12 minute read
In memory
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
JOANNA OSTRANDER (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.
2009
KAREN L. ANDREWS (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.
BELLE NEWMAN (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 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!
SUSANA NIETO (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.
2017
STEVE CONNELL (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.
2021
AMBER ARNDT (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.
Faculty & Staff
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
GARY E. ARNOLD (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.
BROOKE MAUREEN BLANCHETTE (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.
WILLIAM BRANDAU (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.
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
mid-’90s, she met her husband, married and had their only son, Ian. Coberly worked at the Sterling Federal Credit Union before becoming an English teacher at Sterling Middle School, where she taught for 11 years. Following her teaching career, she worked at Journal Office Supply. Coberly enjoyed reading, traveling with her husband and son, writing for the local paper, drawing, creating stained glass and volunteering at the local Humane Society.
JAN B. DESPAIN (B.S. Professional Pilot, ’74) died Oct. 20 at age 69. Known as one of the youngest female pilots in Iowa when she graduated from high school in 1970, Despain went on to earn her bachelor’s degree, commercial pilot license and air-traffic-control certification. During her time serving in the Navy from 197684, Despain became the first female to solo carrier-land, gain acceptance into flight training for the E2-C Hawkeye and fly a Grumman C-2A Greyhound onto the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier during the Libyan crisis. A model for female leadership, she oversaw Navy and Air Force trainees. Despain was also a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, an avid cyclist and an outdoor enthusiast known for her sense of humor, creativity and love of dogs.
Jazz great and influential music educator Ron Miles dies at 58
By John Arnold
JOHN ARNOLD
BY JOHN ARNOLD
Legendary jazz musician Ron Miles, musicianin-residence at Metropolitan State University of Denver, died March 8 at age 58. The cause was complications from polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder, his record label said.
The Grammy-nominated trumpeter and cornetist was one of the most prominent musicians in Denver’s jazz scene, and his influence extended far beyond the Mile High City.
“He was simply a great player. Not just here, but nationally and internationally. We need to remember that,” said Norman Provizer, Ph.D., a Political Science professor emeritus at MSU Denver and former jazz critic for the Rocky Mountain News and DownBeat magazine.
Miles was a unique talent in a genre that values individualism, Provizer said. But beyond his musical gifts, Miles leaves behind a legacy of kindness, modesty and a desire to help others.
“Anyone who knew him knew what an incredibly kind and wonderful person he was,” Provizer said. “Ron was a great player — not a good player, a great player. And at the same time, he was a dedicated, terrific teacher.”
Miles served as a music instructor and jazz director in MSU Denver’s Department of Music for more than two decades, mentoring hundreds of young musicians. “Anyone who knew “I really want (my students) him knew what to realize that while they’re in school, particularly in music, it’s an incredibly kind very important that they get and wonderful outside of these walls. That they see that their art resonates in the person he was.” community. It has to. It can’t just exist here,” Miles said from his — NORMAN PROVIZER, PH.D. MSU Denver studio in 2017. Miles was born in Indianapolis in 1963 and moved to Denver with his family in 1974, the same year he started to play music. He released his debut album, “Distance for Safety,” in 1987. Miles went on to record 11 more albums, including the critically acclaimed “I Am a Man” in 2017 and “Rainbow Sign,” his 2020 debut on the iconic Blue Note record label. In addition to leading his own bands, Miles performed with top jazz artists Joshua Redman, Bill Frisell, Mercer Ellington, Myra Melford, Don Byron and Madeleine Peyroux, among many others. He was nominated for a Grammy for his work on Redman’s album “Still Dreaming” in 2018, and he was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
IN MEMORY
SUNDAY U. EZIDINMA (B.S. Accounting, ’79) died Oct. 16 at age 83. Born in Nigeria, Ezidinma came to the U.S. in 1964 and, after marrying his wife, Deborah, in 1970, relocated from New York to Denver to raise their family. He had an eventful professional career in accounting and enjoyed spending his free time talking with friends and family, watching sports and spending time with his grandchildren. His family said Ezidinma was a supportive, caring and funny person with a zest for life.
DAVID J. HAM (B.A. History, ’71) died Nov. 30 at age 72. After he married his wife, Susan, they taught high school in Victoria, Australia, and backpacked from Southeast Asia to Europe from 1972-74. He went on to earn an M.A. from the University of Colorado Boulder and a J.D. from the University of Wyoming College of Law, after which he was the in-house counsel for Amax Coal Co. until 1993. From 1993-2021, Ham practiced law from his home. He sought to be of service to those in need and gave generously of himself to his clients and colleagues. Ham spent his free time hiking, rock climbing, running and with family, including sharing his love of the outdoors with his grandchildren.
GWENN KLOEPPING (B.A. History, ’05) died Dec. 11 at age 73. Kloepping lived most of her life in Colorado, where she worked for C&S, ATSF and Burlington Northern Railroads. An adventurous spirit, she stayed active by swimming, hiking, skiing, rafting and camping with friends. In 2011, she became a Reiki Master, and in 2015, she moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, to be closer to family. There, she worked at the Nebraska State Fair for three years, planting and maintaining gardens for 4-H.
HARRISON MCINTYRE (B.S. Speech Communication, ’21) died Dec. 25 at age 30. Born in Montreal, McIntyre spent his childhood in Denmark and France before settling in the U.S. as a teenager. He was passionate about hockey (as a goalie and fan), music, photography and hiking. In 2021, he set a goal to improve his fitness and completed his first marathon last August. McIntyre was a caring person and a great source of positivity for his family, friends and teammates.
STEVEN SELL (B.S. Computer Information Systems and Management Science, ’96) died Dec. 24 at age 61. After high school, Sell became one of the first employees at America West Airlines and, eventually, head of the Baggage Department. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree and work as an IT troubleshooter for companies in Colorado, Nevada and Indiana until retiring to Westcliff, where he managed the administrative and financial details of the High Mountain Hay Fever Festival annual bluegrass celebration. Sell enjoyed hiking, photography and road trips into wild country.
SARAH STECK (BFA Communication Design, ’21) died Dec. 28 at age 28. She was a talented artist, designer and student who worked hard in school as she pursued her dreams. Steck had a great sense of humor and was known for her hilarious impressions of her professors in the minutes before they came to class. She was into punk rock and frequented concerts with her boyfriend and friends. Her favorite band was Blink-182. Steck had just completed her degree at MSU Denver and was looking forward to transitioning from a career in hospitality to one in communication design.
RICHARD THORPE (B.A. Economics, ’76) died Nov. 17 at age 84. He started his career at Martin Marietta on the Apollo project and ended it at Ainsworth Balances. He was a prize-winning nature photographer, pioneer skier, avid fisherman and classic Mercedes-Benz enthusiast. MARVIA VALDEZ (B.S. Social Sciences, ’68, and B.S. Psychology, ’70) died Jan. 4 at age 80. When Valdez and her husband, Bernie, moved to Denver in 1966, they attended MSU Denver, becoming part of the first class of students to graduate from the thennewly established school. From there, she went on to earn two master’s degrees and her teaching certification. Her long career in education included teaching for Head Start in Denver, becoming assistant director for Upward Bound and teaching for over 20 years in Denver Public Schools. After “retiring” in 1990, she still taught ESL, Computer Science and GED part-time at the Emily Griffith School. Valdez had boundless energy and an amazing ability to connect with students. She was also a neighborhood activist, playing an active role with the Bellevue-Hale Neighborhood Association until late 2021, and loved traveling around the world with her daughter, Sherri.
TIMOTHY L. WEISSER (B.S. Computer Science, ’95) died Jan. 24 at age 50. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Weisser spent most of his career in the gaming industry. In 2015, he changed paths and obtained his real estate license, followed by his broker license. Last September, he opened 4DC Realty. His family describes Weisser as accepting, patient and loving.
You’ve got options
CAREER LAUNCHPAD PROGRAM PROVIDES MULTIPLE PATHWAYS TO HIGH-DEMAND CAREERS.
BY DAN VACCARO
What if one class could change the trajectory of your career? That’s the premise of the new Career Launchpad at Metropolitan State University of Denver.
Here’s how the program works: Let’s say you’ve been thinking about starting (or transitioning into) a career in a high-demand field such as health care or cybersecurity. At MSU Denver, you can take an affordable introductory class in that subject. You’ll take the course online at the pace that feels right to you. You’ll even get an advising session with a leader in the field.
After successfully completing the noncredit class, you’ll receive a digital badge embedded with the competencies learned that you can include on your résumé or LinkedIn page or in your portfolio. That alone might be enough to propel you into the workforce.
And if you want to take another step, you can convert the class to credit and work toward a certificate or full bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver. It’s a small way to take a big first step toward your dream job.
Career Launchpad Course Schedule for Fall 2022
• Health Navigation
Fundamentals • Introduction to
Cybersecurity • Space Flight Operations • Design Thinking • Introduction to Business • Principles of Public Health
Launching in Spring 2023
• Construction Project
Management • Introduction to Addictions • Survey of Advanced
Manufacturing and Survey
Preparation
