Marietta Magazine (Fall 2016)

FAL L 2016

PREPARED FOR LAUNCH LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION FOSTERS ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET

THE MAGAZINE OF M AR IE T TA COLLE G E

ALSO: Marietta College inaugurates 19 th president Political strategist reflects on his roots at Marietta

PHOTOS BY ROBERT CAPLIN

Transitions

> PIONEER PRI D E

A

s a member of our extended family, the city relishes the special occasions that Marietta College celebrates. From Freshman Move-In Day to Homecoming to Commencement, the Marietta community prides itself on being the Pioneer City and cherishes every Navy Blue & White moment.

MARIETTA COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Me ssag e f ro m the Pres ident

DR. WILLIAM N. RUUD

Vice Chair Patricia (Patti) Kral Zecchi ’71

I

t’s easy to find champions of STEM

Secretary William H. Donnelly ’70

(science, technology, engineering and

Treasurer Dan Bryant

math) education — and I’m one of them.

Parents and students enjoy hearing about

Robert M. (Bob) Brucken ’56 T. Grant Callery ’68 Christopher Cortez ’71 Harry H. (Hap) Esbenshade III Andrew D. Ferguson ’95 Barbara A. Perry Fitzgerald ’73 James B. Fryfogle ’73 Matthew J. Macatol ’97 C. Brent McCurdy ’68 Michael D. Milone Michael L. Moffitt ’91 Kathleen Mitchell Murphy ’82 Kevin R. O’Neill ’87 Marc R. Ponchione ’96 Jason C. Rebrook ’96 Ronald E. (Ron) Rinard ’72 Toni M. Robinson-Smith William N. (Bill) Ruud Michael J. Salvino ’87 Edgar L. Smith Jr. Charles W. (Chuck) Sulerzyski Elliott L. Thrasher ’62 Dale L. Wartluft ’63 Matthew B. Weekley ’81 Jo Ellen Diehl Yeary ’76

the career opportunities and potential salaries that come with this type of training.

What I also make sure they hear from me and understand after our conversation is that it is important that their education is grounded in the liberal arts. I emphasize that our successful alumni base and leaders of industry want employees who have a STEAM education.

Notice that an “A” has been added to represent the Arts.

This cements our conviction to provide a liberal arts education for the purpose of developing and nurturing a student’s ability to analyze, question, communicate and be innovative. I know that now it is time for all of us at Marietta College and in the Marietta family to analyze, question, communicate and identify

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

innovative ways of how we can become even better as we look toward the future.

I have worked closely with students, faculty and staff this semester to make sure we are

Chair George W. Fenton

PRE SI D E N T RU U D O N L I N E twitter.com/President_Ruud instagram.com/presidentruud facebook.com/MariettaCollegePresident

Chair Andrew D. Ferguson ’95 Vice Chair Stephanie Esparza Peloquin ’06

making Marietta College a better place now and for years to come through a strategic planning process. It didn’t take me too long to learn how much the people here love Marietta College. Every conversation was centered on making the student experience better.

We have completed an early draft, which was shared with the Board of Trustees in October. After receiving their valuable feedback, I am focused on completing a final plan that will help lead us from 2017 to 2022 — and I will share it with you in January 2017.

Our future is as bright as ever, and it is important that our next strategic plan provide a clear path to sustained success. Marietta College alumni continue to make us proud, and each year our graduates enter into a global society that demands their very best. We have a responsibility to provide each of them with the skills and experiences necessary to succeed in the world of work, but also in their lives. We are committed to delivering this type of education now and into the future.

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Patty Bain Bachner ’77 Timothy J. Bennett ’85 Jocelyn Crum Brooks ’95 Amanda Burtt ’02 Marianne Candido ’85 Keith Coleman ’77 Janice Downey Donoghue ’75 Brooke A. Exley ’11 Frank Fleischer ’71 S. Jason Gromelski ’98 Susan Hauck-Bell ’85 John E. Hopkins ’65 Adam Kopp ’88 Tia Knowlton Lane ’98, MALL’02 Kathy Wilcox Lentner ’97 Dan Leonard ’85 Rocco Manzo ’59 Jennifer Roach Offenberger ’86 Elizabeth Houser Stelzer ’96 Jazmyn Barrow Stover ’06 Christine Zernick Suter ’84 Mark Vizza ’98 Travis Wells ’97

Contents

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FAL L 2016 | I SSU E 20

11

12 24 15 EDITORS Tom Perry and Gi Smith

16 Inside this issue

ART DIRECTOR Ryan Zundell

The ability to communicate effectively, research, solve problems and adjust to changing environments embodies qualities possessed by thriving entrepreneurs. It just so happens that these are skills that a Marietta College liberal arts education fosters. This edition of Marietta Magazine highlights a handful of alumni who have put this innovative mindset to work in their own professional endeavors and found success.

4 | M A RIE T TA S C E N E New and notable campus & alumni updates

10 | JOURNA L 12 | HOM E COMI N G Alumni celebrate special weekend

24 | P IONE E RS Athletic news

28 PHOTOGRAPHERS Doug Axe, John Borzain, Robert Caplin, Maren Derlien (Row2K.com), Peter Finger, Nate Knobel, Tom Perry, U.S. Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Todd A. Pendelton, Ryan Turnewitsch, Courtney Wentz CLASS NOTES Jacque Prichard PRESIDENT Dr. William N. Ruud PROVOST Dr. Janet Bland VP FOR ADVANCEMENT Angela Anderson

28 | DEVELO P MEN TS News from our Advancement Office

30 | MA RIETTA MO MEN T Trio enjoy success on the diamond long after missing chance to play for Etta Express

32 | TH E LO N G BLU E LIN E Class notes

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT Brandee Norris M A R I E T TA The Magazine of Marietta College is published by the Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing. The magazine serves its readers by providing information about the activities of Marietta College alumni, students, faculty and staff through the publication of accurate and balanced content that informs and stimulates intellectual discussion.

Text, photographs and artwork may not be reprinted without written permission of the Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Marietta.

C ON TA C T U S Send address changes, letters to the editor and class notes to Marietta Magazine, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750.

Fax: 740-376-4509 Phone: 740-376-4709 | 1-800-274-4704 Email: alumni@marietta.edu

COVER BY CHRISTINA ULLMAN, ULLMAN DESIGN

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N E W A N D N O TA B L E

NATE KNOBEL

ALEAH ESPARZA

MARIETTA SCENE

> HONORING VETERANS Steven Moore ’12 performed at halftime during the November 5 football game against Capital University. At halftime, the College recognized veterans and enlisted personnel as part of Veterans Appreciation Day.

> NEW RIDE

TOM PERRY

NATE KNOBEL

Vice President of Enrollment Management Tom Weede and Admission Counselors (sitting, from left) Kennedy Clyde ’16, Katie Cretin and Kelli Barnette ’12 show off the coolest ride on campus. The six-passenger golf cart will be used during special events and Admission tours.

> HONORING THE DRS. O After their retirement, Professors Emeriti Drs. Jim and Mabry O’Donnell (photographed with Stephanie Meinert ’15) were honored by their adult children with endowed scholarships in their names. During Homecoming, the O’Donnell Scholarship plaque was unveiled in Legacy Library.

> BLITHE SPIRIT

Marietta’s Concert Choir and Women’s Choir conducted their first Fall Choral Concert under the direction of Dr. Jay Dougherty, the College’s new conductor, on Oct. 28 at the First Congregational Church in Marietta.

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COURTNEY WENTZ

> BEAUTIFUL CHORUS

COURTNEY WENTZ

The Theatre Department recently performed Noel Coward’s comedy Blithe Spirit. The production was under the direction of Andy Felt, Associate Professor of Theatre.

RE VIEW

COMMENTS FROM OUR READERS

DEAR EDITOR,

On behalf of the Delta Alumni Association of Alpha Sigma Phi, I want to compliment you on a nice cover story about the Greeks on Marietta’s campus (Spring 2016 edition). Greek life is much different today than it was for many alumni, but “Going Greek” can still have a very positive effect on one’s college life.

And the leadership opportunities and the brotherhood/sisterhood relationships that are developed really do last a lifetime. It was refreshing to see a favorable article about Marietta’s Greeks and the focus on charitable and community involvement that seems to be universal in today’s Greek world. Thanks for featuring this aspect of a student’s college experience.

DEAN HAINE ’62, DELTA ALUMNI ASSOCIATION DEAR EDITOR,

The April 2016 cover article on Greek life contained only one oblique reference to an important aspect of fraternities and sororities: “White Christian” clauses.

Delta Tau Delta President Jimmy Wharton said his fraternity was invited to campus in 1966 over several competitors because “the first three … didn’t accept Jewish students …

Delta Tau Delta had no religious restrictions.”

That was a rapid paradigm shift in policy. When I was a student (1961–65), the school had five sororities and five fraternities; most had racial and religious restrictions, which did not seem to trouble the administration.

The fraternities were Delta Upsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi, Lambda Chi Alpha, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Tau Epsilon Phi. TEP, although it admitted non-Jews and non-whites, was considered a Jewish fraternity; Lambda Chi and TKE admitted non-Christians only as “social” members.

The five sororities were Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Gamma Delta and Alpha Sigma Tau. Only Alpha

Lo n g B lu e Lines

T

Sigma Tau did not have a White Christian clause; Rush was the first week on campus.

After attending the first round of open houses, I withdrew my name from the list of women signed up for Rush. Asked why, I said I could not join a sorority that had a White Christian clause and that I would not choose AST, and thus my social circle for the next few years merely by default.

“But you’re white and Christian,” people said. I told them my best friend was Jewish. “She doesn’t go to school here,” they replied.

These comments, however, were merely tone deaf compared to what came next: the Dean of Women asked me and two other freshmen women who had not signed up for Rush to come to her office, where she urged us to reconsider our decisions.

This semi-official support of what I considered racial and religious discrimination astonished me; I am glad to know it changed.

IRENE K. DWYER ’65

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Because Marietta Magazine seeks to present a wide diversity of subject matter and content, some views presented in the publication may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or the official policies maintained by Marietta College.

Letters commenting on the material or topics presented in the magazine are encouraged and are available for publication unless the author specifically asks that they do not appear in public print.

Published letters may be edited for style, length and clarity.

EMAIL: mariettamagazine@marietta.edu FAX: 740-376-4509 MAIL: Editor, Marietta Magazine, Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, Ohio 45750-4004

GI SMITH, EDITOR

here’s an albino squirrel living around the Harmar Tavern. We have photographic evidence but someone (Hint: rhymes with teepee) won’t let me use that pic in place of my new photo, which, I’m pretty sure, is the age-progression version.

You might think that I’m trying to divert your attention from the appearance that this magazine is a bit late hitting your mailboxes — but actually, we’re on time. There’s no trickery happening here — we’ve simply pushed back the time that you GI SMITH receive your fall edition of the magazine to make sure coverage of important events that happen on campus, like Homecoming Weekend, reaches you in a timely manner. Think of it as Daylight Saving Time for your magazine.

But better than Daylight Saving Time, now Marietta Magazine will be delivered three times a year and won’t mess up your sleep pattern at all.

And since we’re already moving the furniture around, we decided to transition the printed Trailblazer newsletter that you received in the mail twice a

year to an exclusively online publication that you’ll receive via email at least quarterly. We tried out a few names for the new version of the online publication. I nixed a couple of ideas that someone proposed early on (Tomblazer and Trailperry just seemed to go in a different, very different direction).

Fortunately, we settled on eTrailblazer.

If you want to receive the emails, visit development.marietta.edu and click on the “Online Community” button along the left side of the page. By joining the online community, which also allows alumni access to search the alumni directory, you’ll start receiving the eTrailblazer, as well as other special messages from campus.

In the meantime, please enjoy this edition of Marietta Magazine. There are plenty of great stories about alumni, students, faculty and the newly inaugurated president.

As always, I encourage you to reach out to us if you have a great story idea or letter to the editor, or would like to submit a class note. We love hearing from our readers.

M A R I E T TA > 5

Future Focus DR. WILLIAM N. RUUD INAUGURATED MARIETTAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S 19 TH PRESIDENT

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D

ignitaries from near and far joined members of the campus community this fall to formally welcome Dr. William N. Ruud and his wife, Judy, into the Marietta College family.

On Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, Dr. Ruud was formally installed as Marietta College’s 19th President during a two-hour ceremony in Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. The Platform Party included Dr. Ruud, Provost Janet Bland, Dean of Students Lisa Phillips, Board of Trustees Chair George Fenton and Shippensburg University President George “Jody” Harpster Jr. Joining faculty and staff within the academic procession were members of The Long Blue Line spanning from the class of 1948 to the class of 2016, delegates appointed by their respective campus presidents who represented 45 institutions of higher learning and three former Marietta College presidents: Lauren Wilson, Jean Scott and Timothy Cooper ’73 (interim).

“I am honored by your presence and the opportunity you’ve given me to serve as the 19th President of Marietta College,” Dr. Ruud says, thanking those who attended the event.

The procession also included members of the Honor Guard, comprised of Marietta city firefighters Steve Hill, representing the U.S. Navy, Doug Seevers, representing the U.S. Army, Dave Ross, representing the U.S. Marine Corps, Matt Hively, representing the U.S. Air Force, and Rodney Scott, representing the U.S. Air Force and the Army National Guard.

“We were happy to be a part of this ceremony,” Hill says. “It’s an honor to be able to represent our country and perform this service for the college community.”

The Marietta College Symphonic Band, under the direction of Associate Professor and Director of Bands Marshall Kimball, provided an impressive rendition of the national anthem, and joined the Concert Choir, under the direction of Assistant Professor and Director of Choirs Jay Dougherty, to provide other musical selections for the occasion. Patti Zecchi ’71, Board of Trustees Vice Chair, and Grant Callery ’68 — co-chairs of the Presidential Search Committee — joined Fenton on stage to formally install Dr. Ruud.

“As I stand here now, it couldn’t be any clearer that today’s alliance of Bill Ruud and Marietta College was destined to be,” Fenton says.

With that, Dr. Ruud was presented with the College charter, invested with the chain of office and introduced to campus as the 19th president. Much like his first 100 days of office, President Ruud’s speech laid out a decisive plan of action for Marietta College’s future.

“Today, I’d like to first give you a glimpse of our vision for Marietta College and explain why it enhances two key components — or strengths — of our contemporary liberal arts education,” President Ruud says.

“That first component is our liberal arts core — literature, philosophy, the social and physical sciences.

Marietta College was founded in 1835 as a liberal arts college, and because the liberal arts are essential to business success and an engaged citizenship, it’s part of every student’s curriculum. The second component involves the STEM disciplines — science, technology, engineering and math. Marietta College added these to help its liberal arts education meet 21st-century needs.”

After sharing some of the special events and accomplishments that add to the prestige of the College, President Ruud discussed the work being done on the comprehensive strategic plan to take Marietta to 2022.

Goals include bolstering enrollment management by targeting student quality, student success and marketing; achieving financial success and strengthening stakeholder relationships; maintaining and enhancing the liberal arts program; enhancing the student experience; and investing in faculty, staff and students. He called on the entire Marietta College community to join him in embracing the past and working to achieve success in reaching that vision.

“As we move forward, let’s remember our shared passion for education; our belief in our students and their impact on the future; and the successes that will be Marietta College’s for years to come,” President Ruud says.

“I accept the responsibility and challenge for Marietta College. I promise to do everything possible to work collaboratively with you to uphold and enhance the legacy of this magnificent institution.”

W R I T T E N B Y G I S M I T H | P H OTO S B Y R O B E R T C A P L I N M A R I E T TA > 7

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MEMO R A B L E MO MEN TS The inauguration of President William N. Ruud brought students, faculty, staff, alumni, dignitaries and the community together to celebrate the formal installation of Marietta College’s 19th President.

(Clockwise from top left) Marietta city firefighters and Honor Guard members (from left) Dave Ross, Rodney Scott, Doug Seevers, Steve Hill and Matt Hively represent the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard in the procession.

President Ruud addresses the campus community after being formally installed.

First Lady Judy Ruud shares a special moment with her husband after the ceremony.

President Ruud enjoys meeting a young guest during the reception following the inauguration ceremony.

Before lining up for the procession, President Ruud chats with his friend and former colleague, Dr. George “Jody” Harpster Jr., President of Shippensburg University.

Members of the Marietta College Symphonic Band and Concert Choir provide music during the ceremony.

Marshals Gama Perruci and Bev Hogue cheerfully lead a procession of delegates to their reserved seats during the inaugural march.

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ALUM NI & C A MP U S N EWS

ROBERT CAPLIN

Journal

> ON CAMPUS

Marietta’s third history book in the works PROFESSOR E M E RI T US F RAS E R M ACHAF F I E R ESEA R C H I N G T H R EE D EC A D ES O F T H E C O L L EG E’ S PAS T

M

ost afternoons, Professor Emeritus Fraser MacHaffie takes his usual spot in the inner office in Legacy Library’s Special Collections department. Soon after he arrives, Library Associate Linda Lee Showalter ’79 wheels out a cart filled with 30 years, worth of information about Marietta College.

“The last 30 years have seen remarkable changes in higher education,” MacHaffie says. “The technological shift has been dramatic, but so have changes in pedagogy, governance and the financial challenges confronting colleges and students’ families.”

The account of the College’s history picks up where the previous two volumes left off, focusing on the 30-year period up to 2017. Arthur Beach’s A Pioneer College covered from 1788 until roughly 1935, and Vernon “Dan” McGrew’s second history spanned the 1935–1989 period. MacHaffie has been reviewing documents from 1987 onward.

This research provides the bare bones of the history. He has already initiated conversations with people from Marietta’s past and present to add the flesh.

“Knowing the history of the College is important, as it helps us understand how through action or inaction, good judgment and bad judgment, we got to where we are today. We become more aware of where the College’s strengths lie,” MacHaffie says. “During the 30

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years, many small private colleges have closed their doors, forcing us to acknowledge that antiquity does not guarantee a future. As Patrick McDonough observed early in his presidency, ‘Change is inevitable – and can be either thrust upon the College or take a direction controlled by the College.’ Marietta College faces the same choice today.

“A challenge of writing the history of an institution like Marietta College right up to the present day is that everyone has their own ‘history’ of the College. My task is to uncover these histories and blend them into a coherent, accurate and, I hope, interesting story.”

MacHaffie joined Marietta’s Brachman Department of Business & Economics in 1982. In 2004, he transitioned into the role of Assistant to the President and Provost under Dr. Jean A. Scott until retirement in 2011. He has written and given presentations on maritime history and on Brazil. In 2008, he and Dr. Richard Danford, Vice President of Student Life & Diversity and Professor of Spanish and Portuguese, translated Slavery and Protestant Missions in Imperial Brazil from Portuguese to English. MacHaffie’s latest article, an analysis of the 1966 seamen’s strike in the United Kingdom, was published earlier this year in the journal Sea Breezes.

GI SMITH

> ON CAMPUS

Physician Assistant students connect with local preschoolers

NATE KNOBEL

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ood habits start young, which is why Marietta College’s Physician Assistant Graduate Program is teaming up with the Ely Chapman Education Foundation (ECEF) this fall to help teach preschoolers about healthy living.

Ely Chapman is a nonprofit organization providing academic support and mentoring to children living in the MidOhio Valley. In September, students in Marietta College’s Physician Assistant Graduate Program began visiting Ely Chapman’s preschool classes to teach the youngsters about their bodies and how health care providers help to keep them well.

“Some preschoolers have a real fear of medical providers,” says Alice Chapman, Founder of the ECEF. “What we are trying to do is to have providers come and meet the children where they feel safe. For a child to be able to ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ or ‘Why do you sometimes wear a mask?’ or allow the child to handle some of the medical instruments — it might help them not be so afraid when they visit the provider and learn more about their bodies.”

Brad Pierce, Assistant Professor in the PA Program, helped to develop an outline of topics that Marietta’s graduate students will explore with the young students. September’s topic was skin, followed by the senses in October; bones, muscles and joints in November; mouth and teeth in January; heart and lungs in February; and the digestive system in March.

“Approximately six Marietta College PA students will go to Ely Chapman and give the presentations to the new preschool students,” says Miranda Collins, Associate Professor and Director of the PA Program. “For the field trips to campus, the ECEF students will come to our building and our students will show them the exam rooms and medical instruments, allowing them to play with and become familiar with the equipment.”

>

M E E T A N D G R EET Physician Assistant students Rachel Hinkle and Dante Altemara help preschool children ease their fears about visiting medical providers.

“Some preschoolers have a real fear of medical providers. What we are trying to do is to have providers come and meet the children where they feel safe.”

— Alice Chapman Founder of the Ely Chapman Education Foundation Chapman came up with idea for the collaboration and hoped to obtain grant funding to support it.

Though no grant was received for this year, the College and the ECEF are committed to the program.

The goals of the project are to help the preschoolers gain awareness and familiarity with medical personnel and accept wellness practices; to provide timely information to ECEF parents on healthy child development issues; and to provide Marietta College PA students with additional hands-on experience interacting with and performing examinations on young children.

“Also, it’s important for the College to continue developing relationships with the community to help build a stronger, more cohesive society. Interactions like this help promote social responsibility for our PA students — something we hope will continue throughout their health care careers, which is especially important as healthcare providers,” Collins says.

GI SMITH

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ALUM NI & C A MP U S N EWS

> ALUMNI

Homecoming 2016 draws hundreds of alumni back to campus

ROBERT CAPLIN

ROBERT CAPLIN

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>

WELCOM E HOM E Joanna Warren Smith ’66 (top), Jack Armstrong ’66 (above, left) and Stephen Darrow ’66 (above, right) were among many alumni who attended Friday evening’s All-Alumni and Friends Homecoming Welcome Celebration on The Christy Mall.

Aaron Johnson ’17 and Amy Castle ’17 (opposite page, top) were crowned Marietta College’s 2017 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of the football game against Wilmington.

Jacquelen Smith ’61 (opposite page, bottom) chats with fellow alumni as they flip through Mariettana yearbooks from past years.

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oanna Warren Smith ’66 and her husband, Charles, quietly walked into the main lobby of the Historic Lafayette Hotel toward the growing crowd of somewhat familiar faces.

“She hasn’t been back to Marietta since she graduated,” Charles says. “And she’s really excited she came.”

Joanna was among the 59 members from the class of 1966 to return during Homecoming Weekend to celebrate their Golden Reunion. The class had an informal gathering on Thursday evening, before the weekend’s activities got under way.

“The campus looks so beautiful,” she says. “So much has changed since I was a student. I’m so happy to be back. My time at Marietta College was very special; I was able to participate in so many things.”

More than 600 alumni and family registered for Homecoming 2016.

Celebrating reunions were the classes of 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Roger Porter ’66, Christine Fry Burns ’66 and Ross Lenhart ’66 — all former Board of Trustees members — led the Reunion Committee for their class. Other committee members were George Burns ’66, Diane Nelson Feaganes ’66, Virginia Dyson ’66, LaRue Scala Porter ’66, R. Ed Schultz ’66, Sandy Ulrichs Sutherland ’66 and Lea Wright-Osborne ’66. The committee was proud to receive recognition for having the highest percentage of alumni contributors of all the reunion classes.

“We had classmates return from the four corners of the U.S., including Washington, California, Maine and Florida,” Roger Porter says. “One Delta Upsilon brother traveled with another brother so the latter could attend. A large group of Sigma Kappas who’ve reunited every two years at a different location in the U.S. for the last 15 years attended the reunion.”

The traditional fall weather was on full display for alumni throughout the weekend, making the various tours on campus and in the city pleasant for Marietta’s special guests. Friday night, alumni packed under a large tent along The Christy Mall for the Homecoming Welcome Celebration.

Saturday morning’s Cornelius Memorial Fun Run, Alumni Row and Marietta College Alumni Association Awards Ceremony featured the same great weather.

This year, Leonard “Randy” Randolph ’65 was inducted into the Hall of Honor, Jacquelen Smith ’61 and Donald Knechtges ’64 were recognized with Distinguished Alumnus/a awards, Reginald Sims ’75 and Jon Wendell ’68 were recognized with the Liz Tribett MCAA Service Award, and Joyce Pennington was designated an Honorary Alumna. Unable to attend but also recognized were Hall of Honor winner Margaret Bird ’58, Outstanding Young Alumna Jerry Tardivo Alcoser ’02 and Outstanding Young Alumnus Nicholas Gehlfuss ’07.

Nearly 200 people were moved by the emotional, inspirational and humorous speeches given by award winners during the ceremony, which was emceed by MCAA Chair Andrew Ferguson ’95.

Once the awards were handed out, alumni headed to Don Drumm Stadium for the annual tailgate and football game against Wilmington. At halftime, Chi Omega sorority member Amy Castle ’17 and Marietta defensive lineman Aaron Johnson ’17 were crowned Homecoming Queen and King. Also recognized at halftime were the members of the reunion classes and members of the 1980s baseball teams. Reunion classes combined to

“The campus looks so beautiful. So much has changed since I was a student. I’m so happy to be back. My time at Marietta College was very special; I was able to participate in so many things.” give $442,477.65 to The Marietta Fund. The class of 1966 had a 28.34 percent participation rate, which earned them the Reunion Cup for highest class participation.

More good news came when the Pioneers bested the Quakers 66-23.

“It was a special weekend! Classmates who had not seen each other for 50 years rehashed old experiences over the three days,” Porter says. “Marietta College was a great host. Marietta, Ohio, also provided very enjoyable experiences, including the boat trip and trolley ride.”

NATE KNOBEL

— Joanna Warren Smith ’66

ROBERT CAPLIN

GI SMITH

M A R I E T TA > 13

Journal

ALUM NI & C A MP U S N EWS

> ACADEMICS

Up and running MC C O Y SC H O L A R FI N D S C O MFO RT, F U N C H A L L ENGE S AT M AR IE TTA C OL L E GE

NATE KNOBEL

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ABOUT LILY RIFFLE Age: 19 Hometown: Hudson, Ohio High School: Hudson High School Major: Petroleum Engineering Family: Parents Andra and Kevin; sister, Olivia, 26; and brothers, Stellan, 17, and Julian (deceased).

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ily Riffle ’20 understands pain.

Excruciating pain.

In middle school, her older brother, Julian, died at the age of 22. During the first two years of high school, she missed weeks of classes because of an illness. And just when everything seemed to be fine, her life was shattered again.

“She’s a tough cookie,” says Andra Riffle, Lily’s mother. “I think the hurdles that she faced earlier helped her cope and stay positive.”

Sixteen months ago, Lily was enjoying the summer before her senior year at Hudson High School, training for the upcoming cross country season and starting to think seriously about her college plans. Then she was struck by a car while crossing the street in a crosswalk near Hudson Springs Park. Lily broke the tibia, fibula and ankle of her left leg.

“I didn’t see the car and I don’t think the driver saw me,” she says. “I had a titanium rod put in to help stabilize my leg. It will be there for the rest of my life.”

After five days in the hospital and more than two months on crutches, Lily never wavered on returning to running.

“She had maybe one little moment when she was still in the hospital where she was upset,” Andra says. “She’s just tough and independent. I honestly can’t believe she’s running again. I saw the X-ray and I know how bad it was. Her fibula is still just a bunch of pieces of bone.”

Her return to competitive running came this fall with the Marietta Pioneers.

“Lily brings a unique energy to our team, no matter how she is feeling,” says Assistant Cross Country Coach Carl McCargo. “Her leg can be bothering her to the point where she can’t run, but she’ll still take the time to stay at practice and push herself in cross-training workouts and support her teammates.”

Lily hopes she can improve on her times, which are not as strong as pre-accident, but she can’t hide her excitement to be outside running again.

“I’ve always been very passionate about running,” she says. “I had a lot of moments of reflection over the past year, and I think I remained positive. I never doubted that I’d be running again, and now I am.”

However, it was almost at a different school.

While Lily was considering Marietta, she was also highly interested in Bucknell, Virginia Tech and Denison. Petroleum Engineering was something she wanted to major in, and then came the really good news — she was awarded the prestigious John G. and Jeanne B. McCoy Scholarship.

The McCoy Scholarship Program was endowed in 1998 by John G. ’35 and Jeanne B. McCoy to promote and recognize outstanding academic ability and achievement in an incoming freshman student. The award includes tuition, fees, room, board and a computer, and is renewable for four years. That will add up to around $185,000 for Lily.

“I remember reading the letter and being sort of speechless for a moment,” Lily says.

“It is an incredible honor, and it has definitely made me more determined to achieve in school.”

A couple of months into her first semester, Lily can’t imagine being anywhere else.

“I love the surrounding area. I go for runs along the river trail,” says Lily, who recently turned 19. “My roommate and I have become very good friends, and I just feel right at home at Marietta. The connections I am making have helped me realize (coming to Marietta) was a great decision.”

Lily is glad she chose to be Pioneer.

“I’d say there has never been a day when she hasn’t asked how I’m doing or the others around her — no matter the level of pain she’s in,” McCargo says. “I believe she is truly our role model for perseverance, and I look forward to seeing how she will become even more of an asset to the campus and community as she settles in at Marietta.”

TOM PERRY

> ACADEMICS

> ON CAMPUS

Students attend conference in the UAE

Historian writing book on Manasseh Cutler L E GACY LIBRARY’S S PE CI AL COLLE CT I ONS AI D S D AV I D MC C U L L O U G H ’ S U P C O MI N G P R O J EC T

I

M

NATE KNOBEL

n November, celebrated historian and author David McCullough made his second visit to campus to conduct research on his newest project, a book about the Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, one of the original shareholders of the Ohio Company.

McCullough and his research assistant, Michael Hill, who is also a well-respected historian and author, announced the book project this fall during a special gathering in Legacy Library that featured President William N. Ruud, his wife, Judy, Board of Trustees Chair George Fenton, Provost Janet Bland and her partner, Elinor, faculty from the History Department, library staff and Professor Emeritus Dr. Jim O’Donnell.

McCullough won Pulitzer Prizes for his books Truman and John Adams, and won National Book Awards for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback. He has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

“It will be interesting to see the perspective that he has on early Marietta and Manasseh Cutler, who I think it an interesting guy,” says O’Donnell, who is currently researching Rufus Putnam, another member of the Ohio Company, for a book he is writing.

McCullough first became interested in Cutler when he was asked to speak at Yale University’s conclusion to its seven-year Yale Tomorrow fundraising campaign. The focus of his talk was on three Yale College graduates: Ezra Styles, who was the president of Yale during the Revolutionary War; John Trumbull, the renowned Revolutionary War painter; and Manasseh Cutler.

“And that’s when I got hooked on Manasseh Cutler,” McCullough says. “Then I got into the incredible magnitude and importance of the Northwest Territory — the size of it; the richness of it; the incredible new lift of spirits it gave to the country just knowing that was out there, particularly to those veterans. And I began to find out about people like Joseph Barker and, reading some of these diaries and memoirs, I thought, ‘Whoa, this is really great material and a great American story.’ I’m very pumped up about this. And then to find that it’s all here at one university, one college!”

The library’s Special Collections contain a wealth of information that McCullough and Hill will rely on during their research phase. Both authors thanked

>

SER I O U S R ESEA R C H David McCullough (seated) and research assistant Michael Hill are delving into a book project focused on Northwest Territory pioneer Manasseh Cutler.

Library Associate Linda Lee Showalter ’79 for her support during that process.

“I’m going to come out here as often as possible, McCullough says. “You’ve got to go to the place where it happened. You’ve got to go where he or she grew up and get the impact, the influence of the land, the setting, the scene; you can’t just say, ‘Oh I know what it’s all like out there,’ because it isn’t what you imagine; I found in most cases it’s always bigger.

You’ve got a big story and I want to do it justice.”

ore than 50 petroleum engineering students spent about a week in Dubai to attend the 2016 Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Emeritus Professor Bob Chase and his wife, Carol, alumni Clint Perkins ’09 and Tim Tirlia ’81, his wife, Kim Tirlia, and Christy Burke (Director of Education Abroad) chaperoned the group of 51 students during the conference, which took place Sept. 24–29.

“This was my fourth trip to Dubai, and I wanted our students to experience the country firsthand,” Chase says.

Chase wanted to show students that many Middle Eastern countries featured cities similar to New York and Chicago.

“The Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition was just my excuse to get them out of their element, and for some it was the first time out of Ohio,” Chase says.

“We did some fun things, like dune bashing in heels and pearl diving off the coast of Oman in the Indian Ocean, but the trip was mostly about observing the culture and dispelling stereotypes.”

GI SMITH

GI SMITH

M A R I E T TA > 15

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“Pioneer”

can be found etched in just about every corner of Marietta College’s campus.

But at Marietta, it’s more than just a word prominently featured on T-shirts, coffee mugs, posters and the like; the term evokes a sense of pride in alumni

and current students.

That pride comes from being a part of the experience that is Marietta College. It’s the liberal arts approach to education Marietta offers that fosters the pioneering spirit in students, and inspires them to use that broad-based education in their professional and personal lives — to have an entrepreneurial mindset.

Dr. Jacqueline Khorassani, Professor of Economics and Director of Marietta’s Entrepreneurship Program, says a residential, liberal arts college is the perfect incubator for that mindset, because the education provided over the course of four years expands out of the classroom and reaches into all areas of life on and connected to campus.

“If you go to professional or vocational school and you learn how to do a certain job, that’s good. But you do not have enough exposure to a variety of fields, a variety of ways of thinking, a variety of ways of analyzing things, different disciplines to have more of an understanding of the bigger picture,” Khorassani says. “If you don’t know the bigger picture, it’s very hard to find those problems you want to solve. That broad knowledge base that you receive in a residential, liberal arts school, to me, is necessary. It’s not so much a luxury, but a necessity for entrepreneurial mindset.”

This fall, the College began offering a minor in Entrepreneurship to help students discover their passions in life and find ways to turn those interests into professions.

Marietta Magazine asked a handful of entrepreneurs representing many facets of industry about what drives them to make their own way in life and the challenges they embraced that strengthened their commitment to being innovators in their fields.

By no means have their journeys been without missteps and hardships, but each challenge has led to innovative thinking and, in the end, helped reinforce their desires to be entrepreneurs.

WRITTEN BY GI SMITH | ART BY CHRISTINA ULLMAN, ULLMAN DESIGN M A R I E T TA > 17

Do Your Research JASON GROMELSKI ’98

Founder and Owner, Nola Physical Therapy www.nolany.com

W

ith less than $5,000 left in the bank account and a baby on the way, Jason Gromelski ’98 could have given up on his dream of owning his own physical therapy clinic in the heart of Manhattan.

He had worked at a company for nine years, trying to save up enough money to open his own clinic. He had earned a degree in Sports Medicine from Marietta and completed his master’s degree at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. He spent his last clinical rotation in Houston, mentoring with a clinician who worked with professional athletes. When his rotation was completed, he had already set a goal to open a clinic in Manhattan — the highest rent district in New York. He had to do the research.

“One of the first things I did was ask a marketing professional how to approach a new project. She told me that for a place like a medical clinic, she looked for location, so I took a map of Manhattan, opened it up and pinned out all 399 physical therapy clinics in 2008 that were in Manhattan. I then found the biggest gap of a specific area that needed services, which is where my first location went. At the time, I contacted every single office on the list and asked questions such as, ‘What insurance do you take?’ and ‘What services do you offer?’ I even popped into a lot of them. If you don’t do the legwork ahead of time and just jump right into something, you’re going to fail. There has to be a plan and it has to be well thought out.”

In early 2008, Jason signed a lease for his first clinic, Nola Physical Therapy, P.C., which is near Rockefeller Center on West 45th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Six months later, the stock market took a severe dive and the real estate market went with it.

“I’m sitting in an office building where everybody is losing their jobs, the market’s crashing and I’m thinking, ‘What am I going to do?’ It’s fight or flight — and I decided to fight. I got really aggressive about meeting people. I’m looking at this office — what I worked so hard to achieve — and I had to get moving. If I didn’t, I’d go bankrupt. When you face adversity, you don’t run away from it; you challenge it.”

His persistence in working on his business paid off. Because of the excellent care and service Jason provides, his patients were spreading the word about his office. His knowledge of demand, and the contacts he made, led Jason to open his second location within a fitness club on Park Avenue in Manhattan.

“I have a lot of patients in all sectors, and New York is a big networking town. It’s all about networking.

18 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

I’m in an area with creatives, marketing execs, bankers, commercial real estate brokers, lawyers, high-networth individuals; I’m constantly inquiring with them, how they think it can get done, how they would do it.

That level of support is invaluable when you are trying to grow.”

His third location is a 9,000-square-foot performance center near his Connecticut home.

“That’s the hardest part. I have my family: my wife and my three kids all under the age of 7, and I live 38 miles away — an hour-and-20-minute commute one way. I do my best to juggle the growing of myself and my business while spending time with my family, doing my daddy duties and coaching multiple kids’ sports on the weekends. It’s always a tough choice —

you get pulled from both directions. Your career path tells you to get more education and expand, but your soul is telling you to be present at home — they’re going to grow up and it’s going to be over and you’re going to miss out.”

Though he has cut back on some of his work time, he knows he has a responsibility to his family, his work family and his patients.

“I have 10 employees right now, and that number will likely double in the next year. I wake up every morning knowing I have to feed my family, and I also know I can’t let down my work family. If I don’t produce, no one’s getting a paycheck. So I have to keep on keeping on while staying passionate. It’s a struggle, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Impact Society PAUL MOORE ’86

Follow Your Passion

Founder and Co-Owner, Wellings Capital www.wellingscapital.com

Freelance Scenic Artist, Makeup Artist, Theatre Artist www.facebook.com/artistjustineschneider

P

T

aul Moore ’86 got a taste for entrepreneurship while he was a Petroleum Engineering major living in Parsons Hall. He and his friend, Don Rowan ’86, had an idea that impacted fellow students and earned them a little money at the same time. The two contacted students’ parents and offered to deliver personalized Easter baskets on Easter morning. They received hundreds of orders. “We deposited a thousand dollars, went to a place down in Parkersburg and had these baskets custom made — hundreds of Easter baskets were in my room in Parsons Hall.”

The experience was rewarding and influential.

When he came to Marietta, the oil and gas industry was booming. He spent two summers working for Conoco and ARCO. By graduation, oil prices had gone through the floor, making Paul’s decision to go to Ohio State to earn his MBA a little easier. He took an operations and logistics job at Ford Motor Company in Detroit, but knew working for a big business was not what he wanted to spend his life doing. He and a co-worker at Ford began trying out different business ventures on the side. Some ideas worked; many didn’t. His partner eventually founded a Professional Employer Organization. “After five years at Ford, I quit. My wife, Elaine, was six months pregnant with our first child. I had all the amazing health and retirement benefits, but the prospect of working for myself was too great so I quit Ford.”

In 1997, a publicly traded company bought the business. Paul eventually left the company and moved his family to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where he launched a nonprofit providing support to international students. “I was only 35, and it sounded like semiretirement would be fun, but it was really not. I had a lot of energy and I didn’t want to be semi-retired. A friend and I started flipping houses. That’s how I started into real estate.”

He began dabbling in websites, particularly one for a company he was involved in that built homes on Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. The website led to more opportunities, including building a high-end multifamily housing facility near Watford City, North Dakota, where the Bakken Shale formation drew large numbers of oil and gas workers. Paul and his partner operated that facility from 2011 until 2013, when they sold it and built a nice Hyatt hotel in the same region. At that time, oil prices began dipping. His focus has shifted to a more reliable market: assembling investors to buy and operate commercial multifamily apartments. Another successful company mentored him, and he used that knowledge to write a book, The Perfect Investment: Create Enduring Wealth from the Historic Shift to Multifamily Housing. He has also started a podcast: How to Lose Money, available through iTunes. The podcast chronicles the failures and loss that mark the paths of entrepreneurs and investors. He recently heard another entrepreneur talk about things that are scary versus things that are dangerous. Paul says that being an entrepreneur can be scary, but, for him, spending his life working for a large company would have been dangerous: “I think my soul would have withered if I would have stayed.”

These days, his business life, family life and charity life have merged. He wants to impact society, focusing on an issue that has struck him deeply — human trafficking. He works with various human rights groups to help victims worldwide. “I have a real passion to plow tens of millions of dollars into stopping human trafficking and to rescue and rehabilitate its victims.

My intention is to change the world. I don’t see why I would have any lower goal than that.”

JUSTINE SCHNEIDER ’13

here was never any doubt that Justine Schneider ’13 would be a professional artist. Though she was born with a natural talent, she never stopped practicing her skills and developing new ones that would enhance her offerings in the professional world. “In college, I focused on pursuing that passion any way I could. I started as a studio art and theatre double major, but ended up deciding to only pursue studio art as a minor to follow my passion for theatre more. I ended up doing all the scenic painting for our productions, and I even designed a few shows. My senior year, I did a research honors thesis on scenic painting to further help prepare myself for the professional world ahead of me.”

After graduating, she returned to her family home near Cleveland and began networking through the growing arts scene. That move was a financial necessity that happened to work out in her favor. “After working in Cleveland for a few years, I am very grateful it happened to work out that way. Cleveland has a large arts community that is constantly growing. From large regional theatres to smaller community theatres, it feels like there is always at least one performance happening. Working in Cleveland has shown me the importance of living in a city that is supportive of the arts.”

In addition to creating scenic art for theatre productions, Justine keeps a rigorous schedule in the fall, working as a makeup artist at Cedar Point during the Haunt at Halloweekends season. It provides her an opportunity to network with other artists, share her knowledge and gain some insight.

Now that the Halloween season is over, she is ready for the excitement that comes with starting a new project. “You’re never 100 percent prepared when you go into a new production. But that’s what makes it fun — it’s never the same and it keeps you on your toes. For me, as an artist, I need that.”

The ability to follow her passion is worth the challenges that come with being a freelance artist, namely being able to keep work scheduled for a consistent stream of income. Justine has a great deal of satisfaction in being an artist and doing it on her own terms. Her advice to up-andcoming artists struggling to decide if it’s possible to make a living doing something they love: “Never give up. Art is all about passion and conviction. As long as you strive toward your goals, you can find a way to make it work. Practice your craft, take lots of pictures and do not be afraid to talk up your work. Go to events that interest you and make conversation with other artists. It only takes one opportunity to get your foot in the door.”

M A R I E T TA > 19

Adapt & Change JOHN STROTBECK ’79

Founder and CEO, Boathouse Sports www.boathouse.com

J

ohn Strotbeck ’79 is no stranger to facing stiff competition.

As a competitive rower who represented the United States in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and raced for USRowing in the World Championships and Pan American Games, John understands the preparation it takes to be a high-level competitor. As the founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based Boathouse Sports, he credits his experiences as a student-athlete at Marietta College for his success.

“It’s a combination of being an athlete and education I received. I think that athletics, whether it’s high school or in college, are important because, in business, with all other things being equal, especially in our business, we’re going to hire the athlete. Why? Because they know how to lose and they know how to get up from losing the next day and try to get better. Also, liberal arts and liberal arts studies give you a much broader and comprehensive understanding of what’s going on in the world.”

After earning a Management degree from Marietta, he began working in Louisiana for the oil industry, and thought his days of rowing were behind him. “Then I found myself in Europe and then Vermont. Three years later, I arrived in Philadelphia, and it just so happened that I ended up on Boathouse Row and rowing again. I had been out of the sport of rowing for three years and 20 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

I really had no intention of getting back into rowing, but it was in front of me, so I did it.”

It was in the early 1980s when he noticed that there was no place to buy rowing clothes. “Nobody was producing rowing product in the nation, to my knowledge. So when I got back from the Olympics in 1985, I started Boathouse, the Rowing Company, and we grew as a rowing company from 1985 to 1988–89.”

By that time, six or seven companies had sprouted from his idea; there were too many outlets for such a small rowing market. He had to figure out a way to change his company so it could address a different need. “There was a much bigger market in team wear with outerwear. At the time, the competitors in the team business included more traditional sporting goods brands — Wilson, Spalding, Rawlings, Champion and a little bit of Adidas — and that was it. And none of them had a good outerwear offering.”

He knew that outerwear — specifically jackets — would carry a large target audience.

“Whether you played football, you rowed, track and field or lacrosse, when you went out on Friday night, you didn’t wear your uniform — in part because it was dirty and in part because you’d look a little strange. So what do you wear? You wear your team jacket. So from 1990 to 2007, we grew as an outerwear business making jackets for all sports. We solved the problem of providing high-quality outerwear — jackets,

pants, parkas, rain gear — to teams nationwide and abroad.”

But as the demand grew, so did the interest from large athletic companies. By 2007, John saw that the market was changing again, due to large brands taking over the larger markets. “We had to shift our focus, and we added uniforms, training gear and accessories to become more of a complete apparel supplier to teams, primarily focused on teams that were under the radar of the brands — Nike, Reebok, Under Armor, etc.”

John is proud of the fact that his company is under one 100,000-square-foot roof in Philadelphia — from product development and design to creative, manufacturing and customer service. Boathouse employs about 300 people, and includes a sales force that lives and works in their respective territories.

“I feel that my strength is in helping people succeed, to get better. To that end, the business, our philosophy and focus are about getting the right people in place and allowing them to excel. This has been true at most all levels in Boathouse, from the factory floor to design and management. Growth is fun, and it presents new and different challenges. Change is good!

Challenges in our business include constant innovation in order to stay ahead of our larger competition; technology and ecommerce adoption; and trends in the larger sporting goods world that we cannot control but must adapt to.”

From Scratch

JAN DILS ’90

Founder, Jan Dils Attorneys at Law www.jandils.com

A

t a time when many businesses viewed marketing efforts as the exclusive domain of big corporations, Jan Dils ’90 was already thinking outside of the box. By reaching beyond the ordinary, the founder of Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, succeeded in creating something extraordinary — something that established many of the marketing standards that are now commonplace in her field.

Jan understood that building a brand was crucial to growth, and that marketing was an effective means to deliver the message of that brand to the right people at the right time. “We used TV and radio combined with our jingle.

Eventually the Internet became a more important focus for us as well. Today, marketing is more targeted than ever, thanks to faster access to accurate analytics, and Internet marketing gives us the ability to measure impact in real time. In addition, we added a Social Media Specialist position this year. I would have never dreamed that 10 years ago!”

Jan earned degrees in Marketing and Economics from Marietta, and opened her office in Parkersburg in 1994, the

same year she earned her law degree from West Virginia University and passed the state’s bar exam. “At first, our growth was not entirely by design. We were just doing what we loved to do — helping people.

Past and present clients would then recommend us, and the growth just skyrocketed. Between 2003 and 2008, we opened five additional offices for a total of five locations in West Virginia and one in Charlotte, North Carolina. The firm now consists of 14 lawyers, two practicing legal representatives and 100 team members.” Her firm handles personal injury, Social Security disability and veterans’ disability claims, and has offices in Parkersburg, Charleston, Huntington, Beckley and Logan, West Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina.

As a student at Marietta, she initially saw her future spent in the corporate world, though she considered going to law school. While in an MBA program at West Virginia University, she took another look at the legal profession. “The funny thing is, I thought law school would benefit my business career: not thinking it would end up the other way around.” The courses she took at Marietta directly impacted her career. “When you start your own business, you are the manager, accountant, marketing director and HR. All my business classes were invaluable. From learning from Professor Taylor’s Marketing 101 class about ‘reach’ and ‘frequency,’ to Professor Osborne’s class about what leadership style I had, to Professor Khorassani’s and Professor Delemeester’s economic theories, to learning how to read a financial statement from Dr. Osborne’s Accounting course — they were all so valuable.”

Her advice to students planning to enter law school with the eventual goal of starting their own firm begins with figuring out what they love to do, then finding a way to earn a living from it. She advises having enough self-discipline to effectively compete, work in and on your business, and make sure every client is your first priority, with your employees a close second. “The best thing about being in business for myself is creating something from scratch and watching it grow. The most challenging is balancing the demands of work and home. When you are a business owner, you can’t clock out, especially with today’s technology.”

Her time at Marietta helped spark her entrepreneurial spirit, and that spirit continues to burn bright today. Ask nearly anyone in West Virginia, and they will tell you without hesitation that, just as her original jingle said, Jan Dils won’t take no for an answer.

Dream Big ANITA GUPTA ’86

Founder and Chief Revenue Officer, KiwiTech www.kiwitech.com

E

ven when they were younger and growing up in Marietta, Anita Gupta ’86 and her brothers, Neal ’91 and Rakesh, kept in the backs of their minds that they’d be in business together.

Within a few years of graduating from Marietta with a degree in Computer Science, and while she was pursuing her master’s degree from John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Anita and her brothers founded Aptara, a digital publishing services company. The company was ready to go public by 2008, but when the stock market crashed, the founders decided to sell. By 2009, they began work on creating another company, KiwiTech. The company works with start-ups to help them create a platform — innovative disruptive solutions — for their industry. Its applications work in health care, financial technology, entertainment and retail, among other industries, to change and improve the way they do business.

KiwiTech is based in Washington, D.C., New York City and New Delhi, with sales offices in California and Colorado.

“I think we always thought really big — our goal was always to be a billion-dollar enterprise, and our first company actually almost hit that mark. If we had gone public, it would have been at a 10-figure

valuation. We were 5,000 people worldwide, including Europe and Australia. When Aptara didn’t go public, we knew we had to start something else to attain our dreams. But we always thought really big.”

There has been a lot written on common characteristics that successful entrepreneurs share. These include passion, vision and a strong self-belief. Anita says that one of the most important traits for an entrepreneur is the belief that, no matter what happens, they will make it, and that there is no alternative. “I think that’s key. If you feel that there’s no other alternative, you’re going to make it happen.”

Anita says her company’s mantra is technology innovation, and that commitment has kept the interest of clients and kept KiwiTech a step ahead in the industry. As far as challenges, Anita says there is always pressure in terms of creating innovation that is valuable to a consumer, and making the decisions that have major impact on the company. But challenges, overall, are welcome.

“Every problem you come across, you have to look at it as an opportunity — and it is an opportunity.

If your client is facing a challenge and you find a solution for them, that’s an opportunity for you to be able to help them, and your business will benefit.”

M A R I E T T A > 21

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Lifetime of politics

PETER FINGER

E

lection night 2016 was as much a surprise to me as it was to Over all that time, I’ve kept in touch with the College directly and just about everyone else on Earth — even having spent my through great friends I made when I was there. Former Admissions adult life in politics.

Director Ross Lenhart ’66 (a Democrat) and I have been pen pals While I was a student at Marietta I participated in the College for years. We rarely agree on policy matters, but have never argued. radio station — and later, with friends Ernie Hartong ’70 (Ohio), Bill Learning how to think at a liberal arts college has stood us in good Cohen ’69 (Maine) and others, stood up the college TV station. The stead. Ross lives in South Carolina. first election night I “covered” was the 1972 presidential election The poetry class I took from Professor Steven Blume was just as between incumbent Richard Nixon and Democratic challenger Sen. important in formulating my thinking as the Con Law class I took George McGovern of South Dakota. from Professor Bob Hill.

As I remember it, Professor Bernie Russi and I anchored the I was a TKE when I was at MC. Three of my still closest friends are coverage, which was a nail biter — Nixon won 49 of the 51 contests Tim Byrne ’68 (Wisconsin), Tom Sweet ’68 (Connecticut) and Gary (50 states plus the District of Columbia), signaling the end of the Pyne ’68 (Florida and Baltimore). Gary was also the stroke on the Democratic Party as we knew it. Less than two years later, August 9, freshman crew, of which I was coxswain.

1974, Nixon resigned in disgrace.

I’ve sat in green rooms at CNN, MSNBC, Fox and the other netWhile I was still in school, I became the news director of WMOA, works chatting amiably with the likes of James Carville (LSU) and the commercial radio station on Harmar Hill. With little crime to rePaul Begala (University of Texas at Austin). We’re not enemies; we port on, I covered local politics. I became very interested in how pol- are political opponents. James is a lawyer. Paul is a history profesitics worked, to the point that I ran for City Council sor. But, because of the broad experience I’ve as a Republican. I lost the primary 902-900. In had that began with Marietta College, I have no ABOUT RICHARD A. GALEN ’68 those days, it cost $10 per precinct for a recount. trouble holding my own when we go on the air.

Rich Galen is a columnist and There were 26 precincts in Marietta at the time, In the run up to, and the days following, the Republican strategist who also and I hadn’t spent (nor did I have) $260. Four years election of 2016, I have been on most of the served as the press secretary to Vice President Dan Quayle later, I was married and had the good sense to let domestic networks plus CNN International (I’m and Speaker of the House Newt my wife run my campaign, and I was elected. big in Jakarta), BBC (friends from the UK often Gingrich. Galen is a frequent About midway through my term, we decided to email me when I’m done) and Vietnam TV guest on MSNBC, FOX and CNN. take a plunge and move to Washington, D.C. “If you (don’t ask me why).

He was inducted into Marietta want to build cars,” I told myself, “you go to Detroit.

I will confess, here, that I got tossed out after College’s Hall of Honor in 2013.

If you want to make movies, Hollywood.” If you want the first semester of my sophomore year for to do politics, there’s only one place to be. getting really terrible grades. After two years of There’s a Marietta connection there, too. I found out a night school, summer school and six months of active duty with the Congressman from Illinois was looking for a press secretary, so I New Jersey (and then later the Ohio) Army National Guard, I applied went to his office to drop off my résumé. The woman sitting at for re-admission and got a positive response from the Dean of the the front desk took it and was about to put it at the bottom of a College, Dr. Merrill Patterson, that began, “All is forgiven. You may rather large stack of résumés when she glanced at it and said, in return.” surprise, “You’re from Marietta?” I nodded, and she said, “I’m from I did, and the decision to come back to MC set the arc of my life Williamstown!” as she put my résumé on top of the stack. over these many decades.

I got that job in 1977 and learned that politics in “the big time” I have written an Internet-based column called Mullings.com wasn’t so much different than politics in the City Council chamber since 1998. In that column, I often refer to my days at MC as havon Putnam Street. ing been at “Marietta College, Marietta, Ohio, 45750.” When I give Over the years, I’ve been Newt Gingrich’s press secretary (when speeches, someone from the audience will often ask how things are he was Republican Whip) and the communications director of the going in 73240 — mangling the ZIP code for Marietta, but underpolitical shop (when he was Speaker). I’ve also been press secretary standing the deep affection I retain for MC and the fact that, as the to Congressman-then-Senator Dan Quayle.

College anthem goes, “Thy walls to [me] are dear.”

I’ve worked for both George H.W. Bush and for W. — the latter RICH GALEN ’68 as a civilian member of the Department of Defense, spending six months in Iraq in 2003–04.

M A R I E T T A > 23

Scorebook

PHOTOS BY NATE KNOBEL

PIONEER

AT H L E T I C N E W S

Making Waves

RENOVATED BOATHOUSE PLEASES BOTH ALUMNI AND CURRENT ROWERS

W

alking alone, Brooke Exley ’11 looked around and didn’t really know what to say next.

“It’s absolutely beautiful,” she finally musters after getting her first look at Marietta College’s renovated Lindamood-VanVoorhis Boathouse during Homecoming weekend. “This is going to do wonders for the program.”

The former women’s rower is not alone in her reaction or assessment.

Exley was one of more than 100 alumni, donors and current rowers who packed the second floor during a special dedication ceremony on October 14 — and most of them marveled at the $900,000 renovation project.

“This place is amazing,” says Brent Haney ’76. “We now have a place to take a recruit and not be embarrassed, and it should also help take the program to the next level.”

While it is referred to as a renovation project, you could make a case that the boathouse is a new build. Among the changes to it are: • New bay doors • New lighting in boat bays 24 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

• New sliding rack system in bays • Second floor razed • Training space added • Locker rooms for both programs • Dad Vail room • Coach’s office • New gambrel-style roof • Second floor insulated and air conditioned As the shock and amazement wear off, and a transformed boathouse becomes the norm, a new generation of rowers will be able to appreciate the new locker rooms, train in the spacious second floor and dream of greatness in the Dad Vail room.

Women’s rower Rachael Schleich ’17 loves how the boathouse honors the history and tradition of both rowing programs.

“This new boathouse has so many immediate impacts on the team, and will have lasting effects for years to come for the programs,” says Schleich, a native of Grandview Heights, Ohio. “The team is so excited about the new boathouse that we are even planning a boathouse

sleepover at the end of the season, which will BOATHOUSE DONORS continue on as a tradition for the women’s team.

We hope that this improvement will reflect the $300,000 and above success of the program for years to come, and Andrea Haynes Perry ’82 Estate of Walter J. Strong ’55 help the programs grow into even stronger, faster teams.” $100,000–299,999 Andrea Haynes Perry ’82, who came to Marietta Brent C. ’76 and Christine S. Haney from Wellesley, Massachusetts, has fond memoJames Jr. ’79, Barbara ’79, Brittany ’13 and ries of rowing for the Pioneers.

James III ’15 Metcalf “We didn’t spend a lot of time in the boathouse John ’79 and Stephanie Strotbeck The Elliott Thrasher ’62 Family because there really wasn’t a good reason to stay inside,” she says. “Now it is a tremendous facility $10,000–25,000 that will serve both the men’s and women’s proTimothy J. Bennett ’85 grams well. I am proud of what we were able to Lou “Cookie” ’83 and Patricia Galletto accomplish here.”

Frederic P. ’69 and Etta S. Jaakkola Women’s rowing coach Brad Hemmerly has Marc R. ’96 and Anita Ponchione been a part of three different programs during his Kevin H. ’85 and Christine Zernick Suter ’84 James C. ’86 and Sharon Brown Zeller ’87 coaching career, and every program has talked about doing a boathouse project — but only one $5,000–9,999 actually did it.

Robert C. Dufour ’76 “It is such a great thing to be somewhere that it Jeffrey C. ’77 and Susan S. Hugel has been talked about, supported and completed. $1,000–2,499 The celebration event was a great time,” he says.

Jeffrey S. ’77 and Susan S. Aichele “The alumni’s continued support for the program James R. Brinton ’76 with this boathouse renovation is the main thing Jessica Buchholz Clemens ’03 and Scott E. Clemens on display when we walk our recruits and their Amanda R. Burtt ’02 parents through the finished boathouse. It shows Christopher V. ’78 and Beth L. Criss in a very tangible way what this program and Robert C. Elkins ’78 and Laura Gray Marietta College mean to the many people who Frederic C. ’76 and Pamela Peterson Elliott ’75 Kress R. Goldner ’63 have rowed here and have been a part of the proMarivic and Rodin Punsalan gram’s history.”

James S. ’69 and Cynthia Buck Wilson ’70 John Strotbeck ’79 rowed at the Olympic level Barbara E. Wolfinger ’76 and Stuart Peskoe and remains involved in the sport as CEO at Boathouse Sports, so it takes a lot to impress him. He was astounded by the transformation.

“This started about five years ago, and I was hearing some noise about doing this,” says Strotbeck, who came to Marietta from Atlantic City, New Jersey. “The second floor is amazing and the first floor is as good as anything you’ll see at a boathouse. And let’s not forget, we have the best river in the country to train on. Now we have everything you need.”

Men’s crew coach Phil Schmehl believes the renovation project will impact the program in two “big ways.”

“I think the current rowers will recognize how much the alumni love and care for Marietta Rowing,” Schmehl says. “This will serve to motivate current rowers to work harder and demonstrate to the alumni that their generosity has not gone unnoticed, I think recruits will, quite simply, be impressed with the facility. I believe it is one > N EW A N D I MP R O V ED (From top) Major contributors to the renovation project were recognized of the best in Division III, let alone all of collegiate with special plaques during the dedication ceremony; Andrea Haynes Perry ’82 and her husband, Stephen; rowing.”

Aaron Smith ’18, Hannah Posson ’20, Angelo Leitner-Wise ’19 and men’s coach Phil Schmehl get their first TOM PERRY

look at the boathouse; President Bill Ruud welcomes more than 100 people to the boathouse dedication.

M A R I E T T A > 25

Scorebook PIONEER

Golf program gets a mulligan NEW COACH EXCITED TO PUT HIS MARK ON REVITALIZED VARSITY SPORTS

W

ROBERT CAPLIN

hat do you do when you don’t have a team to coach?

“Recruit, recruit and then recruit some more,” says Tom Arison, Marietta College’s new men’s and women’s golf coach. “That’s the first step in building a new program. I’m also getting out there and reconnecting with coaches that I know, and I’m building relationships with coaches I need to get to know.”

Arison, a former Division I golfer at Wagner College in New York, is excited about the opportunity of being a head coach and resuscitating a Marietta program that folded in 2002.

“It’s exciting to be involved from the ground up,” he says. “As I’m recruiting, I am telling the golfers that they have a chance to be in our top five the day they arrive. That’s not something many other coaches can do.”

The Pioneer golf teams will begin competing during the 2017–18 academic year, so while Arison is trying to attract student-athletes to Marietta, he is also learning about the community and building a competitive schedule.

The Pioneers’ home course will be Marietta Country Club, where Arison will also serve as an assistant pro. He has played the 6,192-yard course a few times and believes it should give Marietta a definite home-course advantage.

“There are some elevation changes and every hole makes you think about your shots,” he says. “Our men and women will have to learn to hit some creative shots to be successful on this course.”

Arison had served as the interim head men’s golf coach at NCAA Division II McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. He also served as an assistant golf pro at the Bearcats’ on-campus golf course, The Hills Club. He was also a standout golfer at Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio.

Larry Hiser, Marietta’s Director of Athletics, is pleased to have found someone with Arison’s knowledge of the game and existing relationships with many of the top high school programs in Ohio.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Arison to our community to restart our golf program,” Hiser says. “He has a great personality, which draws high school coaches and future golfers in for a closer look at Marietta. I think they will find a great atmosphere for golf with a passionate and supportive golfing community at the Marietta Country Club.”

Because he needs only five men and women golfers, Arison believes he can develop a program that will be competitive in a short amount of time.

“Because this is a chance to start a program, I get to recruit the kids that I think will be the best fit for Marietta,” Arison says. “Just because a kid is not getting any Division I looks does not mean they can’t be a star at the Division III level. There are many talented golfers out there that we’re going to give an opportunity to succeed and be a leader.”

He even acknowledges that someone who is already on campus could be in his starting lineup in the fall.

“I’m looking for golfers with potential and a great attitude,” Arison says.

“I’ve already received some interest from students who are already on campus. I’m glad we have students who are excited to see Marietta is going to have a golf program. We’re going to give everyone who is interested a fair chance to make the team.”

TOM PERRY

26 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

>

O N THE WATER Jack Gleim ’17 (left) and teammate Kyle James push themselves during the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, during the summer. Gleim and James finished sixth in the grand final.

A

s each day passed, Jack Gleim ’17 wasn’t worried about qualifying for the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in the lightweight men’s pair. He was more concerned about not being embarrassed.

Gleim typically rows starboard, but moved to port on the U-23 pair with high school friend Kyle James.

“For a couple of weeks we weren’t really that good,” Gleim says.

“Luckily, we hit our form a few days before the trials. Leading up to the trials, we didn’t really think we had a chance to make it.”

A little confidence, and an outstanding performance — 6:53.24 on the Mercer Lake course in West Windsor, New Jersey — earned Gleim and James, who rows at the University of Wisconsin, a spot in the championships in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Gleim and James reached the grand final — their goal when they started training — and finished with the sixth best time.

“We had been rowing pretty well, especially after it took us some time to get used to the rented equipment,” he says. “Our final race was probably our worst race.”

The 6-foot-0 Gleim dropped about 15 pounds so the duo could row in the lightweight category. That led to some unexpected fatigue as the races mounted.

“The race was in the afternoon, and I wasn’t eating enough and I wasn’t eating at the right time,” he said. “I didn’t have that much experi-

MAREN DERLIEN, ROW2K.COM

Senior rower hopes to build on international experience ence rowing lightweight, but now I do, and if I do this again, I’ll be better prepared.”

Phil Schmehl, Marietta’s men’s rowing coach since the 2012–13 season, was one of the people who convinced Gleim he could perform at this level.

“Jack’s experience at U23 Worlds has given him a level of experience that helps him immensely in the boat and with his teammates,” Schmehl says. “He is much more comfortable pointing out areas that need improvement in pieces or technique. He has devoted a lot of time to this craft, and I think the team has a lot of respect for the work he continues to put in to get faster.”

Gleim, who will graduate in May with a Petroleum Engineering degree, is looking to lead the Pioneers to a successful 2017 season. He’s still uncertain what his future rowing plans might be. Gleim and Marietta teammate Angelo Leitner-Wise ’19 are looking into lightweight doubles for sculling.

“I might try to do the U23 or senior national team this summer, but I don’t believe I’ll be doing it for much longer after that,” Gleim says. “I need to focus on my future career.”

TOM PERRY

M A R I E T T A > 27

Developments

A D VA N C EMEN T N EWS

Honoring his mother’s passion for music

A To learn more about endowments, visit development.marietta.edu/endowedsupport

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ALUMNUS ENDOWS MESSIAH’S PRINCIPAL VIOLIN

s a musical prodigy, Genevieve “Judy” Greene could have found great success traveling the world as a musician.

Instead, she found what she considered greater success in the Marietta-Parkersburg community by being involved in the arts and music scene, and by sharing her knowledge with rising musicians studying at Marietta College.

“Even after we moved to Little Run Farm, which is just outside of Williamstown (West Virginia), she could have chosen to travel and perform her music on the road,” her son, John Greene ’68, says.

“But she elected not to do that because she wanted to make sure that she gave young musicians the same opportunities to learn as she received growing up.”

Judy, who passed away in 1999 at the age of 75, began teaching violin, viola, violin cello, piano and music at the College in the fall of 1961, after she, her husband, Dr. Fay Greene Jr., and their three children, John, Laura and Sandra Lee, moved to the area for Dr. Greene’s surgical practice.

Some of the fondest memories that John has as a student at Marietta were the times he spent preparing for and performing in the College’s annual production of Handel’s Messiah. His mother was always the principal violin in the orchestra, which is why John recently established a fund to endow that chair.

“I was an ATO and our fraternity had a group of 10 or 12 guys that would practice like crazy to prepare,” says John, who is a retired fighter pilot for the U.S. Air Force and is a retiring captain with Delta Air Lines. “(Charlie) Basil Mundy ’67 would lead our practices, and he was pretty good at it.

But we’d have to work extra hard to be able to sing with the choir. You could say I was long on effort and short on talent. But I loved being a part of that group, especially because of my mother.”

This year, Dr. Jay Dougherty, Director of Choral Activities at Marietta, is serving as the conductor of Messiah for the 90th annual performance, which will be held at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 4th, in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta.

“We are so grateful for the donations and endowments that make Messiah possible,” Dougherty says.

“John’s first chair endowment for Messiah is generous and shows the kind of support and interest in this long-standing tradition that is so vital to what we do.”

Professional musician David Puls was named the principal violin this year.

“All of the instrumentalists are paid professionals from around the state and neighboring states,” Dougherty says. “They are top notch, many of them possessing graduate degrees.”

RYAN TURNEWITSCH

By every definition, Judy was a top-notch musician. At 16, she was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the Juilliard School in New York City, where she studied with the likes of Édouard Dethier, Vittorio Giannini, Igor Buketoff, Albert Stoessel, Willem Willeke and Peter Wilhousky, and was named the Concertmaster of the Juilliard Graduate School Orchestra even though she was still an undergraduate.

Before arriving in the Marietta area, she was the Concertmaster of the New York City Opera, performed in NYC nightclubs, was a member of the

says. “When I went to the door, her cleaning lady was dressed in proper attire and invited me in. I was young and really intimidated at that point, but Judy walked in the room and was so nice. She greeted me like we were old friends and I instantly felt at home.”

The two worked on many musical productions over the years, including the historical musical drama Eden on the River, for which Judy composed the music and Joyce wrote the lyrics. It was during those times that Judy’s prodigious talents shone through.

Oklahoma City Symphony and toured extensively throughout the country.

Vienna, West Virginia, resident and lyricist Joyce Ancrile met Judy while she was still a college student.

“I remember the first time I met her. I had to go to her house to pick up a samovar (a Russian urn) because I was in a production of Anastasia,” Joyce

“I would work with her, whether we were sitting at the piano or she was with the violin, and I would always say that she was so strong that I thought she intimidated the instrument,” Joyce says. “It wouldn’t dare not do what she wanted it to do. … She was so talented and such a joy to be with.”

GI SMITH

M A R I E T T A > 29

DEFINING MEMORIES OF COLLEGE LIFE

NATE KNOBEL AND SUBMITTED ART

A M ar ie t t a Mo m ent

>

L I V I N G TH E D R EA M (From left) Don Farley ’77, Keith Coleman ’77 and Larry Wisniewski ’78 returned to campus for Homecoming, but the close friends were still celebrating their championship in the Cleveland Adult Baseball League.

Still winning championships BIOGRAPHY Keith Coleman ’77, Don Farley ’77 and Larry Wisniewski ’78 developed a friendship at Marietta College that became even stronger as they entered their 50s. Over a few years, all three have been enjoying their summers playing senior baseball in the Cleveland area. Coleman served as the CFO for Mount Carmel Health System, Farley is a podiatrist and Wisniewski works in sales with Steel Technologies.

Walking into Don Drumm Stadium during Homecoming weekend, Keith Coleman ’77, Don Farley ’77 and Larry Wisniewski ’78 debated who was the most valuable player on their summer league baseball team.

The close friends were mostly teasing and mocking each other, but it was also apparent that each one was making his best case for superiority.

“It’s me. I’m the better player,” whispers Farley as they walk off the field.

The trio was back on campus together for one of the few times since 1977, and they enjoyed telling stories as they joined hundreds of other alumni at the football tailgate.

Coleman, Farley and Wisniewski played at Don Drumm for Joe McDaniel, but they also had dreams of playing baseball for legendary baseball coach Don Schaly in the mid-1970s. However, all three saw their dreams dashed for different reasons. But a friendship blossomed and it is as strong today.

“We grew apart after we graduated as we started families and careers, but we never forgot each other,” says Coleman, who currently serves on the College’s Alumni Association Board.

Wisniewski agrees. “After graduation, I got married and we fell out of touch,” he says.

Do you have a defining Marietta Moment you would like to share?

30 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

Farley was the first one to start playing. After starting with softball, he saw an ad in the paper looking for 40-and-over baseball players. “I loved it right away. I love the joking around. I love when you make a play or hit a ball like you did when you were younger. OK, I also love going for some beers with players from both teams after the game.”

Wisniewski started playing on his own as well. He attended one of his son’s high school baseball games, and spotted some adults on a baseball field. “Actually, I heard a bunch of old fogeys practicing baseball, and one of them yelled at me, and it happened to be my high school catcher.”

That group convinced Wisniewski — who figured his best playing days were behind him — to join the team.

“I’m so glad I did it,” he says. “I’m a sports enthusiast, and baseball has always been my favorite. At my age, though, I thought I’d be playing onehour softball games instead of three-hour baseball games.”

After a few years, Farley and Wisniewski joined the same team, and they heard Coleman was around. “That’s when we talked him into playing,” Wisniewski says.

They are teammates on the Cuyahoga Indians in the 53-and-older Greater Cleveland Adult Baseball League. Coleman plays outfield and third base; Farley pitches and plays middle infield, while Wisniewski is a first or second baseman. This fall, they won the championship in the seven-team league.

“We talk about our Marietta days pretty frequently,” Coleman says. “We are grouped together in the lineup, and we call it Marietta’s Murderer’s Row. I think the other players are sick of hearing about it, but it’s what bonds us.”

Next up? Competing in the national tournament in Florida. “Kind of ironic, isn’t it?” Wisniewski says. “We didn’t make the Marietta baseball team, but here we are in our 60s still playing and winning championships.”

Send us a description of your experience.

EMAIL: mariettamagazine@marietta.edu

MAIL: Editor, Marietta Magazine, Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750

Life of giving Janice Rexroad Kindelberger ’48 The winter before Janice Rexroad Kindelberger’s husband, Paul, died, the couple had a very important conversation.

“We were talking about our lives and our plans and we asked, ‘Who can we help?’ That’s when we came up with the idea to help Marietta.”

Janice earned degrees in Speech, Spanish, Social Studies and English, and certifications in Library Science and Educational Media, and taught at River High School in Hannibal, Ohio. In addition to supporting causes close to her heart, including serving on the alumna corporate board of Marietta’s chapter of Sigma Kappa, Janice also remembered the College in her estate plans.

“My algebra teacher at Marietta High, Louise Clark (class of 1925), was a tremendous teacher. I had four or five amazing teachers at the high school.

Many were Marietta College grads I modeled my teaching styles after. When I saw that Louise Clark had given considerably to the College, I figured that was something I should do.” > To learn more about planned giving options, please visit giftplanning.marietta.edu

M A R I E T TA > 31

T H E L O N G BL UE L I N E > CL ASS NOTES

> A L UM NI NEWS Marietta College’s Regional Association Program is growing by leaps and bounds.

>

New York’s chapter plans to meet at SideBAR in Union Square on December 7. Jason Gromelski ’98, Anthony Fennych ’97 and Mike Joliat ’06 have graciously co-sponsored the event to help offset some of the costs. The chapter is also planning to spend the evening of December 15 atop the World Trade Center Observatory during a family-friendly winter gathering.

>

Alumni in Cleveland are planning to meet on December 16 in the Ohio City neighborhood to visit the area’s taverns and tour the area.

Just as Marietta Magazine headed to the printers, various Regional Associations met for a little fun before the holidays got under way. >

The Central Ohio group met at 8 State Bistro in Westerville to watch the Pioneers play their final football game against Otterbein University.

> Friends in East Texas planned to meet at Cottonwood in Houston on November 17 for a fall gathering. >

The Mid-Ohio Valley group met at The Galley on November 17 for a networking happy hour.

Also, Regional Associations have planned events for December that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit. >

The Mid-Ohio Valley chapter, in conjunction with President Ruud and his wife, Judy, has planned a special holiday gathering at the President’s House on December 2. It’s a great way to warm up before planning to enjoy the city’s annual Merry-Etta Moonlight Saving Sale.

>

New England’s chapter has planned an opportunity to spend the day enjoying the winter scenery at Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village on December 3.

“The end-of-year events that have been planned for our Regional Associations are just a glimpse of what’s to come in 2017,” says Chett Pritchett, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement/Regional Associations.

“This spring, Columbus (Central Ohio), Cleveland (Northeast Ohio), Cincinnati and Philadelphia (Eastern Pennsylvania) will all receive charters. That will bring our Regional Association numbers to 10, which was one of our goals when starting this program.”

Help Marietta College reach its $2.25 million Marietta Fund goal!

Visit marietta.edu/give to make your annual gift.

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TH E L O N G BL U E L I N E > C L ASS NOTES

> O N SHELVES NOW Sue Amari ’73 recently published her first novel, A Calculated Guess, the story of two Marietta College coeds who meet again at a 40-year college reunion and unwittingly become part of each other’s plan for a last-chance start-over.

Their reunion leads to the death of a woman on an Ohio road and a lingering question: Was the death a random occurrence or a mere casualty of the past?

Set in a world indelibly marked by Marietta College in the 1970s, A Calculated Guess is an ode to the last stop on a strange trip, where memories are edited, hope is losing its grip and the only thing you can count on is a false assumption.

Betty O’Neill ’42 lives alone in Columbus and walks every day, weather permitting. She cooks her own meals, shops for groceries every week, watches sports on television and works a word-search puzzle every day. She wishes good luck to Marietta College’s new president, Bill Ruud.

In April 2015, Dr. Richard Sarlitt ’67 sold his optometry practice, which he had opened in 1980. The practice is located in Irvine, California, and he currently works there part time.

Dr. Howard Smith ’74 (Phi Beta Kappa) was appointed acting Superintendent of White Plains Public Schools in White Plains, New York, in October. Previously, he served other interim superintendent and consultant positions, and was an adjunct professor at Bank Street College, Fordham University and St. Lawrence University. In 2013, he retired as Superintendent of the Union Free School District in Tarrytown, New York, after 12 years of service.

Brett Sidle ’97, a history teacher at Detroit Country Day School, was recognized by the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation as one of the 2015–16 recipients of the Educators of Distinction Award. Brett is one of 150 educators from across the nation chose to receive this honor, which is an award that recognizes outstanding dedication to providing education with an enhanced purpose.

The book is available through Amazon.com. Amari is an award-winning author who has published more than 500 articles, which have appeared in The Plain Dealer, Medina Gazette, Cleveland Women Working, Chagrin Valley Times, Sun Newspapers and Universe Bulletin.

This spring, Thomas Landefeld ’69 published his second book, Sex: Understanding What You Know, What You Want to Know, and What You Have Not Even Thought About: Knowing About Sex. Dr. Landefeld, who is a Professor of Biology and Pre-Health Advisor at California State University-Dominguez Hills in Carson, California, wrote the book to provide supplemental information for his courses. In the process, he realized that the information could be useful for the general public. The book is available through Amazon.com.

“I was consistently surprised and, unfortunately, disappointed that the students in my classes had so little knowledge about some of the most basic information about sex and the processes associated with it, especially since these were biology classes,” he says. “With that, and as a result of some of those discussions, it also became obvious that there was a broader need to be met, i.e. outside of the classes as well.”

Previously, Dr. Landefeld published a guidebook to help students choose the right mentor. The book, Mentoring and Diversity: Tips for Students and Professionals for Developing and Maintaining a Diverse Scientific Community, is also available on Amazon.com. Links to both books can be found on his website: www.thomaslandefeld.com.

Fourteen Chi Omega sisters from the class of 1970 met in Newport, Rhode Island, for a long weekend of catching up on life and enjoying each other’s company from Friday, Sept. 30 to Tuesday, Oct. 4. Elizabeth Haning Sorensen ’70 and Liz Morgan Baird ’70 planned this get-together. The sisters traveled from Germany, Colorado and various states east of the Mississippi to tour, shop, eat and raise a glass of wine to each other. They are already planning their next adventure for 2018.

Seated from the left: Jane Anderson Wise, Margaret Rejdak Rohlik, Janet Clement, Becky Rice Harold, Carol “Buff” Langacher Crouch and Chris Tarr Gabreski. Standing from the left: Bev Ullom Pratt, Jane Siebeneck, Lynn Berry Stokes, Barb Woodhull, Nanci Roten Target, Liz Morgan Baird, Cindy Buck Wilson and Elizabeth Haning Sorensen (all class of 1970).

M A R I E T TA > 33

T H E L O N G BL UE L I N E > CL ASS NOTES

Peter Mandell ’74, though remaining on disability, keeps busy with his volunteer efforts in the San Francisco area. His main focus is at The Marine Mammal Center (www.marinemammalcenter.org), which is the world’s largest marine mammal hospital. Peter serves as a docent and an active member of the Rescue and Release Department. “Last year, The Marine Mammal Center celebrated its 40th anniversary with a record number of pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) treated at the hospital (more than 1,900) and over the years have released 20,000 animals back to the ocean. This is a photo of a sea lion release that took place at our annual gala, the 2016 Sea Lion Soiree.” Peter is also a volunteer driver for Food Runners, an organization that delivers leftover excess food from restaurants and supermarkets to shelters and homes in the city.

Shawn Taylor ’03, his wife, Ashley, and their son, Leo, welcomed their second child, Eva Danielle Taylor, on August 17, 2016. Eva was 9 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long. Shawn is currently a Senior Research Associate with The University of Toledo, working at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and Ashley is a Physician Assistant in the emergency room at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Lorain, Ohio. Shawn, Ashley, Leo and Eva reside in Berea, Ohio.

Jennifer Gulish Nestor ’04 (Alpha Xi Delta) and her husband, Aaron, welcomed the birth of their second son, Joshua Reed, on May 28, 2016.

His big brother, Braden, will be 2 in November. Jennifer, her husband, two sons and dog (Tank) live in Columbus, Ohio.

34 < FA L L 2 0 1 6

Katy Casperson ’04 (Alpha Xi Delta) and her husband, Jeffrey, announce the birth of their daughter, Esther Harriet Casperson. She was born May 10, 2016. Esther’s maternal grandfather is Preston G. Taylor ’74. “We currently live in Bend, Oregon, where I work for Tetra Tech, Inc.,” Katy says. “Our family enjoys hiking the Cascade Mountains when baby allows us to get out.”

Joshua ’08 and Carrie Mason Thrash ’08 welcomed daughter, Lindley Mason Thrash, on June 2, 2016. Josh continues to proudly recruit new members of The Long Blue Line as part of his duties in the Marietta College Office of Admission, and Carrie serves as the Director of Admission at Washington State Community College.

Jennifer DeGain McManus ’06 (Chi Omega) and Sean McManus ’04 (Delta Upsilon) were married on September 6, 2015, at Delaware Park’s beautiful rose garden in their hometown of Buffalo, New York. The two met at Marietta College through Greek life and reconnected when they both moved back to Buffalo. The wedding party featured several Marietta alumni, including Ashlyn Heider ’06 (Chi Omega), Joseph Tacosik ’04 (Delta Upsilon), Steven Meyer ’04 (Delta Upsilon) and Kole Weisend ’04. Family, friends and Marietta alumni were in attendance for the celebration, including Anna Bock Mullins ’04 (Chi Omega), Carrie Corder Bell ’06 (Chi Omega), Amy Latorre Chubak ’06 (Chi Omega), Cate Weber ’06 (Chi Omega) Tasha Faulkner ’07, Jessie Harris ’07, Mitchell Milbourn ’04 (Delta Upsilon), Adam Morgan ’04 (Delta Upsilon) and Andrea Hefner Larason ’04. The couple proudly reside in Buffalo, New York, with their rescue dog, Nelson.

Jennifer teaches English as a Second Language at a public elementary school, and Sean works for a major technology retailer. Photographed with the couple are (from left): Patrick Jones, Joseph Tacosik, Kole Weisend, Steven Meyer, Megan McManus Matson, Sabrina Bryan DeGain, Ashlyn Heider and Andrea DeGain Lautenschuetz.

TH E L O N G BL U E L I N E > C L ASS NOTES

> ALUM NI NO TE

Ryan and Sarah (Clapp) Work ’04 welcomed their fourth daughter, Sylvia Catherine, into the world on October 26, 2015. Her older sisters, Maggie, Lyra and Tessa, enjoy picking out her clothes.

You could say that Marietta College was our matchmaker. Although I lived only about 15 minutes from campus, I briefly considered living in the dorms during my freshman year. Somehow (I always assumed it was due to my unisex name) I ended up in Mary Beach with one Zachary Brunetti as my roommate. I never really addressed the mistake, and for months I forgot all about it (as I had decided to commute by that point). Eventually, Zach decided to contact his roomie on Facebook and soon realized he had messaged a girl. He apologized, thinking he got the wrong person, but the mistake wasn’t his. I was indeed his roommate. He didn’t end up going to MC, but we remained close nonetheless, and we started dating about six months later. We’ve been together ever since — seven years and counting! Whoever is responsible for matching roommates with one another, they couldn’t have done a better job ... well, except for the gender part.

Casey Smith ’12 married Zachary Brunetti on May 28, 2016, at the First Baptist Church of Williamstown in West Virginia. The couple currently live in Vienna, West Virginia. Casey is a physician assistant in neurology.

Adam Eichhorn M.Ed.’09 and Andrea Arnold Eichhorn ’08 welcomed their first child — a daughter, Areana Grace Eichhorn — on Saturday, July 9, 2016.

Reid and Jean Marie Brizendine Henderson ’09 celebrated the birth of their son, Avery Wayne Henderson, on March 11, 2016.

The family lives in Savage, Minnesota.

Evan Brockmeier ’13 married Alyson Stalter on August 13, 2016, at The Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption in Marietta. Evan and Alyson are living in Bakersfield, California, but are making every effort to get back to Marietta. The wedding party couldn’t resist taking a photo on campus (from left to right): Ellie Brockmeier (front row); Alex Toth ’13, Erin Casey, Evan and Alyson, Eric Brockmeier, Sarah Stalter (second row); Aaron Hopper ’13, Hanna Hopper, Michael Radvansky ’13, Kim Lindberg, Heather Stalter, Trey Engle, Adilyn Hill (third row); Kail Hill, Mia Brockmeier, Cameron Tope ’13, Loren Williams and Turner Hill (back row).

M A R I E T T A > 35

T H E L O N G BL UE L I N E > I N MEMORIA M

IN

MEMORIAM

> 1940s Guy H. Stephens ’42 of Brandon, Florida (8/9/16).

John H. Scott ’50 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Morgan City, Louisiana (8/12/16).

Theora Story Hoppe ’46 (Chi Omega) of Wellington, Ohio (10/19/16).

Raymond E. Dennis Jr. ’51 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Marietta, Ohio (11/2/16).

Survivors include Sara Racer Dennis ’52 (Chi Omega).

Patricia Pape Lown ’47 (Chi Omega) of Batavia, New York (8/31/16).

Ann L. Shimer Barker ’52 (Alpha Xi Delta) of Redding, California (10/5/16).

> 1950s

Charles B. Hess ’52 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Marietta, Ohio (10/12/16).

William H. Corwin ’50 (Delta Upsilon) of Mine Hill, New Jersey (7/2/11).

Survivors include his son, William H. Corwin ’78, grandson, Jamie Hopkins ’13, and sister in-law, Barbara Smith Hopkins ’54.

Helen R. Bartmess Lane ’50 (Chi Omega) of Reno, Ohio (10/29/16).

Survivors include her husband, Robert Lane ’50.

Adrian B. Morrison ’50 (Alpha Tau Omega) of Lexington, Kentucky (10/26/16).

Joe C. Lohr ’50 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Carolina Shores, North Carolina (2/28/16). Survivors include his son, James Lohr ’86, and niece, Julieanne Bender Ennis ’79.

Robert E. Sands ’50 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Westport, Massachusetts (11/3/16). Survivors include his son David R. Sands ’78.

Braden M. Nida ’53 of Marietta, Ohio (11/5/16).

> 1960s

> 1970s

Paul E. Cornell ’60 of Vienna, West Virginia (9/23/16).

Margaret Hadfield Burns ’70 (Alpha Xi Delta) of Newnan, Georgia (6/26/16).

Clyde W. Oyster ’62 of Mountain Brook, Alabama (9/8/16). Survivors include his sisters, Jerrie Oyster Berentz ’65 (Chi Omega) and Bonnie Oyster Miller ’66 (Chi Omega).

Mary Jo Gabardine McCullough ’71 (Sigma Kappa) of Johns Creek, Georgia (9/3/16). Survivors include her husband, John G. McCullough ’69 (Lambda Chi Alpha).

Robert E. Mathews Jr. ’64 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Garrettsville, Ohio (10/2/16). Survivors include his son, Shawn Mathews ’96.

Michael W. Ducic ’76 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Katy, Texas (8/11/16).

Jeffrey A. Fleischhauer ’76 (Tau Epsilon Phi) of Salem, Virginia (9/1/16).

William C. Yellin ’64 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (9/26/16).

> 1980s

Phillip D. Snow ’65 of Ocala, Florida (8/18/16).

Lisa Kudman-Weiner ’82 of Port Washington, New York (9/1/15).

James R. King ’56 of Newark, Ohio (8/8/16).

Avanel Howett Mead ’66 of Ocala, Florida (3/3/15).

Anthony L. Drapelick ’57 (Alpha Sigma Phi) of Simsbury, Connecticut (10/31/16). Survivors include his daughter, Barbara Drapelick Mitchell ’89 (Alpha Xi Delta) and son-in-law, David Mitchell ’90 (Alpha Sigma Phi).

Lloyd D. Avram ’66 of New York, New York (5/15/16).

Laura Scott Etter ’88 (Alpha Xi Delta) of Maineville, Ohio (10/14/16).

Survivors include her husband, Kurt H. Etter ’87.

Ann Weimer Stone ’54 (Sigma Kappa) of Flushing, Michigan (11/5/16).

Survivors include her husband, Richard Stone ’54 (Delta Upsilon).

Robert D. Stoyer ’57 of McCandless, Pennsylvania (9/22/16).

Jack L. Cunningham ’59 of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania (9/24/16).

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Wollom Cunningham ’62.

Karen F. Nowell ’66 of Dennis, Massachusetts (3/7/16).

Anthony J. Sabatino Sr. ’63 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Charleston, West Virginia (9/9/16).

John G. Strance Jr. ’66 of Henderson, Nevada (4/15/16).

> 1990s Kevin B. Smith ’96 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of East Hampton, Massachusetts (9/2/16).

> 2000s Anthony Garrido ’00 of Riverview, Florida (7/13/16).

John H. Thornburg ’67 (Lambda Chi Alpha) of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin (9/30/16). Survivors include Thomas C. Thornburg III ’66 (Lambda Chi Alpha).

SHARE YOUR NEWS Send us your news to share in our alumni class notes. Notes may be edited for style, length, clarity and space. Some class notes may appear in the eTrailblazer alumni newsletter, while others may appear in Marietta Magazine. We welcome highresolution digital photographs sent via email, though not all photograph submissions will be published. Please don’t send photographs you wish to have returned.

E-mail: alumni@marietta.edu Fax: 740-376-4509 Mail: Editor, Marietta Magazine, Office of Alumni and College Relations, 215 Fifth St., Marietta, OH 45750 36 < F A L L 2 0 1 6

W

hen the need arises and the governor of Illinois calls, Lt. Col. Brian Gahan’s detachment will be ready for regional or national deployment operations.

“We are one of 17 National Guard mobile medical facilities, and we have six hours to get boots on the ground,” Gahan ’84 says. “Once on site, we are usually ready to go within 90 minutes.”

In March, he was named the commander of the 182nd Medical Group Detachment 1, Illinois Air National Guard. Col. William P. Robertson, the commander of the 182nd Airlift Wing, presided over the ceremony.

“I just want to pass along my thanks to all those who have made this a successful effort to stand up the Detachment 1 here at the 182nd,” Robertson says. “It’s been a long road in coming, pulling the three units into one, into a detachment here. My congratulations to [Lt.] Col. Gahan for being the person who will be gaining command of this unit.”

Gahan is the President of Laser Rock Technologies. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Marietta, where he was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He received his Masters

U.S. AIR NATIONAL GUARD TECH. SGT. TODD A. PENDLETON

Alumnus assumes command at 182nd Airlift Wing for homeland security mission of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985 and his Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2002.

He received his civilian commission as a United States Air Force officer in 2007. Prior to assuming command of the detachment, he was the Bioenvironmental Engineering Officer for the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.

Gahan’s detachment trains throughout the year to prepare for their role as a part of the CERFP Army and Air National Guard joint-force unit. CERFP — a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package — is made up of about 200 members.

Gahan’s medical detachment consists of a 47-member team that handles contamination, mass casualty, triaging victims, and the treatment and tracking of patients. The CERFP complements and enhances local and state capabilities for certain mass casualty incidents.

“The military has done a good job, particularly with the education they provide,” Gahan says. “We have also trained with and supported similar military units in Germany and Poland. We all work in sync together to provide unique military and civilian lifesaving capabilities and expertise.”

GI SMITH

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JOHN BORZAIN

ROBERT CAPLIN

> T H E P RO G RESSIVE PIONEER

Kevin O’Neill ’87 FOUNDER OF SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL HUMAN RESOURCE CONSULTING FIRM WORKS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR BLOOD CANCER RESEARCH

> “I was personally inspired to make a difference for pediatric blood cancer patients, as I have seen firsthand the tragedy and loss that ensues. I lost two close childhood friends to leukemia, which moves me nearly 40 years later. What appealed to me about the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was their mission to address general blood cancers, which are so prevalent. Even with significant advances in treatment, blood cancer is the number one killer of children in the U.S., and is also the most common cancer among young people.”

B I O G R A P H Y: Kevin O’Neill ’87 is driven to make change happen through

people, so when the opportunity to raise awareness and money to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society was presented to him this year, he was moved to make a difference. During a 10-week fundraising campaign in his home state of Rhode Island, Kevin raised more than $154,000 for blood cancer research in honor of 7-year-old Nicholas Harrington and 13-yearold Grace Duffy, who courageously faced cancer and won (photographed with Kevin). Kevin was named Rhode Island’s 2016 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Man of the Year. Kevin is the founder and managing partner of Acertitude, where he strives to help his clients’ organizations unleash their human potential, and a member of Marietta College’s Board of Trustees.

He has also served as the American Heart Association regional board chair, YMCA board member and local parish council president. He and his wife, Chantel, have four teenagers, Ethan, Aidan, Callan and Rory, whom they attempt to inspire to continue this tradition of giving.