1970s – 1980s

1970

Just when it looked like there was nothing to say about our class, I received a nice note from “Mac” MacDonough. I met Mac early my freshman year in a demanding French class taught by an older professor who always wore a dark suit with a boutonnière of the Legion of Honor or some such award. We sat next to each other and between ”La plume de ma tante est sur la table” recitings, we were distracted by Marilyn Mears’ skirt length.  Anyway, back to the note… Mac has enjoyed reading everyone’s news and decided to update his profile for the first time since graduation. Mac had toiled as a loan officer for 10 years in the banking/credit union business. After years of the daily grind, he joined a company that sells fire suppression equipment systems, located in Marshalls Creek, Pa., his hometown. He loves the combination of office and field work as lead estimator. He and his wife, Shannon, have been married nine years, and each has two grown sons. His oldest, Jaime, works for Polo and moonlights as a ski instructor. His brother, Nathan, is enjoying a good life in Colorado Springs. Mac’s wife’s son, Glen, and his wife just had twin daughters, and brother Shaun is a lineman for a power company. Mac says he gets back to Burlington frequently and stops by Kappa Sig, but like many of us, he mourns the loss of the Redwood on North Street. On my side of the street, it’s May 3 and the Indians are in first place—let’s see how long that lasts. My father died quietly and quickly on January 1 in Naples, Fla., and while down there, Barbara and I spent time in Punta Gorda at the waterfront home and fishing Mecca of Jain and Drano Doremus and their “fishing is my life” neighbors Sally and John Hynes, both class of ’69. My daughter is in the process of finals at CU in Boulder and will finish her junior year. I need to hear from more of you with news, gossip, family updates, and more or this space will be filled with my analysis of why the Browns have never been to the Super Bowl.

Send your news to—
Doug Arnold
darnold@arnold-co.com

1971

First, a correction in my spring Class Notes. Ed Borden is definitely a Jersey boy, not a New Yorker. Susan Hynes Taylor pointed this out to me recently, and she should know because she’s a Jersey girl. I heard from Dick Peisch this spring, and he said that he is planning to attend his 40th Burlington High School reunion in August and that he’d let me know when he’s back in Burlington. I suppose we will have to get the banners out again for Peisch’s homecoming! Doug Wells and others should be joining Dick which should make for an interesting reunion. Marybeth Siska Rust is extremely busy with her real estate business. We literally ran into each other in Burlington. Liz Foster has had an interesting winter and spring. She traveled to Honduras for a hands-on volunteer project that was organized by Rotary. She did various construction jobs in a community that Rotary has “adopted.” I promise to go with her next time! Liz also traveled to Bhutan with her husband, Jim, and his Colorado College classmates. The country and the people sound incredible. Sandra Simpson reported that she has a newly created job of marketing analyst for Defense Supply Center Philadelphia-Europe in Mainz Kastel, a job that should last at least until December 2009. In and around everything else, she did a quick six months downrange as well as three months in Kuwait and three months in Iraq at Camp Anaconda, north of Baghdad. Marc Milowsky reported, “My girl Megz  (Megan ’00) got engaged, and we are full steam ahead in the wedding planning business.” I wish I had more to report, so please write; it can be lonely at the class secretary desk. Regards from Burlington!

Send your news to—
Sarah Wilbur Sprayregen
sarah.sprayregen@uvm.edu

1972

Sue Thayer-Kramers is in Valencia, Spain, for a year while her husband is the chief engineer (boat designer and engineer) for the Alinghi America’s Cup Team. He was the same for the last Am Cup, and they won so they are trying to maintain their dominance this year. The races will be held in June and July. Sue has two sons, Max, who will be graduating from school in Spain in June, and Zack, who is a student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute working on his EE/computer engineering degree. Sue retired from her position in a private cardiothoracic and vascular surgical practice in Providence, R.I., to go to Spain. She is having a completely new experience being solely a housewife and mother. Barbara Crandall Cochran of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., has our reunion on her calendar. Her son, Jeffrey, is graduating from Champlain College in May. Her daughter, Christine, graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia, and she is working in New York City. Ellen Musinsky is looking forward to playing golf and seeing old friends at our upcoming Reunion. Susan Kovacik Sharp lives in Montana just 30 miles from Glacier National Park. Her most recent job was teaching seven middle school and high school students in a one-room schoolhouse. She mentioned that working at UVM can be an interesting experience, too! After graduation, she worked at UVM in the radiological safety office in the basement of the Given Building. There were no windows in the office, so weather conditions were always a surprise at the end of the day. Her favorite memory of that job was the day some radioactive frogs escaped from their cage. It must have been quite an adventure trying to capture them all while maintaining non-contamination protocol! Sally Streeter Zoppo ’73 is planning a trip to UVM for our reunion. She recently returned from El Salvador, where her oldest son is serving in the Peace Corps. Her second son is at the University of California San Diego Law School, and her youngest son is working in Minnesota. Sally also has a daughter who is getting close to those wonderful teenage years. Sally is a physical therapist presently taking a break to pursue other projects. Jim Lampman, owner of the Lake Champlain Chocolate Company, will be in Ghana, Africa, at the World Cocoa Foundation in May. Attendance at this conference is a competitive process since U.S. chocolate makers can attend by invitation only. Even though the dates of the conference conflict with our Reunion, we are proud of Jim for being part of an effort to promote the sustainability of cocoa, which is helping many small farmers and their families. Jacquie Hall Mitchell left Spherion last July to work at the Manhattan School of Music’s development department doing special events.

Send your news to—
Debra Stern Koslow
debra.stern@uvm.edu

1973

Frank Bonnett wrote from East Thetford, Vt., that “life is good.” He changed careers five years ago and now greatly enjoys working with four- and five-year olds. He and his wife, Karin, have three children, and they were looking forward to becoming grandparents in April. Ellen Sabo Morris has been working at UVM in Continuing Education for 11 years in credit course planning and distance learning. She and her husband attend all UVM hockey games to cheer for the Cats. In their spare time, they ski and snowkite in the winter and skydive in the summer. Ellen is a skydiving coach, and she teaches a course for first-time jumpers. Her husband is a videographer, and  he captures students’ skydives on VHS and DVD, as they enjoy (or not) their free-fall experience. Debra Carpenter Wood lives in Belchertown, Mass., working full time as a social worker in an outpatient, kidney dialysis center and part time providing psychotherapy at a local family mental health agency. She and her husband were expecting their first grandson in March. Christopher Corbett recently retired after 32 years as a regulatory engineer with the New York State Public Service Commission in Albany. He plans to enjoy more leisure time with his wife, Colleen, who recently retired as a special education teacher, and to work as an independent researcher in the nonprofit sector. Nancy North Strickland works with children with developmental delays in an early intervention program in West Newbury, Mass. She’s been working in the program since 1996 and writes that “at age 66, I have no plans yet for retirement!” Yudi Bennett, G’73, shared in the honors earlier this year when “Tony Bennett: An American Classic” won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety for 2006. Yudi was associate director of the NBC television special that was directed by Rob Marshall.

Send your news to—
Deborah Mesce
d.mesce@verizon.net

1974

Send your news to—
Emily Schnaper Manders
esmanders@gmail.com

1975

UVM is in the midst of winter athletics “playoff fever” as I write this. We’ll know the outcome by the time this goes to press, but suffice to say it is an exciting time in Burlington. The men’s and women’s basketball teams have had fantastic seasons with much support from students and the community, and the men’s hockey team has had Gutterson rocking once again. Jane Haslun Schwab reported that several of the Pi Phi contingent had a winter weekend together at the log home of Betsy Bundock O’Neill in Greenwich, N.Y. Becky Pardee Davis, Melissa Dever Martin, Rhonda Lucasey Rowe, Patricia Rubalcaba, Laurie Burdett Stuart and Nancy Haslun Wall were there. John Boardman was recently spotted in Burlington, visiting from Washington, D.C. Mark Fox was elected president of Fraser, Trebilcock, Davis & Dunlap, P.C., one of Michigan’s oldest law firms, with offices in Lansing and Detroit. Mark, who handles intellectual property and other commercial litigation, also serves as an advisor to Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. He lives in Okemos, Mich., with his wife, Anita, who is also a lawyer, and their three children. John Krowka recently began working as senior environmental scientist with the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrances Association in Washington, D.C. John lives in Boonsboro, Md., and he can be contacted via email at johnkrowka@ aol.com.

Send your news to—
Dina Dwyer Child
dinachild@aol.com

1976

Send your news to—
Pete Beekman
pbeekman@clarkson.edu

1977

Send your news to—
Steve Monroe
monroe@levinassociates.com

1978

I heard from classmate Ernie Richards, who wrote, “I thought I would send an update; it’s been quite a few years. I retired from the U.S. Navy a few years ago as a commander, and I now work for the Nevada Department of Public Safety in Carson City. My wife, Laura, a wildlife biologist with the State of Nevada, and I have two teenage sons. I would like to pass on regards and best wishes to classmates from the Living Learning Center’s Wilderness Sports Program, and to those who lived on Isham Street. Classmates can reach me via email at twokit@sbc global.net. Bruce and Eileen Giguere Donovan, are still living in Barre, Vt., with their children Jennafer and Jackson. Eileen is director of financial services at Vermont Technical College. Bruce recently left his position at the Methodist Church in Barre. They also send along news that the e-mail rage has caught on with long-time friends of the Donovan family, especially fellow alum Maynard North ’50 and his wife Lois. Maynard and Lois now live full time in Florida and expertly use e-mail to keep up with news of Bruce’s mom, Constance Donovan ’52. The Norths send greetings to all of their friends in central Vermont. Bruce and Eileen’s e-mail address is dono vanbe4@verizon.net. Bruce would love to hear from anyone who admits to possibly having the vaguest recollection of names even remotely resembling theirs or, more likely, those who remember and would like to send greetings to Maynard and Lois North. Nansi Greger-Holt is a geriatric and family nurse practitioner with Golden Eldercare Management. She wrote, “Following the death of former President Gerald Ford, I was on public radio in early January on The Story with Dick Gordon. I told my story about participating in a protest when Gerald Ford came to UVM right after he pardoned Richard Nixon. I’ll bet there are other alumni who remember this protest.” Elaine Beaudoin Owen of Williamstown, Vt., wrote, “I met my best friend at UVM when we were freshmen and by the happenstance of upperclassmen, we were made to become roommates. To this day, we enjoy central Vermont activities. Many times, we include my sister, Cheryl Beaudoin Ducharme ’81, in our antics.” Who was Elaine’s roommate? Deborah Vaughan LeFabre ’78. Timothy Carney of Williston, Vt., inquired, “Where is Paul Ajamian?” Anyone? Write me at the address below if you have the information, so I can pass it on. Charles Trapani lives in Guilford, Conn., where he is the owner and manager of a wholesale distribution company of surfacing products used in the kitchen and bath industry and millwork industries. He wrote that he met Warren Prehmus ’77 and Kevin Kelly ’78 in Burlington on January 13, 2007, while he was there to watch his son, Joe Trapani  play basketball against SUNY Albany. The Cats won and were leading America East when he wrote. Warren, Kevin, and Charlie all played basketball at UVM in the mid ’70s and were happy to get back together to see the Cats play, and reminisce about old times together. Stephen Seitz of Springfield, Vt., has written his first novel, Sherlock Homes and the Plague of Dracula, published by Mountainside Press in Shaftsbury, Vt. The book has been well-reviewed and has already entered its third printing. Steve can be reached via email at sseitz@sover.net. Finally, by the time you read this, I will have moved away from Las Vegas to the much more sedate and “normal” Boise, Idaho, with my four dogs. I bought a 1910 farmhouse, and I am looking forward to the change. I need to see trees and rain. I have the same e-mail address, but my new mailing address is listed below. If any classmates live in or around Boise, please get in touch, and please continue to send me news to share with our classmates.

Send your news to—
Audrey Ziss Bath
audreyb2@aol.com

1979

Send your news to—
Beth Nutter Gamache
beth.nutter-gamache@vtmednet.org

1980

Ahhhh…my favorite time of year has finally reached Vermont. It’s summer! The slush, mush, and mud are behind us, and it is once again time to enjoy all the outdoor adventures that Vermont has to offer. It’s been great to hear from many of you over the past few months. I truly appreciate your keeping in touch. Congratulations to William Stephens of Lansdale, Pa., who recently received tenure as assistant professor of chemistry at Delaware Valley College. He joined the faculty in 2001 after 22 years at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. Stephens teaches organic analysis and advanced organic chemistry courses, in addition to sharing responsibility for organic chemistry and biochemistry courses. Kudos also go to Mitch Selbiger of Rehoboth Beach, Del., who was named the 2006 top producer for residential sales at the Ocean Atlantic Agency. In addition, he and his partner own and operate Rehoboth Beach’s only health food store, Rainbow Earth Foods. Previously, he worked in marketing for the computer industry, but he now greatly enjoys the calm of living at the beach with its relaxed community and pace of life. When time and weather permit, please take a few minutes to send me a note about your lives since 1980. In peace…

Send your news to—
MaryBeth Cirino Pinard-Brace
marybethpinardbrace@alumni.uvm.edu

1981

Send your news to—
Mardie Trask Sorensen
mardie@uta.edu

1982

Greetings! A nor’easter is blowing through New England as I am putting together the news of our class and reflecting on the fact that when this issue goes to print, it will have been more than 25 years ago that we all were putting on our caps and gowns for graduation. How time flies. I hope you all enjoy a great reunion weekend. Anthony Scolaro and his wife, Brenda have been married for 17 years, and they have two sons, Timmy and A.J. Both boys love sports, and the family spends a lot of time during the winter in Vermont skiing at Mount Snow. John Babyak recently relocated his investment management business to Southport, Conn. He welcomes friends to stop by if they are in the area. Charles Niebling joined the private sector after 18 years in non-profit conservation and forestry work. He is pleased to be working for New England Wood Pellet, a manufacturer of clean, renewable heating fuel, which, he says, “will help our region and nation move toward a more sustainable energy future.” Kevin Eaton recently completed a computer-aided design class at Vermont Technical College, which he says will facilitate his building lot and house site design work at Dufresne and Associates. Kevin, his wife, and three kids live in East Corinth, Vt.  Kate Barsy Trent is happily married to her husband Cliff, and they live in Seattle, Wash., where they are busy raising their two sons. They love skiing in the winter and enjoying white water sports in the summer. Kate wonders if they are raising a couple of future UVMers. 

Send your news to—
Beth Peabody
peabodyea@aol.com

Jack Scambos
pteron@optonline.net

1983

Craig Leggett has been promoted to director of learning sites at Holistic Management International. Based in Durango, Colo., he will oversee management and research at HMI’s two learning sites at Dimbangombe Ranch in Zimbabwe, Africa, and the David West Station for Holistic Management in Ozona, Tex. 

Send your news to—
Sharon Morrissey Young
sm.young@comcast.net

1984

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Laurie Olander Angle
langle@savientpharma.com

1985

Communication among classmates is slow, so please send me more mail. Congratulations to Doug Smith! He let us know that the documentary film on the life and reign of Catherine the Great, “Empress of Ambition,” that he took part in, aired in December 2006 on the National Geographic Channel. Doug also published the diaries of Catherine the Great that he translated from Russian several years ago. Diane Peck Rothman let us know that Betsy Moreland Fiorillo organized a small reunion of UVM friends at her Ascutney, Vt., chalet in mid-October 2006. Kristen Moore Stevens flew in from Pittsburgh; Diana Pope-Albright drove up from Clarks Summit, Pa.; and Diane drove up from Old Saybrook, Conn. After an evening of reminiscing and catching up, the group drove to Burlington and spent time walking the campus and downtown areas before having lunch at Sweetwaters. Among the four, eleven children were left at home with their husbands: Allie MacKenzie; Cooper and Jackson Stevens; Sean, Kevin, and Erin  Albright; Nina and Mickey Fiorillo and Matthew and Nicholas Rothman. On the job front, Betsy is a research portfolio director at Pfizer, where she has worked for the past 12 years. Diana has been employed for 21 years at Allied Services in Scranton, Pa. She is assistant vice-president of outpatient services, and she treats patients part-time in the field of women’s health physical therapy. Diane has worked in the RMIS area of the Travelers Insurance Co. for the last 20 years, currently just part-time while she cares for her two young boys. Kristen owns and operates a successful physical therapy practice in Pittsburgh. Before the reunion broke up, they had breakfast at the Brownsville General Store, which is owned and operated by classmate Anne Yates. 

Send your news to—
Barbara Roth
roth_barb@yahoo.com

1986

Send your news to—
Larry Gorkun
vtlfg@msn.com

1987

Send your news to—
Sarah Vaden Reynolds
ssrey@optonline.net

1988

I recently went to Beaver Creek, Colo., with my husband, Jonathan, and our sons Jake, Charlie, and Dylan. On our plane there, I was so fortunate to bump into my old McAuley Hall friend, Debbie Thomas, who lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children. It was great to catch up with her. Debbie heard from Karen Abrams, who is married to Andy.  She wanted to surprise Andy by putting something in our class column, so here’s their news: They welomed their third child, Kaitlyn Rose, into the family on October 13, 2006, joining big brother Alex and big sister Samantha. Their grandfather, Arthur Abrams ’61, is thrilled with the addition. Andy also enjoyed an awesome surprise 40th birthday party in December. He was joined by a bunch of good friends, including Ricky Strauss, Scott Zamore, Steve Weinstein, Sue Ziegler Doherty, Ian Gross, Lauren Springstead McGovern, Jeff Goldstein and Ellin Abrams (’91) Glassband. Chris Pecor wrote last spring he and Ray Rouleau joined six high school friends from Barre to celebrate their 40th birthdays in Pebble Beach. Cynthia Mitchell welcomed her new son, Tristan, into the family on May 5, 2005. She is also completing a master’s degree in publication design at the University of Baltimore. Her husband, Michael, is a tenured  physics professor at the University of Maryland. She had a fun visit with Martine Larocque-Gulick in April, 2006. Peter Thomas and his wife, Leslie, welcomed their new son, Sampson Alexander, into the family in January 2007. He also enjoyed the Topcat reunion in 2006. Peter continues to do HIV/AIDS research at the CDC. Guy Hughes lives in Molokai, Hawaii, where he manages terrestral and marine biology programs as the chief of natural resources managment at Kalaupapa National Historical Park. He stays in touch with Jacj Hurd, William Reyelt, Ben Drury, Mike Bornhorst and John Johnson. Irena Gospodarek is a horse shoer. She has been in the Winter Equestrian Festival and the shoeing Grand Prix. Heather Burke and ten former Coolidge girls gathered in Maine for a 15th reunion in 2004. Davis MacLaughlin received the Hippo Press 2007 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Nashua Politician. This is the second year in a row that he has won this honor. My husband Jon and I have become friendly with fellow UVMer Lauren Rutkin and her husband Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz.  Lauren, Matthew, and their son Jake recently moved from New York City to Maplewood, N.J. Lauren has her own business called Ventures in Philanthropy, and Matthew is the Senior Rabbi at Temple B'Nai Jeshurun in Short Hills. 

Send your news to—
Cathy Selinka Levison
crlevison@comcast.net

1989

John Suitor and Gail Follett Suitor will return to the Green Mountain State this summer when John assumes the job of headmaster at Long Trail School, a co-ed 6-12th grade independent school in Dorset, Vt. Both native Vermonters, John and Gail are eager to move back home to give their daughters Elizabeth, Madison, and Catherine, the benefit of a Vermont childhood.

Send your news to—
Kate Barker Swindell
katebs@comcast.net

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