Class Notes

’60s

Mary Redlinger Sobolewski, C’67, Camas, Wash., along with her husband, William, recently published a book. “The Broken Road: Story of our Son’s Drug Addiction and Mental Illness,” is a heartfelt account of the difficult challenges faced by the authors as they attempted to help their son through his internal struggles and demons he attempted to fight. Their book can be purchased at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

’70s

JoEllen Stimac Estenson, C’71, Rollins, Mont., is recovering from a posterior left hip replacement and is learning to walk again!

Trudy Hinson Brophy, C’73, Las Vegas, Nev., was honored by her classmates at the 2023 Alumni Reunion Weekend as she was presented with a Quilt of Valor. The quilt was hand-crafted by her classmates as a small tribute to her military service.

Colleen O’Connor Harris, C’73, Las Vegas, Nev., was honored at the 2023 Alumni Reunion Weekend. Colleen was unable to attend but her classmates hand-crafted a Quilt of Valor as a small tribute to her military service.

Dr. Tes Mehring, C’74, was elected to be the Vice-Chair of the Accreditation Council within the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). This role also includes membership on the national board of directors for CAEP.

Joanne Fenton Vamosi, C’79, Omaha, Neb., retired from teaching in May 2023.

’80s

Sue Ann Thieman, C’81, recently moved to a retirement center in Rogers, Ark. Sue Ann has seven great-grandchildren and credits Saint Mary for setting her career path in elementary education.

Kathy McClain Fogarty, C’82, Shawnee, Kan., was awarded the Sr. Mary Mark Orr Pioneer Spirit Award during the 2023 Alumni Reunion Weekend on June 10, 2023.

Marilyn Vitt Lappin, C’86, Prairie Village, Kan., who is an avid runner, became a Six Star Finisher by completing her running of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, having run Boston (2009, 2011), New York (2010), Chicago (2017), Berlin (2018), London (2022), and Tokyo (2023). As of Spring 2023, Marilyn is among 12,212 total Six Star finishers worldwide from 104 countries, including 3,941 women. She is among the 3,893 finishers from North America. Marilyn earned her Sixth Star at the Tokyo marathon on March 5, 2023, and was one of 3,033 runners participating in the Guinness World Record for “the most people to earn a Six Star Medal at a single marathon.”

’90s

Joe Contrucci, C’94, Olathe, Kan., was awarded the Sister Mary Janet McGilley Service Award at the Alumni Reunion Weekend on June 10, 2023.

’00s

Damian Torres-Botello, C’01, Detroit, Mich., was ordained into the priesthood in Milwaukee, Wis., on June 10, 2023.

Elizabeth Huot Salsgiver, U’04, Palmyra, Pa., recently moved and got a new job. Elizabeth was promoted to director of outpatient mental health at Merakey in Harrisburg, Pa. She and her family moved to Palmyra, Pa., in September
of 2022.

Amanda Cole Hoffman, U’08, Great Bend, Kan., was named interim CEO at Clara Barton Medical Center in June of 2023.

’10s

Todd Forbes, U’14, married Lexi on January 21, 2023. Todd is a healthcare tech manager at Huron Consulting Group in Leavenworth, Kan.

Carson Long, U’14, Beavercreek, Ohio, recently finished his Ph.D. from the Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio under a DoD SMART Scholarship. Carson has accepted a position at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., as an operations research analyst for the USAF.

Kaylee Kaiser, U’16, recently got a new job. Kaylee is a Certified Nurse Practitioner and has joined the Russell Regional Rheumatology Clinic in Russell, Kan.

Daphne Phillips Reynolds, M’19, Leavenworth, Kan., was promoted to
senior associate recruiter at Russell Tobin and Associates. Daphne also welcomed a baby girl, Sloan, on Nov. 6, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan.

Paige Siewert, U’19, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was recently promoted to business development team lead. Paige also earned her media credentials to cover the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League for their inaugural season in 2022-23 and will continue covering them for the best fan hockey platform for their upcoming season.

’20s

Jalil Grimes, U’21, Aurora, Colo., recently got a new job. Jalil accepted a position
at Minot State University as an assistant football coach.

Share Your News

What have you been up to? What’s changed? Where are you living? New child or grandchild? We want to know. Submit your update to stmary.edu/support-alumni/class-notes and remember, no news is too small!