CANADIAN ACADEMY

rEV EW Scientia Clavis Successus “Knowledge is the Key to Successful Service” SPRING 2008

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The REVIEW is published by the Advancement Office for alumni, parents, students, faculty and friends of Canadian Academy. Editor and layout: F. Alsdorf ’62. Please send letters, news items, and address updates to the Alumni Office (alumni@mail.canacad.ac.jp).

Fred Wesson—Headmaster, Charles Kite—Assistant HeadmasterGerad Carrier—High School Principal, Michael Colaianni—Middle School Principal

Matthew Flinchum—Elementary School Principal, Jon Schatzky—Assistant Elementary School PrincipalAmy Wesson—Director of Advancement, Fred Alsdorf—Director of Alumni Relations

CANADIAN ACADEMY, 4-1 Koyo-cho Naka, Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0032 JapanPhone: 81-(0)78-857-0100 Fax: 81-(0)78-857-3250

http://www.canacad.ac.jp

IN tHIS iSSUEStrategic Planning / The Great Hanshin Earthquake ........... 2Headmaster’s message ......................................................... 3Morgan O’Hara ’59’s gift to CA .......................................... 4Asia Pacific Activities Conference ....................................... 5A Falcon from Day One ....................................................... 6Good-bye to retiring staff ..................................................... 7-8Taizo Sugitani ’96 and the 2008 Olympics .......................... 9THE BUILDING PARTY / Japan Days / CA’s footprint ..... 10ELAC photos ................................................................... 11-13Support CA / Vidhan Chaudhari .......................................... 14Sound of Music / CA Oratorical Contest ............................. 15The greening of CA .............................................................. 16Alumni Reunions / Alumni Mailbox ............................... 17-22In Memoriam ....................................................................... 22

SuccessusScientia

C A

C l a v i s

2007: Lillian Madrigal, Johann Qua Hiansen

2006: Shridevi Bajaj, Takuma Tanaka2005: Maria Cho, Namita Lal, Hironori

Maeda, Lovina Sachdev2004: Anishi Jhaveri, Min Joo Lee, Mai

Nitta, Blake Pierce2003: Rie Wang, Jovan Yamagishi 2002: Arpana Bothra, Anupam Kumar2001: Ashok Pillai, Moritz Plischke2000: Stephanie Arndt, Tara Wakely1999: Kwang Joon Kim1998: Sarah Kashani, Kaoru Yamaguchi 1997: Manisha Motwani 1996: Maria Yakura 1995: Pitch Ruanglek 1994: Alex Young 1993: Naomi Halewood, Charles Hill 1992: Hani Debs, Scott Prebola 1991: Caitlin Broderick, Kamal Ramani 1990: Sheri Shamdasani Sen1989: Peter Shane, Janelle Nine-Guidy1988: Greg Smith 1987: Lisa Eby Coscia 1986: Andrew Meehan Migita 1985: Yuki Sugimura Robinson, Jackie

Dadlani1984: Kojiro Dan, Naoko Tani Fukuchi,

Seiji Okamura, Marie Liang Ryo 1983: John Jun Hirai 1982: Johanna Leonhardt Hirota 1981: Debbie Bergh 1980: Karin Johansson Tims 1979: Garet Gluck 1978: David Emanuel 1977: Judy Joyce Calcote, Steve McArtin 1976: Pauline Baldwin 1975: Beverly Cunningham Washichek,

Phil Friesen 1974: Celia Oyler, Joel Likins 1973: Ellen Cary Bearn1972: Joan Griswold, Ann Parsons

Scheleen 1971: Tim Gillespie 1970: Greg Maxey 1969: John Cunningham 1968: Meggan Moorhead, Gordon

Sakaue1967: Stanley Flewelling 1966: Mark Ericson 1965: Mike Fay, Stanley Wayne 1964: Cookie Jarmain Smith-Otani 1963: John Gillespie 1962: Barbara Johnson Rogers 1961: Karen Cole Lockwood, Joy

McGarvey Bupp 1960: Robert Steffey 1959: Sharon Herrgott 1958: Mary Helen Hilburn Kuehner 1957: Representative needed *Pre-war: David Bach ’42, Karina

Dahmen ’41To serve as a class representative or to contact a representative, please visit www.canacad.ac.jp/Alm_Reps.php* We are seeking class reps for 1957 and earlier. Interested? Please contact alumni@mail.canacad.ac.jp

ClassRepresentatives

Canadian Academy in the News

Two publications, International Schools Services NewsLinks and TIE The International Educator, carried articles on CA’s new Early Learning and Activities Center in their Spring 2008 and February 2008 publications.

Two local publications —the March 2008 issue of KOBECCO magazine and the April 2008 edition of Kansai Time Out— carried articles highlighting Canadian Academy. KOBECCO featured CA’s ELAC on their cover and included more than two dozen handsome photos of ELAC on six pages; KTO’s article featured Canadian Academy’s support for educating needy students via the “Thai Village Children’s Fund.”

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Canadian Academy Strategically Plans its Future

In a time in which “change” seems to be an unavoidable global mantra, Canadian Academy has embarked upon a process to define its mission, to establish its institutional objectives, and to take concrete and bold steps to transform itself into an educational

institution of the future. Under the leadership of Mr. Steve Barone and Ms. Teresa Arpin of Transformation Systems, Ltd., school leaders, teachers, staff members, students, alumni, parents, community members, and all parties associated with Canadian Academy have come together to launch an ambitious and promising program to map out the future of our school: CA’s Strategic Plan.

Strategic Planning is a comprehensive process by which CA seeks to take proactive measures in order to ensure its continued success as a leader in international education and to improve aspects of its current functioning that may encumber its future progress. To do this, thirty members of the CA community were asked to form the Core Team of the Strategic Plan at the end of the 2006-07 academic year. A microcosm of the school representing the full spectrum of the diversity on which CA prides itself, the Core Team spent three days on a retreat in Nara in September 2007. There, the Team deliberated at length on the current state of the school and

determined the course of its future using a consensus voting system, which awarded each participating member veto power. Together, the team delineated a set of eight Core Values, statements defining the fundamental and timeless beliefs of Canadian Academy and its members, and proceeded to adopt a new Mission Statement, deciding that “Canadian Academy inspires students to inquire, reflect, and choose to compassionately impact the world throughout their lives”. Inspired by the mission, the Team then inquired into and reflected on its implications and decided to impact the future of CA by devising three Strategic Objectives, four Strategies, and three Strategic Delimiters by which they committed to implement the Plan fully by 2012. The Team returned home exhausted but nonetheless proud of what it had accomplished, looking forward to sharing the fruits of its efforts with the rest of the school community.

One of four students on the Core Team, I found the idea of going on a retreat to discuss the future of my school with twenty-six adults somewhat disconcerting at first. What would I understand of curriculum planning, financial security, and employment philosophy? As soon as I took my assigned seat at the table and as soon as the discussion began, however, I felt my apprehension assuaged. I was struck by the candor and feeling of genuine concern that prevailed throughout our meetings, and I felt that each of the twenty-nine other participants valued my opinion because everyone was earnestly concerned with creating a better school that satisfied the interests of all parties. I would be dishonest to claim that consensus came easily; the depth, breadth, and length of our discussions on the future of one school made me wonder how the United Nations Security Council ever comes to a decision on the future of the world. Throughout the retreat, however, I felt heartened by the fact that we are blessed with so many devoted members of the CA community, excited about the results of our deliberations,

and anxious to announce our plans to the school upon return.Support for the draft Strategic Plan was broad and deep once the Core Team

presented it to all concerned members of the CA Community. Four Action Planning Teams and a Measurement Team were quick to pick up where the Core Team left off, devising detailed and specific plans for implementation of the Strategies and measurement of the success of the school in achieving its Strategic Objectives. With a little more work on the Plan in the months ahead, the Core, Action, and Measurement Teams look forward to submitting their brainchildren to the Board of Trustees, the only party with the authority to accept or reject the Plan. The Core Team will seek Board approval at the end of this academic year and it anticipates a positive response.

As a second-generation CA student, as a Senior enjoying my eleventh year at Canadian Academy, and as a member of the Core and Measurement Teams, I am confident that, guided by its new mission and developing on the solid foundation of its

Core Values, the future of Canadian Academy will be a bright one. It gives me a feeling of great joy and honor to have been involved in a process that will yield results far greater than those we can foresee now. I am excited about the future of our school. At the same time, I almost regret that I am graduating and will not be here to witness the implementation of the Strategic Plan, for at this time of transformation, at this time when CA is determining its future, it will be a privilege to be a student at Canadian Academy.

By Amin Ghadimi ’08

In April 2007, CA’s Advancement Office was contacted by Mizue Tanaka representing Kobe University, regarding the possibility of CA students helping in a project entitled “The Great Hanshin Earthquake Project.”

The group from Kobe University had collected and intended to publish a series of first hand accounts of the Hanshin Earthquake, as written by survivors. The writers included international students who were living in Kobe at the time of the disaster. Writers told their stories in their own languages, including Japanese, English,

The Great Hanshin Earthquake Project:CA Students “Speak” History

Burmese, Turkish, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Mahratti and Indonesian and the stories themselves were translated into Japanese and English.

The project was a joint effort by Kobe University Research Center for Urban Safety and Security and the International Student Center of Kobe University and the group’s aims included spiritual healing, mourning and the recording of the events of the earthquake.

Continued on page 16

Small group discussion. The author is on the right.

Small groups present their conclusions

Full group discussion

By Melanie Vrba, High School faculty

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ELAC, beautiful to stunningWe have reported previously about internationally acclaimed artist, Morgan O’Hara, Canadian Academy Class of 1959, who offered to donate one of her drawings to CA, but what transpired in the end exceeded all expectations and is a story worth telling.

A year ago, Fred Alsdorf ’62, our Director of Alumni Relations, had a conversation with Morgan at the New York City Reunion in May during which she offered to donate one of her drawings to hang on a wall at school. When the Advancement Office researched examples of Morgan’s work, the installation wall drawings caught our attention—wouldn’t one of these images look great on a wall in ELAC? Over the summer, Scott Davis, the building’s architect, encouraged us to pursue the idea. Morgan was intrigued and she offered to donate her time—preparation off site and then two weeks on campus—to the project, but on a tight building budget, how could CA fund this scope of work? Conversations ensued, and Brian McEwen, advisor to the Class of 2007, came to the rescue by designating their senior class gift funds in support of the project. Because the Class of 2007’s original idea for a gift had been to celebrate their involvement in art and sports at CA, maybe the wall drawings could address a sports theme (and didn’t this fit nicely with the second floor of ELAC which

contains the gym, the P&G Black Box theater, and the recording studio?). As the saying goes, one thing led to another. Morgan suggested, as with

some of her other projects, that she would be pleased to have volunteers help with the painting. Students from art classes signed up, teachers and staff joined the effort, even yours truly took a turn with the brush. Parents joined in. Volunteers recruited friends, and many painters returned repeatedly. This outpouring of support inspired Morgan to undertake additional site specific wall drawings—nine in all, by the end. The result is uplifting. What happened at CA during those two weeks in March revealed the closeness, commitment, and creativity of our community, and we are grateful to Morgan for her artistry, dedication, and intuitive teaching skills. The transformation of a hallway into an art gallery was no small accomplishment.

There were other transformations at work, too, and to see these we must engage our mind’s eye. I am sure that each of us who painted during those weeks, as we now walk through the hallway, turns our eyes to the place(s) where we painted. At least I have done so. Strangely enough, I can no longer “see” my work, for it blends with the work of many painters. My work has become our work.

I think that the opportunity to contribute to this project has changed some of us. I think of one student in particular, Mary Vest ’09, whom Morgan asked to oversee final touch up work. Imagine that! A professional artist says to a high school student, “I am trusting you to finish this work.” That is an educational experience for a lifetime. Fred Wesson

Headmaster’s message

Darrick Mosser and Matthew Flinchum

Above right: in process

Right: finished

Left: Zoë ’23 contributes to art history at CA

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Morgan O’Hara’s remarks at the opening reception, March 19I want to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Academy community for participating so fully in this experience. It has been an honor to work with you. I appreciate the attitude of Fred and Amy Wesson and Chuck Kite for clearing away obstacles to the accomplishment of a work which seemed to transform itself daily. Thank you also to Fred Alsdorf who initiated the process in New York in 2007 with a simple request for a donation of a few drawings to hang in the school hallways. Who would ever have guessed that day that this would turn into a major large-scale site specific wall drawing! The invaluable help of the maintenance crew under the direction of Mr. Yamamoto was essential to the professional protection of the beautiful bamboo floors. And finally, thanks go to Mary Vest ’09 as project manager and Sachiko Takihara and Nadia Nabulsi ’09, faithful co-workers who returned to work time and again and who saw the details through to the very end.

Having been an artist for 45 years, I have often reflected on the value and meaning of art in the context of a world in which war, poverty and suffering are everyday occurrences. Often I have felt useless as an artist. Periodically I have fantasized about quitting art and joining Médecins sans Frontières or working full time for Amnesty International. As soon as I get past the thinking stage, however, I realize I don’t have the skills to do nursing or law work and I have too much internal sensitivity to cope directly with extreme health casualties, abuse or crime. So I haven’t quit art for another profession. Instead, I have decided to cultivate peacefulness in my life and in my working process.

As I have concentrated on my art I have gradually begun to feel grounded in the work and confident in its continual growth. This commitment has shown me the profound effect that art can have on both mind and spirit. A project of this scale with wide participation from artist and non-artist alike shows the power of the art process to nourish and heal. Students told each other it was “therapeutic” by way of encouraging their friends to join in. I saw teachers and administrators come to paint after a full day of teaching and see them leaving three hours later looking totally refreshed.

The concentrated attention of over 90 people can be felt coming from these large site specific drawings. Our energy is imbedded in the work we have accomplished together and the energy of the process is imbedded in each of us. This I understand to be a form of peace and I have chosen to continue this work as a way of nourishing peace in our difficult and interesting world.

I would like to dedicate this project today—the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq—to peace in the world, beginning with each of us. It is clear that if we are peaceful, each in his or her own way, whatever work we do will contribute to world peace. I would also like to dedicate—in particular, the large soccer wall drawing—to the many children around the world who are trapped in cultures less fortunate than ours, some of whose tiny hands are forced to stitch balls for our games, in the hope that one day they will be able to live normal lives, learning, growing, playing and experiencing the curiosities and joys that life offers.

Lucy Abel ’10Fred Alsdorf ’62, staffPaolo Castro ’12Aron Castro ’13Aya Cervantes ’09Prema Chablani ’12Sharon Chen ’08Jennifer Chung ’10Mike Colaianni ’08Kristina Darrough ’10Riley DeBorde ’12Holly Derbyshire, staffKevin Elliott, staffSean Ferguson ’08Pat Fisher, staffMatthew Flinchum, staffYuji Fukui, staffLeyla Gentil, ’12Guillaume Gentil, ’14Ela Ghadimi ’72, staffJohn Goodwin ’08Collin Harrell ’16Linda Harrell, parentTaiji Harris ’07David Harris, staffHideki Higashiyama, staffEri Isaka ’09Fuko Ito ’10Hana Itoh ’08Margot Jaggy ’08Nehal Jhaveri, parentNikki Jordan ’08Mary Judge, friend of MorganSue Kakizaki ’09Teresa Kassamali, staff, parentAzar Khosrowshahi ’12Darius Khosrowshahi ’14Delia Mary Khosrowshahi, parentDa Eun Kim ’10Kaho Kinoshita ’13Erica Kitamura ’09Chuck Kite, staffSarah Krikke ’09Julia Kuwahara ’10Kasumi Kuwahara, staffLisa Kuwahara ’17Joy Kwon ’10

Fabiola LabrecqueSerge Labrecque, staffConnie Lee ’11Ga-Eun Lee ’13Se Lim Lee ’12Subin Lee ’13Libby Martin ’09Brian McEwen, staffZoë McEwenKeanu Medalla ’13Barry Mernin, staffMiyuki Miyaji, staffYoshiko Moriyama, JAWKDarrick Mosser, staffCathy Mazan Murata, parentNadia Nabulsi ’09Atsuko Nakahara, staffMoé Nakayama ’10Yuki Ohmori ’09Marina Osame ’09Chie Osawa, staffTommy Oswalt ’08Christina Park ’14Mary Park ’17Vijayalakshmi Prakash ’08Karin Przygocki, staffAneel Sethi ’09Jay Sethi ’13Kae Shigeta, staffKazuko Smailes, staffMasoud Sobhani, parentShiori Takeuchi ’10Sachiko Takihara, staffDenise Varias ’13Pablo Velazquez ’10Lori Vest, staffMary Vest ’09Melanie Vrba, staffMarcus Warner ’12Amy Wesson, staffFred Wesson, staffWinsor Wesson ’08Ai White ’07Kaoru White, staffCena Yamamoto ’10Lynna Yang ’13Xinyan Zhang ’09Yilin Zhang ’10

Thank you, site specific wall drawing volunteers

Morgan with High School Art teacher Holly Derbyshire and key student volunteers atthe opening reception hosted by Price Club

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By Joe Monks, Activities DirectorAPAC: the Asia Pacific Activities ConferenceIn the early 1990’s a number of international schools in the Asia Pacific region, including Canadian Academy, enjoyed annual sports fixtures against each other. Schools would travel to a host school and compete in football [soccer], volleyball and basketball

invitational tournaments. The interactions between the schools were seen as very positive and

also provided an opportunity to travel and experience other cultures; moreover, our students and coaches made new acquaintances from which many friendships grew. This was in addition to offering the opportunity to participate in sports students loved at high levels of competition.

From these invitational events it was decided that a more regular league and more established organization be formed. In 1995 from the work of the Activities Directors of the schools involved including our very own Mr. Rabb, the Asia Pacific Activities Conference was formed. There were six schools involved: Canadian Academy, Osaka International School, Shanghai American School, The International School of Beijing, Seoul Foreign School, Brent International School [of Manila, Philippines].

As the Conference became more established, APAC events became exciting dates on each school’s calendar and things grew. The range of sports events that the schools competed in increased; competitions now held in Baseball, Tennis, Swimming, Track and Field, Badminton, Rugby, Cross Country, and Softball. It was understood that with so many events being run all schools would not be able to compete in all events, so many of the sports events above were classed as APAC “invitational” events.

With the focus of the events being on establishing positive interactions between the schools, it was decided in 1998 to expand APAC to include Fine Arts Festivals. Soon Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Theatre Festivals, were taking place, the beauty of which was that the different schools came together to work together rather than compete against one another as they did in sports. We are now also seeing the emergence of Quiz Bowls and Forensic events.

Hosting an APAC event is a special occasion. A lot of work is involved, but the events pull our communities together in many ways. We host the visiting students in our own houses, often giving them the taste of local culture. Our community assembles students, faculty, parents, and staff to support the teams or to marvel at the quality of the fine arts performances. Although the events are for the high school students, participation of the whole school is encouraged. Our elementary students “adopt a school” and cheer for them (thanks to Ms. Przygocki’s Falcon Fan Club) and in return the teams visit classes and share information about their home countries. This year CA hosted APAC Girls Volleyball, Baseball, Band, and Boys Football, involving over 320 participants.

With APAC becoming such a well established organization, it was inevitable that other schools would want to join. In January 2006 the decision was made to expand the APAC organization to become a larger and more mature conference, inviting other schools to attend. We are looking at a conference of 12 schools in total

and are waiting on an application for the final spot. The six new schools that joined APAC are Shanghai American School (Pudong Campus), Hong Kong International School, American International School of Guangzhou, Western Academy of Beijing, Taejon Christian International School, and Concordia International School of Shanghai. With the inclusion of these schools we can ensure a greater participation in what were formerly the invitational events as well as establish long lasting relationships with the new member students, coaches, and schools as a whole.

At Canadian Academy we are excited about what the prospects for the new APAC holds for us. Hosting models are in place so that we interact with each member school over a three-year period. In the fall, CA will be hosting APAC Tennis in October and APAC Choir in November so keep your eyes posted on our website to support our events.

CA elementary students cheer for Brent International School at a recent tournament

CA Girls Volleyball Team at an APAC tournament

The multi-school APAC Band on CA’s main stage

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A Falcon from Day OneBy Dave Ferguson, High School faculty

Some people come to Canadian Academy briefly, others stay for decades, but only a few for a lifetime. Sean Ferguson, perhaps uniquely, has been a Falcon from Day One. Now, after more than 18 years at CA, Sean is about to graduate.

The Class of 2008 is particularly rich in “fossils”—those who have attended CA from Kindergarten through 12th grade—but Sean’s CA life exceeds even fossil status. That

is, even before Sean began Kindergarten, he resided at Gloucester House as a “junior dormie.” Since Sean has been at CA virtually all of his life, looking back also provides an opportunity to indulge in a bit of CA nostalgia.

Sean arrived in Kobe in utero. His parents, Dave and Jane Ferguson, accepted jobs at CA in 1989 when his mother was six months pregnant and Sean was born at Konan Hospital in the hills above Mikage. His first year of life, 1989-90, was also the last year that Canadian Academy was located at Nagaminedai. In May 1990 CA celebrated “Transition Day” by walking the 10 kilometers from the old campus

to the new campus then under construction on Rokko Island. Sean made the journey in a backpack baby carrier!

Over the years 1990 through 2008, while living in Gloucester House, Sean has gotten to know nearly 400 dormies in Rokko, Maya, Take and Kiku Houses. Not only were there babysitters galore, but also breakfast, lunch and dinner were simple meals thanks to the cafeteria food first ladled out by

Nishikawa-san, then Ozaki-san, and now Cezars Kitchen. Altogether, Sean has eaten almost 10,000 cafeteria meals. After 18 years of dormitory life, at least one aspect of the transition to college should be easy for Sean.

Over the years the dormitory has gotten smaller, but the school has gotten larger. We survived the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake when Sean was a kindergartner, Stuart Young was Headmaster, and Tim Thornton, Business Manager. Since then CA has changed at least as much as Sean himself. Sean’s CA tenure includes three Headmasters, twelve Principals, hundreds of faculty members, and thousands of students. From academics to extra-curricular activities to social life, Sean is certain to keep a rich supply of memories.

Soon, as the Class of 2008 departs for universities and other destinations the world over, Sean will weave his thread of identity more distantly from the tapestry of CA. At times like this, we are reminded that the varied threads of Canadian Academy extend worldwide. Up until now, Sean’s thread has been tightly woven into CA’s, but soon his thread will blend with new and distant themes. Still, like everyone who has been a part of CA, Sean’s identity will always trace basic themes back to “the school of grey ’neath Maya-san.”

“To say the least, my years at Canadian Academy have been of an extraordinary nature. Born into the community, I have been raised not only by my family, but Canadian Academy as a whole. Teachers, peers, friends have each played a part in who I am today.

“Now at the end of my Canadian Academy career, looking back is difficult for me as the recollection of all the friends that have come and gone, of all those I have come to love and know, now takes an emotional toll. And despite my leaving Japan soon, I am proud to say that Canadian Academy will be a part of me for life.”

Sean Ferguson ’08

“Being dorm parents was good practice for eventually parenting our own teenager. Growing up, Sean often had the same curfews as his peers in the dorm. He even had room checks the same night as the dorm students.”

Jane Ferguson

“All in all, we feel very fortunate to have raised Sean in the CA dorm and community. As Sean goes off to college, Dave and I will continue our lives here at CA, Sean’s home, a place many alumni also call “home,” but in Sean’s case, it really is!”

Jane Ferguson

“The last time I was with you, you were still so small. You used to amaze me with your ability to name all your dinosaur figures.“I also remember that we used to fall asleep on the couch together because you did not want to go to bed until you saw your parents get home safely.“Time goes by so quickly. Now, you are 18 and going to college soon. Good luck and best wishes.”

Reiko Imamura ’92

Dave, Sean, and Jane, spring 2008, after a Japanese tea ceremony performance by Sean

Maya House Birthday Party, 1991Back row: Makiko Itoh ’92, Wendy Mayo Wang ’92, Takako Itoh ’92, Birgit Gullstein ’94, Reiko Imamura ’92, Jane FergusonFront row: Erika Mori ’92, Kanou Otsu Fayngersh ’93, Dave Ferguson, Sean (age one and a half), Belinda Grosso ’94, Sherry Tenorio ’91

Take House photo, 2000-2001Back row: Moritz Plischke ’01, Sasha Sudakevitch ’02, Stephen Chen ’03, Rodolfo Betancourt ’04, Jane FergusonMiddle row: Yasu Matsushita ’02, Blake Wilson ’02, Dave FergusonFront row: Tommy Lin ’02, Alex Namkung ’01, Yuhan Kuo ’01, Sean (age 10)

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Dr. Geoffrey Barraclough – 34 yearsCanadian Academy’s doctor, Dr. Geoffrey Barraclough, came to Japan in the early 1970’s as part of a physician exchange between Great Britain and Japan. That is, in exchange for five Japanese doctors who were able to practice in England, five British doctors were able to practice medicine in Japan. When Dr. Barraclough arrived in Japan, the Japanese government asked him to go to Kobe as there were no British doctors there at that time. He came to Kobe and has lived and practiced medicine here ever since.

Dr. Barraclough will be retiring after 34 years of serving CA staff and members of the CA community. Dr. Barraclough and his spouse plan to enjoy their retirement in Kobe by taking a more leisurely pace to life, and by visiting their six daughters spread about the globe—in Japan, in the United Kingdom, and in the USA.

Canadian Academy thanks Dr. Barraclough for his more than three decades

of dedicated assistance to the CA community and wishes him and his spouse a happy and healthy retirement.

I was appointed School Physician to Canadian Academy in September 1974—not without some hesitation on both sides. The previous School Physicians had all been American missionaries, and I was neither American nor Canadian nor a missionary. What was worse, I had two daughters at school at a rival institution, the now defunct Stella Maris girls’ school. However, I had the good fortune to be recommended by Dr. Johnson, who was then the chief of the Seventh-Day Adventist Hospital with whom I enjoyed friendly professional relations. He was my predecessor at Canadian Academy, and I took over his duties, in particular his Thursday morning consultations at school. It was a strange environment for me, and I did not feel quite at ease. The School Nurse, Saku Samuel, was a true friend and did her best to bridge the gap. The Health Office was then a small room on the north side of the main building, facing a large cemetery. There was no separate examination room, and all the students and staff who wanted to see the doctor just crowded in together.

One of my additional duties inherited from Dr. Johnson was regular

inspections of the kitchen and dining room. I soon let this lapse because I never had any criticism or useful comments to make, and part from the free lunch to which it entitled me, it meant too much time away from my office and too many patients waiting on my return. But the Thursday morning consultations soon became popular, and gradually began to include patients who were neither students nor faculty members, but just lived nearby and found it more convenient to see me there.

In 1979 I improved my standing at the school by transferring three of my daughters there, and from then on I began to feel that I belonged. We lived at Shinohara Honmachi, just below the steep road that led up to the school, and I gave my daughters strict instructions that they were always to walk up and down and never to accept a ride, even from friends. I suspect that these instructions were not always followed. Later we moved to a house in Nagaminedai just beside the upper playground of the school on its east side. We kept a duck in the garden whose quacking could often be heard from the playground. To walk to school along the road meant a long detour, but the girls soon discovered that by scrambling up the hillside and climbing a wire mesh fence it was possible to get into the playground, and that because the regular (but secret) mode of entry.

All that came to an end when the school moved to its present location in 1990. At that time we only had one daughter there—the others had gone on to boarding school in England. I was one of the parents who were most against the move to Rokko Island. It seemed to me that the site on the hill was unique and unforgettable, and that the program of additional building which had already been started there should be continued. However, those who thought like me were overruled, and I must admit now, eighteen years later, that the new building has so many advantages that the school has been able to survive and prosper in a way that would have been impossible at the old site. There will be few students or parents now who even remember the old building, though happily there are still a few faculty members who will never forget it—including one or two who were there when I first started in 1974.

With that I will come to a close by saying that the part of the week which I most enjoy is my regular visit to CA, and that this is largely due to the unfailing support and friendship I have received from the school nurses, and the good relations I have had with successive headmasters for the last thirty-four years. I shall relinquish my role as School Physician with great regret, and send my thanks and good wishes to you all.

Geoffrey Barraclough

Leela Devavaram came to CA in 1978 and first served as a Science Specialist in CA’s Elementary School. Some years later, when CA incorporated 6th graders into the middle school, Leela began teaching 6th grade Science as well as 6th and 7th Grade Mathematics. Beloved for her gentle, helpful nature and fondly known to her students and colleagues as “Miss Deva,” Leela will be deeply missed.

It is difficult to imagine a Canadian Academy without Ms. Deva, but unfortunately that is the reality the rising sixth grade class as well as the entire school community will face next year. Ms. Deva was my sixth grade math and science teacher, and it is with full honesty that I say that I am indebted to her and will never forget her kindness, enthusiasm, and skill as a teacher. Ms. Deva has for years not only eased the transition of countless elementary schoolers to Middle School but also ensured that all students have the skills necessary to succeed in higher levels of education. Whenever I think of prime factorization, two-step algebraic equations, amoeba pseudopodia, and the scientific method, I will think of Ms. Deva. I am certain that I speak on behalf of the entire school community—students, parents, faculty, and staff alike—as I bid farewell to Ms. Deva with a feeling of utmost sadness and utmost gratitude. Thank you, Ms. Deva! (Amin Ghadimi ’08)

It seems like yesterday when I came to Canadian Academy from Stella Maris International school three decades ago! Kobe has been my home ever since and memories are numerous. I feel that the three decades spent at CA are the best part of my life and I will cherish the memories. I plan to join my family in Beaumont, California. I wish everyone at Canadian Academy all the best in the future and hope that our paths may cross again. Leela Devavaram

Regretfully, CA says good-bye to retiring staff

Ms. Leela Devavaram – 30 years

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Keith Guthrie began teaching at Canadian Academy in the 1980-1981 school year. A popular teacher of high school Mathematics, Physics, Probability and Statistics, Mr. Guthrie is noted for teaching excellence, humor, and an amazing wealth of trivia on topics as wide spread as sumo, nanotechnology, or the politics of the scarab beetle.

CA thanks Keith for his years of service to students at CA and wishes him and his spouse Keiko a healthy and fulfilling retirement. The Guthries will continue to make Kobe their home for the foreseeable future.

When my ailing father in Mikage asked me to send a quick note to help commemorate Mr. Guthrie’s long career at CA, my initial reaction was, “Really? He died?” Of course, I was relieved to hear that he is only

Ms. Pat Fisher – 27 yearsPat began working at CA in 1981, teaching English as a Second Language in high school. By the time she became one of the high school English teachers in 1991, she had taught ESL at every grade level (including kindergarten).

After studying at the film school at NYU in 2001, she started “Film and Media Studies” a popular course that has become her signature course. Ms. Fisher says the course was structured a lot by her studies at NYU.

Ms. Fisher and her spouse Alan are moving to Turkey, where they will live not far from their daughter Nora ’94. CA thanks Pat for her long years of service to CA and wishes her and Alan a healthy and happy retirement.From Goodbye Mr. Chips to Dangerous Minds to Freedom Writers, commercial cinema represents the teacher as cultural hero. After some short scenes in which we learn what a challenge she faces, the teacher stands before the class dispersing wisdom and inspiration that change the lives of her students forever. (And she doesn’t even have to write on the blackboard!) Although many of these movies are “based on a real-life situation”, the reality is considerably more complex.

Often, fortunately, what we do in the classroom works. Other times it doesn’t. My IB English class several winters ago was noticeably uninspired. It was the second week into a unit covering The Dubliners, a James Joyce short story collection. The stories had awed me when I’d first read them; I’d looked forward to student epiphanies. Maybe it was my hagiography, maybe the students were less than prepared, but the classes were so dead I had decided to finish quickly and move on to the next unit. So I wasn’t looking forward to a rapt class as students entered.

One senior had brought his instrument case, presumably for a later practice. When class began, though, he opened his violin case. “Mrs. Fisher, this last story moved me. I can’t quite explain why, but it reminded me of a Bach piece. Would you mind if I played it for the class?” He began.... We were enraptured.

We finished the unit as originally planned. Several students later referred to Joyce stories in discussion and essays.

A Yugoslavian/Japanese student in an American-accredited international school located in Japan responding in German music to an Irish writer.

I will miss Canadian Academy deeply. Pat Fisher

Mr. Keith Guthrie – 28 years

retiring to the temperate climes of scenic Yamamoto-dori. Moreover, I couldn’t figure out why anyone would want a former student (and a poor one) to write anything on Mr. Guthrie’s behalf. MRS. Guthrie, we could gush on for paragraphs about her contributions to the artistic filament of the expanding web that is the CA experience, but Mr. Guthrie? In the mid-80’s (I am old), Guthrie was an intimidating math teacher. His involvement in BALCO Kansai has not yet been fully documented, but he was an early proponent of the Hulk Hogan weight-lifting regiment, and not at all shy about flashing those pythons. As a scrawny middle schooler, he could reduce me to a puddle with a withering glare, but that’s another story. Walking into his trig or stats class without being prepared was like being Sailor Moon at an anime convention—you could run but you could not hide. The correlation of being the first to be chosen on the day you neglected to crack the books: north of 1.

It is only now in my relative middle-age that I appreciate his dry wit and Spartan teaching style, but I believed at the time that he rather enjoyed tormenting us underachievers. That belief has been validated over the years, and I look back at the time fondly, as it represented the last time that somebody cared about the work I put in and not necessarily the results. The irony that I ended up in a profession where it would have behooved me to have some understanding of what Mr. Guthrie preached is not lost on me. Too bad I was too busy plotting how to cut the next Ochs class to pay attention. Perhaps the years have taken the edge off some of the physical intimidation that he loved to brandish, but I don’t doubt that current CA students cringe when he calls their names.

Representing all of the underachievers that you were kind enough to goad into doing some semblance of work over the years, congratulations on your taishoku, and we will resist the temptation to hip-check you into the hills of Kitano-cho the next time we see you shuffling along Tor Road. I understand that you will have an open invite to all alumni of age to your new home to pay homage to Mrs. Guthrie, and to put a dent in the kegerator in the backyard. Thank you for your guidance over the years.

George Reilly ’87

Ms. Yoshiko Kawabata – 33 yearsMs. Kawabata began teaching Japanese at CA in the fall of 1975 as a part-time instructor. Several years later, in the 1980’s, she became full-time and has continued faithfully in that position for over two decades. Gentle but exacting in her expectations, “Kawabata-sensei” will be missed by the many students whose lives she has touched.

Ms. Kawabata will remain in the Kansai. Her plans are still somewhat indefinite, but she hopes to continue to do shodo (Japanese calligraphy) and continue her study of the Chinese language.大変長い間お世話になりました。CA thanks Kawabata-sensei

for her long years of service and all the best for a fulfilling and health-filled retirement.

和して流せずあえて異を唱えず人と調和していくが、それだからといって、自分を失って、なんでも人のとおりに流れおぼれることはしない。 (中庸のことば）大切にしていることばです。CAを去ったあとも、「自分はどんな人間でありたいのか」ときおり自分自身にたずねてみるつもりです。 川端

Harmonizing without losing oneselfAn old Chinese saying goes, “One should harmonize with others and not disagree; however, that does not mean one throws oneself away, drowning in the flow.”The above is a saying I treasure. Even after I have left CA, I intend to continue to ask myself, “What kind of person do I want to become?”

Yoshiko Kawabata

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Step by step to the 2008Olympic Games

You could say I was born into the equestrian world, following in the footsteps of both my father and grandfather.

I attended CA from elementary school through to my final year of high school, graduating in 1996. After I left CA in 1996, I moved to the Netherlands where I began to train and compete internationally.

Needless to say, my education at CA helped prepare me for my future in Europe. Language was less of an issue than it would have been had

I attended a Japanese school, and going to school with students from all around the world made it much easier for me to fit into my new world in Europe. However, having said that, it was still a struggle for me to make my way in the show jumping world outside Japan.

In Japan my father was—and still is—my trainer, but in Europe

my trainer was a Dutch rider by the name of Henk Nooren. Mr. Nooren came to Japan many years ago, when I was eight years old, to give a lesson at my father’s stable. Since then it had been my ambition to one day move to Mr. Nooren’s stable and train with the best.

There are three major competitions in equestrian

Editor’s note: Taizo Sugitani ’96 will compete in the 2008 Olympic Games as a member of the Japanese Olympic Equestrian Team. Canadian Academy is proud to count Taizo as one of our alumni and wishes him every success in China this summer.

Taizo and California in May 2007 at an international show in Cervia, Italy

sports—the Olympic Games, the World Championships, and the World Cup Finals. The Olympic Games and World Championships are held every four years and the World Cup Finals are held every year. So far I have competed in three Olympic Games—Atlanta, Sydney, and Athens. In Athens in 2004, I finished 15th, the highest ever placed by a Japanese rider in the Olympics. As for the World Championships, I have participated in four: 1994 in The Hague (Netherlands), 1998 in Rome (Italy), 2002 in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), and 2006 in Aachen (Germany). In Aachen, out of 80 riders, I was one of nine with zero faults on the second day qualification. Moreover, I have also competed in two World Cup Finals, in 2000 and again in 2007, both of which were held in Las Vegas. The year 2000 was a special year for me as I placed 15th. This also was the highest ever placed by a

Japanese rider at a World Cup Final. Of the various competitions I have been in, one of my personal favorites was my first Grand Prix win at Pinerolo, Italy, in 2003. Such a win is not the same as winning a World Cup Final or World Championship, but for me it was a great experience and something I will long remember.

My next goal is winning at the Olympic Games in Beijing. However, don’t look for me in Beijing; the equestrian venue is in Hong Kong. I am one of only two riders from Japan privileged to compete at these Olympic Games. I have two possible horses for the Olympic Games, Obelix and California. These horses are both already in preparation and I will choose one—the best one for the job—with the help of my trainer at a later date. As I write, the Games are still some months away, but I am already focused on trying to make this my best performance yet.

Taizo and Obelix in the 2006 World Championships in Aachen, Germany

Taizo’s graduation picture

By Taizo Sugitani ’96

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Canadian Academy parents, faculty, alumni, and friends enjoyed a wonderful evening together in support of our new building, the Early Learning and Activities Center. The fund-raising event’s building theme provided a lively atmosphere; guests donned protective slippers to tour the nearly completed facility, enjoyed student musical and dramatic presentations, and dined at theme decorated tables in our candle lit cafeteria. ELAC netted over ¥2,500,000 from proceeds of THE BUILDING PARTY.

Thank you to our sponsors: Cezars Kitchen, W. S. Forster Estate Wines, The Narita Family, Kobe Club, DANIEL, Toyo Beverage, Au Limo, The Lal Family, and the Sheraton Kobe Bay Hotel and Towers. Their gifts in kind and services to the event totaled more than ¥500,000.

Special thanks to the more than 80 Canadian Academy student volunteers for their performances, and service as tour guides and waiters. Thank you also to the Committee, led by our able chair, Delia Mary Khosrowshahi, for the enthusiasm and creativity that made this unique event fun!

THE BUILDING PARTY

Miho Kuyumgyan and Delia Mary Khosrowshahi enjoy THE BUILDING PARTY

Japan Days 2008By Robert Hengal, High School faculty

The rustle of silk kimono, the pounding beat of the taiko drums, the gales of laughter at the rakugo performance, the atonal music for the classical Japanese dance, bugaku, made up the sounds of Japan Days 2008. In this biennial event CA celebrates Japanese culture. Japan Days was held from March 17 to March 20. It got off to a formal start as members of the leadership team dressed in kimono and hakama greeted the buses as

they arrived at CA. A student group of Japanese taiko drum performed at the morning high school assembly and roused everyone with their pounding beat. On Tuesday morning both the elementary and high school were entertained with a performance of English rakugo, Japanese style humorous story telling. The event came to a culmination on Wednesday with a performance by the Ashiya Harushokai troupe of traditional Japanese dance, bugaku. The Harushokai have performed for members of the imperial

family and have toured throughout Japan and overseas. We were privileged to have this group at CA and this came about with the partial support of the PTA. This Japan Days 2008 marked the last one for one of the principal organizers of these events, Ms. Yoshiko Kawabata. Kawabata-sensei will be leaving CA at the end of this year and we would like to say otsukaresamadeshita and domo arigato gozaimashita for all her hard work organizing Japan Days over the years.

Energy consumption awarenessProminent display panels in both the library of the Main Building and in the entrance area of ELAC help raise our community’s awareness to the stresses our two school buildings place on our earth’s resources. The panels, which present updated information a few times a minute, track the consumption of water, electricity, and natural gas. In this picture at the left, you can see two graphs for each category. ELAC’s consumption—the bottom line—is always less than the Main Building’s, partly because it has a smaller floor space, but also because it was constructed with “green technology.”

An Ashiya Harushokai troupe member performs at CA

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The foyer

ELAC’s north facade reflects former campus mountain themes; interior spaces reflect our island home.

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Our youngest students enjoy a class in ELAC. Features to note are the carpeted section of the classroom’s in-floor heating. Also, most classrooms have southern exposure thereby limiting the necessity for artificial lighting. Finally, immediately outside the classroom is the playground, accessible via a classroom door.

The rotunda, a mini-theater, at the end of the first floor hallway converts what might normally be dead space into a useful facility with excellent accoustics.

The foyer

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The sound studio (above) adjacent to the P&G Black Box theater (right) provides K-12 students with excellent facilities for recording music, blue screening for movie-making, and more. Additionally, performances in the P&G Black Box theater can be recorded with professional quality as they take place.

Sky lights in ELAC gym provide enough light on most days

Left: children enjoy playing on the sculptures in the ELAC courtyard

Straight lines give way to wavy lines, visually minimizing a long hallway

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How can I support Canadian Academy?

Canadian Academy, like virtually all independent schools and colleges, relies on donor gifts to provide students with an exceptional educational experience at a tuition level accessible to most families. Donors are recognized in the Annual Report in the fall issue of the REVIEW. The Annual Giving year is from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

Please choose to direct your gift to support: • Annual Fund (unrestricted gifts in support of areas of current needs)

• Scholarship• Averbeck Music Memorial Fund

We welcome all gifts, regardless of size, recognizing that for some donors, a small gift may represent an amount that is equal to a much larger gift by another donor. Your participation is a vote of confidence in Canadian Academy.

Please visit our website for ways to give via check, bank transfer, credit card, or securities transfer:

http://www.canacad.ac.jp/Abt_Sup_Giving.php

Bank transfer (funds in any currency): Account name: Canadian AcademyBank name: Mizuho Bank, Kobe Chuo BranchBank address: 8-1-6 Gokoh-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 651-0087

JapanAccount: #1014098International SWIFT code: MHBKJPJT

US FoundationThe Canadian Academy School, Inc.15 Roszel RoadP. O. Box 5910Princeton, NJ 08540

Ms. Deirdre Simon (contact person)(609) 452-0990 ext. 332(609) 452-1154 Fax

Donor tax advantages Canadian Academy holds Tokutei Koeki Zoshin Hojin (Special Public Organization) status in Japan. Canadian Academy’s foundation in the USA is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit association.

Transfer of appreciated securities (stocks, mutual funds) may offer significant tax advantages. For more information on making gifts of securities, please visit this website: http://www.pgdc.com/pgdc/case-study/simplest-planned-gift-funding-outright-gifts-appreciated-securities or consult with your financial advisor.

Please contact Amy Wesson, Director of Advancement, <advancement@mail.canacad.ac.jp> for more information about making your gift to Canadian Academy.

Apologies for inadvertently omitting from our list of donors in 2006-2007

Charles G. Hill ’93—¥20,000-¥49,999

New Board MemberPlease welcome the newest member of the Canadian Academy Board of Trustees, Mr. Vidhan Chaudhari. Mr. Chaudhari is a long-term resident of Kobe. Chairman of Orient Pearl Co., Ltd., Mr. Chaudhari serves in many other roles—Director of the Japan Pearl Exporter’s Association, Inspector of Kobe International Medical Foundation,

Statutory Auditor of Kobe Club, and Trustee of Charitable Trusts, Hospitals and Schools in Nagaur, Deh, and Indore, India. Mr. Chaudhari has had a long association with CA through his three children, Divya ’94, Ketan ’96, and Kunjal ’98. Moreover, Mr. Chaudhari’s spouse, Sujata, also serves CA as a member of the Council.

Canadian Academy thanks Mr. Chaudhari for his dedication and service to our school.

Entrance to ELAC gymnasium with a site specific wall drawing donated by Morgan O’Hara ’59

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The Sound of MusicMany readers are familiar with the movie version of The Sound of Music; perhaps you remember it fondly as the movie you watched while snuggled up with your family during the holiday season in December.

This year, Canadian Academy once again staged The Sound of Music for our all-school musical. Students from grades 3 through 12 were cast in the ever familiar roles of the von Trapp family, as well as their Austrian neighbors, and friends and religious community members. The directors included Melanie Vrba (Acting Director), Michael McHugh (Choral Director), Carlota Constantini (Orchestral Director), and a student design crew under the direction of Darrick Mosser and Jacquelyn Elliott.

You may remember that CA produced this well-loved musical 10 years ago, in 1998 under the direction of Rick Howell. In a nod to Mr. Howell’s production, the directors allowed it to inspire their efforts and they thank in particular Mr. Howell for his set concept.

The historical events surrounding the story of this musical are dark and certainly most of us know of the violent time associated with the Anschluss of Austria in 1938. It was with some surprise, then, that many of those involved in this year’s production read Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version and found not a single mention of “Nazi” or “Hitler”. Though the book makes clear the time period explored in the story, the playwright and composer both made a very deliberate choice to leave these references out.

Instead, Rodgers and Hammerstein ask us to focus our attention on the response of one family to the adversity of their time. By doing so, they also ask us to consider, when faced with a conflict which requires much of us, whether we will believe there “is no way to stop it”, as do Max and Elsa, or whether we will refuse to

compromise our ideals, like Captain von Trapp.For the same reason, then, those in attendance in this year’s

production did not find a swastika on the CA stage. Rather than focusing on the Nazis, the directors instead asked the audience in a note in the program to think about themselves. And in doing so, the group challenged their audience and the larger CA community to be ready to:

Climb every mountainFord every stream,Follow every rainbowTill you find your dream.

By Melanie Vrba, High School faculty

Note: For the next couple of months, go to http://theatre.canacad.ac.jp/ if you’d like to see the video of CA’s The Sound of Music.

Readers of the Canadian Academy REVIEW will recall an article entitled “The rebirth of a tradition” in Fall 2007 about the resurrected CA Oratorical Contest that has now entered its second year as a tradition reborn. Thus, on February 8, 2008, the Sophomore Invitational Speech Contest was held once more.

The eight finalists in 2008 herald from six countries—Belgium, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and USA—and spoke on a wide variety of topics. The titles of their speeches were:

• “Through Awareness We Can Effect Change”• “Ban Public Smoking”• “End the War in Iraq”

A tradition reborn continues• “Eliminate ‘Can’t’ to Succeed”• “No More Cluster Bombs”• “Soccer is the Best Sport”• “The Irrelevance of Religion”• “Stop Online Stealing”

The judges had a very tough call in deciding the winner with several excellent speeches delivered with passion and style. In the end, Joe Jose ’10, calling for an end to the war in Iraq, was declared the winner for 2008. Congratulations to the winner and all the contestants for showing us again the “power of words crafted to times of need.”

Maria and the children present Elsa Schrader with a special musical welcome to the von Trapp home

Our von Trapp family

Gretal sings “So Long, Farewell”

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By Midori Nishizawa and Serge Labrecque, Middle School faculty

The university hoped to create a CD-ROM of the stories and were looking for students to read the English versions for the publication entitled “Never to forget: Voices from Kobe”. Canadian Academy’s Introductory Drama class students expressed an interest in helping with the project and conducted vocal recordings of the stories at Kobe University over a five-day period in April 2007.

Angie Arenzana Lopez ’08 commented on her experience by saying, “We were able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. Even though we did not experience the earthquake ourselves, through the words we read, we were able to understand what the survivors went through. At one point during my reading, I had to stop because the emotion of my piece was overwhelming.”

The final publication contains the stories in their original language and English and Japanese translated form, as well as the CD-ROM of the readings in English. In addition to being given to the students involved, the publication has been installed in the CA library. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations if you would like a copy of the CD and book.

The GREENING of CA

Continued from page 2, “CA Students ‘Speak’ History”CA Drama students thank Kobe University for this once in a

lifetime opportunity to be a part of Kobe history.

Stories read:Angie Arenzana Lopez ’08: Reflections — “After the

Earthquake, Verily, with every difficulty there is relief”Lucy Arenzana Lopez ’10: “To the two beloved, Kobe…. like

a Phoenix”(Post-earthquake diary)Sharnel Clatworthy ’10: “The encounter with a foreign

student”Zach Crenshaw ’10: “The Great Hanshin Earthquake:

Recollections of a ‘New’ Foreigner, After the Quake, Spring in Kobe”

Chihiro Hirai ’08: “All that I lost in the earthquake”Margot Jaggy ’08: “After the Great Hanshin Earthquake, The

Ties of Friendship”Irene Tseng ’08: “Pain, as if I am being stuck by needles”Oscar Velazquez ’09: “Dreams on a Pyre, Moments of Fear

— Eyewitness to the Great Hanshin Earthquake”Mary Vest ’09: “Home”

Recycling is an example of the long standing tradition of involvement at Canadian Academy. For example, sixteen years ago under the guidance of Mr. David Ferguson, the National Honor Society purchased containers that are still used today for recycling paper. Then, eleven years ago, under the guidance of Ms. Yasuko Lawrence (nee Kanai), elementary school students got involved in recycling bottles and cans. While these were worthy ecological efforts, they were sporadic and didn’t involve the whole school.

The Middle School Eco Club was established in September 2005 under the guidance of Mr. Serge Labrecque and Ms. Midori Nishizawa, to promote

recycling at CA. The MS Eco Club made a contract with the Kobe City Environmental Department in which Kobe City would pay ¥2 per kilogram for paper, cans and PET bottles.

The first three recycle bins were placed in the cafeteria in September 2005. The challenge for our MS Eco Club students was to get all students to follow the recycling procedure:

1) Empty all bottles and cans of their contents2) Remove caps from bottles3) Place the cans and bottles in the proper recycle binsUnfortunately, when emptying the bins, MS Eco Club members soon

discovered some of the bottles still had caps on or liquid remaining inside. Therefore, MS Eco Club students had to remove caps and empty this leftover

and sometimes fermented liquid. Not many people want to volunteer to sort smelly bottles and cans every week, but the MS Eco Club members are always there—in the heat, in the rain, in the cold, throughout the year. They also collect waste paper from classrooms. Without their enthusiasm and determination, the project wouldn’t be successful.

In 2006, under the guidance of Ms. Barbara Lucas, the High School National Honor Society joined this recycle effort begun by the Middle School students, and more recycle bins were placed near classrooms.

In March 2007, due in part to a change in Kobe City’s garbage pickup policies, all trash was required to be placed in special bags. Within a year, under the guidance of Mr. Jeffery Booth, the Elementary School Leadership Club joined these recycling efforts now expanded to include the entire school.

Readers might like to note that during the school years beginning in 2005 and 2006, we recycled about 1.8 tons of trash. This academic year, in the first semester alone, we have already recycled 2 tons! CA’s recycling efforts, modestly begun by the Middle School, not only save the earth but also save the school money.

One of the core values of CA’s draft Strategic Plan is “the health of our planet depends on the actions of each individual.” Our hope is through the recycling effort, CA will inspire students to “compassionately impact the world throughout their lives.”

Being in the MS Eco Club for two years, I can proudly say that we have accomplished a great deal. Statistically, we have recycled a total of more than 1,000kg of paper, and more than 800kg of bottles and cans. This is utterly fantastic! Action-wise, the entire school is now aware of and following the correct procedures. It’s a very pleasing achievement and we hope it continues.

Haruna Alice Fujita ’11

MS Eco Club members, March 2008. Advisors Ms. Nishizawa and Mr. Labrecque are in the back row, second from the left and right respectively.

Under the guidance of Mr. Labrecque, MS Eco Club members empty and sort drink containers

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Left to right (all pictures):1) Joei Sai ’78, Midori Yamamoto ’79, Yuka Bae Ryo ’82, Tsutomu Yoneoka

’81, Nariko Hirai ’83, Kozo Hirai2) Keyji Johnsen ’86, Seigo Tono ’86, Maiko Kim Hoshino ’86,

Nobuko Yamaguchi ’86, Noriko Yokomi ’86, Tomoko Osawa ’86, Kaya Hiraoka ’87, Minju Kim ’86, Kris Replogle ’87, Teayu Kang ’87, Rika Ahn ’87

3) Brit Randulff ’86, Deniz Kilki Agi ’86, Niren Shamdasani ’86, Maiko Kim Hoshino ’86

4) Eirik Rosø ’86, Andy Meehan Migita ’86, Tone Randulff, Kristin Randulff

’83, Brit Randulff Karlsen ’86, Deniz Kilki Agi ’865) Licca Chen ’86, Ryusei Tetsuya, Arisa Tetsuya6) Shouichi Tanaka, Licca Chen ’86, Arisa Tetsuya, Ryusei Tetsuya, Kohei

Ikeda, Masaru Taketani, Toshiyuki Furukawa7) Tomoko Osawa ’86, Keiko Yayoshi ’86, Noriko Yokomi ’86, Nobuko

Yamaguchi ’86, Kazuya Saegusa ’868) Lissa Chen Murai ’87, Kosuke Miura ’86, Tilo Zimmermann ’86, Rob

Johnson ’869) Yuriko Baches-Hever ’89, Robert Hever10) Geoffrey Anonuevo ’86, Anamaria Anonuevo ’83

November 23 in Kobe

Tokyo reunion dinnerDae-In Cha ’93 who organized this event writes “The Tokyo alumni get-together on December 21, 2007, in Tokyo was an absolute blast! There were so many “natsukashii” faces; alums from 1969 through to ones from 1998. Former CA faculty member Tim Thorton blew us all away with his amazing ability to remember names. He remembered names for more than two-thirds of those who attended!

“Two videos of CA sparked all kinds of fond memories and reminiscences. For many, the reunion didn’t stop at the venue Tony Roma’s—many went on to second and third after-party parties.

“Learning that there are over one hundred CA alumni in Tokyo working in a variety of fields was a pleasant surprise. We definitely plan on making this Tokyo get-together a yearly tradition and look forward to strengthening the network of CA Tokyo alumni with whom we share so much.”

Back row: Seigo Tono ’86, Victor Savoy (Shumi’s spouse), Koji Ito ’93, Riki Melwani ’87, Mark Tomlinson ’92, Dylan Nagaoka ’99, Miki Sakai’s friend, Tim Thornton (former faculty)Middle row: Sakiko Tanaka (Dae-In’s spouse), Yuri Kamino ’93, Junja Son ’93, Jun Peters ’93, Peter Shane ’89, Miki Sakai ’91, Justine Walker ’91Front row: Suzuka Inden ’93, Mikako Nomura ’93, Shumi Ryu ’69, Sachie Yamaguchi ’93, Kaoru Yamaguchi ’98, Koichi Hama ’69, Yoshiko Yoshimoto

“I look forward to cooperating with other alums to continue this CA tradition in Tokyo. Our sincere thanks to Jun Peters ’93 for letting us host this event at the restaurant he manages and to Kaoru Yamaguchi ’98 for her help with organizing the party and for the pictures.“Rainen mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu!”

Seigo Tono ’86

Congratulations and thanks to Licca Chen ’86 who single-handedly organized a very successful multi-class reunion in Kobe. The reunion began quite typically with alumni arriving in twos and threes. However, it was soon apparent that this reunion was a family affair as many alumni came with their children. The venue, Gessekai, turned out to be ideal with lots of space for friends to reconnect and a stage and dance floor for the children to play on. As you can see in picture #10, the stage served also for the live concert of two alumni entertainers, Geoffrey and Anamaria Anonuevo, who got almost everyone up and dancing. Finally, although not part of her initial planning (begun in the spring), November 23, turned out to be the day Licca and Ryusei registered their marriage—in other words, Licca’s official wedding day! Few attendees knew of this happy event until Licca’s sister Lissa Chen Murai ’87 made the announcement and congratulated the happy couple (see picture #5 above) with flowers. Sincere thanks and congratulations to Licca and Ryusei for making this reunion in downtown Sannomiya so very special and unique, a time to remember!

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Get-together in San Francisco

A congenial group of San Francisco alumni met with Director of Alumni Relations, Fred Alsdorf ’62, in October. The fifteen alumni, representing classes from 1959 through to 2002 and including two former faculty members, got together at Café Divine in the North Beach area. Debbie Bergh ’81: “…it was a lot of fun. Great to meet you all and hope to see you again soon. The spontaneity…and small group I thought was perfect…. We could talk to everyone.” Kim Bauer-Chew ’81: “I had a great time seeing everyone and sharing old memories. Take care and hope to see everyone soon.”

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3 4Left to right:1) Tom H. Rappé ’83, Johanna Leonhardt Hi-rota ’81, George Barantseff ’59, Beth Cary ’672) Jun Stinson ’02, Sherry Herrgott ’59, Nick

Miyake ’02, Kelly Zeissner ’963) Siddharth Shamdasani, Sheri Shamdasani

’90, Pat Sellars (faculty 1982-84), Jim Bray ’66

4) Steve Chin (faculty 1975-78), Debbie Bergh ’81, Kim Bauer-Chew ’81

Not in photos: Andy Rasmussen ’82

Thailand — the reunion of 1960“Some of us have just returned from an incredible visit to Thailand! Dodi and Ram planned a great program for us. Dodi was the perfect hostess who had every detail organized from beautiful hotel facilities, to great restaurants, to wonderful sightseeing trips, to a comfortable van that drove us for many miles.

“We began our stay in Bangkok with three days of sightseeing. We visited the Reclining Buddha, the Emerald Buddha, the palaces, the floating market, the night market, and more. We also took a cruise down the river and a ride through the canals. We ate wonderful foods and tried many new things. Phil was probably the one who ate the most oriental breakfasts, while some of the rest of us ate eggs and toast! The selection of fruits was amazing and always beautifully displayed. We did not go hungry—in fact, many of us probably came home with a few extra pounds.

“After Bangkok, we went to Pattaya. On the way we stopped to see Dodi’s gorgeous weekend home located right on the water. After looking around her home, we were invited to sit in her dining room and enjoy some coconut milk right out of the coconut. A few daring souls even swam in her pool while all of us enjoyed a colorful sunset sitting on a swing. The stay in Pattaya was a lot of fun—swimming, getting massages, eating well, and four of us even went paragliding. What fun!

“Then off to the island of Koh Chang—Elephant Island—where we stayed in a lovely resort. Here some went snorkeling, others swam in the pool, some shopped, some had massages, and, of course, we all ate!

“The lucky ones who participated in this incredible reunion were Phil and Peggy Muir (Canada), Gertraud and Heinz Merschede (Germany), Sandy Johnson Sutton (USA), Harry Chang (Kobe), Astrid Schwind Herrmann (Germany), Ram Chattaluni (USA), Margie Rinell Jonell (USA), and Dodi—Daranee Derojanawong (Thailand). We had not seen Gertraud or Harry since 1960! Awesome! Amazingly enough, I think I would

have recognized any one of us on the street! Unfortunately, Bob Steffey and Krista Schur were unable to attend due to surgery and illness. We missed them – and the rest of you! When I tell my friends that I went to Thailand for my high school reunion they look at me and say, ‘You went WHERE for your high school reunion?’

“We had a great time – but we also began thinking about our 50th reunion in 2010! [For more information about this reunion in the planning and others, go to www.canacad.ac.jp/Alm_Reunions.php.]

“So, once again, a huge thank you to Dodi from eight very happy travelers. You were amazing in all that you did for us! Thanks also to Ram. Both of you made our stay in Thailand amazingly easy and enjoyable. Kob kun ka from all of us!!!” M. Jonell ’60

Back row: Ram Chavez Chatullani ’60, Sandy Johnson Sutton ’60, Phil Muir ’60, Margie Rinell Jonell ’60Front row: Harry Chang ’60, Dorothy Yu ’60, Gertraud Merschede ’60, Astrid Scwind Herrmann ’60

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1970’s

Beth Ahrens-Kley ’71 writes, “My dad, John Ahrens ’40, and siblings Patty and Marty went to CA in the 1930’s; however, the family eventually had to leave because of the war. My dad, now deceased, was born in Kobe. When we first moved to Japan in 1962, my dad worked for Bank of America and, as you can imagine, was just thrilled when the family was transferred to Kobe in 1967 and he could put his kids in CA. It was only two years. I was in the 7th and 8th grade (1967 and 1968), but there is a very strong connection.

Li Howard ’68 (who went by the name Judy Huang as a student) visited CA with a cousin (living in Japan) in late November 2007. Li makes her home in Indiana.

Stanley Flewelling ’67 writes, “Here’s an abbreviated summary about our series of ‘mini-reunions’ last year. The CA Class of 1967 was unable to organize a 40th reunion last year, so instead a number of us got together during 2007 in a series of mini-reunions: June: Joel Bradshaw, Mike Carr, and Len Kishimoto in Honolulu, June: Mike (and extended family) and Stan in Seattle, July: Stan and Melinda Frivold Iverson (and her dad, Robert Frivold) in Seattle, August [1st picture]: Joel, Mike, and Kate Engelseth Brueggemann in Honolulu, September [2nd picture]: Stan, Madeleine Jarmain

Oldman, Motoko Taniguchi Deane in Cambridge, MA, December: Joel and Motoko (and spouses) in Cohasset, MA, Late in the year, Joel Bradshaw (an inveterate blogger) opened a Class of ’67 blog site. It can be accessed at: <http://canadianacademy1967.wordpress.com/>”

Walter Enloe ’67 writes, “Please note that the current head of the Hiroshima Peace Cultural Foundation—the first non-Japanese to fill this position—is Steve Leeper (a college friend of mine and former Hiroshima International School parent) whose spouse Elizabeth Baldwin was a member of the CA Class of 1967. Finally, my son Isaac is teaching Kindergarten at Kyoto International School after graduating from Carleton and Lewis and Clark.”

For those interested in pursuing some of the deepest and early roots of Canadian Academy, Walter has called the attention of the CA Alumni Office to an article entitled “A Woman of Mission: The Religious and Cultural Odyssey of Agnes Wintemut Coates” by Katherine Ridout in the Canadian Historical Review, LXXI, 2, 1990. Ms. Coates served as a dormitory matron at Canadian Academy in 1920. According to Howard Norman, CA Class of 1922 and Principal 1952-1953, her association with Canadian Academy is known as the “Peanut Butter Era” due in part to Ms. Coates efforts to cope nutritiously with the high cost of food in the aftermath of WWI.

The Alumni Office received a lovely card enclosing several photographs from Bruce Downs ’64 in January 2008. Below is text from his card:

“The weather here [in Palmer, Alaska] alternates between -18°F and 38°F. This, of course, is not normal. Global warming? My positive outlook for life in the 21st Century, born at Canadian Academy, has grown ever since. Politics has little

bearing for me, having been raised as a Christian and nurtured through my alma mater CA. I returned to Cambodia on a ‘mission’ to place a Memorial at Koh Tang Island for all people who died there during the Mayaquez freighter seizure by Khmer forces in 1975. My spouse’s friend’s spouse, a Cambodian military Lt. General gave me permission

to do this.This was a historic honor for a staff sergeant of the US Marine Corps.”

Photo (below, left column) shows Bruce and his spouse Bonna at the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh.

George Brown ’63 and his spouse Jill visited CA in mid-October 2008, resulting in a reunion between George and Fred Alsdorf ’62, CA’s Director of Alumni Relations. It was the first time they met since they graduated from CA over 40 years ago. Although not classmates, George and Fred knew each other well as former residents of the CA dormitory!

Morgan O’Hara ’59 brought along a treasure trove of memorabilia when she visited CA to create the site specific wall drawings [see pages 3 and 4 for articles about this topic]. One item in her collection was a copy of her Japanese language textbook from 1954. Alumni, does this bring back memories? Why not share your story? Send it to the Alumni Office <alumni@mail.canacad.ac.jp>. You could win a limited edition CA tote bag.

Desmond Morton ’54 writes, “I retired in May, 2005, but have noticed very little change in my life. I am even teaching courses at McGill, partly because the University chose not to replace me or my specialties, notably Canadian military history, and that topic is sufficiently attractive to contemporary students that I decided to come back rather than have my course taught by a PhD student in Victorian literature.”

1960’s

1950’s

Alumni Mailbox

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1980’s

Mahoko Kamatsuchi ’86 writes, “Our daughter, Emi, was born on Sunday, 10 February at 2:52 AM, weighing 3,385 grams (7 lbs 7 oz.), 49 cm (19 in.) in length. She came along a bit earlier than expected, but we’re doing great and enjoying the wild ride of early parenthood! I’m breastfeeding exclusively, trying to fit in much sleep as possible (whatever sleep means at this point), and Joe is being a great dad, changing diapers and burping her after every feeding, in addition to doing all other zillions of tasks we never imagined we needed to do! We’ll need a bit more time before we can welcome visitors, but we’ll let you know when we’ve got some sort of rhythm.”

Brit Randulff Karlsen ’86, Kristin Karlsen ’83, and Eirik Russo ’86 visited CA in November 2007. The purpose of their visit was multiple: to attend the 1986 reunion organized by

Licca Chen, but also to revisit sites loved and remembered in Kobe. All three live and work in Norway. Pictured above are Brit and Kristin with Ms. Kawabata; at the left, Erik with Mr. Guthrie.

Mikako Follent ’85 writes, “I didn’t have much to tell you for a long time, but I suddenly have a lot to report. I finally finished a master in clinical psychology program at Griffith University (Gold Coast, Australia). I haven’t technically graduated yet as my thesis only got passed a few days ago. But I started working at a psychology clinic specializing in autism and Asperger syndrome, which is an area I am very interested in. My daughter Ky has just turned three and started training karate at the dojo where I help teach. She and I also have been taking violin lessons together for a couple of months.

“The boy in the karate picture is Ky’s cousin Jasper. Ky is our only child—well, so far, as Philip really wants another baby…or two or three. Easy for him to want them... I am excited about my budding career and want to wait at least a year before I fall pregnant again. Yet at the same time I am now 43 (and Philip is 55), and we know we can’t afford to wait too long.”

Ronny Zilkha ’81 visited CA on January 15, his first visit to the Rokko Island campus. Ronny now lives on Long Island in New York where he runs a Japanese restaurant. Ronny is married with two daughters, aged six and ten. If you’re ever in Jericho, NY, please stop by Nagashima [Long Island] Japanese Restaurant for some delicious Japanese food!

Sam Rasmussen ’80 writes, “I have moved to Amsterdam. We are settling into its cold, dark, rainy world. This would be the location of choice for all health-oriented vegetables. In fact, we are enjoying many aspects of the exotic cosmopolitan culture and its unique world and historical view. Interestingly, Ed Greene–English teacher at CA, 1984-85—is the current headmaster at the International School of Amsterdam, where I have three children in attendance.”

Anil Mirchandani ’87 and his spouse Jessica visited CA as part of their honeymoon in Kobe. Although Anil visited CA back in 1995 (shortly after the earthquake), this was Anil’s first time to actually get inside and tour the school. Both Jessica and he were quite impressed with the excellent facilities which

students enjoy, particularly in ELAC. Anil and Jessica make their home in Melbourne, Australia, where Anil works as the Account Manager for Tyco Electronics.

Rhonda Lehmann ’79 (nee Town) writes, “It’s been almost 40 years since I attended Canadian Academy as a first and second grade student. My parents (Harvey and Joyce Town) lived just below the old school on the hill and were dorm parents for missionary kids. My three older brothers (Steve, Terry, and Mike Town) were also enrolled at CA from 1964-69. I am prompted to write this after having recently visited Kobe with my parents and brothers. We revisited sites and places that were familiar to us from our childhood days, a moving and remarkable experience for me. I attended 1st grade in ’67-’68 (teacher: Ms. Sawyer) and 2nd grade in ’68-’69 (teacher Ms. Cavin).

“I’ve attachted a photo of our family—the Harvey Town family—standing in front of the home we lived in, across from the Japanese junior high school.”

Alice Wisler ’79 writes, “Hi and greetings to all alumni. I am excited to announce that my first novel, Rain Song, will be published this fall by Bethany House. The novel deals with a woman’s fears of her mysterious childhood in Japan, an email connection with an American professor in Kyoto, and lots of references to pineapple chutney and southern family reunions. Visit http://www.alicewisler.com.”

Eric Chudler ’76 visited CA and was very impressed with ELAC and many of our facilities. He also kindly visited an 8th grade science class where he talked about the brain, his research, and more with students.

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2000’s

Former faculty and parents

Chris Roche ’06 writes, “It was confirmed a couple of weeks ago that this summer on June 6th, we will be playing at THE Carnegie Hall in New York City!“Needless to say, I am stoked. So if you are in NYC during the summer. Come check us out on 6/6/08. Although it’s one tune that we will be playing as a part of a bigger concert showcase, we are excited as ever to play on such a world renowned stage.”

Megumi Ohsumi ’01 writes, “I got my MA this semester. (I am still in Switzerland.) I wrote my thesis on Milton’s Samson Agonistes (a total of about 50 pages which I’d been working on since February of this year), and I did the defense earlier today. The final grade was a 5.5 out of 6—it is like a solid A in the US. It is a Master’s in Literature, with a concentration in the Ancient Literature/Classics. I will finally be beginning my PhD next semester.”

Megan Spargo ’97 writes, “An update for all of my fellow CA alumni… After the Kobe earthquake in 1995, I relocated to Southern California where I finished high school (Class of ’97) and attended California Polytechnic University, finishing with a BS in Psychology. After a brief stint in teaching, I found my niche in Human Resources and have been working at Morgan Stanley for the past two years as an HR Manager. Recently, I accepted a transfer with the firm to New York City, where I will be covering HR for the Private Wealth Management division. I would love to reconnect with any alumni out there, particularly alumni living in the New York City area. Please drop me a line and let me know what you have been up to!”

Juji Harimoto ’95—Currently living in in the Kanto Region, Juji visited CA in late November, 2008. She was delighted to be able to meet with two of her former teachers, Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Ferguson. A graduate in the year the Kobe Earthquake struck, Juji was impressed with the changes to the school since her graduation.

Natalie Pearson ’94 writes, “I finished up a two-year stint in Venezuela last September and now I’m based in London writing for Dow Jones Newswires and contributing to the Wall Street Journal. I’m an energy reporter covering oil in Africa and the Mideast, which has led to some interesting assignments in Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, Algeria, Ghana and Liberia. I’ve sending a photo from my reporting assignment in Riyadh, where I had to wear a traditional ‘abaya’ and cover my head with a veil for ten days — an experience in itself.

Kendra-Marie King ’94 writes, “Thanks for keeping me updated. It is great to see everyone from the past pop up in the REVIEW. I have the fondest memories of CA and the dorm.

“My update, recently I got married on New Years Eve to Scott Burnam. We live in Annapolis, MD now and both sell pharmaceuticals. Scott has been to Japan many times, actually was in the movie ‘Drug Store Girl’, as one of the lacrosse players, so he understands my desire to go back. We plan to return in the next few years, with a definite trip to CA. If anyone is ever in MD or DC, please look me up!”

Masatoshi Ohkawa ’91 writes, “It was nice to hear from you, Mr. Alsdorf, a teacher who influenced my life, and it was a big surprise to see my old diary. I remembered the good times when you patiently taught me English. Now I am working at a culinary school, and believe it or not, I sometime teach language (mostly English) to my culinary school students!”

Sara Fält Mjones ’89 and her family visited CA on January 9, a few days before they returned home to Sweden where Sara and her spouse Erik both work as teachers. They have three handsome sons: Benjamin (9), Samuel (7), and Gabriel (5). Sara writes, “My time at CA was just one year, but a very good year in many ways. We had a good but very long trip home. We wake up very early in the mornings and go to sleep at 7 PM. In a few days I guess everything will be back to normal again.”

Cassie Durham ’88 writes, “I gave birth to a son, Samuel George Huskisson, on August 16, 2007. I was at CA for four years between 1978 and 1982 and have great memories of the school. I am also in touch with Grainne Thomson ’88, Sharon Ben David ’88 and have had e-mails from Kristin Brueggeman ’88 and Anna Arzaga ’89. When I get round to it, I will post some photos of all of us at school and at the Kobe Club on those long hot summers. Hoping to return and

visit the school in its new location one of these days!

1990’s

Charles Biederman (faculty 1975-1977) and his spouse Loraine visited CA in April 2008. “The new school is amazing!” The Biedermans make their home in Oregon. They are pictured here with Fred Alsdorf ’62, their next door neighbor in the 1976-77 school year.

“Being in London has made it easier to catch up with old CA friends: since moving here I’ve been in touch with Emma Johnsen ’93, as well as Christine Cairns ’94 and Vicky Tosh ’93, who both attended CA. Nora Fisher ’94 (who remains my best friend ever since we first became attached at the hip in kindergarten) travels regularly between Turkey and England as she finishes up her PhD at Oxford University, and we’ve met up a few times.”

Hannah Schoeneseiffen ’05 visited CA on Thursday, November 8 as part of a “natsukashii” trip back to many of her haunts as a 5th and 6th grader in CA in the late ’90’s. Currently living in Germany where she studies Economics at university, Hannah was reunited with one of her favorite teachers, “Miss Deva,”—Leela Devavaram—who taught Hannah Math and Science in 6th grade.

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In MemoriamCA’s oldest known alumna, Ms. Katherine MacDonald (MacLeod) ’32, aged 92, Halifax, passed away on September 17, 2007, in Saint Vincent’s Nursing Home. Born in Taiwan in 1915, she was a daughter of Rev. Duncan and Constance (Eason) MacLeod. She is survived by sons, Ian (Jane), Fredericton, NB; Edward (Jane Henson), Halifax, NS; daughters, Sharon, Halifax; Carol (Russell) Hazelden, West Dover, NS; son-in-law, Bill Plaskett, Halifax.

My husband, John Herrgott, passed away suddenly from an aortic dissection this past month. This condition is hard to detect and is a genetic weakness. He was here healthy and active one day and gone the next. So, I am walking this road of grief, which is very tough. He was “68 years young” with a huge, kind heart, and subtle sense of humor. A photographer extraordinaire, we will always have his precious photos to remind us of him and his passion for life. Whenever we needed him, he was always there offering his guidance and wisdom. We will miss him terribly, but he taught us lessons we will carry with us forever! I am blessed to have precious memories from our thirty-three years of a wonderful life. (Sharon O’Neill Herrgott ’59)

This notice appeared in the Globe and Mail [newspaper, Toronto] in November 2007.

“Ruth MacKenzie Laws (Clugston) passed away peacefully in hospital on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 in her 90th year. Beloved mother of Catherine Blake [’64] of Almonte, Michael Clugston [’66] of Hong Kong, Mackenzie Clugston [’68] of Ottawa, John Clugston [’69] of Tokyo and James Clugston [’72] of Ottawa.”

“Not only did she attend CA in the 30’s, her spouse Donald was a trustee. Ruth also worked part-time as an art teacher at CA.” (Evan Bryson ’60)

Our dad, Peter Rasmussen, died yesterday January 29, 2008. Andy [’82] and I [Sam] had just gotten in from San Francisco and Amsterdam and were able to spend previous moments with him before his passing. He had just turned 79. He touched many lives with unconditional acceptance and love, humor and comfort. He was also touched by people and their lives, especially during the 40 years our family spent in Japan. (Sam ’80 and Jon Rasmussen ’90)

“It is with great sadness that I must let you know that Karen Henderson (nee Hunt) ’80 died in December 2007. Karen was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor just over five years ago. She had an operation and received radiotherapy, and in the words of her doctor she was an ‘enigma’ to have survived so long! Karen was independent and lived alone in Ardingly, Sussex, having brought up her two sons James, aged 22, now in Australia, and Christopher aged 20, now in Exeter University in England. She was so brave and strong and never once complained about having this illness or life in general. She was positive, dignified, and very sweet until her sudden death just before Christmas. We miss her so much, and can only accept it was her time and at least she did not suffer any further. She was always so happy to receive her Canadian Academy newsletter in the mail and always interested to read about what any of her classmates were up to!” (Lynne Hunt ’82)

Henrietta B. Alsdorf, former Trustee (1957-1963), passed away in March after a long and healthy life. She was 93 years old.

Henrietta’s tenure as a trustee was highlighted, as the Class of ’63 remembers well, when she arranged to prevent two students from being expelled. During the Class of 1963’s Senior Skip Day, the two students had shared a bottle of beer. When the beer consumption became known, it was strongly suggested that those two students be expelled. However, she intervened to allow the students to graduate, in return for which the entire Senior class participated in repairing and refinishing school desks.

Henrietta is survived by her four sons, John ’59, Fred ’62, Bob ’63, Augie ’66, seven grandchildren including Johan ’88 and Yuri Alsdorf ’92, children of second son Fred, as well as two great-grandchildren. (Fred ’62 and Bob Alsdorf ’63)

Steff Sanvik, former CA Band director and teacher (1983-1988), died February 25, 2008. He went peacefully with his spouse Pat, and daughters Kristin and Tali ’98 at his side. In his final days he got wonderful e-mails from many old friends. Pat read each one to him, and he had many big smiles in his last days. Daughter Tali wrote, “Dad had a beautiful passing as he was surrounded by family and words of love.” (Pat Sanvik, faculty ’83-’88)

Former CA parents Paul and Lee Wimmert write, [Our daughter] Kelly Wimmert (2000-04--5th grade to middle of 8th) will be graduating this year from Loveland High School, Loveland, Ohio. She crewed for the 2003 production of Alice at CA and has continued to crew for plays here in Ohio.”

Victoria Hurd (faculty 2001-2005) writes, “I just had to write you and give you a little small world story. I was at the dentist the other day, in the village of Wyoming, a suburb of Cincinnati, where I now teach.

My dentist is Julia Kinlaw. [The other day when I was at the dentist,] I was having a conversation with a Russian hygienist, and it came up that I lived in Kobe and Luxembourg. Dr. Kinlaw popped in and said, ‘Were you at Canadian Academy?’ and of course, I said, ‘Yes,’ whereupon she asked if I knew Fred Alsdorf. What a small world!”

Pam Piper (faculty 1992-2000) writes, “Gosh! Lots has happened since I left CA. I am now living in Colorado Springs and love it. My grandkids are here. I am subbing in a large school system (Like it!), singing with the Symphony Chorale, and just bought a small home with a yard for the dog!”

Blaine and Christine Lewis (faculty 1960-1967) visited CA in mid-November. They are retired and live in British Columbia in Canada.

The picture on the left shows them with a former student of Christine’s, Elahe Ghadimi ’72, who teaches English in CA’s high school.

Wilma Kresel (Elementary Principal 1964-1992) visited CA in early October 2007. She was in Japan visiting friends. She is pictured here with a former student Jayshree Ramani ’90.

Colleen Cunningham (faculty 1992-1995) visited CA at the end of February 2008. Here she is pictured with Mrs. S. Ryo, her assistant for her three years at CA. Ms. Cunningham and her spouse make their home in Boston where Colleen works as a reading tutor at

the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University.

Richard Tsai ’99 passed away tragically in the fall of 2007.

Morgan O’Hara ’59 site specific wall drawing2.5 m x 2.5 m, ELAC north wall

Text from bottom border of the original drawing:LIVE TRANSMISSION: Movement of Korean gymnast Kim Dae Eun on still rings / score 9.712 / mens all around competition / Athens Olympic Games / 18 August 2004 / seen on TV in New York / O’Hara