MERCYHURST COLLEGE CLASS NOTES Lauren Brechtel Pura ’03 and husband Creg had a son, Carson Andrew, on Nov. 12, 2009.
Husband of:
Father of:
Constance M. Settlemeyer Ripley ’58 (Noel Ripley)
Gerard “Sparky” C. Mills ‘80 (John J. Mills Sr.)
Nicolle Bellmore Pierse ’04 and husband Jeff had a daughter, Ellizabeth Danielle, on Sept. 6, 2009. Ellizabeth joins big sister Hailley.
Gloria Borczon Palmer ‘61 (John A. Palmer)
John J. Woodruff ’80 (John R. Woodruff)
Stephanie Schnacke Fox ’05 and Timothy Fox ’04 had a daughter, Alyssa Marie, on Feb. 12, 2010. They live in Charlotte, N.C.
Son of:
Muriel Lehman Flecken ‘36
Teri Zupsic Reese ’69 (Antoinette Zupsic)
Patricia Haughney Weithman ‘42 Elizabeth Rogers Kulyk ‘45 Sr. Mary Clare McWilliams, RSM ’45 Janet Steinmetz Stephens ’49 Anna Marie Bergan Teed ’59 Mary Kierzek Copple ‘74 Carol Gustafson ‘78 Paul Dahlkemper Jr. ‘95 Beth Amati Reichel ‘01 Emma King Carr ’03
Brother of:
Cammy Kwolek Matusz ’62 and Tania Kwolek Hanlin ’64 (Isabelle Kwolek)
Alumni
Helen Fabian Mullen ‘47
Cathy Castner Swords ’73 (Brian Swords) Mother of:
DEATHS
Elizabeth Watkins Anibaldi ’02 and Emily Watkins Tomaino ’04 (Douglas A. Watkins)
Pamela Habib ’70 (Arlene Habib) Vicki Yurcovic Wyten ‘73 (Margaret R. Yurcovic) Rosemary Slater Johnson ’74 (Norma R. Slater) Brian K. Ward ’74 (Margaret L. Ward) Margaret M. McMinn ’96 (Mary Ann Hancheck)
Sarah Hanrahan Rose ’41 Father-in-law of:
With Apologies The office of alumni relations extends sincere apologies to Martha Calvert Husband ’59, who was erroneously listed as deceased in the February/ March 2010 edition of the Mercyhurst Magazine. We appreciate Martha’s humor and graciousness in communicating the error to us. She wrote, “To paraphrase Mark Twain, rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Martha is currently living in Rocky Hill, Conn.
Eric Anibaldi ’95 and Anthony Tomaino ’03 (Douglas A. Watkins) Brother-in-law of: Anne Dymski ’54 (The Rev. Dan Dymski) Friends of the College Donald DiPlacido Father John Dollinger Irene Gardocki Sandy Petruso
This issue includes alumni news received through June 15, 2010.
Spotlight on: Pamela Swaney ’06
Spotlight on: Kia Chapman ’03
Pamela Swaney joined the St. Louis Ballet as a corps de ballet dancer soon after her graduation in 2006 and has also taught for the St. Louis Ballet School for the past three years.
When Kia Chapman was studying elementary education at Mercyhurst, she was also active in productions of the Erie Playhouse. Today she’s putting her training from both venues to work in the Denver, Colo., area.
Promoted to soloist in 2008 and to principal in 2009, she has danced roles including the Snow Queen in “The Nutcracker,” Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty,” Photo by Rick Klein and the title role in “Cinderella.” While her company performs primarily classical story ballets, she’s also appeared in several Balanchine ballets and contemporary works, and was a guest artist with Ballet Chicago in 2007. Pam credits her Mercyhurst dance professors for their mentoring, even after graduation. “The performance opportunities I received at Mercyhurst have both physically and artistically prepared me for the rigors of a professional company,” she reflects. Unfortunately, she’s had to take a break from performing for several months due to an injury during a recent “Swan Lake” rehearsal. Once her recuperation is complete, she expects to be back on stage. Eventually, she’d like to teach full time. “I feel that keeping the art alive and passing down information to the next generation is important,” Pam says. “Most of all, I want to share my passion for dance with others.”
Kia’s been teaching second grade in charter schools for the past six years. In addition, she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Northern Colorado in 2009 and continues to perform in semi-professional theater. She even won a “Tiny” award as Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sister Mary Amnesia in “Nunsense.” She was recently promoted into a new role as regional Data and Differentiation Coach for Imagine Schools Colorado. She’s also started an afterschool program for elementary school students that teaches character lessons through drama. After a successful summer camp tryout, she’ll take The Character Players and her original musicals into three schools this fall. Kia has earned a variety of awards during her teaching career, capped by recognition as Teacher of the Year for National Imagine Schools. “I feel fortunate to have gone to a school that prepared me so well for my future career as an educator,” Kia says. “The immediate in-classroom experiences were diverse and many, and they enabled me to build my confidence as a teacher.”