Class Notes
Continued
Barbara Ann Stiglitz, OP ’45 died July
4 at the Dominican Life Center. She
was 88 years old. She spent 48 years
teaching elementary school and music,
including 23 years—1955-81—at locations throughout Michigan, including St.
Joseph Academy in Adrian and schools
in the Thumb area, the Upper Peninsula, and southern Michigan. She also
taught in Illinois, Ohio and Puerto Rico.
She retired in 1981 at St. Alphonsus in
Dearborn, where she had graduated
from high school, and came to the DLC
in 1998.
M. Charlotte Becker, OP ’46, a sister
with the Akron Dominicans, died May
7 at the age of 86. Born in Berlin, Germany, and raised in Ohio, she taught
at Catholic schools throughout Ohio,
serving as a principal in Fairlawn and
Youngstown. She was educational
director at Our Lady of the Elms School
in Akron from 1990 to 1994, and then
was an active volunteer until 2001. She
enjoyed traveling, cooking, reading,
and Notre Dame football.
Marie Jutte, OP ’46 died May 14 at
the Dominican Life Center. She was 87
years old. During her 50 year career in
education, she ministered at schools in
Michigan and Ohio. She served as principal at Holy Angels School in Sturgis,
MI, from 1956 to 1962, and at St. Alexis
School in Ypsilanti from 1962 to 1983.
She retired in 1988 in Maybee where she
continued to volunteer for 10 years.
Norita Marie Barrett, OP ’47 died April
14 at the Dominican Life Center at age
90. A graduate of St. Joseph Academy,
she worked in education for 32 years in
Detroit and Chelsea, MI; Chicago, IL,
and Cincinnati, OH, where she was principal at St. Antoninus from 1954 to 1960.
She also served as librarian assistant at
Rosary High School in Detroit (1971-75)
and was a clerk, driver and office assistant at St. Alphonsus Parish in Dearborn
for 15 years. She volunteered for seven
years at St Rose Dominican Hospital in
Henderson, NV, before coming to the
DLC in 1998.
Nancy McCarty ’74 died March 12 at
her home in Hudson after a courageous
battle with cancer. She was 65. She
taught math for 14 years in Kissimmee,
FL, where she was a member of the
Osceola Classroom Teachers Association. She spent summers and holidays at
home in Michigan, enjoying gardening,
garage sales and birdwatching, as well
as reading and playing with grandchilElizabeth Campean DeLisle ’53 died
dren. Survivors include four children and
Oct. 18, 2003, at her home in Prudeneight grandchildren.
ville. She was 71 years old. She and
her husband, Don, were married on Deborah Borton King ’76 of Adrian died
Mackinaw Island in 1986. She was a July 21.
member of the Harrison Moose and the
Word has been received of the death
Houghton Lake Eagles. She is survived
of Frank Siwek ’87, a graduate of
by her husband, Don, five children, three
Siena’s Metropolitan Detroit Program in
step-children, and 15 grandchildren.
Southfield.
Helen Jean Earles ’57 died Sept. 14 at
Kathleen Donnelly ’89 died June 27
the age of 85. She taught fourth grade
at the age of 56 after a brave battle
and kindergarten at Madison Elementary
with cancer. Kathy had worked at Siena
School in Adrian for 25 years, retiring in
Heights’ Lake Michigan Center in Benton
1976. An active member of the Grange,
Harbor, before becoming assistant
at the local, state and national level, she
director of Siena’s Metropolitan Detroit
also was a member of Eastern Star, the
Program in Southfield. Survivors include
International Order of the Rainbow for
her two sons, one of whom, Scott
Girls, and the Daughters of the American
Hakeem, also is a former employee of
Revolution.
the Southfield Center.
Ralph “Bud” Leonard ’74 of Adrian
Tracy Church ’93 (photo right) of Petersdied July 7 at the age of 80. A World War
burg died Aug. 30 after an extended
II veteran who owned a service station
battle with pneumonia. He was 56. An
for 19 years, he became a teacher after
enthusiastic non-traditional student at
earning his Siena Heights degree. He
Siena, he was well into a successful
taught at Michener Elementary School
business career when he completed his
for 16 years, then retired and taught at
business administration degree. Several
Gus Harrison Correctional Facility until
years later, he established his own comearlier this year. He umpired softball and
pany, APEC, which he operated for five
baseball at the local and state level for
years in Temperance and Toledo, designmore than 50 years. He is survived by his
ing and manufacturing transmission test
wife, Hazel, and many extended family
stands and custom hydraulic equipment.
and friends.
He also taught hydraulics for several
years at Monroe County Community
College. He was a voracious reader, a lifelong learner and an active outdoorsman
who especially enjoyed shotgun sports.
He also was an enthusiastic proponent
of organ donation, having benefited from
two kidney transplants and a pancreas
transplant. Tracy is survived by his
wife, Siena Heights alumni director and
former Reflections editor Jennifer
Hamlin Church; three daughters including Siena Heights campus security
director Cindy Birdwell; and seven
grandchildren.
M. Pierre Bisheimer O.P. ’49, a sister
with the Akron Dominicans, died May
1. She was 85. She began teaching in
1938 at Immaculate Conception School
in Ravenna, OH, and continued ministering in education at various Ohio schools
until 1991, when she retired for health
reasons. She enjoyed needlework,
music and reading.
Sandra Adams Love ’98 of Battle Creek
passed away Aug. 4 at the age of 56. A
graduate of Siena’s Battle Creek center
at Kellogg Community College, she
worked as a counselor with Strive of
Greater Michigan. A great fan of the
support and encouragement provided
by Siena Heights, she volunteered for
several years with Siena’s kente stole
presentation program in Battle Creek.
She was active in several community
organizations and was co-founder and
head of the Battle Creek Sickle Cell
Anemia Support Group. Her daughter
and four grandchildren survive.
Robert Vatter ’02 of Lansing died Aug.
2 at the age of 46. A graduate of Siena’s
Theological Studies Program, he earned