Class Notes
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR CLASS NOTE TO: Amanda.Schwartz@utoledo.edu
’70’s
William F. Hayes (Law ’70, Bus ’80) has been appointed to chair the Aviation Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association. The OSBA maintains 32 standing committees and 11 sections, each of which monitors a particular area of law.
’80’s
Robert T. Germann (Eng ’88) is now chief of the Operations Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District.
Christopher Kelly (A/S ’81) was named as the planned giving product specialist at PNC Institutional Asset Management Group in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Dr. Barbara Keirns Melendez (A/S ’88) was recognized by Worldwide Branding for showing dedication, leadership and excellence in obstetrics and gynecology. Keirns Melendez is assistant chief of Surgical Sub-specialties and Director of Women’s Services at Arnot Medical Services-Ivy OB/GYN and Midwifery.
**Mark Urrutia (UTCTC ’88) was honored at the Diamante Community Awards with the Latino Adult Professional Award. Urrutia works in insurance as the general agent for the Catholic Order of Foresters and the principal agent for Skyway Financial Group, located in Toledo. He has been a leader in several Latino interest organizations in Toledo, including the Latino Alumni Affiliate, the Latino Alliance, the Spanish American organization, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
’90’s
*Dr. Caroline M. Brackette (A/S ’94, A/S ’98, MEd ’00, PhD ’07) was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor of counseling at Mercer University in Atlanta, Ga. Brackette was also appointed as assistant dean for graduate programs of the Penfield College at Mercer University. She is involved in leadership and advocacy for the counseling profession and will serve a three-year term on the professional standards committee for the American Counseling Association.
Pat Hoffman (Bus ’98) was appointed as the assistant vice president of operations for Safeguard Properties in Valley View, Ohio. In this newly created position Hoffman will assist the COO in identifying and executing on a number of strategic operational initiatives. Safeguard Properties is the largest mortgage field services company in the U.S. The company inspects and maintains defaulted and foreclosed properties for mortgage servicers, lenders, and other financial institutions.
*Josh Flores (Ed ’99) was honored at the Diamante Community Awards with the Latino Adult Leadership Award. Flores is a Spanish teacher at Waite High School in Toledo and is involved with the Latino community at UT as well as youth mentoring.
Steve Macy (A/S ’92) has been named senior associate athletic director of external relations at the University of Memphis. Macy will be responsible for the development and management of strategic and communications plans for the department while providing executive oversight of athletic marketing and promotions, athletic communications and ticket operations.
Lt. Col. Christopher Cutler (A/S ’93, MEng ’98) was recently named a Fellow of the Institute of Hazardous Materials Management for his efforts promoting American National Standards Institute-accredited credentials for environmental professionals. Cutler is currently serving in the US Air Force as the bioenvironmental engineering flight commander at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
’00’s
*Derrick Ball (Bus ’05) received the Bold Leader Spirit Award at the cadet leadership course graduation ceremony at Ft. Knox, Ky. The award is presented to the cadet who best demonstrates appropriate motivational techniques, inspirational leadership, and the spirit of a leader. Ball was a cadet in the 8th Field Artillery Regiment.
Dr. Jodi Tinkel (MED ’00, Res ’03) has been named medical director of ambulatory care at the UT Medical Center. Tinkel was previously a faculty member of the College of Medicine and Life Sciences since 2009 and has served as medical director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center since 2010.
Dr. Joshua Philbrick (CMS ’05, MED ’09) joined the medical staff at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Mass. Philbrick, an orthopedic surgeon trained in hand surgery with special interests in shoulder replacements, as well as treatment and surgery of the upper extremities, will see patients in Salem, N.H.
Darin Higgs (Law ’09) opened Higgs Law Office in Evansville, Ind. Higgs has been practicing for six years handling cases ranging from landlord-tenant, family, employment, criminal, bankruptcy and will/estate planning.
’10’s
Haylie Linn (Bus ’10, MBA ’12) is now a full-time assistant coach for the South Dakota State women’s basketball team. During the 2014-15 season, Linn was director of basketball operations. |
Rob McColley (Law ’10) joined the law firm of Clemens, Korhn, Liming and Warncke, located in Defiance, Ohio. McColley will practice in the areas of wills and estate planning, business planning and real estate law.
Births and Marriages
Shannon Marie Abbey (HSHS ’11) and Kevin William Aschemeier (Eng ’13) were united in marriage on September 26, 2015. The ceremony and reception were held at the Clazel Theatre in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Andrew Backur (Eng ’10) and Katie Hurbean married on October 17, 2015 at The Canton Club in Canton, Ohio.
*Sarah Grzybowski (HS ’15) and Luke Hall (LLSS ’13) announced their engagement and plan to marry in Akron, Ohio this December.
Aaron M. Harple (HSHS ’07) and Ashley L. Miller married in December 2014 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky, Ohio. The couple resides in Columbus, Ohio. |
Faculty, staff & friends
Linda R. Balusik, Toledo at 71. She was a former MCO employee.
Delores T. Geronimo, Toledo at 85. She worked as a registered nurse at MCO and later was an assistant professor of nursing from 1996 to 2003.
**Charles G. Yeager (Bus ’40), Toledo at 97. He served as a member of the former UT Alumni Foundation Board.
Frederick C. “Mike” Henry, East Lansing, Mich. at 92. He taught pediatrics at MCO for two decades. His association with MCO started in 1969 as a volunteer clinical associate professor. Henry served as acting chair of the Pediatrics Department in 1978 and 1979, and was named a clinical professor in 1984.
Don Reiber, Toledo at 68. As an associate professor of communication and the director of media services in the Department of Communication, Reiber oversaw the University’s television studio and production facilities, and he taught classes in television production, live-truck production, and radio production and programming. His students and alumni number in the thousands, working in broadcasting in Toledo, throughout the United States, and for national news organizations like CNN. Reiber received the Outstanding Teacher Award in 2007, and he was honored with the Students First Award, which was presented by the University administration for his dedication to instruction and mentoring; the Difference Maker Award from the College of Business and Innovation; and the Rocket Award from the women’s basketball team for his commitment to that program.
Ruby Carr, Toledo at 86. She was a hospital aide at MCO from 1968 until her retirement in 1993.
**Richard G. LaValley (Bus ’51, Law ’53), Sylvania, Ohio at 86. From 1962 to 1965, LaValley taught a tax course at UT and was a former president of the UT College of Law Alumni Association. In 1998, the Richard G. LaValley Sr. Law Library in the College of Law was dedicated in his honor; he and his family pledged $1 million towards the development of electronic and technological resources for the law library. In addition, he established the Richard G. LaValley Sr. Scholarship Fund.
John J. McGowan (A/S ’50), Perrysburg, Ohio at 87. He was a former UT business instructor.
Martha “Marti” Adams, Perrysburg, Ohio at 74. She was a staff nurse at MCO/MUO/UT Medical Center from 2002 until her retirement in 2010.
Joy Ann (Marohn) Dougherty (Ed ’90), Toledo at 74. She taught administrative office technology and computer courses in the Business Technology Department from 1987 until her retirement in 2010.
Donald M. Henry (A/S ’93), Maumee, Ohio at 75. He taught French at UT.
30’s
Florence Zimmerman Schall (A/S ’37), at 99.
40’s
*Jerome Szpila (Eng ’49), Southampton, Pa. at 91.
50’s
Richard Heuerman (Law ’56), Petoskey, Mich. at 85.
**William Vaughan (Bus ’57), Whitehouse, Ohio at 85.
60’s
Willie Hancock (Ed ’61), at 81.
John Wolfarth (Ed ’67), Fostoria, Ohio at 90.
Robert Irwin (MEd ’65), Pawleys Island, S.C. at 75.
70’s
Georgina Bentley (UTCTC ’75, Univ Coll ’85), Berkey, Ohio at 60.
Don Yasenchak (Bus ’70), Carleton, Mich. at 67.
80’s
Billye Jean Wilson (Ed Spec ’80), Monroe, Mich. at 84.
Donald Koskie (UTCTC ’81, Univ Coll ’86), Commerce Township, Mich. at 65.
Sara Rios (Univ Coll ’82, Law ’85), Toledo at 63.
90’s
Donald Henry (MA ’93), Maumee, Ohio at 75.
Tracy Smith (HHS ’96), Avon, Ohio at 40.
10’s
Nathan Wise (CALL ’14), Toledo at 27.
*Annual Alumni Association Member
**Lifetime Alumni Association Member