Class Notes

Greetings, Class of 1991! It was great to see so many of you in June at our 25th reunion. Among many other activities, highlights from the weekend included the Friday night class party, the picnic on campus, campus tours, trolley rides to Carl’s, wine and beer tasting, and a fantastic night of music put on by the Rabble Rousers. Their musical talent is just as epic today as it was twenty-five years ago. It was fun to catch up with so many people in person, visit former dorm rooms, and reminisce about all the fun we had during our time at MWC. Our class was well-represented.

I’ve received a few updates in recent months. In mid-May, Billy Germelman and many other Class of ’91 Westmoreland Hall residents gathered with other classmates to celebrate the life of Jenny Collins ’92, who passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Wynn Yarbrough delivered a heartfelt eulogy. Billy has been busy working with Cetan Corp as a Solutions Delivery Project Manager. In April, he became a grandfather to Bronson Bandy, who lives in Massaponax with his mom and dad. Billy’s youngest son Andrew graduated with honors from Handley High School in Winchester in May and will attend VCU to study nursing.

In April, Sandra Richardson Coombs attended the wedding of her former roommate, Lyn Cizek, who married Tim Crist in Richmond. Cynthia Dyche Coray, Kelli Miller Slunt, and Jonathan Stutzman ’89 were also in attendance.

After nearly eight years in Canada, Nicole LaPorte Parker, with husband Carl and 11-year-old twins Chase and Emma, recently returned to the United States and settled in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.  They thoroughly enjoyed their time in Ontario, but are happy to be back in America.

Bob Buchanan retired from the Civil Service as the Chief Information Officer of the U.S. Secret Service, retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Lieutenant Commander, and is currently running for U.S. President. Bob’s website can be reviewed at www.whatsmyoption.com.

Please keep in touch. It is always wonderful to hear from you! Reminder: Print updates may be edited by the alumni office due to space limitations; however, the unedited version is available online.

Since my last submission a lot has happened. In February, my husband Tom and I moved from Johns Creek, Georgia, to Mobile, Alabama, where Tom is working as the Lead Roadway Designer on the I-10 Mobile River Bridge Project, which will result in the tallest suspension bridge of its kind in the country. I am responsible for the Newcomers Column, a new feature on the Visit Mobile website. This is my first time writing a blog, and I enjoy exploring my new city, engaging in the Gulf Coast culture, and sharing my experiences online.

Our move has been tinged with sadness. After a brief illness, my grandfather passed away just before Father’s Day. Then our cats Leo and Luna became very sick. They were diagnosed with liver and pancreatic failure and were treated aggressively to turn their health around. Luna rebounded quickly and is doing well, but Leo did not recover, and we had to euthanize him. Our loss is heartbreaking because he was a part of our family for 15 years.

We discovered that our house rental was not approved by our neighborhood’s HOA, so as I write this, we’re packing to move into Midtown Mobile. Our new home is very close to museums, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, city parks, etc. We hope our location will lead to the fun, active lifestyle we are looking for. We have high hopes that things will be better and brighter in our future. I’m looking forward to seeking out alumni in the area, heading to the nearby beaches, and taking weekend trips to fun places like Biloxi, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

Please get in touch with me and let me know what’s on your horizon!

Tim Brown ’95 says that the men’s rugby club has seen significant contributions from 65 different alums this year. Walter Martin ’89 has been hugely helpful by traveling to away games and helping students find jobs. John Jay Radshaw ’93 helped organize alums to raise funds for the team. Adrian Martinez ’13 helped organize training camps and help players find jobs during the summer. Jerry Podorski ’00 has gone on tour with the club twice, helped with games and weekend events, and had numerous students intern for him at the DEA. Amy Lamarca helped organize the parents group, and her son Andrew, a rising sophomore, is one of the best players. Kris Kabza ’91 has coached the women’s team for over 20 years, winning a national championship a couple years ago. Tim raised over $200,000 the last eight years for rec sports and now varsity sports. Tim coached the team solo for three years and served as director of rugby for eight years. This year, Tim recruited 24 students directly from their high schools and six foreign students from Argentina, Scotland, and England. The men move up to DI rugby this year, and this would not be possible without alumni support and contributions.

Susan Rankin has been working for Fairfax County Public Schools for more than 20 years. After receiving her Masters of Library Science from Catholic University, she switched from teaching elementary school to being a school librarian. She’s been a librarian for eight years at Flint Hill Elementary School in Vienna, Virginia. She lives in Herndon, Virginia, with her husband, Chip Smith, and their sons Cameron (17) and Clayton (8).

Melissa E. Brugh met Myrna White and found out that they know some of the same people but never met until the hospital where Myrna works (Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville) began the process of integrating with Melissa’s employer (Sentara). Melissa will celebrate 14 years with her company in July. She works in Sentara’s IT department, which is based out of Virginia Beach.

Kate Gordon Crossman and her husband Matt have been married for 24 years. Kate worked at The Smithsonian Institution Archives and the Corcoran Gallery of Art before deciding to be a stay at home mom. Kate and Matt’s children have grown. William Henry is a sophomore at the College of William and Mary, Elle is a senior in high school, and Claire is wrapping up elementary school this year. They live in Lexington, Virginia, where Matt is the Supervisor of Financial and School Services for Rockbridge County Public Schools. Kate is now the Director of Online Communications and Branding for Virginia Military Institute. Kate’s roommate at Mary Wash was Carol Holsinger, and their friends included Gil Walker and Kevin Walker.

Amy Morgen Liebert has been married to Karl Liebert ’93 for 22 years. Their son, Kal, will be a junior at Old Dominion University, and their daughter, Morgen, will be a junior in high school. They live in Burke, Virginia. Karl works for Boeing, and Amy is an office manager for a chiropractic office in Arlington. They try to get together with Edna Coste Borchetta, Suzy Cole Ferger, Jennifer Peterson Riggle ’93, and Amy Larsen DeCarlo ’93 a few times a year.

Mike “Gunner” Nelson’s daughter Savannah’s travel softball team won the USSSA 12U Virginia State Championship in June 2016.  Savannah is a rising eighth grader and his eldest daughter, Kaitlyn, is a rising senior at Dominion High School.  Kaitlyn is visiting and considering different colleges and visited the University of Mary Washington as one of her choices! For several years, Jeff Miers ’91 and Mike have worked together at Copper River Information Technology leading technology engagements with their customers.

Suzy Cole Ferger lives in Odenton, Maryland, with her husband Kevin and two sons, Cole (10, just finishing fourth grade) and Rory (seven, just finishing first grade). She works as a program manager for a federal government contractor in downtown Washington, D.C. She spends time with the same people as Amy Morgen Liebert.

William Rice ’90 was good friends with Jenny Collins Dolan, who passed away on April 17 after being diagnosed with cancer five years ago. There was a beautiful service held at Leesburg Presbyterian Church on May 7. During the service, classmate Arty Vogt read a reflective Psalm, classmate Wynne Yarbrough shared his own special creation of a classic once-upon-a-time fairy tale centered around “Jenny Wren,” her family and friends joined in an uplifting Time of Remembrance, and a lady named Judy McHenry sang a spectacular version of the 1929 bittersweet hymn “I’ll Fly Away.” The service, the reception that followed, and all of the attendees (including a number of MWC grads) were a testament to the love Jenny shared and friendships she valued, with some of those MWC connections being the most special to her.

Tevin Chaney really enjoyed the 25th Reunion. He met many alums, including Anne Thompson Mendez ’91, Barbara Elwell Carmichael ’91, Rachel Schmeller Crout (and her husband, Eric), Libby Johnston Ross and Scott Ross, Billy Germelman ’91, Luke Peterschmidt ’91, Shannon Eadie Niemeyer ’91, Denise Mickelson Campbell ’91, Danielle Masters Szenas ’91, Mark Mesterhazy ’91, and Amy Rose LaPierre ’91 on campus in Ball Circle for lunch. After the class picture, Tevin and several others went to the Bookstore, where they met us with Todd Stayin and his wife, Laura, Julie Lail, Mary Ryan Cox, and others. Everyone commented on not buying any UMW items, only items with MWC on them. They then toured the campus and saw the new buildings and renovations. The new Student Center looked amazing, as did Mason and Randolph (AC and everything)! They then took the trolley to Carl’s and saw Megan Donnelly ’91 and several other people enjoying ice cream. That afternoon, Rene Rios joined the group, but Rob Hager was unable to leave Richmond but promised to come up next time. A large group walked to Sammy T’s for dinner (which was great, as always) and then went to the Rabble Rousers show, which, as always, did not disappoint. Tevin met up with Steve Lee and Lindsay Mast Lee ’93, Steve Wohleking ’91, Tammy Leigh Tucker ’91, Mike Antonio, Evan Stiles ’91, Lisa Sellers Shepheard ’91, and the Rabble Rouser guys. He was able to catch up with Steve Lee, his roomie at MWC, and realized it had been far too long.

Jon and Tama Welch Press are still living in the Chicago suburbs with their two daughters and five pets. Their oldest is an EMT and is working towards an ICU nursing career; their youngest is a senior in high school who loves theater and wants to be a chemist. Jon has worked for a privately held software company called InvestorTools for the past 10 years. He is a mental health advocate, leading a group called Fresh Hope and blogging for BPHope.com.  He’s had the chance to participate in national studies and conferences to bring a fresh voice to the mental health world!

Tama has worked in the technology division of SunTrust Bank for 21 years (14 of them from home). Her greater passion is leading retreats, speaking at her church, and working towards a seminary degree. She also recently started blogging about faith and life challenges. If you’re ever out in their area they’d love to catch up!

Jennifer Cochran Page lives and works in Northern Virginia and plans to visited Mary Washington  to celebrate the induction of the ’92-’93 women’s soccer team into the Athletic Hall of Fame.

In October 2015, Kathy Opiela King joined Folio Investing as Chief Communications Officer. In May she attended my stepson’s graduation from VA Tech. His graduating class (which was engineering) was nearly twice as large as the entire 1993 graduating class!

Teresa Duncan was named to the Top Leaders in Dental Consulting list for the second year in a row. Her teenage son achieved the rank of Junior Master Scuba Diver this year; the family hopes to be able to find the time to explore more warm water!

Ngozi Obi is a practicing pharmacist in Virginia and also is a published author. She recently released her third book, Love’s Legacy. When she is not working as a pharmacist or writing, she enjoys shopping, going to the spa, and reading.

Stacey Renee Bailey James recently published her second book, Successful Leadership Principles: Common Sense Advice for Every Stage of Your Career.

Cheryl Roberts Heuser caught up with several MWC alumni recently. Cheryl had dinner in Tampa with Dr. Felicia Baxter.  They had a great time catching up over a huge wagyu ribeye steak and martinis! Cheryl visited with Amy Cole in Denver. Amy is an attorney with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and stays active running, playing the bassoon, and signing in a choral group.

Melissa Czarnecki ’94 is training for Ironman Maryland which is in Cambridge, Maryland, on October 1.  She welcomes anyone living in the area to come out and cheer her on!

Shannon M. Kasley is a partner at King & Spalding, an international law firm with 900 lawyers in 18 offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Shannon splits much of his time between the D.C. and San Francisco offices, handling a mix of civil and criminal matters for a large oil and gas client. Shannon and his family live on a 10-acre farm about 30 miles north of D.C., where his wife Amy and their two girls (ages 9 and 12) keep their five horses (and Shannon mows, a lot). Shannon, Sean Mahoney, Kevin Ahearn, and Allen “Al” Wolstenholme continue a long-standing tradition of getting together for an annual RV trip to Penn State for a football game, and planning is already underway for this year’s game against Maryland.

Best wishes to Renae Barnes, who married Mary Vanderklok on June 1. Renae, Mary, and their 12-year-old, Lukas, are ecstatic. After the wedding, the happy couple honeymooned on Isla Mujeres.

Jason Tootell and his wife, Rhodaline, welcomed Maddox Avery Tootell in December 2015. Jason, Rhodaline, and their four children live in Loudoun County Virginia.

Mai T. Trinh was the keynote speaker for the annual Innovation Health Appreciation Luncheon for HR Executives. Mai spoke on Mindfulness & Relaxation and how it boosts workplace productivity.

Sarah Meyerwitz Meytin was grateful for the hospitality extended to her by Dan and Stephanie O’Connor Shockley when she visited NYC for a conference in May. A trip to New York is a great excuse to catch up with her good friends! Sarah is also happy to report that she has new job, as the director of a preschool in Olney, Maryland.

Kira Stchur Villarreal and her husband, Eddie, bought a home in San Antonio. My husband and I had the opportunity to visit them and their Great Dane, Gershwin, for a housewarming in April. We enjoyed time with our friends, especially swimming in their Garden of Eden-like backyard. I also had the opportunity to connect with Joselle Poblette Duncan ’98 when I was visiting San Francisco for a business trip. It is always fantastic to see my old residents and share memories. Hoping to share memories with many of you in June for our *gasp* 20th reunion.

Lee Ann Reaser welcomed her son, Peyton Reaser, in April 2016. Lee Ann still lives in Fredericksburg and works for our alma mater in the Advancement Office.

Matthew Jondrow is working as the Special Projects Development Team Lead with a NASA contractor in Hampton, Virginia. They focus on programming systems that process satellite data for the international community along with the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).  He also is involved with work related to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and iPhone application programming.

Marty Molloy was running for State Senate in Pennsylvania at the time of publication. A native of Berwyn, Chester County, Marty lives in Wallingford and is a non-profit executive who has served as a Director at YouthBuild for six years, overseeing the development of new vocational training and building institutional partnerships that have become a national model. Prior to his time at YouthBuild, Marty was CEO of Greater Philadelphia Cares, a clearinghouse that assists other non-profit organizations throughout the region make a greater impact on the communities they serve. Having taken over at a time of great financial turmoil, Marty turned Philadelphia Cares around and orchestrated a successful merger with the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and co-founded the Community Action Center. In addition, he’s taught for many years at Chestnut Hill College. Marty and his family are long-time residents of Nether Providence.

From Marty: “As a political science major at Mary Washington, I remember spending countless hours in Monroe Hall being inspired and challenged about the difference I could make in the world. My advisor, Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, especially inspired me because of the work he had done as a young man with Ralph Nader. Two memories stick out most clearly for me—one was a class where I was part of a meaningful argument about whether to restrict voter registration and election day voting or to open it up wide and far. Another memory is more personal as I recall sitting in Dr. Farnsworth’s office having a frank discussion on how I could get involved in urban education; he is the man who set me quite concretely on the path I’ve been on ever since. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

For more information about Marty, please visit www.marty4pa.com, like his Facebook page at Facebook.com/Marty4PA, and follow Marty’s campaign on Twitter @Marty4PA.