Memories Made and Re-Lived

Major: Economics
Activities at St. Thomas: All College Council
Since Graduation: Ph.D., political science, University of Texas, 1984. Faculty member at the University of Georgia, 1983-2009; Eastern Michigan University, 2009-2019, including department head, 2009-2016.
What is your favorite memory at St. Thomas? 1) Working in student government and watching the college president, Msgr. Murphy, quietly promote change, including coeducation. 2) An art history class with Msgr. Robert Probst, dull as dirt as an administrator, but his passion for the arts inspired me for life.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? As the first in my family to attend college, St. Thomas inspired me to a career in higher education. Faculty in economics and political science cultivated my research and teaching interest in public policy.
Hometown: Lannon, WI (now in Ann Arbor, MI)

Major: Political Science
Activities at St. Thomas: Rowing team; Crew; Inns of Court; Iota Omega Chi
Since Graduation: 4 children, 9 grandchildren Married 50 years Fine Paper Sales for 50 years Coaching children baseball, football and basketball
What is your favorite memory at St. Thomas? New friendships made and rowing/crew on the Mississippi River
How did St. Thomas impact your life? Increased awareness of God, family and friends.
Hometown: Hillside, IL

Major: Political Science
Minor(s): Accounting & History
Activities at St. Thomas: Day Student Council ('70-'71)
Since Graduation: I'm married to Jean Jackson, a retired federal attorney. We have two grown children, Stephanie and Bob, both of whom reside in North Carolina and have Korean heritage. Stephanie and her husband will present us with a grandson in early 2024. I graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1976. I went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co., in Omaha; transferred to Des Moines in 1980; transferred to the D.C. Office of US West in 1984; entered private practice in 1998, specializing in telecommunications law, most especially before the FCC. I worked for Arter & Hadden; Reed Smith; General Counsel, PC, and Marashlian & Donahue, PLLC, as well as operating as a sole practitioner. I am presently Of Counsel with Marashlian & Donahue and am chiefly handling litigation involving interconnection matters and intercarrier compensation disputes, non-broadcast radio services and issues related to preventing illegal robocalls. I'm admitted to practice in the District of Columbia (local and federal courts) and in the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado (federal court only). Most of my practice is before the FCC and in federal courts. I've been active in community affairs. While living in McLean, VA, I was active in the 109-year-old McLean Citizens Association, serving as chair of various committees and as president from 2007-2012 and from 2020-2022. The MCA was active in Fairfax County's revision of the Comprehensive Plan for Tysons, the largest land use case by acreage in the U.S., representing the interests of neighboring communities. I was also president of the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens Association in 2012-2014 and a member of the Community Advisory Committee to the Transportation Planning Board for the National Capital Region, serving as chair in 2019. I was secretary for the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce in 2008-2009, which named me Community Advocate for 2010 and Hometown Hero in 2012. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors named me Lord Fairfax for the Dranesville District in 2012. At the present time, I chair my HOA's architectural review committee. I enjoy traveling with my wife, hiking the many trails in and around Wake Forest and genealogy.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? I enjoyed my years at St. Thomas and learned the importance of having a broad education and the importance of trying to do the right things in life, realizing that we all make mistakes.
Hometown: St. Paul, MN (now in Wake Forest, MN)

Major: Business Administration
Activities at St. Thomas: Mass Server. Collage Republicans. Class of 69 activities
Since Graduation: Retired from State of Mn. Department of Revenue. Served as a certified Track Field Official at the National Ievel. NCAA T&F Official. Served on Board of Directors of NAEA.
Favorite Memory: Too many to pick one
How did St. Thomas impact your life? I learned how to think. I became self sufficient as a person with a Disability.
Hometown: Hutchinson, MN

Major: Social Work
Since Graduation: Married fifty years, three children and four grandchildren. Practiced as a clinical social worker, gradually moved into program evaluation and finished by leading a federal demonstration project in community mental health at Minnesota's largest private provider of mental health services. I also taught part-time at St. Thomas in Weekend College. As an amateur pianist, I provided music for about ten years at an annual memorial service for those who lost a loved one to suicide, homicide or accidental death. I also play at care facilities.
Favorite Memory: Getting spiritual direction from two very good professors, Fr. Roy Lepak and Fr. James Hough. They give me their time, patience and wisdom outside the classroom.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? It ingrained in me a lived experience of incorporating God into my daily life in my thinking and in my behavior.
Hometown: St. Paul, MN
Image: For the past twenty years, I do a recital every 2 years, at the College of St. Catherine recital hall and invite family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. The photo of me at the piano was taken at my recital in 2021.

Major: Sociology
Activities at St. Thomas: Intramural sports, ALP Fraternity
Since Graduation: Spent 42 years in the textile industry in sales and marketing
Favorite Memory: Some pretty wild snow ball fights
How did St. Thomas impact your life? Never regretted attending St Thomas. Still in contact with a number of class mates. Great school and a great environment. Couldn’t get my children to even look at St Thomas as they grew up in the south and couldn’t near the thought of 5 months of winter.
Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Major: History and Political Science
Activities at St. Thomas: Debate, student government, ACC President, Inns of Court, Chorus, YDFL, International Relations Club,Ski Club
Since Graduation: Graduated from Georgetown Law in 1974. Worked for one year in D.C. after graduation for National Wiretap Commission (short name) and practiced law in Waterloo Iowa from 1975 until retirement in 2015. Two adult children, Gail and Joseph. Active in Legal Groups, ACLU, Sierra Club, Symphony Board, Rotary, local History and Science Museum, Boy Scout Council Board and politics.
Favorite Memory: Getting to know people in the dorms, classes and in the organizations I belonged to while there. Also enjoyed activities such as Homecoming and Winter Carnival and how the events going on outside our campus influenced my education and college experience.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? Learning social justice and fairness issues both inside and outside the classroom
Hometown: Waterloo, IA

Major: Mathematics/Physics
Activities at St. Thomas: Swim team
Since Graduation: Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa and Ecuador, South America for 2 years in each country. After that, I worked at Cray Research and Prime Therapeutics.
Favorite Memory: Friends
How did St. Thomas impact your life? Education
Hometown: Eagan, MN

Major: Political Science
Activities at St. Thomas: Intramural Sports, Young Democratic Farmer Labor Club, Choral Club
Since Graduation: I graduated from St. Thomas on May 17th, 1969 & on May 31st married Betty (Garrity) Egan, my wife of the last 54 years and counting. Upon graduation, I immediately attended law school at William Mitchel College of Law interrupted by one year active duty in the Army Reserves. My daughter, Shannon, was born during this time.

Upon graduation from law school & passing the Minnesota Bar, I have:

• Practiced law for 35 years
• Served as Mayor and Councilmember of Eagan, MN for 21 years
• Served for three years on the Metropolitan Council during the Governor Ventura and Pawlenty administrations
• Served for 16 years (four terms) on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners
• Served as president of the Rotary Club of Eagan, member of the Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce Board & many other voluntary organizations in the Eagan/Dakota County Community, and numerous other local voluntary organizations in the greater Eagan Community

Favorite Memory: 1968 was an incredibly active year. Many things happened during that year. But the event during that year which really influenced me was a convocation called, following the assasination of Martin Luther King when the student body was cautioned not to overreact and participate in demonstrations at the State Capitol.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? My Catholic education, which I received at St. Thomas, helped me during a very challenging period in my life and helped set the course which I have followed consistently throughout my life.
Hometown: Eagan, MN

Major: Math Education, English and History
Activities at St. Thomas: Tennis team coached by Bucky Olson. Loved it.
Since Graduation: Teaching high school students and, later, teaching teachers to use the potent technologies.
Favorite Memory: The fine teachers we had back then: Herb Slusser, G.W.C. Ross, John Powers, Math Department
How did St. Thomas impact your life? United my faith and my studies.
Hometown: West St. Paul, MN

Major: Business
Since Graduation:

• Four years with the US Air Force in Taiwan.
• 35 years with IDS/American Express in technologies.
• Married 52 years with 3 sons and four grandchildren.
• Wrote a book "I Am Proud to be a Catholic" with a Nihil Obstat and an Imprimatur from the Archdiocese; book is also registered with the Library of Congress.
• Led an effort to pack three million meals for Feed My Starving Children.
• Love travelling and my garden.

Favorite Memory: A good solid Catholic education from a teaching staff that cared about their students.
How did St. Thomas impact your life? Instilled a sense of confidence in myself to work towards the "Common Good".
Hometown: Otsego, MN

Major: Biology, with a Chemistry minor
Activities at St. Thomas: Member of the fraternity "Inns of Court"
Since Graduation: I completed

• M.S. degree in Biology at the University of San Francisco in 1974
• PhD in Zoology at the University of Minnesota in 1979
• postdoctoral fellowship in endocrinology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
• postdoctoral fellowship in neuroscience at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

In 1985 I became a member of Department of Biology at the University of Denver and I currently hold the rank of professor, served as the chair of the department from 1994 to 2010, and currently teach and do research in endocrinology. 

During graduate school I married Jeannette E. Saiki in 1975 and we have been married for 47 years. We have two son, Michael (42) and Anthony (32).

Favorite Memory: The Inns of Court and dinner dance
How did St. Thomas impact your life? The excellent faculty I encountered in the Biology Department stimulated my interest in animal diversity and the evolution of chemical signaling pathways which helped me work out a path through graduate school and led to a career in academia.  
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois

Major: Philosophy

Activities at St. Thomas: Fencing Club, Mid-Winter Carnival Co-chair

Since Graduation:  I spent some time in teaching and administration until 1981, when my wife (Barbara) and I moved our family to South Bend, IN. I received my doctorate in Medieval Studies from Notre Dame in 1985. After several years in non-profit administration, I was invited to return to UST in 1988 to teach management and professional ethics in the Department (later College) of Business. In 2002 I joined the new Department of Catholic Studies, where I am now a professor and where I served as department chair for ten years.

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

Activities at St. Thomas: Hockey

Since Graduation:  Chiropractor and real estate

Favorite Memory: Good friends!

Hometown: South St. Paul, MN

Major: Psychology/Business Administration(Major) English(Minor)

Activities at St. Thomas: Senior Class Treasurer

Since Graduation:  Taught at the secondary level in the White Bear Lake, MN Public Schools for 34 years retiring in 2000. I taught all grades 7-12 except 8th. The last 13 years of my career I taught Introduction to Economics, AP Microeconomics, and AP Macroeconomics to 9th and 10th graders. I also taught American History, Criminology, Political Science, Psychology, Anthropology and Future Studies.

Favorite Memory: Meeting my wife of 56 years, Karen Ann McMahon, a Katie.

How did St. Thomas impact your life? The courses I took and the friendships I made shaped the rest of my life to this day!!

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

Major: Chemistry

Activities at St. Thomas: Chemistry Club

Since Graduation:  MD from Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA, 1976. Internship, Residency in Diagnostic Radiology, Chief Resident and Neuroradiology Fellow at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Clinical Assistant Professor of Radiology at Duke and UNC Chapel Hill Medical Schools,1980-94. Chair, Radiology Department WakeMed Health Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC 1980-84. Neuroradiologist, Wake Radiology, Raleigh, NC 1980-2015. Managing Partner, Wake Radiology, Raleigh, NC 1986-2013. President, North Carolina Medical Society, 2014-15. Chair and President, Curi Holdings Inc, Medical Mutual and Medical Security Insurance Companies,1998- present.

Hometown: St. Paul, MN

Major: English/Education

Activities at St. Thomas: Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, Freshman Class Council

Since Graduation: After graduation, I worked in retail, property management and for contractors in Minnesota and Colorado. From 1992-2020, I worked for the Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation. My wife, Ann, and I taught religious education classes for many years and were involved with our daughter's high school marching band. We enjoy spending time with our seven grandchildren.

Favorite Memory: During the Spring semester of my freshman year (1969), I was worried about a biology exam. I had a Fr. Vincent Rush philosophy class before biology. Fr. Rush noticed I was studying for my exam and ignoring his lecture. I was embarrassed, but he wished me luck. In 1975 or 76, he came into a store where I worked and asked me, "How did that biology exam come out"?

How did St. Thomas impact your life? I ran out of money while attending St. Thomas and had to work full-time at a Honeywell aerospace plant. St. Thomas allowed me to register for a couple of semesters, even though I had to pay my tuition after classes began, ensuring that I graduated in four years. My St. Thomas education taught me to think and write clearly and my working full-time with good people who did not have the advantage to attend college taught me to value what St. Thomas gave to me.

Hometown: Littleton, CO