Graduate Schools

Accountancy Class Secretary — Kim Talianko;

ktalianko@alumni.nd.edu

Architecture

Congratulations to Theodore (Ted) A. Amberg ’59 of Chicago, who was asked to return to Dallas at the end of 2015 by the I. M. Pei & Partners firm to be on stage with them as part of the team accepting the award for Pei’s Dallas City Hall, which was completed in 1978. It received the Texas Society of Architects “25-Year Award.” The building was recognized by the jury because it “was envisioned as an expression of civic pride, confidence and ambition. The building’s clarity and geometric uniqueness succeeded in helping the city present a forward-looking image, and is as fresh and compelling today as it was when first completed.” Ted managed the only branch office the Pei firm ever had for 21 years (1968-1989). He moved to Dallas in 1968 to lead the design development stage of the drawings for the City Hall with local consultants when he was an associate partner of the firm. The project took 12 years to complete and went through redesign several times due to increases in program and construction cost inflation, as well as a six-month strike and a construction fire. While he was there, the office provided Pei the unique opportunity to also design three significant high-rise office buildings in downtown Dallas: Fountain Place and Arco Tower, both 60 stories, and the 30-story One Dallas Centre. He was also managing the branch office for the final Pei design for Dallas, the Meyerson Symphony Center. While a Dallas resident, Ted also was involved with the local ND club, becoming president and serving three terms as Cotton Bowl event chairman. He received the club’s Person of the Year Award. Ted is VP for Epstein & Sons Intl. in Chicago. Ronald B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA, ’76, president of Blitch/Knevel Architects in New Orleans, received the AIA Louisiana 2015 Medal of Honor. The medal “is the highest honor AIA Louisiana can bestow, and is awarded by the board of directors in recognition of an individual architect who has significantly advanced the profession of architecture and who, by his leadership, has provided an inspiration to his fellow practitioners.” Ron’s father, James B. Blitch Sr., received the Medal of Honor in 2007. This was the first time a father and son have been so honored. Capt. Ryan P. Hopkins, AIA, ’04 is a project architect with Gensler in Chicago while continuing his 10-year military service as operations officer (S3) for the 337th Brigade Engineer Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard based in Scranton. For Gensler, he performs project management duties for mission critical design and implementation, focusing on data center design projects. For the Army Reserve, he oversees planning, training and operations for 600 soldiers assigned to multiple units throughout eastern Pennsylvania. Ryan served one year as company commander for a combat arms unit deployed to Kuwait in 2012-2013, as well as one year as a task force engineer in Afghanistan in 2007-2008. Patrick T. Perrella ’90 of Denver is executive director of career services for the Daniels College of Business at U of Denver, where he is responsible for career activities and relationships with recruiters for undergraduates and graduate programs. Prior to that, he was the director of a similar program at the Mendoza College of Business at ND for eight years. Brian P. Kelly, AIA, ’81 of Washington DC is a professor of architecture at the U of Maryland School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. He teaches introductory design studios, site design and analysis, as well as graduate studios that focus on campus planning and academic architecture. Kurt V. Zimmerman, AIA, ’86, VP/principal senior design architect for Zimmerman Architectural Design Studios in Milwaukee, is president of AIA Wisconsin. Hugh J. Campbell, AIA, ’79 joined CollinsWoerman in Seattle as their healthcare market leader. Hugh has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare design with firms like Perkins+Will, ZGF and HOK. James R. Kachik ’69 retired after 18 years as deputy director of Alameda County CA GSA last November and with Barbara, his wife of 33 years, moved to Little River CA. Contact him at jameskachik@gmail.com. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family of Peter A. Davidson ’80. He and wife Linda were in Charleston SC celebrating their 35th when he passed away on their anniversary day. — Orlando T. Maione, FAIA, FACHA, NCARB; 27 Bucknell Lane, Stony Brook NY 11790-2521; 631-

Biological Sciences

It is a pleasure to note that Biological Sciences’ own Rev. Thomas Streit, CSC, ’80, ’85MDiv, ’94PhD will share the ND Alumni Association’s 2015 Thomas A. Dooley Award with Peter J. Daly MD ’82. The Dooley award, established in 1984, memorializes the life and work of late alumnus Tom Dooley MD and is one of the Alumni Association’s highest awards. (Notre Dame Archives tell us that Dooley was a Notre Dame student in the 1940s who subsequently received an honorary degree in 1960 not long before his death from cancer on Jan. 17, 1961; he was a Navy doctor in Vietnam who founded the Medical International Cooperation Organization and spent much time providing medical care to people in Southeast Asia. The letter he wrote to then University President Father Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, in 1960 from Hong Kong during his final hospitalization, that was distributed by The Associated Press and printed throughout the world, is engraved on stainless steel near the Grotto.) The Dooley Award is conferred on alumni who have exhibited outstanding service to humanity. Father Streit, associate research faculty in the department, is being recognized for his initiative and decades of work addressing parasitic diseases in Haiti, most specifically lymphatic filariasis. Tom and his colleagues, many of whom have been Notre Dame undergraduates, were especially active and involved in the rehabilitation of the Haitian population after the 2010 earthquake, which devastated a large part of the country. It is especially sad for these correspondents to report the sudden, unexpected death of Prof. J. Kirwin Werner ’68PhD on Nov. 17 at his home in Ronan MT. Kirwin, from Cut Bank MT, located on the edge of Glacier National Park, graduated from Carroll College in 1963 and matriculated that fall in the graduate program of Notre Dame’s Dept. of Biology. Having an interest in amphibians and reptiles, he did his thesis work in the lab of internationally respected herpetologist, the late Prof. Robert E. Gordon, former University vice president of research and dean of the graduate school in the Hesburgh and Malloy administrations. Kirwin studied the population dynamics of the red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus, in southern Michigan as his thesis project. In his extensive field work, he was especially adept at enlisting the unpaid assistance of undergraduates he recruited, usually meeting them while proctoring teaching labs. Kirwin also was the envy of fellow grad students for his sweet deal, renting a room from Mrs. Plunkett, widow of the former department head, in her home on Notre Dame Avenue close to campus. Kirwin enlisted in the Army after graduation and spent time supervising a parasitology lab in Japan. Following separation from the Army, he embarked on a career in academia, which led him to a post in the biology department at Northern Michigan U in Marquette in 1971. He retired in 1992 after serving many years as the department head and moved back to his native Montana with his wife and college sweetheart, Carol. His retirement years were very active and involved his teaching at the local Native American college of the Salish-Kootenai tribes. Throughout his retirement, he maintained his interest in field biology and environmental issues locally and nationally. It is always good to hear from Sarah Craig ’98MSA, who writes to alert department alumni of the opportunity for an all-classes reunion and to hear about Zika virus. Notre Dame’s Eck Institute for Global Health (the former Vector Biology Lab founded by late Prof. George Craig) will have a booth at two conferences this fall: International Congress of Entomology, which will include the Entomological Society of America and the Arthropod Genomics Conference Sept. 25-30 in Orlando, and then the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Nov. 13-17 in Atlanta. Contact Sarah at craig.20@nd.edu for more information or to be added to an invitation list. — Joan S. ’71MS and Philip B. Carter ’67, ’71PhD; 12916 Barsanlaw Drive, Raleigh NC 27613; 919-848-2192; phil@ncsu.edu

History Class Secretary — Mary Linehan ’91PhD;

mlinehan@uttyler.edu

Mathematics Class Secretary — Patti Strauch;

255 Hurley Hall, Notre Dame IN 46556; bus 574-631-7083; strauch.1@nd.edu

Master of Nonprofit Administration

As we approached the one-year anniversary of the death of our beloved Father Ted Hesburgh, it seemed fitting that the University took time to reflect on diversity and inclusion. Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC, and the President’s Oversight Committee on Diversity and Inclusion designated January 18-22 as Walk the Walk Week. Many of our MNA family members were able to be on campus for a series of University and department-sponsored events, community-building dialogues and opportunities of reflection offered across campus throughout the observance. The week began with a midnight march on Jan. 18 marking, quite literally, the University community’s first steps in coming together that day. The hope is that our collective reflection on the values that are so central to King’s legacy and to Notre Dame’s mission will continue in various settings throughout the days, weeks and months to come. What a beautiful way to strengthen our “servant hearts.” Congratulations to Amy and Ryan Peene ’10 on the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth Vivian Peene, last fall. Ryan says, “Her stroller has already taken the streets of Hoboken NJ by storm.” Current MNA student Roger Cabe is making an impact by starting a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the blind poor. He suggests that people “Dine for the BLIND” by drinking water and donating their savings to Vision Outreach International, an organization that specializes in restoring sight to the blind poor around the world. Michael Benson ’11, president of Eastern Kentucky U, was elected chair of the nine-person NCAA Honors Committee at the organization’s recent convention. “I am privileged to serve in this capacity with my fellow members of the NCAA Honors Committee,” Benson said. “The myriad contributions of student-athletes across all three divisions of the NCAA, and those specifically chosen for recognition by the association, are truly inspiring as we endeavor to highlight the many positives that come from participation in intercollegiate athletics.” The committee selects recipients for the Theodore Roosevelt Award, Silver Anniversary Awards, Today’s Top Eight Awards, Inspiration Award and Award of Valor. MNA alumni are encouraged to submit news for upcoming Class Notes. You may email me directly at the address below. — Betsy Quinn ’12; 2110 Brummel St., Evanston IL 60202; 847-733-0557; betsyquinn@alumni.nd.edu

Political Science Class Secretary — Charlie Kenney;

455 W. Lindsey, Room 205, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-3735; ckenney@ou.edu

Graduate Degrees

Sister Helene McBride ’66MA passed away on Aug. 31. Charles Haverty ’81JD published a collection of 12 short stories Oct. 1 with the U of Iowa Press. Titled Excommunados, the collection is described as featuring “daring and original stories.” His stories have appeared in many magazines. He lives in Lexington MA with his wife and two children. Lauren O’Neil ’08PhD, director of the Health Career Advising Program at Cornel U, learned about the Army’s innovations of the last dozen years of war during her tour of the Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio in January. She commented, “I was impressed with the Center for the Intrepid and how dedicated those personnel are in getting their patients back to being a complete person.” O’Neil was one of 16 medical professionals from around the nation who were VIP guests of the Army Recruiting Command touring the center, a ground-breaking rehabilitation facility. Sister Elaine Czarnezki, SDS, ’62MA, history, a Salvatorian sister for 66 years, died on Jan. 2 in Milwaukee. She was a junior high school teacher and also taught at Divine Savior Junior College in Milwaukee. She served in the missions in Tanzania from 1964 to 1974. After that she became the director of Divine Savior Hospital and Nursing Home in Portage WI. Her last position was in Holly Springs MS. Richard Figliola ’76MS, ’79PhD, engineering, the David A. Brown Endowed Scholar of Mechanical Engineering at Clemson U, has been named an Alumni Distinguished Professor by Clemson U. Figliola heads a 17-member team of engineers, pediatric cardiac surgeons and pediatric cardiologists from eight institutions from around the world. Together, they have created a modeling tool to simulate operations on babies born with underdeveloped ventricles. Robert M. Geist ’73MS, ’74PhD, engineering, has been named an Alumni Distinguished Professor by Clemson U. Geist is a member of Clemson’s Digital Production Arts program. He has worked on award-winning films, computer games, NASCAR racing and environmental research. There is hardly a major film produced in the US today without credits to Geist, his fellow DPA colleagues or their graduate students. — Marvin J. LaHood ’58MA, ’62PhD, English; 93 Parkhaven Dr., Amherst NY 14228; 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com