Class Notes Spring 2018

Class Notes

1940s

1949

Richard Rucoba (NICO) was an honoree during the 13th Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Thornton Township (Ill.)  He was recognized for his service to his country and community. Dr. Rucoba also participated in the National Senior Olympics, bringing home three gold medals and one silver in track and racquetball. In his 21 years competing, he has earned over 200 medals.

1950s

1956

Gilda Preskill was honored by the Cuban Medical Delegation of Chicago for her more than 50 years of service as a medical professional. 

1960s

1964

John Whitener wrote a book, Don’t Ask and I Will Tell: Finding Myself in Vietnam. Available on Amazon, the book is an intimate and candid memoir, detailing his diary entries while serving in Vietnam.

1970s

1973

Andrew Buzzelli has been selected to serve as the chair of ASCO’s Diversity and Cultural Competency Committee.

1974

Mark Palmer was appointed to the Cornhusker Public Power District Board of Directors in Columbus, Neb.

1975

Raymond Goga is proud to announce that his son, Ryan, was named Paraoptometric of the Year by the Wisconsin Optometric Association.

1980s

1982

Thomas Bobst was elected to the Board of Directors of the Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry.

1989

Louise Sclafani received the Impressa Award from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. This award recognizes the achievements of Italian-American women who are accomplished in their fields.

1990s

1996

Lisa Slaby was named Optometrist of the Year by the Wisconsin Optometric Association.

1998

Thomas Rene opened Eye2Eye Vision, a private practice in Fargo, N.D. He specializes in dry eye management and postoperative eye care.

2000s

2005

Nicholas Vincelli and his wife Amy welcomed a baby girl, Evelyn Lillian, on Feb. 8.

2007

Angelina Panovic-Popovic welcomed a baby girl, Adriana Zora-Anja, on July 18, 2017.

2008

Nana Owusu and Renée Phipps welcomed baby boy, Harrison Maxwell, on Sept. 14, 2017. Dad and son enjoyed watching their first season of Raiders’ games together!

2010s

2010

Daman Toor Gupta wrote and was featured in two articles in the Nov./Dec. issue of Healthylivingmadesimple.com. The two articles detail a walk-in visit that turned into a lifesaving trip to the emergency room- one from Dr. Gupta’s perspective and one from the patient’s perspective.

2011

Emily Walters joined Ophthalmology LTD in Sioux Falls, S.D.

2013

Katherine Lenz received the Young Alumni Award from Elmhurst College, her undergraduate alma mater. The award recognizes her work treating underserved patients and her exemplary contributions to society.

2014

Mark Buboltz and Susie Hemann, OD ’15, were united in marriage on May 27, 2017, at Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery in Spring Valley, Minn.

2015

Briana Bohn joined Lifetime Vision Source in Jamestown, N.D.

Ashley Finch was elected as the 2017 Young OD of the Year by the Wisconsin Optometric Association.

Ashley Tholen joined Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO).  GRO is the largest fully-integrated eye care medical group in West Michigan with 12 locations.

2016

Jesus Martinez was named the 2017 recipient of the Bert C. and Lydia M. Corwin Contact Lens Residency Award by The American Academy of Optometry Foundation.

Friends and Family

Renee Reeder, associate professor at ICO, was named Practitioner of the Year by the Gas Permeable Lens Institute.  She is the first contact lens educator to receive this award.