Class Notes

Karl L. Buschmann, GR77, was appointed to the Illinois District Export Council by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

Stephen R. Frenkel, AR75, GA77, has written and published Clara’s Secret, the true story of Clara Prinz, a woman forced to leave her native Berlin in 1939. Frenkel was inspired to write the creative nonfiction narrative as a result of an album of more than 150 autographed original portrait cards and personal postcards collected by his paternal grandmother during the early 20th century, the time of the Belle Époque or “Beautiful Era.” Frenkel writes that the story took six years to research, write and develop, and it is “ultimately a compelling story of the advancement of humankind and the survival of its decline in the first half of the 20th century.”

Clifford Titus, UC74, is now semiretired in Miami after numerous years of working in the finance, brokerage and private equity world in New York and London. He spends most of his time organizing and financing numerous projects across Africa (and other places) that have a positive impact on people’s lives. Titus sends his best wishes to all the graduates of 1974 and writes they can connect with him through LinkedIn.

John Chatlos Jr., MD, LA74, completed a research study to demonstrate how a specific psychotherapeutic intervention promotes spiritual experience and awakening with mystical characteristics without the use of drugs. Data are now under analysis, and publication is scheduled to occur sometime in 2024.

Javier Alanis, LA74, retired from an academic career after serving as an associate professor of contextual theology and director of the Lutheran Seminary Program in Austin, Texas. Alanis, who also served as the pastor of his home church in San Juan, Texas, retired from that position as well in May 2023.

Bonnie Korte, FA73, was promoted by the United States Judo Association (USJA) to Kudan, Ninth Degree, in judo. She is the first living woman promoted to this rank in the United States. Korte was a world-level competitor in sport judo in the 1970s, winning five international medals. She was a U.S. Champion in Shiai and Kata 12 times and team captain of USJA international teams four times. Considered a pioneer in women’s judo, Korte started judo in 1963 and has been active in the sport for 60 years. She is currently a member of the USJA board of directors.

Kenneth Haugk, GR73, the founder and executive director of Stephen Ministries, co-authored the organization’s newest book, The Gift of Empathy: Helping Others Feel Valued, Cared for, and Understood (Stephen Ministries, 2023), with longtime colleague Joel Bretscher. The book equips readers with practical knowledge and skills for making empathy a bigger part of their lives, including chapters on empathizing with spouses, siblings, parents, co-workers, friends and others.

Lawrence J. Altman, EN73, is an adjunct professor at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri, and teaches an undergraduate class for the business school that focuses on diversity, civil rights laws and equity. Altman recently had an American Indian from the Choctaw Nation as a guest speaker to help explain some of the problems diverse people face when growing up, while at school and in the workplace. At the end of his presentation, the guest speaker gave Altman and his class a Choctaw Tribal Flag for the honor to speak to the class. Altman considers the flag one of his greatest honors.

Jean Volgo, GR72, works part time at Tempe Preparatory Academy, where he teaches methods for solving problems in applied math to students preparing for standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT. Volgo’s academic background is in modern analytic philosophy.

Harry S. Jonas III, LA72, SW74, GR74, is looking forward to going to Bordeaux and Dordogne, France, as part of an upcoming alumni trip.