February 2018
Featuring news received between October 1, 2017 and January 15, 2018
Class Notes Quarterly features professional accomplishments, educational attainments, awards, and other life milestones celebrated by our alumni. A section of In Memoriam listings follows to honor alumni who are no longer with us.
See the links below to jump to your choice of decade, or to additional sections devoted to marriage, birth, and death announcements. Based on alumni feedback, we have created easier to find and read In Memoriam listings for deceased classmates and friends, and we are pleased to provide links to their full, online obituaries as published by local media outlets, when available.
Searchable Archive: Our online class notes archive may be accessed and searched at any time. Our archived collection of notes (including class notes, marriage and birth announcements, and in memoriam listings) begins with those received in 2010. The archive may be searched by name, class year, city, or state and is updated regularly.
Have news to submit? Please submit your news via the online Alumni Update Form. We'll include all news received by April 1 in the May 2018 issue.
Did we miss something? Don't see a note that you remember submitting prior to January 15? Is a correction needed? Email bwalumni@bw.edu and we'll make the necessary additions (or edits) to this page and to the class notes archive.
Class Notes
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Marriages
Births
In Memoriam
News & Updates
1954
DAVID SANDBERG, Aurora, is enjoying retirement with his wife, Connie, three daughters, and eight grandchildren. He still plays tennis and is working on his golf skills.
1955
PATRICIA SCHULTZ HILBRINK, Fairfax, Va., enjoys singing as an alto in her Methodist church choir. She and her husband, Bill '55, will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary in August.
WILLIAM HILBRINK, Fairfax, Va., enjoys playing the violin professionally at the Fairfax United Methodist Church for its offertory and special concerts. He and his wife, Pat Schultz ’55 will celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary in August.
1961
KENNETH MEHALKO, Strongsville, was inducted into the Ohio Band Directors Hall of Fame. He was the sole inductee honored at the group’s 2017 conference.
1964
CHARLES “NICK” HODNETT, Rye, N.Y., is now retired from both his full time job and consulting practice.
1966
ETTA LYONS BUCHWALD, Elizabethtown, Pa., has performed over 50 handbell solo concerts in central Pennsylvania, as well as solos for weddings, funerals, and church services.
ALLAN COLGAN, Columbus, is retired, enjoying long RV trips around the U.S. and Canada (including 45 states and seven provinces) and remodeling his home.
1967
CHESTER “CHET” LESNIAK, Summerfield, N.C., has retired after 42 years of public middle school teaching in Florida (36 years) and North Carolina (six years).
1969
DANIEL GARDNER, Honolulu, Hawaii, is retired from a career in the Navy as commander surface warfare and salvage officer and as senior executive service director of readiness and training in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He has also served his community as city council member and mayor in Falls Church, Va. Most recently, Daniel was the executive director of Arlington Academy of Hope, a non-governmental organization in Uganda.
1973
FRANCIS GREENHILL, Columbus, was chosen by the Upper Arlington City Council to be president of council and mayor.
1975
JOSEPH FLOOD, Columbus, was named a master of the American College of Rheumatology in 2017, one of 26 recognized internationally for success and dedication in the medical field. Joseph practices and teaches in Columbus with his long-time partner, Jeanne Likins ’75.
CHERYL HEMMINGER, Elyria, is enjoying retirement in her new home in Elyria.
1976
FRANK MANION, Moorestown, N.J., earned a Ph.D. in biomedical informatics from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston in November. He is chief informatics officer at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.
RICHARD BENSON, Brevard, N.C., is now retired after a 26-year career as law director for the city of Wooster. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains, he enjoys flying the flag for the Indians and Buckeyes, as well as his new role of grandfather to potential future Yellow Jackets Lilly and Eleanor.
1978
KERRY SHIBA, Mission Viejo, Calif., is executive vice president and chief financial officer at Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc.
1979
MEG WYLIE LAWRENCE, Midlothian, Va., and husband Robert Lawrence ’80 are celebrating the birth of their first grandson, Benjamin.
LAWRENCE “LARRY” YUNGK, Arlington, Va., has retired from 30 years of service as senior resettlement officer for the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency.
1980
MITCHELL FALLIS, Lorain, was elected to his fourth term on the Lorain City Council.
ROBERT LAWRENCE, Midlothian, Va., and wife Meg Wylie Lawrence ’79 are celebrating the birth of their first grandson, Benjamin.
1981
ANTHONY CIEPIEL, Hudson, was honored by Crain’s Cleveland Business with a 2017 C-Suite Award for his work as chief operation officer at Vitamix.
JANICE REGULA TRUSKOLASKI, Parker, Colo., is now managing demand generation for Pitney Bowes software and data solutions. She is also the president of the Parker Area Historical Society.
1984
JOHN PETTY, Lewisville, Tex., is the author of Understanding Film, an electronic textbook published by Great River Learning. The textbook is designed to accompany his film course at the University of Texas at Dallas.
1987
MIRIAM BALDADO SMITH, Redondo Beach, Calif., founded Beyond Social, Inc. as an independent consulting firm providing expertise in design, build, and deployment of social business solutions.
1988
AMBER WATSON DIMOFF, Shaker Heights, performed in the pit orchestra of the Broadway show, Book of Mormon for the third time, and with Johnny Mathis, at Playhouse Square. She is a member of the Akron Symphony and performs regularly with the Columbus, Fort Wayne, and Cincinnati orchestras. Her husband and two children are also active in music.
1989
DAVE ROZZO, Ashtabula, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for baseball.
1991
DENISE MUNDORFF WILSON, Akron, has returned to Ohio after living for 20 years in Europe. She now coordinates international student admission and transfer credit evaluations at The University of Akron.
1992
NOELLE AKINS, Ravenna, is a senior consultant for Navigation Management Partners. She co-authored an article in the fall issue of Training Industry Magazine about alignment of business and learning outcomes for maximum impact.
STACY BECK-NUTTER (MBA ’16), Middleburg Heights, opened SBN Productions, LLC, a marketing consulting firm.
1993
JENNIFER CURRUTT BERLYOUNG, Uniontown, received a Master of Divinity degree from the United Theological Seminary. She is the pastor of community development for Harmony Springs Christian Church and president of the board of directors for Newbridge Place, a home for those with mental illness and traumatic brain injury. She has been married for 18 years and has two sons.
IAN FRANK, Chagrin Falls, partner at Frantz Ward LLP, has been named chair of the firm’s nationally ranked construction practice group.
1994
BEATA BOGYOR, Akron, maintains an active life of community service, including volunteering for the Red Cross and ARC. She also enjoys drawing, painting, and attending cultural events.
ERIC MORSE, Oberlin, is now executive director at The Nord Center, which provides mental health and housing services to Lorain County.
1999
MURRAY HOOTEN III, Massillon, is now athletic director at Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School.
2000
TRACY THOMPSON ALBERS, Westlake, was inducted to Crain's Cleveland Business "40 Under 40" Class of 2017. She is president and chief technical officer of Rapid Prototype & Manufacturing LLC.
ADAM HILL, North Ridgeville, was inducted to Crain's Cleveland Business "40 Under 40" Class of 2017. He is a partner at Cohen & Company.
JEREMY PIPER, Brunswick, had his original composition “Yasparia Warrior Battle” premiered by the BW Brass Choir at a Composer’s Guild Concert at Cleveland State University.
2001
DAVID VAN SLYKE, Columbus, was included on the list of “Rising Stars” by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine. He is a real estate and finance attorney for Plunkett Cooney and co-leader of the firm’s title insurance law practice group.
GEOFFREY HENSON, Charlotte, Mich., served as the official statistician for the Michigan High School Athletic Association football finals at Ford Field in Detroit. He has also served as an official for a variety of sports in other MHSAA finals events.
KIMBERLY LUTHMAN (MAED ’05), Parma, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for basketball.
2002
JASON SCHEFFT, Chicago, Ill., was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for basketball.
2003
JONATHAN CARROLL, Olmsted Township, is owner of Winning Edge Fundraising, which provides services to schools and groups in Ohio and Michigan. He and his wife Lauren Frick (’03) have two daughters.
2004
NED LAUVER (MAED ’09), Avon, was named assistant principal of the year by the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators (OASSA).
CHRISTOPHER RAGER, Los Angeles, Calif., is celebrating his second year of self-employment with his bookkeeping firm providing services to entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses.
THERESA STOPAK CROSS (MBA ’06), New Orleans, La., was honored by the Milken Family Foundation with the Milken Educator Award, which includes a $25,000 cash prize and is bestowed as a surprise on its recipients during the foundation’s national tour each year.
2005
PETER KERLIN, North Ridgeville, is the campus pastor at Journey Church in Avon, which opened in December 2017.
KIMBERLY LUTHMAN (MAED), Parma, see ’01.
2006
JOSEPH GEORGE, Macedonia, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for football.
THERESA STOPAK CROSS (MBA), New Orleans, La., see ’04.
WILLIAM LAMPE, Westerville, is a director with Optiv, an information technology security firm.
2008
LINDSAY MARVIN FULCHER, Greeley, Colo., is assistant professor of string music education at the University of Northern Colorado. She is also the director and master teacher of the university’s String Project, which she founded in 2017.
ANGELA CAMP KALIZEWSKI, Norwalk, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for volleyball.
BRIAN KMETZ, Cleveland, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for wrestling.
SARAH GOMBASH LAMPE, Westerville, is a postdoctorate researcher at The Ohio State University, with a focus on finding cures for multiple sclerosis.
LOU ROLKO, Hudson, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for soccer.
MARK HARRIS, Fairview Park, was named the 2016 Ohio Division II Boys Coach of the Year for high school swimming.
2009
TORIUS “TORI” DAVIS, Columbus, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for basketball.
KEITH HANSON, Berea, is collaborating with national non-profit American Rivers for an endurance challenge, running 150 miles across South Carolina in order to raise awareness and funds for river/freshwater conservation. He will run another 150 miles in fall of 2018.
ANDREA ISAAC ZAK, North Ridgeville, was inducted into the BW Athletics Hall of Fame for tennis.
RICK “RICKEY” LAYTON (MBA), Ladson, S.C., has re-located to South Carolina from Ohio and is now a senior manufacturing engineer at UEC-Electronics.
2009
COLLEEN BENOIT, Silver Spring, Md., was promoted to senior archives specialist of the manuscripts division at the Library of Congress.
WILLIAM “BILLY” BERNARD, Seven Hills, is an assistant director of student life at The University of Akron.
AMY MARTIN-MADELEY (MAED ’15, BSN ’17), Garfield Heights, is a registered nurse in the traumatic brain injury unit at MetroHealth Medical Center.
MICHELE MILLIGAN WOLF, Bowling Green, is athletic director and assistant principal of Fostoria High School. She earned an administrator license from the University of Findlay and a certified athletic administrator certificate from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA).
NED LAUVER (MAED), see ’04.
2010
CHARLES BORSUKOFF, Concord, received the 2017 Best of County - Young Economic Development Leader Award presented by Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County.
LAUREN BRANDSTETTER, Erlanger, Ky., is a children’s programmer/librarian at the Kenton County Public Library.
STEVEN CAPLE, JR., Los Angeles, Calif., was listed in Forbes 30 under 30 - Hollywood and Entertainment for his writing and directing success.
2011
MICHELLE ATHANAS, Lorain, is founder and co-owner of Midwest Best Grooming Co., specializing in all-natural beard, lip, and skin products.
SAVANNAH DRDEK, Parma, is senior event manager at BarkHappy, a social app for dog owners. She hosted a fundraising event at Bottlehouse Brewery in partnership with the nonprofit Rescue Me Ohio.
KARI WETZEL ROBERTS (MAED ’13), Austinburg, is now director of admission at Grand River Academy.
DANE URBAN, Brooklyn, N.Y., was a resident assistant stage manager at Williamstown Theatre Festival and is now assistant stage manager for Fire and Air at Classic Stage Company. He also made his Off-Broadway debut as a production stage manager for Actually at Manhattan Theatre Club.
MARISSA BOZAK (MAED ‘14), Lyndhurst, is now director of student conduct at Notre Dame College. She is responsible for conduct hearings, prevention programming, and data assessment.
MICHAEL ZAVOSKY, Dallas, Tex., is a financial analyst for Santander Consumer, USA.
2012
KRISTOPHER SMEAGE, Tampa, Fla., is now vice president of operations at Lumina Analytics.
2013
BRANDON GUZMAN (MBA), Twinsburg, was inducted to Crain's Cleveland Business "40 Under 40" Class of 2017. He is the president of MFS Supply.
DOUG DEGIROLAMO (MAED ’16), Lakewood, is now program manager of think[box] at the School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
LAUREN MEEKS, Broadview Heights, is a registered nurse at the Akron Children’s Hospital.
LAUREN NICKOLS, Parma, is an access services associate at John Carroll University’s Grasselli Library and Breen Learning Center.
KARI WETZEL ROBERTS (MAED), Austinburg, see ’11.
2014
MARISSA BOZAK (MAED), Lyndhurst, see ’11.
2015
ELLE BENKO, Vermilion, is pursuing a master’s degree in social work with a focus on adult mental health at Case Western Reserve University. She is also an intern at the Nord Center in Lorain.
CARL MARTIN, North Ridgeville, earned his MBA in health care management at the University of Maryland.
AMY MARTIN-MADELEY (MAED), Garfield Heights, see ’09.
ENRIQUE SONDAKH-DORANTES, North Ridgeville, is international admissions and operations manager at Association of Professional Schools of International affairs (APSIA).
KAYLA WOLF (BSN ’16), is a registered nurse at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.
2016
STACY BECK-NUTTER (MBA), see ’92.
ELLIS DAWSON, Hollywood, Calif., is standby for Genie/Babkak for Disney’s Aladdin at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, through March 31.
DOUG DEGIROLAMO (MAED), see ’13.
ELAINE LAMB, Westlake, is an assistant national bank examiner at Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
JASON YOUNG, Parma, is pursuing a graduate degree in integrated secondary science from Cleveland State University’s College of Education.
KAYLA WOLF (BSN), Columbia Station, see ’15.
SCOTT WEYHE, Cleveland Heights, has completed his first year of work in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Cleveland Clinic main campus.
2017
TAYLOR CHARVAT, Brook Park, is a legal assistant at Plevin & Gallucci Co. L.P.A.
ALEXIS KERG, San Antonio, Tex., is a student and teaching assistant in the graduate communication studies program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She also researches the effects of student political affiliation on classroom participation and climate.
AMY MARTIN-MADELEY (MAED, BSN), Garfield Heights, see ’09.
KRISTA WEIDNER NENADAL, Parma, has a full-time physical education teaching job and recently bought a house with her husband.
Marriages
ENID HOLLISTER ’57 to Seth Crowell
NICOLE KREJCI ’92 to Mike LeGalley
BRADLEY KIMBLE ’03 to Faith Stokes
CORY STOCKER ’10 to Malori Schillig
REBECCA “BECKY” HORVATH ’10 to Robert Potocar
KARI WETZEL ’11, ’13 (MAED) to Tristan Roberts
KATHERINE KORENZ ’11 to Tyler Immel
MIKE POGGI ’12 to BRIANNA RAZZANTE ’15
REBECCA CAWTHRA ’14 to DALTON FOOTE ’15
KRISTA WEIDNER ’17 to Ryan Nenadal
Births
KATHLEEN GONSO ’05 and husband Matt, a daughter
MATT SEITZ ’05 and wife Melissa, a daughter
SARA GOMBASH LAMPE ’07 and WILLIAM LAMPE ’06, a son
LYDIA COLE MILLER ’09 and JOEL MILLER, JR. ‘07, a daughter
ALICIA OBRIN MILLER ’07 and BRYAN MILLER ’08, a son
DANIELLE BEATTY MOON ’10, and husband Nicholas, a son
COURTNEY KULA RUSHNOK ’14, and husband Matthew, a son
KAT SLABY ELI ’10 and husband Alex, twins
DEB HARRIS ’15 (MBA) and MARK HARRIS ’07, a son
In Memoriam
1936
VALERIE EPPLEY GERSTENBERGER, Amherst, died on December 25. Majored in speech communications and English. Member of Phi Mu. Received the Alumni Merit Award in 1986.
1938
MARY OGILVY GENSLER, Rocky River, died on November 14. Majored in home economics. Member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Received the Alumni Merit Award in 2003. No obituary available at time of publication.
1940
JEAN NEWBY BARNARD, Avon, died on November 28. Majored in English. Member of Beta Sigma Omicron.
1944
VASILE “JEAN” MANOS VENETTOZZI, Morehead, Ky., died on January 13. Majored in music. Member of Mu Phi Epsilon. Received the Conservatory Achievement Award in 1993.
1945
RUTH THOMAS STROEMPLE, Portland, Ore., died on December 22. Majored in nursing. Member of Alpha Gamma Delta. Received the Alumni Merit Award in 2005.
1947
ADELEE SMITH MCMILLEN, Ashland, died on November 6. Majored in home economics. Member of Alpha Xi Delta.
1948
DOROTHY “DOTTIE” WALTER BARTTER, Dearborn, Mich., died on October 29. Majored in home economics. She and other members of her extended family were honored with BW’s Family Heritage Award in 2001.
EUGENE HUGH FELLERS, Aiken, S.C., died on October 29. Majored in Spanish. Member of Lambda Chi Alpha.
N. BRUCE HAYNES, Skowhegan, Mich., died on October 7. Majored in science education. Attended BW as part of the Navy V-12 program.
1949
JULIUS NEMETH, Brunswick, died on November 26. Majored in business administration. Member of Alpha Sigma Phi.
1950
ROBERT SCHAEFFER, Akron, died on August 13. Majored in business administration.
1951
HUBERT MEREDITH, Elyria, died on October 27. Majored in science education.
WILLIAM WEITZEL, Evans, Ga., died on December 3. Majored in business administration. Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and lettered in track.
1952
ANDREW CHESLOCK, Wadsworth, died on October 30. Majored in economics. Member of Phi Kappa Tau.
1953
ROLAND “ROLLIE” PLATZ, Medina, died on January 4. Majored in education. Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and lettered in football and baseball.
1954
JAMES ALEXAKOS, Sandusky, died on December 31. Member of Lambda Chi Alpha.
MARY BROOKS CHARLTON, St. Petersburg, Fla., died on February 12. Majored in home economics. Member of Kappa Phi.
1955
ROBERT ANDREW KNALL, Avon Lake, died on January 3. Majored in business administration.
1956
JAMES “JIM” VANCE, Ft. Mitchell, Ky., died on November 27. Majored in business administration. Member of Alpha Tau Omega.
JUNE MCCORD WHITMORE, North Olmsted, died on December 15. Majored in music.
1958
JANICE HINKLE GRAY, Dahlonega, Ga., died on October 18. Majored in music. Member of the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society.
PAUL SHOCKEY, Mountain Lake Park, Md., died on December 8. Majored in business administration. Lettered in football.
1960
RICHARD NOYER, Melbourne Beach, Fla., died January 6. Majored in humanities. Member of Alpha Tau Omega and lettered in swimming. No obituary available at time of publication.
1961
WILLIAM “BILL” DICKSON, Canton, died on January 14. Majored in geology. Member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
VICTORINE PERKINS TRAMMELL, Littleton, Co., died on June 28. Majored in biology. Member of Alpha Xi Delta.
1962
BETSY JO ZUCCARELLO FREEMAN, Raleigh, N.C., died on December 19, 2016. Majored in home economics. Member of Phi Mu.
MARY KAY GORDON MONRAD, Peoria, Ill., died on October 24. Majored in business administration. Member of Beta Sigma Omicron.
JAMES TRAMMELL, JR., Littleton, Co., died on September 9. Majored in biology. Member of Lambda Chi Alpha and lettered in wrestling.
1963
GOODLOE “WOODY” RODGERS, St. Augustine, Fla., died on December 4. Majored in health and physical education.
MILDRED PIHRT MUCHA, Anchorage, Alaska, died on December 13. Majored in health and physical education.
TERRENCE “TERRY” SCAHEL, Cleveland, died on December 17. Majored in health and physical education and lettered in baseball.
1965
BONNIE BETH BLANK DERBY, Mill Creek, Wash., died on October 19. Majored in music. Member of Mu Phi Epsilon.
1966
LINDA THOMPSON SHORT, Berea, died on January 10. Majored in English. Member of Theta Alpha Phi and Women’s Recreation Association.
1969
RICHARD CRESSEY, Andover, Mass., died on November 8. Majored in chemistry.
1970
MICHAEL SOERGEL, Denver, Colo., died on October 3. Majored in psychology. Member of Alpha Tau Omega and played football.
1975
SYLVIA HEMMINGER, Haydenville, Mass., died on March 10, 2016. Majored in music. Member of the Dayton C. Miller Honor Society.
1976
BERNARD MCKENNA (MBA ’85), North Wales, Pa., died on December 24. Majored in business and later earned an executive MBA in management.
1978
LARRY HUFFMAN, Hillsboro, died on October 23. Majored in business management.
RICHARD “RIC” ROSE, Gainesville, Fla., died on November 18. Majored in speech and communication.
1979
BRUCE GBUR, Manhattan, Kans., died on October 30. Majored in music composition.
ROBERT “BOB” KERSCHER (MBA), Hudson, died on November 23. Bob earned an executive master of business administration.
1981
ALADIN FERIAN (MBA), Berea, died on October 10. Earned an MBA in management.
1982
BARBARA HUFF BOLLON, Uhrichsville, died on October 12. Majored in elementary education. Member of Delta Zeta.
1983
LOUISE MUNROE CURL (MBA), Nampa, Idaho, died on November 21. Louise earned an executive MBA in management.
1985
BERNARD MCKENNA (MBA), North Wales, Pa., see ’76.
1986
KENNETH WILSON (MBA), Carmel, Ind., died on December 13. Kenneth earned an MBA in management.
1987
JAMES MARSH (MBA), Cranbury, N.J., died on December 23. James earned an MBA in management.
1989
NORMAN ELDER (MBA), Columbiana, died on January 3. Norman earned an executive MBA in management.
1990
MELINDA SHOWMAN PLESKOVIC (MAED ’96), died on October 23. Majored in education and lettered in soccer.
1991
RUSSELL PROKES, Avon, died on October 13. Majored in business administration.
1994
LUCINDA SHARP GATES (MBA), Parkman, died on December 14. Lucinda earned an executive MBA in management.
1996
MELINDA SHOWMAN PLESKOVIC (MAED), Strongsville, see ’90.
2008
JENNIFER CASTRO (MBA ’10), Middleburg Heights, died on December 3. Majored in business administration and earned an MBA in human resource management.
2010
JENNIFER CASTRO (MBA), Middleburg Heights, see ’08.
2016
JOHN HANEY, Johnstown, died on November 12. Majored in criminal justice and lettered in football.
HEATHER KNOTTS, Cuyahoga Falls, died on December 20. Majored in mathematics. Member of Phi Mu.
FRIENDS
CORA CHAFFEE GIGAX, Wooster, died on December 5. Cora established the Gigax Family Chair in Vocal Music. Her family also was honored with BW’s Family Heritage Award in 2005.
GARY SAUNDERS, Strongsville, died on December 15. Gary was an assistant softball coach.
MILDRED “MILLIE” GRONEK, Garfield Heights, died on December 23. Millie was a former writing instructor in the English department.