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and is currently active in United Methodist district and conference activities. Philip has been married to Brenda for 46 years, and the couple has four children and nine grandchildren. Richard and Barbara Hill Meyer, both ’50, 3 Locust Court, Albion, MI 492242200, are both active in civic organizations. Retired from a vice presidency with State Farm Insurance in Pennsylvania, Dick is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Calhoun County Bar Association and is a past chair of the Albion Planning Commission. He earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan. Barbara is an avid stamp collector and genealogist, in addition to tending her garden. She is a member of the Albion Athletic Hall of Fame. The Meyers have three children, including Margaret Meyer Sindt, ’73, and Douglas Meyer, ’76. Bob and Muriel Donaldson Morrison, both ’50, 843 Satterlee Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, remain involved in community activities. Muriel still gives private piano lessons and does accompanying, while Bob volunteers at Beaumont Hospital and plays golf. The Morrisons have toured the United Kingdom. William and Muriel Schlorff Newman, both ’50, 1828 Bonnie View Dr., Royal Oak, MI 48073-3810, are enjoying retirement. Muriel received an M.L.S. degree, and Bill is an alumnus of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking. They have traveled extensively throughout Europe and to Egypt. The Newmans have three children and four grandchildren. Leland “Bud” and Marian Durman Parks, both ’50, 1215 Country Club Dr., Manistique, MI 49854, are, respectively, a retired dentist and a “not retired” homemaker. Both have been active in numerous civic and charitable organizations. Currently, the Parkses enjoy square dancing, as dancers, callers and cuers. They have recently taken up golf and Internetsurfing. They have been married for 51 years, and have five children and eight grandchildren. Carol Jane Paxton Perkins, ’50, 1621 Crescent Lane, McLean, VA 22101, is retired from an education career. She established and directed Amityville Committee for Performing Arts, an organization that brought professional performers to Amityville Public Schools. She also performed liturgical dance with a group that visited over 200 churches on the East Coast. Carol Jane and her husband, William, have four children and seven grandchildren. Ann Anderson Pettys, ’50, 835 18th St., Villamar #409, Vero Beach, FL 32960, is self-employed by Victory in Christ Ministry as a Christian counselor. She and her husband, Linden, have been married for 49 years and have traveled extensively throughout the U.S., as part of his job with the National Advisory Board for National Parks. They have two sons. Max Polley, ’50, 400 Avinger Lane #365, Davidson, NC 28036, retired in 1993 after spending 37 years teaching in the Religion Department of Davidson College. He participated in archaeological excavations in Israel and Cyprus, and wrote the book Amos and the Davidic Empire. In retirement, Max and his wife, Jacquelyn, have traveled extensively through Europe and to the Fiji Islands, Australia and New Zealand. The Polleys have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary and have two children and three grandchildren.
John Porter, ’50, 56 G. Midforest Lodge, Prudenville, MI 48651, is a retired teacher and realtor, currently mentoring junior-high school students through the church. He and his wife, Yvonne Howard Porter, ’49, enjoy golf and hunting in their leisure time. Walter Purdy, ’50, 1034 Carper St., McLean, VA 22101, is retired executive director of the Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology Education. He earned his master’s degree from Teachers’ College of Columbia University. Walter and his wife, Mary, will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year. They have six children and 15 grandchildren “so far.” Philip Ross, ’50, 3343 259th Pl. SE, Sammamish, WA 98075, moved to Sammamish in 1999 with his wife, Phyllis, where they live within a few miles of their three sons. The Rosses formerly owned several Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises. Hamilton Scharff, ’50, 10416 Woodlawn Dr., Portage, MI 49002-7203, had a 30year career with Upjohn. He holds a graduate degree as a registry health underwriter, and is active in professional organizations. He and his wife, Alice Grant-Watters Scharff, ’52, are the parents of one son. Olga Klimovich Sears, ’50, 1033 S. Rowen, Jackson, MI 49203, retired from a career in elementary education. She is head of the Florida Park Library, has taught stretch exercise classes several times weekly for the past five years, and sings in a mixed-voice chorus. She has traveled widely over the globe, and enjoys taking her grandchildren on summer trips around the U.S. Her husband, Myron, passed away in 1996. She has two sons and five grandchildren. Beverly Hawes Sebastian, ’50, 3811 S. Via Del Tordo, Green Valley, AZ, 85614, had a successful career as a counselor and high school guidance director in the Eaton Rapids Schools. She earned two graduate degrees from Michigan State University. Along with traveling frequently around the country, Beverly makes gold and silver jewelry and stained-glass kaleidoscopes. She and her late husband, Virgil Sebastian, ’50, were married for 49 years. Beverly has two daughters and five grandchildren. J. Vance Shepard, ’50, 5114 NE Multnomah St., Portland, OR 97213, had a career in architecture that spanned nearly 50 years. He is active in church leadership and teaches Sunday School. He has traveled to many parts of Europe and the Middle East. He and his wife, Jane, have four children and 10 grandchildren. Dale and Phyllis Chisholm Smith, both ’50, 1570 W. Valley Rd., Adrian, MI 49221, keep active in music in their retirement. Phyllis plays the piano for “older” persons in a local nursing home, and they are involved in equity summer stock and with the Historic Croswell Opera House. The Smiths have celebrated 50 years together, and are the parents of two children. William Stokoe, ’50, P.O. Box 121, Northport, MI 49670, is married to Mary Gee Kuehne Stokoe, ’52. Harold Taber, ’50, 960 Harvard, Berkley, MI 48072, is retired from ministry within the United Methodist Church. He is married to Miriam Crone Taber, ’49. John Tincoff, ’50, 543 Vernier Rd., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236, worked as an attorney for Chrysler Corp., spending seven of those years in Switzerland and England. He holds a J.D. from Detroit College of
Law. John and his wife, Margaret, have five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Lawrence Wade, ’50, 2300 E. Valley Parkway #200, Escondido, CA 92027, operates a small advertising agency in addition to writing a weekly column for the Coronado Journal. Previous professional activities included work with various newspapers, including the San Francisco Chronicle, bank management, teaching at Pepperdine University, and helping to locate the final resting place of Juan Bautista, founder of the city of San Francisco. He is the author of The Bridges of San Francisco Bay. Involved in numerous civic groups, Larry has been named Rotarian of the Year by the Coronado Rotary. He and his wife, Barbara, have five children. William West, ’50, 912 Denway Dr., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-3181, worked as a control chemist for Pharmacia and Upjohn and earned a master’s degree in chemistry from Western Michigan University. He is a long-time member of the Kalamazoo Barbershop Chorus. He and his wife, Lois, celebrated 52 years of marriage this year, and have three children. Wendell Will, ’50, 1546 Campbell St., Glendale, CA 91207, keeps active as a capital management and real estate investor, along with serving on numerous boards of directors, including as an Albion College trustee. He is the author of the novel, Not By Bread Alone, collects automobiles, and studies the life of Abraham Lincoln. Wendell earned a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School. Married to Mary Lou, he has five children and 12 grandchildren. Ralph Ytterberg, ’50, 4717 Dolphin Cay Lane S. #502, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, retired from the position of chairman and CEO of Global Industrial Technologies. He previously worked for Corning Glass, Singer Co., North American Rockwell and Dresser Industries. He and his wife, Janet, were married in 1948. The Ytterbergs have three sons and one grandchild.
55 Frances Schiesser Benning, ’55, 199 Lakewood Dr., Hillsboro, IL 62049, is a self-employed accountant who, in her spare time, enjoys making Christian Braille books and being active in Trinity Lutheran Church. She and her husband of 44 years, Ralph, have two children, Scott and Diane, and three grandchildren. Recently, Frances traveled to the Czech Republic to work on family genealogy. James Braid, ’55, 1850 Helena, Hartland, MI 48353, is a retired United Methodist minister who also works part-time at the Orchard United Methodist Church in Farmington Hills. He holds a master’s from Boston University. In his spare time, James is an active merit badge counselor for the Boy Scouts and has received the district scouting award for service. He and his wife of 44 years, Judith, have two children and have enjoyed travels to Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, and the Western U.S. National Parks. Robert Brandel, ’55, 4321 Dirkshire Loop, Lakeland, FL 33801-0394, is married to Barbara Brown Brandel, ’55, and has been retired since 1994. Robert holds a master’s degree from Eastern Michigan University, and Barbara has a master’s from Saginaw Valley University. Together they have two children, Mike and Karin, and have three grandchildren. Together they have been to 49 states, Canada, and many countries in Europe.
Kudos to our reunion volunteers! The Office of Alumni and Parent Relations would like to offer a hearty “thank you” to the individuals listed below who chaired their reunions at Homecoming 2000 and to their hard-working committees who contributed to the success of these events. Burl Glendening, ’50 J. Philip McKean, ’50 Philip Glotfelty, III, ’55 Forrest Heaton, ’60 Elizabeth Rutter Baer, ’65 William Rafaill, ’70 Karl Couyoumjian, ’75
Nan Christensen Couyoumjian, ’75 Lisa Gillard Blanchard, ’80 William Hittler, ’80 Robert Hotchkiss, ’85 Morris Arvoy, ’90 Leigh Greden, ’95 Nicole DuPraw, ’95
Homecoming 2000 reunion class awards Highest percentage of participation in Annual Fund giving: Class of 1960 Highest alumni attendance at the reunion: Class of 1995 Highest total attendance at the reunion: Class of 1950
Marjorie Grose Ceran, ’55, 32011 Royceton Court, Westlake Village, CA 91361, is married to S. Jay Ceran, ’54, and is a retired teacher. Marjorie has also been employed part-time as the coordinator of adult literacy programs for the past 11 years. She is involved in the New West Symphony, the Conejo League, and the Westlake Women’s Club. Recently, the Cerans enjoyed a trip to the Lake District in England with Dorothy Hart Gibbs, ’55, and her husband, James. Peter Christ, ’55, 614 Jennings Landing, Battle Creek, MI 49015, is married to Carolyn Carr Christ, ’57, and together they have three children and six grandchildren. Now retired, Peter most recently served as president and CEO of Battle Creek Community Foundation. He is a member of the Battle Creek Area Educators Task Force, a board member of the National Resource Center for the Healing of Racism, and a board member of the Battle Creek Area Learning Center. Recently, Peter took a trip to Israel and then to the Passion Play at Oberammergau, Germany, with Carolyn, former classmate, Mike French, ’55, and Mike’s wife Jean. Nancy Crowe Crosby, ’55, 174 Wildwood Pkwy., Ballwin, MO 63011, has been married to her husband, Kenneth Crosby, ’57, for 45 years. Nancy is a retired teacher, and still substitutes and volunteers at a women and children’s abuse center. Ken is retired from General Motors. In their spare time they both enjoy golf and playing bridge. Nancy is a charter member and past president of the Ballwin/Chesterfield AAUW, and was previously named the outstanding member. She is also involved in the Chesterfield Investment Club. Together Ken and Nancy spend the winter in Bonita Springs, FL, and enjoy their seven grandchildren. Rosanne Salm Eberbach, ’55, 4756 Bowdoin Pines Place, Comstock Park, MI 49321, is retired from North Park Christian School and spends January through May in South Padre Island, TX, with her husband, Louis. Linda Bacon Eller, ’55, 2025 Riverside Dr., Lyons, CO 80540-8966, received a master of divinity degree from GarrettEvangelical Theological Seminary in 1977 and is currently retired from the Northern
Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. She was a minister from 1976 to 1996. Before that, she was the executive director of the University of Wisconsin YWCA. She and her husband, Bruce, have three children and seven grandchildren. Robert Engelman, ’55, 2612 Madelyn Dr. S.W., Wyoming, MI 49509, married Ruth Noreen Engelman, ’57, in 1955 and together they have two sons and two grandsons. Robert taught math at Grand Rapids Junior College and coached cross country, and is currently involved in making stained glass windows, lamps, and miscellaneous items on commission and consignment. An avid golfer, he has made seven holes-in-one. He and his wife have also helped several Chinese families settle in the area over the past 10 years. Their winter address is: 10208 W. Andover Ave., Sun City, AZ, 85351. Maynard “Mike” French, ’55, 400 Megan Dr., Cantonment, FL 32533, is a retired Navy pilot, real-estate investor and broker, and was the self-employed owner and broker of Sunshine Realty, Inc. He holds a doctorate from Auburn University. He and his wife, Jean, have six grandchildren, and in his spare time he enjoys volunteering with the Gideons International, Christian Businessmen’s Committee and Christian Coalition for Escambia County. He also travels to support missionaries to Romania and Guatemala. Earlier this year he traveled to Israel and then to Germany for the Passion Play at Oberammergau with Pete, ’55, and Carolyn Carr Christ, ’57. Robert Friberg, ’55, 6898 Belfast SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508, is married to Julie and has six children. Robert taught, coached, and was an administrator for Kentwood Public Schools for 36 years before he retired in 1994. He was repeatedly honored as Regional Coach of the Year, Class A Coach of the Year, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985. Robert is involved in Ducks Unlimited and the Caledonia Sportsmen’s Club, and in the past was involved in many educational and coaching organizations. He and his wife have enjoyed travels to the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, and Alaska, as well as parts of the western United States.
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