What’s New with Fellow Bluejays
Explore the latest news …
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Submit a class note online or call us at (630) 617-3600. Better yet, stop by the Office of Alumni Relations on the first floor of Lehmann Hall.
By Class Year
Arthur Buikema ’62, Distinguished Professor of Ecology at Virginia Tech, retired recently after teaching biology for 48 years. The recipient of more than 12 local, national and international teaching awards, he was also a senior Fulbright lecturer at NUST in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and a senior scientist at the USEPA. He writes that he’s forever indebted to the education he got at Elmhurst College under the mentorship of Dr. John A. Jump. He and his wife, Alison, love to travel and sample exotic cuisines.
Phyllis (Breitenbach) Bottoms ’68 enjoys creating greeting cards. Her husband, Robert Bottoms ’68, continues as a transitional interim pastor. She writes that her four grandchildren (including 2-year-old twins) are a joy.
Craig Smith ’73 recently retired from Georgia College in Milledgeville, Georgia, after 30 years as a professor of special education and associate dean of the John H. Lounsbury College of Education. During his career, Dr. Smith also served on the Georgia State Professional Standards Commission for eight years. In retirement Dr. Smith will continue consulting with the Queensmill School in London, England, on issues related to the education of children with autism.
William S. Stob ’73 recently released his second Bible commentary, Unraveling the Mystery of the Mystery Parables: An Interpretation of the Parables of Matthew Thirteen in Light of Christ’s Message to the Seven Churches and the Evidence of Church History, on Kindle.
Celeste (Olson) Branding ’74 and Jack Branding ’74 celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in August. Celeste has retired from Aurora University, where she served as associate vice president, chief information and chief technology officer.
Kay (Connolly) Davis Diblik ’81 displayed her artwork in the College’s 10th Annual Alumni Art Exhibition. She hopes to initiate meetings of art alumni to foster a sense of community and to encourage graduates to continue pursuing their interest in art.
Barry Richert ’81 is the author of two radio dramas that were showcased recently on WGN Radio Theater. The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas: There Goes the Neighborhood was narrated by Stacy Keach, and Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories: The Dark Enforcer was narrated by Malcolm McDowell. Barry was interviewed during the November 15 broadcast, which is available for streaming on WGN’s website or as a podcast.
Joe Herrera ’83 and his son, Nick Herrera ’12, were both nominated to the Geneva High School Athletic Hall of Fame for 2015.
James Magrini ’83, adjunct professor of Western philosophy and ethics/senior academic advisor at College of DuPage, published his second philosophical monograph: New Directions in Curriculum as Phenomenological Text: Continental Philosophy and Ontological Inquiry (2015).
Gary Hayden ’87 is vice president of human resources for Fenix Parts, Inc., a Westchester based recycler and reseller of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) automotive products.
Karin Fox ’88 earned certificates in web design, graphics and C+ programming in May of 2014. She’s currently doing website design and support.
Carole Rider ’91 recently completed her Ph.D. in educational leadership at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her dissertation, Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Abilities to Respond to an Active Shooter Incident, received the College of Education’s Outstanding Dissertation Award.
Paula (Akouris) Burzawa ’92 released her second novel, Tasso’s Journey, on February 17, 2015.
Christina Collins ’92 was recognized by Northwestern Mutual with membership in its 2015 Forum Group, which recognizes individuals for outstanding work in helping clients plan for and achieve financial security. Approximately 5 percent of Northwestern Mutual’s 6,000 reps are invited to join the exclusive Forum. Christina, a wealth management advisor, is associated with the McTigue Financial Group in Chicago, and this is the first time she ha s received this honor.
Lisa (McAuley) Mrahi ’93 was recently promoted to the role of administrative specialist in Career Services at the University of West Florida (UWF). After almost two years on staff at UWF, Lisa was also selected to participate in the 2015–16 LEAD Program, a year-long leadership development program sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. Participants will develop strategies to help them flourish as leaders and team players across campus.
Lisa Oddo ’93, ’09 is the author of a chapter for a book called Strong Women Overcoming Mediocritythat is scheduled to be released in spring of 2016.
Wendy (Lindeen) Zielke ’99 is a neurosurgery/spine surgery team leader at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. She is also the subject matter expert for the hospital’s Cerner computerized charting, which she designed and implemented with another nurse. Wendy has been married to Rich Zielke for 13 years, and they reside in New Lenox.
Jason Churchill ’03 has accepted a one-year appointment as vicar at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chicago’s Albany Park neighborhood.
Jessica Loustaunau ’03 was named director of special education and student services for Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake in July 2015.
William (Bill) H. Smith ’04 returned to his alma mater in October of 2013 as a student services representative in the School for Professional Studies. In that role, he works closely with nontraditional undergraduate students, counseling them in financial aid and academic advising. He enjoys helping students realize the dream of a college degree, just as he did.
Andy Thompson ’04 was named Illinois High School Lacrosse Association Person of the Year. A coach with the St. Charles Lacrosse Club for the past 12 years, Andy is also one of the founders of New Wave Lacrosse.
Bethany Moslener ’05 graduated from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in July 2015 with an M.A. in psychology and a concentration in applied behavior analysis. She has accepted a job as a lead care team member at Autism Home Support Services.
Erin (Bufton) Fecske ’07 was recently honored by the American Academy of Neuroscience Nurses with the 2016 Excellence in Patient Care Award. The award recognizes excellence in clinical practice for a nurse caring for neuroscience patients in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. An active member of the Academy’s Kansas City chapter, Erin serves the pediatric epilepsy population as a nurse practitioner at Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics.
Jessica Vaillancourt ’07 was named Illinois Outstanding Young Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Communication and Theatre Association, the state’s largest professional affiliation for theatre, speech, debate and communication teachers.
Andrew Behling ’09 is starring as Lucas in Neil Simon’s hit comedy, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook. Andrew also starred in Cymbeline and Richard III at First Folio Theatre and in the National Tour of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with the Classical Theatre Project of Toronto.
Aimee Dujua ’09, ’14, works as director of admissions for American InterContinental University.
Marissa Parker ’09 is working in communications and marketing at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Michele Fournier ’10, a marketing and communications specialist with Assurance Agency, was recognized by her employer as Employee of the Year.
Jessica Sullivan ’10 earned a master’s degree in liberal studies–English with highest distinction in December 2014 from Valparaiso University. In May 2015 she received her JD from Valparaiso University Law School.
D. Josiah Montgomery ’12 was admitted to the M. Div. program at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He previously served as associate college organist at Elmhurst College and as organist at First United Methodist Church of LaGrange.
Mary Sedlack ’12 graduated from Elmhurst with a degree in nursing. After working in CCU at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital for two years, she spent last year as a traveling nurse, experiencing patient care in other states and getting an opportunity to travel.
Liliana Gomez ’13 graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago Jane Addams College of Social Work program on May 8, 2015. Her studies focused on mental health.
Brian Reher ’14 was recently promoted to power systems product support sales representative at Patten Industries in Elmhurst.
Melissa Sedlack ’14, who majored in education and Spanish at Elmhurst, is now teaching Spanish and French at a junior high in Wheaton. She had a challenging first year creating curricula for two languages, but she loved the junior high environment and has been hired on permanently.
Births, Marriages and Anniversaries, and Deaths
Susan (Salatino) Changnon ’96 and Gene Changnon welcomed their daughter, Juliana Michaela Changnon, on October 24, 2015.
Laurie Rich Salerno ’00 and her husband, Anthony J. Salerno Jr., welcomed their second child, June Bonnet Salerno, in March. June and her 2-year-old brother, Anthony, are making their mother wish she’d taken a child psychology class or two at Elmhurst.
Derek Frer ’02 and Jasmine Seng ’02, ’06 welcomed their daughter, Effie Eleanora Frer, into the world—their first and only Bluejay! She was born in London, England, where Derek and Jasmine have lived for five years.
Jeffrey Logan ’04 and his wife, Cathi, welcomed a daughter, Rebecca Lynn Logan, on February 3, 2015.
Brandi (Blume) Warnock ’04, ’06 and her husband, Matthew, welcomed their daughter, Aubrey Grace Warnock on June 21. She joins her brother, Logan (8), and sister, Ava (5).
Haley (Riley) Martin ’05 and Chris Martin ’06 welcomed their son, Camden Andrew, brother of Riley, on February 6, 2015.
Kristy Langstraat-Bolte ’05 and Darrell Bolte welcomed their first child, Kathryn Rose Bolte, on March 29, 2015. She is named after her grandma, former Elmhurst College employee Kathryn J. Langstraat.
Annie (Matich) Horn ’07 and Dave Horn ’07 welcomed their daughter, Elliana Joy Horn, sister of Hope, on October 27, 2015.
James Ludvik ’07 and Katie (Godbey) Ludvik ’09 welcomed their son, James Henry Ludvik, on November 24, 2014.
Susan Martin ’08 and her partner, Wendy Montgomery, welcomed their first child, Raegan Marie Martin Montgomery, on May 4, 2015.
Brian Ranger ’08 and Sarah (Williams) Ranger ’09 welcomed their daughter, Madison Rebecca Ranger, on December 12, 2015.
Allie (Baumbach) Bickel ’09 and Zach Bickel welcomed their daughter, Elizabeth Lee Bickel, on April 12, 2014.
Kevin Davey ’09 and Mary Kate (Rand) Davey ’09 welcomed their first child, Hutson Paul Davey, on November 27, 2014.
Matt McKinnis ’09 and his wife, Dana, welcomed their daughter, Elise Elizabeth McKinnis, on February 18, 2015.
Samantha (Rivera) Miller ’09 and her husband, Craig, welcomed their son, Asher Robert Miller, on February 18, 2015.
Jennifer (Paul) Cramer ’10 and her husband, Bill, welcomed their son, Noah William Cramer, on January 24, 2015.
Matt Bacaling ’11 and his wife, Dana, welcomed their daughter, Hazel Juliette Bacaling, on December 12, 2015.
Michelle DeFranco ’07 married Paul DeLuca on October 3, 2015.
Linas Saulys ’08 married Kimberly Smith ’08 on June 7, 2015.
Stephanie Ferrini ’10 married Evan Michel ’10 on September 6, 2015.
Dan Hamilton ’10 married Kiley Ancona ’11 on July 18, 2014.
Michele Matthews ’10 married Luke Firsching in May 2015. Laura Matthews ’11 and Katie Matthews ’15 were in the bridal party.
Brittany Meding ’10 married Phil Dorjath on May 30, 2015. Elmhurst College alumni in attendance included Danielle Haehn ’11, Annice Coughlan ’12, Matt Rohde ’13, Bruce Hill ’76, Brittany Socha ’14, Mark Weeden ’13, Amy Hatfield ’96, Marge Bartels ’05, Jean Hill ’91, Jake Meding ’12, Joanne McKlusky ’11, Whitney (Roth) McHugh ’13, Matt McHugh ’12, Charlie Van Slyke ’66, Meera Advani ’10 and Brianne Harris ’12.
Seth Bullington ’12 married Katie Hayslette ’12 on February 14, 2015.
Matthew Erickson ’12 married Alana Lewandowski ’12 on June 20, 2015.
Jessica Herff ’12 married Zach Samson on January 10, 2015.
Jared Kafader ’12 married Amberly Ward ’12 on June 27, 2015.
David C. Prescott ’39, of Stevensville, Michigan, on September 6, 2014
Dr. Frank G. Uhrig ’39, of Chillicothe, Ohio, on February 28, 2015
The Hon. Paul W. Schnake ’40, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on November 12, 2014
Jeanette (Mueller) Eils ’41, of Elmhurst, on May 11, 2015
Samuel E. Pobanz ’41, of Eugene, Oregon, on April 28, 2015
Claire G. (Gatti) Guistolise ’42, of Lombard, on July 3, 2014
Vincent DeRose ’43, of Melrose Park, on February 13, 2015
Paul Haefner ’43, of McLean, Virginia, on September 7, 2015
Walter E. Tiefenthal ’42, of Green Valley, Arizona, on November 30, 2013
Spencer Duckworth ’44, of Sacramento, California, on June 2, 2015
Dr. Ralph T. Jans ’44, of Machias, Maine, on May 5, 2014
Gudrun (Andres) Avale ’45, of Marion, North Carolina, on September 23, 2014
Fern (Cluever) Graham ’45, of Big Bear Lake, California, on May 28, 2015
Meredith M. (Michael) Simmons ’45, of Colorado Springs, on January 26, 2015
Rev. George Sonneborn ’45, of St. Louis, on July 10, 2015
Edith “Darline” (Howell) Velarde ’45, of Kelseyville, California, on January 8, 2015
Jane A. (Hein) Feierabend ’46, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 16, 2015
George W. Timmer ’46, of Sun City, Arizona, on August 24, 2014
Rev. Theodore A. “Ted” Brown ’47, of Pleasant Hill, Tennessee, on February 23, 2015
Bernadine C. (Pearce) Kluge ’47, of East Peoria, on March 23, 2015
Keene Randall Lebold ’47, of Columbus, Ohio, on October 3, 2015
James Postula ’47, of Elmhurst, on September 25, 2015
Rudolph Raber ’47, of Saint Louis, on September 24, 2015
Katel (Hedin) Rigmore ’47, of Freeport, on May 18, 2015
Lester H. Brune ’48, of Peoria, on June 12, 2015
Evelyn (Dammerman) Kolze ’48, of Lindenhurst, on October 19, 2015
Dr. James E. Fisher ’49, of Fort Myers, Florida, on January 9, 2014
Harold H. Kiehne ’49, of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, on July 28, 2015
Carol L. (Weigand) Williams ’49, of Saint Ansgar, Iowa, on February 1, 2015
Calvin Fischer ’50, of Tucson, Arizona, on June 27, 2015
Dorothy A. (Cluever) Nemec ’50, of Monticello, Minnesota, on June 17, 2014
Richard T. Newman ’50, of Sun City West, Arizona, on June 16, 2015
Carolyn M. (Maisch) Tator ’50, of Highland, on May 17, 2015
Mary (Domermuth) Brooke ’51, of Bradenton, Florida, on September 2015
Joan L. (Herzfeld ) Brune ’51, of Peoria, on September 3, 2015
Dr. Richard J. Davies ’51, of Peotone, on May 27, 2015
Doris A. “D.A.” (DeBruine) Volle ’51, of Portland, Oregon, on April 16, 2015
Marily J. (Holst) Wells ’51, of Anderson, Indiana, on April 2, 2015
Robert Faganel ’52, of Bonita Springs, Florida, on August 22, 2015
Ruth M. (Hachmeister) Hanck ’53, of Elmhurst, on January 6, 2015
Henry J. “Hank” Kindl ’53, of Villa Park, on January 20, 2015
Duane “Dewey” Meyer ’53, of Grinnell, Iowa, on October 19, 2015
Robert R. Williams ’53, of Glenview, on May 31, 2014
Fred W. Creedle Jr. ’54, of Republic, Missouri, on February 16, 2015
Frances J. (Hahn) Francis ’55, of Franklin, Indiana, on February 21, 2015
Vance Kincaid ’55, of Gobles, Michigan, on October 14, 2015
Joyce C. (West) Torpe ’55, of Winfield, on July 18, 2015
Caroline L. (Sturm) Wirkus ’55, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on April 5, 2015
Robert E. Burckle ’57, of Tucson, Arizona, on January 27, 2015
Phebe A. (Ernst) Husek ’57, of Pittstown, New Jersey, on January 30, 2015
Devic R. “Vic” LeHuray ’57, of Geneva, on March 9, 2015
Wallace Reifsteck ’57, of Lincoln, on September 9, 2015
Nancy A. (Schlink) Walker ’57, of Wilson, Oklahoma, on November 18, 2014
Walfred Berg ’58, of Clinton, Iowa, on November 5, 2013
Judith J. (Groves) Kuehl ’58, of Grinnell, Iowa, on March 20, 2015
Anita (Puknaitis) Pukelis ’58, of Oak Park, on August 19, 2015
Frances (Hamach) Schneider ’58, of Flossmoor, on August 26, 2014
Joan (Panos) Stanger ’58, of Greenwood, Indiana, on April 5, 2015
Lila M. (Schyberg) Burton ’59, of Schaumburg, on March 30, 2015
William Meyer Lee ’59, of Marshall, Michigan, on September 15, 2015
Wayne P. Lindquist ’59, of Naples, Florida, on July 31, 2015
Rudolph Schoppe ’59, of DeKalb, on August 2, 2015
Rev. John A. Schulthise ’59, of Owensboro, Kentucky, on May 11, 2015
Marjorie (Klassy) Schnierer ’60, of Chicago, on August 16, 2015
Rev. Richard E. Halvorsen ’61, of Fresno, California, on February 19, 2015
Jeanne (Nichols) Dvorak ’62, of Plainfield, on October 28, 2015
George E. Warner ’63, of River Forest, on October 8, 2015
Ellen Schmidt (Groeneveld) ’64, of Birmingham, Alabama, in August 2015
Rev. Jerry W. Suhrheinrich ’65, of Winter Park, Florida, on October 31, 2014
Gerald Lavengood ’66, of Villa Park, on September 17, 2015
Nicholas J. Posegay ’66, of Glen Ellyn, on April 15, 2015
Norma (Allison) Kohlmann Seaman ’66, of Fort Myers, Florida, on August 14, 2014
Ellen (Kolman) Bentz ’67, of New Orleans, Louisiana, on December 22, 2014
Dennis M. Dee ’68, of Elgin, on March 1, 2015
Mary (Hohl) Steinmaus ’68, of New Straitsville, Ohio, on August 23, 2015
William Fraccaro ’70, of Bolingbrook, on June 16, 2015
Frank W. Frodyma ’70, of Downers Grove, on October 21, 2015
Joel R. Grollmus ’70, American Canyon, California, on April 17, 2015
John Mindrum ’70, of Louisville, Kentucky, on May 16, 2015
Margaret L. Novosad ’70, of Elmhurst, on March 26, 2015
John H. Teschner ’70, of New York City, on February 14, 2015
Timothy J. Billings ’71, of South Amboy, New Jersey, on August 31, 2014
Daniel Parat ’71, of Little Rock, Arkansas, on September 30, 2015
Rev. Jerry W. Paul ’71, of O’Fallon, on May 20, 2015
David Chancey ’72, of Ventura, California, on June 29, 2015
Judith A. “Judy” (Meyers) Franciosi ’72, of Normal, on February 20, 2015
Robert T. Horder ’73 of Arlington Heights
Eleanor J. (Greenholt) Horder ’74, of Arlington Heights, on December 1, 2014
Cheryl (Samek) Robish ’74, of Lombard, on February 12, 2014
Lezah Barnett-Collins ’75, of Chicago, in April 2015
Sylvester Smith Jr. ’75, of Decatur, on November 12, 2013
Lora S. Van Zyl ’75, of Villa Park, on March 1, 2014
John R. Newton ’76, of Newport Beach, California, on June 20, 2015
Mary V. Frohne ’78, of South Bend, Indiana, on April 25, 2015
Joseph Hribik ’79, of Lombard, on October 3, 2015
Carl J. Bulter ’83, of Crystal Lake, on April 20, 2015
David Lange ’83, of Marengo, on September 30, 2013
Nancy (Nelson) Martin ’83, of Stapleton, Alabama, on September 3, 2015
Jeannine (Fournier) Orphan ’83, of Oak Park, on August 12, 2015
Kevin Gallagher ’85, of Lake Zurich, on December 1, 2014
Sally A. Lufkin ’85, of Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 22, 2014
Joseph F. “Jody” Mathews ’87, of Glen Ellyn, on February 2, 2015
Marcella Reck ’87, of Mount Prospect, on November 28, 2013
John R. Riccio ’87, of Coloma, Michigan, on August 1, 2015
Thad Puig ’93, of Darien, on July 2, 2013
Joanne Finzel (Cermak) ’98, of Glen Ellyn, on September 7, 2015