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CLASS NOTES 39 years in the field of treating substance use disorders, in addition to 14 years of part-time teaching at St. Catherine University’s Minneapolis campus. Kathy Wilde M’92, Minneapolis, Minn., was recognized by Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota as one of the 2013 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award. She is the chief nursing officer at Hennepin County Medical Center. Rebecca Smith-Quintela M’93, Forest Lake, Minn., opened a private practice in White Bear Lake and is in the process of designing a Spiritual Resilience Mode. She provides counseling to children, adolescents and adults in addition to doing testing for ADHS, developmental disabilities, asperger’s and autism. John Serkland ’94, River Forest, Ill., accepted an attorney position with Corti, Aleksy & Castaneda, P.C. Theresa (Burg ’94) Trevor, Ann Arbor, Mich., is employed by Amplifinity as their marketing and public relations director. Sister Maria Grace “Molly” Erickson ’95, Washington, D.C., is in her 15th year of vows as a Little Sister of the Poor, and is assigned to a home in
Tom ’75 and Sue (Sughrua ’75) Schultz were invited by John McDonough ’75, president and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks, to ride in the team’s Chicago victory parade. This photo depicts some of the confetti thrown in celebration of the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win, as well as the couple out on the ice.
Washington, D.C., as mistress of postulants. Robert Graham ’95, Albuquerque, N.M., graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Brendan Brooks ’96, C’97, M’98, Rockford, Ill., is the network manager for the city of Elgin. In April 2010, he married Melissa Eckrich, and they live in Rockford with Brendan’s daughter Sabrina (7). They recently
celebrated their third wedding anniversary with a cross-country trip through Ireland. Pete Kallal M’96, Apple Valley, Minn., retired this year after teaching fourth- and fifthgraders for more than 35 years in the New Prague Area School District. Judy Hammer M’97, Cambridge, Minn., retired from Isanti Middle School after nearly 34 years of service.
Brother James Gaffney celebrates 25 years as president of Lewis University Brother James Gaffney, FSC ’64, celebrated his 25th anniversary as president of Lewis University. Brother James is a distinguished alum of Saint Mary’s, having received the Religious Service Award in 1989. Brother James first arrived at Lewis University in 1970 as a faculty member in theology. His involvement evolved throughout the next decade as he became chairman of the board of trustees for the university and then was inaugurated as president in 1988. He is credited with revitalizing the university by increasing the student count from 2,500 to 6,600; by enhancing the campus through renovation and growth; and by strengthening the university’s mission, reflected in its Lasallian Catholic values. A constant presence at both on-campus and community events, Brother James is leading the university as it embarks on a new strategic plan, a campus master plan and a fourth capital campaign. As quoted in “The Magazine of Lewis University,” Brother James said, “It is a vocation, a calling to carry on God’s work and how together we have been trusted with it.” To read more about Brother James Gaffney, go to www.lewisu.edu/publications/ magazines and click on the spring 2013 issue.≠
M = Master’s Degree; C = Certificate; S = Specialist and D = Doctorate
Michael Hill M’97, Washington, D.C., was chosen chief executive officer by the board of directors for Youth for Understanding USA. In that role, he leads international public education, fund-raising, communications, marketing and branding efforts for one of the world’s largest healthcare charities. Dr. Denise Klinkner ’97, Houston, Texas, will be a pediatric surgery fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital for the next two years. She already completed an unaccredited fellowship in St. Louis. John LeClair ’97, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., was able to revisit the Park West “flats” where he, along with 14 other SMU students, lived for the semester during their study abroad program in 1995. He enjoyed being able to walk around the neighborhood and see London once again – 18 years later! Deb Peluso-Ayres M’97, Prior Lake, Minn., retired from the Jordan Public Schools after many years of teaching physical education. Stacy DeCorsey M’98, C’00, Jordan, Minn., was named principal at Pine Hill Elementary School. WWW.SMUMN.EDU/MAGAZINE
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