Winter 2008 - Sacred Heart Schools

“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