Class Notes

Oscar and Grammy-winning composer, producer and jazz pianist Dave Grusin (Mus) is the subject of a forthcoming feature-length documentary, Dave Grusin: Not Enough Time. Dave has received eight Oscar nominations, 10 Grammys and another 28 nominations. The film, which is expected to be released later this year, will chronicle his career as a music director, composer, arranger, producer and pianist. 

For the next 20 years, an annual award funded by William Hopkins (Soc) and life partner Richard Anderson will benefit actors and other Washington D.C. theater community members. The Anderson-Hopkins Award for Excellence in the Theater Arts was presented for the first time on Nov. 20, 2017. William lives in Arlington, Va. 

Alan Feuerstein (Mktg) is founder and CEO of Web Editorial & Content Management, Inc. Earlier in life, Alan served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. Alan has lectured at New York University, University of Chicago and elsewhere on the use of the internet in web journalism and business strategy.

In November Dan Dillingham (Fin) was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Dan, of Enid, Okla., was one of six inductees this year. While studying at CU, Dick Hueholt (AeroEngr) flew left wing on the Minute Men aerobatic team, which was sponsored by the Colorado Air National Guard. The monthly Air Classics magazine featured the National Minute Men Team in its September 2016 edition, 63 years after the Minute Men team was formed. After graduating, Dick was employed as a jet test pilot for Chance Vought Corp. He is now retired and lives in Argyle, Texas.

Academy Awardwinning composer Dave Grusin (Mus) received the George Norlin Award at the CU Boulder Alumni Association’s 87th Annual Awards Ceremony in October. Dave, who also has won 10 Grammy Awards, is a founding member of the College of Music Advisory Board and has been composing music professionally since the 1960s. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M.

Ten-time Grammy Awardwinner Dave Grusin (Mus) served as an advisory judge for the Six String Theory Competition, the inspiration of Grammy-winning guitarist and producer Lee Ritenour. Dave, who also won an Academy Award in 1988 for his score for “The Milagro Beanfield War,” lives in Santa Fe, N.M. He is a recipient of the Alumni Association’s George Norlin Award, and will be recognized Oct. 13 during Homecoming Weekend.

Linn Long (PE’56, MS’67), who lettered four times in college as a wrestler from 1952-55, was named into the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame. After college, he coached wrestling at CU-Boulder, leading the Buffs to their best finish in the NCAA Championships, a tie for fourth place in 1964. Linn also won four letters in baseball.

Frequent Conference on World Affairs participant Dave Grusin (Mus’56) returned to the university in April for the conference. His brother, Don Grusin (Soc’63, MEcon’67), joined him from Los Angeles. Having spent most of his professional life writing film scores, arranging and producing jazz albums and recording, Dave has recently spent more time performing and traveling as a keyboardist, mostly with Lee Ritenour, an old friend and studio mate. He lives in Santa Fe, N.M., with his wife, Nancy Newton.

Former CU football and baseball player Frank Bernardi (Mktg’56) received recognition as part of the 2012 Colorado Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Class ceremony in November. Frank rushed for 1,235 yards in his career, fifth-most by a Buff at the time, with his 6.33 average per carry still the fifth-best number by any of the school’s 49 players who have gained 1,000 career yards. He resides in Broomfield, Colo.

A flight test engineer and test pilot for 46 years, James Patton Jr. (Aero’56) retired from NASA in 1987 [see the online September 2011 Coloradanprofiles to read the article on him]. He earned numerous aviation awards, including NASA’s Exceptional Service Medal, the FAA Master Pilot Award and an induction into the Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame. He lives in Crystal River, Fla.

After retiring from 30 years of teaching social studies in 1982, Harry Stokes (MEdu’56) has remained extremely busy. He moved to Tennessee and became an archivist at the Tennessee State Library and Archives where he processed manuscript collections and governor’s papers until 2005. During his retirement years, he and his wife have enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad. Harry lives in Old Hickory, Tenn.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.