Class Notes

Jacqueline Huskey Harford (A&S) celebrated her 90th birthday this summer. She wrote that her CU classes in French and German determined her career as a foreign language teacher. In 1953, on the recommendation of her German professor, she applied for and received a Fulbright scholarship in Austria and eventually moved to the country. “That year in Austria began my lifelong love of travel,” she wrote. Recently, one of her favorite pastimes has been sorting through her photo albums, “remembering the adventures and people in my long life.” Jacqueline lives in Sebastopol, California. 

Boulder residents Jeannie Thompson (Zool) and Marty Coffin Evans (Engl) joined the Coloradan Advisory Council this fall. The council will help shape the future of the Coloradan, one of CU Boulder’s longest-running publications. Both women and their husbands are staunch supporters and advocates for the university. 

Engineer Jim Wagoner (ElEngr) wrote this summer, hoping to connect with other CU graduates to see how they are doing. Email us at editor@colorado.edu to connect with Jim. 

This spring, the CU Boulder College of Music recognized Charlene Archibeque (DMus) as a distinguished alum. Charlene was the first woman to graduate from CU with a DMA. Now, she is regarded as one of the foremost choral conductors and teachers in the U.S., and her choirs have completed 16 concert tours around the world. She has conducted in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Royal Albert Hall in London. 

As a CU Boulder student, Roe Green (CommThtr) fell in love with theater. Initially an art major, she switched her freshman year after volunteering to take notes for a faculty director during a theater class. She became enamored with the theater’s backstage and management aspects. This year, she donated $5 million to CU Boulder’s theater program. It is the Department of Theatre & Dance’s largest gift in history, and it will fund an upgrade for the University Theatre — which will be renamed the Roe Green Theatre in fall 2023 — as well as establish endowed funds for student scholarships and fund events to further students’ careers. “Theater and the performing arts make us human,” she told CU Boulder Today in September. “This is how we pass on what we know.”

A graphic designer for 20 years, Robert Meyer (Art) often said he wished he could sculpt full time. In 1999, he went to Italy for three years to pursue this dream, and he wrote that he has “never looked back.” In 2021 his sculpture, “2 Forms w/Sphere no.10” received the Juror’s Award for Sculpture in the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts 110th Annual Exhibition. In addition, Robert’s sculpture “Intersecting Forms w/Sphere no.4” received the Juror’s Award for Abstract Art in the Lyme Art Association’s “Expanding Visions: Traditions and Beyond.”

Until June 2021, Timothy Larsen (Mktg) was the treasurer for ForeverGold, a group of alumni, parents, friends and fans who engage with CU Boulder and other members through exclusive social, athletic and academic events. Tim served as the senior international marketing specialist with the Colorado Department of Agriculture, and was responsible for assisting Colorado’s farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers in developing global markets. He retired in 2015. He and his wife, Candace (Engl’71), met at CU when she was a resident advisor at Kittredge Commons. They live in Erie, Colorado, and have two grown children.

After nearly 50 years of leading human resources organizations, Darryl Varnado (PolSci; MPubAd’76) retired from Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he had served as the executive vice president and chief people officer for the past nine years. Over his career, he also led HR teams at the Adolph Coors Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, Coca-Cola Company, U.S. Airways, The Nature Conservancy, Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises and the University of Colorado Hospital Authority.

J. Dirk Nies (Chem) has worked on environmental issues since graduating from CU. Recently, he wrote an article on climate change titled “An Incommodious Question: Can Renewable Energy Tackle the Existential Threat?” which was published in the Crozet Gazette. He also has written a book, Floriescence: Foundations for Human Flourishing on a Thriving Planet – A Visionary Synthesis of Science, Ethics, and Aesthetics Crafted to Promote Well-Being in the 21st Century.

After 20 years of senior technology support at worldwide law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, David Kaufman (Comm) retired. He also played on and co-wrote the hit song “88 Lines about 44 Women” by The Nails, which turned 40 in 2021. See and hear David’s latest song, “Science NonFiction,” on YouTube. 

Pulitzer prize-winning journalist Dave Curtin (Jour) retired this summer. After working a senior year internship at the Boulder Daily Camera, Dave jumped around various newspapers in Colorado, living in Greeley, Durango, Colorado Springs and Denver. In 2007, he came back to CU as executive communicator for campus. In retirement, Dave will transition from climbing fourteeners to lake kayaking. He told CU Boulder Today that his favorite thing about working at CU was “the people of the university community.” Read more about Dave in this issue.

After graduating, Dana Stabin (Art) began his journey as a career military officer, serving 20 years as a U.S. Air Force pilot, followed by 20 years flying for United Airlines out of San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and, for the last 10 years, New York. He spent a decade in the hills of Vermont and is now settled in the hills of New York. “Boulder will do that to you,” he wrote.

Cynthia Clark (Econ; Law’85), author of two romance/suspense novels, published her first illustrated children’s book, Max Goes to Town. Charmingly illustrated and written in verse, the book tells the story of a cunning family farm cat, Max, who amazes his family when he journeys into town. Cynthia lives in Hygiene, Colorado. 

A graduate of CU’s organ performance program, Barry Farmer (PhDMus) has enjoyed success as a musician, educator and administrator in faith communities, public schools and universities across the country. He is a lifetime member of the College Music Society and holds certification as a massed ringing conductor with the Handbell Musicians of America. Over many years, he has played concerts as an accompanist, harpsichordist and organist, primarily in the southeastern U.S.

After spending 50 years in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Geary Larrick (DMus) moved to Glenview, Illinois. He and his wife welcomed a second grandson into the family this year. He still plays his marimba every day, he wrote, and has an electronic piano as well.  

Clinical supervisor and board-certified behavior analyst at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders Ann Leventen Derentz (Hist) works with children and adults who have developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and social and behavioral issues by creating treatment plans and overseeing programs for her clients in the San Francisco Bay Area. She misses Boulder and plans to visit in the near future. 

The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals selected Michael Parker (ArchEngr) as the next bankruptcy judge in the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division. Michael is a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and has been with the firm since the end of his two-year bankruptcy clerkship in the Western District of Texas with Hon. Ronald B. King in 1995. He was scheduled to take the bench on Nov. 2, 2021.

For the 16th year in a row, Jeanette Meyer (MBA) has been granted the highest level of service achievement in the real estate industry. This award recognizes her achievement of 100% client service satisfaction in 2020.

In June Todd Saliman (PolSci) was named president of the University of Colorado. He will serve in the interim as the CU Board of Regents conducts a national search for a permanent president. Previously, Todd was CU’s senior vice president for strategy, government relations and chief financial officer. 

Filmmaker and professional skier Chris Anthony (Kines) produced a documentary film, Mission Mt. Mangart, about the legendary WWII 10th Mountain Division, which consisted of the most talented international skiers and mountaineers of the day. The world premiere will be in Denver on Nov. 11, Veterans Day. He hopes to bring the film to the CU Boulder campus in early 2022.