The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/406282
Fall 2014 55 class notes around the time of the demise of the Soviet Union. I went on to private sector positions supporting the intelligence community and retired fully from Aerospace Corp. at the end of 2010. What a ride! Things are a bit more mundane now. We have two sons and three grandchildren that get our time and attention. I'm also trying to play more golf and improve my game. And there's the never ending list of household chores. But they do provide exercise! Life is good..." Gary Goshgarian writes, "So far I have written eight science thrillers (three under my own name, and fve under the pen name Gary Braver)—some of which became bestsellers, including Flashback, winner of a 2006 Massachusetts Book Award for Fiction. The latest (2012) is Tunnel Vision. Although I got advanced degrees in English and have been an English professor at Northeastern University for 45 years, I don't for a moment regret my WPI education. It, and a few summers as a project physicist at Raytheon, led me to introduce a course in science fction at NU in 1972, and I have been teaching it ever since. It was one of the frst such university courses in the country, and probably the longest running. My thrillers center on major technical breakthroughs in biochemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, and archaeology. Their relative successes had to do not only with decent story lines and writing, but signifcant technical research. Gary's fondest memories include group discussions with English professor Jim Hensel. "For the better part of my freshman year, a dozen of us met regularly every Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock, discussing Plato, Shakespeare, Faulkner, Woolf, and Kafka. Our discussions were lively and inspired, and we loved it, especially the subversive kick of being at the epicenter of science and technology. Jim loved it, too, and even wrote glowingly about us and his experience in a College English article (1962) called "Are Engineering Students Square?" His conclusion: a resounding 'No.' What he did was open doors for us—and for one, perhaps a little too widely." Dick Healing writes, "Still 'thinking' about retirement…as soon as I run out of interesting things to do!" Larry Hull retired from NASA as a computer engineer/ project manager. He writes, "After 38 years with NASA, I retired to enjoy travel and family. Much of my time is taken up with volunteer activities. Some may have made a difference, particularly to individuals. I recall being in the frst computer class offered at WPI, and that frst (IBM) computer with paper tape input. Fun AND frustration!" Larry lives in Greenbelt, Md., with his wife, Rena. Bruce Larsen retired from Verizon as director of regulatory operations. He writes, "After 40 years of marriage, Joy passed away from early onset Alzheimer's. My second 'dream wife,' Sally, and I were married on 1/23/04. An interesting fact that I learned (thru Sally) is that my great-grandfather Larsen was an Antarctic explorer and that the Larsen Ice Shelf was named after him. "Bruce's top WPI moments include when Sandy Williams and I attempted to drain Institute Pond in front of SAE; leading the WPI ROTC Band in competition at the World's Fair in NYC (we came in 2nd!); and managing to pass senior fnals, hours after my twins were born." His favorite mentors were Bill Grogan ("Who always made things clear and was a great guy,") and Bill Trask ("Who took personal interest in me and got me out of trouble when Sandy and I attempted to drain Institute Pond"). Bruce also credits ROTC Capt. Smith for persuading him to stay in ROTC. As a volunteer, Bruce has established a homeless shelter in Jaffrey, N.H., chaired an Episcopal Church music organization that sent dozens of kids to top-notch music camps, and organized and managed seven European concert tours to promote peace. Cliff MacDonald and his wife, Mary Jean, live in Toano, Va. Tom Newman retired from Teradyne as vice president, corporate relations. "I've traveled a lot, most of it internation- ally (especially Asia), and have cultivated friendships with an international group of friends. I enjoy fy fshing, cycling, sailing, photography and family. I also hold a Coast Guard captain's license." (Read more about Tom on page 50.) Bruce Ochieano started out as a civil engineer in San Francisco, then served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for two years, mostly in Vietnam, as 2nd and 1st Lieutenant. After earning an MBA at Wharton, he returned to San Francisco to work with Arthur Andersen & Co. (now Accenture) for three years. The next 17 years were in corporate fnance positions, mostly as treasurer for Advanced Micro Devices in Sunnyvale, Calif. "Finally, in 1990 I left AMD and set up my own personal fnancial advisory frm (Bruce Ochieano & Co.) and did fnancial advisory consulting, etc., for 22 years. I retired in January 2013. At age 28 I really lucked out and met a beautiful and very bright girl (Anita—then 24). Through much persistence, I convinced her to marry me 13 months later. Together we have raised three children (now 35, 32, and 29) and watched them become well-educated, mature, independent, responsible adults." In addition to helping launch a school foundation that now raises millions of dollars for elementary and high schools in Menlo Park, Bruce has also coached youth soccer and Little League. "My wife and I are substantial fnancial contributors to our church's 'homeless fund,' which works with local social service agencies to keep families temporarily down on their luck from losing their homes and helps them get them back on their feet." Bob Parker is retired from Pratt & Whitney as a quality control manager. He and his wife, Jeanne, live in Ellington, Conn. "I have a son who attended WPI. I have a grandson. I like to do gardening and to travel. Goals and objectives are to stay healthy and continue to enjoy life. I try to be as environmentally responsible as I can. I have fond memories of camaraderie with fellow students." Bob Peura is co-founder and senior vice president of Grove Instruments. He sends this summary: "Carol and I married a week after graduation, and we are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We moved to Iowa after graduation, where Carol taught school and I earned my PhD in EE and BME at Iowa State University. I returned to WPI as an assistant professor. In my early years, I helped implement the WPI Plan and start project centers at UMass Medical School, St. Vincent Hospital, and Tufts Veterinary School. I also founded the Biomedical Engineering Department with the support of our BME Advisory Board, co-chaired by classmate Al Potvin. I retired as emeritus professor after 40 years of service in 2008. I am co-inventor of six U.S. medical device patents. I have a personal passion for the development of Grove's noninvasive glucose monitor since two of our children have Type 1 diabetes. My thesis, when I started VivaScan (now Grove Instruments), was that there has to be a better way to self-manage diabetes. Our goal is to deliver the frst FDA approved noninvasive, painless and bloodless frst line glucose meter for use in the lifelong care of diabetes patients. Carol and I operate Deer Run Tree Farm, a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm at our farm in Princeton, Mass. We enjoy spending time with our grandkids in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Michigan. We have a home in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard where we four-wheel drive on the Chappaquiddick Island beaches and enjoy fshing for stripers and blues in the surf. We also enjoy cross country skiing. Fred Scofeld writes, "Most of my career was spent in nuclear power plant project management with a local electric utility. Nine years were spent with an oil and gas company that eventually became Enron. I'm now retired, and my wife, Margaret, and I continue to serve as sponsors of our church teenage youth groups. We have fve sons." Gus Shields reports that he took "A simple career path from fghter pilot to airline captain. I few frst line fghter jets (F-4) and for airlines (Airbus 320) without aviator incident during a 38-year career. I have marched for civil rights and