Purnell Alumnae

What a great time to be alive, when Purnellies can virtually connect via Zoom across the years and across the miles! Come for the laughs, to share memories and connect with alumnae around the country - and world. It's casual - just drop in! Former faculty are invited, too. 

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Click to request Zoom link. Include your full name and class year.

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​2025 ZOOMS

​Happy Hour Zoom - "Universal Promise & the Way Forward"
Sunday, April 27 – 7:30 pm East Coast time​

6:30 Central / 5:30 Mountain / 4:30 Pacific

Founder Martha Cummings brings us up to speed with the fabulous work UP does in South Africa and what Purnell can do to take it further. Click for website to learn how you can change a student's LIFE!

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ZOOMING BACK… 

​Happy Hour Zoom - "A Tribute to Diane Armstrong" 2/16/2

What a wonderful Happy Hour Zoom - though it took 90 minutes just to melt the tip of the iceberg of love we were bestowing on Diane Gressly Armstrong, who worked at Purnell from 1978-1996. Originally hired by Jim Carney as the School Nurse, she eventually headed the counseling program and the new Peer Leadership program. So great to see so many faculty and alum, and Diane & Rich's daughter, Jane! Let's see...Claire Candler Carruth '79, Tina Olney, RN '79, Hillary Wall Ginas '80, BZ Churchman '80, Annie deCompiegne Lutz '81, Lisa Jo Hurbaugh '82, Anne Sekelsky '82, Cathy Del Colle '85, Haruko Terasawa '85 (from Tokyo!) Sarah Gammill '88, Diane Clark '89, Ilyana Kadushin '89, Bonner Boynton '91, Carey Andaya '93, Alex Lyon '93, Molly Wetmore Khammanivong '94 and lots of faculty! Elena Michelson, Martha Hirschman, Peter & Mary Pierson, Anne Lemke, Maria Bowditch, Diane White & Peter Fish, Meryl Brownstein, Jeannie Forster ('76), Peter H. Ross, Sarah Rowland ('85), and Gail Mardfin!

 

Besides the smiles, love, and laughter everyone remembered about Diane, the Peer Leadership Program was mentioned several times. That was the brainchild of Diane & Pete Ross, and Bill Moran gave it his blessing. A wonderful addition to an already wonderful school. Diane went on to start a similar program at the middle school in Bernardsville she worked at as school nurse for 11 years. In 2012, the Armstrongs moved to Maine, close to Jane's family, including two young adult granddaughters.

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The gathering was recorded. If you'd like the link & password, email purnellsite@gmail.com

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Happy Hour Zoom - "Performing Arts"  1/19/25

A wonderful Zoom focusing on the Performing Arts, at Purnell and since, with folks from the East coast, the West coast, and Colorado. Thanks, Ilyana Kadushin '89 for moderating. Pictured: Gail Mardfin FF, Claire Candler Carruth '79, Amy Isler '12, Ellen Treffly Coyne '89, Bill Vickery FF & Gallia Gallia Kuharsky Vickery (dance FF), Michele Petronella Walsh (dance FF), Lucia Lynn Acitelli '96, Marcy Everett Voelkel '84, Kathy Barnes '85 (aka Peter Pan), Myrna Sirleaf '85, and Leslie Vanderpool '89. Several went on to careers in PA, teaching and/or performing or are appreciate audience members and shower singers!

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Happy Hour Zoom – "Return to the 90s"   10/20/24

​​Terrific turnout!  At least one person from nearly every year, plus seven former faculty including Diane DePriest (FF) and Yuka Ezaki Imonawa '93 all the way from Japan (where it was 8am! From 1990: Katie Pemberton*, Nicole Moon Ginty, Katie Baker Wooten. From 1991: Bonner Boynton*, Jennifer White Frey, Lizette Perez Vazquez, (Caroline) Coco Abayda.From 1992: Allison Yontz Skunda*, Christine Robbins Lynch  From 1993: Izzy Percy*, Carey Andaya, Carolyn Sandel, Renee Suss Keidman, & Yuki. From 1994: Molly Wetmore Khammanivong. From 1995: Tracy Coy Williams. From 1996: Bridget Gallagher*.  From 1997: Farley Rentschler, Dru Torian-Hickman*. From 1998: Shea Meadow Jackson, Emily Burke Waters, Kyra Lynch Terrell, Kelli McCoy Nettles. From 1999: No One - Sad face. Some old-timers came too! Claire Hiam Telford '79 & Charlotte Ramsey Chaney '87.

Besides Diane DeP, Former Faculty included: Tracy & Mark Blaisdell, Sarah Rowland '85, Dan Kramer, Gail Mardfin, and Pete Ross.  (* indicates Class Rep / Class Rep needed for 1994!)

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Everyone expressed how great it was to see all those familiar faces and it was amazing to hear the full lives everyone was leading full of jobs and families (and kids, whether 2-footed or furry). Alum expressed what a difference Purnell had made in their lives, sometimes apologizing for the grief they had put faculty through (!), and Pete extended thanks to the Purnellies and the tremendous growth and impact they had had on the faculty.  A growth-filled time for all.