alumni catching up
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College Hosts Alumni Lunch in Iowa In April, a large group of Elmhurst College alumni gathered at the Mayflower community in Grinnell, Iowa, for a luncheon hosted by the College’s O≈ce of Development and Alumni Relations. Alumni representing the classes of 1953 through 1966 shared memories of their days on campus and spoke about the impact of their Elmhurst experiences and the lifelong friendships they made on campus. Elmhurst development o≈cers brought attendees up to date on campus news and spoke about key initiatives, including the planned expansion of the Schaible Science Center. Luncheon attendees included (standing, from left): Barbara (Otto) Franz ’57, Sandra (Waltz) Young ’58, Charles “Bud” Kniker ’58, Bob Anderson ’56, Lyle Kuehl ’58, Glenn Hunt ’66, Duane Meyer ’53. Seated: Dot (Suhre) Anderson ’58, Ruth (Nickelson) Dalenberg ’58, Judy (Groves) Kuehl ’58 and John Saxton ’57.
Brett Eldredge ’08, a country singer, performed as an opening act on Taylor Swift’s 2013 tour. Jennifer (Hameister) Praveen ’08 is pursuing a master’s degree in school psychology at National Louis University.
Lisa Johnson-McFarland ’08 left her account management position at Rexam Beverage Can Company in 2010 after more than 25 years to pursue her passion for music and ministry. She is currently at work on her first CD project. She is a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, where she sings in the choir, leads the Praise and Worship Team and serves as an event planner. Happily married to CliΩord McFarland, Lisa is the mother of two sons, Brandon (Miah) and Byron (Malisa), and the grandmother of four.
Births Gina (Riberto) Kaktis ’00 and her husband, Daniel Kaktis, welcomed their second baby girl, Reese Suzanne Kaktis, on May 28, 2013.
Matt Matkovich ’08 is a special services educator at Carl Sandburg High School, where he has worked since 2008. In partnership with another Sandburg teacher, he makes motivational presentations and videos directed at high school students. Their venture, M & P Presentations, was recently featured in the Southtown Star.
Erica Doolittle-Meyer Poremba ’04 and her husband, Mike Poremba, welcomed their first child, Riley Markay Poremba, on April 16, 2013.
Michael D. Eckhardt ’09 is among 78 new physicians who graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine on May 18, 2013. He began a pathology residency at the University of Chicago Medicine in July. 2010s Soofia Ahmed ’10 has recently joined the Lombard o≈ce of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Amanda Bonanotte ’10 is currently a thirdyear law student at Northern Illinois University, College of Law, where she is on the dean’s list and the vice president of women’s law caucus. She is working at a suburban litigation law firm as a law clerk. Benjamin Furman ’11 recently began a new career in culinary arts. Dane Ladwig ’12 published his first book, Piercing the Veils of Death, in January 2013. His next nonfiction true crime book, Dr. H. H. Holmes and the Whitechapel Ripper, is scheduled for release in the fall of 2013. Dane has been invited to join seven of the world’s leading nonfiction true crime authors to collaborate on an anthology about serial killers, scheduled for publication in the winter of 2013. Liliana Gomez ’13 is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Illinois State University.
Anthony Minestra ’01 and his wife, Kim, welcomed their daughter, Alexandra Jean Minestra, on May 29, 2013. Sara (Douglass) Born ’02 and her husband, John Born ’03, welcomed their second child, Rachel Douglass Born, on June 3, 2013.
Pete Fominaya ’04 and Patty (Kozor) Fominaya ’04 welcomed a daughter, Grace Noelle Fominaya, on December 20, 2011. Tom Herion ’04 and his wife, Nicole, welcomed a son in April 2013. Lisa (Bowers) Albright ’06 and her husband, Matthew, welcomed a son, Zachary Albright, on August 22, 2012. Nicole Lendi Kaminsky ’06 and her husband, Joshua Kaminsky ’07, welcomed their daughter, Hailey Grace Kaminsky, on April 16, 2013. Stella (Calamia) Thompson ’06 and her husband, Steven Thompson, welcomed their third son, Reese Jacob Thompson, on March 23, 2013. Dave Brechin ’07 and his wife, Nicole (Schuette) Brechin ’07, welcomed their daughter, Kinley Marie Brechin, on April 6, 2013. Maggie (Christiano) DiPaolo ’07 and her husband, Antonio DiPaolo, welcomed their first son, Antonio Attilio DiPaolo, on April 29, 2012. Brian Reid ’07 and his wife, Katie, welcomed a son, Caleb Michael Reid, on September 21, 2013. Mark Schwarz ’07 and Jenna (Vanderstappen) Schwarz ’08 welcomed a daughter, Nora Schwarz, on September 6, 2011, and a son, Joshua, on May 2, 2013. Sa’de Bryant Clark ’09 and her husband, Duane, welcomed a son, DJ, on April 4, 2013.