Winter 2008 - Sacred Heart Schools

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Long Lasting Friendships Friends Max Etchemendy (SHP ’02), Tommy Nourse (SJSH ’98, SHP ’02), Stephanie Lee (SHP ’02) and Amarnath Santhanam (SHP ’02) in front of the Main Building. G raduation from high school can strain some of the best friendships, but in the case of four members from the class of 2002 Sacred Heart Prep, theirs has survived and is growing into something deeper as they share a house together in East Palo Alto. For Tommy Nourse (SJSH ’98, SHP ’02), Amarnath Santhanam (SHP ’02), Max Etchemendy (SHP ’02) and Stephanie Lee (SHP ’02), maintaining their connection was easy, natural and something that was never in question. According to Tommy Nourse, “It just sort of happened. We always maintained our high school friendships.” Stephanie Lee observed, “I never knew it was so unusual until I talked to some of my friends in college, who told me they had not kept in touch with anyone from high school.” The roommates all recall the class of 2002 as being “pretty close” but they also know that the bonds that they shared were truly formed through their shared classes at SHP. When asked how they managed to keep in touch through the years while attending different colleges, Max explained, “There were six or seven of us who decided to purchase a domain name our senior year. We created and designed our own web page and we’ve used it ever since.” Amarnath adds that, “Additional friends in the group include Peter Robinett (SHP ’02) and Jeremy Wong (SJSH ’98, SHP ’02). Peter is living in Amsterdam, working in Web consulting and Jeremy is living in graduate housing at Stanford where he is pursuing a master’s in electrical engineering.” The roommates all recall the class of 2002 as being “pretty close” but they also know that the bonds that they shared were truly formed through their shared classes at SHP. Tommy recalls some of the fun shared memories that can still bring all four housemates to laughter. “We made up pet names for all our teachers and one of the best was for Ms. Ann Tornabene (SHP ’92). We called her Comrade Tornabenski all year and we even bought her a Ushanka hat to wear.” The four recall sharing AP Physics, Biology Honors, Trigonometry Honors, and AP English together. Stephanie recalls, 16 H e a r t o f t h e M a t t e r Wi n t e r 2 0 0 8
“Because we had many of the same classes, and there were fifteen in our class, we got to know each other really well.” “We shared a penchant for Nerf guns in our SHP Physics classroom,” smiles Tommy as Max and Stephanie interject that, “We have upgraded to Airsoft Pellet guns now.” The four roommates also remember the quality of their Sacred Heart education, “SHP had a strong science program. My AP calculus class prepared me well for M.I.T. The same with my physics class,” recalls Stephanie Lee. All remember Dr. Letteer’s and Mr. Thompson’s math and science classes with shared appreciation. Amarnath has fond memories of Mr. Thompson who helped inspire him to become a math teacher. “Mr. Thompson was one of my favorite teachers and I had him for 2-1/2 years of math at SHP. He has been my role model and inspiration in becoming a math teacher too. I also remember singing in the a cappella group with Mr. Thompson, the ‘Singing Guys’. It was a lot of fun and I went onto join another a cappella group at Williams College. I sill remember all of the songs we learned in the ‘Singing Guys’ and I come back for all of the concerts whenever I can.” Today, Tommy Nourse can be found at Google where he works as a software engineer. In the evenings when he is not taking classes at Google’s Carnegie- Mellon University for his Masters in Software Engineering, he can be found playing his bass or hanging out with girlfriend Sarah Bacon (SHP ’02). Having graduated with honors from Stanford University with a B.A. Philosophy and a B.S. in Symbolic Systems, Max Etchemendy can be found working at start-up Coghead, Inc., a web-based application delivery service where he works in marketing a n d a p p l i c a t i o n e n g i n e e r i n g . He also continues to work with professors in the Stanford philosophy department, producing translations of, and commentaries on, the medieval philosopher Richard Rufus of Cornwall. After SHP, Amarnath studied math and economics at Williams College in Massachusetts. Today he works as a private tutor in math and science, and has some SHP students as clients. He also continues to follow technology trends. After graduating from M.I.T. Stephanie was first employed by Lockheed Martin, and then switched gears to work for Zazzle, a customized merchandise firm. In her spare time she has been investigating graduate programs. A s t h e i n t e r v i e w e n d e d , t h e foursome set off for the Morey building where they hoped to bump into someone who might remember them and let them drop into a class or two. The Alumni Office promises to check back on these interesting housemates and friends and see what the future holds for them. H ead south on Skyline Boulevard from Highway 84 and you will find a small unassuming sign pointing you down the hill towards Yerba Buena Nursery. Head down the two mile private road and you travel into the country and into the past. At the end of the road, you will see an old barn with welcoming scarecrows displayed to greet you. Park on the dirt lot and travel down a lush path, past a 100 year old farmhouse and you will find Kathy Goleta Crane (SHE ’69, SHP ’73) working in the garden or behind a desk in the tractor shed-turned gift shop. Kathy bought the nursery 13 years ago from a 95 year old woman who Exploring California Natives was looking to retire. She was quick to see the possibilities in the area as well as appreciate the importance of the nursery in the education of native plant species and California wildlife. In 2005, her project became known as “the world’s most beautiful native plant nursery.” Not only does she cultivate all the plants and sell them, but every plant which she sells is a product of her property. Kathy and her small staff gather seeds from her plants, sew them and cultivate them in their natural environment instead of modern greenhouses, making them more hearty. She works out of old buildings with what could be considered antiquated Kathy Goleta Crane (SHE ’69, SHP ’73) working in her garden. methods of hand raking and weeding and chemical-free insect removal. Continue further down the path and you will encounter a beautiful, wild, native plant demonstration garden. Each plant she sells is permanently and prominently displayed in this garden, (continued on p.19) Wi n t e r 2 0 0 8 H e a r t o f t h e M a t t e r 17
Page 1 and 2: Published for alumni, families and
Page 3 and 4: Contents Heart of the Matter Winter
Page 5 and 6: Seniors Inducted into the Sacred He
Page 7 and 8: Even in her lifetime, St. Madeleine
Page 9 and 10: attended a diversity conference wit
Page 11 and 12: g r a d u a t e s o n l y t w o sen
Page 13 and 14: Spirit of Mater Awards I n October,
Page 15 and 16: had no idea how to begin. One eveni
Page 17: Sacred Heart college girls relaxing
Page 21 and 22: Seniors Jade Fields, Shannon Hamilt
Page 23 and 24: Class of 1977 reunion photo. 1970s
Page 25 and 26: The Changing Face of the Alumni Boa
Page 27 and 28: Sean Day (SHP ’97) is currently a
Page 29 and 30: Karla Gurley (SHP ’00) in South A
Page 31 and 32: Dan Brady (SHP ’04) will graduate
Page 33 and 34: 1 2 3 1 4 5 6 Young Alums gather ov
Page 35 and 36: Stella Dyer is remembered for her l

Winter 2008 - Sacred Heart Schools

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