Class Notes Spring 2018
Her Words Make A Difference
Featured Class Note
A Perfect Day: Reunion 2017
Events
91快播 Wants To Hear Your Story!
Class of 1938
In Memoriam
Jean Rudolph Stewart on December 2, 2017.
Class of 1939
In Memoriam
Frances W. Buynicki Brown on October 14, 2017
In Memoriam
Cletus Raymond on July 31, 2016
Class of 1948
In Memoriam
Grace Howard Wood on April 19, 2017
Class of 1949
In Memoriam
Norma B. Iola Grisé on January 14, 2018.
Class of 1951
In Memoriam
Marion Brooks Waleryszak’s husband, Robert, passed away on January 3, 2018.
Class of 1953
Catching Up
Margaret Hill Kreitner shares that since her husband’s death in 2015, after 58 years of marriage, she has moved into Covenant Village of Cromwell retirement community. She has been very happy there. Margaret has two wonderful children, a daughter in Burlington, VT, and a son nearby in West Hartford, CT, and has also been blessed with three delightful grandchildren.
Class of 1954
In Memoriam
Phyllis Talbot Fairbairn on October 25, 2016.
Class of 1959
In Memoriam
Nancy J. House Gavoni on September 20, 2017.
Class of 1960
In Memoriam
Barbara E. Hoffman Campbell on January 3, 2008.
In Memoriam
Joan A. Hoarle Ferraro on February 6, 2018.
Class of 1961
In Memoriam
Frances A. Mikuszewski Beake on February 17, 2018.
In Memoriam
Marianne R. Pedulla on December 23, 2017.
Class of 1963
Catching Up
Judith Rivest Deshaies’ connection to 91快播 truly runs deep, as she served on the Alumni Association Council for 17 years and her father and aunt are also 91快播 graduates. She writes of a wonderful chance encounter with a 91快播 sister. At a recent “OC Women Who Lunch” event in Orange County, CA, Judith found herself sitting next to Karen Montgomery ’77. The two exchanged contact information and have kept in touch since the event, with Judith even joining the women’s lunch group in throwing a birthday celebration for Karen. She urges her fellow 91快播 alumni to “speak up loud and proud and spread the good word about 91快播 University—you may even find yourself making a new 91快播 friend!”
Catching Up
Carolyn Christie Pierson is a happy grandmother of six, including three girls and three boys all living close by. She shares many trips, walks, and lunches with Donna Vaders Papa who also lives in Guilford, CT.
Catching Up
Diane (Dede) Olliver Rudd urges her classmates to join her for their 55th Reunion this fall. She looks forward to seeing you there!
Class of 1965
Catching Up
Lorraine Festa Roseman writes with several happy pieces of news. Her daughter Jamie Lynn married Zack Hosie at Del Posto in New York on June 4, 2017. Lorraine also welcomed her new granddaughter, Abigail Mae Dori, on August 29, 2017. Abigail joins her sister Juliet Roberts Dori, and her cousin Jaxon Roseman.
Class of 1967
Catching Up
Norma-Claire Lang Gruetter is enjoying her retirement and recently started painting in acrylic and watercolor. She loves to do both! She and her husband Frederick just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.
Class of 1971
Catching Up
Yvonne Bowkett-Kavanagh is still living in Clinton, CT. Early in the summer she met up with her former roommate Drucilla (Dru) Warren Farquhar in Old Saybrook for lunch!
Class of 1972
Catching Up
Deborah Hunt Benoit writes that she and former roommate Nancy Hoey Bacher have kept in close touch in the years since their time at 91快播. The two friends meet halfway between Deborah’s home in West Springfield, MA, and Nancy’s home in Foxboro, MA, usually at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA. Deborah says that her years at 91快播 were two of the best years of her life! Not only did she make lasting friends, but she also met her husband at an off-campus Springfield College party. They were married for almost 25 years when cancer took him away, and had two beautiful daughters, both married and one with two sons. Deborah and Nancy had the privilege of attending each other’s children’s weddings in 2017. Deborah’s youngest daughter was married in April 2017, while Nancy’s youngest son wed in June 2017.
Class of 1977
In Memoriam
Victoria Banks Walsh on February 6, 2018.
Class of 1990
Catching Up
Tina D’Agostino was profiled in the Professional Women’s Chamber “Spotlight on Talent” section of their newsletter in November 2017. She was recognized for her work as president of CityStage and Symphony Hall in Springfield, MA.
Class of 1992
Catching Up
Jean Maziarz was promoted to director of the Richard Salter Storrs Library in Longmeadow, MA.
Class of 1995
In Memoriam
Katherine Rick Delisle on December 13, 2017.
Class of 1996
Catching Up
Ellen Marie Keith shares that she is teaching at Phoenix Charter Academy.
In Memoriam
Jennifer Peters on January 6, 2018.
Class of 1998 25th Reunion
Catching Up
Daryll Sverrisson and her husband Gunnar have been married 16 awesome years and live a few miles from 91快播. They co-own Ballroom Fever Dance Studio in Enfield, CT, and are donating their time and talents for the second year in a row as dance instructors and performers at the upcoming 91快播 University President’s Gala. The couple also have two children, ages seven and eight. Daryll is thinking of returning to school for her master’s degree.
Class of 2001
Arrivals
Meagan Gaudette, a girl, Kelly Bridget Gaudette, born September 26, 2016.
Class of 2004
Catching Up
Ruby Bean has a new job as the director of strategic initiatives for Community Concepts, Inc. She also serves on the board of Western Maine Play Museum in Wilton, ME, and is a Girl Scout leader.
Catching Up
Stephanie Burns Huckel has accepted a position as senior global program manager for Diversity & Inclusion at IGT.
Catching Up
Jessica Cramer is excited to announce her new position as a sales agent with New York Life. She writes that 91快播 has given her the tools for success, and that her Paralegal Certification has proven quite useful in the insurance field.
Class of 2005
Arrivals
Amber Cull-Fournier, DVM ’05, a boy, Ezra.
Engagements
Sylvia Chimhina and Kudzie Mushonga were engaged in August of 2017.
Class of 2006
Catching Up
Kelly Broderick has a new job as a therapist at High Point Treatment Center doing individual, family and couples therapy. Kelly writes that she primarily focuses on addiction work, which she loves.
Weddings
Heather White and Chris Grimm were married on October 1, 2017.
Class of 2008 15th Reunion
Catching Up
Kaitlyn Abdale and Andrew Abdale were married on October 15, 2016. Kaitlyn now works as an early childhood special education teacher for Manassas City Public Schools. She is also pursuing a master’s degree from Lynchburg College.
Arrivals
Krista Aronson Joseph, a boy, Kaiden Richard Joseph, born at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston on October 10, 2017, at 2:24 a.m. He weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces.
Arrivals
Stephanie Crowell Rigazio and her husband Stephen (married in September 2015), a boy, Alexander Charles, born August 11, 2017, at 5:09 p.m. He was 7 pounds 4.3 ounces and 19.5 inches long.
In Memoriam
Diane Johnson Fish ’08 on December 25, 2017.
Class of 2009
Catching Up
Danielle Ardizzone is enjoying her new position as a line therapist with Behavior Care Specialists. She is using applied behavior analysis (ABA) with students on behavior plans.
Catching Up
Amanda Rice Dufraine writes that she has left private practice and joined the Social Security Administration Office of Disability Adjudication and Review as an attorney advisor.
Class of 2011
Catching Up
Samantha Casey is elated to announce that she has accepted a position as residential supervisor with NeuroRestorative of Maine, offering residential, clinic, and day program services for folks with TBIs, co-occurring disorders and MH diagnoses.
Catching Up
Precious Price was recognized in Connecticut Magazine’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018. Precious was honored for her incredible work with the North End Action Team in Middletown, CT. She now serves as director of the Middletown Racial Justice Coalition, as well as a board member of the Annie C. Courtney Foundation, focused on providing services to children in foster care.
Catching Up
Melissa Chelte Przybytek was married in October, 2016. In May, 2017 she graduated with her MBA from American International College. Melissa accepted a position as a data analyst and category manager at Pride Stores in September 2017. She and her husband are now looking to purchase a home in the area.
Catching Up
Crystal Senter-Brown was selected as a BusinessWest Difference Maker of 2018. Crystal is an author and adjunct faculty member at 91快播. She was honored for her stories and lessons, which empower and motivate children and young women to make a difference in their communities.
Catching Up
Emily Pelletier Skoczylas recently accepted a position as a caseworker for CHD (Center for Human Development) in the In Home Therapy Program in Ware, MA.
Arrivals
Samantha Hahn Clark and her wife, a girl, Jordanna Josephine Hahn Clark, born November 30th at 1:38 p.m. Jordanna weighed 9 pounds 1.2 ounces and measured 21 inches long.
Class of 2012
Catching Up
Jason Ostrowsky has accepted a position as the dean of students at the College of Southern Idaho, located in Twin Falls.
Catching Up
Meredith Forts Rodrigues was recently promoted to assistant director of donor relations at UMass Dartmouth.
Catching Up
Alisha Orton Sullivan a member of Robinson+Cole’s Employee Benefits and Compensation Group, has been named the co-chair of the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Women in the Law Committee. The Committee plays a key role in planning the annual Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers dinner. Hosted in partnership with the CBA Women in Law Section, the signature event includes the presentation of the Ladder Award that recognizes a female attorney in Connecticut who has demonstrated exceptional leadership affecting women.
Engagements
Tara Popec was engaged in the summer of 2017.
Weddings
Jayna Larson and Kevin Van Fleet were married on September 16, 2017.
Weddings
Caroline Pappas-Kenyon Odell and David Odell were married on November 10, 2017.
Weddings
Melissa Tharau Story and Kyle Story were married on October 21, 2017.
Class of 2013 10th Reunion
Catching Up
Tabitha Vianna began a new job as associate attorney at Bacon Wilson, where much of her work is devoted to assisting clients with commercial loan closings. Tabitha is licensed to practice in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Class of 2014
Catching Up
Michelle Chase accepted a position as vice president/branch manager of the Ludlow Branch for United Bank.
Class of 2015
Weddings
Ashley Gazda Crawley and Devin Crawley were married on September 2, 2017, on the Silverlining Sailboat off the coast of Ogunquit, Maine.
Class of 2016
Arrivals
Heather LeCompte, a boy, Kingston, born July 2017.
Catching Up
Myngoc Ho has returned to 91快播 to pursue her MS in Physician Assistant Studies.
Catching Up
Sarah Yurkunas was promoted to commercial portfolio lender at Country Bank.
Class of 2017
Catching Up
Mariann Dinelle was promoted to nurse manager of the emergency department at Mercy Medical Center.