ALUMNAE Notes
REMEMBERING AVRIL ABAKHAN
1942 – 2022
With sadness , we write to inform you of the passing of Mrs Avril Abakhan , former Crofton House School teacher and coach from 1967 to 1990 .
Mrs Abakhan first joined the staff at CHS in 1967 as a part-time field hockey coach . Her coaching skill soon paid off as CHS won the BC High School Field Hockey Championships in 1968 . In 1980 , Mrs Abakhan joined CHS as a full-time staff member and became the Head of the Physical Education ( PE ) Department .
As Head of the PE Department , Mrs Abakhan ’ s enthusiasm for sports guided the program . She continued to coach field hockey , sending teams to the BC Championships on many occasions . She put together championship badminton teams along with a colleague from St . George ’ s School , and she sponsored the swim and dragon boat teams . She is fondly remembered for her early morning badminton groups and her enthusiasm for folk dance displays .
Mrs Abakhan will be remembered by staff and students for the warmth , enthusiasm , energy and commitment she brought to every aspect of CHS .
REMEMBERING ELIZABETH HOPE GONNASON ( NÉE BLEAKNEY )
1918 – 2021
We remember Elizabeth Gonnason , who passed away peacefully after 102 full years of life , and celebrate her contributions to Crofton House School .
Mrs Gonnason would have been better known to Croftonians and staff as Ms Betty Bleakney , the PE teacher for all grades from 1942 to
1950 . During her time at CHS , Betty built up a basketball team that went on to be the independent schools ’ 1944 champions — a feat that is more impressive given that Crofton House had just relocated to West 41st and did not yet have a gym . Betty also created Sports Day , which remains a school tradition today .
Betty left CHS in 1950 to travel , and she later returned to BC to settle down in Victoria . She married Bob Gonnason and they spent their retired life sharing many interests , including travelling , gardening , square dancing and golfing .
Our thoughts go out to her family . Betty is predeceased by her husband , Bob , in 2003 , and survived by two stepdaughters , Nancy ( Gordon ) Stuart and Judy ( Wayne ) Dunsmuir ; her six grandchildren , Andy , Dave , Kate , Chris , Rob and Caron ; and 12 great-grandchildren .
MRS . MARGERY KELLETT
Happy 100th birthday to Mrs Margery Kellett . Mrs Kellett turned 100 years old this past May .
Mrs Kellett was a key contributor to the fabric of Crofton House School as both a parent and teacher . She was first involved as a parent when her daughter , Rosalind Kellett ’ 67 , was Head Girl . Her daughter ’ s graduation did not mark the end of Mrs Kellett ’ s interest in Crofton House , as she became a valued member of CHS staff in September 1967 , teaching English . She was appointed Head of the English Department in 1970 and oversaw Crofton House traditions such as summer reading , essay competitions and the Palfreymen debates for the next 11 years .
AMY LO ’ 93
Congratulations to Amy Lo for her work as lead engineer on the sunshield for the James Webb Space Telescope . The sunshield is vital for keeping the telescope ’ s infrared-sensing instruments at subzero temperatures as they scan the universe for new stars and galaxies , and examine the atmosphere of alien worlds for possible signs of life .
ALIYA MAWANI ’ 91
Congratulations to Ambassador Aliya Mawani for being appointed as the Ambassador of Canada to the State of Kuwait ! Ambassador Mawani ’ s appointment makes her the first Muslim woman to serve as a Canadian ambassador abroad .
REBECCA MARINO ’ 08
Congratulations to Rebecca Marino , who returned to Wimbledon to play for the second time in her tennis career ! You might have seen Rebecca play in the Davis Cup this past April at the University of British Columbia , where she defeated Paula Ormaechea of Argentina 6-4 6-3 .
PEYTON THOMAS ’ 11
Congratulations to Peyton Thomas for winning the International Literacy Association Award in Young Adult Fiction for his debut novel , Both Sides Now . The New York Times called Both Sides Now a young adult book to watch for , and the CBC and the Globe and Mail named it one of the best young adult books of 2021 .
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