Class Notes
Name: Bill Truran
Class Year(s): 1975
Note: Bill Truran ’75 (GAP) writes: So I turned 67 today and I have a great hint for all RIT photo students. When I turned 40, I had left 15 years in NYC for a corporate job with Nabisco. I realized that if I loved what I did, and wanted to continue doing it, I would need to have clients that were younger than I was. In 2004, I left corporate life and went back to the freelance life where I still am today. I still have a good number of clients and corporations that want to hire me... all are about 10 years younger than me. Even with the pandemic I am still shooting food. Sometimes I have to food-style myself but after years of working with the best, it’s not a problem. Over time you can really pick your clients. Honest! If you love what you do (like I do) and want to keep doing it, make sure you clients are younger than you. They all work for agencies and corporations and will most likely retire @ 65 or so. But I will be at least 70 when they do. maybe I’ll be ready to slow down by then.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Jennifer Stanton
Class Year(s): 2015
Note: Jennifer Stanton ’15 (GCCIS) was recently promoted to Advanced Software Engineer and is also celebrating 2 years at Niantic Inc. She assumed the role of lead engineer for Pokemon GO’s Mega Evolutions feature, released in August 2020.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Scott Pfanstiel
Class Year(s): 1981
Note: Scott Pfanstiel ’81 (GAP) retired as the Environmental Coordinator for the Solid Waste Department at the County of Tulare, California.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Ric Schmeelk
Class Year(s): 2011
Note: Ric Schmeelk ’11 (KGCOE) writes: I recently celebrated 1 year at L3Harris Technologies. I am now working as a component engineer for the Space and Airborne Systems division. Earlier in my career, I had spent 10 years in the RF division (now Communication Systems). I am happy to be back with the company and enjoying the work, even though I’ve now spent more time working from home than at the office.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Jim Cain
Class Year(s): 1986
Note: In the past 20 years Dr. Jim Cain ’86 (KGCOE) has written 22 books, but this year, he published his first novel. Rise Again is the story of Stan Rogers’ epic folk song, The Mary Ellen Carter. Filled with hardship, friendship, tragedy, triumph, music, love...and most of all, hope. Just what the world needs in the middle of a global pandemic. Available at Amazon.com.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Daniel Holmes
Class Year(s): 1982
Note: Daniel Holmes ’82 (GAP) writes: I recently moved to New Mexico where I returned to a career as a Deputy District Attorney in Clayton, New Mexico. After a 15 year hiatus I sold everything and returned to the practice of law. Here I spend a lot of time outdoors hiking and using my photography degree sharing my experiences in photos with family and friends. I would love to hear from former classmates at DanielE.Holmes@Yahoo.com. Here is a link to a story on my adventure. https://www.susquehannalife.com/2019/03/17/190735/tell-us-your-story-an-impetus-for-life-change No more bitterly cold Rochester winters!
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Shail (Mithani) Rajan
Class Year(s): 1995
Note: After working for over a decade in the client services industry (first at Arthur Andersen and then at Ernst & Young), Shail Rajan MBA ’95 (SCB) took some time off to focus on her family. Now that her children are older, she has made time to serve as the president of a non-profit and chase her dream of becoming a novelist. Shail is excited to announce that she recently published her first novel, The Summer Breeze (https://bit.ly/TheSummerBreezebyShailRajan).
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Tom Klinkowstein
Class Year(s): 1971
Note: Tom Klinkowstein ’71 (GAP), Professor, Hofstra University, Adj., Professor, Pratt Institute, President, Media A (New York), presented a lecture and workshop in the Digital Media Design program at the National Yun-Lin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan, entitled, "The Future Frame of Reference".
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Bruce Thompson
Class Year(s): 1980
Note: Bruce Thompson, ’80 (KGCOE) retired in December 2017 from Xerox Corp.
Submitted on: December 21, 2020
Name: Hammad Ahsan
Class Year(s): 2019
Note: Hammad Ahsad ’19 (CET) writes: My degree from RIT equipped me to transfer jobs during a pandemic and canceled aircraft program, survive 4 more layoff cycles and got promoted to a level 2 engineer after 8 months in this position!
Submitted on: December 21, 2020