SFSU Magazine Summer 2005: Class Notes

Annette Bening in a stylish pin-striped suit smiles for the camera

 

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Class Notes

'40s
The Rev. William E. Calbert (A.B., '49) was named a Knight of the Legion of Honor by the French government in recognition of his participation in the liberation of France during World War II. He joined 100 fellow American veterans who were decorated in France on the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landing.

'60s
Ira B. Cooperman(B.A., '62), director of development for the Masonic Care Community of New York, presented his paper, "Dark Voices—The Experiences of Negro League Baseball Players in World War II," at a symposium on baseball in American culture at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in New York.

The Rev. Dr. A.C. Ubalde(B.A., '67) retired last summer after 37 years in pastoral ministry and has been elected to the Solano Community College Governing Board.

Bradley L. Colton (B.A., '69; M.A., '71) has been named executive vice president and regional manager of the San Francisco brokerage division of the Charles Dunn company, a commercial real estate and property management firm.

Jack Cranford(B.A., '67; M.A., '70), associate professor and assistant head of the Department of Biological Sciences at Virginia Tech's College of Science, has been awarded the National Academic Advising Association's certificate of merit for faculty advising.

'70s
Dorothy Okamoto (B.A., '70) was named Optometrist of the Year by the California Optometric Association.

Jack H. Nissen (B.A., '70) is a self-taught wood turner who creates bowls, platters and vases from salvaged wood. His work is shown at galleries in Danville, Placerville and El Dorado.

Mohan Gyani (B.A., '73; M.B.A., '78) has been appointed CEO and Chairman of Roamware, a leading provider of voice and data roaming products for global mobile networks. Previously he was the president and CEO of AT&T Wireless Mobility Services.

William A. Robinson (B.A., '73), a retired railroad engineer and licensed realtor in Arizona, has been named chaplain of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks #499.

Frank Ivica(B.A., '76), a certified public accountant, published his article, "Section 412(i) Retirement Plans Remain a Viable Choice," in the March edition of Practical Tax Strategies.

Keith Kutner(B.A., '77) has been awarded a doctor of management from the University of Phoenix. He is a consultant specializing in virtual organizations and contract manufacturing.

'80s
Dorsetta Hale(B.A., '80), a guest columnist for the Pacifica Tribune, has self-published a book of essays through Xlibris, "The Coast is Clear."

Cris (Mahnken) Kelly(B.A., '82) specializes in photographing animals. Her work has been seen in major publications including Dog Fancy and on cable's Animal Planet network. She runs Animal Action Network, a group which lobbies for pro-animal legislation.

Russell K. Carpenter's (M.A., '86) "Chronicles of King Curtis: The Triumphs, Travails, and Tragedy of a True Soul Giant" (Publish America, 2005) describes the life and times of the saxophone legend.

Linda Thompson (M.A., ‘86) has published 14 nonfiction books for children. Six more are in production for next year, part of the "Native People, Native Lands" and "Expansion of America" series for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

'90s
Cynthia Z. Blumenthal (Zhi Wang) (M.A., '92) published a paper about the production of toxic metabolites through Elsevier Inc., a multimedia publisher of scientific, technical and health information products and services.

Walter Cambria's (M.A., '93) poem, "Old Glory Moon," was used as the text for a poster commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The celebration took place in Alameda on the USS Hornet, the recovery ship for Apollo 11, now a museum.

Michel Alvarez(B.S., '93) is the founder and CEO of WonderChess LLC, makers of chess kits for children.

Richard Bruni(B.A., '94) teaches history and economics at San Francisco's John O'Connell High School of Technology. The board and staff of 826 Valencia, an educational nonprofit, named him teacher of the month in November, calling him "a model for teachers everywhere."

Kimberly Sparrow (B.A., '94) has been promoted to executive director of sales and marketing at KQED Public Broadcasting.

Kathryn Abajian's (M.A., '95) book, "First Sight of the Desert: Discovering the Art of Ella Peacock" (University of Utah Press, 2005), blends memoir, biography and art criticism. She teaches English at Diablo Valley College.

Robert Derbin (M.B.A., '96) has been appointed director of finance for the Chabot Space and Science Center.

Fredericka (Ricka) L. White(B.A., '96; M.S.W., '99) has begun a three-year term on the Public Ethics Commission for the City of Oakland.

Jennifer Roybal (B.A., ‘98) is founder and president of Seal Rock, Inc., a marketing and advertising firm based in Salinas. She serves on the board of the San Benito/ Monterey Counties chapters of the American Red Cross.

'00s
"From F to Phi Beta Kappa" (Chromisphere Press, 2004), a book self-published by Lance O. Ong(B.A., '99), has received ForeWord Magazine's 2004 bronze award for best educational book of the year.

Carly Lyn Heath(B.A., '02), a film producer, teacher and program coordinator for Youth for the Arts, has received a 2005 Alden B. Dow Creativity Center Fellowship from Northwood University.

Angela Lowrey (B.A., '03) has been named communications manager (USA) for Austrade, the Australian government's international trade promotion agency.
 

Let us know about your recent accomplishments.
Please include your degree, year of graduation, address and phone number. We will feature class notes as space allows.

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