Class Notes

Summer 2018 |

July 20, 2018

Announcements

1960s

Susan (Poness) Paton ’68, Elementary Education, has retired from teaching kindergarten in Broward County, Fla. She is looking forward to spending more time with her nine grandchildren.

1970s

Mary Jo Maute ’74, Art, has retired after 21 years as an education and program coordinator at Whatcom Museum Education.

Christine (Kloch) Smyczynski ’79, Business Administration, published a book about day trips, entitled “Backroads and Byways of Upstate New York.”

1980s

Robert MacRe ’84, English, celebrated his 10–year anniversary as an ADA compliance auditor at the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

Lynn Marinelli ’85, English, received the Trailblazer Award at the eighth annual Women Making History Gala.

1990s

Brenda Fredette ’90, Biology/Pre-Medicine, has been named dean of the Eberly College of Science and Technology at California University of Pennsylvania.

2000s

Danise Wilson ’01, Business Administration/Human Resource Management, was named a 2017 Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 honoree in recognition of her professional success and community commitment.

Timothy Fisher ’02, Biology, and his wife, Almira, have acquired Kingfisher Oceanside, a new motel property on Cape Cod, Mass.

Erin Goodfellow ’05, Natural Science, was elected a trustee in the Village of Tully, N.Y.

Kawanza (McCall) Humphrey ’06, Executive Leadership and Change, is corporate responsibility officer at KeyBank, where she leads implementation of community banking efforts.

Sam Wright ’06, History and Government, has accepted a teaching position in rural Thailand in the province of Kamphaeng Phet.

Rachel Jordan ’06, ’15, Nursing and Palliative Care Nursing, is a cardiac clinical nurse educator at Buffalo General Medical Center.

Rhonda Laster ’07, Graphic Design, was a featured contestant on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.”

Philip McAndrew ’07, Art, illustrated a cartoon, “Mistakes You’re Going to Keep Making Forever,” which was published in The New Yorker.

Judy Chen ’08, Doctor of Physical Therapy, is a permanent staff therapist at Rochester General Hospital and per diem at FF Thompson.

Randi (Cattoi) Deuro ’08, Natural Science, is a quality specialist/analytical specialist for polyurethanes at Dow Chemical, Texas Operations.

Larissa Gramza ’08, ’09, Childhood/ Special Education, was recognized for her hard work and dedication as a teacher at Franklin Elementary School.

Megan Herr ’09, Natural Science, is assistant professor of oncology on the bone marrow transplant team in the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Department of Medicine.

Mallory Petrus ’09, ’11, Doctor of Physical Therapy, has been awarded the designation of board certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy.

Jerry Web ’09, Art, works as a senior account coordinator at Atelier Cologne.

2010s

David Johnson ’11, ’15, Individualized Studies and Executive Leadership and Change, is director of college counseling at Buffalo Prep.

Lance Perry ’10, Business Administration/ Human Resource Management, is team leader in workplace planning and advice at Fidelity Investments.

Charanna (Wise) Swartwout ’11, Psychology, is a middle school counselor at Bolivar-Richburg Central School.

Tyler Threehouse ’11, Political Science, started Threehouse Law Firm, P.C., which took over Reisner Law Group’s Olean Office. The practice focuses on estate planning, asset protection, and elder law practice.

Thomas Wojciechowski ’11, Executive Leadership and Change, is acting vice president of HighEdWeb.

Andrew Benzin ’11, ’12, Health Care Studies and Athletic Training, is a stick mobility instructor and certified athletic trainer at BeMoved Fitness.

Helen (Lawrence) Sisco ’12, ’14, Doctor of Physical Therapy, is celebrating two years at HCR Homecare in Clinton County.

Audrey Dollinger ’13, Psychology, completed her studies in veterinary medicine and participated in a white coat ceremony at St. George University.

Sarah Rodman ’13, Political Science, has joined Chelus Herdzik Speyer & Monte, P.C., as an associate attorney in the Buffalo office. Her practice focuses on civil litigation, specifically insurance defense and products liability.

Rasheedah Muhammad ’14, English, is pursuing a career in acting/entertainment.

Jordan Sieracki ’15, History and Political Science, is head student representative at Kaplan Bar Review.

Chanina Nakdimen ’16, Childhood Special Education, has been elected to the Lakewood Board of Education.

Stephanie Parwulski ’16, English, has authored a children’s book entitled “Beatrice.”

Zachary Kinnaird ’17, Accounting/Professional Accountancy, is a staff account at Lumsden & McCormick LLP.

Engagements

2000s

Roxanne Strope ’02, Business Administration-Human Resource Management, was engaged to David Farrell on Aug. 12, 2017, and they plan to be married in August 2018.

McKenzie Higgins ’09, Political Science, was engaged to Nick Ferraro in September 2017, and they plan to be married in fall 2019.

2010s

Christy Kassler ’10, English, is engaged to Dustin Hummel with plans to be married in 2019.

Lindsay Krystofik ’16, Physician Assistant Studies, is engaged to Adam Penna.

Holli Nesbitt ‘16, Health Science/Physician Assistant Studies, is engaged to Chris Swanson.

Weddings

2000s

Jason Leite, ’01, English, married Teresa Kuehhas on July 6, 2017, in Smithtown, N.Y.

2010s

Melanie (Schmitt) Zenicki ’11, ’14, Business Administration and Executive Leadership and Change, married Eric Zenicki on Oct. 20, 2017.

Laura (McGorray) Tomion ’13, ’15, Doctor of Physical Therapy, married Trevor Tomion on Sept. 16, 2017.

Connor Taylor ’14, ’16, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Julie (Strychalski) Taylor ’14, ’16, Doctor of Physical Therapy, were married on Nov. 24, 2017, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Births

1990s

Carol Kowalik-Happy ’96, English and her husband, Fred, welcomed a daughter, Sofia Grace, on Nov. 24, 2017.

2000s

Melissa (Bakker) Penman ’09, ’12, Early Childhood/ Special Education and Global Business and Marketing, and her husband, Brant, welcomed a daughter, Eva Grace, on Nov. 4, 2017.

Jessica (Lightner) Brown ’05, Health Sciences/ Physician Assistant Studies, and her husband, Justin, welcomed a son, Nathaniel Haddon, on March 7, 2018.

Anne Marie (Arendt) Holly ’09, Health Sciences/ Physician Assistant Studies, welcomed her second daughter, Mila Kate, on Sept. 6, 2017.

2010s

Kristen Schmidt ’17, Business Administration/ Human Resource Management, gave birth to her first child, Lorraine Victoria Clark, on Feb. 24, 2018.

In Memoriam

1950s

Sr. Ann Francis Hemberger ’56, Sociology, passed away on Dec. 12, 2017.

Susan Holcomb, ’58, Sociology, passed away on Feb. 4, 2018. She was a member of the 1958 reunion committee.

1960s

Barbara (Dombrowski) Fischer ’62, History and Government, passed away on Jan. 8, 2018.

Sr. Mary Edwardine MacHnica CSSF ’60, Elementary Education, passed away on Feb. 17, 2018. Specializing in teaching science, she was involved in education throughout her life, and taught at many schools in the Diocese of Buffalo and Syracuse, N.Y.

Patricia (Borowinski) Dwyer ’67, ’85 Medical Technology and Humanities, passed away on Sept. 24, 2017. She was a medical technologist at New York Presbyterian/ Hudson Valley Hospital for more than 25 years.

Marion McRae ’68, Art, passed away on Oct. 3, 2015.

1970s

Margaret (Uebelhoer) Ryan ’70, Elementary Education, passed away on Nov. 14, 2017. She enjoyed traveling, scrapbooking, cooking, baking, entertaining, and gardening. In her 32-year career, she was a teacher, principal, and, most recently, acting superintendent at Alden Central Schools.

Carmen (Ramos) Rodriguez ’71, Spanish, passed away on Jan. 22, 2018. She worked for the Hartford Housing Authority from 1981–96, and then served as executive director of La Casa de Puerto Rico from 1996–2004. Rodriguez also served on the Hartford Board of Education, including as president in 1992. During her many years in Hartford, it was her passion to work with the Puerto Rican community and be active in Hartford and Connecticut politics.

1990s

Philip Sampey ’98, Social Work, passed away in November 2017. He was a social worker for many years in the Western New York region and dedicated his life to helping others. Sampey was an avid music lover, basketball player, and fisherman.