Class Notes

1949 Edward Seils sends a letter from his home in Boone, North Carolina. He writes: “Like many World War II veterans who attended the U of R on the GI Bill, I studied hard, often with other classmates, and successfully completed four years of engineering school classes leading to a BSME [bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering]. My classmates, like myself, were World War II combat veterans, including the Rex brothers [the late Edward and John Rex]. A few were ex-POWs, such as [the late] Warren Williams and [the late] John Rowe. I am certain professors and instructors were not sure how to handle such atypical students. I credit my U of R education with early acceptance at the Rochester Products Division of General Motors. There I was able to launch a long and very successful career in the automotive industry. I suspect the quality of a University of Rochester education is still excellent. This letter is meant only to express my sincere thanks and continuing interest in current events at your fine school.”

1957 Helen Mitlof Klemperer (see ’60 School of Medicine and Dentistry).

1958 Ed Kaplan sends a photo from a minireunion held in Sedona, Arizona, in May. He writes: “We called it the ‘18 years to 80 years of age’ reunion, as we all originally became good friends when we were 18 years old, as U of R freshmen, and here we are at age 80 years and remain close friends. After 62 years, we of the Class of 1958 remain ‘better than good and better than great!’” Pictured from left to right are Suzanne Kwan Silverstein, Sue Bleyler Richardson, Julian Heicklen ’58 (PhD), Sue Hook Heicklen, Irene Colle Kaplan, and Ed.

1960 Eugene Nicandri won one of SUNY Potsdam’s highest honors last spring, the 2016 Leadership through Service Award. A retired judge and longtime community leader in Potsdam and the larger North Country region of New York, Eugene is a member of the Seaway Private Equity Corporation’s board of directors as well as vice chair of the New York Power Authority’s board of trustees.

1963 Carol Munch sends a photo from a minireunion held in June. She writes that it was “a reunion of 13 classmates, most of whom have been gathering on Cape Cod each Father’s Day weekend since our 40th reunion. Karen Lieber Dahl generously opens her home for four days of relaxing, catching up, and reviewing a list of the best books read during the year. Of course, we test our memories by singing all the Rochester songs from our era while enjoying outdoor activities, food, fine wine, and fun.” Pictured are: (seated) Eileen Cahill Cowley, Helen Calhoun Jaeger, Jeanne Torre, Janet Baker Jennison, and Karen; (standing) Bonnie Barney Dennis, Lynne Trimby Kroner, Janice Chalmer Lubell, Pat Hendrickson Dickman, Judy McElroy Darweesh, and Barb Murabito Crellin. Present but not in the photo was Susan Everett Makowski, in addition to Carol.

1965 Lois Brenner sends an update. She’s a divorce attorney and court-appointed mediator in New York City. She writes: “I became a physician assistant to practice medicine part time and to enhance my legal skills by using psychology to develop a unique and successful divorce mediation practice.” The practice seeks agreements between parties “using nonadversarial methods, saving clients pain, time, and money.” Lois is the author of Getting Your Share: A Woman’s Guide to Successful Divorce Strategies, which she wrote in 2001 with her late husband, Robert Stein. She’s working on a second book, which will introduce her divorce mediation process. Lois adds that her daughter, Stephanie Weiss, is an oncologist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

1966 Richard Sorrell ’68W (MA) writes: “We did it again! As in 2011, our 1966–68 group of alumni had a minireunion (50th or near-50th) in June. We toured the campus, went to Letchworth, dined, drank Genesee cream ale, and most importantly, had a great time renewing our friendships of over half a century. Participants included Sally Nusbaum Sorrell ’67 and me, Bob ’67 and Judy Przbyl Rudolph ’68, Bruce and Sue Buckman Lawrence, Anthony ’68 and Pat McGregor Sentochnik ’69, Ann Schertz Finger ’68, Brad Lown, Jim King, Ned Ferguson, Pete Parker, Wes Marshall, Bob Foss, and non-alumni spouses.”

1967 Bob Rudolph (see ’66). . . . Sally Nusbaum Sorrell (see ’66).

1968 Amy Goldstein Bass was honored as the founder and first president of the Port Washington (N.Y.) Education Foundation at a gala last April. Since Amy established the foundation in 2001, it’s made more than $1 million in grants to Port Washington schools. A thanks to Lynn Cleveland, who shared the public notice with the Review, and who adds that Amy and the four subsequent presidents of the foundation, also honored, are known as the “Fab Five.” Amy is married to Geoffrey Bass, and they have two grown children who are graduates of Port Washington’s Schreiber High School. . . . Ann Schertz Finger (see ’66). . . . Judy Przbyl Rudolph (see ’66). . . . Anthony Sentochnik (see ’66). . . . Alan ’74 (PhD) and Judy Jacobson Wertheimer ’69, ’73W (MA) send a photo of themselves with Rocky, whom they took on a trip in April to the Galapagos, the Amazon jungle of Peru, and Machu Picchu.

1969 Pat McGregor Sentochnik (see ’66). . . . Judy Jacobson Wertheimer ’73W (MA) (see ’68).

1975 Phil Chrys writes that the 1977 Weedsport High School varsity football team, which he led in his first year as head coach, was inducted into the Weedsport Sports Hall of Fame in June. No team has ever been inducted before. The 1977 team won the Onondaga High School League championship after finishing the season 8–1, with seven shutouts. Phil is interviewed in a Syracuse Post-Standard article, posted online June 3, detailing the team’s 1977 season. . . . Mark Moretti has been elected president of the Monroe County (N.Y.) Bar Association. He’s the leader of the Phillips Lytle construction practice group and the former chair of the trial section of the New York State Bar Association.

1976 Kevin McDermott writes that he has published a novel, Fortunes Neck (ThickWinter Press).

1977 Gary Berkson has joined the Orlando office of the Florida law firm GrayRobinson. Gary practices business law, advising clients on financing, contractual relationships, joint ventures, mergers, succession plans, and related matters. . . . Susan Zelony Breen writes that she’s published her first mystery novel, Maggie Dove (Penguin Random House/Alibi Digital). It will be available in e-book form. . . . Peter Friedenberg, a partner at the Boston law firm Sherin & Lodgen, was named as a leader in the field of real estate law by Chambers and Partners USA. Chambers bases its attorney rankings on client ratings.

1978 David and Diane Marshall Ennist (see ’11). . . . Mark Worthington is senior counsel at Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, where he offers counsel and legal advocacy for people with disabilities, elders, and their family members. He’s been appointed to a full-time position as professor of law and director of the graduate program in elder law and estate planning at Western New England University’s law school in Springfield.

1982 Brian Cutler was appointed interim dean of the faculty of social science and humanities at the University of Ontario’s Institute of Technology. A social psychologist, Brian is an expert on the psychology of eyewitness identification.

1985 Jennifer Donnelly has published Sea Spell (Disney Hyperion), the fourth and final book in her Waterfire Saga fantasy series. . . . John Klemperer (see ’60 School of Medicine and Dentistry).

1986 Christine Joor Mitchell won the Dr. Cynthia Lucero Humanitarian Award from the Massachusetts chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in June. Christine has run seven consecutive Boston marathons with the society’s Team-in-Training program, raising more than $80,000 for the organization. She’s also served as a mentor to new runners for the past four years. Christine runs in memory of her mother, Ann Joor, and Nancy Melvin Taylor ’86N. Christine and Nancy became friends in high school in Syracuse and served together as cocaptains of the Yellowjackets’ 1985 New York state championship field hockey team. Nancy died of cancer in 2003. The society also noted Christine’s work in establishing and growing the Nancy Melvin Taylor Endowment Fund, which supports Rochester’s field hockey program.

1987 Dan Harvitt sends a photo of himself and Judy Hu ’13 at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry. Dan is an assistant clinical professor at the school, and Judy is a student in the doctoral program in optometry.

1990 Sally Klemperer (see ’60 School of Medicine and Dentistry). . . . Adam Konowe writes that he delivered presentations on crisis communications to senior aviation executives at the Flight Safety Foundation International Air Safety Summit in fall 2015, as well as the Business Aviation Safety Seminar last May. Adam is vice president of client strategy for TMP Government, a communications firm advising defense and aerospace clients. . . . Kathleen Durbeck Suher has joined the Rochester office of the law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King. Kathleen practices real estate, finance, and corporate law.

1991 Brett Kinsler has been named a principal at the Rochester health care technology consulting firm Strategic Interests. His expertise is in clinical and business transformation.

1996 Rich Andre ’97 (MS) is an associate pastor with the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle at St. Austin Parish near the University of Texas in Austin. He writes: “Since I served at the University of Tennessee for the previous five years, I will struggle to figure out to which academic institution people are referring when they say ‘UT’!”

1998 Jon Scahill ’04S (MBA) has joined the New York City law firm of McLaughlin & Stern as a partner.

1999 Genesee Adkins has been appointed chief of staff of the Seattle Department of Transportation. She writes: “With so much growth in our region, the transportation challenges and opportunities are high stakes, and I’m so delighted to help our city succeed.” . . . Jean Hee Park Barrett sends a photo along with the message: “My husband, Ryan, and I welcomed twins Alina and Zachary in March in Atlanta. Alumni Relations staff were kind enough to send a little gift to the babies when the twins were a few months old. They look forward to meeting all of their U of R friends!”

2002 Jasmine Ellison-Moody ’03W (MS) and Gary Waiyaki ’12 won Teacher Excellence Awards from Success Academy Charter Schools. Jasmine is a first-grade teacher at an Academy school in the Bronx and Gary teaches science at an Academy school in Manhattan.

2003 Elizabeth Morphis writes: “After graduating with my doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University, I will begin as an assistant professor of literacy at SUNY Old Westbury on Long Island in the fall.” . . . Ka¯li Quinn has published a book, I Am Compassionate Creativity: 111 Stories from Preschool to Providence (Compassionate Creativity). Rooted in her background in theater, the book, “part memoir, part curriculum, and part field guide,” explores the integral relationship between compassion and creativity in difficult times. Ka¯li is an artist, performer, and lecturer based in Providence, Rhode Island, and blogs at Compassionatecreativity.com.

2004 Brian Immerman writes that he married Jennifer Topolosky last February. Pictured (page 55) are Michael McCormick, Eric Schweigert, Sarah Philipp ’09M (MD), Jennifer, Brian, Jennifer Gertman Hartman, Shawnessy Dusseau, and Michael Tynan.

2005 Sarah Schneider Woods ’07M (MS) is an assistant professor of family therapy and the family therapy program coordinator at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas. She gave a TEDx talk at the university, “When Labels Do More Harm Than Good,” exploring the pitfalls of some common mental health diagnoses.

2007 Emily Cohen (see ’11). . . . Sudesna Ghosh has published a book, News Now: Being a TV Journalist (Harper Collins), featuring interviews with prominent Indian television journalists.

2009 Anthony Amato was ordained as a deacon in the diocese of Rochester in May. . . . Nathan Danek and his wife, Nicole, welcomed their first child, Ayla, in April. Nathan writes: “We feel very blessed to have such a wonderful little girl! We live in Salem, New Hampshire, and both work in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at a pharmaceutical company.”

2010 Cassie Dobbins ’11W (MS) married Bryce Moore in May in Ithaca, New York. Pictured are (back row) Jacob Grantier ’07, ’10W (MS), Patrick Brennan ’08, Charles Dicosimo, Zach Oshlag ’08, and Ian Harmand; (front row) Cara Champion Grantier, Alycia Redlinski, Marissa Coir, Hannah McKillop, Julia Chambers, Danielle Pearson, Ramzi El Hassan, and Mark Rudolph.

2011 Matthew Cohen ’12W (MS) and Claire Ennist ’12, ’13W (MS) were married at Artisan Works in Rochester in July 2015. Claire writes: “After living in Baltimore, we moved back to Rochester in 2014 and bought a house in the South Wedge. Matthew is a high school teacher and football coach and I’m an early childhood teacher.” Pictured are: (top row, left to right) Wilson Rose, Conor McMahon ’12, Maggie Arbogast, Kevin Gay, Peter Wen, Al Vostal, Chris Skipper ’15S (MBA), Richard Beckerman ’07; (third row) Andrea Difilippo Yezer, Dimitra Georgakopoulos, Michelle Ketcham ’12, Kate Agan ’12, Zack Milstone ’12, Nina DeSoi ’12, ’14N, Dean Gomes, Brad Mills ’10, ’14M (MS), Andy Kryszak, Travis Hughes, Michael Tichenor, Meg Battin ’12, Kelly Rickert ’12, Alykhan Alani ’12; (second row) Ben Yezer, Zachary White-Stellato ’12W (MS), Quinton Mitchell ’13, ’14W (MS), Jackie Berko Beckerman ’82, ’88M (MS), Clarence Onyiriuka ’12S (MS), Matthew, Claire, Diane Marshall Ennist ’78 (the bride’s mother), David Ennist ’78 (the bride’s father), Cynthia Francis Gensheimer ’74, Julie Hussey ’15S (MBA), Rachel Bender, Emily Cohen ’07 (the groom’s sister), Allison Light ’15M (PhD), Stephen Cohen ’85M (Res), ’85M (Flw) (the groom’s father); (front row) Essie Cohen Germanow ’43, Charlotte Cohen ’54, and Norman Francis ’46, ’52 (PhD). . . . Jacob Mitchell graduated with honors from Wright State University medical school in May. He heads next to Indiana University Hospitals in Indianapolis for a year of internal medicine, followed by a residency in diagnostic radiology.

2012 Claire Ennist ’13W (MS) (see ’11). . . . Gary Waiyaki (see ’02).

2013 Judy Hu (see ’87).