Notes from the Class of 1983

For most of her career Julie Overbaugh (PhDChem’83) has focused on HIV prevention and AIDS research. She is associate program head at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. She has served as chair of the NIH grant review panel on the molecular biology of HIV-1, editor of Journal of Virology and member of the Office of AIDS Research advisory committee. She also spent two decades in Kenya working to prevent the spread of HIV. Because of her accomplishments, Julie received the 2011 Marion Spencer Fay Award Lecture at Drexel University College of Medicine. She lives in Seattle, Wash.

Because of his commitment and innovation in contributing to the nation, Alfonso Batres (MPsych’83, PhD’84) received a Service to America medal from the Partnership for Public Service. He has spent nearly three decades working with the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Readjustment Counseling Vet Centers, which provide counseling, services and opportunities to veterans. The Washington Post wrote an article on his accomplishments called “Alfonso Batres: A leadership veteran” that appeared in its “Federal Player” series. Alfonso lives in Washington, D.C.

With the departure of Regis Philbin from the show Live With Regis and Kelly, executive producer Michael Gelman (Jour’83) has the task of searching for a new host. He intends to test a variety of celebrities with the remaining host Kelly Ripa, eventually settling on the perfect pick. Michael lives in New York City.

Financial adviser Alan Willenbrock (ChemEngr, Mktg’83) was named to the Pacesetter’s Club at the global financial services firm Morgan Stanley Smith Barney for his professional standards and client service since 2007. He lives with his wife in Tuscon, Ariz.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney announced that Alan F. Willenbrock (ChemEngr, Mktg’83), a portfolio manager, vice president and financial adviser in its wealth management office in Tucson, was named to the Firm’s Pacesetter’s Club. The club is a global recognition program for financial advisors who, within their first five years, demonstrate the highest professional standards and first-class client service. He lives in Tucson.

Apricot Harvest (Indian Paintbrush Poets) is a book of poems written by Victor Pearn (MEngl’83). As a student his poem, “One Year of Grace,” won the 1983 university-wide poetry contest and was the prologue in the 1984 Coloradan yearbook. Victor taught English and writing at Jining University in Qufu, China, in 2009-10. He lives with his wife in Fort Collins, Colo., where he writes and publishes books and poems.

Executive director of the National Architectural Accrediting Board Andrea Rutledge (Hist, Thtr’83) received the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. It is the highest honor bestowed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and recognizes those who dedicate part of their careers, energy and wisdom to benefit the council, the public and the architectural profession. She lives in Takoma Park, Md.

The “Water Nymphs” paintings by Linda Lowry (MFA’83) center around water and human interaction. The collection of more than 30 paintings was displayed at Goodwin Fine Arts in Denver. Linda lives in Boulder. Visit her website at www.lindalowry.net.

During CU’s Back to Boulder Homecoming Weekend, Doug Conarroe (Jour’83, MBA’05) spoke at the journalism and mass communication program on “Hot News: Smart Tools.” Doug is owner of the NorthForty News, a monthly, local news source for Northern Colorado. Doug and his staff covered the High Park Fire on the web. He lives in Lafayette, Colo. His photo of Mick Jagger in Folsom Field appeared in the 2012 DecemberColoradan on pages 30-31.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management named Alan Willenbrock (ChemEngr, Mktg’83) to the firm’s Pacesetter’s Club for 2012 and 2013. Alan, a portfolio manager, vice president and financial adviser, works at the office in Tucson. The Pacesetters Club is a global recognition program for financial advisors who demonstrate the highest professional standards and first-class client service within their first
five years.

Astronaut Steve Swanson (EngrPhys’83) will serve as crew member on two future expeditions aboard the International Space Station. The internationally developed research station orbits the earth about once every 90 minutes. Steve, with five others, will live on the station for six months starting in March 2014. Steve will serve as a flight engineer on Expedition 39 and as a station commander on Expedition 40. He lives in Friendswood, Texas.

The Denver Athletic Club named Mike Hestera (Rec’83) as its general manager. Previously, Mike worked as district executive director at Metro Denver YMCA. He is a former CU-Boulder Alumni Association board member and lives in Arvada, Colo.

In Whitefish, Mont., Kylanne Sandelin (Art’83) and her husband own and operate Great Northern Powder Guides, the state’s only snowcat skiing operation. Their experienced guides take groups of up to 14 for backcountry powder skiing and snowboarding. The couple has been married for 27 years and has two sons.

Veteran Richard Tremaine (Psych’83) is an associate director of Veteran Affairs Health Care System in New England. His son, Harrison Tremaine, is a freshman at CU-Boulder. Richard was featured in the September 2004 issue of the Coloradan about the outstanding care the Department of Veterans Affairs provided three Iraq Freedom veterans who had lost their limbs in combat. 

LeRoy Jones (Chem’83) has been ranked among the world’s best urologists for surgical treatment of male incontinence and erectile dysfunction treatment. Last fall he launched the website edtreatmentsanantonio.com, which provides educational information on erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, male incontinence, premature ejaculation, male infertility and prostate problems. Jones sees patients at the Urology San Antonio Center for Men’s Health & Wellness.

Since 2007 Alan F. Willenbrock (ChemEngr, Mktg’83) has been working in the wealth management department at Morgan Stanley in Tucson, Ariz., where he lives with his wife Peggy. In January Alan was named senior portfolio manager in the company’s portfolio management program where he will better help investors monitor and manage their money. He also was inducted into the firm’s Pacesetter Club, which recognizes those financial advisers who excel within their first five years in the job.

We know him as detective Elliott Stabler from “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” but Christopher Meloni (Hist’83) is much more than that. He tries to ensure a stable and empowering environment for his two children, and he applied his parenting techniques while acting in the show “Surviving Jack,” which launched in the spring on Fox. He lives in Beverly Hills, Calif.

The Best Lawyers in America recognized attorney Geoffrey Weisbart (Acct) from the Austin, Texas, firm Weisbart Springer Hayes in its 2015 edition. Geoffrey is a courtroom advocate representing clients in matters relating to substantial financial and business risks. He has represented corporations and individuals in both jury and non-jury trials.

Russell Lee Wehner III’s (Econ) family can now point to four generations of CU graduates: His son, Zachary Wehner (MMechEngr’14), graduated in December. They were preceded by Zachary’s grandmother, Margaret Sylvester Wehner (Edu’53), and Zachary’s great-grandmother, Anna Mary DesBrisay (Btny, Edu1914). Several other family members also attended CU. Says Margaret, “Through the years, the University of Colorado has been our stronghold and has served our family very well.”

Several years ago, sisters Elizabeth (MComm) and Patricia Donohoe (MEngl’82) found 150 letters from their great-great-grandparents in an old cracker tin in their grandfather’s house and another 150 on eBay. Afterward, Patricia wrote The Printer’s Kiss: The Life and Letters of a Civil War Newspaperman and His Family. The book tells the story of their ancestors’ lives in Ohio during the Civil War. The letters, which were donated to the West Virginia and Regional History Collection at West Virginia University, comprise the Wylie-Tomlinson Letter Collection.