Class Notes
John Valliere (Col ’02)
John Valliere (Col ’02) earned tenure and was promoted to assistant professor in the communications department at Eastern Florida State College.
Peter Wickersham (Col ’84)
Peter H. Wickersham, Esq. (Col ’84 CM) was recognized by Best Lawyers® as the 2022 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” award winner in San Antonio. Mr. Wickersham, President of Peter H. Wickersham, P.C., was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America™ 2022 in the field of Health Care Law. As “Lawyer of the Year,” Mr. Wickersham received the highest overall peer-feedback in the field of Health Care Law in San Antonio. This singular recognition is awarded annually to one lawyer for each specialty and designated metropolitan area. Mr. Wickersham, one of only six attorneys in San Antonio who is Board Certified in Health Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, was previously recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2010-2021 in the field of Health Care Law.
Peter H. Wickersham, P.C., a Distinguished Rated boutique health law firm in San Antonio founded in 2003, has been recognized in US News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2013-2014 and 2016-2021 as a San Antonio Metro Region Tier Two Firm in the field of Health Care Law. The firm was also recognized in US News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2015 as a San Antonio Metro Region Tier One Firm in the field of Health Care Law, one of only four law firms in San Antonio to receive this prestigious recognition that year. In 2018, Mr. Wickersham was named one of the Best S.A. Lawyers in Health Care by Scene San Antonio magazine.
With more than twenty-five years of experience in the field of health law, Mr. Wickersham focuses on the representation of physicians and physician group practices in connection with business transactions, entity formations, federal and state regulatory matters, and practice operations. Mr. Wickersham is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Louisiana State Bar, the Texas Bar College, the American Health Law Association, and the San Antonio Bar Association. In addition, he is a former Council Member of the Health Law Section of the State Bar of Texas, a current Member of the Health Law Exam Commission for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and the current Vice President and a Member of the National Board of Directors of the Catholic Bar Association. Mr. Wickersham is Of-Counsel to Pesek & Helms, LLP, an AV Preeminent® Rated, boutique Corporate, Real Estate, Health Law, Estate Planning & Probate, and Oil & Gas firm in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1984 and Tulane Law School Cum Laude in 1992.
Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on an exhaustive peer-review evaluation. More than 113,000 industry leading lawyers are eligible to vote (from around the world), and we have received more than 15 million evaluations on the legal abilities of other lawyers based on their specific practice areas around the world. For the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, more than 10.8 million votes were analyzed, which resulted in more than 66,000 leading lawyers being included in the new edition. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor.
Victor Bernet (Med ’89)
Dr. Victor Bernet (Med ’89) served as the President of the American Thyroid Association for the 2020-2021 governance year. The ATA consists of 1,700+ physician and scientist members from 43 countries who are dedicated to improving care for patients with thyroid disease and thyroid cancer. Vic was recently promoted to Professor of Medicine for the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine. Since 2012, Vic has served as the Chair of the Division of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida which U.S. News & World Report just ranked in the top 30 in the country for endocrine and diabetes care. Vic continues to live in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida with his wife Alicia Bernet (Col ’86).
George Kliavkoff (Law ’93)
George Kliavkoff (Law ’93) of Las Vegas was hired as commissioner of the Pac-12 Conference, starting July 1st. Nicknamed the “Conference of Champions,” the Pac-12 has won more NCAA national team championships than any other conference.
Thomas Gibson (Col ’06 CM)
Tom Gibson (Col ’06 CM) has joined Community Preservation Partners, a national affordable housing developer committed to creativity, performance and purpose, as senior development manager.
Gibson comes to CPP with extensive experience structuring and managing complex multifamily developments through creative financing strategies and public-private partnerships. In this capacity, Gibson leads CPP East’s in-house team of developers through the successful completion of preservation projects. He is responsible for assembling and managing all external team members across various stages of development, including financiers, architects, designers, engineers and contractors.
The talent and connections Gibson will bring to the team will enable CPP to source more deals and efficiently complete the financing and rehabilitation of communities, in turn impacting the lives of residents for decades to come.
Recognized as a “40 Under 40” honoree by both Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia Chambers of Commerce, Gibson has earned a reputation in affordable housing within the D.C. metro area, having been appointed by the Governor of Virginia, Senate of Virginia, Arlington County Board and City Council of Alexandria to various boards and commissions serving Northern Virginia and the Commonwealth. As the youngest gubernatorial appointee in Virginia Housing’s history, Gibson currently serves as vice chair and has held several board positions with the agency since 2016.
Gibson is a veteran and current artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. After returning to civilian life, he consulted for the Housing Authority of Prince George’s County and was formerly vice president of development for Stratford Capital Group where he managed new construction and complex acquisition rehabilitation projects in Northern Virginia, Maryland, Georgia and Florida, totaling 561 units and $143.2 million in total development costs. Gibson received his M.B.A. from Cornell University, an M.P.S. in real estate from Georgetown University. He is currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) from Harvard University.
william prillaman (Arch ’76)
William Darwin Prillaman (Arch ’76 CM) published Richmond In Watercolor -dining out + drinking in, an effort to help restaurant workers displaced by the pandemic by donating the profits to their cause. Plein air paintings of over 30 Richmond restaurants are featured, along with thumbnail sketches and recipes. The project began in the winter of 2020, when closures prompted him to decide to help the industry by sharing his art. His watercolor skills were honed by Professor John Ruseau (Arch ’56), while he was a teaching assistant in the Master of Architecture program. The book may be virtually viewed online at boprillaman.com.
Joan Noelker (Col ’04)
Joan Noelker (Col ’04 CM) and husband Phil Moy welcomed their second child, a daughter, Maeve SunYan Moy, on July 26, 2021.
Avron Stoloff (Com ’88)
Classmates Alan MacKenzie (Col ’88 CM), Steve Furr (Col ’88 CM), Jim Wolfe (Com ’88 CM) and Avron Stoloff (Com ’88 CM) completed the August 2021 Triple Bypass bicycle event in Colorado. The grueling event covers 110 miles and over 10,000 vertical feet in one day.
Gary Alexander (Col ’64)
Gary Alexander (Col ’64 CM) has published Poems For Your Pandemic, a light-hearted look at the way we lived in 2020. The book contains poems such as “My Wife’s My Barber!”, “Line Up, Line Up, Its For The Test!”, “Why Is Toilet Paper So Hard to Find?”, “I’ve Lost My Mask!” and many more. For more details, visit www.downtimewithme.com.
Gary’s love of history started at the University. It was the only subject he did well in, he says. Included in the book are humorous poems written more than a century ago by Americans struggling with the Spanish Flu. As Gary observes, it’s pretty amazing how history repeats.
Gary hopes everyone stays safe and takes time to look back and marvel at how our lives have changed.
Suzanne Gannon (Col ’89)
Journalist and essayist Suzanne Gannon (COL ’89 CM) has parlayed her insatiable curiosity and her reportorial skills in interviewing and fact-finding into a fresh endeavor known as The Essay Conqueror. In this capacity she works as a writing coach to students grappling with the daunting task of the college-admissions essay in the test-optional Age of Corona, when writing is again enjoying a moment in the limelight. Working one-on-one and in small groups over Zoom, and using reading and writing exercises that emphasize discovery and exposition, Suzanne has advised students from across the country who have applied to undergrad and grad programs alike, both as first-years and as transfers, in an array of disciplines. In each case, she challenges students to find the truest voice in which to tell their most authentic story.
Kathryn Wilderotter (Col ’96)
Kathryn Wilderotter (COL ’96 CM) married the wonderful, beautiful and talented Mara Bayewitz in May in a small ceremony held at a friend’s home. While they were able to wait long enough for their loved ones to be vaccinated against COVID-19, they had absolutely no desire to wait one moment longer. Both women are mental health therapists practicing in Maryland and were overjoyed to be able to hug their family members in person and share this moment with them.
Frank Macgill (Com ’91)
Frank Macgill (Com ’91) was selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2022 in the practice areas of Tax Law and Trust and Estates. Macgill is a partner at HunterMaclean, a law firm with offices in Savannah and St. Simons Island, Georgia.
Founded in 1983, Best Lawyers is an annual publication that recognizes attorneys for outstanding achievements in their areas of practice. Attorneys are selected through peer-review surveys that have been completed by thousands of leading lawyers who confidentially evaluate their peers.
Best Lawyers is regarded as a reliable and unbiased source for legal referrals by the media and the public, as well as within the legal profession. Attorneys are not permitted to pay a fee for inclusion or consideration as part of Best Lawyers.
Danielle Tangorre (Col ’07 CM)
Danielle H. Tangorre (Col ’07 CM) has joined Robinson+Cole as a partner in the firm’s health law group. Tangorre represents and advises a broad range of health care providers and trade associations on transactional matters, litigation, operational and compliance issues, fraud and abuse, HIPAA, and regulatory matters.
Lucas Hobbs (Law ’98 CM)
Lucas Hobbs (Law ’98) was elected by the Virginia General Assembly to serve as a General District Court Judge for the 28th Judicial District.
Steve Wann (Col ’74)
Steve Wann (Col ’75) now lives with his wife on an island off the coast of Brazil. Wann majored in Latin American Studies at UVA and received an M.A. from the University of Hawaii and an M.B.A. from William & Mary. He held an advanced Coast Guard Captain’s license for many years and delivered sailboats all over the world. He was the navigator of Godspeed (a replica of the sailing ship that brought the first colonists to Jamestown in 1607) on her voyage from England in 1985.
Hedieh Fakhriyazdi (Arch ’09, Col ’09)
Hedieh Fakhriyazdi (Arch ’09) Director of Social Responsibility and the Weil Foundation, has been awarded a 2021 Innovation Award by the New York Law Journal for her leadership in making our communities more equitable, inclusive, just and sustainable through philanthropy and social impact initiatives.
Hedieh was recognized as one of the legal industry’s innovative individuals and honored for her achievements leading Weil’s Social Responsibility department and charitable foundation. Her recent accomplishments include the launch in 2019 of the Weil Legal Innovators program, a groundbreaking philanthropic initiative that partners with top law schools and nonprofit organizations to provide annual public service fellowships for rising law students. Hedieh has also launched Community@Weil, enhancing the Firm’s community service platform to help attorneys and staff give back in meaningful ways.
The winners of the Innovation Awards will be recognized in the New York Law Journal’s upcoming Professional Excellence magazine and honored at the New York Legal Awards in New York City on October 13, 2021.
Ellsworth Johnson (Col ’92)
Ellsworth K. “Kenny” Johnson III (Col ’92 CM) retired from the U.S. Army at the rank of Colonel on September 30, 2020. He served in the Army for 28 years and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal at his retirement ceremony, which was held on August 6, 2020. His last military assignment was as the Program Manager for the Missile Defense Agency’s X-Band Radars Program Office at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. COL(R) Johnson, his wife, Terri, and their sons live in Madison, Alabama.
Richard Ranellone (Engr ’68)
Richard Rannellone (Engr ’68) has published a novel, Auslander (German for foreigner). The story deals with a World War II German soldier, who is captured in North Africa by the American army. After spending his captivity at a POW camp in Texas, he returns to war-ravaged Germany, but is disillusioned by the dismal state of the country and the lack of professional opportunities for him, a degree holder in aeronautical engineering. He longs to return to the U.S. and finally achieves that goal. Life in the U.S. presents a new array of opportunities and challenges that he must confront.
Gloria Silverberg (Educ ’78)
Gloria Manko Silverberg (Educ ’78 CM) was awarded Montgomery County Elementary School Counselor of the Year in 2020, and was a Maryland School Counselor of the Year Semi-Finalist in 2021. The School Counselor of the Year Award is celebrated to focus attention on the contributions of professional school counselors and their impact in helping students achieve their personal and academic success, by removing emotional barriers and supporting students in their mental well being, and building an inclusive, safe environment where all can thrive. She is currently working as a Career and Life Coach after a 25 year career in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.
Michael Widener (Col ’72 CM)
Michael Widener (Col ’72 CM) has digitally published a novel, Fishbein, Ascending, now available, together with his non-fiction writings, at https://widenerites.com. Mike retired from law practice and public officialdom in 2021, and divides his time between Arizona’s deserts and the hills of Middle Tennessee with his wife Peggy.
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