Alumni Notes - Wheeling Jesuit University

Alumni
NOTES
1961 
Mikell (Schlotter) Hedley is a research
assistant at The University of Toledo.
1964
Dr. Jeanne (Henry) Neff is president of
the Board of Council for Independent
Colleges.
1965 
Barbara (May) Hordemann works for
Gonzaga University.
John Tingle is a self-employed insurance
broker in Florida.
1966
Rosemary (Peranteau) McCarthy is
a home and school visitor for Marple
Newton Schools (PA).
Al Roth is the Asia products manager for
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
1967
George Blake is chairman and
president of BrandWatch Technologies,
Inc., Seattle, Identity Management
Assn., Atlanta and chairman of TLC
Technologies, Cincinnati.
1968
Joseph Kelleher is president/treasurer of
Kelleher Corp. in Richmond, VA.
Michael Miller, Ph.D. is director
of records management practice for
Lockheed Martin.
1969
Vincent Cybulski is comptroller for The
Village Network.
Mary Alice Fitzgerald is chair of the
Washington County (OH) Democratic
Party.
John Geary works for Phillip Morris in
Richmond, VA.
Charles Sharkey works for the Mendham
Group in New Jersey.
John Tracey works for National
Automotive Finance Assoc.
1970
Rosalie Keane is the owner of NY
Crystal Dance Studio.
James Kunczt works for Hamlin Steel
Products in Pennsylvania.
M. Joan McDermott, Ph.D. is director
of women’s studies at Southern Illinois
University Carbondale.
1971
James Sagona is a vice president at
Urbana (OH) University.
James and Melinda (Reese) Heitker,
reside in Westerville, OH. He works for
the Forethought Group, and she works for
Sew Much Mor.
Daniel Klos owns Daniel H. Klos Law
Office in Lancaster, OH.
1972
Therese (Richard) Catt is a fifth grade
teacher at Prince of Peace Catholic
School, Alabama.
Thomas Dudley is principal of Newmark
Realty Capital, Inc. in California.
Carol (Erdman) Dunsworth is director of
university relations at Towson University.
Patrick Gannon is executive director of
the Ohio Industrial Commission.
Bob O’Neill is executive director for
MSS.
1979
John Munjas works for Century Equities,
Inc. in Ohio.
1974
Rebecca (Williams) DiPasquale is
director for the Northwestern Area
Agency on Aging for Bel-O-Mar Regional
Council.
Tom Hedges is an industrial engineer for
Spirit Aerosystems in Oklahoma.
Cheryl (Costa) Penrose is market
research interviewer for TMR, Inc.
Greg Sgroi is the owner of G.F. Sgroi Co.
of Wheeling.
1981
Terri (Gohmann) Arnold is assistant
dean of students at the University of
Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
Bruce Bartlett is owner of Medical
Services Associates in Pittsburgh.
Debbie (Bowen) Chewning is a legal
assistant for Hillis, Clark, Martin &
Petersen in Seattle.
Chris Hanley works for GE Capital
Solutions in Philadelphia.
1975
Joseph Brown, MD completed the
Physician Executive MBA program at the
University of Tennessee.
Julie (Deter) O’Marra is senior program
analyst for MBI in Shelton, CT.
1982
Joseph Bittengle is director and associate
professor of radiologic imaging sciences
at the University of Arkansas.
Lisa Kay (Rhodes) George is a marketing
rep for RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company in
Maryland.
1976
Stephen Hydock is an AS400 system
administrator for Force 3 in Charleston,
WV.
Michael Murkley is national sales
manager for 94WYSP-FM CBS Radio in
Philadelphia.
1977
Kathleen (Pawloski) Donahue is a senior
accountant at Contran Corp. of Texas.
1978
James Douglas works for ADP in New
Jersey.
1980
Jim Schmidt is director of behavioral
science at Riverside Hospital in
Columbus, OH.
Nancy Knoblich works for WesBanco in
Wheeling.
John Lewis is a lawyer with Metz Lewis,
LLC, of Pittsburgh.
1983
Susan Andrzejczyk works for the UPMC
hospital lab.
Elaine (Vermillion) Coker is a safety
specialist for Pharmaceutical Product
Development in North Carolina.
Robert Hicks is an access technology
specialist for The Seeing Hand
Association, Inc.
John Persiani is an attorney in
Cincinnati.
Karen (Hughes) Showalter works at
Georgetown University Hospital.
www.wju.edu
Alumni
NOTES
1984
Christine (Boice) Conley is a medical
imaging nurse at St. Clair Hospital in
Pittsburgh.
1985
Kevin and Maureen (Lally) Martin ‘84
are the owners of the Celtic Cottage
restaurant in Long Branch, NJ.
WASHINGTON, DC
CHAPTER
More than 65 alumni attended the second
annual DC Alumni Mass at Gonzaga High
School. Julio Giulietti, S.J., WJU president,
celebrated the Mass and updated alumni
on the state of the University during a
reception. Planning is under way to form
an official alumni chapter in the DC area.
A core group of alumni have been meeting
to formulate goals and objectives, as well
as plan events for the coming year.
1986
Norma (Richard) Buchanan is a
detective for the Jacksonville (FL)
Sheriff.
Rev. J. Stephen Vallelonga is pastor
of St. Vincent de Paul Church in New
Martinsville, WV.
1987
Chris Searl is assistant principal of
Creighton Preparatory School in
Omaha, NE.
1988
Darlene (Snider) Beecher is controller
for Bayer Material Science.
Tim McDonald is a CPA for Osborn
Heirs Co. in Texas.
Robert and Christine (DeTemple)
Norris ‘87 reside in Kensington, MD.
He works for Montgomery County, and
she works for JBG Rosenfield Retail.
Joseph and Katherine (Pastor) Small
reside in McMurray, PA. He works for
Eat ‘n Park Hospitality Group, and she
is a nurse for Canonsburg Hospital.
Edward Smoczynski is manager of
E*TRADE Financial in Virginia.
1991
Lawrence Messina is WV statehouse
reporter/political editor for the
Associated Press.
Debby (Robinson) Vojvodich is
associate dean of academic affairs at
Keiser (FL) University.
1992
Tracie Crawshaw, Ph.D. was promoted
to the rank of Commander in the US
Navy and is chief of manpower and
personnel.
Michelle (Wetzel) Edwards works for
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Timet in Toronto, OH.
Gary Ensell works for Universal
Industrial Supply of Ohio.
William Hill is a content analyst for
Choicepoint, Inc. in Ohio.
Tim Mudric is associate director of
project management at PPD in Ohio.
Teresa (Clark) Toriseva is an attorney
with Wexler, Toriseva, Wallace in
Wheeling.
1993
Michael Croy works for Seaway in
Aurora, OH.
Lori DiBacco is a speech language
pathologist for Randolph County (WV)
Schools.
Jeri (Hawthorne) Garcia is a director
for United States Pharmacopeia in
Maryland.
Lucy (Gray) Kefauver is a counselor
at West Virginia Northern Community
College.
Erik Tavenner is senior solutions
consultant for Plus Consulting in Ohio.
1994
Kathleen Hess works for the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Stephanie (Pearl) Nash works for IBM
in Fairfax, VA.
1995
Todd Rebbel married Lauren Mislak
Nov. 25, 2006. He is VP of Atlantic
Transportation in Balto, MD.
Kathyrn Stephens works at Belmont
Technical College (OH).
Margaret Tindor-Zapor works for
IADT in Pittsburgh.
1996
Karen (Simmons) Anderson is
executive director of The PS Project in
Parkersburg, WV.
Thomas Blackford works for North
Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance.
Michelle (Groome) Miller works for
Wells Fargo Insurance.
Phillip Northey is a physician assistant
at MVA Fairmont Clinic.
GIVE ONLINE @ www.wju.edu/advancement
1997
Jason Anders is physical therapy
clinical director for Bodyworks
Rehabilitation in Beckley, WV.
Stephanie (Markus) Masterson
is auditor-in-charge for Parms &
Company, LLC of Ohio.
Christopher Moore is a history teacher
at Charlotte (NC) Middle School.
Melikhaya Ntshingwa works for
Marquette University.
Donna Snider works for Cardinal
Health in Dublin, OH.
Colin Stockton is an attorney with
Moore & Van Allen in Charlotte, NC.
Marikathryn “Muff ” (Bartosik)
Valenti works for Cardinal Health in
Ohio.
1998
Brian Bennett is member services
manager for Guernsey-Muskingum
(OH) Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Trisha (Wright) Bush is a market
research analyst at WJU’s National
Technology Transfer Center.
Christopher Elswick is an attorney
with Bailey & Wyant, PLLC in
Wheeling.
Erika Harris MD is a family physician
for University Physicians & Surgeons in
West Virginia.
Karla (Trent) Moeller works for
Broadwing Communication in Ohio.
John and Amanda (Balser) Naughton
‘99 reside in Powell, OH. He is
associate director of admissions at
Ohio Wesleyan University. She is a
registered nurse at Dublin Methodist
Hospital.
Jessica Strauss is the owner of
WestArk Industrial Cleaning in
Clarksburg, WV.
1999
Ryan and Beth (Northey) Aaron,
announce the birth of daughter, Albree
Ann, born Sept. 10, 2007.
Karen Cokeley is a supervisor for
Highmark Blue Cross.
Jason and Libby (Byrum) Culley ‘00
reside in Dublin, OH. He is a dentist
and owner of Watermark Dental. She is
a marketing communications specialist
for Dramond Innovations.
Kevin Dunn is owner of Dunn Title
Agency, LLC.
Michael Iafrate is a doctoral student at
the University of St. Michael’s College,
Toronto School of Theology.
Charles Jones works for Western
Southern Life in Zanesville, OH.
Kelly (Nowakowski) Kuchinski is
lead physical therapist at East Ohio
Regional Hospital.
Christopher Lohri is senior associate
with Gompers & Associates, PLLC in
Wheeling.
Mike Oravec is a business systems
consultant for Wells Fargo Bank in
California.
Sandra Shelek is an auditor for
Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming
Resort.
2000
Katie (Kapper) Brooks works for Akron
Children’s Hospital.
Stephen and Mary Beth (Hogan)
Criniti announce the birth of their son,
Matthew, born Sept. 21, 2007.
Karen Dalby is a nurse with Drs. Noble
& Wurtzbacher in Wheeling.
Jessica DeCola is a software engineer
for Cisco Systems in San Jose, CA.
Ann Drinkwater is online services
program manager for Parsons
Brinckerhoff.
R. Chad Duffield is an attorney with
Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC. in
Charleston.
Joy Harr is a dentist with Family
Dentistry in St. Clairsville, OH.
Amy Lilly is senior subcontracts
administrator for Orbital Sciences Corp.
Cathy Molinaro works for Pittsburgh
Public Schools.
Sara Ravas is a staff attorney for
Thompson, Hine Business Litigation
group in Ohio.
Kate (Hamer) Rottmayer is house
counsel for Grange Mutual Casualty
Company in Ohio.
Kelly (Gottschalk) Samaha is a
respiratory therapist and is center
manager for Lincare, Inc in Virginia.
PHILADELPHIA
CHAPTER
Held its annual post holiday party at the
home of Martha Buckley Shields ’64 in
January. Nearly 30 alumni were on hand
to celebrate the start of 2008 with Rev.
Jim O’Brien, S.J. and Kelly Klubert ’85,
director of alumni relations. The Chapter
announced that it has endowed the Rev.
Charles Currie, S.J. Philadelphia Chapter
Scholarship and would award money this
year. The Chapter will host its annual golf
scramble, the Pieco Open, on October 11.
Proceeds from the outing go to the Charles
Currie Scholarship. Contact the Alumni
Office for details.
C h ro n i c l e
Alumni
NOTES
First Basketball team returns to
Wheeling Jesuit University
Dan Sancomb congratulates the honorees.
Wheeling Jesuit University’s first men’s varsity team was
honored Saturday, Jan. 26. Many members of the team
returned to campus for a weekend of activities, which
included a reception hosted by John Egan McAteer ‘61,
recognition during the men’s varsity game and a reception
hosted by the Alumni Office.
Those attending the weekend included: team manager
Douglas Baldy ‘60, John J. Dematte, Sr. ‘60, Todd B.
Haberfield ‘60, John J. Mensore ‘60, Donald W. Mercer
Members of the first basketball varsity team
‘60, Walter A. Reed, Jr. ’60, McAteer ‘61, Dr. Michael A.
Santer ‘61, Jr., and John B. Yasinsky ‘61.
“Fifty years ago, during the 1957-58 school year, these
members of the classes of 1960 and 1961 were the first
varsity team. This was the beginning of varsity athletics
at Wheeling Jesuit and we honor those efforts,” said Dan
Sancomb ‘98, director of athletics and men’s head basketball coach. “It was an honor to celebrate our former
athletes in this public manner and recognize these men
who were the start of athletics at Wheeling Jesuit.”
Frech Joins Bush Administration
as Deputy Assistant
P
resident George W. Bush appointed Chris Frech as deputy assistant to the President for legislative affairs
in January.
Frech, a member of the class of 1989, previously served as special assistant to the President for legislative affairs. Prior
to this, he served as deputy chief of staff and Rules Committee associate for Congresswoman Deborah Pryce. He received a master’s degree from West Virginia University.
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www.wju.edu/alumni/updaterecords/records.asp
Erin Rebbel married Richard
Schwartz Aug. 25, 2007.
Wheeling Jesuit alums in
the wedding were, Christina
Tanner Davis ‘99, Bobbi Feher
Norton ‘99, Carrie Huitger
‘99, Cynthia Placiente Los ‘99,
Sarah Steiner Yu ‘99, Angela
Wiley ‘99, and Todd Rebbel
‘95, ‘97 brother of the bride.
Readers were Amanda Balser
Naughton ‘99 and Debra Resch
Scheffer ‘99. Other WJU grads
at the wedding were Dan Harris, Brooks & Jen Belfior Schuler, Shawn Kane, Tom
Cecil, Robert Neary, Danielle Beziat Newman, Jason Los, Casper Yu, Jamie
Norton, Phil Northey, Mark Jennings, Chrissy Houston & Alison Johnson.
Rebecca (Slater) Tatar is chief nuclear
medicine technologist at Temple (PA)
Northeastern Hospital.
2001
Penny (Salisbury) Back is an emergency
room registered nurse at KCMC in
South Carolina.
Maria Conforti is a physical therapist
for PT Unlimited/OVGH in Pittsburgh.
Lawrence and Colleen (O’Hanlon)
Harkins reside in Glenshaw, PA. He
is a case manager for Renewal, Inc.,
and she is a registered nurse at UPMC
Shadyside.
Janel Hartman is a legal assistant for
Carlile, Patchen, Murphy in Columbus,
OH.
Anna Lawrence is a curriculum
development specialist for Konica
Minolta Business Solutions, New Jersey.
Colleen Lucey is a nurse at OVMC in
Wheeling.
Steve Rice is a trust advisor for PNC
Wealth Management in Pittsburgh. He
and Amanda Hallock ‘03 were married
on July 5, 2008.
2002
Stephanie (Gray) Faust is a French
teacher for the Brentwood (PA) School
District.
Jeanene Goodman is a registered nurse
for Mt. Carmel (OH) Hospice.
Sherre (Casper) Grebenstein is
reporter/copyeditor/photographer for
The Martinsburg (WV) Journal.
Holly (Cefaldo) Kidwell is assistant
coordinator at Texas Sports Medicine
Facility.
Rachel Lewis is wound care physical
therapist at St. Joseph’s (PA) Medical
Center.
John “Monte” McCormick is senior
staff consultant with TripleScreen
Search and Staffing in the Philadelphia
area.
Michael Morris is a staff physical
therapist for Rehab Unlimited at
Southbridge (OH).
Amy (Criniti) Phillips is a doctoral
candidate and teaching fellow at
Duquesne University.
Amy Pietragallo is a traveling nurse for
RSI Medical.
Crystal (Dunfee) Pietranton is a
registered nurse at Wheeling Hospital.
Paula (Fitsimmons) Prince is a first
grade teacher for Greenville (SC)
County Schools.
Jim Puglisi is assistant director at St.
Edward’s University in Texas.
Lisa (Traynor) Richardson is a
registered nurse for Trustaff in Ohio.
Mark Rodenhauser is a software
engineer for Asurion in Texas.
Jeremy Steed is clinical marketing
specialist for Siemens Medical
Solutions in Illinois.
CHARLESTON, WV
CHAPTER
The Charleston area alumni met in
April to discuss and plan an Alumni/
Prospective Student Night on October
1, 2008. The event will be a time for
alumni to get together with one another,
as well as talk and promote Wheeling
Jesuit to prospective undergraduate
and graduate students. Call the Alumni
Office to make your reservation.
COLUMBUS, OH
CHAPTER
The chapter hosted a post holiday party
in January. Coordinated by Michael and
Debbie (Hoban) Walsh ’82, more than 45
alumni celebrated the beginning of 2008.
Rev. Jim O’Brien, S.J. and Kelly Klubert
’85, director of alumni relations attended
the gathering. The chapter held a picnic
at the home of Marian (Malley) Jones
’80. It was a relaxing day of fun and sun
for alumni and their families. Planning
is under way for the January post holiday party. The chapter is forming a task
force to look for ways to assist in the recruitment of students from the Columbus area. For more information about
the task force, contact Scott Gallagher at
[email protected].
2003
Kristie (Bower) Barnett is assistant VP
and senior trust officer at WesBanco in
Wheeling.
C h ro n i c l e
Alumni
NOTES
Ways...
to stay involved
Join or start a chapter –
Alumni chapters are established
in Charleston, WV; Columbus,
OH; Morgantown, WV; Wheeling,
Pittsburgh; Philadelphia and
Washington, DC. Get involved in
one of these chapters or contact
the Alumni Office about starting
one in your area.
Alumni in Admissions –
Alumni can help recruit
prospective students by
becoming a member of the
Alumni in Admissions program.
Become a volunteer today
at www.wju.edu/alumni/
alumniinadmissionsform.asp.
Alumni Council – If you would
like to serve on Alumni Council,
the body that represents all
alumni, contact the Alumni Office
at [email protected].
22
www.wju.edu
Class Agents – This is a
chance to be part of the WJU
communication network. As a
class agent, you can become
a vital link between your
classmates and the University.
Want to become a class agent,
email [email protected] today.
Alumni Award Nominations
– Do you know someone
deserving of the GOLD, Lewis or
Distinguished Alumni awards?
Send the Alumni Office the name
of the deserving person and why
he or she should be recognized.
You can submit names by
logging onto www.wju.edu/
alumni/getinvolved/award.asp.
Facebook – You can stay
connected to your alma mater
and WJU alumni by joining
Facebook. Jesuit Gold is the
official Facebook site of Wheeling
Jesuit alumni.
Alumni Services
The Wheeling Jesuit Alumni Office offers
graduates several programs that will
benefit them.
Wheeling Jesuit MasterCard – The
WJU MasterCard is a way for alumni to
support the University each time they use
their card. Apply today at www.wju.edu/
alumni/resourses_benefits/
Liberty Mutual Insurance and Meyers
and Associates – The Wheeling Jesuit
University Alumni Office has teamed
up with Liberty Mutual and Meyers and
Associates to offer alumni high-quality life,
health, auto, home and renters insurance
at low group rates. Log onto www.wju.
edu/alumni/resources_benefits/insoffer.
asp for more information on both these
offers.
WJU Return Labels – Show your
school spirit by using WJU return address
labels. Log on and order your labels at
www.alumnilabels.com/session.php?sel_
univ=120.
GIVE ONLINE @ www.wju.edu/advancement
Lindsay (Patti) Ferda is a registered
nurse at WVU Hospital.
Kristen Foster is a registered nurse
at The Ohio State University Medical
Center.
Tara (Rohde) Hoelscher is a registered
nurse at The Ohio State University
Medical Center, James Cancer Hospital.
Olivia (Schilens) Kostecke is a 10th
and 11th grade special education
teacher for Portage County (OH).
Katie Meng is a labor and employment
attorney with the U.S. Department of
Justice in Washington, DC.
Joshua Reed is a registered nurse at The
Ohio State University Medical Center.
Melissa Lynn (Arnold) Rhoads is an
attorney with Tighe & Cottrell, P.A. in
Wilmington, DE.
Barbara Roman works for SFT
Healthcare in Canton, OH.
Andrea Rosica is a caseworker for
Meridian Health at Jersey Shore
University Medical Center.
Nikki (Stenger) Sayre is a kindergarten
teacher for Union Local (OH) Schools.
Eustice Stapler is a school counselor for
Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools.
Kevin Tait is a transport respiratory
therapist for Flight For Life Colorado.
Stephanie Williamson is a registered
nurse and respiratory therapist at the
Carilion Clinic in West Virginia.
2005
Aimee Boyer married Jim DiStefano on
Aug. 8, 2008.
Sara Budacki is a strategic research
coordinator for the Corporate Executive
Board in Virginia.
Anastasia Carter is a group home
parent for Davis-Stuart, Inc. in West
Virginia.
Steven Ellis is a teacher/volunteer for
Cristo Rey High School and is serving
one year as a Jesuit Volunteer in New
York City.
Anne Gormley is a second grade
teacher at St. Peter’s School in
Maryland.
Katherine (Kassimer) Hendershot is
a pre-school teacher for Wee Care PreSchool in Ohio.
Stephanie (Stock) Reese is a human
resources assistant for Wheeling Island
Racetrack & Gaming Resort.
Emilee Romano is a legal secretary
for Gordon, Feinblatt, Rothman,
Hoffberger & Hollander in Baltimore.
Marie Somera is a legal assistant with
Berger & Green in Pittsburgh.
Katie (Pelikan) Temple is a substitute
teacher for Colorado Springs School
District 11.
Angela Zambito is assistant
development director for Catholic
Charities WV of the Diocese of
Wheeling-Charleston.
2004
Larry Boroski works for the Belmont
Correctional Institution in St.
Clairsville, OH.
Georgeann Canter works at Bridgeport
(OH) High School.
Kimberly Fox is a family nurse
practitioner at MedPoint in Clarksburg,
WV.
Tiffany Harris is an EDGAR/
document specialist for Williams Lea in
Wheeling.
Megan Sall is an English teacher and
assistant track coach for Norfolk (VA)
Public Schools.
Ben Thomas is manager for Antrin
Township (PA).
Jayme (Lenz) Verslype is audit senior
with Ernst & Young, LLP in Pittsburgh.
2006
Joshua Collins is a talk show host on
1370-WVOY in Maryland.
Elizabeth (Criasia) Croson is a
registered nurse at Georgetown
University Hospital.
Heather (Fristick) DeFranco is security
systems specialist for Bettis Atomic
Laboratory in Pittsburgh.
Cindy (Shaw) Ealy is administrative
assistant for Fresh Start in Ohio.
works for SRA
International, a contractor at the U.S.
GAO.
Shaun Gainer is a kindergarten teacher
for Greene County (VA) Schools.
Natalie Kozel is a first grade teacher for
Greene County (VA) Schools.
Annisa Kreis is a sales professional for
Cintas in Ohio.
OHIO VALLEY
CHAPTER
The Chapter, along with the Alumni Office hosted a dinner prior to the theater
production of Man of La Mancha. More
than 60 alumni and their families attended
the event. A large group of alumni who
performed in the 1970s production were
on hand for the dinner. The chapter met
in April to discuss plans for the 08-09 year.
The Chapter is looking to host a holiday
party in December. For more information
about the chapter, contact Vince Gallagher
at [email protected] or
Maureen Zambito at [email protected].
C h ro n i c l e
Alumni
NOTES
Christopher McCormick works at
WVU Medical Center.
Aimee Robinson is an accountant with
Bodkin, Wilson and Kozicki, PLLC in
Wheeling.
2007
Erin Bailey is the cheering coach at
Niagara University (NY).
Lisa (Clever) Baker is an employmenttraining specialist with Licking Notts
Goodwill.
Jennifer (Weidger) Brown is a physical
therapist for Blue Sky Therapy in
Canton, OH.
Samuel Childers works for Furnished
Quarters in New York.
Ashley Duke is a nurse at UPMC
Children’s Hospital.
Tawni Fuller is a nurse at The
Cleveland Clinic.
Kerry Monreal is a registered nurse at
The Cleveland Clinic.
Amber Thompson is a staff nurse at
UPMC Shadyside.
In Memoriam
ALUMNI
Dennis M. Deegan ‘68 died April 20,
2008.
H. Leon Hegner ‘61 died Feb. 7, 2008.
M. Michele “Mickie” Heidenreich
‘75 died March 18, 2008.
FAMILY, STAFF & FRIENDS
Marie Clare Kammer Gribben, mother
of Tom Gribben ‘59, died Feb. 15,
2008.
Lt. Colonel David Kapalko, spouse of
Rita (Vosvick) Kapalko ‘88, died Feb.
6, 2008.
John O’Brien, brother of Rev.
James O’Brien, S.J., father of John
“Michael” O’Brien ‘88, died Jan. 27,
2008.
Lenita O’Neill, mother of Bob O’Neill
‘72, died Jan. 21, 2008.
Frank M. Reynolds, father of Frank
M. Reynolds, Jr. ‘78, died Jan. 13,
2008.
Mary Grace Soccio, mother of
MaryAnne (Soccio) Scheuble ‘75, died
March 29, 2008.
Anita Trainor, spouse of John Trainor
‘62, died Feb. 28, 2008.
Kevin Tyska, WJU Lacrosse Coach,
died Jan. 21, 2008.
Lou Velkovich, father of Jennifer
(Velkovich) Kosek ‘99, and Stacey
Velkovich ‘06, died April 8, 2008.
Cleo Whitecotton, former athletic
department secretary, died Jan. 29,
2008.
CLASSNOTES
GUIDELINES
Do you have news to share with members of
the WJU alumni community? Here is a quick
overview of the guidelines for Chronicle
Classnotes.
• The Classnotes section is one of the first sections we complete for each issue of the Chronicle and often stop compiling classnotes about
three months before the issue is mailed. We try
to include all classnotes, but space sometimes
limits how many we can run. All classnotes
can be viewed at www.wju.edu/alumni
• We do not run information about upcoming
marriages, births and other occasions until after the event has occurred.
• Do to space limitations, we will only run one
class note per alum per year in the Chronicle.
• We only accept classnotes in written form. No
classnotes will be accepted over the phone.
Monongah Mine Disaster of 1907 Book Released by McAteer
Wheeling Jesuit’s Vice President of Sponsored Program Davitt
McAteer ’66 released a book that examines the nation’s worst mining disaster and the history of coalmining in West Virginia and the
surrounding area.
“Monongah: The Tragic Story of the 1907 Monongah Mine Disaster, the Worst Industrial Accident in U.S. History,” was released in
December 2007, a hundred years after the fateful disaster occurred.
McAteer examines the history of the coal mining industry in West
Virginia and surrounding states, including the political and social
atmosphere and conditions in the mines at the time of the disaster.
24
www.wju.edu
The book represents more than 30 years of research, including interviews with victims’ survivors and descendants. McAteer’s research
proves that close to 500 (not the official report of 362) men and boys
— many of them immigrants — lost their lives that day, leaving hundreds of women widowed and more than 1,000 children orphaned.
McAteer served as Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health
in the U.S. Department of Labor during the Clinton administration.
He worked with consumer advocate Ralph Nader to help enact the
landmark 1969 Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. In January of 2006, West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin asked McAteer to
conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the Sago
Mine Disaster and the Aracoma Alma No. 1 mine fire.
www.wju.edu/alumni/updaterecords/records.asp
Schell Named
Alumnus Named
Founding Director
President of
of the Professional
Illinois Hospital
Development Center R
L
obert Ritz ’84 was named president and CEO of St. John’s
Hospital, in Springfield, Ill. in April.
ea Ann ‘Beez’ Schell, Ph.D. ’89 has been named
the founding director of the Professional Development Center at the State University of New York Fredonia.
Schell began her new position in June and will hold the
faculty rank of professor in the department of sports
management and exercise science.
A graduate of WJU with a bachelor’s degree in advertising/professional writing, Schell also holds a master’s
in athletic administration from Slippery Rock University and a doctorate in kinesiology from Texas Woman’s
University.
“I am thrilled and blessed that I have been invited to join the
mission and family at St. John’s. It is a great organization filled
at every level with talented and dedicated professionals,” he
said.
Ritz holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from
Wheeling Jesuit. Following graduation, Ritz took a year off
before he began graduate school at Cornell University. During
that year, he worked as a dishwasher in the kitchen at Wheeling
Hospital and as a nursing home housekeeper. He said the move
was intentional and helped him decide to pursue a career in
health care.
Prior to his appointment at St. John’s, Ritz served as president
and CEO of St. Mary’s Health System in Waterbury, Conn. for
six years.
IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF
THE CHRONICLE, LOOK FOR:
Class Notes:
(Send us your info today)
A Message From
the President
Alumni Weekend 2009 Preview
Sports Wrap-up
Academic Highlights
Service Highlights
C h ro n i c l e
WJU ALUMNI
WEEKEND 2008
This year, Alumni Council handed out five Clifford M. Lewis S.J. Awards. Two of the recipients,
Carol Yarnall ’63 and Jay DeFruscio ’87 were not
on hand for the presentation. Joining Scott
Gallagher ’92, president of Alumni Council,
and Julio Giulietti, S.J., University president
are Jim Regan, men’s soccer coach, Allen
Wojcik ’63 and Terry Lewis ’93.
26
www.wju.edu
Joe Saverimuttu ’06 is shown with his mother and father
Martina and Gerard following the presentation of the
Graduates of the Last Decade or GOLD award. Theresa
Bowman Phipps ’01 also received the award but was
unable to attend the ceremony.
Members of the Class of 1963 undertook a fund raising goal – to raise money for the new office of Mission
and Ministry. Under the leadership of Steve Haid, the
class has more than $20,000 committed to the project.
Joining Haid for the presentation are Julio Giulietti,
S.J. president and Judy Geary ’63, a member of Alumni
Council.
Members of the class of 1963 Allen Wojcik and Tom
Kelleher talk about their award winning weekend.
Wojcik won a Lewis Award and Kelleher was surprised
with the presentation of the Alumni Magis Award for
his dedication to the University and its alumni.
Brian McCagh ’68 received this year’s newly renamed
St. Ignatius Loyola Distinguished Alumni Award for
his dedication and lifelong commitment to providing
top notch health care. Julio Giulietti, S.J. president,
presented McCagh the Award.
Sandra Wunderlich Neilson ’66 was granted an honorary
bachelor’s degree during Alumni Weekend. Neilson was
unable to finish her degree in 1966 and her classmates
petitioned the University to grant her this honorary degree. Julio Giulietti, S.J. president, made the presentation during Saturday evening’s dinner. Her family and
several classmates were on hand for the special night.
C h ro n i c l e