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Milestones
Share your milestones (job, marriage, birth announcements, etc.) in the next issue of the King’s Herald by emailing your news to alumni@kings.uwo.ca or by completing the online form kings.uwo.ca/alumni/address-update. Photos are welcome, space permitting.
Maureen (McGarry) Spencer Golovchenko, BA'77, was named to the 2025 City of London Mayor’s Honour List in the Heritage category. Recognized as a long-time champion of local history, she was celebrated for contributing to the awareness of the City of London’s heritage assets through her work to preserve and protect Eldon House Heritage Site and Gardens. Spencer Golovchenko first became involved with Eldon House in 2008 as part of a committee organizing its 175th anniversary celebrations. She’s remained a volunteer since. She served on its inaugural board of directors for two terms and currently chairs the Eldon House strategy and innovation committee, working to create street signage linking Eldon House and other downtown landmarks together.
Lorna Rourke, BA'79, retired as University Librarian at St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo after 15 years and is now Librarian Emerita. She previously worked at the University of Guelph Library for 24 years.
Rachelle (Beaudoin) Wallace, BA'79, retired from teaching nine years ago.
Brenda Watkin, BSW'81, retired in 2022.
Mark Ragg, BSW'82, retired after teaching for 26 years at Eastern Michigan University and practicing social work in the Ann Arbor community. He is still helping agencies develop group programs and continues to write songs.
David MacKenzie, BA'83, MA'84, LLB'88, LLM'09, co-founded Lerner MacKenzie Mediation in January 2025, a new mediation business that handles a broad range of litigation, from personal injury and employment matters to construction and contract disputes. He also continues to run his firm Szemenyei MacKenzie Group Law Firm LLP.
Carla (Van Lamoen) Matos, BA'84, welcomed her first grandchild on August 15, 2023. Logan was born prematurely by emergency Cesarean section after his mother developed HELP syndrome, a severe form of preeclampsia. Within 24 hours, Logan needed surgery because he was born with a congenital condition called TEF, trachea esophageal fistula, characterized by an abnormal connection between the esophagus and trachea. He has managed very well, thanks to his amazing medical team at the London Health Sciences Centre, specifically Victoria Hospital.
Father Alan Campeau, BA'86, MDiv'90, was named Bishop of the Diocese of Thunder Bay by His Holiness Pope Francis in January 2025. Bishopelect Campeau has served the Thunder Bay Diocese since 1995.
Rosina (Casasanta) Fernandes, BA'90, works as a Grade 3 teacher with the London District Catholic School Board.
Robert Frost, BA'02, was inducted into the Men’s Hockey Wall of Honour in recognition of his contributions to Mustangs hockey from 1998-2002.
Laura Fishwick, BA'06, had a son, Elija, on October 9, 2019.
Matt Wilson, BA'06, was appointed a partner with Siskinds LLP in March 2025. He is a real estate lawyer and the head of the Siskinds real estate department, with a practice focusing on residential, commercial and complex real estate transactions, land development, and mortgage financing.
Mary Kay Arundel, BSW'07, MSW'08, received the 2024 King’s Service Excellence Award in recognition of her exceptional service to students, staff, faculty and other stakeholders. She began working at King’s in 2014 and is the Professional Practicum Education Manager in the School of Social Work.
Steven Benedetti, BA'07, was inducted into the Men’s Hockey Wall of Honour in recognition of his contributions to Mustangs hockey from 2002-2007.
Nathan Mackenzie, BA'11, is married and has a baby boy.
Kevin Baker, BMOS'12, was inducted into the Men’s Hockey Wall of Honour in recognition of his contributions to Mustangs hockey from 2008-2012.
Helen (Abbas) Smith, BA'12, founder and CEO of Roo & You, received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Ontario Emerging Entrepreneur Special Citation. Special citations celebrate the outstanding achievements of entrepreneurs who’ve made a unique mark on the entrepreneurial landscape.
Anthony Gatt, BA'14, became the new building manager for Residence A, Saugeen-Maitland Hall in 2024, and 2025 marks his 25th year of marriage to his wife Michelle.
Kendra (Haskell) Everest, BA'17, and Tuan Everest, BA'17, first met at King’s and were married on October 6, 2023.
Emma Fritz, BSW'19, got married in August 2021.
Emily (Castillo) Hutchison, BA'19, welcomed her baby boy, Maverick Hutchison, on August 13, 2024, and got married on December 21, 2024.
Isaiah Johns, BMOS'20, was named a coaching assistant for the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Ottawa Redblacks. Johns assists the team’s offensive staff and special teams coordinator with their day-to-day operations. He also works closely with Bob Dyce, the team’s head coach, helping prepare the coaching staff for practices and refining the team’s strategy.
Mohamed Rahme, BA'22, is a Mental Health and Addictions Worker at CMHA Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services.
Bridget Ofosu-Andam, BA'23, was named one of the Top 100 Black Women to Watch of 2024 at the Black Pearls Gala organized by CIBWE | Canada International Black Women Excellence.
Matthew Plaskett, BA'23, completed his master of education in adult education and community development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto in January. He works as a corporate trainer at Boston Pizza International.
Isaiah Collins, BMOS'24, is the first King’s student to receive the prestigious Fulbright Killam Fellowship. The Killam Fellowships Program provides an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students from universities in Canada and the United States to spend a semester as exchange students. He will spend a semester at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Plattsburgh.
Three King’s student-athletes who played football for the Western Mustangs were selected in the Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft on April 29, 2025. Congratulations to Erik Andersen, fourth-year criminology student, who was drafted in the 2nd round, 13th overall, by the Saskatchewan Roughriders; Keanu Yazbeck, fourth-year BMOS student, who was drafted in the fourth round, 35th overall, by Montreal Alouettes; and Max Von Muehldorfer, fourth-year Sociology and Criminology student, who was drafted in the 7th round, 61st overall, by his hometown Calgary Stampeders.
IN MEMORIAM
We extend our condolences to the family and friends of:
John Cummins, BA'66, who passed away on March 2, 2025.
Silvio Valeriote, BA'67, who passed away on November 27, 2024.
Wayne Beedle, BA'80, who passed away on February 20, 2025.
Kelly Hartley-Stevens, BA'96, who passed away on January 30, 2025.
Shelby (Sandford) Moran, BA'21, who passed away on January 18, 2025.
Sergiy Kuzmin, former mathematics professor, passed away on Oct 4, 2024.
