Notes from the Class of 1987

Eric Grosgogeat (MChemEngr) joined computer software company ANCILE Solutions Inc. as CEO. Previously he was CEO of FocusVision, a market research technology company.

Ken Ayers, Jr. (MTeleComm) was selected as a Notable 'Note by Florida State University. He also was named the State of Florida’s 2017 Lionfish King after he eliminated 1,250 invasive lionfish from state waterways in a statewide competition. A total of 26,321 lionfish were removed during the four-month competition, which occurred from the end of May to the first week in September.

Karen Auvinen’s (EPOBio; MEngl’95) memoir, Rough Beauty: Forty Seasons of Mountain Living, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. Winners were announced May 18. In her book, Karen describes her experience of living in a primitive wood-stoveheated cabin on Overland Mountain near Fort Collins with her dog for 10 years before a fire incinerated every word she ever wrote and all her possessions. She now lives outside Rollinsville, Colo., with her watercolorist partner, Greg Marquez (who illustrated her book), and their dog, River. She teaches in CU’s Residential Academic Program.

Since graduating, Barbara Davis (Phil) has reunited with a group of CU alumni in Boulder’s Chautauqua Park every five years. “We call ourselves ‘The Class of 80 Something,’ because we didn’t all start or end at the same time, but along the way we found ourselves life-long friends,” wrote Barbara. “Several of us have children currently at CU and applying to CU next year!” The group most recently met in July 2018. “[We] are already looking forward to our next reunion!” wrote Barbara.

This year, filmmaker Robin Truesdale (Jour; MA’03) screened her latest documentary, Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels, around the country and in Cuba. The film documents the journey of Jews who survived the Holocaust and found refuge in Cuba. It’s based on the life of Robin’s co-director’s mother. Robin lives in Louisville, Colo.

Francie Ernest Low (Mktg) published Alive and Fixable, a memoir about her and her husband Tony Low (ElEngr,Mktg’87), who met at CU. Francie writes that Tony was in a near-fatal cycling accident in 2010 and spent 15 months recovering. He was desperate to return to cycling despite the harrowing crash. The couple lives in the San Francisco Bay Area but returns to Colorado every Christmas to visit family and experience the snowy winter.

More than an avid diver and fisherman, Ken Ayers Jr. (MTeleCom) was crowned “Lionfish King” of Florida for 2019. His second kingship in three years, Ken has eliminated more than 3,500 of the invasive species in the Gulf of Mexico. To accomplish the feat, he had to dive more than 175 times last summer, hunting with a specially designed pole spear.

Tony Pasquini (Mktg) started OliAMO Olive Oil Company, which offers unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil harvested and cold-pressed in his family’s olive press in Abruzzo, Italy. The oil can be bought at oliamoevo.com. Tony is owner and operator of Tony P’s, a Denver Italian restaurant he established in 1986. He lives in Denver. 

In 2009, Susie See (ArchEngr) became the first woman to serve on the board of directors of engineering firm WSP USA. Now, Susie is president and CEO of engineering consultant firm MEYERS+, where she is paving the way for female leaders in architectural and engineering communities. She lives in San Anselmo, California.

For the 16th year in a row, Jeanette Meyer (MBA) has been granted the highest level of service achievement in the real estate industry. This award recognizes her achievement of 100% client service satisfaction in 2020.

After serving as executive vice president at Colliers International, Steven Kohn (Fin’87) accepted a position as principal at Avison Young in Chicago. Steven focuses on lease negotiations, acquisitions and dispositions and landlord and tenant representation. He was also named to the USA Maccabi Masters Hockey team for the second time, where he will be one of 1,100 Jewish athletes representing the U.S. Maccabi USA connects the Jewish community and builds pride through sports. Steven resides in Glencoe, Illinois.

The Wyoming chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) honored Michael Tracy (Psych’87; MD’94) with the 2022 Laureate Award. The Laureate Award honors physicians who have demonstrated an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research in service to their community, chapter and the ACP. A former governor of the Wyoming ACP, Michael has practiced internal medicine and pediatrics in Powell, Wyoming, since 2002 and enjoys collaborating with colleagues and teaching medical students.

Gardener and photographer Barbara Colombo (Art’87) released The Many Stages of Love: A Collaboration between a Grandmother and Granddaughter. The book is composed of Barb’s photographs paired with her grandmother Nilda Follini’s thoughts on love. Barb lives in Boulder.

Francis Rexford Cooley (Hist’87) of Plainville, Connecticut, was elected Connecticut State Representative from the 22nd District to the General Assembly. Previously, Francis worked as an educator, teaching history and art history at Paier College of Art for 23 years. He then served as a dean for 13 years before assuming the role of head of the general education department for the next 15 years.

Courtney Harris Coffee (Engl’87) serves as a research development associate for the University of Arizona, specializing in education and diversity-focused proposals. She wrote that helping individuals or teams create compelling and clear narratives through intensive editing is a particular highlight of her work. She lives in Tucson, Arizona. 

Journalist Tom Costello (Jour’87) was named NBC News senior correspondent in January. In his 20 years with NBC news, he has also served as a Washington and New York correspondent, reporting on many beats and topics. 

In September, Chris Warner (Geog’87) became the second American to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter peaks — the world’s tallest mountains. Chris is a motivational speaker who uses his experiences in both mountaineering and entrepreneurship to educate people. He has contributed to two books — he wrote a chapter in Upward Bound: Nine Original Accounts of How Business Leaders Reached Their Summits and co-wrote High Altitude Leadership — and has appeared on multiple national news outlets as an expert in leadership and climbing. He lives in Denver.