Alumni Notes
Alumni Notes
Check here often to keep up with your fellow SMV/VC alums and send us a note to let others know what you are up to these days.
Send your update to alumni@valleycatholic.org and we will include it here.
Alumni and their families returned to campus on Sunday, March 16 to enjoy Valley Catholic’s final production of “The SpongeBob Musical.” Jennah Curfman ‘16 and Mackenzie Mullet ‘16 were all smiles after winning raffle prizes at the pre-show reception.
Jill Hayes Habrich ’96 is the first Ginger & Maude Franchise Salon Owner. She renovated a building on Tigard’s historic Main Street to open the salon.
Melissa Martin ’92 is a dedicated professional in the field of international public health. Recently, Melissa was named Assistant Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University.
Charisma Coaches Retire on a High Note!
Jessica Anderson, Megan Hoffman ’04, and Danielle Lomartire Upton ’15 are stepping away from their roles as coaches of the state champion Charisma Dance Team, concluding an era of extraordinary success.
Megan and Jessica began coaching Charisma in 2006 and Danielle joined the team in 2019. The dance team flourished under their leadership -earning three consecutive state titles in both the Traditional and Jazz categories. That is six state championships in the past three years!
Juhea Kim ’05 had her sophomore novel “City of Night Birds” published in 2024. The lush story of a ballerina returning to dance after a devastating accident has garnered rave reviews in the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. It was also featured as Reese Witherspoon’s December 2024 Book Club Pick and made Vogue Magazine’s list of “Best Books of 2024.” Juhea caught up with Charisma teammate Catie Becher ‘05 at Powell’s Books for a book signing event in November.
Classmates – Jack Graham ’01, Meredith Gordon ’01, and Scott Rennie ’01 opened a new, nonprofit children’s museum in Hillsboro. The FLIP Museum (Fun, Learning, Inspiration, and Play) was created to fill the void for families with children 0-10 after the Portland Children’s Museum closed in 2021. After operating as a mobile museum for a few years, they opened their doors for the first time in December and plan to expand in 2025.
“It’s critical for all children to have access to these sorts of play-based educational activities. It’s a big part of healthy brain development and social-emotional learning,” says Jack Graham. “We also love that we can build community by bringing families from all over into this space.”
Find out more at flipmuseum.org.
Matt Wanner ’14 and Sam Wilson Wanner ’17 welcomed their new little Valiant, Layla Christine Wanner to the world on Sept. 20, 2024. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 19¼ inches. Layla’s middle name is after her grandmother Christine Wilson Goodner ’95.
Nate Alsdorf ’10 and Jeni Picken Alsdorf ’10 welcomed Jackson James Alsdorf to the world on April 13, 2024. He weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz and measured 20 inches. Jackson is showing signs of his parent’s athletic ability and is loved dearly by his doggy siblings.
Elliott Jackson ’11 and his wife Megan, welcomed their first child on March 30, 2025. Peter Brian Jackson weighed 7 lbs and was 19 ¾ inches. Elliott received the 2023 VCS Emerging Leader Award.
Sarah Connelly ’15 and JD Menkens ’15 were married on Sept. 14, 2024 at the Griffin House in Hood River. Sarah and JD met in elementary school at Valley Catholic and were classmates all through high school. Sarah is a Category Manager at Adidas, and JD is working for Moss Adam’s as an Assurance Senior.
Their wedding included several alumni:
Meaghan Connelly ’13, Matron of Honor
Erin Connelly ’18, Maid of Honor
Taylor Menkens ’18
Erin McLoughlin ’15
Drew VanderZanden ’15
Carter Buuck ’14, Officiant
Alumni in attendance:
Luke VanderZanden ’12
Kazuma Lane ’15
Liam Meagher ’14
The class of 1974 gathered on Sept. 28 to celebrate their 50-year reunion. They enjoyed wine tasting at Olea Vineyards in Sherwood (owned by VC alumni parents Tom and Melinda Mellilo), followed by dinner with more than thirty classmates in attendance.
Front row: Cathy Collins Kramer, Susan Annala Carlson, Sue Rennie, Annette LeDoux, Linda Fleming Planque, Vivian Marie Spieker, Alice Crino Olstedt, Kim Sander Gould, Jeanne Ryan, Jodi Plass Swehla
2nd row: Lura Corliss Malcolm, Jan Sheerin Leone , Norma Smith Hahn, Mary Mertens James, Mary Walters Morasche, Theresa Fletcher Mertens, Michelle McNally Solberg, Debi Lopez Cox, Jennifer O’Connor Lawrence, Julie O’Connor Eyestone Michell
Back row: Denise Lamkin, Charmel Evers Herinckx, Sharon Noles Douglas, Danita Fraga Rayhbuck, Roma Onaindia VanDyke, Rita Dever, Julie Shepard Turina, Diane Tolzman, Cecilia Manning Pizzalato
Not present for picture: Lee Black Zeller
The class of 1984
Front row: Kathy Whittaker Colombo, Mimi Weiber Surbaugh, Heidi Werner Brown, Michelle Olson Navarro
2nd row: Molly Tuss Leonard, Jennifer Quigley Gould, Felerie Ramos Gonzalez, Sr . John Therese
Back row: Marisa Pacini Emter, Sarah Vhay Nanson, Annie Keim O’Rourke, Kristin Doherty Galindo, Sr. Marcella, Sr. Juliana, Lisa Wernli Hunt, Ruth Koehnke, Katherine Koppy Anderson
Back row LtoR: Marisa Pasini Emter, Molly Smith Todd, Bridget Dougal Keeler, Lisa Wernli Hunt
Sitting: Sarah Vhay Nanson , Mimi Weiber Surbaugh, Kathy Whittaker Colombo, Heidi Werner Brown, Annie Keim O’Rourke Standing Leslie Boyd, Erin Flanigan Meldrum
Front row: Felerie Ramos Gonzalez, Andi Caulkin Fund, Ruth Koehnke, Margaret Bishop Albright, Michelle Olson Navarro, Kristin Doherty Galindo, Keara Owens Steger (friend of ‘84)
The class of 1994
L to R: Michelle Quevedo, Kim Manning, Mo Claeys, Beryl Castro, Amy Harris, Elisa Joy Bellinger, Rachel Pruett, Julie Haener
Back row: Rachel Pruett, Kim Manning, Carissa O’Keeffe, Lisette Boss, Shayna Christensen, Farrah Petrasek, Elisa Joy Bellinger, Lisa Murawski, and Christy Yuhas
Front row: Beryl Castro, Amy Harris, Michelle Quevedo, Mo Claeys
The Class of 2004 gathered at the B.G. Food Cartel on Aug. 30 to celebrate their 20-year reunion.
Back row: Katie Reding, Nicole LeSage, Bryan Edwards, Shawn Gilman, Susie Rossetti, Jennifer O’Connell, Allison Fuiten, Carmen Hinckley, Steven Brainerd
Front row: Charlie Wilson, Connie Azevedo, Andy Williams, Katie Carrick-Hungerford, Megan Birchfield, Karolina Kulesza, Rhianna Funsten
The Class of 2014 gathered on campus in August for their 10-year reunion.
Back row: Katherine Jesse, Matt Wanner, Torben Billow, Ben Krueger, Ryan Afranji, John Magenheimer
Front Row: Liam Walsh, Morgan McDougal, Ashley Ferris, Kim Duyck, Kelli Hoang, and Hannah Wilson (Walsh)
Jessica (Mannen) Kimmet ’05 published her first book last year: “Groaning in Labor, Growing in Hope” is a collection of Scripture reflections for moms of young children. She lives in South Bend, Indiana, with her husband Mark and their three boys Marty (8), Lucas (5), and Dominic (2).
Dr. Carter Buuck ’14 earned a Doctorate of Medicine from Oregon Health and Science University in June of 2024. He is living on the island of Oahu while he works on a 3-year residency in family medicine at the University of Hawaii.
Dr. Tina Tran ’16 is a 2024 graduate from Oregon Health and Science University. She is working on her residency in pediatrics at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland, California.
Mattison Thurman ’17 and Jeremy Wade were married on June 9, 2024 at Gray Gables Estate in Portland. Matti’s twin brother, Mason Thurman ’17, was part of the wedding party. Matti is the first grade teacher at Valley Catholic Elementary.
Alumni from four decades gathered at T-Mobile Park to watch the game on a beautiful late summer evening. The SMV/VC alums who attended were Debbie Reddy ’69, Frank So ’97, Celita Lee ’99, Annabelle Larson ’14, Riley Blood ’16 and Kellen Kinder ’24.
The SSMO Foundation and Office of Alumni Relations made their first regional trip in five years. The team and alums took in a Seattle Mariners baseball game and enjoyed the hospitality of SMV alumna Debbie Reddy ’69, who hosted breakfast the following morning at her beautiful home overlooking the Puget Sound.
Have an idea for an alumni regional event in your town? Send a note to alumni@valleycatholic.org. We would love to hear about it.
Foundation staff members Tricia Blood, Sabrina Blue, Sharlayne Buuck and Colleen Gotze joined in on the festivities as well.
Alex Vennes ’12 married Noemi Rodriguez (VCELS Teacher) at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Beaverton on July 22, 2023.
More than 30 VC/SMV alumni were in attendance.
Back Row: Nick Vennes ’05, Branden Vennes ’15, Tricia (Westgate) Schaecher ’75, Dylan LeMay ’12,
Jenifer (Vennes) Hiatt ’77, Jasmine Garcia-Bush ’12, Peter Ellis ’02, Mike Prior ’12, AJ Liebertz ’07, Brian Ellis ’98
Paul Ellis ’95.
Middle Row: Pat (Liebertz) Ellis ’71, Kristin Canty Caruso ’80, Rita Mary (Liebertz) Vennes ’80, Megan (Keagbine) Draper ’15, Alex Vennes ’12 (Groom), Noemi Rodriguez Vennes (Bride), Rita (Ellis) Barrera ’06, Stephanie (Vennes) Fortner ’78, Connor Garcia-Bush ’12, Phonse Ellis ’04.
Front Row: Roni (Liebertz) Bickford ’85, Carol Liebertz ’73, Kimi (Vennes) Price ’09, Erika (White) Ellis ’99, Debbie (Liebertz) Peecher ’78, Chris Vennes ’08, Kevin Ellis ’00, Cathi Ellis ’99, Becki (Ellis) Smith ’96.
Future Alumni: Max Perte ’29, Oliver Ellis ’35, Mia Perte ’31.
Andy Haugen ’07 and Ashley (Reverman) Haugen ’06 were married at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Tigard on Aug. 2. More than 25 alumni were in attendance including wedding party members Matt Twenge ’07 as Best Man, Ben Johnson, ’07, Stephanie Haugen ’08, and Kristine Connelly ’09. Several staff members from St. Mary’s Academy and Valley Catholic School were also in attendance.
In Memoriam
2024-25
Travis Banker Feb. 22, 2025
Valley Catholic School class of 2006
Dorothy Bolf Rossetti Jan. 3, 2025
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1949
Eileen Hollman Abderhalden Dec. 20, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1958
Catherine “Kitty” Moran Munro Dec. 6, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Francine Herinckx Gosnell Nov. 14, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1965
Celine Laundauer Allen Nov. 11, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1968
Kathleen Robinson Aug. 21, 2024 St. Mary of the Valley class of 1961
Frances Moellman May 8, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Nancy McGowan Rhein October 8, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1955
Lynne Berry September 6, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1964
Pat Christensen Joyaux March 25, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Carolyn Sadler Hudson March 6, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1945
Patricia Ruth Meiwes Feb. 25, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1975
Sister Rose Mary Heineck Feb. 1, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1950
Rose Mathilda Coussens Jan. 14, 2024
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1941
