Fall 2012 - Coe College

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Coe Gone Wild
Minnesota Field Station
at 50 years
Next President
McInally picked to succeed Phifer
Defining Moment
$90 million raised to support
academic quality and learning
environment
Homecoming 2012
Crimson and gold never gets old
Camera turned on Coe
photographer
George Henry’s red carpet moment
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McINALLY NAMED COE'S 15TH PRESIDENT
Since 2010, he has served as
executive vice president and
treasurer at Allegheny, where he
manages a $107 million operating
budget and a $160 million
“My deepest
professional ambition endowment. In addition to the
overall budget, investments,
is to serve a private
student affairs, athletics,
residential college
physical plant and food service
with a genuine
emphasis on academic oversight, he also coordinated
the college communications team
excellence and a
of enrollment, development,
commitment to the
information technology, athletics,
highest quality of
media, publications and public
teaching in and out
relations.
of the classroom,”
McInally said. “Many McInally has had primary
leadership responsibility to move
aspects of the Coe
Allegheny ahead on several
presidency have a
strong appeal for me fronts over the past few years.
He authored and coordinated the
and I am honored to
be chosen as the next leader of the college’s last two strategic plans.
In addition, he has implemented
college.”
a comprehensive multi-year
Carson also praised the steadfast
financial model and helped to
work of the Coe Presidential
grow the college by 200 students.
Search Committee, which was
McInally has been a successful
comprised of trustees, faculty,
staff and students. The committee advocate for increasing faculty
and staff salaries, and has been
was formed last December and
was led by Gene Henderson ’68, heavily involved with Allegheny’s
current $200 million capital
who is also the outgoing chair of
campaign.
the Coe Board of Trustees.
responsibility and has
extensive experience
in all aspects of
college operations.
David and Janice McInally
D
avid McInally has been
selected as the 15th
president in the 160-year history
of Coe College. McInally, who
currently serves as executive
vice president and treasurer at
Allegheny College in Meadville,
Pa., will take office on July 1. He
succeeds James Phifer, who is
retiring next year after serving 18
years as president of the college.
The appointment was made
after a unanimous vote by the
Coe College Board of Trustees
at its Oct. 19 meeting and was
announced by Dave Carson ’72,
chair of the Board of Trustees
and a member of the Coe College
Presidential Search Committee.
“The Coe College Board of
Trustees was unequivocally
impressed with Dr. McInally’s
breadth and depth of experience
at a highly successful college that
is similar to Coe,” Carson said.
“His commitment to private,
residential, liberal arts education
is evident and his enthusiastic
commitment to help Coe achieve
the next level of success is clear.
We are confident that he will be
an outstanding president of Coe.”
McInally has spent his entire
professional career in higher
education and has been at
Allegheny College since 1986.
During the succeeding years, he
has taken on increasing levels of
At Allegheny, McInally was
initially the assistant dean of
students, then named associate
dean of students. In 1992, he was
promoted to dean of students and
was responsible for residence life,
diversity affairs, international
programs, career services,
counseling, health services,
religious life, security, athletics
and recreation, student activities
and food service.
From 2001 to 2006, McInally
served as secretary of Allegheny
College, responsible for college
communications, human
resources, student affairs,
athletics and recreation, public
affairs, strategic planning, and
coordination with the Board of
Trustees. In 2006, he became
vice president for finance and
planning, where he kept his
former duties and became
responsible for the budget,
investments, accounting and
financial services.
The new Coe president has a
passion for sustainability issues,
and has been a leader in green
activities on the Allegheny
campus. He has presented
at college and university
sustainability conferences and
authored several articles and
papers on the topic. McInally
is the co-author of “Greening
the Campus: The Economic
Advantages of Research and
Dialogue,” which was accepted
for the World Symposium on
Sustainable Development at
Universities.
In the college classroom,
McInally has taught courses
in liberal studies, writing and
English composition.
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At Allegheny, he has received
many awards, most notably
the Outstanding Student
Organization Advisor Award
and the Robert T. Sherman
Distinguished Service
Award. He is a member of
the National Association of
College and University Business
Officers and is active with
the American College and
University Presidents’ Climate
Commitment and the Association
of Independent Colleges and
Universities of Pennsylvania.
McInally earned a bachelor’s
in business administration and
a master’s in English language
and literature, both from the
University of Akron. He received
his Doctor of Education degree
from the University of Pittsburgh
in administrative and policy
studies. His dissertation topic was
“Liberal Education in American
Research Universities.”
McInally is also actively involved
in the Meadville community,
including as an ordained elder
in the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.). He and his wife, Janice,
are parents of two children – Will
and Susannah – who are both in
college. The family will reside
in the historic Pleasant Hill Coe
president’s home.
Members of the Coe College
Presidential Search Committee
were: (Trustees) – Henderson,
Carson, Ken Golder ’82, Shirley
Hughes ’67, Mary Jeanne Krob
’73, John Strohm ’79, (faculty)
Louie J. and Ella Pochobradsky
Associate Professor of Business
Administration David Hayes ’93,
Associate Professor of Political
Science Kimberly Lanegran,
(staff) Director of Alumni
Programs Jean Johnson, (students)
Hailley Fargo ’14 and Maxwell
Stanford ’14.
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Located on Low Lake about five miles north of Ely, Minnesota in the 2.5
million acre Superior National Forest, the Coe College Wilderness Field
Station started by the Associated Colleges of the Midwest in 1961 has
now been offering summer classes to college students for 50 years.
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Vol. 112 No. 2 Fall 2012
EDITOR
Lonnie Zingula
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Commencement 2012
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Field station milestones
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Christina Kroemer
PHOTOGRAPHER
George Henry ’49
Ed Kempf
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CLASS NOTES ASSISTANT
Courtney Steinford ’14
This summer marked the 50th anniversary
of the first classes at the Wilderness Field
Station near Ely, Minn., the 35th anniversary
of the facility’s move to Low Lake, Harlo
Hadow’s 25th year as director and the 10year anniversary of its acquisition by Coe.
SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR
Ryan Workman
WEBMASTER
Andy Molison ’03
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Rod Pritchard
VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVANCEMENT
Dick Meisterling
DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI PROGRAMS
Jean Johnson
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
Heather Daniels ’95
Rededication celebrates Peterson
renovation
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Homecoming 2012
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Coe organ roars back to life
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Defining Moment Campaign
Crimson and gold never gets old for nearly
1,300 registered Homecoming guests.
Coe College concluded the largest and most
important campaign in its history by raising $90
million - $10 million more than the original goal
- that will be used to bolster four major areas of
the college.
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2 SLINGA
da INK
Visit the Courier online at:
http://coe.edu/courier
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da Pen
Many alumni have added their
email addresses to Coe’s home
page. To add yours, write the
Office of Alumni Programs or
visit Coe’s website.
5 Campus
briefs
Contact the Courier editor at:
[email protected] or (319) 399-8613.
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Shorts
The Coe Courier is published for
alumni of the college, parents of
current and former students, and
recent contributors to Coe's Annual
Fund. The magazine is published in
the spring, summer and winter by
Coe College, 1220 First Avenue NE,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.
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A national historic treasure – the Skinner organ
in Sinclair Auditorium – is being restored to
its original grandeur thanks to support of
interested donors, two large grants and the
work of a talented Coe alumnus.
D EPA RTM EN TS
Address changes and inquiries
regarding alumni records
may be addressed to Tessa Hurlburt,
Office of Advancement,
phone (319) 399-8542, or email:
[email protected].
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Coe celebrated the reopening of Peterson
Hall of Science following this summer's $12
million renovation.
PROOFREADER
James Larkin
COE COLLEGE PRESIDENT
James Phifer
Threatening weather moves graduation indoors.
22 Class
Notes
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BREMNER REMEMBERED
team, but my association with this
wonderful man began much earlier.
He was one of my football coaches at
Cornell and my AD when I coached the
Cornell cross country and track
teams. When Barron left to return
to Cornell in 1978, as AD, he asked me
to go with him to coach cross country
and I did. He was one of my heroes
and the time that I spent learning
about coaching and college athletics,
at his knee, were very important to my
development in business.
I campus. I told her that the funny
thing is that it takes me longer to
walk (or ride the golf cart) across
campus because at Iowa no one
wants to talk to me. At Coe on the
other hand, it is common to have a
conversation with several people as I
cross campus because everyone is so
nice and caring that when they ask
“how are you doing” they really do
care about the answer.
Coe is such a great place I cannot
imagine going very long without
visiting. Thank you for a great send
off and all the kind words, gifts and
cards. You all will always hold a very
special place in my heart. I will think
of you often.
Barron was a Baron.
Dick Landis, Cornell '64
Coe Cross Country Coach 1971-80
Big Sky, Mont.
I was once told that Ko as in Kohawk
is an old native American word that
means “like the.” I have learned that it
really means “better than.” Way better
than anything else.
Parting thoughts
Thank you Coe.
I really enjoyed the picture of Barron
Bremner on the cover of the latest
Coe Courier. Thanks for the
wonderful tribute and picture of
Barron. He was a super friend and
athletic director, plus a genuine
man who led by example. We were
fortunate to have had the opportunity
to be around Barron and to enjoy his
wit and friendship. Yes, he will be
missed, but not forgotten.
Wayne “Phiz” Phillips ’56
Grapevine, Texas
Thank you for being a great place to be
and be from for the last three years. I
thought I was a Hawkeye until I came
to Coe. What a great experience it has
been. From the beginning of my time
there the Coe family has been amazing.
Thank you,
Lt. Col. Dave Lewis
North Liberty, Iowa
Lt. Col. Dave Lewis recently stepped down
as commander of the ROTC program
at Coe. He was the assistant professor
of military science at Coe for four years
and was deployed to Afghanistan for one
of those years. He has been in the Iowa
National Guard for 27 years and remains
a battalion commander at the Regimental
Training Institute located at Camp Dodge
in Des Moines.
One of my favorite stories to tell is how
much different (and better) Coe has
been to me. One day early in my time
at Coe, Janet noticed I was wearing a
U of I ROTC shirt and asked me about
it. I had been at Iowa ROTC for eight
years before coming to Coe. She made
the comment that the campus must
seem tiny compared to the big U of
Barron was a baron
Many thanks to the Courier for
the wonderful tribute article
highlighting the life and times of
my friend, Barron Bremner. It was
well done and exceedingly appropriate
considering the dedication that Barron
provided to Coe (and Cornell) and
their student bodies.
I came to Coe in 1971 when Barron
asked me to coach the cross country
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The Courier invites letters on its contents or topics related to the college.
Letters may be edited for style, length and clarity. Send letters to:
[email protected] or Coe Courier 1220 First  Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52402
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no idea just how haunted it would turn
out to be.
The Victorian
By Karoline Jensen Fritz ’98
Invention, research and a thirst
for progress fueled the academic
environments of the Victorian world.
In this story, a scientist has moved to
the mountains of Colorado in order
to discover a feature of silver that
would allow it to recover from both
the bimetallism decisions and the
value-crushing Coinage Act of 1873.
Our scientist, Nathan, is confident
that a careful application of pure silver
(among other elements) will allow
him to capture and analyze a human
soul. When his experiments reach a
crescendo, and his wife’s life is at stake,
Nathan finds himself quite unprepared
for the outcome. An ancient earthspirit waits nearby to add to his
consternation.
A century later, two sisters come to
the depleted mining town (now a
barely thriving tourist town) in the
hopes of owning and running a bed
and breakfast. The house they choose
used to belong to our intrepid scientist.
They chose it specifically because it
was rumored to be haunted. They had
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Karoline Jensen Fritz ’98 grew up in
Idaho Springs, Colo. She and her older
brother were raised at the foot of the
continental divide and in the shadows
of the Victorian mining surge that
came from the gold and silver rushes
of the 19th century. Her parents had
their hands full with their daughter
who dreamed and danced and talked to
herself all while suffering from her own
impossibly shy nature. They patiently
exposed her to foreign languages (to
which she took like a fish to water),
music and literature (which she found
fascinating, if dry) and international
travel (which today is something she
dare not consider living without).
The study of fairy tales, folklore and
mythology easily took hold in her
drifting attentions and it wasn’t long
at all before she began to write down
powerful words of her own. Secretly
hoping that no other eyes would
ever ever find her work, she wrote
volumes of poetry and simple stories.
Ultimately, this was the practice that
helped her start to conquer her own
crippling self-confidence issues. The
international travel validated her newfound confidence and the multiple
languages she spoke (German, French,
Norwegian, English and Bad English…
among others) gave her the tools to
communicate with people she had
never before dreamed possible. The
trap had been sprung.
Unvarnished
Arkansas: The Naked
Truth About Nine
Famous Arkansans
By Steven Teske ’84
A man squanders his family fortune
until he is penniless, loses every time
he runs for public office, and yet is so
admired by the people of Arkansas that
the General Assembly names a county
in his honor.
A renowned writer makes her home in
the basement of a museum until she is
sued by some of the most prominent
women of the state regarding the use of
the rooms upstairs.
A brilliant inventor who nearly built
the first airplane is also vilified for
being eccentric and maybe even crazy.
Historian Steven Teske ’84 has
rummaged through Arkansas’s colorful
past to find some of the state’s most
controversial figures for his new book,
“Unvarnished Arkansas: The Naked
Truth About Nine Famous Arkansans.”
The nine people featured in this
collection of lives are not the most
famous products of Arkansas. More
than half of them were not even born in
Arkansas, although all of them lived in
Arkansas and contributed to its history
and culture. Each of them has achieved
a certain stature in local folklore, if not
in the story of the state as a whole.
From the pioneer who created the story
She’s been writing and telling stories
ever since. Today, armed with a
bachelor’s from Coe (she double
majored in German and French and
minored in eastern religions), she lives
in Virginia with her husband, Jason.
He is both her wizard and her warrior
and they have tremendous adventures
together. She continues to write for
sheer pleasure, and hopes to have more
publishable material in the future.
“The Victorian,” 272 pages, is available
in paperback for $19.99 from Xlibris.
ISBN 9781477125687.
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Floating BunnyHead
Chapter #1
of the Arkansas Traveler to the drifter
who was almost a living legend —
arriving unexpectedly to testify at the
trial of his alleged murderers — each
of these people is, in a sense, Arkansas.
Each is a small part of what makes
Arkansas the place that it is today.
One character, J. N. Smithee, was
"generous to a fault, as brave as a
lion, possessing strong convictions,
and much native ability...a good
newspaperman, who did much for
Arkansas." His enemies, however, were
so angered by his strong convictions
and by his writing that they insulted
him publicly and even tried to shoot
him to death.
Was Senator Solan Borland really a
hot-tempered brawler who could never
resist a fight? Was attorney Scipio A.
Jones really a civil rights hero in the
midst of the worst era of segregation
and prejudice? For that matter, was
he truly an "Uncle Tom" who learned
how to "play the white man’s game"
so he could enrich himself, even at
the expense of his fellow AfricanAmericans?
Readers must decide these questions
for themselves and Teske, an editor
for the Butler Center’s Encyclopedia
of Arkansas History & Culture, has
created an interesting and compelling
window into Arkansas’s past.
“Unvarnished Arkansas,” 160 pages,
is available in paperback for $19.96
from the University of Arkansas Press.
ISBN 9781935106357
Wanderer
By Paul Crapo Crawford ’69
“Forget not that I shall come back to
you. A little while, and my longing
shall gather dust and foam for another
body. A little while, a moment of rest
upon the wind, and another woman
shall bear me.” So wrote the Lebanese
poet Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) in his
masterpiece “The Prophet,” a book
in continuous print since 1923, read
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By Jonathan Sims ’05
and loved my millions in over 27
languages. “Wanderer” sets forth
the proposition that Gibran was good
at his word: he did return, in the
person of Paul Crawford (aka Paul
Crapo ’69).
Motivated by the Occupy Movement
and by the long-awaited breakdown
of the Old World Order, Crawford
examines the rise of a New World
Unity and what it will take to get
there, including: cleansing and healing
of orthodox wisdom, recognizing
complicity in fraud, a 12-step program
for dogma addiction, combating
predatory capitalism, breaking the
spell of continuous war, disclosing
the truth of the ET presence,
understanding human DNA mutation,
negotiating our galactic future,
implications here and beyond.
Floating BunnyHead, the disembodied
cartoon rabbit noggin; Armless Bear,
the massively magenta ursine amputee;
Slicey, the piping hot piece of pizza;
and Raptoro, the Saturday morning
cartoon Piñatasaurus; have just won a
trip to Westland: a Wild West theme
park populated by robotic cowboys.
Instead of spending their vacation
guzzling whiskey, shooting robot
bandits in the head, and getting to
know the dance-hall-girlbots, the boys
will have to find out why everything
has gone haywire and unmask the
shadowy figure lurking behind the
scenes.
Floating BunnyHead stars a quartet
of eccentric cartoon characters with
an uncanny knack for making new
enemies wherever they go. Its subject
matter is somewhere between Aqua
Teen Hunger Force and the Ninja
Turtles. The book contains some
alcohol use, blood and violence so it is
not recommended for younger readers.
Jonathan Sims ’05 is a comic book
artist/writer and photoshop jockey
living with his brilliant librarian wife
in Iowa City, Iowa.
“Floating BunnyHead #1” is 40 fullcolor pages and is being published
through Ka-Blam.com, an on-demand
comic book printing service.
Born in California in 1947, a world
traveler and educator, Crawford was
prone to out-of-body experiences and
past life recall from early age. During
the tumultuous 60s, circumstance
led him to Europe, then on to the
Middle East where, as a student at
the American University of Beirut,
events and intimations suggested a
reincarnational link with the Lebanese
poet. “Wanderer” traces his journey.
“Wanderer,” 144 pages, is available in
paperback from Outskirts Press. ISBN
9781432789626.
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Tippie creates endowed
chair in business and
economics at Coe
Eastern Iowa native and successful
business leader Henry Tippie has given
$1 million to establish an endowed
chair at Coe College. The Henry B.
Tippie Professorship in Business and
Economics was announced by President
James Phifer during the college’s
commencement ceremony on May 6, at
which Mr. Tippie was honored. He was
accompanied by his wife, Patricia, at the
ceremony.
Tippie has had a distinguished career
as one of the nation’s foremost business
leaders. Growing up on a farm in rural
Iowa, he graduated from Belle Plaine
High School in 1944. He enlisted in
the Army Air Force at the age of 17 and
studied briefly at Coe in preparation for
service as an air cadet. He and his fellow
Air Corps volunteers lived in the lower
level of Eby Fieldhouse while studying
at the college from June 1944 through
early 1945.
Tippie went on to earn an accounting
degree from the University of Iowa, and
after beginning his business career as
an accountant, went on to lead various
enterprises, each with distinction. He
is involved in an array of businesses,
including pest control, state-of-the-art
NASCAR auto racing facilities, and a
34,000 acre ranch in central Texas. He
is the director of five New York Stock
Exchange companies which he helped
to create.
A man of rock-solid integrity, Tippie
has made a life of being innovative in
business and unfailingly generous in
the advancement of education. He has
been a longtime supporter of the college
of business at the University of Iowa –
renamed The Henry B. Tippie College
of Business in his honor.
Since 1967, Tippie has funded hundreds
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p Eastern Iowa native and successful business leader Henry Tippie (left) is
recognized by Coe President James Phifer for the creation of the Henry
B. Tippie Professorship in Business and Economics during the college's
commencement on May 6.
of scholarships for Belle Plaine High
School graduates. Among other
projects in his hometown, he has
provided generous financial support
for construction of the Belle Plaine
Community Library, the Belle Plaine
Area Museum, the Tippie-Mansfield
Kirkwood Center, and the Mansfield/
Tippie Airport-Industrial Park. Later
this summer, a new annex to the Belle
Plaine Area Museum, built with Tippie’s
support to house his lifetime collection
of memorabilia, will be opened.
Among many honors and awards, he
was the recipient of the nationally
prestigious Horatio Alger Award in
1996, and he was named to the Junior
Achievement Eastern Iowa Hall of Fame
in 2004.
“Just as he has been generous in support
of education elsewhere, Mr. Tippie has
now stepped forward with an important
gift to Coe College, one that will touch
the lives of students for generations to
come,” said Phifer.
The first recipient of the Henry B.
Tippie Professorship is Rick Eichhorn.
He holds a Ph.D. in economics from
Colorado State University, and has
taught in the Stead Department of
Business Administration and Economics
since 2000. His work focuses on
macroeconomics, teaching theoretical
as well as applied courses in general
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macroeconomics, economic growth
and quantitative methods. Eichhorn
is especially active in supervising
undergraduate economic research
and often takes students to national
conferences to present their research.
His own research has been published in
“Applied Economics” and the “Journal
of Macroeconomics.” As well, Eichhorn
is the director of the First-Year
Experience Program at Coe.
The Henry B. Tippie Professorship
in Business and Economics is the 27th
endowed chair at Coe. Through the
sponsorship of the work of the college’s
most able faculty, an endowed chair
touches the lives of countless scores of
students across many years.
Also during the commencement
ceremony, Gina Hausknecht was newly
appointed as the Stead Family Professor
of English, while David Nordmann
’87 was newly appointed as the
Henrietta Arnold Professor of History.
Four chairs were awarded to continuing
holders, including the B.D. Silliman
Professor of Physics to Steve Feller, the
Heins-Johnson Professor of Biology
to Harlow Hadow, the John F. Yothers
Professor of Mathematics to Cal Van
Niewaal, and the George R. Baker
Professor of Business Administration
and Economics to Mickey Wu.
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Coe featured in The
Princeton Review’s
"The Best 377 Colleges"
2013 edition
Coe College was selected as one of
the country's best institutions for
undergraduate education in the 2013
edition of The Princeton Review’s “The
Best 377 Colleges.”
Only about 15 percent of America’s
2,500 four-year colleges and three
colleges outside the U.S. are profiled
in the book, which is The Princeton
Review's flagship college guide. It
includes detailed profiles of the colleges
with rating scores for all schools in eight
categories, plus ranking lists of top 20
schools in the book in 62 categories
based on The Princeton Review's
surveys of students attending the
colleges.
“We commend Coe College for its
outstanding academics, which is the
primary criterion for our selection
for schools in the book,” said Robert
Franek, the Princeton Review’s senior
VP/publisher and author of “The Best
377 Colleges.” “Our choices are based
on institutional data we collect about
schools, our visits to schools over the
years, feedback we gather from students
attending the schools, and the opinions
of our staff and our 30-member
National College Counselor Advisory
Board. We also work to keep a wide
representation of colleges in the book by
region, size, selectivity and character.”
In its profile on Coe, The Princeton
Review quotes students who praise the
college for its “tight-knit community
feel” that provides “something different
for everyone.” Among comments about
the Coe experience, students noted,
“Coe has a very warm and friendly
atmosphere” that works “for the
betterment of each individual Kohawk
through experiences, in and out of the
classroom, as well as creating a mature
adult prepared for the ‘real-world.’” For
many, the college is “an ideal size.”
In a "Survey Says" sidebar in the book's
profile on Coe, The Princeton Review
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lists topics that Coe students were in
most agreement about in their answers
to survey questions. The list includes:
"Career Services are great," "students
are friendly" and "student government
is popular."
Coe receives $390,000
NSF grant to fund new
instrument
Coe College has received a $390,389
award from the National Science
Foundation (NSF) to purchase a
new hybrid Raman Spectrometer/
Scanning Probe Microscope device.
The instrument will allow faculty
and students from Coe – as well as
researchers from Cornell College,
Mount Mercy University, RockwellCollins and Square D (Schneider
Electric) – to carry out simultaneous
measurements on a single sample
without the need to move it.
The grant was written by faculty
from the Coe physics and chemistry
departments. Physics Professor
Mario Affatigato ’89 is serving as
the principal investigator for the
project, with co-principal investigators
Chemistry Professor Maria Dean,
Chemistry Professor Steve Singleton
and Physics Professor Steve Feller. The
proposal was funded through the Major
Research Instrumentation Program of
the Division of Materials Research.
“The ability to take multiple
measurements without moving the
sample is particularly important in
doing nanoscale work, where moving
the sample often results in the loss of
information regarding the location
of changes on the surface,” explained
Affatigato. “This instrument can also
channel light using hollowed ‘tips,’
resulting in the focusing of light well
beyond that attainable from a common
microscope.”
The new technology will enhance
the on-campus scientific research
opportunities for Coe students, who
get access to scientific instruments that
are oftentimes reserved for graduate
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students at other institutions.
“The grant’s impact on students will
be quite significant, as it will allow the
college to train its undergraduates in
equipment that is critical in today’s
nanotechnology,” said Affatigato. “This
will be the most advanced state-of-theart instrument in the sciences at Coe.”
The new instrument is expected to
be installed in the newly renovated
Peterson Hall of Science in February,
with full operation expected by
summer. According to Affatigato, there
are fewer than 100 such instruments
in the country, and most are at major
universities or industrial research
centers.
The funding is the latest in a series
of external grants received by Coe’s
science programs over the past two
decades, with more than $1 million
received from the NSF in the past
five years. In addition, Coe received a
prestigious $4.7 million grant from the
NSF for this summer’s major renovation
of Peterson Hall.
Coe is currently one of five small
colleges in the U.S. to host a Research
Experience for Undergraduates (REU)
site, also supported by the NSF, which
provides opportunities for students
from Coe and other colleges across
the country to conduct research in
chemistry and physics.
Affatigato earns
prestigious American
Physical Society
award
Fran Allison and Francis Halpin
Professor of Physics Mario Affatigato
’89 has received the 2013 faculty
member prize for undergraduate
research from the American Physical
Society (APS). The prestigious award is
sponsored by a grant from the Research
Corporation, a private foundation
for the advancement of science and
technology.
The prize was established to honor
a physicist whose research in an
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He is the recipient of several awards,
including the Presidential Early
Career Award for Scientists and
Engineers, which he received at the
White House in 1999. In addition,
Affatigato has received numerous
grants for the Coe physics program as a
principal investigator or a co-principal
investigator. He and his Coe faculty
colleagues and students have conducted
extensive studies on the properties of
glass, resulting in the publication of
over 100 articles in refereed journals.
Affatigato has also traveled worldwide
to conduct further research and
present his findings at international
conferences.
p Mario Affatigato '89
undergraduate setting has achieved
wide recognition and contributed
significantly to physics, and who
has contributed substantially to
the professional development of
undergraduate physics students. The
award consists of a financial stipend
to the winner, and a separate $5,000
unrestricted grant for research to the
prize recipient’s institution.
Affatigato will officially receive the
award in March at the annual APS
meeting in Baltimore. He has also been
invited to give a talk on his research
during the conference.
A previous winner of the same award is
Affatigato’s mentor and Coe colleague,
B.D. Silliman Professor of Physics
Steve Feller, who received the prize in
1993. Affatigato was nominated for the
award by Professor Richard Haglund of
Vanderbilt University, who served as his
Ph.D. advisor.
Affatigato graduated magna cum
laude from Coe in 1989, with majors
in physics and mathematics, and a
minor in history. He then did graduate
studies at Vanderbilt University, where
he earned a master’s in physics in 1993
and a Ph.D. in physics in 1995. Since
completing his Ph.D., Affatigato has
been on the Coe physics faculty. He is
a member of the APS, the Society of
Glass Technology and the American
Ceramic Society.
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Coe reports
enrollment records,
historically strong
academic profile
Coe College has a record number of
first-year students and the secondlargest number of full-time students
enrolled in its history this fall. In
addition, the college has the largest-ever
number of students in residence and
posted a record number of applications.
Meanwhile, the average academic
profile of the incoming students
remains historically strong, and campus
diversity is increasing.
The college has an enrollment of 392
new students, including a record 364
first-year and 28 transfer students. This
surpasses the 361 first-year students
who enrolled at Coe last year, and the
357 first-year students who came to the
college in 2010.
students continues the Coe tradition of
academic quality. The class of 2016 has
an average ACT score of 25.5 and grade
point average of 3.7. All totaled, 40
first-year students scored 30 or greater
on the ACT test. As well, 26 percent
of first-year class members ranked in
the top 10 percent of their high school
graduating class.
As a residential college, Coe also has
a record number of students – 1,146 –
in campus housing for the fall term,
up from last year’s record of 1,107. In
addition, the college has 71 first-time
ethnic minority students, representing
more than 19 percent of the entering
class and demonstrating Coe’s
commitment to increasing diversity on
its campus.
Coe received a record 2,645 applications
for admission for the fall of 2012, the
highest number in the college’s history.
The class of 2016 comprises 52.5
percent Iowa residents and 47.5 percent
out-of-state students. This year’s Coe
class includes students from 25 states
and five foreign countries.
“With impressive average test scores,
grade point averages and high school
classroom performance, our firstyear students continue the tradition
of academic excellence at Coe,” said
President James Phifer. “In addition, the
record number of first-year students and
the large incoming class are consistent
with the college’s multi-year plan for
modest growth. Our overall full-time
student numbers indicate historically
strong enrollment.”
Coe has registered 1,304 full-time
students for fall term, the secondhighest enrollment in its history.
This approaches last year’s record of
1,312 full-time students, and is above
a previous high of 1,288 full-time
students in the fall of 2010. In all, Coe
has 1,404 full and part-time students
registered for fall term.
While this year's incoming class is
historically large, the profile of the new
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Coe Hall of Fame
adds five
Five former Kohawk athletes were inducted
into the Coe College Athletic Hall of Fame
during Homecoming weekend, Sept. 27-30.
The 2012 class of inductees includes Katie
McGuire Graham ’86 (basketball and softball),
Kim Buchner Spranger ’87 (track and cross
country), Joe Whitters ’89 (wrestling), John
Costello ’92 (football and baseball), and Heidi
Nitz Schomaker ’94 (soccer and basketball).
Graham was a two-time all-conference player
and captain for Coe women’s basketball. She
was a second-team All-NCAA West Region
softball player in 1984. A team captain and allconference infielder her senior year, Graham
helped the Kohawks achieve their sixth straight
Midwest Conference championship.
Graham received her master’s in physical therapy
at Washington University in St. Louis. She is
currently a physical therapist at Iowa Methodist
Medical Center. She and Brent Graham ’87 live
in Clive, Iowa. They have two children.
Spranger will always be Coe’s first women’s track
All-American. She secured her place in Kohawk
history with a fifth-place finish in the 800-meter
run at the 1987 NCAA Division III Indoor
Track and Field Championships. Spranger was
an all-conference performer for four years in
track and three years in cross country.
Spranger received her master’s in exercise
science from the University of Iowa in 1990 and
physical therapy certification at the University
of Osteopathic Medicine in 1992. She is a
physical therapist at UP Rehab. She and Todd
Spranger ’85 live in Ternary, Mich., where
their daughter is following in her footsteps, a
record-setting state champion now in her first
year of college. They have three children.
Whitters led Coe to its last team championship
in wrestling. Individually, he won three
conference championships and was an AllAmerican his senior year. He was captain and
most valuable wrestler for the 1989 Midwest
Conference Champion Kohawks.
Whitters and Jerri Altenhofen Whitters ’91
live in Swisher, Iowa, where they operate a
landscaping business and sod farm. They have
five children.
Costello lettered in both football and baseball
for four years. A 1989 second-team All-
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Athletic Hall of Fame inductees honored at Homecoming were (left to
right) Kim Buchner Spranger ’87, Heidi Nitz Schomaker ’94, Joe
Whitters ’89, John Costello ’92 and Katie McGuire Graham ’86.
Nominations for Athletics Hall of Fame inductions are due April 1, with
recipients selected by a committee of letterwinners.
American, he helped Coe football to back-toback Midwest Conference championships and
the second NCAA playoff appearance in school
history. On the diamond, Costello excelled as a
pitcher and outfielder.
After a short stint in semi-pro baseball –
where he threw a no-hitter – Costello studied
prosthetics and orthotics at Northwestern
University. With over 17 years in the prosthetic
and orthotics field, he is a partner with Clark &
Associates. He and Karri Ditch Costello ’97
live in Dike, Iowa. They have two children.
Coe’s first women’s soccer recruit, Schomaker
was a three-time academic all-conference
honoree, a four-year varsity letterwinner and
all-conference performer, and a three-time
team MVP and captain. Heidi also lettered in
basketball her sophomore and junior years.
Schomaker received her occupational therapy
assistant certification from Austin (Minn.)
Community College and has since worked
as an occupational therapist in Iowa and
Minnesota. She and her husband, David, live in
St. Paul, Minn. They have three daughters.
The inductees were honored at the 40th
Athletic Hall of Fame Reception and Dinner
on Sept. 28. They were also featured in the
Homecoming parade and before Coe’s football
game with Buena Vista University on Sept. 29.
Simon and Boyle
named 2012 Bremner
Award winners
Ashlee Simon '12 and Brad Boyle '12 have
been named the 2011-12 Barron Bremner
Outstanding Athletes. Simon was an exceptional
pitcher on the Kohawk softball team, while Boyle
was an outstanding quarterback on the Coe
football team.
Simon was a starting pitcher all four years for
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the Kohawks, and led the softball
team to an appearance at the
NCAA Regional Tournament last
spring. In her last season at Coe,
she was nationally ranked eighth
in ERA (1.00), third in strikeouts
per seven innings (11.3), fourth in
hits allowed per 7 innings (3.51),
third in strikeouts (315), and
fourth shutouts (14). She led the
Iowa Conference in ERA (0.99),
strikeouts (108), batters struck out
looking (42), hits allowed (29), and
earned runs allowed (9). She was
also the Iowa Conference Pitcher
of the Week five times last season.
Simon is the only player in Coe
history to have four 20-plus win seasons. She
finished the season with 327 strikeouts (third
most in school history) while throwing for
195 1/3 innings (fifth most in school history).
Simon was first-team All-Iowa Conference,
NFCA first-team All-Midwest Region, NFCA
second-team All-American and was named to
the NCAA All-Pella Region Tournament Team
last season.
Boyle was a four-year letterwinner as
quarterback for the Kohawk football team. Last
season, he was first-team All-Iowa Conference
quarterback, leading the conference in rushing
touchdowns (15), ranking second in scoring
(11.2), total offense (318.6), and passing
efficiency (167.4). His total passing yards (262.9)
ranked third in the conference. At the end
of the season, he was nationally ranked 14th
in total offense (299), 21st in scoring (9.6),
and 36th in passing efficiency (141.74). In the
Kohawk record books, Boyle’s senior season
ranks second in yards of total offense (2,990),
third in plays of total offense (420), and fifth
in passing yards (2,417). He was the Iowa
Conference Player of the Week during the
season.
Boyle is Coe’s career passing leader, completing
617 of 1,003 passes for 8,500 yards and 63
touchdowns. He is second on the career rushing
touchdown list with 50.
Other finalists on the women's side included
track and field's Keelie Finnel '12 and
basketball player Kayla Waskow '12.
Finnel was the NCAA National Runner-up in
the 800-meter run last season, and an NCAA
All-American in the 4X400 meter relay (6th
place). She was also the Iowa Conference Indoor
Most Valuable Runner. She was Coe’s female
Outstanding Athlete in 2010 and 2011.
Waskow was the Iowa Conference Most
Valuable Player in basketball and was named
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D3hoops.com second-team All-Region and
WBCA honorable mention All-American. Her
445 points scored in 2011-12 are the most in
school history, with 202 rebounds, the sixth most
in Coe history. She was Iowa Conference Player
of the Week twice.
For the men, wrestler Nick LeClere '12 and
basketball player David Mataloni '13 joined
Boyle as finalists.
LeClere was a national runner-up and the Iowa
Conference Champion at 165 pounds in 2012.
He finished the season with a 29-3 record, and
recorded nine major decisions (eighth most in
school history). He was a Capital One/CoSIDA
first-team academic all-district and a Capital One/
CoSIDA third-team Academic All-American. He
was also named as Iowa Conference Wrestler of
the Week.
Mataloni was the Iowa Conference Most Valuable
Player in basketball and was named D3hoops.
com second-team All-West Region and NABC
first-team All-West Region. He ended the season
ranked first in the Iowa Conference in steals per
game (1.75), fourth in points per game (15.1) and
free throw percentage (85.3), and seventh in assists
per game (2.69).
Funded by John Strohm ’79 and his wife, Mary
Pat Link, the Bremner Award is given annually
to the college’s top male and female athletes. The
award is named in honor of Coe’s Hall of Fame
coach and athletics director Barron Bremner, who
died in February.
More hardware for
Coe tennis
For the second straight year, the Coe College
women's tennis team completed a perfect Iowa
Conference regular season to win the league title.
Coe beat Dubuque and Loras 9-0 on Sept. 29 to
clinch the title.
With the two victories, the Kohawks won their
17th-straight Iowa Conference regular season
match. The championship was the fifth overall
for the Coe women's tennis program, as they
previously won titles in 2006, 2007, 2008 and
2011. The title allowed Coe to secure the top
seed in next spring's Iowa Conference NCAA
Automatic Qualifier Tournament.
Three Kohawks combined to win three of the five
flights of singles and doubles Oct. 6 at the Iowa
Conference Championships. Coe won two singles
titles and a doubles title.
In Flight A singles, Michelle Schupbach ’13
beat Luther's Elise Allen 6-4, 4-6, 10-3 in the
semifinals. In the other semifinal, Tai Lucero ’14
beat Luther's Cassandra Chalhoub 6-0, 6-0. In
the championship match, Lucero beat Schupbach
6-1, 6-2. It was the second singles championship
for Lucero, as she also beat Schupbach in 2010,
while Schupbach was last year's champion.
At Flight B Singles, Elizabeth Hoffmann ’14
beat Simpson's Allison Anderson 9-7 in the
semifinals before downing Central's Anna Bowser
9-7 in the championship match.
Coe's third title came at Flight A Doubles.
Schupbach and Lucero advanced to the finals with
an 8-6 win over Luther's Allen and Helms. In the
other semifinal, Jordan Ferree ’15 and Laura
Birky ’16 beat Hoffmann and Sara Ohlman
’13. In the championship match, Schupbach and
Lucero beat Ferree and Birky 8-6.
The title was the third for Lucero and Schupbach,
tying an Iowa Conference record with four other
doubles teams. Schupbach also won the title in
2009 with her older sister, Andrea Schupbach
’10 and is one of six players to win four doubles
titles. Of the four players, Schupbach is the first to
do so by winning the Flight A title all four years.
In three years of competing at the event, Lucero
has appeared in the Flight A doubles and singles
championship match each time, winning five of
the six titles. Schupbach has appeared in seven
of eight possible championship matches, coming
away with five titles.
Last spring, in addition to the conference title,
the Kohawk women won the IIAC Automatic
Qualifier to advance to the NCAA Tournament,
where they beat Hope 5-4 before falling to sixthranked Carnegie Mellon 5-0.
Ashlee Simon '12 (softball) and Brad Boyle '12 ( football)
are congratulated by John Strohm '79 as the 2011-12 Barron
Bremner Outstanding Athletes.
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The men’s tennis team claimed its seventh IIAC
championship – its first since 2006 – last spring
as well. Coe advanced to the second round of the
NCAA Tournament with a 5-1 win over Grinnell
before falling to 15th-ranked Washington
University in St. Louis 5-0.
While the women were winning their conference
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The 2012 Coe women’s tennis team models the IIAC championship trophy.
title at Coe, the men were competing in the ITA
Midwest Regional in St. Peter, Minn. Coe advanced
three doubles teams to the third round, while Noah
Sprinkel ’15 advanced to the quarterfinals in the fall
season finale for men’s tennis. The Kohawks return
to action Feb. 2, hosting Wisconsin-Eau Claire and
Principia at Clark Racquet Center.
Baseball, softball
both third at NCAA
regionals
Coe’s baseball and softball teams both opened the
season nationally ranked – a first for the baseball
program – and finished their seasons at NCAA
regionals.
Entering the Iowa Conference Tournament as the
second seed, the Coe baseball team claimed the
tournament championship and a second straight
NCAA tournament appearance. The Kohawks
traveled to McMinnville, Ore., as the fifth seed
in the Linfield Regional. They advanced to the
semifinals before being eliminated in third place.
The 29 wins by the Kohawks were the second most
in Coe history. The senior class of 2012 amassed 111
career victories in their four years, the most by any
class in Coe history.
Coe softball made back-to-back regional
appearances after missing the NCAA tournament
in 2010. The Kohawks were ranked 12th to start the
season and climbed to number two after winning 17
of their first 18 games. During the hot start, Ashlee
Simon ’12 became the first Kohawk to pass 1,000
career strikeouts while throwing a perfect game in a
6-0 win over Illinois College.
Coe advanced to the Iowa Conference
Championship game, but lost twice to Central to
take second place. The Kohawks received an at-large
bid to play in the NCAA Regional Championships
in Pella, Iowa, where they eliminated host Central
en route to a third-place finish. Coe finished the
year 36-13.
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COE COLLEGE PRESENTS
THE CLASS OF 2012
With the threat of stormy weather, commencement for the class of 2012 was moved to Eby Fieldhouse for
the first time in many years on May 6. President James Phifer conferred Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science
in Nursing, Bachelor of Music, and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees upon more than 290 graduates.
Composer, musician and educator Michael Daugherty gave a special musical commencement address and
received an honorary Doctor of Music degree. Daugherty is one of the most commissioned, performed
and recorded composers on the American concert music scene. The oldest of five brothers who are all
professional musicians, Daugherty is a native of Cedar Rapids. Since 1991, he has served as professor of
composition at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance in Ann Arbor.
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Coe’s first lady honored for service
2
The Eliza Hickok Kesler Outstanding Service Award was
presented to Linnie Phifer, the first lady of Coe College,
who has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years to
advance the cause of the institution.
The award is given most years, but not every year, at
Coe’s graduation. It was created in 1999 for the purpose
of honoring superior, long-term service to Coe - service
that advances the purposes and mission of the institution.
Faculty, staff, alumni and trustees are all eligible. This
award is named for Eliza Hickok Kesler ’31, known to
generations of the Coe family as Roby, whose lifetime of
distinguished service to the college is unparalleled.
1. Eby Fieldhouse was filled to the brim as threatening weather forced
Coe commencement inside for 2012.
2. Sinclair Auditorium was dressed to the nines for Baccalaureate.
3. President James Phifer happily accepts the senior class gift from
(left to right) Eric Lunderskov ’12, Ali Pillard ’12, Krishen Narcelles
’12, Alec Herr ’12, Chelsea White ’12 and Anne Kozisek ’12.
4. Ethan Olson ’12 and Amanda Hanson ’12 were named “Outstanding
Seniors” by the Coe Alumni Association.
5. Proud parents Donna and Homer Screws flank their twin Coe
graduates Lindsay Screws ’12 (left) and Sydney Screws ’12.
6. Members of the Commencement platform party included (left
to right) Board of Trustees Chairman Gene Henderson ’68, Vice
President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Marie Baehr,
Baccalaureate speaker James Alexander Forbes Jr., College Chaplain
Kristin Hutson, Commencement speaker Michael Daugherty and
President James Phifer.
7. Composer, musician and educator Michael Daugherty served as
guest conductor for the Coe Concert Band in a performance of "Red
Cape Tango" from his GRAMMY-winning composition of "Metropolis
Symphony."
8. The Rev. Dr. James Alexander Forbes Jr. delivers the Baccalaureate
sermon. Forbes, the Harry Emerson Fosdick Distinguished Professor
of Homiletics at Union Seminary in New York City, was recognized
with an honorary doctor of divinity degree.
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Linnie Phifer, the wife of Coe President James Phifer, has
served the college in differing capacities for more than 25
years. Her most visible efforts have been in planning and
overseeing countless Coe events, both on campus and at
gatherings of alumni across the country.
“In organizing and directing college events, Linnie has set
a new high standard for the way the college presents itself
to the larger world. Her efforts have elevated the pride
in the institution felt both by members of the campus
community and by alumni,” said Gene Henderson ’68,
chair of the Coe Board of Trustees. “In everything she
does, Linnie displays extraordinary devotion to the success
of the institution on a broad front, and a commitment to
fostering the well-being of the Coe community.”
In choosing this year’s Kesler winner, the executive
committee of the faculty noted in particular the degree to
which her values parallel those of Roby Kesler, for whom
the award is named. Linnie Phifer’s career at Coe has not
only reflected but exalted the tradition of commitment to
Coe established by Roby. Each has served the college as
the greatest cheerleader for all things Coe.
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This summer’s 50th
anniversary of the first classes
FIELD STATION
MARKS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
held at the Wilderness Field Station near
Ely, Minn., was cause for celebration for
anyone who has visited over the past half
century. So too was the 35th anniversary
of the facility’s move to its current location
on Low Lake, Harlo Hadow’s 25th year as
director and the 10-year anniversary of its
acquisition by Coe College.
Each of these milestones was celebrated
in July with a reunion of past and present
participants. Field station alumni and
faculty spanning 1963 to 2011 took part
in the festivities. “We had students who
spanned that whole stretch,” said Hadow,
the Heins-Johnson Professor of Biology
at Coe.
The field station was operated from 1961
to 2002 by the Associated Colleges of
the Midwest (ACM). Originally located at
a lumbering camp on a Basswood Lake
island, the first classes were offered during
the summer of 1962 under the leadership
of the late Coe Biology Professor Emeritus
Robert V. Drexler.
“The whole experience was Drexler,”
Jon Duerr ’65 said of the field station’s
beginnings. “It was a fabulous experience.”
For Duerr, like many who have explored
the northern Minnesota wilderness as
undergraduate students over the past half
century, it was a profound experience that
helped shape their lives and careers.
The facility was moved to Low Lake
in 1977 after the federal government
established the Boundary Waters Canoe
Area Wilderness that encompassed the
Basswood site. When the ACM decided
to close the field station after the summer
program of 2002, Coe College assumed
its operation with Hadow continuing as
director.
Twelve Drexler descendants were among
55 people on hand for the anniversary
celebration. At a July 11 dinner, speakers
talked about the facility’s three eras: the
original site on Basswood Lake, the move
to Low Lake and the past decade as a Coe
enterprise.
The dinner featured pork loin roasted
over an open campfire. Dessert offered
chocolate mousse cake, the invention
of a former Field Station cook who later
opened a restaurant in Ely. Hadow even
reluctantly allowed a champagne toast and
Darryl and Cynthia Krumseig Ting ’67 paddle a
homemade canoe in Superior National Forest, home
to the Coe College Wilderness Field Station.
beer was served to mark the occasion. “It
was the first time alcohol was intentionally
served at the Field Station,” he said.
The field station is located about five
miles north of Ely, in the 2.5 million acre
Superior National Forest. Groups paddle
directly by canoe from the field station to
the edge of the fabled Boundary Waters
Canoe Area Wilderness in about two
hours, and to Ontario's Quetico Provincial
Park in about eight hours, adding 2 million
more acres to the field station "classroom".
The Wilderness Field Station provides
a unique summer program of biological
field study. All classes are very small
and personal, integrating lectures and
laboratory investigation with frequent
canoe outings.
In addition to regular summer courses
on such subjects as environmental law,
ornithology, animal behavior, nature
writing, aquatic ecology and behavior
and ecology of mammals, the Coe-owned
field station annually offers a wilderness
orientation program for incoming first-year
students and an upper-class leadership
retreat. Field station alumni reunions have
also been held at the site.
p Attending a July 11 anniversary celebration at the Coe College Wilderness Field Station were (front row, left to
right) Mitch Moon ’14, program assistant; Joe Harrity, Cornell ’12; and Karla Keyes ’97, cook and adjunct biology
professor. (Kneeling/sitting) Jean Johnson, Coe alumni director; Amy Hadow, Grinnell ’10, Joy Arima Duerr ’66,
Sarah Voss ’09, Consie Powell, Roger Powell, emeritus professor of biology at North Carolina State; Mary Drexler;
Kristin Joens; and Emily Porter ’12. (First row standing) Heins-Johnson Professor of Biology and Wilderness
Field Station Director Harlo Hadow; Jon Duerr ’64; Wiley Buck, Ripon ’84; Amanda Kohn ’13; Beth Cerny
’63; Melissa Williams ’09; Marlo Drexler; Aurelie Drexler; Maxim Drexler; Barb Drexler, part-time instructor in
English as a second language; Megan and Chris Schommer, St. Olaf ’03; Britany Nesmith, Oglethorpe ’08; Sarah
Lykens, Oglethorpe ’06; (seated) Libby Muir, (kneeling) Peggy Muir Marshall; Kay Henry; Cynthia Krumseig Ting
’67; Natalie Spinsby; Liz Drexler; and Sarah Drexler Ryan. (Second row standing) Kim Hoff ’10; Nicki Thiher
’10; Dave Hayes ’93, Louie J. & Ella Pochobradsky Associate Professor of Business Administration; Bob Drexler,
William P. & Gayle S. Whipple Professor of English; Hank DeDona; David Burns ’04; Fritz Drexler; Skip Whittler,
Ripon College biology professor; Becky Prange, Lake Forest; Anna Drexler; Darryl Ting; and Norma Rudisill, Beloit.
(Third row standing) Adam Becker ’11; Rob Brault, Macalester ’83; Michael Drexler; Ben Johnson, Carleton ’91;
Davis Hudson, Lawrence ’06; Mr. Marshall; and Bill Muir Jr.
t Attending this year’s Coe Orientation in the Wilderness were (front row,
left to right) Amanda Kohn ’13, Beth
Curley ’13, Kelsey Ehrhardt ’16, Kylie
Baily ’16, Spencer Stout ’16 and Bekah
Isack ’16. (Back row) Mitch Moon ’14,
Levi Schrock ’16, Andy Risley ’16,
Abby Ferguson ’16, Jacob Finn ’16,
Kelan Chang ’15, Savannah Dearhamer ’16, Jessica Saunders ’16, Nora
Dietz-Kilen ’16 and Sara Sweeney ’16.
In 2008, Coe purchased 120 acres of
wilderness – including 40 acres it had
previously leased – from the Potlatch Land
and Timber Company. The acquisition
secured the future of a tremendous
educational opportunity in a pristine
setting while further setting Coe apart
from its competitor institutions.
“I don’t know of any college like Coe that
has this kind of program,” said Hadow. “It
is something novel about Coe that attracts
prospective students.”
Most of the field station’s buildings are
on 10 acres on the banks of Low Lake
that Coe has continued to lease from
the Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, even as lease costs have
climbed from $4,500 in 2003 to $27,500
this year. Hadow would like Coe to
purchase the lakefront land, but Minnesota
law requires a public auction or trade
for property of equal or greater value. A
fundraising effort is underway to purchase
the land at an estimated cost of $400,000
while rebuilding the endowment that was
tapped for the original purchase.
In addition, Hadow says a new generator is
needed and renewable energy options are
being explored.
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p Participants in this summer’s Wilderness Field Station raise a champagne toast in honor of the 50th anniversary
of the first classes at the northern Minnesota facility.
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New digs are nice, but
Hadow prefers outdoors
I
t’s not that he doesn’t appreciate this summer’s $12 million renovation
of Peterson Hall of Science, but Harlo Hadow prefers his outdoor
classroom. If you’ve ever visited the Coe College Wilderness Field
Station near Ely, Minn., you’d understand why.
Hadow, the Heins-Johnson Professor of Biology and this year’s recipient of
the Charles J. Lynch Outstanding Teacher Award, celebrated his 25th year
as director of the field station this summer. In his 35th year at Coe, Hadow
has been involved with the field station since his third week on the faculty.
“I fell in love with the place,” he said.
Summers since 1980 have included teaching courses at the former
Associated Colleges of the Midwest outpost. With Hadow firmly entrenched
as its director, Coe assumed operation of the field station in 2002 when the
ACM decided to close it.
Hadow championed that move by Coe, as he did Coe’s 2008 purchase of
120 acres of wilderness around the field station. He makes regular visits
to small colleges across the country to promote summer classes at the
field station and will lead the charge to raise needed funds for additional
property acquisition and to rebuild the endowment to support field station
operations.
Hadow said he is driven by the goal of leaving the field station in good
shape for his eventual successor, not that he has yet entertained such
thoughts. “When I think of my legacy at Coe, the field station is it,” he said.
“I can probably anticipate being up there forever.”
Hadow earned his bachelor’s from Milton College and his master’s and
Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He has taught in the Coe
Biology Department since 1977.
Educated as a vertebrate behavioral ecologist, Hadow has researched
the communication, growth and development, and ecology of various
woodpeckers in the U.S. and Central America. Other research interests
include the salamander population dynamics in Iowa and urban deer
populations in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. He teaches classes in human
anatomy, comparative chordate anatomy, embryology, ornithology and
vertebrate natural history.
Hadow said he was particularly close to a number of students in the Coe
class of 2012, which selected him for the honor. Despite the turmoil caused
by the Peterson renovation, he advised the honors project on blue-spotted
salamanders by Jeff Powell ’12, winner of the DeJong Biology Research
Award.
“It’s kind of neat that those stars aligned,” Hadow said.
Over 35 years at Coe, Hadow has befriended a long list of special students
and faculty colleagues. He marvels at how the Coe campus has changed
over that time. And he relishes every moment spent teaching in and
recruiting students to the boundary waters.
“I love my students and I love the place,” he said. “I just feel so spoiled
when I’m teaching up there.”
RIGHT, TOP: Heins-Johnson Professor of Biolgoy Harlo Hadow in his natural
habitat at the Coe College Wilderness Field Station near Ely, Minn.
BOTTOM: Heins-Johnson Professor of Biology Harlo Hadow received the
Charles J. Lynch Outstanding Teacher Award, and a hug from President
James Phifer, at commencement.
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LOWER LEFT:
Speakers at the
Peterson Hall of Science
rededication included
(front row, left to right):
B.D. Silliman Professor
of Physics Steve Feller,
Chemistry Professor
Maria Dean, and Henry
& Margaret Haegg
Professor of Biology
Paula Sanchini. (Back
row): Vice President of
Academic Affairs and
Dean of the Faculty
Marie Baehr, guest
speaker Professor
Delbert Day, Trustee
Kent Herink '76, and Coe
President James Phifer.
LOWER RIGHT:
The names of donors
contributing $5,000 or
more to the Peterson
Hall Renovation
Project are included
on the element of
their choosing from
the Periodic Table of
Elements on display in
the lobby outside of
Cherry Auditorium.
Rededication Celebrates Peterson Renovation
During Homecoming weekend, Coe
celebrated the reopening of Peterson Hall of
Science following this summer's $12 million
renovation with a rededication ceremony
and tours.
The guest speaker for the event was Delbert
E. Day, Curators' Professor Emeritus of
Materials Science and Engineering and
Senior Investigator of the Graduate Center
for Materials Research at the Missouri
University of Science and Technology. Coe
President James Phifer and Coe science
faculty members also gave remarks during
the ceremony. Kent Herink '76, a physics
major and attorney, offered appreciation on
behalf of the Coe Board of Trustees.
Attendees were able to see the results of
this summer's major renovation project,
as well as Coe's modern research-grade
equipment. Major funding for the project
was provided through a $4.7 million grant
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– the largest ever received by the college
– from the National Science Foundation
(NSF), earned through a highly competitive
peer-review process. A $1.5 million grant
for the project was provided by the HallPerrine Foundation. Additional support was
provided by other grants and generous gifts
from alumni, faculty and staff, and friends
of the college.
The remodeling involved gutting the
interior and reconfiguring space to create
classrooms and laboratories that are fully
capable of housing Coe's modern researchgrade equipment. The success of faculty
efforts has resulted in a growing number of
state-of-the-art instruments, all of which
require dedicated spaces and superior
infrastructure. Finally, new mechanicals and
lighting were installed to create an inviting
and welcoming educational environment.
Phifer. “We kept the existing footprint and
created a completely new science building.”
While the inside of the building is new,
some additional work is planned to
complete the project. Next summer, a large
entrance will be constructed on the east
end of the building along College Drive,
creating additional study spaces for science
students. In addition, new windows will be
installed in the entire building to improve
energy efficiency. The end result is the
transformation of the 44-year-old building
into a modern science center.
Peterson Hall of Science, named for
legendary Coe Chemistry Professor Ben
Peterson ’18, was dedicated on June 8,
1968. It replaced Stuart Hall, originally
named Carnegie Hall of Science and
opened in 1910, as the home for Coe’s
science programs.
“This is a new building in an old skin,” said
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HOMECOMING 2012
Alumni and friends of the college rekindled their passion for the crimson and gold at this year’s Homecoming celebration,
held Sept. 26-30. Nearly 1,300 registered guests were on campus to enjoy the weekend, including 508 alumni.
Prior to the football game, nearly 800 guests were served at the popular Brat 'n Beverage tent. Other large gatherings
included the Golden Reunion Luncheon and the All-Alumni Banquet. Honored classes included 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, the
golden anniversary class of 1962, 1966-68, 1971-72, 1991-93 and 2002. In addition, the 100th anniversary of the Delta Delta
Delta sorority was celebrated, along with a reunion of African-American alumni. (See Class Notes for group photos.)
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Plan ar 's Ho ration
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT
The Class of 1962 celebrated Coe’s past, present and future riding in the 50th reunion float in the Homecoming parade.
More than 250 students took the stage at the annual Homecoming Showcase Concert. Chorale, Concert Band,
Concert Choir, Crimson & Gold, Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra performed a wide variety of music, as
well as traditional Coe favorites.
Taking advantage of picture-perfect weather with fall colors in full bloom, a large crowd watched the 25th-ranked
Kohawk football team crush Buena Vista 51-0 for its first shutout victory in five years.
James and Linnie Phifer, Coe’s President and First Lady, were parade grand marshals as well as honorary captains at
the football game. In honor of their 28 years of service to Coe, they were named honorary alumni by the Alumni Council
at the All-Alumni Banquet.
Mathematics Professor Kent Herron was quite comfortable piloting his tractor at the Homecoming parade.
With ideal running conditions, the Homecoming 5k attracted 230 participants of all ages. Kyle Heineman ’12 led from
wire to wire before finishing in 16:58. Assistant cross country coach Hannah Weiss led the women with a time of 20:33.
2012 alumni award winners (left to right) Don Erusha ’52, Amy Jo Burgin ’02, Celia “Cece” Lynch Van Metre ’52,
Dr. Bruce Jafek ’62 and Albert Kircher ’51. Erusha, Jafek and Kircher received the Alumni Award of Merit. Van Metre
received the Distinguished Service Award for her many years as a supporter and volunteer for Coe. Burgin was
honored as recipient of the Young Alum Award.
Jacob Fuentes ’13 and Deanna Marguglio ’13 were crowed 2012 Homecoming king and queen.
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Epic restoration for an invaluable instrument
Coe Organ Roars
Back to Life
By Rod Pritchard
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A
national historic treasure – the Skinner
organ in Sinclair Auditorium – is being
restored to its original grandeur thanks
to support of interested donors, two large grants
and the work of a talented Coe alumnus. The
first phase of the restoration was completed on
May 4, just in time for the massive instrument
to roar back to life for Coe’s Baccalaureate the
following day.
Purchased new for $35,000, the Skinner Opus
771 was initially installed in Veterans Memorial
Coliseum on May’s Island in downtown Cedar
Rapids in March of 1930. Intended to draw
people to the city center with concerts, the
organ was brought to Cedar Rapids just as the
general popularity of such music was beginning
to wane. In 1950, Coe College petitioned the
Veterans Memorial Commission to take the
Skinner on permanent loan and install it in the
new Sinclair Auditorium. With provisions made
in the building design to accommodate the
instrument, the relocation occurred in 1952, and
the magnificent organ has resided on the Coe
campus ever since.
Ironically, one of the world’s leading organ
experts and restorers is Jeff Weiler ’81, who
earned a music degree at Coe and went on to
graduate studies in music at Northwestern
University in Chicago. The son of a church
organist, the Traer, Iowa, native describes
himself as always being “very intrigued” with
the mechanism and sound of organs. He vividly
recalls his initial encounter with the Skinner
Opus 771 at Coe, which he calls an “old friend.”
“It colored my perceptions of what pipe organs
should sound like and how they should be
built,” said Weiler. “The Skinner is an enormous
cultural asset. It’s iconic in terms of its heritage
value. But just in terms of what it represents as a
physical asset, it’s significant, too.”
While he originally intended to pursue an
academic career upon completing the course
work for his doctorate, he instead returned to
his first love – the pipe organ. As his career
began, Weiler worked for a number of organ
builders and organ restorers to gain knowledge
of the craft. That experience led to formation of
his own firm 27 years ago, headquartered in the
south loop of downtown Chicago. Both on site
and from his workshop, he and 13 colleagues
restore organs from across the United States and
around the world.
“We use a lot of techniques that would be
familiar to conservators of art,” explained
Weiler. “We regard this instrument as a work
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of art, so we have to be exceedingly careful with
what we do.”
Built in Boston by esteemed American builder
Ernest M. Skinner, the organ “is the best of the
best,” representing the work of the company
“at the zenith of its musical and mechanical
development,” Weiler says.
“After this instrument was built, things
started to change,” he said. “It was the Great
Depression, and it was never the same again.”
After several years of planning, Weiler and his
team spent about a year to complete phase one
of the organ’s renovation. Typically, Weiler likes
to restore things precisely to original condition.
However, in this case, the basement room
housing the ventilation equipment was too close
to the Sinclair steam line, with damage caused
when the pipes burst. A new, environmentally
controlled room was built directly under the
Sinclair stage to house what Weiler calls the
“lungs of the colossus.”
Weiler said temperature, humidity and a
dust-free environment are all important
considerations when dealing with an historic
instrument of this significance. “We’ve gone
to great lengths to design this room to be
controllable environmentally,” he said.
When restoring an organ, Weiler always begins
with the air supply. Two large turbines create
the air to power the organ, with three large
boxes serving as the bellows for the instruments.
While parts of the organ were rebuilt in Weiler’s
Chicago workshop, two Cedar Rapids firms Hupp Electric Motors and Climate Engineers
– were used to rebuild the electric motors and
fabricate new piping, respectively.
“There is so much about a pipe organ that is
metaphorically explained like the human body,”
Weiler said. “What you’re seeing here (in the
new room) is a big part of the cardiovascular
system and the lungs.”
With the restoration of full airflow, Weiler says
the organ’s 3,170 pipes will sound better than
ever in Sinclair.
“When the organ was moved to Coe, we
postulate that there was concern that the organ
would be too powerful, so steps were taken to
tame down the most heroic voices in the organ,”
explained Weiler. “As a part of our restoration,
we are going to reverse all of that, because there
are times musically in which the organ has to
overpower an orchestra, or a large chorus, or
sometimes an orchestra and a chorus together.
A tremendous amount of musical drama is
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C O U R I E R
produced by the organ, so as a part of our scope
of work, we are going to reverse changes so that
the organ will sound exactly as it did at its first
home. So the heroic voices will be heroic once
again.”
While phase one took about a year, the
renovation is part of a multi-year process that
will take many years, depending on the funding
stream. The Joseph G. Bradley Charitable
Foundation has committed $800,000 for the
project. Phase one was completed with $100,000
in contributions from many friends, including
$35,000 from Wayne Basler and a $50,000 grant
from the Veterans Memorial Commission of
Cedar Rapids. Weiler works in a way to get the
“most bang for the buck” as quickly as possible
with restorations.
“It is very fortuitous that there is a foundation
(Bradley) that supports the restoration of pipe
organs by this builder,” noted Weiler.
With the replacement cost for the organ in the
millions of dollars, Weiler says the great organs
of yesteryear are truly unique.
“This instrument cannot be recreated, because
some of the materials that are contained
within this instrument are not available to
contemporary pipe organ builders at any price,”
said Weiler.
Although the Skinner at Coe is the largest
in Cedar Rapids, Weiler has worked with St.
Mark’s Lutheran Church in nearby Marion to
install a smaller Skinner. As well, there is a small
Skinner organ at the Brucemore historical estate
near Coe. Weiler says it is “really incredible” to
have three such organs in the same area, leading
to the possibility of organ festivals in the future.
Weiler indicated that the restoration of the Coe
instrument has attracted worldwide attention
with organ enthusiasts. When fully restored, the
Skinner will be the centerpiece of international
organ recitals.
“This is a way for the college to garner attention
in a unique way,” said Weiler. “It brings a
tremendous amount of prestige back to the
institution.”
The Skinner Organ Company built about 750
organs of all sizes, and it is estimated that 100
may be in existence today. However, the sheer
magnitude of the organ at Coe puts it into a rare
class of its own. Weiler says very few of these
instruments have been restored.
“This is a gift to the nation,” he said. “It’s that
important, and I think everybody needs to
understand that.” ¡
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$90 million raised in Coe’s
Defining Moment
C
oe College celebrated the
largest and most important
campaign in its history at a
gala event held Oct. 18 in Sinclair
Auditorium. Defining Moment: The
Campaign for Coe, raised $90 million
– $10 million more than the original
$80 million goal – that will be used
to bolster four major areas of the
college, all with the goal of supporting
the academic quality and learning
environment at the institution.
The finale – which featured a review
of the major segments of the campaign
and a dramatic announcement of the
total – was attended by an excited
group of benefactors and friends of the
college. Voiceover artist Mo Bayles
Moos ’89 was the announcer with Fox
NFL Sunday Host and Coe Trustee
Curt Menefee ’87 serving as emcee.
Alumni from across the decades were
featured speakers – including trustees
Shirley Hughes ’67, David Carson
’72, Ken Golder ’82 and campaign
chair Gene Henderson ’68, as well
as recent graduates Nikki Claussen
’95, Katherine Roger ’08, Kevin
Randall ’08 and Alex Michaud ’09.
The program included performances
by dozens of Coe student musicians
and alumni Jonathan Dyrland ’01,
Andy Doll ’08, Angela Meisterling
Billman ’08 and Katherine Black ’12.
In January 2005, the silent phase of the
Defining Moment Campaign began.
The campaign moved to the public
phase in December 2007, concluding
on June 30 of this year. Coe’s previous
campaign, One By One, ended in
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2001, with $61 million given to
support the institution. In total, more
than $150 million has been raised
over the past 15 years to benefit Coe
students – exceeding the total amount
previously raised by the college in its
160-year history.
college. It will do nothing less than
position the institution for success
across many generations to come,
touching the lives of students yet
unborn. Every person who loves Coe
College can take enormous satisfaction
in the success of this campaign.”
The Defining Moment Campaign
had four primarily facets: growth of
the endowment, the renovation of
Peterson Hall of Science, campus
expansion, and the enhancement of
annual contributions through the
Coe Fund. Significant progress was
made in all areas, with the endowment
doubling in size to about $80 million
and providing more scholarships for
Coe students. The most tangible
capital result was this summer’s $12
million major renovation of Peterson
Hall. As well, Coe has purchased 80
percent of the property designated for
its latest campus expansion project,
significantly increasing the physical
footprint of the college.
Henderson, who served as campaign
chair while also chairing the Board
of Trustees for the past three years,
joined Phifer in thanking those
who have supported the successful
campaign, and noted its long-term
impact on the college.
President James Phifer expressed his
gratitude for those who supported
the campaign, especially when it
took place during the worst overall
economic conditions in decades,
coupled with the devastating local
impact of the Cedar Rapids flood
of 2008.
“The ability for Coe to continue to
change lives for the better has been
increased many fold by the success of
this campaign,” Phifer said. “Indeed,
it is difficult to overstate the impact
the Defining Moment Campaign has
had and will continue to have on the
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“While the various aspects of the
campaign we are celebrating are all
very important, the fact that the
college is in the strongest and most
secure overall financial position in its
history is the most significant outcome
of all,” said Henderson.
The passing of K. Raymond Clark
’30 in 2005 made Coe the beneficiary
of an unparalleled gift of $18 million
to its earning endowment, providing
Coe with a foundation of financial
security and providing the lead gift
for the campaign. Other large gifts
included a $1.5 grant from the HallPerrine Foundation, $640,000 from
Cedar Rapids residents Cornelia and
Donald Ross ’42, and $500,000 from
Jerre Stead ’65 and his family for the
renovation of Peterson Hall. However,
the support for the campaign was
broad based, with contributions
received from more than 10,000
supporters of the college.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT:
Jonathan Dyrland ’01 and Jane Lindemann
15 ’wowed the Sinclair crowd with their
performance of “Go The Distance.”
Coe alumni and students performed “This
Is The Moment” at the conclusion of the
campaign finale.
Ken Golder ’82 and Alex Michaud ’09
discuss improvements made to Peterson
Hall of Science as a result of the campaign.
Katherine Roger ’08 and Kevin Randall ’08
discuss the campaign’s role in furthering
campus expansion.
Campaign chair Gene Henderson ’68
reveals the total amount raised in Defining
Moment: The Campaign for Coe.
Trustees Curt Menefee ’87 and David
Carson ’72 share a light moment on stage.
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’38
65TH REUNION:
HOMECOMING 2014
’39
H. Everett Russell
and his wife, Dorothy,
of Mechanicsville, Iowa,
celebrated their 60th wedding
anniversary on July 5.
75TH REUNION:
HOMECOMING 2014
H
A
V
E
N
E
W
S
’43
70TH REUNION:
OCT. 18-20, 2013
?
Pauline Huston Miller of
Cedar Rapids celebrated her
90th birthday on April 14.
Information compiled in “Class Notes” comes from a
variety of sources, including direct correspondence from
alumni, clipping services and news releases. The college
received these class notes by Aug 3. The deadline for the
winter issue is Jan. 1. Announcements older than one year
at the time they are submitted will not be published.
’44
70TH REUNION:
HOMECOMING 2014
’47
Please follow these basic guidelines when
submitting information:
Helen Rosain
Anderson and Paul
Anderson ’50 of Vinton,
Iowa, celebrated their 65th
wedding anniversary on May
10.
NEWS – At least the following basic information
should be provided with any submission: name
and class year, spouse name and class year if
Coe alum, city and state of residence, and your
news. Please spell out acronyms. Milestones
(anniversaries, birthdays, etc.) will be noted only in
five-year increments (25th, 30th, etc.)
’49
75TH REUNION:
OCT. 18-20, 2013
’48
65th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
MARRIAGES AND ANNIVERSARIES – Include
both spouses’ full names (including birth/maiden
names, where applicable) and complete date.
Please notify us after your wedding; we cannot
publish based on an engagement announcement.
’50
Ken Erger and his
wife, Ginger, of Cedar Rapids
celebrated their 65th wedding
anniversary on June 30.
Marv Levy of Chicago was
inducted July 14 as the 209th
member of the Des Moines
Sunday Register’s Iowa Sports
Hall of Fame.
’52
William
Rossberger of Chicago
retired after over 40 years
as an avid, competitive and
winning sailor. The Chicago
Corinthian Yacht Club has
honored him by establishing
the “Rossberger Regatta” to
open the area racing season
each year.
BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS – Include child’s first
name, legal names of parents (mother’s birth/
maiden name will be published if Coe alum) and
complete date.
DEATHS – Include full name, complete date and
city/state of residence at time of death. Please
include a newspaper obituary, if possible.
PHOTOS – Digital photos must be at least 300
dpi when sized to 3.75 inches wide. Please
save the file as a TIFF or JPEG file. We must
have the photographer's permission to print a
copyrighted photo. Please indicate if you would
like prints returned.
Among those registered for Homecoming activities were these alumni who graduated
more than 50 years ago – Lucile Hamrin Boedy ’42, Don Ross ’42, True Miller
Sherman ’42, Mary Ann Blakemore Farrington ’45, Jean Benner Buck ’49, George
Henry ’49, Mary Hamblin Ovrom ’49, Merle Buck ’50, Ralph LaCombe ’50, Wanita
Ward LaCombe ’50, Chet Casali ’51, Judy Jostes Chadima ’51, Bill Davenport ’51, Al
Kircher ’51, Lois Strother Davis ’52, George Dostal ’52, Don Erusha ’52, Marilyn
Gates Mainardi ’52, Don Ribble ’52, Cece Lynch Van Metre ’52, Steve Christ ’53,
Marlyce Anderson Murdoch ’53, Kaye Paine Christ ’54, David Marner ’55, Marge
Lala Stone ’55, Denny Hanson ’56, Wayne Phillips ’56, Larry Bone ’57, Marilyn
Batz Bone ’57, David Cox ’57, Jo Miller Day ’57, Janette Manny Hanson ’57, John
Rosenberg ’57, Mary Ann Turnbull Kucera ’58, Howard Kucera ’58, Mary Lou
Pazour ’58, Barb Williams Rosenberg ’58, Sue Elscott Davis ’59, Jerald Davis ’59,
Diane Bouchard Etienne ’59, John Miller ’59, Barbara “Lani” Fisher Johnson ’60,
Claudia Christensen Miller ’60, Nina Nielander Peterson ’60, Nancy Peterson
Snyder ’60, Marilyn Andrews Watson ’60, John Anderson ’61, Bob Dutton ’61, Faye
Hasler Holm ’61 and Barbara Powell Sherman ’61.
Submit information to:
Courier editor at [email protected] or phone
(319) 399-8613 or fax (319) 399-8210.
Mail to 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
Information may also be submitted online at
www.public.coe.edu/alumni/alumnimailform.htm.
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’67
James Murphy
and his wife, Pam, of
Escondido, Calif., celebrated
their 40th wedding anniversary
on June 17.
Ralph Montgomery
of Parker, Colo., is chief
administrator at Early Success
Academy.
’70
’73
Ann Hoffman of
Denver returned from Ecuador
in April and plans to go back
next year. She plans to visit
Mexico this fall to investigate
part-time residency.
Cedar Rapids enjoyed a chance meeting with Anne and Robert
Bahr ’74 of Bar Harbor, Maine, during a side trip from a vacation
in eastern Canada. The Bahrs own the Cleftstone Manor and
White Columns Inn, and Bob also plays piano two nights a week
at the nearby Bar Harbor Inn. “You can imagine our emotional
homecoming, because we were not only good friends at Coe, but
actually moved each other to graduate schools in Akron, Ohio, and
Washington, D.C., after we graduated in 1974,” DJ said.
’53
60th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
’54
60th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
’57
Dolores Klouda
Leach and her husband, Gary,
of Cedar Rapids celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary
on June 10.
’58
55th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
’59
55th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
’60
Mary Jo Lorenc
Crull and her husband, Chuck,
of Cedar Rapids celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary
on April 4.
Lee Overton of Hiawatha,
Iowa, retired June 30 after
working for nearly 60 years.
F A L L
2 0 1 2
’61
Thomas Kolda and
Gail Kettler Kolda ’62 of
Westerville, Ohio, celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary
on June 30.
’62
Frederick Klein of
Winston-Salem, N.C., recently
graduated with a certificate in
paralegal technology. He will
specialize in civil litigation.
’72
William Hession
of Beaver Dam, Wis.,
retired after 33 years as a
librarian with the state of
Wisconsin, including 31 years
as head librarian at Dodge
Correctional Institution, a
maximum security intake
institution for felons, and two
years as librarian at Central
State Hospital, a maximum
security facility for the
criminally mentally ill.
’68
’74 DJ Smith ’74 and Abbie Peterson Smith ’75 (left) of
reestablishing her quilt studio
in Shelburne Falls after her
building was washed away
during Hurricane Irene.
Tony Patterson
is chief administrative officer
and general counsel at Kalispell
Regional Healthcare. Marylou
Britt Patterson is on the
board of the local symphony
and community college in
Whitefish, Mont., where they
live. They are both trustees
of the Glacier National Park
Fund.
’71
Ann Brauer of
Ashfield, Mass., published an
article titled “Focused on the
Future” in the summer issue
of Studios magazine about
40th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
Cindy Dvorak and JD
Combellick of Marion, Iowa,
celebrated her 25th wedding
anniversary with an open
house July 8.
William Graff of
Livermore, Calif., is director
of certification services at
MiCOM Labs.
’74
40th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
’63
50th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
Les Kittler of Crosby, Texas,
recently opened a law office
specializing in business,
corporate and oil and gas law.
He also organized Energy
Capital Company to raise
capital to invest in oil and
natural gas projects in Texas
and Louisiana.
’64
50th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
George Opsahl of Lake
Oswego, Ore., is president of
Clearbrook Technology.
C O E
C O L L E G E
23
Class of ’62 50th reunion – (Front row, left to right) Jean Johnson Sidner,
Joyce Lamparek Anderson, Judy Rennix Leason, Dot McCarter
Quiggan, Gail Graeber Mesplay and Mina Ingersoll. (Second row) Jerry
Adams, Charlie Wright, Bill Loftus, Bob Lana, Pete Bryant, Lynn
Brewer Reetz and Larry Fink. (Third row) Mary Kirkpatrick Jafek,
Bruce Jafek, Tom Petersen, Veta Dunnick Hildebrand, Tex Ritter, Jan
Schwank Van Slyke, Vicki Burroughs Bixler and Rusty Wicks. (Back row)
Ross Madden, Bob Sherman, Bob Thurness, Bart Thiele and Diana
Smith Davis.
C O U R I E R
w w w . c o e . e d u
Gale Mote of Mount Vernon,
Iowa, earned the Certified
Professional in Learning
and Performance credential
from the American Society
for Training & Development
Certification Institute. She
is a professional trainer and
organizational development
consultant with Gale Mote
Associates.
Edwin Van Beek of
Edinburgh, U.K., is the chair
of clinical radiology at the
University of Edinburgh.
He maintains a clinical trials
business in Iowa and is a
consultant at the University of
Iowa.
’82
Larry Atwater
and Sue Petersen Atwater
MAT ’98 of Cedar Rapids
celebrated their 25th wedding
anniversary on July 25.
’87
James Dostal (right) of Cedar Rapids receives a plaque
from Navy Pilot Mark Tedrow before boarding an F/A-18 Super
Hornet during the Great Minnesota Air Show in Mankato on June
6. Dostal, a teacher at Jefferson High School and assistant Coe
football coach, was invited to fly with the famed flight demonstration
squadron as part of the Navy’s Blue Angel Key Influencer Program.
Dostal, a long-time aviation fan, invites members of the armed
forces to address his political science students each year so they can
get a better idea of the role of the military in American society.
Millie Bordwell Youngquist
of Washington, Iowa, retired
after teaching vocal music for
36 years in Iowa public schools.
She is executive director of
the Community Foundation
of Washington County. She
will be honored in November
by the Iowa Choral Directors
Association and the Iowa High
School Music Association for
her years of service.
’75
Sherrie Tweedie
Finch of Dallas runs a pet
sitting business and volunteers
at various non-profits. She is
currently in remission from
ovarian cancer diagnosed in
September 2011.
’76
Steven Kline of
Washington, D.C., retired
from PG&E Corp. after 32
years.
’77
35th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
’78
35th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
F A L L
Carl Foster and his wife,
Lois, of Marion, Iowa,
celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary on June 17.
2 0 1 2
’84
30th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
Lance Dunn was appointed
to the board of directors of
Blucora, the parent company of
TaxACT, which he co-founded
in 1998. He and Karen
DeBeer Dunn ’85 live in
Marion, Iowa.
’83
30th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
Henry Bruce of Indianapolis
retired from the United Parcel
Service after 35 years as the
human resources benefits
analyst for the Ohio Valley
District.
Kathleen O’Connell Hartman
of Alexandria, Va., is the
treasurer for T.K. Trucking.
Joel Barrows of Bettendorf,
Iowa, was appointed as an
Iowa District Court judge by
Gov. Terry Branstad. He was
previously an assistant U.S.
attorney for the Southern
District of Iowa.
Plato Ghinos of State
College, Pa., was named
Conti Professor at Penn State
University.
Timothy Fahrner of Webster
Groves, Mo., is a research
lab supervisor at Washington
University Medical School.
’79
Cathy Spurr Terukina
of Cedar Rapids is vice
chairwoman of the
Community Development
Innovation Council of the
Cedar Rapids Metro Economic
Alliance.
35th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
’80
Amy Peterson
Case received her Ph.D. in
public health policy from the
University of Texas Health
Science Center in Houston.
She and Jaime Case live in
Vancouver, Wash.
’81
Cathryn Bearov
of Chicago started two bedside
singing groups for those who
are gravely ill or near death. In
addition, Sacred Harp keeps
her busy singing when she is
not being a librarian at the
Chicago Public Library. She
is also heavily engaged in an
editing business on the side.
C O E
C O L L E G E
24
The classes of 1966-68 gathered for a cluster reunion at the Marriott
Hotel. Classmates registered for Homecoming weekend activities
were: Class of 1966 – Jane Ludemann Edwards, Dick Lewis,
Comly Gregory Lewis, Ron Manaster, Garry Solmonson,
William Wells and Gaylen Nelson Wobeter. 1967 – Connie
Zuber Baugh, James Murphy, Karen Andrews Zarse and Nancy
Weller Zieg. 1968 – Lynn Miller Brosious, Rick Carlson, Ann
Hoffman, Dianne Miles, Pete Taggart, Nancy Wagner, Judy
Maier Welter and Mary Scharfenberg Wujcik.
C O U R I E R
w w w . c o e . e d u
’85
30th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
Col. Rusty Lingenfelter
of Alexandria, Va., retired
from the Army after 31 years.
He is now vice president of
technology operations at
OnPoint Consulting while
pursuing his Ph.D. with
Capella University.
’86
Kris Gulick of
Cedar Rapids was named to
the board of directors for the
Entrepreneurial Development
Center.
Phyllis Wiggins of
Milwaukee was elected the
president of Milwaukee Jewish
Community Chorale.
’88
25th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
Vickie Pickering Ozburn
of Lisbon, Iowa, is quality
and inventory management
manager at Rockwell Collins.
’89
25th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
Melissa Rodgers Mungai
is a global process manager
at Nike Inc. She and Segeni
Mungai live in Portland, Ore.
’91
Noelle Lange
Davidson of Glendale, Calif., is
a senior analyst for Child Care
Results.
Ellen O’Malley of Rochelle,
Ill., is executive editor of News
Media Corp.
John Rudisill is associate
professor with tenure in the
Philosophy Department at The
College of Wooster, where
he also serves as chair of the
pre-law advising program.
In February, he received the
2012 Lenssen Prize, awarded
by the American Association
F A L L
2 0 1 2
of Philosophy Teachers. The
award recognizes the best
research article about teaching
and learning in philosophy
published in the last two years.
He and Stephanie Siddens
Rudisill ’94 live in Mount
Vernon, Ohio.
’92
master’s in psychology with
a specialization in diversity
management at Cleveland State
University.
Robert Johnsen of Mount
Prospect, Ill., is the director of
non-foods procurement with
ARYZTA LLC.
Wendy Hamilton of Omaha,
Neb., is fund development
director at Girl Scouts Spirit
of Nebraska. During a time
of unemployment, she was
featured in the book and
documentary “Not Working”
Tim Kloewer
of San Antonio is the head
athletic trainer for Stevens
High School and was selected
as an athletic trainer for the
2012 US Army All-American
Bowl.
’94
Ollie Dent of
Cedar Rapids joined the
management team at Ruhl &
Ruhl Realtors.
The classes of 1971-72 gathered for a cluster reunion at the Marriott Hotel.
Classmates registered for Homecoming weekend activities were: Class of
1971 – Lee Benson, Sandy Halverson Brokl, Kenneth Bunce, Kate
Dougherty, Nancy Hamblin Evans, Ann Wilson Ferner, Larry McPhail,
Linda Weiss Rawson, Richard Silverman, Karen Soteco, Nick Spencer,
Odis Von Blasingame, Linda Kerr Wells and Bruce Williams. 1972 –
Steve Baird, Darryl Banks, Delores Lindsey Bordeaux, Dan DenBeste,
James Evans, Linda Brady Fonstad, Michael Griffin, Barbara Bathke
Griffin-Silz, Mary Jo Wagley Hamre, Chip Kensinger Jr., Joe Payton,
Thomas Rawson, Naomi Okumura Story, George Tsui, George
Tucker, Marcy Orwig Van Evera and Carolyn Williams Meza.
Kristi Niebuhr Rummel of
Cedar Rapids celebrated her
40th birthday in April.
’95
Tom Wagner is
assistant principal at Central
High School in Omaha, Neb.,
where he and Erica Hawley
Wagner live.
’96
Lara Edmundson
Couture of Milwaukee is
director of advancement
services at Carroll University.
Keri Jacobs of Ames,
Iowa, as assistant professor
of economics at Iowa State
University, has been appointed
by the Iowa Institute of
Cooperatives to a research and
extension position focused on
the economics of cooperatives
and working with Iowa co-ops
to address emerging issues.
Marcia Lovelace Kilpatrick
Madlock of Midway, Utah,
is owner and counselor with
Sundance Counseling.
’97
15th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
Michael Almony of
Cleveland is pursuing his
C O E
C O L L E G E
Jen McGee of Moline, Ill.,
was selected as one of the 2012
Quad Cities Area Leaders
Under 40 in March. She is vice
president and internal audit
manager at QCR Holdings.
She is also vice president for
the Moline Public Library
Board of Trustees and
volunteers with Big Brothers
Big Sisters and the United
Way.
Nancy Nygren and her
husband, Wesley, of Cedar
Rapids celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary on July
13.
’98
15th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
’99
15th Cluster
Reunion: Oct. 18-20, 2013
25
C O U R I E R
reflecting on her experiences in
the non-profit sector and how
the job market changed after
2008.
Ann Manson of Manchester,
Iowa, is a shareholder in
Gosling & Co.
Val Sowell of Philadelphia
published her first journal
article, “Innovative digital
HIV and AIDS education and
prevention for marginalised
communities: Philadelphia’s
Frontline TEACH,” at Digital
Culture & Education.
’00
Tricia
Ostermann of Brooklyn,
N.Y., is the music director for
the Congregation Rodeph
Sholom community theater’s
spring production of “Damn
Yankees.” She continues to
work as an assistant music/
w w w . c o e . e d u
DVD buyer in the corporate
office of Barnes & Noble
and performs in cabarets and
theater productions around
the city. Last year she also
started writing a travel blog
(www.singingwithelephants.
blogspot.com) showcasing
her photography and travels
around the world.
’01
Camerawork, he exhibited a
selection of works from the
past few years that explore
photography’s technological
history, including his recreation of a full-scale group
darkroom.
’03
10th Reunion:
Oct. 18-20, 2013
Wendy Andrews
Nielsen, assistant vice
president at Cedar Rapids
Bank & Trust, was named
chairwoman of the United
Way’s Young Leader Society.
Nick Nielsen is director
of business development at
GreatAmerica Leasing. They
live in Marion, Iowa.
Michelle Davids of Dedham,
Mass., is a psychiatry resident
at Harvard Medical School.
Kami Lane Holmes of
Chelsea, Iowa, is a partner
in the Waterloo law firm
of Swisher & Cohrt. She
primarily practices in the areas
of family law, civil litigation
and insurance defense.
10th Reunion:
Homecoming 2014
’02
Eric Carroll of San
Francisco received the 2012
Baum Award for An Emerging
American Photographer.
In May and June at SF
Adam Hutchinson of
Reno, Nevada, is a senior
financial analyst with Ebara
International Cryodynamics
Division.
’04
Desirae Leipply of Colorado
Springs, Colo., owns and
operates The Cupcake Doctor,
a bakery and delivery service.
’05
Kim Miller, a
fourth-year joint doctoral
student at San Diego State
University and the University
of California-Davis, is
spending the year in Finland
Joining current students at a reunion reception and dinner at the African American
Museum in Cedar Rapids during Homecoming were Yvonne Nathaniel Fogerty
’70, Odis Von Blasingame ’71, Darryl Banks ’72, Delores Lindsey Bordeaux ’72,
Michael Griffin ’72, George Tucker ’72, Carolyn Williams Meza ’72, Willard
Mosely ’73, Elaine Washington Mosely ’73, Steven Moshier ’73, Gregory
Rhodes ’73, Clinton Stevenson ’73, Eric Armstrong ’74, Mark Johnson ’74,
Ruby Smith Love ’74, Ed McFalls ’74, Sheila Oldham ’74, Gloria Tate ’74,
Carson Veach ’74, Madeline McCoy ’75, Marvin Ware ’75, Dwayne Daniels ’76,
Dorothy Jordan ’77, Vanessa Shelton ’77, Annie Chism-Conway ’78, Tai Moore
’11 and Stead Professor Emeritus of English James Randall. The event paid honor to
former Coe academic services advisor Phoebe Smith.
F A L L
2 0 1 2
C O E
C O L L E G E
26
Participants in a Homecoming weekend reunion of Coe softball
alumni were Diane Meyer ’85, Katie McGuire Graham ’86, Kim
Russ Klosterman ’86, Jodi Bauer Stepanek ’00, Jamie Dalby
Schadt ’02, Leah Fuhrman ’04, Amy Hanse ’09, Megan Jack
’09, Dani Leavens ’09, Sonja Schwenker ’09, Katie Kramer ’10,
Krystal Kopp ’11, Stephanie Miller ’11, Amanda Hanson ’12,
Ashley Hood ’12, Micah Nardini ’12, Sidney Ridout ’12 and
Ashlee Simon ’12.
on a Fulbright grant and a
fellowship with the AmericanScandinavian Foundation. “I
look at the interaction between
Fe-cycling and C-cycling
in Arctic wetlands, focusing
mainly on methane,” she said.
“I’ve worked the last three
years in Barrow, Alaska, and
decided that I wanted to try
for a comparative, companion
study in some other Arctic
wetlands, hence Finland.”
She makes a record six Coe
alumni with Fulbright awards
for 2012-13. Kim’s husband,
Brandon Kendhammer
’03, also received a Fulbright
to study in Nigeria in 2007-08.
’07
’06
Shelby Jansen Eck of
Macomb, Ill., is an office
support specialist in the
Foundation and Development
Office at Western Illinois
University.
Dr. Amanda
Kabel Lorenz of is a resident
physician at the Ohio State
University Wexner Medical
Center. She received her M.D.
from the University of Iowa in
May. Peter Lorenz continues
to work for Heartland Express
as a fleet manager. They live in
Columbus, Ohio.
Peter Sand of Norwalk,
Iowa, is the head athletic
trainer at Norwalk High
School through Iowa Health
Des Moines.
C O U R I E R
Sarah Duffel
received her Master of
Divinity from Vanderbilt
University and was
commissioned to serve as the
associate pastor of First United
Methodist Church in Boone,
Iowa.
Shelby Herig of North
Liberty, Iowa, received the
Barry Bratton Award for
Achievement in Design
of Instruction Processes
from the University of Iowa
College of Education, where
she is pursuing her Ph.D. in
educational psychology.
Matt Stoner of Cedar Rapids
is controller/accounting group
team leader in corporate
accounting at Shive-Hattery.
’08
5th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
Janean Bahr Powell of Des
Moines, Iowa, was featured
as one of the nation’s Top 50
w w w . c o e . e d u
Home Care Nurses in the
May edition of the National
Association for Home
Care and Hospice’s Caring
Magazine. She is a home care
nurse at VNS of Iowa.
Nick Leerhoff of Panora,
Iowa, expanded his business,
Progressions Fitness, with
another fitness center in
Ogden.
Amanda Smith Freeman of
Hiawatha, Iowa, works for US
Bank Home Mortgages and
was accepted into the Iowa
Mortgage Association’s 2011
President’s Club/Winners
Circle.
Kristy Upah Staker is the
wellness and public relations
coordinator for the Cedar
Rapids and Marion area HyVee stores. She and Tyler
Staker ’06 live in Cedar
Rapids.
Amelia Vohs of Valparaiso,
Ind., is a staff attorney at
Indiana’s largest non-profit
environmental organization,
Hoosier Environmental
Council.
’09
5th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
’10
Kendra Olson of Boston is
pursuing her J.D. at Suffolk
University Law School.
Jeffrey Benninghoven of
Cedar Rapids is a production
supervisor at Kapstone
Container.
Staci Thielen of Dubuque,
Iowa, successfully passed the
CPA exam and is an audit
associate specializing in the
healthcare industry for Eide
Bailly.
5th Cluster
Reunion: Homecoming
2014
Jenna DeHoet of
Davenport, Iowa, received her
master’s in athletic training
from University of Northern
Iowa in May. She is the athletic
trainer at Alleman High
School through Rock Valley
Physical Therapy.
Nicole Thiher of Cedar
Rapids is a visiting assistant
professor of economics at Coe
while pursuing her master’s
in international public affairs
Grant Stevens of Cedar
Rapids is development director
at the African American
Museum of Iowa.
Lauren Garcia of Cedar
Rapids is assistant director of
freshman admissions at Mount
Mercy University.
Lane Moser is pursuing
his master’s in public health,
in addition to his M.D.,
at the University of Iowa.
Michelle Klobassa Moser
’11 is a financial services
representative at the University
of Iowa Community Credit
Union. They live in Iowa City,
Iowa.
The class of 2002 celebrated its 10th Coe reunion with a party
at Mulligan’s Pub. Classmates registered for Homecoming
weekend activites were – Julie McIlrath Bennis, Kye Bennis,
Shannon Staker Cook, Hannah Schlotterback Egli, Valerie
Cantrell Epting, Becky Sheffield Gathje, Randi Gathje, Cole
Goater, Nathan Greene, Ryan Hilsabeck, Chad Hopp, Katie
Kensinger, Ramona Kellenberger Lawson, Michael McGill,
Thomas Pietras, Erin Herwig Pietras, Lindsay Brokens
Robinson, Rebecca Molle Runge, Amie Vernon Studer, Jamie
Toalston and Stephanie Engelbart Wendt.
’11
Chelsea Dowdell
of Cedar Rapids is marketing
and sleep lab manager with
Aim Healthcare/Reutzel
Pharmacy.
Jenna Guiter of Kirksville,
Mo., is a marketing assistant
with KTVO -TV.
Members of Delta Delta Delta flocked back to campus to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the sorority at Coe. Tri Delts were everywhere
Homecoming weekend, including more than 200 at this gathering hosted
by James and Linnie Phifer at Pleasant Hill.
2 0 1 2
Shogun Pradhan of
Des Moines, Iowa, is an
assurance associate with
PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Megan Fiala of Cedar Rapids
came back to Coe as public
relations coordinator and
assistant director of parent
programs.
from the University of
Wisconsin Madison.
F A L L
Nicholas Ludwig of
Indianapolis is an educational
leadership consultant for
Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
C O E
C O L L E G E
Kyle Hammann is a middle
school art teacher in Keokuk,
Iowa.
27
C O U R I E R
’12
Scott DeAngelis
is pursuing a joint law degree
and economics Ph.D. from
Vanderbilt University. He
received a full tuition waiver,
a generous stipend, and a
Harold Stirling Vanderbilt
Scholarship in recognition
of his outstanding academic
record.
Brennan Melloy of Bernard,
Iowa, is in sales at Clickstop.
Debra Ramirez of Omaha,
Neb., is a vocal music teacher
at St. Albert Catholic Schools.
Vinton, Iowa.
w w w . c o e . e d u
MARRIAGES
’02
Renee Krohne and
Greg Guyer of North Mankato,
Minn., on March 3.
’60
Betty Budd Pollack
and Don Kennedy of Fort Myers
Beach, Fla., on Feb. 17.
’03
Jessica Grimm and
Joseph Solinsky of Plymouth,
Minn., on May 25. Among those
attending was Dana Miller
Shepard ’03.
’79
Mary Sinks Asaro
and the Rev. Robert Wills of
Prescott, Ariz.
’81
Anne Baker and David
Brown of Minneapolis on Oct.
1, 2011. Anne is the daughter of
George Baker ’51 and MaryAnn
Evans Baker ’54.
Elizabeth Kucera and Michael
Bearrows of Cedar Rapids on Oct.
21, 2011, at Coe’s Poe Chapel with
the reception at Clark Alumni
House.
’86
Barbara Klein Amani
and Roy Barr of Leesburg, Va., on
June 17.
’95
Brian Brown and
Jill Fennewald Kocher of Crystal
Lake, Ill., on June 9. Among those
attending were groomsman David
Crownover ’94, Elizabeth
Aylward Crownover ’96, Mike
Attendants in the May 11 wedding of Meagan
Porter ’08 and John Wedgewood were (left to
right) Amelia Vohs '08 (maid of honor), James
Porter, Meagan and John, Sarah Wedgewood
'08 (bridesmaid), and Parsa Bakhtary. The couple
lives in Madison, Wis. Meagan is a reporter for the
Reedsburg Independent newspaper.
F A L L
Royle ’95, John Needelman
’95 and Katrina See ’98. Brian
is search marketing director for
SilkRoad Technology.
2 0 1 2
Leah Larson and Drew McEleney
of Clinton, Iowa, on July 7 in
Galena, Ill.
’06
David Brahn and Billi
Ellingson of Rochester, Minn., on
July 7.
’07
Royce Kensinger and
Amanda Stessman of Omaha, Neb.,
on July 23, 2011. Royce is the son of
Don Kensinger ’72 and Cathy
McCue Kensinger ’73 of Marion,
Iowa.
Kelli Reich and Jessie Connolly
of Quasqueton, Iowa, on Sept. 24,
2011. She is a program coordinator
at B&D Services.
’08
Cori Duffus and Allen
Hare of Rossville, Kan., on June 16
in Grinnell, Iowa. She received her
master’s in special education from
the University of Kansas in May and
teaches special education in the Kaw
Valley School District.
Alexander Hajek and Amanda
Wente of Waterloo, Iowa, on June 30.
Chelsea Longerbeam and Justin
Gagola of Cedar Rapids on June 9.
’09
Patricia Byrne and
Andrew Decker of Pittsburgh,
Pa., on June 18, 2011, in St. Paul,
Minn. She is a graduate student at
Chatham University and a program
assistant in the Center for Women’s
Entrepreneurship. He is also a
graduate student at Chatham and an
adjunct professor of international
affairs.
Brittni Hamdorf and Chad
Reifschneider of Ankeny, Iowa,
on July 14. She is an emergency
room nurse at Methodist West
Hospital in Des Moines. He is a
manager at Cleary Building Corp.
in De Soto.
C O E
C O L L E G E
28
Jose Santiago and Deysy Soto
of Chicago on Oct. 29, 2011. He is
a juvenile justice specialist for the
state of Illinois.
C O U R I E R
Angelyn Bock and
Nicholas Bitner ’11 of Nashville,
Tenn., on May 11 outside of
Marquis Hall at Coe. She is a neuro
intensive care nurse at Vanderbilt
University Medical Center. He
works for Service Management
Systems at Nashville International
Airport.
Keli Goddard and Nathan
Onken of Cedar Rapids on July 16,
2011. She is a call center service
representative at Transamerica.
Nathan Raymond and Chelsea
Zaugg of Aurora, Colo., on June
15. He is pursuing his master’s
in international studies/global
health at the Josef Korbel School
of International Studies at the
University of Denver. She is a
pediatric nurse for Amazing Care.
Nicole Wyss and Daniel
Rodriguez of Cedar Rapids on
Aug. 4. She is a nurse at St. Luke’s
Hospital.
Katie McKinnon and Ryan Gerot
of Ainsworth, Iowa, on May 12. She
is aquatic supervisor for the city of
North Liberty.
Among those attending the June 16 wedding of Tyler
Gathers ’09 and Danielle Jamison ’11 were (left to
right) Brandon Riley '09, Justin Bakke '09, Brendan
Grieser '09, Laura Case '11, Kristi Boner '11,
Danielle and Tyler, Jamie Boley '08, Jenna Miller
Boley '07 and Stephanie Miller ’11. The couple lives
in Kansas City, Mo.
’10
’11
Matthew Burch and
Tiffany Myers of Raleigh, N.C.,
on June 16 in Altamont, Ill.
Carisa Barger and Jeremy
Riesselman of Cedar Rapids on June 2.
Kyle Heineman and Elizabeth
Matthias of Cedar Rapids on June 9.
Among those attending the Feb. 29 wedding of Heather
Hain ’94 and Pete Lauritzen ’94 in Las Vegas were (left
to right) Amy Brockman Royle ’96, Michael Royle ’95,
Rachel Henning ’94, Sylvia Perry Hain ’69, Heather
and Pete, Elizabeth Aylward Crownover ’96, David
Crownover ’94, Matt Clark ’95, Katie Kraft Clark ’95
and Brian Brown ’95. Also attending but not pictured
was Joseph Lilly ’99. The couple lives in New York City.
w w w . c o e . e d u
’93
Peter Laugen and
his wife, Stef, of Phoenix, a
daughter, Allison, on May 27.
’96
Cindy KorirMorrison and her husband,
Thaddeus, of Atlanta, a son,
Jayden, on June 13.
Hilary Sloan Moorhead
and her husband, John, of
Dallas, a daughter, Sienna, on
Dec. 13. Hillary is a senior
manager in the advisory
practice at Pricewaterhouse
Coopers.
’97
Bill Brazell and
Jenny Kallevang Brazell of
Rochester, Minn., a daughter,
Sophia, on Oct. 17, 2011.
’98
Mitch Balzer and
his wife, Genevieve, of Irvine,
Calif., a son, Micah, on July 6.
Amber Carter Cornelius
and her husband, Jody, of
Lindenhurst, Ill., a son, Ian,
on May 12.
Andrew Kreamer and his
wife, Sara, of Montgomery,
Ill., a daughter, Amelia, on
Nov. 5.
’99
Sarah
Schmuecker Bostian and
her husband, John, of Belle
Plaine, Iowa, a son, Henry, on
Sept. 29, 2011.
F A L L
2 0 1 2
C O E
’00
Casey Benhart
and Ebene Thompson
Benhart ’01 of Whitewater,
Wis., a daughter, Adair, on
Sept. 18, 2011.
’02
Michael
Christofield and Nicole
Krueger Christofield ’03
of Muncie, Ind., a daughter,
Gwendolyn, on May 15.
’03
Mary Allison
Jackson and Patrick
Jackson of Cedar Falls,
Iowa, a son, Taytum, on
Feb. 23.
Katrina Schultz Moreland
and her husband, Tom, of
Urbandale, Iowa, a daughter,
Mercedes, on April 1.
Rishi Vajpeyi and Lindsey
Bowen Vajpeyi ’05 of
Richfield, Minn., a daughter,
Lila, on Jan. 30.
’06
Chad Kramer
and ReaAnnon Fairlie
Kramer ’07 of North
Liberty, Iowa, a son, Roman,
on March 12.
Regina Kroemer Molby
and her husband, Michael, of
Cedar Rapids, a son, Hudson,
on Feb. 8.
Jennifer Kilburn Tekiela
and her husband, Tim, of
Sycamore, Ill., a daughter,
Molly, on March 10.
Lisa Palmer Broussard and
her husband, Eric, of Luana,
Iowa, a daughter, Layla, on
May 14.
Jason Schwass and Katie
Wiedemann Schwass of
Dubuque, Iowa, a son, Knox,
on June 3.
’04
Chris Paasch and his wife,
Andie, of Cedar Rapids, a son,
Oliver, on March 7.
’07
Matt Stoner
and his wife, Amy, of Cedar
Rapids, a son, Weston, on
July 9.
Jenna Whitaker Steinkamp
and her husband, Ryan, of
Taopi, Minn., a son, Derek on
Feb. 8.
Denton
Eastman and his wife,
Sarah, of Marion, Iowa, a son,
Grayson, on Oct. 6, 2011.
Mike Kastner and
Hilary Mayhew Kastner
of Cedar Rapids, a son, Luke,
on June 22.
C O L L E G E
29
C O U R I E R
w w w . c o e . e d u
DEATHS
the Pentagon and served for two
years at the USAF Headquarters
for the 3rd Air Force at RAF
South Ruislip near London. He
retired from the Air Force in
1963 after serving for NORAD
at Colorado Springs. His flight
indicates decedent was a member
logs are in the Smithsonian. After
of the Coe College Heritage Club.
For information, contact Heritage
retiring from the military, he
Club Director Kelly Allen at
earned an MBA at the University
(319) 399-8582 or [email protected].
of Arizona in 1965. He earned his
Ph.D. in business administration
at the University of Washington
Florence Black, 85,
in 1970. While studying for his
of Iowa City, Iowa, on April 19.
doctorate, he began working
She was an Iowa school teacher for
as a business professor at
51 years. She is survived by three
Pacific Lutheran University in
siblings, Joseph of Williamsburg,
Tacoma from 1964-76. In 1969,
Mary Jean of Dubuque, and
he also worked for the state of
Harold of Iowa City.
Washington as the administrator
for Pierce County Public
Zola Piper Dudycha, 100, of
Assistance. He retired from PLU
Roseville, Minn., on Dec. 9. She
in 1976 and worked for Lutheran
was preceded in death by her
Brotherhood in Minneapolis until
husband, John Dudycha ’32.
he decided to farm full-time in
She is survived by three sons
northwestern Ontario in 1978.
James, John and David; and a
He is survived by three children,
grandson.
Vernon Stintzi, Sonya Willis and
Mark Stintzi; seven grandchildren;
several great-grandchildren; and
Betty Kitterman
a sister, Marilee Hall of Lime
James, 97, of Boulder, Colo.,
Springs, Iowa.
on Nov. 13. She was a braille
transcriber, hand printing books
in braille for the blind. She
LaVon Buchanan
donated Grant Wood’s painting,
Nichols,
96,
formerly a 30-year
“Midsummer,” to Coe in 2004 for
resident
of
Clearwater,
Fla.,
its permanent collection. She is
on
May
27.
She
was
buried
survived by a son, Bruce James of
with her husband of 69 years,
New York City.
Col. George Nichols ’37, at
Retired Air Force Col. Vernon
Arlington National Cemetery.
Stintzi, 97, of Baudette, Minn.,
She is survived by three children,
on July 24. After graduation, he
Janet Winslow of Maple Park,
joined the Army Air Corps and
Ill., Ann Vincent of Bedford,
became a pilot. While in the Air
Va., and George Nichols of
Force during World War II, he
Grand Junction, Colo.; seven
served as Engineering Officer on
grandchildren; and a greatthe Hornet for the Doolittle raids granddaughter.
on Japan in 1942, and fought in
North Africa, Italy and Europe.
Doris Johnson, 95,
After the war, he served as a
military attaché to the first session of Des Moines, Iowa, on April
17. She worked for Connecticut
of the United Nations in New
Mutual Life Insurance and, later,
York, and at several Air Force
bases in the United States. During was a tax information specialist
his lengthy military career, he was for the Internal Revenue Service
for 24 years.
the commander of Sondrestrom
Air Base in Greenland for a
Dorothy Stritesky Threlkeld,
year and served as commander
95, of Britt, Iowa, on April 29.
and later wing commander at
She was a member of Kappa Delta
McChord Air Force Base in
Tacoma, Wash. He also worked at Sorority. She briefly worked
’33
’36
’37
’38
F A L L
2 0 1 2
C O E
C O L L E G E
30
for Russell's Guide in Cedar
Rapids. She and her husband,
John, started Britt Tech Corp. as
a way to promote U.S. chemical
sales. Their pressure washer
manufacturing business became
a pillar of the Britt business
community for over 25 years.
She is survived by two children,
Carol Thompson and Dennis
Threlkeld, both of Britt; a sister,
Ruth Archibald of Cedar Rapids;
six grandchildren; and 11 greatgrandchildren.
Dorothy Whipple Buss, 97,
of Dubuque, Iowa, on March
31. She was a secretary at First
Presbyterian Church in Cedar
Rapids and First Presbyterian
Church in Ocala, Fla. She was
preceded in death by a brother,
William Whipple ’35. She is
survived by a son, James Loren,
a daughter, Janet Metelak; four
grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.
’40
Zula Cacek Oujiri,
92, of Cedar Rapids, on June 19.
She started working at Collins
Radio as a radio supervisor with
IBM computers during World
War II. She went back to Coe to
receive her teaching certificate
in 1963, which then led her to
teach at St. Ludmila’s Catholic,
Monroe, Hayes and Madison
elementary schools over the next
21 years. She served as president
of the National Czech and Slovak
Museum & Library Guild, the
Czech Heritage Foundation and
the Damskeho Sboru Matice
Skolske (ladies educational
society). She was chairwoman
for election polls for many years.
She is survived by four children,
Cecelia Oujiri of Waterloo, Dr.
John Oujiri of Ashland, Wis.,
Virginia Wilts of Cedar Rapids,
and retired Army Col. Timon
Oujiri of Washington, D.C.; two
grandsons; three great-grandsons;
and niece Karen Oujiri Roth
’78, 912 Irene Dr., Canyon Lake,
TX 78133.
Jeanne Haldy Erickson, 92, of
Tucson, Ariz., on April 7. She was
a member of Delta Delta Delta
C O U R I E R
sorority. She earned her master’s
in public health from Catholic
University in Washington, D.C.
She worked at Copper Queen
Hospital in Bisbee and, later, was
the school nurse at Fort Huachuca
Accommodation Schools until she
retired in 1978. She was appointed
by Gov. Jack Williams to the
Arizona State Board of Nursing,
which she served as president for
a number of years. She is survived
by two sons, Paul of Simi Valley,
Calif., and Eric of Tucson; and six
grandchildren.
’41
Norman Frye, 92, of
Waterloo, Iowa, on April 26. He
farmed in Buchanan County until
retiring in 1984. He was a former
chairman of the Northeast Iowa
Farm Business Administration
and the Soil Conservation
Commission. He is survived by
his wife, Effie, 3720 Village Place
Apt. 5122, Waterloo, IA 50702; a
daughter, Jianna Norman of Black
River Falls, Wis.; a son, Dean of
Independence; two grandchildren;
five great-granddaughters; and
two sisters, Beatrice Crain of
Roseburg, Ore., and Ardis Rogers
of Percival.
’42
John Davis, 92, of
Cincinnati, on March 12. He set
school and track meet records in
the mile at Coe and was president
of Delta Phi Epsilon fraternity.
He served in the Army despite a
vision disability. He co-founded
Cincinnati Employment Service.
He is survived by his wife,
Betty Davis, 7292 E. Galbraith
Road, Cincinnati, OH 45234; a
daughter, Nancy Brooks; three
step-daughters, Linda Ferrara,
Sandra Ingram and Roberta
Dooley; 14 grandchildren; 23
great-grandchildren; and two
brothers, Harry and Hampton,
both of Massillon.
Retired Navy Cmdr. Merlin
McCulloh, 91, of Mechanicsburg,
Pa., on June 20. He attended
Officer Candidate School at
Columbia University and Navy
Supply Corps School at Harvard
Business School. During World
w w w . c o e . e d u
War II, he served on ships in
both the Atlantic and Pacific.
Completing 21 years of active
service, he retired from the
Ordnance Supply Office at Naval
Supply Depot, Mechanicsburg,
in 1964. He began a second
career with the Pennsylvania
Department of Revenue, Bureau
of Corporation Tax, retiring
in 1982. He is survived by his
wife, Barbara, 2 Kensington
Square, Mechanicsburg, PA
17050; two children, Maureen
Hollmeyer of Apex, N.C., and
Michael of Hampden Township;
two grandsons; two greatgrandchildren; and a brother,
Kenneth McCulloh ’44 of
Gaithersburg, Md.
Dorothy “Dot” Plock
White, 92, of Cedar Rapids,
on Feb. 23. She was mayor of
Delafield, Wis., from 1974-78.
She was preceded in death by her
husbands, Robert White ’41
and Dean Metcalf. She is survived
by a grandson and a sister,
Margaret Plock Fosler ’47, 610
Brown Ave., Rockford, IL 61103.
Memorial contributions may be
made to Coe College, 1220 First Ave.
NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, the
American Association of University
Women (Cedar Rapids branch) or
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Building Fund, 1340 Third Ave.
SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.
Ruth Rich Walker, 91, of
Cedar Rapids, on April 17. She
received her master’s from the
University of Iowa in 1964. She
was a guidance counselor with
the North Linn and Marion
school districts. She was preceded
in death by her siblings, Guy
Rich ’38 and Grace Rich ’40.
She is survived by her children,
Timothy of Independence, Mo.,
Catherine of Broomfield, Colo.,
Margaret of St. Paul, Minn., and
Jonathan of Sioux Falls, S.D.;
eight grandchildren; and four
great-grandchildren.
Lois Suiter O’Malley, 91, of
Bettendorf, Iowa, on July 9.
Although she had her career
F A L L
2 0 1 2
sights set on interior design, her
father encouraged her to pursue a
teaching degree. She briefly taught
in Lowden, then pursued her
dream of travel and became a flight
attendant with United Airlines
in 1946. She worked in retail and
for other interior designers before
establishing Lois Suiter O’Malley
Interiors 36 years ago. Her work
included residences and commercial
projects ranging from an island
home in Florida to projects in
Germany and Costa Rica. In
addition, her design work included
the family-owned bank. She is
survived by a brother, Glen Suiter.
’43
Rebecca “Becky”
Evans Doolittle, 90, Cedar
Rapids, on March 8. She started
her music-teaching career in
Wilton Junction, then moved to
Cedar Rapids and taught for 25
years at Hiawatha Elementary
School. She is survived by her
husband, Robert Doolittle ’43,
1650 Koehler Dr. NW Unit 231,
Cedar Rapids, IA, 52405; four
children, Allen, Jim, Mel and
Betty Hagglund; a sister, Miriam
Johnson; 10 grandchildren; and
five great-grandchildren.
Gertrude Reinders Singer,
90, of Bloomington, Ind., on
June 2. During World War II
she trained as one of the first
women air traffic controllers
and was assigned to the South
Bend airport. She worked
in a number of South Bend
businesses. She is survived by
two daughters, Judith Royster
of Middle Haddam, Conn., and
Andrea Singer of Bloomington;
three grandchildren; five greatgrandchildren; and three siblings,
John Reinders, Bernard Reinders
and Everly Visser, all of Orange
City, Iowa.
William Scharnberg, 90, of
Rio Rancho, N.M., on Dec. 18.
After serving in China during
World War II, he was a traffic
manager for Cargill in Cedar
Rapids until retirement.
Anne Starcevich, 87, the wife of
Milton Starcevich, on April 5.
C O E
C O L L E G E
31
She is survived by Milton, 1224
13th St. NW #242, Cedar Rapids,
IA 52405; two children, Michael
“Mick” Starcevich of Cedar
Rapids and Mary Grabowski
of West Dundee, Ill.; three
grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren.
John “Grumpy” Sword, 91,
of Cedar Rapids, on April 1. In
1940, he went to work in the
Engineering Department of Iowa
Manufacturing. In 1942, he joined
the Army with the 79th Infantry
Division which was in active
fighting from 1944-45 in Europe.
After being discharged, he
returned to Iowa Manufacturing
until he retired at age 61.
’44
Virginia Davis
Hoff, 89, of Andrew, Iowa, on
Feb. 23. She was a member of
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.
She was a teacher in Miles,
Maquoketa, Bellevue and Andrew
school districts. She obtained her
Realtor license in 1986 and was
a partner in HMH Real Estate
Auctions. She is survived by a
brother, Jerald Davis ’59 and
his wife, Sue Elscott Davis ’59,
of Cedar Rapids; four children,
John Leaven Jr. of Jackson,
Wyo., Mary Leaven O’Neale of
Highlands Ranch, Colo., Tim
Leaven of Iowa City, and Dorthe
Leaven of Littleton, Colo.; eight
grandchildren; and four greatgrandchildren.
’45
Robert Frost, 88,
of Peoria, Ill, on July 19. He
graduated from the University
of Illinois College of Dentistry
in Chicago. He served four
years in the Army Dental Corps
in the Philippine Islands. He
was a dentist for 60 years. He
served as a dentist at the Peoria
Health Department after his
retirement and in 2000 won the
Illinois Public Health Association
volunteer award. He was the 1997
WPEO Senior Citizen of the
Year. He was among the founders
of the Institute for Learning In
Retirement at Bradley University
C O U R I E R
and served a term as its chairman
of curriculum committee. For 15
years, he was instructor in the
AARP driver safety program.
He is survived by his wife,
Ruth Kubic Frost ’45, 508 W.
Woodridge Lane, Peoria, IL
61614; two sons, James of Dunlap
and John of Okemos, Mich.; a
daughter, Jean Wyman of Peoria
Heights; six grandchildren; and
five great-grandchildren.
George Muirhead, 86, of
Colchester, Vt., on May 4. He
received his master’s from the
University of Iowa in 1947.
Before receiving his Ph.D. there
in 1951, he had the opportunity
to study overseas in Paris,
focusing on the Franco-Prussian
War of 1871. He was a lifelong
educator at Central Connecticut
State University, beginning as a
lecturer in history and geography,
and ending as vice president. In
2000, the Center for International
Education was named The
George R. Muirhead Center
for International Education.
This center now has a network
of more than 20 universities
around the world. He was asked
to author a book on CCSU for
the “Images in America” series. In
addition, he had several children's
books published: “The Cat and
the Poets,” “The Cat and the
Anarchists,” “The Cat and the
Athletes” and “The Cat and the
Fish.” He is survived by three
children, Margaret Beed, Mary
Elizabeth Mothersele and Sara
Drynan Muirhead of Colchester;
and five grandchildren.
’46
Mary Bolick
Schrader, 88, of Vero Beach, Fla.,
on April 29 from complications
of a stroke she suffered one day
earlier. She was a member of
the Chi Omega sorority. She is
survived by a sister, Ellen Jane
Vaughn of Ottumwa, Iowa;
two sons, Kent DeYarman,
of Medford, Ore., and Kerry
DeYarman, of Cedar Rapids; and
all of her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
w w w . c o e . e d u
DEATHS
Arthur Williams, 86, of
Marshalltown, Iowa, on July
3. He was employed with
LeFebure Corp., then as a Linn
County Deputy Recorder, was
appointed Linn County Assessor
in 1972, and retired from the
office of the Cedar Rapids City
Assessor in 1987. He is survived
by his wife of 63 years, Donna
Williams of Marshalltown; a
daughter, Marlene Reece of New
Providence; five grandchildren;
four great-grandchildren; and
siblings, Robert of Whittier, and
Margaret Stevens of Bartlesville,
Okla.
Leona Zalesky Edwards, 88,
of Iowa City, Iowa, on May 20.
She is survived by two daughters,
JoAnn Guzman of Iowa City and
Jane Persinger of Washington;
six grandchildren; two greatgrandchildren; and a brother,
Leonard Zalesky.
’47
Elizabeth "Betty"
Peters, 87, of Keokuk, Iowa, on
July 12. She was assistant librarian
at Keokuk Public Library. She is
survived by a son, Charles of Sun
Prairie, Wis.; three daughters,
Lorraine Steward of Keokuk,
Diane Buske of Klamath Falls,
Ore., and Linda Meier of Lenexa,
Kan.; and six grandchildren.
Bonny Popham, 86, of Lodi,
Calif., on Oct. 8, 2011. She was a
social worker for the city of San
Francisco.
’48
Patricia “Pat”
Carberry Tobin, 84, of
Wilmington, N.C., on April 14.
She was a member of the Cadet
Nurse Corps during World War
II. She was active in the Wives
of Submarine Veterans of World
War II and was a past national
president. She is survived by
three children, Pat Smith and
Linda Tobin of Wilmington
and Robert of Chesapeake, Va.;
six grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.
F A L L
2 0 1 2
Ernest Meyers, 87, of
Woodstown, N.J., on April 25.
He was a teacher and librarian at
Eastern Regional High School
in Voorhees. He received his
bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from the University of Iowa
and a Ph.D. from McCormick
Theological Seminary in
Chicago. He owned a 90-acre
farm in Monroeville, where he
raised horses. He participated in
many archaeological excavations
in the Middle East and was an
eyewitness to the 1989 protests
in Tiananmen Square in Beijing,
China. He was a veteran of
the Army during the Korean
War. He is survived by a sister,
Chloris Meyers Patrick ’57,
2751 Maitland Dr., Ann Arbor,
MI 48105.
Helen Navratil Dickinson,
86, of Oshkosh, Wis., on July 4.
She received her master’s at the
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
and was an elementary school
teacher in Iowa. She later taught
art at Ripon College and English
at UW Oshkosh. She also worked
in the graphic arts department
at UW Oshkosh and at OEC
Graphics. She is survived by four
children, Leslie, William, Jon and
Julie; and nine grandchildren.
Thomas Rebec, 86, of
Spencer, Iowa, on June 10. He
was a veteran of World War II,
serving with the 304th Infantry
in France and Germany. He was
awarded the Purple Heart and
honorably discharged in 1945. He
held management positions with
several life insurance companies
before joining Grinnell Mutual
Life in 1965. He was appointed
vice president with Grinnell
Mutual in 1971 and was named
president in 1974. He retired
from that position in 1984. He
was preceded in death by an
uncle, Jaroslav Zivney ’32.
He is survived by his wife, Alice,
1029 Country Club Dr., Spencer,
IA 51301; three children, Rob
of O'Fallon, Mo., David of
Melbourne Beach, Fla., Lornie
Jarmie of Powell Butte, Ore; nine
grandchildren; and three greatgrandchildren.
C O E
C O L L E G E
32
’49
Perry Beedle, 88,
of Highland, Ill., on June 2. He
served in World War II and was
among the troops who liberated
the concentration camp in
Dachau, Germany. He later drove
accused war criminals to the
trials in Nuremburg, Germany.
He received his MBA from The
University of Iowa. He worked as
an accountant and became vice
president of finance at Emerson
Electric Co. in St. Louis. He
is survived by a son, Paul; a
daughter, Kathleen Bueno; and a
granddaughter.
Donna Deen Peterson, 84, of
Collinsville, Okla, on Jan. 22.
She is survived by her husband,
Byron “Barney” Peterson
’49, 12215 N. 73rd E. Ave.,
Collinsville, OK 74021; five
children, Jeff Huber, Tricia
Peterson Martin ’74, Gina
Jones, Robert Huber, and Paul
Peterson; a brother, Danny Deen;
14 grandchildren; and 16 greatgrandchildren.
Dale McDonald, 91, of St. Paul,
Minn., on Aug. 3. He served as
a pharmacist’s mate in World
War II. He was a homebuilder
and remodeler for over 50 years.
He is survived by a son, Dan of
Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Jodi of
Maplewood.; and a granddaughter,
Janette White of Eagan.
Arther Schmidt, 85, of Cedar
Rapids, on April 25. He served two
years in World War II. He joined
Iowa National Insurance Co.,
where he worked for 37 years and
eventually became executive vice
president managing underwriting
operations and the company’s
governmental affairs. He attained
the credentials of a Charter
Professional Casualty Underwriter
(CPCU) and, in turn, was an
educator under that program.
After Iowa National closed, he
worked as a consultant to the State
of Iowa Insurance Commission,
and then represented Physician’s
Mutual Insurance as an agent until
his retirement. He is survived by a
sister, Jeanne Swemunson of Ionia;
two sons, Mark of Cedar Rapids
C O U R I E R
and Chris of Woodbury, Minn.;
two daughters, Lori Manzel and
Joan Schmidt, both of Cedar
Rapids; and two grandchildren.
Mary Lou Stolba Croy, 85, of
Cedar Rapids, on June 14. She
worked with her family at the
Tasty Pastry Shop for over 25
years. She is survived by a son,
Gene; and a grandson.
’50
John “Jack”
Calbert, 82, of Sarasota, Fla, on
May 15. He entered the Army
and became a second lieutenant,
serving during the Korean
conflict from 1952-54. He worked
for American Beryllium in
Bradenton and then as manager
at the Palm Bay Club on Siesta
Key for 18 years. He is survived
by his wife, Karen; a son, Ron; a
daughter, Jackii Molsick; and eight
grandchildren.
James Foster, 84, of Modesto,
Calif., on April 13. He enlisted
in the Navy at age 17 during
World War II. He received his
J.D. from the University of Iowa
Law School. He started his career
with John Morrell Meats in
Ottumwa, Iowa, then served as
a labor relations legal consultant
to the California Association of
Employers for over 30 years. He
is survived by his wife, Sally; four
children, Michael Foster, Bonnie
Flynn, Tom Foster and Diane
McCumber; nine grandchildren; a
great-granddaughter; and a sister
Linda Adams.
Thomas Gregory, 86, of Cary,
N.C., on Sept. 8. He participated
in intramurals, drama, and
Scabbard & Blade. He worked on
the Acorn, served with Alpha Phi
Omega and was president of Chi
Beta Phi. He completed graduate
studies at the Chicago School of
Traffic and worked for Olin Corp.
of over 35 years. He is survived by
his wife, Jean; and a son, Thomas
Gregory Jr., 1303 Fernglen Place,
Cary, NC 27511.
Mary Ellen Grey Patten, 85,
of Waterloo, Iowa, on Feb. 13.
She was a nurse at Broadlawns
Medical Center and Veterans
w w w . c o e . e d u
Hospital in Des Moines. She
became a nursing instructor and
taught obstetrics at Allen Hospital
in Waterloo for 30 years until
her retirement in 1989. She is
survived by a brother, Clyde Grey
of Greene; her twin sister, Majorie
“Eleanor” Brooksher of Annville,
Pa.; and her adopted daughter
and caregiver, Betty Otting of
Waterloo.
Wayne Kieckhaefer, 85, of
Marion, Iowa, on May 21. He was
a veteran of the Army, having
served in the Pacific Theater
during World War II and the
Korean conflict. Following his
discharge, he worked for Collins
Radio. He then went on to work
for Abbott Laboratories, retiring
in 1983. He is survived by his wife
of 61 years, Jewel, 1175 Country
Club Dr., Marion, IA 52302;
children, Steven Kieckhaefer,
Jeffrey Kieckhaefer ’81
and Kimberly Kieckhaefer
’83, all of Cedar Rapids; six
grandchildren; and seven greatgrandchildren.
John “Jack” King Jr., 83, of
Seabrook Island, S.C., on March
24. He earned his bachelor’s in
journalism from the University
of Missouri. After college he
joined the Air Force as a pilot.
He enjoyed flying so much that
he returned to civilian life as a
TWA pilot, then joined a small
advertising agency that eventually
steered him to the firm of Darcy
Advertising. An assignment with
Darcy to the Anheuser Busch
account catapulted him into
a wholesale distributorship in
Fairfax, Va. He served on the
boards of George Mason Bank
and EZ Communications. At King
Wholesale, he abandoned flying
and took up sailing. In addition
to the Annapolis Yacht Club, he
was a board member of the United
States Sailing Association. He
was a founding member of the
National Sailing Hall of Fame.
His charitable legacy includes
establishing a chair in creative
writing at Coe and contributing to
the Jobson Chair of Hematology
at the University of Maryland. He
F A L L
2 0 1 2
is survived by his wife, Carole,
3087 Marsh Gate Dr., Seabrook
Island, SC 29455; two children,
Karin and William; and a brother,
Robert.
Marilyn Martin Holland, 83,
of Elizabeth, Ill., on Aug. 3. She
worked for the Elizabeth office
of Country Companies, was a
part-time employee at the Jo
Daviess County Farm Bureau, and
spent five years with the county
treasurer’s office. She also was a
bookkeeper at the Farm Service
Gas Station in Elizabeth. She was
the Elizabeth township clerk for
more than 30 years, and served
on the Elizabeth School Board
from 1973-78. She is survived by
three sons, Gary Holland ’74
and his wife, Kathy Thompson
Holland ’74, 726 McKinley Ave.,
Libertyville, IL 60048, Kevin
Holland of Billings, Mont., and
Roger Holland of Apple Valley,
Minn.; five grandchildren,
including Scott Holland ’01
and his wife, Kristie Workman
Holland ’02; and three greatgrandchildren.
’52
Robert Fisher, 85,
of Davenport, Iowa, on April
28. He is survived by his wife,
Marjorie, 423 Arnold Palmer
Dr., Davenport, IA 33837; a son,
Douglas; a daughter, Nancy; and
two grandchildren.
Joanne Ribble, 81, the wife
of Trustee Don Ribble, on May
24. She attended Washington
University in St. Louis. She
received her BFA from American
University, and her MFA from
The University of Iowa. She
worked as a fashion designer in
St. Louis, Atlanta, and Chicago.
She became an active member of
the Cedar Rapids arts community,
serving on the board of the
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
for 30 years, as well as serving in
various volunteer roles with the
Cedar Rapids Symphony, Marvin
Cone Club, and the Cedar Rapids
Opera Theatre. Additionally, she
was active in the Cedar Rapids
Garden Club, serving in various
C O E
C O L L E G E
roles, including president, and
served as a member of PEO
Chapter HJ, a member of the
Monday League, and a volunteer
of the Brucemore Historical
Society. She is survived by Don,
526 Second Ave. SE, Cedar
Rapids, IA 52406; a daughter,
Elizabeth Vahlkamp of St. Louis;
two stepsons, Jeff Ribble of Iowa
City and Phil Ribble of Riverside;
and a brother, John Henderson of
Basehor, Kan.
David Wortman, 81, of Spirit
Lake, Iowa, on May 21, due to
complications after abdominal
surgery. He received his master’s
in economics from the University
of Iowa. He served as an Air
Force officer in Korea. He taught
in India for two years with his
wife, Enid. He then worked in
real property tax assessment for
the state of Iowa and then at
Northern Natural Gas in Omaha.
’53
Florence Burgess
Brickley, 81, of Anamosa, Iowa,
on April 2. She was a teacher’s
aide at schools in Cedar Rapids
and Grand Junction, Colo. She
is survived by her husband of
60 years, Dick Brickley ’53,
435 Jordan Dr., Anamosa, IA
52205; a daughter, Carolyn
“Susie” Brickley ’75 of New
Sharon; three sons, Roy, Del
and Brad; four grandchildren; a
great-granddaughter; and three
brothers, Richard, Clifford and
James.
Joan Brown Griffin, 80, of
Kansas City, Mo., on April 15.
She was a member of Chi Omega
sorority. She is survived by her
husband of 60 years, Robert
Griffin Sr. ’50, 12100 Wornall
Rd. Apt. 214, Villa Venturo,
Kansas City, MO 64145; two sons,
Robert Griffin Jr. of Olathe and
Peter Griffin of Brookside; and
two grandchildren.
Dorothy Emery, 95, the wife
of Joel Emery, on June 5.
She is survived by Joel, 13581
Meadow St., Yucaipa, CA 92399; a
daughter, Judy Paul; a son, Joel Jr.;
three brothers, Cliff, Vaughn and
33
C O U R I E R
Robert Hauser; a sister, Donna
Cady; 10 grandchildren, including
Holly Anderson Smith ’01
of Central City, Iowa; 13 greatgrandchildren; and two greatgreat-grandchildren.
David Fluegel, 83, of
Scottsdale, Ariz., on April 2.
Ward Martin, 80, of Aurora,
Colo., on Aug. 1 after a battle
with lung cancer. He was
commissioned as a second
lieutenant in the Air Force, which
he served for 20 years. In 1968, he
earned an MBA from Ohio State
University. He retired in 1974 as
a major. He then worked in the
financial services field and for a
defense contractor before retiring
again, and finally, in 1994. He
is survived by his wife, Anita
“Becky” Becker Martin,
15086 E. Radcliff Dr., Aurora CO
80015; three daughters Sue Riecks
of Littleton, Sally Row of Truth
or Consequences, N.M. and Betsy
Sprafka of Aurora; a son David of
Littleton; 12 grandchildren; and
three great-grandchildren.
’54
Joan Williams
Fulton, 78, of Richmond, Va.,
on March 15. She was a retired
professor of education at Virginia
Commonwealth University. At
VCU and through her non-profit
organization, the Development
Skills Institute, she worked
with thousands of teachers
from Virginia to the Navajo
reservations in Arizona to help
them become more effective
with their students. She was
preceded in death by her mother
Nellie Williams ’60. She is
survived by her husband, Jack
Fulton ’54, 2008 Hanover Ave.,
Richmond, VA 23220; a son, Otis
of Richmond; a brother, Gary
Williams ’60 of Cedar Rapids;
a nephew, Todd Williams
’83 of Cedar Rapids; and two
grandchildren.
’55
Pauline Frank
Marner, 83, of Cedar Rapids, on
July 22. While at Coe, she was
president of Delta Delta Delta
w w w . c o e . e d u
DEATHS
sorority. She taught at Viola High
School and Mid-Prairie High
School. She was president of the
St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, the
Cedar Rapids Symphony Guild,
Questers #5 Turner Alley and her
PEO Chapter HJ. She also served
as a docent at Brucemore. She is
survived by her husband, David
Marner, 2115 First Ave. SE Apt.
110, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; two
sons, David Jr. and Trent, both of
Cedar Rapids; a daughter, Paula of
Florence, S.C.; six grandchildren;
and a sister, Cleo Haynes.
’61
Memorial services
for Lt. Col. Dennis “Denny”
Eilers, 27, were held June 30
at the First United Church
of Christ in Tipton, Iowa.
Following the service, Eilers
was given military honors at
the Tipton Masonic Cemetery
by the Tipton Veterans of
Foreign War (Post #2537) and
the Tipton American Legion
(Post #123). The Patriot Guard
escorted the funeral procession.
’57
Kathryn Smyth, 82,
of Cedar Rapids, on June 15. She
worked at Mercy Medical Center
and for many years was director of
nursing at St. Luke’s Hospital. She
is survived by two brothers, James
and Ted.
Denny, as he was known by friends and family, was born and raised
on a farm in the Tipton area.
He was active in many sports and school activities and graduated
from Tipton High School in 1957 and also graduated from Coe
College in 1961.
Eilers always dreamed of being a pilot and following completion of
the ROTC program at Coe, he enlisted in the Air Force during the
Vietnam War. Eilers’ final flight was on Christmas Eve 1965, when
the AC-47 aircraft he was co-piloting was shot down while on a
combat strike mission over Savannakhet Province in southern Laos.
A “Mayday” message retrieved by two other aircraft was the last
anyone heard from the gunship. Extensive searches were made in
the area of the strike and in a 50-mile wide corridor from Da Nang.
Search efforts for the plane and crew ended Dec. 26, 1965.
’58
Gary Humble, 76,
of El Paso, Texas, on March 14.
He received his J.D. from the
University of Notre Dame. He
practiced law in Kalamazoo,
Mich., and was the ombudsman
for the Kalamazoo State Hospital.
He is survived by his wife of 54
years, Joan, 219 Alvarez Dr., El
Paso, TX 79932; five children,
Gary, Anne Marie Field, Susan
Smith, Michael and Matthew; 17
grandchildren; and two greatgrandchildren.
In 1995, the Laos People’s Democratic Republic finally let a search
team investigate the site where the plane had probably crashed.
Follow-up investigations were made in 1999 and 2001. The site
identified as where the plane had crashed was excavated five times
between December 2001 and July 2011. In April, more than 46
years later, the Air Force notified survivors that in addition to a
tooth fragment positively identified as belonging to Staff Sgt. Arden
Hassenger, a gunner, approximately 100 bone fragments had been
labeled as “group remains” of the six-man crew, which also included
Maj. Derrell Jeffords (pilot), Maj. Joseph Christiano (navigator),
Tech. Sgt. William Colwell (flight engineer), and Staff Sgt. Larry
Thornton (gunner).
’59
Harry Lovejoy, 82, of
Sunnyvale, Calif., on March 21.
Between the time the crew was declared Missing in Action in
1965 until the men were determined to have been Killed in Action
in 1977, they were promoted several times. Majors Christiano
and Jeffords were promoted to colonel, Eilers was promoted to
lieutenant colonel, and the three sergeants were all promoted to
chief master sergeant. A gravestone provided by the Air Force was
placed in the Tipton Masonic Cemetery in Eilers’ honor in 1977.
’62
Robert “Bob” Kidd
III, 72, of Wyoming, Del., on
March 4. He graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania School
of Dental Medicine in 1965 and
operated a private orthodontic
practice in Dover and Milford.
He was an active member in the
dental communities and served as
a director and past chairman at
First National Bank of Wyoming.
He is survived by his mother,
Pauline Nocon Kidd of Penns
Grove, NJ; his wife, Janet Caputo
Kidd, 850 S. State, PO Box 657,
Dover, DE 19901; siblings, John
Eilers is survived by his wife, Belva Schnack Schamberger ’63
of Cedar Rapids, who later remarried; two sons, Curtis of Cedar
Rapids, and Brett of San Francisco; a brother, Dean of Tipton; and
five grandchildren.
Eilers and the other crewmen were honored July 9 and their
remains were laid to rest in a common grave at Arlington National
Cemetery in Washington, D.C., accompanied by the families of
each flight crew member. A horse-drawn caisson bearing a single
casket took the remains of the men to their final resting place. A
single white marker, including the names of all six men, was placed
on the gravesite.
F A L L
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C O E
C O L L E G E
34
C O U R I E R
of Penns Grove and Sandra
Poehling of Winston Salem,
N.C.; a son, Robert of Richmond,
Va.; and three grandchildren.
CORRECTION:
Marjory
Palmer Morrissey, 71, of
Englewood, Colo., on Sept. 14.
She was preceded in death by her
father, John Palmer ’37; and two
aunts, Alice Childs Lindquist
’30 and Mary Palmer ’46.
Janet White Malins, 71, of New
Braunfels, Texas, on June 25. She
was a teacher for 14 years in Iowa
City, Iowa. She is survived by her
husband, Lee; a son, Tim Kubik; a
daughter, Rebecca Worthington;
and four grandchildren.
’65
Gayle Ewinger
McClain, 68, of Davis, Ill., on
Feb. 13. She is survived by her
husband, John McClain, 1210
Lake Summerset Rd., Davis,
IL 61019; a daughter, Tammy
Kulpa of Wilmington; a son,
Matthew Irvin of Hickory Hills;
a sister, June Ewinger Hodes of
Prince George, Va.; and three
grandchildren.
David Toumarkine, 68, of
Kearsarge, N.H., on March 14.
He earned his master’s in English
literature at the University of
Wisconsin. He entered the Peace
Corps and worked at a leprosarium
in the Philippines. He later taught
English at Eastern Montana
College. He opened pottery and
gift stores in Cooke City, Mont.,
and Kearsarge. He is survived by
a sister, Elaine Bermas; and two
sons, Conor and Danny.
’66
Pamela Everest
Hutton, 68, of The Villages,
Fla., on May 14. She was a
retired scheduling secretary for
Wayzata (Minn.) High School.
She attained her private pilot's
license at age 22. She is survived
by husband, Scott, 508 Kassel
Place, The Villages, FL 32162;
two sons, Jeff and Dave; a brother,
Fred McPherson; two sisters, Patti
Kjelstad and Mary Fitzpatrick;
and four grandchildren.
w w w . c o e . e d u
’68
Angela Schmidt
Boho, 65, of Kildeer, Ill., on May
3. She received her master’s in
education from Northwestern
University and taught in Glenview
for 10 years before joining her
husband in operating Dundee
and Wolf Automotive Services
in Wheeling. She is survived by
her husband, Robert Boho, 22250
W. Chestnut Ridge Rd., Kildeer,
IL 60047; two sisters, Delene
Schmidt and Lynette House; and
a brother, Howard Schmidt.
Rita Watts, 65, of Bettendorf,
Iowa, on April 18. She was a
pioneer in bilingual and English
as a second language education,
working for 35 years as a teacher
and administrator in Pleasant
Valley and Davenport and at the
University of Iowa. Among many
areas of community service,
membership on boards within
the Genesis Health System was
her greatest source of pride. She
received the State of Iowa Latino
Leadership Award in 2000 and
was inducted in the Phi Delta
Kappa honors society. She is
survived by her husband, David,
1840 Harding Ct., Bettendorf, IA
52722; four children, Christine
McEchron-Hills of Olathe, Kan.,
Matthew McEchron of Laramie,
Wyo., Johnathan McEchron and
William Daniel, both of Iowa
City; three grandchildren; and
two brothers, Ralph Myers of
Cedar Rapids and Robert Watts
of Florida.
’69
Ronald
Christensen, 77, of Bettendorf,
Iowa, on June 4 of cancer. He
served in the Navy during the
Korean War. He graduated from
Central Technical Institute
of Kansas City, Mo., and then
worked for Collins Radio in
Cedar Rapids. After receiving his
bachelor’s in physics, he worked
for Bendix Corp. in Davenport.
He joined Iowa-Illinois Gas &
Electric (now Mid American
Energy) in 1970 and worked in
energy planning until retiring
in 1995. He is survived by his
wife, Jo, 3363 Adele Lane,
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2 0 1 2
Bettendorf, IA 52722; a son, Jon
of Baltimore; a daughter, Laurie
Christensen McBride ’97 of
Marion; and three brothers, Jon
of Des Moines, Tom of Coon
Rapids, Minn., and Don of
Sergeant Bluff.
’72
Barbara Jones
O’Donoghue, 61, of Marengo,
Iowa, on Dec. 28. She was a
hospital benefits manager and
later a switchboard operator at
Sherman Hospital and Answer
Service Plus. She is survived
by her son, Kieran; and three
siblings, Douglas, Darlene and
Claudia Jones.
’73
The Rev. Harold
“Burr” Bryant, 61, of
Alburnett, Iowa, on April
12. He earned his master’s
in theology at University of
Dubuque Theological Seminary.
He was pastor of Clover Ridge
United Methodist Church of
Fairfax/Walford, Montezuma
United Methodist Church and
Alburnett and Prairie Chapel
United Methodist Churches.
He is survived by his wife,
Connie Bryant ’83, P.O. Box
219, Alburnett, IA 52202; two
children, Tamara of San Antonio
and Harold IV of St. Charles; a
grandson; and a sister, Charlene
“Chuck” Worby of New York.
’74
John Pendley, 64, of
Chicago, on May 30.
’77
Virginia Sloan
Titler, 90, of Alburnett, Iowa,
on May 10. She taught at
Martelle schools and at Alburnett
Junior High School, where she
coached girls basketball. After
raising her family, she was
asked to return to teaching at
Alburnett. She continued her
education, graduating from Coe
College with a bachelor’s in art.
She retired after serving the
Alburnett Community School
District for over 20 years. She is
survived by two children, Craig
Titler and Sue Becker, both of
C O E
C O L L E G E
Alburnett; three grandchildren;
six great-grandchildren; a sister,
Mildred Kirk of Marion; and a
brother, Allan Sloan of California.
’79
Jesse Fitzgerald
Jr., 54, of Nashville, Tenn., on
Feb. 17. He was a senior contract
administrator with Nissan
Corp. He is survived by his wife
Letesha; his father, Jesse Sr. of
Winter Park, Fla.; his mother,
Elizabeth of Winter Park; four
children, Jesse III of Gulfport,
Miss., Jordan of Nashville,
Bethany Folling of Baltimore
and Lauren of Philadelphia; and
three siblings, Linwood of San
Antonio, Pamela Boykin and
Sylvia Atkinson-Smith, both of
Apopka, Fla.
Barbara Muldoon, 59, of
Bushnell, Fla., on May 5. She
received her master’s in nursing
from Ball State University. She
was employed by the Red Cross
as a trainer, taking blood in
Cleveland, Fort Wayne, Ind., and
Evansville, Ind. After leaving the
Red Cross she went to work at St.
Vincent Hospital in Indiana. She
then became a traveling nurse in
many states. Most recently she
worked as a volunteer at Lane
Purcell Hospice House. She is
survived by two siblings, Molly
Wiegand, 219 E. Vermont Ave.,
Bushnell, FL 33513 and Terrance
Muldoon of Malibu, Calif.
’80
Marcia Thudium,
77, of Wichita, Kan., on Dec.
30. She stayed home to raise her
children until 1984 when she
went to work at Foulston-Seifken
law firm as a legal secretary.
She is survived by her husband,
Gary, 1311 N. Manchester St.,
Wichita, KS 67212; a sister, Sonya
Davis; and her children and
grandchildren, including daughter
Kimberly Thudium Shank ’81
of Wichita.
’83
Charles Green Jr.,
50, of Illinois, on March 13. He
was president of the BSO, the
BSEO and a member of Alpha Phi
35
C O U R I E R
Alpha fraternity. He worked in
finance as an accountant, auditor
and actuary. He is survived by
his siblings, LaRita Washington,
Glaudis Lawrence, Michael
Lawrence and Roderick Green.
’90
James Polley, 65,
of Anamosa, Iowa, on Feb. 15. He
was a technical support manager
for Ideal Computer Systems. He is
survived by his companion, Susan
Hubbell of Cedar Rapids.
’96
Cynthia Malone, 66,
of Marion, Iowa, on April 28 after
battling lymphoma. She worked in
many aspects of the nursing field
and went on to earn her bachelor’s
from Coe, then her master’s in
social work from the University
of Iowa. She most recently worked
as a substance abuse counselor at
Mercy Sedlacek. She is survived
by her mother, Leone Malone;
seven siblings, Robert Malone,
Becky Cruise, Timothy Malone,
Meribeth Malone, David Malone,
Jennifer Frederickson and
Shelly Malone; three daughters,
Johanna Vandersall, Jennifer
Sutton and Maya Murphy; and 12
grandchildren.
’04
Amanda “Mandi”
Fisher, 30, the wife of Jason
Fisher, on June 1. She is survived
by Jason, 3548 Lyle Ct., Semmes,
AL 36575; a daughter, Mackenzie;
her parents, Jerry “Skip” and
Sheri Cowart; two sisters, Amber
and Abby Cowart; and maternal
grandmother, Faye Tucker.
Stephanie Wheatley, 31,
of Hiawatha, Iowa, on April 3.
She owned her own diamond
business and was also a Realtor.
She is survived by her 4-year-old
twin sons, Roman and Spencer;
her mother, Sherry BlackPrimmer MAT ’01 of Cedar
Rapids; her father, Steven Black of
Cedar Rapids; and grandparents
Lemoyne and Marjorie Witte of
Morning Sun and Devona Black
Griffin of Columbus Junction.
w w w . c o e . e d u
FACULTY
STAFF
for the Admission Office: Old
Main, Eby Annex, the basement
of Voorhees Hall’s east wing, then
Voorhees’ 1st floor west wing, Gage
Union and Nassif House. She is
survived by her three children,
Judith Baldwin ’76, Doug
Baldwin ’76, and Patricia Baldwin
’78, all of Cedar Rapids.
For a more complete list of
faculty accomplishments, visit
Memorial contributions may be made
www.coe.edu/Dean and click on
to St. Luke’s Infusion Center or
“faculty accomplishments”.
Tony Bata was named chief
information officer, overseeing the
newly combined administrative and
academic computing areas of the
college.
Dean of Students Erik Albinson
joined the Foundation 2 board of
directors.
Michael Baker was promoted to
associate professor of psychology.
Joyce Baldwin, 82, of Cedar
Rapids died July 29 following a
battle with cancer. She began her
32-year career as a secretary in the
Coe Admission Office on January
15, 1968. When she interviewed
for the job, she wore a royal blue,
green and white tweed suit with
a simple white blouse and black
pumps. By the time she retired in
October 1999, the dress code for
employees was more casual. While
sitting in the Admission Office
lobby waiting for her job interview,
in the background she heard very
fast typing. She worried, “I may
not get this job because I can’t type
that fast!” During the interview
she learned that the typing was
performed by an automated typing
machine that cranked out letters
very quickly. This was newer
technology that Joyce had never
seen before. She was relieved that
she wouldn’t need to type that
fast. Joyce’s first fellow Admissions
secretaries were Marlene Struve,
Wanda Wagner and Leota Morgan.
During her 32 years at Coe
she worked for eight admission
directors, including Hadley Nesbit,
Al McIvor, Dr. Robert Drexler,
Chris Kauffman Galloway ’73,
Mike White, and Dennis Trotter.
She worked in six different locations
F A L L
2 0 1 2
Hospice through the St. Luke’s Health
Care Foundation, 855 A Ave., Suite
105, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402, or to
Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE,
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402.
Anne Barber joined Coe as a
development officer. She replaces
Nate Clapham ’06, who left Coe
to join the advancement staff at the
University of Northern Iowa.
Katie Benedix joined Coe as
communications assistant in the
Admission Office, replacing Lynn
Cunnien.
Professor of Humanities Edmund
Burke was recognized with
emeritus status at commencement.
Burke has taught classical
languages, literature and history
at Coe since 1974. As well, he was
the author of the college's Honors
Program, and has always been a
strong voice for the well-being of
faculty colleagues.
Aaron Carley joined Coe as head
coach of the Kohawk track and
field program. He comes to Coe
after spending the past three years
as an assistant at the University of
Chicago.
Stephen Campbell joined
Coe as the Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation Fellow Assistant
Professor of Philosophy.
Jay Caughren ’11 returned to
Coe as an admission counselor.
He will be recruiting prospective
students from Chicago, Arizona
and New Mexico.
Cara Cavanaugh Joens '06
was promoted to associate director
of admission.
13-18 in a special session on Asian
wind instruments at Acoustics 2012
Hong Kong, a joint meeting of
the Acoustical Society of America,
The Chinese Acoustical Society
and the Western Pacific Acoustics
Conference. Cottingham, who
served as a co-chair of the session,
presented "Sound production in
Asian free reed mouth organs."
Faaborg's paper was "Bamboo pipe
wall vibrations in Asian free reed
instruments."
Emily Crook Barnard ’02 was
promoted to assistant director
and counselor of the Academic
Achievement Program.
Robert Egan, 41, of Central
City, Iowa, died suddenly June
20. Affectionately known as "The
Sandwich Guy," he started working
for Sodexo at Coe in November
2009 and ran the hot sandwich
station where he greeted students
with a smile, enthusiasm and
conversation. He is survived by
his wife, Christine; father, Frank;
mother, Beverly Voelker; brothers,
Charles and David, all of Marion;
and sister, Lisa of Cedar Rapids.
Melissa Eilert ’07 was promoted
to assistant dean of campus life.
Associate Professor of Business
Administration and Economics
Christopher Hoag resigned.
Assistant Director of Admission
Josh Kite earned his master’s in
higher education in June.
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Fellow Assistant Professor of Art
History Claire Kovacs resigned.
Amy Leitch was named director
of health services, replacing
Melinda Brokaw ’96, who left
Coe to accept a position as an
emergency room nurse practitioner
at a rural Iowa hospital. Amy
served as Coe’s after-hour nurse
practitioner last year in addition
to being a nursing supervisor at
the University of Iowa’s Children’s
Hosptial.
Bryan Martin joined Coe as
head coach of the Kohawk men's
Professor of Physics Emeritus Jim
basketball program. He comes to
Cottingham and Miles Faaborg
Coe after spending the past four
'14 presented invited papers May
C O E
C O L L E G E
36
C O U R I E R
years as the associate head coach at
the University of North Dakota.
Martin replaces Pat Juckem, who
resigned to become the head coach
at the University of WisconsinOshkosh.
Senior Athletic Trainer Shaun
McCarthy received the Athletic
Trainer Service Award in June at
the National Athletic Trainer’s
Association summer meeting in
St. Louis. The award recognizes
athletic trainers for their
contributions to the profession and
the association through local, state
and district service.
Michelle McIllece was promoted
to assistant director of career
services.
Associate Professor of Nursing
Brenda Shostrom left Coe
after 12 years to lead the nursing
program at St. Ambrose University.
Nicole Thiher ’10 returned to
Coe as visiting assistant professor of
economics.
Mary Tobin was promoted to
associate professor of nursing.
Laura Van Buer was named
coordinator of Gage Union and
student activities, replacing Kelsi
Streich, who resigned in June.
Replacing Laura as area coordinator
for Armstrong, Douglas and
Murray halls is Samantha
Keltner.
David Webber joined Coe as
assistant professor of art.
William Windus, 88, the husband
of former Coe faculty member
Marlis Windus, died June 11. He
is survived by Marlis, 4000 London
Road Apt. 217, Duluth, MN 55804;
two children, David of St. Louis
and Joan Halquist of Duluth; and
two grandsons.
Assistant Professor of Teacher
Education Christy Wolfe was
granted tenure.
Holly Zimmerman Fourtner
'05 was promoted to senior
associate director of admission.
Angela Ziskowski joined Coe as
assistant professor of history.
w w w . c o e . e d u
EIGHTY YEARS
THROUGH THE LENS
T H E L I F E A N D W O R K O F G E O R G E T. H E N R Y
Alumni collaboration turns camera on local legend
After seven decades photographing events at Coe and throughout Cedar Rapids, George Henry ’49 finally got his red-carpet
moment June 28 with the Iowa premiere of “80 Years Through the Lens: The Life and Work of George T. Henry.”
More than 300 people packed into Kesler Lecture Hall of Hickok Hall for the first of two screenings scheduled as part of the
annual Cedar Rapids Freedom Festival celebration. Sixty people attended the second showing later that evening with Henry
and filmmaker Kevin Kelly ’67 fielding questions from the audience following both and again during Homecoming.
The film is Henry’s life story in his own words, illustrated by his photos of the last 80 years and videos of his wilderness
adventures. Included are recollections about his trips with Bobby and Ethel Kennedy, Art Buchwald, Andy Williams, John
Glenn and other interesting people, including Kelly himself.
Over a year in the making by Kelly, a psychologist turned filmmaker from Santa Fe, N.M, the 30-minute documentary
proceeds chronologically from Henry’s early life and family growing up in Cedar Rapids, his World War II years as a B-24
"Liberator" bomber pilot, his 68 years as Coe's official photographer, his 45 years as a white-water boatman, his "mingling"
with the bears in northern Minnesota, and his reflections on life at 89 years of age.
Anyone who is interested in Coe College, photography, life on the river and in the wild, and tall tales as only Henry can tell
them will love this film. Henry’s story smashes stereotypes about aging and challenges us to live our later years in a more
exuberant fashion.
For Kelly, making films of a biographical nature has been a natural outgrowth of his 35 years as a clinical psychologist. "Now
instead of focusing on problems to solve I can enjoy learning about the special stories people have to tell about their lives," he
said. "It was very gratifying to have so many people at Coe step up to help us accomplish this important mission."
After collaborating on the project for 18 months, Kelly was left with a renewed relationship with Coe and some enduring
impressions of Henry, whose energy and enthusiasm belies his age.
“Having lost both my parents at fairly young ages, it has been an inspiration to see a man of almost 90 still active in his
profession, engaged with his community, and beloved by so many who know him,” said Kelly. “It is my hope that others will be
similarly inspired to do what they love and give life their best.”
For more information and to obtain a DVD, visit www.georgehenrymovie.com. DVDs are also available in the Coe Bookstore.
LEFT TO RIGHT: George Henry ’49 fields questions from his fans who gathered at Coe June 28 to view his life story.
The Kesler Lecture Hall crowd was a testament to the great esteem held for George Henry ’49 by the Coe and Cedar
Rapids communities.
Filmmaker Kevin Kelly ’67 visits with President James Phifer at the premiere of his George Henry documentary film.
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Why is the Kohawk Club important? Contributions benefit all athletic teams and are used to upgrade facilities, purchase
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