Class Notes

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If you have questions or need assistance, please call Director of Alumni Engagement, Dani Crown Jadwin at 740-826-8473 or email dcrown@muskingum.edu.

All class notes will be edited for length, style and content. Obituary notices submitted by family members must not be longer than 250 words. Longer obituaries will be edited to that length.

Photographs should be submitted at a size that is no larger than 500 pixels in the largest dimension. We cannot use images in PowerPoint format. Please identify everyone in the photograph, left to right, with their name and the year they graduated from Muskingum.

If you are submitting a note on behalf of a Muskingum graduate, please tell us your relationship to that alumnus.

To view by order of Class Year, please click on a decade button below

Update: Births
Adam Gulling
Class Year:
2003

Eric Will was born on June 30, 2017 in Buchholz, Germany to Sandra and Adam Gulling.

Update: Faculty/Staff update
Tom German

Professors German and Gene Alesandrini catch up with Kaylee Lukacena ’14 at the National Communication Association conference in Dallas, Texas.

Update: Updates
Seth Cosens
Class Year:
1984

Seth Cosens is in his 31st year of teaching Business Education at Susquehanna Valley High School (Conklin, NY). And his 30th year as Boy’s Head track and field coach. His son, Tanner, was a four-year letter-winner on the Binghamton University Men's Lacrosse team. As a senior, he was a team captain. Tanner is currently completing his degree work in anthropology and is a member of the BU Men's Lacrosse coaching staff.

Update: Marriages
Allison Avolio
Class Year:
2006

Allison Avolio married Seth Binder on November 5, 2016 in Pittsburgh, PA surrounded by family and friends. Shannon Poole '06 and former MU Student Life employee Gina Tamburro were members of the wedding party. Other Muskies present included Professor of History Dr. Laura Hilton, former Student Life employee Kerry Guerard, and current Dean of Students Susan Waryck.

Update: Updates
Benjamin E. Davis
Class Year:
1988

Benjamin E. Davis was named President of the IPC Employee Relief Fund, Inc., a not for profit organization. This non-profit organization was established in February 2000 to assist local employees in the publishing industry manage personal financial crisis.  10/17

Benjamin E. Davis has been named the General Manager and Senior Director of Newspaper Operations for the Anderson Independent Mail (part of the USA Today Network) located in Anderson, South Carolina. The Independent Mail is a daily newspaper serving Anderson County, South Carolina and parts of northwestern Georgia.

Update: Deaths
Lisa Ray Ebeling
Class Year:
1983

October 25, 2017, Barnesville, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Colin J. Campbell
Class Year:
1986

December 13, 2017, Stillwater, New Jersey.

Update: Updates
Chris Briggs
Class Year:
1991

Dr. Chris Briggs is the new superintendent of Pickerington Local Schools in Pickerington, Ohio. Dr. Briggs served as the superintendent of Northridge Local Schools for the last four and a half years before taking over Ohio's 15th largest school district in July, 2017.

Update: Updates
Jennifer Peeke
Class Year:
1998

Jennifer Peeke was promoted to Supervisor at a Children Services Agency (Licking County) in October of 2016.

Update: Deaths
Barbara Clasen Irvine
Class Year:
1960

February 19, 2017, Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Update: Deaths
Richard (Dick) M. Brown
Class Year:
1962

January 1, 2018, Blounts Creek, North Carolina.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James D. Brown ’31 and Virginia Liggitt Brown ’31.

Update: Deaths
James A. Cousins
Class Year:
1962

January 1, 2018, Guys Mills, Pennsylvania.  
He was born May 13, 1940, in Sussex, N.J., a son of the Rev. James G. and Thelma I. Johnston Cousins.

Jim was a veteran of the Vietnam era, serving in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. He was a graduate of the University of Chicago with a bachelor's degree in social work. He retired from the Erie V.A. as a social worker and he led group discussions with veteran's groups of all eras. He was a member of several professional social work organizations.

Jim was of the Methodist faith. He loved hunting, shooting sports and history, and he was a very kind and generous man.

Update: Deaths
Keith Bixler
Class Year:
1963

December 26, 2017, Adrian, Michigan.

Update: Deaths
Nancy L. Petersen
Class Year:
1965

October 19, 2017, Onancock, Virginia.

Update: Deaths
Eileen Hebron Norris
Class Year:
1965

October 24, 2017, Warsaw, Ohio.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis S. Norris ’51.

Update: Deaths
Brent W. Yager
Class Year:
1979

October 3, 2017, Marion, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Sherryl Sypherd Rydinsky
Class Year:
1966

December 29, 2017, Mechanicville, New York.
She is survived by her husband, Allen W. Rydinsky ’65.

Update: Deaths
Richard (Dick) Shelly
Class Year:
1966

November 8, 2016, Ocean Pines, Maryland.

Update: Deaths
M. Willard Lampe
Class Year:
1968

January 17, 2018, Sharon, Connecticut.
He is survived by his wife, JoEllen Middleton Lampe '69.

Update: Deaths
Danny E. Shade
Class Year:
1969

July 17, 2017, Mansfield, Ohio.
Danny E. Shade, 71 of Mansfield passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. Danny was born April 25, 1946 in Shelby to the late Willis Eugene and Norma (Harriff) Shade. He was first married to Linda Kay (Donnenwirth) Shade on Sept. 23, 1967 and she preceded him in death on Jan. 10, 2000. On Jan. 2, 2003 he married Vicky (Conn) Shade who survives.

Update: Deaths
Edward J. Beadle
Class Year:
1970

November 22, 2016, Canton, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Steven S. Frew
Class Year:
1965

October 28, 2017, Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Update: Deaths
Margaret Monroe Mink
Class Year:
1952

November 16, 2017, Maumee, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Lawrence Edward Swaton
Class Year:
1952

October 15, 2017, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Lawrence, 90, was born June 3, 1927 in Belmont County, Ohio, to Frank E. Swaton and Mable F. (Persons) Swaton.
Larry grew up in Belmont County and attended school in an eight room schoolhouse and high school at Holloway High in Holloway, Ohio.

He served his country as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He also received an MBA from Rollins College.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Frame ’62. The two met at an alumni fundraising dinner in Lake Mary, Florida in 2000. The following day, they played golf with Larry’s good friend, Chuck Walker. On October 15, 2000, Lawrence and Nancy were married in Brown Chapel. Chuck and his wife, Jane, stood up for the couple.

Update: Deaths
Campbell Witherspoon
Class Year:
1953

November 12, 2017, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Update: Deaths
Carol J. Collins
Class Year:
1958

November 14, 2017, Westlake, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
E. Marie Brown Grob
Class Year:
1951

October 16, 2017, Hampton, Virginia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel F. Grob '51.

Update: Deaths
Dolores Shields Barkich
Class Year:
1951

October 28, 2017, Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Update: Deaths
Hugh Robert Shuttleworth
Class Year:
1951

December 17, 2017, Decatur, Alabama.

Update: Deaths
Donald S. Reagan
Class Year:
1950

October 22, 2017, Sun City, Arizona.

Update: Deaths
James Waldorf
Class Year:
1950

September 29, 2017, Bardstown, Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Waldorf ’27 and Martha Mustard Waldorf ’29.

Update: Deaths
John R. Harchelroad
Class Year:
1950

December 9, 2017, Birmingham, Alabama.

Update: Deaths
Mary Jane Barrick Walcutt
Class Year:
1953

October 1, 2017, Newark, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Janice Naumann Brown
Class Year:
1954

October 9. 2017, Syosset, New York.

Update: Deaths
Frank K. Leyshon
Class Year:
1959

December 6, 2017, Cambridge, Ohio.
He is survived by his daughter, Martha Waddell ’86.

Update: Deaths
Larry D. Warstler
Class Year:
1959

August 13, 2017, Grand Island, Florida.

Update: Deaths
Howard Butch Zwelling
Class Year:
1959

January 21, 2018, Zanesville, Ohio.

Update: Deaths
Ned S. Thomas
Class Year:
1959

January 25, 2018, Cambridge, Ohio.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lori Hart Thomas '56.

Update: Deaths
Donald G. Blanchard
Class Year:
1959

January 1, 2018, Beaufort, South Carolina.

Update: Deaths
Carole McMurray Hitchcock
Class Year:
1958

November 15, 2017, Carmel, Indiana.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard D. ’31 and Alice Neeld McMurray ’33. She is survived by her husband, Ray C. Hitchcock ’58.

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