News & Updates from Brookers Around the Globe

1950s

Bob Seaman ‘50 and his new coloring book were featured in The Keene Sentinel in October. Purchase his coloring book here!

John Setchell ‘59 filled the role of Lord Mountararat in the Off-Monroe Players production of Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Iolanthe” last spring.

1960s

Don Bird ‘63 is eagerly anticipating a new granddaughter in early April. She will have three older brothers–two, five, and seven years–“so most likely she will have a great social life by continually meeting friends of her older brothers.” Don’s social media class at Long Island University turned out great, “and we were able to meet two of the authors on Zoom so they could talk with the students about the articles.”

Ken (Skip) Guarini ‘64 joined the Marines after college. “Vietnam, honorable discharge, GI Bill back to college, became a paramedic in Arizona. Went into Construction Safety. Started and sold three companies. Retired at 62. Now doing consulting work and volunteering across the country with Team Rubicon.”

John W. Du ‘65 is still working. “It’s fulfilling. Still skydiving with over 2,000 jumps, two granddaughters… living the life.”

Tim Ferguson ‘65 has been Retired for seven years. “My wife and I have been traveling around the world, one trip a year. When home, I am leading a Christian Men’s Group at the Deer Park Presbyterian Church, New York. I published my fourth book in the fall of 2022, the third in a Christian Sci-fi series entitled, The Underground Faith of God’s Multiverse. I just racewalked a 10K Turkey Trot, finishing amongst 1,800 runners just under 1,200. It is my annual (one race a year) Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.”

George Wirth ‘65 and his wife Barb have been living in Atlanta since 1990–“and we still don’t speak with southern accents. We had our daughter Aly and son Matt and their families (including four grands) here with us for Christmas, as well as our little mini Golden Doodle dog named Jinx. I retired from serving as senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Atlanta ten years ago and continue to work with the Cousins Family Foundation, which hosts the Tour Championship–FedEx Cup from the East Lake Golf Club. I am also grateful to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School (founded in 1903 by The Presbyterian Church, U.S.) in the mountains of north Georgia. It’s K-12th grade with 680 students, including boarders from 56 different nations and 16 states. And finally, having taken up the game of golf in 2000 while on a sabbatical leave in Scotland, I thought I would be better at it than I am. After all, the ball is stationary when you hit it! God bless and all the best, my friends.

David Hicks ‘66 had a visit from Donn Gaebelein this fall. “He’s 95 and wanted to see the West of his youth. We had a great time reminiscing. Lots of SBS in that, as you might imagine. My nephew, Josh Hicks ’00, gave him a tour of the Montana Territorial capitol building that he’s restoring in Virginia City. A massive project for Josh’s company, hickswoodworking.com, and one employing several SBS timber-framing talents, Jonathan ’02 and Nate Hicks ’14, as well as their dad and former SBS teacher, Douglas. The photo above was taken of Donn, Josh, and me in the bowels of the old capitol building. I’m finishing up an anthology on classical Christian education: Into the Light. Stevie (Hull) Henry ’06 is one of the contributors. Good news for my brother Scot ’72 and me is that The Emperor’s Handbook, having sold over 100,000 copies in hardcover, has just come out in paper.”

1970s

Kenneth Brownell ‘72 retired from pastoral ministry two years ago, “the last 36 years of which as minister of East London Tabernacle Baptist Church in London, England. Married to Alison (who also has retired as a hospital physician), we have two adult children – Kate, who is married with four sons under 7 and lives just north of London and Robert who is single and lives in London. I am active in many things, not least in writing my third book, The Titus Revolution, to be published in 2024, and conducting tours of the National Gallery and Victoria and Albert Museum for Christian Heritage London (www.christianheritagelondon.org). I am also involved in training pastors in the majority world, most recently in Madagascar, in connection with a remarkable mission hospital in Mandritsara.”

Mark Ligget ‘72 is “semi-retired, active in veterans organizations, union, Methodist church (soon to decide: WHICH Methodist church I end up in), and gadfly at local Congressman’s office.”

Louie Manousaides ‘73 remembers his time at SBS with fondness. “I came to Stony Brook as a damaged, broken teenager. Stony Brook was/is like no other school or college I’ve attended. Stony Brook is not only about academics or grade scores. The Faculty sincerely and truly take interest in your character. After my three years I left grounded with the basics to control how my life would be. I’ve returned to Stony Brook several times over the decades since. It’s always a joy to return, not just being on campus again, but seeing how Stony Brook has kept up with the world, changed with technology and such, yet never altered from its core foundation. I always cherish my time at Stony Brook.

Wayne Pierce ’73 and Randal Ellison ’73 connected during Homecoming Weekend in October.

1980s

Michael Esser ’86 and Joy (Carlson) Esser ’88 enjoyed an SBS family reunion in Red River Gorge, KY in October.

Allen Lincoln ‘88 is living in Maryland. ”After a seeming lifetime living in Florida, I am graced by God to now run the office of Spiritual Life at a 300 person retirement community in Maryland. I think back to my SBS days with my first-ever leadership as Activities Prefect under the guidance of Mr. Hanchett and Mr. Masters, and I feel like I’m doing a grown-up version of that now.”

Anne Shybunko-Moore ’89 was recently celebrated as the Tilles Center Gala honoree. Anne is the CEO and Owner of GSE Dynamics Inc., a Woman Owned Small Business, and a U.S. Defense Manufacturer. She serves in many local, regional and national leadership roles, including Ignite LI, The Manufacturing Consortium of Long Island, the Governor’s Long Island Regional Economic Development Council (LIREDC), Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA), The Cradle of Aviation Museum, The DeMatteis School of Engineering Advisory Board at Hofstra University, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), and The National Women’s Business Council (NWBC). She is also known for her efforts with regional workforce training initiatives and work on behalf of veterans, including with the United Veterans Beacon House, whose mission it is to help homeless veterans on Long Island. Anne won the AIA Voice of Industry award and was inducted into the Long Island Business Hall of Fame in 2022, and her company GSE has received numerous awards and honors, including the Defense Logistics Agency Outstanding Readiness Award.

1990s

Charlie Hanchett ‘97 reports that James Miaritis ’98 and Theoni Stavrianopoulos were married on July 1, 2023 in New York City. Brooker alums in attendance were Derek Kenney ’98, Charles Hanchett ’97, Mike Titus ’00, Nick Miaritis ’01, Chuck Rampone ’99, and Chris Rampone ’01. SBS Parents included proud parents of the groom Lou and Joan Miaritis (P ’98, ’01), Chuck and Bonnie Rampone (P ’99, ’01), and John and Gina Titus (P ’00, ’03).

2000s

Tim Gagliano ‘00 reports: “My wife and I have 2 kids (Gianna 11, William 9) who are doing great in school and sports. I have been growing a successful wholesale produce and bread distribution company.”

2020s

Margaret DiRuggiero ’20 and Bobby Reuter ’22 met up at the Army/Air Force football game in the fall.

Lilly Keegan ‘23 made the Notre Dame Rowing team as a walk-on after an outstanding volleyball and track career at SBS that included three individual State Championships.

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