 A note from Suzanne to her readers written in 2017
Greetings friends! For one who thinks of herself as a leftover 19th century lady devoted to pen and paper this chance to meet you electronically seems nothing short of miraculous! Many of you have written to ask what is happening in my life, family and career. I thank you for your interest and before I start answering some of your questions let me tell you how much it means to an author to have an echo from readers. After all, a book only becomes really alive when it makes a connection with a reader.
I am now living in Maine with my husband Seymour Papert, MIT professor, mathematician and pioneer of technology for learning. I have in a tiny but cozy rented apartment in St. Petersburg, Russia is as always a vibrant, exciting challenging place and today it is changing at dizzying pace. Watching the process of Russia reinventing herself is constantly fascinating. I find something new every time I go there. Apart from my continuing interest in cultural history and art I have two major interests in St. Petersburg. One is a small foundation I created ten years ago to help children and young people affected with hemophilia and related coagulation problems. With the precious help of two devoted and talented Russian teachers we have created a computer group to empower these young people and give them a career skill. I am proud to report say that over ten years all our “graduates” have been able to go on to study in universities and/or to find good jobs. The other is connected to my life long love of ballet. I am trying to find ways to help to support the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet (the descendant of the pre-revolutionary Imperial Ballet School) - the most famous ballet school in the world whose famous graduates include everyone from Pavlova and Nijinsky to Balanchine, Nureyev, Makarova and Barishnikov. In past years I have lectured and have occasionally led small special tours of people who are seriously interested in getting to know Russia in more depth and more intimately than can be accomplished on the customary "boiler plate" tourist excursions. |
Suzanne's son Bob and family |
Suzanne and husband Seymour Papert |
Suzanne and daughters |
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Lowell Hotel, NY book party, Feb 6, 2014, Elizabeth Massie, Suzanne Massie, Dina De Luca Chartouni |
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