CLASS NOTES

1960s

Thea Rossi Barron '64 has been volunteering to tutor adults in southeast Washington, D.C. to help them earn high school diplomas and now teaches English as a Second Language at a senior center in Alexandria, Virgina.

William D. Booth '62 was named to the list of Best L awyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Patrick A. McDonald '61 has an active law practice i n downtown Brighton, Michigan which focuses on labor arbitrations in resolving employer union grievances. He recently celebrated his 50 th year as a permanent Deacon for the Catholic Church and serves at St. Patrick’s Parish in Brighton.

1970s

Maura D. Corrigan '73 was recently honored by the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International as they launched the Maura D. Corrigan Lifetime Service Award in her honor. She was the first woman ever admitted to PAD in September 1970. Her law school fraternity brothers sent her to the National Convention as their representative in hope to persuade the fraternity to admit women. They voted overwhelmingly to change the Constitution and allow women members.

Kathleen Bogas '75 was ranked number 2 in the 202 2 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

Deborah Gordon '76 was ranked in the top 10 in the 2 022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

James Hiller '73 sold his supermarkets in 2015 and h as returned to a boutique law practice of food-related business advisory.

Lawrence Korolewicz '79 was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2023.

Jerome Pesick '78 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Pat Sherran '75 retired after over 11 years as a judge on the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, including three years as the Court’s Administrative Judge. He currently serves as one of two judges on the Ohio Court of Claims.

1980s

Mark Allard '85 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.

Sharon S. Almondrode '81 was named to the 2022 c lass of Michigan Super Lawyers.

D. Jennifer Andreou '85 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Michelle Friedman Appel '81 was the 2022 recipient of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Champion of Justice Award given by the Jewish Bar Association of Michigan (JBAM) at their annual awards banquet.

Matthew J. Boettcher '87 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Michael S. Bogren '82 was reelected to serve as Chairman at Plunkett Cooney where he is a partner and was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Leo Bowman '81 was named by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the state’s Retirement Board.

Charles W. Browning '81 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Laura Eisenberg '81 was named to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

Beth S. Gotthelf '85 recipient of the National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF) Award of Merit. The award was presented during the National SUR/FIN Manufacturing & Technology Conference and Trade Show held recently at the TCF Center in Detroit.

Patrick Hickey '84 was named to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

Mary E. Kenyon '82 is the Founder and Executive Director of Valley Meals and More, a Colorado non-profit dedicated to enhancing the wellness of older adults by delivering over 85 meals daily, allowing older residents to age in place safely, independently, and with dignity.

Mark S. Kopson '85 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Scott K. Lites '85 was named to the 2022 Class of “Go To Lawyers” for business law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly and was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

David M. Moss '84 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Faye Alexander Nelson '80 was honored as a 2022 Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News.

Kenneth C. Newa '89 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Michael B. Peterman '86 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.

Marisa Claudia Petrella '83 was awarded the Monsignor Charles J. Malloy Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor given by the Catholic Lawyers Society of Metropolitan Detroit.

Claudia Rast '86 featured panelist during the (virtual) Michigan Cybersecurity Conference on January 21, 2022. The topic was “The Power of a Functioning Incident Response Plan.”

Brian J. Renaud '82 was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2023.

Mary Catherine Rentz '81 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

James P. Spica '84 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers and to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

Matthew J. Stanczyk '86 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

James E. Tamm '85 was named to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

Julie Teicher '82 was named to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers.

1990s

David C. Anderson '98 was named to the 2022 class of Super Lawyers.

Susan E. Cohen '92 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

A. Vince Colella '93 was named to the list of Best L awyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Curtis Cusinato '91 is the 2022 recipient of the Dual J D Distinguished Alumni Award.

Rita Foley '99 transferred to the St. Petersburg, F lorida Hearing Office as an Administrative Law Judge with the Social Security Administration.

Lorne Gold '94 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Shelly Lee Griffin '93 joined the Insurance Coverage Practice Group of Plunkett Cooney.

Sahera Gumma Housey '94 was appointed by the M ichigan Supreme Court to the Michigan Continuing Judicial Education Board.

Ven Johnson '96 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Stephen Kim '97 is the 2022 recipient of the Dual JD Transnational Leader Award.

Maureen H. Kinsella '99 was appointed by G overnor Gretchen Whitmer to the 6th Circuit Court of Oakland County.

Mark C. Knoth '92 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Shalina Kumar '96 was confirmed by the US Senate to serve as a federal judge on the US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She is the first Indian-American to serve as a federal judge in Michigan.

Joseph Lavigne '96 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Jason Long '99 was selected Treasurer of the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.

Jeffrey S. Matis '94 was appointed the Chief Judge of the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Mark A. McConnell '93, chief justice of the 18th District Court of Westland, was named President of the Wayne County District Judges Association for 20222023.

Claudia D. Orr '91 was named to the list of Best Lawyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Cheryl Rousseau '95 recently celebrated 25 years as the Director of the Office of Recipient Rights with Genesee Health System, a system designed under Michigan law to protect the legal rights of individuals with mental disabilities.

Michael Sawicky '94 will celebrate his 16-year a nniversary as a magistrate in the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills, Michigan on October 1, 2022.

David R. Stechow '96 was named to the list of Best L awyers for 2023 by Best Lawyers in America.

Craig S. Thompson '93 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.

Michael Turco '91 was named to the 2022 class of M ichigan Super Lawyers.

Dana M. Warnez '96 was awarded The Jean L. King Leadership Award, in honor of the fearless Attorney Jean Ledwith King, a pioneer of self-determination for females, and in recognition of the visionary leadership and efforts towards the advancement of women in the legal profession.

2000s

Demetra Arapakis '01 became Equity Partner and Executive Committee Member of Foley & Mansfield PLLP.

Jonathan Burleigh '07 was appointed treasurer of t he board of directors of Lighthouse, Michigan. He is an attorney with Bodman PLC.

Kimberly Ross Clayson '06 was named partner at Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss P.C. where she works in the firm’s insolvency and reorganization group.

Susan Dabaja '04 was appointed to the Michigan 3rd Circuit Court for a partial term by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Alison Duffy '08 joined Dickinson Wright’s Troy office as an associate attorney specializing in probate litigation.

Sarah Rain '07 was named of counsel at Jackson L ewis P.C. in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was previously an attorney for a national labor union.

Heidi Reinhart '05 is the 2022 recipient of the Dual J D Distinguished Alumni Award.

John Roan '07 was named Managing Attorney for t he Tennessee office of Robertson, Anschuts, Schneid, Crain and Partners, PLLC, a national full-service creditors’ right and real estate law firm.

John T. Schuring '06 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.

Julianne Cassin Sharp '01 leads the Immigration Practice Team at Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone, PLC. She continues to hold a Band 1 Chambers and Partners ranking in Immigration Law. She is a 2022 Graduate of Leadership Detroit Class XLII. And she is Executive Committee Treasurer of the Michigan Chapter of the America Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA).

Hope Shovein '03 was named a Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.

2010s

Kimberly Crank Browning '11 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Ponce D. Clay '15 received the Comcast Rise Detroit G rant.

Javon David '13 was named to Oakland County’s 2 022 Class of 40 Under 40 and was elected shareholder at Butzel Long.

Charity Dean '15 was named one of Crain’s 100 Most I nfluential Women for 2021.

David R. Drwencke '15 founded a criminal justice l aw firm DRD Law in downtown Chicago.

Jennifer Dukarski '10 named to Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s “Go-To Intellectual Property Lawyers” list.

Christopher Dutot '13 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Kristina Robinson Garrett '10 was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer to serve on the Michigan Court of Appeals (District 1).

David P. Glenn '11 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

D’Antae D. Gooden '18 was named to the 2023 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Vanessa Guerra '16 was honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Saginaw Bar Association.

Jason Hoskins '13, current Southfield City Council Member, was named to the Michigan Chronicle 40 Under 40 class of 2022.

Eric S. Hydorn '19 was named to the 2022 class of Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars.

Michael Kelly '11 was appointed to the role of 12th Judicial District Court magistrate in Jackson County, Michigan.

Ashley MacMartin '11 started a new position as Di rector ERM Governance and Policy Framework at Cross River Bank.

Zachary Morgan '17 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Tanya M. Murray '17 was named to the 2023 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Vivian Ntiri '17 is the 2022 recipient of the Dual JD Emerging Leader Award.

Frank Paolini '12 was named partner at Neal Berber Eisenberg in Chicago. He is in the private wealth services practice group.

Chelsea E. Pasquali '12 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Yalda Riahi '10 joined the board of directors at ventureLAB, a leading Canadian innovation hub. She is the General Counsel to Micom Group of Companies, a Vaughn based global designer and manufacturer of life safety and building automation systems.

Nicholas W. Siewer '14 was recently certified as a Fi re Investigation Technician (IAAI-FIT ®) by the International Association of Arson Investigators, which is one of the most respected accreditation organizations for fire investigators.

Blaine Veldhuis '14 was named to the 2022 class of Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers in America.

Dina Zalewski '12 was elected Shareholder at Sommers Schwartz in March 2022, her practice focuses on medical malpractice, representing injured plaintiffs.

2020s

Anthony Cimini '22 joined Strobl Sharp PLLC as an associate attorney.

Joseph Kusmiak '21 joined Butzel Long as associate attorney.

Judge Denise Langford Morris Retires

Judge Denise Langford Morris '82 retired from the bench in 2022. She served on the Oakland County Circuit Court for 30 years. Judge Langford Morris was the first African American to serve as an Oakland County judge since the court’s inception in 1848. She previously served as an assistant US attorney, civil division, and an assistant Oakland County prosecutor. She was additionally a trial attorney in private practice specializing in insurance defense. She worked for the Michigan Department of Social Services as a protective services worker while attending Detroit Mercy Law.

During her tenure on the bench, Judge Langford Morris presided over thousands of civil, business, family and criminal cases, including jury and bench trials. She managed every aspect of the cases assigned to her from filing to post judgment in an AAA-bond-rated county of over 1.2 million people.

In 2019, a portrait of Judge Langford Morris was commissioned to be hung in the halls of Detroit Mercy Law. This was the first portrait of a woman and of an African American to be hung in the law school. The group of students who led the initiative to get Judge Langford Morris’s portrait did so because of her inspiration to young attorneys and dedication to the legal profession.