CLASS NOTES BY THE NUMBERS
8,651
feet above sea level – 3 alumni atop Nordkette Mountain, Innsbruck, Austria
12 8 7 6 2 1 weddings
Flyers hit the Kentucky Bourbon Trail
national parks visited
books published
alumnae dined at the Pine Club
wore an Apollo spacesuit
G OL DEN F LY ER S 1 James McBarron II ’60 (GEO) and
his wife, Margaret, live in Taylor Lake Village, Texas. Last fall, he was invited to visit Keating Elementary School in Baker City, Oregon, to talk about his work at NASA. James began his career as a test subject in 1958 in trials designed to determine human endurance in extreme environmental conditions. One test aimed to see how long an astronaut could sit in a capsule deprived of oxygen before experiencing hypoxia. Another blew 400 mph winds in the face of a helmet to make sure it stayed intact. It was hazardous work but vital to the Apollo missions that followed. In his next position as an aerospace technologist, James worked on Project Mercury, the Gemini Project, and the Apollo 9, Apollo 11, Apollo 13 and Apollo 15 missions. James gave the students some advice: “Decisions have consequences and determine your life path. Continuing education is important. And finally, you must enjoy work to be successful at it.” Tom Donahue ’61 (EDS) writes, “After starting the band at Moeller High School in Cincinnati, and then teaching biology at North Catholic High School in Pennsylvania and religion at Hamilton Catholic High School in Ohio when I was a Marianist, I began the first counseling department in a German public school in Berlin. After a stint as superintendent of the Taipei American School, I ran Active Learning Systems Inc., an educational technology company. Now I’m retired and live in Fort Myers, Florida, with my wife of 54 years, Dr. Mary Ann Clark, a retired vice president of Medtronic Inc.” Polly Michael Freeze ’67 (HEC) married Tim Heller Oct. 12, 2019. Polly
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writes, “We met when we both attended Jefferson Township High School near Dayton. We are now retired and living in Brookville, Ohio.” 2 Anita Elchert-Marovich ’67 (EDS) and Joe Marovich ’67 (EDS) live in Tiffin, Ohio. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary last fall by driving 3,800 miles, visiting some of America’s national parks. They write, “We started in Las Vegas, then drove to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and Painted Desert national parks, all in Arizona. Then we traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then on to the Four Corners Monument in Colorado. Next was Monument Valley, which begins in Utah and meanders into Arizona. While in Utah we drove to Arches National Park and then visited Salt Lake City. We saw Yellowstone National Park and passed through the Grand Tetons in Wyoming. After staying in Cedar City, Idaho, we drove back to Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks in Utah. Heading back to our starting point in Vegas, we stopped at Valley of Fire State Park in Arizona before departing for home. Our three-week adventure preceded an anniversary celebration party in Ohio in December.”
Dick Ebinger ’68 (ECO) and his wife, Linda, live in Avon Lake, Ohio. Dick writes, “So sorry to read of the passing of Jack Kussman ’43, probably the best professor, in both my opinion and that of many of my classmates, that we had during our four years (or maybe more) at UD. As an early retired executive from E.F. MacDonald Corp., Jack brought both academic and real business insights to his students. His classes in corporate finance and investments shaped my career and life in immeasurable ways. Rest in peace, Jack, and thank you for
your contributions to your students’ educations and for your philanthropic donations to UD.” Tim Farrell ’68 (CME) and his wife, Noreen, live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Tim writes, “I was saddened to learn of the passing of classmate Patrick Hoffman ’68. I met Pat within a few days of arriving at University Hall to start our freshman year in 1964. Pat was also a housemate at 111 Edgar Ave. our junior year and was a fine cook for the six of us. I was the best man at his wedding and remained a good friend to the end. Pat was the driving force to get the Edgar Avenue crew together to enjoy many homecomings, including our induction as Golden Flyers in 2018.” Joseph Loddo ’68 (ECO) and his wife, Lisa Bracall, live in Alexandria, Virginia. Joseph writes, “After more than 33 years, I retired from the federal government March 28, 2020. My career started with three-and-a-half years as a captain in the U.S. Army. The remaining 29 years were serving with the U.S. Small Business Administration. I held several leadership positions, including those of chief financial officer, chief operating officer and acting administrator of the SBA during a presidential transition. I was honored to receive the Presidential Rank Award in 2019 for my career accomplishments. I’m looking forward to enjoying what life has to offer without the time constraints. Lisa and I have been married for 42 years. I look forward to completing the restoration of my first automobile (a 1949 Buick Sedanette), which I purchased at the end of my freshman year at UD. When travel restrictions are removed, we expect to do our share of traveling to places we’ve always wanted to see and to our cabin for additional rest and relaxation.” 3 Bob Nero ’68 (MTA) and Mary Jo Strozdas Nero ’70 (CPS) live in the Shadow Wood Community in Estero, Florida. Last summer they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by family and friends at Isle of Palms, South Carolina. They write,
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Summer 2020 | UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON MAGAZINE
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