RE Log Fall 2019

4 Ransom Everglades LOG FALL 2019 From the Pagoda “Look at that Ransom Everglades education at work,” gushed Academy Award winner Phil Lord ’93 as he described sister Annie Lord ’97 ’s work as executive director of Miami Homes for All, a nonprofit dedicated to finding affordable housing solutions in Miami-Dade County. “Phil,” responded Annie, “has the same values.” Values that were incubated around the dinner table in the Lord home and that grew at Ransom Everglades. Recipients of the Ransom and Swenson cups, respectively, both graduates have gone on to stretch boundaries in their adult lives, becoming hugely successful at what matters most to them. The theme of this magazine is “rise.” Excitement grows as the STEM Center rises, its opening anticipated this spring. Months of site preparation, laying the foundation and the disruption associated with the largest single building project in the school’s history will soon be a memory when our students and faculty fill the halls, classrooms and laboratories. The rise of the STEM building is not unlike the lives of those people and programs featured in this magazine. Their rise gets our attention, but it’s the foundation that matters. Much of that foundation was built at Ransom Everglades. Phil Lord ’93 made us proud this year when he earned an Oscar for his latest movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse . In that animated adventure, Phil and his creative partner Christopher Miller summoned an Afro-Latino teen to be their masked superhero. When Miller accepted the award he said that the movie made the viewers “feel powerful and seen.” Words that resonate at Ransom Everglades where we empower our students, making certain that they are seen and heard. You will enjoy the story behind the movie and Phil’s meteoric rise in filmmaking. (See page 6.) He is a product of a principled and fun- loving family and benefitted from an outstanding education that helped harness his “explosive creativity” without dampening his passion. At Alumni Weekend last April, we presented Lili Krech Neale ’69 RE’s annual Head of School’s Award. In the 50 years since her graduation, Lili has been a constant catalyst for support for our school, volunteering her time, rallying her classmates and sharing her stories. She is also one of the most sincere and compassionate people you will ever meet. Matt Margini, a member of our English faculty, explores her fascinating family history and extensive RE roots in a story that begins on page 14, providing insight into what has turned her into not only the deeply loyal Everglades alumna that she is but also a pioneer in transcultural nursing. Rise The rise of the STEM building is not unlike the lives of those people and programs featured in this magazine. Their rise gets our attention, but it’s the foundation that matters.” “ A strong foundation allows RE alumni to rise