Reflections Magazine Issue #50 - Spring 1999 | Page 16

ClassNotes

16
Two “Valiant Women”
honored for “firsts” in Michigan
Graduating more than three decades apart, Connie
Berube Binsfeld ’45 and Dorothy Gonzales ’78
nonetheless share two significant qualities: their
deep affection for Siena Heights and their roles as
pioneers in the State of Michigan.
Lt. Governor Connie Binsfeld retired this winter
after eight years as Governor John Engler’s righthand woman and nearly 30 years in state politics.
Connie was a wife, mother and high school social studies teacher for
her first 25 years out of college. Upon entering the political arena, she
made history immediately as the first woman Leelanau County
commissioner in 1970. Four years later, she was elected to the
Michigan House of Representatives. In 1982, she was elected to the
State Senate where she served until 1990, when she became John
Engler’s running mate. The success of that campaign made Connie the
first (and so far only) woman in Michigan history to hold leadership
positions in the House, Senate and the Executive Office.
Dorothy Gonzales spent her youth as a migrant farm worker challenged
by economic deprivation. Through persistence
and hard work, she achieved an education,
attending Siena Heights as a non-traditional
student and earning her social work degree in
her 30s. A woman committed to personal
growth and service who has become a role
model for the Hispanic community and society
in general, Dorothy recently was appointed
chairperson of the Michigan State University
Board of Trustees. She is the first Mexican American and the first
Hispanic woman to chair a major Michigan public university.

Bob ‘75 and Barbara Riesterer
Lawrence ‘74, ‘95/MA live in Adrian.
Barbara is director of human resources
at Siena Heights and serves on the
board of the Lenawee Emergency
Affordable Housing Corporation and
its human resource committee, as well
as the St. Joseph Academy Advisory
Board. She graduated from Leadership
Lenawee this past fall.
Albert Cardenas ‘77/AA of the
Michigan State Police Taylor Post was
named “Trooper of the Year” for the
Metro South area covering Wayne
County. He has distinguished himself
by leading undercover narcotics and
alcohol enforcement sting operations.
Brenda Reum Reau ‘77 of Petersburg
recently was awarded the National
Distinguished Service Award by the
National Extension Association of
Family and Consumer Sciences. An
extension home economist with
Monroe County since 1981, she is
responsible for programs in food and
nutrition, food safety, parenting,
housing, resource management and
leadership development.
Christina Elchinger Geno ‘78 is a
teacher living in New Bavaria, OH.
Sheila Holland RojasBaker ‘79 is the
lead bilingual teacher at Williams
Elementary in Garland, TX, where she
lives with her husband, Kirk. “We
have seven bilingual teachers in all,
and I am the only ‘gringa.’ Much of
my success has to do with my
education at Siena Heights, and I am
pleased to see the growth that has
occurred at Siena over the years.” A
member of the Class of ‘74 who
finished her degree in ‘79, Sheila has
four children, two boys (22, 18) and
two girls (11, 9) “I am also a Christian
songwriter trying to finish recording
my first CD.”

In mid-February, both women were honored by state leaders. A
resolution adopted by the House of Representatives applauded
Dorothy’s “unprecedented achievement, commitment to her community
and dedication to the highest ideals of service to others.” A gala dinner
honoring Connie, and benefitting the Chance at Childhood Endowment
Fund established in her name at Michigan State University, offered a
tribute to her “legacy of fighting to protect children at risk of abuse and
neglect.” The four featured speakers at Connie’s tribute included
Governor Engler and...Dorothy Gonzales!

Terrence Beurer ‘80, protective
services supervisor for the Lenawee
County Family Independence Agency,
helped write the just-completed
protocol for child sexual abuse
interviews in the State of Michigan. He
and his family live in Deerfield where
he is president of the Board of
Education and a member of the
Volunteer Fire Department. Terry
recently was appointed to the Siena
Heights Alumni Association Board of
Directors.

President Artman, who attended the gala, reported that “the Lt. Governor
humbly accepted the accolades and stated she never dreamed her
career would take her to such heights, and she proudly proclaimed it all
was possible because of her education at Siena Heights. Mrs. Gonzales
also beamed with pride when telling the large crowd that she too is a
graduate of Siena Heights.”

Lauralie Hultz ‘80 has joined ADT,
the world’s largest security company,
as a representative for southern
Michigan. She specializes in commercial and residential electronic
security monitoring, card access
systems, fire alarm systems, and closed
circuit television.

Congratulations to both Valiant Women!

Michael Griffin ‘80 is associate vice
president for student services at Barry
University in Miami Shores, FL.
Deborah Snyder ‘80/MA lives in East
Swanzey, NH, and works for the
Monadnock Regional School District.
Amy Noland Cooke ‘81 has “moved
back to Monroe, MI, after 11 years
teaching in Japan where I met my
husband, Ian, who is from Liverpool,
England. I’m working part-time
tutoring and subbing and working at
home full time raising our two-year-old
daughter, Reina.”
Lynn Gaylord Harrison ‘81 of
Asheville, OH, “recently moved to a
big old house dating from 1862 on 26
acres out in the country” with her
husband, Mel, and two sons (5, 2).
Lynn is secretary for Mel’s landscape
company.
Jamey Grover ‘81 of Laurens, SC, is
executive director of the Youth
Rehabilitative Program for Piedmont
Wilderness Institute, Associated
Marine Institutes. He writes: “Been
with the same company in several
states over the past 11 years. Married
to Kimberly 20 years this August.
Three children: Keira (17), Josh
MJK