Class Notes

Don’t see your class here? Send news via email or mail to your class correspondent, or to Classnotes.editor@unh.edu, or mail: UNH Magazine, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824.
Black and white photograph view pictured here in 1946, Folio Club members formed in 1932 at the request of students interested in the reading and discussion of current literature, according to the 1946 Granite yearbook; It was sponsored by Professor Towle, had a library of its own, and had members from all classes and majors, not just English majors. This photo shows a meeting in Towle’s home.
Pictured here in 1946, the Folio Club formed in 1932 at the request of students interested in the reading and discussion of current literature, according to the 1946 Granite yearbook. It was sponsored by Professor Towle, had a library of its own, and had members from all classes and majors, not just English majors. This photo shows a meeting in Towle’s home.
Portrait close-up photograph view of Charles Wills ’47 pictured with his two youngest great-grandchildren as they are inside a home living room area of some sort
Vintage close-up photograph view of 1949’s Joan Lamson’s daughter, Deb, in her scuba gear in the water at UNH’s Jackson Estuarine Laboratory
Top to bottom: Charles Wills ’47 is pictured with his two youngest great-grandchildren. 1949’s Joan Lamson’s daughter, Deb, in her scuba gear at UNH’s Jackson Estuarine Laboratory.

1947

Charles Wills celebrated his hundredth birthday with the “Party of the Century” on February 18. His weekend-long party brought together all four of his children, seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren plus spouses, cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends from around the world: in addition to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, family members came from Idaho, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Colorado, Ghana and Papua New Guinea. They gathered to learn about the Wills family’s distinguished history in Newburyport, Melrose and Lynnfield the day before the big day, and on Sunday, the family was joined by friends old and new for a party featuring the New Black Eagles Jazz Band along with cake and champagne. Charlie entered military service in early 1943, after the first semester of his sophomore year at UNH, and did not return to campus until 1946-47, when he lived off campus, on Schoolhouse Lane, with his new bride. He says that if people don’t remember him, that’s why. In a memoir written in 2000, he wrote, “ When I was a sophomore at the University of New Hampshire in November 1942, I enlisted in the Army Air Corps Cadet Program … We were allowed to finish the semester, and were called to report in February 1943, the day after my 19th birthday.” After almost three years of service, he wrote, “I completed my junior year at UNH between the spring term of ’46 and the full summer term. And in September ’46 my wife and I were married and she transferred to UNH and we had our Senior year there together, both graduating in June 1947. I switched from engineering to business administration, which was a good thing, because I was much more talented in business than in engineering.” Immediately after graduation, Charlie went into the construction business, and during the next 40 years built more than 600 homes, half of them in Lynnfield.
Portrait close-up photograph view of Don Chapman ’51 and wife Evy; Don reports: “Evy and I are living it up at the 50s Sock Hop held here at Taylor Community in Laconia. Some of us old-timers are still going strong, and my athletic sweater still fits!”
Don Chapman ’51 reports: “Evy and I are living it up at the 50s Sock Hop held here at Taylor Community in Laconia. Some of us old-timers are still going strong, and my athletic sweater still fits!”

1949

Joan Boodey Lamson
51 Lamson Lane
New London, N.H. 032577
unhjblamson@gmail.com
It has been 25 years since the class of 1949 celebrated their 50th Reunion. We had voted to put our financial gift to our university into the Class of ’49 Endowed Fund for Student Support. Every year since then, we have given donor-based scholarships to deserving UNH students. I have received and often mentioned many letters of thanks, but none more heart-warming then the one from Sage Manning ’25: “I would like to extend my greatest thanks for allowing me to come one step further to accomplishing my academic and career goals. My donor-based scholarship has helped me to afford my tuition as a first-generation college student coming from a single-parent family. I am going to be entering my senior year in 2024-25 with confidence. I will graduate from UNH with a bachelor’s degree in communication with a business focus in marketing. I cannot thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to continue my education with more flexibility and less financial stressors.” Three other UNH students also received a helpful scholarship from the class of ’49. They are Sarah Bennett ’26, an occupational therapy major; Sydney Szmyt ’26, a business administration major; and Sam Vose ’25, whose majors are classics: ancient Mediterranean civilization and anthropology. I hope that our experience will inspire more classes in the great value of endowed funds, which continue to help worthy students every year. The class of 1975 will celebrate their 50th this coming year. My daughter, Deb Lamson ’75, who is married and lives in Portsmouth, is in that class. She majored in leisure management, but her longest job before retirement was in the marine biology field at UNH’s Jackson Estuarine Lab, doing all kinds of projects in and on the water and she’s even still willing to move a “mooring” when needed. I only received one letter in 2024 from a UNHer; but it was enjoyable to receive some news from Jean Spiller Perkins ’47 (you can read other ’47 news above). Jean read the interesting story that Shirley Newcomer Wagner ’46 wrote in our winter 2024 Alumni Magazine and wanted her address so she could contact her. “She was one of my Alpha Xi sisters,” wrote Jean. Shirley lives in a retirement community in independent living and still bakes cookies for her grandchildren! Jean lives independently in Kennebunkport, Maine. Shirley was 100 in January and Jean will be 99 this September. I am much younger at only 96 — I like to think the secret to feeling younger, is to find someone older who can inspire you! There was an omission in my obituary of Don Bent ’48 in the Winter Alumni Magazine. Don’s youngest daughter, Cindy Bent, attended UNH but left to join her friend, Sandy, as owners of Profile Goldens in Barrington. Besides their beautiful golden retrievers, they raised alpacas and miniature goats and had a huge vegetable garden. I used to call their place: El Rancho Grande! Alice Taylor Seaman, who died in November 2023, lead full life married more than 70 years to Navy career man, Marvin Seaman. She was a classroom teacher and reading specialist with a passionate commitment to educating young people, especially improving their reading skills. She retired from Newport Public schools and then moved with her husband to England. In retirement they enjoyed traveling to over 35 foreign countries! Their biggest joy was spending time with the families of their two sons and one daughter and their four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Alice is buried in Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband. Russell “Russ” Ingram of Salem passed away October 2023 at the age of 98. Russ was industrious, even as a young boy. He had a newspaper route, raised hundreds of chickens and labored on Turner’s Dairy Farm. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 where he became a pilot. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled at UNH in our class. A year after graduating, he married his high school sweetheart, Roberta “Bobbi” McClary. Russ had a successful career in banking starting in Farmer’s Home Administration in Montpelier, Vermont, then advanced to junior management in Lancaster, and finally became president of Farmers and Traders National Bank in Colebrook. After retirement he and Bobbi moved back to Salem, where he was elected to four terms as a state representative. This generous couple contributed a donation to the city of Salem that is being used to build the Russell and Roberta Ingram Senior Center. Russell leaves behind Dean Ingram (Suzanne) of Laconia, Debra (Dale) Ritter of Newburyport and Joan Ingram of Salem; as well as four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

1953

Ann Burghardt
411 Wentworth Hill Road
Center Sandwich, NH 03227
alces1@myfairpoint.net
The Class Endowed Scholarship Fund continues to do its work, thanks to your past contributions. Nine undergrads, with majors ranging from business and engineering to biomedical science, are the latest to be helped. Sadly there are more obits. Mary Ellis Martin, a dietetics major and Kappa Delta member, died May 11, 2023. She continued dietetic studies at Mass General and then worked from 1954 to 1960 as a clinical and administrative dietitian at the University Hospitals of Madison, Wisconsin, where she met her future husband, Charles Martin. After raising three children she resumed dietetic work for the next 16 years. Retirement meant travel and watching Red Sox games. Janet Ball Leland, an occupational therapy major, died September 16, 2023. She married David P. Leland in September 1952 and they lived in Harpswell, Maine, for 43 years before moving to Midcoast Senior Health in Brunswick in 2016. She leaves two sons and a daughter; David and a son predeceased her. Allison “Al” Sanborn, who served in the Air Force before earning a degree in social studies, died October 9, 2023. He married Elaine Johnston ’51 in 1952. He was director of the Student Union for three years before joining State Mutual Life Assurance Co. (later Allmerica Financial Corp.) Al sang in his church choir, discovered tennis at 45 and continued to play weekly for the next 35 years. Whitewater canoeing was an important part of the Sanborns’ lives as was participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency which meant traveling all over to help those displaced by natural disasters. He also hiked the Appalachian Trail; Elaine driving their camper on the trip. Marguerite “Sky” Whitehouse died December 6, 2022. An Alpha Zi, Sky loved phys ed classes and sports, and had a 30-year career of teaching and coaching high school girls in Mapleton, Oregon, with her track, volleyball and basketball teams winning numerous awards. She was also a Girl Scout troop leader, a community swimming instructor and enjoyed sailing and skiing, and with her husband, Leo, and their four sons, hunting. Sky thought young women should be strong and independent, and deserved opportunities to follow their own dreams and above all, to have fun doing it. Affectionately known as “Reds,” Edward L. Keohane died March 26, 2023. An electrical engineering major, he was a senior electrical engineer for the RCA Defense Department in Camden and Moorestown, New Jersey, making significant contributions to the design of the automatic landing system for aircraft carriers, the phased array system for space; he also held numerous technical patents. He was an adjunct professor at Drexel University for 17 years and at various community colleges, vocational schools and colleges in New Jersey and Florida. Joan Comolli Barnes died November 30, 2023. Joan was an occupational therapy major and a member of Phi Mu. After graduation and a series of internships, she settled in Olean, New York, where she met her future husband, Robert Barns, marrying in 1955 and moving to Meriden, Connecticut. When their three children were grown, she became a substitute teacher in the Meriden school system, and volunteered at a hospital and at her church. When her husband retired, they moved to Grantham. Attending UNH with the aid of an Air Force ROTC scholarship, Edward (Ed) Bureau went on to serve in Okinawa for two years as an intelligence officer. He remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1966, attaining the rank of captain. Following active duty, he attended the University of Michigan Law School, then moved to Derry, where he joined Judge George Grinnell to form the firm of Grinnell and Bureau, continuing to practice law for more than 50 years into his 80s He was moderator for the Derry Cooperative School District and served the town in that position for 28 years, and was a trustee of Pinkerton Academy for 26 years and president of the Board of Directors for 10. He and his family enjoyed music, gardening and being near lakes or ocean. Ed died on February 3, 2024, in Nashua. Arlene A. King, a romance language major, died January 25, 2024, in Manchester. Also earning a master’s in library science from UNH, she was a librarian for the Tewksbury, Massachusetts, school system for 40 years before retiring in 1996. She is survived by four daughters. What’s your news? Drop me a line or two so I can let the classmates know about your latest exploits even if your adventures are just tending gardens and reading the latest thriller.

1955

John Everson
5116 Melbourne St, Unit 2201
Punta Gorda, FL 33980
jandleverson@aol.com

Dear classmates: It is that time of year again when I need news to pass on to our fellow classmates of ’55. We still have more than 180 living members and some of you must have just a little information about your family, a classmate or your pet you could pass on to share with the rest of us. I would appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from you to make the next issue of the magazine one to remember. I attended the Southwest Florida Alumni meeting in Venice, Florida, and the only member of our class that attended, but several members from the class of ’57 were there, so I did not feel alone. Both Chan Sanborn and Bill Johnston had planned to attend, but at the last minute had to cancel their plans. Chan did mention to me if any of our class are planning to donate to the general fund at the university, would you please note the gift go to help restore our class support for the UNH Library. I had the pleasure to sit with Allison Rich, the new director of athletics. She informed me about how Wildcat student-athletes continue their success in the classroom. During the fall semester our Wildcat teams averaged a 3.37 GPA. We also achieved an NCAA graduation success rate of 95 percent — the fifth consecutive year of 95 or higher. Rich is a graduate of Princeton and also an attorney, which I had not known. But from our conversation she seems really interested in all our athletes and seeing them achieve every success. With the Dartmouth College basketball team just voting to join a union, I guess it is great to know we have an attorney in our athletic department. Kent Keith sent a note that he and Meredith enjoyed a very mild winter in western Colorado. Kent manages to work out three times a week and is looking to take on Bill Johnston in a lacrosse game . He sends his warm wishes to all the members of the class of ’55. Dee Gozonsky writes that she is keeping busy in retired life, after retiring as an art teacher. Unfortunately, she lost her husband shortly after they moved to Princeton, New Jersey. She has become a volunteer at the Princeton Art Museum and recently resumed her painting focusing on water colors and looks forward to reading what her fellow classmates are up to. We just learned that Jack Weeks has recently passed away. Jack had served on many committees over the years at UNH and will be missed by many of us that happened to know him. We attended a memorial service recently in Venice, Florida. (See an In Memoriam for Jack here) Lois Armstrong ’58, wife of Fritz Armstrong ’57 who passed away this past January. It was a large group of friends that attended on a beautiful sunny day. No members of our class were present but did see Carmen Beaudin ’57, wife of Harry Beaudin, who spends her winters in Florida and sends her best wishes to all our class. Received a note from Doug Jones that his wife, Darlene recently passed. Doug is now retired from teaching after 43 years at Ohio State University where he taught graduate courses on public finance and regulatory finance and was a director of the National Regulatory Research Institute for 20 years. Darlene had worked in the admissions office for 22 years admitting many of the 69,000 students now at OSU. Until next time, have a safe and fun summer, and remember to send a little news for our next letter.

1956

Pat (Walker) Hollarn
139 Poquito Road
Shalimar FL 32579
(850) 585-7768
integrityunlimited@cox.net
I had no “news” for a column in the winter edition and envied the class of 1955 with almost 20 responses and they are even older than us! So this is a huge thank you to Shirley Smith and Bob Keene for making this column possible with their much-welcomed response to let me beg for more responses for next time — even if you just want to tell us how many great-grandchildren you have. Shirley Lutz Reuter Smith reports that she has retired to Florida after being acquisitions librarian at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, for 25 years. “My BA is from UNH where I was an Alpha Xi Delta and English major, and my MLS is from Syracuse. I married Jack Reuter ’55 and we have four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. We are divorced and are still friends, and we both enjoy our loving family. I have so many wonderful memories of life at UNH.” Dr. Bob Keene reported one of the most satisfying experiences of his dental career: working in 2015 with a fantastic group striving to improve the health and well-being of villagers in the mountains of rural Honduras. “The organization in ACTS-Honduras began in 1984 to empower the villagers to help themselves through learning and financial help on how to take better care of themselves. Based on previous experience working in rural Korea, Ecuador and Nepal, they asked me to set up a dental clinic so that dental care could be added to the already existing medical care run and managed by local people. Earlier work with dental students there back in 2006-07 enabled connections that proved helpful in securing used equipment augmented by donated instruments from the states. During a week-long trip in February 2024, we were able to install an X-ray machine that, along with a donated laptop computer, enabled the Honduran dentist who has been providing clinical dental care and preventive service to 13 regional elementary schools and villagers since 2016. She can now achieve complete and up-to-date dental care. Truly this was one of the most profound and satisfying aspects of my life. It took many people to complete this project. It was a tribute to the local people who dedicated themselves to achieve something they wanted and meant so much to them. It serves as an example of ‘effective right-minded international outreach.’” Dr. Bob retired in February 2020. Well done! Hope to hear from more of you for the next issue.

1957

Nancy Jillson Glowacki
83 Rolling Wood Dr, Apt.217
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
(828) 606-5201
nancyglo221@gmail.com
Summer is once again on the horizon although as I write this, Wolfeboro is having the last (I think) big snowstorm of spring 2024. Please accept my apology for the mysterious column glitch last issue. Mea culpa! How were the past six months for each of us? Ups and downs? Travel? Walks in nature? Study, projects, listening to music, visiting, fixing things, downsizing, or “other” in a mixed bag? Share your stories with us. Some of us have experienced significant loss and grief which changed life forever. And at our age, every day we do encounter a little “dying” in some form. A quote from Harold Ivan Smith says ”I hope you will give your grief its voice. Remember our griefprint will be as individual as your thumbprint. Listen to your heart. Allow grief to teach you lessons.” Half of our class still walks the planet albeit sometimes with a walker, and we are all supporting in friendship! Reach! Fritz Armstrong, our faithful longstanding president of the class of 1957, shared the deeply sad news of the loss of his wife of 65 years Lois Jesseman Armstrong’58 on January 14, 2024, from leukemia. On June 1, Fritz and the family held a special celebration of Lois’s life in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Bill Zimmerman, Keene, one of our class-y musicians (remember the 50th?) also sent sad news of his wife Ruth’s passing January 19, 2024, after a lengthy challenge with Parkinson’s disease, a traumatic loss for Bill. Their five daughters, five sons-in-law, and 17 grandchildren gathered for a memorable celebration for Ruth. Bill also had a single kidney removal on March 27 and is recovering well! Before his surgery he managed to fit in four piano gigs, and he plans to keep right on playing! Remember to check the back of the magazine for all alums who have passed. The class of ’57 said goodbye to Robert Webster, August 31, 2023; Marcia Langlois, September 13, 2023; Walter Hall, October 2, 2023; Clarke Dustin, October 14, 2023; Claire Marie Boutin November 11, 2023; Priscilla Daggett Calais, December 22, 2023; and Carolyn Allard, January 26, 2024. Amazing, full lives of an unbelievable array of talent and purpose. Farewell and thank you for your legacies! Ask me to send any obituary you might like to see. In the moment… Gwen Marsh Caldwell is home again after surviving RSV in the hospital and thankfully hearty as ever! Cynthia Macauley Colbath moved back to west Florida and is loving her community there again! Carly Rushmore Hellen and Jim Hellen continue to live the lively life at Riverwoods Durham and Jim has become quite adept on the washtub bass for the Riverwoods Ramblers — never too late for a new career! As of this writing, I am venturing forth, jet lag and all, to New Zealand for a major family visit and to attend my grandson Luke’s graduation from the University of Auckland! Congratulations! The class of 1957 Endowed Scholarship was awarded to Delana C. Mooney ’26 of Bow, dual major in business administration: management and business administration: finance. Brava! Take a moment to check in with an old (literally!) college and high school friend … it feels so good to connect. Let’s try to grasp the “nows” as they come to express a thank you, a memory, a laugh, an unspoken emotion, an amend, a “live” connection. Enjoy each moment, and write news to me; happy summer, all!

1958

Peggy Ann Shea
100 Tennyson Avenue
Nashua, NH 03062-2535
peggy.shea@alumni.unh.edu
I want to thank the many individuals who wrote messages or sent cards upon my receipt of the Charles Pettee Medal. These were very much appreciated. Bobbie and Bob Juster have moved into a newly renovated assisted living campus at Bentley Village in Naples, Florida. Bob is a budding artist attending the art studio every day, and Bobbie is intrigued with all games. They enjoy spending time with Mary Ann and David Chase when they are snowbirds. Mary Ann and David have finally moved to their permanent home on Durham Point Road in Durham after major renovations. They welcome any ’58ers who might be in the area. Jane (Brown) and John Rasmussen are enjoying life at RiverWoods, a retirement community in Exeter. John has made or remodeled most of the furniture in their apartment utilizing the facilities of the in-house woodworking shop. Jane has assumed the duties of secretary of the Garden Committee. Richard (Dick) Gaudette continues to play the organ and piano or sing in his church’s choir in Leawood, Kansas. Dick worked on the Apollo 11 project and then at Polaroid for 26 years. Below are some obituaries I have received. Space does not permit all the details; I will share these if you contact me. John Alden (Fairbanks, Alaska) obtained a PhD in tree physiology-ecology from Oregon State University and worked for the U.S. Forest Service in California, Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and the Institute of Northern Forestry in Fairbanks. Lois (Jesseman) Armstrong, earned a master’s degree in special education. Known for her love of animals and being a Boston sports fanatic, she recently resided in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, Venice, Florida. Robert Bierweiler, Sr. (Wolfeboro) worked for years managing Brewster Dairy and later worked for the Wolfeboro Highway Department. Herbert Bill (Nashua) furthered his education at the Andover Newton Theological College and the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He built a life of service through Emmanuel’s Church and taught vacation Bible school. Although a teacher, John Burbank (Laconia) found his calling as an employment counselor for the state. Classmates may remember Charles Goodhue (Bedford, Texas) who created a dance band at UNH. He joined the Navy as an aviator and instructor after which he flew for TWA for 30 years. Patricia (Cain) Goodrich (Rocky Hill, Connecticut) was a homemaker with many varied activities including driving a support RV when her husband became involved in the American Tour Del Sol, a solar-powered car rally. Joan (Hero) Hadlock (Hammond, New York) was a Peace Corps teacher in Sierra Leone. Later she became part of the family dairy farm operation in Hammond. Gordon Hammond (Zephyrhills, Florida) was captain of the UNH rifle team and a physics major. Gordon allowed me to use his rifle to qualify for the expert riflery badge in physical education. A research physicist for 30 years at the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in Maryland, his principal project led to the production of data that was also useful in the analysis of white dwarf stellar atmospheres, and he ultimately received a master’s in physics and PhD in astronomy from the University of Maryland. He later taught astrophysics at the University of South Florida. Robert Houlne (Millersville, Maryland) worked for 26 years at Westinghouse and then joined Northrop Grumman. After retiring he taught electrical engineering at Frostburg University. Willis Howe (Keene) worked as a controller in the grocery business eventually becoming the president of the Keene Division of Wetterau. Wetterau was purchased by SuperValu becoming the largest grocery distributor in the U.S. Bill remained in his role as president until retiring in 1996. Donald (Ossie) McLeod (Durham) was our class president in 1958. During his career, Ossie worked in sales and the packaging film business for the E.I. DuPont Company, Wilmington, DE. He left DuPont in 1977 and spent 23 years founding and managing three subsequent distributorships selling packaging films and machinery to consumer products manufacturers across the country. You can read an in memoriam to Ossie on page 74. Robert Pombrio (Hogansville, Georgia) retired as president of the minerals division of Pfizer, Inc. Mary (Lunt) Ross (York, Maine) was active with the Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Stafford Guidance Center and the Rochester school system. She tutored various choirs in New Hampshire and Maine. Robert Sanderson (Fryeburg, Maine) followed his lifelong passion for agriculture as well as serving in many community organizations. Herbert Stevens (Brentwood) was a farmer and owned a Christmas tree farm. He also worked as a correctional officer. After graduating from Tufts School of Dental Medicine and serving in the Navy dental program, Vangel Zissi (Winchester, Massachusetts) returned to Tufts, receiving his certificate in endodontics in 1967. He then joined the Tufts faculty helping to build the program. Finally, Bobbie and Bob Juster added one last note to their message: God bless all our classmates. Amen.

1959

Jack Sanders
100 Glengarry Drive
Stratham, NH 03885
wlsandersjr@aol.com
It is always good to hear from or about the two members of our class from Norway. Sigmund Langvik shares that classmate Einar Dohlen and wife Sidsel are doing well. They travel often to southern islands. The Dohlens live in Oslo, and the Langviks are about 10 miles west on the island of Nesoya. Sigmund says, “We are well still, after a very cold and snow rich winter. But we all are aware of getting older, it takes a little more effort to remain in reasonably good physical shape. As for our family in New Zealand we spent a month with them in January having stops in Singapore both ways.” Bob Pascucci reports that he and his family continue enjoying Savannah, Georgia, in the fall and the mountains of North Carolina in the summer. He wishes our class members well. Penny Hardy visited campus recently and was impressed with her visit to the Health Sciences Simulation Laboratory and as a former OT student, she marveled at the sample hospital, pharmacy and other teaching aids to students of many disciplines.

1960

Estelle “Stella” Belanger Landry
315 Chickory Trail
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
stella.landry@alumni.unh.edu
It was wonderful hearing from Sam Paul in April telling me the good news that his lung cancer treatment produced positive results. He was able to visit with Doug Blampied in Florida this past winter. I received a 2023 Christmas card from Mike and Terri Mikszenas who are in Clearwater, Florida. He mentioned that all was well and they were still traveling. Mary Zoukis Papastavros of Weston, Massachusetts, sent me a lovely note. She and her husband, Ted, have traveled a lot since retirement. News from these additional classmates was forwarded to me from my alumni e-mail address. Joyce Kelly Buni mentioned she is still in touch with beloved UNH friends and that she sends her love, peace and blessings to all. She did add, however, that she was disturbed at the permanent closure of The UNH Art Museum, which in her mind is a setback considering the wonderful work going on over the years there. Warren Wilder writes he has moved 15 minutes from his old address in Fort Myers, Florida. He added that he is no longer playing tennis or golf. On another note, I would like to comment on the Winter 2024 UNH magazine entitled “The Food Issue.” Kudos to Editor-in-Chief Michelle Morrissey ’97 for a job well done. In a recent conversation with her, I told her that I did not remember a food truck on campus, but that I have fond memories of Dunfey’s located near the Town & Campus store. The Dunfey family also owned Dunfey’s at Hampton Beach. Many family members were also graduates of UNH and have been well-known for the growth of their various Dunfey businesses. Notifications of these following obituaries were sent to me from the alumni office. Dr. Nelson C. Maynard of Gilford, and Greensboro, Vermont, passed away October 13, 2023, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He received his bachelor’s in electrical engineering, his master’s in electrical engineering from MIT and a PhD from UNH. After retiring from the U.S. government, he continued his work at Mission Research Corporation in Nashua and later as research professor at UNH. His esteemed career included more than 200 published articles in scientific journals and books. He was recognized worldwide for his expertise in space electrodynamics. Thomas Bowdoin Bergen died on October 20, 2023, at home in Spring Hill, Florida. Thomas taught high school mathematics for 43 years at the University School of Milwaukee in Wisconsin. After retirement, he enjoyed playing golf, reading, playing bridge and cribbage. Bruce Ellsworth died on October 25, 2023, after a short battle with ALS. Bruce participated in ROTC and spent two years with the U.S. Army. After a long career with the Army Reserves, he retired as a colonel. He worked for the state of New Hampshire in the Public Utilities Commission. He was an active volunteer in Hopkinton. The family of Lawton Chandler Allen announced his passing on November 26, 2023. Lawton was a Korean War veteran and after graduation enjoyed a lifelong career with General Electric. After retirement, he spent many years in Rangeley, Maine, and was part of the Sugarloaf Mountain ski ambassador group. Diethild Beckman departed this world peacefully on December 2, 2023. A memorial service was held at the Flemington Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. Susan Johnston Sheedy died after a courageous two-year battle with cancer on December 30, 2023. After many years as a social worker, she sought a career change and managed her father’s travel agency; she and her late husband were able to travel the world. Robert Sherman Woodburn passed away on January 11, 2024, after being in a car accident. Bob served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then earned his bachelor’s in English. His final 20 years of employment were spent as department manager at Polaroid Corp. in Cambridge. On January 24, 2024, William Francis Hayes, Jr. died quietly in his sleep. He excelled in sports; his true passion was skiing. He was the developer for many of the condominiums at Waterville Valley Ski Area. He continued skiing until the last year of his life at 88. Dr. Benjamin F. Turner passed away with his family by his side on February 9, 2024. He was a catcher on the UNH baseball team. He went on to study at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and had a practice in central New York for 50 years. On March 11, 2024, we lost Arthur Barrett of Nashua. Better known as “Skip” to many of us, he is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha J. Pierce, former classmate of ours. Skip donated his time to the city of Nashua in various capacities over the years, and at one point served as president of the UNH Alumni Association.

1961

William Tighe
P.O. Box 2263
New London, NH 03257
uprvlyfoodandwine@gmail.com
Greetings fellow classmates to our summer 2024 edition. From Charles Bartlett: “Immediately after graduation I entered the Army and retired after 23 years. Of note is that I spent a year in Germany (where I met Sue, my first wife, who was a schoolteacher and hailed from Idaho), two tours in Vietnam and one tour in South Korea. Sue and I, well mostly Sue, produced three daughters, Jennifer ’90 (58), Heather (52) and Anne (51). Each had one boy and one girl until Anne had a surprise with another girl. Therefore, I have seven grandkids. After retirement I moved to Woodbury, Connecticut, where I became involved in town politics, being a member of the Zoning Commission, Finance Board and Board of Selectmen. I didn’t retire but moved on to several commercial jobs, as a defense contractor, at an electronic prepress company and at a bearing company. I did retire in 2004 but did some consulting for a couple of years. Sue, unable to defeat bladder cancer, passed away in 2011 after 44 years of blissful marriage. I remarried, to Eve, in 2014 who I met at church and now have a stepdaughter. Since then, the two of us have done extensive travel, now having visited almost two dozen countries on all seven continents. Today we live in an age-restricted condo complex in Oxford, Connecticut. Interestingly, my next-door neighbor is also a UNH graduate (Richard Pope ’75) and we have fun talking about our time at Freshman Camp. My 85th is just around the corner.” Wayne Curtis advises, from Bradenton, Florida, “My wife of 63 years, Ginny, passed away on May 31, 2022, after a 35-year conflict with ALS. Filling in the blanks is not easy but my four children are very supportive. Life in Bradenton is nice but certainly ‘out of the loop’ in New England terms (snow, ice, temps, etc. ). Sorting household stuff is my main diversion as I prepare for my inevitable future.” Lynne (Bigelow) Kribs reports from Hillsboro, Oregon, she is active in the local senior center, taking daily trips to Newport on the Oregon coast with their aquarium and to Tacoma, Washington, to tour the Glass Museum, then also to Astoria, Oregon, for the Scandinavian midsummer festival. “We will be trying out a Lebanese Restaurant and visiting a Japanese grocery store. It may be wet here in winter, but we’re still very active.” Sadly, we have received notice of several of our classmates having recently passed away. They are; Joseph Addario, Liverpool, New York; Briggs H. Bunker, North Conway; Frederic S. Dennen, Fort Myers, Florida; Joseph E. R. Landry, Barre, Vermont; Donald D. Mc Pherson Jr., Newburyport, Massachusetts; Edmund G. Soule, Enfield, Maine and Corrine A (Carpentiere) Szacik, Dover. We look forward to more of your inputs for our class notes in future editions.

1962

Judy Dawkins Kennedy
34 Timber Ridge Road
Alton Bay, NH 03810
jarlenek58@gmail.com

Sandra Waddell Martin is looking for a new home for her Nature Discovery Center in the Concord vicinity. Please contact her at LAL#H13 Concord, NH 033011; (603) 856-7893; info@ndcnh.org. She recently visited UNH and her old house on Pendexter Road. She completed her master’s in zoology in two years and traveled from her Pendexter Road home to Hampton to teach life science. She would love to connect with any UNH friends in the Concord area. Gail Monroe Powell lives with her oldest son in rural Ohio and winters with her daughter in Tucson, Arizona. Her five children have 10 children who have five children in seven states. She keeps busy keeping track of them all. Alan G. Weinstein (also ’66G) retired after 34 years as professor at Canisius College in 2010 but remains active as an executive coach and as Vistage Worldwide chair for business executives to help them become better leaders. He has published four books in the past 10 years. He and wife Tamara have recently travelled to Japan, London, Sicily, Amsterdam and Brazil. Alan is honored to have recently created faculty awards to recognize three professors who had profound influence on his life and career. The awards will be presented annually to faculty who represent the character, values and dedication to students of professors G. Harris Daggett, Carlton Menge and George Haslerud. Alan encourages other alumni who are able to honor faculty who made a difference in their lives. Steve Taylor and Jay Taylor sat side-by-side in class for years but hadn’t talked for nearly three decades. Credit the UNH Alumni Locator Service with reconnecting them. They recently enjoyed a long phone chat about UNH days, career and family updates. Steve continues his NH Humanities presentations and life in Meriden Village, while Jay and wife Barbara (Pete) Petrusiak Taylor live in Bedford. Thomas Callahan earned his MBA in finance at Syracuse University while working for Corning Glass. He wanted to get involved in international finance, so he spent four years in Taiwan with Corning, four years in Hong Kong with R.J. Reynolds, then Concord, Massachusetts, with Welches for 12 years. Prior to enlisting as an officer in the U.S. Army, Tom married Lynn Davis. They were married 17 years and he still sees her when he is in Colorado. He and wife Ellie are living in Harvard, Massachusetts. He is still skiing, playing tennis, bike riding and playing golf. He hopes all is well with grads who are still living. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of: Herb Hawes, electrical engineer, who passed away in July 2023 of a lingering illness. He was an engineer for New England Power Co. for 40 years. He and wife Judy lived in North Hampton for 22 years. He leaves three children, four grandchildren and one great grandchild. Carol Flood Richardson passed peacefully in her Alton Bay home on October 24, 2023. She was predeceased by her husband Paul A. Richardson of 54 years. Carol was an active volunteer on the Alton Beach Committee, the Garden Club, Alton Old Home Week and UNH alumni activities. Some of her favorite activities were swim team summers in Montgomery County, Maryland, F dock shenanigans at Herrington Harbor in Deal, Maryland, weekly knitting circle at Alton library, serving as cookie mom at Alton 5K, and wintering in St. Augustine, Florida. Carol and Paul met and married at UNH; together they traveled six continents. She will be laid to rest with Paul at Arlington National Cemetery. They leave two daughters and a son and their spouses, and four grandchildren. James F. Braim passed away August 21, 2023. Upon graduating from UNH in agricultural engineering he worked at High Lawn Farms for 62 years, many as manager. He loved his job and was very proud to work for the Wilde family. While attending UNH Jim briefly played on the UNH hockey team and enjoyed spending time in the New Hampshire mountains. He enjoyed watching Bruins and Red Sox games, tennis with the Lee Tennis Association, golf and his cottage in Maine. Jim and wife Susan were married 54 years. He leaves three children and six grandchildren.

1963

Cheryl Kuebler Dickson
200 Alliance Way Unit 339
Manchester, NH 03102-84094
ckdickson@comcast.net
Cheery hi, classmates. I continue to reach out to the class of ’63 for news. We have been relatively quiet, but happily I will report some interesting tidbits. I heard from Sue Flanders Parr with her wonderful family history at UNH. Sue said her grandson, Ben Doyle, has transferred to UNH after being in Boston at Lesley — class of 2027. What I found most interesting is that he is a fourth generation to attend UNH. Sue writes that her mother (Dorothy Foster Flanders from Portsmouth) and her dad (Walter Clark Flanders from Manchester) both graduated from UNH in 1937. Sue’s husband, Dan Parr, was in the class of 1961. Their daughter Karen Parr graduated in 1993. The UNH Wildcat is surely proud of the Flanders family. Pooky Clover Fowler and husband Chip ’61 celebrated their 60th anniversary on Groundhog Day. They have lived in Mountain View, California, since 1967. Their children and grand “kids” live in Seattle and in Los Angeles. My roommate, Andrea Desmarais Colman, said the biggest news for her is weather-related from Meredith. After the pilot predicted no ice-in on Lake Winnipesaukee this winter, it was finally declared on February 9. Then it was followed by the earliest ice-out ever on March 18, 2024. What crazy weather in New Hampshire! Sue Chapman Clark, living in Belmont, Massachusetts, stays involved by going to the gym three mornings a week, seeing good friends and attending the theatre. Like all of us in our senior years, Sue questions what the next stage will look like. While retirement communities seem nice, Sue loves the spaciousness of home, but is tired of having to find workmen. Judy Holbrook Hurlbut sent me updated info about her Alpha Chi Omega sisters. They stay connected by Zoom three to four times a year. That’s a wonderful way for classmates to reach out and share times they have had with family and friends. Ginny Gross Chase winters in Kittery, Maine, and summers on Nantucket, and is a master painter. Gladys McCullough Morrill (husband is Lyman) of Medford, Massachusetts, stays active with her “grands;” Ellen Czaja (partner is Sal) of Center Harbor says her partner owns a restaurant and cooks for her; Lynne Covel Hansen (husband is Earl ’74) of Holderness, walks, does yoga and is a birder; Sandy Unterman Hoeh of Hanover is politically active, on several committees, enjoys her Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC); Connie Weatherby Shea of Longmeadow, Massachusetts, recently moved to a CCRC, and is active in her church; Becky Garside Murphy (husband is Dick) of Lacey, Washington, also lives in a CCRC, walks, plays pickleball, ushers and reads; Carol Orsi Gwozdz (Ron) moved to Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and plays cards and walks; Margie Edmunds Roberts (George) of Gilmanton, who also got her master’s from UNH in 1999, tutors students and reads; Betsy Hammond Minehan (Tom), winters in Saranac Lake, New York, summers in Owls Head, Maine, enjoys walking; Barb Booth Snyder (Connie) of Spokane, Washington, camps, enjoys time with her granddaughter; Jo Ann Emery Hutcheson ’66G (Jim) of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, lives in a homeowners association, gardens and travels to New England; Roslie Janosz Gilpatric winters in Kinston, New York, summers in Orleans, Massachusetts, and teaches Mahjong; Sue Dutoit McCarthy (Bill ’70G) lives in Durham, is active in their CCRC and enjoys attending UNH events; Judy Holbrook Hurlbut (Suter) of Lititz, Pennsylvania, is active in their CCRC, does yoga, Qigong, cycling and theatre. I had a long chat with a Chi Omega sorority sister, Wenda Thompson Helme (also ’70G ’80JD) who lives in West Ossipee. We were roommates at the 60th reunion and reminisced about our fun time. We also spoke of trying to put together a river cruise with other sorority sisters. The Winter 2025 magazine issue is slated to come out next February/March. It would be great to hear from our classmates with news. How about writing to me about a favorite time while at UNH? To start the ball rolling I am going to tell you about one of my very favorite times while at UNH. It starts in the sorority house on Strafford Ave. at around 5 o’clock while waiting to go to dinner in the dining room. Someone would bellow, “fourth for bridge.” Girls were sitting in clusters of four on the carpeted floor playing cards. In the background, the stereo was playing loudly, most often my favorite singer, Joan Baez. It wasn’t long before we were all up and dancing to the Peppermint Twist. A great way to get our appetites going for a delicious meal and friendly conversations with sisters. Well, my classmates, that’s it for now. Hoping you all had a wonderful spring and summer with family and friends. Drop me a line and stay in touch. A loud wild roar is coming your way!
Portrait close-up photograph view of Hank Bergson ’66 and Jackie Bergson ’64 in front of their home in Katonah, New York
Hank Bergson ’66 and Jackie Bergson ’64 in front of their home in Katonah, New York.

1964

Polly Ashton Daniels
3190 N. State Route 89-A
Sedona, Arizona 86336
azatlast@npgcable.com
A warm “Hello!” to each of you! It is not unusual to begin by saying I have little news. I believe you’re all into Netflix, road trips now and then, gardening, woodworking, painting, knitting, bowling, choir practice and whatever else keeps each of you busy during each passing day. Do any of you have a particular hobby? Do any of you collect things? I really would enjoy hearing of your “typical” day and what it is like where you live. The biggest news would be our 60th Reunion in June. I was here in Arizona during that weekend, so I’m depending, therefore, on each of you to send me your own recap of how that occasion went! I am happy to say that one classmate responded to a plea for news! Many thanks to Alice Owens Locicero Johnson from Fremont, California. She and Scott Locicero (also ’67G) in 1966 and moved to Seattle, Washington. While he worked on his history PhD, Alice finished her bachelor’s in art education. They moved to Las Vegas, had two sons and later divorced. Scott passed away at age 50 from a heart attack while hiking. Alice greatly enjoyed her job in public information while working at the Clark County Health District. It was while there she met and married colleague Melvin Johnson. Seven sons! Mel‘s five and Alice’s two. In California, Alice worked on political campaigns, took temporary work at the community college and finally ended up as a human resource manager for two different companies. Sadly, Mel passed away a little over two years ago. Alice also mentioned a coveted possession; a John Hatch watercolor. I challenge you to write to me … or … how about I just invent something about one of you and post it in the next column?? Remember! I am counting on you to forward news of our reunion. I hope those of you who attended enjoyed powerful and memorable moments of fond recollection! Tell me about them! Best to each of you!

Reunion

1964
Close-up landscape photograph view of UNH Class of 1964 reunion members celebrating with some food and beverages as they are seated at a table
Close-up portrait photograph view of three male UNH Class of 1964 reunion members speaking amongst each other inside a building area of some sort
Close-up landscape photograph view of UNH Class of 1964 reunion members posing for a group photo outdoors in a bleachers area of some sort
Close-up portrait photograph view of a female UNH Class of 1964 reunion member smiling with her right thumb up as she has on a UNH reunion bucket hat and a UNH name badge lanyard equipped
Close-up portrait photograph view of a male UNH Class of 1964 reunion member grinning with a vintage UNH Wildcats hat and dark grey tinted prescription see through glasses
Close-up landscape photograph view of three UNH Class of 1964 reunion members smiling talking amongst each other as there's two male individuals and one female individual; the man in the middle of the conversation has on a white UNH reunion bucket hat and a UNH name badge lanyard equipped
Close-up portrait photograph view of two female UNH Class of 1964 reunion members smiling talking amongst each other at a table with food and drinks nearby
Close-up portrait photograph view of two male UNH Class of 1964 reunion members smiling walking amongst a crowd as one of the men has a poster sign that reads University of New Hampshire Class of 1964 as it appears these men are with a crowd on campus of some sort

Photos by Jeremy Gasowski, Jake Kitterman ’23, David Vogt. See more online: www.flickr.com/photos/unh/albums

1965

Jacqueline Flynn Thompson
PO Box 302
Wilmot, NH 03287
thompson2004@tds.net

It is with a heavy heart that I open this column, because I have to share my own sad news. My husband, Charles “Chuck” Thompson, passed away on February 20, 2024, following three weeks at Dartmouth Health. It was quite a shock and difficult to grasp completely, as every other person knows who has lost a loved one, especially so suddenly. We had more than 58 wonderful years of marriage and enjoyed many great trips and events together. Our children were the joy of his life, Kristen (Ryan) Arensberg; Amy (Chris) Olsen; Sue Rafferty, as well as our five grandchildren Ashley, Stephen, Tyler, Michael and Samantha. Chuck graduated with a degree in forestry and was a distinguished military graduate of the UNH ROTC program. In November 2022, he was inducted into the UNH ROTC Hall of Fame. After a long career as a real estate appraiser and consultant, he retired to his hometown of Wilmot where he served as selectman, town moderator for 11 years, and served on the Planning Board. Our family was so honored by the many members of our UNH family who attended Chuck’s funeral, or sent their regards from far and wide, including his Acacia fraternity brothers and their spouses, my Phi Mu sorority sisters and their husbands, and other long-time UNH friends. He was buried with full military honors in Wilmot in June. I received a nice letter from Bob Clarke of Rumford, Rhode Island. He worked for Proctor & Gamble and the Nestle Corporation and retired in 2006. He then began a new career as a Realtor. But his avocation was coaching various sports, including hockey at three major high schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. As a friend of Natalie Salatich Jacobson at UNH, he wants to recommend her book, “Every Life a Story, Natalie Jacobson Reporting” to all UNH grads who feel, in the words of Wordsworth, “The world is too much with us.” Bob married Jean Hamel, and they are parents of three children, have seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. A reminder that our class is celebrating our 60th reunion in June 2025. Find more information on dates and how to get involved at: www.unh.edu/reunion. The rest of the mail is, unfortunately, obituaries. But since there is space in the column, I’ll summarize what I have. Dr. Arnold Ralph Moody passed away suddenly at his daughter’s home in Texas in January. George Valliere died in February in Bangor, Maine, after battling Parkinson’s for several years. His degree was in soil and water conservation and he spent the majority of his career working as a paper maker at the former paper mill in Bucksport, Maine. He and his wife, Mary, were blessed with four children, and have 12 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Henry Baldwin Nichols, Jr. passed away in September. He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. His life-long love for reading and writing led him to a long career, first writing for newspapers, and then teaching journalism at New England College, where he stayed until retiring. He continued to write and contributed a column, “An Outsider’s View,” published weekly in the Boston Globe. Hank, as he preferred to be called, and his wife, Martha, had two sons. Winfield Jesse Bassage completed his life of adventure in August 2023. He was born in 1930 in Sayre, Pennsylvania. He was most proud of his time teaching — whether math in a school or as a Boy Scout leader. He was an avid runner and completed countless 5K races and competed in the 2019 Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico, posting the fastest time of anyone his age or older. Bonnie Jean Gignac Kaufman died of Alzheimer’s disease in December 2023 at her home in Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Michael, and their children. Bonnie was born in Hanover, received her bachelor’s degree from UNH and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington. She served many years as a social worker counselor at Taos/Colfax and Taos Medical Group. She loved to raise and ride horses, riding throughout northern New Mexico and southern Colorado and even several weeks in Mongolia. Arthur E. Constine, Jr. quietly departed this work in October at his home in Dunedin, Florida. He received his master’s in mathematics in 1965. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving in the Korean War achieving the rank of staff sergeant.

1966

Jonathan Tetherly
29 Arlington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
jontetherly@gmail.com
Stephen Busschaert got his master’s in biochemistry at UNH with federal grant assistance. He married Wanda Bryl ’68 and they had three children. They moved to Rochester, New York, where he worked as a biologist in the contact lens industry while Wanda worked as a hospital clinical chemist. Stephen is now studying the “Recent bizarre counterintuitive claims in microscopic quantum field theory.” I am waiting to hear about any connection to religion! Paulinda Oakes recently lost her husband Brent not long after their 50th wedding anniversary cruise through the Panama Canal with daughter Lindsay. Paulinda retired from elementary school teaching 10 years ago, and now continues to substitute occasionally. To keep busy after losing her spouse, she also is involved with church, water exercise and a book club. Betsy Steinmetz Hirst lives in Andover, Massachusetts, and winters in Florida. Friends, family and gardening keep her active. She has semi-retired as an accountant but has moved to doing landscape design as a volunteer, and doing floral arrangements for organizations, after taking classwork in those subjects. Congratulations on broadening your life in retirement, Betsy! Hank ’66 and Jackie ’64 Bergson of Ketonah, New York, provided two recent Christmas letters, full of their wonderful news and including the next two generations. Hank was re-elected as Westchester County Fire Commissioner in 2022. After 11 years as chair of the county Fire Advisory Board, he was honored with proclamations from the county executive and county legislature, including a proclamation of November 18, 2022, as Hank Bergson Day. And in 2023 he was honored with the New York 17th Congressional District’s Veteran of the Year. He attributes that to his participation with the Ketonah Veterans Committee and over 50 years with the fire department and other recognitions in that area. Hank has traveled all over the country attending fire and veterans events. Jackie is a musician, playing the cello as her favorite instrument. She has played on the seminar and workshop level in Lake Placid and in Connecticut. She is also involved with the church choir. Their daughter Susan and partner Mathieu and family live in The Hague, Netherlands. Susan is a consultant, and has recently traveled to Madagascar, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Hank and Jackie’s daughter Abby works for the Department of Defense. Abby, husband Drew and family live in Illinois. And for all you doubters, Sasquatch lives, or actually, regrettably, used to: He was the Bergsons’ cat. Dick Gsottschneider lives in Durham. A couple decades ago, he spoke to the Board of Aldermen in my city of Chicopee, Massachusetts, about revitalizing downtown. I was a member of the School Committee at that time so I could have been in the meeting. Unfortunately, I had a conference that evening. If I were there, I wanted to approach Dick after the meeting and ask him, “Did you finish your insect collection for forest entomology?” I wonder whether you would have recognized me, Dick. Richard Dunn has been living in St. Augustine, Florida, for the last two years. He is still writing and consulting on innovative government contracting, but doing less of that now, with more time to do research and write history. He has written two books, both with great reviews. They are: “Exploding Fuel Tanks: Saga of Technology That Changed the Course of the Pacific Air War,” and his second book, available since April, “South Pacific Air War.” Both are available on Amazon or your favorite bookseller. Nancy Kelly Harm writes that she has lived in Michigan since graduation. When she spent a fall semester at a UNH affiliated program at Merrill Palmer Institute in Detroit, she met her husband, George Harm, an engineer for Cadillac. Their two sons are Michael and Mark. Nancy was a teacher and student, achieving advanced degrees while teaching elementary and college. Later she and George were in Mesa, Arizona, where he was in charge of testing Cadillacs on the GM Desert Proving Grounds. They moved back to the Detroit area and raised Arabian horses. Nancy showed them and participated in parades and in horse clinics. TV Tokyo sent seven crew members who for five hours filmed Nancy’s trick horse, Tarifa, for a TV special in Japan entitled, “The World’s Most Amazing Animals.” Nancy’s brother Bill ’65 (Thompson School), was my AGR fraternity brother; he died of cancer in 2022. A clarification in the winter edition of the magazine: Regarding my work in leading the development of a substitute teachers union in Springfield, Massachusetts, the magazine reported, “It lasted from November 1994 until March 1999.” That was the organizing campaign to sign our first contract. The union still enables good wages and benefits and quality substitutes. Let’s hear your story for the winter magazine.
Landscape close-up photo view of classmates and friends representing five decades of UNH graduates gathered together for the SW Florida network annual spring training Red Sox game in Fort Myers in February; Two individuals are seen in the middle of the group holding a University of New Hampshire flag banner
Classmates and friends representing five decades of UNH graduates gathered for the SW Florida network annual spring training Red Sox game in Fort Myers in February.
Close-up landscape photograph view of Allan and Cynthia Ledger ’68 with their grandchildren as they all smile for a Christmas occasion of some sort inside a home living room of some kind
Landscape close-up indoor portrait photograph view of Steve ’69 and Kathy ’71 Capistran enjoying hockey at the Whit on the UNH campus
Top to bottom: Allan and Cynthia Ledger ’68 with their grandchildren. Steve ’69 and Kathy ’71 Capistran enjoying hockey at the Whit.

1967

Diane Deering
921 Deerwander Road
Hollis Center, ME 04042
dndeering@yahoo.com
Hello classmates: Sunny greetings from Florida where the chapters on each coast have been active with annual meetings in February to say thank you to our retiring President Jim Dean. Our SW chapter members and friends enjoyed their annual Red Sox spring training game before the team headed north. Classmate Jim Garvin from Pembroke writes that he has retired as the state’s architectural historian, but he and his wife, Donna-Belle, continue to work and volunteer at the New Hampshire Historical Society and provide their extensive historical knowledge and technical assistance to several preservation groups. We congratulate Peter Stylianos for his $1 million gift to his Nashua High School class of 1963 Scholarship Endowment Fund managed by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. It is with great sadness that I write of the passing of James Tebbetts of Manchester. Jim was a proud UNH class member who served on many of our reunion committees. Jim was a political science major and went on to receive his master’s from UNH in German in 1971. Jim later studied at universities in Germany. Jim received another master’s in computer science in 1987, was commissioned a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Reserve and rose to the rank of captain in the Corps of Engineers. In later years he learned to play the flute, piano and violin. Danna Chase Dearborn writes that after an associate’s degree from Stephen’s College and a bachelor’s degree from UNH, she received her master’s degree from the University of London, England, with a major in art education. She is married to Alex Dearborn and they divide their time between Osprey, Florida, and Kittery Point, Maine. Janet Riggs Waterman enjoyed working in Geneva, Switzerland and traveling throughout Europe after she completed her master’s at Cornell in 1968. She recently returned to Europe after 55 years to reminisce. She now lives and loves in Jupiter, Florida, for the last 24 years despite experiencing three hurricanes. My Jessie Doe classmate Anne Boynton Awad lives in Vermont, enjoys skiing and works for a federal agency that reviews grants. Anne feels UNH gave her a good education.

1968

Angela Piper
509 Weston Place
DeBary, FL 32713
angelapiper28@gmail.com
Thank you for all who sent me news for the next edition of UNH magazine. Many things have changed in the past 50 plus years but there are some that don’t. Richard Smishkiss has been running UNH Night at the Pops for the past 22 years. Harry Connick, Jr. was the featured soloist this year. What a treat for those who attended. Cindy Mensel Graham continues to officiate weddings on Cape Cod and sends a big hello to her Chi O sisters. John Donovan, Mike Farrell and wife, Nancy are still on skis shooshing past all those snowboarders! He checked in on Billy Estey, Joe Bartlet as well as Bill Windsor and Rick Metzer ’69. They are all doing well. Cindy and Allan Ledger have retired to Rhode Island after 56 years of marriage. They are keeping busy and enjoy seeing their grandchildren. Sue Anne Bottomly, a former art major, now sells her artwork in bookstores. Last spring she moved to Newmarket. Richard Goedkoop retired from La Salle University’s communication department and is currently a licensed battlefield guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park. An article he wrote, “Inspired by Courage: JFK Visits Gettysburg,” was scheduled to appear in the July 2024 issue of the Gettysburg Magazine. After attending UNH on the GI Bill, returning U.S. Marine Larry French continues to be an outreach volunteer through the Manchester Veterans Affairs where he has accrued some 3,000 hours. Richard Tasker spends the winter in Florida and planned to travel to Arizona before returning to New Hampshire for the summer. He has informed me (and the Alumni Office confirms) that Paul Cantin (also ’70G) has passed due to a short bout of pancreatic cancer. Our condolences go out to Paul’s family.

1969

Steve Capistran
Dear classmates; we enjoyed the 55th class reunion on June 8. I was able to connect with Kurt and Linda Griffiths Vollherbst who came in from New Jersey; Joel Gemmell, Washington, D.C.; Lynne Curtis Butcher, San Francisco; Edie Miller Lipinski, Concord, Massachusetts; Berneen Mallard Bratt (also ’86G); and Dick Lord, Durham. I attended two good presentations: Outgoing President Jim Dean and his wife Jan Dean discussed issues impacting UNH today and in the future. Diane Foster, director of the School of Marine Sciences and Ocean Engineering, presented an overview of coastal resilience in our local estuaries and oceans. Forgot to mention in the last edition that Kathy ’71 and I met at UNH in 1968; add us to those couples married 50+ years. Had a great season watching hockey, best season in many years. Really enjoyed Alumni Reunion Weekend. Just want to mention that I still play golf with a number of alumni from classes ’69 to ’75. It is really great to have this bond after all these years. Go ’Cats! Hi to all from Bev (Eaton) Sierpina. Bev is retired and living in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Received a wonderful note from Charlie Jennison about his UNH experience. Charlie remained after graduation as an instructor in the music department, specializing in jazz, for 16 years. Following that, he went on to teach music at Phillips Exeter Academy until his retirement in May 2023. He is still active in the Seacoast Big Band, Summer Youth Music Program and the Tommy Gallant Jazz Festival, which I really enjoy. His wife Anne ’98G ’06PhD, specializes in retelling Native American stories from the Algonquin indigenous people.

Reunion

1969
Close-up landscape photograph view of six UNH Class of 1969 reunion members grinning for a group photo outdoors in a grassy area nearby some tables and chairs as there are four females and two males in UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks
Close-up portrait photograph view of three female UNH Class of 1969 reunion members smiling and laughing as they talk amongst each other at a table
Close-up landscape photograph view of UNH Class of 1969 reunion members smiling for a group photo outdoors with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they all stand nearby a railing of some sort
Close-up landscape photograph view of three UNH Class of 1969 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they all stand nearby some tents as two individuals (a male and a female) have a UNH white reunion bucket hat on while the other individual (a female) does not have a hat equipped
Close-up portait photograph view of two female UNH Class of 1969 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they are standing inside of a building area of some sort
Close-up portrait photograph view of vintage historic picture frames, a bigger UNH Class of 1921 document stored inside a wooden picture and other various items such as copies of an older UNH magazine edition plus two other historic vintage photographs

Photos by Jeremy Gasowski, Jake Kitterman ’23, David Vogt. See more online: www.flickr.com/photos/unh/albums

Close-up landscape photograph view of two male UNH Class of 1969 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they are seated in their chairs talking amongst each other inside a building area of some sort
Portrait close-up photo view of Joan Slavin Rice ’70 and her husband, John Rice ’71G smiling as they standing outdoors nearby a body of water
Close-up portrait photograph of six female UNH members united together for a reunion in Philly: Leslie Crommet Newell ’73, Patty Quinlan ’73, Deb Campanella Hansch ’74, Debby Stavseth ’73, Mary Burke Desfosses ’72 and Sue Silfen Katz ’73; They are all posing for a group photo smiling outside the iconic popular red LOVE sculpture installation in the downtown Philadelphia area

Top to bottom: Joan Slavin Rice ’70 and her husband, John Rice ’71G. Reunion in Philly: Leslie Crommet Newell ’73, Patty Quinlan ’73, Deb Campanella Hansch ’74, Debby Stavseth ’73, Mary Burke Desfosses ’72 and Sue Silfen Katz ’73.

1970

Jan Harayda
82 Plantation Pointe, #280
Fairhope, AL 36532
haraydajan@alumni.unh.edu

We’re celebrating our 55th Reunion in June 2025. Find more information on dates and how to get involved at: www.unh.edu/reunion. In her new book, Diane Wright Foley looks back on a devastating experience: In 2014, Diane and her husband John Foley learned that Islamic State terrorists had beheaded their beloved son, James Wright Foley, a freelance photojournalist ISIS had kidnapped and held hostage in Syria for two years. “American Mother,” written with the novelist Colum McCann, includes a report on her face-to-face meeting in 2021 with one of her son’s captors. Salman Rushdie described the work as “a spectacular tale of violence and forgiveness,” and the Washington Post hailed it as “an innovative, unsettling and utterly compelling narrative.” In Britain the Guardian said Diane “tells her story with exemplary compassion and understanding.” Diane also founded the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, in part, to advocate for hostages and for journalists’ safety. You can learn more about her remarkable book and her life after UNH on the organization’s website. You can also read a 2019 UNH Magazine feature about the Foley family here: https://www.unh.edu/unhtoday/2019/11/life-after-jimmy. Susie Mozden Hek sent a cheery note from just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where she’s lived since 1989. A retired medical technologist, Susie teaches horseback riding and, as a volunteer, runs Gettysburg Riding Club activities that benefit therapeutic riding programs and other good causes. She loves living in an area rich in history and lovely farm and orchard vistas. Her husband, Homer “Bo” Heck, an electrician and musician, died in 2020, but she’s hoping to stay in her old farmhouse property where kind-hearted neighbors check in on her. Avid runner Jim Fiore finished a St. Patrick’s Day-themed race in March, scoring points in a Grand Prix running event. His fraternity brothers may smile to hear that this year, at a karaoke event, Jim sang Gerry and the Pacemakers’ “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying,” the same song he’d once sung at an Acacia party. Eric Halvorson and his Lambda Chi roommate Bill Chase met for dinner and a UNH/BC hockey game in Durham, joined by Bill’s baseball teammate, Peter Riel ’70. “The only downer of a great evening was that the Eagles bested our Wildcats in a very tight and exciting game,” Eric writes. Brad Cook still practices law full-time in Manchester at Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green, where he recently marked 50 years as an attorney. He chairs the New Hampshire Ballot Law Commission as the appointee of class president Bill Gardner, then New Hampshire’s secretary of state. Brad and his wife Kathleen Dillon Cook ’71, live in Manchester and New London and have three grandchildren, all under the age of three. When Bill worked in the Statehouse, he often ran into Nick Wallner ’71, who has been a volunteer tour guide there since he retired from managing the AAA office in Concord for 46 years. Nick was a photographer for The New Hampshire student newspaper and has often been in touch with two others who contributed to our student newspaper, Mike Painchaud ’72 and John Donovan ’74. We lost a member our alumni rep Craig Abbott called “a loyal class of 1970 leader” with the death of Joan Slavin Rice, who had worked for decades on our reunions, including our 50th. Bill Gardner said by email that Joan was “always one of the first in line to pitch in for a class project,” and Brad Cook noted that she and her husband, John ’71G, whom she met at UNH, contributed mightily to Portsmouth and the Seacoast area through their community-service projects. We have also lost our valued members Mary Nell Huckins Allen, Steve Bennett, Paul Cantin, Pamela Daniels, Bruce Jasper, Andre Lavoie, Brenda Ramsey Martucci, Linda Ouellette, George Rief, and Karen E. Weisenel. Together they gave much back to their communities that you can learn about by searching for their online obituaries. Finally, a correction: In the last class notes, I said that Nancy Winterbottom lived at River Woods in Durham. She lives at the River Woods in Exeter. Big thanks to Nan for pointing this out with the exquisite tact and kindness she showed so often at UNH.

1971

Debbi Martin Fuller
Doug Knapp told me to say hi for him to our classmates and those in the classes of 1970 and 1972. He wishes more of them lived in central Virginia so he could grab coffee or lunch with them. He was heading to Spain for 10 days mid-late April. Duke Kline spent the winter downhill skiing two days weekly, Ragged Mountain on Wednesdays then Bretton Woods on Sundays. Great deals for older folks at these areas he says! He also hikes two to three miles a couple of times weekly in Center Harbor’s Chamberlain-Reynolds Forest nearby and he continues to play electric rock music weekly with a group of guys in a refurbished barn at Center Harbor. They play tunes from the ‘60s through the ’90s. Duke provides most of the vocals and plays rhythm guitar. Gail Sandberg Preston has been living in Hingham, Massachusetts, for the past 46 years. She and her husband John have (combined) four children and seven grandchildren. This past summer, Nancy (Pepin) Zechel arranged a mini Phi Mu reunion with Joanne (Banister) Powers ’70 and Georgia Green ’72 at Star Island off the coast of Rye with the Portsmouth Garden Club. There was no gardening done, but they had a great time reminiscing about their days at UNH. Since retiring, she has been on 20+ cruises all over the world. She goes with a friend since her husband isn’t much of a traveler. They are leaving soon (or maybe have already left) for the trip of a lifetime, a 21-day cruise to New Zealand and Australia. Carole White Dennis retired in 2020 after 22 years in the Occupational Therapy Department at Ithaca College. Since 2020, she has served as president of Assistance in Motion, a small business that she created with colleagues to develop a robotic mobility device to allow very young children with motor impairments to explore their physical and social environments independently. The company has received grant support from the National Science Foundation. She hopes to complete her work and really retire in the next year or two! Yours truly went to Mexico with a friend in February – I highly recommend ‘girl trips’! I’m not including obituaries as there are SO many, they would take up WAY more than the space I am allotted, but if you want to read them, you can find most of them online to read for yourselves. One obit was not included in this list and it happens to be a very good friend of mine from Scott Hall who I have been friends with since 1967: Joan Slavin Rice ’70 of Portsmouth passed away on March 4, 2024, after a four-year struggle with ovarian cancer. When Joan’s mother — the intelligent, fashionable and beautiful Leona Bruck Slavin — died of cancer when Joan was 10, her father, Robert M. Slavin, was left as sole parent. He was a rocket scientist working for Aerospace Instrumentation Lab in Bedford, Massachusetts. Joan majored in home economics at UNH and was a passionate Wildcat hockey fan. Legend has it that she was once thrown out of Snively Arena for harassing the Dartmouth goalie. Joan met the love of her life, John Rice ’71G at UNH. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on March 23. Their love story and devotion through thick and thin was an inspiration to others. Joan rose from the secretarial pool at Liberty Mutual to planned giving, and trust positions at Boston Safe, Wheaton, Tufts and St. Paul’s School. Later she held similar positions at Indian Head and First New Hampshire Bank, Exeter Trust and finally Deeridge Trust in Portsmouth. During a transition period, she flourished as the beloved director of Leadership Seacoast for three years. She served on numerous charitable boards including, among others, Gundalow Company, Colonial Dames, Rosamond Thaxter Foundation, Prescott Park Arts Festival, Strawberry Banke and the UNH Alumni Association. Joan cherished her relationships with numerous friends, especially “The Mavens” who played Mahjong together without fail weekly. She was a devoted mother to her only child, Thomas Peirce Rice, her grandson Wyatt John Rice, and her adopted daughter, Gaby Jaramillo Mihovan. Several of her Scott Hall friends, myself included, went to her funeral in Portsmouth which was a very uplifting and beautiful ceremony followed by a celebration of her amazing life.
Portrait close-up photograph view of David Leong ’73 and his wife Patti D’Beck standing in front of the “Game of Thrones” walk of shame area in Dubrovnik, Croatia
David Leong ’73 and his wife Patti D’Beck standing in front of the “Game of Thrones” walk of shame area in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

1972

Mary (Burke) Desfosse
38A Emerson Rd
Durham, NH 03825
marydesfo@gmail.com
Editor’s Note: In exciting class news, UNH Magazine is thrilled to share that Mary (Burke) Desfosses is your new class correspondent, taking over as of this issue! Mary writes, “At UNH I was involved with Freshman Camp, Delta Zeta sorority, and the Granite yearbook. After leaving UNH, I married Amos Desfosses ’71 and we moved to Boston where I got my master’s at Simmons College. I spent the next 35 years in the White Mountains of Plymouth, teaching high school English and raising a family. I retired in 2009 and returned to Durham. We love the Seacoast, going to hockey games, and having UNH friends visit! Please share your updates, let us know where you are and what you have been up to since we graduated from UNH. Looking forward to hearing from you!” In other news, award winning watercolor artist and illustrator Karel Hayes has participated in solo, juried and invitational exhibitions throughout the United States. Her paintings have been shown at the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History, the Fine Arts Center in Taos, New Mexico, and in New York City, at the Salmagundi Club, the Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club and the National Arts Club. She has illustrated more than 28 books and written and illustrated 12 books — most notable, “The Winter Visitors,” which won three awards, and “The Summer Visitors,” which was reviewed by the New York Times. Her latest is “The Bell Box,” part of her Lake Kanakondah mystery series.
Close-up landscape outdoor photo view of six UNH Wildcats fans through the generations, from Andrew Washburn ’73: from left to right son Mark ’86; Andrew’s wife Joy; Andrew; daughter-in-law Rachael; grandson Trey, predicted class of 2043; and daughter Susan; They all are standing in UNH spirited gear attire as they hold a UNH flag banner outside a home area in the front yard
Wildcats fans through the generations, from Andrew Washburn ’73: from left to right son Mark ’86; Andrew’s wife Joy; Andrew; daughter-in-law Rachael; grandson Trey, predicted class of 2043; and daughter Susan.
Close-up landscape indoor photo view of Mike LaTorre, Bob Burdett and Clayton Stalker smiling and posing for a photo together as they inside a bar area of some sort; Clayton Stalker writes: “Each summer in recent years three of us from Williamson Hall, class of ’74, get together at the Common Man in Concord for a luncheon and beverages.”
Clayton Stalker writes: “Each summer in recent years three of us from Williamson Hall, class of ’74, get together at the Common Man in Concord for a luncheon and beverages.” Pictured here are Mike LaTorre, Bob Burdett and Clayton Stalker.

1973

Joyce Dube Stephens
33 Spruce Lane
Dover, NH 03820
joycedube@comcast.net

Allan Chamberlin regrets that he could not attend our 50th reunion. Allan grew up in Durham, attended UNH and worked in the UNH Information Office while a student and six years after graduation. He did not want to move away, but in 1979, Allan accepted a position as the sports information director at Bowling Green State University, and later with the Mid-American Conference. He returned to school to qualify as a CPA. Allan continued that career for 16 years before retiring in 2021. He and wife Debbie have been married for 44 years, and live in Bowling Green; they met through classmate Rick Sheldon, with whom he would visit at the Cocheco Country Club. Brian Doherty writes that after 20 years in Naples, Florida, and 12 years in Anthem, Arizona, he and his wife, Lois, have relocated to Campton, just west of Waterville Valley. David Leong and his wife Patti D’Beck enjoy their retirement from higher education and professional theatre working as speakers for cruise lines. While seeing amazing sights all around the world, they give talks about Broadway, The Golden Age of Hollywood musicals, TV and music. Their URL is goldenages.net. Andrew T. Washburn, sends greetings from the Kentwood, Michigan Alumni/Fan Club. He admits that this news is tardy, but he celebrated our 45th reunion in June 2018 by flying to Manchester, renting a car and spending the next several days driving more than 2,000 miles through four states to visit 16 classmates and friends. Andrew had not seen some of these classmates since graduation day of June 3, 1973. He and his wife included a stop in Durham after a 35-year absence. Andrew enjoyed seeing the East-West Park and its plaque. Andy Young and he were the final residents of 118 East Hall 1969-1971. Andrew was also glad to see that Hunter Hall, where he resided in 1971-1973, was still hanging in there. Andrew says when he flies the UNH flag in front of his house, the neighbors know that our ‘Cats are in action on a playing field, basketball court or ice rink somewhere. John Joseph Gallagher [Jack] ’73G passed on February 13, 2024. He worked as a college administrator of County College of Morris (New Jersey) for 37 years, and travelled extensively. William G. Hooper Jr. of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, passed away on December 8, 2024. Bill majored in forestry and had a successful career in the National Park Service for 33 years as a park ranger and special agent. Patrick Martin Maloney passed away on December 15, 2022, at his residence in Boston. As an artist, he produced hundreds of creative works. Linda Jane Molderez of Bedford passed on October 6, 2023. She was a buyer with General Electric for 10 years. Until her retirement, Linda was employed with Osram Sylvania for 29 years, and enjoyed travel. Russell R. Moreau of Medway, Massachusetts, died peacefully on September 12, 2024. He had a successful career as a sales executive for Proctor & Gamble, Clorox and Dannon before retiring in 2017. Russell enjoyed summers on Martha’s Vineyard. Kathleen O’Connor-Houle died on December 3, 2023, in Manchester. She worked for the Manchester Police Department, eventually serving in the DMV for many years. Kathleen was known as the family historian and became the caregiver for her mother and several aunts and was a passionate dog rescuer. Karen Parsons of Salisbury, Connecticut, died on September 20, 2023. She received a master’s degree in education from Lesley University. After student-teaching and working at Salisbury Bank and Trust, Karen taught computers and technology, and home economics at Maplebrook School for almost three decades. In addition to being a teacher and mentor, Karen also taught Sunday school at the Congregational Church of Salisbury. Alfred Sapienza Jr. passed away on August 7, 2023, in Manchester. Al served in the U.S. Air Force from 1951-1955 during the Korean War. In 1997, Al retired as a math teacher from Southside Junior High School. For 25 years, Al was a member of Kairos, a program to rehabilitate inmates and create a Christian environment behind the prison walls. Al traveled around much of the company and also went to England to train volunteers. During his early working years, he was vice president of the Retail Clerks Union. Vernon Royce Small Jr., also known as Rusty or Vern, passed away on January 6, 2024, in Hercules, California. Small furthered his academic achievements by attaining his doctor of philosophy from Stanford University. He worked as a research chemist at Chevron. Later on, he taught chemistry at Diablo Valley Community College, Contra County Community College and Laney College. He was also an accomplished poet.

Reunion

1974
Close-up landscape indoor ballroom area photograph view of six UNH Class of 1974 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they all stand in front of a celebratory ballon/confetti stylish UNH signage background banner while holding the cutout artistic letters UNH; There are two male individuals and four female individuals pictured here
Close-up portrait outdoor grassy area photograph view of a male UNH Class of 1974 reunion member in a Sons O' Gus fraternity UNH polo top and is holding a UNH Alumni small pennant flag in his right hand as he waves his left hand in motion while he has on a vintage NH hat
group photo of 1974 graduates
Close-up portrait photograph view of four UNH Class of 1974 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they all stand in front of each other talking amongst each other nearby a wall featuring a landscape line drawing geography artwork
Close-up portrait outdoor photograph view of two UNH Class of 1974 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they stand outside under a tent area on campus of some kind as they smile and laugh while the male individual is glancing downward at historic vintage old photographs of a yearbook of some kind while the female individual looks at him
Close-up portrait outdoor photograph view of a female UNH Class of 1974 reunion member smiling with her UNH name badge lanyard equipped around her neck as she is in a spirited UNH sweatshirt and is holding small celebratory UNH accessories such as a blowhorn, pom pom, and a poster sign that states University of New Hampshire Class of 1974 as she is walking amongst a crowd in what appears to be on campus
Close-up portrait photograph view of two UNH Class of 1974 reunion members smiling with their UNH name badge lanyards equipped around their necks as they are seated down at a table of some kind with the male individual wearing a Sons O'Gus fraternity University of New Hampshire varsity jacket and the female individual is wearing a black blouse and has a necklace on also
Close-up landscape indoor photograph view of three UNH Class of 1974 reunion members smiling for a picture together as there are two female individuals and a male individual as they are in a building area of some sort

Photos by Jeremy Gasowski, Jake Kitterman ’23, David Vogt. See more online: www.flickr.com/photos/unh/albums

1974

Jean Marston-Dockstader
51 Londonderry Rd.
Windham, NH 03087
jmlondon52@gmail.com

Stephen Gianotti has done several TEDx talks; he was one of the featured speakers at TEDxPortsmouth last year, with a talk, entitled “What We Can Learn From African Elephants.” He’s the founder and president of The Woodland Group, an organizational development company based in New Hampshire. He also serves as board chair for the Global Society for Organizational Learning, based in Stockholm. He has travelled extensively, and was the official Zoom safari guide for www.elephanthavens.org, Botswana’s first and only elephant rescue sanctuary. Check out the talk — which has been viewed 46,000 times — on YouTube: youtu.be/j_nJ3zjZhus?si=Cf2lT9kbR4cNBxzm. He’s also been busy organizing a Theatre and Dance Reunion for 2025 — stay tuned for details! Michael LaTorre and a few former residents of Williamson Hall get together each August for lunch at the Common Man in Concord. He invites anyone interested to join them. You do not need to be a former Williamson resident. If interested, contact Michael at mjlatorre@mjlatorre.com. John Pike retired 10 years ago as UNH dean of Extension. He and his wife, Gina, spend winters in Florida and celebrate their 50th anniversary this year. They enjoy time with their grown children and six grandchildren. Wayne April wanted other alumni to know that he and others have created a UNH LGBTQIA+ Alumni page on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/unhlgbtqia). He is working with the Alumni Office on creating a UNH LGBTQIA+ Alumni Fund to which donations can be sent that will be used to sponsor sexual identity-friendly educational events and materials for all of the campuses. April is retired and lives with his partner in Pasadena, California. Steve and Sherry (Gardner) Young took a trip to Norway in June 2023, did some whitewater rafting, took a fjord tour, visited a family mountain farm and canoed on a mountain lake while there. They then went on to Hungary for a Viking River Cruise through Eastern Europe, ending in Bucharest, Romania then to Serbia and Bulgaria. As an Air Force retiree stationed in Germany when the Berlin Wall came down, Steve found it fascinating to visit with the locals to discuss what it had been like living under Communism. They went to the Czech Republic and had a memorable tour of the Terezin concentration camp about 30 miles north of Prague. They were in New Hampshire in October and met up with other ’74 UNH alumni Barbara Fraser, Dick Fortin, Tom Stevens and wife, Anita Stevens ’78. Andrew Manus has written a summary of what he has been doing since graduation 50 years ago. After UNH, he went to graduate school at Texas A&M and next began a 40-year career in conservation as an academic state director of fish and wildlife and director of conservation programs for two NGOs. After some time at the University of California Sea Grant College Program, he moved back east and became the executive director of the University of Delaware Sea Grant College Program. He then served as the state director of Fish and Wildlife in Delaware, retiring in 2014 after serving as a director of conservation programs for Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy. Andrew and his wife retired to the farm they had conserved through the state of Delaware Farmland Preservation Program. He is finishing a seven-year appointment as a member of Delaware Public Integrity Commission which he chaired for two years. He and his wife, Lynn, raise and train Labrador retrievers and compete in field trial competitions. Please send news to share with your fellow classmates!

1975

Kim Lampson Reiff
7540 SE 71st St.
Mercer Island, WA 98040
drkimlampson@gmail.com
We’re celebrating our 50th Reunion, June 2025! Find more information on dates and how to get involved at: www.unh.edu/reunion. Who are you most looking forward to seeing at our 50th? Send in your news and mark your calendar for next June!

1976

I get back to campus often for men’s soccer matches and Alumni functions. I was thrilled to see UNH beat last year’s NCAA champ Syracuse but sad to see us lose to this year’s winner Clemson, coached by former UNH coaches Noonan and Thompson. I am convinced if we had gotten by Clemson we’d have won the NCAA crown. There were over 100 alumni at that match— it’s great to feel the camaraderie shown amongst former players from the 1970s to the recent 2020s as we cheer on the team. In attendance were Tom Johnson and Gary Trotter both class of 1976. We will miss Durham native Marc Hubbard who brought us amazing success and has now gone south to NC State. Good thing UNH alumnus Rich Weinrebe ’08 has taken the reins as the first UNH graduate to run the men’s soccer team. We had a nice alumni game and redemption with Rich and the ever-present Alison Rich before the final spring game. See you in the Victory Club this fall. I have been named to the UNH Men’s Soccer Alumni Board to get more ex-players involved and I contacted many players from my era to donate to the 603 Challenge. On a more personal note, I recently toured Spain including Barcelona, Madrid and Toledo to visit my daughter on her spring break from her semester abroad from American University in Madrid. My son was just named to the Beta Gamma Sigma chapter at Bryant University which is the accredited business school equivalent to Phi Beta Kappa along with his prior naming to Omicron Delta Kappa the Leadership honor society. I heard from Gary Haworth who was a jockey on WUNH in the mid-70s and spent 31 years as an environmental chemist, and for the last five years has been on the Manchester Water Works Commission. Elizabeth (Beth) Pearce was recently appointed to the board of trustees for the Financial Accounting Foundation to go along with her duties as the chair of the Government Accounting Standards Advisory Council. She recently retired from the Vermont State Treasury and prior to that had a long and distinguished career in state and municipal finance in New England and New York. We lost a few more classmates this year; they are listed in the In Memoriam section. I hope more people send me their info. I’d like to see where fellow UNHers have been in the almost 50 years since our graduation.
Garry Haworth ’76 and Cuzzin’ Richard Smith ’76 former WUNH jocks
Pre match Alumni kick-around with new coach Rich Weinrebe ’08 and AD Alison Rich
1977 classmates<br />
Mary Rulison, Pat Falcone, Ruth Edkins Alibrandi, Sue Plaine, Paula Rockwell, Phil Alibrandi

Left to right: Garry Haworth ’76 and Cuzzin’ Richard Smith ’76 former WUNH jocks. Pre match Alumni kick-around with new coach Rich Weinrebe ’08 and AD Alison Rich. Left to right: 1977 classmates Mary Rulison, Pat Falcone, Ruth Edkins Alibrandi, Sue Plaine, Paula Rockwell, Phil Alibrandi.

Top to bottom: Garry Haworth ’76 and Cuzzin’ Richard Smith ’76 former WUNH jocks. Pre match Alumni kick-around with new coach Rich Weinrebe ’08 and AD Alison Rich. Left to right: 1977 classmates Mary Rulison, Pat Falcone, Ruth Edkins Alibrandi, Sue Plaine, Paula Rockwell, Phil Alibrandi.

1977

Lois Kelly
Sue Plaine of Georgia, Paula Rockwell of Florida, Pat Falcone of California, Mary Rulison of New Hampshire and Ruth Edkins Alibrandi and husband, Phil, of Maine recently met in St. Mary’s, Georgia. Sue and her partner Ralfi Talbott hosted the group. Lots of laughs were shared during the week as the ’77ers explored St. Mary’s, visited St. Simon’s Island, shared stories from the past, and had many games of whist. The friends met 50 years ago as freshmen when they lived in Christensen Hall. They missed Diane Swain Harty and husband Moe ’75 as well as Diana Carr Coughlin and husband Tim. Sadly, many of our classmates have recently died. Michael Craft (master’s in mathematics and computer science) died last September in Winter Park, Florida, from Alzheimer’s disease. John “Mark” Powers (zoology) died unexpectedly in Portsmouth. Jessie Aikman (animal science) of Rollinsford, died from injuries she received while pursuing her lifelong dream of competitive horseback riding. Diane Colbath (studio arts) died in Englewood, Colorado. Greg Harper of Weymouth, Massachusetts, died from cancer. Kenneth George Almon (associate’s in art) died at 92 in Exeter. Martha LaPerle of Epping also died from cancer. Daniel Grady (German, computer science majors) died in Scarborough, Maine.

1978

Carol Scagnelli Edmonds
24 Holly Trail
Moultonborough, NH 03254
c.edmonds@alumni.unh.edu
Tom Wilkinson was recognized by the American Inns of Court with the Third Circuit Professionalism Award. The ceremony was held at the U. S. Supreme Court. He is a past President of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Chris Walsh’s artwork was on display as part of the show “Lost and Found” in Toronto earlier this year. The show featured new paintings and drawings made in his Toronto studio and the Gaspé region between 2020 and 2023. They were inspired by the weather and natural worlds of New Hampshire, Greece, Italy, and Quebec’s St. Lawrence River. Chris’s degree from UNH is a bachelor’s of fine arts in printmaking. He went on to earn an MFA in painting from Pratt Institute in 1983. Send me your news! Any fun memories from UNH to share? Do you have a part-time job that you love? I would love to hear from you.

1979

Jack Edwards ’79, whose famed Bruins sportscasting career started with calling Wildcat hockey games as a student, has retired from the Bruins announcing booth. In May he was back on campus to film a segment with WMUR’s New Hampshire Chronicle, where he visited old haunts like WUNH radio station in the MUB. Watch the Chronicle piece at www.wmur.com/article/nh-chronicle-one-on-one-with-bruins-broadcaster-jack-edwards/60606168

1980

Caryl Dow
38 Stratham Green
Stratham, NH 03885
caryldow@gmail.com
Hello classmates — supposedly summer is on the way, but it’s a chilly spring day here in New Hampshire as I write this. Everett Eaton wrote last fall that after more than 40 years in commercial banking, most recently as market president for TD Bank-NH, he would be retiring at the end of 2023 and that it had been an amazing journey. His wife, Carol Eaton ’80 ’86G retired from her engineering career at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in December. The Eatons are planning more adventure travel, skiing, hiking and biking in their future. Occasionally, Everett catches up with Rick Karle and Phil Stackpole but would like to connect with old friends from ATO, Devine and Lord Hall, so if that’s you, reach out to the Eatons. We also heard from Ryan Thomson, who was happy to report that he and his son Brennish, together as the Fiddling Thomsons, won the 2023 New Hampshire Governor’s Arts Award for Folk Heritage. Ryan started teaching courses in folk fiddling in 1979 in a classroom in the MUB, through the UNH Division of Continuing Education, before he graduated. Ryan and his son live locally on the Durham/Lee town line and have traveled to perform and teach music in faraway places such as California, Grand Turk Island, England and China. Cynthia Eynon Hicks and husband Robin were in the news recently for making a spot on their Ashland, Massachusetts, property for a statue honoring Spencer the golden retriever, the dog who could always be seen greeting Boston Marathon runners along the route. Read the full story here: www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-marathon-dog-spencer-statue-ashland/. Sadly, we have said a final farewell to several classmates.Warren “Bud” Ames III (animal science) passed away October 13, 2023. While at UNH he lived in the international mini dorm and participated in intramural hockey. After UNH he was selected to represent New Hampshire in IFYE (International 4-H Youth Exchange) and spent eight months in New Zealand. Bud married Mary McIntyre ’79 in 1981. He was CEO and partner in Blaktop, Inc. and Twin State Sand and Gravel of West Lebanon. Bud was a member of the North East Border Collie Association and competed in sheep dog trials for close to 30 years. Michael Auger, Dunbarton, passed away September 6, 2023. Michael was born in Manchester and earned a bachelor’s in economics and business administration from the Whittemore School. He was a real estate broker in the greater Manchester area for more than 40 years, many of those years owning his own brokerage firm, Auger Realty. Sarah (Schenck) Burke passed away in Thomaston, Maine, on September 30, 2023, following a difficult battle with cancer. Sarah was born in Istanbul, Turkey and although she never truly had a chance to enjoy retirement, she will be remembered for her dry wit, her love of helping others, and her commitment to her values. Gary Joseph Wood, 70, of Newport, Vermont passed away unexpectedly on January 12, 2024. At UNH, Gary earned a master’s degree in public administration, and went on to practice law in Portland, Maine, later returning to his hometown of Woodsville, where he established his law practice. Eileen C. Payette grew up in Newcastle, attended UNH and eventually settled in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where she and husband Rick ran several restaurants. Nancy Ogden Samler, 67, of Clinton, Connecticut, passed away on January 26, 2024, after a brief illness. Nancy obtained a bachelor’s in psychology which guided her as she devoted her life to the continuing care of her twins with special needs. Bruce Fleming Hill, 82, died February 29, 2024, at the McGraw Center in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1968, he received a bachelor’s in psychology and biology from George Washington University; in 1973, he received a master’s in zoology from George Washington University; and in 1980 he received a doctoral degree in cell-molecular biology and protozoology from UNH. His professional career comprised more than 50 years in higher education as teaching positions, administration and research. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied function and interaction in intermediate filaments and microtubules. He became director of the Confocal Microscopy Laboratory at Carnegie Mellon. He served on the faculty of other universities including Saint John’s University in Minnesota, Georgetown University in D.C., and University of Maryland. He authored 57 technical publications in peer-reviewed journals and won several prestigious awards, including the Presidential Award, Academy of Sciences in 1993. I encourage you to take photos of the things you do and places you go and send them to me to share with our community. We all enjoy reading these notes and learning where our friends have been and what they’re doing. I’m certain there is a lot more news and photos of happy times you can share!

1981

Caroline McKee Anderson
PO BOX 3082
Bourne, MA 02532
c.anderson@alumni.unh.edu
Carol Ellen Smith worked as a software engineer at Raytheon, GenRad, and Wang Laboratories until 1996. She then returned to school and earned her secondary education teaching certification in mathematics and has been teaching high school math (favorite class Advanced Placement statistics) since 1997. She retired in June 2024. When not working, she likes to travel, hike, kayak, snowmobile and ATV in Pittsburg (New Hampshire), where she has a camp. Her first post-retirement trip was to Alaska. Her two children, including Zoe Long ’14, live nearby. Michael Brosnan published his third collection of poetry, “Emu Blis, Bums Lie, Blue-ism.” His previous collections are “Adrift” and “The Sovereignty of the Accidental.” You can read more about his work at www.michaelabrosnan.com. Michael is a graduate of Boston College and the UNH Writing Program. He is also the proud parent of a 2021 graduate of UNH. Deborah Knoff Arsenault recently self-published a children’s book, “The Magic of the Man with the Sunglasses.” The book, available on Amazon, is based on actual interactions with her 32-year-old son Carson who is nonverbal and clinically diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome. She hopes the book promotes the universal themes of respect, acceptance and inclusivity in all interactions. Donna M. Beeckman of Nashua died on July 17, 2023. She worked in the insurance industry for many years, first at New Hampshire Insurance and later at Oxford/United Health Care. She was described as an avid reader, great storyteller and an animal lover. She enjoyed quilting, cross stitch and word games. Kathleen (Otash) Wyrick of Hampton died on January 15, 2024. She enjoyed a career as a training manager before joining her husband in business at Warner’s Card and Gift shop in Portsmouth. She loved cooking and feeding family and friends. Amy (Bristol) Webb of Norwell, Massachusetts, died on January 31, 2024. Amy and her husband, Greg, owned Webb’s Pro Fitness in Norwell for 42 years. Prior to focusing on Webb’s full-time, Amy worked as a production assistant on WCVB Channel 5’s “Healthbeat.” Amy loved to walk, ski, boat and enjoy family vacations. After UNH, she received her MBA from Lesley University. She cherished her lifelong friendships with her Alpha Chi Omega sisters and college roommates. She served as a corporator and trustee at South Shore Bank, volunteered at the Norwell Cancer Community Center and taught Sunday School at the United Church of Christ. We send condolences to the families and friends of these classmates.

1982

Julie Lake Butterfield
The UNH community mourns the recent loss of Mariquita ‘Maggie’ Morrison, aged 68, who passed away on October 20, 2023, in Durham, after a courageous battle with dementia and depression. Maggie, born on June 8, 1955, in Cleveland, Ohio, leaves behind a legacy characterized by dedication and service. She was cherished as a mother, friend and devoted environmental activist. Many of you may recall Maggie from her roles within the UNH Alumni Association, where she served as assistant director of alumni programs, and later as the sustainability coordinator for Oyster River Cooperative School District. Her absence will be keenly felt by her family, including her husband Nathaniel ‘Nat’ Small Balch, daughters Emily Morrison Balch and Eliza Catherine Balch, as well as numerous friends. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Maggie’s loved ones and fondly remember her for her compassionate spirit and invaluable contributions to UNH. Please send along any news to my above email and include any special memories you have of classes, special organizations, dorms, or concerts from our time at UNH. I always tell the story of living on the sixth floor in Stoke Hall my freshman year when SCOPE advertised a surprise concert. While all my friends opted to line up the night before the tickets for the mystery concert went on sale, I decided against joining them. Consequently, they secured front-row seats for Bruce Springsteen, a decision that remains one of my regrets. I did manage to enjoy future concerts at UNH which I will always remember fondly.
Richard Hedderman ’83G
Richard Hedderman ’83G.

1983

Ilene Segal
245 Warren Drive
Norfolk MA 02056
ihsdvm6@gmail.com
Eugene Polk sends greetings from south Florida. In 2017, Gene described himself as a hopeless, burned-out lawyer who dreaded going to work defending all the bad guys. So, one day he woke up and decided to become an airline pilot. Gene had flown as a navigator/weapons system officer in the Marines from 1983-1991, but now he had to start over as a private pilot. In December 2023, he survived the airline transport pilot check ride, with Airbus A320 type certification. He is now the “oldest-newest” first officer at Spirit Airlines! Congratulations Gene – I look forward to hearing “this is your captain speaking…” Stephen Warren dropped a quick note from Moultonborough: He has changed careers after many years in medical sales to custom homebuilding. Lawrence McGrath wrote to share that he has started his own law practice in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and specializes in estate planning, wills and trusts. His wife Mary is an elementary school speech language pathologist in the Falmouth school system. He recently resigned from the town advisory and finance board and currently serves on several fundraising boards located in southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod. He is also an advisory board member at the Saint John Paul II School in Hyannis, where his son plays football, baseball and is a National Honor Society member. Amy Dyer Cabaniss has edited her third book “Producer Responsibility in Practice: A Decision Maker’s Guide” (Berman Press). Amy self-designed her program at UNH and graduated as an environmental conservation major with a business administration concentration. She has sustained her passion for both and earned an MBA in management and organization as well as a PhD in environmental studies. She currently teaches at the University of Connecticut masters of energy and environmental management program. Cynthia Katz writes that she was back at UNH about a year ago, dropping off some of her artwork for the bachelor of fine arts 50th anniversary exhibition. She left her job teaching photography after 35 years, which allowed her to become a full-time artist. She had a piece selected for the Alternative Process Competition and Exhibition last November in New York City at the Soho Photo Gallery and just wrapped up a successful show at Three Stones Gallery in Concord, Massachusetts. In February, she was honored to be a Juror’s Pick for LensCultures 2024 Arts Photography Awards. Her studio is at the Umbrella Arts Studio in Concord and her website is www.cynthia-katz.com. Cynthia gives a shout out to Bill Brayton, Jonathan Smith, Karen Jourdenais, Jonathan Blake, Michael Warren, her former Art History and Women’s Studies Professor Mara Witzling, Gary Sampson from Media Services, Catherine O’Brien who was the coordinator of The Presidents Commission on the Status of Women, and Effie Malley, her supervisor when she was a fellow in the Art Gallery. Richard Hedderman is a poet and creative writing instructor in Milwaukee whose work has been published in dozens of journals and anthologies both in the U.S. and abroad. Publications include The Stockholm Review of Literature, The American Journal of Poetry, Rattle, Chicago Quarterly Review, Santa Fe Literary Review, and In a Fine Frenzy: Poets Respond to Shakespeare (University of Iowa Press). A multiple Pushcart Prize nominee, he has been a guest poet at the Library of Congress, coordinator of the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books, and writer-in-residence at the Milwaukee Public Museum. His most recent book of poems is “Choosing a Stone” (Finish Line Press).
Bobby Price ’85 with Tom and Jennifer Markes Flanagan, both ’85s, tailgated at 2023 Homecoming
Bobby Price ’85 with Tom and Jennifer Markes Flanagan, both ’85s, tailgated at 2023 Homecoming

1984

Robin Peters Schell
5 Ashley Dr.
Amesbury, MA 01913
rschell@jjwpr.com
Our epic “Big ’80s UNH Reunion” lasted from June 7-9 … but the memories of our time at UNH, and our weekend together, will live on forever. Thanks to everyone who helped pull off this massive 650-person celebration, from my co-chair John Davis ’85 to my friends Elaine Messier Walczak, our social media guru, and Barb Powlowsky, who helped with everything from outreach to taste-testing the “Hop, Skip & Go Naked” signature drink at Jimmy’s Jazz Club. A special shout-out goes to our sponsors, who made our signature events affordable. We kicked it all off at Jimmy’s Jazz Club — what a memorable night, with so many Wildcats dancing to the Eric Grant Band until midnight! Thanks to those who hustled to T-hall for our class picture the next day, and to Fosters Clambakes and Catering for a delicious lobster dinner. The hard-core dancers continued to shake it to the music of the Crab Shack Band on Saturday night. A shout-out to the Portsmouth Sheraton for giving us a bigger room when so many Wildcats registered for the farewell brunch on Sunday. The conversations continued with the music of Lonely Oak in the background. A huge thanks to our UNH staff liaisons, Corena Garnas and Phebe Moore ’13, who, along with their staff, worked so hard to make sure everything ran smoothly so we could enjoy our time together. For those who didn’t make it, you can see the photos on the next page and on our UNH Big ’80s Reunion Facebook page! In April, the UNH chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho-Omega celebrated their 100th anniversary at the Mount Washington Hotel and Resort in Bretton Woods; more than 220 alumni and active brothers and guests were in attendance. UNH President James Dean made a guest appearance. Attendees included David Conway, Cathy Furtek Conway, Bill Bennion, Sheila Kelley Bennion, Scott Chrane, Martha Baccaro Stockman (with Don Stockman ’83), Mark James (with Cathy Callinan James ’83), James George, John Rodgers and Dana Ramspott. The banquet’s silent auction raised more than $7,000 to benefit AGR Omega Chapter’s Educational Foundation. Martha Clohisy Bower ’85, Trixie Aceto-Black ’85, Hannah Gibson Vincent ’86 and Penny Hondrogen ’85 celebrated 42 years of friendship in Vancouver, Canada, recently. Harry Alexander Angier of Groton, Connecticut, passed away on October 22, 2023. He grew up on the river in Lyme, where he developed a love of fishing and boating. He earned a forestry degree and worked in the logging industry for several years. Martha (McCullough) Hillemeir ’88 wrote that on December 5, 2023, her brother Don McCullough passed away in Phoenix. He was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity and Air Force ROTC.

Reunion

THE BIG ’80s
closeup of women's wrists all wearing matching bracelet
two people hugging each other
a crowd all sitting at tables eating and talking to one another
two women smiling for a photo together
man and women hugging for a photo
woman smiling at another woman at the '80s reunion
two men smiling for a photo
people gathered around a live band
group photo of people holding different cutouts of the graduation years from the '80s
Photos by Jeremy Gasowski, Jake Kitterman ’23, David Vogt. See more online: www.flickr.com/photos/unh/albums

1986

Susan Panas Clark
2008 North Rose Island Rd,
Prospect, KY 40059
susanclark714@gmail.com
(include “UNH ’86” in the subject line)
Woohoo! What a fabulous Big ’80s 40th Reunion! If you attended any of the reunion events, please send me a note about your experiences and add photos, if you took them. Our class was well represented with 100+ members in attendance. There was laughter and hugs all around! On Friday night we talked, danced and sang the night away. I couldn’t believe we still remembered all the lyrics to the songs, giving the amazing Eric Grant Band a vocal break as we sang for them. No one let an occasional rain shower on Saturday dampen their spirits as old friends were reacquainted and new friendships formed. I asked attendees for their weekend reflections. Here’s what you said was the best thing about the reunion. “Catching up on 40 years of life experiences from my classmates! They are still wonderful humans!” said Heather Bartlett. “Seeing all my Phi Mu sisters!” said Carole Conaty Whippie. “So much fun to spend time with friends from many years ago. It’s as if nearly 40 years haven’t passed by!” said Karen Bage. “Has it really been 40 years? I’m only 29 years old! Met my sweetheart here and married her. The university has changed a lot over the years, but the friendships remain as strong as ever. So … it’s the people. They are the ones that make this place special. UNH will always be a great part of me/us. Thank you to everyone who made this happen! It’s a great day to be a Wildcat!” said Craig Smith ’85 and Mary-Teresa Smith ’86. “Great to see so many at UNH Reunion! We love traveling and hope to see you in our travels,” said Laura Ring ’86 and Dan Foulks ’85. “Seeing old friends from not just our graduating year. Like Janis Faluey ’84, Jeremy Reicks ’85 and my old roommate Erich Whitney ’87. Having dinner with Donna Clooney ’87 and Alison Perron ’86. Walking around campus and recalling so many memories — Karls, sledding on T-Hall hill and jokes played on each other,” said John Wezowicz. “The best thing about the reunion was seeing sisters and friends and realizing the bonds have lasted through the decades. It also brings back a lot of nostalgia and the love from my time on campus. It also is amazing to see all of the changes and that the beauty of the campus remains,” said Beth Dreiker Rice. “A great time catching up with Erich! Meeting ‘new’ old friends from my class. I was EE [Electrical Engineer] so I didn’t have much social time when I was there, so this was a wonderful opportunity to get to know some of the older fun and amazing people in my class. Sharing this time with my wife of 35 years has been extra special. She reminded me of the time our friend Tom showed up at the door of our cabin on Strafford Ave., at 3 a.m., desperate to get in to hide from a girl. They were playing some campus-wide ‘hide and seek’ and he needed a place to hide that no one knew about,” said Steve Kimball. “The best thing that happened to me was joining the Greek system. The women of Phi Mu helped shape me into who I am today,” said Colleen Cantin Madden. If you didn’t make the reunion, know that you were missed! I felt the years melt away as I caught up with old friends and walked past familiar landmarks. The changes to the campus since we were students are vast, but its characteristic charm remains. In other news: Todd Hager writes that he and his wife, Gayle, have been living in Washington, D.C. since 1990. They have a daughter, Riley, who has moved to Seattle to work for Microsoft. Todd is the vice president of strategic advisory for Macro Solutions, a woman-owned government contractor based in D.C. In that role, he has been working with Advanced Research Project Agency for Health, which he calls a super cool agency with a tall mandate (think “Cancer Moonshot”). In his free time, Todd served as a volunteer for Academy of Hope, teaching math to adults pursuing their GED and as a volunteer mentor/teacher at the University of the District of Columbia. He also serves on the boards of a few government/trade organizations, making space for productive conversations between government and industry. 2Life Communities, an affordable senior housing organization with Lizbeth Heyer as its vice president and acting CEO, was named one of the top 100 women-led businesses in Massachusetts. Lizbeth has been a force in Massachusetts affordable housing for decades. In other professional news, Barry Zimmerman does it again! He has earned the designation of five-star wealth manager for the 11th consecutive year. Ray Routhier has been a features writer at the Portland Press Herald, in Maine, for 30 years. He writes a mix of front page and Sunday features in a wide beat area, including film, radio, TV, arts, books, popular culture and lifestyle trends. For the last three years, Ray’s articles have been awarded first or second place arts/lifestyle feature by the Maine Press Association. John Trevor retired as of December 2023 from Ducks Unlimited Canada after 29 years as a waterfowl biologist. He resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada with his wife. Many of our classmates have turned or are turning 60 this year. There is at least one group of classmates that made it their mission to commemorate the occasion in high style. Bonnie Stiller Kasmere, Karen Oulette Precourt, Laura Ring, Lisa Lemaire Berman, Karen Sullivan Bianchi, Nancy Gibson Armstrong, Lisa Misiaszak Castro and Jackie Huntress Lortz gathered to celebrate their 60th birthdays on a Royal Caribbean Cruise to the Bahamas this past January.
women posing for a group photo
A group of ’86ers know how to ring in their 60th birthdays right.
women gathered to pose for a group photo
The Afternotes are still going strong! The group is made up of UNH a cappella alumni The New Hampshire Notables. Members include from left: Jean Dumais ’87, Lee Anne Dodge ’87, Deb Abberton ’87, Michelle Berke ’88, Lauren Barrett ’89, Martha Levesque Pepek ’90, Sonja Ahlberg ’99, Erica Hoar ’09, Samantha Torrice ’10, Addison Kennamer ’22, Hannah O’Connor ’23.

1987

Tina Napolitano Savoia
5 Samuel Path
Natick, MA 01760
savoia@comcast.net
Greetings, fellow classmates. It is the start of spring as I write this article — I hope everyone is having a great 2024 thus far! I have recently heard from a few of our classmates. Suzanne Swedberg Goodale, one of my Alpha Chi sorority sisters, writes that she is living in Worcester, Massachusetts, with her husband Ron and works for the state of Massachusetts within the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security and the Office of Municipal and School Technology as a coordinator of their cybersecurity awareness program. Her daughter just graduated from Bryant University’s physician’s assistant program, and they spend time on the Cape when they can. I also heard from Paul Hill, who just wrapped up his fifth Annual Cocoa Village Brewer’s Bash with more than 70 breweries participating and more than 3,500 people in attendance. Paul is the owner of Dirty Oar Beer Company in Cocoa, Florida They have 22 taps and a fun theme — “Nobody has more fun than us.” I was with some of my old UNH roommates recently. Lynn Gervais Smith and her husband, Phil had a surprise Sweet 16 party for their daughter Maddie. Lynn’s other two older daughters, Morgan and Molly, were also at the party. The three Smith girls (@SmithSisterGolf) are just amazing as spectacular golfers and just very nice young adults. Morgan was recruited to play golf at Georgetown and Molly, at the University of Central Florida. Maddie will be right behind them, hopefully playing at the collegiate level, once she finishes her time at Westford Academy. All three girls have won numerous tournaments and rank high in their field. I caught up with Karen Carpenter Cormier, Linda Nutter Deveau and Dari Christensen at the party as well. Karen has been at Arbella Insurance in Quincy for many years and is a senior training specialist in learning and development. Karen lives in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and has two grown sons. Linda is the school nurse at Old Rochester Regional High School and lives in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, with her husband, Matt. They have three children, with their youngest graduating from college this spring. Dari works for UNH and is the program manager of NH Sea Grant for the UNH Extension Program. She lives in Dover and also has two grown sons. Thanks to everyone who has provided updates! Please keep sending along your news!
Artist Heidi Illingworth Boyd ’88 was featured on Mid-Coast Maine Channel 8
Ari Milstein ’88, Tim Pelczar ’88 and Dan Cheever ’90 ’01G at the summit of Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont
Karen ‘Kaz’ Gerrior-Mariani ’88 and Kelly Armstrong McDonough ’88

Left to right: Artist Heidi Illingworth Boyd ’88 was featured on Mid-Coast Maine Channel 8. Ari Milstein ’88, Tim Pelczar ’88 and Dan Cheever ’90 ’01G at the summit of Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont. They were former roommates in Christensen Hall are all still good buddies. Karen ‘Kaz’ Gerrior-Mariani ’88 and Kelly Armstrong McDonough ’88.

Top to bottom: Artist Heidi Illingworth Boyd ’88 was featured on Mid-Coast Maine Channel 8. Ari Milstein ’88, Tim Pelczar ’88 and Dan Cheever ’90 ’01G at the summit of Smugglers’ Notch in Vermont. They were former roommates in Christensen Hall are all still good buddies. Karen ‘Kaz’ Gerrior-Mariani ’88 and Kelly Armstrong McDonough ’88.

1988

Beth D. Simpson-Robie
P.O. Box 434
Kennebunk, ME 04043
bgsrobie@alumni.unh.edu
Karen ‘Kaz’ Gerrior-Mariani and Kelly Armstrong McDonough got together for lunch at the end of March. Kaz lives in Walpole, Massachusetts, and works in undergraduate admissions for High Point University. She spearheads their regional team who are placed all over the country. Kelly lives in Durham and is a labor delivery nurse and an instructor/professor for Great Bay Community College. Ari Milstein sends greetings from Boca Raton, Florida. He is now spending half the year there and the other half in New Seabury on Cape Cod. He has seen former UNH friends recently and spent time skiing and playing golf with them. Larry McCarthy has retired and lives in Hobe Sound, Florida. He sent an address update after receiving my email. Tricia Ketchabaw Elliott accepted a new position at NCQA (National Commission on Quality Assurance ) as the vice president of quality measurement Implementation. “I am focusing on the transition of quality measurement into digital formats to support NCQA-accredited health plans that deliver high-quality care and enforce important safeguards to protect the people they cover. Also after completing my doctorate in health administration in December 2022, I have started teaching healthcare economics with the University of Phoenix.” John Hurney shares that he was hired as the assistant vice president corporate counsel of Zenith Insurance of Los Angeles. He is in charge of all litigation involving their agribusiness line of coverage. Deb Richards Thibodeau shares that she is presenting again at the Maine Counselor Association Conference in Rockport, as well as at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Salt Lake City. The title of her presentation is “The Artists That We Are: Weaving Social Emotional Learning into Horticulture.” Deb has been a gardener all of her life and enjoys teaching this passion to PreK to grade 8 students. Deb has been a school counselor for 23 years and is currently working at the South Bristol School here in Maine. Heidi Illingworth Boyd continues to inspire me with her artistry and crafts that she creates here in mid-coast Maine. Heidi’s work is inspired by New England flora and fauna. Channel 8 here in Portland did a focus on Heidi’s work last Summer. Check it out: www.wmtw.com/article/made-in-maine-heidi-boyd/44531646 and HeidiBoyd.com.
Amy (Freiermuth) Rangel ’93 and Annie Boyd ’11
group photo of unh graduates

Left to right: Amy (Freiermuth) Rangel ’93 and Annie Boyd ’11 were astounded to find out that they are both UNH graduates! They work together in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Northern Arizona University. They celebrated their first Flagstaff, Arizona, alumni association meeting with dinner at the Lumberyard Brewing Company on Thursday, March 7. They’d love to meet up with other UNH graduates in Flagstaff. They plan to meet once or twice a month. Maria Mahassel Veale ’93 sent along a photo from Homecoming 2023: Tony Theos, Joy DePippo Theos, Erik Proulx (all ’93), Mike McHugh ’94), Jeff Beall, Chris Webb, Scott Aronson, Steve Cotton, Tim Donovan, Jeff Long (all ’92); in the middle are Lori Larsen Olson ’94, Maria Mahassel Veale ’93, Jodi Raposa Grimbilas ’92, Ted Grimbilas ’92 and Jim Olsen ’94.

Top to bottom: Amy (Freiermuth) Rangel ’93 and Annie Boyd ’11 were astounded to find out that they are both UNH graduates! They work together in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Northern Arizona University. They celebrated their first Flagstaff, Arizona, alumni association meeting with dinner at the Lumberyard Brewing Company on Thursday, March 7. They’d love to meet up with other UNH graduates in Flagstaff. They plan to meet once or twice a month. Maria Mahassel Veale ’93 sent along a photo from Homecoming 2023: Tony Theos, Joy DePippo Theos, Erik Proulx (all ’93), Mike McHugh ’94), Jeff Beall, Chris Webb, Scott Aronson, Steve Cotton, Tim Donovan, Jeff Long (all ’92); in the middle are Lori Larsen Olson ’94, Maria Mahassel Veale ’93, Jodi Raposa Grimbilas ’92, Ted Grimbilas ’92 and Jim Olsen ’94.

1990

Amy McBride French
When I became a UNH Student Ambassador back in our junior year, little did I know that a role giving prospective student tours and attending community events would evolve to over 30 years as our class secretary/correspondent! In a column in the late 1990s, I shared that I was moving to Seattle and some super kind UNHers in my new city invited me over for a pizza night and they have been dear friends ever since. My husband, Steve Utaski, and I recently attended a gallery opening with them for Deb (Simard) Achak’s fine art photography and beautiful corresponding photo book “The Colors I Am Inside” (debachakphotography.com). But the time has come to pass the torch in order to focus on other endeavors (new job, travel, food security board of directors, cold plunging, etc.)! The alumni engagement team would appreciate a new volunteer to take over the column for our class. Please reach out to classnotes.editor@unh.edu if interested. Thank you in advance for continuing to send in your life/career updates!

1992

Paul Neveu is currently CEO at BPAS (www.BPAS.com), a national provider of retirement plan administration, consulting, actuarial and institutional trust services. BPAS works with a full range of financial intermediary partners, servicing some 810,000 plan participants nationally. Paul counts several talented UNH alums as coworkers and enjoys living and working in Exeter when not traveling for business. Tracy (Manforte) Sweet and Strong Girls United teamed up in February with many other athletes at UNH to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day. SGU strives to empower girls and women to be strong, confident, and resilient through sports, mentorship and mental health programming. The event, now in its second year, brought more than 75 young athletes to the Field House for opening activities. It concluded with VIP access to UNH Gymnastics at the Whittemore Center, where “strong girls” lined the cheer tunnel and high-fived competitors as they entered the arena. Prior to the competition, more than 40 student-athletes representing women’s and men’s teams from basketball and soccer to football and field hockey mentored girls from across New England. Led by UNH soccer goalie Sally Rainey ’25, they ran a variety of team-building activities. Tracy serves on the SGU advisory board. She and teammates from the 1980s to 2000s joined the girls for photos and autographs. “It’s so important for girls to see that it’s cool to be strong and to see what is possible with hard work. It doesn’t matter whether they aspire to compete in college. Playing sports develops skills for life,” she said. SGU President Lani Silversides ’09G called the UNH athletes “true champions for girls in sports.”

1993

Caryn Crotty Eldridge
Jennifer Militello has been named poet laureate of New Hampshire. Jennifer has taught at Brown University, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the Rhode Island School of Design, and is currently a faculty member in the MFA program at New England College. She lives in Goffstown. Matt Pappas was recently elected to his fifth term on the Rochester School Board. Matt enjoys volunteering in his daughter’s school, most notably with the Spaulding High School music and drama programs. This year marks his 26th year teaching social studies in the Oyster River district in Durham — 25 years in the high school, and this year in 7th grade. Maria Mahassel Veale says “keeping in touch with my UNH friends is one of my favorite pastimes. I recently opened a holistic healing business, Peace of Maria, offering Bowenwork and Reiki to humans and animals. I’m working on my equine Bowenwork certification and getting in lots of practice hours at barns around New England. My husband, David, and I live on a small farm in southeastern New Hampshire, and our daughters are Elizabeth ’23, (pursuing her master’s in education at UNH) and Annabel (a junior at Suffolk University).”

1994

Diane T. Lambert graduated from Nova Southeastern University in 2023 with a doctor of education degree in organizational leadership. She completed her coursework with a 4.0 GPA and her dissertation explored long-term volunteer motivations of the Air Force Auxiliary for which she serves as a major. She looks forward to continuing her career as a college administrator and instructor. She also received her UNH master’s degree in 1988. Elissa J. Von Letkemann (studio art) has received two 2023 American Graphic Design Awards honoring outstanding work with packaging and environmental/experiential graphics. Elissa Von Letkemann Art & Design, her boutique multidisciplinary design studio in Portsmouth, is celebrating its 20th year in business. She also regularly exhibits selections from her hand-drawn digital illustration series, “Windows of New England,” currently on view at the Portsmouth Athenaeum. Elissa is on the board of AIGA Maine and the Salem Film Fest. Classmates can connect with her at elissa@elissavonletkemann.com or Instagram at @elissa_von_letkemann_design. Matthew Trimble, (health management and policy) was recently elected chair of the 2023-24 board of directors for CareLink, a Rhode Island nonprofit healthcare network of post-acute and community-based providers serving older adults and adults with disabilities. Trimble is president and CEO of Saint Elizabeth Community in East Greenwich. Congrats Matthew!
Mike Vlacich ’95, wife, Liz Purdy ’96 ’02G, and their daughters
Mike Vlacich ’95, wife, Liz Purdy ’96 ’02G, and their daughters.

1995

Tammy Ross

Hello! I hope this update finds you all enjoying the summer (or autumn if you’re living in the Southern Hemisphere). It’s the end of April as I write this, and I had an early taste of summer this week while in San Antonio, where I was a panel session speaker representing EBSCO at the Texas Library Association’s annual conference. Our topic was the value of library databases and how librarians can promote them. I’m sure many of you remember using early iterations of research databases in the Dimond Library, or perhaps you encountered more recent versions in grad school or use them regularly in your current job. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you support your local library and recognize all the ways it enriches the lives of individuals in your community. In other alumni news, Mike Vlacich recently completed his work as a Biden Administration appointee serving as U.S. Small Business Administration New England administrator. Mike has started a New England-based public relations and government affairs firm for D.C.-based Cornerstone Government Affairs where he is a principal. Mike’s wife, Liz Purdy ’96 ’02G serves as a senior adviser to the Biden-Harris reelection campaign. In addition, she was recently named to the N.H. Business Review 200 List and was recognized by the Red Sox Foundation as their N.H. Volunteer of the Year. Mike and Liz have two children and live in Concord. They started dating at UNH 30 years ago! Jennifer Higgins Pitre ‘95 ’05G recently assumed the role of vice president of philanthropy at the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). As a renowned international study abroad and intercultural exchange nonprofit organization, CIEE provides high-quality, transformative educational experiences for high school and college students worldwide. In her new capacity, Jenn will establish and lead CIEE’s first fundraising department with the objective of expanding access to CIEE programs for a broader spectrum of students. You can reach out to Jenn at jpitre@ciee.org. Michelle (Bresnahan) Schaub ’95G is happy to share that she had two children’s books come out in March. “A Place for Rain,” published by Norton Young Readers, is the story of a classroom that builds a rain garden to mitigate stormwater runoff and create a habitat for pollinators. “Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees,” published by Sleeping Bear Press, is a family road trip through poems to visit famous and historic trees around the U.S. Please send your news!

1996

Mike Michaud (also ’07Phd), professor of English at Rhode Island College, recently published a book about Donald M. Murray, professor emeritus at UNH (English). Based on more than a decade of research, including documents in the Milne Special Collections and Archive at UNH, the book, “A Writer Reforms (the Teaching of) Writing: Donald Murray and the Writing Process Movement, 1963-1987” (WAC Clearinghouse Press), explores Murray’s work at UNH and beyond as he became a central figure in the reform of the teaching of writing. More information about the book can be found at the WAC Clearinghouse website: wac.colostate.edu/books/perspectives/murray.

1999

Jaimie Russo Zahoruik
Elena Sarni who also earned her master’s here in 2003, has written a new book, “Trailblazing Women Printmakers.” She shares: “When I was an undergraduate student I had two summer research fellowships. One of them involved research into a Civil War ancestor and the alumni magazine featured my grandmother (who had attended UNH herself) and I since my grandmother had shared some genealogy research that led to my project.” In the issue she talked about how the fellowship had made it clear to her that she wanted to be a non-fiction writer. “I wish my grandmother was here to see that I achieved my goal!” she says.

2000

Mike Bove
Hello, class of 2000! Coincidentally, this issue contains two bits of news related to the National Park Service. The first is that Lance Twombly (forestry) retired from the National Park Service as a supervisory law enforcement park ranger at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin, Lake Superior, after a total 27½ years of federal service. Second, some personal news: I was recently awarded a 2024 Writing Residency at Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine. The National Park Service Artist-In-Residence Program has a 30-year history, and this year at Acadia I was one of two writers selected. I hope you’re all doing well. Please send news my way.

2004

Victoria MacGowan Reed
Carla Lauter (marine and freshwater biology) and husband Michael are thrilled to share that they added a daughter, Quinn Virginia Lauter, to their family in November 2023. Michael and Carla met at a UNH archery team practice and went on to coach the team for many years. They were married in May 2010, and have lived in Maine together ever since. Carla is currently content manager for two technology and geospatial-related trade shows, and Mike is a master and warehouse manager at Blue Ox Malthouse, creating grains for brewers to put in tasty local beers. The Gordon School (Providence, Rhode Island) named fifth- and sixth-grade science teacher Cushman T. Gillen (outdoor education, and also a master’s from UNH in ’06) the school’s “Green Dean,” a newly created position. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Gillen’s new designation will allow for an increased focus on sustainability work schoolwide at every grade level.
Cush Gillen ’04
Elissa (Bolt) Whelan ’05 with her first novel

Left to right: Cush Gillen ’04. Elissa (Bolt) Whelan ’05 with her first novel.

Left to right: Cush Gillen ’04. Elissa (Bolt) Whelan ’05 with her first novel.

Left to right: Cush Gillen ’04. Elissa (Bolt) Whelan ’05 with her first novel
Top to bottom: Cush Gillen ’04. Elissa (Bolt) Whelan ’05 with her first novel
Sienna Creasy ’05 with Kayla Gorski ’05.
Sienna Creasy ’05 with Kayla Gorski ’05.

2005

Elissa (Bolt) Whelan, an honors English major who minored in Spanish, went on to earn her master’s in linguistics at SOAS, University of London. She has been working in the translation and localization industry ever since. Elissa recently published her first novel “The Hold of the Horizon,” which is the story of a woman versus herself, coming-of-age tale set in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her writing, done while traveling on buses and trains around the world, has been described by readers as warm and painfully relatable. The book is for sale at major retailers and Bookshop.org, which supports independent bookstores. Learn more at elissajhwhelan.wordpress.com. In other news, Sienna Creasy writes “It’s been a whirlwind of islands for me after two Peace Corps stints post-grad. I stayed in Jamaica for 14 years working in hospitality with the likes of Chris Blackwell (founder of Island Records) running his boutique spas and Hilton Hotels. I am now living in Kauai, Hawaii, running a private club spa and wellness program while consulting in the Caribbean. I stay close to my Wildcat crew on special trips. Every year Kayla Gorski and I meet each other somewhere in the world from Bali, to Jamaica, to Montana, to Mexico, and Hawaii!” David M. Roccio has been elected to his first two-year term on the management committee of Lando & Anastasi, LLP. Dave is a partner at L&A and counsels businesses of all sizes on the creation and maintenance of strong and sustainable complex patent portfolios. He has extensive experience in counseling startups — especially foreign-based startups who wish to launch their business in U.S. markets and U.S.-based startups looking to expand abroad. Dave is very active in local and national professional organizations and networking groups, and in 2022, he was nominated and selected to be a member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Service District Export Council (DEC). On a sad note, Pamela Dudek ’05G of Gilford passed away peacefully at home on Friday, November 9, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Rhode Island College, her master’s here at UNH (nursing) and a graduate certificate in surgical services management from Georgetown University. Pam was a certified nurse in the operating room and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, American Nurses Association, New Hampshire Nurses Association, and NH Infection Control and Epidemiology Professionals. She was employed as the director of infection prevention and employee health at Huggins Hospital in Wolfeboro at the time of her passing. Pam cherished spending time with her family and loved visiting her hometown of Fiskeville, Rhode Island. She was an avid bird watcher and enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, and traveling. To view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.

Reunion

SMITHIES
three men posing for a group photo
people holding signs with their graduate years while smiling and walking
group photo in front of smithies hall
group of men walking while holding a 'class of 1992' sign
Photos by Jeremy Gasowski, Jake Kitterman ’23, David Vogt. See more online: www.flickr.com/photos/unh/albums

2007

Michael Antosh
Some sad news for this update. Kimberly (Quintal) Thibault passed away in February. Kim was from Newport, Vermont, and obtained a master’s in occupational therapy at UNH. She went on to be in charge of occupational therapy for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She is survived by her husband, Nate, daughter Isabelle, her parents, her sisters and many other family members.

2009

Class Notes Editor
Jaime Van Leuven writes: “I’m living in North Carolina with my partner and daughter, working for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the USDA Forest Service on American chestnut restoration under an ORISE Fellowship. I’m loving exploring the Smokies and dreaming about returning to the Whites. Sending love and happy memories to my friends from the Outing Club, Organic Gardening Club, the Art Department, and Woodsides i5.”

2010

Class Notes Editor
Cory Montreuil writes: “Early in March, after 11 years as a high school teacher (math and then, special education) I finally had my undergrad loans from UNH forgiven! As the first in my family to graduate from college, I thought that because I chose to serve my community, I would be paying interest for my entire life. An incredible day to say the least.”
Kory Himmer headshot
Korey Himmer ’11

2011

Class Notes Editor

Reagan Byrne was named partner at Boston-based Wave Collective, a PR and marketing agency. She joined Wave at the end of 2021 as creative director and lead photographer. Prior to Wave, she was a freelance food and beverage photographer who worked with brands that included Boston Beer Company and Island Creek Oysters. Kory Himmer started a new business called 603 BnB, a vacation rental management company that leverages technology to help people generate more income from their vacation homes. “Last year, my wife and I purchased a vacation home in Lincoln, and decided to put it to work as a short-term rental when we aren’t using it,” he says. They realized they didn’t want to work with a large corporate management company, “so I stopped looking for a company and started my own.” Check out his website: www.603bnb.com, or email him at kory@603bnb.com.

2012

Class Notes Editor

Dr. Alyssa Cole Mixon, board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician sub-specialized in cancer rehabilitation sadly lost her father last year, but honored him with an essay that serves as a message to future doctors, from her dad. “[My father] was a scientist, a musician and a loving father. He was a comedian, a world-traveler, an avid gardener, and my anchor to earth. He taught me how laughter can be the best medicine, and in many ways, how to be the doctor I am today. Now, he will teach you,” she begins the piece, which was published in March 2023 in The DO, a publication for osteopathic medical professionals. You can read the full essay here: thedo.osteopathic.org/2023/03/a-message-to-future-doctors/. In 2020, Mixon was featured on Philadelphia’s local NBC affiliate for her partnership with chemist Dr. Beau Wangtrakuldee about their germ-fighting creation, Commuter Gloves. The following winter, she was part of UNH’s Magazine’s “Dispatches from the Pandemic” feature: magazine.unh.edu/issue/winter-2021/dispatches-from-the-pandemic. You can follow her at @doctor.cole and read more on her blog: dailydoseofvita.blogspot.com.

2013

Class Notes Editor
Jimmy Vailas is the co-founder of Proxy Health Partners, a healthcare management and consulting firm specializing in durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies. The firm has partnerships with Optum, Vizient, Inc., Aeroflow Health, Yale New Haven Health System and the University of Vermont Health Network. The company’s CEO is co-founder Kerriann Catlaw ’99Phd. Her previous roles include former UNH assistant professor and athletic trainer for the UNH women’s ice hockey team. I am now a father of three, residing in Southern New Hampshire. My wife and I welcomed our third child in December of 2023. “Our efforts were recently acknowledged when Proxy Health Partners was named among the top 20 healthcare consulting companies by Healthcare Business Review,” says Vailas. Proxy is readying to launch a SAAS cloud-based software platform named ProxyIQ. “On a personal note, I am now a father of three, residing in southern New Hampshire. My wife and I welcomed our third child in December 2023.”
Alex Nardone
Alex Nardone ’14.

2014

Class Notes Editor
Alexander Nardone was named valedictorian of his graduating class at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine. At UNH he majored in biology. Congrats, Alex!

2015

Class Notes Editor
Allison Robinson shared good news on behalf of good friends: “Sera Stackpole (also ’16G) and her husband Cam Prolman welcomed their first baby Norah in February. We love little Norah — she’s the perfect addition to our Wildcat Pack!” Jenna Shellard and her husband Connor Larkin welcomed their first baby Tanner, also in February. “We think his first words will be ‘Go ‘Cats’ and we love him so much.” Maggie Schmidt, who earned her JD from UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law as well as her master’s in public health (2016) from UNH, recently started a position at the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights in Washington, D.C. She conducts investigations and evaluations of civil rights violations in schools and universities, building on her previous advocacy work. She and her partner live in Silver Spring, Maryland, and enjoy all the city has to offer outside of work.

2016

Samantha Gorski
What a semester it was in Durham! With back-to-back wins during White Out the Whitt in February, welcoming admitted students for the Class of 2028 in March/April, SCOPE’s annual concert at the Whitt, and so much more it feels like campus is constantly abuzz with excitement. It’s definitely the time of year when I look back and remember what campus was like when we were all here 10 years ago in 2014. Things almost look the same, minus us not getting to enjoy 97 percent of a solar eclipse on T-Hall Lawn. The class of 2016 has some exciting announcements and life events going on. Lauren Rocha ’16G is an assistant professor of practice and the first-year writing coordinator in English at Merrimack College and has just published her first book. Look for “The Sinful Maternal: Motherhood in Possession Films” available now! Doug Rodoski (also ’23G), who had an incredible 2023 as he finished his master’s in liberal studies at UNH and retired from the U.S. Army, has been published in New Hampshire Magazine for his article about the 60th memorial for the USS Thresher. Congrats to Lauren and Doug for your publications!

2017

Class Notes Editor
After earning his recreation management master’s and his PhD in Education (2019) at UNH, Myles Liam Lynch moved to Hanoi, where he is a senior lecturer at VinUniversity’s College of Arts and Sciences. “I continue to work on research related to outdoor education and recreation in Southeast Asia. I was recently married in October and now live happily in Vietnam! When I was at UNH my advisors were: Dr. Bob Barcelona, Dr. Nate Trauntvein, Dr. Cindy Hartman, Dr. Cari Moorhead, and Dr. Erin Sharp. Go Wildcats!”

2018

Class Notes Editor
Diane Allen (doctor of nursing practice) was honored by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) with the Distinguished Service Award at the 38th Annual APNA Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. This award recognizes exceptional and meritorious service to the organization. Congrats Diane!
Jenna Shellard and her husband Connor Larkin's baby
man and woman smiling while holding a dog together
Left to right: Congrats Jenna Shellard ’15 and her husband Connor Larkin ’15. Myles Lynch ’17G ’19PhD.
Top to bottom: Congrats Jenna Shellard ’15 and her husband Connor Larkin ’15. Myles Lynch ’17G ’19PhD.

2019

Class Notes Editor
Sad news to share of a classmate gone too soon: Danielle French was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer (glioblastoma) six months after graduating from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics in 2019. She was working at BerrryDunn in Portland, Maine and was just starting her career in accounting. She fought it for 15 months and passed away on February 26, 2021, at the age of 23. Her family shared: “Danielle loved everything about UNH and made amazing friends and memories there during her four years as student. She was especially proud to be a member of the business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi.” Condolences to Danielle’s family and friends; you can read her full obituary here: www.remickgendron.com/obituaries/Danielle-French-3/#!/Obituary
Dylan Grocer headshot
Dylan Grocer ’20

2020

Class Notes Editor
Dylan Grocer, financial advisor and managing associate with The Bulfinch Group in Needham, Massachusetts, is now a certified financial planner. He graduated with a degree in finance; when he’s not working, he is spending time with friends, enjoying the water, golfing, fishing and traveling. Michael Newell (nursing major, women’s studies minor) was recently named Young Person of the Year by Stay, Work, Play New Hampshire. Newell is a home care nurse at Granite VNA, starting his career in nursing in January 2020 at the height of the pandemic. He quickly became a preceptor after only one year of nursing, at NHTI and then at Saint Anselm College and Rivier University for junior and senior students. Newell is a Hamel Scholar alumni, and while at UNH spent time volunteering at the local food pantry, was a STEM and class mentor for the CONNECT Program and served as a member of the Diversity Support Coalition.

2021

Class Notes Editor
Marjorie Maine ’21G is the owner and CEO of Bright HoriZion Psychiatry, providing psychiatric services and psychotherapy to clients across the lifespan, from children to the elderly.