RE Log - Spring 2020

60 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2020 Class Notes Phil Cassel continues as co-chair of the Young Benefactor Circle (YBC) for The Fund for RE. YBC gifts help ensure that all promising students have access to an RE educa- tion regardless of financial circumstances. Young Benefactors are graduates between the classes of 2002 and 2019 who give at a leadership level of $1,500 for RE’s financial aid program. Since 2011, 183 Young Benefactors from 20 class years have contributed more than $800,000 to financial aid at Ransom Everglades. This generosity shows the strength of the young alumni community, which is making RE the extraordinary place that it is today. This year’s Young Benefactor Circle event was hosted by Lisa and Victor Mendelson and Lindsey Mendelson ’14 in their beautiful Coconut Grove home. Thomas Willis ’04 was the evening’s featured speaker. He shared his per- sonal journey through RE as a financial aid recipient. YBC committee members L-R back row: Arturo Pedroso ’03, Phil Cassel ’03, Thomas Willis ’04, Jacques Holzmann ’07, Brian Moore ’08 . L-R front row: Hillary Hertzberg ’05, Rachel Greer Narvaez ’99, Marissa Schwartz Gimelstein ’06 and Cristi Sanchez ’06. Not pictured Amanda Saiontz Gluck ’03, Alex Markel ’04 and Marissa Stamler Candida ’06 . To learn more about YBC, contact Melissa Bonafonte at mbonafonte@ransomeverglades.org . Charlotte Joseph Cassel and Phil Cassel welcomed their newest addition to the family, Abraham Louie, on January 21, 2020. IMPORTANT ALUMNI LINKS Visit them for updated information RE Alumni Webpage : www.ransomeverglades.org/alumni Facebook Page: Ransom Everglades Alumni Page LinkedIn Page: Ransom Everglades School Alumni Jenny Gragg Carson , a member of the RE Humanities Department, continu- ally sets an example for RE students by leading efforts to give back to the Miami community. Jenny served again as the faculty liaison for St. Alban’s Day, and she also served as the main contact for the collection of hurricane relief items for The Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. Below see some of the magic from St. Alban’s Day. Decades later, it is still a favorite RE tradition. Also see Ryan Holtzman ’00 . Jessica Shore Pomeraniec , a partner at the law firm of Chepenik Trushin LLP in North Miami, focuses her practice on estate planning and trust and estate administrations. Michael Toccin and his wife Alex officially launched TOCCIN.com in September, following up on their success with the digital platform Stylists to a T. Their goal was to create a line of seam- less clothing options for women that is versatile, comfortable, flattering and size inclusive. They offer a “signature modern stretch fabric” designed to offer “univer- sally flattering fits and comfort, while their designs take classic silhouettes and infuse them with pops of personality, resulting in timeless, approachable style that makes women look and feel their best.” 2004 Class Agents: Andrew Cummings, (andrewcummings107@gmail.com ) , Alexander Markel (Alex.markel13@gmail.com ) , Natalie Skaf (Njskaf@gmail.com) , Thomas Willis (twillis@ransomeverglades.org) Ben Marcus writes, “ Nick Aguilar, Cat Naclerio, Erica Sigel and I reunited at the newly opened Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colo., where we saw bluegrass headliners Greensky Bluegrass along with Cat’s favorite new band, Ghost Light.” Jossie Stern-Liddell and her hus- band Andrew welcomed a new baby girl, Jordan Brooke, on October 9, 2019. Big sister Logan loves her new Baby Jordy! Marcos Azar , see Michiel “Monkey” van de Kreeke ’88