Archived Alumni Notes (April 2001-January 2003)

February 17, 2003

Marjorie Colburn ‘42, ‘46 was featured, along with her late husband, in a story about their family's long-time Ypsilanti connections that appeared in a recent issue of the Ann Arbor News.

William A. Pearson ‘78, ‘81, superintendent of the South Lyon Community Schools, was one of seven recipients of the Michigan Association of School Administrator's "Winner's Circle Awards." The award was made for the Middle School Intervention Module to End Social Promotion.
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Marjorie F. Layher ‘41 died recently in Ypsilanti. During her career, she taught in the Milan, Dearborn, and Saline districts.

February 10, 2003

Theophilus "Theo" Hamilton ‘55, ‘62, ‘67 recently celebrated his 80th birthday. Hamilton is a full-time employee of EMU's Career Services, housed in a satellite office in the Porter Building to provide teacher placement services and career counseling. He began his career as the only African-American teacher in the Upper Peninsula. He later served as a principal in the Highland Park district. He joined EMU in 1967 as the first African-American professional staff member and he has worked here continuously since. He has no retirement plans.

Thomas C. Flamboe ‘72 is a Ph.D. counseling psychologist in a clinic in Aberdeen, SD. Flamboe recently made a generous gift to the Marylyn Lake scholarship fund. He sent a lengthy letter concerning the influence on his life that EMU faculty members George Bird, Marge Chamberlain, the late Marylyn Lake, and, especially, Frank Wawrzaszek had on his life. Flamboe recalled how, out of money, into the drug scene, not good academically, ready to drop out of school, Wawrzaszek called him in, told him that he had arranged to have tuition and books paid for and that he had secured a work-study job for him. Flamboe asked "why me?" Wawrzaszek replied, poking his finger into Flamboe's chest, "I believe in you!"

Karen Schulte ‘76, ‘82, ‘89 is the Ann Arbor district's facilitator for professional growth and development. She has been a leader in the district's Tripod project, which aims to increase student achievement, especially among minority students.

Elizabeth Hornbeck Hamilton ‘32, ‘33, age 92, died recently. She taught elementary grades for more than 30 years in Lansing, Saline, and Ypsilanti.

Ron Mercier ‘62, ‘71 is recovering from recent surgery. He donated a kidney to a woman he had as a student nearly 20 years ago. Mercier is retired from his teaching position in the Milan schools.

February 3, 2003

J.E. Morcombe ‘32 has been named to the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame. Distinguishing himself in track and cross country at The Normal, he went on to coach high school sports in Michigan schools. He was Michigan Coach of the Year in both basketball and baseball.

John Baublit ‘71, ‘75, marketing education teacher at Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School, was the subject of a "Faber's World" column in the Ann Arbor News on January 17.

Lanny Mills ‘71 has been named to the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame. After an outstanding career as a gymnast at EMU, he went on to become a highly successful high school gymnastics coach, developing eight All-American high school gymnasts in nine seasons at Trenton High School.

Nancy Cook ‘72, ‘77 has been named the principal of the yet-to-be-opened Childs Elementary School in the Lincoln district. Cook is currently the principal of Model Elementary in Lincoln.

Michael Boulas ‘74, ‘75, formerly deputy treasurer in Michigan's Department of Treasury, has been named executive director of The Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan. This organization serves as a forum for the presidents and chancellors of Michigan's 15 public universities to discuss and frame positions on key higher education finance and policy issues.

William Malcolm ‘77 received one of two Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards in ceremonies at the EMU Convocation Center on January 20. Malcolm is an intensive probation officer with the Washtenaw County Trial Court Family Division/Juvenile Center.

Stephen Barbus ‘82 is Dean of the College of Education at Saginaw Valley State University.
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Tom Danna ‘70, ‘77, age 56, Hartland High School counselor and coach, was killed last week in an automobile accident on U.S. 23.

Last Modified on March 1, 2003