The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/277771
class notes 56 Spring 2014 Newton and Boston, working behind the scenes at the local TV station, and heading a committee at a nonproft organization called Newton-at-Home, which provides services to seniors to help them to stay in their own homes rather than to move to an assisted living dwelling. My wife, Cynthia, and I have travelled extensively, taking a few major trips a year. My health is good (not excellent) so we are able to travel without restrictions. We have three adult children and eight grandchildren (all good-looking, of course). My golf is as good as it will ever get. I broke 100 the last time I played. However, I just can't remember which hole it was." 1960 Susan and Richard Brewster are set to return to Africa this spring for a land-based mission with Mercy Ships. Working under the auspices of Smile Train, the medical team is charged with repairing cleft lips and palates in that needy part of the world. Richard, the photographer, records before-and-after shots of the patients served. This is the Brewsters' fourth Smile Train trip, although they have lived and worked in other West African countries with Mercy Ships since 1999. Richard has documented the success stories of previous trips with photos of patients admiring their new faces. Mercy Ships, recently featured on CBS 60 Minutes, has recently announced plans for the construction of a new, larger hospital ship, which will be ready in 2017. 1962 Bill Krein writes that he's into his 25th year as an adjunct faculty member at WPI. He teaches in the School of Business and the Corporate and Professional Development program. 1964 "Hello everybody!" writes Ed Curtis. "Carolyn and I are spending our winters in the Sarasota, Fla., area, and our summers in York Harbor, Maine. We regularly see about a dozen alums from our era and enjoy the reconnecting very much. Our 50th Class Reunion is coming up this year, and I hope to see many of you at the events. Upon graduation in 1964, I stayed on for an MS ChE and then went to work for the Cabot Corp. in Boston. After seven years as an intrapreneur with Cabot, I launched my own consulting business in the energy industry while we raised three daughters. I am proud to say that they are all successful professionals with happy families. Now I'm working on all the projects I deferred during my very satisfying but busy career." Bruce Maccabee received the International UFO Congress Lifetime Achievement at the organization's 2014 conference in February. 1965 Gene Dionne was elected a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). The presentation of the new fellows will take place at the AIAA Aerospace Spotlight Awards Gala in April 2014 in Washington, D.C. 1966 Phil Hopkinson reports that he is "still doing power transformer consulting and having fun." He formed his own company, HVOLT, in 2001, and continues to work on developing industry standards with a variety of agencies, including NEMA (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) and the U.S. Department of Energy. 1967 According to Joe Ferrantino, "The 7th Annual Georgia Cup Golf Matches will be contested again this year between me, Gary Dyckman '66, and Wayne Blanchard '68, the week of March 23. Hopefully, Dick Court '67 will also come to witness part of this event. I cannot report the results of previous matches because I don't want to be accused of bragging. It's rumored that Gary and Wayne are stopping at Myrtle Beach on their way to Georgia to practice, though." Eduardo Mendez writes, "Visited the campus on Dec. 30, 2013. Everything was closed, but I ran into an international student (not on vacation) who was able to let me use the bathrooms at the Labs building. A very cold day in Worcester, but I was able to see the walk and fnd my brick." Charlie Proctor writes, "Just working away, no deer harvest this year. Bought a Cummins powered diesel Dodge and just pulled a car and trailer out of a combination ice/snow bank. Looking for a hi-performance VW engine for my MG relicar; waiting to X-C ski and skate this winter. That's about it." 1968 Cary Palulis writes, "Still VP of Sales & Marketing for Heritage-Crystal Clean LLC, which has a re-refnery to make recycled base oil from nasty dirty used oil. It is excellent quality and we are expanding 50 percent this year. Still going strong at my old age. Wife Susan also works full time for Saint Francis Hospital in Hartford, Conn. Our daughter, Lauren, graduated with her master's from Simmons College in Boston and is now working as a HS teacher in West Roxbury, Mass. My mom is 92 and still drives a 13-hp grass mower. She lives in Northampton, so we are all in New England. So life is as good as ever." Roger Pryor has published his third book on multiphysics modeling, titled RF Module: The Three Stub Tuner, a guide for users of COMOL Multiphysics ® software. He is president and CEO of Pryor Knowledge Systems in Bloomfeld Hills, Mich. 1970 Pat Abbe writes that 2014 begins his 17th year of a "5-year plan" as president and founder of Cabinetparts.com Inc. "It has been a wonderful journey beginning from the early days of the commercial Internet," he writes. "In 2013 we became a Google Trusted Store and were awarded the Stella Services rating of Excellent, which is one of the highest honors one can get from this online Secret Shopper (Home Depot only has a Good rating). My wife, Christine, and I now split our time now between our cabin in Montana and home in Florida as I look forward to getting to the 25th year of 'The Plan.'" Peter Denoncourt retired in July 2012, after 25 years with Saft, S.A., the global manufacturer of advanced batteries based in France. "I had just fnished managing a large project in Jacksonville, Fla., to build a $200-million plant to manufacture advanced lithium ion batteries for hybrid vehicles and backup power for renewable energy sources like wind and solar. The company received a $95 million ARRA grant for the project and kicked in the extra $105 million themselves. My wife, Carolyn, and I live in Jacksonville, Fla., and have three grown daughters (two living in Alaska, and one in Sarasota, Fla.), and two grandchildren. Our frst post-retirement adventure was a four-month cruise in our 35-foot sailboat, Kite, to explore the Chesapeake Bay. We met lots of other boaters during our cruise, and they all had interesting stories to tell, some of them may have even been true! We really enjoyed eating everything crab—steamed crabs, crab cakes, etc.—while in the Bay, and managed to visit 15 ports between Norfolk and Baltimore." Bill Hillner reports that he retired from ExxonMobil in August 2012, after 37 years with the company. "I worked and lived in eight countries (England, Scotland, Norway, Thailand, Angola, Nigeria, Qatar, and Russia) on some of the world's largest onshore and offshore oil and gas development projects. I am now doing contract/consultant work for ExxonMobil, working primarily in Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. When not working, my wife and I are 'chillaxing' at our homes in MA and VA." WPI_classnotes_final.indd 56 3/9/14 2:42 PM