Marianne Wolf-Astraukas ’76 is the executive 2nd vice president of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). Her work on behalf of her alma mater is in a NFPW profile. Go read more about Marianne here at her profile.
Illinois Wesleyan athletic director Dennie Bridges, who coached the Titans’ men’s basketball team to 667 wins over a 36-year span, will be honored with the dedication of “Dennie Bridges Court” in the Shirk Center performance gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 21.
The event will take place at halftime of the Titans’ final regular season game, a 7 p.m. “Seniors’ Day” contest against Elmhurst. A number of former players, including seven-time NBA all-star and 1977 IWU graduate Jack Sikma, will be on hand at the game.
Bridges, who will retire from the university in July as its longest-serving athletic director, led IWU to a national Division III championship in 1997 and third place finishes in 1996 and 2001.
His teams had a 667-319 record from 1965 to 2001 with 17 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships, 14 NCAA Division III tournament appearances and seven NAIA national tournament appearances.
“The naming of the court in Dennie’s honor is a well-deserved tribute to his long and successful career at Illinois Wesleyan,” said IWU President Richard Wilson. “His dedication and commitment as a coach, teacher and administrator have served as a model for many athletes and friends across the country, in this community and at this university.”
From 1957 to 1961, playing at Memorial Gymnasium (now the Hansen Student Center), Bridges was a four-year letterman and all-conference player in basketball. Coaching for 29 seasons (1965-94) at Fred Young Fieldhouse, his teams won 285 games in the building (285-71) and in the first seven years of the Shirk Center, Bridges’s IWU squads won 93 of 98 home games.
Jay Payleitner’s (’79) 14th book was just released. 52 Things to Pray for Your Kids helps Moms and Dads (and children) see prayer as a joy, not a burden. It’s a gentle reminder to pray for their backyard treehouse, teammates, siblings, and future spouse.
As parents, we can pray rocking, pray singing, pray they get caught, and pray like Jesus did. Like all the “52 Things” books published by Harvest House Publishers, it’s an easy read that leaves you encouraged, not overwhelmed. You can get a copy from Jay, your favorite bookstore, or Amazon.
Jay is the author of 12 books including the best-selling 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad. A recent release from Harvest House Publishers is 52 Things Wives Need from Their Husband. A new gift book for graduates from Ellie Claire titled If God Gave Your Graduation Speech should be a best seller every May for the next several years.
Jay and his high school sweetheart, Rita, have four sons, one daughter, three daughters-in-law (and an occasional foster baby) and live in St. Charles, Illinois. In May 2013, Jackson David Payleitner gave Jay a new title, “Gramps.”
Jay’s website is jaypayleitner.com
Several IWU alumni will be starring in the hit Neil Simon comedy, Laughter on the 23rd Floor at First Folio Theatre from January 28 through March 1, 2015. Directed by Alison C. Vesely ’79 and starring Hayley L. Rice ’04 as Carol and Wayne Temple ’98 as Milton.
Laughter on the 23rd Floor transports theater patrons back to 30 Rockefeller Center in the 1950s and features a meticulously designed set and costumes, a la Mad Men.
If you are in the Chicago area through March 1, 2015, check out Laughter on the 23rd Floor at the First Folio Theatre.
Illinois 
Wesleyan athletic director Dennie Bridges, a Titan since he enrolled as a student in 1957 and later the men’s basketball coach for 36 seasons, has announced he will retire.
For more details, go to iwusports.com.
Congratulations Dennie. Good luck in your retirement.
Cynthia (Benn) Tweedell ’76 has been recently named Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness at Ohio Christian University.
Cynthia also on a new book published, Best Practices in the Integration of Faith and Learning for Adult and Online Learners. (Edited with Cheryl Fleming) If you would like to read this book or others by Cynthia, they are available on Amazon.
Congratulations Cynthia!!
Adriane Powell
The University is pleased to announce Adriane Powell as the Director of Alumni Relations at Illinois Wesleyan University. Adriane has been an adopted Titan since 2010, and has lived in the Bloomington-Normal community for over 30 years. She loves to meet IWU alumni where they live, work, and play. Adriane has experience working with a diverse group of IWU alumni and is looking forward to continuing to connect with Titans all over the world!
Hope you all had a great holiday season. It was wild at our house with all the kids and grandkids there. Be healthy in 2015.
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