FAMILIAR FACES (6th edition)



^{Hello DWS Alumni from the 70's and 80's! Welcome to our sixth edition of Familiar Faces. With DWS alumni spanning the globe, we thought it would be fun for you to see what everyone is up to and to have the opportunity to re-connect with your DWS community.}

^{*Note: class years listed are for graduation of the 8th grade and the names following the year are the class teacher at the time of graduation.}

Charlotte Blair

Librarian | 1982-1993

Written by Candyce Sweda

A long time ago, but not so far away, there was a library—well, actually, an empty room in the Detroit Waldorf School, boxes of donated books, some empty shelves - and a woman who could envision a library and had enough energy to create one. This was the birth of the library at the Detroit Waldorf School and the midwife who birthed it: Charlotte Blair.

As with so many things in the early days, there was more energy and enthusiasm than money, so as Charlotte would say, what the heck, let’s get going! After a bit there was a real card catalog; books that were

categorized, cataloged and shelved; a librarian’s desk; a cart for the returned books. Finally, books were ready for borrowing, complete with a pocket pasted on the back cover with a card that would carry the borrower’s handwritten name and due date. And don’t forget the most popular space in the library: the Cozy Corner at the back of the library where students could curl up in one of the bean bag chairs and dream off into another world. The best part of the library, however, was the librarian herself who served up warm smiles and special recommendations to the students who came browsing the shelves.

Charlotte is retired now, and when asked why books and children mean so

much to her she said, “Reading is so powerful: it stirs the imagination and can literally change a child’s life, who they can become and the future they can imagine. Some books may even become a kind of touchstone, reread and relished over different eras in one’s life. I had a student who read Ursula LeGuin’s Earthsea Trilogy as a 4th grader, a high schooler, and a man in his 40’s. Now, that’s powerful.” Charlotte was glad to know that the school’s original library on the first floor is being restored and that her library has become the Handwork classroom, another cozy corner.

Photo captions:

1) The Library, ca 1982

2) Pam Michael, Kristine Altwies and Charlotte Blair, May 2019

Dan Scott | HS Class of 1979

I'm an Attorney Headhunter (recruiter) and have been doing it for 28 years, placing lawyers in law firms. My wife Nancy is a systems analyst at Unisys Corporation. We just moved into our 'Empty Nest' home this September and have been living in the White Lake/Commerce Township area since 1996.

We've been married for 33 years with three sons, Kyle (27) Eric (25) and Jason (22). Kyle is a graduate of CCS and working as a commercial artist at Trevco, Eric just graduated from Wayne State with a degree in music performance and plays the violin, and Jason is attending Oakland University School of Engineering while working full time at a Tier 1 Automotive supplier.

I came to DWS in high school, and was in the first graduating 12th grade class (1979-80) with Astrid Buergin, Beth Krause, Cristina Dinucu and Pat McNulty. After High School I went to Wayne State University and was on the Fencing Team, which won the NCAA Division 1 title 3 times.

My best memories of DWS are playing basketball with Mr. Shook, and a transformative relationship with Mr. Weinberger. He was our orchestra conductor and couldn't tell me anything at first, but by the time I graduated he became a really cool guy. Or, more accurately put, I matured and realized he was a pretty cool guy all along.

Photo caption:

Halloween festivities, ca 1978

Left to right: Dan Scott, Barbara (Robson) Remboski, Pat McNulty, Astrid (Buergin) Brient, Peter Scott, Christina (Dinucu) Stamatin

Photo captions:

1) 6th grade play hat fitting with Mrs. Garrison, 1973

2) Chief of the Fire Investigation Division

Patrick McNulty

Class of 1975 | Dorothy Garrison/Joel Kobran | HS Class of '79

I am currently retired from the Investigation Division with the Detroit Fire Department. My wife and I have two daughters, Jordan (29) who is married and on the mission field in Mexico and Shannon(27) who works in the medical field. 

I entered DWS in the 6th grade with my first introduction to the Waldorf style of teaching by the dearest of teachers Mrs. Garrison, continuing my education through high school graduating in the first 12th grade class of 1979 under the devoted and patient tutelage of John Petering and Theo Buergin. There were many other contributing teachers including Alan MacNair, Mr. Weinberger, and not least of all Mr. Shook (gym class). Also, there was the chef in the basement cafeteria Raschid who provided some very good meals and always a friendly face and light cafeteria banter at lunch time. My Waldorf education exposed me at a young age to my more creative side, and I have multiple instruments in my house that I can actually play (though not as well as I would like). My family would attest that my shading ability is second to none.

After graduation my family moved briefly to the Waldorf campus in Kimberton PA to run a group home for emotionally challenged children and then returned to the Detroit area. I joined the Navy at the age of 19 to enter the Hospital Corpsman program opting to attach myself to the Marine Corps branch of the Navy staying mostly on the dry earth instead of being onboard ships of the fleet. After my four-year enlistment in the Navy finished I returned to Detroit and found another adrenaline rich opportunity by hiring in with the Detroit Fire Department. At that time arson and fires were numerous and “Devils Night” fires were out of control. After nearly 10 years of firefighting and smoke immersion I decided a better career path might be to transfer into the investigation division. This Division of the fire department are all Certified law enforcement officers tasked with fire and explosion investigation and adjudication of crimes involving arson and fraud fires. I was fortunate enough then to have access to some of the best training offered in field of fire investigation provided by local, state and federal government agencies and being involved with such cases as the Latin Count gang war, the Heidelberg Project arsons, and too numerous to count, arson for fraud schemes. My career ended after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60 and culminating in a very satisfying 35 year career as Chief of the Fire Investigation Division.

In all my world travels I would not have ever thought then that my career path would return me to the city of Detroit. I was fortunate enough to see first-hand the multi-cultural differences ebbing and flowing throughout the neighborhoods. The diversity of this city is truly astounding and I was most blessed to serve at a time when I was able to witness the true resurgence and renaissance of the city. 

I recently moved to northwest Michigan and as I follow the news from Detroit, I am so pleased to not have to see stories of terrible fires leading the headlines as they did decades before. I fondly remember my inner-city exposure to attending Waldorf in the Indian Village neighborhood and drove past it many times in my adult life remembering all the people who influenced me in those early years. 

Liza Grossman

Class of '80 | Alan MacNair 

HS Class of '84

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra came to Walter P. Chrysler Elementary School in downtown Detroit when I was 7 years old. They asked this giant room of children who wanted to conduct, and I was chosen! WOW! Talk about a transformation moment. I knew instantly that I wanted to play the violin. I studied at Chrysler, but by the time I got to middle school, the instrumental programs were discontinued. So, I stopped playing. My parents were big advocates for the study of the arts and, recognizing what I needed, were determined to find a school that also saw the value of arts education. After visiting a few schools, The Detroit Waldorf School was clearly where I belonged. Before the start of 8th grade, the new students were invited to the home of Frances and Gerald Altwies – which is where my lifelong friendships with Kristine Altwies, Erin Parish and Melody Moss began.

Alan MacNair was our classroom teacher and the director of the orchestra, and when he realized that I had played the violin, he was focused on getting me back on track. This attention and dedication to music and art was exactly what I needed – and it was the focus of everything we did in the classroom; and as a result, I was fascinated with each subject. I began to see the beauty of communication through art at DWS; the atmosphere was significant in my development. My shyness was overcome with being on stage in a play, moving rhythmically with grace through eurythmics, not being judgmental of my visual art – allowing myself to just draw and paint; playing my violin in chamber groups, in orchestra, receiving empowering lessons with Mr. MacNair – and my friends regularly inspired me with their creativity. The DWS education focused on the individual and it was what I needed to bloom.

I am now a professional musician with several facets of focus: I am the tour conductor for the rock band Styx, artistic director and conductor for Kaboom Collective – a group focused on training for a career in the arts and entertainment industry, a private violin and viola teacher, I play in local orchestras, recording sessions and play and conduct for Broadway and rock shows. My husband Philip and I live in Cleveland Heights, Ohio with our two dogs Toby and Bennie in an artsy bungalow with a buddha vibe - and an incredible piece by Erin Parish hangs on our wall. DWS helped to ensure that art and teaching were a focus in my life, enabling me to create my chosen path.

Photo caption:

The start of 8th grade at DWS, 1979. Taken at the Altwies' house.

Nils Junge

High School Class of 1987

I only attended DWS in 1986 for 11th grade, the year before the High School closed. I spent part of that time with the 12th grade, Claudia Valsi’s class. It was she who invited me to share my story in Familiar Faces. Despite my brief time at DWS, I was a Waldorf student through and through, having previously attended the Toronto Waldorf School since kindergarten. And my parents, Hartmut and Nancy, were an integral part of the Detroit community, where my father served as the Christian Community priest from 1986 to 2007.

Aside from the many friendships and connections I formed during that year, DWS influenced my life’s trajectory in two important ways. First, it was the reason I became an American, for better or for worse! Had I not taken the PSAT and been caught up in the U.S. college application process in 11th grade, I would have gone to college north of the border. And I would probably have remained in Canada for the rest of my life. Second, Paul Gierlach’s superb course on Russian history and literature led me to study Russian at Bowdoin College. I then spent two years at drama school in Russia. While I was there the Soviet Union collapsed, a transformation that spurred my interest in development economics.

I later graduated with an MA from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and pursued an international development career. I now assess whether poor and marginalized populations benefit from international development projects, experience which informs my upcoming book: Who Belongs? An Inquiry into an Unavoidable Question coming out this fall.

I live with my wife, Nevila, in Washington, DC.

Remembering Melody Moss Johnson

8th grade class of '80, HS class of '84

Written by Kristine Altwies

Melody Moss Johnson (September 2, 1966 - April 30, 2020) was a rare DWS lifer. She arrived for the first grade, and remained through 12th, graduating in 1984, with Erin Parish, Kirk Williams and me. Melody was a person whose name most aptly fit. She was a living song, a ray of light, an indefatigably kind and optimistic person. Melody graduated DWS and attended Marygrove College. She planned on becoming a biologist, and instead embraced the joyful role of mother. Melody's daughter Shardae Johnson is Melody's near clone, an equally brilliant, kind, and inspiring person. Melody worked for many years at AT&T and enrolled in college again, a few years ago, determined to finished her degree. In 2018 she completed her associate's degree in business management and dreamed of opening a greeting card shop. Melody was also a proud kidney transfer recipient, and advocated loudly for those in need of medical support. Church, family, friends and community mattered to Melody, but more than anything, she sang the praises of her daughter, her pride and joy. Melody often spoke of her gratitude at having received a Waldorf education and understood the deep bonds it created. Melody Moss Johnson, her sweet smile and her irrepressible attitude changed many lives.

Photo captions:

1) 8th grade in the field across from DWS, ca 1980,

Left to right: Denise (Stevens) Swerden, Alia Newman, Melody (Moss) Johnson, Erin Parish, Kristine Altwies, Deborah Snead. In front: Liza Grossman

2) Melody and Shardae, 2018

Dear Alumni,

To reiterate Charlotte Blair, "Reading is so powerful: it stirs the imagination  and can literally change a child’s life, who they can become, and the future they can imagine."

A small team of us at DWS, including DWS Alum Teacher Francina Graef, are working to bring the school library back to life. It is not currently in use and lacks new, diverse books as well as furniture for students to read and collaborate together. We hope to have it up and running in Fall 2022 for the upcoming school year. 

Every child deserves the opportunity to explore the endless possibilities found on library shelves. I hope you will consider making a gift for our beloved library. With your generous support, we can help get our library back in tip-top shape for all of our students and foster their love of reading! Thank you for your consideration and all that you do for DWS! And a special thank you to Francina Graef for - her vision and guidance - with this important project.

With immense gratitude,

Rachel Ornstein

Director of Development

DWS parent and teacher volunteers working on the library project, fall 2021.

Do you know other alums who might like to join this group?

Can we feature you in an upcoming edition? 

Contact: Claudia Valsi, DWS Alumni Outreach Volunteer Coordinator