Class Notes

Name: Valerie O’Hara

Class Year(s): 1976

Note: Valerie O’Hara ’76 (FAA) was awarded The Leo Dodd Heritage Preservation award by Historic Brighton in November. The lifetime achievement award celebrates Valerie’s 60-year commitment to the art and preservation of architectural stained glass in Western New York.

Submitted on: October 26, 2025

Name: Jessica Brock-Schlageter

Class Year(s): 2022

Note: Jessica Brock-Schlageter ’22 (GCCIS) and Drake Busdiecker ’22 (GCCIS) got engaged in August 2025. The couple met freshman year at RIT, where they came for a better future, and left with a partner for life!

Submitted on: October 25, 2025

Name: Shqipe Neziri Vela

Class Year(s): 2007

Note: Shqipe Neziri Vela ’07 (CAST) has been included in the inaugural Women’s Sustainability Power List 2025 by the Lean In Network for her leadership in promoting transparency, energy governance, and sustainable development.

Submitted on: October 25, 2025

Name: Rick Iekel

Class Year(s): 1975

Note: Rick Iekel ’75 (CCE) attended RIT’s annual Golden Circle breakfast, honoring those celebrating 50 years or more as alumni. A graduate of the Transportation Management curriculum, he notes that his night-school experience was a valuable asset in his workplace roles, where he served as director of aviation at Rochester’s Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport. In retirement, he has written a book about the airport’s origin and development, The ROC: Journey Thru the 20th Century.

Submitted on: October 25, 2025

Name: Muhamad Hafizi Mohd Thahrir

Class Year(s): 2012

Note: Muhamad H. Mohd Thahrir ’12 (COS) took a leap of faith to grab a new opportunity as a takaful advisor (Great Eastern Takaful) to strengthen sales and relationship-building skills, while continuing to explore areas to make a bigger career impact.

Submitted on: October 25, 2025

Name: Daniel Dister

Class Year(s): 1980

Note: Dan Dister ’80 (GAP) retired after 37 years of federal service, including 7 years in the US Army, primarily in the field of cybersecurity, and 3 1/2 years as chief information security officer for the State of New Hampshire. Dan is happily back to practicing photography full-time.

Submitted on: October 24, 2025

Name: Don Gala

Class Year(s): 1978

Note: Don Gala, Ph.D., ’78 (CLA) returned to Judo training after a 49-year hiatus. In May 2025 he entered in the 2025 USA Judo Senior National Championships in Birmingham, Alabama and won first place (M9 100kg+). Recently, Dr. Gala was promoted to Nikyu/Brown Belt and continues his training toward Ikkyu. Dr. Gala hopes to become a certified Judo Referee (gratis) to help and serve younger students of Judo during competitions.

Submitted on: October 24, 2025

Name: Ruthanne Orth

Class Year(s): 1977

Note: Ruthanne (Schmeh) Orth ’77 (CAST), Dennis Brannon ’77 (CAST), Don Stein ’77 (CAST), Jack Beadling ’77 (CAST), and their spouses gathered May 2025 in Brighton, NY, to reminisce and celebrate almost 50 years since their graduation.

Submitted on: October 24, 2025

Name: Linda Thompson

Class Year(s): 1993

Note: Linda Thompson ’93 (GAP) and Dave Thompson ’94 (KGCOE) just celebrated 30-years of marriage with 2 wonderful boys, Jack & Owen. Jack will be graduating with a master’s degree from the physician assistant major at RIT. Linda is a career & technical education supervisor and Dave is a systems integration engineer in Massachusetts.

Submitted on: October 24, 2025

Name: Brian Nicholas

Class Year(s): 1970, 1980

Note: Brian Nicholas ’70 (GAP), MBA ’80 (SCB) is retired after producing the Security Print Technology Workshops at RIT and is now enjoying time with his grandchildren in the Midwest. Brian has good memories of RIT and Theta Xi in the late 60s, old and new campus!

Submitted on: October 24, 2025