More updates!  I’m so slow at this, sorry!

Keith Jensen ’74 has become a shareholder and principal of the law firm Burnside, Johnson, Connor & Jensen, P.C.  “The law firm of Burnside, Johnston, Connor & Jensen, P.C., formerly Burnside, Johnston & Connor, P.C., has announced that Keith Jensen has become a shareholder and principal of the firm.
Jensen did his undergraduate work at Illinois Wesleyan and graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1976.  He thereafter served as an assistant state’s attorney in both Madison and St. Clair counties before becoming a special prosecutor for Fayette, Bond and Cumberland counties.”  From the Leader Union newspaper.

Susan Alford ’74 has passed away on April 4, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer. Susan was born in Elgin, Il on December 19th, 1951. She graduated from St. Charles High School in 1970, and from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1974 with a degree in Elementary Education. Her freshman year at Illinois Wesleyan, Susan met Fred Alford. Susan and Fred married on June 30th, 1974 and enjoyed 40 wonderful years together.  Susan enjoyed teaching 4th grade for many years, and later completed a Master’s Degree and certification in teaching elementary school English Language Learners. Sue was a member of the Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, and active in church groups, book club, and PEO. For many years Susan did creative hand-crafted projects and shared her talents with others. She loved to garden, read and spend time with her family and friends. Sue was a wonderful hostess and always made guests feel welcome in her home. She loved her children dearly.

From Alice Arnold, some good news!  This spring I received a Woman of Distinction award.  The attached newsletter reads,  “Alice Arnold (art education) was named one of ten Women of Distinction by the ECU Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Women. The honor recognizes women who demonstrate outstanding leadership, mentoring; and commitment to diversity, empowerment, equality, equity and/or social justice. The awards are made every other year.

“photo by Jay Clark (cropped)”

Steve Wannemacher ’73, vice chairman of the board of Heritage Enterprises, is among nursing home representatives who criticize the unexpected doubling of state funding cuts.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois nursing home operators say they are shouldering a larger-than-expected share of cuts designed to balance the state’s current year budget.

At a press conference in the Capitol Tuesday, a coalition of nursing home companies said they had thought the fiscal year 2015 budget fix approved by lawmakers in March would cut $25.5 million of their state funding.

On Thursday, however, they learned that figure had more than doubled to $55 million — an amount they’ll have to absorb in the final two months of the fiscal year.

The operators are unsure how they’ll deal with the reductions.

“We can’t turn our business on a dime. It’s not like we make widgets. We have people in beds,” said Steve Wannemacher, vice chairman of the board of Bloomington-based Heritage Enterprises, which operates 35 facilities serving 3,000 residents.

More cool stuff!  Over the last two years, David Newberg (’75) and Karle Koritz (’99) have worked together to tackle many issues facing DeWitt County – Newberg as a member of the DeWitt County Board and Koritz as the DeWitt County State’s Attorney.  In December 2014, Koritz was appointed Circuit Judge and Newberg was elected Chairman of the DeWitt County Board by his fellow board members.  In just four short months, Newberg helmed the Board through difficult negotiations to settle one of the most controversial issues facing Central Illinois over the last 7 years – the protection of the Mahomet Aquifer.  “Thanks in large part to David’s leadership and passion,” Judge Koritz writes, “there will be no hazardous PCB waste stored over the Mahomet Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for over 750,000 citizens in Central Illinois.”  The DeWitt County Board and Clinton Landfill, Inc. agreed in April to restructure their host agreement in exchange for the Landfill permanently withdrawing their permit applications seeking to store hazardous PCB waste over the Mahomet Aquifer.  The deal concludes almost a decade of contentious litigation involving the Attorney General’s Office, the Governor’s office, the EPA, the DeWitt County Board, the Landfill, and dozens of municipalities and environmental protection groups.

David Newberg (’75), Joni (Blue) Newberg (’75), Katy (McCain) Koritz (’01), and Karle Koritz (’99).

Finally, on a more personal note.  I can’t remember how long I have been doing this, seems like forever!  I think since the 80’s or so.  Memory isn’t what it used to be, but I remember doing it on an older version of WordPerfect and having to try and e-mail it to the Alumni Office.  It’s been fun.  But I think it is about time to give it up after all these years.  If anyone would love to take it over let me know!  If not I’ll continue doing it but wouldn’t mind giving it up.  Hope everyone has a great summer!  I’m off to Disney World to visit some of the students Black Hawk College has doing Internships down there.  Well, and taking a vacation too!  🙂   Bruce Storey, Class of ’75

Anne Weston McGowan, of Normal, breathed her last at 8:55 a.m. Saturday, March 7, 2015.  

She was born on August 12, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Harold and Frances Weston. She attended Middlebury College as a young woman in 1955 but graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a BA in English Literature in 1976.

She married James Denise McGowan on July 3, 1958, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Jim, a former professor at IWU, predeceased her by one year to the day. They are survived by their three children, Andrew John (Laura) McGowan, Topeka, KS; Caitlin (Anthony) Visser, Las Vegas, NV; and Michael James McGowan, Durham, NC, and three grandsons, Benjamin, Joseph, and Eric Visser, Las Vegas, NV.

Anne was a modern dancer as a young woman. She taught Latin at local high schools for several years, but she is known primarily as an environmentalist. She was a volunteer at Operation Recycle’s first recycle drive in 1971 and later served on its board for many years. She was the original director of the Ecology Action Center, an environmental education center that began in 1994.

Memorials may be made to the Ecology Action Center.

A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

Dennis Daniels was born on July 23, 1954 and passed away on Friday, February 8, 2013. Dennis was a resident of Watseka, Illinois at the time of his passing.

Visitation was held on Thursday, February 14, 2013 at the Baier Funeral Home in Watseka from 4-7 pm. Funeral Service was held on Friday, February 15, 2013 at the Baier Funeral Home in Watseka at 2 pm with Pastor Charlie Ballengee officiating. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Watseka, Illinois.

Memorials in Mr. Daniel’s name may be made to the Pittwood Christian Church or Donor’s Choice.

I was just informed that Susan Lynn Hartog (’76), 58, passed away April 26, 2013 in Humble, Texas.  Susan is survived by her husband, Dean Woods Jr.  Her father, John Frederick Hartog preceded her in death.  Other survivors are her mother, Mrs. John Hartog; brothers, Thomas John Hartog and wife Lynn McCormack-Hartog and Timothy William Hartog; nieces, Lauren Elizabeth Hartog and Leigh Michelle Hartog, along with numerous other relatives and a host of loving friends.

We are sorry to hear of Susan’s passing.  I knew Susan and remember her beautiful voice.  My condolences to her husband, Dean.

Lots of overdue updates and some more stuff at the end.

On September 14th, 2014, the U of Minnesota School of Music Wind Quintet performed  Lisa Renee Ragsdale’s Wind Quintet # 2, “Winter Music” (a 3rd wind quintet composed in 2010-11), Sonata for Bassoon and piano (2010) and two short works for solo oboe (“Inquiringly” & “Sailing”).  During May 2014 Lisa composed two songs for mezzo soprano and alto sax on poetry of Boston, MA poet Fred Marchant. On November 1st, mezzo-soprano Alyssa Anderson and saxophonist Jeffrey Kyle Hutchins
performed the second of these two works “First Song Again” at the Gamut Gallery, a small art gallery in Minneapolis, along with seven other works specifically for voice and saxophone.

Lana Brown ’70, who manages the Urban Educational Internship Program for Michigan State University in Chicago, wrote about lessons in “staying above the fray” in politics.  Here’s a link to the article: http://www.daily-journal.com/opinion/columnists/local/lana-brown-politicians-take-heed-stay-above-the-fray/article_8ce839c6-4f05-53f9-a8d9-4cb1e99565e4.html

An art exhibition by Jana Fothergill ’72 will be on display at the Nob Hill Satellite in Albuquerque, N.M.  Here’s a link to the article: http://alibi.com/events/117008/A-Journey-of-Discovery-Opening-Reception.html

David A Petersen has just taken a new position with Optum Bank a UnitedHealth Group company as Vice President, Area Sales Manager, Southeast Region, in their Health Care Banking Group. He will be providing commercial lending, lines of credit, and equipment finance to health care organizations in Florida, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and Atlanta. David has over 10 years’ experience in Health Care Banking with Wells Fargo where he was a leading member of the Specialty Markets Group in Dallas-Ft. Worth and Naples, Florida.   David lives in Naples, Florida with his wife Jan and is an active member of the Southwest Florida Sigma Chi Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Immokalee Child Care Center board and governance committee, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, and the Illinois Wesleyan Alumni Association.

Ray (Rodriguez) Bradford (Class of ’71, Drama) married Terence L. Endersen (UCLA) in Beverly Hills, CA on September 5, 2014.  Ray is Founder and CEO of the advocacy firm The Bradford Advocacy Group, working at the intersection of civil rights and entertainment media

Now for the more sad news.

James Ascareggi ’58 passed away on September 2, 2014. He taught in the School of Drama at Illinois Wesleyan from 1963-72. Here’s a link to his obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=james-ascareggi&pid=172403255.

Cherlynlavaughn Bradley ’73, an award-winning chemist who encouraged girls to pursue careers in chemistry, passed away on August 30, 2014.

Have received the news of Dr. Christine Kefferstan’s (class of 1973) passing.  Christine passed away August 20, 2014.

The Alumni Relations Office is sad to share that Robert J. Bunn ’71 passed away on May 12, 2013.

I’m sad to share that Michael Patterson ’75 passed away on January 8, 2012

I have the sad duty to share the news that Gary Guichard ’79 passed away on February 11, 2014.  Gary was a resident of Denver, Colorado.  

This is all the information I have.  If any of you have information of Gary’s passing, send the information to me at bob@jazzbob7.com.

John Fish, who led the Urban Studies Program in Chicago which enabled many IWU undergrads to build an understanding of urban issues, passed away this past week.

Click here for his obituary and details of his memorial service.

Mark Whitaker of Mundelein, Ill., passed away November 6, 2013. He was 59.

He studied music education at IWU and went on to earn a master’s degree from Southern Methodist University.  

He spent 26 years at Medline Industries, most recently as senior vice president of textile sales. He was active in the industry, serving on the Textile Rental Services Association’s Healthcare Committee and writing articles for trade magazines.

Survivors include his wife Pam, daughters Sarah (Whitaker) Solomon ’12 and Molly Whitaker ’16, his parents, a brother and a sister.

I remember Mark from our classes together in Presser Hall.  We would cross paths many times when practicing.  Even though it has been years since we practiced together, it seems like yesterday.  I hope his family are all well.

Michael Blood of Crawfordsville, Ind., passed away July 16, 2013. He was 57. At IWU, he was a member of Acacia, the Argus and Interfraternity Council. He earned his medical doctorate at Vanderbilt University and completed his residency in family practice at the University of Missouri. For 24 years, he practiced at Crawfordsville Family Care. In addition to medical missions to Haiti, he volunteered his time with the local Boys and Girls Club and as coach for youth sports. He is survived by his wife June, four children, his brother and his mother.

He was a devoted husband, father, and philanthropist. Our deepest condolences go out to his family. To further read Mr. Blood’s obituary, please click here.

The Alumni Relations office would like to share that Julie Harkey passed away on January 13, 2014.