Dispatches Summer 2014
1950
Richard Harris [LibArts] recently published his third novel, “The Accidental Terrorist,” the last book in his Mike Driscoll trilogy.
1966
Gene S. Ogden [SciEng] retired on May 1, 2013, with 46+ years as an aerospace engineer with Lockheed Martin Corp. in Sunnyvale, Calif. Retirement finds Gene and his wife of 28 years, Sandra, making their home in the Northern California rural town of Cassel. Gene highly recommends retirement as well worth the wait.
1968
Jerry Chris [LibArts, GradLibArts ’73] saw his 11th book, “Classical Ethics in the Modern Classroom,” published in June 2013.
1969
Norman McGraw [CFA, GradCFA ’70] has released his fifth CD, “Smooth Just Like Silk.” To learn more, email amnormusic@att.net.
1972
Michael Engh, S.J., [LibArts] was approved by the Board of Trustees of Santa Clara University as president of the university for a second six-year term.
1973
Wendy (Bearer) Bull [LibArts] was inducted into the Skateboarding Hall of Fame in May 2013 in Anaheim, Calif. She was the first inductee from the women’s ’60s category.
Gary J. Rafferty [SciEng] was named president and chief operating officer of Swinerton Inc., a general contracting firm headquartered in San Francisco, in September 2014. Gary has been with Swinerton since 1985. He and his wife, Nona Monteverde [LibArts ’73, GradEd ’76], have been married for 35 years. Nona retired in May 2013 after 22 years as a counselor at Los Alamitos High School.
1976
Anne Turhollow [SciEng] retired from her work at the library at San Diego State University. In the course of 31 years, Anne went from her first post as science librarian to associate dean.
1979
Bob Devin Jones [CFA] directed “Two Trains Running,” by August Wilson, for the American Stage Theatre Co. in Tampa Bay, Fla. The production ran in January and February of this year.
1980
Jon Leonoudakis [CFA] had his latest documentary, “Not Exactly Cooperstown,” shown at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in September 2013. Jon financed, produced, directed, edited and distributed the film, which he describes as “an unorthodox look at America’s most orthodox game.” Jon thanks Lamar Caselli, his LMU TV production teacher, for preparing him for a career of producing and directing film projects.
1983
Gary Sipos [SciEng] is the founder of College Cash Solutions, a financial planning company that specializes in helping families finance a college education for their children. His wife, Lisa Anne Harpenau [SciEng ’86], is the editor of “Critical Decisions in Periodontology and Dental Implantology,” published in 2013. She was promoted to professor of periodontics at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco. They live in San Francisco with their three standard poodles, Kobe, Arthur and Reagan, and dog-walking is one of their favorite activities.
1984
Jon Bastian [CFA] produced “Bill & Joan,” a play about writer William S. Burroughs’ murder of his wife at a cocktail party in Mexico City in 1951. The play premiered at Sacred Fools Theater in Los Angeles in January and marked the centennial of Burroughs’ birth.
Ursula O’Farrell [CFA] had a show — “Inner Light: New Paintings by Ursula O’Farrell” — exhibited at the Alex Bult Gallery in Sacramento, Calif., in February and March.
1985
Samuel Lagana [LibArts] is associate vice chancellor at Pepperdine University. He has served on many civic boards and was honored in 2012 by the California Assembly and Senate for his service to the community. His wife, Eileen (Devlin) [CFA ’87] is on the executive management team with Point.360 Post Production and has worked in post production for 25 years. They have two daughters, Cambria, 18, and Cienna, 15.
Jon Peters [SciEng], formerly captain of the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division, was named commander of the Los Angeles Valley Bureau for the LAPD in August 2013.
1987
Gaile (Beisner) Krause [LibArts] earned a master of arts degree in humanities from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles in May 2013.
Art Robles [LibArts] is a ticket sales account executive with the Ontario Fury of the Professional Arena Soccer League. He is entering his 11th year as a social science teacher at Ontario High School in Ontario, Calif., and has been a teacher for 27 years. His son, Binh, is a junior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and his daughter, Serafina, has accepted an athletic scholarship to play soccer at the University of Great Falls.
1990
Holly O’Neill [LibArts] wrote her first historical mystery novel, “Mistress of Fortune,” which was published in February under the pseudonym Holly West. The sequel, “Mistress of Lies,” is expected in fall 2014.
1991
Gregory Marick [BusAdm] was named president in January of NewSchool of Architecture and Design in San Diego. He previously was president of the Art Institute of California—Orange County.
Kevin Shinnick [CFA] successfully completed a solo swim crossing of the English Channel, from England to France, on September 23, 2013, in 18 hours, 38 minutes. He was one of fewer than 25 American swimmers that year to accomplish the feat.
1992
Beverly Damore [LibArts] is the president and CEO of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Phoenix.
1993
Lindy Diamond [GradBusAdm] married Ivone Alem on Sept. 29, 2013.
1994
Colleen Eagleson [LibArts] is principal of Notre Dame High School in Salinas, Calif. Before her current post, she worked for more than 13 years at Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco.
1995
Olivia Cameron was born to Angela Dellacamera [LibArts] and Kaivan Yuen on July 23, 2010.
1996
Brian Asher Alhadeff [CFA] is artistic and general director of Opera San Luis Obispo, in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He previously was artistic director and founder of the Hradec Kralove International Summer Opera Festival in the Czech Republic.
Katherine Bell Covey was born to Scott Covey [BusAdm] and Amy Covey on Oct. 6, 2013.
Olivia Quinn was born to Mardell (Wrensch) Gully [SFTV] and Sean Gully on Oct. 5, 2013. She was delivered into the world by Sean.
1997
Alexa Grace was born to Elsy (Arevalo) Chavira [LibArts] and Daniel Chavira [SciEng] on June 27, 2013. She joins her two older brothers, Nathaniel Luke and Nicholas.
Kevin Hageman [CFA] and his brother, Daniel Hageman [SciEng ’99], are screenwriters in Hollywood whose scripts include “The Lego Movie.”
Kent Jancarik [LibArts] was hired by Merck Serono, a German biotechnology company, as senior director for global public policy, based in Washington, D.C. He assesses international public policy issues impacting Merck Serono’s business in Europe and major emerging markets.
Rodney Richey [GradCFA] married Laurel Hensel on July 4, 2013, in Indianapolis. They live in Chicago.
Grace Kiyoko was born to Traci Yoshida [BusAdm] and her husband, George Gutierrez Jr., [SciEng ’00] on Aug. 28, 2013.
1998
Sofia Elizabeth was born to Tom Arteaga [CFA] and Julia Esqueda-Arteaga [LibArts ’99] on Nov. 9, 2013. She joins her siblings Christina, Diego and Raquel.
Brie Nicole was born to Janelle (Etchepare) [LibArts] and Drew Bieler on May 25, 2013.
Hannah was born to Monica (Hayes) [BusAdm] and Kevin Pleasant, on March 15, 2013.
Nico Antolino was born to Amy-Jo (Jesmer) [CFA] and Jeff Luna on Oct. 29, 2013.
Aidan Jack was born to Jeffrey Schroeder [BusAdm] and his wife, Lori, on May 10, 2013.
1999
Matthew Brady [LibArts] is an independent film producer with his own production company, MRB Productions.
Elvin Estela [SFTV], better known by his stage name Nobody, is an underground hip hop producer based in Los Angeles.
Cara Quinn was born to Jennifer (Gonzalez) [SciEng] and Ryan McArdle [SciEng] on Sept. 25, 2013.
Olivia Grace was born to Brandon Miles [LibArts] and Malia (Ramirez) [LibArts ’01] and on June 26, 2013.
2000
Brady Carl was born to Theresa (Tucker) [CFA] and Brian Kleinhofer [BusAdm] on May 2, 2013.
Lisa Weeks [LibArts] was named marketing and public relations manager for Europvin USA, based in Bordeaux, France, in October 2013. She oversees national marketing and public relations for the company.
2001
Nicholas Samuel was born to Tony Jennison [BusAdm, GradBusAdm ’05] and Liz (Odeh) [BusAdm ’02, GradBusAdm ’07] on Oct. 11, 2013.
2002
Quinn Niamh was born to Deirdre (Crampton) [SciEng] and Roger Perez on April 30, 2013.
Isaac Lamb [SFTV] played a featured role in the Portland Center Stage production of “A Small Fire,” which ran in February and March. He is a member of the core company of Third Rail Repertory Theatre. He has spent more than a decade as a theater educator for middle and high school students, including founding and directing the Broadway Rose Theatre Company Teen Summer Workshop in Tigard, Ore.
Samia Nassar [SciEng] married Ian Levasseur on May 18, 2013, at the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills, Calif.
2003
Peyton Joseph was born to Joel Corcoran [BusAdm, GradBusAdm ’06] and Jennifer (Pittman) [LibArts, GradEd ’08] on July 17, 2013. He joins big brother Noah Scott.
Eric Wesley was born to Rene Rodriguez [CFA] and his wife, Sonya, on June 5, 2013.
2004
Maggie Rose was born to Jessica (Domenici) [CFA] and Jeff Geremia [SFTV] on Aug. 30, 2013.
Henry Joseph was born to Ashley (McCarthy) Leonard [CFA] and her husband, Drew, on May 22, 2013.
Kristina Bellamy-McClain [GradEd] is exploring locating charter schools in Washington through a one-year fellowship sponsored by the Washington State Charter Schools Association. She has worked in public education for 13 years in Alaska, California and Seattle, where she was principal of Emerson Elementary School.
Ian Wikramanayake [BusAdm] married Megan Mohacsi on Sept. 7, 2013, in Menlo Park, Calif. Their wedding party included Ryan Basco [SciEng ’06], Natalia Camacho-Worms [SciEng ’05], Willie Chan [BusAdm], Andrew Reynado [BusAdm ’05], ino Talens [BusAdm], Philip Worms [SciEng ’05] and Brandon Yamashita [BusAdm ’05]. Also present were Carlos Antonio [BusAdm, GradBusAdm ’07], Alfred Robbie Lee [BusAdm], Diana Lee [LibArts ’03] and Racer Moody [CFA ’05]. Mark Reynado [BusAdm ’99] was the photographer.
2005
Christian Buenaventura [SFTV] won an Emmy as a dialogue editor for “American Horror Story.” Buenaventura worked up the ranks from a runner position with Technicolor Sound to his current post of dialogue editor. He has worked on “Nip/Tuck,” “Dexter,” “Glee,” “The New Normal” and “The Following.”
Marjorie Devany [BusAdm] married Jake Weiler on Oct. 12, 2013.
Amy Sakowski [CFA] married Brian Wolensky on Oct. 19, 2013.
2006
Quoc Vuong [BusAdm] is the CEO of two restaurants in Riverside, Calif., Calibasil, a pho restaurant, and Oven 450, an adjoining eatery that allows customers to create their own flatbread.
Brenda Kirsch Frketich [BusAdm] was named one of America’s Best Young Farmers and Ranchers by The Progressive Farmer magazine in February. She grows grass seed and hazelnuts on her family’s 1,000-acre farm, Kirsch Family Farms, in Oregon.
2007
Jeremy Wyatt was born to David [SciEng ] and Emily (Brooks) Broadwater [LibArts] on Sept. 28, 2013.
Amanda (“Mandy”) Brys [CFA] married Erick Johnson on Sept. 21, 2013.
Scott William Line [SFTV] and Candice McFadyen [CFA ’09] were married at Sacred Heart Chapel on May 25, 2013. Scott’s younger brother, Stephen Line [SciEng ’12], served as the best man, and Elisabeth Buck [LibArts ’10], Stephanie Kuelbs Entzminger [SciEng ’09], James Michael Grimm [LibArts] and John Seamus Landry [LibArts] were members of the wedding party.
Katherine McCarthy [LibArts] was named managing editor of Total Beauty Media, a beauty and wellness publisher. She previously was editor of “Where Magazine LA.”
Josue Sandigo [BusAdm] is director of operations for Rewire Web, a small, South Bay-based technology company that specializes in smartphone applications and website development. He also is a student in the communications management graduate program at USC.
2008
Matthew Cook [LibArts] released “Live, Laugh, Love!” in 2013 after a long struggle with a life-threatening experience of type 1 diabetes. In August 2010, he went into diabetic ketoacidosis with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, placing him in a coma and with no voice for four months. Matt attributes the completion and release of his album to a small miracle from the grace of God.
Adam Trent [BusAdm], a magician, performed at the Lousiania State University Union Theater in Baton Rouge, La., in November 2013. In the past year, he has performed more than 300 shows in 19 countries.
2009
Daniel Méndez [LibArts, GradLibArts ’13] and Nicolle Molina [LibArts ’11] were married in Sacred Heart Chapel on Nov. 23, 2013. The mass was celebrated by Father. Jim Fredericks. Attending were Eduardo Bravo [BusAdm ’11], Alicia Del Bueno [GradEd ’11], Magali Del Bueno [LibArts ’08, GradLibArts ’12], Zuriel Espinosa [LibArts ’10], Daniel Garcia [SciEng ’13], Vanessa Hernandez [LibArts], who is Daniel’s cousin, Gia Longo [SFTV ’10], Shalymar Lozano [SciEng ’11], Karen Hernandez [LibArts ’12], Melissa Munoz [LibArts ’10], Jaybie Obias [SFTV ’10], DJ for the reception was Lord Anthony Advincula [LibArts ’10], with help from a few friends.
Gina Quattrochi [LibArts] is the manager of the Atwater Village Farmers Market in Los Angeles. She is also the coordinator of the Farmer in the Classroom program with Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles, a nonprofit community development corporation.
2010
Brandin Cohen [BusAdm] and his LMU college buddies, Hayden Fulstone [LibArts] and Cameron Killeen [LibArts] are co-owners of a hangover/hydration drink called Liquid I.V.
2011
Melissa “Lisa” S. Taylor [SciEng, GradEd ’12] is a physics teacher at Huntington Beach High School. Previously, she taught at Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
2012
Dean MacNeil [GradLibArts] wrote “The Bible and Bob Marley: Half the Story Has Never Been Told,” which is about how Bob Marley interpreted the Bible in his lyrics.
Ryan Neidig [BusAdm] is vice president of operations for The Peak Performance Club, a young adult coaching company based in Los Angeles that he helped create with a friend and co-author of “Shorten the Gap — Shortcuts to Success and Happiness.”