In Memory

IN MEMORY

Heart of a Roadrunner

BRAD KAPLAN IS DEDICATED TO THE FUTURE OF MSU DENVER.

By Lynne Winter

Brad Kaplan arrived on Metropolitan State University of Denver’s doorstep broke and disheartened.

Frustrated by his initial college experience as a nameless face packed into overflowing lecture halls, Kaplan followed a friend’s lead and transferred to MSU Denver.

“On my first day, I knew it was the right place,” he said. “Professors like Russell Bean (Accounting) were always there to make sure I was on the right path.”

When Kaplan was a student, his on-campus activities included little more than attending classes and joining friends for a beer at the Mercantile or Soapy Smith’s Eagle Bar. After graduating in 1982 with a B.S. in Accounting, he stayed loosely connected to the University by contributing to scholarships. Then, a chance meeting with Ann Murphy, Ph.D., dean of the College of Business, in the 1990s brought him back to the nest.

“Ann asked me to join the College of Business Dean Advisory Council, and even when I moved to Oregon, she called to get my input,” he said. “It allowed me to use my business knowledge to provide direction and help MSU Denver grow.”

Upon retiring as vice president of financial operations and strategy at Comcast in 2017, Kaplan decided to occupy his newfound free time by indulging his passion for education.

Based on his experience volunteering for short interviews with Intro to Business students, Kaplan recognized an opportunity to connect alumni and students. “Thirty minutes is not enough time. So many students and mentors want a longer connection,” he said.

Supported by Alumni Relations and the

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Classroom to Career Hub, Kaplan created a College of Business mentoring program he hopes will eventually serve the entire University. This year, if the program has enough alumni mentors, as many as 100 students will be matched — up from 30 last year.

For over 30 years, Kaplan has stayed engaged by supporting Women’s Softball, establishing a planned gift, guest lecturing and now talking to state representatives about higher-ed funding as a member of MSU Denver Champions.

“There are so many opportunities to get involved,” he said. “The University will find a fit if you express interest.”

These days, Kaplan is eager to return to campus and give back to the community he loves in person.

“When I got married two months before graduating from college, I had nothing,” he said. “I’ve gone on to have a successful career and a great life. My experience at the University taught me how to think, grow and work with other people. It gave me a wonderful foundation.

“My heart is at MSU Denver.”

Faculty & Staff

PAT R. JOHNSON, professor emeritus, died April 10 at age 86. Johnson worked at MSU Denver for more than 30 years as a professor of Physical Education and coach before retiring in 1999. Hired in 1968, Johnson founded the volleyball program that year. As coach, she led the team to three top-10 national finishes in the old Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and a third-place finish in the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics. Johnson was also the Roadrunners softball coach from 1969-81, apart from two seasons, and a member of the first class of the MSU Denver Athletics Hall of Fame. She was a pioneer in women’s athletics who dedicated her life to fighting for equity in sports.

Former MSU Denver faculty member ISABEL MAKE died April 2 at age 73. Make joined the Roadrunner community in 1991, serving students in the reading lab with her breadth of expertise in lifelong learning. In retirement, she was an avid volunteer who served on the Greenwood Village Arts Council and helped establish a dedicated youth arts space at the Curtis Center for the Arts. Known for her spirited views, sharp insight and keen wit, Make was an active member of Temple Emanuel in Denver, rarely

IN MEMORY

missing a Friday night Shabbat service despite her ailing health.

Emeritus Foundation Board

member HENRY L. STRAUSS died April 8 at age 93. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1927, and his family left Germany for Spain in 1933 as Hitler took power. They immigrated to New York in 1937 and came to Denver in 1939. Strauss graduated from East High School and then the School of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Boulder. In 1955, he opened Strauss Realty. He was active in politics and community organizations, including the Rotary Club and the Council on Foreign Relations. He served on the MSU Denver Foundation Board for 22 years and established the Guldman-Strauss Endowed Scholarship to support Integrative Therapeutic Practices students. He loved to see the world and continued to travel into his 80s.

MSU Denver staff member JAMES (JIM) VANDERHYE died Jan. 30 at age 77. Spanning a 19-year career at the University, Vanderhye started in 1969 as business manager, held multiple director positions and was ultimately promoted to associate vice president for Business and Finance. After retiring from MSU Denver in 1989, he served five years as vice president for Administrative Services at Mesa State College in Grand Junction. The highlight of Vanderhye’s professional career was his role overseeing MSU Denver’s campus move from its old location on 14th Street to the Auraria Campus.

Alumni & Students

MASON BALISTRERI (B.A. Individualized Degree Program, ’16) died March 19 at age 31. After graduating from MSU Denver, Balistreri went on to earn several sommelier certifications and worked as a wine buyer. In recent years, he was an integral part of Balistreri Vineyards in Denver, where he used his knowledge, skills and palate to help his family make the best wine possible. Balistreri had a passion for natural wine, philosophy and travel and will be remembered for his quick wit, handsome smile, generous spirit and sensitive soul.

FREDERICK BRUSH (B.S. Computer and Management Science, ’83) died Dec. 16 at age 74. In addition to his degree from MSU Denver, he received a B.A. in History from the University of Colorado. The longtime resident of Norfolk, Virginia, lived near the waterfront and was employed by the Port of Norfolk as a computer programmer. His family said Brush was a skilled chess player, poker player, boatman, Scrabble cheater and illustrator whose idea of an exceptionally good time was fishing and catching fish.

JASON CHRISTY (B.S. Finance, ’02) died Jan. 5 at age 49. After graduating from MSU Denver, Christy earned an M.Ed. at the University of Montana and realized his lifelong dream of becoming a middle school teacher in 2006. After six years, he became a principal at a K-8 school but ultimately returned to teaching, his real passion. A dedicated father, Christy and his wife, Terri, loved spending time camping, fishing and rafting with their three boys in Montana’s great outdoors.

CHRISTOPHER COMBS (B.S. Human Services, ’12) died at age 46. Combs was a curious, creative and caring person who embraced each day of his journey with humor and determination. After graduating from MSU Denver, he engaged his passion for serving others by working with young people at Colorado Youth at Risk and the Sims-Fayola Foundation, as president of the resident council in his apartment complex and through ministry. Combs was committed to his family and loved playing video games and coloring with his nieces. His mother will miss hearing him say, “I love you, Mom.”

MSU Denver Psychology major

SARAH MONDRAGON died April 14 at age 25. Mondragon loved being with her family; she was proud to be called “Auntie” and was the master planner for family game night and murder-mystery dinners. Known for her beautiful smile and kind heart, she will be sorely missed by everyone who was blessed to have her in their lives.

JOAN PEAKE (B.S. Accounting, ’83) died Jan. 26 at age 67. After graduating from Bowling Green State University and MSU Denver, Peake worked for several years as a CPA. Over the years, life took her around the country and the world, from McKinney, Texas, to London and numerous other destinations. In 2006, Peake took the first of many genealogical courses, eventually achieving professional status. Her passion for genealogy made her appreciate her extended family and chosen friends even more. At the time of her passing, Peake was still volunteering twice a week at the Uniontown Public Library, helping others research their family trees.

MATTHEW SEES (B.A. History, ’00) died April 20 at age 45. Sees was a dedicated teacher who taught history and social studies in the Fort Morgan area. An avid sports enthusiast who was always cheering for his favorite teams — the Denver Broncos and Boston Red Sox — he translated his lifelong passion for sports into coaching high school football. Throughout his career, Sees was frequently mentioned as a favorite teacher and coach.

WAYS

Support for your next career move

MSU DENVER’S ALUMNI ASSOCIATION CAN HELP YOU JUMP-START YOUR POSTPANDEMIC WORKING LIFE.

By Dan Vaccaro

Roadrunners are resilient. But the pandemic still knocked some of us off course in our careers.

You might have lost a job. Or you couldn’t find the right job. Or maybe you’ve decided you want to change careers altogether. Whatever the case, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Alumni Association can help.

Here are seven ways to access support and get back on track with your career goals:

CAREER LINK Explore jobs and internships, RSVP for career events and share your résumé with employers. Sign up or log in: msudenver-csm.symplicity.com.

PERSONALIZED CAREER COACHING Meet with alumni career counselor Jane Grogan, whose services include résumé and cover-letter review, job-search strategies, interview skills and inventory assessments. Schedule an appointment: msudenveralumni. as.me/careercoaching.

ROADRUNNER ADVISOR NETWORK Connect with experienced professionals, most of whom are alumni, for career conversations, résumé critiques and mock interviews. Job seekers of all ages and levels are welcome. Sign up: msudenver.firsthand.co/login.

LINKEDIN LEARNING Access a digital library of more than 6,000 skill-building courses. Learn more: msudenver.edu/alumni/ career-support/#featured-support.

ALUMNI NETWORKING GROUP Meet other alumni each quarter to grow as a professional and enhance your business relationships. Get involved: msudenver.edu/alumni/#getinvolved.

ALUMNI AFFINITY GROUPS Join a group of alumni, students and friends of the University who share common interests and experiences. Whether in person or virtually, Roadrunner Networks span all academic majors, graduating classes, regions and professions, and reflect a remarkable diversity of concerns and activities. The groups provide networking opportunities, professional development and resource-sharing. Learn more: msudenver.edu/ alumni/participate/affinity-groups.

INDUSTRY NETWORKS This forthcoming program, in partnership with the University’s Classroom to Career Hub, will connect alumni based on industry affiliation. Stay tuned for info on events starting this fall. Alumni can already attend all hiring events hosted by the C2 Hub.

BONUS: MSU DENVER’S SKILLS LAB Choose from a curated group of short online labs designed to prepare you to quickly step back into Denver’s high-growth industries. Learn more: msudenver.edu/skillslab.