Class Notes
1960s
Gregory V. Morrow (BS ’68)
WILL embark in November on the MV Gemini, a three-year around-the-world cruise traveling 112,000 miles. It will be visiting 375 ports of call on all seven continents.
1970s
Kathleen A. Ward (BS ’71, MD ’81)
SERVED Illinois as councilor to the American College of Radiology (ACR) since 2000. In addition to serving as the chair of the fellowship committee for the Illinois Radiological Society since 2010, she has served on the ACR Committee on Fellowship Credentials. She is the past president of the American Association for Women in Radiology (AAWR) and currently serves on the AAWR Fellowship Committee.
Jerome O’Connor (BS ’72)
SURPASSED 50 months of Amazon sales for his first book, The Hidden Places of World War II, which is now available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.
Dimitri Sala (BA ’77)
PUBLISHED an article entitled “Pentecostal Culture, or Pentecost OF Culture?” in the journal Spiritus.
1980s
Nancy Z. Hablutzel (PhD ’83)
IS ENJOYING life with her husband, Phil, in Durham, North Carolina, where she is secretary of her home owners association board. Additionally, she is secretary of the board of the North Carolina Opera. She also remains active with two bar associations.
Patrick Murphy (JD ’86)
STARTED his own private investigations firm, Castle Island Investigative Associates, after 27 years with the FBI and 10 years in forensic accounting and investigative firms. John Philbin (BS ’88, MA ’92, PhD ’96) APPOINTED to the board of advisors for Mursion Company, based in San Francisco. Philbin is also the founder and managing partner of Spectacular at Work, a firm with experience in talent management, executive coaching, and leadership assessment and development.
John Philbin (BS ’88, MA ’92, PhD ’96)
APPOINTED to the board of advisors for Mursion company, based in San Francisco. Philbin is also the founder and managing partner of Spectacular at Work, a firm with experience in talent management, executive coaching, and leadership assessment and Development.
1990s
Nancy Michael (BS ’90)
ACCEPTED the role of secretary of the Mother Cabrini Region (covering the dioceses of Chicago, Joliet, and Rockford, Illinois) of the Secular Franciscan Order.
Jorge Cazares (JD ’90)
WAS ELECTED as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois for 2023 in the categories of commercial litigation and real estate law.
Christopher Gray (BA ’94)
BEGAN the 2023–2024 school year as an assistant principal at Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. This is his 26th year in education.
Lisa Caparelli-Ruff (BA ’96)
WON election as Will County Regional Office of Education superintendent of schools in November, 2022.
Michelle Kohut (BS ’96)
WAS SELECTED for Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2023, a directory of the top attorneys in the country. She is a partner at the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio.
2000s
Marina Leonard (BBA ’04)
WAS NAMED partner at the law firm Colianni & Leonard LLC in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she has worked since 2015.
Adam Zayed (BA ’06)
SECURED a position on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for his firm, Zayed Law Offices. Zayed is a distinguished Chicago personal injury attorney and trial lawyer.
2010s
Seth Baker (BBA ’12)
WAS NAMED vice president of People and Culture at Brightpoint, a nonprofit whose mission is to build an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. He previously served nearly seven years in human resources at the City Colleges of Chicago, most recently as the director of human resources at Malcolm X College.
Kathleen L. Linaker (PhD ’12)
WAS APPOINTED president of Riverland Community College in Minnesota, effective July 1, 2023.
Brendan Shea (MS ’12)
HAS WORKED as an adjunct instructor at Loyola University Chicago for the past nine years, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in marketing and communications. He is also the co-founder of Sunup, a creative marketing firm serving clients in tech, real estate, finance, and renewable energy.
2020s
Michael Drew Jr. (MHS ’23)
ACCEPTED an administrative fellowship position with CommonSpirit Health at St John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California.
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Tell us about your recent accomplishments and let your fellow alumni know what you are up to! Submit your class notes, celebrations, and alumni books at the link below. (Submissions may be edited for length and clarity.)
1960s
Gregory V. Morrow (BS ’68)
WILL embark in November on the MV Gemini, a three-year around-the-world cruise traveling 112,000 miles. It will be visiting 375 ports of call on all seven continents.
1970s
Kathleen A. Ward (BS ’71, MD ’81)
SERVED Illinois as councilor to the American College of Radiology (ACR) since 2000. In addition to serving as the chair of the fellowship committee for the Illinois Radiological Society since 2010, she has served on the ACR Committee on Fellowship Credentials. She is the past president of the American Association for Women in Radiology (AAWR) and currently serves on the AAWR Fellowship Committee.
Jerome O’Connor (BS ’72)
SURPASSED 50 months of Amazon sales for his first book, The Hidden Places of World War II, which is now available in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle.
Dimitri Sala (BA ’77)
PUBLISHED an article entitled “Pentecostal Culture, or Pentecost OF Culture?” in the journal Spiritus.
1980s
Nancy Z. Hablutzel (PhD ’83)
IS ENJOYING life with her husband, Phil, in Durham, North Carolina, where she is secretary of her home owners association board. Additionally, she is secretary of the board of the North Carolina Opera. She also remains active with two bar associations.
Patrick Murphy (JD ’86)
STARTED his own private investigations firm, Castle Island Investigative Associates, after 27 years with the FBI and 10 years in forensic accounting and investigative firms. John Philbin (BS ’88, MA ’92, PhD ’96) APPOINTED to the board of advisors for Mursion Company, based in San Francisco. Philbin is also the founder and managing partner of Spectacular at Work, a firm with experience in talent management, executive coaching, and leadership assessment and development.
John Philbin (BS ’88, MA ’92, PhD ’96)
APPOINTED to the board of advisors for Mursion company, based in San Francisco. Philbin is also the founder and managing partner of Spectacular at Work, a firm with experience in talent management, executive coaching, and leadership assessment and Development.
1990s
Nancy Michael (BS ’90)
ACCEPTED the role of secretary of the Mother Cabrini Region (covering the dioceses of Chicago, Joliet, and Rockford, Illinois) of the Secular Franciscan Order.
Jorge Cazares (JD ’90)
WAS ELECTED as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois for 2023 in the categories of commercial litigation and real estate law.
Christopher Gray (BA ’94)
BEGAN the 2023–2024 school year as an assistant principal at Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Missouri. This is his 26th year in education.
Lisa Caparelli-Ruff (BA ’96)
WON election as Will County Regional Office of Education superintendent of schools in November, 2022.
Michelle Kohut (BS ’96)
WAS SELECTED for Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America for 2023, a directory of the top attorneys in the country. She is a partner at the Chicago law firm of Corboy & Demetrio.
2000s
Marina Leonard (BBA ’04)
WAS NAMED partner at the law firm Colianni & Leonard LLC in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where she has worked since 2015.
Adam Zayed (BA ’06)
SECURED a position on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for his firm, Zayed Law Offices. Zayed is a distinguished Chicago personal injury attorney and trial lawyer.
2010s
Seth Baker (BBA ’12)
WAS NAMED vice president of People and Culture at Brightpoint, a nonprofit whose mission is to build an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. He previously served nearly seven years in human resources at the City Colleges of Chicago, most recently as the director of human resources at Malcolm X College.
Kathleen L. Linaker (PhD ’12)
WAS APPOINTED president of Riverland Community College in Minnesota, effective July 1, 2023.
Brendan Shea (MS ’12)
HAS WORKED as an adjunct instructor at Loyola University Chicago for the past nine years, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in marketing and communications. He is also the co-founder of Sunup, a creative marketing firm serving clients in tech, real estate, finance, and renewable energy.
2020s
Michael Drew Jr. (MHS ’23)
ACCEPTED an administrative fellowship position with CommonSpirit Health at St John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, California.