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Alumni Notes | November 2022

Career Updates

Patricia W. Anthony ‘09 (Strategic Leadership) is now a Manager at General Code Publishing.

David Battaglia ‘04 (OM Online) is now a VP of Cloud Operations at NetSapiens.

Aaron T. Bellomo ‘17 (Communication) is now a Corporate Commissions Coordinator II at Paychex.

Benjamin R. Deacon ‘21 (Management Entrep.) is now a Team Lead at Core Logic.

Steven R. Keefer ‘16 (Marketing) is now a Major Market Sales Executive at Paycor.

Kresimir Mijaljevic ‘18 (Health Administration) is now a Quality Engineer at Fluke Health Solutions.

Kimberly M. Mills ‘14 (Accounting Info Mngmt) is now a Treasurer at Batavia Central School District.

Taylor J. Vanzile ‘09 (Communication) is now a Lay Pastor Resident at Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church.

Obituaries

Teresa (Nottingham) Albro ‘58 (left in ‘56), age 86, of Homer, NY passed away at home from complications of Alzheimer's/dementia, July 12, 2022, with family around her.

Born February 16, 1936 in Johnson City, NY., she was the daughter of the late Laurel and Ruth (Mineah) Nottingham and the wife of the late Harley M. Albro (July 2015). She was also predeceased by her oldest brother Hobart Arthur Nottingham (May 2020) and her youngest sister Elizabeth (McCormick) Clark (June 2020) and her daughter-in-law Doris (Gridley) Albro (December 2021). Terry is survived by son Philip Albro and his children Adriel Albro and Leanne (Clayton) Rice, son Stephen (Anne Fitzgerald) Albro, daughter Karen (Michael) Dillon, brother William (MaryLou) Nottingham, sister MaryAnn Jameson, brother Richard (Gene) Nottingham, several nieces and nephews, and many others who called her "Aunt Terry."

She graduated from Homer High School (1954) and earned a bachelor's degree at Cortland State (1959). She was proud of her degree in early childhood education and used it throughout her many years guiding and caring for children as a Sunday school teacher, VBS organizer/leader and Pioneer Girls leader at Memorial Baptist/Church of the Redeemer in Cortland.

She worked for the Wilkins Company in Cortland for several years with husband Harley and son Stephen. She supported her husband, Harley, in all of his work and volunteer roles though 58 years of marriage. She made her home a welcoming place. She hosted several exchange students and many missionaries. 

She loved to travel and explore the many wonders the world and nature. She traveled across most of the lower 48 and to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Turkey, France and the Virgin Islands.

She was an avid gardener, lover of nature, birder, and camper. She made the best pies. Her gentleness, kind nature and good humor stayed with her until her last days. The family would like to thank her care givers for the last 2 years Esther, Joan and Joann. We couldn't have done it without you.

Steven P. Billings ‘75 (Psychology) Steven was born January 19, 1954 and passed away August 1, 2022, at the age of 68. He had a career with the federal government working for FEMA. His family and friends knew him as quick-witted, loved puns, dad jokes, and hawaiian shirts. He leaves behind a son, Geoff, best friend, Jeri, and several other family members and friends.

Lisa K. Blood ‘05 (Nursing) Lisa K. Blood of Rochester, Suddenly, October 27, 2022. Predeceased by brother Michael, Lisa is survived by her beloved mother and father Ione and James, her siblings: Sandra (Elliott), David (Catherine), Ronald (Beth), Linda (Lee), Nancy (Alphonse), Susan (John), Karen (Greg), Sharon (Gary), Christine (James), Stephen (Valerie), Amy (Brian), Timothy (Jennifer), her dear friend and niece Elizabeth Rodwell, many nieces, nephews. She was a RN at Highland Hospital and worked in Utilization Management.

Lisa will be remembered as a sister, aunt, daughter and friend beyond compare. Her kind and generous spirit was evident through support of her family. Lisa was an observant and determined individual who was always willing to lighten the mood with a hearty belly laugh. She persevered through health struggles and is now at peace. She will be forever loved and missed. We love you Lisa.

Phillip Earl Church ‘83 (Mathematics) (age 60) died Tuesday, October 25, 2022 at his home in Alexandria Township, NJ, surrounded by his loving family after years of battling Huntington’s Disease.

Born November 10, 1961 in Buffalo NY, Phil was the son of the late Ronald and Patricia (McCraken) Church. Following Phil's Buffalo childhood, the Church family relocated to Alexander, NY. From his youth, Phil was blessed with height and athletic skills. In high school, he played center on the basketball team and an offensive tight end and defensive lineman on the football team. He spent many happy days with his father and five siblings riding and racing motorcycles, competing in motocross events, and working on cars at their home.

Phil first attended college at Roberts Wesleyan University, where he met his wife of 37 years, Heidi (Vannah) Church. Phil also attended Clarkson University and received joint Bachelor of Science Degrees in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering from the two universities. The great majority of Phil's career was spent at Bihler of America, where he worked for more than 25 years as a mechanical engineer.

Throughout his life, Phil attended and participated in church with his family. His family spent many years at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton NJ and then spent the past several years worshiping at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Ringoes NJ. Phil was also remarkably handy, using his skills to support his family by working on their home and vehicles. There was little that he could not fix or build on his own when he set his mind to it.

Phil's chief joy in life was his family. He loved riding motorcycles with his siblings and father, always finding beautiful winding roads to explore together. The Church family loved camping and enjoying the outdoors together. Particularly noteworthy was a trip that Phil's family took across the USA in their station wagon, camping and experiencing life in various locations throughout the country. In his adulthood, Phil, his wife Heidi, and children Greg and Megan traveled often to Port Clyde, Maine, an old family property in Heidi's family. Throughout his life, laughter and levity defined his time with family. Whether they were telling stories together around the dinner table, or playing a board game, or Phil was pulling a prank, he and his family smiled and laughed often together.

In addition to his parents, Phil was predeceased by three of his brothers, Ronald Church Jr., Clair Church, and Robert Church. He is survived by his loving wife, Heidi Church, his son Gregory Church of Millersville MD, his daughter, Megan Church of Bloomsbury, NJ, his sister, Debra Kaye, his brother, Brian Church (and wife Amy Church), his sisters-in-law, Sara Kimmey and Ellen Church, his grandson, Everest Church, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Nancy (Reeves) Gavi ‘70 (Nursing), age 75, stepped into the arms of her Loving Savior in the early morning of Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her family after a courageous 2-year battle with cancer.

Nancy Kay Reeves was born to Glenn Albert and Thelma Evelyn (Dempster) Reeves on March 1, 1947, in LeMars, Iowa. She joined two big sisters, Marlene and Norma, and waited patiently for two little brothers, Warren and Duane.

Nancy graduated from Kingsley-Pierson High School in Kingsley, Iowa in 1965. She then attended and graduated from Central College in McPherson, Kansas with an associate degree in Business in 1967. From there she attended Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York, on an academic scholarship, which was the beginning of her education and training as a nurse.

After graduating from nursing school in 1970, Nancy decided to join the Army Nurse Corps. She attended Officer’s Basic Training in Fort Sam Houston, Texas graduating in November 1970. Her first assignment as a nurse was to Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Aurora, Colorado. At Fitzsimmons Nancy took care of Vietnam casualties for three years before receiving orders to transfer to Grafenwöhr, Germany.

While assigned to active duty in Grafenwöhr, Germany, Nancy met her future husband, Ray James Gavi. They were married in LeMars, Iowa, on December 20, 1975, and immediately moved to Fort Ord, California where Ray was assigned after leaving Grafenwöhr. Nancy was assigned to be a Commander of a group of Palo Alto reservists that drilled at Fort Ord. During this time in California, daughter, Tammy Michelle, was born in 1976 and son, Jeffrey Ray, was born in 1979.

In October of 1979, Nancy and Ray moved their family to Aurora, CO after Ray separated from the Army. Nancy began a civil service position at Fitzsimmons General Hospital coming full circle to the place she began her nursing career. She served as a staff nurse on the General Surgery Ward and remained at this post for 18 years. During this time, Nancy was also assigned to a reserve unit at Fitzsimmons from 1979-1987. She then transferred to the Colorado National Guard at Buckley Air Force Base in 1987, remaining in the National Guard until she retired in 2000 as a Colonel with 30 years of military service. Nancy then continued nursing until she retired in 2018 having served as a nurse for 48 years and caring for thousands of patients during her career.

Nancy was a dedicated, hard-working woman who claimed she learned her work ethic from growing up on a farm. However, work ethic was not the only thing Nancy learned on the farm. Her early years shaped her heart to know God’s love and cultivated her calling to care for all things in God’s creation. Nancy was also known for her quick wit, wonderful sense of humor, and very generous spirit. She loved running, her grandchildren, hosting friends and family, and a good cup of coffee, to which she treated herself multiple times per day.

Her children and grandchildren’s lives have been enriched by her legacy of faith. She loved deeply, first her God, then her family, her friends, and anyone entrusted to her care. In turn, she was deeply loved and will be deeply missed.

Those grieving her absence while celebrating her legacy are her husband, Ray, Aurora, CO; daughter Tammy (Marty) Van Driel, Colorado Springs, CO; son Jeff (Jackie) Gavi, Parker, CO; grandsons Solomon and Silas Van Driel; granddaughters Ava and Maryn Gavi; two sisters, Marlene (John) Jenkins, Oroville, WA, and Norma (John) Rempe, Centennial, CO; two brothers, Warren (Chris) Reeves, Kingsley, IA, and Duane (Vivien) Reeves, Orange City, IA; numerous nieces and nephews; and many personal, military, and professional friends.

“Surely goodness and mercy with follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

~Psalm 23:6

Linda Sue Harris ‘74 (Psychology), age 69, of Washington, passed away Thursday, January 28, 2021, in Washington Hospital.

She was born on July 25, 1951, in Olean, NY, a daughter of Beulah “Boo” Leonard Harris, of Washington, and the late Richard C. Harris.

Linda was a graduate of Peters Township High School.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree on June 9, 1974, from Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY.  She earned her Master of Education degree from California University of Pennsylvania, on May 8, 1999.

Linda worked for Verizon, Happy Face Learning Center, and later as administrator at the Glenn Street Free Methodist Church in Washington.  She had been a member of that church since 1967.  Very dedicated to, and accomplished in her field, she co-authored a textbook on elementary education.  

Linda loved children and ran children's programs at the church through multiple generations.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, Beulah “Boo” Harris, are a sister Velda (Bob) Hartman; three brothers Richard (Debbie) Harris, of Huntingdon, PA, Scott Harris, of Moon Township, Robert (Valerie) Harris, of Marietta, GA; and many nieces and nephews.

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