Class
Notes
28
in Illinois, Michigan, Puerto Rico,
Dominican Republic and Florida
before moving back to Adrian. “I
am now at the Motherhouse gainfully employed and happy!”
Marie Smith Shumacher ‘50 of St.
Clair had a “brief career as a teacher
and a long career as a mother of
eight children” before joining her
husband, Ted, in the furniture business and, later, working in interior
design with Jacobsons. “I am still
free-lancing,” she reports, as well
as sitting on the boards of an art
gallery and her condo association.
For their 50th wedding anniversary,
Marie and Ted went to Poland when
the Pope had the same itinerary. “It
was exciting!”
Mary Alice (Sweetie) Conway
Tavolier ‘50 and her husband, Peter, live in Akron, OH, where they
have raised 10 children and been
active in parish and community
life. Peter is still active in the family
business although he has stepped
down as president leaving four sons
in charge. Sweetie still volunteers
for church activities and enjoys her
14-soon-to-be-16 grandchildren.
She reflects, “We’ve had many ups
and downs. The ups have been joys,
the downs have been gifts. God has
been good!”
Mary Maichen Wetzel-Tomalka
‘50 of Michawaka, IN, raised four
children in South Bend with her first
husband, Clancy Wetzel, who died
in 1993. During those years, Mary
taught junior high school English,
advised the school newspaper, and
directed several full-length musicals before taking early retirement
with Clancy soon after losing their
youngest son. Several years after
Clancy’s death, Mary married his
best friend who had also lost his
spouse. Since then, Mary and Ted
Tomalka have become avid travelers: 14 cruises in six years! Mary
also has given numerous seminars
and published seven books (No.
8 due in June) on Candlewick
crystal made by Imperial Glass of
Bellaire, OH. For 20 years, she
has been president and newsletter
editor of the Michiana Association
of Candlewick Collectors, which
she helped to found in 1980. “I am
most grateful to Siena Heights for
the wonderful Catholic education
I received,” Mary writes. “Many
of my accomplishments could not
have been achieved without this
education.”
Joan Chopp Scheuermann ‘53
and her husband, Robert, live in
Pleasant Ridge. Their youngest
son (5th child of 6) welcomed his
first son on All Saints Day. That
makes 17 grandchildren for Joan
who comments, “...and you shall
be blessed.”
Magdalena Ezoe, OP ‘55 teaches
full-time in the Siena Heights music
department and performs regularly
in the Adrian area. (The recording
of her “150th Anniversary Recital
of Chopin’s Piano Music” is available on CD for $20 from the music
department.) Before joining the
Siena faculty in 1968, she taught
high school and college and earned
her Master of Music (piano) degree
from the U. of Michigan.
Mary McDowell Bissonette ‘55
and her husband, Ev, live in Clinton Twp. Mary taught elementary
school before starting a 25-year
career as a school librarian in Birmingham. Since retiring, volunteer
work for Mary has included support for women affected by AIDS,
in the parish, in the community,
in other churches as well as in the
Lexington Diocesan organizations
have been a challenge as well as
tremendous growth experiences.”
Paul Emelia Brown, OP ‘55 writes
from Hobe Sound, FL, that she has
worn many hats since her days at
Siena, but “the real hat has always
been the Adrian Dominican veil.”
During her 52 years as a Sister, she
taught all grades in elementary and
high school and twice was a principal. She moved from education into
pastoral ministry and is “enjoying
my work here in the South.”
Marcine Klemm, OP ‘55 reports
that “my life has been very full,
exciting, challenging and fulfilling.” Her career in education and
administration has taken her to
Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Mexico and Texas as well as Michigan
and Ohio. Today she works in the
academic dean’s office at Siena
Heights. “What a plethora of experiences have been mine, life-giving
and enriching, blessing my days
with a deep faith in God and a heart
filled with joy and gratitude.”
F. Jeannine Gund Martin ‘55
lives in Cleveland and says her
greatest joy is her two daughters,
both married with master’s degrees
and careers, one a teacher and one
Alumni Notes from
SHU in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo
Since 1992, Siena Heights has operated a degree completion center in
Battle Creek on the campus of Kellogg Community College. Nearly
300 Siena Heights alumni have earned their degrees through SHU
at Kalamazoo Community College. Siena Heights established the
Kalamazoo Center in 1996.
Crystal Aviza Mast ‘98 is an insurance underwriter with State Farm
Insurance Companies. She is enjoying life with her husband Chip. She
writes, “I am now working on a Training Program that I think will be
a successful tool in our employee development.”
working as a Eucharistic minister
at Mt. Clemens Hospital and assisting Meals on Wheels. Daughter
Paula will be married in Phoenix
this year.
Maria Goretti Browne, OP ‘55
has been living in Grayson, KY,
for almost 20 years, finding joy
and fulfillment working in parish
ministry: “This time of my life has
been a real learning and stretching experience, since God led me
into situations I could never have
dreamed of myself. Involvement
(Jane, a 1987 graduate of Siena!)
a human resources associate with
Eli Lilly and Co. Jeannine’s career
in dietetics included restaurant and
hospital work (22 years at University Hospitals of Cleveland) and
the State of Ohio Developmental
Center from which she retired in
1997.
Eleanor Taylor ‘57 is a retired
teacher living in Troy.
Mary Ann Kolar ‘59 (formerly
Sister Charles Ann) lives in Aiken,
SC.
Hilda Vazquez Aybar ‘60 (formerly Sister Mary Theresa Joseph
Vazquez) lives in San Juan, PR,
where she is editing a book on the
role of Latin American women in
history, scheduled for publication
this year. She also regula