International House Berkeley

1930s John and Joey Friedman stopped by to see the place where John's mom, Virginia Hamerslag Friedman (IH 1937- 39), and his dad, Nathan Jay Friedman, met at an I-House dance. John is an architect and was thrilled to see the inside of I-House for the first time, and particularly the auditorium where that fateful dance was held. They also visited the bench that the family dedicated in Virginia's memory. If you are interested in a dedicated brick, bench, or other naming opportunity at I-House, please contact us at ihphilanthropy@ berkeley.edu or (510) 642-4128. 1960s Edith Schwartz (IH 1962-63) writes, "I am 81 years old and I still remember the magic of I-House! Every evening, I sat down to dinner with a different part of the world." Kashi Balachandran (IH 1962-65), now Professor Emeritus of Accounting at New York University's Stern School of Business, remembers, "My stay at I-House taught me to be an international citizen. I remember Mr. Sheridan Warrick and Mrs. Betsey Warrick, my great friends there, playing table tennis, walking to Strawberry Canyon, Hertz Hall. Oh, my memories!" Peter Ward (IH 1968) let us know that his wife, Dr. Rabab Kreidieh Ward (IH 1967-68), was elected in 2020 as a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Election to NAE is considered to be among the highest honors in engineering-related fields, and it often comes as a recognition of a lifetime's worth of accomplishments. While the majority of the NAE elected members are U.S. citizens, around 15 percent are international members. 1970s Christy Hendrickson (IH 1970s) is retired in Solana Beach, California, and is enjoying watching her grandkids thrive and grow. 1980s In early 2022, Trausti Valsson (IH 1980-81 and 2006) was honored with the Order of the Falcon for his contribution to planning studies and national discourse in Iceland. The Order of the Falcon is the highest honor that the Icelandic state bestows on individuals, and inductees are made on the nomination of the President and a five-member council. Trausti is Professor Emeritus of Planning at the University of Iceland. His life's work has focused on finding harmony between built and urban environments. Pictured below, Trausti (center) with his daughter and grandkids, and the President and First Lady of Iceland in January 2022. Alison Dundes Renteln (IH 1983), professor of political science, anthropology, public policy, and law at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, won a Fulbright Specialist Program award to examine how intellectual property law applies to foodways in Iceland. Her research focuses on the marketing and selling of traditional Icelandic yogurt known as "skyr." She recently co-authored a new book, International Human Rights: A Survey. Lynn Erlich Erfer (IH 1981-1983) has retired from her career in marketing and is now a certified yoga instructor teaching chair yoga. In a note to I-House, Margaret Miles (IH 1986-87) wrote, "After meeting at I-House in 1986 and being friends for over 30 years, Michael Riemer (IH 1986-88) and I are now a couple, and we share our time between Berkeley and San Anselmo." International House Times 17 Alumni News & Notes STAY CONNECTED Visit ihberkeleyconnect.org to connect with our online network of I-House alumni and residents. This platform is designed to help bring our global community together by facilitating new connections, offering opportunities to give back through mentorships, and by helping to maintain I-House friendships around the globe.

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