alumninews
Klein-Craney wedding
Melissa J. Carr ’05 was recognized with the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Chemical Society’s Outstanding Chemistry Teacher Award at an April 2014 dinner at Radford University. In 2013, she won the top honor of Golden Apple Teaching Award from Roanoke County Schools. Melissa teaches at William Byrd High School in Vinton. Allyson Ridgway Lynch ’07 was awarded a Master of Arts degree in political science from Virginia Tech in May 2014. David Myer ’07 and his wife, Sarah, live in Charleston, S.C., where David teaches high school math at Porter-Gaud School, an independent Episcopal school. Sophia Griffiths ’10 was appointed media and communication coordinator at the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), headquartered in London. Sophia’s responsibilities include increasing the profile and exposure of IFST, as well as food science and technology in general, and to provide support through communications, both to internal and external audiences. She was formerly the digital content editor of IFST and holds a Master of Arts degree in science communications from the University of Leeds. Cara M. Cooper ’12 graduated from Northwestern University with a Master of Science degree in journalism. She resides in Vinton. Phillip Gereaux ’12 is a utility analyst with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and is living near Richmond. Brian W. Allen ’13 is a graduate student at Washington and Lee University School of Law. Nicole Thomas ’13 is a client service associate with Morgan Stanley, in Manhattan, N.Y. She resides in Fairfield, Conn. Connor Toomey ’13 is serving the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. Peter W. Weisel ’13 is assistant golf professional with the Roanoke Country Club.
Ultsch-Nellis wedding
marriages Rebecca E. Wynne ’03 was married to Travis Gathright on July 27, 2013, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, Va. Kiersten M. Klein ’04 was married Dec. 8, 2012, to Michael Craney. Included among the bridal party and guests were Daniel Tucker ’04, Emilie Van Dyke Phillips ’04, Matthew Benson ’04, Lindsey Wolter Ratliff ’04, Kendall Pearson ’04, Sarah Gillespie Levine ’04, Sarah Morrow Brogden ’04, Brandy Collier Jemczura ’04 and Tomasz Jemczura ’06 . Kiersten is a neuroscience nurse at Tampa General Hospital and Michael is in health care software sales. They reside in Tampa, Fla. Lauren L. Wynne ’05 and Scott Booker were joined in marriage at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, Va. The ceremony took place Nov. 9, 2013. Craig Ultsch ’07 and Heather Nellis ’07 joined hands in marriage Aug. 3, 2013, at Muddy Creek Baptist Church in Powhatan, Va. Craig is a math remediation specialist with Flat Rock Elementary School and Heather teaches sixth-grade U.S. history at Pocahontas Middle School. They have a daughter, Clementine Mahlon. Courtney R. Thompson ’10 and
Michael John Merrill IV
Thompson-Lindeman wedding
Joseph J. Lindeman celebrated their wedding day in Roanoke on Nov. 2, 2013. Several Chi Omegas were in attendance, including Jess DelBuono ’10, Jennifer Treadway ’10, Carrie Rice Hurd ’10, Margot McDonald ’11, Maggie Malpass ’08, Branden Patrick ’09, Caitlin Ott Perry ’08, Jessica Powell ’09, Victoria Ellmore ’11, Tiffany Schlotthober Chocklett ’11, Rachel Collie Brock ’10, Megan Semmelman ’11 and Stephanie Rigos Browning ’10.
families Derek Demmler ’99 and his wife welcomed their son, William John, into their family in October 2012. Derek teaches AP U.S. history and American literature. He also sponsors the Interact Club and coaches the boys soccer team and the school’s envirothon team. Sarah Harlow Merrill ’04 and her husband, Mike, welcomed their first child, Michael John IV, in April 2013. The Merrills live in Charlotte, N.C. Justin and Amy Fuller Thomas ’06 ’07, are excited to announce the October 2013 birth of their daughter, Penny Ruth. Emmie Ann White VanFleet ’10 and her husband, Steven, are proud first-time parents of Nicole Joyce, who arrived March 23, 2014.
Penny Ruth Thomas
in memoriam Gerald F. Dederick Jr., M.D. ’38, of Gulf Stream, Fla., passed away June 17, 2014, at age 97. After receiving an M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. Following his discharge, he entered the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for a four-year surgical fellowship. In 1950, he opened a private practice of general surgery in Hackensack, N.J. Dr. Dederick was an attending surgeon at Hackensack Medical Center and also served as director of surgery at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, N.J. He excelled in several sports and was inducted into both his high school and Roanoke’s Athletic Hall of Fame. His true passion was golf and he won numerous championships. He also won a spot on the U.S. Senior International Team. Ruth Ohl Kersey ’38 passed away June 17, 2013, at age 95. She was employed with VEPCO (Dominion) for 35 years and was very active in the Historic Richmond, Va., community. Athletic by nature, she enjoyed swimming and won a gold medal in the Senior Olympics. She also took pleasure
Nicole Joyce VanFleet
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