A mother and child reunion?
I was so touched by the story of William Mayom in the last issue (“Lost Boy of Sudan hopes to return home with ODU degree”). It broke my heart to think of a 6-year-old torn from his home and family and experiencing such violence and loss. That he would respond by learning how to heal others is a testament to his character.

It was particularly shocking to read that he and his brother have been unable to see their mother since 1987. I would like to suggest that ODU alumni, students, faculty and staff unite to bring William’s mother and brother to Virginia for a reunion. Among us, we certainly have the financial resources to assist them, and with so many ODU alumni in military and intelligence service, surely there is someone who could offer the guidance necessary to overcome any homeland security hurdles that might stand in the way.

If the alumni community or other members of the university are drawing together to help William’s family, I hope you will let me know how I might direct my contribution.
– Kate Northcott (M.S.Ed. ’91)
St. Louis, Mo.

Memories, pictures of D.K. Marchand sought
My father was D.K. Marchand, who from 1962 until 1991 taught chemistry, geophysical sciences and even an English course. He was also dean of men and associate dean of student affairs.

He passed away on Jan. 27, 2005, and I’m putting together a Web site. If anyone has any stories, memories or pictures they wouldn’t mind me posting, I’d really appreciate it.
– Donald “Kirk” Marchand ’80
College Park, Md.
kirkmarchand@msn.com

Congratulations on 75th anniversary
Please let me be the first alumnus to offer congratulations to Old Dominion University on reaching its 75th anniversary in September. It’s a wonderful milestone for our region as well as the entire state.

I’m so proud to have graduated in the first four-year class (1956) and also have my two sons receive degrees from ODU, a premier institution.
– Ed Tyree ’56
Virginia Beach, Va.

A common birthday: Larchmont and ODU
I am the new principal of Larchmont Elementary School. Aside from being proud of this accomplishment, I am delighted with our proximity to Old Dominion. I am looking forward to a long and mutually fulfilling partnership. Incidentally, Larchmont was also established in 1930.
– Patricia Gluchowski Melise ’89 (M.S.Ed. ’95)
Norfolk, Va.

Taking a hike for education
I read with interest your article on Alex Loughton and Between the Lines column in the summer issue (“Prairie Home and Perth companions”). Perhaps had you challenged Garrison Keillor to a one-on-one basketball game, you would have had more than a moral victory.

Jim Raper’s article on Jason Waicunas and Matt Lee (“Take a hike”) was wonderful. Bravo to these two young ODU alums for hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. I completed a similar quest this summer, although mine was not as long. In an effort to bring positive attention to education, I decided to walk from my home in Ventura to Sacramento, a distance (using the coastal route) of 493 miles. I began on July 2 and concluded on July 26, meeting the governor and touching off a domino effect with the superintendent of public education, secretary of education, unions, teachers, the 53 cities I passed through and the press.

Let me refer you to Google (pull up “Chip Fraser”) and www.walkforpacific.com.
– Chip Fraser ’69
Ventura, Calif.
Editor’s note: Fraser, a resource teacher at Pacific High School, said he made the walk to raise money for Pacific, Ventura’s continuation school, in response to the state of California’s inability to adequately fund its educational programs.

Hiking – and shooting – the national parks
Having fulfilled my goal to drive Route 66 in a convertible, I have continued to visit and hike America’s national parks. A photo I took last year in Glacier National Park (Montana) recently won Honorable Mention in the National Parks Pass Photo Contest sponsored by Kodak (www.nationalparks.org/kodak).

P.S. The story of mine that you featured in the fall 2001 issue, “Getting his kicks on Route 66,” produced a lot of wonderful e-mail from classmates and strangers alike.
– Denny Cobb ’75
Virginia Beach, Va.
denny.cobb@suntrust.com

Recreational sports deserves top facility
I was extremely pleased to see the article on the new ODU recreation center. I worked with the recreational sports department from the day I stepped on campus as a freshman until I completed my graduate degree, and it is great to see the students and staff getting a top-flight facility. It will [also] be another major recruiting tool for the university.

The many great people I met and worked with in the department – and the influence they had on students – is a statement about all the hard work that was accomplished. Dr. Claudette Dubilewski, Brad Buchanan, Tom Roberts, Sheri (Hensley) Crosson and Roger Slingerman, along with all staff up to today, deserve to be recognized for their work with this top-rated program.

I cannot adequately state what a difference recreational sports at ODU made in my life. I hope the school continues to recognize how it helps prepare students for life after graduation.
– Jim Walczyk ’89 (M.S.Ed. ’91)
Assistant Director, Recreational Sports
University of Tennessee


To send a letter to the editor, an update for the Class News section or a change-of-address notice, you may contact us via e-mail, sdaniel@odu.edu; fax, 757-683-5501; or by regular mail, Editor, Old Dominion University magazine, 100 Koch Hall, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529.

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