Notes from the Class of 1957

Denver resident Pat Hill Pascoe (Engl’57) served in the Colorado Senate for 12 years. She published a biography of the first woman state senator in Colorado, Helen Ring Robinson: Colorado Senator and Suffragist (University Press of Colorado) in November. For more information see patpascoe.com.

Engineer and architect Theodore “Ted” Gertsch (Arch ex’57) was awarded a distinguished engineer certificate by the University of Wyoming’s College of Engineering and Applied Science. He worked as a full-time instructor for four years and as an adjunct professor for three years in the department of civil and architectural engineering at the University of Wyoming. He cofounded Gertsch/Baker and Associates in Laramie where he has been actively involved for 36 years. He lives in Cheyenne, Wyo., with his longtime friend Sharon, and they are the proud grandparents of four.

One of five authors of 100 Years Up High: Colorado Mountains and Mountaineers (Colorado Mountain Club Press) Janet Neuhoff Robertson (A&S’57) is a writer and photographer whose best-known book is Magnificent Mountain Women: Adventures in the Colorado Rockies (University of Nebraska Press). In April she and her co-authors, including James Fell (MHist’72, PhD’75), gave a presentation and held a book signing at the Boulder Public Library. She lives in Boulder.

At the United States Air Force Mission Assurance Team David Geyer (ElEngr’57) works full time developing risk assessments associated with vehicles used by the USAF/NRO to launch such payloads of national interest as the Atlas V and Delta IV. David has worked as a rocket scientist for 56 years and hopes to continue this work in the future. He has been interested in rockets since he was six years old. David and his wife live in Carlsbad, Calif.

Last summer Johnson Books of Boulder released Ann Cornwall Westerberg’s (A&S’57) book Colorado Ghost Tours. Ann and her husband live in Littleton, Colo., where she is a longtime court advocate and writer.

Gordon D. Thayer (EngrPhys’57) published a paper in Progress in Physics, a peer-reviewed journal, called “A New Model of Black Hole Formation” in October 2013. He also has three 2014 titles for sale as trade paperbacks on Amazon.com: The Mind of Christ, which was co-authored with his late wife; His Grandson’s Tales to Beelzebub; and The Nutter Chronicles. In 1968, Gordon authored a chapter on radar visual cases for the Condon Report, a CU-based study of evidence concerning UFOs. He lives in Sarasota, Fla.

The National Federation of Press Women named Barbara “Bobbi” Hillman Gigone (Jour) the 2015 Communicator of Achievement winner during its national conference in Anchorage, Alaska. Bobbi is a longtime supporter of CU’s host parent program for international students, and most recently hosted a female student from Iran. Bobbi was the first regular female news reporter at the Boulder Daily Camera and first public information officer for Boulder County.

David W. Geyer (ElEngr) has moved to Santa Fe, N.M., from Carlsbad, Calif. He is still working in support of the United States Air Force Mission Assurance Team and performing independent risk assessments on rocket launches of national interest. He enjoys Santa Fe, where he lives just five minutes north of the plaza downtown.

After serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy, George “Geoie” S. Writer Jr. (Fin) returned to Denver and founded The Writer Corporation, a home building company. He’s built more than 12,000 homes across the Front Range, and in 1978 was the youngest honoree as National Builder of the Year by Professional Builder magazine. George received the Alumni Association’s 2017 George Norlin Award over Homecoming Weekend, which recognizes alumni who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in their chosen field. Geoie has five children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Jim Turner’s (Law) book Selma and the Liuzzo Murder Trials, published by the University of Michigan Press, was re-leased in 2018. It details Jim’s first assignment in civil rights law, the murder of Viola Liuzzo outside of Selma, Ala., after the 1965 March to Montgomery. Jim, who lives in Washington, D.C., served as deputy assistant attorney general for 25 years under seven consecutive U.S. presidents. 

Thomas J. O’Brien (Bus) and Sharon O’Brien (Jour’58) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on March 29. They met at CU Boulder, married in California and have five sons. "How ’bout them apples!?" said Thomas. The couple lives in Fontana, Wisc., on Lake Geneva, southwest of Milwaukee. 

CU English professor emeritus Paul Levitt (Phil; MHist’61) and late alum S. Sue McMillan (A&S’51) co-authored the book Yana: A Historical Novel, which was released in 2020. While working at CU, Paul wrote plays for the BBC, authored more than 20 books and published nearly 50 articles. Paul was also responsible for the restoration of the reputation of Morris Judd, a former CU philosophy instructor who was fired in the early 1950s for his refusal to answer FBI questions about communist affiliations. 

Beginning in May, 78 collages of artist Jean Conner (MFA’57) were featured at the San José Museum of Art in her first solo show, “Jean Conner: Collage.” The exhibition opened one week before her 89th birthday. The collages date from 1967 to 2021 and will be on display through the end of September. Jean lives in San Francisco.

Former Colorado state senator and educator Pat Pascoe (Engl’57) published A Dream of Justice: The Story of Keyes v. Denver Public Schools. This book tells her firsthand account of the decades-long fight to desegregate Denver’s public schools. Drawing on oral histories and interviews with members of the legal community, parents and students, as well as extensive institutional records, Pat offers a compelling social history of the first northern city desegregation suit to be brought before the Supreme Court. After the court ordered the desegregation of Denver’s public schools, Pat served on the community education council appointed to oversee the 26-year court order. She lives in Denver.