Class Notes
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Don Lamson ’48 on his homemade skis at age 12
1949
Joan Boodey Lamson
I haven’t heard from any ’49ers, except our Class President Dick Dart, and I have only received obituaries from Durham, so to keep the interest of you, ’49ers, and maybe entice some younger UNHers to read, and be amazed at how we lived in the past, I will start each class letter with a true story. Don Lamson ’48, who was in his twelfth year, and grew up in Bristol, decided he wanted a pair of skis, and the only way to get them was to make them himself. He got two long narrow boards and curved the front ends up by steaming them overnight in the town’s crutch factory. He cut-up a pair of his Dad’s old rubber boots, so his boots fit inside them, and attached them to his skis. Don climbed every hill around Bristol and skied down. One day in March he decided it would be great to make his own maple syrup. He attached two Mason jars to his strong leather belt and skied to a nearby farm, where the friendly farmer let him fill his two jars from a pail on one of his maple trees. At home Don put the sap in a big pot on the kitchen’s wood burning stove. Then he sat down in the living room and turned on the radio. Don was intently listening to “Tom Mix”, when he heard strange noises from the big farm-style kitchen. He hurried into the steamed-up kitchen and saw four layers of wallpaper sliding off the walls. Would you believe that when his mother came home, she was just a little upset! Gwendolyn Collins ’24 from Pembroke, a sophomore at UNH is the class of 1949’s scholarship winner for the 2021-2022 school year. She is an enthusiastic linguistics major, who is hoping to minor in Arabic. “I love learning about different cultures and languages,” said Gwen. “Also, I am part of the Mental Health Awareness and Destigmatization Task Force with the Hamel Scholars program, which is an issue that is very near and dear to my heart.” Gwen thanks us very much for our scholarship to her; and we ’49ers can all be proud that we helped Gwen, a lovely, thoughtful talented girl, become a UNHer. Norma McClelland Sands of Jaffrey died on Oct.6, 2021. She was born and grew up in Rochester with her sister, Elizabeth McClelland York ’47. Music was always part of her life. She went on to UNH for a year, before entering the New England Baptist School of Nursing. Norma’s year at UNH was very important; because she met Harold Sands “on an arranged date” and after she received her RN she married Harold, on Sept 24, 1949. He had graduated the previous June at UNH with a mechanical engineering degree. They resided in Jaffrey and raised their three children there. Norma was a visiting nurse for the Monadnock VNA for 19 years. Then, she and her son Robert, started Sandsridge Farm growing hydroponic lettuce for grocery and restaurant industries for 16 years. And then, busy Norma retired to spend more time enjoying her family. Norma and Harold (predeceased) are survived by their three children, Robert Sands and his wife, Debbie Sands Moore ’74, Ellen Sands ’76 and her husband, and three grandchildren. Their first great grandchild was born on the day Norma died, Oct. 6, 2021. Charlotte Brown Taylor of Exeter died on Oct. 25, 2021, at Riverwoods where she had been living. Charlotte’s dad was superintendent at the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem for 53 years, so Charlotte and her two brothers had wonderful childhoods in the White Mountains living in the Red House on the farm’s 1,400 acres. After graduating as valedictorian from Bethlehem High School she entered UNH and graduated with a degree in home economics. Charlotte married Robert “Bob” Taylor and they settled in Exeter, where Bob managed the Exeter Inn. Together they happily raised their four children, including John ’75, Peggy, Bruce and Nancy ’81 Charlotte taught home economics for 33 years in the Exeter schools. Upon retirement she started her dream job as a grandmother of eight, and later of six great grandchildren. Dick Dart lives with his daughter, Deb, and her husband in Blacksburg, Virginia. Deb takes him to a nearby pool five times a week, where he can wake up his legs by walking in the water. If you are over 90, you can sympathize with Dick, whose legs are 96, while his mind is 49. Of course, you may not have legs that played 4-star basketball in high school and at UNH!
1953
Ann Burghardt
Marilyn Loomis Hartell writes that last year she, with some friends, rented a barge for a week in Alsace, France, then traveled to Strausburg and on to Normandy, then to Paris before heading home. This year, she said, travels will be in this country. She frequently goes to concerts and plays in Washington which is close to her Potomac Falls, Virginia, home. I received a Christmas card from Joan Shaw Waldron, now in an assisted living community. “My apartment is lovely, and the people are wonderful to me. I am very lucky,” said Joan. Nancy Guay Spencer in Rhododendron, Oregon wrote that she had been doing volunteer work at the local museum. Sad news: Charlie Eager died at his home in Venice, Florida, on Nov. 16, 2021, following five years of dialysis. He majored in sociology, was a member of Theta Chi, and played varsity lacrosse for three years. Charlie served in the Marine Corps, and was co-owner of CranBarry Inc., in Marblehead, Massachusetts, tennis and golfing, before retiring to Florida where he was president of the Southwest Florida Alumni Chapter in the early 2000s. Remember the donations you made years back to our class scholarship fund? That money was well spent because the 1953 Endowed Scholarship Fund is still helping students, the latest of whom are Kelsey Dawson ’21 of Brentwood who graduated with a bachelor’s in nursing; Patrick Duggan ’24, of Laconia, and Tyler Bernard ’25 of Salem. Class sympathy to George Lyon whose wife of 66 years, Kay Massey Lyon ’55, died at the same extended care facility where he is in California. What are you up to? Do drop a card, a note, a letter, even a short story with your news, no matter if it’s mowing the lawn and not leaping over tall buildings in a single bound. What are your fondest memories of UNH? Does a band playing remind you of parading up Main Street on spring Thursday afternoons in your ROTC uniform? Does new snow make you think of helping with Winter Carnival sculptures? Can you still hear your favorite professor explaining a particular point? Would love to hear from you.
1955
John Everson
Marge Helfrich Johnston recently lost her battle with cancer, a person devoted to UNH and secretary of our class for many years. Marge and Bill were on Reunion Committees over the years and were very supportive of class activities. She will be missed. Bill is living in Novi, Michigan. After retiring from a career with the Ford Motor Co. Norris Browne reports his team is anxious to get going on another football season with a new coach and some wonderful new recruits. He hopes for around 20 of our class to join him. Norris obtains a block of seats every year, and Marilyn Tracy ’58 gets the reservations made at Newsome’s on Dover Point for lunch or dinner. Contact Marilyn at tracygallery@msn.com or by phone (518) 583-4072 for schedules, times etc. It’s a great way to enjoy fall football at UNH. Got a nice note from Toni Pappas saying she and Bill Pappas are doing well in Manchester and try to make it over to campus as often as possible to attend various sporting events. Recently Bill and Len Willey were honored at a basketball game. They have moved from the Seacoast to Manchester, where they both enjoy all that is going on, and often attend many UNH functions. Sue Ann and Bob Hicks are living in Goodyear, Arizona, where they are enjoying life after Bob retired from 27 years in the Air Force, and enjoy watching coyotes and other animals in their back yard. Chan Sanborn and I attended a recent alumni meeting of southwest Florida, unfortunately we were the only ’55s in attendance. President James Dean informed us that UNH had just received a $250 million mission, the largest NASA contract in UNH’s history. Nice to know UNH has gained such stature. UNH Athletic Director Marty Scarano and Sean McDonnell ’78, head football coach, were honored for years of service and are now retired. Chan had recently been in touch with Jim Poteet, now permanently living in Port Orange, Florida. Tom Volpe of Laconia reports that Jack and Patty Weeks are residents at Taylor Homes in Laconia, both living in assisted living, but doing well. Tom lost his wife a few years ago and sold his successful insurance agency. He and Chan started their careers in 1958 at the New Hampshire Insurance Group in Manchester. Art Bishop writes he and his wife are enjoying life in Huntington Beach, California. They have five grandchildren and claim their life revolves around them. John Rodda lives in Rocky River, Ohio. He lost his wife in 2015 but still manages to get around and keep involved in all that is happening in the world today. Dee Rudnick Gozonsky is living in Princeton Junction, New Jersey. Still participates in many meaningful Zoom lectures and stays involved with book and movie clubs. Kent Keith and Meredith are in Grand Junction, Colorado, and doing OK with only a few aches and pains. Didn’t make it to Mexico this year for vacation, but plan to visit Palm Springs next year. Professor Doug Jones sends info that he and Darlene are in Columbus, Ohio, for most of the year, but manage to spend their summer months at the shore in Hampton. Every year they take in a few UNH football games. Doug and former UNH President Joan Leitzel currently sit on the same faculty committee at Ohio State. Dave Pope sent word he and Woodie returned from their winter home in North Conway to Hampton; skiing was not that good this year. Sylvia Hurlock Dowst writes she is living in Havenwood Heritage Heights in Concord. Sylvia still loves music and remembers how much joy she got from playing the carillons at T-Hall as an undergraduate. She and husband Bob were thankful for the excellent educational foundation they received at UNH. Ruth Roberts Schenck is living in Keene. She and Bill still enjoy life in New Hampshire (oddly enough her husband and my brother graduated from the same college together). Chan Blodgett states in the ’60s he practiced medicine at the Mayo Clinic, then moved to the Geisinger Medical Center in Pennsylvania, where he helped to establish the Arthritis and Rheumatology Dept. In the 1980s he became vice president of clinical research for Smith Kline and French. He and Betty have retired in Bradford where he has served as president of the Sutton Historical Society, but still enjoys traveling to their homes in Pennsylvania and the Virgin Islands. Eliot Jameson and Lois are now back in Branford, Connecticut, after spending 20 years in Florida and retiring from ATT in 1993; now spending time enjoying their four children and life by the shore. Paula and Jim Shira are still in the Denver area and say it’s great living in an area with lots of sunshine, mountain views and snow. Nice having family close by as well. In loving memory of a few of our friends who have recently departed. Douglas Rennie, August 2021. He is survived by his wife Emily Pickett Rennie ’54 of Ramsey, New Jersey, and three daughters. Doug was very active in Bergen County and was N.J. Legislative Assembly District 40 chairman and first chairman of the County Board of Ethics. He tutored for the Bergen County Project Literacy and was honored in 1995 as the outstanding literacy tutor of the year. Always one for adventure, he kept his pilot’s license close by. Carl O. Nelson of Medway, Massachusetts, passed away on Jan. 16, 2022. Carl went to work for Raytheon in 1958, retiring in 1983. After retirement he and Doris spent many warm summer months in New Durham and the rest of the year in Venice, Florida. Kay Lyon passed away in December 2021 in Escondido, California. She lived and loved her career teaching special ed in New Hampshire and Illinois until she and George moved to California to retire. Barbara Elmes died in November 2021. After graduation, she received her master’s in education from Boston College. She was gifted with an eye for beauty, style and design. She was, for many years, an accredited judge and landscape design master. She resided in Weston, Massachusetts. Elinor J. LaFleur Olson passed away in September 2021 at her home in Deep River, Connecticut. She was member of Phi Mu and met her husband, John ’57, at UNH. For 60 years the couple resided in Deep River. Today’s John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center at UNH is named for him. Please send me a note on something you feel great about, that happened in the past 67 years as a result of your UNH education, so I will have something for our next class notes.
1956
Joan Zing Holroyd
News from the Alumni Office informed me of the death of 16 more classmates. In Nov. 2020 we lost Betty Benjamin of Hampton. Born in Concord and raised in Manchester, she spent her entire career with New England Telephone. Betty was devoted to her West Highland Terriers, many friends, nieces and nephews. Gerald Goodrich Hewey died on Nov. 30, 2020. He grew up in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he and his twin brother joined the Army at age 17. Jerry, an expert skier, settled in Aspen, Colorado, where he managed a condo group. He went on to become chairman of the CO-WY hotel association. He married Roz Bernstein, a ski instructor for 37 years. Jerry’s other hobby was acting — he and Roz were in many off-season productions. They retired to Denver, where Roz, three children, and seven grandchildren survive. Robert “Bob” Harrington passed away at home in Ormond Beach, Florida, on Dec. 13, 2020. He was predeceased by wife, Joan and two grandchildren. Early on, his hometown was Dover, but he worked in Juvenile Services in Illinois and Maryland. David C. Drescher died at home in Nashua on Dec. 28, 2020. His early years were spent in Manchester, where he received a degree in math from St. Anselm’s. He then studied E.E. at UNH class of ’56, and earned an MS at WPI. Dave worked for Sanders (30 years) and coached a baseball team for 54 years. A field was named in his honor and he was inducted into the Cal Ripken Hall of Fame. He is survived by his widow, two sons and two daughters. The last death of 2020 was Emogene Libby, who for 50 faithfully wrote our class letters. As the only child of a military family, she moved often. After earning a BA at UNH, she became an RN at Mass General Hospital. She was a member of several choirs, and also of the DAR. Emogene was interested in promoting Native American culture. She donated her collection of native dolls to the Smithsonian. Her family included two daughters and two grandchildren. We lost an active member of our class on Jan. 21, 2022, in Exeter, where he was considered a ‘native.’ John Dodge was a member of Theta Chi and our house-boy at Chi Omega. He received a BS in agriculture, then an MS and a PhD. in marketing from Purdue. John became the director of research and development for Agway in Syracuse, New York. By 1975 he opened Dodge’s Agway in Hampton Falls and soon acquired stores in Stratham and Exeter. John was a dedicated fire warden, serving many seacoast communities. He leaves his wife, Nancy, six children, many ‘grands’ and ‘great-grands’. From Stevens Point, Wyoming, we learned of the death of Deacon Hugh Walker. He spent his childhood in Nashua, and in ’56 earned a BS in history. At UNH he participated in football and lacrosse, and was a member of Kappa Sigma. After graduation he enrolled in NROTC; when commissioned, he served aboard a destroyer in East Asia. Marriage found him at UCLA, where he developed skills in Chinese and Japanese, leading to a Chinese graduate program at Yale. In ’62 they moved to Tokyo, where he taught history and Chinese at the U.Md. branch there. In 1965 he was appointed professor of History and Chinese in Wisconsin, where he established 37 courses in Asian Studies. Hugh received a PhD from UCLA, and taught until 2005. Richard (Dick) Martin died in Wilton, Connecticut, after a battle with cancer. Hailing from Laconia, he received a BS and a commission in the Air Force. Married to Cora Pettit, Dick became a pilot. After six years he enrolled in an MBA program at UMI. His career included positions with Arthur Young and Gateway Financial Corp. He, with family, often vacationed on Cape Cod and in New Hampshire. Survivors include Cora, a daughter, three sons, and three grandchildren. We lost Richard Poulin of Salem. Dick majored in Economics, and married wife Eleanor before service in Japan with the USAF. They returned to Salem where Dick joined Sanders (now BAE), retiring in 1990. Dick played an active role in town government. He leaves Ellie, one daughter, two sons, and three granddaughters. Jere Beckman, DVM died on October 11, 2021, after lifetime service to farm animals. He was a native of the Panama Canal Zone and Long Beach, California. His degree at UNH was in poultry science, followed by vet school at UCDavis. Returning to New Hampshire, he and wife Diethild settled in south Lee. The entire seacoast region benefited from his focus on cows and horses. In addition to his widow, he leaves two sons and a brother. Also in October we lost Ralph (Bud) deAngelis, a Concord native, whose insurance business took him to Cape Elizabeth, Maine. He loved the Red Sox and was always involved in coaching youth sports. Bud and a friend established the Maine Sports Network. He was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Ross ’53, and leaves a daughter, a son and four grandchildren. Frances Legallee Barnes passed away from pancreatic cancer at home in Raymond on Nov. 12, 2021. She married classmate Jack Barnes, and together they owned and operated the local McDonald’s. After retiring, Fran made patchwork quilts for seven children and seven grandchildren. She is also survived by husband Jack. Also in November we lost Margo Krook Betz of Clearwater, Florida. Her early years were in New Ipswich followed by a major in microbiology. Margo went on to work in many labs and hospitals. She created exquisite rock gardens and had a love of the arts. Two daughters and four ‘grands’ survive. Lastly, Virginia Wiegand Clifford, a NYC native who spent her teen years on the family farm in Franklin, died on Dec. 4, 2021, in Gilford. Her major was horticulture. While earning an MS, she married Robert, and they soon started their family. Ginny raised fruits, vegetables and chickens, sewed clothing for herself and the children and provided wreaths and swags for local businesses. When the children were all in school, she became the County 4H agent, sparking creativity in local schools and offering classes in crafts at home. Her career continued until 1995, when she retired from UNH’s Cooperative Extension, kept busy selling her crafts and crops. A haven for her four children, nine grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, she also sheltered many pets. Ginny will be missed by her large extended family, as well. I also wish to report the deaths of two graduate students as follows: Theodore (Ted) Snowe of Malvern, Pennsylvania, Dec. 12, 2021. He received a BA at Tufts in ’51 before the MA at UNH in 1956. Very shortly thereafter Bernard Fried, a graduate of NYU who received an MS at UNH in ’56, and a PhD from UConn. He resided in Easton, Pennsylvania, and had been a professor of biology at Lafayette College from 1963 until retirement in 2000. Enough of obituaries — please send your news for our next edition, slated to come out in February 2023.
1957
Nancy Jillson Glowacki
“A lifetime is the material that each of us has to work with. Until this span is over, we are all still in process, in the midst of an unfinished story. What we do with our lives is our magnum opus, or great work of personal creativity. Hopefully, we have come to see ourselves and others as soul rather than ego. Aging well is a goal worth wanting.” — Jean Shinoda Bolen, author and activist. GOOD NEWS! Soon we will have news and photos of the 1957 65th reunion to share from June 2022. For the first time, we welcomed classmates BOTH “LIVE” AND BY ZOOM to be together for some of the events! PEOPLE NEWS IN THE MOMENT: Priscilla Daggett in Vermont shared a letter and email…reach out to her at daggett57@gmail.com. “Hello, classmates. I’ve lived in Vermont for many years, but I still cherish the memories of New Hampshire. I miss my dear sister Barbara ’56 who passed away before Christmas 2019. I live alone (no, not alone — I have an elderly cat) on a dirt road, in a neighborhood where we all know and help each other! I retired in 2002 from the state of Vermont as an unemployment claims adjudicator. Until recently, I had an active life as a member of the Green Mountain Club, hiking, skiing, and bicycling. I sang in the Onion River Chorus for many years and participated in local political and humanities groups. The pandemic slowed me down along with the advancing frailties of age. Sound familiar? But basically, I, my son and daughter, wonderful son-in-law, and two grandsons , are all are doing well! I wish fervently for peace, for the suffering people of Ukraine, and for all of the rest of us.” NEWS OF THE HEART: Six more classmates have passed, and we have received their incredible personal life stories…all well-loved people living very full lives. Joseph Donald Silva, of Milford, Oct. 19,2021. Joe had many “titles” and interests including a bachelor’s and master’s in British literature, Along the path , he was a traveler, a pastor, a teacher and a prolific writer including a play titled “My Henry” about Henry David Thoreau. David Clement, of Manchester, Oct. 24. 2021. David was a UNH Thompson School of Agriculture graduate who then lived on his Jockey Hill Farm. Maple syrup, well-known Ayrshire cattle, combined with loyalty to New England sports clubs, community service, constable, health officer, rural mail carrier, Elks and Lions clubs, grange officer, conservation and a large loving family made for a very full life! Carolyn Campbell, Hopkinton, Nov. 22, 2021. Carolyn earned a bachelor’s in social work with a lengthy career to follow, including American Red Cross administration and disaster relief across the U.S. Her affable nature, compassion and personal touch led her to serve in a management role in the Massachusetts Dept. of Employment and Training from which she retired after touching countless lives. Richard Downing, Dover, Dec. 6, 2021. He was a mechanical engineer graduate of UNH and added 23 active years in the Army to retire as a lieutenant colonel. His life was further filled with 37 years at Moore Business Forms locations, being a private pilot, church life, a myriad of outdoor activities and sports, and extensive travels worldwide! Top that off with a loving family and 12 grandchildren. Jean S. Rand of Columbia, Connecticut , Dec. 30, 2021. Originally from Derry, she married David after her UNH graduation, went on to Connecticut to obtain a master’s degree in education and then created a career as a reading and writing educator promoting children’s literacy. She was an avid outdoors person as well as a pianist who loved sharing music , and quilting and volunteering! Robert Dana Paul Ed.D., of Newark New Jersey, Jan. 15, 2022. Originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, he and Rita had four children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grands. Bob majored in and later taught music education. Many of us remember the fun energy of his music renditions at UNH but also his accomplished pen and ink drawings, especially one of T-Hall he printed out for a 1957 reunion! His long career of teaching, playing, and administrating including three different stints in a superintendent of schools role in Melrose, Amesbury, and Cranford New Jersey. “It’s never too late to be your best friend; you’ll be together until the end. It’s never too late to love you!” (lyrics by Nancy Glowacki, 2001)
1958
Peggy Ann Shea
Each year the university reports the status of the two funds established by our class. As of June 30, 2021, the Music Fund value was $109,203 and the Scholarship Fund was $133,105. Donations were received for each fund during the UNH fiscal year. Jonathan Kimball ’24 of Hampton, was the latest recipient (21-22 academic year) of a scholarship from the Class of 1958 Endowed Scholarship Fund. He has two majors: History and Economics. Mary Ann (Stone) and David Chase are moving permanently to their home on Durham Point having completed their extensive remodeling project. After living 23 years in San Rafael, California, Richard (Dick) Gaudette has moved to Leawood, Kansas, and is living at a retirement home where he gives piano recitals. He has a defibrillator, pacemaker and artificial heart valve; his daughter, an MD, and her husband are looking after his well-being. Frank and Mary (Todt) Johnson wrote that they prefer a hard copy of the UNH Magazine rather than the digital version, a feeling shared by other alumni. Bobbie (Lachance) and Bob Juster are living at Bentley Village in Naples, Florida. They are very proud of a granddaughter who is a third-generation UNH graduate. Every winter they see Mary Ann and David Chase who have a condo in Naples. Polly (Lessard) McDonough does historical decorative painting, and her husband, Jack McDonough, walks four miles a day and reads a lot of History. A grandson will be a freshman at UNH this year. Polly wrote that she has recently spoken to Susan (Keene) Proctor and Nancy (Corey) May and plans to see Betsy Niece in the summer. Donald (Ossie) McLeod and his wife split their time between Hawaii and Durham. They are living at River Woods in Durham and enjoy the many activities available including lectures given by UNH professors. Bill Nelson has moved into a retirement home. He is still active in the Ipswich Rotary and his church. Janet (Conger) Parsons does a lot of reading and sings in a local chorus in Keene. Alan Vincent is recovering from a hip replacement at his home in Dubuque, Iowa. He extends a big “hello” to all of his “old” classmates. Dorothy (Strong) Williamson lost her husband in 2016 but reports she is fortunate to have family nearby in the Newburyport, Massachusetts, area. Her granddaughter has just been accepted for the CEPS at UNH. My husband and I divide our time between Nashua and Maui. We are still active in our careers as space physicists and were co-authors on a recent publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. We have lost the following classmates: Francis A. Bellefeuille (Pinellas Park, Florida) earned a MS in engineering management at Northeastern University in 1969 and was later employed as a missile design engineer by the Raytheon Company for 32 years. Beverly Ann (Fritz) Collymore (Portsmouth) brought positive energy to any conversation and loved music and dancing. Anne Marie (Fecteau) Cullity (Rye) was actively engaged in local and national politics. She was a supporter of local arts and culture, serving on the N.H. Film Bureau and assisting in the production of several films. After graduation, John Eckels (Middlebury, Vermont) received a MS in mathematics and taught math and coached skiing at Middlebury Union High School for 30 years. He was a judge for the biathlon ski event at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. During his retirement years he enjoyed beekeeping, vegetable gardening and traveling. Joseph S. Fleming (Westborough, Massachusetts) owned and operated J.S. Fleming Associates an HVAC company prior to his retirement. He enjoyed snowmobiling, hunting and skiing. Leonti F. Kravchuk (Easton, Massachusetts) served in the Army as a helicopter pilot and later attended night school at Suffolk University taking accounting courses to procure employment as a criminal investigator with the IRS. After 20 years with the IRS, Leo enjoyed travelling and reading. He had a fascinating life as detailed in a 99-line obituary. Charles Lemeland (Concord) was a life-long French teacher, teaching at Cornell University, Wells College, Boston College, Wheaton College and ultimately at St. Paul’s School in Concord. He retired after 23 years of teaching at St. Paul’s. He was an avid reader and a great appreciator of nature. Robert Dana Paul, Jr. (Cranford, New Jersey) began his career as music director at Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut. While teaching he earned a MA in education from the University of Connecticut and Ed.D in public school administration from Boston University after which he moved from the classroom to administration. He served as superintendent of schools in Cranford for 15 years. Sandra (Peary) Walker (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) was employed by the UCLA Antibiotic Research Laboratory working on some of the first Staphylococcus antibiotic research in the country. Later moving to Tokyo with her husband, she learned the art of Japanese flower arranging and became a licensed teacher in the Sogetsu Ikebana School. Later she was employed at Sentry Insurance in the international division until her retirement. It is not possible to include more details of our deceased classmates; however, I have copies of obituaries that I will share upon request.
1959
Diane “Dini” Woods
Allan Sawyer writes, “Lynne and I are still living in Casa Grande Arizona, mid-way between Phoenix and Tucson. No serious health issues and still traveling when COVID permits. We had to cancel two trans-Atlantic cruises in the past two years. We are going to try a river cruise on the Mississippi this May and a Med cruise from Barcelona to Ft. Lauderdale in Nov. Other than that, we have kids and grandkids showing up when the weather in the north gets bad. I also stay in touch with Jay Purdy via phone and e-mail. Hope this finds you hale and hearty.” Diane (Howe) Lenters writes that she and her crew are well, having laid low during the pandemic (got their shots). “Our kids and grandkids are all spread out over the USA and have their own stories(!) re Covid. Our only travel has been here in Michigan. I’m focusing on the good stories that came out of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as well. I keep in touch with Mary Jo in Florida. Best regards to our classmates; the 50’s, those were the best days!” Evelyn Hall Brenton wrote with sad news, that her husband, Donald ’58, Lambda Chi Alpha, died on their 63rd anniversary on December 27, 2021. “We had been living in Naples, Florida but I am planning on returning to Connecticut for the summer and fall. We have two sons, David and Keith. Three granddaughters all chose schools other than UNH. I occasionally hear from my sorority sister Judy Patch McAllister but other than that have lost track of my Alpha Xi Delta sisters.” Sigmund Langvik says he regrets not making more of an effort to attend our 60th. He and wife Ingrid have good friends in Vermont and have come by UNH on their way there. “Surely a University we all can be proud of,” he says. “We live quietly and comfortably in our house on the island of Nesoya situated 10 miles west of Oslo. Our health is good, having avoided the corona, and have now received 3 and 4 vaccine injections. Our daughter Ragnhild lives in Cromwell, New Zealand, and due to the corona we have not met each other for about three years. Happily she and her three sons will be here this coming summer.” After he retired in 2003, he says he spent about 10 years on interesting projects as a consultant in the technical upgrading processes of mining various raw materials. He reports that Einar Bache passed away in Aug. 2020, and Tor Hansen passed away last fall. :From my many years in the USA we both have very close friends spread out over the U.S. continent and wish we could see them more often either here or there of course. We are still able to travel so it is a matter of priority, our longest journeys are to New Zealand, a most beautiful and likeable country. Best of greetings for the future, let’s pray for it to be peaceful.” Patricia Lovell Schulze says hello from German. She has a daughter and granddaughter living in London, and a son living near her. She’s travelled a bit: England, Scotland, Ireland, Rome, Israel, Jordan, Sinai, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, and the nearby places of Holland, Belgium, avoid France, Sweden (have a girlfriend there I met at camp in Harrison many years ago). “Sold my house in Harrison a couple of years ago. I wish I hadn’t but with Corona my husband and I couldn’t come over anyway. I usually meet up with a few classmates when I come over, Chickie, Bia and we lost Nancy; sad. With COVID we don’t go anywhere even though we have had three injections. And now the price of gasoline has gone up. I heard from a friend in California that it is now $6 a gallon. Ours is €2.24 per liter. Don’t know the exchange rate. No other news. We are all getting old.” Bob Pascucci feels fortunate to spend summers in the mountains of North Carolina and winters in Savannah, Georgia with wife Gail ’62 ( one of 17 moves). “We have been both fortunate and blessed over the years (62 years of marriage) and our beginning at UNH has helped pave the way.” Stan King is still at Falcons Landing a CCRC for military officers and senior civil servants in Potomac Falls, Virginia, (25 miles from DC). “I’m still driving but the pandemic has limited my trips to New England. Will be getting cataract surgery this spring but am otherwise in good health. Best wishes to everyone!” Robert Cain was inspired to write in to let us know he is still “above the sod” as he puts it! “I’m still kicking and in pretty good health for 85. Bad knees have curtailed my golf — which is hard in this year-round golf mecca of San Diego. I retired from the city of San Diego in 1999 after 39 years as a civil engineer. Linda and I have traveled extensively over the years, driving around the U.S. and Europe and cruising to many places. The pandemic has, of course, curtailed that and we are getting to an age where we just don’t look forward to airports, rental cars and the like any more. I stay connected to a couple of my Pike brothers: Bill Zimmerman ’58 and Bill Tighe ’60 and we reminisce about the fire engine, crazy time at Winter Carnival and fun with the Chi O gals across the street. I recently volunteered to send postcards to 10 prospective freshmen civil engineering majors encouraging them to choose UNH. I hope you and yours are well and we will hopefully get back to Durham for another reunion some day!” Eva Hathaway says hello from Cape Cod, and Bill Zeller writes in from Dunbarton: “It is a wonderful life, still quite active traveling around the U.S. in our RV, hiking, bicycling and canoeing. We have a camp in the north Maine woods where we spend the summer on a lake. I have been retired for 22 years and enjoying every day. We often travel to warmer places for the winter and have been in Florida for 10 weeks now but heading home next week. Hard to imagine over 60 years have passed since graduation, guess we are really the old farts now. Dorothy Lamb writes, “Hello to fellow classmates. I write to say that despite, or more appropriately because of, two hip replacements, one knee replacement, and the grateful recipient of a pacemaker as of June 2021, I am still living in my home in Springfield, Virginia, happy, and enjoying life. I am the mother of three, grandmother to four plus four stepgrandchildren and three greatgrandchildren. I continue flying or driving to visit family members. Life is good!” Robert R. Bussiere (‘Bob’) passed away in June 2020. After graduating from UNH in 1959 with a degree in civil engineering, Bussiere began a 50-plus year career in the steel and civil engineering industry, where he worked on projects from schools and skyscrapers to bridges and power plants. His friends and family, including Dan Bussiere ’89 and Jesse Ambrose ’04,’10G, have created a scholarship in his name to help students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. They choose to give back to the community that provided Bob with a strong foundation from which to launch a successful and fulfilling career.
1960
Estelle “Stella” Belanger Landry
What an enjoyable time my husband and I had at our 60th joint reunion with the classes of 1961 and 1962. Except for the traditional walk to join the president for lunch by class years, the misty and cool weather did not dampen any of the other activities. Seeing the growth and expansion of the college on our bus tour was truly amazing. The traditional lobster feed under a tent set up near THall was wonderful. It’s unfortunate, however, that there were not more of us from the Class of 1960. Of those who attended, I was happy to chat with the following: Allwynne McMullen Fine, Martin “Marty” Hall, Dale Hardy, Anne Wakefield Johnstone, Sam Paul, Margaret “Peggy” Champney Robertson, and Martha Taylor. I am sorry to say that there may have been others with whom I did not get a chance to chat. For the next couple of days, we took the opportunity to visit with and friends in New Hampshire before our return to New Jersey. In other news: Doug Blampied, who winters in Venice, Florida, emailed me mentioning that Sam Paul spent the first week in March visiting with he and wife Nancy. They played lots of golf and experienced some fine dining. Doug said that he has now resigned from the board of the South West Florida UNH Alumni Chapter after 20 years of service. In February, guest speakers at the chapter meeting included President James Dean, Marty Scarano and Sean McDonnell. It was a well-attended gathering with 65 alumni and friends. I have been informed by Gina Damiano, director of UNH Donor Relations, Stewardship and Compliance that Clarissa R. Gowing, who is majoring in English, was the recipient of the Class of 1960 Endowed Scholarship Fund. It now saddens me to list the names of six of our classmates who have left us. Patricia Brown Maxim, of Yarmouth, ME and formerly of Greenwich, New York, passed away at home on August 21, 2021. She taught high school music, English, a foreign language class in the Netherlands, and a money management class to recent immigrants. While retired, she enjoyed being a member of her book club, singing and playing piano, and cooking and baking. Tor K. Hansen died recovering from a surgery after a fall on August 25, 2021 in Spring Park, Minnestoa. After having served in the Norwegian Army, he came to UNH and majored in mechanical engineering. He had a successful career working for Hayden-Murphy Equipment as an engineer in sales. Thomas E. Platt died at his home in Casco, Maine, on September 8, 2021. Early in his marriage, he built his home in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he and his wife raised three children. He had an interesting work career having been the proud recipient of several patents in the development of Polaroid film while working as a polymer chemist at Polaroid Corporation. Additionally, he was a successful broker in the seafood industry, worked with his wife as a sales rep in the gift industry, and ended his career as a Realtor before retiring. Richard H. Brooks of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, passed away on October 10, 2021 at home. During the Korean Conflict, he served as a staff sergeant. He was an accounting major at UNH and became a CPA in 1962. Early on in his career, he worked for Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Co. In time, he started Brooks and Brooks, CPAs with his son. Adrienne R. “Susie” Beaudoin, of Berlin, died on November 23, 2021. She had worked in Washington as well as at Granite State, and most recently for the Department of Education in Massachusetts. It was noted that she was very talented and creative. She enjoyed needlework, knitting, crocheting, weaving, sewing, and drawing. Over the years, she kayaked, was a huge fan of science fiction, enjoyed Sudoku, and loved cats. Porter A. Young passed away peacefully on January 3, 2022 in Concord. He had served in the U.S. Navy for four years before entering UNH. His obituary read that he worked many places throughout his life, but he would be forever remembered and adored as a math and science teacher at Franklin Elementary School. Finally, I am again extending my best to Allison Battles ’02, who had previously served as class notes editor and announced her departure in December 2021. I now wish Michelle Morrissey ’97 well as she takes on her role as editor of the UNH Magazine.
1961
Pat Gagne Coolidge
June 2nd was the date, Durham the venue, 16 of our stalwart classmates and spouses joined together to celebrate our 61st reunion year. From as far away as southern France came: Lou and Pat D’Allesandro, Fred Dennen, Brian Fitzgerald, Penny Gage, Marcus Johnson, Forrest Knowles, Lois Magenau, Kathy Maxwell Fitzgerald, Art and Pam Monty, Ann Patch, Judy Thompson, Bill Tighe and Matthew Yakovakis. We enjoyed a very nice three-class luncheon (1960, 1961, 1962) as well as a delicious lobster dinner under the tent on campus to celebrate, reminisce and renew old friendships. Also included were campus tours and a Greek World presentation at the Elliott Alumni Center. Next planned reunion will be in June 2026. Richard S. Pike, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, passed away Feb. 8, 2022., at the age of 86. Please write this fall to share your news.
1962
Judy Dawkins Kennedy
Dorothea Docos Sanders and husband Larry live in Napa Valley, California, and spend much time in Greece where her family was born. Dotty and I were roommates in Sawyer Hall when it was all females. Great times! Peter Greer ’64G and wife Terry D’Ambrosia Greer ’64, Alpha Chi Omega, were married 49 years until her passing in 2012. Peter loved his 40 years as a teacher, elected school committee member, superintendent, headmaster, Boston University dean and professor, and deputy undersecretary of U.S. Education under the Reagan administration. After Terry died, Peter moved to Richmond, Virginia, with his two children, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. They always gather at his summer home at Sebago Lake, Maine. Peter has fond UNH memories of Freshman Camp, SAE, ROTC, Professor David Long and the lovely campus. Ron Noble ’65 retired airline pilot, sent news of Ken McKinnon receiving the James Desmaris Special Recognition Award, May 24, 2021. Ken holds the UNH hockey record for most goals in a game (6). He was the first UNH hockey team Canadian recruit. He coached in the Concord area in the 60s and 70s and started the Granite State Hockey League in 1963. Ken helped recruit Canadian players to UNH. As a UNH Hall of Famer, he had a 30-year career as an NIHOA referee and 25 years as an ECAC referee. Ken officiated the 1987 Bean Pot Tournament and nine NHIAA Championship games. He played in the Capital City Hockey League, 1983-1995 and the Lakes Region Legends, 1996-2020. He coached the Team USA in the 80+ year-olds, for two years before he was old enough to play, in the Canada 150 Hockey Cup Tournament. Ken says he had the best four years of his life at UNH. Our sympathy goes to Mary Ellen Moran who is mourning the loss of her husband, Jack, March 11, 2021, and her best friend, classmate, Sandra Mitchell Dyer, Portland, Maine. Mary Ellen and Sandy roomed together in Boston over a year after graduating from UNH. There they met their husbands. We send our condolences to the families and friends of Paul D’Allesandro, 80, who passed Aug. 28, 2021, after a short illness. Paul and Joyce Bond D’Allesandro were married over 55 years. Paul is survived by his brother and best friend Lou ’61, N.H. State Senator, three children and one grandchild. He was president and CEO of Crown Engineering Co. East Boston, Massachusetts, a family-owned Mechanical Contracting Business established in 1920. Paul played varsity football and lacrosse all four years at UNH. One of our favorite moments during football games was when the announcer said “tackle by the D’Allesandro brothers.” Paul and Lou were members for several years of the Providence Steam Rollers of the professional Atlantic Coast Football League. Paul was a great supporter of UNH and the Arlington Boys & Girls Club. He was a great person and friend. Janet Day Martin died July 7, 2021. She graduated from UNH with a degree in business and secretarial studies. She married Bruce Carter in 1962 and they were stationed around the country and the Philippines before settling back in New Hampshire in the 1970s. Janet worked at State Farm Insurance and earned her agent’s license. She worked with Toby & Merrill Insurance in Hampton for many years. After acquiring her real estate license, she worked for Caulfield Real Estate. She was very active in the church in Exeter and Rye. She was devoted to her family and friends. During one of our early reunions (15th, 20th?) Janet, Vic Battaglioli and Brad Thorp were instrumental in the hospitality for our class evening event that was enjoyed by all. Robin D. Steady, 81, died July 30, 2021. After graduation from UNH, he moved to Northfield in 1965. In 1975 Robin purchased the Gale Insurance Agency in Tilton, which he owned and operated for more than 46 years. He loved to spend time at his camp up north with family and his dogs. He and wife Terry-Anne Austin Steady were married 46 years. Robin is survived by one daughter, two sons and two granddaughters.
1963
Cheryl Kuebler Dickson
The last few years has been a challenge for us all with the pandemic raging throughout our country and the world. With the vaccine and boosters, our classmates are beginning to meet and travel with family and friends. Thank you all for sending me some news for the magazine. Emily Maslen Dirksen and her husband, John, spent some time in Australia helping her daughter, Emmie Sue, and family with twin boys — 12 and 10. She said, “Trying to accommodate these boys’ free and raw lifestyle will make my retirement village fell like heaven when I return” — Emily’s sense of humor coming through. Rosanne Bukata Raley sends greetings from Bend, Oregon. Rosanne spends lots of time volunteering for the Assistance League of Bend, one of the many nonprofit organizations there. She has been a member since 2006. Andrea Desmarais Coleman and her husband, Jack, were so happy to travel again after the long pandemic to St. John, USVI (my favorite place in the world) in November and then to West Palm Beach in March. Ken Wade shares that three of his children were married in the last 14 months; he’s happily announcing the birth of his first grandchild. His son, Kyle, and his wife Ashley had a baby girl, Harper, born on the same day as her father. They live just outside of New Haven, Connecticut. Susan Chapman Clark’s husband, Mark F. Clark, passed away on Aug. 11, 2021. Mark was an attorney with the law firm of Foley, Hoag and Eliot (now Foley Hoag) in Boston for his entire three-decade career. Flora L. Katsiaficas passed away at North Conway Memorial Hospital on Oct. 17, 2021. Flora graduated from Nashua High School and received her degree in French from UNH where she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority. At Chi O you would often hear her shout, “fourth for bridge.” After college, Flora moved to Fryeburg, Maine, where she made her career as a teacher of French and of reading and literature, first at Fryeburg Academy and then at Molly Ockett School. Ilona Manor Muhlich passed away suddenly on Aug. 31, 2021 in Albany, New York. Earning her BA at UNH where she was a member of Delta Zeta, she went on to receive her master’s in education from SUNY, Albany. A 30-year career in teaching followed. On Dec. 27, 1969, Ilona married the love of her life, Leonard, in a snowstorm in Salem. Gilbert A. Small died on Oct. 15, 2021, in Concord. Gilbert graduated from UNH with a degree in psychology. For more than 39 years he was a dedicated state of New Hampshire employee, working in the N.H. Division of Elderly and Adult services. Bernard Colby (known as Pete) passed away Oct. 21, 2021. He graduated with a degree mechanical engineering working for General Electric Company for many years. He married his high school sweetheart, Janet “Snookie” Beecher and later moved to Bow, in 1978. Pete was a member of Concord Country Club and was a scratch golfer as a young teenager. I lost my daughter, Melissa Dickson Reynolds, Jan. 9, 2022, at the age of 55. She was an elementary teacher and a volunteer in many youth organizations. Melissa and her husband, Bob, and son Chris loved to tailgate with me at the UNH football games. Everyone have a safe and healthy summer and fall. Please email to me any family or UNH news that you would like to share with classmates. A loud Wildcat roar and a cheery goodbye from me.
1964
Polly Ashton Daniels
3190 N. State Route 89-A
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Sedona, Arizona 86336
Thursday, April 21, 2022 — 66 degrees at 3:27 a.m. and I am attempting, once again, to dredge up news of our UNH classmates. The deadline “looms” and, once again, I am without tidbits of interest. I vowed long ago that I would never send along the sadness of obituaries but, on behalf of you all, I do offer our condolences to those who have lost loved ones and friends. I can tell you that road trips are noted on my desk calendar. New Mexico for a few days this month; Greer, Arizona, in May and then classmate Anne Thomson comes out to Arizona from Florida in June. We will ”do” Utah this trip, having cancelled (for the second time) our trip to Central Europe. My mind threatens to “make up” little stories for you; my fingers mount the keyboard and itch to type away “something,” anything at all …would you be the wiser if I told tales of my own invention? Needless to say, the threat of my impending deadline is keeping me awake and yet there is nothing coming to mind or to be found — nothing but one lone paperclip in the bottom of my UNH file folder. Pondering this sad state of affairs, I recall sitting in class one day, nervously awaiting the approaching footsteps of UNH Professor Asher Moore, as he walked slowly past each desk, handing back our blue book exams. On the last page of my philosophy exam, I read his blue penned “Well-written breeze”….I was SO relieved; SO pleased… until I realized, my heart thudding to the bottom of my chest, that the “compliment” was actually an “F”. Maybe the day will come when the UNH Magazine editor writes to say, “ENOUGH, PD…we need some REAL news here!” It is now 4:08 a.m. Back to bed with thoughts of “well-written breeze” weaving throughout my dreams. With Love, PAD ’64
1965
Jacqueline Flynn Thompson
Donal Day lives in Canada and tells us that his current occupation is book writing. Fascinated by the American Civil War having lived in the Deep South combined with his New England upbringing, he brings to life the stories and culture shock of a New Hampshire regiment (8th New Hampshire Infantry) that served the entire war in south Louisiana. Steve Smith recently finished teaching an online course on nonprofit legal and governance issues for Northeastern University’s nonprofit management program. He loves connecting with students working on their master’s degree and picking up on their refreshing perspective on a field he’s hung around since 1975. Ron Canizares sailed his 37-foot sloop, by himself, in the Atlantic, from Miami around Montauk Point to Connecticut where she is based. A decade ago, out of retirement boredom, he bought a litigation support business where he works part-time. He and his wife Isela live on Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Florida. Tim Churchard is almost retired from 35 years of full-time teaching in the Education Department and coaching hockey and football at UNH. He is still teaching one course occasionally. We hoped we’d see him at reunion. Donald Dean has been retired since 2007 from teaching secondary science in the Buffalo area, his last 15 years at Bennett High School. Don’s sister-in law, Sharon Welch Dean ’69G, ’73PhD, recently published her third Deborah Strong mystery. The second in the series, “The Wicked Bible,” is set on a fictionalized campus much like UNH. “Calderwood Cove” is set in a fictionalized cove in Maine. Though Sharon lives in Oregon, she often meets at the real cove with fellow UNH grads Bobbee (Anderson) Cardillo, Dolly (DelRossi) Foster, Janet (Davis) Allison ’64, Linda (Conley) Gorsuch, and Lorraine (Quinn) Duggan. Brad Keazer and wife Gail moved back to northern New Hampshire and are glad to be here, despite the temperatures being colder than in the Denver area and living in a new area that is miles from major cities and facilities. Fortunately, as with many of us, they often rely on YouTube to watch their grandchildren. They appreciate that WMUR keeps them up on UNH sports. From Patricia (Wadsworth) Griffith, we hear of life with husband Carl and their experiences as career Navy folks living in numerous parts of the U.S. She pursued work in mental health as her UNH major was social work. They semi-retired in 1996, settled in Venice, Florida, but return to Maine each summer where they have a cottage and family.
Kathy Hall ’66 shares: “In early March 2022, the Delta Zetas gathered in St. Pete Beach for an annual spring warm-up with friends and spouses. As usual, there were lots of stories, memories, laughs and catching up. During a cookout at Meryl Johnson Roy’s condo we had the pleasure of meeting another Delta Zeta from Michigan Northwood University, Brenda vanHese Hauxwell. It’s fun to share stories with others with similar experiences. We all feel so fortunate that we have stayed connected after so many years. Top photo: (front row) Lynda Anderson Rishkofski ’65, Gail Krippendorf Minschwaner, Meryl Johnson Roy, Joey Rishkofski (spouse); (second row) Kathy Gerbracht Hall, Sandra Chadwick Pinkham, Marty Hall ’60, Pat Theiss (friend), Sue Hatt Conner, Rollie Conner.
1966
Class Notes Editor
Editor’s Note: This latest 1966 column is Lynda Brearey’s last for UNH Magazine, as she is hanging up her pen (or computer keyboard) as the class secretary. If any classmates would like to take on the volunteer role of gathering class notes and writing the class column for two editions of UNH Magazine per year, we’d love to hear from you! Please be in touch via email alumni.editor@unh.edu. Hope the class of 1966 alums are all in good spirits. Jane Washburn writes that she is enjoying retirement after teaching elementary school in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Jane enjoyed a great career, but now enjoys traveling, taking courses, volunteering at several theaters and even becoming a Granite State ambassador. Jane writes “Life is Good” and looked forward to seeing UNH friends at reunion. Katherine Gerbracht Hall shared that a close-knit group of Delta Zetas have stayed connected over the past 50+ years gathering more than three times a year at various locations in St. Pete Beach, Mousam Lake, Maine and places on the New Hampshire Seacoast and beyond. The members of this group are Sandra Chadwick Pinkham, Meryl Johnson Roy, Judy Robbins Bagrud, Carol Cole LaClair, Lynda Anderson Rishkofski ’68, Sue Hatt Conner, Gail Krippendorf Minschwaner (also ’05G), Kathy Gerbracht Hall, Betty Blesedell Crepeau, Kathy Corbett and Kathy Gittleson Appert. Ann Kurz writes that in her life things are pretty quiet. Sadly, her husband, Ron Kurz, died in May 2020, so Ann is on her own. Ann has a fur family to keep her company … all rescues. There’s an old hound dog; a Borzoi all the way from China; a lovely shepherd/Mastin from Spain, and two cats. Ann’s son Chris is a chiropractor and is living in Fort Worth, Texas, with his wife. Her stepson Dan and his wife and two daughters are in Alstead, New Hampshire, where they have a wonderful tile company, Wet Dog Tile. Ann is keeping busy creating polymer clay jewelry, which is sold mostly through the League of NH Craftsmen galleries. In addition to creating jewelry her work was just accepted at the Cambridge Artists’ Cooperative in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Betsy Steinmetz Hirst writes that it was great to receive several back issues of the UNH Magazine. She and her husband Dana are retired and live in Andover, Massachusetts. Both remain very active gardening and traveling as well as volunteering. Fortunately, they live near their daughter and grandson who is now seven. Their time is spent each winter in St. Augustine, Florida, which is always a welcome break from the New England winters. This year the Steinmetzs managed a week in Punta Gorda which was lovely but cold. A couple of years ago they ran into Bev Morrison Beasley ’66 in Ponte Vedra, Florida. Lois Whittemore Dowd and husband Richard are enjoying life in The Villages, Florida. She states that the amenities there are great. They have enjoyed traveling to the National Parks, Canadian Rockies and Florida beaches. Recently, Lois connected with Alpha Chi Omega sorority sisters which now has a chapter in The Villages. She states it is great to share memories. From California, Paulinda Chapman Oakes writes that she and her husband made it back to New Hampshire in September for her mother-in-law’s 100th birthday. Life in CA is good, and Paulinda keeps busy with a little substitute teaching, aqua-fit at the Y, CASA involvement, two book clubs and church activities. Paulinda hopes that all is well. Susan and Rusty Channer were looking forward to seeing classmates at the joint reunion in June. Both have been healthy during the COVID times and fortunate enough to visit children and grandchildren in the Chicago area. Grandparents Rusty and Susan host their four grandchildren each summer most recently in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The channers just returned from their annual cross-country drive from Atlanta to Vail, Colorado. Congratulations to the Channers as they look forward to celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 2023.
1967
Diane Deering
We left COVID behind and gathered together for our 55th reunion that we shared with the classes of ’66 and ’65 in June. We told stories of Jessie Doe dorm, ROTC, service in Vietnam, Thursday nights at the Cat, student senate, the abolishment of women’s rules, football and ice hockey teams, President McConnell and the Union Leader, the horror of Nov. 22 our freshman year and where we were when we heard. We thanked our class officers who had put together reunions all these years led by class president Jim Jelmberg, memorialized those classmates we have lost and recognized all those who have contributed to our special class intern scholarship fund and other UNH programs this reunion year, totaling the class of 1967’s gift of over $12 million dollars. It was a pleasure to meet up with a senate colleague Jim Raffa from Stowe, Massachusetts, and his lovely British wife, Barbara. Jim went on to Suffolk Law followed by many years at Digital Data. John “Rusty” Channer and his wife from Atlanta have not missed a reunion! Rusty remembers dropping me off in Connecticut on his drive home to New Jersey! Bob Sawyer now retired back in New Hampshire marched with his daughter as he told us of his lifetime with the Air Force and tours of Vietnam. So many memories! We’ll meet again for our 60th. In other news, Jim Jelmberg and classmate Dick Knight who orchestrated “Bobby’s Run” in honor of fellow ATO brother Bob Devantery who passed away last year. The run was held at Waterville Valley last February where the three skilled skiers had served together on the valley ski patrol for over 25 years. David ’66 ’67G and I were pleased to celebrate and host the Omni Championsgate wedding of our UNH daughter Elizabeth Deering ’99 ’00G to Donald Tapley, both members of the staff of our local Bonny Eagle Middle School. We stood proudly in front of our Wildcats banner and were joined by UNHers from the class of 2000 where the girls had their own sister group “the Brendas”: Beth Koehler Ferlander, Becky Shost Harris, Carrie Martin Lovering, Lindsey Currier Walkinshaw and Kelly Lord.
Top to bottom: Tom Cassidy ’66 (left) and John Donovan ’68. Joe Bartlett ’68 and Mike Farrell ’68 are seen here spending two days skiing at Mount Sunapee and Okemo.
1968
Angela M. Piper
Hello to you all and thank you for the numerous emails you sent. Several of them came with pictures and it seems as though age is no barrier to us. Joe Bartlett and Mike Farrell hit the slopes at Sunapee, as did John Donovan, Ken Clark, Bill Windsor ’69 and Sally Kerouak Robinson who all met up at Gunstock. Missy Brigida and Debbi Clark ’70 supported the group with lunch. John also saw the last UNH basketball game with Joe Drinon ’66 and Tom Cassidy ’66. After graduating from UNH as a biochemist, John Norton ’68G went to Dartmouth and Yale and earned his degree in molecular biology. He then went on to write children’s books and is currently seeking readers to get feedback before publication for several books he will release over the next few months. Contact John at this email if you would like to help him: John@JohnNortonWriter.com. He is also available to do school and bookstore presentations if this might help anyone. Ron Spaulding has retired from a career in oral surgery and is moving to Lebanon, from St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he spent 47 years. If you find yourself in northern New Hampshire, he invites you to look him up at Quail Hollow Retirement Community. Wayne (Tom) Murray retired in 2019 from a career with Deloitte in DC. He has hiked many mountains from the Blue Ridge Mountains near his home to Kilimanjaro. He has completed three one-day traverses of the White Mountains Presidential Range and hopes to be on another summit soon. He says, “all the best to my old brothers at Phi Kappa Theta.” Ed Tiffany, also a ski enthusiast, splits his time between Boston (Marion) and Franconia. In his spare time, he consults with a small start-up software company and enjoys time with children and grandchildren. If you are in the area, you can contact him at edtiffany@gmail.com. Ruthann (Sam) Jamke will be moving from Bedford, to Haggerstown, Maryland, and plans once again to lead to lead travel trips for the Appalachian Mt Club. Jerry Rainville has returned to the Granite State after a 30- year career with NSA. He now serves as treasurer for the Share Fund in Rochester and is a member of the ethics and patient committee at a local hospital. Doug Vaughan has retired from the National Marine Fisheries Service in Beaufort, North Carolina. He serves on the boards of local organizations and cruises on American Cruise Lines, small ship sailing on American rivers and near shore waters. I have received notice from the Alumni Center of the following classmates who recently passed: Chester Gage, Caribou, Maine; Priscilla Smith Pancoast, Portland, Maine; Lt. Col. Michael W. Kuja, Jr., Quincy, Massachusetts; and Karen Boucher, East Haven, Connecticut.
1969
Steve Capistran
Hope everyone has a good and enjoyable summer. Always glad to hear from alumni, thanks to Rob Tenney and Grace Mullen for reaching out. Rob writes: “What an odd two years we have all experienced. As I write, we are enjoying the weather (80 and sunny) in Vero Beach, Florida. Today, it is snowing back home in Concord. We plan to be in Italy (Puglia) in May and spend most of the summer at our home on Maine coast. Very happy to spend time with our son and his fiancé in Connecticut and our daughter and her husband, two boys and new granddaughter in New York City. My best to you and to our classmates.” Grace shares: “UNH — happy times living in Smith Hall, working at the Dairy Bar with the Moores, dissecting sheeps’ brains and riding with Janet Briggs! I went on to graduate school in adolescent psychology, taught riding, had three children, six grandchildren, and I’m still loving riding horses along with Kate Paige ’70. She and I are both down in Florida this winter showing our horses.” Cynthia Herbert Adams, UConn professor emerita and psychologist, is writing novels! She has just completed an historical novel revealing the little-known horror of Communist actions on the citizens of then-Yugoslavia which occurred at the end of WWII and claimed up to 150,000 lives. “The Red Toque Love and Loss in the Time of Tito” takes the reader through the war with a family of six Slovenian children who come of age as the war unfolds.
1970
Jan Harayda
O ye of little faith! Just when you thought you’d never see it, our 50th reunion was — at last — upon us, jointly celebrated with the Classes of ’71 and ’72. Be sure to join the Class of 1970 Facebook page for late-breaking news, and many thanks to our reunion planning committee: David Abbey, Craig Abbott, Brad Cook, Jeff Crane, Steve de Graaf, Jim Fiore, Carmen Frattaroli, Bill Gardner, David Gottesman, Eric Halvorson, Kathleen McGuire, Susan Pratt Mooney, Joan Slavin Rice, Jane Simon Stricker and others. The big off-campus news is that our class president Bill Gardner stepped down in January as the nation’s longest-serving secretary of state. Beginning in 1976, he spent 23 two-year terms as the guardian-in-chief of the New Hampshire presidential primary, serving with 11 governors. Neither poor health nor politics drove his decision, Bill told news outlet seacoastonline.com. He said he was stepping down because it was a “smooth time” between election cycles. We were so sorry that family health issues kept Laurie Folkes from attending the reunion. You can read about Laurie and his inspiring career as an actor and businessman if you search for his name on imdb.com. IMDB notes that Laurie loved performing at East Orange (N.J.) High School and wanted to audition for Juilliard. But Laurie’s father urged him to accept a football scholarship that UNH had offered “so he could get a real job when he graduated.” From UNH, Laurie went on to enjoy work in both acting and in business. Patricia Slattery Hayes roomed for a time with our much-missed Barbara Malecki Huntington and married Matt Hayes from Paramus, New Jersey, who got his MBA from the Whittemore School. Patricia remembers two other Garden Staters: Cynthia Brown from Red Bank and Brad Cook from Glen Ridge (neither far from my native New Brunswick). Her brother, Bob Slattery, also got his MBA from WSBE, as did Bob’s son, James Slattery. Ann Brinckerhoff Mingledorff writes: “My past 50 years have been full. My first job was as a nurse in the 10-bed burn unit at Massachusetts General. Two years in the USAF helped me to go to grad school at UVA, following which I taught in the School of Nursing. Retirement (from that), marriage, one daughter, building a house in the Blue Ridge Mts of Virginia (ourselves), and numerous volunteer positions, mostly in the Episcopal Church, have filled life abundantly. My husband retired 12 years ago, and since then we have travelled extensively internationally (including crossing Siberia by train). My love to everyone.” Margaret Urban has spent 30 years in Johannesburg, South Africa, and it’s now very much her hometown. She walks almost daily among the city’s leafy streets and nature reserves, has a potted patio garden, and reads a lot. Her son, Ernesto, teaches at the University of Cape Town. Mike Franz has lived in Uruguay for five years and he, too, has come to see it as home. He and his wife traveled in January from Montevideo to Panama and Havana amid pandemic restrictions — so interesting; I hope you’ll seek out his experiences on our Facebook page. Among them: “Everyone wore masks, even little kids playing in the street and park (there is a 2000-peso fine for noncompliance, and that is a very stiff fine indeed).” Larry (also ’72G) and Pam Barker Smith are enjoying retirement on Vancouver Island after moving from Mesa, Arizona. They try to visit their sons in Alberta, Canada, once a year, and otherwise remain active: “Pam walks every day with friends while I golf several times a week. We love the warm and dry summers here on the island.” He hopes to visit Al Clark this winter and, through Facebook, keeps in touch with fellow East Hall resident Bob Noble. Faithful readers of these notes know that if you wanted to go for a jog during our reunion and were looking for a companion, Jim Fiore — one of our most devoted runners — was the man to ask. Jim recently celebrated the birth of his first granddaughter (after four grandsons), and it’s a safe bet that the new arrival won’t slow him down much. Bob Studley of Yarmouth, Maine, was surprised by a visit from Eric Halvorson of our reunion Outreach Committee, who gave him a hand-delivered postcard inviting him to our 50th. Eric’s heroic effort to support our class didn’t surprise me: Over the years, no classmate has been more helpful with these notes or contributed more news. Thank you, Eric! We are so sorry that we’ve lost three valued classmates: Barbara Fielding, Dolores Colandrea Harvey, and Thomas Kochy. Whenever I receive death notices from the UNH, I’m struck by the full and rewarding lives of classmates like these. Search online for their obituaries to learn more. And if you’d like to share memories of departed classmates, the Celebration of Life at our reunion gives you the perfect opportunity.
1971
Debbi Martin Fuller
By the time you read this newsletter, our 50th reunion will have come and gone. I sure hope you were there to enjoy it! First, the GOOD news I’ve received from alumni. Richard (Rick) Authier Lee writes, “After 30 years as a CEO in the American Red Cross chapters in Northampton and Springfield, Massachusetts I am now working hard to make retirement look good. Shortly after my retirement, my wife Norma had three difficult years of health issues, since resolved, which put me in doctor’s offices, nursing home and hospital waiting areas for long periods, during which I had time to revive plans to write a novel. ‘High Ground,’ a technothriller, is available on Amazon.com, Apple Books and Audible. I am at work on a sequel. Who knew?” Buy Rick’s new book and support his novel! OK, now the SAD news. Bernard Pelech died last October. After graduation, Bernie worked as a teacher in Portsmouth for 8 years. Later, he became a lawyer specializing in land use, zoning and real estate, a career he practiced for the next 40 years. Bernie loved to cook, was a fine woodworker and loved spending time with his family. He coached baseball and was a member of the Elks. Richard Wesson also died last October. After UNH, he attended the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College then moved to Boston where he worked as a freelance writer, editor and publishing consultant. He moved to Vermont in 1991 where he began a new career in human services helping at risk youth. He married his wife, Marie, in 1984. He loved swimming, attending plays and following the Red Sox and the Patriots. Janet Beckingham Poulin died in December after a long illness. She spent her life helping those in need. She was the director of social services at Rochester Manor, later for Strafford County and ended her career in Dover as director of welfare. She was a master bridge player and an avid bowler. She was a member of the Elks, Emblem Club and American Legion, was married to David Poulin and had a daughter, Tara. Tom Stuart died last November. He had a 30-year career with Verizon before he joined Byers Engineering for an additional 15 years. He loved his family and honored them by living his best life despite the cancer that eventually took him. Christopher Weld Sheard aka “Buff” wrote to thank me for my “hard work” which of course I love to hear, and to say that even though he technically graduated in 1972, he thinks of himself as part of our class because that’s where most of his friends are. He planned to definitely come to the reunion. He saw my notes from last time about Crawford Butler, and relates that he, too, was a member of the band Spice. They are trying to locate as many bandmates as they can. Charlie Daniels was the leader and they have also located David Duquette, Fred Coolbroth and Erick Sawtelle so far.
1972
Class Notes Editor
The Granite United Way recently named six new individuals on its board of directors, including Nick Toumpas ’72 ’80G, a retired executive with years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. He served as a CEO of a startup software company before being named commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services in 2007. After his retirement from DHHS in 2016, he became the executive director of Connections for Health, an organization focused on the integration of behavior health, primary care and social support services.
Billy Welch ’74 (left) and Patrick Varley ’74 (right) were interviewed by a TNH reporter near their dorm, Engelhardt in the spring of 1971.
1973
Joyce Dube Stephens
A big thanks to all of you who submitted living news! Brent Gorey retired after 43 years of practicing law in Philadelphia and NYC. Brent and his wife Karel Hayes ’72 reside most of the year in Moultonborough, and winters in Philly. Andrea Kokolis reconnected at the 50th high school reunion in Manchester with ’73 peers Barbie Merrill Austin, Barb Feldman, Vicki Knoepfel Cane, and Patty Dominick Mason. Other UNH grads also attending were Martha Peterson Wilson ’77 and Dan Cassidy ’77, and Jeff Mason ’71. Andrea lives in Shelburne, Vermont; she is a start-up consultant and works part-time as an adjunct professor at both UVM and UNH. Vicki is traveling the world again and claims she’ll retire from her part-time nursing job at some point. Marty is a microbiologist working on COVID; Patti serves on the board of Granite State Ambassadors, with whom she’s been involved for 21 years. Barb spent her career as an art educator, and she is an artist in her own right. Barbie and her husband are traveling the U.S. to stay close to their grandchildren. Joanne Lannin has a fourth book, “Who Let Them In? Pathbreaking Women in Sports Journalism,” published by Rowman and Littlefied. Frank and Susan Field report that they are well. David S. Leong was one of the first self-designed majors at UNH. He is choreographing the fights for his 20th Broadway play, starring Daniel Craig as Macbeth, which opened in April. Conrad Leszkiewicz, who was civil engineering undergrad in our class (also ’85 master’s and ’01 Ph.D. from UNH) and a ROTC graduate with my husband, Jay ’73 ’75G, is now consulting in geohydrology and groundwater issues. He and his wife reside in Groton, Massachusetts. Conrad served on active duty in South Korea and West Germany, and stateside in Georgia and Texas. He also worked as a civilian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and then a couple of environmental firms until he became an independent consultant. Kevin Sullivan is still in southwest Florida and says hi to Bobby O’Neil and Lloyd Dolleman, and remember the Chicago 5. Chuck Henderson’s Chuck Roast Equipment manufacturing plant in Conway, sold this year. Henderson started Chuck Roast Equipment while he was a student here, making gaiters and then backpacks. The company expanded its inventory over the years to include pile, then Polar Fleece and then Polartec clothing, had had four stores and employed 50 people at its zenith at the facility and at the stores. Chuck Roast closed in 2008; Henderson is still living in Bethlehem. As in previous notes, I sadly report the passing of more of our classmates: Peter Boyle of Salem; Roger “Duff” Doherty of Portland, Maine; Elizabeth Harris Gagnon of Hampton; Michael Gilbert of Dover; Meredith Christina Hull of Newfields; Daniel Huggard of Rochester; Richard D. Johnson “Smiley” of Monroe; John “Jack” Francis O’Neill of West Hartford, Connecticut; Lee Richard Parsons of Plymouth, Massachusetts; Stewart Olin Sapp of Princeton, Illinois and Robert “Bob” T. Smith of Ontario, Canada.
1974
Jean Marston-Dockstader
Deborah Bickley Weston retired from teaching high school four years ago after 32 years. She was asked to return in November 2021 and decided to as her husband, Nathaniel Mason ’69 was not planning to retire. She is enjoying her second stint in the classroom. Stella Gorreck Callagee says her time at UNH was transformative and she learned to accept “extraordinary” opportunities, such as working at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution doing ocean and Titanic research. In July 2015 she retired from Dixie State University in Utah. John Tommasi (also ’80G, ’99G) published his second book on Amazon, “Murder at the Front Door” and is working on his third book, “Murder Outside the Back Door,” a nonfiction account of the murder of a Salem woman in 1994 by her husband. It is expected to be published by the end of the summer. Ann Getchell Gray works in the Pittsburg School Library in Pittsburg, New Hampshire. This is her 27th year and she is now part-time. She and her husband Lindsey have four grandchildren and love living in the Indian Stream Valley. Joan Lonergan sends best wishes to classmates and UNH. She says her degree has served her well and is grateful to have attended UNH. Catherine Stevens is the gifts officer for the Himalayan Cataract Project/Cure Blindness. She was the director of development and communications for nine years for the Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. She and her husband, Brian, live in Jericho, Vermont. Robert Caret retired as chancellor emeritus, University System of Maryland in January and has retired to Naples, Florida, with his wife, Liz Zoltan. Billy Welch lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and operates a consulting business now after a 30-year career with Verizon Communications. Cecilia Demaree lives in Culpepper, Virginia, retired from nursing and is now a certified dog trainer. She volunteers to train service dogs for children under 12 with life threatening illnesses and assists diabetics to train their own diabetic alert dog. Steve Young and his wife Sherry Gardner Young live in Aurora, Colorado. Steve served in the Air Force for 22 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He then worked as a contractor supporting the Air Force and NRO. In retirement he stays busy volunteering as director of the Buckley Air Force Space Force Base military retiree activities office and for the USO at Denver Airport and the Secor Cares food bank and supporting a third-grade teacher and her class in Aurora. They also enjoy traveling and spending time with their two daughters and four grandchildren. Clayton Stalker recently met up in Concord with three other Williamson Hall residents, Mike LaTorre, Bob Burnett, and Joe Tibbetts. As for myself, I finally fully retired from NH DHHS at the end of December 2021 after 46 years. My husband and I spent two months in Florida with visits from one of our daughters and our two grandchildren. Now on to the next chapter! Ted Bergeron retired last year after an IT career of 23 years at Liberty Mutual. He had 17 years at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard previously. He and his wife live in Barrington. He volunteers for the UNH Cooperative Extension Big Tree program and Barrington Trails Committee. Sadly, we lost Patrick Varley on December 5, 2021. His friend and classmate, Bill Welch shared: “Pat passed away after doing his best to confront an illness that shortened a life distinguished by an incomparable love of history, music, aviation, trains (real and model), and nature.” Pat was a standout Dedham (MA) High School track star, and an enthusiastic student of U.S. history. His career included working for several U.S. Government contractors and, most recently, for the Ashburnham (Mass.) School Department. Says Billy: “In his room during four years of residency at Engelhardt Hall, the electric guitars of Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, or Jeff Beck and the hypnotic vocals of Gregg Allman, Jim Morrison, or Grace Slick often could be heard around the dorm and across the Quad. As my dorm mate at Engelhardt and long-time friend, Pat was a storyteller extraordinaire whose boundless humanity and endless generosity earned the admiration of everyone he met and will be sadly missed by those who knew him whether for a minute or a lifetime. Among Pat’s many attributes, the sight of his smile and sound of his laugh are on a long list of those that I and so many others will remember most about him and that throughout his life, he gave true meaning to an old Irish proverb: ‘A good friend is like a four-leaf clover; hard to find and lucky to have.’” We also lost Gary Sears in July 2020, originally from Dover, employed by UNH from 1974 until his retirement in 2015 as a security supervisor (Durham and Manchester campuses) and a part-time police officer on the Durham campus. He was a fixture at most all special and sporting events, directing traffic and escorting VIPs. Always ready with a quick smile and generous spirit, he was well-liked by all. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sherry Linscott-Sears ’98 his sister, Patricia Hakala ’71, as well as a niece, nephew, and two grandnieces. Sherry adds: “It has been a turbulent two years for everyone, and it would appear the near future might be even more difficult for many folks, both far and wide. My thoughts go out to all whose families have been touched by the pandemic or who may have family in Eastern Europe.”
Alumni gathered on campus for a reception at the April 16 UNH v. BC game. From left are: Tim Kratt ’07, Matt Glode ’04, Kevin Iarrusso ’01, Tom Johnson ’76, Elvis Lumumba ’15, Ken Kincaid ’76, Ed Ulmer ’87, Steve Bracy ’86, John Moorman ’84, Jim Druding ’89.
1976
Kenneth Kincaid
My usual forward: I am thrilled at the success of the UNH Men’s Soccer team rising as high as No. 4 in NCAA Division 1 rankings in the fall of 2021. The crowds at UNH playoff matches show how popular the team has become. I was pleased to attend an Alumni Game reunion at UNH on April 16 and watch the UNH-BC Spring game with many other alumni players. I also got a tour of the field house from Coach Mark Hubbard, how things have changed! On to the alumni news: Terry Shoptaugh ’76G, ’84PhD mentioned that those he attended grad school with at UNH are becoming fewer. And made him think back on a couple of professors from in the mid-1970s, like Prof. Darren Rutman who was a pioneer in re-writing the story of early U.S. colonial history, using computers (the punch card variety) to shine new light on the social and economic history of Virginia. Also David Long, another U.S. historian on staff, good professor and wildly popular with many students — largely because he was outrageous in the lectures, filling out the basic lecture with jokes, quips and stories of the lighter side of the past. He would love to talk with him again. and many others — alas they are gone. Michelle Boulanger is now happily retired, and, before COVID, was doing a lot of substitute teaching in Dover and Oyster River schools. Her grandkids keep her busy during vacation weeks and summer, and she enjoys camping and beach trips in the warm weather. She is still performing in a local band and orchestra, and plays the piano at church. During the summers she conducts two local town bands in Dover and Exeter. Quilting, reading and cooking are her go-to pastimes at home. Greg Ambrose ’76 and Vicki (Fazio) Ambrose ’77 reconnected with Acacia brother Mike Pillsbury ’75 and “Coops” roommate Kari (Hanson) Pillsbury ’77. Mike and Kari now live in South Carolina. In August they met for dinner in Hampton. Greg and Vicki now reside in Beverly, Massachusetts, enjoying living closer to their granddaughters as well as the area beaches. They also regularly meet up with another Acacia brother, Gary Boudreau ’77 and his wife Nancy. Greg and Vicki remain involved with UNH, sponsoring an award for OT students. Glenn Coppelman ’76,’78G Is living the happy retired life in Indiana. He enjoyed reconnecting with fellow Music Department classmates this year. Pandemic notwithstanding, it was another busy Christmas tree season for Nancy McIntosh. In fact, partly due to the pandemic, the demand for live Christmas trees was very high again this past year. She hopes all is well with classmates. Garry Haworth spent 31 years as an environmental chemist for both Normandeau Associates and the state of New Hampshire. “Post retirement I’ve been doing political activism here in Manchester and cruising the Caribbean.” He was music director of WUNH-FM 1972-1976 and is still in touch with Bruce Pingree (beginning his 50th year on air this year) and Richard Smith (Cuzin’ Richard Entertainment in Portsmouth) and Beth Osgood Dodge of WLNH Laconia. Ed Devoid graduated from what at the time was WSBE with a focus in what at the time was hotel administration. He’s had an extensive career in food services with various university dining contract companies, beginning with Saga Food Service and ending with Chartwells Higher Education Dining. He has lived in many places from his native New Hampshire to Minnesota to Texas and many places in between, for the last 18 years in Cincinnati. He has three children and two grandchildren. After 40+ years of food service he retired last year is and looking forward to traveling the country in our fifth wheel travel trailer. Unfortunately we lost many classmates this cycle: Shepard Carter Buchanan, who had persistently done battle with a number of health conditions for many years; he was known for his culinary preferences and lifelong love of the Red Sox; George C. Medelinskas, attained two masters degrees, one at UNH in education. His teaching career spanned from the second grade at Atkinson Academy to North Shore Community College and Northern Essex Community College where he taught computer science and yoga and from which he retired in 2011. One of his proudest achievements was creating the College of Older Learners (CoOL) at NECC; Barbara A. Nicholson ’76G, worked for the Hampton Recreation Department leading the summer programming. She was also a school bus driver, teachers’ aid, kindergarten teacher and substitute teacher while continuing her education, earning her bachelor of general studies degree from UNH, and her M.Ed. here; Stephen J. Curtis ’76G, who worked for accounting and recruiting firms in Boston and Portland, Maine, prior to finding his true calling, owning his own executive recruiting firm. He retired 10 years ago to follow his dreams of building a summer home on their land in Nobleboro, devoted his life to helping others. He loved attending UNH hockey games for many years and was season ticket holder for over 30 years. Willis “Bill” Grant Hill, who enlisted in the Navy in 1955 where he served on the USS Randolph, and in his off hours on the ship, he was the radio DJ, delighting in playing his favorite jazz tunes to 3,000 of his closest shipmates. He studied voice at Berklee Academy in Boston, although he would say, if he were smart, he’d have studied piano. In 1976 he returned to college at UNH, earning a bachelor’s in political science and then going on to become a child-support advocate. A lifelong Democrat, Bill campaigned voraciously for many local and federal candidates in the 70s and 80s. Bill attended every Jazz Festival in Portsmouth since its inception in 1983 and was a great supporter of local music and introduced his family to new artists at every opportunity; Charles “Chad” Miller Belmer Jr., a highly respected litigation attorney for over 40 years, with his own law practice in Salem, Massachusetts. An avid sailor, he was a member of the Eastern Yacht Club for 44 years. He enjoyed cruising and overnight sailing on his Bristol 32 “Hard Tack” and he did all the maintenance on the boat and the engine himself; Lisa Nevens Fuller, described as always optimistic, a lover of horses from the time she could walk, turned this passion into a successful business. She trained with the Canadian Olympic Equestrian team and the U.S. Olympic Equestrian Team, and went on to compete successfully in the field of combined training. Returning to her native White Mountains, she and Chuck founded the Robinwood Riding Inn in Jackson. “Deep Water,” a true-crime book by Ken Sheldon, was published by Down East Books. It focuses on a murder in Jaffrey at the end of World War I that split the quiet town in two, revealing economic and religious divisions that continued to resonate for decades.
1977
Lois Kelly
‘Tis the season to retire, according to many of our classmates. Barbara Thompson just retired from running a store for 30 years in the White Mountains (Bethlehem). Staying in New Hampshire, Barbara is continuing to do artwork, and getting outdoors as much as possible. Johnny Gold sold his paper mill in 2005 and has been doing consulting in the waste and recycling industry. Married to Sharon ’78 he’s still coaching high school softball (22 years) every spring at Marblehead (MA) High School. Johnny spends a few months every winter in Sarasota and gets to golf and have dinner a few times a week with his old roommate and close friend Steve Gardner ’78 and his wife Greta. He hears from Paul Thornton once in a while which “is worth many laughs.” After getting his bachelor’s in psychology at UNH, Mark Ciocca went to the University of Missouri to get a master’s and Ph.D. in psychology. Now retired, Mark spent several years working at a facility for the criminally insane, then moved to Concord, to work for the community mental health center and teach at the State Police Standards and Training Academy. He also worked with the American Association of Suicidality do develop suicide prevention programs and at a Concord group practice providing adult and adolescent therapy. Mark has a real UNH family: His wife Donna ’89G earned a master’s degree in teaching writing at UNH and spent her career as a beloved teacher and professor, his middle stepson, Andrew ’94, got his bachelor’s in wildlife management at UNH (and works for N.H. Fish and Game), and his youngest stepson, Abram ’96, got his B.A. in Spanish at UNH and is Director of International Students and Scholars at UNH. So fun to hear from Bernard Roy, an engineering major who was also, like me, a member of the first UNH cohort in the San Diego State University exchange program. As he was easing into retirement Bernard started a “little” makeover project on a 1930s cottage that turned into a total rebuild. Now he and his wife are enjoying RV trips from their home in Michigan to Alaska, Oregon, and points south for the winters. All three of his children are getting married — within six months! I’m also sad to report on the deaths of many of our classmates: A successful software engineer, athlete and family man, Kenneth “Ken” Billings of Newton, Massachusetts, died in December 2021. At UNH, he established a record for most hits in one baseball season. Ken was also inducted into the Newton North High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was a long-time basketball referee for IAABO Board 27 (International Association of Approved Basketball Officers). Charles C. “Charlie” Dancause, who never encountered a computer or board game he didn’t want to play, passed away at his home in New Boston, on Nov. 20, 2021. He was 68 and had battled progressive supranuclear palsy, a rare neurological disease, for more than eight years. Charlie, a business administration major, worked for the Union Leader and the U.S. Postal Service. Another Whittemore School grad, Joseph “Joe” Fremeau, died in December 2021. A resident of Manchester, Joe was a real estate professional who started his own appraisal business in 1986. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, and spending time at his second home in Lincoln. Paul Asbell, Jr., known to family and friends as “Skip,” died in December 2021 in Eliot, Maine. A beloved middle school principal for 25 years at Rochester, Marshwood and Pennichuck middle schools, he transformed all three traditional junior high schools into middle schools which focus on meeting the social, emotional and learning needs of each student. In 2011 he was named middle school principal of the year in the state of New Hampshire. Paul earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees (1996) in education from UNH. Another dedicated educator and a Congressional Medal of Honor Society recipient, Gary Beikirch passed away in Rochester, New York. Gary was awarded the Medal of Honor for the many lives he saved as a medical aidman during an April 1, 1970, enemy attack on a remote U.S. Army Special Forces camp on the border of Laos in Vietnam’s Kontum Province. Following his discharge he earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology-psychology from UNH and a master’s degree education in counseling from the State University of New York and worked as a guidance counselor for middle schoolers in the Rochester, New York, region. You can watch a YouTube video where Gary talked about his experience: bit.ly/393EM1E.
1978
Carol Scagnelli Edmonds
After a military career and time spent in the legislative branch, state department, defense industry, and a nonprofit, Rick Stark semi-retired and taught political science and history before moving to Maine. He continues to teach part-time, serve on boards and pursue several hobbies. Rick would love to hear from friends (Gibbs Hall and Pi Kappa Alpha) and is grateful for his time at UNH. Ruth Preston Clark died peacefully at home November 2021. After raising five children with husband Richard, Ruth decided to complete her education as a teacher. She worked at Goffstown Christian School and spent her lifetime advocating for the magic of childhood. She was a resident of Clarkridge Farm and the tradition of farming has been carried on by a son and grandson. Ruth was known for her extraordinary faith and deep kindness. Tommy Cavanaugh, dean of students at Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, Massachusetts, writes that he is retiring at the end of the 2023 school year, but will keep busy coaching and working summer camps. And of course, he will continue to enjoy his grandchildren. Recent retirement? Travel plans? New grandchildren? Send me your news.
1979
Class Notes Editor
Except for some time in Africa, Jim Anderson has lived in Kittery Point, Maine since graduating in 1979. A faithful UNH hockey season ticket holder for many years, he has been WSP USA’s New England program and construction management director, since 2000. He fondly remembers the blizzard of 1978. With only the roof of his ’69 VW Beetle showing in Lot A, he dug through the snow and realized it was the wrong car.
Wendell Palmer ’80 and Richard Groleau ’80.
1980
Caryl Dow
We’ve heard from many classmates! Briand Lessard writes from Winter Garden, Florida with his wife of 40 years, Cheryl (Hugny) Lessard. They have three children. Briand retired in 2020 after 41 years at Lockheed Martin but was coaxed back to work part-time. They recently drove through campus and report it’s still beautiful! Does anyone know if they still play stickball against the Christianson tower? News from James Emery of Emery & Garret Groundwater Investigations which he founded in 1989 and sold to GZA Environmental Inc. in 2018. James heads up their groundwater exploration program developing groundwater resources for public and private water utilities as well as commercial entities. Clients include the city of Atlanta, state of Virginia, Walt Disney Company, Augusta National to local municipalities: Dover, Portsmouth, Durham/UNH. EGGI employs many UNH graduates from the Earth Sciences Department. As a non-traditional nursing student, Edwinna Vanderzanden writes to tell us that after she finished her BSN in 1980, and practiced as an RN and NP, she attended U. Maine Law and has practiced in health law since 1984. Occasionally providing lectures in legal/medical topics to nursing students at UNH she is also a former Alumni Board member and USNH alumni trustee. She’s on the edge of retirement and ready to dig into farming in Rochester. Edwinna worked on the reunion weekend and looked forward to meeting other nursing grads. Sue Berg shares that she recently retired after 26 years with Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She’s now enjoying newfound freedom, and both daughters are UNH graduates. Rick Groleau attended homecoming last fall, meeting up with a few Sigma Nu brothers, some Stoke RAs and his Williamson and Hetzel roommate Wendell Palmer. The friends since ’76 Stoke Hall were looking forward to attending the 40th reunion in June. Unfortunately, we have lost too many classmates. Mark E. Pritchard, 64, of Schwenksville passed away on June 4, 2019. Mark retired from Quest Diagnostics in 2018 is survived by his wife Elaine and their four daughters. Richard S. Blustein, 62, Waltham died April 27, 2020. Richard enjoyed spending time at his family’s home in Meredith. Susan Gentry, 61, of Saint Mary’s, Georgia, died July 22, 2020, and is survived by her daughter, Heather. On Oct. 14, 2020, Gloria (Margquez-Sterling) Tanner passed away after a 24-year struggle with cancer. Gloria’s family fled Cuba in 1960 to avoid political persecution settling in Plymouth. After graduating with an English degree, Gloria earned a master’s in theater arts from Plymouth State University. An innately gifted teacher she taught English, Spanish and drama for 27 years and fulfilled a lifelong dream of dancing with Ballet New England for five years. Kim (Montplaisir) Coyle, 62, Nashua, passed away July 19, 2021, with family at her side. Kim met her husband, Ken Coyle, as freshmen and were married 40 years. In North Hampton, Paul S. Cuetara ’80G, age 74, passed away Aug. 25, 2021, after a lengthy illness. Paul grew up in Orono, Maine. After earning his master of occupational education, he worked as a teacher, coach, mentor, administrator and consultant in education at several New Hampshire schools. A devoted public servant, he was Scoutmaster for Troop 162, town moderator, Planning Board chairman, chairman of the Old Town Hall Committee, and was the Rails to Trails chairperson. He also served on the Heritage Commission, the Conservation Commission, the Ambulance Corps, North Hampton Youth Association Board and as interim member of the Select Board. Paul was a member of the Scottish Rite as well as a member of St James Masonic Lodge in Hampton. Todd Richard Clow ’80G, age 65, of Troutman, North Carolina, died Dec. 15, 2021. He was born in Laconia and grew up in Sebago, Maine. Completing his undergrad at Norwich University he enlisted in the Army and earned his master of science in microbiology, where he met and married Rebecca Willey. Serving the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland he was instrumental in chemical research. From there, he completed medical school at the University of N.E. College of Osteopathic Medicine. Clow accomplished his residency at Montefiore Hospital and Albert Einstein College, before returning to Maine with his family. As an anesthesiologist, he worked at Mid Coast Hospital, Brunswick from 1992–2012, and from there, as chief of anesthesia at the Togus (Virginia) Medical Center until 2015. As a colonel, Clow served the Army, in Desert Storm, Guatemala, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Sherrill Davis Attarian and her husband, Mark, attended reunion with MaryJo Boardman Brandt and her husband, Roger.
1981
Caroline McKee Anderson
It was wonderful to be back on campus. Our Dijon group — Marianne DiMascio, Bridget Carr, Tracy Patton Longo, Laura Hartop Kalnajs, Ansis Kalnajs, and my husband Greg Anderson enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Three Chimneys Inn in Durham. We toasted to ourselves and those who couldn’t join us with the appropriate cocktail — Kir Royale. I also enjoyed catching up with fellow student ambassador, Bob Coates, who is working as the assistant director for co-curricular programs for the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College. While the Reunion turnout was modest, I’m confident that those who did make the trip back to Durham enjoyed themselves. I would encourage everyone to take the trip down memory lane — on your own —or better yet with some of your lifelong friends. Sherrill Davis Attarian and MaryJo Boardman Brandt were roommates and sisters and Alpha Chi Omega, and both served as Freshman Camp counselors. They attended Reunion with their husbands. In other class news … John Pitocchelli and his wife, Kathie, live in the Philadelphia suburbs. John has served as a general manager in the hospitality industry since graduation. He recently completed a 15-year career coaching high school hockey. He sends greetings to his ATO brothers, fellow Hotel School graduates and the David Ley “Scottish Hotel School.” Pamela J. Olin, a lifelong resident of Concord, passed away on Nov. 5, 2021. Pam worked for the state of New Hampshire’s Electricians’ Licensing Board for 38 years. She was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church, a passionate supporter of 4-H and a member of the Concord Girls Town and Boys Town Pam loved attending Renaissance festivals, hot air balloon rallies, the Highland Games and local artisan and craft fairs. She is survived by a sister and brother, their families, and many friends. Linda M. Teittinen of Duxbury, Massachusetts, died Oct. 31, 2021. She spent many years working in the medical community. She loved to cook and set a stunning table, was an avid reader and completed the Sunday crossword puzzles in pen. Above all, Linda loved being a mother and grandmother — supporting all of their activities and creating shared memories both in Duxbury and on Cape Cod. Linda is survived by her husband, David, two daughters and their husbands, and three grandchildren. Michael Cameron Duff of Merrimack died on Dec. 21, 2021. Michael worked for Cotter and Company which became True Value Company, serving as a traffic manager. He married his college sweetheart, Mary Lou Bickford Duff ’82, in 1985 and they had two children. When his children were young, he often served as a coach for their teams. He is remembered a witty person who loved “dad jokes” and enjoyed reading, games, and jigsaw puzzles. He is also survived by his parents and a sister. Thomas H. Weigley, formerly of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, died Nov. 24, 2021. Thomas worked for many years with Hyatt Hotels and in the insurance industry. He is survived by his brothers and their wives, as well as one daughter, three sons and four grandchildren.
Top Left, Bottom Left, Right: Class of 1981 photo from reunion. Members of the ’81 Dijon group toasted themselves and classmates at Reunion :Bridget Carr, Marianne DiMascio, Tracy Patton Longo, Caroline McKee Anderson, Laura Hartop Kalnajs, Ansis Kalnajs. John Pitocchelli ’81 had the chance of a lifetime — drinking from the Stanley Cup when St. Louis Blues coach Craig Berube brought the cup to a club where he worked.
1982
Julie Lake Butterfield
As I write this column, our 40th reunion has just wrapped up at UNH and I had a wonderful time with old friends and met some new alumni friends who travelled to Durham for the celebration. April Telles was kind enough to march in the alumni class march bearing our class year sign. After graduating from UNH with a bachelor’s degree in math, April worked at NSA in the Baltimore-DC area for three years. In 1986 she moved to the Los Angeles area for a job with Hughes Aircraft Company which was later bought by Raytheon where she still works today. She also worked at Draper Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 1999-2007. In 1989 April received her master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern California and in 2002 she married Jim Montgomery (A Hughes co-worker and 1986 grad from University of Michigan). Several of our classmates volunteered their time over the past year to help plan the reunion and I was able to meet up with two of them on Saturday morning of reunion. Christine Lipa and Elizabeth Marks joined me and April Telles as we jogged around the campus and explored some of the places we remembered. Christine graduated from UNH with a degree in mechanical engineering and travelled to Durham from Iowa where she lives with her husband. She recently retired from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and has been having fun completing a half marathon in all 50 states. Elizabeth worked at WUNH while on campus and now lives in New York City with her husband. She is a successful real estate broker in Manhattan and has run many New York City Marathons. She loved her years at UNH and was proud of her time playing on the UNH women’s ice hockey club team before it eventually became a Division 1 team. Congratulations to Karen Frink Wolf who was sworn in as United States Magistrate Judge for the District of Maine on April 1. After UNH, she received her JD from Syracuse University College of Law in 1985. Since then, she has been a trial lawyer based in Portland, Maine and a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. I recently heard from Jamie Loeser who wanted all 1982 alums to know that Brian Lunt passed away recently after suffering a stroke three years ago. Brian was a superb skier, a member of the UNH ski team and was chosen to ski on the Junior Olympic ski team. He received his high school diploma from Fryeburg Academy, his BS in business from UNH and his MBA from Northeastern. Brian taught and served as a blind ski guide (the instructional video he produced is now being used at ski schools nationally) and he loved sailing, boating and racing Mini Coopers. Please contact the family or Jamie to inquire on the scholarship they have started in his name.
Wendy Gilday ’83 celebrated her 60th with Mary Kenneally ’83, Nancy Nygren Berlandy ’83 and Barb Tieri Murray ’83.
1983
Ilene Segal, DVM
Hello fellow UNH classmates! I am writing this as spring finally comes into bloom in New England. Thank you to everyone who responded to the email request for news — the class notes are such a great way to stay connected to roommates, teammates, and all of us whose paths crossed at UNH. Julian Powell wrote to say he had taken a graduate level course in chemical engineering of energy systems at the Georgia Institute of Engineering and has entered their new master of sustainable energy and environmental management program. He has co-authored a research paper which was published in the journal Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology. The research concluded that using technology developed at GA Tech, enough carbon dioxide could be scrubbed from the atmosphere to limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius by 2100. Nicole Christina was nominated and won a silver award for diversity, equity and inclusion from the prestigious Anthem Awards (part of the Webby Awards which is focused on celebrating purpose and mission driven work for global good) for her international podcast Zestful Aging. Her podcast is heard in 101 countries and has given Nicole the opportunity to speak with important influencers in many different disciplines. She also recently published a book, “Not Just Chatting: How to Become a Master Podcast Interviewer.” Congratulations, Nicole! Paula Tracy is working as a journalist covering the executive branch of government for the news service InDepthNH.org, the non-profit watchdog news service published by the N.H. Center for Public Interest Journalism, after working for the Union Leader newspaper for 25 years, and four years with WMUR-TV. Paula lost her husband Tom to cancer in 2021, but she is taking on new challenges and is thankful for all her UNH friends, especially Peter Lovett. Wendell P. Davis, DVM, DACVP recently joined Altasciences as vice president of pathology, supporting their three preclinical sites in the U.S. Wendell and his wife Pam Clough have been married for 36 years, have two grown children, and split their time between Durham, and Morgan, Vermont, where they enjoy hiking, snowshoeing and other outdoor pursuits with their springer spaniel, Hatley. Art Ayre writes that he moved to Oregon right after graduation and has lived there ever since. He had a 33-year career with state government as a policy and budget analyst, evaluating the financial and economic impacts of major economic development projects, and retired in 2018. He co-authored the book “Oregon at Work 1859-2009” and has written articles for several business and labor publications. He is happily married, and has a daughter, two stepdaughters, two grandsons, and a granddaughter. Wendy Gilday sent an update that after receiving her master’s degree in counseling from UNH, she spent three years as a school counselor at Newmarket Junior/Senior High School, followed by 25 years at York Middle School in York, Maine. She felt too young to retire, so began an encore career as a receptionist at Riverwoods Durham in Durham, an independent and assisted living retirement community. She loves her scenic commute and says it warms her heart with fond memories of UNH. She celebrated her 60th birthday last year with several groups of friends from many past parties and included a photo with her UNH friends Mary Kenneally, Nancy Nygren Berlandy and Barb Tieri Murray. Heidi J. Langella passed away Jan. 30, 2022, after a six-year battle with metastatic melanoma. She helped win Manchester (N.H.) Memorial High School’s first Girls State Championship in ski racing, as well as co-captained the soccer, softball and ski teams and before graduating, received the Female Athlete of the Year award. After graduating from UNH with a bachelor’s degree in in business, and entered the insurance field, where she excelled at New Hampshire Insurance, AIG, TPA Associates, and Meadowbrook Insurance where she earned the title of vice president of Eastern region WC operation. She continued to enjoy skiing throughout her life and helped raise four rescue dogs. She leaves behind her husband, Peter, her father and five sisters. We extend our condolences to her family. Michael Roche dashed off a quick email to let us know what he has been up to over the past few years. He is currently the president and CEO of Northeastern Nonwovens in Rochester, the leading manufacturer of engineered non-woven fabrics and composite materials offering high-speed production process capabilities in their 65,000 square foot facility. Due to an error in the information, I was provided, in the last issue I incorrectly wrote that a Martha Jane Easton passed away in May 2021. Thanks to Steven O’Neill for setting the record straight: Martha Jane Thomas passed on May 4, 2021. She had lived in the Baltimore area for 20 years where she worked for a variety of publications including Style magazine, Zagat and the Urbanite, as well as produced freelance articles for the Washington Post, the Foreign Service Journal, Architectural Digest and the New York Daily News. She was a lecturer in the professional writing program at the University of Maryland and was working on her MFA in fiction writing at Southern New Hampshire University at the time of her death. She is survived by her daughter, sisters, brother and father.
1984
Robin Schell
Thanks to all of you who sent news my way – I’ve included as many of the highlights as I could! Kevin Tracy writes that he retired from the IRS, finishing his 31-year career in Portsmouth, as a revenue agent auditing small businesses (he previously worked in the Andover, Worcester and Boston locations). In 2007, he retired from the Army Reserve after 25 years, including a 1-year tour in Afghanistan where he served as a liaison with the Ministry of Finance. He and his wife Nora live on Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham, and they are enjoying touring national parks and seeing their six grandchildren during the summers. Kevin wants to hear from his 6th floor Christensen Hall floormates and suggests meeting up at the 40th reunion! Heidi Campbell Reever got in touch from North Palm Beach, Florida —she and husband Tim Reever ’82 celebrate their 37th anniversary this summer and have three grown sons. Heidi recently earned her master’s degree in health education and promotion and works as Extension program manager for the UFlorida/IFAS Extension Family Nutrition Program (FNP) — the program provides free nutrition education to sites that have 50% or more SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participants. Tim has enjoyed a career in radio station management and currently serves as the general manager for Legends Radio, 100.3 FM, a family-owned station in North Palm Beach. It was great to hear from my former Young Drive roommate Jo Ward who just traded her 36½- year career at Central Maine Medical Center (where she served as a technical operations manager for the past 15 years) for a position as a clinical laboratory lab information system analyst at a computer consulting company. She loves using her laboratory knowledge, staying connected to healthcare and meeting lab folks at the client sites she visits. Nancy Brockman, owner of CHIMERA Communications in Durango, Colorado, writes that she recently had the pleasure of visiting with some lifetime UNH friends this past winter when she took a break from life in Silverton, Colorado, to hang out with college friends Deb Snow-Major, Jim Major ’82 and Sue Kustes-Grunwald. She says, “there’s nothing like lobster rolls and good friends. Knocking on 60 years old and this crazy world we live in made us all realize it’s time to spend more time with the ones who make you laugh!” Amen, Nancy! I heard from Mike Wang, CEO/Founder of Innocent Armor, a company that makes bulletproof clothing using ShieldTec®️panels, the latest technology in weapon protection fabrics. To learn more about his company, check out www.innocentarmor.com. Pamela Sargent Plante tells me she has been working as a school occupational therapist in Barnstead, since graduating — despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic, she has loved her job of 36 years and takes pride in watching the children she works with make progress. She married Kenneth Plante in 1985 and has a son, Kyle ’09, who is now a chemistry teacher at Pinkerton Academy in Derry and daughter Kaela, who teaches math at Rundlett Middle School in Concord. Sadly, Pamela lost her husband to a heart attack in March 2020 but became a grandmother to Kennedy Rose later that year. She is looking forward to spending more time with her granddaughter once she retires, and says she is excited to get back to attending UNH football games. She would love to hear from some of her fellow OT graduates as we all get closer to retirement. Julie Grasso got in touch to say she has spent much of the past three years touring colleges and took the UNH tour twice — she wants other alumni to know how impressed she was by UNH’s research, scientific and engineering facilities as well as the recreational buildings. With a husband who graduated from UMass Lowell, a son at Merrimack College and a daughter entering Northeastern in the fall, the family now has 4 Hockey East teams covered! In sad news, Brian Mikolajczyk passed away in June 2020 at age 59, leaving behind son Alex, parents Ronald and Barbara and siblings Melissa and Todd as well as sister-in-law Caroline.
1985
Julie Colligan Spak
Tom Pappas was recently hired as the executive director of the .NET Foundation. In other news, before COVID, Tom and others had an annual reunion for classes of 85-87 people who lived in Stoke, on the 8th floor — they planned to start up again in May of this year. (I hope the next Class Notes column can include those Stoke updates). Michael Elcock of The Bulfinch Group was named a Leaders Club qualifier by the Guardian life Insurance Company of America for outstanding service and dedication to clients. He lives in Needham, Massachusetts with his wife, Lise, and three sons.
Ellen (Vars) Christo was recently confirmed as a New Hampshire Circuit Court judge.
1986
Susan Panas Clark
2008 North Rose
Island Road
Prospect, KY 40059
susanclark714@gmail.com
(Please put ‘UNH 86’ in your subject line)
Island Road
Prospect, KY 40059
susanclark714@gmail.com
(Please put ‘UNH 86’ in your subject line)
Greetings classmates! I’m your new Class Secretary. For those who don’t know me, I majored in chemical engineering, minored in oceanography, studied at Shoals Marine Lab, was in marching band, concert choir, and Phi Mu. For the last 33 years, I’ve been living in the suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky, and working as an environmental engineer in the chemical industry. I love keeping up with college friends on Facebook and by e-mail, which is how I ended up volunteering for this job. The first person to reach out with news was fellow Chem. E. and Acacia brother, Scot McLeod. Scot retired from the biotech industry in 2018 and has been enjoying retirement. He lives in San Diego with wife, Deidre, and kitty Lucy, and finds sunny California the perfect place for cycling and sports cars. Charles Thurston, another Chem E classmate, and I keep trying to get together in Terre Haute, Indiana, when my son’s (former) football team is playing against ISU, but it’s hard to make the lives of busy people connect. Maybe in 2023. I know Chem E classmate Jeff Lippe must be bursting with pride because his son just won the Georgia (GISA) State Track & Field 1600-meter Championship as I write this. Ed Tetreault retired from the corporate world in 2019, after working for GE, Merck, and more, with his last role being chief human resources officer for Bain Capital. He is enjoying spending quality time with family and friends, volunteering and pursuing new hobbies. He is super proud of his daughter who just graduated with her bachelor’s from UNH. Ed would love to reconnect with UNH and Sigma Nu alumnae. (I have his e-mail address if you need it.) Dana Morse let me know he still loves his job as an Extension associate with the Maine Sea Grant Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension, even after 23+ years. He works in education, technology transfer and applied research, and interacts with commercial fishermen, shellfish farmers, scientists and others on a regular basis. He finds it to be rewarding work. In Summer 2021, he got together with Mary Cunningham, Betsy McCoy Ayotte, Katie Merriam Surowiec, and Jamie Bacon from the Wildlife Management class of ’86. Dana hadn’t seen them in person since graduation! A wonderful evening was had by all. Barry Zimmerman was named a Leaders Club qualifier by the Guardian life Insurance Company of America for outstanding service and dedication to clients. Barry works with Sunstone Wealth Strategies, and lives in Norfolk, Massachusetts with his wife Kathy and three adult sons. Several of our classmates have passed away in recent months. Our deepest condolences go out to their families and friends. Mary Hutchins Hill passed away on Sept. 21, 2021. She had been a hotel administration major. She was a longtime employee of first Dartmouth College and later Plymouth State University. She was predeceased by her husband, Gary, and is survived by two daughters and a son. On Sept. 22, 2021, Karen Curesky McCusker passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. Karen was on the crew team and earned a bachelor’s in political science, and later earned a JD and a MSFS from Georgetown University’s Law Center and School of Foreign Service, respectively. She had a varied career working in business law at major law firms before becoming in house counsel for UTC Pratt & Whitney and practicing pro bono for Child and Family Services. She is survived by husband, Kevin, a son, and a daughter. Elizabeth (Betty) Keegan Healy passed away on Sept. 23, 2021, from early onset dementia. Betty put her degree in social work to good use while working for various agencies specializing in elder care. She was predeceased by her husband, Dave. Richard Wilkins passed away On Oct. 8, 2021. He was a physical education teacher and coach in the Sanford (Maine) School District, as well as an avid fly fisherman. He is survived by wife, Christine, and daughter. Sharon Ciardelli Davis passed away on January 19, 2022, from COVID-19. In addition to her degree in psychology from UNH, Sharon earned a master’s in Christian counseling from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. She homeschooled her son Adam, who survives her. I love hearing from classmates! Don’t be afraid to send news, photos and remembrances of UNH, even if you don’t know me. Also, remember to pencil in the June 2024 Big 80’s Reunion on your calendar! (Dates TBD). Ellen (Vars) Christo (who also received her law degree from UNH in 1990) was recently confirmed as a New Hampshire Circuit Court judge.
1987
Tina Napolitano Savoia
Greetings, everyone; thanks to everyone who has sent along their updates. I heard from Amy Williams recently: After working for decades in oncology drug development at several large pharmaceutical companies, Amy now works as the global head of clinical development and medical affairs for a small Swedish biotech company, Biovica. She lives in Melrose, Massachusetts, with her husband and two teenage boys. Bill Tolman writes in that after his days at UNH, he moved to southern California and worked in the real estate industry for many years. A few years ago, he moved to Arizona and spends time golfing and following his two boys that are both minor league baseball players. Paul Hill sent a note about his work in the brewery industry. He is part of the Cocoa Village Brewers Bash — an event held the first Saturday of February each year in Florida and includes 52 breweries. I heard recently from Kurt Danis who has resumed responsibilities as a chief information officer/department head for the U.S. Navy’s supervisor of shipbuilding, conversion and repair for nuclear-powered submarines; he’s located in Connecticut. Sandra Dei Dolori is living in Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy, and Ogunquit, Maine. Her husband, Philip, works internationally and they have been living overseas for 10 years. They moved from Munich last year. Sandra is a one-to-one peer mentor for Dana Farber Cancer Institute and a Maine impact leader for FORCE. They have a daughter, Olivia, who recently graduated from Syracuse. I heard from Lisa Klein DeMeritt who recently found a passion for the sport of pickleball and in March of 2021, became the co-founder and owner of Pickles, an indoor pickleball club in Hanover, Massachusetts. Upon hearing this, I reached out to Lisa. I am also an avid pickleball player and have been to their club. It is an amazing facility! Darin Mingo wrote in (Hi Darin!) that for the last six years, he has been working for ENGIE, one of the largest multinational renewable energy companies in the world. After living in Hawaii for 20 years, Darin, his wife and three children recently moved to Carlsbad, California. And lastly, Aditya R. Das is the founder and principal for Pharmaceutical Consulting LLC in Foster City, California. Aditya has been working on new ibuprofen tablets and dry powder inhalation therapies—both to be marketed soon. Aditya has two sons—one recently graduated from UCSC and one who is a sophomore there. Thanks again to everyone who has shared their news! All the best!
1988
Beth D. Simpson-Robie
In November 2021, UNH President Jim Dean, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture Dean Anthony Davis, as well as UNH Advancement Vice President Debbie Dutton and UNH Development Managing Director Sue McDonough visited ElevateBio, a company co-founded by David Hallal ’88 (far left). Mike Paglia ’02 (second from right) is the company’s COO.
Left to Right: Class of ’88 members Connie English Eddy, Julie Mccusker Krumsiek, Anne Conley, Rosemary Rockett Hopkins, Teresa Kenney Roy on Plum Island, Newbury, Massachusetts.
Dan Valluzzi is on the “back 9” of his career as CFO of the Department of Veteran Affairs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacy (CMOP) in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He’s been there for 24 years and with the VA for 33. He has stayed in touch with his best buddy Jim Simpson who is now living in New Durham. Dan is currently happily remarried to Kendra Kiely Valluzzi but is proud to report that all three of his children from his first marriage have successfully graduated from their beloved UNH — Jake Valluzzi ’14, Dom Valluzzi ’17, and Caroline Valluzzi ’22. He and Kendra have two more teenage children. They live in Merrimack. Matt Allard was promoted to be the director of the strategic alliances and solutions team at Dell Technologies, advancing the Dell Precision workstation brand across a range of industries and software partners. Matt and wife Robin Caissie Allard ’87 are enjoying their empty nest in Salem, but at a distance keep tabs on their adult children, Emma ’17 and Andrew. Ari Milstein sends greetings to all. Ari has been a start-up technology and marketing services executive since our UNH days. He is married with three children all in their 20s. Ari lives in Needham, Massachusetts, and Mashpee (Cape Cod). He encourages friends to reach out to him at arimilst@comcast.net if they want to say hello and re-connect. David Hallal co-founded the biotechnology company Elevate Bio in 2017. ElevateBio focuses on powering transformative cell and gene therapies to cure devastating and life-threatening diseases. It was a CNBC Disruptor 50 company in 2021. ElevateBio employs more than a dozen graduates from UNH including Mike Paglia ’02G, who is their chief operating officer. David also sits on the UNH Foundation Board of Directors. Karl Leinsing writes that he and his company, ATech Designs, Inc., and Joseph Durant ’17 are sponsoring a mechanical engineering senior project for UNH students to design and develop a new folding pontoon boat helipad for a helicopter. “The folding sides allow it to be pulled out of the water and transported for winter storage. The design will be bigger than the current design to allow full inspection and covering of a R-66 Turbine Marine or HX-50/HC-50 helicopters,” he writes. Through the project, students are learning about hydraulics systems, use of spreadsheets for engineering calculations, and FEA analysis for strength and stress analysis. Deb Richards Thibodeau started her second career 20 years ago as an elementary school guidance counselor. She is currently working full-time at South Bristol School, a small pre-K through 8th school in Midcoast Maine. She recently presented at the Maine Counselor Conference “Cultivating Creativity in the Classroom,” which ties green care concepts to ASCA counselor standards for school counselors. Also a lifelong passion, she has been named one of 26 individuals from around the world as a teacher liaison for the International Space Foundation. Deb likes to promote careers in STEAM for all of her students and enjoys engaging them in creative, active, thought-provoking problem solving. She hopes to create her dream job as a consultant in schools teaching how to incorporate creative learning in the classroom. Steve Schultz, MD writes that after UNH, he went to medical school — his first two years at Dartmouth and his last two years at Brown. He went on to family medicine residency in Rochester, New York, for 3 years, and then a fourth year as chief resident. He had planned to move back to New Hampshire, but instead worked at an inner-city community health center for six years with the National Health Service Corps “which took care of all my medical school debt,” he says. He became the residency director for the family medicine program in Rochester that he had graduated from. He has been the program director in Rochester for the past 20 years but stepped down this summer. He says that along the way, he has had the privilege to serve as a family medicine development consultant in Japan, Angola and Iran. He established a global health program for his residency in rural Honduras, focusing on determinants of health, including water sanitation, microfinance and education. He is a consultant for the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Resident Program Solutions (RPS) which helps FM residency programs who are struggling with a variety of issues. Similar to teaching, even though he is the “expert,” he says he learns a lot with every consultation. Steve drove the Kari-Van his whole time at UNH and has many fond memories of being behind the wheel. Even though he drives a MiniCooper now, he says driving a bus taught him to trust his mirrors! He thinks about how simple life seemed behind the wheel of a Bluebird (the buses we had back then) and thinks about doing that again if he ever retires from medicine. After 25 plus years in Andover, Massachusetts, Susan Pallotta Currie now makes her home in West Palm Beach, Florida, along with her husband, David. There, she writes, teaches and practices her art. Her most recent book, “SUPERFLOW Light Up the Artist in You” (Shanti Arts) was published in late 2021. While she continues to create new designs for her CHARMCODES collections, she also has been following her imagination down some new creative paths. Her work can be seen in Palm Beach and Bridgehampton at Chase Edwards Contemporary. Drop her a line through her website: www.susancurriecreative.com. Teresa Kenney Roy shared this update: she recently moved to Newburyport, Massachusetts. She has three children including: Patrick ’21 and Emmett ’24. She has worked for United HealthCare for 25 years. Connie English lives in Epping with her husband and has worked at Wentworth Douglass Hospital for 28 years. Julie Mccusker Krumsiek lives in Westwood, Massachusetts, with her husband and four children. She has worked in the integrated preschool program there for the last 10 years. Anne Conley lives in Hopkinson, Massachusetts. She has three children and works at Hologic. Rosemary Rockett Hopkins lives in Fall River with her husband and daughter and has worked at Rhode Island Hospital for 33 years. Alpha Xi Delta sister, Susan Fain, started Quicksilver Baking Company with her sister. They make and sell Rugelach unbaked and frozen in both sweet and savory flavors. The name Quicksilver comes from their mom, Ann Silver Fain ’50, who was nicknamed that because she was always late. I am looking forward to trying some, Susan. Check out their website at www.quicksilverbakingcompany.com. Please join me in sharing our deepest condolences to Kathleen Rice who lost her parents five weeks apart this year. Joan and Harold were married 67 years, raised eight children (two UNH Alums), and have three grandchildren.
1989
David Gray
Maria Coady will join the NC State College of Education as the inaugural Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Educational Equity, effective this month. The endowed Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Educational Equity was established with a $1.5 million gift from Ann and Jim Goodnight to attract a field-leading faculty member to advance the college’s commitment to equity and educational impact through groundbreaking research, teaching and service. Coady most recently served as the Irving and Rose Fein Endowed Professor of Education and professor of English speakers of other languages (ESOL) and bilingual education at the University of Florida’s College of Education. After graduating from UNH, she earned a master’s degree in language, literacy and cultural studies from Boston University, and her Ph.D. in social, bilingual and multicultural foundations of education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Condolences to classmate Dan Bussiere, whose father Robert R. Bussiere (‘Bob’) ’59 passed away in June 2020. Friends and family have created a UNH scholarship in his name to help students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (see more info in 1959 class notes).
1990
Amy French
Christine Abrams recently started a new role as sales project coordinator for Tassat, a New York-based blockchain payments and smart contracts banking platform provider, working remotely from northern California. She recently returned from 10 days in Iceland: 3 days in Reykjavik, and 7 days driving the ring road (in case anyone needs more info on either, let her know!). Paul Anderson joined a small investment management firm, Ironwood Investment Management, as managing partner in late 2020. He’s also on the UNH Committee for Investor Responsibility, which stems from prior support of the Sustainability Institute. Ian Story had an interesting life change over the past 6 months. His wife, Sandra, (from Colombia) became an U.S. Foreign Service officer and they relocated to Bahrain for her first posting. Ian was fortunate enough to transfer with his company (SAP) from DC/Miami to their office in Manama, Bahrain. He’ll be covering customers with lots of travel throughout the Middle East and southern Europe. If there are any UNH alums in the Gulf area, he’d definitely like to connect. Philip Connor has been living in central Massachusetts with his wife for the past 20 years. He’s made a career in financial services/investments since graduating with a degree in economics. They have three kids, ages 12 to 15, and looking forward to another year of shuttling them around and enjoying their activities (softball, soccer, and even fencing). He’s hoping everyone from ’90 is doing well! In 2020, Jenn (Briggs) Latham completed her master’s in divinity and was ordained to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church and now is serving as an assisting priest at Church of the Holy Nativity in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she lives with her family. She continues to run almost every day and makes running friends do creative track workouts (since there are no tracks open to the public since the pandemic started). She remembers being a Wildcat on the cross-country, track, and ski teams very fondly and lives vicariously through the teams’ social media posts! As a soccer fanatic, Dennis J. O’Connell really appreciated the recent article and video about the men’s soccer team in UNH Magazine. On March 5, 2022, he was in Bank of America stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, as Charlotte FC broke the Major League Soccer attendance record with 74,749 cheering fans. This game continued his streak of seeing every single Major League Soccer team play in their home stadium since the league started in 1996. He has also attended every Women’s World Cup of soccer in history, starting with the 1991 games in China when Debbie Belkin Rademacher ’95G was on the USA world championship team and looks forward to the next one in Australia/New Zealand in 2023. Dennis has visited 147 countries of the world so far, 61 left to visit depending on which list you use and will update whenever he’s visited them all! Les Murray ’90G retired as the Amesbury High School principal in 2011. In retirement, he’s been the secretary/treasurer for the Northeastern Conference and the Cape Ann League and works with athletic directors and principals from twenty-one high schools in Massachusetts. For the last two years, he has served as an adjunct professor at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, we he supervises graduate students who are pursuing teaching certification. He and his wife, Jayne ’79 (who recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary) have owned and operated the New England Chocolate Company for the past 18 years. Tom Witmer is in his 24th year of teaching sixth grade math at the Cooperative Middle School in Stratham. Frank Fiore visited Durham for the first time in years to watch his son Will and his UConn team take on the Wildcats. It was a close competitive lacrosse match-up, with UNH pulling ahead late in the fourth quarter. Congrats to both teams for putting on a great game.
1992
Melissa Langbein
Samantha Furstein is currently living in the East Bay area of San Francisco and adjusting to ‘empty nesting’ with both daughters attending school on the East Coast. She recently joined the COLSA Development Board and is looking forward to being a part of that group. Marlene Hammond obtained her master’s of science degree in leadership from Granite State College and was recently promoted to assistant vice president of operational risk at Lincoln Financial Group. Marlene and husband Todd Hammond ’89 reside in New Hampshire. Chris Webb and his wife opened a beer tap room at High Street Place in Boston. Alewives Tap Room is a great spot for Boston-based alumni to gather, network and enjoy a frosty beverage. The food hall includes many other food and drink options from some of Boston’s best chefs as well as live music and DJs so come on out! Niko (Pappas) Papakonstantis is enjoying his 22nd year working at Aon, most recently as senior VP/director of MIIA operations. He was re-elected to a second term on the town of Exeter, Selectboard and is serving his third consecutive year as chair. Niko, his wife, Stephanie, and children Thaao (14) and Alexa (10) have resided in Exeter since 2009.
1995
Tammy Ross
Deborah Garfinkle has been awarded a 2022 NEA Translation Fellowship to translate “Thousands of Plateaus,” a short story collection by Czech writer and poet Sylva Fischerová. This is the second time Deborah has been awarded an NEA Translation Fellowship for her translations of contemporary Czech literature. Meanwhile, Etta Madden ’95PhD has been named the Clif & Gail Smart Professor of English at Missouri State University and recently published a book: “Engaging Italy: American Women’s Utopian Visions and Transnational Networks” (SUNY Press). Says Etta, “Both are the result of great foundations laid during my graduate studies in Hamilton-Smith Hall, where I worked with fantastic English professors.” Congratulations to both women for their impressive accomplishments! Please send your news.
1998
Emily Rines
Hi Class of 1998! Thanks to all who sent your news. Big Congrats to Dannagal G. Young Ph.D. who was promoted to full professor at the University of Delaware in the departments of communication and political science in 2021. And another congrats to Ken Hager who has been hired as Cape Cod area manager for William Raveis Real Estate, overseeing operations for six offices from Harwich to Provincetown. Keep your news coming!
Joshua Traylor’99 with two of his three sons.
1999
Jaimie Russo Zahoruiko
Happy Spring! I hope this issue finds you all doing well. Jessica Spinazola was married on March 26, 2022, in a small ceremony in Portland Maine. Her college roommate and friend, Laurie Adams was by her side as she celebrated. Joshua Traylor was recently promoted to terrestrial division manager at a CanNorth Environmental Services in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Previously, Joshua received his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Saskatchewan in 2010. He enjoys working with his passionate team at CanNorth to satisfy client demands as wellbeing directly involved in conservation with industry clients. In his free time, Joshua and his wife, Hollie, and three boys (Matthew, Jacob, and Ruslan) operate a small mixed farm on 160 acres, growing grain crops, raising chickens, maintaining an orchard and gardening. When time permits, Joshua travels back to Connecticut to visit his twin brother (Jason Traylor). He hopes to be able to return to UNH for a future Homecoming game, catch up with old classmates, and/or partake in a broomball game at the Whit. Though his boys are still young, he would love if they would consider attending UNH. Jill (Lavorgna) Laudati, communications sciences disorders major, has been working at a private special education school as a speech language pathologist for the past 18 years. She and her family recently self-published a short memoir called “Itchy Brain: A Family’s Perspective and Positive Outlook on ADHD.” She writes: “We wrote this memoir in hopes to spread awareness, provide support to families, shed light on what parents go through, and how we, as a family, have dealt with ADHD and persevered. We took a negative stigma, embraced it, and turned it into a positive experience for all.”
2000
Mike Bove
Hello, class of 2000! I hope you’re all enjoying a little warmer weather these days. Here’s what some of your classmates have been up to: Seth Acton returned to Rhode Island after graduating from UNH but still loves to visit the White Mountains as often as possible. He is very much looking forward to another season of winter backpacking. An avid trail runner, he enjoys filming his adventures and sharing them on his YouTube channel: Seth’s New England Trails. Jenny Dennis has assumed the role of president at Trio Solutions Inc. in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She will lead the agency’s 14-member team, serving clients in the nonprofit, healthcare, education, real estate and professional services industries across the country. Debbie Marino has been promoted to chief advancement officer at Saint John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts. Deb has been at the school in various advancement/fundraising positions for almost 13 years. Until next issue, please send any news my way.
2001
Elizabeth Merrill Sanborn
2082 Pequawket Trail
Hiram, ME 04041
Hiram, ME 04041
William Kinne, who majored in music education here, was recently appointed assistant professor of music and director of bands at the University of Southern Maine. He conducts the wind ensemble, teaches courses on conducting and music education, and leads the graduate program in wind conducting. He also conducts the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and was recently named the principal conductor and artistic director of the Casco Bay Wind Symphony, a community ensemble of music educators, professional, and amateur musicians. Will lives in Gorham, Maine, with his wife and three daughters. Julie O’Connor works at Saint Anselm College in Manchester as assistant vice president for annual giving. Julie has been at the college for over five years, starting originally as an assistant director in the annual fund.
2002
Abby Severance Gillis
Our class lost a member, Justin R. Philbrick, in November 2021. Justin is remembered for his love of family, friends, and nature. Aaron Goulette was appointed chief of staff of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in December 2020. Additionally, he and his wife, Megan Stone, welcomed their first son, Theo, in June 2021. Another fellow classmate and Massachusetts Representative, Richard Haggerty and his wife, Hailey, welcomed a daughter, Harper Rose, in January 2022. Congratulations to both families!
2003
Ryan J. Walls
Lexi Leddy started Lexi Leddy Real Estate in 2021 and currently lives in Rye. Nate Hastings changed careers and is now working with The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. TJ Kelly established Kelly Family Financial, LLC and purchased a Horace Mann Insurance agency in 2018. With 15 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry he took a leap from corporate America to business ownership. Laura (Saxe) Beaudoin was re-elected to a one-year term as Hopkinton (N.H.) School Clerk. This is her sixth year in the position. Beaudoin also serves as secretary of the Friends of Hopkinton Town Library. Erin Hachez Messier just celebrated her 10-year anniversary working with home building company David Weekley Homes. She’s been in real estate now for more than 15 years. Amber Oakley recently began a new job as the director of financial operations for Cooper University Health Care, Women’s and Children’s Institute. She and her husband Andrew ’01 recently celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary. Their love story started back at Christensen Hall, 21 years ago. James “Jim” Abbott, former UNH hockey player, coached his youngest son Nolan to a PeeWee Boston Hockey League Championship in March. His son, Riley (17 years old) was his assistant coach. His wife Suzanne Abbott is also a classmate of ours. Sadly, Amanda Elizabeth Downes Kimball passed away on Sept. 10, 2021. After graduation, she worked her entire professional career as an occupational therapist at Northern Lights Inland Hospital in Waterville, Maine, from March 2004 until her death. She loved the outdoors and she walked for the American Cancer Society. She leaves behind her husband Robert Kimball and her two sons Caleb and Noah Kimball along with her parents, sister and many other beloved family members and friends.
2004
Victoria McGowan Reed
Mark Gosztyla writes: “I wanted to send along some news about my first chapbook of poems, ‘Everything is Obvious After It Happens,’ which was published in May by Finishing Line Press.” In addition to his undergrad degree in English, Mark also earned his MFA in creative writing here in 2009. He’s currently Head of the English Department at Choate Rosemary Hall. You can read more about his work at markgosztyla.com. Condolences to classmate Jesse Ambrose (also ’10G), and wife Christine who lost Christine’s uncle, Robert R. Bussiere (‘Bob’) ’59 in June 2020. Friends and family, including Dan Bussiere ’89 and Jesse and Christine, have created a scholarship in his name to help students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. (See more info in Bob’s 1959 class notes).
2005
Megan Stevener
Above: Mike Miley and his family welcomed son Ethan in 2021. Right: Erin Marchal and husband Andrew Brown ’07 welcome son Kieran earlier this year.
Shamul Haque ’05G checks in: “After almost a decade out of law school, I now have my own law firm — mostly dealing with technology transactions and social media platforms. One of my favorite clients is Change.org. I love their mix of heady idealism and rugged drive to provide a voice to every individual worldwide. If you need a deal reviewed, an NDA looked at, or even want to say hi: please feel free to drop me a note at ehteshamulh@gmail.com/shamul@haquelawoffice.com. I am always happy to hear from my UNH peeps.” Mike Miley and his wife, Cara, welcomed son Ethan Michael Miley on Feb. 23, 2021. Mike, Cara, Evelyn (9), Fiona (5) and Ethan (1) live in Fairfield, Connecticut. He says hello to his fellow classmates and is hoping all are well. Erin Marchal writes, “My husband, Andrew Brown ’07 and I welcomed our son, Kieran Stowe Marchal-Brown on Jan. 20, 2022. We are living in Goffstown. Andrew works in web development, and I work in early childhood education.
2006
Class Notes Editor
Colby Gamester was among the six new board members named to the Granite United Way’s Board of Directors. Granite United Way serves more than 85 percent of the state, and Windsor County, Vermont. Born and raised in Portsmouth, Colby graduated from Portsmouth High School in 2002 and from UNH with bachelor’s degrees in economics and political science. After graduating from New England School of Law in 2012, he has worked as a solo practitioner in Portsmouth with a focus on small business law, probate law, estate planning and real estate and land use law. Gamester lives in Portsmouth with his wife, Amanda, son Remy and daughter Laney.
Allie Rowe Ladio, lives in in Monterey, California, with her husband and two daughters.
2007
Mike Antosh
Erika Lehman is the new chief marketing officer for USA Cycling. Part of Erika’s new job will include the goal of getting more people interested in cycling. Kevin DeRosa was recently named vice president for the retail distribution network at Greenfield Savings Bank. In between UNH and this position, Kevin graduated from the Credit Union National Association’s management school as a certified credit union executive and worked for 11 years in banking. In addition, Kevin is an adjunct professor at Vermont State Colleges and the Community College System of New Hampshire. Hannah MacBride co-founded the environmental group GreenLifeNH.com, which she wrote is “a New Hampshire-based environmental group working to inspire positive change towards a greener tomorrow.” Its website includes information on environmentally friendly practices, and voting issues related to the environment. Allie Rowe Ladio is living in Monterey, California, with her husband and two daughters, working as a fundraiser for a non-profit. She co-founded the consulting firm Coral Collective. “Our goal is to help nonprofits of all sizes access the resources and strategies usually saved for the super-large nonprofits,” she says.
“So thankful for all the memories and friends we met at our time with UNH!” say Andrea (Yacavoni) Adams and Steven Adams ’14, who celebrated their wedding with other UNH alumni from the classes of ’79, ’87, ’04, ’09, and ’03 through ’17.
Matt Campanale ’11 and Katrina Melesciuc Campanale ’11 recently welcomed their baby girl, Vienna Grace Campanale, on Feb. 7, 2022. Matt is a former UNH Hockey co-captain who majored in business administration: finance; Katrina majored in business administration: accounting. Congratulations!
2008
Alexandra Covucci
Hey Class of 2008 — wow, it’s been a while. I hope you’re all well, healthy, and taking care of yourselves. I know we’ve probably all been through a lot over the past few years, and I hope this is finding you steady, nourished and safe. Here are what some of your classmates are up to: Congratulations to Deborah (Lemire) Anderson and Erick Anderson ’10 who welcomed their third baby, a boy named Henrik George, on Valentine’s Day this year. He joins his siblings Jeffrey and Simone. Also congratulations to Martha DeFlorio who writes, “In 2020, I opened a second studio location in my hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut. My business, Made Floral, now services floral design for wed dings and events in Detroit, Michigan and Norwalk. This past winter, I visited the Service Building at UNH, particularly the woodworking studio. The woodworking class that I took during my senior year in 2008 is what set me on a path to establish a career in design!” Maeve Lawler is now the curator of collections and exhibitions at the Stamford Museum & Nature Center. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art history and received her master’s degree in modern art, connoisseurship, and the history of the art market from Christie’s Education in New York City. Following stints at Christie’s and Marlborough Gallery, Maeve worked for 11 years at Acquavella Galleries, which specializes in impressionist and modern European art and post-war American painting and sculpture. That’s it for what I received this round, but we’re always open to hearing from you about your updates and news! Some news of my own is this: this will be the last column that I write for the class notes. It’s coming up on almost 15 years that I’ve been writing columns, and it’s time for me to pass the torch to someone else. I’ve appreciated you reading and following along. If you’re interested in taking the reins, shoot an email over to UNH Magazine Editor Michelle Morrissey ’97 at alumni.editor@unh.edu. Stay well, stay healthy, stay hydrated and rested. Keep doing anything you love with anyone you love. All my best.
2013
Class Notes Editor
Congratulations to Lauren Kane ’13G, who was recently appointed president and CEO of BioOne, a company founded in 1999 to address inequities in scholarly communications. Its flagship product, BioOne Complete, is a full-text journal aggregator that delivers more than 1.6 million pages of essential research in the life sciences at a fraction of the cost of commercial collections. Lauren held a number of leadership roles at BioOne between 2006 and 2019 and has served as president of the Society for Scholarly Publishing.
2016
Class Notes Editor
Katja Kleyensteuber of Claremont graduated from UNH with a bachelor’s degree in music education and recently earned her master’s in music education at Boston University. She was just named a finalist for a Fulbright Award to teach and conduct research in Vienna, Austria, this fall. Her research project is called, “Curricular Call and Response: The Future of Music Education in The City of Music.” She will be conducting this research in affiliation with the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna.
2017
Class Notes Editor
We lost classmate Taylor Kirk last fall after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He attended Biddeford High in Maine before earning is bachelor’s in civil engineering. He was an airport engineer with Hoyle, Tanner and Associates in Manchester.
2018
Class Notes Editor
Matt Fratamico of Hartford, Connecticut, was recently hired as a law clerk in the Litigation Department at Kahan Kerensky Capossela, LLP, a law firm with offices in Vernon and Storrs, Connecticut. Matt, a native of Portsmouth, N.H., earned undergraduate degrees in both communications and justice studies at UNH and graduated with cum laude distinction. He graduated from University of Connecticut School of Law in May.
Send in your news!
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1941Nancy Bryanton behalf of Lonnie (Eleanor) Gould Bryant
9 Rickey Drive
Maynard, MA 01754
bryantnab@yahoo.com;
978-501-0334 -
1951Anne Schultz Cotter
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1975Kim Lampson Reiff
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1991Christina Ayers Quinlan
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1993Caryn Crotty Eldridge
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1994Mike Opal
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1996Michael Walsh
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1997Geoffrey Grant
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2012Bria Oneglia
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2014Hillary Flanagan
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All Other ClassesEmail Classnotes.editor@unh.edu
Or mail to: Class Notes Editor, UNH Magazine, 9 Edgewood Road, Elliott Alumni Center, Durham, NH 03824