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Spring 2019 Class Notes
Class Notes
1940s
Ralph Draves ’49 attended OWU after World War II. He had several different careers and ended up teaching on Long Island, N.Y., for more than 25 years. Upon retirement, he and his wife moved to Asheville, N.C. He became active in the local bicycle club and was renowned for his cue sheets. Bicycling took him touring in Europe, particularly the Netherlands. In his early 90s, health problems forced him to give up strenuous activities, and he has concentrated his attention on his daughter Kyra and grandchildren Alexandra and Camden. Overall, he has enjoyed his twilight years and has no regrets.
Catherine Winkler Olds ’49 made an acquaintance in Dr. Roy Bossert’s organic chemistry lab that resulted in a marriage of almost 68 years to Bob Olds ’50, who died in March 2018. She continues to live in their home in Brigham City, Utah, where they raised four successful citizens: an attorney, a CPA, a computer engineer, and a college professor. They added eight grandchildren and five great-grands. Olds worked in public education for 36 years and has conducted handbell choirs for adults and youth for 21 years. She says attending OWU was one of the best decisions of her life.
1950s
Pat James Simpson ’54 reports from Tuscon, Arizona that all is well in the desert. She’s sure most of her classmates are probably confronting some age-related issues but doing the best they can. Her kids are doing well, and the grandkids are doing amazing things in college and beyond, which is what really counts. Cheers to those still here and best wishes to all!
Gilbert Smith ’54 and his wife Richeen Hettinger live in Canandaigua, NY.
Patricia “Pat” Cochran Davis ’59 married Bob Davis in 1960. She taught second grade for three years and then was a stay-at-home mom for three boys, who went on to give her seven grandchildren. Pat volunteered for many service organizations, enjoyed trips to many countries, and is now focusing on visiting our national parks. She spent 27 years living in an 1853 stone farmhouse on 100 acres — “a dream come true.” Her husband retired from his plastic surgery practice in 2002, and they downsized to a townhouse in 2003. Their hometown has been York, Pa., for 46 years.
Marcia Van Scoy Davis ’59 is retired from college counseling at Cuyahoga Community College. Davis and her husband Jim live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and would welcome the opportunity to share Cleveland’s cultural richness with OWU visitors.
Jill Shanks Eliot ’59 of Grandview Heights, Ohio, retired as director of the Imaginating Dramatics Company, a youth dramatics and musical theater company she founded. She taught for 37 years and directed 400-plus productions, participating in many special events and performing for many government officials. Working with her husband, Don Eliot ’59, Alpha Sigma Phi, was her joy. Don, whom she married in the OWU chapel in 1959, passed away in 2014 and left a “hole” in her heart. Together they wrote five musicals. Their granddaughter, Amelia Naille ’21, is the 29th member of the family to attend OWU. Jill writes a column for her church and serves on its executive board. She hopes all the “Tweedies” will be back in force at the reunion! “La Vie Boheme - There’s no day like today.”
Fred Fulmer ’59 and his wife Judy have enjoyed retirement for the last 20 years on the 47th floor of a highrise condo overlooking Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. They enjoy cooking, walking the lakefront, and visiting Chicago’s restaurants and cultural attractions. Fred’s hobbies include photography, reading, and fishing. The Fulmers travel extensively, having visited all continents except Antarctica. Fred has enjoyed trekking with a Denison buddy in England, Scotland, Switzerland, and New Zealand. He also participates in a peer learning program at Northwestern University, belongs to a writing group, and has had photographs and articles published in Northwest Journal.
Ann King Gunsalus ’59 married her high school sweetheart Jim after graduating from OWU and lived in Larchmont, N.Y. They have three sons, including Curtis Gunsalus ’89 and Eric Gunsalus ’87. She had two careers: teaching in public school and a home business, “Calligraphic Art.” In 1994, she and Jim retired to a house they had built overlooking Nauset Beach on Cape Cod, Mass. They have traveled and enjoyed their six grandchildren. She taught Sunday school for 15 years and has enjoyed three writers’ groups, a Pi Beta Phi group, two book clubs, her garden club, and keeping up with fellow alumni on Facebook.
Gay Martin Hendricks ’59 and her husband John moved back to Minnesota to be closer to family in 2015. In 2016, they sold their house in Bella Vista, Ariz., in 18 hours. They then moved to Cumberland, Wis., (their summer home) to await a call from Waverly Garden in North Oaks, Minn. John passed away in August 2107, of mouth cancer, although he never smoked. Four months later, Gay received a call that an apartment would be ready for her on Jan. 1, 2018. She misses John dearly yet does love her life at Waverly, a Presbyterian Homes complex.
Harry Kepner ’59 enjoyed an exciting 21-year career in the Air Force. He retired as a lieutenant colonel and went directly to work for EDS (Ross Perot’s company) for 16 years. He dabbled in independent consulting work for a few years, then became a volunteer with Meals on Wheels and the Area Agency on Aging. Four years ago, he and Carol Kraus Kepner ’60 moved into an active older-adult living community in Dallas and are loving it; it has everything they need including an on-site medical center. Forty years a Texan.
Diane “Dutch” Mulvihill Millard ’59 and her husband Bob Millard ’60 are enjoying their retirement years in San Diego. Their three children and six grandchildren bring them much joy. Diane volunteers in a first-grade reading program, and they enjoy serving their church. Diane is currently the chaplain for her P.E.O (Philanthropic Education Organization) chapter, which supports women’s opportunities to pursue their dreams for further education, and she has been attending community Bible studies for the past 15 years. Playing in a bridge group and her love for reading as a member of a book club help to keep her mind active. Bob and Diane are so grateful for meeting at OWU over 60 years ago!
Jan Root Peak ’59 taught school for several years in Euclid and Elyria, Ohio. In 1961, she married Jim Peak ’59 (Sigma Tau Epsilon). They had three sons and a happy 51-year marriage. He died at 75 after a long illness. Peak earned an accounting degree and pursued various related jobs. She also became a potter and did folk-art pieces in the north Georgia mountains. In 2013, she moved to Carlyle Place, a retirement center in Macon, Ga. There, she met David Reed ’57, which seemed the most unlikely of possibilities, and they married in 2014. He died last May from a fall due to Parkinson’s. She walks daily and at 81 is just starting to take clogging lessons. She cherishes the richness of her life experiences.
Joanne Hlavin Ritter ’59, Pi Beta Phi, B.F.A., recently read that “if you have a garden and books, you have everything.” As a lifelong gardener and reader, she knows that to be true. An active community volunteer in Bellefontaine, Ohio, she is a member and past chair of the City Tree Commission. Since 2002, she has led a group of 14 women, “elves,” in decorating the downtown for the holidays. Using her art degree, she designed the arch commemorating the “First Concrete Street in America,” Court Street. Most of all she is a wife, mother, and Nanna.
Don Saliers ’59, of Atlanta, has taught theology, liturgy, and music at Yale and Emory universities — with many guest lectureships in between — for more than 50 years. One of the great joys of his life has been combining church music, scholarship, and engagement with social issues. Writing a book and giving concerts around the country with daughter Emily have been rare privileges. Fifteen books and hundreds of essays later, it is still the act of working with students and anyone eager to learn that animates his life. Oh, then there is hiking, jazz, and a bit of golf thrown in.
Judy Sanders Selby ’59 enjoys life with her partner, Reid Spencer (Amherst College ’55). She is retired as marketing professor at the College of Charleston and was principal at Selby and Associates, a marketing consulting firm. She is now an active volunteer. She has two daughters, one in Los Angeles and one in New York, and one granddaughter, age 15. A rescue dog named Bonnie is now Judy and Reid’s faithful companion. She’s afraid of everyone but them. Reach Judy at judy.selby@gmail.com.
Carol Smith Simpson ’59 and her husband spend half of the year at their condo in Louisville, Ky., and the rest of the time at their condo in Bradenton, Fla. They still consider Louisville their home.
Beryl Mullen Whaley ’59 retired from teaching from the Murray, Ky., school system in 2001, and Peter Whaley ’59 retired from Murray State University in 2003. They relocated to Salisbury, Md., in 2007. Daughters, sons-in-law, and nine grandkids keep them busy. Daughter Sharon will become an empty-nester. Sandra teaches. Janet works for Easter Seals. Two sons-in-law are enjoying new jobs, the third received a major promotion. Two grandsons are employed. An employed granddaughter was married; another will graduate with a job. Five other grandkids have had successful school years. Collectively, the families spent a week at Beryl and Peter’s beach house in Fenwick Island, Del. Beryl has had a good year. Heart rehab, cataract surgery, and removal of two melanomas have helped Peter’s doctors keep their skills sharpened. The Whaleys have been very blessed.
David Yoder ’59 and his wife Elizabeth moved to Portland, Ore., in 2015 to be closer to their daughter’s and son’s families. While they lived in San Francisco for 50 years, they also called New York and Los Angeles home. Yoder spent his career in advertising, starting out with Campbell Soup as a “normal” client and ending up sprinting with Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Dell, and other roller coaster technology firms. The goal was to stay one day ahead of them. Yoder was a media specialist or a director for nine (often crazy) advertising agencies. His wife was a medical social worker.
1960s
Sue Aikman Alperin ’64 worked for the American Red Cross for five years, and she met her husband, an Air Force dentist, in the Philippines. They were married in 1970, moved to his hometown of Miami and one year later moved to Portland, Ore., where they still reside. They have two children, Scott and Mandy, and two grandchildren. Sue worked mostly in the mental health field but pursued her interest in interculturalism through a master’s degree in intercultural relations. Her last job was at Destinations Services, helping corporate clients temporarily moving to Portland. She loves to travel and has been to five continents. She also gardens, cross-country skis, hikes, and volunteers.
William “Bill” Barton ’64 is enjoying the benefits of retirement: more time to enjoy the journey and appreciate life, family, get-togethers with friends, travel, and those special times with his granddaughter. Bill and his wife Carol (Duquesne ’66) recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with OWU friends in attendance, followed by a trip to China and Vietnam. They live in McLean, Va., where they raised their family and enjoyed professional careers; now it is a center for connection to old friends and family. Remembering the OWU experience never gets old, and Bill can’t wait for the next 50 years. Reach him at wbbarton2@gmail.com.
Sue Wilson Bynum ’64 lives in New York City and is retired after 50 years working in nonprofits, government, and business, as well as her own consulting firm, dealing with public relations, marketing research, and planning. After getting an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, Bynum has continued her commitment to nonprofits, tutors English, serves on several boards, and has been actively involved in the United Methodist Church for the past 20 years. She’s married to Bob Kimtis, who is retired after a Wall Street career, and she has two children and four wonderful teenage grandchildren. In addition to enjoying family and all that New York has to offer, they love to travel the world.
Tom Fenton ’64 and his wife Sharon still live in historic Marietta, Ohio, overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. So far, the rivers have been kind to them, allowing them to view them from above and never from within or below. Recent events: text grandkid, gym workout, archaeological dig team volunteer (Sharon), pickleball, Transatlantic by Colum McCann, volunteer (Tom) for student drug-screening, hiking Colorado, and luck.
Nancy Nail Molitor ’64 has lived in Atlanta most of her married life (52 years), migrating after the Navy years to Delta Air Lines with her pilot husband Art. Retiring from the workforce early to be a stay-at-home mom, she has made time to volunteer with no shortage of travel and recreation, with boating and outdoor pursuits a common thread. They try to keep up with their two delightfully different grown children and their families, a son in Savannah, Ga., and a daughter in the Dominican Republic.
Michael Murphy ’64, Sigma Chi, married his wife Chris in 1970 and moved to Aurora, Ohio. Mike worked as a general dentist and Chris owned a physical therapy practice. Now they are retired and living in Charleston, S.C. Mike and Chris carry and walk 18 holes three times a week, go dancing weekly, and typically close down the bar. Mornings when Chris is outside running 7 miles, Mike is indoors watching Fox News and old movies, sometimes with a bloody mary. They have made great new friends. Despite the distance separating them from old friends, they have kept in close contact by attending each other’s celebrations and traveling together. They know how to retire!
Ron Pierre ’64 and Barb Hites Pierre ’64 are “retired” in LaGrange, Ohio, yet continuing their usual activities: serving the Lord in their church and ministries in Italy, Haiti, Africa, and the U.S., plus business involvements in commercial real estate, a biomedical company, and Sorrento Ristorante, while traveling and keeping up with their family of six, their spouses, and 24 grandchildren. They thank God daily for His undeserved grace: for both present and eternal blessings through the faith He gave us to believe in Christ, our Savior (Ephesians 2:8-10), for giving them each other, their family and friends, and for energy to enjoy all!
Janet Ahner Rubinoff ’64 finally decided last fall at 76 to retire from teaching at York University in Toronto. She is enjoying her “freedom” and trying to get some long-postponed writing done. Her address is 92 Maplewood Ave., Toronto, ON, Canada M6C 1J5.
Maeve Murphy Shapiro ’64 recounts that recently, after asking her husband for the umpteenth time, “Where is...?” he casually remarked, “You’ve got five good years left.” “Oh, no,” she shuddered, “I’ve caught a case of the olds.” Thankfully that thought prompted her to reflect on her life’s journey — definitely a fun one. After graduation she headed to the East Coast with classmates. Fourteen years later and nine months pregnant, she drove to the West Coast with a master’s, a Siamese cat, and a husband. She started a psychotherapy practice in Tustin, Calif., where she still resides, and had two children, both of whom followed their father’s career in medicine. At this stage of life, her favorite activities are coffee with friends, duplicate bridge, and entering the digital world. She does not have a bucket list. However, she still has wanderlust and would go on an interesting trip any time. And although she only has five good years left, she knows who she is!
Betty Bright Stallings ’64 earned an M.S.W. at the University of Wisconsin in 1966. She founded a nonprofit organization and served as its executive director for 14 years. This led her to write six books and travel the world speaking on issues related to nonprofit groups for 20-plus years. Retired at age 75, she is now active as a volunteer with Asante Africa Foundation after two amazing trips to South Africa. She’s been married for more than 53 years to Charles Stallings and has two grown daughters and four grandchildren. She lives part-time in Pleasanton, Calif., and Del Mar, Calif.
Nabil Ailabouni ’68, of Dublin, Ohio, retired from a career of teaching and finally found the time to relax and reminisce about events, people, and circumstances that influenced his life. He wrote and published a book, My Life’s Journey as a Palestinian Christian, including his years and experiences at OWU. His story also highlights the tragic events of how he and his family became refugees and unwelcome in their ancestral homeland. In 1964, OWU became his threshold to higher education and his gateway to personal freedom and American citizenship.
1970s
Geoffrey Greif ’71, professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore School of Social Work, was named UMB Teacher of the Year for 2018. He is the longest-serving faculty member at the School of Social Work and thanks Tom Brittenham at OWU for encouraging him to go into the profession.
Cheryl Smith Benefield ’74 retired in 2006 after 30 years of service as an educator in the DeKalb County School System in Georgia. She wrote her first book, Nathan’s Story, in 2009, which chronicles the medical miracles, life transitions, and lessons learned from her beloved son Nathan, who was born in 1994 with Down syndrome and was initially diagnosed as profoundly deaf. She’s also the CEO of Miracle Believers Inc., and believes her mission is to encourage, equip, and empower the brokenhearted and disenfranchised. Currently she serves as the minister of congregational care and women’s ministry coordinator at her church and resides in Atlanta.
Lise Uptegrove Chase ’74 was married to Peter Chase ’74 for 25 years. During the next 19 years, Lise worked as an intercultural specialist, coaching executives prior to their international assignments. For 10 years, she volunteered many hours in the community of Darien, Conn., while her world travels continued. In 2016 she remarried and was widowed in 2018. She currently lives in Millbrook, N.Y., and her retired life revolves around family, friends, travel, and hobbies.
Peter Chase ’74 earned a master’s in international business studies from the University of South Carolina. His 25-year marriage to Lise Uptegrove Chase ’74 resulted in three sons: Matthew, Timothy, and Andrew Chase ’07, and five grandchildren. Chase spent 32 years at the Colgate Palmolive Co. in international marketing, living with his family overseas for 16 years. In 2009, he married Dan Robinson of Scotch Plains, N.J. They are enjoying retirement with summers in East Hampton, N.Y., and winters in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They travel extensively and enjoy their growing families. Chase joined the Alumni Board in 2017 as director. In 2007, he established a scholarship endowment in the name of his late father, Dr. John N. Chase ’49, who taught zoology at OWU from 1955 to 1974 and served as provost from 1975 until his untimely death in 1977.
Jim Diem ’74 has been a school bus driver for 28 years in Michigan, as well as a photographer, reporter, editor, and publisher of the weekly Newberry News since 1989. He and his wife Nancy live in the great white north in Newberry, Mich., where you have to travel 70 miles to find the nearest traffic light, next door to the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi River, the Upper Tahquamenon Falls. They have three children.
Marie Eslinger ’74 and Robert (“Red”) B.G. Horowitz ’74 have been married for 43 years and live in Manhasset, N.Y. They have three sons. Marie received a master’s in psychology from the University of Miami in 1977. She is president of the education-focused Smalley Foundation, founded in 1965. The foundation was happy to establish two scholarships for OWU students. Previously, she was president of Eslinger Associates, a legal consulting company. Robert went to law school at the University of Miami, graduating with a J.D. degree in 1977. He practices intellectual property law in New York City and has been a partner with BakerHostetler for 11 years. Classmates may remember that he was very active in the OWU Music Department, and he continues his love of music as a classical tenor soloist in his church choir and in a choir he started 30 years ago that performs annual Christmas concerts. He still takes voice lessons; his teacher is Peter Maravell (who was an original, and the youngest, member of the Robert Shaw Chorale).
Lorraine Farquhar ’74 reports that retirement came too soon, as a career in medical center and college fundraising hit a wall in the 2009 recession. She enjoys living in Ardmore, a suburb of Philadelphia, and doesn’t get to Ohio much these days. She sends greetings and best wishes to her classmates.
Chris Knisely ’74 serves as president of the Athens City Council in Athens, Ohio. She’s been a City Council member since 2010 and council president since 2014. She is also involved in several Ohio University campus/community endeavors, including the Healthy Campus/Community Coalition and the OU President’s Commission on the Status of Women.
Tremper Longman ’74 retired in 2017 as the Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., and is now distinguished scholar and professor emeritus. He and his wife, Alice Scheetz Longman ’75, then moved to Alexandria, Va., to be closer to their three sons and six granddaughters. Tremper continues to lecture and write; his most recent book is Old Testament Controversies: Pressing Questions About Evolution, Sexuality, History and Violence (Baker: 2019). He has also written a series of books with Dan Allender ’74, a psychologist living in Seattle.
Jennifer Gross Peterson ’74 has lived in Eugene, Ore., for 43 years, where she moved from Minnesota shortly after her marriage to Kent D. Peterson in 1975. Kent was a commercial photographer who unfortunately passed away in 2010 from cancer. They were avid cyclists, racing and touring on single bikes and tandem. Jennifer received her master’s in library science in 1978 and spent her career at the Springfield, Ore., Public Library, retiring from full-time work in 2009 as adult services and reference manager. She enjoys traveling, power walking, yoga, dancing, volunteering, cat mothering, theater and sporting events, and a rich network of friends. Reach her at jgp51@comcast.net.
Christine Warburton Ramsay ’74 is still a partner with the recruiting firm Corporate Resources, where she specializes in automotive and pharmaceutical placements of mid- to upper-management candidates. She is still an active volunteer within her immediate community as well as at different organizations throughout the greater Cincinnati area, including raising money for Children’s Hospital, the Gamma Phi Beta Alumnae group, Wyoming Public Schools, and several charitable organizations and events.
Barbara McEachern Smith ’74, a college professor emeritus, and her retired husband Morton Pete Smith ’71 have been blessed by God with two sons and two beautiful grandchildren. Barbara has spent the majority of her retirement in service with Church in the Circle (formerly First United Methodist Church of Cleveland). The Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools has been a fantastic use of her energy as project director, consultant, and evaluator for a little more than 10 years. She is on the boards of the Jordan Community Resource Center and Lakewood College. Barbara lives in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
Helen “Cookie” Baker Sunkle ’74 is in her 31st year with Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where she is the assistant to the director of the Lisska Center for Scholarly Engagement, which oversees the summer research program and assists students applying for prestigious national and international fellowships such as Fulbright and Truman, among other things. She plans to retire in 2020 and spend time with her new grandson, Milo, who lives in Chicago, and do some other traveling.
Greg Wilson ’74 retired after 40-plus years consulting on financial services policy and regulatory issues. He serves as an independent director of LF Capital Acquisition and still plays in his high school band, F.O.G. Wilson has received three awards from the Fairfax County History Commission for his research and books on Civil War history; his most recent book is The Adventures of Jonathan Roberts: The Union’s Quaker Scout in Northern Virginia, 1861-1865. He plans to pursue his passions for travel, corporate governance, history, and politics. Originally from Ravenna, Ohio, Greg lives with his wife, Barbara Buchanan, in Great Falls, Va.
Mary Wood-Constable ’74 lives with husband Jim Constable in Cincinnati, where she continues to see several OWU Music Department friends! She received a master’s in flute performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and spent a decade as a teacher and freelance flutist. After time at home with son Will and daughter Julia, she transitioned to the field of nonprofit fund development. Wood-Constable has spent many hours on various volunteer committees and boards, especially Women Writing for (a) Change. She continues to work part-time, writes a little poetry, and enjoys reading, music, gardening, and the outdoors.
Richard Kelley ’75 retired in March as president and general manager of KNSD-TV NBC 7 and KUAN Telemundo 20 in San Diego. Kelley’s career included 44 years in the broadcasting industry. He plans to remain at his Point Loma, Calif., home and do consulting and volunteering in the local community.
Michael Jordan ’76, of Jordan Resolutions, LLC, was named “Mediator of the Year” by “Best Lawyers in America” for 2019. Only one attorney in each specialty in each region is selected for the list. He was also designated as an “Ohio Super Lawyer.” His debut novel, The Company of Demons, was released in January 2018 by the Greenleaf Book Group.
Tracey Hooper Abby-White ’78 was elected chairperson of the Brookdale Community College (Lincroft, N.J.) Board of Trustees. Her love for education and service grew expediently while attending OWU.
Kate Hahn Asbeck ’79 retired in 2016 from the Cleveland Foundation, where she served as CFO for six years. Previously, she was senior vice president of finance at Corning Incorporated and lived and worked in Corning, N.Y., for 20 years. She is currently on the boards of directors of several nonprofit organizations, including Jumpstart and Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. Kate and her husband Richard live in Brecksville, Ohio. She is the “goody aunt” to 14 nieces and nephews and enjoys travel, hiking, cooking, and reading.
Nadine Pastolove Baccellieri ’79, of Roslyn, N.Y., got her master’s in judicial administration followed by her law degree. She practiced law for 10 years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. She is now a professional volunteer. She has two daughters. Emma graduated from Duke and is a writer for Sports Illustrated. Olivia is a junior at the University of Vermont and is studying in Sydney, Australia. Nadine’s husband Paul will retire in June, and they plan to move back to North Carolina. This time they’ll be in Holly Springs in 12 Oaks.
Allyson “Pookie” Sternad Hotz ’79 lives in Devon, Pa., outside of Philadelphia. She is married with three girls and one son-in-law who are living in Seattle, Boston, and Philadelphia. She works with the Main Line Health System as a community health and wellness educator.
Julie Barnes-Weise ’79, of Durham, N.C., was a lawyer and a businessperson in the pharmaceutical industry for decades, but made a change and started teaching at Duke University. Her experience at Duke led her to found a health nonprofit company, Global Health Innovation Alliance Accelerator (www.ghiaa.org), and to consult for the Coalition for Epidemic preparedness Innovation. She travels a lot. Her husband is a retired European patent attorney, and they have three grown, married children. Their son lives five minutes away with his wife and their first grandchild, Ana. They love the beach, traveling, and seeing family and friends.
Joan Fuhrer Baxter ’79 lives in Galloway, N.J., but has moved six times to six states since 1979. She met her husband Rick in Los Angeles in 1980 and they were married in 1985. They have two children, Alison (Queens, N.Y.) and Nick (Margate, N.J.). Joan spent more than 30 years in the retail industry, first as a buyer for the Broadway Department Store, then in managerial positions for specialty and department stores. She also spent 10 years as a retail coordinator for Ralph Lauren. She currently enjoys working in the records office of her local police department. She enjoys the Jersey shore, visiting her daughter in New York City, and joining her husband on his travels as a college bookstore salesman.
Jim Brown ’79 is living the good life in Dublin, Ohio. He has been married to the same wonderful lady for 33 years this June. They are blessed with three great kids, and their first grandchild was born in February. After OWU, he received his master’s in statistics at Bowling Green State University, where he met his wife. Jobs and family required them to move to and from Chicago. He has had several careers in different industries, most recently at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He still follows the Buckeyes and Browns and enjoys golf. He enjoys learning and making a difference every day.
Robert Cook ’79 attended the Ohio State University College of Medicine, followed by postgraduate training at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and the University of Colorado in Denver. After completing a research fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine, he served as an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado until 1996. For the past 23 years he has been the medical director of the Mercyhealth Lung and Sleep Centers in Janesville, Wis. Most importantly, he has a son, Cass, and a daughter, Cameron, who make it all worthwhile.
Phyllis Hegeman ’79 had an incredibly wonderful time traveling across the country with OWU friends in the fall after graduation, down the West Coast from Canada to Mexico and over the Rockies, camping and hiking in national parks. She felt most drawn to the ocean, so she went to live for 13 years in San Diego. During her last six years there, she ran a public jazz radio station and performed on flute. In the ’90s she spent quite a few years traveling around the world exploring. She landed in Nevada City, Calif.
John Joseph ’79, a member of the Class of ’79 reunion committee, lives in Naperville, Ill. After a career in marketing and operations, Joseph taught for two years at North Central College in Naperville and helped the school launch an entrepreneurial center. He is now semi-retired and provides consulting services to entrepreneurs and SMBs as well as career transformation coaching.
Candy Caldwell Kennedy ’79 and her husband, Doug Kennedy ’77, have lived in in Dublin, Ohio, since 1986. Doug is a partner in a law firm, and Candy keeps busy with three part-time jobs in insurance and finance. They became first-time grandparents to a little boy in March 2018, a milestone experience brought to them by their daughter Kate and son-in-law Ryan, who live in Haymarket, Va. Their son Conor, of Columbus, will wed his fiancee Hannah in September.
Sandra Hickson Noll ’79, B.S.N., R.N., M.S.N., C.N.O.R., retired after 37 years as a nurse, educator, director, and computer nurse. She moved from Dublin, Ohio, to Oak Island, N.C. She loves the weather, water, and being near her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandcats. She volunteers in local schools to help with reading skills. The kids are delightful! Walking on the beach is great. The downside of island living is when hurricanes come calling. Hurricane Florence was nearly a direct hit. Her island held up fairly well. She lost a huge pine tree that fell across her yard instead of on her house. She was so lucky and thankful!
Carolea Graf Radke ’79 is loving life! She fills her time in Inverness, Fla., with golf and travels often on weekends to attend her daughter’s swim meets. Her twins, Karlea and Brett, are now 15. Brett is big-time into bowling. Radke is still self-employed as a credit-card processor and loves it. She recently organized a fundraiser for her kids’ high school band to raise money for new instruments. Friends and classmates are welcome to email her: CaroleaRadke@aol.com.
Linda Meredith Winters ’79 has lived in central Ohio since 1990 and recently downsized her living space when her husband retired. She continues working as a full-time nurse and plans to retire in 2022. She and her husband have four kids — the youngest two in Worthington and Bexley, Ohio. The older two live in Seattle and Jackson, Wyo. They have two grandkids: Maggie, age 5 in Seattle, and Nora, born Dec. 23, in Worthington.
Karen McCredie Zaretzky ’79 and her husband Ron live in Mendon, Vt., and commute weekly into New York City for Ron’s job. Karen takes advantage of the arts in the city and attends weekly Broadway shows; after waiting nine months, she got a seat to the original Hamilton for $99! Karen runs a corporate gift and award company, working with Fortune 500 companies. She travels annually overseas to destinations such as South Africa, Japan, Vietnam, and Europe. New Zealand and Thailand are on her agenda for 2019.
1980s
Paul Golitz ’84 headed back to Chicago after OWU. He lives with his wife and three daughters four blocks from historic Wrigley Field in a century-old greystone flat they converted into a single-family home. It’s been fun raising three city girls; they’ve had a wonderful time taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer. Working in the high-tech field his entire career has been intellectually challenging with every day being different. He has been fortunate to work with great people, travel the world, and enjoy a high quality of life.
Todd Griesman ’84 finds it hard to believe, but his oldest child is preparing to look at colleges, and the youngest isn’t that far behind. Both he and his wife Emily have new jobs, at LDI Color Toolbox and Equinix, respectively. Todd’s website, NYCcopierGUY.com, was recently updated with a new look and tons of information. The couple continues to live in New York City, but the next move is beginning to creep into the conversation. Life has thrown a few health scares into the mix, including cancer, gangrene, sepsis, and heart issues, but all seem to be resolved and Todd cannot complain. Suffering is optional!
Carrie Harris ’84 is serving on the committee for her 35th class reunion, which will be part of Reunion Weekend 2019 on campus May 17-19. She encourages her classmates to register now for all the fun events and class dinner at owu.edu/ReunionWeekend. She is a retired schoolteacher and a competitive ballroom dancer living in Worthington, Ohio. Her father, Bill Harris ’45, is among many of her family members who also attended OWU.
Sheila Fagan Plecha ’84 became a paralegal in 2013 after traveling the country for 20 years as a corporate wife in charge of relocation. She has served on the Alumni Board at OWU since 2006 and as president of the Alumni Association from 2016 to 2019. She’s been married to John Plecha ’86 for 31 years; they’re the parents of two daughters, and are planning one wedding for November 2019. They live in Oxford, Mich., but are considering moving to Chicago. Sheila still appreciates the gift of OWU that her parents gave her nearly 40 years ago. She is grateful for the opportunity to build relationships with students, staff, and alumni.
Tammy Fergus Harvey ’89 and her husband Scott recently relocated to Bethel, Maine, where their youngest daughter, Sadie, is a sophomore at Gould Academy. Their oldest daughter, Mia, will graduate from Washington & Lee in May, the same weekend as the OWU reunion, so they won’t be able to attend. Their son, Will, attends Northeastern University. After graduation, Tammy had a fun career in book publishing but put that on hold to raise the kids. More recently, she has worked at a local farm and now at a craft beer store. Scott and Tammy love to ski, hike, run, and mountain-bike.
Kimberly Crawford McConville ’89 still works in her major as a lobbyist and trade association executive. She represents Ohio’s non-alcoholic beverage industry. And she found time to get married, have a wonderful son who is now old enough to hear more of her college stories (“Mom, the ’80s sound off the chain!”), and be single again. All while still listening to First Amendment music, rocking high heels, and making a life in Westerville, Ohio. Now, if only La Za still delivered and accepted her old ValaDine card.
Barbara Bredefeld Meyer ’89, Ed.D., lives in Normal, Ill., and works at Illinois State University as associate dean for research in the College of Education and associate professor in the School of Teaching & Learning. She teaches secondary-teacher education issues and methods. Her son, Andrew, will be a freshman at Illinois State University in the fall, majoring in exercise science, and he has signed to play hockey for the ISU Redbirds. Barb serves on the executive board of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education and is co-chair of its International Committee. Her current research interests include laboratory schools and scholarship of teaching and learning.
Mana Nabeshima Tokoi ’89 went to Columbia University’s School of International & Public Affairs right after OWU, thanks to Hiroshi Matsui ’89. She got her master’s and M.R.S. and is blessed with three children. The last one just became a teenager, so Mana is still working in the banking industry. She has worked for Citibank, Goldman Sachs, and now at DBS.
1990s
Doug Pierson ’92 was promoted to brigadier general in the Marine Corps in July 2018.
Emily Barber Bowman ’94 and her husband Edwin have lived in Suwanee, Ga. (just outside of Atlanta) for 17 years and don’t miss Ohio winters. They have three kids: Edwin IV (15), Justin (14), and Sydney (11). Emily left the corporate world in 2008 and now stays at home full-time. She keeps busy volunteering with the PTA and running their kids to baseball, basketball, and cheerleading. While they love to travel, they cherish family time in the summer on Lake Lanier.
Jennifer Montgomery Burgess ’94 says that despite menopause shenanigans and a touch of a midlife crisis, life is good and she can’t complain. Her husband Bob retired from his active duty USMC career, and they are now settled in Delaware (state, not town), where they are raising their 11-year-old son, Cooper. Jennifer’s contribution to the world at large is the occasional pretty photograph, sparkly piece of handmade jewelry, or a watercolor painting. And she survives it all thanks to her OWU Girls (they know who they are!).
Marcia Campo ’94 has remained in northeastern Ohio since graduation, working in sales for several industries, including advertising, lawn care, and tourism. Currently she is the national sales executive with a medical imaging company focusing on MRI and CT modalities. She also spends her time volunteering with her local hospice, writing legacy stories for patients and their families, which helps her utilize writing skills learned at OWU. She lives in Fairlawn, Ohio, with her husband of five years and their dog, Chewie.
Jennifer Erschen Chaggaris ’94 lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband Steve and son Peter. Chaggaris earned an M.B.A. from George Washington University and began a career consulting for the federal government. Since October 2017, she has been managing director for a woman-owned small business providing management consulting services. She regularly sees many OWU friends and has an annual tradition of a summer weekend with Anne Snyder deLeeuw ’94, Jennifer Birkmeyer Sittason ’94, Coleen Nicol Gatehouse ’94, and Susan Hathaway ’94.
Shandelle Wertz Girdley ’94 and her husband Michael have lived in San Antonio since 2003. They have two children, Seth (13) and Drew (10). Before moving to Texas, Shandelle lived in San Francisco and Columbus. The OWU English and journalism departments launched her into several communications positions with nonprofit organizations and dot-com companies. After running her own e-commerce business for 12 years and selling it in 2016, Shandelle is now active with several nonprofit organizations, family, and travel. She especially looks forward to an annual girls weekend with eight other OWU Delta Zeta sisters!
Molly Kuhlman Haberbusch ’94 has moved around a lot since graduation and made several career and job changes. She is now settled into life in Clinton, N.Y. She works part-time at a community college in the Center for Corporate and Community Education and also teaches as an adjunct. Working part-time keeps her busy and provides time to cart her daughter around for after-school activities. The rest of the time she tries to figure out how much wine she can drink to survive the tween years and still fit into her pants.
Kimberly Boggs Hull ’94 has two daughters, ages 16 and 18. If you don’t see her at Reunion Weekend, it’s because Ellie’s graduation is on May 18. Bad timing! She hopes to make it to campus from Dublin, Ohio, for some of the late-night gatherings. Her family has a great time traveling together. Yet, she always looks forward to her yearly gathering with her sisters from OWU. She teaches hot yoga two to three times a week and volunteers in the schools and at church. She’s finishing her duties as junior warden at church. She is just about ready for that next challenge, whatever it may be.
Shannon Marsh McClure ’94 lives in Morro Bay, Calif., with her 15-year-old daughter Madelyn and many pets. She owns a sweet shop in nearby Cambria. Stop in if you’re ever traveling on Highway 1 along the California coast.
Michael Palumbo ’94 continues his practice in allergy and immunology in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, where he lives with his wife and three children. He sees adult and pediatric patients and oversees an active research department participating in ongoing nationwide trials. He is currently president of the Pennsylvania Allergy and Asthma Association.
Katy Herron Piazza ’94 lives in Weston, Conn., with her husband, cat, dog, and two sons, ages 9 and 11. After earning an M.P.A. and working in Cleveland from 1994 through 2003, she attended seminary in New York City. From there she served as an Episcopal priest in Larchmont, N.Y., until the family’s move to Weston. For a couple of years she attempted stay-at-home parenthood with some stints doing interim and supply work for the Diocese of New York. Since 2015, she’s been the solo half-time priest for a small church around the corner from the home they bought five years before she even considered it as a place of employment. Overall, life is good!
Amy Prosenjak ’94 has lived in Oregon for the past 12 years with her husband Steve and their million-dollar dog. They love life on the West Coast, and she has the pleasure of running Oregon’s largest winery, A to Z Wineworks. In her free time, she loves to read and travel abroad, hitting Singapore, Iceland, and Paris last year!
Carrie Lippert Reinhardt ’94 spent 2009-14 in St. Andrews, Scotland, while her husband, Dave Reinhardt ’96, pursued his Ph.D. While there, they welcomed two girls, Molly (9) and Abigail (6). Since returning to the States in 2014, they’ve made Davidson, N.C., their home, and Carrie has returned to working with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as a regional administrator in the Carolinas. She has also enjoyed being back at OWU more often as part of the Alumni Board.
Alison “Ali” Martin Turner ’94 and her husband Mike live in Powell, Ohio, with their two teen daughters. The past 25 years have included grad school, working during her 20s, and spending her 30s as a stay-at-home mom (her best days!). As an economics/politics and government major, she joked that her dream job was “Julie McCoy from The Love Boat.” That path took a few turns, but she is now very fulfilled as owner of Powell Travel and Tours. She helps clients plan vacations and host group trips, and she loves it. One of the best perks: reconnecting with OWU friends. And the family adventures: Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Disney resorts. Mom/wife/travel agent... funny where the path of life leads!
Chris Tweddle ’94 is a member of the mathematics faculty at Governors State University in the Chicago area, where he was recently appointed associate director of general education. He and his wife Sara (University of Southern Indiana ’05) live in Oak Forest, Ill.
Jacquie Jones ’96 announced her candidacy for judge of the Common Court of Pleas of Delaware County, Pa. Jones is a defense and family law attorney in the private practice of Jones & Associates Law, PC. She has a master’s in government and J.D. from Georgetown University. The primary election is in May.
Rachelle Johnsson Chiang ’97 was appointed assistant clinical professor at the University of Texas at Austin, teaching in the public health program. She returned to school after years in the field to earn her doctorate of public health in health policy and management from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill in 2017. In a recent article for the University of Texas at Austin about first-generation students, she credits OWU for helping give her a new vision of the world, mentioning sociology Professor Akbar Mahdi as a particularly influential mentor and friend.
Alvin Conley ’99, originally from Cleveland, headed to Dallas after graduation to start his teaching career. He interviewed through a job fair and accepted a position over the phone without even visiting the school. His plan was to return home after a couple years; however, 20 years later he is still in Texas and loving it. He has since moved into education administration and serves as a school principal. This summer he will finally marry his partner of 20 years with whom he shares three beautiful daughters.
Karla Chipelo McClain ’99 is teaching vocal music at Irving Robbins Middle School and East Farms School in Farmington, Conn. She is also the director of Canticum Choir, part of the Connecticut Children’s Chorus at the University of Hartford Community Division. She has her National Board Certification in early adolescent and young adult music education. In addition, she is the assistant director of Laurel Music Camp. She lives in Cromwell, Conn., with her husband Scott and children Lori and Hunter.
Mary Rose Rice ’99 graduated from Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in 2017. She is currently working in Indiana, and she married Agnes Wong in 2017. They love to travel and hike with their two dogs.
Sarah Ressler Wright ’99, 20 years later, is still spending all her time in a library as the Hayes High School librarian in Delaware. As alter-ego “Vocab Gal,” she shares strategies for teaching vocabulary and other English-related skills, because she doesn’t just want to edit her roommates’ papers but help everyone learn how to write accurately with big words. With husband Chad and their two kids, Huxley (11) and Rosalind (7), she goes on many adventures when not at home in Lewis Center, Ohio, where she loves to listen to audiobooks and organize; yes, she’s still a proud, nerdy Delta Zeta.
2000s
Corey Fesenmyer ’03 published her new book, Blessed, Beautiful Now, a heartwarming collection of essays compiled from a series of posts on her blog, “The Nostalgia Diaries.” The book follows her yearlong journey — with her daughter providing remarkable insight along the way — as she navigates the complexities of her unexpected life after divorce.
Jada Hamilton ’04, Ph.D., M.P.H., originally from New Philadelphia, Ohio, lives in New York City with her husband, Dr. Victor Luna. She is an assistant attending psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she leads a program of behavioral research to translate advances in genetic and genomic medicine into improved cancer care. Having been a member of the Alpha Rho chapter of Delta Zeta while at OWU, Hamilton was recently recognized with the 35 Under 35 Alumnae Award from the national Delta Zeta Sorority.
Brenna Shull ’04 has lived in Annapolis, Md., since May 2014. She is head trainer and massage therapist at Kicked UP Fitness. She has been working in the health and wellness field full-time since moving to Annapolis five years ago. She is a certified personal trainer, via the National Academy of Sports Medicine, licensed massage therapist, and certified fascial stretch therapist.
Amy Kreps Shreve ’04, from Cincinnati, has spent 13 years working for churches in Illinois and Kentucky directing youth, children, and family ministries. Much of that time was near the University of Illinois while her husband earned his Ph.D. in entomology. Currently, she works for a United Methodist Conference in Illinois coordinating college and young adult ministry. She will complete her master’s in nonprofit administration in August. She lives in Belleville, Ill., with her spouse (a biology professor), 7-year-old daughter, and 6-year-old son. In any free time, she’s a Girl Scout leader, explores local attractions, and gets outdoors.
Amanda Winter Covey ’09, of Dublin, Ohio, worked as a keeper with the pachyderms at the Columbus Zoo after graduation. Following an exciting trip to Sydney, Australia, she met and married James Covey in Columbus. They have three children, ages 2, 4, and 6. She’s currently in her second term as president of MOMS Club of Dublin, a support group for stay-at-home moms. A few years ago she opened an Etsy shop called Crafty Covey Designs for her mixed-media art pieces, and joined the Dublin Area Art League. Her photograph “Poulnabrone” won second place in the league’s juried Irish show in 2018.
Louisa Hoffman ’09 graduated from Indiana University with a master’s in library science in 2011 and has been employed in the Oberlin College Archives since then. She and Andrew Stewart ’09 were married in 2014 and bought a house in the Cudell neighborhood of Cleveland in 2015. Andrew has been employed at Oberlin College since 2018, working in printing services. They have a rescue dog and also enjoy the company of their parrot, chinchilla, and turtle. They enjoy living in Cleveland and seeing their old SLU housemates from OWU frequently.
Melissa Demarest Ruggiero ’09 moved to Spain for two years after graduation to teach English as a second language. She now lives in Denver with her husband, Mark Ruggiero. The two got married in their hometown of Amherst, N.H., in October 2015 and are expecting their first child this May! Melissa has been working as an admissions counselor at Regis University since moving to Denver, where she earned her master of arts degree in adult education and corporate training in May 2018.
Jenna Sroka Smith ’09 earned a doctorate in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 2015. During that time, she was also involved in STEM education outreach, working and volunteering with students in grade school, high school, and college. She has since relocated to central Illinois to teach biology to undergraduate students as an assistant professor at Millikin University. She and her husband, Trevor Smith, have been married for almost eight years and have a golden retriever named Rey.
2010s
Sarah Bonnet ’10 is engaged to Joel Palko. Bonnet is completing a radiology residency at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and will begin a women’s imaging fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee-Women’s Hospital. An August wedding is planned.
Sarah Ingles ’11 is an attorney with Barkan, Meizlish, DeRose, Wentz, McInerny and Pfiefer in Columbus, where she has worked as a law clerk for the past couple of years.
Jason Bogdany ’14, who lives in Cleveland, completed the Cleveland Play House apprenticeship program in 2015. He spent the next three years working in development there to support its fundraising efforts. He launched the theater’s first 24-hour online giving day campaign and led a transition to a new database management system. In January, he accepted the position of development database coordinator at Playhouse Square, the country’s largest performing arts center outside of New York. He also serves on the board of YNPN Cleveland, the city’s chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.
Alyssa Carothers ’14 spent about a year back home in Asheville, N.C., after graduation, interning at the WNC Nature Center while applying for zookeeper jobs. She now lives in Cary, N.C., and works as a laboratory animal technician at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine, where she supports scientific research by providing husbandry for animals used in studies and for training veterinary students. She can’t think of a better job than working with a wide variety of animals, especially when she gets to do it alongside goofy co-workers who love critters as much as she does.
Olivia Gillison ’14 returned home to Philadelphia after graduation and started working for the city’s Office of Special Events. Over the past five years, she’s helped implement the Zero Waste Events Initiative and has had the opportunity to work on numerous large-scale events: the 2015 World Meeting of Families (the pope’s visit), the 2015 and 2018 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, the 2016 DNC Convention, the 2017 NFL Draft, and the 2018 Eagles Super Bowl LII Parade, to name a few. She’s excited to see what lies ahead as she looks for new opportunities to develop and share her knowledge with others.
Alex Lothstein ’15 and Jenny Ripper ’14 got engaged in May 2018 in Estonia. Ripper is the granddaughter of emeritus Professor Dick Smith and Betty Jackson Smith ’52. She is the grandniece of David Smith ’53.
Marriages
2010s
Frida Hess ’14 and Zac Smith ’14 were married on Sept. 3, 2017, in North New Portland, Maine. They are now Zac and Frida Smith-Hess.
Births
2000s
Sarah Lahmon Lynch ’07 and Robert Lynch ’08 welcomed their second daughter, Audrey Judith Lynch, on Aug. 15. Audrey joins big sister Sydney Gloria.
Cody Hatfield ’08 and Julia Prince Hatfield ’06 welcomed son Grady James Hatfield on Oct. 29. He joins big brother Owen.
Amanda Zechiel Keiber ’09 and her husband Jason welcomed their second son, Elliot Allen Keiber, on Dec. 27. Elliot joins big brother Beckett.
2010s
Dre White ’14 and fiancee Emily Stewart ’14 welcomed son Landry Michael on July 27.
In Memoriam
1930s
Mary “Peg” Pengande Haapa ’39, of Windsor, Calif., Nov. 8, at the age of 101. She was predeceased by her husband Arvo “Hop” Haapa, parents, and sisters, including Bonnie Pergande Holby ’47. She met her husband while both were reporters for the Columbus Citizen newspaper. During World War II, Peg ran American Red Cross clubs in England, France, and Germany. As a single young woman, she crisscrossed war-torn Europe and even hid out with the French Resistance to date Hop, a US Army Captain stationed in Germany. After the war, they started the Ensign newspaper in Orange County, Calif., “The Official Newspaper of the City of Newport Beach.” She is survived by two daughters and multiple grandchildren and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
1940s
Annabelle Wade Shepherd ’40, of Concord, Mass., Oct. 3, at the age of 99. She is survived by four children and multiple grandchildren. Shepherd was a member of the OWU Tower Society and Delta Gamma sorority.
Emily Wendt Akerstrom ’41, of Granville and Macedonia, Ohio, Jan. 20, at the age of 99. She was predeceased by her husband, John Akerstrom ’41, and a son. She is survived by four children and multiple grandchildren. Akerstrom was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Sara “Peggy” Boyd Beard ’41, of Decatur, Ga., Sept. 20, at the age of 98. Boyd was predeceased by her parents and husband. She is survived by four children, including Jeff Beard ’72, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Harriet Gerstner Leland ’41, of Dayton, Ohio, Oct. 5, at the age of 99. She was predeceased by two sisters, one of whom was Charlotte Gerstner Campbell ’35, her husband, and a son. She is survived by a daughter. Leland was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Alice Hendricks Rohrer ’43, of North Vernon, Ind., Jan. 23, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her father, mother Alice Truitt Hendricks 1921, husband, and two brothers, including Louis Hendricks ’49. She is survived by four children and multiple grandchildren. Rohrer was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Margaret “Peggy” Shaffer Schwoegler ’43, of Milwaukee, Dec. 6, at the age of 97. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, two brothers, and two half brothers. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Marjorie Jewell Brentlinger ’44, of Mansfield, Texas, Oct. 2, at the age of 96. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Brentlinger ’44, mother, father Arthur Jewell 1918, and a sister, H. Josephine Jewell Gantt ’41. She is survived by a brother, five children and multiple grandchildren, and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Janet Beam Detmer ’44, of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Oct. 15, at the age of 96. She was predeceased by her father and her mother, Vesta Stephan Beam 1909. She is survived by two daughters and multiple grandchildren and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Janet Lynn McCoy ’44, of Seminole, Fla., Nov. 11, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her husband E. Jason McCoy, a V-12 student at OWU in 1943, a brother, and parents. She is survived by three children, including Marjorie McCoy Mapes ’70 and Rick McCoy ’72, and multiple grandchildren. McCoy was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Mary Alice Wright Burwell ’45, of Louisville, Ky., Oct. 21, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her sister, Doris Wright Krigbaum ’41, four children, and multiple grandchildren. Burwell was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Barbara Hansen Cummings ’45, of Woburn, Mass., Dec. 6, at the age of 95. Cummings was predeceased by her husband and a daughter. She is survived by two sons and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Sally Coleman Stebbins ’45, of Creston, Ohio, Jan. 7, at the age of 95. Stebbins was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and a grandson. She is survived by five children and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Nancy Wright Wilson ’45, of Dallas, Dec. 30, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Wilson ’47, and a granddaughter. She is survived by three children and multiple grandchildren. Wilson was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
William Dykins ’46, of Sebring, Ohio, Oct. 27, at the age of 94. He was predeceased by a son, his parents, and a sister. He is survived by his wife and a son.
Doris “Dee” Weber Stewart ’46, of Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 8, at the age of 93. Stewart is survived by a son, daughter, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
John Estepp ’47, of Rosemount, Ohio, Oct. 5, at the age of 94. Estepp was predeceased by his wife. He is survived by two children and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Betty Lee Langhout ’47, of Huntsville, Ala., Oct. 13, at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her husband and son. She is survived by three children and multiple grandchildren. Langhout was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Doris Hunter Mauck ’47, of Sebring, Ohio, Dec. 10, at the age of 93. Mauck was predeceased by her husband, Donald Mauck ’49, and a brother, Harold Hunter ’45. She is survived by a brother, Robert Hunter ’43, three daughters, including Marilyn Mauck West ’72 and Martha Mauck Hunter ’76, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Virginia “Jinny” Mae Allen Warner ’47, of Venice, Fla., Jan. 15, at the age of 93. She was predeceased by her parents and a brother. She is survived by her husband, three children, and multiple grandchildren.
Jack Cox ’48, of Cridersville, Ohio, Oct. 8, at the age of 93. He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Jo “Jodie” Miller Cox ’49, and a sister. He is survived by a brother, four children, and multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cox was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Edward Rosino Jr. ’48, of Sandusky, Ohio, Jan. 2, at the age of 95. He was predeceased by his parents, wife, sister, and two children. He is survived by two children, including John Rosino ’74, and multiple grandchildren, including Michael Rosino ’08. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Patricia Snyder Held ’49, of Largo, Fla., Jan. 4, at the age of 92. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by two daughters and three grandchildren.
Helen Kepner Maurer ’49, of Dublin, Ohio, Nov. 14, at the age of 91. She was predeceased by her father and her mother, Martha Nay Kepner 1923. She is survived by her husband, Richard Maurer ’50, a sister, Elizabeth Kepner Hardesty ’51, a brother, two children, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Donald Jack Watkins ’49, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Jan. 18, at the age of 94. He was predeceased by his mother and father, Donald Watkins 1918, his wife, Dorothy Gerlach Watkins ’49, and a brother, William Watkins ’43. He is survived by a daughter and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
1950s
George Poh ’50, of Dallas, Nov. 11, at the age of 94. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Luthy Poh ’49, and is survived by three daughters and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Rachel Nincehelser Stockwell ’51, of Sunbury, Ohio, Nov. 18, at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her father and mother, Helen McCormick Nincehelser ’24, her husband, and a sister, Carol Nincehelser Wirick ’52. She is survived by three children, including Amy Stockwell ’74, and a granddaughter.
John Barclay ’52, of Westfield, Mass., Dec. 23, at the age of 90. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother. He is survived by his wife, four children, two brothers, and multiple grandchildren. Barclay was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Betty Chambers Cramer ’52, of Anderson, Ind., Dec. 10, at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her parents and is survived by her husband, three children, a sister, three stepchildren, and a granddaughter.
Phyllis King Fellabaum ’52, of Findlay, Ohio, Oct. 6, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her husband and two sons, and is survived by a son and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Jesse Upperco ’52, of Wilson, N.C., Dec. 3, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, two children, a sister, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Beta Sigma Tau fraternity.
Celeste Youker Ferrell ’53, of Tucson, Ariz., in January at the age of 86. She was predeceased by her parents and husband, Charles Ferrell ’52. She is survived by three sons; three sisters, Betsy Youker Taylor ’57, Marjorie Youker Hall ’61, and Sarah Youker Seaman ’66; and a grandson. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
James Roos ’53, of Wauseon, Ohio, Nov. 8, at the age of 87. Roos was predeceased by his parents, a son, two granddaughters, and a brother, Thomas Roos ’55. He is survived by his wife, two children, and two siblings, Philip Roos ’60 and Kathryn Roos Meuth ’65. Roos was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the OWU Acapella Chorus.
Martin Sommer ’53, of Metuchen, N.J., Oct. 27, at the age of 87. Sommer was predeceased by his parents and his first and second wives. He is survived by a brother, four children, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Beta Sigma Tau fraternity.
John Stewart ’53, of Columbus, Oct. 1, at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his parents, Eleanor Quass Stewart ’27 and W. Rolland Stewart ’26. He is survived by his sister, Thomsa “Tommy” Stewart Haas ’56, and a son, Michael Stewart ’79. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Richard Tice ’53, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, Oct. 7, at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife and five children, including Phyllis Tice Brown ’86 and Ralph Tice ’79 as well as daughter-in-law Nancy Crump Tice ’78, and grandchildren, including Mason Tice ’12. Tice served on the OWU Board of Trustees, and was a member of the OWU Tower Society and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Arthur C. Mussman ’54, of Kirkland, Wash., Dec. 13, at the age of 86. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by a daughter, a son, and two half sisters. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Robert Hathaway ’55, of Akron, Ohio, Dec. 17, at the age of 86. Hathaway was predeceased by his wife, parents, and a grandson. He is survived by four sons and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Sandra Rubino Paul ’55, of Columbus, Jan. 14, at the age of 95. She was predeceased by her parents, husband, elder son, and four siblings. She is survived by her younger son and a grandson.
Carolyn Angilly Herr ’56, of Ridgefield, Conn., Oct. 23, at the age of 84. She was predeceased by her husband and is survived by three sons and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Wesley Hostetler ’56, of Hertford, N.C., Oct. 7, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, Carol Hostetler ’56; a sister; four children, including Susan Hostetler ’82; four stepchildren; and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Dwight McBride ’56, of Kannapolis, N.C., Jan. 19, at the age of 85. He was predeceased by his parents, brother, and sister. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
William Miller ’56, of Ozark, Mo., Dec. 9, at the age of 84. Miller was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife, three brothers, two children, three stepchildren, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Lanning Porterfield, Class of 1956, of Huron, Ohio, Nov. 25, at the age of 85. Porterfield was predeceased by his parents and a grandson. He is survived by his wife, Judith Speers Porterfield ’56, two children, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Craig Proctor ’56, of Flemington, N.J., Dec. 9, at the age of 84. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife, Jo Lynn Watts Proctor ’57, four children, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Nancy Straub ’56, of Westlake, Ohio, Nov. 4, at the age of 84. Straub was predeceased by her parents and a brother. She is survived by her sister, Verna Ferrante (John), and several nieces and nephews, as well as 11 great-nieces and great nephews. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. She spent her entire career as a medical technologist in microbiology at University Hospitals, most of those years in a supervisory position. Straub was an active member of College Club West and Rockport United Methodist Church.
Carol Sparks Arnold ’57, of Dallas, Nov. 3, at the age of 83. Arnold was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband, David Arnold ’57, a sister, four children, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
David Crockett ’57, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dec. 14, at the age of 83. He was predeceased by his wife, Patricia Nau Crockett ’57, a brother, and his parents. He is survived by two sons. Crockett was a member of the OWU Tower Society and Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Janet Swearingen Dennis ’57, of Silver Spring, Md., Jan. 20, at the age of 84. Dennis was predeceased by her parents and husband. She is survived by two children and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Carol Palmer Lambert ’57, of Ozark, Mo., Nov. 28, at the age of 83. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Lambert ’56, and her parents. She is survived by a brother, four children, and multiple grandchildren. Lambert was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Richard O’Brien ’57, of Streamwood, Ill., Jan. 8, at the age of 84. He was predeceased by his mother and two siblings. He is survived by his wife, five children, and multiple grandchildren. O’Brien was a member of Chi Phi fraternity.
Diana Cottle Gleasner ’58, of Newton, N.C., Oct. 30, at the age of 82. She was predeceased by her parents. She is survived by her husband, G. William Gleasner ’58, two children, brother Ed Cottle ’68, a sister, and multiple grandchildren. Gleasner was a member of the OWU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Patricia Wright Blakely ’59, of Pennsville, N.J., Dec. 27, at the age of 81. She was predeceased by her parents and is survived by two children, including Jonathan Blakely ’86, and three granddaughters. Blakely was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Graham “Jerry” Craig ’59, of Rochester, Minn., Oct. 23, at the age of 81. He was predeceased by his parents and a brother, and is survived by a brother and a sister.
Lois Bulkowski Harmon ’59, of West Hartford, Conn., Dec. 15, at the age of 81. She is survived by a brother. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Russell G. Pipe ’59, of Bangkok, Thailand, Dec. 11, at the age of 81. He is survived by two siblings and his partner. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
1960s
Anita Parrish Emery ’60, of Daytona Beach, Fla., on Dec. 25, at the age of 80. She was predeceased by her artist husband. She is survived by brother Donald R. Parrish ’57 and sister-in-law Molly Spring Parrish ’58 and her beloved cats. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Anthony Kidd ’60, of Columbus, Nov. 26, at the age of 80. Kidd was predeceased by his parents and a brother. He is survived by two children and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
William Gigax ’61, of Rockville, Md., Jan. 2, at the age of 79. He was predeceased by his wife and is survived by his children and grandchildren. Gigax was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Kyle Phillip Taylor ’61, of Winter Park, Fla., Dec. 18, at the age of 79. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was a professor of communication for 35 years at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He is survived by his wife and children, as well as his brother.
Janet Allen Esch ’62, of Maumee, Ohio, Nov. 11, at the age of 78. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond Esch ’62, and sister Judith Allen Foster ’59. She is survived by several siblings, including Jerry Allen ’61, her three children, and multiple grandchildren. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Mary “Kathy” Leshy Kelley ’64, of Monrovia, Calif., Jan. 20, at the age of 76. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the four-student team that trounced five colleges on the popular TV quiz show College Bowl and retired undefeated. She pursued graduate study in medical science at Harvard Medical School, where she met her husband of 44 years, Jonathan Kelley, M.D.; they divorced in 2011 and parted without rancor. Kathy also studied law at George Washington University, finishing at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto, Calif. As she moved around, she remained active on the boards of local nonprofits, including the YWCA in San Jose and the Community Foundation of Sierra Madre. Kathy is survived by her sister DeDe Leshy ’73 of Los Angeles, and her brother, Hastings Law Professor John Leshy of San Francisco; her daughter Sarah; and granddaughter Winifred, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and extended family across the United States. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the John and Dolores King Leshy Family Adam Poe Endowment at OWU.
Sharon Fairchild Soucy ’64, of Oberlin, Ohio, Oct. 7, at the age of 76. She is survived by sister Nancy Fairchild Puleo ’63, her husband, two children, and a grandson. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Thomas Fannin ’65, of East Liverpool, Ohio, Dec. 5, at the age of 75. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister-in-law and is survived by his wife and a brother. He was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
James Goodrich ’65, of Westport, Conn., Nov. 1, at the age of 75. Goodrich is survived by his wife, stepsons, daughter, sister, and grandson. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Eric Johnson ’66, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Nov. 7, at the age of 74. Johnson was predeceased by his parents and a sister. He is survived by his wife, Margaret Moyer Johnson ’66, two children, two siblings, and multiple grandchildren. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Judith Schultz ’65, of Las Cruces, N.M., Oct. 3, at the age of 75. She is survived by her partner of 35 years and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Schultz was also a member of the OWU Tower Society.
Marilyn Patrinka Federoff ’67, of Elyria, Ohio, Dec. 31, at the age of 73. She was predeceased by her husband and her parents. She is survived by two sons and multiple grandchildren.
Susan Stevenson MacNab ’68, of Payson, Ariz., Nov. 24, after a valiant battle with cancer. She was 72. MacNab was a Delta Delta Delta at OWU and went on to receive a M.Ed. in counseling at the University of Arizona. She was a behavior specialist at the Scottsdale Unified School District. She is survived by two brothers and their families, four nieces and nephews and their families.
1970s
Cuthbert “Tubby” Thambimuttu ’70, of Columbus, Jan. 30.
Michael Adams ’72, of Providence, R.I., June 26, at the age of 67. He was predeceased by brother Jeffrey Adams ’74 and is survived by sister Cynthia Adams, mother Kathryn West Heiskell ’47, stepfather Ted Heiskell, uncle William West ’52, a son, a daughter, and grandchildren, along with other friends and family. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Incorrect information was included in the Winter issue; we regret the errors.
Glenn “Chip” Dahlke ’73, of Lyme, Conn., Dec. 11, at the age of 67. Dahlke was predeceased by his father. He is survived by his mother, two siblings, five children, and one grandchild.
Charles Hartigan ’75, of Canton, Conn., Jan. 21, at the age of 65. He was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his wife, three sons, two brothers, and multiple grandchildren. A lacrosse player at OWU, Hartigan was instrumental in the formation of the OWU Legends, an alumni lacrosse program, in 2001. Playing competitive lacrosse until his death, Charlie led four teams to the World Games, and was recognized as one of the outstanding players for years at national tournaments in Lake Placid and Florida, where he became deeply close to his teammates and their families. He will be greatly missed by his fellow lacrosse alumni and Legends team members, for whom he was a model of kindness and leadership. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Visit the Facebook group “OWU Lacrosse Past and Present” to read or leave a tribute to Charlie.
Nancy Fong-Farmer ’78, of Lakewood, Ohio, Nov. 27, at the age of 62. She is survived by two children, seven siblings, and multiple grandchildren.
1980s
A. Kevin Culp ’82, of Columbus, Nov. 7, at the age of 58. He is survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and four siblings, including Scott Culp ’83.
2000s
Joshua Fortkamp ’06, of Delaware, Ohio, Dec. 13, at the age of 36. He is survived by his parents.
Faculty/Staff
Evelyn Baker, of Richwood, Ohio, Nov. 11, at the age of 89. Baker worked at OWU as a secretary to the vice president in business affairs. She is survived by three children, including Rosie Bell, who retired recently after more than 25 years of working at OWU, and multiple grandchildren.
Joseph Burke, of Albany, N.Y., Aug. 3, at the age of 86. He earned a Ph.D. in legal history and taught for two years at OWU.
Dorothy Chuan-Wang, of Torrance, Calif., and Kobe, Japan, a former member of the OWU library sciences staff, June 12, at the age of 77.
Robert Filler, of Arlington Heights, Ill., Jan. 8, at the age of 95. Filler taught chemistry at OWU.
Curtis Gast, of Columbus, Oct. 25, at the age of 80. Gast received his doctorate degree from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1984 and taught at OWU. Marjorie Brookens Humes, of Delaware, Ohio, Jan. 15, at the age of 88. Humes worked at OWU from 1979 to 1985, most recently as the public services office manager.
Judith Johns, of Delaware, Ohio, who worked as a secretary at OWU for 20 years, Jan. 17, at the age of 81.
James “Larry” Mench, of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 6, at the age of 78. He was a former staff member of the OWU Admission office.
C. Clinton Rila, of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Oct. 2, at the age of 90. He taught chemistry at OWU.
Donald Smith, of Raleigh, N.C., Nov. 19, at the age of 84. Smith was a teacher and researcher at OWU before ultimately becoming a tenured professor at North Carolina State University.
Donna Walker, of Ashley, Ohio, Jan. 21, at the age of 57. She was a former public safety officer at OWU.
Ruth Edna Wheeland, of Ashley, Ohio, Jan. 15, at the age of 92. She worked at OWU for more than three decades, until 1990, most recently as the secretary for the registrar’s office.
Sympathy To
Jean Stamberger Graham ’56 and Edward Graham ’55 for the death of their son, Michael Graham, of Muncie, Ind. on Aug. 4, at the age of 49. Michael is also survived by his wife, Melanie Graham, siblings Susan and David, multiple nieces and nephews, and a great-nephew.
Roberta “Bobbie” Farnam Thrall ’57 for the death of her daughter, Melissa Thrall Bishop, on Dec. 20, in Delaware, Ohio at the age of 51.
Anola Shrader Lauer ’68 for the death of her mother on July 11, 2012, at the age of 85, and her father on Nov. 29, 2018, at the age of 95.
Melinda Ruffing Schoenwald ’71 for the death of her mother, Ruth Ruffing, of Macedonia, Ohio, who passed on her birthday, Oct. 26, at the age of 92.
Linda Mackey Stude ’71 for the death of her mother, Donnah Waechter, of Cortland, Ohio, on Aug. 4, at the age of 92.
Linda Michener Parduhn ’76 for the death of her husband, Brian Parduhn of Glen Ellyn, Ill. on Nov. 23, at the age of 69.
Marcia Rodenhaver Alvarez ’77 for the death of her mother, Marcia Rodenhaver, on Dec. 21, at the age of 90.
Katherine Sherts Civitillo ’77 for the death of her husband, William Joseph Civitillo Sr., of West Hartford, Conn., Jan. 21, at the age of 63.
Timothy D’Angelo ’79 for the death of his father, Eugene D’Angelo, of Columbus, on Nov. 19, at the age of 90.
Michael Richards ’87 and Barbara Richards, a member of the OWU staff, for the death of Michael’s father and Barbara’s husband, Lew Richards, on Dec. 17, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
Jonathan Whithaus ’91 for the death of his mother, Ann Whithaus, of Findlay, Ohio, Jan. 12, at the age of 83.
Pooja Alag Bird ’98 and Richard Weeks Bird ’69 for the death of Braden Bird, Pooja’s husband and Richard’s son, on Oct. 31, after he suffered complications from leukemia. Braden is survived by two sons, ages 10 and 7, who reside with their mother in Twinsburg, Ohio.
Taylor Golden ’16 for the unexpected death of her sister, Haleigh Golden, at the age of 20 on Nov. 16.
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The deadline for receiving Class Notes and Faculty Notes submissions for the Fall 2019 OWU Magazine is June 8, 2019.