Class Notes

’50s
Mary Cay Weber Smallwood, C’59, Plano, Texas, had two hip replacements in eight months. She is doing very well.

’60s
Lily Lee Loh, C’63, Palo Alto, Calif., published a new edition of her book, “Listen to God Daily,” which is available on Amazon. All proceeds will support Eudist priests.

Carolyn Zimmerman, C’63, Topeka, Kan., is staying home, wearing a mask wherever she goes, and missing the company of many friends. Her local library is doing a good job of keeping its doors open so that people can find books to read and movies to watch while everyone keeps a safe distance. She hopes other alumni remain safe in the weeks and months ahead.

Kathleen Allgaier Gribble, C’66, Appleton, Wis., is involved with several community organizations dealing with social justice, climate change, gun safety, women’s ordination in the Catholic Church, and mentoring youth.

Jean Praechter Ameduri, C’69, St. Louis, Mo., worked on absentee voting for nine days during the 2020 election. She said the turnout was phenomenal and that some days there was a three-hour wait to vote.

’70s
Jacquelyn Zahller Witte, C’70, Sequim, Wash., enjoyed two virtual reunions with the class of 1970 in summer 2020. They were all sorry to miss their 50th anniversary on campus, so they toasted on Zoom exactly 50 years from their graduation date.

Sr. Mary Jo Quinn, C’71, Missoula, Mont., is in ministry as the director of music and liturgy at Blessed Trinity Catholic Community.

Fr. Michael Stechmann, C’76, Oxnard, Calif., was elected archivist for the Order of Augustinian Recollects in the United States. He will be assigned to Mary Star of the Sea Parish, which is adjacent to the monastery.

Patricia O’Brien, C’77, Pueblo, Colo., retired after 20 years at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She serves as associate professor emerita adjunct instructor, Colorado State University-Pueblo community organizer, and is an appointed member of the Pueblo Human Relations Commission.

Mary Debello Bartholomew, C’79, Aurora, Colo., retired after 38 years of teaching chemistry. She taught in the Cherry Creek District and at Regis Jesuit High School. She now serves as an Ignatian volunteer for Boys Hope Girls Hope.

Joanne Fenton Vamosi, C’79, Omaha, Neb., and her husband, Garry, became grandparents in August 2019. Their granddaughter, Lucy,
loves books.

’80s
Teresa Casey Bryant, C’81, Royal Oak, Mich., started her seventh year as a nutrition services coordinator for the City of Farmington Hills, Mich. She directs the Meals on Wheels and congregate dining programs.

Cherie Toussaint, C’81, Pueblo, Colo., retired after 32 years at Pueblo County School District 70.

Cathy Tutty, C’81, Butte, Mont., serves as governor of the Montana District of Kiwanis and is practicing family law in Butte. She also purchased her first home.

Christine Ramirez Prieto, C’84, Highlands Ranch, Colo., has been sheltering in place with her husband and two young adult children. She is an educational consultant and facilitator of Parenting the Love and Logic Way. She’s been married 23 years, cares for her father (a WWII veteran), and keeps busy with volunteer work.

Kristy Bockelmann Lewis, C’86, Livingston, Texas, retired last year and now travels the U.S. in an RV. She enjoys seeing the country and visiting family and friends.

’90s
Susan Douglas, C’94, Spearfish, S.D., retired from the U.S. Forest Service after 24 years as a writer, editor, and public affairs specialist. She enjoys life with her husband, Dave, and their two dogs.

’00s
Casey C’01, and Jennifer, C’02, Wells, Olathe, Kan., have three children. Kara is a high schooler at Saint Thomas Aquinas, Kate is in middle school, and Tyler is in elementary school. Jennifer teaches at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood. Casey works at Aflac as a district sales coordinator. They are busy with volleyball and soccer.

Alena Nardinger Prosser, U’03, Palmer, Alaska, and her husband of 12 years, Alan, have three active children: Dimitri, Nadyezhda, and Aleksandra. Alena turned 40 in November and shares her birthday with her middle daughter, Nadyezhda, who turned 8.

Damian Torres-Botello, C’03, Brighton, Mass., entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 2012 and has advanced to theology studies – the fourth and final phase of Jesuit formation before priestly ordination. He is working toward a Master of Divinity and a Theology Master’s in Ministerial Practice, focusing on Ignatian spirituality and spiritual direction from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. Before that, he worked for Detroit Mercy Theatre Company at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he served as outreach and audience development coordinator and directed some plays. He is scheduled to graduate and be ordained as a priest in 2023.

Anne-Marie Denny, U’08, De Soto, Mo., began a new career as the vulnerable populations specialist at the Jefferson County Health Department in Missouri.

’10s
Thomas Grossman, U’14, Lee’s Summit, Mo., and his wife, Erica, welcomed their first child on Oct. 15.

Debra Lietzke, U’16, M’20, Kansas City, Kan., congratulates USM’s 2020 class of the MSN-FNP program. She is part of the first MSN-FNP cohort.

Friends of Saint Mary
Tom Dials, Leavenworth, Kan., celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife, Candy, in December. He is a member of the Saint Mary Board of Trustees.