Assistant Professor of Classics Marilyn Evans and four Kalamazoo College students worked on a project overseas last summer that they could really dig.
For about a month, the group participated in the Gabii Project, an ongoing archaeological excavation launched in 2007 by the University of Michigan’s Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, which is studying the early history and growth of Gabii, an ancient Latin city that once was Rome’s nearest neighbor and rival.
Evans, a K faculty member since fall 2020, is a Roman archaeologist who reconstructs the city’s earliest days and those of the cities that surrounded it. She has worked with the Gabii Project since she was a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, when she was looking for a venture she could connect with for multiple years.
“Up until that point, I had been excavating, but I changed sites each year,” Evans said. “I think that was mainly because I was catching the projects at the end of their campaigns. I wanted to go to the Gabii Project because it was run by a good school and a good group of scholars, and they were just starting out. That same summer I did another study abroad program in Rome, so I had connections to the project. That was in 2009, and I just kept going basically through a Ph.D. and through the early stages of my career.”
Now, as an established tenure-track professor, she can guide students such as Garrett Hanson ’23, Clara Szakas ’23, Eliana Orozco ’24 and Brooklyn Moore ’24 toward archaeological digs in general—in Rome and Greece—and to her project specifically through connections and teaching.
“I’m developing a roster of courses that’s building off of the good work of my colleagues like (Professor of Classics) Elizabeth Manwell and (Emerita Senior Instructor) Anne Haeckl and generating some excitement for archaeology and Roman and Greek culture as well,” Evans said. “I try to bring into the classroom my work on the Gabii Project or get students using stuff that the project has excavated in their own assignments. That’s a good way to get students acquainted with it and figure out who’s interested in archaeology.”
Gabii is located at the Lago di Castiglione, an extinct volcanic crater that was a lake in ancient times and today is filled with earth. The city through legend was said to be the place where Rome’s mythical founder, Romulus, and his brother, Remus, were educated. Its most prominent ruin is the Temple of Juno, dedicated to the goddess who was believed to be a protector of the Roman people.
During the Archaic period, from about 753 to 510 BCE, Rome and Gabii were at war. Rome prevailed in the fight, leading to a treaty consisting of text written on the skin of a bullock stretched over a wooden shield, and displayed in the Semo Sancus, a temple in Rome. Gabii later became a renowned city during the Republic period from about 509 BCE to 27 BCE and Gabine influences are plainly evident in Rome’s history.
That backstory and Evans’ lessons intrigued the four students who jumped at opportunities to join the Gabii Project in 2022. Through pickaxes, shovels, wheelbarrows, plenty of water and camaraderie, they endured sweltering heat in a physically challenging environment to touch history and learn from a once-in-lifetime experience.
‘It struck me profoundly’
Despite being a classics major, Hanson has always considered himself to be more of a linguist than an archaeologist.
“I very much like the literary side of things, so archaeology was a bit removed from my field of interest, but it was still close enough that I figured I would at least give it a try,” he said. “It has definitely become something that I’m interested in continuing to study and be a part of.”
The Gabii Project was especially valuable for him because it yielded so much more than digging.
“With everything that happened during the pandemic, this was my study abroad experience,” Hanson said. “We were living in Rome, so it was definitely immersive in that way. I was a big fan of the work, but there was lots of free time as well to see monuments, the Forum, the Colosseum and it was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the whole experience of living and working in Italy.”
Fresco fragment of a laureate head in profile.
During the experience, he and the other students worked with groups to classify and understand the objects they found in Gabii, analyze the culture behind the materials, build ideas of the environment of Gabii by examining organic material, and collaborate with a topography team on landscaping, photography, surveying and developing 3-D models. He also was thrilled when he pulled up a stone that had some writing on it.
“Again, I’m sort of a linguist, so to see something come out of the ground with writing on it was very cool,” Hanson said. “It was very fragmentary, and I spent a long time cleaning it. It also had plaster on the face of it, so it was hard to tell what it was saying. I spent a long time with several people on site who also work with inscriptions to figure out what this stone was. I remember that vividly because it was exciting for me to see this tangible piece of language and then to work with it even if there was no concrete answer for what it said. It was amazing and it struck me profoundly.”
Gabii ‘an archaeological sandbox’
For Szakas, a classics and psychology double major, an opportunity to participate in an archaeological dig, especially in a place like Gabii, was a lifelong dream come true.
“Gabii went into decline and got left behind with no modern development built on top of it,” Szakas said. “It became an archaeological sandbox, so we were able to do so much. We didn’t have to worry about houses or businesses. We could just take away the dirt and see what was there.”
Szakas said she never would have expected to participate in work like the Gabii Project as an undergraduate.
“I knew coming into K that it was known for its study abroad programs, but I had no expectations of actually getting to put my hands in the dirt overseas,” she said.
Szakas said her ultimate career path probably will follow psychology more than classics, yet while pulling up dirt, she found an object that inspired her to learn, discover and pursue more research.
“I was shoveling up some dirt we had loosened, and I found a big chunk of plaster,” Szakas said. “I looked at it and wondered whether it was just painted or if there was something cool on it, and there was a face. I had to spend some time convincing others it was a face, but it was a profile of a man wearing a laurel wreath. Normally, someone like this would probably be Bacchus or Dionysus, but I don’t exactly know what kind of room we found it in or some of that context. I think he’d probably be a deity. It’s interesting to think about it.”
‘It felt like the universe was telling me to do it’
The experience of being abroad in Italy helped Orozco prepare to study abroad in France. Plus, archaeology has been a subject that fascinated her since she was young.
“I’ve always had my sights set on being an archaeologist since I was in middle school,” Orozco said. “When I found this opportunity, it felt like the universe was telling me to do it. I was blown away because I had Dr. Evans when I was a first-year student, and she was teaching my Greek and Roman slavery class. She was so amazing, and I wanted to take every class I could with her.”
By the time she left Italy, Orozco realized she was doing something most people never will get to do because Gabii is a newer site that is still being explored.
“The fact that I got to be a part of a team that was digging up a new area of a site that is thousands of years old is amazing to me,” Orozco said. “We definitely learned aspects of archaeology with experts who could show us what archaeology is really like. They’re some of the smartest people I’ve ever met.”
She made a find of her own when she pulled a stone out of the ground that had an inscription on it. Orozco said every discovery made during her time there was thrilling.
“Even when others made finds, holding them and seeing them was incredible,” Orozco said. “It pushed me to keep going because sometimes it was difficult. The heat was intense. We were constantly squatting or sitting on our knees. It was physically intense, but the prospect of finding something new was tantalizing for us.”
‘I could talk about the experience for years’
Moore, an English and theatre major, isn’t considering archaeology as a career path. Therefore, she feels fortunate to have pursued it as an interest through the Gabii Project.
“I grew up in Kalamazoo, and I never ever thought I would go to K because I wanted to leave the house and all that,” Moore said. “But this is one of the things that makes K uniquely K. There were students from other schools there, but it’s an experience that I think I never would’ve had if I hadn’t gone to K. It was so surreal because it was my first time out of the country and it was unbelievable to be learning firsthand about so many things that I’d only read about previously.”
The opportunity was especially beneficial for Moore because of how much she respects Evans as a professor.
“She’s the best,” Moore said. “I asked her so many questions that I can’t believe she didn’t ask me to please stop asking her questions. She just always had an answer and was always willing to converse on any topic.”
Moore is in Scotland now on study abroad, but the experience in Gabii was so enlightening that she would like to go back there.
“I like finishing things I’ve started, so I’d love to get to know more about what I’ve already started to learn,” Moore said. “I kept calling it nerd summer camp, because that’s what it felt like. Everyone had the same interests, and we would go from having silly conversations to deep intellectual ones. I think we all complemented each other a lot. I could talk about the experience for years.”
Defining success
An archaeologist might consider success finding certain artifacts or completing a dig at a particular site. Evans appreciates that, too; however, her students made this season especially rewarding.
“I really like archaeological work, and I love it when students are enthusiastic about it, even if they discover that it really isn’t for them,” Evans said. “Last year was a particularly good year—students showed up to do the work, they did the work, and they were happy to be there. For me, that’s a successful season.”
Virginia (Stafford) Anderson Van Peenen ’33 on October 25, 2022. Virginia met her future husband, Robert Hart Anderson ’30, while both were attending Kalamazoo College. They were married in 1934, at the Little Church Around the Corner in New York City. They were blessed with three children. Robert passed, after a long illness, in 1950. She began her teaching career in 1950, at Harding, McKinley and Milwood elementary schools in Kalamazoo, and in 1953, earned her master’s degree in education from Western Michigan University. While building a new home on Indian Lake near Vicksburg after retirement, she reconnected with a former K friend, Edward Van Peenen ’33, through Miller Lumber Co. The two married on July 14, 1966, and enjoyed life at the lake home and traveling together. Edward sadly passed away at age 91. Virginia moved to Cary, North Carolina, to live with her daughter. Virginia enjoyed her Bible study group, Sharing Table, at the First United Methodist Church of Cary. She also enjoyed her Kalamazoo Bridge Club, travel, reading, conversation, phone calls, religious discussions and learning, friendship, and most of all, family. A 100th birthday celebration included more than 50 members of her family at a beach house at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her 109th birthday included a 60-car drive-by while she sat in a big chair outside, with horns honking and decorated cars escorted by police and fire trucks. On her 110th birthday, she traveled to Myrtle Beach to join 52 family members from all over the country to celebrate. In addition to her husbands, Robert and Edward, Virginia was also preceded in death by her brothers, including Howard Emory Stafford ’39, her stepson, Edward Van Peenen II ’62, brother-in-law, Donald T. Anderson ’33, and sister-in-law, Ruth Schlobohm Anderson ’36. Virginia is survived by her three children, including Robert Terry Anderson ’59, a stepdaughter, nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Carol (Pletcher) Grady ’49 on November 30, 2022. Carol graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in music. She married Albert Grady ’49 on June 17, 1950. Carol worked at Immaculata University in Pennsylvania, where she helped and inspired students and staff. She was a gifted pianist and enjoyed playing the piano, visiting with neighbors, working in her yard and traveling with or to see family. Referred to by her family as St. Carol, she had a wonderful smile, and her kindness made everyone glad to be near her. Carol was predeceased by her husband, Albert. She is survived by three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Robert Hopkins ’51 on February 19, 2020. Bob studied English at Kalamazoo College, where he played tennis, and he received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a professor emeritus of English at the University of California, Davis.
Norma (Monroe) Johnston ’51 on November 10, 2022. Norma earned her B.A. from Kalamazoo College, where she met the love of her life, Robert Johnston ’48. Norma was a kindergarten teacher at Jack and Jill Kindergarten and launched one of the first Head Start programs in Southern Indiana. She later became assistant director to the Clark County Child Welfare Department. In her later years, Norma enjoyed being a docent at the Speed Museum, Farmington and then Historic Spanish Point in Sarasota. She was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Bob. She is survived by her son, daughter, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Marguerite Ellen Laansma Kaweck ’51 on November 9, 2022, at Hillside Terrace Retirement Community in Ann Arbor. She attended K and the University of Michigan and was passionate about her work as an elementary school teacher in Carman and Houghton Lake school districts. She worked to secure a fair wage for teachers, who were mostly women at that time, while serving as a teachers’ union representative. She was clear her children could be anything they wanted, especially the girls, and helped motivate them to do exactly that. Family was very important to her, and she moved to Florida to support her parents at the end of their lives. Marguerite enjoyed music, walking in the woods, canoeing, birdwatching and ice cream, and had a great sense of humor. A lecturer for Weight Watchers, she was a wonderful cook and was always talking about what was for dinner while eating lunch. She was famous among her friends later in life for her singing and her jokes. Marguerite was preceded in death by her husband, Dale Kaweck, and her former husband, John Laansma. She is survived by her three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Joyce W. (Rickman) Smith ’51 on September 20, 2022. Joyce graduated from Kalamazoo College with a degree in English literature. While attending college, Joyce met her future husband, Stephen Smith ’49, at a church social in Kalamazoo. Steve’s work as a physicist at the National Bureau of Standards brought the Smith family to Boulder, Colorado, in 1962. Steve and Joyce raised five sons. Joyce was an active member of the First Congregational Church in Boulder for many years. She enjoyed singing in the choir, playing in the bell choir and participating in church and social activities. Joyce was active with the Boulder Democratic Party. Through Steve’s work, Joyce was able to travel the world and meet people from a variety of cultures. She generously hosted many visiting scholars and scientists in her home throughout the years. During the summers, Joyce loved spending time at her Bay View, Michigan, cottage. This was her “happy place,” where she participated in the Women’s Council, played croquet, enjoyed swimming in Little Traverse Bay, attended musical performances and concerts, found solace in church services, and rocked in her wicker chair on the front porch greeting Chautauqua neighbors as they walked by. As the cottage’s third-generation owner, Joyce had a lifetime of special memories in this summer home. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Steve, eldest son, David, and second son, Jeffrey. She is survived by three sons and four grandchildren.
L. J. “Midge” Verplank ’52 on December 16, 2022. Midge attended Florida Southern and Kalamazoo College before being drafted by the Army. He later earned his M.B.A. at the University of Michigan. He worked in Chicago selling bonds before joining his father and uncles in the family business, Verplank Coal and Ice Co., now known as Verplank Family Holding Co. Midge firmly believed business exists for the betterment of the community. Midge was a humble and relaxed man who gave guidance, support and coaching to many family members and friends. He was an animal lover and will be missed by many furry friends. Midge had a love for water from a young age. He sailed inland scows and offshore competitively for more than 75 years. He made several transatlantic crossings on his sailing vessels while competing in sailing races both domestically and abroad. Midge was a generous man. He took immense pride in his association with friends, business associates, community members and family, always giving to those in need. He was very involved in many charitable, volunteer and philanthropic organizations. Midge was an active member of the Spring Lake Yacht Club, the Western Michigan Yachting Association, the Spring Lake Country Club, Spring Lake Rotary, West Michigan Sailing Association, Bitter End Yacht Club and Seven Seas Yachting Association. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Lynn. Midge is survived by two children, two stepchildren and their mother, and three grandchildren.
Nancy C. (Murch) Carrington ’53 on October 19, 2022. Eldest child of Andrew Murch ’29 and Grace Murch ’27, Nancy majored in biology at K. She raised three children in Marshall, Michigan, with her husband, Carl Carrington, a pharmacist. She joined Trinity Episcopal Church, became an active member of the American Association of University Women, and worked to raise funds for the American Cancer Society of Calhoun County. Later, she moved to Kalamazoo and worked for the Kalamazoo Nature Center, founded by Dr. Louis Batts, her college professor whom she so admired. Here, she followed her passion for wildlife and the outdoors, bird watching and botany. Above all, she loved her children, supporting their interests and well-being tirelessly. She taught them to swim and to fish, to cook and keep house, and ferried them to art and music lessons and summer camps. She taught them to enjoy all things outdoors and in nature, in all weather, to appreciate music and the fine arts, to know the value of practice, and to find nourishment in beauty and balance. She taught them to wonder, to see beyond, to smile warmly and to laugh. She encouraged them to do their best, to be gracious and kind. By her example, she showed how to carry on with wit, spirit and love despite the challenges everyone faces. She was predeceased by her brothers, including John Murch ’54. Nancy is remembered by her sisters, including Mary M. McLean ’61, her three children, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Paul Schutter ’55 on December 11, 2022. Paul attended Kalamazoo College, where he played football. He served his country honorably in the United States Army. After completing his service, he returned to Western Michigan University, where he participated in football and track and held a shot-put record. Paul later earned a master’s degree in education and taught at Vicksburg Public Schools. He was a driver’s education teacher and coached football, track and golf for Vicksburg. After retirement, he also coached track at Gull Lake High School. He was a member of the Vicksburg United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir, and the Vicksburg Lions Club. He was active in the Senior Olympics and enjoyed spending time at the cottage in Twin Lake and at home on Indian Lake. On April 20, 1956, Paul was united in marriage to Marilyn McMaster, who survives. He is also survived by three children, nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Lois (Frey) Crane ’56 on February 18, 2022. After graduating from Kalamazoo College with a B.A. in mathematics, Lois received her master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan. She worked for the Parke-Davis Research Library, the University of Toledo Libraries and rural school district libraries. Lois worked at the Wichita Art Museum Library for 22 years, retiring as director. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, David Crane ’56, two daughters, and one grandchild.
Marcia Lynne (Johnston) Morrison ’58 on October 17, 2022. Marcia pursued her love of music at K, where she studied voice and organ and sang in the annual Bach Festival, graduating with a major in music education and a minor in Spanish. Marcia’s parents tasked her with finding a beautiful birthstone ring for her college graduation. She made a visit to Paul E. Morrison Jewelers and asked to see their peridot rings. A young Howard Morrison came forward to assist the dark-haired co-ed with the big brown eyes and found himself quite smitten. Together they designed a lovely custom ring, and their courtship began. On August 2, 1958, they were married. Marcia’s music career spanned 14 years with Kalamazoo Public Schools, teaching at Northglade, Parkwood-Upjohn and Lincoln elementary schools and South Junior High School. By 1971, she and Howard had four young kids of their own, and she accepted the newly created position of organist and choirmaster of St. Luke’s Girls Choir in Kalamazoo. During her many years at St. Luke’s, she led her singers in weekly services, annual concerts and group performances with other churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Michigan. She was a member of the American Guild of Organists and enjoyed attending the annual conventions. Marcia’s artistic and creative nature was expressed through her extraordinary sewing, fine tailoring, knitting, embroidery, interior design and landscape projects. Marcia loved to travel. As a young mother in the late ’60s, Marcia took flying lessons and earned her private pilot’s license. She and her co-pilot Ruth Eismann competed in the Michigan Powder Puff Derby. Her love, artistry and musical talent live on in the four children and six grandchildren she leaves behind. Marcia was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Howard.
George W. Macleod ’60 on November 3, 2022. George was a member of the football and track teams at Kalamazoo College. After receiving his B.A. from K, George received an M.S. in zoology and botany along with a teacher certification at Michigan State University. In 1962, he was hired by Parchment Public Schools to teach science and coach basketball at the middle school and assist with coaching the varsity high school football team. The following year, George moved to the high school to teach biology, where he remained for 32 years. His summer months were spent painting houses. In 2020, he was inducted into the Parchment Community Hall of Fame. George married the love of his life, Linda Kaye Tifft, in August 1962. At Stockbridge United Methodist Church, he was the historian, basketball coach and member of the Asbury group. He was a member of the Kalamazoo Antique Bottle Club and the Kalamazoo Antiques Club, librarian for the Kalamazoo Audubon Society, president of the Kalamazoo Science Foundation, historian for the West Main Hill Neighborhood Association, and a volunteer at the Western Michigan University Archives. In 1970, George and Linda purchased 10 acres outside of Hastings, Michigan, known as “The Farm.” The Macleod household had an abundant supply of unique pets, including rats, tarantulas, snakes and turtles. George’s last words were, “I’ve had a good life,” and that is what he would wish for everyone. George was preceded in death by one brother, David Macleod ’59. George leaves behind his wife, two sons and daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and two brothers, Garrard Macleod ’56 and Robert Macleod ’57.
Mary Ellen (Steketee) Fischer ’61 on January 19, 2023, after a short illness. Mary Ellen met and married David W. Fischer ’59 while at Kalamazoo College. After graduation, she earned a master’s degree in the teaching of math and science from Western Michigan University. Her first teaching job was in Hartland, Michigan. After returning to Kalamazoo, she taught in Comstock and Three Rivers schools, the adult education program of Kalamazoo Public Schools and at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Mary Ellen was a dedicated teacher. She is remembered for teaching advanced math to select groups of early elementary students. She also entertained her children during car trips by teaching them to solve “puzzles” taken from a ninth-grade algebra book, making math a game. Children in the neighborhood remember her taking all of them to the library, movies, swimming and Dairy Queen. Teaching and sometimes organizing vacation Bible school was a favorite summertime activity for several decades. She enjoyed Bible studies and was active in Community Bible Study and Bible Study Fellowship for many years. Choral music was also one of her great joys, which she shared with her husband. They both sang in church choirs for almost 50 years and enjoyed attending choral workshops. She sang in the Kalamazoo Community Chorale, a women’s group, for 25 years. Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, David, daughter Joan M. Fischer ’86, son Mark W.F. Fischer ’89 and his wife Annemarie Fischer ’89, and two grandchildren.
Thomas Reed ’61 on October 9, 2022. An avid athlete, Tom earned a scholarship to attend K and play baseball. He spent a year at the University of California-Berkeley before returning home to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a B.A. in English literature. Tom was also a proud graduate of the U of M Medical School. Tom completed his surgical residency at U.C. San Francisco in the 1960s. He served as a U.S. Army surgeon stationed in Germany with his first wife, Sandi, and young sons. Returning to California, Tom briefly practiced surgery in Marin County before settling in Santa Rosa with his wife and sons and practicing general and vascular surgery. He served as the elected chief of surgery at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and was an early and skilled adopter of angioplasty. Tom was also a respected member of the UCSF Naffziger Society, a medical society dedicated to excellence in surgery. In 1987, Tom married his soulmate, Mary, and became stepfather to her adult children. Tom and Mary explored the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest and went on many scuba diving adventures. They cherished times kayaking and hiking with family and friends at their second home on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2010. He met the trials of his failing health with grace and courage for 12 years. Tom is survived by his wife of 35 years, Mary, two sons, two stepchildren and seven grandchildren.
Kenneth Fredrick Bartley ’62 on January 2, 2023, of pancreatic cancer. Ken met the love of his life, Carol, while attending K in 1959, while she was studying to be a nurse. They married in Kalamazoo in 1962. Ken attended Johns Hopkins University for his master’s degree in education and University of Michigan in the physics Ph.D. program. They moved their young family to Charlevoix and bought a 40-acre farm in 1973. He taught computers, math and science at Charlevoix High School for more than 30 years. In the summers, he built houses and hired his students as employees. He taught at Concord Academy until his retirement in 2013. KB was a self-taught jack-of-all-trades and never shied away from trying something new, no matter his age. Throughout his life he pursued many things, such as magic tricks, getting his pilot’s license, camping with his grandkids, writing a book (Texting the Almighty, Schuler Books, 2017) welding, tap dancing, playing and tuning pianos, teaching his grandkids how to jump waves on a jet ski, and even taking up the bagpipes only a few years ago. In Ken’s words, we should all remember that “life is good!” and the song he often referenced and lived by, I Did It My Way. Ken is survived by three daughters and seven grandchildren.
Daniel Joseph Kozera Jr. ’62 on January 1, 2021. Dan played baseball at K for four years and created lifelong friendships during a semester in Germany. He went on to Valparaiso Law School. On December 18, 1965, Dan married the love of his life, Mary Grant Colgrove, in Tecumseh, Michigan. They later moved to the Grand Rapids area in 1966, after Dan completed law school. Dan became a successful lawyer and was several times voted the best in the profession by the American Bar Association. Throughout his life, Dan loved gatherings of family and friends at the family cottage on Bills Lake, a nap in the hammock, a good Winston Churchill biography, the chance to ski a long blue run, and a round of golf with friends at Blythefield Country Club, where he was a member for 47 years. In his later years, Dan developed a passion for yoga, often amazing his granddaughters with feats seemingly impossible for a man his age. Dan’s friends at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church also became central to his life. He enjoyed weekly Tuesday breakfast meetings with the “gang,” and most importantly, fellowship. Dan was preceded in death by an infant son, Joseph Grant, who passed away in 1968. Dan’s wife, Mary, passed away on June 25, 2022, from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease. Survivors include two sons and four grandchildren.
Stephen M. Lipman ’63 on July 7, 2022. After K, Steve received his Bachelor of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Andover Newton Theological School. He married Grace Marie Smith ’64 of Washington, D.C., and they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on June 5, 2022. Steve served churches in Portland, Maine; Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; Cuba, New York; and Lake Worth, Florida. The second half of Steve’s career was spent in chaplaincy. He was a chaplain at Hospice of Palm Beach County, Jupiter Medical Center and Vitas Hospice. Steve was also an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Community College, where he taught courses on death and dying. Throughout his long career in ministry, Steve served on many boards and committees and was deeply committed to social justice issues. Following retirement, Steve and Grace enjoyed spending their summers in western New York at the Chautauqua Institution. Steve was a kind and compassionate soul who never met a stranger. He had a passion for service and loved the simple joy of making people smile. Steve is survived by his loving wife, Grace, two children, and five grandchildren.
C. Scott McSwain ’68 on August 27, 2022. Scott received a bachelor’s degree in economics and business from K and later earned an M.B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He worked many years in the advertising industry and owned and operated C.S. McSwain Creative Services. Scott served in the U.S. Army from January 1969 to February 1970, during the Vietnam War. Scott liked working with computers and recent technology. He also enjoyed attending concerts and ball games. He was a longtime resident of San Carlos, California.
Jacqueline Merle Lowrie Read ’68 on June 27, 2022, after a courageous and extensive battle with cancer. Jackie graduated from Kalamazoo College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and the University of Oklahoma with a master’s degree in library science. Jackie was first and foremost a mother and homemaker, which included providing temporary foster care for many needy children while caring for her own. She was also very proud of her career as a librarian in several cities. Her hobbies included spending time with family, reading, crocheting, baking, genealogy, gardening and community service. She is survived by her four children and 11 grandchildren.
William M. Sevald ’69 on November 13, 2022. Bill played varsity baseball and football at Kalamazoo College, spending a semester abroad in England and graduating with a B.A. in history with honors. After graduation, Bill moved to San Francisco, where he gained employment as a computer programmer, organizational change project leader, financial consultant and bank auditor. When he wasn’t auditing banks, he relentlessly pursued his goal of competing in an Olympic marathon, just missing the U.S. trial qualifying time at the age of 35. He stage-directed locally produced operas to critical acclaim. Bill also held a movie credit for a Bruce Dern sports drama titled On the Edge. So much more than an extra or stand-in, he was in many memorable scenes as the “tough but fair” and exceptionally clean-shaven race competitor Matt Singleton. Bill published three novels: The Stuttering Jock’s Opera in 2016, Fishermen from Heaven in 2018, and Sika in 2021, as well as numerous essays on a wide variety of subjects.
William Hugh Siehr ’69 on October 2, 2022, following complications of a stroke he suffered on September 14, 2022. Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Linda, three children, and eight cherished grandchildren as well as other family, dear friends and his loyal dog, Crosby. Bill will forever be missed.
Roderick Eugene Day ’71 on January 8, 2023, from complications related to cancer. Rod graduated from Kalamazoo College, where he played tennis, met his wife, Shonnee (Jones) Day ’72, and made dear friends. Since graduation, he reunited often with his college friends, Scott, Rick, JP, Dan, Jerry and Tim. Rod took great joy and pride in coaching his daughters and their teammates from T-ball through varsity softball, and he was known for patiently encouraging every athlete’s strengths and confidence. He also enthusiastically supported his daughters’ various interests, attending every competition and event. During his career, Rod was a teacher, stockbroker and an insurance agent, eventually owning his own agency. Rod liked watching and playing sports, cooking, listening to music, playing euchre (everyone wanted him as their partner) and picking vegetables in his backyard garden. He was known for his sharp memory— able to reminisce with the best of them. Rod was loved by family and friends and is deeply missed. He is predeceased by his daughter Andrea and survived by his wife of 49 years, Shonnee, and his daughters Kaitlyn and Margaux.
James Howard Jackson ’71 on December 25, 2022. Jim majored in religion at Kalamazoo College. In 1972, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he lived for 40 years. He earned a Master of Library Science at the University of Maryland in 1976. He worked at the American Medical Association for three decades as its librarian and then membership director for its political action committee. He returned to Kalamazoo in 2011, where he worked on campaigns for Michigan Sen. Sean McCann and was active in the local Democratic Party. Jim loved to cook and was an avid reader and history buff. He had a great sense of humor, and he loved to make other people laugh and to laugh with them. In his last years, he enjoyed watching movies, reading, playing tennis and spending time with his children and friends from the gym. He is survived by two children and a granddaughter.
Andrea Joan Hess ’72 on January 1, 2023. After working in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Deerfield, Illinois, Andrea settled in San Diego. Her California adventures included hiking and camping in the Eastern Sierra. Summer found Andrea enjoying time lakeside at her Michigan family cottage. Beach walks with family were a priority. She was an avid traveler, and Andrea and her sister enjoyed many journeys together. With her visit to Stonehenge and to the Scottish Highlands in 2022, Andrea relished experiencing areas she had researched early in her life. Fascinated by the world around her, she was an avid photographer. Andrea is remembered for her integrity and joyful spirit.
Jeffrey Webber ’75 on December 27, 2022. Jeff was a graduate of Kalamazoo College and Boston College, where he earned an M.B.A. His long career as a financial and systems analyst took him to Ford Motor Co., Barnes & Noble, and IBM. He moved to Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York, in 2000. Jeff will be remembered by many for his empathetic nature and a willingness to listen to others. He loved chess and card games, Cape Cod and the Rhode Island shoreline, and frequent visits to his parents for long talks and favorite dishes from his mother’s kitchen. After retiring in 2015, Jeff enjoyed researching family history, serving as treasurer of his building’s co-op board and competing in online bridge tournaments, where he became a sought-after partner. He derived a particular satisfaction from teaching English to young Israelis, both online and in-person during annual stays in that country. At the time of his death, he was planning his next teaching visit.
Susan Betty Stone ’78 on January 4, 2019. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from K.
James D. Gould ’81 on August 1, 2022.
Dale Lee Smith ’84 on December 2, 2022, suddenly and unexpectedly. He was one of three brothers who attended Kalamazoo College (Rick ’82 and Brad ’91). After graduating from K with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Dale went on to earn a master’s degree in finance from Eastern Michigan University and a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He practiced law in his hometown of Adrian, Michigan, until his passing. Dale loved spending time on the lake, hitting the links, blasting music of all genres (especially reggae), traveling, frequenting Detroit Red Wings games, and attending the Big 10 men’s basketball tournament, where he enjoyed rooting for both University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Most of all, he loved his daughters: having them join him out on the sandbar, meet up for a college football tailgate, or simply sit and play cards after a long summer day. Dale was a consistent participant in K homecoming events and maintained a group of friends from his days at K. His time at K was one of his life’s highlights. He is survived by his two daughters and the rest of his extended family.
Faculty, Staff and Friends of the College
Leatha Suzann (Phelps) Burris on October 24, 2022, on her 75th birthday. An avid reader, Leatha enjoyed her time working in the library setting, first in the Lee County (Florida) Library System, then at the Kalamazoo College Upjohn Library. At K, Leatha started as the evening circulation assistant, switched to document delivery specialist in 2004, and retired in 2017. Library staff described Leatha as “sassy” as well as “committed, wise, with a good sense of humor.” She was supportive of students employed in the library and her file contained many thank-you notes from students, including one that thanked her for being understanding and a good listener. She was known for making care packages with snacks for students at the end of each term. Her greatest pleasure was cheering for her grandkids at football games, cheer competitions and on the soccer field. She found joy volunteering at Paramount Charter Academy and SMASH. She is survived by her daughter and two grandchildren.
Allen (Al) Lloyd Dixon on November 29, 2022, following a brief illness and after suffering the loss of his eldest son, Matthew, one week earlier. Al was a member of the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees from 1977-1982. Throughout his life, he also served as director or trustee for many other organizations, including First of America Bank, Bronson Methodist Hospital, the Greater Kalamazoo United Way, Junior Achievement and the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce. He was a life member of the Masons. Throughout his career, he served as president of MasterCraft Corp., founder of excavating and trucking company A.L.D. Inc., and vice president, president and co-owner of Wright Coating Co. Al leaves behind his best friend and loving wife, Karen, with whom he spent nearly 24 years of matrimony, as well as a son, daughter, stepdaughter, two daughters-in-law, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and his affectionate cat, Reggie.
John Wesley Dobbs III on December 15, 2021. John completed a two-year term as associate provost of Kalamazoo College from September 1991 to September 1993. Prior to coming to K, John worked in the Detroit Public Schools, as assistant superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education, and as superintendent of Hempstead Public Schools in Hempstead, New York, and taught at Eastern University. During his time at K, he was responsible for recruiting minority faculty, staff and students; serving as a faculty mentor; and administering grants. He facilitated a Cultural Diversity Campus Coordinating Committee at a time when colleges in Michigan were grappling with racial tensions and confrontations. The committee’s goals included the recruitment and retention of minority students, faculty and staff, as well as developing ways to enhance the extracurricular and interpersonal campus climate. In 1992, under John’s leadership, the College launched a cultural diversity initiative designed to expose outstanding minority high school students to the college setting. Students spent a week on campus, participating in a variety of activities, such as self-esteem and group dynamics exercises at Pretty Lake Adventure Camp, in addition to introductions to admissions, study abroad and classes in several disciplines. At the end of his appointment at K, John accepted a position at the University of Michigan-Flint, retiring as provost of the School of Education there. John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Mildred, and two children.
Rev. Otha Gilyard on December 1, 2022. Otha served on the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees from 1979-1997 and received an honorary degree from Kalamazoo College. An Arkansas native, he accepted the call to Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kalamazoo in 1975. In 1993, he became pastor-elect of Shiloh Baptist Church in Columbus, Ohio. Otha was preceded in death by a child, Kareem. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Frieda, his daughter, two grandchildren and seven godchildren.
William E. LaMothe on September 21, 2022. Bill served on the Kalamazoo College Board of Trustees from 1976-1985 and from 1988-1990. He worked for 42 years at the Kellogg Co., 12 of them as chief executive officer, retiring as chairman emeritus in 1992. He retired from both the Board and Trust of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the company board in 2000. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, former member and past chairman of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, former member of the Art Council of Battle Creek, former member of the Economic Development Forum Steering Committee and former chairman of the Drug Free Workplace Steering Committee. He also served on the boards of Hillsdale College, Kimberly-Clark, Upjohn, Sears and Allstate. After retirement, Bill moved with his wife, Pat, to Ave Maria, Florida, where he remained active with membership in the Del Webb Veterans Club, the Ave Maria Knights of Columbus, the Ave Maria Catholic Church and the Catholic K-12 Academy. Bill lived his wedding vows to Pat with devotion and love until her death in 2021. He is survived by his six children.
Waldemar Schmeichel on December 16, 2022. Wally was a professor of religion at K from 1975 to 2009 and taught some 6,000 students during his tenure at K. A popular teacher and mentor, he received the Florence J. Lucasse Lectureship award for excellence in outstanding classroom teaching in 1988. A full obituary will appear in the fall issue of LuxEsto.
When Robyn (Page) Woods-DeWitt ’06 came to Kalamazoo College, she was interested in both French and teaching. She ultimately ended up marrying her two interests into plans to teach French.
Robyn also ended up marrying Mike Woods-DeWitt ’06, whom she met in the cafeteria during their first year at K and started dating in their second year.
Today, the couple lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Mike works in analytics and supply chain for CommonSpirit Healthcare, and Robyn works part-time as a shift lead at a bowling center and is primary caregiver for their 7-year-old son.
As a student at K, Robyn studied abroad for nine months in Clermont-Ferrand, France, and completed her Senior Integrated Project (SIP) translating a novel from French into English for Professor Emerita Kathy Smith. Other influential professors in the French department included Jan Solberg and Henry Cohen. Robyn also had a work-study job that involved working with students at a nearby elementary school.
Like many students, Mike started at K with no clear direction. After a study abroad experience in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was exposed to agricultural economics, and a SIP in the religion department with the late Professor Emeritus Waldemar Schmeichel, he graduated with a dual major in economics and religion.
Mike was a founding member of the short-lived Kalamazoo College Mud & Mayhem Society as well as a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. In addition to Schmeichel, Mike found mentors in Religion Professor Emerita Carol Anderson and Economics Professor Emeritus Ahmed Hussen.
They both remember sledding down the quad on lunch trays, watching senior streak day, and the surprise elation of the Day of Gracious Living. These days, they honor their experiences by giving to K on the Day of Gracious Giving.
The two have established a scholarship in Mike’s mother’s name, and in addition to making regular contributions to that scholarship, they have long been generous donors to their respective departments as well as to the Kalamazoo College Fund.
“K has meant a lot to both of us, and the College Fund is the easiest way to support the College,” Mike said. “I hope our giving allows more people, and people from a more diverse background, to experience K. I think so highly of my time at K that I really want it to be available to anyone who wants that experience.”
For Robyn, the scholarships she received at K motivate her desire to give back.
“I like knowing that if we give the College money, then they’ll have more money to give to scholarships,” Robyn said. “For me, that’s a big deal. We also want to support the College as a whole, whatever the College needs, and we know that need changes.”
“The general fund is a great way to give back and share that K experience with others,” Mike said. “K is a really special place to me, to us, and giving to the Kalamazoo College Fund is a way to ensure that it can be a special place for others and for many years to come.”
Engaged alumni help move Kalamazoo College to higher levels of excellence. You can advance K’s mission and help build its reputation as one of the country’s exceptional liberal arts colleges.
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Don Schneider ’63 and his wife, Jean Chin, visited with Andy Miller ’99, associate vice president for development at Kalamazoo College, in Muskegon, Michigan, on a December business trip Andy took to the Grand Rapids area.
Tom Hoopengardner ’67 recently established three world cycling records for the 75 and older age group at 100 kilometers, 100 miles and 6 hours. Tom retired from the World Bank in 2001 and started a video production company. His main show, America’s Best Student Shorts, appeared on more than 70 public access TV stations from coast to coast; however, it failed to achieve financial viability. When the economic meltdown hit in 2008, Tom began providing pro bono financial counseling for low-income seniors, and two years later founded The Institute for Financial Fitness, which continues today. Tom lives near Washington, D.C., with his wife, Gerry, daughter, Laura, and grandson, John.
George Drake ’69 M.D. writes, “I have resided in Edwardsburg, Michigan, for the past 20 years and have been retired from the practice of medicine for the past three and a half years. Outside activities include serving as secretary for the Michiana Astronomical Society and volunteering for the National New York Central Railroad Museum in Elkhart, Indiana. The NYC trains used to come to my hometown of South Haven, Michigan, and I guess there is a sentimental attachment there. At home, I am enjoying 42 years of wedded bliss with my wife, Jeannine.”
The “Hoben Lads” had a reunion dinner on a Saturday night in September 2022, at Shaw’s Crab House in Chicago. Everyone in the picture was a Hoben Hall resident at K in the ’70s. Pictured are (from left) Brick Mason ’75, John Petrakis ’74, Tom Teske ’75, Chris Matthews ’75, Paul Little ’75, Paul Liepa ’75, John Davies ’75, Read Ferguson ’75 and Steve Gevinson ’73.
Rodney Martin ’76 was recognized by the Comprehensive Therapy Center (CTC) as one of its 2022 Legacy Award winners. CTC is a West Michigan nonprofit established in 1982 that meets the needs of at-risk adults and children with disabilities through skill building, academic enhancement and social emotional support. Rodney served on the CTC board for more than 25 years, 20 of which were spent as board president. He is an attorney with Warner Norcross and Judd, LLP.
Nancy (Sherman) Becher ’79 is the founder and president of Invisible Warriors, a nonprofit located in Alabama that advocates for and supports women around the country who have hidden invisible chronic and autoimmune conditions. The organization supports these women and fights for changes in the insurance, pharmaceutical and travel industries. Anyone wanting to help with time, talent or treasure may contact Nancy at nancy@invisiblewarriors.org.
Larry Bell ’80 recently donated $250K to Kalamazoo modern dance company Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers. Bell’s Brewery founder and former owner, Larry has made a number of philanthropic investments through the recently founded Larry J. Bell Library Foundation since he sold the brewery in late 2021. Through the foundation, Larry has gifted $5.25M to Kalamazoo College, donated $1 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kalamazoo to help fund the construction of a new club facility near downtown, and introduced the Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards through The Gilmore. The foundation also purchased the former Food Dance building, 401 E. Michigan Ave., to serve as the foundation headquarters and a place to house a private reference library and multiple public galleries.
Ralph J. Basile ’81, vice president of Healthmark Industries, has started a two-year term on the ASTM International board of directors. The board is made of 25 leaders from a variety of companies, associations, universities, government bodies and other organizations around the world. Through his work at Healthmark, Ralph helps develop and market products to aid healthcare facilities in delivering safe and ready-to-use medical devices. He joined ASTM International in 2004 and has participated in multiple committees. Ralph earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at K and an M.B.A. in marketing from the University of Michigan in 1988.
Anita Fox ’81, director of the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services, has been named chair of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee, which ensures Michigan has a strong voice in determining health insurance policy on the national level. The committee serves as the NAIC’s health insurance liaison to Congress, the White House and federal agencies. The committee considers issues relating to all aspects of health insurance, including examining factors that contribute to rising health care costs and insurance premiums. It is also tasked with emphasizing equity considerations and the potential impact of health policy decisions on underserved populations. Anita was elected vice chair of the Midwest Zone, which represents 13 states and is part of the NAIC Executive Committee.
Lorri Hopping ’82 has been commissioned to create four more special game events for Cell to Singularity: Evolution Never Ends, a mobile video game that unlocks compelling science and humanities stories one click at a time, to debut in 2023. In 2022, she was appointed narrative director/writer for the game and premiered two game events, “Life After Apocalypse” and “A Coevolution Love Story.”
The Michigan Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates recently announced its 2022 Awards of Excellence recipients. The winner of the Lifetime Judicial Achievement Award was Judge Christopher P. Yates ’83, who was appointed to the Michigan Court of Appeals in spring 2022, after serving on the 17th Circuit Court of Kent County. Chris is the current president of the Michigan Judges Association, vice president of the American College of Business Court Judges, a member and former president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, and an appointed council member of the judicial section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Donna (Santer) D’Alessandro ’85 received the President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence at the University of Iowa, the university’s top teaching award. It recognizes faculty who have sustained a high level of teaching excellence. As a faculty member at Iowa for 26 years and professor of pediatrics, Donna has taught medical students and residents in pediatrics, family medicine and dentistry, becoming a leader in medical education across the country. Passionate about training the next generation of physicians, she continually seeks opportunities to educate and mentor others and is adept at tailoring her teaching to her audience. She has developed 12 digital libraries and published numerous peer-reviewed articles on medical and educational informatics, reaching millions of learners through these digital platforms. She created and curates the large repository of cases at PediatricEducation.org, which educates pediatricians, residents, medical students and other medical professionals with examples of common pediatric problems and how to treat them. In 2012, and again in 2022, she was named Teacher of the Year in Pediatrics, and was elected to the inaugural cohort of the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics in 2020.
Cassandra Tucker ’88, regional office administrator for Warner Norcross and Judd, LLP, has been named among Michigan Lawyers Weekly’s Unsung Heroes for 2022. Unsung Heroes recognizes the state’s most talented and dedicated legal support professionals who have consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty, often behind the scenes. Cassandra was recognized in the firm office manager category. Cassandra’s nomination read in part: “As manager overseeing three busy offices, Cassandra has a lot on her plate; however, she’s always willing to take on new responsibilities and fill a gap when needs arise. This was particularly evident in the past couple years when Cassandra managed the logistical and technical complexities of two office moves. She is kind, compassionate and professional in all her dealings.” Cassandra is responsible for providing on-site administrative and managerial support across Warner’s three southeast Michigan offices. She manages staff, oversees relationships with suppliers and facility management, and implements and maintains firm policies and initiatives. She is part of the firm’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Leadership subcommittee. Cassandra has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kalamazoo College and a master’s degree in management from the University of Phoenix. She and her husband, Vincent, reside in Southfield.
Ethan Segal ’90 is currently living in Tokyo, where he is conducting research in medieval Japanese history with the support of a research Fulbright.
DMAX Foundation announced Ethan Jewett ’93 as executive director of the impact organization devoted to supporting college students facing mental health challenges. Prior to his arrival at DMAX, Ethan served as executive director/CEO of Corazón Community Services in Cicero, Illinois. Ethan began his work with impact organizations at the American Academy of Pediatrics, where he spent 12 years conducting health policy, research, child advocacy, and ultimately directed board and governance operations. Ethan holds an M.A. from the University of Chicago, as well as a Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary. At DMAX, Ethan succeeds Laurie Burstein-Maxwell, who, with her husband, Lee Maxwell, established DMAX Foundation in 2013, after the suicide of their son, Dan Maxwell, for whom the charity is named. Ethan’s hiring comes as the foundation has DMAX Clubs at 11 schools in four states, and is continuing to increase its reach and expand on a national scale.
Aspen Aerogels Inc., a technology leader in sustainability and electrification solutions, announced the appointment of Katie Kool ’93 to its board of directors. Katie also was appointed to the audit committee and the nominating, governance and sustainability committee of the board. Katie most recently served as the chief executive officer of Tide Cleaners, a wholly owned subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, until her retirement in June 2022. During her 27-year tenure at P&G, Katie served in a variety of executive leadership roles and was a key member of P&G’s award-winning Investor Relations team. Katie received her B.A., summa cum laude, in economics from Kalamazoo College and her M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Katie is a member of the board of directors of Digimarc Corp. She was also an active member of the GreenEarth Cleaning Advisory Board and serves as a board member and chief financial officer for Sonje Ayiti, a non-profit organization focused on providing tools for native Haitians to help themselves escape from poverty via education, economic development, and health and wellness initiatives.
WWMT-TV 3 Anchor Andy Dominianni ’94 was honored by the local chapter of Kiwanis International as the organization’s Citizen of the Year in November. The recognition salutes the sum of Andy’s contributions to charitable projects that benefit the lives of West Michigan children. Andy is on the board of Serve for Kids, an annual tennis tournament at Western Michigan University’s West Hills tennis facility to benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center. For nearly a decade, he also produced a weekly feature on NewsChannel 3 with West Michigan’s Big Brothers Big Sisters chapter to match kids with adult mentors. A few years ago, he was named Child Advocate of the Year by the Kalamazoo-based Community Healing Center.
Christa Clapp ’97 recently sold the small company she co-founded, CICERO Shades of Green, which provides green ratings to the financial sector to highlight the environmental risk of large investments. The company was acquired by S&P Global credit ratings agency in December 2022, with the aim to grow green ratings globally. Christa continues with S&P as a managing director of sustainable finance. Most of the proceeds of the sale of the business will directly support climate change research at the non-profit institute CICERO, where Christa’s team developed the green ratings methodology based on climate change science. “I am still based in Oslo with my family,” Christa writes, “and I really enjoyed reconnecting with K friends at the reunion in October!”
Justin Dula ’99 was named director of the Office of Environmental Justice at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The office was established as a point of contact for Pennsylvania residents in low-income areas and areas with a higher number of minorities. Its primary goal is to increase communities’ environmental awareness and involvement in the DEP permitting process. Environmental justice embodies the principles that communities and populations should not be disproportionally exposed to adverse environmental impacts. The Office of Environmental Justice ensures that the Pennsylvanians most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts have a voice in the decision-making process. As director, Justin will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Office of Environmental Justice as well as projects such as the creation and implementation of a comprehensive environmental justice policy, which is currently in the revision phase.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed Laura Lam ’99 to a term on the Local Community Stabilization Authority Council, expiring September 3, 2028. The council is the governing body of the Local Community Stabilization Authority, which is responsible for coordinating access to public rights-of-way and the payment of maintenance fees by telecommunications providers to municipalities. The authority is responsible for distributing personal property tax replacement revenue to municipalities throughout the state according to specific statutory formulas. Laura is the chief operating officer of the city of Kalamazoo and received a Master of Public Relations from San Jose State University.
Kate Phelan-Calvillo ’04 submitted this photo of her daughter, Marin (K 2043?), checking out a recent issue of LuxEsto. Marin turned 2 in January and became a big sister the same month.
Matthew T. Pearl ’05 was recently appointed director of emerging technology at the White House National Security Council, where he will work on wireless policy, 5G, Internet of Things, data security, technology standards setting, open architectures such as Open RAN, and quantum communications and computing. Matthew has a B.A. in philosophy from Kalamazoo College and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Stacey Steep ’06 was appointed senior legal adviser to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Willie L. Phillips. Stacey will focus on energy projects and permitting. She served as a legal adviser for Phillips during the past year. Prior to that, she was the interim transition lead for the FERC Office of Public Participation and was an attorney-adviser in the Office of General Counsel. Before joining FERC, Stacey worked at a lobbying and consulting firm and for the U.S. House of Representatives. She is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School.
GTCR, a leading private equity firm, announced the promotion of Luke Marker ’07 to managing director. Luke has contributed significantly to numerous GTCR investments while helping build the firm’s culture and franchise since joining GTCR in 2009. He currently serves as a director for Corza Health, Maravai LifeSciences and Regatta Medical. In addition, he played an instrumental role in GTCR’s past investment in Devicor Medical Products. Luke holds an M.B.A. with distinction from Harvard Business School and a B.A., magna cum laude, in mathematics and economics from Kalamazoo College.
ArtsFairfax announced its 2022-24 Fairfax Poet Laureate will be Danielle Badra ’08. The laureate serves as a literary arts ambassador, promoting poetry as an art form in Fairfax County and throughout the state of Virginia through a community service project. Danielle plans to hold poetry workshops, readings and activities in Fairfax County Parks to illuminate how language and the natural environment can be a source of comfort and creativity. Learn more about Danielle’s work at DanielleBadra.com.
On September 24, 2022, Nya Greenstone ’15 and Petar Simic ’15 got married at the beautiful Cares Farm, owned by the family of Olivia Cares Lindley ’16, in Dexter, Michigan. Nya and Pete now live in Colorado.
Attendees included: Jackson Greenstone ‘16, Stanton Greenstone ’21, Miles Greenstone ’20, Petar Simic ’15 (groom), Nya Greenstone Simic ’15 (bride), Kelsey (Hill) Jong ’15, Alexandra Gothard ’15, Camille Burke ‘15, Camryn Romph ’15, Olivia Cares Lindley ’16.
Attendees included: Camryn Romph ’15, Olivia Cares Lindley ’16, Camille Burke ‘15, Nya Greenstone Simic ’15 (bride), Kelsey (Hill) Jong ’15, Alexandra Gothard ’15, Matthew Jong ’15, Aaron Schoenfeldt ’15, Petar Simic ’15 (groom) and Michael Lindley ’16.
Three recent Kalamazoo College alumni connected through the app for the Foundation for Jewish Camp conference. Rachel Fine ’14 (left) works at Tamarack Camps in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Maya Gurfinkel ’20 (center) works at the Greensboro Jewish Federation in Greensboro, North Carolina; and Justin Leath ’17 works for the Foundation for Jewish Camp in New York. The conference was conducted in December 2022, in Atlanta. The trio had their photo taken at the Georgia Aquarium.
David Hammond ’73 recently published Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites(University of Illinois Press, 2023) with co-author Monica Eng. Together, they draw on decades of exploring the city’s food landscape to serve up 30 can’t-miss eats from all corners of Chicago. Stories of the people and places behind each dish illuminate how these local favorites reflect the multifaceted history of the city and the people who live there. Illustrated with full-color photos, each entry provides all the information readers need to track down whatever sounds good, and selected recipes tell how to prepare dishes such as Flaming Saganaki or Akutagawa. David is dining and drinking editor for Newcity/Chicago magazine. He regularly writes on food- and drink-related topics for Wednesday Journal and the Chicago Tribune. He is a founding member and moderator of LTHForum.com, a site celebrating Chicago’s mom-and-pop restaurants.
Sharon L. Stohrer ’77 recently published her third book, The Empowered Performer, focusing on overcoming performance anxiety and building confidence for instrumentalists, singers and public speakers. Most writing about performance anxiety is done by psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health researchers who have studied the phenomenon but not experienced it themselves. By contrast, Sharon is a singer who has gone from paralyzing stage fright to helping others break free. While she has done extensive reading and research, this book is primarily based on numerous hours of leading workshops and individual sessions. This experience has enabled her to refine approaches and strategies into real game-changers. Barry Ross, emeritus professor of music at K, writes, “I would unhesitatingly recommend The Empowered Performer to all my students and fellow performers seeking to develop and strengthen their inner resources for successful stage performances.” The volume has been endorsed by professionals across the country and is available at Upjohn Library.
Danny Agustin Flores ’80 recently published a new edition of his book for advanced students and fellow researchers, Lignocellulosic Biotechnology and Related Research: Lignocellulosic Related Research for Feeds, Food and Energy. Developed from an earlier Ph.D. experience from 1992-1995 (internal/external) tenure at the University of New England, New South Wales in Australia, the collection was updated recently, including a new chapter on the exciting role of what he refers to as non-GMO, genetically regulatory organisms in ensilage processing and its ruminant digestion, which has recently arrived on the research scene with Ribonucleic acid playing a new and potentially prominent role for cancer research. This year, he plans to expand into print and e-book editions distributed and marketed in the Australian/New Zealand marketplace, as was done with the first edition, which is available at Kalamazoo College’s Upjohn Library Commons for student and staff reference.
Garrett Felber ’07 has been recognized for his book,Those Who Know Don’t Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State, a political and intellectual history of the Nation of Islam. Those Who Know Don’t Say (University of North Carolina Press, 2020) received the 2021 Merle Curti Intellectual History Award from the Organization of American Historians and was a finalist for the 2020 Museum of African American History Stone Book Award and the 2021 African American Intellectual History Society’s Pauli Murray Book Prize. Garrett is currently writing a biography of former political prisoner Martin Sostre, We Are All Political Prisoners (under contract with UNC Press), and is a visiting fellow in American studies at Yale University.
Kyle C. Lincoln ’10, assistant professor of pre-modern European history and interdisciplinary humanities at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, recently published a book, A Constellation of Authority: Castilian Bishops and the Secular Church During the Reign of Alfonso VIII (Penn State University Press, 2023). Kyle is considered an authority on the medieval history of religions in Europe and the Mediterranean. In a feature on Medievalists.net, Kyle attributes the origins of the book to his Senior Integrated Project, in which he researched St. Dominic of Osma with an eye to what makes a person a saint in the Roman Catholic tradition and how the decision to name someone a saint reflects the time and the world in which people lived. Kyle holds a Ph.D. and master’s degree in history from Saint Louis University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in classical studies at K.
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