Fall 2019 Class Notes

Don Huston, BAE, physical education and ’67, M.Ed., physical education, was inducted into the Camas High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE- exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the sum mer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Ho, M.Ed., student personnel administration, is director of Student Life and Leadership at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix – and one of at least four WWU alumni on campus. His Viking co-workers include English faculty Leila Palis, ’98, B.A., English; Human Resources director Lori Lindseth, ’76, B.A., speech communication; and education faculty Meggin Kirk, ‘98, BAE, environmental studies – elementary. “None of us knew each other before,” Mike writes, “and yet we found ourselves at the same out-of-Washington institution. Our work overlaps regularly and each of us has been recognized for different achievements over the years.”

Carla Higginson, B.A., speech communication, an attorney in Friday Harbor, was recently elected to the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Steve Hall, B.A., public policy and administration, recently announced his plans to retire as city manager after serving the city of Olympia for 30 years.

Alison Brynelson, BAE, history – secondary, was selected by the Mukilteo School Board to be the superintendent beginning Jan. 1, upon the retirement of Marci Larsen, ’80, BAE, special education and ’65, M.Ed, school administration.

Mike Compton, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, hosted a wrestling reunion over the summer that included legendary former Western coach Lanny Bryant and a house full of wrestling alums from the ‘70s and ‘80s, including Harry Smith, ’69, BAE, physical education and ’75, M.Ed., physical education, Anton Ehinger, ’81, BAE, physical education, Mike Donnelly, ’76, B.A., history, Lee Andersen, ’77, M.Ed., physical education, Jerry Bailey, ’72, B.A., accounting, John Hymas, ’79, B. A., history, Dan Anderson, ’75, B.A., technology, John Pinquoch, ’70, BAE, special education and mathematics, Randy Tomaras, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Terry Beckstead, ’71, B.A., psychology, Bill Hunt, ’72, BAE, industrial technology, Darrell Gleason, ’73, BAE, special education and history, Tom Tripple, ’74, BAE, PE-exercise and sport science, and former coach Rick Iversen.

Neal Safrin, B.S., ecosystems analysis, was named Operator of the Year for King County Metro. Safrin has driven buses throughout King County since he joined Metro in 1988 and has held several leadership roles in Amalgamated Transit Union Local No. 587.

Claire Nold-Glaser, B.A., sociology, an educational consultant based in Bellevue, was elected president of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling, or PNACAC, in May. PNACAC represents college admissions professionals such as secondary school counselors, college and university admission officers and counselors, independent educational consultants and other professionals in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Ed Roddy, B.A., business administration, is president of the Northwest Washington Fair Foundation, which raised $5 million for the Lynden fairgrounds’ new Farm Pavilion which opened last summer. Next, he’s leading the foundation in a $2.7 million project to build the Farming for Life Experience, an immersive educational exhibit showcasing the history and innovation of agriculture.

Mark Davies, B.A., business administration and accounting, recently became the chief financial officer of Automattic Inc., the parent company of WordPress. com, WooCommerce and Tumblr. Previously, he was the chief financial officer of the Vivint home technology company.

Cathryn Laird, B.A., speech communication, was recently appointed to be the human resources director for the city of Redmond.

Keith Williams, B.A., industrial/ organizational psychology, recently became the western region sales director for JAYKAL, which provides LED lighting to companies and government agencies.

Margaret Savas, B.A., theater, is a coach at Cappy’s Boxing Gym in Seattle and runs Meg Maggie Margaret chocolates. Allen Muchich, B.A., accounting, was recently named chief financial officer of FARO, a 3D measurement, imaging and design company.

Russ Mullins, B.S., environmental policy and assessment, is a sergeant with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, supervising the agency’s Northern Puget Sound marine detachment and local operations.

Chris Gorman, B.A., business administration – marketing, winemaker and owner of Gorman Winery in Woodinville, was named the 2019 Honorary Vintner of the Auction of Washington Wines for his contributions to the Washington wine community.

Keven Ellis, a chiropractor in Lufkin, Texas, is a member of the Texas State Board of Education and was recently appointed to the Texas Commission on Public School Finance.

Brad Skiff, B.A., English – writing, is an editorial cartoonist for several non-daily newspapers in Washington and took first and third place at the 2018 National Newspaper Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest for Best Original Editorial Cartoon, Daily and Non-Daily Division. The winning cartoons appeared in the Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle.

Alison Brynelson, BAE, history – secondary, was selected by the Mukilteo School Board to be the superintendent beginning Jan. 1, upon the retirement of Marci Larsen, ’80, BAE, special education and ’65, M.Ed, school administration.

Jeff Johnson, BAE, physical education, is athletic director at W.F. West High School in Chehalis and was selected as Athletic Director of the Year for District 4 by the Washington Secondary Schools Athletic Administrators Association.

Jen Reidel, B.A., history and ’07, M.A., history, is a 2019-20 Teacher-in-Residence at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. After teaching social studies for 23 years in Bellingham and Lynden, Reidel will spend this school year working to make the collections at the Library of Congress more accessible to K-12 students and teachers.

Chris Morrison, B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, recently became athletic director at his alma mater, St. Anthony High School in Long Beach, California.

Arnel Blancas, B.A., physical education – sport psychology, recently became the city of Montesano’s chief financial officer, clerk and special adviser to the mayor.

Mike Ho, M.Ed., student personnel administration, is director of Student Life and Leadership at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix – and one of at least four WWU alumni on campus. His Viking co-workers include English faculty Leila Palis, ’98, B.A., English; Human Resources director Lori Lindseth, ’76, B.A., speech communication; and education faculty Meggin Kirk, ‘98, BAE, environmental studies – elementary. “None of us knew each other before,” Mike writes, “and yet we found ourselves at the same out-of-Washington institution. Our work overlaps regularly and each of us has been recognized for different achievements over the years.”

Ben Gibbard, B.S., environmental science, finished third in the Headlands & Nightsweats 100-mile ultramarathon in Sausalito, California, in September. Gibbard ran 100 miles around the Golden Gate National Recreational Area in 23 hours, 20 minutes and 30 seconds, placing first in his age group. Two days later he joined Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys on stage at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle.

Mike Ho, M.Ed., student personnel administration, is director of Student Life and Leadership at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix – and one of at least four WWU alumni on campus. His Viking co-workers include English faculty Leila Palis, ’98, B.A., English; Human Resources director Lori Lindseth, ’76, B.A., speech communication; and education faculty Meggin Kirk, ‘98, BAE, environmental studies – elementary. “None of us knew each other before,” Mike writes, “and yet we found ourselves at the same out-of-Washington institution. Our work overlaps regularly and each of us has been recognized for different achievements over the years.”

Mike Ho, M.Ed., student personnel administration, is director of Student Life and Leadership at Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix – and one of at least four WWU alumni on campus. His Viking co-workers include English faculty Leila Palis, ’98, B.A., English; Human Resources director Lori Lindseth, ’76, B.A., speech communication; and education faculty Meggin Kirk, ‘98, BAE, environmental studies – elementary. “None of us knew each other before,” Mike writes, “and yet we found ourselves at the same out-of-Washington institution. Our work overlaps regularly and each of us has been recognized for different achievements over the years.”

“The Far Green Country,” a documentary by Kelly Pyke, B.A., recreation, and her husband, Eli, is available on Amazon Prime. The film is about “travel, national parks, living full-time on the road with a family, as well as deeper themes such as marriage, childbirth, and parenting,” Kelly writes. “This story chronicles over 10,000 miles, over 15 national parks, multiple breakdowns, and an immense amount of natural beauty. Ultimately, it is a story of hope, and inspiration to endure.”

Casey Hanell, B.S., geology and ’11, M.S. geology, was appointed to be the Washington State Geologist, overseeing the Washington Geological Survey in the Department of Natural Resources. Most recently, he served as Earth Sciences Program manager in DNR’s Forest Resources Division.

Stacie Nordrum, B.A., communication sciences and disorders, owns Island Hearing Healthcare, an independent clinic in Friday Harbor.

Andrea Collins, B.A., history, was recently appointed principal of College Place Middle Schoolin Lynnwood.

The Mountlake Terrace Arts Advisory Commission selected S.R. Lane, B.A., theatre, to exhibit her digital photography at the Mountlake Terrace Library over the summer.

Lisa Lefeber, B.A., journalism, recently became the CEO of the Port of Everett, where she has worked for 15 years, most recently as the deputy executive director.

Jessica Wu Barlas, B.A., theatre, is the office manager of Barlas Chiropractic in Seattle, and the human companion of Albus Dumbledog, a labradoodle who made Nationwide insurance company’s “20 Wackiest Pet Names of 2019.” Barlas told the Seattle Times that she became a fan of the “Harry Potter” books as a student at Western.

Joshua Pfriem’s, B.A., general studies, Pfriem Family Brewers in Hood River, Oregon, recently won several awards, including the 2018 World Beer Cup Gold award in the Belgian Style Fruit Beer category for its Nectarine Golden Ale, and was named the Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival.

Kyle Jensen, M.A., English, became an English professor and director of Writing Programs at Arizona State University in Tempe.

Ryan Clemens, B.A., theatre, is an actor with Virginia State Company in Norfolk, Virginia, and teaches acting at Old Dominion University.

Gregory W. Goins, B.A., economics, became director of the Lexington, Kentucky, VA Health Care System.

Afrose Fatima Ahmed, B.A., interdisciplinary concentration, is a street poet who was recently featured in the Seattle Times, creating lines of verse-on-demand on her portable typewriter at Redmond’s Downtown Park

In the last few years, J. Bacchus Taylor, MiT, walked the Pacific Crest Trail (in 2016) and the Camino de Santiago (in 2016 and 2017). He also became Head of School at Explorations Academy, an experiential secondary school in Bellingham. Last year, he took a group to Vietnam, where his students became the first high school group to explore the fourth-largest cave system in the world. He will be leading a group of students to Peru this year.

Royce Andrews, BAE, Spanish – elementary, is a second-grade teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington. After graduating, Andrews taught in Spain for a year then served in the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, West Africa. She also attended graduate school and taught in Missouri.

Patrick Harlin, B.Mus., music composition, was recently selected as the Composer-in-Residence at the Lansing Symphony Orchestra in Michigan.

Royce Andrews, BAE, Spanish – elementary, is a second-grade teacher at Hazel Dell Elementary School in Vancouver, Washington. After graduating, Andrews taught in Spain for a year then served in the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, West Africa. She also attended graduate school and taught in Missouri.

Kelly Bjork (B.F.A, art) is an artist and freelance illustrator based in Seattle whose work has been published in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, The Stranger, Seattle Met and Fresh Magazine.

Caitlin Luebbe, B.A., interdisciplinary concentration, became the new director of marketing at Tarragon, a property development company in Seattle.

Caleb Hutton, B.A., English – creative writing, a reporter for the Daily Herald in Everett, recently won a first-place C.B. Blethen Memorial Award in Deadline Reporting for his article, “DNA on a boot leads to arrest in 1972 murder of Jody Loomis.”

Chronicle Books recently published Emily Freidenrich’s, B.A., art history and anthropology, “Almost Lost Arts: Traditional Crafts and the Artisans Keeping them Alive,” with stories and photographs highlighting 20 artisans, from book menders to neon sign makers.

Femi Abebefe, B.A., journalism – public relations, is a weekend sports anchor and reporter at KOMO-TV in Seattle. He and fellow sports anchor Mike Ferreri host a sports-talk podcast, “Femi & Ferreri.” Abebefe has also worked at television stations in Spokane and Bend.

Karma Lee, B.S., community health, co-owns Bobae Coffee & Tea, a new business in Woodinville. Lee was also named the 2019 Washington Woman of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Maria McSharry, B.S., cell biology and B.A., Spanish, recently began her doctoral studies at the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, achieving a goal she set as a first-generation college student in the MIMSUP program at Shannon Point Marine Center.

Ethan Leung, B.S., physics, was recently named one of “Seattle’s Next Hot Chefs 2019” by Seattle Met magazine. He’s a sous chef at Ben Paris, the restaurant at the State Hotel in Seattle.

Rachel Pierce, B.A., Spanish, recently joined the food services equipment company Taylor Co. as the strategic director of sales.

Dakota Biggs, B.A., sociology, recently became the director of the Blaine Boys and Girls Club.

Douglas Archuleta, B.A., recreation, recently became the after-school program manager for Island Rec, the San Juan Island Park and Recreation District.

Mackenzie Grinnell, B.A., interdisciplinary concentration, works for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe as the teen program coordinator and the traditional foods program assistant.

Danil Vishniakov, B.A., German and political science, recently completed his law degree at University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, where he completed internships in immigration law and clerked for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Detroit.

Erin Manhardt, M.A., rehabilitation counseling, recently joined Bellevue Family Counseling as a youth and family counselor.

Lauren Hoffmann, B.A., philosophy and B.S., neuroscience, is a research tech at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennesee, where she works on lifesaving drugs that could treat some of the most vexing pediatric cancers.

Ella Piatt, B.S., biology/anthropology, spent the summer at the University of Maine as an avian demographic technician capturing and banding salt marsh sparrows. Now, she’s a research associate for Alaska Biomap Inc., supporting ongoing ocean research projects.

Mathew Roland, B.A., visual journalism, recently became editor of The Bellingham Business Journal.

Ava Michael, B.A., environmental studies, is a Peace Corps volunteer who recently left for The Gambia to serve in agroforestry.

After several summer internships with OceanGate in Everett, Mikayla Monroe, B.A., management information systems, recently joined the underwater exploration company as a data analyst and relationship manager and is training to be a submersible pilot.

1948 – Marjorie (Gray) Hadden, on Aug. 27, 2018, in Seattle.

William Lloyd Garrison, 91, a longtime school teacher, coach and administrator in the Oak Harbor, Battle Ground and Shoreline school districts who also served on the Oak Harbor Planning Commission and Stanwood/Camano School District board, on Sept. 7, 2019.

Laurance E. Lowry, 86, a U.S. Navy veteran, retired history teacher in Bellevue High School, and three-term president of the Bellevue Education Association, on March 3, 2018, in Seattle.

Murella (Koert) De Vries, 85, who taught junior high in Anacortes and Vancouver and volunteered for the Lynden Pioneer Museum, on July 20, 2019.

Glenn C. LaFave, 88, a Korean War veteran who had a long career in banking, most recently in Vancouver, Washington, on April 18, 2019. 

William Charles Murphy, 88, retired principal of Blaine High School who later worked with Border Brokerage Co. and supervised cannery crews in Bristol Bay, Alaska, on May 28, 2019.

John Thomas Howgate, 85, a Navy veteran and Fulbright Scholar who taught history and driver’s education at North Kitsap High School, on June 29, 2019.

Clark Allen Philbrick, 82, a longtime teacher in Montesano and Hoquiam, on Aug. 10, 2019, in Montesano.

Gerald D. Probst, 83, a U.S. Marine Corps vet and a urban planner who worked for King County, San Diego, and the Department of Natural Resources, then after retirement served on several natural disaster deployments with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, on Nov. 23, 2018, in Olympia.

Karen Marie Gilda, 77, of Bellingham, on July 9, 2019.

Wendy Ann (Webster) Birdwell, 75, on Feb. 9, 2018.

Charles Ernest Dreiling, 76, who taught biochemistry at the University of Nevada, on Jan. 13, 2018, in Foresthill, California.

Reginald D. Butler, 74, former director of the Carter G. Woodson Institute for African-American and African Studies and associate professor emeritus at the University of Virginia, on July 5, 2019, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Don Taylor, 89, a retired history and geography teacher, boater and boat builder, on Sept. 17, 2019.

Constance S. Williams, 98, on Jan. 7, 2018, in Bellingham.

Lloyd T. “Tom” Hansen, 73, who taught for 34 years in the University Place School District, built and restored wooden boats, and worked with his brothers on innovative boat design, on Aug. 6, 2019.

Robert Franco, 75, a retired federal diversity specialist who served in the Vietnam War as a Navy medic, on April 10, 2018, in Virginia. Mr. Franco was one of the first graduates of the College of Ethnic Studies and served in the Civil Service Commission, Department of Veterans Affairs and in the Office of Personnel Management as a senior executive offering diversity training to military leaders on bases around the world.

Barbara Alice Harrison, 68, who taught, mainly first grade, for a 30-year career in Guam, Washington and Oregon, on May 31, 2019, in Hermiston, Oregon.

Thomas Kjos Sagmiller, 64, a former Coast Guard captain and civil engineer who worked for several corporations and traveled the world, on April 27, 2019, in Lafayette, California.

Michael Knutsen, 68, a real estate agent and active community volunteer, on July 26, 2019.

Alice Leta Dawes Richards, 91, a longtime Bellingham resident who worked at St. James Church, at the YWCA, at her own communications company, and as the adoption coordinator and foster care liaison for Catholic Community Services, on Jan. 22, 2018, in Mukilteo.

Mary Evelyn Butler King, 82, who was very active in politics and in the work and campaigns of her husband, longtime Washington State Rep. Dick King, and worked as an early childhood teacher and administrator at Everett Community College, on April 5, 2019, in Edmonds.

Timothy Howard Roller, 64, a longtime high school science teacher at Vashon, Bremerton and James Taylor high schools, on May 3, 2019.

Thomas Andrew LaPlante, 56, a tile and granite contractor and skilled artisan, on July 6, 2019.

Steven Clyde Peterson, 63, a former juvenile probation officer who later opened two markets with his brother in Mount Vernon, on Feb. 4, 2018.

Tom Quince Ryan, 58, on June 27, 2018, in Olympia.

Teresa (McIntosh) Birkeland-Roebke, 53, on July 8, 2019.

Connie Sue Henderson, 58, an entrepreneur with a passion for holistic healing, on May 27, 2019.

Natasha Reedy Divyak, 39, a deaf-education teacher at Edmonds Woodway and Mountlake Terrace high schools, on July 7, 2019, in Seattle.

Harini Reese, 50, on July 30, 2019.

Art Phinney, a former softball coach at Western, who led the team to the first national team championship in school history, on July 15, 2019, in Vancouver, Washington. 

Stephen Senge, 72, professor emeritus in the College of Business and Economics, recipient of Western’s Excellence in Teaching Award and former director of graduate and MBA programs, on July 1, 2019. Learn more about the Stephen Senge Innovation for Business Teaching Fund at vikingfunder.com. 

Mary J. Miller, 70, who worked at Western for more than 30 years, including time as a communications operator and as program manager for the Recreation Program, on July 7, 2019. 

Mary Rudd, 95, who worked at Western for more than 20 years, including time in Student Activities, on June 22, 2019, in Bellingham. 

Royce Andrews, ’11, BAE, Spanish – elementary, and Andrew Eakin, ’07, BA, economics/political science, on June 24, 2019, in Maui, Hawaii.

Casey Dell, ’08, B.A., recreation, and Carly-Ann Miller, on Feb. 23, 2019, on the Turks and Caicos Islands.