Graduate Schools

Accountancy Class Secretary — Kim Talianko;
ktalianko@alumni.edu

 

Architecture
I recently saw my first copy of Sacred Architecture, the journal of the Institute for Sacred Architecture. The editor is ND Prof. Duncan G. Stroik and it is published at ND twice annually for subscribers (sacredarchitecture.org). The fall 2023 issue was devoted to exploring the historic richness of Latin American architecture. The high-quality, fully color illustrated and discussed publication covered Spanish sacred architecture in the Americas during the past 25 years with projects in Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Bolivia, Suriname and the Dominican Republic. The section on Spanish sacred architecture in the United States used projects in OK, TX, CA, FL, CO and AZ. Also included were 15 pages of four written articles by guest writers, all experts in their fields. It’s a unique publication and a must-have for anyone interested in sacred architecture. Congratulations to Edmond (Ed) G. Gauvreau, FAIA ’79, Washington DC, he has just been elected a fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). Ed was chair of SAME’s Architecture Practice community of interest. The investiture will take place in May at their annual conference in Orlando FL. He will also serve as juror in this summer’s international competition among schools of architecture to develop alternatives for homeless shelters — a joint effort between schools of architecture in Scotland and Brazil. Ed is chief, Program Branch Installation Support Community of Practice, HQ, US Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC, leading efforts to create a digital platform for installation master planning for all Army installations worldwide. Luke Molinelli ’22, Washington DC, joined the architectural firm of David M. Schwarz right after graduation. Luke’s father is Michael J. Molinelli, AIA ’82, Briarcliff Manor NY. Michael’s award-winning firm is an architecture and planning organization serving the greater New York City region and nationwide with a broad base of projects including education, religious, residential and architectural restoration. Michael was the official cartoonist while at ND with his cartoon strip, “Molarity,” that appeared in The Observer. He has since published a number of books on his cartoon characters and architectural topics and currently has a video blog on his YouTube channel titled CodeX. He, to date, has sketched, illustrated and discussed more than 60 known architectural masterworks worldwide. Michael is an adjunct professor at Catholic U School of Architecture and served his community by being an active firefighter (former chief, former captain) of the Briarcliff Manor Fire Department ladder truck. Ron B. Blitch, FAIA, FACHA ’76, Abita Springs LA, has been inaugurated as chancellor of the AIA College of Fellows. Ron’s firm, Blitch Knevel Architects, Covington LA, has received numerous national, regional and local awards for design. He currently is on the Advisory Council at ND’s School of Architecture. Christopher M. Ban ’06, Pittsburgh, after graduation became an oral and facial surgeon. He was in the news last summer when he became a Jeopardy! champion. He and his late brother, Michael, were on the North Allegheny high school rowing team together while Michael was fighting cancer with chemo. Chris would send him pictures from their favorite book growing up, The Jungle Book, until Michael passed away last year. The final Jeopardy! answer in the tight competition was The Jungle Book. Chris will use his winnings to have the rowhouse at their high school renamed in Michael’s honor. I’m honored that one of my military veterans’ groups, Together We Served (TWS), used my US Army military profile stories as its feature in its webpage for January. TWS News: “Service Reflections of an Army Veteran” (newsletters@togetherweserved.com). Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Franz (Pete) Scheuermann ’57, Lake Southern Pines NC, who passed away last October. — 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
It’s been a slow quarter for communications, perhaps due to preparations for the holidays. Electronic communication from early and mid-career alumni are especially welcome by their contemporaries since these individuals tend to be more mobile as their careers progress. The holidays did bring much-appreciated greetings from several alumni. These included Donald J. Mulcare ’68Ph.D. and his wife, Nancy Ann Lubben Mulcare ’69MA; James M. Sidie Jr. ’63, ’70Ph.D.; Wenceslaus L. “Wen” Kilama ’67MS, ’68MA, ’70Ph.D.; and James W. Truman ’67. Wen reports that the schools for boys and girls that he and his wife, Ann, opened near their hometown of Bukoba, Tanzania, on the western shore of Lake Victoria just south of the equator, were deeded to the Bukoba Catholic diocese on Jan. 9. Wen, who is still active in malaria control efforts, and Ann spend most of their time near their children in Dar es Salaam. The schools were established not far from the Rwandan border more than a decade ago to serve an education-deprived population. What a wonderful legacy they are leaving. Jim Truman writes that he and his wife, U of Washington professor emerita Lynn Riddiford — after traveling the world, primarily spending time in sub-Saharan Africa — made their first-ever trip to Costa Rica. (It’s hard to believe that two well-traveled biologists had waited this long to visit such a biodiverse country.) Jim specifically mentions coming “eye-to-eye” with a quetzal, Guatemala’s national bird, while walking on suspension bridges in the rainforest canopy. As previously reported in this column [52(1): 88, 2023], Jim was elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) last year, a well-deserved honor that his undergraduate adviser, the late Prof. George B. Craig, ND’s first faculty member to be elected to the NAS, would have been very proud of. It is safe to assume that attending the induction ceremony this past spring as NAS members themselves were alumnus Eric Wieshaus ’69 and ND’s Gillen Prof. Nora Besansky, along with Jim’s wife, who had been previously inducted. — 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
The last 32 months have brought such tremendous loss to our beloved department. Robert Kerby, Walter Nugent, Jay P. Dolan, Catherine Box and Suellen Hoy all passed away. On Jan. 17, the one and only Philip Gleason ’60Ph.D. joined them, at that great AHA meeting in the sky. With an undergraduate degree from Dayton, Phil came to ND in the mid-1950s. He met and married the lovely Maureen and they shared 66 years of marriage and four beautiful children. He earned his ND Ph.D. in 1960 and remained at the University for the rest of his amazing career. Phil taught courses in American Catholicism, higher education, immigration and ethnicity, and intellectual history. I feel so fortunate, as I am sure you do too, to have taken all of them. Dr. Gleason also wrote several important books and, in recognition, received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the American Catholic Historical Association in 2019. Twenty years earlier, ND awarded Phil the Laetare Medal, the most prestigious award granted to American Catholics. Speaking very personally, I think Phil’s greatest triumph was preparing a very shy nobody from the Southside of Chicago — without a shred of self-confidence — to follow in his footsteps. I feel so blessed to have known and studied with Phil — as with all the other men and women we have lost — and I am sure you feel that way too. Phil was that kind of man. Extraordinary!! Services were held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on Jan. 25 with Rev. Steven Avella ’85Ph.D. presiding. Treasure our memories. — Mary Linehan ’91Ph.D.; 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
Greetings to all MNA, EMNA and MSA alumni. I am truly humbled hearing stories of so many of our alumni who continue to impact their communities using their business minds and servant hearts. Congratulations to Jack McBride ’16, who was recently named executive director at Arts Connect Houston. In this position, he will identify strategic alignments and opportunities to expand access to arts education for students throughout Houston ISD and the greater Houston area. David J. LaBarre ’04 is excited to share the creation of Nonprofit Resource Partners LLC as the co-founder and chief executive officer, whose vision is to be the unparalleled leader in revolutionizing the nonprofit sector, envisioning a landscape where each nonprofit organization that they partner with, regardless of its growth stage, thrives and prospers with the dedicated support of seasoned factional leadership and operational expertise. 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

 

Master of Science in Management
It’s been nearly 10 years since our program started — let’s check in! If you have any updates, celebrations or announcements, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you soon! — Maddie Corsaro ’17; mcorsar1@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
Rev. Ken Przybyla ’76M.Th., while at Notre Dame, lived at the seminary and was an RA in Fisher Hall. He served 45 years in priestly ministry in the Peoria Diocese and has served for the last 26 years in the Diocese of Colorado Springs. He wanted to let everyone know that if any of his former classmates are ever in Colorado Springs, to please look him up. Stephen Bruce Jenkins, Master in Liturgical Music Ministry ’87, died peacefully in his home at the age of 72 in December. He is survived by Eileen, his beloved wife of 48 years, who cared for him throughout his illness, and his three children and six grandchildren. He was the organist and choir director at many churches including St. Joseph’s in South Bend. Through music, he connected with countless listeners and fellow musicians, sharing something beyond words. He was a friend and mentor to many. Jonathan Webb ’13EMBA was named to the first cohort of 100 emerging leaders selected to participate in the Obama Foundation’s Leaders USA program. Jonathan is the chief executive officer of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, an organization committed to making a difference in the lives of women and newborns by empowering and supporting nurses caring for these individuals and their families through research, education and advocacy. Jonathan was chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants. “Obama Leaders” is composed of values-driven changemakers from every corner of the country. Hailing from 37 states, Washington DC, American Samoa, Guam and five tribal nations, these Obama Leaders are united by their passion for building a stronger, more sustainable and more inclusive world. Jennifer Batt ’75MBA went with the Notre Dame Club of Buffalo and Western NY on its annual football game bus trip. They have been doing this for the past 50 years. This year they went to the Pittsburgh game. “We arrived on campus Friday about 3:30 p.m. in time for a Rosary at the Grotto before the 5:15 p.m. Mass in Sacred Heart Basilica. President John Jenkins was the celebrant. After Mass, many of us headed to the South Dining Hall for a great meal. It’s always special to be eating with the students again, and at some of the same tables we sat at as students. After dinner many of us made a stop at the bookstore and then attended the ND Glee Club concert in the DeBartolo Theater, always wonderful. At midnight there was the band playing at the Administration Building. Saturday morning some of us attended early morning Mass in the Sacred Heart Crypt. Then 3:30 p.m. kickoff. Hot coffee and hotdogs during the game to warm the body was good. And a big win! Up early at six a.m. on Sunday for a walk to the Grotto to pray a Rosary and then Mass back in the chapel at Sacred Heart Parish Hall at 8 a.m. celebrated by Father Leo, with buses departing at 9:30 a.m. for the return to Buffalo. Next year I celebrate my 50th Class Reunion! My, the years do fly by.” — Marvin J. LaHood ’58MA, ’62Ph.D. English; 93 Parkhaven Drive, Amherst NY 14228; 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com