Reference Guide - Some Famous Alumni
Alumni Ambassador Reference Guide
2006-2007
Table of Contents
FAMOUS ALUMNI
THE ARTS
Manette Ansay
'87 is a critically acclaimed novelist. Ansay continues to write
despite a disorder that causes her difficulties in both reading and
writing at a computer. Her novel, Vinegar Hill was personally
chosen for the Oprah Book Club by Oprah Winfrey herself.
Stephen King
'70, nicknamed the "King of Horror", has become an American literary
icon publishing a slew of highly successful novels with no signs of
slowing down. King's books have sold well over 100 million copies
worldwide, and many have been made into movies. Well known titles
include, Carrie, The Shawshank Redemption, and The
Green Mile.
Donald Holder
'80 won a Tony Award for his innovative lighting design for the Broadway
production of the "The Lion King". Holder owns a successful museum and
architectural lighting business as well as working on lighting designs
for plays, musicals, museums, and businesses. Although he graduated
with a degree in Forestry, Holder has integrated his other diverse
interests to shape his career, illustrating how people are not limited
by their degree studies.
David Lamb '62
has traveled to more than 120 countries as a journalist in order to get
firsthand coverage for his stories and increase his expertise on Arabs
and Islam. He has covered breaking news in a number of revolutions and
both Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars earning him the title of
distinguished reporter of the Los Angeles Times.
Wendy Semonian
'92 graduated with a degree in International Affairs and Russian. She
is the publisher of the Boston-based magazine The Improper Bostonian,
which covers art, events, restaurants, movie reviews, celebrity
interviews, and more. She utilizes the opportunities created by running
a magazine to give back to the community through social and charity
events.
BUSINESS
Colby Chandler
'50 became CEO of Kodak and transformed how the company was run,
allowing it to thrive because of his changes. His approach to
streamlining the business and his involvement with government in
President Reagan's Export Council was innovative and influential—making
everything he influenced a success.
Matthew Kenny
'88 has a passion and drive like few others. He has opened seven
successful restaurants in both New York and Maine. He has written two
cookbooks, been featured in many well-known magazines, was a guest on
the "Today Show", and is known as one of New York's "celebrity chefs".
Raymond H. Fogler
'15 was president of W.T. Grant Company for many years. He was an
Assistant Secretary of the Navy under President Eisenhower. He was
tapped by a Maine governor to help guide the state's education
direction. He was part of all major fundraising campaigns, helping to
build such major facilities as the Memorial Union, Fogler Library, Maine
Center for the Arts and Alfond Arena. In 1962, Fogler Library was named
for Raymond Fogler for his service to the University. It is estimated
that more than 30 members of his family, including his seven children,
have graduated from the University of Maine.
EDUCATION
Peter Buotte
'88 with French degree and a background in art and teaching, recently
served with the U.S. Army Reserve #411 Civil Affairs Unit working to
reopen schools in Baghdad. He was in charge of planning how to rebuild
the schools to ensure a safe environment for students and help them
return as soon as possible.
Charles V.
Stanhope '71 is the director of development at the Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C. He spent his whole career with the Library
of Congress. He's currently second vice president of the Maine State
Society of Washington, D.C. In the past he has hosted an Honors
(University of Maine) alumni event at the Library of Congress, providing
a tour of the facility. He's a former University of Maine Singer and
proud of it.
ENGINEERING/TECHNOLOGY
John Brier '88
created the company BroadcastAmerica.com, a leading internet
entertainment network that combines radio and TV programming with the
web. Brier's services allow people to watch and listen to news,
weather, sports, and music from their home computers while increasing
the reach of media to larger audiences.
Francis Crowe
'05 was an engineering marvel of his time. He built 19 dams in the
western United States—more than any other man in history. His most
notable project was the Hoover Dam, which is still recognized for its
enormity and historical significance today.
Linden McClure
'89 works for Hewlett-Packard Company as a research and development
engineer designing technical workstations and chipsets for
microprocessors. He has also contributed to projects and space missions
for NASA as lead engineer on embedded systems and assisting in the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory.
Bridget Ziegelaar
Johnson '96 graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She
received a MA in Science, Technology & Public Policy and a concentration
in Economics from George Washington University in 1999. As part of a
fellowship with the school's Space Policy Institute, she interned at
NASA headquarters in Washington, DC as a research associate. She is an
extravehicular activities flight manager at the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) in Houston, Texas. She is in charge of
spacewalks. Her first full-time job with NASA was as a space station
thermal systems controller. She started with NASA in 2000.
Douglas "Doug" B.
Hall '81 is the founder, chief inventor and CEO of Richard
Saunders, International Eureka! Ranch. The company specializes in
creating new products and jump-starting old ones. Corporate clients
included: American Express, Ford, Nike and Walt Disney. 1981 to 1990 he
was a master marketing inventor for Proctor & Gamble. In 1990, Procter
& Gamble asked Doug to head up their invention team. Surveys indicate
that the average American home uses 18 products or services that Doug
and his team have invented or re-invented. In March 2006, he became a
panelist for a new television show called "The American Inventor." He
has been named by Inc. Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, A&E Top 10 and
Dateline NBC as "One of America's Top Innovation Experts." Doug and Dr.
Russ Quaglia write a nationally syndicated column called Great
Aspirations by Two Dads.
POLITICS
William Treat
'40 began his career as a judge first in the municipal courts and later
in the probate courts where he introduced many new procedures. He
helped establish a new bank as well as being an important influence in
banking policy. Treat's reach also extends into politics; Former
President Bush chose him as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations where
he was deeply involved with Human Rights issues.
Olympia Snowe
'69 has used her Political Science degree to take her through Maine's
government system to the U.S. Congress and Senate, making her the first
woman to serve in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of
the U.S. Congress. Snowe joined the most powerful committee in Congress
in 2001, the Senate Finance Committee, which granted her a very
influential role in national legislation.
John E. Baldacci
'86 is the current Governor of the State of Maine. He served as a State
Senator for 12 years. In 1994, following the retirement of George J.
Mitchell, Baldacci won election to the U.S. House of Representatives
from Maine's Second District. He was reelected to Congress in the
elections of 1996, 1998, and 2000. He established a state funded health
care program known as Dirigo Health. He is running for reelection in
2006.
Paul T.
Conway '86 is Chief of Staff for the United
States Department of Labor for Secretary Elaine L. Chao. Formerly he
was Chief of Staff during the Bush Administration for the United States
Office of Personnel Management, working for Kay Coles James. He was one
of only 23 people selected from across the country to attend the
American Campaign Academy and the only person from Maine chosen during
the 1988 election cycle. Mr. Conway was the featured speaker at the
Class of 2010 Convocation, September 1, 2006
SCIENCE
Peter Brooks
'88 is looking for a cure for cancer. He has developed a
tumor-shrinking drug that shows great potential, is researching how to
stop blood flow to tumors, as well as understanding how a tumor utilizes
the body's collagen to its own advantage. Brooks is well recognized in
his field, receiving numerous awards for his cancer research as well as
the support of many health foundations and businesses.
Kathleen Wynne
'81 G is a marine mammal specialist at the University of Alaska Sea
Grant Marine Advisory Program. Wynne uses her M.S. Wildlife Management
degree in her research about the causes for large population declines in
Harbor seals and Stellar seal lions in Alaska. Her field guide to
Atlantic Ocean marine mammals and turtles and her approach to including
the fishing industry in her research have helped the scientific
community to move toward a better understanding of marine ecosystems.
Bernard Lown, M.D.
'42 is a dedicated advocate of world peace, for which he received the
Nobel Peace Prize in 1985 in recognition of his efforts. Along with his
dedication to a more peaceful world, Lown is a pioneer heart surgeon who
developed innovative new methods to prevent sudden coronary death.
Edith Patch
'10 G was the first woman president of the Entomological Society of
America. Her knowledge of the potential dangers of pesticides was far
advanced of others in the field. She is also known for authoring many
children's books that helped to increase youth's interest in scientific
topics.
Robert Chandler
'29 is internationally recognized for developing the "miracle rice'
which vastly increased Asian rice production and prevented a looming
famine. He is a recipient of the World Food Prize for his extensive
work in increasing world food supply.
SPORTS
Paul Kariya
'96 was the highest scorer for the Anaheim Mighty Ducks his rookie
year. But before he played for the NHL, Kariya got his start at the
University of Maine; he is the first and only freshman to receive the
Hobey Baker Award recognizing him as the nation's best college hockey
player. He also led the UMaine hockey team to win the national
championships in 1993. The following year he helped Canada win the
silver medal at the Olympics. Kariya played 9 strong seasons with
Anaheim and recently joined the Colorado Avalanche.
Michael "Mike" T.
Bordick '88 is co-owner of Frozen Ropes Training Center in Portland,
Maine. Frozen Ropes has grown into the most recognized name in baseball
and softball instruction. In 1990 he started a 20 year major league
baseball career when the Oakland A's made it to the World Series. He
stayed with Oakland through 1996 before joining the Baltimore Orioles.
In 2002, he set major league records for a shortstop by playing 110
consecutive games without committing an error and handling 543 straight
errorless chances. In 2006, he was inducted into the Maine Sports Hall
of Fame. After his major league career he returned to UMaine to finish
his degree. He graduated this past May.
Mark P. Sweeney
'91 is a baseball player for the San Francisco Giants. Formerly he
played for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds,
Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels. Mark received All-American
honors while at UMaine, and he holds 21 school records. In 1996, he was
inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame.
William "Billy" C.
Swift '84 is a former pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He also
played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Rockies. He was a Cy Young
Award runner-up in 1993. Billy is listed as one of Maine's Top 20
Athletes of the 20th Century.
Gary F. Thorne
'70 is a sports announcer for ESPN, covering Major League baseball and
the National Hockey League. He is a former New York Mets broadcast
booth announcer. Gary is an attorney who practiced law in Bangor before
moving to a full-time career in sports broadcasting that began with his
coverage of the Black Bear hockey games. In 1992 he was presented with
the Hall of Fame President's Award for outstanding achievement at the
Maine Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
John F.
Tortorella
'81 became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team in
2001. He led the team to their first Stanley Cup Championship, as well
as its second consecutive Southeast Division Championship. He was the
recipient of the 2003-04 Jack Adams Award as the National Hockey
League's top coach. He is recognized as one of the top teaching coaches
in the game. He spent three seasons with the Black Bears and was twice
named an East Coast Athletic Conference All-Star.
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