2
I O
T R I U M P H E
A L B I O N
C O L L E G E
WINTER 1 9 9 9-2000
C O N T E N T S FEATURES
3 Working at the intersection of art and life 3 Artist’s profile: David Middlebrook, ’66 4 Artist’s profile: Karen Vournakis, ’66 6 Erasing the boundary between art and nature 7 Going digital
8 College receives $7-million for new building projects
Page 6
Page 33
DEPARTMENTS
10 Around Campus 12 Scoreboard 13 Albionotes 30 Alumni Association News 30 Lifetime Achievement Awards inaugurated at Hall of Fame ceremony 33 A look back at Homecoming 1999 Page 36
36 The Back Page Alumni experience ‘Liberal Arts at Work’
Cover art: Time Graffiti, sculpture by David Middlebrook, ’66 (D. Middlebrook photo); Ferguson Building (MacLachlan, Cornelius and Filoni drawing); Karro gift celebration (D. Trumpie photo). STAFF ABOUT OUR NAME Editor: Sarah Briggs Classnotes Writers: Brian Longheier, ’00, Luann Shepherd and Jake Weber Designer: Susan Carol Rowe IO TRIUMPHE (ISSN 0897-1269; USPS 268-400) is published quarterly by Office of Communications, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224. It is distributed free to alumni and friends of the College. Preferred Periodical postage has been paid at Albion, MI, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Office of Communications, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224. If you have questions about Io Triumphe, please write the editor at the address given above, call 517/ 629-0244 or send e-mail to: sbriggs@albion.edu. World Wide Web: http://www.albion.edu Albion College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age or disability, as protected by law, in all educational programs and activities, admission of students, and conditions of employment.
The unusual name for this publication comes from a yell written by members of the class of 1900. The beginning words of the yell, Io Triumphe, were probably borrowed from the poems of the Roman writer, Horace. Some phrases were taken from other college yells and others from a Greek play presented on campus during the period. In 1936, the alumni of Albion College voted to name their magazine after the yell which by then had become a College tradition. For years, Albion freshmen have learned these lines by heart: Io Triumphe! Io Triumphe! Haben Swaben rebecca le animor Whoop te whoop te sheller de-vere De-boom de ral de-i de-pa— Hooneka Henaka whack a whack A-hob dob balde bora bolde bara Con slomade hob dob Rah! Al-bi-on Rah!
Printed on recyclable paper.
I O
T R I U M P H E
Working at the intersection of art and life Editor’s note: With this edition of Io Triumphe, we begin a series of articles about alumni achievements and new campus developments in the fine arts. This issue focuses on the visual arts; future issues will deal with the literary and performing arts. We hope you enjoy this chance to savor the many ways the fine arts enrich our lives.
In addition to working in his California studio, Middlebrook is a sculptor-inresidence at Bottega Versiliese in Pietrasanta, Italy. He has made two dozen extended visits there since 1983 to construct some of his largest works. “With the assistance of Italian craftsmen,” he says, David Middlebrook’s art responds to the specific environment in “the execution of work of any scale is which it is placed and is an attempt, he says, “to illustrate man’s possible in stone, steel and bronze. The delicate and inevitable relationship to his environment and to this availability of virtually every stone in the planet.” Pictured is Pi 3.14 at Pueblo (CO) Community College. world and the technology to fabricate is Italy’s great attraction.” Though his designs clearly are contemporary, Middlebrook often finds inspiration in ancient works found on both sides of the Atlantic—he has been influenced by sources as varied as the Lascaux cave paintings in France and by Jake Weber Peru’s Machu Picchu. “I’m very interested in the history “I feel like going to the hospital only three times in 25 of human expression,” he years is not bad,” says David Middlebrook, ’66, discuss- says, “and how people have ing one unique aspect of being an artist who measures such a tremendous need to his supplies by the ton. Adds his fiancée Lita Ruble, “He make marks.” has an uncanny sense of the engineering aspect of each However, it was piece . . . but frankly, I can’t bear to watch sometimes.” Middlebrook’s other Without even seeing it, one can marvel at passion, athletics, that first Middlebrook’s work for its sheer size. One of the connected him to Albion. nation’s most successful “site artists,” he has more than He had distinguished 35 commissioned pieces to his credit. Among them: a himself in high school 19-foot-tall, 16-ton archway entrance to a two-acre athletics, playing football amphitheater at Pueblo (CO) Community College; a and basketball, and his high 7,000-square-foot marble installation in Sacramento’s school track championships Renaissance Tower (home to the California Supreme brought him to the attention Court); a three-ton stone mural for San Jose (CA) of Albion College coaches International Airport, and an in-progress 22-foot-high Cedric Dempsey, ’54, and sculpture across from Stanford University that combines Elkin “Ike” Isaac, ’48. references to Stonehenge with references to the Internet. “I wanted to play basketball Yet, “imposing” is the last word Middlebrook, an art and run track, and knew I couldn’t do both at a big professor at San Jose State University, would use to school,” says Middlebrook. describe his work. “I’m trying to make work that Dempsey, Isaac and visual arts professor Vernon connects with people,” he explains. “I challenge their Bobbitt would eventually become valued mentors, perception of things. My work always grows out of steering him through what he admits were some rough some understanding of the human condition, but I make times academically. His artistic abilities were his art that asks questions rather than answers them.” salvation on more than one occasion. He relates how he
Artist’s profile: David Middlebrook, ’66
once bartered a series of detailed anatomical drawings for some much-needed tutoring in biology. Those early struggles seem all the more ironic today, Middlebrook observes, as he has lectured in university settings worldwide. He also vividly remembers an escapade that can only be described as a foreshadowing of his work today. “[Some classmates and I] hot-wired a bulldozer, and stole the Rock,” he recalls of one wild Homecoming weekend. Middlebrook helped construct a ramp, the Rock ended up on the front steps of the Administration Building and Seaton Hall ended up on social probation. “They couldn’t figure out who did it, but they knew it was one of us,” says Middlebrook. (continued on pp. 4-5)
Ancient Shadows is a bas-relief created in a cast concrete bridge over a California highway. It is one of 35 public and private commissions Middlebrook has completed since 1982.
3
4
I O
T R I U M P H E K. VOURNAKIS PHOTOS
Artist’s profile: Karen Vournakis, ’66 by Sarah Briggs Photographer Karen Vournakis, ’66, readily admits that the hard-hitting, “gritty” approach common in so much contemporary art just doesn’t suit her artistic style or her outlook on life. “Art to me is about life,” she says, “but I’m always drawn to [its] beautiful aspects.” Vournakis’ search for the beauty in life has yielded creations that have brought her both personal satisfaction and widespread recognition from her peers. The hand-colored photographs that are now her specialty have a luminosity and tranquility suggestive of images from an earlier era, and in fact, she is working in a tradition that dates back to the mid-19th century. She begins with a black-and-white photograph she has shot and then printed on archival paper. Using the photograph as a structure to build on, she applies transparent oil paints, toners, crayon and pencil directly on the print. “I begin by using a couple of colors from the original scene and then build on the color scheme around [my memory of the site],” she explains. “I use colors that are believable but not necessarily color that was there.” It’s a process that may take 6-10 hours depending on the size of the photograph, and it results in a one-of-akind image. Though Vournakis might occasionally work with the same photograph in different sizes, the color
Artist’s profile: David Middlebrook, ’66 (continued from p. 3) Fresh out of college, Middlebrook applied for a football coaching job at rural North Adams (MI) High School. When the school board asked him what he could teach, he replied, “art.” On learning there was no art program at the tiny school, Middlebrook quickly responded, “Well, let’s start one.” He got the job. Under Middlebrook’s guidance, his students staged a sculpture exhibit at the end of the fall semester, and the football team posted its first-ever undefeated season. The experience convinced him he was meant to teach. He headed to graduate school at the University of Iowa and a few years later wound up in California. “I realized I had to get a [college] teaching job, [so I could] continue to be true to my research and not be commercial about my artwork,” notes Middlebrook. “I don’t teach from a reference point of something I learned 15 years ago. . . . My teaching is completely an outgrowth of my daily art activities. I often load up my truck with just exactly what I did yesterday, and . . . share it with my students the next day.”
rendering each time is unique. When she is finished, she says, “in some cases, you can’t even tell there’s a photograph underneath.” Because of her interests in history and architecture, her recent work has focused primarily on Charleston, the lovely old South Carolina city where she now operates a gallery and
studio, as well as on ancient and modern sites in Greece and Italy. She chooses simple subjects that illuminate an aspect of a time and place that might otherwise be overlooked—a collection of clay jars, a single chair, an architectural detail. By isolating and abstracting her subjects, they take on new meaning, she says. Vournakis delights in finding a hidden story line in her images—for instance, an empty porch chair immediately prompts one to wonder about who has just left that spot and who next will occupy it. In her renderings of Mediterranean ruins, she says, “my intention is to recapture the atmosphere of the original sites. . . . I am exploring the mystery that seems to haunt these long abandoned areas.”
Greek and Roman antiquities are among Karen Vournakis’ favorite subjects. This photograph, entitled Ancient Vessels, was shot in Kos, Greece. Her works are highly personal—she chooses subjects that are meaningful to her and hopes that her viewers will share her appreciation for the “beauty and intelligence” that she has found in them. In an artist’s statement she prepared for a recent exhibition, Vournakis wrote: “Mycene, Knossos and Delphi are special to me, almost magical places. . . . Their equally powerful contribution to our Western aesthetic sense has been an important area of inquiry for me in my continual development as a person and artist. By walking around the sites I better understand what the Greeks were about and what the Greek spirit meant in artistic terms.” While Vournakis began her artistic career as a painter and printmaker, about 25 years ago she began combining photography with printmaking and eventually moved almost entirely into doing photo still-lifes, or “painting with light,” as she describes it. However, she found that hand-colored photography allowed a greater range of expression and also increased permanence for her work.
This gift for fusing teaching and art has also made Middlebrook much in demand as a visiting artist. He has spent a full year teaching at both the University of Natal in South Africa and the University of Newcastle in Australia, and has had shorter stints at numerous institutions in the U.S. Middlebrook does not simply teach, but involves his students in his craft—shaping and polishing, assembling finished pieces, and wrestling components around the studio (Middlebrook drives the forklift). “I try to get my assistants as emotionally and spiritually involved as I can, so they’re really a part of it from the aesthetic point of view,” he explains. “To have somebody else do the parts that I would do if I had enough arms and legs, I have to make them a part of the thought process. . . . This isn’t a factory.” (Left) Alien was constructed of onyx, serpentine and travertine.
I O
struggling to combine the roles of student, wife and mother to an infant son. “Vernon Bobbitt instilled a passion about art [in his students],” she recalls. “He was an excellent teacher who drew the best out of people.” After spending most of her career in the Northeast, Vournakis relocated four years ago to South Carolina and was able to fulfill her dream of opening her own studio and gallery. Trade at her gallery, tucked in among antique and gift shops in Charleston’s historic district, has been brisk, and she has also had a number of commissions from individuals and organizations in the area. She has won major awards in Charleston’s annual Piccolo Spoleto Outdoor Art Exhibition, as well as in a Lowcountry Arts Council Art Exhibition, and her piece, The Piazza, was featured on the Vournakis’ work, The Piazza, which is a view of the Jenkins-Mikel House cover of the in Charleston, SC, has been featured on the cover of Charleston Place Charleston Place Magazine and on a poster published by the New York Graphic Society. Magazine and on a poster published by the New York Graphic Society. Though she refined her skills in graduate school at Syracuse University, Vournakis says her broad apprecia- Since 1994, she has had solo exhibitions at galleries in Savannah, tion for art and history was first cultivated at Albion. Charleston, the New England “In order to be a good artist,” she observes, “I feel one should be well educated. You have to understand what has come before, what humankind has been about, before you can make your own comments through art.” She appreciates the inspiration and encouragement she received from visual arts faculty members such as (Right) Vournakis is currently Vernon Bobbitt and Paul Stewart, ’53, when she was working on a series of photographs depicting facades from historic Charleston buildings.
T R I U M P H E
College of Art, the Greek Embassy in Washington, DC, and Albion College. While continuing to work in hand-colored photography, Vournakis is experimenting with some large, “fresco-like” works that break the image of ancient sites into segments “suggesting the disparity of present-day reality and our understanding of past cultures.” She is also pursuing some new directions in her art, including giclée, which is a variation on the printmaking process using the computer. Her technique may change over time but her desire to depict the human experience—how we interact with and make sense of our surroundings—will remain a constant in her work, she says. “Art is everywhere . . . art isn’t something that is just made in the studio. . . . It’s a matter of perception and seeing art in life.” Karen Munro Vournakis earned B.F.A. and M.F.A degrees at Syracuse University and has taught at Syracuse, Colgate University and Dartmouth College. Her work appears in museum collections at Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse and elsewhere, and in corporate collections including Kidder Peabody & Co. in New York, the Colonnade Hotel in Boston and the Greek Embassy in Washington, DC. She is married to John Vournakis, ’61, and they have a son, Christopher.
And despite the fact that he has already had a career that can by any standards be considered highly successful, Middlebrook has no intention of slowing down. “When you get to a certain developmental stage, you can see possibilities in absolutely anything,” he says. “Your eye gets better, your mind gets sharper, your sensibility gets broader . . . and all of a sudden, there’s no limit. It’s a wonderful liberation.”
Florentine Riviera, in Sacramento’s Renaissance Tower, is Middlebrook’s most comprehensive installation to date. It consists of 270 linear feet of 12-foot-high walls and 3,500 square-feet of flooring in Italian marble. Depicting the geological and visual history of an ancient river bed, “this piece,” Middlebrook explains, “was built to celebrate Sacramento’s rich, historical relationship to river life.”
After earning M.A. and M.F.A. degrees at the University of Iowa, David Middlebrook joined the School of Art and Design at San Jose State University where he is now professor of art and director of fine arts. In addition to his numerous commissioned works of sculpture for public and corporate clients, he has had exhibitions at the Corporate Contemporary Center in Sacramento and the American/Jewish Cultural Center in Jerusalem, Israel and at galleries and museums in San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Scottsdale, AZ. He has two sons and a daughter.
5
6
I O
T R I U M P H E
J. CARRIER PHOTO
The following articles about some innovative new visual arts courses continue our exploration of “the intersection of art and life.”
Erasing the boundary between art and nature Bille Wickre (left), one of the instructors for a new first-year seminar on Art in the Environment, “catches a wave” with her students at Maya Lin’s It wasn’t until Albion professors Bille Wickre and Jeff In one class session, for instance, the environmental sculpture, Wave Field, in Ann Arbor. The visit, Wickre says, Carrier saw their students slip off their shoes and play on students debated the merits of Christo’s and around Maya Lin’s environmental sculpture, Wave Surrounded Islands, a contemporary work showed students that art doesn’t always have to sit on a pedestal or hang on Field, that they knew their first-year seminar on Art in the in which islands in Florida’s Biscayne Bay a museum wall. Environment was going to be a success. In the weeks were wrapped with huge sheets of pink before they visited Lin’s installation at the University of plastic. Considered highly innovative in artistic circles “Doing these projects asked the students to take the Michigan, the students had struggled with the whole when it was created in the 1980s, it also prompted wideideas that they had read about and seen firsthand and apply concept of “environmental art.” Now, as they ran up and spread environmental protests and even court challenges. them,” Wickre says. “It challenged them to go through the down the earthen “waves” Lin had designed, the abstract The students not only considered Surrounded Islands as a whole artistic process in its biggest, broadest sense.” became concrete. piece of art but evaluated the public outcry against it. Later Working in teams of five, they first had to develop a “At that moment,” Wickre says, “they started to see they were asked to write a paper on what their response concept, locate a suitable site for their work and record the what art meant in an environment—it let you know the would be if Christo had proposed an environmental site with a digital camera. Beginning with that digital potential of the earth and the joys of our interactions with installation in their home town. Given what they knew image, they then used the computer to design their artwork it. . . . It was a major breakthrough for all of the students.” about his other works, would they support or oppose the in its actual environment. While Lin’s work encourages playful interaction, some project? The students quickly found that the projects tested much environmental art has prompted “[In this course,] the more than their creativity. Identifying common goals and J. CARRIER PHOTO reaching consensus on a plan of action were at least as nothing but controversy. In the professor doesn’t teach course, Wickre, an art historian, you what to think,” says difficult. As Carrier explains, the exercise taught the students “to be truly collaborative, to incorporate the ideas reminded her students that for class member Analisa centuries humans have worked Velasquez. “You have to of others, to reconcile differences, and to recognize when compromise can build strength.” with, even reshaped, their think for yourself. This surroundings for artistic or was my first experience “These are attributes that often take lifetimes to cultivate,” he adds. “We asked our students to develop sacred ritual purposes— with exploring [such prehistoric cave paintings and complex issues] for them in their first college semester.” The students had to carefully examine the environmenthe Egyptian pyramids are cases myself.” in point. “Artists have always The course also tal impact and costs of their projects, checking for toxicity of materials used and looking at energy consumption and interacted with the natural represented a first step environment,” Wickre explains, for the students in other factors as they constructed their pieces. And for an added dose of realism, they had to seek whether it’s for the materials appreciating “the they’ve used, the subjects transforming power of support for their projects from a panel of faculty that included artists, scientists, philosophers and political they’ve represented or the sites art,” Wickre maintains. they’ve chosen. “I hope they’ll never scientists. After further refining their proposals, the students then sought permission from the president’s What’s new in environmental look at a piece of art art today is that more than ever again without thinking executive council to use College space for their installations. Through this process, they began to understand the before the artists are incorporatabout its meaning.” ing the environment as an And what happens obstacles that environmental artists often face—and the responsibilities they must accept—in mounting their works. integral part of their work. when art conflicts with Students Autumn Dodge, Chad Thompson, Nathan Meffert, Often these installations enhance and Vicky Wojkowski produced this sculpture as part of science? Carrier, a Wickre admits that the course was demanding, especially for first-year students, but she makes no apologies. the natural setting, but on biologist who is deeply their first-year seminar, Art in the Environment. Entitled occasion they have produced “The first-year seminars have to be an introduction to Embracing Diversity, it depicts a human form covered with concerned about habitat college. They have to set a standard. . . . Our expectations unintended results, including destruction, says a map of the world and was installed on the campus serious environmental damage— quadrangle. students must understand have to be high.” And she says the students responded enthusiastically. “They were so open to ideas . . . willing to which in turn has provoked that “environmental art public reaction ranging from bewilderment to outright extends beyond the artistic statement itself,” and that artists try anything.” The course was “a challenge and a stretch” for the anger. must address the ethical questions raised by their creations. Not surprisingly, in teaching about such unconventional He pondered with the students whether artists have the faculty too, Carrier says. For a biologist to team-teach a course in a field outside his expertise sent an important subject matter, Wickre and Carrier, along with senior right to significantly change the environment for their own teaching assistant Kim Hoogerhyde, chose to take an purposes, a key issue given the huge scale of many message to his students, he thinks. “There is a certain risk unconventional approach. Determined to create a learning environmental art works. They also explored the ecological to teaching out of one’s comfort zone, [but] how can we community with their students, the professors rarely risks posed by some materials used in these projects and the ask students to take risks if we refuse to do the same?” The professors’ willingness to attempt something new— lectured. Instead, they focused on class discussions and costs associated with disposal. group projects that challenged the students to formulate The “classroom” for the course actually extended to the and on occasion to become “students” again themselves— also made it clear that learning doesn’t stop with college their own opinions about environmental art and the role of science lab, the computer lab and the Internet, as well as environmental artists. such locations as Native American burial mounds in Ohio graduation. Concludes Wickre, “I think these first-year seminars are and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. After these experiences, the students were asked to create going to radically change how our students think about education.” their own environmental art installation. —S. Briggs
I O
T R I U M P H E
Going digital Going digital Consider this intriguing variation on an art class assignment: Create a self-portrait that includes visual clues about you, your interests, aspirations and thoughts. Use the digital camera to photograph (Above) Devices of multiple views of yourself and create a Existence, an eight-page composite from head to toe. Transfer those artist’s book created by images to the computer. Use the flatbed Jennifer Septic. (Detail at scanner to capture additional information left.) including original drawings, personal photographs, textures, objects and found text. Your image must be printed out on three separate Next spring, McCauley will team-teach a new course on the old and the new techsheets of paper both to increase the scale and Visual Poetry with English professor and poet Lisa Chavez. niques. To become skilled to heighten the distinctions of the body portions In one project, students will write poetry and then will artists, McCauley says, chosen for each. The body parts can be aligned combine typography and technology to depict their work students should have a from one sheet to the next or intentionally graphically—“to create a visual presence for the poem,” as working knowledge of these disjointed. Provide an environment for each McCauley puts it. Such a visualization, she explains, new technologies both to section. becomes another means of communicating the underlying create their own works and to That’s just one of the exercises that Albion meaning in the poetry. appreciate what is happening visual arts professor Anne McCauley uses in With the assistance of the 1999-2000 Philip Curtis in the art world in general. her Introduction to Computer Art class to Visiting Artist, Erika Leppmann, visual arts professor Beyond that, this technical inspire creativity and teach the basics of digital Lynne Chytilo next semester know-how gives art-making at the same time. Later in the will offer a new course on them an edge in course, the students create a “visual haiku,” video-based art. She and the search for adapting the Japanese poetic form to a different Leppmann will lead the class employment medium, and, in another project, depict their in developing a video after graduation. “essential tools” and how those are important in installation that will be To keep their lives. Each assignment is designed to exhibited on campus in abreast of the increase the students’ sophistication with the March.“There is an increasing movement to Miracle Hurley, Vulnerable. computer software while challenging them interest in video on campus,” digital media, artistically. Chytilo says, “and, with Albion’s Visual Arts Department has recently First and foremost, McCauley insists, “this is a class Erika’s visit, the timing of this installed a new computer art lab, equipped about generating ideas.” The computer is simply another new course couldn’t have with Macintosh computers, flatbed and tool for helping students develop as artists. Rather than been better.” transparency scanners, digital cameras for still feeling intimidated by the technology, the students should The uses of digital photography and video, and a color printer. become as comfortable using the computer as they might technology aren’t limited to There is also a work station available for be using a brush on canvas. “They should be the navigator studio art courses. In his digital video editing. in this process, rather than interdisciplinary first-year Using the computer as an art the passenger,” McCauley seminar, Creation and medium has a number of advansays. Criticism in the Visual Arts, tages. “The computer gives students Albion’s course on professor Frank Machek has many more options to express their computer art, which will students examine the creative ideas,” McCauley says. It becomes a become a requirement for process through assignments high-tech “sketchpad” where all visual arts majors that are computer-based. students can play with different starting next fall, is a “For students who might be concepts. And while they are reflection of the growing intimidated by traditional developing a new piece, the importance—and accepdrawing and painting procomputer also allows for experimentance—of digital media in cesses,” he says, “. . . the tation, such as adding and subtractthe artistic community computer can be a liberating ing elements or manipulating image today. Whole new genres of tool.” Likewise, in teaching an size and orientation, far more easily art are being developed Honors Institute course on than traditional media. with the aid of computer, Great Issues in Fine Arts, In teaching the computer art video and other technoloNicholas Oleszczuk, Impact. English professor and film course, McCauley encourages her gies. To give just one critic Paul Loukides has made students to work through questions example, a widely heralded films and film-making a central feature and has provided and challenges together—both in group brainexhibit now at the Art hands-on experience with videography and digital editing. storming sessions and in informal problemInstitute of Chicago Anne McCauley believes that this exposure to emerging solving as they work on their projects. The lab features documentary-style technologies will encourage students to be open to using has become a “productive environment,” she video imagery by Bill other new tools in the future. And they will be free to says, promoting collaboration and idea-sharing. Viola, who pioneered this explore many different avenues for artistic expression. The computer has found its way into tradiart form in the 1970s. “The more capabilities artists have,” she observes, “the tional studio courses—it’s used regularly in the Increasingly, traditional more readily they see that they can take their ideas and preparatory phases of printmaking and, in methods of art-making are approach them in a multitude of ways.” photography, to integrate and manipulate images also being combined with —S. Briggs in ways that change both appearance and content. digital media in ways that Now, the interest in computer-based art has expand the impact of both The accompanying artwork all was created in the fall 1999 spawned a number of new course offerings. Introduction to Computer Art class. Jeremiah Newsome, Sleep, Fleshly Birth.
7
8
I O
T R I U M P H E
Student, Technology and Administrative Services Center named for Ferguson
Albion College receives gifts totalling $7-million for student services building and student residence
Albion College’s desire to provide students with stateof-the-art services in an accessible, centralized location will be achieved through the D. TRUMPIE PHOTO generosity of William, ’52, and Joyce Ferguson, who in October donated $4-million toward the construction of a new student, technology and administrative services “The William C. Ferguson building. Building recognizes and This gift will fund approxicelebrates the multiple and mately 50 percent of the key roles Bill Ferguson has overall construction costs of played at the College,” said the building, to be named in Albion College President honor of Bill Ferguson. The Peter Mitchell. The recipient balance will be covered by of an honorary doctor of laws private contributions being degree from Albion, Ferguson solicited as part of the chaired the Board of Trustees College’s new Vision for from 1989 to 1996 and served enhancing liberal arts educaas acting president and tion. Construction is expected visiting professor in fall 1995. to begin in fall 2000 on the He and his wife Joyce are also campus quadrangle. the parents of three daughters, The four-story, 48,000including Ellen Keleman, ’80, square-foot building will and Joanne Szeparowycz, ’89. occupy the site of the previous “Joyce and I are delighted Administration Building that William, ’52, and Joyce Ferguson to assist with this project was torn down in summer because we believe 1998. (Since 1998, administrative offices have been it benefits the entire campus community and temporarily housed in the Epworth Building.) A number will help Albion in its quest to become a of the architectural details from the old structure, leader among the nation’s best liberal arts originally built as the Gassette Memorial Library, have colleges,” said Bill Ferguson. “Clearly, we been preserved and will be incorporated into the new need to bring academic, student and other student services center. A traditional red-brick design administrative services together in one will ensure that the new building harmonizes with the location.” existing architecture on the quadrangle. In addition to MacLACHLAN, CORNELIUS AND FILONI DRAWING providing offices for the Academic Affairs and Student Affairs divisions, the building will include sophisticated information technology services for students and faculty, including technology-enhanced classrooms and stateof-the-art computer laboratories.
by Jim Klapthor and Sarah Briggs Bill Ferguson retired in April 1995 as chairman and chief executive officer of the international telecommunications firm, NYNEX, now merged with Bell Atlantic. He continues to be active on the College’s Board of Trustees, as well as on the boards of Bestfoods, EIRCOM, Greenwich Street Capital, and Corn Products. Although not an Albion College graduate, Joyce Ferguson has been an energetic and enthusiastic supporter of Albion for many years. Previous gifts from the Fergusons have supported the installation of a new dance studio during the 1988 renovation of Kresge Gymnasium and the establishment in 1997 of an endowment for the Center for TechnologyAided Teaching, which advances the use of technology in teacher education. They have also created endowments for the dance program, Whitehouse Nature Center, and scholarships in education, music and professional management.
The four-story, 48,000-square-foot Ferguson Building, to be located on the former site of the College’s Administration Building (dotted outline on map), will house student, technology and administrative services. Its traditional design will harmonize with the other architecture on the campus quadrangle.
I O
T R I U M P H E
D. TRUMPIE PHOTOS
Karro gift will provide apartment-style student housing A connection dating back over six decades has proved worthy of a $3-million contribution, made in October to Albion College in memory of alumna Mae Harrison Karro, ’31, by her husband, Roy Karro. The gift will go toward the construction of a new apartment-style residence village for students. “Roy Karro’s gift reflects the wonderful sense of family that undergirds Albion College,” said President Peter Mitchell, “and affirms that Mae Roy Karro Karro’s alma mater continues to be committed to academic excellence and to transforming the lives of its students. “How appropriate and thoughtful for Roy Karro to honor his wife and Albion College in such a creative and student-centered manner.” According to Sally Walker, vice president for student affairs, the residence village will provide students more independent living options. Currently, Albion College
A $3-million gift from Roy Karro (back row, center) was announced with the help of the cheerleading squad during the Family Day football game, Oct. 30. The gift, made in memory of Karro’s wife, Mae Harrison Karro, ’31, will fund the construction of an apartment-style residence village at Albion. President Peter Mitchell and his wife Becky are shown at right. has two apartment-style residences, Burns Street Apartments and Briton House, both popular among students. “This new alternative in student housing will be highly attractive to students currently on campus,” Walker noted, “and it should also assist us in bringing new students to Albion.” Construction of the new residence village will be completed by fall 2001. It will bear Mae Karro’s name. “Albion College meant a great deal to my wife,” said Roy Karro. “She spoke with great fondness of her student days on campus. I am pleased that her memory will live on at Albion in such an enduring way.”
This generous gift of Karro’s was preceded by his commissioning of a bust of Carl Gerstacker, a former trustee at Albion College, mounted outside the offices of the Gerstacker Liberal Arts Institute for Professional Management (see below). Karro has also established an endowed scholarship at the College in memory of his wife. Roy Karro is a retired vice president of Salomon Smith Barney and a resident of Southfield. Mae Karro, who was involved in Panhellenic Council and women’s sports as an Albion student, worked in private industry after graduation and then was a homemaker following her marriage.
A bust of philanthropist and Dow Chemical Co. executive Carl Gerstacker was unveiled at a special ceremony on campus Oct. 22. Gerstacker, who passed away in 1995, served for many years as chairman of the Albion College Board of Trustees. Created by sculptor Ed Chesney (second from left), the bust was commissioned by Roy Karro (far right). Also pictured are Gerstacker’s wife, Esther, and her son, Bill Schuette. Albion’s Liberal Arts Institute for Professional Management is named in Gerstacker’s honor, as is the commons area in the Kellogg Center. The Gerstacker family also funded construction of the College’s International House. “Carl Gerstacker provided gifted leadership for Albion College as our board chairman and gave generously of his personal resources for many College projects through the years,” notes President Peter Mitchell. “I know how proud he was to have his name associated with the professional management program which so clearly reflects his commitment to preparing young people for the workplace and the world. This bust, located at the entrance to the Gerstacker Institute offices, will offer a continual reminder of his contributions to and affection for Albion College.”
9
10
I O
T R I U M P H E
I O
A R O U N D
Brumfiel chosen as national Sigma Xi lecturer Albion College anthropologist Elizabeth Brumfiel has earned international recognition for her archaeological research on Aztec culture. Now, she’s preparing to take that expertise “on the road” as a Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer for 2000-2001. Founded in 1886, Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit membership society that supports scientific research and research education, both in industry and academia. The Sigma Xi College of Distinguished Lecturers is comprised of approximately 20 researchers who share their knowledge through public lectures at Sigma Xi chapters nationwide. The lecturers are selected annually from Sigma Xi’s membership of 80,000 scientists and engineers. “I love getting audiences excited about the things that I’m excited about,” says Brumfiel, who has spent many years studying Aztec religion and its relationship to state power, Aztec resource use and its relationship to state policies, and gender roles in the ancient city
of Teotihuacan. “Doing archaeological research is like a good detective novel, and I enjoy telling the tale.” Brumfiel, who holds the John S. Ludington Trustees’ Professorship, notes that the honor of the lectureship also goes beyond demonstrating her scholarship. “I want to show that women can be active field archaeologists . . . and that faculty at teaching institutions can also be first-class researchers,” she explains. “Finally, I like communicating a positive image of Albion College to the wider world.” –J. Weber
News in brief As reported in the fall 1999 Io Triumphe, Albion students Kaitlyn Kelly and Mackenzie Wheeler ran in the Chicago Marathon in October while also raising funds to purchase playground equipment for a local elementary school. Their sponsors contributed over $2,600 for the Crowell School project. Kelly finished the race 22nd among women in her age category with a time of 3:19:20. Though injured, Wheeler also completed the marathon.
T R I U M P H E
27
C A M P U S
Mitchell receives leadership grant Albion College and President Peter Mitchell were recipients of an early Christmas gift Dec. 8: the Knight Foundation awarded Albion a $150,000 Presidential Leadership Grant to encourage “creative leadership aimed at strengthening [the] institution for the future.” Mitchell was particularly commended for enhancing the College’s relationship with the Greater Albion community. “Colleges and universities around the nation are reexamining their roles and responsibilities as local and regional citizens,” the foundation said in making the award. “Albion College is distinguished among that group by the openness, energy, imagination, dedication and collaborative spirit with which it has pursued highly complementary campus and community visions for the future. . . . [Mitchell’s leadership] is most evident in the sense of future potential and commitment to act that he has inspired in Albion’s campus community, constituents and neighbors. “Town and college together envision a future as ‘Michigan’s Smart Community’ and are set on a course to become national leaders in small-town development.”
Albion was one of five institutions to receive a leadership grant this year. Use of the funds is left to the discretion of the college president with the expectation that the grant will be used for the institution’s long-term benefit. Grant recipients are identified directly by the foundation from among a group of 150 national liberal arts colleges; there is no application process. “The Knight Foundation award,” Mitchell said, “will be used to support the Vision and in particular to bring three new faculty positions on line a year ahead of schedule so that we can be even more aggressive in implementing the interdisciplinary first-year seminars. The timing of the award is most fortuitous because it supports the special magic that occurs when Albion students and faculty collaborate in the teaching and learning process.” Other colleges receiving 1999 grants include Goshen College (IN), Gustavus Adolphus College (MN), Morehouse College (GA) and Salem College (NC). Established in 1950, the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation makes national grants in journalism, education and arts and culture. D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Four join Board of Trustees The following individuals have been named to the Albion College Board of Trustees: ■ John Ellinger, ’66, has been Lansing district superintendent for the United Methodist Church (UMC) since 1996, and he is also a member of the Board of Ordained Ministers of the West Michigan Annual Conference. Previously, he served UMC parishes in Holland, Albion, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Jackson and Poughkeepsie, NY. He holds a master’s degree from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. Ellinger represents the church’s West Michigan Conference on the Albion board. ■ Thomas Ludington, ’76, is a judge for the 42nd Circuit Court in Midland. A graduate of
Ellinger
Thakur
Ludington
Wilson
the University of San Diego School of Law and of the General Jurisdictional Program of the National Judicial College, he was associated with the Midland law firm of Currie and Kendall from 1980 to 1995. Currently he serves on the boards of Saginaw Valley State University, the Midland Foundation and the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation. ■ Anjali Thakur, ’99, works as a program assistant for the National Partnership for Women and Families in Washington, DC. While at Albion, she was a member of the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Policy and Service and served on Student Senate. Thakur is one of two young-alumni representatives on the board. ■ James Wilson, ’77, has served as director of the Institute for Human Gene Therapy and John Herr Musser Professor of Molecular and Cellular Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania since 1993. Earlier in his career, he held several medical research posts at the University of Michigan, including chief of the Division of Molecular Medicine and Genetics. The author of over 160 journal articles, he holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Michigan.
A new mural has been created in downtown Albion as part of the Smart Community initiative launched in May 1999. With funding and other assistance from the 4-H program, Albion Community Foundation, Albion Volunteer Service Center and local businesses, area children worked on the mural with Kellogg Foundation Artist-in-Residence Rennick Stevenson. The mural reflects the children’s view of Albion, depicting people, scenes and ideas they believe are important in community life. (See the preceeding article for more on the Smart Community project.)
Model U.N. team wins awards Albion’s Model United Nations delegation was named one of the top five delegations, out of 50 colleges and universities that attended a November Model U.N. conference in Chicago. In addition, students Stephen Pontoni and Christopher Moore were recognized as the best National Security Council delegation for their representation of Canada, and Tara Meadows won the Best Advocate Award in the International Court of Justice.
All of the awards are determined by a peer vote. “Each person in a delegation attends various committee meetings,” Pontoni told the Albion College Pleiad. “In these meetings, the students debate and try to find resolutions to the world’s problems as their country would.” In preparation for their role as the Canadian delegation, the students were briefed by Dennis Moore, ’70, who is a staff member at the Canadian consulate in Detroit.
28
I O
I O
T R I U M P H E A R O U N D
Ameritech grant boosts high-tech learning by Jim Klapthor Ameritech this fall granted Albion College $10,000 to develop the Internet learning capabilities of elementary school instructors and College students preparing for teaching careers. The grant will fund a pilot project providing both in-service and pre-service elementary teachers with the technical skills needed to create and incorporate Internet media into their instruction, according to Reuben Rubio, director of Albion’s Ferguson Center for Technology-Aided Teaching. “The goal is to give our students real experience in making decisions about what does or doesn’t make good software for teaching and learning mathematics,” said Rubio. In that way, students “can make sound decisions about how to effectively integrate software—designed by themselves or others—into their curriculum.” In addition, the participating elementary teachers will create Web-based materials addressing math proficiency expectations set forth by the Michigan Department of Education, according to Rubio. The materials
will be specifically used in conjunction with a classroom at the city of Albion’s Crowell Elementary School, but also will be available to teachers worldwide via a project Web site. After the pilot program is completed and evaluated, it will be extended to other academic areas and other higher education institutions. “The best investment we can make is in our children,” said Bob Cooper, president of Ameritech Michigan. “We at Ameritech are thrilled to help teachers tap into the power of the Internet to create the classrooms of tomorrow today.” The program will involve approximately 30 Albion College students enrolled in the College’s education program as well as 20 inservice teachers and 25 elementary students. With an average of 25 children in each elementary class in the Albion Public Schools, this program could realistically result in over 1,200 elementary students annually benefiting from this effort. This Ameritech program, administered by the 19-member Michigan Colleges Foundation, is another example of the commitment Albion College is making to advance technology-aided teaching. Ameritech is the premier provider of communications services in the Upper Midwest, with 13 million customers and more than 21 million access lines across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Tune in to ‘Jeopardy!’ Feb. 7-18 The answer is: This Albion College student is a member of the Ford Institute and Honors Institute, hails from Lapeer and carries a 3.98 grade point average. If your response is, “Who is Kurt Medland?,” you’re right. Junior Kurt Medland will represent Albion College during “Jeopardy! College Championship Week,” Feb. 7-18. He is one of only 15 college students participating in this special edition of the popular television game show, and was chosen from more than 10,000 students requesting an audition. Medland e-mailed his audition request to the show’s producers last summer. Shortly afterwards he was asked to audition in Indianapolis where he impressed the “Jeopardy!” producers enough to receive an invitation to join the college championships. “I’m really looking forward to it,” Medland says of his pending national television appearance. “People have told me for years I should do something like this [be on “Jeopardy!”].”
L E T T E R S
TO
Robin Hartman’s article [Io Triumphe, Fall 1999] extolling the career of Fritz Shurmur, ’54, as an exceptional football coach overshadows his years at Albion College as its men’s swim coach. When I came to Albion in 1957 and joined the swim team, we had a nucleus of very good swimmers who came out of the Michigan high school swim powers of the mid-’50s. With Fritz as our coach, we
“It’s still like a big dream.” Medland will have to squeeze in his preparation for “Jeopardy!” with his regular studies on campus. In addition to his involvement with the Ford and Honors Institutes, Medland is also working with anthropology professor Elizabeth Brumfiel cataloging Indian artifacts found in the Whitehouse Nature Center. Taping for the show at the Columbia TriStar studios in Culver City, CA, will take place Jan. 15-16. Medland is guaranteed to play one of five games to be taped the first day. A special videotaped greeting from President Peter Mitchell and several hundred Albion students is also slated to air during Medland’s appearance. –J. Klapthor
T H E
E D I T O R
completed the next few seasons as undefeated MIAA champions. I remember some of our zany swimmer antics and Fritz’s exasperation during our annual road tour of outstate swim meets. . . . We all well remember that toothy grin when we won all of those meets—we were forgiven and Fritz still had his job. Colin Stafford, ’61, Bloomfield Hills, MI
T R I U M P H E
11
C A M P U S
‘See you at the movies’ D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
by Jake Weber Weddings, funerals, birthdays, graduations— all are important cultural events, nowhere more so than in the movies. Yet, notes Albion professor of English Paul Loukides, “[movie] weddings are not particularly happy occasions. Birthday parties are often awful. . . . There are exceptions, but mostly there’s a sense of loss, fatigue, anything but transcendence to a higher state.” The tension between real-life ritual occasions and their film counterparts fascinates Loukides, so much so that he coauthored a book on the subject, Reel Rituals: Ritual Occasions from Baptisms to Funerals, published earlier this year by Bowling Green State University Popular Press. Reel Rituals takes Loukides’ anthropological, sociological and philosophical research of rituals and applies that study to film analysis. Loukides has spent much of his career studying the extent to which film reflects the culture that produced it. Before Reel Rituals, he co-edited a five-volume series, Beyond the Stars, that explores the characters, conventions and themes of American popular film. Film is a “democratic art,” he says, and merits consideration not only as a communications medium but as an art form. “Film” he argues, “has the dimensions of what we want from an artistic experience—depth of craft and depth of meaning.” His ideas may not seem controversial today, but there was a time when his interest in popular film would have been met with derision and disbelief in many academic circles. Loukides, who retired at the end of the fall semester, leaves behind a legacy of not only developing film studies offerings for Albion College, but helping to establish the study of film and of popular culture as accepted academic disciplines. Loukides joined Albion’s English faculty in 1962, his arrival on campus closely coinciding with that of the first wave of Baby Boomers. He realized that higher education needed to address the orientation as well as the culture of this “media generation.” “It seemed to me that film ought to be a subject taught in small liberal arts colleges,” Loukides explains. After all, he says, many literary works that are now considered classics were originally written for a broad popular audience. Why shouldn’t great films deserve similar attention, especially since a strong case can be made that film is the art form of the 20th century? He found like-minded scholars in the newly formed Popular Culture Association. “I was part of a group . . . that invented the field of popular film studies,” says Loukides, who has been an active leader in the association for more than 30 years. “That was pretty exciting.” Today, the film studies field has expanded to the point where it is represented on nearly every college and university campus. While he has developed a number of courses devoted to film and film-making, Loukides occasionally uses film in other courses he teaches, such as Great Issues in the Fine Arts, to explore the role of the artist and the arts in society.
Paul Loukides “His knowledge of film in general and the history of World War II in particular was a strong complement to my own interests and capabilities,” says Albion historian Geoffrey Cocks, who teamed up with Loukides to teach a course on Film Images of World War II several times during the past 15 years. “Paul is also the author of one of the single best statements about war films I have ever heard. In characterizing those wartime and postwar films that glorify combat for patriotic reasons and leave out the suffering and physical ugliness of war, Paul observed, ‘It’s one of those films where lots of people get killed and nobody gets hurt.’” His interest in film notwithstanding, Loukides has also nurtured and advised numerous aspiring writers as a teacher of creative writing at Albion. “He always knew when to push and when to give me time to try something else,” says Aimee Mepham, ’99, an M.F.A. candidate in creative writing at Indiana University. “He also helped me figure out what to do with my life as a writer.” While most of Loukides’ own writing over the past several years has been devoted to scholarly articles and books, he now looks forward to the chance to get back to some fiction of his own. He is some 50 pages into what he estimates will be an 800-page novel on the life of 19th-century American balloonist John Wise. An antiques collector, Loukides came upon a copy of The History and Practice of Aeronautics, published by Wise in 1850, at an auction. “It’s about how to make your own balloon, how to make hydrogen gas, everything,” laughs Loukides. “And [Wise] is not a bad writer. I read the book and thought, ‘This is great stuff. This is somebody I’d really love to write about.’” In preparation for the novel, over the years Loukides has also done extensive research into 19th-century technology and took a sabbatical to follow some of Wise’s travels through New England. Along with his novel, Loukides also hopes to devote more time to his interests in photography, pottery and antiques restoration. And without a doubt you’ll be seeing him at the movies.
12
I O
T R I U M P H E
I O
T R I U M P H E
29
S C O R E B O A R D
R. HARTMAN PHOTO
Women golfers, football squad top the league by Robin Hartman Albion College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III.
Women’s golf: It’s an understatement to say Albion won its first MIAA championship in women’s golf in convincing fashion. In fact, the league race wasn’t even close. Despite not having a home golf match, Albion under coach Karen Baird almost lapped the field, winning the team title by 113 strokes over runnerup Hope College. In the process, the Britons finished first for six of the seven rounds, including the last five. The 347.7-stroke average for seven rounds is an Albion single-season record. Juniors Melissa Hall and Katie Pritchard each earned first-team All-MIAA honors for the second year in a row, with Hall finishing second in the final individual standings, and Pritchard third. In her initial collegiate campaign, Stacy Chapman finished seventh, leading an All-MIAA second team that included teammate Lindsay Franson. Despite missing one round with an injury, Franson, a junior, finished 10th in the final individual standings. It’s the first time Albion has had four individuals in the final top 10.
Football: After an 0-2 start, Albion rebounded to earn a share of the MIAA football championship, completing the 1999 season with a 6-3 overall record and 5-1 conference mark. Craig Rundle is head coach. Albion’s turnaround began with a 49-23 home win against Manchester College Sept. 25. In that contest, sophomore running back Dan Dreyer moved into the lineup and was never dislodged. Dreyer rushed for 152 yards against the Spartans, one of five 100-yard games he had over the last seven weeks of the season.
Junior golfer Melissa Hall finished second in the league and earned first-team All-MIAA honors this fall. With teammates Katie Pritchard, Stacy Chapman and Lindsay Franson, all of whom also placed in the league’s top-10, Hall led the women golfers to their first-ever MIAA championship. Dreyer wasn’t the only sub-to-starter to make major contributions. Junior fullback Tom Weinmann moved into the starting lineup for the Defiance game, and never left. Among his five touchdowns was a 65-yard pass play at Olivet in week seven. Sophomore Jared Owens was tossed into battle early, and responded with a breakout game as a receiver against Adrian Oct. 9. Owens caught six passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, the first 200-yard receiver for Albion since 1996. Later, he returned a kickoff for a schoolrecord 99 yards while scoring against Hope Oct. 30. At season’s end, six Britons earned firstteam All-MIAA honors. Recognized on offense were junior kicker Keith Debbaudt and senior offensive lineman Terry Bailey, while junior punter Kirk DeFrenn, senior tackle Ryan Giacolone and junior defensive back Dan Deegan were honored on defense. Albion’s championship is the school’s 31st in football, most among Michigan’s Division III colleges. D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Volleyball: Posting its first winning season since 1986, Albion also had its highest league finish (5-3) in better than a decade. Under coach Darrell Sedersten, the Britons wound up in a tie for third in the final MIAA regular season standings. Albion’s 15-14 overall record included a consolation championship at the BaldwinWallace Invitational Sept. 10-11. A change in the league format to a single-round-plustournament schedule kept Albion on the road for all but four of the team’s 29 matches during the season. Visiting fans saw the development of several young players, led by sophomores Michelle Hind and Sarah Morin. Both earned second-team All-MIAA status at the end of the season. Also attaining league honorable mention consideration was freshman Megan Broom. Meanwhile, seniors Carla Trzeciak and Jennifer Barnes passed a pair of milestones in their final collegiate campaigns. Barnes became the school’s top attack player, passing the 950 mark in attack points. Trzeciak is the first player in Albion volleyball history to tally more than 2,800 assists in a career.
Men’s golf: Golf, it is said, is a game of inches. In college golf, it’s a matter of hundredths of a stroke. So it went for Albion junior Brett Crosthwaite, who earned a firstteam All-MIAA finish for the second year in a row after his eight-round average was rounded out to a second decimal point. Crosthwaite fired an 80 for the final round Oct. 9 at Alma’s Pine River Country Club. He won a subsequent shoot-out with his closest challenger, Hope’s Everett Leonard, to earn a spot on the All-MIAA first team. Crosthwaite finished the eight-round fall schedule with a 78.63-stroke average. Crosthwaite was the only Briton to average under 80 for the fall, as Albion placed fourth in the final team standings. Freshmen took three of the top five spots on the team, led by Jordan Rich’s 81.3 average. Mike Turner coaches the golfers. Running back Dan Dreyer (foreground), shown in the Sept. 25 match-up with Manchester, finished the 1999 football season as Albion’s top rusher with 823 yards and seven touchdowns. The Britons earned their 31st league title, the most among Michigan’s Division III colleges.
Women’s soccer: Continued improvement in women’s soccer in 1999 saw Albion finish the season with a 4-3-1 league record and 8-8-1 overall mark. The league record was good for a fifth-place finish. One of the biggest improvements for Albion came on offense. Albion tallied 29 goals, with 11 players scoring at least once, including freshman goalkeeper Erica Williams. Freshman Betsy Hubert led the team with six goals. Seniors Erika Miller and Lisa Reiter finished with four goals each. A third senior, defender Wendy Boynton, was honored by the league’s coaches for her back line work. Boynton is Albion’s lone representative on the All-MIAA first team. Williams, Miller and freshman Laurie Vance earned second-team All-MIAA honors, while senior Andrea Johnson secured coaches’ honorable mention consideration. Lisa Roschek coaches the women’s squad. Men’s soccer: Like the women, the men’s soccer team finished fifth in the final MIAA standings, posting a 5-8-1 league record and 7-11-1 overall mark under coach Aaron Smith. Defense played an important part in Albion’s game plan. Briton defenders allowed no more than three goals in all but three of the team’s 19 matches, posting four shutouts in the process. Offensively, few in the MIAA attacked opponents better than senior Ben Upward. Highlighted by a three-goal hat trick against Anderson University Sept. 11 in Ada, OH, Upward set a one-season school record with 18 goals, averaging nearly a goal a game. The total meant Upward scored almost half of the team’s 38 goals for the season. (Upward’s performance was a case of history repeating itself—his dad, Geoffrey Upward, ’72, also was a soccer standout for the Britons, earning All-MIAA honors in 1971.) Upward and junior forward Brian Lindsay attained second-team All-MIAA honors. Senior Sean Roberts and sophomores Jeff Boogren and Kirstin Massey were coaches’ honorable mention selections. Cross country: Albion battled to stay with the pack in MIAA and NCAA Division III competition. The Briton women finished fourth against MIAA competition and 14th at the Division III Great Lakes Regional at Ada, OH, Nov. 13. Albion’s men battled through injuries to place fifth in the MIAA and 23rd in NCAA competition. Amy Wolfgang coaches both squads. Senior Danielle Risner set the pace for the women for most of the season. Risner finished with a pair of top-10 performances in MIAA action to earn second-team all-league honors for the second year in a row. Also part of the MIAA second team is junior Rebekah Schultz. Schultz broke onto the second team with the help of a 17th-place finish at the league championship Oct. 30. Two weeks later, Schultz and Risner had top-50 finishes against NCAA regional competition. Risner placed 36th, while Schultz was 49th. Risner and Schultz weren’t the only Albion runners honored. Freshman Brandon Lawson had a stellar initial collegiate campaign, finishing with second-team AllMIAA honors. His 26:49 time at the MIAA championship was 18 seconds faster than his previous best effort, and good for an 11thplace finish.
12
I O
T R I U M P H E
I O
T R I U M P H E
27
S C O R E B O A R D
R. HARTMAN PHOTO
Women golfers, football squad top the league by Robin Hartman Albion College is a member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) and NCAA Division III.
Women’s golf: It’s an understatement to say Albion won its first MIAA championship in women’s golf in convincing fashion. In fact, the league race wasn’t even close. Despite not having a home golf match, Albion under coach Karen Baird almost lapped the field, winning the team title by 113 strokes over runnerup Hope College. In the process, the Britons finished first for six of the seven rounds, including the last five. The 347.7-stroke average for seven rounds is an Albion single-season record. Juniors Melissa Hall and Katie Pritchard each earned first-team All-MIAA honors for the second year in a row, with Hall finishing second in the final individual standings, and Pritchard third. In her initial collegiate campaign, Stacy Chapman finished seventh, leading an All-MIAA second team that included teammate Lindsay Franson. Despite missing one round with an injury, Franson, a junior, finished 10th in the final individual standings. It’s the first time Albion has had four individuals in the final top 10.
Football: After an 0-2 start, Albion rebounded to earn a share of the MIAA football championship, completing the 1999 season with a 6-3 overall record and 5-1 conference mark. Craig Rundle is head coach. Albion’s turnaround began with a 49-23 home win against Manchester College Sept. 25. In that contest, sophomore running back Dan Dreyer moved into the lineup and was never dislodged. Dreyer rushed for 152 yards against the Spartans, one of five 100-yard games he had over the last seven weeks of the season.
Junior golfer Melissa Hall finished second in the league and earned first-team All-MIAA honors this fall. With teammates Katie Pritchard, Stacy Chapman and Lindsay Franson, all of whom also placed in the league’s top-10, Hall led the women golfers to their first-ever MIAA championship. Dreyer wasn’t the only sub-to-starter to make major contributions. Junior fullback Tom Weinmann moved into the starting lineup for the Defiance game, and never left. Among his five touchdowns was a 65-yard pass play at Olivet in week seven. Sophomore Jared Owens was tossed into battle early, and responded with a breakout game as a receiver against Adrian Oct. 9. Owens caught six passes for 212 yards and two touchdowns, the first 200-yard receiver for Albion since 1996. Later, he returned a kickoff for a schoolrecord 99 yards while scoring against Hope Oct. 30. At season’s end, six Britons earned firstteam All-MIAA honors. Recognized on offense were junior kicker Keith Debbaudt and senior offensive lineman Terry Bailey, while junior punter Kirk DeFrenn, senior tackle Ryan Giacolone and junior defensive back Dan Deegan were honored on defense. Albion’s championship is the school’s 31st in football, most among Michigan’s Division III colleges. D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Volleyball: Posting its first winning season since 1986, Albion also had its highest league finish (5-3) in better than a decade. Under coach Darrell Sedersten, the Britons wound up in a tie for third in the final MIAA regular season standings. Albion’s 15-14 overall record included a consolation championship at the BaldwinWallace Invitational Sept. 10-11. A change in the league format to a single-round-plustournament schedule kept Albion on the road for all but four of the team’s 29 matches during the season. Visiting fans saw the development of several young players, led by sophomores Michelle Hind and Sarah Morin. Both earned second-team All-MIAA status at the end of the season. Also attaining league honorable mention consideration was freshman Megan Broom. Meanwhile, seniors Carla Trzeciak and Jennifer Barnes passed a pair of milestones in their final collegiate campaigns. Barnes became the school’s top attack player, passing the 950 mark in attack points. Trzeciak is the first player in Albion volleyball history to tally more than 2,800 assists in a career.
Men’s golf: Golf, it is said, is a game of inches. In college golf, it’s a matter of hundredths of a stroke. So it went for Albion junior Brett Crosthwaite, who earned a firstteam All-MIAA finish for the second year in a row after his eight-round average was rounded out to a second decimal point. Crosthwaite fired an 80 for the final round Oct. 9 at Alma’s Pine River Country Club. He won a subsequent shoot-out with his closest challenger, Hope’s Everett Leonard, to earn a spot on the All-MIAA first team. Crosthwaite finished the eight-round fall schedule with a 78.63-stroke average. Crosthwaite was the only Briton to average under 80 for the fall, as Albion placed fourth in the final team standings. Freshmen took three of the top five spots on the team, led by Jordan Rich’s 81.3 average. Mike Turner coaches the golfers. Running back Dan Dreyer (foreground), shown in the Sept. 25 match-up with Manchester, finished the 1999 football season as Albion’s top rusher with 823 yards and seven touchdowns. The Britons earned their 31st league title, the most among Michigan’s Division III colleges.
Women’s soccer: Continued improvement in women’s soccer in 1999 saw Albion finish the season with a 4-3-1 league record and 8-8-1 overall mark. The league record was good for a fifth-place finish. One of the biggest improvements for Albion came on offense. Albion tallied 29 goals, with 11 players scoring at least once, including freshman goalkeeper Erica Williams. Freshman Betsy Hubert led the team with six goals. Seniors Erika Miller and Lisa Reiter finished with four goals each. A third senior, defender Wendy Boynton, was honored by the league’s coaches for her back line work. Boynton is Albion’s lone representative on the All-MIAA first team. Williams, Miller and freshman Laurie Vance earned second-team All-MIAA honors, while senior Andrea Johnson secured coaches’ honorable mention consideration. Lisa Roschek coaches the women’s squad. Men’s soccer: Like the women, the men’s soccer team finished fifth in the final MIAA standings, posting a 5-8-1 league record and 7-11-1 overall mark under coach Aaron Smith. Defense played an important part in Albion’s game plan. Briton defenders allowed no more than three goals in all but three of the team’s 19 matches, posting four shutouts in the process. Offensively, few in the MIAA attacked opponents better than senior Ben Upward. Highlighted by a three-goal hat trick against Anderson University Sept. 11 in Ada, OH, Upward set a one-season school record with 18 goals, averaging nearly a goal a game. The total meant Upward scored almost half of the team’s 38 goals for the season. (Upward’s performance was a case of history repeating itself—his dad, Geoffrey Upward, ’72, also was a soccer standout for the Britons, earning All-MIAA honors in 1971.) Upward and junior forward Brian Lindsay attained second-team All-MIAA honors. Senior Sean Roberts and sophomores Jeff Boogren and Kirstin Massey were coaches’ honorable mention selections. Cross country: Albion battled to stay with the pack in MIAA and NCAA Division III competition. The Briton women finished fourth against MIAA competition and 14th at the Division III Great Lakes Regional at Ada, OH, Nov. 13. Albion’s men battled through injuries to place fifth in the MIAA and 23rd in NCAA competition. Amy Wolfgang coaches both squads. Senior Danielle Risner set the pace for the women for most of the season. Risner finished with a pair of top-10 performances in MIAA action to earn second-team all-league honors for the second year in a row. Also part of the MIAA second team is junior Rebekah Schultz. Schultz broke onto the second team with the help of a 17th-place finish at the league championship Oct. 30. Two weeks later, Schultz and Risner had top-50 finishes against NCAA regional competition. Risner placed 36th, while Schultz was 49th. Risner and Schultz weren’t the only Albion runners honored. Freshman Brandon Lawson had a stellar initial collegiate campaign, finishing with second-team AllMIAA honors. His 26:49 time at the MIAA championship was 18 seconds faster than his previous best effort, and good for an 11thplace finish.
I O
T R I U M P H E
A L B I O N O T E S
Class notes deadline The deadline for class notes appearing in this issue of Io Triumphe was Oct. 31, 1999. Notes received after that date will appear in the next issue.
Class news 49 1949 Reunion Chair Stanley Jones
1949 reunion highlights by Stanley Jones The 50th reunion of the Class of 1949, Oct. 1-2, was a rousing success. We had 78 people with us on Friday night of Homecoming Weekend and 97 on Saturday night for our reunion dinner. The class won all three alumni reunion honors for the weekend: highest contributions to the Annual Fund, highest percentage of participation in giving and highest turnout for the reunion. Congratulations, Class of 1949! Our class was populated by students who started at Albion from 1942 through 1945. In keeping with our ties to WWII and the Big Band era, our reunion headquarters at Bellemont Manor was decorated with records, Big Band pictures, etc., by Erika Luft, from the Alumni Office, and her student helpers. We enjoyed receptions, followed by dinners on both nights. On Saturday morning many of our class members took a campus tour to observe the significant changes since they were last on campus (for some it was the first time back to Albion since graduation). We saw a winning football game, reminisced at all available hours, had an interesting program on Saturday night and culminated the evening dancing to the Phoenix Big Band at the Kellogg Center. Our class showed some of the younger people how to jitterbug! A truly marvelous weekend with classmates, spouses and friends. Io Triumphe! Henry and Helen Wolf Allen, both ’49, 4418 Mt. Read Blvd., Rochester, NY 14616, celebrated 51 years of marriage this past January. They have traveled to over 30 countries, and Henry has volunteered for 13 years with Food Shelf. A retired bacteriologist, Henry holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University. The Allens have four children and seven grandchildren.
Margaret Naumoff Arrington, ’49, 2412 Penny Lane SE, Decatur, AL 35601, is a retired teacher with many ties to church and civic groups, and she is an active member of the League of Women Voters and AAUW. She has also taken continuing education seminars in ethics and religion at Vanderbilt University. Margaret and her husband Thomas have three children. William Taylor Ball, ’49, 16953 Beechwood, Beverly Hills, MI 48025, spent his career in journalism and public relations, ending up as public relations manager for then-Burroughs Corp. (now Unisys). He has been involved with local government, including managing some local election campaigns. He is the father of two sons and one daughter. John “Jack” Beauchamp, ’49, 408 Coral Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, is president of Beauchamp & Co., Inc., a real estate appraisal/consulting firm. A member of his homeowners’ association board of directors, he is also a trustee of the Fort Lauderdale Presbyterian Church. Jack attended graduate school at Indiana University School of Business. He and his wife Beth take yearly cruises to Europe and Asia. They are the parents of three sons, including Steven Beauchamp, ’76, and John Beauchamp, ’77, and have five grandchildren.
coach and teacher as well as the PTA, VFW and several other organizations. He and his wife Maxine have six children, one of whom is deceased. Robert Biggs, ’49, 1577 Putters Lane, Lima, OH 45805, continues to practice ophthalmology, and is chief of staff of St. Rita’s Medical Center. An active Rotarian, Robert is also involved in the “Mended Hearts” organization, and he and his wife Jennie dance and teach ballroom dancing. They are frequent cruisegoers, and enjoyed a D-Day anniversary cruise to Normandy. Robert holds an M.D. as well as master’s degrees in biological chemistry and ophthalmology. The Biggses have three children and five grandchildren. Louis Black, ’49, 3841 Sugar Loaf Lane, Skokie, IL 60076, has been involved professionally and politically in various local and state government positions. He has also been involved in many civic organizations, including Little League, Pop Warner Football, “Toys for Tots” and as a school district caucus delegate. He is a member of the ATO alumni association, Jewish War Veterans, and Deborah Boys’ Club alumni. Louis is a 1993 inductee to the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame and was Skokie’s 1971 Citizen of the Year. He and his wife Mickey have two children.
Blair Bedient, ’49, 3011 Country Club Way, Albion, MI 49224, has retired following a successful career in Michigan journalism. He is past president of four statewide professional organizations, and a past recipient of the Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award. He and his wife, Roslyn Pahl Bedient, ’48, have two sons.
Jean Johnston Bolinger, ’49, 208 S. Liberty St., Marshall, MI 49068, has held local and state leadership roles in many organizations, including Order of Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary, 8+40 Auxiliary and Purple Heart Auxiliary. She has traveled through 48 United States and to some 20 foreign countries, especially in Europe and the Middle East. She has two daughters.
Fredrick Bernat, ’49, 2443 Owosso St., Crystal, MI 48818, has retired from Flint Community Schools. Fredrick has been involved in his community as principal,
Frank Bonta, ’49, 521 State, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827, is “really into the three Gs: grandparenting, golfing and gardening.” He and his wife, Patricia Smallwood
Bellemont Manor served as “reunion headquarters” for the Class of 1949 during Homecoming Weekend in October. Pictured are: (front row, left to right) John Curtiss, Sara Fitzgerald Tobias, Marjorie Henshaw Hesz, Mary Belle Hawver Brogren, James Parshall, Leonella Wilcox Blanke, Helen Wolf Allen, Henry Allen, Kenneth Smith, Grace Archbold Smith, Eileen Platzke Will, Mary Ann Onstad Hacker, Virginia Smith Johnson, Jean Curtiss, Marilyn Snodgrass, Margaret Bowker Millard, Dolores Weddell Abbott, Donald Abbott, Stanley Jones. (second row) Patricia Smith Peirson, Lawrence Frank, Lou Ann Garber Seeley, Lucretia Spratt Johnson, Konrad Kohl, Robert Wentworth, Alice Nelson Wentworth, Shirley Pearce Ednie,
Bonta, ’50, recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Frank retired as dean of Albion College admissions in 1995. The Bontas spend time in Green Valley, AZ, during the winter. They have two daughters, Amy Bonta Bender, ’78, and Julie Bonta Frayer, ’77; and two sons-inlaw, Stephen Bender, ’78, and Charles Frayer, ’77.
winning quilt maker. In the 1950s, she spent three years as a Methodist missionary in Mozambique, and she and her husband, C. Daniel, have twice visited the Middle East, researching Biblical coins. The parents of four children, the Clarks will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary simultaneously with the turn of the millennium.
Earl Bower, ’49, 22211 Grossedale, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082, still practices law. He is retired as a science teacher and a U.S. Navy commander of intelligence. He earned a master’s degree and a J.D. from the University of Detroit. Work and travel have taken Earl through Asia, and to Hawaii and Mexico. He has been married to his wife Shirley since 1955, and they are the parents of three children and grandparents to four.
Wanda Griffiths Clawson, ’49, 1507 W. Gull Lake Dr., Richland, MI 49083, is retired from a career working in the Kalamazoo Public Schools as a counselor and social worker. She holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Western Michigan University, and has a specialist degree in alcohol/drug abuse counseling. Wanda is active with the Kalamazoo Area Student Assistance Consortium and is a board member for Gryphon Place Help Line/Crisis Center. She has four children, including Jill Clawson-Golden, ’76, and Michael Clawson, ’80.
Arthur Brown, ’49, 2796 Manchester, Ann Arbor, MI 48014, has retired from teaching math and physics for Dearborn Public Schools. He earned a master’s degree in education from Wayne State University and a master’s degree in physics and mathematics education from the University of Michigan. Arthur and his wife, Jane Blanchard Brown, ’50, enjoy summers in Mio, MI. They have three sons, and will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next summer. Larry Cate, ’49, 827 Huerta Verde Rd., Glendora, CA 91741-2242, retired this year after 31 years as a restaurateur. He has lived in many regions of the U.S., and in Saudi Arabia, England and Canada, and has traveled throughout Europe. Larry enjoys spending time with family, and the challenges of computers, golf and the stock market. He and his wife Anne have three children. Margaret Sessions Clark, ’49, 22220 McCarthy Dr., Tehachapi, CA 93561, is self-employed as a seamstress and award-
Jean Curtiss, ’49, 49487 South Dr., Plymouth, MI 48170-2341, retired after an almost 34-year career at Detroit’s Kathryn B. White Elementary School, teaching and training student teachers. Currently, she is president of Plymouth Woman’s Club, vice president for her local Delta Kappa Gamma chapter, membership chair of the Plymouth Historical Society and active in the Plymouth First United Methodist Church. She holds master’s degrees in education from Wayne State University, and has traveled to Europe and frequently to Florida and the Upper Peninsula. Margaret Knowles Dawe, ’49, 2525 Willard SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49507, has retired from working in real estate and mortgage businesses. She is active in her church choir and leader of a Weigh Down Workshop. A “spiritual journey to Israel in 1988 . . . daily has affected my life,” she says. Margaret is the mother of three children and has seven grandchildren.
Beverly Lee Sawyer Gallentine, Dorothy Olenzek Slutz, Miriam Crone Taber, Charlotte Phelps Paner, Jean Johnston Bolinger, William Scofield. (third row) Margaret Knowles Dawe, John Beauchamp, Robert Starnes, Margery Boothroyd Starnes, Marilyn Guild Swanson, Howard Slutz, Barbara Barnes Goodson, Jean Langley McNutt, Joy Oddy Scofield. (fourth row) William Milner, Vernon Olcott, Ernestine Crandall Taylor, Dorothy Wilker Toutant, Adolph Anselmi, Dolores Morlock DeWitt, Shirley Newcomb Phillips, William Perkins, Robert Biggs, Elizabeth Marshall LaVine. (fifth row) Frank Bonta, Donald Criner, Marilyn Sandy Shoop Wenzel, ’51, David Schuurmans, Keith Leenhouts.
13
14
I O
T R I U M P H E A L B I O N O T E S
Paul Deller, ’49, 1511 Edsel Dr., Trenton, MI 48183, holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University and is a member of Faith United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Jeannette, have three children and nine grandchildren. Elizabeth “Betty” McIlvennan Dix, ’49, 1320 Beard St., Flint, MI 48503, is a retired teacher, and earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. She and her husband, Richard Dix, ’50, have been married for 49 years. The Dixes are frequently on the move, summering in Hessel, MI, wintering in Phoenix, and making yearly trips to Japan to visit their son, John Dix, ’82. They are the parents of three sons and have four grandchildren. G. Grant Duncan, ’49, 1690 Harvard Ct., Lake Forest, IL 60045, retired from business, has 10 years’ experience as a volunteer ESL tutor. He holds an M.B.A. from Michigan State University. He is the father of three daughters and has three grandchildren. Edward Eames, ’49, 303 River St., Hillsdale, MI 49242, had a 35-year career with Eagle Picher Industries. He holds leadership roles with United Way, Lions Club, Hillsdale Golf/Country Club, and his local Presbyterian Church. He and his wife Sally travel a great deal and spend time in Naples, FL; they also assisted with the design and organization of an adult foster care home. The Eameses have three children. Rex Eames, ’49, 22581 Statler, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081, has retired from practicing law. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. Rex is active with Dominican High School and Academy in DeWitt, serving on its board and as a tutor there. He has traveled to Antarctica, Alaska, China, and throughout the Middle East and Mediterranean region. H. Keith and Shirley Pearce Ednie, both ’49, 2815 Benjamin, Royal Oak, MI 48073, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this year. The Ednies are active church members and have been volunteered for Girl Scouts and a local otology clinic. They have enjoyed golf vacations and trips to Hawaii and Europe. The parents of three daughters, the Ednies also have six grandchildren. Jerry Edwards, ’49, 140 Seaview Ct. #1401N, Marco Island, FL 34145, has retired from dentistry. He holds a D.D.S. from the University of Michigan, and has been active in civic and professional organizations. He and his wife, Mary Lou Yost Edwards, ’48, have been married 51 years. Along with travel to Europe, South America and Alaska, they enjoy their three children, including Lisa Edwards Ellsworth, ’77, and seven grandchildren. Martha Miller Gallagher, ’49, 28736 Boniface Dr., Malibu, CA 90265, says that after 40 years, “the West Coast is beginning to feel like home.” She and her husband Hayden invite classmates to visit. Barbara Barnes Goodson, ’49, HCR61 Box 134, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805, is “happily retired to the mountains and forests of very northern Idaho.” She was honored earlier this year at the National Education Computing Conference as one of 20 pioneers of that organization. She and her husband Chester have two daughters and four grandchildren. MaryAnn Onstad Hacker, ’49, 285 S. Shore Dr., Suttons Bay, MI 49682, is retired from teaching elementary and special education, and continues to work as a vision and hearing screening volunteer with her local library. She is an active leader of her church women’s group, Delta
Gamma alumnae in Michigan and in Florida, and her local P.E.O. Sisterhood. She and her husband Donald have enjoyed travel on five continents. They have three children and eight grandchildren and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary next year. Marjorie Henshaw Hesz, ’49, 1001 Ramshorn Dr., Estes Park, CO 80517, and her husband Walter moved to Colorado after many years living in a Chicago suburb. They report that “our children all like to visit here—and we welcome friends who may also like to visit our Rocky Mountain area.” The Heszes’ children include Catherine Hesz Colten, ’81. Margaret Crandall Hiatt, ’49, 10030 Beulah Rd., Jackson, MI 49201-8219, publishes poetry in local media, and has been included in several anthologies; she also published her own book, Homespun. A member of the American College of Poetry, she was listed in 2000 Notable American Women - 1993 for her poetry. She has traveled around the globe with her husband Raymond, including living for a year in Pakistan. Along with support of many civic organizations, Margaret has also been a long-time member of the Rives Township Planning Commission, a U.S. Civil Service examiner and a Red Cross volunteer. The Hiatts enjoy trailer camping and spending time with their four children and eight grandchildren. Lucretia “Pete” Spratt Johnson, ’49, 3448 Saddleboro Dr., Uniontown, OH 44685, retired earlier this year as an elementary teacher with the Akron Public Schools. She has five children. Virginia Smith Johnson, ’49, 260 W. 12th St., Claremont, CA 91711, is a retired junior high school counselor. She is president of her P.E.O. Sisterhood chapter, is active in Sigma Alpha Iota and volunteers for Meals on Wheels and Recording for Blind and Dyslexic. She and her husband, Russ Johnson, ’48, celebrated 50 years of marriage this year. The Johnsons have two sons, including Dale Johnson, ’75, and five grandchildren. Stan Jones, ’49, 2945 S. Woodward Ave. #9, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, is celebrating the 12- year anniversary of Jones Associates, his consulting firm which has spent the last five years under contract with the Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is well known for his longtime, extensive service to Albion College, the Sigma Chi fraternity, and numerous other community groups. An honorary member of the Albion Board of Trustees, Stanley holds an honorary doctor of laws from Albion College and is a past recipient of the Albion College Meritorious Service Award.. He and his wife Fran have two children, including Jeffrey Jones, ’76. Peggy Jay Kay, ’49, 705 Seville Rd., Denton, TX 76205-8407, is a retired classroom teacher and active ESL volunteer teacher. She is a docent with Fort Worth’s Amon Carter Museum, and is active in church counseling ministry and the P.E.O. Peggy and her husband, George Kay, ’50, had their golden wedding anniversary earlier this year. They have two sons. Konrad Kohl, ’49, 2377 Hickory Glen, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, has spent 45 years as an attorney, founding two separate firms. His studies at Albion were interrupted by World War II, and he eventually graduated from the Detroit College of Law. He has traveled to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Brother-in-law to Donna Meyers Dupy, ’48, Konrad and his wife Barbara have four sons and seven grandchildren.
Elizabeth “Betty” Marshall LaVine, ’49, 2001 Fountain Ridge Rd., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, has retired from teaching. She is a member of the National Association of Federal Employees - Retired. She and her husband Bud have taken their RV to 45 states, and have enjoyed several cruises. The LaVines have three daughters and six grandchildren. Keith Leenhouts, ’49, 830 Normandy, Royal Oak, MI 48073, is a retired judge now working as director of court volunteer services for National Judicial College. Also a graduate of Wayne State University Law School, he has been recognized by both Albion College and Wayne State University as a distinguished alumnus. Keith and his wife Audrey have three sons. Kenneth Lindland, ’49, 601 South St., Grass Lake, MI 49240, is a retired United Methodist pastor who organized three churches during his service. Currently he is active in Lyme disease education projects. He earned his master’s degree in theology from Drew University. Kenneth and his wife Agnes have three children and eight grandchildren. Wendell Martin, ’49, 10 Spaulding St., Hartford, MI 49057, had a 38-year career as a teacher, coach and school administrator. A member of the Michigan State High School Athletic Association Football Coaches Hall of Fame, he was also a finalist for Michigan Teacher of the Year in 1984. Wendell is still active in education, as a member of the Hartford Foundation for Quality Education, and as a church lay leader. He earned a master’s degree from Michigan State University, and has been married for 52 years to his wife Eleanor. The Martins have five children, including Daniel Martin, ’72. Margaret Bowker Millard, ’49, P.O. Box 204, Paw Paw, MI 49079, spends her retirement volunteering for her local church, library board and youth organizations. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Besides taking her motor home around the U.S., she has traveled through North America, and to Europe and Asia. Margaret and her husband David have four children, including Carol Millard, ’78, and William Millard, ’82, and eight grandchildren. William Milner, ’49, 30 Pinehurst Dr., Springfield, IL 62704, has retired from underwriting for Aetna Life and Casualty Co., and now works as a volunteer for his church and senior citizen center. He and his wife, Alice Chrysler Milner, ’48, spend six months each year in Canada, and have traveled to Hawaii and the British Isles. The Milners have three children. Vern Olcott, ’49, 243 Thomas St., Allegan, MI 49010, is active with church, family and community activities. He and his wife, Bonnie Allgeo Olcott, ’48, are the parents of Judith Olcott Woods, ’74, Sue Olcott Chapell, ’77, Beth Olcott Stanloski, ’79, and Mark Olcott, ’90, and report that granddaughter Sara Chappell is a member of Albion’s Class of 2003. Billy Page, ’49, 206 Dan River Ct., Marco Island, FL 34145, is a retired physician, who now enjoys art, as a volunteer for his local art league, and as a clay and stone sculptor. He also enjoys boating and golfing. Billy and his wife Patricia recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The Pages have four children, including Billy Page II, ’74, and eight grandchildren.
Jim Parshall, ’49, 39460 Edgewater Dr., Northville, MI 48167, works as an OB/ GYN at Garden City Hospital. A Distinguished Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians/ Gynecologists, he also teaches English at the Arab-American Friendship Center in Dearborn. He has traveled throughout the U.S., and to Russia and Israel. Married to Carole since 1994, he has five children, including Nancy Parshall, ’82, and Daniel Parshall, ’85, three grandsons and two stepchildren.
Howard and Dorothy Olenzek Slutz, both ’49, 23 Stuart Dr., Old Greenwich, CT 06870, have been busy going on Elderhostel trips during the past several years. Howard retired from General Foods Corp. in 1986, but is an active artist, and has won several awards at local art shows. Dorothy has retired from teaching piano, but performs regularly for local audiences as half of a duo-piano ensemble. The Slutzes have four children and five grandchildren.
Bill Perkins, ’49, 1621 Crescent Lane, McLean, VA 22101, retired from the New York United Methodist Conference in 1995. Since then, he has lived most of the time in Ireland, serving as interim pastor for Methodist, Presbyterian and Church of Ireland churches there. He is married to Carol Paxton Perkins, ’50.
Bob and Marge Boothroyd Starnes, both ’49, 3594 E. Lake Dr., Metamora, MI 48455, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in July 2000. Bob holds a master’s degree from Wayne State University and is retired from William Beaumont Hospital. The Starneses enjoy travel, and have made eight trips to Hawaii. They are the parents of five children.
Shirley Newcomb Phillips, ’49, 22 Watsons Lane, Hampton, NH 03842-1212, is a YMCA program director and administrator for Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. She is a member of AAUW and has been active with many fine and performing arts organizations. Shirley has traveled to Europe, Asia and Central America. She is the mother of three children.
Marilyn Guild Swanson, ’49, 10154 Westside Circle, Littleton, CO 80125, has retired from careers as a medical technician and a Christian educator; she is also a volunteer state park naturalist. She enjoys studying theology and environmental issues. She and her husband Roy have been married since 1954 and are the parents of five children.
Robert Robison, ’49, 927 Blanchard Ave., Flint, MI 48503, is retired from positions with Flint Schools and the Flint Cultural Center. He earned a master’s degree from the University of Michigan. Robert and his wife, Helen Jones Robison, ’47, celebrated 52 years of marriage this year. They are the parents of three sons.
Miriam Crone Taber, ’49, 960 Harvard, Berkley, MI 48072, is volunteer president of Retirement Homes Friends of Detroit Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is a graduate of the Bronson Hospital School of Nursing. Miriam and her husband Harold Taber, ’50, are the parents of Sally Taber, ’74, Norma Taber, ’78, and a son.
Jarvis and Gertrude Elgear Schmidt, both ’49, 3006 Conger St., Port Huron, MI 48060, have three sons and two granddaughters. Jarvis had an active career in law and in real estate development. An Albion College honorary trustee, he is a member of the Detroit Racquet Club, Port Huron Yacht Club and Port Huron Golf Club. Dave Schuurmans, ’49, 2620 Wilson Ave., Lansing, MI 48906, is a microbiologist with the Michigan Department of Public Health laboratories. He is active with his United Methodist Church’s food bank, choir and United Nations Association. Dave swims for exercise, and has enjoyed travel to all 50 states, plus Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He and his wife, Carolyn Getty Schuurmans, ’51, have been married for 48 years and have two children and four grandchildren. William and Joy Oddy Scofield, both ’49, 106 W. Caledonia, Howell, MI 48843, celebrated 49 years of marriage this year. Bill is retired from May & Scofield, but remains board chairman. They both continue to be active in church service; Joy has been a member of the altar guild for 40 years. She also spent 22 years as secretary of the Howell District Library. The Scofields have racked up 50,000 miles as members of the Nomad Travel Club, including several trips to England. They are the parents of W. Richard Scofield, ’74, and also have two daughters and seven grandchildren. Harold Sharp, ’49, 663 Placita del Exito, Green Valley, AZ 85614, retired after 48 years as an engineer with General Motors. He and Florence “Dinghy” Spalding Sharp, ’50, have been married for 48 years and are looking forward to returning to Albion for her reunion next year. The Sharps have three children, including Wendy Sharp Rath, ’82, and eight grandchildren.
Ernestine Crandall Taylor, ’49, 9914 Andrews St., Allen Park, MI 48101, has retired from elementary school teaching, but continues to practice watercolor painting, stained glass art, pencil drawing and calligraphy. She travels “enough to keep life interesting” and enjoys spending time with her three children. Dorothy Wilker Toutant, ’49, 419 Emerald Dr., Charlotte, MI 48813, has retired from her position as a vision technician with the Eaton County Health Department. She has spent more than 40 years involved with local church and hospital volunteer activities, and also supported the Eaton County Courthouse restoration project. She and her husband, Eldred “Tout” Toutant, ’47, have toured Nova Scotia, Australia, New Zealand and Central Europe, and enjoys winters in Orange Beach, AL. They are the parents of three children. Marilyn Mann VanEvery, ’49, 2257 Wyoming Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI 495091672, is a library/media assistant in the Wyoming Public Schools. She also spent many years as secretary of the Wyoming Historical and Cultural Commission, and worked for the City of Wyoming’s historical collection. She and her husband David celebrated 50 years of marriage. They have four daughters and nine grandchildren. Richard Vetter, ’49, 4779 N. 33rd St., Arlington, VA 22207, is retired from a distinguished career in ocean science. He has been involved in several professional organizations, and was a founding member of the Marine Technology Society. He earned a master’s degree in physical oceanography from the University of California. Despite breaking his back in 1993, Richard is an active ballroom dancer. He has three sons.
I O
T R I U M P H E
15
A L B I O N O T E S
Beth Schooley Webster, ’49, 73-989 Nevada Circle W, Palm Desert, CA 92260, has retired from teaching in the Los Angeles City Schools and from work as a real estate broker. Having “fixer-uppers” as a hobby, she reports that she has lived in 25 different homes since graduation from Albion. Beth enjoys singing with the Desert Cities Chorus, a Sweet Adelines International affiliate, and traveling in North America and Europe. She has four children and eight grandchildren, including Rael Will, ’99. Robert and Alice Nelson Wentworth, both ’49, 6 Fox Hill Lane, E. Sandwich, MA 02537, have retired, respectively, from careers in Methodist ministry and education. Alice has been active in local and state leadership of P.E.O. Sisterhood, and Bob has been active with the Red Cross and serving on local school and church boards. The Wentworths continue to do genealogical research. They have two children, including Philip Wentworth, ’78, and two grandchildren. Eileen Platzke Will, ’49, 1191 Rockbridge Rd., Lexington, KY 40515, has retired from work as a dietitian and food service director. Volunteer work at a local hospital and as a recorder for University of Kentucky blind students has earned her election to become a Kentucky Colonel. She has traveled to 48 states and several European countries and is an active member of AAUW, Alpha Chi Omega alumnae and her church music ministry. She and her husband Nathaniel have three children.
51 James Benedict, ’51, is a retired thoracic surgeon who is pursuing new educational interests. He graduated magna cum laude in May from California State University in Long Beach with a B.A. in art. James has been accepted to the graduate art program at CSULB and is now working toward an M.F.A. in drawing and painting. He and his wife, Muriel Goodell Benedict, ’51, live in San Pedro, CA.
53 John Porter, ’53, was honored by Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in October when the university opened its new $16million John W. Porter Building, home of the College of Education. “This building represents a significant milestone in the life of Eastern’s College of Education,” noted Jerry Robbins, dean of the College of Education. “It brings our departments under one roof. It’s a time to celebrate.” EMU has also established the John W. Porter Chair in Urban Education. Porter, an Albion College trustee, is a former EMU president and former state superintendent of public instruction. He now heads the Urban Education Alliance, Inc. in Ypsilanti.
54 1954 Reunion Chair John Brundage
1954 reunion highlights by John Brundage The Class of 1954 celebrated a memorable 45th reunion Oct. 2 at the home of Bill and Ruth Ann Williams Biggs, both ’54. The meal was very delicious, and it was wonderful to see everyone again. Lots of memories, stories and laughter were shared. We enjoyed the Homecoming Weekend activities and couldn’t believe all of the impressive changes that have taken place at Albion since we graduated. It was a great time to reminisce and catch up with friends who attended. We are looking forward to our 50th reunion in 2004. F. Cameron Ambler, ’54, 13284 Golden Circle, Fenton, MI 48430, is a dentist. He has also been involved with the Jaycees and Kiwanis and has served as a village councilperson, a church officer and Sunday school teacher, and as treasurer of his local community center. Cameron and his wife Marjorie have four children and 10 grandchildren. William and Ruth Ann Williams Biggs, both ’54, 608 N. Kalamazoo, Marshall, MI 49068, have been married since 1954. They have three daughters and eight grandchildren. Bill and Ruth Ann have traveled extensively and spend the winter at their second home located at 122 N. Forest Beach Dr., 103 Oceanwood, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. Noel Black, ’54, 7100 Ada Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, is retired from a set of diverse careers in manufacturing, marketing, construction, the government, and the U.S. Army. He and his wife Carla have two children and nine grandchildren, all of whom live within a quarter mile of them. Jim and Pat Moody Bradshaw, both ’54, 2232 Oak Lane, Battle Creek, MI 49014, are enjoying their retirement, spending six months of the year in Michigan and the other six in Bradenton, FL. They recently enjoyed a trip to Spain. Bernette “Bunny” Johnson Brandt, ’54, 1154 Oak Dr., Durango, CO 81301, is retired from early childhood teaching. She is a board member of the Community Concerto Association and a volunteer and gallery guide at the Durango Arts Center. Bunny has enjoyed extensive travel in Europe, most recently to Greece and the Aegean Islands. She also loves hiking in and photographing the Rocky Mountains and enjoys a view of the mountains from her back deck. Bunny and her late husband Wallace have five children and five grandchildren. Ann Stowe Campbell, ’54, 444 Pine Needles Dr., Del Mar, CA 92014 is retired. She is involved as a docent with Torrey Pines State Reserve, as a reading volunteer with the Del Mar Schools, and the children’s program with the Del Mar Library. Ann has traveled throughout the United States, England, France, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Panama and the Caribbean Islands. She and her husband John have three children and one granddaughter.
Rolph Carey, ’54, 26220 Siena Dr., Bonita Springs, FL 34134, is retired from the Birmingham and Troy Insurance Agency. He and his wife, Lois Wyman Carey, ’56, moved to Florida eight months ago. They spend summers in Wolfboro, NH. James Cook, ’54, 703 Irwin Ave., Albion, MI 49224, holds the Langbo Trustees’ Professorship in English at Albion College. Jim is president of the Albion Public Library board, a member of Rotary International, director of the ACM/GLCA program in Venice, Italy, and a member of the Newberry Library in Chicago. He holds an M.A. and a Ph.D. Jim and his wife Barbara have three children and four grandchildren. They are currently in Venice directing the off-campus study program there. Virginia Arbaugh Crossley, ’54, 685 Canyon Rd., Rochester, MI 48306, is a retired medical librarian. She received an M.S.L.S. from Wayne State University in 1973, following which she worked for two years at the science library at Wayne State. She later worked at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak before retiring in 1988. Virginia has been an active member of Questers, Daughters of the American Revolution, a doll club, and a paper doll club. She has also chaired three international paper doll conventions. Virginia and her husband, John Crossley, ’53, have three children and four grandchildren. Cedric and June Luke Dempsey, both ’54, 8036 Clymer Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46250, have been married since 1953 and have two daughters. They recently relocated to Indianapolis from Overland Park, KS. The recipient of an M.Ed. from the University of Arizona and an Ed.D. from the University of Houston, June is a retired dean of the University of Arizona. She is on the executive board of the America-Israel Friendship League, chair of Partners for Global Education, and a member of the site inspection team of TraveLearn. Cedric is president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and, with June, received the 1999 Partnership for Democracy award from the America-Israel Friendship League. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Donna Stutesman DeVinney, ’54, 14 Dartmoor Place, Midland, MI 48640, is retired from a career as a tax consultant. She is active in the League of Women Voters and the United Methodist Church. Donna has traveled all over the world and recently returned from a bicycling Elderhostel in Denmark and Sweden. She and her husband, Robert DeVinney, ’53, have four children. Dorothy Hoisington Dickerson, ’54, 28611 D Drive N., Albion, MI 49224, is retired after spending 16 years as a substitute teacher in the Albion Public Schools and as the Sheridan Township clerk. Dorothy is married to Gar Dickerson, ’52. Phil Doster, ’54, 49 Windsor Court, Keene, NH 03431, is retired from the human resources department of Corning, Inc. Prior to that he had served as a Methodist minister. He holds an S.T.B. and S.T.M. from Boston University. He has pursued advanced training and study at the National Training Labs, Columbia University, the University of Michigan and the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland. Philip and his wife Virginia have traveled throughout Europe and have a home in Costa del Sol, Spain. They have three children. Kenneth and Evelyn Gwinn Edwards, both ’54, 1955 Crossroads, Prescott, AZ 86305, have been married since 1956 and
have two children. Kenneth is a professor emeritus of analytical and physical chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines. He is also a volunteer at a community nature center, a tour guide at Sharlot Hall Historical Museum and the Prescott Visitors’ Bureau, and a part-time adjunct professor at Yavapai Community College. Kenneth holds an M.S. from Dartmouth and a Ph.D. from Colorado. Norman Eifler, ’54, 1211 E. Broadway, Mount Pleasant, MI 48858, is retired from his private practice as a dentist. He previously served in the U.S. Army. Norman is president of the Ninth District Dental Society, a member of the Lions Club, YMCA, Hospice of Central Michigan, and Mount Pleasant Country Club. He is also active in the United Methodist Church and is a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Norman holds a D.D.S. from the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Ada Jean Muma Eifler, ’56, have four children and four grandchildren. Ann Peters Elms, ’54, 10 Middle Beach Rd., Naubinway, MI 49762, and her husband, Gale Elms, ’52, have two children and four grandchildren. They travel extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and South America. Ruth Pollock Ely, ’54, 3814 Del Mar Ave., San Diego, CA 92106, retired recently from her position as a school director. She has served as a volunteer with CASA and with Voices for Children. Ruth holds an M.A. in education from United States University and an M.A. in counseling psychology from National University. She and her husband Mel have three children and four grandchildren. They have traveled to Eastern Europe, the Mexican Riviera, Cooper Canyon and Russia. O. Guy Frick, ’54, 1000 Huntswood Way, Oxnard, CA 93030, is retired as a deputy district attorney. He is a charter member and past president of the Rotary Club of Ventura-South. Guy holds an L.L.B. He and his wife Marie have two children and two grandchildren. David Grier, ’54, 316 Clinton St., South Haven, MI 49090, is retired as a judge in the Seventh District Court. He holds a J.D. David and his wife Martha have seven children and 15 grandchildren. John Hammond, ’54, 3390 Middlebrook Dr., St. Joseph, MI 49085, is a circuit judge for the State of Michigan. Prior to this position, he had served as a lawyer, prosecutor and district judge. John holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan. He has traveled throughout Europe and Asia. John and his wife Betsy have two children. Marjorie MacMillan Hever, ’54, 7119 Smooth Path, Columbia, MD 21045, is a business English instructor at Howard Community College. She has also worked as a department store and book store sales clerk and as a tax preparer. Marjorie is active in the Presbyterian church, the Sigma Alpha Iota Baltimore Alumnae Association, and Churches Concerned for the Homeless. She and her husband Robert have three children and five grandchildren. E. Constance Kinzie, ’54, 1400 20th St. NW, Apt. 410, Washington, DC 20036, is a technical editor for the Federal Reserve Board. She is a member of the Washington, D.C., Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota and traveled to Germany recently for a family reunion.
Maureen Kennedy Kinzler, ’54, 26298 LaMuera, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, is retired and spending her time traveling. In recent years she has visited the British Isles three times as well as taking a cruise through the Greek isles, Israel and Turkey. Maureen and her husband Earl have two daughters and two granddaughters. Carol Poosch Klein, ’54, 31720 Franklin Rd., Franklin, MI 48025, is president of the Detroit Association of Phi Beta Kappa, secretary and a trustee of the Franklin Historical Society, and a trustee of the Cranbrook Music Guild. She is also an avid art collector, having many collections, including a large collection of Canadian Inuit sculpture and graphics. Burt and Sally Lamkin, both ’54, 364 Hazelwood, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, are both retired from the administration of the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Burt is a flight instructor, and Sally does consulting for Head Start programs. They have taken many trips, including three to Russia. Sally was honored as an Albion Distinguished Alumna, and both have received the Hope Clinic Humanitarian Award. Burt holds an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and Sally holds an M.A. from Eastern Michigan University. They have three children and one granddaughter. Jane Hunsicker Marcum, ’54, 38 Kuuala St., Kailua, HI, 96734, is retired from the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture as an information specialist. Jane is active in the Methodist Church, the Delta Zeta Alumnae Group, the Christian Women’s Club, the Hawaiian Wine Makers Circle, and the Post-Polio Syndrome Network. Jane and her husband Laurence have two children. They have traveled to the Far East, Malaysia, Europe, Alaska and Tahiti, and lived in Taiwan from 1973 to 1978. Willard Meader, ’54, 2013 Green View Dr., Richland, WA 99352, is retired from the U.S. Air Force. During his career, Willard had 17 assignments that took him throughout Europe and Asia. He is active in the United Way and serves as council president for the Silver Beaver Area Boy Scout district. Willard holds an M.D. from Temple University and an M.P.H. from the University of California at Berkeley. He and his wife Sharon have two children and two grandsons. Naomi Walton Murray, ’54, 5256 Territorial Rd., Grand Blanc, MI 48439, is a member of the Junior League, the Alpha Xi Delta Foundation, and the Shakespeare Club. She has received the Liberty Bell Award and created a sexual assault center at the Flint YWCA through a grant in criminal justice programs. Naomi and her husband, James Bruce Murray, ’55, have one daughter and two granddaughters. John Pangborn, ’54, 949 Clarence Court, Midland, MI 48640, is retired from the Dow Chemical Co. as a utility manager. He is a member of his church board and school board. John has traveled extensively in Europe, China, Alaska and Hawaii. He holds a B.S.(EE) from the University of Michigan. John is married to Tresa Pangborn. Barbara Carne Riehl, ’54, 8307 Donna Rd., Westland, MI 48185, is retired from the University of Michigan. She is a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics. She holds an M.Ed. in mathematics education. Barbara has traveled to England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria. She enjoys waterskiing, bicycling, gardening, spending time with her family, and travel. Barbara and her husband Don have one son and two grandchildren.
16
I O
T R I U M P H E A L B I O N O T E S
Judy Bingham Shepard, ’54, 8715 Boone Court, St. Louis Park, MN 55426, is retired as a legal secretary and librarian. She holds an M.A. in library science from the University of Michigan and is a certified legal secretary. Judy has served on the boards of three square dance clubs in the Twin Cities Metro Area and on the board of Friends of Hunt Hill. Judy has three children and two grandchildren. She has been married to George Shepard since 1993. Margaret Graham Siegan, ’54, 715 Wayne St., St. Joseph, MI 49085, retired in 1997 after 38 years of teaching. She holds a master’s in reading. She and her husband Donald have been married since 1955 and have three children and two grandchildren. They have traveled throughout Florida and Wisconsin and have taken two boat trips.
teacher. She holds an M.Ed. Danni is an organizer and leader of the West Michigan Parents of Murdered Children and Other Survivors of Homicide. She is the mother of four children, one of whom is deceased, and has two grandchildren.
Historical Society, and a docent of the Empire Mine State Historic Park. Priscilla has two children and five grandchildren. She and her husband Peter have been married for 15 years and have taken trips to the Netherlands to visit his family.
Katherine Smith Stahl, ’54, 523 James St., Spring Lake, MI 49456, is a substitute teacher. She is the past president of the Saugatuck-Douglas Art Club, a member of the United Methodist Women, and a member of the Port Sanilac Lioness Club. Katherine and her husband, Milton Stahl, ’56, have five children and seven grandchildren.
John and Sue Carter Walker, both ’54, 4608 E. Desert Dr., Phoenix, AZ 85044, have been married since 1954 and have three children and six grandchildren. John is retired as a professor at Arizona State University. Sue is retired as an elementary school teacher. John holds an M.A. and a Ph.D., and Sue holds an M.A. The couple is active in the Dayspring Methodist Church of Tempe, AZ. They previously have lived in Michigan, Las Vegas and Utah.
Ronald Smalley, ’54, 933 Hover Ridge Circle, Longmont, CO 80501, is a retired physician. His major activities since his retirement are watercolor painting and golf. Ronald is married to Donna Smalley.
Ellyn Mazie Sternberg, ’54, 25651 W. Highway 60, Grayslake, IL 60030, is the retired manager of a hospital shop. Ellyn and her husband, Benjamin Sargent, have three children and eight grandchildren. They recently finished building Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, an 18-hole, upscale public golf course, on their own farm. They enjoy cruises, paddle wheel cruises and elderhostels.
Dannette Wingeier Smith, ’54, 725 Bowes Rd. #B-8, Lowell, MI 49331, is retired as a kindergarten and preschool
Priscilla Lewis Vanderpas, ’54, 212 Hill St., Grass Valley, CA 95945, is retired. She is the president of the Nevada County
Celia Cook Weidendorf, ’54, 9225 W. Outer Dr., Detroit, MI 48219, is a part-time secretary with Weidendorf Realty. She has traveled to Italy, Germany and the Caribbean. Celia and her husband Charles have four children and two grandchildren. Daniel and Barbara Kinzel Williamson, both ’54, 39614 Greenbrier Court, Northville, MI 48167, have been married since 1954 and have four children and three grandchildren. Barbara is a real estate
Albion College and your retirement planning? More than ever, today’s retirees are taking advantage of giving opportunities to secure an income stream for themselves and to provide for Albion College.
It’s called smart giving. If your retirement nest egg consists of highly appreciated assets such as stock or real estate, or if you are simply looking to do more for Albion, a planned gift to Albion College may be just the thing for you. And, with a gift of $20,000 or more, you have the ability to create a named endowment or identify another naming opportunity to honor a loved one or to establish your own legacy.
You can fulfill your philanthropic desires and retain financial security at the same time. As a bonus, some very attractive tax savings are possible. Call us. We’d be happy to discuss your philanthropic vision for Albion College. Contact Jim Curtis, ’87, Jim Whitehouse, ’69, or Michele Emig-Hall, ’76, to discuss giving opportunities and to obtain a financial proposal tailored to your circumstances. Office of Gift and Estate Planning 611 E. Porter St. Albion, MI 49224 517/629-0493
Or e-mail us at jcurtis@albion.edu jwhitehouse@albion.edu memig@albion.edu
salesperson, and Dan works for “Flyers in a Flash,” a promotion and mailing business. Dan had formerly been a real estate salesperson as well. Dan was the 1982 president of the Michigan Association of Realtors, and Barb volunteers with the Junior Group Goodwill.
59 1959 Reunion Chair Donald Vangilder
1959 reunion highlights by Donald Vangilder The 40th reunion of the Class of 1959 was a great experience for all who attended. Although we got a little wet enjoying Albion’s victory over Defiance in the Homecoming game, the weather provided a perfect opportunity for classmates to congregate under the reunion tent and get reacquainted with old friends they had not seen for many years. “Catching up” was great fun as class members discussed families, careers and medical histories while telling stories about those unable to attend. The highlight of the weekend was our Saturday evening reunion dinner at Schuler’s where good food and fellowship were warmly enjoyed and will be long remembered. Larry Andringa, ’59, 2971 Crescent Shores Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684, is retired from the State of Michigan. He holds an M.A. from Wayne State University. Larry and his wife Sharon have been married since 1987 and spend each winter in Palm Desert, CA. Jim Beasley, ’59, W277 N2793 Chicory Lane, Pewaukee, WI 53072, is president of the Milwaukee Area Radio Stations, Inc. He has held a variety of positions in television and radio. He has also served in the U.S. Army and National Guard. Jim is involved with the Governor’s Alliance for a Drug Free Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Ad Club and the Affirmative Action Committee of the National Association of Black Journalists. He was recently inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Jim and his wife Barbara have three daughters and three grandchildren. James Beauchamp, ’59, 1002 Eliot Dr., Urbana, IL 61801, is a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. Jim has worked at the Space Tech Labs of Los Angeles and as a research associate at Stanford University, as well as on the musical and electrical/computer engineering faculty at UIUC. He holds an M.S. from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. Jim has three children from his first marriage. Jim and his wife Karen have a two-year-old son. Kenneth and Betty Lou Greene Borland, both ’59, 1173 Anquas Way, Yuma, AZ 85364, have been married since 1958 and have two children and three grandchildren. Ken, who has a Ph.D. from Michigan State, retired in 1997 after serving 14 years as a college president in Illinois and Arizona. The recipient of an M.A. from Michigan State, Betty Lou retired in 1998 after 18 years as a director of special education for a 6,000-student school district. Both are
involved in volunteer activities as well as being on the boards for various organizations in health care and economic development. Dale Brubaker, ’59, 1812 Tiffany Place, Greensboro, NC 27408, is a professor at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He and his wife, Barbara Stewart Brubaker, ’60, have three children including John Brubaker, ’86. They spend summers at Lake Louise in Northern Michigan. Daniel Chapman, ’59, 3430 N. Zeeb, Dexter, MI 48130, is a pediatrician at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. He also spent 32 years as an Air Force reservist. Daniel holds an M.D. and an M.P.H. from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Linda Peterson Chapman, ’60, have two sons, including Daniel Chapman, ’81. Alfred Cohoe, ’59, 106 Hill Building, S. Main St., Ada, OH 45810, is a professor at Ohio Northern University. He is a member of the Ohio Psychological Association, the American College of Forensic Psychology, the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, and the International Churchill Society. Alfred has traveled frequently to England and Switzerland. Allan Davis, ’59, 652 Layman Creek Circle, Grand Blanc, MI, is an attorney. He holds a J.D. Allan is a member of the Grand Blanc Board of Education and was a 1987 recipient of the Hands of Mercy Award from the Salvation Army. He has two sons, including Matt Davis, ’88. Allan has been married to Carole Meek since November 1998. James Flack, ’59, 3125 Northampton St., NW, Washington, DC 20015, is a history professor and assistant baseball coach at the University of Maryland. He and his wife Jan have three children. Bob Fleming, ’59, 88152 Keola Lane, Springfield, OR 97478, leads nature study tours in various parts of Africa, Asia and Oceania, including Mongolia, China, Burma, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. Bob holds a Ph.D. in zoology and was awarded a medal by the king of Nepal for his work in birds and conservation in that Himalayan kingdom. Bob is married to Linda Firth. Beverly Evler Gallagher, ’59, 20 Stonehenge Court, Burr Ridge, IL 60521, is a retired interior designer. She is involved with the Hinsdale Junior Women’s Club, St. John of the Cross Women’s Club, the Good Samaritan Hospital and Hinsdale Hospital committees, the Illinois Association of Interior Designers, and the Burr Ridge Woods Bath and Tennis Club. Beverly has traveled to Hawaii, Spain, Grand Caymans, Cancun, Aruba, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Ireland. She and her husband Richard have three sons and five granddaughters. Allison James Green, ’59, 1002 Copeman Blvd., Flint, MI 48504, is a retired teacher and a member of the Flint Board of Education. She has served as president of the Alpha Xi Delta Alumnae Association and has been involved with the Court Street United Methodist Church, Girl Scouts, and is listed in Who’s Who in the World. Allison holds an M.A. from the University of Michigan. John Greig, ’59, 2841 Lamplighter, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, is a dentist and a board member of the Michigan Dental Association. He and his wife Linda have four children.
I O
T R I U M P H E
17
A L B I O N O T E S
Ralph and Linda Larick Kenyon, both ’59, 7100 7 1/2 Mile Rd., Ceresco, MI 49033, have four grown children, including Jane Kenyon Lawrence, ’83. Ralph is retired, and Linda is the enrichment coordinator with Harper Creek Community Education. John and Justine Oliver Krsul, both ’59, 7094 Huntington Dr., Sawyer, MI 49125, have been married since 1958 and have two daughters and two grandchildren. John is a partner in Dickinson Wright PLLS. He holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan and just finished a term as treasurer of the American Bar Association. Keith Leak, ’59, 24 Benton Rd., Saginaw, MI 48602, is an attorney with Maturen, Mahlburg, Leak and Brandt. He is involved with the National Ski Patrol, the Saginaw Bar Association Board, and the local hospital board. Keith holds a J.D. from the Detroit College of Law. He and his wife, Mary Ann Abbot, have three children, including Sarah Leak, ’91, and three grandchildren. John and Gloria Schultz Leppi, both ’59, 108 Sundance Court, Weatherford, TX 76087, are enjoying retirement. They are both very involved with the community and church, including the Parker County Cancer Care Services Steering Committee, a program that Gloria initiated to help under-insured and poverty-level cancer patients and their families. The couple has two children and six grandchildren. Susan Collins Liebetrau, ’59, 4651 Gulf Shore Blvd., Naples, FL 34103, is retired from the Bloomfield Hills Schools. She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and P.E.O. and volunteers at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and a literacy group. Susan holds an M.Ed. from Wayne State University. She has two children and four stepchildren. Susan and her husband Russell live in Bloomfield Hills May through October and Naples November through April. David Lindberg, ’59, 185 Hillcrest Dr., California, PA 15419, is pastor of a United Methodist Church. He is the past president of the Rotary Club, president of the local Ministerium, a pastoral pension consultant, and a Paul Harris Rotary Fellow. David holds an M.Div. from Wesley Theological Seminary. He and his wife Susan have one daughter, Heather Lindberg, ’01.
Carolyn Wood Miller, ’59, 1612 S. San Ray, Green Valley, AZ 85614, is a retired medical technician. She holds an M.T. and an A.S.C.P. She and her husband Lloyd have five children and 10 grandchildren. Charles and Mary Cameron Nebel, both ’59, P.O. Box 664, Munising, MI 49862, have been married for 39 years and have three children, including Charles Cameron Nebel, ’83, and Camie Nebel Conklin, ’93. Chuck is in partnership with their son Charles in Nebel and Nebel, Attorneys at Law. He is also on the board of the People’s State Bank, the Hiawatha Telephone Company and the Alger County Historical Society. Chuck and Mary have visited Rome and China. Glenna VanderMeer Paukstis, ’59, 502 N. Lakeshore Dr., Ludington, MI 49431, is retired and becoming involved with Elderhostels. She has been involved with the American Association of University Women, Delta Zeta sorority and several church committees. Glenna holds an M.A. from the University of Michigan. She and her husband, Chuck Paukstis, ’57, have one daughter, Sarah Paukstis, ’93. David Peterson, ’59, 2180 N. Altadena Dr., Pasadena, CA 91107, is director of the University of Southern California’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology located in Los Angeles. He holds an M.S. in education from Western Michigan University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. David and his wife, Ellen May Gable Peterson, ’60, have two children and two grandchildren. They have traveled to Kenya, Chile, Easter Island, Mexico, Iceland, Norway, Spain, Scotland, Nova Scotia, Montana, Alaska, Taiwan, Japan and China. This past summer they traveled on a freighter through the South Pacific, visiting the major islands in French Marquaise. William Prout, Jr., ’59, 2215 Runnymede, Ann Arbor, MI 48103, is retired as the head of the special education department at Cody High School. He is involved with CEC and holds an M.A. from Wayne State University. Arnold and Lois Hall Rich, both ’59, 29670 East Side Dr., Beaver Island, MI 49782, are retired. They have three daughters and six grandchildren. Roberta Langdon Richardson, ’59, 1417 Fox Hollow Rd., Niskayuna, NY 12309, is a retired teacher. She had previously served as an advertising assistant and instructional assistant. Roberta is involved with Operation Friendship, Literacy Volunteers
The Albion College Annual Fund exceeded its dollar goal last year and met the terms of the first year of the Stoffer Alumni Challenge with 42.5% alumni giving! With your help, this year will become another record-setter. The Annual Fund at Albion continues to provide students with the wealth of opportunities—both in and out of the classroom—that define “The Albion Experience.”
48% 44% 40%
00
With an increased dollar goal of $1.92-million this fiscal year and a 44% alumni participation goal to meet the terms of the second year of the Stoffer Alumni Challenge, your gift is more important than ever. The loyalty and generosity of our alumni, parents and friends will make these achievements possible.
20
Truman Jordan, ’59, 317 S. 3rd St. E., Mount Vernon, IA 52314, is a professor of chemistry at Cornell College. He is currently conducting research in dental chemistry. Truman holds a Ph.D. from Harvard. He and his wife Linda have three daughters. They are both active in the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church and have traveled to Singapore, Japan and France.
Larry Masteller, ’59, 6773 Ardsley Dr., Canton, MI 48187, is retired as director of adult and community education with the Plymouth Canton Community Schools. Prior to serving in that position he had been a teacher and coach. Larry is board president of the Michigan Adult Education Administrators Association as well as of the Wayne Monroe Adult and Community Educators Association. He and his wife Dolores have four children.
Stoffer Challenge enters year two
9
James Hurd, ’59, 2684 Vail Court, Green Bay, WI 54311, is the retired vice president and owner of Krueger International. He serves on the YMCA board and has served as the chair of various civic organizations. Jim was inducted in the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame. He enjoys hiking and rafting adventures in New Zealand and golf trips to England. James and his wife, Janet Booth Hurd, ’62, have four children.
Larry Manning, ’59, 928 Princeton Blvd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He is involved with the American Cancer Society and the West Michigan Dental Society. He is the recipient of a St. Georges Medal and a Distinguished Service Award. Larry holds a D.D.S. and an M.S. from the University of Michigan. He and his wife, Shirley Bensen Manning, ’60, have three children and three grandchildren. They have traveled to Norway, the Galapagos Islands, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
19 9
William Hight, ’59, 106 Monroe Ave., Belle Mead, NJ 08502, is retired as an AT&T executive and has begun a second career with the International Recording Media Association. William traveled to Germany this year with a singing chorale. He and his wife Meredith have five daughters. William holds an M.A. in communication arts from Michigan State University.
1
0
0
2
Thank you for your past and future support of Albion College.
of America, the American Association of University Women and Faith United Methodist Church. She holds an M.S.Ed. from the College of St. Rose, Albany. She and her husband Max have three children. Nancy Gardner Robinson, ’59, 100 Willow Ave., State College, PA 16801, is retired and now involved with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. She is involved with St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the ChristCare ministry. Nancy and her husband James have four children and three grandchildren. They recently took a trip to Greece. Larry and Sally Klang Robson, both ’59, 2765 Woodcliff Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, have been married for 39 years and have two children, Bill Robson, ’86, and Becky Robson- Chuba, ’89, and two grandchildren. Larry is a vascular surgeon. He has served on the Albion College Board of Trustees, as president of the Michigan Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, as governor-at-large of the American College of Surgeons, and as president of the Michigan Vascular Society. He holds an M.D. from the University of Michigan. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award from Albion in fall 1999 (see also Alumni Association News section). David Ryder, ’59, 372 Canyon Dr. S., Columbus, OH 43214, is a senior scientific information analyst with Chemical Abstracts Service. He is also currently leader of the Hospital Homebound Ministry of Beechwood Christian Church and a member of the church’s choir. David holds an M.S. in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin. He and his wife Susan have two sons and one granddaughter. John Schlecht, ’59, 4510 Great Oak Rd., Rockville, MD 20853, and his wife, Judith Dixon Schlecht, ’60, have been married for 40 years and have two children and two grandsons. Marsha Bradshaw Skinner, ’59, 23905 Brookplace, Farmington, MI 48336, has taught school in Livonia as well as Japan and Italy. She is a member of numerous charity and civic groups, including the local
cancer association, Welcome Wagon, and various school activities. Marsha holds an M.A. from Western Michigan University. She and her husband Gerald have two sons. Betty Briggs Smith, ’59, 20 Parsons Court, Coldwater, MI 49036, is pastor of the Coldwater United Methodist Church. She holds a master of divinity degree from the Methodist Theological School in Ohio. Betty has lived in New York, Connecticut, Los Angeles and the Monterey Peninsula in California and has traveled to Europe, Indonesia, Africa, Israel and Palestine, and a mission trip to Haiti. She has three children. Loren Smith, ’59, P.O. Box 953, El Prado, NM 87529, is the founder and principal partner of Threshold Management. He has worked for Colgate, General Foods, Citibank, the U.S. Postal Service, and Serta, Inc. Loren is also chair of the Council for Basic Education and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. He and his wife Ann have three children and five grandchildren. Robert and Lynn Cassell Smith, both ’59, 1301 Canterbury Lane, Glenview, IL 60025, have been married for 42 years and have two children and three grandchildren. Robert is an orthodontist. He is president of the local Kiwanis Club, past president of the Illinois Society of Orthodontists, and a member of the Evanston Association of Dentists. Patricia Miller Stade, ’59, 2820 Marshall Ct., #4, Madison, WI 53705, is retired after 20 years as the director of the Portage County Department on Aging. She is active in the Democratic Party and choral activities. Patricia has lived in Tanzania and Kenya and traveled to Egypt, Ethiopia and Italy. She and her husband Ramon have four children and one grandchild. Shirlee Swanson, ’59, 5221 Lake Harbor Rd., Muskegon, MI 49441, is a teacher with the Muskegon Public Schools. She had previously taught at the Fruitport Schools. Shirlee has served as president of the PTO and has been involved with Friends of the Symphony, the West Shore Symphony board, and the leadership team
for the Bible Study Fellowship. She holds a B.S.E.E. in education and an M.A. in early childhood education. Shirlee has traveled to Greece, Turkey, Africa, Ireland, Ecuador, India and the Galapagos Islands. She has three children and nine grandchildren. Joseph Taylor, ’59, 3250 O’Brien SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49544, is a pediatrician with ABC Pediatrics of Grand Rapids. He holds an M.D. from the University of Michigan and an F.A.A.P. Joseph has ridden his horse across Michigan every fall for the past 15 years. He and his wife, Janet VanWingen Taylor, ’58, have four children and five grandchildren. Don Vangilder, ’59, 7640 Linden Dr., West Bloomfield, MI 48324, is retired as vice president of business markets with Ameritech. He has traveled to New Zealand, France and Italy. Don and his wife Nancy have three daughters and four grandchildren. Donna Grindle Williams, ’59, 411 N. Eaton St., Albion, MI 49224, is retired from the Albion Public Schools after teaching music for 23 years. She is involved with the First United Methodist Church choir, the American Association of University Women, the ELT Club, the Arts Advisory Council of the Albion Community Foundation, and the Michigan Music Educators’ Association. Donna holds an M.A. in liberal studies from Hamline University. She and her husband John have two children and one grandson. Stephanie Jean Witt, ’59, PMP #101, 6757 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546, is president of Kitchens by Stephanie, Ltd. She is currently traveling throughout most of the country as the president-elect of the National Kitchen and Bath Association. Stephanie and her husband, Gilbert Witt, ’57, have three daughters and four grandchildren. She has traveled to England, Germany, Finland, France and Mexico.
18
I O
T R I U M P H E A L B I O N O T E S
David Youngs, ’59, 6 Shaker Glen Lane, Shaker Heights, OH 44122, is a health care consultant with Ernst and Young in Cleveland. He has also held academic positions at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Vermont, and practiced as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Maine and Cleveland. He is a board member of the First Unitarian Church in Cleveland. David and his wife Margot have two sons. He holds an M.D. from the University of Michigan and an M.S. from the Case Western Reserve University School of Management.
62 Clark Chipman, ’62, is the subject of a theatrical documentary, “A Day in the Life of Clark Chipman,” performed at the New York International Fringe Festival in August by its creator Jon Schumacher. The production is the first in a series of theatrical documentaries that explore the lives of Americans at the end of the 20th century. At each performance, Schumacher selects a volunteer from the audience to be the next subject in his series. The premise of the production is that in the daily life of every individual there exists a story to be told. Chipman works in Higher Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education in Chicago. William Richardson, ’62, has been recognized by the Guizhou Provincial Education Commission as an honored educator of Guizhou Province, People’s Republic of China, for 10 years of support to educational development in China’s poorest province. He is the first foreigner ever to receive this award. In addition to training Chinese middle school teachers of English, Bill has established and facilitates an education fund to provide the opportunity for 200 countryside students to attend school. He lives in Waterford.
64 1964 Reunion Co-Chairs Carolyn Aishton William Lauderbach
1964 reunion highlights by William Lauderbach Our 35th reunion events at Homecoming 1999 started on Saturday with the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. Our classmate, Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist, was recognized as one of Albion’s distinguished alumni. We then had lunch together and watched the Britons win against Defiance College. Saturday evening approximately 40 alumni, spouses and friends enjoyed a wonderful dinner in the Wendell Will Room at the Stockwell Library. The room provided a beautiful setting for reestablishing old friendships and catching up on 35 years. We were joined by retired faculty members Keith Moore and Ewell “Doc” Stowell and their spouses. Another Albion faculty member with us was our own Marty Ludington.
Class members came from near and far: New York City, Washington, DC, Boston, Florida and California were represented as well as many places in between. It was a great time and we’re looking forward to the 40th! Joan Fraser Forshew Albrecht, ’64, 1823 Brookwood Dr., Akron, OH 44313, is a homemaker and active with the Fairlawn Country Club, the Odd Lot Investment Club, and the Bath Church, where she participates in three music ensembles. Joan’s husband, Frank Forshew, ’63, died in 1992, and she married lifelong friend Harry Albrecht in 1995. The Albrechts’ combined family includes six grown children and seven grandchildren. Steve Alcorn, ’64, retired in May from his practice as a urologist and is now looking toward developing a second career. He and his wife Gwen are dividing their time between Florida and their home in Cashiers, NC. Kenn Ashley, ’64, 1446 Windcrest Dr., Deerfield, IL 60015, is senior vice president and treasurer of True North Communications, Inc. He’s also a member of the Board of Directors for Chicago Pension Forum, and corporate finance chair for the National Association of Corporate Treasurers. Kenn holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. He has been married for 32 years to Lyn Tuttle Ashley, ’67. David Barrett, ’64, 41 Mall Rd., Burlington, MA 01805, is CEO and chair of Lahey Clinic, a move that represents “a lifelong dream of providing outstanding health care to those who need it.” He was formerly Urology Department chair at the Mayo Clinic. He has been active on the Albion College Board of Trustees and as president of the American Board of Urology. The recipient of an M.D. degree from Wayne State University, he is the author of four books and 160 journal articles. David and Sibley Burleson Barrett, ’66, are the parents of three children, including Susan Barrett, ’96. Barbara “Pancho” Newcomb Behrmann, ’64, 840 LaBonne Pkwy., Manchester, MO 63021, teaches a kindergarten/first grade combination classroom in Parkway School District. She is an active member of the Manchester Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and is looking forward to an eventual move to Spring Hill, FL, for retirement. She holds a master’s degree in education. She and her husband Victor have two children. Dennis and Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist, both ’64, 11136 Rich Meadow Dr., Great Falls, VA 22066, describe themselves as being “devoted professionals (sometimes too extreme),” Dennis as assistant general tax counsel to Mobil Corp., Shirley as director of student services for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Active United Church of Christ members, the Bloomquists have been involved in numerous professional organizations. They have taken trips to all corners of the globe, and camped and traveled throughout the U.S. with family and friends. Shirley received an Albion College Distinguished Alumni Award in fall 1999 (see also Alumni Association News section). The Bloomquists have two sons. Joanne Braucher, ’64, 625 Wentworth Dr., Richardson, TX 75081, is the director of Presbyterian Children’s Homes, Dallas, the latest position in her 32-year career in social work. She is involved with numerous professional organizations on the local, state and national levels and is an active
leader of Alpha Xi Delta at the national level, currently as foundation trustee. Joanne has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe. Sally Breckenridge, ’64, 321 Erskine Rd., Stamford, CT 06903, is a vice president with Reuters, currently heading the research staff for fixed income data. She is also a member of the Stamford Symphony Orchestra board. She has enjoyed outdoor adventuring, including a raft trip through the Grand Canyon and a Kenyan safari. She and her husband, David Muntner, are the parents of Alan, 13, and Harold, 11. Terry Clark, ’64, 1414 Brainerd Ave., Duluth, MN 55811, continues to work parttime as medical director for health plans at St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic Health System. He also serves as associate professor of clinical medicine at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He and his wife Kathleen have three children. Maralyn Bigony Conaway, ’64, 4390 Carriage Hill Lane, Columbus, OH 43220, is a library media specialist with Columbus Public Schools. She has traveled the Canadian Rockies via train and is a veteran of caring for three elderly parents simultaneously. She holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University. Maralyn and her husband Philip have two children and three grandchildren. Donna Schenkelberger Corey, ’64, P.O. Box 807, Crystal River, FL 34423-0807, is a writer/publisher with Sundiver Productions Co., Inc., which produces books and videos on marine life and conservation; she also teaches a fifth-grade school-to-work program for Citrus County Schools. A member of the advisory board for Gulf Archaeological Research Institute, she is also a member of the Academy of Underwater Scientists, the Outdoor Writers’ Association and the National League of American Pen Women. Donna travels frequently in her research on coral and manatees, which are frequent subjects for her painting. She holds a master’s degree in art practice from Michigan State University, and has two daughters. George Croll, ’64, 43642 Serenity Dr., Northville, MI 48167-8930, is retired from a 30-year career as a teacher and coach at Livonia Stevenson High School. Unable to leave the classroom, George is substitute teaching at the elementary level as well as teaching a class at Wayne State University, where his boss, chair of the Department of Speech Communication, is a former student. He is past president of the Michigan Association of Speech Communication, and a member of the Michigan Speech Coaches’ Hall of Fame. Playing in two tennis leagues and judging for the USTA also keep him busy. George married Joy Hillebrand in 1997, and has two children and two grandchildren. Susan Babbitt DeBaker, ’64, 11320 E. Crystal Lake Dr., Cement City, MI 49233, is “cheerfully, happily, joyfully retired from 31 years of teaching.” She holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University and has two children. Roger Dunn, ’64, 1004 Siwanoy St., Tampa, FL 33629, is vice president for human resources at TECO Energy, Inc. He also serves on the boards of the Tampa Museum of Art and the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Tampa Bay Area. Roger earned his M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Travels of note for him have included archaeological tours of Sicily and Tuscany. He has four children and two grandchildren. Robert Fischer, ’64, 8110 Derby Lane, Owings Mills, MD 21117, works as a senior vice president for LifeBridge Health.
He is a member of several professional and civic organizations. Robert holds a master’s in health administration from the University of Michigan. He has three children and two grandchildren. Theodore “Ted” Fleming, ’64, 5751 SW 64 Pl., Miami, FL 33143, is a professor of biology at the University of Miami. Internationally respected as a tropical and desert ecologist, Ted’s work has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian and Natural History magazines, and his work on bats in the Sonora desert will be featured on “Wild! America” on TBS next spring. Ted’s research has been concentrated in Mexico, Australia, England and Central America. He and his wife, Marcia Strandberg Fleming, ’65, have two children. Pam Nicolls Gould, ’64, 8425 Chucksut Dr., Montague, MI 49437, keeps busy with a host of volunteer activities for healthrelated organizations, and was named 1988 Volunteer of the Year for the National Chronic Colitis Foundation of America. She’s also a member of the Grand Rapids alumnae chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta and a member of the U.S. Tennis Association. Pam spent nearly two years living in Japan, and now spends winters in Arizona, hiking and doing photography. She and her husband, Frank Gould, ’63, have two children and four grandchildren. Peter Hanson, ’64, 3045 Eagles Landing Circle, Clearwater, FL 33761, manages his investments, golfs, boats and travels since he retired from a dental practice. He is the father of two children. Marie Warn Henning-Grider, ’64, 13182 White Pine Dr., DeWitt, MI 48820, has completed a 30-year career teaching and coaching in the Lansing School District, where, she notes, “I am proud to have been a part of the Title IX changes and the birth of girls’ interscholastic athletics in Lansing schools.” She has been involved on the DeWitt City Council and Board of Education, and is an active member of the Redeemer United Methodist Church. Marie also holds a master’s degree from Michigan State University. She has three children, including Julie Henning, ’01, and three grandchildren. Janice Sorokin Jackson, ’64, 2345 Costa Verde Blvd. #302, Jacksonville, FL 32250, has recently moved her career to Bishop Penny High School in Jacksonville, where she teaches Spanish. In Michigan, she served as state director for the National Spanish Exam for the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. She also was the 1999 commencement speaker for Grand Blanc High School, and was the Grand Blanc Chamber of Commerce’s 1998 Educator of the Year. She traveled to Salamanca, Spain, in 1995 on an education grant from the Spanish Embassy, and has also been to Patagonia and Argentina. She looks forward to the chance to spend more time with one of her two sons and her two granddaughters. Allan Katz, ’64, 1048 Oakmont Court, Napa, CA 94559, is a physician, looking forward to an “early retirement” so he can indulge his many hobbies, including grapegrowing for Chiles Valley Winery. He holds an M.D. from the University of Michigan. Allan married his wife, Susan, in 1988, and he is the father of two grown daughters and stepfather to two children, including Charlotte Florent, ’02. Margaret “Peg” Krengel, ’64, 129 Orchard Court, Blue Bell, PA 19422, is enjoying retirement after 31 years working for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A member of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and the
St. Thomas Church Landscape Committee chair, Peg is also studying ornamental horticulture at Longwood Gardens. She has made many trips to Europe and Asia since retiring, including an archaeological dig in Spain. She has three stepsons and four grandsons. Carol Allman Lee, ’64, 1326 Gettysburg, Rochester Hills, MI 48306, is administrator for the Birmingham Unitarian Church. She and her husband, Al, recently completed a 50-year history of the church. They have traveled to France and once to Puerto Rico to visit their son, Christopher Lee, ’95, when he was living there. The Lees have two children. Ernest Lindblad, Jr., ’64, 9 Blossom Lane, Wallingford, CT 06492, works as the New England/Albany area vice president of Sprint Corp. A Vietnam War veteran, he served as captain in the 3rd Marine division. He and his wife Barbara have five children. Henry “Jock” and Robin Diller MacMorran, both ’64, 502 Old Barn Rd., Barrington, IL 60010, report that Jock continues in his position as president/CEO of LMC Bank, while Robin is retired. She reports that their new address is a townhouse on Lake Barrington, and that they are also currently building a retirement home in Hot Spring, Ark. The MacMorrans spent their 35th anniversary on a trip to Stratford, Ont., and have enjoyed family trips on the Colorado River and cruising the Hawaiian Islands. They are the parents of two children, including Gordon MacMorran, ’90, and are in-laws to Laura Swan MacMorran, ’92. Marty White Martin, ’64, 781 Westchester Rd., Grosse Pointe Park 48230, is an automotive sales representative for Lowry Sales Engineering. She has traveled to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Greece and Turkey among her sojourns, and encouraged her children, Heidi Martin Scanlon, ’92, and Andrew Martin, ’95, in their undergraduate offcampus experiences. Marty is the mother of three children. Sara Meriwether Maxfield, ’64, 26530 Dundee, Huntington Woods 48070, teaches fifth grade in the Clawson School District. Her first class graduated from high school this year, and presented her with a citation as the elementary teacher who had made a difference in their lives. Sara spent the past summer on an educational research trip in Japan, learning about the Japanese educational system as well as visiting students’ homes. She and her husband, Bob Maxfield, ’63, have two sons and one grandson. David McAllister, ’64, 6370 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC 28226, is in practice as an obstetrician-gynecologist. David and his wife Gwendolyn have two children. Joy Marie Fitzgerald Poole, ’64, 3161 Fairbury Lane, Fairfax, VA 22031, serves as head teacher for the Juvenile Court alternative high school; she also co-owns a CruiseOne franchise. She is active in two church communities, and is a member of the English Teachers’ Association of Virginia and of Fairfax. Joy holds a master’s degree from George Mason University and enjoys taking at least three cruises a year and playing with her granddaughter. She and her husband Raymond have three children. Patrick “Rick” Pruim, ’64, 2603 Greenway Circle, Canon, CO 81212, and his wife, Judy Christl Pruim, ’65, own a furniture store in Canon.
30
I O
T R I U M P H E
A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
N E W S
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Lifetime Achievement Awards begun at Hall of Fame festivities The 1999 Athletic Hall of Fame banquet and ceremony, held Oct. 1, 1999 during Homecoming Weekend, offered some moments of sweet celebration and of remembrance. Eleven individuals and one team were inducted into the Hall of Fame. In addition, the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to three legendary Briton coaches: Elkin “Ike” Isaac, ’48, Morley
Fraser, and Leonard “Fritz” Shurmur, ’54. Shurmur passed away in August 1999. Hall of Famer James Hurd, ’60, introduced the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and reminisced about Shurmur’s coaching days at Albion and the impact he had on his players. James Reutter, ’55, accepted the award on behalf of the Shurmur family. Reutter has since become the Albion College chair of a campaign to raise a $2-million
endowment for the Fritz Shurmur Education Institute at Albion College. National co-chairs of the fund drive are Cedric Dempsey, ’54, and Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Holmgren. Alumni who would like more information about the Shurmur Institute campaign should contact Ben Hancock, vice president for institutional advancement, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224, telephone: 517/629-0242.
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Hall of Fame member June Luke Dempsey, ’54, was emcee for this year’s ceremonies.
Learning the lessons of competition— the Albion way by Stephen Greenhalgh, ’74 A member of the 1971 MIAA champion baseball team, Greenhalgh gave the acceptance speech on behalf of all of the inductees during this year’s Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. I was a little surprised when Ben Hancock called to ask me to speak at this year’s Hall of Fame banquet. I played on some great baseball teams, but I was a career .220 hitter. .220 hitters do not normally win or accept Hall of Fame awards. An equivalent situation would be Bob Eucher accepting the Hall of Fame award in Cooperstown for Mark McGwire. But I share the values that have guided this College and its athletic programs for generations, and I believe I can speak for everyone here as to those values. Hall of Fame dinners are an opportunity to recognize athletic achievement by those who have excelled beyond all others. But just as important, these dinners allow us to reflect on what is so unique about the Albion experience and the role of athletics in that experience. Albion College is built on the rock, the foundation, of the liberal arts education. This foundation recognizes the importance of athletics but it does not exalt athletics over the larger goals of personal and intellectual growth. Athletics simply enhance those goals and help to prepare the athlete for the life ahead. At Albion, there is no redefinition of academic standards for athletes. There are no athletic scholarships, no special dorms. It seems ironic, but the fact that athletics and athletes are not given special status or treatment is what makes the experience so special, so effective at building character and generating the wonderful memories we all have and share. My fondest memories are not of the big base hits, the three league championships, or of catching shutouts thrown by John and Glenn. Instead, I remember things
like Frank Joranko’s pep talks in the car on the way home after a tough loss and the long walks back to Kresge Gym with my teammates after a tough practice in March when it was 45 degrees and drizzling. Who would trade their Albion athletic experience for that of a larger school? We had an experience in which the lessons Stephen Greenhalgh, ’74, delivering the Hall of Fame of competition were learned in an acceptance speech. environment utterly free of the cynicism and the distraction that There is nothing new about these values. are so prevalent in sports programs at NCAA They have guided Albion’s athletic programs Division I schools. We only had to see a forever, through generations of coaches, teammate leave a practice long enough to administrations and athletes. I stand here as a complete a chemistry experiment in order to lineal descendant of Samuel Dickie, president understand this perfectly. of the College from 1901 to 1921. Dr. Dickie We learned these values from our coaches, shared these beliefs and values, as I do 98 our role models and our teachers—people like years after he became president, and less than Morley Fraser, Frank Joranko, Char Duff, Mike Turner, Dave Egnatuk and all the others. 90 days before the beginning of the next century. And for the future, we can turn to These are people to whom Division III President Mitchell and the College’s new coaching is a higher calling—an opportunity Vision, Liberal Arts at Work, which so to work with young athletes and to influence their lives without being in constant fear that a perfectly embodies these values. Throughout the Vision document there is a fundamental losing season could cost them their job. emphasis on liberal arts education and the People who coach for the tremendous broader college experience as a means of personal satisfaction it brings. People who creating students who will graduate to live have chosen to coach at Albion because it is a lives of meaning and purpose. Athletic place that judges their success not by how participation is recognized as a crucial part of many professional athletes they produce, but that broader experience. rather by whether they are serving the Yogi Berra once said at a similar occasion, College’s larger goals of personal and “Thank you for making this evening necesintellectual development of its students. sary.” The meaning of Yogi’s pearls of Even at the tender age of 19, I could wisdom is often less than clear. However, if understand this and appreciate it. And at the not-so-tender age of 47, after 25 years of work we apply his statement to this event, I know and 17 years of marriage, I have learned that a exactly what he was trying to say. Because crucial requirement for success in one’s life or athletics at Albion are necessary. And great coaches and teams and athletes are necessary. career is balance—the kind of balance one And great college presidents are necessary. acquires from participation in athletics while And the Athletic Hall of Fame is necessary. being challenged intellectually in the classroom. The kind of balance that the liberal Thank you, all of you, for making this evening necessary, and for recognizing the importance arts education is designed to foster. of athletics and its tremendous impact on the student athletes we are here to honor. For without their contributions, Albion would be a lesser school and our athletes would be less prepared for the life that lies ahead of them.
1999 Lifetime Achievement Awards Under an initiative led by Paul “Skip” Ungrodt, ’52, chair of the Briton Athletic Drive, the Athletic Hall of Fame this year established a new recognition program, the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Lifetime Achievement Award honors those individuals who have provided outstanding service to Briton athletics or who have brought national recognition and distinction to Albion College. Recipients of this award will usually be previously inducted members of the Hall of Fame. The names of the Lifetime Achievement Award winners will be engraved on granite blocks installed as part of the commemorative brick walkway leading into the Briton athletic complex.
Elkin R. “Ike” Isaac, ’48 Elkin R. “Ike” Isaac, ’48, was a member of the Albion College faculty from 1952 to 1975. He also served as head basketball coach (1953-1959), head track coach (1953-1962) and head cross country coach (1962-1969). He led his teams to one MIAA basketball title, six consecutive league championships in track and three cross country championships. He also served as athletic director. As an Albion student, Isaac earned AllMIAA honors in 1943, 1946 and 1947 for his outstanding performance on the basketball court. He was captain and voted Most Valuable Player of the 1947 team. He was inducted into the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. In recognition of Isaac’s long-time support of Albion College athletics, the new outdoor track, completed in 1997, was named in his honor. The Elkin Isaac Track Drive as cochaired by Cedric and June Luke Dempsey, both ’54, with assistance from Thomas Schwaderer, ’56. The Elkin R. Isaac Endowed Lectureship was created in 1991. Today, this endowment has been expanded to fund the Elkin R. Isaac Student Research Symposium, a premier event held each spring on the Albion campus. Isaac resides with his wife Edith in Libertyville, IL.
I O A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
1999 Hall of Fame inductees
Individuals Catherine A. Bachinski, ’84
H. Morley Fraser
Leonard F. “Fritz” Shurmur, ’54
After a successful high school coaching career, Morley Fraser came to Albion in 1954 as head baseball and football coach. He remained as the head baseball coach for 18 years, winning six MIAA championships. However, he may be best remembered for his tenure of 14 years as head football coach. During that time, Albion won five MIAA championships, compiled an 81-41-1 record, had five Most Valuable MIAA football players, recorded two undefeated seasons, and established a winning streak of 15 consecutive games. In 1961, Fraser was selected as the Midwest Regional Small College football coach of the year. For his accomplishments, he was inducted into Albion’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. He was further honored in 1990 when former players and friends established the endowed Morley Fraser Student Leadership Awards. Through the years, Fraser has also become well known for his pre-game talks to teams on the college and professional levels, and he has been active statewide with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A 1947 graduate of Washburn University, he earned a master’s degree in 1954 from Michigan State University. After leaving his Briton coaching position in 1972, Fraser began a 14-year tenure as executive director of Bellemont Manor, Albion College’s conference center, retiring in 1987. Fraser and his wife Liz live in Albion.
A football coach for nearly half a century, and considered a defensive mastermind in the National Football League, Fritz Shurmur began his professional career as a graduate assistant under Briton coach Morley Fraser in 1954. After receiving a master’s degree in education administration at Albion in 1956, Shurmur stayed on as a defensive coordinator. He then coached at the University of Wyoming for 12 years. From there, his career led him to the NFL and included stints with Detroit, New England, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Green Bay. In each of his NFL stops, Shurmur-led defenses ranked at or near the top of the defensive rankings. While at Green Bay, he earned his first Super Bowl ring when the Packers defeated the New England Patriots in 1997. He also was the author of four books on coaching team defense. Shurmur was among the charter members of Albion’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. An All-MIAA performer in both football and baseball, he excelled in football and was captain of the 1953 team, voted the MIAA Most Valuable Player and received Little AllAmerica honors. He was also president of his senior class and a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. In recognition of his career accomplishments, Shurmur received an honorary doctor of pedagogy degree from Albion in 1997. In spring 1999, Shurmur joined the Seattle Seahawks as defensive coordinator, while maintaining his residence near Green Bay. He passed away in August and is survived by his wife Peggy, their three children and their families.
31
N E W S
The Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes those individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the achievements and prestige of Albion College in the field of athletics, either by their performance on athletic teams representing the College or by meritorious efforts in years after graduation. The criteria for selection to the Hall of Fame are listed with the nomination form that accompanies this article.
The first recipients of the Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Awards were honored during this year’s induction banquet at Homecoming. James Reutter, ’55, (far left) accepted the award for the late Fritz Shurmur, ’54, on behalf of the Shurmur family. Also pictured are honorees Elkin “Ike” Isaac, ’48, and Morley Fraser, along with Hall of Famer James Hurd, ’60, who announced the creation of the award.
T R I U M P H E
A three-year captain and MVP of the Briton women’s basketball team, Cathy Bachinski also became the second leading scorer in Albion’s history with 1,214 points. She was the MIAA basketball MVP in 1983-84 and was named to the All-MIAA and All-State basketball teams in 1982-83 and 1983-84. In volleyball, Bachinski was the team’s cocaptain and Co-MVP in 1982. Her leadership continued in softball where she was the cocaptain and MIAA softball MVP in 1984. Bachinski was named All-State in softball from 1982 through 1984 and All-MIAA in softball in 1983 and 1984. She resides in Flint and teaches at Bentley Community Schools.
John H.C. Baker, ’73 John Baker was an outstanding member of the 1972 and 1973 MIAA championship baseball teams. His nickname became “Iron Man” because during doubleheaders he would catch the first game and then pitch the second game. In 1972 Baker was selected MIAA baseball MVP. He posted a season batting record of .406 that year and a pitching record of 4-1. He also made the All-MIAA baseball team in 1973. Today, Baker is the owner and president of ATC Fitness Inc. of Norfolk, VA.
Patrick D. Blakley, ’83 In track and field, Patrick Blakley took first place in the 400m dash at every dual meet and at the MIAA championships in 1981, 1982 and 1983. He was named to the All-MIAA track team for those achievements. The 400m and 1600m relay teams on which he competed set school records in 1983 and 1981, respectively. (The 400m relay record, 41.71 seconds, still stands.) In 1983, his 400m relay team took fifth place at the NCAA Division III nationals, achieving All-America status. Blakley also served as track team co-captain that year. Currently, he is a senior financial analyst for Blue Care Network and lives in Flint.
Jeffrey C. Carrier Jeffrey Carrier, better known as the “Voice of the Britons,” has now posted his 20th year as announcer for Albion football and his 19th year for men’s basketball. Briton athletics has never had a more avid fan. Currently Albion’s vice president for academic affairs, he has also served as a professor of biology at the College since 1979. In recognition of his exemplary teaching and scholarship, he held the Chickering Endowed Professorship of Biology from 1994 to 1998. Carrier lives in Albion.
Dexter L. Davis, ’80 Dexter Davis was a key member of MIAA championship teams in track (1979, 1980) and football (1976, 1977), earning AllMIAA honors for track in 1979 and 1980, and in football in 1977. He was the league’s 1979 MVP in track for his top performance in the 100and 220-yard dashes and the long jump. A member of the first Albion football team to compete in the NCAA Division III playoffs (1977), Davis finished his Albion football career ranked as the College’s top rusher, gaining 2,447 career yards. The mark stood as an Albion record until 1991. Today, Davis is an industrial sales representative for Bentler Automotive in Grand Rapids.
Glenn W. Errington, ’74 A Briton baseball great, Glenn Errington was the pitcher for the 1971, 1972 and 1973 MIAA championship baseball teams. He had a total of 18 wins and only six losses during his entire career. Errington was selected to the AllMIAA baseball team in 1972, 1973 and 1974. He was co-captain of Albion’s 1974 team. Errington earned his M.D. degree from Wayne State University. He is now a physician in private practice in Charlotte, NC, and teaches and lectures on allergies and asthma.
Jill S. Johnson, ’85 A standout on the field hockey team, Jill Johnson represented Albion College on the Great Lakes Regional team in 1983 and 1984. She was the MIAA field hockey MVP in 1984. That year she was also the Britons’ co-captain and MVP. For three years she was selected for both the All-MIAA team and the Michigan Collegiate Field Hockey Team. Recipient of a B.S. from Western Michigan University in
32
I O
T R I U M P H E A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
N E W S
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
agriculture, Johnson is now the national training director for Excel Communications. She lives in Middleville.
Jerry R. Masteller, ’59 Jerry Masteller was a pitcher for the MIAA championship baseball teams in 1957 and 1959, and co-captained the 1959 squad. He was named to the AllMIAA baseball team in 1957 and 1958. He was dedicated to baseball and basketball, becoming a four-year letter winner in both sports. Now a teacher at Shaker Heights (OH) High School, he was the president of the Lake Erie League and the Greater Cleveland High School Hockey League, and has been a member of athletic administrators’ organizations on the state and national levels. Masteller lives in Lyndhurst, OH.
Larry T. Masteller, ’59 As the starting running back for the 1958 football team, Larry Masteller helped Albion win the MIAA championship that year. In baseball, he earned a spot on the All-MIAA team three years in a row, 1957-59. The Albion College baseball team selected him as MVP in 1957, and he was also instrumental to Albion’s winning the league baseball championship in 1959. Masteller coached football at Detroit Country Day School from 1964 to 1970 and was honored as Coach of
the Year. Then, for 27 years, Masteller was the director of adult and community education at Plymouth Canton Schools. He lives in Canton.
Kevin H. Schaefer, ’77 As co-captain of the 1976 Briton football squad, Kevin Schaefer helped lead the Britons to an undefeated season and the MIAA championship. This was the only football team to finish undefeated that year in Divisions II and III. After receiving MIAA honorable mentions in 1973 and 1974, he was named to the All-MIAA football team in 1975 and 1976. Today Schaefer is the national account manager for Newcourt Financial Corp. He lives in Orchard Lake.
Frank Sebastian, ’02 Frank Sebastian had already attained statewide attention for his catching before coming to Albion College. Prior to his senior season in 1902, The Detroit Free Press said of him: “Sebastian is a natural catcher and a natural hitter. . . . His fielding average is .962, his batting average, .862.” Sebastian led the Britons to MIAA championships in 1900 and 1901. After graduation, he played semipro baseball for teams in Jackson and Holland. Sebastian passed away in 1967.
The 1971 baseball team claimed the MIAA baseball championship, the first of three straight MIAA titles the squad would win during that era under coach Morley Fraser. Returning for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony were: (front row, left to right) Glenn Errington, ’74, Jeffrey Kezlarian, ’73, Stephen Greenhalgh, ’74, Arthur Kale, ’71, Gregory Macy, ’71, Charles Arey, ’72, David Moeller, ’71, Harry Turney, ’71. (second row) Benjamin Hubbard, ’72, Douglas Wagner, ’74, Robert Dorr, ’74, William Dobbins, ’74, David Lowe, ’74, coach Morley Fraser, trainer Walt Swyers, Donald McClennan, ’72, Richard Jones, ’71, Eric Rodes, ’73, Jim Martin, ’71.
Team 1971 Baseball Team Under coach Morley Fraser and assistant coach Larry Mason, the 1971 baseball team did much to establish the College’s reputation for championship-caliber play under Fraser and, later, Frank Joranko. The team won the first of three straight MIAA titles, and a number of the players also had key roles in the 1968 championship, giving Briton baseball four league titles in a six-year span. Co-captains Arthur Kale and Gregory Macy joined Harry Turney as second-team All-MIAA selections. Outfielder David Moeller was a unanimous selection as the league’s Most Valuable Player, and led the
MIAA in hitting, batting .500 (19 hits in 38 at-bats). Glenn Errington later earned firstteam All-MIAA honors as a pitcher from 1972 through 1974, one of a select few MIAA pitchers to earn first-team all-league recognition three years in a row. Other team members included: Charles Arey, Richard Bowman, William Dobbins, Robert Dorr, James Gorey, Stephen Greenhalgh, Benjamin Hubbard, Richard Jones, Jeffrey Kezlarian, David Lowe, James Martin, Donald McClellan, Terry Newton, Eric Rodes, John Salvadore, Daryl Todd, Douglas Wagner, Charles West and David Wiest.
In search of athletic excellence Albion College’s Hall of Fame honors individuals who made exceptional contributions to the field of athletics, either as students or as alumni. Plaques honoring these inductees are on display in the main hallway of the Dow Recreation and Wellness Center. Any Albion alumnus/a may submit names of candidates for consideration by the selection committee. Simply review the criteria listed and complete the nomination form. All nominations must be received no later than April 1, 2000. If you need information about past Hall of Fame inductees or the selection process, please contact Marcia Hepler Starkey, ’74, director of alumni and parent relations, 517/ 629-0284.
Selection criteria Individual • The nominee, if an athlete, must have been out of Albion College at least 10 years. • The nominee, if an athlete, must have earned two letters in one sport or one letter in three or more sports. • The nominee does not necessarily have to be a graduate of Albion, but must have been a former student.
Athletic Hall of Fame nominations Name of nominee____________________________________________Class year___________ Address_______________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________State_________Zip___________________ Name of sports participated in and years _____________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Name of nominator__________________________________________Class year____________ Address_______________________________________________________________________
Coach/athletic administrator/athletic trainer/student manager • The nominee in cases of coaches, athletic administrators or others need not necessarily have been a former student, but must have served the College for at least 10 years. Student managers must have been a student at Albion College and served all 4 years. • The nominee can be selected immediately after leaving the institution or immediately after retirement. The student managers must wait 10 years.
Team • The team must have won an MIAA Championship. • The team would be eligible 10 years after competition.
City_________________________________________State_________Zip__________________ Please briefly state why you believe this individual should be considered for the Albion College Hall of Fame. Mail this form to: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224. Deadline: April 1, 2000.
I O A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
T R I U M P H E
33
N E W S
D. TRUMPIE PHOTOS
A look back at Homecoming 1999 Homecoming Weekend 1999 opened Friday morning with a breakfast lecture program featuring 1999 Distinguished Alumni Award winner and urban redevelopment expert Garry Carley, ’61. The day also included the annual Briton Classic Golf Tournament (with 88 golfers, it was the biggest Briton Classic to date), the inaugural Alumni Tennis Tournament (approximately 14 alumni competed in the new Ungrodt Tennis Center) and the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony (see pages 30-32 for details). On Saturday returning alumni enjoyed a Briton football victory (35-21) over the Defiance College Yellow Jackets, a discussion with President Peter Mitchell, ’67, about developing the Albion area as a retirement destination, class reunion dinners and a performance by the Phoenix Big Band. Weekend arts events included a gallery exhibit of ceramic works by Ken Shenstone, ’84, David Smith, ’81, and Peter Karner, ’89, as well as a theatre production of Tom Stoppard’s On the Razzle and a Choir and Symphony Orchestra Concert with soloist Jennifer Trost, ’79.
Wide receiver Clay Crooks had receptions good for 141 yards and two touchdowns in the Britons’ 35-21 win over Defiance College in the Homecoming football game. Crooks was named MIAA Player of the Week for his performance.
The Class of ’49, under reunion chair Stan Jones (foreground), captured the awards for the highest contributions in reunion-class giving in honor of their 50th reunion, and for the highest attendance for their reunion with 97.
Mackenzie Wheeler, ’01, and Ralph McCarty, ’00, (at left) reigned as the 1999 Homecoming Queen and King, accompanied here by Becky and Peter Mitchell.
This year’s Homecoming theme focused on the centennial year of the Rock on the campus quadrangle. The Rock was suitably painted for the weekend. Joe Fleming, ’64, (left) chats with retired mathematics professor Keith Moore and his wife Mary Margaret during the Class of ’64 reunion dinner in the Wendell Will Room.
Bob Hetler, ’64, and Michael David, ’64, visit during a presidential reception at the new Ungrodt Tennis Center. The tennis center was also the location for the inaugural Alumni Tennis Tournament. John Daoud, ’89, introduces his daughter Isabella to President Mitchell.
34
I O
T R I U M P H E A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
N E W S
D. TRUMPIE PHOTO
Five receive Albion’s 1999 Distinguished Alumni Awards Editor’s note: These awards were conferred during a special ceremony Oct. 2, 1999 during Homecoming Weekend. Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award must be Albion College alumni and should: display genuine leadership and dedicated service to others; exemplify the qualities of a liberal arts education; and demonstrate breadth of achievement in career, family and service to the community and/or Albion College.
Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist, ’64 Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist’s commitment to promoting educational excellence has been evident throughout her career. Upon graduation from Albion, she taught science in Michigan high schools but later found her true calling in counseling and educational leadership. She left teaching in Michigan to pursue graduate work at Columbia University where she earned an M.A. degree in 1974 and an Ed.M. in 1975. Bloomquist worked for the next 15 years in guidance and counseling at various metropolitan New York high schools. In 1990 Bloomquist moved to the Washington, DC, area where she accepted the position of educational evaluator for the U.S. Department of Education. The following year, she became director of student services for West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA, and then in 1995 she accepted her current position as director of student services at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Thomas Jefferson High School is nationally acclaimed for its educational programs and for the quality of its graduates. In 1997, Bloomquist was honored as Counselor of the Year for the Northern Virginia School Counselors and, in 1996, received the Golden Apple Award for outstanding leadership in education. She was invited to present a workshop on technology in counseling for the U.S. State Department and served as a school counseling representative to the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She is a founding and current member of the high school advisory board for U.S. News and World Report and has served as a leader in the counseling profession in New York and Virginia. Since her graduation from Albion, Bloomquist has actively participated in alumni and campus events. She chaired the Ewell and Barbara Stowell Scholarship Drive, co-founded the Metropolitan Washington, DC, Alumni Association chapter and chaired her 20th class reunion. She married Albion classmate, Dennis Bloomquist, ’64, and they have two sons, Michael and Eric. The couple resides in Great Falls, VA.
Garry G. Carley, ’61 Garry Carley has dedicated his professional life to law, banking and commerce, but has always combined his professional achievements with strong community involvement. Carley’s entire professional career was connected with Standard Federal Bank. Upon his graduation from Wayne State University Law School in 1964, Carley maintained a general corporate law practice, served as Standard Federal Bank’s general counsel and became an adjunct law professor at Wayne State Pictured with President Peter Mitchell, ’67, (far left) are the recipients of this year’s Distinguished Alumni University. From 1970 to Awards: (from left) Garry Carley, ’61, Thomas Wilson, ’51, Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist, ’64, Larry Robson, ’59, 1977 he was associated with and Roy “Bud” Johns, ’51. the Dykema Gossett law firm. Carley then was This past summer, his fourth book, Old Roy C. “Bud” Johns, ’51 named Standard Federal Bank’s senior vice Dogs Remembered, originally published in president and general counsel, acted as the hardcover in 1993, was reissued in paperback. The published word is the connecting link bank’s chief lending officer for many years, He frequently attends Albion’s San throughout the life of Bud Johns. He was and retired as its vice chairman in 1998. Francisco Bay Area alumni events and working as a newspaper reporter and had sold Today, Carley is the chairman of Detroit consistently attends ATO reunions. In 1992 his first magazine articles prior to his Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., a Johns married writer Frances Moreland. They enrollment at Albion College. During his position that taps his business acumen and his live in San Francisco. college years, he worked as a reporter for the passion for community service. Albion Recorder, wrote a weekly column on Carley’s community leadership roles have Larry J. Robson, M.D., ’59 small college sports for Booth Newspapers included vice chairman of the Troy Downand continued to write for magazines. After town Development Authority, chair of the graduation, he worked for the Flint Journal as Larry Robson has served the Grand Rapids Troy Community Foundation and vice a reporter until he was called for service in the area as a vascular surgeon for nearly 30 years. president of the Coleman A. Young FoundaRobson earned his M.D. degree from the U.S. Marine Corps where he continued tion which provides college scholarships to University of Michigan in 1963. From 1960 to writing freelance magazine articles. He joined needy Detroit students. Carley has served as a 1968, he served in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and the San Diego Union in 1956 as a political director of the Building Industry Association he was assigned to active duty from 1968 to reporter and, from 1960 to 1969, worked for of Southeastern Michigan and in 1994 was the 1970, including one year in Vietnam with the Fairchild Publications in San Diego and San recipient of its Award for Distinguished U.S. Marine Corps. In 1971 he joined the Francisco. He also wrote his first book, The Service to the Housing Industry. He has also practice of Delavan, Robson, Patzelt, Heiser Ombibulous Mr. Mencken, and in 1968 served as vice chair of the Federal Home Loan & Murphy in Grand Rapids. Also in 1971, founded Synergistic Press, which he still Bank of Indianapolis. Carley was a founder of Robson joined the team of surgeons at St. heads. Community Living Centers which provides Johns left newspapering in 1969 to become Mary’s Mercy Medical Center, Blodgett housing to mentally handicapped adults and Memorial Medical Center and Mary Free Bed the first director of public relations for Levi serves as a director of the Pheasant Ring Hospital. Robson was one of four physicians Strauss & Co. and then served as vice Community, providing housing for autistic president of corporate communications during who founded the kidney transplant program at persons. St. Mary’s Mercy Medical Center, the first that firm’s major growth years. Additionally, At Wayne State University, Carley has such program in West Michigan. he co-founded Levi Strauss’s much-praised served on the Board of Governors of the Law Robson began teaching at the College of Community Involvement Team concept and School Alumni Association and the Law invented the horse-racing sport of Ride & Tie, Human Medicine at Michigan State UniverSchool’s Committee of Visitors. In 1984, he sity in 1977 and currently is an associate eventually serving as international director. received the Distinguished Law Alumni clinical professor of surgery. Having From the first Ride & Tie race in 1971, the Award. For Albion College, Carley has been demonstrated excellence as a medical sport grew to more than 350 events annually an active alumnus for nearly four decades, educator, Robson was honored in 1989 and in in the U.S. and abroad. Its founding, and first including service on the Albion College 1995 with the Teacher of the Year Award in 14 years under Johns’ direction, was Alumni Association Board of Directors. He chronicled in his book What Is This Madness? surgery from the Blodgett Memorial Medical also assisted in raising funds for the Julian Center/St. Mary’s Residency Program. He retired from Levi Strauss in 1984. Rammelkamp Endowed Professorship. Robson serves on several committees and Among his many community roles, he Carley and his wife Nancy have two boards where he continues to share his served for 17 years as a director, including children, Deborah Carley Kavulich, ’87, and expertise and knowledge in medicine. A four as president, of the Northern California Jeffrey Carley, ’91. The Carleys reside in trustee of the Blodgett Memorial Medical regional open space conservation/land use Bloomfield Hills. planning group, Greenbelt Alliance. Its efforts Center, he also has served as the president of the Michigan Chapter of the American fighting urban sprawl have helped preserve more than 150,000 acres from development in College of Surgeons, as a governor-at-large of the American College of Surgeons and as the the San Francisco Bay Area, and it has president of the Michigan Vascular Society. become a nationally-known model in the smart growth movement.
I O A L U M N I
A S S O C I A T I O N
T R I U M P H E
N E W S
Looking for a few eminent Albionians He is the moderator-elect for the Mayflower Congregational Church in Grand Rapids and has served on the Albion College Board of Trustees. Larry Robson married Albion classmate, Sally Klang Robson, ’59, and they have two children, William Robson, D.D.S, ’86, and Rebecca Robson, ’89, and two grandchildren.
C. Thomas Wilson, ’51 C. Thomas Wilson has practiced law for more than 40 years in Detroit but he may be better known for his broadcasting persona. Immediately following his graduation from Albion, Wilson began teaching radio and television for the Detroit Public Schools. In 1955 he received a J.D. degree from the Detroit College of Law and then joined the law firm, now Nelson, Wilson and Wilson, where he practices today. In addition to his practice, Wilson serves the law community as a member of the Oakland County Bar Probate Committee and teaches new lawyer’s classes in guardianship and conservatorship for the Oakland County Bar Association. He continues to volunteer his time as a radio education teacher for elementary age children in Detroit. Utilizing his experience as a radio producer, Wilson assists the children in a weekly program of music heard locally on the Detroit Public Schools’ radio station, WDTR-FM. In addition, he served on the Bloomfield Hills Board of Education as president and treasurer for nine years and the Oakland County ISD Board for four years. Consistent with Wilson’s media interests, he chairs a Town Hall panel discussion carried on a local television station. On a national level, Wilson produces “Somewhere in Time,” a syndicated radio show incorporating Big Band era music. His other community involvements include membership on the boards of St. Peter’s Home for Boys and Community Youth Workers, assisting troubled youth in the Birmingham and Bloomfield areas. Finally, he has served as a vestryman and senior warden at St. Martha’s Episcopal Church and St. James Episcopal Church. A past president of Albion’s Alumni Association Board of Directors, he also has been a member of the Board of Trustees and of the Detroit Alumni Association chapter. He served on the College’s Planned Giving Advisory Council, and he and his wife sponsor the annual Wilson Poet Program on the campus. Wilson married Albion classmate, Frances Young Wilson, ’51, and they have four sons, Christopher, ’75, Michael, ’78, Peter and Andrew, and six grandchildren.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Meritorious Service Award
Up to five Distinguished Alumni are chosen each year from as many as 100 nominees. These men and women are selected on the basis of the following criteria: • Only alumni of Albion College shall be eligible for the award. • Recipients should display genuine leadership and dedicated service to others and exemplify the qualities of a liberal arts education. Well-roundedness in aspects of career, family and community service are sought. • Recipients are selected on the specific basis of: (a) Excellence in career achievements (b) Contributions to community/humanity (c) Service to Albion College The selection committee, made up of members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, looks for outstanding achievement in at least two of the three areas outlined above.
Up to three Meritorious Service Awards may be given each year, based on the following criteria: • Only alumni of Albion College shall be eligible for the award. • Time, effort and monetary gifts on behalf of Albion College shall constitute the elements in the consideration of a candidate to be worthy of the award. The award may recognize one, two or all three of these elements. • Nomination and election to receive the Meritorious Service Award shall follow the process used to nominate and elect individuals receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Exemptions for these awards include current members of: the Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees, and the faculty and staff. Once an individual is no longer in any of the above categories, he/she will be eligible for consideration. Nominations for either of these awards are welcome and may be sent no later than Feb. 1, 2000 to: Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI 49224.
The list of past award winners (below) is provided as a reference for those wishing to make nominations.
Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients Charles E. Anderson, ’56 Russell B. Babcock, ’27 Wallace A. Bacon, ’35 Nelda Kurtz Balch, ’37 David M. Barrett, ’64 Jeffrey W. Barry, ’60 Robert H. Bartlett, ’60 John G. Batsakis, ’51 Blair C. Bedient, ’49 Robert W. Bemer, ’40 Joyce Ann Livak Benjamins, ’63 Mildred Oberlin Bennett, ’58 Bruce C. Berndt, ’61 Margaret E. Berry, ’35 Shirley Ruemele Bloomquist, ’64 Daniel Boggan, Jr., ’67 Kenneth Borland, ’59 Joseph H. Britton, ’46 Patricia Sanford Brown, ’53 Vivian Johnson Bull, ’56 Richard W. Calkins, ’60 William Cargo, ’37 Garry G. Carley, ’61 Dennis O. Cawthorne, ’62 Peter J. Christ, ’55 O. James Clark, ’51 Wendell Cole, ’36 Harry T. Cook, ’61 Marian Clark Corwin, ’35 James G. Crane, ’51 Truman H. Cummings, Jr., ’43 Jack C. Curtis, ’51 James L. Curtis, ’44 Philip C. Curtis, ’30 Jack C. Dart, ’34 Michael S. David, Jr., ’64 Cedric W. Dempsey, ’54 Patricia McKean Dick, ’48
W. W. Diehl, ’24 Judyth Fetzer Dobbert, ’69 Vinod L. Doshi, ’53 Emerson J. Elliott, ’55 G. Bruce Feighner, ’42 E. Lee Feller, ’47 Richard M. Fluke, ’56 Robert W. Freligh, ’47 Philip J. Gannon, ’47 Philip R. Glotfelty, III, ’55 Nancy Carpenter Hammond, ’68 George E. Hardy, Jr., ’61 Robert Hargreaves, ’36 Michael G. Harrison, ’63 Phyllis Harrison-Ross, ’56 Roy E. Heath, ’36 Lois Skagerberg Heller, ’64 David W. Hills, ’48 Phyllis Wagner Houghton, ’41 Richard W. Huff, ’54 Polly Ruth Mosteller Hughes, ’47 John P. Hummon, ’53 Richard L. Humphrey, ’56 Elkin R. Isaac, ’48 Roy C. “Bud” Johns, ’51 Karen Johnstone, ’60 Gary L. Jones, ’66 John E. Joyner, ’55 D. Nolan Kaiser, ’56 James C. Kingsley, ’63 John A. Krsul, ’59 Sally A. Lynas Lamkin, ’54 Roger L. Landrum, ’59 Melvin S. Larimer, ’53 Keith J. Leenhouts, ’49 T. John Leppi, ’59 Ray B. Loeschner, ’53 Bernard T. Lomas, ’46
John S. Ludington, ’51 Rex B. Martin, ’38 Willard L. Meader, ’54 Betty Jones Neberman, ’50 Gary R. Noble, ’57 Karin McClow Orr, ’64 Denise Cortis Park, ’73 Sherry Hood Penney, ’59 William Henry Perkins, Jr., ’49 John W. Porter, ’53 Lewis L. Redmond, ’50 George R. Reed, ’53 Myrtle R. Crouse Reul, ’47 James L. Reutter, ’53 Larry J. Robson, ’59 Thomas E. Sagendorf, ’62 Lawrence B. Schook, ’72 Thomas G. Schwaderer, ’56 Ruth Holland Scott, ’56 Joseph B. Serra, ’56 Andrew G. Sharf, ’44 Florence “Dinghy” Spalding Sharp, ’50 Norman R. Sleight, ’40 Richard G. Smith, ’43 Richard M. Smith, ’68 Harold R. Spiegel, ’32 Robert Stoppert, ’39 Marvin J. Vann, ’40 Richard K. Vitek, ’56 James A. von der Heydt, ’42 John N. Vournakis, ’61 Lawrence L. Wade, ’50 Raymond A. Wauthier, ’46 Judith Koch Wilcox, ’60 Michael E. Williams, ’78 C. Thomas Wilson, ’51 James M. Wilson, ’77 Shirley Brattin Wirt, ’47 Margaret Zolliker, ’43
Deceased: E. Maynard Aris, ’37; Roy W. Battenhouse, ’33; Jack C. Bedient, ’25; Clarence H. Blanchard, ’22; D. Hale Brake, ’16; Hira E. Branch, ’29; J Harlen Bretz, ’05; Edward M. Brigham, ’25; John E. Bromley, ’29; B.G. “Bill” Brown, ’23; Alice F. Campbell, ’29; Gilbert A. Currie, ’47, W. Clark Dean, ’21; Helen M. Desjardins, ’14; Donald J. Dunham, ’23; Clarence H. Elliott, ’25; Margaret Drake Elliott, ’24; Keith J. Fennimore, ’39; Geraldine Townsend Fitch, ’17; Wayne H. Fleenor, ’24; Dexter Horton, ’36; C. Morse Huffer, ’16; Richard C. Johnston, ’59; Ella Meinke Kuhn, ’08; Burley F. Lamb, ’13; Richard D. Mange, ’25; Helen Harton Manning, ’43; Charles A. McKenny, ’42; Hugh D. McLeese, ’19; Eva A. Moore, ’19; Elsie E. Munro, ’26; William A. Niles, ’98; Marvin F. Pahl, ’30; Wallace M. Pearson, ’17; Stanley C. Penzotti, ’30; Leroy E. Perine, ’96; William R. Peterson, ’45; Leigh Prettyman, ’36; Charles W. Ricker, ’50; Paul Rood, ’16; Winston J. Schuler, ’30; James R. Sebastian, ’32; Frederick E. Shideman, ’36; Norma G. Sleight, ’24; William J. Smith, ’35; Floyd Starr, ’10; Andrew W. Sunyar, ’42; Helen Sparling Terpenning, ’45; Gordon L. Thomas, ’36; Richard G. Toncray, ’19; Louise Jean Walker, ’17; Hazen G. Werner, ’20; George S. Weston, ’52; Gordon B. Wheeler, ’24; Audrey K. Wilder, ’18.
Past Meritorious Service Award Recipients Russell E. Babcock, ’27; Frank Bonta, ’49; Wayne H. Fleenor, ’24 (deceased); Kenneth B. Hollidge, ’35 (deceased); Stanley Jones, ’49.
35
36
I O
T R I U M P H E
In keeping with the
Karen Khalil, ’85
theme of Albion College’s new Vision, Liberal Arts at Work, we are offering a series of profiles of Albion alumni who exemplify “liberal arts at work” in their careers and in their personal lives. These profiles will appear in each issue of Io Triumphe.
When Karen Khalil was elected as judge for Michigan’s 17th District Court in Redford Township, not only was she the youngest judge to serve in the state at the time, she was the first woman judge ever to serve that district. A member of the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Public Policy and Service while at Albion, Khalil regards public service as “one of life’s highest callings.” Though she began her career in corporate law, her desire to serve her home community prompted her to run for the judgeship in 1992, and she won re-election in 1998 with 80 percent of the vote. “I credit my Albion education for giving me the skills of critical analysis
and logical decision-making that I use in my role as judge every day. Beyond that, Albion gave me an appreciation for the workings of American democracy and strengthened my commitment to equality and fair treatment for all citizens.”
Karen Khalil, a great example of Liberal Arts at Work.
Liberal Arts at Work Transforming individual lives, the workplace and society
Alumni experience ‘Liberal Arts at Work’ How would you like to try on these classes for size? Genes and Society The Holocaust Art in the Environment Chance Water: Science and Policy Justice A Sense of Place: Albion and the American Dream That’s exactly what 40 alumni, parents, friends and faculty emeriti did during the first Albion Institute held Nov. 12-14 on the College campus. Sponsored by the Alumni Association under the leadership of President Susan Stuewer Bensinger, ’70, this year’s Institute was a pilot for programs that in future years will be open to the entire Albion “family.” The retreat weekend was intended to acquaint the participants with the interactive learning experiences offered to today’s students. It was also an opportunity to learn, as one attendee put it, “how Albion’s Vision, Liberal Arts at Work, is becoming a reality.” The Institute opened Friday evening with a Common Reading Experience based on Ron Suskind’s A Hope in the Unseen, which was also read by entering students this fall. On Saturday, the “curriculum” included a sampling of the interdisciplinary seminars developed recently to introduce first-year students to liberal arts learning at its best. During these sessions, the Institute faculty presented an overview of the issues and problems that are central to their first-year courses, and they engaged the participants in lively discussions of some of the same questions they address with their students. On Saturday evening, the participants enjoyed an interactive dress rehearsal with the cast members and director for the College’s production of Lanford Wilson’s The Rimers of Eldritch. Capping off the weekend was an open forum on Sunday centering on the meaning of justice and how that topic has been approached from different perspectives—philosophical, sociological and literary—in one of the first-year seminars.
Future Albion Institutes will likely be held in the spring, and they may involve alumni as expert resources along with College faculty. If you are interested in learning more about the Albion Institute, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, telephone: 517/ 629-0244, e-mail: mstarkey@albion.edu.
Comments from the participants
The accompanying photos show the seminars in action.
The Albion Institute was an excellent opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion/debate about critical issues.
I thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie, the intellectual stimulation and the chance to experience a “day in the life” of Albion students.
This program wonderfully fulfilled my desire to return to alma mater for the fun and stimulus of learning. It gave me another opportunity to witness some of the enthusiasm of the faculty for what is going on at Albion. The Albion Institute provided the opportunity to be re-inspired, to be challenged intellectually, to be asked to respond socially. Those were the gifts Albion gave me years ago, and were reaffirmed this weekend.
D. TRUMPIE PHOTOS
(Right) Participants in biologist Ken Saville’s seminar, “Genes and Society,” got hands-on experience with DNA “fingerprinting” techniques. The group also discussed the human genome project, genetic cloning and other recent developments in this rapidly changing field.
(Above) Art historian Bille Wickre (standing) provided an introduction to the first-year seminar she team-teaches with biologist Jeffrey Carrier on Art in the Environment. Small-group discussions focused on the opportunities and pitfalls associated with environmental art today.
The Albion Institute faculty Torin Alexander (College chaplain), Leonard Berkey (sociology), Jeffrey Carrier (biology), Eugene Cline (philosophy), Geoffrey Cocks (history) with student assistant Madolene Page-Wood, Mary Collar (English), Wesley Dick (history) with co-facilitator Leslie Dick and student assistants Nicolas Cucinella and Susan Laing, Ronald Fryxell (mathematics), Timothy Lincoln (geology), Kenneth Saville (biology), Robert Starko (theatre), Bille Wickre (visual arts). Additional discussion leaders for the Common Reading Experience included: Patricia Franzen (Women’s Center), Deana Henry (Student Affairs), Kenneth Henry (Student Affairs), Dale Kennedy (biology), Kevin Kropf (Admissions).
Seminar participant Jim Carson, ’51, reflects on the conditions in Nazi Germany that gave rise to the Holocaust. In leading the discussion, historian Geoff Cocks (right) also used clips from German films from that era and excerpts from private diaries to portray the views of both the perpetrators and the victims of the Holocaust.