Class of 2021
Jessica Dai writes: “The third issue of Kernel Magazine, an annual print publication about technology and society, is now out! It’s filled with carefully researched yet deeply personal pieces, on topics such as the complications of computer-generated legal evidence, a vision for more holistic climate modeling, and a manifesto for grief as political practice—plus, creative work including fiction, poetry, and visual art. Thirty-six contributors poured their hearts into this project and it was an honor to serve as editor-in-chief. Take a look at kernelmag.io."
Jeffrey M. Bloom writes: “Hats off to Newell Maynard Stultz, professor emeritus of political science at Brown, who continues to demonstrate insight into the machinations of divided societies and who, in early February of 2022, explained to me how since 2015 it’s been clear that NATO’s expansion meant that Vladimir Putin would one day exact brutal revenge. One reunion weekend years ago, Newell generously shared insights with my sons, David Bloom ’21 (applied mathematics, economics, & political science) and Aaron Bloom (environmental management at Cornell ’23), and I’m sorry that he’s not yet met my daughters (Julia, Biology, Cal Poly ’24 and Ciera, almost 7th grade). It was wonderful to see many of you at our 35th reunion and I hope to see even more of you at our 40th (i.e., less than two years from now). Hats off as well to our classmate Rhonda Gans, who kindly called me to see whether I was okay after one of our California earthquakes. Thanks, Rhonda.”
Sally Frank writes: “I’m happy to report that my daughter, Zöe Mermelstein ’21, is working as a protection counselor at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Washington, D.C. My husband, Steven Mermelstein, and I were thrilled with Zoë’s experience at Brown, particularly the support she received from professors. We have two other kids in college: Remy is in his fifth year studying architecture at Cornell AAP and Julien is a junior studying political science, econ, and public health at Duke. Our youngest, Leo, is a senior in high school looking into contemporary music/liberal arts programs for college. We moved to the Bay Area just over a year ago and I started a new role heading up philanthropic programs at Agilent. I’m looking for partnership opportunities to promote STEM education in underrepresented groups and mentoring opportunities for our global workforce in STEM and other areas. If you have ideas, please contact me at [email protected].”
Janet Leung ’16 earned a Bronze medal in women’s softball with Team Canada in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Other Brown Bears competing included Hanna Barakat ’21 of Team Palestine in track and field; Jagger Stephens ’20 represented Guam in swimming; and Cicely Madden ’18, Alex Miklasevich ’19, and Anders Weiss ’15 competed for Team USA in rowing events.
Robert Pfeffer writes: “I am still living in New York City while practicing medicine at NYU and on the faculty at the NYU School of Medicine. With the deepest pride imaginable, I want to congratulate my son Matthew Pfeffer ’21 on his graduation from Brown this spring. Way to go Matt! Both of us are ever true.”
Seth Jackson writes: “My daughter, Mariel Jackson ’21, is the general manager of the Brown Daily Herald. My son, Derek, is at the Columbia University School of Engineering in New York.
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Class secretary David Nichols reports the Class of 1952 Endowment Scholarship fund was presented to Reed Jaworski ’20, with a concentration is math, physics, and philosophy, for the fiscal year 2017-2018 and to Natalie Montufar ’21, with a goal to attend medical school and become a neurosurgeon to help people with Alzheimer’s disease, for the fiscal year 2018-2019.
Obituaries
Eliza Banchoff Grover ’21, of Towson, Md., originally from Menlo Park, Calif.; Oct. 7, hit by a drunk driver while walking. At the time of her death, she was studying to be a doctor at Goucher College in Towson. While at Brown she was a research assistant at E.P. Bradley Hospital Sleep Laboratory and a member of Sigma Xi. During the summers, she worked as an intern at Grail, Inc. and as a research assistant at the Stanford Concussion and Brain Performance Center, where she contributed to a published paper on concussion in girls. She returned to Oaxaca, Mexico, where she spent time as a child, with Child Family Health International to study health equity and gain experience in community health centers and hospitals. She loved sports and being part of a team, playing soccer and basketball before settling into volleyball. At Brown she played Division 1 NCAA volleyball as a right-side hitter for the Bears, earning Academic All-Ivy and Academic All-District honors, as well as All-Ivy Honorable Mention twice. An intrepid outdoorswoman, she enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking, backpacking, and swimming in mountain lakes. When Covid stripped her of her senior season, she earned her EMT and Wilderness First Aid certifications and worked in a low-income clinic in Providence. She also found her love for running and completed the first of many half-marathons. Upon graduation, she spent a summer leading outdoor trips for Overland Adventures and then moved to Seattle. She joined Rainier Clinical Research Center as a research assistant and then as a clinical research coordinator, helping to implement medical device clinical trials for people with diabetes. This opportunity led to her decision to become a doctor and in May 2023, she began a year of intensive study at Goucher College. She is survived by her parents, two sisters, three grandparents, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Maximilian Y. Lenail ’21, of Palo Alto, Calif.; Jan. 29. He was to graduate from Brown in May 2021 with a concentration in neurobiology, and planned on applying to medical school and becoming a physician. Max had worked in several research labs at Stanford Medicine and for the neuroscience company Inscopix. He participated in many service trips to Central America with the Menlo Church and will be remembered as a peacemaker and for his extraordinary kindness and generosity. He was an exceptional athlete and outdoorsman and had a passion for rock-climbing. He was also a glassblower and chef. He is survived by his parents, grandparents, a brother, two aunts and an uncle.
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