After 21 years, Joseph Cofer (C ’80) has retired from Gaston County Schools in Gastonia, North Carolina. During his teaching career he also served as a band director for Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia, Loudoun County High School in Leesburg, Virginia, and St. Stephens High School in Hickory, North Carolina. (Pictured to the left.)

Candice Mowbray (C ’03, ’12) works as an adjunct instructor of guitar at the Shepherd University School of Music in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She was awarded a 2020 Independent Artist Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and was selected to present a lecture at the 2020 Guitar Foundation of America Convention.

Erin Albert (P ’05) started a position as a leader of Apex Benefits’ pharmacy benefit consulting practice.

Patrick McCoy (C ’05) moderated the panel, “Concerts, Calamities and COVID-19,” which featured many outstanding arts professionals; the panel is a part of The Conversation Series: Across the Arts.

Ryan Bailey (C ’08) starred in a virtual production of “Les Miserables” that aired on YouTube on June 7, 2020. The performance was produced by Creative Quarantine.

Charles Harbaugh IV (B ’09, ’11) is running for his third term as the mayor of Middletown, Virginia.

Alexis Hargbol Darrow (AS ’10, P ’13) and Robert Darrow Jr. (AS ’08, SEL ’14) welcomed a daughter, Addison, on May 17, 2020.

Thomas McKenna (B ’11, ’17) and his wife, Beth, welcomed their first child, Jordan Thomas, on April 25, 2020.

Patricia Eubanks (N ’13, ’19) will join the team at Shenandoah Community Health in Martinsburg, West Virginia, as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner.

Silvan Negrutiu (C ’13) is an associate professor of piano and chair of keyboard and instrumental studies at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Bryce Mitchell (AS ’14, SEL ’17) and Shavonne Mosley Mitchell (N ’14) welcomed a daughter, Rayne, on May 6, 2020.

Phillip Morse Jr. (AS ’16) is a police officer for the Alexandria Police Department in Alexandria, Virginia. He is engaged to be married to Emily Riehl in September 2020. (Pictured to the right.)

Annie Wong (C ’16) is a piano faculty member for the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada.

Amanda Banocy (C ’17) is engaged to Jacob Jay; they are to be married in January 2021 in Fisher, West Virginia. (Pictured to the left.)

Catalin Dima (C ’18) is a piano faculty member at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Tucker Hackett (N ’18) married Christopher Vangsnes (AS ’17) in August 2019 in Colorado. The wedding party included Abigail Zorrilla (AS ’18, HP ’19), Brianna Brogan (AS ’18, HP ’19), Nakona Wolfe (N ’19), Julia McDevitt (N ’18) and Cody Stuehm (AS ’18). Tucker works as a Registered Nurse at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. (Pictured to the right.)

Richard Jeric (C ’18) is a piano faculty member at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

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In Memoriam

Murrell Bolliger (D ’55), of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on May 20, 2020. He is survived by his wife, two daughters and grandchildren.

Paul Watts (C ’57) passed away on May 22, 2020. He taught piano, organ and choir at various schools and churches and had a singing career where he was featured on television, in concerts, in musical comedies and oratorio. He is survived by his brother, sister and nieces and nephews.

Nancy Dwyer Gardenhour (AS ’62), of Middletown, Virginia, passed away on May 31, 2020. She taught at Gore Elementary School in Gore, Virginia for 10 years and was school librarian for 10 years. She later worked at the Handley Regional Library in Winchester, Virginia in the children’s section, at the reference desk and in technical services. She was a devoted member of Middletown Presbyterian Church in Middletown, Virginia. She is survived by her husband, her daughter, her granddaughters and her brother, as well as many other family members.

Barbara D’Ascenzo Connor (AS ’66) passed away on May 15, 2020. She worked at the Blindness and Visual Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a rehabilitation teacher and was a member of Holiday Park United Methodist Church in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Tex Minter (C ’75) passed away on Jan. 13, 2018. He was a machinist, clock maker and EEO Specialist in the United States Navy. He formed the St. Cecilia Camerata, St. Cecilia Performing Arts Association and the Virginia Handbell Consort. After retirement, he became known as an internationally acclaimed Ukranian Pysanky artist, but he said that his biggest reward and accomplishment was being a father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, sons, daughter, grandchildren, brother and sister.

Barry Fitzpatrick (HP ’96, B ’98), of Martinsburg, West Virginia, passed away on May 11, 2020. He was a veteran of the United States Navy and worked as a respiratory therapist for Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, daughters, son, grandchildren and brothers.

Jennie Sowers (P ’00) passed away on Nov. 13, 2019.