CLASSMATES [your paper & ink alumni social network]
1980’s Frank Nicely (’86) is the principal at St. William of York Catholic school in Stafford, Va. As principal, he has hired a number of Christendom graduates to work for him, with three on staff this fall: Brittany (Smith) Saibini (’05), Kathleen Deighan (’13), and Alexis Thornton (’13). Gloria Falcao Dodd (’87) has published her first book, The Virgin Mary: Mediatrix of All Grace, with the Academy of the Immaculate. John Hofbauer (’89) is the Chair, Division of Philosophy and Religious Studies, at Mount Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh, N.Y. Coincidentally, he works with Paul O’Herron, (Christendom professor Ray O’Herron’s brother), who teaches philosophy there.
Theodore Schwalm (’94) competed in the International Judo Federation World Kata Championships in Kyoto, Japan, last October. He was one of 14 Judoka representing the United States, and he performed the Katame no Kata (a demonstration of holds, chocks, and joint locks) with his training partner of 7 years, Brent Smith. Qualification for this event was based on performance at the National Championships. John and Gretchen Bowes (both ‘97) recently welcomed their 5th child, Samuel, and are currently moving from the Kansas City area to Omaha, Neb. There, John will work aboard the National Airborne Operations Center based at Offutt Air Force Base.
1990’s Peter Jensen (‘99) and Heather (Tansey) Jensen (‘03) had their first child, Conor Nicholas Jensen, on June 23, weighing 9 lbs., 2 oz., and measuring 21 inches.
On July 1st, Mary Lou Loftus (’93) and her husband, Sean, welcomed their second boy, Patrick Finn. His sisters Maureen, Caitlin, Colleen, and Bridget were hoping for a 4th of July baby, but Mom and Dad were happy that he was just two days late! His brother, Ryan, was the first to hold his new brother, and is finding it fun to help with the new baby.
2000’s Christopher Bukowski (’00) is a Senior Associate with Christian Estate Planning in Va. He graduated from Christendom College with a B.A. in Philosophy and then went on to graduate from Ave Maria School of Law with a primary focus on estate planning.
Sarah (Aronhime) Harris (’02) is currently engaged as a solo-attorney in Kentucky, focusing on wills, trusts, and some areas of family law, particularly adoptions. Ben and Theresa (Ford) Fisher (‘03) welcomed their seventh child in March. Anna Francesca Genevieve arrived the day after the election of Pope Francis, and hopes to be one of many in the Christendom class of 2035 bearing the name of the new pontiff. Michael and Elizabeth McGuirk (both ’03) are excited that their daughter Helen’s kindergarten teacher this year is fellow Christendom alumna Bethany Sargis (’03)! There are also three other Christendom graduates on the staff at the school, Our Lady of Hope Catholic School, in Va.:Theresa O’Herron (‘08), Monica Clark (‘10), and Angela (Sus) Matske (‘11). Joan Watson (‘06) was recently promoted to Assistant Director of the Office of Catechetics at Aquinas College. She and two Nashville Dominican Sisters teach all the catechists in the dioceses of Nashville, Knoxville, Tenn., and Lexington, Ky. She is also an adjunct professor at Aquinas College. James Minick (’06) has a law practice based out of Asheville, N.C. His firm, Minick Law, P.C., now has a team of four attorneys working on Criminal and Traffic, Personal Injury, and Worker’s Compensation cases. Please visit www.minicklaw.com for more information.
1st Lt. James Peter Kromhout (‘07) is an Army Ranger in Afghanistan serving until February of 2014. He has Dick Winters’ job with Easy Company (for those familiar with “Band of Brothers”). His wife, Clare (O’Reilly) Kromhout (‘07), welcomed their firstborn son, Peter Roland, on July 3. Roland is named after the famous nephew/general of Charlemagne, and defender of Christendom against the Moors. “The Song of Roland” was part of the curriculum at Christendom College. Fatherson picture taken when Roland was one week old.
Derek and Bethany (Zuniga) Rogers (’07) welcomed their second daughter into the world on September 4. Big sister, Kateri Joy (2), is thrilled to have Avila Hope home and keeps wondering when she will stay awake long enough to play. Louis Massett (’08) is now the principal at Tyburn Academy (middle-high school) in Auburn, N.Y.
Fall 2013
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