Pi Beta Phi - University of Southern California

5 Alumnae News IN MEMORIAM Janis Counts Ocean '62 passed away on March 9, 2018, at her home in Reno, Nev., after the sudden onset of pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by family, with John Denver playing on the stereo. Her rich career included roles as a statistician for McDonnell-Douglas Corp.'s space program in Cape Kennedy, Fla., as a resource librarian for Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, and as an agent for Delta Airlines. She capped it all by happily working for 36 years as bookkeeper and office manager for her husband's dental practice. Her greatest joy came from caring for and spending time with her family and friends. Janis is survived by her husband of 43 years, Dr. Zeny Ocean; daughters, Jaime and Kaity; son, Justin; stepson, Zeny Michael; grandchildren, Nickolas and Eli Osborne; sister, Carol Hooper; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. ALUMNAE UPDATES Carolyn Hughes Davenport '50 is a professional pianist—she still gives many duo-piano concerts—and a composer. She and her late husband, O.W., have one son, William. Carolyn lives in Coral Gables, Fla. Email: carolyndavenport@gmail.com Mary Lou Mackie Ballentine '53 and her husband, John, will be married for 64 years in December 2018. They live in Rollings Hills Estates, Calif., and have three children. "We are healthy and happy." Email: jballentine539@gmail.com Jerra Lynne Tyler Beckhart '54 is semi-retired and involved in some real estate sales with Century 21 at Tahoe Paradise. She lives in Laguna Woods, Calif., with her husband, Donald; he is legally blind so she does all the driving. They have three children. Jerra Lynne plays tennis a few times a week. Email: jerralynne1@gmail.com Mary Laird Holman '54 is a real estate broker (Holman Investments) and lives in Reno, Nev. She and her late husband, Harry, have two children, Grant and Bret, and founded the No. Nevada-Lake Tahoe USC Alumni Chapter. Mary is still on the board of directors and chairman of the spring scholarship social, featuring Patrick Auerbach, USC senior vice president of alumni relations. Mary says, "Love life and thankful for good health. Cheers and fight on, Trojans!" Email: maryaholman@gmail.com Nancy Crum Doyle '57 visited her son, Chuck, and his family in New Zealand this summer and celebrated both his and grandson James' birthdays. She meets with Louise Inman-Kane Wolf '57 when she flies to Southern California. Nancy lives in Truckee, Calif., with her husband, William. They also have a daughter, Anne, and son, Dave. Email: bndoyle@usamedia.tv Patricia Badham Tilton '57 lives in San Diego, Calif., and is involved with art and garden projects—"always busy with various organizations." She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, exercising, and playing bridge. Susan Chenault '58 retired as a dental hygienist but is still a marriage and family therapist. She lives in Los Angeles, Calif., and has two children, Anna and Eric, and two grandchildren. She and Pi Phi sister Rikki Rockway Reinholz '59 have taken annual camping trips on the Russian River for 40 years and are known as the Pink Flamingo Ladies. Carol Cummings Barbee '59 is a retired teacher and lives in Huntington Beach, Calif. She has a daughter, Jill, and sadly reports the passing of her son, John. She has two "darling" grandchildren, Ruth (10) and Colin (13). Email: carolfudgey@aol.com Sandra Smith Guyer '61 retired in 2017 as a dental hygienist. This year will be her 37th at the Triangle X Dude Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyo. She recently took a two-week trip through the U.S. and to New Zealand. "Fantastic country!" Eleanore Phillips Valianos '64 sadly reports that her son passed away in 2017 of colorectal cancer. She has been spending quality time with friends and family, as well as her beloved granddaughter, who is a dance major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Eleanore is a retired certified massage therapist and lives in Camarillo, Calif. Email: lolitav43@gmail.com Toni Staser Strimple '72 retired in 2014 after 38 years as a teacher and administrator in the Beverly Hills Unified School District. She is now a part-time reading consultant for private schools in Los Angeles. Toni and her husband, Nick, have been married for 41 years and have two children, Courtney and David. "I am now a grandma!" Email: stasertoni@gmail.com Jann Priolo Buckner '75 retired in 2012 as a dental hygienist. She is "having fun serving on CHC at Cal Theta (UC Davis)." She had a great time connecting with Molly McClary '16 at convention last year when all Cal Gammas sat together at dinner. Jann and her husband, Steve, live in Roseville, Calif., and have three children, Stephen Jr., Cliff, and Karly. Email: jannbuckner@comcast.net Lisa Donlon York '76 retired in 2014 as a registered nurse with Salinas Family Practice. She has two children, Margo and Weston, and lives in Carpinteria, Calif. After many years in Monterey County, she is glad to be back in SoCal. "Rincon still has Pi Phi luau memories lingering. Glad the house is going strong!" Email: yorkfamily17@att.net Jan Scheifly Sprague '78 is a retired vice principal and teacher. She lives in Brea, Calif., with her husband, John. They have two children, Kevin and Kyle. Jan reports that her pledge class had their 40th reunion on March 10, 2018; Kandi Waier Summers '78 hosted. Email: spraguejan7@icloud.com Kimberly Claus-Grosch '86 is the founder and president of Global Architectural Marketing Group. She lives in Newport Beach, Calif., and enjoys boating, playing tennis, and traveling when time permits. "Loving life with husband, family and friends!" Michelle Laub Jacobson '87 lives in New York City and is "enjoying everything the city has to offer!" She is an interior designer and owns ML Jacobson Design. She loves the women in her alumnae club and volunteers on the AAC for NYU Pi Phis. Michelle has three daughters: Charlotte (DG at Colorado College), Emilia (Pi Phi at DC Alpha), and Lacey (will rush in fall 2018). Email: mljacobson924@gmail.com Erin Gorospe Lepone '96 started a nonprofit, The Lady Savant Foundation, whose mission is to empower the next generation. They are focused on providing basic rights such as education to kids around the world and have built two schools, one in Cambodia and most recently funded one in Liberia. The foundation also awards a scholarship for high school senior girls in the U.S. who have made significant and positive impacts in Class of 1974 initiates enjoying a ride. From left: Robin Greenway MacGillivray, Vicky Wootten Parret, Debbie Wheeler Zimmerman, Cinda Shrader Churm, Barbara Hornbeek Berkhausen, Debbie Kilmer Mullin, Donna Duthie Mays, and Domini Donlon Tarma. (Continued on page 6)

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