Class Notes 1999

   
 

Send your notes to:

Meg Galligan


galliganm22@hotmail.com

   
   
spring 2008

Mark Annichine's last column --

Greetings, friends. This will be my last class column. Upon seeing that Jerry Pockar was turning the page after having taken this publication to such a first-class level, I decided that my time as a columnist had come to an end. My heartfelt thanks to Jerry for being the consummate professional and superb advocate for John Carroll University. It is solely because of Jerry that I accepted the invitation to take on this column when it last came available. In each of my encounters with Jerry, he has reminded me why I am proud to be a graduate of JCU. ... As for this column, I will be handing the pen to the much-loved Meg Galligan. I’m sure many of us will be very happy for that! ... With the holidays surrounding us (just prior to this writing), there was very little in the way of updates. Nonetheless, there were two very exciting ones. In October, Amy Bakos married Clem Iannello. Her bridesmaids were Kristen (Betka) Layman, Kari Casper, and Nicole (Peterson) Gorius. Amy is currently working at American Express as a global implementation manager and living in Cleveland. ... Also in October, Sarah Furey got engaged to Matt Reichert. They are planning a June 28, 2008 wedding in Norwalk, Ohio. Best wishes, Sarah and Matt! ... Please send your updates to me – MAnnichine@TheFinancialCenter.com - until Meg writes her inaugural article. I will be sure to pass them along to her. Thank you for reading this column, and thank you for so cooperatively sending me your updates. I trust you will be as kind to Meg as you have been to me. ... In lieu of a goodbye, I will leave you with this anonymous perspective. The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Peace and wellness to you. Go get ‘em, Meg! Mark

   
   
fall 2007

Hello friends. It has been nice to hear from so many of you. Please keep the updates coming. We’ll start this column with an update on Renee (Weaver) and Grant ’98 Varnum. On April 28 of this year, they gave birth to an awesome little boy named Gavin. For those of you who know Grant (and I can’t imagine there are too many JCU grads of our era who don’t), you realize that Gavin will soon begin an intense workout regimen. He will be the toughest kid in Twinsburg, OH, (their home). ... Dave and Lisa (Frusteri) Zickefoose were married on April 30, 2005, in Cleveland. On September 1 of this year, their daughter Maren Abigail was born. In 2002, Lisa received her Master’s of Science in Social Administration from CWRU’s Mandel School of Applied Sciences. The Zickefoose family currently lives in Denver, CO, where Lisa works as a caseworker investigating child abuse and neglect in familial and institutional settings for Adams County. ... Justin Brent checked in with me recently. He spent three years in the logistics/transportation field, then (as he called it) “pulled a Peter Gibbons (‘Office Space’) and ditched his cubicle and TPS reports for construction.” Last fall, Justin finished a four-year carpentry apprenticeship and is now a journeyman carpenter and member of Local 21 in Cleveland. He works for Sports Construction Group out of Cleveland, installing synthetic turf athletic fields. He even spent a summer working on Carroll’s Dolan Science Center and a winter in Key West rebuilding Navy housing damaged by Hurricane Wilma. Justin owns a home in Lakewood and just recently got engaged to Jessica DuMound, a Hiram graduate. They plan to wed in the fall of 2008. ... Kevin and Nicole (Jusseaume) Finefrock live in North Canton, OH, with their two sons, Joshua (3) and Mitchell (1). Nicole works as a part-time counselor for gifted students at Green High School. ... Kathryn Guelcher had her second baby, Lillian Frances, born August 10, 2007. Kathryn’s other child, Andrew recently turned three. ... Christine (Weimer) Papesch and her husband, Erich, gave birth to a baby girl, Elizabeth Cecilia on June 4 of this year. She was 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 20.5 inches. ... John Taberski and his wife, Randi, have been living in the Washington, DC, area for over seven years where he is a senior U.S. probation officer. John, thanks for passing along the following: "After living in Boston, MA, for over six years, Erin Clark relocated back to her hometown of Buffalo, NY, where she is working as a human resources professional at Computer Task Group, Inc." ... Brian and Renee (Cheraso) Doyle moved to Macedonia, OH, after Brian earned his MBA at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Brian is a district manager for Heidelberg Distributing in Independence, OH. Renee is the U.S. hospitality coordinator for RJF International, a wall covering manufacturer headquartered in Fairlawn, OH. ... PJ and Megan (Sweeney) Insera have a daughter named Mia (2). Megan teaches fifth grade at Cloverbank Elementary School (which I think is in Hamburg, NY). ... Cara Santoro married Joe Rasnick on June 30, 2007. Many JCU alumni were on hand to witness the occasion. Cara and Joe live in Tonawanda, NY, with their pug, Ruby. Cara is a special education teacher at Cheektowaga Central Senior High School. ... Kevin Linder graduated from the University of Buffalo law school this year and is currently working on the congressional campaign for 2000 JCU graduate Jon Powers. ... Jen Blumhagen received her master’s degree from Case Western Reserve and resides on the East Side of Cleveland. She is the director of a mental health counseling program servicing multiple schools throughout the city of Cleveland. ... I heard from Cara (Profughi) Coe ’00. She is married to Cole Coe and they have two sons, Hayden (4 ½) and Porter (born July 7). ... Kaitlin Habig Connelly married Zack on July 14 at Bellarmine Chapel in Cincinnati, OH. They just moved back to the Cincinnati area, where Kaitlin will be teaching math and technology at Ursuline Academy. ... One final note -- become a Carroll Contact. List yourself as a potential connection for current JCU students seeking career or other advice. Visit www.jcu.edu/careercenter and click on the Career Connection link. Then click on Carroll Contact and begin filling out your information. Peace, Mark

   
   
summer 2007

Hello again. I hope your summer has been enjoyable and healthy. I’d really like to hear from you, so please be sure to drop me a line. Notice my new e-mail address and phone number. I’ve recently started a new firm and things have been hectic, but good so far. Also, parenthood is treating Christie and me very well. Zachary is coming up on nine months at the time of this writing. ... Katherine (Kuck) Kick and her husband, Phillip, live in Florence, MA, and have two children: Adelaide (2) and Cameron (7 mos.) at the time of this writing. ... Susie Ann Zkiab is a kindergarten teacher at Holly Lane Elementary School in Westlake, OH. She lives in Bay Village. ... Tim Howley lives in Oakland Park, FL, and works in Fort Lauderdale as a regional director for SWI Digital, Inc. ... Adrienne Manzo is living in Grand Island, NY. ... Christopher Ollison is the director of logistic services for Fast Trac Direct. He lives in Houston, TX. ... Martha (Keffer) Polomsky and her husband Brian ’00 live in La Grange, IL. Martha received her MSEd from Northern Illinois University in 2003. They have two children: Anne (2) and Katherine (4 mos.) at the time of this writing. ... William Wetzel and his wife, Kara, are living in Villa Hills, KY. In 2006, he received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Indiana University. He is working as an assistant professor at Thomas More College in Crestview Hills, KY. ... Emily Berdell is living in Oakmont, PA -- home of the 2007 U.S. Open. She is the director of events for Constructors Association of Western PA. ... Alex and Jennifer (Miller) Bruening currently reside in Winchester, VA. ... Rita (Kingsbury) Burke and her husband Timothy ’98 live in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, with their two sons, Timmy (3) and Jack (2). Rita received her MBA from Case Western Reserve University in 2003. ... Michael Chambers is slated to receive his MBA from Cleveland State University in November of this year. He is a factory sales representative for Serta Mattress Company. Instead of counting sheep, just call Mike! ... That’s all I have for this time. Thanks for sending me your updates. Feel free to send me as much scoop as you’d like -- even if it is about somebody else. Thanks for reading and enjoy your autumn. Mark

   
   
spring 2007

Hello friends. Because I missed the last issue, I have a lot to catch up on (and little space), so here we go... Let’s start with some good friends, the Roarks. I am fortunate to keep in touch with Randy and Michelle (Laurio) Roark. Randy recently got back from Afghanistan, where he was serving as a dentist in the U.S. Army. They have a son, Jackson (2 1/2). Michelle is a pediatric nurse practitioner in the emergency room. At the moment I’m typing this, they live in the Ft. Bragg, NC, area, but by the time this hits your hands, they will be residing in Columbus, OH. ... Adrienne Timonere-Publicover is the assistant principal of Saint Ann School in Cleveland Heights. She and her husband, Dan, got married in 2001 and live in University Heights. ... Michelle (Bjel) and Rob Velotta were married at Saint Francis Chapel in 2002. They had their first baby, Thomas Robert, on October 14 and are currently living in Willoughby, OH. ... Shannon (Shepard) and Michael ’98 Scott had a son, William, who will be two years old this June. ... I saw Maria Mahfood Terezis this fall and I heard from her again this winter. She and her husband, Nick, also had their first child. Ava Tsambika arrived into this world on October 24. ... Ryan Gorczyca and his wife, Michelle, now have two children -- Gavan Michael (2) and Sean Ryan (5 mos.). ... Rochelle (Nowinski) Young married a University of Dayton graduate, Jason, in September. Those on hand at the wedding included JCU’s Beth Wood, Leah Kramer, Emily Berdell, and Siegmund Fuchs, as well as Allyson Hunter ’98 (exchange student from Ireland). Rochelle is currently working at the CBS affiliate in Columbus and working toward her MBA from Capital University. ... In November, Shaena (Welsh) and Chad ’00 Miller had a baby girl, Shaunee. ... Ed Novak married Lori Nita of Lansing, IL, in 2005. Ed also successfully completed his first marathon that year in Chicago. Then in 2006, he received his MBA from the University of Chicago. They currently reside in Lincoln Park in Chicago. ... Suzanne Brown recently moved to Gilbert, AZ to teach first grade. She had been teaching in the Cleveland Municipal Schools prior to the move. She’d love to hear from any other JCU alumni in the Phoenix area. ... Ann (Crowley) Raven brought another Blue Streak into this world on November 25. Welcome to the JCU family, little John “Jack” Adam Raven. ... I heard from Brian Leisgang. He and his wife, Jennifer, started a new division of their printing and promotional products company in November 2004. They offer over 30,000 office products, office furniture, and janitorial products - www.bplofficeproducts.com. Kelly (Sobek) and Tom ’00 Clark had a baby boy, T.J. in June. Congratulations, Clarks. ... On August 18, Claire Kew successfully defended her doctorial thesis in French literature at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. She was set to marry Dr. Gerardo Vazquez on December 21 in Walt Disney World. Claire, I’d like a retrospective update, please. ... Raymond Krohn is married to Hannah Rodabaugh and living in West Lafayette, IN. Ray is a Ph.D. candidate at Purdue University. Way to go, Ray! ... Jennifer Bryk Hechko, DDS, MS graduated from OSU College of Dentistry and did her residency training at Columbus Children’s Hospital. In June, she married Adam Hechko, DVM. Wedding guests included John Kochilla, Carrie (Gargasz) Balthaser, Michael Hart, Kelly (Baracz) Hanobik, Erin Biehle Wimmer, and Dan Nauert. Jennifer practices pediatric dentistry in Aurora, OH. She also manages her husband’s office at his veterinarian practice. ... Leslie (Butler) and Darren Hilliard welcomed a baby boy Owen Butler into this world in October. ... I look forward to hearing from YOU next! All my best, Mark

fall 2006 Greetings everybody. By virtue of last resort, and sadly for you, you are stuck with me for a while as your class columnist. I hope to hear from you all at one point or another. While I realize it will be very difficult to follow in the shoes of my predecessors, I will try to do my best. Please let me know how I’m doing from time to time, but most importantly, let me know how you are doing. ... I might as well start by updating you on my life. I have been married to Christie (Hejduk) for over five years. We are expecting a little Annichine to arrive any time now. Christie’s due date is November 8! Christie is a high school English teacher at Hudson High School, and I am a financial planner with a firm called Cleveland Financial Group in Pepper Pike, OH. ... Jodi Johnson-Glading and her husband Cameron welcomed their new son, Lincoln Robert, on October 2. Jodi is currently in her third year of medical school at the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. ... William Wetzel received his Ph.D. from Indiana University this year. He’s living in Fort Wright, KY. ... Erin (Herlihy) Hartnett is the director of Alumni Relations at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. She and her husband, Dennis, were married in July in Buffalo. Many JCU alumni were there to share in their special day. ... Angela Spitalieri is the executive director of the Northern Ohio Italian American Foundation. Way to go, Angie! ... Terry Sullivan is a captain in the U.S. Army. Keep up the great work, Terry. Thanks for all you are doing for us! ... Ann (Crowley) Raven and her husband, Michael, are expecting their first child on December 20. They are living in State College, PA. Best of luck in your last month or so, Ann. ... Monica (Kramer) Russell is an associate attorney with Carlisle-Kesling & Adamczyk Co., LPA. She is married to James and they live in Medina, OH. ... Carlye (Gardner) Fallon recently joined Edelman, a Chicago public relations agency. She is an account supervisor in their corporate reputation management practice. She and her husband, Bob, have moved to a new home in Glenview, IL. ... Jennifer Giordano is an assessment/referral counselor at Meadows Hospital in Bloomington, IN, where she also lives. ... Meitra (Ferek) Fakult is a manager at the practice of Dr. E.J. Walter & Associates. Meitra and her husband, Christopher, live in Twinsburg. ... Amanda (Slater) Polito is the weekend supervisor/director at KVBC-TV 3 in Las Vegas, NV. She is married to Brian, and they live in Henderson, NV. ... Rich Nalepka is a material handler for The Cleveland Clinic. He lives in Willoughby Hills, OH. ... Kristen (Lyons) McClellan is a corporate auditor for National City Corporation. She and her husband, John, live in Munson Township, OH. ... Germine Awad is an assistant professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia. ... That is all for now. I truly look forwarding to hearing from you soon! For now, best wishes to all for a happy and healthy holiday season. Mark
   
fall 2005
Last column by Marty Fox

After being away for a few issues, it’s nice to be back at the quill. A special thanks to Kathryn Taylor for serving as a guest columnist. I just wish KT could have fit in some news about classmates with Chicago roots. ... Seriously, who’s ready for a Brian Gomo update? Brian lives in Erie, PA, and is the general manager of First Machine and Manufacturing. Recently, Brian also entered into a storage rental property venture with his brother. ... “How’s Resa Whipkey, you say?” Funny, you should ask because Resa is doing well and works at the Aurora City Schools (Aurora, OH) as a school psychologist. ... Congrats to Joni (Cola) Krause on her recent promotion at Ernst &Young. Joni and her husband are currently planning a trip to Orlando, FL, for Jennifer Wilson’s upcoming wedding. ... “How’s life in Poland…OH?” Just ask Maura Evans, who was married in September to Michael Wernicki. Maura is currently completing her master’s in reading at YSU. After the program is finished, Maura will begin her job as a reading specialist. Cheers to Maura and Michael. ... Speaking of Y-Town, Daniel Memo and his wife, Erin (Fritz) ’00 are doing well there too. For the past six years, Daniel has been a financial consultant for Smith Barney. ... Since college, CPT Mike Stull has been in the U.S. Army flying UH60L Black Hawk helicopters for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). In 2002, Mike served in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and in Iraq in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike would like to thank everyone for their support and please keep him in your prayers as he is currently in Iraq. ... Thanks to correspondence from his sister, Betsy, we have some great news to share about Vince Benander. After graduation, Vince worked at Progressive Insurance for a few years in computer programming but felt he had a “higher calling” in life. In 2003, Vince was accepted at St. Michael’s Abbey, in California and joined an order of monks called the Norbertines. Later that year, Vince became a brother and now is officially known as Brother (Frater) Alan. He has limited contact with his family and friends but he is able to get mail. Feel free to write Vince (even if it’s just to vent about Casey Blake) at: Vince Benander (Fr. Alan Benander), c/o St. Michael’s Abbey,19292 El Toro Road, Silverado, California 92676. ... As always, please e-mail your updates and news…unless you’re from or live in Chicago. Kidding…sort of. Until the next issue, Marty
 
spring 2005
Greetings class of ’99! This is Kathryn (Taylor) Guelcher. It is my honor to fill in as the first “guest columnist” at Marty Fox’s request. He cites my sense of humor as his reason for selecting me. While I am flattered, it is clear Marty’s ability to judge such things has disintegrated. ... He also did not consider my noted lack of popularity, which made getting updates rather difficult. Unfortunately, I received no responses to my requests for “felonies, extreme changes in weight, broken bones, or awful hairdos.” Perhaps I did not make it clear that folks could report on others as well as themselves -- then I would have gotten the truth. Luckily, I know people who know people. As it happens, I also know people who need people -- and those people are the luckiest people in the world. Therefore, this column will update more traditional accomplishments. ... As a challenge, I thought this should be done in either Haiku or Limerick, as suits my fancy. Because the Haiku should be a three line poem with 5-7-5 syllables respectively, I must employ the use of / to indicate a break in the line. A ; will mark the end of the Haiku. Without further ado, here is the news (most of it truthful) about our classmates. The Haiku’s: Kara Schroeder and/ Kevin Comer did marry/ baby coming soon; Expecting also/ residing in Chicago/ Meghan*, Mike Murray; Melissa (Gaynor)/ second baby on the way/ married Robb Mastros; Megan (Sweeney) births/ PJ Insera’s the dad/ fie, they love baby; Carlye (Gardner) works/ in media relations/ married Bob Fallon; Susan (O’Leary)/ Seamus O’Mahoney** got hitched/ Live in Chicago. Footnotes: *Megan Rogers. ** pronounced “O’Marney” for the syllabic sticklers. ... The Limericks: Ellen (O’Connor), we’d all agree/ is a fair and a graceful beauty/ She married Barry Mac ’98 just a few years back/ now she’ll finish her master’s degree. Jenny (Franklin) who wed Hammond, Todd ’98 / got promoted at her current job/ an MBA serves her well, that’s sure easy to tell/ but she’s never a boast or a snob. Katie Bresnahan said last in writing/ that her life was not very exciting/ but I’d sooner protest, that law degree serves her best/ since at the State Department, for children, she’s fighting. Michelle Nugent a lively, sweet sprite/ who’s a listener to each friend and plight/ Isabella’s her girl, with bright smile and soft curl/ travels she rather often by flight. Jenny Blumhagen and her psych M.A./ work behavioral problems all day./ She’ll gladly answer, that yes, she beat cancer./ Never lacks she for something to say. Katie Wilson, a friend loyal and true,/ set her heart on a southern boy who,/ has the first name of Jon, whom she oft’ leans upon,/ as they plan for their nuptials in June. Erin Herlihy’s personality is sunny,/ those antics, that sass ... Man she’s funny!/ I’m not being facetious, she recruits at Canisius/ Dennis Hartnett’s her fiancé, her honey. Ann Koch knows more folks than you’d guess./ She always has more friends, not less./ In Chi-town’s varied weather, she brings them together. / They are grateful they all must confess. Robb Giambrone while in JVC,/ Met his Helen, a fine lass is she./ In Nebraska or Ohio, they’ll live out their bio/ and live there just so happily. Amanda (Slater) Polito’s out west./ There in Vegas, she’s put to the test./ The only femme director, in her TV sector./ At their new home, she and Brian can rest. My husband Jim Guelcher is kind./ He sure was a heck of a find!/ Our new house is dandy, our son’s name is Andy./ Good Lord, I’m no good at this rhyme. KTG
 
winter 2005
Since we are into a New Year, it’s resolution time again. Resolution #1: Throw “caution to the wind” when it comes to using quotations: Joe Carino and Sarah Thomas are happy to “cap-off” their “dream season” with a much-anticipated May wedding. Led by “promising rookie” Aaron Carino ’03, they are headed to the big dance with the help of “savvy vets” Mike Thomas ’92 and Lisa (Thomas) Cohen ’95. To complete their “story book run,” they will dish to “sharpshooters” Katie Wilson, Bob Carcelli, Mike Maloney, Jamie Boyle and your own “serial name-dropper” himself. “Coach stays ... ”Resolution #2: Reward those who write-in with multiple mentions: Katie Wilson is also heading down this aisle in the next few months as she gets ready to marry John Stillerman in June. ... Belated congrats to James Wurtz who married Sarah Jacobs in September at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. After doing several years of research in Ireland, James recently spoke at the 100th anniversary of “Bloomsday” in Dublin, commemorating the events of James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses. ... After graduating from the Medical College of Ohio, Patty Raimer is currently in her 2nd year of a pediatrics residency program at the University of Michigan. We also send well wishes to Patty and her husband, Jason Richards, who recently celebrated their first anniversary in September. ... In 2004, Kathy Wodzisz completed the triple crown of life-altering events. In July, Kathy married Randy Antila and then the couple purchased a house in Avon. Kathy recently joined Ernest & Young as a member of their marketing/communications department. ... Resolution #3: Learn to let go of disastrous column segment ... after final attempt: We had such high hopes for the “Where Have You Gone” segment. We envisioned connecting with classmates who’ve lost touch to share new memories but we couldn’t have been more wrong. To those missing classmates who we didn’t hear from, we can only quote one of the timeless Spin Doctors songs and say, “Hope you’re doing fine!” Against better judgment, we’ve decided to bring back the segment for one more edition. As part of its spirited return, we ask, “Where Have You Gone ... Michelle Bjel?” Marty
   
fall 2004 Taking a cue from Ashlee Simpson, I’ve decided to shake things up a bit with the column. Where Ashlee changed her hair color, your class column is undergoing its own makeover by rolling out a new e-mail address. Some will probably feel it’s been long overdue and hopefully the new e-mail address will be more inviting for classmates to use. From this point on, please e-mail news, complaints, suggestions, and all other general updates to jcu1999family@hotmail.com. ... Let’s begin in a place near and dear to all of us -- University Heights or “City of Beautiful Homes.” That’s where you can find Michelle (Zuccaro) Evans and her husband, Jim ’98, along with their young children, Kaylee and Dylan. Mary Murphy Tenbrink and her husband, Mike, welcomed the newest member of their family when Camryn Jane was born in August. Residing near Charlotte, Mary works for the Guardian Ad Litem program and Mike is a member of the Henkel Cosumer Adhesives team. As a general rule, we prefer not to associate with Michigan fans but since we like Lindsey (Wiggins) Barnhart, we are going to look the other way on her confusing allegiance to that program. In March, Lindsey and her husband moved from Cleveland to San Luis Obispo, CA. Curious to know more about this locale? Located on the Central Coast of California between Los Angeles and San Francisco, she describes her new home as the most beautiful part of the country. For my money, that distinction belongs to Burton, OH during the pumpkin festival but San Luis Obispo sounds nice too. To get in touch with Lindsey, you can e-mail her at lawiggins@hotmail.com. To make a bar truly memorable, it has to have a great name (JCU Pub anyone?). Look no further than the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Fort Lauderdale. Tim Howley is managing the bar/restaurant, which is located in the Riverfront complex. Tim has personally invited ’99ers to visit him at the Ugly Tuna Saloona and the first round is on the house. Jaime Richards recently graduated from the Brown Aveda Institute in Mentor and is working in the field of cosmetology as a stylist. Have a great holiday season and let’s talk again in 05. Marty
   
summer 2004 As we continue to recover from the emotional roller-coaster known as Reunion ’04, we’re treating this edition of the column as snack-sized rather than the standard meal-sized portion. This edition kick-off with news about a classmate who wanted to attend the big event but was needed elsewhere on more pressing matters. Monika (Pilipczuk) Glazar was set to attend Saturday’s activities but instead spent the majority of the day in the emergency room when Natalia, her three-old daughter, broke her arm that morning. Since receiving her MBA from CSU in 2001, Monika currently works in the Information Services Division of American Greetings. We send out best wishes for a speedy recovery to Natalia. ... Sarah Furey recently received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Heidelberg College in May and is now teaching at Westlake High School. ... Belated congrats to Kate Jackson, who got married in April. Post-John Carroll, Kate attended Florida State for her master’s in Education and participated in the Jesuit Volunteer program in Montana. These days, Kate teaches at St. Stanislaus College Prep on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. ... Sean Casey has returned to Chicago, where he resides with his wife, Cassandra and their young daughter, Aiden Marie. When he’s not working at the Kinship Trust Company, Sean is training for the October Chicago Marathon. ... Talk to you soon, Marty
   
spring 2004 Whenever I hear the word reunion, I immediately think of Grosse Pointe Blank. Those who have not seen this classic Cusack film rent it today and then pick up a copy of the soundtrack later. As we countdown the remaining weeks until our 5-year reunion on June 18-20, I thought it was only fitting that we dedicate this edition entirely to the big summer event. Class updates and news will temporarily take a hiatus but will return in our next column after the reunion. Before the next issue, the fate of the controversial “Where Have You Gone” segment will be decided, so please drop me a line and let me know if you want that feature to continue or end. At this point, you have most likely received the information packets and multiple calls and/or messages from reunion organizers. Here’s hoping that your schedule permits you to attend and our class can set the reunion attendance record. ... In case you have not been back to campus in some time, there’s a pair of new sights that certainly merit visits. In a move that has no doubt delighted Dr. Carome, the university unveiled its new Dolan Center for Science and Technology in September. Personally, I enjoyed the avante-guard, window-less, suffocating feel of the old building. Not to be outdone, the other new attraction that is a must-see is Don Shula Stadium. In neighborhood news, we are still mourning the loss of a beloved member of the community. Mama’s Boy, the legendary late-night eatery, closed after our graduation and life on Lee Rd. has never been the same. ... Without question, the reunion plans to offer a wide array of events and programs that include tours, cocktails, lectures, live music, and most of all -- opportunities to hang out with classmates that you still see on a regular basis and those you haven’t heard from since we closed the place down in May of ’99. Some of Friday’s festivities will include the opening of the Beer Garden (need I say more) and musical performances by the Latin Jazz Project and The New Barleycorn (traditional Irish music). Saturday will feature an assortment of day-long activities including a 5K run, a Great Lakes Brewery beer tasting session, and a special campus performance of “Late Night Catechism.” Of the many programs being offered, don’t miss the seminar by Dr. Evans on world affairs. The fact that Dr. Evans will be at the reunion is worth the price of admission alone. The reunion promises to be an unforgettable weekend of seeing people you miss, don’t miss at all, or those you never met in the first place. Did I mention the beer tent? See ya there, Marty
   
winter 2004 After months of writer’s block, the long wait is over. With every New Year comes many new goals and this column is no exception. Goal #1: Find MIA classmates Katie Gray and Amy Miklos. We’ll address other goals in upcoming issues. We have all waited long enough, now the updates ... Marty Raupple is working as a mortgage broker for Residential Financial. You can find the other Marty in your life in Columbus, where he lives with his wife. ... Chris Hansen is married with a growing family. Cheers to the Hansens who welcomed their newest member, Acadia, who was born in October. ... Mark Magovich ’00 has obtained seven computer certifications and works in the quirky town of Brecksville. Mark is a systems engineer for BPI Information Systems. ... For those traveling to Philippines this year, be sure to look up Chuck Palmer while you’re there. Chuck is managing the development of property for the American Philippine Development Corporation. ... Kirstin Feast and Gregory Martin recently got engaged and are getting married in February 2005. Kirstin works at Equity Office Properties, while Gregory is a local trader of interest rate futures at the Mercantile Exchange. ... If you’re like me and you are overdue for an Ed Toth update, the time has come to celebrate. Ed lives in Chicago and works as a system analyst for Hewitt Associates. As you know, we love softball updates here and we are proud to mention that Ed also manages a local softball team of JCU alumni members. ... Shane Kavanagh is currently working at the public relations firm Dan Klores Communications in New York City, specifically dealing with non-profit and political clients. ... John Leiter obtained a master's degree from the University of Virginia and currently works as a consultant for Ernst & Young. John currently lives with his fiancé in Boston and is planning to tie the knot in September 2004 outside of Montreal, Canada. ... Maria Gadzinski obtained a pharmacist degree from The Ohio State University and now lives in Texas. She’s engaged and is scheduled to wed in June. The maid of honor in Maria's wedding, Annie Reape is living in Cleveland and works in the HR department at Poly One Corp as the immigration, relocation and recruiting specialist. ... Continuing in the six degrees of Maria’s wedding game, Renee Miller (a bridesmaid in MG’s wedding) has obtained a master’s in art in publications design from the University of Baltimore. Renee works as a product developer for Childcraft Education Corp. and as a freelance graphic designer. ... Mike Keys (a.k.a. Vern) has been working for Main Sequence Technologies, developers of PCRecruiter in Willoughby since his JCU days. Mike currently lives in Lakewood and still sleepwalks! ... Paul Sabataitis is living in Lakewood and working as an equity research analyst in the asset management division of McDonald Investments, Inc. Paul also continues to help coach for the JCU rowing team. ... We are just a few months away from our 5-year reunion on June 18-20. It’s more than a time to compare dramatic weight gains and losses, promotions and relocations. It’s an opportunity to celebrate some of the best times of our lives with the people who helped to form these life-lasting memories. ... On to our favorite segment of the column where we try to spotlight a classmate who we have not heard from in awhile. For this installment, we inquire, “Where Have You Gone, Lori Shellito?” ... That’s it until our next column in 2007, just kidding. Marty, 1999 class columnist and friend
   
summer 2003 Our newest column brings engagements, anniversaries, and pro wrestling dreams with it. We lead off the summer edition with a pair of upcoming wedding items. Congrats to Leslie Butler, who is getting ready to walk down the aisle with fellow ’99er, Darren Hilliard in August. While the happy couple won’t officially confirm, here’s hoping tradition prevails and the timeless “chicken dance” will make the song list at the wedding reception. ... Justin Fick and Jill Readinger are also getting married this summer. ... In March, Matt Sfiligoj married his high-school sweetheart, Amanda Gales. Matt recently completed medical school in the ‘Nati and now is preparing for a radiology residency at Cleveland Metro. ... While many will argue that romance blooms most in locales like Paris or Detroit, the Grand Canyon was where Julie Randles was engaged to Matt Curtis and the couple is planning an April 2004 wedding. Julie is graduating with a doctor of optometry from OSU and joining the Riverview Eye Associates (we hear they have a great softball team). ... In a move fashioned by Bron Bron, Mark Sullivan is heading from Akron to Cleveland, where he continues to work with The Private Client Group at Merrill Lynch. .... It’s never too late to send a card or small gift, keep that in mind for a certain new columnist who enjoys antiques and for couples celebrating recent anniversaries. Julie (Pietropola) Wakefield was married to Kevin Wakefield in June of 2001. They live in Pittsburgh and Julie works in the high-octane world of pharmaceutical sales. ... Sam Maneri and Victor Engoglia tied the knot in June of 2002. Sam is shaping young minds as a 1st grade teacher in the West Geauga school system and pursuing her master’s degree from Notre Dame College. Victor is a member of the MQ team of Progressive for their IS department. ... Anne (Netzel) Ziegler was married in November of 2002. Marie Donofrio celebrated the big day as one of Anne’s bridesmaids. Anne now resides in Strongsville and will be joining the firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks. ... In other legal eagle news, Steve Beaudry graduated from OSU law school and is spending his summer studying for the bar exam and charting the career of Ruben Sierra (not in that particular order), who leads all active players with the most career sacrifice flies. It’s 109 for those not following along with Steve. ... Cheers to classmate Dan Homza or “Dangerous Dan” Hopkins as we know him around here. D.D.H. is training to be a professional wrestler. Among the colorful people he has met along the way, Dan has hung out with Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka. For photos and news on his upcoming matches, check out his website - http://geocities.com/dangerousdanhopkins. ... For this installment of “Where Have You Gone?”, we ask: “Amy Miklos, Where Have You Gone?” (deadline note: Amy or friends, relatives, neighbors of Amy or even if you think you walked alongside Amy on the way to class sometime, please e-mail me as soon as you can so we can include any updates for the upcoming issue.) ... Well, my time here is done. Until our next issue in October, have a great summer. -- Marty
   
spring 2003 As I begin to pen my first class column, I am reminded of memories from a television situation comedy that some of you may remember, known simply as “Head of the Class.” As I take over the reigns from Emily Berdell, I feel like Billy MacGregor when he replaced Charlie Moore. As fellow fans remember, this was a very controversial storyline. Let’s be honest - Billy never got a fair shake from any of those kids, especially not from Arvid or Blunden but we’ll address that in a later column. Anyway, Billy and I share a lot in common. Sure, I don’t have a Scottish accent like him, but we’re both dreamers who yearn to know more about people outside the classroom. Which brings me to the present and this column. As you get ready to send in your updates, please don’t feel limited to writing just about your professional lives. Don’t hesitate to write me about your hobbies, vacation plans, or any fun or interesting stories. Even if your entry isn’t completely true, we may consider including it. Just kidding, sort of … Did you hear that Kevin Countryman is now living in the Indy area? Kevin is a firefighter and EMT for the city of Lawrence near Indianapolis. For those of you who have visited Lawrence already, you are aware that it’s located on the old Fort Benjamin Harrison, which was once a large army post. … Singer/songwriter Ryan Matthews graduated from New England School of Law in Boston, MA without honors. While in school he was asked not to write for the law review or law journal. Ryan accepted a position as a litigator with the law firm of Schlesinger & Schlesinger in Boston. … Congratulations to Matt Griswold and Becky Slawinski who recently got engaged at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Matt and Becky will marry in October at JCU and have assembled a top-notch wedding party of Bob Carcelli, Stephanie Griswold ’00, Jamie Boyle, Mike Maloney, Jamie Richards, and Martha Polomsky. … One of my favorite stories of 2002 was that Sarah Thomas completed the Orlando Marathon. While Sarah and I can attest to the grueling rigors of a marathon, what's especially cool is that Sarah ran with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and raised $3,000 for research for this wonderful organization. … As we prepare for our upcoming 5-year reunion, what do you think about building a fun rivalry between our class and another group of JCU alumni? The reunion could culminate with a softball game or a bowling challenge between our classes. Personally, I think it's time to settle the score with the class of 1949, but please send in your suggestions. … One of the many new facets of the ’99 column will be an ongoing segment titled "Where Have You Gone …," where a classmate that we have not heard from in awhile will be featured so we can catch up. For our inaugural segment, we ask, "Where Have You Gone … Katherine Gray? … With a class filled with so many interesting and talented people, I can't wait to share your updates with everyone. Hopefully, I will soon be writing about a member of our class being elected to Congress or even someone being selected to appear on a reality television show. Our next column hits stands in June, so please e-mail or call me with your updates. With spring on the horizon, I leave you with three words to get you through these remaining weeks of winter weather -- Myrtle Beach Memories. Marty
   
winter 2003 We thank Emily Berdell, who served ably. Emily has changed cities, her schedule has intensified and she believes it is time to pass the torch. Welcome to Martin Fox as the new class of 1999 columnist!
   
spring 2002 Hi everyone! I hope that the new year is going well for all of you. Things in New York have been difficult, but we are making it through. Obviously, all of us here have undergone a lot of changes in the last 6 months. I want to thank all of you for your prayers and concern for our well being. One of the biggest personal changes, however, is that Rochelle Nowinski moved back to Cleveland in November. She’s continuing to pursue her television career and enjoying her time back home. New York is not the same without her! ... And on to the updates! Nicole Peterson is currently at the Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine in Columbus. ... Also in Columbus is Justine Spinosi who is working at the Ohio Health Riverside Hospital. ... Cara Profughi Coe was married in 2000 to Cole Coe. The couple is living near Cara’s parents in Chesterland where Cara manages her parents’ store. ... Again, we’ve got a few nuptials to announce -- Ann Netzel was recently engaged to Dan Ziegler, a 1999 graduate of Ohio University. They will be married on November 16, 2002 in Lakewood, OH. Ann has also accepted a position as a summer associate with the Cleveland law firm of Hahn, Loeser & Parks and starts in May. ... Brian White will be married to Amy Calhoon in September 2002 in Columbus. Brian is living in Chicago and working in the telecommunications industry. Congrats to all of you! ... That’s all I’ve got for you this time. Short and sweet. Please send any information you’d like to share with everyone to me at emilyberdell@hotmal.com or on the web at www.jcu.edu. Take care and God bless! ... Emily
   
 

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