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Class Notes

The 1950s
William Ewald (AS’51), Bay City, Mich., recently retired from his position as funeral director for the Hyatt Ewald Funeral Home. He is currently serving as public relations representative for the Cremation Society of Mid-Michigan.

Clarence Haus (EHS’59), Pentwater, Mich., and his wife Lois recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

The 1960s
Gary A. Melvin (B’63), Allegan, Mich., retired from the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network after 41 years.

Joan (Bode) Melvin (EHS’63), retired from Wayland Union School after 30 years of teaching.

John Schultz (B’64), Prescott, Ariz., welcomes the birth of granddaughter Emma Susanna Schultz to her parents Eric and Liz.

Dr. Roger W. Anderson (P’64), Houston, Texas, retired from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after 26 years as vice president for Pharmacy. In July he was appointed senior VP and chief pharmacist for Medco Health Solutions, Inc.

Richard Bishop (T’64), Bay City, Mich., recently retired after serving 19 years as Bay County Road Commission superintendent.

Dan Thompson, M.D., FCCM (P’65), Schenectady, N.Y., was recently appointed to chair the Ethics Committee of the American College of Critical Care Medicine for 2005 and 2006. Dan is an associate professor of surgery at Albany Medical Center and chair of the Institutional Review Board.

Frederick Funkey (T’66), Copper Harbor, Mich., owns and operates Fred’s Charters in Copper Harbor.

The 1970s
Robert A. Goodenough (B’71), East Jordan, Mich., has patented the “NOAH Water Leak and Flood Damage Limiter,” which is featured on the Web site www.noahproducts.biz.

Constance Gardner (EHS’72), Interlochen, Mich., will participate in the Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange program and serve as a math teacher at the Achimota School in Accra, Ghana, for the 2004-05 school year. Gardner has been a math teacher with Benzie Central High School for the past 20 years.

Robert McConkie (B’72), Gladwin, Mich., was recently appointed city manager for St. Louis, Mich.

Arthur Tebo (B’72), Walloon Lake, Mich., retired on July 9, 2004 after 35 years with Boyne USA. He served in numerous positions, including chief operating officer and vice president of government affairs. Tebo is a member of the Ferris State University Board of Trustees.

L. Fallasha Erwin (Larry J. Erwin) (B’73), Detroit, Mich., has been appointed to chair the Client Protection Committee for the State Bar of Michigan. This committee compensates individuals who lose money due to the employment of an attorney who fails to perform paid-for services.

James Thomas (B’73), recently retired from Denver District Probation in Colorado. He continued his education earning a master’s in counseling psychology, specializing in sex offender supervision for adult felons.

Harry Doele (P’74), Shelbyville, Mich., was recently appointed chief executive officer of Pennock Health Services in Hastings.

Gayle (Smith) Moreen (B’74), Lake Park, Ga., recently accepted a position as director at a homeless shelter for women and children serving four Georgia counties. She retired from teaching in 2001.

Susan (Turner) Allshouse (B’76), Big Rapids, Mich., was recently promoted to the position of assistant vice president of Firstbank.

Thomas Scott (EHS’76), Monroe, Mich., recently retired after serving 28 years with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, attaining the rank of major.

Margo English (B’77), Clearwater, Fla., wed Yuri Samardak, also of Clearwater.

Jeri Sherry (B’77), Sault Sainte Marie, Mich., has been appointed warden of the Michigan Department of Corrections’ Chippewa and Straits Correctional Facility in Kincheloe.

Linda Ryder (AS’79), Hersey, Mich., is now an ophthalmic assistant with Crew Eye Center in Big Rapids.

Stan Swider (P’79), Rockford, Mich., was recently honored as Businessman of the Year by the Cedar Springs Chamber of Commerce. Swider owns Pioneer Pharmacy in Cedar Springs.

The 1980s
Thomas Watson (EHS’80), Bangor, Mich., recently received a master of business administration degree from Western Michigan University.

Carol (Noack) Burke (B’81), Coloma, Mich., has been promoted to administrator of business services at Benton Harbor Area Schools.

William Elia (B’82), Davisburg, Mich., was recently appointed plant manager of Delphi Energy & Chassis Saginaw Operations.

Alan Unger (T’82), Iron Mountain, Mich., has been appointed athletic director of Breitung Township Schools.

Jeff Vratanina (B’82) Petoskey, Mich, is owner of Pinnacle Financial Corporation/Pinnacle Direct Lending Corporation. Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., Pinnacle Financial Corporation is one of the East Coast’s largest independently owned mortgage lenders. Vratanina is married to Lisa Ponters (B’82) of Utica, Mich. They have a two-year-old daughter, Sara.

Marles Ann Ludwig (B’83), Scotts, Mich., joined Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies as program coordinator for Family Practice Residency.

Melinda (Rounds) Rambo (B’83), Bad Axe, Mich., was recently promoted to the position of assistant vice president/controller of Signature Bank.

Jack Groot (B’84), Hudsonville, Mich., owns Rubyjuice, a juice and smoothie franchise based in Holland, Mich. Rubyjuice recently signed a regional developer deal that will bring its products to 25 stores in Minnesota. More information about Rubyjuice is available on their Web site at www.rubyjuice.com.

Shelley Norris (AH’85), Freeland, Mich., recently joined Smith Barney as a financial consultant.

Russ Fatum (B’86) and Gail (Loehr) Fatum (AS’87), Auburn, Ind. Russ is employed by Textron, Inc. as an HR strategic business partner. He also is an adjunct professor for Indiana Tech in the College of Business. Gail is a self-employed court reporter and substitute teacher. Russ was a speaker at the Industry Week magazine and AME’s joint conference on May 18 in Cleveland, Ohio, discussing “Strategies in Maintaining a Continuous Improvement Culture.”

Daniel Mannor (B’86), Hart, Mich., owns Country Boy Products in Shelby, a pet-related products store.

Andrew Moblo (B’86), is owner/operator of Moby’s Dive Shop, Inc. Moby’s is celebrating 10 years in business, (“and still ‘going under’”). Moby’s provides scuba training, equipment, service and scuba trips. Moby’s was established in Newaygo in April 1994, then moved to Grand Rapids in 1996. Moblo and wife, Jean (Dame) (EHS’86), live in Grant, Mich.

Jeffrey Rautio (O’86), Livonia, Mich., is the director of refractive surgery at the Beitman Laser Eye Institute in West Bloomfield. Recently, he was asked to speak at the American Optometric Association’s (www.aoa.org) annual conference in Orlando, Fla. Dr. Rautio’s topic was entitled “Incorporating Wavefront Technology into an Optometric Practice.”

Darla Decker (B’87), recently donated 13 inches of her hair to the Locks of Love program in Lake Worth, Fla. More information about this program is available online at www.locksoflove.org.

Mark Sikorski (B’87), Saginaw, Mich., was recently promoted by Chicago-based CCH Inc., a WoltersKluwer company, to its national tax and accounting team.

Mary Blackmer (AH’88), Cadillac, Mich. was recently recognized by the Cadillac Chamber of Commerce with its Spirit of Community Award.

Richard Karns (AH’88), Reed City, Mich., was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award by Reed City Area Public Schools.

Craig Pullen (T’89), Cadillac, Mich., was recently named vice president of Wade-Trim.

Ronald Smolen (P’89), Whitehall, Mich., recently accepted a position with GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical as a senior regional medical scientist in cardiovascular/metabolic for the State of Michigan.

Carl Stites, Jr. (O’89), Rockford, Mich., owns Stites Family Eye Care in Rockford.

The 1990s
Bruce Koch, Jr. (EHS’90), Petoskey, Mich., was recently appointed to a teaching position at Petoskey High School.

Charles McEwen (AS’90), Kentwood, Mich., was recently appointed head coach of the Grand Rapids Rampage football team.

Bradley Pinkerton (B’90), Clermont, Fla., recently accepted a promotion to classified contract sales representative with the Orlando Sentinel. He has been with the company since January 2003.

Michael Stuart (B’90), Reese, Mich., was recently appointed casualty supervisor for the claims department of Frankenmuth Insurance Company.

Clinton Abbott (EHS’92), Newaygo, Mich., graduated from Grace Bible College in 1993 and is now the pastor for the Newaygo New Community Church. He and his wife, Michelle, will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary this December.

Daniel Forbes (B’92), Philadelphia, Penn., was recently promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Philadelphia Fire Department.

Stacey Patulski (AH’92), Fountain, Mich., recently was the distinguished alumni speaker at West Shore Community College Student Awards Program.

Michelle Peterson (EHS’92), Darien, Ill., received the Elmhurst College Administrative and Staff Excellence Award on May 27, 2004. Peterson serves as crime prevention officer at Elmhurst College and assumed the role of director of campus security when her supervisor was called to active duty in the U.S. Army in 2003.

Fred Russell (T’92), Muskegon, Mich., wed Tamera Anderson, also of Muskegon.

Todd Alexander (B’93), and Stacey (Woods) Alexander (AS’94), welcomed a new baby, Emilie Rose, who joined big brother, Spencer Ryan.

Cindy Bosley (AH’93), Ithaca, Mich., was recently named to the board of directors of Firstbank-Alma.

Thomas C. Dowling (P’93), Baltimore, Md., assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, was voted the 2003-04 Teacher of the Year by his faculty colleagues.

Thomas Norfleet (O’94), Kawkawlin, Mich., and his wife, Janel (Couture) (AS’92) also an optometrist, own Your Eye Specialist, PLC (EYES) with locations in Standish and Bay City.

Derek Cavin (T’95) and his wife Chanda (LeCureux ) (T’96), Murphy, Texas, announce the birth of their first child, Jeanette Rose.

Peter Dwan (B’95), Bay City, Mich., wed Heather Bivins (B’94) of Saginaw, Mich.

Michelle (Scarsella) McGroarty (B ‘95), Ovid, Mich., owns the Inspiration Station scrapbooking supplies store in Ovid.

Carrie Zollner (P’95), Rochester Hills, Mich., married Jason Hansen, also of Rochester Hills.

Daniel Adams (EHS’96), Wyoming, Mich., was recently promoted to the rank of detective in the Grand Rapids Police Department. He and his wife, Jill (Jordan), a Big Rapids native, have a 2-year-old son, Zachary Louis. They reside in Wyoming.

Jeffrey Hendricks (P’96), Linden, Mich., and his wife Lori own Linden Family Pharmacy, which opened on April 1, 2004.

Chad Lodenstein (T’96), Hudsonville, Mich., is an instructor in the automotive program at Grand Rapids Community College.

Angela Prater (EHS’96), Battle Creek, Mich., recently published her first article in the Journal of Intergroup Relations entitled “Publishing the N-word in a Student Newspaper: A Dialogue on Racial, Ethical and Educational Issues.”

Timothy Judkins (T’97), Stevensville, Mich., married Alyssa Whitt, also of Stevensville.

Angela (Francis) Scripter (AH’97), Owosso, Mich., and husband Randy welcomed the birth of Alayna Kaitlin in August. She joins big brother Reed.

Jennifer Wilbanks (P’97), Novi, Mich., welcomed the birth of son Alexander, who joins sister Abby.

Michelle Cronin (B’98), Mason, Mich., wed Matthew Himebaugh of Grand Ledge, Mich.

Timothy Murdock (T’98), Tecumseh, Mich., recently was promoted to associate at Hobbs+Black Associates of Ann Arbor.

Mark Quarto (EHS’98), Sterling Heights, Mich., received his doctoral degree in education from Nova Southeastern University in July 2003. Mark serves as manager for General Motors Corporation Hybrid Powertrain Systems Service Engineering.

Cristy Sova (B’98), Saginaw, Mich., wed John Davis of Midland.

Jared Wilson (AH’98), Mattawan, Mich., graduated in August of 2003 with a master’s of science in medicine from Western Michigan University. He joined Vascular Health Center P.C. in Battle Creek as a physician’s assistant. He and his wife, Carrie, welcomed baby Sidney in May 2004.

Jill (Suida) Castle (P’99), Harbor Beach., Mich., and husband William celebrated the birth of their first child, Alex Michael, in December 2003. Castle is a staff pharmacist at Wal-Mart in Bad Axe, Mich.

Sherri Deike (AH’99), Richland, Mich., married Gabriel Alvey of Sturgis.

Bethany (Nickerson) Dietzel (B’99), wed Eric Dietzel (B’00). They recently built a new home, and Nickerson-Dietzel is working on starting a home day care.

Roxanne Miesch (AH’99), Whitehall, Mich., married Patrick Lytle, also of Whitehall.

Becky Patzer (AH’99), Alpena, Mich. married Timothy Nunneley, also of Alpena.

Joel and Kelli Richardson (EHS’99), Cassopolis, Mich., welcomed their second son, Logan Chase Richardson, on July 20, 2004. Logan Chase’s older brother, Ethan, is closing in on three years old.

Brian Williams (AHS’99), Colorado Springs, Colo., serving with the United States Air Force, has been assigned to the Air Force Academy. He and his wife Jessica, and children Braeden and Emma, moved in September.

The 2000s
Carey Bird (AH’00), Belleville, Mich., wed Douglas Blair of Brownstown, Mich.

Cynthia (Jasman) Helm (B’00), Williamston, Mich., has been named account coordinator for Publicom, Inc., a full-service marketing communications firm located in East Lansing.

Angela Hodge (E’00), Tucson, Ariz., was named Medical Department Activity Soldier of the Year for her exemplary duty performance and other notable accomplishments as an army specialist. She is an animal care specialist assigned to Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Robert Kozak, (B’00), Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada, wed Dianna VanBuren (EHS’01) of Prudenville, Mich.

Aaron Waltz (B’00), Southfield, Mich., was recently appointed women’s golf coach at Tri-State University in Angola, Ind.

Kathryn Campbell (EHS’01), Luther, Mich., wed Douglas Jones of Grosse Isle.

Sarah Chappel (AH’01), Ludington, Mich., wed Noah Laird, also of Ludington.

Jamie Gilde (AH’01), Grand Rapids, Mich., wed Mark Klimp of Kalamazoo, Mich.

Jonathan Snow (T’01), Grand Haven, Mich. wed Jennifer Foose, also of Grand Haven.

Michael Bullis (B’02), Royal Oak, Mich., recently joined Community Financial in Gaylord as vice president of investment and insurance.

Amanda Kane (EHS’02), Aurora, Ill., is a private investigator for Omega Insurance Services of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Stacey Fletcher (AH’02), Yale, Mich., wed Michael Steinhoff, also of Yale, and is working as a dental hygienist in Grand Rapids.

Eryn Sopjes (AH’02), Kalamazoo, Mich., recently wed Jeffrey Glerum, also of Kalamazoo.

Justin Hildebrand (T’03), Vicksburg, Mich., wed April-lin Standifer of Scotts.

C hristopher Keefer (T’03), Pittsburgh, Penn, wed Katherine Shea (AH’03) of Chicago on June 19, 2004.

Todd Riker (O’03), Muskegon, Mich., opened Cornerstone Optometry in Norton Shores in November 2003.

Joshua VanDyke (T’03), Scotts, Mich., wed Kelli Meyer of Kalamazoo.

Matthew Demny (EHS’04), Traverse City, Mich., was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. He is a member of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Joshua Kessler (T’04), Midland, Mich., married Michelle Rehman (AH’03), Auburn, Mich., they now reside in Sterling Heights, Mich.

James McEwen (T’04), Lachine, Mich., wed Jessica Gallagher of Alpena.

Justin Pyle (T’04), Zeeland, Mich. recently joined GMB Architects-Engineers as a mechanical design engineer.

Khiela Shoobridge (T’04), Traverse City, Mich., wed Erickson Alpers, also of Traverse City.

Anthony Woycehoski (EHS’04), Clio, Mich., wed Katie Doimer, also of Clio.