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 [email protected] and we will include it here.
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 ’14 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 [email protected]. 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.
Barbe Jenkins-Gibson ‘65 is celebrating 50 years as the owner of Christmas Cottage in Lincoln City. Her husband Bob Gibson is a professional photographer and owner of The Photography Studio, also in Lincoln City.
Barbe is forever grateful for her time at SMVA.
Luke ’12 and Ashlee VanderZanden welcomed Josephine June VanderZanden to the world on Dec. 15, 2023. The latest little Valiant weighed
8 lbs. 3 oz.
Kelly Edwards ’17 married Michael Blomenkamp at St. Partrick’s Catholic Church in Portland on Sept. 2, 2023. They couple met while working at the Valley Catholic Early Learning school in 2019.
Mary Da Prato ’09 participated in a think tank last summer for Montessorians under the age of 40. Co-hosted by AMI/USA and AMS in Orlando, FL, Mary was one of 40 people chosen out of 150 applicants to brainstorm about the future of Montessori education in the United States. Feeling inspired, Mary is currently working on her 30th book. Visit her website to learn more: http://themontessorimysteryunveiled.weebly.com
Katharine Jesse ’14 married Brandon Bettinelli at The Grotto in Portland on May 20, 2023. Alumnae in the wedding party included Anna Jesse ’11 and Allison Lambert Cook ’12. The couple reside in Beaverton.
John Eisenbacher ’16 was married to Ruth Nelson on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 at St. Birgitta’s Catholic Church in Portland. William Detherage ’16, Mary Eisenbacher ’18, Joey Eisenbacher ’20, Anthony Eisenbacher ’22, and Jeannine Haener Eisenbacher ’93, and all the Haener aunts were in attendance. John works for Hammelman Farms and the couple resides in Mt. Angel.
(L to R) Sue Haener, Mary Sue Wolfe ’06, Molly Fessler ’03, Margie Barnett ’00, Katie Ludlow ’98, Kelli Wilde ’96, Julie Wilde ’94, Jeannine Eisenbacher ‘93, Rich Haener
Anthony Eisenbacher ’22, was married on Aug. 19, 2023, to Gabriella Albrecht at St. Birgitta’s Catholic Church in Portland. Anthony’s siblings and Haener aunts, graduates of Valley Catholic, were in attendance. Anthony works for N&S Tractor in Woodburn as a mechanic, and the couple resides in Mt. Angel.
Allie Merz ’20 had an impressive nine assists in Long Island University’s matchup at the NCAA tournament against #1 overall seed Nebraska. Although the Sharks fell short in three sets (13-25, 16-25, 22-25), they did win their 13th Northeast Conference championship. This was Allie’s second trip to the NCAA tournament.
Amanda (Farmer) Pewonka ‘03 founded St. Bezzie’s Art Collab, a non-profit that provides curriculum and supplies for groups to participate in healing through art. The Art Healing workshops are done locally in Oregon and globally by partnering with Mi Casa International in El Salvador.
Megan Co ’14 recently defended her thesis and earned her PhD at The Ohio State University in Biomedical Engineering. Amber Co ’19 graduated with honors from Oregon State University in June.
Michelle Boss Barba ’96 joined the Murdock Charitable Trust as senior program officer for Arts, Culture, and Education. Prior to this new role, Michelle was the founding artistic director of Ethos Music Center in Portland. However, the role that Michelle is most proud of is Momma to her two daughters – Layla, 2nd grade, and Gabriella, Kindergarten.
In Memoriam
2023-24
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
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
Karen Alexander Dec. 20, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1979
Carol Day VanderZanden Oct. 14, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1959
Barbara Ann Martin Sept. 18, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1952
Susan Elizabeth Runtz Aug. 22, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1965
Helen Gallagher Siro-Brigiano’ Aug. 2023
St. Mary of the Valley Class of 1965
Ellen Lenhardt Whitehead July 31, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1959
Lorraine M. Schneider April 12, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1941
Sister Ruth Etzel March 15, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1949
Margaret Livermore Jan. 20, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1954
Virginia A. Bingenheimer Jan. 12, 2023
St. Mary of the Valley class of 1969
Daniel J. Morantte Jan. 7, 2023
Valley Catholic School class of 2008
