1950s

Valkyrie Sisters from the Class of 1959 got together in September 2024 in Sea Isle City, NJ. Top (L-R): MJ Kling Simao and Ellie Crowley Pileggi. Middle (L-R): Betty Papale Fitzgerald and Audrey Berger Smoyer. Bottom (L-R): Carolyn Helbig Hatt, Sally Hollinger Dunkle, and Gail “Gussie” Brown. Valkyrie banner was made by Rachael Trimpey Tracey.

Elizabeth “Betty” Talley ’50 turned 95 in April. She still has a letter from President Charles Swope for teaching in the reading clinic during its first year.

Sara Mae (Smith) MacNab ’53 and Mary Anne (Smith) Munch ’53 are twins and second-generation West Chester State Teachers College graduates.

Oscar W. Knade ’54 published a career memoir entitled A Schoolman’s Journey in May 2024. It follows his more than 50-year career as teacher, principal, state school board association executive, program administrator, district superintendent, university professor, urban schools association head, and school facilities planning consultant.

1970s

Long-time friends (known as the “Maddogs” intramurally) and West Chester State College graduates gathered to celebrate the wedding of Kathleen Bueschen and Josh Demers at the Crane Estate in Ipswich, MA, on June 28, 2024. (L-R): John McGowan ’78, John Tashjian ’79, Terry Spratt ’78; Steve Bueschen ’78 (father of the bride); Bill Dougherty ’77, Mike Kelly ’77, and Bruce Schmidt ’78. Also in attendance were Marybeth McGowan ’79, Denise Spratt ’79, Mary Sullivan Kelly ’77, Phil Boyer ’77, and Brad Helfrich ’77.

Michael D. Gilmore ’71 along with John O. Simpson ’70, M’75, Joseph F. Bell, Jr. ’72, David L. Flamer ’72, M’86, James P. Watkins ’73 (dec.), Dennis W. White ’72, Thomas C. Williams ’72 (dec.) were the founding members of Zeta Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first Black fraternity in the United States (Cornell, 1906) and the first such on WCU’s campus in 1969. In 2019, Gilmore, Simpson, Flamer, and White created an endowed scholarship at WCU named in honor of their mentor, Dr. Philip P. Hoggard (1921-1998), an Alpha and a professor in WCU’s education department for 35 years.

David L. Mapes ’72 completed A History of Somerset High School Football by the Numbers in December 2023. The 202-page book required more than 1,000 hours of research over 13 months to complete. It documents the 107-year history of his alma mater.

Audra (Spotts) Supplee ’78 recently published her third fantasy novel from the Wild Rose Press entitled Aylen Isle. The story features an enchanted sword and an out-of-control wand. What could possibly go wrong? Kirkus Reviews calls it: “A gripping adventure enhanced by a creative plot, lively dialogue, and strong female characters.” Available through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

1990s

Betsy Pruitt Harrison ’94 has been named the 2023-2024 New Jersey Teacher of the Year for Cumberland County. She has served as the choir director at Cumberland Regional High School for 27 years and as the drama guild director and Tri-M advisor. In May, she received her master of voice pedagogy from Westminster Choir College.

Mary (Bushong) Yanocha ’95 joined Saxton & Stump as senior director of marketing and business development. Working with senior leadership, she cultivates growth and integration, expanding the firm’s presence across Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and other states, and focuses on the growth of the firm’s affiliate companies scaling on a national platform. Yanocha joins Saxton & Stump after 10 years as the chief marketing officer at a Philadelphia-based national accounting firm.

Kristen Tosh-Morelli ’98 was recognized as the District Teacher of the Year for the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Delaware. She has taught elementary band in Red Clay for the most recent 18 years of her 26-year career.

Jeffrey R. McGeary ’99 was recently promoted to the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. His promotion ceremony was held at Valley Forge Military Academy & College, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. During his years of service, he deployed to Germany, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. He earned his M.B.A. from La Salle University. Col. McGeary is a graduate of the Command and General Staff College. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

2000s

Michelle L. Filling-Brown ’02 recently became associate vice provost, integrated student experience at Villanova University. She also will serve as a teaching professor in the department of English at Villanova.

Jennifer Goss M’09 was recently promoted to project director of Echoes & Reflections, a national Holocaust education partnership of ADL, the USC Shoah Foundation and Yad Vashem. She will lead the organization’s work supporting educators to teach about topics including the Holocaust, genocide, and antisemitism. Goss previously served as the partnership’s program manager after 19 years as a high school educator.

2010s

Christian A. Brailsford ’10, an avid music educator, pivoted back into the world of performing in 2017 when he played the role of Scar in the international production of The Lion King in Hong Kong. Since 2017, Brailsford has done numerous off-Broadway productions and the Broadway National Tour of Pretty Woman. Most recently, Brailsford originated the role of Oscar in the groundbreaking new musical A Complicated Woman playing opposite L Morgan Lee, the first openly trans actor to be nominated for a Tony award. Tony award nominee Jeff Calhoun was at the helm as director for the production, staged at the renowned Goodspeed Theatre in East Haddam, CT.

This spring, Erica Thompson ’10 exhibited her photographs from her position as the WCU staff photographer, as well as those from her personal collection and travels, in a show titled “Focus Lost and Found, and Treasures Gathered Along the Way” at the University’s Knauer Gallery. Thompson began working at WCU in 2006 as a graphic artist after spending more than 20 years as a commercial artist working for various firms in publishing and advertising. She received her BFA at West Chester University in 2010 as an adult and became the official University photographer in 2018. She retired in May 2024.

2020s

Chloe F. Francis ’21 recently performed in the pit of the new musical, Gatsby, which ran from June 5, 2024 to August 3, 2024, at the American Repertory Theatre located at Harvard University. Francis says, “Without the instruction I received during my undergraduate studies at West Chester, I wouldn’t be where I am today!”

Future Alumni

Kyle Gallagher ’13 and Chelsea (Brunie) Gallagher ’14 welcomed Maren Marie Gallagher in July 2024.

In Memoriam

1953 Eleanor Larson Wolf

1956 Betty Mae (Hosking) Stewart

1966 Bernard J. Carrozza

1970 John O. Simpson

1975 Cindy M. Beitmen

1976 Robert C. Nolan

2014 Chenoa L. Wolters

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DEATH NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE
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Please send your photos as email attachments to the attention of the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@wcufoundation.org.

SUBMIT your class notes to the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@wcufoundation.org.

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