Class Notes

Paul N. Zimmet (Col ’68 L/M) was appointed by Governor Tim Kaine to serve on the board of health professions for the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is also serving a second appointed term and is a past president of the board of dentistry for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Howell O’Rear (Col ’02, Law ’07 L/M) and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their first child, Jet Brown, on July 4, 2009. Mr. O’Rear is an associate attorney of the law firm Riley Warnock & Jacobson in Nashville, Tenn. Mr. O’Rear’s practice focuses on advising clients concerning copyright, trademark, internet and general business matters, as well as litigating those issues. He also writes a legal column for American Songwriter magazine.

Lawrence Roberts (Col ’78 L/M) returned to Washington, D.C., to serve as chief of staff to Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine. He previously served as counselor to the Governor in Richmond, Va., and as chairman of Governor Kaine’s successful 2005 gubernatorial campaign.

Heather MacFarlane Dollenger (Col ’98) and her husband, Michael, welcomed son Ewan James on March 25, 2009. Ewan joins siblings Jonah, 5; Lily, 4; and Wyatt, 2. The family resides in Woodbridge, Va.

Ann M. Mason (Col ’99) and Samuel J. Rigby were married on Feb. 28, 2009. They live in Washington, D.C., where Ms. Mason practices white collar criminal defense at Crowell & Moring LLP and Mr. Rigby teaches science at Charles Hart Middle School.

Justin Nevitt (Col ’05) and Shannon Nevitt (Col ’04) would like to announce the birth of their first child, James Patrick, born on Aug. 25, 2009, at Fair Oaks Hospital, Va.

Shannon Comer (Arch ’94) is proud to announce her new firm, Shannon Comer Architects, Inc. She practices residential and commercial architecture in Stevenson, Md.

Catherine Shnaider Frank (Col ’99 L/M) and Mitch Frank (Col ’96 L/M) welcomed their first child, Spencer David, on June 13, 2009. Spencer is the grandson of Irving Shnaider (Col ’68 L/M) and the nephew of Adam Shnaider (Com ’95 L/M). The family resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Jeffrey Marcello (Engr ’02 L/M) and his wife, Christina, joyfully announce the birth of their first children, a daughter and a son. Twins Claire Juliet and Quinn Patrick were born March 14, 2009. The family resides in Ridgefield, Conn.

Heather Hummel (SCPS ’03) received two literary awards. Her novel, Through Hazel Eyes, published by PathBinder Publishing in 2008, was the recipient of the 1st Honorable Mention at the 2009 New York Book Festival in the Romance category, and her nonfiction title, Gracefully: Looking and Being Your Best at Any Age, coauthored with Valerie Ramsey and published by McGraw-Hill in 2008, won the Merit award in the 2009 Mature Media Awards in the consumer products category.

Richard Sours (Grad ’71) and Charlotte Murphy Sours (Educ ’70) are retiring from their respective careers as educators. Ms. Sours taught 1st, 4th and 7th grades at Wyoming Seminary, Forty-Fort, Pa., and part-time at Marywood University, Scranton, Pa. Mr. Sours taught mathematics and computer science at Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., before becoming an administrator. He was the executive vice president and dean at Ferrum College, Ferrum, Va., and most recently was the president of William Penn University, Oskaloosa, Iowa. The Sours’ will reside at Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke, Va.

Mark Gillespie (Engr ’96 L/M) and his wife, Trixy, welcomed their second child, Caroline Emma, into their family on June 15, 2009. She joins brother, Connor, at the family’s home in Tampa, Fla.

Vanessa Mackey Berry (Engr ’91 L/M) and her husband, Craig, announce the birth of their third child, Ryder Harrison. Ryder was born on Aug. 14, 2009, and joins his brothers: Griffin Craig, 4; and Hudson Ross, 2. The family resides in Duxbury, Mass.

Erin O’Neil Pesant (Engr ’99 L/M) and Charles Pesant (Col ’99) welcomed their first child, George Charles, on March 30, 2009. The family resides in Summit, N.J.

Kelly O’Leary Schultz (Educ ’01) and her husband, David Schultz, celebrated the birth of their first child, Liam O’Leary Schultz, on July 13, 2009. The family resides in Newton, Mass.

Dorinda G. Grasty (Educ ’80, ’01 L/M) was appointed division superintendent of Appomattox County Public Schools in Appomattox, Va., on July 8, 2009. Ms. Grasty began her teaching career in 1980 in Smithfield, Va., and has been with Appomattox County Public Schools since 1982. She was a special education teacher and held the position of director of special education for the past seven years. Ms. Grasty is married to Guy M. Hargrave and they are the parents of six children.

Stuart M. Lewis (Col ’67, Law ’70 L/M) became chair of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation in August.  He was also delighted to welcome his first granddaughter, Harper Jean Lewis, into the family in May.

Kristina Killgrove (Col ’99) and Patrick Alexander Reynolds (Engr ’99) welcomed their first child, Cecilia Livia Reynolds, on June 13, 2009. The family resides in Chapel Hill, N.C., where Ms. Killgrove is working on a Ph.D. in biological anthropology and Mr. Reynolds is a software engineer.

Beth M. Richardson Johnson (Com ’03 L/M) and her husband, Peter A.  Johnson (Col ’89 L/M), welcomed their first child and son, Benton August, on March 14, 2009. The family resides in Virginia Beach.

Peter A.  Johnson (Col ’89 L/M) and his wife, Beth M. Richardson Johnson (Com ’03 L/M), welcomed their first child and son, Benton August, on March 14, 2009. The family resides in Virginia Beach.

Brownie E. Polly III (Col ’81 L/M) of Roanoke, Va., has joined Wood & White Investment Advisors, LLC, based in Lynchburg. He previously was a senior vice president and private client manager with U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

David Dosa (Col ’94 L/M) is publishing a book, Making Rounds with Oscar-The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat, with Hyperion Books, New York in February 2010. Dr. Dosa is a geriatrician and an assistant professor at Brown University. The book, which is also being published in at least a dozen other countries, highlights Dr. Dosa’s experiences working with Oscar the cat and his patients on the third floor of the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, R.I. Oscar gained international attention 2 years ago for his unusual ability to predict when patients with dementia are about to die. An essay about Oscar was published the New England Journal of Medicine.

Elizabeth Donahue Hirko (Col ’98 L/M) and David B. Hirko (Engr ’98 L/M) welcomed their second son, James Brennan, on July 30, 2009. He joins brother, John Patrick, 2. The Hirko boys are the nephews of Karen E. Hirko (Com ’00 L/M). The family resides in Arlington, Va.

Andrew Lee (Col ’85, Med ’89 L/M) is the new chairman of ophthalmology at The Methodist Hospital in Houston and a professor of ophthalmology, neurology and neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Lee’s wife, Hilary Beaver (Med ’91) has also joined the department of ophthalmology as an associate professor of ophthalmology.

Stefanie Mallia Toye (Col ’98 L/M) received a master’s of education degree in literacy education from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in May 2009.

Allison Cobb Bolyard (Com ’98 L/M) and her husband, Andrew, proudly announce the birth of their son, Anderson Chase. Anderson was born on July 23, 2009. The family resides in Cincinnati.

Michelle Vaniels (Com ’95 L/M) and Mike Pendleton were married at Valhalla Vineyards in Roanoke, Va., on Aug. 9, 2009. Ms. Vaniels is an accounting manager at Advance Auto Parts and Mr. Pendleton works for Edward Jones Investments. The couple resides in north Roanoke County. Ms. Vaniels is the daughter of Wally Vaniels (Educ ’69 A/M).

Jennifer Dell’Orto (Engr ’96 CM) and Sean Dell’Orto (Com ’96 L/M) welcomed a son, Jack Burns, on Sept. 8, 2012. Jack joins big sisters Sydney Katherine, 3, and Peyton Michelle, 2. The family resides in Reston, Va.

Sarah Daley Bradley (Col ’03 L/M) and her husband, Sebastien Bradley, would like to announce the birth of their son, Alexandre Jérôme, who was born on Nov. 16, 2008. The Bradleys live in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Bryan Bell Rhodes (Col ’01 L/M) and Mary “Mandy” Maynadier Bielenberg (Col ’01) are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Louisa Maynadier, born Nov. 2, 2008, in Baltimore, Md. Mr. Rhodes received a master of library science degree from the University of Maryland in December 2008. Dr. Rhodes received her medical degree from the University of Maryland in May 2009 and is a resident in psychiatry at Brown University. The Rhodes family resides in Providence, R.I.

Matt Shuman (Col ’98) and Niloo Mofakhami (Col ’97) welcomed their second son, Kasra Caleb, on Sept. 13, 2008. Kasra joins brother Arya, 4. Mr. Shuman is a consultant for ICF, International and Ms. Mofakhami has her own pediatric dental practice in Oakton, Va. The family resides in Oakton.

Alicia Ruggiero Bochi (Col ’94 L/M) is an art advisor specializing in Contemporary paintings, photography, sculpture and other media. She lives with her husband, Gabriel, and their two children, Luca and Rita, in New York City.

Ryan Giffin Ward (Engr ’98) and Lieutenant Commander Kelly Ward welcomed twin sons, Connor Henry and Cameron Anthony, on May 28, 2009. Connor and Cameron join their older brother, Collin Hawkins, 2. The family resides in Virginia Beach. The boys are nephews of Aaron Giffin Childers (Col ’95 L/M).

Candice S. Cook (Col ’00 L/M) is an attorney at Bickel Brewer. She has had an exciting 2009 which started with a visit to the Sundance Film Festival in January, where she appeared in the HBO documentary Good Hair starring Chris Rock, which won a Special Jury Prize For U.S. Documentary. Her appearance in the film also appeared on Entertainment Tonight and the film was referenced in several New York Times and Wall Street Journal articles. Ms. Cook was selected by the Apex Society as a finalist for Atlanta’s “Power 30 Under 30”. She traveled to the Kentucky Derby, where she visited with Adriana Ching (Col ’00 L/M); Turks & Caicos, where she ran into her Kappa Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority sisters, Tiffany Carter (Col ’96) and Erica Williams (Col ’95, Law ’98); Miami to celebrate with Kia J. Lowe (Col ’01 L/M); Atlanta and Virginia for weddings, where she visited with Cabral Thornton (Engr ’99) and Jenai Emmel (Col ’00); the Tribeca Film Festival; Saratoga Races in upstate New York with fellow sorority sister Bettina Goolsby (Com ’00); Harlem, New York, where she visited Sidney Hankerson (Col ’00), who is attending Columbia University for his psychology fellowship; Washington, D.C., where she visited her former University roommate, Andrea White (Col ’00); and was thrilled to receive a visit from her other former roommate, Candice Stanislaus Lancaster (Col ’00 A/M), and her daughter, Nadia Reese Lancaster, 2. Ms. Cook was invited this year to serve on the advisory panels of BlazeTrak, Inc. and the American Bar Association. She is looking forward to traveling to Houston, where she will be honored for her work on the advisory panel for the National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair, which helps expose minorities to the legal field. While she has been thrilled with what 2009 has brought thus far, she is equally excited for the coming months where she will be included in a second anthology tentatively titled 100 Successful African American Attorneys, edited by Evangeline M. Mitchell, to be published by Hope’s Promise Publishing. She plans to continue her volunteer efforts with fellow Hoos to assist the New York Restoration Project and Operation Fairy Dust.

Bruce M. Justice (Arch ’67 L/M) is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 2009. During his career, he served as an officer and trustee of the AIA insurance plan, “AIA Trust”, from 1985 to 1990; vice chairman and secretary of the Governor’s Art and Architectural Review Board, Commonwealth of Virginia, from 1998 to 2002; president of AIA Richmond in 2007; and as a member of the board of directors, Virginia Society, AIA, from 2006 to 2007. He worked with his father, the late Charles C. Justice, and his father’s partner, the late Louis W. Ballou (Arch ’27), a former Alumni Association president, when the Rotunda was restored in 1974-1975.

Tien H. Chu (Engr ’89) is vice president, chief information officer of Nicklaus Companies, a privately held company that is involved in various products and services that mirror the high standards established in the career and life of Jack Nicklaus.

Jed Williams (Col ’02) was selected as a Roy H. Park Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Mr. Williams will begin his second year in the master’s program this fall. Before coming to UNC for graduate studies, Mr. Williams co-hosted “The Afternoon Sports Drive,” a three-hour daily sports show on ESPN Radio affiliate WNSP Sports Radio in Mobile, Ala.

Clare Mimi Petrich (Educ ’77) was elected president of the Port of Tacoma Commission for 2009. She was first elected to the position in 1995, then re-elected in 1999, 2003 and 2007. Ms. Petrich is also secretary for the Trade Development Alliance of Greater Seattle. She serves on the board of directors for the Tacoma-Pierce County Convention and Visitors Bureau and on the economic development board for Tacoma-Pierce County. She is vice president of the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Economic Development District Board and is a fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Ms. Petrich is co-founder of the Commencement Bay Maritime Fest and served as chair for Tall Ships Tacoma 2005 and 2008.

Scott Friski (Col ’07 A/M) completed Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Ala. He entered OTS on April 21, 2009, and on July 22, 2009, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force. He began training as a navigator in Pueblo, Colo., and returned in September to Randolph AFB in San Antonio to complete the training.