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ALUMNI NOTES

The University of Minnesota Duluth Bridge publishes Alumni Notes. You can send us notes by e-mail: alumni@d.umn.edu, by fax at 218-726-6186 or by sending the form on page 22. If you are in the U.S., you can send your note to: Alumni Director, University Relations, University of Minnesota Duluth, 315 DAdB, 1049 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812. This issue of the Bridge reflects the notes we received before December 15, 2003.

CAT IN THE HAT

Scott Lyons, UMD alum and Duluth Chief of Police read Dr. Seuss books to an enthralled audience at Barnes and Noble Bookstore. The UMD Alumni Association Board volunteered their time to help encourage customers to buy a book for a child and have it donated. The drive was a great success and many books were given to local children who have never had a new book all of their own.

1956
David Karpeles, of Santa Barbara, CA, opened his first manuscripts museum in 1983. Karpeles, a former mathematics professor, began collecting manuscripts in 1978 when he bought a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln. Once Kapeles began collecting manuscripts, he accumulated them rapidly. He now operates seven manuscript libraries, and owns in excess of one million manuscripts.

1959
R. John DeSanto, MA, received the lifetime achievement award for his contributions to the advancement of the Public Relations Society of America. He is an adjunct/visiting professor at the Oklahoma State University School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

1962
Richard A. Ekholm and his wife Patricia have a 13-year-old son, Erik. Richard is a captain/airline pilot for United Airlines. Richard is also an active USCG yacht captain operating in Florida and the Bahamas.

Daniel Lewis, of Owatanna, became the director of the Federated Insurance Companies in February. Lewis started with Federated as a development trainee, and has worked as a marketing representative, district marketing manager, advertising manager, general marketing manager, second vice president, executive vice president-insurance operations and now the director.

1964
Susan (Shepard) Hammerstedt retired after 25 years of working for the State College-based South Hills School of Business and Technology. Her husband, Roy Hammerstedt (Class of 1963 and 1968), is a co-founder of BioPore. The couple has two children, Heather and Scott.

1966
Bill Shipley has a new art gallery, Bill Shipley Fine Arts, Inc., opening in Wilton Manors, Florida late this summer. The gallery is listed on www.artnet.com under “New Galleries.”

1968
Bernice Schwankl retired this spring after 40 years of teaching. Bernice is also celebrating the 20-year anniversary of her being chosen as the Brainerd Teacher of the Year. She graduated in 1968 with her Certificate of Specialist in Education-Counseling, after graduating in 1952 with her Master of Arts, 1949 with her Bachelor of Science degree, and 1935 with her Associate of Arts degree.

1969
Elaine Melby and Morris Moen were married December 9, 2000 in St. Paul.

1970
Clark Peterson, a survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing, is the co-host of the radio talk show, ‘Pro Wrestling Talk Live.’ The show, taped in his home near Hinckley, MN, is aired in one-third of the United States. Peterson’s biography is included in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World.

1971
Marcia Doty joined Wells Fargo Bank’s community board of directors. Marcia is the director of the Management Institute at the College of St. Scholastica.

1972
Judith Ridinger is a third grade teacher at Idyllwilde Elementary School at Sanford, CA. Judith has been teaching is Sanford for 10 years. She enjoys snow skiing, golfing, reading and relaxing at her cabin in Minnesota.

1976
Michael Howe was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Triarc Restaurant Group (TRG). Michael has been working for TRG since 1995, and has worked as regional vice president operations, as well as the president and chief operating officer.

1977
Larry R. Frank, Sr. retired from the Air Force in 1994 after a career as a helicopter and jet pilot. Larry was involved in the Gulf War as a staff officer planning war zone airlifts. After retiring, he founded his own business in California, Better Financial Education. Larry’s company teaches people personal finance and asset management.

1978
Kirby Stortz, MS, of Blaine, MN, has been employed by Clientek since 1994. He is a partner and the principal consultant. Stortz is a former scientist in the UMD physics department.

1980
William Hinderks recently accepted a position as a safety manager with Central Illinois Risk Pooling Authority in Bloomington, IL.

1983
Christopher Claus became the president and chief executive officer of USAA Investments. Christopher, from San Antonio, has been employed by USAA since 1994 when he joined as a vice president of investment sales.

Robert D. Coale is a member of the new Andean American advisory board. The board’s primary purpose is to assist the main board and the officers of the company in property, operations, and process decisions. John is a registered professional engineer in California, and British Columbia, and a registered environmental assessor in California.

1984
John Heino was named the general manager of Lake County Power Utility. John was selected out of 17 other candidates for the position. Since 1978, he has worked in the Duluth area for the corporation, most recently as manager of public affairs.

1987
Marianne Fieber, of Chicago, is considered, “One of the most technically accomplished and emotionally sophisticated actresses in Chicago’s fringe theater scene” by the Chicago Tribune. Marianne is starring in the play Influenza and the Misapplication of Cold Cream.

1988
Zane Bail and Donald Bass were married September 16, 2000. Zane is employed in research and development with the Northland Foundation. Donald is an analyst with the US Postal Inspection Service.

1990
Damon Schramm is a partner in the Minneapolis firm of Duckson-Carlson. His area of practice is Business Law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance.

1991
Thomas Hagen was promoted to captain in the Minnesota Army National Guard and is the international law officer in the 34th Infantry Division Headquarters. Thomas and his wife, Nyla, had their second child in November, 2000. Thomas was elected mayor of Waseca, MN and he has been listed as a ‘Rising Star’ by Minnesota Law & Politics.

1993
Kristin Hermanson married Jason Keal in Duluth on May 27, 2000. Kristin is working as an educational interpreter and Jason is an educational counselor.

Jacqueline Humes married Shawn Archambault, both of St. Paul, on September 23, 2000. Jacqueline is employed by the Juntunen Media Group in Minneapolis.

Tim Reuter, of Sauk Rapids, MN, is an attorney with Kelm Law Offices. Tim’s wife, Kathy, gave birth to their son, Bradley James, on April 10, 2001.

Lori Seafolk and Jeffrey Reed, both of Duluth, were married October 14, 2000. Both Lori and Jeffrey are employed in Duluth.

Mark A. Steinbrecher, of Colorado Springs, graduated from the Southern College of Optometry in 1997 and is now working for Colorado Eye Associates. Mark’s wife, Christine, graduated from the same college in 1999 and is now working for Total Vision Eyecare. Christine and Mark’s daughter, Sarah, was born in 1996.

1994
Thomas Allen was married to Kimberly Benton on December 16, 2000. Thomas, of West St. Paul, is the secretary-treasurer and vice president of Dun Rovin’ Lodge and Resort. Kimberly is the owner and president of Dun Rovin’ Lodge and Supper Club.

Christopher Steensland and Melanie Meyer (Class of 1996) were married on September 9, 2000. Melanie is working for the Anoka County Corrections as a juvenile detention officer. Chris is an actuary with Fortis Financial Group in Woodbury, MN.

1995
Joseph Henry is an IT consultant for Metlife. Joseph and his wife, Jamie, have one son, Carter Joseph, born on November 2, 2000.

Sharyl Samargia Clement, MA, is a speech-language pathologist for children’s hospitals and clinics in St. Paul. Sharyl was married to Paul Clement on October 7, 2000. The couple lives in Woodbury, MN, and is expecting their first child in September.

1996
Jill Johnson and William Vukelich were married May 6, 2000 in Cincinnati. Jill is working at W2Com Commercial Interiors and William is employed by Applied Industrial Technologies.

Michael Hoops, of Duluth, was married on September 16, 2000, to Nicole Wickman. Michael is the head brewer for Town Hall Brewing Co. in Minneapolis.

1997
Amy Brandli and Erik Rosvold were married on September 30, 2000. Amy is a software development consultant for Fair, Isaac, and Company. Erik is a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors.

David Dailey, of Duluth, married Tammy Lind on August 19, 2000. David is director of disability services for Mesabi Range Community and Technical College. Tammy is a co-manager of the Limited Too in Duluth.

Amy (Nordean) Giddings and Jason Giddings were married in Duluth on September 30, 2000. The couple lives in Mt. Horeb, WI, where Amy works for Dodgeville School District as a music teacher, and Jason works for WardBrodt Music as a brass instrument Repair Technician.

Walter Pfister and Deborah Piri, both of Cloquet, were married on July 22, 2000. Walter works for Frito Lay, and Deborah works as a receptionist for Interstate Batteries.

Kelly (Meister) Ralston and Dan Ralston were married on June 26, 1999 in Stillwater, MN. Kelly is a reading specialist and a kindergarten through second grade teacher for the Mahtomedi Public Schools. Dan is a second and third grade teacher for Valley Crossing Community Schools in Woodbury, MN. Dan is completing his master’s degree in counseling.

Jeff Ruprecht is a web graphic designer with CPINternet in Duluth. Jeff was married to Traci White, a fellow resident of Duluth, on September 30, 2000. Traci works for Chester Creek Dental.

Melissa Zimmerman and Jim McGregor, both of Duluth, were married on October 21, 2000. Melissa works in the accounting department for Cellular One in Duluth. Jim works for Northland Constructors.

1998
Jessica Gohla and Rod Hansen, both of Cloquet, were married October 14, 2000 in Duluth. Jessica is a human resource specialist with Cub Foods. Rod works for USG Interiors.

Natalie Marr married Kevin Meyers on October 21, 2000. Natalie and Kevin live in Minneapolis. Natalie is a program director with J.E.C. Miller, Inc, and Kevin is a computer programmer/machinist with Pride Engineering-PII.

Michael Reagan, of St. Louis Park, and Jennifer Sandvig were married on August 12, 2000 in Hoyt Lakes, MN. Michael works in sales for World Data Products.

Melanie Stabs and Jeff Plunkett were married October 14, 2000. Melanie, of Duluth, is a receptionist at the Duluth Teachers Credit Union. Jeff graduated from Wisconsin the Indianhead Technical College and is a network administrator for Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, in Duluth.

Eric Stoltz and Nicole Ristow (Class of 1999) were married in Duluth on August 26, 2000. Eric is a pilot with Continental Express in Houston. Nicole is pursuing a master’s degree in hydrogeology from the School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, SD.

1999
Jill Kirkeide, of Forest Grove, Oregon, will be graduating with a doctorate in optometry in 2003 from Pacific University College of Optometry.

Eric Kyper and Angie Lancour, both of Duluth, were married on January 5, 2001. Eric earned a degree in economics, specializing in management and information sciences.

Sharon LePine and Christopher McMahon, both of Fremont, CA, came back to Duluth for their wedding on August 4, 2000. Sharon graduated with a secondary social studies education degree and is working as an English and social studies teacher in Fremont. Christopher is the national program director for the Junior Statesman Foundation.

Brian Ross married Melissa Stevens on August 25, 2000 in Duluth. Brian is the manager of Play it Again Sports in Superior, WI.
Becky Smit, MA, is a speech language pathologist for Faith Regional Health Services, in Norfolk, NE. Becky was married April 28, 2001 to Jim Eckhardt. Jim is a mechanical design engineer at Wagner Industries.

Timothy Van Soest, of Duluth, is a financial analyst for Honeywell H & BC Finance. On July 15, 2000, Timothy was married to Andrea Maki in Virginia, MN. Andrea is pursuing a master’s degree in occupational therapy.

2000
Brian Bustrak, MBA, is the general manager of Alpha Engineering. Brian, and his wife Jan live in Superior, WI. Brian enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, canoeing, and camping. He is also involved with the CMA youth group.

Theresa Carlson married Jeremy Caine on January 5, 2001. Theresa is a customer service representative with Lake Superior Insurance Agency in Duluth. Jeremy is close to earning his Electrical and Computer Engineering degree from UMD.Jayme Donald and Jamie Smrstick were married on June 24, 2000. Jayme graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She is currently working as a data analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Eagan.

Connie Kalal, MA, is engaged to Jordan Moe (Class of 1998). Connie is a school counselor for Hill City ISD #3. Connie has many interests, including traveling, karate, and dancing.

Jeff Scissons, after being drafted in the eighth round of the NHL draft in 1996, signed with the Vancouver Canucks in June of 2000. Jeff played in 153 NCAA games, scoring 52 goals and adding 76 assists.

Lisa Shogren, MIS, of Madison, WI, was married to Cory Reno on October 7, 2000, in Duluth. Lisa is an advanced safety engineer for 3M. Cory is a firefighter for the city of Madison.

Justin Strecker, of North St. Paul, was married to Elizabeth Strom on July 29, 2000. Justin earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and is currently working as a project manager with Brighkeep/Conspec.

Shuo Xu is an associate with Towers Perrin in Illinois. Shuo enjoys spending time with her husband Tao, traveling, and dancing.

2001
Heidi Thorson Hatfield, of Solon Springs, WI, earned her MBA this year. She is employed by WITC – Superior as a computer instructor. Heidi enjoys the outdoors, running, tennis, and hiking. She is kept busy with her two children, ages 9 months and 3 years, and her involvement in the church and the YMCA.

Amanda Thralow earned her MS in physics as she worked in the UMD math department as a teaching assistant. Amanda enjoys cooking, painting and gardening.