Class Notes

William Backus is the author of a recently published title from Savas Beatie, A Want of Vigilance: The Bristoe Station Campaign, October 9-19, 1863.

In April 2016, Jonathan Wigginton and Erin Cox ’11 were married in Cleveland, Ohio. Jonathan proposed to Erin in Monroe Hall in 2014, where the two first met in early 2009 for the annual European Capitals Tour orientation. The couple was so thankful to be surrounded by UMW classmates as they said “I do.”

Matthew Brooks and Michelle Esch-Brooks, Business and Marketing Manager for UMW Residence Life, welcomed their first child, daughter Teresa Ann, on July 30, 2015. She was born at 3:26 p.m. and weighed six lbs., 10 oz., and was 18.75 inches long.

Laura Summers Maher married John Patrick Maher, III on May 21, 2016. John is an alumnae of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business and is employed by Altria as an Information Systems specialist. The couple resides in Chesterfield, Virginia.

James and Kelly Garman were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first (surprise gender!) child in August 2016.

Rebecca Groman married Charles Griffin on June 25, 2016 and they are expecting their first child together in September.

Sarah Payne Belardi married Matthew Belardi in April of 2016. They currently reside in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sadly, Genine Catherine Geissler passed away on July 27, 2016.

Fitz Maro was named by Advertising Age magazine as one of 11 global “Creatives You Should Know.” His story can be found at http://bit.ly/1S3O87n.

Rachael Wonderlin lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has a Master’s in Gerontology and works as the Director of Memory Care at a senior living community in Pittsburgh. Rachael’s book, When Someone You Know Is Living in a Dementia Care Community, will be available at the UMW Bookstore this fall!

Courtney Melchione graduated this May with her doctorate of optometry and will be working for a short time in Winchester, Virginia, before moving to Guatemala to start a two-year program working in a community health clinic.

Matthew DeMarr ’10 and Chrissy DeMarr would like to announce the birth of their second child, a daughter, Mary Anna Lynne DeMarr, named after the wonderful place where her parents met.

Elizabeth Crowe completed her Masters of Education from George Mason University this May and has received a Fulbright grant to teach English in Uruguay from March 2017 to November of 2017. Until then, Elizabeth will be teaching English in Chile from August to November.

From Amanda: Paola Alexandra Maldonado-Torres recently graduated and received a degree of Juris Doctor from the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law on May 7, 2016. She also earned the Carrico Center Pro Bono Certificate for completion of over 300 hours of pro bono legal work.

Christian Vega is a third-year law student at the University of Richmond School of Law. He is also a summer clerk in Fairfax, Virginia, for Surovell Isaacs Petersen & Levy, PLC.

Shelby Sanders is graduating with an M.S. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Alberta on June 14.

I was married on October 10, 2015 to William H. McVicker, III. The bridal party included Kat Dickinson ’12 and Emily Sherman ’14, and guests included Jen Crystle, Kate Johnson, and Ashley Nixon ’12.