Graduate Schools

Accountancy Class Secretary — Kim Talianko;

ktalianko@alumni.edu

 

Architecture

The 50th anniversary of the first ND Architecture alumni reception during the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention took place where it all started in San Francisco. Sharing hosting duties were new ND School of Architecture staff members: Crystal Artis Bates, program director for diversity, equity, and inclusion and alumni engagement, and Carrie Rulli, communications program director. During welcome introductions, it was announced that the faculty and staff had selected Prof. John Stamper, Ph.D., to receive the 2023 Orlando T. Maione Award posthumously. Guests of Honor were Prof. Stamper’s widow, Erika Pistorius Stamper, and his daughter Alessandra. The 2011 OTM Award recipient, Ron B. Blitch ’76 FAIA, FACHA, Abita Springs LA, who is the 2023 vice chancellor of the AIA’s College of Fellows and worked with John on the School of Architecture’s Advisory Council, presented the award after reading John’s service contributions to the architecture program and students. The notes were prepared by John’s faculty colleague, Prof. Emeritus Dennis P. Doordan, Ph.D. “John W Stamper, associate dean, professor, and mentor to generations of students and colleagues, joined the faculty in 1984 and taught architectural history and design in the fourth- and fifth-year studios. He directed the Rome program from 1990-1999. A dedicated teacher and author, he was a scholar’s scholar; his research was rigorous and insightful.” Attending the reception and sharing in the celebration were Rick Ryniak ’76 AIA, Lahaina, Maui HI, where he has his own firm; William J. Bates ’75 FAIA, adjunct professor in the School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon U, Pittsburgh; Liam Larkin ’09 AIA with Shive-Hattery, A/E, Kansas City; Qing Xue ’14 with Harrison Design, Santa Barbara CA; Joseph G. Burns ’78 PE, SE, FAIA, managing principal with Thornton Tomasetti, Chicago, and sister Anne M. Burns ’83, architect and planner with the city of Berkeley CA; Michael D. Brennan ’92 Ph.D., AIA, executive director, US Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Construction and Facilities Mgmt., Washington DC; Julia Pellegrini ’01 AIA, principal, 35th Collective, San Francisco; Mark Sanderson ’93 AIA, principal with Digsau, Philadelphia; Peter F. Vieira Jr. ’90 FAIA, a principal with Payette, Boston; Matthew S. Chalifoux ’81 FAIA, senior historic preservation architect and senior principal with Page Architects, Washington DC, whose recent project was the restoration of the Smithsonian Castle; Edward (Eddie) H. Ebert ’99 AIA, Honolulu, managing principal of RIM – Hawaii; Debra Nauta Rodriguez ’85 FAIA, Washington DC, assoc. vice president for facilities/university architect, The Catholic U of America; Anthony “Tony” Crisafi ’80, principal architect with Island Architects, La Jolla CA; Mark Trier ’79, FAIA, Louisville; Kathleen (O’Connell) Reid ’79, Norfolk VA; Naomi Willett ’17 with Hart Howerton, San Clemente CA; Beth Cichon ’18, with Boundary Works | Design + Development, Colorado Springs; James L. Thomassen ’90, San Francisco; Ricardo Alvarez-Diaz ’96 FAIA, owner/president of Alvarez-Diaz & Villalon, Santurce, Puerto Rico and Miami, with wife and business partner Cristina Villalon; Taylor Schmidt ’21, Chicago, podcast host of “Architects at Work” on The Architect’s Podcast Network; Conor A. Dunn ’04 with McCarthy Construction, Chicago; David Kaahaaina ’87, acting architect chief, US Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District; Craig Yasu Funai ’86, San Francisco; and LaTonya Whitfield-Horhn ’96, Los Angeles Unified School District, A/E Services. Michael J. Molinelli ’82 AIA, Briarcliff Manor NY, and wife Regina (Creary) completed writing their novel, Mont-Saint-Michel, Montjoiel, started 25 years ago during their honeymoon visit to the gothic monastery/fortress and published it with complimentary and favorable reviews. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family of Vincent F. DeCrane ’49, Lyndhurst OH. — Orlando T. Maione, FAIA Emeritus, FACHA Emeritus, NCARB; 27 Bucknell Lane, Stony Brook NY 11790-2521; 631-246-5660; fax 516-578-5320; omaione@optonline.net

 

Biological Sciences

Only recently were your correspondents informed of the death of Col. (ret.) Gerald A. “Jerry” Eddy, DVM, ’68Ph.D on Nov. 9, 2019, in Frederick MD at age 88. Jerry was a unique and much-liked older graduate student (he was a “two-year wonder” at Michigan State U where he gained admission to their veterinary college after his sophomore year, earning his BS in 1953 and DVM in 1955). As an Army veterinarian, Jerry was also part of an equally unique group of postgraduate students in the Department of Biology. The late Notre Dame president Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, CSC, often told the story that the United States Navy saved the University from closing its doors during World War II by locating a large contingent of V-7 and then V-12 officer candidates on the campus. This story is recounted annually by television and radio announcers when the Fighting Irish play the US Naval Academy in football. (Fr. Ted’s contemporary as a university president, Knight Commission co-chair and close friend William C. Friday, of the UNC System, proudly proclaimed that he was a Notre Dame alumnus by virtue of his V-12 training at ND. Friday remembered his room number in Lyons Hall until his dying day.) It turns out that the Department of Biology benefited similarly, but to a much lesser degree in the 1960s, from the US Army sending a number of Veterinary Corps officers to ND for their doctorate degrees. (The Veterinary Corps was formed during World War I when horses literally moved the Army; it remains as one of the eight corps of the Army Medical Department.) Most of these soldier-students were focused on studying virology and went on to impactful careers in the Army followed by civilian careers in other areas of government service, academia, private research organizations, and international health. First among them was Col. (ret.) David L. Huxsoll, DVM, ’65Ph.D who went to Vietnam soon after graduating and discovered a new bacterium, Ehrlichia canis, as the cause of a debilitating disease in guard dogs (in rather recent years a related organism has been identified as a cause of disease in humans). From Saigon the native Hoosier, Purdue undergrad, and U of Illinois vet student went on to head the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick MD. Through the 1990s, he served as associate dean for research and then dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine at LSU. At the start of the new century, Huxsoll was put in charge of the USDA Plum Island Animal Disease Center, from which position he retired to his farm near Aurora, his birthplace in southeastern IN. With that background it was not surprising to see Dave be the first one off a busload of infectious disease experts in the Iraqi desert looking for Saddam Hussein’s agents of mass destruction in 2002, which followed an earlier inspection in 1991. Jerry Eddy followed Huxsoll as USAMRIID commander for a decade and then led the AIDS vaccine effort at the Henry M. Jackson Foundation. He was a frequent adviser to the US surgeon general, WHO, and the United Nations. The late Col. (ret.) Richard O. “Dick” Spertzel, VMD, ’70Ph.D likewise served several years at USAMRIID and later was an adviser to presidents, the WHO, and United Nations on issues of biological weapons. The career of Air Force officer and Texas A&M veterinary professor William R. “Bill” Klemm, DVM, ’65Ph.D was described in a previous issue of Notre Dame Magazine, 50(4):96 (2021–22). — Joan Smith Carter ’71MS and Philip B. Carter ’67, ’71Ph.D; 12916 Barsanlaw Drive, Raleigh NC 27613-6400; res 919-848-2192; phil@ncsu.edu

 

History Class Secretary — Mary Linehan ’91PhD;

maryline113@yahoo.com

 

Mathematics Class Secretary — Patti Strauch;

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

 

Master of Nonprofit Administration

Greetings to all MNA, EMNA, and MSA alumni. It is my pleasure to continue to highlight the achievements of our alumni. Join me in congratulating Bernard (Ben) Muster ’98MSA who received his doctoral degree in mind, brain, and teaching from Johns Hopkins U in Baltimore. His dissertation is titled “Professional Learning to Support the Identification of Culturally, Linguistically, and Economically Diverse Gifted Students.” I also received a tremendous honor this spring when I was recognized with an honorable mention for the 2023 Tony Awards Excellence in Theatre Education Award. The award recognizes K–12 theater educators in the US who have demonstrated monumental impact on the lives of students and who embody the highest standards of the profession. All MNA, MSA, and EMNA alumni are encouraged to submit your 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 

David M. Barrett ’90 Ph.D, professor of political science at Villanova, sent great news: after teaching for three decades and authoring four books, he underwent a lung transplant in April 2021 as the result of pulmonary fibrosis. He is now functioning well on one lung donated from a 21-year-old accident victim. He is teaching again and is working on a book on JFK and the CIA. We look forward to reading David’s book, and to hearing from other Department of Government/Political Science alumni. Please send personal and professional news. — Charlie Kenney; 455 W. Lindsey, Room 205, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-3735; ckenney@ou.edu

 

Graduate Degrees 

Ursuline College President Sister Christine De Vinne ’81 MA, has been serving as a member of the Higher Education Working Group of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She is one of only five college presidents invited to serve alongside five American bishops. The working group’s purpose is to advance further dialogue and collaboration among the nation’s Catholic colleges and bishops. Brother Al Kuntemeier, SM, ‘71 MA counseling, at age 93, continues to remain active as he celebrates his 75th Jubilee year as a Marianist brother. Born in St. Louis, Brother Al has served his community in a variety of places, such as Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Fort Worth. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the U of Dayton, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette U as well as the Master of Arts degree in counseling he earned from Notre Dame. Now retired, Brother Al has served as teacher; counselor; coach of various sports including soccer, tennis, track, and football; and athletic director at the high school level. — Marvin J. LaHood ’58MA, ’62 PHD; 93 Parkhaven Drive, Amherst NY 14228; 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com