1970s
Tom Legare ’79 says, “Still kicking and loving Jesus, wife Carol (Coulombe ’79), and grown children, ages 45, 43, and 35. I’ve been retired for 13 years and have enjoyed every second. I also enjoyed our years at Franciscan University beyond imagination. I lived in the Heart of Jesus Household, and I’m still in contact with many of the brothers and sisters. I’m celebrating 48 years of marriage to Carol Anne, also a Mainah (spelling intended). If there are some of you out there not currently connected with me, please reach out at [email protected] and check out my ministry at jesusbeadsmaine.com. Thanks be to God. God bless you all with love and peace.”
1990s
Kevin Lowry ’91 recently published his latest book titled Honor Thy Wife: A 31 Day Spiritual Journey of Marital Renewal. It’s an encouragement and a challenge to husbands who, by God’s grace, can make small changes that lead to big improvements. Kevin and his wife, Kathi, met at Franciscan University and have eight adult children and nine grandchildren so far!
Dr. Sarah (Fleming ’98 MA ’01) Adams recently graduated from Creighton University with an EdD in interdisciplinary leadership. She developed a new theory of leadership called trauma inspired leadership. Check out her website at traumainspiredleadership. com. She sends a warm hello to all past and present members of Love of the Lamb Household.
Julia (Manahan ’98) and Andrew ’98 Klusman live in South Carolina near Greenville where Julia helped form a South Carolina alumni chapter and hosted a gathering at their parish and home last June. Andrew is a home adjuster, and Julia is a homemaker and homeschools four of their six children. They recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a wonderful trip to Scotland.
2000s
Faith (Bohlin ’05) Cintron, Renee (Breaux ’09) Zachar, Marybeth Martin ’16, and Michaela Walther ’25 work for Aid for Women, a pro-life pregnancy resource center and maternity home program located in and around Chicago. Renee says, “In the past year, Aid for Women has collected a group of Franciscan alumni on staff without even trying! Most of us didn’t know about the Franciscan connection until we were all working together. We were all drawn to Aid for Women because of their frontline work in the pro-life movement, loving both the unborn babies and their mamas!”
Laura (Ross ’08) Pugliano, her husband, and family celebrated five years of their Italian extra virgin olive oil company, Ciccio’s Olives, with the opening their flagship shop and launch of their tours to southern Italy. Visit cicciosolives.com for more information.
Christine (Novak ’09) Brajkovich co-authored a book about Flannery O’Connor with two other writers, Karen Anne Mahoney and Roxane B. Salonen, after they converged for a southbound pilgrimage to Milledgeville, Ga., on the 50th anniversary of Flannery’s death from lupus. Finding Flannery: A Travel Memoir Exploring the Mystique of Flannery O’Connor and the Legacy She Has Left Us All was published by En Route Books and Media and is available at Barnes and Noble. For more information, visit enroutebooksandmedia.com/findingflannery.
2010s
Deacon Matthew Bensman ’10 was ordained a permanent deacon for the Archdiocese of Boston by Archbishop Richard Henning on September 13, 2025.
Rachel (Rinn ’10) Miles recently collaborated with Brother Francis/Herald Media to create a Catholic card game called CHOOSE, a “would you rather” type of game that can be played in different ways. For more information, visit brotherfrancisstore.com.
Hannah (Glaser ’15) Dean and her husband, Matthew, welcomed their daughter, Lydia Rose, into the family in May 2025. Hannah has recently accepted a position as the director of Genesis Preschool in Buffalo, N.Y.
Brother James Monsour ’17 entered the Benedictine Abbey of Our Lady of Clear Creek in Hulbert, Okla., in 2020 and professed his solemn vows on September 8, 2025.
Sarah (Negri ’18) Durham and her husband, Levi, welcomed their first daughter, Edith Magdalene, on March 29, 2025.
Professor David Thrower MA ’18 says, “Since graduation from Franciscan in 2018, I received my PhD from Liberty in 2024, accepted a position teaching 11th grade theology at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore, and am currently in my second year there. I also presented at the Catholic Faith in the Americas Conference in 2023.”
2020s
Sister Katherine (Katie) Power ’23 entered the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Loretto, Pa., on July 26, 2025, to begin her year of postulancy.
In Memoriam
Rade Rebic ’55 died August 6, 2025.
We have just learned Richard Grace ’57 died April 10, 2021.
We have just learned Mary Elizabeth (Moffatt ’57) Williams died July 21, 2023.
J. Michael “Mike” Franckhauser ’58 died August 11, 2025.
William “Bill” McHugh ’59 died September 16, 2025.
We have just learned Richard Cresap ’60 has died.
Dr. Alan Zerla ’62 died November 18, 2024.
G. Michael “Mickey” Brown ’65 died October 6, 2025.
Monsignor John Kolesar ’65 died October 28, 2025.
George Porter ’65 died October 20, 2025.
Father Thomas Magary ’66 died November 2, 2025.
