Purnell Alumnae
Truthfulness in All Relations
Consideration of Others
The Use of Common Sense
If your heart resonates with those Three Guidelines, chances are you attended, taught at, or were a part of the wonderful place in the Pottersville valley known as Purnell School, a place of rich traditions and important memories, which existed from 1965 to 2021. A girls' boarding school founded by Lytt and Sis Gould and other educational visionaries in 1963 on a former dairy farm, each year it graduated a group of caring young women who went on to make places for themselves in the world, forever affected by the friends and teachers they had lived with during their formative teenage years.
We know that the shuttering of the School was a very sad loss for all, and for those unaware of the steadily diminishing enrollment and financial losses, a surprise. The campus was purchased by Pingry School (sale finalized December 2021), which they use for faculty housing, special programs, and soccer camps, etc. Learn more here.
Since the dissolution of Purnell School in 2021, this domain was purchased and website created to provide an online connection point that alumnae could find. Thanks to Jim Carney for ongoing support of this website.
The Purnell Alumnae Association has since been formed, with three goals:
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Initiate ways to keep Purnell people connected, across the graduating years/decades, both virtually and in-person
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Plan the annual Purnell Alumnae Visitior's Day
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Extend the Purnell legacy of supporting girls' education
PURNELL ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION STEERING COMMITTEE
Daisy Patterson Decker '79
Class Rep Coordinator
Beth Schoenknecht Crandall '09
Website
Bridget Reilly '91
& Bonner Boynton '91
Universal Promise Liasons
Liz Fisher McLean '89
Marina Bradlee Murdock '79
2024 Alumnae Visitor's Day Chairs
Gail Mardfin, FFac '78-'00
Finances, Website
Wendy Wilderotter, Ffac '77-'94
Database
ANYONE is welcome to be on the Steering Committee - request zoom link here
MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
FOLLOW PURNELL ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM & YOUTUBE!
IF you are on Facebook, there is a page with more than 600 Purnell alum!
CLASS REPS - We have reps for about half of the 54 classes. Who is yours?
SUPPORTING PURNELL'S EDUCATIONAL LEGACY
THROUGH UNIVERSAL PROMISE:
After two Steering Committee meetings attended by additional alumnae, we embraced the idea of extending Purnell's legacy through Universal Promise, founded by former Purnell faculty member Martha Cummings. We are supporting a UNIFORM DRIVE for students at Sandisulwazi High School, one of UP's partner schools in South Africa. Uniforms are necessary and an important source of pride. Watch a wonderful video and learn how you can participate in supporting our Legacy Fund at Universal Promise here.
One of the proud and happy learners at Sandisulwazi HS, wearing a proper new uniform funded by a Purnell constituent.
Do we have your email address?
THAT'S HOW WE COMMUNICATE... via the NEW Newsletter 4x a year
Send an email to purnellsite@gmail.com. Include you CLASS YEAR and FULL NAME (including your maiden name).
Add purnellsite@gmail.com to your Contacts so we don't end up in your Spam!
A great day! Front row: Kate Stewart '90, Michele Faul '80, Sarah Gammill '88, Gail Mardfin fac, Bonner Boynton '91, Lois Taylor Baldwin fac, Laura Wood '88, Mary-Frances Chuhinko-Blount '06. Second row: Martha Cummings fac, Wendy Wilderotter fac, Ethna Hopper fac, Alex (aka Izzy) Percy '91. Meryl Brownstein fac, Marina Bradlee Murdoch '79. Riki Mandell McGettigan '80, Elena Michelson fac, Barbara Rogers '80, Hillary Wall Ginas '80, Anne Marie Willis '80, Daisy Patterson Decker '79, Claire Candler Carruth '79, Donna Martin fac, Bridget Malin fac. Top: Bridget Riley '91, Bill & Gallia Vickery fac. Missing from photo: Beth Schoenknecht Crandall '09, Jessica Jacobson Liebeskind '92, and Jenn White '91. SEE ALL THE PICTURES HERE...
Purnell Guidelines Mugs
will be available at the
next Purnell Visitor's Day
in Pottersville June 15, 2023.
$10
ONLY 20 LEFT