Class Year: 1970

Fonda Van Sloten ’72 Kirchmeyer retired after more than 40 years in education. She reports that she continues her church, activism, volunteer and leisure activities, but at a saner and more enjoyable pace. Travel is also in the future when her husband, Rod, retires. They love living in the Southwest. Continue Reading →

Kathy Smith ’72 Matthews reports that she is busily retired in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, where she writes for the local newspaper and is a member of the art co-op as a photographer. Continue Reading →

Gerry Swieringa ’72 came out of a short-lived retirement to serve as rector of St. Brendan’s Anglican Church in Bellingham, Washington. He and his wife, Peg Francis ’73 Swieringa, live on a small rural farm where they raise chickens, quail and four grandchildren. He retired from BP American in 2010 after 27 years in the… Continue Reading →

Suzanne Rutledge ’72 Viel retired in November 2015, after 41 years in healthcare. Within 10 days she and her husband, Don Viel ’71, had moved to DeWitt, Iowa, to be closer to their son and family. Don is on the golf course and she is enjoying grandson, gardening, quilting and volunteering. Continue Reading →

Michael Ebbers ’73 of Green Cove Springs, Florida, retired in 2014 from IBM after more than 40 years of service. In 2015 he married Kathleen and in 2016 they bought a boat and began a trip known as the “Great Loop,” circumnavigating the eastern third of the country on the water. This will include six… Continue Reading →

Daniel McAuliffe ’73 reports that he has turned 65 but rather than retire full-time will undertake a new career in teaching. He notes that as a political science major he intended to become a lawyer and save the world. However he had a minor in business which led to him being awarded a George F.… Continue Reading →

Chadwick Busk ’74 is the co-author of “Curiouser and Curiouser Excuses for Legal Jargon,” an article that was published in the October issue of the Michigan Bar Journal. He continues his solo practice of corporate law after retiring from the Meijer Legal Department in 2014. Continue Reading →

Scott Lenheiser ’74 is practicing law in Farmington Hills, Michigan, primarily in real estate, taxation and business law concerns, and in the Greater Detroit and Tri-County areas of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. He also reports that he recently acquired an Enfield 2A1 military surplus rifle manufactured in 1958 for the Indian government to introduce… Continue Reading →

Judith Van De Hoef ’75 Bloor of Louisville, Kentucky, has retired from being the executive vice president of the Child Kind Center at Home of the Innocents after 23 years and reports that she is enjoying the transition into this new season of life. Continue Reading →

Dave Cluley ’75 is the chair of the national media relations committee for the National Association of Health Underwriters, NAHU.org, a professional association of health insurance agents and insurance carriers. In August, he celebrated five years with Spectrum Health, in the communications and marketing department. Continue Reading →

David DeKok ’75 has begun work on a new book with the working title “American Tragedy.” It is about Han Tak Lee, a Korean-American from New York City who was imprisoned in Pennsylvania for 24 years for a crime he did not commit. David’s previous four books include “Murder in the Stacks,” about the murder… Continue Reading →

Joan Donaldson ’75 was selected to receive a 2017 honor prize as part of the Jane Yolen Mid-List Honor Award, sponsored by Yolen and given at the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Winter Conference. Continue Reading →

Jerry Root ’75 is a part-time chaplain of athletics with Hope College’s Campus Ministries program, coming alongside athletes and coaches. Continue Reading →

John Bush ’76 retired after 43 years with Sodexo. As COO, he was responsible for business in Canada, Mexico, and the United States as well as supply management for the company’s food and faculty systems. He reports that he is relearning how to live at home and travel for pleasure. Continue Reading →

Eric Endean ’76 was elected president of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery. Continue Reading →

David James ’76 has had his fifth chapbook of poems, Split-Level, published by Finishing Line Press, under the name D.R. James. He is also completing his 30th year of academic coaching in Hope’s Academic Success Center and his 32nd year of teaching in Hope’s Department of English. He and his wife, Suzy Doyle, live in the… Continue Reading →

N. Jean Lambert ’76 of Greenville, North Carolina, is working with disabled children as a physical therapist, running a rehab agency with PT, OT and ST. She also plays tennis and sails in eastern North Carolina. Continue Reading →

Rebecca Waller ’77 Gillan of Hammond, Louisiana, has released a new FreeSolo piano album called Clouds. The quiet album (#3) is created “in-the-moment” by using jazz and modal harmonies and classical-type melodies. After leaving Hope College, she moved to Los Angeles, California, where she performed regularly with big bands and musical theater, and had a… Continue Reading →

George Ranville ’78 and Gail Noerenberg ’78 Ranville along with their son, Danny, opened Bière De Mac Brew Works, LLC in Mackinaw City, Michigan. George’s family has lived on Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City and in the straits area for many generations. Continue Reading →

Laurie Griffen ’78 Vanderbeck of Jenison, Michigan, retired in June 2016 after 38 years teaching special needs students. Continue Reading →