1980s
1980s
80 Class Tailgate and Reunion
It is with great sadness that we share with you that Mary Ellen Woods passed away in August after writing her last Class Notes column below. She held the role of Class Secretary for 45 years. She loved Notre Dame and the Class of 1980. RIP. Love Thee. By the time you read this, we will have hosted another wonderful Class tailgate at the Louisville football game in the Joyce Lot. After a 10-year hiatus, COVID and our own virtual reunion, mark your calendars for Reunion 2025, May 29-June 1. We are organizing a Reunion Committee who will help ensure that we have record-setting attendance (We already “own” the record for 10-year reunions). If you would like to be included, please contact Mary Ryan Amato. Visit reunion.nd.edu for the latest updates. Len Niessen ’68, ’69 reports that Mike Broga, Mike Norton and Brett Jackson were part of a group of 82 former lacrosse players and spouses that came together on campus to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jack Tate’s ’64 start of the sport at ND. Pam and Rich Mullin ’73 hosted a fantastic get-together at their home in Niles MI on Friday night. The group of 80+ also witnessed a 14-6 win by the No. 1-ranked Irish lacrosse team over North Carolina. Mark “Jersey” Tallmadge and Bob Curley were hoping to come but had to bow out at the last minute. Dr. Dave Welsh has been active in the IN state medical association and the AMA and ACS. Dave was elected to the AMA board of trustees. He is already on the board of regents at the American College of Surgeons. Dave just finished his eighth year on the AMA Council on Science and Public Health. Dave sent his update after a regular Keenan Hall Zoom update. During the call, he learned that another Keenan doc, Dr. Tom Golblish was part of the traveling team on a mission trip to help Padre Joe Uhen and his parish, Santisimo Sacramento, Piura, Peru. Also part of the trip to Peru were Lyonites Mary Blachowicz Lewis, Beth Larocca, Ann McRedmond Waddey, Cindy Casper Durley and Lewis alum Michelle Simon, who spent eight days with Padre Joe Uhen. Beth, Ann and Michelle had climbed Machu Picchu before Piura. Mary and niece Katie Rose Blachowicz ’22 did medical mission work, and the others, along with Michelle’s family, did a variety of family mission work for the parish. The annual Lyons mini-reunion was held in Breckenridge CO. Maribeth Horne Hanzlik hosted Beth Larocca, Mary Blachowicz Lewis, Janet Wolff, Marita Poza-Grise, Ellen Binkowski Versen, Patti O’Neill Smith, Jo Lucey, Pat Lavin Riely, Maureen Hennessy Pekosh, Mary Gebhard Hausman and Lucy Maloney Jones for a weekend that included the Food and Wine Festival. The American Bar Association Task Force for American Democracy selected Bill Kresse as a recipient of the ABA’s first-ever “Unsung Heroes of Democracy Award.” This honor recognizes Bill’s outstanding efforts to uphold and promote the rule of law by advancing our cherished democratic system of government. The award was presented at the ABA’s Democracy Summit held in Chicago in August. Friends from Morrissey Manor gathered on campus and the excitement for Reunion 2025 was stoked! Two days of golf at Warren Golf Course, a dinner at Rocco’s, a stop in the Linebacker and takeout from Fat Cap Barbecue provided the framework for lots of camaraderie. Those in attendance included Tracy Finn, Tom Hearons, Herman Jorgensen, Ken Kadleck, Dick King, Mike Knezevich, Dan Korczyk, Dan McCurrie, Bob Meckes, Chris Muhlenkamp, Tom Nilsson, Bill Ryan, Martin Sheehan, Dan Short, Rick Stanley and John Strickland. Our hearts go out to Brenda and Rick Thomas and their family, who lost their daughter Meredith Thomas ’12; to John Trimbach, who lost his mother; to John Hobbs and Mike Gilroy, who lost their fathers; and to the families of Donna Carini and Peter Cannon. May all the families find peace. Please let us know of losses in our Class family. You can email our Angels Team at 80AngelsonCall@gmail.com. — Mary Ellen Woods; facebook.com/groups/notredame80
80MBA Saving the Rhinos
We have a couple of updates from my last Class Notes column. Shortly after reading the summer Notre Dame Magazine story about our late classmate Mike Flynn’s daughter Erin (Flynn) Klawitter ’01, both Barb Flynn and I received a picture from the Larry Sellars photograph vault of Erin when she was a baby and Mike and Barb brought her to our apartment for our post-game party. Naturally someone placed a can of beer in the photo for posterity. Rick Abordo also commented on the article and writes that Barb’s letter brought back some happy times he got to share with the young Flynn family back then and adds that Mike would have been so proud of Erin helping to run his alma mater. Rick and wife Leonore are headed to Mankwe Preserve in South Africa in September with a veterinarian friend who does chiropractic work on their Borzoi show dogs. He says they were invited as part of a small group to join in the tracking, sedation and dehorning of rhinos on the preserve to help discourage poaching and promote conservation of these magnificent, endangered animals. Stories like this are one reason why I enjoy doing our Class Notes. It makes me proud to see how classmates such as Rick are making a positive difference in this world. I also hope that Rick documents his trip well as it would make a terrific article for a future Notre Dame Magazine. The second update is from Paul Katilas, who will not be taking any golf trips out of the country anytime soon. As you may recall, Paul was scheduled to fly to Ireland for a golf holiday. His trip started off with a canceled flight and went downhill from there as he was rerouted through London and ended up missing his first round. If that wasn’t bad enough, Paul said he got a 36-hour case of food poisoning. I can sympathize after having my own case of the Irish revenge on our trip to Dublin last year. Needless to say, Paul has self-described his experience as the trip from hell. Back in South Bend, Scott Jessup writes that his youngest son, John, will be enrolling in the Notre Dame MBA program this August. His sister Lauren ’21 also graduated from the program so when John graduates that will make four MBA graduates in the Jessup family. Scott made me laugh, and probably also the financial aid department when he added that he has requested a volume discount rebate from the MBA program and is waiting to hear back. He said he is confident they will approve his request. Kathleen and Mike Colbert will be traveling to Europe this summer but will be back in time for Mike and son Andrew to attend the Stanford game with Nancy and Walt Zukowski. Finally, I attended my 50th high school reunion in June at Christian Brother Academy in Syracuse NY. It was great catching up with old friends after so many years. One such classmate was Ted Plis ’78, who met his future wife, Susan (Denis) Plis ’78, while they were both attending Notre Dame. Ted and Susan now reside in IL. My wife and I also made a couple of trips to Washington DC to visit our son Torin while he was at an internship with the US Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center. While there we caught the spectacular Memorial Day Concert on the Mall. Two great patriots, Gary Sinise and Joe Montegna, were emcees. In early May we spent a wonderful weekend in York Harbor ME. Go Irish. — Joe Kearney; 475-225-1421; jos.w.kearney@gmail.com
80JD Reunion on the Way
Reunion 2025 is on the way — celebrating 45 years since we graduated from ND Law. Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 29-Sunday, June 1 and visit reunion.nd.edu for the latest event updates. Let’s gather and celebrate. We are looking at many ways to celebrate and will be sending those to you soon. In the meantime, please update your contact information in the Alumni Directory so you will be included in all communications. Go to my.nd.edu/people then log in and update. If you haven’t registered/logged in to the Alumni Directory, please do so. You are important and needed! And, send your news. Love to all. Go Irish! — Sheila O’Brien; sobrien368@aol.com
81 Football, Lacrosse and Prayer
Sorry to have experienced a glitch in the last issue of Class Notes. I appreciate your collective grace about that. Our only upset classmate was Marc Murphy (no relation) who let me know that he has “literally won a Pulitzer Prize, a Grammy, started an orphanage and set a Guinness World Record for holding my breath underwater and now no one will know.” Well, Marc, now they do. By the time this issue goes to press, members of the Class of ’81 will have gathered at the ND-Louisville game for a mini-reunion and victory (optimistic me). Thanks to Class officers Keith Melaragno, Janet Bergeron, Mike “Pro” Burke and the classmates who helped with another football reunion success. Now how ’bout that lacrosse team? Notre Dame won its second consecutive NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Championship, rolling to a 15-5 triumph over Maryland in the 2024 title game. Dan Charhut, Steve Hoey, Jack Murphy and Chuck Neff joined 80 former lacrosse players and spouses who came together on campus in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the start of the sport at ND. We are so proud that lacrosse as a varsity sport was born in the 1981 season with these and other classmates. Go Irish! Craig Chval Sr. recently shared a beautiful reflection on the FaithND website. I am copying and pasting here to make it easiest for you to read: “Despite being raised Catholic, I had a scant interest in God as an undergraduate at Notre Dame. It wasn’t until 15 more years of rebellion after my graduation that I truly accepted the eternal life that Jesus offers all of us. Our three children’s time at Notre Dame provided me with many opportunities to walk the campus when it was not supercharged by the energy of a football weekend. Often, as I walked in solitude, peace and quiet along the main quad on my way to the Grotto, I reflected on what a wonderful place Notre Dame is to explore spirituality — to develop a greater understanding of what it means to live as a subject of the kingdom of Heaven. My initial reaction was to deeply lament my missed opportunity while a Notre Dame student. But God has enabled me not to be paralyzed by my regret. Instead, God has worked in me to develop a child-like hope that despite my sinful and rebellious past, God wants to use me the same way he used others to help me better recognize, understand and embrace God. Their deeds, however small, done in obedience to God, led me to glorify and submit to God. The thought that the God of all Creation chose wretched sinners like us to carry out God’s eternal plan is beyond my comprehension. But I have been blessed by too many people who have allowed God’s light to shine through them into the dark times of my own life to permit any other conclusion. As incredulous as the invitation may seem to human understanding, it is my prayer that each of us would embrace to an ever-increasing depth God’s call to be his light-bearers set high upon lampstands as standard bearers of love in this often dark world.” Thank you, Craig, for that reflection. Please join our Class Facebook group to keep the conversation going. You can find about 450 classmates there. And please email updates before our Oct. 20 deadline — you are loved members of the Class of ’81 and we want to know how you are doing. Thanks to everyone who has already shared updates and those who are now inspired. — Mary Murphy; marymurphy81@alumni.nd.edu
81MBA Midsummer Update
Greetings ’81 MBA classmates and friends! As I write this, I cannot believe the Fighting Irish are 43 days away from our opening game on the road against A&M, and just 50 days away from the Irish home opener against Northern Illinois! I’m looking forward to the season as I’m sure you are! It’s hard to believe it is mid-July! I hope you all have a chance to relax and enjoy some vacation time with family and friends. Sheila and I spent a week in Carlsbad CA in June and enjoyed some nice cool temperatures and beach time. We are now in northern MI (Higgins Lake) and loving every day of “lake life.” We’ve been here for three weeks and have enjoyed every day. We are here with our daughter, Stefanie, her husband and our three little grandsons with a lot of time for golf, the beach, boating, fishing and exploring the woods. Sheila and I also spent a few days in Petoskey MI — a wonderful town that we have visited before. I plan to go to most home football games — I will be at the Miami, FSU, Stanford (with our family and grandsons) and Louisville games for sure. Hopefully we can connect if you are traveling to ND for some games. Shoot me a text to my cell if you want to meet up before a game. Mike Langnecker checked in and is very proud and happy to announce some big news that Margaret Rose Langnecker, their first granddaughter, arrived earlier this week. Mike said it is not surprising that she is the most precious and beautiful young lady in the world! Congratulations to the entire Langnecker family on this news. Margaret Rose sounds like the perfect name for a future Domer! Margie Ward Pettibone wanted to let us know that she is still in CA enjoying her second career, saving the world with Catholic Charities. Margie and Chip’s two daughters just got engaged within three weeks of each other. Chip and Margie are heading to the Olympics. They will also spend a few days with their youngest daughter, who will be starting an MBA program at INSEAD. Margie and Chip are enjoying life in the wine country of northern CA and welcome any visitors. Susan Leopold is very proud to report that their son, Jonathan ’19MBA, was a “40 Under 40” winner from the Secured Finance Network, a national organization for the secured finance industry. Susan was the ever-deserving proud mom, and proud company owner of Single Point Capital, at the award ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in NY in June. Susan said it has been an incredible journey! Susan and Tim celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary (also an incredible journey!) with a fabulous trip to Bermuda … aka paradise! Susan said it was extraordinary and the sand is pink! Susan and Tim will be attending the ND vs. A&M game and maybe Florida State. Ron Veith was kind enough to send us an update; thank you, Ron! Ron said there is not much to report from Charlotte but the ACC lacrosse tournament is in Charlotte for the next few years and he enjoyed watching the Irish win the championship, soundly beating UVA and Duke, on their way to a repeat national championship. Prior to the Virginia game, Ron enjoyed watching Coach Corrigan “working the refs” telling them to watch the cheap shots on the Kavanagh brothers. Ron also got to meet some of the Irish men’s golf team. Over spring break they played a round at the club where he is a member. The golf team was getting used to the Donald Ross course prior to the ACC golf championship also held in Charlotte. Ron is not sure if he’ll make it to South Bend this fall, but he does plan on attending the GA Tech game at Mercedes Dome in Atlanta. Let Ron know if you’ll be at the GA Tech game. So as the second half of summer is upon us, and the football season is about to kick off, I wish all of you a safe, happy and healthy rest of the summer season! If you are reading this column, please send me your current email address — several classmates have retired or simply changed their primary email address. If you are in touch with fellow MBA classmates, please ask them to send me their current email address. Thank you! Go Irish! — Steve Simmerman; 3126 E. Desert Broom Way, Phoenix AZ 85048; cell 602-524-7662; srsimmerman@gmail.com
81JD Kids’ Weddings and Un-retirements
Doriana Fontanella (Denver) reports she retired from law to focus on assisting authors with editing, copyrights and book launches. She’s been spending more time in the ancestral hometown in Italy she shares with Enrico Caruso and Leonardo DiCaprio, Piedimonte Matese. She was recognized as an outstanding volunteer by the Denver Art Museum. After retiring as general counsel to a company in the auto industry, Steve Zarowny (Detroit) “un-retired” and opened his own practice (zarownylaw.com). Mike Hartigan (Rockland MA) reports his son Brian was married on Martha’s Vineyard in July. The couple met while in law school at Villanova. Lorie Masters (DC) hosted Adrienne Coffin (West Palm Beach) in July with Peg (Hanley) Warner (DC). Lorie was reelected to the ABA House of Delegates, but more importantly she was featured on YouTube dancing “Crank That,” by Soulja Boy, with her son Ian Rose at his wedding in June. She reminded me that she, Bob Christians (Grand Rapids) and Mike Palumbo (Phoenix) had previously served as Class secretaries — can someone send me their current contact information? Jim Blase (St. Louis) has now published books on Teddy Roosevelt, the 1904 World’s Fair and the 1924 national champion ND football team (all on Amazon). Maureen and Tim Rastello (Denver) and John Hurley (Buffalo) powder skied in Steamboat Springs CO, following which the Hurleys took revenge and hosted the Rastellos in Park City UT, where they also skied, this time joined by their sons Brian Hurley ’13 and Reilly Rastello ’19. The Hurleys are leaders in The Movement to Restore Trust (movementtorestoretrust.org) in the Diocese of Buffalo. Tim Kapshandy (IL) complains he is too busy now that he is not working. He’s having to figure out who to give his White Sox season tickets to. He and Marcy Barcenas-Kapshandy spent a month in Portugal and he’s been tinkering with his “new” 1968 Karmann Ghia. John Fitzpatrick (Sarasota FL) also un-retired, joined a firm in Naples to train their litigation team (he tried 242 cases to verdict in 40 states). He was pleased that the new firm reminds him of his old one when he started. Brian McDonough (Miami) reports that his daughter has just started her seventh season with the Miami City Ballet. Heidi Masano (Wyomissing PA) commented that she was escaping to her annual vacation in Bermuda just in time to get away from the lunacy of the presidential campaign. Brian Belt (Miami) has become a law tech guru and is, in addition to practicing law, advising law practices on how to modernize and incorporate AI into their practices. Diane and Ed Blieszner (Denver) report Diane has retired and Ed has become of-counsel to his firm, hoping to slow down, and that it hasn’t worked yet. As for me, my son Ryan qualified for the national 12-and-under tennis championships. Chambers Guide recognized Robert Allen Law as a Band 1 firm (top 5 in the world). My appointment to the presidential search committee for Florida Atlantic U was reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education, highly exaggerating my influence, titled “Meet the superyacht lawyer reshaping Florida’s colleges.” I was “busted” for chairing the Palm Beach Freedom Institute and my role in restructuring my alma mater’s board of trustees. The institute’s lecture series runs throughout the “Season” and you are all welcome to join whenever you are in town. Reach out when you are in South FL. — Bob Allen; ndlaw81@robertallenlaw.com
82 Bike Ride for Latin America
Tara Kenney is biking along Lake Champlain in VT to raise funds and awareness for AHD, Andean Health and Development, whose 26 years in the field have proven that high-quality secondary care is possible for rural Ecuador. Tara is on the board of the organization, which she has been supporting since college. AHD is one of Father Hesburgh’s legacy organizations which he founded to address health inequities in a region he loved. Tara lived in Ecuador after graduating ND and has worked in Latin America all of her career. Tara’s son Jack Grassey ’17 has been a part of these bike rides for several years supporting this great cause. If you would like to donate or get involved, please check out andeanhealth.org. Erin Courtney Hooks has accepted the new position of executive director of the SALT Block Foundation in Hickory NC. The SALT Block Foundation (Science, Arts and Literature Together) provides infrastructure support for a city block of historic buildings which house the Hickory Museum of Art, Western Piedmont Symphony, Catawba Science Center, Hickory Choral Society and United Arts Council of Catawba County. She’s having a great time learning about roof repairs on 100-year-old buildings, HVAC systems and the joys of roof replacements. Erin and Rob have been married for 38 years. Rob retired after 48 years as a professional pilot (USAF, airlines, general aviation). Their son, Chris, a VMI grad, was pinned a major in the US Army Command and is graduating from Army Command and General Staff College in June. Daughter Colleen is a Central Michigan U grad and works for the American Red Cross in NC. Erin continues her passion for singing, which she participated in as part of the ND Chorale while in college. Timothy J. Przybylowski passed away this past June. Tim was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, uncle and brother. He attended La Salle High School and received a BS in civil engineering from ND and a master’s degree from the U of Wisconsin. He served in the US Army for eight years, achieving the rank of captain in the Army Corps of Engineers. Following his military service, Tim excelled in his career at Benatec Associates and later as the facilities director for Charleston County. He is survived by Maureen, his loving wife; his children, Amanda, Nicole and Brian; and his grandchildren, Donovan, Brendan and Quentin. Tim, we will miss you. I hope to see you all this fall at a game. Please don’t forget to write to us. — Tess Lewis; 30 Battle Ridge Road, Morris Plains NJ 07950; cell 973-219-4050; tess@lewislegal.com; dave@lewislegal.com
82MBA Class Secretary — Renne (Amirkanian) Sutherland;
mobile 630-846-2707; reneemsr@aol.com
82JD Faculty Updates
IN Gov. Eric Holcomb bestowed the Sagamore of the Wabash Award to Judge Ken Ripple in June. The award is the highest honor the governor of IN bestows, and is presented to those who have rendered distinguished service to the state. The award was presented to Judge Ripple on campus at a reunion of his former judicial clerks. Brigid and Tex Dutile ’65JD celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in April. Among other celebrations, they stayed at the same hotel in Chicago where they spent their honeymoon. Carol and I had lunch with Brigid and Tex while we were on campus in June. Tex is very much enjoying his retirement, and still plays a mean piano! Carol and I were also on campus in May celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. While there we had lunch with Patty O’Hara ’74JD and ran into Jean Gorman. We saw Anita and Tom Veldman at a Notre Dame event in Washington DC in April. Congratulations to Jane Lynch on becoming a grandmother for the first time — little John Vincent Lynch was born in July. Please send me news items. — Frank Julian; ndlaw82@gmail.com
83 Remembrances and Congratulations
Please remember Peter Lawson and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Peter passed away in February of this year. Congratulations to Diane and Russ Wyborski, who are expecting to become first-time grandparents over the Georgia Tech weekend this fall (as Russ says, otherwise known as Oct. 20). Russ also reports that his brother, Ed, celebrated his 70th birthday on a small cruise ship where he met Mark Stechschulte ’82, a fellow Keenanite. Jean Collier ran into Tim Hart on campus recently. Tim is also a Keenanite and a doctor in Milwaukee. He is involved with the Inspired Leadership Program and has indicated that those taking the program love it. Bill Bastedo also met up with Tim in Las Vegas before the BYU football game. Theresa DiPasquale and Sue Gosdick, along with their husbands, met for lunch in Chicago while Theresa was attending an academic conference. Theresa and her husband, Lee Keene, also traveled to campus to see their son, Dominic ’24, perform the title role in the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of Richard III. Theresa and Lee also traveled to campus in May for Dominic’s graduation. Congratulations to all those who graduated this year, and especially to those with relatives who are members of the Class of 1983! Tracy Cotter and Dan Pace were part of a group of 82 lacrosse players and their spouses that visited campus this spring to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jack Tate’s ’64 start of the sport at the University. Pam and Rich Mullin ’73 hosted a get-together for the attendees at their home. The group was also able to witness a 14-6 win by the national champion Irish lacrosse team over North Carolina. In between editions of Notre Dame Magazine, you can also keep up with members of the Class of 1983 by joining our Class Facebook page. Membership on the Facebook page is limited to members of the Class of 1983 only. To join, simply search for “Notre Dame Class of 1983” on Facebook and select the “join” option. We currently have over 590 members and would be very happy to add many more. You’ll be able to reconnect with and get news about classmates, see pictures, participate in lively but polite conversations and more. If you have any news that you’d like to share with the Class, please send me a note or email and I’ll be happy to include your news in the next Class column. — Louis J. (“Chip”) Denkovic; 111 Centre Ave., Unit 523, New Rochelle NY 10801; res 917-399-8784; bus 212-537-1781; ldenkovic@gmail.com
83MBA Class Secretary — John Hilbrich;
630-677-2725; john.hilbrich@gmail.com
83JD Recommended Vacation Spot
It’s been a slow news cycle. As I reported in my last column, Michael Sommer got married on Aug. 12, 2023. Michael emailed some additional news. He and his husband, Patrick Cody, a psychotherapist, spent two weeks in southern France, which Michael highly recommended as a vacation spot. Congratulations to Michael and Patrick. Please send me an email with an update on you or a fellow classmate for this column. — Ann E. Merchlewitz; cell 507-450-6609; bus 507-457-1587; amerchle@smumn.edu
84 Reunion 2024: So. Much. Fun.
Wow! That’s all I can say — Wow! What a fabulous 40th Reunion Weekend! It was so fun to see so many classmates. We broke the attendance record! Everyone looked great! I loved seeing a lot of women embracing their gray/white hair — looking oh so chic! Kudos to Trisha (Romano) and Pat Barry, who outdid themselves — the wonderful food and drink at the dorm (thanks too to Gary Purk), the great indoor and outdoor spaces and the excellent events were top-notch! The fun started on Thursday night, when over 100 classmates joined the festivities at the Johnson Family Dorm party space. Joe Chan and Mat Winter posted some great Thursday pics on the Class Facebook page (University of Notre Dame Class of ’84). The Villa Angela women were well represented with Lynn (Hamilton) O’Connell, Kathleen Orndorff, Lisa (Singley) Chiarella and others enjoying the festivities. On Friday, more classmates arrived, some who have been to every Reunion like Mindy (Fey) Kaiser, and some for the first time like Diane (Dirkers) Jones. Dave Gaus and Andean Health held an informative gathering in the afternoon while Bubba Cunningham, with a shout-out to his wonderful wife, Tina, participated in an interesting seminar about collegiate sports. Next up was our Class Mass, with a very moving personal homily by Msgr. Chris Nalty, the reading of our deceased classmates’ names (sad to say that we need to add beloved classmates Randy Fahs, Joseph McHugh and Mary Crane to that list), and lovely music by Mark Rolfes, Anne (Wernimont) Kritzmire, Beth Anne (Maher) McLane, Mary Lang, Mary Bassett, Alan Jilka, Dan Meakin and John Bianco. Then we enjoyed a great Class dinner and our fabulous Alumni Association leader, Dolly Duffy, interviewing Coach Marcus Freeman and entertaining him by explaining the Screw Your Roommate tradition. The post-party at the dorm went until the wee hours. On Saturday, even more classmates arrived. There were seminars, with Lynn Malooly sharing her powerful story at the “Fr. Ted Said” event, and time to explore old favorite spots and new buildings like the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Teresa (Hedrick) Williams, Paula Toohey Smith, Laura (Bach) Koch, Matt Kornmeier and Tim Hart got in some great pickleball games. Who’s up for a round robin at the 45th? At the Saturday Class dinner, we enjoyed more camaraderie, dancing [Ed Cunningham, Dawn (Robinson) and Bill Hennessey and others were tearing up the dance floor] and looking at the incredible slideshow Alison (Kamschulte) Levey put together from classmates’ photos! Another late-night post-party at the dorm helped wrap up the festivities. Sunday was time for tearful goodbyes and the promise that we will be back for our 45th. Put the first weekend in June 2029 on your calendar now and come back and celebrate 45 years! You might be able to celebrate it with your child as Nancy (Scribner) Ruscheinski, Dawn (Bunker) Matthews, Beth (Hards), Mark Stechshulte and others did with their ND kids who are on the same Reunion cycle. There’s always the option to stay off campus, but the dorm was fun! Practice climbing up into bed since some were not lowered for us — thinking of you, Jamie (Kimmel) Eiffert, and your room escapades! Seeing everyone and being on campus reinforces just how truly special our Class is. We are retired or still working in the same careers or new ones, like Enzo Nardolillo, who became a high school teacher after a corporate career; we are raising kids and/or celebrating grandkids; we are traveling; we are volunteering; and we are doing so many other amazing things. As one of our friends told us when she gave us all handmade braided bracelets banded with a Compass Rose — my Class of ’84 classmates have been my guiding stars to true happiness. See you in 2029! And remember, this column is only as good as the information I receive, so please shoot me an email with your updates. — Martha (Burns) Avery; mayoravery@comcast.net
84MBA Class Secretary — Dhanraj Bhagat;
dbhagat1960@gmail.com
84JD Class Secretary — Matthew J. Dunn;
19834 Timbered Estates Lane, Carlinville IL 62626; 773-294-6851; mdunn19834@gmail.com
85 On Stage
Elizabeth Deschryver’s play An Unbuilt Life debuted in April at the Washington Stage Guild in DC. Other of Beth’s plays have been produced at Chicago Dramatists, 2nd Act Players, and the 8 x 10: Eileen Moushey TheatreFest (Weathervane Playhouse). Robert V. Jones participated in the Walk the Walk Week 2024 Keynote held on campus in January. Rob met with students before the keynote and dined with Rev. John I. Jenkins, CSC; Rev. Robert Dowd, CSC, ’87; Vice President and Chief of Staff Ann Firth; Vice President and Provost John McGreevy ’86; and Vice President for Research Jeff Rhoads. As part of the Walk the Walk Week, Rob was one of a diverse group of leaders in science, engineering and technology who spoke to more than 250 students, faculty and staff who attended the keynote. The event was part of the University’s week-long annual commemoration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the conclusion of the event, a Notre Dame biophysics doctoral student asked the speakers what their dreams are for the next generation. Rob replied, “Be resilient, be flexible. Compassion … includes sustainability and good character — they have to be part of the solution to make the world a better place.” He is the co-founder, president and CEO of PReSafe Technologies (cybersecurity). San Antonio was the site this year of the Breen-Phillips biennial mini-reunion with Martha (Kutashy) Uhler as host. The BP crew stayed at an Airbnb, cranked up the ’80s tunes and flipped through photo albums. In the house were Joan Rolwing, Amy (Griffin) Alexander, Terry (Kuczkowski) Biracree, Marylou (Yepsen) Bailey, Lisa (Ehrhardt) Banker, Cindy (Vera) Lagone, Barb (Stevens) Stavetski and Michelle (Rhinesmith) Quertinmont. Reunion attendees invaded the Alamo, strolled the River Walk, hung out at the historic Pearl and visited the Botanical Gardens. Unable to attend this year were Kathy (St. Amand) Cloud, Paulette (Heuring) Marino, Peggy Healy, Caroline Singler and Becky Miklos. Amy’s husband, Jay Alexander ’98MBA, was the “driver extraordinaire.” Joan writes: “[This was] so we could try to relive our quarter beer moments and not have to thumb a ride back to the rental. We get together about every two years, and we laugh so hard we are in tears. So great to catch up and revert back to our college days — yes, we still break out the dance moves during the weekend — it’s quite the scene!” Save the date for Reunion 2025, May 29-June 1. Visit reunion.nd.edu for the latest information. Please email soon to let me know about your achievements, hobbies and reunions! — Kathleen Doyle Yaninek; yanzlaw@comcast.net
85JD Welcoming Grandkids
John Roda and his wife, Ann, traveled from their home in PA to visit their son Brian and daughter-in-law Natalie in Salem MA. Brian and Natalie are 2017 graduates of Penn State U and recently made the Witch City their home. My son Aidan and I enjoyed meeting all the Rodas for dinner, where my Latin teacher son enjoyed John’s ability to converse about ancient Rome. Olga Pribyl is too modest to tell me about it, but I read that the American Bar Association named Olga “Fearless Children’s Lawyer of the Month.” Olga is vice president of the special education clinic and pro bono at Equip for Equality, where she does remarkable work to help kids with disabilities across the state of IL access an education, stay safe, be present and learn. A well-deserved honor — congratulations, Olga! Congratulations are also in order for Karen Kiley Toohill and Steve Toohill ’84JD on the recent marriage of their son Casey (Stanford 2019) to Dillon Schoen (Stanford 2018). The entire Toohill family, including Kathleen ’12 and Connor ’14, traveled to Nantucket for the celebration. Because the ND connection is powerful no matter how far you are from South Bend, Karen and Steve ran into Sue and John Gibbons, who were also visiting the island. In other celebrations, Denise and Walter Brown were in NY this spring to celebrate the graduation of their daughter Sophie ’18 from New York U School of Law. Sophie will be practicing law in NY. Kate and Matt Barrett are now grandparents! Their oldest son, Kevin, and his wife, Lindsey, welcomed Naomi in late November. Kate continues to work in Campus Ministry at ND and Matt is enjoying retirement, including his joyful “Naomi days.” The Barretts’ third son, Luke, is getting married to Rachel, a Notre Dame classmate, in August; son Wilson now works in the Office of the Executive Vice President at ND; and daughter Maggie is a consultant in Chicago. Carol Ruda and her husband, Norm Hilgendorf, are also new grandparents! Their oldest son, Matt, and daughter-in-law Alex welcomed Judah Stern Hilgendorf in February. Carol was a longtime volunteer for a refugee family reunification program in IL and recalls fondly her time working as in-house counsel with fellow ND lawyer Shelley Bacon Bacastow ’84JD. I was recently named chair of the governing board for Aspire Health Alliance, a community behavioral health center. A healthy mind is critical to overall health. Let’s stop the stigma and talk about how to care for our mental health. — Kelly Kiernan Largey; kellyjd1985@alumni.nd.edu
86 39th Otters Everywhere
Sorin ’86 Otters including Pete Thursby, Morris “Moose” Koscos, John Gleason and Pat Sexton visited classmate Charles “Chip” Digiovanna near Cincinnati to support him in his battle against squamous cell cancer that both he and son, Shane, are being treated for at U of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Please keep them in your prayers. KJ Phelan MD met fellow Northwestern U Med School ’90 classmate Jeff Masciopinto MD for skiing in Winter Park CO. Jeff and Sarah have three daughters with Frankie graduating ND. KJ’s two oldest sons, Kieran IV ’18 and Ben ’21, are now alumni, while the youngest, Jimmy, attends Brown (Army ROTC) and plays rugby. KJ golfed last summer at Tom McDonald’s club Point O’ Woods in MI with Pat Collins, Lenny Randazzo and Greg Dingens. At time of writing, Moose Koscos was planning a Cuervo Open golf tournament at Lake Michigan Golf Hills ahead of the Louisville reunion. Above Otters including Tim Clark and Craig Berry also golfed at Pat Sexton’s ranch outside Bend OR and enjoyed rafting the Deschutes, hiking, golfing and sampling myriad craft breweries. Other Otters: Rick Di Bernardo is with Nationwide Mutual Funds and is a PAC-12 / Mountain West and NFL referee, while Jimmy Seith is retired in the Bay Area and Jay Finster is a health care executive in Louisville who also supports his Olympic skating-hopeful daughter. Teresa (King) Olson became a first-time grandma thanks to her son and daughter-in-law, both ND ’15. In 2021, after 35 years in Chicago, Mary and Mike Riley, as empty nesters, moved back to Mike’s Louisville KY. Before COVID they purchased a 120-acre farm in MO, renovating the farm house and developing the property during lockdowns. Fun facts on their kids: Michael played football at Rose-Hulman, led the nation (divisions I, II, III) in sacks (1.94 per game) and was named AP All-American. He’s now a SW engineer in Indy. Erin is an associate interior designer in Chicago with Soucie Horner. Grace is an account representative for Tom James custom clothier. Katie, Miami of Ohio with biology and criminology majors, spent a summer as homicide forensic analyst and is at U of Chicago labs. Liz (Meyer) ’86SMC and Tim Smith live in Portland OR. Son Kevin is married, and an algorithm engineer, while Jake graduated UCLA Law and plans to clerk for a federal judge after the CA bar. Tim is a senior assistant attorney general for the OR Department of Justice where he represents the AG in antitrust litigation. Liz teaches at a Montessori school. Tim’s update on other Slush Club members: Kevin B. Quinn is married and has three kids, and his oldest daughter is graduating ND. He works for a bank in Buffalo NY. Jim Marciniak, his wife and their two boys live in Chicago. John Gibbon, his wife and two kids live in Oakland CA, and he works for Visa. Warren Wood lives and works in LA, and Kevin C. Quinn lives and works in Chicago. Jean and I met Lori (Bush) and John Kaminski, with Pam Fox and Jim Raycraft, for a 60th celebration for Lori at Sea Island GA. It was a total surprise for Lori in that her family planned it and the five of us coordinated with all three of her children and spouses, and three grandchildren too. Lori thought it would only be the six of us. Happy 60th to all in the Class! Those on the ’86 email will know the sad news that our classmate Caroline Berrettini passed June 11. We had a candle lit at the Grotto for Caroline and son JP. Take care and God Bless! — John Spatz; 201-264-2459; john@jjscb.com
86MBA Congrats in Order
Congratulations to David Sobek ’24, who graduated with his MBA from the Mendoza College of Business. Dean Martijn Cremers recognized both David and his dad, David Sobek, our classmate Roger Loesch and his son, Roger “RJ.” Their sons are both namesakes, and graduated on May 18, 38 years to the day that our Class graduated. The four of them were asked to stand and be recognized in front of the entire crowd. They all enjoyed a fantastic graduation weekend, along with the general commencement held in the ND Stadium. Seth Mason is a first-time granddad to Genevive Beverly Taylor, born July 5. Seth was able to visit with Genevive and her parents in Rougemont NC before returning to MI to participate in the Mackinac Bridge Swim. The five-mile swim of the Straits of Mackinac between Mackinac City to St. Ignace benefits families in need, the US Coast Guard and Mackinac City. Way to go, Seth — personally, I’d just take the bridge to get to the UP! Andy King and his three brothers took a trip to CA, and along with tasting a little (?) wine, they watched a race at Sears Point in Sonoma County. All classmates living abroad — please send me an update so I can keep everyone informed of your life adventures. We’d all love to hear from you. — Maureen (Mullan) Decker; 21231 Lilac Lane, Clinton Twp., MI 48036; bus 586-741-4305; mobile 586-817-1317; maureen.decker@mclaren.org
86JD Cross-Country Travels
I do hope you heeded my advice and have read Jim Landenberger’s blog reporting (daily!) on his cross-country bike adventure over the summer. As I submit this column, Jim is somewhere in central OH, but by the time you read this, Jim will have finished the ride after touching the Atlantic in VA and then down to NC to visit his daughter, son-in-law and their new baby. The blog has been excellent reading including Jim’s comments on some welcome relief he received from Paul Kirsch, who flew from SF to Columbus OH, to then drive to Louisville KY to meet Jim on the road, where Paul provided both moral and caloric support. I know I’m not the only one to read Jim’s blog since Nancy Montroy commented on Paul’s impromptu gesture. Nice work, Paul. And I’ll be turning over the winter Class Notes column for Jim to write the highlights of his Big Adventure and “how he spent his summer vacation.” He claims he can’t do it for this column as he is just “too busy.” Go figure. In all seriousness, bravo, Jim. What a feat! In other interesting news, Jerry Powers, the director of Catholic peacebuilding studies at ND’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, wrote to inform that he is now ND’s “official” mace-bearer aka for ceremonial events (graduation, the inauguration of Rev. Robert Dowd, CSC, ’87, etc.). I’m curious what the compensation is for that prestigious position. Felecia Rotellini wrote to say that after three years in DC, including two years in service to the federal government, involving many late nights at the office and/or the Kennedy Center, she moved back to AZ. Her road trip back to the Southwest had her stop in Louisville to visit a nephew and then to Tulsa OK to visit the Greenwood Rising Museum memorializing the tragedy of “Black Wall Street” massacre. Much of her trip was on old US Route 66. Somewhat like Jim’s cross-country trip but not really. Before leaving DC, Felecia splurged at her favorite DC Italian restaurant with Glenn Schmitt, for a farewell dinner. Felecia is now starting her own Phoenix-based consulting business in the areas of politics, strategic and thought leadership, and federal and state government public affairs. Joan (Flood) and John Mauel escaped the tough, hot Houston weather for cooler climes in Lake Okoboji IA, far from the effects of Hurricane Beryl. Joan and John’s daughter Margaret (Mauel) Schwartz ’14, her family, and Joan and John’s youngest son, Patrick, were all together at the lake, but oldest son Jack and his family had to suffer through the heat and humidity without power in Houston. Tami (Tavis) ’81 and Tom Lange welcomed their seventh and eighth grandchildren this year. The lineup is now four boys and four girls. I hope those 529 Plans are well-funded. Tony Monaco wrote to let us know that Peter Lutz was named to the Rochester Business Journal’s Power 50 List. Congrats, Peter. Finally, my wife, Sherry, and our girls, Erin, Nora and Mary, along with 28 other Bateses, had a family reunion week on the Outer Banks of NC (Corolla NC) in June. All in one house … it was a really, really big house. Please send your updates. — Brian Bates; bbates@abblaw.com
87 Class Secretary — Meg Brennan Hamilton; meghamilton@yahoo.com
87MBA Class Secretary — Perry N. Dellelce; Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, Suite 800, Wildeboer Dellelce Place, 365 Bay St., Toronto, Ontario M5H 2V1; 416-361-5899; fax 416-361-1790; perry@wildlaw.ca
87JD More Grandkids and Retirements
Lee Cameron and his wife, Pat, are proud grandparents for the sixth time with the birth of their grandson, Harrison Gray Hayward. This makes six grandchildren for Lee. Tony Bonacci and his wife, Caroline, welcomed their second grandchild in May, Anthony Matteo Bonacci. Jay Brinker gets out of the OH winters and spends five months in AZ, where he met up with John Fitzpatrick. Jay will be playing the part of father of the bride at a Scottsdale wedding in October. Pat Corbett went off the grid on a seven-day wilderness backpacking trip with his son, Kevin, at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in AK. No cell service, no people, no trails, but lots of grizzlies, mountain goats and Dall sheep. Madge (Beckmeyer) Rentz retired July 31 after serving Hamilton County Courts in OH for 32 years, the last 19 as a magistrate/ administrator. Bruce Ortega retired two years ago after a long career as a prosecutor in Northern CA. Bruce is called “Uncle Bruce” by Dan LeRoy’s kids. Dan gets part of his sports fix these days through his daughter, Madi, who works for the current World Series champion Texas Rangers. Speaking of World Series champions, as you read this please join me in raising a glass to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Washington Nationals’ world championship. Please send me news to share in this column or in our Class email loop. — Mike Gurdak; 202-879-3939; mpgurdak@jonesday.com
88 Memories Matter
This sentiment is a theme of Nick Sparks’ debut 1996 novel, The Notebook. Nick’s tale of a dedicated husband’s efforts to permeate his wife’s dementia and spark memories of their life-long romance has now morphed from page to screen … to stage — the ultimate US stage, Broadway! The Notebook opened at the Schoenfeld Theatre on March 14. Three of Nick’s five children attended the premiere with him. Here’s hoping that his newest novel, Counting Miracles, will become a memorable read for many. With Pangborn no longer standing in its physical form, memories matter more than ever. In fact, Tom Jennings and John Souter were integral in organizing a final opportunity to make memories at Pangborn before it was torn down in June. A “Farewell to Pangborn” reunion was held May 11. Former residents met at O’Rourke’s Public House and marched to Pangborn, led by a bagpiper playing the fight song. Pangborn rector Fr. Dailey then celebrated Mass in the hall’s Chapel of the Annunciation. Following Mass, group photos were taken, accompanied by a bourbon toast. Dinner was held at Rocco’s and the festivities continued into the evening. Along with Tom and John, classmates in attendance were Craig Horvath, Tom Torter, Jim Buch, Jim Behling, Jamie Manson, Dan Sherman and Kevin Whelan. They were in good company as former Pangborn residents ranging from the classes of 1975 to 1992 partook in the farewell celebration. Gone but never forgotten! This goes for Fisher Hall and the experiences of its former ’88 residents as well. Terry Lamb reached out to share that, for 18 consecutive years, he has gathered for an annual reunion with Chris Kitzke, Marc Stanley, Brian Vella, Chris Winslade, Jerome Penna, Seth Peets, Chris Blake and Ray Arce ’89. Sometimes they have gathered for football games in South Bend, and sometimes they have met at Chris Winslade’s home in Hudson WI for a long golf weekend. Sadly, Terry shared that 2024’s reunion will be missing a cherished member. Chris Kitzke passed away in April after a lengthy illness. Terry pointed out that the reunions will continue in his honor. Originally from Milwaukee, Chris attended high school in Greensburg PA, where he excelled as a student, as a multi-sport athlete (tennis and hockey) and most of all as a modest and kind young man. He attended ND on an ROTC naval scholarship, majoring in international relations and peace studies. Upon graduation, he joined the Navy and served on the USS Flatley for four years in Jacksonville. He also completed nuclear submarine training and served in the ’90-’91 Gulf War. Seeking to understand how to improve processes, he then worked as a quality control engineer and certified as a Six Sigma Green Belt. Living in Michigan City, he retired from quality control at Vanair Manufacturing, a company which generously covered some of his cancer-related medical expenses. Chris enjoyed staying in close contact with his high school and college friends, and he loved to root for the Pittsburgh Penguins on the ice, the Irish on the gridiron and his son Sam on the lacrosse field. Speaking of honor and memory, we could all be so lucky as to have an illuminator the likes of Mark McCormick in our lives. Mark wrote a tribute for Chris and shared it on Facebook. It’s too lengthy to recount here and not everyone has Facebook, so it’s posted on our ’88 myNotreDame home page: 1988.undclass.org (text/call if you have trouble accessing it). — Laurine Megna; PO Box 6847, Avon CO 81620; 970-390-9742; classof1988@alumni.nd.edu
88MBA Class Secretary — Ron Linczer;
1251 N. Eddy St., Suite 300, South Bend, IN 46617; mobile 574-302-2832; bus 574-631-3591; rlinczer@nd.edu
88JD Retirement
I hope everyone had an enjoyable summer! I was so happy to hear from Megan Bovee (even though she called our Class “unruly”!). In Megan’s mind, “We’re all still as young, fresh and ambitious as the photo we had made for Father Mike that I keep on my office wall! Somehow though, years have passed, we have developed specialties and reputations, and the ‘R’ word keeps coming up!” Megan stopped taking new cases at the end of 2023. She has closed about a third of her caseload and expects the rest to resolve in a year or less. Megan’s retirement “plan” is more of a “process,” but it is well underway! She’s excited for more time for biking, kayaking, hiking, gardening, sewing, reading and making adventures with her parents, husband, kids and four grandkids! No risk of boredom for Megan! When the last Notre Dame Magazine came out, Jeff Heutmaker happened to be in Boston sitting at Jim Ciapciak’s dining room table talking about their stack rat experiences! Both Jeff and Jim say hi! Shari Newlon and her husband, Mark, just returned from an around-the-world cruise. It gave them a hard stop for their retirement. Shari and her husband hope to do more charitable work and to join a resurrection choir. Enjoy your retirement, Shari! You deserve it! Don’t forget to send me your news, big or small! Hope to see you at a game! — Lori Merlo Coticchia; lcoticchia@aol.com; lcoticchia@ruffingmontessori.org
89 Reunion Blasts and Competition
With our 35th Reunion now one for the books, there are more updates to share including one summarizing Dillon Hall Class of ’89 Reunion attendance. Let’s see if this can turn into a competition, which so far Dillon is winning. John “Zuke” Ravoli reports seeing fellow Dillonites James Balesh, Tim Weber, Kevin McDowell, Mike “Wader” Wade, Digger O’Brien and Pat “Walshy” Walsh in attendance. John goes on to add that Dillonite, Marc Gleason ’88 joined and a great time was had by all. Big Red anecdotes were shared throughout the weekend’s festivities including a gathering with Dillon Hall employee Bill Jackson, who looks amazing and remains dutifully employed by the University at the age of 78! John Jackson also reports ongoing communications with John “Sluggo” Boulos, Mike Mihelick, Paul Happe, Trey Brown, Rob Walters, Nick Capece, Ed Hill, Frank Visceglia, Chris Blum, Mark Micek, Kent Kroener, Greg Branch, John Adams, Tom Lauer, Lee Hebert, George Coia, Pat Endler and Phil Lucero. Finally, Jackson recently reconnected with Class of ’90 Dillonites Dan Bazarko, Bill Fallon, and Jay Sheehan for cocktails in Connecticut. He urges everyone to prioritize reconnecting because as Dan so eloquently articulated, “our expected QTL (Quality Time Left) is quickly diminishing.” Thanks again to Mike “Napes” Napier who did an amazing job leading our class’ Reunion effort. Napes noted that he has ideas to increase participation in future years. Thanks also to Mike O’Connell and his band “Catholics in Bad Standing” who wowed the crowd once again. Very sadly our classmates Anthony Russo and John Zebierek passed away. We send our deepest condolences and prayers to their families. God bless. Go Irish. — Kerrie (Wagner) Debbs; kwagsnd89@gmail.com
89MBA Hello
As we approach our golden years with fond memories of our time under the Golden Dome, I look forward to hearing and sharing your family, career and retirement(?) updates with the rest of our classmates. This may be short notice but if you will be at the Stanford game this October, please text or email me as a group of us will be there and would love to see you too! — Margaret DeVoe; 612-845-9662; maggiedevoe@yahoo.com
89JD World Travels, News from Home
In celebration of her 60th birthday, Deanne (Kopkas) and Phil Calvert were joined by Bonnie (Austin) and David Cluxton, and Sue (Magee) and Arthur McColgan for an African adventure. The group traveled to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe for a six-day safari. Bonnie tells me that it was a trip of a lifetime with lifelong friends! Happy 60th, Deanne! Closer to home, I visited Patty and Tom Griffin at their new lake retreat in ME. While they plan to keep their presence in IL, they hope to escape frequently year-round to enjoy the lake, skiing and all that ME has to offer. Congratulations, Griffins! Monique and Charlie Mustell’s son, Max, recently committed to play football at the US Air Force Academy. To kick off his senior year of high school, Max’s high school team (St. Thomas Aquinas) will play last year’s high school national champion, Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, on ESPN. Well done, Max! Charlie’s daughter, Lexi, recently graduated from Stetson Law School and will practice in San Diego. Congratulations to Lexi! Please keep the news coming! — Jenny O’Leary Smith; jennyoleary@comcast.net