Class Notes

Philip Beekley ’69 took second-place in the 2021 Texas State Smallbore Rifle F-Class Championship at Marble Falls, Texas. Philip has been an NRA-classified Expert Rifle Shooter since 2016. Also, Philip was appointed as City Council District 7 Commissioner, City of San Antonio Veteran Affairs Commission, in Feb. 2022.

Susan DeShetler ’75 retired from United Airlines after 44 years of flying, both domestic and international, based in Washington and Chicago. The last 22 years of Susan’s life have been spent flying Beijing, China, Hong Kong, Dubai and military charters through Kuwait. Susan was blessed to absolutely love her career, but it was time for another chapter in her life and she is enjoying living in Naples, Fla. and Columbus, Ohio. Susan sees a lot of her Ashland friends in both places, and after 50 years, that is a great deal!

Steven Keller ’83, author, speaker and sought-after life coach, has published his first personal development book, This Has To Be Cheaper Than Therapy: 7 Essential Values for Living a More Fulfilling Life and Simple Techniques to Nurture Them. It is available exclusively on Amazon. This small but powerful book on self-transformation teaches the art of simple living and it encourages us to read more, eat less, exercise every day and spend more time with our family.

Carlos Lowell, D.O. ’86 was selected to serve as co-chair of the education committee for the Clinical Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Society, which is an international organization with a mission to optimize the clinical practice awareness and accessibility of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). Charles has been in private psychiatric practice in Sandusky, Ohio, since completing his psychiatric residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1995. He serves as medical director of TMS, which was FDA cleared for the treatment of major depression in 2008, and provides lectures/seminars on TMS to physicians, residents and medical students. Charles is very grateful for the quality of education he received at Ashland College which prepared him for his ongoing education and eventual medical practice.

Dean DePiero ’90 is the law director for the city of Aurora and assistant law director/prosecutor for Broadview Heights, and serves as “of counsel” for the law firm McDonald Hopkins. Among the projects Dean has helped shepherd through the political landscape in nine years as law director of Aurora was the effort to rezone the Geauga Lake area via a ballot initiative that led to the former amusement park’s redevelopment. He also negotiated a favorable Joint Economic Development District agreement with Bainbridge Township, so the area of Geauga Lake in Bainbridge could be developed. Dean also was previously elected the mayor of Parma, Ohio’s seventh-largest city, and as an Ohio State Representative.

Aretta (Casebolt ’91) Baumgartner, proud Phi Mu sorority sister, is delighted to share that “Continuum,” an original theater piece in the 2021 Cincinnati Fringe Festival, featuring her puppetry work, received both the Producer’s Pick award at that festival and the YoungHowze Theatre Journal Long-Form Zoom Play of the Year award. “Continuum” is an interactive, live-streamed theatre piece that takes participants on a galactic journey through space and time into breakout rooms with shortform stories about characters caught in time loops. Aretta is the education director at the world-renowned Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta, serves as president of the Puppeteers of America and produces original puppetry with partner Thom Stanley in the artist collective “One Double-O Four Eight.”

Amy (Kessler ’99) and Tom Sondgrass’ son, Tyler Snodgrass, graduated this May from AU with a major in biology. Tyler was accepted into the Ohio State University Medical Research Ph.D. program.

After graduating with her Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Iowa in 2021, Darcy Metcalfe ’01 ’03 is now assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Findlay. Darcy and her family are happy to be back in this area of the country.

Brandon Montgomery ’09 shares that his photo titled “Nocturnal Oasis,” will be displayed at Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Sacramento, Calif.

In January 2022, Patrick Williams ’16 completed his Master of Public Administration degree at Grand Canyon University College of Humanities & Social Sciences.

Helen A Guidry ’18 shares to keep having faith in God. He is always there for you, and to keep on praying. He answers prayers when you least expect it.

Prem Concesso ’19 received his MBA from AU and was a student worker for the Advancement Services Office. Prem married Smitha Rebello on Jan. 2, 2022. He congratulated the Advancement Services Office on their fundraising efforts and will always think of AU as his family.

Karen and Robert Hoehn’s daughter, Madison Hoehn ’22, graduated from AU with a major in business management on May 7. Karen has been with AU’s Institutional Advancement office for 21 years. Madison accepted a position as social media marketing manager at Bo Lacey Construction in Mansfield, Ohio. Karen and Robert could not be more proud of Madison’s accomplishments.

Michael Watkins ’79, ’87 M.Ed. and Cathy (Huls ’80) Watkins celebrated 42 years of marriage in June. Michael is presently employed as sales manager at Suburban Clock and Repair in Berea, Ohio.

After 25 years of single life, Stacy (Prochazka ’98) Hendrix is excited to announce that “Mr. Right,” Rob Hendrix, was worth the wait. Even during a pandemic with an outdoor ceremony and socially-distanced reception, Stacy was fortunate to have 11 of her AU friends with her to celebrate their July 25, 2020 wedding.

Pictured standing L to R: Dave Wolbert ’78, Marty

(Shearer ’99) Riley. Seated: Stacy (Prochazka ’98) Hendrix and Rob Hendrix.

Cassie (Nix ’14) Wayne married Jason Wayne on June 4, 2022, in Cannon Beach, Ore.

Kayla (Ray ’14) married Adam Spinella on June 11, 2022, overlooking the ocean in York Harbor, Maine. Adam and Kayla met while working for Culver Academies in Culver, Ind., during the spring of 2015. Kayla’s two matrons of honor were Allie (Grund ’15) May and Abby (Leboza ’15) Ray, both of whom she met through her sorority, Delta Zeta. Fellow Eagles in attendance were Kyle Ray ’18, MBA, Konnor Ray ‘24 and Mailiis Simovart ’24.

Christopher Kenny ’08 and Erica (Bates ’08) Kenny welcomed their second child, Declan Allen Kenny, on March 26, 2022. He weighed 9 pounds and measured 22 inches long (at almost 3 weeks early). Everyone is doing well and Cora loves being his big sister.

Marissa (Uhrig ’14, ’22 MBA) Edwards and Kees Edwards ’14 welcomed their first child, Adeline Edwards, on May 15, 2022.

Brittany Rhodes McClish ’14 announces the birth of her daughter, Londyn Rayne Rhodes, on Oct. 27, 2021.

Janet Zak G ’97 – 9/5/09 Norman Richards ’63 – 5/22/11 Mary (Lightowler) Major ’98 – 7/7/12 Janis (Hudson) Barba G ’89 – 11/11/12 James Cooke ’72 – 8/19/15 Andrew Ansley ’11 – 3/20/18 William Smith ’92 – 5/26/18 Janet (Halley) Keim ’70 – 12/1/19 Dean Banta ’68 – 10/14/20 Laura (Weaver) Hill ’99 – 11/12/20 Sue Smith ’70 – 1/30/21 Nancy (Creasap) Cook N ’62 – 1/30/21 Theodore Rapp ’69 – 9/29/21 Robert Chase ’51 – 10/5/21 Laurie (Groza) Schubert ’76 – 1/11/22 Kenneth Haueter ’61 – 1/15/22 Henry Geary ’68 – 1/15/22 Dorothy (Barth) Tasman ’89 – 1/16/22 Shirley (Bean) Cline G ’92 – 1/20/22 Roberta (Clinger) Harpster ’87, ’91 – 1/20/22 Eva (DeLancy) Beard ’65 – 1/25/22 Gregory Pike ’70 – 1/26/22 Donald Navorska ’80 – 1/26/22 Doris (Hart) Shultz ’49 – 1/30/22 Bruce Brelsford ’72 – 2/2/22 Judith (Jurgens) Watson G ’89 – 2/2/22 J Leininger ’61 – 2/3/22 Debra Voege ’76 – 2/8/22 Julie (Lomax) Geisel ’90 – 2/8/22 Faye (French) English ’73 – 2/14/22 Debra (McGuire) Gilmore G ’95 – 2/17/22 Joyce Nickley G ’88 – 2/19/22 Carol (Zeides) Newton G ’02 – 2/19/22 Eric Grove ’03 – 2/26/22 David Rittichier ’65 – 3/1/22 Christopher Cassidy ’76 – 3/5/22 Sara (Watson) Fox ’92, G ’98 – 3/10/22 James Hall ’94 – 3/11/22 Michael Rupe ’71 – 3/12/22 Richard Comings ’67 – 3/13/22 Doris (McAdoo) Willis ’78 – 3/16/22 Carol Banas G ’88 – 3/22/22 Mary (Garver) Allen ’74, ’86 – 3/24/22 Rodney Hewitt ’67 – 3/29/22 Steven McDannel ’80 – 3/31/22 Sandra (Norton) Stevens ’95 – 4/9/22 JoAnn (Stigamire) Walker N’ 56 – 4/10/22 Richard Patterson ’47 – 4/16/22 Paul Van Jura G ’94 – 4/18/22 Edwin Henning G ’93 – 4/19/22 Rosemary Vontorcik ’90 – 4/20/22 Roger Ames ’66 – 4/27/22 Nancy (Barton) Wertz ’53 – 4/29/22 Lynn (Richter) Haggett ’74 – 5/2/22 Barbara Pfaff G ’03 – 5/5/22 J Hurley ’69 – 5/14/22 Jon Oleinick ’76 – 5/17/22 Ryan Teglovic G ’04 – 5/27/22 Frank Lewis ’70 – 5/31/22 Ruth (Shorthouse) Southworth N ’40 – 5/31/22 Shelley (Bright) Frey ’03 – 6/1/22 Walter Zimmerman ’69 – 6/9/22 Shirley (Shrader) Boling N ’52 – 6/16/22 Terry Beck G ’91 – 6/17/22 Donna (Sizemore) Hills ’71 – 6/18/22 Judy (Mosure) Swenton N ’63 – 6/19/22 Gregory Saunders ’70 – 6/21/22 Raymond Poyar ’75 – 6/24/22 Olga (Geracioti) Dattilo ’60 – 6/29/22 Thomas Bichsel G ’07 – 7/1/22

G – Graduate degree N – Nursing degree S – Seminary

Dr. Raymond “Ray” Jacobs, beloved professor at Ashland University who held several leadership positions within the College of Business and Economics (COBE) during a 32-year tenure, lost his battle with cancer on April 6. He was 66. Jacobs was committed to his work till the very end, serving AU as professor of business management and associate dean of COBE during the 2021-22 academic year. He eagerly accepted many roles throughout his career, including chair of the MBA program, and was most proud of his accreditation work. He helped COBE reach its highest accreditations, securing a second 10-year reaffirmation from the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). He also was in the process of assisting AU attain accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). “Dr. Jacobs had the uncanny ability to solve problems with integrity in the most amicable fashion for all involved. His knowledge of COBE history was unmatched. He was loved by the administrators and the faculty equally well across campus,” said longtime colleague Khush Pittenger, who recently retired as professor of business management at AU. A member of the AU faculty since 1990, Jacobs taught a number of undergraduate and graduate courses. He also published dozens of articles in academic journals and made oresenations at national and regional conferences. To honor Jacobs’ memory the administrators and faculty at COBE have created a tribute, the “Raymond A. Jacobs Gallery of Societal Impact,” located just outside of the main lobby in Dauch. The intention is to honor additional COBE faculty and staff in the future who have greatly impacted the AU community and society as a whole, following Jacobs’ example. www.ashland.edu | 27

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