Several mini profiles followed by class notes listings.
Chad Toomey 1994
Chad Toomey ’94 has accepted a firefighter position with the Forest Grove Fire Department. Toomey has worked at the Pacific University Outback since 1997 and also served as a volunteer firefighter. “It is such a privilege to be accepted into this fine staff of professionals,” he said. “At the same time, I will be saying farewell to a wonderfully supportive organization — Pacific University. These are exciting times!”
Paul Berman 1975
Paul Berman O.D. '75 was honored at the White House on Oct. 2, 2012, for his work as founder and global clinical adviser of the Special Olympics Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program, in which volunteers provide all Special Olympics participants with vision tests, as well as protective sports goggles and prescription eyeglasses as needed. Dr. Berman developed the program in 1991, during his term as president of the AOA Sports Vision Section, and the Lions Clubs International Foundation assumed sponsorship in 2001. Dr. Berman is a widely recognized sports vision practitioner who has worked with the New Jersey Devils, New Jersey Nets, New York Giants, U.S. Olympic Hand Ball Team and U.S. Olympic Fencing Team, as well as golfers, high school and collegiate athletes and recreational athletes. His Hackensack, N.J., practice Focus Eye Health and Vision Care, has been featured on ESPN. He also is a past New Jersey Optometrist of the Year and AOA SVS Optometrist of the Year and was named the International Optometrist of the Year in 2005 by the World Council of Optometry. American Optometric Association
Howard Horner 1940
Howard Horner and Grace Horner ’41 were featured in The Oregonian celebrating their successful 70-year marriage, sharing their story about how they met at Pacific University and their common love for music.
Donald Foelker 1944
Donald Foelker was featured in May 2012 in the Salem, Ore., Statesman Journal after dropping by a display of military uniforms in the Capitol galleria and sharing his story from World War II. Foelker enlisted in the V-12 Navy College Training Program just before the attack on Pearl Harbor and started his education at Pacific University.
Norman Pierce 1951
Norman Pierce welcomed his 10th great-grandchild on Oct. 24, 2012.
Frank Mossman 1962
Frank Mossman O.D. recently retired from practice after a fire significantly damaged his Vancouver, Wash., vision clinic.
Jerry Greenfield 1964
Jerry Greenfield taught English at Miyazaki International College in Japan for 12 years and retired in 2009. Before moving to Japan, he taught photography at a number of universities. His documentaries and photographs have been displayed at public collections in the United States. He has served on the advisory board for Pacific’s Berglund Center for Internet Studies.
Barbara Benson 1967
Barbara (Martin) Benson is retired and living in Washington, following a career full of adventures in the sky as a flight attendant and as an occasional substitute teacher. Barbara lost her husband, the love of her life, unexpectedly four years ago. Her old English sheepdog, Angel, was one of the greatest joys in her life.
Brishen (William Hedgebeth) Minns-Currier 1968
Brishen (William Hedgebeth) Minns-Currier was briefly involved with the Peace Corps in Ethiopia before he went to work for the City of Portland Police Bureau as a records manager. He spent many years working in a civil enforcement office for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Seattle. Most recently, he worked as a grants administrator for the New York Office of Parks in Albany. He retired in 2010.