Class Notes

Stay up to date with your classmates by viewing the Class Notes below. To submit your Class Note, email your note and/or an accompanying photo directly to alumni@mcla.edu.

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List has 502 notes on 34 pages << < 1 2 3 4 5 > >>

Class Notes	Robert C. Balcom	8/4/2026
Bob Balcom '77 has packed a lot into the past 50 years. After graduating with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry, Bob worked in the Clinical Chemistry STAT Lab at Albany Medical Center before beginning a long career in education. He taught chemistry and middle school science, coached soccer, and proudly co-founded the Greenbush Youth Soccer Club, which has grown from 300 participants to more than 1,000 young players. Bob became president of his teachers' union before joining New York State United Teachers as a Labor Relations Specialist, where he spent 16 years supporting local unions through negotiations and arbitration. He also served three terms (12 years) on the Town Board in Chatham, New York. Today, Bob lives in Eastham on Cape Cod with his two Pug dogs. He is a master Shaker oval box maker who teaches at Hancock Shaker Village and sells his handcrafted boxes in museum stores and on Etsy.

Class Notes	Sandra Blackshear	8/4/2026
Sandra (Moody) Blackshear '77 has much to celebrate since graduating from North Adams State College. She enjoyed a rewarding 40-year teaching career in MA before relocating to Savannah, GA in 1989. Sandra taught there for 20 years before retiring in 2018. She credits the outstanding education she received for helping make her teaching career so fulfilling and says she is grateful for the opportunities it provided. Today, Sandra enjoys retirement by reading, gardening and spending time with family and friends. She shared "life has been good to me and I hope my fellow classmates have had many blessings in their lives as well."

Class Notes	Patricia W. Dobson	8/4/2026
Patricia (Welch) Dobson '77 built an extraordinary career in space science administration after graduation. Most of her career was spent at the University of California, Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory, where she managed projects for NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy. One of the projects she remains especially proud of is the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), which continues to map the universe from Arizona's Mayall Telescope in support of groundbreaking research. Trish also helps found Eureka Scientific, Inc., a nonprofit organization that has supported independent scientific researchers since 1992. Although largely retired, she continues to serve as the company's Treasurer. Trish enjoys spending time with her two daughters, who both live nearby in California, and traveling with family to Hawaii, Prince Edward Island, and New England. She has remained closed to many of her fellow Kappa Omicron sisters and looks forward to seeing several of them at MCLA's Alumni Award ceremony during Homecoming Weekend in October. Later this year Trish will undergo a kidney transplant and is hopeful it will allow her to continue enjoying retirement and, perhaps, even attend her 50th reunion in the spring.

Class Notes	Michael G. Hagen	8/4/2026
Michael Hagen '77 shared that lift has been full of wonderful milestones since graduating from North Adams State College. He and his wife have been happily married for 44 years and ar the proud grandparents of two grandchildren, Nolan and Sabrina. Mike enjoyed a 37-year career teaching middle school science before retiring more than 12 years ago. Today he's embracing retirement - and, as he humorously puts it, is "officially a senior citizen!"

Class Notes	Lori Ann Murphy	8/4/2026
Lori Ann Murphy'87 is the proud mom of Julia Lyn Murphy who graduated from New York University this past spring. Lori is a founding member of Pi Upsilon Omega and was the Alumni Chairwoman for many years.

Class Notes	Matthew A. Collins	7/28/2026
Matthew Collins '82 has retired from Granite State Development.

Class Notes	Steven J. Ryder	7/28/2026
Steve Ryder '82 has retired from True North Networks. He refers to it as an exciting (and a bit surreal) milestone.

Class Notes	Rebecca McGann	7/10/2026
Becky (Lindley) McGann '99 has been promoted to Director of Engagement, Initiatives, and Recognition in the President's Office at Quinsigamond Community College.

Class Notes	Evelyn L. Sullivan	7/6/2026
Evelyn (Lachut) Sullivan, M.Ed. '78 passed away June 30, 2026.

Class Notes	Robert C. Campbell	7/1/2026
Rob Campbell '90 has been awarded the 2026 American Legion Small Employer of Veterans Award. This honors businesses for excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, older workers, and disabled persons. Rob's business, All About Blinds, has served at the forefront of veteran and military spouse employment and advocacy.

Class Notes	David W. Hyatt	6/30/2026
David Hyatt '65 passed away June 28, 2026.

Class Notes	Emily C. Moulton	6/25/2026
Emily Moulton '18 is the 2026 recipient of the Marion B. Kelley Teacher of the Year Award.

Class Notes	Donald A. Wilkinson	6/25/2026
Don Wilkinson '66 was interviewed for an article in the Plymouth Independent: https://www.plymouthindependent.org/nature-is-your-boss/.

Class Notes	Jacob Boillat	6/15/2026
Jake Boillat '18 and Samantha Giffen '18 were married June 13, 2026.

Class Notes	Samantha J. Giffen	6/15/2026
Samantha Giffen '18 and Jake Boillat '18 were married June 13, 2026.

List has 502 notes on 34 pages << < 1 2 3 4 5 > >>

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