed baseball generously donated by Phillies General Manager Rubén Amaro, Jr. ’77 to support the Building Fund was won by Ed Firth of New York, who is married to Denise Amritt-Firth, ’66. Ed wrote that he was really glad to have the opportunity to support FFS, adding, “We continue to be always faithful to our Philly roots/upbringing.” Denise wrote, “My sister Karen Johnson-Amritt (class of ’68) and I have such fond memories of our years at FFS.” Congratulations to the Firths, and thanks as always to Rubén!

Geralynne Zajac Kleinberg ’87 attended the High School for Creative & Performing Arts after FFS, followed by Moore College of Art for her undergraduate degree and then Rosemont College for a Master’s in Management. Geralynne is now an Advertising Sales Executive. She and husband Jeremy have a little boy (Gus) who turned one year old in June.

Casey Ann Francis ’95 graduated from La Salle University. She writes, “I was recently hired as the Alumni/ae Programs Assistant and Head’s Office Assistant at Friends Select School. Being back in a Quaker atmosphere really makes me miss my days at Frankford Friends, and I have so many fond memories.”

Dylan Braker Woloszczuk ’05 wrote us a lovely letter last summer. In part, it read, “I want to sincerely thank Frankford Friends School for all the help it has given me over the years. Both FFS and Meeting nurtured me as I grew up. The foundations for all my ambitions and beliefs come from the intellectual and spiritual learning I experienced at Frankford Friends.” Dylan graduated from Friends Select in June and now attends Haverford College. She continued, “Frankford Friends School taught me how to learn and grow, and the Meeting allowed me to receive a high school experience that many children can only dream of. Thank you all so much for keeping the Meeting and the school alive and well. My life, and the lives of many other children, would not be the same without the lifelong presence of Frankford Friends.”

Last summer, Precious Young ’07 wrote, “Looking forward to having my two little sisters attend. Look for Alexandria and Aiyana Patterson.” Precious attends El Centro de Estudiantes, a “Big Picture” school. We look forward to having Precious’s younger sisters at FFS!

Elizabeth Shotwell ’08 posted on Facebook, “I just want to thank this school ten billion times. It helped me do better in school and figure out how to work on projects and homework so that I understand. Now I am ranked number 69 out of my 620 student senior class. Thank you Frankford Friends! I miss this place dearly!”

Asia Kaiser’s (’12) mom writes, “Asia is an 8th grader at J.R Masterman. She attended Frankford Friends from Kindergarten until the 5th grade. She was introduced to the violin at Frankford Friends and she has been selected by Temple University’s Community Music Scholars Program for a scholarship for free private lessons, and was also selected by the Musicopia String Orchestra Program. I am so thankful for the wonderful foundation Asia was able to receive at Frankford Friends. Maybe Asia can come back and perform. She has become quite the musician and I can’t stop thinking about her first performance with the violin at the Meetinghouse.”

On Facebook, we posted, “FFS Alumni: What did FFS mean to you? What is your favorite memory? What are you doing now?”

Bithy Kaneff ’78 responded, “I remember the smell of the art room, the unique style of teaching. I feel very warm and fuzzy when I think back to that time in my childhood. Mr. Farley was the principal. The spring fairs were wonderful... I learned how to do cryptograms and play chess in the 5th grade from Mr. Koss. I still have some of my yearly school photos. Wish I had them all. Thanks to Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with old classmates. Very good memories for my siblings and me. My sister and I were just singing ‘Land of the Silverbirch’ the other day when we were talking about playing the recorder, which I understand you still do. I am a Legal Assistant and pursuing my degree now in Legal Studies. I pray that the children of today still gain the feelings and memories that we did.”

Wendy Kaneff Melchiorre ’81 wrote, “Hmmm.... Mr. Farley at the pianoand square dancing with Mrs Koss in the playground.” [Bithy replied, “I also learned Calligraphy with either Mrs. Koss or Mrs. Farley.... I had that set for a very long time.” Wendy: “Yeah... couldn’t wait to get my meathooks on that pen... I still remember how to do it, too!”]

Leon Wiener ’76 posted, “It was Mrs. Farley for Calligraphy (at least when I was there) as well as sewing made a pillow if I remember correctly. Mr. Koss taught me to appreciate poetry (in the lyrics of Simon and Garfunkel) and how to juggle. As I remember I had the choice of either learning a song on the recorder (I was way too recorder challenged for that) or learning to juggle. I had Mr. Koss for both 4th & 5th grades wonderful memories.”

From the Spring 2011 issue of “Reflections”:

Elizabeth Hewitt graduated from FFS with the class of 1932! She says, “I have very fond memories of my years at the school.” Elizabeth lives in North Carolina and would love to hear from anyone who graduated around that time.

John Newbold, ’59, writes, “My wife, Nancy, and I have purchased our retirement home in Gettysburg, PA, and eagerly await the move. An education at FFS was the best thing my parents could have done for me. Of all the schools that I attended, this is the one that I remember. If any members of the class want to get in touch, my e-mail is johngetysbg@aol.com.”

B.J. (Betty Joyce) Erb Crabtree, ‘64 writes, “I graduated from Germantown Friends School with David Paul, went to Duke University for undergrad, to Medical College of Pennsylvania for medical school. Then went to Emory for training in Internal Medicine & Cardiology. Met and married my husband Bruce Crabtree while in Atlanta and have stayed there. We have two children: daughter, 24, in Vanderbilt Law School, and son 21, senior at U. Va. I’m still practicing cardiology.”

Susan Kardevan Chapman, ‘65, writes, “I have recently accepted a position as a Managing Director for Helios AMC, LLC, in San Francisco, California.” Susan used to teach First Day School in the Little House. Susans mother, Mary Krewson, graduated from FFS in 1926, and was on the School Committee.

Kathy Stumpf ‘70 — now Kathy Thomas — received a degree in landscape design from Temple University and worked as a Landscape Designer for many years. She’s now a homemaker, and has been happily married for 27 years with two sons, James and Sean.

Al Revel ‘76 stopped by to visit. Al is a police sergeant responsible for the community surrounding the school. He told us that there was a time capsule the school made in 1976 to mark the bicentennial. It’s in a hollow cement block in the wall of the garage, to the right of the door. Al’s grandfather was one of the volunteers who built the garage. Al could recite every teacher he had, from Kindergarten to 6th grade. We hope Al can come back for an Assembly. He is articulate and kind, with a delightful sense of humorjust the kind of person our kids would love!

We were saddened to hear that Al Delaney, the father of Terry Delaney Norman ‘81, passed away last fall. Terry’s parents were instrumental in putting together the school fairs during Terry’s time at FFS.

Thor Kvande, ‘82, writes, “I have recently been named the next Head of School at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal School in Memphis TN, where I am currently the Head of Middle School. I attended FFS back when Mr. and Mrs. Farley ran the school, along with Mrs. Trickey! Good role models for a new Head of School. I am sure my belief in the power and importance of education was nurtured and developed at FFS.” Congratulations!

Nic Feliccia ‘84 is living in Georgia and working as an Engineering Manager. He earned a Master’s degree from Virginia Tech after graduating from Syracuse University.

Rischa Hortz reports that Laura Hortz Stanton, ‘90, is married and has a one-year-old son, Theodore Gabriel Stanton. Laura is the Director of Preservation Services for Philadelphias Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts. Previously, she worked as the Curator of Collections at the Siouxland Heritage Museums in Sioux Falls, SD. After receiving her B.A. from Temple, Laura earned an M.A. from the Museum Studies Program at the Cooperstown Graduate Program. Her mom says she “flourished at Frankford Friends School, which along with high school at Masterman prepared her wonderfully for higher education.”

Anna Thomas ’92 earned a BS from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s in Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health. She is living in Brooklyn, NY, working as a Policy Analyst with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Cliff Gabrellas writes, “Our daughter, Alithea Gabrellas, ‘96, graduated from Harvard University cum laude in 2006, graduated magna cum laude with an MD degree from Thomas Jefferson University in 2010, was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor society for physicians, and is currently a first year resident. She is engaged to be married to Curtis Olson, MD. Her brother, Greg, ‘99, graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 2008, is completing a Master’s degree at the University of Chicago and plans to apply to medical school in 2011.”

From the Fall 2010 issue of “Reflections”:

Carolyn McCoy, former 2nd grade teacher at FFS, writes: “I’ve ‘retired,’ at least temporarily, from ESL to devote my full-time efforts to environmental work. I’m working with EQAT (Earth Quaker Action Group) to end mountain­top removal coal mining. Our current campaign focuses on PNC Bank, which has ties to Massey Energy and other coal companies that use mountain top removal. It’s challenging and exciting work!”

Bill and Charlotte Price write, “Bill is enjoying his retirement time. We are busy with our grandchildren, and we are still a camping family. We are both well.”

Monica Keaney, sixth-grade FFS Class of 2000, graduated from MacAlester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in May 2010.

John van der Water, Class of ‘54, writes, “I am 67, retired, and enjoying my life in sunny California.”

Diana Revel-Ryan, Class of ‘78, responded on Facebook, ”Frankford Friends has given me a foundation for my life. Thank you!!!”

Elizabeth ”Bithy” Kaneff, Class of ‘78, responded on Facebook, “I was in class with Diana, and thanks for Facebook we have been able to reconnect. Frankford Friends holds unforgettable memories, values, and heart felt moments for myself, my brother and sister...”

Lorrie Kappler Brecker, Class of ‘76, responded on Facebook, “Memories from the 1976 graduating class: Boys catch the girls in the school yard, Hockey games with Mr. Koss, ”Madame’s” Kindergarten French class, Learning to Simon and Garfunkel, Mrs. Nielsons first grade, my favorite bus driver-Mr G, kick ball games, playing Dawn dolls in our desks, such a carefree time of our lives”.

Al Revel, Class of ‘76, responded on Facebook, “Trips to Wissahickon Park, hockey, Simon and Garfunkel, Mr. Koss, science class and slides of the Antarctica with Mrs. Satersweitte, the time capsule, Mrs. Wolfinger’s Kindergarden class, shop class, sewing and the funky pillows, gym classes at the park, swimming at the YWCA, Mrs. Martin and the times tables...ugh and a pretty bad crush on Leigh!!!!”

Robin Newcomb Lermo, Class of ‘74 writes, ”Married 24 years; 2 children Leslie (10) and Peter (8). Living in Springfield VA — school and church and scout volunteer! Please accept my donation in honor of my twin brother, Wayne Newcomb, for Christmas! We are both 1974 graduates of FFS, when Mr. Farley was the Principal and Mrs. Farley was our 6th grade teacher. We attended FFS for 3 years from 1971 – 1974 for our 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. This donation may be used in any manner you feel best for the school.”

David Rhode, Class of ‘76, writes, ”I’m Founder and Executive Director of an International Non-Profit organization, Pitch in for Baseball.” www.pitchinforbaseball.org.

Larry Mason, Jr., Class of ‘64, a professor at Syracuse for 28 years. Larry recently published a book, “Looking for Lockerbie,” based on his 12 years of research on the town of Lockerbie, Scotland, known for the tragic impact of Pan Am Flight 103. Larry recently connected with FFS on Facebook.

Alex Malkin, Class of ‘98, wrote a note with his building fund donation, ”I am happy to make a donation to the Frankford Friends School Building Fund. I have many great memories of my time at Frankford Friends and am thrilled that more students will have an opportunity to have similar positive experiences. I am glad that my family is still involved with the school and hope our contribution helps make a difference.”

“Thanks for the good education you are giving Makai Milton, our beloved grandson.” — Theodore & Peggy Mastroianni

Juliet Koczak, Class of ‘89, and her husband Hugh MacMullan shared the news that their first child, June Audrey MacMullan was born in November, 2009. Juliet reports that FFS classmate Victoria Ford Jennings had a baby — her fifth son! His name is Lucas.

Teacher Elaine Ballengee, retired ‘09, is teaching with Teach for America in Oakland, CA. It’s VERY hard work, but she’s working with kids who really need her help. Teacher Elaine is still involved with FFS by volunteering one day a week.

Megan Forrestal Stalker, class of ‘81, and husband are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Jack Hamilton, in February of 2010.