Notes from the Class of 1965

After serving as a public school teacher and administrator for over 25 years, Charles Wooten (MEdu’65) taught English in China in 1990. His experience there sparked the idea for his novel Letters From a Chinese Angel: Heavenly Messenger (Xlibris Corp.), which can be purchased on Amazon.com. Charles completed his third novel in the unpublished AngelTeam trilogy series, Journey to Jerusalem (A Disappearance at Damascus.) He lives in Broomfield, Colo.

Depression…a Guide for Caregivers (Create Space), written by Gary Kochenberger (ElEngr’65, MBA’68, PhD’69), was published this year. The book is based on Gary’s experience of caring for his wife, Ann Kochenberger (Edu, Hist’65) during her struggles with bipolar disorder over the past three decades. The book is a resource for helping spouses and loved ones cope with mental illness. Gary is a professor of decision sciences at the University of Colorado Denver. He and Ann live in Denver.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and Paul (Wipf and Stock Publishers) by David Smith (Psych’65) was published in July 2011. The book is a literary analysis of the synoptic gospels, concluding that the writers used the Epistles of Paul as a source for their stories of Jesus of Nazareth. David lives in Rogers, Ark.

During his retirement Charles Wooten (MEdu’65) has focused on being a writer. His latest effort is Side By Side, a science-fiction novel and personal memoir using the pseudonym Jason Witherspoon. Charles lives in Broomfield, Colo.

“The 40-Year-Retrospective of Art” by Carole Katchen (Psych’65) was featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Hot Springs, Ark., where Carole resides. Carole wrote and illustrated her first book,I Was a LonelyTeenager (Scholastic), as a senior in 1964. It sold 700,000 copies. Since then she has written 17 books, shown art in galleries internationally and has been included in Who’s Who in American Art for 26 years.

At the Murie Conservation Center in Moose, Wyo., H. Robert Krear (PhDZool’65) and his former expedition member received the Murie Center Spirit of Conservation Award. This award is given to those who have made a major contribution to the creation or preservation of wilderness areas and the protection of wildlife. Robert has done research in arctic Alaska and the Bering Sea, was a professor of biology at four universities and retired from Michigan Technology University. He lives in Estes Park, Colo.

In June Beverly Morrato* (A&S’65) was elected to the University of Colorado Directors Club board. She lives in Centennial, Colo.

*Directors Club member

Author Mathew Zachariah (PhDEdu’65) wrote an autobiography, Making Anew My Home: A Memoir. The book has several pages dedicated to his time at CU-Boulder as well as his role as a professor at University of Calgary in Canada. Mathew lives in Calgary.

Clementine Pigford (ComDisor’65) completed several works that chronicle the lives of selected African Americans and the history of Colorado African American organizations from 1899 to 1926. She wrote The Arms of Zion: A Comprehensive Collection of Denver’s Zion Baptist Church Archives. Clementine’s historical compilations will be submitted to the Denver Public Library, Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library and History Colorado. She lives in Centennial, Colo.

Author Charles Wooten (MEdu’65) wrote a nonfiction book Mountains, Mountaineering, and Memories. He has climbed such 14ers as Long’s Peak, Mount of the Holy Cross and Mount Elbert — the highest peak in Colorado and the third highest in the U.S. Charles lives in Broomfield, Colo.

In 1952 H. Gail Godbey (Econ, PolSci’65) started his golf career as a 14-year-old caddie at Cherry Hills Country Club after being chosen to caddie in presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower’s foursome. During his career Gail worked for Frontier Airlines as a marketing and advertising executive. He then directed public relations, promotion and marketing for The Denver Post. Gail created the Colorado Women’s Open and Senior Open and was executive director of the Colorado Open, which raised funds through the CU Foundation for the CU Cancer Center. He received the 2013 Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award. Gail lives in Denver with his wife Christina “Vicki” Dickson Godbey (PolSci’61).

In November 2013 Charles Wooten (MEdu’65) celebrated his 84th birthday. He still enjoys skiing and mountaineering in his beloved Colorado and cheering on the Buffs. Charles’ daughter, Cynthia Wooten (Mus’82), also is a CU graduate. Charles lives in Broomfield, Colo.

After playing center lineman for CU’s football team and being a part of the 1961 Big 8 Championship and 1962 Orange Bowl, C. Michael Bennis (A&S’65) has found a new passion. He has two award-winning books, Romance: Rules of Engagement and Paranormal: Signs of Destiny. His newest novel, Dangerous and Desirable, is one of his best-sellers. He lives in Tucson, Ariz., with his wife and three dogs.

H. Robert Krear (PhDZool’65), an expert in ethology, or the behavior and ecology of animals in the field, undertook four expeditions to the far north: To central subarctic Labrador for an ecological study; and three times to Alaska, where he worked with fur seals, participated in the Murie 1956 Arctic Brooks Range Expedition (which played a major role in the creation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) and studied sea otters in the far western Aleutian Islands. Robert wrote a book about his experiences, Four Seasons North: Exploration and Research in the Arctic and Subarctic.

After working as a lawyer for 40 years, John Solheim (MechEngr’65) in 2012 accepted a position as a project manager for the demolition of 1 million square feet of buildings at the Eastman Kodak campus in Windsor, Colo. John completed the 18-month assignment and has returned to the law. He lives in Westminster and Durango, Colo., with his wife, Jeannie. John is happy to report that his two daughters and their families have moved back to Colorado.

Columbia University appointed Tom Maniatis (A&S; MA’67) director of its precision medicine initiative. He also serves as chair of the biochemistry and molecular biophysics department and on the board of directors for the New York Genome Center, which he co-founded. The center looks for clinical solutions to diseases based on genomic research. Tom lives in New York.

History Colorado awarded Clementine Washington Pigford (Spch) the Honorable Mention Miles Bancroft award for her 600-page book, Colorado African American Organizations 1899-1926: Before and after the Dance. It was her second award from the organization since 2012. The book contains information about clubs and events sponsored by various African American organizations for the betterment of their academic, civic, religious and social groups. Clementine lives in Centennial, Colo.

Artist, author and self-publisher Carol L. Young (A&S) published What Grows Here? Mountain Gardening in Northern California, which has sold more than 9,000 copies since appearing in 1986. Carol remembers her time at CU fondly. She says that when she first boarded a plane from California to attend CU, she stood up and asked, “Is there anyone here who is in the hiking club?” Three people stood up, and she remembers becoming an active member of CU’s hiking club after that. She lives in Winchester, Ore.

Nancy Smoyer (Hist) wrote Donut Dollies in Vietnam: Baby-Blue Dresses & OD Green, a memoir about her year in Southeast Asia as a Red Cross recreation worker in 1967-68, and the aftermath. She used letters and tapes sent home during her tour as well as emails written to veteran groups since 1993 to recall her memories. She has worked with veterans in various capacities, including as a Vet Center counselor, volunteer at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and organizer of the Stand Down in Fairbanks, Alaska.

On Oct.14, 2017, Colorado Black Women for Political Action honored Clementine Washington Pigford (CommDisor) for her writing and research projects. She lives in Centennial, Colo.