Remembering Nancy Sullivan and Carmino Ravosa

Two former members of the Scarsdale community recently passed away: anthropologist Nancy Sullivan and musician Carmino Ravosa.

Sullivan, a member of the SHS Class of '75 was a prominent anthropologist who spent 24 years living and working in Papau, New Guinea, following in the footsteps of Margaret Mead. She married a man from New Guinea and had children and grandchildren there. She died at the age of 57 in a one-car accident on the Taconic Parkway in LaGrange New York where she had come to visit family.

Sullivan was an accomplished academic who held an undergraduate degree from Princeton, a PhD from New York University and won awards including a Fulbright, a Guggenheim and a Rockefeller. A prolific author, in 2012 she published a memoir called, "Don't Make Me Over: Coming of age as an anthropologist in New Guinea." The essays in her memoir cover neuro-philosophy, gender studies, pop psychology, behaviorism and a raft of other pop science fields.

In an interview she gave following the publication of the book she was asked if where she grew up influenced her writing. She replied, "I grew up in the suburbs of New York. But I'd say it was more of a launch pad than an inspiration."

Discussing her book and her life she said, "This is a memoir about an unusual life, a life spent in another culture. Not just the conventional 'middle class girl marries a cannibal' story, though, because it has very reflective passages about social change, parenting, anthropology (as I am an anthropologist) and the whole idea of cultural collision in today's world (hint: nothing really collides). I had been writing small stories of my life in PNG, my different jobs, adventures, near-escapes, and all the episodes that challenge my graduate training in anthropology. Then I decided it was time for a memoir."

At the time of her death, Sullivan ran an anthropological consulting firm that did research, conducted surveys, wrote reports and did training for private and public entities. She also published a blog called "Nineteen Years and Counting in Papua New Guinea" where she chronicled the stories and photos of the people she met and worked with in New Guinea. It is a rich record of her academic perspective, her research, and the customs and mores of the native people. Those who read Lily King's fictionalized account of Margaret Mead's life in New Guinea, "Euphoria" will draw similarities between Sullivan's blog entries and the novel. In one post she compares her own childhood to that of the children in New Guinea and says,

"But I don't know: this kind of childhood is so far from my own, set against a volcanic island and beautiful people. Because it's school holidays, our days are more langorous than usual, but still the self-assurance and complex society of these kids makes me wonder what I did with friends at this age. I have Our Gang memories of long afternoons, but these Baluan youngsters are a much more resourceful community than I ever knew. What I had growing up was feigned Independence---all walkie-talkies, Schwinn bikes and Good Humor trucks nothwithstanding. These kids eat anywhere, sleep anywhere, and only get a scolding if they deign to interrupt intense adult concentration. Even then, no one sulks, and nothing is taken personally."

Speaking about the accident that killed Sullivan, a colleague from the Oceanic Discover said, "In a cruel irony, Nancy endured many hardships in PNG (Papua New Guinea) that would have broken most people. Serious illness, physical assaults and the often frustrating bureaucracy of life in remote PNG would have been too much for most fly-in-fly-out first world anthropological 'experts'. To have her life taken so abruptly in, what appears to be, an uncomplicated, single-vehicle road accident while on vacation in her home state of New York, just beggars belief. This same accident also seriously injured two of her much-loved adopted PNG children, one of whom remains in a critical condition."

Carmino Ravosa Passes Away in Pleasantville

Musician Carmino Ravosa also died this week at the age of 85 in Pleasantville. He was a songwriter and composer who taught at Fox Meadow Elementary School and then went on to be a faculty fellow and composer-in-residence at Dalton and Edison. Ravosa wrote many historical musicals that are still performed by children today. He was beloved among both students and parents who continue to sing his songs long after the end of elementary school. During President Jimmy Carter's term in 1978, Ravosa was invited to the White House to perform his musical "Ghosts in the White House" for Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and 600 guests at the White House Halloween Party.

Remembering Ravosa, a former Fox Meadow student said, "I was deeply sadden when I learned that my elementary school music teacher, Carmino Ravosa, had passed away. I remember the class plays that he wrote and directed and, as a student, I was happy to have a part in. I still recall songs from Seneca Falls which taught us about the History of Women's rights through music and Johnny Appleseed. Carmino was a gifted teacher who I will never forget."

Former Fox Meadow student Gaia Tommasi said, "Carmino stayed true to his passion for music and history throughout the years, spreading his love and joy for life! He'll have paradise singing in no time! His encouragement as my music teacher at Fox Meadow, starting from 3rd grade, inspired me to continue singing to a professional level! Thank you Carmino! Love and prayers to your family.

Trudy Moses, a music teacher in Scarsdale said Ravosa was very talented, full of life and energized by working with kids. He wrote historical mini-musicals and discussed their historical importance with the kids. She remembered that Mr.Grossman's fifth grade class at Greenacres performed Ravosa's play "Ellis Island."

Ravosa was a composer and editor for Silver Burdett & Ginn's popular music textbook series, "The Music Connection" and wrote music for popular children's television shows such as Captain Kangaroo and Romper Room. A memorial service will be held August 8th at 11am at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, NY.

Listen to Ravosa's song Mission Control here: