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

JACK C. BLOEDORN ’55 of Terry, Mississippi, died April 10, 2020. At Ripon, he majored in mathematics and economics and participated in athletics, Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman) and Phi Beta Kappa. He received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. in management from Northwestern University. He served as regional finance officer for the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Totten, Long Island, New York; systems analyst for Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, New York; and administrative manager for Booz Allen & Hamilton in Chicago, Illinois. He also founded and was president/CEO of Management Systems Corp., a consulting company. He taught management at the University of Wisconsin, DePaul University, Northwestern University, Mississippi State University and Jackson State University; and wrote the book Designing Social Service Systems. Survivors include his wife, Judy Maxey Bloedorn; and two sons.

Full obituary: https://www.stringerfuneral.com/obituaries/Jack-Bloedorn/#!/Obituary

JAMES M. HINTZ ’72 of Salem, South Carolina, died Sept. 28, 2023. At Ripon, he majored in psychology and participated in athletics and Sigma Nu/Theta Sigma Tau. He had been a mechanical engineer at the Science and Arts Academy. He was an avid golfer and an accomplished guitarist.

Full obituary: https://wgog.com/james-murray-jim-hintz/

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

Happy Fall Class of 1996!

WOW – it is fall already. 2024 is right around the corner, which means most of us are hitting our milestone 50th birthday. Honestly, where did that time go? Because I sure don’t know! I do hope that everyone had a great summer filled with barbecues, picnics, beach time, and travels. I can tell you that I had another great summer keeping busy with personal and work trips throughout North America, getting some beach time here in New Jersey, and all while still plugging away with work.

As always, I want to thank all of you again for those who have supported Ripon College this past fiscal year, especially those who supported the Ripon Fund, as well as Ripon Rally Days. Even though it is not our reunion year, these donations are so integral for the college to sustain. If you have not done so already, I urge you to please do so.

Ripon College formally launched 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 ripon.edu/forever-ripon/ for more information.

CLASSMATE UPDATE

AMY TINCHER-DURIK ’96: “My husband, Jake, and I love to travel, so as soon as we were able to freely travel again, we hit the road! Our 2022 trips included: Boston (where we went to a Brewers game with KYRSTEN KOEBACH ’96 and her wife, who hosted us for a long weekend!), and a cruise along the California coast (so happy we were able to meet ELKE SPORSEEN BETONTE ’96 and her daughter for dinner!). We also spent two weeks in Vietnam to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We started 2023 with a cruise around South America and are planning our next adventures.”

Have a great next couple of months and hopefully winter won’t be too cold/snowy/gross. I will touch base with you in the spring (hopefully with a lot more photos from the next couple of months)!

Regards,

Jason ’96
201.747.7719

Submitted by: Jason Wood

JEFFREY M. KJOS ’83 of Madison, Wisconsin, died June 4, 2021. At Ripon, he participated in basketball. He also studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Northern Arizona in Flagstaff before he earned his bachelor’s degree in geology and geophysics from UW-Madison. He also earned a certificate in environmental studies. He was an independent travelling painter. He enjoyed the outdoors, nature and wilderness, hiking, fishing, playing disc golf, kayaking, cross-country skiing, crossword puzzles, Scrabble and gardening, keeping the same community garden plot for more than 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Sara Andrea Arscott; and one son.

Full obituary: https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/28673371/jeffrey-mark-kjos

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement

CHARLOTTE SALVERSON EWALD ’48 of Fitchburg, Wisconsin, died Sept. 22, 2023. At Ripon, she majored in history and was a founder of Alpha Delta Pi/Pi Tau Pi. She received a master’s degree in library science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She taught at St. John’s, a military boarding school in Delafield, Wisconsin, and the Orthopedic School at the University of Wisconsin Hospital. She also served as an assistant librarian at Frank Allis Elementary School and then head librarian at Ray F. Sennett Middle School in Madison. She also served on the Book Selection Committee for the Madison school system. She enjoyed Elderhostel courses, traveling, crossword puzzles baking, antiquing and being active in numerous activities in her church. Survivors include two daughters.

Full obituary: https://www.gundersonfh.com/obituaries/Charlotte-Jean-Ewald?obId=29321201

Submitted by: Office of Constituent Engagement