’30s
While on a recent trip to Florida, Tusculum President Dr. Nancy B. Moody visited with Tusculum Alumnus Morris Katz ’37, pictured below. Dr. Katz is currently residing in Sarasota, FL. He joined Dr. Moody for lunch and talked about his days at Tusculum College. Dr. Katz will celebrate his 98th birthday in October.
’60s
Peggy Hayes Ottinger ’62 and her husband, Dallas, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 3. The couple, who lives in Greeneville, TN, were honored by their friends and family with a reception.
’90s
The Rev. Jonas Hayes ’99 has been named the head of staff, beginning September 1, at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, KS.
’00s
Rustin Jones ’06 of Greeneville, TN, is coaching soccer at West Greene High School, which is fielding teams in the sport for the first time in its history this year. The girls team played its first match on August 20 and the boys team will play in the spring under Jones’ direction. He played soccer during his time at Tusculum. Jones is a social studies teacher at West Greene.
Diann Musgrove ’08 of Greeneville, TN, has been named principal at DeBusk Elementary School in the Greene County School System. Musgrove has been a teacher at Doak, Chuckey-Doak Middle School and DeBusk. She was recognized as the 2011-12 Teacher of the Year at Chuckey-Doak. Since earning her degree at Tusculum, Musgrove has earned an educational specialist degree at Lincoln Memorial University.
Heather Denise Bryant ’07 and Paul Bradley Henley were married on July 14, 2012. After a honeymoon trip to Jamaica, the couple is living in Chuckey. Heather is a teacher in the Washington County School System.
Candace Leigh Babb ‘10 and Lucas Allen Wiggin ‘04 were married on June 23, 2012. Following a honeymoon to Antigua, the couple is living in Greeneville. Candace is a fifth grade mathematics teacher at Tusculum View Elementary School in Greeneville. Lucas is a general contractor with Wiggin Construction.
’30s
Harold W. Backus ’37 of Heuvelton, NY, passed away September 21, 2011. Mr. Backus was a retired groundsman at Canton College.
’40s
Mae Dallas Neal ’44 of Bethel Park, PA, formerly of Dormont, PA, passed away on July 28, 2012, following a long illness. Mrs. Neal was instrumental in starting a Girl Scout Troop while living in Kansas. She was active in the Dormont New Century Women’s Club and in the women’s organizations of the Dormont Presbyterian Church.
Bernice Smith Lowery ’48 of Rockford, TN, passed away August 17, 2012. Mrs. Lowery was a retired secretary at Control Center Inc. She was a member of Mountain View United Methodist Church and past matron in the Order of the Eastern Star.
Barbara M. Tuthill Wright ’48 of Ridgewood, NJ, passed away October 15, 2011. She was an active volunteer for Meals on Wheels, the Star of Hope Mission and the Valley Hospital. She was a member of Grace Church.
’50s
Caroline M. Johnston ’50 of Butler, NJ, passed away November 7, 2011. Ms. Johnston worked as an accountant in New York City. She was a member of Butler United Methodist Church.
James Riley Walsh ’50 of Lenior, NC, passed away on December 5, 2011. Mr. Walsh served as a store manager with the Montgomery Ward department store chain until he retired after 25 years of service. He returned to the workforce as a store manager with Wal-Mart, retiring from that position in 1992. During his retirement, he served on the alumni board of the Watauga Academy and worked as a tour guide with the Butler Museum and also served on its board. Mr. Walsh was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He volunteered with numerous organizations over the years and greatly enjoyed gardening and the outdoors.
Howard A. Mars ’52 of Lynchburg, VA, passed away January 25, 2012. He was a retired sales manager for Unitron Corp. and a member of the Moneta Ecumenical Church. Mr. Mars was a veteran, having served during the Korean War. His survivors include son and Tusculum alumnus Steven Mars ’82.
Janet Wiber Middleton ’53 of Richmond, VA, passed away August 25, 2011. She was a retired library automation specialist for the Henrico County Public Schools.
’60s
Bill E. Ricker ’62 of Greeneville, TN, passed away July 27, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. After graduating from Tusuclum, Mr. Ricker joined his father in the family-owned business, Ricker Plumbing and Heating. Mr. Ricker was a 54-year member of Asbury United Methodist Church and served as head usher as long as his health permitted. He was a past president of the Greeneville Jaycees and a member of the Jaycees Tennessee Volunteer Corps. He held a lifetime senatorship in Jaycees International. Mr. Ricker was also a member of the Greeneville Moose Lodge No. 692, the Greene County Fishing and Hunting Club and Trout Unlimited. He was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.
’70s
Robert S. Magruder ’71 of Dumont, NJ, passed away December 25, 2011, in an apartment fire at his home. Immediately following college, Mr. Magruder was a carpenter in Colorado. He returned to the East Coast, where he was employed in the vehicle leasing business in New York City and Hollywood, Florida. Most recently, he had been a long-time employee of Cinemacar Leasing. Mr. Magruder was an ardent New York Mets and Jets fan and an enthusiastic Civil War buff.
’80s
Laura Mary Howland ’83 of Manchester, CT, passed away July 2, 2011. After graduating from Tusculum, she remained in Greeneville before returning to Connecticut in 1985. Her strong desire to help those in need led to a career in helping others. She entered the workforce in Connecticut at Bethany Project of Mercy Housing and later worked at AIDS Project Hartford and as a case manager for Met-Life and Anthem-Blue Cross. She had most recently worked at Rushford Addiction Treatment Center. She was a tireless volunteer crisis counselor with the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Team. Ms. Howland was one of the first Connecticut licensed professional counselors as well as a member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association and the American Counseling Association. She was also an active member of the Local Baha’i Spiritual Assembly, serving as its recording secretary and organizer of workshops at the Green Acre Retreat Center. She also worked for a time at the National House of Worship in Chicago. She was an avid reader who enjoyed making gifts of her knitting, crafting and cross-stitch.
Monica Patricia Ilievski ’87 of Miami, FL, passed away December 9, 2010. Mrs. Ilievski was a nurse practitioner, who was known for her care and concern for her patients. Her home was a gathering place for family and friends to enjoy her wonderful food and excellent hospitality. She was a dedicated and generous mother, sister, daughter, aunt and friend. Mrs. Ilievski loved to dance and enjoyed music, nature and poetry. She was an advocate for the humane treatment of animals.