Class Notes

Leroy Gatz ’72, has retired for the third time. He states that this retirement is “hopefully for the last time” and an additional attempt to retire is not necessary.

Harold Thomson ’70, is enjoying retirement in his dream home in the town of Brighton, Ohio on the shores of Lake Ontario.

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Tom Borrelli, former wrestling coach from LSSU, has recently decided to wrap up his career of 40 years. Tom spent the majority of his coaching career at the helm of the CMU wrestling team, but also spent several years at LSSU from 1986-91. He coached the Lakers through five straight NCAA Tournaments and tied the highest wrestling team ranking in LSSU history. During his time coaching at Lake State, he also earned the GLIAC Coach of the Year Award in 1991.

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Boyd Byelich ’87, returned in January from his 13th humanitarian aid trip to Ukraine since the beginning of the war there. He started a non-profit called One Box, which had provided over 22,000 clothing items and medical, hygiene, and school supplies to distribution points throughout Ukraine. He also delivered toys to more than 1,100 children in orphanages and refugees centers for Christmas in 2022&23. This photo of Boyd was taken in the village of Stanislaw.

Rev. Father Ben Paris ’83, recently retired after serving as a Chaplain for the Michigan State Police for 26 years. Ben served in Iron Mountain, Detour Detachment, Marquette, and the Manistique Outpost, and continues to serve as a firefighter in the Manistique and Doyle Township departments. Father Ben intends to retire from active ministry in the Roman Catholic Church in several years, but remains active at the moment.

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Michael Peach ’82 had a short story called “Slow Dancing with a Prosthetic Leg” published in Volume XX (20) of Sarah Lawrence College’s literary magazine, Lumina Journal. The story takes place in disco-era Sault Ste. Marie and follows an English student at Lake State back when the school was know as Lake Superior State College.

Paul Rodock ’94, accepted the position of Global Environmental Program Manager for Sylvamo Paper Company in June, 2023. His responsibility for environmental parameter extends to seven mills in the U.S., Brazil, France, and Sweden.

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Dana Oakley ’09, was recently made an Election Specialist for the City of Royal Oak, MI.

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Brad Peter ’00, was named the Crime Stoppers Officer of the Year in 2022, and the Bay City Employee of the Year in 2023.

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Steve and Gabby Uger ’07 & ’09 were married at the LSSU Art Center on July 10th, 2010. This year they are celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary with their children in Guelph, Ontario.

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Emily Jensen ’11, was recently promoted to Chief of Staff at GAINSystems, a supply chain technology firm based in Chicago, IL.

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–Kyle Burton ’20, was one of five MSU medical students awarded a tuition assistance scholarship by Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. It is only the second year for the scholarship, which is awarded to students who intend to practice medicine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after graduation. Kyle recently graduated from LSSU with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.