8 minute read
Alumni updates
Elizabeth Vollers Kanczuzewski ’05 and husband Nick welcomed daughter Nicole (Nikki) Kay Kanczuzewski October 11, 2021.
Brandon Loulan ’10 and wife Megan (Ohms) Loulan ’11 welcomed Jack Woods Loulan on December 15, 2020. He weighed in at 8 pounds 1 ounces and was 21 inches long.
Monica Zehr Bodien ’11 and husband David Bodien ’11 welcomed Augustine ‘Gus’ Donald to the family October 7, 2020. His siblings, Marilee, Davey, and Adelaide are pleased with the addition!
Alexandria Rios ’12 and Derrick Gibson welcomed Aniyah Rose Gibson on January 13, 2021. She weighed in at 5 pounds 2 ounces and was 19 inches long.
Marie-Louise Bridgeman ’11 and Steve Bridgeman ’12 welcomed Jolie James Bridgeman.
Yama Kader ’13 and wife Shelbi were delighted with the arrival of Aubrey Lynn on October 1, 2020. Big sister Kendall is in love with her little sis.
Nikolas Jelicic ’14 and welcomed daughter Lorena in October 2021.
Alajowon Edwards ‘15 and wife Justice welcomed son Alajowon Jr. July 3, 2020.
George Stainko ’15 welcomed daughter Ari Kay Stainko on March 11, 2021.
Zachary Best ’15 welcomed son Jackson in September of 2021.
Kari (Barnes) Webb ’16 and Clayton Webb ’15 are the proud parents of daughter Kylar Ann who was born October 21, 2020.
Brendon Shibley ’18 welcomed daughter Remi on July 17, 2021.
Karina Cain Moore ’17 and Drew Moore ’15 welcomed second son Leo Anthony Moore to the family on December 16, 2020.
Stacy Ramirez ’20 welcomed Gianelly De Leon on January 29, 2021.
Alexis Duffy ’16 and Alex Duffy ’16 welcomed Dorothy Josephine Duffy in March 2021 weighing in at 8 pounds and 13 ounces. Justin Breveard ’13 married Colleen Fair on Saturday, July 3, 2021.
Mary Fitzgerald Gosselin ’14 married Travis Gosselin.
Clayton Brown ‘19 married Jessica Horvath on August 15, 2020.
Elizabeth Medina López ’19 married Maurilio López on July 18, 2021.
Madison Wenzler Malec ’19 married Luke Malec ’17 in June of 2021.
Alumni Trey Sorg ’20 and Katherine O’Neill ’19 were married on January 23, 2021.
ENGAGEMENTS
Michael Franz ’16 got engaged to Alexis in November of 2020.
Reagan Stout ‘18 got engaged to Nate Wood in April of 2021.
Kalen Saddler ’18 got engaged to Eryn Leek ’18.
Andres Vital ’20 got engaged to Brianna Strong ‘20 in May of 2021.
GOOD NEWS
Congratulations, former Holy Cross College Saint Logan Parrish ’17 on being ordained to the priesthood.
Patrick Erhardt ’69 is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Valerie Theatre in Inverness, Florida. His production company, Stayin Alive Productions, will produce “Tower Stories” in September for the 20th anniversary of 9-11.
Brian Welch ’95 accepted the position of Assistant Athletic Director at Valparaiso University in May of 2021.
Katie Robertson ’05 joined Bradley Company as a custodian in May of 2021 and will be working on the Holy Cross College campus.
Alumna Amy Nussbaum ’06 was named the Head of School at Marquette Montessori Academy in South Bend.
Alumna Anh Le ’07 wrote the children’s book “Garage Sale Adventures: The Magic Shoes.”
Michael Hodge ’08 was named the 2021 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Women’s Lacrosse Coach of the Year.
Nate Poznanski-Ring ’10 accepted a position as a Data Scientist with Facebook in July of 2021.
Congratulations, Molly Gettinger ‘13, and the communications team at Today’s Catholic on receiving 4 Catholic Media Association Awards.
Alumnus Terron Phillips ‘14 co-authored the publication: “Examining Individualism in College Student Retention Theory and Practice | Journal of College Orientation, Transition, and Retention.” The National Education Finance Academy has also selected his research on financial literacy programming in higher education to receive the William and Patricia Fowler educational policy award and grant.
Ancilla College of Marian University Athletics welcomed Coach Farkhod Kurbonov ’14 as their new Sports Information Director.
Congratulations, alumnus Thomas J. Lyons, III, ’14 on the appointment as a board member of the CFA Society Indianapolis. CFA Society of Indianapolis strives to advance professional excellence and ethics through education, collaboration, and awareness of the CFA charter for the benefit of the regional investment community and the public.
Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu ’16 signed with the SD Raiders Football Club. The Nigerian American Forward joined the team from Canberra NPL side Monaro Panthers. Madelyn Martinec ’16 accepted a position as Manager of Campaigns and Events with REAL Services in South Bend, Indiana, on November 16, 2020.
Northwestern Mutual has appointed Macauley Hill ‘15 managing director for the Mishawaka District Office.
Class of 2018 alumnae Sara Musleh ’18 and Avonni Ward ‘18 opened Sarae Boutique (read their story on pages 28-29).
Kalen Saddler ’18 was named the Ancilla College Coach of the Year! He is the coach of the women’s soccer team. He also accepted the Admissions Visit & Event Coordinator position at Ancilla College of Marian University.
Alumnus AJ Bannister ’18 signed with the Adelaide Croatia Raiders in December of 2020.
Kaitlyn Luczak ’19 graduated from the University of Evansville with my Masters of Science in Leadership with a focus in Innovation and will now be working with Safe Sitter, Inc, in Indianapolis as a Program Support Specialists.
Elizabeth Medina Lopez ’19, is the new Survey Operations Quality Analyst with Press Ganey in South Bend, Indiana.
Paul Gilsdorf ’19 generously paid next year’s school fees for 10 students in Bangladesh. All 10 come from families in poverty and are living at the schools to study/discern joining the Holy Cross Congregation.
Robert Bridges ’21 is continuing his education at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business in their Business Analytics program. Congratulations, alumnus Thomas Lyons III, ’14, for being named to the Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch list. He is being recognized for his work in both Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions. These awards are recognitions given to attorneys for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States. The 28th edition of The Best Lawyers in America evaluates more than 66,000 attorneys in 147 practice areas, covering all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and inclusion in this year’s publication is based on more than 10 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Ethan Emmanuel Bender Palmer ’15. Born in South Bend, Indiana, on November 7, 1992, he resided in Longmont, Colorado. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English, Ethan moved to The Villages, Florida, pursuing a career in journalism. He was a staff journalist for The Daily Sun for several years. Ethan was excited when offered an opportunity to work toward his goal of a marketing position with Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont. He found his extended family in the Left Hand community, while expanding his knowledge of the craft brewing industry
An avid hockey fan/player, Ethan began his hockey career at the age of 4 with the Irish Youth Hockey League. He played goalie throughout high school, continuing into college, and was often found in the driveway with his little brother helping him perfect his hockey moves. A huge animal lover, Ethan enjoyed the companionship of his rescue pets, Fat Stan, Mini, and Molly. He also enjoyed hiking, snowboarding, and simply spending time with family and friends.
He is survived by parents Robert and Cynthia Palmer of Granger, siblings Cassandra Palmer Gohn (Rance) of Warsaw, Noah and Ellie Palmer of Granger, and niece, Murphy Gohn of Warsaw. He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Ralph and Sandra Bender of Kendallville and paternal grandparents, Herman and Ruth Palmer of Ft. Wayne. A private funeral mass was offered in Ethan’s memory on April 17, 2021.
It is with great sadness we share news of the death of Sister Joanne Becker, C.S.C, who died on July 5, 2021, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Indiana. She was the library assistant at Holy Cross College 1997–2009 and returned later to volunteer there for three more years. Sister Joanne was gifted with a personality that was very sociable. She had a warm and sympathetic spirit accompanied by an open, frank and direct manner when dealing with others. Perhaps that is why, years later in South Bend, Indiana, she was so good working with the lay Sisters of the Holy Cross Associates and was a welcoming presence wherever she ministered. She developed a circle of friends with the associates, who supported the Congregation’s mission through prayer and service. She was a good woman who was inclusive, gentle and reached out to so many.
It is with deep saddness that we share the passing of Professor Timothy C. Wright on November 8, 2021. We will share his obituary and detailed information in the next edtion of Connections.
Rollover! Good IRA
Direct gifts to Holy Cross College from your IRA can:
1. Be easy and convenient way to make a gift from one of your major assets. 2. Be excluded from your gross income: a tax-free rollover. 3. Count toward your required minimum distribution (RMD), which under the SECURE Act, begins at the age of 72.
For your gift to qualify:
• You must be 70 and ½ or older at the time of your gift. • The transfer must go directly from your IRA to Holy
Cross College. • Your total IRA gift(s) cannot exceed $100,000. • Your gift must be outright.
Your Rollover Gift Can Honor a Loved One
— JudeAnne Hastings
Tribute gifts have become increasingly popular in recent year as donors seek ways to honor their loved ones. You can endow a named fund with Holy Cross College that stands in permanent tribute to a parent, spouse, or other beloved family member. The fund can be in your own name as well. You can designate the named fund to support a scholarship or a particular department or program.
The IRA charitable rollover is one of the many ways you can fund a tribute gift.
Please contact JudeAnne Hastings, Associate Vice President for Communication and Development at jhastings@hcc-nd.edu or 574-239-8372.
