ALUMNI CLASS NOTES
Paula Jean Meiers ’79
sor of Biological Sciences at Illinois State University, Diane will conduct modeling on mating systems in fragmented habitats, while on a fall 2011 sabbatical in Scotland. Scott Ramsay is Director of Off-Road Vehicles Division for the Maine Department of Conservation. Previously, as Supervisor of the Snowmobile Program, overseeing ATV and rail trails, he “completed the Department of Transportation 87-mile multi-use Down East Sunset Trail between Ellsworth and Pembroke”. He and wife Cheryl have two sons. Each summer Scott sees Wood Hall classmates Pete Hryb ’77, Chap Cole ’77, Ernie Tarbox ’77, and Brett Hardacker ’77.
Paula Jean Meiers ’79 developed a passion for her position in Admission Research and Data Analysis at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, from her Unity College work study assignment. “I like the seasons of admission work—reminds me of nature,” said Meiers. “Going out on Unity Pond at midnight in January to take water samples to study the vertical migration of zooplankton and moonlight, and reading Beowulf in John Sanborn’s class, tying conservation law to politics, were two diverse classes. Yet in both, I discovered, like nature, I could integrate learning and living.” Unlike letters Meiers’ received from other colleges, she was attracted to Unity because of the personalized letter from Admissions. “I wanted to matter, to be someone. I wanted small and personal.” In her Unity economics class, she read Small is Beautiful, a book that symbolizes her philosophy. Meiers said, “I believe in small, personalized education. I appreciate a handson approach to learning and living.” Living her beliefs, she became involved in getting her hometown of Neenah, Wisconsin, to take on door-to-door pick-up of recyclables. She is thrilled to now live in a recycling-friendly city. Every day at home she recycles, encouraging student visitors to do the same. Working with the President’s Office, administrators, faculty, and students on the admissions effort, Meiers credits Unity for instilling in her an interest in admissions work, as well as her on-going personal interest in science and nature. “Learning to work with people at various levels and with different experiences is a skill I learned at Unity and today use in my career and volunteer activities.”
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| UNITY SPRING 2011
Fred Trasko, now a Deputy Project Leader, spent 17 years at the Green Lake National Fish Hatchery in Ellsworth. Previously, he worked for the Maine State Atlantic Salmon Commission. Fred and Cricky celebrated 25 years of marriage. They have two children. Other Unity alumni in the hatchery complex include: Chris ’89 and Cheri (Phillips) Domina ’88, Denise (Beach) Buckley ’94 and Keith Boyer ’89. 80
Brad Abbe owns a Powersports business in Roberts, Mont. He and Corina, married 20 years, have a son. Bill Cooling has a fly-fishing charter business in Chatham, Mass, which he hopes to sell for a move to Stuart, Florida. Chris Gallagher spent 26 years in the Army Corps of Engineers, managing a visitor center in Sausalito, Calif., north of the Golden Gate Bridge. She serves on a Corps national committee, is immediate past president of Rotary, Chamber of Commerce President, and President of the Volunteers for the Police Department. Last year she traveled to Japan, representing sister city Sausalito. Stu Hoyt, with the U.S. Forest Service for 30 years, is District Fire Management Officer for the Moose Creek Ranger District in the Nez Perce National Forest, managing a 1.3 million acre fire program. Stu and Karen, married for 27 years, live in Corvallis, Mo. and have two sons.
Sue Cote-Demilia is an Occupational Therapist at the Danbury Hospital. She and husband Carl have two children. Dan Leduc, an Information Technology Specialist for the US Forest Service in Pineville, La., manages the base camp computer system for fire fighters at large fires. He has traveled to Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and France. Jeff Ritter is selling his 22 year old jewelry supply business. His wife Sandy (Fletcher) ’81 has a private family therapy practice in Portland and is a therapist at the Collaborative School in Pineland. They have three daughters and plan to move to Colorado in several years. Fred Miller, in the sheet metal field for over 25 years, was promoted to the Estimating Department at Southern Tier Custom Fabricators at Elmira, N.Y. The company, promoting green building certification (LEEDS ®) concepts, has won many Silver awards. He and wife Sheila have two children. 82
Bruce Desmond, a Senior Project Manager and Market Coordinator for New Crystal Restoration Enterprises in New York, has a son, Kevin. Bill Hurley, a retired Army Major, is an Emergency Medical Technician in the Paramedic Program at Southern Maine Community College. Bill Keogh is co-owner of Old Wooden Bridge Fishing Camp on Big Pine Key, Florida and owns a kayak guide business. He produces nautical charts of the Keys; reconstructions of the official National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) charts. He and his dog live on their houseboat, the Double Exposure. Sean McKenna is a Fisheries Biologist for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries. Wife Laura (Cowan) McKenna ’79, is a Research Technician at the Institute for Coastal and Marine Resources at East Carolina University in Greenville. They have a daughter.
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Mark Caron, with Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for 27 years, has been the Enfield Regional Wildlife Biologist for six years. He is married to Ellen.
Ken Sinapius runs the Adventure Based Learning Experiences program at Delaware Valley Friends School. He and wife Becky have a son.