University of Kansas Annual Mortar Board Alumni Newsletter
Mortar Board
1
February 2015
Dear Mortar Board Alumni,
Due to production problems, this newsletter was not sent to you in March. Our apologies for this break in tradition
and the additional delay in getting this revised edition to you.
Welcome to our newsletter which includes updates on our alumni and active chapters. These events were held this
spring.
9:00am Saturday, April 11
Annual MB Alumni Reunion with continental breakfast
KU “Boots” Adams Alumni Center
1:00pm Sunday, April 12
Torch Chapter Initiation of 2015-16 members
KU Union: Kansas Room Reception: Malott Room
Our Annual Mortar Board Alumni Reunion reconnects Mortar Board alumni while giving special recognition to the
University of Kansas Torch Chapter’s 1965 members. The event was held during KU’s fifty-year reunion weekend April
9-12, 2015. Pictured are reunion attendees from various classes.
The reunion honored members from the class of 1965:
Betty Maline Armbruster, Scottsdale, AZ
Sharon Menasco Carroll, San Diego, CA
Anne Shontz Fenner, Omaha, NE
Barbara Bauerle Glanz, Sarasota, FL
Nancy Egy Jacobs, Santa Fe, NM
Ann Elliott Leipold, Arnold, MD
Leta Cathcart Roth, Lenexa, KS
Julie Winkler Sprott, Sandia Park, NM
Kathleen “Kathy” Ferrell, St. Louis, MO
Gigi Gibson Bolt, New York, NY
Kay Weber Dunlap, Wichita, KS
Sharon Nelson Freytag, Longmont, CO
Wendy Fisher House, Ann Arbor, MI
Joan Fowler Kessler, Milwaukee, WI
Kay Walker Rasmussen, Plymouth, MA
Patricia “Patty” Barnes Spreer, Stockton, CA
Pamela Stone Stroup, Lafayette, LA
Sharon Anderson Henderson, Denver, CO
Regretfully, Sheridan “Sherry” Whitcher Wobus died June 13, 2010, in Williamstown, MA, where she lived with her
husband Reinhold “Bud” Wobus. Sherry graduated with a degree in education and taught fourth grade for two years
and had two sons before becoming an administrator at the Williams (College) Center for Development Economics
(CDE). Sherry and her husband, a faculty member at Williams College, led nearly thirty travel-study trips in the US and
abroad. She also volunteered in the community at the animal shelter, was a member of the community chorale, and
taught children Nordic skiing. Sherry is remembered for her winning smile and cheerful disposition even when
diagnosed in April 2010 with brain cancer.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Thank you for your continued support of Mortar Board's Scholarship Fund that is awarded through
the KU Endowment Association. Last year's contributions totaled $4174 which is a large increase over last year and
allowed KUEA to distribute funds to more students.
Please send this year’s scholarship donation to our treasurer Rosalea Carttar, 723 LA, Lawrence, KS 66044. Please
make checks out to Mortar Board. Thank you for your donation which is greatly appreciated.
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University of Kansas Annual Mortar Board Alumni Newsletter
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The Torch Chapter Alumnae Fund benefited KU students Amanda DeBrabander (Spring 2014). The Dora Bice Bequest
provided scholarship money for Leah Albee (Spring 2014). Fall 2014 recipients of scholarship money from these funds
were Alissa Kastendick, Erica Hines, Emily Schwerdtfeger, Audrey Evans, Taylor Smith, Lauren Debes, Brianna
Hafenstine, and Jodie Hornung.
The 2014-2015 scholarships were given in memory of these Mortar Board alumnae who passed away in 2014:
Patricia Pierson Dowers ‘56, Joan Carolyn French ‘62, Karen Miller Godfrey ‘81, Mary Ewers Heimann ‘42, Dolores
Sulzman Hope ‘46, Edith Malott-LaBonte ‘51, Cara Shoemaker Price ‘44, Joy Brewer Scott ‘55, and Linda Stumpp
Tuttle ’59 (Denison University) .
Due to the rising cost of tuition, scholarships are more important than ever; your generosity is needed and greatly
appreciated. Please send your scholarship donation to our treasurer Rosalea Carttar, 723 LA, Lawrence, KS 66044.
MB ALUMNI EVENTS: The Lawrence Mortar Board alumni hosted the Torch chapter for a September potluck at the
rural home of Mary Ladesich Loveland and her husband Dr. Charles Loveland. Actives and alumni appreciated the
opportunity to get to know one another while enjoying a delicious meal including Chuck Loveland's always delectable
carrot cake. A special note: Our dear friend Chuck passed away a month later after this event.
In April, the alumni chapter hosted the tapping breakfast at the KU Union for the 2015-16 candidates, annual
alumni reunion, and reception after the ceremony for the 2015-2016 initiates.
CURRENT OFFICERS OF KU'S ALUMNI CHAPTER (Terms end in May 2015):
Sue Geoffrion Neverve, President
Ann L. Gardner, Vice-President
Mary Demeritt Gordon, Secretary
Rosalea Postma Carttar, Treasurer
Sandy Falwell Garrett, Alumni Advisor to the active chapter
ALUMNI ROSTER: KUAA and KUEA maintain rosters. Changes in contact information as well as death notices can be
sent to Jacey Krehbiel at [email protected] and National MB’s Bridget Golden at [email protected] .
PASSINGS: Patricia Ann Pierson Dowers ’56, age 80, died November 14, 2014, in Nixa, MO. She was a longtime
resident of the Kansas City area and a significant volunteer in the Junior League, PEO, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club, and
Junior Women’s Philharmonic (now Kansas City Symphony) plus directed the first Symphony Designer Showhouse.
Joan Carolyn French ’62, age 73, died November 13, 2014, in Pagosa Springs, CO. Joan graduated from KU with her
degree in education. After teaching math at the elementary, junior, and senior high levels, Joan became a CPA. She
worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Services in Montana and North Dakota as a budget analyst and in management.
She especially enjoyed volunteering and working with the Friends of Sullys Hill National Game Preserve (ND).
Karen Miller Godfrey ’81 passed away on July 22, 2014, at the age of 54 from cancer. Karen earned degrees in
language arts and had a thirty-three year teaching career in Topeka. She was a life-long educator, coach, advisor, and
mentor to Kansas youth. At the time of her death, Karen was serving as president of the Kansas National Education
Association (KNEA). She is remembered for her absolute dedication to the well-being and education of Kansas
students.
Mary Ewers Heimann ’42 graduated from KU as one of only twelve women in the business school; she also played
golf for KU. While working at a military base in Coffeyville, she met and married an Army-Air Force officer, raised a
family, volunteered with the Camp Fire Girls, and engaged in political activities. Later, Mary explored all seven
continents with her sister-in-law and especially loved the mountains of Colorado. Mary passed away at the age of
ninety-four in Corpus Christi on March 20, 2014.
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Dolores “Dodie” Sulzman Hope ’46 died in Mission, KS, on Feb. 26, 2014, at the age of eighty-nine. Dodie was a KU
journalism graduate, resident of Miller Hall (’43-’45), writer, mother, reporter, wife, and civic-minded member of the
Garden City community.
Edith Malott-LaBonte ’51 was born Oct. 30, 1929, and died in Palo Alto, CA, July 9, 2014, at the age of eighty-four.
Edith graduated from KU with a degree in English. She, her husband, and family lived in California where she worked
and later retired. Edith loved her home, art, reading, and world traveling. Her friends remember her as a strong,
independent woman.
Cara Shoemaker Price ’44 died March 1, 2014, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. She graduated from KU with a degree from
the College of Arts and Sciences.
Joy Brewer Scott ’55 earned degrees in English from KU and Harvard. She and her professor husband raised four
children, lived in various countries, traveled the world, and lived since 1985 in Seattle, WA, and Chico, CA. Joy taught
communications at the University of Washington and California State University-Chico. Joy was active in arts, civics,
and outdoors groups along with volunteering at the public library. She played the piano and was a member of the
Russian Balalaika Orchestra in Seattle; she also belonged to the Church of Christ, Scientist. Born in 1934, Joy passed
away August 5, 2014.
Linda Stumpp Tuttle was a Mortar Board member and 1959 graduate of Denison University. She came to Lawrence,
KS, and earned her Master’s in personnel administration at KU. She and her family settled permanently in Lawrence
in the sixties. Linda worked at KU’s Natural History Museum, Kansas Arts Commission, and KDOT. After retirement,
she volunteered at Audio Reader, Small World, and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), which supports
children in the legal system. Despite living with illness for the last several years, Linda participated with her friends in
a long-running book club and Friends of Council, a women’s group. Linda died September 19, 2014, in Lawrence.
KU TORCH CHAPTER NEWS:
MEMBERS OF THE 2014-2015 TORCH CHAPTER are chapter president Alex Kong, Lawrence; Allyson Bittner, Ottawa;
Christopher Bohannon, Prairie Village; Bailey Borgmier, Overland Park; Sara Brigham, Shawnee; Kaitlyn Carl; Shawnee;
Drew Carlburg, Fredonia; Leslie Coons, Kansas City, MO; Mitchell Cota, Leawood; Caitlin Dunbar, Wichita; Ellie Eastes,
Pratt; Ryan Endres, Lenexa; Elizabeth Erker, Omaha; Darby Evans, Leawood; Michael Garrett, Lenexa; Alicia Genilo,
Overland Park; Tyler Gratton, Topeka; Katherine Gwynn, Olathe; Emma Halling, Elkhart, IN; Tori Henderson,
Lawrence; Brett Jensen, Gardner; Heathyr Johnson, Olathe; Morgan Klug, Wichita; Bret Koch, Leavenworth; Sarah
Larsen, Kearney, NE; Leigh Loving, Mendota Heights, MN; Micah Melia, Prairie Village; Elizabeth Melton, Topeka;
Brenda Morales, Kansas City, KS; Marquise Page, Wichita; Natalie Parker, Overland Park; Griffin Peavey, Leawood;
Johanna Ramirez, Andover; Vicky Reyes, Garden City; Chris Rice, Overland Park; Morgan Said, Shawnee; Juan Salgado,
Wichita; Fallon Scanlon, Portales, NM; Kevin Simpson, Mission Hills; Cameron Smith, Overland Park; Ryan Steele,
Springfield, MO; Betsy Tampke, Leawood; Beatrice Tretbar, Wichita; Subha Upadhyayula, Leawood; Kelly Van Zwoll,
Overland Park; Shelby Webb, Ottawa; and Maggie Young, Olathe.
At the November 14th KU men’s basketball game, the Torch Chapter acclaimed six faculty as the 2014 Outstanding
Educators for their dedication to KU and positive influence upon KU students.
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Dr. Mehrangiz Najafizadeh, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology
Dr. Mark Haug, Teaching Fellow in the School of Business
Dr. Tim Jackson, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry
Dr. Chris Gamblin, Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biosciences
Lynn Villafuerte, Program Coordinator in the Office for Diversity in Science Training
Dr. Ron Malcolm, Faculty Lecturer in the Department of Special Education
Nine Torch members were among the ten finalists for the 24th annual Excellence in Community, Education, and
Leadership (Ex.C.E.L.) Award which was awarded at the 2014 Homecoming game: Vicky Reyes, Michael Garrett,
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Allison Briggs, Kevin Simpson, Mitchell Cota, Micah Melia, Beatrice Tretbar, Drew Carlburg, and Ellie Eastes, female
Ex.C.E.L. winner.
In addition, Drew Carlburg, Fredonia, was one of fifteen faculty, staff, and students named to the 2015 Men of Merit.
The annual award recognizes “positively defining masculinity through challenging norms, taking action, and leading by
example while contributing to the university or community.” Carlburg will appear on the Men of Merit annual poster.
Congratulations to all for being recognized for their leadership and service to the University of Kansas.
The University Awards, formerly known as the Chancellor’s Student Awards, are among the most prestigious awards
presented at KU. These awards were established to recognize students who embody service excellence, dedication, or
whose academic achievements remain stellar. The 2014 recipients included these 2013-14 Torch members.
Agnes Wright Strickland Award: Alexandra Null
Alexis F. Dillard Concerned Student Award: Lindsey Mayfield
Caryl K. Smith Student Leader Award: Samuel Logan
Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award: Tyler Childress
Rusty Leffel Concerned Student Award: Tyler Wright
The Donald K. Alderson Memorial Award: Addison Keegan-Harris
NATIONAL ALUMNI SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIPS:
Membership is open to all initiated Mortar Board members once they have left college through graduation or
departure from an undergraduate degree program. A portion of dues is allocated to either a collegiate or alumni
chapter of choice.
Lifetime alumni sustaining memberships are also available. Contact the Mortar Board National Office, 1250 Chambers
Road #170, Columbus, OH 43212-1753 or 800-989-6266.
The Kansas University Alumni Association would appreciate updated information in order to continue sending you
this annual newsletter. Information including any changes can be sent to Jacey Krehbiel at [email protected] or
KU Alumni Association, 1266 Oread Ave., Lawrence, KS 66045-3169, 800.584.2957, 785.864.4760, Fax: 785.864.5397
Name________________________________
Graduation year: ___________
Address ____________________________
City State Zip _____________________________
EMAIL ______________________ (please help us reduce our costs by using email)
Phone ____________________
Cell phone ____________________
Please send your scholarship donation to our treasurer Rosalea Carttar, 723 LA, Lawrence, KS 66044. Thank you.
Initiation of the 2015-2016 Torch members was led by President Alex Kong (at podium). Alumni assisted.
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