Graduate Schools

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

Architecture
Congratulations to William E. Reifsteck II ’78 (BA Hist), Newport Beach CA, on receiving the 2025 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award from the Design Build Institute of America. It is their highest honor and cited Bill’s “pivotal role in shaping and refining design-build best practices”; “a legacy that continues to influence the architecture, engineering and construction industry nationwide.” He is the published author of Two Million Bricks in 160 Days: The Construction of Notre Dame Stadium. He also oversaw the work on San Francisco’s Oracle Park and the first net-zero-emissions educational facility in the state of CA. Bill is currently VP for AECOM, CA. Edmond G. Gauvreau ’80 FAIA, Washington DC, was elected a fellow in the Society of American Military Engineers in 2024. He is now chief of the installation readiness branch which includes the Corps of Engineers HQ energy and critical infrastructure as well as planning and facility standards. Last May, he led the capstone session for the AIA Indiana Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program at the invitation of Cynthia M. (Hess) Lyons ’03. The session covering professional practice and career development had participants from across the Indiana AEC community. Cynthia had recently completed the Indiana Leadership Program and is currently project manager with American Structurepoint in Indianapolis. Mark R. Stankard ’80 retired from the DLR Group in Omaha this past summer and relocated to Marfa TX, where he is semi-retired with his own practice. Marfa’s population in the 2020 Census was 1,788. It is rapidly becoming a tourist destination and a major draw for artists to move there to live and work. Frank Musica ’73B.Arch, ’78MBA, ’78JD, Bethesda MD, is a professional liability risk advisor for Victor Insurance Managers. He has served for 35 years on the AIA Contract Documents Committee. Serving with him on the committee is Peter J. Noone ’81, Chicago, who just completed his 10-year term. He retired a few years ago from Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Chicago/San Francisco. Also serving is Courtney Haddick ’15 AIA, who is with the Salt Lake City office of HKS. She joined the committee in 2022, became a task group chair in 2024 and joined the committee’s management group in 2025. I was surprised and honored to receive the AIA Long Island’s Special Recognition Award at a recent chapter awards banquet. I was recognized for my service on various design juries, service on the AIA National Board of Directors, president of AIA New York State as well as receiving the AIA New York State Kideney Gold Medal in 2017 and the AIA Long Island 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. — Orlando T. Maione, FAIA Emeritus, FACHA Emeritus; 27 Bucknell Lane, Stony Brook NY 11790-2521; 631-246-5660; cell 516-578-5320; omaione@optonline.net

Biological Sciences
In a sad communication from Donald J. Mulcare ’68Ph.D. on Dec. 30, 2025, we were informed that his wife of 57 years, Nancy Ann Mulcare (née Lubben) ’69MAT, had died unexpectedly in hospital two weeks prior on Dec. 15. Your correspondent (PBC) last visited with Don and Nancy in 2019 over lunch in Fairhaven MA, their hometown for decades after joining the biology faculty of the U of Massachusetts at Dartmouth from which they both retired. Don and Nancy met at ND. More specifically, they met at a party at the Notre Dame Avenue home of a long list of biology department graduate students (the second floor housed undergrad Stephen Kirby ’69 and his young wife, Martha). The party, held July 7, was hosted by Wenceslaus L. “Wen” Kilama ’67MS, ’68MA, ’70Ph.D. to celebrate the anniversary of Tanzanian independence, Wen’s native country. Nancy and Don celebrated saba/saba, Swahili for 7/7, as their special day each year. Upon receiving his doctorate, Don went on to a postdoctoral position at the U of Michigan and then on to U Mass. Wen returned to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and rose to a leadership position in the Tanzanian equivalent of the NIH. He and his wife, Ann, are retired in Wen’s native home of Bukoba where they have established a school for girls. — 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
James Bowers ’61MA, ’66JD has worked for HHS and the veterans administration. Now retired, he is an avid knitter and enjoys Iris Murdoch and Doris Lessing novels. He has found great joy — and little micromanaging — as an adjunct teacher of US diplomatic history. His favorite professor was Robert Farrell, who was “on loan” from IU. Gregory J. W. Urwin ’81MA, ’84Ph.D. is very happy in his endowed chair at Temple U, but admits to getting hate mail for his military histories being too truthful and not patriotic again. His next book will be Freedom Wore a Red Coat: The British Invasion of Virginia in 1781. Greg is beginning phased retirement and has stepped down as editor of the UOK series Campaigns and Commanders. This frees valuable time for his truly adorable grandchildren. John Quinn ’88MA, ’92Ph.D. just published The Rise of Newport Catholics. John has also been commissioned to write the history of Salve Regina U, 1947 to present. John is a full professor at SRU. B.J. Bruther ’88MA, ’96Ph.D. has an annotated Carmilla with a critical essay coming out from North Meridian Press. She is working on a monograph about the Indiana Women’s Press. Retired from classroom teaching, BJ spends her time with her nieces and nephews. — Mary Linehan ’91Ph.D.; maryline113@yahoo.com

Mathematics
The Mathematics Department is sad to report the death of Mary Lou Derwent ’62 on Nov. 19, 2025. She is survived by her husband and mathematics emeritus professor, Dr. John Derwent ’55. Any alumni who would like to provide an update, please send them to — Tori Spalding; 255F Hurley Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556; 574-631-6008; tspaldin@nd.edu

Master of Nonprofit Administration
Greetings to all MNA, EMNA and MSA alumni! Wishing you all a wonderful spring. We have not received any news for this issue. Please continue to send life and career updates. — Betsy Quinn ’12; betsyquinn@alumni.nd.edu

Master of Science in Management Class Secretary — Maddie Corsaro ’17; mcorsar1@alumni.nd.edu

Political Science
With great sadness we belatedly announce the death of Marcelo Leiras ’07Ph.D. on Aug. 9, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an associate professor in the Department of Social Sciences; director of the undergraduate degree in political science, government and international relations; and director of the MA program in administration and public policy at the U San Andrés. He was highly respected and much loved by those who knew him and is greatly missed. Moritz S. Graefrath, ’19 MA, ’23 Ph.D. was named the Wick Cary Assistant Professor of International Security in the College of International Studies at the U of Oklahoma in fall 2025. Catherine and Richard Cassleman, ’23 MA, ’24 Ph.D. welcomed their eighth child during Thanksgiving 2025. Rick will begin teaching political science at the US Air Force Academy in fall 2026. Rev. Justin Brophy, OP, ’06, ’17 MA, ’20 Ph.D. was named senior vice president of mission and ministry of Providence College, RI, in early 2026. Father Justin has been a member of the political science department and has served as director of the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies. He has published scholarly articles on Plato, Nietzsche, Alasdair MacIntyre and the Catholic intellectual tradition. Please send your news for our next column to the address below. — Charlie Kenney; 455 W. Lindsey, Room 205, Norman OK 73019; 405-325-3735; ckenney@ou.edu

Graduate Degrees
James B. Bleyer ’54JD passed peacefully on Jan. 6, 2025, at the age of 96. He was a fiercely devout Catholic. After serving in the United States Army, Mr. Bleyer attended law school at Notre Dame, the culmination of a dream that began with an academic catalog ordered from the University when he was just 6 years old. He was awarded the Hoynes Prize, given to the graduating law class member who has the best record in scholarship, application, deportment and achievement. But Mr. Bleyer considered his proudest achievement while at Notre Dame to be his deep friendship with Father John Cavanaugh, former president of the University. During his 70-year career, he earned the highest recognition possible in the legal field for his professionalism and ethics and had a lasting impact on the law, having argued several seminal cases before the IL Supreme Court. His most ardent love, aside from his family, was the University of Notre Dame — especially its sports. He believed there were few people who had a happier life than he, and he often said, “When I die, the undertaker need only fold my hands as it will be unnecessary to paint a smile on my face — it will already be there.” Michael Varga ’85MA Economics, who served in the Peace Corps in Chad and then went on to become a distinguished career US Foreign Service Officer who specialized in Middle Eastern affairs and economics, discusses stories from his professional life abroad for a new podcast which focuses on people who worked overseas in various capacities in support of international development at SoftPower/FulStories season 1, episode 11 (softpowerfulstories.org). “Nothing has come easy for Michael. In the Peace Corps, he had the toughest assignment in an already difficult country. As a diplomat, he faced huge challenges. And now, in retirement, battling cancer, he is dealing with brutal obstacles. But as an artist — which he also is — he meets the world with unwavering wonder and kindness. In work, as in life, he remains an inspiration.” — Marvin J. LaHood ’58MA, ’62Ph.D. English; 93 Parkhaven Drive, Amherst NY 14228; 716-691-4648; mlahood@roadrunner.com