Notes from the Class of 1981

Well-known sports journalist Rick Reilly (Jour’81) gave the final graduation speech of CU’s journalism school in May. He worked as a reporter for the Boulder Camera, The Denver Post and the Los Angeles Times before joining Sports Illustrated where he wrote for 23 years. He is a front-page columnist for ESPN.com and hosts ESPN’s hour-long interview show, “Homecoming.” Rick lives in Denver.

“Since graduation my life can best be described with the word ‘travel,’” writes Melissa Mansell Popp (IntlAf’81). She started working for the federal government in 1981 and lived in Maryland, Colorado, England, Virginia, Pakistan and Indonesia. She has since settled in Elizabeth, Colo., where she has Broncos season tickets and two grown daughters.

With more than 25 years of financial management and strategic planning experience, Reagan Sakai (Fin’81, MBA’88) has taken his skills to BlueCava. He serves as CFO for the company, which is a provider of device identification technology that enables businesses to improve online advertising effectiveness and reduce fraud risk. He lives in Dove Canyon, Calif.

As CU-Boulder’s vice chancellor for diversity, equity and community involvement, Robert “Bob” Boswell (PhDMCDBio’81) oversees the campus’ diversity recruitment and retention of students and faculty, campus climate issues and develops practices to promote diversity within the university. A Boulder resident, Bob has been a molecular, cellular and developmental biology professor at CU since 1991 and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator.

Eugene Rosenquest (Jour’81) works as an account executive, advertising copywriter and broadcaster/traffic coordinator for the WEUS AM Radio “TheBig810am” in Orlando, Fla. While at CU, he was president of the journalism school’s Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi student chapter.

Retired teacher Kathryn “Kitty” Kroger (MEdu’81) completed her novel Dancing with Mao and Miguel (Division Street Books). The book is a love story set against the backdrop of radical politics in New Jersey during the 1970s. She lives in Los Angeles. Visit her website at kittykroger.com.

Thurber House, the national literary center, named Rick Reilly (Jour’81) a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor. Rick has been voted National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times. Formerly a senior writer for Sports Illustrated, he is a front-page columnist for ESPN.com and author of The New York Times bestseller Who’s Your Caddy?(CreateSpace). He lives in Denver and Hermosa Beach, Calif., with his wife.

In April Bill Reinert (MCivEngr’81) participated in CU’s Conference on World Affairs, speaking on “The Future of Energy.” He is national manager of advanced technology for Toyota Motor Sales, USA. His primary function is to coordinate Toyota’s various research, development and marketing activities related to alternative-fuel vehicles and emerging technologies. He lives in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

After graduation Frank “Franz” Safford (ArchEngr’81) started two companies, the most recent being Innovation Glass. His company is implementing a new glass wall product Franz invented, the VS-1 system. He lives in Red Hook, N.Y., and remains a big fan of CU with a strong appreciation for the education he received.

Former CU golfer Steve Jones (A&S’81) received recognition as part of the 2012 Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class at the ceremony in November. Steve was a second-team All-American as a senior in 1980-81 when he set school records that still stand, had nine top 10 finishes and 10 top 20 efforts. In 1996 Steve won the U.S. Open. He resides in Mesa, Ariz.

A scientist from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Wayne Hess (Chem’81, PhD’88) was named a fellow of the American Physical Society. Wayne is known for research on how materials respond to light and how they can be used to perform light-driven chemical reactions or to convert light into electricity. Wayne regularly mentors postdoctoral fellows and college students and has authored or co-authored more than 90 journal articles. He lives in Richland, Wash.

In Carol E. Kelley’s (Hist’81, MAnth’95) book Accidental Immigrants and the Search for Home: Women, Cultural Identity, and Community, she profiles four women who moved to new countries for marriage, an education or a career, challenging immigrant stereotypes as their lives are transformed. Her book was published in March. Carol is an anthropologist and former lawyer who has worked as a research consultant for universities and nonprofit organizations. She lives in Dania, Fla.

Professor Reza Ramazani (MEcon’81, PhD’90) teaches international and environmental economics at Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. Reza travels to such developing countries as Haiti and China and has published articles in the Review of Economics and Statistics on his research on international trade, finance, environmental economics and economic development. In April Reza spoke at CU’s 65th Conference on World Affairs. He lives in Williston, Vt.

Charlie Ladd (ElEng, Fin’81) developed a robot spine surgery table to help surgeons improve complicated cervical and lumbar spine surgeries that require special patient positioning. He is a co-author of the patent for the table and works for Mizuho OSI. Charlie lives in the Bay Area.

The inspiration for Bobo’s Oat Bars came to founder Beryl Stafford (Hist’81) after her 14-year-old daughter began making delicious oat squares. Beryl says she tweaked the recipe so that it could be healthier and a great grab when on the go. Bobo’s Oat Bars are sold nationwide. The slogan reads, “Baked from the heart in Boulder, Colorado.”

Psychotherapist Lynn L. Nickens (Soc) was selected for the 2014 Best of Victorville (Calif.) Award in its counseling services category. She has been in private practice for 15 years, with offices in San Bernardino and Victorville. She also released a book last year, Breaking Free from Anxiety, and plans to release her second book, Breaking Free from Test Anxiety, this year.

Since 2007, Brian Vogt (Class) has been CEO of the Denver Botanic Gardens, leading fundraising and major facilities upgrades. He previously served in senior posts in state government, including three years as director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Brian lives in Littleton.

Attorney John Lund (Econ) has joined law firm Parsons Behle & Latimer’s Salt Lake City office. John has more than 30 years of experience as a trial attorney. His practice focuses on commercial litigation and trial work in the Intermountain West. John is admitted to the Utah, Wyoming and Colorado State Bars.

Proud Buff and father Doug Dorame (PE) writes that his daughter spent the past summer at CU teaching in the Upward Bound Program and living in the Newton Courts before starting college at Yale. When he picked her up in Boulder, Doug visited Smith Hall, his former dormitory. Doug is the athletic director at Albuquerque High School, N.M.

Brian Vogt (Class), the CEO of Denver Botanic Gardens, was honored with the national Award of Excellence from National Garden Clubs Inc., one of the nation’s most recognized nonprofits and largest volunteer gardening organization in the world. A Colorado native, Brian has served at the Botanic Gardens for eight years and oversaw the garden’s historic $73 million capital campaign and master development plan. Brian is a writer, speaker, artist, gardener and hiker, serving in community leadership and public service in Colorado for almost 25 years. He also served as director of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and was a member of the Governor’s Economic Commission on Science and Technology and served as president of the South Metro Chamber of Commerce in Denver.