Class Notes

1960

June Miller White, of Clearwater, Florida, retired from teaching mathematics at St. Petersburg College.

1964

Bob Jeanne, of Madison, Wisconsin, retired from teaching entomology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

1966

David Lindemer, of Venice, Florida, worked 15 years in HR management with two national companies, after serving in the U.S. Army and earning his MBA. He then established a management search firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan, retiring in 2008. David writes, “After single-parenting two daughters for 22 years, I married Sue. We relocated to Venice, Florida, in 2022.”

1968

Sandy Rapp, of Boynton Beach, Florida, is a songwriter, activist, and author of God’s Country: A Case Against Theocracy, published by The Haworth Press in 1991. Her best known song is “Remember Rose: Song for Choice,” which features a guest vocal by the late Congresswoman Bella Abzug (D-NY), and recounts the first back-street abortion fatality of the 1977 Medicaid-Abortion cutoff. Rapp is also known for “Everyone Was At Stonewall” a gay history written for police sensitivity training, which won Stonewall Society’s Pride Song of 2004.

1971

Richard Bodorff, of Easton, Maryland, received the J. Howard Anthony Community Service Award from the Rotary Club of Easton, Maryland. It is the highest honor given by the club, which recognized him as “a man who has genuinely lived a life of ‘Service above Self.’” He was also selected to receive the Chairman’s Award from the Broadcasters Foundation of America in recognition of his contributions to the foundation and the broadcast industry. The award will be conferred in April in Las Vegas at the annual convention of the National Association of Broadcasters.

1972

Carol Dilts Balulescu, of Shirley, Massachusetts, writes that six members of the class of 1972 recently gathered in Pittsburgh for a long-overdue reunion. Becki Booher, Carol Dilts Balulescu, Louise Davis Teel, Andy McMakin Ray Smith, Sherry Wiltman Murray, and Susan Tucker Sabo spent five days in November reliving their junior year spent as suitemates in Shaw Hall. She writes, “We laughed, cried, cringed at some (okay, a lot) of our behaviors, raised a toast to so many of our classmates, and provided therapy to each other for past and current emotional and political traumas. We also listened to stories of multiple career changes (Becki), miles hiked on the Appalachian Trail (Andy), countless trips to Disney (Dilts), and shared photos of children and grandchildren, among other highlights of our lives since graduation.” The friends agreed to get together monthly via Zoom and invited classmates to reach out if interested in joining. “The time passed too quickly, and it was hard to say goodbye to the friends and memories.”

After reading an article in Denison Magazine about James Quarles, Bill Kemper, of Albany, Oregon, reached out to him to see if he would speak to the Academy for Lifelong Learning in Corvallis, Oregon. Quarles agreed and spoke in October. Kemper writes that this was the second class for the Academy of Lifelong Learning that he hosted due to reading an article in Denison Magazine. “Denison has played a significant role in my life: married to Marc Slaughter Kemper ’72 (53 years), son of Denison alumni, and many other connections.”

1974

Chris Cross, of Littleton, Colorado, published his f irst book, Beat the Drum for Justice, a historical fiction novel on racial injustice in America, reconstruction, postreconstruction, that takes place in Ohio.

In February, Jim Hartenstein, of Miami, writes that he and a group of Sigma Chi friends, including John Fergus ’74, Bill Lutz ’74, Phil Moshier ’74, Jay Tuke ’75, Geoff Eagleson ’74, and Dave Tomick ’74 spent time together in Naples, Florida. They met at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club for a great lunch and they all agreed to make it the venue for all future events.

1975

Ken Arlen, of Evanston, Illinois, and owner of Arlen Music Productions, was selected as a 2025 Chicago Titan 100 honoree and celebrated at a ceremony in February. The Titan 100 program recognizes Chicago’s Top 100 most accomplished business leaders in their industry, demonstrating exceptional leadership, vision, and passion.

A portrait of Eric Brown, of Columbus, Ohio, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio, was unveiled at a ceremony in February. Former Gov. Ted Strickland was in attendance along with Eric’s family, including his wife and two daughters.

1978

David Rositano, of Lorain, Ohio, retired from his dental practice after 40 years of dentistry. David was recently inducted into the Lorain City Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

1979

Mike Boeschenstein, of Beachwood, Ohio, retired from Hines, Cleveland, Ohio.

Howard Fencl, of Rocky River, Ohio, writes that he’s f inally following up on a 1978 J-Term project. He’s learning to read Middle Egyptian hieroglyphs, studying funerary texts under American Egyptologist Dr. Colleen Darnell.

1983

Jim Henricks, of Mundelein, Illinois, and Craig Stillwagon, of Charleston, South Carolina, played golf at a Waterville Golf Links event in County Kerry, Ireland. Jim writes, “Although we didn’t win the event, the club was depleted of most of the Guinness and Jameson they had on site.” Craig and Jim usually meet annually with Keith Turco, of Westchester, New York, and Dan Paro, of Bethesda, Maryland, each year to play golf and euchre, and laugh hard.

1985

Rick Sheldon, of Shelton, Connecticut, reunited with Jim Shaler, Will Mann, and Tom McNeeley for a gentlemen’s weekend on Kelm Pond in Warrensburg, New York.

1986

Jim Shaler shared an update about the Lake Placid Summit Lacrosse Tournament in Lake Placid, New York, in August 2024. The tournament, founded 35 years ago, has featured Denison alumni teams for each of the last 34 years. “We had the good fortune to win the 45-plus championship this year, defeating a strong New Jersey team in the finals 7-6,” he wrote. Steve Garnett ‘97 played with a shredded quad. His son Booth (who was serving as a water boy, goalie warmer upper, and motivational f ist pounder for the tourney) screamed from the sideline, “Pass the ball, DAD!” Amos Crowley ’94 fielded the ball just short of midfield with five seconds to go, and heaved the ball toward the goal as time expired, scoring on a 69-yard shot. Amos, Jim said, claims he called “upper left” as he delivered the winning shot

1987

Dave Leonard, of West Hurley, New York, was hired to be the DJ at a wedding in the Hudson Valley mountains of Big Indian, New York, when one of the groomsmen noticed the Denison sticker in the back window of his truck and advised that the bride and groom had met at Denison. He writes, “Total shock to everyone and it set the tone for the rest of the wedding and it was a true celebration!”

1989

After 30 years away from acting, Sam Lunay, of Arnold, Maryland, decided to return to the profession and was recently featured on the cover of the winter 2025 edition of American Theatre Magazine for his work in Mosaic Theatre’s Eureka Day.

Michael Tierney, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, is CEO of Berwyn Group in Radnor, Pennsylvania.

1990

Cathy Croft Schieffelin, of New Orleans, completed her debut novel, The Call, forthcoming from Atmosphere Press. The Call unfolds as both medical mystery and slow-burn romance, entwined in international intrigue and past trauma. Cathy’s short stories and micro-fiction have been published in Adanna Literary Journal, Halfway Down the Stairs, FNS Quarterly Newsletter, and Microfiction Monday Magazine.

1993

Elizabeth Clark Thasiah, of Ventura, California, celebrated her one-year anniversary as vice president of programs and grantmaking at the Santa Barbara Foundation, a community foundation that creates meaningful change for the California Central Coast region through inclusive collaboration, philanthropic advising, strategic grantmaking, and strengthening regional nonprofits. Each year the foundation provides approximately $30 million in grants.

1994

Kristina White Phillips, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, provides bespoke interior design services to the tri-state area and beyond. Her work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and other publications. Her extensive travels and multinational upbringing influence all of her designs, and she credits Denison with her ability to effectively communicate and f ind a connection with her clients.

1995

Megan Walrod, of Ubud, Bali, published her debut novel, It’s Always Been Me. Inspired by Megan’s own journey and infused with magical realism and Celtic myth, the book explores reclaiming power from codependent relationships and embracing one’s truest, boldest self. “My mission,” she shares, “is to inspire women to break free from society’s expectations and prioritize their dreams.”

1996

Amy Ard, of Atlanta, was selected as a 2024 Inspire Change Changemaker for her work at Motherhood Beyond Bars, a nonprofit she founded in 2018. The Inspire Change Changemaker Award recognizes an individual in each NFL team market making a difference in their community with their social justice work, either individually or as part of a community organization. She represented the Atlanta Falcons at the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

1998

Rev. Dr. Colin Bossen, of First Unitarian Universalist Church in Houston, is the first and founding digital fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.

Shannon McCarthy, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, is the vice president of marketing for three businesses: Timberline Construction, Timberline Communications Inc., and Tenney Mountain Resort, located in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

2000

Tom Bridge, of Washington, D.C., was named chief technology officer of IMP Productions in Washington, D.C., owner of the 9:30 Club, Anthem, and Atlantis, and operator of Lincoln Theatre and Merriweather Post Pavilion. IMP is the preeminent independent concert promoter in the U.S., and operates venues recognized by Billboard, Rolling Stone, and Pollstar.

Joe Dumesnil, of Kailua, Hawaii, is managing director and partner at Overland Oil and Gas in Denver, Colorado.

Kurtz Miller, of Dayton, Ohio, is senior curriculum coordinator at Dayton Public Schools.

2003

After 15 years in college athletics external operations, Leslie Masterpaul has accepted the position of director of marketing and communications with Julie Billiart Schools in the Cleveland area.

Blake Skogland, of Washington, D.C., was named director of the Office of Construction Standards and Guidance at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

2004

Vanessa Miller, of Portland, Oregon, writes that after 16 storied years at Wieden+Kennedy Portland, she’s accepted a role as managing director at Leo Burnett in Chicago. She joins fellow Denisonians and Leo executive team members Ashley Geisheker ’10 and Peter Loftus ’10.

Derek Mong, of West Lafayette, Indiana, has written a new poetry book, When the Earth Flies into the Sun, published by Saturnalia Books. Derek’s poems, essays, and translations have appeared in the LA Times, Boston Globe, Blackbird, Pleiades, and the New England Review. He chairs the English department at Wabash College.

2005

Board-certified nurse practitioner Tina Andrews Parks, of Riverview, Florida, has launched a telemedicine women’s health practice in Florida and Ohio, specializing in hormone replacement therapy, in 2023. In collaboration with the Happy Hormone Cottage, Tina serves women of all ages, experiencing peri/menopause, menstrual irregularities, infertility, thyroid disorders, and more.

2006

Jessamyn Modrak Schindel, of Silver Spring, Maryland, writes that she and Liz Hollick O’Neill, played on the women’s lacrosse team at Denison and for the past three years have been teaching on the same fifth grade team together at The Key School in Annapolis, Maryland.

Lou Sorgi, of Beverly, Massachusetts, was promoted to partner at the international law firm, Proskauer.

2008

Illustrator and author Jessie Kanelos Weiner, of Vincennes, France, has published a new book, Thinking in Watercolor: A Daily Practice to Unlock Your Creativity & Discover Your Inner Artist, with Artisan Books. It merges 30 days of watercolor techniques and how to adapt them to a reader’s personal experiences.

Mary Kidney and Chris Nelson, Glenview, Illinois, a daughter, Virginia Jane, Oct. 25, 2024.

Amanda Styles, of Arlington, Tennessee, recently became the deputy sector commander for the U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Lower Mississippi, in Memphis, Tennessee. As second in command she is the senior advisor of an operational unit conducting Coast Guard missions on 2,200 miles of inland waterways spanning six states and seven commercial ports.

2009

Jill Carr, of Oakland, California, writes that she and Ashley Hawn recently launched a mobile application for iOS, Labour the App, for couples who are or are trying to become pregnant. Labour is an app for both partners from planning through early postpartum, giving equal access to information, including calendars, content, checklists by phase, and curated products. Jill writes, “When my husband and I decided to become parents I realized that in a partnership where we are equal partners, the division of labor for conception and pregnancy was anything but. I noticed there wasn’t an easy way for partners to be involved in the process so Ashley and I set out to build something that shares the effort and excitement of becoming parents.”

Caiti Schroering, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has written a new book, Global Solidarities Against Water Grabbing: Without Water, We Have Nothing, published by Manchester University Press in September 2024.

2010

Kristy Barngrover Clear, of Columbus, Ohio, a boy, Rowan Joseph, Dec. 5, 2024.

Zach Huttie, of Louisville, Kentucky, is an admissions counselor at University of Louisville J.B. Speed School of Engineering.

Lauren Saks, of Madison, Tennessee, was hired as fiddle player for Grammy-nominated country singer and former T he Voice coach, Blake Shelton. She also joined the band of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher, Adam Wainwright. Lauren has recently performed at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, as well as on television shows Jimmy Kimmel Live and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve

2011

Becky Graebner, of Milwaukee, married fiancé, Greg Sitter, on April 5, 2025, at the Milwaukee Historical Society. Becky writes, “I look forward to bringing Greg to campus for the first time in June. I can’t wait to show him all the magical places around campus and Granville.”

2014

Jennifer Gore McCann, of Delaware, Ohio, writes that after a four-year infertility journey, her son, Myles, was born on Oct. 18, 2024.

2015

Eric Evans and Jennifer Nguyen of Pittsburgh, tied the knot on June 15, 2024, in a ceremony on Cape Cod. Jenn and Eric celebrated with fourteen Denison alumni from four class years.

2016

Stephanie Antonetti Bailey and Edward Bailey ‘17, of Kailua, Hawaii, a girl, Caroline Genevieve, Oct. 17, 2024.

Hannah Cain, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduated with a master’s degree in education policy and analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and started a role as an associate consultant at a K-12 education consulting firm, District Management Group. Hannah works with public school districts across the U.S. to leverage different management techniques and education best practices to improve student outcomes.

Meghan Pearce and Will Lull ’17, are engaged. Meghan is the senior legislative assistant for international trade at Steptoe LLP, and Will is the manager of credit investments at HASI.

Lucy Itzkoff Smith and William Smith, of Royal Oak, Michigan, a daughter, Parker, Sept. 6, 2024.

2017

Chartae’ Anderson, of Baltimore, is senior instructional technologist at The Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

Katy Harmon-King and Matt Harmon ‘16, of Chicago, tied the knot on Sept. 22, 2024, in Asheville, North Carolina.

2018

Jane Bright recently received her Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Arizona and is now a visiting assistant professor in physics at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.

2020

Nathaniel Beach, of Arlington, Virginia, is a counselor at Dezenhall Resources, specializing in public affairs, crisis communications, and political engagement.

Adriana Culotta, of Paris, France, is project coordinator at Sciences Po in France.

2021

Benny Mandelbrot is an account strategist for Google in Chicago, Illinois.

Writer and film director, Josh Poe, of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, and his team premiered their first feature film, House of Tears, a horror f ilm, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in front of a sold-out audience.

2024

Henry Gamble, of Wooster, Ohio, writes that he, Meredith Ehlers ’22, and Jacob Cropp ’23 are serving together as Peace Corps volunteers, teaching English in rural areas of Cambodia.

Sarah Wuellner, of Leesburg, Ohio, was accepted into the Disney College Program, working at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, from January to June 2025.