Page 11 - Priorities #25 2004-January

Alumni News & Notes
Peter Connell, class of 1979, is still a Beverly Hills, CA resident and loves playing volleyball on the beach every Saturday, he says. James (Jay) Jenson, class of 1980, and his wife, Colleen, have received extension orders for an additional six months of active duty inmilitaryservice. JayisstationedstatesideandmobilizesanddemobilizesUStroops.Hereportsthathehastalkedtothousandsof returning soldiers, who say their experience is of Iraquis who are friendly towards US solders and happy to have them there.
Jay also reports that he was knighted by HIH Prince Ermias (titular emperor-in-exile of Ethiopia) and by HRH The Duke of Braganca (titularkingofPortugal)forhavinghelpedcoordinateastatevisittoPortugalbytheformer. Bothhonorswerecompletelyunexpected, he said.
Ken Lowney, class of 1983, writes that he recently opened his own architecture firm, Lowney Architecture. He is working on a Pilates studioandahouse. Also,hejustfinishedteachingattheCaliforniaCollegeofArts,whichmeansthathecannowhavemoretimetoride his bicycle in preparation for next season’s racing.
Steve Pentelei-Molnar, class of 1983, retired from the San Diego Police Department in 2001 after 15 years of service. Now, he is a nationallycertifiedfirefighter/criticalcareparamedicandiscurrentlyaflightparamedicinLassenCounty,CA. Hiswife,Tanya,is obtaining her doctorate in education and teaches kindergarten in Minden, NV. In his free time he rides ATV’s and hopes to race the West Coast Off Road Series next year.
Johnson Chan, class of 1985, married Vivian Lee on November 18, 2003, in San Francisco, CA, with some Priory classmates in attendance.
Derek Gibbs, class of 1986, is a director of decision support and accounts payable at Queen of the Valley Hospital in Napa, California. He bikes with his sons, Colby (6) and Jeffrey (4), and this year will start teaching them to ski.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, class of 1988, writes that his wife, Beatriz, gave birth to their second boy, Sebastian Henri Luillier, on June 24, 2003. John Peterson, class of 1993, is currently national sales manager for Powerhouse Pets, an independent agency representing manufacturers of pet products for the trade. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife, Aishling, and children Charlotte and August. They expect another child in January.
David Tiao, class of 1995, was married in February 2003.
Nicola Hancock, class of 1997, and her fiancé, Luigi, set a wedding date of April 17, 2004 in Malibu, California. They’ve purchased a homeinMoorpark,CA Nicolehasanewjobasatherapist/caseworkerinacounselinggroupwhereshehelpspeoplediagnosedwith autism, mild mental retardation and Downs Syndrome.
Bernadette Austin, class of 1998, is a client benefits coordinator at New Connections, a counseling center in Concord, CA, where her workinvolvesprovidingservicestoclientsrecoveringfromdrugandalcoholaddiction. Inthefall,shecompletedyogatrainingandwill add this to the kick-boxing she already teaches.
Michael Bower, class of 1998, is submitting applications to Ph.D programs with plans to study invasive plant species affecting freshwater streams. He’s hoping for a National Science Foundation or Environmental Protection Agency grant. He teaches Shito-Ryu karate to students ranging in age from toddlers to senior citizens.
Mark Ruiz, class of 1998, is scheduled to graduate from the University of Santa Clara with a marketing major in March 2004. He took Chinese language classes and is investigating the possibility of teaching English in China after graduation.
Darren Zulberti, class of 1999, is now a producer at WXII 12 News in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He’s enjoying living in a new part of the country and working for a top-rated NBC affiliate, he says.
Emily Kirkland, class of 2001, in now a junior at UC San Diego and was recently elected President of her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta. Chrissy Spanoghe, class of 2002, is attending Whittier College and completing a geology major. She completed her senior thesis two years early and during the summers conducted research at Stanford University. She plans to make a presentation at the American Geophysical Union in December 2004, and to see her paper published by AGU.
Raymond Austin, class of 2003, is a freshman at UC Santa Cruz. He lives at Oakes College, the most multi-cultural college at the campus, and he has become an active member of the Filipino Student Association. He balances the work of honors seminar classes with surfing, volleyball, and basketball, he says.
Chris Nemetz, class of 2003, was involved in a serious traffic accident in Honolulu on November 27. He is attending the University of Hawaii. Hisfatherreportsthat,aftersurgeryandastayinthehospital,theprognosisisforacompleterecovery,includingbasketball next year.
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