Alumni Profiles

Deanna Risk Wheeler

Lives in south Florida with her husband Christopher. She has two sons, a daughter-in-law, and three wonderful grandchildren who live 20 minutes away. She stays busy with them, as well as her artwork, volunteer work, and friends. She and Christopher visit Banner Elk, North Carolina, in the summer.

John Landon

Is an artist who has moved from Alaska to Vermont. He specializes in massive glass art installations. With famed glass artist Dale Chihuly, he founded an art school that is the finest of its kind in the world. 

Jim Groh

Lives near Boulder, Colorado, with his partner Gail. He is a "retired" technical writer and illustrator who now has a thriving business restoring vintage stereos. He loves cats, photography, mountain climbing, asian cuisine, fine audio, nearly every genre of music, history, motorsports, the Tolkien legends, and the thin, cold air above treeline.

Jim Ransom

Lives in the mountains of northeast Georgia, on the northernmost shore of Lake Lanier. He is the CFO of a software company but plans to retire in 2015. He devotes his leisure time to his 5-year-old granddaughter, his 3-year-old grandson, and a non-profit corporation that promotes reading and literacy, established in memory of his wife Debbie who was lost to cancer in 2010. Learn more at www.sadiesreadingcorner.org.

Judi Alaimo Mazziotti

Lives in Williamsville. She is retired from a public Montessori school and two area colleges as an Italian instructor, but still taches Italian at her home studio. She runs Italian camps at Nazareth College in Rochester and Daemen College in Amherst, and is now filming a DVD on the subject. She has 5 grandchildren aged 18, 17, 14, 10, and 4.

Dick Schutt

Retired from HSBC and resettled in Tucson, Arizona, with his wife Mary Ann. They have four grown sons, three daughters-in-law, one granddaughter, three step-grandchildren, and one step-great-grandson. Dick has worked in real estate for the last 20 years, and, with three sons, owns and operates Legendary Properties, a real estate brokerage in Arizona and California.

John Norris

Spends most of his time with his wife Katie, five kids, and five grandchildren. He is currently the Chief Technology and Regulatory Officer of a healthcare-IT company. Before that he has been CEO of many other similar companies, a commissioner and COO of the FDA, and taught healthcare management for 12 years at Harvard.

Bonnie McClure Miller

Lives in the Adirondacks with her husband, Pete, who designed and built their log cabin. She has two daughters and two grandsons. She's a retired teacher (K to adult) of art and remedial reading. She still substitutes, for love of the energy from the kids. She is also a graphic artist and calligrapher with her own handmade note card business. She designs stage sets for her school, inspired by the special effects she's seen during winter trips to Disney World.

John Sogn

Retired from the National Institutes of Health and lives outside Baltimore with his wife Dorothy. They have one son who lives nearby, a daughter in Rochester, and four grandchildren. His sister recently moved back to Williamsville. John is a woodworker and builds houses as a volunteer for Habitat For Humanity. He sings in a variety of choruses and goes on fishing trips to enjoy the wilderness.

Bob Coe

Lives in Salem, Oregon, with his wife Merrily McCabe. He has a daughter and a grandson. He had a publishing business for 20 years and has taught school in New York and California as well as Oregon. Bob has explored Oregon for 36 years and traveled extensively. Concerned with climate change, he and Merrily now ride their bicycles and cultivate their garden.

Carol Butler Benford

Lives in Palm Desert, California, with her husband Fred. They met at the Vivitar Corporation and have been married for 39 years. They have no children but are devoted pet owners. Carol is retired from UCLA and College of the Desert. Fred is also retired. They are both active volunteers for their church. They like hanging out with friends and enjoying the desert lifestyle.

Bob Stephen

Lives in Williamsville in the summer; in Naples, Florida in the winter; and occasionally in Boston. He has taught world history at Kenmore East, then spent 34 years with Buffalo State College as Assistant Dean and Director of Lifelong Learning. He has also served two terms as president of his professional association. Bob retired in 2004 to care for family, volunteer in the community, and work on his golf game.

Sara Baxter

Lives in Cheektowaga. She is happily retired from 40-year career at the Calspar Corporation (formerly Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory). For 20 years she has been involved with the Queen City Jazz Society. Sara recently lost her significant other of 20 years. She enjoys "embellishment creations and designs" and travels when time permits.

Sharyn Gemerek Heim

When not in her favorite town of Akron, NY, can be found in Saratoga Springs or Martha's Vineyard, enjoying life. She is recently retired from a career as a Creative Arts Director. She stays active with her three sons, one daughter, and nine grandchildren. She volunteers with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Variety Club of Buffalo, and the Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center. Sharyn is currently working on her "Rain Dance Creations," designing and sewing clothes.

Sandy Lippert Ebert

Is retired and lives in Getzville with her dog Lulu. She keeps quite busy with her church, travel, continuing education, reading, knitting, and close friends. Her best hours are spent with her precious partner, Craig.

Susan Carney Van Hooser

Lives in Florida with her husband David. They have two sons and two granddaughters. Dave is CEO of Harbor funds and still working hard. Susan teaches Bible study, volunteers at her church, plays Mah Jongg, takes oil painting lessons, and enjoys the stimulation the city provides. Susan and David are big Michigan fans and supporters. Susan says, "I feel blessed to have been in the Class of '64."

Barb King Lagoni

Lives in Oak Park, Illinois (of Frank Lloyd Wright fame) with her husband Hans, also an architect. In the '60s, Barb marched against the Vietnam war and fought for civil rights and for the environment. She studied nutrition at Cornell, then rose to the top ranks of a well-known health products marketing company. Except for her international lecture tours, she works her career from home, to be with her two children, four grandchildren, adopted cats and dogs, and her garden. Barb is eagerly looking forward to reconnecting with everyone at the reunion.

Gelene Vogel Heinlen

Lives with her husband of 34 years, Dan, just north of Columbus, Ohio. Now retired, she was Recreation Director of the Ohio School for the Blind, a vision consultant for Ohio, and a substitute teacher. She now enjoys time with her three daughters and six grandchildren. Gelene volunteers for her church and for her local congressman, and cares for the animals she has accumulated. She manages to ride her horse nearly every day and works to maintain the horse trails at the nearby state park.