Spring 2017 R Connections

Connections A Ripon College Class Letter Publication

Spring 2017

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Spring 2017 1

Did I Tell You That Everything is Fine in My Mind?

Al Jarreau ’62 and I became acquainted through the earphones of my 1983 Sony Walkman on a 747 jumbo jet high above the Atlantic. I was listening to one of those pre-Internet radio loops that plugged into the side of the airline seat. And as a then-too-cool-for-school 15-year old of the early 1980s, I turned my nose up when it came to pop music. But staring out at the ocean below, remembering it now more dramatically that the sunrise was breaking on the horizon, I can hear Al’s voice coming through those pre-historic headphones: Mornin’ Mister Radio Mornin’ little Cheerios Morning sister oriole Did I tell you that everything is fine In my mind?

“Al loved Ripon College, and the College loved him right back.”

PRESIDENT ZACH MESSITTE

And in that instant, Al Jarreau entered a song into the soundtrack of my own life, indelibly linking my adolescent travel experience to one of his 19 songs that would be nominated for Grammy Awards (he won seven of them) during a remarkable musical career that spanned five decades. Al passed away in February, leaving behind millions of fans and so many people who shared his unabashed love for Ripon College.

The stories of Al’s passion for the College were legendary. If you were at one of his concerts and he saw you wearing a Ripon shirt (even if he didn’t know you personally), chances are you got a shout-out and an invite backstage after the show. He came back continuously to the school he adored: for reunions, special benefit concerts or to pay respects to his beloved basketball coach Kermit “Doc” Weiske ’50, who died in 2016. Al loved Ripon College, and the College loved him right back.

I first met Al (for real) days before I officially became president in June 2012.

It was at his 50th reunion, and what struck me most was that he just wanted to be on campus and spend time with his classmates and friends. No special star treatment. No entourage. No pretense. We had a brief conversation and he gave me one of his famous open-mouthed, big smiles, followed by a hug, while also wishing me good luck. I think he was wearing his derby hat backwards. It felt like we had a moment. But, as I would later learn, Al made everyone feel like they had a special moment with him.

If you have photos for future editions, please send them to Yvonne Nicklaus, constituent engagement and outreach coordinator, at nicklausy@ripon. edu or 920-748-8117. You also can contact Yvonne if you are interested in serving as a class agent.

News to share can be sent to alumni@ripon.edu or your class agent, or can be submitted via the online form at ripon.edu/update-contact-info.

I had the chance to spend more time with Al in the fall of 2015 before one of his concerts in Milwaukee. I met him at the Pfister Hotel and we talked about the College. He was concerned about Doc’s health. We had brought him some yearbooks from his Ripon years because he had misplaced his own. We laughed a lot. He told me that when he first came to Ripon (after having first visited campus as a high school junior during Badger Boys State) he was unprepared academically to be in college, but that his professors and the staff and his fellow students pushed him to study, learn and be curious.

He cared about Ripon because it cared about him.

Al Jarreau received an honorary degree from Ripon College in 1988, but at Commencement this year we will posthumously award him the Medal of Merit, the highest honor bestowed upon an alumnus/a for distinguished professional achievement, exemplary personal qualities and a lifetime of service. And I can already hear the music playing in my head: ’Scuse me if I sing My heart has found its wings Searchin’ high and low And now at last I know.

Bravo,, Al JJarreau.

Zach Messitte President of Ripon College

CONTENTS

2

Alumni Sightings

10

Class Letters

55

Staying Connected: Dawn Benning LaBarbera ’82 Sam Mutschelknaus ’12

57

Campus Snapshots

60

Ripon News

62

In Memoriam

R Connections is published twice annually by Ripon College, 300 Seward St., Ripon, WI 54971-0248. Postage paid at Ripon, Wisconsin.

Copyright ©2017 Ripon College.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to R Connections, PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971-0248.

Connections Spr i n g 2 01 7 Volume 2, Issue No. 2 On the Cover: The Indigos in their heyday: Back row, left to right:

To submit a note for a future issue or to update contact information, contact Ripon College Office of Constituent Engagement, 300 Seward St., Ripon, WI 54971-0248.

Phone: 920-748-8126 Email: alumni@ripon.edu Web: www.ripon.edu/update-contact-info

Al Jarreau ’62, Thomas “Duffy” Ashley-Farrand ’62 and Donna Oberholtzer ’63; front row: Peter Bock ’62

Editorial Staff Yvonne Nicklaus Jaye Alderson Melissa K. Anderson ’02 Ric Damm

Design Ric Damm Ali Klunick

ripon.e du facebook.com/ripon.college flickr.com/photos/ripon_college instagram.com/riponcollege linkedin.com/company/ripon-college twitter.com/riponcollege youtube.com/riponcollegevideo

Spring 2017 1

Alumni Sightings

VIRGINIA “TERRI” KRIKORIAN WORDEN ’66 and DAVID WORDEN ’65 in Hawaii.

STEVEN “STEVE” WIECHMANN ’98 and his twin daughters, Natalie, left, and Emma, right, skiing at Bridger Bowl, Montana.

DANA MCELROY DEMARCO ’69 in Blue Ridge, Georgia.

NED LUFRANO ’54 and TY SABIN ’17 at the Lake Forest Basketball Game.

STEPHEN ILLICH ’73’s granddaughter, Sofia Katheryn, was born to his son, Seth, and his wife, Emily, on Aug. 17, 2016.

NANCY OLIVER LEIFHEIT ’69 and DAVID LEIFHEIT ’67 at the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona.

ELIZABETH “LIZ” WILLOUGHBY FITZSIMMONS ’69 and RICK FITZSIMMONS ’69 in the North Cascades in Washington.

VINCENT AYE ’69 and twin brother, DAVID CHIONG ’69, in Sacramento, California.

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DAVID GROSSMAN ’73 with wife, Robin, and sons, Benjamin and Daniel.

LINDA JENSEN HALL ’82 and KEVIN HALL ’82 in Antarctica.

JEANNE ANGELOMATIS GERACI ’78 and LESLIE SPOON BALESTRACCI ’78.

BRANDON MUMM ’05 and PAMELA SCHUMACHER MUMM ’08 with their children, Allison and Charlie, at Dickens of a Christmas in 2016.

MICHAEL OTTENBERG ’77 at Nats v.

Brewers on July 5, 2016.

ROBERT LEITSCHUH ’73, right, and good friend from Thetford, Vermont, John Jackson, at Fenway Park at a Red Sox game.

The Delta Upsilon 2016 Chicago Reunion picture: Left to right, RANDALL “RANDY” JEFFERSON ’70, CURT POWELL ’69, GORDON STEINBACH ’67, THOMAS KREUSER ’67, DAN WOLFGRAM ’69, BOB ZIMMERMAN ’70, KENNY WARREN ’70, BOB “OTTO” WACHHOLTZ ’69, BILL GRIEB ’70 and DON NUNEMAKER ’69 at DAN WOLFGRAM ’69’s house in Barrington, Illinois.

GREGG PETERSEN ’78, SOPHIA KAOUNAS ’14, PROFESSOR DEANO PAPE, DREW DAVIS ’07 and MIKE PEACOCK ’12 at a June D.C. Rally Hour in Crystal City, Virginia.

VERNE CHURCHILLJR. ’54 and BOB WITT ’55 at Wrigley Field for the third game of the World Series.

CHRIS WIEDEY ’90 and his wife, MARYJO LINDGREN WIEDEY ’89, enjoyed an evening swapping Ripon stories with BOB AINSWORTH ’57 and his wife, BOBBIE NIESS AINSWORTH ’57, at a fund-raising event in Claremont, California.

Spring 2017 3

Alumni Sightings

DOROTHY “DARCI” JAEGER JAYNE ’73 with TOM JAYNE ’73’s wife, Liz Jayne, at Lambeau Field watching Packers vs. Giants for their nephew’s first Packers game.

ROBERT WITT ’55 and wife, Patricia Shea Witt, on a friend’s yacht in Naples, Florida.

SHAUNA PICHETTE ’13, STEPHANIE JENISCH ’12 and ELIZABETH HILL ’13 at MEGAN MCGEE NORRIS ’12’s wedding at the Southport Beach House in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

CHAD NELSON ’65 and JOHN NEWHARD JR. ’65 at Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida.

MELANIE CIVIN KENION ’78 and ERIKA DOSS ’78 on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

NORB STEINBACH ’61 and DON LISKO ’61 last summer in Delafield, Wisconsin.

Top: KATHARINE PARISH MILLER ’73’s daughter, Carol, and husband, Kris, and their three children in Duluth, Minnesota. Bottom left: KATHARINE PARISH MILLER ’73’s son, Christopher, and his nephew at Gull Lake in Michigan. Bottom right: KATHARINE PARISH MILLER ’73 in a kayak on Gull Lake in November.

CORRIE OSBORNE ’17 and HANNAH HIRSCH ’16 at Ripon College.

NANCY OLIVER LEIFHEIT ’69 and her twin brother, SCOTT OLIVER ’69, at a family reunion in Lake Geneva.

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JUD HIGGINS JR. ’62, MARCIA MACLEISH HIGGINS ’63, JACKIE BLODGETT HUGDAHL ’63 and THOMAS HUGDAHL ’62 on Marco Island.

BOB UEHLING ’70 at the 18th hole of the AT&T Pebble Beach Golf Tournament where he worked as a marshal, Feb. 8-12.

GARY LEDERER ’72, JOHN CLARK ’71, JAMES “JIM” CLARK ’68 and JEAN KIRKPATRICK LEDERER ’73 at the wedding of John’s oldest son Matthew on Nov. 12, 2016.

Members of Theta Chi Fraternity gathered in October to celebrate the life of fallen brother GEOFF LANGLEY ’76. They are, from left, JOHN WALLEN ’76, JOHN FERRIS ’76, TIM FOSTER ’78, PERRY HOWLAND ’76, DAN SHERMAN ’76, JOHN FREDERICK ’73, DAN BURK ’76 and ANDY DICKSON ’79.

DAVID MIRISCH ’59 with one of his closest Hollywood friends, singer Pat Boone, left.

MICHAEL TIMM ’04, created 100 copies of his cooperative Great Lakes board game, Mussel Madness, in December 2016.

BRAD BURGE ’04 with his wife, Ryan, and son, Chase.

PLEASE NOTE: Because of spacing limitations, we cannot guarantee that all photo submissions will be published.

NANCY LAWS KERN ’75, MICHAEL MIZEN JR. ’73 and wife, MARGARET “PEGGI” SEELBACH MIZEN ’75 spent some time on Ajax enjoying a record January snowfall at Aspen Ski Corp.

Spring 2017 5

Alumni Memories

The Indigos ... Then and Now 1959-1962 and on until 2017 A favorite Ripon son, world-renowned jazz legend and seven-time Grammy winner AL JARREAU ’62, died Feb. 12. He went a long way from singing with the Indigos student group at Ripon College, to wide acclaim in concert and on screen.

“God rest ye, merry gentlemen ...,” I sang softly against the jazz harmony I was arranging at the piano in the student lounge. As I transitioned into the next phrase, a strong tenor voice (DUFFY FARRAND ’62 – THOMAS ASHLEY-FARRAND ’62) joined in. A few moments later, a counter-tenor voice filled in a high part (AL JARREAU ’62). As the three of us searched for appropriate harmonies, a soprano voice took the melody (DONNA OBERHOLTZER ’63). And as I descended to a more comfortable bass line, the Indigos were born.

Although our study habits may have been erratic, visits home often canceled, and social activities sometimes foregone, we rarely missed a rehearsal or composing session. Today, we all realize how much this artistic compact taught us about creativity and focused cooperation motivated by having lots of fun.

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Connections

Early in our first year together, Al arranged a gig for us

priest, including many published books and missionary

at the Driftwood Lounge in Milwaukee. In the first set,

expeditions around the world. Then, quite suddenly

we sang four songs. As we took our bows, a more-than-

in 2010, Duf was diagnosed with terminal esophageal

slightly inebriated man standing at the bar called out,

cancer. Al, Donna and I were with him when he died. We

“If you kids are so great, how about singing my favorite

still miss him every day.

song?” The four of us exchanged nervous glances, and then Duf asked, “And what might that be, sir?” “ ‘Mood Indigo,’ ” the man replied. “Do you college kids know ‘Mood Indigo?’ ” Our nervousness changed instantly into glee. “Well, we don’t usually do encores,” I said with a soft smile, “but we’ll make an exception this time.” As it happened, “Mood Indigo” was the fifth and only other song in our repertoire at the time. What luck!

Duffy, Al and I stayed with the Indigos throughout its three-year career. When Donna left Ripon to go to school in Hawaii in 1960, Gail Jensen ’63 took her place. When Gail did not return to Ripon in the fall of 1961, Ann Hassler ’65 joined us for our last year.

Gail enjoyed a successful and well-recognized career in the dance with the American Chamber Ballet Company in New York and abroad. In 1992, she suffered a severe cerebral injury. She fought relentlessly to regain her strength and return to her teaching career, but lost that struggle and died quietly several years later.

Over the years, Donna had lost contact with Duf and me, but touched bases occasionally with Al. After receiving her B.A. and M.A. in English, she worked as an editor and eventually moved to Washington, D.C. In 1989, Duffy phoned me one day and told me he had just discovered that Donna was living in my neck of the woods. We got together, and, to make a long story very

Over the years, we sang regularly at college dances

short, fell in love in a trice and were married in 1991.

(once with Stan Kenton), the Republican House,

Al and Duffy were at the wedding. What a wonderful

Tuscumbia Country Club almost every Saturday night,

reunion and celebration that was! We even sang together

after which we would sing for our breakfast at a local

for the first time in 30 years. Donna returned to graduate

diner in Green Lake.

school to pursue a new career in psychotherapy, followed

At the peak of our career, after headlining the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival of 1962, we were offered a recording contract and a European tour. Duf, Al and I were graduating that year, but Annie wasn’t and didn’t want to leave school. So we broached the idea to Gail

by a long and successful private practice until 2011 when we both retired. To this day, we are happily ensconced in our home in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C., surrounded by computers and musical instruments.

Jensen. Seated around her dining room table in Kenosha,

What happened to Ann, you may ask? From our point

we all searched our souls. To Al and Gail it was clear:

of view, she completely disappeared for more than 50

both had dreams of a career in the performing arts.

years, and then in May 2016, she was finally found. (I

But Duf and I wanted to go to graduate school, and

am not sure exactly how). Although we have yet to meet

thereafter Duf was committed to a stint in the Army. We

in person again, we have exchanged catch-me-ups. In

just couldn’t quite figure out a way to make it all work.

early October 2016, Al and she hooked up in Milwaukee,

So, finally, we simply embraced, shed a few tears, and

his hometown, where Al was honored with a Lifetime

scattered to the four winds.

Achievement Award by the Wisconsin Foundation for

I went off to graduate school for several years. After

School Music.

getting his M.A. and serving for three years as an Army

And then, a few short months later, tragedy struck again.

officer in Korea, in 1967 Duf came to Washington, D.C.,

Shortly before he was to turn 77, after returning home

where I was working on the NASA Apollo program, and

from a concert tour, Al suffered a massive heart attack. He

we both slipped easily into the hippy lifestyle. In 1970, I

and Donna and I had a long, lovely phone conversation

joined the engineering faculty at The George Washington

late that night, full of reminiscing, singing and laughing

University and began my research career in artificial

along with an enthusiastic audience of family and close

intelligence. I was married in 1968, and although the

friends in his hospital room in LA. He went to sleep that

marriage eventually failed, I became the proud father

evening at peace with himself and the universe. He died

of my daughter, Ariana, in 1970, and am now thrice a

in his sleep several hours later. He is survived by his

proud grandfather, as well.

wife, Susan, and his son, Ryan, along with his endless

Duffy began studying and practicing a form of Eastern religion, which, when combined with his Western religious and cultural roots, became the spiritual focus of

wonderful family, many loving friends, and thousands of devoted fans. He will be deeply missed.

Requiesce in pace.

his life. In 1982, he and his wife, Margalo, moved to LA,

PETER BOCK ’62

where he began a long and successful career as a Vedic

Washington, D.C.

Spring 2017 7

Alumni Memories: Many, many years ago, I saw/ heard Al Jarreau at Summerfest in Milwaukee. He sang “We’re In This Love Together,” as well as lots of other songs. But that was my favorite. In our current culture which seems so often divisive, this song stands the test of time. He had such a relatable, mellow style.

A true one-of-a-kind.

MARGARET COOPER, PARENT ’20 Glendale, Wisconsin

Several years ago, Al Jarreau came to Ravinia, and Ripon held an alumni event. It was a wonderful evening. Al was 15 years older so had the same alumni reunion years as we in the class of ’77. At his 50th, our 35th, in 2012, we were lucky enough to get a picture with him.

MARYJO MACSWAIN ’77 Park Ridge, Illinois While at Ripon College, my contact with Al Jarreau occurred as teammates on the 1960-62 basketball teams — my sophomore and junior years and Al’s junior and senior years. In addition to sharing some fun times on the hardwoods, we were roommates on basketball road trips to Midwest Conference schools. After those wonderful years at Ripon, our connections consisted of periodic telephone chats and backstage get-togethers after his Seattle-area concerts. Al always graciously provided complimentary tickets for my wife, Nancy, and myself, and sometimes the three of us had late-night dinners after his shows. What a joy!

When I attended Ripon (1961-1965), the fraternities would host house pledging parties. One of the parties I remember was hosted by the SAE chapter. A very cozy evening with potential pledges bringing dates and dancing to the music of Al Jarreau singing the songs of Johnny Mathis. It was as though Johnny Mathis was performing. “Heavenly,” “Chances Are.”

Our “touching-bases” encounters invariably included retelling and laughing about stories of the “good old days” with our coach, DOC WEISKE ’50. Al and I shared a deep affection and respect for Coach Weiske, and we greatly appreciated all he had contributed to our lives outside of the realm of sports. After each telephone and in-person contact with Al, I telephoned Doc and updated him on my activities as a university professor and Al’s ventures as a world-class performing artist. My intent was to assure our mentor that two of his “boys” were doing OK. I’ll always cherish those memories. RIP, Al and Doc. FRANK SMOLL ’63 Kirkland, Washington

FRANK LOCKWOOD ’65 Sylva, North Carolina The day I met Al in the lounge of Scott Hall (fall 1958). His smile and demeanor said, “This is a good guy.” Al made the time the Class of ’62 spent at Ripon better for his being a part of us.

JOHN HOWE ’62 Flushing, Michigan

I personally knew Al. He was a wonderful person, and the Indigos were terrific.

SUZIE SHADE ’63 Chicago, Illinois

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Connections

He was Ripon’s own Johnny Mathis, a velvet voice and a nice guy. Over the years, everyone who ever went to see him perform and told him of their Ripon connection was treated so kindly by him.

EVANN “SUGAR” MALTBY BALMES ’61 Mount Prospect, Illinois

At the height of his popularity, we were lucky enough to book him for the 1988 Wisconsin State Fair (I was PR director for the fair at the time). During the concert, when Al asked if there were any Ripon College alumni in the audience, two younger alums sitting several rows in front of us jumped up and waved a large Ripon College banner.

Al immediately broke into the College’s alma mater.

I was a Badger Boy with Al Jarreau and remember his beautiful and strong voice. When I hear the “Battle Hymn of The Republic” being sung, I still get chills just remembering Al singing it at Boys State.

HARLEY REABE Green Lake, Wisconsin

The other nifty part of the story is that, earlier in the day, a member of his road crew called my office asking where they could get a cake to celebrate the birthday of Al’s road manager. Though there was a perfectly good bakery nearby, I convinced him that no other treat would do than the fair’s world-renowned cream puffs. When we saw him before the concert, Al confirmed their deliciousness.

He was such a talented and endearing man, and near the top of the list of reasons I’m proud to be a Ripon College alumna.

JULIE CARLSON ’76 Greenfield, Wisconsin

As a sophomore, I moved into the Sigma Nu fraternity.

My roommate was THOMAS “DUFFY” FARRAND ’62 (now deceased), a jazz bass player and good friend of Al Jarreau. I knew nothing about jazz. Al brought to our room several jazz recordings. They were in ascending order of complexity. We started with “Amad Jamal at the Pershing.” It was Jamal’s minimalist period and so it was relatively easy for me to listen to passages as Al told me.

Duffy contributed, too. What a great way to be introduced to jazz! I have loved the music ever since. And, yes, I still have a recording of that Jamal performance and I think of Al and Duffy every time I play it.

VERNON E. CRONEN ’63 Wilmington, North Carolina I was a Sigma Chi. The fraternities had this contest, and we worked really hard on the Spring Sing in 1961. We thought we had it in the bag. Al was in an independent group and performed. He danced and sang. Most of us had no idea he had this kind of talent. The independent group won by a landslide. We said, “Who is this guy?” We knew him as a basketball player and a fine person, but not as an incredible entertainer. Al was the kind of guy you could sit down with and have a cup of coffee. He had a very sensitive side to him. You could really open up and talk about your joys and sorrows, things you hoped for. He was a tremendous person, and that gets lost in this vision of him as an entertainer and a basketball player.

DAVID WEAVER ’62 Western Spring, Illinois

Al was a special friend all those years ago. I was in Milwaukee attending summer school at UWM in 1963. I had a car accident and Al came right over to comfort me during the aftermath of that nerve-wracking experience.

He was a very kind and caring friend. I always loved hearing him sing, whether at Ripon College or in various night clubs in Milwaukee. RIP dear friend.

MARY LEE FRANKE MATTHES ’64 Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin

For more alumni memories of Al Jarreau, visit ripon.edu/Al-Jarreau-Memories

Spring 2017 9

Class Letters Obituaries for all class years are listed at the back of the publication.

If you have news to share for the Fall 2017 R Connections, contact your Class Agent or the College (Office of Constituent Engagement, 300 W. Seward St., PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971; 920-748-8126; or alumni@ripon.edu).

Alumni Weekend will be held June 22-25, 2017. Details and registration information is available at ripon.edu/ alumni-weekend.

1930S & 1940S The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

We really have to chuckle when we try to envision present-day prospective college students and their parents being introduced to college housing such as the barracks we remember out in “Siberia” and behind Smith Hall – where, even though the oil stoves were stoked several times a day during the cold weather, they could still be quite uncomfortable. Not only would kids today probably have problems adapting to and living in such quarters, but we’re sure most parents wouldn’t have any part of it.

Jo Klawiter Cochrane ’51 & Jim Cochrane ’52 415 Wells St. #206, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262-348-1900 / 847-951-2969 / gilbertlake@sbcglobal.net

And while we’re strolling down memory lane, who can forget Ver Adest (Spring is Here) – the highly acclaimed, very successful all-school variety show, conceived by Dr. William J. “Bill” Peterman as a small college extravaganza patterned after Northwestern University’s WAA-MU show. The show involved almost all students on campus: writing music and skits, constructing sets, playing in the orchestra, singing, dancing and acting, designing programs and show books, and managing the ticket office and sales. The entire show was student-written and choreographed. Much of the music was original – some was borrowed from WAA-MU. The show was run by a student board and directed by Dr. Peterman.

Greetings all. What a strange winter this has been!

“Record-setting warmth continues” was the headline in today’s news — just as we were starting to put this letter together. All of our snow here in southeastern Wisconsin is gone. But we know Wisconsin weather – and know that winter will return!

We hope our walk down memory lane has jogged some pleasant memories for you and, in so doing, has transported you back in time for a brief visit to our days together at Ripon. There are many others we could have included, but we’ll let you bring those to mind and add them to the list in your spare time.

We’ve really struggled with putting this letter together — news from and about our alma mater which used to play an important role in our class letters is now covered in much greater detail in Ripon Magazine and the R Connections publications and on the Ripon College website. Adding to our frustration is the fact that the response to our pleas for news and input from you, our classmates, has been slim, to say the least. We’ve debated for some time whether there’s a real need or desire for a class letter for our generation. It’s entirely possible (and understandable) that, after 65+ years, the interest isn’t there anymore. So, it’s with that backdrop that we’ve decided to “hang it up” as Class Agents. But please know that we’ll do our best to keep in touch with those of you who contact us.

As we were preparing to get this letter off to the College, we received some snail mail from our dedicated — and prolific — contributor, ROBERT G. “BOB” HESS ’52.

Because they’re faced with some additional health issues, he and his wife, Phyllis, have moved to Peachtree Corners, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta) to be near one of their daughters. We’re thankful to Bob for all the news and tidbits he has shared with us over the years, and certainly wish him and Phyllis well in their new home. If you’d like to drop them a line, their address is 3175 River Exchange Drive Unit 2, Peachtree Corners, Georgia, 30092.

CARROL MAYNARD FALBERG ’48 of Beverly Hills, Michigan, writes, “Traveled a great deal to France, Belgium, Germany, England and recently Scotland for a wedding. I continue to teach four yoga classes a week since 1970.”

1950, 1951 & 1952

We’d love it if some of you could join us during Alumni Weekend June 22-25 — to catch up, renew old friendships, and reminisce about some of the “good old days.” We often muse about how archaic many of our college experiences regarding things such as course offerings, housing and food service (to name a few) would seem to today’s students. They almost certainly would be aghast at our lack of “perks.” Many of those experiences and memories are still vivid in our minds.

For starters, how about three meals a day (no choices) SERVED in the Harwood Dining Hall, at sorority and fraternity tables, and the singing of the Doxology before meals … the “Hawk” … the “T” … cheeseburgers at the Pin Bowl … trips to the P.O. to mail laundry cases home and sometimes getting them back with a dollar or two tucked inside for a treat … the campus telephone numbers with the color (Red, Black, etc.) prefixes ... the old campus movie house downtown where the shows always started with ads from Speed Queen and other local businesses. Some other memories that come to mind include the night the wonderful old Grandview Hotel on the square burned down, the old Ripon

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Knitting Works across Watson Street from Haders’ Drug Store, the 50+ voice Ripon College Choir Christmas candlelight concerts at the Scott Street Church and Dr. William Schuler and the college infirmary (old residence) across from East Hall.

Connections

Sadly, we note the following deaths. The full obituaries will appear in the spring R Connections: DIANE FAIRBROTHER SYME ’50, VILMA BUTCHER CARLSON ’51, BERNICE HOLTZ KLEINHEINZ ’51, LYLE “LUKE” LEONHARDT ’51, JOANN ORCUTT MARSHALL ’51 and ELIZABETH COLVIN DAVIS ’52.

So, as we come to the close of our final class letter to you all, we offer our sincere thanks to all who’ve shared thoughts and news with us over these past 15 years.

We look forward to seeing some of you during Alumni Weekend – June 22-25.

And finally – we would remind you once again to LIVE WELL LAUGH OFTEN LOVE MUCH ALWAYS FOR RIPON JIM and JO

1930-59 1953 & 1954

1958

The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

OLIVER E. WILLIAMSON ’54 of Berkeley, California, received a Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2009.

1959

1955

Roger Venden vendenr@comcast.com

Art Lundeberg 9256 E. 26th Street, Tucson, AZ 85710 520-296-9281 / artlund@cox.net Dear Class of 1955: ART LUNDEBERG ’55 has asked me to write on his behalf this spring. Because of some recent health challenges, he finds that he is unable to write a letter this spring. He has high hopes to have something for you again in the fall. He wishes you all a happy and healthy spring and summer.

Sincerely, YVONNE NICKLAUS Constituent Engagement and Outreach Coordinator

1956 The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

1957 The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

Dear Class of 1957: Sadly, your Class Agent for the past three years, JOAN RAYMOND ’57, died Feb. 22, 2017.

Joan was a loyal Ripon alumna and gracious volunteer, serving as one of the 50th reunion volunteers. Joan was also a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Professionally, Joan was a lifelong educator who was a nationally recognized expert in school district budgeting and school integration. She was named among the “100 Top Executive Educators” in North America four times. Joan’s smile and compassionate heart truly will be missed. Condolences go out to her family and to all of you, her Ripon classmates and friends.

The position of Class Agent can be very rewarding as it offers an opportunity to renew friendships, make new friends, and helps to keep our classmates in contact with one another. Please let me know if you want to learn more about the role of Class Agent, have news to share, or just want to say hello.

Wishing each of you a happy spring!

YVONNE NICKLAUS nicklausy@ripon.edu / 920.748.8117

Greetings, Class of 1959! On Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, our second grandson, Henry Venden, and his father, Sean, will begin their seven-day tour of New England and other East division II & III colleges/universities that Henry has reviewed for his potential first, second and third options to attend college in September 2018. Those of interest are Davidson, Babson, Central Connecticut, Lehigh, Lafayette, Gettysburg, Muhlenberg and Franklin & Marshall. He already has been to Middlebury, Amherst, Wesleyan, Bates, Tufts, Trinity (Conn), Bowdoin, Colby, Hamilton and Williams many times to watch cousin Samuel Clark play starting middle linebacker for Amherst during seasons 2009-2012.

Many of the eastern schools are close together, making it possible to visit more than one a day, should you wish. Henry would like to play Division II football and lacrosse (his love), and he can hold his own in both sports, but only if the academics will allow him time to do so. Football is in the fall; lacrosse the spring. Believe me, he knows that academics will “ALWAYS” come “FIRST.” This is an exciting time for the entire Venden family as our young men prepare for success in college/ university. Henry’s older brother, Jack, has a full “ride” to Boston College in engineering and in Marine Corps ROTC. His first choice was the Naval Academy, but was wait-listed in September. He was notified by the academy last Friday, Feb. 17, that he has been accepted and is “IN” with a report date of May 1, 2017. His fullride scholarship goes with him, as does his engineering major, plus flight school upon graduation from the academy. Finally, the youngest grandson, Blake, will have only his freshman year at Yarmouth High School in Yarmouth, Maryland, with Henry, a senior this fall.

As you might imagine, Manon and I love and enjoy our grandchildren so very much, as all of you do yours. We have been so fortunate having Jack, Henry and Blake (plus Sean and Kristin) only 75 miles away — a quick ride up Enter-state Hwy 95 & 295 through Portland, Maine.

DAVID MIRISCH ’59 of Westlake Village, California, writes, “It’s been a great ride for 82 years. I am blessed to have relatively good health, a wonderful wife for 36 years, three great children and eight grandchildren I am very proud of. Even though I came from a family that produced 72 motion pictures, won 24 Academy Awards including three Oscars for “Best Film of the Year” (“West Side Story,” “The Apartment” and “In The Heat of the Night”), I never went into that phase of the entertainment industry. I have the fondest memories of my years at Ripon College. I was president of the Student Union Board, a member of the tennis team, head cheerleader, was the top bowler in the school and led my fraternity Theta Chi to the intramural football championship.

“After college, we moved from Milwaukee to Los Angeles where I opened my own public relations agency and represented such celebrities as Pat Boone, Johnny Mathis, Perry Como, Omar Sharif, Peter Sellers, Leonard Nimoy (“Star Trek”), Lynda Carter (“Wonder Woman”), Lindsay Wagner (“The Bionic Woman”), The 5th Dimension, Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, and

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Class Letters 500 other actors, actresses and musical performers. I also had the pleasure of “discovering” Farrah Fawcett and bringing her to Hollywood. The day she passed away, I was on national television on CNN and the other networks. During this period, I took a group of Hollywood people to China to film a television special called “Bicycling through China.” We spent 30 days on bicycles going from Macau to Canton. Included in my group were Lorne Greene (“Bonanza”), Kate Jackson (“Charlie’s Angels”), Lindsay Bloom (Miss USA), Broadway star Ben Vereen and a Harlem Globetrotter, a country-western singer, a magician and a mime. It was an experience I will never forget.

You cannot get DAN HOLDEN ’60 to slow down. He had a knee replacement in November and is now back to golf, skiing and pickle ball. February will see the 100th birthday celebration for Dee’s mom. Their two sons are busy as lawyers, and one grandson just graduated from boot camp and Great Lakes, and the other grandson is just entering the Air Force.

“Another memorable event in my life was in 1978 when I put the very first professional cheerleading team together for the Los Angeles Rams. We were the second professional sports team after the Dallas Cowboys to have a cheerleading team. Once I finished my days as a Hollywood publicist, I started putting on charity fund-raising events which I am still doing at my age of 82. I have had the honor of putting on more than 2,500 events throughout the United States and in seven foreign countries —including ones for the King of Malaysia and the royal family of Japan. I am proud to say I have helped raise $35,000,000 for my nonprofits. Now, to put a cap on my life is my biography that has just been published and is called “What Makes a Star.” And, if you get a few minutes, go through the links on the website which is www.dmirisch.com. You will have fun looking at dozens of photographs of the stars and famous athletes I have worked with in “my wonderful life.” God bless to all of you.”

DEB

I love you all, be well, stay in touch. TED PETERSON ’58 will have details of our 60th football celebration of the 1957 undefeated season in October 2017!

ROGER (#12) and MANON VENDEN

1960 Deborah Johnson Van Slyke 8700 E. Mountain View Road, Unit 1074 Scottsdale, AZ 85258 480-284-5564/619-889-5061/advanslyke@cox.net Congratulations to KEN LUBER ’60 on the publication of his new book, “The Sun Jumpers,” available as his others are on Amazon. You can read his previous book, “Falling from the Sky,” on his blog kenluberblogspot. com. If you like page-turners with unusual characters, try there. No I cannot find any Ripon people in the books, so relax.

ED SIEBEL ’60 and his wife, Sue, have been busy with grandchildren on Balboa Island; traveling to help his youngest son settle after finishing his residency at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida; and continuing to represent fathers who have kids with developmental disabilities to get the support that school districts are required to provide.

KARL PIOTROWSKI ’60 is very busy with his construction consulting business in Hawaii. He just spent four days on Kauai with his son, Brian, conducting inspections. Daughter Joy is VP of her med school class and busy with her final year of med school.

Wife E Leng is in a Chinese singing group and doing line dancing.

Artist CLAUDETTE BEALL LEE-ROSELAND ’60 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, had solo show in Plymouth, Wisconsin, during January showing 75 paintings. Her travel plans include a trip from Cedarburg to Seattle in June to visit JANE STALLARD LORTON ’60. Jane is an Internet holdout.

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As for me, busy learning dance routines and songs for an amateur production, swimming and keeping up with four cats.

Those alumni in later years can see that retirement never really arrives — at least for the class of 1960.

1961 Peter Jochimsen 1010 Woodlawn Ave, Iowa City, IA 52245 319-325-6649/cuttertoo@centurylink.net I am thrilled with the response that I got to my request to the Class of 1961. It has made the whole operation very enjoyable and trust you will enjoy reading from those classmates that we have not heard from before.

BILL PYE ’61: “In early September, we had our annual Sigma Chi reunion in Ripon. More than 25 Sigs attended along with some wives who are Ripon grads. DAN BEHRING ’62 arranges the event annually, and it includes meeting with Zach and several other administration officials plus members of the active chapter.

This is an annual weekend event, and brothers come from all corners of the United States. The highlight is a brat fry at one of the local parks on Saturday evening.

Attendees from our class this year HOWIE MYERS ’61, FRED “ZORRO” HABERLAND ’63, ROBB ROWE ’61 and myself. Attendees come from the classes of 1955 (founding) to ’65.”

EVANN “SUGAR” MALTBY BALMES ’61: “I guess the lack of submissions reflects the age of our classmates.

I did run into one of our classmate’s brother a while ago — DAN BENKA ’61’s brother JOHN BENKA ’60. Did I run into him at a trendy club, a concert or a bar? No, it was at a rehab facility where I was visiting a friend.

John was recovering from a joint replacement. When I walked into his room, he, of course, did not recognize me, but proceeded to tell me, in the tradition of all the old Ripon jocks, that I had not changed a bit! We had a few laughs, remembering his Merriman buddies and my Duffie girlfriends. Rehab facilities may not be the most uplifting hangouts, but they are better than funeral homes for meeting old Ripon pals. Hope to have more news next time — enjoy cruising!”

TOM ANDERSON ’61, writes, “I wish I had something to report, but I am kind of happy to report nothing exciting is going on here. Boring is good.”

LEE JESS ’61 of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, writes, “Peter, keep up the good work! Still enjoying my dentistry and always keeping up with the new techniques, implants, crowns, being made out of ceramic in office with machine milling from computer impressions. Wish I was just starting with all the new advances.”

TIM BURR ’61 writes, “Here is a synopsis of my life after Ripon: I transferred to Northwestern my junior year and ended up with a degree in performance studies, which was kind of like majoring in theatre except it involved all kinds of literature and you didn’t have to wear tights. I also got interested in Japanese music and after

1959-61 graduating joined the Army so I could get to the Far East. After separating from active service, I moved to Los Angeles and worked at CBS Television for a while, then decided to become a professional folksinger-guitarist, which, classmates will remember, you could do in those days. I ended up performing in restaurants and bars on both coasts for around 17 years. In 1983, I found myself getting married and subsequently becoming a father. Which was wonderful, but I learned that getting to bed at 3 a.m. wasn’t so much fun when you had sons who woke up at 5. I then discovered the world of senior citizen entertainment, a great fit for me as I love music from the ’30s and ’40s, plus the audiences go to bed around 9 p.m. (some go to sleep while I’m singing). It’s been a wonderful experience, but now I find that the old people in my audiences are sometimes younger than I am and no longer want to hear Gershwin, Sammy Kahn, etc. and prefer The Monkees. So, I am now seriously considering retirement except it’s hard to retire from working one hour a day. The above résumé might have been very different if Hunter Finch hadn’t taught me how to play guitar correctly. There — are you satisfied?

I hope you and your wife have a great time on your February cruise. I will be in Guanajuato, Mexico, getting away from winter and our new president, taking Spanish lessons, and eating as many chuchitos as I can.”

U.S. and world situation. Wish we educators, including me, had done a better job teaching people to think and sort fact from fiction. I was the co-founder of an alternative school in 1972 called Walden III in the Racine Unified School District, recently named as one of the best high schools in the country by U.S. News and World Report. Pretty nice — though I was last there working in 1981 — but I’m still somewhat involved.

Still pretty active for 79, spend a month each year in Tucson biking and hiking, and love our second home on Green Lake (yes, THAT Green Lake). I fish regularly with our son, Jackson. Youngest daughter Mary teaches and coaches at Burlington (Wisconsin) High School.

We go to her basketball and volleyball games regularly.

Oldest daughter (from previous marriage) Alison is director of U.S. Programs for Human Rights Watch, lives in the East Bay (Piedmont, California) with her husband, great mom (and dad) to the two grandkids, and is dealing with a full plate of human rights issues, as you might expect. We visit there regularly, and they visit Green Lake every summer. All of us are avid readers as well as outdoors people, and politically/socially active despite the odds against making an impact. I recall the Ripon years with deep affection and nostalgia, and am in that town regularly — because of our cherished place at Green Lake.”

AKIRA TOMITA ’61, writes, “[True friendship is priceless.] It was in August, last year when my wife and I visited PETER JOCHIMSEN ’61 in Iowa City and shared our friendship with him and his family. We stayed there two nights. My wife, Tomoka, enjoyed preparing curry and rice and also miso soup with the help of his wife, Grace. She was very graceful as her name suggests. Tomoko showed Grace how to tie a sash for traditional Japanese costumes around her waist.

Peter showed his keen interest in finding out how things were in Japan during and after World War ll. I told him about some of my experiences in my childhood such as extreme shortage of food, closing and various other daily necessities, air-raid shelters inside our house and in public places, air-raids by B-29, etc. English was prohibited to use, hard work was imposed upon children in place of men who were gone to the war, paying deference to soldiers, seniors and the emperor.

Most everything was rationed using coupons, and you were lucky if you could get things needed with a coupon. To be prepared for sharp inflation, affixing stamps on paper bills was required, but not enough paste for that was available. Life was obviously very difficult. Peter and his wife, Grace, showed us around in various places in the region he lived. A farmland he owns was a big surprise to us. We visited the birthplace of President Hoover, the community of Amish people, the former Iowa State Capitol, and the huge University Hospital of Iowa University where he used to work as a surgeon, just to mention a few.”

PHILLIP WAITKUS ’61, writes, “Our big involvements this year have been our grandkids’ activities in swimming, cross country races and gymnastics. We find ourselves running to these events several times a month.

Outside of that, we spend a good bit of time remodeling and re-landscaping our cabin in Door County and, of course, taking classes and volunteering at The Clearing located not far from the cabin. In the meantime, I still consult for my old company, do photography and am learning Relational Database programming. No big trips this year.”

JACK PARKER ’61, writes, “I’m retired from my alleged ‘career’ in education, mostly public. Have been a high school English/social studies teacher, a principal, central office administrator, superintendent (Burlington and Racine, Wisconsin), college professor (UW-Green Bay, chair of the education department), taught courses at UW system schools Whitewater, Platteville, Madison and Milwaukee, as well as Cardinal Stritch University. I have been a presenter at conferences nationally and in Canada. (I also fish regularly in Canada). Currently, on an advisory board at UW-Parkside, the grants committee of the Racine Community Foundation (past president, also), sing in a local semi-professional choir, and am a member of the Burlington Rotary Club. Married to Mary Ann, three children and two grandchildren, and worried about their future in the current political climate in the

JIM KALANGES ’61, writes, “I’ve racked my ’tiny’ brain to come up with something — SUSAN RITTER KALANGES ’63 and I, as part of our church outreach care, help out with an effort to provide a good meal and good conversation to the street people in south Richmond, Virginia. It’s called the Gathering Place, and we had a fairly good turnout last Sunday on a cold and rainy day. I enjoyed talking to some of these folks and hearing their stories — they have not lost their dignity or hope that tomorrow will be a better day. Be safe, hope to see you at our 60th reunion.”

KAREN KRUEGER ’61, writes, “I can’t help but tear up as I write this. BARBARA JOHNSON GRAHAM ’61 succumbed at age 77 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

We met during hazing in 1957 on the Ripon Commons.

Some were getting too much pleasure heckling this red-headed young woman who was submitting to this barbarian college-approved activity quietly and with dignity, although very red of face. I vowed that I would stand up for her, as being a transfer student; I was excluded from this vulgar display by upperclassmen. I soon learned that Barbara was more than equal to their attempts to humiliate. We joined the same sorority and became close friends. She was my maid of honor in 1962 where the best man was won over by her presence.

They married in 1963, had two beautiful girls, Karen and Kristen. Barbara was loved by many and will be remembered by all who knew her. I would hope others can be encouraged to write about her even if they are reluctant to write about their own lives.”

Spring 2017 13

Class Letters DON LISKO ’61: “In the photo section, there is a photo of Norb Steinbach and me taken this past summer in Delafield, Wisconsin, where Norb lives. I try to get back to the homeland from the State of Washington once a year and will normally stop to see Norb and his wife, Cheryl.”

PETER

1962 The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

RONALD M. CASE ’62 of Lincoln, Nebraska, writes, “Traveled to SW United States in late February and recently returned on the California Zephyr train trip from Lincoln to San Francisco.”

JOSEPH COMFORT ’62 of Tempe, Arizona, writes, “I retired in May as a professor of physics from Arizona State University after 35 years, joining the Emeritus College. Even so, in my last semester, I was strong-armed into joining a collaboration to prepare a new experiment at Fermilab. My wife of 31 years, Patricia, passed away in 2014. My two children and six grand-children live very nearby. In addition to my physics “hobby,” I love adventures; I took educational cruises around the Baltic in 2015 and to Scotland and Norway in 2016. I will visit Cuba in January and the vineyards of France in May.”

1963 Wayne Wolfgram 622 Lincoln Road, Grosse Pointe, MI 48230 313-882-1712 / waynewolfgram@gmail.com Greetings Classmates. I hope you all enjoyed the winter and the crazy political scene!

JULIE BROCKEL BAUM ’63 (miz.julie@yahoo.com) “Live in Richfield, Wisconsin. Travels to D.C. frequently (on a spy mission, ha ha) to visit her daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters ages 9 and 11. Did you know that while at Ripon, I worked in Lane Library? And now for many years I have been a volunteer at the local library, and I belong to two book clubs. Reading has been a lifelong love! I also enjoy traveling world-wide when time allows. I occasionally get together with HELEN STEINMAN ACKLEY ’63 and MARY SFASCIOTTI ’63.”

NORM BEHN ’63 (docbehn1@gmail.com) “Was sad to hear that AL JARREAU ’62 had passed away. Al and I spent many late evenings playing pool in the Union basement during my sophomore and junior years. He was a really nice fellow. My wife and I went to his concert here in Scottsdale last year. Did see DAN BEHRING ’62 and his wife, NANCY STEENO BEHRING ’62 at the concert. They were lucky enough to get backstage to talk with Al. Life is good here in Arizona.

My wife and I celebrated our 52nd year together, we now have a daughter over 50, and I finally got old enough to be able to shoot my age in golf. Hope all our classmates are as lucky.”

VERNON CRONEN ’63 (cronenv@uncw.edu) “I continue to teach classes and publish at UNCW. This year, my teaching responsibilities make a connection to my time at Ripon. I revived the Argumentation and Debate class. It is especially important to do this in the era of ’alternative facts.’ It is important to promote appreciation of alternative views and critical thinking.

This is not my academic focus, but it is important liberal arts education. It is interesting to see Laurence Tribe on television discussing the Constitution and the immigration issue. He was on the debate circuit when

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Duffy and I were, and he graciously invited us twice to the Harvard debate tournament. Our daughter and grandson visited us in Wilmington in late December. I hope that my wife and I are as much the attraction as the 70-degree weather and the beach.”

ANDREW FEINSTEIN ’63 (feinsteinaaj@aol.com) “I’m sorry to hear the news of AL JARREAU ’62’s passing.

He was a good friend while we were at Ripon. I went to several of his concerts in St. Pete, Dallas and Tallahassee in the 1970s and 1980s. I saw him backstage after the concerts, and they were great times. Last week, I met with Brianna Lemond, development associate for Ripon, in Jupiter, Florida. We had a nice conversation discussing my experiences at Ripon and the surrounding area (including the Berlin Tannery) and my life since graduating. I’m still working part time. My wife and I are preparing to travel to Evanston, Illinois, and later to a place in Liberty, South Carolina, for several weeks.”

LARRY HAMILTON ’63 (larry@hamiltonproperties.com) “I just opened on Super Bowl Sunday our newest development, the hip and cool, semi-eponymous, Lorenzo Hotel, in downtown Dallas. It’s a boutique redo of the 1971 hotel in which Tina Turner made her final getaway from Ike as set forth in her memoir I Tina and the movie: “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” Website: www.lorenzohotel.com. “Stay there if you come our way.”

JUDY ELLICSON KOVARIK ’63 (rjkvrk@att.net} “DICK KOVARIK ’64 and I are at our condo in South Carolina enjoying warmer weather than back in Aurora, Illinois. It was sad to hear about AL JARREAU ’62’s passing. We saw him at a concert he did in Naperville, Illinois, a few years back. What a great voice. Not much news. We did welcome a new grandson last September.

We now have four grandsons, (21 years to 5 months) and two granddaughters (16 and 5). Enjoyed the picture of the Higgins and Hugdahls. Finally convinced Dick he should retire, so maybe we’ll be able to travel a bit more.”

SUSAN KELLER MATTHES ’63 (susanmatthes@sbcglobal.net) “Here in the Sierra Nevada, we are thankful for sunshine again — really felt like being in Seattle with all the cloudy rainy days here in Carson City. The ski resorts around Lake Tahoe, however, love it — LOTS of snow up there — measured in feet of new snow with each storm as they pass by! We are planning a trip back to the Olympic Peninsula in the spring. Will write about it for the next letter. Meanwhile, greetings to everybody.

Keep well and enjoy a special moment each day — that’s life. I trust you’ve heard of the death of AL JARREAU ’62 over the weekend. It’s even been on the German news broadcasts coming over the Internet.

Quite a lovely tribute to him from the other side of the little pond! I will always remember his smiling face and lovely voice from my days at Ripon.”

JOHN NEUBAUER ’63 (neubauers@aol.com) “DAVID NEUBAUER ’63 of Ormond Beach, Florida, and JOHN NEUBAUER ’63 of Solana Beach, California, hosted Ripon President Zach Messitte at their homes recently to talk about the incredible new athletics facility that will anchor Ripon’s lower campus. As a meeting place for the student body for personal fitness and games, this facility will be a natural meeting place for all ages. And, an outreach into the community as a magnet for students, staff, Ripon residents and visitors to experience the diversity and benefits of our liberal arts curriculum and values. David and John encourage all alumni to generously donate to this facility — a further example of a great investment in education at Ripon College.”

1961-65 DAN SCHULTZ ’63 (deschultz41@gmail.com) “We are snow-birding again this year from January through April in West Palm Beach and then back to our Silver Spring, Maryland, home. Love it down here, but too many of our kids and grandkids are in the D.C. area for us to move to Florida. Last step to full retirement this summer and being emeritus will be just fine. I have decided that I will try to participate again this year in the Swim across America cancer fund-raising event in San Francisco in September. My son, Matt, and I did it five years ago and it’s lots of fun, although a bit challenging as it involves being dropped off under the Golden Gate Bridge and swimming in 1.5 miles to a San Francisco beach. So I have started training both in pool and in open water so I can do it in the fall. I am enjoying watching ‘Trump meets reality’ and his world of ‘alternative facts.’ My wife, Peggy, remains despondent over the election.”

KAREN WOHLFORD STAEGE ’63 (staege7@sbcglobal.net) “2017 finds me well and happy and busy. My husband, Dale, and I have been married for almost 53 years, and our four children are all married and we have nine grandchildren. We praise God for our family and our marriage. All have been a blessing to me. I keep busy teaching three Bible studies and an adult Sunday school class. I am also involved with AGLOW International.

I was at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church recently and was happy to see my “old” friend, GAIL GILLETTE ZAHN ’62. Gail was also my roommate for years in Alpha Phi sorority. We have kept in touch all these years as she is also the godmother of one of our children.”

Thanks to those who contributed to this letter — and let’s hear from more of you! And mark your calendars for our 55th reunion in June 2018!

Until next time, WAYNE

1964 Pat Ostrom Kohnen 3441 Streamside Circle, #419, Pleasanton, CA 94588 925-201-7377 / pmko@aol.com Greetings, Class of 1964! As I write this spring letter, we are being inundated with rain here in California. It is good for our drought situation, but some sunshine would be welcome. I spent my fourth Christmas here at Stoneridge Creek. Once again, my brother Terry visited me from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he still teaches at the University of Michigan Dearborn campus. He is my younger and only brother, born on my first birthday. My heart is happy here. We are enjoying a fox family that has taken up residence on our campus.

I did not receive any news from classmates to share in this letter. You can send news either directly to Ripon or me. If you come to San Francisco, please contact me; so we could get together. If you have a photo to share, you can send it to Ripon and it may appear in the R Connections Ripon Class Letter Publication. For the science majors, I still exchange Christmas notes with Jack Powers and his wife who are living in a North Carolina retirement community and doing well.

Please join me in donating to Ripon.

Happy spring, PAT OSTROM KOHNEN

1965 John C. Hyde 3718 Silver Birch Road, Conover, WI 54519 414-530-4041 / jhyde65@gmail.com Hello ’65 Friends: There was a smaller-than-expected response to the theme, “Early Weeks Freshman Year.”

That triggered my decision to focus this letter on developing a process, involving classmates, to produce future class letters. Our class of 1965 rates in the top 5 to 10 percent of all classes in percent of our classmates making annual contributions, class reunion attendance and classmate contribution to our class letters. I think we can continue doing so.

I have had the delightful opportunity over the past 30 years to get to know the bright, talented and interesting classmates that you are. I welcome new/ interesting class letter themes for generating increased interest and creative class communications. Some of you, such as CRAIG FERRIS ’65, have had interesting communications, reporting and editing experiences. The ’newspaper’ model could be very appropriate for class letters. For now I will act as editor for the class letter with each housing unit representative (HUR) acting as a reporter.

I would like one or two people to volunteer to be their HUR. Please contact me if you can play that role. In some cases, I may contact a person in a housing unit which does not have a HUR and ask if the person might help.

After we have the HURs identified, I will: 1) Email contact info for each classmate in their HUR 2) Ask the HUR to contact (by email or phone) their classmates for interesting themes for future class letters.

3) Determine with the HURs the best ways to coordinate our efforts.

This approach to building the class letter is new. It is definitely a work-in-progress. After you read what I have outlined, I would appreciate your emailing me your thoughts. I will not assume that your email response is a commitment to being a HUR. I look forward to working with you on this experiment.

DAVE WERNER ’65, writes, “I closed my 41-year family medical practice in Palmer in May 2015 and have been busy doing deferred maintenance on my home and also volunteering. My volunteer work consists of using a chainsaw and Pulaski, building our local Nordic and mountain bike trails. An aging body has prohibited continuation of distance and mountain races and aggressive tele mark skiing. My fat bike is my best friend these days. Mary continues to work at the local hospital as a PACU nurse. She’s currently visiting her 2- and 4-year-old grandsons in Kona, Hawaii. We have become interested in mushroom hunting and have attended several courses. So far, we have successfully avoided poisoning ourselves. We traveled to a Sitka wedding in our restored ’87 Westfalia Vanagon, through Canada to Haines, and taking the state ferry to Sitka. Wonderful trip. I also traveled to the Midwest last summer catching up with old high school and med school friends and had a walk-through of the Ripon campus. It was very quiet being the middle of the summer. On the flight home, I went from seeing cultivated fields to glaciers and snow-covered mountains, which again reaffirmed my love for Alaska. It’s too bad that high school, college and medical school reunions don’t fall on the same year.

My regards to RICHARD GRIMSRUD ’65 and DONALD RYDER ’65 for their courage to get involved in the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama, in the ’60s. Many

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Class Letters of us were totally oblivious to the importance of that movement, or of the danger involved. “ TIM MERKER ’65 writes, “For me, graduating was an experience. I never learned to study, so my grades were always below average and I had to go back for an extra semester to try bringing my cumulative up to 2.0. And I did it! In fact, my last semester was good enough to land me on the Dean’s List. I even went to the Dean’s List Dinner which might have been a bad idea because I didn’t recognize anyone there. Looking back, my business career would have been impossible without that sheepskin.”

DAVID MEISSNER ’65 remembers, • Riding on the back of J. Lynn Crook’s motorcycle (which he disassembled in the basement of Scott Hall!) to Green Lake was a “trip” I will never forget in my freshman year!

• Vinegar HB Eggs at the “Greekers” • The late Professor of Art Emeritus Lester Schwartz’s “Outfits” were always AMAZNIG! • Listening to AL JARREAU ’62 and The Riponaires practice upstairs in the WRPN Studio in Harwood was always a great treat, too.

DAVID W. HERTEL ’65, writes, “Winter weather always reminds me of two memorable trips back to Ripon after weekends or vacations at home here in Watertown. One time after Christmas vacation, I decided to take the train back to school because it was a very cold and snowy winter day, and I thought that would be better than having Mom or Dad on the road for the trip to Ripon and back. I walked to the depot, about a half mile, only to be told that the train from Minneapolis was over three hours late due to the weather, so I returned home and went back later. When the train finally arrived, it looked like a scene from a long Russian novel: it was covered with ice and snow and blowing out great clouds of steam. After arriving in Milwaukee, I had to walk about six blocks from the Milwaukee Road Depot to the Northwestern Depot which was on the lakefront. Finally the train from Chicago arrived and I boarded for Fond du Lac. I remember it being filled with lots of students from the Chicago area. After getting to FDL, we all boarded a bus for Ripon. Upon getting back to school, I realized that it had taken over six hours, not counting the three the Hiawatha was late, to get from Watertown to Ripon, a distance of 50 miles on the highway. With that experience in mind, another time when it was about 12 or 15 degrees below zero with a stiff wind, I told Mom and Dad that it was much too cold for them to drive me back and that I would hitchhike to Ripon. I got out my “Ripon” sign, put it on the side of my suitcase, and stood alongside Highway 26, a half block from our home. I was almost immediately picked up by a grizzly older man driving a truck fitted for hauling chickens.

(No chickens were on the trip that day.) He said he picked me up because it was too cold to be outside. I remember the truck’s being very warm and smelling like my grandparents’ hen house, but I was grateful for the ride. He had the road to himself and drove so fast that we were in Ripon in 50 minutes. He even dropped me off at South Hall. After those experiences, I hitchhiked from or to Ripon on several different occasions.”

JOHN NEWHARD ’65 writes, “I remember the ’Snow Bowl’ game the DU pledges played against the Merriman pledge class. It was at 2 a.m. in the side yard at Merriman House (in January?) 1962 during “Hell Week” in a couple feet of snow. The quarterback for Merriman was DICK BENNETT ’65. Our quarterback for DU was Bill Steinbach. All pledges from both houses participated. The “actives” from both houses stood

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around the game shouting and seemed to enjoy it.”

FRANK LOCKWOOD ’65 adds to JOHN NEWHART ’65’s memory of playing in the DU/Merriman pledge game.

“DU had not won the game for years. The outcome for our clash was a victory by DU. We followed the game by making a 20-mile run the next evening in the snow ending up at The Spot to celebrate.”

JAMES SEBBEN ’65 writes of a few outstanding memories: “1. Freshman year in the Great Hall dining room.

There was some formality with the evening meals. I don’t remember if it was every meal, but certainly on convocation days, after surging into the room, we would stand at our tables. There would be a prayer, or a song, or usually, just a bell to signify it was time to be seated.

Should there be a girl, boys would assist them to be seated. Simultaneously, the waiters would stream out with their trays full of food and usually arrive about the time we got seated. Coffee orders were taken from the head of the table and the waiter would soon return. The first evening meal at the new Pickard dining room, a bunch of us returning upperclassmen took our places at our table expecting some signal to sit. When it became clear none would be coming, we all just sat down. At that point, I thought a bit of tradition and gentleness had been lost.

2. I remember those wonderful freshly baked dinner rolls we had for a while at the new dining room — rumor was a returning waiter had experience at a bakery and our cook needed an assistant — so great baked goods!

3. In today’s era of false news, I admit to creating some back when. Hanging out in Farr Hall with some underclassmen one evening, we concocted a story for the school newspaper about the “pinhole” camera we were developing, praising its many attributes and capabilities. We had some chuckles later when we received favorable comments on our project from students and even non-science faculty.”

While I was planning the class letter, DICK BENNETT ’65 called. He has many Ripon memories. As you recall, Dick starred in three sports — football, basketball and baseball. Possibly his best friend was JIM CAHOON ’65, who played on the same teams and was an excellent athlete. Jim was our QB his senior year and shooting guard all three years. They roomed together on road trips all three years and were in each other’s weddings.

Dick has some wonderful Coach Storzer memories. I played baseball my freshman year and was riding in the car on a road trip with Coach Storzer — a very interesting man!

Wonderful Memories. In a past class letter, classmates related their experiences getting to Ripon, freshman year and hazing by the sophomores.

Wishing you a Wonderful Year!

JOHN

1965-67 1966 Nancy Burrows noburrows@bellsouth.net LEZLIE HEARD BISHOP ’66, writes, “My son, Stephen Bishop, starred in the season premiere of his new TV drama series on Feb. 7, 2017. He plays Patrick in “Imposters,” a 10-episode Bravo show that airs at 10 p.m. Eastern on Tuesdays. Stephen also appeared in a TV movie on Feb. 25 on TV One called “Media.”

DAVID G. BURNLEY ’66, writes, “Still living in Hudson, Wisconsin, where I have my own real estate business (Burnley Real Estate Services, Ltd.) specializing in residential buyer agency and appraising. Fun part-time work with no time to spare; it provides good mental gymnastics and problem-solving exercises.”

GEORGE E. DESPOTES ’66 writes, “Living in Cambridge, Massachusetts.”

PAM KURZ GOODE ’66, writes, “Spent a lovely Christmas with our family in Door County and shortly afterward left for a few weeks in Mexico in the Mayan Riviera — just the two of us! As part of our ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, our kids and grandkids gave us a Little Library, the kind you see along walkways in small towns like Baileys Harbor. It will be installed in a little park near us when the ground thaws! Perfect gift for two avid readers like us! We hope to be back in Ripon this June to see many younger classmates from 1967. If you’re around, come join us!”

MARY RASCHKA SIKORA ’66 of Orlando, Florida, writes, “I have retired from the classroom but continue to tutor upper-level mathematics at Valencia College.

I enjoyed three weeks of traveling the Riviera and Southern France.”

PAM BEEKMAN ROGERS ’66, writes, “STEVE ROGERS ’65 and I are spending our fifth January in Fort Myers, Florida, and the weather has been perfect. Ah, retirement! We have been celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary for the past five months. The finale was our week in Puerta Vallarta with our kids and grandkids over the Christmas holiday — amazing! I am trying to reduce my commitments but find that I am still involved in commissions and boards in our small community of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. I play bridge and golf, and we frequently fly to Seattle to see grandkids there. Luckily, we have one granddaughter who lives nearby. Being a grandparent is the best!”

TERRI KRIKORIAN WORDEN ’66, writes, “Last year was an eventful year for us. Our son got married last summer on our 50th wedding anniversary. There was a lot of celebrating going on! Our fifth grandchild, named after DAVE WORDEN ’65, was born. In the fall, another celebration! We had the entire family with us at Christmas (including all five grandchildren), which was one of the best holidays in memory! One more reason to celebrate! We enjoyed seeing everyone for my 50th Ripon reunion! Another highlight of the year! Our best wishes go out to everyone!”

GARY YERKEY ’66, writes, “I’ve spent my after-Ripon life as a journalist, putting in a bunch of years overseas, and I can’t seem to give it up. Recently, I’ve been focusing on writing books (four so far, all non-fiction). I probably have a few more in me somewhere that will need to get out. But who knows? Maybe I’ll work on my golf game.

My latest book, published last year, is “He’s Coming to Start Riots: On the Road to Black Power with ‘The Reverend’ Willie Ricks.” One of the true icons of the civil rights movement, which is, God knows a masterpiece of exaggeration. But I’ll take it anyway. “You did a great job of capturing the real essence of my friend, Willie Ricks,” Sellers said to me in a recent note. Currently,

I’m working on a book about a pre-World War II test pilot. As a former pilot myself, I’m enjoying the research immensely. Next week, I’ll be traveling to Arizona from my home in Washington, D.C., to interview his 88-year-old son. I’ll probably bring my golf clubs along.

Cleveland L. Sellers Jr. has called it a ‘masterpiece.’ ” NANCY OSTERMEIER BURROWS ’66, writes, “Many thanks to all who sent in updates! I think we all enjoy hearing from our classmates. At this stage of life, we are all experiencing the benefits of our great education at Ripon. Keeping up with friends is a wonderful way to keep our “Ripon Years” alive. Of course, making a contribution to our school is a great way, too!”

Please remember to send in updates to me anytime at my address: noburrows@bellsouth.net.

Happy 2017 to all!

NANCY

1967 Kathryn “Kathy” Santimays Dunn 209 Stuart Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144 (704) 633-8999 / mamadunn@hotmail.com “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out.

It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

Albert Schweitzer Dear Class of 1967: Well, folks, we are about to rekindle a bonfire this June 22-25 at our 50th reunion! Your reunion committee has been working for many months to make our gathering one for the books. Those who can’t wait to celebrate and already have responded are: GEORGE GITCHO ’67, NANCY WADLEY KEOUGH ’67, SUE BOOTHROYD LOOMER ’67, DICK KUEHL ’67, DICK and LUCY BROOKS WRIGHT ’67, KATHY SANTIMAYS DUNN ’67, DENA WILLMORE ’67, BILL NEILL ’67, BOB CELICHOWSKI ’67, ERGI DENEL ’67 (all the way from Turkey!), NORM JEFFERSON ’67, DICK HANSEN ’67, BOB and SUZANNE BALDWIN LENNOX ’67, PAUL LYONS ’67, JOHN CORSO ’68, BRUCE JONES ’67, BILL OLIVIER ’67, DENNIS RILEY ’67, JOHN RYBERG ’67, TOM SCHMIDT ’67, KEVIN SHEA ’67, TOPHER and COLLEEN DURKIN SMALL ’67, LIZ COCKERELL WILMES ’67, PEGGY GROSS ARAMBARRI ’67, PETER JONES ’67, and YOU. I suggest you make your reservations soon. I believe the College has reserved rooms at various places in the area.

Before they journey to Ripon, RICHARD ’67 and LUCY BROOKS WRIGHT ’67 are having fun hiking, snorkeling and exploring Hawaii from the air via helicopter. Not yet 50 but close, GEORGE GITCHO ’67 and his wife, Susan, will be celebrating their 44th anniversary in Aruba.

Along with them will be five Marine friends he served with in Viet Nam. George has been a valuable member of the reunion committee. Among other things, he has updated all email addresses. If you have not heard from him or have a new email address, contact him at george@gitcho.com.

CINDY FOLEY BARNEY ’67 is traveling and moving across the country from California to Florida by way of Brazil! Hopefully there will be a stop in Ripon.

WILLIAM “BILL” NEILL ’67 and JUDY WILKINSON NEILL ’68, JOHN BISHOP ’67 and JILL WILLIAMS BISHOP ’68, and Norm and SUE BOOTHROYD LOOMER ’67 have established a small Ripon enclave in Florida for the winter. Can’t imagine why they would all leave Ripon then?!

Spring 2017 17

Class Letters NANCY WADLEY KEOUGH ’67 is thoroughly enjoying her grandson whom she calls “The Little Prince.” They have been inundated with rain which, unfortunately, has caused trees to fall near their home.

DICK KUEHL ’67 and his wife are “resting up” for our reunion by going on a cruise. Hopefully they’ll have smooth sailing.

Sadly, RYAN CUSTER AMACHER ’67 has died. At Ripon, he studied economics and was a member of Phi Kappa Pi. Some great news from Ripon: the College is ranked number one in the nation for graduating students of color. I hope you all read the latest Ripon Magazine. I was happy to see pictures of alumni older than us!

I also hope you are looking forward to our 50th celebration in June. More information will follow, including how you can make a meaningful contribution to our alma mater. With 100-percent class participation, we set the bar for the 50th reunions to follow.

Many thanks for all you have contributed over these 50 years!

See you soon!

KATHY

1968 Bob Martin 109 Terra Alta Circle, Havertown, PA 19083 porger@verizon.net Dear Classmates: By the time you receive this, I hope your winter will nearly be over. For those of us in the lower Northeast, we’ve been blessed with moderation, at least meteorologically. As our 50th reunion approaches next year, we’re already preparing for what we hope will be the biggest and best gathering of our post-Ripon years.

We need your help in making it so. The tentative dates are Thursday, June 21, through Sunday, June 24, 2018.

With a steering committee now in its infancy, we urge anyone interested in joining the group to let me know at the email address above. From there, we will be planning programs and asking others to get involved in a variety of ways. You can start the process by committing yourself to come.

RICH BROCKHAUS ’68 writes: “Nothing of huge interest from here. We travel a lot; went to Quebec City in spring, took a cruise on the Elbe in September, spent a week in Oregon over the New Year. I continue to travel to philosophical meetings to read papers that no one will probably ever think about again. Ann and I take courses at a geezer ed place called the Osher Institute; ours is at Johns Hopkins. Our oldest granddaughter is a freshman at St. Mary’s College in southern Maryland.

Looking forward to winter’s being over and going to France in June. Meanwhile, I have before me those dark days between the Super Bowl and the opening of spring training. Today is Truck Day, when the Washington Nationals’ stuff is hauled down to Florida.”

CINDY SHAW OLSEN ’68 reports: “2016 was a year of change for RANDY OLSEN ’68 and me. My mom died in January just before her 100th birthday. We sold her house in Kennebunkport, Maine, and bought a house in Kennebunk. We moved in Aug. 1 and spent a lot of time there until after Christmas. Our house is near the beach and a walking path through the marsh. We love it! Randy is working three to five days a week depending on where we are, so he remains busy. I juggle time in two places with family and friends. Our oldest granddaughter is a college freshman in Holland, and we hope to visit her after our newest grandchild-to-be is born in Dallas in the near future. It is wonderful to be

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able to enjoy older and younger grand kids!”

From PAT NEVERS ’68: “I am retired and traveling back and forth between Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Hamburg, Germany, assisting my 98-year old mother and needy sister in the United States and indulging myself in Germany with reading, painting, birding, learning Spanish, cross-country skiing and helping a few refugees learn German.”

A final note: The College faithfully provides me with a list of classmates’ email addresses, and I use it to urge people to send in news about themselves. I note, however, that I have such addresses for only about 20 percent of our group. If you are among the 80 percent who never get my “Send Me Your News” injunction, please send me your current address so that you can get my pleadings in the spring and fall and respond.

All the best, BOB

1969 Scott A. Nyquist 7747 Martino Circle, Naples, FL 34112 (h)239-732-0523 / (c)630-632-1619 scott.a.nyquist@gmail.com Hello Class of ’69! Before I get to the news I received from some of you, I wanted to make you aware of some of the things going on at Ripon College that I find fascinating: The Infant Cognition Lab (ICL) is located in the Department of Psychology at Ripon College. The lab has been in operation under the direction of Dr. Kristine Kovack-Lesh, associate professor of psychology, since 2008. The lab’s research focuses on mental developmental stages in young infants, but now is being expanded to include young children. Students work in the lab year-round, where they gain valuable hands-on training in the field of psychology and learn how to effectively communicate a research question to an outside community member.

Ceresco Prairie Conservancy project is an ambitious “town-gown” project of sustainability that is restoring the 130-acre tract of land on the west end of the College campus to its native prairie and oak savannah and wetlands habitat. Since the first restoration seeds were planted in the spring of 1996, hundreds of passionate students, alumni, faculty, staff and friends have shared in the tradition of reseeding the prairie, battling invasive species and enjoying the serenity and beauty the conservancy offers. Each season is special: the wildflowers of spring; the verdant lushness of summer; the stark, white beauty of February; and the oranges and reds of autumn, when George “Skip” Wittler, professor of biology and director of the conservancy project, leads volunteers to the conservancy to collect seeds for the next season’s planting. Take a walk on the Ceresco Prairie when you next visit Ripon.

The Center for Politics and the People at Ripon College was created to promote constructive political debate, analyze public policy and foster the engagement of citizens and their government. Inspired by the principles of the American founders and the legacies of our great leaders, the center creates a forum for dialogue, research, analysis and dissemination of ideas about local, state, national and international issues. Students and faculty work together to plan meaningful events throughout the year that attract policy makers, academics, experts, candidates and politicians to share their experience and expertise with the Ripon community.

1967-69 The Ethics Bowl is a nationally recognized competition in which students are provided ethical case studies and must present arguments to a panel of judges and teams from other colleges and universities. Past topics have included medical outsourcing, biofuel, client confidentiality, animal welfare and many other ethical dilemmas. Ripon College competes in the regional and national competitions across the country.

Enactus (which doesn’t exist on campus anymore) was a nationally affiliated student-led organization that was committed to using the power of entrepreneurial action to transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world. Students worked with faculty and business leaders to develop entrepreneurial plans and present these plans at regional and national competitions.

San Juan Island Killer Whale Ethology. For many years, every summer off the craggy shores of San Juan Island, Washington, from a historic lighthouse, Professor Emeritus of Psychology Bob Otis took Ripon College students to observe and learn from the behavior of killer whales. Students focused on factors that may pose a threat to the orcas’ existence, including food supply, boats, pollution, captivity and whale-watching. Field trips to the surrounding islands, observations of whales in both the wild and in captivity, and talks by researchers supplement the student’s’ individual research projects.

This field experience is a rare research opportunity, with only a handful of similar ones available around the world.

OK, now to the news from the class. Here are the updates you guys sent me: VINCENT AYE ’69 of Madison, Alabama, writes, “What a blessing to be a septuagenarian! Better yet, a retired septuagenarian! I’ve been retired since October 2013 after working 12 years in each of these companies: Sperry Univac, Litton Data Systems and Northrop-Grumman.

Family-wise, my wife and I have been married 45 years and have three daughters, three sons-in-law and eight grands. Looking back to my Ripon days, I wish I had made more friends during my four years there! Wonder where BIRIKORANG OKRAKU ’69, BILL TONG ’70 and OTHIENO WASONGA ’69 are hanging out? I’m thankful to Ripon for preparing me to deal with life in America, not only for making a living, but in many aspects of arts, science, philosophy, religion, politics and culture! I hope to see many from the class of ’69 at our 50th reunion in 2019! In the meantime, contact me via email at superpoppo@yahoo.com — my grands call me ’poppo.’ ”

DAVID MYINT CHIONG ’69, Missouri City, Texas, writes, “I believe this is my first class letter update in many years; better late than never! Next month will be my first retirement anniversary and I have to say I am enjoying having more time to do things leisurely; albeit it took me a few months at first to adjust. I can say without any doubt I still have many good memories of my days in Ripon and I consider myself very fortunate to have worked for four full decades in IT (information technology) in general and electric utilities in particular.

After graduating from Ripon, I lived in Menomonee Falls until 1981 when I moved to Houston, Texas. A year ago November, I am happy to report my daughter, Angela, and her husband, Mark, had their first baby, Holly, and officially I am now a Bapa. They live in Round Rock, Texas, so we are only a three-hour drive away. When we had Angela, the Ripon College magazine printed our unusual birth announcement:” MINI-SYSTEM RELEASE NOTICE After nine months of development, David and Somsong Chiong announce the release of their new mini-system: ANGELA SUPATRA AIK KHIM CHIONG System Specifications: Release Date – April 21, 1981 at 1:35pm Weight – 7 pounds, 14 ounces Length – 21 inches The mini-system demonstrates the mathematical possibility that one plus one does equal three, and comes equipped with one input and two outputs - which should be enclosed by an optional D.I.A.P.E.R. The system must not be folded, stapled or mutilated NOTE: VINCENT AYE ’69 (formerly Maung Aye) and DAVID CHIONG ’69 (formerly Maung Aung Myint) are one of two sets of twins in the class of ’69.

LIZ WILLOUGHBY FITZSIMMONS ’69 and RICK FITZSIMMONS ’69 of Belfast, Maine, writes, “We moved to Belfast, Maine, on Penobscot Bay in 2007 after Rick sold his software development and Internet marketing business in Vermont. We’d lived in Shoreham, Vermont, since 1996, when Liz became executive director of a Vermont history museum. Previously, we lived in western Massachusetts and near Antwerp, Belgium. Rick earned a M.B.A. from UMass. He taught business statistics and finance at a Massachusetts state college and then spent 14 years at the Geary Corp., a software development company. While at Geary, he managed a project for GE Plastics-Europe in the Netherlands, and our family moved to Europe. Liz chose to spend her career in nonprofits, working in college administration, development and marketing and as a feature writer before going to graduate school in history and museum studies. We share interests in hiking and camping, rowing and paddling, cross country skiing, curling, playing music, and traveling.

Rick leads the Belfast Bay Fiddlers and plays fiddle, and Liz is the pianist; the group performs throughout Midcoast Maine. Rick builds wooden boats. Liz likes to grow veggies, fruit and flowers and does work for a photo archives. We enjoy traveling to unusual places, to the end of the road, or close to the land. We have trekked in Bhutan and New Zealand, hiked the 10-day Mont Blanc circuit, walked long-distance trails in the UK, and bicycled through eastern Germany in recent years. Two years ago. we visited Cuba on a music exchange program, and we have done months-long camping trips through northern Canada and Alaska and the Southwest. We have one son, Seth, who lives in Seattle.”

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Class Letters DANA MCELROY DEMARCO ’69 of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, writes, “This has been a great year for me. Since retiring just over a year ago, I have been busier than ever. I volunteered more than 500 hours as a master gardener and am president of the local orchid society.

I entered one of my orchid photos in the photography category of a local orchid show and won a blue ribbon plus ‘Best in Show’ in photography. In February, we met some friends in the Florida Keys. While visiting the Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center, we stopped to enjoy the view of Florida Bay. We noted an ever-increasing number of pelicans flying toward the enclosure of the more severely injured birds. One of the workers was removing the ‘old’ pans of fish and replacing them with fresh fish. The wild birds know the routine. The worker said, ‘Watch this’ as he slipped out of the enclosure and was chased by about 50 pelicans down the boardwalk to a dock where he gave the old fish to the wild birds. It was hysterical!

Last July we spent a week in Blue Ridge, Georgia, for the McElroy family reunion. What a great time to reconnect with family from all over the United States. We are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to the Grand Canyon this summer — on my bucket list. Hope everyone is happy and healthy!”

BOB FERNBACH ’69, Pasadena, California, writes, “I retired from Kaiser Permanente on Dec. 30 after 26 years there and 42+ years of professional work total since finishing my education in 1974. Feels very strange not going to work, but I’m getting adjusted!

Stacy will retire on April 28 from there as well (same department that I worked in), and then our plan is to sell our Pasadena, California, home and relocate to the southern suburbs of Denver, Colorado. I see BARRY MORTON ’69 and DAVE RICHARDSON ’69 regularly, as they live near me — play a lot of music with them. In October, JEFF SCHEFERMAN ’69 joined us for the annual concert that we have been doing for six consecutive years for the senior community where BARRY MORTON ’69 and his wife, Jane live, in Laguna Hills, California. Much fun! We are looking forward to 2019 and the 50th Ripon reunion.”

DAVE LEACH ’69 of Mesa, Arizona, writes, “I retired from appliance repair last spring, and we are now just running our real estate rental properties (three vacation rental condos and a rental house). We bought an RV coach last year but have, unfortunately, not been able to enjoy it due to a continuing series of surgeries on Linda’s right knee (five major surgeries and infections since July). We hope to have a handle on it now, but the prayers of all would be appreciated. As you can imagine, we have been tied down a bit with this, but we are chomping at the bit to get out on the road as soon as we can. On a brighter note, our 46th anniversary is coming up in June, and God is still in charge of it all.”

NANCY OLIVER LEIFHEIT ’69 of Sycamore, Illinois, writes, “My husband, DAVE LEIFHEIT ’67, and I had a busy year of traveling starting with a visit to Maui with the family in late March, which was as wonderful as expected! In September, we travelled with friends to Spain and Portugal for two weeks, absorbing history, art and scenery. And we just spent the last weeks of the year visiting our kids and grandson in Seattle, then driving the coast of Oregon and Northern California. It’s been a fun year of adventures for us! While we haven’t seen any of our fellow Ripon alums, we’ve connected with Facebook!”

STEVE LEITSCHUH ’69 of Fort Myers, Florida, writes, “Well, it is a New Year. I’m still consulting for my medical group. Busier than ever. Trying to get in as many rides on my Harley as I can. I saw in HOG magazine a fellow who was still riding at 95! So I’ve got some riding time left. All the snowbirds are back, so roads are clogged.

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Bummer! Lots of New Year medical appointments. I must be getting older? Otherwise nothing special planned. All’s quiet on the South Western Florida front!”

SCOTT NYQUIST ’69 and CYNTHIA SANBORN NYQUIST ’69 of Naples, Florida, write, “January was a busy month. We had lunch with BRUCE ELLIOTT ’70 and his wife, Vivienne, in Fort Myers, and then a week later had lunch in Sarasota with BETTY STROPNICKY ’68 and her husband. Also in January, we enjoyed a visit from WILLIAM “BILL” NEILL ’67 and JUDY WILKINSON NEILL ’68. In March, we had a visit from ART SCARLETT ’69 and SHERRY SWENNES SCARLETT ’70. Scott has lunch periodically with STEVE LEITSCHUH ’69. In July, we will travel to Chicago for a Nyquist family reunion.”

NICK “CHIP” RETSON ’69 of Aiken, South Carolina, writes, “My wife, Pam, and I traveled with our camping trailer to New England last fall. Among the many fun visits was a stop in Killington, Vermont, to see KEN PORTER ’69 and his wife, BARB KNIGHTS PORTER ’69, at their new home. RICK BRANDT ’69 stopped in for a visit in Aiken on his way home to Florida. We had great fun catching up.”

NANCY QUICK SCHEUERMANN ’69 and GARY SCHEUERMANN ’69 of Noblesville, Indiana, write, “Gary and I are retired and enjoying our four grandsons and their activities. We are currently planning an Alaska vacation with AL LONG ’69 and his wife, Kathy. Life is good!”

BOB “OTTO” WACHHOLTZ ’69 of Papillon, Nebraska, writes, “No significant changes — yet. The bride retires on Feb. 3, and I may soon follow.”

JILL ALEXANDER WILLIAMS ’69 of Snohomish, Washington, writes, “February 2016, my husband and I moved from La Canada, California (near Pasadena), to Snohomish, Washington, outside Seattle. Our whole family is up here now, including both our daughters and three grandchildren. We picked a place out in the country with a beautiful forest view in every direction.

The house came with a greenhouse, so we put our hot tub in it and enjoy a lovely soak every night (rain, shine or even snow) surrounded by greenery. There are 70+ wineries, four distilleries, five microbreweries and a meadery within 15 minutes of our home which we enjoy when we aren’t walking, kayaking or cycling. I am a private investor so I just keep working. Hoping that keeps my brain as well as our portfolio in good shape.

My economics degree from Ripon gave me knowledge base to be a successful long-term investor.”

Sad News JIM BYRKET ’69, Danville, Illinois, died Dec. 31, 2016.

Jim was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity and was on the basketball and baseball teams. (See “In Memoriam” section for more details.)

As always, I want to thank all of you who gave to the Ripon College Annual Fund in 2016, and I want to ask everyone in the class to please make a gift to Ripon in 2017. Don’t forget to include the College in your estate plan. It’s easy to do. For more information, contact Michelle Lippart Hardwick in the Advancement Office (920-748-8126, lippartm@ripon.edu) Remember our 50-year class reunion will take place on Saturday June 22, 2019. I hope all of you will try to attend. Please put this date on your calendar. I am looking for people to serve on the Reunion Committee.

The work involves participating in quarterly conference calls to plan reunion events, as well as contacting classmates to personally invite them to attend the reunion. The committee will begin working on the reunion starting July 2017, giving us two years to create

1969-70 the best reunion ever!

Please remember to send Ripon College your new address if you move and to notify them of a new email address if you create one. Keep in touch. I love hearing from you guys.

Always for Ripon, SCOTT

1970 Susan Hecht Gebhardt 947 Shetland Drive, Frankfort, IL 60423 815-464-5761 / 815-260-1656 / wmacrogeb@yahoo.com Bob Uehling 1261 7th Street, Monterey, CA 93940 831-373-4821 / 831-239-5754 / bobuehling2@sbcglobal.net Hello to all members of the class of ’70. Thank you again for taking the time to share your news via email. I hope you had a great holiday and are enjoying the rest of the winter. BILL GEBHARDT ’69 and I are eagerly awaiting our vacation to Arizona. We will visit with his cousin in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on the way; spend two weeks in Scottsdale and three in Sedona. We hope to visit some of our Ripon friends there, as well as some neighbors who winter in Arizona. Sightseeing and golf, of course, are on the agenda. Our son, Matt, the golf pro, will join us for a week before his season at home starts. I hope to get some much-needed lessons.

Our son, Will, continues to work for Canadian National Railroad as a bridge designer and supervisor. He and wife, Tera, have two beautiful little girls, Brynna, 3½ years old, and Kenley, who turned 1 on Feb. 4. They are little dolls and the delights of their grandparents. We have been busy with travel, golf, sewing and quilting for me, and woodworking for Bill. I finally finished Kenley’s quilt in time for her birthday. We were able to spend some more time at our family’s cottage on Swan Lake (yes, that’s really the name) in Portage, Wisconsin. Like us, it is starting to show its age, so we have been doing some necessary repairs. My sisters and I are trying to decide the next step: remodel or rebuild. It is a beautiful location on the lake, with wonderful neighbors and many memories.

Besides, it is only an hour from Ripon and Green Lake.

I’m sure that is why my Dad did not finish it until after I graduated. He feared the “good old Petosi – Hattie Sherwood” parties might have included Swan Lake.

Now onto BOB UEHLING ’70. He writes, “In February, I volunteered for the 13th consecutive year as a marshal at the AT&T PGA Tour Golf Tournament. My assignment Thursday through the final Sunday round was the iconic 17th and 18th holes at Pebble Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was so exciting to see the celebrities, including Bill Murray, Justin Timberlake, Aaron Rodgers, Wayne Gretsky, Ray Romano and Carson Daily playing with pros Jordan Speith, Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson. It was a sunny day after weeks of torrential rains here in California. On the Monday after the tournament, our team came in first in the marshal’s four-man golf scramble at the Old Del Monte Golf Course. Over New Year’s, my son, Michael, his wife, Kelly Blaine, and the two grandchildren, Cooper and Griffin, spent a week with us, and we made a trip to Napa and Sonoma, where my brother Rick and cousins live. I am continuing chemo and radiation treatments for bladder cancer, and things are going well. I am encouraged by the Stanford Health Care team of physicians that are handling my case and the progress I am making.

Granite Construction Inc. has been holding my position as tax manager/attorney open since August 2016, and I am looking forward to returning to work soon. I also hope to spend more time traveling around the country

with my wife, Kitty, and visiting my three children and grandchildren living in South Carolina and Georgia.”

JAMES DANKY ’70 of Stoughton, Wisconsin, writes, “I continue my work editing digital comics for the library market though Alexander Street Press and with a series I edit for the University of Wisconsin Press. Still on the faculty at the UW School of Journalism. Christine and I work on our prairie restoration at our farm, now in year 12, but find time for lots of travel, too.”

KAY INGERSKI KEMPNER ’70 and DENNIS KEMPNER ’70 of East Amherst, New York, writes, “Can’t believe that it’s been almost two years since our reunion! Just received a letter from Alpha Xi Delta that I am eligible for the order of the rose (50 years) as an Alpha Xi! Another “Where did the years go” moment! So all of us must be getting recognition from their frats on this achievement!

Oh, the memories! And it also gave me food for thought that our 50th will be here before we know it! We have been blessed with our granddaughter (as you all know because of our fast getaway from the reunion)! Cosette Kaylin was born Saturday evening, June 27, 2015, while you all were partying and we were racing to get to Boston!

And on Oct. 10, 2016, we welcomed our son’s first: a baby boy named Holden Edward “Teddy.” Christmas was extra-special this year with all of our abundant blessings of family and dear friends! New Year’s wishes for a great 2017 to you all! Hope all of your families are well and enjoying each day! Remember, there are four things that you can’t recover in life: The stone after it’s thrown, the word after it’s said, the occasion after it’s missed, the time after it’s gone. So LIVE life to the fullest and regret nothing. Big hugs, Kay and Dennis.”

MARK HENKEL ’70 and HILDE BORMANN HENKEL ’73 of Rudolph, Wisconsin, write, “Hello, and hope your new year is off to a good start. Mark has decided not to retire yet, but to focus on his areas of law as a sole practitioner. After the end of his former law firm, he started Henkel Legal Services in Stevens Point. This has given him enough time to do many home projects like a new roof, roof repair and radio work. He still runs a weekly amateur radio net and builds additional electronic gear. Mark is preparing himself and his family to test for seventh-degree black belt, and he and Hilde continue to teach taekwondo year round.”

LINDA TRACY FONDA ’70 and DAVE FONDA ’70 of Freeport, Illinois, write, “Dave is retired and Linda semi. We sold our HVAC Company in 2005 to another successful company here in Freeport, Illinois. Dave has been battling metastatic melanoma since August 2014.

For the past eight years, Dave has worked to transform Freeport, Illinois, to a managerial form of municipal government, and we just crossed the threshold winning in the November 2016 referendum. Now, Dave is running for mayor under the new form of government, much to Linda’s consternation. But, as Dave says, if Chuck Pagano can coach the Indy Colts and battle his serious leukemia disease, Dave can handle this one. Dave is still cycling and now oversees two one-day cycling events to raise money for cancer patients in northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. During the past 12 years, we’ve raised thousands of dollars to help local patients served by our Freeport Ferguson Cancer Center and just added southwest Wisconsin and the Monroe Clinic last year.”

CHRIS LYDON JONES ’70 of Scottsdale, Arizona, writes, “After a move from Milwaukee to Scottsdale in 2000, I remain and have grown to love Arizona. Well, I love Arizona most of the year and do the best I can to leave town in the summer. It is just too hot! 2016 turned out to be a difficult year, as I lost my husband of 29 years.

Cancer is a terrible disease, but as terrible as it is on a person and a family, a big positive is that it brings out the

Spring 2017 21

Class Letters best in family and friends. And I count my dear Ripon friends right at the top of the list for kindness and caring.

On a lighter note, I have two beautiful grandchildren who live in Arizona and they brighten up any day! I am a longtime volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and am active in my community HOA. Thanks to Sue and Bob for being Class Agents!”

Please continue to contribute your recent accomplishments, family news, stories, pictures and experiences for the fall R Connections. It is so great to keep in touch.

SUE and BOB

1971 Jim Beisner 119 Starflower Drive Griffin, GA 30223 770-227-2410 / jim.beisner@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 1971: It is hard to believe another school year has about passed by. One thing I do know is Ripon still us providing the same quality education we experienced so many years ago. Our continued financial support of this vital mission will ensure incoming classes will experience the best quality education possible.

As we look back at our experiences at Ripon, we all can see the benefits we derived from that special time.

In some way, the Annual Fund assisted all of us. It underwrites all aspects of yearly operations, including, but not limited to, laboratory supplies, technological innovations, library resources, faculty support, financial aid and scholarships, athletics, opportunities to study abroad, the arts and facilities. I urge your consideration to increase this year’s gift in recognition of all we have accomplished because of Ripon College.

Always for Ripon, JIM

1972 Susan Frederick-Clarkson susieclarkson@aol.com Stephanie Greene steviegreene@msn.com Dear Classmates: As hard as it may be to believe, this June we will be celebrating our 45th reunion at Ripon.

The Reunion Committee is being organized by SUSAN MIJANOVICH-KEY ’72 and STEPHANIE GREENE ’72. We encourage any classmates to participate in the planning by calling, writing, Facebooking or Tweeting the call to Reunion. The 2017 Alumni Weekend is scheduled from June 22-25. Details about the Friday and Saturday evening class-specific events — together with all of the other activities at the College scheduled for that weekend — will be coming in a separate mailing. The College will be honoring one of our classmates, ANNE MACKENZIE ’72, with a Distinguished Alumni Citation, so we hope as many of you as possible will be able to attend to honor Anne.

This 45th reunion year also gives our class the opportunity to increase our class annual contribution to the Annual Fund. Please help us by increasing your annual donation, if at all possible. The cost of an education at Ripon is now more than $44,000 annually for tuition, room and board, and activities. While Ripon’s tuition is the second lowest in the Associated Colleges of the Midwest, costs continue to rise. The funds you contribute to the College help students directly in the form of scholarships and grants. The majority of students at Ripon College receive some form of financial aid.

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This year, the College is completing the enormous renovation of the athletics, health and wellness center.

The newly renovated building is scheduled to open for the fall semester. This $22-million dollar plus renovation will give Ripon one of the premier facilities in the state of Wisconsin. All the more reason to visit the campus in June for the reunion and take a tour of the facility!

The new wellness center will serve the entire Ripon community, not just athletes.

MIMI ZINNIEL ’72 recently retired as president and CEO of Olmsted Parks Conservancy in Louisville, Kentucky. In February, Mimi was honored by the mayor and the City of Louisville for her years of service and dedication to the community. Mimi plans to spend a lot of her free time at her lake front property.

SUSAN FREDERICK-CLARKSON ’72 reports that she is retiring in May. After 38 years as an investment real estate commercial broker, most of the time with her own Bay area investment company the Litton/Fuller Group, Susan plans on reviving her much neglected golf game and hopefully traveling and volunteering in the community.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in June.

STEPHANIE GREENE and SUSAN FREDERICKCLARKSON

1973 Jean Kirkpatrick Lederer 22001 Sycamore Grove Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239-390-1349 / 630-987-9388 jeanlederer@yahoo.com Hello Class of 1973: Please do not take offence, but sometimes getting you guys to respond to my requests for news is like herding cats! Thanks to those of you who come through early, and thanks to those of you who came through late. Most of all just thank you for giving me information to fill up our space. We have such a great class that I would hate to see a puny response printed here! Any time you want to send me updated information, please feel free to email me at jeanlederer@yahoo.com.

GARY LEDERER ’72 and I are looking forward to having breakfast with Ripon College President Zach Messitte on Thursday, Feb. 9. It is always nice to get first-hand news about what is happening on the campus. We are especially eager to hear about the gym renovations! It will be great to see it when we head back to Ripon a year from June for our class’ 45th reunion. Please mark your calendars now! Alumni Weekend is always the last weekend in June.

Gary got his flyer for his Class of 1972 reunion in the mail this week, but sadly we are unable to attend as we have a family wedding in Maine. But, we do on plan on being at the reunion for our class next year! Would love to see lots of you there!

I am sad to report the recent deaths of two of our classmates: JILL JOLLIE FOX ’73 and STEVE ZIMMER ’73.

Jill died in her Wonder Lake, Illinois, home on Jan. 26, 2017. She was retired but had a long career as a teacher.

Steve Zimmer was a cardiologist in Minneapolis. He passed away on Feb. 1.

On a brighter note, a number of classmates are beginning to enjoy retirement: ROBERT SCHMAUS JR. ’73 of Kissimmee, Florida, writes, “I have retired from teaching. Spending more time traveling (nothing exciting) and reading for pleasure.”

MARTY MORRIS ’73 wrote: “I am finally retired, and this time I mean it! Now I am fully engaged in getting ready

1970-73 to part with unnecessary belongings and make repairs and upgrades to the family home in southeast Michigan.

I have to admit I miss the regular jolts of adrenaline from reacting to frequent crises in the workplace and the challenges of resolving some big dollar screw-ups and certainly working with young people who were replacing me. (They had not heard my jokes already.) Now it’s all about me and getting my stuff together. No security clearances, badges, long passwords, not mentioning the obvious and other concerns. It’s actually very freeing. So is sleeping late! As soon as my wife ends her career, it’s off to northwest Portland, Oregon. We basically bought a new urban core lifestyle in a vibrant, easy-to-get-aroundin city with a great nightlife, dining and art community.

The weather is milder than Illinois or Michigan with close-by beaches, forests and mountains. I always look forward to my frequent visits and will really enjoy actually living there.”

MARIAN OSSMAN ’73 also is retired. She wrote: “When I retired last summer after 25 years at the Wellesley Free Library, I was fêted with parties, press coverage (a full page in the July 7 Wellesley Townsman) and ’froyo’ with my middle school book group on the very last day. I love my profession but am ready to manage my own time and let other, younger folks enjoy the work. Since then, I have traveled to Taos, New Mexico, and Jackson, Wyoming, to visit my daughters, to the Chicago area to visit family and sailed the rest of the summer away. I spent late fall finishing my cancer treatment with breast reconstruction surgery and have put that all behind me now. I am a survivor! KAREN “MURPH” LOWERY ’73 invited me to ski Breckenridge, Colorado, with her this January, but since I broke my leg (just a little break — no surgery) in Vail, Colorado, last spring, I passed on joining her this winter. I’ll stay on the New England slopes this season and look forward to meeting up with her again sometime soon. And, of course, I marched in Boston on Jan. 21!

For now, I’m planning a road trip to visit friends and family in Florida as well as my sailing adventures for next summer, hopefully, up north to Maine and, certainly, down south around Buzzard’s Bay and the islands. I am enjoying every moment!”

KATHY GRAUNKE ’73 sends greetings to all our classmates. “I retired from my pediatric practice last June 30. Reading a book “How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free,” by Ernie Zelinski, helped with this transition.

The fact that my patients were very understanding of my decision also helped a lot. My husband and I traveled to Victoria, Canada, Cape Cod and Boston, and to the Midwest last summer. Great to have time to see more family and friends. We visited with DARCI JAEGER JAYNE ’73 and BRIAN JAYNE ’76 in Wisconsin. I did a lot of community gardening in Seattle, including tending a for bank plot. In the fall, I took an evening course in “Chinese for Travelers” and hope sometime to see parts of China. I also go to weekly group recorder playing sessions, which is a lot of fun. This winter, I am auditing a course in Modern Art History at the University of Washington. So wonderful, and no tests or papers for us oldsters who can register at very low cost. I will be crosscountry skiing in eastern Washington next week with a group called Tuesday Trekker, mostly retired energetic people connected with the UW auxiliary(Washington UW, the “other UW”). I also volunteer a lot at my church and got myself into being the coordinator for memorial receptions. That is quite a job. We had four funerals alone in January (unusual). I am still keeping up my medical license for now. I may do some volunteer work beyond filling in for the school nurse at the elementary school where my sons used to go. (And also assisting at playground duty.)”

SARAH ENDSLEY ’73 writes, “I am living in Duluth, Minnesota, now in retirement. My folks lived next-door to LYNN SPICER-TUCKER ’72’s folks here in Duluth. I’m a snowbird who sits put in the winter rather than going south like so many others. I love the ever-changing Lake Superior, the North Shore and the Gunflint Trail! My dad is living with me now at 92, and he keeps me on the go!

Fun hearing about the ADPi’s and their reunions. Hope to make one soon. Thank you, Chaps, for hosting. If you are ever in Duluth, give me call for breakfast!”

Hard to tell whether or not MIKE PUCKETT ’73 is happy or not in retirement as he wrote: “All I can say is I am retired and live in Brownwood, Texas. I eat, sleep, work out, and go to church. In between, I pay bills.” Life pretty much like others in our age group, I would think. What he writes is true of all of us. It is good to know he is alive and well!

Among those enjoying retirement are me and Gary. We are traveling a lot, playing a lot of golf and keeping very busy with the Guardian ad Litem program. This volunteer work is sometimes called CASA, court-appointed special advocate. We are appointed by the court and act as the voice of children in foster care, promoting what is in their best interest. Always interesting and at times very challenging.

Then there are those classmates who are not so enamored with retirement.

MARK CONRAD ’73: “Never going to retire. Too boring.

Had forced retirement for about eight years due to health.

Was terrible. Need to be working to feel relevant, part of society’s fabric. Understood some disagree. Senior lecturer in University of Wisconsin System (UW). Spent three weeks in London in December and January. Great faculty apartment through London School of Economics. Next to the Tate Modern on the South Bank. Have job applications pending in Minnesota at St. Olaf and St. Thomas. Trying to break into professor ranks. Have J.D., but UW Political Science demands Ph.D. to enter tenure track faculty ranks.

Not too happy when considering my juris doctor is from UW School of Law. Arrgh. The president is providing unlimited classroom discussion activity.”

JANE WELCH ’73 writes, “I am trying to retire but have found I am not very good at it. I am slowed down right now with a broken ankle. Nothing exciting, just a fall on the ice while walking the dog New Year’s Day. I aspire to be really done by June, when we are scheduled to go to Africa. Time will tell.”

Then there are those classmates who are still working: HILDE BORMANN HENKEL ’73 writes, “I continue to serve on Wood County board (since 2000); I continue to teach taekwondo with MARK HENKEL ’70 at Stevens Taekwondo Academy in Stevens Point. We have been invited to test for 7th-degree black belt this year, so we are training on the advanced form and starting the required 10-page papers for that. I delight in every grandparent activity I can get to and have been adjusting well to Mark’s non-retirement. He retreated to private practice, which means most of the time we are sharing a printer, a couple of phones and have much more flexibility for ‘us time.’ This week, we celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary. It adds up to being happy, busy and healthy.”

JOHN STIERNBERG ’73 of Los Angeles writes, “Jeanne and I are heading to Amsterdam Feb. 4-11, 2017, for one of our top four annual trade shows. Stiernberg Consulting is co-hosting two VIP networking dinners at top Amsterdam restaurants. I’ll add more details when we return.” He also writes: “RIP AL JARREAU ’62. He stretched the boundaries of jazz and pop music and proved again and again that the human voice is a musical instrument.”

Spring 2017 23

Class Letters SUELLEN “SUDY” REIGLE ALTHOLZ ’73 and her husband, THOMAS ALTHOLZ ’72, write, “Tom and I are going to Australia and Tasmania in a couple of weeks.

Needless to say, we are very excited. This trip will mean we have stepped on all seven continents. In addition, our son and daughter-in-law in Scottsdale are expecting a baby girl the end of May! She will be our seventh grandchild, and we are more excited about that than stepping on seven continents!”

Another proud grandparent, STEVE ILLICH ’73 writes, “Color me grandpa. Sofia Katheryn was born to my son, Seth, and his wife, Emily, on Aug. 17, 2016.”

WILLIAM “BILL” MACLEOD ’73 visited Korea and said of the adventure: “Fascinating tour of the Demilitarized Zone on an eerily creepy day. The Dear Leader was playing with nukes not far away. After a visit to the War Memorial of Korea, we had fun in Itaewon, where my own General MacArthur ‘enjoyed a meal of bulgogi after storming Incheon.’ “ SHARON WALTON ’73 writes, “I love to read about everyone retiring. I seem to be going in the opposite direction. After a long time working freelance and part-time, in November I was offered, and accepted, the position of communications and events manager for the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.

The War Memorial is a department of the City of San Francisco and manages the Opera House, Symphony Hall, two theaters and other performing arts spaces. In addition to all things around communications, I also coordinate all film and photo shoots in the venues. I’m enjoying it. So no retirement for me anytime soon.”

KATHERINE PARRISH MILLER ’73 writes, “In Richland, Michigan, our Richland Area Community Center is celebrating its 15th year. I helped start it, and it is exciting to see how it has grown and is serving the community. I am volunteering there. My daughter, Carol, and family are doing well. My son, Christopher, suffered a traumatic brain injury early this summer and is recovering well. That’s the news from my corner of Michigan! I hope everyone is doing well and look forward to reading about you!”

JACQUELINE FARMER ANDREWS ’73 sent a message about herself and her husband, MARK ANDREWS ’73: “I am in the midst of teaching my first-ever Beginning Gourd Artistry course for South Florida State College, Adult Education Department. I just received my certification to judge shows for the American Gourd Society. I am also now a permanent artist featured in the Artist’s Group Studio and Gallery located in the Jacaranda Hotel in Avon Park Florida. Mark and I will head to the Northwoods for several weeks in February to visit with family.”

MICHAEL MIZEN ’73 and his wife, MARGARET “PEGGI” SEELBACH MIZEN ’75, write, “Daughter Alison and her husband, Trip, are expecting their first child in April.

So far things are moving along and all (Peggi and I plus our respective families) are okay and excited. Daughter Jennifer has begun her first job post Ph.D. at the U.S. Geological Survey in Laurel, Maryland. They will relocate there by end of March, if not sooner. A portion of her work was just published — “Species-dependent effects of bird feeders on nest predators and nest survival of urban American Robins and Northern Cardinals” can be read at goo.gl/b8ePy1. “We are beginning to plan for a fall trip with friends doing the Bourbon Trail in the fall,” they say.

“We have done this once, but for our friends it will be a first-time experience. We remain active in the Lakewood, Ohio, community and enjoy our ability to be able to get many needs without needing a car.”

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JAMES HAWES ’73 writes, “This won’t be much of a response, so I apologize. My main computer is down, and I’m the ‘IT department.’ My system has forgotten how to access its hard drive (including years of my work). Backups are piecemeal and difficult to use on now-disassembled hardware. Yikes. And when it rains, it pours. Last week, my wife, Jean, repaired a software bug in the printer. (She’s a retired database administrator and a whiz with software.) Meanwhile, I serviced our test monitor, which had gone black. Maybe the new high-voltage capacitor will hold for a while: Zap! Sign of a successful technology repair: No ‘spare parts’ remain. Ha, ha. Several dozen screws seem to have returned to their correct locations. Oh yes, and I now have a picture on the front to the monitor. Yippee!

Last fall, I wrote and published the manual for Launch Code, a new game product. This arcade machine is a mélange of pinball, video and redemption games. Typical players are children and families. The manual project was my second for my good friends at Team Play. Over the years, I’ve worked with these guys at several games companies. They’re inspiring.”

DAVID GROSSMAN ’73 is entering his 20th consecutive year as founder, publisher and editor of The Lunenburg Ledger, a weekly newspaper serving Lunenburg, Massachusetts. Thanks to his many loyal subscribers and advertisers, this small enterprise has, for the most part, shunned the great electronic shift from print to digital. Dr. Erwin Breithaup would have been proud.

Although social media and click information is dominant, this one little print medium is self-sustaining. David has been happily married to Robin for 30 years. They have two sons. Daniel, the eldest, is the wine director/ Sommelier for Nomica, a new restaurant in San Francisco.

His brother, Benjamin, plans to move into the Bay area next month. David and Robin will be in Berkeley in late February/March. “Area alums who remember me, give me a ring at 978-502-0695!”

I thought it appropriate to end with this blurb because I think each of us would love to hear from any classmates when they are in the area we live. I know Gary and I enjoy seeing classmates whenever and wherever we travel or when they are here in Florida. If you are going on a trip and need contact info, let me know.

Remember our reunion in June of 2018! Until next time: JEAN

1974 Jan Petrovski MacLeod 2 Gilbert Ave., Clarendon Hills, IL 60514 630-920-2450 / Bookmaven105@gmail.com Happy New Year! In my last letter, I mentioned that ANDY MACLEOD ’76 and I were anxiously awaiting the birth of our first grandchild. I am delighted to announce that Lillian Harper was born, healthy and happy, on Sept. 17, 2016. As I write this, she has just turned 4 months old and is still healthy and very happy and smiley. She is doing all the things a baby does at that age, and, of course, we think she is incredibly beautiful and intelligent. Isn’t that what all grandparents think?

Everyone told us we would love being grandparents, and they were right. It’s such a gift! Many of you already know this, and all I can say is we are happy to have finally joined the club.

In other news, Andy and I marked our 40th anniversary in November, and our girls surprised us with a party.

We thought we were going to Kate & JP’s house for a belated Thanksgiving dinner and instead walked in to find family and friends from all over. It was truly a grand surprise. And finally, I celebrated my “milestone” birthday

1973-75 in January and have found it liberating. I am enjoying thinking about the prospect of retirement at some point in the future, and really thinking about what I would like to do next. I love being a librarian — I think it’s part of my DNA — so I know that will figure into my plans, but I also like the idea of doing some traveling that is not tied to or limited by a school calendar. Naturally, Lilly will be a big part of my future, and planning lots of grandma activities brings me great joy. I will keep you posted on my plans.

How about you? Anyone else out there thinking of taking the retirement plunge one of these days?

DENNIS FRAHMANN ’74 of Cambria, California, writes about writing on his blog, Frahmannthoughts.wordpress. com and on his LoonTownCafe page.

DONALD RIEWE ’74 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, sent me a note when he read about our upcoming grandchild.

It was really great to hear from him, and apparently he and wife Glenna are kept busy by their grandkids. He mentioned being in Ripon for their grandson’s baseball tournament. I hope our paths will cross in Ripon some time, Don. ERIC SORENSEN ’74 of Marengo, Wisconsin, tells me he has written a book titled “The Witsdom of Mustafa Ali: Poems, Stories, Wit & Wisdom”; and still is teaching music and performing gigs as himself or Mustafa Ali. Also keeps busy skiing, cooking, moving snow with his YooperScooper, and feeding his wood furnace. Apparently, he still has that great sense of humor! Perhaps Mustafa Ali will make an appearance at our next reunion.

SUSAN ALLEN GREEN ’74 recently of Houston, Texas, is in the process of relocating to Illinois. She said, “Goodbye shorts and flip-flops, hello ski jackets and hats.

It will be wonderful to reconnect with all our college friends from Ripon and Lawrence.”

We are so glad to have her back, especially so she can attend ADPi reunions and Alumni Weekends. Welcome back, Sue! KATHY WILLIAMS HOFFER ’74 of Danville, Vermont, and VICKI HOFBAUER DORMAN ’74 of Potomac, Maryland, took part in the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21. Kathy posted pictures on her Facebook page not only of the crowds but some of the wonderful, clever signs. Vicky said it was “exciting and heartwarming, especially to share the experience with three of my daughters.” She added that everywhere she looked there were “people, signs and pink hats! It was amazing!” Did anyone else take part in a march, either in Washington or another city? Would love to hear the stories!

TIM VERNIER ’74 of Tomah, Wisconsin, writes that his second book in the Dick Stranger series is on paper and in the editing process! This is great news for those of us who enjoyed the first book and have been waiting patiently. He added that he and wife, Denise, celebrated their 40th anniversary with a trip to Italy to visit friends and Germany to visit their exchange student daughter. He and Denise still are enjoying working at the Brenengen Auto Group and the Tomah Veterinary Clinic, respectively.

BARBARA BECHLER FLYNN ’74 of Carmel, Indiana, won gold and silver medals at Epcot in Disneyworld. She did a 5K and a 10K walk during their Marathon Weekend in January. Judging by the photos, it was a lovely weekend, and Barb looked great in her marathon T-shirt and medals. Have you done the Fun Walk on Alumni Weekend, Barb?

That’s all the news from our class at this time. I hope this finds you well and getting ready for spring. I always

appreciate hearing from you, so keep those cards and letters coming, or find me on Facebook.

Always for Ripon, JAN

1975 Jondi Gumz 1010 Whispering Pines Drive, Scotts Valley CA 95066 831-461-1120 / jondigumz@yahoo.com Dear classmates, Ignore the rain in California. I have lot of news! Weddings, babies, a movie and a musical to see, art, travel, the science on memory and an important vitamin you may not know about, a new online newspaper and a new athletics center coming in the fall. A shoutout to GAIL BARTKOWSKI ’75 who is on Facebook. Are you on Facebook? Please join us if you can!

WARREN BLUHM ’75 of Luxemburg, Wisconsin, tied the knot with CJ Townsend on Jan. 28, 2017, at the White Gull Inn in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Then he started his new podcast series on YouTube.com — I remember that voice! — and then he launched the Kewaunee County Comet to bring independent and local news to his community. Congratulations, Warren.

GREGG SAMELSON ’75 and wife MARY JAMIESON SAMELSON ’76 of Citrus Heights, California, took a photo safari to Tanzania in February. Of course, Gregg brought his camera. See the photos on his Facebook page.

DAVE STOCKDALE ’75: “Still in the Philippines.

Second grandson born in November. Just got back from a vacation in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Australia.”

KATHY KURKE ’75 of Ormond Beach, Florida, had two of her beautiful paintings, “Looking Back in Time” and “Bohemian Dancer,” selected in January for the Ormond Beach Ocean Air Art Prize event, where 20 businesses host the art and local residents vote for their favorites.

She recommends the film, “Hidden Figures,” about the African-American women who worked as human calculators at NASA before the IBM computer came in.

She says that when she was at NASA, she worked with Christine Darden, an African-American woman from that era who deserves her own movie. “I hope that the youths of today take notice of how our world misses out when people who don’t look just like you are excluded or limited,” Kathy says.

REBECCA HADLEY ’75 of San Antonio, Texas, and her husband, Peter Szarmach SP, enjoyed a trip to Joshua Tree National Park, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and San Diego in California. Check out her Facebook page for photos of her cuddling a very cute grandson.

SUSAN CHAPMAN CARLTON ’75 of St. Charles, Illinois, is enjoying grand motherhood with Noah Raymond. See her Facebook page for photos of her cuddling this cutiepie in April 2016. She and her husband, Ray, traveled to West Bend, Wisconsin, last year to celebrate her mom’s 92nd birthday.

LINDA MOCHALSKI CARPENTER ’75 has moved to 652 Berrywood Drive, Maryville, TN 37801. She writes: “My husband and I missed the four seasons after being in Omaha for a couple of years and decided to retire in eastern Tennessee. Fall was incredible. Survived riding the Dragon Trail, 318 curves in 11 miles. We managed not to have fires near us, but we could smell the smoke from several of the fires. The downtown of Gatlinburg was beautiful at Christmas, but going a few blocks from the strip was a totally different story: Horrible devastation.”

Spring 2017 25

Class Letters CYNTHIA SHARP TOMLINSON ’75 of Birchwood, Minnesota, reports on February weather: “High of 13, two days later it’s 48. No mudslides, though.”

GLENDA HARRIS BARNETT ’75 of Hanover, Maryland, reports: “Hubby and I downsized, and we are enjoying care-free apartment living! We are expecting a third grandchild in August. Hubby saw ‘Hidden Figures’ at his work. I’m seeing it at month-end! I saw “Hamilton” in New York in December, and it was amazing! Still working my Mary Kay business.”

NANCY LAWS KERN ’75 of Littleton, Colorado, recommends Jovan Mays, who just completed his term as Aurora’s poet laureate. He’s a national slam poetry champion.

ANN MIJANOVICH PETERSEN ’75 of Atlanta, Georgia, celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Atlanta walking next to Congressman John Lewis. Awesome.

LINDA MOGICATO SASSER ’75 of Bloomingdale, Illinois, is a national speaker on brain health and memory. Last year, she published BE! Brain Enrichment, a curriculum for a 10-session course on brain health and brain fitness, which has been taught at retirement communities and/or senior centers in three states. To learn more, visit www. brainandmemoryhealth.com.

STEPHEN NG ’75 of Hong Kong saw his son get married in September. See the photos on Facebook. Looks like a wonderful family occasion.

LOUISE RENIER BOOTHBY ’75 of Montvale, New Jersey, saw her son get married in January. See the photos on Facebook. A joyful event.

EDWARD SAWYER JR. ’75 of Cincinnati, Ohio, is doing something different workwise.

CHRIS JAMIESON ’75 of Racine, Wisconsin, reports he and his wife, Sandy, both are enjoying retirement.

PETER SWAN ’75 of Charleston, South Carolina, is planning to usher again for the Charleston River Dogs, the minor league baseball team affiliated with the Yankees. His son Greg’s research at Duke was funded for two more years; he is studying the immunology of Zika virus-related microencephaly.

LEON PASCUCCI ’75 of Palm Springs, California, reports: “Life is good in the desert, and married life is most agreeable!”

STEVE RUGO ’75 of Chicago, Illinois, has been getting good press for his design work for the Alinea Group’s hot new restaurants: Roister, where the kitchen is in the dining room, and the new Alinea, sleek and elegant. Yes, he raves about the food! Details are on his Facebook page. He traveled to Cuba in December, saw the Rose Bowl with his son in Pasadena, and celebrated University of Southern California’s defeat of Penn State, 52-49. And he got an adorable Akita pup. A trifecta.

SHARON SCHECK SINA ’75 of West Palm Beach, Florida, reports: “We are expecting our third grandchild, a little girl, in July. Her parents are my younger son, Bryan, and his wife, Tess. We are loving life in Florida in the winter and the mountains in North Carolina in the summer.

Feeling very blessed.”

CHARLES “RICK” ESTBERG ’75 of Severna Park, Maryland, has passed the 40-years-of-government-service hurdle. He’s a foreign relations manager at the National Security Agency. During the evenings, he pursues two hobbies: He tutors math at the county jail with inmates striving for their GEDs. Over the past four years, he has tutored nearly 100, with more than a dozen leaving detention with their GED certificate in hand. He’s also on stage in community theater, with his latest role in “Calendar Girls,” based on the 2003 movie with Helen Mirren telling a true story about middle-aged British

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women who pose nude for a calendar for charity. He plays John, the husband whose death from cancer starts the charity ball rolling. Earlier this year, he was Juror 10, an evil character, in “Twelve Angry Men.” Before summer, he hopes to finish writing a book about his years spent in Berlin, Germany, when the wall was up.

ALAN LAWRENCE ’77 of Appleton, Wisconsin, reports, “The class of 1977 is having their 40th anniversary this year. You and your classmates are certainly welcome to join us.” The reunion will be June 22-25, last weekend in June.”

THE REV. DAN RAK ’75 of Geneva, Illinois writes: “Thinking about how I have spent much of my time since I left Ripon, I count 24 years doing technical work for a couple of large corporations and 29 years doing pastoral work in a few churches. For 12 of those years, I was bivocational when I was engaged in the planning of those churches. It’s been a good ride, and I have no plans to retire. I fondly remember Ripon College as where I experienced my spiritual awakening.”

MARK WRIGHT ’75 of North Mankato, Minnesota (yes the one who’s married to the delightful MARCIA WAHOSKE ’75), reported he is very excited that the Storzer renovation is on track to open in August, giving the campus and the community a top-notch health and fitness center. The 70,000-square-foot Storzer Center was completed in 1968 before Title IX and women’s varsity sports, so it wasn’t designed for both genders.

Mark says the student participation in intramurals and fitness activities has grown so much that the gym often is used as late as midnight. The renovation will include an additional 65,000-square-foot track and fieldhouse and a 23,000-square-feet area devoted to training and fitness.

Mark says coaches’ offices and some training space opened in January, with construction starting after varsity basketball, men and women, played their final home games. He says the indoor six-lane track will be the finest in Wisconsin (including UW-Madison) and will be capable of hosting NCAA Division 1 and Division meets and championships. Fund-raising for this project is ongoing, and all alumni will have a chance to put their name on something.

This sort of upgrade is sure to be attractive to today’s high school students. If you know of a high school junior or senior looking at liberal arts colleges, please let the Office of Admission know who they are. Competition among colleges for students is intense, especially those with high academic credentials, but Mark sees Ripon as very affordable for families. He says Ripon’s new five-course curriculum, Catalyst, gets high marks from the faculty and the most recent freshman class to participate. The goal is for students to develop skills employers want and streamline the path to graduation. For details, check www.ripon.edu under the “Academics” tab.

Mark is training again for the Chesapeake Bay Swim, 4.4 miles in ocean conditions along with triathletes and masters swimmers. He says it’s something to focus on during the Minnesota winters. He recommends a couple of books, Monument Men, The Art of Driving in the Rain and Hamilton.

Mark shared that Marcia’s daughter, Jenny, died in late April 2016 after a battle with brain cancer. Marcia commuted from the Midwest to Boston to help with Jenny’s care. You can see a photo of this lovely young lady on Facebook with her family on Mark’s Facebook page.

My prayers to you, Marcia and Mark.

Now here’s the scoop I promised. Ever hear of vitamin K2? Back in the 1930s, Weston A. Price, D.D.S., traveled to distant locations studying nutrition looking for an

1975-77 explanation for why the Lötschental in Switzerland, Native Americans, Polynesians and Aborigines had fewer dental cavities than Americans. His theory was something he called activator x helped the body absorb and use essential minerals. Then I read about Dr. May Mellanby’s diet to remineralize teeth and heal cavities, pastured eggs, beef and milk with sugar limited to 57 grams, which saw results in six months. Finally, I saw an interview with Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue, who has written a book about Vitamin K2, which directs calcium into your teeth and bones. This is different from K, the clotting vitamin in green leafy vegetables. Without K2, the calcium can end up clogging your arteries. So where do you get K2?

Natto, a traditional Japanese food made from fermented soybeans, provides the most K2, followed by goose liver, and then Gouda, Brie, Jarlsberg and Edam cheese, and then pastured eggs, butter and dark chicken meat. On today’s mega-farms, where animals are confined, how much K2 could there be? Bruce Guilfoile ’75 of Tokyo, Japan, said he eats natto all the time, but I haven’t seen it on menus in Santa Cruz.

Are you getting enough K2? I hope so, and I hope to see you in 2020!

Jo Your Class Agent, JONDI GUMZ ’75

1976 The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

THE REV. MARK TESLIK ’76 of Portage, Wisconsin, got engaged to Heather Laird on Christmas Day. They will celebrate their engagement booking across the bay from Ashland to Washburn Feb. 18.

1977 Alan Lawrence 153 Northbreeze Drive, Appleton, WI 54911 920-730-9515 / alan_lawrence99@yahoo.com Dear Class of 1977: The biggest news is our 40th anniversary at Alumni Weekend. Alumni Weekend is June 22-25, with most of the activity on Saturday. I hope you will make plans to join us.

I had some help recently from classmates DAVID CISAR ’77, SUSAN LENNON SOLBERG ’77, ANDREA MORRIS ’77 and NANCY BERRY TOLLESON ’77 in the planning of our weekend.

Our Reunion Party will be held on Saturday, June 24, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Joyce Lounge, lower level of Pickard Commons. The party will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres/beer/wine/soda and be inclusive at $35 per person. We will share the space with the Class of 1972.

If you haven’t been to Ripon College in recent years, you will be in for a pleasant surprise with the Commons and the area around it. The Commons is quite a bit more upscale than when we were students, and the lower level is a comfortable and appropriate setting for our party.

The street that used to wrap around past Bartlett Hall, the Union and the Pickard Commons was closed to traffic and has been converted into a pedestrian mall. And the old gymnasium was removed and replaced with a nice green space. A large tent sits in this green space during this weekend and is the hub of activity.

Zach Messitte will share an overview of Ripon today, his vision for its future and the path forward. And each of the reunion classes will present our gifts to President Messitte. It is a good time. I have always been inspired by the speeches and the state of the college. It has made me proud of my association with a college that was good in the past, is still good, and has a bright future.

Free lunch follows. And then some free time until dinner.

But it won’t really be free time since there is plenty to do.

You will want to catch up with classmates and students of other years. I have always found it easy to fit in with alums from any year since we all share some common experiences and goals for the future.

Among my favorite options is a guided walk on the prairie behind the president’s House. In the 1970s, this seemed sort of off-limits and wild. Now a large section of prairie and forest is opened up with trails and is used and appreciated by the college community and the public community. This is a popular walk.

The Memorial Green Space Tent will provide complimentary drinks and snacks part of the afternoon.

The fraternities and sororities will have their socials.

President Messitte welcomes current members of The 1851 Club (donors at $1,000 annually or $50,000 lifetime) and Partners in the Legacy (those with Ripon in their estate plans) to a reception at his home.

We gather in the evening for our party in the Commons.

And there is still more to do. From 8 p.m. until midnight (or later?) the Memorial Green Space is the site of the All-Alumni Party and Bonfire. Complimentary bar snacks, beer, wine and soda with music and dancing for all. S’mores available at the campus fire pit near The Pub beginning at 10 p.m. I don’t have much opportunity for dancing in my life, and I much enjoyed the dance at our last reunion.

If you are staying late, you should consider spending the night. There are hotels in town, but you also can sign up to stay in Tri-Dorms or Johnson Hall. Staying on campus is really convenient and avoids the question of who will be the designated driver. Sign up at the https://www. ripon.edu/alumni-weekend/ website.

Regardless of whether you can join us for Alumni Weekend, we need your financial help to help keep Ripon a competitive and quality institution. Your donations are important every year. Please consider making a special gift to Ripon College this year in honor of our 40th anniversary. Your participation is very important, and we are encouraging a generous donation from you.

I look forward to helping to present a replica check expressing how much money our class raised for Ripon College. There is always a bit of competition in this endeavor. Last year, the class of 1976 managed a gift of $105,270. And the class of 1981 raised $319,247 and $1,260,219 over five years. Those are amazing numbers. Please begin thinking about what you might want to offer.

Please keep in touch, either directly to Ripon at alumni@ ripon.edu or to me.

Thank you, ALAN N. LAWRENCE

On Saturday you will want to arrive in time to join us for the All-Alumni March at 11 a.m. Meet in front of Todd Wehr Hall and gather with classmates to make the traditional Commencement walk to the tent. President

Spring 2017 27

Class Letters 1978 Gregg Petersen 10829 Hilltop Lane, Columbia, MD 21044 410-884-0407 / Sig29@aol.com Dear ’78 Classmates: Happy Spring Class Letter! As I write this letter during what has been a record warm stretch of winter weather in February on the east coast, I expect the weather will be even warmer by the time you receive this letter two to three months from now. In honor of recent weather, classmate MICHAEL POULOS ’77 wrote a great poem that fit our weather situation and gave me permission to share here – see below. As you might recall, Michael started out as our ’78 year group classmate but graduated a year early.

We have some incredibly talented classmates in our class.

The biggest news was that LOUISA GEBELEIN JONES ’78 was first to point out was that JUSTIN NIEBANK ’78 of Franklin, Tennessee was back in the headlines after he won a Country Music Award in November! Justin was recognized at the CMAs for his part as the Mix Engineer for Thomas Rhett’s Single of the Year: Die a Happy Man. Finally, in case you didn’t notice, we are a little over a year away from our next reunion back at Ripon! It would be great to see everyone back at Ripon in June of ’18! If you have any special thoughts about what you would like to do that Alumni Weekend besides the reunion itself, please let me know.

HEADLINES FOR THIS LETTER: • New Class Letter Booklet Format • Washington, D.C., Alumni Events • A Career Day with RC Alumni • Career Discovery Tour • ’78 Classmate Updates • 40th Reunion Planning Starts This Summer New Class Letter Booklet Format: After a few iterations with the new consolidated letter format, you may have noticed that there are some bumps and changes: 1) No more electronic letters. That was a “beta” test for our class and is now overcome by the new book format. 2) Pictures such as the two you sent in last letter (sorry Leslie and Melanie!) and the other three I provided to enrich the narrative about our classmates may be omitted as the editors see fit. I will use our Facebook page (for those of you on it) to provide deleted photos.

I could send you what I submit electronically, but it will not be the final product in the consolidated publication.

3) Expect the letter about a half of a month to a month later than in the past.

Washington, D.C., Alumni Events: International Relations, Federal Government, Think Tanks, and State Politics: A Career Day with RC Alumni, March 3, 2017 In early March, I will have traveled with a group of five alumni whom fellow Washington, D.C.-area alum DREW DAVIS ’07 organized with Ripon’s D.C. alumni chapter at the request of Ripon’s International Relations Club, Pre-Law Society, National Security Studies Program, and Center for Politics and the People. The intent is to help the students with interest in those areas to identify opportunities for internships and fellowships, navigate the graduate school admission process, identify job opportunities and prepare for the related clearance admission process.

DENISE BAIRD ’78 of Boise, Idaho wrote: “Hi Gregg, here is a fun story. My husband, Bill Hallyburton, and I were in Barcelona in September on vacation. While visiting the sites, I posted a couple of pictures on Facebook.

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LAWRENCE “LARRY” LAUX ’78 (Dousman, Wisconsin) is a Facebook friend after our last reunion and he saw my pictures and sent me a note saying he and his wife, NINA WULFF ’77, were on their way to Barcelona! We were staying in the same vicinity, so we met up for a drink.

Very little overlap in our stays since we were near the end of our stay in Barcelona and Larry and Nina had just arrived, but it was totally fun to catch up!” Denise adds, “I am happily retired and traveling a bunch.”

From classmate LOUISA GEBELEIN JONES ’78: “Congratulations to JUSTIN NIEBANK ’78 of Franklin, Tennessee, who is the engineer for Thomas Rhett-who won single of the year last night at the Country Music Awards.”

BARB MENGEL ROMANELLO ’78 of North Prairie, Wisconsin, and I had contact via Facebook with our classmate IAN MACDONALD ’78 for the first time in four decades! Ian still lives in New Jersey and has been “One of Jehovah’s Witnesses since Dec. 26, 1980.” Ian retired in 2003 and has two children.

Here is MICHAEL POULOS ’77’s poem (shared with permission). Inspired by a warm winter day in 1989, here is a commentary from Radio Earth: Winter Song

By Michael D. Poulos (With apologies to Ogden Nash) Listen clouds, it’s February first.

Don’t you know enough to burst?

Come on snowmen, roll in snow.

Come on, arctic winds, and blow.

Come on, storms; come on blizzards: Freeze us to our very gizzards.

We’re not in Florida; down South in Ole ’Miss.

It’s five weeks since the winter solstice!

Roll the doleful big bass drum: Winter’s absolutely come!

Yesterday was balmy air With autumn’s colors everywhere.

Today, to put it quite conversely, It’s winter almost univers’ly.

So celebrate with indoor bashes And parody poems of Ogden Nash’s.

Then giddy-ap Napoleon! Giddy-ap Gideon!

The sun has fled from our meridian.

What though cold stays far and hinter, Officially, at least, it’s winter, And far be it from our intent To let the weatherman relent.

So blow, ye snow, in rolling drifts Beneath the skiers up on lifts.

Blow, ye wind, to make us shiver And set each icicle a-quiver.

Salt, ye salt trucks, a little bit saltier.

Malt, ye meal, a lot more maltier.

Swim, ye polar bear clubs, cold and frigidly.

Cross, ye crossing guards, yet more rigidly.

And, O ye cables, boost your batteries.

And, O ye flatterers, warm with flatteries.

And grow, ye heat bills, grow with cost While homes become encased in frost.

Ye highwaymen, assist our travels With sands and salts and fine ground gravels.

And ye, ye meteorological prognosticators: Stoke your steaming radiators.

While ye, ye cold and useless squirrel, Remember, please, to rhyme with churl.

Then giddy-ap Napoleon! Giddy-ap Gideon!

The sun has fled from our meridian.

What though cold stays far and hinter,

1978-80 Officially, at least, it’s winter.

Radio Earth January, 1989 (c) 1989, Michael D. Poulos 40th Reunion Planning Starts: It’s that time again! By the time you receive this letter, we will have about a year until our 40th reunion back at Ripon on June 23, 2018! We will need any and all assistance with the planning and class gift effort. Please let me know if you can assist.

That’s all for this letter. I always need updates from you to make these worthwhile. Thanks to DENISE BAIRD ’78, who was the only classmate to send an update for this letter!

Best and warmest regards, GREGG

1979 Kevin L. Warmack 6110 South Rhodes Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 773-220-5360 / kwarmack@gmail.com / kwarmack@sbcglobal.net Greetings All. When we last spoke, I had written about the loss of some great people of our class, namely THOMAS “PETE” WINN ’79 and RICHARD “NATE” BOYA III ’79. Since that date, we have celebrated Nate’s life and have received news from many of our classmates on the things that they have done or accomplished since we last spoke. Additionally, in light of the death of AL JARREAU ’62, some interesting pictures have come forth from the 2006 Concert.

JULIA CLASSEN ’79 recently completed her fifth year on the board and her second and final year as president of the Minnesota Children’s Alliance. Quoting the website, “The Minnesota Children’s Alliance helps communities start their own Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and helps existing centers grow and expand through top-tier training, research and advocacy in state and national legislatures.” (https://minnesotachildrensalliance.org).

Julia has been working with nonprofits since 1979 and also has spent 15 years working as a consultant to nonprofit organizations.

ANDY DICKSON ’79 and wife LORI KNAAK DICKSON ’80 recently had the treat of attending a presentation by Dr. Marty Farrell at Elgin Community College. The lecture was sponsored by Ripon alumnus MARC HEALY ’89, an anthropology professor at the college. His lecture was titled “Americanism vs. Globalism.” Very informative, plus a great opportunity to relive some great Ripon moments.

SUSAN MEIER ’79 and KEVIN WARMACK ’79, along with a host of Merriman greats attended the memorial service for RICHARD “NATE” BOYA III ’79 held in Mesa, Arizona, Nov. 12. It was a time of sadness and laughs as we shared stories about Nate. I had the honor of presenting Nate’s mom with a copy of the fall class letter with everyone’s remembrances of Nate. I’d like to thank everyone who participated in that letter for your thoughts. It very much lifted his mom and his brothers up.

I know if you were like me, last Sunday, Feb. 12, was a shocker to know that “Our Al Jarreau” has made his transition. In some ways, AL JARREAU ’62 was someone who we could all point to and say, “Yes, this is a Ripon alumnus who has made it big!!” Al did come back to campus a couple of times since he graduated – 1982 and in 2006 for a concert. A few of us had the honor of having pictures taken with Al. Closing Anyway, it has been a pleasure to write to all of you. But I need more news. So fill up the Class Facebook page with your news. You also can send me notes through LinkedIn (where you get to see my handsome profile) or you can send it by carrier pigeon or snail mail.

Enjoy the spring (it’s already here in Chicago – Temp= 64) and continue to be blessed!

In the spirit of Ripon College and the Class of 1979 – The Greatest Group I ever graduated with!

And in the immortal words of Nate Boya, “THE BEARS STILL SUCK!!” #BearsStillSuck KEVIN L. WARMACK ’79

1980 Margaret “Peggy”Gero DaValt W11557 County Highway D, Columbus, WI 53925 608-658-3779 / gorsetr@gorsetr.com Jeffrey C. “JC” Penney 15931 Ashville Lane, Granger, IN 46530 574-247-1182 / jeffpenneyno22@yahoo.com To my dear friends in the Class of 1980 and surrounding years: Wow! As I write this letter, we have been experiencing record high temperatures for February. Only in Wisconsin, I say! I think that Jimmy the Groundhog (from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin) decided we were going to have six more weeks of winter. I think that is really likely true: March Madness is on the docket soon and usually, true to form, we have a massive snowfall during the WIAA state basketball tournament.

I have loved having the Class’ Facebook page to hang out in. For those of you who do not know, I have created a Class of 1980 Facebook page. Please, no matter what your year of graduation, you are always welcome. https:// www.facebook.com/groups/283209381878413/ Fellow Class Agents KEVIN WARMACK ’79, LARRY NIKOLAUS ’81 and, I believe, CATHY LOTHROP HAGER ’82 have Facebook groups as well. I am a fan of social media, and it’s a great venue to share. Thanks to all of you for your support.

Great passings seem to be the tone for this round of my news to you. From KERMIT “DOC” WEISKE ’50 to most recently AL JARREAU ’62, we have lost many of Ripon College’s favorites. I have shared stories about both of these fine men on the Class of 1980’s Facebook page.

RICHARD NATHAN “NATE” BOYA III ’79 passed away Sept. 3, 2016. Many Ripon College alumni attended the memorial service on Nov. 12, 2016, in Arizona. ARTHUR “ART” PETERS ’80 and SUZY MEIER ’79, along with Class Agent KEVIN WARMACK ’79 were in attendance at Nate’s memorial service. Ironically, enough, Ripon played Lawrence the same day. And in Appleton, Wisconsin, BETH PALMBACH NEMECEK ’79 and Wayne Nemecek, T. CLARK WILCOX ’80 and Joy Wilcox, along with DANIEL “TOM” OAKLEY ’79 and PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80 met at George’s in Appleton that evening to remember Nate.

Many of us came to know Nate via the Facebook world. It is extraordinarily amazing that we can reconnect with one

Spring 2017 29

Class Letters another after all of the years gone from Ripon College.

From the sharing of photos and the reminiscing, that is what makes our four years at Ripon College so special.

We are all connected, whether we choose to be or not. I, for one, am glad that we are.

Nate’s brother, Thomas Quill (used his mother’s maiden name for his last name) shared this with KEVIN WARMACK ’79 after the memorial service. I am so grateful for all of you that were in attendance at this service (if I missed your names – I am sorry).

Shared comments from Class of 1979’s Facebook page – Dear Ripon College friends of Nate: I want to express sincere thanks on behalf of my entire family for the amazing turnout (both in body and in spirit) from Nate’s Ripon College family. As you can imagine, we all feel a tremendous void with Nate’s passing, but it was such a special tribute to see such an incredible turnout from Nate’s Ripon family.

I must share that my mother slept 12.5 hours straight on Saturday into Sunday. She has not done that for years, constantly worrying about Nate’s health and well-being and, following his death, being distraught that her son passed before she did. Thank you for giving my mother, a very special lady indeed, the comfort and strength to come to closure with her son’s passing. She thought the entire day was very special, and she asked me to thank all of you for making it so special for her. We are indebted to you.

I personally thank all of you, but I want to especially call out KEVIN WARMACK ’79 for making the presentation of remembrances from Nate’s Ripon family, and to ARTHUR “ART” PETERS ’80 and SUSAN MEIER ’79 for sharing special stories about Nate. My mother was completely overwhelmed as she read all of the contributions. It has given her great comfort. Thank you for your sincerity and compassion. Nate clearly meant a lot to all of you, and I know he felt the same way about you.

Thank you all — and please share my gratitude with others from Ripon that I may have inadvertently left off this message. It was in no way intentional.

God Bless You All, THOMAS QUILL What a wonderful message for all the Ripon College community to embrace. We have made our presence known in so many ways that we have all made a difference. Deepak Chopra stated, “There is no stronger power than love.”

I had the pleasure of meeting with TYLOR LOEST ’07 who is the director of major gifts at Ripon College. He was checking in with various alums from the Wisconsin area.

I was one that got to share some time with him. I would like to ask you all to consider, if you’re not already giving back to Ripon, that you consider signing up for the 1851 Club and or check out the possibility of giving through your work location.

JEFF PENNEY ’80 of Grainger, Indiana shared with me the following: “Not much going on with me, but my daughter was just accepted to graduate school for ABA therapy, which she will use in conjunction with her special education degree. In addition, my eldest son completed his first season as head coach of the Penn HS freshmen basketball team. He went 18-2, losing in the playoffs in six overtimes. Next year, he will get to coach his little brother. If his little brother works his butt off this summer and makes the team.

Other than that, I spend time sneaking across JOSEPH LUKANICH ’80’s lawn to tick him off. He thinks it’s the neighborhood kids.”

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WILLIAM QUISTORF ’80 of Everett, Washington is the chief pilot for the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team, which recently received the Airbus Helicopter Golden Hour Award for life-saving helicopter missions.

SUSAN ANGELL SCHMIDT ’80 and her husband, ANDREW SCHMIDT ’81 of Wausau, Wisconsin shared this: “We took a whitewater rafting trip in central Idaho on the middle fork of the Salmon River. It was 100 miles of bouncy water. Our son, Alex, and Sue’s mom, Joan Angell, joined us for a fun week. Alex and Andy spent most of the trip in one-man rafts called “Duckies.” The bouncier the water, the better! Sue and her mom took a more traditional raft where they enjoyed the scenery.

“Alex is a junior at Hamline University. He is a history major — does that surprise you? He has his eye on law school. Again, are you surprised? Before dropping him off this fall, we attended the Minnesota State Fair. This year, we discovered the bottomless glass of milk. For a mere $2, we drank all the white and chocolate milk we wanted.

We three Wisconsinites couldn’t believe our luck!”

To all of you, I am grateful, always, for your participation (whether it is silently or actively for the College). You are all very special to me, and I thank you for sharing this journey with me.

To Ripon, PEGGY GERO DAVALT and JEFF PENNEY (Co-Class Agents)

1981 Lawrence “Larry” Nikolaus lnikolaus@mitre.org Class of ’81: I am pleased to have the opportunity to be (talked into being) our co-class agent with Joan and look forward to being a conduit for sharing the latest notes, stories and adventures from you and the rest of our classmates. I set up a Facebook page – “Ripon College Class of 1981” that I hope will help you share and keep in touch.

LARRY NIKOLAUS ’81: “It’s been over 13 years sense I retired from the Air Force and moved my family back to Colorado Springs. Since then, I have worked for MITRE Corp. as a technical adviser on multiple Air Force programs. Most recently supporting the Early Warning Radar program. My wife, KATHY HARBUT NIKOLAUS ’81, continues to work as a physical therapist. One of the joys of parenting is getting live vicariously through our adventurous kids. Kathy and I are currently “practicing” being empty-nesters as our youngest daughter, Annie, is halfway through her junior year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Flensburg Germany. Our son, Kevin, just returned from two months in Antarctica where he worked as a polar field engineer and made it to the actual South Pole.” TOM ABENDROTH ’81: “2016 marked my 32nd year practicing law. Hard to believe that I’m now in that category of ‘old-timers’ around the firm. The year also marked the college graduation of our older child, Kate. She joined the ranks of distinguished Duke University graduates whose parents went to Ripon, along with Kevin Nikolaus. Even better, Kate got a job, as student program coordinator for the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke. Our other daughter, Eliza, is a junior at Kenyon College. Kenyon won out over Ripon and a bunch of other schools. It is very much a Ripon-like experience for her, with its rural setting, small classes and high level of interaction with the faculty.

Finally, our big adventure of the year was a trip to Iceland this last summer.”

1980-82 MICHAEL ALDRICH ’81: “Hard to believe it’s 2017. I’m sure we are all looking forward to those awkward 25-, 30- holy crap 40-year high school reunions. 2016 was arguably a pretty big year for me. I was remarried in June (my late wife, Meg, passed away in 2014) to a wonderful woman named Geraldine. We are having a great time together and navigating the challenges of mushing two adult lives together at this stage of ‘adulthood.’ We had a quick weekend honeymoon in June in Green Lake (by motorcycle). I always love riding the back roads to Ripon and the view of the campus from the hill west of Rodman and the president’s home. In November, I started a new retail franchise business in Naperville, Illinois, called vomFASS, a culinary, wine and spirits shop (@ vomFASSNaperville on Facebook). And, yes, I know that no one in their right mind starts a brick-and-mortar retail business in this day and age. I also completed a yearlong improv training program at Second City in Chicago and performed there and in other locations around the Chicago area during the year. Saw SETH WILLIAMS ’81 and LYNN FRISVOLD WILLIAMS ’80 in May when I helped to emcee a conference they help run in Chicago.

We also connected a few other times during the year.

Had breakfast with DIANNE ORNDORFF DIMOND ’81 in August while on a motorcycle trip up to Duluth and the U.P. A. MATHEW “MAT” LUEBBERS III ’81 and I have connected on Facebook (I guess the kids do that these days) and had him ‘like’ the fact that I survived the Chicago Triathlon in August. Tried to keep up with my kids during trips to Boston, Atlanta and Los Angeles.”

DAN FINKELSTEIN ’81: “Dan is living the good life in Troy, Michigan. Dan came out of retirement to start his second (even if part-time) career as a test driver for Roush Performance.”

DAVID JANSSEN ’81: “I am on my seventh year as a trustee of the College and am proud of the work we are doing. The Storzer expansion should give Ripon the nicest indoor track in the state. There will be four indoor tennis courts, so I believe Ripon can one day again be a tennis powerhouse. My son, Greg, coached tennis at Ripon College four years ago, and it was a drag to get busy students to practice in Oshkosh or Fond du Lac. The facility should allow the College access to intramurals while varsity practice is undertaken. Personally, my plastic surgery practice is doing well. I did a surgical mission this year again to the high mountains of Peru doing mostly clefts and burn scar contractures on kids.

KRISTIN KOHLES JANSSEN ’82 and I have four children in the young adult range, but none are married yet. I do a lot of extreme bicycling endurance rides in Colorado like The Death Ride Tour and have become a pickle ball player. I hope to wear out before I rust out. I will be at Kristin’s’ 35th this summer.”

JEFF MCANDREW ’81: “My wife, Debra and I attended our 35th reunion last June and had a great time catching up with TOM ABENDROTH ’81, DAVE JANSSEN ’81, ANDREW “ANDY” SCHMIDT ’81 and others. I am looking forward to see more you at the next reunion.”

ANDREW SCHMIDT ’81: “My wife, SUSAN ANGELL SCHMIDT ’80, and I took a whitewater rafting trip in central Idaho on the middle fork of the Salmon River.

It was 100 miles of bouncy water. Our son, Alex, and Sue’s mom, Joan Angell, joined us for a fun week. Alex and Andy spent most of the trip in one-man rafts called ‘Duckies.’ The bouncier the water, the better! Sue and her mom took a more traditional raft where they enjoyed the scenery. Alex is a junior at Hamline University. He is a history major — does that surprise you? He has his eye on law school. Again, are you surprised? Before dropping him off this fall, we attended the Minnesota State Fair.

This year, we discovered the bottomless glass of milk.

For a mere $2, we drank all the white and chocolate milk we wanted. We three Wisconsinites couldn’t believe our luck!”

LAWRENCE

1982 Catherine Lothrop Hager 516 Cashew Court, San Ramon, CA 94583 925-984-6713 / cathager@comcast.net Peter Hintz W844 Lakeside Drive, Green Lake, WI 54941 920-229-4399 / hintzp@gmail.com Dear Classmates, Soon and very soon we will be getting together in Ripon to celebrate 35 years since graduation. You should be getting fliers, emails and can even check Facebook (see below) to see how you can be a part of this great event.

On behalf of the Class of 1982 Reunion Committee, we want to personally extend an invitation to attend this year’s Alumni Weekend to celebrate our 35th reunion!

Please save the date: June 22-25, 2017, to attend. Events actually start on Thursday and end Sunday morning. So far, we have a reunion committee of 13 of your classmates dedicated to making our reunion a fabulous event. We invite any and all to join us in the planning, and we value everyone’s input.

Our committee currently includes PETER HINTZ ’82, LINDA JENSEN HALL ’82, KRISTEN RASMUSSEN OLSON ’82 (chair), MARTHA SPITTELL ZIEGELBAUER ’82, TOBIN STORZER ’82, KRISTIN KOHLES JANSSEN ’82, PETRA JONES ’82, LAUREL STEWART ’82, LAURA NORRIS ’82, ELIZABETH HELGESON HAUSER ’82, CATHY LOTHROP HAGER ’82 and AMY BAHR ’82.

Please feel free to contact any of us to volunteer or ask questions. Kristen’s information is kolsonc21@yahoo.com or 507-279-1091.

We also have a Facebook page called Ripon College Class of 1982. I (Cathy) went through my friends list and added many people from several years to our page, as we want to keep our community updated on our reunion plans. You will have to ask to join as we have seen some weird requests come through. But the beauty of a small class is that most of us know each other. Several of us are administrators and can approve your request. This will be one way we will put information about the reunion out to you.

This invitation also extends to classes of ’80, ’81, ’83 and ’84 and any who may wish to join our class for this event.

Spread the word! We would love to have the other classes join us, as really, we are all “family.”

Our committee has chosen Lane Library as our reunion dinner venue. For those of you who haven’t been back in a while, the library has been refurbished and is quite a beautiful space. We are thrilled to have secured one of the most coveted dinner party venues! Also, like our 20th reunion, we are planning a boat ride on Green Lake the afternoon the 24th before the evening dinner.

You will be hearing from one of our reunion committee members personally get your input into the events and activities. Also, if there are classmates you would like to see join us, please let us know if you know their whereabouts.

KEVIN HALL ’82 and LINDA JENSEN HALL ’82 of Cedar Falls, Iowa, write: “We just returned from spending 10 days in Antarctica. We went mountain climbing and camped on the ice. We saw humpback whales, killer whales, minke whales (up close), seals, leopard seals and, of course, lots and lots of penguins. Our Ripon banner made it to the top of one of the mountains we climbed.

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DO YOU LOVE STAYING CONNECTED WITH CLASSMATES? THEN WE NEED

 AS A CLASS AGENT!

Class Agents needed for the following classes: 1930-49 1950-52 1953-1954 1956 1957

1958 1962 1976 1985

Class Agents do the following: 

Write two class letters annually; one in the fall and one in spring



Collect news from classmates for publication in R Connections



Encourage classmates to participate in alumni activities and Alumni Weekend



Serve as or assist College staff in recruiting a reunion coordinator/reunion committee every five years



Encourage classmates to give back to Ripon

Please contact Yvonne Nicklaus, constituent engagement and outreach coordinator, at 920-748-8117 or nicklausy@ripon.edu for more information.

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1982-84 It was the most amazing adventure we’ve ever had. The scenery and wildlife was truly incredible! A ‘must-do’ on everyone’s bucket list!”

We will update the class notes after the reunion – we hope to fill a page in the booklet! Save the date and hope to see you in June!

CATHY and PETER

1983 Barb Williams Clay 14794 Blakeney Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55347 612-749-5010 / jbemtclay@msn.com Greetings from the Clay Family to the Class of 1983! Our exciting news is that we have two kids almost off the Clay payroll. Lizzy is teaching K-8 art in Colorado Springs.

She eloped with Jim Clark in July 2016, and we will celebrate as a family this summer. Molly just accepted a position with UC Health in Fort Collins and starts next week. Thaysen is a sophomore at Stout and is enjoying Greek life. We said goodbye to my mom in September, and I know many others in our class have done the same with a parent in recent years. Let’s keep their spirits alive and well seeking kindness and social justice for all.

When cruising social media, I am happy to report that JANE VAN VALKENBERG WOODS ’83 and DON WOODS ’82 celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary, PAUL EVENSEN ’83 is living in Paris and traveling the world with a recent trip to Spain, and I love DEMI DYE ABRAHAMSON ’83’s take on sharing art vs. political posts! I’m hoping that we can connect now that I figured out she lives in Minnesota. John and I also enjoyed dinner with WILLIAM “BILL” HOOD ’83 and his wife, Karla, while they were here on business. KEVIN DYKSTRA ’83 sent me a message about the Storzer renovation. It is going well and looks amazing. Our next reunion is just around the corner in 2018, and Kevin hopes that we are the first class to host a reunion in the Kettle Club. This is a great segue for you to let me know if you are interested in planning our 35th reunion.

LAWRENCE HUEBNER ’83 of Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, writes: “Just began a two-year project lead role on a NASA-sponsored activity to develop technologies for manufacturing and assembling spacecraft on orbit. Also, I became a first-time grandfather this year!”

Thank you very much for your support! Please keep your updates coming to Ripon, update your email address, and feel free to contact me at the email address listed above. It would be great to share your news with our classmates.

Peace to all, BARB

1984 Connie Herbon Moser 33010 North Forest Drive, Grayslake, IL 60030 847-372-5410 / clmoser24@gmail.com Spring Greetings! I hope this letter finds you well. Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to thank KRIST ENSTROM ’84 for writing the fall class letter for many years. The stories he told and the memories he gave us were wonderful, and we will miss his wit and adventures extolling why Ripon means so much to all of us. Thank you Krist!

Much has happened in my life since the last time I wrote.

I have three grandbabies now. And life as a grandma is so fulfilling. Yes, as they say, children are wonderful but grandbabies are just that much more fun. We dance, we sing, we draw … Grandbabies make me take a step back

and just remember, every day, what in life is truly important.

Other than grandbabies, I have started an exciting new job as chief operating officer of a healthcare Enterprise Risk Management technology company called Verge Health. And, while I travel to distant lands (i.e., Charleston, South Carolina, mostly), my husband is now loving the “life of bees.” He loves the nature, the science and the ability to give all the raw honey away. On the Ripon front, I recently spent a weekend with DONNA REARDON GOLDBERG ’84 and VIRGINIA “FRITZ” VICHA ERICKSON ’84 in Cocoa Beach, Florida. We enjoyed golfing, brunch, Bloody Mary’s (i.e., yes, they are full meals) and catching up.

While I did not receive a great deal of news from the alumni base, I did get in touch with a few individuals.

First, I sit on the Ripon College Board of Trustees with DAVID SHOGREN ’84, so we catch up at least three times a year. Dave resides in Maplewood, Missouri, and runs his company, U.S. International Foods LLC. He is very excited as they recently won the STL Export Accelerator Award. Of course, I did not know what the award signified, so I used my trusty Google search and learned the following: ‘The STL Export Accelerator, the first accelerator in the St. Louis area to focus exclusively on exports, will grant non-dilutive seed money to local companies seeking to expand their footprint outside of the United States. The winners receive funding, training, mentoring and office space at one of STL VentureWorks’ innovation centers.

This is the inaugural year for the export awards.

‘The STL Export Accelerator, which includes $60,000 in prize money from JPMorgan Chase, was established

by World Trade Center St. Louis and Accelerate St. Louis as phase one of the recently launched St. Louis Metro Export Plan in collaboration with The Brookings Institute – Global Cities Initiative. It rewards startups and the region’s small-to-mid-sized companies which plan to export within two years of launching.’

If interested, visit http://worldtradecenter-stl.com/eventscalendar/events/stl-export-accelerator-awards-ceremony/ to learn more about this initiative.

Way to go, Dave!

I also caught up with REBECCA LINSKY DELISLE ’84 through email and here is what she writes: “I always enjoy reading the class updates that Connie and Krist provide in the class letters, but when Connie contacted me to ask if I would write something for this issue, my first thought was, ‘Why me?’ But then I thought that since I would like to hear updates from more of my classmates, maybe it’s time I write my own! So here goes: I live in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, have two children; Tyler, 25, and VERONICA DELISLE ’17, 21, and after 32 years recently retired from IBM where over those 32 years I enjoyed working as a systems engineer, technical sales manager, project manager (working on the same team as DESIREE SWENSON STROM ’84) and program manager.

Even though I have lived in Massachusetts for 29 years, I still make it back to Wisconsin a couple times a year to visit my parents in Green Bay and to visit Veronica who is a senior at Ripon College and will be graduating in May with an English major and music minor. Since her freshman year, I have enjoyed my many visits to Ripon, including attending concerts in Rodman where I’ve been able to catch up with Professor Dietrich, Dr. Loomer and BRET JAEGER ’84 as a Civil War re-enactor!

“I am not ready to be retired full time, so I’m looking into options for my second career — hopefully, I’ll have something new to report in the next class letter! Until

Spring 2017 33

Class Letters then, I continue to enjoy my book club, playing in my church’s bell choir and spending summers in Door County with my family. Life is good.”

I look forward to hearing from more of you for the fall letter. Before I close, a short update on Storzer: Last October, I took a tour of Storzer. The progress on the new health and wellness facility was breathtaking, and excitement had begun to build in the student body. As of today, the project is still on track to be completed in August. Thank you to all who have donated or will donate. This project offers all Ripon students the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Enjoy life!

CONNIE

1985 The role of Class Agent is currently vacant. If you have an interest, know someone who might be interested or want to learn more, email alumni@ripon.edu.

1986 Dan McNaughton 10021 Abbott Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431 612-209-2996 / dan@egpinc.net From those of you whom I stalk on Facebook, it seems as though the limits that parenthood has placed on many of us have loosened. Others have found employment or volunteer positions overseas. Wanting to find some excitement also, my wife, Amy, and I are going to fly from our empty nest for six months to Vienna, Austria, starting in August. This is my way of asking for a volunteer to take over as Class Agent. It has been fun, but I think someone else can do better.

Not much news to report. My son still is enrolled at Ripon as a sophomore, major not yet decided, but enjoying living as a Phi Delt and loving Ripon College.

It is exciting to have a major construction project on campus. If you are ever in the Ripon area, make sure you stop in at J’s BBQ. It’s the real deal BBQ and recently moved downtown, in the old Beckoning location. The Ripon College bookstore is attached. There is another great food option in downtown: Knuth Brewing Co. is a great craft brewer located in downtown Ripon with excellent brews and food.

Hope everyone is doing well.

DAN MCNAUGHTON

1987 Dorrie Smith Scranton 860-455-6108 / dsscranton@gmail.com Chris Templeton 312.402.6207 / ChristineTempleton17@gmail.com Welcome to 2017, and our 30th Reunion year! If you have not been back to Ripon since graduation, this reunion is the perfect opportunity to come and see all the campus updates. It was so fun and interesting to return during the last reunion and see how many of the buildings have been transformed on the inside. The downstairs space in the Commons, where we just threw our backpacks, is a Starbucks and lounge; there is an apartment building for upper classmen; and don’t get us started about the changes to Bartlett Hall, to name a few.

There have been so many exciting changes in the last 30 years that it’s well worth another visit. We encourage you to join us on the Ripon College Class of 1987 Facebook page, where we will periodically be posting information regarding the reunion, so keep watching for them.

Join us June 22 – 25; we can’t wait to see you! And if you’re travelling from out of town, there are some great house and condo vacation rentals in Green Lake on VRBO and Airbnb.

OLIVIA HECHT ’87 of Reading, Massachusetts, and DORRIE SMITH SCRANTON ’87 of Woodstock, Connecticut, met in Boston to participate in one of many Women’s March for America that took place around the country.

ROSEMARY “RHEA” BELL BEHLKE ’87 writes that she’s working at the Moraine Park Technical College along with fellow alumnae DANA BOURLAND KNEBEL ’86 and JULIE WALDVOGEL-LEITNER ’02.

Looking forward to seeing you at the reunion in June!

CHRIS and DORRIE

1988 David Jonas 202-251-9640 / djevents@aol.com Kathy Wade 248-470-4336 / wadekas@sbcglobal.net Greetings classmates from Kathy! I recently was reading the article in Ripon Magazine about Bovay’s: Ripon College Study Bar and Mercantile. Did you see that it is located where the Beckoning was when we were in college? Wow, if those walls could talk! (I haven’t seen the new space, so maybe those walls aren’t there.) I am looking forward to visiting campus soon to see it. What a great way to integrate the College with the town! In the Bovay’s addition, there is a multi-purpose classroom, a faculty office, study spaces, flexible event space and a sound system.

In April 2017, there was a planning session for our — are you sitting down? — 30th reunion in June 2018! I am not April-fooling. Please let DAVID JONAS ’88 or me know if you are interested in assisting in planning the reunion. If you haven’t been on campus, you may want to go and check out all of the positive changes. I know I would love to see your faces at our reunion!

KRISTINE MAHLER ALLEN ’88: “Nothing terribly exciting to report, but you have my sympathy trying to generate news for our class. Our second child, MICHAEL ALLEN ’17, will be graduating from Ripon this year, and our daughter, EMMA ALLEN ’18, who is a junior, will get to run on the new indoor track next

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1984-89 year! JAMES ALLEN ’87 and I would have loved to have that back in our day! Jay is still with IBM, and I am still coaching track/tennis. If anyone is in town for the services of Mayo Clinic, we’d love to hear from you!”

STEVEN BARNETT ’88: “My nonprofit Peanut Butter Plan is going on six years old, and we have fed about 136,000 homeless people in Denver, Boulder and Portland. In my professional life, I am in the hemp business and endeavoring to produce replicable medicine from cannabis plants. Excited to be working in the U.S., Israel and Central America on this project.”

RICHARD BOWHOUSEN ’88 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin: “Just relocated into the Oshkosh area where I am the director of the YMCA Tennis Center and a new team member of the Oshkosh YMCA management team.”

JAMES DONNELLY ’88: “Jan and I have quit our jobs, pulling our son out of school and going to take our boat around the Great Loop for the next year. We are preparing the boat for a May departure. We have setup a blog at https://serenitysstory.blog/” DEBORAH DAMROW HANNI ’88 writes, “I’ve just quit my job of 10 years and am taking a major break from 20 years in the high-tech world. I’m considering the possibility of moving to Portugal for a while. Life is good!

Ahhh, head and heart space!” She crossed Croatia off her bucket list this fall and posted some amazing photos on Facebook. Sounds great to us!

KRISTEN KNOLL-CARLSON HOLLES ’88: ”Life is chaotic, as always. I just ended my dry spell of employment and was hired as the accountant for the Cowboy Joe Club at the University of Wyoming Athletic Department. Joe and I are approaching our 20th anniversary. Our two girls, Sarah Beth and Sydney, are keeping us busy. Sarah Beth is starting to panic about ACTs and college applications.”

JULIE SIKKINK LEE ’88: “We have a busy year in the making: putting our house on the market and starting to build one on our farm. Our daughter, CHARLOTTE SIKKINK LEE ’13, is getting married this summer in Kansas, while our son, James, graduates from the University of Washington in June as a civil engineering major. I’m still teaching full time at Oregon Episcopal School and working hard at the farm with Daniel on the weekends.”

CHARLES “CHUCK” NAILEN ’88: “The only update I have right now is that I am headed out for my first trip outside the U.S.! I am headed to the American Embassy in Manila, to teach a two- week Server 2012 class. Just not looking forward to the travel. Total of 26 hours to get there.”

LINNEA HEMPEL DE VALDEZ ’88: “I’m in my 26th year with Minneapolis Public Schools teaching ESL and AVID; and hubby, Jose Valdez, will celebrate 20 years of Brushabilities — Professional Painting for Less in March.

Our 12-year-old, Will, has settled into middle school and, much to our dismay, hockey. Our biggest news is that our older son, BENJAMIN VALDEZ-HEMPEL ’16, finished a semester early and will make the walk down to Union Hall at Ripon College’s Commencement this May. He’s currently working at the World Affairs Council-D.C.” DEBRA WESTFAHL PATZ ’88: “Work is going well, but I have been focusing on fitness and strength this past year. I just joined our volunteer fire department, got my motorcycle license and training my dog to be a pet therapy animal. It’s been fun! I’m hoping to travel more this year. If anyone is in the Appleton/Oshkosh area this year, I’d love to catch up! Email me at golden4@ centurytel.net.”

In Closing: David, our classmates and I enjoy hearing

from you! Please share your news at any time throughout the year! Please keep the College in mind when thinking about charitable donations.

KATHY and DAVID

1989 Nikki Zens Lindberg nicolelindberg67@gmail.com Mitch Rosin mitch.rosin2@gmail.com BARB THOMPSON PAMPERIN ’89 writes: “My news is that my daughter, ANGELA PAMPERIN ’16, graduated from Ripon College in December. My son will be graduating from high school in June, but he appears to be Carthage-bound. Great times!”

KATHRYN SCHULTZ ’89 writes: “I decided post-election 2016 to try to do better at finding a remotely decent work-life balance — an issue with which I’ve long struggled. So I joined another choir, an exceptionally fine choir of 16 voices that specializes in early music (think Anonymous Four), so now I’m back to being affiliated with five choirs, one of which I direct. I’m still traveling a lot for both my work at the State Department and for fun (in 2016 I visited Prague, Denmark, Oslo, London, Islamabad and Albuquerque for work and Germany, Poland and Wisconsin for fun.) Thanks to the fabulous Dr. Brian Smith, I spoke to a few classes and gave an all-college presentation at Ripon in October. (You can watch the latter on You Tube - www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Q54GYalZTsk) It was fabulous seeing many friends and mentors at Ripon, including Brian and Mary Kaye Smith, MICHELE WITTLER ’76 and Skip Wittler, Dr. Kurt Dietrich, the now retired Dr. Martin Farrell and former Dean Doug Northrup. I also got to meet fellow grad BARB THOMPSON PAMPERIN ’89’s daughter ANGELA PAMPERIN ’16, who was a student at Ripon. I’m slated to head back to Ripon at the beginning of March to participate in a Career Day at the College focused on D.C.-area careers in the national security field. Love getting back to the homeland.”

ANDREW PETERSON ’89: “Believe it or not, I went swimming with the Rolling Stones in the Leela pool when they came to Bangalore in 2004. I was living in there at the time.”

ANNE BURCHMORE MIES ’89: “My 2017 New Year’s resolution is to have MITCH ROSIN ’89 plan, bring and tour KERSTIN TIMM MOURAR ’89, JENNIFER DEWEY ’88, ALICE GALLAGHER ARCHABAL ’89, NICOLE ZENS LINDBERG ’89, ELIZABETH “SCOTTIE” NICHOLS GIROUARD ’89, TOBI CAWTHRA ’89 and whoever else wants to come – on a trip SOMEWHERE. #LearnFromTheBest STEVEN GORSKI ’89: “Thank you to the true heroes who have served and protected this great country. Proud to say my brother is still serving.”

TIMOTHY WIEDMEYER ’89: “Four and a half years ago, I took a gamble to move out of Wisconsin for the first time in my life. It turned out to be a great experience both personally and professionally. After taking part in the successful turnaround and eventual sale of my employer, I’ve moved back to Wisconsin to temporarily/partially retire. I purchased a house that requires a lot of work, and perform consulting/litigation support work on a part-time basis. Not sure why I thought moving back in November was a good idea – but the weather keeps me focused on inside home repairs. Looking forward to spring, summer and fall in Wisconsin, and hopefully spending a couple months a year back in Texas. We’ll see how it goes!”

Spring 2017 35

Class Letters RODNEY SCHULZ ’89 of Slinger, Wisconsin: “I am currently an assistant director at Northwestern Mutual working on a reinvention of the client and digital experience. I am also honored to serve as the president of Peace Lutheran Church and School in Hartford, Wisconsin. Since PATRICK FLORENCE ’89 doesn’t have a cell phone, let him and others know that I am still not on Facebook.”

BARBARA WHITSTONE ’89 of Waukesha, Wisconsin has been named vice president-facilities at Rogers.

In this role, she supports the day-to-day operations at each Rogers’ location, including the review and implementation of housekeeping and environmental services, capital replacement planning and staff training on Life Safety Code, CMS and state physical plant regulations. Whitstone holds a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Ripon College. She is certified by the Building Service Contractors Association International as a Registered Building Service Manager (RBSM). Prior to joining Rogers, Whitstone served as senior vice president of business operations at Milwaukee-based Cleanpower, where she was instrumental in their move to more sustainable cleaning processes.

1990 Robert E. Corkery Jr. 283 Sylvan Court, Saunderstown, RI 02874 bcorkery@aol.com Christina L. Maggio-Kellerstrass 24 Windsor Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 christinacl27@aol.com Hello Classmates!

Couldn’t let the spring or summer go by without wishing that all of you are doing well! Not much to report. I’m still in a world of bliss with the Cubs winning the World Series, and as we craft this note spring training is on the way.

Fondly, BOB and CHRISTINA

1991 Tracy Maher 1437 Marchbanks Dr. #7 Walnut Creek, CA 94598 401-225-9189 / tramtime@att.net Samantha Bailey 2821 32nd Ave So #1 Minneapolis, MN 55406 612-978-4124 / Samantha@baileysorts.com Greetings, Class of 1991! If you’re reading this and didn’t receive an exhortation to send in an update, it probably means that we have an incorrect email address for you on file. If you haven’t been in touch recently, please consider sending me an email with a few words about how life is treating you — and, of course, Ripon would love an annual fund contribution while you’re at it.

SAMANTHA BAILEY ’91: “I’m closing in on two years at Merrill Corp. and recently was promoted to senior director of user experience (still clawing my way back after my seven-year baby downshift). I coached soccer last fall and currently am teaching Sunday school (I’m about equally unqualified for both roles). My son, Niles, just turned 8 and is turning into a video game junkie despite my best intentions to produce a bookworm.”

LAURA KREOFSKY ’91: Laura Kreofsky and her partner, Debbie Leahy, were married in a small ceremony in the historic building in which they live in Portland, Oregon,

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mid-January. As a honeymoon/travel adventure, they visited Bangkok, Thailand, and then Da Nang, Vietnam, where they spent time meeting and having fun with the 17 orphans and foster children at Mary’s House, a private orphanage founded by a mutual friend years ago. A highlight of the trip was meeting Pham Thi Ngoc Tram, “Tram,” a teenage girl at Mary’s House who Laura (and now Debbie) sponsor. They also arranged to have Tram begin English language classes, key to her having vastly expanded educational and socio-economic opportunities long-term. Later this summer, Laura and Debbie will host a wedding party/Mary’s House fundraiser. Donations will be used to purchase and install playground equipment to Mary’s House.

BRYAN LEWIS ’91: “I am still at the University of WisconsinParkside as I have been for the past 16 years. While I still hold a faculty position within the Biological Sciences department, I am also the associate dean of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, director of the Center for Health Sciences, director of the Environmental Studies Program and Academic Director of an online degree completion program in Health Information Management and Technology. Life overall is great – happy and healthy!”

TRACY MAHER ’91: “I hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. I spent mine back east in Rhode Island and New Jersey, which is always fun. Still holding out hope for another Christmas in Florida, but I’ve been told not any time soon. I kicked off the 2017 concert season (I’ve planned seven concerts so far, and it’s only February!) with a weekend in Las Vegas to see George Strait. So much fun! I look forward to hearing what everyone else is doing in 2017.”

MAURA MURPHY ’91: “Still living in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, still working at General Mills. This location allows me a weekly walk with St. Paul resident ELIZABETH LAKE ’91 – we braved the Ripon-like treacherously icy conditions yesterday for a chance to connect. It was well worth it. My husband, Steve, and kids, Truman and Claire, and I are enjoying being dog owners. Our 1-year-old pooch, Benji ,keeps us on our toes. In March, we will head to NYC to explore over spring break. Before we head to NYC, we will participate in the JDRF One Walk to support JDRF and our oldest, Truman, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes in 2016 at age 11. JDRF is a major funder of research for improved treatment for T1D and we hope early in Truman’s life a breakthrough will allow him to stop having to be his own pancreas.”

WILLARD STEINBERG ’91: Will Steinberg recently moved to the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The neighborhood includes the Minneapolis Warehouse Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

RICHARD WHIPPLE ’91: “I just wanted to say hello and give you a brief update on my life. This last September, I resigned from Riverside Community Care as a residential counselor after working there for more than 10 years. I am now a stay-at-home dad taking care of two girls, Julia and Elizabeth. I am now in the process of writing a book about our journey through cancer and being a grieving father. I am wondering if there is anyone in our class or near it in the publishing business that could give me some advice and help with some basic questions.”

From Class of ’91 Facebook page: AMY MIETZEL ’91 hanging with SOCHEATA LOR ’91 and DIONNE GREEN CAMPBELL ’91. Makes life better!

Don’t Forget About Our Facebook Group. If you’re on Facebook, please ask to join our Class of ’91 group for updates and Ripon news. Alternatively, send your email address to Samantha and I can add you to the group that way.

1989-93 Wishing you peace and health in the coming months.

Have a great summer — and don’t forget to capture those vacation vignettes for the fall letter!

SAMANTHA BAILEY and TRACY MAHER

1992 JuDee Stojsavljevic Fischer 6714 Bobolink Road, Racine, WI 53402 262-681-8509 / fofastoj@gmail.com Bonni Dembroski Fredrick 12750 West Bobwood Road, New Berlin, WI 53151 262-796-1531 / jfredrick1@wi.rr.com Erin Marie McCormack 1821 Saluda Court, Raleigh, NC 27608 erinmack2002@yahoo.com Greetings, Class of 1992! This spring class letter most likely will find you either in late-winter-where-is-spring?

Mode, or in early-spring-bring-on-summer mode. Here’s hoping it’s the latter rather than the former! The daffodils started blooming in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the second week of February this year, so I’m voting on the side of the “bring-on-summer!” contingent.

First things first, this is a big reunion year for us. Yes, it’s been 25 years since we graduated from Ripon, and everyone’s invited back to celebrate this summer.

Please mark the weekend of June 22-25, 2017, on your calendar. You’ll be getting separate information about it plus more information is available at https://www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend/. Our class traditionally has had a nice turnout for reunions, so let’s keep that momentum going.

Some updates from the world around us. Recently one of Ripon’s most illustrious alumni passed away. AL JARREAU ’62, whom many of us had the pleasure of seeing perform for various Ripon-related events, died at the age of 76. He was a Grammy award-winning jazz vocalist and musician who also gave a great deal back to the Ripon and greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin, community throughout his legendary music career. Many people know him best for his musical talents, but while at Ripon, he played basketball and starred for “DOC” WEISKE ’50’s team.

You may remember a former Ripon College first lady, Margaret Stott, from our tenure at Ripon. She also recently passed away. There was a link to send your personal condolences to Dr. Bill Stott in the monthly Ripon College email newsletter in February. If you haven’t signed up to receive that monthly email update, send an email to alumni@ripon.edu and they can get you added to the list.

What’s currently happening at Ripon? I’m sure you’ll be surprised to hear that when this letter was written in February, snow was in the 10-day weather forecast.

Winter fun is still continuing on campus, which means that there are at least a couple of guys still out there wearing shorts, having declared “warm weather” to be somewhere near or above 32 degrees F. Other recent events at Ripon include a celebration of the College’s 166th birthday, observed with Founders’ Day activities. The annual Alumni Basketball games were a success in January, and students are already only a few weeks away from midterms and spring break!

Ripon is celebrating its annual “Tuition Free Forward” day this year on Feb. 28. This is the date when tuition money runs out and the College operates solely on donations and gifts from alumni and friends of Ripon College. You’ll probably be receiving a friendly phone call from a Ripon College student sometime soon asking for you to support the College. Even if you’re not able to take that call, please don’t forget about donating to Ripon and contributing to our class gift for the reunion this summer.

Instead of sharing class updates, I’ll encourage all of you to please attend the festivities this summer!

On behalf of JUDEE STOJSAVLJEVIC FISCHER ’92, BONNI DEMBROSKI FREDRICK ’92 and myself, ERIN MARIE MCCORMACK ’92, we wish you a wonderful spring and hope to see you in June.

1993 Melinda Trainor Hutchinson 465 ½ Penkwe Way, Eagan, MN 55122 651-259-3459 / triangularfield@yahoo.com Hi All. I hope you are all doing well. Time for the spring update from the Class of 1993!

BRIAN MARQUARDT ’93 of Seattle, Washington, was the recipient of the 2016 FACSS Charles Mann Award, given to an individual who has demonstrated advancement(s) at a conference presented by FACSS in the field of applied raman spectroscopy and/or demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the raman spectroscopy program at a conference presented

by FACSS and/or the ASTM Raman subcommittee.

MARLA MAY ’93 of Mosinee, Wisconsin, and her fiancé, Kip Thiel, welcomed their first child, Brady William Charles, on Nov. 18, 2016.

TERESA “TERRI” MORGAN ’93 of Portland, Oregon, continues to work at the Portland Development Commission. Reorganization has resulted in Terri being part of the Asset and Investment Management Team. As part of her professional development, she is pursuing a graduate certificate in real estate development at Portland State University. She expects to be complete that in June 2017.

CATHERINE “CAT” WILSON HALLETT ’93 of Cotuit, Massachusetts, has been writing a weekly blog that she says “people seem to think is somewhat entertaining.” That it is — check it out here: www.capecod.com/category/entertainment/ that-girl-cat-wilson/.

Thank you to all who shared news with our classmates.

Please feel free to send me your news throughout the year for future letters — anything you’d like to share with your Ripon classmates!

If you haven’t heard from me by email, it’s likely I either don’t have an email for you or the one I have is incorrect.

Please contact me by Facebook or email to send me your news. I also can forward your contact information to the College if you’d like. Otherwise, you can contact the College directly with changes at alumni@ripon.edu or via U.S. mail to Office of Constituent Engagement, Ripon College, PO Box 248, Ripon, WI 54971. Thank you!

Regards, MELINDA TRAINOR HUTCHINSON triangularfield@yahoo.com

Upcoming alumni gathering events include a Presidential Reception with Ripon President Zach Messitte in Washington, D.C., on March 14, plus Rally Hours in Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Madison in late March.

Spring 2017 37

Class Letters 1994

know what’s going on with each other anyway!

Colin Dickerson colin1041@hotmail.com

Here in Wisconsin, we are ending a week of temperatures in the 60s — in mid-February. It’s very odd. On his 65-degree birthday this week, I reminded VINCE PADILLA ’95 that when he turned 21, we received so much snow in Ripon that we were all stuck on campus, ruining his plans to go downtown and get his first legal drink.

Kimberly Woolley berly@fastmail.com / www.facebook.com/kimbo.woolley www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-woolley-a903959 Greetings, Class of 1994! I hope you are all doing well.

I was on campus most recently in October and am very excited about the changes occurring at Storzer.

The gym is being reconstructed into a top-notch health and wellness center, benefiting both students and the community. If you have the means, please consider making a donation to this important construction project.

I will be on campus again for graduation (May 13-14, 2017) and would love to catch up with classmates. Please reach out if you will be at Ripon that weekend. My contact details are above.

Thank you to the classmates who reached out to me with updates: ERIC ATKISSON ’94 of Alexandria, Virginia, is working as a speechwriter at the Patent and Trademark Office. In his spare time, he is finishing up his first year of work for a master of fine arts in creative writing from George Mason University and doing lots of wildlife photography for fun.

Eric appeared as an extra in this season of “Mercy Street” on PBS. CARRIE CAMARATO BROCK ’94 of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, is a benefit administration specialist at Delta Dental of Wisconsin. She has three children who keep her very busy.

LUKE GUTHRIE ’94 of Alexandria, Virginia, works in Washington, D.C., as director of membership, marketing and development, for the National Guard Association of the United States. He has two boys, ages 11 and 8.

BROOKE TIREMAN KONOPACKI ’94 of Winneconne, Wisconsin, is excited that her niece started at Ripon this fall. Brooke’s niece, SIERRA TIREMAN ’20, is having a great time, and her sorority big sis is SHAWN BLESSING ’94’s daughter, PAYTON BLESSING ’19. Brooke is the education content manager for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. It is an amazing place to work!

Her travel agency also keeps her busy in her free time.

NELLE AVERITT SOMERVILLE ’94 of Baltimore, Maryland, has been elected to the vestry at St. David’s Roland Park with a three-year term ending in 2020. She also is encouraging our classmates to #make45greatagain for those born in 1972. Get out there and take a selfie and use the hashtag.

All the best, KIMBERLY

1995 Vince Padilla and Amy DeKeyser Padilla 1357 Broadway Drive, Sun Prairie, WI 53590 vincepad@gmail.com / amypadilla@gmail.com Angela Keith 522 Pawnee, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 (928) 380-1880 / azee11@gmail.com Dear Classmates: It’s so nice to keep up with many of you on Facebook. We love seeing the successes of your kids and the fun pictures of your pets, and we love to travel to different places through your vacation photos. It’s a whole different world than it was in 1995. While the College doesn’t have any formal updates submitted by our classmates, technology allows us the ability to keep up with each other’s lives so easily that many of us already

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We hope you will take the time to read the campus news throughout this publication. There are so many great things happening in Ripon these days. If you haven’t had a chance to visit campus during Alumni Weekend or any other time, we would encourage you get that on your todo list. It’s fun to see the many things have changed since our time there. More importantly, it’s what hasn’t changed — and that is the spirit and heart of what made Ripon a special place for all of us.

Until next time, AMY DEKEYSER PADILLA ’95 VINCE PADILLA ’95

1996 Jason Wood 83 Monroe Street, Unit 3B, Hoboken, NJ 07030 jlwood3773@gmail.com Greetings Class of 1996: I hope that most of you enjoying a relatively mild winter, that is compared to the years past. I can’t remember the last time it was so warm in the middle of February, not even having to wear a jacket here in New York City. I do hope that it doesn’t mean that snow will hit us in April. Although if anyone is missing all that snow, just go out to Lake Tahoe, California, and see how much they have. I was truly in awe to see the feet upon feet of snow.

Due to my schedule, I wasn’t able to get an email out to everyone, but I will be in the process of contacting members of our class to make sure we get the most upto-date information about you, your family and career.

Or, if you are on Facebook, I might be stalking you a bit and grabbing updates/pictures from there (with your permission, of course) to share with the members who are not on that social media site. We want to make sure to keep track of each other as we get older and do not see each other on a regular basis.

Remember that even though it isn’t our alumni year that you are welcome to attend the events held on campus in June. The College hosts a wonderful weekend and is open to all alumni with lots of different activities.

I do hope you have a great summer!!!

Regards, JASON WOOD ’96

1994-98 1997

1998

Kristin Bazzoli Piotrowski 4609 North Marlborough Drive, Shorewood, WI 53211 414-961-1059 / kbazzoli@yahoo.com

Sarah Eng 1945 West Argyle Street. Apt. 1, Chicago, IL 60640 312-404-6732 / saraheng@gmail.com

Hello Class of 1997,

Leilani Kupo 575 Matmor Road, Apt. 76, Woodland, CA 95776 419-308-8574 / deli_by_the_pond@yahoo.com

I hope all of you have had a great start to 2017! Spring has sprung (even in Wisconsin), and that means that summer is not far behind. Summer 2017 means our 20-year class reunion! I cannot believe that 20 years have passed by. Weren’t we just hanging out in the Quads or at J-Hall? Running to classes at Todd Wehr, West Hall, Farr Hall, Storzer, Rodman, or East Hall? Heading out to Timmons, Buzz-B’s, Miller’s, Dos Gringos, or Roadhouse?

Hello everyone: Happy 2017! Time continues to fly by.

Before we know it, June 2018 will be here and we will be celebrating our 20th reunion. Just a quick reminder, there’s a Facebook group for the class of 1998 if you aren’t already a member. It’s been quiet lately, but I’m betting that will change next year as we start planning.

The College has scheduled some really great events, and we encourage all of you to attend some or all of them. A group of our classmates are helping to shape our 20-year reunion to be our best yet, and I am thankful for their time and effort. A few notes:

As always, a big thank-you for sharing your news! Both SARAH ENG ’98 and I enjoy reading and compiling your updates for the publication! The new format of the class letter continues to be a great way to get updates from other classes and keep up with each other.

• Alumni Weekend information: You can find information on all of the weekend’s events at https:// www.ripon.edu/alumni-weekend/. We encourage you to attend as many of the events as you are able, but we want to especially call your attention to Saturday’s all-alumni march, all-campus lunch, Greek socials, class dinner, and all-alumni party and bonfire.

LYNNE PHILLIPS ’98 of Beach Park, Illinois, started as the curator at the National Museum of the American Sailor in Great Lakes, Illinois, back at the end of August.

• Saturday night’s class dinner: It will be at the one and only ROADHOUSE in their beautifully renovated upstairs space. We would like to incorporate pictures from our years at Ripon into a slide show to be presented at the dinner. If you have any pictures, please either scan them in, post them to our Class of 1997 Facebook page, or send them to Jason Corsten (dogkicker3@gmail.com). We will return any hard copies of pictures to you. Please keep the pictures appropriate should any children be at the dinner. Of note: the pictures will not be shared outside of our slide show to respect our alumni’s privacy.

• Registration: You can register for events at https://www. ripon.edu/alumni-weekend-reunions-registration/.

• Lodging: If you are interested in staying on campus in the dorms, you can indicate so during the registration process. Please note that there are very few Ripon hotels left available (http://www.ripon.edu/about/lodging). If Ripon hotels are unavailable, you may want to look into staying in Green Lake.

One more note: STEPHANIE BOSMAN FERNHABER ’97 has stepped down as our co-class agent. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank her for over 10 years of service to our class in this role. Stephanie is beyond amazing! If you are interested in being our Co-Class Agent, please let the College or me know.

STEVE WIECHMANN ’98 of Bozeman, Montana, is beginning his eighth year as CFO and CEO of “domestic operations” for 6169 Blackwood. In addition to being a stay-at-home dad, Steve is active in his neighborhood HOA, volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and at his children’s school. He is living in Bozeman, Montana with his wife of nine years, Melissa, and twin 7-year old daughters, Natalie and Emma. He recently was graced by the presence of MAREK HREBICEK ’98, of Prague, Czech Republic, and one of his sons on Marek’s biennial father/ son Montana ski trip.

BRAD KOZACZUK ’98 of New Holstein, Wisconsin, got engaged this past November to Gretchen HeubnerO’Leary.

MEGAN MACKEY ’98 of Juneau, Alaska, started a new job as a fishery management specialist with the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in June 2016.

LEILANI KUPO ’98 of Merced, California, is director of the Calvin E. Bright Success Center at the University of California Merced.

JOSH BOHNEN ’98 of Downers Grove, Illinois, married Samantha Olson Bohnen on September 24, 2016.

KENNETH “IAN” STEPLETON ’98 of Ripon, Wisconsin wrote an article about his experience at Ripon College. To read the entire column, see the Aug. 25, 2016 edition of The Ripon Commonwealth Press.

Class Notes:

NATHAN WILSON ’98 of Valley Park, Missouri, married Julie Farace of St. Louis.

ERIC BICE ’97 married Hana Diah in Bali on Aug. 9, 2016.

Please continue to send us your news! We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Looking forward to seeing you in June!

KRISTIN

SARAH ENG ’98 (saraheng@gmail.com) LEILANI KUPO ’98 (deli_by_the_pond@yahoo.com)

Spring 2017 39

Class Letters 1999

2001

Mike Berens 6472 Wexford Ave SW, Port Orchard, WA 98367 617-512-5753 / mikeberens2@hotmail.com

Nicole Baumann-Blackmore 7535 Lockwood Lane, Verona, WI 53593 608-513-9078 / Baumannn10@hotmail.com

Trista Moffat-Larco 1523 Remington Road, Neenah, WI 54946 920-257-4800 / tlmoffat@yahoo.com

Dante A. C. Houston 1418 N 50th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53208 414-378-4937 / houstondante@hotmail.com

Hello Class of 1999! Happy spring from your Class Agents! We hope this update finds all of you doing well! The thaw has begun in Wisconsin and things are beginning to look green again!

Hello Fellow RC Class of 2001 classmates! When was the last time you heard the Ripon bell tower toll “Far Within Wisconsin’s Prairies?” Every day at noon, we listened (and maybe sang along) until that graduation day in 2001.

Now that I have everyone’s attention and you’re probably singing along, or trying to remember the words, A LOT has changed on campus. One of the major changes will be the renovated Storzer Center. One of our classmates, DANIEL SUTTER ’01, who passed away in 2013, will be honored with naming rights to the indoor track.

CHRISTA REBEK LEWIS ’99 resides with her husband and three children in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is a music teacher at St. Mary Springs Academy.

GREG CARAVELLA’ 99 attended the wedding of JEREMY KASUBOSKI ’00 in October 2016.

JULIE MATHERS HOGAN ’99 is the director of Rose Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. She resides in the Denver area with her husband and son.

We would love to receive any updates about how you are doing and what exciting things are going on in your lives.

Please feel free to email us or send your updates to Ripon College so that you can be included in the fall 2017 Class Letter. We are sure that your classmates would love to hear from you.

We also would encourage you to pledge your financial support to Ripon College so that future generations of student are able to enjoy the Ripon College experience.

You should be receiving mailings where you can pledge your support, or you can contact the College directly to make a donation.

Have a Great Summer!

TRISTA L. MOFFAT-LARCO and MICHAEL BERENS

2000 Andre Miksha 11956 Hazelton Drive Noblesville, IN 46060-9101 andre.miksha@gmail.com Dear Class of 2000: Hope your spring is grand!

JULIE KAISERLING PFEIL ’00 of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, added to her family with Madisyn Adela, born in February 2016 as a little sister to William, now 3 years old.

ANTHONY MCCLINTOCK ’00 of Watertown, Wisconsin, is chairman of the Chapter Alumni Board for the Phi Delta Theta chapter on campus.

JEREMY KASUBOSKI ’00 was married in October 2016.

Many Ripon alumni, including GREG CARAVELLA ’99, were in attendance at the wedding.

Please keep the news rolling in – either directly to the school or to me via email or via this website: goo.gl/ forms/e0I7GRL8zm. Take care until next time!

Red Hawk forever, ANDRE MIKSHA ’00

Dan was a two-sport athlete at Ripon College and upon graduation served as an assistant track coach for the Red Hawks. He was a three-time private college champion in the event, while also holding Ripon’s outdoor 110 high hurdle record with a time of 15.19, which he set as a senior. Dan ranks sixth all-time in career points scored for the Ripon track team. Tragically, Dan died in 2013 at the age of 34 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Join us in carrying on Dan’s legacy of excellence at Ripon College by participating in the DANIEL SUTTER ’01 Straightaway Naming Challenge. Your gift will help to ensure that future generations of track athletes who step into the blocks at the new Storzer Center will forever remember his name. One-time and recurring donations can be made to the Revitalize campaign for up to two years.

CURTIS MAURER ’03, MOLLY KNEIP MAURER ’03 and GAIL GITCHO ’01 also have organized the fourth annual Dan Sutter Legacy Golf Outing, which will be held June 10, 2017, at High Cliff golf course near Appleton, Wisconsin. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the MACC Fund.

We appreciate all that you do for our alma mater and those with whom we shared so many great times.

Kind regards, DANTE A. C. HOUSTON ’01 and NICOLE BAUMANNBLACKMORE ’01 Co-Class Agents

2002 Leigh Mlodzik MlodzikL@Ripon.edu Corryn Siegel Greenwood Corryn.Siegel@gmail.com Dear Class of 2002: Are you ready for our 15th reunion this year? Mark your calendars for June 22-25th 2017, and watch your mailboxes for more details! We will be celebrating our class with a LOUNGE Party on Saturday, June 25, in the Bovay Terrace from 7-9:30 p.m.

Here are the class updates. We know more of you have news to share. Please email us at Ripon2002@gmail.com with your updates so they may be included the next class letter.

KEVIN KITSLAAR ’02 is principal at East Troy High School. He and his wife, Karen, have four children: Ella, Addyson, Londyn and Joey. Kevin hopes to make the reunion.

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1999-2004 VICTORIA DAHL LEONARD ’02, her husband, Andy, and daughter, Charli, welcomed a new baby named Isaac John Leonard on Aug. 15, 2016.

THOMAS STORY ’02 and his wife, Adriane, welcomed a baby girl, Tabitha Christine Story on Oct. 20, 2016.

Hope to see you in June!

LEIGH MLODZIK

2003 Liz Matelski lizmatelski@gmail.com Elayne Monnens Norweb enorweb@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 2003! So much baby news in this update!

BRITT STEIGER FRANK ’03 and her husband, David, of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, welcomed their second child, David Joseph, on Oct. 12, 2015.

BRIE TERRELL HADFIELD ’03 of St. Louis, Missouri, and her husband, Jay, welcomed their second child, Gracyn Isabel, on Feb. 16, 2017. Brie writes, “Baby’s big sister, Maya (2½ years), is excited … sometimes.”

AIMEE PIERSTORFF HANSEN ’03 of Eldorado, Wisconsin, writes, “Currently finishing my third year in photography.

Started my own business — Glass Menagerie Photography — in 2013. My husband, Brad, and I have one daughter, Avonlea, who is in kindergarten.”

LILY BERMAN LOPEZ ’03 started her own company called Gut Garden — a manufacturer of digestive health supplements. Their first product is currently for sale on Amazon. Lily hopes to introduce two more products in 2017.

HEIDI ST. MYERS MANTHEY ’03 and her husband, Mark, have a second baby boy. Sebastian was born on Feb. 28, 2016. Heidi writes, “He’s almost a year, but he completed our family and we couldn’t be happier!”

ELIZABETH “LIZ” MATELSKI ’03 and her wife, Courtney, are enjoying exploring their new city of Boston. They remain faithful Green Bay Packers fans. Liz is assistant professor of history at Endicott College.

MICHAEL MAXWELL ’03 writes, “Last July, my wife and I welcomed our second son, Carson Daniel. He’s doing great and is a pretty cool kid. Comedy wise, my one-man show ’The Anti-Boss’ was picked up by The Comedy Shrine, starting 4/8. That is in Aurora, Illinois. Aside from performing at clubs throughout the Midwest, I’m doing quite well adding corporate clients to the résumé.

I did a show for Allstate (again), Delta Dental and The Boy Scouts of America. I am also going into my third year giving my satirical tour of the Chicago River on the Anita Dee yacht.”

TODD REINKE ’03 and SUSIE PEERENBOOM REINKE ’03 welcomed a third little girl, Mallory Jane Reinke, on Oct. 7, 2016. She joins her very excited big sisters!

Todd and Susie will be celebrating their 10-year wedding anniversary on June 23.

JOSEPH VICARI ’03 and SARAH PEERENBOOM VICARI ’03 are enjoying the Milwaukee area and are ready for spring (and baseball) to come! Sarah writes, “We will be taking a trip to Italy and exploring Tuscany in the beginning of March. Otherwise, just enjoying our boys who are growing so fast! Dean is 5 and in kindergarten, and the twins, Leo and Bennett, are 3.”

ADAM WEISS ’03 of Ghana is the associate director of the Guinea Worm Eradication Program at the Carter Center. Adam was featured in an article that was

published in the Washington Post, “The World is Closer than Ever to Eradicating Guinea Worm.” He recently earned his master’s of public health (MPH) degree from Emory University and was the recipient of the Charles C. Shepard Award, awarded to the best thesis at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health. Adam is also father to Amani Joseph Weiss, a now bouncing 6-month-old.

NICK VRANEY ’03 is married to MICHELLE TOBIN VRANEY ’04, and they have two boys, Rex, 7, and Toby, 5. Michelle is an associate principal at Kaukauna High School, and Nick works for Rucon Construction Management.

JENNIFER WHITE ’03 transitioned to a new position as an orbit analyst for S-NPP, a weather satellite run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She also assists as an ADCS (Attitude Determination and Control System) engineer and a CDH (Command and Data Handling) engineer.

Be sure to keep in contact!

LIZ and ELAYNE

2004 Nick Spaeth 810 N 9 ½ St. Monmouth, IL 61462 262.227.6097 / nick.spaeth@gmail.com Greetings Class of ’04: Thanks to everyone who has started using our class-specific email account, 2004classletter@gmail.com, for updates. If you have an update to share, please send it there.

Maybe it’s a result of my profession, but every now and then I’m struck by the fact that almost 20 years ago, many of us were starting to tiptoe into the college search process. Signing up for standardized tests, being forced to go to a college fair — whatever it was, that seems like an entirely different life. In just two short years, we’ll be up for our 15-year reunion at Ripon. Before time gets completely away from us, contemplate coming back to reconnect with the people and place that played a pivotal role in who we are today.

NYONG ATKINS ’04 emailed, “I discovered Florida 500 years after Ponce. I got married to the same girl you might remember me with, but I became a different person. I have a house and a mortgage and a car and employees. I have a corporate gig for a company you’ve heard of and a 401(k). I have money. I have debt. I don’t have Facebook, but I do have everything else. The relief — I’m not dead or wishing I was. The confidence — there is no question I can “adult.” My hair. Well, most of it. And maybe just a little bit I have you. The memories. Pool games in the Union, meals in the Commons, getting a printer to work in the computer lab. Together. We did all that and so much more. Together.

So, are you? Are you happy? Are you rich? Are you satisfied, Class of 2004? Class of thinkers and drinkers, poets and artists, business leaders and entrepreneurs. No tax accountants though, right? Nobody wants to be that when they’re 22 or half the stuff we actually do now. I am. Yeah, I said it. Not rich, but happy and wishing the same to you.”

BRAD BURGE ’04 and his wife, Ryan, live in Independence, Oregon, with their 15-year-old son, Chase. Brad works in sales and marketing for Frontier Management, Portland, Oregon, which specializes in senior living options including assisted living and memory care. He also has been a member of multiple Rotary clubs, most notably as a board member and the treasurer for the Rotary Club of Greater Albany for the past three years. Ryan works for Kettle Chips as the quality assurance and sanitation manager of the Salem,

Spring 2017 41

Class Letters Oregon, production facility. Chase is wrapping up his first year of high school and has a great interest in choir, theater and video games! When they aren’t busy with work or school, they spend their time traveling to visit Ryan’s family in Chicago and Tennessee but also try to vacation in warm places. They regularly go hiking on the Oregon coast, the Oregon coast mountain range, or the Cascade Mountains. Brad tries to go fishing for chinook salmon, halibut and albacore tuna any chance he gets!

NICHOLAS TEACHOUT ’04 and STACY KRUSA TEACHOUT ’07 of Waupun, Wisconsin, are expecting their second child. Their little girl is expected to arrive in May 2017.

CAROLYN DUVEN ’04 started a new position as a cyclone success coach at Iowa State University. For the first time since she started at Ripon in 2000, she moved off campus. She is working with new students as part of a research grant.

LINDSEY GORSKE MICHELS ’04 is continuing to enjoy working for the Ripon Police Department in her position as the school resource officer for the Ripon Area School District. Lindsey and her husband, Joe, welcomed baby Kellan Mary on Dec. 16, 2016. Big brother Keegan is excited to have a baby sister!

SARA WICHLACZ HANEY ’04 and TIM HANEY ’03 earned their Canadian citizenship in October 2016 while living in Calgary, Alberta. Having a 3-year-old son has not slowed them down a bit from traveling. They have been on 82 flights around North American with their son since his birth and traveled more than 3,000 miles by car this summer camping and enjoying Tim’s sabbatical.

JASON NUTTALL ’04 and KATHERINE MEAD NUTTALL ’11 welcomed their daughter, Ellis Joy Nuttall, in June 2016. She joins big sister Adeline. Jason and Katie both are employed at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.

LINDSAY HUTCHISON LOEWE ’04 writes, “Currently selfemployed private practice mental health and substance abuse counseling in Ripon, Wisconsin. We opened in 2012. SuaSponte Center LLC. Never thought I’d be back here! Living in Oshkosh with husband David and two sons, Wesley, age 7, and Harrison, age 5.5 — both active and athletic, playful boys who are full of spirit!”

MELISSA LUND LUNDT ’04 is the special services coordinator at Child’s Voice, a listening and spoken language school for children with hearing loss, located in Wood Dale, Illinois.

TYLER LUNDT ’04 is the hardware field sales manager at EA Langenfeld in Mount Prospect, Illinois. His son, Trey, is 5 years old.

JILL SUNDERLAND POHLMEIER ’04 and her husband, Jaemeson, welcomed a baby boy in April 2016. Jay Jaemeson “JJ” arrived five weeks early, but he is a healthy and happy little guy.

RACHEL SCHMIDT PUFALL ’04 and her husband welcomed Augustus Schmidt Pufall into the world on Sept. 19, 2016. Mom, dad and big brother David love having him around.

DAVID SHEDIVY ’04 is a security/provisioning analyst for Marshfield Clinic Information Sciences (MCIS). He and his wife are expecting their third daughter in June 2017.

MICHAEL TIMM ’04 created 100 copies of cooperative Great Lakes board game, Mussel Madness, in December 2016. For more details, see musselmadnessgame.com.

Michael currently is developing a place-based public engagement app for the Milwaukee nonprofit RefloSustainable Water Solutions. The app, Water Story MKE, is a digital scavenger hunt that will launch to the public in summer 2017. For more details, see refloh20.com

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Connections

MICHELLE TOBIN VRANEY ’04 is married to NICK VRANEY ’03, and they have two boys, Rex, 7, and Toby, 5. Michelle is an associate principal at Kaukauna High School, and Nick works for Rucon Construction Management.

Happy spring!

NICK

2005 Amanda Zahn Przybyl W2743 Cherry Lane, Green Lake, WI 54941 920-299-1081 / PrzybylA@ripon.edu Daphne Meyers Leigh 7026 West Rogers Street, West Allis, WI 53219 414-841-7210 / Daphne05@hotmail.com Hello Fellow 2005 Classmates. My update: I just has surgery which has put me out of commission for six weeks! I’m trying to use my quiet time at home to reflect on my life and how I got where I am. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am today without Ripon College (can’t we all?). But as an employee of Ripon College, I get the two-fold experience: I get to see “behind the curtain” so to speak of the decisions made — both good and bad.

And while sometimes the truth is hard to hear, I always know the right people are making the right decisions to keep us moving forward (although if you know of anyone in high school, please, please talk up RC!).

The other experience I get is the never-ending support from colleagues, much like when we were students. I had so many texts from people here at Ripon that truly cared about me after my surgery that it kept my spirits up through those first few days. Who remembers that support that enveloped us when we needed it most as students? I bet you all remember a time when the people at RC made the difference in your life. Keep that memory close and enjoy updates from our classmates …

THOMAS BEATTY ’05 emailed, “The past year, Robin and I have had fun exploring. We’ve hiked the Porcupine Mountains in the U.P. with our dog, Gabby, visited Magnolia Market and Harp Design in Texas (we did not see Chip or Joanna, and Clint didn’t return my tweets), we finished our renovation and are enjoying our meals in our new kitchen, and to end the year in style we took a quick trip down to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Both of us fell in love with the people in Puerto Vallarta and the community, and we are now believers in using Air BnB! We’re looking forward to 2017 and the adventures and any additional renovations we decide to tackle!”

RENAE BEIER ’05 emailed, “I’ve been living in Madison for the past 10 years. I’m currently a program administrator for the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In my spare time, I volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Madison, Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics. I also box and meditate regularly.”

DANIEL HOFFMAN ’05 and MAEGAN COX HOFFMAN ’06 of Pecatonica, Illinois, welcomed a daughter, Paige Alexandra, born Sept. 7, 2016.

REBECCA SNITILY ELMENDORF ’05 emailed, “I am still the fixed income presentation coordinator at TCW. Pretty sure the rest is same-old. My husband and I did go on an awesome trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons last year, which I highly recommend to everyone! Somehow in the four years at Ripon, I made it to all the surrounding states except Michigan, so we are going to change that in February.

We are going on a long hockey weekend where we will see the famous Joe Louis arena in Detroit, watch a junior hockey game in Windsor, Ontario, (first time in Canada!) and check out Pittsburgh. Other than that, we spend our time cooking, relaxing, watching “NCIS”, “The Big Bang Theory” and “The Grand Tour,” and cheering on our LA Kings.”

2004-05 MICHELLE ERICKSON COOK ’05 emailed: “Had my second child, a boy, Ryker, in January 2016. My daughter, Lorelai, is 2. Finished graduate school and received my reading teacher/reading specialist license.”

CATHERINE “CADY” SINNWELL GERLACH ’05 and PETER GERLACH ’02 “welcomed their first baby, Leo Fuerst Gerlach, to the world in March 2016. They live in Iowa City, Iowa, where Cady practices law and Peter works at Coe College focusing on Coe’s internationalization efforts.”

JUANITA BAATZ GUTBROD ’05: “Working at St. Bruno Elementary and Middle School in Dousman, Wisconsin, as the 3k/4k educator and as the schools head teacher.

My husband and I have a small business selling a video game called Cosmotrons!”

CHARLES “CJ” JOHNSON ’05: “Everything is going great here in the Twin Cities. Currently, my daughter and I still live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Charli has just turned 2 years old and is growing daily! I currently stay busy managing my 10 rental properties, training at my fitness franchise, and have recently taken a stake in a used car dealership that takes up any additional time that I have!”

ZIAD KHAN ’05: “I have recently relocated to the Boston area after accepting a new position as a PLM software manager at J.Jill. Vincent, my dog, and I spent the last four years in Fort Myers, Florida, where I was working as a senior software application analyst.”

AMANDA GUAY KREJCAREK ’05 and GENE KREJCAREK ’05: “Gene and I have had a busy year. We started building our house last January and moved in in May. Our daughter, Gracelyn Mae, was born in June.”

DAPHNE MEYERS LEIGH ’05: “I am still working away at the School District of New Berlin teaching math and advising NHS and math team, but my newest ‘position’ is PTA secretary at Micah’s (first-grader) elementary school.

This new gig has given me a greater appreciation for all the AWESOME volunteers I had the pleasure to work with back in our OC days — parents are not as willing to give up some free time or act silly! **Shout out to all you amazing orientation committee members! Keep it up in your ‘real’ lives, too!” **

Georgia just turned 2 and can’t wait for her baby brother to come! We also just adopted a Great Dane mix named Hank, and he is turning out to be an amazing dog. I still work for Acuity, a Mutual Insurance Company, as a field claim representative, and when not pregnant am out on roofs inspecting damage, in basements looking at water losses, and inspecting vehicles after car accidents. I am currently working on earning my CPCU designation.

My husband, Luke, works for West Bend Insurance as a commercial underwriter. We both are blessed to work from home and really enjoy living in the Green Bay area.”

NOAH WISHAU ’05: He and “his wife Beth live in Waterford, Wisconsin, with their two kids. Noah is an attorney at Phegley Law Offices in Racine, Wisconsin, specializing in family and criminal law. He was recently appointed as guardian ad litem for Racine County.”

ANDY TRATAR ’05 and Holly Tratar welcomed their third child, Emma, on Easter in March 2016. “I am currently in the process of becoming board-certified and obtaining a certificate of advanced qualification in orthopedics. I still practice as a physician assistant in Beaver Dam and Columbus, Wisconsin, with Columbus Community Hospital.”

PAUL LARSON ‘05 and SARAH MCGILL LARSON ‘05: “We lost a ton of trees in our backyard due to new construction, but we still love our house. We’ve talked about moving back to Wisconsin after a few more years in Maryland. Paul (economics professor) is writing for a publishing company, and Sarah (high school math teacher) gets to teach AP Calculus for the first time in the fall. Kids Parker (4 in May) and Tanner (2 in May) are hilarious and love playing together.

As you read about what your fellow classmates are up to, are you still holding onto that memory from the beginning of this letter? Remember all the good times you had with the people here at Ripon College? Now it’s time to act! The people at Ripon depend on our faithful alumni base to contribute to the Annual Fund. So get out your checkbook, debit card or credit card and make the gift that you can. Then set it on your calendar to give again in six months. The people of Ripon College need you now, just like you needed them when you were here.

AMANDAZAHN PRZYBYL’05 and DAPHNE MYERS LEIGH ’05

CHARLES OBERWEISER ’05: “Charles recently completed a master’s degree in accountancy and earned his CPA license. He’s working at a public accounting firm in the Nashville area.”

LORYN OHLAUG ’05: “We welcomed our fourth boy in April. He fits in perfectly and is developing such a personality. I now have a third-grader, kindergartener, a preschooler and a baby. I’m still working for Boeing and am looking forward to exciting changes this year. We spend a lot of time at the park playing sports. We are definitely one busy, active family, but we wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

JESSICA OWENS ’05: “I am still working as an archivist in the Presidential Materials Division of the National Archives. For the last couple of months, we have been busy working on the physical transfer of all presidential records subject to the Presidential Records Act from the Obama White House to the temporary library site with the assistance of the military. This is the second presidential transition I have been a part of.” An article that describes the work her office does, “Moving Out, Moving In,” can be found at goo.gl/RM1bfV. LOGAN SHOEMAKER RUSSO ’05 and ADAM RUSSO ’05: “Adam and I had a son on July 3. His name is Thomas Richard Russo. We are still living in the D.C. area.”

RENEA VORPAHL MERTENS ’05: “We are currently waiting for our second child to arrive in April. Big sister

Spring 2017 43

Class Letters 2006 Nicole Klaas Hands nicolemariehands@gmail.com Ed Hansen hellowilbur@gmail.com Andrew Kitslaar andrew.p.kitslaar@gmail.com Greetings! As you can see, we’re light on class notes in this edition of R Connections. We know that sometimes having no news is good news — life is relatively the same, and life is good! But please keep our Class of 2006 network in mind when you do have updates to share in the future. You can share your news online at ripon.edu/ update-contact-info, or you can email any of the three of us using our email addresses above.

As for news from the College, be sure to flip to the back of this publication for updates. If there’s any news you’re curious about, we’re happy to request information and report back next time — just let us know.

MAEGAN HOFFMAN ’06 and DANIEL HOFFMAN ’05 of Pecatonica, Illinois, welcomed a daughter, Paige Alexandra, born Sept. 7, 2016.

KRISTIN WILLERT OVEN ’06 and REID OVEN ’06 are relocating to Washington, D.C. Kristin will be continuing her career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons at the Central Office location as a psychology programs training coordinator. Reid will be working in higher education at a small liberal arts college nearby. Their son, Emmett Jack, was born in December 2015.

AARON PARK ’06 of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, graduated with his M.S. in speech-language pathology in May 2016 and is now in his first year as a bilingual speech-language pathologist for Milwaukee Public Schools. “So far it’s the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve done,” he writes.

“And also, I got my hair cut about a week ago. It looks pretty good.”

TONI-LEE SCARANO VINEY ’06 and her husband, Dan, of Fort Collins, Colorado, welcomed a baby girl, Cecily Mary Viney, Feb. 8, 2016. “Cecily has already acquired her best friend in her 3-year-old sister, Josie.” Toni-Lee continues to manage the undergraduate program for the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University.

Happy spring!

NICOLE, ED and ANDREW

2007 Lindsey Kreye Heil lkreye9509@gmail.com Stacy Krusa Teachout krusast@gmail.com Liz Leach Morrell lizmorrell@outlook.com Adam Krueger krueger.adam@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 2007! Can you believe that in a few short months we will be gathering together to celebrate our 10th class reunion? Alumni Weekend, June 2225, 2017, is a great time to connect with old friends, reminisce about the four wonderful years we spent at Ripon, and a time to create many more memories. It is guaranteed to be a great time! Until then, catch up on the recent news and updates from your classmates below.

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Connections

REBECCA PERK BRUSCH ’07 and her husband, Ben, of Charlotte, North Carolina, welcomed their first baby, Avery Dakota Brusch, on June 25, 2016. Rebecca is a stay-at-home mom and an active volunteer with the Carolina Poodle Rescue, Kindred Hearts Transport Connection, and the Carolina Show Ski Team.

JOELLE SHADY DUNLAVY ’07 and her husband, JOHN DUNLAVY ’07, live in Ripon and have a little boy.

SANDY PATROWSKY GEORGE ’07 and her husband of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, welcomed their daughter, Penelope, on June 19, 2016.

KEVIN GOYERT ’07 recently was promoted to financial planning project manager at Fisher Investments. His family purchased a new home in Camas, Washington, and will be traveling to Disney World with the Manis family this summer.

LINDSEY KREYE HEIL ’07 and her husband, Christopher, of Savage, Minnesota, welcomed their first baby, Piper Quinn, Aug. 31, 2016. Lindsey continues to work as a special education teacher at Chanhassen High School in the Eastern Carver County Schools.

CASSANDRA FUCCI HODGSON ’07 and her husband welcomed their first little one, Daisy Rey, on Jan. 3, 2017.

PETER RODGERS JENSEN ’07 of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, completed his master’s degree in communication at the University of Colorado in 2012 and just completed his Ph.D. in communication at the University of Missouri. He is an assistant professor at the University of Alabama.

TARA RABIDEAUX JOHANEK ’07 and her husband, RYAN JOHANEK ’04, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, are expecting their second child. Their baby boy is expected to arrive on Feb. 26, 2017.

KATRINA BRAUN JOHNSTON ’07 and her husband, Adam, of Racine, Wisconsin, will be celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary this year. Katie has been Iris consultant (case manager for people with disabilities) for two years, and she is lovin’ it! She recently quit her second job at a garden shop that she worked at for four years. She has three dogs, a 10-year-old German shepherd mix, 7-year-old Chinese cheeses hairless, and an 8-month-old Daniff. Katie’s twin girls are in 7th grade and will be traveling to New York in May to compete with their symphony band, Lighthouse Brigade, playing clarinet. Katie keeps busy with her kids, gardening and house projects.

AARON KAMMER ’07 and MICHEL “BUSH” KAMMER ’07 live in the Boston area where Aaron works as a chemist at Amgen and Michel is an optometrist at Ophthalmic Consultants of Boston.

AMANDA LIETHEN GLASS ’07 of Random Lake, Wisconsin, married Michael Glass, Oct. 14, 2016, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

REBECCA MALINOWSKI ’07 of Chicago, Illinois, recently became the executive director of CCS, a consortium providing a shared online catalog and related support to 24 libraries in the north and northwest Chicago suburbs.

JOHN MCCULLOUGH ’07 is a flight attendant for American Airlines based out of Chicago.

STEVEN MILLER ’07 of Ripon, Wisconsin, is a visiting professor of philosophy at Ripon College.

EMILY NINMANN POST ’07 and her husband recently moved to a new home in Sauk City. Emily recently was promoted to associate scientist in the cell lab at PPD in Middleton.

ZACH NORTON ’07 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, started a

2006-2008 new position in September 2016 as a website support specialist for the JPMorgan Private Bank in Chicago, Illinois. He has been with the company since 2010 in various capacities.

LISA PAULSON ’07 of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, is the assistant vice president of operations at U.S. Bank in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She recently became engaged and is planning a fall wedding.

JOLENE RUEDEN-SCHATZINGER ’07 will be celebrating her five-year wedding anniversary to her husband, Henrik, who is a Ripon College associate professor of politics and government. Jolene started as a counselor at Ripon High School this school year, and she is enjoying being part of the Ripon community. Previous to her position at Ripon High School, Jolene was a counselor at Fond du Lac High School and an academic adviser at UW Oshkosh. Jolene and Henrik recently adopted a cat from the Green Lake shelter that keeps them on their toes!

BRYANT BEDNAREK ’07 and JESSICA CHATMON BEDNAREK ’08 of Berlin, Wisconsin, welcomed a healthy baby boy, Zander Vance, on March 25, 2016.

He was 23 inches long and weighted 10.5 pountds. Big sister Zoey, 3, loves to help and play with him. Bryant is in his second year as the technology integration coach for the Berlin Area School District, is an assistant football coach, and just returned to school for his educational administration certification. Jessica still is teaching kindergarten in Berlin, is the co-director of the local club volleyball program, co-director of the adult volleyball program, and organizer of sand volleyball tournaments during the summer.

MARY STERRETT ’07 graduated residency from the University of Louisville. She is pursuing a master’s of public health at John Hopkins and a maternal fetal medicine fellowship (perinatology) at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. She recently married Joseph Bloodworth, a pilot for Delta.

STACY KRUSA TEACHOUT ’07 and NICHOLAS TEACHOUT ’04 of Waupun, Wisconsin, are expecting their second child. Their little girl is expected to arrive in May 2017.

BOB FAULDS ’07 and STEPHANIE SOMMER FAULDS ’08 of De Pere, Wisconsin, welcomed Lenora May “Lennie” in April 2016. Big brother Mick, 3, enjoys taking care of her and is already very protective. Bob continues to manage the Baker Tilly Search & Staffing team in Appleton, and Stephanie recently accepted a position at Schreiber Foods as a supply chain demand planner and continues to expand her photography business, Babbleheads Photography & Design.

LISA VERWYS ’07 of Bozeman, Montana, was promoted to registrar and collections manager at the Museum of the Rockies and teaches museum practices at Montana State University. She purchased a home in April that she shares with her significant other and a very loveable dog!

You may have noticed the update from our class of more than 200 people seems a bit sparse. While many of us keep in touch directly or through social media, we want to be able to share our news with the larger Ripon College alumni network. We encourage you to share your news with a Class Agent, the Office of Constituent Engagement, or through our regular call for updates on Facebook. Also, the new format of R Connections allows us to share photos! Are you gathered together with other Ripon alumni doing something fun or memorable? Snap a photo and send it in! Stay tuned for more Alumni Weekend and reunion information!

See you in June!

LINDSEY, STACY, LIZ and ADAM

2008 Stephanie Sommer Faulds 5543 River Oaks Drive, De Pere, WI 54115 608-630-3369 / Stephanie.Sommer@gmail.com Leah Hover-Preiss 1002 North Bowman Road, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 608-432-2399 / leahhover@yahoo.com Zac Schwandt 8730 South Country Drive, Apt. 101, Oak Creek, WI 53154 920-291-5685 / SchwandtZ@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 2008! I remember this time of year just nine years ago at Ripon College when we would start to see blankets spread across the lawn for mid-day study sessions, Ultimate Frisbee practice back in full swing and everyone who had been snuggled up in our cozy dorm rooms all winter emerging to enjoy outdoor activities again. As the weather warms and we start to see spring flowers pop through the frozen tundra, we also welcome another graduating class across the lawn of Ripon College – the class of 2017 (that also means we’re just about a year away from our 10-year reunion, by the way).

Alumni Weekend falls the last weekend in June, so save that date now! Those who join us every year for Alumni Weekend can vouch for it being a great time! And can you imagine what fun it will be as we gather together to celebrate our 10th reunion next year? Anyone who is interested in assisting with the planning or who has ideas for our 10-year reunion, please contact your Class Agents now as we will begin planning within the next six months. We usually plan an evening activity including dinner on Saturday night of Alumni Weekend before joining everyone else for the All-Alumni Party. All ideas and input are welcome!

Enclosed in this publication, you will find information about upcoming events on campus. Stop by for a visit to see what has changed and what is exactly the same.

The news from our classmates is below. Remember to send any updates you would like to share to the Class of 2008 Class Agents or the Office of Constituent Engagement. Announcements can be anything exciting happening in your life. We typically see news sharing new jobs or businesses, promotions, relocations, engagements, marriages, births, adoptions, continuing education and anything else you want to share with our classmates.

Additionally, if you’re not a member of the Ripon College Class of 2008 group on Facebook, please send a request to one of the Class Agents so you can be added. It is a great way to share announcements, post memories and receive reminders about upcoming class letters or reunion information. We have been a little low on class news lately, but we know there is a lot going on out there now – feel free to drop us a line on Facebook or through email so we can include your life updates in our next class letter!

We really enjoy reading about the exciting and new places life has taken each and every one of you.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Go Red Hawks!

JESSICA CHATMON BEDNAREK ’08 and BRYANT BEDNAREK ’07 of Berlin, Wisconsin, welcomed a healthy baby boy, Zander Vance, on March 25, 2016. He was 23 inches long and weighed 10.5 pounds. Big sister Zoey, 3, loves to help and play with him. Bryant is in his second year as the technology integration coach for the Berlin Area School District, is an assistant football coach, and just returned to school for his educational administration certification. Jessica still is teaching kindergarten in Berlin,

Spring 2017 45

Class Letters is the co-director of the local club volleyball program, codirector of the adult volleyball program, and organizer of sand volleyball tournaments during the summer.

Insurance Program Managers Group of St. Charles as the Healthcare Unit service coordinator, and Mark is a senior accountant at Sikich in Naperville, Illinois.”

KAREN HANADEL EDMONDSON ’08 and her husband, Brian, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, welcomed a baby boy on Nov. 25, 2016. His name is Ethan Xavier.

Please let us know if there is ever anything you would like to have shared in our letters, and we would love to add it.

Happy spring and all the best from west Texas!

STEPHANIE SOMMER FAULDS ’08 and BOB FAULDS ’07 of De Pere, Wisconsin, welcomed Lenora May “Lennie” in April 2016. Big brother Mick, 3, enjoys taking care of her and is already very protective. Bob continues to manage the Baker Tilly Search & Staffing team in Appleton, and Stephanie recently accepted a position at Schreiber Foods as a supply chain demand planner and continues to expand her photography business, Babbleheads Photography & Design.

ANGELA PENA and EMILY MEYER

ERIN MAGUIRE ’08 is happily living in Ripon, Wisconsin, with her dog, Coco, and working at Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh Bethel Home in Oshkosh. She is contemplating adoption in the near future.

MARY FRIEND PETERSON ’08 of Adams, Wisconsin, recently married Ryan Peterson.

REBECCA PASKE UTECH ’08 and her husband, Nathan, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, had another baby boy in December. Their family of four now includes James, 3, and Logan, 2 months. They also have a black lab named Diesel. Rebecca is a patient access nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital. She is in a leadership position in administration.

Rebecca and Nathan will celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary in September.

Sincerely, LEAH, STEPHANIE and ZAC

2009 Emily A. Meyer emilyannmeyer@gmail.com Angela Olivas Peña mihita.aco@gmail.com Hi all! I hope that this letter finds everyone well, and I hope you enjoy going through our class updates. I am writing to you from windy west Texas. I love it here, but nothing compares to the smell of cookies while walking to class in Ripon, and all the green in Wisconsin! It’s just brown and dusty here.

Some of you already have experienced the excitement of welcoming your first baby into your family, and I am about to do the same. I am due with a little boy, still unnamed, on May 19. Naming a little human is hard! It’s really exciting to see how classmates have changed and grown, and it’s still crazy to think about how much time as gone by since we were at Ripon. But I am glad to be able to connect here and hope you all can reach out often to share updates with me, Emily or the school.

GRANT ERICKSON ’09 and CARISSA TURK ERICKSON ’11 of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, have a son, Samuel Allen, born June 28, 2016. The family lives in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where Grant is the senior partner of the law firm Erickson Pribyl Johnson, and Carissa is a full-time mother.

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2010 Ross Heintzkill ross.heintzkill@gmail.com Meagan Kochel meagankochel@gmail.com Leeanna Shultz shultz.annabanana@gmail.com Paul Williams pgwilliams5433@gmail.com JESSICA GOUDREAU BRAUN ’10 and PAUL BRAUN ’10 of Berlin, Wisconsin, were married Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016.

HANNAH WENDLAKE DUFFEY ’10 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin: “I graduated from Concordia University with a master’s degree in early childhood education in May 2016.”

LINDSAY KUEHL LAMB ’10 of McFarland, Wisconsin, and her husband, Ryan Lamb, had a baby girl, Sawyer Olive Lamb, on Feb. 25, 2016.”

2011 April Agamaite Pingel agamaitea@gmail.com Rusty Schultz WRussellSchultz@gmail.com Leslie Sullivan 10285 Dacey Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63136 314.304.7482/lesliesullivan15@yahoo.com Greetings, Class of 2011! Here’s to another great year!

It is hard to believe that just this time last year we were planning and preparing for our five-year class reunion.

It was another opportunity for us to make memories at our beloved Ripon. That year milestone was our first but certainly not our last. Another milestone to think about is where we were a decade ago. This time 10 years ago, we were all starting to receive acceptance letters from various colleges and soon finalizing our plans for attending Ripon. 10 years ago! Well things sure have changed for us all since then, and most certainly for the better.

CARISSA TURK ERICKSON ’11 and GRANT ERICKSON ’09 of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, had a son, Samuel Allen, on June 28, 2016. The family lives in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where Grant is the senior partner of the law firm Erickson Pribyl Johnson, and Carissa is a full-time mother.

KATIE KRUEGER KRAEMER ’09 of Cedarburg, Wisconsin: “JOSH KRAEMER ’09 and I just moved into our new home, and we’re still in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. We are still working for Anytime Fitness, and we also work with an amazing nutrition and wellness company! We’re enjoying life and spending time with our pup, Rugger.”

CARLOS SOTO ’11 of Los Angeles, California, is pursuing a biostatistics Ph.D. at Florida State University. Besides becoming a member of Mu Sigma Rho, the National Statistical Honor Society, he was the president of the Florida State University American Statistical Association Student Chapter. During his free time, he has been writing music with fellow alumnus KURT HARDY ’12 for their band Vanilla Mocha Swirl. They hope to record their single “Tonight Stands” soon.

NICOLE FRANZ SOOHOO ’09 of Aurora, Illinois: “Nicole Franz married Mark SooHoo of Wheaton, Illinois, Aug. 20, 2016, in St. Charles, Illinois. Nicole works for

KATHERINE MEAD NUTTALL ’11 and JASON NUTTALL ’04 welcomed their daughter, Ellis Joy Nuttall, in June 2016. She joins big sister Adeline. Jason and Katie both

Connections

3 THINGS ALL GREAT ALUMNI DO

You just need to follow these simple steps: 1. ATTEND RIPON EVENTS Keep your network alive. You never know who you’ll end up meeting.

2. MAKE A GIFT TO THE ANNUAL FUND Help all current undergrads. Help give the unique Ripon experience you remember so fondly. https://www.ripon.edu/make-a-gift/

3. STAY CONNECTED Keep us updated with your contact, employment and family information so we can invite you to events, share Ripon stories and help you connect.

Visit us at: http://www.ripon.edu/alumni/ Spring 2017 47

Class Letters are employed at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.

LESLIE SULLIVAN ’11 of Saint Louis, Missouri, bought a house last year in her hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read up on the College news and news of our classmates. If we missed notes from you about updates on your life, please make sure to reach out to April, Rusty or me, or the class Facebook page to get your special news into future publications.

Always for Ripon, LESLIE, RUSTY and APRIL

2012 Katlyn Lee Schumacher 1627 Spring Square Alley, Monroe, WI 53566 608-558-9073 / kate020812@gmail.com Erin Schaick 67 Croteau Court, Apt. 2F, Manchester, NH 03104 603-513-9965 / Erin.Schaick@gmail.com Brandon Taylor 367 Santana Heights, Apt. 5030, San Jose, CA 95128 406-274-4708 / Brandon.J.Taylor.2012@gmail.com Dear friends: Can you believe it has been five years since our last classes at Ripon? I feel like it was just yesterday that we were moving into our residence halls for the first time.

Our five-year reunion is approaching this summer during Alumni Weekend, June 22-25, 2017! You should have received a letter with information about the event this summer – looking forward to catching up with everyone in a few months.

MATTHEW BREUER ’12 recently graduated with a master’s degree in integral counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, California. He now is working on finding hours doing counseling for kids and looking to begin a private practice internship as a marriage and family therapist intern. If you ever end up in the Bay area, feel free to say hey.

JESSICA BRUNGARDT ’12 recently took a new job as assistant county attorney in El Paso County, Colorado, working on child abuse and neglect cases. She also is busy planning her wedding, which is quickly approaching in June 2017.

ELLEN BYLER ’12 will have her first novel come out the fall of 2017, and she was contracted to write three more books for publication in the spring of 2018.

ARIEL DICKINSON ’12 of Madison, Wisconsin: “I’m working as a trainer at Epic Systems Corp., and I’m engaged to be married in August 2017.”

EMILY MOORE FEICHT ’12 and her husband, Joshua Feicht, welcomed their first child, Friedrich, to their Minneapolis residence in December 2016. Emily has worked at Child Garden Montessori for a year and a half.

STACEY HAMILTON ’12 got married on May 20, 2016, to Clay Hall. They just bought their first house in Carson City, Nevada. Additionally, they just rescued a puppy to join their other two rescue mutts. She works for Sierra Nevada College as their assistant director and visit coordinator in the Admissions Office.

NICOLAS SCHAALMA ’12 got married Oct. 21, 2016, to Jadee Rooney. They bought a house in Hortonville, Wisconsin, this past spring, and he has been working as a financial adviser with Edward Jones since graduation. His branch is located in Appleton.

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AIMEE KACZMAREK-DOYLE ’12 and HOLLY M. DOYLE ’12 celebrated their eight-year anniversary in Moab, Utah, this past October!

STEPHANIE JENISCH ’12 married Patrick on Feb. 25, 2017, and took a small honeymoon to Nashville, Tennessee. They live in Lockport, Illinois, with our two special needs dogs, Sophia and Ella. This year, she will start as a brand new all-volunteer, all-breed cat and dog rescue called Wish upon a Rescue, of which she will be the president. “I am very lucky to have Megan Norris on my board of directors and as a legal adviser,” she says. Stephanie absolutely loves her “real” job as a pediatric occupational therapist working with Easter Seals in Joliet, Illinois. “I work with children birth to age 6 with significant disabilities through early intervention (in-home) and in an early childhood/elementary school setting.”

MEGAN MCGEE NORRIS ’12 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, married Adam Norris on Oct. 15, 2016. She has her own law practice in Kenosha, Wisconsin, The Law Offices of Megan McGee LLC. She does family, immigration and criminal law for the most part. The couple have four dogs, two pit mixes and two Yorkies. “Life is good!”

MICHAEL PEACOCK ’12 lives in the Washington, D.C., area, and is eight months into his new job at the Department of Justice.

ANNE RABACAL ’12 got promoted to the position of market research analyst for Rockline Industries on Jan. 30. She has been engaged to Adam Gross since August 2016, and they are excited with planning their wedding that will take place in June 2018. Adam and Anne reside in a cozy townhouse located in Grafton, Wisconsin.

ERIC SCHUMACHER ’12 got engaged to Sarah Talbert.

They are busy planning the wedding and training a golden doodle puppy.

AMY SPRANGER ’12 got engaged last October to Geoffrey Rossmann. Their wedding is planned for Nov. 4 this year, and they got our first apartment together in Racine, Wisconsin.

BRANDON TAYLOR ’12 is a technology consultant for Accenture and lives in San Jose, California.

Thank you to all the people who sent us their life updates on Facebook or via email! If you didn’t see your name or update above, feel free to contact the College (or us) throughout the year and we will be sure to include them in our next class updates. We hope that everyone is doing well, and we hope you will plan ahead and join us for our reunion next summer!

KATLYN, ERIN and BRANDON

2011-13 2013 Travis Bitters bitters.travis@gmail.com Charlotte E. S. Lee charlotteeslee@gmail.com Lauren Ott lauren.a.ott.42@gmail.com Alexandra Peltier alipeltier13@gmail.com Hey Class of 2013! Thank you so much for your response on our Facebook page! I had so much fun gathering our news this time around, as there was so much of it. As you look through your classmates updates, you will notice two major patterns. 1. Success. 2. Pets.

But mostly — success.

Keep being awesome.

Cheers!

ALI PELTIER, LAUREN OTT, CHARLOTTE LEE, TRAVIS BITTERS EMILY ANDERSON ’13 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, started a new job as a graphic artist for 4imprint and is a new resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

SARAH CARBALLO ’13 of Eden Prairie, Wisconsin, will have her MD in June after four long years of trying to make her life as a med student appear more exciting than it actually is via her Snapstories. She found out in January that she successfully matched into the ophthalmology residency program at Rush University!

JOHANNA BURTON ’13 will be happily wed to MICHAEL LANPHIER ’15 this summer.

TRAVIS BITTERS ’13 is getting married to MONICA SCHILLING ’14 this July.

BRIANA DRAEGER ’13 of Manawa, Wisconsin, is engaged to KYLE BOSQUEZ ’13 and will be getting married in October 2017. Briana has graduated from grad school and is now an athletic trainer at UW-Superior. Kyle is an assistant baseball coach at UW-Superior and a probation officer for Superior.

ELIZABETH “ELLIE” HEDBERG ’13 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, began a new job as a certified nursing assistant and is applying to nursing school.

ALEC JALOVEC ’13 of Charlotte, North Carolina, has begun his career as an associate attorney.

CHARLOTTE LEE ’13 of Conway, Arizona, got engaged on Oct. 9, 2016!

REBECCA MADSEN ’13 of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, moved to Oshkosh in September to pursue her master’s in professional counseling at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Becky has two cats and is working at Shopko while going to school.

CHRISTINA MOONEY ’13 of Chicago, Illinois, is coparenting a Frenchie puppy named Geppetto. She also recently acquired a food processor, and it has changed her life for the better.

ADAM ORTH ’13 of Oconto, Wisconsin, is paying student loans but is most likely managing them well as he has begun a new position as business cash management officer at Stephenson National Bank & Trust in Marinette, Wisconsin.

LAUREN OTT ’13 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, got the most adorable puppy the world has ever seen. His name is Theo. CHRISTINA MOONEY ’13 is concerned that if their puppies had play dates … Theo might eat her dog.

(See Christina Mooney for more info) Lauren continues to work at the YMCA, and also is continuing to avoid calling the doctor and the dentist.

ALEXANDRA “ALI” PELTIER ’13 of Madison, Wisconsin, was promoted to The Home Depot Channel marketing manager role at Fiskars Brands. Next time you are in a Home Depot, check out her handiwork in aisle 48!

SHAUNA PICHETTE ’13 of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, recently moved to Milwaukee with her dog. She is a behavior specialist/therapist for Rogers Memorial Hospital, specializing with kids with OCD and anxiety. She also is coach a club swim team in Cudahy. She has also been loving being back and drinking Wisconsin beer.

MIKE ROBBINS ’13 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, was married in October to his wife, Sara. They just purchased a house in Wrightstown and have an adorable beagle.

JENA ROSCIZEWSKI ’13 of Racine, Wisconsin, started a new job at InterConnections S.C. as a psychotherapist in Kenosha, Wisconsin. She is marrying KEVIN CLUKA ’13 in June of this year.

MATTHEW ROHRBECK ’13 of Madison, Wisconsin, has been re-elected as a county board supervisor in April 2016. Matthew also was promoted to a research assistant for Wisconsin State Representative Keith Ripp.

STEPHANIE RHYNER ’13 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, teaches art history at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.

ERIC SACKETT ’13 of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, is still paying student loans. (This got 13 likes on the Facebook page, so this is most likely gave many of us financial feels.)

ADAM SELLNER ’13 of Ripon, Wisconsin, moved to Pikeville, Kentucky, with Jill Kalis (former hall director at Ripon). Adam and Jill got an Airedale terrier puppy, (who is apparently cute, but a bit of a terrorist.) Adam is still selling Pokemon/Magic cards by the millions and just hired his first full-time employee. Adam gets out and golfs three to five rounds a week!

DAVID FORSETH ’13 and wife BREANNA GRACZ FORSETH ’13 are setting their roots in St. Louis, Missouri, and growing their family. Caleb Joshua Forseth was born Sept. 1, 2016.

ANDREA SLOSSER ’13 of Laramie, Wyoming, adopted a dog named Lilly. Andrea is attending graduate school in Wyoming.

LINDSEY WHITE ’13 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin is engaged to Mark Sobiesczyk as of October 2016. She also recently purchased her first car, a 2017 VW Jetta.

ZACHARY WIELAND ’13 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has two of his loans paid off and was promoted to supervisor at work. He gets to be boss when his boss is gone. #adultlife KAITLIN “KATIE JO” STUMBRIS WEISS ’13 and NICHOLAS WEISS ’13 were married June 24, 2016. Katie Jo and Nick are expecting a baby, due May 3. Her name will be River Jo Weiss. Nick is now head of the physics department at Hamilton High School in Sussex and one of the linebacker coaches for Varsity football. Katie Jo is a dental assistant and going back to school for hygiene.

HAN “HONEY” ZAW ’13 of San Francisco, California, has adopted a cat. She still doesn’t know how to make the cat love her. She’s cold, psychotic and heartless (the cat, not Honey).

TYLER KNOWLES ’13 of Morgantown, West Virginia, writes, “This past August, I graduated from the University of Alaska-Fairbanks with my master’s degree

Spring 2017 49

Class Letters in mathematics. That same month, I started a Ph.D. program in mathematics at West Virginia University.”

SAM POULLETTE ’13 and wife MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14 live in Port Washington, Wisconsin. Mara transitioned to a new position at Lakeland University and is now a student success and engagement coach. In this role, she helps ensure students transition smoothly into college and are prepared for careers after graduating.

BRIAN GONYA ’13 of Ripon, Wisconsin: “I am using my advanced and ever-growing communication skills to improve my carrier as a property manager for a worldrenowned resort and spa. Also, to push forward with my proud but small YouTube channel.”

2014 Tim Holme 7626 W Beloit Road, West Allis, WI 53219 608.333.9526 / holmet77@gmail.com Mara Jensen Poullette 426 W Grand Avenue, Port Washington, WI 53074 952.412.1420. / marajensen1992@gmail.com Naomi Jahn Skulan 401 West 5th Street, Morris, MN 56267 920.342.7288 / naomiskulan@gmail.com Greetings, Class of 2014! The spring season is often considered to be a symbol of transition, change and renewal, and those concepts certainly seem to apply to the lives of our classmates as well. There is no shortage of impressive personal and professional accomplishments among the graduates of the class of 2014 (not that we’re surprised by this at all!). It is pretty incredible to see all of the ways in which the knowledge and skills that we cultivated at Ripon are being applied in the real world.

ELIZABETH AKE ’14 of Seattle, Washington, received her master’s degree from the University of Washington and is in her third year of the developmental psychology Ph.D. program.

ALLYCIA BRETL ’14 of Brussels, Wisconsin, graduated with her master’s degree in May 2016 and moved back to Wisconsin. She was offered an associate therapist position with Millennium Manor, a residential treatment center near Milwaukee. In this role, she helps those suffering from the disease of addiction.

KATIE DIECK ’14 of West Bend, Wisconsin, is working at Networkers Funding and getting married this May. KIRBIANNE DUNLAVY ’14 of Clintonville, Wisconsin, is teaching middle school physical education in Waupaca, where she also is the head varsity volleyball coach.

AMANDA FINN ’14 of Madison, Wisconsin, got engaged to Kyle Haggerty on Jan. 22 this year.

JAY FISH ’14 of Randolph, Wisconsin works on the east side of Madison for American Family Insurance. His daughter turned 2 on Feb. 26.

SARA GRIFFITHS ’14 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, is teaching second grade.

AMANDA MUELLER KORTH ’14 of Cecil, Wisconsin, started working as a digital storyteller for Evano Interactive Business in Green Bay. She lives in Cecil with her husband, Jacob Korth, and their two dogs, Mollie and Remington.

ANDREW KRUEGER ’14 of Redgranite, Wisconsin, is teaching fourth grade and coaching football in the Wautoma School District.

ERIC LANGMAN ’14 of Manawa, Wisconsin, had been in Maine coaching football at Maine Maritime Academy. He

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now is coaching football at MacMurray College.

ALEXIS NEMECEK ’14 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is halfway completed with her master’s degree in political science and international affairs at Marquette University and is enjoying every minute of it. She is working on publishing an article regarding the ethical and normative usage of drones in warfare, as well as editing a book on social movements in Latin America. She and her boyfriend are considering purchasing a condo in downtown Milwaukee.

EMMA JELINEK NEVEU ’14 and MICHAEL NEVEU ’14 of Appleton, Wisconsin, were married Sept. 17, 2016. They are living in Appleton with their two cats, Bakhtiari and Sitton. Emma works for Bank First National, and Michael works for the Department of Corrections.

CASSANDRA BILOTTO PASBRIG ’14 of Naperville, Illinois, got married in August, moved back to Illinois, and started working for Chicago Health Medical Group all within the same week!

ALECIA PASDERA ’14 of Waukesha, Wisconsin, is student-teaching in the school district of Oshkosh. In the mornings, she works with the English as a Second Language/refugee students at Merrill Middle School and spends her afternoons teaching French at Oshkosh North.

MARA JENSEN POULLETTE ’14 of Savage, Minnesota, transitioned to a new position at Lakeland University and is now a student success and engagement coach. In this role, she helps ensure students transition smoothly into college and are prepared for careers after graduating.

She and husband SAM POULLETTE ’13 live in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

MONICA SCHILLING ’14 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is getting married to TRAVIS BITTERS ’13 this July.

KATHERINE DREW SCHUMACHER ’14 and BRIAN SCHUMACHER ’15 of Ames, Iowa, were married June 4, 2016.

CHELSEA SORBO ’14 of Nekoosa, Wisconsin, has been involved with the Sand Valley Golf Resort since graduation. They will have their grand opening this year.

She moved to Brandon, Oregon, for 16 months to train at the sister resort, Brandon Dunes, which she considered “an experience of a lifetime.”

ELIZABETH WALSH ’14 of College Station, Texas, writes that she is “still trucking through grad school at Texas A&M University on the way to a Ph.D. in entomology.”

KARLYE WEHNER ’14 of Burlington, Wisconsin, is in her final semester of graduate school. She will graduate from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in May with a master of science in education with an emphasis in clinical mental health counseling. She recently got engaged to Marcus Krien, and they are enjoying wedding planning for their big day in May 2018.

EMILY SCHULTZ WHITE ’14 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, married Jake White in July 2015. She is the campus organization and outreach coordinator for a nonprofit called Party, which helps college students throw sober house parties. She currently is on a national tour with the organization, spending one week in each state.

TSERING YANGCHEN ’14 of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a public relations specialist at Media Relations Agency, the media coordinator at Depart Smart, board member of Regional Tibetan Women’s AssociationMinnesota Chapter, and member of Twin Cities Encourage Her Network.

SAMANTHA YOUNGLOVE ’14 of Union Grove, Wisconsin, is in medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine- A.T. Still University in Missouri.

2013-15 ARIANA MYERS ’14 of Princeton, New Jersey, received her master’s degree in history from Princeton University and now is working toward her Ph.D. at the same institution.

MAXWELL ROY ’14 married CETONIA WESTON ROY ’15 on June 4, 2016. Their son, Xavier, turned 3 this past January. Maxwell currently works as the director of development, marketing, and unit director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County. He will graduate from the Medical College of Wisconsin with his master’s of public health this May. TYLER RUTKOWSKI ’14 was a member of the 132nd Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School and will be graduating from the academy Feb. 10 to begin his career as a Michigan state trooper.

BENJAMIN JONES ’14: “I and fellow Ripon alumnus RYAN SLATTERY ’16 have started a tag team known as the Golden War Hawks. We are currently wrestling in the Memphis territory and plan to compete in ring of honor by the end of the year. Our finishing move is ‘The Buzzsaw.’ ” RACHEL ZEMAN ’14 of Chicago, Illinois, graduated from Rush University in December with her master’s degree in nursing. She is starting her nursing journey as a labor and delivery nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Keep doing great things, Red Hawks! Best, MARA, TIM and NAOMI

2015 Sam Kay kaysamantha9@gmail.com Kaylie Longley kaylielongley@gmail.com Logan Soich soichlogan@gmail.com I recently read Amy Poehler’s Yes Please. Part memoir, part self-help book, the comedian is doing great things, on and off the screen. In the book, she gently reminds readers to just do things: “Great people do things before they’re ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you’re afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that – that’s what life is. You might be really good. You might find out something about yourself that’s really special, and if you’re not good, who cares?

You tried something. Now you know something about yourself.”

All too often, a person’s goals and dreams are neglected or abandoned. We don’t give ourselves enough chances to make them reality.

I think this is because of a dirty little habit called procrastination. A waiting game is played. The player wants to find the perfect setting to accomplish the thing.

Once his mind is prepared and the setting is adjusted, the player thinks he’s ready to tackle the task. But he can’t.

Do the thing not because it’s difficult but because it’s what you want out of life. Don’t push off the task. You know it will be trying and time-consuming, but maybe it’s something great you’ve always wanted. Do it for your younger self. Do it for your future. Do it for today.

Give yourself the chance to see your goals become reality.

I recently applied for a volunteer position in public media, and my younger, introverted self would have been terrified at the prospect of even considering it. Yet I know 10-year-old Kaylie, who loved Arthur and Doctor Who, dreamt of shaping public broadcasting. She wanted to make a difference in children’s lives, and I still do. I’m waiting to hear back, but I’m glad I did it, regardless of the outcome.

It’s your job to listen to yourself. No one’s going to decide for you how to create meaning in the mundane. You may never feel ready. But your life, and your choices, is yours.

Dreams exist, so let them live.

MICHAEL ANDERSON ’15 of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, is in his second year of law school at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He is interning with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and will be interning this summer with the U.S. Army JAG Corp.

CHELSEA GRAHN ANDREWS ’15 of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, successfully defended her first-year project.

She had a collaborative project between her lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Kristine KovackLesh’s lab at Ripon College accepted for presentation at the Society for Research in Child Development bi-annual research conference.

ALEX BALDSCHUN ’15 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, is in his final year of graduate school at the University of Chicago Divinity School. He will receive his master’s degree in history of Christianity in June. He hopes to enter a Ph.D. program in historical theology in the fall. Alex is planning a trip to Rome this summer with his wife for their second anniversary.

KELSEY BARTZ ’15 of Lake Mills, Wisconsin, will be attending graduate school in the fall at American University working toward her master’s in public policy.

LORETTE BEECHY ’15 of Marion, Wisconsin, is living in Ripon, Wisconsin, and working as lead teacher in the toddler room at Ripon Children’s Learning Center.

MITCHEL BEILFUSS ’15 of Fremont, Wisconsin, has pursued additional education after graduating from Ripon College. He now has an associate degree from Fox Valley Technical College in construction management.

He has been working as a project executive at Bayland Buildings in Green Bay since March 2016.

ANDREW CARBALLO ’15 of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, is in his second year of law school at St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This mental game is rarely won.

SYDNEY CHURCH ’15 of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is working at Johnsonville as a business intelligence developer. She is working toward her MBA at Marquette University. Sydney also is teaching dance at Dollhouse Dance Factory in Sheboygan.

This is because that moment rarely happens. The perfect environment might not exist. (Over) preparing in the hope of feeling ready is not fruitful.

ZACHARY CONNERS ’15 of Madison, Wisconsin is a pastry chef for Centerplate Catering at Alliant Energy Center and at Planet Fitness.

Instead of waiting, like Amy Poehler says, we should just go and do the hard thing. Do it! If you’re looking for a sign, this is it. Hit “submit.” Apply for the job. Make the call. Start the project. Go.

ELEANOR “ELLY” DAVIS ’15 recently moved to Milwaukee’s east side neighborhood. She is transitioning into an administrative role at Stone Creek Coffee and is excited to learn more about the operations and managerial side of the coffee business, as well as getting to work closely with the wholesale

What do you long for? What do you hope to do? What drives you?

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Class Letters and production departments.

CHRISTIAN ERTEL ’15 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been promoted to an account executive with the Milwaukee Bucks.

KAYLYN FREEMAN ’15 is a third-grade teacher in South Carolina.

JOSH GIESE ’15 of De Pere, Wisconsin is working at Fort Drum, New York, as a fuel and water platoon leader with 210 Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

EMILY FISCHER LENSMIRE ’15 of Reedsville, Wisconsin, is expecting her first child with her husband, Sam Lensmire, on June 25, 2017.

JULIA HASHEIDER ’15 recently married Victor Ocampo. In addition to being a business development representative at Alliance Laundry Systems, she’s currently working on a novel.

ZAC NELL ’15 and ERIKA RIEBE ’16 became engaged in December, and in February they adopted an adorable puppy named Rogers. In June, she started work as an admissions counselor at Northland College.

PETER HAYES ’15 of River Forest, Illinois, is a platform consultant at Envestnet, a trading proprietary/financial services firm in Chicago.

HANNAH HERZOG ’15 of Appleton, Wisconsin, is a fitness assistant at the YMCA, and she is a small business owner.

JORDAN HIBBARD ’15 of Sugar Camp, Wisconsin, married Amy Levandoski Hibbard on Oct. 15, 2016.

HAYDEN HOERDEMANN ’15 of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois, is a graduate assistant men’s basketball coach at Illinois Wesleyan University and getting his master’s degree from Illinois State in sports management.

SAMANTHA KLEIN ’15 of Baraboo, Wisconsin, is a health and wellness coach and also working at Just B Still Massage Studio and Green Café. Samantha is a full-time student on the medical intensive track for therapeutic massage at Blue Sky in Grafton, Wisconsin.

CHRISTIAN KRUEGER ’15 of Winneconne, Wisconsin, is living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, attending Western Michigan University where she will complete her master’s of medieval studies degree in April. She will pursue a Ph.D. in history in the fall of 2017.

MICHAEL LANPHIER ’15 of Westland, Michigan, will be happily wed to JOHANNA BURTON ’13 this summer.

TAIHUA “RAY” LI ’15 of Chicago, Illinois, is in his final year of graduate school at DePaul University in Chicago working toward a master’s degree in predictive analytics.

MARK LISOWSKI ’15 of Chicago, Illinois, has been serving as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Thorne Bay, Alaska, since May 4, 2016, as part of the Southeast Alaska Libraries Build Communities Project. He works with the library in Thorne Bay to improve their outreach and services for the community. Mark recently was accepted to Marquette University to pursue a master’s degree in communication.

He is happy to return home to the Midwest this summer.

KAYLIE LONGLEY ’15 of Greenfield, Wisconsin, is celebrating two years at JB’s on 41 as marketing associate.

She’s also developing a blog and learning Irish.

RAQUEL MACSWAIN ’15 is living in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is one of two representatives for College Possible in the Twin Cities for the InterCorps Council.

This allows Raquel to interact with other programs as well as serving on a committee where she helps write the Public Spirit newsletter and manage social media pages.

NICOLE MALLI ’15 of Washington, D.C., is in her final year of graduate school. She works as a project manager for the Slave Wrecks Project.

KATIE JO MCGEE ’15 of Ripon, Wisconsin recently became project manager for the Fond du Lac marketing agency Brownboots Interactive.

BRIANNE MILROY ’15 of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is working in the purchasing department at Children’s Hospital.

CODY MESSERSCHMIDT ’15 is living in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a project manager at Epic.

ALYSSA NYCZ ’15 finished her first semester of medical school at MCW-GB and loves any shadowing experience she gets in pediatrics! She still meets up with Ripon XC and track teammates now and then.

KATRINA O’NEILL ’15 of Minocqua, Wisconsin, is a manager for the Minocqua Sherwin Williams store.

JONATHAN NEWBERY ’15 of River Forest, Illinois, was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy in July after boot camp. He reported to naval flight school in August where he completed several training schools. He is now at Training Wing Six, training squadron 10, in Pensacola, Florida.

KORRIN PETERSON ’15 of Burlington, Wisconsin, is doing long-term substitute teaching and also coaching the freshmen softball team.

MADELINE POULLETTE ’15 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is studying anthropology at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. While it looks like Maddie is just having fun in Mexico, she actually is working on her master’s thesis.

MEGAYN RAY ’15 works for Books & Company, an independent bookstore in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

CORY ROEBER ’15 of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, is going to officer candidate school and is commissioning for the U.S. Army.

CAMPER SANBORN ’15 recently moved to Madison, Wisconsin. Some of his art is being exhibited with Associate Professor of Art Rafael Salas’ show at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in Fond du Lac. He’s also working as a preschool art teacher.

CLARENCE SANON ’15 of Chicago, Illinois, is living in Fort Collins, Colorado, and studying communications at Colorado State University. He has a paper accepted to the National Communication Association and presented the paper “The American Rhetorical Imaginary: Mass Media as a Tool for Designing Haitian Space.”

LAURA SAVALL ’15 of Ridgeland, Wisconsin, is in her second year of law school at Vermont Law School with a focus on environmental and social justice advocacy.

She is working for an environmental nonprofit that encourages the sustainable use of Vermont’s resources.

Laura is excited to protect Americans from the ills of industry, especially in this new administration.

LAURA SHIVELY ’15 of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, recently accepted a position at Myco USA as a receptionist. She is still coaching swimming at DSHA High School.

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2015-16 KARENA SCHROEDER ’15 of Mankato, Minnesota, took advantage of a third lateral career move with Sam’s Club, and she likely will be promoted soon. Karena enjoys her work almost as much as she enjoys spending time with her cat, Bambi.

BRIAN SCHUMACHER ’15 of Ames, Iowa, is attending Iowa State University to pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry.

KARLYN SCHUMACHER ’15 of River Falls, Wisconsin, is attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her master’s degree.

CETONIA WESTON ’15 married MAXWELL ROY ’14 on June 4, 2016. Their son, Xavier, turned 3 this past January. Maxwell is director of development, marketing and unit director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington County. He will graduate from the Medical College of Wisconsin with his master’s of public health this May. JENELLE SIMON ’15 of Hubertus, Wisconsin, is a junior coach with College Possible. She also recently moved to Milwaukee.

KARISA SIMONSEN ’15 of Redgranite, Wisconsin, works at Aurora Medical Center in Wautoma as a patient service representative. This spring, she also is coaching middle school softball.

JESSICA SKIBA ’15 recently moved to Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and is a digital marketing specialist with .orgSource and .orgCommunity.

JOHN SPADONI ’15 moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is working at Carroll University in the HR department. He works with new adjunct professors and student workers to welcome them to campus.

ANTHONY TAUSIG ’15 of San Francisco, California, is living in Appleton, Wisconsin. He recently received an offer to work as an account manager with Employee Benefit Consulting Group in Chicago. He will be working alongside another Ripon College alumnus, DAN YOST ’03.

AMEL TOPIC ’15 of Denver, Colorado, finished his Administrator in Training Program and will be the next executive director of a skilled nursing facility at the end of February.

Until next time, KAYLIE, SAM and LOGAN

2016 Sara Driebel Driebelsara@gmail.com Elizabeth Konieczny ekonieczny12@gmail.com Zachary Peterson zacharyjpeterson@icloud.com Hi class! Spring is here, and with it our new class letter! It is hard to believe that at this time only a year ago, we were seniors at Ripon getting ready to walk across that stage.

Only a year has passed, but with a class of 203 people, a lot of individual stories have had a chance to be written.

We have had four years to grow through our classes, sports, groups and friends, but now is our time to take all we have developed and apply it as big kids. We want to hear all of those stories as more chapters are added!

employment, your classmates (and I) would be glad to hear about your travels or your pets or your family or an exciting show you found on Netflix.

CLAUDIA BEYER ’16 is an office manager for People First Wisconsin, a statewide advocacy group for people with disabilities, out of Glendale, Wisconsin.

ELIZABETH KONIECZNY ’16 is working full time and loving her job as a commercial underwriter at Acuity. She will be getting married on Nov. 18 to her high school sweetheart in Milwaukee!

ERIKA RIEBE ’16 has had a busy year! In June, she started work as an admissions counselor at Northland College; in December, she and ZAC NELL ’15 became engaged; and in February, they adopted an adorable puppy named Rogers.

FRANK STELTER-HOGH ’16 completed his studentteaching in January and has been substitute-teaching at Evanston Township High School. He also coaches track.

IAN HALL ’16 has traveled to Germany, Austria and, most recently, Croatia.

NICOLETTE ATHANASIOU ’16 and ANTHONY KAATZ ’16 both are working for Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories at the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin as lab technologists in the microbiology lab.

MARGARET BREEN-LYLES ’16 is a clinical research coordinator in the Center for Clinical and Transitional Science at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. In her free time, she volunteers at the women’s shelter and at the Dorothy Day homeless shelter. She also has a cat named Valentine.

MATTHEW SCHULTZ ’16 has continued to travel voraciously since graduation. Some highlights include Australia and New Zealand, Denver, D.C., and an upcoming trip to Japan. Matthew started interning for a company that works to commission public art around the globe and has since been hired there as an employee. He is additionally interning in marketing and public relations with the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre.

MEGAN MAREMA ’16 is attending the University of Washington to study prosthetics and orthotics.

RAEANN BRIXIUS ’16 is in graduate school in Denver at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, pursuing her master’s degree in International Security. She works for the dean of her school (former ambassador Chris Hill) scheduling and planning events. She also enjoys hiking all around Colorado.

SARA DRIEBEL ’16 is a 4K teacher at Apple Ridge Academy in Brookfield, Wisconsin. More importantly, she was able to go to Las Vegas and Disneyland with MATTHEW SCHULTZ ’16 and to Disney World with her family and has been spending a lot of time with her dog, Archy.

Wishing you all the best, SARAH, ELIZABETH and ZACHARY

Please continue to send any of your Class Agents updates that you would like to be included in the next edition of the class letter, or send them to alumni@ripon.edu.

Remember that you learned a lot at Ripon beyond what you need for your job! We have grown as individuals and even if you do not have any new updates about

Spring 2017 53

More Alumni Sightings

T. CLARK WILCOX ’80, Sandra Schaub, Wayne Nemecek, BETH PALMBACH NEMECEK ’79, PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80, Joy Wilcox and DANIEL “TOM” OAKLEY ’79 met at George’s in Appleton to remember RICHARD “NATE” BOYA III ’79.

Some of the AXO’s in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Sept. 6, 2016. Front row, left to right: SUE HECHT GEBHARDT ’70, JOAN REINKE ZIEGLER ’70, CHRIS LYDON JONES ’70 and COLLEEN BURR KAMIN ’70. Back row, left to right: BEV RICE PETULLO ’71, LINDA WOHLSCHLAGER LARSON ’70 and CONNIE JAYE HARRIS ’70.

Four alumni pictured with Professor of English Emeritus Doug Northrop — MIKE VEFRKUILEN ’76, JULIE CARLSON ’76, SHARON GRIGGINS ’76 and GERRY ROTHTOCK ’76 — were back for their 40th reunion. They met in Northrop’s Seminar in World Literature (English 121-122) their freshman year (1972-73). Two other alumni of the class who didn’t make it to campus in time for the photo are SANDY OGDEN ’76 and RUTH ANN STODOLA ’76. “We all remembered each other, and Doug remembered all of us!”

ROXANNE OVERSHINER BOWENS ’89 and JOEL ANDERSON ’89 in Washington, D.C.

WILLIAM EDDY ’79, JIM EVENS ’79 and BILL SCHNESE ’79 at Alumni Weekend.

EVANN “SUGAR” MALTBY BALMES ’61 and EDIE TULL JENDAL ’58 are volunteer salesgirls at the 800 Gift Shop at NCH hospital in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

VIRGINIA “TERRI” KRIKORIAN WORDEN ’66 and DAVID WORDEN ’65 are blessed with twin fraternal granddaughters.

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Connections

SUSAN MUDGE “SMUDGE” GIELER ’66 and CRAIG GIELER ’66 in July 2016 at their home in Nicholson, Georgia.

Staying Connected with Ripon

Service to Ripon College helps Sam Mutschelknaus ’12 continue to learn

Sam Mutschelknaus ’12, right, at Alumni Weekend A younger voice on the Alumni

become well-rounded. “I want to

Board is provided by Sam

help continue the spirit of Ripon,

Mutschelknaus ’12, who also

its philosophy and mission and

contributes financially to Ripon

bring that into our working lives

College and is helping to plan

— teamwork and collaboration.”

his five-year reunion to be held in June.

Mutschelknaus came to Ripon with the thought of studying

“Ripon allowed me to grow,

public relations, but he says that

develop and mature into a person

Ripon’s liberal arts curriculum

I never thought I would become,”

and the freedom to explore

Mutschelknaus says.

many different subject areas

“I want to support that

introduced him to the world of

mission and philosophy of

ministry and chaplaincy.

Ripon for other students. For young alumni, it’s important to continue to celebrate our accomplishments. Just because we left Ripon doesn’t mean Ripon has stopped existing.”

Mutschelknaus says he was active in Ripon College activities as a student, and “I think it was a natural progression to help the College in any way I could” after he graduated, he says. “I enjoy meeting other alumni, helping future students and planning.”

He received a masters’ of divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and is now is a year-long training program at

Ripon allowed me to grow, develop and mature into a person I never thought I would become. I want to support that mission and philosophy of Ripon for other students.”

SAM MUTSCHELKNAUS ’12

Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee to become a hospital chaplain.

“Staying connected to Ripon is a continuation of being on campus,” he says. “I support a great mission and continue learning as a lifelong learner. Just because you have your degree doesn’t mean you stop learning.”

He says a liberal arts education strengthened his ability to

Spring 2017 55

Staying Connected with Ripon

LaBarbera ’82 returns the favor of financial assistance through regular donations to the Annual Fund Giving back to Ripon College every year shows the gratitude Dawn Benning LaBarbera ’82 has for her alma mater. LaBarbera, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, is a loyal donor who contributes to Ripon’s Annual Fund each year.

LaBarbera was a first-generation college student with the goal of attending the most costefficient school for her family.

She discovered Ripon by conversing with a friendly recruiter at a college fair. After learning about how affordable a Ripon College education was, her decision was made.

“I had a rich college experience,” LaBarbera says. “I had the opportunity to major in biology and psychobiology, help start the softball team with teammate Deb Morrisey ’82, lead Circle K, be a resident assistant, and play oboe in the band, orchestra and wind ensemble.”

LaBarbera’s younger sister also

After graduating from Ripon,

attended Ripon. “My parents

LaBarbera returned to Chicago

knew that they could entrust my

to work in the medical field in a

sister to Ripon because of my

research lab. She then practiced

experience there. Extra-special

as a certified nuclear medicine

was the care provided to her,

technologist and registered

accommodating a person with

ultrasonographer before pursuing

cystic fibrosis long before ADA

her master’s degree to become a

laws,” she says.

physician assistant. She became

It is easy to understand why she gives back to Ripon, LaBarbera says. “It is with great appreciation for those donors that afforded me the opportunity for a financial aid package that made Ripon a cost-competitive college choice,” she says. Also, on behalf of her sister’s experience, LaBarbera says, “She may not otherwise have had a true collegiate experience.”

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Connections

a physician assistant educator, continued to practice part time in primary care, and earned her Ph.D. LaBarbera now works in the physician assistant program at Trine University.

“It is with great appreciation for those donors that afforded me the opportunity for a financial aid package that made Ripon a costcompetitive college choice,” she says.

DAWN BENNING LABARBERA ’82

Campus Snapshots

The men’s basketball team ended a 15-year tournament championship drought by defeating Lake Forest College 81-72 to win the 2017 Midwest Conference Tournament Championship, Feb. 25. The win gave the Red Hawks a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament for the first time since 2002 and the 13th time in program history.

Despite a loss to ninth-ranked Washington University in the first round, Ripon recorded its first 20-win season since 1999. Seniors TY SABIN and BRENDAN MCCOY were all-conference selections, and Sabin earned all-American honors from D3hoops.com and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Free haircuts by Barber Rich were a popular offering thanks to the Office of Student Activities and Orientation. Rich visited campus five times during the spring semester to cut hair. The first eight students at each visit received free haircuts.

CAMILLE CARLSON CLEMONS ’00, vice president of business development at UMB Bank in New York, returned to campus April 17 to share her insights with students in Professor of Economics Paul Schoofs’ Managerial Economics class.

The improvements to the athletics, health and wellness facilities continued in earnest throughout the winter. This aerial photo, taken April 9, shows the expansion of the building to the west (the new field house) and north (the new atrium and fitness center). Construction is slated to be complete prior to the start of classes in August. A grand opening celebration will be held Oct.7 as part of Homecoming and Family Weekend.

Spring 2017 57

The Miss Ripon College Pageant crowned a new Miss Ripon College in November. Miss Ripon College 2015 ELIZABETH ERDMANN ’17 crowns KATE MYSZEWSKI ’19 as the 2016 winner, as event chair ALLISON REINHARDT ’17 presents her with roses and a sash.

Five alumni from the Washington, D.C., area were on campus in March to participate in a presentation to students sponsored by the Center for Politics and the People and the International Relations Club. Participating were, from left, GREGG PETERSEN ’78, a defence industry consultant with Cypress International; SOPHIA KAOUNAS ’14, a paralegal with Morris, Manning & Martin; BRAD CHOJNACKI ’15, a graduate student at the Institute of World Politics; NICK KRUEGER ’09, senior aide to U.S. Rep. Terry Katsma; and DREW DAVIS ’07, a former executive director of the Pax Americana Institute.

Five students represented Ripon College in the 21st Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl competition Feb. 26 in Dallas, Texas.

The Ripon team comprised, from left, DELOU WILSON ’18, WYATT MCGILLEN ’19, ERIKA ISAACSON ’18, ZACHARY MATSON ’17 and LAUREN HINCE ’18. The competition was held as part of the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics 26th annual conference.

Ripon was pitted against teams from the U.S. Military Academy, Tufts University and defending champions Whitworth University.

Ripon defeated Tufts, but lost to Whitworth and the eventual 2017 champs from the Military Academy.

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Connections

This group of 13 students traveled to Washington, D.C., during spring break to participate in Ripon’s Career Discovery Tour. The students met with 11 alumni in various fields with visits to the United States Department of State, C-SPAN, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the United States Navy, among others.

Three students, an alumna and Professor of Religion BRIAN SMITH attended the annual Midwest American Academy of Religion (MAAR) meeting in Muncie, Indiana, in March. This is the regional section of the national American Academy of Religion, the professional association of religious studies scholars in the United States. Participating were, from left, HOLLY ERICKSON ’18, NOAH DEBRUYN ’17, SMITH, HOPE BELL ’15 and RICARDO JAIMES ’17.

PRESIDENT ZACH MESSITTE offers RHIANNA BLAIR ’16 of West Allis, Wisconsin, her choice of a piece of cake from the 2017 Founders’ Day birthday cake. The College celebrated the 166th anniversary of its founding with a ceremony Jan. 31.

Rally the Red Hawk provided students, including DANI BEHM ’17, with a warm hug on a cold January day in recognition of National Hug Day, Jan. 21.

The Class of 2017 celebrated the countdown to graduation with the traditional “100 Days” party at Roadhouse Pizza Feb. 3.

A group of Ripon students traveled with Professor of Psychology JOE HATCHER to Hagley Gap, Jamaica, during winter break in January to visit Minto Primary School. Hatcher and Ripon students have been making semi-annual visits to the community of Hagley Gap for several years. Making this trip were HAYLEY ANDERSON ’19, HAYLEE CONRADT ’19, EMMA GORAL ’17, GABBY HORSTMEIER ’17, SYDNEY RADANDT ’17, MORGAN SMITH ’18 and CARYSSA WAITE ’18.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams held their annual alumni events Jan. 28. The day began with friendly competition pitting former players against each other. The 1990-91 and 1991-92 men’s basketball teams were recognized at halftime of the Red Hawks men’s game against Illinois College. It was the 25th anniversary of their Midwest Conference Championship season. The festivities concluded that evening with the third annual Ripon Basketball Night — a family-friendly event for basketball alumni, current players, their families, and the Red Hawks Kettle Club, celebrating the legacy and tradition of Ripon’s basketball programs.

Thanks to a $1,000 grant from PRESIDENT ZACH MESSITTE’s Twenty for ’17 campus improvement initiative, the College now has a permanent fire pit located outside Harwood Memorial Union. Students “christened” the new campus amenity by roasting marshmallows and making s’mores March 23.

Two-year-old Jordan Huss, daughter of ASHLEY MEISTER HUSS ’10, stole the ball and many hearts during the women’s alumni basketball game.

Spring 2017 59

Ripon News College News Ripon first in nation for graduation rate for students of color Ripon College is ranked number one in the nation on the Power 150 Index, an identification of Best Colleges for Students of Color by Alliance CollegeReady Public Schools.

“While more than two-thirds of public colleges and universities have increased graduation rates over the last decade, the graduation gap grew by 19 percent between white students and underrepresented minorities,” the Alliance says. “College selection has more impact on a student’s likelihood of graduating than any other factor in their college experience.”

To aid in this selection, Alliance has identified 150 colleges with the highest minority graduation rates of 75 percent or higher among the 4,200 U.S. colleges and universities.

Ripon College names new vice president for finance KARL IVAN SOLIBAKKE has been appointed the new vice president for finance at Ripon College. Solibakke has been on campus since May in an interim capacity.

“Solibakke has hit the ground running with responsibilities that also include managing the financing of the $22 million Storzer renovation project,” said Zach Messitte, president of Ripon College. “In his first few months at Ripon, I have been very impressed with his attention to detail, care for colleagues, hard work and good humor. He understands the importance of a liberal arts education and the opportunities it offers our students. But he also appreciates why we must be mindful of rising tuition and cost.”

Ripon College launches new Bovay’s Study Bar & Mercantile A launch party Feb. 14 kicked off Ripon College’s new downtown venture, Bovay’s Study Bar & Mercantile, 329 Watson St. Bovay’s is a hip, multipurpose downtown venue adjacent to J’s BBQ. The space includes a high-tech classroom, an office, flexible study space and an event venue that will serve as a retail store and performance area.

Thomas E. Caestecker honored with 2017 Founders’ Day Award Thomas E. Caestecker, a resident of Green Lake, Wisconsin, and Kenilworth, Illinois, was honored with the Ripon College Founders’ Day Award. The annual award recognizes members of the community who represent the ideals of Ripon College and have contributed above and beyond to the mission of the school.

A strong supporter of Ripon College over many years, Caestecker provided a gift to build the new wing of C.J. Rodman Center for the Arts that is named in his honor and includes studios, a gallery and a sculpture garden. He also supported the College’s 2001 Sesquicentennial Celebration and the 2003 inauguration of President David C. Joyce. He served as a Ripon College Trustee from 1985 to 2002 before becoming an Honorary Life Trustee.

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Connections

Amsden receives Regional Faculty Service Award ROBERT AMSDEN, professor of theatre and the Doreen L. ’73 and David I. Chemerow Chair in Theatre, received the Regional Faculty Service Award for Wisconsin at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 3, in Indianapolis in January.

Amsden has been associated with the festival since 1978 and initiated Ripon College’s participation in the 1990s.

The department has received numerous certificates of merit for theatre production quality over the years.

Ethics Bowl team points champion at regional competition The Ripon College Ethics Bowl Team was the overall points champion at the 11th Annual Upper Midwest Regional Ethics Bowl at Harper College. The team earned a spot in the National Ethics Bowl held in association with the Association of Practical and Professional Ethics Annual Conference in Dallas, Texas, in February 2017 for the fifth year in a row. Overall, Ripon placed fourth among the 26 schools participating.

Ripon College alumni, seniors earn National Science Foundation honors DAVID GARCIA ’14 of West Chicago, Illinois, and RAYMOND ALLEN ’15 of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, have been awarded 2017 National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships.

Winning honorable mentions were:

Rachel Stanley ’17 Wins Nick Adams Short Story Prize RACHEL STANLEY ’17 has won the Associated Colleges of the Midwest’s 2017 Nick Adams Short Story Prize for her original work titled “Four Times Jasper Diallo Didn’t Die (and One Time He Lived).” New York Times best-selling author Karen Abbott was the judge for the contest.

Stanley is the first Ripon College student to win contest, which has been held annually since 1973. Following graduation in May, she will begin a doctoral program in clinical psychology at Marquette University, where she plans to continue research she has been pursuing as an undergraduate on issues of autism identity and stigma.

Rachel Steiner ’17 wins state Student Activist Award for peace, justice issues RACHEL STEINER ’17 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a senior at Ripon College, received a 2017 Student Activist Award from the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies. The award is made annually to “Wisconsin college or university students who have made an outstanding contribution to activism related to peace and justice issues.”

At Ripon College, she either founded or revitalized the Ripon College Disability Rights, Education and Activism Movement (DREAM), Ripon College Feminists, Ripon College Diversity Coalition, and Queer Straight Alliance of Ripon College.

ROBERT ENRIGHT ’17 of Stevens

Point, Wisconsin, a chemistry major with minors in Spanish and physics; and EMILY CLIFF ’17 of Mukwonago, Wisconsin, a chemistry major and biology minor.

Mary Avery honored with Women in Management award MARY AVERY, professor of business management emerita and a certified management consultant, has received the 2016 Distinguished Woman of the Year Award from the Ripon-Green Lake Chapter of Women in Management.

The award is given to a woman who demonstrates commitment to her career goals and professional growth; exhibits the characteristics of a mentor to other women in business; demonstrates educational accomplishments and/or lifelong learning; exemplifies qualities of gifted leadership; and maintains an active role in the community. Avery is an educator, mentor, coach, leader and volunteer in the Ripon area and beyond.

Ripon College ranked No. 2 in state by College Choice Ripon College has been ranked No. 2 of the 25 best colleges in Wisconsin by College Choice. The organization based its rankings on academic quality and return on investment.

College Choice cited for Ripon College its top rankings from other organizations; its more than 40 undergraduate programs and other pre-professional programs and self-designed majors; undergraduate research; online coursework; and the new Catalyst Curriculum.

Mary Unger, assistant professor of English, awarded NEH research grant MARY I. UNGER, assistant professor of English and managing editor of Legacy: A Journal of American Women Writers, has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to conduct research this summer. The Summer Stipends award will support Unger’s project, “Cultures of Reading in the Black Chicago Renaissance,” examining a forgotten book culture on Chicago’s South Side from 1930-1950.

Sarah Mahler Kraaz awarded contract to edit new book SARAH MAHLER KRAAZ, professor of music and college organist, has received a contract from Routledge (Taylor and Francis group) to edit a volume, Music and War in the United States. Seventeen scholars from the United States and Canada each will write a chapter on music in the military and domestic music during conflicts in which the United States has been involved. The book is intended as a textbook for courses in music and war, and military history, and general readership.

Editing manuscripts and writing an introduction to the book will be the focus of a sabbatical leave Mahler Kraaz will hold in the spring of 2018.

She has developed and taught a Music and War course twice at Ripon College.

Academic Department News BIOLOGY ROBERT WALLACE, professor of biology and the Patricia and Philip McCullough 1969 Professor in Biology, had these works published:

* Allen, R.L., R.L. Wallace, and B.E. Sisson. 2016. “A rotifer-based technique to rear zebrafish larvae in small academic settings.” Zebrafish 13: 281–286. * Walsh, E.J. May, L., and Wallace, R.L. (in press). “Production of diapause embryos in phylum Rotifera: A metadata approach to documenting sexual reproduction.” Hydrobiologia (in press) DOI 10.1007/s10750-0162712-z * Mills, S. Alcántara-Rodríguez, J.A., Ciros-Pérez, J., Gómez, A., Hagiwara, A., Galindo, K.H., Jersabek, C.D., Malekzadeh-Viayeh, R., Leasi, F., Lee, J.-S., Mark Welch, B., Papakostas, S., Riss, S., Segers, H., Serra, M., Shiel, R., Smolak, R., Snell, T.W., Stelzer, C.-P., Tang, C.Q., Wallace, R.L., Fontaneto, D., and Walsh, E.J. (in press). “Fifteen species in one: deciphering the Brachionus plicatilis species complex (Rotifera, Monogononta) through DNA taxonomy.” Hydrobiologia (in press). DOI 10.1007/s10750-016-2725-7 A poster presentation by Yang, H., Hochberg, A., Dhimitri, S., Hochberg, R., Walsh, E.J., and Wallace, R.L., “Getting a (new) head in life: the non-homology of the rotifer corona and infundibulum,” was made at the January 2017 Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Wallace also gave a weeklong, series of lectures to graduate students at The National Autonomous University of Mexico (Mexico City) Nov. 14–18, 2016.

With colleagues at the University of Texas at El Paso, he submitted a preliminary proposal to the National Science Foundation. He also is a board member of the Green Lake Association and an adjunct member of the Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Texas at El Paso.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Adjunct Instructor of Business Management DAVID SAKRISON reports that last fall, a team of four Ripon College seniors were among the Global Top 100 teams in The Business Strategy Game (BSG), a sophisticated online business simulation in use in the College’s Senior Seminar in Business Management. At the time, more than 500 teams were using the game at colleges and universities in more than 50 countries.

COMMUNICATION JODY ROY, professor of communication and the Victor and Carrie Palmer Endowed Chair for Leadership and Values, reports that six members of the Ripon Speakers Bureau were scheduled to deliver the opening keynote presentation for the 2017 National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere Youth Summit in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group also will provide four break-out sessions for SAVE youth leaders and chapter advisers. Speakers Bureau also addressed the conference in 2016 and earned rave reviews for their presentations. The students speaking in 2017 are: MADDIE VANDENHOUTEN ’17, ALLISON MACKNICK ’17, LAUREN HINCE ’18, AVERY HERBON ’18, THOMAS PHILLIPSEN ’19 and JUSTIN FILTER ’19.

MUSIC SARAH MAHLER KRAAZ, professor

of music and the College Organist, received a contract from Routledge (Taylor and Francis group) to edit a volume, Music and War in the United States. Seventeen scholars from the United States and Canada each will write a chapter on music in the military and domestic music during conflicts in which the United States has been involved. The book is intended as a textbook for courses in music and war, military history and general readership.

Editing manuscripts and writing an introduction to the book will be the focus of a sabbatical leave for Kraaz in the spring of 2018. She says she is quite honored and pleased to be working on this project, the outcome of the Music and War course that she has developed and taught twice at Ripon College.

KURT DIETRICH, professor of music and the Barbara Baldwin De Frees Chair in the Performing Arts, is in the final stages of preparation of his new book, Wisconsin Riffs: Jazz Stories from the Heartland. It will be published in April 2018 by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. Dietrich began the project in 2009, doing historical research and ultimately interviewing more than 125 Wisconsin jazz musicians.

ENGLISH An article by Assistant Professor of English MARY UNGER, “Mapping The Quaker City’s Queer Ecology,” was published as a chapter in this edited, peerreviewed volume: http://www.psupress. org/books/titles/978-0-271-07713-0.html.

SOCIOLOGY MARC EATON, assistant professor of

sociology, is co-editing, along with Dr. Dennis Waskul, professor of sociology at Minnesota State University-Mankato, the volume The Supernatural in History, Society, and Culture. This edited volume will explore many different supernatural beliefs and practices, including fortunetelling, vampirism, voodoo, ghost hunting, and the search for “cryptids” (Bigfoot, etc.). These topics will be examined in their sociocultural and historical contexts for insights into the functions of such beliefs for individuals and society. The volume is scheduled to be published by Temple University Press in late 2017 or early 2018.

JACQUELINE CLARK, associate professor of sociology and chair of the socioloty and anthropology department, had an article, “Covering Up Disfigurement and Laughing It Off: Reinforcing Inequality in Breast Cancer Support Groups,” published in the journal Sociological Inquiry, 2017, Vol. 87(1):27-48.

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In Memoriam LENA BAUMGARTNER MICHAEL ’32 of Cardiff by the Sea, California, died Sept. 15, 2016. At Ripon, she studied mathematics and graduated with honors. She was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. She taught math at Humbird High School for three years. After raising her family, she taught elementary school in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. She was active in her church, teaching Sunday school, singing in choirs and helping in women’s organizations, and she enjoyed crocheting, gardening, cooking, reading, road trips and camping. Survivors include one daughter.

VIRGINIA HOSEGOOD MALTBY ’34 of High Falls, New York, died Jan. 31, 2008. At Ripon, she studied biology and was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. She worked for British Airways for many years. Survivors include one daughter.

MARY E. JONES ’38 of Chicago, Illinois, died Aug. 9, 2010. At Ripon, she studied English and was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority.

VIRGINIA WRIGHT ERDMAN ’40, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, died Aug. 2, 2016. She attended Ripon for a short time and was a member of Alpha Gamma Theta sorority. She was a member of PEO. She taught Sunday school for 30 years at the First Presbyterian Church in Fond du Lac. Children and animals, especially horses, were her passion. She bred and showed Saddlebred horses. Survivors include two daughters, including JOAN ERDMAN PENNAU ’69.

LOUISE PRIEBE ROCK ’42 of San Diego, California, died Oct. 30, 2011.

At Ripon, she was a double-major in English and educational studies and a member of the Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. She married ANDREW “ANDY” J. ROCK ’39, who died in 1998. She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, a volunteer at the YMCA and a die-hard Padres fan.

Survivors include one son and two daughters.

LEE VERNON BROWN ’44 of Cape Coral, Florida, died Oct. 4, 2002.

At Ripon, he studied chemistry and German and was a member of Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. He retired as a senior research chemist at Atlantic Richfield. Survivors include his wife, Ann Smith Brown, 5333 SW 8th Court, Cape Coral, FL 33914.

JOHN B. ELLIS ’44 of Golden, Colorado, died May 24, 2015. At Ripon, he studied economics for a short time and was a member of Omega Sigma Chi fraternity before he finished his degree at Lawrence University. He retired as a western sales manager from the Kimberly-Clark Corp. in 1997. Survivors include one daughter and one son.

DAVID DUDEY ’48 of Bentonville, Arkansas, died Dec. 8, 2016. At Ripon, he studied physics and mathematics.

He served in the United States Army 78th Division during World War II. He was a chapter leader for the John Birch Society and was active in the American Legion. He was survived by his wife of 69 years, SHIRLEY BENOY DUDEY ’49, until her death.

SHIRLEY BENOY DUDEY ’49 of Bentonville, Arkansas, died Jan. 12, 2017. At Ripon, she studied sociology and English. She served three terms on the Lodi (Wisconsin) School District Board of Education. She also volunteered with the Bella Vista Tory and Clothing Project. She and her husband were members of the First Christian Church of Rogers, Arkansas, and the Disciples’ Sunday school class for many years.

NORMA ANFINSEN LAHAM ’48 of Bokeelia, Florida, died Jan. 15, 2000.

She was born in Newark, Illinois, and had lived on Pine Island for 15 years, coming from Aurora, Illinois. She was a member of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Catholic Church on Pine Island. Survivors include two sons and two daughters.

DIANA DOMAN SUCKOW ’49 of Lake Forest, Illinois, died Nov. 25, 2016.

At Ripon, she studied music and was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. As a singer, violinist, flutist and pianist, she performed in several venues in Wisconsin. She studied at the Longy School of Music and sang solos in the chorus that accompanied the Boston Symphony Orchestra as well as at many church and synagogue services. In Illinois, she was treasurer of the Lake Bluff Yacht Club; a substitute teacher; an avid bridge player; a singer at the Church of the Holy Spirit; and a 30-year member of the Lake Forest Symphony. Survivors include her husband, GORDON MARTIN SUCKOW ’50, 90 Franklin Place East, Apt. 106, Lake Forest, IL 60045; one son and one daughter.

DIANE FAIRBROTHER SYME ’50 of St. Paul, Minnesota, died Jan. 6, 2017. At Ripon, she studied French and was a member of Delta Phi Sigma sorority.

She was a ballet dancer into her 20’s, a professional advertising writer at a time when many women didn’t work, a Princess with the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, an award-winning photographer and an avid bicyclist. As a writer, she worked for the Saint Paul Dispatch’s advertising department, KSTP, David Advertising and her own business, Syme/Anderson Copy Studio.

She was a member of the Twin City Camera Club, Crosstown Camera Club and a women’s investment club.

Survivors include one son; and two daughters, including CYNTHIA SYME BERNSTEIN ’81.

LENA BAUMGARTNER MICHAEL ’32

VIRGINIA HOSEGOOD MALTBY ’34

LOUISE PRIEBE ROCK ’42

DAVID DUDEY ’48 and SHIRLEY BENOY DUDEY ’49

DIANA DOMAN SUCKOW ’49

DIANE FAIRBROTHER SYME ’50

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VILMA GIZELLA BUTCHER CARLSON ’51 of Tekonsha, Michigan, died Nov. 30, 2016. At Ripon, she studied English and Spanish and was a member of Pi Tau Pi sorority. She was a lifelong educator and world traveler, beginning with U.S. State Department assignments in Guam in 1959 with her husband, Roger, he as a high school principal and she teaching adult education. Returning to live in Michigan, she was involved in church, teaching, the PTA and community activities. She visited all 50 states and six continents. In Tekonsha, she taught high school English and Spanish for 10 years. Survivors include her sister, ELIZABETH BUTCHER FOX ’53; five sons and two daughters.

BERNICE HOLTZ KLEINHEINZ ’51, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, died Dec. 8, 2016. She studied at Ripon for a short time. She enjoyed life, friends and family, Friday night fish fries, playing bridge, and traveling the world. She enjoyed life at her cottage on Long Lake, pontooning, campfires, hikes, golfing, fishing, berry picking, gardening, cooking and tending to her beloved Labs. Survivors include her husband, Robert, 7200 East Highway 14 #30, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729; three sons and three daughters.

LYLE I. “LUKE” LEONHARDT ’51 of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, died Nov. 29, 2016. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, attaining the rank of corporal. He played basketball on a traveling team throughout his training and service. In Fond du Lac, he worked at Mercury Marine and attended Ripon College on the G.I. Bill. He received a degree in business from Fond du Lac Junior College and held many positions in the investment/ banking field. He worked at National Exchange Bank from 1967 until retiring as an assistant vice president in 1989. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and the Noon Optimist Club. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

JOANN ORCUTT MARSHALL ’51 of Bluffton, South Carolina, died Jan. 12, 2017. She attended Ripon for a short time where she was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. She previously lived in Chicago, Wyoming and Tinley Park, Illinois. She was involved in Cub Scouts, Tinley Park Methodist Church, Recording for the Blind, the Community Center Foundation and Garden Club. She enjoyed being a hostess for Welcome Wagon for 35 years. She loved nature and gardening. Survivors include one son and two daughters, including CATHY MARSHALL GERMERAAD ’73.

She was married to JAMES MARSHALL ’49, who died in 1996.

ELIZABETH COLVIN DAVIS ’52 of El Granada, California, died Feb. 15, 2017. At Ripon, she studied sociology and was a member of Alpha Gamma Theta sorority. She finished her degree at the University of WisconsinMadison. She lived and worked in the Madison area until 2012. She retired from Wisconsin Power and Light, now Alliant Energy, in early 1996. During retirement, she played tennis well into her 70s and continued her love of travel and the arts, attending the symphony, theater events and art fairs.

She moved to California in 2012 to be closer to her daughters. Survivors include two daughters.

JOANNE KNOTT HOAG ’53 of South Haven, Michigan, died Aug. 15, 2016. At Ripon, she studied biology, was a member of Kappa Sigma Chi sorority. After marrying, she lived in New York City, enjoying the theater, ballet and restaurants; then moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1958 to raise her family. She was a homemaker and enjoyed involvement in her children’s activities and volunteer work. Later, she worked for many years as a laboratory cytologist.

She retired to South Haven and enjoyed bird watching, crossword puzzles, watching sunsets over Lake Michigan, cooking and sewing.

Survivors include her husband, Clyde Hoag, 1220 Monroe Blvd., South Haven, MI 49090; one son and two daughters.

JAMES RYAN ’53 of Anthem, Colorado, died June 15, 2016. At Ripon, he studied psychology and economics, was a member of Phi Kappa Pi fraternity, played football, and was active in theatre as a member of Theta Alpha Phil, the drama honor society. He served in the U.S. Army in Washington, D.C., during the Korean War. He had a long and successful career in sales with Reynolds Aluminum. He appeared in several community theater productions, enjoyed travelling with friends and family, cribbage and card games, and poetry. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

VILMA GIZELLA BUTCHER CARLSON ’51

BERNICE HOLTZ KLEINHEINZ ’51

LYLE I. “LUKE” LEONHARDT ’51

JOANN ORCUTT MARSHALL ’51

JOANNE KNOTT HOAG ’53

JAMES RYAN ’53

Spring 2017 63

In Memoriam ROBERT J.C. BROWN II ’54 of Ripon, Wisconsin, died Jan. 23, 2017. At Ripon, he studied classics including Latin and history. Although he was born in Pennsylvania, he spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Cincinnati, Ohio. He then went to high school in Milwaukee and then continued his studies at Ripon College.

He became a deacon in 1956 and a priest in 1957. For 31 years, he served St Peter’s Church in Ripon as well as St. Mary’s Chapel in Wautoma. He also taught Greek and Latin classes at Ripon College. He enjoyed fly fishing and was a member of Trout Unlimited and the Federation of Fly Fishers.

JAMES P. BROST ’56 of Sun City, Arizona, died Feb. 14, 2017. At Ripon, he studied physical education.

He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked in the field of personnel management and labor relations.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia, 11452 North 109th Ave, Sun City, AZ 85351.

PATRICIA ELSBY MAZANETZ ’56 of Marshfield, Wisconsin, died March 11, 2017. At Ripon, she studied biology and psychology, and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the Nile. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and its Elizabeth Circle. She enjoyed sewing, quilting and embroidery. She loved the family cottage and enjoyed many years at the lake. In Marshfield, they had a wooded lot where they enjoyed the abundance of wildlife with the many deer, bear, raccoons and squirrels; and also the many varieties of birds. Survivors include her husband, JOSEPH MAZANETZ ’56, 1810 N. Hume Ave., No. 4, Marshfield, WI 54449; one son and two daughters.

JOAN M. RAYMOND ’57 of Melbourne, Florida, died Feb. 22, 2017. At Ripon, she studied psychology and history.

She received her master’s degree from DePaul University and her Ph.D. in school administration from Northwestern University. She was a high school teacher and principal in the Chicago Public Schools, moving up to an assistant superintendent.

She was superintendent of several other school districts, and a nationally recognized expert and speaker on school district budgeting and integration. She was named among the “100 Top Executive Educators” in North America four times; and received Distinguished Alumni awards from Ripon College, DePaul and Northwestern universities. After retiring, she was a volunteer court mediator for Brevard County, presided over the Wyndham Homeowners’ Association, and supported the Brevard Humane Society.

LYNN HOLDEN NOAKES ’58 of Seminole, Florida, died April 4, 2016.

At Ripon, she studied French. She was member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Sigma Chi sororities. She was Miss Ripon and then became Miss Wisconsin in 1957, earning the “most talented musician” award. On campus, she was a member of the choir and a select musical group called Riponaires, who performed concerts across the country. She was a homemaker and raised three children with husband of 57 years, KENTON NOAKES ’59, who died in 2015. Survivors include one son and one daughter.

ROBERT FILEK SR. ’59 of Oak Park, Illinois, died Dec. 24, 2016. At Ripon, he studied economics and was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha fraternity. Robert Filek was a retired U.S. Army Reserve colonel who, during the late 1980s, was commander of the 1st Brigade, 85th Division, a training unit for armored cavalry scouts. He started his career at St. Paul Federal Savings and Loan where he rose to vice president. He pioneered the first ATM-like cash card, the Prestige card, for savings and loans; and was an early contributor to the technological revolution in credit card authorization as vice president of sales for Omron Business Systems. He loved fishing and spending time with family. Survivors include one son and two daughters.

JAMES A. MCCULLAGH II ’59 of Downers Grove, Illinois, died Jan. 23, 2017. He studied at Ripon for a short time and then continued his education at Drake. He was a salesman at Avery Dennison for 19 years and for PrintO-Tape in Libertyville, Illinois, for 19 years. He enjoyed activities with his daughters, watching Chicago sports and ushering at Downers Grove First United Methodist Church. In recent years, he divided his time between Surprise, Arizona, and Reedsburg, Wisconsin. During retirement, he enjoyed ushering at the Surprise Spring Training Baseball Facility, playing bocce, and singing with the Parkinson’s Tremble Clef choir.

Survivors include his wife, Lynn; four daughters; and a sister, PATRICIA MCCULLAGH PYBURN ’54.

JOHN V. STEDMAN ’59 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died May 3, 2010.

At Ripon, he double-majored in psychology and history and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. He worked at the Social Development Commission as an adult GED and remedial instructor. Survivors include one daughter.

ROBERT J.C. BROWN II ’54

PATRICIA ELSBY MAZANETZ ’56

JOAN M. RAYMOND ’57

LYNN HOLDEN NOAKES ’58

ROBERT FILEK SR. ’59

JAMES A. MCCULLAGH II ’59

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ROSS W. LATHROP ’60 of Wheaton, Illinois, died Feb. 9, 2017. At Ripon, he studied psychology and speech communication. He worked briefly in a Chrysler factory in Belvidere, Illinois, before moving to Hyde Park and pursuing graduate studies in educational psychology. He was as a management specialist at the University of Chicago’s Industrial Relations Center from 1961 to 1975. He served as an alderman in the 5th Ward. He then worked as a developer and landlord in Hyde Park for more than two decades.

Survivors include his wife, CAROL BUCKRUCKER LATHROP ’59, 0N650 Coventry Drive, Wheaton, IL 60187; and four daughters.

BARBARA JOHNSON GRAHAM ’61 of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, died Jan. 16, 2017. At Ripon, she studied English and was a member of Delta Phi Sigma sorority. She started as an ad writer for a downtown Milwaukee company.

After her children finished high school, she joined an event planning company and later purchased and ran the company for many years. Later, she became a tax preparer for H&R Block in Glendale for several years. She was a longtime and active member of the Whitefish Bay Garden Club. Survivors include her husband, Donald Graham, 944 E. Circle Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53217; two daughters; and a niece, CHRISTINE JOHNSON MORTON ’96.

DAVID EDWARD WOLTER ’61 of Zebulon, North Carolina, died Jan. 18, 2017. At Ripon, he studied physical education, played baseball and was a charter member of Phi Delta Theta. After graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He continued his love of sports not only by playing in softball and basketball leagues but by volunteering and coaching with recreation departments in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, and Wendell, North Carolina. He retired in 2001 after 35 years with Square D Co. Survivors include his wife, KAREN AGAZIM WOLTER ’62, 3112 Rose Lane, Zebulon, NC 27597; two sons and two daughters.

ALWIN “AL” JARREAU ’62 of Los Angeles, California, died Feb. 12, 2017. At Ripon, he studied psychology and later received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa. He was a legendary jazz singer who won seven Grammy Awards. He was known for his rhythmic scat singing. He released 20 albums, including his debut record, “We Got By,” and “Breakin’ Away” (1981), which featured his biggest song, “We’re in This Love Together,” a smooth jazz-pop track.

He also was a vocalist on the all-star 1985 track, “We Are the World” and sang the theme song for the Bruce Willis-Cybill Shepherd television series “Moonlighting.” He is the only Grammy-winning singer to win in the jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues categories. Jarreau performed many concerts during the past year including one for President Barack Obama at the White House. Survivors include his wife, Susan; and one son.

PHILIP W. SCHWAB ’62 of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died Dec. 17, 2016. At Ripon, he studied biology before finishing his degree at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Working in the drafting department of Mercury Marine, he founded Winnebago Power Products. In 1968, he and his brother took over from their father the operation of Duo Safety Ladder Corp. in Oshkosh. He became sole owner/ operator in 1981. In his retirement, he started Omro RV Campground in Omro. He enjoyed traveling, racing boats and building boats, and was a member of American Power Boat Association and the Elks Club. He later spent winters in Pine Island, Florida, and summers in Wisconsin. Survivors include his wife Ann Schwab, 8064 Island Ave., Omro, WI 54963; and three daughters.

JOHN V. STEDMAN ’59

ROSS W. LATHROP ’60

BARBARA JOHNSON GRAHAM ’61

DAVID EDWARD WOLTER ’61

ALWIN “AL” JARREAU ’62

PHILIP W. SCHWAB ’62

Spring 2017 65

In Memoriam MARY L. SFASCIOTTI ’63 of Kenosha, Wisconsin, died Feb. 26, 2017.

At Ripon, she studied economics.

She received her JD degree from Northwestern Law School in 1965.

She was a staff attorney for the U.S. Board of Immigration Appeals from 1968-1970, worked for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Illinois until 1974, then the EEOC as assistant regional counsel. She continued in private practice as an immigration attorney.

She was a published author in the field of immigration law and taught immigration law at John Marshall Law School. She was active in the Chicago Bar Association and the Alumni Associations of both Ripon and Northwestern. She went on many travels abroad, and she enjoyed playing the piano, listening to classical music and reading.

WALLY ZIMMERMANN ’65 of Hendersonville, Tennessee, died Jan. 5, 2017. At Ripon, he studied history and worked at the campus radio station, and at radio stations in Chicago his senior year. In the Army, he worked for Armed Forces Radio and Television. He worked in network radio in Chicago; was a reporter and news directors in Green Bay, Wisconsin; several positions, including executive producer and news director at KHON in Hawaii; head of the ABC affiliate in Detroit; vice president of news at KITV in Hawaii; director of communications for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; and senior vice president of client serves at Bright Light Marketing in Hawaii. Survivors include his wife, Jolie; and one daughter.

STEVEN J. ADOLPHSON ’66 of West Newbury, Massachusetts, died Jan. 16, 2017. At Ripon, he studied economics and art history and was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

He served on the Alumni Board of Directors from 1992-1995, was a Class Agent from 1991-1996 and the 30th reunion organizer. He was commissioned a second lieutenant, U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Frankfurt am Main, West Germany.

His enjoyed reading, research and writing, Civil War re-enactments, mid-19th century decorative arts and the history of golf, which he loved to play with his daughter. For 29 years, he worked in radio advertising for 92.5FM, now WXRV the River in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Survivors include his wife, Judith Adolphson, 196 Main St., West Newbury, MA 01985; and one daughter.

GLENN JOHN HEYER ’67 of Arlington, Virginia, died Dec. 3, 2016. At Ripon, he studied history.

He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University. He served in the federal government for 30 years, primarily as general counsel for the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled. Survivors include his wife, Carolyn Heyer, 2019 N. Jefferson St., Arlington, VA 22205; one son and one daughter.

RYAN CUSTER AMACHER ’67 of Lake Shore, Minnesota, died Nov. 25, 2016. At Ripon, he studied economics and was a member of Phi Kappa Pi fraternity. He earned his Ph.D. in economics at the University of Virginia in 1971. He held academic positions at the University of Oklahoma; Arizona State University, Clemson University, and the University of Texas at Arlington where he was president (1992-1995) and later professor of economics and public affairs until his retirement in 2012. In Washington, D.C., he wrote a market plan for the All-Volunteer Army at the Pentagon; consulted at the Federal Trade Commission; and worked on Law of the Seas negotiations at the U.S. Treasury. Ryan co-wrote or edited nine books on economics, served on the board of directors at Business Week and as an education policy adviser to former Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt. Survivors include his wife, SUSAN SMITH AMACHER ’68, Hills Crossing Senior Living, 5307 Hills Crossing Road, PO Box 380, Nisswa, MN 56468.

JAMES BYRKET ’69 of Danville, Illinois, died Dec. 31, 2016. At Ripon, he studied economics, was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, and played basketball and baseball. He later played softball and hardball in Danville with the 69’ers teams. He owned Danville Electric Supply from 1971-84, was employed by Hyster Co. in New York City, and Tepper Electric Supply in Champaign, Illinois. He also was active in his community. He loved printing off hundreds of recipes and never cooking them. He also loved cooking for his family and most recently discovered a love of smoking meats. Survivors include one son and two daughters.

MARY L. SFASCIOTTI ’63

WALLY ZIMMERMANN ’65

STEVEN J. ADOLPHSON ’66

GLENN JOHN HEYER ’67

RYAN CUSTER AMACHER ’67

JAMES S. STEINBERG ’67 of Williamstown, Massachusetts, died Sept.

24, 2011. At Ripon, he studied history and was part of Delta Upsilon fraternity.

Survivors include his wife, Joan.

JAMES BYRKET ’69

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STEVAN D. ZIMMER ’73 of Lakeville, Minnesota, died Feb. 1, 2017. At Ripon, he studied psychology and was member of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. He received a degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He was a cardiologist for 36 years in Minneapolis and various other places across the country. Survivors include his parents and three children.

JILL JOLLIE FOX ’73 of Wonder Lake, Illinois, died Jan. 26, 2017. At Ripon, she double-majored in English and educational studies. She received her master’s degree and enjoyed teaching fourth-grade students for many years at Johnsburg School District 12 until her retirement in 2012. A devoted pet lover, she also was an avid reader and cribbage player. She was a member of Ringwood United Methodist Church and PEO Sisterhood, Chapter JH, in Crystal Lake.

ROBERT “CHRISTIAN” HAUFLER JR. ’74 of Marshfield, Massachusetts, died Jan. 14, 2017. At Ripon, he studied economics and politics and government. He received his JD degree from Boston College Law School in 1978 and additional Trial Certifications from Harvard Law School, the American Academy of Trial Lawyers and other associations.

He was a family law attorney at Haufler Associates, a member of the Massachusetts and Florida bar associations, and served his country as an officer in the U.S. Army, Military Intelligence Branch. An avid boater, sport fisherman and hunter, he also was passionate about conservation of natural resources. He was a member of the Minots Ledge Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and was directly responsible for raising more than $1 million for wetlands conservation and sportsman habitats. Survivors include his wife, Claire; three stepsons and one stepdaughter.

ANDREW D. SINGLETON JR. ’76 of Deerfield, Illinois, died Nov. 1, 2016.

At Ripon, he studied psychology and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.

Survivors include his wife, Debra, 1135 Warrington Road, Deerfield, IL 60015.

DEBORAH CIZEK SMITH ’81 of Burr Ridge, Illinois, died Feb. 17, 2017. At Ripon, she studied history. She worked at Johnston & Murphy. Survivors include her mother, Dolores; brother, Robert; and loving companion, Stephen Hoadley.

ROBERT “CHRISTIAN” HAUFLER JR. ’74

DAVID W. SORUM ’85 of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, died Sept.19, 2016. At Ripon, he studied history and English and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi fraternity.

BRIAN C. LANGSDORF ’86 of Madison, Wisconsin, died Dec. 8, 2016. At Ripon, he studied biology and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity. Survivors include his parents; one son and one daughter.

BRADLEY J. SNYDER ’89 of Cary, Illinois, died March 3, 2017. At Ripon, he studied history and English literature, and graduated summa cum laude. He also played baseball and football and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He loved to read and teach his students and children his love for literature. He was a lifelong Cubs fan and instilled his love for baseball through coaching high school students and his own children’s community leagues. He dreamed of reaching every baseball stadium in the United States and made great progress toward achieving this goal. Survivors include his wife, Julie, three sons and one daughter.

GEOFFREY LANGLEY ’76

DEBORAH CIZEK SMITH ’81

DAVID W. SORUM ’85

GEOFFREY LANGLEY ’76 of Clarendon Hills, Illinois, died Sept. 19, 2016.

At Ripon, he studied biology and was a member of Theta Chi fraternity.

He received his master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Illinois-Springfield. He worked as a senior environmental division manager until his retirement.

Survivors include two sons.

JILL JOLLIE FOX ’73

BRIAN C. LANGSDORF ’86

BRADLEY J. SNYDER ’89

Spring 2017 67

In Memoriam Faculty & Staff BERNARD SCHRODER ADAMS of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died Feb. 26, 2017. At Ripon, he served as the ninth president of Ripon College from 1966-85. A graduate of Princeton University, Bernard earned his master’s degree from Yale University and his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to assuming the presidency at Ripon at the age of 38, he served for two years in the United States Air Force and taught English literature and held a range of administrative responsibilities at Princeton, Pittsburgh and Oberlin College.

In his nearly two decades at Ripon, Adams continued the expansion and renovation of our campus and supported the modernization of the curriculum — including the addition of off-campus, independent study, self-designed and interdisciplinary programs. He ended his academic career as president of Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, in 1987. After moving to Colorado Springs in 1988 to be closer to family, Adams worked as a vice president for Goodwill Industries for several years before retiring. He served many years as a member of the choir of the Broadmoor Community Church, as well as two years as church moderator. He served on various nonprofit boards, including the Colorado Springs Music Volunteers, The Center for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (TESSA), and Keep Colorado Springs Beautiful. He also served as an adviser to CASA’s and Griffith Centers for Children/ CHINS UP’s capital campaigns. In his non-professional life, he was a family man first and foremost. He always made time to attend his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events.

The family has fond memories of camping trips in New England during the early years and hiking, skiing and rafting adventures after they moved to Colorado. Adams loved playing tennis, especially family doubles.

“Bernie Ball,” his unique style of tennis, thwarted friends and family alike. Above all, Adams was a kind, loving husband, father and friend.

He always had a willing ear to listen to a college student, faculty member, child or grandchild. He always had a ready smile. In his last few months, as vascular dementia cast a longer shadow on his life, the two words he never forgot were “thank you.”

Survivors include his wife, NATALIE STOUT ADAMS ’77 4531 Palisades Park View, Apt. 263, Colorado Springs, CO 80906; one son and one daughter.

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WILLIAM S. BROOKS ’60 of Madison, Wisconsin, died March 8, 2017. At Ripon, he studied biology and was a member of Tri Beta Honor Society and Theta Sigma Tau fraternity. He dedicated his life to studying and protecting the environment, and teaching others how to do the same.

After graduating from Ripon College, he earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois BERNARD SCHRODER ADAMS at Urbana-Champaign. He then he returned to Ripon College and began a 40-year career as a professor of biology, specializing in ornithology and ecology. His greatest passion was studying birds, participating in numerous bird counts as an active member and former president of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.

He also devoted countless hours to a 10-year wetland restoration project on Rush Lake. He taught for many summers at the Associated Colleges of the Midwest’s Wilderness Field Station, WILLIAM S. BROOKS ’60 developing a deep love and respect for northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters. Survivors include one son, DAVID BROOKS ’89.

&

HOMECOMING FAMILY WEEKEND October 6-7, 2017

Come back and celebrate the grand opening of our renovated and expanded athletics, health and wellness facility October 7. Many other activities will be happening throughout the weekend.

ripon.edu/homecoming

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