1950-59
John Ruth ‘53, Harleysville, Pa., and his son Jay have made a documentary film premiered by the Mennonite Heritage Center. Is There a Lesson: 45 Years with John Ruth and TourMagination explores the Anabaptist theme of biblical nonresistance through photography and film footage of the Anabaptist Heritage Trail tour.
1960-69
Larry E. Nolt ‘67, Souderton, Pa., retired recently as partner in IVC Wealth Advisors, LLC. In 51 years of employment, he was also president of FirstService Capital Advisors (before merging with National Penn Capital Advisors and later BB&T) and a partner with Canon Capital Management Group. Early in his career, he was the first full-time alumni director at EMC and Seminary and later director of college and seminary relations. Some folks will remember that he and a business-partner couple started and managed Heritage Family Restaurant in Harrisonburg for five years. Widowed after 51 years, he has reunited with a Lancaster-area high school classmate, Sherry Groff Read, and will be moving to Key West, Florida, where he will manage a vacation rental.
Joseph Gascho ‘68, Hummelstown, Pa., received the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, given annually by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation at Penn State College of Medicine, where he directs the Cardiology Fellowship Program.
Del Glick ‘68, Washington D.C., has retired from full-time pastoral ministry after nine years with Washington Community Fellowship. He had previously served as interim pastor and then bishop/overseer. Since 1980 he was also involved in conference and denominational leadership with congregations in Indiana, Florida and Pennsylvania.
1970-79
Miriam Eberly ‘72, Lititz, Pa., a former Eastern Mennonite Missions worker, founded the Belize Evangelical Mennonite Church Scholarship Fund in 2014. She served two terms in Belize between 1965 and 1976, first as a nurse at a 12-bed hospital in Orange Walk Town and later as a certified registered nurse practitioner at a San Felipe clinic with a two-bed maternity ward.
Steve Hackman ‘73, Souderton, Pa., was among Dock Mennonite Academy’s 2018 alumni of the year, receiving an award for distinguished service. He worked for 22 years as a pediatric respiratory therapist, and then was chief development officer for 10 years for nonprofits in Nigeria, Egypt and India. He was on the board of Chosen 300 Ministries for 22 years, and is secretary for the Pennsylvania board of directors for Healthy Niños, which he has served for 15 years.
Dr. William “Bill” Yoder ‘73, Gvardeysk, Kaliningrad, Russia, is a retired church journalist. He had previously lived in Gvardeysk from 2001-05, then worked primarily in Moscow while commuting from Belarus.
Sara Wenger Shenk ‘75, Elkhart, Ind., will retire as president of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in June 2019. She has served in this role since the fall of 2010, following 15 years on the EMS faculty and in administration, including in the associate dean position.
Dennis Gingerich ‘76, MDiv ‘79, Cape Coral, Fla., was awarded the 2018 Elmer Tabor Generosity Award from the Cape Coral Community Foundation at an October ceremony. He is the founding pastor of Cape Christian Fellowship, which is attended by 3,000 people each weekend.
Daniel Liechty, class of ‘76, Normal, Ill., a professor in the School of Social Work at Illinois State University, was bestowed with the honorary title Distinguished Lecturer in Arts and Sciences. It is the highest honor given within the University College of Arts and Sciences, where he has taught for 20 years. His research is in the area of religion and social work, and his teaching area is human development across the lifespan.
Conley K. McMullen ‘78, Keezletown, Va., was elected a Fellow of the Virginia Academy of Science. He is professor of biology at James Madison University.
Wilda Schwartzentruber Stoltzfus ‘78, Bellefontaine, Ohio, is a special projects officer at Community Health and Wellness Partners of Logan County.
Miriam Zehr ‘78, Orrville, Ohio, graduated from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary in July with an MA degree in Christian formation with a concentration in Christian spirituality. She is an associate pastor of worship and education at Oak Grove Mennonite Church in Smithville.
Rolando Santiago ‘79, Lancaster, Pa., began as development director in May for the Jubilee Association of Maryland, a Mennonite-related developmental disabilities organization. He was a member of its board from 1999-2004, and now oversees its foundation, event planning and communications.
1980-89
Phil Wenger ’82, Lancaster, Pa., provided the Longacre Series Lecture in November, speaking to several audiences on topics of faith, business and social justice. He is the former owner of Isaac’s Deli, Inc., and current CEO of the Lancaster Conservancy.
Myron Blosser ‘83, MA ‘98 (education), Harrisonburg, Va., was awarded the annual Genetics Education Award from the National Association of Biology Teachers. He is co-director of Harrisonburg High School Governor’s STEM Academy and a past Virginia Biology Teacher of the Year.
Cheryl Kreider 83 Carey ’83, Lansdowne, Va., is the executive director of the Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine, located in Leesburg.
Tammy Fulk Cullers ‘83, MA ‘13 (education), Broadway, Va., published Random Numbers, a mystery for teen readers (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018). A seventh-grade teacher, she also co-authored the Custer’s Mill Mystery series and the Local Lore history series.
Peter Gabriel Omonde ‘83, Washington, N.C., works at Agape Community Health Clinic.
Shana Peachey Boshart ‘85, Wellman, Ohio, received an Award for Distinguished Service as one of Dock Mennonite Academy’s 2018 alumni of the year. An EMU trustee since 2012, she served for 20 years as faith formation minister for Central Plains Mennonite Conference. She curates the Anabaptist Faith Formation website and has promoted young people’s participation in the Mennonite Church USA delegation assembly, most recently through the Step Up initiative.
Sharon Witmer Yoder ‘85, Elkhart, Ind., graduated in July with a Master of Divinity degree with a major in pastoral ministry from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. In December, she will conclude 11 years of service as co-pastor at Olive Mennonite Church.
Maria Bender Archer, class of ‘86, MA ‘11 (education), Harrisonburg, Va., was named K-8 principal at Eastern Mennonite School in July. She was the K-5 principal since the elementary school began in 2005.
Sue Blauch ‘86, Harrisonburg, Va., was named the first Head of WNBA Referee Performance and Development in August. She officiated WNBA All-Star Games in 2006 and 2011, as well as the 2006 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics Bronze Medal game.
Todd M. Shenk ‘88, Anchorage, Alaska, was named a senior program officer for the Rasmuson Foundation in June. He previously worked 12 years for Casey Family Programs in Seattle, including three years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in Washington D.C.
1990-99
Pauline Martin ‘90, San Salvador, El Salvador, directs the education policy and evaluation master’s program at the Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas in San Salvador, where she has lived for 25 years following service with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).
Cheryl Helmuth Logan ‘91, Bridgewater, Va., is the new director of admissions for EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding. She formerly worked for Blue Ridge Community College as a career coach at Harrisonburg High School.
Jill Stoltzfus ‘91, Souderton, Pa., is a research institute director at St. Luke’s University Health Network in Fountain Hill, Pa. This fall, she presented a Suter Science Seminar titled “From Undergraduate Education to Meaningful Employment: How a Former EMU Psych Major Found Her Calling in the World of Academic Hospital Research.”
Aimee Jeanette Camp ‘93, El Paso, Texas, is a public library branch manager two miles from the U.S-Mexico border. The library offers ESL, beginning computers, GED, French and citizenship classes.
Kevin Griffin ‘93, MA ‘17 (education), Royersford, Pa., stepped down after 13 seasons as EMU’s head women’s basketball coach to serve as connections minister for the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene.
Delores Jean Saner Jameson ‘93, Harrisonburg, Va., received a United Way Bright Star award for early childhood education in June. Jameson is the executive director of the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Child Day Care Center.
Tim Meyers ‘93, Archbold, Ohio, began a new position as math instructor at Four County Career Center. He has worked in education for 19 years. He and Heather Yoder Myers ‘93 have three children.
Randall Nyce ‘94, Souderton, Pa., a stewardship consultant for Everence, received the President’s Stewardship Award at the organization’s 2018 national conference.
Amy Rhodes Brown ‘95, Staunton, Va., earned an MSN-Nurse Educator degree from Liberty University in May, and is now an RN care coordinator for the colorectal surgery program in the digestive health department at the University of Virginia Health System.
Stephen Farrar ‘95, Harrisonburg, Va., is the EMU music department’s new office manager. He attended Ohio University for graduate studies in piano performance, and earned Master of Divinity and Master of Music degrees at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary. Stephen also serves as associate pastor and minister of music at Sunrise Church of the Brethren.
Anne Gingerich Brenneman ‘96, Salt Lake City, Utah, has been appointed administrative director for pediatric behavioral health at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. She previously worked for nearly eight years in several positions, most recently as director of pediatric education, practice and research. She has also served as the simulation program manager at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Jeanette Nisly ’96, MSN ’14, Petén, Guatemala, volunteers with Concern America, an international organization that in part trains villagers to become their own health-care providers. She teaches online courses for EMU and is enrolled in EMU’s doctor of nursing practice program.
Earl Robinson ‘96, Overton, England, has published Our Road to Adoption: The story of our family and the great family of God (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2018), in which he narrates the three-year road to adopting their three daughters.
Trent Hummel ‘97, Cincinnati, Ohio, presented a Suter Science Seminar on his research into targeted therapies in pediatric neuro-oncology. He is associate professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Ryan W. Kauffman ‘97, Lancaster, Pa., is a member of the NakedEye Ensemble, which has released its debut album “Storylines Crossing” (Starkland, 2018). It’s “a stylistic melange, full of gritty energy and wonderful stylistic feints,” said Joshua Kosman of The San Francisco Chronicle.
Ryan Linder-Hess ‘98, Lancaster, Pa., works for Hess Bros. where he has helped to develop a new variety of apple called Sweet Cheeks. Hess Bros. donated apples (another variety) for EMU’s donor appreciation banquet.
Stephanie Horst ‘99, Lancaster, Pa., recently completed her education requirements for Associateship in the Society of Actuaries. She works for Capital BlueCross in Harrisburg.
2000-09
Christopher Clymer Kurtz ‘00, Linville, Va., along with Maria Clymer Kurtz ‘00, Nick Hurst ‘01 and Craig Zook ‘01, released the Clymer Kurtz Band’s fourth CD, titled Snow on Snow on Snow (2018). It features the original “Solemn Stillness (Joy to the World)” and new arrangements of traditional Christmas carols.
Rosemary Siegrist Blessing ‘01, Lititz, Pa., is the artistic director of the Mennonite Children’s Choir of Lancaster chamber choir. She also has a private piano studio, teaches at Franklin and Marshall College, and is a rehearsal accompanist for the Lancaster Symphony Chorus.
Alicia Horst ‘01, Harrisonburg, Va., received a United Way Young Community Builder Award in June. She is executive director of NewBridges Immigrant Resource Center and accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice to practice immigration law.
Anthony Streiff ‘01, Weyers Cave, Va., helped the Harrisonburg Cardinals to the finals of the 2018 National Wheelchair Basketball Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a team member for 13 years.
Sarah Ann Gehman Bixler ‘02, Princeton, N.J., is a doctoral student in practical theology at Princeton Theological Seminary and assistant to the director for the Center for Church Planting and Revitalization. She and spouse Benjamin Bixler ‘03, MA ‘13 (religion), a doctoral student at Drew Theological School, attend Oxford Circle Mennonite Church in Philadelphia.
Andrew Garner ‘02, Lancaster, Pa., has been named the director of strategic partnerships for the North Museum of Nature and Science, where he has worked since 2014, recently as education services manager.
Caleb Ediger ‘03, Harper, Kan., earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice in organizational leadership from the University of Kansas in July. His doctoral project was titled “Using Simulation with New Graduate Nurses to Identify Nurse-to-Nurse Lateral Violence.” He is an assistant professor of nursing and the simulation educator at Newman University.
Laura Horst Rosenberger ‘03, Chapel Hill, N.C., was inducted into the American College of Surgeons in November. She is a breast oncologist and assistant professor of surgery at Duke University School of Medicine.
Casey Armstrong ‘06, Remington, Va., was named the assistant county administrator of Rockingham County. He previously held the role of director of community development and has worked for the county for 12 years.
Luella Kaufman Glanzer ‘06, Harrisonburg, Va., was recognized as one of “40 under 40” awardees by the Virginia Nurses Association this fall in Richmond. Since 2017 she has served as the nursing retention program coordinator with the UVA Health System. She is enrolled in EMU’s MSN program.
Stephanie Miller Lehman ‘06, Philadelphia, Pa., earned a PhD in chemistry from the University of Virginia in October, and started a post-doctoral position at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
Kristy Koser ‘07, MA ‘09 (counseling), Millersburg, Ohio, has successfully defended her dissertation “The ART of Couple Satisfaction,” thereby earning her PhD in Counseling and Supervision at James Madison University.
Donovan Tann ‘08, Newton, Kan., chairs the language arts department at Hesston College. He was a Lilly Graduate Fellow 2008-11, and completed his PhD in English at Temple University in 2014.
Rachel Reesor ‘09, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, is a licensed clinical social worker at Blue Hills Child and Family Center in Toronto. She performs assessments on families that have remained in the system for extended periods of time and provides therapy to families through Children’s Aid (foster care in Ontario).
Regina Wenger ‘09, Waco, Texas, has begun doctoral studies in history at Baylor University.
2010-18
Justin Reesor ‘10, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, is the operations manager for RENEW, which has facilitated investments in eight medium-sized companies in Ethiopia with the goal of producing both financial returns and positive social impact for its angel investors. In total, RENEW has helped create 827 jobs and supports 5,700 smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, and is expanding to Uganda. Reesor’s role includes finance/accounting, HR, IT, and project management functions.
Ben Roth Shank ‘10, Wellington, New Zealand, won the National Council of Teachers of English 2018 Paul and Kate Farmer English Journal Writing Award with “Maximizing the Heuristic Potential of the Enthymeme.” The article began as an assignment for a rhetoric class during his graduate studies through Valdosta State University. He teaches English and media studies and coaches soccer at Wellington High School.
Matthew Tieszen ‘10, MA ‘15 (biomedicine), a graduate student in the physician assistant program at James Madison University, served a clinical rotation at Shirati KTM Hospital in Tanzania. He and Blake Rogers ‘14 were the first students from JMU’s PA program to complete a clinical rotation there.
Brianna Oelschlager Moyer ’11, Lititz, Pa., was awarded the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teacher Award for exemplary leadership and teaching excellence in the Lancaster General Family Medicine Residency program. In August she began as a faculty member there, where she will supervise family medicine residents, assist the current director of the global health studies curriculum, and have her own practice.
Michael Spory ‘11, Charlottesville, Va., completed a master’s degree in architecture at Iowa State University and is an architectural designer at Stantec, an international design and engineering firm.
Nathan Hershberger ‘12, Durham, N.C., was named Eastern Mennonite School’s 2018 Young Alumnus of the Year. He and his wife Kaitlin served for three years with Mennonite Central Committee in Ankawa, Iraq. He is enrolled in a doctoral program in theology at Duke University.
Justin King ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., is Eastern Mennonite School’s new high school principal. He previously taught world history, government and economics at Broadway, Turner Ashby and East Rockingham high schools, and coached baseball. This fall he began working toward a master’s degree in secondary school administration at James Madison University.
Julia Schmidt ‘13, Goshen, Ind., graduated in May with a Master of Divinity degree with a major in theological studies from the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. She also received the seminary’s Heart of the Community Award and the Award for Excellence in Peace Studies.
Louise Babikow ‘14, Lancaster, Pa., received a master’s degree in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017. She completed a student elective term in Roatán, Honduras at Clínica Esperanza, and plans to work in Lancaster as a nurse practitioner.
Eric King ‘14, Taos, N.M., is operations manager for Taos Initiative for Life Together, a “Mennonite-inspired social change movement.” He helps to manage and develop the house and urban agriculture site. Eric has also worked at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and at Vine & Fig, the New Community Project sustainable living center in Harrisonburg.
Melanie Krosnes Lewis ‘14, Winchester, Va., was promoted to lead chaplain of Valley Health System’s six hospitals. She leads clinical chaplains at Winchester Medical Center and Warren Memorial Hospital, and helps coordinate the volunteer chaplains at four smaller critical-access hospitals.
Karla Hovde ‘15, Minneapolis, Minn., is the communications specialist for the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Keri Weaver ‘15, Lancaster, Pa., is a labor and delivery nurse at Lancaster General Hospital, where she was recognized for professional excellence during the July managing partners meeting for her calm and thoughtful care with an expectant mother during a crisis cesarean section decision. She is enrolled in EMU’s MSN program.
Andrew Yoder ‘16, Charlottesville, Va., is the technical manager for Secure Futures, which collaborated with EMU student groups to install new solar panels on Roselawn and the University Commons in a “solar barn raising” that increased the university’s solar energy capacity by 65 percent. He is enrolled in EMU’s MBA program.
Graduate and Professional School
including the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding and Eastern Mennonite Seminary
Tim Alan Short MDiv ‘99, Wadsworth, Ohio, completed his clinical pastoral education residency at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland in 2016. Since then, Tim has been chaplain at Ohio Living Rockynol in Akron.
Jeff Heie MA ‘00 (conflict transformation), Harrisonburg, Va., coordinator for the Harrisonburg Gift & Thrift solar project, worked with Staunton-based firm Secure Futures to put together the “Thrifty Solar Barn Raising” team. Jeff’s team was among 170 teams nationwide selected to compete in the US Department of Energy’s Solar In Your Community Challenge, a $5 million contest that supports “innovative and replicable community-based solar business models and programs that will bring solar to underserved communities.” Secure Futures’ CEO is Anthony Smith, former business professor at EMU, and the firm employs many EMU alumni, including President Emeritus Loren Swartzendruber ‘76, MDiv ‘79.
Khadija O. Ali MA ‘01 (conflict transformation), Mogadishu, Somalia, is an electoral commissioner for Somalia’s National Independent Electoral Commission in Mogadishu. She earned a PhD from George Mason University in 2014.
Jodi Dueck-Read MA ‘03 (conflict transformation), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, teaches conflict resolution studies at Menno Simons College and is a senior research assistant for Canadian Financial Diaries. She earned a PhD from the Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba, in 2016.
Ja Nan Lahtaw MA ‘03 (conflict transformation), Yangon, Myanmar, is the executive director of the Nyein (Shalom) Foundation, and spends much of her time convening and facilitating negotiations between the Myanmar government and ethnic armed organizations as well as between various ethnic armed groups.
Tecla Namachanja Wanjala MA ‘03 (conflict transformation), Nairobi, Kenya, completed a 10-month Richard von Weizsäcker Senior Fellowship under the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin, Germany. Prior to that she managed a social healing and reconciliation program of the Green String Network. She holds a PhD in peace and conflict studies from Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology.
Allison Garcia MA ’05 (counseling), Harrisonburg, Va., published Vivir el Dream (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017), a novel she shared during a fall Writers Read event on campus. The book’s themes include experiences of immigrants, the commandment to love God and neighbor, and her passion for cooking and food.
Katharine Dow MA ‘04 (conflict transformation), Walnut Creek, Calif., is a USAID foreign service officer and currently enrolled in the MFA in Popular Fiction program at Seton Hill University.
Shawn Gerber MDiv ‘04, Bloomington, Ind., is the director of spiritual care and chaplaincy services at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital. He is married to Rachel Gerber MDiv ‘05, who is the assistant director for the Career Development Center at Indiana University.
Iris de León-Hartshorn MA ‘05 (conflict transformation), Portland, Ore., is Mennonite Church USA’s associate executive director for operations, a new position that encapsulates the roles of chief of staff and key advisor to new executive director Glen Guyton. She was previously the church’s director of transformative peacemaking.
Joseph Ngoriakou Riwongole MA ‘06 (conflict transformation), Nairobi, Kenya, is a civil affairs officer with the United Nation Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Ferdinand Djayerombe Vaweka MA ‘06 (conflict transformation), Montreal, Canada, is coordinator with ROJEP, the Francophone ecumenical network of about 30 faith-based groups working for justice, ecology and peace in Quebec.
Theo Sitther MA ‘13 (conflict transformation), Silver Spring, Md., is a lobbyist for the Friends Committee on National Legislation in Washington D.C., and has helped connect CJP students to policymakers.
Fabrice Guerrier MA ‘15 (conflict transformation), Washington, D.C., founded Syllble Studios, Inc., a collaborative storytelling startup that publishes fiction books and original serialized stories. He works for the U.S. State Department and is a 2018 Gabr Fellow at the Shafik Gabr Foundation.
MCA Shamsa Omar GC ‘15 (peacebuilding leadership), Wajir, Kenya, is one of four winners for the British Council’s Future Leaders Connect Programme, which connects and equips young people with policy and leadership expertise. She chairs Wajir’s Gender, Culture and Community Service Committee.
Andrew Daniels MA ‘16 (conflict transformation), Belfast, Ireland, is an international fellow with the Belfast-based program of PeacePlayers, which combines sports programming with peace education and leadership development for youth in communities in conflict. He oversees programs for youth ages 7-18 with the aim of bringing together residents of starkly segregated neighborhoods.
Aaron Oda MA ‘16 (conflict transformation), Harrisonburg, Va., is program manager of Gemeinschaft Home, a residential therapeutic facility for men transitioning out of incarceration.
Joanna Stauffer MA ‘17, Harrisonburg, Va., is a middle school intervention center coordinator for Harrisonburg City Schools, responsible for discerning and implementing how restorative practices can be integrated into the school’s disciplinary procedures.
Shankar Rai MDiv ‘18, MA ‘18 (organizational leadership), Lancaster, Pa., was a featured speaker at the Bhutanese-Nepali Churches of America Youth Summit this summer in New York. Approximately 90,000 Bhutanese refugees have resettled in the U.S. since 2008, including Rai in 2010. He has planted and pastored Bhutanese-Nepali churches in Baltimore, Md., and Harrisburg and Lancaster, Pa.
Charlie Tinsley MDiv ‘18, Harrisonburg, Va., is the Virginia state ambassador for the National Association of Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse. He advocates locally and regionally for the organization (online at www.naasca.org), and was a panelist on its radio show in August.
MARRIAGES
Lois B. Bowman ‘60 to John H. Kreider ’62, Harrisonburg, Va., May 12, 2018.
Rene Hostetter ’03, MA ’08 (church leadership) to Isaac Witmer, Harrisonburg, Va., Sept. 1, 2018.
Julia Schmidt ‘13 to Jonathan Shetler, Nathrop, Colo., Sept. 23, 2018.
Jacob Landis ‘15 to Leah Roth, Morton, Ill., Aug. 4, 2018.
Rachel Bowman ‘16 to Greg Koop, Harrisonburg, Va., May 26, 2018.
Alex Miller ‘16 to Abby Dwyer ‘16, Raleigh, N.C., March 9, 2018.
Sam Swartzendruber ‘16 to Kari King ‘16, Harrisonburg, Va., June 3, 2017.
Isaac Dahl ‘17 to Jacinda Stahly ‘17, Harrisonburg, Va., June 23, 2018.
Zachary Sauder ‘18 to Juni Schirch Sanchez ‘16, Lyndhurst, Va., June 29, 2018.
BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS
Jennifer and David Berry (assistant professor of music), Joshua Timothy, Aug. 9, 2018.
Mike and Katie Fisher (admissions counselor), Bowen Grace, June 3, 2018.
Sam and Katy Hopkins (open house coordinator, assistant field hockey coach), Grayson Gordon, July 7, 2018.
Andrew (assistant professor of theology, peace and mission) and Karen (instructor, Intensive English program) Suderman, Simon Joshua, Aug. 21, 2018.
Lance (facilities management) and Kristin Nussbaum Wenger ‘11, Everly Mae, Aug. 3, 2018.
Rachel and Todd Van Patter MA ‘16 (assistant director of institutional research), Auden Hale, Sept. 20, 2018.
Elizabeth and Jared Yoder ‘96, New York, N.Y., Lincoln Bennett, Feb. 20, 2018.
Jill Landis Jha ‘99, MA ‘10, and the late Kumar Anuraj Jha MA ‘07, Goshen, Ind., Anjali Moon Landis Jha, June 6, 2018.
Kenneth and Katrina Hochsteter Owens ‘00, Washington, D.C., Jonah Mose, Nov. 23, 2017.
Cindy King ‘00 and Samanth Dawson, Charlotte, N.C., Ari Dawson, April 30, 2018.
Lori Doll and Joseph Friesen ‘04, Harrisonburg, Va., Ezra Joseph, May 10, 2018.
Meredith and Jon Trotter ‘04, Harrisonburg, Va., Hannah Elise Wine, Dec. 26, 2017.
Nick ‘04 and Jessie Lusby Buckwalter ‘05, Lititz, Pa., Lilly Mae, May, 22, 2018.
Brandon and Stephanie Good Rittenhouse ‘06, Harleysville, Pa., Grayson Lee, May 12, 2018.
Isabel Castillo ‘07, MA ‘17 and Patrick Ressler ‘09, Harrisonburg, Va., Malik Castillo Ressler, March 2018.
Jennifer Ruth ‘07 and Benjamin Gundy, Pittsburgh, Pa., Malcolm Rich Ruth, April 19, 2018.
Chris ‘08 and Eliza Barnhart Burkholder ‘09, Salem, Ore., Titus Anderson, May 11, 2018.
Nathan ‘10 and Kelsey Anderson Kauffman ‘08, Washington, D.C., Liv Wendell, May 25, 2018.
Ryan Wolz ‘11 and Katie Sensabaugh, McGaheysville, Va., Lillian Irving Wolz, Aug. 30, 2018.
Phil ‘11 and Laci Gautsche Tieszen ‘13, Harrisonburg, Va., Lesedi Joy, July 31, 2018.
Brendon ‘12 and Heidi Boese Derstine ‘11, Harrisonburg, Va., Ava Mae, Aug. 26, 2018.
Austin ‘13 and Sarah Schoenhals Showalter ‘12, Harrisonburg, Va., Tobin Henry, Nov. 7, 2018.
DEATHS
Florence Y. Bucher ‘40, Indianapolis, Ind., died Sept. 14, 2018, at 97.
Evelyn Brunk Maust ‘41, Harrisonburg, Va., died May 9, 2018, at 96. She was a nurse at Rockingham Memorial Hospital and EMU, as well as an avid volunteer and traveler in the US and internationally. She was known for her vegetable and flower garden adjacent to campus.
Virginia May Derstine, Harrisonburg, Va., died April 21, 2018, at 93. She assisted her husband Norman ‘46, when he was director of church relations at EMU for many years.
Rosanna Yoder Hostetler ‘53, West Chester, Pa., died Jan. 29, 2018, at 87. With her late husband, she served the Mennonite Church as a missionary in Brazil.
Marijke Schuette Kyler ‘53, Harrisonburg, Va., died June 30, 2018, at 86. Born in Amsterdam, she emigrated to Ohio where she met her husband, Rinehart. She taught languages at Bloomfield College and EMU.
Jewell Gross Brenneman ‘56, Bridgewater, Va., died Aug. 1, 2018, at 83. She held three advanced degrees in the arts and was an active member in her church congregations.
Leroy Lapp ‘56, Morgantown, W.Va., died July 16, 2018, at 86. His research on the mechanisms of occupational dust-related lung diseases was used to develop federal regulations impacting mining practice and compensation of workers. An expert in chest x-ray interpretation, he was the first physician in West Virginia to use lasers to treat lung disease. He was also chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at WVU for 20 years.
Martha Yutzy Kaufman ‘57, Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 26, 2018, at 89. She spent her years as a schoolteacher, homemaker, Avon representative and active church member. Gardening, quilting and bird watching were among her favorite pasttimes.
Keith Mullet ‘57, Pantego, N.C., died March 30, 2018, at 85. Keith taught school in Roper, was a social worker in Swan Quarter, and for more than 30 years worked for Pantego Overhead Doors. He was married to Rosa Mae Kurtz for nearly 60 years.
Jim Burkholder ‘60, Mechanicsburg, Pa., died June 13, 2018, at 84. Jim pastored many churches over the years and was also the manager/salesman for Concord Associates, a ministry which provided features for newspapers, for 54 years.
Ray C. Gingerich ‘60, Harrisonburg, Va., died June 17, 2018, at 84. Ray and his wife Wilma moved to Luxembourg as missionaries under Eastern Mennonite Board of Missions in 1960. For seven years he pastored a small Mennonite congregation and started a Christian bookstore. After returning to the states, he continued his studies at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and Vanderbilt University. He taught many years at EMU in the Bible and religion department and helped develop a peace and justice minor.
Delilah Miller Sharp ‘60, Bolivar, Ohio, died Jan. 13, 2018, at 82. She taught school for four years and was a substitute teacher for 55 years.
Harold Reed ‘61, Lititz, Pa., died Dec. 13, 2017, at 83. He served in administrative roles in Somalia and the home office of Eastern Mennonite Missions.
Nancy Jane Peachy Bontrager ‘62, Hesston, Kan., died Sept. 30, 2018, at 78. She was a nurse and later volunteered at various organizations.
Geraldine “Gerry” Wilcox Rush ‘63, Harrisonburg, Va., died Sept. 17, 2018, at 76. She taught at EMC and EMHS, then stayed home to raise her children. She then became an accountant. A member of Zion Mennonite Church, Gerry also volunteered and used her accounting gifts in nonprofit work. She was co-director of Highland Retreat for seven years and spent 33 years on the board.
Valentine Yutzy ‘64, Plain City, Ohio, died July 12, 2018, at 84. He served in Korea as a conscientious objector and was a missionary, farmer, mason, engineer and consultant. Valentine was Ohio Farmer of the Year in 1989 and EMU Alumnus of the Year in 1990. He was also a member of United Bethel Mennonite Church..
Phineas Ziki Makoyo ‘68, Shirati, Tanzania, died Jan. 12, 2018, at 77. He earned a PhD in pharmacology at Howard University and specialized in general surgery. Phineas served in Tanzania for over 28 years, where he started Rao Hospital and Rao Health training Center. He was also pastor of Tanzania Mennonite Church for more than 10 years.
David Alvin Wenger ‘69, Bronx, N.Y., died Sept. 16, 2018, at 71. He worked in various positions related to mental health, and remained active in the church, where he played piano for the youth choir.
Norma Jean Bender Eddy ‘72, Shalersville, Ohio, died March 5, 2018, at 68. She was a teacher for more than 30 years and a member of Aurora Mennonite Church.
Lois Smith Wingate ‘74, San Antonio, Texas, died June 26, 2016, at 63.
Verlen G. Rufenacht ‘75, Lancaster, Pa., died Sept. 19, 2018, at 68. Verlen taught in Lancaster Mennonite Schools for 36 years.
Daniel Sarco ‘76, Harrisonburg, Va., died May 3, 2018, at 69. He was a respiratory therapist at Augusta Health, an avid photographer and amateur pilot.
Gary Allen Smith ‘84, formerly of Broadway, Va., died June 21, 2018, at 78. After serving in the Navy for 14 years, he settled in Florida and built homes. He later moved to Texas and ministered to those in need.
Brenda Joyce Beachy Miller ‘87, Timberville, Va., passed away Oct. 22, 2018, at 77. She attended EMC from 1959-60 and returned and completed her elementary education degree in 1987. She enjoyed directing choirs and singing, gardening, arranging flowers, road trips and having company. She was active at church and served in a variety of capacities.
Christa Pierpoint GC ‘07 (restorative justice), Charlottesville, Va., founded the Restorative Community Foundation with a focus on addressing juvenile and young adult justice reform measures. She was a teacher with Albemarle County Schools and the Augusta Correctional Center.
Alexia S. Lockett, class of ‘11, Afton, Va., died Aug. 12, 2018, at 29.
Brian Gerig ‘12, Albany, Ore., died June 3, 2018, at 29. He was a manager at a Kohl’s department store and a member of Lebanon Mennonite Church.
Degree Key
CLASS OF – attended as part of the class of a given graduation year
GC – graduate certificate
MA – master of arts
MDiv – master of divinity
Entries about alumni with both their undergraduate and graduate degrees from EMU are listed in the undergraduate section.
Have an update? Visit emu.edu/alumni/update.
Editorial Policy
Milepost entries are printed on the basis of submissions from alumni or on the basis of publicly available information. We do not verify the accuracy of information that alumni provide, nor do we make judgment calls on the information that they wish to be published, beyond editing for clarity, conciseness and consistency of style. The information provided to us does not necessarily reflect the official policies of EMU or of its parent church, Mennonite Church USA.
