Class Notes

’57

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. 

’60

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. (See CAS'57 class notes for the group photo.)

’61

Paul deLespinasse, in a second "career,"  has been writing weekly commentaries for NewsMax since 2017.  Many of his articles also appear in the LA Progressive. 

 

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. (See CAS'57 class notes for the group photo.)

Sammie McCormack - Our annual DG reunion was in Gilbert Arizona in November. Only four of us (Sammie Barker McCormack, Karen Madsen Myers, Marcia Olson, and Barbara Sherk Schacht) could attend in person.  

’64

Bob Rieder - I retired in 2016 after serving 40 years as Chief Counsel for The University of Alabama in Huntsville. 

 

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. (See CAS'57 class notes for the group photo.)

’65

Heather Flynn hiked the Camino for her 80th birthday.

’67

Bart “Moose” White is enjoying his retirement years as an elementary school substitute teacher. He notes that the maturity difference between college students (he is Professor Emeritus at WKU) and 7-12 year old's may not be that different!  

Muriel Kramer Nelson, graduate of the former College of Music, has published four collections of poetry. Most recently, her book Sightsinger was published by Encircle Publications in 2022 and her chapbook Please Hold won the Encircle Publications Poetry Chapbook Award and was published in 2021. 

’69

Julia M. Allen co-authored with Jocelyn H. Cohen Women Making History: The Revolutionary Feminist Postcard Art of Helaine Victoria Press, Lever Press, 2023.

Larry Gale Enjoying retired life. Took a Band of Brothers (101st Airborne) WWII tour last summer. A terrific history lesson from Normandy all the way to the Eagle's Nest in Germany. So much to see. One of our tour guides was actually living there in the Bastogne area in 1944. A truly educational and enjoyable trip.

Rebecca Lowe (‘70) and I (Roger Warren) have joined a couple of groups we think support our concerns about democracy. Online we follow The Carter and have been active, in-person, in League of Women Voters.  It is the Hatfield Clock Tower which includes the quote “Knowledge in the Preface of Peace.”  We are cultivating our little corner of the world.

’70

James O'Malley - I have been mostly retired since 2018 after 32 years of surgical practice, but about a year ago I returned to work part-time helping to staff a trauma surgery team at a local hospital. We also just celebrated our step-son getting married last week.

’72

Bret Rios - After finally retiring, I wrote my first novel for young adults,The Turnaround Crew Taking Charge, about six teens on a cul-de-sac forming an internet business to take charge of their lives.  Their financial success provides the freedom to handle life's obstacles and opportunities and overcome tragedies with a renewed spirit of brotherhood.  Publishing in 2024, along with books 2 and 3 in the series.  Pen name: Bret Shay. 

’73

Joann Frances Young Learning to love retirement after 46 years of teaching, grades 7 through college sciences and math! Now Beach walking, traveling, quilting, singing, and loving family!

’74

Patrick Pine will finish his second term as Vice Chair of the California Health Care Coalition in June after serving in officer roles for ten years.  The Coalition represents administrators of union and public sector health plans throughout California. Patrick continues to manage the Robert F Kennedy Medical Plan (United Farm Workers) and Juan De La Cruz Pension Plan serving members in California and six other states from Washington to Texas. 

’75

Janet (Brock) Carlson retired in July 2023 as administrator of the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance, an organization which she helped create while serving as a Marion County Commissioner (2003-2019). Janet currently resides in Boise, Idaho. 

’76

Dan Hall '76 retired from the Los Angeles Community College District in December, 2021. He now works as an independent consultant for The Registry, filling interim roles as a Vice President/CFO for colleges and universities. Dan is currently serving as Interim Vice President for Finance and Administration for Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. He has served in interim roles at Cornell College and Walla Walla Community College. Working a hybrid schedule, Dan has ample time to play with the grandkids, build sandcastles and travel. Dan quipped, "I never thought retirement would be this much fun!" 

’77

David T. Isaak (’77) passed away in April 2021. He left behind five wonderful, unpublished novels, which his wife, Pamela Blake (’77) is publishing as “The Isaak Collection.” The first three novels, published in2023, are: “Tomorrowville” (Humorous dystopian sci-fi), “A Map of the Edge” (Coming-of-age in the Sixties), and “Things Unseen” (Murder mystery). The final two novels—planned for release in 2024—are “Earthly Vessels” (Magical realism) and “Smite the Waters” (Political thriller).

’78

Musicologist Kathleen Sewright has had a seminal article, "Strangers in a Strange Land: Connections Between Spanish Chant Manuscripts in U.S. Public Collections," accepted for January 2025 publication in the scholarly journal Manuscript Studies.

’81

Anne Davenport I have been working as a physicist for the Dept of the Navy for 37+ years. I am now having to consider retiring and moving back to Oregon.

’85

Maeve Visser Knoth - I am excited to be chosen as the chairperson for the 2025 Newbery Award selection committee. I will spend the year searching for the most distinguished writing for children published in 2024 and wrangling a wonderful committee of folks from around the country as we make our decision. 

’87

Mark Walterskirchen, M.D. was honored as Physician Health Care Champion of the year by the Springfield Business Journal 2023.  He has been a Urologist in SW Missouri since 2000.

’88

Darrell Fuller was elected President of the Keizer Volunteer Firefighters Association. Darrell has been a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical responder since 2020. 

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. (See CAS'57 class notes for the group photo.)

’90

James "Jim" Osmer has published his first book on Amazon - Five Ways to Survive a War: The Story of How Kurt Vonnegut, Günter Grass, William Stafford, Charles Bukowski, and Richard Feynman Managed to Not Die in World War II.

’93

10 Betas from the class of 1993 recently gathered for a long weekend in Oceanside, CA. From L-R in back: Andrew Shipman, Eric Heringer, Brian Booth, Nate McLemore, Ryan Howes, John Critikos, Jeff Curl, Chris Simmons. In front: Eric Halverson and Mark Hanken.

Following a 25-year career with the Seattle Police Department, Kevin Grossman was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the University of Washington Police Department.

’96

Mark Furman joined the University of Oregon as Director of Media Relations in November 2023 after 25 years as a newspaper editor, digital news producer and journalism educator. His team in University Communications works to raise awareness of UO faculty research and service to the state, nation and world.

’00

Matt Hutchinson is the lead voice actor and official voice of The Tiny Chef for the Emmy award winning show The Tiny Chef Show on Nickelodeon and streaming on Paramount+.

Shown Left to right: Stephanie Sperber president of Imagine Entertainment- Kids & Family, Rachel Larsen: Creator of Tiny Chef, Odessa A’zion: Supporting voice actress of Olly, Matt Hutchinson: Lead voice actor of Tiny Chef, Jason Kolowski: Art Director & Set Designer for Tiny Chef Productions.

’02

Erin Winterrowd recently became Academic Dean of Regis College (letters and sciences) at Regis University, a small Catholic Jesuit Hispanic Serving Institution in Denver, CO, where she lives with her partner and their child. 

’03

Jenny DuVander achieved a Guinness World Record in February 2024 for the longest female tongue circumference with a measurement of 5.21 inches around her flexed tongue. 

’05

Steph Hartford - I recently started my own consulting company based out of Seattle, WA. Superheroine Solutions provides grant writing, athletic coaching, management consulting, and library/archives services to individuals, nonprofits, and for-profit companies alike. 

Andrea (Meidinger) Christiansen landed an apprenticeship in Mediation at Neighbor to Neighbor through the Oregon Office of Community Dispute Resolution, housed within the University of Oregon School of Law. Mediation skills cultivated through this program advance her service of helping others bring disputes to the table - be it a conference room table, pre-litigation talks, or a kitchen table. Her work actively facilitates constructive dialogue, cooperative problem solving, and individual agency. She engages the ideal of thoughtful conflict communication as an opportunity for community-building in her day-to-day practice. 

’07

Last year Chris Foss and his wife welcomed their second child, a healthy baby girl. Chris also began work as a full-time instructor of general education--specializing in U.S. history--at Western Governors University. His latest research, focusing on Oregon congresswoman and WU alum Edith Green, will be published later this year in the Oregon Historical Quarterly. 

Daniel Carroll (BA'08) and Vanessa Bloomsburg (BA'07, MBA'09) got married on February 29, 2024, at a ceremony on Mercer Island, Washington. 

’08

Brenton Clark was promoted to Senior Performance Auditor at the Washington State Auditor's Office in September 2023. He has been with the office for eight years. 

Daniel Carroll (BA '08) and Vanessa Bloomsburg (BA '07, MBA '09) got married on February 29, 2024, at a ceremony on Mercer Island, Washington. (See CAS'07 class notes for photo.)

’10

After designing board games as a hobby for some years, Tom Ackerman got one of his game designs published in 2021. The game is called BlindFold and is published by Chronicle Books.

200 years of Willamette / Sigma Chi — Portland Sigma Chi Alumni Chapter Chair Scott Hirschberger (class of 2010), Retired Federal Judge John Jelderks (class of 1960), former Sigma Chi Grand Consul and Willamette Trustee Bob Joseph (class of 1957/ Law 1963), “Mr. Willamette” Jim Booth (class of 1964) and Sigma Chi Chapter Advisor Darrell Fuller (1988). Great stories, lots of laughter and maybe a little fibbing at the home of Bob and Gail (1961) Joseph. (See CAS'57 class notes for the group photo.)

’11

Geneva Hooten, MPA, AICP graduated with a Master of Public Administration from University of Colorado Denver in May 2023. Geneva was selected as an Outstanding Graduate by the School of Public Affairs for the Class of 2023 and is a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. Geneva will continue her work in the transportation field as the Bicycle Program Manager for the City and County of Denver.

Nathan Keffer ('11) and Ryan Hood-Taylor ('11) recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their brewery and brewpub "Bandido Brewing" in Quito, Ecuador. The two Willamette alumni opened the South American brewery in 2013 with fellow alumni Daniel Meloy ('11) and have since established multiple gastro pubs, and taprooms and started a charity endeavor called "Pintas por Impaco" to give back to their local community and the environment.

’12

Anna Kelly BA'12 and husband Matt welcomed baby girl Alma in January 2023, and are head over heels in love. 

’13

Omar Gandarilla - I have had 2 babies! My daughter was born in March of 2018 and my son was  born this year in February. I have been working as a senior civil rights investigator at Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, after I spent 7 years at BOLI. 

Kendra Schaffer - I currently work for a local nonprofit delivering leadership training and economic development programs (amongst many other things) in rural places all over the Pacific Northwest. It allows me to work remotely and to be a catalyst for positive change in small communities throughout Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Emily Ramirez - In 2022 I moved to Casper, WY from southern AZ for a new position with the Bureau of Land Management, and got married later in the year in Sisters, OR. In 2023 I got a new position as a regional biologist with the Forest Service, Region 2 Mountain Planning Service Group. 

’14

Benny Kuo - was recently hired as the Product Marketing Manager at Extensis, a long-time Portland software company that supports both in-house and external Creative and Marketing teams with their Creative Intelligence Suite product.

’16

Nicholas Hoffnagle - I started a new position in February with, 211 Info, as a housing program lead in their partnership with Clackamas County Coordinated Housing Access.

Hannah Bressler - I graduated from Bastyr University in the Spring 2023, earning a Doctorate Degree in Naturopathic Medicine. Now in a 2-year Institute for Complementary Medicine Residency at SageMED in Bellevue, WA where I will be advancing my practice in primary care, regenerative medicine, and hormone replacement therapies, with an emphasis on women's health and pelvic floor dysfunction. 

’17

After three years of service, Madalyn Ekstrom was promoted to Senior Marketing Manager within the Talent Acquisition Team at Providence.

’18

Michael Chen - is currently a Sustainability Program Coordinator on the JLL Energy and Sustainability team at Google. He works closely managing Google’s Waste and Refrigerant programs. Before JLL, Michael worked on Meta’s corporate Sustainability Team working on all things employee engagement, water stewardship, sustainability reporting comms, and human rights and supply chain risk management. His main project was to build and execute Meta’s company-wide Earth Week educational program. In 2022, Michael obtained a MBA at Hult International Business School with honors. Before grad school, Michael was a Math Teacher abroad in Thailand and switched to Sustainability because of his passion for keeping companies accountable for their impact on the environment and society around the world. 

Calvin Decker -I have had multiple life updates this year. I was engaged on Feb 29th 2024 and was also accepted into Queens University of Belfast school of law for September 2024. I will be studying International Human Rights Law. I will also be marrying my partner Taylore on August 31st 2024 just 5 days before moving to Belfast UK to continue my academic career. I will be leaving my career as a first responder and crisis response casework supervisor for the city of Phoenix Fire Department where I have served surviving family members and victims of homicides, suicides, fires, gunshot wounds, stabbings and other crises related to a fire department response. Our units also replace the need for police response in cases of substance use and mental health incidents when deemed appropriate. I have enjoyed working in crisis response but look forward to continuing my academic career. 

’19

Julia Fleener ‘20 married Avery Bento ‘19 in a beautiful garden ceremony in Seattle, WA.  Kieran O’Brien ‘19 served as groomsman and attended with his fiancé Cheyenne Marshall ‘19. A special reading was done by Anna Burdine ‘19, who introduced Julia and Avery when they were Bearcats. 

’20

Julia Fleener ‘20 married Avery Bento ‘19 in a beautiful garden ceremony in Seattle, WA.  Kieran O’Brien ‘19 served as groomsman and attended with his fiancé Cheyenne Marshall ‘19. A special reading was done by Anna Burdine ‘19, who introduced Julia and Avery when they were Bearcats. (See CAS'19 class notes for photo.) 

’23

Dylan Selph - I welcomed my first born Daughter to the world in December 2024. Her name is Paisley J. Selph.