The Kelefors

Dear Family and Friends,

We typically get our holiday letter out in January, around the time of year when we celebrate the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. As you might imagine, it’s taken a lot of energy to regroup from the devastating outcome of the November elections and to come up for air amidst the resulting promised torrent of unconscionable attacks on the foundations of our democracy. 

We’re hoping that as we reach out now — amidst mounting protests, injunctions, lawsuits, and a growing number of people speaking truth to power — you are taking care of yourself and your loved ones, feeling supported by others in your communities, drawing strength from positive elements in your lives, and doing what you can to bring about a peaceful way out of this dark and dangerous moment we are in. 

Despite the deep losses, we are grateful for the set of adventures, milestones, lessons, and memories that 2024 gave us to reflect on. And we’re especially grateful for the connections we have with you that bring so much meaning to our lives — the love, joy, inspiration and solace that you offer are true gifts that we hold onto. 

Here are highlights from each of us . . . 

Jeannette — Last year was packed with meaningful work, travel, celebrations, and moments of deep reflection. Matt and I carried over many of our clients from 2023 into 2024 and we added some exciting new clients to our portfolio as well. We are fortunate to know so many talented and committed people in the world of education and I appreciate the opportunities we have to contribute to high quality learning experiences for young people — especially those farthest from opportunity — and the adults entrusted to help them grow.

Because we do much of our work remotely and both our kids are in college, we decided to try out the digital nomad lifestyle for one month while Dylan was studying abroad in Madrid. Returning to Spain after nearly 40 years from my first visit was a major highlight of the year. I got so much out of being in Granada with amazing experiences that reflected both ancient times (e.g., Alhambra) and modern sensibilities (feminist flamenco). Seeing Madrid through Dylan’s eyes was a true delight, especially getting his informed take on a few of the most famous works at the Prado. From Valencia I’ll never forget our experience with thousands of Spaniards singing a resounding version of “Un beso y una flor” by Nino Bravo before anticipated firecrackers of “Las Fallas” filled the air with deafening pops and booms. Getting to visit Escola Virolai in Barcelona, a K-12 school with an enduring commitment to engaging students in real world learning, was a work-related highlight. Throughout our stay, we ended many of our long days of work and/or exploration with a late night “cena” with a drink and tapas — a routine I’d be happy to get accustomed to. Bilbao was a wonderful surprise for Matt and me: a delightfully walkable city with a vibrant arts scene, fascinating history/culture, and a talented professional soccer team with a devoted fan base. We were there during Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the energy of the processions throughout the week were part of the crescendo we observed as the city came out in full effect for her team and cheered them on to victory for the “Copa del Rey” national title — their first in 40 years. 

Setting foot in Guernica — after seeing Picasso’s 1937 famous painting in Madrid depicting the horrors of war after Nazis bombed the city on behalf of Franco — was profoundly moving for me. Especially amidst the ongoing crimes against humanity in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other parts of the world.

I so appreciated having precious time throughout the year with my family and friends — both near and far. Hosting Paula and Cristian, getting to connect with several friends in both Portugal and Spain, spending time in Spain with Dylan and Adela, reconnecting in person with Zamara, Ernesto and Salem at my parents’ home, celebrating Mimi and Pop-Pop’s 60th anniversary, seeing my nephew play tennis, honoring my Aunt Mary Janet at her memorial, ringing in my mom’s milestone birthday (with family gatherings in both Colorado and Pennsylvania), cheering Dylan and his teammates during Senior Recognition weekend at Williams College, meeting up with family and friends for reunions throughout the year, knocking on doors to get out the vote, soaking up as much “Aloha” as possible with Katherine and Tony, and connecting with family over the holidays are among the highlights. 

The presidential election was a devastating loss, and losing my younger cousin Anna Hamilton right before Christmas was a shocking personal loss for our family. Throughout various low points of the year, I kept my loved ones close, sought connections through my cherished communities, read books from a variety of authors, intensified my workouts and my meditation/prayer time, and drew upon nature’s powerful healing energy to restore my spirit and sense of balance. Spending time with Adela & Dylan in San Francisco between college semesters, finding hope, peace, joy and love through the holiday season, and wrapping up the year with a breathtaking trip to Yosemite regrounded me and lifted my spirits. 

Dylan — I am currently back on campus for my final semester of college. This past year has been a constant reminder that I am getting old, and trust me, I am probably more shocked than you are that my college years are coming to a close in 2025. However, as a whole, this year was bookended with some memorable NYE celebrations as a family. 

Between these two ‘New Years’ I definitely exhausted the year. Studying abroad in the spring, I departed for Madrid, excited for a semester of refreshing my Spanish, exploring Madrid, travelling in Europe, and eating tapas. There is so much I could say about how truly amazing my semester was, but here is the sparknotes version by month.

Jan: Explored the historical parts of Madrid, most notably, shopping around for the sports bar that I intended to become a ‘local’ at to watch games all semester. Sidebar: the biggest element of culture shock was the euphoric feeling of experiencing soccer as a nighttime phenomenon. 

Feb: Achieved a lifelong goal to ski in the Alps (Chamonix), meeting up with and piling into an AirBnB with good friends from Williams who were all studying abroad in various European cities. 

March: Visited with my digital nomad parents in Granada, Madrid, and Valencia. Got to see the Alhambra (I promise it lives up to the hype), toured them around Madrid, which included a trip to the Civitas Metropolitana to see Barca trounce Atletico Madrid, some of the best bar food the city has to offer, and showing off my new skills as a Spanish art enthusiast after taking classes in the Prado, and most surprisingly, enjoyed a 20-hour visit to “Las Fallas” for the “quemada” which was my absolute favorite day of the semester (high bar). 

April: Ran the Paris Marathon with a few of my friends. Besides my quick weekend across the Parisian arrondissements, I decided to spend the majority of April in Madrid with the friends that I had made in Spain. The few trips I took were only excursions to nearby sites, including the city of Toledo and Valle de Los Caídos… much to the praise of my various Spanish professors. 

May: With my program coming to a close, I spent a gorgeous week in Corsica on the beach before making a roundabout trip back to the States through Prague, Krakow, and the Polish countryside. (Yes, it was an odd, yet very meaningful end to an incredible semester.)

Coming back to California, I jumped right into a job at Sunrun, a solar company, doing policy research at the state level. However, the most memorable stint of the summer was driving back to Williamstown from San Francisco with my girlfriend and best friend. Somehow we made it without killing each other, the car piled high with way too much stuff, and a few enjoyable stops along the way: SLC, Boulder, KC, and Pittsburgh. 

Coming back to campus for my senior year, I have really embraced the Student-Athlete experience. Reminded that the “Student” part does in fact come first, I have been working on my thesis in history, researching and writing about Chile’s dictatorship. It has been an incredibly tough, yet rewarding project, and there is more to come on that in our 2025 letter. For now, cheers to the New Year!

Adela — This year has been a transformative one. As I completed my first year at Wellesley and entered my sophomore year, I have had the opportunity to explore new passions and interests, as well as connecting (and reconnecting) with older interests in new ways. My involvement as a student employee at the Wellesley Botanic Gardens has been a constant source of inspiration and curiosity, leading me to pursue a major in Biology, which I just recently declared. My role there also inspired me to pursue a summer internship with the San Francisco Department of Agriculture, through which I developed a passion for sustainable food production and urban agriculture as a means for combating food inequity. While I’m not sure where my studies will take me, seeking out ways to build community has always been at the core of how I want to approach life, and I have loved learning different ways of maintaining those values with my passions for sustainability and care for the earth. One of my favorite memories of the year was working on an organic farm in Maine for three weeks over the summer, where I helped plant crops for the growing season, raise chicks, and care for pigs among many other tasks. It was hard and rewarding work, and made me more appreciative of the care and effort required to produce the food we eat. It was also was inspirational to see how it could be done sustainably on a small scale. 

Outside on my studies, I am still an avid reader (although most of what I read these days are scientific papers for class), and some of my favorite books of the year have been Just Kids by Patty Smith, Blue Highways by William Least Heat-Moon (a recommendation from my dad), and The Guest by Emma Cline. I have also found ways to make music with others. Whether it’s performing with my acapella group at school or just playing guitar and singing with friends, music is a way that I love to connect with others. This year has certainly been one of growth and discovery, and I cannot wait to see what this new year has in store. 

Matt — Amidst everything that Jeannette has already described about our year, four things shine brightly for me. First and foremost, it was a rare and special treat to celebrate my parents’ 60 years of marriage. We gathered at my brother’s home and it struck me how many people in our family have had the good fortune of deep, long-lasting, loving relationships, none greater than that of Mike and Carolyn! 

A close second was meeting Mateo. He has the best-ever name, he is wickedly cute, and he is clearly an old soul. Well done, Natasha and Dan. 

Third, I was happy to right a wrong by bringing Dylan and Adela to the splendor of Yosemite National Park for the first time. Twenty-five years ago, at the moment of Y2K, I proposed to Jeannette over the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Since that magical night we had only been back once, and never with the kids. So, it was a treat to take in the majesty and uniqueness of that place through their eyes. 

And fourth, vermouth and olives. I could see myself living on a diet of those two things along the banks of the Nerbioi River in Bilbao. Though it might require learning some Basque. Aupa!

On the work front, I was especially grateful for the opportunity to advance the cause of equitable school leadership through partnerships in New Mexico and Texas. It is always a joy to work with principals and assistant principals — the backbone of our public education system. 

From his perch on my lap, Momo sends his love to you all!

2024 by the Numbers:

0-0-2  The opening score of pickleball, which Matt & Jeannette learned while playing for the first time ever (though the best part was the dip in the Hawaiian ocean after the match – Thanks Katherine and Tony!)

1  Number of new family members added to our extended family: Mateo Cone-Hernandez, born May 1st 

4  Number of professional soccer games Dylan happily watches simultaneously with a multitude of screens

5  Number of mind-blowing cuisines that our dear Chilean friends Paula & Cristian sampled in San Francisco

6 Number of talented and slightly crazy 7-11 year olds that Adela was assigned to look out for and support at the San Francisco Girls Chorus summer camp

18  Number of years we have been picking world-famous Elberta peaches at the Masumoto Family Farm in Fresno. Dylan was 4 and Adela was 2 for our first harvest in 2007.

20+ Number of concerts that Adela either performed in or watched as part of the audience

40 Number of demonstration worms that Adela tried to protect from a poor fate when she led educational sessions for the San Francisco Youth Urban Ag summer program.

30  Height in meters of some of the largest “fallas” (huge sculptures created for Valencia’s unique Las Fallas festival, depicting satirical scenes and current events that reflect the year’s theme). Tack on another 10 meters for the towering flames when the fallas are burned on the last night of the festival!

44.2  Number of kilometers Dylan ran in the Paris marathon.

49  Number of different states’ license plates that Dylan and friends spotted while driving across the U.S. from California to Massachusetts. Can you guess the only missing one?

168 Number of days Adela tended to plants (in Massachusetts, Maine, and California).

200 Number of chickens Adela cared for as a summer farmhand in Maine.

300+ Number of Momo photos that Matt and Jeannette shared in the family text chat so Dylan and Adela could get their “cute kitty” fix .

>1000  Number of fans (including Dylan and Matt) secretly rooting for Barcelona during a match in Atlético Madrid’s home stadium.

1,238  Year that construction of the Alhambra began, this being the awe-inspiring Moorish castle Matt and Jeannette overlooked from their apartment in Granada.

2,425  Height in feet of Yosemite Falls, one of the last things we saw in 2024.

14,662 Average number of daily steps Matt & Jeannette walked while in Portugal and Spain.

As we move forward into 2025, we hold onto the words of past and present leaders who have fought for democracy. As John Lewis reminded us, “Democracy is not a state. It is an act.” Václav Havel wrote, “Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” And as Stacey Abrams has said, “Our ability to participate in democracy is the foundation of our power.” May we all step into the new year with courage, hope, and an unwavering commitment to justice.

With love, 

Jeannette, Matt, Dylan, Adela & Mojito (aka “Momo”)

Greetings from California… and Massachusetts… and Spain. Yes, that’s a full accounting of our whereabouts. We are still getting used to being such a far-flung bunch, but we are happy to report in.

Here are a few highlights from each of us . . . 

Jeannette — The year was filled with many joyful celebrations and a few exciting firsts, but was also filled with profound loss and broken-heartedness as two dear aunts (Mary Janet and Lugene) passed and we witnessed horrific violence both within our own country and across the globe.

An epic snowfall kept us in California for the first part of the year and even enticed others to visit us for winter activities in the Sierras. Spring brought an uptick in travel farther afield . . . to the east coast to support Adela’s college decision-making process, and two back-to-back work-related trips to San Diego. The same night Adela was at senior prom, Matt and I celebrated Katherine Toy at a fabulous gala on Angel Island. May is always a big month for celebrations, but this year we reached extravaganza levels with fabulous culminating performances for Adela and her peers, and all the festivities associated with her high school graduation. Both sets of grandparents, Matt’s Aunt Kathy & Uncle Dana, and Dylan all traveled from out of state to help us celebrate! 

Shortly after Adela performed in the spectacular original opera “Tomorrow’s Memories” in June, Matt and Adela headed off on an epic Scandinavian adventure, and I headed south — way south — to Chile to facilitate educational workshops and reconnect with friends. I was reminded of Chile’s spectacular natural beauty at so many points during my visit, but two experiences especially stand out: soaking in the luxurious hot thermal baths of Termas Geométricas (as hot as 113 °F) — and taking my first surfing lesson along the stunning coast of Pelluhue after Santi, Benji & Theo convinced me to confront the cold temperatures of the Pacific Ocean (a very chilly 52°F). I was also constantly reflecting on how much Chile had changed, and not changed, since we’d lived there as the 50th anniversary of the military coup — covertly supported by the U.S. — approached.  

Once back in the U.S., Matt and I headed to Carmel to hear Adela and the San Francisco Girls Chorus perform in the Carmel Bach Festival with Edwin Huizinga & William Coulter. We concluded the summer with lots of peaching (we’re ever grateful to the Masumoto family), college move-in preparations, wonderful family time, and various exciting and productive work engagements.

A major highlight of the fall was seeing Adela transition smoothly to college at Wellesley. My parents joined me in Massachusetts for that, and we were grateful for all the support we had from the Scarborough/Green Family and Steph Koontz. Matt and I traveled to Boston in October after Adela had gotten settled — and it was especially fun to meet her friends, stroll around Boston, and hear her sing at a campus event with her a cappella group. It was also a treat to cheer for Dylan and his team at Tufts and connect with other super fans!

In between my two visits to Wellesley, Matt and I got used to a different quotidian rhythm with just the two of us and the cat. We enjoyed a few fall-perfect days in Truckee, and we took a trip to visit our friends Richard and Julia in Vancouver. Besides catching up and enjoying spectacular hikes, amazing dining and compelling art, we participated in a moving commemoration of the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (aka “Orange Shirt Day”) that honors and upholds survivors of the Indian Residential School system and commemorates those who did not return home.

Matt and I were back to the east coast two more times before the year’s end — once for a work meeting in Philadelphia and again for Thanksgiving. Are you noticing any effects of having two college-aged kids in Massachusetts? We had an epic Thanksgiving with 38 family members at Matt’s brother’s home in Baltimore, followed by a rousing holiday gift exchange at Matt’s sister’s home in D.C. Both sets of parents traveled west to Truckee for a wonderful Christmas together, and we rang in the New Year hosting a dinner party with the kids and dear friends. 

As with each year, I’m so grateful for my precious time with friends and family, for meaningful work, and the gift of continued personal growth. I aspire for more of that in 2024, and commit to do my part to ensure our democracy remains intact through the upcoming presidential election. 

Dylan — Give or take a few weeks, this past year has been book-ended by some wonderful experiences abroad. Ringing in the New Year, I spent a week with my buddies from college up in snowy Montreal, with experiences ranging from exploring historic Jewish delis, to Igloofest, an outdoor ski-themed DJ festival that we stumbled upon after arriving. Returning to campus for sophomore spring semester without a formal soccer season, I took up some new hobbies and pursued some new academic interests. In no particular order, here are a few of the highlights. Trudging through the forest every Wednesday as part of my botany lab to learn the intricacies of New England’s flora. Gazing over the beautiful Taconic sunsets as I attempted to hit a ball in my beginner golf P.E. class. Debating the political decisions that defined the course of the Russian-Ukraine conflict… as they were occurring. And finally, traveling through the seasons from Tahoe to the Dominican Republic for my spring break. Not a bad semester if you ask me.

Back in the Purple Valley for the fall, if felt like more of the same. Well, besides the fact that I played soccer basically everyday from August through October. Apart from what I might call an underwhelming season results-wise, I scored what I consider to be the best goal of my life, and really enjoyed the time I spent with my teammates out on Cole and around the NESCAC. Off the field, I yet again found myself trudging through the New England forests as part of my ecology class, conducting experiments on old growth succession rates and monitoring the presence of aquatic invertebrates in headwater streams to gauge stream health. 

This past summer was nothing to glaze over. Working as a policy fellow for K&L Gates, a law firm in Washington D.C., I researched current federal energy policy for a variety of clients, commuted to and from the Hill, and attended swanky office parties at the Library of Congress where I even met a few Members of Congress (ok, that was only once). Other than that, I had the pleasure of watching Max cook, enjoying Cape Cod with my girlfriend, relaxing in Linden, and practicing my (non-existent) French with some Belgian Bosquet cousins. This experience in D.C. not only convinced me that I will be back, but solidified my aspirations to attend law school at some point down the road. 

I have heard the term “sprinting a marathon” used to describe one’s time abroad, mostly in reference to the slew of activities and experiences that occur in such a short time. While I agree that this will most likely characterize my upcoming experience in Spain, it seems a fitting way to describe 2023 overall: so much packed into such a short period of time. But ironically, that will DEFINITELY be the title of my entry for 2024 for a few reasons. Stay tuned.

Adela — I thought 2023 was a year of two worlds: a year defined by last experiences and first experiences. A year divided by my time living in San Francisco and time living in Boston. A year broken up by high school experiences and college experiences. And it’s easy to see why.

This year I had my last performance as a member of the San Francisco Girls Chorus. I feel so fortunate to have been a part of a group with such talented singers and compassionate people. It was with a heavy heart that I bid farewell to my friends and the organization that has been so formative in cultivating my love for music and shaping my view of the world. I also had my last day of high school. While I certainly felt like I was ready to move on academically, I loved the community of people that I was a part of at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, especially in the Vocal department, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye at graduation knowing that our paths in life were all taking us in different directions. 

I had my last statistics assignment (BIG relief), submitted my last college application (even BIGGER relief), had my last mock trial competition, wrote my final article for the school paper, and spent my last day in San Francisco before flying to Boston to start college. I said goodbye to people, things, and places that meant a great deal to me and I felt like a chapter of my life was coming to a close. It was daunting to experience so much change in such a short period of time. But I always made sure to remind myself that with every end of something old comes an opportunity for the beginning of something new. 

The most notable of “firsts” this year was my first day at Wellesley College. I approached college with a mix of fear and excitement, but was pretty optimistic about what college could be. Wellesley is everything I had hoped for and more. I have met some of the most incredible, passionate, driven people at college. My classes are fascinating and rigorous, opening my eyes to a whole host of possible futures. I had my first experience as a college a cappella singer after joining the Tupelos. I started doing capoeira again and had my first training session in 12 years. I took my first art class, 3D design, where I discovered a newfound love of architecture and sculpture. I even went to get my passport renewed for the first time all by myself, which may not sound very exciting to some but it felt like a big step to me. And as of December 14th, I finished my first semester of college.

2023 was also my first official year of adulthood. When I first turned eighteen, I felt woefully unprepared. Without a clear vision of what I wanted my future and my career to look like, it was all a little overwhelming to suddenly find myself completely responsible for making those decisions. At the same time, it was incredibly exciting to imagine the possible futures that I could pursue. So I forged ahead into my adult life feeling less like an adult and more like two kids in a trench coat sneaking into a movie theater. And I’m starting to realize that adulthood isn’t about having everything figured out, and more about trusting your mind to be able to take you through leaps of faith and listening to your heart when it tells you where to go. 

As I prepare to head back to Boston for my second semester, I’ve been reflecting on the profound ways my life has changed in 2023. On the surface my life at the start of 2023 and the end of 2023 are barely recognizable as parts of the same year. But on closer examination, there are crucial aspects of my life that haven’t changed at all. My love for music, my love of travel and new experiences, and my love of the outdoors are all the same. My love of food and concerts and learning and reading and baking and writing and poetry and dancing and laughing, none of these have changed. My “lasts” were not left behind but transformed to create my “firsts”; and my two worlds were always one, defined not by where I am and what I do, but by what I love and how I choose to express it.

Mojito and Matt — With the kids out of the nest and Jeannette out and about, sometimes it’s just the two of us. So, we’ve been focused on the little things. Keeping the plants alive (Matt’s job). Begging for scraps (Momo’s job). Keeping the extended family connected through weekly calls, a tradition we’ve maintained since COVID (Matt). Finding sun spots and warm laps (Momo). In truth, we’ve got no complaints.

On the work front (Matt only here), it’s been a gift to work closely with Jeannette with clients near and far. We had the opportunity to hear directly from thousands of students in San Francisco and support the district in moving toward a new vision for high schools in the city. We’ve enjoyed getting more deeply engaged with organizations working to end the STEM teacher shortage and improve math education for young children. And I’m thrilled to be working with colleagues in Texas and, more recently, New Mexico to strengthen how our universities and districts prepare school leaders.

Two highlights this year. First, Adela and I took a post-graduation trip to Norway, with a spin through Oslo (including a floating sauna on the fjord), several amazingly sun-drenched days and nights in the normally rainy and cloudy Lofoten Islands, a great visit with the kind and generous Hol Melling family (it was great to see Adela reunite with her middle school theater friend Ellida), and an emotional (for me) reunion with the incredible Söderström family.

Second, I’m very grateful that we managed to gather the whole Kelemen-Rooney clan together for Thanksgiving in Baltimore and were able to include some LaFors, Héberts, and Sims as well. It’s worth a roll call: Mom, Dad, Kathy, Dana, Warren, Bel, Sandy, Nanette, Kary, Pete, George, Mary, Mark, Lisa, Michele, Benoit, Jeannette, Kim, Curt, Anne, Dan, Natasha, Michael, Kristin, Nico, Dylan, Sam, Max, Adela, Lucia, Jonah, Sydney, Robert, Finn, Camper and Ale. And me. Props to all for making it an extraordinary gathering.

*****

With both of our kids embarking on work related to the planet’s preservation, we are hopeful amidst the gloom. We are inspired by the words and work of Robin Wall Kimmerer, whose brilliant insights keep us focused on doing our part. As she says, “We need acts of restoration, not only for polluted waters and degraded lands, but also for our relationship to the world. We need to restore honor to the way we live, so that when we walk through the world we don’t have to avert our eyes with shame, so that we can hold our heads up high and receive the respectful acknowledgment of the rest of the earth’s beings.”

2023 by the numbers

0 – minutes of darkness experienced by Adela and Matt during night hikes up Ryten, Reinebringen, and Festvågtind in the Lofoten Islands, Norway

2 – # of hours it took Jeannette to thaw her icy feet after her first ever surf lesson which was in the cold Pacific waters of Pelluhue, Chile

3 – # of Tupi Grupis residing at 145 Bella Vista (if you want to be one, Adela can help!)

4 – # of seconds it took Adela to hook her first fish in Norway

5 – # of seconds it took Dylan to pass his Spanish language competency assessment for his semester in Madrid

10 – # of miles Mojito ran in the house chasing his toys or zooming from room to room

20 – # of boba tea runs to celebrate milestones, or keep us energized during long study/work sessions

17 – # of thermal baths worth soaking in at Termas Geométricas, Chile

38 – # of people at our family Thanksgiving gathering at Mark & Lisa Kelemen’s home in Baltimore 

148 — number of plants Dylan memorized the names of for his botany course 

672– # of inches of snow recorded at the Central Sierra Snow Lab (6th snowiest winter on record), and the reason Kim Kelemen came to visit us in March! 

2,100 – # of Masumoto Farm peaches & nectarines harvested from our Seedlings Team in August

8,612 — number of miles separating our family when Jeannette was in Chile and Matt/Adela were in Norway (with Dylan in between in D.C.)

For the record, this is not a ChatGPT annual letter. We’re still a year or two from that… For now, what you get is what our own brains are able to reproduce, along with lots of love and our hope that you have a meaningful 2023.

We usually get our annual greetings out by MLK’s birthday, but this year it’s President’s Day! As has become our tradition, here are our updates… 

Jeannette

Many of my 2022 highlights are notable visits and trips, but also include the simple joys of my day to day. The year kicked off with a joyful reunion when two friends from Chile came for a two-week stay and got the full Jeannette-as-non-stop-tour-guide treatment. March travel to the east coast included great work with D.C. Public Schools and an in-person celebration of my dad’s 80th birthday. And Dylan’s college spring break visit home allowed us to hit the slopes and cycle the Bay. We kicked-off Adela’s college campus tour series with a trip to the Pacific Northwest in May, and Matt’s and my long-deferred birthday trip to Montreal for his 50th was a fabulous get-away with precious in-person reconnections. After I completed a successful engagement with nearly 20 schools in Rhode Island in July, we met up with my parents and brother’s family for a fabulous trip to France. We enjoyed so many wonderful aspects of French culture while we explored different parts of the county: amazing food, exciting sport, rich history (from the Lascaux caves to the Versailles Palace), exquisite art, impressive architecture, and stunning natural beauty.  

But without question, the most impactful part of the trip for me was connecting with the places of my ancestors. It was really something to put my feet on soil where Héberts had lived centuries ago before they left for Nova Scotia. And seeing my dad walk up to the site where Jacques Nompar de Caumont lived centuries ago as the Duc de La Force — an ancestor who fought his last battle at age 80 and died at 93 on the same day Matt was born 318 years later. It’s interesting (and mind-boggling) to contemplate ways that our ancestors navigated natural, cultural, political and economic forces: surviving plagues of several centuries as we continue to cope with COVID, suffering persecution for religious beliefs as we see the vital separation of church and state weaken in our own country; surviving both civil war and international conflicts, economic depression, and no doubt personal grief. Despite these immense hardships, they held onto their faith and dreams.

Throughout the year, witnessing Dylan and Adela do the things they love to do was particularly exciting: Adela and her high school Mock Trial team made it to the state final (via Zoom), and she continued to sing as part of her school’s vocal department and the San Francisco Girls Chorus premiere ensemble. Through both, she contributed to an amazing set of performances that included multiple school concerts, two shows at SFJazz, a summer trip to Hawaii, and a happy return to the SFGC annual holiday concert at Davies Symphony Hall. 

Matt and I got to see Dylan in his element over the Williams College Family Weekend in October, and again with extended family at Roanoke College when he and his team made it to the NCAA Division III soccer championship game in December. We could not be more proud of how much he and his teammates achieved during the season. Go Ephs!  

We spent the holidays out east with family and returned to San Francisco to ring in the new year with delicious food and dear friends. I’m so grateful for my precious time with friends and family, for the great books I’ve read and discussed with friends, for my Bethany community, contemplative moments soaking up Nature’s beauty, for having meaningful work, and the gift of continuous opportunities to learn and grow. I mourn the loss of valued elders in both my given and chosen families, but find so much to celebrate from the lives they led: JoAnn Bennett, Bruce Petit, Sam Yu, Uncle Bob, Aunt Joyce, Uncle Bill, and Uncle Roy. 

Matt

Jeannette already covered a lot of ground on our comings and goings. I’ll double down on how good it was to travel again this year. To Montreal for quality time with Maurice and his adult humans (Jason and Emily). To the northeast with Adela for a barnstorming review of the full slate of liberal arts colleges, with a wonderful quick visit with the Roth clan in Newburgh as a bonus to our itinerary. To Providence for a 30th college reunion and the chance to reconnect with friends and classmates. To the east coast to see Dylan on the pitch and to catch up with family. And, of course, to France. Ah, France. What better place to go after the enforced hold on travel that COVID imposed on us, especially when kind inlaws sponsor the trip!!! Thanks to Kary and Nanette, I have these wonderful memories: The glassiness of the river in the early morning in Bergerac. The majesty of Mont St. Michel. The surprise of yet another chateau popping up around the bend of a country road. The awesome sense of the long arc of human history you feel at Lascaux. The vibrancy of Bordeaux’s cobbled streets, a city that feels like a better-sized Paris to me. And, of course, the food.

But what I liked best was experiencing our children as adults, as we found ourselves in a society that affords some of the responsibilities of adulthood earlier in life than does our own country. It was a gift to hear Dylan’s stories of traveling alone in advance of our meeting up in Paris. It was quite a treat to see the two of them experience the particularly culinary joy of pairing food and wine — a mind-blowing thing when done well, which it very much was at L’Huitrier Pie in St. Emilion. I was especially pleased by their adventurous spirit, whether the courage to jump into the Dordogne River from a 60-foot cliff or the willingness to sample fois gras, sea snails, and other unfamiliar foods. I took real pleasure in watching them do a bit of adulting and deepen their relationship with one another.

On the work front, this year saw me re-engage as a full partner in Kelefors Education Partners. Jeannette and I are partnering with amazing organizations at home and across the country, working to create more equitable outcomes in our educational system. It’s been especially inspiring to launch a new project with the San Francisco Unified School District, supporting a citizens’ task force to examine our high schools.

Dylan

As a sophomore at Williams competing for the NCAA National championships through December 3rd, I didn’t have much time for anything else. Thus, in the spirit of efficiency — and because it gave me a good laugh — here is my 2022 update in resume format. I spent a fair portion of my winter polishing up my resume, conducting informational interviews, and applying for internships, and I am happy to share that I will be spending this summer working as a government affairs intern at K&L Gates in Washington D.C. 

EDUCATION:

Williams College (Sophomore Fall)

Aug 2022 – Dec 2022 Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Environmental Studies and History

As most liberal arts colleges advertise: “You have so much time to decide your major!” The time to decide is approaching quickly. While the official Williams deadline for declaring you major sits at the completion of your sophomore year, I have made my [un]official decision. This past semester, I had the opportunity to delve into both my interests in History and Environmental Studies, cementing my pursuit of this unconventional pair of majors. A few academic highlights I want to mention are:

— Researching and publishing an op-ed on cutting edge oil-spill removal technology for my Environmental Law course.

— Interviewing a professor in the History Department for a final project, exploring both the scope of his work and dissecting his methodology of both historical research and publication. By the way, his name is Professor Tyran Steward, an incredibly talented educator and scholar. If you have the time you should look him up.

Williams College (Freshman Spring)     Jan 2022 – May 2022

Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Environmental Studies and History

Coming back for my second semester of college, I was hoping to be greeted by a winter wonderland. Unfortunately, I quickly found out why we west coast skiers call it the ice coast. However, Jiminy Peak still provided some enjoyable ski days with friends when I wasn’t busy hitting the books. A few highlights from the spring were:

— Teaching friends to ski on the bunny hills at Jiminy Peak while showing off skiing backwards.

— Exploring the dance genre of flamenco and its origins in Andalucía, Spain.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

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Bill Jackson for Supervisor     May 2022 – July 2022

This summer I worked as a Campaign Coordinator for a local campaign. It was a great experience to hone my knowledge of local politics, and deepen my understanding of the current issues in San Francisco. Almost verbatim from my resume, here are some of the responsibilities I was tasked with: 

— Published campaign literature and weekly policy newsletters on local issues for a city council politician.

— Executed voter outreach, facilitated community interaction, and supervised campaign finances. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: 

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Williams Men’s Soccer Formal       March 2022

A night where the team gathers together for a multiple-room themed venue, dressed to the nines, and ready for a party

Sunday Brunch         Every Week (2022)

Every week a group of my friends and I pile into 2 or 3 cars on Sunday morning to go be obnoxious and enjoy a leisurely brunch at one of the three diners in the area (Renee’s, Chef’s Hat, and Moonlight). Kary & Nanette (aka “Grandpa & Grandma”) and my parents got to experience this phenomenon when they made trips into the depths of the Purple Mountains.

SOCCER:

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Williams College Men’s Soccer     Aug 2022 – Dec 2022

This season was definitely one of ups and downs to say the least. After suffering a severe concussion a few weeks in, I was unsure whether I would play another game in 2022. Thankfully I made a full recovery and was able to come back to play in the end of the regular season, the NESCAC championship, and the NCAA tourney. Noteworthy highlights:

— Beating #1 ranked Messiah in Mechanicsburg, PA on penalties to advance to the Sweet 16.

— Finishing 2nd in the NESCAC after beating Middlebury on their own field.

I now wear a Q-Collar, a preventative technology that sits on your neck (the science is pretty cool).

TRAVEL: 

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“Le Tour de France” (…and Belgium… and the Netherlands)           July 2022

As was described by my parents, I too am grateful for the wonderful traveling we did as a family in France. Since it was mostly covered above, I am going to focus on a few highlights from the week I spent on my own in Europe prior to meeting up with family in Paris: 

— Touring the beer gardens of Brussels with Benjamin, eating Belgian waffles, and laughing at the Manneken Pis. 

— Taking a boat ride through the Amsterdam canals, making my grandma happy by visiting an art museum, 🙂 and meeting other travelers from around Europe.

— Watching the electric sprint finish of Stage 19 of the Tour de France in Cahors! 

Mechanicsburg, PA; Gambier, OH; & Roanoke, VA     Nov 2022 – Dec 2022

Since I already shared a bit about soccer in the previous section I will keep this short… 

I was really grateful to have both friends and family come watch my team play as we took unconventional flight paths and 8-hour long bus rides around the east coast and midwest on our quest for the National Championship. It was special both to see family and feel all the support (including my mother’s facebook comment section) for the team!

Adela

Anyone looking at my weekly schedule in 2022 might faint from exhaustion right on the spot. I spent 16+ hours in singing rehearsal, not including the time I practiced on my own. I spent six hours a week practicing Mock Trial, first as the defendant, Jamie Cobey, in our 21-22 season, and then as a prosecution pretrial lawyer in our 22-23 season. I spent an hour a week volunteering as a mentor/coach for young  singers through a program called One Voice Mentors that makes music lessons accessible to all. I get to school early Mon-Thurs to do additional classical chamber and jazz a cappella ensemble rehearsals. On Friday mornings, I wake up even earlier to go swimming at the nearby public pool for an hour. I spent four hours a week planning, organizing, and editing for the school newspaper. Oh, and then there’s homework — with at least an hour each night on math alone. “How did I do it all?” you may be asking? Beats me too, to be completely honest. This past year has been a complete blur. But all this hard work has allowed me to see and do so many incredible things.

My Mock Trial team placed 2nd in the California State Mock Trial competition, and I was nominated MVP in the State Final. I was so proud of how hard my team had worked and how far we made it in competition. Most of all, I was so grateful to be a part of a community that was so loving, supportive, and passionate.

I passed all my AP exams (whew!), which I took during the same week as  performing in an incredible musical work, “At War with Ourselves: 400 Years of You” with Kronos Quartet, Nikky Finney and Micheal Abels. This project opened my eyes to the power of music as a tool in the fight for social justice. This was just one of the 22 performances I took part in through both SFGC and school.  

I attended my final SFGC summer camp and performed in my final San Francisco Girls Holiday Concert. They were both bittersweet, filled with moments of joy, friendship, and reflection. It’s incredible to think that after my 11 years of being a chorister, this will be my final one. I couldn’t be more grateful for the exceptional group of people I get to sing with. They have taught me so much about myself, the world, and music. I couldn’t have asked for a better second family. 

I completed my junior year of high school and began the college application process by visiting nearly 30 schools! I learned a lot about myself and started to imagine a vision for my future, even if so much is unknown. 

I traveled to Hawai’i with my chorus where we performed multiple musical works and excerpts from a commissioned opera, and I even got to sing a traditional Filipino song, “Gabi at Araw,” on a local radio station. It was amazing to connect with the Filipino community in Hawaii and share music together. We had the opportunity to learn about the history of Filipino migration to Hawaii and California, and deepen our understanding of the commissioned opera, Tomorrow’s Memories that we will perform in full during the Summer of 2023. 

I founded a school newspaper to create a forum for student activism and art. (Go check it out at: https://rasotadailydragon.org). I’ve learned how to create, design, and maintain a website. I’ve learned how to manage a team of writers and content creators. The experience has been immensely rewarding, and I hope to leave behind a foundation for future generations of students at my school to build on. 

2022 was an extraordinary year filled with hard work, incredible experiences, and LOTS of music. I couldn’t be more thankful for the friends I made along the way and the lessons I learned that I will carry with me for all the years to come. 

Mojito 

Same old, same old for me. Sleep, eat, play. Repeat. And cry when those things don’t happen when I want them.

*****

In April of 2022, researchers found the wreck of Endurance, the ship that was crushed in the ice of Antarctica, forcing Ernest Shackleton and his crew into an epic land-and-sea journey to save their own lives. When Shackleton first set out to sail south and then cross the Antarctic continent on foot, he posted an ad for people to join him on his quest. It read, “Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.”

We find ourselves amidst many hazardous journeys these days. However this note finds you, we hope that this year brings you, if not honor and recognition, at least survival. Slava Ukraini.

Drop us a line when you have a moment — we’d love to connect, catch up, laugh, cheer and/or cry with you. 

2022 by the numbers

1 – Live Tour de France stage finish that Jeannette, Matt, Jean-Paul and Dylan traveled to see

2 – International visitors to Chez Kelefors in 2022

5 – Upsets that the Williams College Men’s Soccer Team pulled off to reach the NCAA Division 3 championship match

12 – Number of family members who made it to NCAA tournament games to cheer on Dylan and his fellow Ephs

27 – Difference between the number of college campuses Adela set foot on compared to Dylan before they submitted applications. (Dylan got to two before the world shut down with COVID.) 

50 – Number of Dead Poets Society Zoom calls that brought the Kelebosquims & Co clan together 

75 – Pounds of fresh-caught fish generously gifted to Chez Kelefors by Jean-Paul & Cole after their Alaska fishing trip with Dad/Grandpa and Uncle Tom!

80 – Milestone birthday for Jeannette’s Dad, Kary (aka “Grandpa”)

180 – Population of the town (La Chaussée) where we visited La Maison de l’Acadie to learn more about where our Hébert ancestors came from before they emigrated to Nova Scotia in the 17th century