Class Notes

Winter 2017 |

November 30, 2017

Announcements

1970s

Mary McCarrick, ’71, English, has been named to Buffalo Business First’s 2017 “Power 100 Women” list, which highlights the most influential women in Western New York.

Ann Pfeiffer, ’75, History and Government, has retired from her position as externship program coordinator at Syracuse University.

Catherine (Steffan) Ward, ’79, Art, has retired after teaching for 35 years at St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute in Buffalo.

1970s

Alex Nwora, ’93, Graphic Design, has been named head coach of the D’Tigers team of the Nigerian Basketball Federation.

2000s

Amie (Peterson) Caster, ’03, ’06, Art and Special Education, has co-founded Reach Academy Charter School, which opened in August 2017 in Buffalo.

Andrew Wheeler, ’04, ’05, Natural Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and his business partner PJ Tudisco, ’05, ’11, Psychology and Executive Leadership and Change, have launched a football game, KanJam Hard Count, in cooperation with KanJam.

Anthony Dicembre, ’05, Business Administration, is digital communications director and social media manager at Cornell University.

Lauren Jaeger, ’05, ’12, Psychology and Executive Leadership and Change, is director of client development at Mongoose Research, Inc.

Stephanie Foreman, ’06, Political Science, has been honored as the 2016 Joint Work Leader of the Year.

Samuel Wright, ’06, History and Government, has been promoted to supervisor at FedEx Trade Networks at the FDA Central Department.

Adam DeRose, ’07, Art, has published a book, entitled “Estelle and Ziggy,” that focuses on the lives of his grandparents.

2010s

Miranda (Roth) Kirchmeyer, ’12, Graphic Design and Illustration, is owner of Norbeg’s Art and Frame Shop in East Aurora, N.Y.

Joseph Gravino, ’13, ’15, Natural Science and Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and Michael Brown, clinical assistant professor of physical therapy at Daemen College, have opened Elite Spine and Extremity Physical Therapy in Amherst, N.Y.

Hollie Kelly, ’14, ’16, Health Care Studies and Public Health, has a started a new position in the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Ayana Williams, ’14, Psychology, performed in the play “In the Continuum” at the Paul Roberson Theater in Buffalo.

Nicole D’Agostino, ’15, Psychology, is student activity coordinator at Erie Community College.

Maria Provenzano, ’15, Executive Leadership and Change, is an account executive at Chakra Communications, Inc., in Lancaster, N.Y.

Gino Cammilleri, ’16, ’17, Professional Accountancy, is a staff accountant in the tax department at Lumsden & McCormick, LLP in Buffalo.

Brianna Pettinaro, ’16, ’17, Physician Assistant, is a physician assistant in the emergency observation unit at Unity Hospital in Rochester, N.Y.

Aaron Cole, ’17, Health Care Studies, is an exercise physiologist at Rochester Regional Health.

Engagements

2010s

Alexis Blachowski, ’17, Nursing and Eric Roland, ’05, Graphic Design, are engaged.

Marriages

2000s

Lisa (Covey) Alff, ’07, Early Childhood/Special Education, married Kevin Alff on May 28, 2017 in Charleston, S.C.

2010s

Jessica (Raimondo) Friol, ’10, ’13, Business Administration and Executive Leadership and Change, married her middle school sweetheart, Peter Friol, Jr., on July 14, 2017 at Kloc’s Grove in West Seneca, N.Y.

Crystal Samanka, ’17, Nursing, married Ryan Wood on June 10, 2017. She works as a registered nurse in Roswell Park Cancer Institute’s Intermediate Care Unit.

Marriages

2000s

Robin (Hackney) Jones, ’02, Special and Elementary Education, welcomed a daughter, Eleanor Grace, on Aug. 4, 2016 in San Diego, Calif.

Wayne Brown, ’03, Adolescent Education and his wife, Kristine, welcome their third child, Sebastian Campbell, on May 8, 2017.

Carla (Wokersien) Reeves, ’08, Art and Art Education, and her husband, Joe, welcomed a son, Leo James, on Sept. 1, 2017.

Laura (Henninger) Caya, ’09, Art, and her husband, Andrew, welcomed a daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth, on Aug. 13, 2017.

2010s

Pamela (Rowles) Crist, ’10, ’12, Business Administration and Global Business, welcomed a son, Ethan James, on Aug. 24, 2017.

Mitchell, ’13, Political Science, and Megan (Conley) Altman- Cosgrove, ’13, ’16, Art Education and Executive Leadership and Change, welcomed a daughter, Aria Joan, on Aug. 9, 2017.

Amanda (Youngman) Farrell, ’14, Nursing, welcomed a son, Alexander Mason, on Jan. 16, 2017.

Matthew ’14, Religious Studies, and Caitlin (Scheeler) Ullery, ’15, Physician Assistant, welcomed a daughter, Meredith Jacqueline, on July 19, 2017.

In Memoriam

1950s

Patricia (Crowley) Hoodmaker, ’53, Sociology, entered into rest on Aug. 6, 2017.

Carmella (Bongiovanni) Schroeder, ’55, Sociology, passed away on May 10, 2017.

Louise (Mamrod) Szimonisz, ’56, Natural Science (Chemistry), passed away on March 10, 2017. Also a graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School, a Mass of Christian burial was held at the UB Newman Center.

1960s

Marilyn (Wolfe) Baldino, ’61, Sociology, passed away on June 10, 2017. She loved animals, music, nature, writing, and photography. She worked for the Journal Herald and Dayton Daily News for more than 20 years and retired in 2003.

Mary Ruth (Leberer) Haberman, ’61, Business Administration, passed away on July 24, 2017. A 2011 Daemen Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, she volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Buffalo AIDS Hospice, and Little Portion Friary for more than 25 years. Her career evolved from clinician in the neurology department at Buffalo Veterans Affairs Medical Center to neurosonographer at Buffalo General Hospital.

Sandy (Habermehl) Liebler, ’63, Mathematics, passed away on Jan. 18, 2017. She was an algebra teacher for more than 30 years at Sacred Heart Academy, and loved to knit, feed her birds, cross country ski, and gardening.

Cecelia (Hinkley) Litwin, ’66, Art, passed away on April 2, 2017. She worked as an art teacher in North Syracuse, Baldwinsville, and Lancaster, N.Y. She was married to her husband, Vincent, for 50 years.

Susan Friedhaber-Hard, ’67, English, passed away on June 10, 2017. She served as high school library/media specialist at Pioneer High School until her retirement in 2011.

Patricia (Hann) Hayes, ’67, Elementary Education, passed away on Nov. 5, 2016. After working as a teacher, she was then a partner in Hayes Jewelry in Chelmsford, Mass. Her biggest passion were her golden retrievers, and she was active in showing and breeding retrievers for American AKC dog shows throughout the Northeast. After retiring, she had a summer home in Moultonborough, N.H. and a residence in Naples, Fla.

Marcia (Kwapisz) Jarvis, ’67, Business Administration, passed away on April 2, 2017. In 1986, she began a career as an Avon representative, which she dearly loved doing for 25 years.

Monica (Freer) Repasky, ’67, Elementary Education, passed away on March 3, 2017. A lifelong educator, she was a teacher, mentor, and faithful servant of the Catholic Church to more than 2,000 students and families that she touched during her career.

Sr. Mary Jude Rindfuss, ’67, Elementary Education, passed away on Dec. 4, 2016. Her education led to a breadth of ministries, including 16 years as director of pastoral care at St. Paul School in Kenmore, N.Y.

Kathleen (O’Brien) Diegel, ’68, Elementary Education, passed away on July 26, 2017, after a courageous three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She loved being an elementary school teacher for 31 years. She was known for her smile, kind and generous heart, creativity, love of fashion, kitchen gadgets, and love of dogs.

Carol Fix, ’68, History and Government, passed away on July 24, 2017.

1970s

Karen Vernoski, ’70, Psychology, who resided in Manhattan, passed away on March 13, 2017.

Lucy (Gould) Butterbaugh, ’72, Elementary Education, passed away on April 26, 2017. An accomplished golfer and devoted mother, she touched many lives and always wanted to help people. She was a supportive friend and dedicated educator.

Colleen (Conner) Allison, ’76, Medical Record Administration, passed away on Aug. 18, 2017. She spent her entire professional career in the Washington Health System. She loved to play golf, cook, knit, and was an avid reader.

Vincent Raucci, ’79, Business Administration, passed away on May 3, 2017. Donations were made in his memory to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Community Hospice in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Boston, Mass.

Mary (Griffin) Ruetschi, ’79, Psychology, passed away on July 13, 2017. She dedicated more than 30 years to a career in rehabilitation, and her successes won her both personal and professional recognition, as well as the genuine gratitude of the clients she empowered.

1990s

Dr. Mary Bernadette Rinaldo, ’91, ’05, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, passed away after a brief battle with cancer on Jan. 18, 2017 in Niagara Hospice House. She was a board certified specialist in pediatric physical therapy and dedicated most of her career to serving physically challenged children and the elderly. A mentor to many physical therapy interns, she was also a Special Olympics volunteer.