Class Notes

Jay Comfort and wife Lara welcomed daughter Zoe Ilsa Stewart Comfort in June 2011. Zoe’s brother, Grayson, is 8. Jay is director of culinary operations for Lebanese Taverna Enterprise. He has a consulting group, InFOOD Partners, and is the proprietor of Iron Horse Restaurant in Ashland, Va.

Greg Wassenberg shared the news of the passing of his wife, Amy Lynn Cassady Wassenberg. Amy lost her second battle with cancer on Sept. 7, 2012.

Ben Kramer received a doctorate in community college leadership from Old Dominion University last May. Son Charles graduated from high school and left for basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. Daughter Candace is a sophomore at Christiansburg High. Ben and wife Sherry celebrated their 19th anniversary.

Charles “Charlie” Gullo and wife Yen live in Singapore with son Charlie Massimo Gullo, who turned 1 on Oct. 6. Charlie is a faculty member of the Duke- NUS Graduate Medical School and assists a new medical school in Singapore with team-based learning. Charlie keeps in contact with Bill Donovan, Mark Gilliat, Kelli Miller and others.

Mason “Bill” Donovan lives in New Hampshire. He’s a managing partner of the Dagoba Group and co-authored The Inclusion Dividend: Why Investing in Diversity & Inclusion Pays Off (Bibliomotion 2013).

Nicole LaPorte Parker and family live in Grimsby, Ontario, where they have become permanent residents on the way to dual citizenship. Children Chase and Emma are in second grade.

Tom and I have traveled quite a bit this year, but a highlight was to my sister’s October wedding in Lexington, Va., where we had married 13 years earlier.

In November I attended the UMW Alumni Relations reception and chatted with Cindy Snyder ’75, Suzy Passarello Quenzer ’74, Cynthia Williamson ’81, Mary Smith Judd ’85, Stephen Gregg ’08, and Donna Webber ’08.

Edna Coste Borchetta, husband Gene, son Christian, and daughter Carriella lost power for a week during Superstorm Sandy, but helped fill a truck with supplies for harder-hit storm victims in Staten Island, N.Y. Edna wrote that she planned a visit with Suzy Cole Ferger, Amy Morgen Liebert, Jennifer Peterson Riggle ’93, Amy Larsen DeCarlo ’94, and Nicole Rich Leona, who transferred from MWC in ’91.

Christine Harrison Grant is director of major gifts for Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina, which covers 49 counties. In June, she earned the certified fundraising executive designation. She’s on the board of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Tevin Chaney is wrapping up his graduate degree in geospatial information sciences. Mary Ann McDonald ’91 is moving back to Virginia from Texas so she and Tevin can be closer and to help her change careers from corporate sales to nonprofit fundraising. Tevin got together with Anne Thompson Mendez, Libby Johnston Ross, Rene Rios ’91, and others. Rene (married to Sonya Snider Rios ’91) works at XM Sirius Satellite Radio after many years at AOL. Mike Nelson is director of enterprise program management for Copper River Information Technologies in Chantilly.

Jarrod Anthony Epps lives in Prague. Jarrod and his wife welcomed twin boys in September. Jarrod’s website just got its UK gambling license.

Lisa Meadows Foulds ’91, husband Eric Foulds ’89, and children Billy, 14, and Grace, 11, live in Richmond, Va. Lisa runs a day care in their home. Eric works from home for the state.

Brady Chapman and others met in Fredericksburg in October for Brian Bodson’s wedding. Jay McNamara, Drew White, Blake Parker, Scott and Libby Johnston Ross, Michelle Lesko Parker ’91, Mike Smith ’91, and Mannin Dodd were there. They ran into Eric Mink at a downtown bar.

David Whitaker was to be sworn in as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives on Jan. 14. He has been elected assistant minority whip.

Elizabeth Jean Eastwood Mendez died Oct. 11, 2012. Elizabeth attended Mary Washington College with the Class of ’91 and received her bachelor’s degree from George Mason University. Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Juan Carlos Mendez of Arlington, Va., her parents, Basil and Barbara Eastwood of Round Hill, Va., and a brother.

Heidi Ferrell Fogell and husband Mark welcomed a son, Evan Daniel, in October. Dave DiMatteo and wife Tiffany also have an October baby, Emory Carol. Dave is adamant that Emory will not be permitted to attend UMW, lest she meet guys like Matt Ladenheim, Ben Sutton ’95, or Dave Henderson. After a move from Arlington, Va., to Dallas, Texas, Amy Wood Thompson and husband Jordan welcomed their third son, Charlie, in August. His big brothers are Eli, 5, and Isaac, 3. Before Charlie’s birth, Amy reunited with Joanna Osborne, Jessica Fulmer Chafin, Lauren Creamer Soponis, and Jodi Winship in Charlotte, N.C. Lauren and husband Justin celebrated son Riley’s first birthday in November.

Derek Bottcher was at Goldman Sachs in New York on business and ran into Jamie Pizzorno in an elevator lobby on the 14th floor. Jamie is an executive director with Goldman Sachs in London. He is back in the U.S. every six weeks and is married to Alessandro Lunetta. Derek married Alice Yang in October at the Hillsborough Vineyards and Winery in Virginia. They honeymooned in Italy.

My family and I got together at the beach last summer with Carrie Columbia Campbell, husband Jeff Campbell ’97, and their children. Carrie is mom to Cate, 8; Mason, 7; and Emma, 4. Jeff is pastor of Wayne United Methodist Church in New Jersey. My husband, Mark, and I heard him lead a service about a year ago. I celebrated my seventh year with global human resources at Bank of America. Our son, Connor, is 7 and in second grade.

Sye Smith and his wife, Pam, live in Manassas, Va., with their daughter. Sye is a corporate recruiter for Sustek Inc. in Fort Belvoir. Corrie Henson Kelly is a full-time doctoral student at U.Va. She and husband Brendan ’95 are parents of Beth, 13, and Jack, 10. Jen Walker Mullins lives in Warrenton, Va., and is completing a Ph.D. at George Mason University. She and husband Brett welcomed son Lincoln in January. Lincoln’s big sisters are Tatum, 6, and Campbell, 4. Wendy Young ’97 lives in Staunton, Va., and is working part time on her doctorate while continuing her career at James Madison University.

Scott Wagner holds master’s and doctoral degrees in physical therapy and has a practice in McLean, Va. He and wife Katrina have a daughter, 6, and a son, 5. The Wagners live in Falls Church. Brenna Hall Hessler works part time at Sibley Hospital in D.C. as the clinical nurse educator for women’s and infants’ services, and teaches childbirth education classes once a month through Inova Healthsource. Brenna is working on her master’s in nursing. She and husband Jody have sons ages 10, 8, and 2, and a daughter, 6. Lisa Ackerman McCrohan works as the wellness counselor for faculty and staff at Georgetown University, maintains a private practice, teaches yoga and mindfulness, and has two children. Lisa Errickson Henry and husband Kevin moved back to Fredericksburg, and Lisa is director of marketing and Health Link for Mary Washington Healthcare. They have three children. Erika Nussen Johnson and her husband live in Cary, N.C., with sons Kyle, 8, and Lucas, 6. Erika is the lead pelvic health physical therapist at a hospital in the UNC system and has been in health care for 14 years.

Devin Robinson and wife Elizabeth live in Midlothian, Va. They’re parents of twins Rachel and Zachary, 11, and Benjamin, 8 months. Devin directs a physical therapy clinic for an orthopedic practice. Tracy King Barrett is in Fairfax, Va., and after 11 years as an HIV clinical research nurse, she joined the family business, real estate. She and husband Eric have two sons, Ryan, 8, and Josh, 5. Also in Northern Virginia, Bic Nguyen DeCaro has been in the real estate business for 12 years and is on Zillow’s agent advisory board. She and her husband have a daughter, 7, and a son, 5.

You may recall the devastating fire that took Eileen Heffern Hairel’s home over a year ago. Eileen, her husband, and their toddler son planned to celebrate Thanksgiving in their newly rebuilt home. Eileen has expressed thanks for an outpouring of support from her Mary Washington classmates. Kristen Dowdy Hart recently moved to Richmond, Va., and works for the Virginia United Methodist Conference. Barbara Pando-Behnke continues her career with Catholic Relief Services, as a learning adviser in human resources. She lives in College Park, Md., with husband Chris and their boys, Evan, 5, and Alexander, 2. Barbara recently completed certification as an evidence-based coach from Fielding Graduate University and is setting up a private practice.

Dave Rushford grew a mustache for “Movember” and said he hoped it would not hurt his social life. Len Ornstein ’94 is a dedicated CrossFitter. He and his family live in Arizona, where Len is pursuing national board teaching certification. Rick Oppedisano was hired four years ago by a venture capital group looking to turn a business around. He and two colleagues took the business from the red to being sold at a premium to an industry leader. The deal was scheduled to close in December, on his twin daughters’ fourth birthday. Rob Kirkpatrick and wife Kristin live in Fredericksburg with sons Aaron, 5, and Reid, 2. Rob continues his career at NSWC Dahlgren, started before his Mary Washington graduation.

Also in Fredericksburg are Janel Skipwith Donohue and husband Michael Donohue ’98. For seven years, Michael has run Play It Again Sports in Eagle Village. Janel is president of the Rappahannock United Way. Their children are Alexis, 10, and Evan, 7. Rebecca Jones Soto lives in Reston, Va., with husband Eddie and sons Cameron, 4, and Connor, 2. Rebecca is a program manager of geospatial programs. In Manassas, Va., Angela Tweedy Gladwell and husband Jerry have two kids, Alice, 9, and Scott, 8. Angie is director of environmental planning and historic preservation for FEMA. Karen Frese Coyle has been with JPMorgan for 13 years, spending the first three in Glasgow, Scotland. She and her husband moved back to the states in 2002 and call Sandy Hook, N.J., home. Daughter Katie is 9 and son Patrick is 6.

Julie Newell Leslie recently took two trips to Germany. Jason Terril moved back to Virginia after a three-year assignment in Hawaii. On his way back he visited Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, and Portugal. Patrick Lohmeyer, Suzette McLoone Lohmeyer, and their children, ages 7 and 5, live in Tbilisi, Georgia. Patrick heads a USAID development project, and Suzette owns a yoga studio.

Robin Kozic married Christopher McCann on Sept. 29. Alumni attending were MJ 

New England Home Magazine named John Day ’97 one of New England’s top five architects and designers under 40.5 4

Figel Day, Katie O’Leary Preston, Ryan Preston, Amy Mannion, Ali McEvoy Rehm, and Peter Heately.

Tara Bahr Brandt, Kimberly Wenzel Lennox, and Molly Chisholm Payne ran the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Half Marathon together in October. Tara and husband Ben welcomed their second son, Alexander, in May, joining big brother Jackson, 3. Kimberly and husband John are the parents of Patrick, 7; Ryan, 5; and Katy, 18 months. Molly and husband Neil have four children, Andrew, Timothy, Angela, and James.

Kurt Jensen wrapped up his postdoctoral research at the University of Florida and is an adjunct professor of natural sciences at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla. John Day was recognized as one of New England’s top five architects and designers under 40 by New England Home Magazine. JD received the award at a gala in Boston on Sept. 13, and Malcolm McKay and wife Sonya flew in from D.C. to attend. JD is design director and a principal at LDa Architecture and Interiors in Cambridge, Mass.

Marcie Pierson Brandriff lost her dad in January to cancer. She and husband Kevin welcomed daughter Lily Georgia in July. Lily didn’t get to meet her grandfather, but her middle name honors him.

Alyson Andrews Ramsey is director of development at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, Jefferson’s retreat home in Bedford County, Va. She and her husband have three daughters. Jen Carter Tsimpris and her husband recently celebrated son John’s first birthday. Jen is social services manager at Cedarfield, a continuing care community in Henrico County, Va. Josh Bacigalupi also celebrated a son’s first birthday. John is an elementary school assistant principal in Dryden, N.Y.

Susan Foster Lane and husband Eric Lane still live in Charlottesville, Va., with son Parker, a second-grader. Eric is a systems coordinator for State Farm Insurance, and Susan is clinical coordinator for the Mary D. Ainsworth Psychological Clinic at the University of Virginia. Jenine Zimmers started Take the Page, a business selling personalized children’s books. Wes Heuvel lives in New Jersey and works for diabetes-care company Novo Nordisk. He participated in a diabetes run at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin while there for a conference, then traveled in Munich, Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Caitlin Jenkins Losh wrote from California to update us on the birth of her daughter, Edith Louise Jenkins Losh. Sara Leedom is studying for an MBA at the University of Oxford. She’s doing very British things like rowing for her college and drinking gallons of tea.

By the time you read this, I will have married in Atlanta, Ga., with Kristin Ruhl Bergstrom as my matron of honor.

In August, Kristin attended the wedding of nephew Stephen Clendenin ’11 to Nikkoahk Chitty ’12. In July, Courtney Crabill Rossi will move to Frankfurt, Germany, with husband Pete and their children, Emma and Jack. Brian Straight will complete his diplomatic tour in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in April, then head to his next assignment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He recently took a backpacking trip to Bolivia. Caroline Stender Malone and husband John have two kids, Ellie, 5, and Connor, 2. She is a registered nurse.