IN MEMORY
became a grandmother and started working as a sales assistant for a homebuilder, inspiring her to pursue a real estate license. Today, Cardenas works for HomeSmart Realty while also serving as a substitute teacher and teaching floral-design classes at the Westminster Recreation Center. She loves helping others realize their goals and wants to make the world a better place.
2002
(B.A. Music, ’02) is a board-certified music therapist and works with clients of all ages to improve their quality of life and reach their cognitive, social, emotional and physical goals. She has also played with several musical ensembles throughout the years, including the Melrose Symphony Orchestra, North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra and Fusion String Ensemble, and she has worked as a studio musician in recording sessions with Ruby Rose Fox and Aloud. JOANNA OSTRANDER
2009
(B.A. Art, ’09) and her husband recently sold their house and will soon be exploring the United States full-time in their travel trailer. She said hard work and disciplined spending allowed them to retire early, and that they’re excited about the adventure ahead of them. KAREN L. ANDREWS
(B.A. Human Development, ’09) is a pre-K public school teacher in central Denver. She attended a cohort graduate program in 2014 through Lesley BELLE NEWMAN
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RED MAGAZINE | S P R ING 2022
University and ultimately earned her master’s degree in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts. She is proud to hold honors from Denver Public Schools, the Colorado Preschool Program and the Denver Preschool Program. While Newman enjoys her time in the elementary classroom, she likes the idea of teaching teachers during retirement — maybe at her favorite university, MSU Denver! (B.S. Human Services, ’09) is a missionary who recently moved back to Denver after 11 years of traveling between California, Peru and San Antonio. SUSANA NIETO
2017
(B.S. Management, ’17) headed to Durango shortly after graduating to work as a camp counselor for the summer. He then became a precious-metals advisor for McAlvany ICA, one of the oldest precious-metals firms in the U.S. Connell loves living in Durango with his wife, Rebekka, and said he can’t get enough of the little tourist town in southwest Colorado. STEVE CONNELL
2021
(B.S. Social Work, ’21) began her journey with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2019 when she needed to fulfill volunteer hours for a course in her degree program. She never left. Arndt’s internship turned into a career when she was promoted to program specialist after graduating from MSU Denver. AMBER ARNDT
Faculty & Staff
BROOKE MAUREEN
(B.A. Individualized Degree Program, ’01) died July 14 at age 44. Throughout her life, Blanchette served as a committed community volunteer in Denver and, later, Madison, Wisconsin. Dedicated to service, she pursued certification in nonprofit management and grant writing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Above all else, Blanchette was proudest of her daughter and grandson, with whom she loved spending time. She was a lover of life and enjoyed art, music, travel, tattoos and strong coffee, among other things. BLANCHETTE
Emeritus faculty member JANIS S. BOHAN, Ph.D., died Dec. 16 at age 76. After graduating from the University of Denver in 1967 with a major in Psychology, she went on to earn her doctorate from the University of Rochester in 1970. The same year, she started teaching in the Department of Psychological Sciences at MSU Denver. Bohan’s life changed dramatically when Colorado voters passed Amendment 2 in 1992. At that time, she came out and refocused her academic and research interests on LGBTQ studies. Bohan loved teaching, especially the Roadrunners she worked with during her 30-year career at the University. After retiring in 2000, she pursued activist work around Indigenous peoples’ rights, safe schools, political campaigns and more.
Alumni & Students (B.A. Speech, ’76) died at home Sept. 22 at age 74. A Vietnam War veteran who served proudly in the Navy until 1970, Arnold had a successful career in hospitality sales and marketing in San Diego and Denver and as a substitute teacher later in life. Arnold was an avid music lover with a passion for good food who enjoyed tending to his garden and spending time with friends and family. GARY E. ARNOLD
(B.S. Management, ’88) died Dec. 21 at age 57. He and his wife, Marilyn, moved their family to Ignacio, Colorado, in 1991, and together they opened and operated Options Restaurant and the Rose Café. Brandau worked in the restaurant and hospitality industry his entire life, most recently at the Sky Ute Casino. He enjoyed riding his Harley, golfing, music and his Busch beer. But above all else, he loved his family. WILLIAM BRANDAU
LINDA COBERLY (B.A. English, ’89) died Oct. 30 at age 58. After earning her degree, Coberly moved to New York City to work for CBS Records. Upon returning to Denver in the
