University of Denver Winter 2023

Class Notes

1996 Kyle Torke (MA ’94, PhD ’96)

Mary B. Kurtz (MA ’76) has published a memoir, “Apertures: Findings from a Rural Life.” Her focuses on the daily rhythms of ranch life, the murmurings of a natural world and the vagaries and mysteries of aging and mortality. 1979 Charles “Chuck”Wilkes 1981 collection of lyric essays

has published a new book, “Beachcombers: A Clementine the Rescue Dog Adventure,” by Loving Healing Press. This is the third book in a series on Clementine the rescue dog, which includes “Icebreaking” and “Hiking the Grand Mesa.” 1997 Alisa DiGiacomo (MA ’97) has an nounced her retirement from History Colorado after 23 years of service. As the longtime director of curatorial services and senior curator, Alisa played an instrumental role in the creation of exhibits, publications and the work of numerous History Colorado scholars. 1998 Patricia Aaron (MFA ’98) recently exhibited her work at two Denver locations. “Between Continents” was on display at DU’s Anderson Academic Commons Sept. 14–Jan. 27, and “The State of Nature” was held at Space Gallery Oct. 7–Nov. 12. Tim Heath (BA ’98) is a functional medicine doctor whose clinic, OptimizedWellness Center in the California Bay Area, was voted Best Alternative Medicine Practice by Best of Oakland 2022.

T. PAUL FURUKAWA (PhD ’81) received the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Texas chapter, for demonstrating the best of the profession’s values and accomplishments throughout his career. He is a member of the NASW Social Work Pioneers, the profession’s hall of fame, and leads the promotion of gun safety in San Antonio and the prevention of incidents like the Uvalde school shooting. His service as a San Antonio Housing Commissioner during the pandemic, according to the mayor, resulted in main taining housing for hundreds of homeowners and renters who otherwise would have lost their shelters.

(JD ’79) has co-authored

a book, “Giants,

Saints, and Heroes,” a collection of sermons in parable/

narrative form. After practicing law for several years, Chuck became a pastor, and he also mentors young pastors and consults on matters of church and the law. 1986 Natalie Brown (JD ’86) has been named a 2023 Best Lawyer, a prestigious accolade resulting from a peer-reviewed selection process that puts her in the top 5.3% of lawyers in the U.S. Natalie is a senior attorney with more than 32 years of legal experience. She practices catastrophic personal injury claims, slip and fall accidents, motor vehicle accidents and wrongful death at Franklin D. Azar & Associates in Aurora, Colorado.

1953 Joseph S. Szyliowicz (BA ’53) was rec ognized as Zeta Beta Tau’s oldest member of the chapter during the organiza tion’s centennial celebration in October 2022. Joseph was the founder and director of the Intermodal Transportation Institute and the Technology, Modernization and Interna tional Studies program at DU. University of Denver

1964 Gaylord Christman (BSBA ’64), a longtime realtor in Billings, Montana, has raised $110,000 for Camp Mak-A Dream, a nonprofit serving children and teenagers with cancer and their families. 1976 Michael Belsky (BSBA ’76) retired in 2021 as an executive director at Morgan Stanley, where he had worked in private wealth management as a senior portfolio manager since 2008. Before that, Michael worked at Bear Stearns and PNC Investments.

34 | UNIVERSITY of DENVER MAGAZINE • WINTER 2023