National Connections & Alumni Events

Alumni events are open to all alumni and friends of Westminster College. The Office of Alumni Engagement works with volunteers to plan events in cities and regions across the country— or virtual online events. Get connected with alumni in your area!

DECEMBER 4, 2021 Christmas Cheer Courtesy of alumni host and Pittsburgh Regional Alumni Committee member Alyssa Hanna Falarski ’12, alumni, friends, and little Titans enjoyed the opportunity to enjoy a private screening of the holiday favorite, “Elf.” The event took place at The Tull Family Theater in Sewickley, Pa., where guests enjoyed a hot cocoa bar and holiday cookie decorating prior to the show.

DECEMBER 11, 2021 Holiday VIPs The tradition of early access for Westminster alumni to the highly popular Kraynak’s Christmas Lane returned this year on Dec. 11, welcoming more than 100 alumni and friends through the doors of the Hermitage store. Penny Rice Kraynak ’75 and George Kraynak, owners of the popular allseason establishment, partnered with alumni volunteer, Karen Campman Emmett ’75, to showcase the cheerful displays without the hassle of waiting in line.

APRIL 11, 2022 Book Talk After positive feedback from last year’s program, the Office of Alumni Engagement was thrilled to offer a second virtual book discussion to alumni. This year’s selection, The Vanishing Half, gave alumni the opportunity to deliberate the themes in the novel with a purposeful, thought-invoking discussion led by Dr. Sherri Pataki, professor of psychology, and Dr. Trisha Cowen, assistant professor of English. Alumni Council President Bill Eavenson ’73 served as alumni host.

APRIL 20 & 21, 2022 National Networking Days The Office of Alumni Engagement coordinated with alumni around the country to host 19 different networking sessions. Developed in the interest of building and creating alumni connections through industry and geographic-specific affiliations, in-person and virtual sessions were held. Alumni hosts included Don Goughler ‘68, Alex Taylor Schroder ‘14, Molly Somora ‘18, Ben Nelson ‘06, Colin Dean ‘07, Jessalyn Smith ‘04, Madison Ordonez Abbs ‘18, Justin Abbs ‘17, Jacob Pletz ‘15, Cyndi Mancini ‘06, Steve Totin ‘14, Tim Brennan ‘91, Danny Owoc ‘17, Bill Burig ‘80, Bill Eavenson ‘73, Blake Tyger ‘16, Harry Bittle ‘14, Alissa Bookwalter ‘07, Alexis Shellow ‘15, Kelly Lake ‘11, Melissa Batulis Fullerton ‘03, Leigha Krivacek Tipley ‘11, Lisa Wargofchik ‘84, Skip Winter ‘73, Judy Engwer Winter ‘73 and Christie Grewe Nelson ‘06. 5 VESPERS VOCALISTS | An intimate and talented group of alumni choral members joined current student choir members to perform at this year’s Christmas Vespers service on Dec. 12 in Orr Auditorium. Pictured front from left are Alexis Mazur ’21, Meghan Kowalski ‘20, Katie Dreyer ‘21 and Karen Hogue Latta ’67. Back from left are Abigale Senatore ’20, Kirk Hofmeister ’75, James Maloney ’02, Ashley Cesaratto ‘09, Dan Forsberg ‘75 and Karen Campman Emmett ‘75.

5 CRUISING ALONG | After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, alumni returned to Tampa Bay for the Florida Dinner Dance Cruise on April 3. Led and organized by Keith McCauley ’68, the event featured remarks from President Kathy Richardson and welcomed nearly 45 alumni and friends for an enchanted evening on the water.

5 ROOFTOP REUNION | Andy Winner ’04, Mariah Turiano ’17, host Lindsey Braem ’02, Brad Tokar ’91, Kimu Kim ’18 and Colin Dean ‘07 reconnect at one of the alumni happy hour events in the Pittsburgh area. Other happy hour hosts this year included Jan Twaddle ‘74, Alyssa Hanna Falarski ‘12, Molly Harbst ‘98 and Becky Rickard ‘98.

170th Birthday Bash

Westminster celebrated a milestone birthday this year, 170 years young! In recognition of the monumental occasion, the institution launched its 1 Week to 170 crowdfunding campaign, which generated over $120,000 in support of student-impact projects and scholarships. The week culminated on Wear Westminster Day on Jan. 21, with a hybrid birthday party live from the TUB. Students and alumni from around the country joined together in song to celebrate Mother Fair and, for those in person, feast on cake!

Winning Smiles

Thanks to all who participated in this year’s Wear Westminster Day on Jan. 21! Titans from across the country celebrated Westminster’s 170th birthday by sporting their blue and white. Earning the Best Dressed Pet Award was Tim Brennan ’91 and his bulldog Rocco, a 3-year-old rescue dog (left). Tim and Rocco live in Crete, Ill. The Most Spirited Award went to the family of Doug ’06 and Katherine Menhorn Spiri ’07. Congratulations to our winners and be sure to mark Jan. 21, 2023, on your calendar for the next Wear Westminster Day contest!

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Visit bookstore.westminster.edu to stock up on Titan gear for Wear Westminster Day 2023!

Upcoming Events

July 3

Westminster Independence Day Celebration at Brittain Lake

July 30

Casual Alumni Happy Hour, Narcisi Winery, Gibsonia, Pa.

August

Community Service Day at the Labyrinth, Westminster College Field Station

September 23

Professional Networking Symposium

October 14-16

Homecoming Weekend

Stay connected with your classmates and other Titan alumni through in-person or virtual events. We’re frequently updating our events calendar, so please check back often!

www.westminster.edu/events

IN MEMORIAM

| Titans we will miss.

Word has reached us of the passing of the following alumni and friends of Westminster College. To submit information for the In Memoriam section, please provide a complete obituary notice (if available) to the Office of Alumni Engagement.

ALUMNI

LUCILLE PURDY SHORT ’40 of Jamestown, N.Y., Dec. 5, 2021. C. NORMAN COCHRAN ’45 of New Wilmington, Jan. 18, 2022. DORIS MASSE BOWER ’49 of Naples, Fla., Jan. 13, 2022. MARGARET “PEG” MCGILL ALDUK ’49 of New Wilmington,

Dec. 14, 2021. SHIRLEY RUSSELL WRIGHT ’49 of Fairport, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2020. DOROTHY “DOT” ALEXANDER ESTEP ’53 of Murrysville, Pa.,

Oct. 20, 2021. JACK LAYMAN ’55 of Columbia, S.C., Dec. 4, 2021. BEATRICE “BEA” MARTSOLF LAMMERS ’55 of New York, N.Y.,

Feb. 6, 2022. THE REV. ROBERT MORGAN ’55 of Thurmont, Md., Jan. 9, 2022. JANET DUMBAUGH LUTZ ’56 of New Wilmington, Oct. 26, 2021. A. DAVID MARSICO ’58 of Trinity, Fla., Jan. 21, 2022. JAMES VOGT ’59 of Warren, Ohio, March 19, 2022. BENTON “BENNY” WEIMER ’59 of Leechburg, Pa., Oct. 28, 2021. JOANNE BRETSNYDER POLACOK ’60 of Avon Lake, Ohio, Jan. 6, 2022. DAVID COLEMAN ’61 of Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 15, 2022. ALICE EVANS HOLDS ’61 of Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 27, 2022. THE REV. DR. ALLEN FOSTER JR. ’61 of Kalispell, Mont., Jan. 11, 2022. STANLEY MARSZALEK JR. ’61 of Lakewood, N.J., Aug. 18, 2021. PATRICIA SNYDER CRUICKSHANK ’61 of Kenmore, N.Y., Dec. 21, 2021. DR. ROBERT COLES ’64 of Simpsonville, S.C., Aug. 31, 2021. HAROLD “BUD” WRIGHT III ’64 of Kiawah Island, S.C., and

Beaver Creek, Colo., Oct. 18, 2021. JACKSON PETERSON M’66 of Drayton, S.C., Nov. 12, 2021. DAVID DUDGEON III ’66 of Herkimer, N.Y., Jan. 3, 2022. MARY ELLEN DURRAST ’68 of Pittsburgh, formerly of New

Wilmington, March 18, 2022. KATHRYN “KAY” HENDERSON ANDERSON ’68 of St.

Augustine, Fla., Oct. 11, 2021. ROBERT CURTIS II M’68 of Sebring, Ohio, Oct. 5, 2021. JANIS BODNAR HALL ’68 of Ashtabula, Ohio, Nov. 21, 2021. CHRIST HODGES M’68 of Sharpsville, Pa., Nov. 21, 2021. KAY SNYDER HARGER M’69 of Crown Point, Ind., Sept. 18, 2021. ERIC WILKENS ’71 of Quaker City, Ohio, Nov. 6, 2021. EDWARD KANE M’73 of Youngstown, Ohio, Sept. 20, 2021. LESTER MALIZIA ’74 of New Castle, Pa., Sept. 26, 2021. PAUL THOMPSON ’80 of Zanesville, Ohio, Aug. 24, 2021. MARK CAMPBELL ’82 of Pleasant Hills, Pa., Oct. 15, 2019. STACEY MENDRZYCKI SMERDELL ’95 of Rock Hill, S.C., June 13, 2021.

FRIENDS & CAMPUS FAMILY

NANCY MERCER BURIG ’49

SEPT. 14, 2021

NANCY MERCER BURIG ’49

of New Wilmington, Sept. 14, 2021. After graduating from Westminster College in 1949 with a degree in English, Nancy married ROBERT BURIG ’56. In 1953 she began a 35-year career at Westminster College, retiring in 1986 as executive secretary to the vice president and dean. She was a member of the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church and had served the community as a Girl Scout leader. She is survived by three sons, including GREGORY BURIG ’75 and WILLIAM BURIG ’80 and his wife, BARBARA DAVIS BURIG ’79.

JOHN DECARO

OCT. 23, 2021

JOHN DECARO of Ellwood City, Pa., Oct. 23, 2021. John served as a school administrator in the Freedom, Beaver and Girard school districts before serving as superintendent of the Ellwood City Area School District from 1971 until his retirement in 1992. Following his retirement, John joined the Westminster College Graduate School faculty, a position he held until 2013. He, along with Professor of Education Emeritus DR. SAMUEL FARMERIE, helped establish the Westminster College Center to Improve Formative Assessment in 2008.

JOHN PINKERTON ’02

JAN. 6, 2022

JOHN “PINKY” PINKERTON

’02 spent more than 20 years as an assistant coach for the Westminster College softball team. Pinkerton, the father of former Titan standout pitcher/outfielder BETHANY

PINKERTON MITCHELTREE

’01, was active in all aspects of the softball program and served as first base coach and the team’s pitching coach. He also conducted pitching clinics throughout the Pittsburgh area. He was a former production manager and network administrator for Armstrong World Industries and a computer science instructor at DCI Career Institute in Monaca. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Westminster and also held an associate’s degree in fire science from Community College of Beaver County.

PAUL SANDERS ’61

JAN. 19, 2022

PAUL SANDERS ’61— an assistant coach for Westminster’s cross country and track and field teams for more than 20 years—was a track standout in his own right. A state champion in cross country in 1956 at New Castle High School, Paul was also a national top 10 finisher twice at Westminster College. He spent 41 years as an educator, 36 of which was spent teaching at Hickory Middle School, retiring in 2001. During his tenure at Hickory, he coached cross country, track and field, and middle school boys’ basketball. Returning to his alma mater, he helped the Titans win a combined seven Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Track and Field Championships. Paul was a 1994 Titan Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Earlier in January 2022 he was inducted into the Mercer County Hall of Fame. In 1990, he was named to the Lawrence County Hall of Fame.

Campus bids farewell to Jim Perkins

DR. JAMES A. PERKINS, professor emeritus of English, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 27, in his home in New Wilmington.

Perkins, who joined the Westminster College faculty in 1973 as an assistant professor, rose to the rank of full professor in 1987. He is credited with pioneering Westminster’s public relations major, and over the course of his tenure he served as the chair of the Department of English and Public Relations. In 2005, he led the first group of Westminster students in the Westminster in Oxford Program, a semester-long study abroad experience.

Perkins was a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar at Yale University, New York University and Princeton University. In 1998 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture on American literature at Seoul National University in Korea. He was the recipient of Westminster’s Henderson Lectureship, a McCandless Fellowship and a Watto Award. In 2006, he was presented with the College’s Distinguished Faculty Award in recognition of his unwavering commitment to Westminster and its students. Following his 2008 retirement, he served as curator of the Westminster authors collection in McGill Library.

A prolific writer, poet and scholar, Perkins authored numerous books, articles for journals and magazines and countless poems. A leading scholar of Robert Penn Warren, Perkins wrote extensively about the “All the King’s Men” author. In 2005, his study of Warren led to an effort to see the late U.S. poet laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. When he succeeded, Perkins was named by the Kentucky governor as an honorary Kentucky Colonel. In 2021, he published his 20th book, “Black Jack Burden? — Night Thoughts on the Genetics of Race in Robert Penn Warren’s ‘All the King’s Men.’”

A Kentucky native, Perkins earned his undergraduate degree from Centre College in 1963, his master’s from Miami (Ohio) University in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee in 1972. He held teaching stints at Miami, Memphis State University, and Tennessee.

A memorial service was held on campus on March 12. Internment took place in his family’s lot at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tenn.