November 2018
Featuring news received between July 1 and September 30, 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, including links to complete obituaries available online at the time of publication.
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 December 31 in the February 2019 issue.
Did we miss something? Don't see a note that you remember submitting prior to September 30? 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
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
Marriages
Births
In Memoriam
1946
ALICE “AME” EVANICK STAHL, Murfreesboro, Tenn., celebrated her 95th birthday in April with many family members and friends and was honored with the Diamond Certificate by the National Council of Delta Zeta Sorority. She lives with her daughter in Tennessee.
1949
THE HONORABLE JOSEPH CIRIGLIANO, Elyria, received the Bar Medal for his excellence during his time as a judge and attorney, the highest honor bestowed by the Ohio State Bar Association.
1951
CLIFFORD CURRIER, Fort Myers, Fla., celebrated his 73rd wedding anniversary with his wife Dorothy on August 18.
1955
WILLIAM HILBRINK and PATRICIA SCHULTZ HILBRINK, Fairfax, Va., celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on August 6.
WILLIAM “BILL” SHANKLAND, Vero Beach, Fla., recognizes the valuable contributions that three BW professors of the 1950s have made to his life and achievements: Jacob O. Kamm (Economics), William MacLeod (Philosophy), and Sam Greenwood (Classics).
1958
SUSAN EDWARDS SPELLMAN, Anna, Ill., celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary with her husband, Robert Spellman ’59, in the company of four generations of family members. They were married in BW’s Lindsay-Crossman Chapel by college chaplain Rev. Wayne Underhill.
1959
PHILIP RADCLIFFE, Bridgewater, Va., is now living in Virginia with his wife Elizabeth ’60 near their daughter, Kristin Radcliffe Muncy ’86, and two high school-age grandchildren, Ryan and Ellie.
ROBERT SPELLMAN, Anna, Ill., celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife, Susan Edwards Spellman ’58, in the company of four generations of family members. They were married in BW’s Lindsay-Crossman Chapel by college chaplain Rev. Wayne Underhill.
1960
ELIZABETH WHITE RADCLIFFE, Bridgewater, Va., is now living in Virginia with her husband Philip ‘59 near their daughter, Kristin Radcliffe Muncy ’86, and two high school-age grandchildren, Ryan and Ellie.
1965
MARGARET “MEG” WEISHUHN WATSON, Fort Collins, Colo., is enjoying retirement in Colorado, where she has lived for 50 years, including time with her three grandchildren. She would love to get back in touch with any BW alumni living in or visiting Colorado.
1971
LARRY BECK, Christchurch, New Zealand, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, the world’s highest free-standing mountain, with his spouse David and six other hikers.
MARY BOND STROPE, Madison, Wis., is a vice president of customer service for the Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corporation. For 35 years she administered the Medicare program for physicians and hospital services in the Midwest and beyond.
1972
CONNIE YERKEY BECK, Biddeford Pool, Me., has moved from New York to the coast of Maine with her husband, where they are enjoying retirement.
WILLIAM “BJ” JONES, Evanston, Ill., is in his 21st season as artistic director of Northlight Theatre. He is a two-time Joseph Jefferson Award-winning actor and a three-time nominated director. His credits include productions at Steppenwolf, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Galway International Arts Festival, among others; as well as film and television.
1973
JAMES BJALONCIK, Stow, has retired alongside his wife JACQUELINE BJALONCIK ’73 from Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medical Center in 2017. They worked as a chemist and research lab manager, respectively, and are now enjoying gardening and taking care of their grandson in retirement.
1974
REV. GEORGE SISS III, Lorain, has retired from serving as an urban missioner at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Mission Center and from teaching math and social studies. He now works part-time as the senior research associate at the Lorain Carnegie Historical Center/Lorain Historical Society.
1975
JAMES “JIM” RECHNITZER, Burke, Va., has retired after 40 years as a labor economist for the U.S. Department of Labor.
BRIAN RESTID, Howard, and his wife Carla were featured in a New York Times “Wealth Matters” column, “Life Insurance Offering More Incentive to Live Longer.”
1978
LAURIE YONOVITZ STAUBER, Cleveland, received NASA’S Exceptional Achievement Medal for her contributions to the agency’s regional economic development program and for establishing the agency’s national water initiative.
1979
PAUL PETRELLA, Reynoldsburg, is celebrating his 39th year in education. He is a mathematics teacher at Bishop Watterson High School in Columbus.
1980
GEORGE GOODWIN, Port Charlotte, Fla., has re-located to Florida after retiring from a 30-year career with PPG industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh.
KEITH ZEMAN, Avon, has been the proud owner and operator of Z-Z’s Big Top Tavern for over 34 years. The tavern has been recognized as “Best Neighborhood Tavern” and for “Best Wings” in Northeast Ohio.
1981
CRAIG SEEMANN, Denver, Co., remains a huge Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Buckeye fan and enjoys time with his dogs, a German shepherd/chow and an Australian shepherd/pointer.
1982
RICHARD VANCE, Centerville, is proud that his son William is following in his footsteps at BW as a member of the Yellow Jacket football team.
1983
FRANCESCA NORSEN TATE, Brooklyn, N.Y., is religion editor and assistant to the publisher with eBrooklyn Media, where she is in charge of researching Brooklyn history. She also collaborated as an editor of the book Critical Grace: Living on God’s Life Support by Pastor Lee Andrew Wright.
1984
DEBORAH BARRETT PRICE, Worthington, received the 2018 Award for Extraordinary Service from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. She is the founder and violist of Chamber Music Connection.
JUDY HEIDELBERGER VANCE, Centerville, is a teacher at Centerville High School.
1987
LISA BARRETT MILLER, Reading, Mass., received the 2018 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence and the 2018 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Actress from the Boston Theater Critics Association for her performances in Gypsy and Souvenir at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.
1991
MARTIN HRITZ, Columbia Station, celebrated his 20th wedding anniversary with his wife DOLLY ABDALLAH HRITZ ’92.
1992
BRET BUTLER, Bradford, Pa. is the director of athletics at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He also sits on the NCAA Division III National Baseball Committee as its Mideast chair.
DOLLY ABDALLAH HRITZ, Columbia Station, celebrated her 20th wedding anniversary with her husband MARTIN HRITZ ’91.
ELAINE REOLFI (MBA), North Canton, was recognized in Crain's Cleveland Business "Notable Women in Manufacturing" Class of 2018. She is the executive vice president of TimkenSteel.
1993
JASON DICKENS, Raleigh, N.C., is leading a materials analytical development group at Biogen working on medicinal therapies to treat rare neurological diseases.
IAN FRANK, Chagrin Falls, was named to the 2019 Best Lawyers in America. He leads the construction practice group at Frantz Ward.
1994
JAMES JARRELL, Hamilton, N.J, is the new vice president of business development for Jaffe PR, a full-service marketing and business development agency. He previously worked over 20 years as an in-house marketing and business development executive.
JON NOWORYTA, Indianapolis, Ind., is director of instrumental activities and symphonic wind ensemble conductor at the University of Indianapolis.
1998
NILGIRI MOHAMED ANSARI (MBA), Chennai, India, is the managing director of Ansari Estates Private Limited, which deals in exports and imports, hotels, fisheries, textiles, and more.
JEFFREY DUNNING (EMBA ’03), Brunswick, is a senior account manager with Electric Power Systems.
JACOB PEASE, Lakewood, is a vice president at Oswald Companies, serving insurance clients that provide healthcare to the aging population.
1999
VICTOR RUIZ, Cleveland, was selected to become a member of the editorial board for Cleveland.com and the Plain Dealer. He is executive director of Esperanza, Inc. and chair of the board of trustees for Cuyahoga Community College.
MELISSA SAYERS-SMART, Berea, bought a home with her fiancée, Scott Wodtly ’00. They first met in 1994 while both student-athletes at BW.
2000
GENA SOEDER, Avon, received the 2018 Outstanding Ambassador of the Year award by the Cleveland Young Nonprofit Professionals Network for her volunteerism, including assistance with event planning and social media.
2001
JOSETTE BERAN (MBA), Avon, is now the chief strategy officer for the Cleveland Clinic.
CHRISTINE “CHRISTIE” GREEN DAVENPORT, Berea, is a corporate and foundation engagement associate in BW’s Center for Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement.
JILL ZAMBITO, Knoxville, Tenn., graduated from Northern Illinois University with a doctorate in education in 2017. She is now assistant vice chancellor for student life at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville.
2003
JEFFREY DUNNING (EMBA), Brunswick, see ’98.
2004
SEAN SMITH, Muncie, Ind., has begun doctoral studies in conducting at Ball State University.
2005
MATTHEW SEITZ, Cleveland, was recognized in Crain's Cleveland Business "People on the Move” as the director of strategic marketing at Skoda Minotti.
2007
JASON DEWALD, Annapolis, Md., is the head coach of the U.S. Naval Academy’s sprint football program.
KHRYSTALYNN SHEFTON (MBA), Bedford, was recognized in Crain's Cleveland Business “Notable Women in Real Estate” as the director of real estate and development planning at Famicos Foundation.
DANIEL TEYNOR, Marion, served as a panelist at The University of Akron’s Data 2018 Science Day and on the board of examiners for the 2018 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He is a data scientist for Mid East Ohio Regional Council (MEORC).
2008
WHITNEY ZUNIC DEICH, North Ridgeville, is a recruitment specialist at Robots & Pencils.
MELANIE KUPCZYK LUCAS (EMBA), Hinckley, received a 2018 Archer Award from Crain’s Cleveland Business for outstanding human resources and communications work as director of people services at Jonathan Rose Cos. and Rose Community Management.
MARK MALINIAK, Atlanta, Ga., was appointed fourth/utility trumpet by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
JAMES VASCONI, Sharon, Pa., was appointed music director and organist at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hermitage.
2010
AMANDA WYANT, Canton, N.Y., earned her Ph.D. in sociology from North Carolina State University and is now a visiting assistant professor of sociology at St. Lawrence University.
2011
MEGAN JONES AVELLANA, Columbus, earned her master’s in international education from New York University and worked for one year as a global program coordinator for Ohio University’s study abroad office. She is now assistant director for international and graduate affairs at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.
JAMES EBERTS (MBA ’11), South Euclid, is a global pricing analytics specialist at The Timken Company.
BRIAN FOX, Huron, was recognized as Coach of the Year for high school Division V football. He coaches at Elyria Catholic.
2012
JENNIFER RYANS MARTINEZ, Charleston, S.C., has been traveling with her husband who is on active duty in the Coast Guard. She works as a software solution consultant and enjoys volunteering and time with her rescue pup, Griffin.
2013
BRADEN PONTOLI, Canyon Country, Calif., moved to California to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in performing and composing at the California Institute of the Arts.
DANIELLE RUEGER, Cleveland, has published a children’s book, The Maskless Raccoon. She completed a book tour of the Medina City Schools, sharing the writing and illustrating process with students.
KATHRYN SCHNEIDER, Munroe Falls, is manager for Greek councils at Case Western Reserve University.
2014
CHRISTINA KAY, Berea, has returned to the Cleveland area after living in Dubai and Florida. She is now manager of customer success at BrightEdge.
ELIZABETH KELLER, Cincinnati, completed a summer Earth Expeditions global field course in Guyana with Miami University, studying ecology and conservation. She is a teacher at Cincinnati’s North College Hill Middle School.
KYRA KENNEDY, New York, N.Y., is an ensemble member and understudy for Jenna and Dawn in the Broadway musical Waitress.
HOPE SMITH MURPHY, Brunswick, purchased a home with her husband Kenneth Murphy ’14. She earned a Master of Health Science and her physician assistant license from Cleveland State University in 2016 and now works as a PA-C in the emergency department at Mercy Regional Medical Center.
KENNETH MURPHY II, Brunswick, is a fifth grade social studies teacher and ninth grade football coach in the Avon Local School District. He and his wife, Hope Smith Murphy ’14 purchased a home together.
2015
TAYLOR BARNES, Lakewood, is the associate director of fund development at YWCA Greater Cleveland, where she oversees individual giving, major fundraising, and marketing.
NICOLE PANTANI, Parma, earned a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling from John Carroll University in May 2018.
BRANDON ROMANO, Panama City, Fl., graduated from Air Force Officer Training School and earned the officer commission at rank of second lieutenant. He is stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base where he is training to become an air battle manager.
2016
ALEXANDER FUHRMANN, Rockville, Md., is a sixth grade social studies teacher at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg.
AMBER LEWIS (MBA), Shaker Heights, was recognized in Crain's Cleveland Business “Notable Women in Real Estate” for her work as president of the Cleveland Realtist Association.
ABAGAIL SNOW SZABO, Massillon, is pursuing a Master of Public Administration from Cleveland State University. She is a research coordinator at the Cleveland Clinic.
2017
JOSEPH FREEMAN, Garfield Heights, completed the Cleveland Browns insides sales program and now works in membership sales with the Charlotte Hornets.
MEDHA GUPTA, Kensington, Australia, worked for a year as a fundraising associate for United Way of Greater Cleveland before moving to Australia. She is pursuing a Master of Commerce degree in business analytics at the University of New South Wales.
ALEXANDER JONES, South Charleston, W. Va., has been named director of football operations at Fairmont State University.
KRISTA WEIDNER NENADAL, Parma, is a physical education teacher at Menlo Park Academy.
RACHEL PETRO, Clinton, Penn., worked three months for the Alaska SeaLife Center, the only marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation center in the state of Alaska. She is now a full-time marine mammal trainer/keeper with Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.
ALEX TURNER, Middletown, Pa., began a master’s program in applied clinical psychology at Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg.
2018
CARLYNN “CARLY” ARTHUR, Hiram, is assistant director of alumni relations and development at Hiram College.
AMY ENLOW FAUL (MAED), Stow, is a career services coordinator at The University of Akron.
KAYLA BRUZDZINSKI, Cleveland, is a youth treatment specialist and group facilitator in an after-school program at Applewood Centers, Inc.
HANNAH MAIER, Berea, is the marketing and development manager for Ingenuity Cleveland.
MELINDA MOMEYER, Saint Louis, Mo., is a first-year student in the doctor of physical therapy program at Washington University School of Medicine. The program has been ranked #1 by U.S. News and World Report.
ZANE RADCLIFFE, New York, N.Y., is an individual giving associate at Paul Taylor American Modern Dance.
Marriage Announcements
MICHAEL HAM ’06 to Victoria Myhal
WHITNEY ZUNIC ’08 to Adam Deich
JENNIFER MILLER ’11, ’14 to MATTHEW BROWN ‘12
JAMES FOLGER ’12 to ALEXA ANGELOFF ‘13
HOPE SMITH ’14 to KENNETH MURPHY II ’14
Birth Announcements
JAKE PEASE ’98 and wife Ashley, a daughter
PATRICK SHANNON ‘03 and wife Colby, a daughter
LISA PRZEPYSZNY TAYLOR ’04 and NATHANIEL TAYLOR ’03, a daughter
KRYSTI ADDAMS VEAL ’04 and husband, Noel, a daughter
DREW EISENBEIS ’07 and wife Tegan, a daughter
KATHERINE VOROSELO UNKLES ’07 and husband Benjamin, a daughter
KAYLA TOMKO HECKATHORN ’13 and husband DAVID HECKATHORN ’10, a daughter
MEGAN MACGREGOR CARBONE ’14 and husband Anthony, a daughter
KEVIN BRANNIGAN ’15 and wife Julie, a son
In Memoriam
1939
ETHEL LISTER KAIL, Seneca, S.C., died on September 25. Majored in home economics. No obituary available at time of publication.
1940
BESSIE E. KELLER, Brunswick, died on July 12. Majored in English.
1945
ROBERT CAMPBELL, Zionsville, Ind., died on August 16. Majored in chemistry. He attended BW as part of the Navy V-12 program.
JOANNE RICE GRIMM, Lodi, died on July 30. Majored in home economics. Member of Alpha Xi Delta.
WILLIAM TANNEHILL, North Canton, died on July 18. Earned a Bachelor of Arts.
1948
NORMA WAVRICK MAY, Dublin, died on September 30. Majored in music.
1951
DONNA EDWARDS, Delta, Penn., died on July 23. Majored in nursing.
MEL HAKOLA, Olmsted Falls, died in May. Majored in music. Member of Phi Mu Alpha. Mel served on the Conservatory faculty from 1953 to 1991 and led the voice department from 1982 to 1991. He received the Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award in 1975 and the Alumni Merit Award in 2007. No obituary available at time of publication.
1952
GEORGE ALLEN, Fleming Isle, Fla., died on June 28. Majored in education. Member of Lambda Chi Alpha and lettered in swimming and diving.
PETER MICHAELEDIS, Monroe, La., died on December 10, 2017. Majored in music composition. Member of Pi Lambda Phi and played baseball.
1953
ROBERT “BOB” BARBER, Nashua, N.H., died on January 21. Majored in philosophy.
1954
DON “PETE” REYNOLDS, Wooster, died September 28. Majored in history. Member of Alpha Sigma Phi.
1956
MARY ELLEN BROPHY KAULL, Salt Lake City, Utah, died on December 11, 2017. Majored in home economics. Member of Alpha Gamma Delta. No obituary available at time of publication.
1957
FRANCES BOYCE SOHL, North Canton, died on July 11. Majored in nursing.
1958
RAYMOND BREHM, JR., Novelty, died on July 4. Earned a Bachelor of Arts.
1962
BOYD WARNSMAN, Fairview Park, died on July 27. Majored in accounting and economics. Member of Phi Kappa Tau. Boyd also served as president of the BW Alumni Council in the 1980s.
1965
RICHARD ELDERMIRE, Berea, died on September 15. Majored in history. Member of Alpha Sigma Phi.
1966
RONALD MARKLE, Columbus, died on September 14. Majored in music education.
1967
KENNETH SMITH, West Wareham, Mass., died on July 14. Majored in business administration.
1969
JOAN BEDNAR BAILEY, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., died on December 26, 2017. Majored in education.
GEORGE MYERS, Bluffton S.C., died on March 3, 2015. Majored in mathematics. No obituary available at time of publication.
1971
KAREN HAYS, Rockford, died on September 3. Majored in mathematics.
1972
NANCY DOLEZAL MATTES, North Royalton, died on July 12. Majored in education.
1980
REX HARPER (MBA), Brecksville, died on July 19. He earned an MBA in business administration.
1984
MARK BUSSEY (MBA ’93), Canton, died on August 5. Majored in business and later earned an MBA in business administration.
1989
BRADLEY WHITE (MBA), South Bend, Ind., died on July 3. He earned an MBA in business administration.
1990
JONATHAN BUSH, Fredericksburg, Va., died on June 28. Majored in speech communication. Member of Alpha Tau Omega and Student Senate.
WILLIAM CUMMINS (EMBA), Valparaiso, Ind., died on August 12. Earned an EMBA in executive management.
THOMAS SAUER JR. (MBA), Cleveland, died on July 14. Earned an MBA in business administration.
1993
MARK BUSSEY (MBA), Canton, see ’84.
1994
JAMES SABREY, JR., Strongsville, died on April 5, 2017. Majored in criminal justice.
2011
DONALD SCHROEDER, JR., Strongsville, died on July 5. Majored in sports management and competed on both the football and track and field teams.
FRIENDS OF BW
RUTH HOBBS FERGUSON, Columbus, died on July 1. She worked as a nurse at the Health Center.
WANDA CHURCHILL RICE, Canisteo, N.Y., died on July 12. She worked as a librarian in Ritter Library.
DR. JOHN MILLER JR., Olmsted Twp., died on July 27. He was a professor of biology from 1963 to 2001. He received the Strosacker Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1976 and the Bechberger Award for Human Development in 1988.