Check out alumni photos on our web gallery! Alumni.Franciscan.edu
1970s
Lynda (Soeder ’72) Kovach says, “Since retirement as an attorney, my husband, Dale, and I love being outdoors and our time as trail ambassadors for the Cleveland Metroparks. I am currently the director of West Shore Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that provides homemade meals to members of our communities who find it difficult to shop for or prepare their own food. Once a year, we travel with several of my Theta Phi Alpha sorority sisters and their husbands, and we have made plans to visit Franciscan University’s campus this summer. We can’t wait to see how the campus has grown since 1972.”
Tom “Suitcase” Skellan ’73, Alpha Chi Rho brother, has been married to his wife, Jeanne, for 47 years. They live in Mesa, Ariz., and have three sons, ages 45, 43, and 40, and eight grandkids ranging from a 2-year-old to a 9-year-old.
Tom Legare ’79 says, “If anyone is interested in a Jesus prayer bead set, visit jesusbeadsmaine.com. Love and peace and God’s blessings be upon you all.”
1980s
James Valois ’83
James Valois ’83 says, “I am happy to share news about my new book, Our Lady’s Prophecies—God’s Messages for Our Time. It is about Our Lady of Good Success of the Purification apparitions to a humble nun, Servant of God Mother Mariana de Jesus, given over 400 years ago. These prophecies cover important events that have already happened in history and events that are happening in our era. My hope is that the book will encourage, inspire, and help prepare Catholics and other Christians for the difficulties and the coming restoration.”
Sergio Ramirez-Mena ’89 works in international development projects in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. He recently celebrated his 27th wedding anniversary and is happy in Arlington, Virg., with his wife, Jill, and their three grown children.
Sergio ’89 and Jill Ramirez-Mena
1990s
Michael Denz MA ’98 says, “In the 26 years since graduating, I have worked for seven different parishes in four different dioceses, and I ran a Catholic bookstore for seven years. I was the station manager for a Catholic radio station and later hosted a radio show on the same station. My wife, Sue (Hudson ’98), and I celebrated 25 years of marriage this past April. We spent several years taking groups on pilgrimages to Italy and have a beautiful 24-year-old daughter, Maria. We both work at St. Catharine’s Church in Columbus, Ohio.”
Ched ’98 and Nannette (Figureoa ’98) Salasek are happy to announce the marriage of their daughter, Monica (Salasek ’23), and Liam Nagle ’22 on April 20, 2024. Nannette says, “They met and fell in love at Franciscan and now live in Fairfax, Virg., where Monica is a pediatric nurse and Liam works as a system integrator program manager. We went to Franciscan with Liam’s parents, Tom ’97 and Rechael (Chamer ’97) Nagle, and Ched and Tom played on the baseball team together. Congratulations to Liam and Monica as you embark on a beautiful, lifelong journey together. May God always be your guide as you enter this holy sacrament of matrimony.”
Liam ’22 and Monica (Salaselc ’23) Nagle with Rechael (Chamer ’97) and Tom ’97 Nagle
2000s
Justin Sommer ’01 married Jacqueline Alejandra Ramos García in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia, Michoacán, México, on April 22, 2022. Deacon Sandor Hernandez ’03 participated in the Mass with Father Gerardo Padilla.
Justin ’01 and Jacqueline Sommer with Deacon Sandor Hernandez ’03
Jon Schaffhausen ’03 recently joined Civium Architecture and Planning in Topeka, Kan., as a project architect.
Jon Schaffhausen ’03
Roland Millare ’04 and his wife, Veronica, welcomed their third child, Luke Benedict (named after Pope Benedict XVI), into their home in 2023. Roland is the vice president of Curriculum and director of Clergy Initiatives for the St. John Paul II Foundation and serves as adjunct professor of theology for the University of Dallas, the Diaconal Institute at the Pontifical College Josephinum, the Diocese of Fort Worth, and the University of St. Thomas.
John “JC” Wishbish ’07 was named president for Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc. in January.
2010s
Kevin Codd ’10, Jack Kaiser ’13, and Kevin LeRoy ’11 MBA ’12 are all alumni of the Franciscan University cross country and track teams and got together in March to run a marathon and half marathon in Asheville, N.C.
Kevin Codd ’10, Jack Kaiser ’13, and Kevin LeRoy ’11 MBA ’12
Brenda (Polk MBA ’10) Garland says, “In 2021, I had the nerve to start my own law firm in rural northern Michigan, focusing on estate planning and elder law. So far, the experiment is working!”
James Kresta ’11 counsels and represents public and private companies in all aspects of sophisticated commercial litigation, including shareholder disputes, real estate disputes, constitutional law, restrictive covenants, business torts, employment disputes, and contract disputes. As an attorney in Taft’s Commercial Litigation practice group, James’ diverse practice includes every aspect of dispute resolution, including contract review, negotiations, pleadings, discovery, substantive motions, trials, and appeals. He received his JD, cum laude, from Wayne State University Law School.
Chase J. Cloutier ’13 MA ’15 was named director of the Graduate Theology Program at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in August 2023. He continues working on his dissertation for a PhD in theology from The Catholic University of America and lives in Newburgh, Ind., with his wife, Rachel, and their two children, Eleanor and Henry.
Daniel Romeyn Davis ’13 earned his MEd at Providence College in 2017, and he will begin studies at Teachers College at Columbia University toward a PhD in philosophy after a decade of working in Catholic education within the Archdiocese of Boston.
Daniel Davis ’13
Rebecca Beiter ’15, PhD, received a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Award Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. She is a postdoc in the lab of Dorothy P. Schafer, PhD, and an associate professor of neurobiology. She will use the funding to analyze the role a type of glia called oligodendrocyte precursor cells, or OPCs, play in neurodegenerative diseases.
Annie (Grossmayer ’15) Norton and Meg (Kay’13) Murray hosted a “Girl Talk” event for pre-teen and teenage girls to learn more about women’s health issues from a perspective rooted in St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body at their parish earlier this year. They are both Marquette-certified Natural Family Planning instructors and registered nurses.
Annie (Grossmayer ’15) Norton and Meg (Kay’13) Murray
Andrew Koehler ’15 MA ’16
Andrew Koehler ’15 MA ’16 is an associate with Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP in Fort Myers, Fla., for product liability and mass torts with the firm’s practice group, Ave Maria School of Law.
Mary “MC” Sylvester ’15 married Landry Lawson in June 2022. They welcomed their son, Teyi, in November 2023. They live in Mobile, Ala., where MC teaches theology at the local Catholic high school and is the sacramental coordinator at their parish.
Mary (Sylvester ’15) and Landry Lawson with their
son Teyi.
Nicholas Limon ’17
Nicholas Limon ’17 works at OSF St. Joseph and at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in the emergency room as night registration. He is attending his local community college for his ADN degree and plans to pursue his BSN at OSF St. Francis College of Nursing in the accelerated nursing program.
Jenna Schultz ’17 married Douglas Weber on April 13, 2024.
Michelle Howell MSN ’19 is a family nurse practitioner at Primehealthcare.
2020s
Thomas Thomas ’20 and Madeline Raffa ’20 were married in 2021 and welcomed their first baby girl, Henley Jane, this past February. Madeline says, “She came a month early weighing 3 lbs. 4 oz. and was in the NICU for two weeks. She is now thriving as a 3-month-old.”
Thomas ’20 and Madeline (Raffa ’20) Thomas and daughter Henley Jane.
Cory Fajardo MA ’21 was named St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Teacher of the Year by the Diocese of Orange in Anaheim, Calif.
Josiah Lucas MA ’21 is a sixth grade theology teacher at Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School in Charlotte, N.C.
Patrick Frazier ’22 says, “In January, I started a job at Pastorate XXII, a parish in Madison, Wisc. I’m so excited to use the skills I learned from Dr. Schaefer and the entire Communication Arts Department to best serve God and his children in downtown Madison.”
Josh ’22 and Elaina (Brugh ’22) Kohane celebrated one year of marriage in April.
Michael ’22 and Anika (Severson ’22) Salman live in St. Michael, Ind., with their son, Joseph, where Michael is an auditor at KPMG and Anika is a stay-at-home mom.
The Michael ’22 and Anika (Severson’22) Salman family.
Elizabeth Williams ’23 is teaching eighth grade literature at Great Hearts-Lincoln Preparatory Academy in Chandler, Ariz.
In Memoriam
Dr. James Battoclette ’50 died March 13, 2024.
Patrick “Patsy” DeLuca ’56, Alpha Phi Delta brother, died December 2, 2023.
Arthur Bodo ’59, Omicron Alpha Kappa brother, died March 26, 2024.
Andrew “Andy” Mulato ’59, Omicron Alpha Kappa brother, died February 9, 2024.
Lauretta (Cocco ’62) Soltes died March 5, 2024.
Joseph “Joe” Franz ’66, Tau Kappa Epsilon brother, died January 13, 2024.
Louis Pizzo ’67, Alpha Phi Delta brother, died February 11, 2024.
We have just learned Philip Wendt ’68, Tau Kappa Epsilon brother, died May 25, 2017.
Gregory “Greg” Heppner ’69 died January 25, 2024.
Robert “Bob” Riordan ’74, Tau Kappa Epsilon brother, died April 26, 2024.
Jacqueline “Jackie” (Kubik ’75) Reilly died January 1, 2024.
Lawrence “Larry” Freeman ’76 died March 31, 2024.
Gilbert “Gil” Boring ’77 died March 9, 2024.
Robert “Steve” Roberts ’77 died August 5, 2023.
Cheryl (McFall ’79 MBA ’90) Vukelic died April 3, 2024, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Donald Austin ’82 MA ’84 died August 1, 2023.
Margaret “Maggie” (Patitz ’97) Valuska died December 28, 2023.
Lucas “Luke” Condit ’02, Ahim Adoni Household brother, died January 31, 2024, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Nathaniel “Nate” Kuhlman ’22 married Mariana Garcia ’23 on October 28, 2023. Nate died October 31, 2023, following a tragic accident on their honeymoon. Read their story at ncregister.com/features/kuhlman-hope.
