C la ss Notes Two alums seek the release of their son from captivity in Syria
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ried to Kriss for 42 years, and we enjoy serving as chairpersons for Arizona State University Scholarships and also supporting a Mexican Advocacy LLC related to our resort on the Sea of Cortez. Thanks for this opportunity to serve as secretary. I look forward to hearing from you.” —Jim DesRochers, 1433 S 19th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009; jim.desrochers@icloud.com
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It’s always inspiring to hear from classmates who have found new and rewarding ways to have fun. What activities have you enjoyed recently? Please drop me a line and share a favorite experience with classmates who would love an update. Elaine Economides Joost says she’s become one of those retirees who is busier than when she was working: “I’m on the boards of four organizations—two philanthropic and two civic. Working to help adults coping with homelessness rebuild their lives has certainly opened my eyes to the hollowness of the many preconceptions even good people routinely accept as gospel.” Edward Bruce Bynum ’70 It was also a pleasure to catch up by email with Edward “ Br uc e” Bynum. Bruce is a psychologist and poet in the Amherst, MA, area, who won the Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Prize for his Chronicles of the Pig & Other Delu-
sions (Wayne State University Press, 2010). He published his fifth book in psychology, Dark Light Consciousness: Melanin, Serpent Power and the Luminous Matrix of Reality (Inner Traditions, 2012). The book includes illustrated instructions for meditation practices, breathing exercises, and yoga. At UNH, Bruce served as vice president of our student government along with president Brad Cook, who was recently named Manchester’s Non-Profit/Charities Law Lawyer of the Year for 2013 by the publication Best Lawyers in America. John Edwards, a schoolteacher in Texas, says he’s proud of the education he received at UNH: “It has served me well.” I’m looking forward to the 2013 UNH Volunteer Leadership Conference in Durham and to connecting there with my college roommate, Nan Winterbottom. Hope to see you at a reunion or chapter event soon! —Jan Harayda, 41 Watchung Plz. #99, Montclair, NJ 07042; haraydajan@alumni.unh.edu
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Bill Smagula, a 34-year veteran of PSNH, is vice president of Generation, a division comprised of three steam generation stations and nine hydroelectric stations. Bill was instrumental in the Clean Air Project, a mercury and sulfur emissions reduction system at Merrimack Station in Bow, as well as the Northern Wood Power project, the state’s largest biomass energy source. A native of Manchester, Bill and his wife, Roberta ’72, have three children and live in Bedford, NH. Mary D. Allen passed away on Dec. 1 at home in West Lebanon, ME. Mary followed her mother into edcucation, teaching spe-
52 • Uni ve rs it y o f Ne w Ha m p s h i r e Ma g a z i n e • S p r i ng 2013
—Debbi Martin Fuller, 276 River St., Langdon, NH 03602; (603) 835-6753; debbifuller@alumni.unh.edu
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Patrick Amoroso writes, “I have joined the UNH Observatory staff as a participating volunteer. The observatory operates a substantial public-outreach astronomy program to surrounding schools and science classes under the administration of the UNH physics department.” Lou Ureneck’s recent book, Cabin: Two Brothers, a Dream, and Five Acres in Maine (Penguin Books), received favorable reviews from the California Literary Review, New York Journal of Books, New York Times, Boston Globe and National Geographic Traveler. It is available as an e-book, in paperback, or as a hardcover. (See a review by Janice Harayda ’70 at UNH Magazine online). Did you know that the UNH Alumni Association posts photo submissions online? Online Class Notes is a great way to share photos. Be the first from the Class of ’72 to contribute to our class photo album. And speaking of sharing stories—send news! Let your classmates know you’re out there and share what you’ve been up to. —Paul Bergeron, 15 Stanstead Pl., Nashua, NH 03063; bergeronpaulr@alumni.unh.edu
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Becky Kimball Hommon and UNH friends Maggie and Mike Comer ’74 traveled around Spain in May 2012. Becky visited her sister, Regina Kimball Bonnafoux ’70, in La Frette sur Seine, Paris, where she has lived for more than 20 years. Becky continues as an environmental attorney for the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor. Mike and Maggie are retired and live in Jackson, ME, with their children and grandchildren. Dr. Althea Sheaff, assistant superintendent of the Nashua School District, is retiring. She has been an educator for more than 40 years. Althea first came to Nashua in 2003 after years of working as a teacher and school principal. She started as the district’s instructional supervisor and was named the executive director of curriculum and instruction in 2006. She was appointed to her current position in 2010. I also wish to announce
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ames “Jim” Foley, the 39-year-old son of John ’70 and Diane ’70 Foley, found his true calling a few years ago when he began a second career as a “conflict journalist,” bringing to light the conditions on the ground in hot spots around the globe. Last November, he was kidnapped at gunpoint in Syria—which has been named the most dangerous place in the world for foreign journalists—and hasn’t been heard from since. On May 3, World Press Freedom Day, Foley’s parents and his employer, GlobalPost, an online international news site, held a high-profile event at Foley’s alma mater, Northwestern University, to announce the conclusion of a five-month investigation into his disappearance. Foley, GlobalPost believes, has been captured by a pro-regime militia and detained by the Syrian government. The family has gone public with this information in hopes that anyone with knowledge of Jim’s whereabouts will come forward and that the right kind of pressure may bring about his release. “Jim is one of many journalists who are suffering for doing their jobs,” says John Foley. “We hope others will join us to help get the word out that many reporters are being unjustly detained.” Those interested in supporting the Foley cause can join more than 10,000 others from around the world who have signed an online petition for his release. Visit freejamesfoley.com to find out more.
cial education and Spanish at Nute High School. She played golf and spent time at her cottage on Great East Lake with her grandchildren. Jonathan Durfee, who has lived in Yorktown, VA, for the last 28 years, was a zoology/music dual major. A lot of his family were UNH, Air Force-ROTC. He served at the end of Vietnam and went on to an MBA at Michigan State. He raised four children and had a career in hotel management. Some highlights: Jon was president of East-West Hall during his sophomore year and was an RA at Hunter his senior year. He did radar and target intelligence and managed an Officer’s Club for two years after Vietnam. After four years in the Air Force, he spent a year in the entertainment industry, garnering kind comments from the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Elmer Bernstein, and Guy Lombardo. He was in hotel management before opening an ice cream shop in Yorktown, which his kids helped with. Jon still sings and performs and hopes his letter will spur you to share some of your highlights—I’d rather write about you now than later!
E l i se A mendola / A P
Quest for Freedom