Class Notes

Phyllis Gates Fenger (Fren) finished writing American Red Cross Nurse Beulah Feely 1917-1918. The book is based on a diary of her cousin, Beulah Feely, a CU Anschutz College of Nursing graduate who was a Red Cross nurse in France during World War I. Phyllis donated the book to the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo. In July, Phyllis celebrated her 95th birthday at her home in Carpinteria, Calif.

Charles Eschenburg (DistSt; MD’55) retired with wife Carole Degen (Nurs’54) to Hobe Sound, Fla. For 37 years Charles was a pediatrician in Delray Beach, where he also was active in the establishment of the Morikami Park and Gardens. Charles and Carole, who’ve been married for 62 years, have traveled extensively, including a four-month cruise around the world. They have two daughters, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Illinois native Ralph Abelt (Acct) is a retired banking executive who worked as CEO of Bank One in Cleveland in the 1980s and ’90s. Earlier in life, he served in the U.S. Marines and was an active leader in the Boy Scouts of America in Northeast Ohio. He and wife Patricia are the proud parents of three children: Susan, Christopher and Leslie.

Alan Feuerstein (Mktg) is founder and CEO of Web Editorial & Content Management, Inc. Earlier in life, Alan served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. Alan has lectured at New York University, University of Chicago and elsewhere on the use of the internet in web journalism and business strategy.

After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, George “Geoie” S. Writer Jr. (Fin) returned to Denver and founded The Writer Corporation, a home building company. He’s built more than 12,000 homes across the Front Range, and in 1978 was the youngest honoree as National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine. George received the Alumni Association’s 2017 George Norlin Award over Homecoming Weekend, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen field. Geoie has five children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

F. Rodney Drake (DistSt; MD’66) was president of his senior class in 1966. Following graduation, Rodney did a residency in psychiatry and a fellowship in child psychiatry. He is a past president of the Washington Psychiatric Society, the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society of Greater Washington and the Baltimore-Washington Psychoanalytic Society.

After a 42-year-long career in the oil and gas industry, Svein Hasund (MechEngr) dedicates much of his time in retirement to volunteering for CU Boulder. Svein received the Alumni Association’s 2017 Leanne Skupa-Lee Award over Homecoming Weekend. The award recognizes passionate volunteers who serve CU and the Alumni Association. He and wife Pauline have been married for more than 50 years.

Marilyn Amelia Moore (MPE) was inducted into the Lebanon, Mo., Sports Hall of Fame. She competed in six sports from 1958-62 at Southwest Missouri State [now Missouri State University]. Marilyn was a pioneer in establishing girls sports programs in the public schools of Springfield. She taught physical education and coached for 30 years at Hillcrest High School. Marilyn writes that retirement has brought time for RV travels throughout the U.S., working out at the gym, golfing and volunteering at church. She enjoys life in the Ozarks.

John E. Popovich Jr. (A&S; Law’71) retired after 31 years as a district court judge in the Seventeenth Judicial District in Colorado. In October, he received an award for judicial excellence from the Colorado Judicial Institute. John lives with his wife, Nancy, in Westminster, Colo.

After CU, Ron Scott (Mktg) spent 14 years in the private sector, including a stint as general manager of Hotel Boulderado. He returned to CU in the ’80s and served as the Buff Club’s development director and as assistant athletic director, helping to raise $14 million for the Dal Ward Athletic Center. Ron received the Alumni Association’s 2017 Alumni Recognition Award over Homecoming Weekend. The award recognizes alumni who connect, contribute and celebrate their CU pride through their extraordinary service to the university.

Lorrie Shepard (MEdu; PhD’72), a distinguished professor and dean emerita who has been with CU for more than 40 years, received the Alumni Association’s 2017 George Norlin Award over Homecoming Weekend. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen field.

Tom Nelson (Pharm) and Linda McDermott Nelson (Mktg’74) sold Pucci’s Leader Pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif., after 37 years of ownership. Tom writes that in their retirement years they hope to visit all 59 U.S. National Parks and spend time with their two grandchildren.

Over Labor Day weekend, the CU Men’s Rugby Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with an alumni reunion in Boulder. The weekend’s highlight was a match pitting alumni against current CU players. About 40 alumni from all five decades played in the match, including David Bennet (DistSt), who played for CU in the spring of 1969. Read more here. Planning for the next rugby reunion, in 2018, has already begun. Email curugby@colorado.edu for details.

Barbara Cooke (Psych; MBA’81), Los Angeles Forever Buffs chapter leader since its founding in 1988, received the Alumni Association’s 2017 Leanne Skupa-Lee Award over Homecoming Weekend. The award recognizes passionate volunteers who serve CU Boulder and the Alumni Association.

Yusur Wajih Al-Madani (MEngl; PhD’82), associate dean for academic affairs at Kuwait University, received the Alumni Association’s 2017 George Norlin Award over Homecoming Weekend. The award recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen field.

Paul Criscuolo (Econ) has worked for 40 years in the beverage industry in the U.S. and Asia. He is the CEO of Aged Whiskey Man Consulting LLC, a Massachusetts company serving distilleries. Paul and wife Rhonda live in Massachusetts.

The National Association of Corporate Directors and Puget Sound Business Journal announced Colleen Birdnow Brown (MBA) as 2017 Director of the Year.

Over Labor Day weekend, the CU Men’s Rugby Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with an alumni reunion in Boulder. The weekend’s highlight was a match pitting alumni against current CU players. About 40 alumni from all five decades played in the match, including Pete Doody (Engl), Rich Frankenheimer (Econ), Dean Niro (CivEngr’88), Shane Brown (AeroEngr’95; MS’99) and Dan Hernandez (InfoSys’98). Read more here. Planning for the next reunion, in 2018, has already begun. Email curugby@colorado.edu for details.

Susan E. Seabrook (Hist) joined the tax practice group of Eversheds Sutherland as a partner in the law firm’s Washington, D.C., office. Susan was previously a partner in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC’s D.C. tax controversy practice.

In August, Carol Pope (Engl) of Petersburg, Ill., retired from the 4th District Appellate Court, to which she was named in 2008. Carol was a clerk to U.S. district judge J. Waldo Ackerman in Springfield, Ill., before becoming Menard County’s state attorney in 1984. She and husband Al have two sons and four grandsons.