1986
Class correspondent:
James and Lynda Farrell Swartz
lfswartz@rcn.com3/30/17
Posted 2/26/19
Joan Kiefer Dickinson has been promoted to executive vice president and chief of staff for Mid Penn Bank. Joan will focus on leading the bank’s retail division.
Posted 12/18/18
Mid Penn Bank announced that Joan Kiefer Dickinson has been promoted to executive vice president and chief of staff. Joan will focus on leading the bank’s retail division. She will also have direct oversight of the Scottdale Bank, Miners Bank and Upper Dauphin County regions, as well as the bank’s cash management team.
Posted 12/5/18
Laura Allan Haffner began her banking career in 1986, in Reading, as a management trainee with Meridian Bank. Over the next 22 years she experienced several bank mergers, the latest being Wachovia acquired by Wells Fargo, in 2008. In various vice president positions withing those banks, Haffner worked with hundreds of employees on customer service training. From 1994-2006 Laura also taught Principles of Banking to students as an adjunct professor at Northampton Area Community College. In September 2017, Laura became president of Wells Fargo’s Central Pennsylvania region, with 500 employees and 62 branches.
To read more of Laura’s story click the link below:
https://www.readingeagle.com/news/article/laura-haffner
Posted 4/19/18
North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point has named Dr. James Caffrey as the hospital’s new medical director for its Emergency Department.
Posted 2/28/18
Mid Penn Bank has promoted Joan Kiefer Dickinson to president of the Lancaster region. Joan has 32 years of experience in the banking industry and has been with Mid Penn for five years as a commercial loan officer.
We are sad to report that Paula Miller Karner passed away on February 8, 2018.
Posted 9/8/17
Joan Kiefer Dickinson was honored by being selected to the Central Penn Business Journal’s Women of Influence list for 2017. Joan is Senior Vice President/Commercial Loan Manager for Mid Penn Bank.
Posted 3/3/17
We are sad to report that Richard Sprague passed away on August 8, 2016.
Posted 2/28/17
We are sad to report that Richard Ascani passed away on February 17, 2017.
Posted 2/19/16
Kathleen Cannon was very happy to tell us that United Way is taking its Mission United (veterans re-acclimation initiative) to the National level.
Posted 7-28-15
Beverly Kirk was awarded one of two Lauretta Woodson Awards. This award, given annually, through the state PASR recognizes both an educator and a support professional who have exhibited creativity, initiative, or productivity relevant to the learning process and growth of children. Beverly is a reading specialist in the Easton Area School district.
Posted 6/24/15
Carol Traupman-Carr, dean of curriculum and academic programs, is one of 28 administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges to participate in a year-long Senior Leadership Academy.
Posted 5/28/15
Terence O’Rourke, Jr. decided this year to give up at least part of his traveling lifestyle and take a more permanent job. This was triggered by the ever increasing inconveniences of temporary doctoring. He must confess his choice of job may seem somewhat traitorous: he will be the doctor at the student health center for Susquehanna University! He is looking forward to the more stable income, chances to work with young people, and access to the facilities there but remains ever faithful to the “Hounds”.
Posted 1-29-15
Christine Blaschak married Michael Gossman on October 17, 2014. Bridesmaids included Lisa Makuvek Godshall ’84, Mary Kay Greene Ross ’84, and Tammy Jacoby Dilendik ’84.
Posted 5/30/14
Marc Richmond is a builder and a green building consultant with his own company, Practica Consulting. Marc has been involved in the construction industry since the late ’80s. His depth of experience in developing and implementing green building programs both for government agencies, non-profits and within private firms is significant. He has been interviewed by numerous magazines and newspapers and his projects have been featured in many magazines including Architectural Record, LA Architect, Interior Design, Metropolis and Natural Home.
Posted 7/31/13
Patrick Moyer has been named the new athletic director at Cannon School in Concord, NC.
Posted 4/2/13
Moravian students in the Center for Leadership and Service recently partnered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in a bowling fundraiser, Bowl for Kids Sake. This provided a unique mentor opportunity for the college students. Bowl for Kids Sake was supported by Wells Fargo and Laura Haffner, community bank president attended the event. 1987
Posted 3/11/13
Janes and Lynda Farrell Swartz; lfswartz@rcn.com
Posted 6/27/12
From the Alumni House:
Donald F. Spry ‘69 and James F. Swartz, partners in the law firm KingSpry, have been named 2012 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Super Lawyer Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine.
Posted 11/29/11
Jane Altemose Schmidt writes, “Greetings from Maryland! My husband Joe (Lehigh University class of 1986) and I have lived here since 1988 and have two teenage girls, age 15 and 17 years. I am currently a freelance writer doing features and advertising pieces as well as a substitute elementary school teacher primarily at the elementary school both our girls attended. We enjoy Maryland and love going boating on the Chesapeake Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee, NH at the same place where we spent our honeymoon 23 years ago. I have been lucky to reconnect with many of my Sigma Tau Sigma sisters and Jo Smith pals via facebook. Would love to hear from other Moravian alumni via facebook too.”
Posted 6/8/11
From the Alumni House:
Robert Downes was honored at Princeton University’s 2011 Commencement ceremony. He was honored as one of four exceptional New Jersey secondary school teachers. Robert is a teacher at the Mountain Lakes High School, in Mountain Lakes New Jersey.
Posted 4/28/11
From the Alumni House:
Christopher Gilbert and Julie, a son, Jesse Christopher, born August 24, 2010, adopted August 27, 2010.
Posted 12/22/10
From the Alumni House:
Nathan Eckhart was promoted to chief financial officer (CFO) for C. F. Martin & Co. in September.
Jamie Swartz and Kerry Freidl ’85 will both be named President of their Bar associations. Jamie as the President of the Lehigh County Bar and Kerry for the Northampton County Bar. It is exciting that two Moravian graduates will serve as President at the same time.
11/30/10
From the Alumni House:
Linette Varaly Zeigler Komsi married Thomas Komsi in March 2008. She lives on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and has been there for 20 years. Linette is an online credit recovery and English teacher at First Flight High School in Kill Devil Hills. She has two sons. Her oldest is a sophomore at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., majoring in molecular biology, and her youngest is a sophomore in high school.
Joan Dickinson is a vice president, Business Banking, at Sovereign Bank, located in Harrisburg, PA.
Posted 10/6/10
From the Alumni House:
In April 2010, Maggie Smith became a project management professional through the Project Management Institute. In 2009, Maggie also became a certified direct marketer through Interactive Marketing Institute, a part of Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently marketing manager for Progressive Impressions International (Pii), which is headquartered in Bloomington, Il. and has an office location in Pompano Beach, Fl., which is where Maggie works.
Posted 12/1/09
From the Alumni House:
Alice A. Kresge has recently been named program director of surgical technology at The McCann School of Business sand Technology.
Posted 8/3/09
From the Alumni House:
Kathleen Patterson Reagan wrote, “After 22 + years in Georgia I have relocated to Wilmington, Del. with my husband Timothy and my 15 year old son, Michael Poll. I am taking the summer off to relax and consider a career change after almost 18 years working for the Institute of Paper Science and Technology in Atlanta, Ga.”
Christopher Gilbert and his wife, Julie, have a son, Sam Julian Gilbert, who was born February 13, 2009, and adopted February 16, 2009.
Posted 4/20/09
From James and Lynda:
Hope this short update finds everyone happy and healthy in 2009! It is flying by quickly. I’m sure many of you have started the college search with your kids. I remember our days at Moravian vividly and can’t imagine that much time has passed. My daughter is 16, driving, and dreading the SATs she will soon take. Exciting times are ahead. Jamie still spends much of his free time on the ice with our son, Jay, who is 14 and loves hockey. Our lives revolve around the activities of our kids ... typical, I guess.
I heard from Jeanne Villano Petrucci who wrote, “Last Friday Jim and I welcomed our fourth child, Bianca. She joins Lorenzo who is 19 months, Joe 16, and Emilia 18. Emilia headed off to Princeton last fall and Joe is in his junior year of high school. We are back to Gymboree and nursery school —so much for the empty nest syndrome!” Good luck Jeanne and Jim!
Shawn Higgins Schmitt told me she teaches Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance/fitness class. She also has a Southern Living at Home business. Shawn writes, “I encourage everyone to get on Facebook. [Moravian has] an alumni group there and one of us will set up a group for our class if it makes it easier for everyone.”
Tina Yurconic Marinos wrote that she and Doug are busy with their children. They had another son, Christian John, in June 2007. He joins Christina 10 and Christopher 6. Doug is active with his law practice, and Tina has stopped teaching second grade in order to stay home and devote her time to the children.
Bob Medina still teaches eighth-grade language arts at Sparta Middle School. He is involved in many organizations—he is a grand knight with Knights of Columbus, vice president of Sparta High School Football Booster Club, treasurer of his teachers’ association, and coach of seventh- and eighth-grade town football. Bob also teaches adjunct courses for the College of New Jersey. His son Jeremy is a junior at Sparta High School, where he was the starting center this year. Jeremy, who is looking at colleges, hopes to major in sports management. (Bump is trying to add MoCo to Jeremy’s list.) Daughter Courtney, a freshman, is a varsity cheerleader. She also managed to coach her own Little League cheering squad. The Medinas still get together with the Rhineharts, McLaughlins, and Mastroiannis from time to time. He and Scott played golf with some SPO Brothers last summer, along with Jamie and Norm. They had a blast, but unfortunately they were the elder statesmen of the group.
I received sad news from Marc D. Thompson ’87 that his wife Melcalean Curry Thompson passed away unexpectedly on May 29, 2008. His youngest daughter Sophia is 4 and began Pre-K this year. Other children include Tiffany 22, Ashley 19, Tyler 12, Andrew 11, and Connor 9. You can catch up with Marc, who is a genealogist, at genealogist22@aol.com. We will keep Marc and his family in our thoughts and prayers.
Carol Traupman-Carr and her family built a new house in Breinigsville, and moved in Labor Day Weekend. They are very much enjoying the extra space. In addition, Carol had five original arrangements for brass ensemble published this past fall by Cimarron Music Press. One previous arrangement was featured on the new recording by the Mainstreet Brass Quintet (co-founded by Bryan Hay, ’85). Carol was was recently promoted to full professor at Moravian College.
Gail Poverman Cave is still a motivational speaker and she is active in her church choir where she recently sang the descant in a presentation of Sing Noel. Her twins are 7 now and she and Bob are enjoying this fun and active age with them. She mentioned that she has connected with some alum on Facebook too.
From the Alumni House:
Ginny Van Horn and her husband, Jon Lawniczak, recently moved to Lexington, Kentucky.