Class Notes

Gary Sutorius, BS ’80, BS ’82, became a certified bridge inspector, from which he has these takeaways: Bridge inspection is a cross between legalized “playing in heavy traffic” and the TV show Wild Kingdom; and his engineering classes had more bridge material in them than he realized at the time. Sutorius unofficially became the oldest player to score a goal in the McKinney Soccer Association coed open league (ages 18 and up). The game ended up being a forfeit, so the goal was not officially recorded.

Kerry Bernstein, BS ’78, is on his third attempt at retirement. After retiring from 33 fulfilling years at IBM Research, he was recruited by the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in Washington, D.C., in 2012 to help secure the nation’s defense microelectronics. Retiring again in 2018, he served as a consultant to the U.S. Air Force in the fielding of these technologies. This time retirement may stick. Bernstein and his wife look forward to spending time with their granddaughter.

Lawrence E. Thomas, BSBA ’77, was honored with a lifetime achievement award by the St. Louis American Foundation during its 23rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Awards this year. Thomas, a member of the WashU Board of Trustees, was recognized as a “Lifetime Achiever in Business.” In addition to being a trustee, he has served as co-chair of the Make Way initiative, a leader of the Black Alumni Council, past president of the Olin Alumni Association Executive Committee, and past chair of the Alumni Board of Governors.

Donald Tye, MSW ’75, JD ’75, of Prince Lobel Tye LLP, in Boston, was selected as a 2024 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame class member. Membership is reserved for attorneys who have practiced law for at least 30 years and is based on the lawyer’s career achievements, their contributions to the bar and the growth of Massachusetts law, as well as their endeavors to improve the standard of justice in Massachusetts. Tye specializes in family law.

Richard Holinger, MA ’75, wrote a book of poetry, Down from the Sycamores (Finishing Line Press, June 2025). The book takes readers on a tour of Paris. Holinger begins with a bizarre account of a streetwise
“fire-eater,” then captures the everyday lives of transients in the Paris metro. He moves to the more aesthetic realms of the Louvre, an ekphrastic celebration, and finally on to the “polar express,” in which readers become virtual Arctic explorers.

Larry Altman, BS ’73, co-authored an article, titled “What to Do After a Crisis,” that was published in the winter 2025 edition of Rethinking Behavior magazine.

Mark Edelman, AB ’72, publishes a monthly theater column in several Washington, D.C.– area newspapers and hosts a podcast on the subject titled “Onstage DMV.” His play Four Children was published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. The organization he founded in Kansas City — Theater League — provides funding for Shakespeare festivals and children’s theater programs around the country. This year, the league honored him with the creation of the Mark Edelman Theater Fund, a $20 million endowment for the performing arts.

J. Stuart Showalter, JD ’71, published the 10th edition of his textbook, The Law of Healthcare Administration (ACHE, Health Administration Press) and, with co-author Sallie Thieme Sanford, is working on the 11th edition. Showalter taught health law at WashU in the health administration program in the 1980s and ’90s. He is retired and lives near family in Williston, Vermont.

Gary Nichols, BFA ’71, is past president and current board member of the Summit County Arts Council, a nonprofit organization with the mission of promoting the arts of all types in Summit County, Colorado. He is also a member of Arts Alive, a co-op art gallery in Frisco (where he lives part time; his primary home is in Denver). When not painting (watercolors), he spends his time hanging with his grandchildren, skiing, golfing and fly fishing.

John Sheridan, AB ’70, a Vietnam War veteran, returned to Vietnam in October 2024 with a group organized by Veterans for Peace and was featured in a long article in Der Spiegel magazine published April 12. The trip focused on reconciliation and research about the ongoing Agent Orange and unexploded ordnance remediation programs.