Fall 2009 Vol.1, No. 2

ALUMNI NEWSElmhurst College

It’s Brain Surgery

Dr. John Grollmus ’61 gave Elmhurstpre-med students a first-hand look

at the life of a neurosurgeon

1 ELMHURST COLLEGE

FYI IN THIS ISSUE

WHAT’S NEW ON CAMPUSPomp, Circumstance and Beyond | 2

Excerpts from a Commencement address,

an inside look at the Alumni Association,

and more news from campus and beyond.

FIRST PERSON STORYA Surgeon’s Life | 6

Dr. John Grollmus ’61 talks about hosting

Elmhurst pre-med students for week-long

glimpses into the life of a physician.

HEARD ON THE MALLAlumni Q&A | 8

At a career networking event, alumni talk

about Elmhurst’s influence on their lives

and careers.

SPORTSA Season to Watch | 10

Wrestler Jake Oster won a national

championship. What’s next? Plus previews

of next season’s volleyball, football, soccer,

and basketball teams.

CLASS NOTESCatching Up | 12

Get the inside scoop on your classmates—

where they are, what they’re up to, and

more.

FACULTY Q&ATime to Fly | 20

Susan Moninger, director of the College’s

acclaimed choral groups and its vocal jazz

ensemble, reflects on 20 years of teaching

at Elmhurst.

ALUMNI NEWS 1

Alumni Association

PresidentShaheen Wolff ’87

Members of the BoardBrittany Ashcroft ’05 Sara (Douglass) Born ’02Sarah Clarin ’04 Tom DuFore ’04Mike Durnil ’71David Jensen ’00, MPA ’02Lynda Nadkarni ’87, ’92Cheryl Tiede ’74 Frank Tuozzo ’72 Rick Veenstra ’00

Director of Alumni Relations

Beth VanDeWoestyne

Assistant Directors of

Alumni Relations

Kristen GreenstreetSamantha Kiley

Office of Alumni Relations Secretary

Stephanie Christian(630) 617-3600alumni@elmhurst.edu

Editor

Jim Winters

Managing Editor

Margaret Currie

Design Director

Marcel Maas

Welcome!Fellow Alumni and Alumnae,

I hope this issue of FYI finds you enjoying the end of summer with your family and friends. Though many ofour students went home for the summer, the ElmhurstCollege campus still bustled with activity, from SummerExtravaganza to sports camps to alumni networking events.

As you know, the College is eager to incorporate your inputon strengthening our alumni relations efforts. Our first stepwas to increase our communications with alumni, launchingthis publication and our e-newsletter and developing apresence on social networking sites. Our next step is tomake it easy for you to get involved at Elmhurst College,whether you live a few blocks away or across the country.

In that spirit, this issue of FYI highlights a wide range ofopportunities to get involved. From hosting a recruitmentevent to sponsoring an internship to serving on the AlumniAssociation Board, there’s a volunteer opportunity foreveryone.

Finally, I’d like to remind you that the benefits of anElmhurst education extend far beyond graduation. Fromdiscounted apparel and event tickets to career services andthe use of campus facilities, the College encourages alumnito stay active and involved.

Enjoy this issue of FYI. I hope it helps you connect withElmhurst College and your fellow alumni and alumnae.

Sincerely,

Shaheen Wolff ’87PresidentElmhurst College Alumni Association

P.S. Mark your calendars now for Homecoming 2009! Thisyear’s event takes place October 9–11 and features a fulllineup of reunions, reconnections, and fun.

Pomp, Circumstance and Beyond

Honoring the Poor’s Prophetic VoiceElmhurst College will present its highest honor, the NiebuhrMedal, to Gustavo Gutiérrez, a Catholic priest, public intellectual, and prophetic voice for the poorest of the poor.A native of Peru and a professor at Notre Dame, FatherGutiérrez is the acknowledged “Father of LiberationTheology,” an influential set of ideas founded in biblicalscholarship and a powerful social force in the Third World.“Real material poverty—this less-than-human situation inwhich most human beings live today—is a challenge whichno Christian is free to overlook,” he insists.

The College will present the Niebuhr Medal to FatherGutiérrez at a ceremony on September 20. “Father Gutiérrezis an exponent of the Niebuhr tradition, in that he holdssociety responsible for the well being of the least of itsmembers, and he does so from the perspective of a biblicalfaith,” says President S. Alan Ray. “He has helped a generationunderstand what the Christian Gospels say about our obligationto stand with the poor and to understand and alleviate thecauses of poverty.”

Commencement: ‘Jumping into the Deep End’Eboo Patel, Ph.D., is founder and executive director of theInterfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based non-profit that promotesinterfaith communication. On May 31, Patel spoke at the College’sCommencement ceremony and received an honorary doctorate ofhumane letters. Here is an excerpt from his address.

Life is about two things: the risks you take, and who youbring with you to the edge of the pool.

When I first had the idea of the Interfaith Youth Core,I surrounded myself with people whose basic message was:“Dream it. Dream it. Dream it. And when things go wrong,I’m here.”

Elmhurst College prides itself on providing an environ-ment that nurtures the same in its students. That you aregraduating means you chose both your risks and your com-munity well. And both you and this gathering of faculty,friends, and family should be very proud.

And now everything changes. You’re at the edge of awhole new body of water. And you’re going to meet a whole

This spring, the College bid adieu to its largest-ever graduating class at Commencement 2009. In all,658 students walked across the College Mall, receiving their diplomas and gaining instant membershipin the Elmhurst College Alumni Association. Here are excerpts from a Commencement address, othernews from campus, and an inside look at the Alumni Association.

Peruvian theologian Gustavo Gutierrez (above) will receive theCollege’s highest honor, the Niebuhr Medal, on September 20.Eboo Patel (below), a leader in the interfaith youth movement,spoke at this year’s Spring Commencement.

What’s New AT ELMHURST

2 ELMHURST COLLEGE

new world of people. Choose wisely where you jump in.Choose wisely who you bring with.

And know this: these decisions affect more than justyour own life. When you build a community of supportaround you, when you play a role in somebody else’s community,you create a model for how the human community should be.

Some Perks of Being Elmhurst AlumniThe perks and rewards of an Elmhurst education don’t endon graduation day. As an alumnus or alumna of the College,you’ll enjoy exclusive programs, events, services, and oppor-tunities for years to come.

For instance, you’ll have lifelong access to career services.From interview workshops and networking events to résuméassistance and career counseling, our programs and eventswill help you advance your career.

You also have access to a range of campus facilities,including the A.C. Buehler Library and campus computerlabs. You’ll even get special pricing when you rent ourfacilities for your special event!

And that’s just the beginning. Other perks includediscounted tickets for Bluejay events and Elmhurst CollegeTheatre, opportunities to travel abroad with your classmates,and a lot more. Find out more about the lifelong benefitsof your Elmhurst education by going online towww.elmhurst.edu/alumni or by contacting (630) 617-3600.

Elmhurst Is Going to Greece!From Athens to Mykonos to Delphi, Greece and its magicalislands offer a breathtaking journey into ancient history andtimeless beauty. It’s a place to explore the mystical beginningsof civilization—and to soak up some Mediterranean sun.

In April 2010, join the Elmhurst Alumni Associationfor a once-in-a-lifetime trip to these magical lands. The two-week tour begins on April 18, in the historic city ofAthens, and also encompasses Thermopylae, Mykonos,Santorini, Kalambaka, Delphi, and more.

Interested? Contact Stephanie Christian at (630) 617-3600.

Land of BluejaysIt’s official—the State of Illinois has agreed to issueElmhurst College license plates! In response to petitionsfrom Elmhurst alumni and friends, the Illinois Secretary ofState’s office will soon begin producing plates that show yourallegiance to your college and fund scholarships for currentstudents. For more information, check for updates atwww.elmhurst.edu/alumni.

Your Elmhurst College Family Needs You!Whether you graduated from the College last year or lastcentury, you’ll always be an important part of the Elmhurstfamily. And there are many ways to maintain your connectionand help the next generation of Elmhurst students.

As an admission volunteer, you might spread the wordabout Elmhurst College by hosting a reception, makingphone calls, referring a promising student to the College,or hosting a summer send-off.

If you prefer to work directly with today’s students, signup with the Alumni in the Classroom program to speak to aclass or serve on an alumni panel. Or contact the Center forProfessional Excellence to mentor a student, hire a studentintern, host a shadowing experience, or present a workshop.

If you’re ready to step up to a leadership role, considergetting involved with the Alumni Association Board, thegoverning body responsible for alumni program development,strategic planning, and outreach. Opportunities includeserving on the Association’s board or a committee; serv-ing as a representative of your class, region, or affinitygroup; or volunteering for a special event such asHomecoming.

Contact the Office of Alumni Relations to learn moreabout these and many more opportunities, or submit the volunteer application online at www.elmhurst.edu/alumni.We look forward to working with you!

ALUMNI NEWS 3

Greece, the destination for next year’s AlumniAssociation tour, offers breathtaking beauty,ancient history, and Mediterranean sunshine.

What’s New AT ELMHURST

4 ELMHURST COLLEGE

Sara (Douglass)Born ’02Board membersince 2002

“I love givingmy time andmy ideas to

Elmhurst—and I love to find ways toconnect other alumni back to the College.I’m proud that the board and the Collegehave worked together to support somegreat new ideas and see them blossom.Board members come from a wide rangeof decades and interests, but we all share acommon love of this institution and wework closely together to make great thingshappen.”

Sara (Douglass) Born of Des Plaines, Illinois,teaches at Washington Elementary School, ParkRidge, and is vice president of recognition andawards for the Alumni Association Board.

Tom DuFore ’04Board membersince 2006

“Serving on theboard is a greatway to stayinvolved.There’s

always something happening on campus,and I love keeping up with what’s new.It’s also a great way to attend eventsand to donate my time. And I appreciatethe opportunity to connect with myfellow alumni, benefit from one another’sknowledge and experience, and fosterpositive relationships between theCollege and its alumni.”

Tom DuFore is an executive vice president of Francorp and resides inWoodridge, Illinois.

Brittany Ashcroft’05Board membersince 2007

“As a student atElmhurst, I wasinvolved in a lot

of different activities. I worked on TheLeader, I was involved with Greek lifeand a couple of honor societies, and Idid an internship. All those experiencesplayed a huge role in shaping who I am.Serving on the Alumni AssociationBoard is one way for me to show myappreciation. And I love working withmy fellow board members who are justas passionate about Elmhurst as I am.”

Schaumburg, Illinois, resident BrittanyAshcroft is managing editor for WestSuburban Living magazine.

Cheryl Tiede ’74Board membersince 1998

“The AlumniAssociationBoard is like acollege-level

version of a PTA: a group of peoplelooking out for the school’s studentsand teachers, raising money, and stayingin touch with a place that’s special tothem. Serving on the board has been agood way for me to keep up with theCollege and channel my interests andstrengths to work for something verymeaningful to me.”

Cheryl Tiede of Woodridge, Illinois, recentlyretired from a career as an elementaryschool music teacher.

David Jensen’00, MPA ’02 Board membersince 2001

“I’m grateful formy Elmhursteducation. The

combination of rigorous academics,strong ethics, and leadership opportunitiesgave me great experiences and helpedme get where I am today. I was involvedin a ton of activities as a student, soonce I graduated it seemed natural tostay active with the College and startgiving back.”

David Jensen, CPA, is a member of Cahill& Jensen, LLC in Elmhurst and is vicepresident of programming for the AlumniAssociation. David resides in Lombard,Illinois.

Rick Veenstra’00Board membersince 2005

“My educationat Elmhurst prepared me

well for the challenges I’ve faced in mycareer. I enjoy serving on the board andparticipating in the College’s continuingsuccess. I’m proud of how the boardhas changed to serve a changing alumnibase, and I’m looking forward to seeingwhat new things we can accomplish inthe coming years.”

Rick Veenstra, an attorney in private practice, lives in Addison, Illinois.

Meet the Board

ALUMNI NEWS 5

Your Alumni Association serves as a vital link between you and youralma mater. Meeting four times a year on the Elmhurst campus, theAssociation’s Board plans events, guides strategic decisions, and muchmore. Board members are alumni who represent a wide range of graduatingclasses, majors, and professions. Here, we invite you to “meet” the currentmembers of the Alumni Association Board.

Sarah Clarin ’04Board membersince 2007

“I tell everyoneI wouldn’t bewhere I am soearly in my

career if weren’t for Elmhurst College.The shadowing and mentoring experiencesand internships I found at Elmhursthelped me figure out exactly what Iwanted to do. After I graduated, Iknew I wanted to help other studentshave the experience I had. It’s a hugehonor to be part of the board and beable to give back some of what I’ve gottenfrom the College.”

Sarah Clarin of Roselle, Illinois, is a regionalhuman resources manager at SunSource.

Frank Tuozzo ’72Board membersince 2003

“I’ve always hada soft spot forElmhurst. Myprofessors there

became my friends, and I’ve alwaysliked what the College stands for.That’s why I used to go back to campusto talk to students about careers inchemistry, and it’s also why I joined theAlumni Association Board. Sure, ittakes time to give back; but it feelsgreat to do something to contribute tothe College’s success.”

Before retiring, Frank Tuozzo worked as a laboratory manager at UOP Inc. Frank lives in Henderson, Nevada.

Shaheen Wolff’87 Board membersince 2000

“On a personallevel, serving onthe board gives

me an opportunity to give back to theinstitution where I had such a positiveexperience, as well as a chance to developnew relationships as I work to re-connectalumni with one another and with theCollege. Professionally, it’s exciting tohelp guide the development of initiativesthat meet the needs of alumni now andin the future.”

Shaheen Wolff, president of the AlumniAssociation Board, teaches in the College’sCenter for Business and Economics. Shaheen lives in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Lynda FlorosNadkarni’87, ’92Board membersince 1989

My ElmhurstCollege experi-

ence had a significant impact on who Iam today—and I’m proud of who I’vebecome. Serving on the board is a greatway for me to help the alumni team domore. And I take pride in knowing thatI’m helping the College grow the nextgeneration of students into smarter,stronger members of their community.

A resident of LaGrange Park, Lynda FlorosNadkarni teaches fine arts at Brook ParkSchool in LaGrange Park. She also doesextensive volunteer work for several localorganizations.

Mike Durnil ’71Board membersince 2000

I worked whileI attendedElmhurst andwent to classes

at night, so it took me 11 years to grad-uate. I like to say that I got my degreein persistence! It was such a joy to goto school there that I almost get teary-eyed when I think back on myElmhurst experience. I enjoy servingon the board, where I can continue tomake a contribution—and encourageothers to participate, too.

Mike Durnil, a resident of Winfield,Illinois, worked in facilities management atGTE for 32 years and Elmhurst MemorialHospital for 10 years before retiring in 2005.

First Person STORY

ALUMNI NEWS 7

try to make sure students get the full picture of whatphysicians do. So, together, we go to the hospital earlyin the morning and visit with patients. We talk withthem about their maladies, and the students listen and

learn. We also go through surgical procedures where they puton scrub clothes and glove up and come into the operatingroom. They are right there with us, getting a close-up look atwhat we’re doing.

At first, I tried not to be on call when students were visiting. But I soon decided that they need to see this, too.Now I make sure that I’m on call for several days that week,which means that in the middle of the night I might have totap them on the shoulder, and off we go into the hospital orthe emergency room.

In some cases we have to go through operative proceduresto take care of people. I think that’s an important part of theexperience—to help students understand that we’re going tobe working not just in the daylight but also in the middle ofthe night.

I don’t pretend to cover all the bases. This is about lettingstudents see things from the perspective of one physician. Idon’t know that any of the students who have visited us havedecided to become neurosurgeons, but a number of them

have gone on to medical school. I hope that what they sawand did with us helped them to make wise decisions abouttheir futures.

I never had an experience like this in the course of myeducation; though one day during my third year in medicalschool, a couple of residents picked me out and said, “Hey,you’re going to go in and help us with this surgery.” I thoughtit might be interesting to watch. As it turned out, they letme do much of the work, guiding me along the whole way. Itwas one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, and Ileft there knowing that I was going to be a surgeon. It was aseminal thing.

That’s what led me to invite students to come out andwatch and learn. I thought that if students could come intoan operating room and get even part of the experience I hadback then, it would be wonderful.

The most important thing students learn here is thatpracticing medicine is not a piece of cake. I don’t thinkenough people recognize how much time this takes. You haveto want really badly to go into medicine, or you’ll be unhappywith your choice. I hope we help some of these students tomake the right decision about what they’re going to do.

A Surgeon’s Life Dr. John Grollmus ’61 wants future doctors to know what a career in

medicine is really like. For the past ten years, Grollmus, a neurosurgeon inCalifornia’s Bay Area, hosted Elmhurst pre-med students for weeklongpeeks into the life of a physician. The students lived with Grollmus,joined him in patient consultations, scrubbed in for surgeries, evenaccompanied him on middle-of-the-night emergency calls. Grollmus, whoretired in April, calls such experiences an important part of any medicaleducation, “a chance to see things as they really happen.” In his own words...

I

Rene Bernal ’07After graduating from Elmhurst I spent two years in Iraq,where I was in charge of a platoon of 65 soldiers. I camehome three months ago and was lucky enough to land a jobas a personal banker at Chase, where I had planned to workbefore getting deployed. The time I spent at Elmhurst waspivotal for me: The professors gave so much of their timeand patience, and everything I learned there made me wantto learn more.

Dave Pardun ’85 In my senior year as a business and accounting student atElmhurst, one of the College’s trustees helped me get aninternship in management consulting with A.T. Kearney.Then when I graduated, the company offered me a full-timejob, and I’ve continued moving up from there. My Elmhursteducation combined academic learning with practical learningto prepare me for the workplace.

Laura Fontela ’05, MBA ’07I’m an assistant brand manager for a subsidiary of H.B. Fuller,doing product launches and promotions for $150-millionbrands. My Elmhurst background helps me in a ton of ways.For instance, the professors I met came directly from industry,so they were able to share their real-life experiences. We didreal-world projects for actual companies, too. Even in mycurrent job I find myself reflecting back on some of thoseexperiences and learning from them.

Dara Fitzpatrick ’05I had three internships at Elmhurst. I worked as an eventsplanner with the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce; I workedwith the Diversity Project; and I was a program manager foraffinity groups with the Heartland Institute. I also studiedabroad in Spain, where I served as a team leader for tenother students. Together, those experiences gave me theexperience I needed to advance in my field. Right now I’mpursuing a master’s degree in higher education administrationat Loyola University Chicago.

Lisa Ippolito MA ’05In the graduate program in industrial/organizational psychol-ogy, we did a lot of case studies where we went out and didactual analytical work for real companies. One of the projectsI did turned out so well that I used it for a sample of mywork when I was applying for jobs! Doing that kind of workhelped us develop highly applicable skills and gave us a realedge in the job market.

Angela Mock ’07I chose Elmhurst because I didn’t want to be a nameless facein a 200-student lecture hall. At Elmhurst, the teachers showup early and stay late; they know the students and engagethem in dialogue. The experience taught me how to interactwith different kinds of people and see the big picture. That’sbeen invaluable in my current job at a packaging company,where I work with creative people as well as business people.

Gary Wendel ’02At Elmhurst, I took advantage of a lot of different opportu-nities. I started an organization for students interested inhuman resources, for example, which helped me establishnetworking contacts as a young person as well as developingmy skills in negotiation and conflict resolution. I also was aresident adviser and the coordinator for the StudentAmbassador program, which helped me learn to speak inpublic. The bottom line: Elmhurst gave me the opportunityto have a wide range of unique experiences that correlatewell with what I do today as a corporate trainer.

Antonietta Caldarella ’07The classes at Elmhurst were small enough that the teacherswere able to work one-to-one with each student. I saw myElmhurst professors as leaders, helping me develop myselfand achieve my goals in the classroom. Now that I’m in theworking world, my managers at work take on the same lead-ership role that my professors had in school. My Elmhurstexperience really prepared me for the professional world.

Heard ON THE MALL

8 ELMHURST COLLEGE

How has your Elmhurst experience influenced your life and your career?On May 13, some thirty Elmhurst graduates gathered at a pub in downtown Chicago for the secondinstallment of the College’s popular professional networking series. In addition to networking oppor-tunities, the event featured a panel discussion on how to be an invaluable employee. FYI spoke with afew alumni in attendance and asked about their Elmhurst experiences. Here’s some of what we heard.

ALUMNI NEWS 9

Timothy W. Jans ’74 Elmhurst, Illinois

“My family’s association with Elmhurst College goes backquite a way. My mother was a student at Elmhurst, and myparents met there. Then my sister attended Elmhurst, and ayear later I followed her. “My parents always loved Elmhurst,so when my father passed away in 1990, we decided to honorhim by establishing an endowed scholarship fund in hisname. My mother supported the idea, and we added hername to the fund after she passed away in 2000.

“Money was tight in my family during my college years, and Ifeel lucky to have attended Elmhurst. Funding this scholarshipis a nice way to give back—and to help some of today’s studentsget the same great opportunity that I had.”

Timothy W. Jans is co-founder and executive vice president of Cook-DuPage Transportation, a company that provides transportationservices to disabled people in the city of Chicago through the ChicagoTransit Authority. Together with his wife and siblings, Mr. Jansestablished the Arthur and Anne Marie Jans Endowed ScholarshipFund in honor of his parents.

Why I Give

Sports GO BLUEJAYS!

10 ELMHURST COLLEGE

A Season to WatchWrestler Jake Oster won a national championshiplast season. So what does he do for an encore?Here are five Bluejay sports teams to watch inthe coming year.

Wrestling: Top That!How do you improve on a perfect record—or top a nationaltitle? These are among the questions facing Elmhurst seniorJake Oster, who in 2009 became the first Bluejay wrestler towin an NCAA championship, compiling a 27-0 record alongthe way. That may sound like a dream season, but Oster has

spent part of his offseason thinking about how he can doeven better. “Last year, I won 17 matches by pin,” the

senior says. “This year, I’ll be looking to pin everyone.”As wrestling coach Steve Marianetti will tell you,

Oster’s work ethic matches his lofty goals. “Jakehas a deep love for the sport and spends a lot of

time in the offseason working on things,improving,” he says. Oster is not the onlyBluejay wrestler looking forward to bigthings in the coming season. His teammateMark Corsello will seek to avenge his lossin the national 285-pound final, and theteam hopes to make a run at a CollegeConference of Illinois and Wisconsin

(CCIW) championship.“My goal, team-wise, is to win the conference,

because we’ve taken second the last twoyears, and then get some more guys to nationals.

If we can get a couple more, we can get into thetop four and bring a trophy back,” Oster says.

Those are no ordinary goals. But for the seasonahead, Oster and his teammates have set their

sights on the extraordinary.

Football: Making an ImpactGo ahead and call Randy Wright an impact player. It’sunlikely you’ll get an argument from opposing quarterbacksand ballcarriers.

Wright was a key part of a Bluejay football team that puttogether its most successful season in more than twodecades last year, leading the team in tackles, sacks, andtackles for loss. In fact, his 22.5 tackles for loss ranked thirdin the nation and set a single-season school record. Wright’s2008 performance has already earned him pre-season All-America honors for 2009 from several national publications.

Wright will anchor a defense that hopes to help theBluejays build on last year’s success. Under Coach TimLester, then in his first year, the Bluejays compiled a 7-3record in 2008 and upset nationally ranked rival WheatonCollege. Their seven wins were the most for a Bluejay teamsince 1985. Also returning to the defense are a pair of 2008all-conference honorees: safety Jon Janus and defensive tackleJoe Stumpfoll. Like Wright, the Bluejays are looking to makean even bigger impact in the CCIW in 2009.

Volleyball: Net GainsElmhurst’s volleyball team looks to return to the top of theCCIW behind the leadership of senior middle hitter CaitlinO’Hara. She was a first-team all-conference and all-regionselection last season, when she led the team in blocks, serviceaces, and kills per game. Also returning to a team that finished22-14 last season is setter Emily Hilliker, an honorable mentionall-CCIW choice.

Women’s Basketball: Double ThreatLyndsie Long was a double threat for the women’s basketballteam last year, leading the Bluejays in scoring (18.6 points pergame) and rebounding (6.7 per game). But she seemed to turnher game up a notch in conference competition, where sheled the league in scoring and was among the league-leaders in rebounding.

All of which helped make her a unanimous first-team all-CCIW selection and led the Bluejays to a 14-11 record. Long’sthree-year total of 1,210 points places her fifth on the all-timeElmhurst scoring list. She and her teammates continue theirassault on the record books and the CCIW standings inNovember.

Men’s Soccer: They Score!Opposing goalkeepers be warned: In 2009 the soccerBluejays return their two leading scorers from last season,when the team compiled a 12-6-1 record. Junior midfielderJon Brehm led the Bluejays and the CCIW in goals last seasonwith 16, and earned all-region honors from the NationalSoccer Coaches Association of America for the second consecutive year. Senior forward Jake Pahr added nine goals before being sidelined by an injury, and earned all-conference honors.

If their big guns keep filling the nets, the Bluejays figureto be tough to beat.

ALUMNI NEWS 11

From left to right: Two-time all-conference and all-region soccer player Jon Brehm, all-conferenceand all-region volleyball player Caitlin O’Hara, all-conference and All-American football playerRandy Wright, and all-conference and all-region women’s basketball player Lyndsie Long.

Class Notes

Alumni CATCHING UP

12 ELMHURST COLLEGE

1930sBetty (Roefer) Haude ’36 writes, “Ienjoyed the photo of students on thesteps of Irion Hall [featured in FYIVol.1, No. 1, p. 12]. My husband (William)Bill Haude ’34 was in that class—thefirst to admit women.”

Carol M. (Long) Weise ’39 celebratedher 90th birthday on July 14, 2008.Carol remains an active member of theElmhurst alumni community.

1940sRuth (Marsh) Hamel ’42 tells FYI, “Myhusband and I moved to Regents Pointin Irvine, California, in 1997. It was agood move as we’ve made wonderfulfriends, play a lot of bridge, take shorttrips and enjoy life. Over the years, Ikept in touch with Betty (Whitaker) ’43and Art McGovney ’42, Ann (Thompsen)’42 and Robert ‘Bob’ Waite ’43, Judy(Cleland) Waite ’41, and Dorothy‘Dottie’ (Davis) Dosier ’42. Two yearsago, Betty, Art, and Ann all died withinthe same two weeks.”

1950sAfter 54 years in the ministry, Rev.Albert W. Kovacs ’51 retired from thepastorate on July 31, 2008. A ceremonyand dinner were held in Rev. Kovacs’honor on June 14 at the HungarianReformed Church in Woodbridge, N.J.A fellow Elmhurst alumnus, Rev.Koloman K. Ludwig ’68, the bishop of Calvin Synod, UCC, spoke at the ceremony, encouraging attendees to“aim higher than merely sustaining the status quo.” Albert and his wife have since moved to the HungarianReformed retirement community inSteeler Nation in the heart ofPittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

An Elmhurst mini-reunion took place inMontreat, North Carolina, last October,when Ralph Abele ’54 and Mary E.(Pflug) Abele ’60, of Concord, New

Hampshire, caught up with Lynnea(Almquist) ’58 and Donald Mayer ’55,of Bainbridge Island, Washington, andRichard Ellerbrake ’55 and his wife,Johann, from Lebanon, Illinois. “Dr.Ellerbrake was CEO of DeaconessHospital in St. Louis, where we all livedwhile we were raising our children inthe 1960s,” Mary told FYI recently.“After retiring as a United Church ofChrist minister, Ralph is now a spiritualcare volunteer for the Concord VisitingNurse Association Hospice program,where he was awarded the Volunteer ofthe Year Award in September. I retiredfrom teaching at Boston University in2001 and now work as a communicationspecialist for people with neurologicaldifferences such as Asperger’s syndrome.”

Elmhurst native Jim Hudson ’55 writesthat he and his wife are retired and havelived in “God’s Country,” southwesternWisconsin, since 1964, when an unex-pected stop in Richland Center led Jimto buy a 320-acre dairy farm and start acareer in hospital administration. “Welearned how to operate our own dairyfarm, with the help of our neighbors,where our son and daughter grew upknowing a care-free and responsible life,working with the family farm. The children completed their college anduniversity training in the UW systemsand are now raising their families inWisconsin and North Carolina.”

Ray Hernandez ’57 writes that he andhis wife, Fern, took part in a miniElmhurst College reunion in May 28at the Wisconsin Dells timeshare prop-erty of Bob ’56 and Delores(Bergdolt) ’59 Hedeman. Alsoattending were Alan ’59 and Carol(Kosanke) ’59 Hedeman, Jon ’59 andRheda (Warming) ’58 Schultz, Larry’60 andMarliane Becker . The friendscelebrated the upcoming gold weddinganniversaries of Jon and Rheda and Aland Carol. Bob and Delores celebrated

50 years together in 2008, while theBeckers and Hernandezes will cele-brate theirs in August 2012. Raywrites, “EC folk of the ’50s were loving-ly remembered, and a good time washad by all.”

The January 29 Tribune featured an article about Robert Hyde ’57, who hasbeen creating miniature models ofmovie theatres since the age of 14. Hisfirst model, and four others, are currentlyon display at the Theatre HistoricalSociety of America in Elmhurst. Robert,who lives in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, withhis wife, Laura Hyde ’71, taught historyat York High School for years. Robert’sinterest in movie theatres extends tofilms as well. “I have 1,340 films.They’re all on VHS. Every night afterdinner, my wife or I will choose a filmto see.” Robert has donated more than1,100 movies to Elmhurst College’s A.C.Buehler Library.

After returning home from her 50thElmhurst reunion in the fall of 2008,Ina Waidmann ’58 underwent open-heartbypass surgery. Ina is now home anddoing well, as she continues the longrehabilitation process.

Sylvia Watson Baxter ’59, of Quincy,Illinois, provided FYI with an update:“Larry Watson ’59 and I were marriedthe same summer we graduated fromElmhurst. He enrolled at EdenSeminary, and I taught school. In 1961,we had our first son, David Scott. Aftergraduation from Eden, Larry received acall from St. Johns UCC in FortMadison, Iowa. He was the ministerthere for five years. During that time wehad our second son, Mark Gregory, andadopted a third son, Paul Arthur. FromIowa, we moved to Kirkwood, Missouri(1969). Larry carried on a very creativeministry, taking youth on mission trips,musical production trips, and whateverhe could think of. In 1977, we moved

Let us hear from you! Send us a note toalumni@elmhurst.edu, or call us at (630) 617-3600.Better yet, stop by the Office of Alumni Relations on the first floor of Lehmann Hall.

to Colorado, where Larry became theassociate conference minister of theMountain Conference. In 1980, wereturned to our home town, Quincy,Illinois, where Larry became the associateadministrator and a few years later theadministrator of the Good SamaritanHome UCC. In 1989, Larry was diag-nosed with cancer, and he died in 1990.In 1982, I became director-teacher of apreschool. In 2000, I met Ralph Baxter,and we married in 2001. We still enjoyliving in a log home that Larry and mysons and friends built in 1980. I havefour grandchildren and three fine sons.Ralph has three children, seven grand-children, and six great grandchildren.Life is good!”

Ray Bode ’57 and his wife, PatriciaHolmes Schaaf ’59, of North FortMyers, Florida, write, “I have beendirecting plays for the past 10 years inthe retirement community in which Ilive. We do full-length plays from theprofessional licensing catalogues, withfull sets, lighting, sound, costumes,properties, etc. My casts consist ofnon-professional actors who are a mini-mum of 65 years old. Usually the castmembers are in their mid-’70s, andsome in their mid-’80s. Most have never set foot on stage until theyundertake this experience. We make no adjustments for the mental aspect of their participation; they commit alllines and blocking to memory. Theirparticipation is enjoyed with verve andélan; we have no research grant.”

1960sRon Koeppl ’61 a renowned local theatre director and retired Englishteacher, presented Beauty and the Beast atSt. Charles East High School (Illinois)in April. Ron taught English for 34years, starting at Schaumburg JuniorHigh, where he directed his first play.Though he retired from teaching in1994, Ron continues to shape the livesof young actors.

Eva (Augustin) Rumpf ’61 published a memoir, reclamation: Memories from a New Orleans Girlhood, available atwww.booklocker.com. The book, set inthe 1940s and ’50s, chronicles the joysand struggles of a lower-middle–classadolescence in the Big Easy.

Dorothy ‘Dot’ (Bratton) Busby ’62has spent 10 years with Regional

Hospice in Ashland, Wisconsin. Herhusband, Ken Busby ’66, recentlyreceived a 10-year award for his serviceas an EMT for Webb Lake/NorthMemorial Ambulance service nearMinneapolis, Minnesota.

Several members of the class of 1963celebrated 50 years of friendship inApril with a get-together in the FrenchQuarter of New Orleans. Carol(Hostettler) Creech ’63, Jane(Radspieler) Batte ’63, Ellen (Rasche)Pecoul ’63, and Joann (Schneider) Oh’63 met in South Hall during theirfreshman year at Elmhurst and havekept in touch ever since through letters,Christmas cards, email, and campusevents. Between them, they have eightchildren and five grandchildren, andthey love to share their memories ofcollege life and marriages to Elmhurstmen (William Batte ’63, John Pecoul’61 and Han Soo Oh ’62). Jane Battewrites, “We all are very thankful forour Elmhurst College experience!”

Ted Essebaggers ’63 writes, “My wifeand I, who have lived in Oslo, Norway,since 1970, were in New York recentlyand took in To Be or not to Be, which wasplaying off-Broadway with DavidRasche ’66 doing one of the lead parts.Really enjoyed it, and enjoyed meetinghim afterwards and reminiscing a bitabout Elmhurst.” Ted and his wife,Maja, were visiting Ted’s sisters, Mary(Essebaggers) Morris and Margaret(Essebaggers) Dopiak ’ 57, ’59.

William A. Nelson ’68, M.Div., Ph.D., received the prestigiousCOMISS Medal in recognition of his“outstanding contributions to the scholarship, teaching and advocacy forthe importance of health care ethics inthe Department of Veterans Affairs.”Dr. Nelson received the award at theCOMISS Network’s annual forum heldon January 4, 2009 in Alexandria,Virginia. The organization’s highesthonor, the comissMedal has only beenawarded five times since its inception in1988. Dr. Nelson is currently an associateprofessor of Community and FamilyMedicine and Psychiatry at DartmouthMedical School. He has dedicated hiscareer to developing organizationalethics programs that manage ethicalchallenges, subsequently enhancing thequality of health care.

ALUMNI NEWS 13

Jacques Paul Klein ’61Honored by Croatia

Ambassador Jacques Paul Klein,former Under-Secretary-Generalof the United Nations, was recentlypresented the Order of KingDitmar Zvonimir award byCroatian President Stejpan Mesic.The award, named after the 11th-century king of Croatia, ispresented to “Croats or foreignersin peace or in war for achievementsbenefiting the Croatian peopleand the Independent State ofCroatia.” President Mesic saidthat the award was presented “to a man whose name shall beinseparably linked with the periodwhen the Croatian state was established…and that you verymuch can take credit for the successof peaceful reintegration.”

1970sElizabeth “Betty” Pearson ’70 is a70-year Elmhurst resident who taughtboth second and third grade at Salt CreekSchool in Elmhurst before retiring. Bettyhas authored two books of Christianpoetry, Points to Ponder and Kids CanKnow, both of which are included in thecollections of the A.C. Buehler Libraryand the Elmhurst Library. Currently atwork on her third book, Betty writesfrequent “Letters to the Editor” in theDaily Herald and other local newspapers.

Joni Davenport ’72 retired three yearsago from the Chicago Public Schools,where she worked for 34 years as ateacher and a principal in 12 different elementary schools.

Ron Stuart ’73 is the author of A Parent’sWorst Nightmare—Rites of Passage: ATeacher’s Manual for Parents on TeachingTheir Children to Drive (PublishAmerica),a book that draws on his 30-plus years ofexperience as a driver’s education teacherat Hillcrest, Tinley Park, and Oak Foresthigh schools. Ron is currently a substitutehealth and driver’s education teacher atBremen High School in Midlothian,Illinois.

Rev. Bill Hoglund ’74writes that he andhis wife, Rev. Laura (Sova) Hoglund ’74,hosted a “little unofficial gathering of‘Met and Marrieds’ who [aside from theHoglunds] never made it to the Met &Married event last spring at Elmhurst.”The gathering was on April 26 at theHoglunds’ residence in Downers Groveand included Deb (Sodaro) Freerksen’74, Rev. Bob ’73 and Peggy (Laitas)Hatfield ’74, Stan ’74 and Verna(VanCamp) Sharas ’74, and Rev. John’73 and Cyndi (Cordes) Helt ’74.

Ryan Elliott ’75 is the author of a free e-book, The Secrets from Your SubconsciousMind. Ryan describes the book as “containing numerous case historieswhere clients regained their power andchanged their lives once the subconscious‘secret’ was revealed to them.”

Gordon Leeks ’75 recently passed theProject Management Professional exam.The PMP® credential recognizesdemonstrated knowledge and skill inleading and directing project teams andin delivering project results within theconstraints of schedule, budget, andresources. Gordon is a project manager at

Health and Human Services Commissionin the Austin, Texas, area.

Pete Stendel ’77, a freelance cameraman for NBC Sports, photographed thewinning touchdown catch by SantonioHolmes of the Pittsburgh Steelers inSuper Bowl XLIII. He lives in New Jerseywith his wife, Barbara, and their twochildren, Kai and Cody.

Kim (DeBruine) Tsuda ’79 wrote toFYI with news of an “EC girls reunion inKey West.” In addition to Kim, the groupincluded Annie (Christou) Cussick ’78,Mary (Konrad) Feller ’79, Paula(Sutton) Heaton ’79, Pat (Shoults)Polsley ’79, Bertha Shock ’79, Sue(Calcagno) Skora ’79, and RenataSpadafora ’79. The ladies will celebratetheir 30-year graduation anniversary thisyear and hope to reunite again inElmhurst. Kim continues, “We hadn’t allkept in very good contact, but Renatacalled Paula while on business in Texaslast year. They got together and talkedabout the old days. Then they decided we should all get together.”

1980sTerry Clarke ’80 teaches at York HighSchool in Elmhurst, where he has taughtand coached football and wrestling for 29years. Currently the chair of the school’sDepartment of Health, PhysicalEducation, and Driver’s Education, Terryhas also served as the head wrestlingcoach since 1990. He is married toJoanne (Ozello) Clarke ’82.

Robert Carter Olson ’83 was recentlyappointed presiding judge of PinalCounty, Arizona, by the Arizona SupremeCourt, making him the county’s chiefjudicial officer.

Donna Kanak ’84 credits ElmhurstCollege’s nursing program and the “truesense of community” she found here forher post-collegiate success. A clinical educator and quality management specialistat Adventist Hospital in Hinsdale,Illinois, Donna earned an MSN atNorthern Illinois University in 1991.Donna writes, “EC has an excellent nursingprogram. Also, I knew Elmhurst woulduse hospitals at which I might wish towork after graduation, and it was a greatway to preview them, as well as meet keypeople there.” Donna currently resides inWillowbrook, where she enjoys bicyclingand is active in community theatre.

Alumni CATCHING UP

14 ELMHURST COLLEGE

Don Smarto ’68 Wins Angel Award

In February 2009, author DonSmarto won the Excellence inMedia Award (Angel Award™) forhis book, Mended by God: The TonyPack Story. The book, Don’s ninth,is an inspirational account of anearly fatal car accident and onefamily’s courage and faith in theface of tragedy.

The Excellence in Media Award,established in 1980 by Mary Dorr,recognizes family values and qualityin motion pictures, television,radio, and print. Entries arereviewed by judges representingthe National Association ofBroadcasters, American Women inRadio & Television, The GreaterLos Angeles Press Club, and TheNational Association of Family &Community Education.

In presenting the award to Don,the judges cited the “… moral, ethical and social impact” of hisbook. Past Angel award winnersinclude Bill Cosby, George Burns,Tom Hanks, Roy Rogers, MichaelCaine, and Steve Martin.

Nancy Neil ’84 has served as the directorof the Chicagoland USBC Association(the governing body for bowling in theChicago area) since 2000. In October2007, Nancy was inducted into theChicagoland USBC Association Hall of Fame for meritorious service to theassociation and its bowlers. In September2008, Nancy was elected as the generalchairman of the Intersuburban GolfLeague, a 32-team ladies’ traveling leaguewith teams in Cook, DuPage, Kane,Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties in Illinois.

Jeffrey Hawkins ’85 serves as the executivedirector of the Christian SecurityNetwork, a national organization thatprovides security planning for Christianchurches, ministries, schools, and missionaries. A frequent speaker andmedia authority on the topic of security,Jeffrey was featured in a January 12, 2009,article on christiannewswire.com. He alsoauthored the book Introduction to Securityand Emergency Planning for Faith-basedOrganizations.

Guy Maniscalo ’87, the owner ofCARSTAR Elmhurst, a collision servicecenter, helped set a new Guinness WorldRecord for the world’s largest car wash.CARSTAR Elmhurst joined with morethan 150 other participating CARSTARstores to wash more than 4,000 cars during an eight-hour period on June 20.The event, dubbed Soaps It Up!, raisedfunds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation,the Make-a-Wish Foundation®, and theRay Graham Association.

Kathleen (Toole) Bruno ’88, RN,BSN, CMSRN, recently earned CertifiedMedical-Surgical Registered Nurse status, given by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. According to theMedical Surgical Nursing CertificationBoard, facilities that have certified nurseson staff have shown that quality of care isoptimized, meaning increased safety andimproved outcomes. Kathleen is theassistant manager of general surgery atCentral DuPage Hospital in Winfield,Illinois. She and her husband, Al, havethree children.

Mark Venard ’88 graduated from theUniversity of Illinois Executive MBAprogram in May 2008 and delivered thecommencement address to the combinedMBA classes at the College of Business.Mark remains involved with the MBA

program and currently serves on theUniversity’s Alumni steering committee.Mark works as the general manager ofoperations, Midwest and West Coast, forMaersk Logistics USA.

Rodney Stewart ’89 was promoted to director of operations in the psychia-try/ophthalmics division of Pfizer Inc.Formerly, Rodney worked for PrattPharmaceuticals in Oak Park, Illinois.

1990sLance Tawzer ’92 has worked as thecurator of exhibits at the ElmhurstHistorical Museum since October 2008.Lance has an extensive background inexhibition and design work; before joiningthe staff of the Elmhurst HistoricalMuseum, he worked on various high-endprojects for a number of national institutions, including Savannah Collegeof Art and Design, National Park Service,Field Museum, Fort Pitt Museum,Indiana Pacers Conseco Fieldhouse,Texas History Museum, and the ChicagoAcademy of Sciences. Lance currently hasseveral exhibits on display at the ElmhurstHistorical Museum, and his upcomingprojects include creating a family-orientedcomic book exhibit and developing anexhibit on local architecture.

Ethan Lauer ’93 works as an assistantparliamentarian in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives.

Laura (Duffy) Petrando ’93, RN, BSN, recently earned Certified PediatricOncology Nurse (CPON) standing fromthe Oncology Nursing CertificationCorporation. Laura works in the pediatricoutpatient center at Central DuPageHospital in Winfield, Illinois, where she also coordinates the family oncologysupport group, the TLC Camp, and thePediatric Oncology Christmas party.Laura is active in her church, theNorthern Illinois Food Bank, and herchildren’s school and sports teams. Lauraand her husband, Dan, have three sons.

Jazz songstress Typhanie MoniqueColler ’95 recently released a new CD,Yuletide Groove (Tyme Records). Inreviewing her latest album, ChicagoTribune music critic Howard Reichreferred to Typhanie as “one of the city’smost promising vocalists,” writing that“her instrument is a bit throatier, her scatsinging more polished, her ballad workmore simple and direct…” than on her

last album. In June, Typhanie marriedJosh Richter, who recorded, mixed, andco-produced Yuletide Groove.

Jessica A. Kies ’97 is community relationsmanager for the Chicago Bears. “Seeinghow professional athletes work with peoplein need and give back to the communityis the best part of my job,” she says. “Wefocus our efforts on education, healthcare,and youth football.”

ALUMNI NEWS 15

Pete DiCianni ’88Elected Mayor ofElmhurst

Longtime Elmhurst resident PeteDiCianni was elected mayor ofElmhurst in April 2009 after ahotly contested race. Prior to hiselection, Pete authored a state billto provide insurance coverage forchildren diagnosed with autismwho need therapy services. Thelandmark legislation was endorsedby the Chicago Sun-Times and profiled in the Chicago Tribuneand was passed into law last year.Fellow alumnus Guy Maniscalo ’87aided Pete with his lobbyingefforts in Springfield. Pete’sdaughter, Brianna, and Guy’s son,Gaetano, have been diagnosedwith autism.

Antonie (Tony) Harvey ’98 proposed toRabia Khan ’98 on New Year’s Day. Thecouple will be married later this year.Rabia is currently the assistant directorfor staff and programs in the Departmentof Residence Life at Loyola UniversityChicago.

Mike Pagliaro ’98 is the new head foot-ball coach at Wickenburg High School inWickenburg, Arizona. Before taking hiscurrent job, Mike spent several yearscoaching football in Chicago-area highschools, including a stint at his almamater, Ridgewood High School. InArizona, Mike will also be teachingEnglish.

Brian Newman ’98, ’07 was honored bythe Joliet region Chamber of Commerceand Industry as one of 13 Joliet-area“Great Teachers” at a banquet on March12. An English content specialist for seniorsat Joliet West High School, Brian hasworked for the district for nine years. He and his wife, Barbara, have one son.

2000sNoah Cannon ’00 was featured in theChicago Tribune in February as part of aseries of profiles of African Americanswho are shaping Chicago. A historyteacher and head boys’ basketball coachat Leo High School in Chicago, Noah ledhis team to the Class A state title in2003-04. He takes a “team-first”approach to coaching, demanding thathis students, who hail from some of theSouth Side’s toughest neighborhoods,demonstrate responsibility toward thegame and toward their schoolwork. Histeam is poised to make a run at the 3Astate title this season, as well as theCatholic League North title.

Vince Rociola ’00was named the WGNTeacher and Coach of the Month forFebruary 2009. Vince is currently thehead football and track coach at ProsserHigh School in Chicago.

Natalie Cooper ’01 writes that she iscurrently working as a senior print andtextile designer for Gap Design Studio in New York City, specializing in theGapBody division.

Michael Giannetti ’02 was recentlynamed associate vice president of humancapital management at the TriZettoGroup, a healthcare technology company.

Pete Fominaya ’04 was recently hired tocoach football at Lehigh Senior HighSchool in Lehigh Acres, Florida. A Floridanative, Pete was the defensive line coachand college recruiting coordinator atNaples High from 2005 to 2008. Theformer Elmhurst defensive lineman was aguest lecturer at the Nike Coach of theYear clinic, and his team competed forthe Florida state football title in 2008.

James Kryshak ’06 is on the fast trackto stardom after a recent audition at theNew York Metropolitan Opera. InJanuary, James was selected as one of twosingers from the Upper Midwest to moveon to the semifinals of the Met’s NationalCouncil auditions. A high-lyric tenor,James earned a master of music degree inopera performance at the University ofWisconsin–Madison in the spring of 2009.

David Silva ’07 has been voted into theDundee-Crown High School AthleticHall of Fame and will be honored duringthe school’s Hall of Fame weekend inSeptember. A 2002 Dundee-Crown graduate, David still holds the wrestlingprogram’s career record for wins. He wonfour straight conference titles and was athree-time regional champion and statequalifier. David placed sixth at State in2002 and went on to become a DivisionIII All- American at Elmhurst.

Melissa Gosche ’08 was honored byIllinois Computing Educators as its 2009Educator of the Year. A third-gradeteacher at Kennedy Elementary School inSchiller Park, Illinois, Melissa createslearning projects that connect curriculumand technology. Her teaching arsenalincludes animations that illustrate thedigestion of food, podcasts that explainweekly classroom happenings, and digitalstories for personal narratives.

Alumni CATCHING UP

Nicole Lapwing ’07Earns Teaching Honor

Nicole Lapwing, music director atQueen of Peace High School inChicago, earned the Archdioceseof Chicago’s 2009 Heart of theSchool award after just one yearon the job.

Since joining the Catholic girls’school in the fall of 2008, Nicolehas planned a spring break trip toNew York City and re-introduceda music honor society to theschool. “Peace offers girls a strongeducation of the Catholic faith,peace, justice, truth, compassionand service,” said Nicole. “I thinkit’s great that girls can expressthemselves and I can expressmyself, too.”

In addition to teaching full time,Nicole is working toward a master’s degree in vocal musiceducation with a concentration in ethnomusicology at VanderCook College of Music.

Nicole Lapwing ’07 (second from left) congratulates fellow award winners NancyHalbauer, Linda Baltikas, and Joyce Cruse.

16 ELMHURST COLLEGE

Get Your Gear!Winter’s coming—are youready? Stay warm in the Bluejayspirit with Elmhurst Collegescarves, sweatshirts, hats, mugs,and more! For informationabout ordering the items shownhere plus many more, visitwww.elmhurst.edu/alumni andclick on the EC Gear link.

ALUMNI MAGAZINE 17

Marriages1990sJoe Malatia ’92 wed Kara Hanson onSeptember 20, 2008, at St. TimothyLutheran Church in Lombard, Illinois.

Dr. Stephen Michael Rudawski ’99married Rachel Lynn Rademacher onSept. 27, 2008, at Immanuel LutheranChurch in Flatville, Illinois.

2000sCathy Eck ’01married Tim Dykes inHammerschmidt Chapel in August of2008.

Alan Wojtowicz ’02married MelisaPratt ’02 on July 6, 2007, atHammerschmidt Memorial Chapel.

Mariane Lund-Mac Kinnon ’03 joinedDaniel Thomas Mac Kinnon in marriageon November 28, 2008, in Des Plaines,Illinois.

Annie Matich ’07 and Dave Horn ’07were married on August 9, 2008, atMeadows Baptist Church in RollingMeadows, Illinois.

Births1990sGina (Fredericks-Wright) Swintek ’91gave birth to twin boys, Michael Anthonyand Matthew Cole, on October 6, 2008.

Elizabeth (Paldauf) Albandia ’95 andher husband, Mike, became the parentsof a son, Adrian James, on December 3,2007.

Sandy (Escarpita) Romo ’96 and herhusband, Dr. Genaro Romo, welcomedtheir third child, Evan, on October 25,2008.

Kevin ’97 and Jennifer (Hoban)Johnson ’98 welcomed their first child,Jacob Jett Johnson, in November 2008.

John Ruby ’98 and his wife Amy(Wendt) Ruby ’00 welcomed a girl,Finley Katherine Bernice Ruby, on July30, 2008.

2000sVincent Rociola ’00 welcomed his firstchild, Stella, on December 1, 2008, withhis fiancée, Nancy Bongiorno.

Tracy (Reed) Jeffrey ’01 and her husbandMatt became the proud parents of a son,Joshua Matthew, on November 8, 2008.

Joseph Pontrelli ’04 and Jenelle(Schoenherr) Pontrelli ’03 welcomedtheir first child, a daughter, AntonellaRenee, on January 19, 2009.

Kay (Boston) Knutson ’04was marriedin 2007 and was due to deliver a baby inApril 2009.

Susan (Neuhauser) Locke ’05welcomeda son, Elliott Charles Locke.

Judi Van Erden ’05 and her husband,Mike McFaul, welcomed Phoebe Roseinto their family on February 20, 2008.

Deaths1920sRudolf Hallmann ’20, of Stafford,Kansas, on April 1, 1974.

1930sLuella S. Rasche ’35, of Manassas,Virginia, on October 17, 2007.

Constance “Connie” M. (Trev)Lambarth ’37, of Aiken, South Carolina, on April 5, 2007.

Ruth M. (Schmidt) Hose ’38, ofIndianapolis, Indiana, formerly ofJacksonville, Florida, on May 4, 2009.

Frances (La Vilge) DeLaittre ’39, ofHamilton, Ohio, on December 14, 1996.

Lora M. (Puscheck) Klemm ’39, ofLombard, Illinois, formally of Hillside, in November 2008.

Helen M. (Vensel) Koeppel ’39, of Villa Park, Illinois, on March 10, 2009.

Dorothy (Kross) Plassman ’39, onFebruary 13, 2009.

1940sDaniel Mabee ’40, of Hot SpringsVillage, Arkansas, on December 2, 2008.

Harvey Smith ’40, of Boyd, Texas, onNovember 4, 2008.

Dorothy M. (Hayes) Koch ’42, ofAurora, Illinois, on January 6, 2009.

Mildred Elizabeth Tonning ’42, ofSavannah, Georgia, on February 21, 2009.

Louis Sines ’43, of Clyde, Texas, onDecember 8, 2007.

Janet (Glidden) Wernecke ’44, of CedarRapids, Iowa, on October 19, 2008.

Catherine (Martin) Villwock ’45, ofSouth Bend, Indiana on May 13, 2009.

Virginia (Rodgers) McClimans ’46, ofWalnut Creek, Virginia, on November 25,2008.

Alumni PASSAGES

18 ELMHURST COLLEGE

William H. Jahnke Sr. ’48, of Cuba,New York, on February 25, 2006, after a long illness.

Ida L. Orosz ’48, of Kalamazoo,Michigan, on May 7, 2005.

Paul H. Dunteman Sr. ’49, of Phoenix,Arizona, on January 12, 2009.

Norman A. Frega ’49, of Marengo,Illinois, on March 12, 2009.

Clinton S. Hagemann ’49, on Febuary 6,1998.

1950sEdmund Wesolowski ’51, ofRockingham, New Hampshire, on January 18, 2001.

William Cotsakis ’52, of Palatine,Illinois, on April 10, 2008.

Diana Joan “Phillips” Firchau ’54, ofGlen Ellyn, Illinois, on April 10, 2009.

Alan S. McComb ’54, of Plainfield,Illinois, previously of Villa Park, on June 10, 2008.

Rev. Dr. Edward W. Bergstraesser ’56,of Oak Park, Illinois, on February 25,2009.

Ruth E. (Kolmer) Krueger ’56, ofElmhurst, Illinois, on July 31, 2002.

Arthur Block ’57, of Las Cruces, NewMexico, on January 16, 2007.

Mary L. (Irmis) Smith ’57, of Earlville,Illinois, on December 23, 2008.

Carole J. (Fetz) Stevens ’57, ofChesterfield, Missouri, on April 27, 2009.

Thomas S. Ferry Sr. ’58, of Long Beach,Indiana, on December 22, 2008.

Kathryn “Kay” M. Kacena ’58, ofSavannah, Georgia, on February 22, 2006.

1960sJudith L. MacLeod Toigo Bernard ’60,of St. Charles, Illinois, on January 19,2009.

Dr. John Frederic Oswalt ’60, of BattleCreek, Michigan, on March 26, 2006.

Rev. Richard W. Sather ’60, of Waverly,Ohio, on January 30, 2009.

Rev. Vencil L. Shively ’60, of Eckley,Colorado, on March 30, 2008.

John W. Zapfel ’60, of HaciendaHeights, California, on August 4, 2008.

Robert L. Livesey ’61, of Spring Valley,Illinois, formerly of Chicago, on January28, 2009.

Glen Pomrehn ’64, of Cypress,California, on February 27, 2009.

Arthur C. Rock Jr. ’65, of Newhall,California, on April 24, 2006.

John M. Brennan ’69, of Burlington,Wisconsin, on March 21, 2009.

Gertrude Fetcher ’69, of SteamboatSprings, Colorado, on September 3, 2008.

Richard W. Stranberg ’69, of Denver,Colorado, on March 12, 2007.

1970sDr. William P. Smotherman ’70, ofWestborough, Massachusetts, onDecember 10, 2008.

Susan (Fonda) Farrell ’72, of LakeZurich, Illinois, on October 12, 2007.

Richard E. Thompson ’72, of DesPlaines, Illinois, on March 10, 2009.

Harry E. Fassl ’ 74, of Oak Park, Illinois,on October 12, 2008. James R. Machnicki ’74, of Scottsdale,Arizona, on July 23, 2006.

Robert “Sobie” Sobczewski ’75, of FoxRiver Grove, Illinois, on April 22, 2009.

William Farley ’76, on February 26,2006.

Anthony “Tony” Roy Montegna ’76, ofSan Diego, California, on March 31, 2009.

Norine R. (Rosanova) Young ’76, ofLombard, Illinois, on December 13, 2008.

1980sRebecca “Becky” Wrede-Shook ’80, ofHinsdale, Illinois, formally of Monticello,on April 7, 2009.

Rev. Brian C. Franklin Blackston ’83,of Savannah, Georgia, on February 14,2001.

Elaine L. O’Reilly ’86, of Elmhurst,Illinois, on May 13, 2008.

Kelly S. McHugh ’89, of Bartlett,Illinois, on June 11, 2008.

1990sRobert P. Hatch ’90, on July 12, 2007.

Carla J. (Nunez) Bruno ’91, of Antioch,Illinois, formerly of Franklin Park, onDecember 10, 2007.

Joseph Borysek ’92, of Westchester,Illinois, on January 14, 2008.

Eileen Carol (Czajka) Monserrate ’92,of Charleston, South Carolina, onOctober 30, 2008.

Faculty & StaffAlvin Hanke, retired wrestling coach, of Gurnee, Illinois, on January 29, 2009.

Dr. Andrew “Andy” Karl Prinz, emeritus director of urban studies, ofOak Park, Illinois, on March 26, 2009.

ALUMNI NEWS 19

20 ELMHURST COLLEGE

Time to FlyCatching up with Susan Moninger

Susan Moninger is the director of Elmhurst’sacclaimed choral groups and its vocal jazzensemble, Late Night Blues. Here, she tellsFYI how she encourages her students to takeon big challenges and how, after 20 years atElmhurst, she still aims to keep growing andlearning right along with them.

Your choirs have toured across the United States and Europe.What do your students take away from these experiences?Some of the students we tour with have never been outside of Illinois. So it’s a big deal for them to go to Prague and singwith the Czech National Symphony. They learn about differentcultures, different languages, and start to see a bigger picture.I always tell them to think big and not to limit themselves.One of the things I love about Elmhurst is the way we encourageinternational opportunities.

Is it a challenge for you and your students to work in bothclassical and jazz forms?It’s very challenging to cross over, but I absolutely encourageit. Every member of our vocal jazz ensemble, Late Night Blues,was also in concert choir last year. I love that they’re doing avariety of things, because singers have to be well rounded.

What are the differences between classical singing and jazz?One of the big differences is improvisation. In vocal jazz we givestudents 12 or 24 bars to improvise over a chord progression.It’s going to be different every time because they’re inventing amelody that works with the chord structure underneath. Theyhave opportunities to take liberties with the music in waysthat they don’t with classical music. But it also means taking arisk; improvising can be very intimidating. We let the singersknow that it’s okay to fly, but don’t fly without a net—knowwhere those chord changes are.

What’s the value of singing in a choir for students whoaren’t interested in music as a career?We have students from a variety of majors—not only music,but also business, education, and nursing, among others. Theylove to perform and they have beautiful voices, and this givesthem the opportunity to travel and make friends. It also addsdimension and depth to their education.

Where do you find talented singers?I’m big on recruiting. We stuff every mailbox at the Collegewith information about auditions. I also get the chance to seesome of the most talented singers in the country at my summermusic camps, Showchoir Camps of America. I love to tellsingers about Elmhurst and invite them to visit our campus.Our own choral tours are another great recruiting tool. Whenhigh school singers hear these groups perform—and when they see that we travel to New York and Los Angeles and internationally—they want to be a part of it. I’m very proud ofour school and our music program. I know it’s the right placefor a lot of students—a place where they’ll be in a nurturingenvironment, but also pushed to accept challenges.

You’ve been teaching at Elmhurst for 20 years. What haskept you engaged here?I fell in love with teaching when I came here. I knew I didn’twant to just sing professionally, because that can be just, “Me,me, me.” Teaching, in contrast, is, “You, you, you.” So I askedmyself what kind of legacy I wanted to leave. College studentsmake me feel so young that I feel like I still have a lot of grow-ing left in me. I try to keep learning and traveling. And then Ibring those lessons back to the classroom with me.

Faculty OFFICE HOURS

Learn more!Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at

(630) 617-3600 or email alumni@elmhurst.edu

Elmhurst Is Going to Greece!From Athens to Mykonos to Delphi, Greece and its magical islands offer a breathtaking journeyinto ancient history and timeless beauty. It’s a place to explore the mystical beginnings ofcivilization—and to soak up some Mediterranean sun. In April 2010, join the ElmhurstCollege Alumni Association for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to these magical lands. The two-weektour begins on April 18 in the historic city of Athens, and also encompasses Thermopylae,Mykonos, Santorini, Kalambaka, Delphi, and a lot more.

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190 Prospect AvenueElmhurst, Illinois 60126-3296

Events COMING SOONSpecial Event DON’T MISS IT!

Homecoming 2009October 9-11, 2009

Plan your weekend online today! Go to www.elmhurst.edu/homecoming

You can:• View the full list of 2009 activities• Register for events• Purchase tickets for special programs• Locate recommended hotel accommodations• View video and photos of last year’s festivities

Questions? Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (630) 617-3600 or alumni@elmhurst.edu