Alumni

Richard Engelman '55 writes, “My best remembrance is our bicycle trip through Europe with four students and Mr. Fields, our English teacher. I received an excellent education and next went to Columbia for my college education. I have since made medicine and cardiac surgery my future goal. I was trained at Yale, University of Illinois and NYU. My specialty was developing techniques to protect the heart from injury during cardiac surgery, and particularly developing the approach used universally, called cardioplegia. This has resulted in numerous adventures to meetings in Europe and Asia. I continue to work at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA, where I started the cardiac surgical program in 1978. I am presently Chief of Cardiac Surgical Research. My wife, Janie, and I have three children and seven grandchildren. All of the clan, except one, are located in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York City, so they are considered local. Our son followed in my footsteps as a cardiac surgeon. One daughter is a professional potter, and the other is an attorney. I hope this finds all my classmates healthy and enjoying the passing years.”

Dov Grunschlag '59 is happy to report that he is in good health and lives in San Francisco, where he works as a lawyer, albeit not full-time. He is married with children and grandchildren and enjoys playing chamber music on the clarinet. Dov adds, “My memories of CGPS are all good.”

Jeffrey Silbert '63 is an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University, where he teaches criminal justice and public administration.

Judith Sussman '63 is thoroughly enjoying retirement. She takes annual winter trips to San Miguel, Mexico, and recently visited Japan and Morocco. In addition to traveling, Judith has taken art and theater classes, gone to museums and seen plays with friends and family. She hopes everyone is well and enjoying life, too.

For the past 50 years, Steven Hochhauser '68 has worked as a healthcare executive. He currently lives in Florida, where he has been for 34 years. Steven is married and has three children, three grandchildren and a dog named Lucky.

Patricia (Granat) '70 and Ed Will '70, who met by the lockers at CGPS during their sophomore year, will celebrate 50 years of marriage this coming August! It is one of the many reasons they have such fond memories of their high school years!

Maryan Jaross '71 is still a financial planner in Colorado but has reduced her workload so that she and her family can travel more. She and her partner have three grandchildren, two in Santa Cruz and one in Colorado. At this point, their trips to NYC will probably only be annual. Maryan wishes everyone well!

Jonathan Mishkin '71 writes, “I was sorry to read about the death of Barbara Shipnuck, a former social studies teacher at CGPS from 1964 to 1968. She left CGPS to marry a fellow from California and made a life there. You can read her obit in the Monterey Herald.”

Dan Rosenthal '71, his wife and their many animals — six dogs, three cats, seven ponies and three horses — continue to thrive in Aiken, South Carolina. They have recently been joined by his niece Natasha Rosenthal — daughter of Andy Rosenthal ’73 — her roommate and, yes, more animals. Dan is working as a financial consultant and is in the last year of his third term as president of the American Driving Society, Inc.

The family of Stewart Greisman '73 has grown with two more grandchildren. He and his wife, Lisa, are still practicing medicine on the edge of Hell’s Kitchen.

Val Lippmann Doran '73 and her husband, Dan, are celebrating ten years of pouring and selling wine at events in Southern California for her cousin’s winery, Navarro Vineyards. It allows them to meet amazing people and be in beautiful locations. They also go wine tasting frequently in several wine regions in California. They loved attending the CGPS dinner at Spago last year and meeting alumni from many decades. Val looks forward to having another reunion with the Class of 1973.

Jessica Hentoff '73 continues to work as the artistic/executive director of Circus Harmony. Her alumni can be seen worldwide at or with Cirque du Soleil, Midnight Circus, the Flying Wallendas, NBA halftime shows, WWE and more. Jessica's three biological children — Elliana Grace, Kellin Quinn and Keaton Hentoff-Killian — are also in the circus. Elliana is the general manager at Circus Harmony and has her own one-woman show, This Is Why. Kellin currently appears at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City in the Spiegelworld show The Hook. Keaton is performing in the new Broadway hit musical Water for Elephants! B.J. Scarfone '73, Vivian Ducat '73 and former CGPS faculty Marjorie Ellenbogen and Thomas Gatch have already seen and loved the show. Look for Keaton in the green overalls doing acrobatics, unicycling and wire walking. Check out Circus Harmony online to keep up with Jessica and her flying children!

Mark Weinstein ’74 writes, “I continue swimming competitively even after a 30 year break following college. Recently as a ‘Master Swimmer,’ I competed in an East Coast Colonies Zone meet at Rutgers University, swimming seven events. I did very well overall, beating some of my older times. In two of the events, my relay set New Jersey State records for our age group and also made the top ten times in the nation for 2023. This July, I headed to the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh, PA. I competed in eight swimming events and a triathlon relay. My team was first in the triathlon relay for our age group, winning the gold medal. My best showings in swimming were eighth in a swimming relay, two events twelfth place and one fifteenth place. Hopefully the body will hold up for many years to come.”

Eric Pierce ’77 received the Proctor Medal at the 2023 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Meeting in New Orleans. Eric is the Chatlos professor of ophthalmology and director of the Ocular Genomics Institute at Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear. The Proctor Medal is one of the most prestigious awards in vision science, honoring outstanding research in ophthalmology. The recipient presents the Proctor Award Lecture at the ARVO Annual Meeting. Eric earned recognition for his contributions to understanding the genetic causes of inherited retinal degeneration and developing genetically informed therapies to reduce vision loss from these blinding disorders.

Derek Vazquez '82 lives with his wife and three children in Mamaroneck, NY. He still runs his 34-year-old company, Custom Lighting, which provides full production for nightclubs, concerts, special events and fashion shows.

Nina Hasen '83 writes, “What a complicated time. My personal life is on the upswing as the world courts chaos. I'm getting married to the love of my life in September and taking a much-needed break from work. I've had a wonderful career in global health and am digging into new interests like mycology and foraging. All of this joy is tempered by the existential threat of climate change. The US is finally making progress here, but if we pause for even a moment, we will see temperature rises that make the planet's surface unlivable within a very short period. If you've read this far, thank you!”

Jeremy Vogel '83 writes, “I am still living in Northern Israel with my family. Our community was not evacuated due to the war, but we have front row seats to all that happens along the northern border with Lebanon. After 30-plus years working in agriculture, I decided to change direction and study for a degree in teaching. I am presently teaching English to students in grades 7–12.”

In 2022, Jennifer Allen '84 retired from a 34-year educational career as a history teacher, guidance counselor and school principal. She is keeping busy as a part-time application reader for a university, serving on the executive board of the Parents Association at her daughter’s school and, of course, playing lots of pickleball! Jennifer has two daughters graduating from university this year and one heading off to college in 2025. She has enjoyed seeing many of her fellow alumni at recent events. “Best wishes to all members of the CGPS community!” Jennifer writes.

Debs Hahn '86 says her three kids are all in college now, but her empty nest has yet to become boring. She teaches French at Newton South High School, which keeps her busy. The spicy element of this winter was going on strike for 11 days. Picketing in 10-degree weather is not a recommended bucket list item, but it was an adventure, to say the least. Debs would love to see her fellow alumni if you pass through the Boston area.

The latest novel from Nicholas Kaufmann '87, The Mind Worms, came out in March. It's the third in a series of science thrillers focusing on Dr. Laura Powell, a medical examiner in the Hudson Valley, who, this time, must solve the mystery of a man who was pronounced dead but surprisingly woke up on the autopsy table, only to go missing 48 hours later. He is also the co-host of a new podcast called Spooky Science Lab. It is an all-ages show that focuses on strange but true science facts. Nicholas writes, "I never did well in my science classes at CGPS, but later in life I've grown to find science fascinating!"

Meredith Blake '88 released three films in 2023. She is a producer on the film UnCharitable from director Stephen Gyllenhaal. It features actor Ed Norton, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker and other luminaries of the philanthropic world. UnCharitable was released theatrically in September 2023 and continues to show in theaters and festivals worldwide. Just before the release of UnCharitable, Meredith also served as executive producer on the feature film Mending the Line starring Brian Cox (Succession). She also executive produced the short Forgiving Johnny alongside three-time NBA All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns; it is available on the Time website.

Gabriel J. Shuldiner '90 continues to paint; you can find his latest work on his website.

Justin Blitz '96 has resided in New York City since graduating from George Washington University in 2000. He has a thriving medical malpractice and personal injury trial law firm in Midtown and is happily married to his wife, Jordana. Together, they have two children, Julian and Rosie. Justin keeps in contact with many CGPS alumni, including Terrance Lowenberg ’97, Jake Wong ’96, Todd Cohen ’97, Matt White ’96, Dana Landis Birnbaum ’97 and Robert Rosenberg ’97.

A tale of sibling struggles and strengths, latest picture book from Caron Levis '96, Mighty Muddy Us, is inspired by a real-life elephant family and joins the Feeling Friends collection illustrated by Charles Santoso. Their book This Way, Charlie also won the California Young Readers Medal. Caron attended the California School Library Association Conference to accept and teach her professional development workshop, Reading Emotions, on integrating SEL and literacy skills. Caron dedicates Mighty Muddy Us to her sister, Emily Levis Bleecker ’99, and her niece and nephews. 

Jessica Elias '02 and her family welcomed their second child in August. Cameron and big sister Parker are both doing great! Jessica enjoyed time at home with her family during maternity leave but has now returned to work as a learning specialist and instructional coach in New York City. 

Blair Albom '03 married Max Quinn in October 2023 at the St. Regis in Manhattan. Other  alumni in attendance were Mark Albom '05, Matthew Melinger '03, Max Meltzer '05 and Brian Bishop '03. Blair has been a practicing litigator for over a decade, first at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and now at Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP, where she was recently promoted to Counsel.

After almost eight years in Philadelphia, Ariel Yaroslawitz '03 has relocated to North Jersey with her husband and two boys. They are excited to live closer to the city again and make some day trips to the Big Apple so the boys can explore her old stomping grounds. Mars is 3.5 years old, and Aster is almost 16 months old. Both are enjoying their new town and space. Ariel and her family are keeping busy!

Jessica Savitsky Denker ’04 and her husband Jason, welcomed a son, Jacob "Jake" Ethan Denker, on August 16, 2023, at 1:23 a.m. in Stamford, CT. 

Michael Sonnenshein '04 is the CEO of Grayscale Investments, the world’s largest crypto asset manager. His firm prevailed over the SEC in a public lawsuit that challenged the regulator’s position on Bitcoin and resulted in the introduction of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. market. Michael and the Grayscale team celebrated their pioneering work by ringing the opening bell for their flagship fund, Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (ticker: GBTC) — the world’s largest Bitcoin ETF — on the New York Stock Exchange in March. 

Rebecca Mondre '05 moved to Vail, CO, for the year to teach at a mountain school. She hikes, bikes and snowboards as much as she can.

Cami Ledy '07 earned a Masters of Arts degree in exhibition and experience design from the Fashion Institute of Technology this year. Additionally, she and her fiancée, Don McLean, are getting married on May 11, 2024, at the Ritz-Carlton NoMad.

Sofie Rimler '14 is the star and co-creator of a new Jewish rom-com short called Cut Off. The project is executive produced by two-time Emmy winner Mary Lou Belli and also stars Gina Hecht (Dave), Phil Abrams (Parenthood), Randee Heller (The Karate Kid), Melanie Chartoff (Rugrats) and Hunter Stiebel (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend). Sofie resides in Los Angeles. 

Dana Matarasso '15 graduated from Harvard Business School in the spring.

Dick Israel ’56 shares a few words about classmate Michael Tepper ’56: “Michael Tepper, the only one who had stepped up to the task, had been our class liaison for many years. He carried out that role without much of a salute from his classmates. As far as I know, our class did not participate in any reunions, and I have not seen him since those CGS days. While we were not close, I considered him a faithful classmate and friend. Our graduating class of only 40 — all males, of course — allowed many of us to go out for sports and become team members. I don't know if Mike was on any team, though I suspect he could have been since he was of a sturdy, solid build.  I don't know how many in our class have passed on; I suspect more than a few, as we are all 85-ish now. Mike will be missed for his occasional reaching out to his mates, a voice from our past, fondly remembered.”

Michael Epstein '57, who attended Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School starting in 1953 and was president of the Student Council, died on November 27, 2023, in Boynton Beach, Florida. He had lived in Merrick, Long Island, for many years and raised his family there. He is survived by his beloved wife, Roz, of nearly 60 years; his children, Lauren, Beth Tabak (Jon) and Jonathon; his grandsons, Joshua and Adam Tabak; his sister, Vicki; his brother, Barry; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Stephen and Phyllis Lowe; and many nieces and nephews. To read Michael's full obituary, please click here.

Stephen Barry Hofstadter ’62 passed away at 79 on Sunday, March 23, 2024, surrounded by his family. Stephen was born in Great Barrington, MA, on November 6, 1944, to Warren and Betty Hofstadter. The family lived in West Copake, NY, and Manhattan. Stephen attended high school at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, from where his classmates and he remained friends up until his passing. To read Stephen’s full obituary, please click here.

Ethan Herschenfeld '86 shares a few words about former CGPS teacher Stewart Galanor, who passed away on August 9, 2023: “Stewart Galanor was a remarkable teacher. He was a devoted partner to Nancy and a devoted cat dad to Sneakers, whose photo is in some early '80s CGPS yearbooks. I had him for math three out of my four years of high school and stayed in touch with him afterward. About eight years ago, I took him to see The Book of Mormon when he was already struggling with the horrible symptoms of Parkinson's. When I was teaching during my senior year of college, I spoke with him on the phone, and he gave me some advice: 'Remember, your job is to teach, not to entertain, not to make them like you.' Good advice, but he was always entertaining while teaching, and we ended up loving him in the process. Not to reduce his pedagogy to the quantitative, but in 1986, every one of his AP Calculus BC students got a perfect score on the exam except one — our valedictorian, who just wasn't into math.

Stewart's sister, Janet, suggests the Michael J. Fox Foundation if you'd like to make a donation in his memory. I shared a few memories of Stewart at the beginning of my Instagram live show on the day I heard the news, including moments when he had me and my classmates in stitches. He had a very funny, dark sense of humor. It took some getting used to. The first day of class in ninth grade — before I was used to his saturnine demeanor — he rattled me to the point that I was thinking of switching to another math class and was in tears when telling my father about this teacher on the drive to school down the West Side Highway. I'm glad I didn't switch.”