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Class News 1940s 1960s Diane Skirka Kleeger ’69 and her husband, Andrew, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Nov. 13, 2007. Paul R. Robinson ’69 has moved from Chandler, Ariz., to Phoenix. His new address is 10026 S. Pewaukee St., Phoenix, AZ 85044. 1970s Denny Cobb ’75 wrote in December: “I recently spent a week in Churchill, Manitoba, the Polar Bear Capital of the World. I pulled my daughter out of school for the week in the hopes that we could photograph these magnificent creatures. Fortunately our timing was good: There were plenty of bears hanging around Churchill waiting for Hudson Bay to freeze. We toured the area in ‘tundra buggies’ and photographed seven bears. It was a wonderful experience! I hope to visit Isle Royale National Park in August. Isle Royale is a 10-mile x 45-mile island located in Lake Superior and is the home to a stabilized wolf and moose population.” Charlie Gillean ’75, supplier diversity program senior manager for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, has been named chair of the board of directors of the Institute of Supply Management’s Supplier Diversity Pharmaceutical Forum. The forum is a collaborative group of supplier diversity professionals from 12 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. The group openly shares diverse supplier information, benchmarks best practices and works on joint events to benefit the diverse vendors serving the industry. Patsy Joyner ’77 (M.S.Ed. ’80, M.A. ’93), vice president for institutional advancement at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Va., received an annual award honoring the late Lucy Overton of Portsmouth at the fifth annual luncheon of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation in November. She was cited for her public awareness work in Franklin. Like Overton, Patsy is a breast cancer survivor. Sherman Goodrich ’78, vice president and wholesaler in Franklin Templeton Investments’ New York Stock Exchange Division, has been awarded the Investment Management Consultants Association’s Certified Investment Management Analyst designation. He joined Franklin Templeton in 1991 and is based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where he is responsible for promoting investment solutions to financial advisers in southern Florida. John Holladay ’78 of Montague, N.J., was appointed by Selective Insurance Co. of America to assistant vice president and regional claims manager for Selective’s northeast region. He joined Selective in May 2007 and previously worked for CNA as a claim service center director. Jane Spinney Phillips ’78 has been promoted to vice president at BB&T Wealth Management. She joined the bank in 2001 and has worked as a personal trust specialist at the 500 E. Main St., Norfolk, division. Ed Baines ’79 of Newport News reports that his daughter, Sherry M. Baines, attends Old Dominion. Jean Dove (M.S.Ed. ’79) recently retired from a rewarding career in education. For the past 15 years she was an elementary school principal in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to that, she was an elementary schoolteacher in Virginia, in Germany with the DoDDS system, in Georgia and in Texas, as well as an elementary vice principal in San Antonio. She is enjoying this new chapter in her life. Candy Honeycutt ’79 and Al Zuhars were married June 22, 2007, in Virginia Beach. Blade Jaxen ’79 is included in the honor section of Cambridge Who’s Who, 2007-08 edition. He is the owner and CEO of Defense Gear Designed Concepts Inc., where he develops specialty designs for which he holds patents. Mark Ingram ’79 retired as a geological adviser from Exxon Mobil Corp. in September 2007 after more than 26 years. He lives at 17906 Stoney Glade Court, Houston, TX 77095. 281-855-9740; tigerwine@comcast.net 1980s Gordon McDougall ’80 became assistant vice president for university alumni relations at Virginia Commonwealth University on Jan. 7. His new home address is 1633 W. Grace St., Richmond, VA 23220. Edward S. Wright ’80 (M.S. ’82) of Galloway, Ohio, reports that he has taken early retirement from Nationwide Insurance. He has seven grandchildren and a stepson in college. “Life is good.” Warren D. Harris (M.P.A. ’81) has joined the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development as director. He is involved in all aspects of business recruitment and retention and expansion of industry for the city. He will also oversee management of the Virginia Beach Development Authority’s corporate parks and its public/private projects, such as Town Center and the Virginia Beach Amphitheater. Previously, he was director of economic development for the city of Chesapeake for six years, and he served as assistant director there for 10 years. He serves on a number of boards and community service organizations, including the ODU Center for Real Estate and Economic Development and the ODU Executive Advisory Council. Annette Gray ’82 (M.S.Ed. ’97) is in her first year as both principal and director of secondary programs at North-ampton High School in Eastville, Va. Richard A. Singletary (M.F.A. ’82) has a new job as adjunct professor of art history at Norfolk State University. He previously taught ESL for Portsmouth City Schools. Frank B. Tavenner ’82 of Bellevue, Wash., is self-employed in real estate. His son David attends the Air Force Academy; his daughter, Kelly, recently finished a year of volunteer work with UVC in Harlem; and his oldest, Brennan, is finishing up at Washington State University. Rhonda M. Glover ’83 received the FBI Director’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity. This award recognizes the most significant contributions to the EEO program in the areas of leadership, training, recruitment, or other activities that enhance employment opportunities for women and minorities within the FBI. It was presented at the FBI Director’s Annual Awards for Excellence program on Sept. 25, 2007, at FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C. Rhonda is a Supervisory Special Agent assigned to the Newark Division of the FBI in New Jersey. James D. Jacques ’83 and his wife, Madolyn, of Virginia Beach, celebrated their 50th anniversary on Oct. 12, 2007. Dr. Timothy J. Sorensen ’83 works as a podiatrist in Cape May Court House, N.J. He has five children: Eric, Lauren, Julia, Ava and Christian. Paula Alston ’84, who last summer completed her first year as director of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library system, based in Christiansburg, Va., was featured in an Aug. 29, 2007, Roanoke Times story. Lt. Col. Frank March ’88 was recently assigned by the U.S. Army to Heidelberg, Germany. 1990s Elizabeth “Liz” Luerssen ’90 and her family moved from New Jersey to the Burbage Grant area of Suffolk in March 2007. “We are all enjoying the larger house, the lower taxes and being closer to our family and friends that live in the Tidewater area.” John B. Schamel III ’90 retired from the Marine Corps in 2002 as a major. He now works as a defense contractor for Eagan, McAllister and Associates Inc. in Stafford, Va. His wife, Robynn (from Virginia Beach), gave birth to their eighth child, Marian Ireland, on Oct. 6, 2007. majordadto7@verizon.net or john_schamel@emainc.com Kenneth Falkenstein ’91 and his wife, Kim, announce the birth of a son, Adam Joseph, on July 6, 2007. Ken is a business litigation attorney with the Newport News law firm of David, Kamp & Frank, LLC. Eileen McIntire-Bianchi ’91 moved to England in August 2007 with her husband, David, and sons, Everett, 5, and David Jr., 1. Her new address is: The Linden House, 81 South St., Oundle, England PE84BQ UK. Eileen.Bianchi@gmail.com Liz von Muggenthaler ’91 writes that she appeared on a History Channel show, called “Monster Quest,” in November. She is the president of Fauna Communications Research Institute. Founded in 1992, it is a non-profit institute dedicated to the study of animal communication, especially those animals that are endangered in the wild. http://www.animalvoice.com/lakechamplain.htm Daniel Cote ’92 lists his new address as 8 Castlewell Place, Durham, NC 27703. Stephanie Gilmore ’92 (M.S.Ed. ’94) returned to ODU in January 2007 and is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in the occupational and technical studies department, where she also teaches computer literacy classes to undergraduates. She is a former Lady Monarch basketball player. Richard “Barry” Nichols Jr. ’92 and Michele Napolitano Nichols ’92 announce the birth of their second child, Carissa Ann, on Oct. 25, 2007. She joins a brother, Jeremy Richard. Barry and Michele write that they can’t wait for ODU football in 2009. barry_nichols@comcast.net Xiang Dong ’93 was the subject of a front-page story in the Nov. 15 Wall Street Journal, “Different wavelength: Chinese dissidents take on Beijing via media empire.” Xiang, a database manager, is the host of two weekly talk shows for New Tang Dynasty Television, a U.S.-based satellite-TV broadcaster out of Washington, D.C. As reported in the story: “Making do is the modus operandi for the largely volunteer staff of New Tang Dynasty TV. Yet they are helping build one of the most significant overseas dissident movements to challenge China in decades. Most staffers belong to Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual-and-meditation movement banned by Beijing as an ‘evil cult.’” Christopher W. Tabor ’93, formerly of Stantec, joined the firm CDM in July 2007 as a client service manager. He will provide project support to clients in central and southeast Virginia. CDM is a full-service consulting, engineering, construction and operations firm serving public and private clients worldwide. Michael E. Barriskill ’95 is now the artistic director and co-founder of the Barriskill Dance Theatre School in Durham, N.C. The school is devoted to professional dance education for children and adults in Durham and the Research Triangle. Michael is also the director of the newly formed Carolina Children’s Dance Theatre, a nonprofit performing company for children from 8 to 16 years. Heather M. Beck ’95 (M.S.Ed. ’95) and Christopher Charles Kunkel were married May 5, 2007, in Virginia Beach. Brian Cross ’96 and Diane Hammerstein were married July 27, 2007, in Virginia Beach. Tiffany Graves Lippy ’96 is currently looking for all “lost” ODU Delta Zetas as part of the Delta Zeta Theta Phi Chapter Association. “This is a fantastic way to reconnect with your sisters from years past and be informed on the current activities of the chapter.” dz_theta_phi@comcast.net Christian McNierney ’96 and his wife, Poppie, announce the birth of a son, Liam Orion, on Aug. 24, 2007. James L. Pearson ’96 was named an associate of the Casualty Actuarial Society, located in Arlington, Va., after successfully completing the CAS exams. James is an actuarial associate at FBL Financial Group. Capt. Maggie L. Richard (M.S.N. ’96) was chosen to speak on behalf of some 20,000 nurses in the Navy Nurse Corps Nov. 3 at the 10-year anniversary ceremony of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, which is located at the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery. She is a 22-year veteran of the corps. Kevin “Whis” Whisman ’96 recently retired from the U.S. Navy with over 21 years of active service. He currently is a logistic program manager and business development team member with The Sigmon Group of Chesapeake. “My duties include program management of TSG’s role in the NAVSEA Program Executive Officer for Aircraft Carriers Life Cycle Logistics Management (PEO/PMS 312L) at the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.” Kevin lives with his, wife, Bobbi, and daughters Celia, 9, and Cori, 8, in Beverly Beach, Md. Justin ’97 and Dana Gustilo Baden ’96 announce the birth of their third child, Sophia Noelle, on Sept. 2, 2007. She joins brothers Nicholas Indiana, 10, and Griffin Daniel, 4. The family lives in Charleston, S.C., where Justin is a technical writer for a major software company and Dana is staying home after a 10-year career in nursing. They would love to hear from their old college buddies. danabaden@gmail.com Regina Brayboy (M.P.A. ’97) has joined Virginia International Terminals as its chief financial officer. Previously, she was chief operating officer at WHRO. Shane ’97 and Liza Fe Yambing Hartman ’00 announce the birth of twins, Mia Grace and Hayden Zachary, on Sept. 11, 2007. The family lives in Virginia Beach. Ryan Wood ’97 was promoted by AMC Entertainment Inc. to vice president of film programming. A 10-year AMC veteran, he is now responsible for programming movies on 700 screens across AMC theaters. Previously, Ryan was the director of film programming operations, where he worked with the operations and film departments to maximize profitability for theaters. Amy Katherine Kern ’98 and Michael Thomas Palmer were married June 23, 2007, in Virginia Beach. Brandi Rhiannon Vance ’98 and David Marshall Todd ’03 were married Sept. 15, 2007, in Chesapeake. Anita Ashby ’99 was named the 2007 Outstanding EMS Administrator by the Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Council. She is the chief flight nurse for the Med-Flight II program, based at Virginia Highlands Airport near Abingdon. Med-Flight II is operated jointly by the Virginia State Police and Wellmont Health System. Elizabeth Forrest Franklin ’99 graduated last August from the Virginia Bankers School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia. The school is sponsored by the Virginia Bankers Association in cooperation with the McIntire School of Commerce at UVa. Jennifer “Jenn Saint” Hearon ’99 and her husband, Justin, announce the birth of a daughter, Molly Alexis, on Aug. 17, 2007. Bobby Holland ’99 was recently promoted to senior vice president of the Potomac Nationals baseball team. He joined the team prior to the 2006 season and served as its vice president and general manager the past two seasons. The P-Nats, based in Woodbridge, Va., open the 2008 regular season April 4. Jennifer Holmes-Avis ’99 (M.S.Ed. ’01) helped start The Elijah Foundation, which became an official 501c-3 in December 2006. The foundation is part of The Proud Children Corp., which creates books for children with disease, disorder and disability, and then raises funds to distribute these educational resources to individual children at doctors’ offices, emergency rooms, children’s hospitals, public libraries and family service organizations. “We work very hard at educating little people about their unique situations on their level and then show support for their positive attitudes towards well-being and life in general,” Jennifer writes. “All our stories are fully reviewed by a professional board and then endorsed by medical doctors that work in the field of topic for each book.” The foundation held its first benefit gala in November at the Children’s Museum of Virginia. It raised funds to distribute its first two titles: “Eli, The Bipolar Bear” and “Wheezy, The Asthmatic Zebra.” The foundation phone number is 757-549-8971. avisjenny@hotmail.com Melissa Thomas ’99 and her husband, Nickolaus, announce the birth of their fourth child, Maisie Callegan, on Aug. 30, 2007. She joins her siblings Marshall, Hutton and Adeline. 2000s Marye Cherry ’00 has returned to the New York office of Clifford Chance US LLP as an associate in the litigation department. She recently completed a 17-month assignment in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where she further developed her practice in international employment litigation and cross-border internal investigations. Clifford Chance is one of the world’s largest law firms with 27 offices in 20 countries and 3,800 legal advisers. Bronwyn Lance Chester (M.P.A. ’01) became communications director for Sen. John W. Warner, R-Va., on Nov. 5, 2007. She wrote editorials and op-ed columns for The Virginian-Pilot from November 2001 to August 2006 and more recently has written for McClatchy-Tribune News Service. She has an undergraduate degree from Wellesley College, and has worked as an aide in the House of Representatives. John Fallon ’01 currently serves as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy. He earned his commission in 2003 after attending Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla. John and his wife, Jenny, celebrated their eighth anniversary in December. They have three children: Crista (1995) and twins Riley and Madison (2004). John will be transferring to California this year to attend Naval Postgraduate School. Krista Harrell ’01 (M.S.Ed. ’03) and Gordon Blair ’02 were engaged on July 4, 2007, in St. Thomas. The wedding is planned for June 28, 2008, in Norfolk. Krista and Gordon live in Wilmington, N.C. Mark Lee Hill ’01 and Katie Elizabeth Mani were married Aug. 11, 2007, in Norfolk. Deborah Hutchinson (M.S. ’01, Ph.D. ’06) of Carnation, Wash., was awarded a 2007 Love of Learning Award by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was among the first 50 recipients nationwide of the $500 award. Deborah is a postdoctoral research associate at ODU. Andrea Smolin (M.S.Ed. ’01) and her husband, Bryan, announce the birth of a son, Alexander Bryson, on Sept. 16, 2007. Roselyn ’02 and Mike Phillips ’01 announce the birth of their first child, Noah Michael, on Nov. 5, 2005. They moved in March 2007 to northwest Florida, due to Mike’s job with the U.S. Navy. Jenn Bennett ’03 (M.S.Ed. ’06) and Matt Settar ’03 were married Oct. 6, 2007, in Portsmouth, where they currently reside. Crystal Leigh Matejcek ’03 and Daniel Alan Maxwell were married Oct. 14, 2006, in Virginia Beach. Jason “Twinkie” Bryant ’04 won another national writing honor in October, the Bob Dellinger Award for Wrestling Writer of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News, the nation’s oldest wrestling publication. He was scheduled to receive the award in January at the NWCA/Cliff Keen National Duals in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Ashley Gilbert ’04 and Nick Miller were married Oct. 6, 2007. Dinchen A. Jardine (M.E.M. ’04), an ensign in the U.S. Navy, was recently accepted into the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine on the campus of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. Upon graduation, students will be promoted to 0-3 and are expected to serve a minimum of seven years active duty and six years on inactive ready reserve. Dawn McDonald-Alerassool ’04 returned to work at Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital in 2006 after working as a travel nurse. Lindsay Rachelle Runyon ’04 and Edward Francis Bennett were married July 20, 2007, in Aruba. Olivia Scalf ’04 graduated Dec. 15, 2007, from Texas Christian University with an M.Ed. in counseling. She is employed with All Church Home, a counseling agency in Fort Worth, Texas. “I have a permanent address in Virginia at 22354 Brumley Gap Road but live in Texas at 120 Corral Drive, Keller, TX 76248. 2008 will find me working on licensure requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor.” Justin Lee Bowman ’05 and Ashley Megan Danley were married Oct. 7, 2006, in Virginia Beach. Shannon ’05 and Nicole Butler ’03 announce the birth of their first child, Madison Nicole, on Aug. 16, 2007. Charles Payne ’05 wrote in late August 2007 that he and Geoff Howard ’03, both veterans of the military, were selected to become U.S. Department of State diplomatic security special agents. “Diplomatic Security (DS) is not very well known despite having the second-largest budget within the State Department,” Charles wrote. “The application process lasts only a week per year, in which over 4,200 applications were received, yet 100 individuals will be selected from this applicant pool to become agents after the application, interview, investigation, and medical clearances are passed. Needless to say, it’s a very selective process and we are glad to have made it. As of today, there are about 1,300 agents serving in every country and stateside around the world.” Jamie Stump ’05 has joined The Curtis Group as development coordinator, as announced by Curtis Group founder and president Keith Curtis ’83. In her previous role as community services coordinator with Lincoln Military Housing, Jamie planned and organized events, managed a sizable event budget, and served as writer and editor of the company’s newsletter. Founded in 1989, The Curtis Group offers personalized fundraising consulting for nonprofit organizations. It is located in Virginia Beach. Pamela Majumdar ’06 of Virginia Beach was awarded a 2007 Love of Learning Award by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was among the first 50 recipients nationwide of the $500 award. Pamela is an engineer at Gannett Fleming Affiliates. Jessie Peralta ’06 has deployed with Expeditionary Medical Force Djibouti in Horn of Africa as a Navy Nurse Corps officer. Alicia Taylor Bosch ’07 and Matthew Thomas Kruciak ’07 were married May 12, 2007, in Virginia Beach. Jonathan Emory Brown ’07 was accepted into the Peace Corps and departed for Fiji last May to become an environmental conservation management promoter. His work as a volunteer will include developing conservation concepts that pertain to environmental impact studies, monitoring, assessment and evaluation. During the first three months of his service, he lived with a host family in Fiji to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. He will serve for two years. Ross Christoffer Morland ’07 and Valerie Jean Hoes were married Sept. 22, 2007, in Harrisonburg, Va. They live in Staunton, Va. |