Alum Notes
We want to share what's been happening in your life since your
time on campus. Please send your updates to
Wildcats on the Move Coordinator
Public Affairs and Publications
California State University, Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0040
E-mail wotm@csuchico.edu
Phone 530-898-4263
1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Marriages
1940s
JOHN COWAN (A.B., Biology, '43) was honored at
a ceremony in June for his efforts to establish the wildlife refuge
at Butte Community College in Oroville, California. Cowan is a founding
member of the college's board of trustees and a wildlife advocate
(see Chico Statements, fall
2002).
1950s
RAY MCDONNELL (A.B., Education,
'53; Credential, '53) spent 28 years as a teacher, principal, and
administrator, retiring in 1981. His first wife, Lois, passed away
in 2000. They had been married for 56 years. He resides in Graeagle,
California, with his wife, Arlene.
1960s
RICH HEYNE (A.B., Social Science, '64; M.B.A.,
'70) and his wife, LYNNE ALLEN (B.A., Education,
'65; Credential, '65), have been married for 37 years. Heyne retired
after 30 years as a personnel services supervisor for Contra Costa
County, and his wife retired from the Martinez Unified School District
after 20 years of teaching. They have two children and one grandchild,
and reside in Danville, California. They can be reached at lrheyne@earthlink.net.
JIM LEMOS (A.B., Social Science, '64; Credential,
'66; M.A., Education, '73) retired after 37 years in public school
education, the last 26 at Yuba Community College. He and his wife,
Chris, met while they were students at CSU, Chico, and their three
children, Laurie, Jennifer, and Andrew, graduated from CSU, Chico.
JOHN O. THOMSON (A.B., Art, '64; M.A., Art, '70)
founded the Galeria Laguinta in Yelapa, Mexico, in 1997. Thomson
has been painting for more than 39 years and spends five months
each year painting in Monterey Bay, California, and the other seven
months painting in Yelapa.
ROWLAND H. CHENEY (B.A., Art, '66) has spent
the past 30 years teaching art at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton,
California. Cheney was recently commissioned to create a bronze
sculpture of sandhill cranes for the City of Lodi, California. He
and his family reside in Clements.
LANETTE HENDERSON (Credential, '68) taught for
30 years, several of which were spent teaching in Pakistan, Belgium,
Jamaica, and Albania. Henderson is currently a children's pastor
at the Chico First Assembly of God and resides in Chico.
1970s
GIL STEELE (B.S., Biology, '70; Credential, '71)
taught for two years at a girls' high school in Australia before
joining the faculty at McCloud Elementary School, a position he
has held for the past 30 years. Steele serves as vice principal,
head of the technology program, and is the athletic director for
the junior high school. Recently, he was named to the 2002 Who's
Who Among America's Teachers list. He and his wife, Beth, reside
in McCloud with their family.
ALAN CRAIG (B.A., Political Science, '72; Credential,
'78; M.A., Education, '84) has been teaching in the Redding School
District for the past 25 years. Currently, he teaches eighth grade
at Sequoia Middle School in Redding. He and his wife, Mary, have
three daughters and reside in Redding.
ANN GIBSON (B.A., English, '72) began her teaching
career in 1973 at Cordova High School in Rancho Cordova, California.
After taking time off to raise her family, she returned to teaching
in 1986 and has been teaching English at Folsom High School for
the past seven years. She and her husband, Joseph, have three grown
children and reside in Folsom.
WENDY WEIR (B.S., Business Administration, '72)
retired from her position with Pacific Bell in 2000 after more than
20 years with the company. Weir is currently a real estate professional
with Cook Realty in Sacramento.
GAYLE GUYNUP (B.A., Political Science, '73) spent
four years as a state public defender and two years as an appellate
defense worker for the state of California before being appointed
by Governor Jerry Brown to the municipal court at the age of 31.
Guynup, now retired from her post as judge for the Sonoma County
Superior Court, works as an assigned judge, traveling through five
Northern California counties. She lives in Santa Rosa with her husband,
Doug, and children, John and Cassandra.
 BRUCE
E. JOHNSON (B.S., Computer Science, '73) is the president
and chief executive officer for Skyway Software in Tampa, Florida.
Johnson (in photo at right) worked for several high-tech companies
including ClearCross, Oracle, IBM, and Electronic Data Systems before
accepting the position with Skyway Software. He and his wife have
five children and reside in Tampa.
MIKE CARUFEL (B.A., Art, '74) worked for Unisys
as a sales manager for 11 years before accepting a position with
3M Company 18 years ago. He and his wife, Cathy, have two grown
children and reside in Beaverton, Oregon.
 SAM
GOEPP (B.A., Recreation Administration, '74) was recently
honored at the 14th annual Valley Group Awards for Excellence with
the Excellence in Regional Recreation award. Goepp (in photo on
far left, next to former Governor Pete Wilson) is the general manager
of Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District in Southern California.
He served as the director of Parks and Recreation for the City of
Suisun for eight years before accepting the position with Valley-Wide.
He and his wife, Pam, have three sons.
BURTON L. MOONEY (B.A., English, '74) has been
teaching in Polk County, Florida, for 25 years. Mooney received
his master's degree in education in 1981 from Rollins College in
Winter Park, Florida. He is the owner and operator of Writer's Helper
and resides in Lakeland, Florida.
VANITA WALTERS ULCH (B.A., Art, '75; M.A., Art,
'77; Credential, '97) has been teaching for the past six years at
Juniper Academy in Redding, California. Previously, she taught visual
art at various schools in the Redding School District for five years.
She and her husband, Steven, have one daughter.
MICHAEL E. BOITANO (B.S., Agriculture, '76) has
been appointed to the board of directors, 26th District Agricultural
Association by Governor Gray Davis. Boitano has been a member of
the Amador County Fair board for the past seven years, and is the
Amador County agricultural commissioner and sealer of weights and
measures. He resides in Jackson, California.
EDWARD (TOM) BUTLER (B.S., Business Administration,
'79) is the regional sales manager for iSoft Corporation in El Dorado
Hills, California. Butler resides in Rescue, California.
1980s
BECKY TORGRIMSON (B.S., Agriculture, '80) spent
15 years as a substitute teacher and volleyball coach at Burney
High School before accepting a position at Burney Elementary School,
where she has taught for the past eight years. She and her husband,
Rocky, have two children.
MARC SHELBY (B.A., Liberal Studies, '80; Credential,
'82) has been an elementary school teacher for the past 22 years.
Shelby taught for six years at Mistletoe Elementary School, seven
years at Rother Elementary School, and, for the past nine years,
at Boulder Creek Elementary School in Redding, California. He and
his wife, Marcie, have four grown children.
ROSE MARY BORUNDA (B.A., Music and Tourism, '81)
received her doctorate in international and multicultural education
from the University of San Francisco. Borunda worked as an executive
director of the Child Assault Prevention of Contra Costa County,
program director for Public Health Services of Contra Costa County,
a junior high school counselor, and a grant proposal writer before
accepting a position with CSU, Sacramento as an assistant professor
in counselor education.
GORDON D. YATES (B.S., Business Administration,
'81) teaches at Metteer Elementary School in Red Bluff, California.
Yates retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in February 2001 with the
rank of major. He and his wife, Carolyn, have been married for 23
years, have seven children, and live in Red Bluff.
ROBERT WALTER (B.S., Business Administration,
'82) is the Sacramento division president of Morrison Homes, a position
he has held since 1994. Walter and his wife, Joanie, and their three
children reside in Folsom, California.
REBECCA CALL (B.A., Liberal Studies, '83; M.A.,
Education, '86) taught for 16 years at Grace Baptist Schools and
three years at Cole Christian High School in Boise, Idaho, before
accepting a position teaching first and second grade at the Redding
School of the Arts three years ago. She and her husband, Alan, have
three grown children.
LAURIE ST. GEAN (B.A., Social Science, '83) is
the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the
Sierra Sands Unified School District office. St. Gean taught social
studies at a middle school in East Los Angeles for 10 years, served
as principal at Rosamond High School for three years, and was senior
director of assessments and accountability for Compton Unified School
District in Compton, California.
JOE MILAM (B.S., Business Administration, '84)
is the owner and president of Legacy Capital Management in Roseville,
California. Milam resides in Granite Bay with his wife, Valerie,
and their three children.
 JILL
BLOCK (B.S., Business Administration, '85) is the owner
and vice president of Western Beat Entertainment, a company she
owns with her husband, Billy. Block (in photo at right) recently
released her second CD titled Tang the Hump. The couple
resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
TAMARA ZAHNOW (B.A., Psychology, '86) is the
manager of Wells Fargo Community Banking stores in Central Point
and Medford, Oregon. Zahnow has been employed by Wells Fargo since
1988, and was selected as one of their top team members for sales
and service in 2000.
MARTINE JOHNSON (Credential, '87) has been teaching
junior high and high school for 33 years. Currently, she teaches
at Buckeye Middle School in Redding, California. She and her husband,
Verlin, have four grown children.
DEBRA KECK (B.S., Business Administration, '87)
is the office manager for the Office of Medical Education at the
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, and has been with
the university for nearly seven years. Keck is pursuing her master's
degree in educational leadership for higher education at the University
of Nevada, Reno. She and her husband, Will, live in Reno with their
two teenage sons.
ROB MEDEIROS (B.S., Business Administration,
'87) is the chief operating officer of The Sands Regent, a public
company that owns and operates The Sands Regency Hotel Casino and
Gold Ranch Casino and RV Resort in Reno, Nevada. Medeiros and his
wife, KaCe, have three children.
JOHN D. O'NEILL (B.S., Industrial Technology,
'87) is a human resources manager for the human resources department
at CSU, Chico. O'Neill is pursuing his master's degree in public
administration at CSU, Chico. He and his wife, Dolores, reside in
Chico.
APRIL G. STEPHENSON (B.S., Business Administration,
'87) is the director of field detachment for the Defense Contract
Audit Agency (DCAA). Stephenson has been employed by the DCAA for
more than 15 years. She received her master's degree in administration
from Central Michigan University. She resides in Ashburn, Virginia.
TODD GIBSON (B.A., Music, '89) is an information
technologies expert and is pursuing a master's degree in computer
science from the University of Colorado at Denver, where he has
been teaching courses in computer science since 1994. His wife,
JOANNA DUNLAP (M.B.A., '90), is an assistant professor
of information and learning technologies at the University of Colorado
at Denver. They live in Littleton and had their first child in August.
1990s
PATTY BYRNE (B.A., Journalism, '91) spent 12
years as a public relations consultant for several high-tech companies
in the Bay Area before accepting a teaching position at Colfax Elementary
School in Colfax, California. Byrne teaches social studies, science,
and physical education to seventh graders.
 LAURIE
COOK (B.A., Information and Communication Studies, '91)
and her husband, JOE PRAX (B.S., Business Administration,
'95), recently won the National Association of Broadcasters Crystal
Radio Award for outstanding community service (see photo at right).
The couple bought KVAK Radio in Valdez, Alaska, seven years ago.
She is the general manager of the radio station, and he owns and
manages Prospector Sporting Goods in Valdez and Fairbanks, Alaska.
PETER ROMERO (B.S., Business Administration,
'91) received his M.B.A. from Golden Gate University in 1996, and
worked at UC San Francisco as a program coordinator before accepting
a position with Health Systems Design as a senior business consultant
in 1997. Romero lives in San Francisco with his partner, Paul, and
dog, Cody.
DANNETTE M. CARA (B.S., Business Administration,
'92) is the controller of New Heights Construction, Inc., in Vancouver,
Washington. Cara volunteers her time giving free financial planning
advice and seminars and teaching budgeting techniques throughout
the Pacific Northwest.
JOE COSTAMAGNA (B.A., Journalism, '92) is the
assistant vice president for Hilb, Rogal and Hamilton, the seventh-largest
insurance intermediary in the nation. Costamagna resides in Santa
Rosa, California, with his wife, Lisa, and sons, Anthony and Nicholas.
He can be reached at joe.costamagna@hrh.com.
SHARYL L. MARSHALL (B.A., History, '92) is currently
pursuing a master's degree in divinity from Princeton University.
She resides in Princeton, New Jersey.
PATRICIA CULLINAN (B.A., English, '93; M.A.,
English, '97) taught composition classes at Butte Community College
and Yuba College as a graduate student. Cullinan is an English professor
at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada. She has a
grown son, Adam.
MYRNA PAPAC (Credential, '93) has taught biology
and medical careers classes at Shasta High School in Redding, California,
for the past 10 years. She and her husband, Tom, have two children,
Jennifer and Anthony.
STEPHANIE WARD (B.A., Information and Communication
Studies, '93) worked as art director for Robert Goldberg and Associates
in Oakland, California, before accepting the position of art director
of the Stanley Concern, a marketing and consulting firm based in
Modesto.
SCOTT A. DYER (B.A., International Relations,
'94) is a captain in the Marine Corps Reserve's Company “A,”
8th Tank Battalion, based in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Dyer's unit was
deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
REBECCA HALE (B.A., Art, '94) is an aerobics
instructor in Antelope, California. She and her husband, ERIK
READ (B.S., Agricultural Business, '96), are awaiting the
birth of their second child.
AUDRA (ROBERTS) RODRIGUE (B.A., Psychology, '94)
spent nine years working for Microsoft in Seattle, Washington, before
accepting a position as a legal manager for a software company in
Colorado. Her husband, Craig, is an academic recruiter for the University
of Denver. They live in Englewood, Colorado.
MICHELLE A. SLOAN (B.A., Sociology, '95) has
been teaching mathematics for Liberty Union High School District
in Brentwood, California, for the past 10 years. Sloan lives in
Antioch, California, with her 10-year-old daughter, Taylor.
DARREN BECK (B.A., History, '97) is the school
readiness program manager for the Family Action Center at Arbuckle
Elementary School in Colusa County, California. After graduation,
Beck lived in southern Chile before returning to Northern California.
ROLAND L. BENNETT (B.A., Political Science, '98)
graduated from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida, with his
juris doctor. Bennett is an attorney in Corning, California, where
he resides with his wife, Martha, and three children.
 CLAUDIA
(QUEZADA) MENDEZ (B.A., International Relations, '98) is
the relations with schools office coordinator for Diablo Valley
College in Pleasant Hill, California. Recently, Mendez was honored
as one of East Bay Business Times' most promising individuals
under 40. She has served as chair of the Latino and Native American
Employee Association at the Berkeley National Laboratory, and is
currently a member of the education task force for the Monument
Community Partnership.
DAVID M. ALVORD (B.A., Public Administration,
'99) has been working in the Modoc County/City of Alturas Planning
Department since March 2001. Currently he is assistant planning
director — long range planning. Alvord also has begun writing
a series of children's fantasy-adventure books.
JENNY DAVENPORT BROOKS (B.A., Journalism, '99)
worked as an account executive with HMA Public Relations in Phoenix,
Arizona, before accepting her current position as a communications
specialist in the public relations department of Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Arizona. Brooks is also vice president of special events
on the board for the International Association of Business Communicators.
She resides in Phoenix.
2000s
RICHARD BIGBY (Credential, '00) is the superintendent
and principal of Allensworth Elementary School and principal of
Allensworth Charter High School in Earlimart, California. Bigby
is currently pursuing his master's degree in education from CSU,
Chico. He and his wife, Deby, have three daughters.
SHERRY R. ELLBERG (M.S., Botany, '01) is pursuing
a Ph.D. in biological sciences at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
She was recently initiated into Sigma Xi as an associate member.
Ellberg lives in Columbia, Missouri.
ERIC SCHNEIDER (B.S., Civil Engineering, '01)
worked for Shasta Cascade Forest Industries and Caltrans before
accepting a position with CHEC Consultants, Inc., a civil engineering
firm located in Redding, California.
ANTONIO A. ARAGUZ (B.S., Business Management,
'02) is an administrative assistant at the University of Texas at
Austin in the College of Communication. He resides in Austin, Texas,
with his fiancée, Kathryn.
Marriages/Anniversaries
JIM LEDGERWOOD (M.B.A., '74) married Wendy Coggins
July 14, 2002, at Butte Creek Country Club. He is a self-employed
builder, and she is a self-employed tax accountant. They reside
in Chico.
BARBARA APPLEGATE (Credential, '81; M.A., Psychology,
'82) married Ty Kittle Feb. 16, 2003, in Chico. She is a counselor
for Chico Unified School District, and he is a retired U.S. Postal
Service employee, currently enrolled in the alcohol and drug studies
program at Butte Community College. They live in Chico.
ROB WEBER (B.S., Recreation Administration, '82)
and LYNDA WEBER (B.S., Recreation Administration,
'82) celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Aug. 27, 2002. They
are both employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Sierra
Nevada Medical Center in Reno, Nevada, where they live.
BILLY BACIGALUPI (B.S., Business Administration,
'91) and TAMMY PANG (B.S., Nursing, '95) celebrated
their third wedding anniversary in March. She is an endocrine nurse
for John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek, California, and he is employed
as a transportation lead for Apria Healthcare in Fairfield. They
reside in Concord.
MICHELLE (OSWALT) HEIDINGER (B.A., Liberal Studies,
'92) married Thomas Robert Heidinger July 27, 2002. She is a teacher,
and he is a landscaper. They live in Chico.
ANNETTE (HUNTER) KIRALY (B.S., Physical Education,
'92) married Matthew Kiraly Sept. 7, 2002, in Chico. She is an occupational
therapist at Enloe Medical Center, and he is a project manager for
Fashion Optical Displays and owns MK Fine Wood Products. They reside
in Paradise.
ROBERT WIECHERT (B.S., Business Administration,
'92) married ANGELA DAVIS (B.S., Business Administration,
'96) Aug. 17, 2002, in Willows, California. He works for Western
Canal Water District, and she is an accountant for Victor Treatment
Centers. They live in Chico.
ANGELA (SHELTON) HESSE (B.A., International Relations,
'93) married Douglas Hesse Sept. 14, 2002. She is a teacher at Fairview
High School in Chico, and he is an English instructor at Shasta
College in Redding, California. They live in Chico.
JOHN CHAMPION THOMPSON (B.A, Business Administration,
'93) married Tory Valentine Nov. 2, 2002, in Hopland, California.
He is the regional territory manager for a major bicycle manufacturer,
and she is in charge of marketing and retail operations for Valentine
Vineyards. They live in Mill Valley.
WILL WILBUR (B.A., Physical Education, '96) married
Erika Betz Sept. 6, 2002. He is a physical therapist at Marianjoy
Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, Illinois, and she is a physical
therapist at Harrington Orthopedic Specialists. They live in Hanover
Park, Illinois.
KRISTIN (WRIGHT) GRUNEISEN (B.S., Dietetics,
'96; M.S., Nutrition Science, '99) married MATTHEW GRUNEISEN
(B.A., Social Science, '99) Nov. 16, 2002, at Butte Creek Country
Club. She is a registered dietician with OPT for Fit Kids, and he
works for Firstline, Inc. They live in Chico.
DEBBIE (GIUSTI) BEDYNEK (B.S., Nursing, '97)
married Dr. Gregory Bedynek July 14, 2002, at Canyon Oaks Country
Club. She works at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois,
and he works at Central Illinois Neuro Health Sciences in Bloomington,
Illinois.
BRAD HELLENTHAL (B.A., Physical Education, '98)
married KIRSTI RADKE (M.A., Physical Education,
'99) Aug. 3, 2002, in Woodland, California. He is a self-employed
logger, and she works at Prairie Elementary School in Roseburg,
Oregon, where they live.
AMBER (KINZLER) SCILIGO (B.A., Liberal Studies,
'98) married Joseph Sciligo July 13, 2002. She teaches for Yuba
City Unified School District, and he owns Blasting Impressions,
an engraving shop. They live in Chico.
AMANDA (OLIO) URQUHART (B.A., Journalism, '98)
married JEFF URQUHART (B.A., Journalism, '98) Sept.
28, 2002, in Chico. She is manager of marketing and communications
for O'Connor Hospital in San Jose, California, and he is a senior
client executive for Voce Communications in Palo Alto. The couple
resides in Campbell.
KATIE (BISAGA) MORO (B.A., Liberal Studies, '99)
married Edgaar Garcia Moro July 13, 2002, in Ensenada, Mexico. He
is a pre-med student, and she works for San Ysidro School District
in Tijuana, Mexico, where they live.
LINDSEY (CRANE) HATCH (B.S., Business Administration,
'99) married MATTHEW HATCH (B.S., Business Administration,
'99) Aug. 30, 2002, in the Berkeley Rose Gardens. She is employed
by Target/Mervyns, and he works for Ernst and Young. They live in
Oakland, California.
LEANNE (MOLLESON) HINTON (B.S., Microbiology,
'99) married GREGORY HINTON (B.S., Microbiology,
'00) Sept. 29, 2002, in Orland, California. She works for Monarch
Laboratory in Chico, and he is employed by the Glenn County Department
of Agriculture. The couple resides in Orland.
RICHARD VAN GILDER (B.S., Biology, '99) married
HEATHER MOURAL (B.A., Liberal Studies, '01) Nov. 9, 2002,
in Durham, California. He is a science teacher at Yuba City High
School, and she teaches fifth grade at Kynock Elementary School
in Marysville.
CHARLENE (ELLCESSOR) ARMITAGE (B.A., Liberal
Studies '00) married CHRISTOPHER ARMITAGE (B.S.,
Construction Management, '02) July 20, 2002. She is a graduation
coordinator for evaluations at CSU, Chico, and he is a project manager
for TINK, Inc., in Durham, California.
STEPHANIE (DIEST) HILDENBRAND (B.A., Physical
Education, '00) married Tim Hildenbrand Sept. 1, 2002, in Chico.
They both work as claims adjusters for Allstate Insurance and reside
in Rocklin, California.
MIKE MIDKIFF (B.S., Business Administration,
'00) married DeDe Bishop Jan. 1 in Paradise, California. He is pursuing
his master's degree from the University of Phoenix and is an information
systems coordinator for Lassen County, where she is also employed.
MONICA (LOPEZ) PALMER (B.A., Psychology, '00)
married James Palmer July 13, 2002, in Chico. She is pursuing a
master's degree at CSU, Chico, and he is the branch manager of Quest
Health Care in Chico.
COLIN BRUCE (B.A., Communication Design, '01)
married MEGAN BUTCHART (B.A., Liberal Studies,
'01) Aug. 31 in Chico. He is in the U.S. Army, and she is a kindergarten
teacher.
ANGELA FALES (B.S., Business Administration,
'01) married Sean Haggerty Aug. 3, 2002. She is an engineering technician
specialist at Micron Technology, Inc., in Boise, Idaho, where he
is also employed. They live in Boise.
CHRIS HANDLEY (B.S., Construction Management,
'01) married Kristine Bauman July 5, 2002, in Chico. She is a project
engineer for Modern Building, Inc., of Chico, and he is a project
engineer for Tullis and Heller, Inc., in Redding, California. They
reside in Chico.
JESSICA (HENTHORN) EGGEN (B.A., Communication
Studies, '01) married BRADLEY EGGEN (B.S., Business
Administration, '02) July 27, 2002, in Chico. She currently works
for Grace Community Church in Chico, and he is employed by the United
Parcel Service. They live in Chico.
DWIGHT BRANCO (B.S., Business Administration,
'02) married Marisa Ramirez July 27, 2002, in Chico. He is employed
by Spectra Physics.
AARON COLBURN (B.A., Liberal Studies, '02) married
NICOLE RICHINS (B.A., Liberal Studies, '02) July
13, 2002, in Chico. He is employed by 7-Up/RC of Chico, and they
are both pursuing teaching credentials from CSU, Chico.
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