Class Notes

Eugenio Hernández Rodríguez, PhD ’81, has been awarded a 2024 Royal Spanish Mathematical Society medal for his “longstanding relevant and continued contributions in a variety of mathematical areas, including education, research, conveyance, and outreach.” The award commends his 42 years of academic service to the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. In addition to his scholarship in the field of wavelets and education, he has held numerous administrative positions, including vice chancellor. Special recognition was given to his participation and leadership in ESTALMAT, a program designed to identify and nurture mathematical talent among adolescents.

Peter A. Lichtenberg, AB ’81, received the 2024 Donald P. Kent Award from the Gerontological Society of America, one of the highest honors from the society. The award is for exemplifying exceptional standards of professional leadership in gerontology through teaching, service and interpretation of gerontology to the larger society. Lichtenberg is Distinguished Service Professor of Psychology at Wayne State University and the director of its Institute of Gerontology.

Ripley A. Rasmus, MArch ’80, was elevated to the College of Fellows by the American Institute of Architects, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. AIA Fellows are recognized for achieving a standard of excellence in the profession and making a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level.

Danny O. Jacobs, MD ’79, was elected to the American Philosophical Society (APS) in 2024. Election to the society honors extraordinary accomplishments in all fields. The APS is unusual among learned societies because its membership is composed of top scholars from a wide variety of academic disciplines. Jacobs is professor of surgery at Oregon Health and Science University.

Joel Mitnick, AB ’78, opened his own antitrust law boutique, the Law Offices of Joel M Mitnick. He counsels clients about the antitrust clearance process of certain mergers and acquisitions and represents clients in lawsuits involving antitrust/competition law. Previously, Mitnick headed the transactional antitrust practice at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Mitnick’s daughter, Annie, graduated from WashU Arts & Sciences with a major in film and media studies in May.

Patrick B. Mathis, MBA ’78, JD ’78, LLM ’79, founding shareholder at Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Ltd., was recently honored as the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Estate Planning Award, presented by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. The award recognizes the distinguished contributions and achievements of an Illinois attorney who embodies professionalism, innovation and commitment within estate planning.

W. Frederick Wooden, AB ’74, completed 42 years as a Unitarian Universalist Minister in 2022. From seminary training in Chicago, Wooden’s ministry took him from rural Massachusetts to Austin, Texas; Brooklyn, New York; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and finally Phoenix, Arizona. Since retiring, he has self-published three books and kept a blog on Patheos.com, which reflects his spiritual practice of pilgrimage. He loves being the parent of two adult children and the grandparent of one.

Mary Pier, MA ’73, finished writing a biography on William Torrey Harris and is searching for a publisher. The book follows Harris’ education beyond college as he became an educational leader. It relates the events of his life from 1854, when he left Yale in his junior year, until his death in 1909. A retired English teacher, Pier taught in middle and high schools in Ohio, Indiana, New York and Missouri. She also taught in community colleges in North Carolina and Missouri.

Lawrence J. Altman, BS ’73, received the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Ambassador Award for 2024 from Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri. Altman is an adjunct professor at Avila and says he was honored to receive the award. Altman’s wife, Gail, BS ’73, is also a graduate of WashU, and their oldest son works at Siteman Cancer Center.

Allen Saxon, AB ’71, penned The Climber of Pointe du Hoc (Christmas Lake Press, April 2024) to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the lives lost in Normandy. Despite the novel’s title, the actual assault of Pointe du Hoc is only a small part of the story. The book is an exploration of three characters whose lives highlight the role of the 2nd Ranger Battalion’s assault on a key objective in the Normandy invasion, the role of British nursing and racism in the U.S. military of that era.