R Connections

Happy Fall, everyone!

It’s been a very busy summer, and I can’t believe I am already writing our Fall Class Letter. ANDY MACLEOD ’76 and I have been on the go since spring with a number of road trips and another riverboat trip on the Mississippi. We also took a trip to Starved Rock to see the spring waterfalls, and we have another booked for next month, which will include a boat trip on the Illinois River. We’re hoping to catch some of the fall colors along the river and bluffs.

Now the excitement continues as I begin to plan our 50th Reunion – can you believe it’s almost here? It will be held, as always, during Alumni Weekend, June 20-23, 2024. (Yes, DO mark your calendar!) Classmates CHRIS OVERLY WALLACE ’74, JANE RUNKEL FREDERICK ’74, LYNN GRIFFIN ’75, GEORGE BOOTHBY ’74, and SCOTT DICKS ’74 joined me on our first Zoom planning call, along with AMY GABRIEL GERRETSEN ’04 of the Alumni Office last week, and we began sketching out what our grand celebration will look like. We would love to have more of you join us, as “many hands make light work”, and will ensure our celebration is a reflection of all of us.

Specifically, we would like to have a few folks help gather photos and memories for a memory book, which will then be put together for us by the Alumni Office. We’d also appreciate a few folks to help plan our Sunday morning memorial service. This involves suggesting music and readings for the service, and anything else you deem appropriate. This can be decided in the spring, but starting now gives plenty of time for consideration.

Last, but not least, we would welcome anyone who could assist with organizing our class gift. This is a very important component of our celebration, especially in light of the ongoing Forever Ripon campaign.

The Forever Ripon campaign is a $75 million effort to expand access through student affordability and innovative programs, enhance our facilities and strengthen our institution through the Ripon Fund. This campaign will prepare Ripon for the celebration of our 175th anniversary in 2026, adapt to an evolving higher education landscape and ensure a Ripon College degree is relevant for generations to come. To date the College has raised over $61 Million.

Our class is perfectly positioned to take a leadership role for all other alumni groups, as the newest Golden R class of alumni. And as always, any gift, no matter the size, is important to the future of our Alma Mater.

CLASS NEWS

PATRICIA CHANDLER MAYER ’74 took some time out recently for knee replacement surgery. It went well, and I can report she is back in the pool and back to living her best life. Bring some of that energy along with your winning smile to the reunion next summer, Tricia!

I know lots of us have been downsizing and clearing out our old “stuff” – for me, it’s an ongoing process- so I would ask that you set aside any Ripon photos and memorabilia you come across. Your photos, along with photos of your treasured memorabilia will be priceless additions to our memory book!

JANE RUNKEL FREDERICK ’74 has been cleaning out her attic and much of her lovely home in preparation for redecorating and window replacement. Daughter Sarah, and her boyfriend Kyle, spent a week or so lending a hand. But the BIG NEWS is – Kyle proposed, Sarah said yes, and now JANE will be helping them plan their wedding! No details yet, but stay tuned. And of course, all the best to the happy couple.

KIM KOBRIGER ’74 writes that he just returned from an Alaskan cruise, and he says you can’t believe the beauty of Alaska unless you see it for yourself.

CHRIS OVERLY WALLACE ’74 says she is going on an Alaskan cruise next year, so I am hoping to hear more about glaciers and polar bears in the future – and maybe some pictures!

I am very sad to report we lost our classmate, DENNIS PORDON ’74 on July 10, 2023. DENNIS worked for more than 40 years in investment banking. He was also a man of deep and abiding faith, and was an active and devoted member of his church for over 30 years. You may recall that DENNIS was preceded in death by his wife, JEAN UETZMANN PORDON ’77, in 2017. They are survived by one son and one daughter, as well as JEAN’s sister and our classmate, JOAN UETZMANN LEROY ’74. Our sincere condolences go out to the entire family and all their friends.

Finally, a note about reunion housing. On-campus housing will be available and I understand there are now houses you can rent in Ripon if you have a large group. Blocks of rooms are being set aside at The Heidel House and Cobblestone Suites, and if you really want a walk down memory lane, the old Davis Hotel on Watson Street has been completely remodeled and is now called the Mapes Hotel.

Room Blocks:

• Mapes Hotel (Ripon) – Book online at mapeshotel.com (access code: riponcollege101)
• Heidel House (Green Lake) – Book online at choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/NH19X9
• Cobblestone Suites (Ripon) – Book by calling 920.748.5500

 Meanwhile, please reach out to your Ripon friends and urge them to meet you on campus for Alumni Weekend next June. It promises to be a wonderful experience where we can share our family news (and grandchildren photos), reminisce, and just bask in the warmth of old friendships. You will be hearing a lot from me and the Alumni Office in the coming months so be sure we have your current contact information. You don’t want to miss any of it! I truly look forward to seeing you all.

Be well and happy,

Jan ’74

P.S. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any of the reunion command at the Alumni Office with questions or suggestions. Better yet-join us! Just like the Reunion: the more, the merrier!

Submitted by: Jan Petrovski MacLeod

Hello Classmates:

We hope the fall of 2023 finds you all well!

One of the earlier memories for Ripon freshman in 1972 was attending their first college football game in town at Ingalls Field – proud home of the Ripon Tigers and shared with Ripon College. The field was built in 1888 and pretty much looked it. Within the month, Ingalls will be home to the Ripon Red Hawks no more. Thanks to a generous gift from STEVE HOPP ’83, Hopp Stadium is set to open during Family Weekend on September 30, but a grand opening celebration will be held October 21. The $8 million project is being built on the former lower Sadoff field and will host Ripon football and soccer games for many years to come. The stadium is across Union Street from the Willmore Center and has seating for 2,000, as well as appropriate locker and concession facilities.

Meanwhile….work on the Franzen Science Center continues, funded with much help from MARK FRANZEN ’83 and JANICE HEINZ FRANZEN ’83, the $25 million project will give Ripon state of the art facilities for the sciences. It is scheduled to open in 2024.

CLASS UPDATES

The news from fellow classmates is about what one might expect from a class approaching its 50th Reunion. It is set to happen June 2026, dates to be released soon. Retirements, grandchildren and reminiscences rule the day.

In their own words:
JEAN JANES ’76: “I’ve left Chicago after 23 years and moved to Appleton, WI. Not quite retired yet; I’ll continue working remotely for JLL with occasional trips back to the HQ in Chicago.”

BETSY CARLSON KRIZENESKY ’76: “There will probably be a lot of retirement announcements this year. I just retired from 24 years of teaching Russian at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and am very much looking forward to a trip this fall to the Republic of Georgia, a country where Russian is widely spoken despite being wildly different from Georgian. Dr John Radomsky was my beacon and his daughter, Roxie, is still a close friend of mine.”

PEGGY ZAREK ODDO ’76: “Hello, I am 68 years old, single, living in a lovely golf community in Prospect Heights, Illinois. I have two awesome kids, Anthony (38) and Monica (34). Anthony lives and works in Bainbridge Island off the coast of Seattle, Washington, and Monica is a trauma ICU nurse in Jacksonville, Florida. Her husband, Sean, recently obtained a position with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive coach. My mom is 100 years old and lives alone, but has wonderful caretakers that come and go (and of course me and my siblings do that as well). I teach dance strength, yoga, tap and I have my own personal training business. I play piano for the seniors at various nursing homes in the area. I travel when I can, especially to see the kids. I am living in a suburb of the greater Chicago area and there’s lots to do: Cubs games, Ravinia, outdoor music festivals. Plus, I do keep in touch with my sorority sisters from Alpha Delta Pi. I think I’ve written enough. I hope this will all fit in the space allotted.”

HUGH WHIPPLE ’76 and MARGARET WIFF WHIPPLE ’76: “We’re very boring. Nothing new to talk about that would be worth being on your report. Will hopefully see STEVE BINKLEY ’76 at The Concours d’ Elegance on August 27th. Looking forward to our 50th if we live that long. A surprise is in order which we’ll let everyone know at The Golden R Dinner. Meanwhile stay safe and well.”

MICHAEL VERKUILEN ’76: “Great to hear from you. My news involves another grandchild (third) late last year, but my first granddaughter! She’s a beauty, too. Started this year with a two week Panama Canal cruise with some extended family. Quite the adventure, especially for it being my very first cruise. Looking forward to a September Walt Disney World trip with more family, including all three grandkids. My oldest son will be joining us from his home in Tokyo, too. Otherwise, enjoying good health and continued semi-retirement. Hope you are, as well.”

PETER TUZ ’76 made only one trip to Germany to visit daughter and grandchildren. “I am probably one of the few members of the class of 1976 to still be working. But when your job involves talking to interesting people and visiting mostly interesting places, why retire?” Hoping for another European trip before 2023 is out.

Michele ’76

Peter ’76

Submitted by: Peter Tuz and Michele Baran Wittler

Hello,

I’d like to start this note with a special thanks to CONNIE HERBON MOSER ’84, who has decided to step down as Class Agent following twelve years of service. CONNIE – thank you for all you have done as Class Agent – keeping in touch with our class, planning reunions and your continued work on the Ripon College Board of Trustees!

Next year marks a milestone anniversary for our Class of ’84. Please mark your calendars and start planning your trip back to Ripon, June 20-23 for our reunion weekend. There is something for everyone – music, a 5K, golf, a casual stroll through campus, shopping downtown Ripon, grabbing a beer at the Goose Blind and, most importantly, connecting with old friends.

If you are a regular or if you haven’t been to a reunion in a while, please consider making the trip. Late June in Wisconsin is lovely and there are a lot of positive changes on Campus that you may enjoy seeing – renovation and expansion of Farr Hall (now the Franzen Science Center), Hopp Stadium, and future renovations to the residence halls. You can learn more about this at ripon.edu/forever-ripon. I especially like that Ripon is starting an engineering program. If you haven’t been on campus in the last decade, you might enjoy seeing the changes to the Storzer Athletic Center (now the Willmore Center), Lane Library, and Harwood Memorial Union.

The town of Ripon has transformed in recent years. Many will remember when store fronts were empty. Today, downtown Ripon is thriving – The Fox Valley Glove Outlet is still there if you are in need of a pair of Minnetonka slippers, you can grab a delicious Grinder and a beer at the Roadhouse, or visit many shops and restaurants on the strip.

We are in the early stages of planning our class Reunion, we will keep it simple and casual. If you would like to help out with planning our small team would welcome any volunteers for planning, reaching out to classmates or simple moral support.

With that said, if you have any interest in joining me as a Class Agent, it would make me happy and may make these letters more interesting. Being a Class Agent involves staying in touch with classmates, an annual newsletter to the class, planning the reunion and communication with college alumni staff. (There has to be someone out there who has a gift for writing good letters!) Please contact me or the Office of Constituent Engagement, [email protected] or 920.748-8126, for more information.

Alumni Weekend 2024 is scheduled for June 20-23! More information about the event and activities occurring during Alumni Weekend will be available at alumni.ripon.edu in the upcoming months.

Room Blocks:

• Heidel House (Green Lake) – Book online at choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/NH19X9
• Cobblestone Suites (Ripon) – Book by calling 920.748.5500

See you in 2024!

Vicki ’84

Submitted by: Vicki Vicha Erickson

Dear Class of 1994,

Greetings from Cottage Grove! I don’t know if you’re in the same boat, but I’m in “Back To School” mode. I have seven days under my belt with a new crew of first graders, I’ve helped my high school sophomore get back into the swing of things, and settled my oldest into his freshman year at Milwaukee School of Engineering. With all of this going on, I procrastinated on getting our letter written! It’s due tomorrow as I type this to you. You might be thinking, “But you’re a teacher–you had ALL summer!” Yes, you are right! I had ALL summer and yet, here I sit.

COLLEGE NEWS

There are so many exciting things happening on campus right now. Highlights I spotted while browsing through today’s September Newsletter include the following:

• Hopp Stadium will have its grand opening on October 21st with a women’s soccer match against Monmouth College and football versus Lake Forest College. 

• Construction on the newly named Franzen Science Center (formerly Farr Hall) is underway.

• Ripon will now be offering an engineering program for students.

• In the summer of 2024, Ripon will begin to offer master’s degrees in exercise physiology.

• The Class of 2027 entered school this fall 195 strong and 15 transfer students joined the student body.

Class of ‘94, this is a big year for us! CARRIE ROCA-DAWSON ’94, KIMBERLY WOOLLEY ’94, ERIC ATKINSON ’94, and I just met to begin planning our 30th Reunion! We would love to have more of you join us in our efforts. If you don’t join us, CARRIE might plan a toga night for us. I don’t know about you, but I wish to leave those days behind me. Seriously, please join us!

We hope you’ll plan on returning to Ripon to reminisce and celebrate our 30th. Alumni Weekend is June 20-23, 2024. If you plan on attending, we recommend making your lodging reservations now.

The College has set up the following room blocks:

• Heidel House (Green Lake) – Book online at choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/NH19X9

• Cobblestone Suites (Ripon) – Book by calling 920.748.5500

Back in the day music played a major role in my college experience. Certain songs take me back to very specific memories. I often hear a song and know exactly what year it came out based on what year I was at Ripon. Those iconic early 90’s hits would be fun to incorporate into our celebration. Please be thinking about what you’d like to have on our “30th Reunion Playlist.” Send your suggestions to either KIMBERLY or myself.

Save the dates for Alumni Weekend now, friends, and we look forward to seeing you in 2024!

Best,

Lisa ‘94

Kimberly ’94

Submitted by: Lisa Sproston Sutter and Kimberly Woolley

Hello Everyone!

Can you believe that just over 15 years ago we were beginning our senior year at Ripon? How time flies! And, of course, this means that next summer will be our reunion! Alumni Weekend will take place next year from June 20-23, 2024. If you haven’t been to campus for a while, what more perfect time is there than for a reunion? We are busy planning a few different great events for us all, so make sure to watch for updates on our Class of 2009 Facebook Group (and through official college channels.

With that in mind, this year is also a perfect year to donate if you haven’t before (and continue if you do!). At Alumni Weekend, all reunion classes will present their yearly donations in front of the assembled alumni, and while it isn’t officially a competition, we definitely want to show the other classes just what the Class of 2009 is all about! We completely understand that all of us are in different places financially and career-wise and that some might not be in a position to give. That said, if you are in the place to give even a small amount, it all adds up to ensure further growth of the college and continued financial support for future students. All gifts made by us from July 1, 2023 through the Reunion will count towards our presented total. More information about the current college fundraising campaign can be found at ripon.edu/forever.

If you are someone that likes to plan early, remember that Ripon has limited hotels. That said, there are room blocks set at Heidel House (Under new management!) and Cobblestone Suites (call 920-748-5500 to reserve blocked rooms). Additionally, on-campus housing will be available with online Alumni Weekend registration starting April 1 and you can request to stay together with other members of the Class of 2009.

We are excited to celebrate our 15th Reunion next year with you all, and we really hope to see many of you on campus next June. Make sure to save the dates now! Below are a few updates we received for fall. We would love many, many more for spring leading into our reunion! Email us at [email protected] or [email protected] to share a bit of your life with our class.

JOSH LEGREVE ’09 had his recent presentation “Lenses of Culture: Addressing Culture in the Novice Classroom” named the ‘Best of Central States’ at the 2023 Central States Conference in Columbus, Ohio. He will be giving this presentation at the national world language teaching convention, ACTFL, in Chicago this November.

EMILY MEYER ’09 and her family moved to Wamego, Kansas at the end of last school year. After a very short time as a stay at home mom, Emily was hired as the Assistant Director for Apartment Living at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Lily started second grade and is exploring Scouts this year, and James is 4 and in his last year of preschool.

ELIZA CHERRY STEPHENSON ’09 and BRUCE STEPHENSON ’09: Bruce is starting a new job as a Senior Software Engineer for Cloud Systems at Blackbaud. Eliza is starting her fourth year at Ripon Middle School as a Clerical Aide and also coordinates field trips for elementary students on teacher in-service days. Their son, Ari, is in second grade and their daughter, Vivian, started kindergarten this year. The years are passing quickly!

KATIE KRUEGER KRAMER ’09 and JOSH KRAMER ’09 still live in Cedarburg and manage four Anytime Fitness locations in the area. They’re busy with their two kiddos – Cora (4.5) and Jeffrey (1.5). Their family enjoys going on adventures, being active outside, and doing volunteer work to raise awareness and support for the Down Syndrome community.

COLIN FREEMAN ’09 in a shocking update, reports that he is the quiet type. In other exciting news, Colin is now a homeowner!

ZAC MANS ’09 shares that he is going into his second year directing theater at Anoka High School. BRANDI GASPARD MANS ’10 is the staff Draper and Instructor for Costuming Technology at the University of Minnesota.

JOSH FREY ’09 and his wife, Katie, welcomed their daughter Charlotte (Class of 2045?) this spring. Josh currently works as the Deputy Director of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s (DTRA) Nuclear Science & Engineering Research Center at the US Military Academy at West Point, where he is the Program Manager for the DTRA’s Cadet Summer Internship Program. Next year, he will transition to the Academy Faculty as an Instructor within the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences.

Be well,

Josh ’09

Emily ’09

Submitted by: Josh LeGreve and Emily Meyer

Dear Class of ’98,

It was fantastic to see so many of you at our 25th Reunion this summer! I had a great time – though I did question my decision to stay in Bovay in the summer heat. The experience was… authentic. It had a great view of stadium construction on Lower Sadoff, though. The contrast of old and new really plucked my nostalgia strings. That, and Professor Hatcher’s retirement reception in West Hall. I spoke to students from recent classes about how much he influenced them, and it echoed my own experience, despite our classes being 20 years apart.

Another favorite was the class march and the State of the College address by President Folse (only partly because of ’98s unspoken but universal decision to peel away from the march and find seats in the shade instead, like cool kids beelining for the back of the bus).

I had the opportunity to hear President Folse speak previously, when Eric Tammes and I came up for her inauguration. At the time, I felt certain that the College’s future was in good hands, and that feeling was reinforced further during Alumni Weekend.

You may have heard about the Forever Ripon campaign – the largest philanthropic and engagement initiative in Ripon’s history. The goal of this $75 million campaign is to improve access and impact, and focuses on three funding priorities: endowment growth, facility enhancement, and the Ripon Fund. You can read more about it at ripon.edu/forever-ripon. I’m planning to give what I can, and encourage you to do the same.

I’ve saved the class updates for the end. There’s a sad one this time – I’m sorry to have to share that CHAD BUTTERFIELD ’98 from Buckeye, Arizona, passed away on May 18, 2023. If you have memories that you’d like to share in the next letter, please send them along.

KRISTIN DODDS ’98 is deployed again and the Senior Vice Commander for her VFV Post, so still organizing events with them.

SARAH ENG ’98 is about to celebrate her first anniversary of working at FundApps, and is still delighted to be there. She recently used a meeting technique that she learned at Ripon with her new team. (Any other Scott Hall RAs remember “peaks and valleys” with Clarke?)

SHANNON MCKINNEY-FREEMAN ’98 continues to direct a research lab focused on Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) Biology in the Department of Hematology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In April, she was awarded a new R01 grant from the NHLBI to study the effects of sickle cell disease on HSC function. This work has direct relevance to improving the safety of gene therapies for sickle cell disease. She was also promoted to Full Member (Full Professor-equivalent) at St. Jude in 2022. She continues to serve on the Executive Committee of the International Society for Experimental Hematology, where in 2024 she will serve as President. This Fall, she will submit a T32 training proposal to the NIH to fund a training program for postdoctoral fellows at St. Jude in benign pediatric Hematology. She is looking forward to visiting Ripon College again in October, where she will present a seminar and meet with students. While visiting, her daughter Mary, a High School senior, will enjoy a campus tour. Thus, Shannon is doing her part to encourage the next generation to consider Ripon College for their undergraduate studies.

LYNNE PHILLIPS ’98 writes, “It was great seeing many of you at Alumni Weekend! 25 years… Well, after all that time, I finally got my dream job. In April, I became the Curator of Hearthstone Historic House in Appleton, the first house in the world lit by a central hydroelectric plant. I spend my days researching, writing, working with interns (from Lawrence, but I like them anyway), and caring for the collections. I wandered the US for 22 years, but I’m back in my hometown and loving every minute! If you’re ever in Northeast WI, stop by and I’ll give you a tour!”

Thanks for reading, and keep the updates coming!

Sarah ’98

Submitted by: Sarah Eng

Memory Lane Reflection
It’s Been 43 Years Since Mount St. Helen’s Erupted
AND
The Ripon College Class of 1980 Graduated!

Greetings Fellow Classmates,

Please do not faint.

Yes…Here’s my Class Agent letter – Hope you are all doing well.  Welcome to 65 for those of you there and for those not quite there enjoy yet another life milestone.

News from Ripon College

Forever Ripon Campaign
Ripon College formally launches the Forever Ripon campaign, a $75 million effort to expand access through student affordability and innovative programs, enhance our facilities, and strengthen our institution through the Ripon Fund. This campaign will prepare Ripon for the celebration of our 175th anniversary in 2026, adapt to an evolving higher education landscape and ensure a Ripon College degree is relevant for generations to come. For more information check out the Ripon College website here.

Class Obits

NANCY J. SAFEBLADE ’80 of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, died June 23, 2023. At Ripon, she studied politics and government. She worked as a nanny in France, in a kibbutz in Israel and as a nurse’s aide for many years. She enjoyed reading, swimming, sailing, hiking and camping. Survivors include her mother, Evelyn Safeblade; and siblings, including DAVID E. SAFEBLADE ’81.

Class Notes

I’ll share some of the tidbits of information that I have received and am aware of.  

If you ever have any information, please just call me, text me or email me at [email protected] or [email protected].

BILL QUISTORF ’80: “Hi, Just a note for the alumni news. I was recently honored with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Medal. This was awarded in recognition of our Helicopter Rescue Team completing the most challenging rescue missions of my career. Strong winds and mountain turbulence nearly prevented the rescue of this young man who was trapped by a two ton boulder, high up in the Cascade mountains.”

KATHY GOODBOUT ’80, ROBERTA (BERT) KOHLHAGEN ’80, and PEGGY GERO DAVALT ’80 have continued to do their weekly Zoom meetings on Tuesday evenings, which started back in 2020. Anyone can join if they would like. Reach out to PEGGY, BERT, or KATHY for the Zoom link. They meet from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  One of the highlights of the evening is the “Long Wisconsin Good-bye.”

Please remember there is a Facebook Group Page for this Class – it’s under Ripon College (WI) Class of 1980 (facebook.com/groups/283209381878413).  

LISA HEIMLER ’80, KATHY GOODBOUT ’80, and PEGGY DAVALT ’80 met for dinner at a Wisconsin Supper Club known as Feil’s in Randolph, WI in April. It was so much fun!! Great food, friendship and a 50’ salad bar made it all fantastic!! (Right, Goodbout??)

KATHY GOODBOUT ’80 and LISA HEIMLER ’80 enjoyed a cruise to Portugal earlier this year. It was a beautiful cruise and their photos delightful. So relaxing for sure!!

This is older news from SUSAN ANGELL SCHMIDT ’80 and ANDREW SCHMIDT ’81: “First, our son, Alex, graduated from UW Madison’s School of Law. He is the fourth generation, fifth Schmidt to be an attorney. We are very proud of him.

Andrew and I also contributed to the first dog park for Wausau, Wisconsin. This summer we can finally take our dog, Topaz, for a run in our city’s new dog park.”

That’s a wrap!! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying life and living it fully!

From Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach, this incredible quote – 

“Gradually, as you become curator of your own contentment, you will learn to embrace the gentle yearnings of your heart.”

Celebrate everything,

Peggy ’80

Submitted by: Peggy Gero DaValt

Hey Class of 2013!

It’s been a decade since we left the cocoon of Ripon’s rolling hills, fields and lack of air conditioning.

In things that matter to you: it’s been just over two months since many of us gathered at Ripon to celebrate the occasion. Below is a photo of those who gathered.

Lauren ’13 Charlotte ’13

Submitted by: Lauren Ott Greene and Charlotte Lee Wahle

Greetings, Class of 2008!

We hope this letter finds you well! As this correspondence is being written, the newest Red Hawks are starting their first semester of college. The Class of 2027 (How strange is it to think this class will be graduating in 2027 when 2008 doesn’t seem that long ago!) is made up of 195 first year students and 15 transfer students. Two thirds of the students are from Wisconsin, but 19 other states are also represented including Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Taxas, Nevada, Utah, and others around the country. The Class of 2027 also includes a new Red Hawk from Pakistan and 17 legacy students. We wish these students luck as they begin their journey at Ripon College!

Thank you to everyone who attended the 15th Reunion held this summer. We hope you were able to connect with old friends, reminisce about our time spent at Ripon, and see the changes that have taken place on campus since we graduated. If you were unable to make it this summer, there are many alumni events happening at Ripon and in locations around the country that we hope you are able to attend. Additionally, it is never too early to begin preparing for our next reunion. If you have any ideas for our 20th Reunion taking place in the summer of 2028, let a Class Agent know!

We would also like to thank everyone who has donated to Ripon College over the past year. Your donations are crucial to providing a quality education for future Red Hawks for years to come. If you have not donated recently or if you are planning to donate in the future, we would like to inform you about an upcoming fundraising campaign. The college shares “Ripon College formally launches the Forever Ripon campaign, a $75 million effort to expand access through student affordability and innovative programs, enhance our facilities and strengthen our institution through the Ripon Fund. This campaign will prepare Ripon for the celebration of our 175th anniversary in 2026, adapt to an evolving higher education landscape and ensure a Ripon College degree is relevant for generations to come.”

Please see the Case Statement here for more information. Contact a Class Agent if you would like more details about this fundraising campaign.

As you finish reading, make sure to check out the class updates shared below. As always, if you have any updates you would like to share with the class, please contact your Class Agents listed above anytime throughout the year. You can also post your update on the Class of 2008 Facebook group. Updates can include births, adoptions, new jobs, new pets, continuing education, promotions, moves, run-ins with other Ripon Alums…. Your classmates want to hear what you are up to! Please let us know if you have any information to share. Starting with this letter, class letters will only be coming out in the fall (once a year instead of twice) so we want to be able to share as many updates as possible each time the letter is published!

Go Red Hawks!

CLASS UPDATES

ERIN OAKLEY KOLTES ’08 shared: “My husband, Mike, and I welcomed our second baby girl, Josephine Michael Koltes, on March 2, 2023. I also just celebrated my five-year work anniversary of being a worship director at Door Creek Church.”

JENNI MARCELL D’ACQUISTO ’08 shared: “I’ve moved back to Wisconsin and am working for the Eye Clinic of Wisconsin. Got married March 17, 2022 to Daniel D’Acquisto. I gained an amazing step son, Eli, and welcomed our daughter, Sophie, on May 14, 2022.”

ERIN MAGUIRE ’08 was recently promoted to Director of Social Services at Leo N. Levi Hospital, an inpatient adult psychiatric hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas. She also has obtained her Licensed Clinical Social Work certification to be able to counsel independently.

KEN LEIVISKA ’08 and ELIZABETH KUNDE LEIVISKA ’09 welcomed their second child, Vincent, into the world in February 2023. Big brother Mason is a happy helper. The family of four lives in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

DANA MOORE KIBBEL ’08 said: “My husband, Gerrad, and I live in Waupun with our three boys – Cooper (11), Easton (9), and Krew (3.5). We are involved in all things hockey and baseball. We have also become heavily involved in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and supporting their mission, as our two youngest boys live with cystic fibrosis. (If anyone has any further interest about the CFF or has any connections to the CF community, I’d love for you to reach out.)”

Leah ’08

Zac ’08

Submitted by: Leah Hover-Preiss and Zachary Schwandt

Greetings Class of ’04,

I found myself tackling the first draft of this letter on the anniversary of a day that we will never forget, 9/11. The professional procrastinator that I am, two days before my deadline was actually pretty darn good! But there I was, staring at a blank Google doc, a blinking cursor flashing at me with my mind impossibly glued to the memory of watching the second plane fly into the towers. At that moment, on the third floor of Brockway and just minutes after morning swim practice, I could never have guessed just how impactful the moment we were all witnessing would be in our lives.

The memories we have of our time at Ripon College, 9/11 and its aftermath included, will never leave us. Those years helped define who we are as adults, but they also defined our society in ways that our children will forever struggle to understand. (Try explaining to your kids the audacity of walking up to a gate at the airport without suffering through the TSA process!)

Now here we are, less than a year away from celebrating the 20^th anniversary of our graduation. At that fateful moment in 2001, graduation seemed like an impossibly insignificant idea. But it happened. And the rest of our lives have continued to unfold in front of us, the possibilities of that unfolding being broader than any of us could ever imagine. You might have a pretty good idea of how that has played out for some of your classmates. Or you might not have the slightest clue, as your life took you in a different direction from any of your Ripon ties. Regardless of where you find yourself on that spectrum of understanding, I challenge you to come back next June 20-23, 2024, to share your version of life. Believe it or not, like it or not, Ripon matters because of you and Ripon played a part in your mattering. Let’s celebrate that together next June.

If you are someone that likes to plan early, remember that Ripon has limited hotels. That said, there are room blocks set at Heidel House (under new management!) and Cobblestone Suites (call 920-748-5500 to reserve blocked rooms). Additionally, on-campus housing will be available with online Alumni Weekend registration starting April 1 and you can request to stay together with other members of the Class of 2004.

A special note of thanks for the few of you that have passed along updates. I’ll buy the first round next June as a thank you.

MICHAEL COLES ’04 works as the Director of Talent Acquisition at CFI and is in his tenth year of coaching travel softball (which keeps him from having a beer with NICK SPAETH ’04 even though they live 10 minutes from each other). His youngest daughter, Riann, is an 8^th grader and oldest daughter, Amiah, is a freshman at Iowa State University.

AMY GABRIEL GERRETSEN ’04 continues her role as Director of Constituent Engagement at Ripon College. She writes, “Annually, I get to work with reunion classes to plan successful celebrations. But it is always way more fun to work with Nick and other classmates to make our 20th Reunion a blast. If anyone is interested in helping make decisions about how Alumni Weekend 2024 will look, especially related to the Class of 2004, please contact me at [email protected].”

AMANDA PHILLIPS GROSS ’04 shares: “I am starting my sixth year as a special education teacher at Clintonville Elementary School and 11th year overall in education. I am working in kindergarten and 5th grade this year. I have not been in 5th grade since student teaching so this will be a learning experience! I have been lucky to have been working with alumni ANDREA KNORR JUSTMAN ’09 the past six years in kindergarten. My husband, Bob, and I have three great kids. Matthew and Peyton are starting 7th grade and Brenna is in 5th. It’s crazy how fast the time has gone!”

TAMMY JOHNSON ’04 shares: “I was recognized as an Outstanding Special Education Teacher from the National Association of Special Education Teachers and received a Meritorious Service Award from the Illinois State Board of Education. I’ve taken a new position this school year at Antioch Community High School as a Special Education teacher and JV girls’ volleyball and basketball coach. I am four classes and one dissertation away from my EdD. Our older boys earned their purple taekwondo belts and little Finnegan is starting 2yr old preschool this fall with my wife, Becky, as one of the lead teachers. The Johnson family is busy!”

SEBASTIAN MEADE ’04 shares: “So at this time I am running my own business, buttonspinzandthingz.com, making button pins and magnets, both designed by me along with custom work. Also making t-shirts, hats and other items being sold wholesale to local Maine businesses and out of a small market in Freeport ME. At the same time, I’ve been hard at work being a member of my local Grange helping it come back to life and getting ready to celebrate 150 years (2024), being one of the oldest non-profit community groups still active.”

KATIE PLIER BOISVERT ’04 is starting her 15th year teaching fourth grade at Jackson Elementary School in the West Bend School District.

ETTA HILLIGOSS SCHWIRTZ ’04 and TYLEY SCHWIRTZ ’04 share: “We are still living in Fort Collins with our three kids, a 12-year-old, 9-year-old and 7-year-old. We are very busy with our kids playing soccer, basketball and skiing. Tyler and I are both special education teachers. Tyler recently took a new position of special education coordinator for the Laramie County school district in Cheyenne Wyoming. I am still working for the early intervention program in Fort Collins. In our unheard-of free time, we enjoy camping, hiking and traveling as much as possible.”

MICHAEL TIMM ’04 shares: Through his role as Milwaukee Water Storyteller for the nonprofit Reflo, in partnership with the online publication Urban Milwaukee, and thanks to the generous support of the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Michael is excited to develop a suite of water-related environmental journalism in the style of National Geographic in 2023-2024. The contextual storytelling will be accompanied by compelling illustrations that promise to endure as engaging resources that support Great Lakes education for the next generation of Lake Michigan’s stewards. The hope is that attention to local water stories helps to elevate the profile of impactful water projects in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. For more info: [email protected].

Book a room in Ripon for next June. Do it.

Go Brewers.

Nick ’04

Submitted by: Nick Spaeth

AKIRA “AKI” TOMITA ’61 of Kawasaki Shi city, Japan, died Oct. 22, 2022. He received a degree in business administration from Greenville College. He worked for 10 years in the Tokyo office of Chemical Construction Corp, New York, as the general office manager. He then returned to his hometown near Kanazawa Shi city. He worked for one of the major local home builders until his retirement. He then worked part time building a resort facility on Guam, U.S.A. Survivors include his wife, Tomoko Tanaka Tomita; and two children.

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

PATRICIA SLOAN CLOGSTON ’68 of Asheville, North Carolina, died March 12, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in history and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She worked in the information technology department as a systems analyst at Cargill, a pioneering woman in a traditional man’s field. She and her husband lived in Brazil for four years where she was an independent consultant to automotive companies. After returning to the United States, she developed a product that generated code for a small firm, then worked for IDS (later American Express). She volunteered as a systems consultant with Habitat for Humanity in Minneapolis-St. Paul and Asheville. After retiring, she was an artist in pottery and torching glass. Survivors include her husband, Charlie Clogston.

Full obituary: morrisfamilycaregroup.com/obituaries/Patricia-Clogston/#!/Obituary

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

DOLORES “LAURIE” PAULSON of Ripon, Wisconsin, a former secretary in the Office of Admission, died April 6, 2023. She was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, had taught business education in Columbus, Wisconsin, and evening business classes for Moraine Park Technical College, and was a substitute teacher at Ripon Middle and High School for many years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. Survivors include her husband, Donald; two sons and one daughter.

Full obituary: https://www.riponpress.com/obituaries/dolores-laurie-marie-paulson/article_7dd2109c-d584-11ed-963b-13651e69d078.html

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

LORETTA HOUSE WEBSTER ’59 of Oneida, Wisconsin, died Aug. 1, 2023. At Ripon, she studied biology and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. She received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988. She grew up on the Oneida Indian Reservation. She served as vice chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and went on to work for the Oneida Nation as the attorney for the land office. She enjoyed creating and teaching raised beadwork, and reading. She was a founding member of the Woodland Indian Art Show and Market and advocated for Indian rights. Survivors include her husband, Stanley Webster; two sons and one daughter.

Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/loretta-webster-obituary?id=52609984

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

JOHN O. FRISVOLD ’53 of Naples, Florida, died Sept. 11, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics and philosophy, lettered in track and cross country, was editor-in-chief of College Days, was a member of Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman), and was commissioned through ROTC. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, and attained the rank of Captain. He served as a vice president at 3M, traveling the world and providing leadership. After retiring, he moved to Naples, Florida, and was involved with many social and philanthropic organizations. Survivors include his wife, Marti Frisvold; three sons and two daughters, including LYNN FRISVOLD WILLIAMS ’80; and a son-in-law, SETH WILLIAMS ’81. His first wife, ROSEMARY GOULET FRISVOLD ’53, died in 1978.

Full obituary: https://www.naplesnews.com/obituaries/ndn031935

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ALAN D. LONG ’69 of Green Bay, Wisconsin, died Aug. 7, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in biology and participated in athletics and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He taught at Annunciation Catholic School and then worked in commercial interior sales and management. He was active in athletics his whole life. At Ripon, he played a key role on two Midwest Conference Championship football teams as a running back. He set several school records, and his mark of the most rushing touchdowns in school history stood for 25 years. He was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. As an adult, he played AAA Fastpitch and golf. He loved the outdoors, trout fishing, and bird and deer hunting. Survivors include his wife, Kathy Long; and two children.

Full obituary: https://www.blaneyfuneralhome.com/obituary/alan-long

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

CHARLES H. BRINTLINGER ’53 of Lake Barrington, Illinois, died Sept. 27, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in athletics and Phi Delta Theta/Alpha Phi Omega. He earned a degree in civil engineering from Northwestern University. He spent three years in the Marine Corps, stationed in Las Vegas, Nevada. He worked as an engineer for Cook County, managing road construction; with IBM for 25 years as a systems engineer; and taught at IBM schools in New York, Florida, Texas, and California. He enjoyed running 10K and marathon races, biking, swimming, lifting weights, and spending winters in Marco Island and Naples, Florida. Survivors include his wife, Patricia; one son and two daughters; and several stepchildren.

Full obituary: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/charles-brintlinger-obituary?id=53296329

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ELAINE LOUISE PETERSON CODDINGTON LAMPORTE ’58 of Long Lake, New York, died Sept. 13, 2023. At Ripon, she studied English and art and participated in Alpha Xi Delta/Kappa Theta. For 22 years, she moved often with her first husband, FLOYD L. CODDINGTON ’56, who was in the military. They lived in Manassas, Virginia, for several years, then Long Lake, New York, since 1985. There, she assisted in running Coddington’s Boathouse marina and worked as a librarian at Long Lake Central School. Her first husband died in 1990 and she then remarried.

Full obituary: https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/obituaries/2023/10/elaine-l-lamporte/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

ROBERT C. PIETSCH ’58 of Monument, Colorado, died Oct. 24, 2021. At Ripon, he studied biology, participated in Lambda Delta Alpha/Delta Upsilon, and was commissioned through ROTC. He received a master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University. He served in the U.S. Army.

Full obituary: https://obituaries.neptunesociety.com/obituaries/arvada-co/robert-pietsch-10417157

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

FREDRIC E. ROEMING ’55 of Green Valley, Arizona, died in August 2023. At Ripon, he majored in economics and participated in music, athletics, Lambda Delta Alpha/Delta Upsilon and Red Hawks Club, and was commissioned through ROTC. He received his master of business administration degree from Indiana University Bloomington. He served in the U.S. Army for 29 years, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. After retiring, he lived in Monument, Colorado, for 20 years, then moved to Green Valley. He sang in choral groups his entire life and enjoyed the Green Bay Packers. Survivors include two children and eight grandchildren, including AUSTIN OLIVER ’14.

Full obituary: https://www.gvnews.com/obituaries/fredric-elmer-roeming-lt-col/article_a97c476e-57dc-11ee-a1ac-9fdb178b39a5.html

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement