Class of 1984

Greetings to the Class of 1984! It was wonderful to see so many of you at our class reunion in October! It is hard to believe we graduated 40 years ago, yet it seemed as if little time had passed when we were together for our reunion celebration. 

The festivities began with the Homecoming Parade. The Class of 1984 was represented by our class leaders, class president Fraser Hudgins, class vice president Joanna Ashworth and class secretary Margee Mulhall, riding in a classic Tribe-green convertible. Class ambassadors Nancy Cote Kane, JJ Johnson and I carried the class banner and Diane Broach Forthuber passed out treats to the crowd. Our parade entry received a acknowledgment from President Katherine Rowe as we passed the viewing stands, perhaps in part because of the generosity of the class, which generated the largest reunion class gift this year. After the parade, it was great to see many of you at the Class of 1984 parade viewing tent, including Chris Mahoney Anderson, Mollye Greene Rhea, Lyle Lesesne Pritchard and Chris Kontos. 

My Tri Delta sorority sisters kicked off the weekend with dinner at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern. It was great to catch up with Susan French Owens, Lucy Blevins Jordan, Kimberly Albertson Lapkin and her husband, Glen Lapkin ’82, Sandy Baker Thompson, Donna Raines Parker, and Kari Guillén Traver ’85 and Tony Traver ’85. 

Another highlight of the weekend was a Lodge 4 reunion tailgate, organized by Kari Guillén Traver ’85. We were all sad to see the Lodges demolished to make way for other buildings, so celebrating a reunion together was a little bittersweet. Nancy Cote Kane, Liz Somers Ottaway and Betsey Powell Mullen ’85 were able to join us, but we were missing Priscilla Hancock Roman, Sutton Stephens Hamlin ’86 and Robin Renwick Riehemann ’85. We were able to Facetime with Robin, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and could not attend due to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. My husband, Greg Miller, and I enjoyed visiting with John Ottaway, George Foreman, Marna Ashburn, Sheri Henry Rohaley ’89, Mark Linaugh, Susie Sweetser Connors, Kimberly Eckert Failon ’85, Diane Limm Warren ’85 and others during the event. 

It was great to see Allan Robinson and Elaine Bogan Robinson, whom Greg and I met for dinner at the Fat Canary before the reunion party. Allan and Elaine live on St. Helena Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina, where Greg worked for the past 10 years. 

Greg recently accepted a new position with the Medical University of South Carolina hospital closer to home in Lancaster, South Carolina, which has curtailed the tennis sessions for him and Allan. They made sure to get some tennis hitting sessions in at the Inn while in Williamsburg! 

The class reunion reception was great fun, with many classmates in attendance. Greg and I enjoyed seeing so many of our dearest friends, catching up with Bill Scott ’84 and Meg Hunter Scott, Sharon Jones Bomgardner, JJ Johnson and Dan Head ’85, Kevin Gough, Dabney Carr and Carl Adkins and seeing so many others around the tent during the evening. 

Many thanks to the Class of 1984’s reunion committee, especially Joanna Ashworth and Fraser Hudgins, who worked so hard to plan a wonderful weekend of connection for our class!

After the class reception, Joanna, Greg and I took a little time to soak in the scenes on the campus, from the sounds of the Saturday Night Bash in the Sunken Garden to the green and gold lights bathing the Wren Building. We headed down DoG Street to the colonial home where Linda Reynard Basnight and Kord Basnight ’85, M.Ed. ’23 and Alison Hawley Ewing had a welcoming fire set and shared the events of the weekend together. 

We are all so grateful for the deep and lasting friendships we found at W&M!

I am also grateful for the emails I have received from a few of you, including Andrew Dolson ’84, J.D. ’88, Lisa West Alpert and Bill Joyner. I promise to include your news at the top of the next Class Notes! Please send along any other updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes! 

Greetings to the Class of 1984! I am currently in Fayetteville, Arkansas, attending events celebrating the upcoming wedding of my son, Alec Miller ’18, with his fiancée, Nikki Anderson, and her family. They will be married in Beaufort, South Carolina, and two of Alec’s best friends from William & Mary, John Kost ’18 and Austin Childs ’18, will be serving as groomsmen in the wedding.

Several dear friends from William & Mary held a beautiful tea party bridal shower for Alec and Nikki in April. Held at the lovely Charlotte, North Carolina, home of Joanna Ashworth, the hosts also included Laurie Raymond Benson and Dana Disque Hearn ’82. My sister Jennifer Horrocks Francois ’91 and her daughters Emma Francois and Natalie Francois ’21 joined us, along with Kari Guillen Traver ’85 and her daughter Tori Traver Coston. It was a splendid celebration, and we continued the gathering at my home that evening, along with the groom and my husband, Greg Miller.

Kari Traver and I met for dinner in Beaufort, South Carolina, recently, and a couple of weeks later I was able to celebrate with Kari and her family at a baby shower for her daughter Tori, who is expecting her first child, Tony Traver ’85 and Kari’s eighth grandchild! It was great to visit with Lilly Graves Weber ’85, Marna Ashburn ’85, Susan Hudgins Franz ’85, and Kari’s sister-in-law Kim Clarke Guillén ’83 during the event.

Anne Veit posted a great photo of a group of William & Mary classmates on a reunion trip to Denmark and Sweden. The group included Susan Ball and her sister Claire Ball Lane, Sheila McDonnell Bates, Julie Beringer, Alicia Rubí and Karen Sullivan Lane. Karen and Claire are sisters-in-law, as Karen is married to Dan Lane ’82 and Claire is married to Dan’s brother Pat. Anne said they had a wonderful time, and especially enjoyed Copenhagen and Stockholm.

Elizabeth Armistead Andrews has served as director of the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the William & Mary Law School for the past seven years. She is a professor of law and, during her tenure as director of the VCPC, has undertaken a wide variety of activities aligned with the center’s mission to solve complex issues relating to environmental and policy concerns in the state of Virginia. Among their initiatives, the center has developed projects to remove abandoned boats from waterways and worked with other teams to improve the resilience to water hazards such as flooding and sea level rise in coastal areas of the state. Elizabeth has brought an interdisciplinary approach to her leadership and her instruction, providing valuable contributions in research and science-based policy analysis that informs decisions at the state and local levels on topics related to a variety of environmental concerns.

In the last Class Notes, I shared that two classmates were profiled in the Virginia Business 2022 Power List. Victor Branch, president of Bank of America’s Richmond market, has advanced initiatives to promote financial literacy and workforce development programs for the city’s underserved minority communities and for students at the historically Black Virginia Union University. He served on the W&M Board of Visitors from 2018-2022 and was named to the Virginia State University Board of Visitors by Gov. Glenn Younkin in 2022.

Kevin M. Phillips is chairman, CEO and president of ManTech International Corp. in Herndon, Virginia. Kevin was a trustee of the William & Mary Foundation Board from 2013-2022, and to mark the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of One Tribe One Day, he and Mary Uhrig Phillips ’85 offered a 10-to-1 match for gifts made by first-time donors to any area of the university as part of a $1-million commitment that also supports scholarships and the W&M Libraries.

I hope to see many of you at Homecoming & Reunion Weekend this year, which will be held on October 19-22, 2023. Until then, please keep in touch and send along any updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes! You can also post your own update by joining the W&M online community at my1693.com. Hope to see you in October!

Greetings to the Class of 1984! It has been great to celebrate special birthdays with classmates over the last year as so many from our class begin a new decade of life. In November, I celebrated Laurie Raymond Benson’s birthday with her husband, Chris; her daughter, Kimberly; and my husband, Greg Miller, at Laurie’s home in Beaufort, South Carolina. Later that weekend, we met again at Joanna Ashworth’s Charlotte, North Carolina, home for another birthday gathering for Laurie, with a surprise visit from Alison Hawley Ewing and Linda Reynard Basnight, who traveled from the Washington, D.C., area to celebrate together.

Karen Thorne Alecxih was mentioned in an article in the Cherry Hill Courier-Post highlighting 50 women who have made contributions in sports in the South Jersey region in honor of the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Karen played both field hockey and basketball while at William & Mary, graduating among the all-time top 10 in points, goals and assists in field hockey. She was All-American in field hockey multiple times while at William & Mary, also serving as team captain. A senior member of the engineering staff at Lockheed Martin, Karen was inducted into the William & Mary Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Among several other notable William & Mary alumni, two classmates were profiled in the Virginia Business 2022 Power List. Victor Branch is the first Black president of Bank of America’s Richmond market, and he has effectively used his leadership role to advance initiatives to promote financial literacy and workforce development programs for students at the historically Black Virginia Union University as well as the city’s underserved minority communities. In addition, he is credited with the bank’s decision to increase its funding efforts advancing racial equality and economic opportunity. Victor has worked for Bank of America for nearly 40 years, and he recently completed his term of service on the William &Mary Board of Visitors. 

Kevin M. Phillips is chairman, CEO and president of Mantech International Corp. in Herndon, Virginia. Kevin joined the firm in 2002 and became president and CEO in 2018. He became chair in 2020 and, in his current role with the company, he leads 9,400 employees. A former Army reservist, Kevin is currently serving on the William & Mary Foundation’s board of trustees.

On a sad note, I recently learned that Jeff Wolf  passed away. Jeff played baseball and football at William & Mary and was recognized on All-American teams in 1983 and 1984. He participated in sports throughout his post-collegiate life, sharing his love of all sports, especially baseball, with the adult teams he played on as well as with countless youth he coached over decades. Jeff played for the Chesapeake Braves beginning in 2000 and began managing the Men’s Senior Baseball League team in 2002. He was a nine-time Chesapeake MSBL all-star at the time of his induction into the Chesapeake MSBL Hall of Fame in 2011. When I met him at the home of Tony Traver ’85 and Kari Guillen Traver ’85 during Homecoming in 2019, it was obvious that his greatest joy was his family, and he spent much time volunteering as a coach for his daughter and twin sons’ sports teams. In a beautiful acknowledgement of the passion Jeff had for sports, his family will be holding his Celebration of Life at the M&T Bank stadium. I am sure there will be many William & Mary alumni in attendance to remember Jeff together. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; his daughter, Allison; and his sons, Mitchell and David. I don’t know his professional background, but he seems to have been absolutely beloved by his W&M teammates and Kappa Sig brothers, as well as so many in the baseball community in Maryland where he lived.

Many thanks to Mrs. F, the parent of a classmate, for her lovely note! Your kind words were so appreciated and absolutely made my day! 

I hope to see many of you at Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, this year, which will be held Oct. 19-22, 2023. Between now and then, please keep in touch and send along any updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes! You can also post your own update by joining the W&M my1693 online community at www.my1693.com. Hope to see you there! 

Fall greetings to the Class of 1984! My husband, Greg Miller, and I were in Williamsburg last weekend to attend the wedding of Victoria Traver, the daughter of Kari Guillén Traver ’85 and Tony Traver ’85, to Andrew Coston. Beginning with a fife-and-drum performance, the beautiful ceremony was held in the Wren Courtyard on a perfect autumn evening, and the couple was whisked away in a carriage through the fall splendor of Colonial Williamsburg afterward. We stayed across the street from the ongoing construction project that is Phi Beta Kappa Hall, at the family home of Lilly Graves Weber ’85, and we enjoyed walking through CW and having Cheese Shop sandwiches with Lilly, her husband John, and Susan Gordon Henry ’85. During the weekend, we enjoyed visiting with Marna Ashburn ’85 and Susan Hudgins Franz ’85, as well as Tony and Kari’s family, including alumni couple Rob Guillén ’83 and Kim Clarke Guillén ’83, and their son, Alex Guillén ’10. 

I was sorry to miss Homecoming on the prior weekend, especially as many members of our class came back on this nonreunion year to attend the annual Sunset Ceremony together to honor classmates who have passed way since last year. One of those remembered was Tim Wilson, who was a sports writer and editor of The Flat Hat when we were in school, and, as previously reported here, passed away last November after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. Joanna Ashworth was among those who attended the Sunset Ceremony in honor of Tim, and she shared how moving the ceremony was, with the choir singing “Shenandoah” and everyone joining to sing “Our Alma Mater” as the candles glowed to represent our lost ones and the Wren Bell tolled in memoriam. Also attending the ceremony in honor of Tim (shown at right, photo by Skip Rowland ’83) were Noah Levine and his wife, Jackie, Patty Canonico, Dabney Carr, Alison Hawley Ewing, Anne St. Clair Woron, Ellie Dehoney, Dave Ramey and Jennifer Gregg Ramey, Mark Wysong ’84, M.B.A. ’99 and Lucy Martin Wysong, Dave Scanlon and Meg Hunter Scott. Jill Bobbin ’85 was also in attendance to honor her father, Larry Bobbin ’56. 

Tim stayed in very close touch with William & Mary friends, even having weekly Zoom calls with Noah Levine and Josh Slocum for many years. He had organized reunions of his Yates freshman hall over the years, so many of Tim’s dearest friends also joined together to bid farewell to Yates before its planned demolition. Many of those who attended the Sunset Ceremony together also gathered for Tim’s memorial service in Annandale, Virginia, in June, including Kelly Jackson Higgins ’85, George Foreman, Greg Faragasso, Paul Wolfteich, and Chris Gleason and Ingrid Johns Gleason. A brick has been installed in Tim’s memory on the terrace of the Alumni House. 

Another loss in our class this year was Dave Murphy, who passed away on July 8, 2022, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Remembered by our class as an outstanding quarterback and football team leader, Dave led the Tribe to a winning season our senior year, its first since 1977. Nearly 40 years after graduation, he still shares the school record for the most completions in a game. He is one of four quarterbacks in W&M football history to have thrown for at least 360 yards twice in a career, and his pass completion rate still stands fourth on the Tribe’s all-time list. Dave dedicated his time and talents to William & Mary athletics over the years, as executive director of the Tribe Club for several years, supporting fundraising and other initiatives for the William & Mary football and the athletics programs, and as a volunteer analyst on the Tribe’s radio broadcast for a season. He was a financial advisor with Wells Fargo for 35 years in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia, and among his community service endeavors, Dave served on the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond for 21 years. He is survived by his wife, Kellie Larsen Murphy ’85, and their children: Cameron Murphy ’18, Thomas, Luke and Meredith. Dave was remembered fondly by many who were quoted in an article published about him on the Tribe Athletics website in July. 

Another football player from our class, Douglas Yeamans, passed away in July 2020. Doug worked in management at the Kings Arms Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg for many years. He is survived by his two sisters and their families. 

In happier news, Guy Crittenden, another Tribe football player and now an acclaimed waterfowl artist, won the 2023 Michigan Waterfowl Stamp competition. Guy also won this competition in 2015 and 2017, and his painting will become the 2023-24 Michigan Waterfowl Stamp. 

Jenny Nazak was recognized by the City of Daytona Beach, Florida, as a Juneteenth Hometown Hero. Author of “Deep Green,” a book on low-footprint living, Jenny is the founder of the Daytona Beach Permaculture Guild, an eco-restoration and community activist organization. A life member of the Daytona Beach Chapter of the NAACP, Jenny is engaged in many community organizations, including serving on the Mayor’s Equity Initiative and Beachside Advisory Council, Inspire Arts and Neighborhood Watch, and she is steward of a Little Free Library. 

It is always great to hear from you, so please send along any updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes! You can also post your own update by joining the W&M my1693 online community at my1693.com. Hope to see you there! 

Summer greetings to the Class of 1984! It has been great to hear from a few of you, and it seems that our class is relishing being able to get together in person again, especially as this is the year that many of us are celebrating BIG birthdays! 

With so many of us turning 60 this year, there have already been some great celebratory reunions! Anne Veit ’83 shared a great photo from a joint celebration she and Sheila McDonnell Bates, Julie Beringer, Karen Sullivan Lane and Susan Ball held in Fort Myers, Florida. Alicia Rubí also joined in via Zoom from Madrid. The group had been “Zooming” internationally each week during the pandemic, with Susan joining from Vienna, Austria, and got together to celebrate both birthdays and the end of the pandemic travel restrictions. 

I have enjoyed visiting with some fellow alumni over the last few months as well. In March, Joanna Ashworth, Dana Disque Hearn ’82 and I spent the day together at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. In April, Linda Reynard Basnight, Alison Hawley Ewing, Joanna and I met for dinner at my parents’ home in Vienna, Virginia, and the following evening, Alison and Joanna hosted a gathering at Alison’s home in Potomac, Maryland, that included Anne St. Clair Woron, Henry Plaster ’85 and Kathy Decker Frakes ’86. When I got back to the Carolinas, I had lunch at Joanna’s home with Dana Hearn, Amy Marcos Drake and her charming mother, Ginny Marcos. Yes, the common denominator is Joanna, who is great at bringing people together wherever she is!

Also in April, I traveled back to Williamsburg to attend a surprise retirement party for Kari Guillén Traver ’85. Given by her husband, Tony Traver ’85, and their beautiful children and grandchildren, the party was attended by quite a few W&M alumni, including Kari’s brother Rob Guillén ’83 and his wife, Kim Clarke Guillén ’83, and their son Alex Guillén ’10, Marna Edwards Ashburn ’85, Susan Gordon Henry ’85, Lilly Graves Weber ’85 and Susan Hudgins Franz ’85. 

We celebrated the 60th birthday of my husband, Greg Miller, in March in Beaufort, South Carolina, and had a remarkably good showing of W&M grads, including Laurie Raymond Benson, Elaine Bogan Robinson, Allan Robinson and our son Alec Miller ’19. Greg and Allan continue to enjoy camaraderie and success on the tennis circuit, recently winning the clay court doubles title for the Southern Region. 

Duncan Weir, who recently retired after 35 years as a golf professional for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews, Scotland, traveled back to Williamsburg to attend events hosted by the W&M men’s golf team, speaking at the opening dinner and attending the team’s tournament at the Golden Horseshoe. During his stay, Duncan visited with Rich Miller, Kimberly Albertson Lapkin and Glenn Lapkin ’82, and he played golf with Kent Erdahl ’83 at Two Rivers Country Club, where he also spoke at a members’ function. He enjoyed spending time with Tribe Men’s Golf Coach Tim Pemberton ’05, with whom he also connected at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, along with Ethan Mangum M.P.P. ’22, M.B.A. ’24, Todd Richter ’79 and Len Brooks ’81, all of whom are current or past golf team members. 

Bill Joyner kindly shared news of another gathering, which connected the cast of this spring’s William & Mary Theatre production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” with the cast of the fall 1980 production. Organized by the Theatre Department and W&M Communications, along with Janet Rollins Atwater and her husband, Peter Atwater ’83, the online event came together quickly as word traveled among the former cast members, a handful of whom were freshmen during the earlier production. Along with Bill and Janet, the classmates who participated included: Nancy Summers Bonanno, Judith Lightfoot Clarke, Chris Fretts ’85, George Jack, Henry McCoy, Scott Meckling and Dan Simon. They and the other alumni in attendance were able to joyfully catch up with each other more than four decades after sharing the stage in this production, and Bill mentioned the delight in reconnecting and discovering how many continue to be involved in the arts in one capacity or another. The group was also able to advise the cast about the production, careers in the arts and life after William & Mary. 

Speaking of careers in the arts, warmest congratulations to Jon Stewart ’84, D.A. ’04, who became the 23rd recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on April 24. This prize honors the world’s greatest humorists, recognizing individuals who have had a significant impact on American society in similar ways to that of Mark Twain, whose keen observations of society produced humorous yet pointed commentary on the social injustices of his day. Jon was honored for using his platforms to shine a light on the issues of the day through comedy, especially satire, during the last 30 years. In a career that began in stand-up comedy and continued with the first of what would become many sets on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and hosting “The Jon Stewart Show on MTV,” it was Jon’s 16-year tenure as host of “The Daily Show” that provided him the ultimate platform to examine the headlines through his sharp, authentic and humorous lens. The show garnered numerous awards over the years, including 56 Emmy Award nominations, with 20 wins, and two Peabody Awards. A best-selling author, film and television producer and film director, Jon has hosted both the Grammy Awards and the Academy Awards, and has created, produced and hosted other programs, including CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” Since his departure from “The Daily Show” in 2015, Jon has dedicated his time to causes that are important to him, including advocating for funding in support of veterans, first responders and victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He and his wife, Tracey, dedicate much of their time to running a 45-acre animal sanctuary near their home in Hockhockson, New Jersey. Jon now hosts a new Apple TV+ show and podcast, “The Problem with Jon Stewart.” Though the format has changed, Jon’s mission seems to be the same: focus on issues, present the facts and offer his trademark intelligence, wit and wisdom. Congratulations again to Jon on his extraordinary achievements and this well-deserved award! 

It is always great to hear from you, so if you have any updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes, please let me know! 

Spring greetings, Class of 1984! Though it is still winter as I write, a few early signs of spring were already evident as Joanna Ashworth and I traveled to Beaufort, South Carolina, to visit Laurie Raymond Benson last week. While there, we caught up by phone with Alison Hawley Ewing, with whom we spent time there in November. We also spent time with Laurie’s husband, Chris, and my husband, Greg Miller, who have been medical practice partners for almost 25 years.

I missed seeing Alison and Linda Reynard Basnight at Homecoming & Reunion Weekend last fall as they arrived the following week for the wedding of Philip Basnight ’13, the son of Kord Basnight ’85 and Linda, to Rebecca Silverstein ’14 at the Williamsburg Inn. Alison and Linda, who met as freshmen and were roommates during all four years at William & Mary, returned in December to celebrate their birthdays, which are two days apart, together. Alison also shares a birthday with her twin sister, Diane Hawley Abshire!

Duncan Weir recently retired after 35 years working in golf for the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland. He has devoted his career to developing the game worldwide and was awarded a Special Recognition for his contributions to the sport by the Confederation of Professional Golfers in 2019. Duncan has enjoyed playing golf with recent William & Mary golf team alumni completing post-graduate studies at the University of St Andrews, located near his home in Scotland, and he will be returning to campus in March to spend time with the golf team and attend the tournament the team is hosting at the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club at Colonial Williamsburg.

Tammy Harwood Kersey is the founder of Tale Wagger Stories, an online resource she is building to support parents as they inspire, empower and develop confidence in their children through shared story time. Her first children’s picture book, “What the Dickens?!?!: The Tale of a Rascally Pup,” launched in April 2020. Tammy recently donated the book to the Williamsburg Regional Library as part of the Local Authors Project collection, where it will be enjoyed by local children and their families for years to come. Prior to becoming a children’s picture book author, Tammy was a marketing professional. She and her husband, Ian Kersey, reside in Williamsburg.

Victor Branch was recently profiled in Virginia Business magazine. Victor is a senior vice president for Bank of America and president of their Richmond market and was named a Richmond Times-Dispatch Person of the Year in 2020. In addition to serving on several other foundation and organization boards, Victor serves on the W&M Board of Visitors.

Steve Burns has been appointed chief of public policy by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in Highland, California. In his new role, Steve will lead and implement the tribe’s public policy strategy on federal and state legislation and regulation and manage issues such as land use and future acquisition strategy and policy implications. Steve brings over 25 years of international public policy experience to his new role and will be based in Sacramento, California.

Jon Stewart ’84, D.A. ’04 was awarded the 2022 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts in April. Jon currently hosts “The Problem with Jon Stewart” on Apple TV+ and is an executive producer on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” He was a co-creator and executive producer of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central from 2005 to 2014, and he hosted “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015. The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor is the most recent of many prizes won by Jon, including 22 Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards and five Peabody Awards. Known for his humorous and satirical presentation of current events, Jon is also an advocate for first responders and veterans, and he and his wife are dedicated animal rights activists who operate a sanctuary farm.

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Tim Wilson passed away on Nov. 23, 2021, after a brave battle with cancer. Tim’s journalism career began at the Flat Hat, where he was sports editor and then editor-in-chief, and at the campus radio station WCWM, where he was a news reporter and DJ. Tim was co-founder and editor-in-chief of Dark Reading, a cybersecurity online news site and online community for security professionals offering a forum and a place for cybersecurity professionals to learn about new cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and key technological trends and advances. He was recognized as one of the top cybersecurity journalists in the United States by SANS Institute and named one of the 50 Most Powerful Voices in Security by SYS-Con Media.

If you knew Tim, you knew that the greatest joys in his life were his beloved family, close friends, sports and William & Mary. I was grateful to be able to visit with Tim a few times last fall, and Tim always turned our conversations to the times we shared at W&M and happy news of our mutual friends and our families. He was overjoyed to be able to view the wedding of Noah Levine’s daughter Lindsay in Old Westbury, New York, in November, through a Facetime link arranged by Joanna Ashworth, who attended the celebration along with Josh Slocum. Jeff Bishop, who was Tim’s little brother in Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, joined Joanna and me for a visit in early November and, as always, Tim talked about the special bonds we have with each other and the lifelong impact the friendships that began during four years at W&M have had for us all.

A memorial for Tim is planned for June 24, 2022, and a memorial fund has been set up in Tim’s memory to benefit the Flat Hat. If you care to contribute, you can visit the W&M Giving page at give.wm.edu, search for a specific fund and choose Flat Hat Fund (3431), then specify that your gift is in memory of Tim Wilson.

As always, if you have any updates you’d like me to share in the next Class Notes, please let me know!

Greetings, Class of 1984! I am still basking in the warm glow of spending the weekend back in Williamsburg for Homecoming. From the dedication of the spectacular expansion of the Alumni House to the beautiful Sunset Ceremony on Friday evening, from gathering at sorority court to the events and tailgates before the football game, and from cheering the football team to victory to seeing all the familiar places as well as the many new developments on and off campus, being back home was wonderful! I hope many of you were able to catch up with dear friends during Homecoming or that you will be able to return home to alma mater some time soon!

My husband, Greg Miller, and I enjoyed spending the weekend at the beautiful home of Kari Guillen Traver ‘85 and Tony Traver ‘85, with its expansive view of the James River and occasional glimpses of the beloved ferry going back and forth between Jamestown and Scotland in Surry, Virginia. Before the game, the Tribe cheerleaders stopped to share a cheer with all of us tailgating with Emily Powell Boddy ‘88 and Mark Boddy ‘87, and soon afterwards we had the pleasure of meeting our new athletic director, Brian Mann, and our head basketball coach, Dane Fischer. It was great to visit with Marna Ashburn ‘85 and Drew Gilfillan ‘87 during the tailgate as well. Having tea with my sister, Jennifer Horrocks Francois ‘91 while her husband, Kent Francois ‘91, cycled with Greg was another highlight of the day. Both Jennie and Kent and Kari and Tony were celebrating special reunions during Homecoming as those from 2020 were celebrated this year. Coach Fischer reminded us that his practice space, Kaplan Arena (formerly William & Mary Hall), was being used to celebrate the 2020 graduation during Homecoming! Catching up on so many postponed events made for a busy weekend on campus!

The drizzly Williamsburg weather did not dampen spirits during the weekend and the rain held off for the beautiful Sunset Ceremony, the memorial service to honor alumni, faculty, and friends of the university who have passed away during the preceding year, held each year in the Wren Courtyard. This year, we also honored those who passed at any time since the last ceremony was held in 2019. While always so sad to say goodbye, it was an honor to represent our class and recall special memories with two of our classmates, Ford Cochran and Sally Lewe Bratz, who were among those honored at this year’s ceremony.

I shared the sad news of Ford’s passing in our Class Notes back in 2019, but Sally’s passing was more recent, in August 2021. While at William & Mary, Sally was a member of the women’s tennis team and of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After she graduated, Sally dedicated her career to sharing her love of tennis with players of all ages as a teaching professional. She was a USTA certified tennis professional, serving as coach of the Haverford College and Villanova University tennis teams and then coaching privately for a number of years in Pennsylvania and Delaware before relocating to Charleston, South Carolina, several years ago.

Sally remained close to her William & Mary friends, especially those in our sorority. She was an active participant in our sorority graduating class’s Zoom group that began meeting during the pandemic over the last year, which enabled all of us to reconnect and support one another. Born on St. Patrick’s Day, Sally always brought fun to any gathering and her loyal friendship, warmth, and humor will be greatly missed by all of us and by all those who knew her.

Rhonda Gillespie Raney ’84, J.D. ’87 was named executive director at Interact, a Raleigh-based non-profit organization that supports victims and survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence in Wake County, North Carolina. Raney holds undergraduate and law degrees from William & Mary, and she has dedicated much of her career to work in government and non-profit organizations.

Soh Yeong Roh served as the host of William & Mary student fellow Amy Zhao ‘19, who attended the Global Research Institute’s Summer Fellows Program and completed her fellowship at the Art Center Nabi, a media art museum founded by Roh, in Seoul, South Korea. The Summer Fellows program pairs student fellows with William & Mary faculty and international organizations to conduct research around the world. During her fellowship, Zhao assisted Art Center Nabi with technical developments, such as free-form data visualization. Her work and that of artists presented at the center inspired her to develop ideas to address intellectual property issues in the art world through block chain technology, which she will progress as the winner of WizForm’s Build Your Dream Competition. Soh Yeong Roh is the founder and director of Art Center Nabi, and she is also a member of the William & Mary Reves International Advisory Board. Roh completed graduate work in economics at the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in education at Stanford University before completing further graduate work in media communication at Yonsei University in Seoul. She founded Art Center Nabi in 2000, transforming a former art museum into the new media art museum, providing an ideal place for Zhao to flourish in her fellowship. Roh’s book Digital Art was published by Jaeum&Moeum in 2014.

Luanne Spruill Gutermuth has been named chair of the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. She retired as executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Washington Gas last year. She founded LSG Solutions LLC, a consulting firm that advises organizations on strategies to improve effectiveness and achieve strategic objectives. Gutermuth serves on the boards of Washington Performing Arts and Northern Virginia Family service and volunteers in a variety of capacities in other community and industry organizations. She and her husband Mike recently started running Good Spirit Farm, a farm winery in Round Hill, Loudoun County, Virginia. Their son Matt Gutermuth ’22 is in his fourth year at William & Mary.

I shared previously that my husband, Greg Miller, had reconnected with Allan Robinson after he and his wife, Elaine Bogan Robinson, retired to St. Helena Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina, where Greg works. Allan played on the William and Mary men’s tennis team with Greg during his freshman year, and both he and Greg have continued to play over the years. They recently participated in their first national doubles tournament together and were happy to learn that their results placed them among the top-ranked players in their age group nationally.

It was a special pleasure to bump into Richard Goodman ‘89 on Prince George Street during Homecoming. Richard is a member of a W&M book club I joined several years ago when I was living temporarily in “the DMV,” the term locals use when referring to the region around Washington that includes parts of Maryland and Virginia. My group used to meet in Tyson’s Corner, but has been meeting online lately, enabling me to continue to participate from South Carolina. Although the group has been meeting for several years, some members have never met each other in person, so this made meeting Richard in person so wonderful! Getting to know alumni from many different graduating years and sharing discussions about books has been such a pleasure, so I encourage you to find out what activities your own local alumni chapter may have of interest.

As we continue through a challenging season, as a nation and as part of the William & Mary family, be sure to let those who meant a lot to you during your years at William & Mary know how much you value their friendship. If there is someone you haven’t talked to for a while, give them a call or drop them a line — these things can mean more than you know.

Connecting with each other seems more important now than ever, so I encourage you to let those who meant a lot to you during your years at William & Mary know how much you value their friendship. I visited with Tim Wilson recently, and we remarked how the bonds of friendship within our class at William & Mary have impacted our lives — and how unique this experience seems to be and how grateful we are for it. [Editor's Note: We are sorry to report that Tim passed away on Nov. 23, 2021. More information will be included in the spring edition of this column as well as in our In Memoriam section.]

If you have any updates you’d like me to include in the next Class Notes, please be sure to let me know! You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail.

Greetings and warm fall wishes to the Class of 1984! I hope that many of you are able to attend Homecoming & Reunion Weekend this fall on campus, which is planned for Oct. 7-10, 2021. How we have missed Cheese Shop sandwiches, walks down DoG Street, cheering on the Tribe, alma mater and, most of all, each other! I hope to see you there!

Kevin M. Phillips, president and CEO of Mantech International Corp., was mentioned in our last Class Notes. Since then, he has been named one of the top 50 chief executives in the country for large companies of over 500 employees for 2020, according to Comparably, a career data website that ranks the best CEOs each year annually based on employee ratings submitted during the preceding year. The honor is exceptional following a year during which companies had to work especially hard to ensure employee safety, satisfaction and success while navigating an extraordinarily challenging business landscape. Among his many roles, Phillips serves on the board of the William & Mary Foundation.

Victor Branch, senior vice president and Richmond market president of Bank of America, was one of 13 executives across Virginia invited to offer insights, leadership and career advice for future Black business leaders as well as people of all races who are working to make their organizations more inclusive and equitable to those of all backgrounds. Featured in the Jan. 29, 2021, issue of Virginia Business, Branch’s advice included building connections and trust with both internal colleagues and external clients, validating and acknowledging them as people. After graduating from William & Mary, Branch began his career in the banking industry with Richmond-based Sovran Bank, which later became part of Bank of America. Throughout his career, Branch has been actively engaged in the community, serving on a variety of community, educational institution, and corporate boards and receiving multiple recognitions and honors for his work and community involvement. Branch currently serves on William & Mary’s Board of Visitors, to which he was appointed in 2018.

William Joyner has been promoted to associate professor of vocal studies at the University of North Texas, where he joined the faculty of the Division of Vocal Studies of the College of Music in 2014. During his career as a tenor, he has given nearly 550 performances among about 55 different roles, including many of opera’s greatest leading roles, in some of the world’s most renowned opera theaters and other venues. Joyner holds degrees from The Catholic University of America and The Juilliard School and has received numerous awards and recognitions during his career.

I have been blessed to be able to spend quite a bit of the past four weeks with dear friends from William & Mary. Joanna Ashworth and I traveled to Boston to spend a couple of weeks with Laurie Raymond Benson, who has been there for the past seven months undergoing and subsequently recovering from a medical procedure. On the drive up from Charlotte, we stopped in Vienna, Virginia, where Alison Hawley Ewing and Linda Reynard Basnight met us at my parents’ house with a wonderful dinner of Alison’s famous gazpacho! Two weekends later, Alison surprised Laurie with a visit to Boston, and we were all overjoyed to be able to spend time together in person. After a memorable ride on the swan boats in the Boston Public Garden and a walk through the Boston Common, we headed out to sample Boston’s finest doughnuts at the original Dunkin Donuts in Quincy, Massachusetts — our second visit during our stay! Other highlights of the trip included visiting Walden Pond, various other points of interest in Concord, including the North Bridge at the Minuteman National Historical Park, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, plus taking a wonderful side trip to Cape Cod. The best highlight of all was being together and cheering Laurie on during her recovery!

While traveling to and from Boston, we visited with Joanna’s sister, Donna Cori Ashworth ’72, M.Ed. ’73, who is a career coach residing in Belchertown, Massachusetts. During our time in Boston, we had lunch with Sue Hammerland ’82, who is an exceptional visual artist currently residing in Natick, Massachusetts.

While Joanna and I were in Boston, William & Mary held its 2021 Commencement, and my niece, Natalie Ann Francois ’21, was among the students receiving their undergraduate diplomas. We were able to celebrate with Natalie and her parents, Jennifer Horrocks Francois ’91 and Kent Francois ’91, my brother, Andrew Horrocks ’87, and the rest of the family on our way back home. I am sure many of you have experienced the joy of being able to visit with family and friends again in person, and we were grateful for the many memorable moments we were blessed with during this journey.

My husband, Greg Miller, played on the tennis team at William & Mary — as did one of our children, Alec Miller ’18. Greg still enjoys playing tennis with our sons, and he has recently reconnected with a former W&M teammate, Allan Robinson, with whom he plays tennis regularly in Beaufort, South Carolina. Allan and his wife, Elaine Bogan Robinson, relocated to nearby St. Helena Island, South Carolina, in 2020. Elaine and I were on the same freshman hall in Barrett!

We have probably all had the chance to embrace Zoom for business meetings and personal connection during the past year, and despite some Zoom “fatigue,” this platform has continued to offer new opportunities to connect. In April and May, I was able to catch up via Zoom with a number of Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters, including Susan French Owens, Susie Chamlee Holmes ’84, M.Ed. ’85, Sandie Baker Thompson, Kimberly Albertson Lapkin, Sally Lewe, Lucy Blevins Jordan and Donna Raines Parker. What fun to be able to catch up regularly with a few Class of 1984 Tri-Delta sorority sisters!

In April, Mary Ann Heyser Wright ’79, who is a member of the Richmond Alumnae Chapter and serves on the board of trustees of the National Tri Delta Foundation, organized a Zoom reunion of all William & Mary alumnae who were members of Delta Delta Delta sorority. It was great fun to see a few familiar faces spanning the years we were all students and sorority sisters at W&M together!

While Zoom calls may have provided some helpful and enjoyable connections over the last months, we all hope to be able to see one another again in person this fall, so be sure to mark your calendars for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, to be held on Oct. 7-10, 2021! I am sure being together again in Williamsburg will be even more special this year.

Sharing news and connecting with each is as important as ever, so please reach out if you have any updates you’d like me to include in the next Class Notes. You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail.

Spring greetings to the Class of 1984! I hope by the time this reaches you that the snow and ice storms, as well as the extreme weather conditions much of the country is experiencing as I write, are a distant winter memory and that spring has begun to arrive! 

Two of our classmates were profiled in the recent online issues of the W&M Alumni Magazine, and both were instrumental in the creation of one of the COVID-19 vaccines now being administered around the country. Lisa A. Jackson, a senior investigator with Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute in Seattle, led a team that launched one of the first human clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine. Phase 1 of the human clinical trial of the vaccine developed by Massachusetts-based Moderna in partnership with the National Institutes of Health began on March 16, 2020, when Jackson’s team began the first injections of a vaccine called mRNA-1273, which uses genetic material copied from the coronavirus, called messenger ribonucleoprotein or “messenger RNA,” to instruct cells to create the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins that imitate the virus, triggering the immune response through production of antibodies without the presence of any other viral components. This initiative began just two months after Moderna and the NIH finalized the sequence for the new vaccine, which, in turn, was completed just two days after the genetic sequence of the new coronavirus was received from Chinese authorities. Kaiser Permanente Washington is part of an Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium under the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) that develops vaccines and therapies against infectious diseases.

Lisa majored in biology at William & Mary before completing her medical degree at the University of Virginia and her Master of Public Health at the University of Washington. An infectious diseases epidemiologist, Lisa brought her two decades of prior experience conducting vaccine trials at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute and her work on NIH-funded trials since 2007 to her integral role in the eventual successful production of a vaccine for COVID-19. Read more about her.

In her role as chief scientific officer of platform research and in charge of mRNA technology at Moderna Inc., Melissa J. Moore has been instrumental in leading the biotech company’s effort to produce 200 million COVID-19 vaccines for the U.S. government to distribute to Americans across the country. She addressed the Food and Drug Administration advisory panel during its December 17, 2020, hearing on whether to recommend emergency use authorization for the mRNA-1273 vaccine. Moore has spent much of her career analyzing the protein structures at the center of the new vaccine and researching how cells in humans and other mammals use information in their DNA and transcribe or copy this to RNA as instructions like blueprints to make proteins.

After completing her degree in chemistry and biology at William & Mary, Melissa earned a doctorate in biological chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where her research included mapping the mRNA. She spent 13 years as a professor at Brandeis University, where she received her Ph.D. in biological chemistry before joining the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Her research interests during her academic career included many topics related to the roles of RNA and RNA-protein complexes in gene expression as this relates to many human diseases. While serving as Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Pharmacology on the faculty of UMMS, Eleanor Eustis Farrington Chair in Cancer Research and Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and as a founding Co-Director of the RNA Therapeutics Institute there, she was integrally involved in the Massachusetts Therapeutic and Entrepreneurship Realization initiative, which facilitated the transition of UMMS discoveries and technologies into drugs, products, and companies. Her research interests during her academic career included many topics related to the roles of RNA and RNA-protein complexes in gene expression as this relates to many human diseases. She joined Moderna in 2016, where she is responsible for leading mRNA biology and delivery and computation science research, and she has retained her academic affiliation with UMMS as a part-time faculty member. Read more about her and watch an interview with President Rowe.

Kevin M. Phillips is president and CEO of Mantech International Corp. in Herndon, Virginia. He joined Mantech in 2002 following the company’s acquisition of CTX Corp., and he has served in a variety of roles during his tenure. He graduated from William & Mary with a degree in business administration and served for 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserve, influencing his commitment for Mantech to become the nation’s top employer of military veterans. He was elected vice chairman of the Northern Virginia Technology Council last year, and serves on the boards of the Professional Services Council, the Aerospace Industries Association and the William & Mary Foundation. 

Mike Flood ’84, M.B.A. ’88 has served for 20 years as president and CEO of the L.A. Regional Food Bank. The food bank collects donated food and funds to serve 600 agency partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth programs and senior centers in the Los Angeles area. As early as last April, the L.A. Regional Food Bank was seeing increased needs in the community and having to make significant adjustments in order to maintain standards for the health and safety of all those who engage with the organization. A four-year starter on the Tribe’s soccer team, Mike was a government major. (Side note: Mike and I attended the MBA program at William & Mary during the same years and served as co-editors of the Business Review in 1987-88.) 

Jon Stewart ’84, D.A. ’04 will host a current-affairs series for Apple TV+, according to the New York Times. Apple TV+ ordered the series of one-hour episodes, each dedicated to a single topic, for multiple seasons. The show is expected to explore current topics in the national conversation and Jon’s advocacy work. After Jon joined Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” in 1999, the show had a successful run, winning the Emmy for best talk or variety series 11 times. Since leaving the show in 2015, Jon has appeared on television occasionally and has been involved in production of programs such as Stephen Colbert’s CBS late-night show. His Busboy Productions will also be among the producers of the Apple TV+ show. 

Guy Crittenden recently shared that his artwork “Cinnamon Teal Pair” was chosen as the 2021 Oregon duck stamp competition winner. He previously won seven times for Virginia duck stamps and 12 times in other states. Guy began drawing and painting as a child, exhibiting in his first art show at age 13. He drew inspiration from the natural beauty around his home on the Chesapeake Bay in Gloucester, Virginia. Guy prefers to work in oils, and his subjects include landscapes, wildlife and sporting scenes. After playing football for the Tribe and graduating from William & Mary, he attended The Art Institute of Atlanta and then worked for several years in advertising agencies before opening Crittenden Studio in Richmond in 1994. His work has expanded to include prints and other printed merchandise as well as original art, and his work can be viewed at exhibits multiple times each year. You can also see and purchase his work online at www.crittendenstudio.com. 

Don Lucidi shared news on Facebook of a reunion held via Zoom of some halls of his freshman dorm, including Yates 2nd South and Center. Organized by Tim Wilson, the attendees and other participants included Greg Faragasso, Chris Gleason ’84, J.D. ’87, Noah Levine, Adam Frankel, John Baiocco, Josh Slocum, Jean O’Sullivan Supron, Eleanor Dehoney, Thereasa Thon Winnett, Dabney Carr, Parry Wilson, Patty Canonico Herdine, Beth McGaffey Wetzler ’84, M.A.Ed. ’94, Michael Sturm, Paul Wolfteich, Bob Newman ’83, Dave Ramey, Jennifer Gregg Ramey, Randall Perkins, Mark Wysong ’84, M.B.A. ’99, Michelle Melany, Dave Christensen and Jay Squired. What a great opportunity to connect with many friends at once! 

While our Zoom calls have offered a special opportunity for connection and support for many during this time, we all hope to be able to see one another again in person this year, so mark your calendars and keep your fingers crossed! If it is safe to return to William & Mary for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, the events will be held on Oct. 7-10, 2021. [Editor’s note: Homecoming is currently scheduled to be held in person on campus. Visit homecoming.wm.edu for more information.]

I hope that you and your loved ones remain healthy and safe as we progress to the next stage of pandemic recovery. Sharing news and connecting with each other remains as important as ever, so please let me know if you have any updates you’d like shared in the next Class Notes. You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message, or mail. 

Winter greetings! What a year it has been! And what a difference from a year ago, when we were looking forward to celebrating our 35th reunion!

I didn’t receive anything officially for our Class Notes, but I did save an article by Tom Alvarez in On the Aisle profiling Suzanne Sweeney and her leadership role navigating the challenging waters of the global pandemic for the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Sweeney is a 21-year veteran of the IRT and currently serves as managing director and co-CEO of the organization. Keeping Indiana’s premier professional theatre going during this crisis has likely been challenging, but Sweeney’s leadership during the crisis was commended. After the state went into lockdown, the theater was forced to temporarily cease operations and cancel performances that amounted to one-third of the season. They are now looking ahead to how the theater will safely reopen to patrons going forward. When asked about her hopes for the future, Sweeney responded that she hopes we will “remember how the arts got us through this period and why it’s important the arts are in our lives.” She said she hopes that we will maintain a focus on equity, diversity, and inclusion, and that we will “take what was good from this period … and carry it with us into the future.” Well said, Suzanne!

One of the many “gifts of COVID,” a term I use to represent the unexpected blessings of this challenging time, has been connecting more frequently with several classmates. At the beginning of the nationwide lockdowns, Joanna Ashworth, Linda Reynard Basnight, Laurie Raymond Benson, Alison Hawley Ewing and I decided to meet weekly via Zoom. Checking in from Virginia, Maryland (and sometimes Michigan), South Carolina and Montana, we were able to support one another, sharing some memories, inspiration and smiles. When one of us lost a beloved family member and another of us became gravely ill and was hospitalized for many weeks, these weekly meetings became a lifeline, helping us cope with the loss, grief, fear, anxiety and stress we were experiencing. We were together as one of us settled in a family cottage for part of the summer and dropped her youngest at college for the first time. We were together as one of our children celebrated a first wedding anniversary from London, another transitioned from the Peace Corps to a graduate program across the country, and her brother began attending college from another country online. We cheered as another’s oldest (who is also an alumnus) returned to Williamsburg for a socially distant concert that raised awareness and funds an important cause. And we remain together as we support our friend as she continues to recover from her illness. These connections forged so long ago during just four years at William & Mary have now lasted 40 years, and the gratitude I feel for these friendships is overwhelming.

I hope that you and your loved ones have remained healthy and safe during this year and will remain so as you receive this at the beginning of a new year. Sharing our news and staying connected seems more important than ever, so please reach out if you have an update you’d like shared in the next Class Notes. You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail.  

Spring greetings! It was great to see so many of you at our 35th reunion celebration at Homecoming & Reunion Weekend last fall! Time spent in Williamsburg and on campus is always cherished for the memories it brings back and the new ones it creates! For those who wish to plan ahead, Homecoming this year will be on October 15-18, 2020. Hope to see you there!

I was sorry to miss hearing The Broke Royals, the band founded by Kord Basnight ’85 and Linda Reynard Basnight’s son Philip Basnight ’13 and Colin Cross ’14, play at the Virginia Beer Company. I know many people enjoyed that performance, and we hope this will become an annual Homecoming event. You can catch the band at many events in Virginia, Washington, D.C, and surrounding areas.  

One special memory from Homecoming for me was a reunion with my Tri-Delta sisters. Sandie Baker Thompson and her husband Steve hosted everyone for cocktails before a dinner in nearby New Town. In attendance were Lucy Blevins Jordan and her husband Tim, Susie Chamlee Holmes ’84, M.Ed. ’85 and her husband Jack Holmes J.D. ’87, Kimberly Albertson Lapkin and her husband Glenn Lapkin ’82, Kari Guillén Traver ’85, and newlyweds Natalie Wyatt Dalton and her husband Keith Dalton ’82 (a.k.a., Kiki, “The Towel Man”). JP Ottaway and Liz Somers Ottaway joined us before dinner, and Kari’s husband Tony Traver ’85 and Stan Yagiello ’85 stopped by the restaurant. Susan French Owens and her husband Mike were missed, as they were unable to attend while awaiting the birth of their first grandchild! Their possible future Tribe member, Emory Vaughn, was born to Susan’s daughter Erin Bartlett M.Acc. ’15 and her husband Jacob Vaughn on November 1.

Courtney Reid was ordained a priest on February 15, 2020, at All Saints in Chicago. Courtney studied divinity at Yale University and currently serves as the director of operations at the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Courtney and her wife Pam Palmentera have three daughters, Sarah, 16, Martha, 14, and Susan, 14, and they reside in Chicago.

Nancy Cote Kane was profiled in San Diego Magazine for her exceptional dedication as a volunteer for Feeding San Diego. Nancy began volunteering for the organization in 2012 and has since logged over 750 service hours. As a team leader volunteer and ambassador, Nancy has completed formal team leader training and, in addition to many other volunteer roles, serves as a trainer of other team leaders of all ages. Nancy’s son Christopher Kane ’21 is a junior at William and Mary this year. Nancy and her family live in San Diego, California.

Debra Young Mulé won election to her second term as a county legislator in Nassau County, New York. Mulé was previously elected to the Freeport Board of Education and Board of Trustees. She has been an active community leader and volunteer, serving as choir director, parish council and liturgy committee member, and in the soup kitchen of Holy Redeemer Church and as a volunteer for the Girl Scouts. Among her many awards and recognitions, Mulé was honored as a “Woman of Distinction” by New York State Assemblyman Brian Curran, and she has been recognized for her many years of service with the New York State PTA Honorary Life Membership Award and Distinguished Award. Mulé holds a bachelor’s degree in music from William & Mary and a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She and her husband have two daughters, Victoria and Elizabeth, and reside in Freeport, New York.

Jane Evans DelBianco has been named design and sale consultant for the Quarry View Building Group based in East Lampeter Township in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. DelBianco has 16 years of experience, previously working for Colonial Williamsburg. She is also owner of The JED Group, an organization that represents western sports athletes.

Michael Ard worked for most of his career in the United States government and later transitioned to working in the oil and gas industry. He now teaches in the United Arab Emirates and in the master’s program in global affairs at Rice University. He and his wife, Jean, live with three of their five children in Katy, Texas.

It was great fun celebrating the wedding of Joanna Ashworth’s son Colin Walls to his wife Katerina Maylock in October. The wedding was held last July at a lovely chateau in Vallery, France, and a celebratory brunch for friends on this side of the pond was held by Joanna and her husband David Walls at the beautiful Duke Mansion in Charlotte, North Carolina. Anne St. Clair Woron, Kim Staples Hundley, Amy Marcos Drake, Sarah Williamson, Alison Hawley Ewing, Laurie Raymond Benson and her husband Chris, David Brand and Anne Golwen Brand ’83, Tom Hearn ’82 and Dana Disque Hearn ’82, my brother-in-law and sister Kent Francois ’91 and Jennifer Horrocks Francois ’91, my husband Greg Miller attended. Joanna and David live in Charlotte and in Big Sky, Montana, and the newlyweds currently live in New York City.

It is always great to hear from you, so please let me know if you have an update you’d like me to share in the next issue of the alumni magazine. You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail.

Winter greetings, Class of 1984! Though these Class Notes will reach your mailbox or inbox in winter, fall has finally arrived here in South Carolina as I write, and our 35th reunion celebration at Homecoming & Reunion 2019 is just weeks away. It is hard to believe it has been 35 years since we were last all together, and I hope to celebrate with many of you as we recognize this milestone!

Phil Buhler and his wife Gloria have relocated to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Phil is pursuing a Ph.D. at the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University, studying commercial vessel regulation under the new Polar Code, an international agreement governing shipping in the Arctic and Antarctic. Prior to this, he taught law at the Universität zu Köln in Cologne, Germany, focusing on international civil procedure and intermodal transportation and teaching students from Germany and from all over the European Union. During this appointment, Phil remained a partner in his United States law firm located in Jacksonville, Florida, and served on United States and international organizations and committees focusing on legal issues with shipping in the Polar regions. With his latest move, Phil remains involved in the Comite Maritime International and its Polar Committee and Antarctic Subcommittee studying issues impacting these regions. Phil has been active in W&M alumni chapters in Florida and the Southeast, and he says he would welcome anyone who wishes to visit the “frozen north” in the Canadian Maritimes!

This summer I was honored to attend the wedding of Colin Walls, the son of Joanna Ashworth and her husband David Walls, to Katerina Maylock. The wedding weekend began with a lovely cruise down the Seine in Paris, and the celebration continued with a weekend of stunningly beautiful festivities on the grounds of a picturesque chateau in Vallery, France. The wedding was held in the chapel on the grounds of the chateau and was officiated by Joanna’s dear friend, the Rev. Canon K. Jeanne Person. Colin and Katerina are 2016 graduates of Georgetown University, and they reside in New York. Joanna and David live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in Big Sky, Montana.

It is with much sadness that I share the news of the passing of Ford Cochran. During our time at William & Mary, Ford served as editor-in-chief of The Flat Hat and as a reporter for WCWM, the campus radio station, which helped prepare him for his 23-year career at National Geographic. Prior to joining National Geographic, Ford did graduate work in geology and earth sciences at Harvard and Yale, earning a master of philosophy degree at Yale, and he served as an assistant professor of these subjects at the University of Kentucky. Joining National Geographic as a producer and education editor in 1996, Ford went on to work in a variety of roles relating to content development and educational programming in areas ranging from online resources to print media to worldwide expedition leadership. His experiences leading students, adults and experts, especially his frequent trips to Iceland, were clearly such a joy to him, which he shared with those of us who enjoyed following along via social media. In his most recent role at National Geographic, Ford was responsible for selecting the experts, explorers, photographers and leaders of National Geographic’s worldwide expeditions, and he served as an expert on some of these expeditions as well. He recently created a course for The Great Courses entitled “Wonders of the National Parks: A Geology of North America.” Ford is survived by his wife Katerina, his mother Michel Cochran, his son Cole Cochran ’22 and his stepson Ryan Lambird. He is greatly missed by all those who had the pleasure to know and work with him.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our 35th reunion at Homecoming, and I will share your news in the next Class Notes. If you have any updates to share between now and then, please let me know — it is always great to hear from you! You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail.

            Summer greetings, Class of 1984! I am writing from South Carolina, but I will be heading back to the D.C. area later today. I was there last week too, celebrating the gradation of my niece from Georgetown and my mother’s 80th birthday. There was plenty of William & Mary talk among the family members present, as my sister Jennifer Horrocks Francois ’91, her husband Kent Francois ’91, their daughter Natalie Francois ’22, my brother Andrew Horrocks ’87, and my son Alec Miller’18all share our alma mater.  

            Speaking of William & Mary families, George Foreman and I were in touch recently. He and his wife Lynne Helms Foreman recently attended the wedding of Oscar Deaver ’15and Ye NaKim ’15. Oscar is the oldest son of Monica Johnson Deaverand her husband Eric, and Oscar’s best man was his younger brother Jacques Deaver ’17, who also attended William & Mary. Luanne Spruill Gutermuth,Monica’s roommate for all four years, was also in attendance at the wedding. Lynne and George’s son Blake Foreman ’17graduated from William & Mary, and Luanne’s son Matt Gutermuth ’22 is a rising sophomore.

It was great to hear from Hope Solomon Young, who has published a memoir entitled “The Foreigners Are in 709.”The book shares the experiences of Hope, her husband, and their two adopted Chinese daughters when they moved to an ancient Chinese section of Beijing on a tourist visa. They set up a household, worked odd jobs, enrolled their daughters in a public Chinese school, and, to comply with their visa requirements, traveled throughout Asia every few days during the year they were there. The book shares their many adventures and some of the misadventures that occurred due to language and cultural differences. Hope and her family reside in Charlotte, where Hope is both an author and an entrepreneur.

It was wonderful to hear from William Joyner, who recently finished his fifth year of teaching voice at the University of North Texas College of Music. In addition to teaching, Bill is still performing, recently singing two concerts of Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah.” He will perform the role of Siegmund in Wagner’s opera “The Valkyries”with the Pittsburgh Festival Opera this summer. He says he has adapted to being a Texan, wearing boots and a cowboy hat most days, and he greeted me with a “Howdy!” He is sorry that he may not make it to our 35th reunion, but he will be in Williamsburg in December to sing in a concert performance of Massenet’s opera “Thaïs”with the William & Mary Symphony.

While in the D.C. area last week, I had afternoon tea with Alison Hawley Ewing, Linda Reynard Basnight and Joanna Ashworth.We are all looking forward to seeing everyone at our class’s 35th reunion, which is coming up this fall! Be sure to make your plans to attend Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, October 17-20, 2019. I hope that many of you can make it to the reunion celebrations. Watch for details about our class reunion plans, and hope to see you then!

In the meantime, if you have any updates to share, please let me know — it is always great to hear from you! You can send updates via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail. I look forward to hearing from you and including your updates in the next issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine!

            Greetings, Class of 1984! I am back in South Carolina now, and I have enjoyed seeing several classmates in the last few days. I visited with Laurie Raymond Benson over the weekend while I was in Beaufort, South Carolina, and I had dinner with Joanna Ashworth while she was in Charlotte, North Carolina, last week. It is always special to see friends you have known since the first weeks of college! Speaking of connecting with dear friends, it is hard to believe our 35th reunion is coming up this year! It is not too early to mark your calendars for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, to be held on October 17-20, 2019. I hope that many of you can make it to the reunion celebrations!

            It was great to see some of our classmates during Homecoming last fall. Kord Basnight ’85 and Linda Reynard Basnight’s son, Philip Basnight ’13, performed with his band, the Broke Royals, at the Virginia Beer Company (owned by Robby Willey ’05 and Chris Smith ’07) to kick off the weekend. In addition to Philip’s proud parents, his sister Maria and his girlfriend Rebecca Silverstein ’14, the event was attended by Alison Hawley Ewing and her daughter Emily, Kari Guillén Traver ’85, JJ Johnson Head and her husband Dan Head ’85, JJ and Dan’s daughter Abigail Head ’17, Lori Buckius and her husband Steve Alfieris and daughter Leigh, Susan Frier Wiltsie and her husband Ron, Leslie Lautenslager ’85, Martha Feathers Owens ’85, M.Ed. ’92, Rietta Stoneman ’85, Chad Gunnoe ’86, Chris Thorne ’86 and his wife Anne Thorne ’86, and many others. Basnight cofounded the band with Colin Cross ’14, and the Broke Royals have performed at other William & Mary events as well. They can be seen performing frequently in Washington, D.C., as well as in Richmond and other cities, and their music can be heard on your favorite streaming services.

            After Homecoming, I headed down to Beaufort, South Carolina, where I met Joanna Ashworth at the home of Laurie Raymond Benson. Laurie and her husband Chris took us out on their new boat, and we were joined by Alison Hawley Ewing and Linda Reynard Basnight, who arrived on the dock bearing sandwiches and wine from The Cheese Shop! After a great tour of the beautiful waterways around Beaufort, we picked up my husband, Greg Miller, from the Beaufort Memorial Hospital dock. Being able to take hospital call while watching dolphins as the sun sets over the water is one of the perks of living and working in Beaufort!

            Jenny Nazak has written a practical guide to low-footprint living entitled “DEEP GREEN: Minimize Your Footprint; Maximize your Time, Wealth, and Happiness.” Her website, www.jennynazak.com, has a low-footprint lifestyle blog and links to order the book. Nazak is an eco-activist who has also been active in environmental preservation and neighborhood revitalization, working for economically and socially vibrant neighborhoods, currently in Daytona Beach, Florida.

            Debbie Garrett has been appointed district director in the office of Rep. Ben Cline. Prior to her appointment, Garrett served as district director in Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s office. Before entering federal service, Debbie was constituent service director and legislative aide to Cline when he served in Virginia’s House of Delegates. Experienced in economic development and as a business owner, Debbie resides in Buena Vista, Virginia, where she has previously served as the vice-mayor.

            John P. Baiocco has been named president of TowneBank Norfolk. Prior to his appointment, he served as senior executive vice president of commercial lending in Norfolk, Virginia. He has been in the banking business for 30 years, 13 of which have been with Towne. John also serves on the board of the Norfolk Botanical Garden, Greater Norfolk Corporation, The Norfolk Forum, Virginia Arts Festival, Norfolk State University Business School, and the Center for Financial Training. He has also served as an instructor for the American Institute of Banking and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

            Karen Joyner serves as chief executive officer of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, which receives and distributes food around the Virginia Peninsula. Karen, who shared her knowledge and experience with the Kiwanis Club of Colonial Capital in September, worked in business before making the transition to nonprofit work.           

            It was great to be back in Williamsburg in December for the graduation of our son, Alec Miller ’18, from William & Mary. We enjoyed celebrating with Kari Guillen Traver ’85 and Tony Traver ’85 with dinner at the King’s Arms and a beautiful weekend at the Travers’ home on the James River.

            If you have any updates to share, please send them along! It is always great to hear from you! You can send updates via email, text, phone, Facebook message or mail. I look forward to hearing from you and including your updates in the next issue of the W&M Alumni Magazine!

Greetings, Class of 1984! It is the first day that feels like fall here in the Washington, D.C., area as I write, and that means William & Mary Homecoming is just around the corner! I hope to see many of you there!

Last month I attended the William & Mary Alumni Association Fall Awards Banquet, at which Joanna Ashworth was honored as a 2018 Douglas N. Morton ’62 Alumni Service Award recipient. Joanna has served on the Alumni Association board, on the Alumni Admissions Network since graduation, as class reporter for the first ten years after graduation, and on several class reunion and fundraising committees. Congratulations to Joanna on this well-deserved honor!

It was great to see several classmates at the banquet, including Alison Hawley Ewing, Linda Reynard Basnight, Kim Staples Hundley, Sarah Williamson, George Cruser, who currently serves on the Alumni Association board, and my sister Jennifer Horrocks Francois ’91 and her husband Kent Francois ’91. Jennie and Kent’s daughter Natalie Francois ’22 is a freshman this year at William and Mary.

Kim Staples Hundley and her husband Greg Hundley are relocating from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, back home to Richmond, Virginia, as Greg is the inaugural director of the VCU Health Pauley Heart Center. Prior to his appointment, Greg practiced for 22 years at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he served as the medical director of the Reynolds Tower Cardiovascular Imaging Facility. In his new role, he will leverage his expertise in preventive heart care and his research interests in cardio-oncology to develop the programming and services at the Pauley Heart Center and the VCU Massey Cancer Center.  Kim and Greg’s daughter, Jennifer Hundley ’22, is a freshman at William & Mary.

During the summer, Joanna joined a W&M Kappa Kappa Gamma reunion in St. Louis. Hosted by Kimberly Rabenberg Barnes, the group included Sheila McDonnell Bates, Hope Solomon Young, Susan Peterson Fetter, Susan Frier Wiltsie, Anne St. Clair, Kim Staples Hundley, Meg Hunter Scott, Margie Mulhall Pierce and Anne “Hilliard” Golwen Brand ’83. Though apparently trapped in the Pit of Misery in the Anheuser-Busch Brewery, all managed to cry “Dilly Dilly” and escape unharmed!

Melanie Morgan ’84, J.D. ’87, who is an attorney at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas and an associate professor at Collin College in McKinney, Texas, gave one of the presentations at the first William & Mary Women’s Weekend, held in September. Melanie’s legal focus is representing victims of domestic violence, and her presentation discussed family violence and ways to combat it. Melanie mentioned that she saw Sherri Sell Phillips ’83, Laura Brewer ’82 and JJ Johnson Head while at the event. She also attended a W&M field hockey game with Laurie Tubbs McCann, whose daughter, Jenny McCann ’19, plays for the team.

Melanie recently attended a W&M Pi Phi reunion in Austin, Texas. The group, which  included Anne Kirk Gensheimer, Lynne Helms Foreman, Monica Johnson Deaver, Lisa West Alpert, Julie Beringer, Margee Krebs and Julie O’Neill Kloo, enjoyed touring Austin, visiting the capitol, going out on Rainey Street, shopping on South Congress, and taking a bat tour by boat.

Susan French Owens also attended the Women’s Weekend and mentioned that she also saw JJ Johnson Head as well as Janet Atwater. Susan is a charter member of the Society of 1918, which has raised over $2.65 million for the Alumnae Initiatives Endowment to support engagement, leadership and philanthropy of William & Mary women. She was recently named one of the Baltimore Sun’s 25 Women to Watch in 2018, which recognizes the leading voices in business, activism and research in the Baltimore area. Susan is senior vice president and regional vice president for Maryland middle market banking for Wells Fargo, the bank she started working for while still in school.

David P. Gushee is the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and director for faith and public life at Mercer University. David earned his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in Christian ethics and his M.Phil. from Union Theological Seminary. He has served as the vice president of the American Academy of Religion and as president-elect of the Society of Christian Ethics. He is the author or editor of 20 books and over 100 scholarly articles, chapters and reviews, earning recognition as the Evangelical Press Association Award in multiple years.

Don Luzzatto is vice president for civic engagement for the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. Luzzato previously served as the editorial page editor at the Virginian-Pilot. He is an active member of the Downtown Suffolk Rotary Club, and he serves on the board of the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association, for which he also volunteers as a soccer coach.

I greatly enjoyed visiting with Liz Somers Ottaway and her husband John Ottaway in July, cheering the Detroit Tigers on to victory and having a wonderful tour of Detroit and Grosse Pointe by land and sea. Liz is the executive director of Pointe Capital Management, LLC. John is a senior vice president and managing partner at GTB, an advertising and communications agency located in Dearborn, Michigan.

After leaving Detroit, I traveled on to Chicago, where I spent a day with Anne Veit, who gave my son Alec Miller ’18 and me a great tour of the Art Institute of Chicago and downtown Chicago.

In August, my husband Greg Miller and I attended the Electric Light Orchestra concert with our family. On the following night, I was able to see ELO’s number one fan, Noah Levine, and his wife Jackie before the second ELO concert. Noah is a senior vice president with Citi, and he and Jackie reside in Rockville Center, New York.

It is always great to hear from you, so please let me know if you have updates to share! You can reach me via email, text, phone, Facebook message or snail mail — or feel free to post online by joining the my1693 community. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your news in the next issue!