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.

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Obituaries

Ethel Lee Mitchell - 1976

Ethel Lee Mitchell, 89, retired area manager of the Juvenile Diversion Program of King County Superior Court and a tireless advocate for justice and equality for Black people, on Aug. 24, 2021.

Jonathon Appels - 1974

Jonathon Appels, 67, a longtime adjunct professor who taught in a wide variety of areas at Fordham University, including English, anthropology, dance, history, African and African American studies, theology, comparative literature and urban studies, on Nov. 28, 2021, in Manhattan.

Theodore Bestor - 1973

Theodore Bestor, 69, Distinguished Alumnus and Reischauer Institute Professor of Social Anthropology and Japanese Studies at Harvard University, on July 1, 2021, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His research specialized in contemporary urban Japanese society and culture, particularly the Tsukiji fish market of Tokyo. The Japanese government awarded him the Order of the Rising Sun in 2017 for his contributions to the study of Japan and scholarly exchange between Japan and the U.S.

John Garber - 1972

John Garber, 75, a Marine Corps veteran who worked in the aviation insurance industry, on Aug. 24, 2021, in Spokane.

Marion Norma Seelye - 1964

Marion Norma Seelye, 95, who went back to school after having five children and became a junior high school math teacher in South Kitsap, on Feb. 22, 2020, in Anacortes.

Keith E. Stearns - 1955

Keith E. Stearns, 91, a Vancouver resident, on April 27, 2021.

Meredith Runestrand - 1950

Meredith Runestrand, 94, a talented painter and homemaker in a large family that included 10 WWU alumni among her children and grandchildren, on Oct. 23, 2021.

Weddings

Bahar Oguzertem - 2016

Alexey Kutalo and Bahar Oguzertem, '16, B.A., French, on Sept. 20, 2024, in Portland, Oregon. 

Lacy Christison - 2015

Ryan Bonilla and Lacy Christison, '15, B.A., human services, on May 17, 2024, in Spokane. 

Grace Ermi - 2016

Grace Ermi, '16, B.S., and '17, M.S., computer science, and Daniel Johnston, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 8, 2024, at Camp Kirby in Bow. Grace and Daniel met as freshmen at Western.   

Daniel Johnston - 2016

Grace Ermi, '16, B.S., and '17, M.S., computer science, and Daniel Johnston, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 8, 2024, at Camp Kirby in Bow. Grace and Daniel met as freshmen at Western.   

Danny Edgel - 2016

Danny Edgel, '16, B.A, economics, and Leah Gold on Oct. 7, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Ryan Page - 2016

Leah Bennett, '16, B.A., geography, and Ryan Page, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 30, 2023, in Anacortes. 

Leah Bennett - 2016

Leah Bennett, '16, B.A., geography, and Ryan Page, '16, B.A., environmental studies, on June 30, 2023, in Anacortes. 

Levi Friedman - 2014

Levi Friedman, '14, B.A., English - creative writing, and Samantha O'Brochta, '13, B.A., journalism - public relations, on March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. 

Samantha O'Brochta - 2013

Samantha O'Brochta, '13, B.A., journalism - public relations, and Levi Friedman, '14, B.A., English - creative writing, on March 25, 2023, in Las Vegas. 

Emma Rose Wayand - 2013

Nicholas Boone, ’09, B.A., design, and Emma Rose Wayand, ’13, B.A., communication, on Sept. 10, 2022, in Tacoma.

Nicholas Boone - 2009

Nicholas Boone, ’09, B.A., design, and Emma Rose Wayand, ’13, B.A., communication, on Sept. 10, 2022, in Tacoma.

Cameron McCracken - 2009

Haley Huston, ’08, B.S., biology, and Cameron McCracken,’09, B.A., general studies, on Aug. 17, 2019. They now have twin boys.

Haley Huston - 2008

Haley Huston, ’08, B.S., biology, and Cameron McCracken,’09, B.A., general studies, on Aug. 17, 2019. They now have twin boys.