Maurice Bellerose '83 is retired and living in Southeast Colorado with his wife, Claudette.
David St. Lawrence '06 concluded his 2016-17 NCAA Ice Hockey season with his second
straight selection, to the NCAA Men’s Division - III Ice Hockey Championships (in
Utica, New York). David was a linesman in the National Semi-Final game that placed
St. Norbert’s College of Green Bay, Wisconsin against Trinity College of Hartford,
Connecticut. David was also selected in the 2015-16 season, as a linesman, to officiate
in the National Semi-Finals (in Lake Placid, New York) that placed St. Norbert’s College
of Green Bay, Wisconsin against The University of Massachusetts-Boston of Boston,
Massachusetts. David thanks not only his wife, (Jenna (Marszalek) St. Lawrence (2007-Rindge),
but also their 2 children, Nolan & Nora, for letting him pursue this hobby, to a high
level. David worked both of these games and four additional Men’s NCAA D-III Play-Off
Games over the past 3 seasons with his brother Michael St. Lawrence. Their main body
of officiating work is in both NESCAC (New England Small College Athletic Conference)
and NEHC (The New England Hockey Conference) hockey leagues throughout the regular
season and into the respective conference play-offs. This was David’s 8th season of
officiating NCAA Ice hockey (11th year officiating overall). He is an Assistant Credit
Manager for The Sherwin-Williams Company. He, Jenna, and their children reside in
Westfield, Massachusetts.
Following the memorial service for Bill Wittenberg, the 1966 class president and
FPC friends gathered in Rindge, NH. Pictured are Dave Groder ’66, Ron Savarese ’66,
Dan Snell ’67, Vinnie Donnelly ’67, John Burke ’66, Dave Wilson ’77, and Chet Monroe,
boyhood friend of Bill Wittenberg.
Gilbert Peck ’67 reports, “2016 was a great year for the Gil Pecks. We love living
in the mountains of North Carolina. We have been blessed with good friends, good health
and cool weather. Florida was just so hot in the summer. Family and grandchildren
continue to parade to grandma and grandpa’s. Did I just say that! Wasn’t last year
1967? 2017 finds us looking foward to travel and hopefully a stop at FPC campus. As
we grow older, we realize how important and rich those “Pioneer Years” meant.”
Sharon Lyn Stein ’71, EdD; (IMDB) from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. I majored in theater
and minored in English and both of those degrees have served me well and led to a
master’s and doctorate degree in education with an emphasis in the visual and performing
arts. Besides co-chairing with Henry Ellis on the social committee that lead to that
wonderful winter carnival with Janis Joplin, I took part on many committees at Franklin
Pierce. My education has led me to make a living from teaching and the performing
arts. I’m a member of SAG-AFTRA and Americans for the Arts. Every year for the past
four years I have been performing for an equine therapy organization for special needs
kids. This year we did a Cole Porter review and I won best actress award, and it all
started with Franklin Pierce. I was in Matt Berman’s film “The Wedding Pact” as well.
Matt Berman is a Franklin Pierce alumnus. I also have been a West Coast chapter leader
for many years, bringing California alumni together for many events through many Franklin
Pierce presidents over the years. I love my alma mater and will always be grateful
for the education, friendships and knowledge I received there. Thank You Franklin
Pierce University! ”
Charlie Mann ’72 reports, “2016 was a year of many surprises and blessings. First
of all I had the privilege to revisit my alma mater, FPU. It was such a great time
and so inspired me to return in June 2017 for the Reunion. I look forward to see many
of my old friends from 1968-1974. At Celestial Manna, where I am Founder and Executive
Director, we had the resources to provide fresh daily food to tens of thousands of
food insecure people throughout the year. Please check us out at www. celestialmanna.org
and on Facebook. I can’t wait to see and hear from you all soon.”
Neil Epstein ’74 writes, “I fished recently with my sons, Lon and Marshall, in Marathon,
FL. Regards to class of ‘74. I hope all are working on their bucket list (mine is
still long). By the way, for those who went to Patillas, Puerto Rico, I hear it still
looks the same as it is now a preserve. Check it out on Google.”
Peter R. Taylor ’69, owner of an executive search firm specializing in corporate real
estate for major Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States since 1978, is
now semi-retired with residences in New York City and Hanover, NH. His daughter is
a Holy Cross graduate and attorney residing in Connecticut with two young children.
His son is a Rutgers graduate having led the NCAA division one Scarlet Night fencing
team and is currently residing in Philadelphia.
Philip Bruno ’70 writes, “Snowbirding down to Boynton Beach, Fla...wahoo. Winters
in New England aren’t the same since I left Pierce in 1970.”
Leslie Cooper ’71 has moved to New Jersey and is a consultant for Epic Electronic
Medical Records.
Richie Schwartz ’71 writes, “If any ‘71 grads remember me, please contact. I had a
‘66 396 blue Chevelle with 1/4 vinyl roof.”
Marcy (Pollock) Fink ’73 and Art Fink ’72 were so excited to host their third “Meet
and Greet Get Together” for our FPU Ladies Bowling Team when they competed in a tournament
in November in Delaware. Team members, coaches, parents and local alumni had a great
time socializing, with plenty of good food and laughs. They are looking forward to
hosting the team again next year when they return to compete in Delaware. “Go Lady
Ravens!”
Marty Gold ’74 reports, “I am back at work and closing in on retirement after dealing
with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in the fall of 2015.”
Lawrence “Larry” Abramson ’75 writes, “A good year. My grandson is 4 1/2 and had a
memorable birthday at Disney World with his sister, parents, grandparents, aunts,
and uncles. Patti and I are still working here in Florida. All in all, it could be
worse. Best to all.”
Edwin Barton ’77, Professor of English and Department Chair at Bakersfield College,
is retiring in May after nearly forty years of teaching at his present institution,
California State University and Vanderbilt University. Ed and his wife, Glenda, and
daughter, Caroline, will be moving to their summer home in Cambria, CA, where he hopes
to spend the rest of his days reading, writing, drinking wine, and walking his dog
Jenny on the beach. Ed last visited the Franklin Pierce campus in the fall of 2012
to accept the first Power of the Raven award for distinguished service and commitment
to his profession. He also enjoyed a fine lunch with Professor Jim Mayberry.
Kevin Shaughnessy ’76 writes, “I am leaving Florida to return to New England. I think
I am just missing all the activities and people I have known.”
Karen (Eisenberg) Goldberg ’79 writes, “FPC Alumni from the ’70s and ’80s had a little
get together this past October in Port Chester, NY at the Rye House. A fun time was
had by all. Looking forward to the next get together.”
Leanne Jacques ‘86 writes, “2016 was a great year! Traveled to California to see
friends and attend a Dixie Chicks concert. 20 years at Altria Corporation - love my
job. I am truly living the dream. Living on Cape Cod!”
1984 Patrick Kirchgessner ’84 reports, “Moving on to other challenges. I finally left
Sprint after 25 years in 2009 and started at Intact Technology in 2010 and have been
blessed to work with one of the best companies I could hope to be with. Met my beloved
Tracey a little over 2 years ago, and we now live happily in Sarasota, FL.”
Bill Paskowski ’84 and Debbie (Ormezzano) Paskowski ’84 will be celebrating their
30th wedding anniversary this year. They have three children with two in the professional
world (daughter is a nurse, oldest son is a police officer, and the youngest son is
a freshman in college). “We wish all our old classmates from 1984 our best wishes
and to all the FPU alumni and current students a very happy and successful 2017.”
Tony Jones ’85 reports, “I am teaching biology and chemistry at Montclair Kimberley
Academy where I have been since 2000. I am also the 12th Grade Dean and varsity boys
basketball coach. I have been married for 27 years. I have a a son (Brandon) and two
daughters (Breanna and Brittany).”
Robyn Thibodeau ’87 writes, “I own a seasonal beachfront restaurant on Cape Cod. If
you are down on vacation, stop by and say hi. (www.sailingcow.com). I live in Mashpee,
MA and work for TIAA as a senior program manager.”
Nan McCarthy ’88 writes, “2016 just flew by with lots going on in every area of my
life. By the end of June, sales of my paintings and cards were higher than for all
of last year, so it was a good year all in all. I continue to be represented by Surroundings
Art Gallery in Center Sandwich and Moultonboro, NH, and The MainStreet MarketPlace
& Gallery in Warner, NH. I also went on two art trips. In June, I traveled to Sicily,
on a very busy, very hectic two week tour, that took us all over the island, spending
several nights in different cities and included Mount Etna, many Greek and Roman ruins,
and a performance of ‘Electra’ at the Greek theatre in Siracusa. In September, I spent
a week in Santa Fe, NM, with day trips to Bandelier National Monument to see the caves;
Abiquiu, where Georgia O’Keeffe lived and had her studio; and Ghost Ranch, another
locale where Georgia O’Keeffe lived.”
Colleen (Dunleavy) Rawlings ’93 writes, “Dan and I have moved. After ten years in
Yellowstone, we decided it was time to try something new. We are now living in Glacier
Bay National Park and Preserve in southeast Alaska. Should you find yourself in Alaska
or planning a trip to Alaska, be sure to stop in and say hi. We are only accessible
by boat or plane from Juneau, so some pre-planning is required. Hey Robin, where are
you??? For those of you wondering about the photo, that’s Mendenhall Glacier, in Juneau,
behind us on a nice, snowy day.”
1995 Kathy (Stinchfield) Knapp ’95, graduated from school in May 2016 after three
years of schooling in Radiography with High Honors (3.87 GPA!). She is employed at
Southern Maine Health Care, a trauma II hospital, in Biddeford Maine as a radiologic
technologist working nights in the emergency room taking x-rays on trauma patients.
She writes, “Absolutely love the decision I made to go back to school at 40 years
old and change my life! I am married with two boys ages 12 and 13 years old. I was
very proud to show them what Mom can do!”
Michael Kennedy ’98 writes, “The first half of 2017 has many milestones for the Kennedy
family. Michael and Angel ’99 will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. Our
daughters, Ashley and Kaley, will be turning 21 in March. Our son, Michael Jr., will
be graduating high school in June.”
Jackie Everidge ’90 and Kimberly (Saucier) Everidge ’92 are proud to announce their
daughter, Hannah Rose Everidge, has committed to play basketball at Franklin Pierce
University beginning in 2017.
Nicole Chouinard ’94 reports, “I purchased my first home this past summer!”
Kristen Jaccodine ’97 writes, “2016 marked the end of a long journey for me. Freddy
the Tiger, a children’s story that I originally wrote while in the 4th grade, became
available to the world! I self published this story through Create Space, and it is
now available for purchase on Amazon. com. In addition to marketing Freddy, I plan
to return to my work on a short story before diving into a longer piece of fiction.
Members of the Crestview Crew and all of my classmates of 1997, can you believe that
May 2017 marks our 20th reunion? Where does the time go?”
Rick Cecchetti ’98 says he retired on December 31st after almost 36 years of working
as a civilian for the U.S.Navy. He’s looking forward to more adventures in the years
ahead.
Libby Richardson ’98 is the senior director of special events for the American Red
Cross in Connecticut and Rhode Island. She plans and executes fundraising events to
carry out the mission of the Red Cross so that people can prepare for, prevent, and
respond to emergencies. She’s very excited to be working for the Red Cross after spending
the last eight years with United Way in Hartford. Libby welcomes friends to contact
her through Facebook and LinkedIn.
Rachel Field ’99 writes, “I know you were looking for ‘news,’ but I guess for me,
not too much has changed since school! I still live in San Diego, still work for the
publishing company I helped build (ReferencePoint Press), and still work with dogs
at local shelters and rescues. There’s no reason to shake things up if you’re happy!”
Keith Harrington ’99 is currently working at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School
in Salem, MA, and attended a performance of “A Christmas Carol” with his students.
After arriving back from the wonderful show he told co-workers “What a story and what
a twist at the end. Scrooge turning good? I did NOT see that coming.”
Colleen (McKinnon) Johnson ’99, writes, “I got married on October 9th and became a
stepmom to two AMAZING kids, Leyla (14) and Dylan (11)! My husband, Scott, is an elementary
school principal in Sudbury and as you all know from the article, I work for my best
friend in graphic design/truck lettering in Weymouth! Happy New Year!”
Ali (Farsun) Dembishack ’03 and John Dembishack ’04 recently welcomed their first
child, Charlotte Grace Dembishack, on October 27, 2016. She was born at Greenwich
Hospital in Greenwich, CT, and weighing 4 pounds 12 ounces and 18 inches long. The
family of three lives in Weston, CT.
2017 is Chris Holman’s (Class of 1999) 20th year as CJ the DJ, a side career he began
while a student at FPU. He is currently a selectman for the Town of Fitzwilliam and
has served on the FPU Alumni Board of Directors since 2012. He has been awarded the
Wedding Wire Couples’ Choice Award in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. CJ the DJ was the
Keene Sentinel’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best DJ in 2015 & 2016. He was also the
recipient of the Gold Medal for Best DJ, the first time that category was introduced,
for the Monadnock Shopper Readers’ Choice Awards in 2016. Chris provides sound support
and entertainment services for FPU alumni, students, and staff at discounted rates
and encourages FPU involvement in his community events like the Snow Ball Cancer Benefit
for Joy’s Network in February, the Sneaker Ball for the Keene YMCA in March or the
Walk for Animals for the Monadnock Humane Society in June. He networks on sites like
LinkedIn, Facebook for Businesses, Instagram, Twitter, etc., as well as hosts karaoke
at local venues like the Jaffrey American Legion (21+). Follow him at @DJChrisHolman
www.CJtheDJ.com.
Elloree Crowe Jennings ’00 writes, “My wonderful friends from our theater department
at FPC(U) came to my opening night of Little Shop of Horrors’ at Marblehead Little
Theater, where I played Audrey. Fellow alum Keith Harrington also came one night to
my show and I was completely surprised by my amazing theater professors Nancy Stone
and Peggy Rae Johnson, who were also in the audience. There were lots of happy tears
all around! I feel so grateful and so blessed to have these people in my life. It
shows you how much of an impact Franklin Pierce and its incredible theater department
had on all of us! We were a very lucky crew!!!” (Pictured above are from L to R: Laura
Grossi Putnam, Shannon Hogan, (Me) Elloree Crowe Jennings, Kara Hofsaes and Judy Jerome.)
Brandon Obara ’09 and former president of Brother’s Reaching Out writes, “I wanted
to update the alumni association and class notes that my beautiful wife Ashley Laprise
(now Obara) and I married on December 10, 2016, at Harrington Farm in Princeton, MA.
Sara (Estis) Levine ’07 writes, “2016 was definitely an exciting year! My husband
and I welcomed our first child, a beautiful baby girl named Claire Sophie Levine,
on November 1, 2016, and we are overjoyed!!
Casey Bolduc ’08 and Meghan Eileen Farrell ’07 were married on August 27, 2016.
Nick Barbu ’08 married Laura (DeRosa) Barbu on August 23, 2015. The couple welcomed
their daughter Penelope Rose on September 8, 2016.
Ben DiLauro ’13 and Rebakka Milles ’11 got married September 24, 2016, on a beautiful
mountain top in the heart of Vermont. Bekka and Ben were drawn to each other by their
mutual love of the outdoors and natural world, which began together in the shadow
of Mt. Monadnock. Today, Ben and Bekka reside in Waterbury, Vermont, where Bekka is
a Middle School Science and Math Teacher, and Ben is an Air Quality Scientist for
the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. They are looking forward to
a lifetime of love and adventure together!
Elizabeth (Sheridan) Lewis ’11 writes, “I married Joshua Lewis on September 10, 2016.
Our wedding ceremony took place in East Hartford, Connecticut, at St. Rose Church
and following was a beautiful reception at The Riverview in Simsbury, Connecticut.
We are delighted that we had Adam Stahl, Cara Tamiso, Eric Booth and Nora Cuddy, who
are all Franklin Pierce 2011 alumni, celebrate with us!
Miranda Mantello ’13 reports, “My 2016 was full of wonderful adventures! I got to
travel to new places and try new things such as skiing and snowboarding! Above all
of those great times, the most exciting one was getting to say YES! I said yes to
my best friend, the most wonderful, sweet, loving, supportive man ever! Ryan popped
the big question on December 3, 2016! He and I look forward to what’s to come as we
continue to build our lives together and embark on new adventures!”
Nathan Wood ’11 has been promoted to pharmacist in charge of the Vestal, NY CVS Pharmacy
inside Target. Nathan was a two time captain of the Franklin Pierce Men’s Lacrosse
team and currently ranks 5th all time for goals scored in 1 season. After graduating
from Franklin Pierce, Nathan went on to receive his Doctorate of Pharmacy from Albany
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Katharine Brigman (AKA Kt) ’14 writes “I will be attending graduate school to receive
my Master of Arts in Teaching with Credentials from University of Southern California
(USC) in Spring 2017. According to US News, it was ranked #23 in 2017 in National
Universities and the Education program is tied for #21 for the Best Education Schools.
I have all of my professors at Franklin Pierce to thank for this huge achievement,
including Robert Welsch, Bob Goodby, and Seamus Pender to name a few. They allowed
me to ask the questions needed to understand the curriculum and have inspired me to
be a great teacher, learning from their good examples. I also have my parents to thank
for their ever lasting support. I am currently working at UCLA in the student accounts
department managing the system, which bills and collects not only students but a wide
array of people who work with UCLA. During our End of the Year event, we had a lip
syncing challenge and I participated, singing ‘Do You Want to Build a Snowman?’ from
the movie Frozen. Who could pass that up?! I also took a few trips, one to Santa Rosa
island and one to Catalina island. On Santa Rosa, my boyfriend and I hiked more than
30 miles and saw some ancient Chumash sites and on Catalina we saw the last horses
to exist on the island. As well as slide down the glass slide on the outside of the
US Bank called the Skyspace, that was thrilling! My boyfriend and I also attended
a Brunchmas, which brought together a bunch of people we are only able to see once
every few years. There is a new baby in our group named Mia as well as her younger
sister who should be born in May. We were able to celebrate this holiday season with
our good friends Brad and Caity as well as their dog Oscar. I saw Finding Dory, Rogue
One, met Chuck Lidell, won an ugly sweater contest, lip syncing challenge, and saw
Salt ‘N Pepa in concert. It was a pretty good 2016. I’m wishing everyone a wonderful
and safe 2017, please enjoy the snow for me!”
