Lewis
Kemper
Since
graduation I have been working as a photographer. I migrated west
and landed in Yosemite National Park where I worked at the Ansel
Adams Gallery back when Ansel was still alive. This led me to
meet many of the people I studied in my History of Photography
class. From there I went on to become a contributing editor to
Outdoor Photographer and PC Photo magazines. I am one of Canon
USA's Explorers of Light a select group of photographers sponsored
by Canon cameras. I have been published in hundreds of books,
magazines, calendars, etc. I teach photographic and digital classes
at Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Santa Fe Workshops and online
at www.BetterPhoto.com
The first
article I ever wrote was based on one of the classes I took at
GW.
I have
been married to my wife Heidi for 13 years and we have a 9 year
old son, Logan. Visit my website www.LewisKemper.com.
Dr. Suellen Ludwig Crano
Most
recently, I was Vice President of Strategic Planning and Institutional
Effectiveness at Western University of Health Sciences. I retired
in November, 2002, after battling malignant peritoneal mesothelioma
for 22 months. I am still battling the disease caused by exposure
to asbestos.
My favorite memories of GW were of the 4th floor of Mitchell Hall.
I lived there for two years along with some really amazing people,
many of whom have been in touch with each other over the years
and recently thanks to Jeff Mattero. The people on that floor
all lived in single dorm rooms, which the administrators at GW
were worried about. However, the socialization that occurred among
floor members was like family life.
My most amazing experience at GW was participating in the Dance
Marathon during my freshman year and dancing for 20 hours straight
in the Marvin Center to raise money for charity. Dr. Schiff's
biology class was terrific too...and his generous donation of
time and energy to Martha's Marathon was special (I think I have
a thing for marathons!)
After graduation, I attended GW for three more years, earning
a M.A.Ed, and an Ed.S. degree in the College of Education, and
was continuing with doctoral work, when I met my husband to be
(just celebrated 25th anniversary) at the Lansing Airport. I moved
mid-semester to East Lansing and completed my doctorate at Michigan
State. Since then, I have worked for the State of Michigan Department
of Higher Education Management, Wyeth Laboratories, the Federal
University in Porto Alegre Brazil, Youth for Understanding (an
international student exchange program) and then settled into
academe as a senior administrator at Texas A&M, the University
of Arizona, and, Western University of Health Sciences. My specialty
was in strategic planning, institutional research and effectiveness.
I did a sabbatical in DC in 1989-91 and worked with the National
Research Council on a project regarding the elimination of mandatory
retirement for faculty. I spent a few lovely days doing a case
study at GW and immensely enjoyed working with President Trachtenberg.
My education at GW prepared me for a life of the mind. The general
education facilitated my working in a variety of fields with a
wide range of professionals. In addition, living in DC, with the
amenities of the city all around me gave me an appreciation of
culture that I have enjoyed throughout my life, wherever I go.
My husband is a distinguished scientist who has taken our family
all over the globe. We have lived and he has worked in Brazil,
Europe, Canada, Africa, and at various places in the US. We spend
quite a bit of time in DC as he consults for the federal government
frequently. I always check out GW when there and am envious of
the students there now who have the benefit of a much better developed
campus and surrounding city.
I have one son, Brian (23), who graduated from UCLA at 18 and
went onto grad school in London. He is an accomplished playwright/actor
and is now writing film scripts. His play, 12th Premise, is the
story of growing up with a mother dying of cancer, in which I
played myself in Edinburgh at the Fringe Festival and in a 10
week run in Los Angeles. His film, Bag of Hammers, is in pre-production
and is scheduled to start filming in March 2007. He lives in a
Victorian house we are renovating that is featured in the upcoming
film "Running with Scissors" (the big blue house).
I spend my time battling cancer, volunteering for the National
Cancer Society, and serve on the board of WiredInternational,
an international humanitarian organization (www.wiredinternational.org)
and the advisory board for the College of Graduate Nursing at
Western. In addition, I take care of cancer patients who do not
have the ability to navigate the medical system and get excellent
care. I have 5 grandchildren from my husband's first marriage,
in whom I take enormous delight. And I enjoy every day as if it
were my last. I look forward to seeing everyone.
Ronni
Kanfer Backer is currently
a Senior Corporate Writer for Cartus, a relocation company, in
Danbury, Connecticut.
I
met my husband, Ted Backer (BA ’74, JD ’77) soon after
graduation. We moved to Danbury (close to our families in the
New York City area) in 1978, and I earned a Master’s degree
in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut
in 1983. I have worked in relocation marketing since 1988. We
have one son, David, and we were thrilled when he decided to attend
GW, giving us lots of opportunities to visit the school and DC,
to catch up on campus life today and relive some very fond memories.
David graduated this year with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy
(Magna cum laude). I’m sorry that I will miss this reunion,
after renewing acquaintances at our 20th and 25th. Hope to catch
up with you all at the next one!
Mari Leslie Vuilleumier
Past
memories of GWU: My roommate and I boarded in Strong Hall for
two years together before she graduated. We would sunbath on the
roof. I was lucky enough to get a single the following year there.
She worked for Henry Kissinger and therefore we got lots of free
passes to political events such as the tree lighting, VIP passes
to the White House, tickets to the Inaugural Ball, etc. Mostly,
I remembered the Metro being built and the streets torn up, Nixon’s
resignation, late night drinks at the Red Lion(18 was the legal
drinking age), C Building – what a long walk on a cold rainy
morning, Marvin Center, Doreen from the Macke food service, Quigley’s,
Thurston Hall (freshman dorm), Spring break trips to the Carribean,
Professor Naser from the Chemistry Department, recycling trash
on campus as a part time job, events at the Kennedy Center, taking
advantage of all you can eat at Ho-Jo’s across from the
Watergate, midnight trips to the monuments and lots more. I was
part of a sorority – Delta Gamma and did most of my socializing
with friends from the Greek Organizations on campus. I received
my BS in Math and started working at New York Life Insurance Company
as a computer programmer. I married Paul Vuilleumier who was a
Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) also a graduate of GW a few years after
graduation. I started singing with an A cappella group and made
a few singles. I taught Kindergarten at a local school in CT for
5 years then moved on to private business where I now work as
the Operations Manger for the Chamber of Commerce in Ridgefield,
CT where we reside now. Paul and I have two children, Caroline
– a senior at Boston College and Andrew – a freshman
at Fordham University.
Jose A. Pitarque
I
am an Ophthalmologist, with a subspecialty in Glaucoma and Anterior
segment surgery. My wife is a Pediatric Ophthalmologist and we
have two kids 15 and 13 years old. I returned to practice in Quito,
Ecuador (a city of eternal spring) after living many years abroad.
I love to hike, kayak and snorkel with my family.
In spite of the fact that 30 years have gone by, I will never
forget my good friends from Adams Hall: Domininc Favale, Dick
Deutsch, Pasquale Menna, and my roommate Tom McDonald. Best food...a
little place next to the Red Lion, where they had the best Guacamole
Hamburgers in town. Best teacher…Dr. Levy for Organic Chemistry.
Best place to study...the new Gelman library with Anita Fraga.
GW legacy...study hard, beat the odds and have fun!
Cynthia Jachles is currently a Realty Specialist for
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
“My
career path followed my Public Affairs major since I have been
employed in state and local government during most of my professional
life. I've worked in Syracuse, New York (where I grew up), Manhattan,
South Florida and now Washington, DC. I have fond memories of
GW and that is one reason why I moved back to Foggy Bottom in
1999 - to take advantage of GW's facilities and activities, and
I do!! For those of you who have not spent much time here since
we graduated in 1976, you are in for a great treat alumni weekend.
The campus offers so much and the number of new buildings is amazing.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our reunion!”
Sean
P. Walsh is currently a Senior Program Manager for the
JJMA Maritime Sector of Alion Science and Technology in Washington
DC.
“Immediately
after graduation, I went into the U.S. Navy and spent almost 18
years on active duty in engineering assignments. Since transition
to the civilian world in 1994, I have continued working in the
field of ship design and am now a Senior Program Manager for the
JJMA Maritime Sector of Alion Science and Technology here in DC.
I married a local girl from Maryland and have two daughters, one
just graduated from college and another still in school. I have
also volunteered with professional societies and with alumni activities
at GW, just completing two years as the President of the Engineer
Alumni Association.”
Let
us feature you! Email alumni76@gwu.edu
or submit a Class Note to tell us about your job, your family,
and a great memory from your years at GW.
