Announcements

1960s

Sr. Maureen Harris, OSF ’68, Elementary Education,
has been named a 2019 Buffalo Academy of the Sacred
Heart Distinguished Alumna.

1970s

Paula Kregg ’70, Theatre Arts, has been named a 2019 Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart Distinguished Alumna.

Karen Opalka ’70, Elementary Education, and her husband, Chet, were honored by the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region with the 2019 C. Jordan Vail Spirit of Philanthropy Award for their personal and financial commitment to the arts and education in the community.

Anthony Ogorek ’76, Music, has been recognized by Buffalo Business First as a 2019 Who’s Who in Banking and Finance.

Susan Bennett ’77, Physical Therapy, has been honored by Buffalo Business First for her contributions to health care in Western New York through her practice Bennett Physical Therapy.

1980s

Gary Lee ’81, Elementary Education, has announced his retirement as choral director at Lancaster Central High School in Lancaster, N.Y., after 37 years of directing five ensembles, teaching music theory, and directing the school’s annual musical productions.

Joseph Donnelly ’84, Physical Therapy, has been honored by Atlanta Business Chronicle as a 2019 Healthcare Hero for his work in developing advanced training programs for licensed physical therapists.

1990s

Michael Drumm ’92, Psychology, is director of operations at 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc., in McLean, Va.

Roxanne Sorensen ’95, Social Work, has received an award from the Council on Elder Abuse in Erie County.

John Zygaj ’95, Nursing, celebrated his 20-year employment anniversary at the McGuire Group, where he is vice president of business development.

Valerie Sobotka Pagano ’99, Physical Therapy, is a pediatric emergency care coordinator at Duanesburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc., in Delanson, N.Y.

Cam Tien ’99, History and Government, is seeking re-election to the Common Council in Rome, N.Y.

2000s

Robin Brown ’00, Nursing, has been recognized as the 2019 Nurse of Distinction by the Professional Nursing Association of Western New York.

James Stapleton ’01, Graphic Design, is vice president of development for a franchise company in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Amy Vanone ’01, Nursing, is manager of perioperative services at Mount St. Mary’s Hospital in Lewiston, N.Y.

Nekia Kemp ’05, Executive Leadership and Change, was among 42 women recognized by Unlimited Possibilities Overcoming Poverty Ministry, Inc., as 2019 Women Touching the World honorees in celebration of Women’s History Month.

Michael Patane ’05, Physician Assistant Studies, is a health care provider at Urology Specialists of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Jennifer (Allard) Stockmeyer ’05, Childhood and Special Education, is principal of Bennett Park Montessori Center #32 in the Buffalo Public Schools and is completing a Montessori administrator credential at the West Side Montessori Teacher Education Program in New York City.

Diane Bartella ’06, Nursing, has been named a Nurse of Distinction by the Professional Nursing Association of Western New York.

Amanda Dickerman ’06, ’10, Early Childhood/Special Education, in collaboration with Adam Derose ’07, Art, published a children’s book entitled “twigA’s Team.”

Michael Patane ’05, Physician Assistant Studies, is a health care provider at Urology Specialists of Nevada in Las Vegas.>Ryan Green ’06, Childhood and Special Education, is a fifth grade math and science educator in the Newark Public School District.

Rachel Afealete ’06, Nursing, has been recognized as a Nurse of Distinction by the Professional Nursing Association of Western New York.

Katrinna Martin ’06, Nursing, is seeking to represent central Buffalo in an election for the Erie County Legislature.

Daniel Skrok ’06, Graphic Design, is a customer advisory board member at Adobe.

Scott Emser ’07, ’15, Business Administration/ Sports Management and Global Business is co-owner of the Mustard Seed Restaurant in Fredonia, N.Y.

Casey Kelly ’08, Graphic Design, assistant professor of graphic design at Daemen College, was commissioned by LarkinDevelopment Group to design and paint a mural in Larkin Square, which was unveiled last summer.

Nathan Rush ’08, Physician Assistant Studies, was recognized by Catholic Health System for his outstanding performance in the field.

Ann B. Stoll ’08, Graphic Design, received a 2019 Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package for her work on “Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of Weird Al Yankovic.”

Melodie Baker ’09, Executive Leadership and Change, has been contracted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government to lead its new initiative, “The First 1,000 Days on Medicaid,” which is aimed at improving educational and health outcomes in communities by focusing on early childhood development.

Heather Telford ’09, Executive Leadership and Change, is vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.

2010s

Joanna Barthelemy ’10, Biochemistry, completed a doctoral program in biomedical sciences at Wright State University and is a program coordinator for Collaborative Learning and Integrated Mentoring in the University at Buffalo Biosciences Program.

Chadwick Hopson ’10, Business Administration/ Sports Management, was a part of the team that won “Best Drama” at the Arizona Short Film Festival.

Martha Kershaw ’10, Nursing Education, assistant professor of nursing at Daemen College, completed a doctorate at Concordia University.

Bianca Rodriguez ’10, Business Administration/ Marketing, is human resource and risk manager for the City of Dunedin, Fla., and is enrolled in Capella University’s Doctor of Business Administration Program with a concentration in human resource management.

Josefina Paez ’11, Business Administration, is a Latin America corporate markets analyst at Citi Bank and is currently pursuing an MBA at Medaille College.

Thomas Wojciechowski ’11, Executive Leadership and Change, is president of the board of directors of HighEdWeb, an association for digital professionals in higher education committed to advancing skills and knowledge.

Kristopher Smith ’12, Psychology, is a psychology associate at the Washington State Department of Corrections and is a member of the Vera Institute of Justice, focusing his work on restorative justice options for incarcerated individuals.

Donell Gibson, Jr. ’06, Business Administration/Human Resource Management, is an associate at the Buffalo office of Lippes Mathias, Wexler, Friedman LLP, where he focuses his practice on corporate and securities.

Daniel Mills ’13, Biology, is a laboratory technician at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.

Sarah Rodman ’13, Political Science, is employed in the medical malpractice defense practice group at Feldman Kieffer in Buffalo.

Brendan Altman-Cosgrove ’14, Business Administration, is a business planning analyst at ACV Auctions.

Ron Cooper ’13, ’14, Health Promotion and Athletic Training, is head athletic trainer at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C.

Mark Coppola ’14, Accounting, is a player development intern for the Dallas Mavericks professional basketball team for the 2019-20 season.

Tracey Pamphile ’14, Health Care Studies, is a talent acquisition partner at Eataly in New York City and is pursuing an MBA.

Gerald Beverly ’15, Business Administration, will continue playing professional basketball in Italy, where he will play for Apu Gsa Udine of the Italian Serie A2.

Sean Christie ’15,’17, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, is a practicing physical therapist in Erie, Pa., and has assisted Dr. Gary Styn, clinical assistant professor and director of graduate anatomical sciences at Daemen College, at the Mazzotti Anatomy Conferences, which offers Italian medical students a cadaveric dissection course unavailable in their native medical schools.

Phylicia Dove ’15, Executive Leadership and Change, is fashion designer and owner of Black Monarchy, a global artisan and fashion boutique in Buffalo, which specializes in custom jewelry and clothing from around the world.

Jacob Fisher ’15, Nursing, has been named a Nurse of Distinction by the Professional Nursing Association of Western New York.

Cassandra (Debien) LaShomb ’15, Physician Assistant Studies, is a physician assistant at Massena Memorial Hospital in Massena, N.Y., and is also a PA at Massena Neurology.

Hayley (Brown) Montgomery ’15, Business Administration, is manager of human resources systems and compliance at PCB Piezotronics in Depew, N.Y.

Tyler Russell ’15, Health Care Studies, has been promoted to registered nurse at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, N.Y.

Michelle Jimenez ’16, Social Work, has earned a master’s degree.

Emily Kraft ’16, History, completed a master’s degree at Syracuse University.

Emily McCumiskey ’16, Physician Assistant Studies, is a physician assistant at Jones Memorial Hospital Women’s Health Office in Hornell, N.Y.

Natalie Galus ’17, ’19, Business Administration and Childhood/Special Education is a special education teacher at the Arc of Erie County.

Jonathan Hutchinson ’17, Graphic Design, was honored at Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown’s Civic Innovation Eco Challenge for his digital green code application, a user-friendly modality to search Buffalo’s historic zoning code and land use policies.

Kennedy Lewandowski MSW ’17, ’19, Social Work, is a private contractor for social work services in Western New York.

Marisa Linde ’17, ’19, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, is a physical therapist at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo.

Kathryn McClure ’14, Social Work, is social work department manager at Elderwood Health Plan, MLTC, where she helps provide long-term care services to Western New York residents.

Adam Siedlecki ’17, Business Administration/ Sports Management, has been promoted to client services manager at ACV Auctions in Buffalo.

Alicia Contreras ’17, ’19, Business Administration, Executive Leadership and Change, is employed at Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

Jason Schrader ’17, ’19, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, is a physical therapist at Chautauqua Physical and Occupational Therapy in Jamestown, N.Y.

Nicole Szymczak ’17, ’19, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, is a physical therapist at Chautauqua Physical and Occupational Therapy in Jamestown, N.Y.

Isabella Conidi ’18, Accounting, has successfully completed the requirements to practice as a certified public accountant and is a staff accountant in the tax department at Lumsden & McCormick, LLP, where she provides tax compliance and planning services to commercial businesses and individuals.

Alexander Darrow ’18, Accounting, has successfully completed the requirements to practice as a certified public accountant and is a tax accountant at Lumsden & McCormick, LLP.

Jesse Redfern ’18, Physician Assistant Studies, is a physician assistant in the New York Presbyterian Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in New York City.

Richard (Alex) Reid ’18, Accounting, has successfully completed the requirements to practice as a certified public accountant and is employed in the assurance department at Lumsden & McCormick, LLP.

James Burdett ’19, Health Promotion, is an American Council on Exercise certified fitness coach at Studio 14 Circuit Training in Tonawanda, N.Y.

Michelle Correa ’19, Health Promotion, is a member retention associate at Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield in New York City.

Cheryl Madge ’19, Leadership and Innovation, has been awarded the 2019 DAISY Nurse Leader Award for Oishei Children’s Hospital in honor of her compassion and skilled care in nursing.

Meaghan Piegay ’19, Physician Assistant Studies, is a dermatology physician assistant at Buffalo Medical Group.

Jenna Winiewicz ’19, Nursing, is a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo.

Engagements

2000s

Natasha Benning ’07, Psychology, is engaged to Albert Parks.

2010s

Lindsey Katta ’15, ’17, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, and Scott Ciura were engaged on June 30, 2019.

Jessica Todd ’15, ’17, History, Executive Leadership and Change, became engaged to TJ Driscoll on Nov. 29, 2018, and they plan to wed in Buffalo on Feb. 29, 2020.

Courtney Diemert ’16, ’17, Social Work, was engaged on June 1, 2019 to John Fick and they plan to wed in July 2021.

Marriages

2010s

Collin Maloney ’14, Physician Assistant Studies and Brittany (Crawford) Maloney ’15, Physician Assistant Studies, were married on July 20, 2019, in Syracuse, N.Y.

Corey Pepero ’14, Natural Science/Health Science and Alison (Pajak) Pepero ’15, Childhood and Special Education, were married in summer 2019.

Meghan (Kloss) Burke ’15, Psychology, married Ryan Burke on Aug. 31, 2019, in Clarence, N.Y.

Katherine (Fickelscherer) Babbage ’16, ’19, Natural Science/Public Health, married Joshua Babbage on Aug. 18, 2018.

Holli Nesbitt ’16, Physician Assistant Studies, married her high school sweetheart, Christopher Swanson, in Rochester, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 2019. The couple resides in Rochester.

Amanda (Smith) Peister ’16, Nursing, married Mark Peister on Aug. 17, 2019 in Ellicottville, N.Y.

Michael Wild ’11, ’12, Healthcare Studies, Athletic Training, married Emily Stolan on July 20, 2019, in Two Harbors, Minn. The couple resides in the Twin Cities Minnesota area.

Alicia (Schaeffer) Ferron ’11, Childhood and Special Education, married mark Ferron on Oct. 6, 2018, in Cayuga, N.Y.

Births

2000s

Jason Leite ’01, English, and his wife welcomed a son, John, born on April 19, 2019.

Brian Hammer ’02, Art Education and Kathryn (Belliotti) Hammer ’06, Art-Painting, welcomed a daughter, Natalie Elyse, on July 8, 2019.

Andrew Chatt ’03, ’04, Doctorate of Physical Therapy and Heather (Bak) Chatt ’03, ’04, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, welcomed their second child, Henry Raymond, on Sept. 5, 2018.

Joseph Cruz ’06, Natural Science/Health Science and Jennifer (Bowman) Cruz ’07, Physician Assistant Studies, welcomed their second son, Lane Alexander, on March 28, 2019.

Victoria Farnum ’06, Early Childhood/Special Education, welcomed a son, Timothy Wells, on Sept. 21, 2018.

Samantha (Gabel) Stafford ’06, Natural Science, and her husband welcomed a son, Kyler Thomas, in November 2018.

John Malzewski ’07, Individualized Studies, and his wife welcomed their first child.

2010s

Fatoumata Gassama ’14, Health Promotion, welcomed a son on May 15, 2019.

Justin Knapp ’16, Professional Accountancy and Kristin (Welter) Knapp ’16, ’17, Physician Assistant Studies, welcomed a son, Dominic Theo, on Aug. 17, 2019.

In Memoriam

1950s

Dolores (Dudunelli) Galbo ’52, Music, passed away on Feb. 24, 2019. She was active in the Suburb Pistol League and was classified as a sharpshooter as a member of the Niagara Frontiersman Pistol Club. She was an avid bowler, a master gardener, charter member of the Buffalo Area Day Lily Society, and member/treasurer of the Western New York Hosta Society.

Beverly Monette ’54, passed away on May 8, 2019.

Charmane (Williams) Truesdell ’54, Natural Science -Chemistry, passed away on March 1, 2019.

Sr. Mary Francis Welch, OSF ’57, Elementary Education, passed away on Feb. 18, 2019, at Stella Niagara Health Center.

1960s

Sr. Mary Oliver Cabana SSMN ’60, Music, passed away on May 20, 2019. She served as a teacher, school principal, and parish minister.

Jeanie (Strom) Miano ’63, Music, passed away on July 8, 2019. She taught music in Edmond, Okla., for 16 years and touched the lives of thousands of students.

Sr. Christina Kraus OSF ’65, Elementary Education – Social Studies, passed away on July 30, 2019, at Niagara Hospice in Lockport, N.Y. She was a teacher at several schools in the Buffalo area and in Columbus, Ohio.

Carma Jean Rausch ’66, French, passed away on April 21, 2019, at the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She retired after 46 years of teaching.

Sr. M. Julie O’Stroske, OSF ’67, Elementary Education, passed away on Feb. 28, 2019. She moved to Stella Niagara in 2014 and was later a resident of Stella Niagara Health Center.

Sr. Marietta Miller ’68, Business Administration, passed away on June 9, 2019. In addition to serving as teacher, administrator, secretary, and social worker, she was committed to retreats and the ministry of spiritual direction, the cause of justice, peace, and the integrity of creation and community life. She became a resident of the Stella Niagara Health Center in 2015.

1970s

Debra Jackson ’72, Social Work, passed away on June 22, 2019. She worked as director of Bethel Head Start in Lackawanna, N.Y., and Buffalo, and served as a federal monitor and national consultant to Head Start programs. She also served as a Christian education leader and sang alto in her church choir.

Charlene Stanford ’72, Theatre Arts, passed away on Oct. 22, 2018. She was a retired teacher and school counselor in Baltimore, Md.

1980s

Catherine (Armucewicz) Abbott ’83, English, passed away on Aug. 8, 2019. She was employed at Multisorb Technologies/ Filtration Group for more than 20 years as a machine operator.

1990s

Scott Lyons ’98, Physical Therapy, passed away on Feb.26, 2019. A physical therapist for nearly 20 years in Joliet, Ill., he exhibited great dedication and empathy and developed lasting friendships with his patients.

2000s

Natalie (Bax) Blasczienski ’02, Physical Therapy, passed away surrounded by her family on March 7, 2019. She was a physical therapist and director of rehabilitation at Legend Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Euless, Texas.

Genette Brooks ’07, Business Administration/Human Resources, passed away on Aug. 31, 2019. She is the daughter of Genovieaur (Leo) Jackson and Dennis J. Brooks Sr. An author and poet, Brooks published “Tender Love Poems” and “Any Time God.”

2010s

Jacquetta Lee ’16, Social Work, entered into rest on July 18, 2019, joining her daughter, Royalty, who predeceased her mother. Lee dedicated her life in service to others.