Alumni
CLASS NOTES
Edited by Emily Holmes Nordstrom '99
Changes to Our Class Notes Policy
1951
"My wife Rosalie and I are very active," writes Herbert Haraburd of Tampa, Fla. They have traveled to several countries, and he still plays golf five days a week but, "I rarely break 100!"
1952
Sydney J. Johnson was appointed chairman of the combined Charles Allis and Villa Terrace Art Museums Bi-Board, two museums that provide cultural enrichment to the Milwaukee area to honor those who served the country, after retiring as chief of anesthesiology at Lakeview Hospital. His wife, Grace McBain Johnson '54 continues to be active with the Women's Club of Wisconsin.
1953
Rona Katz Fields of Washington, D.C., completed her term as president of the District of Columbia Psychological Association. In May, her chapter, "The Neurobiological Consequences of Psychological Torture" was published in Psychological Torture and, it is being cited in legal proceedings in Cuba and Chile. She also contributed a chapter to Trauma Psychology.
1955
Since 1983, the Rev. James G. Macdonell has served as board president of the Equal Rights Center, a Washington, D.C. civil rights organization. He recently directed a seminar with religious leaders to learn more about sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. These two roles have provided him with "some of the most fulfilling moments of my long, exhilarating ministerial career," he writes.
1967
Michelle Scott announces that her stallion, Harwich Tyrant, was Champion Sport Horse Suitability Stallions & Geldings, Champion First Level Dressage Test 3, High Point Sport Horse, and winner of the Justin Morgan Standard at the Old Dominion Morgan Horse Association Fall Show.
1968
Last spring, Margaret McKissockDavies Dibbs of Edmonton, Alberta, retired from her job as a program consultant with the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission. Marcy's next step: Loading her road bike into her van, heading off for seven months of "gypsying" around North America, and visiting friends and family along the way.
1969
On August 15, after 31 years with the company, James Micali retired as chairman and president of Michelin North America. In an article in the Greenville News, former colleagues described Jim as a global leader with world-class interpersonal skills. Jim plans to stay busy as a consultant and a part-time advisor to a local law firm and to finish his term as chairman of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
1970
"Foresters go everywhere!" writes Irene Vartanoff of Hedgesville, W.Va., who met up with Sheree West '70 in the Denver area last August. The mini-reunion included a car trek up Pikes Peak, where this photograph was taken. Irene reports that Sheree then headed to Africa on a safari with Diane Jayson '69.
Nancy Hurd Wolters loves her new job as executive assistant to the president and CEO of Snap-on Incorporated, in Kenosha, Wis. "Since I live in Barrington, Ill., it is quite a drive every day, but with my hybrid, satellite radio, and the breathtaking Wisconsin countryside, I rather enjoy the long daily commute...at least until the snow returns!" she writes.
1974
"Well, partly due to Franz Schulze's great support and teachings, I have a new show up in California," writes Chris Gerlach of Pagosa Springs, Colo. The show, "La Jolla & San Diego Paintings 2008," was presented at the Alcala Gallery. For more information, visit
www.christophergerlach.com.
After 18 years as Vermont's early education director, James Squires decided "the time was ripe to try something new" and moved with his wife to Saint Simons Island, Ga. Jim is now an educational consultant and an underwater photographer. He intends to spend several months each year back in Vermont, but only when he doesn't have to shovel the driveway. Jim can be reached at SquiresJames@aol.com.
1976
David Close and Gail Chapman Close '76 of Sudbury, Mass., celebrated their 25th anniversary in June. David is an executive vice president at a PR agency in Boston and an avid cyclist. He recently rode in the Greylock Challenge, which he described as "a long ride with a mountain in the middle," for the MS Society. Gail, a nurse, works as an ombudsman for several nursing homes and is a hospice volunteer. She is an active photographer and has taken up genealogy as a hobby. They have two children: David, 21, and Laura, 17.
"I have been with Linde Material Handling North America Corp. for almost 31 years now," writes Mark Roessler of Summerville, S.C. "My work has taken me all over the world ... and I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience." Mark credits his Lake Forest education and the guidance of George and Ingrid Speros as instrumental to his success.
1978
On August 18, Joseph McCarthy of Princeton, N.J., became the chief executive of Publicis New York. Joseph came to Publicis with 25 years of marketing communications experience. Most recently, he was vice president of worldwide advertising and marketing communications at Johnson & Johnson.
During a visit to Lake Forest this summer, Howard Fredric Molen of Mamaroneck, N.Y., enjoyed a dinner with his former advisor George Speros. He writes, "Gracious and wonderful times had by all ... Thank you Dr. Speros for everything."
1980
On June 18, 2007, James Moeller married Pascale Montagnier at a ceremony in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Nativity in Vence, France. After honeymooning in Spain, Greece, Turkey, and Italy, the couple returned home to Washington, D.C., where Jim is an attorney at Stuntz, Davis & Staffier.
In July, Tamara A. Smith of Silver Spring, Md., became chief executive officer of the YWCA of the National Capital Area. The position will help Tamara "share her talents, skills, and passion, while pursuing a personal mission to improve the lives of women and children." She remains a member of the board of directors of her former employer, DC Chartered Health Plan.
1981
Robert Dvorak of Barrington, Ill., was recently appointed to the National Advisory Board for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Robert is a senior vice president and board member of the Chicago-based Forsythe Technology, Inc., a global IT infrastructure firm.
1982
In July, Allison C. Perkins became the executive director of Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, N.C. After working as a museum educator for nearly 22 years, Allison describes the position as an "ideal appointment" and reports that her husband, Cliff Dossel, and children, Colin, 10, and Kate, 6, are thriving in their new home.
1984
Pam Danekas married Michael Lee on August 8, 2008. They reside in Roscoe, Ill. "We are both retired and thoroughly enjoying life!" she writes.
In July, the public relations firm Edelman announced the appointment of Mark Shadle as co-president of its Central Region, which includes its Chicago co-headquarters office and operations in Dallas and Austin, Texas.
1987
Michael Minerva, who was named vice president of corporate real estate for US Airways in August, has returned to Washington, D.C., with his wife, Esperanza, and their son, Michael Manuel, 3. Prior to the move, Mike taught a class in aviation law and delivered the commencement address at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's campus in Prescott, Ariz.
1989
Maria Chiotis-Miehe is a bilingual secretary/assistant to three lawyers in the Paris office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. She and her husband recently moved to Paris to enroll their son, George Marino, in a bilingual school. George spent the summer in Greece with Maria's family. She writes, "He adores his aunt and godmother, Litsa Chiotis-Agglias '79, who is spoiling him I might add."
1990
After a year in Atlanta, Peter Hill and his family have returned to Connecticut. Peter works as an interactive creative director at Colangelo in Darien, Conn. He, Holly, Lucy, 4, and Jay, 3, look forward to gardening and school. Peter also re-connected with Luc Garneau '89 and Ralph Segreti '90.
1991
Janet and Frank Salvoni of Ketchum, Idaho, welcomed a second son, Cooper Jeffrey, on August 14. He joins big brother, Tyler, 3.
1992
Robert Blair-Smith and Jill Grippando Blair-Smith '90 live in Downers Grove, Ill., with their children, Amelia, 9, and Adam, 6. Bob is a technical marketing senior sales engineer at Cbeyond. Jill is a writer at Midwestern University.
Hanelle Culpepper and Jeff Meier of Los Angeles, Calif., announce the birth of their son, Maceo Christopher Meier, on May 17. At birth, Maceo weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 20 inches. Hanelle writes, "Clearly, he will be tall, like Jeff."
"My family and I just returned from a fun-filled week at the beach with Monique Macartney Dunlap '92 and her family," writes Tricia Ptomey Patterson. "Monique, Mark, and Noah still reside in Nashville, Tenn., and my family moved to the Atlanta area in late December." Pictured from left: Noah Dunlap, 5, and Milner, 6, Chloe, 4, and Gabe Patterson, 9.
1993
Every summer, Beth Willson Dunn and Allegra Costa Herman '93 vacation with their families in Kennebunkport, Maine. Beth, who lives in Mays Landing, N.J., writes, "We would like to say hello to everyone." She also announces that her novel, Social Climbers, will come out in January 2009, and the main character attends Lake Forest College!
In July, Todd Herwig was promoted to chief of the Defense Policy and Analysis Office's Research & Analysis Division, which conducts tailored research in support of senior Department of Defense policymakers, intelligence officials, and planners.
Heather Rufus married Emmanuel Hacque in a civil ceremony at the Hotel de Ville in Boulogne-Billancourt, France, where they now live. The couple then held a religious ceremony and reception at Le Pavillon Dauphine in Paris on April 19. Heather writes, "Emmanuel and I were both in college when we met in 1992. I was studying in the Paris International Internship Program, and he was a student at French University." Heather is a senior contract specialist for McKesson Provider Technologies.
Timothy State writes that his short story, "Weenie Scallopini", was published in Nine Hundred & Sixty-Nine: West Hollywood Stories.
1994
Todd and Jenifer Severson of Carlsbad, Calif., welcomed their first child, Lucy Johnson, on August 26. They love their work, the weather, and this amazing new little girl in their life, writes Jenny.
1996
On July 8, Lauren and Hirotsugu Asari of Fitchburg, Wis., welcomed their son, Aiden Yamato, who weighed 6 pounds, 6 ounces and measured 19.7 inches. Hiro reports that Aiden is "healthy
and strong."
Emma and Zac Hansel are now living on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. Zac is getting a master's in education at Chaminade University and has begun substitute teaching. He invites, "Come out and visit any time."
In April 2007, Torri Solomon married Ed Dobson in southern New Jersey. Torri is a high school English teacher. The couple recently purchased a house in Pennsville, N.J.
1997
Tobi Limke and Lance Edwards of Lowell, Mass., announce the arrival of their son, Mason James, on June 26. Tobi writes, "After arriving at 8 pounds, 3 ounces of pure muscle and a lanky 23 inches long, Mason has already set off the family debate of whether he will be an Olympic swimmer or play for the Orioles."
In June, Christina Iaquinta Ridolfi of Shorewood, Wis., made her solo debut as an interior designer in the 11th annual Wisconsin Breast Cancer Showhouse, which benefits cancer research at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
1998
On July 28, 2007, Alison Hall married Evan Wright in her hometown of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Her bridesmaids included Emily Rendon Emiley '98 and Melissa Latshaw Nally '98. Alison is the curator of the Montgomery County Historical Society. She and Evan live outside Indianapolis.
From 1998 to 2002, Tracy Benes Ruvoli taught biology, anatomy, and physiology at Geneva High School. She writes, "In 2001, I married Ron Ruvoli. Since 2002, I have been at home with our daughters. Emily is 5 1/2 and Robyn is 3." The family lives in Brookfield, Ill.
Kimberley Fraser Williams and husband Dave of Aurora, Colo., welcomed their son, Gavin Allen Williams, on September 13.
1999
Amanda Mertens Campbell of Washington, D.C., is staff counsel for the Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee of the House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce. She writes, "I am responsible for Clean Air Act/air quality issues as well as pipeline safety. I work on energy efficiency and climate change issues as well."
2000
In September, Art Calendar magazine featured an article about Josh Moulton of Chicago. For more information about Josh's work, visit www.joshmoulton.com.
Melissa Suzik of Addison, Ill., completed her master's degree in social work at Loyola University in August.
2001
A year ago, Kobena-Marcus J. Collins became the head diving coach at his high school in Milwaukee, and this spring, three of his athletes made it to state, a first in the school's history. In a video interview with Fox News Sports, Kobena said, "My passion is to give back to the community, to work with youth, to help them like people helped me." The interview is available at www.myfoxmilwaukee.com.
On March 10, 2007, Ai Hyodo married Masayoshi Tsuneoka at Azabu St. Mary's Church in Tokyo. Ai reports that she wore two dresses: a wedding dress at the church and a pink dress at the reception. Naomi Ise '00, Yuko Matsuyama '99, and Kayoko Sato '01 attended the celebration. Ai and Masayoshi live in Kanagawa, Japan.
"I just had a really great article written about my life and work. I am so excited about it," writes Yana Payusova of Jamaica Plain, Mass. Published in the Boston Globe on July 6, the article said of Yana: "She has developed a striking style that's earned attention, praise, and a spot in the DeCordova Museum's annual exhibition of noteworthy New England artists." A link to the article is available at www.payusova.com.
2002
On June 6, Konrad Bienia graduated with a doctor of medicine degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Konrad began his residency for diagnostic radiology at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill.
Heather Lewis of Wadsworth, Ill., graduated from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University on June 22. She received her MBA with a concentration in health services and is pictured at the ceremony with her sister, Christina.
2004
Last year, Jen Hoyer Minarik was promoted to event marketing coordinator at the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and this fall, she began classes in the school's MBA program. Jen and her husband, Alan, live in Mundelein, Ill., and recently celebrated their fifth anniversary.
2005
Melanie Shrader of Arlington Heights, Ill., reports that Kate Redden '05 married Chris East in Little Rock, Ark., on May 31. The ceremony took place at the Old State House with a reception following at the Clinton Library. To help Kate celebrate, Melanie and fellow Lake Forest Alpha Pi Delta alumnae Melissa Pugh '05, Tammy Hibler Kemp '05, Susan Spickard '05, and Lucy Seagraves '05 danced all night.
Amy Edwards Sparks of Foxboro, Mass., graduated with honors from Curry College with a bachelor's of science in nursing. She works in the Emergency Department at Newton Wellesley Hospital.
2006
Jerome Pellack of Frankfort, Ill., was accepted to Valparaiso University School of Law.
2007
The new play-by-play voice of the Idaho Steelheads hockey team is Doug Plagens, who earned a master's in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University.
2008
"Now that we don't have the station [the College's WMXM] to rely on, we've branched off and started
the podcast Indie Street," writes Nick Rennis of his work with Eric Murphy '08. Check it out at www.indiestreetradio.com or on iTunes. Nick lives in Lake Forest, Ill.
Maulik Vaishnav wrote an article for The Nature Conservancy's Web site about his week-long field experience during the summer working on GPS data collection at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.
ALUMNI PROFILES
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Political Pursuits
When Philip A. Klinkner '85 returned to campus on September 24 to deliver a lecture, his talk reflected several research interests that he has pursued as a political science professor at Hamilton College, including American politics, political parties, elections, the presidency, and race relations. His speech, "Obama and McCain: Campaigns as Previews of Presidential Leadership," offered a non-partisan take on the leadership styles of the two candidates.
He spent the last two decades analyzing elections through published works, media appearances, and the blog Polysigh — from the success of the Republican Party in 1994 to miscounted votes in Florida in 2000 to the role of patriotism in 2004. But Klinkner studied international politics as a Lake Forest student.
His senior thesis focused on defense policy under President Ronald Reagan, but he switched to American politics while earning a PhD from Yale University. While teaching at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 1991, race riots broke out after police officers were acquitted following video that showed them beating motorist Rodney King. For Klinkner, this raised many questions about the state of racial progress in this country.
"It was revealing to me that there were stark divisions in American society," he says. "I wanted to know more about how we had gotten to this point." He co-wrote an award-winning book, The Unsteady March: The Rise and Decline of America's Commitment to Racial Equality (University of Chicago Press, 1999), which argued that gains in civil rights were often followed by a period of stagnation or retrenchment.
While Klinkner says Barack Obama's candidacy shows that America has made immense progress in race relations, his research indicates that five percent of the electorate won't vote for Obama based on his race. "When I was in college, it was inconceivable that a black man would become president," he says in an interview that took place before the presidential election. "At the same time I think his campaign shows some of the barriers that he has faced. Large numbers of white voters have had reservations voting for him."
Meanwhile Klinkner has turned to history for his latest project. This year, he is on sabbatical to complete a book about the 1936 election between Franklin D. Roosevelt and Alfred M. Landon, an endeavor that illustrates why he became an academic. "I wanted to read and write about topics of interest to me and help young people develop their intellectual skills in the way that my professors helped me," he says.
— Lindsay Beller
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| (Courtesy of Lauren McHugh '05) |
Kicking Stereotypes
Lauren McHugh '05 spent her college years breaking down opposing defenses for the women's soccer team. Now, she's coaching girls in Macedonia and helping them break stereotypes in a town where they had never played organized soccer.
While working on a two-year Peace Corps post, McHugh noticed that many girls often sat outside after school with nothing to do. She received a Small Project Assistance grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development and Peace Corps, which she used to start a 16-player team of teenage girls who play five days a week between practices and games.
"The girls love every minute of it," she says. "Girls here don't really have the chance to play soccer, and now they have that outlet."
McHugh knew that she wanted to coach soccer wherever she ended up with the Peace Corps, as women around the world don't typically have the same opportunity to play, she says. For example, while the United States has had a women's national soccer team since 1985, Macedonia's first team was not established until 2005.
"I was initially turned down by many Macedonians when I explained to them my idea for a girls' soccer team,"McHugh says. "No one thought that girls would be interested."
At first, there wasn't much interest at her school in Gevgelija, a southeastern town of 16,000 residents near the border with Greece. So she formed a co-ed team.
It took McHugh months to find someone else willing to help, but one connection led her to another coach who had wanted to start a girls' team but didn't have the time to do it on his own. Their team now competes against others from across the country.
She also works with a non-profit organization in the Balkans called Open Fun Football Schools, a humanitarian project that uses soccer to teach democracy, peace, stability, and social cohesion by reestablishing friendships between multi-ethnic populations.
McHugh explains that she feels like the girls have developed more self-confidence, higher self-esteem, and have improved their leadership skills, responsibility, teamwork, discipline, and dedication.
"This has been my favorite part of my Peace Corps service," McHugh says. "Seeing these girls get out and play and break the stereotypes of girls not being able to play sports has been wonderful." l
— Will Pittinos '06