Class notes, spring 2024
Cherry blossoms at Goodwin Hall. Photo by Noshin Abedin of Virginia Tech
Alumni, we want to hear what you’ve been doing. Mail career, wedding, birth, and death news to Class Notes, Virginia Tech Alumni Association, Holtzman Alumni Center, 901 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061; email the news to classnotes@vt.edu; or submit the news online, where photos may also be uploaded for consideration.
1953
John B. Lindamood, Columbus, Ohio, former professor at The Ohio State University, was featured in the 2022 summer edition of The Ohio State University Alumni Magazine in recognition of his collaboration with Ohio State professor Poul Hansen to develop a chocolate coating to prevent sogginess in Drumstick ice cream cones, now manufactured by Nestle.
1962
Herbert H. Hash Jr., Boone, N.C., published a book, “A Theologian’s Thoughts on Timely Topics.”
1965
Peter L. King, Rehoboth Beach, Del., published a fifth book through Productivity Press, “Production Scheduling for the Process Industries” along with Noel Peberdy and Mac Jacobs. King’s company, Lean Dynamics, consults in lean manufacturing with companies in pharma and the food and beverage industry.
1967
Richard B. Washington III, Alcoa, Tenn., retired from Fork Union Military Academy after 35 years teaching middle school mathematics then relocated to be closer to his children.
Gerald W. Barnes, Lakeland, Fla., retired from the Army Corps of Engineers, lives near “grands,” and completed his third combat survivors’ book of stories for publication in December 2023. Book proceeds will benefit veteran causes. A final book is planned for release in 2024.
1974
John C. Harves, Olney, Md., along with Neil Gillespie ’75, published a second edition of “The Ultimate Soccer Dictionary of American Terms” containing over 5,000 defined entries.
1975
Neil E. Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pa., along with John Harves ’74, published a second edition of “The Ultimate Soccer Dictionary of American Terms” containing over 5,000 defined entries.
1977
Cecil L. Willis, Wilmington, N.C., released a memoir, “Hillbilly Odyssey,” through Redhawk Publications.
1978
Bruce B. Harper, Blacksburg, Va., retired from Virginia Tech June 30, 2023, following a 37 1/2-year career. He was the first and only Virginia Tech webmaster from the start of the university’s presence on the web.
1985
Gary S. Michel, Charlotte, N.C., authored a book, “deComplify: How Simplicity Drives Stability, Innovation and Transformation,” published by Forbes Books.
1988
Barbara A. Murphy, Great Falls, Va., is a managing director and partner focused on U.S. real estate opportunities for the Carlyle Group. She is based in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Carlyle in 2000, she was with Lincoln Property Co. in Arlington, Va., and KPMG in Washington, D.C.
1989
Wayne Z. Wellington Jr., Charleston, S.C., who was elected American Nurses Association (ANA)-Illinois president, received the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award 2023 and the Power of Nursing Leadership: Pinnacle Leader Award 2022. He has been a member of the Illinois Nursing Foundation board of directors and the ANA-Illinois Legislative Committee, is associated with the alumni of the Amy V. Cockcroft Fellowship of Healthcare Leaders and is a recipient of the Palmetto Gold Nurse Award.
1990
Michael P. Maxwell, Hartland, Wis., was appointed to the commercial court docket by Chief Justice Annette Ziegler.
1992
Christina L. Hennessey, Reseda, Calif., is director of the Unified Library Management System at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, in Long Beach, California.
1995
Robert Lucas Hobbs, Bristol, Va., who serves as a general district court judge in Abingdon, Virginia, was elected secretary of the Association of District Court Judges of Virginia.
1997
Jennifer L. Price Hall, Pittsburg, Kan., joined Pittsburg State University as director of development for the Kelce College of Business.
1999
Jeremy A. Bartz, Chantilly, Va., was named president of E4H Environments for Health Architecture.
2000
Wedding: Sarah Slotsky Bazydlo, Charlottesville, Va., and Russ Bazydlo, 5/13/22.
2001
Christopher A. Bogus, Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Juliette Barnes Bogus, Charleston, S.C., celebrated two anniversaries this year—10 years in business and 21 years married. Their advertising business, formerly B Squared and now Inspire Agency, specializes in nonprofits, mental health organizations and companies, life sciences, and medical technology.
2002
Wedding: David Deuyour, Christiansburg, Va., and Hannah S. Deuyour MPH ’23, 6/17/23.
2005
Jessica Kiser Drake, Williamsburg, Va., graduated from the 2023 Virginia Rural Leadership Institute.
2006
Catherine J. Jackson, Roanoke, Va., a partner at Gentry Locke who was named the Roanoke Bar Association 2021 Young Lawyer of the Year, has relocated to the firm’s Lynchburg office.
Jochen M. Schwarz, Chapel Hill, N.C., joined North State as a commercial banker for the downtown Raleigh office.
2007
Nicholle Depaz Clinton, Vienna, Va., was one of the former Hokie athletes who coached the inaugural Peru women’s lacrosse team to a fourth-place finish at the Pan American Lacrosse Association Games in Jamaica.
Britt K. Faulkner, Arlington, Va., was one of the former Hokie athletes who coached the inaugural Peru women’s lacrosse team to a fourth-place finish at the Pan American Lacrosse Association Games in Jamaica.
Children: Rommelyn Conde Coffren M.A. ‘12, Christiansburg, Va., a daughter, 9/28/23.
2008
Jacob R. Grohs, Blacksburg, Va., is interim director of the Center for Educational Networks and Impacts.
Manisha P. Patel, Greensboro, N.C., who earned the Legal Elite distinction as published by Business North Carolina magazine, was honored as an inductee into the North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society.
Brian P. Damewood, Purcellville, Va., won the National Auction Association’s men’s 2023 International Auctioneer Championship, which was held in Oklahoma City in July 2023.
Ryan T. Beethoven-Wilson, Glen Allen, Va., has been promoted to partner at Keiter, a Richmond-based accounting firm.
2010
John C. Kollar, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a subsection manager for tip sensor and separable instrumentation in the test systems engineering division of GE Aerospace.
Ellen S. Mendyk Erickson, Arlington, Va., was accepted to be a U.S. diplomat with the U.S. Department of State Foreign Service (Political Cone).
Children: Ellen S. Mendy Erickson, Arlington, Va., a son, 4/10/23.
2011
William M. Farmer, Salem, Va., was appointed chief revenue officer for CarNow.
Wedding: Brianna G. Alaffa, Chandler, Ariz., and Gregory Alaffa, 4/2/23.
2012
Doray A. Lively, Austin, Texas, is director of project management at Berry Consultants in Austin, Texas.
Wedding: Doray A. Lively, Austin, Texas, and Jason Lively, 6/23.
2013
Children: Stephen “Ty” Hodges, Williamsburg, Va., a daughter, 6/30/22.
2014
Connor J. Durham, Shawsville, Va., teaches at Christiansburg Middle School.
Melissa Farmer Richards, Hubbardsville, N.Y., was appointed vice president and chief of staff of Emerson College.
Joshua T. Smith, Dallas, Texas, one of 15 Bell Nunnally attorneys named to the 2023 Texas Rising Stars List, was named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2024 list.
Wedding: Connor J. Durham, Shawsville, Va., and Tori Radday, 5/19/23.
Wedding: Bryan Furr, Norfolk, Va., and Emily Probin, 9/23/23.
2015
Hunter C. Taylor, Martinez, Ga., founded a 3D metal printing company specializing in micro-second process control of laser-powder bed fusion systems.
Wedding: Melissa L. Haas, Charlotte, N.C., and John Osinga, 9/23/23.
2016
Wedding: Mary Lee Carter, Raleigh, N.C., and Ryan MacCrea, 10/21/23.
Wedding: Nick Robertson, Raleigh, N.C., and Morgan S. Robertson ’17, 3/4/23.
2018
Wedding: Bryan R. Furr, Norfolk, Va., and Emily Probin, 9/23/23.
2019
Sabrina J. Tolbert, Blacksburg, Va., joined Goodell DeVries as an associate in the medical malpractice practice group.
2020
Brian C. Gore, Henrico, Va., received the first-ever Virginia Associates Award from AIA Virginia. The award recognizes his commitment to mentorship and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the architectural profession.
Collin M. Ito, Virginia Beach, Va., graduated from the U.S. Air Force Airman's Leadership School on Aug. 24, 2023.
