Keeping Track

Have you published a book or released a CD lately? If so, send us a brief synopsis commander of the Air Force ROTC along with the book cover or CD jacket, and we’ll print it in Horizons. Do you have northwest region providing oversight to some other exciting news? Let us know, and we’ll print it in Horizons. “Keeping Track” Air Force ROTC programs at 37 univer- sities in the Northeast United States. is generated by your submissions and is open to all NMU alumni. Send your “Keeping Track’” submissions to the Alumni Association, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Dave Roberts ’74 of Negaunee was selected by the Michigan Association of Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855; e-mail to [email protected], or send via County Clerks as the Michigan County NMU’s Web page www.nmu.edu/alumni. Clerk of the Year. He has been Marquette County Clerk since 1985. Pre-1960s 70s Wendy Rose ’74 of Midland is currently active as worship leader in a local Melvin Holli ’57 of River Forest, Ill., co- Stuart Boland ’71 of Calgary, Canada, Episcopal Church. She says that she is directed a conference at the University of says that he keeps busy at his job pro- putting to use the wonderful training Illinois at Chicago titled, “The Modern viding human resources services to she received from Dr. Margaret Haynes, Presidency: FDR to Clinton.” He moder- employees across Canada. In his leisure a faculty member in the vocal program ated a panel discussion on presidential time he enjoys golf, hiking, and moun- in the early 1970s. character and morality at the conference. tain biking in nearby Banff National Susan (Strong) Youngberg ’75, ’80 MA He also led a session titled, “Results of Park, and in the winter he enjoys down- of Iron Mountain teaches business edu- Presidential Ranking Poll.” hill skiing. He is manager of human cation and computer classes for Breitung resources at McDermott. Township Schools. She also is a part- 60s Joseph Gavlas ’71 of Portland, Ore., is time instructor for Bay de Noc Joyce (Tenhunen) Kirkwood ’60 taught accounting manager with Great Western Community College. Her husband is for ten years in various schools districts Chemical Co. [email protected] Michael Youngberg ’73. and was actively involved in the gifted Alan Harju ’72 of Buffalo Grove, Ill., has Chet Jessick ’75, ’78 MA of Petoskey and talented program in the Lansing retired after 25 years combined service was listed in Who’s Who Among and MSU areas. Her husband Phil in the corporate headquarters of Allstate American’s Teachers 2000. He is a profes- Kirkwood ’66 retired from the Michigan Insurance Company in Northbrook, Ill., sor at North Central Michigan College. Department of Agriculture as manager and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Kim Van Osdol ’75 of Menominee is of food services sanitation. He is a food Discover Card in Riverwoods, Ill. president of community banking with service consultant for a cruise liner and [email protected] Wells Fargo Bank Michigan. According is owner of Kirkwood and Associates in David Mattson ’72 of Cape Coral, Fla., to Kim, three out of the seven Michigan Lansing and Lake Worth, Fla. retired from The Wall Street Journal. Wells Fargo presidents are NMU gradu- Belva (Erickson) Olson ’64 of Daggett Laurence Trepany ’72 of Clearwater, ates. His wife is Lauri (Lundquist) Van taught school for 30 years in the Fla., is an operations supervisor at the Osdol ’74. [email protected] Stephenson area schools. She is a widow Pinellas County Water Treatment Plant. Frederick Fisher ’76, ’79 MA of San with three grown children and has lots [email protected] Antonio, Texas, recently completed two of hobbies. Richard Gose ’73 of Duluth, Minn., has years as the training advisor to the Georgia Grile ’67 of Ann Arbor is listed been elected to the board of directors Kuwait Ministry of Defense. He is now in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, of the Mesaba Park Association in working as chief inspector on the Air 2000. She is an elementary school Hibbing, Minn. Education and Training Command of teacher in Milan. JoAnn (Bennie) Huber ’73 of Tulsa, the Inspector General’s Team. David Williams II ’69, ’70 MA of Okla., is a founding director of an out- Mark Lovell ’77 of Pittsburg, Pa., is the Nashville, Tenn., was appointed vice- patient mental health clinic family director of the concussion evaluation chancellor, general counsel, and secre- resource group. She gives speeches and programs for the NHL and NFL. He also tary to Vanderbilt University, as well as retreats about mental health issues and works with a number of universities and professor of law. He is the first African spirituality. [email protected] high schools. He is a neuropsychologist. American senior administrator at Anna Taylor ’73 of Wright-Patterson Roy Yelland ’78 of Merritt Island, Fla., is Vanderbilt. AFB, Ohio, was assigned as the deputy fleet management supervisor for the

22 HORIZONS WINTER 2001 City of Cocoa Beach. Michael Gaffney ’83 of Hudson, Ohio, Sandra Kammer ’79 of Port Huron is an is a drive systems commissioning assistant divisional director of Adult manager for Reliance Electric/Rockwell I SPY NMU Automation, where he has worked for and Family Services at St. Clair County Community Mental Health. 16 years. He is married and has five children. 80s James Jamison ’83 of South Lyon is regional manager of Neodyme Russ Jokinen ’80 of Brunswick, Ga., Guess what! While golf- Technologies. completed the customs basic enforce- “ ment school for new criminal investiga- ing at my local golf course Marilee Fogeltanz ’84 of Green Bay, tors who are employed by the U.S. in Charleston, South Wis., has been promoted to senior art director at The Goltz Seering Agency. Customs Service. As an attorney for the Carolina, I ran into a Customs Service, Russ participated in the Linda (Potter) Rosenkranz ’84 of course to develop a better understanding Randy Clark who attended Nashville, Tenn., co-presented an all of the agency’s multifaceted law enforce- NMU during the early day workshop titled, “Total Risk ment mission to prepare him for his 1970’s. I spotted him Management for Climbing Walls,” at teaching duties at the U.S. Customs the National Intramural Recreational Service Academy at Glynco, Ga. because his son was wear- Sports Association National Conference. [email protected] ing an NMU t-shirt. Randy He is the assistant director of campus Sheila (Greig) Balog ’81, ’82 MA of was on the NMU basket- recreation at Vanderbilt University. Austin, Texas, is a graduate career spe- ball team prior to transfer- Colleen (Bitner) Sullivan ’85, ’94 MA of cialist at the University of Texas at Durham, N.C., is a training and devel- Austin, McCombs School of Business. ring to the College of opment consultant at FMI Corporation. Her husband Bill Balog ’83 is a senior Charleston. His wife is from She is a doctoral candidate in adult edu- staffing manager at Dell Computer Marquette and graduated cation at North Carolina State Corporation in Round Rock, Texas. University. [email protected] from NMU in 1972. This is [email protected] Barbara (Beck) Updike ’85, ’94 MA of Ron Caviani Jr. ’81 of Huntington, W. my first sighting of a NMU Portage is assistant vice president for Va., is the orchestra director in Cabell- grad in Charleston since human resources at Western Michigan Midland High School and has three mid- moving here in 1988! University. She worked in the NMU dle-school string programs. He is the ” Personnel department from 1986-93. founder, director, and conductor for the [email protected] Tri-State Youth Orchestra and is the vice JAKE JURECKI ‘87 Susan (Phare) Boback ’86, ’95 of president of Artists Resources for the Tri- Ishpeming is an administrative secretary State (ARTS) a non-profit organization Have you spied a fellow NMU alum lately? at the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame that brings together non-profit perform- Let us know.We’d love to tell others about it. and Museum where she assists with ing and fine arts groups in the area. He You just never know where those NMU shop decor and museum displays. She also is the director of curriculum. t-shirts are going to show up. also works on their Web page and helps Kent Eckstrom ’81 of Fairport, N.Y., com- with grant writing. pleted a master of science in human received a University Teaching Award at Michael Henderson ’86 of Traverse City resources development at the Rochester Southwest Missouri State University. He illustrated Jungle Journey, a children’s Institute of Technology. He is the director also serves as the Director of the MS CIS book teaching children about grief. He is of human resources for Bausch and Lomb. program that was recently ranked 8th in a Web developer at Big Net. Karen (Apple) Gabrielsen ’82 of New the nation by Computerworld. Lisa (Harry) Sanders ’86 of Inver Grove Berlin, Wis., is the owner of Victory Mike Flanigan ’83 of Aylett, Va., is Heights, Minn., is the retail manager in Lady Fitness Centers of Wisconsin. director of E-Solutions with UPSHOT the Nutrition Services Department at David Meinert ’82, ’84 of Springfield, Marketing in Richmond, Va. United Children’s Hospital in down- Mo., was promoted to full professor and [email protected] town St. Paul.

WINTER 2001 HORIZONS 23 Keeping Track

There’s no place like home

DONNA BECKER ’87

“ ’ll never forget my very first “Dr. Frank Verley made a lecture.” So began Donna huge difference in my life,” she I (Maki) Becker ’87, as she explained. “He caught me very reflected on the start of her early on in my studies in organ- career as a professor at her alma ic chemistry. I was struggling mater, Northern Michigan and he could tell. There is such University. “There I was, stand- a big difference between high ing in West Science,” she school and college. No one had recalled, “in the same place Dr. taken the time to show me how Fowler stood all those times. to study. He took that extra Except this time, I wasn’t sitting time. He made a lasting impact there listening; I was giving the on my life.” lecture. I remember standing Becker shares that story there thinking ‘This is so weird.’ with her students as she helps It was almost surreal.” them with their study habits. A Marquette native, Donna Becker explains culture features to her students. “I tell them, ‘You may not Photo by Kim Marsh. Donna’s post-graduate work believe me now, but I am proof took her first to Michigan State University, then to Michigan that good study habits pay off.’” Technological University, where she earned her doctorate. She also points to several key interactions with Dr. Ron Later she moved to the University of Minnesota, where she Parejko and Dr. Warren Vande Berg for setting her on the spent time as a research associate in plant pathology. After research path. “I saw their passion and enthusiasm for this all that, why return to her alma mater? field and it just ignited mine,” she said. “I knew I wanted to “To be honest, we had never really considered it at be as excited about my work as they were about theirs. first,” she said. “Jobs in my field are very hard to come by. Once I was involved in the research end of this field, I just Then, in the summer of 1998, I saw the biology department fell in love with it.” was advertising for an assistant professor and I applied. Becker hopes she can have a similar impact on the lives My husband and I were very excited when they offered me of her students. the position.” “I know these students are not going to remember “We liked St. Paul, but we wanted a more moderate every single thing I say. My biggest goal is to get them excit- sized city. A lot of people grow up here and can’t wait to get ed about science. Let them see how exciting and stimulating out. I was never like that. And my family has so much loyal- this field can be and give them opportunities in research ty to Northern; I can’t help but be proud to be back.” that will make them more marketable in the future. That’s Along with husband Howard Becker ‘87, eight mem- what my Northern professors did for me.” bers of Donna’s immediate family earned degrees at Many of those professors are now her colleagues. That Northern Michigan University. was a little strange initially. “I feel a strong attachment to Northern,” she said. “I have to admit, it was a little odd at first,” she “Aside from the family aspect of it, the faculty at this school acknowledged. “My first year was an adjustment. But now, shaped me. They helped me realize who I was and what I it’s fun to be back here. I have found it very rewarding wanted to do.” working alongside the faculty who taught me. They treat me Like many alumni, Donna can directly point to certain as a peer and know I am completely qualified. And I’m very professors who were instrumental in her career, although fortunate to be working with such wonderful people.” she readily admits, at the time, she did not realize it. —Deanna Hemmila ’88

24 HORIZONS WINTER 2001 Sharon (Rice) Pearson ’87 of Lindwood, Jodanne (Woodbeck) Hedrick ’93 of Gregory Wood ’96 of Pittsburg, Pa., is a Minn., just relocated to a suburb of St. Chesterfield was recently elected chief first year doctoral student at the Paul and is a registered nurse at Health resident of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Pittsburgh. East, St. John’s Hospital. She is married Mt. Clemens General Hospital. Patrick Crowley ’97 of Muskegon grad- and has a son. Vicki (Vietzke) Logan ’94 of Lindstrom, uated from the University of Dayton Gretchen (Anderson) Zigman ’89 of Minn., released an instrumental CD of School of Law and accepted a position Maple Grove, Minn., is an on-line train- original music written and performed as an assistant prosecutor in Muskegon ing supervisor with Wells Fargo in by herself titled, Chasing Dreams. Vicki County. He is the proud father of a Minneapolis. owns her own graphics company. daughter, Kiera Delaney Crowley. His [email protected]; Web site: wife is Sacha (Conklin) Crowley ’97. 90s www.vickilogan.com. Kari (Ross) Marcotte ’97, ’99 MA of Fort Walt Lindala ’90 of Marquette has been Bill Mays ’94 of Sofia, Bulgaria, writes Wayne, Ind., presented “Critiquing named Network News Director for business and financial plans for private Career Services Websites” at the Career Great Lakes Radio, Inc, a four-station companies and privatization deals in Development Professionals of Indiana network based in Marquette. The Bulgaria and Croatia. conference in Syracuse, Ind. She co-pre- network currently owns and operates [email protected] sented “Critiquing Web-Based Career WKQS-FM, WFXD-FM, WHCH-FM and Malissa Vegas ’94 of Ludington was Services Resources,” at the Midwest WQXO-AM. His wife is April (Kelly) nominated for volunteer of the year. Association of Colleges and Employers Lindala ’97. [email protected] conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the coordinator of employment services, aca- demic counseling, and career services. “I can honestly say that I love my job.” Her husband is Paul White ’92, ’95 MA. DARYL RADLEY ’96 [email protected] Peggy (Toellner) Stickney ’97 of Terry Klavitter ’92 of Waterford is a resi- Andrew Brawner ’95, ’98 MA of Milwaukee, Wis., is currently in her dential care specialist supervisor in the Pulaski, Wis., is a copywriter at The third year of Medical School at the adolescent sex offender unit of Goltz Seering Agency. Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. [email protected] Havenwyck Hospital Auburn Hills. His Heather (Newburg) Ferguson ’95 of wife Tracy (Boylan) Klavitter ’95 is an Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is the learning Kelly Wagner ’98 of St. Paul, Minn., is a office administrator at JAE Electronics, center director and coordinator of uni- third year student at Hamline Inc., automotive division in Livonia. versity studies at Lake Superior State University School of Law in St. Paul. Brent Olson ’92 of Ann Arbor is a cor- University. [email protected] porate auditor for General Motors Jon Gordon ’95 of Orange Park, Fla., Karen Cashman ’99 of Quincy, Mass., is Corporation in Detroit. He is based out graduated from law school. He is the a French teacher in western of GM’s corporate headquarters at the head cross country coach at St. John’s, Massachusetts and is a track coach to Renaissance Center, and his job involves and in his first season posted a 33-3 junior high students. She writes that she worldwide travel. He also is taking fly- record and won the district champi- enjoyed her Olympic training at NMU. ing lessons and anticipates having a pri- onship for only the second time in the Bruce Herr, Jr. ’99 of Newport received vate pilot’s license in the winter of 2001. school’s history. [email protected] a promotion from the surgical post-op [email protected] Tom Isaacson ’96 of Bothell, Wash., is a floor to the ICU as a registered nurse at John Zubiena ’92, ’94 of Milwaukee, senior account manager at Rolling Mercy Memorial Hospital. Wis., is the director of human resources Thunder Marketing, a high-tech public Jennifer Hurst ’99 of White Lake is for the Medical College of Wisconsin in relations agency near Seattle. doing a year of national service with Milwaukee. [email protected] [email protected] AmeriCorps NCCC. She is stationed at Gregory Hayes ’93 of Chicago, Ill., is a Daryl Radley ’96 of Bossier City, La., is the Central Region Campus in Denver, corporate attorney with Piper, Marbury, a district sales representative for Nalco Colo. [email protected] Rudnick, and Wolfe. Chemical Company. He works in the Kathleen Johnson ’99 of Ishpeming has [email protected] Pulp and Paper Division. worked more than 22 years at NMU,

WINTER 2001 HORIZONS 25 Keeping Track where she is currently a supervisor in Catherine (Baxter) Rubbo ’45, July 9, Dennis LaMere ’68, ’73 MA, Aug. 23, Dining Services, Quad I. She worked at 2000, Iron Mountain. 2000, Negaunee. WUPX when it was WBKX. She has held Wallace McNeil ’49, July 11, 2000, Sun Peter Bill Jr. ’70, July 9, 2000, Rochester nine jobs at NMU with each successive City West, Ariz. Hills. job being a promotion. James Webber ’50, July 14, 2000, Peter Wolf ’70, Aug. 25, 2000, Rapid Deaths Ontonagon. River. Daniel Sensiba ’57, July 24, 2000, Patricia (Walsh) Landree ’78, July 17, Hildegarde Johnson ’20, ’51, Aug. 8, Kimberly, Wis. 2000, Ontonagon. 2000, Marquette. George Gusick ’59, ’62 MA, Feb. 2, Michele (Morin) Lundberg ’81, Aug. 12, Elizabeth (Taylor) Johnson ’33, Aug. 24, 2000, Oshkosh, Wis. 2000, Green Bay, Wis. 2000, Farmington Hills. Miriam (Nathenson) Boyd ’62, Apr. 24, Timothy Zehren ’81, July 5, 2000, Elaine (Aho) Rutter ’36, Aug. 27, 2000, 2000, Marquette. Manistique. Marquette. Bud Arola ’64, Aug. 12, 2000, Calumet. Karen Skufca ’82, July 19, 2000, Evelyn Berwin ’39 MA, July 7, 2000, Clayton “Mickey” Valle ’64, Aug. 30, Douglas, Ariz. Manistique. 2000, Ironwood. David Turenne ’83, Aug. 18, 2000, Clarice Brown ’40, ’67 MA, Aug. 6, Steve Gurchinoff ’67, ’69 MA, Mar. 20, Marquette. 2000, Ishpeming. 2000, Stambaugh Township. Friends Earl McIntyre, Aug. 19, 2000, Neenah, Moving? Promoted? Change Careers? Personal Updates? Exciting News? Wis., NMU employee, director of com- TELL US SO WE CAN PUT IT IN ‘KEEPING TRACK’ munications from 1965-1972. (and update our records) Herbert Weza, Aug. 16, 2000, Marquette, Stay in touch with your alma mater! Tell us what’s new in your life. (Attach a separate page if you have a NMU employee, custodian in the lot to say or don’t want to write this small.) Include a recent photo if you have one — we may be able to Maintenance Department. use it in Horizons. ______Marriages ______Marilyn Peterson ’71, ’74 MA to Loren ______Eastman. ______Donna Keskimaki ’72, ’80 MA to John ______“Jack” Leadbetter. JoAnn Ferguson ’74 to Robert Name: ______Strickland Jr. Last First M.I. Maiden Frederick Fisher ’76 to Tita Cabasag. Home Address: ______Lara Uimari ’90 to Scott Jackman. City/State/Zip: ______Connie Laitinen ’91 to Lyle Vander Year of Graduation:______Major:______Schaaf. Home Phone:______Terry Klavitter ’92 to Tracy Boylan ’95. Business Phone: ______Peggy Poirier ’92 to Todd Mosher. Occupation: ______Briget Berquist ’93 to Wayne Fields. Business Address: ______Laura Fredrickson ’93 to Bob City/State/Zip: ______Hendrickson. E-mail address: ______Gregory Hayes ’93 to Mary Wiertel. Send to Alumni Office, Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, Sara Beauchamp ’95, ’98 MA to Dennis e-mail to [email protected] or send via NMU’s WWW page: www.nmu.edu/alumni. Van Abel.

26 HORIZONS WINTER 2001 Keeping Track

‘Mean Jean’ the ski queen

JEANNIE THOREN ’68

eannie Thoren ’68 discovered put up with everything I did,” she the “missing link” in the evolu- said. “I didn’t let people tell me I was J tion of women’s downhill skiing. wrong when I came across something The Marquette native and Alpine that didn’t make sense. I somehow enthusiast was on the 1964 Junior found myself trying to revolutionize National team, placed second in her the thinking of an entire industry.” class in the Birkebeiner (“thirty A biology and chemistry major pounds ago”), and won the Pin at Northern from 1964-68, Thoren Binding Downhill three years in a originally planned to be a doctor. row in Sun Valley. Despite her success After graduation, she and a friend on the slopes, Thoren hit a plateau left for Switzerland for one year to and knew something was wrong. “get skiing out of our blood.” Thoren “I wanted to ski even better, but ended up spending four years in the no matter how hard I tried or trained, country; her friend stayed six. I just couldn’t pull it off,” she said. “I never made it to med school, “Then it occurred to me that the but I use my Northern education problem might be with the equip- every day, trying to figure out what ment. Men and women are built dif- Jeannie Thoren Photo by Tim Hancock, Ski magazine. other people’s problems are and ferently, yet they were using the same gear designed for the helping them make adjustments,” she said. “This whole male body. You can’t change anatomy, so it seemed logical thing started at home on Marquette Mountain and devel- to change the apparatus.” oped because of my education, my love of skiing, and my So Thoren began experimenting. She drilled different desire to stick with something.” holes in her skis and put heel lifts in her boots. In customiz- Away from her Duluth, Minn., home nine months out ing her own equipment, she realized other women were no of the year, Thoren travels the country with a 28-foot trailer doubt experiencing similar problems. She set out on a mis- in tow. It is filled with 100 pairs of skis and 80 pairs of boots. sion that took her to the mountains. She holds clinics at ski areas to teach women how to diag- Thoren has spent the last 30 years researching the way nose and correct equipment problems for optimum control women ski. She is a pioneer and crusader who revolution- and performance. She is also a veteran ski and boot tester ized an entire industry with her Thoren Theory — the belief for two industry magazines. that equipment modification can help women skiers radical- Her efforts have been recognized. Thoren recently was ly improve their technique. named one of the top 100 most influential skiers of the cen- “This isn’t a feminist issue; it’s purely anatomical,” she tury and one of the top 25 most influential people in skiing said. “The principles make sense, and they’ve been applied in the last 50 years by Ski and Skiing magazines, respectively. to other sports. The women’s basketball is smaller, and the She was also the first inductee in the women’s ski hall of seat is wider in women’s cycling.” fame established by Skiing for Women magazine. Thoren designed the first woman’s ski in 1986 in It’s a good thing Thoren never quite managed to get Austria. European manufacturers — initially offended by skiing out of her blood. Her life has been all downhill ever her ideas — have come around now that marketing targeted since she turned her favorite pastime into a 30-year passion; toward female athletes is more common. She works with and she wouldn’t have it any other way. most of the major ski companies to promote the benefits of For more information on the Thoren Theory, visit modified equipment. www.jeanniethoren.com “If I weren’t a native Yooper, I probably wouldn’t have —Kristi Evans

WINTER 2001 HORIZONS 27 Passionate for the Pasty, continued from page 13 pasty maker in the Copper Country. a hot Cornish pasty, played with us. To this day we have He left for work every day for almost A big Cornish pasty, its praises I’ll tell... not tasted a pasty as good as hers!” 10 years at 2:30 a.m. so the pasties Sue Hewitt ’69, ’72 MA, ’86 MA would be ready for the noon rush. He Leslie Cory Shoemaker is an instructor of recalls her days of eating pasties in the also proposed to me 21 years ago culinary arts for the College of Technology car when she was a college student at after an intimate dinner of (you and Applied Sciences at NMU. Northern Michigan University. guessed it) pasties!” “A group of us students used to It is evident that the Cornish carpool home on the weekends. Our pasty holds a very special place in Leading by example, continued from page 21 journey lead us through Chatham, the hearts and memories of the peo- Michigan. It was usually around sup- ple who love them. Whether or not commitment to student leader- pertime, and we were usually hungry they are of Cornish descent, the peo- ship opportunities,” said Duby. and always rather poor. Our favorite ple of the Upper Peninsula of The Dubys didn’t want to place to stop on cold winter Fridays Michigan have claimed the Cornish just talk about how great they was a gas station store for the pur- Pasty as “the number one U.P. food.” thought the SLFP was, they want- pose of picking up pasties. On many There are many people whose lives ed to put their support in action. occasions, there would be no clerk take them far away from the U.P., but “The student leader pro- present to sell the pasties. There was they never forget what the pasty gram has an impact on the stu- a warming box in the entry filled means to them, their lives and their dents now while they attend with fresh, warm pasties. The aroma families, and they either search for a NMU and throughout their was wonderful. You could pick out reasonable facsimile when not avail- lives,” Duby said. “Betty and I your own and put what you owed in able, try to make their own if possi- are excited that we can play a a tin box. I believe the price of each ble, or they just wait until they visit small role in the future success was $2.00, maybe less. I thank the the U.P. again — and head straight of SLFP. cook for providing us with a satisfy- for the nearest pasty shop! The SLFP, which began in ing home-like meal that could be It seems only fitting to conclude 1981, is designed to develop eaten in the car.” with the following poem that express- competent, ethical and commu- Family tradition, days of youth, es our passion for the pasty. It was nity-centered leaders. Over a college days, and journeys beyond the written by Henry Rogers, who came two-year period, students partic- Upper Peninsula are not the only from Cornwall, England, to work as a ipate in six component areas places people’s memories of the pasty Methodist pastor in the U.P. in 1896. focusing on self-development have taken them. They also include the His only living descendent, Mrs. and community involvement. time-honored tales of love and mar- Marilyn Frank, of Ironwood, The program has 339 graduates riage. Joe Holman ’78 of Marquette Michigan, sent this poem to me. who have donated nearly 38,000 recalls his parent’s courtship. How dear to my lip hours of community service. “My parents started dating in 1929 is a hot Cornish pasty, Last year, Northern’s SLFP when my mom was 14. The first dish When fondly my missus program received national cita- my mom ever made for my father was presents it to view; It makes my mouth water tion in the Templeton Guide: a pasty as it was the favorite meal my to see it there steaming, Colleges that Encourage Character grandmother, who came from The most delicious Development and the recently Cornwall, made. My mom proudly sat that I ever knew. published book Powerful Pro- the pasty down in front of my dad; my The twist on its edges, gramming for Student Learning: dad said it looked like a crumpled box- the hole in the middle, Approaches That Make a Difference. car. She cried. He ate the whole thing. The sight of it gives me The campus portion of I’m not sure she ever forgave him, but an appetite keen; Northern’s first-ever compre- they were married for 51 years.” Someday they may find out hensive campaign publicly Gail Anthony of Marquette wrote a meal that is better, kicked off on Oct. 12. The Duby about her “romance” with the pasty. But up to this time it has never been seen. gift is among 13 campus cam- “My husband’s first career was as a A good Cornish pasty, paign gifts of $10,000 or more.

28 HORIZONS WINTER 2001 MG: I think that the major change is The elements of success in the athletic ability of the players — there is much more quickness. There A conversation with Mike Geary was quickness when I first got started By KRISTI EVANS in the women’s game, but usually in the point guard position. Now there In his 13th season as head coach of the Wildcat women’s are quicker post people. Three-point shooting has also improved and has basketball team, Mike Geary has never had a losing season. He become much more of a weapon. is one of the most successful coaches in Division II women’s With your success, you’ve no doubt basketball, and the most successful coach in NMU women’s fielded offers to accept coaching assignments elsewhere — perhaps at basketball history. How does he keep his competitive edge? the Division I level. Do you plan to move onward and upward some day, Northern has lost some high-impact interesting challenge every year. We or are you content with riding out players to graduation over the last have been fortunate because we’ve your career at Northern? several years, yet you never seem to had people step up when it counts. have a rebuilding year. You simply These are players who don’t get the MG: I’m a day-to-day person. As long reload and set off on another season minutes when the veteran players are as I have a team to coach, that’s what of 20-plus wins. Is this year’s squad out there performing. They wait for counts. It’s honestly very difficult for capable of continuing that pace? their chance and work every day so a male coach to move on in women’s that when their opportunity arises, basketball. If I was fortunate enough MG: I think we’re capable. It is an they are ready. I think that’s the case to have this kind of success coaching with this year’s team. a men’s team, I think people would be coming to me and asking if I’d be You are one of the most successful interested in moving. But in the active coaches in Division II women’s game, I’ve only had a cou- women’s basketball, with a career ple of different schools offer me jobs. winning percentage of .785, more One was Division I and one was than 300 career victories, and multi- Division II. In both cases, the situa- ple tournament appearances. Is the tion here was better. national Division II crown the only thing missing? You’ve had many coaching high- lights; is there one that particularly MG: We certainly would love to win stands out? it, but I think what I’m more after is consistency; to be a team that is in MG: I guess one of the highlights for there every year. I think that those are me was the first season, when we the teams that end up winning cham- took over a team that had gone 9-18 pionships. We see some teams that and we won 24 games and got to the are in the tournament for the first NCAA tournament for the first time time and the players are talking about in Northern’s history. That was an “just being happy to be here.” We awful lot of fun. Tangibly, of course, don’t want our players to be happy getting to the Elite Eight a couple of just to be there. We want our players times and getting to the Final Four to go in and perform, to compete and are great things. But there is a lot move on. more to it than that. My joy comes from being in the gym a couple hours How has the game changed in your a day with the players, working with tenure as head coach, in terms of the them to improve and become the best skill level and the style of play? players they can be.

WINTER 2001 HORIZONS 29 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Midland MI Horizons Permit No. 135 Office of Communications Northern Michigan University 1401 Presque Isle Avenue Marquette, MI 49855

Why I’m a member of the NMU Alumni Association. Gil Ziegler ’60 Alumni Association member since 1982.

“I am proud to tell people my lifetime membership number is 0001. That means I have supported the Alumni Association since its inception. By helping NMU in this way, I really stay connected to what is happening. Many things about Northern are different than the days when I was on campus, and I like to keep up with those changes. One thing that really hasn’t changed, though, since my days on campus, is the good, solid educational experience that students get. It has always been a great school and always will be. I give Northern some credit for the success I have seen in my professional career. Without the degree I earned there, I might not have been equipped with the skills I needed to create and grow my company. Northern is an important part of my life, and I still feel like I am an important part of Northern — that’s probably what means the most to me.” —Gilbert Ziegler ’60

To become a member of the NMU Alumni Association or to learn more about member benefits, call toll free 1-877-GRAD-NMU (locally, call 227-2610) or visit our Web site at www.nmu.edu/alumni.