By Peter Larsen

Journalism major Juan Manuel Suarez, who worked to finish his degree despite a two-year battle with cancer, died in September. He was 23.

He graduated in May one class short of his diploma, and was awarded a posthumous degree last month, his father Jaime Suarez said.

Suarez lived with his family in Irvine. He loved soccer, traipsing around the world (his parents were from Switzerland and Colombia, and he grew up in both countries), and had an eclectic taste in music that ranged from Bob Marley and Manu Chao to Radiohead and Eric Satie.

In July 2006, Suarez collapsed with severe head pain and was diagnosed with a brain tumor. For

two years, he stoically endured rounds of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy treatment. “Once I asked him if he was mad with me or God or the world,” his father said. “Juan said, ‘Why should I? This could happen to anyone.’ To the last minute he was brave.”

In addition to his father, Suarez is survived by his mother, Christine Suarez, and two sisters, Nina and Vanessa Suarez.

Juan Suarez awarded posthumous degree in November

Juan Suarez (B.A., 2008)

Class Notes

1974Russell Scott Neyman has relocated to Western Puget Sound in Washington State. He’s just completed his second book, Shadows of the Mast.

1977Josie Cabiglio writes, “I’m on disability because of a back problem, but do some freelancing, when I can, and also some translating from English into Italian for a project that hopefully will result in the sainthood of a now-deceased priest (I can’t say more, because I have to keep that project confidential; suffice it to say that the translated letters ultimately will be going to the Vatican for review).” During free time, “I volunteer at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, where I’m a day captain for the Education Department (I’m in charge of the exhibit interpreters on Tuesdays, and for putting together the volunteer schedule for the day), and am also on the all-volunteer Speaker’s Bureau and Green Team, and occasionally blog for the Aquarium. I wear so many hats there that I

can never remember them all! What I can tell you is that the place is addicting, and I feel as though I have about 12,500 pets (fish and otherwise)! Also, I still enjoy photography and gardening, and getting together with my now college-age niece and nephew. I haven’t been to Italy, where I have family and friends, for many years, but enjoy talking to my contacts using Skype and a Webcam, and I just love it!”

1978Joseph Blume is living in Stanton. Victoria Sorensen Gammer lives in Long Beach with her husband, Steven, who was a pre-med student during the 1960s. She works as a free-lance writer. She is working on a children’s travel series book project and looking for a publisher or agent. If interested, contact can be made through my e-mail” at Trondeim2@aol.com.Roderick James Lyons is living in Sherman Oaks, California

1985Ira Gostin lives and works

WHO’SWHERE

doing WHAT &

in Reno, Nevada. Last September, he joined Rand & Associates as a senior marketing strategist. Rand & Associates is a CPA and business advising firm that has provided tax planning

and accounting services to Northern Nevada for 20 years. Gostin is a former photojournalist with the Associated Press. He taught photojournalism for five years as an adjunct professor

Winter 2009 Beach Byline / 21

Please let us know what you are doing these days. Send us an e-mail to bchbyln@aol.com.Or you can also mail your informationt toCSULB Department of Journalism, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., SS/PA 024, Long Beach, CA

Please include the following information:

• Name / Maiden name • Address • Home phone / Bus. phone # • E-Mail address • Graduation Date / Option / Advanced degrees• Employer / Length of employment / Position• Special comments / Awards

We’d like to know what you’re up to

2008Monica Bolds has joined the Los Angeles office of Edelman Public Relations as an assistant account executive. Her classmates, Armando Vazquez-Ramos and Adrian Marquez, also are working at Edelman as winter interns. All three December graduates were members of the 2008 Bateman Team, which won second place at a national competition held in Detroit last spring. (See Bateman story on page 6. They were coached by CSULB Adjunct Lecturer Joni Ramirez, who serves as vice president, health, at Edelman’s Los Angeles office. Said Armando: “Networking pays off.” Stephanie Thara lives in Cerritos and sends this message to all of her fellow Journalism alumni: “Go Beach!”Danielle Thomas lives in Blythe, California. Her minor concentration was marketing and she is currently pursuing graduate

work. Danielle is taking a one-year MBA program at CSULB and is set to graduate in 2009.

Faculty ReunionFormer Department of Journalism chairs Wayne Kelly and Frank Wylie got together in June at Wylie’s ranch home north of Santa Cruz. Wylie, who headed the public relations option for several years, is now a retired “gentleman farmer” who, along with wife Judy, tends a large orchard whose bounty they sell at local organic markets. He also serves as photographer for travel writer wife Judy on many of her globe trotting assignments. Kelly, who founded the Photojournalism Option in 1976 and was its head for 23 years, was visiting Wylie during one of his frequent trips to San Jose to visit a son, who teaches at West Valley College in Saratoga.

By Judith Frutig

Robert Judge (1975), editor of the Daily 49er in the 1974-75 academic year, died in May at Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital. He was 59 years old.

Judge is remembered as a “fun-loving guy” who took journalism seriously. “Those days at the Daily 49er were busy,” said fellow journalism major Ken Palke (B.A., 1975), “with stories to cover, term papers to write, classes to attend and an occasional visit to the off-campus 49er Tavern for a cold beer.”

Judge was legendary for stunts that included a cross-campus streaking party of journalism majors. Palke and Judge worked together for a year at the Palos Verdes Peninsula News. “The hours were long (harder on Bob with a wife and daughter), the pay was low (hard on all of us), and the deadlines were constant – but we had a ball!” Palke said.

Judge moved on to Toyota Corp., said Josie Cabiglio (B.A., 1977),

where he was responsible for employee and dealer communications. He later worked for Northrop-Grumman.

Judge and Palke served in Vietnam, but their bond was sports. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, they attended Dodgers, Angels, Kings and Lakers games, often sitting in the cheap seats with Tommy Farmer, Cabiglio and other CSULB alums.

Cabilgio remembers Judge as “a good, loyal friend with a great sense of humor, who was a loving, caring and proud husband, father, and grandfather.” He was stricken with progressive supranuclear palsy, a debilitating disease that rendered him reliant on care that was selflessly provided by his wife, Debbie Bolten Judge, and two sons, Erick, 18, and Kevin, 15. “Bob Judge was a man of integrity,” Palke said.

“He had a keen wit and a wonderful sense of humor. Bob was a dear friend and I am a better person for knowing him.“

Former 49er editor was “fun loving guy” who took journalism seriously

Robert Judge, former 49er editor, died in May.

Winter 2009 Beach Byline / 23

at the University of Nevada, before changing careers, and continues to mentor photojournalism students and young professionals. In 2008, Gostin received the ACE award from the Reno-

Tahoe chapter of the American Marketing Association for outstanding marketing strategy.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism, he earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

1987Rolando Otera lives in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and is currently working at the South Florida Sun Sentinel as a photo editor.

1988Paul M. Moromisato lives in Victorville, California, with his wife Kristine Marie.

1989Eric Robert Shirley is living in Tipp City, Ohio, with his wife, the former Staci Ann Burgus. He works as vice-president & general manager at the Midmark Corporation in nearby Versailles.

1991Kimberly Beaudry lives in Murrieta, California, and works at Kaiser Permanente in Riverside as a board-certified physician assistant. “I switched careers into medicine after graduating CSULB ” she says. “I am doing very well and am happy in my field.”

1993Diana Sanchez lives in Canyon Country and works as the public & community relations director for the Van Nuys Airport.

1997Karen L. Ingram lives in Long Beach and works as a nurse practitioner at the VA Medical Center, just a few blocks from the CSULB campus

1999Ricca Silverio lives in Irvine and is working as an account director for Bock Communications, which is conveniently headquartered on Red Hill Ave. in Irvine

2005Sandra D. Gallina-Gruner lives in Lakewood, California, and works as a

Gostin

Lesley Nickus ValdezThe scene at Stuttgart, Arkansas, after it was hit by a tornado in May 2008. Lesley Nickus Valdez (B.A., 2005) lives in the city and submitted the photo. She wrote “We are OK” to Lee Brown, professor in the Department of Journalism, when it happened.

marketing representative for Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.Jodie Marissa Rowland is living in Mountain View, California.Tiffany Lenaeus Seibert lives in Long Beach with her husband Robert. Lesley Nickus Valadez lives in Stuttgart, Arkansas, with her husband Gabriel, and works as managing editor of the Stuttgart Daily Leader, owned by Gatehouse Media. When tornadoes swept through Arkansas last May, Stuttgart’s business district took a hard hit and the National Guard came in to maintain order. “We are OK,” Lesley wrote in an email message to Professor Lee Brown. “Gabe and I live on the opposite side of town from where it hit, but the whole city has been affected because it hit all the places where we get our food.” Gerry Alan Wachovsky is living in Lakewood, California.

2006Jennifer Frehn is working as city editor of the Huntington Beach Independent.Alexandra Valle Varela is living in Bakersfield, California, with her husband Steve.

2007Christina Fumia lives in Huntington Beach and is working as marketing coordinator for El Pollo Loco at their corporate offices in Costa Mesa.Donna Williams is living in Norwalk, California.

22 / Beach Byline Winter 2009