Grapevine March 2013
We are sad to report the death of former Miquon librarian, Board President, and parent Jackie Mancall. Her sons Andrew (’69) and Peter (’71) Mancall sent this message: “We are sorry to announce that our parents, Elliott Mancall and Jackie Mancall, have just passed away. He died on January 2 and she passed on February 27. As many of you will likely know, our family has been closely affiliated with the Miquon School since the early 1960s and our parents lived near the school since 1963. In the 1960s Jackie served a stint as president and then, more dramatically, became the school’s librarian, a position she loved. When she left Miquon to pursue a Ph.D. in library and information science at Drexel, Miquon made her an honorary graduate. Her diploma read:
“Know all people by these present that JACKIE MANCALL … For serving Miquon in every capacity other than principal and maintenance; For creating a real library single-handedly and then making that into a media center; For never flinching in the face of the corporate insanity of the state of Pennsylvania; For singing ‘Wait Til the Sun Shines Nellie’ to a bunch of hysterical children; For being an honorary member of the Jamaican Chamber of Commerce and the Mont Tremblant Bureau d’Touriste; And for treating the littlest four year old and the most frazzled teacher as visiting PhD scholars … Is hereby declared an honorary graduate of the Miquon School.”
That beautifully illustrated diploma depicted two kids reading in the library that she helped design. She hung it on a wall in her study with testaments to her other achievements. It remains there still, dwarfing the accolades she later received as a professor at Drexel and president of the American Association of School Librarians. We have asked anyone who wants to make a contribution in memory of Jackie and Elliott to consider directing their generosity towards the Miquon School, which was the non-profit institution to which they were most committed.
With thanks for your thoughts, Andy and Peter.”
Rachel Markley ’74 has worked at collectively run co-ops for the past 22 years, 21 at Mariposa Food Co-op in West Philadelphia, and for the last year as part of the Collective Management at People’s Food Co-op in SE Portland. She and her partner, Bob, have a son named Wade who will be 5 in July. They like to go bike camping. Rachel claims the unusual achievement of having never driven a car!
Delia Raab-Snyder ’94 writes, “I just wanted to let you know, the program that I run in North Philadelphia was recently featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer. Thank you to Miquon for instilling in me such a love of education, empathy for everyone, and a strong sense of community!”
Joshua Wurman ’72 lives in Boulder with his wife and four children. He runs a non-profit meteorology research organization which is active in tornado, hurricane, snow, and other “nice weather” research, operates the Doppler On Wheels (DOW) radars and shows up on television sometimes. “Miquon gave my mind permission to roam free and undisciplined, which has been both a blessing and a curse, but mostly a blessing.”
Sonia Rosen ’90 “We welcomed our son Nadim into the family last April. All if us, including his big sister Kalila, are totally in love! I also completed my Ph.D. In Education last spring (after 10 years at Penn), and I am currently working as an adjunct professor, research consultant, and writing coach as I search for a full time job.”
Rebecca Foxman ’01 helped open and design the menu for Meltkraft Grilled Cheese by Valley Shepherd at the Reading Terminal Market. Check them out online.
Jaji Hulting-Cohen ‘01 has been working on his Master’s in saxophone at U Michigan. He was just accepted into a Carnegie Hall Professional Development Workshop, culminating in his first performance at Carnegie Hall in April.
Erin Davis ’80 writes, “I’ve been an archaeologist in Arizona for the last 16 years. I always did like digging in the dirt! I live with my boyfriend of 10 years, Aaron (yes, we’re the “Aerins”), who is a graphic designer. He is jealous of my “hippy school” experiences and hopes to visit Miquon with me if we’re in the area. I find it hard to explain how lucky I feel to have had such an enriching educational experience so early in life. Miquon encouraged me to enjoy learning and seek out knowledge–something that was not always easy in the subsequent public schools I attended. It sounds like Miquon is continuing the good work. Thank you.”
From Adam Rosenblatt ’96: “I am proud to announce that I married Rachel Decker on January 20, 2013 in Miami, FL where we currently live. Also in attendance at the wedding was another 1996 Miquon graduate, Dan Hershberg, my oldest friend. It appears that Miquon encourages friendships that last! In other news, I will be finishing my PhD at Florida International University later this year.”
Liz (Saidel) Nathanson ’91 recently published her first book, “Television and Post-Feminist Housekeeping: No Time for Mother” (Routledge) Liz is an Assistant Professor, Media & Communication, at Muhlenberg College.
Congratulations to Melanie Gaspari Albahari, who worked in the Development Office at Miquon for several years in the ‘00s. She and husband Ron welcomed baby Sasha Lou into the world on February 22, 2013.
Your news not here? Please contact us with news and information, and we will add it to the next Grapevine.
