Alumni Class Notes

1940s

George M. Kurajian ‘48, ‘63, former Engineering professor at UDM from 1948-1964, was honored recently with a named endowed scholarship at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. The George Masrob Kurajian Scholarship was established by a former student at UM-Dearborn, where Kurajian taught for nearly 30 years. He retired in 1990.

1950s

James '59, and Kay (Porter) '56, Donnelly recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

(The late) Neal Shine ‘52, published (with the aid of family members) Life with Mae, a Detroit Family Memoir, an engaging biography of Shine’s mother.

Mario Trafeli ‘54, was added to the Italian American Pioneers in Sports exhibit by the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. Trafeli, a retired dentist from Bloomfield Hills, is the 1947 North American Speed Skating champion. He was the first Italian American champion in the sport and the first 18-year-old to win the championship.

1960s

James E. Brenner ‘64, a corporate defense attorney at Clark Hill PLC’s Detroit office and head of the firm’s appellate practice group, was named a Michigan Lawyer of the Year 2007 by Michigan Lawyers Weekly magazine.

Geraldine (Balut) Coleman ‘62, ‘68, was elected to the board of directors of The Polish Museum of America, Chicago, and recently received the “Educator of the Year” award from Northeastern Illinois University, as well as the outstanding educator award for “building bridges between cultures and people” from the Piotr Skarga, SJ, High School in Poland.

William M. Donovan ‘61, ‘64, has been appointed to the board of directors of AmeriChip International, Inc.

Rosemary Smith, RSM, ’61, retired at the end of the 2007-2008 school year as principal of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Belmont, Mich.

1970s

William A. Boik ‘75, a recently retired colonel in the Army Reserve, published  his first book, Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea). This fully illustrated hard cover book is the first and only book published on the North Korean awards.

Joseph Brautman ‘76, was elected president of Lewiston Fire and Ambulance Company #1 in Lewiston, N.Y. Brautman is also an advanced life support medic with the company. He teaches 8th grade English at Lewiston-Porter Middle School.

Charles D. Hasse, D.D.S. ‘75, was named the chairman of the Scientific Sessions for the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ 30th Annual Scientific Conference & Exhibition, to be held in Tampa, Fla. in May 2009.

John Lewis ‘74, joined the Grosse Pointe investment banking firm of Donnelly Penman & Partners as managing director.

Virginia (Kerr) Lundquist ‘71, ‘78, joined Smith Barney’s Bloomfield Hills office as a financial advisor.

Rosine Sobczak, O.S.F. ‘75, director of the Lourdes Life Lab at Lourdes College, Sylvania, Ohio, was awarded on behalf of the lab with the Conservation Organization of 2007 at the League of Ohio Sportsmen’s Annual Awards Banquet, Feb. 17 in Columbus. Ohio.

Kathryn Usitalo ’76, a freelance photographer and writer, received three awards in the annual photography competition of the Society of American Travel Writers, Central States Chapter.

F. William Zanders ’79, was named principal of Bishop Rosecrans High School in Zanesville, Ohio.

1980s

Mario D. Apruzzeese ‘84, CEO of Employees Only in Auburn Hills, Mich., was elected president of the board of directors of the Detroit Athletic Club.

Marylin E. Atkins ‘80, was appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to a fifth term as chief judge of the 36th District Court in Detroit.

Don A. Ball ‘82, retired from the United States Coast Guard Reserve on April 11, 2008, after 31 years of service. He had served as a chief petty officer, and his Coast Guard rating was a Marine Science Technician.

John F. Bricker ’80, was named partner in the Real Estate Group of the Reed Smith LLP Business & Finance Department’s New York office.

Thomas R. Crookes ‘87, was named partner at the Akron, Ohio office of Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP. Crookes is a member of the firm’s labor and employment group.

Matthew P. Cullen ‘83, a UDM Board of Trustee member, was named president and chief operating officer of Rock Enterprises.

Joe DiMeglio ‘88, was promoted from group director to vice president of Engagement Management in the Detroit office of Organic, Inc., a digital communications agency.

Kathleen Dobson ‘84, was appointed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Construction Standards Commission. She is the safety director-automotive, for Alberici Constructors, Inc. and is also the president of the Detroit Chapter of NAWIC.

James C. Gouin ‘84, was appointed to the board of directors of Azure Dynamics Corporation, a developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles. Gouin is the chief financial officer of Tower Automotive LLC.

Rev. Steven M. Gualdoni ‘80, was ordained to the Sacred Order of the Permanent Diaconate, according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, on June 27, 2008. He will serve at St. Christopher Parish in Marquette, Mich. Fr. Gualdoni continues with his employment as a physician assistant at U.P. Hematology-Oncology Associates of Marquette.

Don Isaacs ‘85, was recently named director of EH&S, and plant engineer for the LM3000-base loaded Wheelabrator Norwalk Energy Co. Inc.

Dean N. Jones ‘87, joined Hawker Beechcraft as vice president, quality compliance and performance excellence. He is responsible for manufacturing quality systems, compliance and process controls, as well as Lean and Six Sigma deployments in operations.

William L. Kozyra ‘80, was named chairman and CEO of TI Automotive. He will be responsible for TI Automotive’s Global Fluid Carrying Systems, HVAC and Global Fuel Systems businesses from its Michigan headquarters.

Judy (Slusser) Love ‘81, executive vice president of Middle Market Banking for Northern California at Comerica Bank, was elected to the board of Professional BusinessWomen of California.

Leo V. Mendez, Jr. ‘88, joined OWP/P Architects as design principal for the firm’s retail group in Phoenix, Ariz.

Theresa M. Pigott ‘83, a holistic chiropractor, recently founded a new center for holistic healing in Troy, Mich., called the Authentic Living Center.

Mark S. Piotrowski ’86, was elected senior associate of The Albert Kahn Family of Companies, a provider of architecture, engineering, planning, design and management services.

Richard Staky ‘80, president of the Colorado region of John Laing Homes, was named the 2008 president of the HomeAid Colorado board of directors.

Eric Jon Taylor ‘87, joined the Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs, LLP law firm in the Atlanta, Ga. office as a partner on the firm’s litigation team.

1990s

D.J. Culkar ‘95, was promoted to senior vice president and assistant general counsel for Comerica Bank, where he manages the legal affairs of retail bank, wealth and institutional management, and treasury management divisions of Comerica.

George Cushingberry Jr. ‘91, a state representative, was presented with the 2008 Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Michigan (AICUM) Distinguished Service Award at the AICUM annual meeting in May. He was honored for his leadership defending the Michigan Tuition Grant program and its 2007 funding.

Peter DeBoer ’95, has been named head coach of the Florida Panthers Hockey Club.

Joseph P. McGill ‘90, was promoted to principal at the law firm of Foley, Baron & Metzger, PLLC (FBM). McGill focuses on commercial law, business and estate planning, business torts, construction, employee benefits and tax appeals.

Christopher A. McMican ‘91, ‘94, was elected a principal of Miller Canfield law firm. McMican focuses his practice on employee benefits law.

Jennifer Kennedy ‘99, was promoted to director of Marketing and Public Relations at St. Mary Mercy Hospital, where she has served since 2002.

Joseph Kyriakoza ‘96, was promoted to vice president, National Advertiser Solutions at Jumpstart Automotive Media, Inc. He will oversee national sales and product strategy.

Thomas Maridada ‘91, was named the 2008 Michigan Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators. Maridada is the superintendent of the Inkster Public Schools.

Peter A. Narsavage ‘92, was promoted to state construction geotechnical engineer for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

Yuliy Osipov ‘98, has formed Osipov Bigelman, P.C. in Southfield, Mich. The law firm focuses on bankruptcy, business and construction litigation.

Paul D. Ritz ‘91, was promoted to associate at Bullock Tice Associates architecture firm in Pensacola, Fla. He was also re-appointed to the Pensacola City Planning Board and will serve as vice chairman.

Amy (Potok) Russeau ’98, was elected senior associate of The Albert Kahn Family of Companies, a provider of architecture, engineering, planning, design and management services. She serves as the firm’s director of Marketing/Public Relations.

Adam P. Stadt ‘99, joined the professional staff at WTW Architects in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Greg Trzaskoma ‘94, an adjunct instructor of theatre at UDM and frequent guest actor and director of UDM plays, was recently featured in both the pilot of ABC Studio’s The Prince of Motor City and Clint Eastwood’s motion picture Gran Torino, which is slated for a December 2008 theatrical release. Both productions filmed footage in metro Detroit.

Kelly A. Walters ‘98, joined the Employment Department of Dykema’s Bloomfield Hills office as an associate. Her practice focuses on labor and employment issues.

2000s

Thomas Chasty ‘04, ‘06, was promoted to associate in the Healthcare Studio at the Ann Arbor Corporate Headquarters of Hobbs+Black Architects.

Michael A. Chichester, Jr. ‘07, joined the law firm Sommers Schwartz, P.C. His practice focuses on employment and commercial litigation.

Alton M. James ‘06, was awarded in January the “Keep the Dream Alive Award” from the Archdiocese of Detroit, Office of Black Catholic Ministries.

Jessica McGrath ‘04, ‘07, a member of the UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board, joined Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth & Heller, P.C. as an associate.

Shaun M. Perski ‘01, joined Eckert Wordell LLC of Kalamazoo, Mich. as an intern architect.

Dominic A. Paluzzi ‘04, ‘07, a member of the UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board, joined Butzel Long as an associate. He focuses his practice on business litigation and trade secret and non-compete law.

Breanne M. Smith ‘07, joined the Bronx District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney in the Criminal Court Bureau.

Jessica Testolin ‘07, was named assistant prosecutor for Huron County.