Spring 2018 Class Notes
1930s
Mary Laning Stewart ’39, of Norwalk, Ohio, turned 100 on Dec. 21, a day that the mayor of Norwalk proclaimed “Mary Laning Stewart Day.”
1940s
William Farragher ’49, a steel industry expert, gave a presentation in January at the library in Boardman, Ohio, about his career as a marketing professional.
1950s
Philip Dietterich ’55 and Jane Francis Dietterich ’55 celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on Sept. 23. The couple eloped when they were students at Ohio Wesleyan.
Pat Childs Crane ’58 married Chuck Crane ’57 (Delta Tau Delta) after graduation and moved to New Jersey. She worked for five years as a “home economist” for the local utility company. After a few years staying home with a daughter and son and substitute teaching, she went back to work in the mid ’70s as the director of a seminar company. In the early ’80s, she worked for a company that produced satellite video conferences, then as an event coordinator in the medical community for the next 15 years. In early 2000, Chuck and Pat retired to Easton, Md., an eclectic community on Chesapeake Bay. Chuck passed away in 2003.
Elizabeth “Libby” James ’58 published the historical novel White Shadow: Godmother to a Revolution in January. James spent almost a year in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, more than a decade ago. While researching the history of Mozambique, she was inspired to write the story of a 17-yearold American girl who fell in love with a 31-year-old Mozambican revolutionary.
Curt Ormond ’58, who was presented with OWU’s 2016 Distinguished Athletic Alumni Award in 2016, won the Bomar Lake Sunfish sailboat racing trophy again this year in Littleton, Colo., his 25th Sunfish Colorado State Championship.
1960s
John Bartle Everts ’61 and Judith Pyle Everts ’62 recently moved from their home in Collingswood, N.J., to a retirement community in Pitman, N.J., near their eldest daughter. In 2015, Judith retired as director of Respond, Inc., a nonprofit agency in Camden, N.J.
Sherry Smith Bell ’63 is an artist whose collection of etchings called “Oklahoma Suite” is featured in the Western History Library at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Bell’s etchings depict the culture and scenery of the Western plains. She lives in a waterfront home in Friday Harbor, Wash.
Edith Mahon Davis ’63 was widowed when her husband of 43 years, Joseph, died of a brain tumor in 2016. She has been instrumental in organizing “Next Step,” a fellowship community for widowed persons. The group meets monthly and plans excursions. After serving First Presbyterian Church in Laurens, S.C., for many years a choir director, she has completely retired. She has taken several trips and has more planned, including visiting the Holy Land in 2018 and a cruise tour of Alaska with a fellow ’63 OWU graduate following their reunion in May. Davis has fond OWU memories of friends and classmates who were musicians in Sanborn Hall, where she also worked part-time in the music office.
Wes Johnston ’63 visited Normandy, France, in 2015 and felt that the military sacrifices made there during World War II by his parents’ generation, the British, and Canadians are wellpresented. However, he says the Omaha Beach cemetery makes you appreciate the sacrifices they made even more. He attends as many of his grandchildren’s athletic events as he can. His grandson Cole is a freshman lacrosse player at University of Maryland. His late wife Millicent’s brother played lacrosse at Princeton, and watching Cole brings back many great memories. Johnston is active in Huntington Disease Chapter events near his home in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Laurie LeCompte ’68 and his wife Linda have been married since 1970 and have two children, Meredith and Evan. LeCompte earned his M.B.A. at Rutgers University. He retired in 2008 after a career in supply chain management. After living in Glen Ridge, N.J., for 35 years, he moved to Burlington, Vt., in 2010. He is the DJ and host of the radio show “Blue Suede Rock: The Heart and Soul of Rock & Roll,” which streams live Tuesdays from 2 to 4 p.m. at www.Bigheavyworld.com and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. at www.993wbtv.org.
Richard Levine ’68 made a career change about 15 years ago and is director of employment services for a nonprofit agency that has taken over Maine’s Welfare to Work Program. He moved from Boston to Portland, Maine, in January of 2017 to begin the position. He would love to hear from any alumni in the Portland area. He travels regularly to visit his three children and three grandchildren scattered from California to Vermont.
Peggy Ames Ward ’68 lives on the Outer Banks of North Carolina surrounded by the ocean and nature’s beauty — her little piece of heaven, as her late husband Michael Ward ’68 liked to call it. She agrees wholeheartedly. It is quiet in the off-season, but many area and community groups keep her exceptionally busy. In the summer, the house is constantly filled with family and friends — a different kind of busy and never quiet, but great fun! Traveling is an off-season activity (why leave the beach in the summer?) and involves visiting her three children and their families in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as her brother in Florida. A travel highlight of 2018 will be journeying to OWU for the 50th reunion in May. It will be wonderful to see dear friends of old who remain so special now.
Keith Burich ’69, a Native American history professor at Canisius College, in Buffalo, N.Y., published the book The Thomas Indian School and the ‘Irredeemable’ Children of New York in 2016, which tells the story of a federal boarding school.
Richard Shale ’69, professor emeritus at Youngstown State University, gave a lecture about Joseph Butler, the Youngstown industrialist, philanthropist and historian, at the library in Boardman, Ohio, on Nov. 11.
1970s
Sanford “Pete” Lee ’70 received the Political Award from the Colorado Springs chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop on Jan. 14.
Robert Clutterbuck ’72 was named to the board of directors of ImageWare Systems, Inc., a leader in mobile and cloud-based, multimodal biometric identity management solutions, in September.
Cheryl Forth Eastburn ’72 and her daughter are co-owners of Amaranthus Paper & Flora in Atlanta, which specializes in handcrafted crepe paper flowers. The company was featured on AJC.com (The Atlanta Journal- Constitution) on Jan. 24.
Jay Baksa ’73 has been retired for 10 years after 35 years in city government, including 30 as city manager of Gilroy, Calif. He now serves as a volunteer senior advisor/mentor for the California League of Cities. He was inducted into the Gilroy High School Athletic Hall of Fame for 14 years of coaching boy’s basketball and volleyball; he continues to coach boys’ basketball at an area middle school. He’s also busy serving on the boards of directors of his local Community Foundation Gilroy Gardens (a nonprofit park), and Gilroy Rotary Endowment. He is enjoying travel with his recently retired wife Vicki and his three sons and daughters-in-law, who all live in the Bay Area.
Sue Kanzenbach Bays ’73 has been a real estate broker in Denver for 27 years; she has her own company and still loves it. She lost her husband of 34 years in 2013 to cancer. She now has a new man in her life and all is good. They also have a condo in Dillon, Colo., on Dillon Reservoir and way too many (five) boats! They love sailing, which at an altitude of 9,017 feet creates some interesting experiences. They bareboat to the British Virgin Islands frequently, and returned from their last sail two weeks before a hurricane. She’ll miss the reunion because they’ll be sailing in the Bahamas that week. She’ll miss seeing everyone but will be at the 50th, God willing.
Sue Donaldson Boyd ’73 and Jay Boyd ’73 spend most of their free time with their family and never get tired of living close to the beach in West Allenhurst, N. J. Jay works as a contractor and is involved in their town’s human services department. Sue retired from occupational therapy and oversees the care of her 98-year-old mother, who lives nearby. Their children are scattered from coast to coast. Ben, Jenn, and their daughter Aven live in San Rafael, Calif. Mark Boyd ’05, Laura Boyd ’07, and their sons Crosby and Brooks live in Bethesda, Md. Jillian and Giancarlo live in New Rochelle, N.Y., and are expecting their first baby June 1. Unfortunately, Sue and Jay will probably miss their reunion due to the birth of their grandchild. They will certainly miss seeing all of their friends.
Nancy Shape Buettner ’73 is retired, and she and her husband Bill have five grandsons, ages 3 to 7, with whom they enjoy spending time in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., and Golden, Colo., where the grandchildren live. Nancy and Bill are officially snowbirds who leave the cold Cleveland area and spend winters in North Naples, Fla., where they golf, play tennis and pickleball, bike, work out, and enjoy life. They feel very blessed and are thankful for their good health and good knees! Nancy plans to attend her 50th reunion since she can’t make her 45th.
Lee Calvert ’73 worked for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after graduating from OWU, and he served in the Peace Corps in South Korea. He then earned his master’s degree at the University of Kentucky and Ph.D. at the University of Florida in plant pathology. He has lived in Cali, Colombia since 1989. He’s retired from the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical, where he worked as a plant virologist and for six years was the leader of the Rice Project. He plans to stay in Colombia and is an active birdwatcher. He is married, and his son currently lives in Iceland.
Christine Campbell ’73 and her husband Doug have lived in Burlington, Vt., since 1986. They have two daughters, Elizabeth (Denison 2008) and Mollie Campbell ’10, each of whom is married. They live in Burlington and Tahoe City, Calif. Christine retired from a 30-year career at the University of Vermont, where she taught drawing and was director of art education. The OWU Art Department (especially Ebb Haycock) launched her into graduate school and a life in academia. It’s great to have unlimited time for tennis and doing things with Doug.
Douglas Campbell ’73 and his wife Christine still love their Burlington, Vt., home on Lake Champlain, where the Adirondack Mountain views change daily. Doug still performs orthopedic surgery at the University of Vermont Medical Center, where teaching medical students and residents always reminds him of the great teaching/learning at OWU. They enjoy hiking, sailing, skiing, and traveling with their two daughters and sons-in-law. Doug’s passion is still playing old-time string band music, and the mandolin keeps him both happy and sane. It started in Stuy Glen with the Hot Mud Family. The fabulous 1969-73 musical events at OWU served them well. Woodworking, birdwatching/ ecology, yard work, and just thinking about things keeps Doug going. OWU was such a great place to be! Thanks to the Zoology Department, Dr. Stull, the Entertainment Committee and all those he knew there.
Tom Cole ’73 is proud to share that his wife Karen retired after 33 years. His daughter Christy is chief prosecutor in Sylvania, Ohio. Tom and Karen published the young children’s sports book Benny and Babe, for which their son Clayton did the artwork. The couple also published the adult fiction book One Last Fall, in which some of the characters are teammates from OWU. Tom works in sports broadcasting at BCSN in the Toledo, Ohio, area. He also recently received a Fairness in Media Award from the State of Ohio Board of Education and Springfield Board of Education. Tom and Karen have three fantastic grandkids, Josie, Cole, and Cooper.
Jody Dodd Cottrill ’73 is acting public affairs team lead in FEMA’s Atlanta Regional Office. She has worked more than 60 disasters, including numerous tornadoes and floods; the Haiti earthquake, Deepwater Horizon, hurricanes Katrina, Matthew, and Irma, and Superstorm Sandy. She has been designated the senior external affairs advisor to federal officials on eight disasters. She also served for three years on the region’s rapidresponse Incident Management Assistance Team and has taught external affairs classes at the Emergency Management Institute and the Center for Domestic Preparedness. Jody is the proud mother of four, and enjoys travel, museums, and reading.
Melissa McCoy Cox ’73 is still happily employed as an administrative assistant at Washington and Lee University after 28 years, and she’s thinking about retirement in another year to spend more time in Richmond, Va., with her grand kids. She has been married for 45 years, and has three children and four grandchildren. She enjoys walking with her dog in the beautiful valleys of Virginia, knitting, reading, and doing volunteer work at church and in the Lexington, Va., community.
Dick Eakins ’73 is looking forward to the reunion with the best class ever! His wife Cynthia retired last May and moved to Hamilton, N.Y., near where she grew up. Dick spends weekends there and weekdays in New Jersey as he winds down business and sells their property. He’s planning to sail the Finger Lakes and enjoy what Colgate University has to offer.
John Ford ’73 is still working and living up north full-time. His companion Mary Funkhouser owns a home in Florida and winters there, and John visits for a long weekend a month, but otherwise it’s his law office, heavy coats, and a snowblower for him and golf and pickleball for her when the snow flies in South Bend, Ind. They manage to squeeze some traveling in, usually someplace warm in the fall, and enjoy spending time with their grandchildren (two each) when they can. Lots of golf between April and October and an occasional concert (while the acts they like are still alive and kicking) fill in their free time. OWU reunions are the best. John has not missed one yet. Go Delt.
Dave Fouts ’73 and Binney Brown Fouts ’73 are retired and live half the year in Boca Grande, Fla. Their other home is in Cleveland. Their son, the last of their three kids, got married in January in Columbus. Their two daughters got married in 2014, and each has a daughter. They feel very blessed!
Paula Lukeman Furr ’73 used her journalism education to build a successful Army career as a public affairs officer and a second career as a journalism professor. She is currently a department head at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. She regrets that travel plans will prevent her from attending her reunion.
Nicole Gnezda ’73 is retired from a career teaching art, and she now works as an artist, writer, speaker, and creativity specialist (with a Ph.D. in creativity studies). She has written Teaching Difficult Students: Blue Jays in the Classroom, professional articles, and poetry. She is enjoying learning to make lace with the rosewood bobbins she inherited from her Slovenian ancestors. She also volunteers as an art therapist for Columbus’ Homeless Families Foundation. After being widowed in 1998, she re-met and married her college boyfriend, who has traveled with her around the U.S. and abroad. They also play golf and work for their local historical society. She is the mother of two adult daughters and a deceased son and is about to be a grandmother for the first time! Her website is www.compassioncreativityandteaching.com.
Kathleen Doeringer Gross ’73 is still working full-time with the Women’s Resource Center in Radford, Va., a domestic violence/sexual assault shelter, as a night counselor. Her family has grown in the past five years with the addition of two great-grandchildren. She has participated in a mission trip to the Dominican Republic for the past six years, which has been both humbling and gratifying as she and her team note the progress being made there. One of Kathleen’s newer volunteer activities is helping with JAM, an after-school activity for students who want to learn about their Appalachian music history. It is very rewarding to see what most of the beginners can learn in such a short amount of time.
Martha Dunn Gross ’73 has been married to her husband John for 25 years. Between them they have three children, 11 grandchildren, and three greatgrandchildren. Martha was ordained in the United Methodist Church in 1977, and retired in 2011 to Toledo. Since then, she has been active in her church and community as a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout leader, Mobile Meals driver, church pianist, and chair of the missions team, as well as substituting in the pulpit.
Mary Lou Brecht Johnson ’73 retired after a 42½ year career as a speech-language pathologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She credits Barbara Tull, Ph.D., then of the OWU Speech Department, with inspiring her enthusiasm for this profession and steering her to the graduate program at Washington University in St. Louis.
Bruce Kapner ’73 and Amy Brinberg Kapner ’73 have lived in Manhattan for the past 12 years, near their three children and three grandchildren. Bruce sold his scrap steel processing business in 2000 and has morphed the proceeds into a real estate investment holding company. Amy retired last year from her position as speech pathologist at the Shield Institute. Since then, they have traveled extensively, including a one-month trip to Australia and New Zealand, to be followed soon by some rest and relaxation in Mexico.
Chris Kloth ’73 lives in Columbus with his wife of 30 years, Julie Harmon, Ph.D., and their 12 year-old granddaughter, Kaya. After graduation, Kloth worked in community corrections and at the National Institute of Corrections. In 1986, he co-founded ChangeWorks of the Heartland to provide organization and community development consulting throughout the U.S. Chris has written professional articles, contributed to four books, and served on numerous local and national nonprofit boards. In addition, since graduation he has continued to play drums in local bands, most recently Snazzie Mac and the Bluetones and the Riverside Rats.
Patricia Stevenson Mantei ’73 has been teaching U.S. government in Houston, Texas, since the fall of 2001. She retired from her law firm in 2001 and studied for a teaching certification. She loves her new career. Her children are now 33, 32 and 24, so she has an empty nest. She’s looking forward to the reunion.
Marian Mather ’73 is still thinking about whether to accept her boyfriend Tom’s 18-yearold proposal of marriage. She is living in Indianapolis and retired for the third and last time in 2016, but still keeps busy keeping the books for Tom’s company. She enjoys traveling while she is still young enough to go. She has checked Iceland and Ireland off the bucket list, and she will be in the Orkney Islands of Scotland in May. She still dabbles in woodworking, but the projects are smaller now. She promises to have the dining room table finished by her 50th reunion!
Debbie Guentter McNett ’73 and her husband Dick live in Southport, N.C. Debbie retired from teaching in 2011. Dick has a new career as an independent representative in the automobile industry. The couple loves living along the coast and in a gated community. They welcome visitors!
Jim Mendenhall ’73 and his wife Gail moved back to central Ohio six years ago after years living in Chicago and London. He absolutely loves his “preretirement” job at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. It’s made even sweeter as his boss, Mayme Norman, is a longtime friend and former director of annual giving at OWU. Jim’s daughter Taylor (29) lives closeby in Hilliard, Ohio. Gail retired after 40 years in dental hygiene and began a new career as a life health coach. Jim and Gail have two grandchildren, Mekhi (5) and Malaysia (2). Jim volunteers with OWU’s Career Services and with Professor Paul Dean to coach and mentor first generation students. He helps to nationally stream all home OWU men’s lacrosse games with Mark Shipps ’70.
Clark Morehouse ’73 has been married to Susan Currie Morehouse ’74 for nearly 42 years. They have three children living in New York City and Los Angeles. While Susan still practices law, Clark is retired from a long career in the media world. In April 2017, he joined the Larchmont (N.Y.) Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and plans to get his EMT certification. He’s also active at his church. Susan and Clark travel frequently. When the weather in southern Westchester County isn’t too inhospitable for golf, Clark tees up at Winged Foot Golf Club, in Mamaroneck, N.Y., where he’s been a member since 1992. Clark sees his Sigma Chi brother Steve Kisling ’73 frequently. They are both looking forward to their reunion, despite the sadness of the passing of their beloved friends and brothers Jeff Dunbar ’73 and Carl Schroeter ’73, who were both in Delaware in May 2013 to celebrate their 40th reunion.
Robyn Morgan ’73 reports that not much has changed since her reunion update five years ago, except the causes for which she demonstrates (Go Women’s March!). She and her husband, Mike Johnston, have been married 35 years and are still skiing, hiking, biking, kayaking, camping, and horseback riding in Colorado. When she’s not outdoors, Morgan is singing in two choirs and officiating weddings for kids she’s known. She continues to volunteer for the Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center, HOPE Coalition for suicide prevention awareness, the I Have a Dream Foundation, and the Stephen Ministry at church. Teaching classes in mental health first aid and suicide prevention/intervention keeps her counseling skills sharp and raises awareness for an important cause.
Thomas Moushey ’73 was a 2017 winner of Walsh Jesuit High School’s Manresa Award in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The Manresa Award, the school’s highest honor, is presented to members of the Walsh Jesuit community who are outstanding exemplars of Walsh Jesuit’s mission, “men and women for others,” and who have served selflessly to further the school’s mission over the years.
Lauri Nair ’73 lives in upstate New York and is retired from teaching music in the Saratoga Springs City School District, where she taught for 34 years. She has been coordinator of music ministries for the Shenendehowa United Methodist Church in Clifton Park, N.Y. for 38 years. She travels and sings with Journeys with Joe, through Perform International. She has sung in many places including DAR Constitution Hall in Washington D.C., onboard the USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and in the American cemetery at Normandy, France on the Fourth of July. Additionally, she has sung in numerous cathedrals in Ireland, Scotland, Germany, and Austria. She also enjoys spending time on Cape Cod, Mass.
Susan Pellegrino ’73 continues to teach dance aerobics after 25 years. Her greatest accomplishment is raising three children on her own, including being a substitute teacher, scout leader, ice skating mom, PTA this & that, science fair judge, and everything else that comes with raising children. She ice-skated for 10 years on a synchronized team, continues to be an evaluator for the national science fair, participates in flash mobs, and performs in showcases at senior facilities. She won second runner-up and Ms. Congeniality in the 2014 Ms. Missouri Senior America Pageant (not a beauty pageant!) and now is producer of the pageant sponsored by the Missouri Cameo Club, a nonprofit, charitable organization. A special note of sympathy for the family and friends of Walter Hutichson ’72, her first husband, who passed away in March 2017.
Kenyon Pike ’73 and his wife Vivian have both retired and continue to home-school their 16-year-old son and 13-yearold daughter in Willoughby, Ohio. Their oldest daughter is a freshman at the College of Wooster, majoring in chemistry.
Amy Kinney Raffel ’73 is living in Madison, N.J. After 25 years of teaching mostly first grade, she retired in June 2017 after becoming a grandmother in May to Emilia. She is still contra dancing, singing, quilting, and figuring out retirement. She’s the proud mother of Dr. Tom Raffel ’01, a biology professor at Oakland University, Susan Raffel, a partner at Ernst and Young in New York City, and Dr. Amy Raffel, recent Ph.D. in art history from CUNY University.
Tracey Holmes Riley ’73 has lived in Lexington, Va., in the lovely Shenandoah Valley for 27 years and has just begun her 20th year working at Washington and Lee University. She’s the senior programming assistant in the Office of Lifelong Learning. Retirement is at least a year away. Coincidently, classmate Melissa McCoy Cox ’73 and Tracey both ended up in Lexington, working at W&L, and being active members of the same Episcopal Church. Tracey has been married to Wayne Riley for four years. They enjoy traveling, antiquing, reading, movies, and taking advantage of the W&L fitness center and indoor swimming pool. Last May, Wayne and Tracey had a wonderful time traveling to Italy with classmate and sorority sister Becky Monroe Wick ’73 and her husband Jim.
Carol Ruppel ’73 has lived in Washington, D.C. for about 38 years and loves it. She is retired from careers in teaching and government relations. She plays competitive tennis, interprets for a low-income Hispanic-serving health clinic, swims, writes, and volunteers with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Ballet, the Washington English Center, and the Studio Theater. She enjoys life with her husband and dog.
Susan Ela Saunders ’73 retired in 2011 with no regrets and enough free time to volunteer at the Nature Conservancy and with the League of Women Voters of Boulder County, Colorado. Her two daughters are grown and married, and via Alyssa’s recent marriage they instantly gained two grandsons. Susan and her husband Jim haven’t moved since 1988, but they’ve been fortunate to travel in the U.S., Cuba, and the Galapagos islands.
Nancy Nott Shannon ’73 retired from UTC Aerospace Systems in 2016, after 26 years in contract management for gearboxes and pumps. It was a great career for her, challenging and busy, with lots of U.S. and European travel. But she does not miss it — retirement is wonderful. She has been married to Marty Langenberg for 10 years, and each has an adult daughter from their first marriage, including Kate Shannon ’08. Their days are filled with gardening, woodworking and reading, trying new recipes and relaxing with their families and friends. They love camping in Wisconsin and Canada in their teardrop travel trailer, kayaking day trips to the Mississippi River, and hiking at nearby Rock Cut State Park. They live in beautiful Rockford, Ill., 85 miles northwest of Chicago, so they also enjoy following the Cubs and having easy access to big city life.
Martha Smith ’73 attended OWU for her freshman and sophomore years and then transferred back east to attend the University of New Hampshire for a degree in occupational therapy. She has been living in Jacksonville, Fla., since 1976 with her husband and two grown children. She hopes attend the May reunion.
Ron Stoufer ’73 earned a master’s in geology from the University of Missouri at Columbia. He worked for five years as a hydrogeologist for the State of Delaware Environmental Control. From 1980 to 1982, he worked as a hydrogeology consultant in New York state, before getting married and moving to California, where he worked as a consultant. In 1990, Ron, his wife, and two daughters moved to Nepal with Christian Veterinary Mission, where they worked on training villagers in animal health, water systems, and general community development. In 2003, they moved to Seattle to get their daughters started into college, and planned to return to Nepal after three years. But three Nepali orphan refugees arrived in Seattle needing foster parents. They signed up to do that for 10 years and haven’t returned to work in Nepal, except for short visits.
Tom Talling ’73 and his wife Susan moved to Chesapeake City, Md. after living just outside of Doylestown, Pa., for more than 32 years. They welcome visitors.
Carrie Thomas ’73 has lived with the love of her life, Dave, in the wilds of Shohola, Pa., since 2001, when they made their weekend home their permanent home. Or, so they thought. Dave has taken on a larger CEO consulting business in Jacksonville, Fla., where he currently spends half a month. Carrie is working industriously to complete home projects that she thought she’d have years to finish in order to get the house on the market. Then it’s off to Florida and away from the cold and snow! Daughter Kate, her mate, and two cats joined Carrie’s menagerie in September after Hurricane Irma blasted them out of St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands. With Carrie’s two dogs, two cats, and umbrella cockatoo, plus Kate’s two cats, they have a very active, fun household!
Kathi Tighe ’73 wishes she could be there for the 45th! She’s been working as a studio potter for more than 35 years and also working part-time for Watertown Children’s Theatre and Mosesian Center for the Arts in Watertown, Mass. One of her ongoing joys is singing with the Spectrum Singers, a small, audition-based chorus in the Boston area. She also dances with Muddy River Morris dancers, and in any spare time is a bead crochet artist and sewing enthusiast. Her spouse, Jerry Orloff, continues to teach math at MIT. Their son Joel lives nearby in Providence, R.I., with his recently adopted dog, Laylah, and is a freelance animator.
Susan Henze Twomey ’73 and her husband Larry are semi-retired, expecting their eighth grandchild (fifth for Susan), and cruising their boat in Baja California and mainland Mexico — where they are now. Otherwise, loving life in San Diego!
Bob Walters ’73 and Chris Campbell Walters ’73 split their time in retirement between Charlotte, N.C., and Isle of Palms, S.C., and are fortunate to have children and grandchildren in both places. Their enjoyment of international travel and foreign cultures, which began 40 years ago working in Europe, has continued. Throw in social activities like golf (Bob) and bridge (Chris), a little consulting, and active roles in not-for-profit organizations, and the velocity of passing time just seems to accelerate. They are looking forward to being in Delaware for the 45th!
Rebecca Monroe Wick ’73 and her husband Jim moved from Huntington, W.Va., to a golf community near Charleston, S.C., after Jim retired from Marathon Petroleum in Catlettsburg, Ky. The couple loves to travel, and they’ve enjoyed trips to Europe, a cruise in Southeast Asia, a tour of Scandinavia, and family visits. Both of their daughters live in Boston. Rebecca’s daughter was married in Vermont in 2015 and her first grandchild was born in September. Her sons live in Seattle and Houston. Nearby Kiawah Island has sparked Rebecca’s interest in preserving loggerhead turtles, so summer mornings often find her on turtle patrol. Exercise classes, yoga, book club, golf, an organization that promotes education for women, church, and local theater productions round out her retirement days.
Jean McLelland Wolf ’73 sold her home of 40 years in 2017 and bought a beautiful new condominium in Lewis Center, Ohio. On Feb. 16, she retired from US Bank. She’s looking forward to doing what she wants to do when she wants to do it, including spending more time with her daughter, son-in-law, and three handsome grandsons. They are 6, 4, and 2 years old. She just hopes she has enough energy to keep up with them! She’s really looking forward to the reunion and returning to OWU to remember fun times and get reacquainted with some long time friends.
Carol Dittrick Wolters ’73 and her husband, John Wolters, are very busy this year with the Civitan International district covering Ohio and parts of West Virginia. John is the governor 2017-18 (Carol was governor 2012-14), and Carol holds several offices, including club president. Civitan focuses on people with developmental disabilities, so the club held a Special Needs Holiday Dance and will hold a Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt this spring. John retired from banking in May 2017, and they have been visiting three grandchildren in Boca Raton, Fla., and two in Chicago. They’re planning a trip to Great Britain this year. They’re also active at church, and Carol is involved with the women’s Philanthropic Educational Organization, which provides scholarships for women at all stages of the educational process. Life is very busy but fulfilling. They look forward to seeing everyone at the reunion.
Richard Kelley ’75, president and general manager of NBC 7 San Diego, was named to the “San Diego 500” in January, which includes business leaders and executives who have founded or are running significant companies in the San Diego community.
Michael Jordan ’76 was invited to join the International Association of Crime Writers following the January publication of his murder mystery The Company of Demons. He is at work on his next book, a thriller set during the closing stages of World War II.
William “Bill” Rees ’76 was named director of scouting for Notre Dame football. His son Tommy is the Irish quarterbacks coach.
Robert Hill ’76 was the chaplain-in-residence at the Chautauqua Institution in August of 2017. He gave a sermon themed “Toward a Common Hope.” In May of 2017, several excerpts from his sermons preached at Boston University Marsh Chapel were posted on The Huffington Post.
Jim Almendinger ’78 was named the new director of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station, the field research station for the Science Museum of Minnesota at the Marine in St. Croix. He has been a Senior Scientist for the State of Minnesota since 1995.
T. J. Antich ’78 is “living the dream” in Chester County, Pa., where he is semi-retired after practicing physical therapy for 36 years. He holds one parttime position, works some evening hours, sees private outpatient clients, and referees boys lacrosse and soccer in the spring and fall seasons. His two youngest children will graduate from college this May. Antich is enjoying the RV he purchased a couple of years ago. He looks forward to hearing from classmates.
Anne Ayres ’78 moved back to Connecticut in late 2017 to be closer to family after 23 years in Jacksonville, Fla. Her first grandchild was born in October and lives nearby. Though she misses her friends in Florida, she enjoys being able to spend time with family. Ayres’ two sons are grown and thriving; she is so proud of both of them and of the women they have chosen as partners. Her youngest will be married in August. She is still working in the brokerage field and will be for a while. She keeps up with her OWU classmates on Facebook and is looking forward to Reunion Weekend.
Rolla Beach ’78 retired in 2015 from teaching high school English in the South-Western City Schools after 35 years. For 19 of those years he had the privilege of serving as president of the South-Western Education Association. He is currently working part-time in a law firm in Grove City, Ohio. He lives in Columbus with his wife Caryn. They have two daughters, Catherine (Catie) Beach ’16, and Jessica (Jessie), who attends Miami University.
Joni Manos Brown ’78 and her family made a gift to The Strand Theatre in Delaware, Ohio, that funded the renovation of its third and final theater, the Balcony, which will be renamed The Brown Family Generations Theater in their honor. Brown was the Strand The
atre board president from 2009 to 2017.
Susan Feldkamp ’78 is so sorry to miss her reunion. Her oldest daughter, Sarah Whitworth, will be getting married on May 19 and Susan will be in Pinehurst, N.C., attending her wedding. She’s still enjoying her career in educational publishing, which began 30 years ago at Holt, Rinehart and Winston and included some freelance years as a science writer and editor. She is currently a senior curriculum specialist with Six Red Marbles, a learning design and development agency in Austin, Texas. She will miss seeing everyone at the reunion; she loves hearing from former classmates!
Bob Gordon ’78 is actively working in residential real estate in Boulder, Colo. He’s happily married to Julie; they have two beautiful granddaughters. He just wrote his 1,000th blog post at BoulderRealEstateNews.com and is currently a director on the OWU Alumni Board. He’s active in Denver OWU Alumni leadership and is a director on the Boulder Area Realtor Board.
Robert Hickson Jr. ’78 is living in Mount Gilead, Ohio and has enjoyed a solid 31-year marriage to Sharon (Ashland University ’81) and has been exceedingly blessed with triplets who recently completed college and are now paying for their own Netflix. Since the statute of limitations has run on his longterm borrowing of a few Smith Hall trays, he should soon be headed into his third term as an Ohio Common Pleas judge… that is as long as none of his close college friends speaks with any of his constituents. He looks forward to reminiscing and to other exaggerations of common OWU experiences.
Jane Gumley Janiak ’78 and her husband Peter have enjoyed a growing family since Jane’s 35th reunion. Three years ago, they welcomed Rachel Jolly ’09, daughter of Tom Jolly ’77, into their family. She and their middle son, Brian Janiak ’11, gave birth to their first grandchild, Ellis, in March 2016. Jane and Peter are thoroughly enjoying their roles as Mimi and Pop Pete. After 25 years, they’re still living in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hurricane Matthew displaced them for several months but thankfully they have returned to a new and improved home. Jane has been keeping busy running the office of Peter’s construction company, along with managing their vacation rental home in the Bahamas. In addition, she continues to play tennis and compete on several USTA teams throughout the year. Life is good!
Virginia “Ginny” Smythe Spofford ’78 continues to teach first grade at Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, Pa., where she is just completing her 25th year. She is the proud mother of three grown children, John (Rose), Peter, and Annie (Billy) and the proud grandmother of two, Margaux Spofford and James Ripley. She remembers her OWU years fondly and wishes she could be there to celebrate her 40th.
Richard “Rick” Stazesky ’78 lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife Elsa and their 24-yearold daughter Drew. He just finished a nine-year run as the senior director of IT for NYC Correctional Health Services and is embarking on a new career with a medical software company. He also spends time at his second home on a beautiful lake in New Hampshire. Having spent his junior OWU year studying abroad in Wales, he continues to travel, most recently to Hong Kong, Thailand, and Cambodia. He welcomes correspondence. Austin Manor rocked!
1980s
Daniel Dickerson ’80, longtime radio play-by-play baseball broadcaster, served as a narrator in the concert “The Voice of Baseball,” presented by Center Stage Choirs at Midland Center for the Arts in Midland, Mich., in November.
Gregory Dyson ’80 was named chief operating officer of the ANA Enterprise, the organizing platform of the American Nurses Association, the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and the American Nurses Foundation.
Mario Spangenberg ’80, who heads General Motors in the Middle East and Africa out of Dubai, was featured in Forbes Middle East on Dec. 17, for his contributions to the scheduled 2018 launch of the company’s all-electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
Jeffrey Davis ’81 was named managing partner of Van Eperen, a public relations agency based in the Bethesda and Baltimore, Md., area, in October.
Robert O’Brien III ’82 was named sales and charter consultant at IYC luxury yachting company’s Palm Beach office in November.
Tom Clareson ’83 is project director of the Performing Arts Readiness project, an Atlantabased organization that helps performing arts organizations nationwide learn how to preserve and protect their assets, sustain operations, and be prepared for emergencies. He works remotely from his home in Westerville, Ohio. He serves as senior consultant for digital and preservation services at LYRASIS, consulting and teaching nationally and internationally on preservation, disaster preparedness, digitization, and advocacy for libraries, archives, and museums. Clareson also serves as vice president of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and secretary of the Board of Directors of LancasterChorale, a professional chamber choir in Ohio.
Susan Johnson Gerhardt ’83 is still living in Houston, Texas, with her husband and two teenage boys. Her coastal decor store, Mermaid Ranch, in Rockport, Texas, is going strong in spite of Hurricane Harvey. The store offers one-ofa- kind hand-painted furnishings, home accessories, art, jewelry, and gifts (she’s still using that art degree!). She has stayed in close contact with Jan Decker McCormick ’83, Chris McCormick ’83, and Thea Bowers ’83 and sees them every few years.
Kaye Fritz Ridolfi ’83 and her husband Phil will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary this summer, and 13 years in their home in Brecksville, Ohio. She is in her seventh year as senior vice president of advancement for the Cleveland Foundation. Phil continues to run a privately held company. Kaye’s daughter, Janie, is a junior at Vanderbilt University, currently studying abroad in Barcelona. Kaye and Phil planned to meet her for her spring break and visit Paris, Florence, and Barcelona. While they are technically emptynesters, they do have a “baby” at home—their one-year-old mini Schnauzer. They have three grandchildren, and a fourth on the way, on Phil’s side.
Stephen Silveira ’84 was appointed to the Massachusetts Commission on the Future of Transportation in the Commonwealth on Jan. 23. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker created the commission to advise the administration on the future of transportation in the state in the context of changes to technology, climate, demographics, and more. Silveira is senior vice president at ML Strategies, where he assists clients in their interactions with state and local governments.
Perry Walker ’87 has been appointed to the Board of Directors of First Federal Bank of Ohio. He owns his own C.P.A. firm, Walker and Associates, in Galion, Ohio. He resides in Lexington, Ohio, with his wife of 28 years, Meredith Walker (Ohio State University ’91). They have two daughters, Alexandra (OSU ’15) and Lauren (Miami University ’19).
Matthew V. Henry ’88 was sworn in as county superintendent of schools for Gallatin County, Bozeman, Mont. in October.
1990s
Raghu Rags Narain ’93 has been living in Hong Kong for the past 10 years working as head of investment banking, APAC for Natixis. He and his wife, Isis Hernandez, have two children, Aria (6) and Xander (3). Xander was born at home, delivered by Raghu and Isis without a doctor, on the same date as Aria, Jan. 25.
Sara Sheets ’93 lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband Jon Sinclair ’90, whom she didn’t know at OWU but met in 2001. The couple enjoys coming back to campus for their respective reunions. They have two children, Robin (13) and Henry (10). After OWU, Sheets joined Teach for America, taught in Los Angeles for two years, then went to UCLA for her M.A. in urban planning. She currently works as executive director of a nonprofit community development corporation, working with residents, businesses, the city, and others to improve the economic vitality of the neighborhood through job creation, economic and housing development, and community engagement.
SJ Barakony ’98 is chair of the Central Ohio Alumni Leadership Board’s careers subcommittee. He lives in Delaware County and runs Service Before Self Leadership: An Educational Solutions Provider, while also serving as territory director for H7 Network, a group that combines business networking, lead generation, and business/ professional development. He was a guest on an educational podcast; co-facilitated a session of the SeaChange Accelerator program; spoke in five webinars for HECOA; and is an authorized partner for the Five Behaviors & Everything DISC programs. He has served the Union County chapter of Young Entrepreneurs Academy for the past several years as a student mentor and mock judge.
Kelli Kearney Izzo ’98 earned her master of arts in teaching and educational specialist degree from Kent State University. She taught French for 15 years in the Strongsville (Ohio) City Schools and is in her third year as an assistant principal at Strongsville Middle School. She has lived in North Olmsted since 2007. She married Mario Izzo in 2002, and they have two children, John and Ava. John is a freshman in high school, and they’re just starting to talk college. OWU is at the top of Mom’s list for campus visits. Ava is a sixth-grader, and her upcoming performance in Seussical may keep Kelli from seeing all her CDC (Chappelear Drama Center) pals, but it seems fitting. She’s still hoping to make it for at least one day of the 20th reunion.
Susan Carraway Medina ’98 moved to Charlotte, N.C., three years ago after 15 years in Atlanta (and a six-month stint in Germany). She is a strategic marketing manager for Siemens, and in her free time she has become involved in the civic community in Charlotte. She shares life with her husband Pablo Medina, originally of Chile, and their daughters Maryn (10) and Kara (8). As a family, they enjoy weekend trips to the North Carolina mountains, traveling (Chile, Hawaii, Costa Rica) and keeping active.
Jonathan Toretta ’98 and his family send best wishes to the Class of 1998 for the 20th reunion.
2000s
April Vaughn Deacon ’01 and Nicholas Stull ’07 were selected from more than 300 applicants to show their artwork in the Ohio Arts Council’s 2017 Biennial Juried Exhibition. The exhibition was on display through Jan. 6 at the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts in Columbus.
Braden Molhoek ’03 graduated with his Ph.D. in ethics and social theory from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, Calif. He continues to work at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences and as an adjunct professor of science and religion at the Graduate Theological Union.
Elizabeth Tulberg Bedford ’04 and William Bedford II ’05 opened Ferrell-Whited Physical Therapy Services in Berea, Ohio, in August.
Jennifer Goodman Karum ’05 was a producer of the film 1000 – The Sword in the Stone, which won the award for Best Action Screenplay at the 2017 L.A. Film Awards.
Scott Pycraft ’07 opened an optometry practice, Pycraft Family Eye Care, in Wooster, Ohio, following in his father’s professional footsteps.
Kit McCann ’08 lived, worked, and went to graduate school in New York City after graduating from OWU, before leaving in 2013 to backpack the entire Appalachian Trail. After completing her six-month, 2,200 mile hike, she settled on the seacoast in southern Maine, where she lives in a 144 square foot tiny house with her partner. Kit is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a private practice in Portsmouth, N.H. She is a gender specialist who works primarily with transgender and gender nonconforming youth, as well as other LGBTQ youth and adults.
2010s
Kevin Fahey ’10 received his Ph.D. in political science from Florida State University in August. He has accepted a three-year postdoctoral position at Cardiff University in Cardiff, Wales, working for the Center for Political and Legal Analytics.
Kellie Gross ’12 received her Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Minnesota on Sept. 21 and has accepted a post-doctoral fellowship in the Frick Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Anna Cooper ’13 started in January as the first director of data and information systems for the Communications Workers of America, which represents 700,000 private and public sector workers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Anthony McGuire ’13 left his job working in Global Partnerships at Facebook in London. He is starting his own company focusing on projects in emerging markets across the fields of media, technology, and politics.
Danielle Muzina ’13 partnered with artist Ariel Lavery to create the exhibition “So Much Between” at Murray State University in Murray, Ky., in late 2017. The duo used multiple artistic processes and formats, incorporating found objects and digital methods.
Paige Pramik ’15 joined the environmental group of Barton & Loguidice, an engineering, planning, environmental, and landscape architecture firm in Albany, N.Y.
Brenda Gonzalez ’17 was named program coordinator at One Earth Future, a nonprofit organization located outside of Boulder, Colo. She is still playing ultimate frisbee through Mile High Ultimate, a competitive league in Denver, with former OWU teammate Abby Bennet ’15.
Births
1980s
Robert Albrecht ’80 and his wife Kelsey welcomed son Preston James on Dec. 22 and were pleased to be able to celebrate the Christmas holiday with big brother Bryson Timothy at their home in Gaithersburg, Md. Preston is the Albrechts’ sixth child, joining Bryson, Ashley, Michael, Tommy, and Alison.
1990s
Doug Pierson ’92 and his wife Maggie welcomed their first daughter, Olivia Catherine, on Dec. 6. They live in Bellevue, Wash., and Pierson graduated from the U.S. Army War College in July with a master of strategic studies degree.
2000s
Alison Drake Burciaga ’03 and her husband Juan welcomed their second son, Mateo Drake Burciaga, on Dec. 2. Grandparents are Tim Drake ’74 and Sandi Aker Drake ’75.
Molly Everett Enrick ’08 and her husband Brian welcomed their first child, Elliot, on Thanksgiving.
In Memoriam
1930s
Beatrice Ricker Elder ’34, of the Marshes of Skidaway Island, Ga., Nov. 30, at the age of 104. She was predeceased by her husband, Burton Elder ’33, and is survived by a son, Bruce Elder ’62, and a grandson, Carl Elder ’92. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority and the Alumni Board of Directors.
Helen Pennywitt Hendrie ’36, of Los Angeles, Nov. 9, at the age of 102. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
1940s
Emma Sansom Gibbs ’40, of Westlake, Ohio, Dec. 26, at the age of 100. She was predeceased by a brother, Arthur Sansom ’42, and was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
Helen Rowan Mansfield ’40, of Portland, Ore., Oct. 22, at the age of 98. She was predeceased by her husband, Oliver Mansfield ’37, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Richard Ames ’41, of Fayetteville, N.Y., Dec. 28, at the age of 97.
Miriam Taylor Hyde ’41, of Walloon Lake, Mich., Jan. 5, at the age of 97. She was predeceased by two brothers, Edwin Taylor ’38 and Paul Taylor ’48, and was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Edna Pinkerton Shilvock ’42, of Seattle, Wash., Jan. 16, at the age of 99. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack Shilvock ’42.
Dorothy Howell Feldmaier ’45, of Beaver, Ohio, Nov. 16, at the age of 94. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Betty Targett Jarratt ’45, of Portland, Maine, Oct. 5, at the age of 94.
Robert Sinclair ’45, of Olathe, Kan., Nov. 30, at the age of 93.
William Walser ’45, of Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 28, at the age of 95. He was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Helen Lausten ’46, of Scottsdale, Ariz., Oct. 24, at the age of 93.
Barbara Frentsos Butler ’47, of Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 20, at the age of 93. She was predeceased by a brother, George Frentsos ’50.
William Gass ’47, of St. Louis, Miss., Dec. 6, at the age of 93.
Arline Miller Moore ’47, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Dec. 22, at the age of 92. She was predeceased by her husband, Russ Moore ’49, and was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Helen Brandeberry Baldwin ’48, of Maumee, Ohio, Dec. 21, at the age of 91. She was predeceased by her brother, Edward Brandeberry ’46.
Richard Fernstrum ’48, of Sarasota, Fla., Sept. 13, at the age of 91. He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Mehlhope Fernstrum ’44, and is survived by a son, David Fernstrum ’72.
Robert McBride ’48, of Santa Rosa, Calif., Oct. 11, at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife, Mary Sanders McBride ’46, and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Elizabeth Blanpied McKeen ’48, of Ithaca, Wis., Dec. 22, at the age of 91. She was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
John McKenney ’48, of Eden, N.C., Jan. 17, at the age of 91. He is survived by a daughter, Alice McKenney ’73.
Bliss Wiant ’48, of Silver Spring, Md., Sept. 2, at the age of 89. He was predeceased by his parents, Mildred Artz Wiant 1920 and Bliss Wiant 1920, and a brother, Benjamin Wiant ’57.
John Auble ’49, of Bucyrus, Ohio, Dec. 16, at the age of 92.
Elizabeth Hagemeyer Crook ’49, of Dublin, Ohio, Dec. 25, at the age of 90. She is survived by a brother, Bartlett Hagemeyer ’51, and was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Julia Bower Dubetz ’49, of Stow, Ohio, Sept. 19, at the age of 89.
Ann Kelso Hurd ’49, of Winnipeg, Canada, Dec. 5, at the age of 89.
Marilyn Swinehart Johnson ’49, of Hixson, Tenn., Oct. 7, at the age of 90. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Johnson ’46, and was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
James Kirk ’49, of San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 4, at the age of 93. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Eley Kirk ’49, and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
June Jensen Olimpio ’49, of Sanbornville, N.H., in January, at the age of 90. She is survived by a daughter, Gina Olimpio Balourdas ’84.
Donald Rush ’49, of Coshocton, Ohio, Aug. 29, at the age of 93. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Putnam Rush ’48, and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
1950s
Phyllis Snouffer Hollenbaugh ’50, of Oxford, Ohio, Oct. 7, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her husband, Morris Hollenbaugh ’49, and was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Eleanor Rideout Melville ’50, of Owego, N.Y., Dec. 13, at the age of 89. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
David Schultz ’50, of Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 17, at the age of 88. He is survived by a daughter, Deborah Barta Thurston ’82, a sister, Molly Schultz Slenker ’54, and a son, Adam Schultz ’08. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
William Strasburg ’50, of Worcester, Pa., Oct. 27, at the age of 90. He was predeceased by his mother, Helen Huston Strasburg ’22, and a brother, Robert Strasburg ’58. He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Schweiker Strasburg ’52, a sister, Phyllis Strasburg Rowland ’47, and a grandson, Matthew Strasburg ’05.
Margaret Geyer Temple ’50, of Fredonia, N.Y., Dec. 13, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her mother, Ada Wehrly Geyer 1918, and two brothers, Donald Geyer ’46 and Alan Geyer ’52. She is survived by her husband, Dean Temple ’50.
Jacquelyn Jones Comey ’51, of Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 5, at the age of 88. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Dorothy Dailey Jackson ’51, of Midland, Mich., Sept. 21, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Jackson ’51, and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Sherman Moreland ’51, of Elmira, N.Y., Dec. 9, at the age of 88. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Harry Skillman ’51, of Scituate, Mass., Oct. 11, at the age of 88. He was a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Julian Smith ’51, of Dallas, Nov. 1, at the age of 87. He is survived by a son, Charles Smith ’80, and was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Smith was born on March 23, 1930 in Portsmouth, Ohio. After graduating from OWU, he received his medical degree from Columbia University in 1955. While in medical school he met the love of his life, Eleanore Stankunas, a nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital. They were married in 1954. Following medical school, he completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University in 1959. He served in Germany as a reserve commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. During his fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Hospital and Cancer Center in Houston in 1967, he conducted clinical trials that proved the superior results of applying multidisciplinary therapy in the treatment of ovarian cancer. He led the Department of Gynecological Oncology at MD Anderson to become one of the nation’s most esteemed and productive academic training centers. He advanced the treatment of ovarian cancer and was internationally known for his groundbreaking research, surgical techniques, and teaching skills. Smith joined the faculty as chairman at Wayne State University in Detroit in 1978 and Loyola University in Chicago in 1987. He subsequently served as chief of gynecological oncology at the University of Maryland until his retirement in 1995 at the age of 65.
Carlene Marks Burroughs ’52, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 28, at the age of 87. She was predeceased by a brother, Wayne Marks ’54.
Nancy Enochs ’52, of Charlotte, N.C., Oct. 22, at the age of 86. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Jack Jones ’52, of Lima, Ohio, Dec. 11, at the age of 87. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Patricia Oldfather Kelly ’52, of Exeter, N.H., Jan. 12, at the age of 88. She was predeceased by her husband, William Kelly ’52, and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Jack Kerby ’52, of Novi, Mich., Oct. 17, at the age of 86. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Wallace Kerby ’54, and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Anne Child Sheaffer ’52, of Findlay, Ohio, Dec. 14, at the age of 87. She was predeceased by her husband, Jerry Sheaffer ’55, her mother, Anna Blackford Child 1913, a sister, Bette Child Loyd ’39, and three brothers, Rollin Child ’37, Harold Child ’46, and Earl Child ’41. She is survived by two sons, Jeremy Sheaffer ’90 and Dan Sheaffer ’81, and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Sheaffer ’13. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
James Wagner ’52, of Simsbury, Mass., Oct. 6, at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his parents, Justine Heasley Wagner ’25 and H. Hughes Wagner ’25. He is survived by a sister, Mary Wagner Manley ’52, and two sons, Jeffrey Wagner ’83 and James Wagner ’80. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Harlan Long ’53, of Tallahassee, Fla., Jan. 4, at the age of 86. He was a member of Beta Sigma Tau fraternity.
Katherine Clauson Mackinnon ’53, of Jay, N.Y., Nov. 26, at the age of 85. She was predeceased by her husband, John MacKinnon ’52, and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.
Molly Hedlund Marple ’53, of Painesville, Ohio, Jan. 23, at the age of 86. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.
John Moore ’53, of Denver, Colo., Jan. 6, at the age of 86. He was predeceased by his mother, Cheryl Moore ’28. He was a member of the OWU Tower Society and Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Joseph Mosher ’53, of Westerville, Ohio, Jan. 1, at the age of 87.
Helen Henes Prittie ’53, of Louisville, Ky., Oct. 15, at the age of 86. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald Prittie ’53, and was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.
Robert Stecher ’53, of Woodland Hills, Calif., April 2017, at the age of 88. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Palmer Stecher ’54, his children Robert, Frederick, Ruth, and Paul, and 10 grandchildren. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and was an animator, writer, and historian.
Allan Steer ’53, of Holland, Mich., Dec. 30, at the age of 87. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Barbara Kreutz Barrett ’54, of Westminster, Colo., Jan. 22, at the age of 85. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Ruth Palmer Roberts ’54, of Spencerport, N.Y., Sept. 18, at the age of 85. She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Roberts Mahoney ’86, and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Thomas Roos ’55, of Westlake, Ohio, Dec. 19, at the age of 83. He is survived by a sister, Kathryn Roos Meuth ’65, and two brothers, James Roos ’53 and Philip Roos ’60. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and its barbershop quartet, as well as the OWU Chorale. Roos had a long career in human resources and retired in 1997, going on to serve as a volunteer consultant for the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry.
Virginia Hein Seamon ’55, of Monroe, Ohio, Nov. 21, at the age of 84. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
William Sevon III ’55, of Worcester, Mass., Oct. 8 at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife Cecilia, two sons and daughters-in-law, five grandchildren and his former wife, Joan Johnson LaFleur ’58. After earning his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Illinois, he taught for several years at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He joined the Pennsylvania Geological Survey in 1965, from which he retired in 2001.
John Cozier ’56, of Asheville, N.C., Jan. 4, at the age 86. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
James Dailey ’56, of Hilliard, Ohio, Sept. 21, at the age of 83. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
William Davidson ’56, of Aurora, Ohio, Jan. 25, at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife, Margot Freed Davidson ’56, and a brother, Charles Davidson ’56.
George Fallon ’56, of Lubec, Maine, Dec. 26, at the age of 83.
Mary Bauders Gleske ’56, of The Woodlands, Texas, Oct. 16, at the age of 82. She was predeceased by her husband, Elmer Gleske ’54, and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Carolyn Lazier Laymon ’56, of Knoxville, Tenn., Nov. 29, at the age of 83. She is survived by her husband, Douglas Laymon ’56, and was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Carol Vogt Ross ’56, of Annapolis, Md., Dec. 6, at the age of 83. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.
Frederick Ballard ’57, of Westerville, Ohio, Sept. 20, at the age of 82. He is survived by a daughter, Michele Scott Zimmermann ’90, and was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.
Mary Ellen Basbagill ’57, of Delaware, Ohio, Sept. 30, at the age of 82. She is survived by a brother, Leo Basbagill ’63, and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
Robert Dickson ’57, of Dallas , Oct. 1, at the age of 82. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Thomas Manuel ’57, of Bonita Springs, Fla., Oct. 14, at the age of 81. He was a member of the OWU Tower Society and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Thomas McCune ’57, of Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 22, at the age of 82. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Warren Smith ’57, of Charlottesville, Va., Nov. 9, at the age of 81. He was predeceased by his father, Charles Smith ’23, and was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Laura Pierce Bump ’58, of Delaware, Ohio, Dec. 14, at the age of 81. She was predeceased by her parents, Stanley Pierce ’33 and Cornelia King Pierce ’32, and her husband, Richard Bump ’58. She was a member of the OWU Tower Society, OWU Athletic Hall of Fame, and Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Barbara Tobener Sanford ’58, of Abilene, Texas, Nov. 27, at the age of 81. She was predeceased by a brother, William Tobener ’59, and is survived by her husband, Calvin Sanford ’57. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority.
Marilyn Clasen ’59, of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Jan. 21, at the age of 80. She was predeceased by a brother, Robert Clasen ’55, and is survived by her partner, James Kitson ’59. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Robert Shaw ’59, of Defiance, Ohio, Oct. 21, at the age of 80. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
Frank Waldhaus ’59, of Shelton, Conn., Dec. 11, at the age of 79. He is survived by a daughter, Frances Waldhaus ’02, and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
1960s
Robert Boyd ’60, of Baton Rouge, La., Sept. 19, at the age of 79. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Joel Horowitz ’60, of Wayne, N.J., Oct. 2, at the age of 79. Horowitz attended OWU for two years before going into the Army and then to the University of Chicago where he obtained a Ph.D. He led the Sociology Department at Columbus College in Georgia.
Joan Dillon Mays ’60, of Indianapolis, Oct. 26, at the age of 78. She is survived by a brother, William Dillon ’69, and three children, Stephen Croner ’89, Michael Croner ’87, and James Croner ’90. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Roger Hopper ’62, of Akron, Ohio, Dec. 11, at the age of 77. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.
Kent Jeffrey ’62, of Toledo, Ohio, Jan. 16, at the age of 77.
Sheila Wagner Ploger ’62 of Oberlin, Ohio, Oct. 30, at the age of 76. She is survived by a brother, Randall Wagner ’60, and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha.
Douglas Barno ’63, of Granville, Ohio, Dec. 16, at the age of 76. He was predeceased by his mother, Janet Campbell Barno ’36, and is survived by a son, Christopher Barno ’91. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
David Williams ’63, of Somerset, N.J., Jan. 13, at the age of 76. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Robert Hartmann ’64, of Macon, Ga., Dec. 15, at the age of 75. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Sara Mason Murdock ’65, of Norfolk, Mass., Oct. 16, at the age of 74. She was a member of Chi Omega sorority.
Ann Bird Seaberg ’65, of Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 30, at the age of 74. She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin Seaberg ’65, and is survived by a sister, Karen Bird Hill ’67, and two children, John Seaberg ’99 and Eric Seaberg ’00. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
Carolyn Coss Cassin ’67, of Winnetka, Ill., Oct. 29, at the age of 72.
James Baldridge ’68, of Baltimore, Dec. 20 at the age of 71. He was a member of Chi Phi fraternity.
Michael Banzhaf ’68, of Newport Beach, Calif., Jan. 27, at the age of 71. He is survived by a son, Peter Banzhaf ’06, and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Michael Treman ’68, of Santa Barbara, Calif., Oct. 1, at the age of 71. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Thomas Leonard Sr. ’69, of Wallingford, Pa., Oct. 23, at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife, Penelope Holston Leonard ’72, and a brother, John Leonard ’67. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
1970s
Judith Duncan Flood ’70, of Annapolis, Md., Dec. 11, at the age of 69.
Karl Kuivinen ’71, of Lincoln, Neb., Oct. 10, at the age of 69. He is survived by a sister, Rachael Kuivinen ver Duin ’75, and was a member of the OWU Tower Society.
Constance Hargis Clay ’73, of Chicago, Sept. 27, at the age of 68.
John “B.J.” Lawson ’75, of Thonotosassa, Fla., Dec. 5, at the age of 67. He is survived by his wife, Valarie Hart Lawson ’73.
M. Blair Bucknell Gregory ’76, of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Sept. 22, at the age of 62.
Michael Murphy ’76, of New Orleans, Oct. 19, at the age of 62.
Kim Potter Bixler ’77, of Granville, N.Y., Dec. 13, at the age of 62. She is survived by two sisters, Tracey Potter Stamatel ’82 and Debra Potter Hoesterey ’72. Her son Samuel Bixler ’10, died Feb. 14 (see below).
Kim McKinney Engelsman ’77 of Falls Township, Pa., July 26 at the age of 62. She is survived by a son, Robertson C. Engelsman, her daughter, Alison C. Engelsman of Newtown, Pa., and her sister and brother-in-law. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Incorrect information was included in the Winter 2018 issue; we regret the error.
Gary Kleinman ’77, of Wyckoff, N.J., Sept. 24, at the age of 62. He is survived by his wife, Maureen Curran Kleinman ’78, and a daughter, Jessica Kleinman Constantine ’09. He was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
Brenda Kale ’78, of Miami, Oct. 10, at the age of 61. She is survived by a brother, Robert Kale ’75.
Susan Bowman Leddy ’79, of Findlay, Ohio, Nov. 30, at the age of 60. She was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
1980s
Everett Henderson ’80, of Laconia, N.H., Dec. 4, at the age of 60. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
John Langhorne ’80, of Green Valley, Ariz., Jan. 12, at the age of 60. He is survived by a sister, Elizabeth Langhorne Redinger ’83, and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Ray Cook ’81, of Westerville, Ohio, Nov. 24, at the age of 58.
Georgia Blum Herminghausen ’88, of Columbus, Oct. 29, at the age of 51. She is survived by her husband, Steve Blum Herminghausen ’86.
1990s
Alexander Knowlton ’97, of Springfield, Ohio, Oct. 29, at the age of 45.
2010s
Samuel Bixler ’10, of Cambridge, Mass., Feb. 14, at the age of 29, following injuries sustained when he was hit by a car in January. He was a high school history teacher. He is predeceased by his mother, Kim Potter Bixler ’77, and is survived by his father, Matt Bixler ’78.
Michael “Bret” Irvine ’13, of Gahanna, Ohio, Jan. 21, at the age of 27. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Faculty/Staff
Thomas Agne, of Delaware, Ohio, Dec. 22, at the age of 64. For more than 25 years, he was head athletic trainer at OWU.
Virginia Dolbeare Anderson, of Loveland, Colo., Nov. 16, 2016, at the age of 87. She taught English as a second language at OWU in the 1970s and 1980s, and she is survived by two sons, Alan Anderson ’81 and Robert Anderson ’88. Her husband, Daniel “Andy” Anderson, taught in the OWU Philosophy Department from 1965 until his death in 1994.
Mabel Casey Harter, of Ostrander, Ohio, Jan. 6, at the age of 66. She worked in facility services through Aramark at OWU.
Joann Reichart, of Ostrander, Ohio, Oct. 10, at the age of 70. She worked in the Office of Alumni Relations at OWU.
Friends
Dale Dykema, of Newport Beach, Calif., July 4, at the age of 87. He was predeceased by his wife, Suzanne Williams Dykema ’67, and was a member of the OWU Tower Society.
Sympathy To
Kathy Earls, assistant to the vice president for University Advancement, and her husband Carl for the death of their son, Carl Jr., on Jan. 10, at the age of 33.
Edward Khan, professor of theatre and dance, for the death of his mother, Dorothy Khan, on Jan. 21.
Betty Jane Farquhar Shultz ’53 for the death of her husband, John T. “Ted” Shultz, on Sept. 10.
Jane Conklin Setterlin ’59 for the death of her daughter, Wendy Jo Setterlin, on Aug. 27.
Barbara Martin Kamman ’60 for the death of her husband, Arnold Kamman, on Jan. 25.
Sharon Smithey Coale ’72, Deborah Smithey Durham ’74, Billy Coale ’02, Brooke Coale Krapf ’05, John Krapf ’07, Brittany Coale Bourassa ’07, Adam Rosen ’97, and Courtney Durham ’12, for the death of their mother and grandmother, Dorothy R. Smithey, on Jan. 11.
Joseph Glatthaar ’78 for the death of his father, Joseph Glatthaar, on Dec. 17.
Meggie Feran Sexton ’06 for the death of her sister-in-law, Kathryn Sexton, on Oct. 21.
We Want to Hear from You!
Please email your news to classnotes@owu.edu. You can also submit your news to:
Attn: Class Notes Editor
OWU Magazine
Ohio Wesleyan University
Mowry Alumni Center
61 S. Sandusky St.
Delaware, OH 43015
Include your name and class year as well as a daytime phone number, should we need to reach you. Photos are welcome. Submissions may be edited for space.
The deadline for receiving Class Notes and Faculty Notes submissions for the Fall 2018 OWU Magazine is June 8, 2018.