Careers and Education

Darius Burden ’93 pinned on the rank of U.S. Air Force Major on November 1, 2009. Darius held a promotion ceremony on October 31 in his hometown of Elizabethtown, NC. He is a navigator and is currently stationed at Robins Air Force Base in Warner Robins, Ga.

Robert Emory ’82 left North Carolina State University in 1985 and completed U.S. Army helicopter flight training in 1986. He then spent a year in South Korea, where he met his wife MiKyong. The following 20 plus years have been spent flying all over the world with Army aviation units in several military operations and in numerous countries.

Bob is now retired from the Army and is happy to be working for Sikorsky helicopters in Stratford, Conn.

Helen Moore ’84 took a job with a consulting company, Pharsight Corporation. She is living in the San Francisco Bay Area, enjoying all the nearby cycling and backpacking opportunities. Her professional specialties include math modeling of HIV, hepatitis C, oncology, and optimization of drug regimens using control theory.

Thomas E. Meigs ’86 received two faculty awards at the University of North Carolina Asheville, where he has been an assistant professor of biology since 2003. Ted received the 2007-08 University Research Council Award for Scholarship and Creative Activity, and also the 2007-08 Award for Excellence in Teaching by an Untenured Faculty Member. Ted and his wife Karen and their daughters, Audrey and Ava, live in Asheville.

Jason Radford ’03 will be graduating from the University of Chicago with a Master’s Degree in the Social Sciences and hopes to go on to graduate school for a Ph.D. in Sociology.

Josh Judkins ’05 graduated from Ohio Northern University with a BS degree in biochemistry and will be continuing his education at Cornell University as a Ph.D. track student in the Chemistry & Chemical Biology Department.

Cathy (Middleton) Sipprell ’00 finished her BA in Psychology and has begun working on her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. She plans on using her degree to work in a group home with teens.

Melissa (Bonner) Lawler ’89 has returned to school after 15 years as a banking executive. She is currently working on her doctoral in Biology. Her research builds on her previous experience with organizational structures by focusing on communication and decision-making pathways in honeybees using network theory as a foundation.

Engagements and Marriages

Mary Lynn Mason ’84 got married to her college sweetheart, Stephen Nixon, just days before Alumni Weekend of 2009.

Just after the proposal, in New York!

Erin McCusker ‘02 got engaged to her boyfriend Jeff Satwicz in New York City overlooking the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center. Erin and Jeff are looking forward to a fun wedding in fall 2010 in the Boston area.

Betty Hong Yiu Tung ’00 made an honest man out of Douglas R. Paletta ’00. The couple was married in August 2008 in Chapel Hill.

Leslie O’Loughlin ’01 married Jeremiah Wander on October 4, 2008 in Linville, NC. They met at North Carolina State University on a Habitat for Humanity trip.

Lejla Hadzikadic ’95 married Said Gusic on October 12, 2008 at the Daniel Stowe Botantical Gardens in Charlotte, NC. Lejla’s close friends Stephen Leach ’95 served as a member of the groom’s court and Carla (Locklear) Rincones ’95 had the honor of being a member of the bride’s court.

Beth Lassiter ’94 married Dustin Decker on July 19, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Births and Adoptions

Caroline Herbert ’95 and Michelle Reader are happy to announce the birth their son, Owen Alexander Herbert-Reader, on July 20, 2009. He started out at 6 pounds 4 ounces. and 18.75 inches.

Aaron Forsyth ’04 and his wife Ashley are the proud parents of Azaylee Horizon, born September 10th, 2009. Azaylee weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 inches long.

Isaac at 6 months

Amy (Whaley) Watson ’94 and her husband Dwayne are happy to announce the birth of their son, Isaac Alexander Watson. He was born November 18. 2008 at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. He was 9lb 9oz and 21.5 inches long. He joins big sister Claire Margaret, who is three.

Trey Lanford

Stephanie Fogleman Lanford (1994) and Lee Lanford gladly welcomed Lawrence Lee (Trey) Lanford, III on April 13, 2009. Trey weighed 10lbs. 9oz. and was 20″ long. He joins very excited big sister Anna Lanford, age 3.

Emilia (Tarleton) McCall (1994) and Glenn Gibson McCall, III (1994) are proud to announce the birth of a daughter, Eliza Catherine. Eliza was born on April 15th, 2009 and weighed 8 lbs 2 oz. She was welcomed home by her big brother, Mac.

The Hollier Family

Chandra Smith Hollier (Class of 1986) and Dwight Hollier announce the birth of their daughter, Clarke Maren, on October 4, 2008. She also has a delighted brother, Dwight Spencer (6 yrs old).

Wyatt (3) and Marian (2 months) at Halloween

Kristy (Wyatt) Alford, class of ‘94, husband David, and son Wyatt (3)would like to announce a new addition to their family. Marian Elizabeth Alford was born August 24, 2008 at 1:04 pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs, 2 oz and was 20 inches long. Mom, baby, and the whole family are doing fine.

Son Peter born January 3, 2004.

Chandra Smith Hollier (’86) and husband Dwight announce the birth of their daughter, Clarke Maren on October 4, 2008. She joins big brother Dwight (5). The family resides in Weddington, NC.

3 days old

Jake Proctor (c/o 1998) and I would like to announce the birth of our first child, Adelia Rose Proctor. Miss Adelia arrived at 12:06PM on Thursday, August 28, 2008. Jake and I never thought we’d have kids, but God had other plans. Even during her frequent screaming fits, she’s a blessing!

By the way, this means we’ll miss the 10 year reunion coming up. 10 years already? Wow!

Susan Brown (’95) and Peter Liao are pleased to announce the birth of their son, John Winston “Jack” Liao, born August 15, 2008.

Duncan (3 months) & Jane

My husband, Joe Shaver, and I announce the birth of our son

Duncan Henry Shaver on May 1, 2008 in Burlington, Vermont.

He was 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 21 inches.

He joins his sister, Jane, who will be 3 years old in October, 2008.

My wife Melissa and I are proud to announce the birth of Jonah Daniel Rice on August 27, 2008. He’s the first child for both of us. Mom, baby, and dad are all well and enjoying the late Seattle summer.

Lauren and I are happy to announce the birth of our son, Ezra Cope Livingston, born June 8, 2008.

Deceased

Portrait from Master Sgt. Nancy Morgan’s memorial page

Yessic Spencer (1984) died on the 12th of November 2008 during a cave dive in Florida. Here is a link to his obit and the guest book at his memorial service website

https://www.usna.com/SSLPage.aspx?RSS=obits&referrer=&pid=6549

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=4411051565249

A Master Sergeant who served with Yessic in Iraq has a nice section for him at the bottom of her memorial page.

http://www.morgans-linedance-mania.org/Memories.html

This is a link to an extensive story about the incident, which for me is more complete than a short obit, but it may also be upsetting since you learn some details of what appears to have happened.

http://www.bigbluetech.net/big-blue-tech-news/2009/02/04/2-divers-perish-underwater-cave/

Yessic was a solid individual. Even though he is one of many I knew reasonably well at S&M yet only saw at reunions, I miss him.

Alsace Gallop’s mother passed away unexpectedly this February. The obituary can be found with this link: http://www.legacy.com/TheTimesNews/Obituaries.asp?page=lifestory&personid=124411842 .

Amanda Howell Smith’s husband, Daniel Smith passed away on April 19, 2009 as a result of complications after a double lung transplant.

Joseph Haasis, husband of APRIL MOON Haasis (class of 1987), passed away suddenly on February 6, 2009.

He is survived by his wife April and their two cherished children, Shannon (6) and Justin (8).

An education fund has been established for the children. For more information, contact Heritage Bible Church, 2005 Old Spartanburg Rd, Greer, SC 29650 864-292-6100.

April resides at 103 Crosswinds Court, Greer, SC 29650.

It is with great sadness that I relay the passing of our classmate, Marshall Blango, on Saturday, October 4, 2008. Please read below for information regarding his funeral.

Date and time: Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 1 p.m.

Location: Saint Anna MB Church

1841 Flat Swamp Rd

Blount’s Creek, NC 27814

Send cards to: PO Box 101

Blount’s Creek, NC 27814

I would ask that you keep Marshall’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to pass this message onto others who may have knew and loved Marshall.

Class Notes Archive

William and Carter

After graduating medical school and completing dermatology residency at Indiana University School of Medicine in 2005, I am working part-time in a private practice, and using the rest of the week to care for William (age 5) and Carter (age 3).