Wait until you see What`s next

Transcription

Wait until you
see what’s next
WINTER2013
from the desk of
Chatham Recorder
The country’s oldest
alumnae magazine
continuously published
since 1883
Editor-in-Chief
Bill Campbell
Design
Landesberg Design
Krista A. Terpack, MBA ’09
Contributors
Robert Dvorchak
What's Next?
Photography
John Altdorfer
Annie O'Neill
Larry Rupple
Bill C a mpbell | VP o f M a r k e ti n g & commu n i c at i o n s
As we begin a new year at Chatham, “what’s next?” is a question we have been
asking ourselves for 144 years about the new ideas, initiatives and inspiration
that will guide our students, faculty, and the University ever forward.
From our earliest days of providing high-quality education to women when
few options existed, to evolving into a leader in professional graduate programs,
to launching the world’s first campus in the world built from the ground up
for the study of sustainability, “what’s next” has always been where Chatham
is going.
In this spirit, I'm thrilled that this Recorder launches to you —our alumni
community — Chatham’s new fundraising campaign, NEXT: The Campaign
for Chatham. A $100 million capital campaign focused on the people, place,
and purpose that power the University. This special NEXT-themed issue of the
Recorder provides you more information on the campaign and takes a cue in
its design from the fresh, new look of NEXT that
you will see more of this year.
Corrections to the
SPRING 2013 issue:
In the advertorial about
scholarships in action,
Anne Putnam Mallinson’s
name was misspelled.
In the story about Chatham
Eastside, the photo of the East
Liberty Freight Yards should
have been credited to the
Pittsburgh City Photographer
Collection, 1901-2002,
AIS.1971.06, Archives Service
Center, University of Pittsburgh.
In addition, this issue contains a special feature
article on the largest gift Chatham has ever
received — a $15 million gift from the Falk
Foundation. With this gift, the Falk Foundation has
completed more than 50 years of transformational support to Chatham, and
has brought our NEXT fundraising efforts to-date to $75 million of our $100
million goal. It’s an incredible story about the power of philanthropy to create
the future you want to see possible, and we know it is just the beginning.
There may be no greater representation of what’s next more than Chatham’s
new Eden Hall Campus. Nearing the completion of the first stage of phase one
construction, the new Eden Hall campus will be “open for business” in early
2014. In honor of this momentous occasion, Chatham hosted a very special
behind-the-scenes preview unveiling of the campus for Chatham’s Board
of Trustees, the media, and members of the Chatham community, including
students, faculty, alumni, neighbors, and partners. It was an amazing event
and incredible to see this splendid vision quickly becoming a reality.
As always, this issue of the Recorder contains everything you’ve told us you
love about your magazine, including alumni news, events, and Class Notes.
We hope you enjoy reading this special issue of the Recorder, and we look
forward to continuing to provide a modern and engaging alumni magazine
that, like Chatham, honors the past, yet always embraces what’s next.
The Chatham Recorder is
published biannually by
the Office of Marketing
and Communications,
Dilworth Hall, Woodland Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
Letters or inquiries may
be directed to the managing
editor by mail at this
address, by e-mail at
communications@chatham.edu,
or by phone at 412-365-1125.
FSC Logo
in this issue
2
Falk
Foundation
Gift
4
Eden Hall
Campus Preview
Event
8
NEXT: The
Campaign for
Chatham
14
Alumni Events
18
Class Notes
1
The Falk Foundation
A testament to imagination
Earlier this year, Sigo Falk, chairman of the Falk Foundation,
handed an envelope to President Esther Barazzone with
instructions to keep the contents sealed until she was well
on her way aboard a flight to China.
The Chatham University president thought it was a way
of being let down gently by Sigo Falk, one of the University’s
trustees, that his family foundation was closing and would
no longer be giving money to the school.
Somewhere over Inner Manchuria, she opened the
packet and read nearly 50 pages of documents detailing the
foundation’s plan to close. Then the realization sunk in that
Falk’s closing gift was a donation of $15 million to Chatham,
the largest gift in the school’s 144-year history.
“Sigo Falk is a remarkable visionary. His family’s foundation
always had in mind the biggest issue of the day, from
early childhood education to funding the best hospitals.
Sustainability is the most important issue of our day.”
PRESIDENT ESTHER BARAZZONE
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chatham University • RECorder • WInter 2013
President Esther
Barazzone and
Sigo Falk on
October 10,
the sneak peak
into Chatham’s
new Eden Hall
Campus.
M
“
y seatmates must have thought that
someone on the airplane had lost her mind, or that I was reading
one heck of a romance novel, because the tears were flowing,”
Dr. Barazzone recalled.
She shared the story from the stage of a refurbished barn
preceding a “sneak peak” tour of Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus on
October 10, 2013, held for members of the media, Chatham’s board
and project partners.
The grant will help attract new faculty, develop internship programs
and enable the expansion of the Rachel Carson Institute. Part of the
gift will also fund the endowed Sigo Falk Faculty Chair in Social Justice
and Sustainability. Chatham’s pioneering School of Sustainability &
the Environment will be renamed the Falk School of Sustainability in
recognition of the gift and the Falk Foundation’s legacy of giving to
causes directly impacted by the work of the school.
“This gift means everything in pushing forward,” Dr. Barazzone
said. “It creates more momentum for Chatham by giving us the means
to meet the challenge of transforming a vision into reality. It gives us
the means to create a critical mass in recruiting and enrollment. To us
as an institution, it’s a vote of confidence. But it goes well beyond that.
This gift stands as a testament to imagination. I cannot say enough
about the inspiration it provides.”
One of the most significant aspects of the gift is that it will essentially
terminate the entity that is bestowing it. The Falk Foundation, created
in 1929, has an 85-year history of philanthropy – a half-century more
than its expected life span. The foundation ultimately came to the
decision that it could serve no better purpose than to make its final
donation to an institution that mirrored its own goals.
“I’ve always loved the outdoors,” said Sigo Falk, strolling about the
campus that is emerging in Pittsburgh’s North Hills. “Three things I’ve
always believed in are caring for our natural resources, making the
world work in an economical way and social justice.”
“The people at Chatham embody those ideals. When I started on
the board of trustees, Chatham was a struggling, 500-student women’s
college. Now it has 2,200 students and it’s growing,” added Falk. “I
think of Eden Hall as a start-up venture. Our tradition has always been
to try risky grant-making, to do breakthrough grant-making. Now we
have to make it work.”
When Maurice Falk established the foundation during the Great
Depression, he believed each generation should devote resources
to new problems and fresh needs. His philosophy was to attack core
problems, conduct research to discover root causes and develop the
means to prevent problems from reoccurring.
The foundation’s support of Chatham, which dates to 1952, has
included the establishment of the Laura Falk Hall of Social Studies, the
Maurice Falk Endowment of Undergraduate Teaching and the Sigo Falk
Chair in Social Justice and Sustainability.
“Philanthropy is a very American thing. It represents the best of
democracy in creating the future you want to see possible. This gift in
so many ways is the very best of philanthropy. The foundation board
thought beyond extending its own life. It is perpetuating its own
mission by giving us the opportunity to carry on its goals. This kind of
philanthropy is unheard of. They’ve given of themselves to make other
things work,” she added.
While Chatham has been given the big responsibility of making
the Falk Foundation’s goals happen, the gift is seen as confirmation
the university is headed in the right direction.
“Do you see why I cried on the airplane?” Dr. Barazzone said.
3
EDEN HALL
“
T
he future of sustainability
is right here,” Bill Peduto tweeted to his
followers near the end of a day set aside
for a behind-the-scenes impact tour
of a construction project dedicated to
strengthening the region’s standing as
an academic hub and a world leader in
healthier living.
It was four weeks before he was elected
mayor of Pittsburgh when Peduto shared
his impressions of Chatham University’s
emerging Eden Hall Campus from his
vantage point at the rain garden adjoining
the new amphitheater.
Busloads of Chatham faculty, staff,
alumni, and invited guests got their first
peek at the initial stage of construction at
the October 10, 2013 preview event of Eden
Hall, being built in North Hills of Allegheny
County as the first community in the world
built from “below the ground up” for the
study and practice of sustainable living,
learning and development.
4
Trans
Eden Hall
Campus and
Falk School of
Sustainability
Preview Event
October 10, 2013
The vision becomes
a reality at Chatham’s
Eden Hall Campus
sformation
55
EDEN HALL
Attendees
mingle and enjoy
the festivities
With the energy and water infrastructure,
field labs, café, Hilda M. Willis amphitheater
and landscape architecture nearing com
pletion (and the groundwork laid for future
construction of the dining and residence
halls), the initial first phase of the new Eden
Hall Campus officially “opens for business”
at the beginning of 2014.
“It’s a joy and a thrill to see an idea
becoming a reality, to see it all coming to life,”
said Dr. David Hassenzahl, dean of the Eden
Hall-based Falk School of Sustainability.
“As just one example, this is a place where
people can come to see how to deal with storm
water. Like most major cities, Pittsburgh has a
run-off problem. But a place in China, a place
in Africa can also visit us,” he added. “All of
our rainwater will be collected for non-potable
uses. All wastewater on site will be treated
through a system of constructed wetlands.
We don’t want sustainability to be what our
students study, but what they live. Far from
being isolated, we want the world to know
how it works. We can’t wait to get to the
next phase.”
The land itself is an example of giving
a new mission to an old purpose, which is
the soul of sustainability. Originally, the
property was a farm owned by Sebastian
Mueller, a German immigrant who came to
Pittsburgh to work for his cousin, Henry J.
Heinz (see sidebar).
“[Eden Hall’s] greatest legacy will be its impact in other
places that will produce food, clean energy, clean water,
and healthy air. The best thing it will grow is the next
generation of environmental stewards and leaders.”
David Goldberg, president and architect, Mithun
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Eden Hall is designed to secure
a sustainable future through
the following:
• Improving air quality and reducing a
community’s carbon footprint while itself
having zero carbon emissions.
• Incorporating comprehensive methods to
manage storm and wastewater on-site
and thereby offering solutions to cities and
towns with aging, over-taxed water lines.
• Employing a diverse mix of energy
generation such as solar, geothermal, and
natural gas fuel cells to produce more
energy than it consumes.
• Constructing new, green buildings while also
preserving and updating existing structures.
• Pursuing sustainable agriculture methods to
produce food for itself and for the region.
History of Eden Hall
Sebastian Mueller (1860–1938) was a German
immigrant who came to Pittsburgh in 1884
to work for his cousin, Henry J. Heinz. Mueller
became Heinz’s second-in-command,
managing manufacturing operations for what
is now the H.J. Heinz Company, and later
married Elizabeth Heinz. A tireless advocate
for and supporter of working women, Mueller
willed his entire estate, including Eden Hall
Farm in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, to
benefit women. The farm served as a resort
and retreat destination for the women of
Heinz until 2008, when Eden Hall Foundation
gifted the land to Chatham; the University has
long shared Mr. Mueller’s vision and devotion
to enhance the lives of women through
higher education.
T
he architects converting
Eden Hall into a state-ofthe-art campus are guided
by the word “palimpsest,”
which applies to the ancient
practice of recycling an old
parchment for the writing
of a new manuscript. Chatham is preserving
as much as it can of the old while etching the
blueprint for the future in the bold language of
practicing what it teaches.
What was once a large barn is being
transformed into a meeting place and lecture
hall. Another barn, after being lifted up and
moved five feet, will serve as the Dairy Barn
Café. Its exterior is enveloped like a thermos
made of sustainable insulation. Inside,
bovine shadows will be etched into the
floor to remind students of its farming past
as they sip coffee. The original farm had a
root cellar that preserved food by using the
natural cooling powers of the earth; a new
root cellar is also being built that will dwarf
the size of the original.
“It may sound odd for an architect to say
this, but great campuses aren’t about buildings. Great campuses are about spaces, and
buildings help make those spaces,” said David
Goldberg, president of the Seattle-based
architectural firm Mithun, a national leader in
sustainable design since 1949.
“The old barn, for example, has a soul to
it. We didn’t want to replace the essence of
this place,” Goldberg added. “Eden Hall is a
visionary place. It’s a new model for higher
education that has never been done before.
It’s not only unique, but timely. Its greatest
legacy will be its impact in other places that
will produce food, clean energy, clean water
and healthy air. The best thing it will grow is
the next generation of environmental stewards
and leaders.”
Students at Eden Hall will study more than
sustainability, but the essence of the new campus is to educate future generations who will
integrate sustainable living techniques into
all aspects of life. The mission is to address
problems that defy simple solutions – global
climate change, an environment in crisis and
dwindling natural resources. Its graduates will
be ready to compete for jobs and leadership
positions in the growing field of sustainability.
“Colleges and universities are in the vanguard in taking climate change seriously, but
few have the opportunity that we have,” said
Dr. Esther Barazzone, president of Chatham.
“When I talk to people, they are stunned at the
scope of this challenge and our willingness to
take it on. Pursuing the goals of sustainability is
not only the right thing for Chatham to do; it’s
the smart thing to do.”
chatham.edu/edenhall
The Hilda
M. Willis
Amphitheater
7
NEXT: THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHATHAM
Introducing ...
Since being founded 144 years ago,
we could not always predict what was
next. But we did know this — what
was next were the most exciting times
of our students’ lives. Next meant
getting to the unknown. Next was where
they were going, where they would
be and what was about to happen.
Next was what they were looking for.
What Chatham had prepared them for.
To always look around the corner, at
the wonder, the hope, and the promise.
Like Chatham itself. Why we became a
university. Why we created innovative
and in-demand graduate programs.
Why we are helping young women
break the mold. Why we’ll soon have
the world’s first campus that lives and
breathes sustainability. Next. It has
always been where Chatham is going.
Join us.
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Chatham is pleased to announce NEXT:
The Campaign for Chatham, a comprehensive
$100 million capital campaign engineered
to guide Chatham and its surrounding
communities to new heights, new frontiers,
and new discoveries. The capital campaign is
essential for the expansion of the reputation,
reach, and recognition of the University.
The campaign is already three-quarters to
its total with $75 million raised to-date from
the contributions of the Falk Foundation, the
Eden Hall Foundation, the Richard King Mellon
Foundation, Dollar Bank, and PNC Trust, and
many more donors.
When fully funded, NEXT will mean
the investment of $21 million in students
and faculty, $65 million in enhancement and
renewal of three campus locations, and $14
million for academic program support and
innovation, technology, and the annual fund.
“Private institutions such as ours live or
die by the donations of those who benefitted
from it,” said Dr. Esther Barazzone, Chatham’s
president. “We’re well on our way, but there’s
lots of work to be done. The last $25 million
will be difficult to raise because it involves so
many smaller gifts. We need them all as an
investment in our future. There is no other way.”
The University’s primary mission is to
continue to attract the
brightest students to
be shaped, inspired,
and mentored by the
brightest and most
dedicated teachers.
With the resources of
NEXT creating a critical
mass, Chatham believes
its best will get even better, and that landscape of the mind will be more magnificent.
For those who want to know what's NEXT,
$8 million is being earmarked for scholarships
to attract top students. And while 90 percent
of Chatham’s faculty have a Ph.D. or terminal
degree for their field, $5 million is being set
aside for faculty chairs as a way of attracting
other scholars who are the best in their field.
In addition to its development of the new
Eden Hall Campus, Chatham is also preserving
its treasures. Through NEXT, we are investing
in our historic Shadyside Campus, which
includes the 39-acre Woodland Road
arboretum. We also putting money into the
seven-acre Chatham Eastside facility, which
houses the University’s graduate health science
and interior and landscape architecture
programs.
A gift to NEXT will help Chatham preserve
its legacy and pre-eminence in fostering
women's leadership and preparing students to
succeed in an interconnected world that can
use Earth’s resources without compromising
the needs of future generations. The goal is to
create a brighter, healthier tomorrow for all.
“This is an opportunity for other members
of our community to chip in their $100,
$5,000 or $50,000 gifts to a cause of terrific
importance,” Dr. Barazzone said. “We’re
asking people to give whatever they can
in order to make a statement about what's
valuable to them. In many ways, it’s a measure
of customer satisfaction. We want to remind
people how important the institution is to
them and how important they are to the
institution.”
chatham.edu/next
9
N
To learn more,
please contact
the Office of
Major and
Planned Gifts at
412-365-1652
or elongchari@
chatham.edu.
10
EXT, The Campaign for Chatham, is a comprehensive
$100 million campaign designed to push Chatham and our community
to new heights, new frontiers, and new discoveries. It will increase our
reach, recognition, and reputation. Chatham will invest in the People,
Place, and Purpose that power the institution with $21 million in students
and faculty, $65 million in development and renewal of our three campus
locations, and $14 million in academic program support and innovation,
technology, and the Annual Fund. Giving opportunities include:
People
place
2,200 students make Chatham
the fastest growing college or
university in the Pittsburgh region
during the past decade. We welcome
gifts in support of scholarships,
internships, fellowships, and
assistantships at any level.
Chatham’s campuses are unlike
any in the world. No other institution
combines the beauty of Woodland
Road, the dynamic urbanism of
Chatham Eastside, and the innovative
splendor of Eden Hall Campus.
Scholarship Your gift of an endowed
beauty, install solar thermal panels on the AFC,
or preserve and maintain Chatham’s beautiful
arboretum.
Chatham College for Women scholarship
opens doors of opportunity for generations
of young women to come.
Fellowship With an endowed graduate
student fellowship, Chatham can remain
competitive in recruiting, retaining, and
graduating the best master’s and doctoral
prepared professionals in their fields.
Shadyside Help restore Mellon’s historical
Eastside Give back to your own graduate
program by enhancing PA, OT, and PT
classrooms and skills labs, or help install
windmills on the Eastside roof.
Eden Hall Your gifts will help build the most
innovative sustainable campus in the world.
From buildings to rain gardens to an orchard,
the giving opportunities at Eden Hall allow you
to play an active role in creating a brighter,
healthier tomorrow through the work of Eden
Hall and our students.
purpose
Fostering women’s growth as
leaders, creating a sustainable future
for all, preparing students to succeed
in an interconnected world, and
driving academic innovation and
research — these are the mission
initiatives of Chatham University.
Technology Purchase state-of-the-art equip
ment, provide for related ongoing maintenance
to keep our laboratories cutting-edge, or equip
incoming students with computers.
Mission Support outreach, academic, and
program development across our mission
initatives.
Study Abroad Transform a student’s educational
experience, expanding horizons far beyond the
classroom into a global, interconnected world.
11
www.chatham.edu/makeagift
855-MYCHATHAM (692-4284)
Annual Fund
When you give to the Annual Fund,
you help support annual operating
costs for some of the University’s
highest priorities – student
scholarships, financial aid, faculty
research, and campus improvements.
A robust Annual Fund is an essential
part of the University and our NEXT
campaign, because it provides revenue
for current needs – those we are
prepared for and those we cannot
anticipate.
12
Planned Giving
Shirley “Kerch” Kerchner ’51 had a life-long passion for both
her college education and the close friendships that resulted from
her years at Chatham. Shirley graduated from Chatham, then the
Pennsylvania College for Women, in 1951 with a degree in sociology.
Shirley took pride in the friendships she shared with her college
classmates – true friendships that lasted a lifetime and were held
together by a shared sisterhood and a love of the game of bridge.
After graduation from Chatham, Shirley worked tirelessly on
behalf of emotionally challenged Pittsburgh-area children and their
families. Along the way, she earned an advanced degree from the
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work.
Reminder
The IRA Charitable
Rollover is back for
2013! Taxpayers, age
70.5 or older, are
eligible to transfer
up to $100,000
directly from an IRA
to Chatham without
paying income tax on
the distribution.
Even after her passing in February 2013,
Shirley made sure future generations of
women have the same opportunities she
did: to receive an excellent education
and make life-long friends at Chatham.
Through her estate, Shirley established
the Shirley “Kerch” Kerchner Scholarship
at Chatham University to provide
financial support for undergraduate
women. These scholarships will not only
help young women afford an education,
but they will also allow new generations
of Chatham women to discover the
sisterhood that Shirley held so deeply in
her heart.
Every gift counts. Make a lasting difference for
generations to come. Thoughtful gift planning
enables you to provide a much greater impact
than you ever imagined.
We’re here to help you get started…
Office of Major and Planned Gifts
412-365-1652 or elongchari@chatham.edu
13
ALUMNI EVENTS
1
2
3
4
5
1. Carlita Johnson-Head ‘93, Tiffany Tupper
‘11, Kathie Olsen ‘74, Quayla Allen ‘12,
Mary Whitney ‘91, and Amber Phillips ‘12
represented Chatham at the release of
The Princeton Review’s Guide to 322 Green
Colleges: 2013 Edition in Washington, DC in
April. Chatham was one of only 21 colleges
and universities selected to Princeton Review’s
Green Honor Roll.
2. Leah Thompson ’93 and Lisa Kulick ’92 enjoyed
lunch with Dr. Bill Lenz at the Gate House in
May. Dr. Lenz delighted attendees with his
research on souvenir culture.
3. Residents of Longwood at Oakmont reminisce
over old yearbooks during an alumnae
luncheon.
4. Graduate students from a variety of programs
celebrated their upcoming commencement at
the Graduate Student Reception.
5. Members of the class of 2013, Ashlee Pavetti,
Shamin Mason, Julianne Speeney, and Katie
Maloney, make the most of their last days at
Chatham during Senior Toast at Beatty House.
6. Ashten Omstead, Brianna Britos-Swain, and
Tara Grumbine are all smiles on graduation day
at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall.
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6
5
7
8
9
7. Chatham staff and biology professor, Dr. Lisa
Lambert, enjoyed meeting alumnae for brunch in
Boston in June.
8. Cousins, Jessica Szalla ‘97 and Becky Willis ‘05,
enjoy an afternoon of Pirates baseball at PNC Park.
9. Kari Garber-Hynek ’08, Susan Scott Schmidt ’81,
and Alexis Smith Macklin ’92 enjoy the alumni
reception prior to a tour of the 2013 Carnegie
International.
10
10. Chatham alumnae Ann Turnock ’69 (2nd from left)
and Sherry Shadrach ’90 (right) mingle with friends
at the at Carnegie Museum of Art.
11. Caitlin Miller ’14, Meredith Weber ’06, Christina
Sahovey ’11, Tahmina Tursonzadah ’17, and Abigail
Beckwith ’17 participated in Chatham Trivia Night
hosted by the Student Alumni Association after this
year’s Song Contest.
12. Alumni Association Board Member Carol Fris ’91
imparts words of wisdom to first-year students at
the annual Ice Cream Social.
11
12
15
ALUMNAE REUNION WEEKEND
Alumnae Reunion Weekend
All roads led back to Chatham for
the 2013 Alumnae Reunion Weekend
1
Nearly 200 alumnae from 23 states and Canada, representing the years 1943 to 2012, took
part in Chatham’s 2013 Alumnae Reunion Weekend. Reunion was a celebration of a
shared past; of the innovative teaching and learning taking place at Chatham today; and of
the pleasure of being in the company of bright, engaging alumnae, faculty, and friends.
2
"I love Chatham. I love Pittsburgh.
It was great to reconnect with my
former roommate and I loved how
welcoming my classmates were."
3
4
1. The Class of 1963 gathers together to celebrate
their milestone 50th Reunion.
2. Alumnae reconnect during the Heritage Club
Luncheon in historic Mellon Center.
3. 2011 grads, Christina Sahovey and Kate Rubino,
prepare to cheer on the 3’s and 9’s during
Reunion’s Parade of Classes.
4. Marianne Boggs Campbell ’48 and friend Janice
Thaler catch up with Virginia Long Carlson ‘48
and daughter Erika Carlson Van Sickel ’80 at the
President’s Reception at Gregg House.
5. President Esther Barazzone (6th from l) and
Alumni Association Board President Gail Ruszczyk
Emery ’84 (3rd from l), strike a congratulatory
pose with award winners (l to r) Barbara Heffer
’68, Jane Grisell Murphy, Ph.D. ’68, Lois Michaels
’53, Leslie Beres-Sochka ’83, the Honorable
Mary Jo Wills ’73 and Buky Williams ’03.
"The Alumnae Award winners
were all so inspiring!"
16
5
6
7
8
“ I enjoyed the tour of Eden Hall. It is such a beautiful location,
"It was nice to walk through
the campus and remember how
it looked when I was there. I
loved getting to know alumnae
from other classes and catching
up with old friends."
9
and it was interesting to hear about Chatham ’s plans for the
sustainability program. ”
6 Meg Alexander Sprenkle ‘63 gets up
close and personal with the MPAS
program’s medical skeleton during a tour
of Chatham Eastside.
7. 2003 grads reconnect on campus at the
Bloody Mary and Mimosa reception.
8. Alumnae took an interactive tour of Eden
Hall Campus’s learning lab and learned
more about Chatham’s initiatives in
both sustainability and food studies.
“ Reunion was fantastic
down to the tiniest detail.
Everyone who attended
took home the very happiest
memories of a wonderful
weekend.”
9. 1999 alumna and keynote speaker,
Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, returned to
campus to inspire guests with her
expertise on issues facing girls and
women. Lisa’s book, Girls Without
Limits, was published in January 2013.
10. The class of 1998 celebrated 15 years
with a class party in the Mellon Living
Room.
10
17
C l ass N otes
Class Notes
’41
Jan Ayres Widgery is still painting,
writing poetry, and editing novels written
in earlier years. The most recent novel celebrates
early Pennsylvania Female College in 1876-77, and it
includes old Pittsburgh scenes and historical events.
There are some advantages in having a lifespan of
93 years! Her last three novels are still available via
print on demand. Her hearing, eyesight, and voice
power are failing and she must use a walker since
having two strokes. All these limit her travel, but she
still enjoys life.
’42
Jean Burchinal Purvis is still on the
board as secretary of the Community Health
Clinic of Butler County, of which she is the founder.
The Volunteers in Medicine clinic provides medical/
dental care for working poor who lack access to the
healthcare system. She is also on the Foundation
Board of Butler County Community College.
’43
Amy McKay Core has lived at Passavant
Retirement Community in Zelienople
for 15 years and is still taking classes: painting,
drawing, and writing – which is so much easier with
a computer! She talks with roommate Jean Archer
Rothermel ‘43 weekly. Amy missed the Heritage
Luncheon this spring, but had attended with three
classmates in 2012. She is thrilled with the growth to
university and new programs.
’44
Martha McCullough Lohmeyer
hopes her classmates have found the way
to submit class notes electronically. No such thing in
their college days. Remember how the dorm folks had
to share a phone at the end of the hall? Smoking in
class was also allowed, and students ate their meals
family-style at assigned tables with the house mother
seated at Table One.
’46
Martha (Marty) Yorkin Berman
To submit a Class Note or photo
for publication in the Chatham
Recorder, visit chatham.edu/
classnotes. For more information,
contact the Office of Alumni
Relations at alumni@chatham.edu
or 412-365-1255.
Submissions may be edited for
length and clarity.
18
Else Greger Miller and her husband are both
doing well in a lovely retirement community,
Forwood Manor. They welcomed their third greatgrandchild, Zohra Crumchaud, a beauty!
’48
Elizabeth Johnston Scheide is
now retired from her part-time clinical
psychology practice (2007) and her full-time position
as Pupil Personnel Director at the Allegheny
Intermediate Unit (1990). Because of several falls,
she requires a wheelchair for mobility and thus is
confined to her home much of the time. ’50
Jeanne Wilkofsky Bloomstein just
returned from a family reunion in Rancho
Palos Verdes, CA, where her daughter Marcia and
family moved. She saw her granddaughter Elissa,
whose 11th birthday was August 20th, and hopes
to return for Thanksgiving. She is busy with her
exercise class, volunteer work, and luncheons. She
recently retired from serving as Lorain Education
Retired Teachers Association vice president for the
past ten years.
’51
Gwen Bach Lammert’s granddaughter,
Sarah, graduated from Furman University
in May, and Gwen was in Greenville, SC for this
festive affair. Sarah started graduate school at
Duquesne University. Her brother, Joshua, graduated
from Hempfield High School in Greensburg in June
and is off to George Mason University. Her daughter,
Amy Lammert ‘84, is a professional actress and
appeared in All My Sons at the Pittsburgh Playhouse
in September.
Beverly Sandberg Minor is retired as of
August 2003 and doing well. Her sincerest wishes
go out to her fellow alumnae for their health and
well-being!
is living in a retirement community. She
recently had lunch with Sally Villing Hughes ’46 and
loved it. She wishes that her classmates who are still
around could have an opportunity to gather. She is
looking forward to hearing about everyone, and sends
her love.
Alice-Ann Jones Winner was invited to the
25th Anniversary of the United Nations International
School of Hanoi, the school she started in Vietnam.
The school is thriving: it has 1,000 K-12 students,
and a large faculty and campus. Her son, Chris,
accompanied her, and they had a fabulous time.
’47
’52
Priscilla Gersmannen Joseph celebrated a
Barbara Stephenson Bruner just finished
over six years on her condo board as vice president,
secretary, and finally president. She is writing from
her place in Florida – great golf and sunny! Her
biggest accomplishment this past year has been
losing 85 pounds and keeping it off! Barbara is
planning ahead – only four more years until her 65th
Reunion!
Ruth De Haven says hello to the class
of 1947. She is happy to say that she feels
blessed to live where she wishes and do what she
likes, with age-appropriate health and her loving
family nearby.
big weekend when her whole Seattle family went
to Pittsburgh to celebrate her oldest grandchild’s
wedding. She is still Brailling, and would like to hear
from old friends.
Doris Warner Brown made the
decision early this year to get out of the
family home and move to a retirement community.
She brought her dog along and they are enjoying all
the new people and activities.
Martha McLaughlin Ellers thinks she is
Sally Ernst Peterson returned with family to
probably the last one in her class to have a child get
married. Daughter Elizabeth married Gene Gulland
in Leesburg, VA on June 29. She is a vice president
for Univision and he is a partner with Covington &
Burling, a law firm in Washington, DC. Martha and
Richard then enjoyed two weeks at Chautauqua
Institute in July.
Venezuela, Columbia, Panama and points south for
another great visit last spring, plus a wonderful
family reunion near Chicago. She is so pleased
to report the birth of great-granddaughter Payton
Elizabeth this summer! Sally and her family had a
truly bountiful harvest from their orchard and their
Koi are fat and sassy still! Wonderful memories
of PCW years – would be pleased to hear from
classmates!
Barbara Mills Foresti moved in June 2011 to
Ridenwood Village, a retirement community about
four miles from the house they built in 1967. Her
son Carl’s oldest daughter was married one year ago
and is living in Houston, Abe is a nursing student,
and Sam and Ben are finishing high school in South
Plainfield, NJ. Her daughter Lois is still in Orlando,
with a family computer business that includes
her son, Brian. Her son Michael is engaged to be
married next spring.
Marcia Mamolen Stewart had a wonderful
time at Reunion last fall even though her class was
few in members – she’s just glad to be in touch.
She went to London in March on the Post-Gazette
Theater Tour and is planning a trip to Williamsburg,
VA in April. She and Mervin are both relatively well,
so life is good!
’53
Lois Glazer Michaels was honored
to be a Cornerstone Awardee for her work
in Public Health at her 60th Reunion. It was equally
joyous to hear and see how Chatham’s excellent
progress is recognized worldwide – calls from ’53
classmates Alice Sedinger Domineske, Joan Fischer
Boyd and Cordy Soles were a treat. She and Milt
will celebrate their 60th anniversary in reasonable
health and high spirits. They welcomed son Jay and
family back to the USA after four years abroad, and
all children and grandchildren are thriving.
Elizabeth Frantz Purdum wonders if anyone
can really remember how beautiful the campus was
in 1953 and how beautiful all of her classmates
were in 1953? She sends her best wishes to all.
’54
Barbara Bolger Collett has lived in
Gainesville since 1968, when her husband
Bill became the third faculty member of the first
college of dentistry in Florida. She and Bill have
five grandsons, and the oldest, Bobby Gates, is on
the PGA Tour. Their youngest grandchild, Magen,
is their only granddaughter; she is almost five. Son
Tom is the University of Florida volleyball announcer,
traveling with the team and doing the radio play.
Dianne is with Hearts on Fire Diamonds and travels
nationwide. The youngest, Debbie, will turn 50 and
lives nearby Ocala.
’55
Carla Norberg Gaut is preparing her
house to go on the market as she plans
to move to a senior residence in Houston and is
busy closing out all of her volunteer jobs. She is so
looking forward to a new life with new friends.
’56
Lori Barry Hoskins and Bill are still in
their home of 41 years, and loving it. She
keeps active walking daily, playing duplicate bridge
and watching movies with a girlfriend. She travels
once a year to Europe (river cruises) with the same
friend, and soon they’re going from Berlin to Prague
on the Elbe. She and Bill take a short cruise once a
year out of San Pedro, and this fall will go with close
friends up the California coast. She’s having trouble
coming to terms with being 80 this February.
Grace Nardulli Regutti sends greetings.
She and Carl downsized in 2011, to a condo four
miles from their previous house. They have done
little traveling this year because of Carl’s medical
problems, but did vacation last summer with some
of their family at Myrtle Beach. Grace continues
with yoga and has a great group of yoga friends.
Patricia Egry Wilson had another busy year of
travel. Winter was spent in Sun Valley, ID for four
months of skiing and hiking in spring and summer
included Utah with a five day whitewater rafting
trip. Later she went on to Austria and Switzerland
for hikes in the Alps, and stops in Vienna and Zurich.
Her family visited Sun Valley in winter and her
sister Carol and family came for hiking and tennis in
August. ’57
Helen Davis Rowe currently spends
time taking care of young grandchildren,
especially over the summer. She and Bob travel very
little – they do go to Boston to the theater and also
spend a week in Key West in January.
Kathryn Iannuzzo Wassermann and Joe will
celebrate their 44th anniversary in November. They
live in a co-op on Fifth Avenue in Oakland, and are
both retired but extremely active. Joe is involved
in local and statewide disability committees, and
is an adjunct professor in the Special Education
department at Pitt. Kathryn is in charge of the
volunteer Braille Team at the Western Pennsylvania
School for Blind Children, and over the past year
their work has earned about $4,200 for the school
and provided a much-needed community service.
She and Joe’s symphony and theater subscriptions
keep them entertained, while she still enjoys
cooking and baking, and cannot resist collecting
recipes.
’58
Carole Ashman Briggs moved into
a retirement community in June and
into great-grandmotherhood in July. It gives one
pause about the rapidity with which life passes!
Seems like yesterday when the baby she had in
1957 became the subject for that lecture in Human
Growth & Development! Writing, gardening, lots of
bridge, and traveling with Darr enrich her life, along
with keeping up with eight grandchildren and now
the next generation!
Kay Harper Kerr worked at New England
Ski Museum in Franconia Notch, NH and also at
Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN), a
great entrepreneurial support for the north country
of Vermont and New Hampshire. She loves being
with family.
Lois Ingham Peeler met Kay Harper Kerr ‘58 for
lunch in Bethlehem, NH with husband York Peeler.
Lois continues to be involved in the United Church of
Christ, music, and attending Planet Fitness. She and
Kay would love to hear from Chatham alumnae who
are in the northeast.
’59
Carol Parker Berkman and her family
(including Aiden, her beagle mix) are all
doing well. She hopes all is well with all of you.
Harriet Lewis Franklin’s only change is her age:
everything else remains the same and better. She’s
still working – training and writing for companies,
traveling for work to Jordan and to Barcelona, and
to Provence, Paris, and Myanmar for fun. She is still
running, playing tennis, and dancing – Zumba, hip
hop, and African dance. Theater, opera, and films are
main interests – she started a film club (Pittsburghon-the-Move) which is celebrating 13 years. Also,
she speaks for the Women’s Center and Shelter of
Pittsburgh to help abused women. Harriet is still
married to a wonderful man after 52 years, and has
two great children and two grandchildren.
Fran Venardos Gialamas sends warm regards
to all. She recently displayed a solo exhibition of her
work at Ceres Gallery in New York City. Fran has four
grandchildren. She and Cynthia Vanda ‘59 had the
pleasure of visiting with Libby Bernardi ’59 in July in
Pittsburgh.
Earla Sue Smith McNaull says the highlight of
the year was her 52nd anniversary. She went back to
Newport for a sail on a 12-meter boat and a night in
a lighthouse on Rose Island in Narragansett Bay.
19
C l ass N otes
Diana Montgomery writes, “All is well here;
hope the same is true for you. Cheers.”
’60
Dibbie Spurr Appleton continues to
stay involved with her church, serving on
the vestry, chairing outreach, doing altar guild, and
writing newsletters. She has five grandchildren in
the area (nine altogether) and enjoys seeing her two
local daughters often. Her son Will and his wife are
still in the Seattle area. She sends her best to all of
her classmates!
Nancy Cohen Stein is still doing social work as
a Wish Granter for Make-A-Wish. Anyone in the Los
Angeles area, give her a call.
’61
Janet Bryan Kilgore is well. Her
children, all married, keep her busy. She
has two boys and a late daughter: Jan was lost on
July 27, 2013. Tim, the oldest, lives in Charlotte, NC
– two children and two steps. Jeff is in Melbourne,
FL and has two children, a boy and a girl, who are
in college now. Janet and her husband are traveling
as much as they can: France, England, Ireland,
Scotland, Germany, Italy, Japan and the National
Parks, Hawaii, etc.
Sarah Williams Vasse believes that a good
thing about liberal arts education (thank you
Chatham!) is that life is never dull. She enjoys
life in her university town in New York’s Hudson
Valley, with New York City two hours away. Her
life includes playing flute, choral singing, being
president of a professional chamber ensemble;
also family archive research and writing, their
CSA farm, gardening, cooking, concerts, church,
friends, walking, and visits with Mary and their two
grandchildren. ’62
Sherwood Trautman Freeman
retired to southern Maryland in 2004 and
built a new home with the Potomac River as the
backyard. She has four wonderful children and seven
grandchildren aged twenty-five to five. The love of
her life, Bill, passed away in 2010. They collected
antiques, and she loves traveling, reading with a
book club, meeting with an investment club, chairing
a holiday house tour for the garden club, serving on
her property owners’ board, and playing Mah Jongg
and bridge.
Linda “Katie” Kerrigan Miller is enjoying
spending time between Texas and Pennsylvania,
where she has three wonderful grandchildren. She
visited her home in Florida and spent time with her
college roommate Fran Dunlap Frydman ‘62 this
summer.
20
’63
Judy Launer Palkovitz thought her
50th Reunion was great! Enjoyed seeing
everyone who came. In July, she and Debbie
Wolowitz Cowan ‘63 visited Albert J. Ossman in
Virginia. He looks wonderful, and they had a great
time reminiscing. He sends greetings to everyone.
Mary Ann Conti Sheline is one of the retirees
that have returned to work, but for only two days
a week at Grand Valley State University working
on special projects. She still has time to travel and
enjoy her four grandchildren, and plans for this
year include a month in Italy and a tour of Scotland
and Ireland.
Judy Paulsen Webb is doing well in retirement
with her husband Dick on their little harbor! They
will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
in December. They married at Chatham, whose
staff also catered an elegant holiday reception at
Mellon. Some of you were there! Both sons and
families have lived and worked in the Los Angeles
area for decades, and her trips to see them are fun
and informative with so much to see en route.
’64
Mary MacConnell Ferry has retired
from her law firm but still maintains a
small private practice, and Bill will follow suit at
year’s end to allow more freedom to travel. They
tested the waters this August with an African
safari to the Tarangire and Serengeti National
Parks in Tanzania. 2014 travel starts with Reunion. Wendy Haskell is planning to retire from her
private practice in part and from fee-for-service
work at a mental health clinic, but she will
continue working with social work students at
Smith College School for Social Work and doing
disaster work in Boston. Working with survivors
of the Boston Marathon bombing was her last
assignment. She sees Gwenn Gurnack ‘64, who is
well, and hopes to get to New York City to visit Sue
Haskell ’64 sometime soon!
Sue Johnson Hoffmann and Dick have been
cruising frequently, traveling through the Panama
Canal, visiting the Arctic Circle, the Baltic and
sailing the Atlantic from England to Boston with
an overnight in Iceland. They may actually see the
end of reconstruction on their Superstorm Sandy
destroyed home in Lavallette, NJ sometime this
fall. They look forward to next summer at the
Jersey Shore!
Val Valentine is still in England working as
a freelance writer and photography nut with a
16th century farm house to sell. She lost her
partner to cancer in 2007. She met David in 2008
on a photography course: he is an experimental
physicist, Oxford lecturer, inventor of the cold
crucible (which made commercial solar cell
production possible), founder of the world’s largest
solar energy plc, winner of the the Queens Award
for Export, has guest lectured worldwide (including
at Penn State), and is now retired.
’65
Virginia Powell Hargrave is still
working full-time with her pottery supply
company, Carolina Clay Connection in Charlotte,
now in its 17th year! She teaches pottery there, but
mainly runs the business. Earlier this year, she went
to Italy for a two-week workshop in Tuscany. Virginia
has one granddaughter, Anna (2), in Austin, TX. Son
Jordan still works for Dell and is an extreme traveler
(having been to almost every country in the world)
who writes a travel blog.
Lynne Swartz Jacobson writes that everyone is
healthy and in Pittsburgh! Her twin granddaughters
are beginning kindergarten, and her daughter and
son-in-law are moving into their new home. She and
Blair anticipate a great trip to Antarctica, and she is
still trying unsuccessfully to say “no” to volunteer
jobs. She is Development Chair, Board of Trustees
at Rodef Shalom Congregation, co-chair of Hillel
Jewish University Center’s “Campus Superstar”
fundraiser, and working on Gilda’s Club Conversation
with Sully Sullenberger and Paul O’Neill.
Nancy Speck is still in Frederick, still single. She
just turned 70 and is still in good health and busier
than ever! She has become a quilter and is enjoying
stretching her creativity. She is also managing their
hospital’s gift shop. She does some travel, which is
mostly close to home. ’66
Louise DeCarl Adler supposes she
should think about retiring after 29 years
on the bench, but she is still having a good time!
She has been doing a lot of “exotic” traveling –
Southeast Asia, Kenya and Tanzania, with India
planned for November – so she’s not exactly chained
to her desk. Her son is still living in Mexico City
which affords another reason to travel.
Patty Williamson Baker and her husband
spent a second summer in their remodeled/enlarged
Wisconsin house. Both of their kids are moving this
fall- one family to Evanston, the other 15 blocks
closer in Chicago. They love time with their four
grandchildren.
Elizabeth Pincus Candler has lost over 100
pounds following bariatric surgery. She visited
Kristin Jellison MacLeod ‘66 in February. Elizabeth is
happily retired and happy being a grandmother.
Paula Mysell Evans left her position in 2012 as
Head of School at the charter school she founded
in Cambridge, right in the heart of Kendall Square,
and is working half-time to raise money so that
they can purchase their school buildings. She is also
doing consulting, most recently in Los Angeles. She
and Rob continue to live in Newton; their sons are
in Virginia and Los Angeles. They have two fabulous
grandchildren, Charlotte (8) and Will (7).
Hannah Gilman had a wonderful trip to China
Beverly Blazey Palmer is teaching an online
Sport and Fitness Psychology Certificate Program
after retiring from being a full-time professor in
psychology at California State University. She
created a doctoral program in clinical psychology at
Saybrook University and taught there for the past
nine years. She still has a private practice in clinical
psychology in Torrance, CA. During the past ten
years, she has also had three Fulbright awards – to
Malaysia, Borneo, and Barbados.
in June with her Chinese friend, Bo. They attended
Bo’s college reunion, saw all the sights and were
treated royally by Bo’s family and friends! Hannah’s
favorites were the Panda preserve in Chengdu and the
terracotta warriors in Xi’an.
Janet Lois Walker is having a wonderful
retirement, teaching Scottish Country Dance workJacqueline Cain Miller is fully retired from a
shops in the USA and Canada, playing piano duets,
career as a social work executive. She and Phil have
taking Italian conversation classes, and traveling.
moved to an 18th century farmhouse in Connecticut,
and he is still working. Jackie serves on nonprofit
Nancy Banchiere Bisbe is still
boards, plays paddle tennis and bridge, and has plenty
working in the library and trying to slow the
of room for guests from Chatham.
aging process by biking and staying in shape. She is
not ready to retire but thinking of it. She says “hi” to
Judith Parry Pike got a divorce two years ago
all of the class of ’68.
after 43 years of marriage, and she is enjoying the
single challenge as well as spending more time with Susan Schmerer-Haacke continues to work as
her children, in-law children, and grandchildren.
an attorney for families involved with the juvenile
Judith continues working for the Army with family
dependency system, which she finds rewarding.
violence, sexual assault, and soul and spirit wounds
Though she hasn’t found Chatham grads living in her
of soldiers returning from combat. She is happier than area, she exchanges messages with Betty Shapiro
she has been in years. If you are in southern Arizona, Kaplan ‘68 and Ann Kessler Guinan ‘68.
she has lots of space for guests.
Kathleen Kratt Neeley is retired and living in
Audrey Smith Bensy retired last March Lawrence, Kansas, with Jim, her husband of 45
and downsized to a lock-it-and-leave-it
years. Her children Alan and Laura are married and
condo. Her first grandson was born in November, so
live nearby. Laura has two children of her own,
she visits him in California, sees family in Virginia,
making Kathleen a grandmother!
and visits her 24-year-old daughter in DC. Audrey
Eleanor (Lea) Wait is excited to share that
attended her first Chatham Reunion event last year!
Shadows on a Cape Cod Wedding, the sixth in
She’s about to go to her 50th high school Reunion.
her Shadows Antique Print Mystery Series, was
Elizabeth Claytor loved seeing classmates at her published this spring. She has also just signed a
45th Reunion in the fall of 2012. Her daughter, Mary, a three-book contract with Kensington for a new
2009 Chatham alumna, is doing well and working for mystery series, and will have a new historical
Lifetouch Studios. Mary credits the beloved Dr. Cooley novel for ages 8-14 published next spring. Lea also
for teaching her everything that she knows about
blogs with nine other Maine mystery writers at
photography, and both women miss him very much.
mainecrimewriters.com.
’68
’67
Penelope Anderson Gladwell is enjoying
retired living with husband, Dave. Hedges Chapel
provides preaching and Bible study opportunities for
her, and she is helping to put together a strategic plan
for the historic congregation. Playing golf is always
a challenge, while raising two kittens to adulthood
is laughs and giggles galore, and learning Mah
Jongg keeps the little gray cells awake. She enjoys
connecting with classmates on Facebook, too.
Lucy Finger Harding has been loving being
home in Maine to welcome her daughter Molly and
her partner Greg's first child, Violet Read WinstonHarding. She just got back to Los Angeles and 100
degree heat!
’69
Sarah Bornstein is still working as
the Human Resources Director at a social
service agency that serves adults with disabilities.
She had a great vacation in August visiting Chatham
roommate Annie Rosch Duffield ’69 at her beautiful
home in Bluff, UT. Much to her surprise and delight,
Sarah recently acquired a great boyfriend who lives
and works in her neighborhood.
Ann Turnock came home to Pittsburgh this spring
after 40 years in California. She found a great place
in Penn Hills and is rejoicing in the seasons, birds,
and greenness. She is just two miles from her 92
year-old father and has made connections to the
church she grew up in and her high school class.
Ann is looking forward to doing the same with
Chatham.
’70
Evelyn Lewis Freeman continues
to work part-time at The Ohio State
University. She and husband Harvey spent most
of April traveling in Australia and visiting friends
in New Zealand. Evelyn was happy to see Bonnie
Smith ‘70 and have a mini-reunion in Chicago
with Chatham roommates, Gail Pelsue Wagner
and Cathleen O’Daniel Morgan ‘70. It has been
wonderful to visit Chatham as a member of the
Alumni Association Board. Pam Bradley ‘70 and
Evelyn roomed together in Rea when they helped
with the June 2013 Reunion Weekend. Lisa Garber’s daughter Tess was married in
June at their house. It was a lovely ceremony. Lisa
and her husband Jim have travelled a little bit.
Retirement is good!
Cynthia Plotkin-Mervis recently moved to
Delaware from the Phoenix area. Both of her
girls are married and settled in the suburbs of
Philadelphia. This past winter each had a new baby,
so now there are three grandchildren. The beach lets
her and her husband to have their own place that
is also somewhere the kids to want to visit. They
still have their business, and Cynthia is planning on
getting to Chatham for her 50th, but not before.
’71
Diane Peterson is retired, healthy, and
happy, and she appreciates her blessings.
One of the highlights of recent travel was a week
on a paddle wheeler on the Mississippi River, and
another was a week with the extended family at
Jumby Bay, near Antigua to celebrate her husband’s
70th birthday. A two-week Mediterranean cruise in
October will get them to Tunisia, they hope! Diane
recently spent time with ’71 classmates Adele
Grunberg in Houston, Carol Kaempfer in Phoenix,
and Chris Walker in Pittsburgh.
’72
Suzanne Robblee enjoyed visiting with
Jene Schiros Wilson ‘72 and Terri Rupani
Nagel ’72 in June at Jene’s home in Cleveland. Jene
was recovering from a broken leg and wrist, but her
spirit was unbroken.
Jene Schiros Wilson had a great time at
her 40th Reunion last year. Seeing so many old
classmates was very fun, and she recommends
Reunions to everyone.
Jean Swantko Wiseman continues to reside
in the Twelve Tribes Communities – presently near
Hickory, NC.
’73
Susan Ifft Christie is enjoying
retirement and traveling a lot with her
husband. Her dogs Max (6) and Ernie (3) continue to
be very spoiled and exceptionally cute.
21
C l ass N otes
Ruth Abbott Clark is starting her 17th year
teaching elementary general music in the North
Reading Public Schools. Her three granddaughters
and four daughters were with her on her birthday
this year! Ruth joined “Get in Shape for Women”
and feels fitter than ever before.
Joann Brandt Grisetti would like to hear from
classmates.
Amy Ingraham thought it was great to see the
folks who turned out for the reunion in June 2013.
Seeing the campus reminds her of the fictional
Terence Mann’s words: “...it’ll be as if they’d dipped
themselves in magic waters. The memories will be
so thick, they’ll have to brush them away from their
faces” (Field of Dreams). She and her classmates
adopted Barbara Campsie ’92 to their class. Peace,
love, and rock and roll, see you in ten years.
Ellen Britton Kennedy’s first grandchild, Max,
was born April 2 to daughter Katy, while her middle
child Tracey got her master’s from London School of
Economics in December, and her youngest, Karen, got
her master’s this year from University of St. Andrews.
Ellen’s husband, Larry, had a massive stroke last year,
and it has been devastating in every way imaginable.
She is single-handedly running their business and
doing the caregiving night shift as he is paralyzed on
the left side. It has been a challenging year!
Mary Ann Hood Slavin just had a great vacation
with her kids Scott and Melanie, Melanie’s husband,
and their 18-month-old grandson Mason in the
Bahamas. She tried surfing for the first time in Hawaii
this spring and had a lot of fun without hurting
herself. She and Neil still volunteer, travel, and do
various jobs for fun in their retirement.
Barbara Wilhelm had a great time at the
Reunion in June. It was wonderful to reconnect
with classmates and see Chatham’s new ventures. She hopes to see more of her class next time!
Barbara’s new book featuring the story of the
Chatham Memorial Window, In Your Dreams, is
available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com. Son Derek
has completed a Master’s in Culinary Education and
is working in Boston, and son Shane graduated from
Cal U and has recently started medical school.
’74
Pam Fabish Allison is looking forward
to retirement March 1, 2014!
Susan Fetterolf spent three weeks at her
loft in Tribeca in NYC this summer while Abigail
attended a summer writing program at Columbia
University. Abigail started her second year at Miss
Porter’s School in Farmington, CT, and turned 16 in
July. Susan just finished renovating a barn into a
studio, so she is looking forward to getting back to
painting. She is hoping to attend her 40th reunion
next year. She is in touch with quite a few friends
from the class of ‘74 and would love to see everyone.
is on Facebook if you want to look her up, and would
love to communicate with her old friends!
’76
Sharon Citron Elman continues to stay
busy with her general dentistry practice
in Cleveland. She is also active in the Zonta Club
of Cleveland and chairs the scholarship committee.
Daughter Emily just celebrated her second wedding
anniversary and is an attorney in a Manhattan law
firm. Her son Noah just purchased a franchise and is
a Mac Tools distributor.
Allyson Fried decided to go back to school since
she was no longer practicing podiatric surgery due
to her back disability. She just finished medical
school last week and now can claim to be a doctor
squared. She is now a Medical Doctor and Doctor of
Podiatric Medicine!
Brenda Marsh wrapped up her career at Barnes
& Noble in May, and is looking forward to her next
adventure. She enjoyed the Annual “Cape May” at
Anita Zeiler Vergne’s ‘76 in Easton, MD, with Helen
Mills ‘77, Gaye Torrance ‘77, and Susie Silverstein
‘78 as well as fun in Philadelphia and Maine with
Louise Turan George ‘76 and New Year’s in Boston
with Muffy Gaisford ‘76 and Kerry Tucker ‘77.
Brenda loves serving as an Alumna Trustee for
Chatham- great things are happening at her alma
mater.
Paula Martinac moved back to Pittsburgh with
her partner, Katie, and their dog in 2003 after two
Sandy Kuritzky welcomed the Greater Philadelphia
decades of living in New York City. She has been
Lynn Emberg Purse is fortunate to have a
Regional Alumnae chapter to her home last spring.
busy building a private nutrition consulting practice,
sabbatical from teaching this fall to pursue an
Since then, she has been busy helping to inaugurate
with offices in Highland Park and Allison Park. She
extensive music/multimedia composition project.
the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Alumni
specializes in midlife weight loss and reversing
For A Year in Penn’s Woods, she will create and
Association. The chapter had three events in the fall,
incorporate field audio and video recordings of natural metabolic syndrome, and she also writes for various
including a docent-led tour of the Philadelphia Zoo. habitats in Western PA as the basis for several pieces websites and blogs on health and nutrition topics.
Her husband, Dave Schaffer, was volunteered to lead
Who knew when she was at Chatham studying
that reflect the beauty and singularity of the local
the group, and the tour included the Zoo’s “sex” tour
French history that she would like science so much?
area throughout the calendar year. Lynn is pursuing
as well as a look at the new KidZooU. connections with local environmental groups for
Rachel Richman continues to enjoy her work
Christine McClure had fun seeing everyone at the unique performance opportunities.
as Policy and Political Director of Professional and
40th Reunion and touring the Eden Hall campus. She
Janice Cederstrom Ciampa’s husband Technical Engineers, Local 21 in the San Francisco
can now define what “sustainability” really means.
Ralph is retiring as head of Pastoral Care at Bay Area. She is gearing up for state and local
elections in 2014. Rachel enjoys recruiting women
the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Their
Susan O’Neil is still enjoying leading her New
youngest child has finished college at Penn, and three union members to become more active in leadership.
Hampshire team of search and digital marketers at
of their four children are now married with a wedding She and partner Jim spent three weeks in Vietnam,
Website Publicity, plus finding time to spend at her
Laos and Cambodia earlier this year. She stays in
home at the Maine coast. She is having fun planning in July. Janice took a wonderful celebration tour
touch with Rosanna Lane ‘71 and hopes for one
this summer in Switzerland, Italy, and Denmark. The
the June wedding of daughter Bligh to Matt, a
more Caribbean sailing trip together next year.
psychiatry business is steady, and Janice hopes to
widower with adorable son, Devin. Susan’s poor
see some of you at the Philadelphia regional Chatham
husband has lived all these years with four females
Lois Momeyer Hollinsworth is now
and looks forward to evening up the odds a bit. Their events.
teaching choral music, piano, and guitar at
twins Grace and Elizabeth are finishing up their
Shelley Gibson has had a hectic year! The house Brashear High School in the Pittsburgh Public School
degree programs. She asks, “How are other Woodland
district. Her husband Jay retired and subsequently
has reached its 30 year mark, and requires all the
’Zoo‘ members?”
usual updates. She is mulling over the idea of selling unretired this past year. Lois and Jay welcomed their
first grandchild, Cora Rose Berman, in March 2013.
it, and moving to a small condo, for maintenance
reasons. Shelley has been to Montreal to visit the
family, and has traveled to Florida for some R&R. She
’75
’77
22
’86
Jill Hood Underhill lives in
Richmond, TX with husband of 23 years,
Bill, and their two sons, Will (15) and Charlie
(13). They enjoy boating at their place on Lake
Somerville. In July of 2013, they vacationed in
Washington state and Victoria, BC. Jill has been
practicing yoga for 21 years, and instructing
since 2005. She is passionate about teaching
beginners, “seasoned” citizens, and veterans
with posttraumatic stress disorder. Jill had a
lovely visit chez Patty McGough Swenson ‘86 in
April 2012 in Santa Barbara!
Beth Hydovitz’s mother passed away at her home
in Florida in December. Beth is glad to say they’d
made peace and had no unfinished business. She
is counting down to her 20th anniversary at BNY
Mellon next year, where she works on an IT help
desk for employees of the Wealth Management
sector.
Deborah Morrison is still happily retired and
living in Miami. She recently became a volunteer
Art Deco District Tour Guide in South Beach for
the Miami Design Preservation League. She took
a trip this spring to Havana, Cuba, just before her
youngest daughter Julia’s wedding in Boulder, CO.
Kaye Kim Reiber is teaching kindergarten in her
home school district. She graduated with a master’s
degree in early childhood Eeducation in May. She
loves to continue learning!
’78
Roslyn Maholland is living happily in
Crafton, PA with her husband, Bud Murock.
She is working at the Thomas Merton Center (TMC)
in the Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. TMC is
Pittsburgh’s Peace and Justice Center since 1972.
’79
Karen Calmeise Darden is still
holding the position of Administrative
Law Judge for the District of Columbia. Greer (18)
graduated in June 2013. Karen could not convince
her to head to Chatham – she wanted a southern
venue for pre-vet studies. Drew (16) is in the 11th
grade, and he is looking at science or tech fields,
while Mike is holding his pediatrics practice.
Doreen DiMento Farthing is pleased to report
that all three of her children have now graduated
from college. She and husband Jim are enjoying
this next stage of life and are delving into planning
some international trips for 2014. She would love
to discover if any other alums live in the Nashville,
TN area.
Judith Nass Frohman is still living in the San
Francisco Bay Area with her partner, Linda. She is
now working at Oracle and travels with work quite
a bit. She sees Jennifer Curley ’79 every once in a
while and would love to see Lynn Vannucci someday
soon.
Carrie Pevarnik Swing is an adjunct professor
of music at West Virginia State University. She led a
workshop at a recent West Virginia Music Educators
conference with her presentation, “Helping Flute
Players Get a Good Start – Tips and Tricks for NonFlutists.” Carrie continues to teach flute privately
and to participate in local musical groups – both
playing and singing. Her summer was taken up
with caring for husband Jeff, who recently suffered
a mild heart attack and broken leg. He is on the
mend – thanks be to God and the care of wonderful
medical folk.
’80
Meg Lawless Crossett graduated
with her MSW degree from VCU in 2010.
She is working as a consultant/parent with the
local children’s hospital to bring a palliative care
program to the hospital. Meg volunteers many
hours supporting families who have a child with
cancer through two local DC organizations – DC
Candlelighters and Teardrops to Rainbows. She
enjoys spending time with her husband, children,
and grands.
Renee Unico Eaton, her husband, and son
started a 3D printing company in 2010. RapidMade
offers rapid prototyping, additive manufacturing,
engineering services and promotional products. They
scan objects or download computer-aided design
drawings and then print them in color. Popular jobs
include architectural and industrial models and
product prototypes.
’81
Susan Scott Schmidt continues to live
within walking distance of Chatham with
her husband, Tom. It has been a difficult health year,
because of pulmonary fibrosis, but she is enjoying
trips to her Florida Beach cottages and spas. Schmidt joined her ex-roommate Judy Smith-Bogad
‘81 for a Chatham trip to the Barnes Foundation art
collection in Philadelphia.
’82
Jill Goldstein Balagur-Conn retired
from the University of Pittsburgh School
of Social Work in 2004 and moved to Austin, TX.
She taught one semester at the University of Texas
School of Social Work as she built a private practice
in suburban Austin as a psychotherapist and
workplace consultant. Jill has followed her passion
for travel, visiting the Galapagos in 2011, and soon
going on a safari in Tanzania.
Susan Peirce joined Broward College as
executive director of development and campaigns.
She is also chairing an international fundraising
conference, serving on the board of HOPE South
Florida to transition families out of homelessness,
and cooking on weekends at Boca Helping
Hands. Life is crazy good and busy! Please keep
the alumnae tradition of making your annual gift to
Chatham!
’83
Leslie Beres-Sochka was honored
to be selected to receive a Cornerstone
Award during the 2013 Reunion. Her family is fine
and attended Reunion with her! She is no longer on
the Alumni Board, but she continues to volunteer
for Chatham. Leslie continues to work for the New
Jersey State Health Department. She had a lot
of work-related events this past year, including
contributing to two articles in the Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report. She is the president of the
National Birth Defects Prevention Network.
Gretchen Rittmeyer McCabe still sings
in the choir at St. Alexis. She and her husband,
Larry, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in
April and their 18th grandchild is on the way. Still
enjoying a very active life with the five grandchildren
in the Pittsburgh area and traveling to visit the
others.
’84
Gail Ruszczyk Emery’s son CJ (14)
graduated from middle school and son
Chris (12) is a 7th grader. Gail had a wonderful time
at the June 2013 Reunion, where she caught up with
Sharon Nuskey ‘83 and Leslie Beres Sochka ‘83.
She had a fabulous stay at Rea House for Reunion
and looks forward to doing it again in June 2014
for her 30th Reunion! Class party plans are already
underway – ‘84 had over 30 return for the 25th,
would love to see more for the 30th! Send Gail a
text message or email, she’ll get you on the list!
Virginia Lunde Mayne has had an interesting
couple of years. She was recently promoted to
associate registrar at Gordon College in Wenham,
MA, and recently divorced; the two are not related.
She has moved, and she is breathing deeply the
atmosphere of peace, calm, and fresh start. Her
daughters (20 and 16) are adjusting as best they can,
but overall, things are good.
’85
Pinette Sofranko retired in 2011
and moved to Tennessee to be near her
daughter and two grandchildren. She is incredibly
happy to watch both her granddaughter and
grandson grow. She plays golf every week with a
league comprised of amazing women who range
in age from mid-40’s to 80 years-old. She also just
23
C l ass N otes
landed a part-time job to keep herself busy and her
mind active.
’86
Denice Hallstein continues to live in
Northampton, MA with her wife Zita, two
dogs, and only one of three sons left at home. She
and Zita traveled several times this year including a
trip to Portugal and a trip to Paris. Denice now has a
graduate degree in animal behavior and has her own
business as an animal behavior consultant helping
people to solve their pet’s behavior problems.
’87
Danna Aitken-Bigenho just held
a rally in Goshen, NY to support the
Second Amendment and to repeal the NY Secure
Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act as a
member of the New York Revolution. In addition,
she recently received her certification as a drug and
alcohol counselor. She is working on her dissertation
in order to complete her PhD in General Psychology
via Capella University.
Sharon Elder Thayer earned her Master of
Education from Anna Maria College in May and is
working in a school in Oxford, MA.
’88
Jen Mathis McAllister is an attorney
in solo practice in San Jose, CA, where she
practices business and employment law and legal
risk management.
Championship and is searching for the perfect
engineering/crew college. Daughter Heather
competitively dances and cheers and has qualified
to go to the National All American Pageant
which teaches young girls interviewing skills and
confidence. Husband, Mike, is a great supporter of
everyone in the family!
’90
Patti Gordon has an internet radio show,
hempradio.com, and is the Orange County
Representative for the National Organization for
the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Women’s
Alliance. Her latest project is to help the planet by
replacing plastic and paper bags with the Hemp
Grocery Tote that she has designed and produced.
’91
Lori Framiglio is still living spitting
distance from the campus, and is working
at the GNC corporate office in Product Development
and launching lots of exciting new products. She
enjoyed a second trip to Switzerland this summer
with a fun group of Pittsburghers – vineyards with
the Alps in the distance as a backdrop!
Betsy Hershey went to veterinary school after
Chatham and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary
Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota
in 1996. She specializes in cancer treatment for dogs
and cats and has her own practice in Phoenix, AZ.
Betsy has a stepson, Shane, who is a junior in high
school. Her daughter Lily (5) started kindergarten
this year and her son Tristan turned three in October.
’89
Maria Majors Marriott has been teaching
Hilari Lipton has completed her mid-life career
’92
Lisa Yelson Levin is happily living
by the beach in Los Angeles with her
husband, Dan, and son, Alex. She and Dan will
celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary this year,
and their family will be traveling to Barcelona for
Alex’s bar mitzvah. Lisa is enjoying a successful
career in real estate. She’s sorry to have lost
connection with fellow alums and hopes to
reconnect soon.
change by graduating from Capital University Law
School this past May. Hilari has returned to New
Mexico, where she is temporarily working as a
Senior Child Welfare Policy analyst for the New
Mexico Supreme Court while looking for her dream
job in the child welfare field. She and Lori are
excited about a return to a normal life away from
the rigors of law school.
Veronica Stevenson-Moudamane recently
relocated to Macau to assume the position of
Director of Libraries for the International IB School
of The Nations located in Taipa, Macau S.A.R.
Teri Andres Walter has had a successful Mary
Kay business which has earned her three cars in
three years and replaced her full-time income.
Son Brad medaled at the Youth National Crew
24
music to Preschool children for about ten years.
Last year, she returned to college to complete her
coursework for Early Childhood Education. After
receiving her Site Supervisor License, she now
teaches in the classroom at Friends Nursery School,
a program in Palo Alto, CA.
Jennifer Kusenko Keth will be
celebrating her 17th year of selfemployment as a Massage Therapist. She is an
active member in the Clarion Rotary Club and a
Board Member of the Clarion Area Chamber of
Business and Industry. Abigail will be ten and is
busier than ever with dance and violin.
Dawn Kulick is the Felony Division Chief,
Miami State Attorney’s Office. Her work focuses
on prosecution of homicides and death penalty
cases. Dawn previously served in Gang Strike Force,
prosecuting violent street crimes.
Barbara Brown Virany is a Senior Portfolio
Manager with Morgan Stanley, and her son, Derek
Brown, joined her practice in 2011, becoming an
integral part of the team. Robert is in high school
and Walter is in middle school.
’93
Christie Champion Benton
made a career change after 16 years
as Communications Director/Assistant Director
of Rodef Shalom Congregation in the Oakland/
Shadyside area of Pittsburgh. In August 2012, she
became Development Director at Saint Joseph High
School in Natrona Heights, PA, and she is thrilled
to be making a difference in her own community.
Christie is married to her husband of 17 years, Eric
Benton. They are devoted owners of a 13-yearold English Bulldog, Mabel, and a 14-year-old
Pomeranian, Penny.
’95
Heidi Clark Bonwell’s passion for
creativity and art history has brought her
full circle to what she does for a living. She is the
founder and co-owner of Scarlet Clover Designs.
Heidi designs and builds handbags that subtly
and cleverly revolve around her Judeo/Christian
heritage. Through inventive designs with symbolism,
she quietly shares her faith in God’s word through
art on handbags.
Bethany Fulton is finishing her dissertation from
Ohio University and volunteering at a local hospice.
She is presenting at two conferences, sharing her
work on schizophrenic auditory hallucinations. In
2014, her first book chapter will be published in a
volume on mentoring in the mental health professions.
Najaa Young started NaRa Films with her
business partner in 2009 while living in Los Angeles
and began filming the documentary, American
Africans. Shortly thereafter, her mother became
seriously ill and she returned to Ohio to help care
for her. Her mother’s recovery has been miraculous
and while she still has a little ways to go, Najaa
has been able to go back to film work. She recently
wrote and directed her first feature film, Blood First,
which was shot in Pittsburgh, and will be released
later this year.
’97
Becky Alperin, Ph.D. joined
the private practice of Psychological
Resources, Ltd. in April 2013. She also became
a part-time instructor at the University of Toledo,
where she taught a graduate-level course in the
Clinical Psychology program during the spring
semester of 2013. She continues to run and
participate in 5K’s, and meets for dinner with Rachel
Lenzi ‘98, who moved to Toledo last year.
Cinde Eash Boyden, Ed (Husband), Emma (10)
and Eli (8) have had a great year. They traveled to
Maine this summer – Acadia, Baxter State Park, and
Moosehead. Cinde is a literacy coach and spends
the rest of her time in the garden, kitchen, and
running back and forth between gymnastics, soccer,
archery, and piano. She’s been blogging about kids
and kitchen at iwouldstillplantmyappletree.blogspot.
com and really enjoys chronicling her days.
Irene (born 1/2012). While “staying at home” is far
from her reality, she currently works as an OT PRN on
inpatient rehab, runs her own photography company
(Dolce Photography), and will be having baby #2 in
December 2013. Follow her photography at facebook.
com/dolcephotog.
Rebekah Heilman resides in Freehold, NJ with
’98
Deborah Shields Harris earned
her Doctorate in Management and
Organizational Leadership from the University of
Phoenix in 2013.
Jessica Jones Szalla recently celebrated her
17th service anniversary with Giant Eagle, Inc.
She works in the Information Services Department
providing leadership and operational direction for
Application Support.
Christina Valentine-Hess is currently working
at Industrial Scientific Corporation as a people &
leadership analyst. She is excited to start taking a
class this fall for her SPHR Certification exam. Fairly
recently and finally divorced, she has two boys, one
starting middle school and one starting kindergarten
this year. She would love to hear from former
classmates that she has not found on Facebook.
’98
Amy Burgess LaSota and her
husband, Bill, had a busy year. In addition
to a wedding and honeymoon in the Loire Valley,
France, they also bought a house in Dormont and
Bill bought a veterinary practice in Heidelberg, PA.
Amy still works as the recruitment director for the
College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University
and enjoys meeting up with fellow Chatties during
her recruitment travels. She and Bill are planning to
return to Scotland this fall for the third time.
’99
Christy Dennison joined the staff
of the Carlow University Advancement
Office as donor relations administrator in 2011.
She has loved growing both professionally and
personally in this new role. She currently lives in
the Edgewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, across
the street from her “bestie,” Lisandra Rodriguez
White ‘99 and Lisandra’s beautiful family. Not a day
goes by when Christy doesn’t feel grateful for her
Chatham education. You can find her on Facebook
and LinkedIn.
’00
Stephanie Fantauzzo Johnson,
MOT ’02 stepped down from her
management position as Team Leader of Inpatient
Rehab Occupational Therapy at a level I trauma
hospital in Dayton, OH to stay at home with Sofia
her partner Joe and is mom to Joey (2) and Adrianna
(4). She maintains an appellate practice from home,
without childcare, thanks to start-up help from Laura
Rybka ‘00. Her days are potty runs, sibling rivalry,
timeouts, tantrums, and bed invasions, and despite
exhaustion, she enjoys working quietly at night. She
and Adrianna enjoyed Amy Dahl’s ‘00 shower. She
enjoyed a Jersey Shore summer and her role in Face
the Music to benefit New Jersey Volunteer Lawyers
for the Arts.
’01
Michele Agosti has been quite busy
the last couple years: she and her husband,
Nathan, moved from Los Angeles to Seattle in August
2011, moved into their first house in November
2011, and welcomed their first child, daughter Taylor
Samantha Bingham, in December 2011. Since then it
has been a whirlwind of settling into Seattle, being
new parents, and making new friends. They love their
new home, city, and all the challenges of parenthood.
Dale Ross Arnberg is living in north central
Washington state where her husband of six years
grew up. Their oldest (6) started first grade and their
twins, Diego and Rafaela, turn two in November.
Dale is in her third year with UPS as a supervisor and
would love to get in touch with classmates that are
out west.
eliminate all forms of violence against women
and girls. This fall, she will begin divinity school
at Yale University. She is seeking ordination in the
Presbyterian Church (USA).
Stephanie Swift-Antill says that this year
marked the first time she went skydiving – and
definitely not the last! In fact, she is jumping out
of another perfectly good airplane in a few weeks. Also, Stephanie returned to the Scarehouse as
Ghoul Interrupted after a four-year hiatus. As for
her day job, Stephanie is in her second year with
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. in the area of
benefit sales.
’02
Sarah Grey loves the freelance life and
is proud to say that she actually uses her
philosophy/cultural studies degree on the job every
day. She started Grey Editing LLC (greyediting.com)
in 2010 and has been editing books, writing copy,
and coaching writers (from CEOs to grad students to
rabbis) ever since. She lives in the Fishtown section
of Philadelphia with her partner Joe and their
daughter Lucia, and gets her Chatham on whenever
she can with Eliza Johnson ‘03!
Kelly McKown and her boyfriend, Brian, are just
past a year without killing each other, despite being
a couple divided between the Bucs and the Reds.
After seeing ’02 classmates Kristin DeLuca, Bridget
McNamee, Krista Kowalok, Laura Voelker Glisan, and
Crystal Gemuenden Cochran and her husband,
Patrick, welcomed a baby girl, Quinn, last summer. Quinn is now a wild, happy, funny toddler and keeps
her parents on their toes. Crystal loved her visit
from Morgan Gable ‘04 and Rachael Bieltz ‘01 and
had a blast forging the canoe through the Boundary
Waters. Next time they should remember to bring
the paddles.
Jasmine Hunter Penter graduated from USC
with her Master’s of Social Work in May. She started
a new job as a medical social worker in June, and
opened a counseling private practice in September.
She’s accepting clients both in-person and online, so
consider referring clients to her. Jasmine celebrated
her fourth wedding anniversary in August.
Jackie Spycher continues to serve as field
staff for the National Network of Presbyterian
College Women helping to coordinate leadership
development for young women at the denominational
level. This past spring, she led a group of 13 young
women to the UN’s Commission on the Status of
Women working as faith-based advocates to help
’00
Kelly Rabenstein Donohoe
was married at the Chatham chapel
last year, and the new couple welcomed their
honeymoon baby when Eleanor Isabella (Ella)
was born in November 2012. Kelly is finishing
up her doctoral degree and working towards
becoming a licensed psychologist. She’ll be
teaching at Chatham in the master’s psychology
program, because she loves Chatham and never
wants to leave.
25
C l ass N otes
October. She will be continuing her job full-time
while also attending class full-time.
Melissa Sosanko on a trip to the ‘Burgh in April, their
sights are now set on Antigua in November. Kelly is
still working for the state community college system
and reading as much as possible in her spare time.
’08
’03
Nichole Bayliss has returned to the
“bubble” as an instructor in the social
work/criminology and psychology departments...
and even has a few tutorial students! She is working
hard on finishing her dissertation so she can finally
become an assistant professor.
Adrienne Yingling Oxley received her PhD
from the University of Pittsburgh in 2009. She and
her husband (Sam Oxley, MA ’09) currently live in
Lexington, SC with their two children: Noah, who is
almost two, and Columbia – “Bia”– who is nearly
four. Adrienne is an assistant professor of chemistry
at Columbia College.
Maryam Kamran went on to obtain
a Master’s in Biology from Youngstown
State and is currently pursuing a PhD in Biological
Sciences with a focus on Animal Behavior at
Bowling Green State University.
’10
Jasmine Davis recently attended Gen
Con in Indianapolis as a finalist in the
Tabletop Deathmatch, a national board game design
competition. She is one of 16 finalists to have
her game, Cool Table, published. When she’s not
designing games, she’s busy working in social media
for a Pittsburgh startup.
Amanda Vranka Ostendorf is a Special
Education Teacher in Baltimore County Public
Schools and has a two year-old son.
’03
Jen Novotny writes, “How to
report summer 2013? A time whose
equal has not been seen. After years of study in
archaeology, she is now officially a PhD! And if
that hadn’t left her crazed and harried, she also
managed to get married. On a rainy June day
in old Glasgow, Dr. Johnston wed Dr. No. Then
home to PA to celebrate a second wedding on
a second date. Though missing Reunion left her
glum, she still managed to see her Chatham
chums. All in all, a wonderful year, that’s left her
smiling from ear to ear.”
’04
Jamie Baker graduated with her
Master’s in Public Health in May from
University of South Florida. She works at a local
Area Agency on Aging as the Director of Healthcare
Initiatives. Jamie oversees the Care Transitions
Program that includes hospital partnerships
working to reduce readmission rates, a charge in
the Affordable Healthcare Act. She also oversees
the evidence-based health and wellness education
programs and seasonal health initiatives. She hopes
to see classmates at Reunion!
Amanda Mosley Butts is still keeping the
Howe-Childs Gate House afloat and loves seeing all
of her repeat guests and working closely with the
student employees of the Gate House. Adam and
Amanda welcomed their third child in September
2013, another baby boy, Beau Regis, who joined
Brady Alexander and Blake Nicholas!
’05
Patricia Chicka will be pursuing
certification in massage therapy at the
Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy starting in
26
’10
Alese Underwood began her
career in TV news reporting in Erie,
PA at WJET. Now she has been living in
Shreveport, LA reporting for NBC affiliate
KTAL-NBC 6. Alese loves her southern life,
Cajun cooking, and Mardi Gras! The picture
is with main anchor/mentor Nick LaFave
broadcasting live from the Krewe of Gemini
float loading party.
In Memory
We mourn to passing of alumni and friends
of Chatham and celebrate their lives at our
annual memorial service during Reunion
Weekend. Information about deceased
alumni may be submitted to the Office of
Alumni Relations at alumni@chatham.edu
or by mail to Chatham University, Office
of Alumni Relations, Woodland Road,
Pittsburgh, PA 15232.
Chaquica Shipman recently completed the Basic
Science portion of medical school and is currently
living in Shadyside studying for the USMLE Step 1
Exam. After spending almost two years abroad, it
feels good to be back home in Pittsburgh and right
down the street from her alma mater.
’12
Elizabeth Dorssom has been selected
as an intern for the U.S. State Department.
Throughout the year-long internship, she will be
analyzing USAID project evaluations. She is very
excited and honored to be selected, as there were
over 2,600 applicants for this internship.
Alexis Spencer can’t believe it’s been a year, but
she’s excited to have the privilege of coming back
to Chatham for PT school. She can’t wait to see old
friends and make new ones too.
’13
Rose Smiechowski has accepted
a position as an AmeriCorps Public Ally
in Pittsburgh, and will be working as a program
coordinator for Pittsburgh Botanic Garden during her
term.
Thelma Golden Charen ’36
Marjorie Stewart Smoyer ’37
Ruth Patton Kamuf ’42
Phyllis Tross Blackshaw ’43
Virginia Speer Baldwin ’44
Ruth Jenkins Horsburgh ’45
Virginia Vogt McDermott ’46
Janet Bovard Poole ’46
Norma MacMillen Morris ’48
Marilyn Rickel Hetzel ’50
Nancy Baker Fekety ’51
Janet Geiersbach Barr ’53
Joan Frasher Koerner ’54
Joyce T. Schafer ’54
Sally Schmidt Gregerson ’57
Sara Dalglish Tulczyjew ’62
Jane Hanley ’67
Marjorie Wolff Klingener ’79
Grania Feddis Anderson ’79
Leonoor Mastboom Zehner ’80
Robyn Ross ’81
Holly Brown-Kmetz ’84
Georgianna Hillenbrand ’86
Mary Pamela Kilgore ’87
Donna Weaver ’95
Lori Rollin ’03
Kasia Mitchell, MSCP ’06
C l ass N otes
Graduate Alumni
’00
Laura Banta Huth, MOT and her
family welcomed Claire last October
and have had fun watching Katie and Mary turn
into fabulous big sisters. Laura is working parttime as an occupational therapist and helps out
at Chatham most semesters, so she doesn’t have
much downtime! She and her family have been
to Gettysburg and spent lots of time boating this
summer. She and Patrick are planning a trip to the
Finger Lakes for some sunshine and wine!
’06
Laura Bell, MAOCP has served as
Program Director in the Department of
Family and Community Health at the University of
Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD since
2011. Prior to that, she spent six years as Program
Manager for the NIH K12 Roadmap Initiative career
development program at the University of Maryland’s
School of Medicine.
’08
John Yeager, MSCP and his wife
welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Grace
Yeager, into the world on May 26, 2013.
’09
Penny Schnarrs, MBA completed
a master’s certificate in organizational
learning from Northeastern. She also married her
partner Melissa last October. They moved back to
Pittsburgh after living in Arlington, VA for three
years and purchased their first home. They now
are residents of historic Glenshaw. Penny is also
excited to return to higher education when she
begins her new position of director of donor relations
and development communications at Point Park
University this fall.
Jacqueline A. Travisano, MBA was
recognized by the Boys & Girls Club of Broward
County, FL as one of the 100 Outstanding Women of
Broward County.
’10
Pamela Herron, MFACW will have her
first book of poetry published this November
by Unsolicited Press. En L’air is a collection of
nature poems, most of which were written while
flying far above the earth. She also has a poem in
the upcoming anthology Dog Days by Lost Tower
Publications. She teaches English, Humanities,
Confucianism and Chinese Culture at the University
of Texas at El Paso.
Adrienne Dodd Steppe, MOT was married on
June 8, 2013 to Adam Steppe.
’11
Melanie Linn Gutowski, MPW is the
author of Pittsburgh’s Mansions (Arcadia
Publishing), a pictorial history of the area’s stately
homes releasing in August 2013. Many Chatham
buildings are featured.
’12
Melissa Bender, MOT was recently
voted Fitness Magazine’s Reader’s Choice
Winner in the Face of Fitness Competition. There
were over 2,000 entrants in the competition. Her
interview can be found on Fitness Magazine’s
website at fitnessmagazine.com/health/superstars/
face-of-fitness-finalists.
Sue Nelko Carr, MFACW recently published the
first in a series of guest blogs on the Mrs. Green’s
World website (mrsgreensworld.com) about her
journey of “going green” as a frugal mom
Laura Jackson, MPW is currently seeking
employment in the fields of graphic design, web
design, and writing.
Kathryn Zaksek, MBA has continued to work
for the Bank of New York Mellon since graduating
from Chatham. She currently works in their Voluntary
Corporate Actions department.
’11
Brenda L. Douglass, DNP
writes: “This year our ‘Chatham
Chicks’ group enjoyed a lovely Caribbean
Cruise. Besides excellent academic
opportunities, Chatham was a special place
where friendships formed and bonds have
remained. We were missing two ‘chicklin’s’
who were not able to be with us but were in
spirit – Nancy Dhonau and Karen Gregory.”
27
there’s no place
like chatham
Alumnae
Reunion
Weekend
Ce
leb
June 6-8, 2014
ng
rati classes en
ding in
s
9
nd
a
s
4
There’s no place
like Chatham’s campus to
reconnect with friends,
faculty, and classmates
. . .Oh my!
• Follow the Yellow Brick Woodland Road to
traditional events like the All Alumnae President’s
Reception, University Update, and Bloody Mary &
Mimosa Reception.
• Who’s the Man Behind the Curtain? It’s revered
professor, Tom Hershberger, Ph.D. who served
Chatham for nearly 40 years, returning to campus
to share his “last lecture” with alumnae.
• And you’ll be off to see Chatham Eastside and
Eden Hall Campus to explore Chatham’s plans for
the future.
• You’re not in Kansas anymore! Relive your
residential experience in on-campus housing
available at Rea House.
Use your magic to inspire your classmates to attend
Reunion and welcome them back to Chatham by
serving as a Reunion Class Ambassador! Contact
alumni@chatham.edu or 412-365-1255 to learn more.
Click your heels. . .then click here for more info:
chatham.edu/reunion
Join Chatham University in celebrating the 2013-14 Global Focus: Year of the Andes
The Best of
Peru &
Ecuador
Your 16-day journey will begin in Lima, Peru, and continue
on through ruins in Cusco, Ecuador, an Inca fortress in
Ollantaytambo, the sacred citadel of Machu Picchu, and the
beautifully preserved colonial city of Cuenca, Ecuador. At
every site, professional guide Sebastian Jurado (an Andean
native with a master’s degree in social sciences and sustainable
development) will provide contextual background and historical
information under the aegis of Blue Odyssey Travel and Perry
Robertson, son of Anne Nerin ’51.
Travel with President Esther Barazzone
The tour can accommodate between eight and 20 guests, with
costs starting at $5,995 per person. Price includes all lodging,
meals, guiding, entrance fees, and land transportation, but does
not cover flights, taxes, or insurance.
April 23-May 8, 2014
For more information or to register, contact Cori Begg, director
of alumni relations, at 412-365-1255 or alumni@chatham.edu.
A 16-Day Andean Adventure
29
Beatty House
Woodland Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
412-365-1517
alumni@chatham.edu
There’s something new on the horizon.
Chatham University’s new Eden Hall Campus is here.
Eden Hall Campus is the first in the world built from the ground up for the study of
sustainable living, learning, and development. Using the latest in environmentally
responsible technology and innovation, it will be self-sustaining in every way
– emitting zero carbon emissions, producing more energy than it consumes,
and managing all storm and waste water on-site. Home to the Falk School of
Sustainability and undergraduate and graduate programs in sustainability, food
studies, and more, Eden Hall will help create a brighter, healthier tomorrow for us all.
Visit chatham.edu/edenhall for the latest information.

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