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Class Notes
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A LUMNI ASSOCIATIO N GANNONUNIVERSITY
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66 WILLIAM J. STEGER was honored in June by H.A.N.D.S. with the Charles R. and Katherine L.
Scalise Community Service Award.
69 ROBERT W. MCGEE, PH.D. competed in the Taekwondo
World Championships in Phoenix,
Ariz. in July, and won five gold medals, two silver and one bronze.
GREGORY F. PASHKE recently published a book “Quotes and Ladders” with publisher Hoshin Media.
71 LT. GEN. JAMES M. DUBIK, USA spoke at the Jefferson Educational
Society in June, discussing the Ukraine situation. Dubik served as the general for the Multi-National Security
Transition Forces in Iraq. He taught at the U.S. Military Academy and other top universities since retiring from the
Army in 2008. He currently serves as the senior fellow at the Institute for the
Study of War, and recently published
“Just War Reconsidered: Strategy, Ethics and Theory.”
73JOHN C. SANZA has a new job at Erie’s newest old hotel. Nearly 50 years after he went to work as a porter at the former Holiday Inn at West 18th and State streets, the 70-year-old
Erie man finds himself working in the same location now at the front desk of the newly opened Red Roof Plus &
Suites. He is retired from Steris Corp., but has worked a second job in the hotel industry throughout his career, spending 33 years at the Holiday Inn.
74 PATRICK P. CZYTUCK was inducted into the 2022 Metro
Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports
Hall of Fame. Czytuck recently finished his 47th season, including 41 years at
Cathedral Prep. He has coached more than 550 games, including nine state championship games. 79JESSICA A. (DEBES) STECKLER ’79M was recognized in Marquis
Who’s Who in the World. Recently retired after more than 40 years in education, nursing and consulting,
Steckler continues giving back as an appraiser on behalf of the American
Nurse Association’s Pathway to
Excellence Program, for which she was an appraiser from 2011-2020.
VINCENT H. MERCURI, JR., M.ED.,
CACD, LPC was presented with the
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission after serving 40 years in the addiction treatment profession. The award recognized his vision, leadership and commitment to the drug and alcohol field.
81JOHN P. CARRIG ‘87M announced his retirement after 32 years as
Gannon’s cross country coach. Carrig took over the men’s cross country program in 1990 and the women’s in 1995. During this time he built the Golden Knights into one of the top cross country programs in the
Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. 83JOHN S. SUTIKA, CPA will retire as president of Penn Highlands
DuBois on June 30, 2023. He began his career with DuBois Regional Medical
Center in 1985 and served as president of Penn Highlands DuBois since 2011.
84JOHN A. FULENA III was named a 2022 ENX Magazine Difference
Maker. Fulena is the director of production and industrial printing in the dealer division for Konica Minolta
Business Solutions U.S.A., Inc. He is a 35-year veteran of the PP/IP industry and joined Konica Minolta in 2020.
BETH D. (TALLMAN) MEINERT was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of MITRE Public
Sector. She sets the strategy and growth priorities of MPS, engages key senior sponsors and oversees the work of the federally funded research and development centers that MITRE operates for civilian government agencies.
85JOSEPH G. CACCHIONE, M.D. joined Thomas Jefferson
University as the organization’s new
CEO. Cacchione comes from Ascension,
Gannon acknowledged our wonderful Villa and Gannon retirees with a luncheon on July 15 in the Nash Library. Drs. Keith Taylor and Walter Iwanenko along with Barbara Beuscher, Fr. Shane Mathew, retiree Jay DiFrank, and Victor E. Knight celebrated our past faculty and staff, along with family and current staff.
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where he served as an integral leader since 2017. Cacchione will work to advance the enterprise’s growth strategy alongside his direct reports, including Jefferson Health President Bruce A. Meyer, M.D., MBA and Thomas Jefferson University President Mark L. Tykocinski, M.D. to further shape the future of healthcare, research and professions-focused education.
86DANIEL J. BORGIA, PH.D. ’86M was appointed as the new provost for Nichols College on April 1. Borgia previously served as dean and professor of finance at Bryant University-BITZH.
87YOLANDA MICHELLE (FORNO) HARMAN, ED.D., NBCT is assistant principal of Northern Garrett
High School for Garrett County
Public Schools. She served as science chairperson from 1990-2013, was the supervisor of college and career readiness (2013-17) and supervisor of science and mathematics (2017-19).
This is her 33rd year in Maryland’s education system, her 31st in GCPS and her fourth as assistant principal.
Harman completed her Doctor of
Education in 2020 from Frostburg
State University. She was a former MD
Biology Teacher of the Year (2001),
Garrett County Teacher of the Year (2005), MD Teacher of the Year finalist (2005), Christa McAuliffe Fellow (2002), and USA Today Teacher of the
Year (2001).
JEFFREY T. HOOK, MS, CFCM retired with 35 years of service in September.
He served and worked for the U.S.
Army, the U.S. Federal Government and NATO. He served in the Gulf
War (1990-91), Bosnia (1995), Kosovo (1999) and Gulf War II (2003).
He worked for the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization’s Support and
Procurement Agency in Luxembourg since 2001. He now volunteers at
Doctors Without Borders in Frankfurt,
Germany. SHERRI L. (FURLONG) MCCLEARY is the executive director at Digital Foundry at New Kensington.
88JULIE M. (FERRICK) WILSON is chairwoman of the YMCA of
Greater Erie Board of Directors. She is the second female volunteer to hold this position in YMCA history. She’s worked for 33 years at Marquette Savings Bank and is the chief financial officer.
89GREGORY J. CZARNECKI is the director of applied climate science for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He presented
“Climate Change and Penn’s Woods:
What Does the Future Hold” focused on minimizing climate change impact on state forests and parks. He’s served as ombudsman for the PA Department of Environmental Protection, executive director of Pennsylvania’s Wild
Resource Conservation Program, director of The Nature Conservancy’s
PA Science Office, and consultant for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. He’s taught at Gannon, Penn
State Behrend and Lebanon Valley
College, and is an adjunct at Harrisburg
University of Science and Technology.
90 DR. KRISTINE S. LEGTERS D.SC. ‘90M received the Distinguished
Professional Achievement Award by
Northwestern College in Iowa. Legters serves as associate dean of Gannon’s
School of Rehabilitative Services. She became a physical therapist in 1983 and has taught full-time since 1994.
She is active in the American Physical
Therapy Association and its Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, and in the American Board of Physical Therapy
Specialties.
BRADLEY T. ROAE is in his eighth term as the state representative for the 6th
District. He participated in a questionand-answer forum hosted by the
Meadville Tribune, sharing his views about important issues. He currently serves as chairman of the House
Commerce Committee, is a member of the House Health Committee, and was previously chairman of the House
Consumer Affairs Committee. 91 KENNETH M. OGOREK ’91M assisted in coordinating the local Worldwide Synod of Bishops for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. He is also on the local planning team for the national Eucharistic Revival. Ogorek is the Director of Catechesis for the
Archdiocese of Indianopolis.
Gannon Celebrates Homecoming & Family Weekend 2022
The annual celebration welcomed nearly 1,000 Gannon and Villa alumni as well as current students, family and friends for a weekend of exciting events. It included several reunions and milestone anniversaries such as 90.5 WERG-FM’s 50th anniversary, the 75th anniversary of The Gannon Knight and the 60th anniversary of Phi Kappa Alpha.
Four exceptional alumni were also honored during the 2022 Distinguished Alumni Awards, including: (L-R above) Rev. Msgr. Robert L. Brugger, ’62; Thomas C. Guelcher ’62, ’76M; Joseph E. Kloecker ’74, ’79M; and Lt. Thomas L. Lenox, ’98; Keith Taylor, Ph.D, President. A large number of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity brothers (below) and guests gathered at the Awards dinner to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the fraternity and recognize their brother Joe Kloecker for receiving the award.
LORI A. (RAPE) JOINT was named interim president and CEO of the Manufacturer & Business Association, where she has served as vice president.
92 GERALYNN I. (BURBULES) VENSEL ’92M was an all-PSAC women’s volleyball player at Edinboro three times and was an all-NCAA
Division II tournament selection in 1982. She was inducted into Edinboro’s athletic hall of fame in 1995 and
Gannon’s in 2011 for her 1986-1994 coaching tenure, which included three
Division II quarterfinal appearances.
PARRIS J. BAKER, PH.D. is a scholar-inresidence at the Jefferson Educational
Society and is a contributing writer with a biweekly series “Truth in
Love.” He is the director for Gannon’s social work, mortuary science and gerontology programs.
TROY E. BINGHAM, MBA is the director of soccer at SPIRE Academy. In this role he is also the program’s head coach, using his extensive experience and leadership to help players transition from high school to college and beyond.
94 JOHN M. BOWLER ’94M retired on July 31. He began his counseling career as a parttime therapist for Warren Pastoral
Counseling from 1990-95. He received his graduate degree in psychological counseling from Gannon in 1994, and in 1995 became a part-time therapist for Family Services of Warren County, moving to full-time in 2007. He became a licensed professional counselor in 2002. He also worked with the
Forest Warren Department of Human
Services, serving 20 years in children’s services and more than five years in the county mental health program.
ERIC G. LAPRICE, MS ’97C, ’99M returned to his post at the Sequoia
National Forest after a four-month assignment on the Tongass National
Forest in Alaska, where he enjoyed capturing images of moonrises, the northern lights and wildlife.
95 JANEL M. (NIEBAUER) BONSELL, CPA was appointed to Penn State
births
1 2
Allison M. Battaglia ’10, ’13M and husband, Joseph R. Kolano ’10, welcomed daughter, Anna Elizabeth Kolano, on Aug. 17. Aaron C. Bove ’09 and wife, Liz, welcomed daughter, Hannah Elizabeth, on July 11. Nicholas K. Devine ’17 and wife, Emily, welcomed son, Theodore, on Aug. 24 1 . Stephenie A. (DiLuzio) Bojc ’01 and husband, Jeffrey, welcomed son, Jack, on Sept. 15. 2 Nancy J. (Dumm) McMullen ’18M and husband, Kelly, welcomed son, Walter Matthew, on Aug. 15. 3
3 4
Lisa R. (Lamperski) Whitfield ’11 and husband, Casey, welcomed son, Garrison Walter, on March 23. 4 Domenic G. Lombardi, D.M.D. ’12 and wife, Breah, welcomed son, Peter Jeffrey, on Aug. 9. Andrea R. Mancuso ’17 and husband, Samuel Holmgren, welcomed daughter, Hayley Rose, on May 22. Stephanie (Martinez) White ’10 and husband, Benjamin, welcomed son, Daxton, on July 6.
Behrend’s Black School of Business as executive in residence for the 202223 academic year. Bonsell is principal and director of human resources at Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Co. COL. MATTHEW P. BRUNO, USSF was promoted to colonel in the United States Space Force during a ceremony at the Pentagon in June. Bruno is the chief of the Warfighter Integration, Partnerships and Integration Division, and directorate of the Intelligence Headquarters of United States Space Force. He served as deputy geospatialintelligence mission manager/Eurasia for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency where he aligned and drove operations missions and organizations to achieve national defense objectives.
RICHARD R. WATKINS, M.D., MS, FACP, FIDSA, FISAC started a new position as a medical director at CVS-Aetna and was appointed a member of its Infectious Disease Advisory Team after 14 years as an infectious disease physician and clinical researcher. Watkins is a professor of medicine at the Northeast Ohio Medical University. He is currently the chair of the publications committee of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and an associate editor for several academic journals. He serves on multiple committees at the National Institutes of Health.
96 CHAD S. HENDRICKSON, M.D. joined Butler Health System as a dermatologist after serving as an army physician for 11 years. He was the chief of dermatology at Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center in Germany and the chief of dermatology at McDonald
Army Health Center in Fort Eustis, Va.
He obtained his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University, and completed a transitional internship and a dermatology residency at the San
Antonio Uniformed Services Health
Education Consortium.
JESSICA M. (SMITH) MOYER is an international speaker, author and coach who presented at the TEDxWilmingtonSalon event in September. She is the author of “Triumph Through the Tears-Finding
marriages
Paul Deverse ’89 married Margaret Milliern on Nov. 13, 2021. Kyra M. Hammond ’20 married Logan Munsee. Allyn “Allie” M. Overfield ’15, ‘16M married Warren Fischer on April 16. Michelle Rydzinski ’13 married Jeremi Dorsey on May 23. Neena Sabherwal ’16 married Louis Weyand ’15 on Oct. 1. Kariann (Kozlowski) Tarquinio ’12 married Brian Tarquinio on April 23. 1
Hope and Purpose Through Loss” and “The 5 G’s to a Stronger Mindset.” As a certified Ziglar Legacy Coach, John Maxwell Coach/Trainer and ACE Personal Trainer holding many wellness certifications, she helped thousands of women transform their lives over the past twelve years. MELISSA M. NECINA-SOBOLESKI has coached women’s volleyball coach at Edinboro University since 2005. She has 488 wins in her career that has spanned 28 seasons, including 18 at Edinboro, six at Mercyhurst and four at Gannon.
97 STACY M. JUCHNO was the keynote speaker for Gannon’s
Spring 2022 Commencement
Ceremony. Juchno is on Gannon’s
Board of Trustees and is the executive vice president and general auditor for the PNC Financial Services Group.
98 JENNIFER L. (HULL) SCHADE, MBA ’02M was recognized by the
United Way for volunteering since 2011.
She serves on the United Way’s Impact 99 TIMOTHY M. SHINE was promoted to senior vice president in IT at Erie Insurance Group in May where he focuses on sales and product technology. Shine, most recently vice president of information technology, brings 25 years of professional technology experience to the role.
01 SARA E. (BROWN) AHUJA was nominated for the Cicero-
North Syracuse sports 2022 Mount
Rushmore Female Athlete. Ahuja played soccer and lacrosse for the Northstars, becoming an all-county selection in soccer and an All-CNY selection in lacrosse. She was a two-time U.S.
Women’s Lacrosse Association All-
American. The team won its first state championship in 1995 and in 1996; she was named to the all-tournament team both years. She continued playing at
Gannon and in 2000 the team ranked
No. 1 in the country. In 2001, she was the Division II midfielder of the year.
NANCI L. HAIBACH is the owner of The
Elsie Greer House Bed & Breakfast, which opened in July in North East,
Pa. It is believed to be one of the oldest homes in Erie County, named after the woman who owned it post-Civil War.
02 KELLIE L. (VALENTINE) ANDREWS ’02M, ’06C was one of 96 players selected to compete in the USGA’s inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open, held in
July at the Pinehurst Resort in North
Carolina. Andrews, who lost most of her right arm in a car accident in 1993, currently works for Sunrise Counseling
Services. She competed in the Phoenix
Cup, a team tournament for disabled golfers held in Birmingham, England.
ELLIOTT J. EHRENREICH, ESQ. joined the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP as a partner in the Corporate Practice
Group. Ehrenreich received his J.D., cum laude, from Duquesne University
School of Law and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Gannon. PAUL R. GRADL ’04M received the 2022 Premier Award for Engineer of the Year from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics in April. Gradl is a principal engineer at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. He was recognized for developing metal additive manufacturing techniques to meet NASA missions and industry needs.
03 ANUJ WAHI ’03M is the founder of KanHealthcare and KHC
Healthcare India Private Limited, and has sustained KHC Healthcare for more than 16 years. It is growing in
India through its concept of scientific marketing and value-based selling.
04 SONYA M. (PYLE) WHITMAN was named the new vice president of strategic marketing and communications for Cathedral
Prep, Villa Maria and Mother Teresa
Academy. She was previously marketing manager at Saint Vincent Hospital, then practice manager at Hertel & Brown
Physical Therapy for the last decade.
05 ANDREW R. PASSINGER ’05M became principal of Corry Area
Middle-High School. He has 22 years of teaching experience and served as the gifted program coordinator, as well as a football and track & field coach.
06 BETHANY N. KRAUS now coaches girls volleyball for McDowell
High School. She coached Fort
LeBoeuf’s girls basketball team from 2011-14 before stepping down to start a family.
07 JOANNE E. HEINTZ ’08M is the new vice president of finance and administration for Cathedral Prep, Villa
Maria and Mother Teresa Academy.
ANNA C. IRWIN, DO opened a new location for Clearway Pain Solutions in Bethesda, Md. in May. Irwin is a
Dual Board Certified physician in anesthesiology and interventional pain management. She received her medical degree from Philadelphia College of
Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency at Thomas Jefferson
Janet A. (Smith)
Allen ’70VMC Edward J. Allgeier ’56 Paul J. Anthony ’03 Robert B. Aquilino ’86 John C. Azzatori ’57 Christopher M. Barsh ’91 Lisa M. Baughman ’03 Declan Bingham ’19, ’20M Charles J. Blass ’62 William M. Borowy ’61 John W. Boyle ’71 Ann (Locastro) Bradford ’81 Walter W. Breindel ’73M Carolyn M. Brookhouser ’94 Elizabeth A. (Kidwell)
Broxmeyer ’82 Linda M. Bucci ’86 Thomas D. Bull ’69 Michael W. Callahan ’99 James D. Campbell, Jr. ’61 Joyce E. (Fabian)
Carlson ’68VMC Vincent F. Cassano, Esq. ’64 Donald G. Charters ’75M Thomas J. Chepel ’68 Patricia (Lynch)
Christina ’60VMC William J. Conlin ’62 Joanne E. Conti Kloss ’76 David M. Cullen ’73 Craig G. Cunningham ’74M Anthony C. Curcio ’92M Donald R. Curtis, PE ’62 Paul W. Czarnecki, Jr. ’86 Rachel A. deGuia ’16, ’17M John A. Dematteo ’64 Francis J. Denslinger ’47 Caroline J. (Rutkowski)
DiPlacido ’86 Scott A. Dodson ’98 Jeffrey M. Dombrowski ’88 Joan D. (Davis)
Donnelly ’46VMC Arthur J. Drexler ’63 David R. Eichelsdorfer ’63 Anastasia (McMahon)
Fenton ’65VMC Jack R. Foht ’57 Phillip B. France ’68 Donna L. (Fontenoy)
Franz ’74VMC Jean (Kalivoda) Garcia ’64VMC Mary M. Gaughan ’69VMC Daniel F. Geary ’71 Richard W. Glass ’54 Charles W. Goehring II ’72 Beverly M. Gordon ’72VMC Frank J. Gredler ’52 William H. Greenwald ’62 Susan D. Grumley ’77 David J. Guelcher ’70, ’78M Robert H. Haibach ’55 Sister Ronald M. Hax ’80VMC Elizabeth (Weaver)
Hazen ’67VMC Margaret R. (Crannell)
Hemme ’75VMC Douglas J. Hewitt ’58 Mazli R. (Pollock)
Hook ’78VMC Heidi K.
Hosey, Ph.D. ’84VMC, ’89M Paul H. Imig ’72 Jerry L. Johnson ’75 Robert J. Kapsar ’73 Mary J. (Cibula) Kautz ’69VMC Joseph P. Kelly ’70 Rev. James J. Kennelley ’68 Lt. Col. Robert L. Kloecker ’72 Jason A. Kosciuszko ’02 John A. Kozak ’58 Heather A. (Curcio)
Krystofiak ’97 Eileen S. (Stafford)
Leto ’68VMC, ’77M Dianne
Lindey-Munson ’82VMC Terry L. Linsted ’74 Carol Lucarotti ’93 John N. Lutz ’52 William W. Magnotto ’75M Mary (Reuscher)
Mallison ’51VMC James J. Manno ’63 Brian P.
McLaughlin, MS ’85, ’87M James F. McNeill ’84 Daniel M. Meahl ’56 Rev. William C. Miller ’79 Paul E. Moran ’64 Maribeth Muckian ’81 Kevin Niako ’25 Kathleen (Petroff)
Nieratko ’85VMC Kathleen M. (Paonessa)
Obert ’74VMC Kathleen A. (Gahr)
O’Connor ’94 George T. O'Donnel ’63 Dawn M. (Migdal)
Olszewski ’95 Merle A. Parker ’51 Ethel L. (Mullaley)
Pierce ’89VMC Matthew S. Piglowski ’88 Mary A. Piscitelli ’70VMC Robert J. Przybyszewski ’53 Ellen (Traynor)
Purnell ’66VMC Michelle L. Ray ’94 Julie A. (Todd)
Raymond, MD ’86 William P. Repasky ’84 James J. Roward ’60 David A. Rowicki ’68 Raymond S. Rusnak ’83 David A. Schau ’72 Patricia A. (Buchanan) Schlosser ’89 James R. Schumacher ’59, ’76M Frank C. Scozzie ’68, ’72M Christina E. (Tyrrell)
Sedler ’64VMC Michael J. Shannon ’86 Russell H. Shumaker ’62 Betty (Duberow)
Smith ’47VMC Richard P. Sollman ’68, ’85M Annmarie (Knotek)
Soltesz ’64VMC Maj. Francis X. Spaeder ’69 William J. Spring ’78 James A. Steber ’77, ’87M Robert S. Stellman ’60 Edward P. Sterbank ’67 Cynthia S. (Archacki)
Stone ’82M Richard T. Straub ’61 Sister Bernadette
Sullivan ’32VMC Susan (Baldoni)
Szczerbacki ’74VMC Patricia J. (Hill)
Szychowski ’69VMC Kathryn M. Terry ’94 Richard H. Thayer, Jr. ’06 Rev. Frederick D.
Thompson ’71, ’72M James E. Tingley ’67 Bradley J. Tucker ’98 Sheldon R.
Van Deventer ’00, ’03M Dr. Donald N. Vandamia ’61 Rosemarie
Vandermolen ’85VMC Vincent J. Vargo ’70 Mary R. (Kohlmiller)
Vollentine ’77 John M. Wenzel ’79 Pamela G. (Nichols-Epp)
Xanthopoulos ’77 Darcy A. (Knecht)
Young ’73VMC Edwin L. Zeltzer ’57 Anthony P. Zeus, Jr. ’79
Parents and Friends
Lawrence A. Arduini Martin J. Badders Fred E. Beil, Ph.D. Cassandra Bielecki Judith A. Bitters JoMarie Boesch Angela R. Brooks Matthew J. Caster, DPT Thomas R. Colvin William S. Crawford Joseph Crilley Anthony D. Demarco, Ph.D. Joe Ann Edmondson Cynthia A. Fiske William P. Garvey James L. Gregory James F. Grise Janet Guthrie Bridget A. Hammar Donald R. Hewett Judy Hewett Cornelius Hubert Jean M. Joyce Darren W. Judy Martin W. Kaverman William Kester John Klier David J. Laird Lee F. Lampkin Verle F. Lander Andrew E. Larson Philip Mangano John J. McCormick, Jr. Taylor N. Miller Kenneth Mottern Ronald J. Paterniti Joseph J. Prischak David E. Quinlan David J. Randall Ann M. Rawding Barbara A. Reichert Gloria C. Rigazzi Terry Seyfert Dale E. Sherman Gerald J. Skolnik Rev. Robert P. Susa Denna L. Thomas Richard D. Weaver Donald L. Wickwire Laverne E. Yonkin Denise J. Yost
in memoriam
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8
Photography courtesy of Erie Reader Gannon Alumni, Employees Honored with Erie’s 40 Under 40 Distinction
Eight Gannon alumni were recognized as part of the Erie Reader’s annual 40 Under 40 list of young professionals who have stepped forward to help transform Erie. Gannon alumni honorees include:
• Dr. Zamen Abo-Zebiba ’11, ’14M
Staff Therapist, Gannon University 1 • Richard “Rick” Bowser ’19 Director,
The 1020 Collective 2 • Emily Ernes ’17M, ’20M Owner,
Glass Growers Gallery 3 • Jade Mitchell ’14 Creative Director,
Erie Arts & Culture, Adjunct
Instructor, Mercyhurst University 4 • Eric Pollock ’12M Founder, Happy
Bark, Inc., Chief Architect, Erie
Insurance Group 5 • Nathan Ross ’15 Assistant
Vice President and Commercial
Relationship Manager, Northwest
Bank 6 • Nicholas Sorensen ’18 Digital
Content Manager, WJET-TV 24, Host,
Buddycast 7 • Helen Tullio ’17 Owner, Helen Tullio
Studio 8
University, where she served as chief resident and received the Excellence in Anesthesia and the Teaching Award.
08 LISA RAYMOND, FNP-BC ’08M is a certified nurse practitioner with WNY Urology, specializing in adult and pediatric urology. She’s a member of the New York State Nurse
Practitioners Association and Sigma
Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.
ANTHONY R. DEMARO ’08C is superintendent for Yough School
District. He previously served as Yough
Intermediate School principal for three years and assistant superintendent for the Mt. Pleasant Area School District. LAUREN A. HOPKINS received her Certified Association Executive credential from the American Society of Association Excellence in June. RYAN S. MAROVICH PA-C ’09M is a physician assistant who manages patients with otologic disease processes and vestibular and balance disorders. He was the national scholarship recipient of the Society of Physician Assistants in Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery. Marovich was a clinical instructor at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for nearly 10 years before joining Medical University of South Carolina’s Department of Otolaryngology in 2020. 10KYLE A. CHURMAN and his wife, Lauren Shoemaker ’12M, purchased Werner Books in March. As co-owners, they offer a book trade-in program as well as operate school book fairs throughout Erie County.
CHRISTOPHER C. FRYE, JR. was elected as a member of the Westminster College
Board of Trustees in July. Frye serves on the Lawrence County YMCA Board of Directors, Foundation Boxing Board of Directors and the Pennsylvania
Municipal League Executive Committee as the Northwest District Officer. He was among those to seek the Republican party’s nomination as Pennsylvania’s next lieutenant governor. He currently serves as the Mayor of New Castle.
KRISTIN E. SCHALK announced her resignation as head coach for the Ferris
State University softball program.
She joined the FSU program in 2017 and guided the Bulldogs to GLIAC
Tournament appearances in each of her first two seasons and again to the league semifinals this past season.
11KOLTEN M. HOFFMAN is being inducted into the West Middlesex
Hall of Fame. Hoffman earned 12 varsity letters in his four years at
West Middlesex H.S., where he was a standout in football, basketball and baseball.
LISA M. RIPPER became the Research Manager at Duquesne University Center for Integrative Health. She researches community-driven and -based approaches to address health disparities and identified health priorities. ANJALI SAHAY, PH.D. ’11M was one of three classical Indian dancers who performed as a soloist and with a group during CelebrateErie. Sahay is an associate professor and program director of political science at Gannon.
12 WAYNE E. QUATTRONE II, DPT ’12M joined two doctors of physical therapy in opening a new aquatic therapy clinic in Jamestown,
N.Y. HAWC Physical Therapy opened in Spring 2022, focusing on sport enhancement, recovery, injury prevention, tactical conditioning, orthopedic and neurological disorders, and post-surgical rehab.
ALLISON J. DIPLACIDO received her master’s degree as a Nurse Practitioner from the University of Pittsburgh in 2020 and received her Doctorate of Neonatal Nurse Practitioner in August. She works at UPMC Hamot-Erie NICU, Children’s Hospital NICU in Pittsburgh and Magee’s Women’s Hospital NICU in Pittsburgh. She is an adjunct professor at Gannon in the Morosky College’s nursing department teaching both undergraduate and graduate classes. SHAINE R. PATSILEVAS is in his eighth season as assistant coach for Seneca Valley varsity football, working with the defensive backfield. They’ve reached the WPIAL 2016 and 2018 title games. AMANDA K. (SHARBAUGH) SPAEDER ’13M was inducted into the Butler County Sports Hall of Fame and Gannon’s 2017 Class. She is a recordsetting goal scorer in soccer at Knoch and at Gannon.
13 JAMIE E. MARTIN-STEWART ’13M was named vice president of executive support at Erie Insurance in May. Stewart previously served as corporate PMO manager within the company’s Enterprise Office after joining ERIE in 1993 as a production facilitator in commercial underwriting.
14 LAURA BLAKE ’14M is the assistant superintendent of
Catholic Schools for the Diocese of
Erie, where she has served as a teacher, principal and system president.
JACOB I. FAIT, PH.D. ’14M is vice president of enrollment management and financial aid at Tusculum
University, where he was the dean of the College of Business. Fait helped drive 100% growth in the Master of
Business Administration program and led the creation of the Master of Science in entrepreneurial leadership program.
BRANDON M. PHILLIAN ’14M is the new director of educational services for the Wilmington Area School District, where he has worked since 2009 as a high school mathematics teacher. He is also the district’s head football coach and named Pennsylvania’s Class 2A
Coach of the Year in 2020 after leading the Greyhounds to back-to-back state championship game appearances. REV. ANDREW M. BOYD was installed as pastor at Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Mercer, Pa.
15 DANIEL “DANNY” J. SMITH ’15M was named Strength &
Conditioning Coach of the Year for the 2022 baseball season with the Hudson
Valley Renegades, the New York
Yankees affiliate. He began his second season as the strength coach and sixth with the Yankees organization.
BRITTANY A. BATTS was inducted as a member of the 2022 Loudoun
County High School Hall of Fame in
September. Batts was a four-year varsity basketball player at Loudoun, with a
State Championship in 2009. She was a three-year starter at Gannon, where she finished her career with 1,152 points and four NCAA postseason appearances. She is now an assistant women’s basketball coach at Gannon.
JULIE D. MORTON, M.S., B.S.N., R.N. is the chief nursing officer and chief operating officer at Brooks-TLC Hospital System. Morton oversees all nursing activities and ensures systemwide adherence to outside regulatory and legal requirements, internal policies and procedures. She aligns all clinical and day-to-day operations– developing strategic operational plans and business growth initiatives.
16 ATTY. RENEE S. RICHARDSON joined The Manely Firm, P.C. as an associate attorney in December 2021 at its Atlanta office.
ELLEN E. KEHL ’16M is the director of member engagement and education for the Nonprofit Partnership of Erie. She serves on the NWPA Chapter of the Board of the Public Relations Society of America, and on the Board of the Wattsburg School District Foundation.
17 ANDREW R. PEIRSON anticipates a bump in playing time with the
BC Lions of the Canadian Football
League after manning a spot on the offensive line. He made the Lions’ practice roster as an undrafted free agent in 2018, and became the starter at center by the end of season after injuries. He’s been a backup the past two seasons and has received a handful of snaps per game as B.C.’s sixth offensive lineman.
18 MATTHEW BARTO won the historic 50th annual Erie District
Golf Association Marquette Savings
Bank Match Play Championship at
Downing Golf Course. The assistant golf coach for the Golden Knights defeated No. 4-seeded Alex Weir.
19PAUL D. VOJTEK ’19M is the clinical director for Benchmark
Physical Therapy’s newest outpatient clinic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Vojtek is a manual therapist and is certified in dry needling for the spine and extremities.
ANDREW J. HAMILTON was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Greensburg by Bishop Larry J. Kulick, J.C.L., in May. He has since served at St. John the Evangelist Parish, St. Joseph Parish, St. Mary (Nativity) Parish and St. Therese, Little Flower of Jesus Parish.
21CHLOE E. FORBES is a reporter at The Corry Journal. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from
Gannon.
ALYSSA M. PONTIOUS ’22M passed the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), and accepted an Acute Care Occupational Therapist position at UPMC in Erie. She was a member of Gannon’s Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and Pi Theta Epsilon Honor Society.
22LINDON N. KING accepted a fulltime job with the Virgin Islands
Department of Labor. He was a member of Gannon’s McNair Scholars Program and Black Student Union.
Find additional Class Notes and photos at magazine.
gannon.edu/Nov2022
109 University Square Erie, PA 16541-0001 gannon.edu/magazine
GIVING BACK TO GANNON
Gannon University is able to offer a high-quality education that inspires transformational student experiences thanks to our donors. Your gift to Gannon supports the greatest needs of our students through scholarships, financial aid, state-of-the-art technology and facilities, library and academic resources, and students’ extracurricular experiences. Your support provides life-changing opportunities, experiences and resources that enable our students to follow their passions and achieve success. Thank you for your commitment to Gannon University and for the support you offer to all our students.
HOW CAN YOU INVEST IN OUR STUDENTS?
One-Time Gift
Support Gannon’s greatest areas of need and emerging priorities, or any specific program or area.
Recurring Gift
Your recurring gift provides a reliable source of support for Gannon. You can set your gift to automatically recur monthly, quarterly or yearly.
Planned Gift
When you include Gannon University in your estate plan, your generosity creates a lasting legacy and provides a comprehensive, value-centered educational experience that is grounded in Catholic faith.
Financial Portfolio
Give to Gannon through donor advised funds, stock transfers, charitable gift annuities, IRA required minimum distributions and real estate. Our Leadership Giving Team can help you make your gift through one of these areas.
In-Kind Gift
Use gifts of personal property to support our students’ education.
Matching Gifts
Double the impact of your gift. Contact your employer for more information.
Amazon Smile
A simple and automatic way to support Gannon every time you shop. Start your shopping at smile.amazon.com. The donation will be made at no extra cost to you after you select Gannon University as the charitable organization you wish to support.
TO DISCUSS YOUR GIFT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Barbara Beuscher, CFRE, vice president for University Advancement
