Class Notes
Class Notes and In Memoriam help keep our community connected. Class Notes is where alumni can share life updates, like career changes, family news, or personal achievements. It’s a great way to stay in touch and see what classmates are up to. In Memoriam honors the lives of alumni who have passed away, giving us a space to remember their time at Capital and their impact beyond. These sections help us share stories, celebrate milestones, and stay connected as a community. These notes will be updated in the fall and spring annually.
Class Notes
Helen J. Cronau ('48) enjoyed celebrating her 97th birthday with her family.
In Memoriam
Olive Bartello Boyce (’53) https://www.mcdonald-aeberli.com/obituary/Olive-Boyce
Lucille Wegner Farwig (’53) https://krausefuneralhome.com/obituary/lucille-l-farwig/
Arthur E. Theil (’53) https://www.cedarvalefuneralhome.com/obituaries/arthur-e-theil
Paul Moyer (’53). Survivors include sibling Richard A. Moyer (’56). https://www.bundy-lawfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Paul-Moyer-4/#!/Obituary
Paul R. Nusser (’54) https://www.dunnfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Paul-R-Nusser?obId=32593408
David Benkert (’56) https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/david-benkert-obituary?id=55470748
Caroline Strobel Gruenberg Wirtz (’56).Survivors include child David Gruenberg (’82); child-in-law Amy Kalmers Gruenberg, and grandchild Megan Gruenberg (’17).https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grove-city-oh/caroline-wirtz-11898719
Charles “Chuck” Kessler (’58) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/johnstown-oh/charles-kessler-11911324
Robert “Bob” Rigby Liggett Jr. (’58) https://nkytribune.com/obituaries-2/robert-rigby-liggett-jr/
Donald Hummel (’59) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sacbee/name/donald-hummel-obituary?id=55488094
Class Notes
Eric Beheim ('68) and his wife, Pat Marquart ('66) celebrated their 36th wedding anniversary on November 8, 2024. Address: 25114 Oak Lane, Descanso, California, 91916; cinephonic@aol.com.
Rachel Winning McClain ('62) retired after teaching high school business subjects for 35 years. In retirement, Rachel has enjoyed several interesting roles, including working with a newspaper, as a pharmacy tech, and volunteering at a senior center. She has been involved with many community projects in Germantown.
In Memoriam
Sally Wilson Berry (’60). Survivors include child Anne Berry Dunlap (’85) and grandchild Ryan M. Carloni (’10). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/ourmidland/name/sally-berry-obituary?id=56403357
James W. Finefrock (’60). Survivors include spouse Karen Weimer Finefrock (’60). https://www.cantonrep.com/obituaries/pwoo0772732
Gretchen Prange Wilson ('60) https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/obituaries/pwoo0888362
Madelyn Weihl Zimmer (’61). Survivors include sibling Ingrid Weihl Meyer (’66). https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo0932788
John W. Davis Jr. (’61). Survivors include spouse Carol Chase Davis (’63). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/john-davis-jr-obituary?id=55637658
Lois A. Pease Bonnoront (’62). Survivors include spouse David E. Bonnoront (’63). https://www.hodappfuneralhome.com/obituaries/lois-bonnoront
John L. Pride (’63). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/john-pride-obituary?id=56462618
Paul A. Agriesti (’63). Survivors include sibling David L. Agriesti (’60). https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo0850758
Milton A. Hetrick Jr. (’64). Survivors include sibling Cathy Hetrick Eames (’69). https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/centennial-co/milton-hetrick-11886604
E. Bruce Mathews (’64). Survivors include spouse Ann Bodenman Mathews (’64). https://www.hollomon-brown.com/obituaries/Emerson-Bruce-Mathews?obId=32799441
Douglas E. Meyer (’64) https://www.kochfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Douglas-E-Meyer?obId=32789310
Carol Smith Schiff (’64). Survivors include grandchild Kala Schoff Strawser (’14). https://www.spencemillerfuneralhome.com/obituary/carol-schiff
Betty Fashbaugh Wachholz (’65) https://www.ochalekstark.com/obituary/betty-wachholz
Deborah Eakin Neiman (’67) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/deborah-nieman-obituary?id=55871425
William P. Packer Jr. (’68). Survivors include spouse Sandra Johnson Packer (’68) and sibling Anne Packer Haney (’62). https://www.spencefuneralhome.com/obituaries/William-Paul-Packer?obId=33068991
Gary E. Smith (’69) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/canton-oh/gary-smith-11820363
Rockford H. Richardson (L’69) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/clearwater-fl/rockford-richardson-11979540
Class Notes
William F. Schnell ('71) published a peer reviewed chapter in The Routledge Handbook of Language and Mind Engineering titled “The Benefit of the Doubt: How Big Oil Makes Us Think” in 2024.
Cheri Taylor ('71) retired in 2004 after a 32-year career as an elementary and middle school teacher, including 14 years as a vocal music specialist. She has been teaching quilting in the Columbus area. Cheri is a 14-year member of the Harmony Project, Columbus' largest and most diverse singing and service organization. She is the proud parent of Kristen Lynn Matson (Brad Blackham) and Randall Douglas Matson (Nikki Matson), and a devoted grandmother to Audrey and Sylvia. Her happy place is watching the sunset in her little corner of Michigan or wherever her family may be.
Karen Clarke Hergert ('72) expresses her good fortune in attending Capital. She credits the education she received with preparing her well for her future degrees and jobs in the nursing field.
Debbie Wright Jarrell ('79) retired from nursing in 2021.
Paula Roman Daniel ('79) retired in March 2022 from nursing in labor and delivery at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. Her career included 24 years of service at Mount Carmel West, followed by 18 years at Grant.
Reva Jo Donnell Goshia ('77) retired from education in 2013 from North Central School and in 2015 as an adjunct faculty member at Defiance College.
In Memoriam
Vicki Kennedy Cole (’70) https://www.richlandsource.com/2024/05/31/vicki-cole/
Donald P. Love (L’70) https://www.hoskinsonfuneral.com/obituary/donald-love
Linda G. Barry (’70) https://www.cotnerfuneralhome.com/obituary/Linda-Barry
Robert M. Rasor (’70). Survivors include cousin Kim Allison Hartinger (’79). https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/grove-city-oh/robert-rasor-11836161
Nancy E. Dittmer (’72). Survivors include sibling Jean Ditmer Smith (’76) and sibling-in-law Darryl L. Smith (’76). https://www.mcintirebradhamsleek.com/2024/05/01/nancy-elaine-ditmer/
Charles W. Gayton (L’72). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/charles-gayton-obituary?id=56110470
Vicki Strong Phelps (’73) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/vicki-phelps-obituary?id=55771974
Cynthia Thress Kalb (’74) https://www.vocfh.com/obituary/cynthia-cindy-kalb
Bruce I. Roth (L’74) https://my.gather.app/remember/bruce-roth-2024
Barbara Parr Bigam (’74). Survivors include spouse Gregory D. Bigam (’74). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/circlevilleherald/name/barbara-bigam-obituary?id=56275334
Cheryl Geiger Sohner (’75). Survivors include spouse Ronald E. Sohner (’92). https://www.tiddfuneralservice.com/obituaries/cheryl-sohner
T. K. Cellar (’75). Survivors include sibling Kim D. Cellar (’76), sibling B. Karen Cellar Dages (’78), and sibling-in-law Karen Hanks Cellar (’76). https://www.orwoodyard.com/obituaries/Thomas-TK-Cellar?obId=32827598
Carol Jones Langenfels (’75) https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/hilliard-oh/carol-langenfeld-11903743
William E. Leber (L’75). Survivors include spouse Sally Speer Leber (’75). https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/William-Ellis-Leber?obId=32577800
Debra E. Swartzfager (’76). Survivors include spouse Charles R. Swartzfager (’75) and sibling-in-law Kathy Swartzfager Scott (’76). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/debra-swartzfager-obituary?id=55176099
Robert A. Hamilton ('76) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbus-oh/robert-hamilton-11971544
Ruth Hershberger Nicol (’76). Survivors include siblings Paul J. Hershberger (’78) and Mary Hershberger Petersen (’81), and siblings-in-law Jan D. Blue (’79) and Kevin Petersen (’78). https://www.ingramfuneralservice.com/obituary/ruth-r-nicol
Paul M. Hoversten (’78). Survivors include siblings David S. Hoversten Sr. (’76), Carol Hoversten Pepper (’84), and William H. Hoversten (’75). https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/paul-hoversten-obituary?id=55028295
Nanette Castellani Neidhardt (L’78, ’08) https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo0879819
Larry A. Arnold (L’79) https://www.brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com/obituary/larry-arnold
Class Notes
Michael Barth ('81) Has been practicing family medicine in Granville, Ohio, since 1991 and has been part of Licking Memorial Health Professionals since its inception in 1995. He and his wife,
Christina Swerlein Barth ('85), are proud parents of twin sons, Solomon and Sebastian, born in 2004.
The Rev. Julianne DiRocco Smith (S'85) retired on February 1, 2024, from the active roster of the ELCA Minister of Word and Sacrament. Her final call was as director of Evangelical Mission and assistant to the Bishop for Congregational Vitality of the Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA.
Tracy Nadine Kuhn Meihls ('87) was recognized as Community Health Systems Region 3 Manager of the Year in 2023 and was promoted to manager of Laboratories for Lutheran Health Network the same year.
Jon C. Saxton ('89) retired after a 34-year career in public education, serving as a teacher, coach, and administrator. His roles included teaching and coaching at Logan Elm High School, serving as principal at Amanda-Clearcreek High School, and leading Chillicothe City Schools as superintendent. He continues to mentor principals through the OLI-4 program and currently works as a Senior Account Executive at Veregy LLC.
In Memoriam
Timothy A. Bensch (’80). Survivors include parent Barbara Stroh Bensch (’57); and sibling Judith Bensch Hausfeld (’85). https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/woodstock-ga/timothy-bensch-11906503
William F. Kener (’83) https://www.crowellbrothers.com/obituaries/William-Frederick-Kener?obId=32965516
Jane E. Sheahan-McMahon (’84) https://obits.cleveland.com/us/obituaries/cleveland/name/jane-sheahan-mcmahon-obituary?id=54919588
Cassandra Bolt-Meredith (L’85) https://www.boyerfuneral.com/obituaries/Cassandra-Ann-Bolt-Meredith?obId=31855374
John K. McHenry (L’87) https://www.ralphfscott.com/obituary/John-McHenry
Class Notes
Kim Diehl ('92) began a new role in February as the Midwest Institutional Relations Officer for the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC).
In Memoriam
Nancy Vermillion Austin (’92) https://www.hoskinsonfuneral.com/obituary/nancy-austin
Robert M. Parsley (T’93) https://www.newarkadvocate.com/obituaries/pwoo0916503
John D. Vanover (’93) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/john-vanover-obituary?id=55127152
Tyra Sisson Taylor (L’94) https://www.buschcares.com/obituaries/Tyra-L-Taylor?obId=32645401
John R. Stackman (’96) https://www.countrysidefunerals.com/obituaries/john-stackman
Candy Cheek Winteregg (’97). https://www.markerheller.com/obituary/Candy-WintereggCheek
John J. Lerch (L’99). https://www.curlewhills.com/obituaries/John-J-Lerch?obId=31464460
Class Notes
Julie A. Akers ('05) accepted the position of Public Information Officer in the Public Affairs Unit for the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Sarah Belknap Breault ('07) welcomed Benjamin Lawrence Breault on August 22, 2023. After spending a week in the NICU, Benjamin joined his twin siblings, Emma and Ryan (now age 5), at home.
In Memoriam
Bryan C. Schermerhorn (’02). Survivors include sibling Jason S. Schermerhorn ’00. https://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Bryan-C-Schermerhorn?obId=31406118
Deborah M. Meesig Falcone (L’06) https://www.oshaughnessycompany.com/obituary/deborah-meesig
Class Notes
Emese Chmielewski ('17) and Gabe Kovacs were married in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 16, 2022.
In Memoriam
Rebecca Hunt Stanfill (’15) https://www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Rebecca-Stanfill/#!/Obituary
Zachary A. Becker (’17) https://www.ducafuneralhome.com/obituary/Zachary-Becker
Gennifer Vandeventer Maple (’17). Survivors include spouse Dakota J. Maple (’17) and parent-in-law Catherine Cordell Maple (’91). https://www.tiddfuneralservice.com/obituaries/gennifer-maple
Class Notes
Neyat Ghebrihiwot ('23) is excited to share that they have landed their dream job as an Associate Product Marketing manager at Google, a highly competitive role, especially for recent graduates. Neyat credits Capital University’s rigorous coursework, critical thinking focus, and diverse collaboration opportunities for preparing them for the challenges of the tech industry. The support from the career services team was instrumental in refining their resume, interview skills, and professional network. Now working on cutting-edge AI projects at Google, Neyat hopes their journey will inspire current students to pursue their passions with confidence.
In Memoriam
Andrew Lisko, professor emeritus of Music. https://www.dispatch.com/obituaries/pwoo0689846
Lynn Roseberry, professor emerita of Music and former dean of the Conservatory of Music. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/pataskala-oh/carole-roseberry-12010974
John Soloninka, adjunct faculty of Psychology. https://www.shaw-davis.com/obituaries/john-soloninka
Roger Welsh, coach and athletic director. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/gahanna-oh/roger-welsh-11972379