Alumni Notes

See what our alumni have been up to!
By Francesca Fuerman-George, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
Drs. David Karpik and Kathleen Rice posing with their children doing O-H-I-O in front of the Colosseum in Italy.

1970s

Michael Cady (OD’73) retired in December 2023.

Don Leach (OD’76) retired on December 20, 2023.

1980s

Timothy J. Hennie (OD’81) earned the John D. Robinson award for Clinical Excellence from the North Carolina Optometric Society.

Bruce Manning (OD’81) retired in February 2023.

Jane Wolford (OD’83) retired on December 22, 2023.

2000s 

David Karpik, (OD’05) and Kathleen Rice (OD’05) enjoyed a visit with their kids to the colosseum. They took a family vacation to visit an exchange student from Italy they hosted in 2019.  (photo above)

2010s 

Andrea Dietz (OD’11) and husband Jonathan Dietz welcomed daughter Willa in October 2023.

Willa Dietz

Steven Kocher (OD’12) married Jessica Phillips on October 21, 2023.

Steven Kocher and his wife Jessica's wedding portrait

Linda Du (MS’13, OD’15) and husband Kefu Du welcomed son Malcolm in November 2023.

Bridget Grover (MS/OD’16) and family welcomed daughter Isabella Taylor Grover on February 1, 2024.

Shane Mulvihill (OD/MS’16) and family welcomed son Bryce on November 29, 2023.

Elizabeth Bower (OD’17) and husband Austin Bower welcomed daughter Noelle Kayann Bower in November 2023. Novak (5) and Nora (3) are very happy to have a new sister.

Sara Hitchman (OD’17) and AJ Peiffer (OD’16, MS’18) welcomed daughter Maren in June 2023.

Nikita Patel (OD’17) and family welcomed son Swayam Ricky Patel in December 2023.

Nicole Pecko (OD’17) and husband Steven Pecko welcomed son Adam Christian Pecko, on July 27, 2023.

Tawni Cashon (OD’18) and family welcomed son Jack Ryan Cashon on February 8, 2024.

Carolyn Chakuroff Gafford (MS’18, OD’19) and husband Jordan Gafford welcomed daughter Miriam Gafford in Fall 2023.

Christi Locke Ortiz (MS/OD’19) and husband Mark Ortiz (OD’17) welcomed son Owen Ortiz in November 2023.

Owen Ortiz
Owen Ortiz

2020s

Paige Ellis (OD’20) married Sawyer Ellis (OD’20) on October 6, 2023.

Taylor Sprague (OD’20) and husband Alexander Sprague welcomed daughter Violet in November 2023.

Jackson Carey (OD’21) married Hannah Hlad on October 21, 2023.

Natalie Wong (MS’21, OD’22) married John Lau-Wong on September 25, 2023.

Chelsey Kunkler (OD’23) and husband Henry Kunkler welcomed son Henry James Kunkler on December 6, 2023.

David Stout (’26) and family welcomed son Miles on February 3, 2024.

In Memoriam

Carl Richard (Dick) Brandts (BS’56) passed away on February 1, 2024. He was 90.

Edward Schubert (BS’62) passed away on November 28, 2023. He was 88.

Roy A. Schlabach (BS’64) passed away on December 10, 2023. He was 83.

Vernon Frederick Siber Jr. (OD’70) passed away on January 23, 2024. He was 82.

Martin Keith Windon (OD’74) passed away on November 25, 2023. He was 74.

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