Elli Sheppard, former math teacher, reunites with Libba Stribling '62 and June Hunt Mayer '47.

Some 150 alumnae returned to Hewitt for the school’s annual Alumnae Reunion on May 3rd, making Hewitt history with the record number of graduates who came back to celebrate with their classmates, teachers and administrators. Six decades of proud Hewitt women were represented at Reunion, with alumnae attending from the Class of 1947 through the Class of 2007. The Class of 1997 had the highest representation with the Class of 2003 coming in a close second.

Spearheaded by Alumnae Director Sherry Grand, who most graduates knew from her days as Head of the Upper School, Reunion 2012 kicked off with a special tea in Head of School Joan Lonergan’s office for those women who graduated 50 or more years ago, followed by tours of the campus and cocktails in the Library. The festivities continued on Friday with informal classes on comparative poetry analysis with English teacher Anita Edwards and a session on blogging and tweeting with Third Grade Teacher Marianne Heusler.

Among those distinguished alumnae who were at Reunion were Libba Stribling ‘62, the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Alumna Award. The founder and president of Stribling Associates, one of the most highly regarded residential real estate firms in Manhattan, Libba was honored for her professional achievements and contributions to society. She spoke glowingly about her days as a student at Miss Hewitt’s and reminisced about reading Shakespeare and other classics while at Hewitt. She said that she was so well prepared for college that she easily made the Dean’s List at Vassar. Friends and schoolmates Rosita Sarnoff ’60 and Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld ’61 (last year’s Outstanding Alumna of the Year) joined Libba at Reunion.

This was the first time many alums had been back to Hewitt since graduation and several came from such far-away states as Florida, Washington, D.C. Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Morgan Monaco '02, Carolyn Marcus '03, Christina Marenson '02 and Francesca List '03

Outside the 75th Street building

At Hewitt’s Alumnae Reunion on May 3, 2012, Elizabeth “Libba” Stribling, a member of the Class of 1962, will receive the school’s Outstanding Alumna Award for her professional achievements and contributions to society.

A true Francophile, Mrs. Stribling recently was awarded the Insignia of Officier of the Legion of Honor by the Ambassador of France to the United States François Delattre in recognition of her “exemplary commitment to French-American friendship and to France, its language, its culture and the preservation of its heritage.” The Legion of Honor was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte to reward outstanding services rendered to France and extraordinary accomplishments. It is France’s highest award and one of the most coveted distinctions in the world.

A graduate of Vassar College with a major in English literature, Mrs. Stribling founded Stribling & Associates Ltd in 1980, which has grown to three offices and over 250 agents. Over the last 32 years, her firm has become one of the most well-regarded residential real estate firms known among buyers and sellers alike. Today, Stribling Marketing Associates, which advises and markets development offerings, and Stribling Private Brokerage, which specializes in the custom offerings of properties over five million dollars, are integral parts of the company.

From 1992 to 1999, Mrs. Stribling served on the Hewitt Board of Trustees. She is the current chairman of French Heritage Society, a Franco-American charitable society that aids in the restoration of buildings in France and those of French inspiration in the United States. She also serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Landmarks Conservancy and on the Boards of the Women’s Committee of Central Park and the Real Estate Board of New York.

Since 2003, The Hewitt School has presented accomplished alumnae with the Outstanding Alumna Award. Last year’s winner was Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld (Class of 1961), who worked at the White House as First Lady Betty Ford’s press secretary.

Samantha Marcus Yanks ’94,  editor-in-chief of Gotham and Hamptons magazines, is being honored on May 31, 2012 as a “Woman of Influence” by the UJA-Federation of New York. Yanks joins Alexandra Lebenthal, president and CEO of Lebenthal & Company, and philanthropist Elyse Newhouse as one of three honorees for 2012. The three women are being recognized as “visionaries in the world of business and philanthropy.”

As editor-in-chief, Samantha is responsible for overseeing the editorial pages of both Gotham and Hamptons and manages the magazines’ high-profile contributors and covers. For five years she worked as the fashion and accessories director for Niche Media, where she generated the content for all fashion coverage in the company’s family of nation-wide magazines. Her editorial experience includes serving as Senior Accessories Editor at O, The Oprah Magazine and  Accessories Editor at Conde Nast’s Vogue. Recently, Samantha has appeared on The Today Show and Nightly News as an on-air expert on fashion, beauty and lifestyle issues. She also designs jewelry and has launched her own line of jewelry.

Samantha serves as vice president of The Hewitt School Alumnae Board. She received her B.A. from Tulane University.