SHS Alumni Auditorium

Thomas (Tom) Koski

Tom and his family relocated to Sarasota in 1967 and went to Wilkinson Elementary, Brookside Junior High and graduated from Sarasota High school in 1978 at which point he left Sarasota vowing never to return – Famous last words. He realized the error of his ways and is now a very proud resident of Sarasota.

Tom and his wife, Sherry, spent the last 25 years in Connecticut and New York and after a successful career in technology, which included wireless communication and software development returned to Sarasota in 2009. They spilt their time between Sarasota and Saratoga Springs, NY.

Tom joined the SMOA board and heads the SHS Alumni Auditorium Committee to insure that the alumni are involved in the future of the building. Additionally, he works with the Sarasota High School Alumni Foundation and The Koski Family Foundation.
Photo by Barbara Banks

Richard (Dick) Thielen

Dick's family moved to Sarasota in 1947 when he was 6. He attended Bay Haven Elementary School, Sarasota Junior High, and Sarasota High School (class of '58). After graduating from SHS he joined the US Navy and served as a radioman (E-5) on the USS Lester (DE 1022) until his discharge to attend college in 1961.

Returning to Sarasota to attend Manatee Junior College, Dick finished his schooling at Florida State University and graduated with a BS degree in Accounting in 1965. Shortly after graduating from college Dick married Avone Neel from Bradenton (whom he met at MJC.) and immediately moved to Boston where he joined the international accounting firm Price Waterhouse & Co. He worked at Price Waterhouse for 7 ½ years and became a tax specialist with the firm.

Following his tenure there, he spent 2 ½ years with Continential Investment Company ( a public company), where he specialized in the forming and selling of investment partnerships in Oil and Gas and Real Estate. Then, in 1974, Dick formed RINET Company , LLC a firm specializing in tax and financial planning for wealthy individuals and their families. Over the years, RINET grew to 40 + employees serving a client base worth in excess of $2 billion. Dick has served on numerous public and private company boards. Most recently, Dick completed a 9 year stint on the Board of Trustees for Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH.

Now mostly retired, Dick and Avone divide their time at homes in Sunapee, NH (summers) and Siesta Key in Sarasota (winters). They have three married sons in New England and 4 grandchildren.

Steven P. Adler

Steven P. Adler is the President and Owner of Murex Properties, LLC. Prior to founding Murex Properties, Steve was a Senior Vice-President with Sun Communities (12/02–3/04) where he oversaw the development, marketing, and management of most of the development properties in Sun’s portfolio. Prior to accepting the position with Sun, Steve served as President and CEO of Forest Communities (6/99-12/02), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Champion Enterprises. Forest was the development arm of Champion whose mission was to acquire, entitle, build, market and manage new land/lease communities, subdivisions and other housing opportunities. Under Steve’s leadership, Forest purchased and developed 17 new communities in seven states.

Previously, Steve was the Director of Operations and eventually President of Uniprop (1986-1999), a private owner and operator of over 15,000 home sites in twelve states. As Chief Operating Officer of Uniprop, Steve received the first “Community Operator of the Year” award from MHI. Steve currently serves on MHI’s National Communities Council and has played an active lobbying role in Florida and served on the Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission and several other industry committees.

Steve holds an M.S. in Resource Management and an M.A. in Sociology. He is a licensed Florida real estate broker.

Liz (Baskerville) Beahm

Liz is a lifetime Sarasota resident and attended Philippi Shores Elementary, Brookside Jr. High and graduated from SHS in 1970. She attended Palm Beach State College and graduated with an Associate in Science Degree in Dental Hygiene. She worked in Sarasota as a hygienist and dental office manager for 25 years before being smitten with computers in the mid-1980’s. She became a private computer consultant and trainer as well as a website designer. Liz is now back in the dental world as Technology Coordinator for Smile Sarasota, and is a licensed Realtor with Re/Max Alliance Group. Liz is married to Ron Beahm, who is also a Realtor with Re/Max and they enjoy cruises and spending time in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Liz designed and maintains the website for her 40^th SHS reunion in 2010 and volunteered to assist with this website for the SHS Alumni Auditorium without question. She is proud to be a member of the SHS Auditorium Committee. It is near and dear to her heart both because she is an SHS alumnus and her father, John Hardy, is an alumnus of Ringling College of Art and Design. He attended after his discharge from the Army in the late 1940’s and is still painting at age 90, with current showings in galleries in NYC, East Hampton, Boca Raton and the Allyn Gallup Gallery in Sarasota. He has also has had his paintings showcased at Ringling College's Selby and Keating Galleries. Liz’s sister, Margi Baskerville Nanney, also attended SHS and has three bachelor’s degrees in Art from USF. So – SHS and art are part of the family!