Alumni Class Notes

1950s

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

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 receiving 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. 

1970s

William A. Boik '75, a recently retired colonel in the Army Reserve, has 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, has been 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, has been 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, has joined the Grosse Pointe investment banking firm of Donnelly Penman & Partners as a managing director. 

Virginia (Kerr) Lundquist '71, '78, has 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.  

1980s 

Mario D. Apruzzeese '84, CEO of Employees Only in Auburn Hills, Mich., has been elected as president of the board of directors of the Detroit Athletic Club.

Marylin E. Atkins '80, has been 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.

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

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

Joe DiMeglio '88, has been 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, has been 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.

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, has 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. 

Judy Love '81, executive vice president of Middle Market Banking for Northern California at Comerica Bank, has been elected to the board of Professional BusinessWomen of California.

Leo V. Mendez, Jr. '88, has 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.

Richard Staky '80, president of the Colorado region of John Laing Homes, has been named the 2008 president of the HomeAid Colorado board of directors.

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

1990s

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

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

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

Thomas Maridada '91, has been 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, has been 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, has been promoted as an associate at Bullock Tice Associates architecture firm in Pensacola, Fla. He was also recently re-appointed to the Pensacola City Planning Board and will serve as vice chairman. 

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

Kelly A. Walters '98, has 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, has been promted to associate in the Healthcare Studio at the Ann Arbor Corporate Headquarters of Hobbs+Black Architects. 

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

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

Jessica McGrath '04, '08, a member of the UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board, has joined Maddin, Hauser, Wartell, Roth & Heller, P.C. as an associate. 

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

Dominic A. Paluzzi '04, '08, a member of the UDM College of Business Administration Alumni Board, has joined Butzel Long as an associate. 

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

Jessica Testolin '07, has recently been named assistant prosecuter for Huron County.