Leo Lines

Class notes, births and deaths reported by University of La Verne alumni.

by University of La Verne
August 13, 2012

Recent Updates

Esther Meyers Frey ’39 celebrated her 94th birthday April 29; she has outlived her father by two weeks. The only longer-lived relative was her mother’s sister, who lived until four days before her 104th birthday. Esther says she keeps telling God she needs 10 more years to finish all the things she’s started, that she’s told him that for 22 years, and so far he has granted that.

Dick Roberson’59 was inducted into the San Diego Tennis Hall of Fame in August 2012. Roberson, who played baseball at La Verne College, led a revolution in the way professional tennis matches were officiated. Originally recruited by the organizers of World Team Tennis in 1978, Roberson was then contacted by the Men’s International Professional Tennis Council to have him train tennis officials world-wide to officiate at ATP tournaments. He restructured the way officials were positioned on the court and championed the enforcement of rules against profanity, racquet abuse and disruptive behavior on the court. Officials then had recourse to penalize and default players, including the likes of Ilie Nastase and John McEnroe, whose antics were turning many tennis fans away from professional tennis. Roberson lives in Phoenix with his wife, Brenda.

J. D. Glick ’63 recently retired as pastor of the Sunrise Church of the Brethren in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Since graduating from Bethany Seminary 45 years ago, he has pastored churches in California, Iowa, Ohio, and, for the past 28 years, two congregations in Virginia.

Mike ’66 and Sara ’67 Boyer. Mike’s work history involved 15 years of accounting and 10 years of teaching in a community college. Sara has taught 19 years on a full-time basis. She is currently teaching at Cumming Valley Elementary for the Tehachapi Unified School District in 2nd grade. She has become adept with the Smart Board. The Boyers have four children: Becky, Rachel, David, and Ruth and seven grand children, all boys. Becky and Rachel teach in elementary school in Escondido and Lone Pine. David is a Major in the Air Force. He is a navigator and currently stationed in England. Ruth is a pit boss at Harrah’s Escondido. We like to swim. It reduces the stress of teaching for Sara. I enjoy the challenge of swimming.

Nick and Donna Pandolf ’74 retired from the Kennedy Space Center and have a summer home in Ohio at Buckeye Lake and continue to have their winter home in Cocoa Beach, Fla. They are truly enjoying spending time with their kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and siblings, and extended families. ULV will always be our heart.

Sharyn Cortes-Cabello ’80 reports that her daughter, Devyn Cortes, graduated from La Verne in May 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts.

Debra Mack Rankins ’80 celebrated her 30th Citigroup anniversary last month. She was excited and very thankful that she is still employed and blessed to touch many lives. Her daughter, “Joya” sends this note with love and says Debra will be surprised to see this!

Katy Tex Andersen ’82 has been a middle school principal for the past nine years.

Ken Mosley ’84 was recently promoted to Lead Dispatcher for the Southwest Region Construction Equipment Division of RDO Equipment Co., the largest John Deere Dealership in the country. Ken just returned from umpiring in Oklahoma City for the USA/ASA 18 Gold Girls Fastpitch Softball National Championships. He is looking forward to the birth of his third grandchild, Nathan Wagner, in October, who will join his sister, Camryn, and his cousin, Katherine.

Allan Stevens ’87 completed his M.A. in the Social and Cultural Analysis of Education (global studies emphasis) at California State University, Long Beach, in May. He teaches ninth grade English at Bell High School, specializing in intervention programs for low-performing students and English Language Learners. He also holds a credential to teach German. His sons, Matthew and Michael, will start middle school and elementary school (respectively) in the fall. Matthew was one of several pupils in his graduating class to receive certificates of recognition for academic excellence signed by President Barack Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.

Arnold Briones ’90 is a financial advisor and a recruiter for WFG/Transamerica in Corona and is Secretary of the ULV Delta Sigma Phi alumni chapter.

Friedrich Kunzler ’90 graduated with Master of Science degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California.

Mary Louise Dickinson ’91 is completing her 16th year as a Senior Litigation Paralegal with Southern California Edison Company. Her son is now an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Nevada, and made her the proud grandmother of Natalie Jane Dickinson. GO LEOS.

Gregory Kimura ’91 was voted on to the Board of the Castaic Area Town Council (CATC). He was selected to join the Governing Board of the Santa Clarita Valley International Charter School (SCVi) and was selected to be on the School Naming Committee for the new Castaic High School in the Hart School District. In May, he will be up for re-election as President of the Val Verde Civic Association (VVCA) and Board member of the Val Verde Community Benefits Funding Committee (CBFC). He says, as a La Verne graduate, he knows the importance of being part of his community. As we become wiser and more experienced, we become a greater asset. What better way to share this with the area in which we live – our neighbors. He says after reading the Citizen Alum posting in the Winter 2013 Voice, he realizes how much La Verne has influenced his career. He has peers who received MBA’s from other colleges, however none were given the opportunity to take a course in Business Ethics. He says over the years, he has been tempted to push my morals aside for the sake of business, however something inside me told me not to. He says he believes that his education at La Verne was one of the main factors and has helped him to be a good businessman and a valuable resource to his community. He thanks La Verne for teaching him this very important principle.

Susan Zytnik-Kunzler ’91 graduated with Master of Science Degree from Norwich University, Vermont.

J. Pat Ferraris, Esq. ’92 employed at the law firm of Reback, McAndrews, Kjar, Warford & Stockalper, LLP. Engaged to Staci McGinty. One son, Morgan A. Ferraris, age 22. Two future step-children – Summer and Chad.

R. Mike Greenlees ’92 and his wife, Charli, who have resided in Tucson, Ariz., for the past 13 years, are very proud to announce the birth of their first grandbabies. Identical twin girls, Norah Lynn, 5 pounds, 11 ounces and Ana-Leigh, 5 lbs., 8 oz., were born on August 2nd at 7:25 a.m. and 7:43 a.m. to their son, Jason, and his wife, Lianne, who reside in a suburb of Portland, Ore. Jason is employed by the Oregon National Guard and has been in the Army/National Guard for 16 years. He served a tour of duty in the Army in Korea and has completed one tour in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. Lianne will be a “stay-at-home Mom” and will certainly have her hands full.

Jeannette Vagnozzi ’92 ’99 was honored by Assembly Member Mike Morrell as a 2012 Woman of Distinction for the 63rd Assembly District. This award honors women for outstanding service in their communities. Jeannette currently serves as City Treasurer for the City of La Verne.

Dawn Del Vecchio ’94, in addition to teaching at Pasadena’s Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, recently accepted a position teaching Effective Business Planning at Pasadena City College’s Community Education Center.

Wallace Ridley ’94 got married March 3rd at Loren Larsen Park on the ski slopes at Park City Mountain Resort.

Ray Tolcacher ’95 is completing his 20th year as Superintendent of Schools in Washington State. He has been producing and hosting a TV show in Central Washigton called “School Scene Magazine.” The show is on ABC network on KAPP/KVEW TV. Still using the skills learned in the program at La Verne: Thanks a bunch.

Leon (Mike) Bridges ’96, Anchorage Campus MS-BOM 96, was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed Commander and Assistant Adjutant General of the Alaska Army National Guard. Mike has nearly 32 years of service in the Guard.

Stephanie (Carson) Gomez ’96, ’99 and her husband welcomed the birth of our first daughter, Gabriella (“Gaby”) Kathryn Gomez, on June 24, 2011. She was a healthy 8 pounds, 1 ounce and 20 inches long! She continues to work as a Licensed MFT in private practice in Whittier, and her husband works in sales/tech design for California Lighting Sales in Irwindale.

Jamie Laffey ’96 completed his degree after taking 12 years off from school and says he achieved his goal of working for a major auto manufacturer thanks to University of La Verne. Before commencement, he started with Toyota Motor Sales in Torrance in their sales training department with intentions of working in a field office someday. Within 90 days, he was promoted to District Service Manager and then District Sales Manager in Portland, Ore., where he moved through several positions, later working in Alaska, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Idaho. He was later transferred back to HQ in Torrance and spent four years in Market Planning, launching the best selling car in the country (the all-new Camry) — possibly the hardest job he has ever tackled, he says. Thankfully, all of his Business Education was retained and used. Having the qualifications and education, he then was promoted to Regional Business Manager in the company’s San Francisco office where he is responsible for dealership financial performance for 57 dealerships in Northern California. He is having a blast with his wife and three kids, while sailing, snowmobiling and restoring old muscle cars in his spare time. He says the University of La Verne gave him the knowledge, skills and, most importantly, the confidence to pursue his dreams. His advice for students contemplating finishing their degrees is “Just do it! You will be glad you did!”

Rick Garcia ’00 received his master of education degree in postsecondary administration and student affairs from the USC Rossier School of Education in May 2012. He will begin doctoral studies in higher education leadership in fall 2012.

Jeff Reenders ’01 and wife Kelly welcomed their 2nd child, daughter Blair, on June 19th, 2012.

Justin Poore ’02, ’10 was chosen out of a pool of 250+ applicants for a professor position at University of Phoenix to teach finance. He passed all interview stages and will begin instruction in Finance in October of this year. He also has a newly created website: www.jpadvising.biz. In the winter of 2011, he was a high school golf coach and led the girls team of Lindsay high to an undefeated league championship and placed fourth in area.

Robert A. Hastings ’03 has written a book with his 13-year old grandson that he also illustrated, “The Mysterious Door.” He re-worked and re-released “The Spirit Wolf (Life is a Never Ending Lesson).” They are both children’s books and are available at Entry Way Publishing and digi*tall media. “The Blue Kangaroo” is available through createspace. He plans to be available for signings in the near future. He is currently working on his first adult fiction. He wishes everyone good health.

Torie Weiston ’04 is finishing up a Ph.D. in education at Claremont Graduate University and running a non-profit organization that specializes in mentoring youth of color: www.mentoringactionnetwork.org

Dena Maloney ’06 is the Superintendent/President of the West Kern Community College District, as of May 1, 2012.

Kendall Childs ’07 teaches English and reading at Moorpark Community High School, a continuation high school. He works with students who are behind in their credits, and also teaches a career course to help seniors figure out what they want to do after high school.

Angelina Estrada ’08 has worked for non-profit organizations and had very fulfilling positions. She relocated to Ventura County and plans on going back to La Verne for her masters degree in Health Administration.

Ashley L. Joseph ’08 ’11 is currently the Youth Educational Facilitator for College Education and Community Service at Pathways in Education. During down time, she is also running her own Saturday program for inner city teens in the Pomona Valley Area, Project UMe.

Sarah (Miller) Williams ’09 just graduated from Loyola Law School in May 2012! In studying for the bar exam, Sarah took her prep course at La Verne Law School and says she’ll always find her way back to that dear favored spot.

Eva Johnson ’10 announced her candidacy for the California 42nd District House of Representatives, for which election day is June 5. Johnson, who has lived in the district for the past 14 years, formed Mentoring Today for Tomorrow Inc., an after-school program located in Riverside County for at-risk youth ages 9-18, in 2004 while pursuing her doctorate in Public Administration from the University of La Verne. Her published research addresses issues within the California Foster Care system. A U.S. Army Veteran, Johnson served the community of Murrieta as Commissioner on the Community Steering Committee, and has also served as a Division 3 Director on the Western Municipal Water District Advisory Board for the City of Murrieta.

Carla Dillon ’11 was awarded the Jennings Randolph Fellowship for 2012, which includes participation in the upcoming 25th Annual INGENIUM Conference in Rotorua, New Zealand, by The American Public Works Association, International Affairs Committee. In addition, Carla will conduct a study tour on her chosen topic of odor control. A study tour in New Zealand poses a unique international learning opportunity for Carla since this is one of few countries with national policies on odor. Carla is an Engineering Supervisor with the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) and currently leads a technical team responsible for controlling odor and corrosion, which is accomplished through prevention, treatment, monitoring, olfactometry, and investigation. Optimization and research are continually conducted to lower costs or find more effective methods of controlling odor and corrosion. She has also been involved in the development of an odor master plan and OCSD’s strategic initiative for odor control. During the tour, Carla will study how New Zealand implements its national odor policies and regulations. She will study the design and operation of odor treatment facilities, methods used for computer modeling of odors, and techniques for monitoring and assessing odors. As an APWA partner organization and participant in the Jennings Randolph study exchange for many years, INGENIUM will assist them with making contacts for their study. The Jennings Randolph International Fellowship Program was established by the APWA International Public Works Federation (IPWF) at the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute in May of 1987.

LITTLE LEOS

Tracey (Landis) Jones ’98 announces another generation of Leos: Leo Gerard Jones was born Oct. 3, 2011, weighing in at a whopping 10 lbs., 2.5 oz. He joins big brother Anthony and big sister Elena. The Joneses live in Waco, Tex., where Ken teaches Ancient History and Classics at Baylor University, while Tracey teaches in the Baylor Education department and is currently doing graduate work in Spanish Linguistics.

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