Alumni News
We want to hear from you. Please send your updates, address changes and email addresses as well as photographs to nbird@villamaria.com or write to 2403 West Eighth Street, Erie, PA 16505. Don’t wait until your reunion to let us know what you’re up to. If you send your email address VMA will send you periodic updates with all kinds of great information.
Class of 1942
Members of the Villa Maria Class of 1942 recently met for lunch at the Colony Pub & Grille. Pictured above are (seated) Rita Schmitt Neidrriter and Ruth Fasenmyer Didelot, (standing) Mary Guerrin Walker, Mary Agnes Culhane Grant, Sr. Jean Baptiste (Dolores DiLuzio), Magdalena Schlecht Piotrowski, and Mary Elizabeth Glover Williams.
Class of 1945
Eilene Crawley Pierson had a wonderful time on an African safari last year.
Class of 1947
Irene Kubeja Mashburn worked as a CPA following graduation from Villa. While on the job, she met her husband Wallace Mashburn from Houston, Texas. They were married on October 11, 1958 in Erie. They had two daughters, Roxanne and Leanne. Mashburn is living in Mesquite, Nevada.
Julianna McCarthy just published her first book of poetry titled, "Photoplay."
Kay (Catherine) Vogel Presto, co-owner of Presto Productions, a communications company in Ontario, California, was recently honored with three more national awards. Her technical article, JFR Team Still Researching Funny Car Safety, won First Place. Her color photo of NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon titled, U-m-m-m, That Pepsi Tastes Good, received a Third Place Award, and her web site – www.carsandcompetition.com – was awarded an Honorable Mention. These awards were presented at the national American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters (AARWBA) press breakfast in Indianapolis the day before the running of the Indianapolis 500 race. Her Apparel business, which sells apparel with positive sayings for people over 50, was also honored as “Best Home- Owned Women’s Business” by the For You Business Connection in Southern California.
Class of 1949
Donna Nerz Heddrick welcomed her first great-grandchild, Anna Kathleen Szewczykowski, on October 6, 2008.
Class of 1950
Sister Mary Rita Kuhn (Ann Kuhn), Sister Marie Paul Ashworth (Jane Ashworth) and Sister Hildegarde Boxer (Bernadette Boxer)'50 celebrated their 60th anniversary as Sisters of St. Joseph on July 17, 2010. A Mass was held followed by brunch at the Villa Maria Community Living Center. Friends and family were present. Sister Mary Rita works for the Diocese, Sister Marie Paul works at Saint Vincent and Sister Hildegarde monitors the prayer call at the Living Center. Sister Joan Thomas (deceased) '49 would have also celebrated this year.
Class of 1951
Jean Vickey Kirk and her husband Dr. William Kirk celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on July 19, 2008.
Class of 1959
Susan Dewey is lovin’ life with great friends and a super family. Grandchild #8 en route. She gets around, enjoys her cats and leaves her Christmas tree up and lit until May!
Class of 1961
Maryce J. Cunningham is Regional Manager of Government and Community Relations for Suddenlink Communications serving Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Mississippi. She is President of the Louisiana Cable & Telecommunications Association, Vice-President of the Arkansas Cable Telecommunications Association, Secretary of the Arkansas Broadband Advisory Council, and Treasurer of the Northeast Arkansas Children’s Advocacy Center. Maryce is the host of an award winning monthly television show and a registered lobbyist for the cable/internet/phone industry. She has no intention to retire but enjoys taking time off to take cruises: last year Alaska and this year the Baltic.
Class of 1963
Mary Louise Corica Diehl has happily retired after 42 years of nursing. Now living in sunny Orlando, Florida she enjoys volunteering at her church in many ministries. Her daughter, son-in-law and beautiful 5-year-old granddaughter live nearby. She plans to travel and plan for her 50th class reunion in 2013.
Barbara Laymon Balkovic has been retired for 9 years and is loving it. She welcomed her first great grandchild, Corey, Jr., born July 30, 2007 and her 7th grandchild, Theresa Marie, born December 25, 2006.
Class of 1964
Kathleen Musolff Kostrubanic has moved to Cazenovia, NY, close to her daughter and family. She is loving and enjoying her two grandchildren.
Cynthia (Cindy) Glover Timmons after retiring from corporate life in 1997, and her husband Max moved to Del Web in Lincoln, California. They have 5 children: Mike, Cheryl, Vicki, Ricky (V&R are twins) and Jon. Cindy is enjoying life with the church choir and different ministries of the church. She makes prayer shawls for people suffering with loss or in time of need. Cindy dabbles quite a bit in Genealogy not only in the USA but overseas. She and Max love to travel so they became outside agents now travel more than ever.
Class of 1965
Susan Kinnane Goethals teaches biology in a Catholic high school built for 800 students which now has 1200 students enrolled.
June Williams Hoeflich retired in January of 2009 for the 2nd time. Her first career was in banking and most recently she was President of Sheehan Health Centers in Buffalo.
Susan De Platchett is President of the Board of Education for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. She was at the White House to welcome the Pope and attended the Papal Mass.
Class of 1966
*Sheila Glover D'Ammassa*is married to a writer and living in Rhode Island, where she has worked as Director of Academic Administration at Rhode Island School of Design for 25 years. She has a son who is an actor and Zen teacher in New Mexico, and one grandson.
Marilyn Phister has worked for over 27 years as the executive producer of programs at ABC Affiliate WPVI in Philadelphia.
Joyce Koehler Mikolajczyk is the proud grandmother of Madilyn Helene, daughter of Tammy Mikolajczyk Bretter ’94 and is expecting another grandchild from daughter Jill Mikolajczyk Nolan ’91.
Class of 1970
Patricia McLaughlin is currently working as Director of Catholic Schools and Principal Personnel for the Diocese of Erie.
Class of 1971
Annelle Amundsen Fletcher is “thinking fondly of my senior year at Villa…My parents moved from a northwest Chicago suberb to Erie the summer of my Junior year in high school. I was assigned to Sr. Ann Stephanie’s homeroom and was under the wings of mentors Mary Carlson (now Cardot), Mary Pat Carney (now Froelich) and Eileen Cunnignham (now Reynolds). Good wings to be under, indeed!”
Class of 1972
Linda J. Ponsford Kitchell recently retired after 34 years with the Federal Government as a computer specialist.
Class of 1976
Susan Carneval Leonard is working at Life Technologies Inc. based in Carlsbad, CA, as Senior Application Scientist. The work is developing Assays in Clinical and Pharmaceutical Industry using mass Spectrometry. Her geographic area is based in Boston, MA.
Theresa M. Power-Natale is a proud VMA Alumni parent of daughter Maura Natale who in 2008 successfully completed four wonderful years at Villa. Theresa is excited and fully supportive of the new consolidation agreement between VMA and Prep! Mary Queen of Victory, Pray for us. Mary Queen of Prep, Pray for us.
Karen Engro has been designated as Chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners which is empowered by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to recommend individuals for admission to the bar of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This mission preserves the integrity of the legal system, and protects all individuals seeking legal representation from unethical or incompetent lawyers. The Board emphasizes the importance of professional responsibility and character in the legal profession, and evaluates the likelihood of an aspiring lawyer’s ability to uphold, and commit to, the standards of the profession. Karen is also the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for the United States District Court for the Western District of PA having designed and implemented the Court’s ADR program that is a mandatory part of the civil litigation process. She provides mediation training nationally and internationally, as well as designing and consulting on institutional mediation programs.
Deborah Rachocki Hunt is living in North East with her husband Wally. Her oldest, Courtney, just completed 9th grade and her youngest, Kristen just had “graduation ceremonies” from 4th grade. “Be happy for the Sun!”
Class of 1980
Christine Crawford Danielewicz and her piano students took part in the 2009 Piano Extravaganza, which was held in May of 2009 at the State Forum in Harrisburg, PA. Danielewicz and her students enjoyed playing together with students and teachers from the Capital Area Chapter of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association for the ensemble concert which featured 16 pianos. Each set involved 32 musicians, 64 hands and 320 fingers playing at the same time. This month Danielewicz plans to be part of the third annual Children's Charities Music Marathon. Money raised from the event will go toward the World Surgical Foundation.
Class of 1981
Dana Frazer is living in Dayton, Ohio with her daughter Adrienne. After graduating from Villa, she went on to receive her Bachelor Degree from the University of Dayton, Mater of Public Health from Columbia University and her Medical Degree from Wright State University. After practicing General Surgery as part of a private group, two years ago she joined the Dayton VA Medical Center where she is currently Chief of Surgery.
Class of 1982
Ruth Ann Dudenhoefer Wood is currently working for Pall Corporation in Courtland, NY as a Principal Engineer in the Advanced Engineering Process Group.
Class of 1988
Diana Zimmer Goodwin is Event Management Consultant with Goodwin Strategies, LLC in Atlanta, GA. She has a baby girl named Grace Elizabeth.
Class of 1993
Kelly Brougham Bidwell has been married for two years to Kevin Charles (K.C.) Bidwell and graduated in May from Edinboro University with her Master’s Degree in Social Work.
Sarah Weber Kallner and is Vice President, Business Operation for Smith Provision Company in Erie. She and her husband recently welcomed their second daughter, Eliza Claire Kallner, born March 17, 2009.
Class of 1995
Scott D. Apple has two beautiful children: daughter Shyan is nine years old and son Vincent is four. He married the love of his life, Jennifer E. Smith of Painesville, Ohio on May 30, 2009.
Class of 1996
Susan Nadzam-Roubic and her husband Scott welcomed their second son, Colin, on November 6, 2008. He joined his big brother Jacob who is now 2.
Class of 1998
Jennifer Dombrowski is the Technical Support Manager for Grand Canyon University and moved to Aviano, Italy in June of 2009 with her husband, Timothy Davis. Jennifer will continue to work for GCU, taking technology to a global level.
Kara Gibson Hoffman and her husband Benjamin live in Tucson, Arizona. They welcomed their first daughter, Eleanora Dawn on October 15, 2008.
Laina Hamilton Aquiline and Matthew Aquiline married at St. Bartholomew Church in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2007. They were blessed with the arrival of identical twin sons - Michael Steven and Mason Matthew - on March 11, 2009. They reside in Washington, DC where Laina is taking hiatus from lobbying and relishing her time as a stay-at-home mom.
Class of 1999
Ashlee Morewood Tabolt and Brian C. Tabolt welcomed a healthy baby boy, Hayden Edward, on May 19, 2009.
Class of 2000
Kevin and Caroline Granahan Miceli welcomed Logan Alexander on July 21, 2009. The Miceli’s moved to Columbus in August where Kevin will be pursuing an MBA at The Ohio State University.
Class of 2001
Stephanie Snyder Demko welcomed a daughter, Madyson Carole Demko, on March 11, 2009 at 7:52AM. She weighed in at 7lbs 10.1oz and 20” long. She joins big brother Zach at home.
Class of 2007
Megan Mccullum transferred from Mercyhurst North East to Gannon. She is majoring in Criminal Justice and hopes to one day be in the Secret Service.
Class of 2011
Mary Katherine Wilcox was one of 1,500 student council leaders and student activity advisers who attended the 73rd Annual National Association of Student Councils (NASC) National Conference, June27-30 at Highlands Ranch High School in Colorado. NASC, a program of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), offers leadership training at its conferences, focusing on turning student leaders into lifelong leaders. While at Villa, she has served as Vice President of the SADD club, Vice President of the Latin Club, Student Council Class Representative, PASC Region A Representative, has been inducted into the National Honor Society, has participated in Soccer and Lacrosse, is involved in Lead and Seed and several service projects. She is the daughter of David and Brigid Wilcox.