For Alumnae

Reunion

Ellis Reunion Weekend: October 4 & 5, 2024

Come experience the renewed energy on our campus during this year’s Reunion Weekend events! All alumnae are welcome with a special emphasis on celebrating milestone years ending in 4 and 9. Join us back on campus to reconnect with old friends, relive fond memories, and commemorate your shared experiences.

ALL ALUMNAE ARE WELCOME

Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge

We are thrilled to kick off the reimagined Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge!

This exciting challenge invites each reunion class to showcase their camaraderie and philanthropy by coming together to make a collective gift to the Ellis Fund with a touch of friendly competition! Last year, in celebration of their 50th Reunion, the Class of 1973 made Ellis history by raising the most money from a single class.

For many alumnae, milestone reunions are a time to increase their usual annual contributions, while for others, it's an opportunity to make their first gift to Ellis. The primary goal of reunion giving is participation, offering the entire class a chance to give back in honor of their special celebration.

Rally your class and demonstrate your Ellis pride by participating in the 2024 Alumnae Cup Giving Challenge. We can't wait to see which class will show the most school spirit and make a lasting difference for current and future Ellisians with their donations. Will it be the class of '74, '09, or another milestone class ending in 4 or 9?

Schedule of Events

Friday, October 4, 2024

Date & Time | Location
Invitees
Event | Description
8:30–9:30 a.m
BENJAMIN R. FISHER GALLERY
 
Open to all classes
Welcome Back Coffee
Start your morning by enjoying coffee and pastries with Head of School Tambi L. Tyler.
9:30–10:30 a.m.
BENJAMIN R. FISHER GALLERY
Open to all classes
5 Essentials with Head of School Tambi L. Tyler
Get to know Ms. Tyler and discover what she can’t live without, what she needs to thrive, and what inspires her as she begins her journey at The Ellis School.
10:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
AUDITORIUM
Open to all classes
Decades Apart, Bonded Forever: Alumnae Sisters
An exploratory panel featuring Ellis alumnae sisters. Meet Ellis sisters through the decades as they support, empower, and inspire each other.
12:00–2:00 p.m.
ALUMNAE HALL
Open to all classes
$15 per person
Reunion Luncheon
Recognition of the Sara Frazer Ellis Awardee, Lucy FATO ’84, and induction of Athletic Hall of Fame Awardees Liz FAY Deegan ’89 and Sara HANEY Stroud ’04. Class photos will be taken at this time by Jenny Stein Photography.
2:00–3:00 p.m.
MEET IN BENJAMIN R. FISHER GALLERY
Open to all classes
Tour of Campus
Find out what has changed, has stayed the same, and may be in the works since you graduated as you walk through the halls of your alma mater. Led by a Touring Tiger (student ambassador), you’ll hear firsthand what it’s like to be an Ellis student circa 2024!
3:00–4:00 p.m.
FRED C. BABCOCK LIBRARY
Open to all classes
Empower Hour
Celebrating the evolution of The Ellis School experience for students of color and providing updates about future plans and space to share your experience. Co-led by Dr. Denise LaRosa, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Ellis, and Janessa BENN Dukes ’09.
5:30–7:30 p.m.
CAMPUS-WIDE
Open to all classes
Family Fall Festival
Pumpkins, bounce houses, face painting, food, and fun for the entire family. The Ellis Parent Association hosts this event, and it is open to the entire community. Admission and activities are free.
Evening
Open to all classes
Class Parties
Alumnae celebrating milestone years are invited to Class Parties*, while those not marking a milestone year are invited to join us for dinner at several restaurants throughout Pittsburgh.

*Contact your Class Representative for more information on your Class Party.


Saturday, October 5, 2024

Date & Time | Location
Invitees
Event | Description
10:00–11:00 a.m
ELLIS COURTYARD
 
Open to all classes
Gentle Yoga Flow
Enjoy a fresh start to your morning in the Ellis courtyard with a rejuvenating yoga session.
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
BENJAMIN R. FISHER GALLERY
Open to all classes
Where There's a Will, There's a Way
A luncheon focused on how legacy support can shape the future for generations of Ellis students. We will cover essential topics such as planned giving, bequests, estate planning, and life insurance gifts, along with various opportunities to support Ellis today.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
ART HISTORY ROOM
Open to all classes
Exploring the World of Creativity
Delve into the fascinating world of art history with visual arts faculty member Sara Sturdevant.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
ALUMNAE HALL
Open to all classes
Ellis Robotics Team Open House
Come and witness the Ellis Robotics Team in action coached by Upper School Physics Teacher, Samuel Rauhala.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
FINE ARTS BUILDING
Open to all classes
Molding Magic
Stop by and put your hands to work creating a ceramic masterpiece with Visual Arts Department Chair Peter Barbor.
2:00–3:00 p.m.
FRED C. BABCOCK LIBRARY
Open to all classes
Alumnae Book Club
Come and enjoy an engaging discussion about The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride with English Department Chair Dr. Anna Redcay.
7:00–9:30 p.m.
PORTAL ART GALLERY AT BAKERY SQUARE
Open to all classes
$20 per person
Cocktail Reception
The culminating event to celebrate all Ellisians. Heavy appetizers and drinks will be served. Alumnae are welcome to bring a guest. This is an adult-only event. 


Reunion Weekend Information

Frequently Asked Questions

List of 4 items.

Award Recipients

List of 2 items.

  • Sara Frazer Ellis Awardee

    Lucy FATO '84 is General Counsel & Corporate Secretary of Seaport Entertainment Group, currently a division of Howard Hughes Holdings. Previously, Lucy was Vice Chair of AIG from October 2023 until March 2024. Prior to that, she was AIG’s General Counsel and Global Head of Communications & Government Affairs since October 2017. Prior to AIG, Lucy was Head of the Americas and General Counsel of Nardello & Co., a global private investigative firm, where she remains a member of the Advisory Board. In 2014 and 2015, Lucy was General Counsel of McGraw-Hill Financial (now known as S&P Global) and for nine years prior to that she was Deputy General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Marsh McLennan. Lucy began her legal career at Davis Polk & Wardwell where she spent fourteen years as a capital markets lawyer, including five as a Partner in the Corporate Department. Lucy serves on the Advisory Board of the Harvard Law School Center on the Legal Profession and on the Board of the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

    Read More About Lucy Here
  • Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees

    The Ellis School's 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees are Liz FAY Deegan ’89 and Sara HANEY Stroud ’04.

    Liz FAY Deegan ’89
    , an Ellis Lifer who played field hockey and lacrosse, credits Ellis with instilling lessons of hard work and resilience that served her well throughout her time at the School and long afterward. After Ellis, Liz attended Miami University of Ohio where she played four years of club lacrosse and served as president of the club for two years. She earned a Masters in Education, and began coaching softball shortly after at Canfield High School. She later taught English and coached field hockey and lacrosse at Hudson High School. One of her proudest moments was assisting the varsity field hockey team to the state championships in 1998, where they came in second place.

    After her time at Hudson High, Liz worked for an organization called Facing History and Ourselves, a human rights organization for educators. She later joined John Carroll University’s Center for Service and Social Action, where she ran educational programs called We the People and Carroll Reads, a program that connected college tutors with students in high poverty neighborhoods to work on reading or civics. She continued coaching a youth lacrosse program, bringing together kids from many different schools, races, and religions.

    Her career also included a stint in publishing; in 2017, her husband published former NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar’s memoir Learning to Scramble and she handled Bernie’s public appearances and book signings around the Cleveland area. The following year, she took on the role of Executive Director of Advantage Cleveland Tennis and Education, providing opportunities for kids to learn the sport of tennis while being supported academically. She currently lives in University Heights, Ohio with her husband Greg and their children Kate (25), Sydney (23) and Sam (18).

    Sara HANEY Stroud ’04 began her Ellis athletic career in fifth grade, when she first played field hockey and fell in love with the sport. She continued playing field hockey throughout Middle and Upper School, helping to lead the Ellis field hockey team to win the WPIAL Championship twice. Sara was recruited to play field hockey at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where she was a four-year starter and won their conference twice during her tenure. After college, Sara earned her master’s degree in accountancy at Rhodes College and worked as an accountant in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., before finally moving back to Pittsburgh with her husband Kelvin and daughters Millie (5) and Elizabeth (2) in 2022. She currently has
    her own accounting practice and coaches Middle School field hockey at Ellis. Her daughter Millie is in the Lower School at Ellis, and Sara feels like her life has now come full circle being back at Ellis as a parent and coach.

Reunion Weekend Attendees and Class Representatives

Check out who’s registered for Reunion Weekend! This page will be updated each week on Friday afternoon. If you believe you have registered but do not see your name, please contact development@vbj4.com.

If you don’t have a Reunion Representative for your class year and would like to be one, please contact alumnae@vbj4.com to become one!

List of 28 items.

  • Class of 1944

    Class Representative:
    Ruth SHAFFER Loughney-Mook
  • Class of 1949

    Class Representative:
    Barbara MAYNARD Hattemer
  • Class of 1954

    Class Representative:
    Betsy BOSHELL Potter
  • Class of 1957

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Hannah BRUSH VanHorn
  • Class of 1959

    Class Representative:
    Ellen McCASLIN Srodes
  • Class of 1964

    Class Representative:
    Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Susan SCHEINMAN Leonard
    Martha ABRAMS Broderick
    Margaret GARVIN Snyder
    Michelle HERWALD
    Maggie STECK Jarboe
    Eileen HALPERN Lane
    Laurie LONGENECKER
    Susan STEVICK
    Punky SCHAEFER Rogér
    Sally FOWLER
    Terry CHAPMAN
  • Class of 1969

    Representative Still Needed! 
  • Class of 1974

    Class Representative:
    Meg PROPST Bernard

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Mildred GOLDSMITH Palley
    Meg PROPST Bernard
    Veronica ROCHER Schmerling
    Kate STEPHENSON
    Julie STARK
    Peggy HILLIARD Martin
    Ann SCULLY
    Fleur FAIRMAN
    Eve GORDON
    Betsy DAVIS Banks
    Meg PROPST Bernard
    Carrington SCHACH North
    Marnie WRIGHT
    Jane MALTER O'Neill
    Emma MCCAGG
  • Class of 1979

    Class Representative:
    Annamaria FATO

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Annamaria FATO
    Anne MAGNUSSEN Lockhart
    Jean THOMPSON Bird
  • Class of 1981

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Mary Lou FOLEY
  • Class of 1984

    Class Representative:
    Lucy FATO

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Karla VANHORN Mihm
  • Class of 1987

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Louise Kay CHILDS Woodside
  • Class of 1989

    Class Representative:
    Stephanie MATTA Lambert

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Diane MEGO
    Liz FAY Deegan
  • Class of 1994

    Class Representative:
    Rebekah HUGHEY

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Rebekah HUGHEY
  • Class of 1995

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Colleen DAILY Simonds
  • Class of 1999

    Class Representative:
    Alicia KACHMAR

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Kate DAVIS Booker
    Brooke GENERETT Ware
    Regina WILSON
    Sarah JORDAN Rosenson
    Katherine FISHER Martinez
    Jocelyn RICASA
  • Class of 2000

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Abby SADOWSKY Bolton
  • Class of 2001

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Corinne MCGINLEY Smith
    Whitney PATROSS
  • Class of 2003

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Julianne CUTRUZZULA Beil
  • Class of 2004

    Class Representative:
    Lorrie KIGER

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Sara HANEY Stroud
    Ilana VALINSKY
    Meagan KRUMAN
    Lorrie KIGER
    Lizzy DEVITA
    Yana CHUDNOVSKY Warshafsky
    Emily SCHMIDLAPP
    Whitney RUFFIN
    Hannah SPIEGEL Krohner
    Natalie CASTAGNERO
    Adelaide BYRUM
    Lizzy DEVITA
    Tanya RYZIK Portny
    Susan STALEY
  • Class of 2005

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Julie GEORGE
    Jessica BOPP Dawson
    Kristen WALTER Sobel
  • Class of 2008

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Alessandra HARTKOPF
  • Class of 2009

    Class Representative:
    Jennifer HEINAUER

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Sarah MISTICK
    Bridget BYRNE Lewandowski
    Margaret SCHERVISH
    Anne HAZLETT Witherspoon
    Bonnie WEST
    Janessa BENN Dukes
  • Class of 2011

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Cheryl STEPHENS
  • Class of 2012

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Eleanora KALOYEROPOULOU
  • Class of 2014

    Class Representative:
    Eliza JIMENEZ

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Thalia CHRYSANTHIS
    Inori SAKAI
    Sarah WOLFE
    Maura SAXON
    Ashna SHOME
    Rachel COOPER
    Kamran HARPER
    Olivia PARKS
    Natalie SCHULHOF
    Emily YARUSS Culley
    Sarah MITCHELL
    Elizabeth KYSEL
    Eleni CONTIS
    Kristin COBBS
    Serena MANI
  • Class of 2019

    Class Representative:
    Kat FERENCE

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Helen LUFFY
  • Class of 2020

    Attending Reunion 2024:
    Natalie GRAF

Stay Connected

Update your contact information to connect and communicate with Ellis all year long. From our alumnae newsletter, alumnae Instagram account, and private Alumnae Facebook group, to the Ellis Magazine, we want you to stay in the know on all things Ellis. We’re also posting and Instagramming campus life seven days a week, so give us a follow, like, or retweet next time you’re browsing your feeds!

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