[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Related Links

arts&sciences | Spring 2011

Class Notes

Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

  • Norman Rozeff (CAS’55) of Harlingen, Tex., has been recognized with a tile in the Walk of Fame that honors the most influential citizens in the 100-year history of the city as it commemorates its centennial. He has demonstrated “Service Above Self” and received appreciation for documenting city and regional history.

  • Joseph C. Evers (GRS’62) retired in September 2009 after serving 65 years as pastor. He lives with his wife, Karen, in Des Moines, Iowa.  His youngest son is a second-career pastor nearby.

  • Rev. Bob MacFarlane (CAS’68) of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., recently retired after 40 years of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ, serving in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. He just concluded consulting as an interim minister at Scottsdale UCC, Ariz., and is now interim at Circular Church in Charleston, S.C. Bob and Diana have two grown children, Duncan (North Carolina) and Andrew (Pennsylvania). Email Bob at revbobmac@aol.com.

  • Claire Elaine Shapiro Soja (CAS’68) of Littleton, Mass., has been named to the Board of Directors of Detwiler Fenton Investment Management, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Detwiler Fenton & Co., Boston, where she also serves as managing director/portfolio manager.

  • George Fulginiti-Shakar (CAS’69) was music director and conductor for the inaugural production in the newly rebuilt Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theatre in Washington, D.C. The show, Oklahoma, ran from October 23 to December 31, 2010. This is George’s 14th musical production at Arena Stage, where he is also an affiliated artist. Contact him at geofulshak@aol.com.

  • Frank L. Politano (CAS’71) of Berkeley Heights, N.J., is the inventor of a Consumption Investment System claimed in recently issued U.S. Patent No. 7,792,740.

  • Maureen Sullivan Romagnoli (CAS’73) wrote and published two books, Trail Magic: Lost in Crawford Notch and The Sullivan Saga: Memories of an Overseas Childhood. Trail Magic tells the story of teenager Angie Jackson, whose family runs a campground in rugged Crawford Notch in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. They must find four-year-old Melanie, who is lost in the surrounding wilderness. In a strange twist of fate, she gets help from the past. The Sullivan Saga is a collection of exotic, funny, and sometimes bittersweet stories of an overseas childhood in Asia and Africa from 1957 to 1972.

  • Abbe Rolnick (CAS’74) recently published her first novel, River of Angels. Set on a tropical island, the story explores people caught between what society accepts and each individual’s true self. Through the lives of a prostitute, a healer, an entrepreneur, a beggar, and two elders, the reader reflects on the intricacies of human nature. For more on what Abbe is up to, check out www.abberolnick.com. She can be reached at abber@nas.com.

  • Jan Moidel Schwartz (CAS’77), now the director of development at the MetroWest Jewish Day School in Framingham, Mass., has a newfound respect for what it takes to run a school. As a fundraiser, being in the world of your constituency makes the mission that much more real and dynamic. She would love to hear from classmates.

  • Ron Rapice (CAS’77, MET’79) was the recipient of the 2010 Theodore and Margaret Beard Excellence in Teaching Award, presented by the Fairfield County Community Foundation. The award acknowledges outstanding educational instructors in the Bridgeport public schools. Recipients of this award are recognized by their peers, students, and the community as vital to the growth and continued development of education in Bridgeport. The winner of the 2010 Beard Excellence in Teaching Award received a cash award of $25,000. Contact him at rrapice@bridgeportedu.net.

  • Lori (Buzzell) Dougherty (CAS’80) has joined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund as director of development marketing. She had previously served Boston University for 11 years, most recently as executive director of client services for Marketing & Communications.

  • John Coll (CAS’81) is currently employed at CN*MRI, Dover, Del., as a medical director of the Sleep Disorders Center and staff neurologist. His son, Randall J. Coll, is currently enrolled at BU’s College of Communication in the MFA Film Production program. Reach John at jbcoll@comcast.net.

  • Jim Wood (CAS’81) is delighted to announce the publication of his first book, From Ramen to Riches: Building Wealth in Your 20s. It aims to help financially clueless 20-somethings get a grip on managing their money.

  • Robert B. Dimmick (CAS’86) was elected president of the Interlochen Alumni Organization in April 2010. As president, he will be working with the administration and trustees of Interlochen Center for the Arts on the 50th anniversary of Interlochen Arts Academy in 2012. This will include an all-alumni reunion over Memorial Day weekend, 2012. Robert still writes on etiquette at etiquetteer.com.

  • Margaret M. Duggan, MD, FACTS (CAS’86, MED’90) was recently named president of the medical staff at Faulkner Hospital. Duggan has been medical director of the Faulkner Breast Center since 2005 and is a member of the department of surgical oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, as well as being on staff at the Women’s Cancer Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As president of the medical staff, she will assume a new leadership role in the Brigham and Women’s/Faulkner organization while continuing with a busy clinical practice in breast surgery.

  • Mike Arsenault (CAS’92) recently developed and launched an answer for diaper rash. It is the sixth product from Emily Skin Soothers, Inc.— a company he created after his daughter Emily was born with eczema. He used his training as an acupuncturist and herbalist to make something for her, and the rest is history. His products are sold in health food stores, acupuncture offices, and Whole Foods stores. Check out the products, and get in touch at www.emilyskinsoothers.com. 

  • Alexandra Lei Chan (CAS’93) and Jack Harvey Katz of Pound Ridge and Westhampton Beach, N.Y., were married on December 18, 2010. The bride received her Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University Dental School and completed her postdoctoral studies at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in 1999. In 2004, she received her Master of Public Health at Columbia University in Health Policy and Management in New York City. Chan is the vice president of dental services and the interim medical director for administrative services in Hartford, Conn.

    Her husband completed his undergraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed his postdoctoral training at Lincoln Hospital and Booth Memorial Hospital in New York City. Katz practices internal medicine and is currently the interim medical director for clinical services in Hartford, Conn.

  • Brian Ettinger (CAS’94) graduated with a master’s degree in marine biology from Nova Southeastern University. His studies concentrated on the reef fish and reef-associated fish off Broward County, Florida. He worked as a research associate and scientific diver for the National Coral Reef Institute for several years. Currently he is working as a career firefighter/paramedic/scuba Instructor with the City of Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety Department. He also works as a scientific diver and field research technician for the Physical Oceanography Lab and Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center in Dania Beach, Fla. Contact him at ettinger@nova.edu.

  • Christy (Cullen) Williams (CAS’95, SED’96), and her husband, Mark Williams, announce the birth of their first child, Kaylee Elizabeth, on October 7, 2010. Contact Christy at clcul@aol.com.

  • Michelle (Digilio) O’Connell (CAS’96) married John O’Connell on March 24, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nev. On February 2, 2010, their daughter Sarah Marie O’Connell was born. She joined big brothers Chris, Andrew, Patrick, and Peter, and big sisters Amanda and Elizabeth. The couple lives in Mooresville, N.C., with their children. Contact Michelle at jmconnell8@aol.com.

  • Sherley E. Cruz (CAS’99, LAW’03) is leaving Greater Boston Legal Services’ Employment Law Unit to join the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Fair Labor Division as its community outreach coordinator. She was also elected co-president of the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys. Reach Sherley at cruzsherley@yahoo.com.

  • Roger House (GRS’99), assistant professor in American Studies at Emerson College in Boston, recently published a book on the legendary Chicago bluesman Big Bill Broonzy, Blue Smoke: the Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy. It is featured on the website www.bluesmokestory.com and is available on Amazon.com.

  • Grant Silver (CAS’99) recently joined the asset management division of BioMed Realty in Cambridge. The company focuses on providing real estate to the life science industry, with over 11 million square feet of office and laboratory space under management.

  • Jeanne (Lucas) Ciccone (CAS’03) and her husband, Marco, announce the birth of their first child, Thomas Giovanni, on April 19, 2010.

  • Christine (Knoblauch) Hall (CAS’03) married Christopher Hall, both of Glendale, Calif., on September 25, 2010, at Marsh Chapel. Stephanie Koutrakos (COM’03) was maid of honor. Christine is a research associate at City of Hope, and Chris is a field producer with E! Entertainment. Friends can email Christine at christineannehall@gmail.com.

  • Nathaniel Ulrich (CAS’03) married Kristyn Brezinsky on July 10, 2010, in New Orleans, La. Richard Peterson (CAS’05), Brandon Cook (CAS’05), Stanley Kam (CAS’05), Andrew Delker (SMG’07), and Geoff Fisher (CAS’06) attended the ceremony. The couple plans to move to Boston.

  • Elif S. Armbruster (GRS’05) of Arlington, Mass., has just published a new book on the private writing lives of four American Realist authors. Entitled Domestic Biographies: Stowe, Howells, James, and Wharton at Home, the book explores the overlap between the authors’ real lives and their literary realism. Domestic Biographies, which includes photographs and is available in paperback and hardcover editions, can be purchased through Amazon.com and other venues. Armbruster received her PhD in American Studies in 2005, and in fall 2006 joined the full-time faculty of Suffolk University’s English Department, where she is currently assistant professor of English. For more information on the book or to contact the author, please email earmbruster@suffolk.edu.

  • Rachael (Petro) Wojtovich (CAS’05, GRS’05) and Andrew Wojtovich (CAS’05, GRS’05) are happy to announce the birth of their second son, Bennett Rhys Wojtovich, on August 3, 2010. He was welcomed with love by big brother Jackson, two years old.

  • Deepa Natarajan (CAS’06) was married to Gautam Ganeshan on June 20, 2010, in Berkeley, Calif. In attendance at the wedding were Olivia Dunn (COM’06), Talia Frenkel (CAS’06), Imogen Lee (CAS’06), Kira Klapper (COM’06), Valentina Gallup (CAS’08), Amber Held (UNI’06), Bonnie Steyer (SED’06, ’09), Rachel Gaddes (SAR’06, SPH’08), Maria Daskolopolous (CAS’05), and Nicholas Kretz (CAS’05). Deepa has worked at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley since graduation. The couple went to Bali for their honeymoon and will then go to South India where they will spend six months in Chennai. Contact her at natarajan.dp@gmail.com.

  • Desiree Garcia (GRS’07, ’08), is a film scholar and assistant professor at Arizona State University in Transborder Studies, but she also stars in Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench, a film that is winning awards all over the country. The film’s New York City premiere was very successful, with positive reviews in The New York Times, The Village Voice, and on NPR.