Spring/Summer 2017 Class Notes

Class Notes include professional accomplishments, awards, retirements, weddings, obituaries and other news about Western Washington University alumni; they’re gathered from published reports and communication from alumni themselves.

If you have an update you’d like us to share in Class Notes, please email it to window@wwu.edu. Tell us what’s new with you, and we’ll publish it in the next edition and online.

These are the class notes for this issue. See all class notes here.

Class Notes (General)

E. Armond Daws - 1955

E. Armond Daws, 97, a retired teacher, football coach and vice principal at Cascade Junior High in South Seattle, on March 31, 2017, in Marysville.

James Arthur Rick - 1957

James Arthur Rick, 85, a retired teacher, principal and high school football and track announcer in the Highline School District, on Jan. 19, 2017.

Jess del Bosque - 1968

Jess del Bosque (BAE, Spanish - secondary ed), a retired Mount Vernon High School track and field coach and Spanish teacher, recently completed his longtime goal of finishing the Boston Marathon. He ran the New York Marathon in 2014.

Gail Garcelon - 1970

Gail Garcelon (B.A., English) is retired from teaching, serves as a lay leader for her church and is president of the Glenn Garcelon Foundation, named in memory of her late husband Glenn Garcelon (’72, B.A., geography) and devoted to helping people with brain tumors and their families.

George A. Dennis - 1970

George A. Dennis (BAE, English – secondary) retired in 2011 after 35 years at Lower Columbia College immersed in teaching, assessment, program management and curriculum development. He received the distinction of faculty emeritus in 2012 and now writes for Fish Alaska magazine and volunteers for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Pam Sinnett - 1971

Pam Sinnett (BAE, special education – K-12 elementary, speech – secondary) and Jody Guenser (’74, BAE, special education – K-12 elementary, English – secondary) will retire in June after more than 30 years of teaching and singing at the Samish School preschool and kindergarten they directed together in Bellingham.

Ray Matlock Smythe - 1971

Ray Matlock Smythe (BAE, history – secondary) is retired after 39 years teaching in Washington, Oregon and California. His two books, “Tips to Improve your Retirement Experience” and “Creative Teaching: A Guide to Success in the Classroom,” are available on amazon. com.

Glenn Garcelon - 1972

Michael Farris - 1973

Michael Farris (B.A., history, political science) recently became CEO and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom, a socially conservative legal defense organization. Previously, Farris was the founding president of Patrick Henry College and the Home School Legal Defense Association.

Lauralee Northcott - 1975

After 17 years with the Western music trio, the Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band, Lauralee Northcott (B.A., music) will now focus on solo singing, writing her book and working on her art. Northcott taught for 34 years, mostly for the Methow Valley School District, and was a wilderness guide and trail cook until 2014.

Rick Bowers - 1975

Rick Bowers (BAE, history/ social studies, political science/social studies) a 33-season wrestling coach for Warden High School, was recently inducted in to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Jody Bento - 1978

Jody Bento (B.A., journalism) is the manager of the Seattle Art Museum’s retail gallery and shop.

Kevin Bryant - 1980

Kevin Bryant (B.A., speech communication; ’90, M.Ed., student personnel administration) recently became the athletic director of Redmond School District in Oregon. He is also working on his doctoral degree at the University of Idaho.

Laurie Clothier - 1981

Laurie Clothier (B.A., theatre) recently became manager of Port Operations for Windstar Cruises in Seattle. She is also a nightclub, concert and musical theatre performer throughout the region.

Ken Boynton - 1981

Ken Boynton (B.A., theatre) is a writer and musician who was recently interviewed on KUOW about his self-published book, “Blip,” a fable about life on Earth inspired by his two near-death experiences, available on amazon.com.

James L. Moore - 1981

James L. Moore (B.A., recreation) owns Orion, a river rafting company based in Leavenworth, which he founded in 1978 while still a student at Western.

James A. Craig - 1982

James A.Craig (B.A., business administration)recently became executive vice president and chief commercial officer for USA Truck Inc. Previously, he was president of the company’s USAT Logistics business.

Rick Moore - 1982

Rick Moore (BAE, physical education – secondary) recently retired from the Hoquiam School District, where he had been a football coach and physical education teacher.

Joe Roubal - 1982

Joe Roubal (B.A., student-faculty designed major) has worked for 30 years in the geographic information sciences industry. He recently gave a presentation, “Globe Making: How STEM has Enabled the Ancient Art,” for the Sequim Education Foundation’s Science Café.

Chuck Lennox - 1983

Chuck Lennox, (B.S., environmental education) with his visitor experience consulting practice Lennox Insites, traveled to Russia’s Lake Baikal in Siberia in 2015 and ’16 to work with several groups of guides. He was also recently quoted in the New York Times about tour guides and the guiding profession.

Brian Wilson - 1983

Brian Wilson (BAE, English) works at the U.S. Department of State as the director of Entry Level, overseeing assignments and career development for new diplomatic officers and specialists during the first five years of their careers.

Jeff Jewell - 1984

Jeff Jewell (B.A., anthropology) is a research technician at the Whatcom Museum, responsible for the museum’s collection of archival photographs.

Wayne Stearns - 1984

Wayne Stearns (B.S., manufacturing engineering technology) is vice president of development and operations for Concordia Coffee Systems, which manufactures self-serve commercial espresso machines.

Phillip Rotter - 1984

Philip Rotter (BAE, art – elementary; ’87, B.A., apparel design) is a design consultant in New York City specializing in interior design, photo styling and visual merchandizing. He was the speaker at Western’s winter commencement ceremony in March.

Mary Lamery - 1984

Mary Lamery (B.A., economics/ mathematics) studied fine arts painting at Parsons School of Design in New York City; her work was recently included in a group painting show, “Northwest Nature,” at the SAM Gallery at the Seattle Art Museum.

Rick Lipke - 1984

Rick Lipke (B.A., psychology) is the founder and CEO of Conterra, Inc., which specializes in first aid and rescue gear used by fire departments, ski patrols, law enforcement, the military and more.

Jeff Kremer - 1985

Jeff Kremer (B.A., journalism) is a humor columnist for the Syracuse New Times in New York state. He’s also a playwright: His “The Golden Bitch,” a comedy about a dog and the humans in her life, recently premiered at Cazenovia College.

Matt Breysse - 1985

Matt Breysse (B.A., broadcast communication; ’04, M.Ed., school administration) teaches at Juanita High School in Kirkland and was recently appointed to serve as a Northshore Utility District commissioner.

Arnie Gunderson - 1985

Arnie Gunderson (B.Mus., music history and literature) recently became vice president, relationship manager for Puget Sound Bank. Gunderson is also president of the board and an oboist for the Cascade Symphony Orchestra.

Paul Lumley - 1986

Paul Lumley (B.S., mathematics) recently became the executive director of the Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland. He was most recently executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and just received the Billy Frank Jr. Natural Resource Protection Award from the Potlatch Fund.

Aaron Burks - 1986

Aaron Burks (B.A., business administration) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his business, Atomic Ale Brewpub & Eatery in Richland.

Gary Nevan - 1986

Gary Nevan (B.A., journalism) recently retired after 28 years as owner, publisher and editor of the Columbia Press, a weekly paper in Warrenton, Oregon. It’s also the end of an era for Nevan’s wife Trish (’82, B.A., interdisciplinary arts) who did the paper’s advertisements and layout.

Teri Sund - 1987

Teri Sund (B.A., art) is the owner and director of the Imogen Gallery in Astoria, a member of ArtTable, which supports women in the arts, and on the board of directors of Astoria Visual Arts.

Peggy Tait - 1987

Christian Faith Publishing recently published “Mixed Cookies” by Peggy Tait (B.A., English), the story of a U.S. family who sponsors a refugee family in 1959.

Henry Scott Zimmerman - 1988

Henry Scott Zimmerman, 59, a specialist for the King County Department of Public Defense who worked with people who had been involuntarily committed to psychiatric care, and a longtime volunteer with the Seattle Jewish Film Festival, on March 8, 2017, while on vacation in Belize.

Lori Siebe - 1989

Lori Siebe (B.S., community health) is the Community Schools supervisor for the Kodiak Island Borough School District in Kodiak, Alaska.

Jerry Goodwin - 1989

Jerry Goodwin (B.S., industrial technology) became president and CEO of Guerdon Modular Buildings in Boise. Previously, he was CEO of Senior Aerospace.

Timothy Berney - 1989

Timothy Berney (PE – exercise and sport science) is an orthopedic surgeon who recently joined Maui Medical Group in Hawaii.

Nancy Rodriquez - 1990

Nancy Rodriguez (B.A., business administration) is an account manager for OSI Creative in Seattle, which creates point-of-purchase displays, consumer product packaging and branded merchandise programs.

Kevin Beason - 1991

Kevin Beason (B.A., sociology), a program support specialist at the Northwest Regional Learning Center, became the head football coach for Sehome High School in Bellingham.

Timothy Ashcraft - 1991

Timothy Ashcraft (B.A., economics) is a branch manager for Hawai’i Community Federal Credit Union on the Big Island.

Kenneth Yeadon - 1991

Kenneth Yeadon (B.A., accounting) became a partner in the Chicago office of the law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson. Previously, Yeadon was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and a senior attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement.

Louise Lenahan Wallace - 1992

A short story, “The Warning,” by Louise Lenahan Wallace (B.A., human services) was included in 2016’s “Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Christmas.”

Jennifer Lovchik - 1993

Jennifer Lovchik (B.A., English) is the Teen Services librarian at Bellingham Public Library, where she coordinates teen programs and started the Bellingham Anime Convention, BA-CON, which has since moved on to a larger venue at Whatcom Community College.

Elizabeth Frombgen - 1995

Elizabeth Frombgen (B.A., political science) became the vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the college at Thiel College, a liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania.

Doug Ericksen - 1995

Washington State Sen. Doug Ericksen (M.A., political science), who represents the 42nd district, joined the Environmental Protection Agency as a spokesman for the Trump administration transition team at the agency.

Jennifer Wilke - 1995

Jennifer Wilke (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration) lives in Wisconsin, teaches a memoir-writing class at the Port Washington Senior Center and is working on a book about blacklisted screenwriters during the “Red Scare” of the late 1940s and 1950s.

Blaine Rolstad - 1995

Blaine Rolstad (B.A., psychology) is a branch manager for The Advisors Mortgage Co. in Spokane.

Gina Zeutenhorst - 1995

Gina Zeutenhorst (B.A., accounting) became the executive director of Financial Service for Arlington Public Schools. Previously, she was the accounting manager for Everett Public Schools.

Orlondo Steinauer - 1996

Orlondo Steinauer (B.A., sociology) became the defensive coordinator for Fresno State University’s football team.

Darcy Wagner - 1996

Darcy Wagner (BAE, child development) recently joined Pacific Source Health Plans as a sales executive in southwest Idaho.

Marc Daily - 1996

Marc Daily (B.S., environmental policy and assessment) became executive director of the Thurston Regional Planning Council. Previously, he was deputy director of the Puget Sound Partnership and a member of Gov. Jay Inslee’s executive cabinet.

Cathy Lucero - 1997

Cathy Lucero (B.S., environmental policy and assessment) is the Clallam County Noxious Weed Control coordinator and recently presented “Weedy Gastronomy – What to Eat, What to Avoid” in Port Angeles.

Darin Detwiler - 1997

Darin Detwiler (B.A., history) earned a doctoral degree in law and policy at Northeastern University in Boston, where he became assistant dean of the university’s College of Professional Studies.

Jennifer Kutcher - 1997

Jennifer Kutcher (Finance) is the CEO of Whatcom Educational Credit Union and was recently a speaker for Western’s College of Business and Economics’ Strategic Management Executive Speaker Series.

Christy Smith - 1997

Christy Smith (B.A., sport psychology) recently became CEO of United Way of Clallam County.

Mia Burris Benjamin - 1997

Mia Burris Benjamin (B.A., Spanish) was recently appointed to be principal of Edison Elementary School in Kennewick. Currently, she’s the principal of Wahluke High School in Mattawa.

Ryan Koch - 1998

Ryan Koch (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration) is the founder and director of Seedleaf, a nonprofit organization devoted to improving access to healthy food. The group manages 15 community gardens in Lexington, Kentucky.

Jill Lamberton - 1998

Jill Lamberton (M.A., English) recently received tenure at Wabash College in Indiana, where she is the Byron K. Trippet Assistant Professor of English.

Dominique Lantagne - 1999

Dominique Lantagne (BAE, Special Education) is a special education teacher in Bellingham where she is helps organize the community’s Special Olympics activities, which now include more than 100 athletes and several sports.

Matthew Murray - 1999

Matthew Murray (B.A., theatre) is the managing editor of hardware for PC magazine and the chief theatre critic for TalkinBroadway.com.

Chris Gallagher - 1999

Chris Gallagher (B.S., manufacturing engineering technology) recently became a technology teacher at Monomoy Regional High School on Cape Cod in Massachusetts.

Chad Sleight - 2000

Chad Sleight (B.A., political science) was sworn in as a Clark County District Court Judge and elected president of the Clark County Bar Association.

Carol DeFeo - 2000

Carol DeFeo (teacher certification) is a third-grade teacher at Sand Hill Elementary School in Belfair.

Lindsey Myhre - 2000

Lindsey Myhre (B.A., business administration – finance) became chief financial officer of Spokane Teachers Credit Union. Previously, she was vice president of finance.

Craig Welty - 2000

Craig Welty (B.A., business administration – management) is the head golf pro at Skagit Golf and Country Club.

Cedric Bolton - 2000

Cedric Bolton (B.A., general studies) is coordinator of student engagement of Syracuse University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs.

John Lewis - 2000

The governor of Montana appointed John Lewis (B.A., political science) to be the director of the Department of Administration. Previously, Lewis served as Montana chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.

Carla Carter - 2001

Carla Carter (B.A., psychology) is the public information officer for the Thurston County Sheriff’s Department. She also created the Thurston County Deputy Sheriff’s Foundation in 2012 to support the department’s K9 program.

Brent Molsberry - 2001

Brent Molsberry (B.S., Biology) created Kulshan Quest, an adventure race in Whatcom County that includes mountain biking, sea kayaking and trail running.

Jason Motyka - 2001

The Small Business Administration recently named Jason Motyka (B.A., business administration - marketing) as one of Alaska’s Small Business Persons of the Year. Motyka is co-owner of Denali Visions 3000 Corp., which owns several restaurants, cabins, campgrounds and other hospitality-related properties in the Denali area.

Anne-Marie Osterback - 2002

Ann-Marie Osterback (B.S., biology - ecology) is a postdoctoral researcher at University of California, Santa Cruz and at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service in Santa Cruz, where she studies steelhead and coho salmon along the central California coast.

Nicole McTavish - 2002

Nicole MacTavish (administrative certificate) was selected to be the assistant superintendent of the Richland School District; she’s currently the assistant superintendent of the Nampa School District in Idaho.

Jenny Keller - 2002

Jenny Keller (B.A., psychology) recently opened Jenny Cookies Bake Shop in Lake Stevens. Keller is a longtime blogger and “baker to the stars” whose cookbook, “Eat More Dessert” was published in 2014 by Page Street Publishing.

Andrew Reese - 2003

Andrew Reese (B.A., general studies) recently became the chief financial officer of Northern Marianas College in Saipan.

Brittany Freeman - 2003

Scott (B.A., anthropology-archeology) and Brittany Freeman (B.A., English literature) own and operate Freeman, which makes high-end rain jackets in Seattle which they sell—along with other goods made in the USA—online and at their store in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Scott Freeman - 2003

Martin Melville - 2004

Martin Melville (B.A., business administration – marketing) recently became vice president, business development relationship manager for Columbia Bank in Tacoma.

Don Flanigan - 2004

Don Flanigan (B.A., business administration – marketing) joined JLL, a financial and professional services firm specializing in commercial real estate services and investment management, as a vice president in Seattle.

Andrew Hageman - 2005

Andrew Hageman (M.A., English) was recently granted tenure at Luther College in Iowa, where he has been an English professor since 2011. He teaches courses in American literature, film, ecomedia and science fiction.

Jennifer Nakonieczny - 2005

Jennifer Nakonieczny (B.A., business administration – management) became the assistant director of operations at the Walla Walla accounting firm TKCPA.

Jason Day - 2005

Jason Day (biology) is a Fish and Wildlife officer in western Okanogan County and was named Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Erica (Griffin) Lindsay - 2005

Erica (Griffin) Lindsay (B.A., English – creative writing) and her husband just opened Succession Wines in Mason, on the north side of Lake Chelan. She runs the tasting room while serving as executive director of the Lake Chelan Wine Valley and manager of the Lake Chelan Wine Alliance.

Andrew Joslyn - 2005

After years of collaborating and touring with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis as well as a wide variety of other artists, violinist Andrew Joslyn (B.A., English literature) released his first solo album, “Awake at the Bottom of the Ocean.”

Kyle Johnson - 2006

Kyle Johnson (B.A. communication) is director of Sales and Marketing for GrinOn Industries, which produces Bottoms Up, a beer dispensing system that fills glasses from the bottom up.

BreeAnn Gale - 2006

BreeAnn Gale (B.A., business administration – marketing) recently celebrated 10 years with her company, Pink Blossom Events, which she launched soon after graduation.

Ijeoma Oluo - 2007

Ijeoma Oluo (B.A., political science) is editor at large of The Establishment, an online media platform run and funded by women. Her writing on social justice has appeared in The Guardian, The Stranger, the Washington Post, Time magazine and more, and her book, “So You Want to Talk About Race,” will be published by Seal Press in January. Oluo recently spoke on campus about race, gender and social change, as well as writing about politics.

Joseph Bryan Gibbons - 2007

Joseph Bryan Gibbons, (B.S., chemistry) recently earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Utah and is a senior scientist at Nutraceutical Corp. in Park City, Utah.

Silas Maddox - 2007

Silas Maddox (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration) is a blacksmith who owns Forge & Nail in Sedro-Woolley.

Rachel Vasak - 2007

Rachel Vasak (B.A., geology) is executive director of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association and recently spoke about local salmon recovery efforts as part of the WWU Huxley College of the Environment Speaker Series.

Joseph Bryan Gibbons - 2007

Joseph Bryan Gibbons, (B.S., chemistry) recently earned his doctorate in organic chemistry from the University of Utah and is a senior scientist at Nutraceutical Corp. in Park City, Utah.

Laura Daly Steffens - 2008

Laura Daly Steffens (B.S., chemistry) recently earned her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Utah and is doing a residency at the University of Utah Hospital.

Erik Budsberg - 2008

Erik Budsberg (B.S., geology) became the sustainability coordinator at Eastern Washington University.

Ryan Millard - 2008

Ryan Millard (B.A., business administration – marketing) became an adviser with JayRay Ads & PR of Tacoma, where he will work on strategic communication projects.

Laura Daly Steffens - 2008

Laura Daly Steffens (B.S., chemistry) recently earned her doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Utah and is doing a residency at the University of Utah Hospital.

Lilly Hendershot - 2008

Lilly Hendershot (B.A., art – painting) is one of three owners of The Branding Iron, a graphic design, marketing and printing company in Edmonds.

Kalin Clark - 2009

Kalin Clark (B.A., Spanish, psychology) is a clinical psychologist in Rhode Island.

Kipp Robertson - 2010

Kipp Robertson (B.A., journalism) is associate editor of MyNorthwest.com at KIRO Radio.

Beth Robinette - 2010

Beth Robinette (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration) lives and works on her family farm, the Lazy R Ranch, in the Spokane area and helped launch LINC Foods, a cooperative that connects 49 local farmers and ranchers with commercial and institutional customers.

Junior Aumavae - 2010

Junior Aumavae (B.A., general studies) is secretary of the NFL Players Association and a former player for the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys. He recently started his own non-profit, Elite Athletic Trend, and organized his first football skills camp for junior high and high school students in Indiana.

Shaun Nichols - 2010

Shaun Nichols (B.A., history) completed his Ph.D. at Harvard University, where he serves as the College Fellow in History and specializes in the history of capitalism, immigration and labor in the U.S. and the world.

Nicholas Johnson - 2010

Nicholas Johnson (B.A., journalism) became editor of the Mukilteo Beacon newspaper.

Megan Tackett - 2010

Megan Tackett (B.A., journalism – public relations) became a staff writer for the Del Rio News Herald in Texas.

Andy Karuza - 2010

Andy Karuza (B.A., business administration – marketing) is CEO of FenSens, which creates software-enhanced car accessories, including an app that detects objects in your car’s blind spot and helps with parking.

Jeremy Schwartz - 2010

Jeremy Schwartz (B.A., journalism) is a writer and editor for MediaPro LLC, a learning services company that specializes in information security.

Emily Grason - 2010

Emily Grason (M.S., biology) is a project coordinator for the Washington Sea Grant Crab Team, which teaches “citizen scientists” to monitor for invasive European green crabs along inland Washington shorelines. Grason completed her doctoral degree in biology at the University of Washington and her research on invasive snails was recently published in the scientific journal American Naturalist.

Gabby Wade - 2011

Katie Sauerbrey (B.A., recreation) is a firefighter for the Nature Conservancy and sometimes works with the Forest Service and the National Park Service.

Katie Sauerbrey - 2011

Katie Sauerbrey (B.A., recreation) is a firefighter for the Nature Conservancy and sometimes works with the Forest Service and the National Park Service.

Brendan Pape - 2011

After launching their first clothing company, Disidual, while they were still students at Western, Brendan Pape (B.A., communication) and Christian Harkson (’12, B.A., communication) now lead the fast-growing Brist Manufacturing, which designs and produces custom clothing in small quantities for ski resorts, breweries and other clients.

Christina Vernon - 2012

Christina Vernon (B.A., history/ social studies) completed a Masters in Teaching degree with Evergreen State College in 2014 and now teaches at Nisqually Middle School in Lacey.

Nick Marvik - 2012

Nick Marvik (B.A., business administration – marketing) is the founder of Northwest Tech, a Seattle-based clothing company that specializes in creating customizable jackets, pants and snow bibs for skiers, snowboarders and, now, mountainbikers.

Emily Zach - 2012

Chronicle Books recently published “The Art of Beatrix Potter” by Emily Zach (B.A., art history, anthropology), a collection of Potter’s work illustrating her artistic range.

Travis Peters - 2012

Travis Peters (B.S., mathematics, computer science) is a Ph.D. student in the Computer Science Department at Dartmouth College.

Christian Harkson - 2012

After launching their first clothing company, Disidual, while they were still students at Western, Brendan Pape (B.A., communication) and Christian Harkson (’12, B.A., communication) now lead the fastgrowing Brist Manufacturing, which designs and produces custom clothing in small quantities for ski resorts, breweries and other clients.

Elisabeth DeGrenier - 2012

Elisabeth DeGrenier (B.A., student/faculty designed major) is the community historian for the Western Heritage Center in Billings, Montana, where she manages collections, hosts walking tours and does public outreach.

Sarah Goodin - 2012

Sarah Goodin (B.A., English – creative writing) became the social media manager for PR Consulting in Bellingham.

Kaitlyn Abrams - 2013

Kaitlyn Abrams (B.A., English – creative writing) is a graduate student at the University of Maine, where she helped launch a new interdisciplinary environmental journal, Spire. Next, she plans to attend Oxford University to complete a graduate degree in nature, society and environmental governance.

Mary Peters - 2013

Mary Peters (B.A., linguistics, Spanish) is a Spanish teacher at Francis C. Richmond Middle School in Hanover, New Hampshire, and an assistant track coach at Hanover High School.

Oscar Jimenez - 2013

Oscar Jimenez (B.A., communication, Spanish) recently signed with the Louisville City FC as a midfielder. Previously, he played for the United Soccer League’s Tulsa Roughnecks and the Premier Development League’s Mississippi Brilla.

Tim Euen - 2014

Tim Euen (B.A., business administration – marketing), Robin Dittrich (‘16, B.A., geography) and Rory McMahon (’15, B.A., accounting) recently launched Pine Tree 3D, which produces virtual reality home tours for the real estate industry.

Julia Hands - 2014

Julia Hands (B.A., English – creative writing; ’16, MFA, creative writing) recently read her work at an event sponsored by the Northwind Reading Series in Port Townsend.

Colt Warren - 2014

Colt Warren (B.A., history/social studies; ’14, Master in Teaching) recently became a teacher and head wrestling coach for Blaine High School.

Haley Lannom - 2015

Haley Lannom (B.A., business administration – management) became the sports sales and events coordinator for the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau.

Morgan Paris Lanza - 2015

Morgan Paris Lanza (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration) is executive director of the Bellingham Girls Rock Camp, a day camp for girls 8 to 17 to learn about playing a musical instrument, recording songs and performing on stage.

Annika Wolters - 2015

Annika Wolters (Communication, Visual Journalism) is an Americorps member at Ilwaco High School working on improving attendance rates.

Tyler Chisholm - 2015

Tyler Chisholm (M.Ed., environmental education) became winter program coordinator for Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness in Montana, overseeing outdoor education programs and a rare carnivore study.

Julia Moss - 2015

Julia Moss (B.A., art history, anthropology) is assistant manager of Allied Arts in Bellingham, where she recently helped coordinate the Holiday Festival of the Arts.

Brian Haug - 2015

Zach Ortega (B.A., business administration – marketing) and Brian Haug (B.A., communication studies, business administration – marketing) helped launch Igloo Rolls, a food truck in Seattle that serves Thai-inspired ice cream rolls.

Rory McMahon - 2015

Zach Ortega - 2015

Karen McCormich - 2016

Karen McCormick (BAE, special education) is a first-grade teacher at Brownsville Elementary School in Bremerton.

Chaz Langford - 2016

Chaz Langford (B.A., business administration – management) is a community associate in Bellingham for Regus, an international company that offers shared office space and business support services.

Nate Sawtell - 2016

“Gone,” a film by Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies graduates Michael Barone, Madison Njos, Conor O’Keefe and Nate Sawtell, recently premiered at the Pickford Film Center in Bellingham.

Stephanie Villiers - 2016

Stephanie Villiers (B.A., visual journalism) is a news producer at KEZI television in Eugene, Oregon.

Conor O'Keefe - 2016

Jacqueline Allison - 2016

Jacqueline Allison (B.A., Fairhaven interdisciplinary concentration, visual journalism) became a reporter for the Anacortes American.

Madison Njos - 2016

Dane Stanfield - 2016

Dane Stanfield (B.S., chemistry) is pursuing a Ph.D. in materials and nanoscience chemistry at University of California, Los Angeles.

Michael Barone - 2016

Elizabeth Ruth - 2016

Elizabeth Ruth (B.S., community health) received the top score on the Certified Health Education Specialist exam in October 2016. She is a high-level administrative assistant at Skagit County Hospital District 304.

Dane Stanfield - 2016

Dane Stanfield (B.S., chemistry) is pursuing a Ph.D. in materials and nanoscience chemistry at University of California, Los Angeles.

Nate Nehring - 2016

Nate Nehring (BAE, general science – secondary) is a science teacher at Cedarcrest Middle School in Marysville and was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Snohomish County Council, becoming the youngest person ever to sit on that board.

Robin Dittrich - 2016

Brenna Visser - 2017

Brenna Visser (B.A., journalism) became a reporter for the Cannon Beach Gazette and Daily Astorian in Oregon.

Obituaries

Helen McNeil Sherman - 1934

Helen McNeil Sherman, 100, a retired teacher in Seattle and Richland, on March 8, 2017.

Elaine L. Zobrist Redelfs - 1934

Elaine L. Zobrist Redelfs, 102, a former community leader in the South Lake Whatcom area who was honored for her local history work by Gov. Dixie Lee Ray, on Jan. 30, 2017.

Bea Dearborn - 1944

Bea Dearborn, 85, a retired administrative assistant, on March 14, 2017, in Bellingham.

Elsina "Chris" Hawley - 1947

Elsina “Chris” Hawley, 99, a retired elementary school teacher and principal in Klamath Falls, Oregon, on Feb. 17, 2017, in Placerville, California.

Raymond Reigers - 1948

Raymond Reigers, 93, on April 21, 2017.

Sidney Van Sinderen - 1949

Sidney Van Sinderen, 93, on Feb. 12, 2017, in Lynden.

Neal Alton Bartlett - 1950

Neal Alton Bartlett, 91, a retired teacher and coach who spent 28 years at Cascade High School in Everett, on Feb. 21, 2017.

William R. Stendal - 1951

William R. Stendal, 89, a retired teacher and school administrator, caterer, community volunteer and former mayor of Sedro-Woolley, on Feb. 22, 2017.

Bruce Philbrick - 1951

Bruce Philbrick, 89, of Bellingham, on Feb. 12, 2017.

Delbert Llewellyn Bargewell - 1952

Delbert Llewellyn Bargewell, 86, a retired teacher in Bellingham who also worked in real estate, on March 10, 2017, in Bow.

Frederick Burton Minahan - 1954

Frederick Burton Minahan, 89, on March 30, 2017, in Mount Vernon.

Delmar Hesselgesser - 1954

Delmar Hesselgesser, 90, on March 5, 2017.

Maurice Halleck - 1955

Maurice Halleck, 86, a retired high school teacher and coach in Santa Barbara, California, on Nov. 27, 2016.

Donald Lee Hundley - 1956

Donald Lee Hundley, 87, a retired teacher and football coach who later ran a woodworking business, on March 16, 2017, on Camano Island.

Dale Wilson - 1956

Dale Wilson, 87, a retired principal of Kenmore schools, on Feb. 4, 2017, in Rathdrum, Idaho.

Allan Wood - 1959

Allan Wood, 95, a Spokane resident, on April 20, 2017.

Milton Howard Towne - 1959

Milton Howard Towne, 86, a former principal of Western’s Campus School, Air Force veteran and commander in the Washington Air National Guard who retired with the rank of Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force, on March 1, 2017, in Montesano.

Dennis Joseph McHugo - 1959

Dennis Joseph McHugo, 83, a retired teacher and member of the American Legion Post No. 49, on Feb. 12, 2017, in Olympia.

Don Chrisman - 1959

Don Chrisman, 79, of Bothell, who worked many years in the electrical wholesale business, coached the Bellingham Bells baseball team and worked as a golf pro, on Nov. 18, 2016.

Bob Jones - 1960

Bob Jones, 60, Auburn High School’s longtime athletic director and football coach, on March 12, 2017.

Elizabeth Ann (Line) Seelye - 1961

Elizabeth Ann (Line) Seelye, 77, of Oak Harbor, on Jan. 24, 2017.

Richard Arnold Bailey - 1961

Richard Arnold Bailey, 78, a retired attorney in the Arlington area and former president of the Snohomish County Bar Association, on Feb. 14, 2017.

Richard Allen Moore - 1962

Richard Allen Moore, 82, a retired sixth-grade teacher in the Mount Vernon area who later worked in construction, on Feb. 22, 2017.

Judith Mae Craig - 1962

Judith Mae Craig, 76, a retired primary and preschool teacher who also developed preschool programs in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, on Jan. 26, 2017, in Bend, Oregon.

Catherine Bidwell - 1962

Catherine Bidwell, 77, a retired business owner and piano teacher, on Jan. 6, 2017, in Fremont, California.

Alfred Edward "Bud" Lee - 1963

Alfred Edward “Bud” Lee, 78, who taught for 30 years in Port Townsend, on Feb. 25, 2017, in Sequim.

James Underwood Gray - 1963

James Underwood Gray, 89, a retired art professor at University of British Columbia, on March 18, 2017, in Campbell River, B.C.

Rena Browne - 1963

Rena Browne, 72, a retired paraeducator in the Ferndale School District, on April 13, 2017, on Sandy Point in Whatcom County.

Marianne Skotdal - 1964

Marianne Skotdal, 75, a retired teacher and school librarian who with her husband owned a real estate development company in Everett, on Nov. 10, 2016.

Margaret Ann (Vogel) Morris - 1965

Margaret Ann (Vogel) Morris, 85, a retired teacher in Christian schools and in the Nooksack Valley School District, on March 12, 2017.

Catherine I. Schloemer - 1965

Catherine I. Schloemer, 88, a retired teacher in Norfolk, Virginia, on Jan. 22, 2017, in Norfolk.

Robert E. Richards - 1965

Robert E. Richards, a retired teacher and administrator, on Nov. 24, 2016, in Spokane.

Eva Clare Corcoran Pytel - 1966

Eva Clare Corcoran Pytel, 94, a retired teacher and technical illustrator, on March 10, 2017.

Amy Higbee - 1966

Amy Higbee, 97, a retired teacher, on Dec. 16, 2016.

Joseph M. Kelly - 1967

Joseph M. Kelly, a retired refinery operator at B.P. Cherry Point in Blaine and a former board member of the Wild Fish Conservancy, on March 20, 2017.

Robert James Lane - 1968

Robert James Lane, 71, retired president of US Bank of Idaho, on March 24, 2017.

Douglas Bruce Foster - 1968

Douglas Bruce Foster, 77, who taught in Michigan, New Zealand, Japan, Bolivia, Italy and Taiwan, on Oct. 29, 2016, in Hastings, New Zealand.

Robert Paul Bauer - 1969

Robert Paul Bauer, 75, a retired teacher and coach in the Edmonds School District, on Jan. 22, 2017.

Robert Daniel Leedy - 1970

Robert Daniel Leedy, 75, a retired city planner and community development director who had worked in Dallas, Richland, Port Townsend, Bonney Lake and West Richland, on Jan. 6, 2017, in Richland.

Margaret Marie Frank - 1970

Margaret Marie Frank, 68, a fiber artist, on April 13, 2017, in Pensacola, Florida.

Susan Rose (Smith) Sanchez - 1971

Susan Rose (Smith) Sanchez, 67, a retired elementary school teacher, on March 10, 2017, in Mount Vernon.

Kurt Saldin - 1971

Kurt Saldin, 68, who owned an antiques business, on Jan. 15, 2017, in Bellingham.

Toni Lee Kuresman - 1971

Toni Lee Kuresman, 68, a retired elementary school teacher in Bremerton and central Kitsap, and a volunteer organizer for the Washington State PTA, on March 28, 2017.

Bruce T. Moore - 1972

Bruce T. Moore, 68, a retired fisheries patrol sergeant for Washington State Fisheries, on Feb. 7, 2017.

Dennis Francis McGuire - 1972

Dennis Francis McGuire, 68, who spent 40 years in the taxicab and transportation industry, on Jan. 22, 2017, in Seattle.

Eric Arlen Burns - 1973

Eric Arlen Burns, 65, on March 2, 2017.

Joan M. Nystrom Koffel - 1973

Joan M. Nystrom Koffel, 81, retired branch manager for Washington Federal Savings and Loan in La Conner, on Dec. 8, 2016, in Wenatchee.

Mark E. Saucier - 1974

Mark E. Saucier, 64, retired Nuclear Power Division manager for SSM Industries in Pennsylvania, a steadfast volunteer with his local soup kitchen and a 300-time blood platelet donor, on Feb. 7, 2017.

Robert Bradley - 1974

Robert Bradley, 72, an Air Force veteran and retired social worker, on Dec. 31, 2016, in Everett.

Eunice Lorraine Thorsen Fackler Bennett - 1975

Eunice Lorraine Thorsen Fackler Bennett, 89, a violinist and a founding member of the Bellingham Symphony Orchestra, on April 7, 2017.

Sally Ann Gillies - 1976

Sally Ann Gillies, 87, a retired early education teacher at Everett Community College, on Feb. 27, 2017, in South Bend.

John M. Geer - 1976

John M. Geer, 77, a retired teacher who taught in the U.S., New Zealand and Canada and who served as an administrator at Western and Sam Houston State University, on Nov. 6, 2016, in Vancouver, Washington.

Anthony Elston - 1976

Anthony Elston, 70, who worked as a quality control manager and in warehousing but was passionate about writing poetry and making pottery, on Oct. 9, 2016, in Bellingham.

Melvin G. Oltman - 1977

Melvin G. Oltman, 62, a lifelong resident of Whatcom County, on Feb. 25, 2017.

Keith Kenji Nakayama - 1978

Keith Kenji Nakayama, 60, a retired middle school band director in Hawaii, on June 1, 2016.

Joahn Johannesen - 1978

Joahn Johannesen, 82, on Jan. 21, 2017, a retired counselor for Domestic Abuse Women’s Network, in Richland.

Nancy Ellan (Ehricke) Radford - 1981

Nancy Ellen (Ehricke) Radford, 58, of Anderson Island, on Feb. 3, 2017.

Paul "Butch" Cassidy - 1981

Paul “Butch” Cassidy, 75, a Navy veteran who taught high school math and science, worked at WWU’s Shannon Point Marine Laboratory and at Anacortes Yacht Charters, and volunteered with the Sea Explorers, on Nov. 12, 2016.

David Eric Currit - 1982

David Eric Currit, 60, a longtime employee of Welch Foods Inc. in Grandview, on Jan. 21, 2017.

Dana S. Kuiken - 1983

Dana S. Kuiken, 77, on Feb. 9, 2017, in Bellingham.

Jeffrey Keith Slater - 1984

Jeffrey Keith Slater, 67, who had a long career in banking and was an avid car collector, on Nov. 15, 2016.

Leroy Howard Raymond - 1985

Leroy Howard Raymond, 70, a retired supply chain management analyst for Boeing and a former commanader in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, on Jan. 15, 2017.

Curtis John Kramme - 1986

Curtis John Kramme, 55, a longtime teacher and coach in Lynden and a member of the Washington State Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, on April 22, 2017.

Terence James Gilchrist - 1986

Terence James Gilchrist, 52, who worked with parks departments and in the cell phone tower industry, on Feb. 20, 2017, in Colfax.

Marian Leese Boyland - 1988

Marian Leese Boylan, 90, a retired journalist and manager at KVOS-TV in Bellingham and a former president of the Washington Commission for the Humanities who donated her family’s 20th century art collection to the Western Gallery, on Feb. 26, 2017, in Bellingham.

Nancy Ann (Birgenheier) Hamilton - 1988

Nancy Ann (Birgenheier) Hamilton, 51, on Jan. 15, 2017.

Ken Sager - 1989

Ken Sager, 53, a former art director, on Nov. 2, 2016, in Sidney, Nebraska.

Jodie McIvor - 1989

Jodie McIvor, 50, a former banking executive who later ran a dog-sitting business, on Dec. 28, 2016, in Everett.

Denise Marion Kotschevar-Smead - 1992

Denise Marion Kotschevar-Smead, 49, who worked for Allied Telesis, Intermec and Honeywell, and spent a lot of time working and studying in Mexico, on March 14, 2017.

Mat Magrath - 1992

Matt Magrath, 59, a longtime addiction counselor and youth sports volunteer in Whatcom County, on April 3, 2017.

Derrick Focht - 1994

Derrick Focht, 47, a Kent Police detective, on April 7, 2017.

Ryan Keith Nash - 1999

Ryan Keith Nash, 40, a software engineer, on Feb. 24, 2017, in Sedro-Woolley.

John David Nourse - 2001

John David Nourse, 38, a Bellevue Police Department corporal and community volunteer, on Dec. 1, 2016.

Luther Eugene Laviolette - 2004

Luther Eugene Laviolette, 63, who spent 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, on March 4, 2017.

Eve Deisher Bergner - 2004

Eve Deisher Bergner, a longtime art, design and art history teacher at Skagit Valley College, on Jan. 30, 2017, in Anacortes.

Alexander Sandvik Hoelting - 2009

Alexander Sandvik Hoelting, 31, a former commercial fisherman in Alaska and construction and landscape worker on Whidbey Island who was studying solar installation at Shoreline Community College, on Jan. 23, 2017.

Ryan Paul Christensen - 2011

Ryan Paul Christensen, 29, on Jan. 31, 2017.

Jessica R. Brooks - 2012

Jessica R. Brooks, 26, a veterinary student at Washington State University, on Dec. 27, 2016, near Colfax.

Katherine Eve Beesley - 2012

Katherine Eve Beesley, 33, a teacher and performing artist, on Nov. 24, 2016.

Weddings

Doug Peltier - 1993

Suzanne Funston (’93, B.A., Spanish) and Doug Peltier (’93, BAE, math) on Aug. 13, 2016, in Olympia.

Suzanne Funston - 1993

Suzanne Funston (’93, B.A., Spanish) and Doug Peltier (’93, BAE, math) on Aug. 13, 2016, in Olympia.

Kristina MacCully - 2005

Matthew Hatting and Kristina MacCully (’05, B.A., human services) on Nov. 12, 2016, in Seattle.