Class Notes

CU Regent Emeritus Hugh Fowler (Mgmt) received the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award in Advocacy from the Colorado League of Charter Schools. Hugh, 93, writes that most of his classmates and Navy shipmates have passed away. In the ’60s and ’70s, Hugh hosted three CU Navy alumni reunions with his late twin brother and “computer science wizard” Parker Fowler (Mgmt; MS’55).

John R. Thompson (A&S; PhD’60), emeritus professor at Oberlin College, writes that he has been retired for 28 years. Oberlin’s first clinical psychologist, he taught abnormal psychology and systems of therapy. There he also founded the student counseling and psychological services center. Later, John and his wife, Wynona Tank Thompson (A&S’51), led a group that advocated for the Episcopal Church to ordain women priests, and another group that pushed the U.S. Presbyterian Church to ordain and marry same sex-couples. John recently published the book Me, Now and Then: a Memoir. He and Wynona have fond memories of CU, where they married as undergraduates. “That campus is so beautiful and the education we got there was wonderful,” he wrote.

For the past 20 years, Vikki Viskniskki Woods (Spch) has run the Iron Mountain Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that she designed and built in Butler, Tenn. “Because an innkeeper never knows who is going to come across the threshold, every time the door opens to new guests, it’s like the opening of a new show. And what fun has it been all these years!” writes Vikki. Since opening the inn, she has also opened Creekside Chalet, a cabin rental company, and built her retirement cabin by a nearby lake in Butler.

Louis DeLuca (Law) wrote: “I went back East after graduation, clerked for a federal judge and then switched planning, education and the arts in Connecticut and Kentucky. Retired, I live in Berea, Ky., and weave rugs for friends. Transferring to CU law was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

William M. Sprecher (IntlAf) writes that attending CU was a chance decision for him, and a great one. “Three universities accepted my applications,” he wrote. “Eventually, I narrowed the schools to the University of Washington (Seattle) and CU. A ‘flip of the coin’ on my bunk bed in my army barracks turned out to be CU. It was a great and lasting choice.” After enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1954 following high school in Newark, Del., William was transferred to Texas and then Missouri, before being sent to Saint-Nazaire, France, as a private first class. He eventually rose to the rank of sergeant.

Nancy Rader Kellogg (Zool; PhDEdu’80) retired after 50 years of working in science education. A member of the National Science Teachers Association and the National Science Education Leadership Association, she co-founded the Colorado Science Education Network in 1998 and currently serves on the organization’s steering committee. She writes that she continues her service by volunteering with state and national science organizations.

Thomas Lee Turman (ArchEngr) is an architect in El Cerrito, Calif. The author of two books and now at work on a third, he has taught at the University of California, Berkeley, Laney College and California Photo courtesy Judy Freeman College of the Arts. After helping start a school of architecture in Ghana, he published a memoir about his experience, WAWA — West Africa Wins Again. He has published TEACHER — Stories to Be Graded by Friday and is now working on a volume called Sailors and Dogs Keep off the Grass. When not writing, Thomas enjoys spending time with his wife, daughters and grandsons.

In March 2019, Marilyn Amelia Moore (PE) was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for her 30 years of teaching and coaching at Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Mo.

Sandra Nance (Jour) received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award by Marquis Who’s Who, a national publisher of biographical profiles. Sandra began her career as a reporter for United Press International in Cheyenne, Wy., before working as a statehouse correspondent for the Casper Star-Tribune. She later taught journalism and media courses at Denver’s Regis University and Metropolitan State College. During her career, she was an active member of the Colorado Press Women, an affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women, and a longtime member of the Society of Professional Journalists. She lives in Wheat Ridge, Colo.

After graduating from CU, Nancy Burger Beauprez (Jour) worked briefly at the Greeley Tribune and then in university public relations in Colorado and Montana. Later, she worked as a technical editor for an environmental consulting company before becoming an English teacher. “The final 12 years of my work life were spent in a junior high classroom trying to show 13-year-olds how cool writing can be,” Nancy wrote. She now lives in Fort Collins with her husband, Gerald, but writes “our hearts live in Boulder.”

Author Roger P. Barrick (Law) lives in Roseville, Calif. In 2012, he published At the Gates of the Wolf’s Lair. Set in 1944 Berlin, the novel follows the life of Robert Felsen, the son of Jews who fled Germany after “The Night of Broken Glass.” In the book, Felsen is a detective and investigative reporter who takes on a mysterious and dangerous case that “threatens to destroy all that he loves in life.” 

It was an exciting time for women’s tennis when identical twins Judy Sigel Freeman (Art) and Jill Sigel Greer (Art) attended CU. Professional female tennis player Billie Jean King had just beaten Bobby Riggs and Title IX had just passed for equality in sports for women. Yellow tennis balls were just being tested. “What an incredible experience for two Minnesota girls who played one tennis match in high school and won the Lake Conference in high-top tennis shoes and cutoff jean shorts!” wrote Judy. Her CU sweatsuit now hangs in Old Main. The twins, now 65, continue to play tennis together in the Twin Cities. “We dress alike and feel that usually gives us a three-game advantage,” said Judy, whose husband, Todd Freeman (Mktg’74), was a cheerleader at CU. Judy and Jill’s sister Susie Sigel Teboul (Jour’82) also went to CU, along with Judy’s son Zach Freeman (Mgmt’06) and Jill's daughter Allison Greer (IntPhys’16). “We all continue to have the University of Colorado deep in our hearts,” wrote Judy.

Dr. Peter A Fields (Soc) attended medical school at age 37. Prior to that, he was a chiropractor. He specializes in regenerative orthopedics, which is fixing joints and spines without surgery. He is an expert in stem cell therapy, PRP and prolotherapy. Peter lectures on these topics throughout the world and has appeared on national television. An active 10-time Ironman triathlon finisher, he has competed in over 60 triathlons. This year he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (19,371 feet). He has trademarked the term “The Athletic Doc.” Peter's love of travel has brought him to 43 countries and 47 states. He has lived overseas three times. “Life is good at 65!” wrote Peter. His website is www.drfields.com.

After two years of “semi-retirement” and consulting with the startup Craft Distillers, Paul T. Criscuolo (Econ) joined Broken Shed Distillery USA as vice president, specializing in branding and marketing. The craft distillery is based in New Zealand and currently produces vodka and plans to expand into other spirits. 

Gary Porter (MBA’74; PhDBusAd’77) and wife Melissa Komisar Porter (Mktg) fell in love at CU in 1976. The couple, who celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary last year, write that they traveled to Boulder in 2017 for their first Homecoming weekend since graduation. After leaving CU, Gary taught accounting at various universities and Melissa embarked on a 32-year career in marketing and business development at IBM. Gary is the author of several accounting textbooks, as well as the fiction book Duffy: The Tale of a Terrier and a new collection of essays, Town Kid: Reflections of a Midwestern Boyhood. Earlier this year, the couple attended Western Art Week in Great Falls, Mont., where they met up with former Buffs running back and artist Shay Davis (A&S ex’97). “It was fun to reminisce about the 1994 Fiesta Bowl that we attended and he played in,” Melissa wrote. The couple currently lives in Hudson, Wis.

Joanie Griffin (Jour) was inducted into the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame in April. In 1990, Joanie founded the public relations firm Griffin & Associates in Albuquerque. She rebranded her firm as Sunny 505 with a stronger focus on social media, web and print design and video production. Joanie lives in Albuquerque with her husband, Rob Durham.

After graduating from CU, Michael Allan Fox (ElEngr) worked at Bell Labs while earning a master’s in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He later attended medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia before training as a radiologist. In his spare time, he plays piano, sings with a barbershop chorus and performs in community theater musicals. He lives in San Rafael, Calif. 

In January, Peter Doody (Engl) received the Defense Lawyer of the Year Award from the San Diego Defense Lawyers. In February, he became president of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, the largest regional civil litigation defense organization in the nation, with 1,200 attorney members from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Peter was captain of the CU rugby team.

Project manager and marketing strategist Andrea Robbins (Comm) and her team at Studio Six Branding in Longmont, Colo., recently rebranded several transit systems: The Lift in Winter Park, The Hop in Boulder, SMART in Telluride and the Trinidad Trolley in Trinidad. Separately, Andrea has coached and trained young athletes in alpine skiing in Winter Park for the past 15 years.

Alan F. Willenbrock (ChemEngr, Mktg) joined Morgan Stanley’s Alternative Investments Directors Program. A financial advisor in Tucson, Alan helps clients with retirement planning, alternative investments, financial planning and wealth management.