On Sept. 23, 2020, Frederick L. Conti (AS ’67) was awarded a Life Achievement Award in Akron, Ohio, for his 42 years of service to his Podiatric profession.
Charlene Romano (C ’91) was recently tapped to serve on the 2021 Convention Task Force of the National Flute Association. Romano also recently accepted the request of the members of the Shenandoah Chapter (Gamma Gamma) of Sigma Alpha Iota to serve as their faculty advisor. (Pictured to the right.)
Anne Lewis (B ’92, AS ’06, EL ’11) serves as a director at Baker Tilly US, which provides executive search consulting services to municipalities across the United States.
Douglas Stanley (AS ’98) was appointed Prince Edward County’s new county administrator and clerk to the Board of Supervisors.
Brent Frederick (C ’03) is the music director for the newly formed BFA Musical Theater program at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Frederick is also an assistant professor of Instruction for the university’s School of Music. (Picture to the left.)
Elizabeth Anne Foster (AS ’04, EL ’11) is an account representative for Great Minds, PBC in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
Jason Crew Scott (AS ’08) welcomed his son, Tucker Crew Scott, into the world on Sept. 9, 2020. (Pictured to the right.)
On Nov. 3, 2020, Charles H. Harbaugh, IV (B ’09, ’11) was elected into his third term as Middletown mayor in Middletown, Virginia. Shayla Wharton Rickard (EL ’20) was also re-elected as a council member for Middletown.
On Oct. 10, 2020, Sarah DeLuca (AS ’12, HP ’15) married Anthony Moulder (HP ’19) in an intimate wedding ceremony, with respect to the current pandemic. Alumnae Jennifer Donham Schaeffer (AS ’12), Katherine Brady Peterman (AS ’13) and Amber VanHorn Walker (AS ’12, AS ’13) were part of DeLuca’s bridal party while Michael Fitzpatrick (HP ’18) was Moulder’s groomsman. (Pictured to the left.)
Cody Leavel (C ’12) performed with the Eddie Sherman Orchestra during the eighth annual True Blue Jazz Festival, held Oct. 15 to 18, in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
Veronique Walker (EL ’13, ’14) published a book titled “Underestimated: Growing in Leadership Despite the Opinions of Self and Others.”
Catherine Floyd (AS ’14) is a digital project manager for The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, Virginia.
Warren Freeman (C ’14) is the music supervisor for “On Air,” a new radio musical that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the first mass radio broadcast. The “On Air” worldwide audio broadcast premiered Nov. 16, and will remain available to stream until Dec. 13, 2020.
Rebecca Coryell (HP ’19) married Max Agbayani on June 13, 2020. Coryell is a physician assistant for Reddy Medical Group in Athens, Georgia.
A new work, “Heaven is Overrated,” by Carmen Burbridge (C ’20) was featured in Shortcuts, an apprentice company mini-series produced by Portland Playhouse, which premiered on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. (Pictured to the right.)
Reeves Lowry (B ’20) is a junior underwriter for Amerisave Mortgage Corporation in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
Kaitlyn Sage (HP ’20) is a direct support professional for ResCare in Winchester, Virginia. (Pictured to the left.)
In Memoriam
Paula Gabler Robertson (D ’44) of Henrico, Virginia, passed away on March 25, 2020. Robertson was the president of the St. James Episcopal Church Women’s Auxiliary in Montross, Virginia, and was the organist at St. Peter’s Epsicopal Church in Oak Grove, Virginia. She was also a supporter of the Northern Neck of Virginia Historical Society and an avid fan of the University of Virginia football and basketball teams. Robertson loved to travel and visited over 65 countries. Her other hobbies included tennis, golf, knitting, reading, baking and creative cooking. Robertson is survived by her daughter, Sally Robertson Jacobs; sons, James Taylor Robertson III and Archer Sage Robertson; granddaughters, Catherine Pretlow, Renee Seager, Jessica Vaughn and Anne Ervin; great-grandchildren, Jack and Micah; Travis and Savannah; Austin and Macie; Caylin, Mady and Liam.
Thelma Floyd Hollar (D ’45) of Singers Glen, Virginia, passed away on Oct. 20, 2020. Hollar was an administrative assistant to the principals of Singers Glen and Linville-Edom Elementary Schools for many years. Outside of work, she was an active member of the Donovan Memorial United Methodist Church in Singers Glen. Hollar held various offices in the United Methodist Women’s group, and served on the Administrative Council and Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. She was also a member of the Singers Glen Ruritan Club, Rockingham West Camp Auxiliary of Gideons International and Senior Citizens group, serving as its president. Hollar is survived by two sons, Hunter Hollar, and Barry Penn Hollar; three grandchildren, Sarah Hill Buczynski, Maureen McKenna and Quentin Penn Hollar; one great-granddaughter, Ava Grace Buczynski; and four great-grandsons, Noah Michael Buczynski, Fitzpatrick Kellen and Jack Hunter McKenna, and Henry Hamilton Hollar.
Mary Huffman Roop (D ’46) of Westminster, Maryland, passed away on Dec. 13, 2013. Roop was a teacher for Liberty, New Windsor and Uniontown elementary schools in Maryland. During her teaching career, she also worked as a private tutor and worked in special education for Lincoln Intermediate unit as a teacher’s aide. Roop would volunteer her time at Homewood Retirement Centers in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and was a member of Emmanuel Baust United Church of Christ in Westminster, Maryland.
Rev. Dr. Lee B. Sheaffer (D ’52) of Mechanicsville, Virginia, passed away on Nov. 5, 2020. Sheaffer served as a pastor for the EUB/United Methodist Church for over 50 years, serving many churches in Virginia and West Virginia. He was also a district superintendent for the Winchester, Norfolk and Ashland districts in the Virginia Conference. Sheaffer was awarded Rural Pastor of the Year for his service to the Mt. Hebron EUB Church in Cross Junction, Virginia.
He also served as council director for the Virginia Conference and was the executive director of the Association of Educational Institutions, which serves all United Methodist affiliated Colleges and Schools in Virginia.
Sheaffer had a long association with Shenandoah University and worked closely with many of the university’s presidents (including Forrest Racey) until his retirement in 2004. He served on the Shenandoah University Board of Trustees for 40 years from 1964 to 2004 and was granted emeritus trustee status. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Shenandoah in 1979.
Sheaffer is survived by his loving wife; Sue Anderson Sheaffer, two children Lee B. Sheaffer, Jr. and Gina Sheaffer Thornton. He has five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Marie Spence (AS ’66) of Strasburg, Virginia, passed away on Sept. 16, 2020. Spence was a teacher at James Wood High School in Winchester, Virginia, for 35 years. She was a five-time recipient of “Who’s Who Among American teachers.” When Spence wasn’t working, she was an active member of the Strasburg Presbyterian Church, and was on the Strasburg Museum and Strasburg Heritage Association Board of Directors. She played a significant role in encouraging a display of Strasburg’s African-American history at the Strasburg Museum and was a tourism information specialist for the town.
Dee S. Johnston (B ’86) of Winchester, Virginia, passed away on Oct. 25, 2020. Johnston worked for the O’Sullivan Corporation in Winchester, where she started as a secretary in the purchasing department and worked her way up to vice president of purchasing by 1992. She also served as the president of the regional chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Managers (NAPM) and became the secretary of NAPM at the national level. Johnston gave back to her alma mater as well by serving as president of the Shenandoah University Alumni Association. She is survived by her brother Gilbert “Bud” Shely; and three sisters: Sara Evelyn Matherly; Dixie Beasley; and Oneta Brandenburg. Four sons: Steven Johnston; Michael Johnston; Kevin Johnston; and Russell Johnston. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.