Class Notes

Thomas Wilkinson ’72 was elected chairman of Welch’s board of directors. He owns and operates a 200-acre farm, is president of Thomas Daniel Vineyards Inc., and is a director at Lake View Development Corporation and the North East Community Foundation. Thomas is a member of National Grape Cooperative Inc., a cooperative of nearly 1,000 family farmers who own Welch’s and have grown inherently healthy Concord and Niagara grapes for generations. From 1982 to 1996, he served as Welch’s corporate engineering director

Linda Babuska ’72 Hanson Beach retired from Horizon Gymnastics Center in Valparaiso, Indiana, after 18 years of ownership. She resides in Valparaiso, with her husband, Dennis E. Beach, a retired pharmacist. They are the parents of Lindsay Hanson and Aaron (Tara) Hanson, who reside in Arizona. They are grandparents of Lincoln, 4, and Layton, 2, sons of Aaron and Tara. Lincoln was baptized at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Nov. 2013.

Paul Norby ’72 retired on Aug. 1, 2018, after 44 years of work in the planning profession. Paul thanks Valpo for helping him to uncover his passion to become a city planner, a passion he never lost. Paul retired from his position as the director of the City-County Planning Board in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where his work included downtown revitalization, upgrades in the Arts District, preservation of historic sites and farmland, and the creation of master plans for greenways and public art. Looking to the future, Paul plans to incorporate travel, recreation, volunteer work, and quality time with his grandchildren into his retirement schedule.

Elizabeth (Libby) Drabkowski ’72 Buuck has been called to serve in the ordained ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She was ordained on July 25, 2015, and baptized her six-month-old granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Johnston, the next day. Libby serves as associate pastor at Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hilliard, Ohio.

Janet Stein ’72 Carter (who taught part time at Valpo in 1975) retired from full-time teaching as an associate professor of biology at Clermont College of University of Cincinnati in January 2013 to spend time caring for her husband, Richard “Rick” Carter ’73. She continues to teach part time as an emerita faculty member.

Evanston Piccolo Theatre’s founder and artistic director, John Szostek ’72, has resigned, concluding a two-year succession plan. He also served as Piccolo’s executive director and the director of the annual Custer Fair.