Class Notes

By Sarah Williams

See what our Michigan Tech alumni are doing.

1950s

Lawrence Golin ’58 (Forestry) received the American Physical Therapy Association’s Humanitarian Award in June 2018. Golin was recognized for establishing a small rehabilitation center at Memorial Christian Hospital in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh and his 11 trips to various countries on medical mission trips. He is retired, but still involved as a physical therapy consultant licensed in Michigan.

1960s

Dennis Wiitanen ’63 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Peter E. Sohlden ’65 (Metallurgical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

1970s

Timothy Bohrer ’71 (Chemical Engineering) was named to the Packaging and Processing Hall of Fame by the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute. Bohrer is the founder of Pac Advantage Consulting LLC. Among his accomplishments, Bohrer led the team that developed the packaging used for microwave popcorn.

Calvin L. White ’74 (Metallurgical Engineering) Materials Science and Engineering professor emeritus, was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

Iver E. Anderson ’75 (Metallurgical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

1980s

John Frambach ’80 (Liberal Arts) was presented the Frank J. Ward Memorial History Award at the Berrien County Historical Association annual meeting on April 17, 2018 in Berrien Springs, Michigan. The award is presented annually to an individual, organization, or business that advances the cause of local history through research, writing, historic preservation, or programming.

Stephen Mashl ’80 ’87 ’95 (Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) was named a 2018 APMI Fellow. APMI International is a nonprofit professional society which promotes the advancement of powder metallurgy and particulate materials as a science.

Mark Rich ’80 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018. Tragically, Rich was killed in a plane crash in Oregon last August. His wife, Laura, accepted the posthumous induction in his honor.

David H. Gelwicks ’82 (Metallurgical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

Boyd A. Mueller ’82 (Metallurgical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

M. Margaret Cobb ’83 (Mechanical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Academy October 20, 2018.

Susan B. (Brechting) Kiehl ’83 (Metallurgical Engineering), was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

Jeffery W. Feldt ’84 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Brian Krinock ’85 (Mechanical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Academy October 20, 2018.

Tony Altobelli ’86 (Mechanical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics Academy October 20, 2018.

Paul W. Juodawlkis ’86 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Michael A. Pulick Jr. ’86 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Peter M. Eick ’87 (Geology) was granted his 50th United States Patent. The patents cover a range of seismic techniques for geological and geophysical data acquisitions in use in the oil and gas industry. Peter and his wife, Carrie (Duckert) Eick ’86, (Geological Engineering) manage Serenity Geophysical Consultants based in San Antonio, Texas.

Ruth I. (Schultz) Kramer ’87 (Geology) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

Joseph M. Nowosad ’87 (Metallurgical Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Materials Science and Engineering Academy October 12, 2018.

1990s

Jon E. Jipping ’91 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Arjang Roshan-Rouz ’92 (Electrical and Computer Engineering) was inducted into Michigan Tech’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Academy August 1, 2018.

Denise Junker ’97 (Computer Science) received her MDiv from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in Rochester, New York, in 2014.

Robert E. Smith ’99 ’02 ’12 (Mechanical Engineering) is co-author of War Game Introduces Early Synthetic Prototyping, published by the US Army. Smith is a research engineer in the US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, Detroit Arsenal.

2000s

Todd Brewer ’00 (Mechanical Engineering) authored the story “Bearing Technology Changes in the Fluid Handling Industry,” in Flow Control. Brewer is an application engineer with NSK.

Donald Churchill ’02 (Forestry) is the plant health care manager for Garpiel Group in Saginaw, Michigan. In February, he earned the board-certified master arborist credential through the International Society of Arboriculture. This is the highest certification available for arborists. He is one of 10 in the state of Michigan to hold this certification.

Raine Gardner ’05 (Civil Engineering) is one of the recipients of the 2018 Young Professional of the Year Awards by the American Council of Engineering Companies. Gardner is a senior project engineer with MSA Professional Services, Inc. in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Brian Saintonge ’05 (Civil Engineering) and his wife, Anne, welcomed baby boy, Noah Friedrich William Saintonge on January 10, 2018.

Kevin and Meghan Kusiak

Kevin Kusiak ’07 (Electrical Engineering) and Meghan Jacobs were married in Beaver Creek, Colorado, on September 9, 2018.

Twyla Marie Rathbun

Walter Rathbun ’08 (Geological Engineering), Leanne Rathbun, and big brother, Paxton, welcomed daughter, Twyla Marie. She was born June 2, 2018 weighing seven pounds 12 ounces. The family lives in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada. Her proud family of Huskies include grandparents Shawn ’82 and Jim ’81 Rathbun, uncles Matthew Rathbun ’12 and Luke Tofte ’12, and aunt Aimee Rathbun ’05.

2010s

Amanda and Blake Conner wedding.

Amanda (Vogt) Conner ’10 (Finance) and Blake Conner were married in Windermere, Florida, on March 17, 2018.

Kyle Brill ’11 (Geology) is co-author of the article “Foundations for forecasting: Defining baseline seismicity at Fuego volcano, Guatemala,” published in Frontiers in Earth Science.

Ellis Orso Simonetta

Jennifer (Bush) Simonetta ’11 (Applied Ecology and Environmental Sciences) and Corey Simonetta ’11 (Mechanical Engineering) announce the birth of their first son, Ellis Orso Simonetta. He was born June 7, 2018, weighing eight pounds four ounces and 21 inches long.

Kipp, Stephanie, and Kacen Vaughn

Kipp Vaughn ’11 (Business Administration) and Stephanie Vaughn, welcomed a son, Kacen, in January and plan to make him a fellow Tech alumnus in the coming years. Kipp also accepted the human resources manager position for Michigan’s iconic Mackinac Bridge in March.

Amanda Taylor receiving an award.

Amanda Taylor ’12 (Chemical Engineering) Process Safety Specialist at BASF, was recognized nationally through the Manufacturing Institute’s 2018 STEP Ahead Awards. Focusing on science, technology, engineering, and production (STEP), the program honors women leaders for their advocacy, mentorship, engagement, and leadership.

Arthur Kyle Myszka

Kyle Myszka ’15 (Materials Science and Engineering) and Amber (Kaufman) Myszka ’15 (English) welcomed their son, Arthur Kyle Myszka, on February 21, 2018. He weighed eight pounds, three ounces and was 21.75 inches long.

In Memoriam

1938

  • Frank E. Pavlis

1945

  • Charles E. Foertmeyer

1948

  • Robert Heinrich

1949

  • Dr. John D. Brule

  • Robert E. Green

1950

  • Leonard A. Carlson

  • Donald A. Kangas

  • Peter E. Kotila

  • Elwood A. Lohela

  • Louis E. Wuelpern

1951

  • Thomas E. Fearnside

  • Dr. William M. Glazier

  • Kenneth L. Kojola

  • Robert G. Vernon, PE

1952

  • James R. Brooks

  • Fred J. Huston Jr.

  • Rod L. Villeneuve

1953

  • Robert P. Cappeart

  • Dino H. Pirolo

1954

  • Robert G. Johnson

  • Ross M. Wolfe

1955

  • James R. Sack

1956

  • Reino E. Alanen

  • Rodney L. Baker

  • Prof. Edward J. Koepel

  • John E. Kroneck

  • Gary D. Lundin

  • Gerald J. Schwark

1957

  • John E. Christophersen Sr.

  • Bernard J. Mayer

1958

  • Rollin A. Jones

  • Martin W. Lutz

1959

  • Donald E. Ameen

  • Richard H. Seegert

  • John B. Taylor III

1960

  • Roger C. Lasanen

1961

  • Dr. Albert F. Puttlitz

  • James L. Radawski

1962

  • Dr. John S. Berkes

1963

  • Lester J. Barancin

  • Clarence G. Funk Jr.

1964

  • Martin H. Betzing

  • Lee E. Gotcher

  • James W. Hostman

1966

  • Bruce H. Dunn

1968

  • Raymond E. Beauchamp

  • Ronald M. Leachman

1970

  • Timothy W. Cox

1971

  • Kathleen H. Van Weelden

1972

  • Kenneth D. Wade

1973

  • Bansidhar Panda

1974

  • E. Dale Rennells

1975

  • Paul A. Brewer

  • Debra R. Link

1977

  • Stephen A. Johnson

1980

  • Mary J. Briggs

  • James D. Tellam

1981

  • Terry J. Schmidt

  • Priscilla M. Young

1982

  • John M. Keeley

1986

  • Dawn E. Belding

  • Kyle D. Wilson

1987

  • Daniel M. Morley

1990

  • Timothy J. Gerdeen

  • Kurt J. Talsma

  • Steven D. Weinfurter

1991

  • Andrew M. Kaczmarek

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.

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