Class Notes – 1970-1979
Victoria King Heinsen '70 released her fifth book, Murder at the Harding Memorial. The third in a trilogy, the story returns to the lives of Jessica, a Columbus, OH, attorney and Delta Gamma, and her former sweetheart, a Phi Delt and Ohio Wesleyan graduate. Any number of suspects are involved as the body of a notorious judge is discovered impaled on a fence surrounding the prestigious memorial in Marion, OH. Victoria holds a doctorate in education and teaches writing and research at Bowling Green State University. (11/24)
Geoffrey Greif '71 was named Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where he is a member of the faculty at the School of Social Work. His 16th book, to be published by Oxford University Press, is a coedited textbook on group work. (7/24)
Janet Dickey Seese '72 moved into Willow Brook at Delaware Run, a senior living community in Delaware, OH. Her husband, Gordon, passed away at the end of 2022. Janet taught 4th- and 5th-grade students for 30 years, retired, and returned to work as an educational assistant for special education students for the past 20 years, completing her 50th year in education last year. She currently has no plans for retiring the second time, yet! (11/24)
Amy McClure '72 was appointed to the board of trustees of the Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. After serving OWU for many years, Amy is professor emeritus of education. (7/24)
A group of Tau Kappa Epsilon Alpha-Mu Chapter alumni got together in August in Geauga County, OH. Pictured from left: Jim Winsor '74, Joel Knepp '72, Gus Platas '72, Jim Knight '72, Wayne Leach '72, and Bill Gerl '74. (11/24)
Wendie Malick '72 received the Saint Augustine Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award in January for her illustrious career in film and television. She has received a number of awards and nominations for her roles in shows such as Just Shoot Me! and Hot in Cleveland. Wendie is on the board of the Environmental Media Association and serves on the advisory board of Return To Freedom, a wild horse sanctuary and advocacy group. (11/24)
Richard Schwarz '72 received the Distinguished Service Award for his leadership as medical director of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center while it was at the epicenter of the COVID pandemic. Since then, Rick was promoted to his current role as Northwell Health's vice president of quality and medical affairs. He also is associate professor of clinical medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zuckerberg School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, in Uniondale, NY. (11/24)
Jim Breece '74 is working to catch up on travel missed during COVID. In the past year, he has visited five countries in Asia, spent New Year's in Paris, and made multiple stops to Florida in early 2024. Jim is retired but very active in the Asian art market. With four smart and handsome grandkids, his only complaint is about his poor golf score! Jim is pictured above with his wife, Susan, at Angkor Wat in Cambodia. (7/24)
Joseph Campbell '74 received the 2024 Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement, the highest honor bestowed by the American Journalism Historians Association. The award recognizes individuals with an exemplary record of sustained achievement in journalism history through teaching, research, and professional activities. Joe is a professor emeritus of communication at American University in Washington, D.C. (11/24)
Nick Calio '75 was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Glen A. Gilbert Memorial Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Air Traffic Control Association. His name will be inscribed on the award trophy alongside some of aviation history's most influential pioneers, visionaries, and leaders from airspace organizations and agencies, government, and industry. Since 2011, Nick has served as president and CEO of Airlines for America, the trade association representing the country's leading passenger and cargo airlines. (11/24)
Reflections on an OWU Friendship
In 1971, an aspiring musician/songstress from Marion, OH, and an aspiring elementary school teacher from North Attleboro, MA, set off on a roommate adventure beginning in Stuyvesant Hall.
They bonded over purchasing orange and pink print sheets and navigating a new world, balancing studies and socializing. Neither will forget the midnight ride on our bikes, nightgowns tucked into jeans, to buy "study snacks" at the U.S. Store—the first of countless antics over their three years as roommates.
Stephanie Weiser Henkle '75 (pictured right) and Jane Devoe Eastep '75 (left) became close friends through their shared experiences at Ohio Wesleyan. They pledged the same sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, along with third roommate, Ellen (Seaver) Eveland. Ellen and Jane attended Stephanie's performances as her biggest fans, learning about classical music along the way. During their junior year in Smith, Stephanie and Jane's shared study area was inundated with children's books when Jane took a children's literature class, some of the same books they now read to their grandchildren.
After graduation, both earned master's degrees and pursued the careers they had planned. Jane returned to Massachusetts for her teaching career, eventually working for Teaching Training Together, which led to frequent trips to guide teachers in Haiti.
Stephanie's singing career led her to perform throughout the United States and Europe in operas, oratorios, and solo recitals. She retired from Denison University after 15 years on the music faculty.
For the past 53 years, Jane and Stephanie have played important roles in each other's lives, sharing joys and sorrows. Recently, they spent a pajama-party-type week in Columbus, meeting up with Ellen and laughing like the young women they still are deep inside.
Driving to OWU on one of those days, they were pleased to see not only amazing improvements on campus, but also the preservation of beautiful buildings they loved as students.
Those years at Ohio Wesleyan formed their professional selves through both the rigor and freedom of a liberal arts education. They formed their social and empathetic selves through life together on campus and formed a lasting friendship.
Cheers to the Class of '75!
– Written by Stephanie Weiser Henkle '75 and Jane Devoe Eastep '75 (7/24)
Jerry Lasky '76 (left) and Dick Kelley '75 reunited in Chicago at the famous steakhouse Maple & Ash. They discussed life after 50 years, as well as the Cubs finally winning the World Series. (11/24)
Terry Repak '75 published the book, Circling Home: What I Learned By Living Elsewhere, which details the adventures and challenges of finding home and a career in countries as diverse as Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Switzerland. While her husband directed AIDS projects in east and west Africa, she worked as a freelance writer and raised two children. Her memoir spotlights the struggles and lessons in her journey as an expat. Terry has worked as an investigative reporter, editor, television producer, and freelance writer. She lives in Seattle and has an author website at www.terryrepak.com. (7/24)
Robert Bauter '76 was presented the New Jersey Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services Career Department Lifetime Achievement Award in November at the National Conference on EMS in Atlantic City. He has been involved in EMS for 44 years, the last 36 as a paramedic, and served in clinical leadership positions for large paramedic agencies since 2004. Robert coauthored multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals and presented pre-hospital clinical research projects at national conferences. He retired from active EMS service in July 2023. (7/24)
Roger Brigham '76 (left) received the Tom Waddell Award from the Federation of Gay Games at Gay Games XI in Guadalajara, Mexico, in November (presenter is FGG Co-President Sean Fitzgerald). The Waddell Award honors outstanding volunteerism and service to the games' values of participation, inclusion, and personal best. Brigham led successful efforts to reform the FGG membership structure and develop more inclusive anti-doping policies; pioneered the idea of kinesiological diversity in sports programming; founded Equality Coaching Alliance; won two Gay Games golds and one bronze in wrestling; and has coached the last three Gay Games. He is a member of the LGBT Sports Hall of Fame and won of the Wrestlers WithOut Borders Lifetime Achievement Award. (7/24)
Amy Marasco '76 moved to the state of Delaware after living in Virginia for 40 years, where she had served on the town council and as vice mayor. In May, after serving on the Lewes, DE, city planning commission and leading the environmental subcommittee, she was elected as a city councilperson. (11/24)
Gary Patzke '76 published a new action-adventure novel, Racing the Dream, under the pen name M.T. Bass. His 12 novels span genres from mystery to techno-thriller. (7/24)
Juanita Stormes '76 joined Judicate West, a leading provider of private dispute resolution services in California, as a mediator, arbitrator, and private judge. For 23 years, Juanita served as a federal magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court in San Diego, including five years as the presiding magistrate judge. (7/24)
Eddie Edwards '77 was elected chairman of the finance committee and vice chairman of the executive committee in the Shawnee State University board of trustees. (7/24)
Kathy Mandusic Finley '77 published the book My Three-Legged, One-Eyed Therapist: How My Cat Clio Saved Me, exploring the story of how a spunky kitten helped Kathy face life's challenges. Published by Purdue University Press, the book received praise from nationally recognized authors, plus three awards in the 2023 International Firebird Book Awards. Learn more at www.press.purdue.edu. (7/24)
Julia Barnes-Weise '79 moved her research from academia to a nonprofit global health company, Global Healthcare Innovation Alliance Accelerator, in 2017. GHIAA creates resources, curates information, collaborates with stakeholders, and provides consulting support related to equitable, global access to medical products. Understandably, she was busy during the height of the pandemic. She and her husband have three adorable, young grandchildren. (7/24)
Alumni Profile: Eric Gnezda '79 – Gnezda Celebrates a Decade of Songs at the Center
Read More (11/24)
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