Sept|Oct 2014
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Dr. Sidney Axinn C’47 Gr’55 writes, “My grandson Dr. Aaron M. Johnson Gr’14 is a third-generation Penn PhD. Two grandparents, Dr. June Axinn Gr’64 and [myself], and his father, Dr. Peter Johnson Gr’78, preceded him. He received his this spring from the School of Engineering. [He] and I have published two professional articles recently; one was “The Morality of Automatic Robots” and appeared in the Journal of Military Ethics (Aug. 2013). (Grandfathers and grandsons are known to go to baseball games and to go fishing, but our activity is rather unusual, I think.) Perhaps I should add that [he] is a post-doc at the Penn School of Engineering for this year, 2014-15. I will be in Haverford, Pa., until October, and then go to Florida to teach at the University of South Florida.”
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Joyce Sloan Anderson Ed’51 GEd’52 writes, “My latest book, The Critical Eye (Xlibris), is a sampling of my op-eds and articles that have appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and other national and regional newspapers and magazines. This past June, I ventured into cyberspace, writing a weekly blog, Dimensions 2, that can be found on my website www.jsawrite.com. The blogs are timely observations on American society, politics, culture, and the arts.”
Bill Steltzer C’51 GEd’57 writes, “I sometimes think of the thousands of us who [have] led pretty ordinary lives. Myself: biology teacher, school principal, three children, six grandchildren—not very much to write about. But, in 1951 when I stepped from my US Navy ship onto Portuguese soil, my love for travel to Europe started. I’ve kept it up. My wife and I traveled there many, many times. After she died I’ve kept it up. No tours, always independent travel, continuing at age 84. I’ve managed to visit every country in Europe, and in May of this year I completed my 40th trip across the Atlantic. Not bad for someone that had a public-school job. I’ll aim for 50 although time is running out. Still, I’ll try: my 41st is set for September.”
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Winifred Harbert Keane FA’52 writes, “My newly launched website is www.winifredkeanecomposer.com. It shows the scope of more than 60 years of creativity, which my composition teacher, Dr. Constant Vauclain W’30 Gr’47, helped to launch. My son, Brian Keane, is also a prolific composer with a dozen Emmys (www.briankeanemusic.com). After 50 years in Westport, Conn., I am now living in Wallingford, and continue to compose both music and poetry.”
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Dr. John Carson M’54, La Jolla, Calif., a cardiologist and clinical professor emeritus of medicine at the University of California, San Diego, retired last December after 53 years of practicing medicine.
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Dr. Robert B. Daroff C’57 M’61, professor and chair emeritus of neurology at Case Western Reserve University and past president of both the American Neurological Association and the American Headache Society, recently received the lifetime-achievement award of the National Headache Foundation.
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Shulamit Sofia CW’59, www.soulstrengthseminars.com , writes that she “has published a psycho-spiritual self-help book, Climbing the Sacred Ladder: Your Path to Love, Joy, Peace, and Prosperity, that has been called ‘a GPS for the soul.’”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Dr. Walter M. Woolf V’60, Tampa, Fla., is the founding veterinarian and current president of Air Animal Pet Movers, a “provider of pet-moving solutions to relocating corporate transferees, both nationwide & worldwide.” He notes, “I have been appointed as one of eleven panelists on the National Academy of Science Transportation Review Board [dealing with] ‘Issues Related to Accommodating Animals Passing through Airports.’”
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Selma R. Davis CW’61 G’62 writes, “I sold my cello the other day. It had been my trusted companion since 1956. I never named it. I thought that it was silly to name an inanimate object, and I still do. My cello took me to many musical show productions from Bala Cynwyd Junior High School through Lower Merion Senior High School, through the University of Pennsylvania Penn Players and the Mask and Wig (all male except me) orchestra. Apparently, I was an accomplished cellist and musician (I also played the flute, the piano, and the cymbals). One of my teachers, the Tchaikovsky prize-winning Hirofumi Kanno, asked me if it would be okay with me if he used my fingering in one of the cello repertoire pieces; I told him of course. The University of Miami offered me the equivalent of a football scholarship on the cello. My father had a fit and I went to the University of Pennsylvania. That was not a hardship. I played in the orchestra with the great Jimmy DePreist [W’58 ASC’61 Hon’76]. When my children played in the Penn orchestra, they arranged for me to sit in once or twice. I played in the local community orchestras until that became more of a chore than a delight. And I played in the Narberth Community Theater orchestra every time Dr. Herman Giersch asked me. But, infirmities of aging set in and tendonitis in my shoulders, arthritis in my fingers, and a broken wrist stopped me. I thought I would feel sadness and a loss. But I don’t. Quite the contrary. I felt sad every time I saw my cello case, holding my cello and bow, and knew I could no longer play it. Now, I’m hoping it goes to a good home and will be able to burst into beautiful music when played by someone else who would love it.”
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Barrett Freedlander C’62 see Laura Freedlander C’08.
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David B. Zwirn C’64 L’67 writes that he enjoyed his “50th Reunion with the great Class of 1964.” For several months, he thought he would be unable to attend because of a back problem, but expert treatment from Dr. Gordon Freedman solved the problem. Dave was delighted to learn that Dr. Freedman is C’81!”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Iris Birnbaum Burkat CW’65 and her husband, Howard Burkat ASC’65, have “co-founded a travel company, Burkat Global, [which has] developed a unique 14-day luxury tour to Mumbai and Kerala that explores 3000 years of Jewish India. There are also extensions to the Taj and additional sites in the north as options. Details at www.burkatglobal.com/journeys or call [me] at (914) 231-9023.”
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Dr. Virginia Anding La Charité Gr’66, www.GiniAnding.com , is professor emerita of French studies at the University of Kentucky; she retired in 2000 after teaching there for 30 years. “In 1976, my husband, Dr. Raymond C. La Charité G’65 Gr’66, and I founded French Forum, a journal dedicated to the publication of the most outstanding scholarship on all periods and genres of French and francophone literary production; [it] is now published by the Department of Romance Languages at Penn. In retirement, [we] divide our time between St. Augustine, Fla., and Atlanta. When not traveling, I am busy writing fiction: mysteries and spy novels under my maiden name; my latest novel is A Case for Old Spies.” Gini notes that she has also written two cookbooks.
Dr. David E. White ChE’66 GCh’68 Gr’72 is director of research, development, and deployment at the Herty Advanced Materials Development Center at the Georgia Southern University in Savannah. Earlier this year, he was named a fellow for 2014 by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry for his “extraordinary technical or service contributions to the industry or the association.”
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Patricia Averill G’67 Gr’75, Campsongs@cybermesa.com wrote Camp Songs, Folk Songs, which was published in June and is available from Amazon. She “describes singing traditions in Midwestern girls’ camps, and compares them with traditions in church camps, Boy Scout camps, and Eastern Progressive Jewish camps.”
Ed Lane W’67 writes, “I’d like to report that following a career of over 35 years as a consulting actuary (the first such class out of Wharton) and 10 years (and counting) as a financial adviser (www.LaneFinancialManagement.com), I am now embarking on career #3 as an adjunct instructor at the School of Business at SUNY New Paltz. I am also enjoying my nearly 12-year-old granddaughter and especially Barbara, my wife of over 46 years. It seems only yesterday I was buying grapefruit in the Italian Market for 5 cents, having a beer at Smokey Joe’s, and enjoying a bucket of steamers at Snockey’s.”
Dr. Stephen Permut C’67 was recently elected to a second term on the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association; he was also elected chair-elect and will serve as chair from June 2015 to June 2016. He continues to serve as chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine and senior associate dean of academic affiliations at Temple University. He also serves on the boards of the Joint Commission, the Philadelphia County Medical Society, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Alan Jacobs W’70 and Iris Jacobs are proud new grandparents of Jake Ryan Levitan (hopefully W’2036), the new baby son of Alison Jacobs Levitan W’01 and Brian Levitan. Proud aunt and uncle are Courtney Jacobs Engel C’05 and Phil Engel C’05.
Dr. Frederick J. Zorn GrEd’70 writes, “Since my retirement as a teacher and principal in Philadelphia and an adjunct professor, I’ve volunteer-tutored adults for 10 years. I created materials that successfully moved many adult learners to functional-reading levels. I put them in book form, ABR: You Can Read! A Basic Essentials English Literacy Program for Adult Beginning Readers.”
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John Charnay C’71 writes that he is “now a film financier and film producer, as well as CEO of a thriving consulting practice in greater Los Angeles advising non-profits and for-profits on strategic fundraising, marketing, public relations, social media, and business development.” He is also writing an inspirational book.
Tom Gallen GEE’71 writes, “After working 39 years in the power industry, I retired in 1997 and then devoted a few years to studying my family’s Irish roots. While doing so, I thought that I could use my research to produce an interesting historical novel loosely based on my family who emigrated to Philadelphia in the 1850s (after the Great Famine). I finished writing my novel, Donegal Generations, last year, and it is now available on Amazon.”
Dr. David Siscovick C’71, emeritus professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Washington in Seattle, has been appointed senior vice president for research for the New York Academy of Medicine.
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Dr. Steven J. Barrer C’72 GM’82, sjbarrer@gmail.com , is the medical director of the Neurosciences Institute of Abington Memorial Hospital in Abington, Pa., and former chief of the Division of Neurosurgery there. He lives in Huntingdon Valley with Pam, his wife of 35 years. His first book, Exercise Will Hurt You, will be published later this month by Seven Stories Press, N.Y.
Jane Tanaskovic Brady CW’72 in July was elected acting president of US Friends of Gladstone’s Library, Inc. She notes, “This is a support group for Britain’s finest residential library and its only prime-ministerial library. This institution in North Wales is dedicated to dialogue, debate, and learning. It was founded by the great Victorian statesman William Gladstone, who was eager to make his personal library of 32,000 volumes, which forms the basis of this now 250,000-volume library, accessible to others. It has become the national memorial to his life and work ( www.gladstoneslibrary.org).”
Nancy Plain Goldfeder CW’72, www.nancyplain.com , writes, “I’ve just finished a biography of John James Audubon, due out from the [University of Nebraska Press] in 2015.”
Robert Litan W’72 reports that he has returned to the Brookings Institution as a non-resident senior fellow and has joined Korein Tillery as counsel. His new book, The Trillion Dollar Economists, will be published by Wiley Press this month.
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Seth Bergmann GEE’73 writes that he “ran the Mid-Atlantic 8K championship race in Moorestown, N.J., on June 7, finishing in 34:39, good for second place among men 60 and over.”
Robert L. Nefsky C’73 is a partner in the law firm of Rembolt Ludtke LLP in Lincoln, Neb., who specializes in corporate law. This month he will receive the 2014 Sower Award from Humanities Nebraska. A founding director the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, a private non-profit that partners with the state, he currently chairs the Nebraska Arts Council.
Robert M. Steeg C’73 ASC’75, New Orleans, managing partner at the Steeg Law Firm, LLC, has received the Chambers USA Band 1 ranking under Top Real Estate Lawyers in Louisiana; he has received this ranking every year since 2008.
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Harve D. Hnatiuk EE’74 in July was installed as president of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He is vice president of Maida Engineering, Inc., a Philadelphia consulting-engineering firm.
Susanna E. Lachs CW’74 ASC’76 has been appointed to the board of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. A commercial litigator for 22 years, she is currently a Trustee of the University of Pennsylvania, serves on the overseer boards of the Penn Libraries and the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, and is a former board chair of the Trustees’ Council of Penn Women. She also serves on the board of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program. Her husband, Dean Stewart Adler W’79 L’83, a principal and co-founder of Lubert-Adler Partners, also served on the museum’s board, 2001-10.
Michael Mitrano C’74 writes that his and his wife, Sue’s, second child, Peter, will be heading to Worcester (Mass.) Polytech to study computer science and robotics. Their oldest, Sarah, will be a sophomore studying communication design at Washington University in St. Louis. Michael has passed the 15-year mark at Transition Strategies Corp., where he advises market-research companies on mergers & acquisitions, and is now its sole shareholder as “his partner Steve Sherrill W’71 transitions into an enjoyable retirement.”
Lennox E. Montrose W’74 is a recipient of the 2014 Five Star Wealth Manager Award, which is “presented to an investment adviser representative … adjudged to have delivered outstanding client services.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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David L. Hyman C’75 GEd’76 is a managing partner and the practice leader of the government-relations group of the Philadelphia law firm of Kleinbard Bell & Brecker LLP. In October, he will take part in a “Learning Visit to Boston” for the 2014 Greater Philadelphia Leadership Exchange. He currently serves on the board of the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development.
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Jack Kanarek GCE’76 has joined Dewberry, a privately held professional-services firm, as a senior project manager in its Bloomfield, N.J., office, where he is responsible for enhancing the firm’s rail transit capabilities in the Northeast. Previously, he was senior director of project development for New Jersey Transit.
Glen S. LeRoy GAr’76 GCP’76 GFA’76 is dean of the College of Architecture and Design at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich. Earlier this year he received the 2014 American Institute of Architects Michigan Gold Medal, “ in recognition of notable contributions to AIA Michigan and for outstanding achievements in the architectural profession.”
Gary Mendell C’76 is president of Meridian Finance Group; based in Santa Monica, Calif., it provides trade finance tools for exporters. In May, he received the President’s “E” Award for “making significant contributions to US exports and international trade.”
Steve Stecklow C’76 is a London-based investigative reporter for Reuters. A three-part series he “conceived and oversaw on Iran’s Supreme Leader, ‘Assets of the Ayatollah,’ recently won six journalism prizes, including the Gerald R. Loeb Award for explanatory reporting, the Overseas Press Club Award for best business reporting from abroad, and the European Press Prize and the Daniel Pearl Award for investigative reporting. The series documented how Iran’s top religious cleric controlled a multibillion-dollar business empire that was built on the seizure of properties belonging to ordinary Iranians.”
Dr. Joyce White G’76 Gr’86 has been named executive director of the Institute for Southeast Asian Archaeology; previously, she was associate curator for Asia at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. In her new position, she will promote the archaeological investigation of Laos and Thailand, both fieldwork and publication. In March, she gave a keynote address, “Hot Pots, Museum Raids, and the Race to Uncover Asia’s Archaeological Past,” at the annual meeting for the Association for Asian Studies.
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David Chanko W’77 recently joined Foothills Academy College Preparatory in Scottsdale, Ariz., as a mathematics and science teacher. He has taught at Basis Flagstaff and Seligman High School in northern Arizona and Jess Schwartz College Prep in Scottsdale since 2004.
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Dr. Pamela A. Duffy PT’78, an assistant professor of public health at Des Moines University, in June received the Catherine Worthingham Fellow Award from the American Physical Therapy Association for her “frequent and sustained efforts to advance the physical-therapy profession.”
Dr. Peter Johnson Gr’78 see Dr. Sidney Axinn C’47 Gr’55.
Thomas J. Normile CE’78, a principal in the Philadelphia-based structural-engineering firm Keast & Hood Co., co-wrote “Designing Life-Safety Renovations for the Statue of Liberty” in the June issue of Structure magazine.
Marcella Mitchell Peyre-Ferry C’78 recently published her first book, Getting Past the Guilt, When a Loved One has Alzheimer’s Dementia, an account of dealing with the effects of dementia on her father, her aunt, and her mother; it is currently in paperback and e-book versions at Amazon.
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Fran H. Fleisch W’79 recently retired as acting deputy director of the NSA; in this capacity, she was the agency’s chief operating officer. She had previously served as its executive director since 2010.
Mark Oster W’79 is the national managing partner of the not-for-profit and higher-education practices of Grant Thornton LLP. In June, he was appointed to the board of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, where he is chair of the audit committee. He has served on the board of Larchmont Temple (near New York) for 18 years.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Ronnie L. Bloom C’80 L’85 has been appointed executive director of the Stoneleigh Foundation, a Philadelphia non-profit to “improve the life outcomes of vulnerable and underserved youth.” Most recently, she was a partner with Opportunities Exchange, a “strategic-consulting firm that specializes in early education, child-care policy, and systems change,” after having served as a program director at the William Penn Foundation for 13 years.
Jeanne Eschbach C’80, Elmira, N.Y., has been appointed dean of continuing education at Elmira College. Previously, she was director of continuing education at Corning Community College (where she worked for 22 years) and, most recently, assistant dean for the School of Global and Professional Programs at Marist College in Poughkeepsie. She and her husband, Scott, have two adult children, Daniel and Laurel.
Dr. Philip J. Kellman Gr’80 is professor and chair of the cognitive area in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He writes that he has been “elected a 2014 Fellow of the Society of Experimental Psychologists, the oldest and most prestigious honorary society in psychology ( www.sepsych.org). The society elects only a handful of new fellows each year, and fellows are elected for life.”
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Barbara Bellissimo W’82 and Mike Bellissimo C’81 are proud to announce that their daughter Elisabeth Ritter Bellissimo this year completed her undergraduate studies in health sciences at Boston University. They are even prouder to announce that she has now joined Penn as a member of the Class of 2017, pursuing her joint BSN/MSN degrees in the School of Nursing.
Glenn Blumenfeld W’82 L’85, managing partner of Tactix Real Estate Advisors, was named the region’s “Broker of the Year” for 2013 by the Philadelphia Business Journal in their first annual “Heavy Hitters of Real Estate Awards.” This year, he “was elected as the initial CEO of Exis, one of the world’s largest tenant-only commercial-real-estate brokerage firms with offices in 13 countries and five continents. Before forming Tactix in 2003, he was a partner and chair of the real-estate equity practice at Dechert, LLP.
James R. Kane C’82 has been elected chair and CEO of Pittsburgh Corning Corp., manufacturer of specialized insulation and glass-block products, and Pittsburgh Corning Europe (based in Belgium); he had been COO of both companies.
Laurie Magid W’82 writes that she is still working at the US Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia, but is spending more time in New York as the newly elected president of the Columbia Law School Association.
Zenos Frudakis FA’82 GFA’83, www.zenosfrudakis.com , a sculptor, is featured in The Huffington Post’s “50Arts” in June. His sculpture “Knowledge is Power,” which is to be installed at Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., this autumn, was covered in the July-August issue of The Humanist magazine. Zenos notes he has been commissioned for a sculpture of Frederick Law Olmsted for the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, N.C., and a sculpture for University of Texas Southwestern.
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Kevin Reinis ME’83 GME’84 writes, “My son David is going to Penn! He has joined the Class of 2018 and was admitted via early decision. We are very proud of him. STHL v2.0!”
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Jane Gleason C’84, Johnstown, Pa., returned to her hometown in 2005 to become COO of her family’s business, the Gleason Agency; it was sold in 2011 to Arthur J. Gallagher, the insurance broker. She is currently branch process manager for the Northeast region where she does operational integration of new acquisitions. A member of the board of the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, she was recently appointed to the board of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Philip Graus GAr’85, a director in the Sydney office of Cox Architecture, has been appointed as the inaugural Conjoint Professor in the Built Environment department at the University of New South Wales.
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Dr. Anthony Bram C’86 wrote Psychological Testing That Matters: Creating a Road Map for Effective Treatment, which was published recently by the American Psychological Association. He is in private practice in Lexington, Mass., and is on the faculty at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School.
Margaret Cronan C’86 has joined the Philadelphia law firm of Dilworth Paxson LLP as its new chief business development and marketing officer. Previously, she was chief communications officer for the National Constitution Center. She serves on the board of the Marian Anderson Award.
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Ashley Dobbs C’87 is an attorney who specializes in intellectual-property law with the law firm of Bean Kinney & Korman, P.C., in Arlington, Va. In June, she was included in the “Rising Stars” list of Super Lawyers magazine.
Keith Gottfried W’87 has joined the law firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP as a partner in its Washington office, where he specializes in “defending public companies against proxy contests, activist shareholder campaigns, and other contests for corporate control.” He currently lives in Rockville, Md., with his wife, Cindy, and their two children, Sophie and Benjamin.
Christopher Smith C’87 L’92 is a partner and head of the business-litigation group of the law firm of Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., in Raleigh, N.C. He was recently recognized by Chambers USA as one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” in North Carolina for litigation, general commercial.
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Br. Robert Schieler GrEd’88 was elected superior-general of the De La Salle Christian Brothers, the Roman Catholic order, in May. Since 2007, based in Philadelphia, he served as general councilor for the order in North America.
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Frank M. Edwards W’89 has donated his collection of almost 100 record covers designed by Andy Warhol to the Cranbrook Art Museum in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Daniel E. Will C’89, a shareholder in the law firm of Devine Millimet in Manchester, N.H., has been appointed to the New Hampshire Judicial Council, which oversees funding for the state’s indigent defense fund, public defender’s office, New Hampshire Legal Aid, and for guardians ad litem.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Dr. Luis J. Fujimoto D’90 GD’93, www.drfujimoto.com , a periodontist who maintains a private practice in Manhattan, has been appointed to the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations of the American Dental Association. The immediate past-president of the New York State Board for Dentistry, he is a clinical professor of periodontology at the Nippon Dental School in Tokyo. He also serves on the board of Penn’s James Brister Society.
Joe Giagrande W’90 writes, “My wife, Lucila, and I founded a specialty food business in Chicago, Lucila’s Homemade Alfies. We specialize in alfajores, dulce-de-leche-filled treats that she grew up with in Argentina. They are incredibly delicious and best in class! If any alums are ever in Chicago, come check us out; you can read our story at www.LucilasHomemade.com.”
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Julie E. Kass C’91 G’91, a principal in the Baltimore-based law firm of Ober|Kaler, has been named co-chair of its health-law group; she specializes in structuring arrangements under the Stark and Anti-kickback laws. She was named a Washington “Super Lawyer in the Area of Health Care for 2014.” She also serves on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, and lives with her husband and three children in Montgomery County.
Christine Youngblood C’91 WG’98 is the founding chief investment officer of Seedling Capital, LLC, in Berwyn, Pa. In May, she was appointed to the board of Catholic Leadership Institute, which provides “pastoral leadership formation” and consulting services to the Roman Catholic Church in North America and the Caribbean.
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Adele C. Moore Berry C’93, adele@brandoracollective.com , recently launched Brandora Collective, a new company specializing in business consulting and branding for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is the “culmination of [my] 18 years of cross-disciplinary experience in marketing (branding, advertising, and photography) as well as [my] hands-on experience in founding and running four start-ups.”
James Garver C’93, an attorney with Edgar Snyder & Associates, a plaintiff’s personal-injury law firm in Pittsburgh, has been selected to the 2014 “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers” list and included in the 2014 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
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Gabriel G. Tsui C’94 W’94 has joined the Chicago office of the law firm of Leech Tishman, where he will practice in its taxation-practice group. Previously, he was a partner in the advanced-planning and family-office practice group at Handler Thayer, LLP.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Jeff Gold C’95 WG’02 is the managing principal of the business-intelligence practice at ZS Associates, a sales and marketing consulting firm, and is based in its San Mateo, Calif., office. In June, he was named one of the “Top 25 Consultants” of 2014 by Consulting magazine.
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Jeremy Scheinberg EAS’96 has recently launched a new venture. Inspired by his wife, Rachel Scheinberg C’98, and his kids, Sophia and Jake, he “co-founded Trobo, the Storytelling Robot, a lovable, plush-toy and storytelling app to get kids excited about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through fun, personalized stories (www.herecomestrobo.com).”
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Kristin Cardi GFA’97, Swarthmore, Pa., has joined Philadelphia-based Materials Conservation, LLC, as an architectural conservator, where she is working on projects at the Christ Church burial ground and the Revolutionary War Monument in Washington Square, and the Nemours Mansion and Garden (Wilmington, Del.).
Elijah S. Dornstreich C’97 is a financial adviser in the Philadelphia office of Bernstein Global Wealth Management. In June, he was appointed to the board of the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia. Serving on its development committee, he is also co-chair of the Young Friends board.
Dr. Sigrid Ladores Nu’97 GNu’02 competed in a fundraising ballroom-dance competition in May to benefit student scholarships for the University of Central Florida nursing school, where she has been a faculty member since 2003. With the help of her professional dance instructor, her waltz and singing earned her the first-place finish, and she raised over $10,000.
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Lucrecia Castro Boulton C’98 W’98, and her husband, Jamie, are thrilled to announce the birth of their son Andrew James on June 30. He joined big brother Charlie (almost two), who is excited to have a new playmate.
Becky Ingis Epstein C’98 and Eric Epstein C’01 are excited to announce the birth of their son Alex Joseph Epstein on Jan. 29. “He was welcomed with open arms by big brother Danny (three), who is carrying on the family’s a cappella tradition by singing all of his favorite songs to Baby Alex. [We are] doing well and live in Hoboken, N.J., with Eric working in marketing at Mars Chocolate and Becky working in the social-impact practice of Bain & Co.”
Jamie Schuller Grant C’98 GEd’99 and her husband, Stephen Grant, are proud to announce the birth of their son Jamison David on Feb. 19 in Drexel Hill, Pa. “He joined Carter (six), who is delighted to finally be a big brother and is very helpful with his ‘Baby J.’ Jamison also has the wonderful privilege of being the twelfth grandchild for Elizabeth Gentner CGS’89, who is so happy to have her ‘even dozen.’”
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Noah Axler L’99 writes, “My book, It’s Not Elementary: The Mistakes of Sherlock Holmes, was published by Amazon as a Kindle Single.”
Jennifer L. Leisman W’99 married Ryan E. Dessert on Jan. 18 at Trinity Church in Boston, with a reception at the Boston Public Library. The wedding party included bridesmaidsMara Galen Bjorneby C’99, Heather M. Leisman W’93, and Julie Marx Stark C’99, groomsman Andrew M. Leisman C’07, and Jenni’s father, William F. Leisman III W’72. Also attending were Caroline E. Babson C’99, Scott Glosserman C’99, Macy Raymond Glosserman C’00, Stephen J. Guarino C’72, S. Brooke Jenkins C’00, Lauren B. Mishner W’99, Vanessa Mizzone Pellegrini C’99, Katy Stock Pinter W’99, and James W. Rappaport W’77. Jenni and Ryan now live in Boston’s South End; she is a vice president at Leisman Insurance Agency, her family’s life-insurance and estate-planning firm, and he is an engineer with NAES Corp. working on the MIT campus.
Lindsay Stern Ornstein C’99 and her husband, Gus Ornstein, are thrilled to announce the birth of their third daughter, Remy Samantha. She joined big sisters Maya and Zoe, all of whom attended the reunion in May and wave their Penn pennants proudly. They live on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, where Lindsay is a principal at Transwestern, a commercial real-estate brokerage and services firm, and Gus is the athletic director at Fieldston.
Lee Sheinkopf-Siedlik C’99 and Jeff Siedlik are thrilled to announce the birth of their second son, Benjamin Russell Siedlik, on June 9; 7 lbs. 19 inches. “His big brother Max is super excited to play with him! [I] work as a pediatric and adult allergist in Los Angeles and Jeff works as a graphic artist in the entertainment industry.”
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
00
Dr. Jack Hershey V’00 married Dr. Carey Hemmelgarn on June 22. He is senior veterinarian (in charge of laboratory animals) at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University and she is a critical-care veterinarian in private practice.
Alison Schellpfeffer W’00 has joined the Sioux Falls (S.D.) office of the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum LLP as an associate in its trusts and estates practice group.
01
Eric Epstein C’01 see Becky Ingis Epstein C’98.
Alison Jacobs Levitan W’01 and Brian Levitan are the new parents of a son, Jake Ryan Levitan, who has two, proud new grandparents in Iris and Alan Jacobs W’70; and Courtney Jacobs Engel C’05 and Phil Engel C’05 are a proud aunt and uncle.
Jay S. Lipsey W’01 in May became CEO of Miami-based Accel Associates, a management-consulting firm for middle-market, family- and founder-owned businesses. He had previously been with Grandbridge Real Estate Capital, a national commercial-mortgage banking firm. Late last year, he and his wife, Rebecca Fishman Lipsey C’03, welcomed their second son, Noah Henry Lipsey; along with big brother Andrew Nathaniel Lipsey, they are thrilled to have yet another future Quaker added to the family, which is currently living in Aventura.
Catherine Lucey C’01 and her husband, Ryan Donnell, are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Orla Mary Lucey Donnell, on March 1. She joined big brother Cillian, who is now two. They live in Des Moines, Iowa, where Catherine covers politics and government for the Associated Press and Ryan is a freelance photographer.
Andrew Mandelbaum C’01 and his wife, Tracie, are overjoyed to announce the arrival of their son, Zachary Ethan Mandelbaum, born on May 5. They live in Brooklyn Heights and Andrew is a litigation partner at Ford Marrin in Manhattan.
02
Noah Chinitz EAS’02 and Ella Chinitz C’03 are thrilled to announce the birth of Talia Belle on Dec. 30. “Talia is full of smiles and has added pink to her brothers Ari (five) and Gabe’s (two) world. Ella is the data-sciences lead at Razorfish and Noah just finished orthopaedic residency. We are off to Dallas for a one-year orthopaedic foot and ankle fellowship, then will return to New York.”
03
Ella Chinitz C’03 see Noah Chinitz EAS’02.
Tamara Weiss Levine C’03 and Brian Levine are overjoyed to announce the arrival of their second daughter, Maya Isabelle Levine, born May 23; she joined proud big sister Amy. “[We] settled comfortably into the New Jersey suburbs last year and can’t wait to see both Amy and Maya become Penn coeds one day.”
Janet Temko C’03 married William Blinder on April 5 at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington. They celebrated with many alumni, including family membersStephen Temko W’72, Joan Temko Anyon C’69, Bob Anyon C’69, Lisa Reiss C’85, and David Reiss C’84 WG’88; bridesmaids Samantha Gaiber Matlin C’03 and Rachel Moser Vassak C’03; and other close friends Amanda Sadacca C’03, Peri Schultz Zelig C’03, Josh Zelig C’03, Glenn Goldstein EAS’03 W03, Naomi Itzkowitz Portnoy C’04, Carrie Zaslow Simon C’02, Jared Simon W’02, Kenny Shin EAS’02, Michael Madden C’98, Brandis Anderson L’08, and David Bramble L’01. Janet and Will live and work in Washington; they went to Madagascar for their honeymoon.
04
Jared Barnett C’04 in May joined SK Commercial Realty in Atlanta as vice president of its new investments division. Previously, he had been with ScottMadden, where he provided management consulting.
Jerryanne Heath Chiume C’04 GCP’05 was recently featured on BlackEnterprise.com for her role as development director at goods for good, a non-profit, founded by Melissa Kushner C’02, that economically empowers communities in Malawi. On June 21, Jerryanne also celebrated the first anniversary of her wedding to Nathan Chiume.
Dr. John Paul Quattrochi W’04 received his doctorate of science in global health and population from the Harvard School of Public Health earlier this year and is currently employed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Wendi L. Wasik G’04 is the founding CEO of Wasik Consulting, LLC, an executive-coaching and organizational-development firm. She was recently named board co-chair of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, “dedicated to empowerment, education, advocacy, and advancing research in celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders.
Autumn Wilner-Heard C’04 married Patrick Straub in Harbour Island, Bahamas, on May 17. Attending were her parents, Bruce Heard and Theodora Wilner C’71, her uncle Tom Wilner L’69, and friends Teasha Brunelle EAS’04 and Jeff Brunelle W’04.
06
Annette Tran C’06 married Jia Carl Zhao W’06 on June 1 in Boston. They first met in 2001 at a Penn Summer Session for high-school students. Members of the wedding party included maid-of-honor Trang Do C’06, mate-of-honor Tony Le C’07, and groomsman Jason Lesi Wang C’06. Alumni helping to celebrate included Neil Anand C’05, Tony Curnes W’08, Michael Faridi W’06, Adam Guthorn EAS’07, Olivia Mauro W’07, Christopher Hogg W’06, Maya Varthy C’06, Eugene Kim W’06, Alexandra White Levy C’06, Chris Paryse EAS’03 W’03, Leo Spaeder W’06, Dr. Lorriann Tran Notarfrancesco C’05, David Weinstein W’06, and Marina Milonova Weinstein C’06. “After spending [our] honeymoon in Europe, Annette and Carl naturally came back to Penn—where it all began! [We] will be relocating to Singapore and would love to connect with fellow Quakers at annetteandcarl2014@gmail.com.”
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Lindsay Janowitz Levine C’07 L’10 and Matthew Levine C’07 joyously announce the birth of their son, Ari Hunter Levine, on April 16. Family welcoming him include grandmother Caren Levine W’81, aunt Meredith Finn C’08, and uncle Steven Finn W’08 GEng’10. Lindsay and Matthew live in Marlton, N.J.; he is an attorney with Sunoco and she is an attorney with Pepper Hamilton LLP.
08
Laura Freedlander C’08 married Justin Scheu at the Evergreen House in Baltimore “on a beautiful and historic day, June 6, in the company of many alumni. Among those present were two couples who met at Penn, Meredith Laning Kimener C’08 and Capt. Patrick Kimener C’08, and Nitzan Sternberg Miller C’08 and Josh Miller C’08. Other friends of Laura from her Penn days included Alyssa Budihas C’08, Stephanie Castellano C’08, Drew Dampier C’08, Laura Drossner C’09, Lily Katz C’08, Ellen Martino C’08, Katya Nick C’08, Natasha Petrukhin C’08, and Zach Sternberg W’08. The maids-of-honor were Laura’s sisters-in-law, Beatriz de la Torre C’97 andLily Saint C’97. Escorting their mother were Laura’s brothers, Jed Freedlander C’97 and David Freedlander C’00. Escorting Laura was her father, Barrett Freedlander C’62 [who sent in this note]. The Class of 1962 was also represented by David R. Reinauer W’62 and John R. Wilner W’62. Laura was also joined by her uncleHoward Freedlander C’67 and her cousin Bess Freedlander Langbein C’02. Present also as friends of the family were Dr. Neal Friedlander C’68 and Andrea Berry Laporte Nu’69, Baltimore’s lone Penn Trustee. Laura and Justin live in Manhattan, where she is employed as an account executive with Team One and Justin as an account manager with Octagon.”
Caroline E. Pearsall C’08 married Robert M. Vrana C’08 on May 25 at Wayne Presbyterian Church near Philadelphia; a reception followed at the Please Touch Museum. Members of the wedding party included his father, Bruce Vrana EAS’80 GCh’82, bridesmaids Virginia Moncol C’08 and Alicia Travis Nu’08, best man Brian Mahoney EAS’08, and groomsmen Geoff Hayes EAS’08, Louis Vogel C’09, and Roger Rengert C’08 V’17. Caroline and Rob live in Philadelphia, where she works in marketing and he is an attorney.
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Heather Alpino C’09 and Jeffrey Petkun EAS’09 write that they are “ecstatic to announce the birth of [our] ‘MVP,’ daughter Mila Violet Petkun, on May 31. May was a busy month: Heather celebrated her birthday on May 21, [we] celebrated [our] three-year wedding anniversary on May 22, and on May 29, Heather graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School. In early June, [we] moved back to the Philadelphia area, where Heather will be clerking for a federal judge after she takes the bar exam and Jeff will continue working as a software developer at Lattice Engines.”
Jennifer I. Tintenfass C’09, an associate at the Steeg Law Firm, LLC, in New Orleans, has joined the board of Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans.
Celebrate Your Reunion: May 15-18, 2015
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Paul Richards C’10 and Dennie Zastrow C’10 G’12 married on June 21 in Carlisle, Pa. Alumni attending were Anna Aagenes C’10, Katherine Atkinson C’10, Archita Banerjee C’08 W’08 WG’13, Yana Banerjee Nu’09 GNu’12, Jacques Beauvais C’10 M’15, Brittany Binler C’10 GEng’15, Annette D’Onofrio C’10, David Feldman C’80, Sarah Feldman C’10, Kellyn Goler C’07, Rebecca Greenfield C’10, Molly Johnsen C’10, Rebecca Kaplan C’10, Emily Loeb C’04, Keith Mangam EAS’08, Christopher McAdams GAr’12, Marianne Mondt C’10, Juliette Mullin C’10, Lex Ruby Howe C’07, Drew Tye C’09, Lucy Brahan C’10, and Cynthia Wright C’08. Dennie and Paul live in Philadelphia: Dennie is a research associate with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and will attend law school at Temple University this fall, and Paul is the associate director of stewardship at the Wharton School.
12
Emily Burns C’12 has been promoted to senior associate consultant in the San Francisco office of Mars & Co., the management consulting firm.
13
Dr. Kirk Anthony James GrS’13 has been appointed senior director of the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy at the Fortune Society, a prisoner re-entry agency in Harlem and Queens, N.Y. Previously, he was project director for SP2’s Goldring Reentry Initiative at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice.
14
Dr. Aaron M. Johnson Gr’14 see Dr. Sidney Axinn C’47 Gr’55.
