Michigan Alumni Cheerleaders Association: About Our Members Cheerleaders

Jill Adcock (now Green)

Jill has lived in Okemos, MI since her 1995 graduation from U-M. She is married to Dennis Green and has two terrific sons, Zach (a senior at MSU) and Nick (a junior at Okemos High School). She currently works as a Commercial Property Manager for TMN Commercial but also spent over 12 years working with Dennis at his advertising agency Fahrenheit Creative Group. Jill keeps busy volunteering for school organizations and general activities, and following her boys over the years in football, hockey and lacrosse. Just as it is now, meeting and enjoying friends met through her sons’ sports activities, Jill’s favorite element of cheerleading at Michigan is the friends gained during 3 years of practices, travel and related cheer events. She has fond and funny memories from the Rose, Sugar and Holiday Bowls, and the NIT in New York City. She has only missed 2 homecoming games since graduation.

Frederick Bartolomei

After receiving a medical degree, Frederick J. Bartolomei completed a post-graduate surgical residency under the auspices of the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He spent a decade performing emergency and elective reconstructive surgery before changing the focus of his attention. He delights in transforming persons of average income with above average motivation into millionaires. Fred enjoys a broad spectrum of interests. At Michigan, he was a member of the basketball cheerleading squad and an alternate for football.  In addition, he was president of W8UM, the amateur radio station. An avid athlete, he continues to run 26.2 mile marathons. He’s a certified SCUBA diver and referee for soccer. Among his diverse accomplishments: Fred served as a Torchbearer for the 2002 Olympic Games in Salt Lake City. He’s participated in unusual travel opportunities, visiting all seven continents, many of them multiple times. Fred has journeyed twice to Africa on safari, toured the arctic tundra with Inuit Eskimos, hiked from Zimbabwe into Zambia along the crest of Victoria Falls, camped on the ice-encrusted continent of Antarctica, and ridden camelback across the Sahara to the pyramids at Giza. As a co-founder of www.ExecutiveCurrency.com he became a nationally recognized authority on United States paper money, appearing on CNN and NBC, as well as in USA Today. He has authored three books about collectible currency. Donald Trump’s VP wrote the Foreword to his latest book, Middle Class To MILLIONAIRE, chronicling Fred’s success with personal finance. Fred and Doris, his wife of 26 years, reside in suburban Detroit. Their son became a cheerleader at CMU before earning a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from University of Kentucky, while their daughter played hockey for the green and white team in the middle of the State.

Cynthia (Bizek) Bass

I am originally from Southfield, MI, and after many years of living in CT, I now reside in Clarkston, MI. I have 3 children Charlotte (21), William (18), Abigail (14). I cheered in 1982 and 1983, and I was in the Business School. After a career in private banking in CT and NY, and upon my return to MI in 2002, I opened STARZ Performing Arts in Lake Orion, Clarkston and Birmingham. I have always enjoyed and respected the tradition behind the cheer squad and enjoy reconnecting with my cheerleading friends when I’m able to attend the Alumni Homecoming Game!

Todd Campau

• Where you are from / living now
  • After my 4 incredible years at UofMichigan I joined the Army and after many years ended up in Austin, Texas. However, I’m currently working in Kabul Afghanistan – again for the military.
• Family Members
  • Still blissfully single (preference) – but have had a few relationships.
• What years you cheered
  • We had a “Demo” squad during what I call the transition years – which were between when the All Male team merged with the Co-ed team. I cheered on the Demo squad – at the opening of the Pan-Am Games in Indianapolis in 1987-88, then cheered on the Co-ed team 1988-1990.
• What I majored in at UM
  • I studied REES – Russian & Eastern European Studies. Great foundation for my work as a Russian interpreter in the Army.
• What I’m doing now
  • Currently working an analyst for ISAF Joint Command in Kabul, Afghanistan. Been here since Nov 2011. However, I deployed to Afghanistan in 2001 (right after 9/11) and again in 2009.
• What UM Cheerleading has meant to me
  • Cheering gave me a great group of friends some of which I’m still in contact with. It also helped me prove to myself that an awkward, clumsy guy could become an athlete at the collegiate level. Yeah, I think cheerleaders are athletes – no matter what the NCAA thinks.

Bruce Courtade

Bruce grew up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, but has lived and worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since his graduation from UofM’s Law School in 1988. He cheered from 1981-1983. He and his wife, Jenny, have one daughter (Jessica) who as of January 2013 is a junior at UofM, studying to become a speech pathologist, and a dog named Bo, who (as you might suspect, was NOT named after Bo Derek!)

Bruce was president of his 1988 Law School graduation class and the 78^th president of the State Bar of Michigan, serving in that role from September 2012 – September 2013. He is a shareholder in the firm of Rhoades McKee, PC, and practices primarily commercial litigation, construction, and general business law.

Bruce was a History major in college, and if he would have stayed one more semester could have had a triple major in History, English and Communications. In other words, he had to go to Law School, or he would have been the best-educated convenience store clerk in the State!

After graduation, Bruce remained very active with the Alumni Association, serving as its Vice Chair for one term, and receiving its Distinguished Alumni Service Award in 2010, when Athletic Director Dave Brandon made his introduction speech. Bruce also served two three-year terms as an appointed member of UofM’s Advisory Board on Intercollegiate Athletics, a group which oversees the Athletic Department’s operations, offers advice to A.D. Brandon, and reports to University President Mary Sue Coleman.

As a high school football and baseball player, Bruce never thought about cheering in college, but met a bunch of his future teammates through his roommate, Michigan basketball player Dan Pelekoudas, and was asked to fill in for a couple of weeks when the team had a rash of injuries. He quit the team 2-1/2 years later, having made a lifetime of memories and life-long friends – but still sometimes wonders how he ended up on the cheerleading squad!

Mark D. Cousineau

• Whare are you from / living now?
  • I’m from Monroe, MI. Currently I reside in Midland, GA.
• Family Members
  • My wife is Amber and we have a 2 year old son, Shepard. We also have 3 dogs, a german shepherd and 2 pomeranians.
• What years you cheered?
  • 1995-1998 (last football game cheered was the Rose Bowl/National Championship)
• What you majored in at UM?
  • Cellular & Molecular Biology
• What are you up to now?
  • I live in Georgia now working in a community hospital as an emergency room physician. I am also the SWAT doctor for the Columbus police department and the medical director for the southeastern Search & Rescue team. My wife is the owner of Uptown Baking Company in Columbus, GA. My son is a member of the UM graduating class of 2032.
• What the University of Michigan cheerleading has meant to you?
  • I am embarrassed how little I can put into words what having cheered for Michigan has meant to me. I grew up in a Michigan household and never doubted for a second I would one day matriculate there. I remember overhearing in biology lab people talking about trying out for sports and how cheerleading tryouts were ongoing. I learned how to stunt in high school because the cheer coach there had cheered for Western Michigan and she would bring her partner in to show us stunts. Pam St. John was the UM coach then and I can remember vividly where I was sitting when she called my name to have my turn at performing the fight song. From there, I began my cheerleading career and a life altering opportunity.
  • Every time I walked into the practice facility or cheering venues, I was completely aware of the honor I had representing the University of Michigan. I was able to cheer alongside so many wonderful people and also through cheer camps met hundreds of others. It seemed when I cheered at games, colors were brighter and sounds were crisper as if I was trying to capture the memories through all of my senses. I recall vividly the sound of the basketball court and the feeling of the Big House tunnel under my feet. Through cheering, I had officially become a part of the Michigan tradition. Not a day goes by I do not thank Pam St. John for giving me that gift when she allowed me on the team.
  • Unfortunately I cannot make every homecoming, but am so grateful we are given that option. I appreciate what you all do to organize homecoming.

Dave Eddy

Dave cheered from 1974 through 1977. During those years the football team played in the Orange Bowl and 2 Rose Bowls! He was born and raised in Franklin, MI, not too far from the cider mill. He now lives in Southfield, MI and hopes to end up in Fountain Hills, AZ in the not too distant future. Dave lettered in diving at Michigan and was coached by the one and only, Dick Kimball (also an Alumni Cheerleader). He graduated from Michigan with a major in Math and a minor in Science and taught Math in the Birmingham Public Schools for 20 years before going into Real Estate. Currently he owns and manages 4 single family rental homes and loves to bike and play volleyball. Being a cheerleader and diver at Michigan represents a wonderful experience I will never forget! Greatest moment: In 1976, our squad had only 10 cheerleaders the day we beat navy 70 to 14. In those days we did a flip off the wall for every point scored and the crowd would count, making sure we did not miss a single one. When our squad and the crowd were in the middle of counting off 56, Navy fumbled the kick-off and Michigan fell on the ball in the end zone bringing the score to 63. Each cheerleader had to do eleven flips in a row before the crowd was satisfied. The entire end zone stopped watching the game in order to cheer us on. One possession later they scored their last touchdown and back onto the wall we went! Seven more flips each and we finally made it to 70. I’ll never forget that moment when we were a bigger deal than the game!”

Pamela M. Frederick

Pamela Frederick is an international banker. She currently works as a derivatives specialist at Citibank.  She previously worked with GE Capital in energy structured finance, Fieldstone Private Capital Group in infrastructure project finance, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in emerging market infrastructure finance, and JP Morgan Chase Bank in mergers & acquisitions.

She received her University of Michigan B.A. in Economics, during which she was a member of the UM Cheerleading squads, and her M.B.A. in Finance.  She also attended Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Jouy en Josas, France.  She is married and resides in the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut where she was twice elected to the Representative Town Meeting (Council), serving as its Finance Committee Chair.  She currently serves as a Director and Treasurer for the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Market Women’s Fund, building and rehabilitating markets in Liberia, Africa.

Glenda Gerbstadt

I was born in Ann Arbor, MI. My parents met while attending the University of Michigan. I grew up in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania (Dennis Franks who played center position on the football team at that time also came from Bethel Park). I always knew I would attend the University of Michigan as was the tradition in my family. My brother also graduated from UM in 1973.

I was on the 2nd ever Female  Varsity Cheer Squad which allowed women to cheer on the football field and the first of the female alumni cheerleaders to cheer on the field at the annual Homecoming Football game the year following my graduation in 1976. My Varsity squad cheered at the Orange Bowl in 1975 and at the Final Four Basketball Playoffs in Philadelphia in 1976.  I graduated in May 1976 with a degree in economics & accounting.

I currently market & sell residential homes & condos as an independant contractor with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel in Washtenaw County …primarily Ann Arbor which I have been doing since 1991. Prior to that I worked as a CPA on the audit staff for Touch Ross & Company (now Deloitte & Touche).

My hobbies are dancing (jazz and ballet), sailing and reading. I own a 22′ sailboat called Tiny Dancer. I have been Treasurer of the Alumni Cheerleaders for over 35 years since I graduated in 1976. I have attended & cheered on the field at all but 2 Homecoming Football games since graduating.

Lilly Handler Golden

• Residence: Houston, TX
• Family:
  • Husband: Brian Rhodes trader at Conoco Phillips
  • Daughter: Haley Golden 21, senior at Univ of Texas majoring in corporate finance
  • Daughter: Blair Golden 20, junior at Univ of Texas majoring in corporate finance
• Cheered: 1981-1984
• Major: Engineering
• Job: Commercial Real Estate Broker
• Cheering was a great way to feel a part of the University and meet lifelong friends.

John Hamilton

I grew up in St Louis, MO and now live in Lake St Louis, MO.  Lisa, my wife and I were married in March, 1984. Our daughter, Julie, was born on Sept 20, 1985. Julie graduated from the University of Missouri in 2008. She now is a personal trainer in Dallas, Texas at Equinox Fitness.  I was a cheerleader from 1968-1972. I was captain of the squad my senior year.  I majored in zoology and graduated in 1972. After college I went to St Louis U School of Medicine and did my residency at Barnes Hospital (Washington University) in obstetrics and gynecology. I was in private practice after that until 2002. At that time I quit my private practice and became a House Obstetrician (similar to a hospitalist). In 2005, I became Medical Director of the House OB Physicians, the position that I hold today.  Cheerleading at the U-M gave me a fabulous opportunity to get caught up in the excitement of big time college sports. I was also a diver on the swimming team. I had a wonderful opportunity to dive under Dick Kimball and still remember the excitement of diving in the big meets. The best thing about cheerleading and diving was that it gave me an opportunity to make friends with a lot of great, fun loving, hardworking people.

Kara K. Husted

I currently live in Carmel, Indiana and work as an Account Executive for Avant Healthcare Marketing. Originally from Lapeer, Michigan, I attended the University of Michigan from 2001-2005, studying in the Division of Kinesiology and graduating with a degree in Sports Management and Communications – which led to a career with the Indianapolis Colts. I cheered for the University of Michigan from 2001-2003, during which time the team competed at UCA College Nationals.  During my time at Michigan, I was also a member of Alpha Chi Omega, Kinesiology Student Government, served as a Kinesiology Student Ambassador and as a host for the student run WOLV-TV, among other activities. Cheering for the University of Michigan is an experience that only few can relate – the tradition that is Michigan is second to none.  I think Fielding Yost said it best when he spoke of the spirit of Michigan –  a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours Coming back for Homecoming (rain or shine) is one of the highlights of my year.  To see cheerleaders young and old back on one field is a testament to the spirit of Michigan.

Dr. Don M. Hurst

Living in Marquette, MI, and have been since birth, except for 9 years at the UofM, and 2 years in the U.S. Army (during the Korean War).

Married to wife Georgiana since 1967.

3 Children, by 1^st wife Alice: daughter Susan (dentist in E. Grand Rapids, MI), son Jeffrey (dentist in Jackson, MI), son David (clinical psychologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI).

Retired from Dental Practice since 1993, after 33 l/2 years of dentistry in Marquette, MI.

U of  M degrees:  1953 – B.S. in Physical Eucation, 1960 – DDS in Dentistry.

Varsity gymnast-1949-1953, team Captain, 1953.

Varsity cheerleader, 1949-1953, Head Cheerleader, 1953.

Served as President of Alumni Cheerleaders Association for about ten years (‘70‘s – ‘80‘s), after Ralph Watts and Duncan Erley.

Athletic Achievments of note:

3 times National Veteran’s Champion in Ski Jumping, with numerous other wins recorded.

Creator (and 1^st coach) of Northern Michigan University Nordic Ski Team, which has produced several NCAA National Champions and Olympic Team members.

1988 – Inducted into Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame for athletic achievements and involvement in many sports organizations and major activities over many years.

2006 – Earned Diploma and Gold Medallion as a Worldloppet Gold Master, for completing ten (now 15) Worldloppet cross-country ski marathons around the world, including a 90 kilometer race in Sweden at age 66 years.

1993 – Designated Citizen of the Year by Marquette Chamber of Commerce for significant involvement

locally, especially in the achievement of Northern Michigan University being named an Olympic Training Center, in 1985, and subsequently being developed as USOEC (United States Olympic Education Center).

Steven N. Kash

I’ve been living in Nicholasville, KY since 1986 with wife #4, Rosalinda from the Philippines (every even-numbered wife was named “Linda”). I have a daughter, Kathleen, who is head of the physics department at Case Western Reserve University. I have a son, Christopher, who teaches high school in Columbus, OH. I have a son, Kelley, who retired at the rank of colonel USAF and is the CEO of the six veterans’ homes in Maine. I have six grandchildren and one great granddaughter. I was a cheerleader in 1950, ’51 & ’52. Tom Tillman was captain of the squad and the gymnastics team – and my Big Brother at Phi Kappa Tau. The late Duncan Erley was on my squad and we were at the 1951 Rose Bowl (Michigan 14 – California 6). I have a BS in Design, ’52 from the College of Architecture & Design. I was a Marine jet fighter pilot ’52 – ’60 and a member of VMFN-513 during the Korean was. I transferred to the U.S. Army in 1960 and retired as a Lt Col in 1974. I commanded a Dust Off unit (helicopter medical evacuation) in the Vietnam War, 1965-’66. After I retired from military service I was employed as an Art Director at several printing companies. In 1948 & ’49 I was a member of the Michigan Marching Band. I’m sure that I am the only one that performed as an Alumni Cheerleader during homecoming games – and as an Alumni Marching Band musician at halftime! I attended all the homecoming games after retirement to include the last one in 1999. I can say that my experiences as a cheerleader and alumni cheerleader were unique. I’m not able to send a photo. Go Blue!

John Kauffman

John cheered from 1974 to 1977 and was captain of the 1976 squad. Newt Loken was the cheerleader faculty advisor and was a great mentor. We went to the Orange Bowl in 1976 where I learned that tumbling on Asphalt is not fun. In 1977 we cheered at the Rose Bowl and the squad performed on the Johnny Carson Show and as Newt would say it was, Great – Great – Great.  And let’s not forget those cheerleading trips and game days which only can be appreciated by those who took part.  John was also a member of the U-M Trampoline team, coached by the amazing Newt Loken, which is another story.

John entered, the 1976-1977 Cheerleading Squad in the national contest to determine The top Twenty Collegiate School Spirit groups in America.  We made the top twenty and at that time we were the only all-male squad to receive this honor.  Kudos to the 1976 squad: John Kauffman (Captain), Dave Eddy, Jim Black, Dave Eames, Mike Kallis, John Fredericks, Cam Lasswell, don McElreath, Sam Roberts, and Jim Patterson.

I received a BS degree from Michigan which was followed up with an MS in Accounting from the University of Memphis.  I worked as a Certified Public Accountant for Deloitte & Touche where I met my wife.  In the 1980’s, I was the Director of Finance for Memphis International Airport.  I eventually made the transition to self-employment working as a financial consultant.

I married Emma Jo in 1981 – great southern girl, and have two children – Robert and Mary.  I am originally from Memphis, TN., though I am currently living in Brentwood, TN (suburb of Nashville, TN).  From 2003 to 2005 I worked as a Peace Corps consultant in Kiev Ukraine and I can still carry on a conversation in Russian.

Mason Kauffman

• Where you are from / living now
  • I grew up in Memphis, headed up to Michigan to do trampoline and gymnastics, and then returned home to Memphis to start my career and family I’ve been Walking in Memphis ever since. – Family Members – I married a Georgia girl named Jill and we have two college aged kids (Candice and Christian) who attend the University of Tennessee. My brother John also attended MICHIGAN and was captain of the cheer team
• What years you cheered
  • 72-74
• What you majored in at athe University of Michigan
  • My undergraduate major was education with a physical education focus. After returning home, I completed my MBA degree in finance and marketing from the University of Memphis in ’75 and then started with what was then a very small upstart transportation company which is now know as FedEx (www.fedex.com).
• What are you up to now?
  • I was with FedEx for 16 years before starting, growing and selling my own logistics technology company (www.accuship.com). I’m now the CEO of another Memphis-based startup biotech company which is implementing an innovative solution that prevents the transmission of Lyme disease (www.usbiologic.com). My kids are in college and most of the rest of my time is spent on church and service activities with a particular focus on Memphis’ underprivileged youth. I’ve also been president of the MICHIGAN Alumni Cheerleaders for about a decade and look forward to heading back up to share more homecoming memories in the future.
• What the University of Michigan cheerleading has meant to you
  • Cheering at MICHIGAN was not only a lot fun, but it was a tremendous honor and a memory that I will always cherish.

Richard (Dick) Kimball

Dick was born and raised in Rochester, MN. After attending the University of Oklahoma for one year, he transferred to the University of Michigan, and has been in Ann Arbor ever since. During his collegiate athletic career he was a two-time NCAA Champion (Diving), six-time All American (Diving), Midwest Trampoline Champion, and Cheerleader (1955-1960). After graduating with a B.S. in Education and a Master’s Degree in Administration, he began his forty-three year coaching career at the University of Michigan. During his tenure he had four Olympic Gold Medalists (five Gold Medals), two Silver Medalists, and two Bronze Medalists among the twenty-four Olympians he coached, in addition to countless NCAA and Big Ten Champions and All Americans. His time as an athlete, cheerleader, and coach provided him with wonderful memories of the many great people he met. While in school at the U-M he met and married his wife Gail. They have three adult children (Vicki, Bruce, and Jim), and three grandchildren. After his retirement Dick was a volunteer Diving Coach at Michigan for eight years. He now spends his free time traveling around the country to work with young aspiring divers at camps and clinics, and loves to rollerblade and ice skate to stay in shape. He also enjoys bouncing in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade on the trampoline float, which he has been doing since 1955.

Charles Miller

Charles Miller, Class of 2007, is originally from Grand Rapids, MI, and currently resides in Sarasota, FL. He cheered from 2002 to 2006 while working toward his B.S. in Psychology, and is currently in medical school. He will be graduating from the Bradenton, FL campus of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2013 and will be doing his residency in Emergency Medicine.

I feel that cheering at the University of Michigan was one of the things that helped make a big university small. Even though I often felt lost in a sea of students, the cheerleading team was a tight knit group and made me feel that there were other people like me — and people that cared what I did and where I was. I could always count on someone if I needed help with anything, from athletics to academics. I was already a die-hard Wolverine, but being a part of the Michigan cheerleading tradition was one of the reasons I had such a successful college career, and it furthered my fanaticism and loyalty to the Maize and Blue.

John Michael Novinski

Originally from Jenison, MI.

Living in Houston, TX now.

Family Members

• Mother, Father, and little brother that still live in Jenison.

What years you cheered?

• Cheered my senior year, the 09′-10′ season.

What you majored in at the University of Michigan?

• BSE Mechanical Engineering ‘10
• MSE Mechanical Engineering ‘11

What are yo up to now?

• Working as a drilling engineer for BP based out of Houston, TX.

What the University of Michigan cheerleading has meant to you?

• Great memories, cherished friends, and great school pride!

Steve Pacynski

Steve currently lives in southeast Michigan and is an attorney at Clark Hill PLC. He cheered 2003-2006 and served as team captain his senior year. He earned his University of Michigan B.A. degree in psychology in 2006. After graduation, Steve stayed in Ann Arbor and worked for the Department of Psychology. He then attended MSU College of Law but steadfastly proclaimed he was a Wolverine studying abroad and always displayed his UofM pride by sporting maize and blue. He married former UofM cheerleader Katie (Koterba) Pacynski in December, 2013. Steve is extremely grateful for the opportunity to cheer at such a prestigious school and for the many wonderful bonds and memories created with amazing teammates and fellow alumni.

Jason Robinson

I was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina. I currently live in Baltimore, Maryland, and am working as an English Teacher and a writer. I cheered at Michigan from the Fall of 1999 until the Spring of 2003. At Michigan, I received a B.A. in English and went on to receive an M.A. in Education from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

Cheerleading has been a very important part of my life. When I entered Michigan as a freshman, I was very much overweight.  I got the courage to go to tryouts with the help of Michigan Cheerleaders Brianna Lupu and Catie Mandas.  After joining the squad, I lost 30 pounds freshman year, and lost 70 pounds junior year, for a total of 100 pounds. I went from being obese to being very healthy. I do not believe I would have achieved this milestone if it were not for cheerleading. I am very grateful to Pam St. John for being a great person and a great coach. I am also grateful for the wonderful experiences I have had as a cheerleader, and the great friends I have made.

Dianne Mather Ryding (Class of 1976 – LSA)

I live in Bloomfield Hills with my husband Dr. Bruce (UM ’77 dental school, LSA ’73) and son Michael  who just started his sophomore year at Oakland U where he is a Dean’s Scholar in the business school and in the pep band for the sports department.  Both enjoy UM games and especially Homecoming with all the alumni cheerleaders and band members.  We look forward every Homecoming, to marching with the band from Ravelli Hall to the stadium.  The energy and fellowship is unbeatable!  I’ve cheered at UM since 1972 for basketball and was fortunate to be on the first squad of women cheerleaders on the football field in 1974.  I’ve cheered at over 20 Homecomings since then, my block M sweater sleeves are completely covered with megaphone patches!  My professional life includes being co-owner of my husband’s dental practice and I volunteer with Bloomfield Hills school district for financial/revenue development and after school tutoring k- 12 grades.  I also volunteer at Oakland U for student activities, disability supported students and am looking forward to their 2nd annual stem cell symposium in October.  My best to everyone!

Samantha Stencel

Samantha Stencel currently lives in Chicago, IL and works as an International insurance broker/risk consultant for Marsh & McLennan Companies. Originally from Plymouth, MI, Samantha attended the University of Michigan from 2005-2009. She was a University of Michigan cheerleader all four years. She majored in Communication Studies and was involved in other student activities such as the Alpha Phi sorority, American Advertising Federation and producer/host on the campus television station, WOLV-TV. Samantha loves living in Chicago, keeping in touch with the crazy 2009 alumni cheerleaders and using her (parents) season tickets to go back to the Big House during football season! Go blue!

Cal Tobin

Born Boston, MA on Feb.15, 1927

General:

My family moved to New York in 1933. In January 1944, I graduated from Peter Stuyvesant High School and immediately enrolled in the University of Michigan College of Architecture and Design. It was the midst of WWII and classes were held without vacations and very short breaks. After completing three semesters in one year, I enlisted in the US Navy in Feb, 1945. After the war ended, I was discharged in July 1946. I returned to Michigan to resume my studies. Life at Michigan settled into a new normal with education the top priority but not at the expense of social activities, fraternities and football in the fall. I graduated in 1949 with an Architectural degree and returned to New York to begin my professional career. I accepted an offer from an architectural firm and moved to Chicago in 1953.

Cheerelader:

I became a Michigan Cheerleader in 1944. Those were the days before Newt Loken and gymnastics. Fritz Crisler was the football coach. For me, those were exciting days. The most memorable game was the 1944 Ohio State game in Columbus. We were met at the train station by the Columbus police to safely escort us to our hotel. The team was bombarded all night by OSU fans on adjoin rooftops making lots of noise to keep us from getting any sleep. The next morning we again were escorted by police to the stadium for one of the most exciting games that I still recall. It was one of those games where each team would score and gain the lead.  In the 4th quarter, Michigan was leading 16-12 with little time left and OSU had the ball. It was a grinding out yard by yard game.  The noise from the stands became so loud that the team staff passed out ear plugs to protect us from hearing loss. OSU prevailed and won the game 18-12. When I returned to Michigan after the war, Newt Loken became the first Michigan gymnastics coach. He recruited the first men for his men from the returning cheerleaders.  I was not a gymnast. I had classes all day which kept me from returning as a cheerleader. But I still have my sweater and memories of those earlier days and many more memories as an Alumni Cheerleader.

Family:

In 1951, I married Joan Fink ’51 LSA Michigan

Children:

Michael (Born 1952). ’74 B/A & ’75 M/Arch, Michigan

Nancy (Born 1956), ’78 B/ED, Michigan

Grandchildren:

Rebecca Tobin (Born 1983), ’06 B/Bus., Ross. Michigan, ’12 MBA Kellogg Northwestern U.

Jacqueline London Born 1984), ’06 B/A LSA Michigan, M/Foreign Relations, American U, Washington DC

Michelle London (Born 1984), ’06 B/A Washington Univ., M/Library Science U of Illinois

Matthew Tobin (Born 1989), ’10 B/S Michigan, ’17 MD/PHD College of Medicine U of Illinois

Professional:

As an architect, I specialized in Healthcare Design and was a Principal of a major Chicago architectural firm for 50 years. In 1985, I was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. I am currently retired.

Civic:

I served as a volunteer board member on many community not-for-profit service organizations.

1974-1989, I served multiple terms as a Councilman on the Highland Park City Council. I also served as Mayor Pr-tem for ten of those years.

Michigan:

1997-1999 – President UM Alumni Association

1996 – Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Service Award

2004 – Recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Service Award, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning

Additional Information:

Refer to Who’s Who in the World and Who’ Who in America

Jane (Gigi) Fredel Wyman

While at The University of Michigan I majored in Nursing, graduating in 1978. Followed by a Masters of Science in Nursing in 1991 and Doctorate in Nursing Practice, 2013 both degrees from Wayne State University. I have worked with patients with cardiovascular or critical care illnesses in both private and hospital based practice. I am currently the Program Coordinator at the Center for Structural Heart Disease, Henry Ford Hospital with a team striving to develop heart valve replacement techniques and other structural heart repairs without open-heart surgery.

I currently live in Grosse Pointe Park with my husband of 30 years. Our daughter Katy is an attorney practicing in Boston, she attended Yale and Harvard. Katy’s husband Chris Wagner is working on his PhD in Education at Boston College. Our son David is in graduate school at Wayne State University completeing his Masters in Mathematics while son Charlie is at University of Michigan finishing his Bachelors degree in Aero-Space Engineering.

I cheered during the 1977-1978 Football and Basketball seasons, at that time Bo Schembechler was coach and the squad attended the 1977 Rosebowl. I was a member of one of early female squads allowed on the exclusively male football stadium floor. At that time there was a male cheerleading squad and a female pom pon squad for football and a combined squad for basketball. During football season the pom pon squad would join the male squad cheering later in the game and perform joint cheers.

Cheerleading for the University of Michigan was a great time of friendship and team building. In the years following graduation, it has been a connection that never ends. I still feel my energy levels rise when I hear the Michgan fight song and I am sure each of my fellow alumni cheerleaders remember the adrenaline rush experienced in The Tunnel before a football game.

Brian Young

I was a University of Michigan Cheerleader from 1986 – 1989.  I graduated with a BS in Computer Engineering in 1989 and returned back to Ann Arbor to get my MBA in 2007.

In 1990 I moved to Ohio, Wisconsin and then back to Michigan in 1995.  I currently live in Grand Blanc, Michigan with my son, Addison, who is in grade six at the Notre Dame Prep and Marist Academy (and yes, the Fighting Irish stings a little bit).

Similar to starting in Michigan and full circle back to Michigan, I started my career with Rockwell Automation (10 years), started a company and subsequently sold a company (11 years) and am now back with Rockwell Automation (2 years).

Cheerleading was an awesome experience; practices, games, trips and teammates.  Going to and winning the Rose Bowl in 1989 was awesome.  Unfortunately I did not get to go to the NCAA’s in Seattle when we won in 1989, but I did go to Casey’s with some other cheerleaders and walk on my hands across the bar.  I have not been able to get to many Homecoming Weekends but hope to do so in the future.

Nui Nui (Quan) Yuan

I am originally from Kunming, China, however I moved to the states with my family in 1997. Not knowing what cheerleading was I tried out for my high school team, made it, and fell in love with the sport. I continued on to cheer for U-M for the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons.

Once again, not having an exact idea of what Michigan cheerleading would be like, I was blown away the second I walked into the stadium for the first game. Michigan cheerleading was an amazing experience as I got front row seats to witness and partake in this great tradition. While I was at U-M I obtained my bachelors in economics and my masters in accounting; I am now on a 2 year tour with my company in Shanghai, China. I of course will carry my Michigan pride with me to anywhere in the world!