Who are these Zags?
Jonathan Rains with wife Maile and son Oliver
Our most recent “mystery Zag” was Dorothy Darby Smith, one-of-a-kind theater program director from 1964-73. Readers shared their memories, including this from Pete Thompson (’66): “Her son, Montgomery, and I were classmates and friends. We talked each other into trying out for one of his mother’s plays. We showed up at the appointed time and had separate readings. I don’t recall how Monty did, but I certainly remember my experience. After hearing about three sentences, Dorothy peered over the top of her glasses, and in her husky voice looked me in the eyes and said in a rising crescendo, ‘Out, out, out!’ ” This time we offer four “mystery Zags” – three of whom are still on campus today. Identify them and share your favorite memories by emailing gonzaga@gonzaga.edu or write to Editor, Gonzaga Quarterly, AD Box 70, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone Ave., Spokane, WA 99258-0070. To find more memories of Dorothy Darby Smith, go to www.gonzaga.edu/GQlinks.
Rains. They live in Denver where Jonathan works for the Russell Investment Group and Maile helps their first-born child learn about the world.
’97
Mia Ah Sani (M.A. Pastoral Ministry) is pastoral care director at Lumen Christi in St. Paul, Minn. She serves as a grief minister. The death of her own father helped her become a better grief minister as she realized how heartbroken families really were. “I have also realized that death and dying is not something to be feared,” she said.
’00
Chris Downey and Melissa Trainer welcomed junior Zag Julian Trainer Downey on Oct. 13.
’01
Chris Downey and son Julian
Melody and Scott Peters
William Schroeder
Kelly Bland will coach the new Harbor Fire high school lacrosse team in Gig Harbor, Wash. Kelly coached the seventh- and eighth-grade youth teams last season in Gig Harbor. Melody Crick and Scott Peters were married Oct. 3 at the Island Wedding Chapel in the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. Sara Becker (’01) served as a bridesmaid; the bride’s mother, Nienke Crick (’92 M.Ed.,’98 Ed.D.), gave Melody away.
’02
Ezra Eckhardt (M.B.A.) serves as chief operating officer of Sterling Financial Corporation and chief operating officer and president of Sterling Savings Bank. He also teaches as an adjunct instructor at Gonzaga’s Graduate School of Business. William Schroeder was hired as an associate with Paine Hamblen LLP in the Spokane office. His emphasis is in civil litigation. Meagan Flynn played
a small role in the film “Up in the Air” starring George Clooney. She was a flight attendant in the Golden Globe-nominated film. The best part, she said, was “looking to my right at George Clooney and looking to my left at Jason Reitman. I’m a huge fan of both so it was definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment.”
’03
Matthew Hoag and Cara Gish (‘04) were married Oct. 17 at the Gonzaga Student Chapel with a reception at the Cataldo Globe Room. They live in Knoxville, Tenn., where Matt is earning a doctorate in accounting and Cara is an enrollment specialist for EdisonLearning. Brandi Wildfang (’06 M.B.A.) and
Andrew Simmons were married Aug. 8 at Saint James Catholic Church in Vancouver, Wash. The reception was held at the World Trade Center in Portland. Brandi works in marketing at Time Warner Cable; Andrew is an assistant director of admissions at Regis University. “What brings a smile to me these days? Watching GU basketball, renovating our home, spending time with fellow Gonzaga alumni, and enjoying married life,” says Brandi.
’04
Kristen Doyle (’06 M. School Counseling) married Jonathan Flemer on Nov. 14 in Bellevue, Wash. They live in Issaquah, Wash., where Kristen is a school counselor
Chief Justice Madsen – a role beyond her dreams Barbara Madsen (’77 J.D.) has been named chief justice for Washington’s Supreme Court. “In my new role I am looking forward to working with others to open the legal profession and the judiciary to people from under-represented communities. As only the second woman to serve in this position I have a unique opportunity to be a role model, a mentor and a voice for inclusion and collaboration,” said Madsen, who has served 16 years on the Supreme Court. As a child, Madsen attended Catholic school in Renton, Wash. “The nuns impressed upon my classmates and me the tremendous gifts we had been given, along with the serious responsibility to share those gifts with others. Learning early in life about those in need and about other cultures made a deep mark in my world view. Every career I dreamed about as a child involved working in other countries. Although I never envisioned becoming a justice (or a chief), I did believe I would find a way to serve my community.” Chief Justice Madsen and her husband, Donald, have four chil- Chief Justice Barbara Madsen dren. “They are my greatest joy. They volunteer at soup kitchens, organize fund raising for community projects, drive for women’s transit and supervise at shelters for street kids – my husband and I are so fortunate,” she said In 1993, Chief Justice Madsen became the inaugural recipient of the Myra Bradwell Award, which annually honors a Gonzaga Law alumna who has made great strides on behalf of women. She serves on the Board of Advisers for Gonzaga Law School and regularly participates as a judge in Gonzaga’s annual Moot Court Competition. Madsen is one of three Gonzaga alumnae now serving on Washington’s Supreme Court, along with Mary Fairhurst (‘79, ‘84 J.D.) and Debra Stephens (‘87, ‘93 J.D.).
SPRING 2010 – 19