Malone Alumni News

“What I love most about these experiences is that they connect generations and allow individuals to express their creative sides. I believe that our God is very creative as He created all the Heaven and Earth according to Genesis 1:1. This is how God first introduces Himself and I believe that He gave us the ability to work creatively as well. Working creatively with nature allows us to marvel at what God did and can do.” We’re proud to celebrate Brianna Longo “B” ʼ25, for her article “A Buzzing Revelation” which was published in Bee Culture Magazine! B’s full article is available for access here (Subscription Required). https://beeculture.com/digital/april-2025/ Congratulations to B on this amazing accomplishment! Keep up the good work!

  Dr. Jaclynn "Jackie" Marie Krum-Frisch '87, 58, of Toledo, Ohio, passed away on April 14, 2025 at the Ebeid Hospice Center. A longtime Toledo resident, Jackie grew up in Toledo and returned after earning her bachelor's degrees at Malone University.  Dedicating her life to the church, she was the first woman to receive a Doctor of Ministry degree from Winebrenner Theological Seminary. Complications from vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome led to her medical retirement, where she spent the rest of her days crafting and spending time with her loving husband.We pray for the family of Jackie during this difficult time.

  Michaele "Mickey" Spreeman *61 passed away on April 11, 2025.  Mickey grew up in Canton, Ohio as a tomboy on a farm with her toy six-shooter, and graduated from McKinley High School (1960) excelling in marching band. She began studies at Malone College while working for Firestone Tire where she met and married her first husband, Joseph P. Hayden in 1962.   She played the guitar, piano, trumpet, and French horn. She remained active in bowling, often travelling to tournaments throughout the state. Mickey enjoyed the role of wife and mother but also held the position of park manager of Hillan Lake Village in Brooklyn, MI. Eventually she retired from the county health department as a Children's Special Health Care Representative.   Mickey remained a faithful and doting wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister bringing joy and love to her large family. We send our prayers to the family of Mickey during this difficult time.

  The trustees of the Austin-Bailey Health and Wellness Foundation have approved grants totaling $161,000 to 17 nonprofit organizations. Among these grants, Malone was the beneficiary of a $20,000 grant that will be used for equipment within the exercise science department to help students  in their academic and/or fitness pursuits. We wanted to say thank you to the Austin-Bailey Foundation for this generous grant, and we can't wait to see the ways in which God will help our students with new equipment!

  Wilma Jean Grams, 93, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 31, 2025, at Altercare of Navarre.  After graduating from Westmont High School in Johnstown, Pa., Wilma attended Cleveland Bible College, where she met her beloved husband, Robert Grams. The couple united in marriage on Aug. 9, 1952, and together they built a life filled with love, laughter, and shared purpose.  Wilma’s passion for helping others extended beyond her professional life. She volunteered alongside her husband at the surgical unit of the Salem Community Hospital, now known as Salem Regional Medical Center, providing comfort and support to patients and staff alike.  A lifelong member of Salem First Friends Church, Wilma’s faith was the cornerstone of her existence. Her love for gospel music filled her home and her heart, often serving as the soundtrack to her other hobbies, which included reading and crocheting.  A funeral service to celebrate Wilma’s life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturda...

  Abbie Millard '00 was recently named the Educator of the Year for the Mahoning Valley. Abbie was selected for the recognition out of a pool of recommended educators from the 33 schools that comprise the Mahoning Valley.  Millard earned her bachelor’s degrees in grades 1-8 primary education, and K-12 special education from Malone University, and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Nova Southeastern University in 2005 and has been a proud member of West Branch Local Schools for her entire 24-year career in education.  Millard said that she discovered her passion for teaching while she was still a student herself by helping other students with learning disabilities.  “I found a passion for working with other people in school while I was in upper elementary. I would spend my recess and spare time in multi-handicapped classrooms helping. That was really when I realized, and it’s all grown from there,” said Millard.  “I’m thankful for the privileg...

  Erin Brown Thomas '07 will have six of her short films featured in the Cleveland International Film Festival, this Friday, April 4th.  " Shorts in Focus: A Retrospective of Films Directed by Erin Brown Thomas" will begin at 5:10 p.m. at the Allen Theatre at 1407 Euclid Ave. on Playhouse Square.  "I first played at the Cleveland Film Festival with my short 'Hotwire' in 2015," she said. "Since that time, I've come back almost yearly with them playing 11 films in total. While I was doing my press line at Sundance Film Festival in January, I got a call from CIFF programmer Paul Sloop," she said.  "He gave me the good news that not only would my new films 'Chasers' and 'Tacocunr' be welcomed into this year's competition, but they would screen alongside four of my previous films in a retrospective block."  Brown Thomas, a 2002 graduate of Revere High School near Akron, graduated from Malone in 2007. She and her hus...

Congratulations to Julie & Sean '03 Savage on the birth of their baby boy! Andrew Dean Savage was born on March 13th weighing in at 6lbs 6 oz. and was 20" long born 5 weeks early! What a beautiful blessing this is for Julie and Sean! Congratulations once again!

Emma graduated from McKinley High School and went to receive her MA in Special Education from Malone University. She retired from Canton City Schools as an itinerant teacher for children with special needs for over 29 years.  Emma enjoyed baking, sewing, cooking and keeping in touch with her church family. She was always available to share her wisdom from the Bible. We send our prayers to the family of Emma during this difficult time!  

Brian Landies '07 has been tabbed as the next head football coach for the Chardon Hilltoppers football team. Landies takes over after Mitch Hewitt, stepped down from his role as the head coach of the team last month. Landies has been a member of the Chardon coaching staff for 13 years, acting as the defensive coordinator for the team that captured back-to-back state titles in 2020 and 2021. Former coach Mitch Hewitt said "Very few have sacrificed more for Chardon football over the years than Coach Landies." Coach Landies is extremely grateful for the opportunity and mentioned "I was blessed to be able to play for Coach Doyle and Coach Dipofl, and coach alongside Coach Hewitt the past 14 seasons. Together, with the rest of our amazing staff, we look to continue to build on the rich history we have inherited, and continue to make our community proud to be Hilltoppers." Congratulations to Coach Landies!!

Congratulations to Madison Gilbert '21 and her husband George, as they welcomed their baby girl, Tatum Mae on March 18th! Tatum entered the world weighing 7 lbs 8 oz. and was 21 inches long. Congratulations to Madison and George on this wonderful blessing!

Beyond Giftology, a book written by Malone alumnus John Ruhlin prior to his tragic death in the summer of 2024, was released yesterday.  Building on the transformative principles of Giftology , Beyond Giftology  takes John Ruhlin’s timeless approach to relationship-building even further. While Giftology  introduced the power of radical generosity in business, Beyond Giftology  expands on those foundations, offering deeper insights into authentic connection, trust, and the art of giving without expectation. Written for business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs, this book distills John’s most impactful lessons, reflections, and personal stories into a practical guide for turning relationships into a word-of-mouth growth engine.  You can find Beyond Giftology on the Giftology website or on Amazon . 

  Congratulations to Hannah '17 & Noah '19 Fisher on the birth of their baby boy, Tatum Drake Fisher. Tatum was born on March 13th, and weighed in at 8 lbs. 4 oz., and was 20 inches!! Again, a big congratulations to Hannah and Noah!

Alma J. Moore, age 62 of Stow, Ohio entered into God's eternal rest on March 7th, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. Alma was a beloved sister, aunt, and friend, whose kindness, wisdom, and dedication to education left a lasting impact on all who knew her.  Alma was known for her caring heart, passion for sports, her love of cats and Barry Manilow, and of course her amazing faith. She was a member of Word of God Community Church in Canton, Ohio for over 20 years and found immense joy in teaching the Senior High Sunday School class. Outside of work and church Alma spent her time being a friend and mentor to many. She touched countless lives through her time spent at universities over the years both as a student and a teacher, as well as through the relationships she had with many friends that became like family. Prayers for Alma's family during this difficult time!

Joanne Lehman '96 has published an Amish-themed novel, the first book in an upcoming trilogy. "Leah's Faith" by Lehman tells the story of Leah Troyer, an Amish teen diagnosed with scoliosis. If untreated, the deformity could lead to disability, affecting her chances of marriage and family life, according to an announcement. When a surgeon in Cleveland offers assistance, Leah leaves her community to work as a nanny for the doctor's family. In Cleveland, she undergoes tests for potential surgery while grappling with homesickness and fear. Lehman will be holding a book launch party 11am-2pm Saturday, March 15, at Sonnenberg Village, 13497 Hackett Road, near Kidron. She will sign copies of the book, priced at $12, and greet attendees. Additional book signings are scheduled for Thursday, March 20, at Zenergy Pilates and Wellness in Canton and Saturday, March 22, at Gospel bookstore in Berlin. "Leah's Faith" will be available at local bookstores through In...

  Timothy R. Boyer, 71, of Vermilion, Ohio, passed away on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on Sepember 17, 1953, in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, to the late Clarence W. and Edmonia (Phelps) Boyer. He graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Malone College. Timothy served his country honorably as a member of the United States Air Force from 1974 to 1994. He had also worked for Chapter One Bank (Citizens Bank), and Step by Step Job Coaching. Tim enjoyed genealogy, cooking, and his birds and cats. He was a member of the Pearl Road United Methodist Church in Cleveland. Prayers for his family during this difficult time!

  Dr. Daniel J. Hoskins, faculty emeritus, passed away at the age of 90 on February 27, 2025 in North Canton.  Born Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 29, 1934, in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Daniel Cyrus Hoskins and Mary Jenkins Hoskins, he was the youngest of four. He grew up in Ironton, Ohio, where he met and married his adored life partner, Ginny. A veteran of the Korean War, he worked to support his family after leaving the service, while he pursued his Bachelor's, Masters, and PHD degrees. Dan is remembered as a man who loved the Lord and his family. He enjoyed travel, photography, and many friends in his life. He lived his faith in his kindness towards others, looking for ways to be of help to those who crossed his path. He readily shared how he had seen God's Hand in guiding the choices he made that impacted his life path and led him to his career as a professor of 34 years at Malone University. We pray for the family of Dr. Hoskins during this time. See  www.legacy.com  for ...

Christy Moore '00 has been promoted from her role as a drug and alcohol therapist to Clinical Supervisor at Deerfield Centers for Addictions Treatment in Warren, PA. Congratulations to Christy for this promotion!

      Dan Owolabi '07 recently found out the good news that his book, Authentic Leadership , was added to the curriculum at Harvard University! In his book, Dan talks about how effective leaders have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, and nothing to lose! He also talks about how authentic leaders are magnetic, confident, and resilient leaders. Dan's book will be utilized in Harvard's Professional & Executive Development program! A brief synopsis of Authentic Leadership : Most people who start a business, get a promotion, or lead for the first time have a decent grasp of what the actual work of leadership looks like. But what hits them out of nowhere is the pervasive sense of insecurity. It's hard to shake: the feeling that you're not enough, the sense that you suddenly have something to hide, something to prove, or something to lose. Leaders feel insecurity like distance runners feel tired. It's not a question of if runners will feel tired, but when. They kn...

  At the time of his passing, Jim was a Senior IT Recruiter at Korn Ferry, where he was known for his professionalism and commitment to his work. Outside of his career, Jim was a passionate and highly regarded photographer. His ultimate favorite subject to photograph was his son, Luke, and the Wadsworth baseball and football teams that Luke played for. Jim traveled to breathtaking locations such as Iceland, Death Valley, the National Parks (which were very special to him), Utah and Arizona. His dedication to capturing the perfect shot often took him on thrilling adventures, where no amount of time or effort was too great to get the perfect picture. Over time, Jim developed a deep love for photographing the rodeo and barrel racing, and his exceptional work earned him the honor of Photographer of the Year multiple times. Jim passed away on February 21, 2025. Please see  www.legacy.com

  Linda Bradford '93 on February 14, 2025. See  www.beaconjournal.com

  Margaret (Maggie) Sayre '97 on February 8, 2025. See  www.legacy.com

  Martha Diebler '67 on February 5, 2025. See  linncountynews.net

  Kay Luntz *88 on February 6, 2025. See  www.cantonrep.com

Rev. Orion Aubihl *61, on February 2nd, 2025. See  www.sandersfuneralhomes.com  

  Robert Shardy '03 on January 26, 2025. See  www.heritagecremationsociety.com

  Charles (Chuck) Tyburski on January 31, 2025. See  www.cantonrep.com

  Esther G. Hess '77 on January 14, 2025. See  webbweekly.com

  Lucille (Kilmer) Mangrum *55 on January 26, 2025. See  www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net

John Baragry '89 on January 14, 2025. See   www.adamsmason.com

  Elizabeth "Beppy/Bep" Pierce *50 on October 27, 2024. See  www.bakerfuneralberea.com

 Jack (John) Sholtis on January 12, 2025. See  www.cantonrep.com

  Coen Ryan Gilbey born on January 3rd, 2025 to Jeneca '21 and Ryan Gilbey

Paula Nape '98 on December 27, 2024. See  https://freepressstandard.com

Ramon French '69 on December 22, 2024. See   https://www.tribtoday.com

  Michael E. Toney *64 on December 16, 2024. See   https://www.cantonrep.com