Our Peace Corps Volunteer

KINDA COOL to connect (online through her daughter) with the Peace Corps volunteer who taught at Juan Morente Sr. Memorial Pilot School in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro in the 60's when I was a second and third grader. Mary Koeman Olthoff, a Dutch Calvinist from western Michigan, was a beloved figure during her two-year stay in our town as a volunteer, for which she was named an Outstanding Young Woman of America for 1969. I remember her as the teacher who tackled apprehensive parents and took her class to Paraiso Beach after school to teach us how to swim. Mary, who I imagine is in her eighties today, was gracious to share old pictures with alumni of JMSMPS celebrating a grand homecoming. Grateful to Mary, and for the things that few of us remember.

Done With Junior Year

SARA'S RECORD in her first three years at Stuyvesant High School came out this week, so I'm replacing her junior year report card with a transcript that shows more values to intellectualize about. After Sydney, here's to senior year and college applications!