FAMILIAR FACES (9th edition)



^{Hello DWS Alumni from the 70's and 80's! Welcome to our ninth 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.}

The Legacy of Ruth Schwan

by Candyce Sweda

Although retired now in Florida, Ruth Schwan was the school’s Executive Secretary for many years and could honestly be said to be the glue that held the school together. From the bookkeeper’s back office to the bandaid drawer at the front desk, the Office was Ruth’s undisputed territory, and her persona filled that entire space. While a tiny woman, her presence was palpable. Each and every day her hair was perfectly coiffed and her wardrobe freshly pressed and ready for action. Her blue eyes swept everywhere and observed everything to assure a smooth running of the day.

Ruth’s private office was the Inner Sanctum. Her desk faced out into the larger office area so that she could invite you in or ask that you wait outside her door. The day’s work was neatly stacked on her desk near her Selectric typewriter and telephone—and her can of Lysol which was ready to ward off any invasions of flu or cold germs floating around. Her office was the sanest place in the school: a place where confidences could be expressed, where advice could be given with directness and kindness, where the angst of a parent could be redirected to understanding, and where a splinter could be removed from a tearful and fearful child.

Through it all, Ruth was unflappable and treated everyone with respect and kindness. All one needed to do was to visit Ruth to know that the school would be safe and make it through the day. She provided the stability, good sense, dignity, impeccable conscience and sense of humor that a good parent provides—healthy boundaries that create guardrails to keep one out of trouble. One also knew not to cross Ruth or to do something unprofessional. On those occasions sparks would fly out of her blue eyes and a very pointed but cryptic comment would be delivered. For example, if you might be getting too cheeky she might tartly reply, “Be careful. You can’t take that back once it crosses your lips!”

Our dear, beloved Ruth is remembered for being what is today called a Servant Leader. From the first hours of her day running all of the drinking fountains so that the water was fresh for the children or the last hours of her day calming an anxious parent or teacher, our Ruth was dedicated, professional and loved by everyone in the school. What larger legacy could any of us leave?

Photo captions:

Office staff in 1976

Ruth with Theo Buergin at the 25th anniversary celebration, October 1991

Valerie Barnett Strickert

Class of 1974 | Theo Buergin

Greetings! I am honored to be able to share with you a little about my journey from DWS to the present – a VERY little!

I was in Theo Buergin’s/Carol Fulmer’s first class that was, when I arrived in 1971, a combination of 6th and 7th grade. I was in the 7th grade, along with Vita Fields, Ralph Harris, and James Rose. Everyone else was in 6th grade. I had come from a local Catholic school that was being closed, and Dina Winter and Amelia Wilhelm gave me a scholarship. After my first year there, my mom, Mrs. Barnett, became the phys. Ed. Teacher. There was no high school at DWS at the time. Again, because of the generosity of Dina, Amelia, and some of my teachers, I was blessed to attend High Mowing (boarding school in NH) for high school. I graduated from HMS in 1977.

After a minute at Wayne State, I got married, had 3 kids and ran a construction company with my Israeli-born husband. With the economic downturn in the 80s, we moved to Atlanta, GA, where my first husband died in a construction accident in 1990. I remarried, and eventually finished my undergraduate degree at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA with a BA in Religious Studies. My time in Atlanta was amazing, as I was able to sing with Robert Shaw, at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and in the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympics. We recorded 18 CDs and won 2 Grammys while I was there. It was amazing to be a part of that organization.

At some point, I felt called to the ministry, so I attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and in 2004 was ordained in the ELCA (Lutheran Church). I have served congregations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, Massachusetts, and am currently serving in Dover, DE. As of yesterday, I am now a candidate for the MA in Digital Theology from Spurgeon’s College, UK (as a part-time distance learner). I’m excited to be learning about ministry on the “front lines” of the 21st century.

I remember my time at DWS fondly, and think about the friends I made there, some (thanks to Facebook) I am reunited with even now. I especially remember music classes, when Mr. Buergin would prance around the room playing the ukulele, or playing the recorder with Mrs. Deaver and even having a group that would travel around playing for concerts at other schools and at the DIA. I was only a student there for 3 years, but after graduation, I was involved with many people from the Teacher Training Institute, people who went on to found other Waldorf schools, and other DWS students for whom I babysat who have grown up and become parents themselves – hard to believe…

Photo caption:

With my "kids" (left to right) Evan, Arielle and Andrea who wanted to see where I grew up, July 2022.

Barbara Robson Remboski

Class of 1976 | Carole Rose

HS Class of '80

I am newly an empty-nester, contemplating what’s next. Before children, I was a technical writer, at DEC in Boston and at Ford Motor Co in Dearborn Powertrain. My husband is an engineer who invents engine sensors and more, and he traveled so often at short notice, I stayed home with my kids and volunteered at church and school. My daughter Margaret, 27, BFA Drama NYU, is living and working in NYC. My son James, 21, is at Rutgers Newark Business School, graduating next year. They had the good fortune to go to Waldorf schools K-12, in Michigan and Ohio. It was a trip taking my daughter to DWS, the same school I attended, and seeing artwork that Astrid Buergin and I had made in the stairwells and classrooms.

After graduating the High School class of 1980, I went to Camphill Tonsberg Norway for a year, then started at University of Michigan. I met my husband in my first semester and his last. We married and I finished college at Boston University. (BA English; all I ever wanted to do was read and talk about books, still that way - recent favs are ‘1491’ by Mann, the Phrynne Fisher books by Greenwood, ‘Blue Plate Special’ by Christensen, ‘Hissing Cousins’ by Peyser.) I live in Ann Arbor now, and enjoy all the performances and lectures and festivals I can attend in this university town.

I feel lucky to be a Waldorf grad. I had wonderful teachers, Frank Hall, John Petering, Theo Buergin, Ed Shook, Ann Bickel, Bruce Weinburger, Frances Altwies, Francina Graef, and Carole Rose. We also had great visiting teachers: Dr. Otto Wolff, who got a cut sheep’s head from Greektown so we could see the glands and optic nerve, Norman Davidson on the stars and skies, the Art history teacher from Holland whose wife gave us a harpsichord concert, Dr. Yates Hafner for Shakespeare. At the 35th Anniversary (2001), Mr. Buergin read us a letter from his student, William Richardson: “Because of you, I am not afraid to learn new things.” Yes, I also feel that same gratitude for my Waldorf teachers. 

Thank you for the newsletters. It’s fun to read them, and catch up.

Captions:

1) Hallie Jones, Barbara, Shirley Duncan, HS class of 1980 including Audrey McKenna, who took the photo

2) Barbara, Veronica Webb and Audrey McKenna, 1979

Jennifer Morris

Class of 1983 | Paul Gierlach

HS Class of '87

I attended K-12, graduating from 8th grade in 1983 and with the last 12th grade class in 1987. Over the years I had several teachers starting with Mrs. Robson in kindergarten (Bluebird), Mrs. Ogle in 1st through 3rd grade, Mr. Buergin in 4th through 6th grade, Paul Gierlach in 7th through 8th grade and into High School. I then pursued an undergraduate degree (BS) from Michigan State University in urban planning with a minor in economic development, and an MPA (Masters in Public Administration) from Walden University. While my college transition came with some challenges, my Waldorf education prepared me to take on roles that my younger self would never have anticipated. I was well-prepared to think outside the box, pivot whenever necessary, and I often found myself seeking challenges that others shirked away from. 

Public speaking has been an important part of my career working for or with government agencies. Who knew that the plays and performances from my childhood would help to shape my professional choices! Some of my fondest memories are looking out from the stage while playing Peter Quince in A Midsummer Nights Dream (8th grade), Elaine Harper in Arsenic and Old Lace (12th grade), and the too numerous to count orchestra performances. 

I remain interested in many of the same things which captivated me as a child, including music, knitting, crocheting, and needle point, but my true passion has become gardening. While I have always loved food, in particular anything ethnic, I find that cooking using the fruits of our labor is so rewarding. We have a 600 square-foot garden in the back yard of our 2.8 acres. Feeling the dirt between my fingers and toes sends me to my happy place. Starting a farm stand has been something we have contemplated due to the frequent overabundance of veggies, but in the meantime we share with both family and friends. If anyone is ever in the Clark Lake area, please feel free to come harvest in our garden! 

Photo captions:

1) Reunion with 8th grade classmates in April 2022. Left to right Jason Fisher, Drew Moeller, Neal Newman, David Olmstead, Chris Vaneman and Claudia Valsi

2) Visit to the DIA (left to right) David, Chris, Claudia and Drew

3) Jennifer's garden, see video here

Remembering Irene Robson 1930-2017

Bluebird Kindergarten teacher

Written by Barbara Robson Remboski

Irene came to the Detroit Waldorf School from Camphill Copake NY, Camphill Botton England, and Camphill Newton Dee Scotland. She worked as a nurse and social worker and child legal advocate in Germany before training in Camphill to teach Early Childhood in the Waldorf schools. 

She dug a garden in her new backyard in Michigan before unpacking, to plant the biodynamic grapes she had carefully brought from Camphill. She loved teaching, and being with the children, and also her adult students in the evening classes she taught at the Waldorf Teacher Training Institute. She enjoyed a good action movie or show but thought Dr. Seuss was mean-spirited. She came up with a picture to help Brits and Germans appreciate the American Santa Claus: “Santa Claus is the embodiment of the love all adults feel for all children.” Her house was always open for guests, whether family or colleagues; she often brought other conference attendees home with her.

After Detroit, Irene and her sons Mark and Steve, moved to Taos, New Mexico, for Steve’s asthma (Barbara stayed in Michigan at the university). They built a wood-paneled passive solar extension to her modest house, heated otherwise with wood (yes, of course, she chopped her own wood, but she preferred to trade bread or knitted toys for it). She grew an oasis in the high desert, with trees, sunflowers, grapes, herbs, flowers, whatever would grow. She worked at the Taos Hospital and mentored the local Waldorf-inspired schools. She knit wonderful “Story Walker” doll-finger puppets for fundraisers. 

Our family gathered at her house for Christmas almost every year, until the grandchildren suggested it was easier to fly Oma to us. She loved to sing, tell the children stories, and made lovely table puppets.

At 81, she declared it was time to move to a care home. She chose RS Fellowship in NY. Sadly, she had memory issues and couldn’t enjoy the study groups as she had planned, but she received very good care. Barbara got to visit her every other month. Irene crossed the threshold February 23, 2017 peacefully in her sleep.

Irene and Philip had 3 children, who attended DWS. Barbara was in Carole Rose’s class and the HS; Mark was in Leona Gagliardi’s class and the HS; Steven was in Erica Gessner’s class, before she married Dietrich Asten (N.B., they legally changed their name to remove the von), then he had Alan MacNair as teacher, and HS in Taos. Philip had a (second) heart attack at 61, and crossed the threshold in April 1991. Mark’s daughter, Joely, and his stepdaughter, Chloe, attend DWS currently. 

Photo captions:

1) Irene in her 20's

2) Irene and Philip, ca. 1980

3) Irene with Mark (on the left), her sister Ellen, Steve, Barbara, Christmas ca. 1986

4) Irene, December 2013

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