Class Notes – Summer 2023

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1980s

Dave ’84 and Katie (Charland ’84) Torrey still live in Glen Burnie, Md., near four of their five grandchildren. Dave works as a senior engineer, and Katie is a fourth grade teacher at Lamb of God School. “Life is good!”

Stephen ’87 and Edith (Krupp’87) Bardzilowski recently celebrated 25 years together with a trip to Maui. Edith says, “While we were there, we met a wonderful priest who took the time to bless our marriage. God is so good. Stephen is working in the school system with elementary-aged children who have presented with challenges to their education, and I continue to work with critically ill newborns.”

Martina (Schmelzer ’87) Erste has been named director of the Steubenville Catholic Central Chesterton Academy. Martina says, “We have had a Chesterton Academy track for the four years of high school. I organize the events and communicate and help hire teachers for the academy. The students take math and science with the rest of the school, but they study theology, philosophy, history, Latin, and literature in the classical curriculum track and follow the curriculum by the Chesterton Academy Schools Network. We currently have 44 students taking this track.”

Gregory Yurick ’88 lost his wife, Andrea, May 25, 2022, following a 32-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She died at home with Greg by her side. Greg says, “She was an extraordinarily selfless mother and spouse. She was the volunteer director of the St. Charles Borromeo Parish Special Education Program.” They have two daughters, Michelle Catherine and Jessica Anne.

Mark ’89 and Cathy (Menk ’90 MA ’96) Ballard homeschool the last three of their six children. Cathy directs two bands in the homeschool community, including students and adults in the surrounding area. She also has a private practice as a mental health counselor. Mark works as a hospice and hospital chaplain. Their eldest, Julianna ’21, married John Veres ’19 at the beginning of 2022. Bethany will be graduating in 2023, Kolbe is in the Army Reserve and is in the ROTC at a school in Colorado, and Isaiah just got accepted to Franciscan. Cathy says, “Mark and I have a full life and are very grateful to Franciscan for the educational and spiritual formation we received.”

Mark ’96 and Cathy (Menk ’90 MA ’96) Ballard and their children, Julianna (Ballard ’21) Veres, son-in-law, John Veres ’19, current student, Bethany, Kolbe, Isaiah, Luke, and Micah.

Teresa (Martin ’89) Tidwell and her husband, Jeffrey, live in Oak Ridge, Tenn. They have four adult daughters, Emily, 28, Robyn, 24, Anna, 23, and Marigrace, 20. Jeff is a worker’s compensation case manager, and Teresa works with the Legion of Mary at their parish and is discerning to become a Secular Franciscan. Friends can reach her at [email protected].

1990s

Denise Fagan ’91 sends a “hello” from sunny Florida to all her fellow 1991 MA counseling classmates. She wonders where all of you are and how you are doing 21 years after graduation. Email her at [email protected].

Dr. Christine Mugridge MA ’91 is a newly published contributing author of Speaking the Truth in Love, published by Emmaus Academic, and has worked at Franciscan University since 2017.

Andrew ’98 and Julie (Manahan ’98) Klusman say, “We’re happy to share that we’ve grown our family! We adopted Genevieve Anastasia Zelie, who was born May 8, 2021, and adopted on May 18, 2022. We were then surprised with her baby sister born in July. This makes seven miracles (children) for us—all by the great gift of adoption.”

The Andrew ’98 and Julie (Manahan ’98) Klusman family.

2000s

Father Thomas Montanaro, LC ’00, says, “I am going on my 15th consecutive year living in Rome and am coming upon my 11th anniversary of priestly ordination. In addition to my main mission serving in our general house and overseeing our global leadership evangelization, I continue to serve the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, as chair and director of the Regina Apostolorum Foundations. I thank you for your prayers for our mission of forming apostles and evangelizing the culture. God bless you all!”

Father Thomas Montanaro, LC ’00, has lived in Rome for 15 consecutive years; he celebrates his 11th anniversary of priestly ordination.

Marek Doroshenko ’03 married Caroline Keddy May 28, 2022, at St. Peter’s Parish in Cornwall, Ontario. Marek serves as a high school teacher, and Caroline is the project coordinator for the Raisin Region Conservation Authority.

Marek Doroshenko ’03 married Caroline Keddy May 28, 2022, at St. Peter’s Parish in Cornwall, Ontario.

Danielle (Constant ’07) Prince and her husband, Brian, welcomed their seventh child, Isabella Therese, November 4, 2022. Isabella joins big brothers, Matthew, 12, Noah, 10, and Christopher, 7, and big sisters, Mariana, 5, and Anastasia, 2. Their oldest daughter, Abigail Grace, watches over them all from heaven. They live in Pittsburgh where Danielle is a stay-at-home mom and president of the parent volunteer group at the kids’ school, as well as volunteer coordinator for the boys’ tackle football team. They try to make it back to Franciscan once a year for a home basketball game. “Go, Barons!”

Thomas Thimons ’07 and his brother, Daniel Thimons ’01, recently founded the Catholic online will form, MyCatholicWill.com. They provide a way for Catholics to ensure the most sacred time of their life is protected through a simple form. Tom and Dan say, “We are grateful to have the endorsement of our former professor Dr. Scott Hahn.”

Father Paul Dominic Marich, OP ’08, was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 2022, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, OP, was the ordaining prelate. Father Paul is assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Columbus, Ohio, where he serves as parochial vicar and director of Youth Ministry. Several fellow Franciscan alumni were on hand to celebrate Father Paul’s ordination.

Holly (Perkins ’96) Deliduka, Thomas Deliduka ’95, Father Stephen Alcott, OP ’94, Catherine (Statler ’09) Misleh, Joseph Healy ’06 MA ’08 MSE ’10, Katherine (Harold ’11) Hlabse, Father Paul Marich, OP ’08, Stefan Hlabse ’09 MA ’11, Brother (Mark) Christopher Daniel, OP ’13, Brother Luke Neitzke, OP ’17, Kirstin (Kleb ’12) Weber, Brittany Higdon ’08, Caroline (Bernard ’06) Prickel, Andrew Prickel ’09, Jessica (Harris ’08) Nayden, and Laura Trujillo ’08 at Father Marich’s ordination in 2022.

Mike Moehlenhof ’08 and his wife, Mary Ellen, welcomed Ann Marie into their family September 30, 2022, the feast day of St. Jerome. Ann Marie joins big brother, Joseph, 2.

2010s

Samantha Delfin ’11 married Andrew McDonald in August 2022. The ceremony was presided over by Father Garrett Nelson ’10. She and her husband live in Janesville, Wisc. She joined the Catholic CAST Media Team as their talent and partnership manager. CAST (catholiccastmedia.com) provides high quality media for the new evangelization through their contracted stewardship video studio and freely available formational content on their website (catholic-link.org), social media accounts, YouTube channel, and podcast. Their mission is to inspire, form, and accompany searchers to missionary discipleship. If you or someone you know is interested in collaborating on your organization’s fundraising videos or with any of CAST’s digital platforms, contact Samantha at [email protected].

Samantha Delfin ’11 married Andrew McDonald in August 2022. The ceremony was presided over by Father Garrett Nelson ’10.

Julie (Rohrman ’11) Randall says, “In March 2022, I accepted a new position as an accounting and financial outsourcing senior consultant with Dean Dorton. With the new job, I am 100-percent remote and working at my home. I love being able to enjoy more time with my family and less time in the daily commute. Also with the new job were many changes for our family. Our kids started a new school and a new daycare. Our 6-year-old, James, is enjoying the smaller class at the local elementary school, and 2-year-old, Joanna, is settling into her new daycare. The final change for the year was a new job for my husband, Jesse, which he started in December 2022. Many big transitions in 2022 for us, and we are looking forward to seeing what 2023 brings!”

Elise Chabot ’12 MA ’21 works as an intake therapist at a community mental health center in New Hampshire. These past few months, she is proud to have worked directly with fellow social work alumna Kirsten May ’17.

Claire Hinshaw ’12 says, “In addition to my full-time work at Young America’s Foundation, I am the new host of the weekly program Booked on Shalom World TV, where we promote Catholic books through interviews with authors.”

Luke Iyengar ’15 MA ’18 is in his fourth year of theology in seminary and was ordained to the subdiaconate for the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy (Archdiocese) of Pittsburgh, Pa., October 15, 2022.

Tim Jara ’15 recently started a new position at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell, Texas, as the coordinator of high school ministry.

Nicholas Vicinanzo ’17

Nicholas Vicinanzo ’17 has a new show that launched on YouTube last December called Catholic Central. Search for Catholic-Central-TV on YouTube and Instagram.

Several alumni seminarians are currently discerning with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP). Toan Cao ’18 is in his fifth year; John Falciano ’17 is in his third year and recently received the minor orders of porter and lector; David Prezzia ’20 in his second year and recently received Clerical Tonsure; Patrick Barry ’21 just entered his first year.

Seminarians currently discerning with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP): Toan Cao ’18 is in his fifth year; John Falciano ’17 is in his third year and recently received the minor orders of porter and lector, David Prezzia ’20 is in his second year and recently received clerical tonsure; Patrick Barry ’21 just entered his first year.

2020s

Robert Judge MA ’20 was appointed to the Lafayette, La., Public Library Board of Control in February 2021. In October 2021, he was elected president of the board and re-elected October 2022.

In Memoriam

Dr. John R. Salata ’51 died December 22, 2022.

Mary (Biggio ’53) Salata died December 27, 2022.

Beverly (Melott ’53) McGregor died December 20, 2022.

Dr. Paul Mastros ’56 died January 12, 2023.

We have just learned Joseph Beres ’63 died April 22, 2015.

Jolene Paolucci ’63 died October 10, 2022.

Lt. Col. Richard Reilly ’64 died August 29, 2022.

Donald Brannan ’65, Tau Kappa Epsilon brother, died February 14, 2023.

Joe Nolan ’67, Lambda Chi Alpha brother, died November 24, 2022.

We have just learned Margaret Ann (Ragazino ’67) Weinreich died July 2, 2022.

Dr. John Peter Di Maccio ’69 died unexpectedly February 6, 2023.

Roberta (Parrish ’72) Finney died March 5, 2023.

Joann “Josie” Glauser ’76 died February 1, 2023.

Susan Pluff ’87, Theta Phi Alpha sister, died February 28, 2023.

Father Bob Hilz, TOR, MA ’94 died November 30, 2022.

We have just learned Andrew Watson MA ’95 died December 10, 2021.

Mary (Anderson ’99) Zimmerman died December 4, 2022, following a long, courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.

Sandra Goffoli ’01 died January 23, 2023