Class Notes

1970s

RONALD BURGER ’70, Tallahassee, Florida, retired from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control after 35 years of service but continues to work for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services National Disaster Medical System, and FEMA. He has responded to 38 hurricanes in his 49 years of working in governmental public health.

DONALD MILLER ’70, Harrisburg, published his 20th book, “He Had Rare Lights: A Biography of William Wallace Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln.” Donald writes under the pen name Donald Motier.

SAM BIGLER ’73, ’76M, Millersville, has been inducted into the Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania State, Millersville University and Columbia High School Athletic Halls of Fame for weightlifting. He has been a National Collegiate Champion (4x), and been a member of the All-American Team (4x), National All-American Team (2x), Pan American Team, and World Team. Bigler also competed in the 1976 Olympics.

LINDA SIMPKINS DICKERSON ’73, Mountville, retired after a career of 44 years. She spent 10 of those years as an instructor at the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Lancaster. Dickerson was a licensed Baptist minister and went on to be ordained as a reverend. She earned a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia on 5/16/17.

RICHARD HUCK ’73, Edwardsville, was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual Colored Pencil Society of America International Exhibition in Chicago. The work was featured in the recent International Artist magazine issue.

KATHY ESTERLINE TENDLER ’75, Tower City, retired after 20 years as an Education Administrative specialist with the Pennsylvania State Department of Education. She taught elementary education for 13 years at both Solanco and Bensalem Township school districts.

JAY WENGER ’76, ’89, Lancaster, was awarded and successfully completed three Core Fulbright Scholarships in Estonia (2001), Kenya (2011) and India (2018). He also completed a Fulbright Specialist assignment in the Philippines (2014).

MARY HORWEDEL FORSTER ’77, Lancaster, retired on 6/15/17. She worked for the School District of Lancaster for 24 years as a teacher of English and later as a Facilitator/Coordinator of the Arts and Humanities Small Learning Community. She also chaired the Middle States Committee for five years. After retiring she taught at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology teaching public speaking and composition.

KERRIE COSTELLO SNAVELY ’77, Lancaster, was selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to receive the prestigious 2019 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.

SHEILA HERR CHARLES ’78, Lancaster, retired on 8/30/18.

1980s

HOLLIE COHEE CITERONE ’81, Ridley Park, retired in June 2018 after 34 years of teaching kindergarten at Southeast Delco School District.

KEVIN DIXON ’81, Columbus, Ohio, was appointed by the Columbus City Council to service on the Commission on Black Girls and asked to serve on the board of the Foundation for Psychology in Ohio. He was also recently hired by the Ohio State University College of Social Work as a community lecturer, teaching a graduate- level course titled “Diversity and
Cultural Competency.”

KEVIN MAHONEY ’81, Malvern, became CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System on 7/1/19. He has worked at Penn Medicine for 23 years, most recently as executive vice president and chief administrative officer for UPHS, as well as the executive vice dean for integrative services for the Perelman School of Medicine.

BARBARA HAAS SAMMET ’82, Lititz, retired on 6/8/18 after 35 years as a Spanish teacher for Hempfield School District.

REV. VALERIE (JACKSON) ANDREWS ’83, Philadelphia, was installed as pastor at the Eternal Life Missionary Baptist Church in Philadelphia.

LAURA MCHENRY FRABLE ’83, Huddleston, Virginia, earned an Educational Specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University. She is also employed there as an academic advisor.

MARK MORAN ’84, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, resigned as head coach of the Twin Cities Legion baseball team with a total of 884 career wins and 10 state tournament appearances. He will become an assistant coach with the Western Nebraska Pioneers, a team in the Expedition League.

EDWARD UMBRELL ’85, Herndon, Virginia, was promoted to associate with Dewberry, a professional services firm. He works as a senior project manager in the company’s water resources department.

STEVEN BUTERBAUGH ’87, Lancaster, was promoted to President and CEO of McConkey Insurance & Benefits, which was a finalist for Central PA Business of the Year.

MARY KAY SCHILDKNECHT TOTH ’87, Elizabethtown, has been promoted from Senior Manager to Principal at Brown, Schultz, Sheridan & Fritz. Toth specializes in tax services and small business accounting services. In 2018, Mary Kay was named one of Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence.

SHERRY WIEST ’89, Camp Hill, received her Transition Coordinator certificate from George Washington University.

1990s

MICHELLE SWEIGART GRAVES ’90, Lancaster, joined Univest Bank and Trust Co. as a senior commercial underwriter. She has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry.

PAMELA SNADER KISKADDON ’90, Lititz, retired on 11/2/18 after 30 years as an educator.

TODD SUAREZ ’90, Waynesville, North Carolina, moved from an English teacher of 15 years to a Health/PE teacher, at Enka High School. This past basketball season he was named the Enka Middle School Boys’ head coach. In his first season they went 13-4 and played for both regular season and tournament championships. At the high school, Suarez is the girls’ and boys’ head tennis coach.

MICHAEL VANGAVREE ’90, Hummelstown, a MU baseball Hall of Famer, with the naming of the third base dugout at Cooper Park after him. VanGavree’s mother-in-law, Phyllis S. Mowery and her family were also recognized for their creation of the Mowery Family Baseball Endowment which will support the Millersville baseball program’s recruitment and student-athlete retention efforts and field improvements.

AMY CUNNINGHAM GALLAGHER ’91, Media, became English Department Leader at Marple Newtown High School.

DARLENE MILLER KING ’91, Manheim, was an invited speaker at the Chicago Urological Society Educational Program.

JOHN “SHAGGY” SHANTZ ’92, Pottstown, was ordained as a minister through Universal Life Church Ministries. He has taught sociology at Pottsgrove High School for 26 years.

BRUCE WALTERS ’93, Lancaster, became Director of Information Technology with a local brokerage firm.

WILLIAM MILLS ’94, Mooresville, North Carolina, published a memoir titled “Losing My Religion” on 1/15/19. It is his 16th publication. Mills writes about the Bible, prayer, spirituality and ministry.

ELIZABETH BRITTAIN NEC ’94, Hershey, recently adopted a position as a professional writing tutor in the Learning Center of Penn State University Harrisburg.

DANIELLE GEHLEN YOCOM ’97, ’05M, Douglassville, earned a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Regis College on 12/31/18.

MARLENE BETH LANG ’98, Lancaster, earned her Ph.D. in practical theology on 5/12/18. She was also appointed as Assistant Professor of Religious Studies in the Department
of Liberal Arts at Mount St. Joseph University, Cincinnati.

DAVIS WRIGHT ’99, Wilmington, Delaware, became a partner with Robinson+Cole, a bankruptcy law firm.

2000s

JOHN CHEEK ’00, Quarryville, accepted a position as Director of Web & Creative Services at Millersville University in December 2018.

MATTHEW COULEHAN ’01, Haddon Township, New Jersey, was promoted in August 2018 to Local Office Manager of the Camden South Office of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency.

KIM HELLWIG ’01, Allentown, earned her MBA in Marketing from DeSales University on 1/19/2019.

 

JEFFREY RATCLIFFE ’01, Lansdale, won the 2018 Best Radio Show Award from the Fantasy Sports Trade Association for his work on SiriusXM.

EMILY SCHRIVER TRANG ’02, Mechanicsburg, was promoted to Assistant Vice President for M&T Bank’s Wilmington Trust division. Trang also serves as President-Elect for the Kiwanis Club of Harrisburg for the 2018-2019 term.

CAMERON MARTIN ’04, East Earl, was selected for the Reading Eagle’s first “40 Under 40” list, recognizing outstanding leaders in the Berks County region. He works as Director of Development for Caron Treatment Centers.

LYDIA YEAGER ’04, Lancaster, was promoted to Director of Operations with Student Services, Inc. at Millersville University. She previously served as Ticket Sales Manager for 13 years with the company.

ERIC DIETER ’05, Lancaster, contributed songs to a play titled “Sword of the Unicorn,” which premiered 9/9/16 at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival and has since played
Off-Broadway.

EMI ALVAREZ ’06 ’09M, Lancaster, was promoted to the position of Associate Director of Financial Aid at Millersville University. Previously she worked as the Pell Grant and Customer Service Coordinator in the same office.

DILLON NABER CRUZ ’06, Lancaster, published his first book, titled “Go Golden.” It is a work of nonfiction about “Applying a universal religious teaching and the ethics of permaculture to create a sustainable, just, happier society.” Cruz is also a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary.

JUSTIN GAMBONE ’06, Millersville, has transitioned from a Marketing/Sales Support position at Clipper Magazine to
a realtor with Kingsway Realty.

SETH LENNON ’06, Woodbridge, Virginia, was named Director of Communications for Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that certifies apparel factories for ethical production of clothing.

ERIN HAUGH ’07, Shillington, graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in December 2017, earning a Doctor of Education in school psychology degree.

BRIGETTE KAMSLER ’07, Gettysburg, became the University Archivist at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in August 2018. Previously she worked as an archivist at Columbia University and the bank HSBC.

ADAM LAUVER ’09, Stevensville, Maryland, published his first book, “The Last Thing I’ll Ever Write (Part One),” through Plays Inverse Press on 1/29/19.

2010s

JENNIFER GERSON ’10, Coventry, United Kingdom, successfully defended her thesis, titled “Social Media Use and Subjective Well-being: An investigation of individual differences in personality, social comparison and Facebook behavior,” in July 2018, and graduates with her Ph.D. in Psychology in July 2019. She currently works as a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

AMY WAGNER GIANGIULIO ’10, was named Director of Marketing Communications at VisionCorps. Previously she worked for the company as Marketing Communications Coordinator.

MATT APRIL ’11, West Chester, opened a personal training facility in West Chester called Bent On Better.

MICHAEL MCCLOSKEY ’12, Springfield, was named Teacher of the Year at Bunker Hill Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year.

KATE WRIGHT ’15, Landisville, was appointed as Event Coordinator of Scheduling and Event management at Millersville University on 11/12/18.

MELODY ALEMAN ’17, Los Angeles, California, received a Graduate Research Fellowship from the National Science Foundation, which will provide her the full funding to complete her Ph.D. at the University of Southern California.

SARA WIBERG ’17, Mount Joy, became an admissions counselor at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. She is responsible for undergraduate recruitment in eastern Pennsylvania.

HOLLIE ROSE CITERONE ’18, Ridley Park, began her first year as a teacher.

LAUREN OSTOPOWICZ ’18, Lansdale, received an honorable mention from the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship.

WEDDINGS

WENDY CALVERT ’88 and Steven Kingsford, 11/17/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WENDY BECK STEINER ’98 and Nathan Young, 10/6/18

MINDY DICHTER ’00 and Brent Kroposky, 7/14/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHESTER HOLLAND ’10 and TUERA CLARK ’06, 12/7/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANN MARIE FITCH ’13 ’15M and JIM FEATHER, JR. ’12, 6/16/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KELLY JOY REBERT ’14 and David Andrew DeMaria, 11/21/15

MELANIE HERBERT ’16 and Nicholas Winters, 10/20/18

AUDREY KEMRER HECK ’63 and DAWSON HECK ’64, Reno, Nevada, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on 12/21/18. They met in math class during freshman year.

BIRTHS

JENNIFER ANDERS KATZ ’00, a daughter, Riley, 7/12/18

CYNTHIA JOHNSON DEMBNICKI ’05 and husband, David, a son, Connor James, and daughter, Emily Claire, 3/25/17

CAITLIN GOLDEN WERTHMAN ’07 and husband, Matt, a son, Will, 8/12/18

CAROLINE BRADY ZOOK ’08 and husband, J. ROBERT ’05, a daughter, Harper Jessa, 12/2/16

GREGORY ZIEGLER ’08 and wife, EMILY POPCHOCK ’09, a son, Henry Thomas Logan, 4/28/17

JACLYN MARTESLO FOSTER ’09 and husband, KYLE ’09, a son, Nolan Patrick, 5/4/18

KATIE ASHMAN FORRY ’12 and husband, JUSTIN FORRY ’10, a daughter, Emma Jean, 11/10/18

JORDAN OTT EVANGELISTA ’13, ’15M and husband, Stephen Evangelista, a daughter, Medina Rae, 3/20/19

DEATHS

E. LENA KREIDER MCKECHNIE ’42, Jonestown, passed away on 12/9/18 at the age of 96. She was retired from Northern Lebanon School District, where she had been an elementary teacher at East Hanover and Jonestown schools. After retirement, McKechnie volunteered with IU13, tutoring adults in reading. She was an excellent cook and once won first prize at the Lebanon County Fair for her crabapple jelly.

WILLIAM SEAL ’50, Carlisle, passed away on 3/24/19 at the age of 100. He served in the Air Force during the Korean and Vietnam wars as a pilot and flight instructor. He was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross Medal during his time in Vietnam. Seal also taught industrial arts at Edgewood Independent School District before retiring in 1974. On his 100th birthday he was able to pilot a plane with the help of the Honor Flight Network in San Antonio, Texas.

VICTOR M. BOVE ’54, Lancaster, passed away on 11/10/18 at the age of 94. He served in the Army as an infantry squad leader during the Second World War, and received 11 awards during his service, including the Silver Star. After studying at Millersville, Bove went on to become a surgeon and later a psychiatrist. He also worked in executive roles for a number of different hospitals and medical centers. Bove was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by Millersville University in 1984 and in 2005 appeared in “100 Years of MU Faces,” a book commemorating alumni who made a significant contribution to the school
and its community.

JEANNINE MORRISSEY DUANE ’54, Long Valley, New Jersey, passed away on 3/24/19 at the age of 86. She taught in elementary schools in Bermuda, Japan, Hawaii, the Marshall Islands and Chester, New Jersey. She was an early advocate of STEM education for children and was selected in 1985 to represent New Jersey in the NASA Teacher in Space program. Duane was also active in local politics and served on the Board
of Education.

DONALD C. HOFFMAN SR. ’58, Richboro, passed away on 1/25/19 at the age of 81. He worked as a teacher in the Centennial School District and served as chairman of the Klinger Junior High School arts department. Hoffmann was named Teacher of the Year in 1980 at the 28th Annual Conference of the Industrial Arts Association of Pennsylvania. He was also honored as an Outstanding Teacher of the Year by the American Industrial Arts Association in 1981.

CARL HENRY ERNST ’60, Lancaster, passed away on 11/3/18 at the age of 80. He worked as an educator and researcher, beginning his teaching career at Hempfield High School, where he taught biology and coached wrestling. Ernst would go on to become a Professor of Biology at George Mason University and in 1992 was named the first Distinguished Alumni Fellow in the Sciences at MU. After his retirement in 2004, he returned to Lancaster County and served on several alumni committees with the MU Alumni Association.
PRISCILLA MUCH ELKO ’61, Media, passed away on 2/7/19 at the age of 79. After graduating, she primarily taught kindergarten, third and fifth grades in the Rose Tree Media School District for many years.

DENNIS RHEN ’64, Lebanon, passed away on 1/16/2019 at the age of 76. After his graduation Rhen began his career as a social studies teacher at Northern Lebanon High. Later he earned his master’s degree in political science and transitioned to employment at the Governor’s Action Center in 1975. He then went on to become Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Council for Vocational Education. After over 20 years at the council, he was recruited by Pennsylvania Partners, and retired from there in 2009.

MARY JANE WELLER KRANTZ ’67, White Haven, passed away on 9/20/2018 at the age of 73.

HAROLD (HAL) STERN ’67, Morrisons Cove, passed away on 7/29/18, at the age of 80. After settling in Lancaster he taught in the Manheim Township School District. He also worked as an independent agent with State Farm Insurance for 40 years in Lancaster as a Chartered Life Underwriter and Financial Counselor and participated in the local Kiwanis Club. He was a lifelong member of church and choir at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lancaster and was the director for Camp Andrews. From 2004 until 2014 he studied as a candidate for the Doctor of Religious Studies degree.

MARILYN MCCLURE TALERICO ’71, Perkasie, passed away on 12/15/18 at the age of 69. Marilyn worked as an elementary teacher for 34 years at Pennridge School District.

ADRIENNE JEAN DONEY KEISER ’77, North Bangor, passed away on 1/18/19 at the age of 63. She worked for Met-Ed from 1978 until 1982 and later for Bangor Podiatry as a receptionist. She also taught piano lessons for many years. Keiser served as church organist at Bethel Bible Church of Mount Zion in Martins Creek.

BEN COOPER ’79, Hummelstown, passed away on 8/8/17 at the age of 60. He taught science for Lower Dauphin School District for 35 years, coached football and lacrosse, and was active with Boy Scout Troop 201. Cooper continued to teach as a substitute in retirement. He was a member of the Hummelstown Hunters and Anglers, Hummelstown Shade Tree Commission and the Manada Conservancy.

BERNARD DANIELS ’79, Philadelphia, passed away on 3/9/19 at the age of 64. He worked for the Social Security Administration for 36 years in a number of technical and managerial positions. Daniels frequently participated in the American Cancer Society Bike-a-Thon from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. He volunteered annually in the MLK Day of Service as well as with the Big Brother program.

HOLLY KRANTZ HENDRICKS ’82, Lititz, passed away on 9/26/18 at the age of 58. She was retired after 30 years spent working at Amish Barn restaurant, Dauphin Deposit Bank and the U.S. Postal Service. Krantz enjoyed traveling the world and was a member of the Zeltenreich UCC church.

TIMOTHY JOSEPH MARTIN ’02, Lower Makefield, passed away on 1/26/19 at the age of 42. He was a legislative and regulatory affairs lobbyist with MBI, a government affairs and association management firm. Martin was a passionate fan of the Phillies and Eagles and loved to fish.